Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prompt 1: Victuuri - Proposal, but Character B finds the rings

Prompt 2: Matchablossom - Caught Staring

Prompt 3: Shokohime - Bodyguard

Prompt 4: Andreperry - “I’m never letting you go”

Prompt 5: Leitbiel (OCs) - Amusement Park

Prompt 6: Satosugu - Soulmate

Prompt 7: Victuuri - Poisoned/Assassin

Prompt 8: Sengen - Lost

Prompt 9: Satosgu - “I won’t tell anyone you’re here”

Prompt 10: Andreperry - Slow Dancing

Prompt 11: SYJW - “I thought you were dead”

Prompt 12: Renga - Kissing Lessons

Prompt 13: Victuuri - Cooking

Prompt 14: Lietbiel (OCs) - Back in Time

Prompt 15: Shokohime - Coffee

Prompt 16: Kevjean - “I’m not leaving you”/ Fix-It Fic

Prompt 17: Vashwood - Drunk

Prompt 18: Sengen - “It’s not true, you know”

Prompt 19: Andreil - Morning

Prompt 20: MJJW - Waiting Up All Night

Prompt 21: Pynch - Neighbors

Prompt 22: Howlsophie - Grocery Store

Prompt 23: Asheiji - Jealousy

Prompt 24: Matchablossom - Winter Resort

Prompt 25: Kevjean - Love Letters

Prompt 26: Howlsophie - Their child has a bad dream

Prompt 27: Pynch - Lost in IKEA

Prompt 28: Asheiji - Falling asleep in the car

Prompt 29: Vashwood - Memory Loss

Prompt 30: Shiguang - Dark Secret

Chapter Text

Victor had it all planned out. He and Yuuri were on their yearly visit to Hatsetsu to visit Yuuri’s family and this year the trip fell over Hatsetsu’s spring festival. Complete with the local park’s “Blossom Tunnels” where the Cherry Blossom trees framed and coated the path in pink glow and pale petals. At night the lot up the path. It was perfect. Everyone was in on it, and were prepared for a celebratory party when the two returned when, or rather if, Yuuri said yes.

All he needed was the rings.

Victor had purchased them matching golden rings shortly after Yuuri moved into his St. Petersburg flat and had kept them well hidden for the 478 days since, but now they were nowhere to be found.

He knows he packed them, he double checked and then triple checked. He hadn’t taken them out of his bag since they arrived, instead keeping them neatly tucked away in the one thing he knew Yuuri wouldn’t touch, his satin underwear. They are Victor’s favorite pair because of how comfortable they were, but Yuuri couldn’t stand the texture. He always made Victor fetch them out of the washer himself and hang them to dry, sometimes causing a delay in their laundry cycles if Yuuri had to wait for Victor to get home.

There was no way he had found the rings.

While Yuuri was helping his mother with the dinner rush, Victor scoured their room. He looked in his bags, Yuuri’s bag, he tore off the bedsheets and upended his organized arrangement of skin and hair care products in their shared bathroom. They were nowhere to be found, and Victor was beginning to panic.

He slipped down into the dining room to ask Hiroko if she had seen them. She was known to go to their room to collect laundry, maybe she had seen them and moved them so Victor wouldn’t lose them. 

She simply shook her head and told him to ask Mari, but she hadn’t seen them either. He then took to scouring the locker rooms and laundry rooms as well with no luck. 

With time running out, Victor would have to scrap the idea entirely. He took a deep breath and made his way to the dining room to break the news to Mari and Hiroko so they could cancel the party, but before he could make it to them, he was intercepted by Yuuri.

“Vitya, I was just looking for you,”

“Here I am,” Victor smiled.

“Care to take a walk?”

“Right now? Sure, just let me talk to Mari…”

“She’s busy, you can talk when we get back!”

Yuuri tugged Victor along and out the door. Victor was going to fight, but Yuuri seemed anxious about something, really they could just repurpose the party, make it a festival celebration. Victor would come up with something.

“Yuuri, Lyubov, slow down.”

“Sorry, I just want to get there on time,” Yuuri blushed.

“Get where?”

“You’ll see.”

Yuuri held Victor’s fan as he led him along the streets of Hasetsu up towards the Ninja house perched on a hill in the center of town. They ducked through a fence and along a dark path that hugged the side of the building.

“Yuuri, are we allowed to be here,” Victor whispered.

Yuuri didn’t answer as he led Victor to an opening at the back of the building. Lights illuminated the grass where a single blanket sat unfolded.

“Yuuri?”

Yuuri looked up to where Victor was still standing, he patted the blanket next to him.

As Victor sat down, Yuuri leaned his head on his shoulder.

“They should be starting soon.”

As if on cue, a firework shot out from the ground below them, billowing into the sky and popping, drowning them in a sea of light.

Victor was in awe as he watched shot after shot explode in the sky. Yuuri’s head remained rested on his shoulder, their fingers intertwined until the final went off. Yuuri pulled his head away and Victor looked over to see Yuuri watching him, his face calm and content.

“What,” Victor smiled, just loud enough to be heard over the pops.

“Nothing you’re just… beautiful.”

