Game 035 [Action] - Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart

[neverplaysfair]

[ If you're up and about late, late on the border of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you might happen to catch Joshua making his way from the plaza towards Community Housing 5, holding what on closer inspection reveals itself to be a violin case. He's rather under-dressed, especially considering the snow is picking up, but he doesn't seem to mind much at all.

A little later, you can find him on top of Community Housing 5, sans violin case. He's just sitting in the snow, staring up at the stars that occasionally peek through the clouds. ]

Comments

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

If I could give you that instead, I would. In an instant. Not like I have much to go back to.

[ He glances back at Josh, worry starting to seep into his voice. ]

You need her, too, but that's one thing you can't have.

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua is quiet for a long moment. Then, very calmly he responds. ]

I know.

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

I've got the next best thing. Not even close to being the same, but it's something. Please let me try it?

[ He keeps the exasperation out of his voice, and the desperation, which both itch at the back of his mind. The 'please' is honest, faintly concerned. ]

[neverplaysfair]

Why are you so insistent? [ It's not said bitterly. It's a question asked mostly out of curiosity. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

I don't like to see you hurting.

[ Sanae seems almost surprised by the question, and his response is just as honest as the request before it. ]

I worry for you, J. For the city, you know that, but for you too.

[neverplaysfair]

[ After a moment, he quietly stands up, gaze still fixed on the sky above. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ Sanae watches with cautious curiosity, expression beginning to turn just a little sad. ]

I don't think I've earned any right to it. But I do like being able to help -- call it concern for Shibuya's safety if you want to, but that is only half of it.

[neverplaysfair]

[ Without a word, Joshua turns and heads towards the stairs down off the roof. He makes it halfway, stops, and without turning around, ]

Well? Aren't you coming along?

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ He brightens immediately but quietly, just smiling, and hauls himself to his feet. The guy scoops up the plate of half-eaten cake and trots along behind Josh. ]

We walking?

[neverplaysfair]

Annoyed at the cold? [ He giggles, giving Sanae a sideways glance. Here he was half expecting you to leave the cake up here to freeze. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

Annoyed is the wrong word.

[ The smile hasn't faded. ]

[neverplaysfair]

Frustrated?

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

Sounds about right. I'm usually more of a walking guy, but in this weather, d'you mind if we take the fast way?

[neverplaysfair]

[ Dramatic sigh~ ]

If you insist... [ And before Sanae can say any more, Josh is already standing in Kat's Kradle. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ A moment later, his boyfriend family the other half of this married couple is beside him. ]

Your bed or mine?

[ Yes, he does know how that sounds, thank you. ]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua giggles, for a moment, leaning in almost close enough to kiss Sanae... ]

Yours.

[ And suddenly he's backed off and is heading towards the stairs. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ He's startled by the closeness, twitches back a little more out of surprise than actual annoyance. The way Josh changes tones so quickly gets a bit of a smile from him, though, and Sanae follows. ]

Java was sleeping there when I left, not sure where she is now. I've been tryin' to keep her in because of the snow.

[neverplaysfair]

Too bad I've already moved some of the canvases back onto my bed, then. [ After cleaning them off for his seduction attempt a few days ago, he means. ] You should let her out a bit. Then she'll stay in all on her own.

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

You think she'll come back? She's still pretty young. Talking cat over the journals went to the trouble of telling me so.

[ He makes a small amused noise, now attempting to take off that jacket without dropping the cake. ]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Meanwhile, Joshua's back and wings are still sopping wet. Not that he seems to mind. ]

Oh, just open the door for her. I doubt she'll go far, and she certainly won't run fast through the snow if she does take off. You'll catch her if you have to. [ He giggles as he watches Sanae maneuver himself and the cake. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

I'll give it a try tomorrow. A Christmas present for the cat.

[ He manages to hold back the CAT puns here, too intent on getting upstairs. ]

You wanna grab a dry shirt first? Or just take it off, if the cold won't bug you.

[neverplaysfair]

[ Guess what Joshua will be doing, then? Taking off his shirt as he's walking and tossing it over his shoulder for Sanae to catch. Or not. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ Hope you don't mind some cake on that shirt, Josh. Arms loaded, Sanae gives up on getting the jacket off and just follows Josh to his room. ]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Not really. But one thing that's now clearly visible to Sanae is the pair of scars running down Joshua's back. They're still there, still all the way down, but they're not so discolored as they've been at times in the past. A little bruising around the edges, but it's mostly just the reddish-brownish of wounds that look like they're on their way to making impressive-looking scars, except that these are the scars, these aren't healing any time soon.

Joshua doesn't even act like they're there as he makes his way up the stairs and down the hall to Sanae's room. ]

[nattocat.livejournal.com]

[ He slows down a little, tripped up by the rawness of the wounds, the way they still look so fresh and painful. That's not what a scar should look like, and it bothers him that there's little left to do about it. Not without some very extreme warping of Josh's Soul and code, at least, and even then he's not sure how much can be reversed, only slowed.

He thinks of the bullet wound in his waist and wonders just how many scars they'll have by the time they get out of here. If they ever do.

Once they're in-- ]

... get comfy and I'll tuck you in, then.

[ The amusement seems a bit lacking. ]