BERTOLT

[bloodread]

Comments

[perspire]

[ there's a reason why he said later!!

but bertolt does smile when nagako uncoils herself. he looks at her, crouching down and nodding at her in greeting. when akira comes over, he looks back at him and sits down next to him.

he takes a deep breath and he's looking at akira as he speaks ] I... like you. As more than just a friend.

[ wow he just goes for it ]

[bloodread]

[ Nagako makes herself comfortable, lightly winding herself around Bertolt's ankles. Hope he didn't have any plans of standing up any time soon. Akira just watches all of this, thought he shifts his focus when Bertolt looks at him. ]

I never said you were a friend. [ His expression doesn't match at all. For one there's no tension in his features, and for two there's a pink blush on his cheeks. ]

...I know. I think. I— [ Part of him misses the whiskey because it makes talking easier. But a larger part of him is done with ducking or hiding, even if it's more of a weave than an evasion. ]

Fuck it. That's what this is, huh? So yeah. Me too.

1/2

[perspire]

[ nagako winding around his ankles is comforting. he definitely didn’t have any plans about moving anytime soon. just planning on sitting here and talking with kijima about anything and everything they need too.

but then akira speaks and its almost like ice water being poured on him. did— he misread everything and just assume? maybe he should have confirmed that first and— ]

[perspire]

[ but then he keeps talking and oh that is definitely a blush.

and he confirms it, what kim dokja essentially told him when they talked. if he felt relief there, it was nothing compared to hearing it from akira’s mouth.

him too ]

Oh. That’s… good.

[ a small smile and blush fills his face as he just scoots closer to kijima

he’s reaching out to grab what he wants and so he’ll just keep talking. ]

Can I hold your hand again?

[bloodread]

If I say no, are you gonna fight me? [ He does in fact offer up his hand. It is gloved like usual, but one step at a time. ]

[perspire]

Aren’t we going to fight anyway [ but going to reach out to take it, immediately lacing their fingers together. Gloved is fine, he won’t feel how sweaty his palm got waiting for an answer ]

[bloodread]

Shut up. [ Nagako meanwhile, winds closer as if to match and Akira leans a little against Bertolt in turn. ]

...guess we're not that bad at talking. [ This is kinda nice, he thinks. ]

[perspire]

We're getting better at it.

[ leans back against him and just smiles, enjoying this ]

There's more... I want to talk about. But I want to enjoy this first, if that's alright?

[ also sadly picture for a moment if idi was still around and her cuddling around them ]

[bloodread]

Yeah. [ He can relax into the silence a while, but just a little while; Nagako moves a bit, not drawing back any but have you seen a snake pace? This is kinda what that looks like. ]

...sorry, I'm not gonna ask. [ Akira turns and just presses their lips together, both brief and lingering at once. He pulls back after with a blink, like he himself is surprised, a soft edge of a smile peeking out barely. Nagako settles immediately after. ]

OK, now we can do whatever else you want.

[perspire]

[ he's about to ask what akira is doing when he feels the kiss. he feels himself freeze and just as he's about to respond to it, akira pulls away. there's a huge flush on his face and he just can't do anything else but look at akira.

just. give him a moment ]

[bloodread]

[ He will be patient! Just vibing here with this dumb satisfied look on his face. He curls one of their intwined fingers to poke just a bit, as he's waiting. ]

[perspire]

[ very pointedly: ] I'm going to surprise you with a kiss later.

[ but he doesn't sound too upset about this happening at all ]

But... there's one more thing about being a titan that I haven't told you. There's... a time limit.

[bloodread]

You can't do that if you just told me.

[ This is a challenge he is probably going to regret at some point, but it's fine. He cocks his head to the side at the rest. ]

Huh?

[perspire]

You won't know when it'll happen.

[ they'll both regret it

but he looks at him seriously ]

It's a curse, the Curse of Ymir. Whoever gains the power of one of the titans limits their lifespan to thirteen years.

I've had my power for a little over five years.

[bloodread]

[ Oh, huh. There is a blink as he processes (he's doing so much of that tonight), but it doesn't take him long to respond. ]

...these past four months have felt like freakin forever. Eight years might as well be an actual fucking eternity. [ A beat later. ]

I'm used to dealing with curses.

[perspire]

I... are you sure? That's a lot, on top of everything else.

[bloodread]

Do you want me to say no? [ Nagako bobs her head up from where she's settled, then puts it back down again. ]

I have no idea what the hell is gonna happen tomorrow, but I'm not gonna run away from it or do anything else but face it head on. [ I don't know what the hell I'm doing here either, but that's not going to stop me. ]

[perspire]

No, I don't! I just wanted to make sure.

I'm... tired of running. There's so much that at home that I need to do, that I want to do. There's no guarantee that I'll even live for the next eight years, not with everything going on. [ sounding more and more sure of himself as he speaks ]

But right now, the thing I'm most sure on is that I want to be with you.

[bloodread]

[ Home. That certainly is something, isn't it. Ami, Natsumi, Hazuki and...Amanome. He curls in on himself, something of a reflex before he shakes it off. He's tired too. ]

Bertl, I don't care. Do you know why I—why I kissed you?

[perspire]

... You want this too.

[bloodread]

[ Huff. ]

No, I didn't know then. But I wanted to figure it out. [ He does not have the self-awareness to know completely where his heart lies, but he is good at following his instincts. ]

[perspire]

[ lets out his own huff of laughter as he squeezes his hand ]

Then, we can figure it out. We can figure everything out.

[bloodread]

Gonna leave that up to you for now, just tell me where to drive. [ Today has been so long? He doesn't really wanna think anymore and he can't think anymore really. ]

Can we talk about something simple? Like who the hell was throwing rocks and t-shirts?

[perspire]

--I asked for a rock to be given to you.

Gently.

[bloodread]

...I figured. Tsuru would have just given me those stupid eyes.