All he can answer that with is a noncommittal, "Hmm." Wouldn't that just be the consequences of his own actions? He's really more worried about her than he is for himself, but he can't just forget that they aren't the only two affected by all of this. "Don't wanna leave you feeling awkward, either."
Having roommates on rocky terms with each other isn't exactly the easiest thing to contend with, he knows.
That was just another thing he'd have to take Shinji's word on. Not that he'd doubt that things had the potential to get tricky real fast if left unchecked. Still.
"Y'don't have to worry about me." Just give him a moment to swallow back that tickle in his throat again. "I can bother both of you even if you're not hanging out in the same room for a bit."
"I'm going to worry about you." That's just how it is, whether or not he notices that swallow happening. "Just like I'm going to worry about her. I care about both of you, so I don't want things to stay rocky."
For everyone's sake, which he just so happens to be a part of.
"I know," Kai said softly. "I care about both of you too, more than anything. Which is why I'm not super worried about what comes next." It was that special Kaito brand of not worrying that worked on everything from kisses to throat tickles. Things would smooth out, he was sure.
"I'll be good once I make up for how much I wanted to hold you earlier."
At least someone has a bit of faith in him. He can bolster his resolve with that extra confidence though, and his own confidence in Kyoko not wanting to leave things unresolved for long should make it... a less painful experience than it could be.
For now, since he's elected to stay out of her way for the night, he should put his focus to making sure Kai's okay.
"I'm all yours for the rest of the night." He'll indulge Kai with whatever he wants, even if it's just an extended cuddle session. He's not going anywhere tonight.
Kai pressed another small kiss to Shinji's hair, lingering there for a few moments. Even if they were both in agreement that going after Kyoko had been the right thing, it had still hurt to leave him behind. All he could do now was make good on his word.
Say no more. Carefully, Shinji pulls his head off of Kai's shoulder, taking a moment to plant a soft kiss on the other's cheek before scooting himself back on the bed. Those hands around his are delicately tugged along, leading Kai toward the center of the bed so the two of them can relax and get nice and cozy.
Overall this had been a wiser course of action then just flopping them backwards like Kai had considered for a hot second. This way came with soft kisses and gentle tugs, and Kai was already following him like the lovesick puppy he was. It was comforting in its own way that that's what that feeling was. Even with other revelations that evening, this was just as it had always been. Precious, warm, and deeply, deeply coveted.
Kai cozied up right at Shinji's side, already adjusting to a tried and true position where Shinji could curl up right there if he wanted. At least he could in a moment. For now, Kai was gently disentangling a hand to lift up and cradle the other boy's cheek.
Shinji takes that hand on his cheek as a cue to lean in and brush a soft kiss on Kai's lips. For as rough as this day may have been, these tender little moments with Kai help soothe a bit of that ache. Shinji can't just forget everything that happened, but at least there's something calm and comforting right in front of him.
"Love you," he murmurs, settling in to that familiar spot at Kai's side. "I'm glad you're here."
Calm and comforting was what Kai hoped he was. Let him be that rock to weather out the rough days. More soft kisses were ideal signs that this was still working out well enough. Kai smiled a bit as Shinji tucked himself in.
"Love you too," he answered warmly. "I'm glad I'm here now." That hand at his cheek brushed past him so Kai could loop his arm around him. "... I'm sorry I couldn't be in two places at once."
Even if it turns out he's screwed up badly, at least he still has this, a loving place to return to. As he settles in, slipping his arm around Kai, he sighs a bit of his tension off, warmed slightly by that thought.
"That would actually be asking way too much of you." It's plenty fine that there's only one of him! "I can wait my turn for time with you."
There we go. This was a little overdue, but they were there now.
"You're really the one that's too good," Kai murmured with a little shake of his head against the bed. "Hated leavin' you like that." He didn't want to. But he didn't want Kyoko on her own like that either. Ah, that was probably more what Shinji had meant earlier. Ah... Kai sighed a little.
"Hardly," he says on an exhale. Even if he weren't feeling exceptionally lousy for what all had happened today, he's not sure he'd be able to swallow that praise. Maybe, at best, he'd keep his protests to himself, but not right now. That claim warrants an audible response.
That second comment and sigh are a little trickier to address, though. That's one thing that being in two places at once would have made easier, for sure. "At least... you knew where I was." Better than hating to leave someone on their own when they'd run off to who knows where.
It was true though! He was too good. He could have easily insisted that Kai should have stayed right there. It would have been extremely valid even! Kai would have done anything Shinji asked, and the request he made went beyond them. So Kai was giving him a bit of a Look, because hey.
"That's true too," he ended up saying, letting his disapproving look slip back into a somber fondness. "I'd find you though, even if I didn't."
Of course he would. Shinji buries himself a little deeper against Kai's side, partially to escape that disapproval, but mostly to hide how bashful of a reaction he's making after that last comment.
