[Eren shifts where he's sitting, taking the weight off of his left arm and pulling his knees up instead. He quite boldly grabs Maruki and yanks him in between his legs, putting two hands on his shoulders. They grip and massage. He inclines his head until they're eye to eye.]
I know I can't stop you. You're hopeless. [His voice doesn't sound lighthearted, but Maruki ought to know that this is his version.]
In that case, you have to tell me when it starts to eat at you. When you can't stand it anymore.
We'll plan instead. We'll find the solution. That's always been the case.
[ Maruki squawks a little when he's pulled in, positioned for a shoulder rub he wasn't expecting– but the stiff surprise only lasts a second, and then his body melts into the touch. His shoulders are as bad as his back, and he's always tense...
He exhales, low and slow, and nods to Eren before closing his eyes. ]
I promise that I'll tell you when it does.
[ Not if. And Eren truly is the only person who could get a promise like that out of Maruki. ]
That's– hah, that's nice, you really don't have to do this, I should be the one looking after you now, after all that...
It's the first time Eren has called him Takuto since he said he could.
He can't think about what Eren's going to tell him. He can't think about anything. All he can do is hear it repeating in his head, round and round: Takuto, in the safest voice he knows. ]
I–
[ He can't guess. He can't do anything.
The grip on his shoulders is firm, but Maruki tries to sink into him anyway. ]
[ Maruki's eyes remain closed, but his smile widens considerably. ]
I know that now. It does make things feel less lonely, in retrospect.
[ He should have known, really. That dream they shared so early on– when he first saw this older version of Eren, who wanted him to live a long life... ]
I'm sorry that I woke you, though. Do you want to go back to sleep?
[Eren thinks of that dream often. He wonders if Maruki does too. He wonders if he's realized yet, as Eren has, that it wasn't only a dream. Eren, as he is now, must have searched for him, must have found him, somehow. He's certain of it now.]
Eh...
[Eren scratches a bit at the back of his head, then elects to take his hair out and tie it back up.]
[ Maruki's had the same thought. Neither of them knew it consciously at the time, but that's the power of the subconscious and the collective unconscious, isn't it? Eren found him...
He smooths the stray hairs that fall over Eren's forehead away from his face. ]
We could go take some photos, if you'd like.
AS PER USUAL we can move toward a WRAP if you wanna (look at us go)
[ Which he flops over sideways in their little blanket nest to grab from where it's shoved up against a support beam. From there, he attempts to roll backwards and sit up at the same time, and winds up flailing and squawking like an idiot for a good ten seconds before managing it.
Breathless from the sudden fight against his own body, he pops up to face Eren again, farther away now, and grins. ]
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no subject
I know I can't stop you. You're hopeless. [His voice doesn't sound lighthearted, but Maruki ought to know that this is his version.]
In that case, you have to tell me when it starts to eat at you. When you can't stand it anymore.
We'll plan instead. We'll find the solution. That's always been the case.
no subject
He exhales, low and slow, and nods to Eren before closing his eyes. ]
I promise that I'll tell you when it does.
[ Not if. And Eren truly is the only person who could get a promise like that out of Maruki. ]
That's– hah, that's nice, you really don't have to do this, I should be the one looking after you now, after all that...
no subject
[Quiet. Firm. That grip on his shoulders steadies.]
Think about that for a second. Guess what I'm going to tell you.
no subject
It's the first time Eren has called him Takuto since he said he could.
He can't think about what Eren's going to tell him. He can't think about anything. All he can do is hear it repeating in his head, round and round: Takuto, in the safest voice he knows. ]
I–
[ He can't guess. He can't do anything.
The grip on his shoulders is firm, but Maruki tries to sink into him anyway. ]
You... just tell me.
[ Oh, he's stunned. Visibly, audibly stunned. ]
no subject
[He takes his other's face in his hands.]
We look after each other. Because you're mine. And I'm yours.
no subject
I'm yours. You're mine. You're right...
[ His eyes slip shut. ]
I didn't forget. Sorry. I never will. But it helps to hear.
no subject
[Eren's hands slip from Maruki's cheeks to rest back on his shoulders again.]
Even when you thought I was only your patient, I was always looking out for you.
Even if you felt like you were alone, at the time, you weren't.
no subject
I know that now. It does make things feel less lonely, in retrospect.
[ He should have known, really. That dream they shared so early on– when he first saw this older version of Eren, who wanted him to live a long life... ]
I'm sorry that I woke you, though. Do you want to go back to sleep?
no subject
Eh...
[Eren scratches a bit at the back of his head, then elects to take his hair out and tie it back up.]
No...
Let's do something else.
oh the girls are delulu AS PER USUAL
He smooths the stray hairs that fall over Eren's forehead away from his face. ]
We could go take some photos, if you'd like.
AS PER USUAL we can move toward a WRAP if you wanna (look at us go)
[He nods.]
You already have your camera, right?
LOOK!! AT US!!! GO!!!!
[ Which he flops over sideways in their little blanket nest to grab from where it's shoved up against a support beam. From there, he attempts to roll backwards and sit up at the same time, and winds up flailing and squawking like an idiot for a good ten seconds before managing it.
Breathless from the sudden fight against his own body, he pops up to face Eren again, farther away now, and grins. ]
Let's go!