[There's a brief pause when Mista offers his hand, but he does eventually reach out and take it. Despite everything they've both been through, they've both at least stuck it through together.]
Hey.
[Abbacchio looks at him for a moment, then glances away.]
[ He managed a weak smile in response to that, whether Abbacchio was looking at him or not. He tugged on his hand to pull him up to his feet, only waiting for a moment before trying to lead him to the door. ]
Hey, you don't have to thank me, okay? Any time you need it, I've got your back. I mean it, it doesn't matter if I "owe" you or not...
[ He was glad now that they weren't really facing each other, squeezing Abba's hand carefully as he took in a slow breath. These weren't his emotions to carry, but the pain was almost tangible and he could feel that burn in his eyes.
Don't cry, you idiot. ]
And you can have my bed, got it? I'm not gonna take no for an answer. I'll sleep on the couch or something because I'm pretty sure you don't wanna be in the same bed with me.
[The sheet containing his clothes just barely gets a glimpse from Abbacchio, but in the end he truly doesn't give a shit about it. Right now, he's trying to concentrate more about his hand in Mista's, letting that ground him.]
I dunno, have you changed the sheets recently?
[It's too quiet to be his usual sharp tone, lacking any real attitude. But then, he's trying to not let himself be completely trampled by his own emotions right now, even if that'd be easy. Maybe Leone Abbacchio from a year ago would be. The man then wouldn't have reached out for help, and instead would have drowned his sorrows in bottle after bottle.
Instead here he is, trying, knowing he can't trust himself, and putting himself into someone else's hands.]
[ Mista cleared his throat just a little, letting out something of a strained but thoughtful hum as he pulled him along. He wanted to make sure they had cleared the door, that it was closed and he didn't have to worry about Abbacchio suddenly changing his mind and retreating. ]
Uhhh...
[ There was a pause that was almost too long before a nervous titter of a laugh came along with a shrug. ]
...I guess it depends on how you define recently? It should be good right now, pretty sure it's only been a few days but I can put clean ones on for you if you want?
[ Part of him would have been fine if Abbacchio didn't want him to change the sheets, but it wasn't like he was going to refuse if it made him more comfortable. ]
[ Even if it was more than half-hearted that little jab at him was enough to make him smile weakly, if only to himself. The squeeze that he'd gotten in return was more reassuring than he expected it to be, at least he was responsive.
That was something to be grateful about.
Mista clicked his tongue slightly, letting out a huff through his nose before glancing at Abbacchio and pursing his lips. ]
Well, now I'm definitely gonna change them, give you proof that I actually do my laundry sometimes...
[It's small enough to be missed, but there is a tiny smile on Abbacchio's face when Mista looks back. It's tired, faint, and the grief in his eyes are still apparent, but he's still grateful to not be alone right now.]
Huh, so you say. Well, don't lie; Moody Blues and I will know for sure.
[ Moody Blues. MOODY BLUES. It was Mista's turn to squeeze his hand, but this time it wasn't something meant to make him feel better, it was the kneejerk reaction that came along with a very sudden and very real fear.
Somehow he still managed to walk, leading the other man along as he twisted slightly to look him right in the eye. It was dark enough that Abbacchio couldn't see any colour in his cheeks, right? ]
N-no!! Definitely don't do that! I promise they're clean, I have to make sure they are!!
[ Did it occur to him that Abbacchio was only teasing him about his laundry? Not in the least bit, instead he was more focused on the fact that no one ever needed to see what happened in his room. ]
[ A relief in more ways than one, not only that he'd managed to make him snort but also...well, it wasn't that he really thought Abbacchio would check on the happenings in his room right now, but he did have some shame.
Not a lot, but enough.
He furrowed his brow, letting out a snort of his own as he faced forward again and pulled Abbacchio a little farther up so they could almost walk side by side. ]
Holy shit, don't make it sound like that's all I do! I do lots of things!
