[ At first, Endo doesn't even look at the bags. He only has eyes for the cup, which he grabs with a little too much enthusiasm — partially due to thirst, partially due to the drugs lowering his inhibitions just enough to make him forget to consider the optics of desperation. He downs the water immediately. ]
Fuck, that's good.
[ It's just water. Nothing special about it. But right now, it might as well be the most precious drink on earth. He wants more, but while he may be completely disregarding the doctor's orders, he won't ask for seconds. He'll restrain himself for now.
Maybe.
Belatedly, and distractedly: ]
They're seeing if I need surgery. We're waiting on results.
[ His attention is on Accelerator, and it's a little intense. He's subdued by the meds, but not as effectively as he should be. They take away an edge that Endo considers very important, because where as he should now revert to teasing, or demanding the new phone, or easing his way further into "friendship" with Accelerator, he blurts out: ]
Are you gonna sit?
[ And, y'know, stay? Endo doesn't need company, but Accelerator's making him feel a little — unsettled, because he's just standing there like he's aiming to have one foot out the door.
For that same reason, it comes out phrased as a question, rather than an assertion of what Accelerator should do. Endo rubs his face, trying to wake himself up some more. ]
[There's a tiny, miniscule little thing that happens within Accelerator in the short span of time between him pouring and handing the water to Endo, and Endo drinking it. He's quiet, waiting for an answer and therefore not doing much aside from watching the relief flood the other boy due to getting a drink, even though it's about as basic as you can get.
He feels nice. Good, even, for being able to help with something so simple.
It's a flicker of emotion, not enough to make Accelerator's expression shift. This is a rare feeling for him, a monster like himself typically doesn't feel good about something, and he's surprised by it. It's only water, so why should it even matter? Is it the fact that it is such a small thing that makes it feel significant? He's so used to hurting people that doing something kind when it isn't out of a sense of obligation is enough to affect him?
He isn't sure, and with Endo's answer he decides not to dwell on it, blinking as he snaps out of his thoughts. Surgery? Hopefully it doesn't come to that. The question has him pausing as well, and he grabs the Apple bag, dropping it into Endo's lap, followed by his wallet. There, the main two reasons he showed back up are done, so he no longer has any obligation to stick around. He can leave and not feel bad about doing so. Except....
Except doing something nice not out of any sense of obligation isn't such a bad thing. Grabbing a nearby chair, he drags it over to the side of the bed. Then he takes his convenience store bag and sits down. To give his arm a break he's going to let go of his crutch, leaving it standing on its own next to the chair.
It's fine, is what he tells himself. It's worth sticking about to see what the doctors conclude, if surgery is needed. Making more of an effort towards someone he's hurt isn't a bad thing either, and besides, his opinion on hospitals hasn't changed. Being stuck in one all alone sucks. Keeping Endo company, even for a little while, is the right thing to do.]
What's with all the credit cards with women's names on them?
[While he asks that Accelerator pulls out his can of coffee, popping it open and taking a long sip. That was something he noticed earlier when poking around his wallet, and he's curious.]
[ Normally, Endo would grab the bag, look inside, and make a comment or two about the phone choice, depending on the brand and model Accelerator picked. Instead, he allows the bag to sit on his lap unopened and his wallet to rest beside it untouched. He's too busy tracking Accelerator's movements to determine if he is going to leave — and trying to decide what he'll do if he does. Being hydrated helped wake him up a little, but Endo's still feeling a little too slowed down to make a plan beyond calling out, Hey, don't go yet.
So it's a good thing that Accelerator drags that chair over and settles into it with a drink of his own. Endo relaxes, feeling that restless energy begin to drain. Which, in turn, allows him to answer somewhat brightly: ]
Those are from the women I'm dating.
[ — as he grins, still a little sleepily. ]
Or were dating, before.
[ Sometimes only for a night, sometimes he gets a short-term thing going. Depends on what he needs, how much fun he's having, and how much money she has to spare. ]
Don't worry, I didn't steal 'em. They gave 'em to me.
[ And they can cancel them at any time, if they get tired of seeing charges build up. But they don't! They keep paying their bills, which means that whenever they're in town and looking for a little fun, they have a nice excuse to call him up. Endo visits with them, stays the night, and the next thing he knows, his credit limit has gone up. It's a nice system. Win-win.
And whenever one of them falls off the grid or does cancel her card, Endo goes and picks up someone else. This cycle keeps his pockets buffered, elevating his lifestyle beyond gang profits. He and Takiishi have expensive tastes, after all.
He shifts as best he can, moving closer to Accelerator's side of the bed, to add a teasing: ]
Jealous?
[ But even after saying the word, he stays lying along the edge of the bed, choosing to settle right there. He can't invade Accelerator's space while hooked up to machines, but he uses his physical presence as best he can regardless. ]
[Accelerator wishes Endo had stolen them. That would be a much more straightforward answer. He's scum and mugs women on the street for credit cards. That's it, dead simple, and petty theft is something Accelerator has no problem understanding. He's encountered it more times than he can count, so it's not that big a deal.
But dating. Dating. Accelerator hears that and freezes, stunned (even though objectively speaking, it's not some huge bombshell). This is an area of life in which he has exactly zero experience: practically every person he's ever known his own age is either terrified of him or wants to fight him, with a tiny handful of exceptions, and adults have only ever flirted with him because to provoke him. He doesn't even have friends, the idea of relationships beyond that are completely alien to him.
So Endo says that, and gives further explanation that doesn't help at all (he really wishes it was just theft). He makes it all sound like it's perfectly normal and hell, maybe it is for him. He's already proven that he's bizarre in other ways, why not this, too? But Accelerator, on the opposite end of the spectrum, is stuck sitting there attempting to process this information as if it never could have occurred to him. Mostly because it didn't. Then there's the real kicker, with that very teasing "Jealous?", and that's when Accelerator notices he's shifted over to the edge of the bed.]
