--Lone Wolf and Cub--

[threebetrayals]

[Maybe it was stupid to go "fuck it" and run away from his mother's house last month, but frankly Kunikaki cannot be bothered to think it was stupid. He is seventeen and absolutely fucking tired of his mother's bullshit and his sister's somehow worse bullshit. (He gets it, he understands that his mother never recovered from her sister's death, but he doesn't have to deal with it anymore.) So yeah, he ran away.

And now he's pretty sure some freak is following him as he winds his way through the city, trying to escape the fucker, but whatever. He'll make do.]

Comments

[book2thehead]

[He smirks.]

Well, make yourself comfortable, I guess.

[threebetrayals]

[Kuni eats, though there's still plenty of leftovers for later, and then goes about doing his laundry and getting a shower. It takes about an hour or so, but soon he is clean and in clean clothes and looking around Heizou's apartment to find where he can sleep for the night.]

[book2thehead]

[Heizou lets him eat his fill in relative peace, though he does chat idly about some other aspects of the building. What to mind, what to ignore, what he would appreciate Wanderer keeping an eye on, so on and so forth. It's nothing crazy, at least.

He's done before Wanderer is, of course, and he fills the time with preparing himself a little bag of clothes. By the time he emerged from his shower, Heizou is sitting at the little window near his bed, staring up at the moon in the sky. Without turning, he says--]

The couch is comfortable enough for tonight. I put sheets out. You can use the bed while I'm gone.

[threebetrayals]

[Kuni glances out the window. The moon is nearly full, and it's quite pretty, but why is Heizou staring at it so intently?]

We'll see about that. I may just stick to the sofa.

[A yawn.]

I should probably sleep.

[book2thehead]

Hmm. Whatever's comfortable for you, then.

[And Heizou nods absently. If Wanderer pays any attention, he may notice the way Heizou's fingers twitch almost anxiously on the windowsill.]

Do you need the lights off?

[threebetrayals]

[He does notice. Odd. Is Heizou a junkie of some sort?]

I prefer it, yeah, but I don't need them off.

[book2thehead]

[He nods again, and this time he unfolds himself from his spot and gives himself a quick shake as he moves to turn off all the lights.

He does pause as he gets closer to Wanderer, sniffing once and eyes locking onto him. For a second there, Heizou's eyes look darker.]

...You cleaned up nicely.

[threebetrayals]

[...Kuni scoots away from Heizou just a little, pressing more into the sofa.]

Thanks...?

[book2thehead]

[He stays looking at him for a moment longer, but then it's like he suddenly remembers himself. He snaps out of it with a quick shake of his head, and he goes back to what he was doing. Heizou even manages to put on a smile, though it maybe seems just the tiniest bit shaky around the edges.]

Sorry. That must've sounded strange, huh?

[threebetrayals]

Uh, yeah. Don't try anything, I have a knife.

[Kuni please.]

[book2thehead]

[Heizou pauses, then laughs as he turns off the lights.]

I'll keep that in mind, then~

[threebetrayals]

[Fucking weirdo.

But Kuni crashes pretty quickly once the lights are out and he'll sleep through the night. He's exhausted.]

[book2thehead]

[Heizou stays up a little bit longer than Wanderer... and will also be gone before Wanderer wakes up. He leaves some cash with a post-it that says "For Food/Groceries" in the kitchen, but other than that the place is empty. The bed is even made and looks like no one has been in it.

As promised, he will be gone for several days. During which time Wanderer can do whatever he likes in the apartment. And Heizou's colleagues take to Wanderer about as well as can be expected: Sango's still prickly and direct, but Ryuuji is much kinder with the patience of a saint. He also answers any of Wanderer's questions honestly.]

[threebetrayals]

[Kunikaki mostly just stays inside, enjoying the AC and the books and the hot water. He goes to help Heizou's colleagues, as requested, but he honestly mostly keeps to himself.

He does, of course, ask about Heizou's quirks and if he should be worried about his behavior the other night. He's told not to worry about it, but he worries about it.

Most of the dogs in the area start to take to Kuni as well. He's outside one night and he just has two dogs sharing his lap as he reads on his phone.]

[book2thehead]

[As it happens, that's the night Heizou ends up coming back. He seems in a bit of a hurry, distractedly fumbling for his keys as he steps off the sidewalk, only to stop short when he sees Wanderer sitting outside with the dogs.

On a normal day, they'd probably still be perfectly docile and friendly. But right now, the dogs all raise their heads to look at him. One even seems to growl very softly. And Heizou just looks back calmly from the end of the walkway.]

Ah... So you are still here.

[threebetrayals]

[Kuni gently bonks the growling dog. Hush, you.]

Yeah? What the hell happened to you?

[book2thehead]

[He smiles and tries to wave it off, taking careful steps forward so the dogs can remember his scent. This happens often enough that the older dogs should recognize him eventually.

Wanderer, on the other hand, might notice some angry red marks peeking put from under his sleeves at the wrists. And a choker in place where he hadn't been wearing one before. His hair tie is missing as well.]

It's nothing, just hazards of the job! Looks like the locals have taken to you in my absence~

[threebetrayals]

[Yeah, no. Kuni is giving him a Look.]

I can see those bruises, you know, and you look like shit. Try again.

[book2thehead]

[Heizou actually laughs a little.]

Man alive, has the agency rubbed off on you? Maybe you'd be a good fit as a detective there.

[threebetrayals]

Hell no. I'm just observant. Try again.

[book2thehead]

That's a good quality to have~

[Clearly still not answering as he gets up to the door.]

[threebetrayals]

Heizou. Tell me what happened, or I'll start causing problems.

[book2thehead]

[He looks momentarily surprised, blinking at Wanderer almost owlishly.]

...I didn't realize you'd be the sort to care about someone you've really only just met.

[threebetrayals]

I'm not, but you let me live in your apartment for a few days and I owe you for that. So. What happened?

[book2thehead]

[Heizou gets the door open with a little sigh and heads inside, adjusting the bag on his shoulder.]

It's really nothing. It's just part of something I have to take care of every few weeks.