Work Text:
“Eito! I’m back, where are you?” Calling out from the front door as I took off my shoes. Having been out with Gaku all day I thought I could say hello to Eito, eat some sort of dinner and drift off for the night.
The house is quiet, which isn’t an odd occurrence in itself. Their home is out in the countryside, which they had bought after being discharged from the military. It was on the cheaper side due to its age. Eito liked the remote location and the scenery, I just liked the price. That being said, there was a lot of fixing up for the two of us to do, it was certainly a long project but I can say I had fun fixing up the house. I made a lot of nice memories from the time me and Eito spent working together.
Even if Eito is outside she typically doesn’t take this long to reply.. she’d normally come back inside to say hello, maybe even ask about my day if she was feeling a little chatty. Starting to wander around the house I really was wondering if she had gone out on a hike, though she would have mentioned something if she was. Perhaps she had a rare moment of falling asleep by accident. Despite living together for three years and knowing each other for six, I have spotted her napping maybe a handful of times, if that. It wasn’t until I slid the back door open to the patio that I finally saw her.
“I was calling for you, you didn’t hear me?” Any questions I had were quickly replaced by new ones upon seeing Eito’s white shirt soaked blood red.
“I found him by the edge of the property.. I think another animal may have gotten to him” Now I’m even more confused. Stepping down from the patio I made my way to Eito in the garden, well Eito’s garden more so. I’ve got zero skills when it comes to agriculture. Standing just behind Eito the newly formed questions I previously had were quickly answered.
Curled in her jacket, draped over her lap was a cat; a rather injured one no less. Cuts and bite marks staining its white fur red and black with dirt.
“it’s breathing is shallow but I think I’ve stopped the bleeding. Could you bring me a wet rag? I want to clean the fur around the wound so I can see how deep it is or if the bleeding restarts.”
I had only muttered something in some form of affirmation before rushing inside to the kitchen, taking one of Eito's cleaning rags and dampening it. Eito had hardly looked up from me as she took the wet cloth, making no comment as I sat next to her.
“Is there anything else I should get that can help?” Eito shook her head, paying close attention to assessing the cuts on the small cat. It didn’t seem to be a kitten, however it was still small. “No, there’s not much you can do to help aside from stopping the bleeding and potentially stitches, however I don’t think he’ll need them since I’ve got the bleeding to stop.” Eito explained as he laid the rag out on her leg, finally looking up at me.
“When did you find it?” Its fur is so soft despite being feral, I’d almost expected a more matted texture. “Not long before you’d come home, I was reading when I heard its cries. I think he’d gotten into a scrap with another cat.”
There were multiple times I’d brought up putting a fence around the garden or the rest of our property. Eito however always disagreed, saying she enjoyed watching the wildlife come through, which I wouldn’t doubt. Eito always seemed to smile when watching the bunnies pass through the garden, letting them take whatever they desired. It was endearing watching Eito work around or even with the surrounding wildlife. Once again, I can say Eito is right, it was a better idea to keep the area open for moments like this.
“Should we bring it inside? Or take it to a vet.”
“I don’t think a vet will be able to do much more for him though you are right about bringing them inside.” Eito slowly started to stand holding the jacket tight enough to not jostle the cat resting inside it. “What do you want to do with it?” Watching Eito she didn’t seem to concentrated on what I had to say.
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to keep it for the time being.” That shocked me in all honesty. Eito firmly believed that animals shouldn’t have been domesticated or be kept in cages. “Really? Thought you said it was selfish to keep a pet?”
“I still believe that, however, he won’t last in the wild. It’ll need to accept the help if it wants to stay alive. Plus we’d only keep him for however long it takes to heal.” Eito slid the door closed behind the two of them, placing the jacket onto the living room floor next to the window. “I won’t say no if that’s what you want to do, I can ask Hiruko what it’ll need.” Eito nodded. “Do you mind watching them while I shower?”
“Go for it, you probably want me to take one after you.” Eito smiled in that snide way, not outright mean but in a slightly devilish way. “You’d be correct, you always smell awful when you first return home. I’d rather you shower before you arrive but that’s not plausible..” Eito sighed in a near fake way that made me roll my eyes. While I respect Eito’s conditions and the boundaries she sets from it, sometimes the taunting is too much. “Whatever, go shower, and don’t use all the hot water again. You’ll be waiting til it’s back for me to shower.” Eito only snickered as she walked away, which was anything but reassuring.
———
Eito always took longer showers, especially after being with a feral animal. Not that this is a common occurrence or has even happened before but it’s safe to say that she’d be in there longer than normal. Therefor it wasn't surprising when Eito emerged after almost two hours. “There should still be warm water for you.” Looking back at Eito I can’t help but smile, she always looks cute with her hair all fluffed out. Though she tends to deny any affection, giving some snide comment that I’ve grown to find mostly endearing. Watching as Eito moved to stand just behind me, her eyes fixated on the cat resting in the corner. “He’s sleeping?” Eito questioned. “Yeah, he fell asleep not long after you went to shower.” Eito nods, “Did Shizuhara answer as to what we needed?”
