lucetilogs | (no subject)

[Ted hadn't been in the best of moods either at finding out Nami went home. After all, Nami was one of those really few girls who probably meant a little more than just a friend to him, though he himself isn't really all that keen on admitting it to her.

Well, not that he can now but...

The knock on his door stirs him from his nap with a book on his face, upside-down as usual when he's not focused. He blinks owlishly for a moment, trying to remember just what he was doing, before he faintly registers that the knock must have been for him. He could always pretend he's not home, especially when he wasn't at his cheeriest right now, but then it might have been Lazlo or Aldo needing something. He reluctantly pulls himself up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he dumps the book by the table.

Upon reaching the door and opening it, however, he's startled by the lack of person standing outside. The faint glowing, however, catches his attention, and he immediately turns to Naoki.

... Sitting on the floor next to his door.

...] Naoki?

Thank goodness.

[He says this before he even realises as soon as that door opens, some tension easing from his body as he sees Ted. He blinks a couple of times before smiling faintly, though it doesn't linger long.]

I wasn't sure if you'd be in, I--

[...bah. He places his hand on the wall and stands to face him properly now.] ...m'glad you are.

[He looks worried for a moment, before he steps aside.] Come on in. You don't look so good right now. [A silent way of saying "Tell me what's wrong once you're in here."]

Ah--it's pretty obvious, huh... [Naoki steps inside willingly, even gladly, hands tucking into his pockets.]

You could say that. [He closes the door behind him before turning back to him.] Something on your mind?

[And here his expression crumples.] Usopp... [And Nami. But Usopp--he'd known him for a year. Longer.]

[~~D-dejected puppy D8~~ Ted blinks for a moment, before it dawns on him. Ahh...] Come on, let's take a seat, okay?

[~~;w; /whiiine~~ He lowers his head slightly, nodding it.] Okay...

[Ted leads him inside at that, pausing awkwardly for a moment since he wasn't sure what to do this time. A hug, words of comfort? He himself was still upset about Nami after all.]

[Naoki doesn't really need anything in particular. He would've stayed home but--somehow he didn't want to worry Isamu and Richard. They hadn't experienced anyone really close to them going home yet, had they? So even if they comforted him (in their own ways), he didn't want to linger.

...

He sinks down in the nearest spot, resting his chin quietly in his palms, not saying anything yet, vision swimming as he looks at the floor.]

[He moves around the table in order to get to the other side of the couch, scooting close before taking a seat next to him. He watches him for a moment, silent, trying to find a cue what he can do. It doesn't take him long before he stretches on arm out though, wrapping it around Naoki's shoulder to pull him close.]

[Naoki stills for a moment at that contact and then a sound wells up and he turns toward him, hand coming up to grip the front of his shirt, head ducking so he can bury his face in his shoulder. There's no shaking of his shoulders to indicate crying, he's just. Clutching on to him wordlessly, as though to affirm that he's still there.]

[And Ted lets him at that, just keeping him close wordlessly. It was probably the best choice right now, and in a way, this probably said more than anything he could say. "I'm here for you" or "I won't leave", things like this that he has a harder time expressing verbally at moments like this.]

[Naoki squeezes his eyes tightly shut, fingers gripping on to his shirt tightly, grip almost white-knuckled. He presses his face a little more into his shoulder, fighting back the thick feeling in his throat. Hoarsely--] Sorry. [He's a mess right now.]

No reason to. [He says automatically, rubbing circles on his back.] I got you.

[A shaky laugh in response.] Don't y-- [Swallow.] --d-don't you always...

[He nods, silent for a moment, before softly speaking once more.] Just let it out, I'm here for you, all right?

[Naoki nods slightly against his shoulder by way of response. His voice is low and muffled--] I hate it. It isn't fair, I-- [He's being selfish, but honestly? He doesn't care.] I hate it...

[He continues to rub circles on his back, quiet, just letting him speak. He knew how that felt at least, he knew how much it sucked, and how hard it was to accept. After all, his own best friend went home.]

[Naoki exhales shakily.] I won't get to-- [He presses his lips together. I won't see them again. He's not the only one who's gone through this. But he's not thinking of that as his eyes squeeze shut, shoulders shaking with silent sobs.]

[He pulls him close at that, leaning back on the couch and letting him cry it off. He pauses in his ministrations, moving his other hand up to stroke Naoki's hair instead in comfort.]

[Naoki merely stays where he is, clutching at Ted like he's his lifeline, shaking. He won't lift his head for a while, not until his eyes start hurting and throat burns, where he has to swallow thickly to clear it. The hair-stroking calms him little by little, until the fingers that are gripping at his shirt loosen slightly.]

[Ted lets him take his time, until he's ready to talk, or he's calmed down. It was at times like this he wondered if this place really did try it's best to crush it's residents, rather than help them. He knew he couldn't fully blame the Malnosso, but sometimes he really wanted to just demand them to figure something out already and stop this. It made him feel bad seeing his friends suffer over something he couldn't really do anything about.]

Edited 2011-01-09 05:10 (UTC)

[A long, shuddery exhale and then Naoki subtly turns his face to the side, so one cheek is still pressed to Ted's shoulder but he can go wiping at his face with one arm. He really is in a sorry state. And Ted--Nami was his friend too, wasn't she? He must be hurt about it, too. Unconsciously he shifts his arms, hugging Ted around the waist in a gesture meant to comfort even where he isn't showing that he needs any.]

[That surprised Ted. For a moment, he nearly tensed. Nearly. He was learning to accept the physical affection rather than just hand it after all. He lets Naoki hug him though, wondering if it was because he wanted closer physical comfort or not. He didn't realize that perhaps, he was doing it for Ted, though he would feel embarrassed if he did. After all, Naoki seemed to need it more than he did right now.]