Huh?
[He heard that right? He heard that right.
Alright, anyone with two eyes can see that Endo is an attractive person. Even Accelerator (reluctantly) won't deny that. But anything beyond that is causing his brain to stall out, and before he can stop himself he's bristling and snapping back.]
What — why the hell would I be jealous of them?? [Endo is teasing him, like he did before when he said he was interested. That's all this is, and he's falling for it even with that awareness. Wait, is he supposed to be jealous of the women, or Endo? Fuck. Accelerator inwardly curses at himself and tries to relax even though it's too little too late, scowling as he sinks lower in the chair.] Why the fuck are you dating them, anyways? Aren't you in high school like me? Can't they find men their own age??
[Yeah, that's the issue here. Adults being irresponsible isn't anything new to him — hell, one time back home he ran into some idiot high schooler in a relationship with a pregnant teacher — but that doesn't mean he has to like it. With all the crap adults have put him through over the years that's a power dynamic he's never going to abide by.]
[ Even if he weren't dulled by pain medication, Endo wouldn't necessarily temper the excited smile that takes over his face as Accelerator processes this information — and his quip. He might've been more careful about it, though — more measured, or better in timing, or even not that intense, since too much too fast is only going to scare Accelerator away. It's not like Accelerator's fully comfortable around him yet. Endo's positive that he considered leaving earlier; meds aren't to fully turn off his tendency to analyze people.
But as before, the medication is just enough to shave off an edge to Endo's actions, and therefore he beams at Accelerator, entirely charmed and very pleased with his reaction — and himself. Because truthfully, Endo was teasing without putting a whole lot of forethought into his phrasing, thanks to the drugs, and he hadn't even meant to imply that Accelerator should be jealous of the women. Elated, Endo doesn't correct him. He keeps it to himself like a treasured little secret, absolutely reveling in the fact that Accelerator took it that way. This means that he's grown on Accelerator more than he anticipated.
He's in a really good mood now, so he happily chatters away. ]
I'm dating 'em 'cause I like 'em. And 'cause they're loaded. Why else?
[ Like it's the most natural thing in the world for a teenager to spend evening hours with women who're a good bit older than him. ]
And no, man, I'm not in high school anymore. I dropped out over a year ago. But I was dating 'em when I was a first-year, too. A couple of 'em would drive me to school in the mornings.
[ He drifts in thought a little, remembering one in particular, but then he snaps his attention back to Accelerator again to assure him: ]
Don't worry. It's all casual. I'm a free man.
[ Is it casual? Yes. Is Endo a free man? Not at all. But as he is right now, he doesn't intend it as a lie. Takiishi is separate, and he's loaded up on enough pain meds to avoid any deep thoughts about him. He's just happily in the present moment. ]
[Endo gives a smile that could light up an entire room and right away Accelerator knows he's said the wrong thing. He's torn between wanting to crawl into a hole to die and wanting to smash this entire hospital into rubble. Unfortunately for him, societal expectations mean he has to wrangle his feelings and he settles for scowling, cracking open his can of coffee and downing a large gulp. It's cold and bitter, and that's a comfort. The familiar taste of this exact brand (UCC Black Unsweetened, that's all he's been drinking for the past two weeks) helps settle his nerves.
It doesn't get rid of the mental image of Endo going out on dates with rich older women out of his head, but it helps.]
Tche.
[He isn't worried, is he? If Endo is running his own gang then he's clearly got some capability in handling people, especially people who might normally be difficult in some way. Banjo was a good indicator of that, along with the way the guy got into his head to bring his black wings out. But then on the other side of things, speaking of the wings.... this is also the idiot who looked like he would've embraced them if given the chance, no matter how obviously dangerous they are, so he isn't exactly responsible....
Endo's ability to judge situations is questionable. Accelerator isn't sure if that lack of ability extends to actual people. Should that even matter to him? He knows that he's a monster, so Endo's opinion of him doesn't change his view of himself. Beyond that, it shouldn't be any of his business when it comes to other people, so by that logic he shouldn't be worried. Despite that, there is still the niggling thought, the irritation of adults screwing around with the power dynamic for their own selfish whims. He's seen that far too many times outside the context of dating that he still feels skeptical. Surely dating can't change it that much?
Maybe he's overthinking all of this. His brain wants to start jumping to concepts like attachment theory, or better yet, nonlinear dynamics and he's pretty sure that trying to understand Endo's love life using mathematical models is a rabbit hole he should not go down. Even for someone who defines his reality through mathematical calculations that's kind of ridiculous.
He puts an elbow up on the arm of his chair, so that he can rest his forehead in his hand.]
What the fuck do you do if they start getting too attached? You can't expect adults who date kids to be emotionally stable people. What do they get out of the deal?
[All of that feels safe to ask, at least. There seems to be far too much potential for interpersonal drama to easily pop up he can't see how that kind of dating would be worthwhile. Of course his questions and skepticism may just be borne out of his own bias, finding all forms of interpersonal connections to be varying amounts of terrifying and exhausting, but still. He feels the need to ask.]
[ In the moments between that annoyed sound and the additional questions about his love life, Endo studies Accelerator's face. He decides, in his drug-induced lighter state of being, that he likes when Accelerator appears deep in thought. Rather, he likes that he's the impulse that pushes him to think deeply, because it means that he's really making a spot for himself in his mind. All that thinking, just for him! Like Accelerator can't help but turn him over and over, trying to figure him out, or maybe reconcile his former anger with his current interest. Or both! Whatever it is, Endo has the notion that's carving out a wider space in Accelerator's consciousness, and that's been his goal since he got smacked around by the wings, so he's feeling pretty good about it.
