( so, after that broadcast? things aren't exactly the best, for anyone. even after the house has supposedly gone and settled back in for the night, this guy can't get the images out of his head.
he knows his brother is in the same room, of course he does, so he can easily verify that Thomas is safe and alive and breathing and not butchered, but for some reason he can't convince himself. so, maybe half an hour after going back to bed, Michael gets up, makes the trek, and sits down into his brother's bed. )
[He'll find Thomas lying on his side with his back to Michael and though his eyes are closed and his breathing even, he is not actually asleep just yet. Michael isn't the only one lingering on the broadcast, though Thomas isn't maybe quite as worried... or maybe just in different ways.
Michael is in the same room with him after all and if Chris wasn't fine then they would have heard from Kaito by now (they'd better have), and otherwise none of the people they knew seem to have been hit... but even so, Thomas is taking this whole situation a lot more seriously now. He doesn't move or even open his eyes when he feels the mattress bend under Michael's weight, but he does answer him after a moment.]
[...Apart of possible uses for the 33 cans Pond Monster Repellent, but Chris doesn’t need to know about that. Though, Thomas has seen the letter and he has a feeling he knows where this is going.]
Are you thinking about taking up the invitation to that ball?
Yes, if I can come up with something to go as. I thought you might have some ideas.
[Of course, he's going to ask Kaito too, but Thomas is more likely to have some good ideas. And also more likely to give him ridiculous ideas just to laugh at him, but still.]
( twin size bed be damned, Michael is now crawling over and into bed with his brother. the mattress may shift with his weight, but that isn't his problem the foam of it isn't higher quality, more substantial. )
[Rolling over he is, though maybe not quite in the direction Michael wants him too (and if they are unlucky that just may result in some more literal headbutting), because really...]
...The hell?
[Michael, just what.]
What are you, five?
[Murder or not, they are definitely too old for this, okay.]
( he's scared. but he doesn't bother to admit it because he knows Thomas will know. )
I'm your brother.
( so he can do this, can't he? anyway he will dodge Thomas' head and his gaze, and try to lay down facing the opposite way. the idea is that he may be intruding, but beyond getting into his space he really doesn't want to impose upon Thomas too badly. )
[Thomas just looks at him for a long moment, frowning faintly and uhg, that excuse will definitely always work on him, especially knowing that Michael is scared, because yeah, that one look at him is telling enough.
He sighs and shifts again, so that Michael has some more space and can curl up next to him if he so desires.]
( oh, doesn't Thomas always have to say something to save his dignity? but Michael just feels a great flood of relief. he really didn't question that Thomas would let him sleep with him, but now that Thomas has (in his own way) actually let him, it's nice and now he feels warm and wanted and protected.
he does take up Thomas' offer on the space and curls up next to him. luckily Michael hasn't had a growth spurt to speak of, so, if anyone is taking up too much room now, it's Thomas.
also, he isn't just one to let Thomas have the last word. )
In a bit. I'm just getting comfortable. ( motivated by fondness, he huffs. )
[Of course he does, as would any older brother when he's giving in to his younger sibling over something like this. Also rude, he can't take up too much space when it's his own bed. :|
Also no, if anyone is having the last word here, it's Thomas.]
You better.
[...Regardless of what he's saying, he's turned towards Michael and loosely dropped an arm over him though. Sneaking under his blanket probably isn't all that much of a chore at that point anymore.]
( soooo, he'll just slide on in eventually, finally and fully claiming his spot. and with Thomas' arms around him, however loosely, it doesn't seem like he'll be going anywhere too quickly.
he lets Thomas have the last word for now, and just smiles into the back of his hand.
but then some time passes, and some of the thoughts are settling in again. ) Thomas, please stay safe.
[it's a pity this is text (or maybe not) so Thomas can't see the smile on his face. It's just very nice to hear about things like Michael making plans wit h friends like that.]
Also fitting.
[Aaaand there's one text. After a minute, there's another one.]
All right, I'll see if I can find a suitable dress.
[Maybe, but he can guess at it at least. Chris smiles a lot more now again after all. (They all do.)
...Thomas may have blinked at that text for a second before starting to snicker, because oh, this is going to be good. He hadn't actually thought Chris would go for this, hadn't even been serious about it initially, but now that it appears to be a thing...]
[At least he knows better than to talk back, when Thomas is already letting him get away with this much, including stealing part of his blanket. Though, of course, it's not like this isn't a familiar situation, is it, and even if it's been some years, since the last Michael has felt the need to crawl into his bed for comfort, the routine is still familiar.
He's closed his eyes again by the time Michael speaks up, though he cracks them open again to shoot him an irritated look (though his voice totally lacks the heat to back it up).]
Idiot. You just worry about yourself.
[Because seriously, it's not like Thomas can't take care of himself. Or of both of them for that matter, if he needs to. If he can help it, he's not going to let anything happen to either of them (and/or Rio) and it's not like they don't have any support outside this house either. It's not like Chris is miles and miles away again.]
( well, Thomas ought to know how little brothers are. though he may like to be able to rely upon his older brothers, there's always a part of him that impels him to prove himself. it also makes him guilty for not being able to at least take care of himself; from time to time he's also reminded that he failed his family, too, but that is news that is growing older by the day. { like now. he hadn't foreseen something like this, not truly. }
still, even if he takes Thomas' love and support for granted, and he's learnt that standing together makes you stronger, he always will strive to do the best that he can. that's a trait the two of them have in common. with Rio in the house that just adds another person to the household he considers himself as the protector of.
when he speaks to Thomas, he doesn't open his eyes, and sighs a bit. ) I'm not an idiot, you are of if you'd think I'd do that. No way do only you and Chris get to say cool, heartfelt things like that.
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