After the Memory (Eric + Kusanagi)

[redstray]

 [ Eric stared into space, barely focusing on the bar's counter as he heard a clock ticking somewhere.

Just two days after Mikoto's passing...or was it three? Eric couldn't tell sonce he hasn't really slept since then. Which was ine of the reasons why he volunteered tonight to watch over Anna and the bar. Fujishima offered to stay as well but after Eric snapped at him for babying him, he managed to be alone. He felt bad for that and would apologize the next time he saw the other but his mind was just in a fog.

He closed his eyes to doze but sprang them back open as flashes of what happened thay day came back. The uneasiness of watching himself do something he had no control over made his skin crawl. As well as the other patches of memories he was sure weren't from his own head. But he kept quiet. He didn't think anyone saw him being taken control of by the Colourless King and with everything that happen, he didn't want to worry anyone for it.

He vaguely heard the clock chime to 4am and sighed. Just a little longer and he would be through. ]

Comments

[toremainbehind]

'm not surprised. 's good ya were with her.

[More than what Izumo could say for himself. He makes a promise to himself to spend more time with Anna, knowing it'd hurt if she lost him, too.

Lowering his gaze, he took another drag.] Has she been having nightmares?

[redstray]

Just trying to help...

[ He mumbles, shrugging again. ]

Sometimes, but she tries to hide it, I think.

[toremainbehind]

Anna's always been like that. She doesn't wanna worry others.

["Like you." remains unsaid.]

I heard from Shouhei he saw ya stab the Blue King during the battle. [A comment, a simple observation, but as he breathes out, he eyes Eric closely to see his reaction.]

[redstray]

She shouldn't have to...

[ Pot meet kettle, kettle meet pot.

Eric flinches at the mention and the feeling he remembered during that time made him shiver slightly. He tried to cover it by moving himself a bit, like he was trying to get more comfortable. ]

...And?

[toremainbehind]

Seems ta be a common trait when it comes ta our Clan.

[Aah, there's that reaction he's been watching for.

He continues to watch Eric, cigarette clenched between his teeth, though he remains as casual and at ease as ever. When Eric starts to move, he lets out a sigh.]

Are ya okay?

[redstray]

Mm

[ Damn it! He held onto his legs tightly and looked away from the other. He doesn't want to talk about it. ]

I'm fine.

[toremainbehind]

[Closing his eyes, he grabs a nearby ash tray and puts out his cigarette.]

How long d'ya plan on tryin' ta keep it ta yourself? [Again, Izumo's not sounding accusatory towards him. Eric, he doesn't want you to be like him and Anna in trying to hide everything.]

[redstray]

I said I'm fine!

[ He's starting to get defense snappy, sorry Kusanagi. And he already is like Anna and him, no one knows a lot about his past for a reason. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Fortunately, Izumo doesn't seem the least bit surprised or offended by the snappy tone.

He hums.] There's something I've been meaning t' tell ya.

[redstray]

What?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo's quiet for a moment, trying to think of a proper way to say this.

It's hardly the time nor the place, but he figures he'd tell Eric now before he sets off on his trip to Germany. It'd be like a punch in the gut, but Izumo knows he'd rather do it now than to keep postponing it.

Eric deserves that, at least.]

I've been entertaining the idea o' adopting ya for a while now.

[redstray]

[ he blanks out a bit hearing those words. Did...did he hear that right? Was that a word he knew? Or was it suppose to mean something else. He turns to look at Kusanagi, pure shock on his face. ]

Wha...what?

[toremainbehind]

[He's aware of Eric staring at him, sipping at his own glass of water. After a brief pause, he looks back at Eric.]

I've been thinking o' adopting ya, or a'least, have ya legally under my guardianship.

[redstray]

[ He did hear right, he did know those words. To be adopted, to have a guardian father belong more int this family ]

You...

[ He stands up and starts tugging on his hair, pacing slightly as he tried to wrap his head around it. Because he was tired and filled with emotion the ideas were spiraling around in his head ]

Why would you even...

[ He's just going to leave you too, like your real parents, like Totsuka and like Mikoto ]

How is that even a good idea?!

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo remains perfectly still on the couch, simply watching Eric pace around.

But at the question, he stands up and walks over to the younger man, placing his hands on his shoulders to keep him from pacing around anymore.]

Eric.

[redstray]

[ He flinches at the contact and tries to shrug them off, shakign his head. ]

stop it...

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo tightens his grip slightly, not enough to hurt but to continue to hold on.]

Look at me.

[redstray]

I said stop it!

[ He tries to struggle a bit more, but looks at him all the same, going back to his instinct to listen to orders. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When Eric's looking at him, Izumo pulls back slightly, but still keeping his hands on Eric's shoulders.]

I won't leave you.

[A fear they can all share. They've lost so much already. Mikoto's death was just a turning point for them, and Izumo knows this is a fear Eric has. He's aware of it enough, at least, and he's talked to Anna once about it as well.]

[redstray]

[ he shakes his head and tries to get Kusanagi to let go of him. And then he hears those words and his heart and stomach drop. The struggling stops and Eric dips his head. He grabs a bit of Kusanagi's sleeve, his hand shaking ]

Don't...please don't...

[ The shaking gets worse as Eric's shoulders start. And tears start falling off of his face and he's crying and clinging to Kusanagi as if his life depended on it. ]

[toremainbehind]

[The sudden clinging took Izumo by surprised, but he doesn't push Eric away.

Instead, he wraps his arms around the younger with the attempt to comfort him. It's not often he gives out hugs; those are usually reserved for their resident princess, but Eric deserves one. It's Izumo's fault for suddenly springing it up on him in the first place.

But his expression grows soft.] I'm not going to leave you, Eric.

[redstray]

[ He tries to open his mouth to respond but a sob comes out instead as he's hugged. He clings to Kusanagi more, returning the hug as best as he could. ]

ok

[ He'll put the last of his trust into this, Kusanagi. He can't lose anymore people then he already has, especially not too soon. ]

[toremainbehind]

[For now, that's enough.

Izumo keeps on hugging him, keeping Eric close until his sobs die down. He's aware of the trust placed on him, knowing he can't break it. He's made his word, after all.]

[redstray]

[ It takes a long while but finally he stops sobbing, though tears were still falling though not as often. He would never forgive Kusanagi if he broke his word, and he probably never trust anyone ever again.

He sniffs, rubbing his eyes while still in the hug. ]

S-sorry I...sorry...I didn't mean to...but...

[toremainbehind]

's alright. [Izumo doesn't blame him. Not one bit.

He keeps the hug going for a heartbeat longer before releasing him, slowly pulling away.] Feeling better?