Since he's a little more open in this state, not exactly adhering to his plan step-by-careful-step as he originally intended, the smile on his face turns a little sappy. Soft. Fond, even, because all of that attention, internal though it may be, is his. And his alone! It feels kind of nice, actually, and that encourages him to keep answering questions. Not that any of this is a secret — Endo doesn't care what anyone does or doesn't know about his sex life — but he'd probably be a little more teasing, a little less direct, just for the hell of it. Instead, he allows this to be a pretty simplistic conversation, free from too many layers and complications. ]
I don't go for clingy women. Everyone knows the deal up front. Most of 'em don't expect a seventeen-year-old to settle down with them, anyway.
[ Which is not to say that Endo hasn't attracted the occasional romantic, but typically, the women he goes for have their own "business" ventures that keep them busy. They aren't looking to get a boyfriend or make a family. They just want to have fun.
But he doesn't elaborate further. He's too busy giving Accelerator a look, the exact kind that he might give one of those women once they're interested — all charming enticement, while he laughs low and leans a little too far over the bed, just to get a little closer.
If Accelerator doesn't look away, Endo will hold his stare as he says: ]
But you tell me: what do you think they're getting out of it?
[He shouldn't have asked that question. He really shouldn't have. The answer to it is obvious on its own, and with the way Endo, despite being injured and in a hospital bed, is actively trying to encroach on his personal space, he'd have to be a complete moron to not pick up on the answer. Hindsight is 20/20, he's a huge idiot. Accelerator stops rubbing his forehead, dropping his hand, realizing that this is likely the same affectation he puts on with the kind of women they've been talking about this whole time. Staring back at Endo, he can feel the incredibly rare reaction of his cheeks warming up.
So it isn't just dates. They're fucking, too. His brain shifts gears a bit, moving away from the dating aspect to sex which, unsurprisingly, is an area he knows even less about. Biological function is one thing, but people add layers and complexity to it to make it a whole other kettle of fish, except it isn't even fish but some alien marine life from the Mariana Trench. Dating may just be some ridiculous pretense for sex, since adults can be shallow and selfish like that. The women may think they still have some societal expectation to do it. He doesn't really know, he doesn't know how an adult woman with a libido thinks; the best he can do is taking whatever he learned about human psychology in school and apply it to the situation. And either way, he can't see Endo caring.
Before Accelerator can redirect his thoughts elsewhere his eyes are flicking downwards, then back up. Endo is attractive, he's already admitted that to himself, and he figures that would be enough to get his foot in the door, so to speak. Then, going off of what he knows about female anatomy, women are probably complicated in bed (he isn't sure where anyone beyond that narrow category falls, so he's starting at square one and going from there). Given the number of credit cards, it feels reasonable to conclude that Endo is at least good, likely falling closer on the 'great' end of the spectrum; Accelerator can't imagine anyone willingly handing over money for an experience that's barely passable. Does that mean a lot of foreplay (his eyes flick down again, to Endo's hands, and this time he notices the Roman numeral tattoo on his right ring finger is the wrong number compared to the others) and build up? Is that what women are into? He's given almost zero thought to this in his life, so it's a lot harder to picture compared to dating, which is possible to randomly see out in public —
Wait. Why the hell is he thinking about it this much? Goddamnit.
There's another flare of anxiety in the pit of his stomach, and Accelerator has to resist the urge to hit the switch on his choker. The fingertips of his free hand twitch, but he keeps it on the arm of the chair. He isn't completely sure which is stronger, the desire to alter his body chemistry to calm himself down, or to start smashing all this expensive medical equipment up. No, all of those reactions would only be admitting he's getting flustered again, and he doesn't want to give Endo that satisfaction (nor does he want to end up in jail). Instead he glares back, narrowing his eyes slightly, and mutters.]
[ This conversation is the gift that keeps on giving. If Endo weren't on pain medication and already caught up in how this conversation has played out, this is the moment that would make him giddy — charmed by how he managed to draw forth such an honest display of color in Accelerator's cheeks. It isn't the reaction he expected, despite his overt attempt to fluster Accelerator further; it is, however, the reaction he would've wanted, if he were capable of deep forethought in this state.
Still, despite his joy, the medicine does manage to dampen him just enough that getting too excited almost seems exhausting. As he approaches that level, an undetermined point of no return, he naturally scales himself back, just enough. But no amount of painkillers can keep Endo from noticing — and then reacting — to the way that Accelerator looks at his hands.
His hands!
It's all over after that. While Accelerator is once again doing his deep thinking, Endo leans impossibly closer, looking more wild than any injured guy should. And he does the unthinkable: he considers touching him, a brief brush of fingers on whatever limb he manages to catch first. In normal situations, if Endo were wholly himself, he'd never do such a thing. His approach, whether to fighting or stuff like this, is to wait for the first move. That's just how he operates. But Endo is, for better or for worse, too drugged to think about that, and not as smart or as tactical as he should be, which means two things: he begins to move toward Accelerator — and he nearly falls off the bed.
That happens to coincide with Accelerator's comment, which surprises Endo so thoroughly that he glances up at him with wide eyes even as he is (very painfully, it turns out) jerking back from the edge. The surprise lasts as long as his near-fall, which is to say, not long at all, because once Endo is no longer in danger of toppling over, he laughs so hard, he's nearly in tears — both from the laughter itself and the pain from the jostling of his ribs.
He quickly puts a protective arm around his mid section, trying to steady his diaphragm, but doesn't stop laughing, not even as he punctuates the obnoxious sound with various pained noises: ]
Ow — shit. Fuck. Ah.
[ He tries to take a steadying breath, forcing out: ]
Man, you can't just tell a guy he isn't worth anything.
