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[incautiously]

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[adherencetofacts]

Nanami runs a hand along Haibara's side under the water. He remembers touching Haibara's shoulder, expecting it not to be real. Hugging in public. In the middle of the street. It feels like a lifetime ago.

"I'm here for you," Nanami says. He holds Haibara against him. Perhaps they could still do something like hold hands in public.

[incautiously]

"I think that's my line." He smiles, leans back into him.

"Whatever you need, I'll do my best to help you."

[adherencetofacts]

Nanami laughs. "So it is, but I may borrow it from time to time."

"Help me remember not to fall asleep before putting the stew away. If we don't eat it."

[incautiously]

"We're going to eat. Or at least I am. I've got a lot of time to make up for and it's the first meal you've cooked. I'm going to have at least some of it fresh." And then they can put the rest away.

"Are you tired?"

[adherencetofacts]

Nanami smiles, glad Haibara will enjoy it without it needed to be reheated. He recommends reheating on the stove, not in the microwave, but it will never be the same.

"Emotionally worn out," Nanami says. "In a good way. It's been... a lot is all. I don't want to fall asleep yet, though. I want more time together first." Just in case.

[incautiously]

"Because you don't want to wake up and find out it wasn't real?" He murmurs the word, fingers entwining with Nanami's.

[adherencetofacts]

Nanami winces slightly and tightens his grip around Haibara, as though that could do anything to anchor him, to keep him real. "Yes," Nanami admits, "I don't—

"I don't know that I could handle that." He would, if it happens. But fuck it would fuck him up.

[incautiously]

You'll feel better tomorrow when you wake up and I'm still here." He shifts again, onto his knees and settles to face Nanami, hands framing his face. "I'm not going to vanish." His voice is soft.

"Nobody else you've met since coming here has disappeared on their second day, have they?" Not that it can't happen, but it seems highly unlikely.

[adherencetofacts]

Nanami swallows back, leaning into Haibara's touch. You don't know that, he feels like saying, but Haibara keeps talking. Keeps making good points. Gojo felt like the fox was messing with him when Geto arrived, but Geto is still here. All the sorcerers are.

He takes a deep breath and sighs. "That doesn't mean today needs to end early."

[incautiously]

"And I'm not saying it does. I know you won't trust this until you wake up tomorrow and I'm still here, curled against your side." His lips brush against Nanami's lightly, not once but a few times.

"I just want you to worry a little less."

[adherencetofacts]

"Until then, it feels like a dream." Like he's waiting to wake up. But oh such a good dream. Is it so impossible his fantasies about Haibara coming back would change in a place like this?

He kisses Haibara back, the kisses interrupting what brooding he might have fallen prey to. "That's not my strong suit." Failures, the past, he can handle that. The future? That hasn't been determined yet.

[incautiously]

"Maybe that's why I'm here then. To help you worry less." He murmurs it against Nanami's lips before just kissing him again, hands sliding down over his shoulders.

"Among other things."

[adherencetofacts]

Nanami kisses Haibara and slides a hand into his hair. "Among other things."

"I want you to obtain your dreams. I want you to get new dreams and work toward them. I want the world for you."

[incautiously]

"I already have." His eyes half close at the hand in his hair, Haibara leaning to press kisses along his jawline.

"Not in any hurry for new dreams, I have everything I want right here."

[adherencetofacts]

It's the first day. All the things Nanami's dreamed about for Haibara, all the possible futures and lives he could have lived, all of it can wait. None of it may be what Haibara himself wants. Time will tell.

"I've been here a month. I'm not going anywhere."

[incautiously]

"And even if I had somewhere else to go, I'd still choose to stay right here." Softly before shifting to rest his head on Nanami's shoulder.

"So I'm not going anywhere either.

[adherencetofacts]

His arms wrap around him. "I'll be less clingy tomorrow," Nanami promises. "You can check out what you like. We'll still spend much of our days together."

Once he's sure they have them.

[incautiously]

"And what makes you think I'm not enjoying you being clingy?" He teases gently, hands sliding up Nanami's arms.

"I'm not in any hurry, Kento."

[adherencetofacts]

"I was never exactly clingy before," Nanami points out. They were together all the time anyway. Part of being the only two people in their class. They couldn't get split up into different teams. Still, he wasn't the clingier of them.

"I don't want us to become unhealthily codependent. That's all."

[incautiously]

"We were together all the time and I hadn't died on you yet." Fingers entwine with Nanami's as he brushes a kiss to the side of his neck.

"I'm not going to be like that."

[adherencetofacts]

"I won't be either." Fact. Nanami won't let himself, no matter what happens. There's being glad Haibara is back and spending much of their time together and ignoring his responsibilities to the students, no longer training, and otherwise behaving irresponsibly.

"As long as no one needs me tonight, I'll be here with you the entire time."

[incautiously]

"And if they do need you, I'll be here when you're back, unless I go with you to help." A slight shrug.

"I'm not going to be bothered you have other demands on your time."

[adherencetofacts]

"I know," Nanami says, "I can still hope that the teenagers manage to be okay by themselves for one night. Even though I cannot control it." Because he wants this night for them and them alone. One night. Is that so much to ask?

"The same for you. I'm sure you'll make friends with people in no time."

[incautiously]

"Probably" But it's not something he's even concerned about at the moment, his eyes closing.

[adherencetofacts]

Nanami consciously loosens his grip on Haibara a little. A comfortable weight around his waist. his head leans back, and he's happy to sit here until the water gets cold.