bakerstreet | Take Care

Take Care

The "Take Care" Meme
a shipping meme

Life is hard. You can go through rough patches and over bumps, and sometimes it feels as though you're definitely worse for the wear, both physically and mentally. It's nice to have someone - someone more than a friend - there for you in those times...even if you don't think you want them or deserve them. But they're here, and they'll take care of you.

How to Play:
* This is a shipping meme for more tender, soft moments, but a little more serious than your usual "fluff." It's for people who've been broken down by their experience and those who wish to heal them.
* Comment with your character/your preferences. You may also want to specify whether your character will be the one "cared for" or the one doing the "caring" + pertinent information, but for most effectiveness, it's best to be open to both.
* Comment around.

Prompts
1. Know You've Been Hurt By Someone Else: There are scars left on their heart from a past relationship or fling, and you have to let them know you're not the same way.
2. Can Tell By the Way You Carry Yourself: The person you have feelings for is one of those "cold stone wall" types who pushes people away. Can you get past that?
3. I've Asked About You: You've only heard bad things about this person, but you don't believe it.
4. What's a Life with No Fun: Lighten up a bit! You'd do anything to bring a smile to their face.
5. Please Don't Be So Ashamed: You have a big, BIG secret you don't want the other person to find out about, because surely they wouldn't want to even be near you if they did.
6. I've Had Mine, You've Had Yours: You've both had problems, and it could help to compare wounds so they can begin to heal.
7. Those Lies Heal: Protecting your loved one is more important that the truth, isn't it? It's a lie, but there are good intentions here.
8. You Can't Sleep: Because of past trauma, you're having a sleepless night. Luckily, this time you have somebody to help you and give you some comfort.
9. You Cry Still: The obligatory "seeing your significant other/love cry over something and wanting to make them stop at any cost" option.
10. All Get a Little Taste: Your loved one is sick or injured - literally this time - and you're looking out for them and trying to get them better.
11. You Just Don't Know: Either through magic, torture, or blunt trauma to the head, your special person can't remember you! It's up to you to get them to remember what was between you two by showing all the ways you cared for each other.
12. I Give Her Space: Part of being a careful lover is knowing when you need to leave them alone.
13. Tryna Run from That: Uh-oh, you don't want to fall in love, because you've been there, done that! Maybe there's still time to escape from this...or maybe it's too late.
14. I Will Care for You: After a particularly rough day, you're need a little TLC. Your loved one is going to do everything for you - a bath, food, the works.
15. All the Baggage Just Ain't as Heavy: You know it will take a while for this person to mend psychologically and spiritually, and you're willing to wait.
16. Change the Pace: And the smut option. Show you care through sex.
17. We'll Just Go Slow: You're going to take things one step at a time. No need to rush and define things. Just enjoy each other's company and the healing it brings.
18. We All Have Our Nights: Your lover, because of their past experience, is having a complete breakdown. You have to bring them back from the edge.
19. You Don't Say You Love Me: You both know how you feel, but one of you is having problems saying the four letter word. That's okay, though. Your lover understands.
20. To Save You: After months or years, you've both worked on the problems and old scars and you might just be ready to start something resembling a normal love.
21. CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE

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[It happens too quick for him to process. One second she's looking up at him, and then the next she's pulling him down and pressing her lips to his. It makes his body relax for just a split-second before it tightens up again. His dark eyes go even wider as his face burns. For a brief, brief moment, he doesn't think about these missions or his fallen comrade or the burning need inside of him to recklessly put himself out there over and over.

Then he's quickly pulling back from her and looking into her face. His brow furrows even as he blushes intensely, and he moves his lips as if he's about to ask "why" yet again, but he pauses and just drops his gaze downward as he thinks.

Normally he can read someone and their actions very easily, but that kiss after his question... what does that mean? Does it really mean the obvious? That she likes him? She cares for him? Or is she just kissing him to try and keep him from doing stupid things? Would she use her body against him? No, she wouldn't. Even if kunoichi are accustomed to that sort of thing, he doesn't think Ino would ever do that to him.

So he doesn't have any sort of response except the intense redness to his face. He quickly turns his back to her like he's going to leave her, but he doesn't move immediately. Then he slowly reaches behind him for her hand -- no, not her hand, just one of her fingers.]

A-Ah... can we walk for a bit?

