samegawa | @talented, @400meters

@talented, @400meters — au catchall.

closes my eyes again

[ there are a lot of manga, as it turns out, about vampires, but none of them really resemble seba natsuki. there are a lot of regular books about vampires too, but the same can be said of all of those. and then there's the movies. despite all his diligent research, shin still feels like he's ill-equipped to help except in the most obvious way. and anyway he knows so little.

here is that 'little' he knows:

both natsuki and mafuyu are vampires. it's not so extreme they "can't" go out in daylight unlike more common lore, but it's not the best for them and yes, they do subsist off of blood. natsuki has some kind of seal with the hospital and for different reasons both he and mafuyu prefer it this way -- natsuki who can't be bothered despite needing it to LIVE and mafuyu who's as particular about his blood as his hand sanitizer (Read: very.) he knows it doesn't taste the best, from glimmers of one seba's thoughts or the other's, (though shin finds their minds harder to gauge than others, maybe a vampire thing too?) and mafuyu did tell him once drinking from someone is supposed to be better (to follow it up with: too bad people are gross. shin laughed and nodded.)

coming over so much, he has at least has noticed what kinds of hand sanitizer, masks, and other things that mafuyu likes best. he tries to make sure to bring extra whenever he ends up visiting the seba apartment, or even if he's just meeting up with natsuki to be a certified guinea pig since his resilience is pretty good.

today's a day like the former except shin gets a bit held up. two-bit mercenaries aren't usually a problem, but shin stayed up all night steamrolling through the new series he got his hands on (and adding to his checklists of things he daydreams about experiencing SECRETLY ok), and also maybe, lately, whenever he visits natsuki, he feels a little...well. who knows. warm? or something! whatever! it's distracting, is the thing, has shin double-checking himself in the mirror before he leaves even though he supposes natsuki doesn't really look at him but well maybe he wants to look good in general. yeah! no big deal. uselessly messing with his hair ends up being even more pointless today of course.

does he still show up to their apartment like this is the thing...crap.

standing outside their door, shin rethinks it, tapping out a text even though he's right here, looking like a car hit him, the shirt under his now ripped hoodie (sad, it was one of his favorites...super oversized and super soft) sticks to his skin where someone's knife got the better of him. ]

something came up
raincheck
tomorrow maybe?

[ the origin story of how natsuki and his brother became vampires really isn't that complicated in the grand scheme of things. their father likely didn't know that there was a vampire lurking in the mountain where he'd sent them off to train every night, and they just so happened to be unlucky enough to cross paths with him. despite natsuki's efforts to protect mafuyu, his brother got himself turned anyway, and, knowing that mafuyu could barely take care of himself, natsuki had no other choice but to face the same fate.

the first few months after getting turned were the worst, but once they settled into a routine and after hunting down and killing their sire, things were inconvenient but manageable. given that they were both shut-ins for the most part, they didn't need to go outside often during the day anyway, and natsuki's agreement with the local hospital staff kept them alive. it wasn't the best but it was enough, and as long as him and mafuyu were together, natsuki was ready to accept everything else.

at least, until shin happened into their lives.

sometimes, natsuki isn't sure why shin wanted to get involved with them despite knowing what they are. but he keeps coming by and getting close to them, and before long, he's become a familiar presence in their household. it's not as if natsuki minds — shin's a good person, perhaps a little too nice, but he means well and, yeah, maybe natsuki has come to care about him more than he should. it's something he tries not to dwell on too much, despite knowing that the better course of action would be to establish boundaries.

... case in point: he should agree to shin coming by tomorrow instead, but he finds himself opening the front door before shin finishes his text, having smelled the blood on him since he stepped out of the elevator. ]

You're here already, aren't you? [ natsuki's gaze take in the state of him, lingering on the tears in his hoodie and where spots of blood are already blooming on the fabric. he'd fed before shin came by, but he can't deny that the scent of it always makes his teeth itch. he opens the door wider and steps aside to let shin in. ] Get in here.

