#I'm ALWAYS cheering for this cinna-power-bottom to step into his power B)))

[howthesleeplesswander]

Even the truth-averse Captain could admit to being impressed with Ryunosuke's quick recovery. Clearly he'd have to try harder to fluster him next time. And yet, as Kaeya chased at his heels until they walked side-by-side again, their banter was the same game of cat and mouse: reasonably matched, the two of them altering roles rather than being locked into "pursuer" or "prey."

At least the one truth that had fought off a silver tongue to be freed into the night gave Ryunosuke pause. Kaeya's steps slowed but didn't fully stop, and he pivoted to keep the other's expression in sight. Watching his features transform with confidence made the admission worth it. In the brief moment of stillness while he held that deliberate smirk, a familiar thrill buzzed electric through frigid veins, superconducting from within.

"Oh, can I? Now don't I feel foolish." When his companion unfroze, Kaeya's cape flourished as he spun on his heel to keep pace, shaking his head with a lamenting hand on his chest. Using dramatics to bury the guilt that reared its head at Ryunosuke's returned admission. He knew that the other man was far too polite and amicable to have been upset over such a request if he had simply asked—but where was the fun in asking to see another player's hand when Kaeya could make them show him with a few simple tricks?

Case in point: it seemed Ryunosuke had overlooked one crucial detail. Time to try harder.

"But, dear Ryunosuke, keep in mind that I said that was the main reason for my little performance. Not the only reason." He shrugged, letting that stew for a moment. "If you want to know any more detail than that, however..."

Glancing at his profile, Kaeya rather missed the pinkish hue that had faded from his face, and didn't think twice about reaching across the narrow distance between them. With the gentlest caress, he brushed a knuckle across the rise of Ryunosuke's cheek, lingering to imbue warmth to soft skin. The touch traced downward, nestled into the shadow of his chin, and guided it up that fraction of an inch to lock their gazes.

"—you can simply ask," he purred, his one, dazzling eye practically glowing.

Ryunosuke, to this day, liked to cling to the belief (or was it hope, really?) that he was not entirely lacking in intelligence. Did he have the book smarts Kazuma had? No. Did he have the wit and charm of his current company hurrying at his heels now? Oh, most assuredly not. But despite these absent talents, he figured he had, to some degree, an ounce or two of common sense. Or observational skills, if he was keen on making the ability sound somewhat more exceptional. Point was—

He knew Kaeya wouldn’t let this go. As much as he knew he’d be followed within a second of shuffling past (and that he himself likely would’ve waited anyway if the captain hadn’t followed). And it was this foresight that had him taking a steadying breath before Kaeya made it back to his side. In. Out. A deep inhale, a long and practiced exhale. His eyes closed as the heated air fanned from his lips, and he felt as prepared as he could possibly get for whatever came next.

Naturally, they fell in-step with each other. Kaeya had made a decision to walk what seemed to be as close as possible (Ryunosuke was quite positive he never did anything accidentally), and as his smooth voice wove frustrating truths into the still night, Ryunosuke eyed the brush of their arms. He made no move to create distance. Not out of politeness, not out of any desire to. And maybe that was it. Maybe he truly didn’t mind, only that…

No. Something specifically Kaeya had said robbed him of all other thoughts in an instant.

“You did all that to spend more time together?” His steps slowed until he stopped. A confuddled look once questioning the ground in front of his feet found the real recipient. In a few staggering beats, Ryunosuke did nothing but study the debonair man in front of him, but it’d take only a blink to miss the way his expression changed. How quickly the confusion dissolved into scrutiny, and ultimately realization. The blooms of heat in his face were gone. Knots of his insides untangled, free.

He smiled.

“This… may come as groundbreaking, Captain, but you can simply ask,” Ryunosuke informed him. Finally, his feet moved again, bringing him even closer to Kaeya for the time it took to pin him with a deliberate look: his arched brow pulled a smirk to one side of his face as if attached by a string. “If that proves difficult for you, then we’ll have to work on it next time.” He shrugged at that, then rounded his companion again to take the lead.

But Ryunosuke made sure to say over his shoulder, “By now, I’d have thought it obvious I enjoy your company.”