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Inosuke is fidgeting behind Tanjirou, gripping onto his haori and using him as a shield. They’re waiting at the train station and he’s been this way since they set off- actually since the crow informed them that their next mission required them to take the train again. The small crowd of people does nothing to soothe Inosuke’s anxiety and Tanjirou worries for him.
That is, until he comes up with a way to help.
“What are you doing?!” Inosuke practically hisses and yells when Tanjirou manages to brush their hands together and slip his fingers between the spaces, successfully holding his hand.
“Shh, I’m holding your hand so you’ll relax.”
Inosuke seems stunned and confused, almost rendered momentarily speechless from the simple small gesture.
“But...why…?” He finally asks in a much softer voice and sounding completely lost. “What’s the point?”
It’s Tanjirou’s turn to be confused. Holding hands is one of those gestures that naturally occurs between people- it’s practically instinctive. He’s never stopped to truly question why people actually hold hands.
“Why do people hold hands?” He asks for confirmation and gets a hurried rush of nods as an answer, turning his head towards the sky afterwards to think. Inosuke’s fingers wiggle between his own. They’re clammy and calloused as ever but still radiate a soothing warmth. It’s as if he’s waiting patiently for the answer, maybe even a little nervous to hear. Instinctively, Tanjirou rubs Inosuke’s thumb with his own.
“We hold hands to… ah- when we seek comfort, like now.” Tanjirou lifts up their intertwined hands as emphasis. “sometimes we feel lost- scared even- and the feeling of a warm hand brings us back to where we were before. then that feeling of hopelessness goes away to leave only the comfort and the strength to keep going.”
He rubs the back of his neck, embarrassed, not intending to ramble so much, afraid everything he’s said doesn’t even make sense. And Inosuke is looking at him like he’s absorbing every word, as if really trying to process each thoughts and commit them to memory.
But, there’s something Tanjirou is missing.
“Actually I forgot something…” he starts then trails off, suddenly aware of the shyness that’s blooming in his stomach as he struggles again to find the right way to explain.
“Holding hands isn’t only when we’re scared or sad.” This seems to pique Inosuke’s curiosity, despite the way he’s fumbling with his words. “Sometimes it’s when we care about someone and we want to feel...close to them- like holding their hand.. uh- connects us together. And they can feel that closeness too and they show it back. It’s just another form of love.”
There’s a sudden but comfortable silence between them after Tanjirou finishes speaking. Their hands are still resting comfortably between the two of them, even their knees are brushing as they sit. It’s then that Tanjirou realizes he’s been absentmindedly rubbing the back of Inosuke’s hand with his thumb. He doesn’t make any moves to stop.
The people continue to walk by them, completely unaware of them or maybe they’re so consumed in their own world it’s like no one else is there.
“You know-” Inosuke’s voice startles him at first and he momentarily lets go of his hand- to which Inosuke’s frown can be felt even through the boar mask, but he continues.
“You know… I want you to hold my hand more because.. well…” Inosuke fidgets and lets out a sound somewhere between a snort and grunt. “Because when you hold my hand it feels like both reasons.”
It’s Tanjirou’s turn to absorb these thoughts and Inosuke looks on the verge of going into a panicked frenzy from his silence before Tanjirou finally squeezes his hand and smiles softly- fondly- warmly; not missing the way Inosuke squeezes back and the way his cheeks have turned red.
“Okay. And me too, Inosuke.”
The train finally pulls into the station and Tanjirou stands up to tug their still locked hands and lead them to the doors. Inosuke doesn't let go on his hand the whole ride, but Tanjirou doesn't mind.