fandomtownies | The park, Sunday afternoon

Jono... just stood there for a moment, staring at Hannibal, and then looking around their surroundings, before looking back up at the ship.

//I take it back. I need to go back up there and actually kill him.//

Look, Jono, it was your own fault for not specifying where you'd like to be set down.

"Pity I can't fly anymore." Hannibal squinted in the sunlight. "We seem to have a bit of a walk before us." He eyed Jono, then gave him a closer scrutiny. "You're injured. Is it anything serious?"

//I can walk,// Jono replied, shrugging his shoulders in spite of the protest of a number of blaster burns too great for him to care to try to count.

When your body was completely optional, 'serious' was sort of a relative term. There would be scars. But really, what were a few more burn scars?

//No need to detour to the clinic. I just want to get home.//

Make sure the cats hadn't eaten one another. He was worried, okay?

That was extremely unlikely. Probably only one of them would have been eaten.

"Home it is." Hannibal waved in that direction. "We can stop at your apartment over the store to get clothing," he suggested.

//Pray Rinoa and Squall aren't home,// Jono added, nodding faintly. //Less distance to run in the nude before we're home-free.//

He... would probably not be running. He'd been running earlier. Now was kind of more like 'tenderly making his way in a forward direction because everything was actually in pain' time.

Hannibal was perfectly happy walking; he was a bit stiff from having been in that pod for days, and while walking through town nude might not be exactly dignified, running nude seemed even worse.

"A shame nobody seems to have anticipated this. Come on - a little further, and then you can rest."

//You suppose anybody down here knew we were all kidnapped naked?//

Jono doubted it, somewhat.

//Almost there,// he added, muttering a little as they went. His head was bowed, his fire had dimmed, and now he was actually starting to look about as exhausted as he felt. //Almost home.//

At least, in spite of everything, he was actually feeling a little like himself again.

"Do you suppose we were?" Hannibal asked. "Are our clothes lying on our bed empty? Or did they disrobe us after?"

//Suppose we'll find out. At least I wasn't sleeping in anything I mind losing.//

A few bandages would be about the most inconvenient of his losses, really.

"I can always buy new pajamas, I suppose," Hannibal agreed. "And you'll have lost another very regrettable pair of boring underwear. Sooner or later you'll be forced to wear some that are attractive."

//You say that, but the wonderful thing about regrettably boring underwear is just how easy it is to replace,// Jono countered, turning a faintly amused look Hannibal's way. It wasn't far to the Groovy Tunes now, thank goodness. Hell, the Boards were even closer, just in the opposite direction, if they wanted to duck in there to raid the costume selection in relative peace.

Jono was fairly certain most of the costumes were wearable.

Maybe they'd take that right instead of turning left, and just go with what Jono knew he had in his closets in the Groovy Tunes instead.

//Forcing me into those fancy ones you like so much won't be that easy.//

... 'Fancy.' In that 'fancy' meant 'not out of a multi-pack of grey boxer-briefs from the discount wall at Wal-Mart.'

Jono's closets would be fine. Metallica shirts and jeans might not be Hannibal's preferred clothing, but better than than looking like...well, like one of the extras in the sim they'd just left.

"Fancy. Because they haven't got holes in the fabric?" Hannibal asked.

//I reserve the right to call any pair of underwear that cost more than twenty collars on its own 'fancy,'// Jono decided. Because it had been a long week, and he was walking down the street naked and in pain, and because he was starting to miss simply being able to inhale all over again. //Being in one piece is merely a bonus feature.//

"And if I simply don't tell you how much they cost?" Hannibal asked. Because while Jono was complaining, he was still conscious, at least.

//Then, because we've met, I'll feel it's probably safe to assume that they meet my 'fancy' standards all the same,// Jono decided, leading Hannibal around to the back door of the Groovy Tunes, and then tugging out a loose brick from the siding to fish out his spare key to the apartment.

"I could offer them as a gift," Hannibal said. He watched Jono's key retrieval with a bit of bemusement. "You wouldn't want to turn down a gift."

//Oh, I wouldn't turn it down,// Jono replied, unlocking the door and stepping aside to let Hannibal in. //But the simple act of accepting them doesn't stop me continuing to wear my other underthings, too.//

"Of course not," Hannibal answered agreeably. "But you never know what might happen to those others. They won't last forever."

Well, then. Jono was now giving Hannibal a strange look.

//Are you... threatening my underwear?//

Hannibal gave him an astonished look. "Why on earth would I do that? I'm merely pointing out that the cheaper things do tend not to last as long."

Of course he was.

//... Fortunately,// Jono replied slowly, //they're easier to replace.//

Funny, that. They were being threatened, but Jono's underwear was truly expendable.

He reached out as they made their way upstairs, making certain that they wouldn't run into Squall or Rinoa camped out on the sofa in the living room or anything of the sort, and then shrugged and opened the second door, the one that led from the stairwell into the apartment proper.

//All clear.//

"And easy to replace with things of better quality that are more comfortable," Hannibal argued.

Actually, at this point he might be arguing to keep himself upright as well.

He followed Jono in and headed for his room, keeping an eye out for his roommates. "At the moment, I'll settle for trousers and a shirt."

