high_seas | All fun and games

[Stops beside him, panting as well, though he remains upright.]

Okay, come on. No stopping yet, we've gotta get on board.

[He leans down, reaching for one of Natsuno's arms and pulling it over his shoulders, his own arm snaking around Natsuno's waist to give him some support.]

Just a little farther, then we can rest.

[Natsuno is admittedly a little surprised when Riku takes his arm and pulls him closer to help him out. It's just unexpected, but he doesn't pull away.]

Just a little more.

[His free hand comes up to grip his jacket. He's beginning to shake a little. With the danger gone, he's no longer running on pure adrenaline.]

[The shaking worries him a bit, and he quickly leads Natsuno up the dock and onto the ship. He doesn't stop there, though, no point leaving him on deck if they end up under attack or something. Instead, he shoulders his way into the galley and finds a chair to lower Natsuno onto.

Then he zips over to the cabinets, grabbing a cup that he fills with water. He crouches down next to Natsuno's chair, holding it out for him.]

Hey.

[Despite everything, Natsuno may not always be the best in high stress situations. He's able to think a little clearer, although he's trembling.

He doesn't say anything when Riku leaves him sitting there and he's staring at nothing when Riku comes back. His voice grounds him a little and he blinks at him, reaching out a shaking hand for the cup. It takes both of them to steady it and pull the water up for a much needed drink.]

Hey.

[Holds onto the cup, steadying it, until Natsuno's had his fill. He stays next to his chair even when he's done drinking.]

How are you doing?

[He drinks almost all of it and exhales softly. He looks at Riku when he's finished.]

I'm...I don't know.

[There isn't any point in lying to him. He glances at his hands.]

I'm covered in blood.

[Looks at Natsuno's hands, too, and grimaces.]

You need to wash off, and a shower would probably help anyway. You're not still injured anywhere, are you?

[The blood on his hands and sleeves and dripped onto the front of his shirt, isn't his, thankfully.]

No. I healed when I...I bit people.

[He grimaces, Natsuno knows he lost control, mostly.]

I wasn't thinking right.

It was self-defense.

[Says this in a tone that basically scream 'don't even try to argue with me'.]

Anyway, those assholes deserved it.

[He stands and holds a hand out, seemingly uncaring of the blood on Natsuno's hands.]

Come on. Bath.

[Natsuno nods in agreement and places his hand in Riku's. A bath really did sound like a great idea. Where he'd been kept had been filthy.]

I...I know they did. I was really hungry and mad and just, yeah, I'm pretty sure I wasn't all that aware. I think I lost control, Riku.

[Helps pull him out of the chair, then sort of hovers for a second, uncertain if Natsuno will need a shoulder to lean on again or if he can make it to the bathroom.]

It doesn't matter. [Speaks firmly.] You snapped out of quickly enough. All I had to do was get your attention.

[He's unsteady for a moment as his balance is shifted from sitting to standing. Right, he's supposed to be going to have a bath now. He pushes his hair out of his eyes.]

Yeah, you grabbed me.

[Natsuno nods at him, giving him a grateful look.]

Sorry, I didn't sleep last couple of days.

[Nods.]

Yep. So if it happens again, I'll just grab you again.

[Gives him a quick look-over, then turns away to lead the way out of the galley, rubbing the back of his neck as he goes.]

...Me neither. You had it worse, though. Obviously.

Thanks.

[Natsuno blinks a bit as he follows him a little helplessly. He's stopped shaking at last and he's feeling a lot better now that he's out of there.]

You didn't sleep?

[Natsuno sighs a bit.]

It's not that they were doing things at night, it's just that I was really worried. Anxiety I guess. I'm not sure what would have happened if they hung me and I didn't die. That'd be...hard to play off.

Of course I didn't sleep. I couldn't.

[He's scowling, and it comes through in the tone of his voice.]

They had Kairi. Selphie. You. Sleep was the last thing on my mind.

[He glances back at Natsuno.]

...They probably would've freaked out. It would've been amusing. [Pauses.] Not...the you being hanged part. Them not knowing what the hell was going on.

[Natsuno nods a little bit.]

You guys saved us though. I thought you would come.

[That hope, that had been enough. Even though it would be hard to kill him, they probably could have figured it out.]

That's true. Would have been unexpected.

[He steps forward to meet his stride instead of following him.]

If my friends are in trouble, I'm always going to come.

[Simple as that.

They make their way down to the bathroom and Riku pushes inside. ...Except then he realizes that at this point he's probably not needed anymore, and wonders if he should leave.]

Uh. I guess you know how to work a bathtub...

[Natsuno feels a bit of warmth at the words, because he believes Riku and it's nice to have some semblance of back up.

He does know how to work a bathtub of course, but he isn't sure he wants to be alone. He wonders if he should say something but exhales. No, he's not a child.]

Yeah.

[Natsuno takes off his coat. His shirt, which isn't done up very well is filthy, torn in a few places and when he turns to set his coat aside, is soaked in blood all along the back. That blood was his. His shirt was clinging to him in odd ways because of it, and clearly his uniform has seen better days.]

[Grimaces a bit at all that blood, which quickly turns into a full-blown frown. Seeing it just makes him angry, and he has to take a deep breath and look away.]

Okay, then I'll just...

[He trails off, taking a step back and preparing to edge his way out of the bathroom to give Natsuno some privacy.]

[Despite his earlier thoughts, his hand shoots out against his will and his fingers curl into Riku's shirt.]

I...Could you just...

[He steps a little closer to Riku. He seems to have difficulty with what he wants to say. It's a really weird request after all, but after being in that dingy cell he'd rather have some sort of civilized conversation.]

[Immediately pauses, giving Natsuno a searching look. Then he nods.]

Yeah, of course.

[He reaches for Natsuno's hand, the one curled around his shirt, and disentangles his fingers from the material before giving his wrist a brief, gentle squeeze. He shoots Natsuno a quick smile to go with the gesture, and then steps past him to start running the water.]

You'll probably want to rinse off first. ...And we're going to have to get you new clothes.

Thanks. Yeah, I'll need something else.

[Natsuno gives him a weak smile back and when he changes his attention to the bath, he works on getting his shirt off. He blushes a little, embarrassed mostly for his own behaviour.]

You don't have to like, watch or anything, I just...don't go, okay?

[In a crouching position as he tests the water and tries to get it to a good temperature, but he throws Natsuno a look over his shoulder and gives him a kind of leering grin.]

Well damn, that takes all the fun out of it.

[He makes an attempt to waggle his eyebrows, but instead just kind of loses it and snorts out a laugh instead, burying his face against his arm for a second. Then he twists around and plops down on the ground, leaning back against the tub and closing his eyes.]

Don't worry, man. I'm not going anywhere....and I promise I won't stare.

[Natsuno gives him an amused headshake.]

I don't mind really. I've been to public baths before. We have them in Japan. It's not something you go to often, but sometimes. And hot springs.

[As he babbles a bit, he strips properly. He glances over himself, apart from being dirty, he's not actually as grimy as he thought. The blood on his back is mostly gone, thanks to his healing abilities, the rest is minimal in comparison. Deciding he doesn't need to rinse off, he steps over and climbs into the tub, settling in. The water is perfect and just what he needs, frankly. His hand lazily drapes over the side, fingertips touching Riku's shoulder.]

This place is really different from Japan.

[Opens his eyes again now that Natsuno's safely behind him. He cranes his head back a bit, though, in an attempt to at least meet Natsuno's eyes, and his hair brushes against the other boy's arm.]

Public baths, seriously? That seems...awkward.

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