[The concern makes Minato feel a little uneasy as he's more concerned about Yu than himself, knowing that the other has been working very hard to find answers from their previous meeting. He diverts attention from himself by looking down at the mask, staring at the cracks spreading everywhere and feeling a shiver within a deep part of his mind.
His gaze lingers, finding scant comfort in seeing those cracks while looking away from the blood on his own mask.]
That's good. [Then why does he not sound convinced, even to himself?]
I guess we'll be finding out what all of this means soon...are you ready?
[ Of course they're both more worried for each other than for themselves. Yu can hear it in Minato's voice, that the other is as unconvinced as he is, and for a long moment, just looks at him.
His free hand finds Minato's, fingers skating over warm skin, and he clasps it gently. The set of his expression is quietly resolute. ]
I don't know. [ It's the honest answer. ] We've done everything we can. We armed ourselves and our friends with information... we learned everything we could. We weren't making anymore progress... the best we can do now is be there for each other. [ The shape of his eyes softens into something wounded and worried, though his expression is otherwise unchanged. ] Dipper and Hiro will need our support.
[Minato nods mutely, watching how Yu's eyes soften and say so much more about how he feels than the expression he wears on his face. It's why he smiles faintly in response and grips Yu's hand gently but firmly- They might not have much hope, but they've tried their best.]
I agree. We'll need to stay strong not just for them but also for all our other friends...let's do our best, Yu-san.
[ Yu is quiet again, watching him thoughtfully, soaking in that smile. His expression is quiet, too, a piece of unknowable aside from the mysterious half-smile that’s formed on his lips, a reflexive response that he can’t seem to help.
They might not have much hope, but they have each other. Yu’s always found that’s really what counted.
He gives a hum of assent, standing a little straighter. The shape of his eyes is different now, soft still, but warmed by his smile. Affection touches their corners, making them crinkle just so. ]
Yeah. We will.
[ The way his heart beats in his chest tells him he should take a chance. He never did get to do this on their date, after all.
He’s still got one hand free, and that he lifts, fearless, unhesitating. He hooks his fingers under Minato’s jaw, and lets his thumb trace the faintly jutting line of his cheekbone back and forth, back and forth. It’s as if he’s trying to memorize that pale expanse with fingertip alone. ]
Minato-san, [ he murmurs.
And then he leans in, with no one to stop him this time, to press a kiss featherlight and soft to the corner of Minato’s mouth. There he lingers for only a moment before pulling away. ]
[Minato can't say he wasn't expecting this after how things went in their date before this, and he swallows involuntarily when fingers are pressed to his jaw, pulse picking up speed as Yu leans in to kiss him.
He's also not that surprised that it's a relatively tame one after the fiasco at the library and to his credit he doesn't do anything outlandish like backing off or running away, but Minato's unreadable expression as Yu pulls away is a pretty good indicator that he still doesn't know quite what to make of all of this.]
[ There's no surprise in him when Minato doesn't respond in kind, or really respond at all. As Yu pulls away and looks down at his friend with a horribly tender look, he can't help but wonder if this, this closeness, their tangled fingers, that smile from a moment ago, is still something he's managing to misread.
But he isn't being pushed away. He does know his friend well enough to know that if this were something Minato didn't want, he would already have received a much firmer no somewhere along the line. He hasn't been pushed off... Minato hasn't left. Despite himself, despite all the uncertainty he continues to feel, he can't keep himself from continuing to hope.
Yu smiles, sweet. ]
It's alright, [ he murmurs, though not in the common tongue. Daijobu. ] ... mind staying for a little longer?
[ If it's awkward for his friend now, he wouldn't blame him. But he'd be happy to just spend a while here, quiet, leaning into him, remembering what peace feels like. ]
[It is awkward for Minato even if he's quick to shake his head- he doesn't mind letting Yu lean into him, he really should know better since he's the one who has been on multiple dates before but all the same can't help but feel unnerved being with someone who understood him so well.
Someone who wasn't Ryoji or Aigis, that is. This was a little...different to say the least, and Minato had actually been alive then to make matters a little less complicated than they could have been.]
I don't mind. [Then he hesitates, something which might only be apparent to Yu if he notices that the hand he's holding has moved a little.] It's been stressful lately, and I'd like to spend some time with you too.
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His gaze lingers, finding scant comfort in seeing those cracks while looking away from the blood on his own mask.]
That's good. [Then why does he not sound convinced, even to himself?]
I guess we'll be finding out what all of this means soon...are you ready?
no subject
His free hand finds Minato's, fingers skating over warm skin, and he clasps it gently. The set of his expression is quietly resolute. ]
I don't know. [ It's the honest answer. ] We've done everything we can. We armed ourselves and our friends with information... we learned everything we could. We weren't making anymore progress... the best we can do now is be there for each other. [ The shape of his eyes softens into something wounded and worried, though his expression is otherwise unchanged. ] Dipper and Hiro will need our support.
no subject
I agree. We'll need to stay strong not just for them but also for all our other friends...let's do our best, Yu-san.
no subject
They might not have much hope, but they have each other. Yu’s always found that’s really what counted.
He gives a hum of assent, standing a little straighter. The shape of his eyes is different now, soft still, but warmed by his smile. Affection touches their corners, making them crinkle just so. ]
Yeah. We will.
[ The way his heart beats in his chest tells him he should take a chance. He never did get to do this on their date, after all.
He’s still got one hand free, and that he lifts, fearless, unhesitating. He hooks his fingers under Minato’s jaw, and lets his thumb trace the faintly jutting line of his cheekbone back and forth, back and forth. It’s as if he’s trying to memorize that pale expanse with fingertip alone. ]
Minato-san, [ he murmurs.
And then he leans in, with no one to stop him this time, to press a kiss featherlight and soft to the corner of Minato’s mouth. There he lingers for only a moment before pulling away. ]
no subject
He's also not that surprised that it's a relatively tame one after the fiasco at the library and to his credit he doesn't do anything outlandish like backing off or running away, but Minato's unreadable expression as Yu pulls away is a pretty good indicator that he still doesn't know quite what to make of all of this.]
Yu-san... [What should he even say?]
no subject
But he isn't being pushed away. He does know his friend well enough to know that if this were something Minato didn't want, he would already have received a much firmer no somewhere along the line. He hasn't been pushed off... Minato hasn't left. Despite himself, despite all the uncertainty he continues to feel, he can't keep himself from continuing to hope.
Yu smiles, sweet. ]
It's alright, [ he murmurs, though not in the common tongue. Daijobu. ] ... mind staying for a little longer?
[ If it's awkward for his friend now, he wouldn't blame him. But he'd be happy to just spend a while here, quiet, leaning into him, remembering what peace feels like. ]
no subject
Someone who wasn't Ryoji or Aigis, that is. This was a little...different to say the least, and Minato had actually been alive then to make matters a little less complicated than they could have been.]
I don't mind. [Then he hesitates, something which might only be apparent to Yu if he notices that the hand he's holding has moved a little.] It's been stressful lately, and I'd like to spend some time with you too.