Moments like these, Dino finds a bit more patience than usual. He is careful to watch Squalo, and by now he knows when the other is giving in to something or at least taking it to heart.
A wave of relief washes over him as he watches everything click back into place until he sees more of the real Squalo and less of the mess Xanxus left.
Dino finally gives the food some attention and he leans a little on the table as he pokes at it and takes a bite. ]
[ It's a bit weird, to be honest. He's done it before so many times, it's almost easy... certainly comfortable. But also lonely, and heavy. But he's resilient. He can get back on track and stay on it, and it will get easier. The pain will get lighter. At least, he will choose to believe so. There's still so much to be done. ]
[ he can, but who will crawl around, whine and force him into his big boy pants then? ]
[ Squalo shrugs, because evidently normalcy comes with absolute refusal to talk about feelings. ]
[ It is, of course, not as flip-a-switch as it looks from the outside. He still doesn't understand why Xanxus did this to him. It hurts. But as with most things, he's starting to compartmentalize. Yeah, he wants to know. But if he never sees him again, it doesn't matter... and if he does, he will fucking ask. Right in his face. There, all settled. So there's no use agonizing over it now. ]
[ He gives a skew smirk and drains half his glass in one go. ]
He'd probably appreciate toenail clippings if you gave him a bag.
[ Dino scoffs and throws his napkin in Squalos face before he goes back to eating.
He knows it’ll take time. He knows. But he’s glad that some action at least has been kickstarted. Squalo was strong long before Xanxus and he’ll stay that way so long as people don’t let him drown in messes like this.
Yamamoto can keep him moving. The dog will keep him yelling. Gokudera will inevitably pick fights and...he will be there as he always has. (Save for those months or year or whatever it was that Squalo was here without him. Shut up he knows.) ]
At least you’ve got a little of that fire back in your eyes.
[ Squalo snorts and pins the napkin to the ceiling with his knife and a swift wrist flick. Fucking show off. ]
[ It's true, he had been strong before the Varia ever sniffed him out. But he'd also been directionless. Wild. A loose cannon. It took him a while to shake that off even once he'd already joined them. It was fine for him, sure, but to everyone around him, Squalo unbound by any loyalty or morals would be terrifying. ]
[ He glances at Dino thoughtfully and doesn't say anything. Did he now? A moment later, his ring gleams blue. It's still weaker than usual, but it's there, and contented, he snuffs it out again before continuing with his dinner. ]
[ Squalo considers the offer, then gives a shrug. Unfortunately, him being less soggy pathetic also means he's going to be more of an asshole. At least he's grateful enough not to tell him to get lost. ]
[ as any decent narcissistic person, Squalo looks like he's about to say good but then he just seems to bristle and stare at Dino because how dare you not crave his presence. ]
[ At least, he chooses to believe so. But honestly, he's heard that "I won't be chasing you anymore" like three times in Hell so far, and it hasn't worked out until now. Why would this time be any different? ]
You really tryin' to say I'm not attractive to you?
[ Squalo wrinkles his nose and glares at Dino for a few moments. Then sort of glances around at himself. Unwashed hair, three day old clothes, face probably hella dried out from all the NOT crying. You know what? ]
...okay, fair.
[ He can't really argue, and he doesn't need to because Dino totally implied the answer he wanted, it just wasn't applicable right this very moment, and really, who could blame him. ]
[ Squalo was going to just get up and start off toward his room to pick something to change into before heading for the bathroom. ]
[ The thing is, Dino could still be attracted to Squalo. It wasn’t like he could turn that off completely. But he could go back to the way things were before he had to see him every single day instead of just when one needed the other for something.
And he could see how Squalo wouldn’t believe him after the way things had been here. He didn’t blame him for doubting. But he really was done chasing him. There was no point to it anyway. Never had been.
He could be supportive, though. That he could do.
Dino watched Squalo get up and retreat to the bedroom, then the bathroom. Good. It was a start.
Of course that meant he had dishes to do. All of which he did as carefully as possible; offering the new dog bits of scraps before he put the dishes away and straightened up the kitchen. It didn’t take long, though, since he had already done the bulk of it before.