[There's the Kirito she knows, isn't it? She can't help but be as pleased as she ever is that she can get him to blush. Too late she realizes that she had just given her first kiss to Kirito and her own cheeks warm a little. She had just been so desperate for him to know that there was someone in this world that cares about him that she'll do whatever she can to make things easier.

That she didn't think much of how her first kiss wasn't this totally romantic, swooning experience. It was certainly emotional, though.

It's too bad he pulls away, really. It was nice. Although when he turns around she can feel her eyes widen and she wonders if this is his rejection to her feelings. So when her hand -- no, her finger, what a dork -- is grabbed she looks up again at the back of his head.

Walk?]

Um, okay.

[As long as it's not a short walk off a long pier. But she's moving her hand around to better hold his and step up next to him.]

[She probably doesn't know that it's his first kiss as well. Maybe he'll tell her. For now, he just wants to go away from the bulletin board, and for the first time in a long time, he doesn't want to be alone. Ino's made it clear (he thinks) that she likes him and cares for him, at least enough to get mad at him for being reckless and also enough to kiss him like that. If that's the case, then he won't mind her company at all.

He still doesn't look at her even when she stands next to him. His face is still red as well. All he can do is clear his throat and start to walk, holding her hand as she makes the grip more natural. He doesn't have any clear destination, so he takes the first street out of the village square and walks.

And stays quiet. All he wants is her company.]

[For her part, Ino is weirdly quiet too for a long time. It's not like her to be quiet, usually, but she had her moments. She knows Kirito is going through a tough time and it's hard to decide what would be better. She decides to just be herself, even if herself is being a little more shy than usual that they've kissed now. For reals.

Actually, she wants to kiss him again. But his face is still really red so she'll refrain and just be happy he's a little more like himself. A little more happy or some variation of it. She hopes he's happy anyway, they just kissed.]

So you're not going to say anything?

[He finally glances over at her when she speaks, but he still doesn't have anything to say. Nothing immediately comes to mind, at least. It's not a situation he's accustomed to at all. Ino was always pushing his comfort zone anyways, and now she'd kissed him and made it obvious she's interested in him. At least he thinks she's interested. She cares one way or the other.]

Mh...

[They stop by a streetlamp, and he reaches up to hold his chin with his free hand. He notices how hot his face feels just from that, and he wishes the blush would just go away. After a moment to pause, he looks at her again.]

Was that a mind jutsu? Before all I could think about... was the mission. Now all I can think about is, ah, you.

[At first she stares then she lets out a long sigh and reaches up with her own free hand to rub at her temple.]

I kissed you and you think it's a mind jutsu.

[He's probably just being funny but if it was her mind jutsu he wouldn't be aware that all he can think about is Ino. He wouldn't be able to say it out loud either. Chances are she would be unconscious too.]

Here.

[She'll show him it's not a mind jutsu. And she also wants to do it again. This time she grabs a handful of his shirt and tugs. It's a much more smooth, confident action than her first of grabbing his face and guiding him down. Now she's got a bit more flair to it.

Once his face, his lips, are at a spot she can reach she kisses him again and then lingers there. If it keeps him from thinking about the mission then that's good.]

[Well, he knows what her specialty is. He also knows his mind was racing about the mission and what he wanted to do about it. Then she kissed him and that all seemed to fade away mostly. It could also be the fact that she made her feelings clear, that she cared about him. She told him he wasn't worthless. Maybe that's the reasoning behind his change of mind.

Or it's a jutsu. Either way...

But she kisses him again and he can't think of anything other than how soft her lips feel and how she tastes. His observant mind is busy picking out those details. He should probably be thinking of other things or trying to return the kiss, but he's analyzing every bit at first.

Then he reaches up with his free hand, holds the back of her head, and pushes his lips more deeply against hers as he leans down to meet her halfway so she doesn't have to stretch up so much.]

[He's kissing her back now. They're kissing by a streetlamp on one of the less busy back streets of Konoha. She feels like a teenager instead of the powerful kunoichi she is. Her heart flutters in her chest because he's kissing her back and making it deeper.

Decidedly not a rejection.

Her hand loosens on his shirt and she pulls back slowly, eyes opening just as. When she looks up at him, her cheeks are red too and her breathing is a little more labored with parted lips.]

Kirito...

[When she looks at him like that, his own heart flutters a little. It feels funny, but the overall effect of being warmer and fuzzier is a somewhat pleasant one. Before she had always garnered mostly embarrassed and shy feelings out of him. Now he realizes that the reason she could always make him feel those things was because she means more to him than most people. That's why she makes him forget about the mission, and that's why he kisses her back so deeply.

