[Surely he could've worded that differently, too, right? Somehow, so as to not make it sound like she's so vital to their ability to breathe. Still, she doesn't have to wonder if our Mae still holds true, at least?
She stops biting her lower lip, and turns to lean back against the counter opposite him, and so they stand; facing each other but with the whole space between them, hiding behind coffee cups. Almost mirrored. She takes a sip out of her coffee, and looks up at him from under her lashes.]
Wouldn't want you two to be out of breath on my account. [Yes, Mae. You've thought about it often enough yet, you so would. Of course, what he doesn't know...probably lets her keep staying here, and doesn't ruin a very solid friendship.]
[ It's odd how he... he actually doesn't have a comeback to that. At least not a witty one, nor a response that won't be spilling secrets that are strictly his to keep.
So he'll stick to the parts that ring true: ] We'd just like you safe.
[ Because he's fond of you. He likes that it's easy -- this friendship, the exchanges. He likes that whenever things seem to escalate to awkward fast, the both of you can laugh about it after. ]
I guess... if you feel uncomfortable with us having you over, I don't want to force the issue.
[ No matter the subjects that get skirted around. Honesty Hour is rarely ever easy after all.
Before Josh can fumble over what to say next though, there's a blessedly quick interruption from Naoki, who has rolled on his side to tug at the hem of his pants.
Setting the mug down, picking up the kitten again and passing a small, shy smile at Mae. ]
Lemme just go put new food out for tiny and we can go flop on the couch.
Just not all of you. [Laughing uncomfortably because your cat doesn't like her. This is life, now. She rolls her eyes and waves him away to go feed tiny.
Flopping on the couch sounds -- like not much of an activity at all, actually. What'll they do? There's nothing to do when couching except for maybe snuggle up together. And there's a buffer, when the two of them are together, they act like a buffer for Mae's moral code and logical thinking to work.
But as her time at the club has proven, she's shit at it if they come at her individually.]
[ He's honestly stupefied by it. But he admits it's ridiculously cute. You're like two children all NU at each other.
On that comment though. ]
I didn't say a thing. [ Giving you a significant Look now, because of what you did. ] Besides, I don't think my heart could take another one of your falls.
Powers, [ he might be looking wistfully out that window. He put in a request to the Administration if he and Hikaru could request for their armor from back home. ]
Ones that made me a damn good tactician on the field. [ He still likes to think he is. Even if he can't do much beyond function like a hunter with a mundane skillset. ] And which gave me the handy ability to self-heal.
[ Or be resurrected in the event that he did die -- which is something he doesn't feel like he should tell you just yet. Because, well. That tea-time conversation. ]
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