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[ Yu finds his heart in his throat every time he tries to tell Souji he's coming home.

In the end, he just ... comes home. Quietly lets himself in, the backpack he took with clothes and a few other sundry to stay at Ardyn's slung over one shoulder. The ground floor is quiet, and after divesting himself of shoes and jacket, Yu pads upstairs, his heart beating a nervous rhythm in his wrists.

Is Souji even here? Was this stupid? Yu second guesses himself a hundred times as he knocks on his brother's door. ]

[ in the past, souji used to love coming home. knowing that there would almost always be someone home to greet him back was soothing and warming, something that he wanted for so many years of his life, but since shin left, since yu left, it has been daunting to go back. even though tatsuma moved in with him a few weeks ago, they often came home together with no one to welcome them back. the once lively house has been reduced to an empty and lonesome home and souji hated it. it reminded him of his childhood and rather than occupying other parts of the house, he has chosen to stay mostly in his room ]

[ while studying at his desk, he hears a knock on the door and he gets up, curious. who would be knocking on his door? tatsuma? he walks over to the door and opens it, not really expecting one person or another but then he sees-- ]

Yu--

[ --and in an instant, his hand reaches out to grab onto his brother's and he pulls. he pulls yu towards him and embraces him in a sudden and tight hug. to have him suddenly back home, it fills souji with a rush of emotions. he doesn't even know where to start but he presses his head against yu's shoulder and stays there first ]

[ .... oh, Souji.

Yu wasn't sure what to expect when the door started to open. His heart filled his throat to the point that he felt like he couldn't swallow, couldn't breathe.

We're not twins. We're not brothers. All I am is some -- copy of you, and not even a good one.

... no, you’re wrong. You’re not me, but you are my brother. You always will be. Nothing’s going to change that.

The backpack he didn't even realize he was still holding thumps quietly to the floor as he lifts his arms to wrap them tight around his brother's back. He too hides his face in his brother's shoulder, trying to find the words. ]

I'm sorry, Souji, [ he whispers without thinking. ] I haven't been ... a good brother.

[ souji doesn't say anything at first, he just shakes his head against yu's shoulder and he grips a bit tighter. ]

No, it's not your fault. I understand. I-- I'm just glad you're back.

[ his voice is just a little louder than his brother's but still quiet enough that no one else would hear him ]

... Welcome home.

Still, [ he murmurs, hugging his brother tighter still. And then, so quietly it's a hoarse whisper: ] ただいま。

[ It'll be a while before he feels like letting go. And even when he does, it's only to break away for a brief moment before he leans in just enough to press their foreheads together. ]

... come sit with me?

[ in his room, he means. ]

Edited 2018-02-04 15:29 (UTC)

[ to be completely honest, souji gets a knot in his throat when yu presses his forehead against his. for this entire month, his mind has been filled with all the different types of what-ifs and possibilities of yu never possibly coming back home. never calling them brothers anymore. so for yu to do this, to do what they've done since they were kids, it brings such a wave of relief and souji is just so glad that he's finally back. ]

Of course.

[ as they head into the room, souji will make sure to hold onto yu's hand, almost as if he's afraid that yu would disappear if he lets go ]

[ Yu will keep his hand curled through his brother's, trying not to feel seven years old inside.

But when they sit down on the edge of his bed, and Yu tries to find words to say, nothing really comes.

In the end he leans his head on his big brother's shoulder. ]

... how are you?

[ even as they settle on the edge of the bed, souji's hand is still wrapped tightly around yu's. even as yu rests his head against souji's shoulder, souji still doesn't let go ]

I'm-- I'm fine. I'm pushing through.

[ "souji fakes his emotions until he can't tell what's real", after all. he pushes through even to the point of breaking and hides it all behind a fake smile and fake optimism ]

How about you?

Edited (wtf where did part of my bracket go) 2018-03-07 21:00 (UTC)

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a few days after their event thread.

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