Victor felt his cheeks flush and his stomach turn. Victor knew Yuuri loved him but Yuuri’s love always showed itself in different ways, the compliment caught Victor off guard, it left him without anything to say in response.

“Yes” Yuuri said after the last firework fizzled out.

Victor turned towards Yuuri, “What?”

“I want to marry you, I will marry you.”

Victor seemed confused for a moment as Yuuri pulled a box out of his pocket.

“Yuuri…”

“These were on my desk this morning. I didn’t know if my mom knew I wanted to ask you this, or if it was just some crazy coincidence but I decided I was going to take it as a sign.”

Victor smiled, holding back his laughter at the entire situation.

“I didn’t realize they were yours until Mari texted me asking if I’d seen a box laying around anywhere. She tried to imply they were hers but… I know Mari well.”

Victir laughed, there were tears in his eyes now and he tried to blink them away.

“I know you probably had something extravagant planned, and if it’s okay with you, I would still like to do that.” He passed Victor the box. “We don’t have to exchange them now, I just want you to know the answer is yes. It will always be yes.”

“Yuuri…” Victor was crying now, there was no use stopping it. Yuuri laughed,there were tears in his own eyes. He opened his arms and Victor nearly flung himself into them. They embraced for a few moments before leaning back and meeting in a soft kiss. When they pulled away, Victir rested his head in Yuuri’s forehead.

“I don’t want to wait.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to wait. Sure I had something planned, but the truth is, I’ve nearly proposed to you in our bed first thing in the morning. In the pasta aisle at the grocery store. While i’m doing my hair in the morning and the steam from your shower is undoing all my work. It never mattered where or how to me, just that you said yes. That’s all that ever mattered to me. We can still do all the things I planned and it will mean just as much to me, but this,” He alluded to their quiet seclusion. “This is perfect.” Victor turned the box in his hand and clicked it open. “So… Yuuri Katsuki,” He pushed himself up onto one knee. “Will you marry me?”

Yuuri laughed through the tears running over his cheeks. “Hai, Da, C̄hạn ca… in every language, yes.”

Victor smiled and took the ring sized for Yuuri out of its place and slid it on his finger.

Yuuri followed suit taking Victor’s ring out and sliding it on his.

Victor interlocked their hands together to inspect the rings, Yuuri’s warm-toned hand contrasting Victor’s pale one in the light.

They shared a few more slow kisses before Yuuri encouraged them to head back. They walked back hand in hand, Victor constantly raising his free right hand to inspect the ring with a smile. As they approached the inn, Victor remembered the party.

“Oh Yuuri-“

Yuuri had already opened the door and was immediately bombarded with a sign thst read “Congratulations Victor and Yuuri!”

Yuuri blushed and looked back at Victor.

“Oddly enough, I had planned to do it tonight too.”

“Vitya…”

“Surprise….”

Yuuri laughed as his mother bombarded him asking to see the ring. Mari congratulated him with a pat on the back. Yuko hugged him while Minako have Victor the world shortest shovel talk before pulling him into an embrace.

A couple hours later, and a few drinks down, the remainder of the group as around a table in the dining hall chatting away. Yuuri sat perched between Victor’s legs with his back to his chest.

“So, where did you find the rings,” Mari asked.

“Funny story…” Victor replied and Yuuri giggled into his glass.

Chapter Text

It was a rather busy lunch rush at the restaurant. Kojiro was moving around the kitchen in a flurry of movement, to anyone else it was chaos but to Kojiro it was an art, a dance to music only he could hear.

It was nearly one o’clock which meant Kaoru would be in soon, either alone or with business clients. Kaoru liked to pretend he wasn’t fond of Italian cuisine and that the location of his work was just convenient, but Kojiro knew better. He had his pasta already boiling and a bottle of wine set aside in the cooler.

Sure enough, at 1:05 p.m. Kaoru entered the door and was escorted to an open seat along the bar. Normally Korijo would take his order himself, taking any chance he could to piss Kaoru off but today he couldn’t get away.

Instead he maneuvered around the kitchen, waiting for the waiter to tell him Kaoru had ordered a plate of Carbonara and one singular glass of Red Merlot.

Sure enough, just minutes later the ticket came through. Kojiro finished the order he was on before playing Kaoru’s food and serving it within minutes of him ordering.

Kojiro returned to the kitchen to finish the next meal and as he was stirring sauce for an alfredo he looked up and met Kaoru’s eyes. Kaoru looks away fast and Kojiro catches a blush on his cheeks. He laughs to himself and decides not to comment on it later when they meet at S.

The truth is, this isn’t the first time Kojiro has caught Kaoru watching him cook. He smiled to himself and played a fresh slice of Tiramisu, sending it with the waiter.

Sure enough, minutes later he caught the same flush on Kaoru’s face as he cut into the dessert.

Chapter Text

“Those are going to kill you one day,” Utahime said as she stepped out onto the balcony.

Shoko looked back at her with a smile, “Maybe that’s the point.”

“Ha Ha. Not funny. If you die, who’s going to protect me?”

“I’m sure Satoru or Suguru could take my place.”

“You would leave me to spend every waking hour with Satoru?”