"I know you would," he whispers. Just like Shinji promised to look for him whenever he needed to, he's sure Kai would waste no time in hunting Shinji down if he were to try and disappear. "Don't wanna make you worry, though."
There'd be no part of Havenwell left unturned if that was ever the case. That was a promise all its own.
He couldn't help but smile a little as Shinji went burrowing, giving him a little squeeze with his arm. "I'm gonna worry anyway," Kai pointed out gently. "S'part of lovin' you."
Hmm, throwing Shinji's own words right back at him, huh? If he can dish it up, he should at least take it in turn.
"I guess I can't stop you, if it comes to that." He stays comfortably tucked away for a moment longer, keeping his face buried long enough to exhale a short breath before pulling himself away just a bit. "I want to do my best to keep your worrying to a minimum, though."
"Mm, you do," Kai assured him. There really hadn't been much cause for concern for a good while there. Perhaps they were due for a few hiccups. "But if somethin' ends up bad, I'd rather know than be worryin' over a mystery. So, y'know, try not to worry about how worried I might get."
Trying was really all he could ask for. Opening up was a hard thing to do. Kai appreciated it, even when it was just something like saying it was okay to swing by and see him before Kai headed off into the unknown.
Kai pressed forward, kissing his crown. "You've done a good job," he said, murmuring that assurance into his hair.
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Maybe.
All he can answer that with is a noncommittal, "Hmm." Wouldn't that just be the consequences of his own actions? He's really more worried about her than he is for himself, but he can't just forget that they aren't the only two affected by all of this. "Don't wanna leave you feeling awkward, either."
Having roommates on rocky terms with each other isn't exactly the easiest thing to contend with, he knows.
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"Y'don't have to worry about me." Just give him a moment to swallow back that tickle in his throat again. "I can bother both of you even if you're not hanging out in the same room for a bit."
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For everyone's sake, which he just so happens to be a part of.
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"I'll be good once I make up for how much I wanted to hold you earlier."
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For now, since he's elected to stay out of her way for the night, he should put his focus to making sure Kai's okay.
"I'm all yours for the rest of the night." He'll indulge Kai with whatever he wants, even if it's just an extended cuddle session. He's not going anywhere tonight.
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Kai pressed another small kiss to Shinji's hair, lingering there for a few moments. Even if they were both in agreement that going after Kyoko had been the right thing, it had still hurt to leave him behind. All he could do now was make good on his word.
"Lay down with me?"
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Say no more. Carefully, Shinji pulls his head off of Kai's shoulder, taking a moment to plant a soft kiss on the other's cheek before scooting himself back on the bed. Those hands around his are delicately tugged along, leading Kai toward the center of the bed so the two of them can relax and get nice and cozy.
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Kai cozied up right at Shinji's side, already adjusting to a tried and true position where Shinji could curl up right there if he wanted. At least he could in a moment. For now, Kai was gently disentangling a hand to lift up and cradle the other boy's cheek.
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Shinji takes that hand on his cheek as a cue to lean in and brush a soft kiss on Kai's lips. For as rough as this day may have been, these tender little moments with Kai help soothe a bit of that ache. Shinji can't just forget everything that happened, but at least there's something calm and comforting right in front of him.
"Love you," he murmurs, settling in to that familiar spot at Kai's side. "I'm glad you're here."
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"Love you too," he answered warmly. "I'm glad I'm here now." That hand at his cheek brushed past him so Kai could loop his arm around him. "... I'm sorry I couldn't be in two places at once."
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"That would actually be asking way too much of you." It's plenty fine that there's only one of him! "I can wait my turn for time with you."
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"You're really the one that's too good," Kai murmured with a little shake of his head against the bed. "Hated leavin' you like that." He didn't want to. But he didn't want Kyoko on her own like that either. Ah, that was probably more what Shinji had meant earlier. Ah... Kai sighed a little.
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That second comment and sigh are a little trickier to address, though. That's one thing that being in two places at once would have made easier, for sure. "At least... you knew where I was." Better than hating to leave someone on their own when they'd run off to who knows where.
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"That's true too," he ended up saying, letting his disapproving look slip back into a somber fondness. "I'd find you though, even if I didn't."
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"I know you would," he whispers. Just like Shinji promised to look for him whenever he needed to, he's sure Kai would waste no time in hunting Shinji down if he were to try and disappear. "Don't wanna make you worry, though."
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He couldn't help but smile a little as Shinji went burrowing, giving him a little squeeze with his arm. "I'm gonna worry anyway," Kai pointed out gently. "S'part of lovin' you."
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"I guess I can't stop you, if it comes to that." He stays comfortably tucked away for a moment longer, keeping his face buried long enough to exhale a short breath before pulling himself away just a bit. "I want to do my best to keep your worrying to a minimum, though."
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Kai's always been so good to him, he deserves that kind of upfront honesty.
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Kai pressed forward, kissing his crown. "You've done a good job," he said, murmuring that assurance into his hair.