pokebox | LOCKED TO ardent

LOCKED TO ardent

[The apartment is on the third floor, with windows looking out to Goldenrod City. It isn't the biggest place, but it is far better than the base. The place is small - one bathroom, one bedroom, a kitchen, and a small sitting room that doubles as a dining room - but it hasn't taken long for them to settle in. Mondo had cleaned up the place earlier that day while Ishimaru was out with his "superior officer," Colonel Archer. Mondo still isn't fond of Archer or his friend Kimblee, but he knows better than to say anything around them. Ishimaru seems to like them at least, so they can't be that bad, right?

Well, that doesn't matter now anyway. Mondo had finished up what little work he had for the organization early and had returned home to make sure the house was tidy. He knows how Ishimaru likes things - perfect and organized, with the exception of the closet. He hasn't touched the closet at all; that's Ishimaru's space. But it's getting later in the evening and despite what Ishimaru thinks, Mondo can cook.]

Butch, c'mon. Get down from there. I just dusted!

[It doesn't particularly matter that they had only been in the apartment for a week, Mondo knows better than to leave dust lying around. Ishimaru is probably allergic to it. It seems like he's allergic to everything, including Butch, the Lillipup Mondo had hatched from an egg not too long ago. Butch reminds him a bit of Chuck, but that isn't something Mondo wants to focus on now. He scoops up the puppy and carries him into the living room, letting the dog curl up on the couch almost as soon as he's put down.]

Stay. Got it? Stay. Shit, it's been fucking years since I last tried training a dog.

[But he seems rather pleased anyway. Mondo returns to the kitchen where he sets about preparing dinner. He might have a stupidly adorable Pikachu and Pichu apron on. Just saying.]

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What do you fucking think? I'll rearrange his fucking face!!

[Oh he's fully aware that Ishimaru won't like that answer, but hell, at least he's honest about it.]

[Oh boy, here we go.]

You're going to do no such thing!

Yeah? And why the fuck not? If he's fucking with you, I'm not just gonna stand by!!

I don't see how he's - [he is not going to be vulgar about this he is not going to be vulgar about this] ...doing anything of the sort! Curiosity about other worlds seems to be natural here, and apparently bringing others to this world is an unusual request!!

And it ain't his fucking place to ask why! We've been through enough shit, who the fuck is he to make you relive it!?

Do you think I would answer him at all if I didn't want to?!

[...DISREGARD THE FACT THAT HE STANDS AND BOWS AND GREETS MONOBEAR IN THE MORNINGS WHEN TOLD TO

AND WHATEVER THAT INSTANCE WITH THE RADIO EXERCISES WAS

WE DON'T NEED TO BRING THOSE UP]

You're full of shit; you always listen to the fuckers in positions of power! 'Course you're gonna tell him whatever the fuck he wants to know!!

[But Mondo does take a moment to attempt to calm himself down. He doesn't want to be angry with Ishimaru, after all. This isn't his fault.]

Look, I just don't want you getting in over your head.

[He flinches away at that, looking offended; the expression doesn't last long before he tries to force it away, though that doesn't stop the tears from forming.

He's not crying. Yet. But it's obvious that he's considering.]

I said I'll be fine!

[Shit. He didn't mean to upset Ishimaru! Cue backpedaling!!]

H-hey, I know you will be! I'm not saying that 'cause I think you're weak or anything like that!

[As tempted as he is to mess with Ishimaru's hair again in the hopes of calming him down, Mondo resists.]

You're not weak. Fuck, you're one of the strongest people I know, aniki.

...What?

[...all right, that seems to have stopped the urge to cry for the time being; however, it's replaced it with blatant confusion, good job.]

Am I really?

[Well at least the tears have stopped!]

You think I'd lie to you?

[Mondo falls silent for a moment, trying to figure out how to put it into words. He knows that Ishimaru is strong, it's just explaining in a way that makes sense.]

...Well, back home you took the lead and organized everything. Sure, I give you a lot of shit about it, but it's an admirable trait, to be able to keep your shit together and help out the rest of us. Even after the murders you kept it together and worked with us to keep us all going. Just imagine if we didn't have someone looking out for all of us.

[If he had been stronger, he could have taken Ishimaru's position. That thought is quickly brushed away.]

You do a damn good job of looking out for everyone and I think they all appreciate it in some way. Except maybe fucking Togami, but who gives a shit about him.

[He glances downward, picking at his sleeves for a while before replying.]

Even if they don't appreciate it, it's something that needs to be done. I've wanted to ensure that everyone escapes the school alive from the beginning; even if that...