“Yep, he gave me a small list of the essentials. I was actually waiting for you to get out of the shower before I went back out.” There’s no point for me to shower if I’m going to come back to do it all over again. “Ah, you could have just left a message.” I could have but I also just wanted to sit on the couch for a while, and maybe see Eito post shower.. she doesn’t need to know that though. “You did ask me to watch her, didn't you?” Eito hums in acknowledgment, walking around the couch to rest opposite of myself.
Pushing myself up from the couch, stopping in front of Eito before walking to the door. “Is there something you need ?” Despite Eito frequently telling me she’d rather have me ask before giving her a kiss I always felt a little awkward about it.. though it lessened Eito’s nausea if she was able to be even a little prepared for it. “You know what I’m trying to ask for.” God I can feel how warm my face is, none of this is new to me yet it never fails to fluster me.
“When was the last time you’d brushed your teeth.” Eito asks, rather point blank. “Uhh, before going to meet up with Gaku.” Eito cocks her head, a smirk following now far behind. “You sound so uncertain, Takumi.” Eito thinks for a moment before looking back at me, her smirk is less teasing and more so a gentle smile. “I suppose I’ll allow it.” Rolling my eyes as I bent down to cup Eito’s cheek, placing a soft and quick kiss to Eito’s lips before she could recoil.
“You didn’t ask about your hands! Disgusting! When was the last time you even washed them! God you’re vile, Sumino..” I shouldn’t be proud of getting her back like this, yet I can’t help the smile forming on my face. “Don’t be such a tease next time and I won’t have to get you back.” Eito turns to face me while I slip on my shoes at the door. “A light taunt doesn’t warrant your disgusting hands on my face! Which I just washed, need I remind you!!” She’s getting even more frustrated at my quiet chuckling. Even if I can see it I can certainly feel the glare on the back of my neck. “Yeah, yeah I know. I'll be back.”
———
Sitting in front of the cat, me and Eito both watched as its nose twitched at the food we’d laid out in front of him. “Doesn’t seem like he’s hungry.” Sighing as I lay back on my forearms. “Give him time, I wouldn't take kindly to being kidnapped and nursed for either.” Eito explains offering her hand out to the little thing only to be hissed at. “We should give him a name, I don’t want to keep calling him the cat”
“Are you positive? That tends to form attachments and this is only temporary.” Something about the way Eito talks sounds less like a statement and more of her trying to convince herself. “Yeah, I don’t want to keep talking about him like an object.”
“I suppose you have a point..” The end of her sentence trails off slightly as she thinks. “Momo?” I start to list out names to see what sticks. “No, that doesn’t fit him.” Eito states matter of factly. “What happened to temporary attachments?” I retort. “If it’s going to have a name it should be fitting.”
“Ziri?” Eito gives me a confused glance. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“What about Chiyo? I think the name is fitting for him.” Despite it being the first name that Eito suggests, she’s right. It does fit him quite well. “Do we just leave him here for the night?” Eito nods as she backs away from Chiyo. “Everything he may need is in the room, I doubt he’ll want to move much unless it’s to eat or drink, if he attempts either that is.”
“Heading to bed?” Eito asks as I stretch, bringing myself off the wooden floor. “Between this and being out all day, I’m beat.” Eito hums an acknowledgment gently, picking herself up from the floor. “You don’t have to come to bed now.” I clarify. “I know, but I’d like to. It’s getting rather late. As much as I’d like to read a little more, its not worth changing my sleep schedule.” It’s only ten, though for Eito that’s later than normal.
“Is it not good?” I question as I walk down the hall to my bedroom. We tended to stay in my room despite her having her own, it was easier if Eito was overwhelmed or uncomfortable that evening for her to just retreat back to her room for the night. “It’s not bad, but I’ve read better. I’d still like to read to the end however.” She always has a strong sense of follow through, which I always thought was admirable. If it was me I would have given up by now, granted I’m not much of a reader anyways.
Standing at the cross section of our rooms I look towards eito, trying to gauge if she wants to stay in my room tonight or would rather sleep in her own. I try not to ask to alleviate pressure. Though I doubt asking would add any, she’s always made sure to take care of her health before pleasing me or anyone for that matter. I’d rather she did than try to please me, getting herself sick in the middle of night. “I’ll join you in a moment, you don’t need to wait for me.” She mumbled while pushing her door open.
Turning to leave Eito stops to make a request. “Could you turn the fan on, the one for the nightstand?” The extra airflow tends to help her nausea, it’s not that she’ll force herself but it’s just still a precaution they take. Of course I agree, it’s not like it would be a bother. By the time the words yes leave my mouth, shes already disappearing behind her door.
