Birds of a Feather

[evocalize]

See you later, Ryoji-san. [Ryoji had already been told that he could stay longer as long as he went home at night, and they'd capitalized on that to talk about everything underneath the sun: Girls, school and so on were the main topics although they'd also shared a joke here and there. Minato was supposed to see him off, but it was his turn to shower and he'd left to take a quick bath-

Only to return in his bedclothes with his hair a little damp and feeling sleepy, stifling a yawn as he opens the door and blinking in surprise when he sees Ryoji lying on his bed. He walks over to the railing to place his towel before kneeling down to look at his friend and shake him gently.] ...are you alright?

Comments

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji doesn't answer, and it's pretty obvious why. His breath is slow and even, and his eyes have drifted closed with the only sound of the shower left to lull him into sleep. His jacket is half on, and it looks like he did try to leave, but after a few days of poor sleep, Ryoji had gotten to the point that he needed to sleep, no matter where he was or what he was doing.

He mumbles softly when Minato shakes him, but other than that, he remains still. He's completely dead to the world, which is strange, considering his eager energy when they chatted just moments before.]

[evocalize]

[Huh. This is unusual behavior indeed and Ryoji's clearly just sleeping judging by his steady breathing and normal temperature. Minato would call someone to check but he's getting sleepier by the minute, and he muses by the bedside for a while before deciding that he doesn't care for sleeping on the lounge sofa and tucks himself in, careful not to push Ryoji off in the process.

It might feel just a little cramped, and the wind outside doesn't help much either when it's blowing pretty violently.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[The wind is loud enough to somehow reach Ryoji subconsciously, and he shivers, frowning slightly as he tries to make himself smaller. For a little gust of wind, he looks pretty frightened…

At least, until Minato ends up next to him. Then Ryoji wraps his arms around Minato’s shoulders, his own slumping as tension is released from them and he gradually relaxes. He may not realize who is next to him, but he seems relieved to have them near.]

[evocalize]

[Minato would protest, but he's so deep in sleep that he doesn't even realize that Ryoji is clinging onto him in the real world. The sensation he feels is nice too, that of something warm being close to him when he's had nothing to hold onto in the past ten years and he can't help but drape his hands over the figure after some time.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji smiles softly and clings tighter to Minato, nuzzling into his embrace and falling deeper into sleep. He probably won’t wake up until morning… when he’ll be very embarrassed to discover what he was doing.

But for now, he’s content.]

[evocalize]

[Whenever he does wake up he'll find that Minato is still fast asleep, holding on to him and is apparently so deep in dream land that he won't even stir if Ryoji tries to pry himself from his hands.

At least he looks perfectly content, just lying there...]

[notsogrimreaper]

[As content as Minato looks, Ryoji is definitely not at peace. He is in a panic, heartbeat quickening and face reddening. He was sleeping all night? With Minato? Holding him like this? This can’t be happening.

He taps on Minato’s shoulder, than attempts to remove his hands very carefully. He seems to be pretty stuck though…]

M-Minato…?

[evocalize]

Mmm... [Minato rolls over lazily, a tiny smile appearing on his lips as he latches on to Ryoji like he's some kind of fluffy stuffed toy. It's unfortunately obvious that he's not aware of what's going on and has clearly forgotten how this warm person...sensation...thing got into his bed in the first place and he's not about to wake up right now when he's still tired.

Yes, blissfully unaware that he's causing his friend to panic and ignoring that shoulder tap like it didn't happen...]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji lets out a frustrated groan, face turning even redder as he’s hugged tighter. He tries to wiggle out of Minato’s grip, but it seems that his friend isn’t intent on letting go. He takes a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself, then gently calls out once more.]

M-Minato, come on… I-I’m not a stuffed toy, I need to move!

[He ends his statement with more wiggling, trying not to end up too frantic despite his imaginings of how this might end up.]

1/2

[evocalize]

[That thankfully does the trick, and Minato finally hears someone calling his name and stirs, yawning softly as he gets up to stretch.] It's too early for this... [Wait, is it just him or is there someone in bed with him? Maybe it's Aigis again but she's let up on coming over here lately-]

[evocalize]

[Only to jerk back when he finally sees who he's cuddling and likely has been clinging onto for the past eight hours-]

Ryoji-san!? I thought you went back... [Except he didn't, they definitely huddled together like this just a few minutes ago and now he's blushing furiously from the implications.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji offers a sheepish grin, but he's still bright red as he finally scrambles away from Minato.]

