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[He's paralyzed to move, to refuse Ken this extremely simple gift of his presence. It's such an easy thing to do for him, Minato feels no impulse to regain his space. He's done so much more for Ken, for all of them. Something like this is easy... isn't it? Even if it's making his chest tighter and tighter, squeezing with some emotion he can't identify.
For Ken, he waits there silently nonetheless, wrestling down that unwelcome, unfamiliar feeling.]
... I know you'll be safe no matter what, [Minato says quietly, since he knows what he thinks is Ken's future back home, and he can't exactly die here,] but having you come back, and remembering everything... I'm happy.
[He doesn't look happy. Just quiet. But surely that's at least one piece of what's straining inside him.]
For Ken, he waits there silently nonetheless, wrestling down that unwelcome, unfamiliar feeling.]
... I know you'll be safe no matter what, [Minato says quietly, since he knows what he thinks is Ken's future back home, and he can't exactly die here,] but having you come back, and remembering everything... I'm happy.
[He doesn't look happy. Just quiet. But surely that's at least one piece of what's straining inside him.]
[Ken's not entirely enthusiastic about it still much less than he would usually be, but when he arrives at Edgeworth's place at the end of the promised half hour he's there with a polite smile, dressed properly looking perfectly put together. It would be easy to fool anybody if it weren't for their conversation before this.]
... Hi, Mr Edgeworth. How are you?
... Hi, Mr Edgeworth. How are you?
[As always, none of Minato's emotions show on his face. I'm happy, he says, with an expression that's almost starting to be a frown. But Ken knows his sincerity so he nods to the statement, softening his own expression into a smile for the both of them. He can do that. Neither of them were terribly demonstrative, but he can do this easier.]
I am, too, [he agrees.] I'm glad I'm back, and I'm glad I'm still myself. There are still lots of things I want to do.
... I'm glad to be back, so I can still be with you as me, Minato-san.
I am, too, [he agrees.] I'm glad I'm back, and I'm glad I'm still myself. There are still lots of things I want to do.
... I'm glad to be back, so I can still be with you as me, Minato-san.
[Over the next few days, Tetsuo's been actively moving against Ken whenever he encounters him. It's small, minor things; shoving him into walls with more force than necessary, ripping chairs out from under him, tripping him once in the hallway by a swift telekinetic tug at his foot while he walks.
Never anything all that major, but easily noticeable. And it doesn't seem like it's going to stop.
Which means that when Tetsuo sees him again, still daring to show his face when Tetsuo's around, all he really needs to do is fix him with a nasty, knowing smirk. Whatcha gonna do, kid, huh? Come get your ass kicked? Go on... If Ken knows what's good for him, he should head back in his room. ]
Never anything all that major, but easily noticeable. And it doesn't seem like it's going to stop.
Which means that when Tetsuo sees him again, still daring to show his face when Tetsuo's around, all he really needs to do is fix him with a nasty, knowing smirk. Whatcha gonna do, kid, huh? Come get your ass kicked? Go on... If Ken knows what's good for him, he should head back in his room. ]
[It didn't take long at all for Ken to figure out that all of these things were intentional. He knew Tetsuo didn't particularly like him -- although the true reason and the depth of this dislike escapes him -- and didn't particularly blame him for it, ignoring the fact that what happened at the swear in more than two months ago is something most people will be over by now. After all, it hadn't been Ken's fault. But Ken doesn't apply that sort of logic to his relationship with Tetsuo, and because the pushing and tripping didn't really hurt, he never said word about it. He was always able to catch himself when he fell in the hallway, anyway.
It's enough to keep him on guard, though.
So when he runs into Tetsuo today, he can't help but stop. Wariness crosses his eyes for a moment, and there's a tensing in his shoulders. But instead of backing down, Ken squares those shoulders and steps forward instead, moving to the kitchen with the groceries he just returned with.]
Are you feeling better, Tetsuo-san?
It's enough to keep him on guard, though.
So when he runs into Tetsuo today, he can't help but stop. Wariness crosses his eyes for a moment, and there's a tensing in his shoulders. But instead of backing down, Ken squares those shoulders and steps forward instead, moving to the kitchen with the groceries he just returned with.]
Are you feeling better, Tetsuo-san?
[Before Ken, no one ever referred to him with any honorific besides '-kun'. At first, it was jarring, then weird, now it's practically mocking him. Then again, Ken's very existence does that in itself.]
