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 Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 7:03 pm
Backdated to before Misha's corruption, which happened in mid-February-ish. “You live here?”
Misha stared at Yuuri with an expression stuck somewhere between interest and pity, unsure which was actually appropriate in this situation.
They’d spent the last few hours out and about, not recording videos for once, just hanging out as friends, popping into a few shops and pausing for a drink when they got thirsty, before deciding to get some work done on the editing front. Except some of the footage they needed was on Yuuri’s laptop, and Yuuri’s laptop was at his house.
Well… it wasn’t a house.
It wasn’t his either, apparently.
But this was where Yuuri lived, and it was… not what Misha expected.
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Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 7:13 pm
There was a reason he hadn’t brought anyone to the warehouse. One… it didn’t belong to him, and its owner had been missing for well over a year. The very thought of it had Yuuri’s heart aching with worry, but he promised himself that he wouldn’t give up hope that maybe one day everyone would return home from some secret mission like nothing ever happened.
The warehouse was definitely out of the way. Yuuri had to walk after being dropped off at the bus stop, so he tried to convince Misha that it really was okay that he didn’t come with him to get his laptop, but in the end Misha won and that was why they were entering the redone warehouse with the keycard he’d been given years ago.
The building itself must have its own energy and water source because Yuuri never saw a bill for the service. Unfortunately, it was incredibly lonely living in the large place by himself. Well… himself and Kisa. But Kisa was a handbuilt roomba.
“Yes,” Yuuri said with a small wince, not sure what to make of Misha’s expression. He knew he probably should have moved out, but…
“The man that owns this place… he was part of a Negaverse team that… well… they haven’t reported in for almost two years. I… it didn’t feel right to just leave when I was allowed to live here before…”
Leaving would be like giving up. But he did feel rather alone all the way out in the middle of nowhere.
“Um… my room is just upstairs,” he said as he turned to head up to his small room. “It shouldn’t take too long.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:13 pm
Misha followed Yuuri, though he didn’t know if he was invited upstairs or not. Yuuri hadn’t specified, but Misha figured it would be weird and awkward if he just stood around waiting.
“So you live in this place all alone?” he asked.
Misha wasn’t against being alone at any given time, but living alone was… different somehow. The idea itself was lonely. Maybe that was because he grew up with an older brother who was always trying to get into his business. Even when their parents weren’t around, there always seemed to be people everywhere.
And Lev, practically breathing down his neck, making sure Misha didn’t get into any trouble.
Misha would be lying if he said he didn’t like things that way.
“That’s sad, Yuuri,” Misha said, continuing to look around as they went. “Sorry, is that rude? It’s the truth, though. You live all the way out here alone? When you could have gotten your own place somewhere less… here?”
Not that “here” was bad, it was just… very much removed from people.
“I’m guessing you were on this missing team if you were living with them.”
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Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 4:35 am
Yuuri didn't mind if Misha followed him, there just wasn't much to see. The place was kept clean, almost steril. He made sure to dust at least once a week, and the roomba did its job. Dishes were immediately washed and put away in the kitchen, and trash was taken out each night. He wanted to make sure that when the others did come back, they wouldn't arrive somewhere left in a mess.
"They were with a General other than my own at the time," he explained, not entirely sure if he should be telling Misha all this. He hadn't exactly told anyone, but Misha wasn't even part of the Negaverse.
But… Misha had seen him as Kamacite and had been approached by a General about joining. Misha didn't seem like he was too weirded out about the idea of the Negaverse at least.
"So… while I've worked with them on missions before, I was not considered part of their team." Otherwise, Yuuri was sure he would have ended up missing too. Or worse. But he wasn't going to think about that.
He pushed the door open to the room at the top of the stairs that he'd been staying in. It wasn't big, but it was enough for a bed and desk and dresser. The laptop was on the desk and he went about working on making sure it was shut off so he could unplug it.
Yuuri decided not to comment about it being sad that he lived alone. It was lonely, but leaving meant… giving up, didn't it?
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Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:34 am
Misha knew very little about the Negaverse. He wasn’t a part of it, and only had brief encounters with a General, a couple of youma, and Yuuri when he was a Senshi. But he did have some idea about how shady organizations tended to function, thanks in part to his parents being involved in a different but equally shady organization.