[ After which he curls a little in on himself, simultaneously hoping for more pain meds and never wanting to take them again. ]
[Endo trying to get up in his personal space is something Accelerator had clocked, but with everything else in his head causing a veritable tsunami of complicated thoughts of feelings it doesn't occur to him that he's leaning and leaning and about to fall out of the bed until it nearly happens. That sharp jerk freezes his brain for a split second, which is enough to provide him some mental clarity. He blinks, and one singular thought takes over:
Wow, what a dork.
As funny as a concussion would have been, a head injury would be a poor addition to all of those injuries so it's good it didn't actually happen. Having to get a nurse would be a pain in the ass.
Since Endo dissolving into painful laughter affords him the time to sort himself out Accelerator takes it, exhaling and quietly sitting back in his chair. Another sip of coffee, and he decides that yeah, this is funny. It's ridiculous, him overthinking shit is ridiculous, and honestly, getting to tease Endo back a bit feels nice. Maybe it's because insulting people is something he's way more comfortable with than trying to unravel the black box that is relationships and sex. Maybe Endo's laughter is just really infectious. He doesn't know, he doesn't really care.
He lets out a small, amused huff, and when he replies his tone is incredibly dry.]
No? Don't tell me you want to be treated with kid gloves.
[He isn't serious about that at all. There's no way it's true, but the mental image of Endo wanting to be treated gently after what he dished out earlier is funny in an ironic kind of way.]
[ Endo's in the process of getting a hold over himself when Accelerator makes that slight, near-laugh sound, and it makes him laugh again — not quite as hard, but definitely building off of his still-lingering mirth. This whole situation is pretty ridiculous, all things considered — from where they started, to where they are now — but all these little interactions feel like wins. It is progress, even though Endo's not currently framing it that way. Though he pays no mind to it now, later he'll have to do some thinking about the fact that he's genuinely having a good time — no complications, no frills. Hell, even his more immediate goals have taken somewhat of a backseat; not out of mind or off the table, but Endo's more rooted in the present than three steps ahead.
When he finally feels like he can get a breath in without jostling his ribs, he says: ]
Nah.
[ Because Accelerator is right: there's no way he'd want to be treated with kid gloves. Not here, not during a fight. If he's remotely interested in someone, whether due to their strength or god-like wings, he wants to see what they dish out, regardless of the form it comes in. That includes teasing — which will open more doors for Endo later, when he's capable of analyzing all these moments with a clear head. ]
This is better.
[ He lies back on the bed, all that laughing having taken a lot out of him. The urge to nap is suddenly strong, but he finally reaches for the bag that was sitting on his lap, but now sits toward the edge of the bed. Peeking inside, he raises his eyebrows. ]
Whoa — you guessed right.
[ New and expensive is Endo's taste, alright. He changes phones a lot to keep up with the new models — and for other reasons, too. He hadn't given Accelerator specific instructions about the purchase, but if he had made a direct demand, the newest iPhone would've been at the top of his list. ]
Guess you were thinking hard about me, huh? Tryin' to figure me out?
[ Accelerator gets only the briefest teasing smile before Endo takes the box out of the bag and begins opening it — one-handed, of course. ]
[Accelerator draws in another deep breath, gradually feeling his mood even out. It's good, no unnecessary destruction of hospital property, no confusing feelings. Hell, even his coffee tastes a little better. He has no problem giving a small eyeroll at the light teasing.]
I didn't have to think that hard. [At the very least, he absolutely refuses to admit that he gave the phone more than the bare minimum of thought. If he did, chances are he'd circle back around to being embarrassed, and he'd like to avoid that happening again.] You seem like the kind of person who'd care about the aesthetics of it, and I can afford the best one, so....
[He trails off, shrugging. So it apparently wasn't difficult for him to drop ¥250,000 on a new phone for a near-total stranger. The only thing about it that might be considered underwhelming is the colour, since Accelerator picked out one in plain black. There was no way he was going to go with something flashy when black is a colour just about everyone would be fine with. Besides, his own preferences lean heavily towards the monochromatic. Black is understated and cool, in his opinion.
Glancing over, he notes that Endo is having to open the box with one hand. Not the hardest thing in the world to do, but he gets what a pain in the ass it is only having the use of one hand. It's why he reluctantly adds:]
... I can put the SIM card from your old phone in for you.
[Opening a box is one thing, annoying but manageable. Opening the tiny SIM tray with one hand, meanwhile, seems like it would be frustrating beyond belief.]
[ Distracted by the box and a little tired after all that laughing, Endo doesn't fully process what Accelerator says — at first. He gets the gist, and it makes sense. Endo does come across as a guy with a taste for luxury, even when he's dressed down and hanging out with his gang. His street clothes may be simple but they're brand name, just like almost everything else he owns. Though Endo'll give him credit — it's surprising he managed to pick up on that with everything that's gone on today.
Once again, it proves Accelerator's been mulling Endo over in his head.
Instead of acknowledging that though, he pulls the phone of out the box. Black may be the safe choice, but it suits him just fine. He approves, and he also accepts the help, moving to hand over the phone when —
His brain, still not as sharp as it needs to be, finally catches up with the rest of what Accelerator said. ]
Wait a second.
[ He pulls the phone back before Accelerator can grab it, then makes a point of looking at him with wide eyes. ]
Did you just say you could afford it? Meaning, you bought it, even though I gave you my wallet?
[ This is a trap, and if Endo weren't on pain medication, he would let Accelerator walk right into it before the grand reveal, because that's how he normally rolls. But that edge of his? Still gone. His remaining impulse control? Probably laughed out of him. His mind? Too tired. He's off enough that he doesn't even allow all that much of a pause, his timing thrown completely out the window.
To make matters worse, he prefaces it with a serious: ]
Accelerator.
[ Then: ]
You wasted your money on me.
[ What was all that about Endo being a waste of money? All that stuff about how he definitely isn't jealous of Endo's women for keeping his attention and filling his pockets?
With a purchase like that, he might as well have handed over a credit card himself!