A-Ah, nope. I think I fell asleep just when I was about to leave... I guess I was more tired than I thought. I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to m-make everything weird!

[evocalize]

[It must be a cold day in Hell when Minato's this flustered, but then again it isn't every day when he ends up cuddling a friend for an entire night. He's thankful that Ryoji at least has the sense to scramble away because he thinks he might have fallen down the bed otherwise, and that would only make things worse.]

No, it's alright...no one seems to be awake yet either. [A sudden sound makes him sit upright in alarm, half-expecting Mitsuru to come knocking on the door next before he takes a few deep breaths and calms down.]

I think they'll understand if they knew what happened. How did you end up like that, anyway? You seemed alright last time.

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji is noticing Minato’s embarrassment, and seems to be getting more flushed the more he realizes that his friend is this embarrassed. It was strange, but it was just a funny mistake, right? It didn’t actually mean anything… and now of course since he’s thinking about it meaning something…

He shakes his head.]

Y-Yeah, that’s good. We wouldn’t want to shock them all awake… A-And there’s probably rules against this isn’t there?

[He laughs sheepishly.]

W-Well, I kind of have trouble sleeping most nights. I’m a bit of an insomniac… but that means that whenever I’m tired, I can’t really control where I end up crashing.

[evocalize]

[While Minato's more relaxed now, he still feels tense after what happened between them. It's a feeling he'd find hard to describe, somewhere between a flutter and nervousness...he shouldn't feel like that just from holding a friend, should he? Besides, Ryoji already had someone else...]

It's a bit too late for that. Are you feeling better now? [And with that Minato's scrutinizing his friend to make sure he's okay- he knows how problematic it can be to fall asleep everywhere!]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji doesn’t say anything, but it’s clear he’s also tense. He seems rigid, sitting on Minato’s bed, and he seems to be trailing off into nervous laughter more often, especially once Minato starts examining him.]

I-I’m just fine! I got a good sleep, even if it was a little weird, so I’ll be able to make it through the day.

[evocalize]

That's great. Some tea or coffee in the morning might help too... [He's moving a bit closer just to confirm it, that, and it feels nice in a way he can't explain.] Was there anything you'd like to do now?

[notsogrimreaper]

Yeah, maybe I’ll get in the habit of drinking coffee… Y-You wouldn’t mind spending time with me? After I made everything so awkward?

[Ryoji would be happy to, but he’s still pretty embarrassed…]

[evocalize]

I wouldn't mind. Besides, I was the one hugging you the entire night...we're both at fault here. [Minato smiles awkwardly again, but he's at least blushing a lot less than he did a while ago.] Whatever it is though, you might want to be in the lounge before everyone else gets up.

[notsogrimreaper]

Heh, it’s not your fault you’re c-cuddly when you sleep.

[He nods at Minato’s suggestion.]

Sure… should we tell them, or should I just say I got here this morning?

[evocalize]

...maybe. [There's a bit of truth in what Ryoji says, considering Minato's sneaked Koromaru into his room when he thought he could get away with it. He yawns as he stretches again, finally getting up to brush his teeth.]

I think it'd be better to say that you got here this morning. I'll get changed too so it looks like you came here to ask me out.

[notsogrimreaper]

Then that’s what I’ll say. But that will kind of leave you forced to hang out with me today. Will you be okay with that?

[He smirks, but in all honesty, Ryoji just wants whatever will make Minato happiest, so he’s worried hanging out with him may not be the right choice.]

[evocalize]

[What makes Minato happiest is chilling out with his friends, so he smiles happily when Ryoji asks him if he's okay with that.]

Of course. We haven't been able to spend much time together, and I'd like to talk more to you.

[notsogrimreaper]

Then… I’m glad. I’m glad you want to talk with me as much as I do with you.

[He’s smiling widely, and he can feel a bit of a blush creeping onto his cheeks, but he dismisses it as simple happiness.]

[evocalize]

[Minato might not be blushing, but he is smiling earnestly at hearing that.]

I'm glad that you like talking to me too [But they still have other matters to settle, so he gets up from the bed.] Let's wait for them downstairs and get breakfast first, I think it'd be nice if we ate together.