Busy schedules are thankfully something he knows how to handle over the years. Maybe because he's learned to multi-task when he was a pro gamer in the middle of his high school years but whatever the reasons may be, Emu is pretty grateful that he knows how to balance work and rest to an extent that he won't burn himself out.

He's even more grateful when he uses that experience to make sure that he will always have time to spend with Parad.

Emu isn't blind and he's not ignorant. He knows that Parad always seems to keep himself in check whenever he wants to spend time together. Many wouldn't think that someone who has childlike tendencies (especially with a short attention span outside of games and battles) would be so considerate of Emu's time and needs. But then, people sometimes forget that Parad is not a child; is infact the oldest bugster in existence, who is actually quite mature but choose not to be unless when necessary.

But Emu doesn't like that Parad holds himself back, so he makes sure that his bugster knows that he can as selfish as wants to be with Emu- just like how he's always allowed to be selfish with Parad.

"You really don't mind?" Parad asks, voice soft as they lie side by side on the hospital rooftop, hands clasp between them.

Emu smiles, threading their fingers together. "Of course."

"...okay." Parad turns to him, impish mouth pulling down into a pout. "Spend time with me?"

Shifting, he leans his forehead against Parad's. "Sure."

"Want you for the whole day on Sunday."

"Done." He closes his eyes in content, letting the warm winds ruffle his hair. "You got something in mind?"

Parad nuzzles his face. "The movies, maybe? Haven't been to the cinema in years."

Emu blinks opened his eyes at that. "Really? Why not?"

"Ain't fun goin' there alone," Parad says with a shrug. "Now that we're okay, I want to do all of things we could've done together in the years we've missed."

Emu bumps their noses together. "We're more than okay, Parad."

"Right." A slow, happy smile spreads across Parad's lips. "We're better."

Emu nods. "Much, much better."

"The best?" Parad whispers, leaning close with a grin.

Mirroring the expression, Emu nods as he leans in. "Invincibly so."

A beat, before they burst out laughing.

"Then," he says as his laugh petters out. "What do you want to watch?"

Parad beams, rolling over to drape over him like a warm blanket and launches on tangent about a game they both like that's been adapted into a movie. Emu delights at the fact and joins in to add his own opinions as they nerd out together.

There are times though, when he prefers Parad take full control of the conversation, content to let Parad's voice wash over him; warm and playful. In those times, the words blur because Emu is more interested in holding his Heart close and listening to the cadence of his voice. More often than not, it's because whenever Parad is in close proximity, his thoughts are silenced as he basks in the bugster's electrifying warmth.

But still, Parad is watching him as he quiets, a strangely familiar glint in eyes that makes Emu shudder for reasons he has no right to think about.

Emu is no stranger to his own emotions and thoughts, knows that somewhere along the way, Parad has become someone irrevocably precious and so very dear. There are times like right now when Emu will be caught in the warmth and the comfort, reaching for golden sunbeams so that he can tuck them close to him like the miracles they are. However...whenever he tries to reach far, memories of the painful ways he hurt Parad will resurface like an open wound- the rejection, the narrow sightedness.

Muteki.

They've both done stupid things. Hurtful and painful things to one another so what right does Emu has to-

Parad pokes his nose.

Emu blinks.

Ah...he's doing it again.

Parad stares down at him, tender affection pulling the corners of his lips up ever so slightly that softens his sharp features. The sight of him makes something uncurl within Emu's chest.

"Let's book our tickets after work," he settles when Parad doesn't look away. "We can get the best seats if we do it early."

Parad nods, thoughtful still. "Sure."

There's a moment where it looks like Parad wants to say- do something but stops himself at the last second. That strangely familiar glint in the bugster's eyes gives him pause and he wonders at the odd sense of deja vu. But when he peers closer and sees himself being reflected within Parad's eyes, Emu feels the wind knocked right out of him.

...Oh.

Oh.

It's mutual.

That both change and complicate things doesn't it? But at the same time...

It makes things oh so very simple.

Whatever his feelings are for his bugster, Emu finds it reassuring to know they are reciprocated. He's okay not knowing what those feelings really are for now, though, and he's more than okay letting things between them grow in time because at least Emu knows that he's not alone in this.

In the early days after Parad's resurrection, Emu remembers that there was still some level of resistance from both of them when it comes to their complicated feelings for one another, though less than when they first became allies. Now however, there is a sense of give and take between them. It's a sense of a golden dawn ready to break, and when it does, Emu knows, when there will be sunlight to reveal their healing scars, then they really can have everything.

There's an answer somewhere in this beautiful, complicated bond he and Parad share. It's unique and everything and nothing- beyond definition. Maybe it's something that will take time and, a great deal of dedication and patience but Emu feels that this is something to look forward to.

Something worth waiting for.