| [Sep. 24th, 2013|10:35 pm] |
Raidou tuned back in enough to hear Kakashi was now holding the remaining bean buns for ransom until Katsuko ate her soup first. Which seemed to be working, judging by the sad, betrayed slump of her shoulders. In another universe, one where Kakashi’s hands weren’t shaking faintly and Katsuko wasn’t the color of old snow, Raidou would have said they were almost having fun. Or at least, enjoying annoying each other.
When Katsuko had also finished two bowls, Kakashi rewarded her with three bean buns and turned his sights on Ryouma.
Figured. Kid was a glutton for punishment. Though, it would help Ryouma recover his chakra faster if he ate something.
Raidou watched with fascinated interest as Kakashi came around to Ryouma’s side of the bed, surveyed his target, and then went with the moderately friendlier approach of shaking Ryouma’s shoulder. When that, unsurprisingly, accomplished nothing, Kakashi moved his hand to the base of Ryouma’s neck and—
Didn’t electrocute him.
Instead, a slow band of ice crackled over Ryouma’s skin and crept down his shirt. Two silent seconds passed, then Ryouma jolted awake with a convulsive spasm and made a decent attempt to punch Kakashi in the mask.
Kakashi caught his fist. “Food’s here.”
“Dinner and a show,” Katsuko agreed cheerfully, through a mouthful of bean bun.
Ryouma’s masked head turned with the slow, lethal rage of a predator sighting something small, crunchy, and offensive, and then he punched Kakashi with the other hand. This one, Kakashi didn’t catch; it caught him in the side of the head, and knocked him down to one knee.
“I will rot everything you love,” Ryouma promised, sounding so bone weary he’d gone through the other side and landed in wrath.
“Hey!” Raidou said sharply. “Do not goddamn punch each other after we’ve just finished fixing you up.”
Ryouma’s head snapped up, like he planned to make a fight of it—then paused when a bean bun whacked him gently on the ear. Katsuko tossed a second one up and down in her good hand. “Play nice, boys,” she said wearily.
Kakashi shook his head once and got off the floor, pausing halfway up with one hand on the bed, as if he wasn’t quite sure of his balance. Raidou gave him a narrow look, but the hesitation vanished when Kakashi found his feet, collected another soup bowl, set it on Ryouma’s bedside table, hauled Ryouma upright by the shoulders, and put the soup bowl pointedly on Ryouma’s lap.
“Food,” Kakashi said, like he was talking to a four-year-old. “For eating.”
“I hope you roll under the bed and die,” Ryouma told him bitterly.
“Shut up and eat,” Kakashi said.
The magical moment was interrupted by Genma stirring, presumably because of all the noise. Raidou moved to him, settling him back down, then—when Genma was reluctant to sleep again immediately—getting food into him, since the soup had been for him anyway. With their dual effort, Genma managed half a bowl without choking, and a mug of green tea. Nausea threatened when he tried more.
“No bean buns for you, then,” Raidou said, gently teasing.
“My dad’s are better, anyway,” Genma mumbled, eyes slipping closed behind his restored ANBU mask. “Kids okay?” |
|