[He pauses. Shakes his head a bit. Continues.]

Even if that isn't possible anymore, I still want to save everyone I can. It has nothing to do with strength or courage; it's just the right thing to do.

It doesn't have to have anything to do with strength or courage. Point is, you've got both. Don't be so modest.

[He reaches out to rest a hand on Ishimaru's shoulder, trying to comfort him as much as he can.]

You're very strong, aniki. Even if you think you're just doing what is "right," how many other people do you see trying to help the others? How many of the others are holding it together for everyone else's sake?

[Ishimaru doesn't relax at that, though the touch at his shoulder is appreciated.]

I'm used to holding it together for everyone else's sake; that isn't anything new. But that does make me wonder what you meant by that tirade earlier.

...which part?

[Mondo isn't too keen on discussing that, but he knows better than to try to dismiss it as nothing.]

The part where you think I'll just tell him anything he wants to know.

[He's silent for a moment, staring down at the floor rather than at Ishimaru, but Mondo doesn't move his hand from his friend's shoulder.]

Well, I mean we're not in Hope's Peak in that shitty situation anymore so... I mean, I figure you usually give in to authority figures and all that shit so...

[...]

Look, I'm sorry I said that. I can't say for sure what you're like outside of that fucking school.

[The absurdity of their remarkably close bond has finally set in. Not that he knows what to do with it.]

I'm sorry, alright?

[While Mondo may be making some unfortunate realizations, the same can't be said for Ishimaru, who sees a grand total of zero things wrong with any of this; Mondo's explanation makes sense to him, and it actually serves to settle him rather quickly.

He's still rather uncertain, but at the very least he's calmed down.]

...It's all right, aniki, don't worry. I'm not angry.

That's good; I wouldn't want you to be angry at me.

[It seems that Ishimaru hasn't realized how odd it is that they're such close friends. He hesitates for a moment, wondering if he should bring it up.]

...Hey, does it strike you as kinda weird that we're this close but we don't really know each other all that well? I mean, fuck, it's not like we really had a chance to get to know one another before everything went to shit. We haven't been friends for very long back home. It's just... I dunno. I don't normally get this close to someone so quickly, you know?

[He flinches at that first question, and for a moment he's suddenly and inexplicably afraid; it takes him a moment to force himself to calm down - surely if Mondo wanted to end their friendship, he would be far more straightforward than that. Wouldn't he?]

I...guess that it's moving a little fast, yes... [He sounds uncertain, however; is it moving fast? He doesn't have much of a way to gauge it...] But even so, it feels like something we should be doing.

[There isn't any other way to word it, is there - this just feels right, for a reason he can't really put into words.]

[Mondo does see that flinch and in response, he grips Ishimaru's shoulder tightly.]

Hey. Hey, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. It's just a little weird. I'm not gonna ditch you, aniki. I'd never leave you.

[Ishimaru's words do ring true though; this does feel like something they should be doing. It feels right for some reason he can't quite explain.]

I guess I'm just getting worked up about nothing. I mean, you're my brother, and a brother's bond is something that forms pretty quickly, right?

[He grins at that and reaches up to ruffle Ishimaru's hair.]

'Sides, we've got all the time in the world to get to know each other better here!

Ah...we do, yes!

[He seems more than happy with that answer, actually, and Mondo's confirmation that he isn't going anywhere serves to relax him in an instant; he tips his head up into that hair-ruffling, clearly pleased.]

There's nothing to be worked up about, aniki - this felt right immediately after it happened back home.

Right, 'cause we're brothers!

[Some distant part of him wonders if he's attempting to replace Daiya, but Mondo refuses to entertain that thought. Ishimaru and Daiya are nothing alike, after all.]

Anyway, it'll be great! We have each other to rely on!

[And as usual, Ishimaru sees nothing wrong with the situation; honestly, he likely wouldn't find anything wrong with it even if Mondo were to be attempting to replace Daiya. Logical fallacies and factual problems with situations are things he knows how to spot and argue against, but the finer points of emotional and social dealings tend to be far more difficult for him to grasp.

But for the time being, there isn't any sort of issue that he can see; he's content to lean into Mondo's touch and just relax for a while.]

You can always rely on me, and I trust you enough to know that I can rely on you as well. That's never going to change - I can promise you that!

[Mondo falters for a moment, expression shifting to surprise. Ishimaru knows just how important promises are to Mondo, and promising something like this...]

Yeah! I know I can trust you too, aniki! No matter what!

[He's not sure how to handle it, so he simply doesn't. It's easier to ignore it.]

LOCKED TO ardent

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