[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

[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.]

[complexing]

[Touya watches for a few minutes to make sure Yue's got it all handled, then sets to cutting the meat for the meal. It's nice to do this sort of thing with him, though he keeps looking over to make sure Yue doesn't look like he's being gangpressed into mushroom duty.]

[winged_moon]

[If anything, Yue seems a little more relaxed than he normally does, now lacking the subtle tension that always seems to be present in the set of his shoulders. It could be simply because he doesn't currently have the weight of his wings burdening them, but... one might almost think he's enjoying himself. Especially when he finishes the mushrooms and moves over to check the grocery bag and see what else he can work on, all without being asked.]

[complexing]

[Touya does note this, and is a little excited that Yue looks like he's having a good time. Or, really, he doesn't look sad or annoyed or bored--so he must be happy to help?]

The negi needs to be chopped up too, if you want to handle that.

[winged_moon]

[Well, see, now that Touya has called attention to what he's doing, Yue isn't quite so interested in doing it. Yue hesitates a moment with one hand poised over the bag, then frowns just slightly and pulls the onions out. With the air of one doing a great favor he takes them over to the cutting board and begins to chop them, quickly and neatly but without any sign of interest.]

[complexing]

[Touya does his best not to laugh. Yue is reminding him of Sakura right now--helping, but not doing what her older brother says to do. Okay, okay, Touya can just let Yue do his own thing.]

[Though he does want to thank Yue for chopping those onions, because he's never able to do it all in one go... Of course if he says anything, Yue might just stop altogether. And it was kind of cute watching him cook.]

[winged_moon]

[Only a short time later Yue finishes that up, frowning critically at the end result before he sets the knife down and steps back from the board.]

I should allow Yukito to help you finish this. Since he will be eating dinner, not I.

[complexing]

Okay. [Touya has finished slicing the meat by now. He picks up a towel and wipes his hands briefly before walking over to Yue.] Thanks for the help. [He leans down to put a kiss on Yue's cheek.]