theafflicted | everybody's fine 'cause it's party time ( W5 AFTERPARTY )

everybody's fine 'cause it's party time ( W5 AFTERPARTY )

After a positively thrilling game of the prisoner's dilemma, it's all over. Everyone needs to get patched up, recover and... hopefully not kill each other after everything. At some point in the cafeteria, Shizuku and Madara have taken over the kitchen- though help won't be denied completely- and leaving a large meal of noodles and whatever else they can still use from Fai and Shizuku's little shopping trip... not a lot of fresh food, but it works out. There's also plenty of coffee, a tea kettle and even hot chocolate ready. (Shizuku herself is using her ill-gotten tapioca balls for some homemade boba, hell yeah.) Team Idol may not stick around for long, but there's plenty to go around for now... and Shizuku will happily bring over some snacks from the convenience store too. And did you know that place has a milkshake machine? Because it does. Get you a milkshake, people.

But tensions are high after everything. Hopefully this doesn't become a murdergame.

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( she sits up to meet the hug, sighing softly. the only thing preventing her from straight up melting into it is that there's still just a bit more to do. )

Mmhm. And now that we've got everyone nice and taken care of... it's your turn.

( like... his own injuries. )

There's some bandages and alcohol in the bathroom.

[He looks away for a moment, then down at his own legs. He's put joggers on so no one can comment on the cuts, so he was hoping he could take care of it after Shizuku went to sleep. No such luck.]

Yeah. I'll go take care of it. Sorry, Shizu.

[Tucking some of her hair back behind her ear.]

You can go ahead and go to sleep. You look like you're about to drop.

Madara, don't you remember? I told you, I'll take care of you this time.

( and she finishes the declaration with a soft kiss to his forehead, turning the tables for once- but maybe it's something that's needed to happen. )

Thank you for helping me with everything today. Once this is done, we can both rest.

( and before he can protest further, she's already standing up and heading to the bathroom. )

[It's funny how his stubbornness just melts away. He sits down on the edge of the bed and watches her go retrieve the supplies without a word of protest.]

...Thanks, Shizuku.

[He can't honestly believe how much his chest aches right now, looking at her, letting someone take care of him and do something nice for him for once. It's odd, it feels misplaced, but it's moments like this that make him really hurt for how much he's going to miss her.]

( shizuku comes back and she sits on the floor in front of him, supplies at the ready. there is a slight sting when she puts a bit too much pressure on her knees in the process, but it passes quickly. first thing's first is the open wounds- with the electrocution, she's not entirely sure what she can do beyond visiting florence, but...

...

given what she's heard of that sort of injury, she's not even entirely sure there's much to be done.

...

she'll tend to what she can, at least, gentle and slow. )

[And he was a stubborn idiot about not going to Florence, because he felt fine, in his opinion. A little stiff, a little numb, but fine.

This is...

He watches her work, keeping his hands to himself and quietly suffering the sting of the alcohol. It probably won't get infected, or at least he hopes it won't. That would cause more problems, he knows. It's a belated realization.

They're very quiet for a while as she cleans up his wounds and bandages them. But something seizes him suddenly, and he reaches down to gently run fingers over her hair, then along her cheek, before finally tipping her chin up.]

...

( madara's touch draws her back to the present, makes her look up with those big eyes of hers and stare for a moment before she smiles, leaning into his hand as she's finished.

there's something in the way that he's looking at her that makes something come alive in her- and after a moment of simply accepting the world as is, she lifts onto her knees- ignoring the sting- and with one hand on his leg to support himself and the other on the back of his neck to gently pull him down, she meets him in a soft kiss. )

[He accepts the kiss, faintly returns it, and honestly loses himself in the moment. His arms go around her, pulling her up to his lap. There's a pause, but then he kisses her again, gently and briefly.]

I don't want to let you go.

[It's quiet, despite there being no one else who could possibly hear this.]

I don't want you to get hurt, I don't want to leave you behind...

[He opens his eyes and looks directly into hers, smiling faintly, fingers brushing her hair back behind one ear.]

I love you, Shizuku.

( shizuku is moved into his lap which gives her ample reason to instead wrap her arms around him, settled where she is like it's where she belongs. the second kiss brings a sigh out of her, content and warm- and it lingers in how she looks up at him still, as if it's just the two of them in the world. )

I love you too.

( to be left behind... shizuku almost, almost glances away in fear of the thought, but instead she leans in against him, eyes shut. )

I don't want to be apart from you.

[He's losing hope more and more that they'll be able to stay in touch, even though that's all he wants. Even if he can't see her, he'd like to at least be able to know she's doing well, that she's safe and loved and cared for by her friends.]

I feel like I need you.

[That's coming from a very terrifyingly vulnerable place.]

This world can go to hell on every other count.

They brought us here somehow- I know there's a way to stay together... There has to be.

( or they're only setting themselves up for heartbreak, and that? that can be dangerous.

she hates that this doubt has finally crept into her mind- that she can't dismiss it so easily anymore.

but

she can at least have the present. so... )

Don't give up on me... but while we're here, promise we can make the best of it, too. Please?

[He runs his fingers through her hair so, so gently.]

Like you even have to ask for that.

[A smile.]

I promise. The rest of the time I'm here, I'm making the most of this.

( it's so, so funny how just his smile can have her feeling better despite everything. gently, she shifts to cup his cheek. )

I love your smile, did you know that...?

( ... she's going in for another kiss, soft and sweet except for how she's holding onto his shirt. )

[As if hers doesn't do the very same to him. He could get lost for an eternity in that smile.

An arm wraps around her protectively as they kiss, as he continues to stroke her hair and cheek so, so softly.]

( and how right that feels. she'd even sigh contentedly if she wasn't so thoroughly distracted by everything making her so content to begin with. if anything, she's pressing even closer. )

[His mind starts to wander, so eventually he breaks the kiss and rests their foreheads together, holding her close.]

Let's get some rest. Tomorrow's a new day, new week. We'll just see what they throw at us.

Ah...

( well, she is tired... but given everything, she's actually a tiny bit surprised he's saying this. but yeah, alright. )

Okay.

( she doubts they'll get up and move to the other bed, so she's more than content to just... flop down into the pillows and drag madara with her with a sweet smile. )

I love you, Madara.

[He's equal parts ready for this place to release him and desperate to keep Shizuku. Let him rest.

He might kiss her some more, though.

He's dragged down and immediately pulls her close, letting Shizuku get comfortable before he settles in, too.]

I love you, too, Shizuku. Even if you're reeeally unfair.

( ah yes, pulled in close to madara's chest in his sweater still, right where she belongs. --wait? )

--Unfair? Me?

( she's only ever been the most fair??? )

[Don't make him say it.]

You're too cute and I'm not as strong as I suspected!

I think that's more on you than it is on me.

( SHIZUKU- )

[You mood ruiner.]

If you're going to judge me, I'm sleeping in the other bed. Alone.

What? Noooo, Madaraaa-

( now she's pouting and cuddling up to him even more. no leaving her!! )

[Wow, that's cute too????? STOP???

Fine, he will just cuddle her and kiss her forehead.]

I'm such a pushover.

( she's not satisfied... on his behalf, because she's gently peppering his face with light kisses to make up for her teasing. )

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