Endo may not survive another laughing session, but that won't stop him from beaming at Accelerator as though he's made his whole week. ]
[Finishing off his coffee, Accelerator holds his hand out for the phone expectantly, brows furrowing when Endo suddenly pulls it back. He doesn't see what the problem is when all he's going to do is stick the SIM card in (assuming it wasn't crushed along with the rest of the older phone). Stick the dumb thing in and hand it back over, that's it. Simple. Why the shock over something so basic?
Unfortunately for him, Endo puts it all together, and all Accelerator can do for a second or two is stare.
Oh. Goddamnit.
This reaction is even worse than before. He's snapping before he can stop himself, slamming his empty can of coffee on the little table next to the water jug. Endo doesn't need to be explicit about the comparison he is making, that he's the same as the women he fools around with. That is clear as day and it makes Accelerator want to crawl into a hole.]
I wasn't going to get hassled by some shitty cops for using a credit card that obviously doesn't belong to me, that's all! [He was just being practical, okay??] If you think there was some deeper meaning to it then you're fucked in the head!
[Of course, given how this entire conversation is gone this feels like an entirely new level of embarrassment his entire face is now heating up, so that's just great.]
[ By this point, Accelerator probably won't be surprised by the fact that Endo does not so much as flinch as he begins to throw a fit.
While Accelerator is slamming the can on the table and calling out his sanity, Endo is watching him with a grin on his face. Except, rather than it looking as wild or excited as many of his expressions have been before, this time it turns subdued, quieter than anything else he has put on display so far. Whether that's due to the pain medication or the fact that Accelerator behaving like a little (weak) force of nature without flipping the switch on his collar, not even Endo would be able to say. ]
What's with all the drama?
[ Oh, he knows. He's also very much enjoying that Accelerator is blushing all over again — somehow, it's even more charming when it accompanies the near-destruction of property.
Drawing out the word: ]
Relax.
[ And then: ]
I'm not overthinkin' it.
[ Just having a little fun at his expensive at all! ]
And I wouldn't've put out anyway. [ He gestures to his arm. ] Too injured.
[ And also, he's too enamored with his godlike form. If Accelerator let that side of himself come out again, that'd be a different story. Even if Endo would probably end up in even worse shape after everything was said and done. ]
[Endo being so calm and relaxed is almost as bad as being teased even more than he already is. Not that that has stopped, since that last remark certainly sounds like more teasing. Accelerator doesn't really want to sit and think about how serious he's being, this is already too much for him to handle.
Grabbing his crutch, he hauls himself to his feet. With no coffee to help stabilize him he isn't sure he can take any more ribbing or discussions of relationships without losing control and breaking something, so retreating seems like a reasonable option. It isn't cowardly if it's in service of protecting other people, right? Especially a hospital full of sick and injured people.]
You can figure the damn SIM card out on your own. I've got shit to do.
[He growls that out, snatching up his empty can of coffee to toss it into the trash on his way out of the room.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Fuck, that's good.
[ It's just water. Nothing special about it. But right now, it might as well be the most precious drink on earth. He wants more, but while he may be completely disregarding the doctor's orders, he won't ask for seconds. He'll restrain himself for now.
Maybe.
Belatedly, and distractedly: ]
They're seeing if I need surgery. We're waiting on results.
[ His attention is on Accelerator, and it's a little intense. He's subdued by the meds, but not as effectively as he should be. They take away an edge that Endo considers very important, because where as he should now revert to teasing, or demanding the new phone, or easing his way further into "friendship" with Accelerator, he blurts out: ]
Are you gonna sit?
[ And, y'know, stay? Endo doesn't need company, but Accelerator's making him feel a little — unsettled, because he's just standing there like he's aiming to have one foot out the door.
For that same reason, it comes out phrased as a question, rather than an assertion of what Accelerator should do. Endo rubs his face, trying to wake himself up some more. ]
no subject
He feels nice. Good, even, for being able to help with something so simple.
It's a flicker of emotion, not enough to make Accelerator's expression shift. This is a rare feeling for him, a monster like himself typically doesn't feel good about something, and he's surprised by it. It's only water, so why should it even matter? Is it the fact that it is such a small thing that makes it feel significant? He's so used to hurting people that doing something kind when it isn't out of a sense of obligation is enough to affect him?
He isn't sure, and with Endo's answer he decides not to dwell on it, blinking as he snaps out of his thoughts. Surgery? Hopefully it doesn't come to that. The question has him pausing as well, and he grabs the Apple bag, dropping it into Endo's lap, followed by his wallet. There, the main two reasons he showed back up are done, so he no longer has any obligation to stick around. He can leave and not feel bad about doing so. Except....
Except doing something nice not out of any sense of obligation isn't such a bad thing. Grabbing a nearby chair, he drags it over to the side of the bed. Then he takes his convenience store bag and sits down. To give his arm a break he's going to let go of his crutch, leaving it standing on its own next to the chair.
It's fine, is what he tells himself. It's worth sticking about to see what the doctors conclude, if surgery is needed. Making more of an effort towards someone he's hurt isn't a bad thing either, and besides, his opinion on hospitals hasn't changed. Being stuck in one all alone sucks. Keeping Endo company, even for a little while, is the right thing to do.]
What's with all the credit cards with women's names on them?
[While he asks that Accelerator pulls out his can of coffee, popping it open and taking a long sip. That was something he noticed earlier when poking around his wallet, and he's curious.]
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So it's a good thing that Accelerator drags that chair over and settles into it with a drink of his own. Endo relaxes, feeling that restless energy begin to drain. Which, in turn, allows him to answer somewhat brightly: ]
Those are from the women I'm dating.
[ — as he grins, still a little sleepily. ]
Or were dating, before.
[ Sometimes only for a night, sometimes he gets a short-term thing going. Depends on what he needs, how much fun he's having, and how much money she has to spare. ]
Don't worry, I didn't steal 'em. They gave 'em to me.