Now, he was lounging on the couch with the hell pup on his chest, absently chatting away at him and giving him lots of pets to keep him calm. ]
He’ll be okay. Promise. But he will still yell at you. Constantly. I can also promise he will take good care of you, too, though. So don’t take it to heart.
[ Anyway oops I just realized that this is taking place before Xanxus is actually gone gone, so it looks like all of this good work is going to be gone to shit again once that happens. ]
[ Anyway, Squalo would go on to conquer the shower, taking a reasonably long time to wash and dry his hair thoroughly, and when he finally emerges, he's looking a lot more like his normal well-kept self. He snorts softly as he spots Dino baby-talking the pup, and walks past them to take a seat on the other end of the couch. ]
[ The puppy seems content where it is, laid flat on top of Dino's chest, though it does raise its ears a bit and wag its tail to acknowledge Squalo sitting down. ]
[ Don of the people. The most caring of the mafia. Bleeding heart. Still, it's impressive how far he's come from the little pipsqueak who was afraid to even look at him. ]
[ Squalo makes a vague noise of acknowledgement. He's already told the man that he's too good for Hell, there's no point in repeating that. And sure, he had sins, he was part of the underworld after all. But surely a lot of it was made up by the care he had for the common people. Especially the ones who weren't even his. ]
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Moments like these, Dino finds a bit more patience than usual. He is careful to watch Squalo, and by now he knows when the other is giving in to something or at least taking it to heart.
A wave of relief washes over him as he watches everything click back into place until he sees more of the real Squalo and less of the mess Xanxus left.
Dino finally gives the food some attention and he leans a little on the table as he pokes at it and takes a bite. ]
I trust you will.
[ he chews thoughtfully and then hums. ]
How does it feel?
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[ It's a bit weird, to be honest. He's done it before so many times, it's almost easy... certainly comfortable. But also lonely, and heavy. But he's resilient. He can get back on track and stay on it, and it will get easier. The pain will get lighter. At least, he will choose to believe so. There's still so much to be done. ]
[ He gives Dino a flat look as he chews. ]
Bit overcooked, but I'll finish it.
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He meets that flat look with a knowing smile. ]
Not what I meant, but I’ll take it. The wine helps.
[ He chuckles and pours some more wine into the others glass.
And then he shoots a look to Cazzo and arches a brow. ]
At least he appreciates it.
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[ Squalo shrugs, because evidently normalcy comes with absolute refusal to talk about feelings. ]
[ It is, of course, not as flip-a-switch as it looks from the outside. He still doesn't understand why Xanxus did this to him. It hurts. But as with most things, he's starting to compartmentalize. Yeah, he wants to know. But if he never sees him again, it doesn't matter... and if he does, he will fucking ask. Right in his face. There, all settled. So there's no use agonizing over it now. ]
[ He gives a skew smirk and drains half his glass in one go. ]
He'd probably appreciate toenail clippings if you gave him a bag.
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[ Dino scoffs and throws his napkin in Squalos face before he goes back to eating.
He knows it’ll take time. He knows. But he’s glad that some action at least has been kickstarted. Squalo was strong long before Xanxus and he’ll stay that way so long as people don’t let him drown in messes like this.
Yamamoto can keep him moving. The dog will keep him yelling. Gokudera will inevitably pick fights and...he will be there as he always has. (Save for those months or year or whatever it was that Squalo was here without him. Shut up he knows.) ]
At least you’ve got a little of that fire back in your eyes.
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[ It's true, he had been strong before the Varia ever sniffed him out. But he'd also been directionless. Wild. A loose cannon. It took him a while to shake that off even once he'd already joined them. It was fine for him, sure, but to everyone around him, Squalo unbound by any loyalty or morals would be terrifying. ]
[ He glances at Dino thoughtfully and doesn't say anything. Did he now? A moment later, his ring gleams blue. It's still weaker than usual, but it's there, and contented, he snuffs it out again before continuing with his dinner. ]
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At least he isn’t rusty. Not that Dino truly believed that Squalos skills would turn as soggy as his resolve but confirmation is nice.
