complexing | [APPOINTMENT POST] suit and tie

[Continued from this thread (http://guardiancomplex.livejournal.com/3331.html?thread=78595#t78595)]

[Lab is out in his garden in the afternoon on the day after Touya said he'd make him a boxed lunch and help him with his plant nursery.]

[For an instant after awakening Yue isn't sure why he had been sleeping beneath one of the trees behind the house— if he'd dozed off outside then Touya would have woken him up, wouldn't he? And then it all comes back to him: the kidnapping, the time spent in the Malnosso facility, and then returning to the village altered, his memories changed as though he'd been himself of the long-ago past.

He rises swiftly to his feet, cheeks flushing with both anger and embarrassment at how he'd been acting, then pauses. There was another who likely had more right to be upset than he, given that he'd been left essentially in limbo during that time, entirely forgotten by his other self. And yet he can feel nothing from Yukito but reassurance and... perhaps a touch of wistfulness. In silent answer the guardian wraps his wings around himself and allows the change to happen as it hadn't in weeks.

Though Yukito is quite glad to be himself again, he doesn't spare any time to think about it: he simply hurries into the house, heading for the room where Touya should still be asleep at this hour. And there he is indeed, likely exhausted after the last little while, and Yukito can't help the faint pang at how tired he looks. He kneels beside the bed, gently brushing hair from Touya's forehead before leaning in to kiss him.]

[Touya walks in tentatively, looking around to make sure he has the right place. Looks definitely like a nursery... Obviously, he's carrying the promised vegetarian boxed lunch.]

Labrador-san? [He calls, not particularly loudly, but a polite volume.] It's Kinomoto Touya, I'm here to help?

[With Yuki all but completely gone, and Yue refusing to believe that Clow wasn't in Luceti, Touya had been left with a lot of time to himself. Time that he didn't want to spend too much time thinking during. Thinking only made him hate his situation, and feel even more lonely. It was best to keep busy and hope that soon, the effects would undo themselves.]

[Which meant Touya was always working overtime, both at Seventh Heaven, and at Labrador's nursery. He was always either working, or eating, or sleeping. Now, he happens to be passed out in his (really his and Yue and Yuki's) room. On his back, still half dressed.]

[He's half-aware of someone coming into the room, but his subconscious dismisses it as Yue coming in to ask another question about Luceti or where he might find Clow or why he might not be able to feel Clow--Clow, Clow, always Clow. Even dead this guy was a pain. Though once he feels soft warmth on his forehead, his eyes open and he's awake. Wide awake after the second it takes him to register that Yuki's over him.]

Yuki-- [He sits up and immediately pulls Yuki to him, holding him tightly.]

[Yukito gives a soft, startled laugh, sounding both delighted and somehow relieved at Touya's reaction, and relaxes against him. It's so nice to finally be here again for real, his senses alive with Touya's warm presence.]

I missed you, too.

[Touya, however, doesn't relax at all. He's still holding Yuki tightly as though his boyfriend will disappear if he even thinks about letting go.]

I was so scared you had disappeared. I was so scared they had erased you.

Erased...?

[Now Yukito is starting to sound a little puzzled, and a bit worried himself.]

How long was I gone?

[Well, one part of the garden has been set aside as a nursery, the rest is in the greenhouse. Lab is in the nursery part of the garden, checking on his baby plants. Then he stands up when he hears his name and smiles.]

Ah, Touya! Good afternoon.

Twenty-one days. [Touya counted. And he might just hold Yuki for another twenty-one days, just to make up for it.]

...twenty-one?

[His voice is soft, disbelieving; it can't have been that long, could it? But Touya certainly has no reason to mislead him, especially not when he sounds so exactly certain.

But because Yukito is Yukito, the smile is audible in his voice when he recovers and continues.]

No wonder I was so happy to see you again.

I think I'm the one who's supposed to say that. [Touya reluctantly lets go of Yuki, separating them slightly but keeping his hands on Yuki's shoulders.] Are you hungry? I made some food for you, I just have to heat it up.

You know me, Touya, I don't think I'd ever refuse food.

[Though he isn't exactly jumping up and running off to the kitchen. In fact, he's just leaning in again, resting his forehead lightly against Touya's as though reluctant to allow the close contact to end.]

[Neither is Touya. He's just sitting there, staring right into Yuki's eyes, so happy to see them again. Not that he didn't like spending time with Yue, but he had missed Yuki's cheerful demeanor. Hell, he had missed just seeing Yuki in and around the house.]

Can you wait a minute? [He leans in.]

Possibly?

[Yukito's smile quirks a little with amusement, though the warmth in his eyes remains unchanged. He really is quite glad to see Touya again, clearly.]

It depends on why....

I haven't seen you for twenty days, that's why. [He closes the distance quickly, as though starving, and kisses him firmly. More determination and relief than actual passion, but it was the feeling he needed to convey and couldn't find words for.]

[Yukito makes a soft, pleased sound, not unlike a laugh cut off by the press of lips against his, and returns the kiss in kind with at least as much feeling. It's good to be back. Very good indeed.]

[Touya isn't quite to laughing territory just yet. It's been three weeks of sleeping in the same empty, cold bed. He hasn't even been able to hold either of them. Yuki may have been amused by Touya's reaction, but to him it's completely justified.]

[He pulls Yuki by his shoulders up onto the bed and over him, so they're in their usual sleeping spots, and Touya just holds him there.] Someday maybe you'll lose me for three weeks, and then we'll see who's laughing. [He frowns, though Touya can't exactly look terribly mad when he's holding Yuki to him.]

I'm not laughing at you, Touya.

[Yukito's smile turns more gentle, and he lifts a hand to rest it against Touya's face, thumb brushing against his cheekbone.]

I just... it's good to be able to touch you again.

...yeah, I know. [He has his moments, when he thinks nobody really recognizes how hard he's been working or how rough he's had it. But Yuki is always sympathetic, always asking if he's alright. The past few weeks just have him on edge.]

Sorry. It was just hard, watching Yue fly around and not knowing what to do. I didn't even know if I would see you again. I didn't think I could take much more of driving myself into the ground so I could distract myself.

But I'm here now. We're both here, and everything is back to normal... as much as it can be, in this place.

[Touya pauses, just to shift and make himself more comfortable. There's a sigh in there as well, more comfortable and tired than frustrated to upset.]

For now, but I can't help but think about what happens if you both left me again. I almost lost you once and I could actually do something about it. And this time... [He resumes holding Yuki tightly.]

Don't focus so much on what might happen, Touya. Not when it could keep you from being happy right now.

[Yukito isn't exactly against being held, and is in fact going to settle himself a little more comfortably as well. Just for this moment there isn't a thing he wants to change.]

But here... I was freaking out all over the network, setting up search parties, Neliel-san and Kairi and Link were looking for you. I never once felt like I wasn't lonely when you weren't here. And it just scares me, to think that I could feel that way every day if something happened.

[All right, one thing he wants to change. It would be easier to be content if Touya wasn't so obviously distressed.]

I appreciate that you were so concerned, but... there's no need to invite trouble that doesn't exist right now. You might feel that way if something happened. I would, if something happened to you. But nothing has happened yet. I'm back, safe and sound, and that's all I need.

[Touya takes a deep breath, breathing in all of his anxieties and holding them there, and then letting everything out.]

You're right, I know you're right. [He loosens his grip on Yuki and tries to relax. Maybe he just hasn't been sleeping enough. He feels about as high-strung as he did when he still had his powers and Sakura was out in the middle of the night.]

[APPOINTMENT POST] suit and tie

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[Action, August 30]

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