He looks at her for a moment before glancing away and smiling sheepishly. His free hand reaches back behind him to rub at his neck for a second. Then he finally glances back into her eyes.]

My first kiss belongs to Ino-san.

[Honestly, she's not surprised but it's still nice to hear it. If he gets so flustered over her grabbing his arm or holding his hand, chances were he hasn't exactly shared his first kiss with someone. It makes her happy and like... even if things turn out bad (not Sasuke level but that possibility was there) he'll always remember her.

He promised to, anyway. But now he really would remember her. She smiles softly, looking a lot more demure than she usually is. Actually, the demure look almost looks wrong if it wasn't so cute on such a pretty kunoichi.]

Mine belongs to you too, believe it or not. And the second one.

[She finally grins a little, folding her hands in front of her. It's been a long time since she's felt this way. It's the first time he's garnered the embarrassed and shy Ino.]

And I hope at least the next ten or so will be yours too.

[Then he is her first kiss as well? He is surprised at that. She's so confident and always flirting. On top of that, she always has guys talking to her, trying to get her attention. She could have the pick of the village if she wanted. Now she's saying she's never kissed anyone. Kirito is her first just like she's his first.

And she wants him to have the next ten or so.

With that said, he holds his chin and thinks for a few more moments. Then he nods at her, the blush fading from his face as well as the sheepish look. If anything he looks completely normal and relaxed as he drops his hands.]

Challenge accepted.

[Then he leans in and kisses her again without warning.]

Eh?

[That's about all she can get out before he's kissing her again. Her eyes widen but then close slowly. That's a move she didn't expect out of Kirito at all. Had kissing him made him go crazy with confidence and he was going to be the one wrapping his arm around her when they walked together or picking her up to carry her places randomly?

... That doesn't sound so bad.

But of course she kisses him back, not caring if someone was walking down the street and could see them publicly displaying their affection for each other.]

[Not exactly. She's just made him confident enough for this one thing. There's never going to be a time he doesn't get shy and awkward, but since she's told him she wants more kisses, he approaches the topic quickly and decisively like it's a battle. If he doesn't think too much about it, he doesn't have to get embarrassed.

Of course, the longer the kiss goes, the more he thinks. After a few moments of moving his lips, he quickly pulls away with that lopsided, awkward smile as his eyes glance off to the side. Then he turns to face the street again.]

Hahhh... w-well, that's one out of ten.

[One out of ten, indeed. She doesn't want to rush it but it's hard to stop now that she knows what it's like. Her chest feels warm from the contact of their mouths and she feels fuzzy in her head. Unfocused. It's not a good thing for a ninja who depends on mind techniques.]

Two.

[She says and then turns him in his spot to kiss him again, this time tilting her head so their noses don't bump. So she can get closer. While her lips move gently, she reaches for his hand and pulls it around her just as she reaches for the back of his head.]

[Oh, two out of ten. Alright, he can't really stop her, though he is feeling shy again. The kiss is slightly different in technique since she tilts her head. He does the same and it makes their kiss much deeper. Her taste is more noticeable as well as the subtle way in which her lips move. He mimics the action so the kiss is different.

She also reaches for his hand to pull it around her. He hesitates for a second, palm hovering over the skin of her bare, lower back. Then he presses it slowly against her and draws her closer to him, warm hand on bare back, fingers skimming lightly because he doesn't know how to touch her.

After the awkwardness gets to him yet again, he has to break the kiss and chuckle nervously.]

Nnh, two. Hahahah... m-maybe we should save the rest if I'm only allowed ten.

[Before he didn't have a problem brushing his knuckles against her stomach over and over. Maybe because they're kissing, too. It had been intimate before and it's intimate now.

Two is good for now, she thinks and she smiles up at him.]

I said at least ten. There's going to be a lot more than that, definitely.

[Especially now that she's gotten him away from the bulletin board. She lays her head on his chest happily, hugging him again.

Nothing really has to be said. Kirito seems to have gotten the hint now that she likes him. He's right before about how ninja have to be emotionless tools. They still try and it's better if nobody hears Ino admit aloud that she likes Kirito.

Not until they're alone.]

Ah...