[ one thing (of many) that shin thinks of where seba natsuki is concerned is steadiness — a sort of stoic kind of control that can be both impressive and annoying. the way he takes care of mafuyu and himself has always drawn a sort of admiration from shin, not unlike how he admires sakamoto and all the lengths he goes to for his own family.

if shin is, perhaps, a little jealous of it all, well, he keeps it to himself.

it is enough to be a part of these peoples' lives as he is. no one else has ever trusted him as much and that means a lot to him — natsuki letting him in now, for example, even if shin is already worried about causing him trouble. sure on the daily it's easy and even fun to argue with him about a new invention or exactly how much sleep he's had (one of the few things he truly suspects natsuki falls short in) and even wheedle him once and a while until he gives in (if only so shin shuts up, presumably.) but actually burdening anyone he likes...shin hates it.

so even invited in, he hesitates. it's only because he can hear natsuki's neighbor's door opening that he steps in abrupt, gently bumping into natsuki as a result, door closing behind him. he blinks. there's always a faint pith of metal around natsuki, undoubtedly because he's one of the most industrious people shin knows. ]

Sorry...seriously I can just come back tomorrow. I'll bring Mafuyu more of the hand sanitizer he likes too...

[ since the little care bundle he brought today was one hundred percent destroyed en route. a sigh pushes through his whole frame and he ends up leaning back against the door without realizing it. his gaze, previously hooked on natsuki's shoulder, shifts up. he squints. ]

...are you feeling okay? You look like you slept even less than usual!

[ he's always wondered about this actually. if eating the bare minimum, and from bags at that, is part of why he always seems so tired. it doesn't, interestingly, seem to have an effect on his functioning. natsuki is obnoxiously smart, skilled, and practiced.

shin worries anyway, because of course he does, and makes a note to himself to actually ask mafuyu about it directly the next time they're alone together. ]

[ natsuki lets the door swing shut once shin slips inside, and then makes a face at what he says, tone turning flat as he waves his hand in shin's direction. ]

You're gonna ask me that when you look like that? [ he scoffs, something half amused and incredulous bleeding into his expression as he turns to head further into the apartment, gesturing for shin to follow. ] Besides, I don't really sleep.

[ perks of being a vampire. he flicks the lights on in the hallway and living room as they walk through, a habit both him and mafuyu have adopted recently now that shin has become more of a frequent visitor. normally, the place would be dark and illuminated solely by the glow from the tv. aside from a few knick knacks on the coffee table, the space is clean and tidy; most of the mess is kept to natsuki's room, which is often cluttered with half-finished projects. they're bypassing it today, however, as natsuki guides him to the bigger bathroom. ]

Take it off, [ he says, pointing to the blood-stained hoodie. the last thing he needs is mafuyu freaking out over some blood on the tiles. ] I'll throw it in the wash and you can borrow one of mine.

Edited 2025-04-30 11:02 (UTC)

[ there's a soft "oh right" following shin's reflexive bluster at the first part. sure he looks like a mess but he is mostly fine! probably! but it's distracting enough to just follow both natsuki and the lighting up of the room, reminded on that note and the note of sleep that they aren't quite the same. he ends up huffing under his breath, just shy of a sulk at his worry being pushed away like that. fine, maybe vampires don't need as much sleep but what about rest? and —

— he blinks. oh. right.

the hoodie is ruined of course, and especially he doesn't want to make mafuyu uncomfortable or more uncomfortable than he usually is, so he hurries to comply, motions a little jilted. the amount of blood soaking it from the moment shin got away to arrived here, all the way to simply stepping into the bathroom, is considerable. a thing he only notices as he goes to tug it off, hand slick. his brow furrows. he feels strangely hot and doesn't really connect it with the imitation of a tomato he's doing — you can borrow mine you can borrow mine you can borrow mine — as he pulls it over his head. an easy thing, given the size. he folds it with automatic care, the bloodied front folded inside the dirty but still dry part, before setting it down, sighing. ]

Listen, you don't have to —

[ ?

whatever he was going to finish with doesn't actually make it out of his mouth. instead, his head pulses and his vision blurs, making him stumble. ]

[ natsuki doesn't have the same hang-ups his brother does about blood, but the amount of it on shin's hoodie is a little concerning. he's suddenly glad he'd fed before shin arrived — there's no way he would have been able to resist otherwise.

but before he can do anything about that, he looks up just in time to see shin stumble, reaching out to steady him with one hand on his waist and the other on his arm. ]

I know I don't have to, [ he says, in response to that half-formed sentence before nudging shin towards the toilet, flipping the seat cover down so he can sit. ] Who did this to you?

