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[Gokudera watches as his friend bows, then he rubs the back of his own neck before giving a soft groan. It doesn't make him feel any better to watch Zuko apologize so much.]

I did it to myself, Zuko. You only encouraged me. I'd have found this out one way or another... [That with his elemental magic, he has electricity and it is dangerous. Better he find out while in someone else's company than on his own and risk hurting himself further out of some wild need to grow stronger, prove himself, or try to feel better with some reckless self-harm.

He gets up and stretches, throat still burning, but he imagines that may be the case for a while. Looking down at Zuko, there is nothing but affection in his gaze. Gokudera offers his hand.]

Stop that, Zuko! You have nothing to be sorry over. Come on, there's training to do.

[ Zuko's surprised to hear Gokudera say "Come on, there's training to do," looking back at him with wide eyes as he stands straight up again slowly. He almost wants to call it into question, like "You really still want to train?!" but the fact of the matter is... so would Zuko, probably, in Gokudera's position. So it just makes him smile a lopsided smile, endeared knowing they share this, uh, certain intensity in their personalities. There are maybe other words for it — some might say reckless. Definitely gung-ho guys. But whatever that trait is that would make Gokudera still wanna train even while his throat is still burning from being electrocuted, Zuko fancies it's one of those "this is why we're friends" things. He just nods a single sharp, decisive nod at him, locking eyes. Even if so much has happened with Gokudera being "away," however bizarre it sounds, he's still very much himself, in this world, in that world, in some other world, there's something consistent about his character that Zuko just likes and standing here with his hand outstretched to Zuko after everything he'd just described he'd been through... ...Of course Zuko smiles back! ]

Yeah. We can keep training. Maybe we'll hold off on lightning magic, though, huh... [ Is that supposed to be a joke? ] You take the lead now. My way, uh— isn't working. [ Is that supposed to be a joke...?! They once joked about eating each other or something in Lunatia, it'a fine, it's fine... ]

For as much as that hurt, [And oh boy did it. Gokudera is very much not a fan of being electrocuted, but guesses it won't be the first or last time he'll suffer it] I do feel a bit better. Maybe I should just yell while I train?

[Even if all he does is throw dynamite.]

I'll set up some targets. You want to throw some dynamite with me?

[Blowing stuff up is fun. Throwing things that explode is even better.]

Edited 2021-06-21 03:14 (UTC)

Uh, yeah— [ Like that's a question! ] I've never done that.

[ Okay of course there's a part of him that's just naturally excited about this? He's still worried about Gokudera, but he seems to be taking it lightly, so Zuko figures he'll follow suit and gauge Gokudera's reaction to mimic him... because otherwise he's just gonna keep fixating on all his trauma surrounding lightning, between his sister almost killing his uncle and his father trying to kill him and his own redirection almost killing his father in turn, Gokudera electrocuting himself on Zuko's command... uh... stung... So if he just wants to blow it off and blow shit up, then that seems like the best idea. Follow his lead. Zuko doesn't smile to show it, but he'll be slowly relieved by this, he's sure.

He's also sure Gokudera has enough on his person to spare, so doesn't even bother asking about his supply. He knows it's not quite endless, but uh, he remembers those little packets Gokudera whipped out the day they met in Lunatia. He's sure there's plenty explosives for them both to play with... ]

Hey. There are a lot of people who never have and never will want to throw dynamite. Far too dangerous or whatever.

[Gokudera will make sure Zuko is safe, though. He's going to move on and easily settle into the familiar act of training with dynamite, but there's also the rush of throwing something that could potentially kill you if you don't time the throw carefully. It's distracting. Easy to not think about electrocution when there are explosives packed all over his body.

It would be safe to assume he has an endless supply. Gokudera can seemingly make dynamite appear. How? Where is he keeping it? It'll be a mystery he will take to his grave, more than likely.

He sets up one target, and decides that even if they blow it up, they can use the scorch marks as the next target and so on. Gokudera motions for Zuko to follow him a safe distance away before he's pulling out a stick and handing it to his friend.]

