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[artisticliberty]

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Hello. You have reached the mailbox of Yusuke Kitagawa. I am currently busy and cannot answer the phone. Please leave a message.

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[artisticliberty]

[ryuji? what about ryuji?

it takes yusuke a moment to parse what ren's saying, and when he does, the brush stills on ren's back. ryuji is the one ren has feelings for? ryuji is the one who can't return them? ryuji is the one who broke his heart?

yusuke... feels a surge of anger on behalf of ren, but it fades quickly. ryuji must have his reasons, even if they're ones yusuke can't begin to imagine. and he may not always be the most delicate member of the phantom thieves, but even yusuke knows not to get between them when they're both working things out.

still, it's frustrating. he wishes ren didn't have to feel this way.]

Forgive me for saying so, but he is a fool. You deserve to be with someone who returns your feelings properly.

[intrusivethot]

[ It's not anyone's fault, really. It sucks. Ren's tired of thinking about it, running over what he did or didn't do, how he handled Hell Week and why opening his mouth mattered in the first place, what a shit position he put Ryuji in. Working it like a wound in his mouth, and even after considering that some people just aren't a fit for each other. It's no one's fault that Ryuji doesn't want him.

Ren's back fills and dips with a sigh, hoping that this car crash is close to burning itself out finally.

... ]

You're a good guy, Yusuke.

[ As much as Ren wants to know why, he doesn't want Yusuke to grief it out of him; he doesn't need Thieves going at other Thieves for Ren's sake.

Pfft. That's kind of funny. Ren's started a workplace kerfluffle by wanting to date inside the company. ]

I don't think I'm good for anyone where I am right now.

[artisticliberty]

[yusuke continues painting, holding ren's arm aloft at the elbow while he paints the back of ren's other shoulder, so that he can keep it at the angle he wants]

I understand what you are saying, but I must contest the idea that you are only worthy of love and care when you are feeling well. Even in times of turmoil, you are still good. You still deserve to be cherished.

[perhaps to emphasize his point, yusuke removes his brush and reaches up to pet the nape of ren's neck gently.]

[intrusivethot]

[ Worthy? Well... yeah. Ren's been beaten down by life again and again this past year but he didn't think he wasn't worthy of being cared for. Something about how Yusuke says it rankles and rubs already abraded, tender spots within him and Ren tries holding on as best he can, wanting abruptly to not be here, not hurt Yusuke's feelings, but refuse to be submissive to something as simple as attention, too. ]

That's not what I'm saying.

Don't you get that I'm trying to keep us all together? I can't - hurt everyone just because I can't get a grip on my feelings

[artisticliberty]

[confusion and worry crosses yusuke's face--not that ren can see his expression right now. he withdraws his hand with a realization of i've upset him and mixes the paint on his pallet some more so that his hands don't keep wandering.]

... I am sorry. I spoke without thinking.

[ren could never hurt him. or rather, ren could never do something to make yusuke want to leave him--yusuke believes that. so even if he breaks down, yusuke wouldn't turn him away. he's not afraid of ren's feelings, whatever they are.]

I only... want you to know that I will never judge you for feeling the way you feel.

[intrusivethot]

It's fine.

[ It has to be. Ren's not going to get through the next couple days if it isn't. Even if it doesn't feel like it right now, if Ren can't find it in him to be fine with how things are then he's in a lot more trouble than he thought.

Breaking down in front of someone he likes didn't turn out well the first time. He doesn't want to try a second. ]

...Just leave it.

[artisticliberty]

As you wish.

[yusuke wants to ask, wants to tell ren that he shouldn't hide his feelings, not from him, and for a moment he opens his mouth to say it--and has to stop himself. not right now. no, you'll only look desperate. he bites his lip to keep himself from saying anything further, and focuses on his painting.]