[ And they can cancel them at any time, if they get tired of seeing charges build up. But they don't! They keep paying their bills, which means that whenever they're in town and looking for a little fun, they have a nice excuse to call him up. Endo visits with them, stays the night, and the next thing he knows, his credit limit has gone up. It's a nice system. Win-win.
And whenever one of them falls off the grid or does cancel her card, Endo goes and picks up someone else. This cycle keeps his pockets buffered, elevating his lifestyle beyond gang profits. He and Takiishi have expensive tastes, after all.
He shifts as best he can, moving closer to Accelerator's side of the bed, to add a teasing: ]
Jealous?
[ But even after saying the word, he stays lying along the edge of the bed, choosing to settle right there. He can't invade Accelerator's space while hooked up to machines, but he uses his physical presence as best he can regardless. ]
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But dating. Dating. Accelerator hears that and freezes, stunned (even though objectively speaking, it's not some huge bombshell). This is an area of life in which he has exactly zero experience: practically every person he's ever known his own age is either terrified of him or wants to fight him, with a tiny handful of exceptions, and adults have only ever flirted with him because to provoke him. He doesn't even have friends, the idea of relationships beyond that are completely alien to him.
So Endo says that, and gives further explanation that doesn't help at all (he really wishes it was just theft). He makes it all sound like it's perfectly normal and hell, maybe it is for him. He's already proven that he's bizarre in other ways, why not this, too? But Accelerator, on the opposite end of the spectrum, is stuck sitting there attempting to process this information as if it never could have occurred to him. Mostly because it didn't. Then there's the real kicker, with that very teasing "Jealous?", and that's when Accelerator notices he's shifted over to the edge of the bed.]
Huh?
[He heard that right? He heard that right.
Alright, anyone with two eyes can see that Endo is an attractive person. Even Accelerator (reluctantly) won't deny that. But anything beyond that is causing his brain to stall out, and before he can stop himself he's bristling and snapping back.]
What — why the hell would I be jealous of them?? [Endo is teasing him, like he did before when he said he was interested. That's all this is, and he's falling for it even with that awareness. Wait, is he supposed to be jealous of the women, or Endo? Fuck. Accelerator inwardly curses at himself and tries to relax even though it's too little too late, scowling as he sinks lower in the chair.] Why the fuck are you dating them, anyways? Aren't you in high school like me? Can't they find men their own age??
[Yeah, that's the issue here. Adults being irresponsible isn't anything new to him — hell, one time back home he ran into some idiot high schooler in a relationship with a pregnant teacher — but that doesn't mean he has to like it. With all the crap adults have put him through over the years that's a power dynamic he's never going to abide by.]
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But as before, the medication is just enough to shave off an edge to Endo's actions, and therefore he beams at Accelerator, entirely charmed and very pleased with his reaction — and himself. Because truthfully, Endo was teasing without putting a whole lot of forethought into his phrasing, thanks to the drugs, and he hadn't even meant to imply that Accelerator should be jealous of the women. Elated, Endo doesn't correct him. He keeps it to himself like a treasured little secret, absolutely reveling in the fact that Accelerator took it that way. This means that he's grown on Accelerator more than he anticipated.
He's in a really good mood now, so he happily chatters away. ]
I'm dating 'em 'cause I like 'em. And 'cause they're loaded. Why else?
[ Like it's the most natural thing in the world for a teenager to spend evening hours with women who're a good bit older than him. ]
And no, man, I'm not in high school anymore. I dropped out over a year ago. But I was dating 'em when I was a first-year, too. A couple of 'em would drive me to school in the mornings.
[ He drifts in thought a little, remembering one in particular, but then he snaps his attention back to Accelerator again to assure him: ]
Don't worry. It's all casual. I'm a free man.
[ Is it casual? Yes. Is Endo a free man? Not at all. But as he is right now, he doesn't intend it as a lie. Takiishi is separate, and he's loaded up on enough pain meds to avoid any deep thoughts about him. He's just happily in the present moment. ]
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It doesn't get rid of the mental image of Endo going out on dates with rich older women out of his head, but it helps.]
Tche.
[He isn't worried, is he? If Endo is running his own gang then he's clearly got some capability in handling people, especially people who might normally be difficult in some way. Banjo was a good indicator of that, along with the way the guy got into his head to bring his black wings out. But then on the other side of things, speaking of the wings.... this is also the idiot who looked like he would've embraced them if given the chance, no matter how obviously dangerous they are, so he isn't exactly responsible....
Endo's ability to judge situations is questionable. Accelerator isn't sure if that lack of ability extends to actual people. Should that even matter to him? He knows that he's a monster, so Endo's opinion of him doesn't change his view of himself. Beyond that, it shouldn't be any of his business when it comes to other people, so by that logic he shouldn't be worried. Despite that, there is still the niggling thought, the irritation of adults screwing around with the power dynamic for their own selfish whims. He's seen that far too many times outside the context of dating that he still feels skeptical. Surely dating can't change it that much?
Maybe he's overthinking all of this. His brain wants to start jumping to concepts like attachment theory, or better yet, nonlinear dynamics and he's pretty sure that trying to understand Endo's love life using mathematical models is a rabbit hole he should not go down. Even for someone who defines his reality through mathematical calculations that's kind of ridiculous.
He puts an elbow up on the arm of his chair, so that he can rest his forehead in his hand.]
What the fuck do you do if they start getting too attached? You can't expect adults who date kids to be emotionally stable people. What do they get out of the deal?
[All of that feels safe to ask, at least. There seems to be far too much potential for interpersonal drama to easily pop up he can't see how that kind of dating would be worthwhile. Of course his questions and skepticism may just be borne out of his own bias, finding all forms of interpersonal connections to be varying amounts of terrifying and exhausting, but still. He feels the need to ask.]