//Those, at least, are things that I have,// Jono replied, following along a half-step behind. Part of him desperately wanted to grab for some spare bandages. And then the rest of him was in absolutely no hurry to put anything over his blaster burns just yet, thanks. //I might just settle for trousers until we get ho--// Er. //--back to your place.//

One of these days, they were going to have to just suck it up and admit that Jono had moved in. Honestly.

Hannibal grinned at the slip. "Whatever you prefer."

And now Jono needed to take a moment to puzzle out whether Hannibal was referring to his wardrobe choices, or whether or not he called Hannibal's house 'home.'

He looked at him for a few curious, and then made his way to his closet, to poke around at the contents. It was... emptier than he was used to. A lot of the contents had been moved to Hannibal's place over the past few months. Hell, his entire bedroom was emptier than he was used to. He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept in this bed.

... In fairness, he hadn't actually done much sleeping in this bed even when he did still spend more nights here.

//It'll be easier on the injuries,// he said, deciding to settle on discussing the wardrobe choices, at least for the time being. //It's too bloody hot to suffocate those burns under a tight layer of leather just yet.//

And really, the answer was "yes".

There were, Hannibal noted, many fewer boxes of music in the room now, too. Not that he didn't know where most of them had disappeared to.

"Some of your regrettable tracksuit bottoms?" Hannibal suggested. They might be a bit warm for the weather, but as threadbare as they were...maybe not. "I'll take whatever pair of jeans or slacks you have."

//You're going to spend the rest of the day calling most of my clothing 'regrettable,' aren't you?//

Probably, Jono. Or at least the clothing in here. The stuff at Hannibal's place had started getting a bit of style to it.

//Here, there's a pair of jeans that was actually fairly new when I put them in here.// In black, of course. //And I'll make the trip the rest of the way-// home //- in those regrettable tracksuit bottoms. It's a step up from naked, at least.//

Marginally.

"Only the regrettable bits," Hannibal answered. "But while regrettable, those things should be soft and minimally painful, and they cover all the necessary bits."

The jeans...actually were not too bad, albeit not his style. They were a little tight and a little long, of course, but not unbearable. "Should I go topless in solidarity?"

//Well, I certainly wouldn't complain if you did,// Jono replied, half-teasing, as he pulled out a pair of those track bottoms. They were only slightly threadbare. But, as Hannibal had said, comfortable. //Gives me a nice view for the other half of our trip, anyway.//

And it gave people somebody else to look at, so far as the solidarity went, which Jono appreciated. But that was something he was less likely to actually out and say.

Hannibal would take that as read; he did know Jono. "If you like. The sooner we get home, the better."

//The sooner, the better,// Jono agreed as he stepped into the trousers he'd selected. //Not sure I'm up for remaining conscious for much longer as it is, and the cats...//

... The cats were probably somewhat distressed by now.

"Cats are resourceful creatures," Hannibal said. "Shall we?"

//Let's,// Jono replied, nodding and making his way back toward the door. There was that part of him that wanted to at least let Rinoa and Squall know he was still alive. And then there was that part of him that wanted to find a dark corner somewhere to pass out in. That part was currently winning. //I think I've got some boots we can grab on our way out, while we're at it.//

And added bonus? This was a great way of moving more of his stuff over to Hannibal's.

"I doubt I'll fit yours, but I'll carry a pair if you like." Hannibal was on to this plan.

... Well, it had been worth a shot.

//That'd be good, too.//

Why even bother denying it, anyway? Jono shrugged his shoulders a little (very little; everything still hurt) and paused at the door to grab a couple of pairs of boots that he'd found himself missing, lately.

//Lord knows if you don't, I won't see them again until the next time I find myself naked in the park, after all.//

"While I firmly believe you should do whatever makes you happy," Hannibal took one of the pairs from him, "I devoutly hope that is no time soon."

//All things considered?// Jono managed something that was almost reminiscent of a smile as he slipped his feet into the other pair of boots. He wasn't going to bother to buckle them, no. Too much effort, and he didn't feel like doing much more crouching this afternoon. //So do I.//

He'd have to settle for coming upstairs to grab a few things now and then when he was in the building to work downstairs anyway, probably.

Hannibal tied the laces of the boots he held together neatly and draped them over one shoulder. "I must say it's a shame we didn't get to keep those powers, though." They would have been so useful!

//... I don't think I need that much jello in my life ever again,// Jono replied. //But the jumping was alright, I suppose.//

He opened the door again, nodding for Hannibal to go ahead.

Was he avoiding talking about the flying? Maybe. A little. A tiny bit.

He still missed it.

//And the fire-breathing was something I already had experience with. Fortunately.//

"Very fortunately for both our skins," Hannibal agreed. "Don't worry." He grinned at Jono. "I would have taken you flying."

//Go on,// Jono replied, rolling his eyes but sounding fond, //rub it in.//

He was going to get that collar to work come hell or high water.

"Not until we're home."

Yes, that might not be his best. Hannibal was tired, too. He turned to head downstairs, more than ready for a shower, some of his own clothes, and a good night's sleep.

The park, Sunday afternoon

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