projectroxas | (no subject)

[ he's not sure how, but he's absolutely certain that it's one of those mornings where waking up would be a Bad Idea. even when he's only half-awake, he can feel the dull throb in his head, signaling the presence of a progressively worsening migraine. presses a hand to his forehead gingerly as he peeks open one eye. shuts it immediately when the light amplifies the headache even further. somehow manages to roll over onto his side with a soft groan, expression twisting into one of pain as he patterns out his breathing.

several minutes later, reattempts at opening his eyes. is successful this time, leaving him to blink owlishly at the blurry image of the (foreign-but-not) room laid out before him. jerks bodily when he realizes that this is not his room, but tony's. doesn't quite get to the point of throwing himself off the bed, however, hindered quite successfully by the pounding headache. feels slightly better upon realizing that tony's strangely absent, filling him with a sense of hope that he can get away unscathed. as such, he stubbornly pushes down the memories as he wraps his arms around his head, concentrating on breathing & recovering so that he can escape as soon as possible. ]

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[ peers down at hiro. ]

You can inherit this job from me when you're older.

[ nods at him happily. ]

「 I'll raise the Berries well, just like onii-chan. 」

I know you will. And you got me and my teacher to help.

「 Yes. I am lucky. 」

[ quirks another, smaller smile before giving their connected hands a light tug. ]

Let's go, before the ice cream shop closes.

[ lifts his free hand to give oliver a final wave. ] Good night, boss.

[ gives oliver a small wave too as they exit the shop, trotting along beside anthony in silence. ]

[ & he turns their direction, not to where tinkerbell is parked behind the building, but down the street. eyes roll up toward the sky briefly as he tries to remember where tony had taken him so many months ago. when he finds that he can't remember exactly, he decidedly peers at the stores that they're passing with interest and attention, doing his best so that they do not pass it by on accident. ]

[ scoots and kicks some rocks along the ways, peering at what anthony is looking at every now and then. seems to spot the ice cream shop before anthony can, tugging on their connected hands a little before pointing at it happily. ]

[ lets himself be tugged along, blinking in confusion until he catches sight of their target shop. then throws his free hand into the hair in a half-banzai motion. ]

One hundred points to little brother.

[ also throws up his unused hand, not even having to look at anthony to know what he's doing. just keeps on waddling over to it, pushing the door open easily when they get to that point and stepping inside, immediately peering at the choices despite already deciding on what he wants prior to their visit. ]

[ is looking down at the selection in actual consideration, eyes flickering between two choices until he finally settles with his choice. glances at hiro before he orders, however, just in case the boy had changed his mind. ]

. . . Still chocolate chip?

[ after a moment he nods, pointing to the chocolate chip option to make his point clear. ]

[ glances at the selection just to make certain & pulls his hand free gently so that he can place their order -- two scoops of chocolate chip for hiro, & a scoop of mango sherbet for himself. pays in exact change (with pennies, nickles & all) much to the cashier's exasperation. pays that no mind, however, when both his orders is handed to him. gestures toward the door with his head while handing over hiro's selection. ]

Is outside okay?

[ takes the ice cream, giving anthony's hand a fond nudge with his forehead before nodding up at him. quickly moves to the door first again, using his back to open it and then keep it that way for anthony as he peers up at him with a hopeful look on his face. ]

[ blinks down at his (adopted) little brother in surprise before he realizes the boy's intentions. smiles as he passes by, giving hiro's head a pat at the same time. ]

Thanks.

[ a pleased flush tints his cheeks at that, even if it's barely noticeable. nonetheless the lets the door close behind him when he moves again, waddling on over to their typical seating place on the bench in front of the ice cream shop. wiggles on top of it, taking his usual spot as he begins to munch on his ice cream happily. ]

[ settles down into the open spot on the bench next to him without missing a beat. seems content enough to simply watch people pass them by while taking bites out of his treat in silence with only a glance at hiro once in a while, as if checking to see if the ice cream was to the boy's tastes. ]

[ seems quite pleased with said ice cream, gently swinging his legs to and fro as they sit there in comfortable silence. after some time, however, he leans sideways to rest his head against anthony's arm, continuing his munching as if nothing is amiss in the world. ]

[ blinks down at him when he feels that shift in weight, but does not protest it. far from, he instead adjusts himself so that hiro can lean against him without being jostled every time he lifts his arm to take a bite out of his ice cream. somehow manages to maneuver it so that he can rest his hand in the hair again. doesn't move it or ruffles at the strands; simply just leaves it there as what he hopes to be a comfortable weight. ]

[ tilts his head back a little to look up at anthony, giving him a pretty pleased look. just scoots a little closer to him to show that he's happy with their position, looking back down at his remaining scoop of ice cream; seems to nom that down quickly, munching happily on the cone before swallowing. closes his eyes this time when he leans further into anthony, body slumping lightly against him in silent contentment. ]

[ another smile comes to him, the expression easy & relaxed; free of the troubles ailing him at the moment, those thoughts pushed aside with minimal effort with this simple contact between him & yet another person who does not judge him for his mistakes. lowers his arm as to wrap it around hiro protectively, allowing the boy to tuck himself into his side if so desired. leans back into the bench even further upon finishing the rest of his treat as well, the movement almost sluggish.

continues to watch the dwindling number of people pass by with little interest for a little while longer until finally, his eyes begin to droop closed as well. not asleep, but dazing -- his body tilts a bit until his head is hovering over hiro's. one more push with his spine & he's rubbing his nose into that hair. breathes out to ruffle at those strands with his breath before speaking quietly: ]

Thank you.

[ & hugs him closer even more in the aftermath of speaking in hopes of emphasizing the extent to which he means it as he continues to bask in this unconditional company & comfort for little whiles longer. ]