Work Text:
"Please don't say you just had another fight."
Scratches there and there, blood mess up on his left torso, rip up kimono on his lower left one. Long exhausted sighs creep out as you lay your pair of orbs tiredly to the standing man at his entrance house.
Rubbing his behind neck, the man scrunched. Acknowledged much how the meaning of your look as you avert your head away lower, looking upset because of himself.
"Why are you still awake?" The silver head close the sliding door, pulled out his two boots and put it on the shoes rack.
And-you-still-have-nerve-to-ask-look looking face sketching obviously on yours.
"You can tell yourself why. Where have you been? I lost contact with you for all days and even the young glasses don't give me any clue about your being. Look, I'm not nagging but if you keep harming yourself, I wouldn't stop bragging. Like…" you gesture on his front top of his body. "This."
Footsteps pass you aside, clearly walking on limp, earning a worry from your forehead.
"I'm not a little boy anymore."
You tails behind, madly chuckles left your lips.
"Yes you aren't. But you're mature enough to think which is good or doom for you." Stopping your walk seeing the wounded guy reach the sofa and resting, you went back into the room looking out for the tools aid kit.
"Turn around. Geez, what a disaster for your partner to be with you."
He flipped his front chest facing you. Taking a seat, shuffling sound coming from the box as you crack it open, pulling the tools for the treat as if you're already used to it.
Can say you've grown almost expert in learning about the tools and some kind related with this hospitality when it involves treating the metal head man leaning on his side to the cushion.
"Say the one who she is—" he flinched as a crackle pop sound emitted beyond his hand, "Hey! I still need my fingers for other occasions—"
"Oh I don't think that's necessary for that occasion ."
Another crack sound, fixing his part of the weird fingers position. You let him scream all night.
"Should I do it more than just a finger?"
"No thanks."
The sounds of the clock clicking, breaking the wave of stillness that remains between the two of you. You sound no words after, carefully but a bit rough as the man hitched everytime the cotton bud wiped over the wounds.
The perm zipped, thinking the after effects after you already gave him a quiet demeanor since he went back.
For a while, you realized the ruby pair had yet to leave, gazing over you. You did nothing, treat the wounds, blood, wipe the dirt all over and clean up the mess. Satisfied with your work, you get up along with the first aid kit, go to the room before going to the kitchen, and clean your dirty hand mess with his red stain.
"Clean yourself. I'm gonna sleep first."
Opening the pipe in the kitchen, you put the box on the side, rub the fingers and your both hands through the running water, same goes with your thoughts overflowing in the same speed as the pipe.
One of your special features;
Overthinking.
How could you possibly be able to not have those, after seeing and witnessing most of his stand alone fight with those bad people, more advanced, some of the regime from the government.
You're not going to forget how he was also one of the rebels who once involved himself in the joishi or rebel war versus with the alien and amanto ten years ago. Plus with the leftover rebel revolution that still lingering in the town under disguise.
You already know some of them and the three main, put aside the perm head dazed in the living room. Well, you're not quite close with them but knowing enough they are people you're acquainted with because of Gintoki.
One of them, the long dark lock and a little bit of screw loose in his head, always with the weird amanto penguin…. or duck…? You don't know what it is but it somehow shares the same name with the former Queen , Elizabeth.
Not to forget, the two youngsters and his sidekick while doing the jobs. The usual girl in her red cheongsam sleepover with someone you is known as actually the little sister of the ruler's country itself, while the glasses have already gone back home, leaving the two of you alone.
Never a single day you bored as the two of them being your companions and you enjoyed too much. Funny, innocent but pesky enough to entertain your boring day as you lately, growing fond of the two of them. They're like your little siblings you care for beside the big ass baby of a grown-man, who you thought should have his own blooded family in his age.
In contrast, you couldn't bring those topics up again. Not because you are afraid the man will reject the option because he is not mature…
Well, technically, he is…
No, not that. By any means, the man himself scared the situation might harm the other party– his partner of life because of his background. The next, next day is a total question that no one can answer the specific and detailed information that will ensure their safety and secure their head.
What if they hurt because of him, while he wasn't there to save them?
What if he was the one who died first, what could happen to them?
Who's gonna take care of them while he was away?
What if there's a kid of his own flesh, knowing the father was involved in the threat of the country?
While you're having your own thoughts in the kitchen, the lonely silver head lives in his own dimension as well.
He cares for you, too much to describe how much he is vulnerable without you being there and heals him like always you did since then. To be honest, no one could even imagine how big his insecurities and those undeserved words were lying through his mind.
You are more than just a partner, someone who keeps his sanity and the contrast, maybe even someone the cause of your life risks.
If something is to be compared in this world, you're like the stars that lived a thousand years back that will never reach it. The stars shine through the whole age in the universe and someday, will vanish into the blackhole.
Long enough for him to longing for you since all years, and until now, he couldn’t reach it. Waiting for the time to catch you away from his sight while he was averting his focus from you.