Laying in bed I can’t help but think how different things are now. When we first met during training I couldn’t have ever imagined how things would have turned out. Learning about how Eito lived plus learning to work with instead of against her disorders were a struggle with a steep learning curve, but we’ve got a good system now. Years ago Eito would have never even considered bringing in a feral animal. As much as she loves nature she hates what they could bring even more. It really is a sign of progress that she’s trying to help Chiyo, and I can’t help but be proud about it.
“What are you smiling about?” Eito cuts through my thoughts, scaring me half to death. “Nothing! It’s nothing.” She walks around the side of the bed, settling with her back to me. “It doesn’t seem like nothing, you wouldn’t be so insistent otherwise.” I can hear the smugness in her voice. “You’ll tease me.” She’s only chuckling because she knows I’m right. “It's only fair, I have to do most of the thinking for the two of us. Think of the teasing as repayment.” she’s even more smug. “Now you can really forget it.” She clicks her tongue before she turns to face me. “Well, you’ve got me curious now, what was it that had you smiling so moronically.”
“You just had to say that didn’t you.”
“How else would you know how foolish you looked?” A sigh pushes past my lips, not because of the taunting rather the fact I know Eito won’t let either of us sleep until she hears what I was thinking.
“Fine, not like you’ll drop the subject anyways.” There’s a slight hesitation before I start talking again, trying to get my words in order before I get mocked by her again. “I was thinking about how things used to be, you've changed a lot since I first met you.. I’m happy for you, that’s all..” It takes a moment or two before I can look at Eito again, but when I do her face isn’t anything short of endearing. She’s clearly taken it back, face flushed and eyes wide. Not by a lot, but it’s still enough to be noticeable.
She huffs as she turns over, mumbling something that’s hardly audible. “Could have sworn I heard you say something.” I take my chance to get her back for the earlier teasing now that she’s flustered. “I said.. you helped.” I can’t help but smile again, I know if she were to see me I’d get my face shoved so hard I’d probably fall out of bed. “Yeah?”
“Yes, wipe the smile from your face before I throw up. I can smell your hazardous breath even more.”
Eito sits up quick after I align myself against her. “Switch sides with me.” Before I can even question her, she’s already shifting. My head hits the pillow once more simultaneously understanding why she had asked for the sudden change. “Are you sure you’ll be okay to sleep like this?” She looks up at me from where her head rests on my chest. “The fan will help.. I wanted to be closer anyways.” The last part of her statement was quieter, I still heard it all the same.
Eito doesn’t speak again until I adjust to the sound of silence. “You know it’s because of you right. That I’m able to live as normal as I do now.”
“You can’t give me all the credit, you wanted things to change. I just did what I could for you.”
“That’s all it is, Takumi. You didn’t try to force me. You left me to be as I am, you didn’t force change upon me.” She can thank Nozomi for that. More times then I can count I’ve gone to Nozomi for advice, especially when we’ve fought. One of the not only best, but most obvious pieces of advice he gave me was that you can’t force someone to help themselves, they have to want it. When a person lives in fear and anger, you have to show them it’s okay to live without it, but you can’t force them to feel safe unless you make things safe for them. Those words made such a difference at the time and still continue to.
“It’s not that I see anything different. That I’m not afraid of the things my own mind shows me, however… you’ve made things easier to live with. You listen to the rules I make, not combating them or testing them. Sure there are times you’ll place your dirty hands on me to get a rise out of me, but you don’t push me because you think it’ll change me. You don’t believe you know me better then I do.” Placing a hand in her hair I comb through the strands lightly, waiting for any sign of discomfort but none arise. “Can’t say it’s always been that way.”
Eito told me stories on occasion about how nurses and her own parents would often try involuntary exposure therapy, not showering before touching her, or even washing their hands, keeping their shoes on in her room, changing schedules alongside forcing her to be social. She only told me after a particularly nasty fight, which happened because I kept trying to force solutions onto her. I felt stupid after she told me, it only made me more annoyed in the moment but after speaking with Nozomi, I started to understand why Eito was so frustrated. I felt even more stupid I had to have him explain it to me.
“I suppose. You still changed, even if it took some time. Most psychologists wouldn’t have agreed with your methods. They’d say your too kind to me.”
“Maybe, but I’d rather be that way then not.” Eito hums as she closes her eyes, finally turning in for the night. I can’t help but see Chiyo a little as she rests against me. In a way Eito was kinda like a cat. You can’t force cats to like someone or something. Most people respect that so I can’t help but wonder, why can’t someone do that for another person just as easily.. maybe that’s what drove Eito to take in Chiyo because no one else would have given the effort. In a sad way, that’s how people are at times, but there will always be people who are willing to try.. so no, I don’t think I’m too nice.
I think I’m just willing to put in the effort.