chamberofrepose | the morning after

[He's eyeing Ri critically, because that much silence is suspicious. Does he really need to drop the real bomb in Ri's lap, or is Ri going to go on some freakish exercise mission to avoid eating rabbit food?]

What are you thinking about?

[is it really that suspicious? but yes it's a freakish exercise mission]

... I already take care of my son and my student who gets in trouble all the time. You'd think that would burn millions of calories.

[Dammit. He'd wanted to be sneaky about this. Instead he'll just hope that Ri can keep his cool.]

You do, Ri. But burning calories isn't going to help your cholesterol. You want to know the real reason I brought this up, even though we usually try not to influence each other?

[he'll turn a bit to look at Riku, looking surprised by the sudden change in attitude]

What? What are you talking about?

I was hoping to convince you to change what you're eating now, so what happened to your older self doesn't happen to you, too. You had a heart-attack, Ri.

[His arms wrap around Ri tight, not liking even the memory, or the thought that the same could happen to the younger one too.]

We were this close to losing you.

[Ri gives a nervous laugh, looking uncomfortable with all this]

Ha ha! That's a joke, right? Something like that can't happen to me. I'm a Replica. I don't get sick or anything like Real people.

Do you honestly think I'd make a joke out of something like this? For fuck's sake, Ri! I'm trying to protect you!

W-well... well now I know! It won't happen!

Just... Take good care of yourself, okay? I don't want to have to go through that again. Eat some damned rabbit food with your steaks so Sora won't cry later.

[Or his younger self. Hell, he's trying not to get too worked up now himself. He's still hugging Ri pretty tightly.]

[Ri goes quiet and will press back against Riku, understanding that this is Very Important, and not wanting Riku to get that broken expression on his face again]

Don't ever forget you have people that love you, okay?

[He needs the next few minutes to recover his composure, and drops another kiss to Ri's head before letting his arms slide away to reach for the soap again. He hadn't mentioned it to Ri, but he'd felt the telltale residue of come dried on his skin, and thinking about it makes him itch until he can thoroughly wash it away.]

Right. Of course.

[Ri will enjoy the soaking while Riku cleans up more then, still feeling off-balance from the future information]

[He'll save washing his own hair for later, when he'll have an easier time without someone else sharing space with him behind them. The water is still hot enough to soothe sore muscles, so he's not in any hurry to get out just yet.]

... it'll be okay if you don't want to mention what I told you to Riku or Sora. They'll just worry, and I know you have your secrets.

... they might worry more.

I'll leave it up to you to decide. As long as you eat healthier to take care of that heart of yours, they won't have anything to worry about.

[He gives Ri another hug, then uses his foot again to start draining the water. Ri will be getting a nudge soon after, with Riku ready to help him up if he still needs it.]

[Ri will lever himself up carefully, still feeling tender and vulnerable]

Right. I don't want that to happen.

[He pulls himself up afterward, wringing water from the lower half of his hair. The towel he grabs first is for Ri, who he's still more concerned about than himself.]

Once was enough.

It's not the sort of thing that I thought would take me down.

[Ri does the hair-wringing thing too, and takes the towel gratefully]

No, but it doesn't have to be the next time around.

[He takes a towel for himself, drying off efficiently and tying it around his waist. Then he's looking Ri over critically, assessing the damage as well as Ri's size.]

I've got clothes here you can wear, as long as you don't care about oil stains or that they're bigger than you.

Aren't you worried about changing things on your end? That time paradox stuff? And I don't mind wearing your clothes.

[Ri looks much better after the bath and potion and cure! he's still got a slight limp though, so Riku can strut a little over that]

A little. But even if it does, I think saving you is worth it.

[Leaving the bathroom, he'll be soon giving Ri some admittedly previously-worn gray coveralls to wear. They definitely smell like him, as he hasn't gotten around to washing his set of coveralls yet this week when he knows he'll just get oil on them again soon.]

But I'm not dead! The older-me is still around and kicking, so it can't be that bad.

[Ri will take the coveralls, inspecting them a bit, but it's better than wearing a towel or nothing at all]

[They're not too bad off.]

The only reason for that is because Sora just happened to be close by. He managed a kind of healing that I've never even imagined was possible. We can't always take for granted that he's going to be there.

Oh.

But it doesn't happen until I'm super old right? Like you?

[Ri's getting a smack on the ass simply out of habit from his swatting the older Ri for similar comments when Riku's back gives him trouble.]

Maybe you should read up on heart attacks and cholesterol, Ri. You don't have to be super old like me for it to happen.

the morning after

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