He goes in for another bite and let’s his focus naturally fall back to his friend. ]
I can stay if you want. Just so you have some company.
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[ Squalo considers the offer, then gives a shrug. Unfortunately, him being less
soggypathetic also means he's going to be more of an asshole. At least he's grateful enough not to tell him to get lost. ]Stay out of the master bedroom.
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...and he is sadly accustomed to the Asshole-ness.
He snorts softly. ]
I don’t want to sleep with you, anyway.
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[ as any decent narcissistic person, Squalo looks like he's about to say good but then he just seems to bristle and stare at Dino because how dare you not crave his presence. ]
The hell did you just say.
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KING OF MIXED SIGNALS, I hate you.
He blinks once and glances around like this is a trick or something. ]
I...don’t want to sleep with you?
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[ Squalo's nostrils flare in an offended huff. ]
Why the fuck not? I thought you said I was amazing?
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[ wtf bro lol...
He crosses his arms over the table top. ]
...okay so you do want me to sleep with you then?
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[ He wants you to want it so he can deny it to you, geeze. ]
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Like...he understands. He does. But it’s still such a strange way of going about things. ]
Well, I don’t want to sleep with you, Squalo. This should make you happy. I won’t be chasing you anymore.
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[ At least, he chooses to believe so. But honestly, he's heard that "I won't be chasing you anymore" like three times in Hell so far, and it hasn't worked out until now. Why would this time be any different? ]
You really tryin' to say I'm not attractive to you?
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[ He sits back again in his chair and shakes his head. ]
Not really. But maybe in a few weeks when you’re back to normal.
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...okay, fair.
[ He can't really argue, and he doesn't need to because Dino totally implied the answer he wanted, it just wasn't applicable right this very moment, and really, who could blame him. ]
[ Squalo was going to just get up and start off toward his room to pick something to change into before heading for the bathroom. ]
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And he could see how Squalo wouldn’t believe him after the way things had been here. He didn’t blame him for doubting. But he really was done chasing him. There was no point to it anyway. Never had been.
He could be supportive, though. That he could do.
Dino watched Squalo get up and retreat to the bedroom, then the bathroom. Good. It was a start.
Of course that meant he had dishes to do. All of which he did as carefully as possible; offering the new dog bits of scraps before he put the dishes away and straightened up the kitchen. It didn’t take long, though, since he had already done the bulk of it before.
Now, he was lounging on the couch with the hell pup on his chest, absently chatting away at him and giving him lots of pets to keep him calm. ]
He’ll be okay. Promise. But he will still yell at you. Constantly. I can also promise he will take good care of you, too, though. So don’t take it to heart.
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[ Anyway oops I just realized that this is taking place before Xanxus is actually gone gone, so it looks like all of this good work is going to be gone to shit again once that happens. ]
[ Anyway, Squalo would go on to conquer the shower, taking a reasonably long time to wash and dry his hair thoroughly, and when he finally emerges, he's looking a lot more like his normal well-kept self. He snorts softly as he spots Dino baby-talking the pup, and walks past them to take a seat on the other end of the couch. ]
[ The puppy seems content where it is, laid flat on top of Dino's chest, though it does raise its ears a bit and wag its tail to acknowledge Squalo sitting down. ]
He seems to like you.
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It’s okay.
He looks up when Squalo moves past them and he continues to watch him. ]
Most people do.
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[ Squalo waves a hand dismissively. ]
That's your whole thing, isn't it?
[ Don of the people. The most caring of the mafia. Bleeding heart. Still, it's impressive how far he's come from the little pipsqueak who was afraid to even look at him. ]
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[ He shrugs and idly pets the new pup. ]
I just don’t like seeing innocent people caught in the crossfire of our world.
[ He doesn’t want to but he glances over anyway.]
Especially my people. They take care of me. I take care of them. I get that it won’t always be reciprocated, though. Doesn’t stop me from trying.
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Fine. I'll keep it.
[ He's talking about the dog. Of course. ]
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[ Arching a brow he smirks softly and gently nudges the little beast over towards Squalo. ]
I’m sure you’ll be happy together.