Kotetsu's expression softens. His tone grows faintly teasing. "I mean, it's not like being stuck anywhere with you is the worst thing in the world."
Normally, that shy and self-conscious look on Barnaby's face would make him pull the other man close - wrap an arm around his waist or shoulders, or pull him into a quick hug. The fact that Kotetsu doesn't do so isn't even a conscious decision, in that moment. It's just an instinctive attempt to avoid that strange, skin-crawling feeling whose cause he can't even truly place yet.
Still. He consciously knows that he can't stay seated when his boyfriend looks like that. Kotetsu reaches out to catch hold of one of Barnaby's hands again, to try and coax the other man into looking at him. "And hey, what's this selling yourself short business again? You know I'm just as lucky. And when we find our way out of here - and we will - I'm still gonna stick with you."
He knows that just...enjoying life with Barnaby has definitely contributed somewhat to Kotetsu's distraction. Just being with Barnaby in good times and taking care of him in bad. But Kotetsu can't bring himself to regret those moments as much as he should. Those are happy moments. Even the breakdowns, because he knows that they're both better off when they're over. His life has regained those moments of quiet domesticity and intimacy that he thought he'd never have again, after Tomoe.
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Normally, that shy and self-conscious look on Barnaby's face would make him pull the other man close - wrap an arm around his waist or shoulders, or pull him into a quick hug. The fact that Kotetsu doesn't do so isn't even a conscious decision, in that moment. It's just an instinctive attempt to avoid that strange, skin-crawling feeling whose cause he can't even truly place yet.
Still. He consciously knows that he can't stay seated when his boyfriend looks like that. Kotetsu reaches out to catch hold of one of Barnaby's hands again, to try and coax the other man into looking at him. "And hey, what's this selling yourself short business again? You know I'm just as lucky. And when we find our way out of here - and we will - I'm still gonna stick with you."
He knows that just...enjoying life with Barnaby has definitely contributed somewhat to Kotetsu's distraction. Just being with Barnaby in good times and taking care of him in bad. But Kotetsu can't bring himself to regret those moments as much as he should. Those are happy moments. Even the breakdowns, because he knows that they're both better off when they're over. His life has regained those moments of quiet domesticity and intimacy that he thought he'd never have again, after Tomoe.
He's happy. Nothing has changed.