Shinya’s more than ready to face the day with a broad grin on his face, even if it’s fake, but he’s already frowning deeply at the mere sound of his guest in pain. Now he’s just ready to grab Mika, leap from his bed, and sprint to his bathroom to properly treat the boy’s back. He can’t really do that, of course – he’d most likely be doing more harm than good, and that’s the last thing Shinya wants.
He’s going to have to settle for listening to what the boy wants, and the first request is easily accomplished. The second, not so much. It’s the last thing Shinya wants to hear, and it’s all he can do to keep himself from glaring down at the boy, so he directs his gaze elsewhere, at the wall. This isn’t the time for hastily snapping at Mika, or getting angry, and he sighs.
“Let me think about that,” he says after a while. “We promised a chat, and I want to get a better look at your cuts, get it treated. I don’t want to send you back home with a torn up back just to have it happen again.” His tone isn’t gentle anymore – it’s one that warns Mika not to argue with him about it. And, hopefully, he’d understand it’s simply out of worry.
For the second time in the barely ten minutes he’s been awake, Shinya sighs, running a hand through his hair and disheveling it further. “We’ll fix your back first, alright? The sooner we get the hardest part over with, the sooner this day can start looking up, ne?”
☆彡 It certainly wasn’t the best thing to say, especially so early in the morning. Mika wanted to say that it wouldn’t happen again, not for a while at least, because his father wouldn’t lay a hand on him if Shinya knew anything of it. But he also didn’t want to admit that he’d used the elder as a means of self-preservation; he’d rather just ride it out.
He knew his father well enough to know that if Shinya didn’t take him home, then at some point, the man would show up at the apartment. Mika considered stalling their chat until the latter happened, albeit that was easier said than done. They were both determined, after all.
For a long moment, the boy chewed on his lip while he stared up at the elder, his hands balled up in his own shirt as though to form some sort of protective barrier. Logic told him that he needed to let Shinya help him. The cuts could very well get infected, and then he’d just feel that much worse.
“Fine.” With that, Mika moved to sit up before scooting off of the bed. He landed with a soft thump and turned around to face the other, though he kept his arms wrapped around himself. “I’m… sorry for… yeah.” Pursing his lips, he turned again and hurried to the bathroom, where he sat on the floor and waited for Shinya.