Not that he was calling the Negaverse shady, at least not outright. It certainly had the potential to be, but without much experience, he couldn’t say for certain.
Regardless, it was all very interesting.
“That doesn’t answer why you haven’t gotten your own place,” Misha said, peering around Yuuri’s room. “You could get an apartment in the city. Closer to me, for example.”
They were together often enough that it might be beneficial, especially if the alternative was that Yuuri had to take public transit and then walk to get home.
Actually…
“Why don’t you just stay with me?” Misha suggested. “Staying here can’t be good for you. Talk about depressing. No wonder you always look sad and lonely. Lev and I only have two bedrooms, but I don’t mind sharing, especially since we hang out all the time anyway. And Lev’s gone a lot, so it’s not like you’d have to deal with him all the time, but he likes that I have a responsible friend. Good thing he doesn't know about the Negaverse. He’d freak.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 3:38 pm
Yuuri misjudged the edge of the desk and hit his head against the underside as he crawled back out with his laptop unplugged. He winced and rubbed the top of his head, but gaped up at Misha at the same time.
Was he serious? It was a very generous offer, but Yuuri already had a place to stay, even if it was far away from literally everything and it reminded him how he was the only one left of those he considered his friends and allies who had been in contact with headquarters.
“I… thank you, but… I couldn’t possibly impose like that,” he mumbled, lowering his eyes to look at the cord he was wrapping up instead. “I wouldn’t want to put you or your brother in danger, either. Not that I would do anything on purpose. I just don’t know what could happen and…”
And he didn’t want any more of his friends missing or worse.
“Thank you for the offer, Misha… You’re very kind.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 3:57 pm
“You wouldn't be imposing,” Misha insisted. “LIke I said, Lev’s gone a lot, and I don’t mind sharing. It’s not like you’d be getting in the way. Anyway, Lev would probably feel better if I had some company when he has to travel.”
That was the truth. Lev’s version of overprotective-older-brother edged toward the extreme. Misha loved him for it, but it could get a little tedious, especially the times when Lev would consider not taking a job if he thought Misha needed him around. As if Misha ever gave any indication of needing anyone. Misha was fairly certain it was Lev who was the needy one; Lev just didn’t like to admit it because of pride or embarrassment or whatever, so he acted like Misha would die without him.
Or something.
That wasn’t really the point right now. The point was that Yuuri lived all alone in a place like this when he could be living with a friend in the city.
“As for you putting us in danger,” Misha said, wandering around the room while he spoke, looking at things here and there so Yuuri didn’t get uncomfortable by Misha staring right at him. “We’d be in danger no matter what, wouldn’t we? If there’s one thing I know about stuff like the Negaverse, it’s that no one’s ever completely safe. I was actually starting to think maybe I should give it a go. What if I was alone when I ran into one of those youma? Or if you needed help and I couldn’t do anything? Or if Lev was in danger from one thing or another? It’s not like I can do anything about all that like this.”
He made a gesture with his hand to encompass the entirety of his unimpressive body.
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 4:31 pm
Yuuri wasn’t convinced. Even though Misha said he wouldn’t be imposing, Yuuri wasn’t sure if his sudden moving in would be okay with Misha’s brother, who was super intimidating and pretty much a giant. But the idea of staying with Misha was… very appealing. He wouldn’t have to worry about traveling into the city, and he wouldn’t be alone.
But that would mean giving up, wouldn’t it? As though he was moving on. He didn’t like the way his heart or stomach twisted as he thought about those who had helped him grow, especially as Kamacite, but it had been nearly two years.
“There’s more to just having magical powers, or given a weapon as an officer. My powers are considered rare among the Negaverse. Not everyone approves of Senshi,” he frowned, not sure how he felt about Misha deciding to join. Especially if it would be under General Jet, who was associated with General Blond b***h.
“It takes up a lot of time. And you’re put in danger quite often. I just… I don’t want to decide for you, but it’s not just about being able to protect those you care about against youma.”
Misha might be made to kill, and Yuuri wasn’t sure he was okay with dragging someone else into that kind of life.
“I’ll think about it,” he said with a sigh, still not sure if he was ready to give up waiting for everyone to return, no matter how hopeless it seemed.
