[ stephanie had been away for over a week on some mission on the other side of the world. there have been times where, if it didn't seem that dangerous, she would bring the boys along with her so that they could explore more outside of gotham, but this case was way too risky to put them in potential danger.
so. it's over a week later, with minimal contact whenever steph had a moment to herself to let them know she didn't fall off a building or something. when she finally arrives back home, it's early afternoon. belph is out, and conveniently so is hikage's little sister. maybe she's at a friend's place who knows. but she'll poke her head in and look around to see if there's anyone in her immediate line of sight as she enters. ]
I'm back...
[ and only minimally injured which is pretty impressive. ]
[ Getting used to all this superhero nonsense is almost as hard as getting used to computers and the internet. Hikage's technically the oldest one, even if he's physically the youngest; he's seen and experienced all kinds of dangerous things, and bizarre things, too, but the idea of a person running around in tights fighting crime (and more) is pretty outlandish. Rest assured that he tried to talk her out of it at the start. But, obviously, that didn't work out. Instead, he (and Belph, to some degree) is left to worry about whether she's getting herself killed by aliens or whatever else out there somewhere on a semi-regular basis. The invention of cell phones has made this a little easier, but he still hasn't heard from her in several days now... Needless to say, he's stressed.
When she opens the door, the first thing she'll probably notice is that the apartment is impeccably clean. Mostly. The second thing she'll notice is that Hikage is actually asleep on the couch. It's not really like him to nap, but considering he doesn't snap up at her voice, he must be pretty out of it.
The third thing she'll notice is that Belph is not actually out. HA HA ]
belph is on a chair. specifically, he's doing something on his laptop. probably playing a game (and not doing schoolwork), given that it's him. he doesn't react to steph's entry at first, waiting for a few moments before he looks up with an expression of (a tad too feigned) utter disinterest.]
[ she says, as if she had told either of them she was on her way back (she was bad and forgot). still, steph walks the rest of the way in, shutting the door behind her and dropping her bag on the floor and stretching. not really that injured, but sore, and she'll walk over to the couch to look at hikage. ]
[ it was stress cleaning, dinner is also probably done way ahead of time at this point
he'll tell them all about it when he wakes up, which is now. The conversation finally rouses him, if you can call suddenly jerking up straight with a gasp by a term as gentle as "rousing" - he still doesn't sleep well. He looks wild-eyed and panicked for about a second before his eyes land on Steph. ]
-- You...
[ i guess this is the greeting she's getting from both boys. to be fair, hikage mostly sounds surprised and possibly a little sleepy. ]
[ Belph gets a dirty look for that. (He's right.) ]
I was starting to think you were dead! Why didn't you send us a text?
[ Belph has probably been putting up with Hikage worrying about this, too... He brushes his hair out of his eyes, then gets to his feet. Not that he's very imposing with bedhead and a wrinkled apron still on. ]
[ bluntly. belph is living his best gamer boy life over here. Hikage takes a few long strides over towards Steph in a bit of a huff, holding out his hand. ]
Give me that. I'll put it back for you. You're tired from being so busy, right?
[ normally, steph would immediately jump in on roasting hikage for being tsun, except the current circumstances make that difficult. but just know that she wants to. ]
Sorry...
[ there's a pause, and she leans forward to kiss hikage on the cheek. and then, to belph, ]
[ Let it be known that Hikage is nothing if not consistent. His cheeks still flush bright red from the affection, even if the rest of his expression is closer to "crotchety old man." ]
If you were actually sorry, you'd stop getting into trouble constantly. [ grumble grumble... but the grumbling is punctuated by him returning fire, swiftly pressing his lips to her forehead once before proceeding to hoist up her bag and start carrying it towards her room, calling out as he does: ] -- He was worried. There's just some "event" in his game.
