[014] [video/action] happy, happy birthday, from all of us to you

[complexing]

[The video starts up and Touya looks rather intensely into the camera. For having just turned 21, he looks fairly grumpy.]

Okay, so my birthday only comes around once every four years, technically, so I figure I get a free pass at this. It isn't a joke, nobody laugh.

The person... people... [He huffs in frustration and decides to keep this simple.] The person I'm with wants to take our relationship to an intimate level and I don't know how to make it special or memorable or nice or whatever. Can anyone give me some advice or something?

[A fairly hostile video for a request but... the subject has clearly been on his mind for a few days. Long enough that he's so desperate for advice, he's gone public.]

[Action]

[Even though it's his birthday, Touya isn't making such a big deal out of it. He goes to work at Seventh Heaven, picks up some groceries (ingredients for one of his favorite meals), and walks home. Meanwhile, he's pondering the responses he's received from the network and, oddly enough, thinking about his mother. Had she ever thought that she would see her son turn 21? It wasn't much of a milestone, honestly, but Touya always tended to think about his mom on his birthday, and all of those small celebrations he'd had when he was younger. And how annoyed he was when his dad explained why Touya's birthday wasn't always on the calendar.]

[Some of these memories have Touya smiling at times when maybe it wasn't really appropriate to smile, but he isn't thinking about everyone else at the moment.]

Comments

[winged_moon]

I did.

[Yue shifts his wings, spreading them a little wider and shaking them once to re-settle the feathers before drawing them back in again. He seems pleased that Touya accepted the offer so enthusiastically, inasmuch as it's possible to read the guardian's expressions.

He drifts a little closer, holding out a hand to Touya with something possibly approaching a smile.]

When you're ready, then.

[complexing]

[Touya nods and meets Yue halfway, taking the guardian's hand. He steps further in towards Yue and puts his arm around the other's shoulders, shifting the groceries to his other arm.]

[winged_moon]

[Though he would never openly acknowledge the thought, Yue can't help but note just how comfortably the two of them fit together like this; it's as simple to rest his arm around Touya's waist as the other's arm goes over his shoulders, both of them settling against the other as though that was where they were meant to be.

It didn't stop Yukito from noting it himself, though, and the guardian's wings flicked slightly as though dismissing that thought from his mind while he glanced over at Touya in a pronounced show of making certain he was prepared.]

Hold on.

[Though likely an entirely unnecessary suggestion, it serves well enough as warning before Yue launches into the air with a sweep of his broad wings, taking the two of them up above the rooftops of the village in mere moments.]

[complexing]

[Touya vaguely notes it as well, though he's happy to simply be close to Yue without wondering what was too close and how close he was allowed. Yue had grabbed his shirt when they were kissing--that was pretty much a go-ahead signal as far as Touya was concerned.]

[He holds on, though he knows Yue isn't going to drop him so perhaps he wasn't too clingy or too firm with his grip. Touya watches the ground pull away, quietly excited to see Luceti from the air again. At sunset, it's especially beautiful, prison or no. Orange and yellows falling across the dirt roads and buildings, the glistening lake far off in the distance, people walking by at the end of another day for some people. Did they see that it was this beautiful? Well, Touya could appreciate it, that was enough for him.]

Sometimes I wish I could fly too, so I could see this all the time.

[winged_moon]

[Oh Touya, if you think you're going to get consistent signals from Yue you need to think again. Right now, though, he's allowing the close contact willingly enough, with one arm around Touya in a firm but still gentle hold as he pauses to hover above the village and allow a better look at the view spreading before them.]

...you have but to ask.

[Is that an invitation? It might just be.]

[complexing]

[Well, consistent or not, Touya is patient enough and thinks he has (at last) a decent idea of when Yue wants contact and when he needs time alone. Perhaps what that moment at Christmas meant to Touya was that he didn't have to wonder about Yue's feelings anymore--the long-term feelings instead of the day-to-day moods.]

[Touya slips his hand through the handles of the grocery bag so he can put his other hand on Yue's shoulder. Not because he needs to, but he feels awkward with only one hand around Yue.] You'd be flying me to work every other day, then. [He laughs softly.] And I like it best when I know we both want to be up here.

[winged_moon]

[Yue is silent for a moment after that, apparently focused on the effort it takes to hold them both steady aloft or the view below or perhaps a combination of both. And then his wings beat a little harder against the air, taking them up slightly higher as he turns to head in the direction of the house, his voice almost lost in the wind of passage.]

I always want to be up here.

[complexing]

Always? [Touya tilts his head slightly, smile fading into his usual neutral expression. He watches the tops of the buildings go by for a minute, then he smirks softly.]

So I should work on learning how to fly.

[winged_moon]

[Yue glances sharply toward Touya again, startled with just a hint of dismay that disappears quickly. He knows that Touya doesn't remember the particular experiment when he could do just that, but... really, if the wings would cause the rest of his, well, behavior then Yue would much rather he stay earthbound forever.

Experiments are experiments, though, and the guardian turns back to watching where they're going with a small shake of his head, noting the house coming closer a little faster than he might have liked.]

...or I could share the sky when you wished it.

