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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[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.]

[Easier, perhaps, but if you think you're getting away with giving him a look like that then you have another thought coming to you.]

...Are you all right?

Huh? Yeah, 'course I am!

[...]

It's nice to have someone trust me like that, y'know? I mean, sure there were the other gang members, but that was different. I hope I don't let you down.

[Oh, is that all...?]

I don't see how you could, aniki! I believe in you!

[Wow that's... what does he do with that?]

I'm glad to hear it! But if something does happen, you'll let me know, right?

[You deal with it, of course! ~~...and it's stupid as hell, Mondo. That's what it is.~~]

Of course!

[...]

I mean, I don't see what could happen, but...

Well, I mean, it's a lot of faith to have in someone. Don't get me wrong, I'm really glad you do have so much faith in me, but there's no way to tell what'll happen in the future.

[He pauses, frowning a bit.]

I mean, I could accidentally do something to hurt you. I'd never do anything intentionally, but shit happens sometimes. I say things I don't really mean when I get mad and shit like that.

...Ah, that is something of a valid point, isn't it?

[He pauses for a moment after that's out there, clearly thinking it over; when he does speak again, his words are slower than they usually are, weighted, as though he's trying to reaffirm them to himself as he puts them out there.]

There's a difference, though - between being offended by something and no longer trusting someone. We were at each other's throats often before we became friends, weren't we? And you were very violent besides. And yet I still trusted that you wouldn't do anything truly harmful - I mean, you had many opportunities when we were alone and still disliked each other, didn't you? You could have hurt me if you felt like it.

I guess you could say I'm not very concerned about that as a possibility. It's something to be kept in mind, maybe, but not dwelled on or allowed to make me feel suspicious at all times.

I'd never want to hurt you, aniki.

[And for some reason, that's the truth. Even when they didn't get along he had no desire to hurt Ishimaru. Even when they were constantly butting heads he had never once thought of harming him. Mondo isn't sure what to do with that knowledge, so he simply lets it slide for the time being.]

I really do appreciate it. Like I said, I don't think I'll ever do anything to break your trust in me, but I guess I want to know that if I do for whatever reason, you'll talk to me about it.

As long as you agree to do the same for me, I don't think we'll have a problem!

[Aaaaand we're back up to eleven again, goodness lawd.]

Of course, aniki! I promise! I don't see how you could possibly break my trust in you though--

[...Oh. So that's why you're so certain of it! He's just going to laugh a bit at that realization.]

I see what you mean! We've both got faith in each other!

[He just laughs at that because hey, there we go!]

Exactly! And as long as we understand that, I think we'll be fine!

Yeah, and if for whatever reason something does happen, we can talk to each other about it! 'Cause we're brothers!

[...Admittedly, "talking" to Daiya about any issues involved fistfights, but that's not the point!!]

Exactly! Exactly!

[...Mondo, please don't ever initiate a "discussion" with him by punching him in the face or something, he'll probably cry.]

So you have nothing to worry about, aniki. I know everything will be fine.

[Of course he'd never do anything like that!! He doesn't want to hurt Ishimaru, remember?]

Yeah, you're right. I guess I was just worrying over nothing.

[And with that, he ruffles Ishimaru's hair again!]

Thanks, aniki.

[Again, he finds himself leaning easily into Mondo's touch.]

You don't have to thank me! I'm your brother, I want to be here for you.

Yeah, well, I still appreciate it. You're the best friend I could ask for!

You know I'll do my best for you!

[Ishimaru is usually reluctant about offering physical contact to others; he likes it when Mondo plays with his hair or touches his shoulders, but for the most part he refrains from establishing much contact on his own. For the time being, however, he's feeling comfortable and a bit more confident on the interpersonal front than usual; after a moment he shifts a bit on the couch, sidling up to Mondo and leaning on him more fully.

It's an affectionate gesture, but not overly so; as with most of Ishimaru's behavior, there's nothing by way of ulterior motives, and he doesn't try to establish anything more intimate than what he's already doing. If Mondo wants him to back off, he will, but for the time being he's relaxed.]

[Mondo has no issues with physical contact whatsoever, and normally, such a gesture wouldn't be considered weird. Back home he wouldn't have found it weird. But here? Well, he's had some time to think about things, and this is really only confirming them, isn't it?

He's much closer to Ishimaru than he is to anyone else, either here or back home. That much is obvious. He thought it was just because of their brotherly bond, but now... he's not so sure.

Several of the other Rocket Grunts had started teasing him about loving his brother a bit too much, but Mondo had never once considered that.

Until now.

Does he like Ishimaru as more than a brother? It would explain a lot of his actions and thoughts, wouldn't it? But that would be weird, right? Ishimaru would probably balk, claiming that fraternization within the organization was to be looked down on... or something. And that was assuming he wouldn't be mad at Mondo for screwing up the relationship.

He's fully aware that he needs to react, but suddenly he's not quite sure what to do. Can he touch Ishimaru? Would that be too forward? Would it be obvious? Fuck, he's not even sure if he does like Ishimaru like that! It could just be a really close brotherly bond, right?

He finally moves to rest a hand on Ishimaru's shoulder, absently squeezing it.]

Yeah. I'll do my best for you too.

[But the pleased tone doesn't quite reach his expression.]

[The discrepancy between Mondo's tone and his expression normally would have gone unnoticed; Ishimaru has never been terribly good at checking for things like that, nor does he really see a need to check - it happens often with Mondo, true, but Ishimaru doesn't always pick things like that up right away. Even if they register as odd at the time, it's usually something that's moved on from too quickly for him to really get a good idea of what's happening, and it's often forgotten before too long.

However, he does notice the hesitation between his own actions and Mondo's reaction to them; he glances up as Mondo squeezes his shoulder a bit, and it's that initial hesitation that serves to let him know that something is...off.]

Is everything all right...?

LOCKED TO ardent

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