She doesn't expect for him to start telling her things right there. It catches her by surprise for only a second or two before she settles against the counter to listen. He paints her a picture of her family that she would have never known about. Enjoying the festival together, heading home together... She closes her eyes and she can almost see the splash of light across the river, four figures slowly making their way home--two walking and two being carried.
She wishes she could have been there. There's a tightness in her throat, and her eyes water but don't quite leak. She bows her head, turning her face away a little like she can hide it from him. She keeps smiling regardless.
"It sounds lovely... I'm glad, hearing how close they've stuck together. I'm really... really glad." Even if they don't have her, they have each other. And she knows they'll be okay.
He doesn't expect the tears. He almost misses them, lost in thought, staring through the floor at a life long passed.
That festival, it was one of the last times he called himself human. Called himself by another name. One last dream before waking up.
But he can't miss that, even tears that don't fall. He hears the catch in her voice and he stiffens, watching her braced like she's going to make him hurt. She does.
Maybe this was a mistake. But he already offered. There was and shall eventually be harder things. "Yeah," He says, and tries to keep it from sounding any sort sarcastic or bitter. Instead it seems empty. "Sure. Just don't cry on me, okay?"
She laughs a little, rubbing at her eyes now that he's already caught her. "Sorry. I'm not trying to. It just sort of happens..." She's always been a crier. Movies, bookies--even just a touching story told to her in passing. Isshin would tease her for being so emotional, but she knows he loves that part of her. And she can't really help herself.
"But I'm fine! I'm not sad. Just... I can't wait to see them again. That's all." At least, that's what she's going to tell herself and everyone around her.
Well, he thinks, he guesses he knows where Ichigo got it from now. (And not him or anything, not at all.)
He can also spot the lie when he hears it, even the half lie that it is. He doesn't call it out.
He puts his hands up. "If you say so! I'll believe it's just you looking forward to it, but if it's going to be like this every time then you're going to have to keep tissues ready!"
"I'll have a pack on hand," she promises with a laugh. "If wishes come true here, I'll wish for an endless supply of tissues. Then I'll be set forever." Maybe. If anyone could exhaust an endless supply of tissues, then it'll probably be her.
"I will." She doesn't specify which part she's answering--maybe both comments at once. She smiles either way, her eyes drier than they were a moment ago as she looks up at him again.
"Thank you, for doing this for me. I really owe you a lot."
He blinks at her. "No you don't," He blurts, with clear confusion upon his face. Even thinking it through, he has to shake his head and shrugs.
"You're my mom-- even if i'm not your son," He adds quick, before she can call it out for debate. "And you've already served me food twice anyway. Trust me, if you owed me something, I'd let you know."
He's not honestly sure what she's referring to. Telling a story? She's paid up already.
You're my mom--even if I'm not your son. He's said that a lot this past day or so. It still feels weird to hear it. She would have felt somewhat responsible for him just being Ichigo's Zanpakuto, but there's an additional expectation in those words. One that she doesn't know how to field.
She doesn't feel like his mother. Not really. But like before, she lets it slide without comment. Her uncertainty aside, it's not hurting anyone.
"I think a little food is a small price to pay for catching me up with my family. And promising to get me home." Both of which mean the world to her right now. She can't pretend that a little miso soup covers that.
She shouldn't feel like his mother, in his mind. This is a tie that goes just one way. Despite what he is, it's only him that has any connection here. There's no reason for her to give a second thought to him.
"I think you severely underestimate how much I enjoyed that little bit of food," He points out with a grin. If he makes it a game, she'll see that it's no big deal to him.
And if she doesn't see, then there's always the extended truth. "Things are going to be better with you around. The better things are for Ichigo, the easier it is for me. It's just logical."
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2018-04-22 10:21 pm (UTC)She wishes she could have been there. There's a tightness in her throat, and her eyes water but don't quite leak. She bows her head, turning her face away a little like she can hide it from him. She keeps smiling regardless.
"It sounds lovely... I'm glad, hearing how close they've stuck together. I'm really... really glad." Even if they don't have her, they have each other. And she knows they'll be okay.
no subject
on 2018-04-22 10:45 pm (UTC)That festival, it was one of the last times he called himself human. Called himself by another name. One last dream before waking up.
But he can't miss that, even tears that don't fall. He hears the catch in her voice and he stiffens, watching her braced like she's going to make him hurt. She does.
Maybe this was a mistake. But he already offered. There was and shall eventually be harder things. "Yeah," He says, and tries to keep it from sounding any sort sarcastic or bitter. Instead it seems empty. "Sure. Just don't cry on me, okay?"
no subject
on 2018-04-25 01:30 am (UTC)"But I'm fine! I'm not sad. Just... I can't wait to see them again. That's all." At least, that's what she's going to tell herself and everyone around her.
no subject
on 2018-04-25 12:22 pm (UTC)He can also spot the lie when he hears it, even the half lie that it is. He doesn't call it out.
He puts his hands up. "If you say so! I'll believe it's just you looking forward to it, but if it's going to be like this every time then you're going to have to keep tissues ready!"
no subject
on 2018-04-27 12:59 am (UTC)no subject
on 2018-04-27 02:16 am (UTC)"Make sure it's enough to stop a flood," He teases. Then softer, "And let me know if you want to know anything else."
Maybe if she keeps bringing him over like this, he'll have reason to owe her that.
no subject
on 2018-04-27 10:30 pm (UTC)"Thank you, for doing this for me. I really owe you a lot."
no subject
on 2018-04-27 10:43 pm (UTC)"You're my mom-- even if i'm not your son," He adds quick, before she can call it out for debate. "And you've already served me food twice anyway. Trust me, if you owed me something, I'd let you know."
He's not honestly sure what she's referring to. Telling a story? She's paid up already.
no subject
on 2018-05-20 10:24 pm (UTC)She doesn't feel like his mother. Not really. But like before, she lets it slide without comment. Her uncertainty aside, it's not hurting anyone.
"I think a little food is a small price to pay for catching me up with my family. And promising to get me home." Both of which mean the world to her right now. She can't pretend that a little miso soup covers that.
no subject
on 2018-05-21 12:22 am (UTC)"I think you severely underestimate how much I enjoyed that little bit of food," He points out with a grin. If he makes it a game, she'll see that it's no big deal to him.
And if she doesn't see, then there's always the extended truth. "Things are going to be better with you around. The better things are for Ichigo, the easier it is for me. It's just logical."