She said it with disgust, but Shoko knew better. Utahime had a soft spot for both boys since Utahime brought them on to the security team nearly 3 years ago. Sure Satoru had a mouth on him, but he was good at his job so Shoko couldn’t complain.

She had been thorough when hiring security for the new President. She told herself it was because of the dangers in being such a high political figure, but deep down she knew it was because she wanted the best protection for Utahime. In case Shoko wasn’t enough.

She had trained with Satoru and Suguru and trusted them with her life, so they easily made the cut along with Kento. 

“Have you decided if you’re going to rerun?”

“I don’t know…”

“The people love you, Iori.”

“That doesn’t mean I make a good President.”

“It kinda does,” Shoko dropped her cigarette and put it out under her foot. “If you do, know you will continue to have the best security in the nation.”

Utahime smiled, “Maybe I’ll rerun just to watch you run those boys into the ground.”

“That’s more like it.”

They fell into a comfortable silence looking out over the gardens. Utahime let out a sigh but before Shoko could comment on it, she heard a noise.

“Hang on, what was that?”

“What was what?”

“Shh,” Shoko hissed and motioned for her to get down. Utahime did as she was told as Shoko made her way quietly towards the door. Kento and Suguru were meant to stand guard out front, but the noise she heard was distinctly that of a….

“Get down!!”

Shoko flung herself across the balcony and onto Utahime just as some kind of detonator went off in the Presidential Office. The blast sent the two of them into the railing, the wood breaking under the pressure and sending them cascading to the ground below. Shoko used her body as a shield as she wrapped around Utahime, their fall somewhat broken by the bushes surrounding the downstairs parlor.

Shoko was up in seconds, first helping Utahime to her feet then checking her surroundings. 

“Let’s go,” Shoko grabbed Utahime’s hand and took off into the building for the bunker. As they turned down the hall, Shoko heard gunfire. Thinking fast she opened the janitorial closet and pushed Utahime in before following after. “Crouch down. It’s going to be uncomfortable as hell, but it will give us the upper hand if someone comes in,” She whispered. “They won’t immediately see us and we will be in our feet ready to move.”

Utahime nodded and Shoko turned around to face the door.

“Ieiri,” Utahime whispered and touched her fingers to Shoko’s temple. “You’re bleeding.”

“It’s fine,” 

“It’s not fine.” Shoko held her breath as Utahime used the sleeve of her blouse to dab at the blood on Shoko’s forehead. Shoko would feel Utahime’s breath on her cheek where she leaned forward to get a better look.

The gunshots were gone now and Shoko knew they needed to move. Pushing down the butterflies in her stomach she stood up.

“Let’s go.”

She led Utahime back out into the hall, their hands gripped together tight as they made their way to the bunker entrance. Shoko held her badge up to the invisible sensor and a keypad extended itself, she used her finger and typed in her unique code before the door slid away. She tucked Utahime in first, shielding her incase anyone tried to follow in, and once the door was shut, retook her position up front.

She led Utahime down the stairs and around the corner into another security locked panic room, this one with a retina scanner and a new code. 

Once inside, Shoko let out a breath. They were safe. She wasn’t sure what was going on at the surface but it didn’t matter, Utahime was okay. She just hoped her team was too.

Shoko crossed the room to the first aid pack and motioned for Utahime to sit.

“Ieiri…”

“You first, then we can worry about me.”

Utahime nodded and sat down. Shoko handed her a bottle of water.

“Do you hurt anywhere?”

“My wrist, from the fall.”

Shoko took Utahime’s hand and rolled her wrist. It was silent so she used some ace wrap to support it. It was likely just a sprang.

“We need to do a full body check.”

Utahime nodded, knowing what this entailed. She stood up and unbuttoned her blouse, allowing Shoko to examine her body for injury. There was blood on the blouse, but Shoko didn’t know if that was hers or Utahime’s.

“Turn,” Shoko ordered softly, and Utahime complied. Shoko pressed her fingers to the back of Utahime’s hip and she hissed. “You have a pretty deep gash here, I’ll need to stitch it.”

“I didn’t even feel that.”

“Likely the adrenaline. Sit.” Utahime sat backwards on the bench while Shoko gathered her supplies. She prepped the area and tore open the sterile suture kit. “It’s gonna hurt like hell,” Shoko pushed a gag into Utahime’s mouth to protect her and keep her quiet. “I numbed it but only a little.” Utahime nodded.

Shoko made quick work of the repair before covering the wound with dressing. When Utahime turned around, there were tears on her cheeks. Shoko was glad the wound was on her back so she couldn’t see the pain on her face while she worked.

Shoko handed her back her blouse and sat next to her while she put it on. She reached her hands up to Utahime’s cheeks and wiped the tears away with her thumbs. 

The stress of the day was getting to her as she started to feel the fatigue set in.

“Ieiri?” Utahime’s voice was so quiet it almost felt far away. “Ieiri?”

Shoko closed her eyes just for a moment, and when she opened them, she was laying in Utahime’s lap, her hands combing through the strands of Shoko’s hair that had fallen out.

Her voice came in next, frantic, “Ieiri, wake up please!”

Shoko opened her eyes to see Utahime distraught over. When she noticed she was awake she pulled her up into her arms. 

