powerisyours | (no subject)

And in the process of doing so, he lets things slip that are probably more legitimately embarrassing to admit than whatever it was he didn't talk to talk about. [ grins and rolls over to use your chest as a pillow, poking at his puppy ] I swear I'm going to get him to one of these days, though.

He's. Y'know. Relaxing a little, too, which is good.

[not blushing not blushing not]

He seems to have relaxed some, even in the short time I've been here. It's good to see.

[ d'awwwww cute Chiaki ]

Yeah. I didn't think he could, y'know? I like it a lot.

It might help that I generally won't let him get away with his avoidance tactics. We're both too stubborn and used to getting what we want.

Huh. Maybe you are. [looking more pensive, his hand still mussing your hair gently] I think I'm just regular stubborn.

It's not a bad thing. He needs a good kick in the pants sometimes. [ he's got a hand on your head and a hand on the puppy ]

But it's partially why we get along so well. My situation back home was similar to his.

...yeah. [tightening his grip on you a little]

[ he can feel that, yup ]

Does it bother you when I say things like that?

Nah. I mean--it sucks, y'know. But I don't want you to not talk about it.

[he doesn't really know how to say that the thought of how alone takeru was still cuts him like a knife when he thinks about it too hard, and it's painful to think of you being that lonely too]

It was a fate we both accepted. And things got better, did they not?

[ but now that he thinks about it ]

I never really told you what all went on back home, did I?

...you didn't. [running slow hands through your hair]

[ he's wiggling a little to pull a newspaper clipping out of his pocket. it's from the gorilla delivery service, naturally ]

There. Can you read that?

I can read! [takes the paper indignantly, before just staring at it a minute]

..."meishu"?

[i am already lost, bro]

It was more of a question as to whether you could read something entirely in Chinese. [ rolling over to face you ]

"Meng Zhu", to us. Takeru told me once that it would be similar to your "tono".

Oh. Yeah. [drags you back down again, pushing soft fingers through your hair] Like I care about that, though.

[ shakes his head ] I know that. I'm not worried about that, but it may help explain why I am the way I am. Takeru lead you and your comrades against the evils of your world. My job was similar, except I had my dimension's Imperial Army at my command, and it was my duty to keep the protective barrier supplied with energy. Or at least, that's what it should have been. The other dimensions falling to evil made it my responsibility to fix our universe before it collapses entirely. It's my responsibility to find the Ultimate Iron Man--one of very few people in my world more powerful than myself--and make sure he's properly trained so I can transfer my Original Power to him.

[ tilting his head and nuzzling against your hand ] It's lonely, yes, but it's a necessary sacrifice. If being alone all the time and having the vast majority of the population treating me like an all-knowing untouchable is what it takes to keep my dimension safe, I'll do it.

Huh.

[turning and dragging you in against him]

...m'glad you're here.

Me too. For now, at least.

[ look at all these snuggles, Chiaki ]

I know not very many people here care about that sort of thing, but for the sake of not alerting those who do, I'd prefer you didn't say anything about it. And don't go start calling me "Meng Zhu", even in jest; I get enough of that from Xia Tian.

[ making an annoyed face ] I almost prefer being called "Xiao Wu" than "Meng Zhu".

[he stills against you, a look crossing his face]

...Xiao Wu?

[ raises an eyebrow and tilts his head to look at you ]

Yes?

[that look you saw before was unholy glee]

That is so cute.

. . . How so.

It is! [laughing and pinching your cheek]

[ this face ]

That's not an answer.