[complexing]

I'd like that. [He nods, also noting the house is getting closer.] Though I guess part of me wishes I didn't have to keep you from the sky. It's another half of the world that's even more different than I'd originally thought. It seems a shame to keep you on the ground if you want to see me. [He smiles, looking back at the sunset.] I guess I wouldn't mind being pulled up here whenever you wanted to hang out, though.

[winged_moon]

[It takes another moment before Yue speaks, but once again it's quiet, as though he finds it difficult to share so much of himself.]

It's a part of me— flying. The sky. All of it.

[And with that admission he begins to descend, wings flaring as he reaches the ground and releases his hold on Touya again, his voice growing softer still.]

...but so are you.

[complexing]

[Touya blinks, slightly surprised that Yue said something like that. But in the end, he realizes it isn't anything that he should be surprised about. He and Yue and Yuki were threads braided together before they'd even realized it. It was a magic Touya was grateful for, because it gave him all of the happiness he'd even wanted.]

Staying grounded is a part of me, too. In more ways than just the literal sense. [He chuckles, reaching out to stroke Yue's hair softly.] But I think I'm happiest when I'm flying with you. Or when you make me feel like I'm flying.

[winged_moon]

...feel like you're flying?

[Though momentarily uncertain at the touch Yue allows it, his eyes lowering in a gesture that might be considered bashful should it be made by someone who wasn't the aloof guardian.]

[complexing]

Yeah. [He smiles, thumb stroking over a lock of Yue's hair. It really was the most beautiful silver white...] Like I couldn't be anywhere more beautiful if I tried.

[winged_moon]

Ah.

[Yue's lids lower a little more, then he blinks and glances around them again. They're... out in front of the house. In the open. Not that he thinks anyone is watching, but what if?

He hesitates, then his wings lift, traced in white light for a moment before they fade away. It's clearly a sign he intends to go inside and now, for most of the rest of the time he's reluctant to let them go.]

[complexing]

[Touya, on the other hand, is happily entrenched in admiring Yue (again) and how soft his hair was. Of course when the guardian starts looking around, Touya looks too. What, was that crazy guy coming out to growl again?]

[His attention is called back to Yue when he sees the familiar glow and the wings vanish. It must have been time to go inside, then. Touya smiles and gently takes Yue's hand to lead him inside.]

I got stuff to make some of my favorite things for dinner tonight. [He leads them both inside and shuts the door, pausing for a moment, then locking it.] I never asked--can you taste what Yuki eats? You don't do the eating thing, I know, but I'd be happy if we could all share it somehow.

[winged_moon]

[Taking his... hand. That earns Touya a somewhat uncertain sidelong glance, though Yue doesn't pull away even as he follows.

There's another, even more uncertain look at the door-locking, especially with how obvious as it is, but the question distracts the guardian enough that he turns back to blink at Touya in apparent puzzlement.]

We are separate— I can be aware of his thoughts and emotions, should I choose, but that is all.

[And no, he really isn't interested in trying to taste food, his tone also says.]

*turns inbox upside down and shakes it* WHERE IS MY NOTIF? 8|

[complexing]

Oh. [He chuckles, putting his coat on one of the hooks behind the door and moving towards the kitchen with the groceries. Even though he can tell Yue noticed the locking of the door, he's trying to pass it off as nothing special.] I don't know, he seems to put a lot of feeling into his eating.

You sure you won't try some? [Touya pulls his head out of one of the cabinets, and he has a face on. The face of 'I Might Be Sad If You Tell Me No, But It's Okay, I'll Get Over It... Someday...]

[winged_moon]

[Yue blinks once, looking as though he doesn't quite comprehend, then glances away again as he folds his arms across his chest.]

I do not require it.

If you're going to start dinner I should allow Yukito to help.

[complexing]

[Damn. Apparently this face doesn't work in reverse: it only works when Yuki uses it on Touya.]

I haven't seen you all day. [He frowns, closing one of the cabinets.] I can at least start on my own. Sit with me for a bit. I promise I won't make you try to eat. [He smiles.]

[winged_moon]

[You say that like you're accustomed to having Yue around constantly, Touya. He isn't about to sit, but he does relent slightly and move a bit closer, looking over the groceries curiously.]

What are you going to make?

[complexing]

[True, he doesn't see Yue often. But it's his birthday. He saw Yuki at breakfast, and he knows he'll be seeing him soon enough. For today, he wants to see Yue a bit longer.]

Sukiyaki. One last winter dish for the last day in February. [He picks up the bag full of vegetables and turns to Yue.] You want to help with the vegetables?

[winged_moon]

Ah.

[Yue hesitates, meeting Touya's eyes and holding them for a very long moment before he finally relaxes just a fraction and reaches out a hand to take whatever Touya wants to give him to work on.]

...very well.

[complexing]

Great. Here, why don't you take the stems out of the mushrooms-- ah, they have to be washed, too. [He passed the bag to Yue, smiling. Even if Yue didn't eat, maybe this was one way to get him involved in the process. Sometimes Touya wondered if he didn't make enough of an effort.]

[winged_moon]

[Yue inclines his head slightly in acknowledgment, then wordlessly takes the bag of mushrooms and sets to work. It's clear that he knows exactly what he's doing— in fact, it's almost like watching Yukito at work in the kitchen. Perhaps he may not eat, but he's not at all unaccustomed to preparing food.]