[Balthus leans over, into Yuri's space, and snatches the pen from his hand before Yuri can so much as act. Which is a feat in and of itself, considering how much faster than Balthus he usually is. He can deny his exhaustion all he wants, but it's obvious in moments like this, reactions sluggish where they should be deft. It doesn't stop Yuri from standing up from his chair in a blur of motion, staring up at Balthus. There's a stillness to his body, a steely glint in his eyes. Not Yuri, but the savage mockingbird.
And just as quickly, Yuri falters, shoulders dropping as he buries his face into his hand.]
Sorry. I... don't know what's gotten into me.
[He does know. He just doesn't want to acknowledge it, because that would mean conceding defeat. And worse, giving Balthus more reason to interfere with Yuri working. He knows he's trying to help, but Abyss needs Yuri more. If he has to sacrifice sleep or otherwise for it, then so be it.]
I miss when you weren't so nosy.
[A lie. The closer they've gotten, the more Balthus wants to push Yuri's boundaries, dig deeper, get him to open up more than he willingly has for anyone else before. But Yuri wouldn't want to go back to how things were before, loathe as he is to admit it.
He pushes in his chair. An olive branch, maybe. Or a bait and switch to get Balthus to ease up so Yuri can go back to working once his back is turned.]
no subject
[Balthus leans over, into Yuri's space, and snatches the pen from his hand before Yuri can so much as act. Which is a feat in and of itself, considering how much faster than Balthus he usually is. He can deny his exhaustion all he wants, but it's obvious in moments like this, reactions sluggish where they should be deft. It doesn't stop Yuri from standing up from his chair in a blur of motion, staring up at Balthus. There's a stillness to his body, a steely glint in his eyes. Not Yuri, but the savage mockingbird.
And just as quickly, Yuri falters, shoulders dropping as he buries his face into his hand.]
Sorry. I... don't know what's gotten into me.
[He does know. He just doesn't want to acknowledge it, because that would mean conceding defeat. And worse, giving Balthus more reason to interfere with Yuri working. He knows he's trying to help, but Abyss needs Yuri more. If he has to sacrifice sleep or otherwise for it, then so be it.]
I miss when you weren't so nosy.
[A lie. The closer they've gotten, the more Balthus wants to push Yuri's boundaries, dig deeper, get him to open up more than he willingly has for anyone else before. But Yuri wouldn't want to go back to how things were before, loathe as he is to admit it.
He pushes in his chair. An olive branch, maybe. Or a bait and switch to get Balthus to ease up so Yuri can go back to working once his back is turned.]