| [Sep. 19th, 2008|05:51 pm] |
Under the tangled roar of voices, that one quiet request cut through like a blade. Kakashi was crouching before he really registered the words, hands on healing skin before he'd figured out a hold. Ryouma was already grabbing onto him, long-fingered hands finding Kakashi's arms and wrapping around muscle and bone hard enough to ache.
"Hang on," Kakashi muttered, and splayed his own hand across Ryouma's naked back; the other went around one heavy biceps. Ryouma pulled, scrambling to catch his balance, and Kakashi managed to drag him up to his feet. None of the Inuzuka seemed to notice them. Kiba was busy trying to crawl onto Kuromaru's cot; Tori was busy yelling at Kiba; Hana had one hand against her aunt's hip, anchoring herself; Yasuo was supporting Tsume, and Tsume--
Tsume was bent over the little cot, brushing matted hair back from Kuromaru's heavily bandaged forehead and murmuring to him like nothing else in the world existed.
Kakashi ducked his head for a second, staring at the floor, then Ryouma put too much weight on his injured knee and staggered. Kakashi braced him up before he fell, smelling fear and hurt and feeling fingers biting too hard into his skin.
"Easy," he said, and managed to get himself beneath Ryouma's arm, pressed against his side and steady enough to keep them both upright. "Take it easy." |
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