“Thank god! Don’t do that to me! You can’t leave me, we are in this together, remember?”

Ieiri let her eyes close as she leaned against Utahime’s shoulder. She remembered back to their childhood when Utahime first shared her goal to become President. Shoko supported her, telling her she would become a guard just like her father and wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. The world faded away.

—

When Shoko awoke again, she was alone.Or so she thought. Rhythmed beeps filled the room, and across from where Shoko was laying, Utahime and Gojo sat in the corner. When Shoko’s heart rate increased, signaling she was awake, Utahime and Gojo looked up from their quiet conversation.

“Ieiri!” Utahime was to her side in seconds, Gojo standing up and walking to the edge of the bed.

“What the fuck happened?”

“A lot,” Gojo said matter-of-factly.

Shoko looked at Utahime.

“Someone attacked the Presidential Palace. We still don’t know why, but they have some people in custody. There were…” Utahime looked hesitant at Gojo, “a lot of casualties.”

“Who…”

Gojo looked to his feet, scuffing a shoe against the ground, hand in his pockets.

“Suguru…” Shoko whispered, not as a question. she knew.

Utahime nodded, “And Kento. I’m so sorry Ieiri.”

Shoko leaned her head against the pillow and stared at the ceiling. She knew she should feel grief or sadness, but all she felt was failure. 

“I’m sorry,” She whispered.

“What are you sorry for?”

“I couldn’t protect you.”

“What do you mean, I’m fine!”

“You got hurt.”

“Barely. I’m alive because of you.”

“Suguru… Kento…”

“We knew the risks,” Gojo said. “Just like you did.”

Shoko didn’t respond after that, just refocused her gaze to the ceiling.

—

“I’ve decided I’m not rerunning.”

Utahime sat down on the couch in Shoko’s flat, handing her a cup of coffee.

“What why? Is it because of the attack, Iori those happen all the time. You heard the investigators, these men were just evil, they just wanted to cause chaos, it could have been any President.”

“That’s not why,” Utahime smiled sadly.

“Then why?”

“You.”

“Me…”

“I want you to be safe.”

“Ieiri-“

“I want to know that you won’t have to throw yourself in the line of fire to save me,” Utahime reached over and tucked a strand of Shoko’s hair behind her ear. “What good is surviving it all if you’re not here afterward.”

Shoko took a deep breath.

“Let me protect you this time.”

Utahime leaned over and placed a kiss on Shoko’s lips. As she leaned away with a smile, Shoko followed, pulling her back into the kiss. 

Shoko let the conversation die, they could figure it out some other time, for now she let herself get lost in the feeling of Utahime in her arms. Continuing her vow, occupational or not, to never let anyone hurt her.

Chapter Text

Todd watched Neil’s Dad’s car pull away, leaving him standing in the middle of the street.

He wasn’t able to tell Neil how well he did, wasn’t able to tell him how proud he was, wasn’t able to tell him he was sorry.

It would have to wait until Neil returned, he assumed.

Except as they walked back to the cars to go back to the school, Todd had an awful feeling in his gut. He had a nagging feeling if he didn’t tell him tonight, he never would.

The feeling only got worse as the ride went on. The car pulled up in front of the school to let the boys out and Todd hung back.

“Mr. Keating?”

“Yes, Mr.Anderson?”

Todd looked to where his friends were chatting and walking into the building.

“Can you take me to Neil’s house?”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s-”

“Please,” Todd interrupted.

“Why, did Neil say something was wrong?”

“No, I just have… I just have this feeling…” Todd trailed off. He realized he probably sounded ridiculous.

“Alright.”

“What?”

Mr. Keating walked to the driver side of the car. 

“I said, alright. Let’s get moving, I have to have the car back by 11.”

“Okay,” Todd hurried to climb in the passenger seat. 

“Do you know where Mr. Perry lives?”

“Yeah, his mother invited me to Thanksgiving this year when I didn’t go home.”

Mr. Keating nodded and they took off. Once they reached the end of the drive, Todd spoke up again.

“Why did you agree to take me?”

“Carpe Diem, my boy. If you’ve learned anything from me this semester, Mr. Anderson, and I hope you have, it’s to seize the day, or the feeling in this case. If your gut is telling you, listen to it, even if the rules say you shouldn’t.”

Todd nodded. “Turn here.”

Todd proceeded to direct Mr. Keeting to the Perry’s house. When they pulled up, all the lights were off.

Todd slipped out of the vehicle. 

“Should I wait around,” Mr. Keating asked.

Todd shook his head no.

“Alright, being Mr. Perry back. I have to congratulate him on a show well done.”

“I will.”

“You will. Goodnight, Mr. Anderson.”

“Goodnight, Captain. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Now go,” He shooed and Todd took off towards the house. He hadn’t really thought his plan through as he walked up to the house but when he turned around to ask Keating for advice he was already turning back down the road.

Todd turned back to the house just a light flicked on in the hall. He ducked around the side of the house, scared he was caught. Sure enough, the light in the window next to him flicked on. He held his breath as he pushed himself against the siding of the house. The window of the room above was open, the curtains blowing through the window. The windows were thin and he could hear the faint creaking of the floor in the office. A drawer was pulled open and Todd heard a faint click.