[ Ugh. Wait. Maybe it was actually him not thinking his words through, or maybe it was the fact that he didn't mind being the butt of another joke if it meant that Abbacchio might feel even a tiny bit less numb for a second. ]
Other things, not weird things! Not that jerking off is weird or anything but you know what I mean...
[ There was a possibility that it would take an entire village to keep Abbacchio headed in the right direction, but at least there wouldn't be a question of who the idiot was. ]
Other things, huh. Yeah, I don't really wanna know about those either.
[It's a little better, walking up close enough so that they're basically side by side. Like he didn't need Mista to practically drag him out of his own apartment.
Well, at least he asked him to do that before he did something stupid, like go out drinking at bars or something.]
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Hey.
[Abbacchio looks at him for a moment, then glances away.]
...Thanks. For coming.
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Hey, you don't have to thank me, okay? Any time you need it, I've got your back. I mean it, it doesn't matter if I "owe" you or not...
[ He was glad now that they weren't really facing each other, squeezing Abba's hand carefully as he took in a slow breath. These weren't his emotions to carry, but the pain was almost tangible and he could feel that burn in his eyes.
Don't cry, you idiot. ]
And you can have my bed, got it? I'm not gonna take no for an answer. I'll sleep on the couch or something because I'm pretty sure you don't wanna be in the same bed with me.
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I dunno, have you changed the sheets recently?
[It's too quiet to be his usual sharp tone, lacking any real attitude. But then, he's trying to not let himself be completely trampled by his own emotions right now, even if that'd be easy. Maybe Leone Abbacchio from a year ago would be. The man then wouldn't have reached out for help, and instead would have drowned his sorrows in bottle after bottle.
Instead here he is, trying, knowing he can't trust himself, and putting himself into someone else's hands.]
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Uhhh...
[ There was a pause that was almost too long before a nervous titter of a laugh came along with a shrug. ]
...I guess it depends on how you define recently? It should be good right now, pretty sure it's only been a few days but I can put clean ones on for you if you want?
[ Part of him would have been fine if Abbacchio didn't want him to change the sheets, but it wasn't like he was going to refuse if it made him more comfortable. ]
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[There's a moment of silence, then he squeezes Mista's hand.]
...It's okay. I'm just givin' you shit. I don't really care about it.
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That was something to be grateful about.
Mista clicked his tongue slightly, letting out a huff through his nose before glancing at Abbacchio and pursing his lips. ]
Well, now I'm definitely gonna change them, give you proof that I actually do my laundry sometimes...
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Huh, so you say. Well, don't lie; Moody Blues and I will know for sure.
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Somehow he still managed to walk, leading the other man along as he twisted slightly to look him right in the eye. It was dark enough that Abbacchio couldn't see any colour in his cheeks, right? ]
N-no!! Definitely don't do that! I promise they're clean, I have to make sure they are!!
[ Did it occur to him that Abbacchio was only teasing him about his laundry? Not in the least bit, instead he was more focused on the fact that no one ever needed to see what happened in his room. ]
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I'll take your word for it. Hate to rewind and witness you jacking off or something.
[Which isn't his business what Mista gets up to, and he really doesn't care.]
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Not a lot, but enough.
He furrowed his brow, letting out a snort of his own as he faced forward again and pulled Abbacchio a little farther up so they could almost walk side by side. ]
Holy shit, don't make it sound like that's all I do! I do lots of things!
[ Ugh. Wait. Maybe it was actually him not thinking his words through, or maybe it was the fact that he didn't mind being the butt of another joke if it meant that Abbacchio might feel even a tiny bit less numb for a second. ]
Other things, not weird things! Not that jerking off is weird or anything but you know what I mean...
[ There was a possibility that it would take an entire village to keep Abbacchio headed in the right direction, but at least there wouldn't be a question of who the idiot was. ]
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[It's a little better, walking up close enough so that they're basically side by side. Like he didn't need Mista to practically drag him out of his own apartment.
Well, at least he asked him to do that before he did something stupid, like go out drinking at bars or something.]