[ natsuki's body is always a little or a lot on the cold side. today it's hard to tell this specific thing shin has noticed without meaning to, mostly because the touch to his waist is masked by the bloodied hoodie. the one on his arm the same sans blood. it is dirty which, well, to be expected. for a split second shin's body seems to give but then he's back in his right mind, sitting where he's directed. ]

I didn't recognize them. And I could only get... [ he trails off for a moment. it wasn't just that he had a headache already this morning from staying up all night. he's trained and worked enough that a lot of physical responses are reflexive, but his esp is maybe his least honed facet. rough around the edges, even as it grows. ] ... I was too tired to filter through the bloodlust. But it seemed like a lot for a random attack.

[ then he shrugs, cracking a smile. truth is, he did get one clue but it doesn't have to be anyone else's problem. he'll investigate his tiny lead later...when he's not bleeding in his vampire friend's bathroom. yes.

speaking of which... ]

Where's Mafuyu?

[ as if that is the thing to focus on. ]

[ shin trails off and it's hard not to notice. natsuki isn't gifted with esp, and while his instincts haven't always been spot on, it's managed to keep him alive this far. there's something shin isn't saying but he doesn't push, his gaze falling on his smile before he turns towards the cabinet above the sink. ]

He's with Toramaru. Probably complaining about getting dragged everywhere.

[ he means it affectionately. sort of. it's good that mafuyu has started making friends outside of shin and natsuki. ]

Here. [ he comes back with a first aid kit, holding it out for shin to take. ] Get cleaned up. I'll bring you a change of clothes.

[ and maybe he can text mafuyu to look into that attack. more importantly, he doubts shin has eaten yet — that can't be good with the amount of blood he's lost. they don't usually keep a lot of food in the apartment, but mafuyu had brought home ramen on a whim. natsuki doesn't think he'd really mind if shin had some. ]

Oh! That's good. Well...that he lets her, I mean.

[ the smile softens. unconscious fondness. for someone like mafuyu, he thinks it's pretty huge honestly that he goes out at all, much less lets himself get 'dragged everywhere'.

he takes the offered kit, their fingers brushing, a thing he'd feel bad about because they're bloody, but he's out of it enough to just be focused on a murmured "'kay...thanks."

there's no need really, but shin is shin. after setting the kit on the sink counter, he turns slightly away as he tugs at the tank. it's started to dry and it tears more when shin forces it off. maybe it isn't even worth cleaning it. huh. staring at the knife wound he's more confused than anything else. because it doesn't hurt much, he hadn't thought it was that deep. bottling down another sigh, he gets to work, cleaning it and applying antiseptic. a few bandaids here and there -- something he wouldn't usually do at home but he doesn't want to get anything on borrowed clothing. nothing to be done for the collage of bruises. it only takes him a bit longer than usual because he's moving slower in general. he makes a mental note to bring supplies for the kit to refill it next time. he can probably just drop it off tomorrow.

tunnel visioned, he cleans the sink thoroughly and then his hands, makes sure the kit is wiped off. then he sits back down, leaning back against the tank, eyes closed. if natsuki has mafuyu look into it...he guesses he can't stop him but it gives him all the more reason to stop by again. he wishes they'd let him handle it though and thinks about telling him as much. ]

inspo

[ how does shin break into the seba apartment? he doesn't. at some point he received a spare key. this is convenient to misuse at such important times as this, a thing he has prepared for most rigorously in the weeks leading up between working at the convenience store and also taking care of random ne'er do wells here and there. training was tough, but he was consistent and he couldn't have asked for a better advisor.

