The World Overflow

[justonezero]

Nsfw threads marked accordingly.

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[justonezero]

You haven't ever annoyed me. And it's not like I'm all that smart, either.

[deto]

You’re incredibly smart - but also kind of a dummy.

[justonezero]

-?!

Aren't those two opposite things?

[deto]

They’re both true regardless.

[justonezero]

How?!

[deto]

Smart as hell in battle - you think real quick on your feet about who to heal and when to heal. But you’re also the same dummy who thinks I can do better than you.

[justonezero]

You seriously could, though... All I'm doing is watching HP bars.

[deto]

[ bun…

deto leans down and seals his lips with a kiss, wet with a little heat ]

… That sounds off. Wanna try that again?

[justonezero]

[He leans easily into the kiss, blinking a couple times as they part.]

I'll... try to feel like I deserve it more...

[deto]

[ he keeps their faces close ]

Try to say “I’m the only one that…”

[justonezero]

[‐?]

I'm the only one that...?

[deto]

“… you will ever love.”

[ a pointed pause ]

I’ll kiss you if you can end that confidently.

[justonezero]

...

I'm... the only one you will ever love.

[It does not come out particularly confident.]

[deto]

[ he kisses yoshi anyway because he never said he wouldn’t. sweeping kisses all over his soft face, similar to how yoshi had done earlier ]

True and accurate.

[justonezero]

[-Oh. It was accepted after all.

He closes his eyes at the kisses, basking in the gentle affection.]

[deto]

[ even if yoshi can’t see it, deto’s quiet voice reflects the certainty in his bright dark eyes ]

You are. And I will. I’m already the best at loving you, don’t you think? Maybe that’ll be the one thing I do best in life. Not a bad goal.

[justonezero]

[A small frown creases his brow, and he opens his eyes again, not quite meeting Akira's gaze even with such close proximity.]

...Just don't come to regret it.

I think... even if you left me for someone else... If you were happy, I could accept that. But if you felt like you had to stay by my side, to the point of resentment...

...I don't... think I could handle it.

[deto]

… That would hurt me, too. Yoshi… don’t look away, please.

[ … ]

I’m not that great of a guy. I can’t say the same. If anyone else looked at you and knew you more than me, I’d hate it. If anyone else - guy or girl - thought they could love you more than me, I’d wouldn’t be able to stand it. I wouldn’t be able to accept it.

I’m not - not selfless. I’m greedy. You might resent me instead actually.

[justonezero]

-!

[He does look up - expression concerned.]

I'd never resent you.

[He can't be certain Akira will want to stay with him, can't be certain he won't do something harebrained enough to ruin everything all over again, but-

He can be certain he'd never, ever resent the other boy's choice.]

[deto]

No? Not ever? You’re sure?

[justonezero]

[He nods.]

I'm sure of it. ...I couldn't resent someone like you, ever.

[deto]

Someone like me? What’s that, an idiot in love?

[ but he does offer yoshi a faint smile, kissing the concern between his brows ]

I’m sure too, though, that you’re the one I want. No regrets.

[justonezero]

[His fears aren't fully eased; he just doubts in himself too much, even knowing as he does that it's practically an insult to Akira to continue to think that way. But...

But, just a little, that worry fades. Just for this moment.]

...You always try to understand me, more than anyone else. You're always really patient with me...

I could never resent someone who tried harder than anyone to know me.

[Only himself, if, despite all that, he managed to drive them away all the same.]

...As long as you're happy with me, I'll stay with you. But... saying it so forcefully...

...It's still really tough.

[Too easy to imagine all the "what-ifs," every possible disaster, every possible mistake.]

[deto]

Stay with me because you’re happy - because I make you happier than anyone else.

[ don’t stay with him just because he’s the one that fell first ]

You don’t need to be perfect to be loved, Yoshi. I already wanted to understand you before… everything. Worrying about you, getting upset over you, all that is just a natural part of caring for someone. It’s not - an obligation I’m forcing myself through. I want to worry about you, I like taking care of you, and I like that you take care of me.

[ the reality, deto knows, is they can be this close, be in each other’s arms and even closer, and the cracks left on yoshi’s heart will still be out of reach for him ]

I know it’s tough for you. But, Yoshi, it’s also real tough - [ the last couple of words come out strained and he pauses to let the tightness in his throat ease before he continues ] - when it’s easier for you to imagine a worst-case scenario and say it, than to - … [ he stops again, thinking over all the ways he could phrase it. but he’s always been blunt, and that’s just how he’ll be ] … accept that I would want to love you for the rest of our lives.

But. [ that faint smile again, small and worn at parts. he kisses yoshi’s lips before an apology can come out because he doesn’t want to hear that either ] That’s why we’re practicing, even if those words don’t feel true when you say them now. I’ll show you I mean it and maybe one day, they’ll feel better to say.

[justonezero]

[It's good he's so quick to kiss the words away, because from the sudden look of alarm and guilt, an apology was exactly what was on the way.

...This is what Mithrun warned him about, isn't it? Either he will learn, or he won't. And if he doesn't, he'll just continue to hurt the person he loves most.

It's another one of those silent moments of internal conflict, wrestling with the kneejerk feeling that it really would be so much better, if he faded away too much to hurt or cause hurt, existed just enough to help and only that.

But... Akira wants him here. And beyond that - he wants to be here with Akira. And... if he can't change himself right now, then...

...He worries his lip for a moment before speaking up again:]

...I'm the only one you'll ever love.

[Practice.

The words still don't feel quite right on his tongue, so he'll continue:]

And... you're the one that makes me happiest.

[That comes much, much easier.]