(Untitled)

[gentiana_clusii]

Ken was heartily sick of all this tip-toeing around--he wasn't the type for it. Never really had been. His best friend was here, dammit, and he was going to do...something. Hell, even Mamoru had to appreciate a night out sometimes, right

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[deadfreesia]

Mamoru was not expecting company. After a few moments of debating whether he should simply ignore it, he stood from his computer desk in the bedroom and checked the peephole.

Ken.

With a rare look of surprise and-- dare one say it-- concern, he opened the door.

"Ken-kun."

He opened the door enough to let him inside. "What's wrong."

[gentiana_clusii]

Ken grinned, waved. Nothing wrong here, evidently--he certainly didn't look worried.

"Nothing. I'd've called." If something was wrong, that is.

He stepped in, toeing off his shoes out of habit. "Just wondering what you were doing tonight."

[deadfreesia]

This was incredibly, massively unexpected. What he was doing tonight?

"Most likely, catching up on computer work."

Beat.

"Is there something you need?"

[gentiana_clusii]

Not anymore, you're not.

"Yeah. Where's your shoes?"

[gentiana_clusii]

It wasn't the nicest place Ken had chosen, but the atmosphere was friendly and thankfully free of cigarette smoke, dark and rather quiet--when someone wasn't singing, that is, because true to his word there was karaoke at this particular bar. Not the sort of loud establishment he'd probably go to normally--when it was just himself. But he'd made concessions to what he normally did since Mamoru was with him.

It was well into the night now, and Ken was well into his third Sapporo Draft.

"S'kinda nice, just getting out...ne?"

[deadfreesia]

Mamoru was keeping careful watch on both how much Ken was having to drink and how much he was having. A bit of alcohol was inevitable-- and really not such a terrible thing-- but he had no intentions of having so much that it interfered with his ability to stay alert and keep acceptably keen reaction time. Just in case.

In spite of the caution, he couldn't disagree with Ken. It was nice to see him again. Worrisome for what it might mean for Ken later, if he continued to close the distance that had grown between them, but undeniably nice to see him.

"Un. I'm glad for the chance... With everything that's happened..."

He trailed off, not wanting to get too deeply into events from home or events here in the city.

"What made you decide to do this? Dragging me out for a night."

[gentiana_clusii]

Ken shrugged. "Just wanted to, s'all." Mamoru was still his friend--here, especially, Ken didn't see the need to keep him at arm's length.

"I mean. It's been awhile. Since we've had the chance to unwind, and just talk. Or not talk. Whatever."

[deadfreesia]

Mamoru looked down. "Yeah...

"Have you had any progress learning to control your ability?"

[deadfreesia]

A few hours and several drinks later, Mamoru led Ken out of the bar. Although he suspected Ken was capable of holding himself up just fine on his own, he didn't mind being leaned on while they walked anyway. He steadied Ken with his hand, alert for any monsters on the prowl, but feeling a strange warmth in his stomach. He blamed it on the alcohol.

Since it was best they not be outside longer than necessary, Mamoru took them straight to the closer of the two apartments-- his. Once safely locked inside, he sent Aya a text message just to make sure he'd know not to worry that Ken was missing or worse.

"I don't have an extra bed," he admitted. "But the couch is comfortable. I'll get you a blanket and pillow."

[gentiana_clusii]

Or maybe he would if Ken hadn't, almost immediately after Mamoru finished speaking, draped his arm over the other man's shoulder and pulled them both down to the couch, curling against Mamoru's side like an oversized, affectionate cat.

Apparently Ken was a cuddly drunk--or he'd decided very recently to be.

[deadfreesia]

Of all the things Mamoru might have expected out of Ken, for him to pull him down to the couch and hug him was damn near the bottom of that list. After the choices he'd made, and remembering all too clearly how Ken had esteemed him as Persia while still answering to the name Siberian, it had been surprise enough for Ken to even want anything to do with him. To have come over and wanted to drag him out. To now be cuddling...

It was more than Mamoru could have faith in. This kind of friendship, it wasn't something he had any right to now.

"Ken-kun...."

His voice held only honest bewilderment.

[gentiana_clusii]

"Mmmmwhat. That can wait." The blanket thing, anyway. "S'been a while since we just sat 'n talked about stupid shit. Nothing at all." Then again, it'd probably been a while since Mamoru had done anything that was just...for fun. The thought was an unwelcome one. Mamoru was only 21--he was supposed to be doing stupid fun discovering-your-place-as-an-adult shit, not running the Takatori family matters.

Then again, Ken hadn't done much of that at 21 either. He'd been too busy going bloody crazy.