The first part, at least - not so much the part about running. And never in that kind of tone; it's always been about Souji not wanting the attention, insisting he was fine, it's always been about annoyance or anger. It's always been about Souji not wanting to be treated like a child or an invalid, wanted to be treated completely normally when Hijikata's never understood how to even look at him that way, because there's too much history and too many complications between them not to hang over every word, look, and gesture that passes between them.
It's never been about fear, but he's hard pressed to hear the desperation in Souji's tone as anything but.
And from the way Souji's gaze doesn't settle or linger on anything else around or behind him, the way his hand slides down to his sword without his eyes locking onto anything but Hijikata, he knows that whatever Souji's afraid of, it isn't something so simple or concrete as hey, there's a monster behind you.
His own hand drops to his sword, not drawing yet; he takes a few long steps back from Souji but only a few, because - goddammit, how does Souji expect him to run off and leave the one person he has left?
no life did not eat me for like two weeks whatever gave that impression...
The first part, at least - not so much the part about running. And never in that kind of tone; it's always been about Souji not wanting the attention, insisting he was fine, it's always been about annoyance or anger. It's always been about Souji not wanting to be treated like a child or an invalid, wanted to be treated completely normally when Hijikata's never understood how to even look at him that way, because there's too much history and too many complications between them not to hang over every word, look, and gesture that passes between them.
It's never been about fear, but he's hard pressed to hear the desperation in Souji's tone as anything but.
And from the way Souji's gaze doesn't settle or linger on anything else around or behind him, the way his hand slides down to his sword without his eyes locking onto anything but Hijikata, he knows that whatever Souji's afraid of, it isn't something so simple or concrete as hey, there's a monster behind you.
His own hand drops to his sword, not drawing yet; he takes a few long steps back from Souji but only a few, because - goddammit, how does Souji expect him to run off and leave the one person he has left?
He's seen what happens when he runs.