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 4:57 pm
“I’ve pretty much been in danger since I was born,” Misha said, neither bitter about this fact nor terribly concerned by the truth of it. “Or so my parents like to constantly remind me. Don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t go to this place, don’t talk to that person, don’t tell anyone that you know anything about everything.”
Misha glanced at the walls, and the bed. He scuffed his shoe along the floor, and dragged the tips of his fingers down the length of the dresser.
He knew what he looked like (a short, skinny kid, almost unassuming, and the least threatening member of his family), and he knew how he acted (a little airheaded and a lot cheerful), but he wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t easily scared either. Whatever Lev or their parents might think about his ability to make thoughtful decisions, Misha generally knew what he was doing, even if he pretended no to.
“My point is, I might not know exactly what I’d be getting myself into, but I still sorta know what I’d be getting myself into,” Misha said, turning back toward Yuuri. “I can fight well enough to defend myself. My parents made sure I knew that much, at least. I’d probably even do better than you. No offense.”
The fact that Yuuri was involved was still something of a surprise to him. Yuuri just didn’t seem like the type.
“Take your time deciding if you want,” he continued. “Or don’t. You should go ahead and pack a bag while we’re here, in case you decide to stay tonight. I was thinking we could make brownies and watch a movie when we’re tired of editing.”Guine I wish we had some brownies to eat before bed. emo
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 6:15 pm
Yuuri sat himself on the edge of the bed as he watched Misha shuffle about his room. It really was rather bare. Only the absolute necessities. There was no point in him buying a ton of clothing when there was nothing wrong with the clothing he had, and all of the furniture was borrowed, having already been there.
His heart ached. He didn’t know if he was ready. But would he get more grief for leaving so he was no longer alone, or staying there by himself for… however long it took for anyone to return? Is that what they would want from him? To stay there? To wait there? He was so very grateful he had the opportunity to even live there. It felt like an insult to leave, but…
He was also terribly alone. And crying himself to sleep at night didn’t exactly help his anxiety. If nothing else, he missed everyone, but without any clue as to where they disappeared to… he was stuck waiting.
“Give me a few minutes,” he said quietly to Misha, figuring if it didn’t work out, he could always come back, right? Or he would figure something else out.
The single suitcase he kept in the closet was enough to fit his clothes and his extra pair of shoes. He quickly took his toiletries from the bathroom and dropped them into the suitcase as well. His laptop was packed into his backpack that he’d used for classes, along with the cords, and emptied out the pens and paper from the desk drawers into his bag as well.
Once the room was packed, he lead Misha out and back down the stairs, thanked him for his patience, and hurried off to make sure any trash was taken out, any foods that could spoil were removed from the refrigerator, and then went to the circuit breaker to turn off all nonessential rooms. He left the security system on, but everything else was just wasted power.
He paused as he headed back towards the door where Misha was waiting, and took a moment to sit down at the coffee table so he could write a quick note. He folded it and set it on the table for when the others returned. With that completed, he went over to the wall, unplugged the handmade roomba unit, and picked it up to take with him.
“Thank you for waiting. This is Kisa. I hope you don’t mind,” he held up the roomba, and led the way out of the door.
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 6:42 pm
Misha waited patiently, pretending not to watch even if he definitely was.
He noticed how few possessions Yuuri seemed to have, but didn’t comment on it, assuming Yuuri would be embarrassed or sad about it. Possessions weren’t everything, anyway. Misha knew that. He could get by without a lot if he had to, even if he’d grown up around a lot. At this point, Misha was pretty sure it was more important that Yuuri had company. The possessions could come later, if or when he needed anything.
The longer he waited, the more it seemed like Yuuri was taking him up on his offer after all, not just to stay the night, but for what could end up being a prolonged period of time. Misha turned this way and that to look around some more, using the movement to hide a smile.
He rather liked having a friend. He didn’t really have any in Russia, courtesy of his parents. Even when he got along with people, his parents never let the relationship last long.
Until now, Lev was really all he had.
Misha smiled his usual bright smile when Yuuri seemed to be done, getting a good look at the roomba with some gentle laughter.
“You named your roomba?” he asked. “That’s so weird. You’re cute, you know. Come on, let’s get out of here and go home.”
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