Dazed off into the woods through the transparent windows, he knows. You're not in a good mood.
Judging from the way you ambience and the icy gaze you shot through, he couldn't accept any more injuries and quickly took a bath.
Done cleaning the sweat, he changed into his usual green hakama or comfier sleepwear with only the lower pants.
A little bit wobbled for the walk and he finally reached the fabric. You have gone under your futon after cleaning up the mess, pretend to shut your eyes and let alone the shuffling sound you believes it's your well known person you deeply care for.
Gintoki struggled to lay down beside, leaning closer and snuggling to your back.
It was intense. Full of tension and the massive amount of density flooding all over the place.
He was able to sense it, the stonehenge of tension floating in the air, especially coming from the woman which is you facing your slender, cold back on your side but not in the same direction towards the man.
Indeed, that wasn't the first time. One warning after another, never failing to remind him to take care about himself more than others.
He broke it. The promise.
Obviously, you snapped. And nag. Like a old hag, same level (or maybe in the higher level than the landowner of the household). Obviously, he is too old to hear much colorful verse coming from the beloved woman who is currently having a cold war with the silver perm.
No one will like it when the one they care the most always gets themselves into problems. Leaving home clean and coming back along with injuries.
Who could let it be?
He know you really do care about him, about his health, physically and of course, mentally. You do really care about everything about him, you don't want someone belong to you to keep coming back home giving a blood and wound present.
That's not how a gift works.
He did the most careful consideration not to disturb your sweet dream, wrapping himself around torso.
Until the faint sobs roaming through his eardrum.
Oh how hell much to make the one he dearest the most shed a tear for a useless piece like him.
He hate himself how he's the sole reason of your disappointment and sobbing for.
He really hate how you waste your tears for him, the man who not suppose to be care under your own and you still hold on with your feelings towards him.
It's not like you don't have anyone better than him. Hence, you still choose him out of people that way better and straight hair than him.
This is not the first time either but not really it happen sequentially. The last time he had seen your pools of watering was when your father passed away.
That's actually more than decades years ago and since that, he never saw you crying. Minus the moments he doesn't see either you cried out of his knowing but for sure, you're not type to easily shed.
Hastily sniffs, you cried out. "I care for you. More than anything. Even more than my whole life. We have known for years, and you're the only one here after them. If you …. leave me like how they did, do you think I'm gonna keep my last straw of sanity?"
You abruptly up, lifted from the thick cotton fabric layered over your half body in pajamas and sat back. The edge of your eyes damp because of the tears you rubbed off from your eyelids pool and sniffed roughly. You don't even dare to turn your head behind you, to show yourself in the most pathetic way isn’t in your list to someone dearest to you.
Because you thought they have enough burden to carry, so you choose to hold in yourself.
Words overflowing from your exhales. "All I want for you is…" like a broken machine, you stammer. You suddenly lost the words you supposedly needed to come out. End up, only a weak answer emitting under your labial. "...please. I don’t need more soul of the person I care for… gone. I need you, Gin. I really mean it."
You continue as the sound of clothes ruffles beside you catching your ears. Sum up the man mirroring your action by sitting.
"Do you ever wonder why am I still living with you? Because I have made a promise to Dad– Shoyo-sensei to keep you alive, along with Kotaro and Shinsuke…" after what happened to Oboro-nii .. hence, you couldn’t slip it, as if something obstructed your throat from mentioning his name.
"... after he's gone. What am I gonna tell him later if I failed to protect what he left behind? I lost so much precious to me, and I can’t afford to lose more. You, especially. I don't know what I am supposed to do to keep you alive."
It hurts. Too much to even say, not even a single word fit enough to describe how you were feeling until now. Tears stream like a river, damping over to your lower clothes. And still, you feel useless as the man keeps scratching and wound himself with countless fights here and there.
Not dare enough to raise your chin and remain in eye contact towards the ruby pair of him as you just let out your feral sobbing. You don't know how to decipher what kind of relationship you're having with this man, but for sure you love him more than just a mere normal acquaintance and as a human being.
He is the only sole reason for your purpose to keep living day by day while the others have vanished in front of your sight.
It's not easy to inherit from your dead father who is supposedly immortal because of the altana, and the only one who keeps living under the disguise of a normal human being.
Literally, you're half. A mutant and a human.
That's… story for another day how your late mom and late dad met and a half birth seed.
"Say, Gintoki…. What should I do so you won't leave me?"
Same pair of greenish pupils like his sensei, dark locks inherit from your mother. You are no different like your late father's features, but make it as feminine.
Thanks for your look, the perm having a complex mind every time your hues meet with his– Kinda sounds a bit south actually.
But Gintoki do loves you. As someone he truly loves as his other half. Without you notices it.
"You can’t."
Short, but sharp enough to break your heart.
Fixing his position directly facing your seat, a warmness took place on your both icy cheeks as he carefully tilted your head to gaze into his face. A deep, meaningful expression through his familiar dead eyes fish.
