Between the Lines, All the Days and Nights... And the World is my Playground

[ktotheatothez]

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Comments

[ktotheatothez]

[ He puts Mitsuru down and lets the kitten gambol around, so that he can wrap his arms around your waist as he replies. ]

Well, I died to get into Zangyaku. [ He did. Brother Death turned his own bullet against him. ] Only fair that the new kids at least get a few cuts and scrapes.

[ Attention back to you now, steering you into the kitchen. He's surprised you haven't been asking how this place is theirs. ]

[riskythunder]

Yeah, no kidding.

[And happily letting you wheel him around. He's not asking because. Well. This is you.]

So... I have something for you.

[Hee.]

[ktotheatothez]

Hmm? [ Yes, he may have forgotten. You're here, so he's got his hands in the front pockets of your jeans, just so you're flush against him as he walks you to the kitchen. ]

Wha'issit? [ He asks, nose buried in the fabric of your shirt. That Nico smell hasn't been in his nose for WEEKS. ]

[riskythunder]

[...And somehow the rest of the Vucari have taken that time to bounce and leave you two to your own devices. They were all in on this, it seems.

'This' being the box he pulls out of his bag, and presses into your hands with a significant look.]

Open it?

[ktotheatothez]

[ 'Deja Vu...', Kaz thinks. Not too long ago, he'd gone to Tian to do something similar. ]

Is this what I think it is?

[ There's a small, shy smile that hasn't been on his face since your first kiss. The excitement's bubbling under his skin as he opens the box. ]

[riskythunder]

[It is most definitely what you think it is, and it's excellently crafted. Nico made your mask himself, from scratch --

-- which might be why he's looking a little nervous too, but trying his damned best to resist the urge to ask or fuss or fret. Too much.]

So... um. Yeah.

[Words, he cannot use them.]

[ktotheatothez]

[ He can't fathom it for a minute. When he does manage to find his voice, all he can choke out - looking at Nico with all the love in the world - is: ]

It's beautiful... Nico, I --

[riskythunder]

[And that grin's coming back, tempered, as it is, with a whole lot of relief. Prepare to be wrapped in a really tight hug.]

I'm glad you liked it. [His voice is a little rough with emotion.] Tried to make it something that really reflected the way I feel for you.

[ktotheatothez]

I can tell.

[He presses a kiss to your cheek then, before he takes a closer look at the mask. It's beautiful. The mask itself is black, white markings rim the ears and the eyes. The rest of the markings are swathes of gold on the "snout" of the mask.

It he's leaning in close as he traces the mask, thinking at first that it's a Kitsune, but then... No. The ears are too far apart, and it's a little too wide to be a fox or wolf (never mind the fact that only Hikaru has a wolf mask). He figures it out after a few more minutes of thought and smiles at his fiance.]

So you've always thought of me as a Tanuki, then?

[riskythunder]

Yeah. Somebody with many faces, yet all of them lead back to the same person.

[Ehehe.]

It... kind of became really accurate after you became a Card too.

[ktotheatothez]

Sooo...

[ He pulls in close, wrapping his arms around you with a smile playing on his face. The idea of looking like a tanuki does fit, they'll never actually see him coming, 'cause ]

You think I'm a trickster? [ Suggestive eyebrow waggle. ]

Did I somehow cast a spell on you and make you mine, Nicholas?

[riskythunder]

Did you? Because I'm pretty sure that I'd be too dumb to notice. Not that I'd care anyway.

[:D]

[ktotheatothez]

You're adorable.

[ You're getting a kiss for that, mister. ]

I'm so glad to have you home.

[riskythunder]

[Mmm, das nice. =w=]

I'm glad to be home. Hell, I can be anywhere as long as it's close to you.

[No cheese here. It's a fact.]

[ktotheatothez]

You really are a cheeseball sometimes, but I feel the same way.

[ He's dragging you over to the table now, several boxes set aside just for the two of you. Clearly, he knows how much you can put away. His mask is back in its box for now. He'll incorporate it with his armor later. ]

Well, this is home now. I asked grampa for it 'cause the Hounds need a place to crash.

[riskythunder]

[Getting happily dragged over. The other Vucari are happily getting lost in the penthouse.]

A place that doesn't happen to be a Vigil outpost? That's always nice to have.

[ktotheatothez]

Oh this isn't a Vigil outpost at all.

[ Piles food on plate, steals a fry. ]

It's a Hound outpost.

[riskythunder]

Yeah, s'what I meant. This is a nice, neutral place where you guys can do your own thing.

[The Vucari don't have that on their end, but that might be because they're different.]

[ktotheatothez]

Hm. That's true.

[ He digs into his food quietly... It's been a while since he got to sit down and just eat with you so this feels a little new again. He's a little at war with himself because...

You'll probably hear his heart beating a little bit faster than normal. ]

[riskythunder]

[He does, and he'll only smile a bit into his food. It's not like he isn't really happy to be around you again either.]

So... I know we text and all, but... fill me in on whatever else you've been up to?

[Besides, text messages can only go so far.]

[ktotheatothez]

[ He swallows his food, and kind of leans onto the counter, lazily reaching out for your hand. ]

There's a lot...

[ The first thing he tells you is the fall of Godhand Natalie Rukia at the hands of Hikaru. He never quite told you about the move she made during his walk. ]

[riskythunder]

[Oho, listening to that intently.

After you're done:]

What a bitch.

[He doesn't need to pretend to respect her now, or be nice.]

[ktotheatothez]

Well, she brought it on herself, really. I was only ever mad because she disrespected uncle Pao, so much so that he pulled rank on her.

[ If he's scooted closer, well, that's because he probably wants your arm around him while he feeds you. ]

[riskythunder]

[Welp. He's okay with this.]

That's the thing, though: you don't DO disrespect in Zangyaku. She was a walking blight on our conspiracy, from what you've been telling me.

[ktotheatothez]

And on the Mani, and by extension, the Brotherhood... So I suppose I'm better with the fact that she got her ass handed to her by Aniki. Doesn't change the fact that I wish she had been better than all that.

[ Snuggly Kaz is Snuggly. ]