009 | [action/voice]

[screwthegods]

[It's late in the evening when Homura finds himself deposited from one dark room into another. His defenses are up, instincts screaming to protect his battered and bruised body from further injury. Yet despite his will, the Malnosso have done their damage; his wounds are severe, blood still seeping from barely-patched gashes along his torso. Equally deep red stains mark the new-feather pants, leaving Homura dizzy and weak. He clings the first solid object he finds with his palm, swaying in an all-too telling fashion even as he tries to take a few steps forward. Having no idea about his location just yet, Homura struggles for patience as his eyes adjust to the darkness.]


[Later in the night, Homura makes the trek across the village to his own apartment. He's better now, though blood still dries on his clothes as he moves. It's a long trip to the highest floor of Community Housing 3, and the silence that meets him on his return is hardly as welcoming as most might expect. Instead of his own room, his own bed, Homura first heads across the hall to the bedroom once occupied by a fellow demi-god. He finds it empty, however, stripped of possessions and personalization that had once marked Nataku's presence. Despite the fatigue, Homura opens his journal then; better to make the announcement right away. There is no telling how long it's already been delayed.]

To those that might have known him, Toushin Nataku Taishi has been sent home.


[ooc: Late night overdue return from mallynap! Homura will be patched up by Ayumu before he heads for his own house, but he's otherwise free over the journal or in person to anyone interested who would be up that late.]

Comments

[ayu_nee]

[She hesitates only briefly, meeting his eyes before she shakes her head and pulls free again. Until she's finished with what she's working on she doesn't want to stop.]

I'm fine.

And before you ask, it's the truth. I'm not just saying it.

[screwthegods]

I know it's the truth.

[Homura laughs quietly as she resumes her work. Of course Ayumu is justified to expect him to question; he's done so countless times in the past.]

As much as you like to hide, I doubt you'd do so when I was in this state. You know I wouldn't stop questioning you until I was satisfied, and that would keep you from your work. Right?

[ayu_nee]

Hm.

[It's more or less correct, though she doesn't particularly want to discuss it. Ayumu sometimes still finds it difficult to deal with the fact that he knows her that well to begin with, without going into detail.

She finishes the last bandage and leans back again, tidying up her supplies and tucking them back into the basket.]

There's something else you should know, though.

[screwthegods]

[Ayumu's silence merely serves as confirmation for Homura, and it speaks to his condition that he leaves it at that. Indeed, Homura would have been content to drift to sleep in her bed, especially once her hands stop moving over his body. Yet it's not to be, Ayumu's voice bringing Homura back to awareness just as he begins to doze.]

Is that so? [He knows she wouldn't speak such words lightly, and Homura moves to sit up, to better watch her as she speaks.] What is it?

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu finishes cleaning up and looks back toward him again, folding her hands in her lap.]

After I returned I went to check your apartment— and found it empty.

[screwthegods]

[Empty? Even Homura is caught off guard by that, what it means to suddenly have a person's items vanish from their room. Nataku's things--

Homura lets out a slow breath, knowing that there is nothing that can be done. It isn't within his power to bring Nataku back to this world, away from the Heavens that have done their best to destroy his spirit. There is nothing within Homura's power in this place, and this loss serves as a sharper reminder of that fact than the blades they used to cut into his skin.

He reaches out then, placing a hand on Ayumu's shoulder to draw her close. Another person he never should have met, a relationship that never should have been--and despite his will, his experience and regret, one Homura knows he cannot save.]

Thank you for telling me.

[ayu_nee]

You deserved to know. Better this than finding out on your own, after what you've already been through.

[She may not have been as close to Nataku as Homura clearly was, but she still... well, perhaps even liked him.]

[screwthegods]

[Deserved? Homura shakes his head slightly, then lets his hands drop from Ayumu's body. Knowing that no one would be in his own apartment on his return takes away his desire to make the trip, and he lays back on her bed. What he deserves in return for his powerlessness is far from the consideration she shows him.]

Would you mind telling me what else I've missed?

[ayu_nee]

[Ayumu frowns at him briefly, but first rises to her feet with the basket and moves to put it away.]

It was much as usual here during that time. A draft, and now more new arrivals— though instead of an experiment the Malnosso created a... a park of some kind, with activities. Though it's disappeared again now.

[With that taken care of, she moves back to kneel at his side, resting a hand on his forehead as though testing for fever.]

[screwthegods]

[Much as usual indeed. Although it seems that Homura has missed a great deal, none of the events stand out as being unusual in and of themselves. Even the mention of the park isn't so unlike the festivals they had experienced before. If anything, Homura is thankful that Ayumu herself hasn't been forced through any of the mental manipulations the Malnoso seem so fond of.

When Homura feels her hand on his skin, he turns his head slightly to look at her.]

I'm glad you're well.

[ayu_nee]

[She manages a faint hint of a smile at that.]

As am I.

[And there's a brief pause before she continues, with an admission somewhat more honest than usual.]

I was starting to wonder if you were going to return at all.

[screwthegods]

[Homura moves his hand over Ayumu's when she confesses. It's likely as close as she'll let herself come to admitting she has been worried over him, and something she never would have said only a short time before. Despite everything, that makes Homura smile more honestly.]

I apologize for making you wonder, in that case. It's unfortunate that it went so far.

[ayu_nee]

It was hardly your fault, you know.

[And she isn't pulling her hand away from his, either. Clearly she was worried, even if she won't admit to more than what she already has.]

Rest here as long as you need to.

[screwthegods]

I'm aware. [Yet that is the problem in the end: so many things entirely out of his control, moreso than they had been centuries ago. Then Homura had naivety as his excuse. Now, he simply cannot do anything to change whatever might happen.]

Thank you. [Still, he has this. Homura curls his fingers around Ayumu's, drawing her hand down to place a gentle kiss on the skin.] And you'll stay with me, I trust?

[ayu_nee]

[At that her hand does twitch slightly, as though she'd thought to draw back again but changed her mind after the initial reaction. Gentleness is still something she doesn't quite know how to deal with, especially not coming from him.]

For a time, at least. I'll need to start breakfast in a few hours.

[screwthegods]

I'll be gone before then.

[Homura feels the slight twinge, but ignores it. True enough, that gentle side is one he rarely shows, much the same as Ayumu herself hides her emotions. Keeping her hand in his, now held against his chest, Homura lets his eyes close. A few hours will be enough time for him to sleep, and face the truth of an empty apartment.]

[ayu_nee]

[It doesn't seem like enough time to her, given the extent of the injuries she'd just patched up, but arguing with Homura about it would likely be unproductive. Ayumu merely confines her reaction to a faint sigh before settling down beside him, though she isn't entirely certain just how much sleep she'll manage before morning.]