Todd panicked. He threw his hands up and rounded around to face the window.

“Sorry sir, I was just looking for… Neil?”

Inside the office, Neil was seated at the desk, face turned down at an object Todd recognized, though it turned his stomach in knots.

Todd rushed up to the window and tapped on the glass.

“Neil! Neil,” He whisper-shouted hoping to be loud enough for him to hear. Sure enough, Neil tipped his head up.

“Todd?” Neil stood up and opened the window. “What are you doing here?”

Todd hesitated before remembering what Keating said in the car. It wasn’t enough to see Neil was okay, he obviously wasn’t. He was shirtless in his dad’s office, a gun sitting on the desk, safety off.

“Can I come in?”

“Uh,” Neil looked around the room. “Sure, yeah.”

Neil stepped back at Todd struggled a bit to quietly climb in the window. He didn’t acknowledge the gun.

“Aren’t you freezing?”

“A little, yeah…” Neil laughed. 

“Should we go to your room?”

“Yeah.”

Neil led Todd quietly through the house and up the stairs.

Once the door was shut he let out a breath.

Neil had already collapsed onto the bed, head in his hands.

“Hey, Neil. Neil!” Todd was careful to keep his voice down as he sat onto the bed next to him. He didn’t know what to say or how to comfort Neil so he just let him cry, patting him on the back.

“I don’t know what I’m to do.”

“What do you mean?”

“My father. He’s sending me to a boarding school.”

“No.”

“Yep,” He sniffed, “Says I’m going to be a Doctor.” He smiled though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m trapped, Todd.”

“What if you’re not?”

“Sure.”

“No, really. He can’t control you if you’re not around,” Todd winced at the wording but plowed on. 

“We could hop a train to New York. You can be an actor and I’ll work some boring office job. I’d be good at it. He won’t have any say anymore, and I won’t have to live in my brother’s shadow. My parents can have their perfect family.”

“Todd, you’re not serious?”

“Neil, you’ve lived with me for 5 months. I don’t make jokes.”

Neil laughed, “You really don’t.”

“I’m serious. Who cares anymore. You were about to… I don’t want to lose you.”

Todd’s face burned with embarrassment at his confession, he couldn’t meet Neil’s eyes.

“I don’t want to lose you either.” Neil reached down for Todd’s hand, using his other one to tip his head up to look at him. “This is a lot, Todd. You’d be throwing your life away. Everything you’ve worked for-“

“I don’t care about any of that. I never have. I finally care about something and it’s you. My life means something because of you, Neil. I never want to let this go, let you go.”

“Look at you, all poetic. Keating would be proud.” Neil smiled and Todd smiled back. “Let’s do it.”

Todd squeezed Neil’s hand. Today his life finally begun.

Chapter Text

Thomas had been in the future for a day, and he was exhausted. The future was so cool and he understood why Kit missed it so much. However, he felt like a fish out of water. Everything was so similar yet so different and modern that be felt useless if Kit wasn’t nearby to explain it.

Today they were going to an amusement park.

Thomas had been to one once before when his sister had come to visit London, but the parks here were so much bigger than what he was used to, and honestly he was kind of intimidated. Still, after everything, he trusted Kit with his life, so he didn’t think twice as they walked through the gate and into the park.

Kit started with the small rides, more modern versions of the rides Thomas had been on before. They were a lot smoother and that made his stomach happy. 

However, Kit was now leading them towards a roller coaster taller than any building Thomas had seen in London. He was a little nervous but when Kit turned back and asked if they could try it, Thomas said yes. 

He could never deny Kit.

They climb into a fake log on a water track, Kit in the front and Thomas in back. He has a lot of fun just riding along in the water but as they start to ascend, Kit turns back and tells him the drop is coming up and to not let his butt come too far off the seat. Thomas doesn’t understand what he means until they’re descending and sure enough his butt comes up off the seat. He panics and grasps onto Kit for dear life tucking his head into his back. He can feel Kit laughing as the log flattens out and they are doused in water. Thomas doesn’t let go until the log comes back around. He panics when he realizes everyone in line can see them. He apologizes to Kit in a quiet voice to which Kit shakes his head, steps out of the log and offers Thomas his hand.

Thomas takes it and climbs out but Kit doesn’t drop it.

“It’s okay. We can do this here.”

Thomas looks at Kit with shocked wonder was he turns and they walk hand and hand to a photo booth. Kit had introduced Thomas to instant digital media their first day here and he was still fascinated by it.

Their photo pops up on the screen and Kit smiles, buying a print and tucking it into his bag.

After that, Kit takes Thomas on bigger and bigger rides and when his lunch comes up after their 5th ride with an upside down loop, Kit decides to call it a day.

When they finally return to Thomas’s time it’s with a bag of as much forward prescribed testosterone Kit could get stuffed under the sink and a photo of Kit and Thomas at the top of the log ride, Kit with a big smile and Thomas tucked into Kit’s neck, arms wrapped around him, hanging on their fridge.

Chapter Text

Satoru looked forward to the day he met his soulmate. He never worried about all the superficial things like whether his soulmate would like him or what they looked like. He was just excited to be loved. 