Before you light it. Look at how long the fuse is, [Gokudera pinches the cord coming off the stick.] It is longer than usual because this is actual dynamite. The fuse on my smoke bombs are shorter, since they don't cause much damage at all. But this one is a safety fuse. For every centimeter, there is two seconds. This length will take... one minute as it is roughly thirty centimeters. Always treat the dynamite as if it has less time so that your distance will keep you safe. When you are ready, light the fuse and throw it at your target. If you don't throw it far enough, we'll have to move back, okay?

[There, something intense for Zuko to focus on, and Gokudera will be watching him with avid interest.]

[ Zuko watches on as Gokudera sets up their target, glancing around the training grounds to case the scene, but he then listens to his explanation with rapt attention. There definitely is a certain rush he's feeling already, just holding the stick in his hands. He considers using his fire magic to light it, but... doesn't trust himself... after burning down the meditation tent with Hikaru by accident when he felt confident he had control of his fire. So he whips out one of the ~~fidget~~ lighters he always has on him (yes, he's still doing that here...!) but hesitates before lighting the fuse. There is a strange excitement he can't place, an adrenaline junkie without even realizing it. But he trusts Gokudera to know what he's talking about... and to know how this rush feels.

So swallowing the barest hint of a smile, more of a twitch than a smile (because he shouldn't be smiling about this, should he!?), he goes ahead and flicks the flame on and lights the fuse. He holds it in his hand for just two seconds to admire the sparks and process what he's just done... and then hurls the thing as far as he can toward the target Gokudera set up. It lands fairly close to it, but Zuko still takes a few broad steps back preemptively as soon as he throws it, anyway. Then looks to Gokudera with an odd, exhilarated, expectant look, but says nothing, bracing himself for the explosion. ]

[Gokudera smiles, eager to do something so familiar, and to share it with a friend. This definitely helps take the focus off of everything else they were doing, and he always looks forward to blowing something up, even if it's only the dynamite itself and nothing else sustains damage. Zuko could miss the target entirely and it would still be wildly entertaining.

As soon as the fuse is lit, Gokudera's counting down in his head. It's thrown with plenty of time to spare, and he doesn't move, just waits and gives Zuko a nod before looking forward and waiting. He's always eager for the bomb to go off.

And when it does, there's more noise and shockwave than heat or fire. That all seems fairly small. Gokudera likes to make some of his bombs so that they fling enemies, and if they get burned or scorched, that's just their problem with being too close. The shock that cuts through the air makes the ground rumble slightly and leaves a fine cloud of smoke that will soon vanish. He takes out another, lifts it to his cigarette and watches the fuse, then throws it. It explodes just as it's falling at the top of the target, knocking it over and sending another thunderous 'boom' in the air.]

Want another? [He has to yell, but it should sound like a normal volume to Zuko. Ears ringing, he kind of... has to raise his voice.]

[ The first loud boom draws Zuko's hands to his ears, ever sensitive, but it's... exhilarating? Watching Gokudera's explode in midair practically brings stars to his eyes. Why is this fun? Like... somewhat wanton destruction that is at the same time harmless? Something cathartic in that... This is better than roaring. And things that go boom are just kinda thrilling, who knows why. Controlled chaos. Zuko lowers his hands when Gokudera turns to speak to him, and nods enthusiastically, face bright although still stern and smileless despite his excitement. He matches Gokudera's volume, yelling back as he reaches out an open hand to accept another, lighter at the ready in his other hand. ]

Yeah!

[ They could easily do this for several more sticks and Zuko will probably hear ringing in his ears for a while by the end of it... But it'd be worth it. And it'd be worth it if only because, ironically it's safer than Zuko's advice to Gokudera on how to assuage his feelings, and because it might help Gokudera let off some steam. He's happy to be here for that. But... the dynamite is pretty cool, he can't deny he likes it. Probably mostly because of Gokudera, though; whichever Gokudera he's talking to, after all the versions he's met now, in a sense, there's still a throughstring... it's still the same person he's had fun with all this time. Just another weird bonding moment in their ever-changing, ever-complicated friendship. ]

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