After dinner, Shouri immediately locked himself in his room, Ken left with Jose; and everyone else settled in for the night. Gwendal set up his and Gunter's futons in the living room while Wolfram snored away in Yuuri's bed, curled up with Greta. Shouma and his wife retired early bidding their guests good-night.
That just left Yuuri and Conrad.
Conrad was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, watching Gwendal get comfortable as Yuuri draped himself over the cushions.
"Are you tired, Yuuri?" Conrad asked, tilting his head back to look at his godson.
"Hmm? Sort of... I just doubt I'm going to get any sleep tonight." he grumbled. "Sleeping with Wolfram sucks even when we have a king-sized bed. My bed can barely fit the both of us, never mind Greta."
Conrad nodded in understanding, trying to squash the stirring of emotion in his chest from the mental image of Yuuri and Wolfram sharing a bed of that size.
"Hey, where's Gunter?" Yuuri asked as Gwendal finally slipped under the covers.
"In the restroom." Conrad said before standing with a stretch. "Would you like to step outside for a bit?"
"Sure!" Yuuri beamed. "Let me get my shoes."
It didn't take long for Conrad and Yuuri to get ready as they headed out into the night for a short walk. The air was crisp and cold, making Yuuri glad he brought his winter jacket as he huddled close to Conrad's side.
"Are you sure it doesn't hurt?" Yuuri asked, looping his arm through Conrad's broken one.
The man shrugged and gave Yuuri a smile.
"Would you be mad if I said I've had worse?" he said softly. "It'll heal. I'm more embarrassed than anything."
"Embarrassed?" Yuuri echoed, looking confused.
"Mhmm," Conrad hummed, "It's as Shouri said- I'm a soldier... I've fallen from greater heights without injury. I should have been able to avoid it."
"Auugh, Shouri!" Yuuri groaned, "Please don't listen to him, Conrad. He's such a jerk sometimes."
"He cares about you." Conrad said, picturing Wolfram speaking about himself in such a manner and imagining what he'd like the listening party to say in return.
"Doesn't mean he's not a jerk." Yuuri grumbled. "I can't believe you broke it- what are we going to do when you get back to Shinma?" he wondered aloud. "You probably won't be able to use a sword for a while... so Wolfram's going be all 'Conrad can't protect you so I'll protect you!' and Gwendal's going to be all 'Conrad can't sign your papers for you' and I'll have to sign them all alone. Not to mention that's your throwing hand." his touch ghosted over Conrad's cold fingers. "So we can't play catch either."
Conrad's breath was caught in his throat.
Yuuri continued on without noticing.
"How will you wash your hair with only one hand? Or shave? Are you good with your left hand at all?"
"No." Conrad murmured.
"Well, you might be ambidextrous by the time your cast comes off, wouldn't that be cool?"
"I suppose..."
"Well! If you need help doing anything just let me know! I wouldn't mind." Yuuri smiled up at the man. "E-even washing your hair or... y-you know. I'd be glad to help..." he finished with a blush, turning his face away to hide from Conrad's gaze.
"Thank you, Yuuri." Conrad said truthfully, but he couldn't stop the sadness from creeping into his smile. Luckily it was dark and Yuuri was too distracted to notice.
"If you can't use your left hand that well, that means I'm also- temporarily- a better swordsman than you!" Yuuri laughed.
Conrad still couldn't form a reply, so he simply laced his numb fingers with Yuuri's the best he could and gave them a reassuring squeeze.
Whether that reassurance was for Yuuri or himself, he didn't know.
"Let's head back-" Yuuri announced with a smile, turning back the way they came. "It's getting pretty cold out."
Conrad laid on the couch and stared at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. His mind simply would not stop tormenting him.
The longer it went on, the more disturbed Conrad felt until he was breathing hard without realizing it.
Panic.
He was panicking.
'I never noticed- was it always this bad? ' he thought, trying to get comfortable. 'How had I not realized it until now?'
"Conrart."
Conrad winced upon hearing Gwendal's soft, tired voice.
"Sorry, Gwen." he whispered.
"Are you having a panic-"
"No, no." Conrad replied, rubbing a hand through his hair and across his face as he stared into the dark. "...It's not bad."
"Hn." he grunted in return. "Take deep breaths."
"Right..." Conrad nodded. Sure... deep breaths...
Both men winced upon hearing Gunter roll over- before he began to snore like an old dog.
"Night, Gwen." Conrad whispered, rolling onto his side and looking over the edge of the sofa.
"I didn't catch you."
Conrad's eyes widened in surprise.
"Ah... Well, it happened rather quickly..."
"Hn. Goodnight."
"Night..."