Satoru’s parents had died when he was 9, leaving him to live with some distant family friends who obviously had only agreed to take him in with the idea that they never would actually have to, so when it finally came time for Satoru to move to Tokyo for university, he couldn’t wait.

They couldn’t be bothered to help Satoru move, with work and all, so Satoru packed as much of his life as he could into a large suitcase and old backpack and took off, leaving the sleepy town and boring family behind.

He wasn’t too concerned with having been assigned a random roommate, thinking at worst they would ignore him.

He was long settled into the dorms when his roommate finally arrived. His mother smiled at Satoru and ushered for her son to say hi to him as well. The blank haired man looked up to Satoru and said “hello.” Satoru was sure to smile back.

After his parents had left, his roommate introduced himself as Suguru Getou. He wasn’t nearly as soft spoken as he had been when he was moving in, and he and Satoru fell into easy conversation about their life and excitement to start university. 

For Satoru it was a fresh start, for Suguru it was freedom.

“So,” Satoru started. They had lived together for a few days now, and tonight they had gotten take out sushi from a late night sushi bar across campus.

“So?”

“Have you found your soulmate yet?”

Suguru looked up at Satoru as if he had asked him if he had 3 feet.

“No. Have you?”

“Nope. I will soon, I’m sure.”

Suguru nodded. 

Satoru didn’t actually see the mark until a month later. Suguru had gone off to shower but had left his loofa in his closet. He came back into the room shirtless with a towel around his waist. His soulmate adorned his right pectoral. It was an intricate design of curves and lines, Satoru found himself describing the shape as beautiful. His own mark was on his upper shoulder and looks like a rectangle drawn on his skin by an infant. 

“Oh, sorry didn’t know you were back.”

“Yeah, class was out early today,” Satoru shrugged.

Suguru nodded before explaining he had left something and disappeared back down the hall. 

Satoru fell back onto his bed with a sigh. He felt a nagging pull in his gut but he didn’t know why.

—

By the end of the semester, Satoru and Suguru were inseparable. If they weren’t in the dorm, they were either at the coffee shop Suguru loved or shooting hoops in the Student Rec Center. 

When it came time to reapply for rooms, they didn’t need to really discuss it, there was no doubt they wouldn’t live together again.

Satoru spent the entire summer thinking about Suguru. He chalked it up to just being bored out of his mind. He had a summer job but it was boring work, nothing to occupy his constantly racing arm. 

“So, any luck finding your soulmate, Satoru?”

Satoru’s long-time friend leaned over the counter smiling at him. 

“No,” He said matter-of-factly, turning away to act busy.

“Aw but you were so confident. I guess no of the girls want you,” She teased.

“As if, I just need to keep looking, Utahime,” He whined in annoyance. “The ladies love me. You should see how disappointed they are when our soulmates don’t match.”

“I think that shit is all bull,” Shoko added in. She and Satoru had gotten this job together in high school, she was the reason Utahime always showed up. 

“I don’t think you can say that if you’ve found your soulmate.”

Shook shrugged. “Wouldn’t have made a difference.”

Utahime swooned, feigning her hand over her forehead, exposing the intricate flowery design on her wrist that perfectly matched the one Satoru knew was on the back of Shoko’s neck.

“You mean you would have just ignored your soulmark,” Satoru tsk-ed.

“Yeah,” Shoko said, shoving a cigarette in his mouth. “The marks just mean you will get along well with that person, it doesn’t mean you will love each other, or that you won’t fit with someone else just as well.”

Satoru didn’t reply to this, he simply turned away from where Shoko was blowing her smoke and pretended to do his job. He found his mind shifting to Suguru…

—

Satoru was glad when school started back up. Suguru moved in at the end of the week again. This year they were upgraded to a two bedroom flat with a combined kitchen and living space and a shared bathroom. They took the weekend to go across town to the discount furniture shop to get decor and furniture. Satoru annoyed Suguru by asking him if they could buy every obscure piece of furniture he found, inevitably wearing down Suguru’s resolve until they returned to the flat with a normal couch, rug and coffee table, as well as a floor lamp with a detailed cow painted on the shade and a rug in the shape of turtle. 

Satoru didn’t even like these pieces of furniture, he just wanted to piss Suguru off.

Suguru’s classwork picked up and Satoru saw him less and less, so he started to schedule bi-weekly roommate movie sessions. They would order take out from the same late night sushi bar and Suguru would force Satoru to watch some iconic film he had never seen before.

It was those moments, when Suguru’s face was lit only by the TV and the soft glow of the cow lamp in the corner of the room, when the small size of the cheap couch forced them to be touching no matter how they sat, when Suguru turned his head to catch Satoru looking over at him, that Satoru thought back to Shoko’s swords, just for a moment. 

—

The movie nights carried over into their third year living together. Once Suguru had exhausted his list of movies, Satoru took to finding the worst movies he could find and forcing them to watch them. It took until the third week for Suguru to catch on and though he flicked Satoru in the forehead for it, he never suggested they watch anything else. 

One night, halfway into their second semester of their third year, Satoru was focused on the crazy plotline of some weird American film, when he felt a weight against his side. He turned his head to find Suguru slumped against him, eyes closed. His soft, even breath indicated he had called asleep. It was something Satoru had done himself on many occasions, and usually Saugus just woke him

up when the movie was over and they went their separate ways.