aoi-san didn't laugh at him once, and now, armed in a kitchen that's not his own nor the sakamotos', shin is...pretty pleased with himself. he made the whipped cream beforehand, not wanting to risk it, carried it over in a huge icebox and then transferred it to the seba fridge which, to shin's distress, has more MONSTERs than real food. and is that just straight up black iced coffee? his nose wrinkled but he neatly moved these atrocities to the side and put the glassware of whipped cream in. then he prepared the other things: a generous glassware of strawberries, more than would normally be necessary. he just knows natsuki is fond of the strawberry and cream crepe. but he also eats those abominations with Everything on them. which is why shin has a myriad of other fruits, a couple condiment dispenses (condensed milk syrup, choco syrup, strawberry syrup in case natsuki hasn't reached peak strawberry level yet), and still other things. crushed oreos. mini choco chips. sprinkles just because birthday.

he's very prepared, pouring the batter for the first crepe.

but he's still nervous.

not with the cooking, which now he's got down pat, though he just wants to test the seba stove. all stoves are different, aoi-san had made sure to remind him and he finds this is true. he shifts the pan a little, tests a second and is more pleased with the outcome, a perfectly golden thin griddle of a crepe.

no it's not the cooking.

it's. well.

shin can't remember the last time he cared about a birthday so much. that this is the best he could think of feels...well it definitely feels like not enough. and maybe natsuki will laugh at him or worse have no reaction at all. or...? it would be nice though, if he liked it. even a little. if he didn't hate it.

pleased at least with his stove test, shin turns it off for now, head bowed briefly in a way that better shows the fresh bandage on his nape. there's a few on his right and left forearms. and as he then turns to shuffle to the 'toppings' section he made on the adjacent counter, he mutters, with a soft laugh, ]

What am I even doing?

[ it shows how in his own head he is that even if a certain someone approaches, shin won't notice at first nor hear his thoughts. ]

[ birthdays were never natsuki's thing—they rarely celebrated at home and he'd often forget about it once he made it into jcc. he remembers mafuyu's, though. difficult not to, when his parents doted on and spoiled him since he was born. mafuyu was the golden child, the one to fulfill their father's legacy after he'd given up on molding natsuki into what he wanted him to be, and now... now, they're finally free.

but birthdays. they've come and gone over the years, and natsuki hadn't given this year's much thought until mafuyu had surprised him with cake at midnight, dragging natsuki out of the depths of his lab to share it. the sweetness still lingers on his tongue even now as he blinks awake hours later into shin's takeover of his kitchen, squinting at the strip of sunlight peeking through his curtains as the sound of glassware and the smell of something cooking on the stove alerts him.

that's weird. mafuyu's with toramaru and amane for the day, he shouldn't be back so early. the only other person that would show up would be shin.

shuffling down the hallway to the kitchen confirms his suspicions, caught off guard at the entrance as he takes in everything: the bowls of cut fruit and syrup, the pan on the stove with the perfect circle of crepe, amongst other things. it's a lot to take in, especially when he's just woken up. ]

What are you doing? [ his tone is as dry as usual, but he finally moves away from the hallway, coming up next to shin at the stove to look at the crepe and sneaking a choco chip to nibble on. ] I didn't know you liked crepes.

[ or that he liked them enough to make them from scratch. ]

[ shin reminds himself very quickly that natsuki just woke up, but it doesn't help all that much because he knows the weaponsmaker is being one hundred percent sincere in his questions, regardless of just-woke-up or have-been-up-too-long status. he breathes in slow once. out. right. then he turns, spatula in hand and waves it in natsuki's sleepy face, which as it happens, is cute and arrestable probably. well. fine. ]

Happy. Birthday. Stupid.

[ and then, ]

What's it look like? I'm making you breakfast.

[ shin glances at the clock and amends drily, ]

Brunch. Ish.

[ he reaches one hand in front and across natsuki to grab the small dish of butter, the backs of his knuckles grazing along natsuki's shirt. then he sets the spatula down so he can turn the stove back on, pausing again only to look at him briefly and ask, ]

...if you want.