Only this time, it doesn't look dead anymore. But full of life living in those crimson red pairs of soul.
The frown visible in between his eyebrows. "You can't stop me from whatever I took myself in."
He halted, dipping a long inhale before breathing it out.
"This is my war to fight the demon in me, so I won’t unleash it on the person that shouldn't be hurt. It never stops. The demon, the monster within me. It never keeps damn shut up and screams hell out of me to kill everything necessary to be killed. This world is rotten. Worse than ever and the devil being will never know how to keep their ass in hell. Same goes for me, I won’t stop whatever I'm doing."
More and more crystal clear staining over his long, bruised fingers. Breath hitched along as your sobbing slowly tunes down.
"I'm not a priest, I'm not a holy, prophet or perfect human being. I'm just a simple samurai who tends to keep away the dirty trash from my only heaven and earth. Even if I have to stain my own blood as long as they won't touch what I precious, I will do that."
Your left cheek meets again with the cold air, sensing one of his hands leaving before another new warmth catches by your right hand.
"Remember this?" Gintoki held your hand in his palm, pulling it to make contact with the one old long scar horizontally shaped over his left chest.
You knitted brows, a glimpse of old memories replay back in your head before you dart away lower as the man receives another sobs coming from you.
"I almost killed you." you speaks under whisper, the soft hiccup yet to leave from your breath.
"No, this is proof of how deeply you are to me. Scar doesn't always mean a weakness or pain endured by someone. It shows your strength, a mark embodied a thousand of history that tells everything within. You conquered the pain, learned a lesson from it, grew stronger and moved forward. It means you are real to me. I'm real to you. I'm only protecting what I must protect."
His grip on your hand getting tight, hinting how much truly his words he just gives to you as he continues with a faint smile craves on his feature. "And you're one of them. Do you think I will eat popcorn and let those shitty aliens knock you out? Hey, I'm not that bad."
"Still, I can't forgive myself. You were losing too much blood that time."
"And the hell doesn't want my soul to go suffering in there yet."
"I'm serious, Gin."
"I never shot a lame joke."
"You just did now."
"I assume that you are doing fine now."
A weak punch hit his uninjured shoulder. Your one hand that keeps in his huge one, trailing in smooth gesture on his other scars sketched permanently on his body. You grasped a faint hitch of his heaves as your long fine fingers caressed the front chest, naked upper body.
Vague blush tainting the fair skin man, you unnoticed it as your eyes remain focused onto his chest in the darkness. Only a small amount of light coming from the bright moon showered through the gaps of holes within the window.
"You have too many scars."
Gintoki clears his throat, controlling the embarrassment he had for the moments. "So, I'm an ugly monster now?"
Your head whipped furiously. "What? No! I don’t mean that way. Just… you endured too much pain before. I- I feel bad."
"Why would you? It's healing anyway in time. Not like we can predict what happens afterwards."
Received no replies from you, he onwards. "Besides, this is something I can brag about, something I can be proud of. 'Hey, pals. Ya see this ain't me piss to those leech tryin' to pick a hell shit out of me.'"
A soft chuckles trailing over, before you realized it and covered it up. Pretending nothing happened and raising your fist back to your mouth, you cough, hiding your foolish sheepish laugh. You stumbled back instantly as the man leaned towards your shades of pink.
"There goes your idiot smiles. Women easily succumb to joker men, me is one of them."
"Stop blowing hard on yourself."
"Oh? I thought you're the one playing the role blowing hard to me before?"
"You idiot– you're twisting my words!"
"You sure? Your face tells me a different story. Should I twist you over to seek forgiveness from you?"
How did this end up to this ordeal now?
"Keep your horny dick in your pants, can’t you? Haven't you noticed those bruises all over your body? Or you need another fresh of injuries to add to your cart?"
"I need different kinds of pain for tonight."
"Gintoki, no– stop!"
"Convince me more so I will."
"You freakin noodles–"
"Why is my hair always at fault??"
"That’s the unique trait of yours that no one could ever replace."
You didn’t foreseen the upcoming ticklish scratching all over your body; until the only voices vomiting in the atmosphere in the middle of 1 am is your wild, spirited laugh that anytime will wake up the person inside the cabinet and the landowner down below.
"Kagura is sleeping, you perv head!"
"I don't mind having an audience for our show."
"You are sick!"
"Well, not anymore."
Guess no one will be sleep tonight. Except the poor little China girl.
You are more than glad that girl is still in deep slumber even the meteor crashing the Earth.
"Honey."
"Hm?"
"I care for you."
"I know."
"You're my sheath."
"... okay? It’s… oddly lovely for your description of me."
"You're my stars."
"Hm."
"My moon."
"Hm."
"My source of mood booster."
"I'm beyond grateful."
"My heaven and earth."
"Hm."
"My half soul."
Is this gonna be all night?
"Reason of my life."
"Hm."
"Reason for hardness."
Hardness what?
"Reason for lew–"
"Okay, enough."