Satoru studied Suguru’s face. Up close like this he could see his long soft lashes, and thin eyebrows. He could see the faint dusting for freckles on his nose. He should probably have woken him up but instead he just let him sleep. He knew this term was draining. He could use the extra sleep.

Satoru didn’t know when he himself had fallen asleep until he woke up some indeterminable time later to the title page of the movie playing on repeat. Suguru had slumped down into Satoru’s lap, using his right thigh as a pillow. Satoru knew the way he was curled up couldn't be comfortable but he didn’t want to move him.

He carefully slid out from under his head, careful not to wake him and stretched by the couch. Suguru readjusted without opening his eyes and once he settled Satoru pulled the old blanket off the back of the couch and spread it over him before going to his own room.

It took ages for Satoru to relax his beating heart enough to go to sleep. He traced lines over his soulmark until he dozed off again and when he woke up again the sun was shining through his window.

He got up and padded into the living space. Sugur was stood by the counter pouring some coffee.

“Mornin’,” Satoru grumbled with a yawn as he crossed the room.

“Good morning, Satoru. Coffee?”

Satoru nodded and reach for the cup, his fingers brushing Suguru’s and he pulled back quick before taking the cup again and muttering a quick ‘thanks’ into the liquid. 

He could feel Suguru’s eyes on him but he brushed it off and sat at the table, engrossing himself in the 35 unopened emails he had. 

Satoru found himself avoiding Suguru more and more in the following weeks. He didn’t like it but Sugur was making him feel… weird. He made him wish he could change his soulmark or not have one at all. Satoru had looked forward to finally meeting his soulmate his entire life, he didn’t want to just give that up.

Or did he?

He didn’t know but the solution was to distance himself and try not to think about Shoko’s words.

Suguru caught on quick but wasn’t successful at catching Satoru. Until Satoru made the mistake of trying to get out of movie night, one more night pressed next to Suguru on the couch could undo all the work the space gave him, though it hadn’t been much. 

“You’re avoiding me.”

Sugur didn’t hesitate or beat around the problem. He placed himself between Satoru and the door, his hands in his pockets.

“I’m not-“

“I’ve been your best friend for three years, ‘Toru.”

Satoru didn’t say anything.

“Why?”

“I’m not-“

“Satoru.” Suguru took a step into Satoru’s space and Satoru stepped back.

“See. You never used to do that. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I’ll see you later.” Satoru advanced around Suguru and out the door. He didn’t grab a jacket but he didn’t care, he just needed space. He didn’t know where else to go so he exited the building and crossed the back of the parking lot to the woods behind it. The trees broke into a clearing made into a small walking park. He slumped down on the bench, feeling a shiver run up his spine.

He didn’t know what to do as he traced his fingers along his soulmark again. He hated it now. What once bore excitement and hope now felt like some sort of prison.

He couldn’t have been out there for 15 minutes when someone joined him. 

“Figured this was where you’d go.” Suguru stepped around the bench, extending a jacket to Satoru. “Satoru, can we talk?”

Satoru took the jacket, a peace offering, and nodded.

Suguru smiled and sat down.

“Did I do something?”

“What? No. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then what is it?”

“I…” Satoru didn’t know how to say it. He hadn't even said it aloud to himself. His fingers pushed against his sleeve where he knew his soulmark was. Suguru caught the action and intercepted Satoru’s hand. He dropped it to his lap and cupped Satoru's cheek. Before Satoru realized it, Suguru’s lips were pressed against his, and a second later they were gone. 

“Suguru…” Satoru whispered.

“Is that it?”

Satoru was silent for a moment.

“I feel it too.”

“What about your soulmate? I’m not-“

“What about them?”

“Don’t you want them? Don’t you want to be happy with them?”

“I am happy with them.”

“What?”

“I met my soulmate during second year.”

“What!? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Suguru shrugged. “It wasn’t that big a deal. We had a class together. She’s really nice and we ended up being lab partners as well.”

“Are you…”

“No, no. She’s not into,” He gestured to himself, “Men.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah but like I said we jive really well, we’ve been helping each other study.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Satoru, do you have feelings for me?”

Satoru hesitated, weighing his options in his mind over and over.

“It’s a yes or n-“

“Yes,” Satoru interrupted and Sugur cracked a smile. 

“Then why are you running…”

“My soulmate is…”

“Who cares, Satoru. What about free will, the right to choose.”

Suguru had a point. Who was he to care about what some unknown force had to say about his life. He loved Suguru. He couldn’t imagine moving any other person more. If he turned him down now, if he waited for his true soulmate, he would always consider what could have been. There would always be a piece of him missing. He didn't care if the universe was destined to keep them apart in every other universe, if he could have him, even if just for a while, in this one, Satoru wasn’t going to waste time on what ifs.

Instead he surged forward and kissed Suguru, pulling back with a grin.

“Is that a-“

“Shut up.” Satoru leaned in and kissed him again.

—

“Satoru, food is ready.” Suguru leaned down and kissed Satoru’s head before returning to the house.

