ledbythewind | APPOINTMENTS POST

[He hesitates for a moment longer, but that's really all the invitation Richard needs to practically collapse into those arms, clutching at Isamu's shirt with more than a bit of desperation in his grip. Isamu is real, solid, with a heartbeat that echoes in Richard's ear through the soaked fabric of that shirt. This isn't a bad dream.

And that's when Richard finally starts to cry.]

[Isamu sits with him quietly, knowing he may need some time. The rain has already dampened his shirt enough, so a few tears are hardly going to matter.

He has no comforting words, and he knows nothing he could say would make the situation better, so he just gently rubs his friend's back.]

[Right now, what Richard needs most is some time and that simple physical comfort. Sanji's loss hurts in a way that no other has since Naoki had gone home; it's rare that Richard lets anyone get close to him, and unfortunately, things like this just remind him of why.

Stupid Sanji. Stupid, stupid Sanji for being so kind yet firm, for understanding and not rejecting him when he found out that Richard had almost destroyed the world, for protecting him and being a sympathetic ear...

And stupid him for caring so much when he knew how it was going to end. He just buries his face against Isamu's chest and cries, though after a few moments Isamu will feel the warmth of Nala's magic as Richard casts one last spell to heal any damage he might've caused by that punch as a sort of silent apology for his actions.]

It's fine.

[One hand lifts to run through Richard's hair.]

I'm fine, at least. Keep what energy you have left.

[Oh Isamu. As upset as Richard may be, he's not stupid. He knows that Isamu was close to the chef too, and that he's no doubt hurting just as much right about now-- in other words, that he definitely isn't fine either.

He doesn't stop that healing until he's done; once he does, he moves his hand up to mirror Isamu's gesture and thread it into his friend's hair before gently attempting to tug Isamu's head down onto his shoulder.

The message is simple and clear: You don't have to pretend.]

[Isamu won't admit to anything. This is Richard's time now.

He squirms only a little, ultimately letting the blond lead his head down to his shoulder. He doesn't cry either. Not now.

He just grips the other man's shirt to let him know he appreciates the returned comfort.]

[To his credit, Richard tries to get his crying under control, because he realizes that this really isn't the best place to be having an emotional breakdown. They're both soaked to the skin and muddy and sitting on the ground in the middle of the forest and his body is finally starting to realize that fact; once the shivering starts, not even his best efforts can conceal it for long and Isamu's warmth can only do so much to alleviate it.

They need to go inside.]

... we should head back to the house.

[Good.

Seeing as the plan had been to bring Richard back from the start, Isamu is pleased that his friend has made the decision to return (mostly) on his own without having to be physically dragged back.

Well, no. It's still possible that last part will be necessary, but for different reasons.]

We should. ...Will you need help?

[He has made some progress! Sort of! Maybe. A little.

... hey, it's something.]

I think I'll be able to manage on my own.

[And testing, 1 2 3. Reluctantly he detaches himself from Isamu and tries to stand; he does in fact manage to make it to his feet on his own, though he looks a bit wobbly once he gets up there.]

[Isamu steps closer again to offer the blond a shoulder.

He'd rather him have the support, if it's all the same.]

[But Richard is stubborn and would rather not inflict anything else on Isamu, so instead he opts to reach for his friend's hand. That should give him enough support for the moment unless he really starts getting shaky.]

[Fine, be stubborn. Don't think Isamu won't scoop you up onto his back if he thinks he needs to.

But for right now, the hand is fine.]

Let me make you some soup or something. It will be nice after being out here in the rain.

Only if you agree to eat some too.

[He really doesn't have any appetite right now, but he'll try anyway. It'll be another way to distract himself from thinking too much. Maintaining control like this is harder on him than he's letting on.]

Is that the deal, then? If I eat some, you eat some? Because I can do that easily.

[And can he enforce this rule more often?]

I'd say you have yourself a deal.

[He smiles, but his grip on Isamu's hand is far too tight for that smile to be genuine.]

[He knows it still hurts, of course, but anything he can do at all to lighten the mood he has to go for. It's how he copes.]

I'll have to make this deal more often, then. It's a complete win-win for me.

And a win for me as well if it means I get a willing servant out of it.

[Lightening the mood Richard can do; he's an expert on putting on masks, after all. That's also how he copes with things.]

Oh, I'm a servant now?

[Isamu smirks.]

I'm afraid this servant will talk back when necessary.

You did just offer to make me soup.

[And he has to admit, the thought of something warm is pretty damn nice right about now, since he's freezing.]

Cooking for someone is not the same as being their servant.

[Unless you're Sanji and the person you're cooking for is female, but wow this isn't the time for that sort of joke.]

[Richard's only response is to laugh, until he stumbles slightly and is forced to lean a bit of his weight against his friend. Good thing they're almost back at the house now.]

[Isamu easily moves to allow Richard to lean.

He'll get his soup.]

[He's trying to hold himself together, and he's no idiot; he knows that Isamu is doing exactly the same thing, that the joking and teasing is every bit as much a mask for the other man as it is for him.

And he doesn't like it. Is this how Isamu feels when he tries to fake being all right?

He wants Isamu to get the chance to let things out the way he did back there in the woods. He just isn't sure how to make that happen.]

What type of soup do you want, by the way? I forget what we even have in the cabinet.

It'll probably just be from a can. I'm not up for anything particularly fancy.

[Sanji would frown at that, but he doesn't have the chef's dedication to fine cuisine.]

Anything we have will be fine... I don't have much of a preference right now as long as it's warm.

[He's not really in it for the taste right now anyway.]

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