Don't talk to me.
[Better physically, yes. Mentally is a whole other story.]
Don't talk to me.
[Better physically, yes. Mentally is a whole other story.]
... Sorry.
[So he says, but he isn't going to actually avoid him and they both know it. The groceries get put away one by one -- vegetables, eggs, a carton of milk, frozen microwavable foods, a few things into the cabinets. Boxes of cereal for Kaneda's breakfasts. And a bottle of soda that he holds out to Tetsuo.]
[So he says, but he isn't going to actually avoid him and they both know it. The groceries get put away one by one -- vegetables, eggs, a carton of milk, frozen microwavable foods, a few things into the cabinets. Boxes of cereal for Kaneda's breakfasts. And a bottle of soda that he holds out to Tetsuo.]
[Fuck you he's not taking your soda. He can get his own. Have fun standing around holding that out like the loser you are, Ken Amada, because he's not moving a muscle - physical or mental - to do anything about that.]
I said shut up.
[Apologizing is still talking. Stop being polite and just hurry up and do what you're told, twerp.]
I said shut up.
[Apologizing is still talking. Stop being polite and just hurry up and do what you're told, twerp.]
[He gets one thing. Ken doesn't say anything in response to that, though he sighs and turns to fetch something from inside. Bottle held in one hand, leaning to reach for a sharpie on the counter so he can write Tetsuo's name on the bottle, he hooks his fingers around the frame of the doorway to anchor himself as he does.]
[Tetsuo watches Ken for a second, figures he's not saying anything further, and whirls around on one heel to storm back out. Just as he turns, the sliding door catches the corner of his eye, left ajar by someone being careless.
On a whim he grabs hold of it with his power and yanks it hard, letting it slam into the other side as he starts to walk away.
By the time Ken's reaching out, his back's already to him - he doesn't see Ken reaching out to the doorframe. And so he has no idea how good his timing really is.]
On a whim he grabs hold of it with his power and yanks it hard, letting it slam into the other side as he starts to walk away.
By the time Ken's reaching out, his back's already to him - he doesn't see Ken reaching out to the doorframe. And so he has no idea how good his timing really is.]
[Ken knew Tetsuo was dangerous. He knew that he was a danger to be around, and that this dangerous person absolutely, undoubtedly did not like him. He knew that.
Still, he'd decided to trust him with that taken into account, too. Even knowing that it was foolish to talk to him and provoke him, he did it because he, selfishly, didn't want to not try.
But that doesn't stop Tetsuo from being dangerous, and it doesn't stop him from being impulsive. Looking completely away from the door, he doesn't realize that it's closing until it's closed, and it closes, hard, right over the fingers of his right hand.
He isn't sure what happened at first. There was an impact, and he felt the pressure against his hand. But it takes a moment -- a moment long enough for him to turn his head and look -- for the fact to sink in and it isn't until then that the pain comes.
Ken doesn't usually raise his voice. He has a high tolerance to pain and does not react often. But his eyes widen, and the pain comes, and Ken screams.]
Still, he'd decided to trust him with that taken into account, too. Even knowing that it was foolish to talk to him and provoke him, he did it because he, selfishly, didn't want to not try.
But that doesn't stop Tetsuo from being dangerous, and it doesn't stop him from being impulsive. Looking completely away from the door, he doesn't realize that it's closing until it's closed, and it closes, hard, right over the fingers of his right hand.
He isn't sure what happened at first. There was an impact, and he felt the pressure against his hand. But it takes a moment -- a moment long enough for him to turn his head and look -- for the fact to sink in and it isn't until then that the pain comes.
Ken doesn't usually raise his voice. He has a high tolerance to pain and does not react often. But his eyes widen, and the pain comes, and Ken screams.]
[He gets a few feet away before the screaming starts. The hell?
Tetsuo halts mid-step, falling a little harder on his foot than usual and pivoting around to see. Ken's standing there, the door bouncing back to reveal him staring at his hand in clear shock. Tetsuo hadn't actually thought he'd catch the kid; if he did, he'd have stood there and watched it happen. As it is, surprise flicks across his face before the smirk does.
