Seventeen-
Xenosaga, Jin/chaos
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Tony looked up. "What?"

"It seems that someone has once again decided my futon is the most comfortable place on the ship," Jin said, nudging the little blanket-wrapped bundle of chaos with one toe. chaos made a little sound, but didn't wake.

"Oh, yeah, he does that," Tony said, laughing. "He used to fall asleep in my bunk all the time. Said it was more comfortable than his. What's that about? They're all the same!"

Jin glanced at Tony. Standing in front of a wall covered with his beloved 'girls' (printed out from photodumps on the UMN), dressed to kill (well, Tony's definition of kill), perpetually on the make (and not terribly discriminating), a bottomless repository of dirty jokes (all of which Jin had heard during his army days)--and yet shaking his head over something like chaos falling asleep in his bed like chaos was just a wayward younger brother. He wasn't even thinking it. Not a raised eyebrow or lewd grin in sight, and those were close to Tony's default state.

"Guess you get to share again, huh, Jin?" Jr. said. He wasn't thinking it either. "Hey, it keeps the bed hog off of me, right?"

"The sacrifices I make for the team," Jin proclaimed, turning to look at them all. There was a ripple of laughter but it was oddly, almost ominously innocent. Jin shook his head and looked back down at the peacefully sleeping chaos. He did look innocent like that, and Jin seemed to be the only one who was capable of thinking any differently. "Ah, well. Pleasant dreams."

The others chorused a ragged 'good night' as Jin pulled the paper screen forward, shielding his futon from the rest of the men's bunk. By the time he stripped off his yukata and lay down someone else had dimmed the lights and chaos' eyes were open, almost lavender in the dimness. His gaze was steady and thoughtful and not quite as innocent as before.

"Good morning," Jin murmured.

"Good evening," chaos said, unfolding the covers and sliding over on top of Jin. He was naked under there--Jin had somehow known he would be--and suddenly this wasn't innocent at all, despite chaos' little smile, just for him.

Jin put a hand on chaos' bare back and closed his eyes. The world outside the screen had ceased to exist; he had faith that it was so. Perfect, unquestioning faith. He'd never had a talent for faith before. It was a gift that had been recently bestowed upon him, generous, unasked-for, desperately needed. Another gift, so similar to the first.

"You honor me," he said, and laughed softly.

"What?" chaos asked, his smile flashing in the dark.

Jin opened his eyes and said the only thing he could. "Never mind."