Fuda # 6

[idealism]

[It's a beautiful, sunny day. The temperature is apparently between "boiling point" and "molten lava", and every sane person is inside, hugging their air conditioner.]

[Except for this guy. Tsuzuki is searching the grass outside House 49. He looks downright distressed, sitting on his knees and brushing his fingers through the lawn and dirt. When he's down with one patch, he hurries to the next one, not caring much about the heat even though his body does.]

It has to be around here somewhere...

Comments

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[Tsuzuki chokes on a crazy impulse to laugh. Whether Hisoka said that on purpose or not, it was still funny.]

I have an idea, yes!

[Tsuzuki can wait for his partner to dress. It gives him time to check more of the lawn and worry until he hears the foot steps approach.]

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

[Hisoka's frowning as he hurries downstairs, vampiricly cringing at the sun when the heat hits him at full force. He approaches Tsuzuki with a hand held over his eyes to help shield from the sun's glare.] Where were you the last time you remember having it on? We'll start there and be methodical about it so you're not just scrambling everywhere.

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

Ah. By the tulips. Probably. [Seeing Hisoka out and about triggers his protective instinct, though. It doesn't help that he's wearing a jacket in this weather.]

Are you sure you should be out in the sun?

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

Then it's probably around there. [It's a jacket over a tank top! No worries. It was just easier to do that than go digging around for a more seasonably-appropriate top when really he'd rather be back indoors where there isn't fire raining down from the sky.] Get inside and drink something, okay? You're disgustingly sweaty.

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

I'll drink something as soon as we've found it. Promise.

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

No, you'll do it now. [Hisoka kneels down in front of the tulips, already visibly perspiring at the base of his neck where his hairline and barcode meet.] Go.

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[Tsuzuki's sitting up, but not moving towards the door. Going inside means doing things with the scars uncovered, and that makes him feel naked.] Are you sure? If we both look for it, it won't take as long.

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

Then you can help me when you've cooled off. [He's speaking into the flowers more than he is to Tsuzuki. While it would be simple to recommend just getting another watch, he understands the uniqueness of this enough to be firm that Tsuzuki take care of himself first and foremost.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[Search search search~]

How about I go inside and get us both something to drink? [He hasn't changed watches since he began working in Meifu. It's very dear to him. Speaking of what's dear to him, he finally notices that the sun's getting to his partner.] You don't look too good, Hisoka.

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

I'm fine. Haven't been out here long enough to sunburn. [Though he's started looking rather flushed in comparison to his normal pallor.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean sunburns.

Hey, do you want me to take you jacket for you?

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

--No. [He stands to put some distance between them, clutching it tighter against him. He shifts position a little too quickly though, and takes a stumbling step backwards to keep his balance.] I'm -- it's short-sleeved. [The explanation comes in a bit of a rush, knowing how stupid it sounds even as it leaves his mouth. It's a similar kneejerk reaction to the one Tsuzuki has about doing things without a watch.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[Automatically, Tsuzuki lifts an arm to steady him.] Relax, I didn't mean- I won't.

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

..No, it's fine. [He's a light shade of pink all over now, though the sweat appears to have dried from his face, as if his glands simply gave up attempting to keep him cool under the day's circumstances.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[Tsuzuki smiles apologetically, recalling that Hisoka's not handling the weather well. Maybe it's time to go inside and cool down. He wipes the perspiration away from his eyes before going back to the flowers. The sooner they find it, the sooner they can escape the heat!]

Don't push yourself. All right?

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

Mm-hmm.. [Hisoka grunts in agreement, sinking back down when Tsuzuki does. He hesitates for a minute afterward before returning to picking through the flowerbeds. Stupid Tsuzuki, putting him through this.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[Tsuzuki gives him a long look, before going back to parting his flowers and looking between them. Maybe a change of subject will make them forget about the heat?]

These are growing nicely, considering the drought.

[Or maybe not.]

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

[Hisoka squints at the sound of Tsuzuki's voice, nodding mostly to make it look as if he was following the conversation. It's quickly becoming unbearably hot for him, to the point that the heat and his own physiology is all he can think about. Weren't they supposed to be looking for something? Hisoka rests back on his knees, peering at the flower bed as if it would supply an answer on its own. Man it's hot out today.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[It really is too hot. It's uncomfortable to breathe. And while Tsuzuki knows they won't die from it, it doesn't mean he has to like it. ]
It's times like these I wish we could simply find a hose and -- [What was that? Something reflecting the sun in the grass? He gets up and walks over.]

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

...A hose..? [Hisoka's reply comes in a wispy tone. He knows Tsuzuki said words, knows the meaning of the words in and of themselves, but can't seem to bridge them together to know what they meant as a sentence. He's pinker now than he was earlier.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[Tsuzuki has hurried over to the shiny thing in the grass by the time Hisoka responds.] I found it!

Hisoka?

[Perhaps crawling and jumping around in the heat isn't the brightest thing to do, but Tsuzuki doesn't waste time. He places a dry palm against Hisoka's brow.] I think we ought to find some shade. You're burning up.

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

[And burning up he is indeed, though he's still present enough to object to the hand on his forehead.] Nn~! Off. [Because it's hot, blindingly hot, and the last thing he wants is for someone else to come along and make him hotter via contact.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[Tsuzuki looks concerned, but takes a step backwards. And finally, stands up, because hunching over isn't doing much for his "stay uncooked" plan. The heatwave makes him think of his shikigami, suddenly, which makes him more energized.]

Okay. Let me see you stand up. Then I won't bother you more about this.

[Just in case, he offers Hisoka a hand.]

[aphephobic.livejournal.com]

[He's again struck by that sense that he should have understood Tsuzuki far better than he actually did. But he gets the gist at the word "stand" and, eager to end this nonsense so they can get out of this ridiculous unbearable heat, fully intends to stand.]

[It's just that when he propels his body up, somehow his legs misunderstand the direction and send him the opposite direction, leaving the ground to come closer instead of further away. And then it's just far easier to not see anything at all. He unceremoniously collapses into Tsuzuki's flowerbed.]

[purpledemoneyes.livejournal.com]

[This was what he worried about. Crying out, he reaches after his partner, but isn't fast enough to grab his hand before he falls.]

Hisoka!

[Tsuzuki lifts him away from the flowerbed, accidentally pulling some flowers along. Hisoka shouldn't have been out in this weather at all, he realizes. Sometimes his young partner is too stubborn. Then again, he only came out to help, which makes Tsuzuki realize his role in this.]

[Normally, he'd give his crushed flowers a mournful look, but he carries something more important now. There's no way he can focus on flowers when Hisoka's passed out. Tsuzuki rearranges his hold on the young man so he's more comfortable.]

Come on, let's go inside.