[ alright it's not a question. but it is, in its own way. the batter can be put into the fridge as can the toppings. natsuki's birthday is natsuki's birthday. he can have crepes for lunch and dinner if he so wishes, and it's not as though shin has anything else on the calendar for today. by design. not that the person he likes seems to understand any of this.

hard to say who's the real idiot here though. shin isn't even surprised and he still arranged this whole thing. he bites back a sigh and tries to hide at least some of his disappointment. a gift is a gift. natsuki really isn't obligated to see it as anything other than what it says on the tin. one of the bandages wrapped around shin's forearm is coming loose just a bit. the healing skin underneath may scar. it's the same side as the hand holding the butter dish. shin uses his other hand to reach up and touch the side of natsuki's face. ]

You look like a zombie.

[ if zombies were hot. or something. ]

[ natsuki leans back a little from the spatula, frowning. but once shin wishes him a happy birthday, he pauses, mind blanking briefly as he processes it. there's the obvious surprise at the fact that shin knows the date to begin with and that he's here at all, having brought all these things with him to make natsuki brunch. with the amount of stuff he has, it had to have been planned out in advance. how long did shin think about doing this? how long did it take him to get everything together?

it's one thing for his brother to remember and to celebrate, but it's another thing entirely for someone else to do so. the idea that shin went through all this effort is still something he can't quite wrap his mind around, but it leaves a funny feeling in his chest—something tender and fledgling and softer than anything he's felt in a long, long time. he didn't think shin would care, is what he keeps circling back to, but here is the evidence that shin does: standing at his stove with an apron on and surrounded by ingredients, bandages wrapped along his arms. did he get those because of him?

the touch to his face brings him out of his thoughts, instinctively reaching up to wrap his fingers around shin's wrist. he doesn't pull it away, though, simply holds it for a moment before letting go. first things first— ]

I do want. [ the breakfast-slash-brunch. ] But let me help.

[ because he can't just sit around while shin's cooking for him. he points to shin's bandaged arm next, frowning briefly. ]

How'd you get that?

[ he sees it of course: the moment in which seba natsuki's brain buffers and processes and understands. very narrowly, shin avoids shaking him. patience. this is what he gets for falling for an idiot and wouldn't that be entertaining for him to hear? shin knows sometimes the insult (affectionate) is mutual and he can't even really argue against it. in this particular circumstance though, he feels well within his rights to be the bestower. in his head. and maybe a bit in his expression — fond...exasperated —

— moon eyed when he feels natsuki's fingers curl around his wrist. he blinks.

alright, he's the idiot too. same situation. okay. okay.

he doesn't realize he's holding his breath until natsuki lets go, and shin gently pushes faint disappointment somewhere out of sight.

cursed and blessed with both cat and dog traits, he perks up almost immediately when the words 'i do want' escape that sleepy voice. though he tilts his head, about to argue against 'helping'. this is a gift. shin doing the cooking and so on is kind of the point, and he's ready to tell him as much. perhaps he needs to put together a presentation on 'when you get a gift'? to be fair, he knows enough now about the sebas to imagine it's not like it happens often outside of each other.

instead of any of that though, what comes out is: ]

...huh?

[ his gaze shifts from natsuki's face down to where he's pointing. in nearly the same motion his head jerks up and he laughs, deflecting. not subtle. not trying to be, but also trying to be! ]

...oh! I ... [ it's kind of embarrassing. after all the things they've been through, one of the things that leaves the most marks on him is his repeated rendezvous with the kitchen (aoi-san humming over him with the burn ointment and pointing out his progress at the same time). he shrugs...finally putting some of the butter into the pan and reaching for the bowl of batter, back now to natsuki. ]

I haven't...cooked too much. Before living with the Sakamotos. So.

[ an answer, sort of. and not. it took a fair amount of practice and shin kept tripping himself up by overthinking it. the blush in his face betrays him by creeping to the tips of his ears, but he's focused enough on pouring just the right amount of batter — finally got this down pat — that he can ignore it or blame it on being near the stove. ]

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@talented, @400meters — au catchall.

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evil drink placeholder

🦊 kitsune au placeholder

happy birthday loser who shin loves a Lot

clutches my chest

it's a good thing he loves you seba natsuki

he doesn't deserve shin

shin would argue otherwise! ^_^