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Since he's a little more open in this state, not exactly adhering to his plan step-by-careful-step as he originally intended, the smile on his face turns a little sappy. Soft. Fond, even, because all of that attention, internal though it may be, is his. And his alone! It feels kind of nice, actually, and that encourages him to keep answering questions. Not that any of this is a secret — Endo doesn't care what anyone does or doesn't know about his sex life — but he'd probably be a little more teasing, a little less direct, just for the hell of it. Instead, he allows this to be a pretty simplistic conversation, free from too many layers and complications. ]
I don't go for clingy women. Everyone knows the deal up front. Most of 'em don't expect a seventeen-year-old to settle down with them, anyway.
[ Which is not to say that Endo hasn't attracted the occasional romantic, but typically, the women he goes for have their own "business" ventures that keep them busy. They aren't looking to get a boyfriend or make a family. They just want to have fun.
But he doesn't elaborate further. He's too busy giving Accelerator a look, the exact kind that he might give one of those women once they're interested — all charming enticement, while he laughs low and leans a little too far over the bed, just to get a little closer.
If Accelerator doesn't look away, Endo will hold his stare as he says: ]
But you tell me: what do you think they're getting out of it?
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So it isn't just dates. They're fucking, too. His brain shifts gears a bit, moving away from the dating aspect to sex which, unsurprisingly, is an area he knows even less about. Biological function is one thing, but people add layers and complexity to it to make it a whole other kettle of fish, except it isn't even fish but some alien marine life from the Mariana Trench. Dating may just be some ridiculous pretense for sex, since adults can be shallow and selfish like that. The women may think they still have some societal expectation to do it. He doesn't really know, he doesn't know how an adult woman with a libido thinks; the best he can do is taking whatever he learned about human psychology in school and apply it to the situation. And either way, he can't see Endo caring.
Before Accelerator can redirect his thoughts elsewhere his eyes are flicking downwards, then back up. Endo is attractive, he's already admitted that to himself, and he figures that would be enough to get his foot in the door, so to speak. Then, going off of what he knows about female anatomy, women are probably complicated in bed (he isn't sure where anyone beyond that narrow category falls, so he's starting at square one and going from there). Given the number of credit cards, it feels reasonable to conclude that Endo is at least good, likely falling closer on the 'great' end of the spectrum; Accelerator can't imagine anyone willingly handing over money for an experience that's barely passable. Does that mean a lot of foreplay (his eyes flick down again, to Endo's hands, and this time he notices the Roman numeral tattoo on his right ring finger is the wrong number compared to the others) and build up? Is that what women are into? He's given almost zero thought to this in his life, so it's a lot harder to picture compared to dating, which is possible to randomly see out in public —
Wait. Why the hell is he thinking about it this much? Goddamnit.
There's another flare of anxiety in the pit of his stomach, and Accelerator has to resist the urge to hit the switch on his choker. The fingertips of his free hand twitch, but he keeps it on the arm of the chair. He isn't completely sure which is stronger, the desire to alter his body chemistry to calm himself down, or to start smashing all this expensive medical equipment up. No, all of those reactions would only be admitting he's getting flustered again, and he doesn't want to give Endo that satisfaction (nor does he want to end up in jail). Instead he glares back, narrowing his eyes slightly, and mutters.]
That seems like a waste of money to me.
accelerator is so cute lol
Still, despite his joy, the medicine does manage to dampen him just enough that getting too excited almost seems exhausting. As he approaches that level, an undetermined point of no return, he naturally scales himself back, just enough. But no amount of painkillers can keep Endo from noticing — and then reacting — to the way that Accelerator looks at his hands.
His hands!
It's all over after that. While Accelerator is once again doing his deep thinking, Endo leans impossibly closer, looking more wild than any injured guy should. And he does the unthinkable: he considers touching him, a brief brush of fingers on whatever limb he manages to catch first. In normal situations, if Endo were wholly himself, he'd never do such a thing. His approach, whether to fighting or stuff like this, is to wait for the first move. That's just how he operates. But Endo is, for better or for worse, too drugged to think about that, and not as smart or as tactical as he should be, which means two things: he begins to move toward Accelerator — and he nearly falls off the bed.
That happens to coincide with Accelerator's comment, which surprises Endo so thoroughly that he glances up at him with wide eyes even as he is (very painfully, it turns out) jerking back from the edge. The surprise lasts as long as his near-fall, which is to say, not long at all, because once Endo is no longer in danger of toppling over, he laughs so hard, he's nearly in tears — both from the laughter itself and the pain from the jostling of his ribs.
He quickly puts a protective arm around his mid section, trying to steady his diaphragm, but doesn't stop laughing, not even as he punctuates the obnoxious sound with various pained noises: ]
Ow — shit. Fuck. Ah.
[ He tries to take a steadying breath, forcing out: ]
Man, you can't just tell a guy he isn't worth anything.
[ After which he curls a little in on himself, simultaneously hoping for more pain meds and never wanting to take them again. ]
they're both doofuses omg
Wow, what a dork.
As funny as a concussion would have been, a head injury would be a poor addition to all of those injuries so it's good it didn't actually happen. Having to get a nurse would be a pain in the ass.
Since Endo dissolving into painful laughter affords him the time to sort himself out Accelerator takes it, exhaling and quietly sitting back in his chair. Another sip of coffee, and he decides that yeah, this is funny. It's ridiculous, him overthinking shit is ridiculous, and honestly, getting to tease Endo back a bit feels nice. Maybe it's because insulting people is something he's way more comfortable with than trying to unravel the black box that is relationships and sex. Maybe Endo's laughter is just really infectious. He doesn't know, he doesn't really care.
He lets out a small, amused huff, and when he replies his tone is incredibly dry.]
