forged_anew | 17 - [voice] Return to the land of the living

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Current Location: Horton 114

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17 - [voice] Return to the land of the living

[Zuko turns his communicator on, but there is only silence for a long time. He doesn't really know what to say. After a while, he speaks, voice quiet and flat.]

I'm... back.

[.......]

I apologize for having worried you.

[And that's it. The communicator shuts off with a soft click.]

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...

[Minato's not going to believe that, even for a moment.]

Zuko, I know what it's like to die. If you need to talk, vent your frustrations, or anything else, you know my frequency. But I respect your desire not to talk about it--you don't have to lie about it to me.

That said, do you need a distraction?

[Silence for a long while.]

...I'm in Horton 114.

I'll be right over, then.

[Minato sounds faintly relieved.]

[Zuko's laying on his stomach on the couch, arms crossed over one of the armrests and chin resting on the top one.

Feel free to let yourself in.]

[Minato does so! And he smiles softly as he sees Zuko on the couch. He really is a teenager, if he can make an expression like that.]

... Hey.

[It's also very, very good to see him alive again, considering he saw Zuko's dead body the last time he tried to visit.]

[Zuko spares Minato a glance, pushing himself into a sitting position, one elbow still on the armrest and leaning his chin on his palm listlessly.]

You can sit down if you want.

Thank you.

[Minato sits down, then glances over to Zuko.]

Naruto's doing a bit better now. He's getting better at standing.

[He offers a completely different subject for now, wanting Zuko to not focus on his death just yet.]

[This information actually gets Zuko to lift his head a little, looking over.]

Your son is injured?

[Minato blinks twice, having assumed that Zuko knew, and then he smiles weakly.]

Yes. I thought I mentioned it, but I must have forgotten. He's doing better now, though. It was touch and go for a bit....

I don't remember... Then again, I don't remember a lot from...

What happened?

When he came back, he was gravely injured... I haven't gotten the exact deals from Naruto, only that it was something emotionally painful. Had he been any other kid, he wouldn't have....

[Minato trails off and looks a bit annoyed with himself. Damnit, with his worry, he can't help but get back onto the topic he's trying to avoid.]

I'm sorry.

He's doing better though?

[He's concerned, really, but he can't quite get rid of that listless deadpan tone]

Yes, he is.

[Minato notices that deadpan tone, and he can't stand it. Without warning, he reaches over and ruffles Zuko's hair.]

[That startled him.

Zuko lets out a small grunt of surprise, instinctively flinching away into the couch cushions behind him.

It takes him a second to realize what exactly happened, considering this has...probably never happened to him with anybody but his uncle, and that hasn't happened in a while either. He blinks up at Minato.]

[Minato smiles slowly, but happily.]

That's much better; you're not scowling anymore.

[A few more blinks, then the scowl returns, but it's not quite the same. Now he's just scowling because Minato said that, and not because he's brooding. After a few seconds, he lets out a little huff.]

Personal bubble.

[He's acting annoyed, but... inexplicably, the affectionate touch helped a tiny bit.]

[Minato grins a bit wider, raising an eyebrow.]

Personal bubble, huh?

[He grins widely, then almost pokes Zuko.]

Oops! I think I just popped it.

[.... Why, yes. Minato was just that lame. Sorry, Zuko.]

[And for that, he earns himself a "Did you seriously just act like a 5-year-old?" kind of look and eyebrow raise.]

If you get any closer, Mai might get jealous.

[Minato can't help but snort. Yes, he seriously just acted like a five-year-old.]

What, she'll get jealous if I mess up your hair some more...?

[He pretends to reach over slowly as if he's going to do just that again.]

[Zuko looks startled, backing up a few centimeters and actually kind of bringing his hands up in case he needs to defend himself. He's not getting caught off-guard again.]

[Minato laughs gently and lets his hand drop.]

I do that to my own son, you know. I promise it won't make your hair fall out. It's just a sign of affection, after all....

[Zuko blinks, settling back against the couch pillows again, his expression unreadable.

A sign of affection. Toward his son.

A quick pang of something very akin to regret or perhaps jealously sprang up in his chest for just a moment. Naruto was a really lucky kid.]

[Minato's still smiling at Zuko.]

Feeling any better now?

[Zuko actually ventures to give Minato a tiny smile.]

...Yeah. A little.

[...]

Thanks for coming.

[The smile is encouraging.]

Good.

[He returns it with a bright grin.]

I'll come whenever you need me.

... ... And your guard's down!

[Goes for another hair ruffle!}

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