Oh, now that is perfect. He didn't even mean to do this, and it happened anyway. Sometimes, everything he wants just seems to click into place; it's rare when that happens, but there's nothing sweeter than revenge, intentional or no. Ken's caused him a lot of pain. It's only fitting that brat gets it back, as often as it takes.]
What's the matter?
[As if he couldn't guess.]
Nobody ever teach you to keep your hands to yourself?
[Serves him right, sticking his nose into everything... eventually he'd get exactly this]
Tetsuo halts mid-step, falling a little harder on his foot than usual and pivoting around to see. Ken's standing there, the door bouncing back to reveal him staring at his hand in clear shock. Tetsuo hadn't actually thought he'd catch the kid; if he did, he'd have stood there and watched it happen. As it is, surprise flicks across his face before the smirk does.
Oh, now that is perfect. He didn't even mean to do this, and it happened anyway. Sometimes, everything he wants just seems to click into place; it's rare when that happens, but there's nothing sweeter than revenge, intentional or no. Ken's caused him a lot of pain. It's only fitting that brat gets it back, as often as it takes.]
What's the matter?
[As if he couldn't guess.]
Nobody ever teach you to keep your hands to yourself?
[Serves him right, sticking his nose into everything... eventually he'd get exactly this]
[There's no verbal answer from Ken. Of course there isn't. He's curled up now, lowering to his knees and cradling the hurt hand to his chest. His words hardly reach his ears, and even then it's easily drowned out by the surprisingly loud repetition of ithurtsithurtsithurtsithurtsithurtsithurtsithurts that runs through his head.
It hurts, more than he could've ever imagined. Later he'll realize it's because all his other injuries were during battles when the adrenaline numbed his sense of pain a lot more. Right now, he's defenseless and vulnerable against the pain. Tetsuo's... taunting him? He's always either taunting or yelling, but he can't tell. But he's talking, and Ken chokes back a sob as he shakes his head from side to side. Then whimpers as the motion moves his hand and the pain burns again. It's his right hand, so even if he did go back and grab his Evoker he couldn't pick it up to shoot. But his thought doesn't even go that far either because it just hurts it hurts ithurtithurtsithurts.]
It hurts, more than he could've ever imagined. Later he'll realize it's because all his other injuries were during battles when the adrenaline numbed his sense of pain a lot more. Right now, he's defenseless and vulnerable against the pain. Tetsuo's... taunting him? He's always either taunting or yelling, but he can't tell. But he's talking, and Ken chokes back a sob as he shakes his head from side to side. Then whimpers as the motion moves his hand and the pain burns again. It's his right hand, so even if he did go back and grab his Evoker he couldn't pick it up to shoot. But his thought doesn't even go that far either because it just hurts it hurts ithurtithurtsithurts.]
[Edgeworth knows better, but he also knows enough not to point it out. Instead he opens the door wide for Ken, beckoning him to come in]
I'm doing well. And you?
I'm doing well. And you?
You're always you, [Minato says faintly, exhaling a quiet breath.] Even if you didn't remember, I wouldn't mind. I'd do every step of that journey with you again if I had to.
[Sometimes, Minato is frail and human and doubting himself and all of his choices. He's ambivalent, or filled with trepidation, or just plain afraid. He can be selfish and miserly with his feelings, not to mention cold and distant.
And sometimes, Minato is every inch the person who had stalwartly faced the Dark Hour night after night, who'd watched lives torn apart or outright be killed because of it, and pushed forward to become the Great Seal without a spec of hesitation. There's specific times where his frailties fade away, and his core of strength-- that dark, black band that let him survive all those years after his parents without removing his capacity to change for the better-- shines through.]
... But. [Now he finally smiles slightly.] It is easier this way. I don't have to explain that you shouldn't eat the convenience store food, for example.
[Sometimes, Minato is frail and human and doubting himself and all of his choices. He's ambivalent, or filled with trepidation, or just plain afraid. He can be selfish and miserly with his feelings, not to mention cold and distant.
And sometimes, Minato is every inch the person who had stalwartly faced the Dark Hour night after night, who'd watched lives torn apart or outright be killed because of it, and pushed forward to become the Great Seal without a spec of hesitation. There's specific times where his frailties fade away, and his core of strength-- that dark, black band that let him survive all those years after his parents without removing his capacity to change for the better-- shines through.]
... But. [Now he finally smiles slightly.] It is easier this way. I don't have to explain that you shouldn't eat the convenience store food, for example.
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