[ he understands video games even less than he understands blogs ]
[ he's busy making sure her luggage is out of the way OKAY!! Someone has to be responsible around here. He comes back soon after, arms crossed, expression also rather cross (looks like the effects of the smooch have already ended) as he comes up behind the two of them. ]
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jan hates us :/ also 3
so. it's over a week later, with minimal contact whenever steph had a moment to herself to let them know she didn't fall off a building or something. when she finally arrives back home, it's early afternoon. belph is out, and conveniently so is hikage's little sister. maybe she's at a friend's place who knows. but she'll poke her head in and look around to see if there's anyone in her immediate line of sight as she enters. ]
I'm back...
[ and only minimally injured which is pretty impressive. ]
wrong jan loves me
When she opens the door, the first thing she'll probably notice is that the apartment is impeccably clean. Mostly. The second thing she'll notice is that Hikage is actually asleep on the couch. It's not really like him to nap, but considering he doesn't snap up at her voice, he must be pretty out of it.
The third thing she'll notice is that Belph is not actually out. HA HA ]
:)
belph is on a chair. specifically, he's doing something on his laptop. probably playing a game (and not doing schoolwork), given that it's him. he doesn't react to steph's entry at first, waiting for a few moments before he looks up with an expression of (a tad too feigned) utter disinterest.]
Oh, it's you.
[and back to his laptop he goes.]
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Wow. Where's my parade?
[ she says, as if she had told either of them she was on her way back (she was bad and forgot). still, steph walks the rest of the way in, shutting the door behind her and dropping her bag on the floor and stretching. not really that injured, but sore, and she'll walk over to the couch to look at hikage. ]
Please tell me this wasn't stress cleaning?
[ be normal hikage cleaning ]
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he'll tell them all about it when he wakes up, which is now. The conversation finally rouses him, if you can call suddenly jerking up straight with a gasp by a term as gentle as "rousing" - he still doesn't sleep well. He looks wild-eyed and panicked for about a second before his eyes land on Steph. ]
-- You...
[ i guess this is the greeting she's getting from both boys. to be fair, hikage mostly sounds surprised and possibly a little sleepy. ]
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[and speak of the devil—]
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and then gives him a small wave ]
Good morning.
[ it's not morning ]
What's up?
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I was starting to think you were dead! Why didn't you send us a text?
[ Belph has probably been putting up with Hikage worrying about this, too... He brushes his hair out of his eyes, then gets to his feet. Not that he's very imposing with bedhead and a wrinkled apron still on. ]
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[ she shoots belph a look ]
It seems like you kept yourselves busy, too.
[ please stop lecturing her. steph goes to pick her bag back up so she can properly put it away. ]
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[ bluntly. belph is living his best gamer boy life over here. Hikage takes a few long strides over towards Steph in a bit of a huff, holding out his hand. ]
Give me that. I'll put it back for you. You're tired from being so busy, right?
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He's been worried, Steph. Shame on you.
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Sorry...
[ there's a pause, and she leans forward to kiss hikage on the cheek. and then, to belph, ]
It's fine if you were worried too, punk.
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If you were actually sorry, you'd stop getting into trouble constantly. [ grumble grumble... but the grumbling is punctuated by him returning fire, swiftly pressing his lips to her forehead once before proceeding to hoist up her bag and start carrying it towards her room, calling out as he does: ] -- He was worried. There's just some "event" in his game.
[ he understands video games even less than he understands blogs ]
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[please, like he'd admit to anything.
though don't mind him as he takes a moment to stifle laughter over hikage's gradual acclimation to being modern.]
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but once hikage walks away, stephanie just immediately walks over to where belph is seated. hewwo, she hasn't forgotten you. ]
It's okay. I missed you, too.
[ you can't hide from her, binch. she reaches over to pinch his cheek to be annoying. ]
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[ hikage's voice echoes from Steph's room when he hears Belph's comment. bwaka... you're gonna get a room with them. ]
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[let him play his game binch]
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[ so no, binch
hikage is in another room so belph is getting her full, annoying attention ]
i'm DEAD i get to tag now
You didn't get hurt, did you?
i never died so