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We're both okay.

[The smile Shuji gives is wavering. He might cry at any moment, and he wouldn't even beat himself up for doing that given the - past few days', apparently - events.

He unwraps one of his arms from around Mista long enough to tug on a chain around his neck and pull out from behind his shirt: the crucifix Mista had given him, intact.]

I got it safely back to you. I'm here, and you're here, and we're okay.

[That's all he asked for.]

[That's his crucifix.]

[It's not that he had any doubt Shuji's get it back safe--he never did. More than anything, he's just overcome with relief and gratitude that whatever protection he has could be Shuji's for a little while. Somebody's watching over the both of them.]

Knew you would.

[His voice is thick. He sounds stupid. He might cry, too, and if he did he wouldn't feel even a little bit bad for it. He exhales once, sharply, and lets go of Shuji long enough that he can drop the chain around his neck and settle the crucifix back in place.]

Everything's gonna be okay. We're lucky.

[Then he wraps his arms around Shuji again, hugs him tight, and kisses his forehead. It's not something he thinks about. It's just what he does.]

[Shuji probably had an answer to that, but then Mista kisses his forehead.

He's tired and in pain and he doesn't know how to parse that. He doesn't even start to think about whether Mista means it as just a friendly gesture or if he knows how Shuji feels. He doesn't have the brainpower for that right now.

All he wants to do is hug Mista for the rest of his natural life. So he gets a start on that, wrapping his arms just as tight around Mista.]

I'm so glad - I'm so glad you're safe-

[He's choked up, and already starting to cry, just a little.]

[Fuck. Okay. So that's . . . that's a reaction, for sure. Shuji crying is just going to make Mista start crying sooner or later. Which is fine, except they're both standing up and hurt and just huge messes.]

[Helplessly, he pulls Shuji in as close as he possibly can and squeezes him. Probably too tight. He squeezes his eyes shut and just focuses on this fact, that they're both here and all right and neither of them has to go out into that again for a while. They'll be okay. They will.]

Shuji, hey--hey, it's okay, I got you. You wanna sit? Let's go sit down on the couch, okay?

We should - yeah, we should sit down.

[He's sniffling more than anything, not the huge tears that were pouring down his face when they were just outside the convention building. It could be worse. It could be much worse.

Shuji attempts to maneuver towards the couch without letting go of Mista.

This may be difficult.]

[Well. He'll make it work. They get over there in the end, even if it takes maybe a little longer than it would if he was allowed to walk normally.]

[Mista flops down onto the couch and pulls Shuji down with him. The hug only stopped for a second. Crisis averted.]

I gotta clean you up soon, you know. You're all banged up.

I know. ...I feel like if I let you out of my sight, you might disappear, but that's silly.

[He knows it doesn't work that way, but he's been so afraid that something might happen to Mista that he isn't comfortable letting him disappear even long enough to get the first aid kit.]

[He doesn't quite laugh at that, but it does make him smile.]

I dunno about silly. I don't really wanna let you out of my sight either. Maybe in a little bit it won't feel so dangerous, but for now it's like--

[What are the words? He chews his lip for a moment.]

I just found you. I've been thinking about making sure you're okay since I turned around and you weren't there anymore. I'm not ready yet to be anywhere but right where I can reach you.

Me neither. I'm not that badly scraped up anyway. - I wouldn't want to be out in public like this, but if it's just you, it's okay.

[Shuji doesn't want anyone to see him at less than his best, but Mista he knows won't judge him. Won't think less of him. Won't leave him.]

. . . I don't really like seeing you hurt at all.

[His stomach twists a little. Even if it isn't that bad, seeing Shuji hurt and not doing anything for him feels wrong. The only thing is that he isn't sure what to do to make it better. As much as there's a lot he wants, and probably needs, to talk to Shuji about, they're both so fucking tired.]

