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

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!}

[Zuko considers diving out of the way again. He'd seen it coming, actually, and perhaps Minato was underestimating his reflexes.

But instead, for some reason he couldn't quite--or didn't really want to--explain to himself, he moved just a little too slowly. The touch on his head was warm and friendly. Kind of like a father's should be.

It did make him feel better.

...and his own father wouldn't have even cared if he'd died, let alone bothered to try comforting him. Not that he was bitter about it or anything. He'd let it go. He had. Really.]

[Minato sees Zuko tense up slightly as if he planned on dodging it--but in the end, Zuko didn't. And that was telling, really. The same sort of reaction he got from Naruto, sometimes.

This kid was just as affection-starved as his own son. Then and there, Minato decides he'll do whatever he can to help fix that. Zuko deserved to be cared for.

So Minato slows down the hair ruffle until he stops, letting his hand linger on Zuko's head for a few more moments before letting it drop.]

There, now your hair's properly messed up. We can make Mai wonder what you've been up to while she was absent.

[Zuko doesn't move, letting Minato do that dad thing he was so good at, and actually... well, kind of enjoying it. He could hardly believe he let his guard down so much with someone he'd technically only known a short while but it felt... safe.

Zuko didn't feel safe around a lot of people.

Slowly, he smiles, his lips quirked in a teasing sort of way. Whatever strange situation Minato is trying to suggest, he's having none of that. Though it is rather funny trying to imagine it.]

It's Mai. She'd probably ignore it or just tell me to find a comb.

[Minato had that way of affecting people. He was Naruto's father, after all. It only made sense for the father to have a similar effect on others as the son.

He was glad to see that Zuko was relaxing and wasn't brooding so much anymore. The kid really did need someone looking after him. Although he wasn't much of a kid anymore--a teenage Fire Lord. But that didn't mean he didn't still need comfort every now and then.

Especially considering the horrible way he died. Minato figured that he was most likely not dealing with it at all. It was best if he dealt with it sooner rather than later, but Minato wanted him a bit more relaxed before he started up any type of conversation like that.

But for now, Minato had a different dilemma on his hands. He grows thoughtful, bringing a hand to his chin and leaning in closer to inspect Zuko.]

We'll have to do something more drastic, then. Perhaps spiking it, or dyeing it blue...?

[Zuko eyed Minato suspiciously when he leaned in, oh-so-thoughtful, but when the older man made that suggestion, his eyes widened in mild horror.]

Blue? You're out of your mind.

[He glares at Minato, scooting away toward the opposite end of the couch again and crossing his arms in a huff.]

Leave my hair alone, you creep.

[Minato pauses for a moment, obviously trying very hard to keep a straight face. And then, he fails miserably. He sags a bit, shaking with silent laughter.]

Ah, ah Zuko! I was only kidding!

[He has to prop himself up on the back of the couch to keep from falling over.]

[Hmph. Have some moody teenage pouting for your troubles as Zuko sticks his nose in the air, pulling his legs up to sit cross-legged on the couch, one elbow on his knee and fist propping up his chin. He glares sideways at Minato, but it's the kind of glare that's just there for show and it holds no realy anger. Maybe some justified annoyance though.]

It's hardly funny.

[Minato manages to compose himself again after only a few more moments, and he smiles to Zuko almost apologetically.]

I'm sorry--I couldn't help myself. You're easy to tease.

[Have some more harrumphing.]

[Minato can't help but continue to smile--although it grows a bit sad as he continues to speak.]

Now that you're only posturing instead of actually being depressed, maybe we should get onto a more serious topic...?

[Zuko blinks, stiffening slightly, then sighing a little. He sits up a bit straighter, looking off into the distance.]

Like what?

[Oh, like he doesn't already know. But it's worth the chance he might have assumed wrongly.]

Like about how you're holding up emotionally.

[Minato sighs, then glances to Zuko with concern.]

Dying wasn't easy for me. I had to come to terms with it. ... Have you dealt with it yet?

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