he sways less a beast than a boy, a child ( that soft, that innocent: HUMAN. ) the risk is forgotten && disregarded; what happens now, what will happen, is left to the dirt like the GLUT of his scalding blood. he sways: her hand clasps down upon his shoulder, holding firm, fingers locked securely ( moments ago, their embrace was to the death. ) his skin is warm, without the bite that nearly BOILED her; the wound has already lost some of its inflammation. no bite: who could ever have guessed? the DARKNESS could be so well behaved.
has this become their pattern? the rage, the STORM, the fight of bruised knuckles, throat in hand, nails && teeth, tearing until first blood, && then the calm? twice now, replayed like a memory, down to a dance she doesn’t want to break his bones each time. how TIRED he must be, to fight the world each time! how often can you break, before there’s nothing left to put together? ❝ i told you it wasn’t so bad. ❞
her palm rests too easily on his torso she can feel his breath, each careful stutter against the cages of his ribs. that drumbeat of his heart is STEADY, steady, flushing life into the heat of his flesh. the basket sits a half-step away; stretching out, arm extended, brings the tips of her fingers close enough to snatch it back. ❝ i’ll stitch you up; it shouldn’t hurt much, not like a minute ago. and then i i can go. just like i said. ❞ twine && needle ( how perfectly she’s thought this out! ) in hand; she waits.
"... Yeah- yeah, you probably should."
His voice was softer now, with a permanent rasp in his throat from the endless screaming he's done. This was painful, but it was nothing compared to the pain he first felt when he woke up. That initial surge of fire through his veins, his first breath- becoming darkness wasn't some easy task, Naruto didn't have a choice but to take this route, with all he suffered. This wound stung- but it was nothing. The only salvation here was he was too DIZZY to focus on his anger. As if the Kyuubi's influence was flowing out with his blood, which gave him a moment of clarity, where he felt remorse for his own aggression. Embarrassment- which also ticked his nerves. And endless cycle in which he was trapped in... and didn't want to get her roped into, either.
"Stitch it 'n go, s'not smart to stick around.
You're better off goin' back to Naruto, who won't choke ya out.
I'm kind'a unpredictable, can't control myself. Not safe."
His breathing made him cut his words shorter, as it grew heavier each passing second. Something as little as this was taking a bigger tole on him than he'd thought, but he kept standing. No matter how much the world spun around him, he kept grounded- her hand on his shoulder for the moment may have also helped in that, but he wouldn't acknowledge it.
It was also... weird, talking about himself like that. Or- about Naruto.
As far as Yami was concerned, he WAS Naruto. They were the same person- he was just hurt.
Some distorted version of himself, who got the shitty end of the deal in life. The twin that got separated at birth, and forgotten about. He was all his negative emotions, that for years, Naruto shoved into the back of his mind, and Kurama hoarded. Until this very time, where he'd had so many bad thoughts, they created their own entity to take them all away. So Naruto could continue smiling- he'd bear all his pain. Something he never agreed to do, but was forced to. NO one would have asked for such a BURDEN on their own free will.
She was better off with him, the goofball.
The better version of himself, who made people happy.
Someone who didn't loose control every second.
Someone who didn't attack at random.
It hurt to admit, but it was for her best interest.
To just forget he was even out here.
Make sure he's okay, patch him up- and leave.
He'd survive. Not eagerly, but he would.
Kyuubi wouldn't let it be any other way.