[Okay then. He can deal with that correction. Maybe he was being too literal. What a dork, he thinks. He almost wants to facepalm, but he can't do that when Ino is pressing close and resting her head on his chest. It's easy to do considering he's much taller than she is. She seems comfortable, so he doesn't push her away even if he's burning all the way to his ears. At least nobody has come by yet.

Slowly and carefully, he reaches up and gently combs through her hair a few times. This is very nice, and he savors the moment for a few seconds before he lets go.]

A-Anyways, I'll walk you home if you want.

[Maybe she should have said at least hundred actually. She had plans to kiss him every day if only to remind him that she cares and that she likes him. It's funny he didn't realize it fully until she actually had her lips planted on his. As if the way she clung to him and flirted wasn't enough of a sign.

She knew boys were dumb but really.

Combing through her hair is extremely nice and she doesn't want to walk home yet if he's going to hold her and run his fingers through her hair. Too bad he lets go.]

Are you trying to get rid of me now? That's mean, after we kissed like that.

[She's a little giddy over it.]

Hah? No, I'm...

[That's not what he means. Well, crap. He doesn't know how to act. She's messed him up completely, but she probably isn't surprised. She was always flustering him. The only way he can act normal or confident is if he doesn't think at all when he interacts with her, but that's impossible considering how much his mind is always at work. Even when he's not trying, his mind is always running different scenarios and trains of thought.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair as he closes his eyes. She must think he's such an amateur. To be honest, he is when it comes to girls and this situation. That's why he's failing so utterly hard.

After a bit, he pops one eye open to look at her.]

Ino-san... are you my girlfriend now? I-I mean... are we... together?

[She knows it's not what he means and she laughs quietly because it's almost too easy getting him all wound up. At this rate she can probably add 'making Kirito blush' to her list of hobbies. For a guy that always tries to act cool, he was really shy.

It was too cute, she couldn't resist teasing if he's like that.

But this time he makes her blush a little when a word like 'girlfriend' is brought up. Kissing doesn't necessarily mean they're dating, even if she wants to. Kunoichi have to kiss enemy ninja all the time in certain missions but that definitely didn't mean they were dating.

To a couple of teenagers who like each other though? Yeah, she can see how he would ask that question.]

Do you want me to be your girlfriend?

[It's always frustrating to have a question answered with another question. Why can't she just give him a straight answer? He almost wants to frown and fold his arms over his chest, but all he can do instead is slump a little. She was putting him on the spot, teasing him because it's so easy. Kirito can see what she's doing. If she were anybody else, he'd probably be very rude and blunt in return.

His only possible solution is to answer her question. He should answer with another question of his own, but he can't do that right now. Instead, he looks at her for a few moments before slowly nodding.]

Yeah.

[Well. He's definitely still blunt and just having him nod and say yes to her asking if he wants her to be his girlfriend throws her. Her teasing expression drops and her eyes widen. She thought he might stutter some more and avert his eyes but Kirito actually keeps eye contact and nods.

He's serious and she's not exactly immune to her crush asking her to be his girlfriend. Especially because it's never happened. Ino could flirt and tease and be physical but when it came down to it compliments still flattered her, having her crush return her feelings makes her heart beat fast and her cheeks to warm. Ino was still just a girl. A pretty, flirty one but still a girl.]

Really?

[Was she not expecting that answer? He blinks a few times. Did she think he would say no? Maybe he never makes his attraction too obvious since he's too shy about it, but she had to think or at least realize that he liked her too, especially when he kissed her back and all. She had to have an inkling of an idea, right? So what other answer would she expect from him? Or maybe it's that she didn't expect him to answer at all.

He smiles and looks to the side again, just nodding once more.]

If Ino-san wants me to be her boyfriend, that is.

[They keep going back and forth with this so she'll do them both a favor and wrap her arms around his shoulders and pull herself against his chest so their faces are very close to each other.]

Be my boyfriend, Kirito.

[He still has to ask her out though. That's how she wants it.]

[And she has him off-guard once again. He tenses up and places his hands on her hips since he doesn't want his arms to just rest at his sides. That would be pretty stupid if she's hugging him and he's standing there like a dead fish, so the best thing he can think of is to just rest them lightly on her hips, thumbs brushing her sides.]

R-Right, Ino-san. I mean Girlfriend-san. Or sama?

[He laughs a little, smiles some, and then looks away. Since nobody is around when he glances, he relaxes a little and looks back into her eyes, nodding finally.]

Be my girlfriend, Buta-san.

Take Care

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