musubi | fourteenth breath ✧ voice

Nngh. [Naoki squeezes his eyes shut against the pain, swallowing quietly, but otherwise doesn't react. The buzzing in the back of his mind that had been present his whole time in the mountains--the pressing influence of the magatama--is absent.

Some of the tension in his body eases at the first feeling of the healing energy. And when the pain lessens, a slow breath leaves him. The amount of time surprises him, though, and one eye opens slightly to study his face.]

...s-sorry.

Don't ever do that [to me] again.

[The glow from his hands eventually diminishes and he sits for a moment, recovering from the drain of energy.] Had... people worrying about you, you know.

[People. Right.]

I won't.

[Naoki looks at him somewhat hazily.] Mmm. I'm sorry, Isamu. [The apology's aimed just at him--Naoki knows he had to have been worried.

He shifts his body, maneuvers his good hand under himself slightly to see about sitting up.]

Why are you moving? Stop moving. [Have a hand on your collarbone, holding you down.] I'm not done. Let me see to your arm.

[He moves to Naoki's side, running a hand gently from the shoulder down to the hand.] Jesus... You idiot. [Then he starts the process again, beginning with the shoulder.]

[Naoki closes his eyes again, sighing a little. The easing of pain after days is a relief, and he glances at him again with a grateful sound.]

Hn--at least I put it back right. And it was either my shoulder or my head.

Glad you picked the shoulder, then.

...All right. Now we can see about getting you upstairs. [Isamu moves to stand, but doesn't quite make it to his feet before falling back down again as the ground tilts beneath him.] ...In a second or two.

Sorry. I'll be okay in a minute.

Haha... [Naoki smiles weakly and shifts carefully upright. To do so with minimal amounts of pain is almost amazing now, and he rubs his abdomen lightly with a palm.]

Take your time. I'm not in a rush.

You better not be.

[He sits for a while, letting some of the dizziness pass before trying to stand again, this time with a great deal more success.] All right. [He then bends down beside Naoki so that he can help him up by his good shoulder.]

How well do you think you're gonna manage on your feet?

[Naoki grips at his shoulder a little with one hand--there's only a slight shaking to his body as Isamu helps him up. The rest of the pain he ignores the best he's able.]

I-I think I'm gonna need to hold on t'you, or the rail...but I can walk.

Well obviously, idiot. I wasn't going to make you walk without support. You hurt your damn ribs. [No sense undoing most of the work he'd done.]

[He waits until his friend is steadier before he starts walking.] We'll take it slow.

[Nooki lets out a shaky little chuckle, clutching on to him just slightly as they begin to walk.]

R-right...no problem.

I'd carry you up or something, you know... but we'd probably just end up falling back down them again.

[And there they are now. Come along, Naoki, we can do this.]

No, I getcha...m'too heavy for you to carry, anyway.

[Fuck stairs. Seriously. He moves his bad arm to the rail, clutching at it while still holding on to his shoulder with his other hand.]

[Grumble.] Think I'm that much of a weakling? Bet I could do it.

[Not right now, but if he was at his best...] Just keep walking.

[A soft, somewhat tired noise of amusement.] 'Kay, you gotta carry me next time we go up these, then.

[Even with healing, it's hard to climb five flights, and by the time they reach the top, Naoki feels woozy from pain and like he's going to fall over. He has to stop and press his head against the wall until the floor quits lurching.]

[Isamu stops with him, one hand on the wall and the other supporting his friend. He's feeling light-headed himself, but he can handle that.]

Almost there. Just tell me when you're ready. You can have the sofa if you want.

[Naoki takes a minute or two before exhaling shakily and opening his eyes.] Okay. [A glance over and a nod.] Mm.

[There are so many questions he wants to ask right now, but at the moment he'll settle for leading Naoki inside and helping him to the sofa]

There anything else you need me to heal now that we're up here? [That gentle, concerned tone? He will very much deny it having come from him later.]

[Naoki sinks down wearily on the sofa, eyes half-closing in exhaustion, and it's a struggle to keep them open.]

Mm, it's okay. Nothing that can't wait. [He closes his eyes.] I'll tell you everything that happened when I wake up...okay?

All right. [Isamu tries and fails to sound irritated.] You better.

[He sits down against the sofa himself, feeling that his bedroom is too far away. He's not entirely sure why he feels the need to stay close for now, nor how he'll dismiss the matter later, but for now he's staying.]

[Naoki can't push back the small, grateful smile, glad he's not going anywhere. But he's quick to give in to exhaustion and lets himself fall into the first sleep he's had for days.

When he opens his eyes again, he can see dark night sky through the window and muzzily sighs and shifts to get more comfortable, wincing when he rolls on a bruise. He mutters something unintelligible under his breath and slowly sits up on the couch, rubbing at his eyes with his fists.]

[He might hear Isamu moving about in the other room, then. His roommate will be coming back shortly with a bowl of soup, which he sits on the coffee table.]

Ah. Good. Now it won't get too cold.

[Naoki blinks sleepily, lowers his hands from his eyes and turns so he can draw the bowl across the table, closer to him.]

Ah, thanks. [Beginning to eat as he thinks how to start explaining.]

How are you feeling? [He tries to judge from the current glow of Naoki's markings.]

[That red's dimmed to a greenish-yellow by now, and Naoki glances up at his face.] A lot better. [He drains the bowl in record time, gulping.]

Alright, so, this-- [Pause.] First of all...it wasn't Sanji, not really.

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