theairlock | THE FIFTH INVESTIGATION

What if I don't want to let you go right now?

[It could be sexy or romantic, and maybe he means it that way. But maybe, on a Friday like this, after a Friday like last week's, there's something needier in the way his arms tighten protectively around her.]

[ Well then. She manages to go even redder at that. Impressive.

But after a moment, her arms slip loosely around his neck and she pulls herself a little closer. ]

... then... good. [ And then she just gives up on even pretending to be dignified right now and just nestles against him as best she can while being carried like this. ] I don't... I don't want you to let me go either.

[This is good. This is comfortable. He smiles a very little bit, something more around the corners of his eyes than his lips, but it's genuine and it's there.

But it's a very short walk up to the refreshments.]

...I, uh. I didn't think through the part where I'd need my hands to, you know. Get the tea.

... Oh. Oh--

[ Because -- oh lord, he's right. It's not like he can just go in one handed with Yuuri dangling off him and she's certainly not about to suggest him putting her down. So Yuuri does the only thing any reasonable person would do and she dissolves into giggles, still slumped against him. ]

U--um! Maybe we can get someone to help? I mean-- you clearly have your hands full, don't you?

[Junpei looks over his shoulder to see if anyone's available.]

Help... we're Japanese, we need tea...

[Why are they like this.]

[ This is all absolutely ridiculous and probably not at all appropriate for the tone set by what's happened this morning. But that just makes her laugh even harder. They need something to laugh about right now, she thinks. ]

Then, um-- maybe just put me down for a second and we'll go and sit down together. Maybe in the rest area?

[ That's a place a little more conductive to cuddles, right. ]

[He grumbles about it, but yes, Yuuri once again has the reasonable answer. He sets her down but immediately captures her hand again, because maybe she's laughing but it has been a day.]

Why do you have to make sense?

Well, one of us has to.

[ Cold, Rii-san. But she does give his hand a squeeze as she fetches herself a mug of tea with her free hand -- she's going for the sweetened, milky stuff this morning over green tea for once. ]

Should we grab something to eat, too?

If we're heading to the rest area, better to take some and have it than get stranded over there with no snacks, right?

[So he puts his mug of green tea--he's not picky, but he's not big on sweets, either--on a plate and stacks a couple pieces of toast on top so he can carry it all at once.]

I'm sure... someone will come find us if anything changes.

... You're probably right. Nari said he'd be fine so... I believe her. We just have to wait and see how he feels when he wakes up.

[ You know what, she'll get herself some toast and a plate too. Her stomach still in a bit of an anxious mess but she can't well be pestering everyone else to go and eat if she's not going to do the same herself. ]

I'm ready to go if you are, then.

[He looks around one more time, as if he has to double-check that everyone's still standing (or sitting, as the case may be non-metaphorically) before he can get himself to disengage alarm mode, too.]

All right. [He squeezes her hand gently.] Let's go.

[And the Espurr ambles off towards the rest area, holding his girlfriend by the hand.]

[ ... And speaking of Espurr, once they're actually making their way into the rest room, she can't help but pipe up before they both sit down and start getting comfortable: ]

Is it really that comfortable? Your kigurumi, I mean. I feel like I've barely seen you in anything else all week.

Oh. Uh.

[He looks away awkwardly and rubs the back of his head.]

Well, it is, but really... it's mostly because I don't have any shirts left. After, you know.

[Getting lacerated and vaporized so many times last week.]

... Right.

[ That... would do a number on your wardrobe.

She finds herself a comfy spot and settles down, plate on the floor next to her so she can go ahead and pull a blanket over her legs. Much cozier. ]

Hm... I think I might still have something you could have, though. Or, well, have back, I suppose.

Hm? Oh. The turtleneck?

[Shit, she looks real cozy. After a moment, he slides down and puts his head in her lap. Boyfriend privilege, hell yes. God, he's so clingy today.]

I don't know. It's cuter on you.

[ Well if you're going to act like a lap cat, prepare to get treated like one, Junpei. She smiles and shifts a little where she's sat, just enough to more comfortably pillow his head in her lap and then starts lazily stroking his hair. There. Much better. ]

I'm sure it is. But even as cute as you look in this, you probably need a spare shirt more than I do right now. Unless you want to spend the rest of your life in a kigurumi, Tenmeowji-san?

[ did you think she'd forgotten ]

Haha. Purr, purr.

[He closed his eyes when he felt her fingers in his hair, but he cracks one open again.]

Is that what this is? A cat? I assumed it was, but the color kind of threw me off. I've heard of blue cats, but purple?

I think so...? The ears made me think of a scottish fold with how they're... well, folded over like that. The colour's a bit off but... I don't think kangaroos are bright orange either, are they?

[ pet, pet. exactly like a lapcat. ]

I'll wash the shirt for you tonight, though. Do you need the pants back as well?

[The attention is nice. Some of the unhappy, unspoken tension in his neck and shoulders starts to wind its way out as she pets him. Also, this way she can't get up and get back to overworking herself. Win-win.]

Mm... I'm good on pants. Shouldn't be a problem unless next week something stabs me in the leg.

Don't even joke. Honestly, I don't know why they didn't just go and call you Champion Troublemaker.

[ you have given this poor girl at LEAST three heart attacks, Junpei. ]

... but, really. I say "wash". What I mean is "I'll do my best with the shower head". We've been here over a month and I still can't believe we don't have a laundry room.

THE FIFTH INVESTIGATION

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