[He doesn't know what the right answer is. He wishes he did. For a moment his hand comes up to fiddle with his crucifix; he feels the warmth of it from where it was tucked against Shuji for so long.]

Hey. Shuji, you're incredible. You know that?

[As tired as Shuji is, he does still have the energy to fluster at compliments. Even if that only means blushing a little and looking aside.]

Not as much as you, for sure.

No, listen--

[He shifts a little and looks at Shuji and--Shuji could've died and they never would've had another conversation. That would've been it. No more--this, whatever this is or could be. What a stupid ending to a good story.]

You didn't think you could survive that, but you did. You made it when you didn't think you could. That's fucking incredible, Shuji.

[Shuji shakes his head at the praise. He wants to accept it, but...]

If it hadn't been for you, I probably wouldn't have even gotten out of the building. You're the incredible one here.

Once you got out of there, though, and we got separated, you didn't freeze up. You kept going. It wasn't just me.

[He shoots Shuji a crooked smile.]

You don't have to agree with me. I know I'm right.

I guess I can't argue with you then.

[Mista's still the amazing one, though. Even if he doesn't believe it.]

I didn't have to get you a new cross after all. Which is good, because I wouldn't know how to pick out a good one.

It'd be good 'cause you picked it.

[Mista loops his arm around Shuji's shoulder and draws him in close, nodding sagely.]

But I'm glad you brought this one back, 'cause it's got Shuji power in it now. It'll make me stronger.

All my good feelings will give you a boost.

[...They should probably talk about that, but also Shuji doesn't want to ever get further away from Mista than this. A dilemma.]

Yeah. For sure.

[It . . . isn't the most committal answer, but he is admittedly distracted by the sudden reminder of Good Feelings. That thing they both know they need to talk about. Hm.]

[How about if he sort of hints at the subject instead of confronting it head-on, that's helpful.]

My good feelings about you give you a boost, too, cross or no cross. So that's a fair trade, right?

[They really, really should talk about it directly.

Which Shuji can't manage right away.]

Your good feelings are the best and I'm grateful. Even if they're not exactly the same.

[Okay, this is still progress. Slow, agonizing progress. Mista glances at Shuji, then away, and then he makes himself look back because come on, Guido, get it together.]

They're not?

...Promise me you won't hate me after this. No matter what, I'm glad we're friends. I don't want to lose that. You can forget I said anything if you want to.

[Just let him stay where he is, feeling warm and safe with Mista.]

Shuji.

[Mista sits up a little straighter and gives Shuji a level look. Very serious, for him.]

I'm never not gonna be your friend. I'm never gonna hate you. Ever. I swear.

[Shuji trusts Mista. He'll always trust Mista, and especially when he's being serious like this.

So he breathes in, and forces the words out with his exhale.]

I like you as more than just a friend. Romantically.

[Even with the reassurance, he's tense. Worried that this is too weird, too creepy, too something, and it's going to change how Mista thinks of him.]

[There it is.]

[Mista--grins. Some subtle tension in his shoulders releases, relaxing nerves that he was trying so hard not to show or even think about. He wasn't wrong, or misinterpreting. He's just been incredibly fucking slow, which isn't so unusual anyway. Especially with something like this.]

[God, Shuji's so nervous, though. It's cute, which is probably mean, but that's just how it is. He reaches out, hesitates, and then closes the distance, pushing Shuji's hair out of his face fondly.]

Good. That means we're on the same page, you and me.

[We're on the same page, Mista says, with his hand in Shuji's hair and sitting so close that Shuji could just kiss him if he tried, but-

That's not the answer he expected, and he doesn't know how to process it at first. The same page. Mista feels the same way. As in he likes Shuji as more than a friend. Romantically.

Shuji's eyes are wide, his face is red, and he should really have a poetic line prepared for Mista returning his feelings, something to suit the moment, but he's never even considered that this would happen.]

...You, um. We are?

[So all that he can manage are a few unpoetic words.]

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