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[survivaltricks]

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[survivaltricks]

H-hah.

[very rich considering the game they just went through!! even though Echidna came out of it relatively unscathed]

How did your visit with Phoenix go?

[messianic]

[ he just looks a little rueful at that. ]

It was tough. I had a hard time convincing them that they didn't have to do anything for me.

[ HE HAS A HARD TIME WITH PEOPLE BEING APOLOGETIC AT HIM because he doesn't think he's ever been wronged a day in his life-- ]

[survivaltricks]

[MINATO!!!]

You should let them make amends. Even if it's something small, it'll make you all feel better.

[messianic]

I will, I will... I just don't think they need to...

But I can tell it'll make them feel better, so...

[ shrug... he wasn't going to deny them that. ]

[survivaltricks]

[a pause]

[. . . flicks Minato's forehead (GENTLY)]

It's okay to be a little selfish sometimes.

[messianic]

[ Minato blinks blankly at Akira at that, lifting a hand to press to his forehead.

??? ]

I know that...

[ does he? we just don't know. ]

But...

[ mmmm. ]

I don't know. People taking responsibility for what happened in that task doesn't make me feel better.

[survivaltricks]

[AKIRA DOUBTS THAT HE DOES. . . but it's okay it's a work in progress]

[gently]

What would make you feel better, then?

[messianic]

[ Minato's quiet for a long moment... and then, with a faint sigh, he dips his head and shrugs a little tiredly. ]

I... don't know.

[ ...

Then he reaches out, gently, to grab Akira's sleeve between his fingers. ]

... Except... um, being with you, right now.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . ah. . .]

[Akira's smile is soft and gentle as he dislodges his sleeve from Minato's grip, replacing it with laced fingers and palms pressed tightly together. he doesn't say anything verbally to that, but only because he feels like the gentle contact speaks far louder than words]

[they've made it to the bottom of the stairwell now, so. . . it's time to pad quietly to Akira's room. no one else from Echidna seems to be around in the common areas to bother them, at least!!]

[messianic]

[ Minato is not about to argue with that, honestly. The contact is warm and gentle, and he's content to just follow quietly. He barely gives the common areas a glance--once he notes they're alone, his shoulders slump a little in relief.

He likes Echidna, but he's not in any state to socialize much more, honestly.

To Akira's room...! ]

[survivaltricks]

[socializing is hard after a long day of murder!! Akira stays silent all the way up until his bedroom door clicks quietly shut behind them. only then does he turn towards Minato, taking the other wild card's free hand in his own, so they're standing face-to-face with both pairs laced together]

. . .

There's something I wanted to ask you.

[messianic]

[ Minato just blinks at Akira blankly, a little blearily. It's pretty plain from his face that he has absolutely not idea where this is going. ]

... Mm? Okay. What is it?

[survivaltricks]

[there's a pause while Akira searches Minato's expression and tries to find the words to say what it is he wants to say. and in the end--]

. . . did you mean it?

[THAT'S VAGUE]

[messianic]

[ THAT'S VERY VAGUE.

And Minato is still exhausted and quickly reaching the end of his stamina; now that he's back with Akira, he doesn't feel like he has to be "on", anymore, and can kind of just... relax.

So he just looks puzzled, clearly not at all remembering or processing what Akira's talking about. ]

... Probably...? I usually mean what I say...

[ ...? ]

What are we talking about in particular, though?

[survivaltricks]

[his cheeks flush a little red when Minato says "I usually mean what I say," because. . . that's true, isn't it?? it's one of the most obvious things about Minato in the first place]

. . .

[DEEP BREATH. . . and he brings Minato's both of hands up to his mouth so he can brush a light kiss against his knuckles]

Okay

Then-- I love you, too.

[FOR THE FIRST TIME HE'S SAID IT ALOUD]

[messianic]

[ ...?

?????

??????????

Minato... needs a moment. ]

[messianic]

[ that knuckles kiss was so cute??? His heart absolutely skipped a beat there. ]

[messianic]

[ ....................... wait, he did say that, didn't he? It's a little vague in his head but he's pretty sure-- ]

done

[messianic]

[ .........................

Minato just... kind of nods slowly... because there is nothing else he can really do at this point.

He said it. Now Akira's said it. The words themselves make his entire heart flipflop and also somehow jump to his throat, and he's not entirely sure how to respond at all.

Because... because he does mean it. He did, and he does. And he's exhausted, he's overwhelmed, he's at the end of his rope and so...

Softly, with his cheeks flushed and his eyes wide: ]

... I do love you. Too. I--I meant it. Every single word.

[survivaltricks]

[Akira's lips curve into a smile against Minato's knuckles, his expression soft and definitely adoring]

Yeah?

[his thumbs trace idle patterns against the backs of Minato's hands]

It was very romantic, the way you said it.

[FOR A DEFINITION OF ROMANCE]

[messianic]

Was it...?

[ Minato is not so sure about that, but... he just smiles a little, pitching forward to gently thunk his forehead against Akira's. ]

Well... so long as you're happy, I'm happy. Like I said... I really meant it.

I'd never take it back.

[survivaltricks]

It was.

[he is going to stay firm on this, too!! he leans forward as well, pressing their foreheads together as his eyes flutter and he finally drops their hands loosely between them]

It made my heart flutter like a bundle of butterflies.

[messianic]

[ ..... he blinks. ]

Wow. That's... that's really cute, Akira.

You're really cute.

[survivaltricks]

[EASILY]

Thanks.

You're really cute, too. Just so you know.

[his tone is light!! because despite the depth of the words they've now exchanged between them. . . some things never change]

[messianic]

[ ... Minato, unfortunately, interrupts this adorable moment with... a huge, jaw-cracking yawn.

And is just left blinking blearily afterwards.

Maybe they should nap. ]