No? Don't tell me you want to be treated with kid gloves.
[He isn't serious about that at all. There's no way it's true, but the mental image of Endo wanting to be treated gently after what he dished out earlier is funny in an ironic kind of way.]
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When he finally feels like he can get a breath in without jostling his ribs, he says: ]
Nah.
[ Because Accelerator is right: there's no way he'd want to be treated with kid gloves. Not here, not during a fight. If he's remotely interested in someone, whether due to their strength or god-like wings, he wants to see what they dish out, regardless of the form it comes in. That includes teasing — which will open more doors for Endo later, when he's capable of analyzing all these moments with a clear head. ]
This is better.
[ He lies back on the bed, all that laughing having taken a lot out of him. The urge to nap is suddenly strong, but he finally reaches for the bag that was sitting on his lap, but now sits toward the edge of the bed. Peeking inside, he raises his eyebrows. ]
Whoa — you guessed right.
[ New and expensive is Endo's taste, alright. He changes phones a lot to keep up with the new models — and for other reasons, too. He hadn't given Accelerator specific instructions about the purchase, but if he had made a direct demand, the newest iPhone would've been at the top of his list. ]
Guess you were thinking hard about me, huh? Tryin' to figure me out?
[ Accelerator gets only the briefest teasing smile before Endo takes the box out of the bag and begins opening it — one-handed, of course. ]
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I didn't have to think that hard. [At the very least, he absolutely refuses to admit that he gave the phone more than the bare minimum of thought. If he did, chances are he'd circle back around to being embarrassed, and he'd like to avoid that happening again.] You seem like the kind of person who'd care about the aesthetics of it, and I can afford the best one, so....
[He trails off, shrugging. So it apparently wasn't difficult for him to drop ¥250,000 on a new phone for a near-total stranger. The only thing about it that might be considered underwhelming is the colour, since Accelerator picked out one in plain black. There was no way he was going to go with something flashy when black is a colour just about everyone would be fine with. Besides, his own preferences lean heavily towards the monochromatic. Black is understated and cool, in his opinion.
Glancing over, he notes that Endo is having to open the box with one hand. Not the hardest thing in the world to do, but he gets what a pain in the ass it is only having the use of one hand. It's why he reluctantly adds:]
... I can put the SIM card from your old phone in for you.
[Opening a box is one thing, annoying but manageable. Opening the tiny SIM tray with one hand, meanwhile, seems like it would be frustrating beyond belief.]
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Once again, it proves Accelerator's been mulling Endo over in his head.
Instead of acknowledging that though, he pulls the phone of out the box. Black may be the safe choice, but it suits him just fine. He approves, and he also accepts the help, moving to hand over the phone when —
His brain, still not as sharp as it needs to be, finally catches up with the rest of what Accelerator said. ]
Wait a second.
[ He pulls the phone back before Accelerator can grab it, then makes a point of looking at him with wide eyes. ]
Did you just say you could afford it? Meaning, you bought it, even though I gave you my wallet?
[ This is a trap, and if Endo weren't on pain medication, he would let Accelerator walk right into it before the grand reveal, because that's how he normally rolls. But that edge of his? Still gone. His remaining impulse control? Probably laughed out of him. His mind? Too tired. He's off enough that he doesn't even allow all that much of a pause, his timing thrown completely out the window.
To make matters worse, he prefaces it with a serious: ]
Accelerator.
[ Then: ]
You wasted your money on me.
[ What was all that about Endo being a waste of money? All that stuff about how he definitely isn't jealous of Endo's women for keeping his attention and filling his pockets?
With a purchase like that, he might as well have handed over a credit card himself!
Endo may not survive another laughing session, but that won't stop him from beaming at Accelerator as though he's made his whole week. ]
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Unfortunately for him, Endo puts it all together, and all Accelerator can do for a second or two is stare.
Oh. Goddamnit.
This reaction is even worse than before. He's snapping before he can stop himself, slamming his empty can of coffee on the little table next to the water jug. Endo doesn't need to be explicit about the comparison he is making, that he's the same as the women he fools around with. That is clear as day and it makes Accelerator want to crawl into a hole.]
I wasn't going to get hassled by some shitty cops for using a credit card that obviously doesn't belong to me, that's all! [He was just being practical, okay??] If you think there was some deeper meaning to it then you're fucked in the head!
[Of course, given how this entire conversation is gone this feels like an entirely new level of embarrassment his entire face is now heating up, so that's just great.]
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While Accelerator is slamming the can on the table and calling out his sanity, Endo is watching him with a grin on his face. Except, rather than it looking as wild or excited as many of his expressions have been before, this time it turns subdued, quieter than anything else he has put on display so far. Whether that's due to the pain medication or the fact that Accelerator behaving like a little (weak) force of nature without flipping the switch on his collar, not even Endo would be able to say. ]
What's with all the drama?
[ Oh, he knows. He's also very much enjoying that Accelerator is blushing all over again — somehow, it's even more charming when it accompanies the near-destruction of property.
Drawing out the word: ]
Relax.
[ And then: ]
I'm not overthinkin' it.
[ Just having a little fun at his expensive at all! ]
And I wouldn't've put out anyway. [ He gestures to his arm. ] Too injured.
[ And also, he's too enamored with his godlike form. If Accelerator let that side of himself come out again, that'd be a different story. Even if Endo would probably end up in even worse shape after everything was said and done. ]
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Grabbing his crutch, he hauls himself to his feet. With no coffee to help stabilize him he isn't sure he can take any more ribbing or discussions of relationships without losing control and breaking something, so retreating seems like a reasonable option. It isn't cowardly if it's in service of protecting other people, right? Especially a hospital full of sick and injured people.]
You can figure the damn SIM card out on your own. I've got shit to do.
[He growls that out, snatching up his empty can of coffee to toss it into the trash on his way out of the room.]