dreamcrystals | (no subject)

Gross.

[He reaches out and tickles the other's sides. It's nice to be here, just... away from everything. Of course he's aware of Kazuya's strength and power. He's never forgotten it.]

[But Kazuya is still Kazuya. There's still hope for him. Hope that he'd see nurtured before he's gone.]

[And Kazuya lets him, playfully shoving the hands that Naoya uses to tickle him with no real strength behind it.

Is there still a disgusting amount of spit on his hands as he shoves? Absolutely. But Naoya is as unflappable as always, and Kazuya doesn't think he actually cares anyway.]

Nothing you don't deserve for being an asshole!

Nothing I haven't dealt with before.

[You know what, sure. He goes in to try to tackle Kazuya back into the couch.]

[Yeah, he's tackled back onto the couch, and he's laughing the entire way, and once his back hits the soft fabric, he shoves Naoya playfully, only barely trying to actually get him away.]

Someone's feeling bold for their millionth birthday.

[Nope. He leans against Kazuya with all of his weight.]

You're a brat, that's why.

If I'm a brat, I'd hate to know what that makes you. Other than a grouchy old man, of course.

[Could Kazuya easily get away? Absolutely. It wouldn't take much effort, if any at all. But right now he's living, because Naoya is seemingly enjoying himself, and not afraid of him, and it's almost like home. Home before everything happened.

Kazuya stuffs his hand into Naoya's face and pushes, gently.]

Maybe I am.

[He moves his face away but jabs a bony elbow lightly against Kazuya's ribs.]

But you can't stay away from this 'grumpy old man', heh.

[Which is partially his fault and was partially his intent - to make Kazuya reliant on him, to follow where he led... apparently that only went so far. But he does his best to pull his thoughts away from that and instead licks the hand that's on his face.]

Oof.

[ Obviously it doesn't hurt, but he still grunts as hes elbowed... and then makes a horrific noise as his hand is licked, making him jerk away hard. ]

Ugh! You're so gross! I can't believe you actually licked me!

[ Like Kazuya didn't get his own slobber all over Naoya only moments earlier...

He's going to try and wipe it off on Naoya's clothes. ]

You're the one who put your spit in my hair.

[He leans into Kazuya again and sighs. This... this is the best kind of present.]

Deal with it.

That's different.

[Yeah, he's wiping the gross spit on Naoya's haori. Right where it belongs, honestly.]

And I am dealing with it. It's your birthday, so I'm sure you've noticed I have not absolutely destroyed you for licking my hand.

Sure it is. And if you were to try, we'd have to take this outside. You know I wouldn't go down without a fight.

[He doesn't really want to do that, though. He's had enough fighting Abel for a lifetime or two.]

No need to take it outside. I could best you in one move.

[... Because Kazuya has absolutely been able to do that every previous time he's ever lunged for Naoya.]

Sure, sure. As if I don't know your secrets.

[... There aren't really any secrets, but it sounded cool to say.]

... Like what?

[.... What secrets does he even HAVE at this point???]

Like exactly where to scratch you and make you shiver.

[That... sounded worse than he meant it to.]

....

[Kazuya shoves his hand into Naoya's face again, and this time pushes him a little more earnestly.]

Don't say things like that. You weirdo.

[He pulls his face away and sighs.]

One would swear you're a cat some days. It's amusing.

How else am I supposed to react when you say things like that?

[ What does Naoya want from him!!! He's being a good boy, Naoya isn't eating dirt for that comment. Or the calling him a cat, comment.]

Exactly the way you are. It's amusing.

... But on a less amusing note, I really do... erm.

[His face flushes oh so slightly pink.]

... That is to say, I... do appreciate you being here with me.

[ Wow, he's not allowed to be so earnest and vulnerable near Kazuya. Kazuya has a very specific mental image cultivated of Naoya through out all of their years living together, and him being genuine like this, of not being smarmy and grinning like he's plotting something is not it.

Especially after he's made such weird comments at him.

Ugh. ]

I was worried you hated me, for awhile. [ He hedges, tone unsure and he looks just about everywhere that isn't Naoya. ]

Or... I guess afraid of me. Which is worse. Even if you have every reason to feel both at me.

... I'm still convinced you must hate me for what I've done to you.

[He slumps backwards a bit, looking away. How to even put this...]

When you - the other you - said that you didn't, I told him I didn't believe it. And it's still... hard to believe.

And I... don't really fear you. I have a reasonable respect of your powers, but not you. If you were to hurt me... I couldn't really fault you for it. You wouldn't do it unless you needed to, or I deserved it.

[Leading back to the whole 'hating' thing.]

Tch... I'm not normally this soft but you're... the only one I feel I can be vulnerable around.

[Because Kazuya knows, more than anyone else alive in their world, what he's gone through. Even if he really only has a fraction of the idea of the pain and torture he's been through... it's more than anyone else.]

[ Kazuya lifts his arms, pulling Naoya into a tight hug, ducking his head against the crook of his neck. ]

I can't hate you. [ But he's glad, for at least one thing: That the other him said as much, even despite what had transpired. ] And I wouldn't ever want to hurt you. I'm annoyed at what happened, how it happened, sure, but I don't hate you. And I don't want you to have to feel like you need to respect my power, or have to be worried about it or anything. We're brothers, and we're equal.

[ And beyond that, Kazuya bound himself to Naoya to make sure that there was never any way for him to hurt him. ]

[He sure did want to hurt him in the other timeline... or was it merely because he was in the way? He's not sure. He hugs Kazuya back, resting his chin on top of the other's head.]

Well, not respect in the sense that I won't pester you. But in the sense that I know you're powerful and can use it, yes. ... Even still, you're my brother. Even... aside from Abel being within you.

[As awkward as it is to admit. Kazuya's Abel, but he's also not. It's hard to separate the two sometimes... since if Abel were in the modern day, he'd be so similar...]

[He feels like his heart skips for a moment, just enjoying being held by someone who knows him and cares about him. He lets out a few slow breaths and closes his eyes.]

... It's difficult. Sometimes when you lose someone, you see them everywhere. Maybe it's their soul from another life, maybe it's just your imagination. ... I know I've treated you unfairly because of Abel, but it's...

[Damn, what's gotten into him? His face flushes a little more red.]

... You're my brother, either way.

I'm happy to be your brother, you know. Even if I'm not Abel, his soul is still a part of mine. So I don't really mind if you see him in me, you know.

[As long as Naoya recognizes that they're different people, which he does, but also... It's complicated for Kazuya too. He's not Abel. But Abel is him. He's Abel's legacy, in a way. A victim of Cain's, and to an extent as Kazuya, a victim of Naoya's.

He wonders then, if maybe they're doomed to repeat things.

Would that mean that there's a chance in the future for Naoya to kill him? Maybe not him as the Overlord, but maybe as the Messiah. He wonders if other him has thought about that, is as alright with that as he is.]

... And I'm also happy when you call me your brother, you know.

[It's just that the situation is weird, and no one would understand but them!]

[He just feels... warm and happy. He huffs and nuzzles into his brother. It's hard to describe what they have - it's a sibling bond, but it's more than that. It's pain and loss and thousands of years of history, and no one else can understand.]

[He just goes silent, holding Kazuya and feeling him against his chest like they used to when they were younger. He's quiet for a few more long moments before he speaks up.]

... We're very odd, aren't we?

[To say the least.]