Satoru stood up slowly. His knees weren’t nearly as good as they used to be. He followed Suguru into the house and down the hall to the kitchen.

“About time,” Shoko teased as she attempted to grab a piece of honeydew out of a bowl before Utahime smacked her hand away.

“I was just on the porch,” Satoru crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Suguru, kissing his cheek.

Shoko and Utahime paid them no mind as they filled their plates and stepped out onto the patio. Suguru turned around in his arms.

“What was that for?”

Satoru ran his finger over Suguru’s chest where he had memorized the location of his soulmark.

“Just cause,” Satoru smiled. Suguru watched him for a moment. “Do you ever regret it?”

Suguru met Satoru’s eyes with a confused look.

“Choosing me?”

“All the time,” Suguru teased before he grabbed Satoru’s hand off his chest and kissed it. “Never, Satoru…. Do you?”

“No, I just….” Satoru shook his head, “I feel like I should, you know? It’s been 18 years an I still have no idea who my soulmate is.”

Suguru shrugged.

“Yeah well you know yours and talk everyday, I just…”

“You worry too much, Satoru.”

“First and last time you’ll ever say that.”

“Oh, I know.” Suguru smiled and kissed Satoru again. “Want to eat? Shoko made her sugar buns.

“Say no more.”

Suguru laughed and just as it had that first year they lived together, Satoru’s heart fluttered. 

Chapter Text

Yuuri had a bad feeling about dinner with the Vasilevsky’s. Not only were they some rich organization regulars, but they were hardly tasteful. They spent all their efforts on knocking off anyone who threatened their profits instead of nice decor or even a private chef. Yuuri would have offered to help prepare the meal but he already knew Mrs.Vasilevsky had a certain distaste for him since he took Victor off the “I-hate-my-husband-and-you’re-cute” market 4 years ago.

(Not that Victor would have any interest in being a homewrecker, or in women at all) 

He wished Victor could have been here with him. His soon-to-be husband had even asked, multiple times, to come along, but Yuuri knew better than to poke the bear. No, he would go alone, and he would make sure to only subtly mention how good his home life was. 

However, he was leaving the ring on.

Dinner went by far more smoothly than he thought it would, and perhaps that should have been the sign. Still he stayed just until it was appropriate to take his leave, waited another 15 minutes and then left. 

As he stepped out of his car and up to the apartment door, he felt his legs wobble under him. He had been careful not to drink too much of anything at the Vasilevsky’s, sticking to his own wine he brought as a “gift.” 

He didn’t think too much of it though since Mrs.Vasilevsky’s food was just barely consumable, so he had left their house rather hungry. He hoped Victor had made something good for dinner.

By the time he was kicking off his shoes, nausea had set in. He was barely able to greet his happy dog, and equally as happy fiancé before he excused himself to the bathroom.

Sometime between throwing up a second time and a third time, Victor appeared in the doorway.

“Did you drink too much, Solnysko,” He laughed. 

Yuuri didn’t answer, not because he didn’t want to, but because at that moment the entire world had gone black.

—-

Victor watched as Yuuri slumped toward the toilet. He must have gotten everything out because this time wasn’t followed by heaving.

When Yuuri didn’t move, Victor crossed the room to him. Sure enough, Yuuri had fallen asleep. Victor pulled him back to wipe his mouth before carrying him to their bed. 

Victor let him sleep while he walked to the kitchen to get home some water. When he returned, Yuuri hadn’t moved at all and he was burning up.

This detail is what set Victor off, Yuuri’s cheeks got a little flushed and warm when he drank but never like this.

It was suspicious. 

Victor tried to wake Yuuri, but when the other man didn’t so much as grumble and turn away, Victor got very worried. Just then a phone began to ring. It was Yuuri’s.

“Hello?”

“Oh, Vitya, hello!” It was Mrs. Vasilevsky.

“It’s Victor.”

“Sure, sure,” She said. “I was just calling Yuuri to see if he got home okay.”

“He’s fine.”

“Is he now?”

“He is. Goodbye.” Victor hung up the phone before she could respond and turned his attention back to his husband. 

“What did they do to you?” He brushed Yuuri’s hair back off his sweat soaked forehead. 

He called the only other person he could think to call.

“Phich- I mean Ksatriy,” He corrected. “It’s Aria.”

“Aria, to what do I owe the pleasure,” Phichit responded on the other line.

“It’s Eros…”

Victor could feel Phichit’s demeanor change.

“What about him.”

“I don’t know. He came home from dinner and threw up. I thought it was alchohol but then he passed out and now he’s burning up. I’m- I’m worried.”

“If the great Aria is at a loss it must be serious.”

“Ksatriy-“

“Sorry, um let me see,” Victor heard typing on the other end before Phichit returned to the phone. “Do you suspect poisoning?”

“Maybe, I don’t know, I’ve never seen it like this before.”

“Well we can’t try an antidote unless we know what it is. His symptoms are matching 2 very different poisons, both of which exponentially worsen when given the antidote for the other one.”

“So I need to find out what they did to him.”

“Yes, but-“

“That’s all. Thank you.”

“Vic-“

Once again Victor hung up the phone before the person on the other line could respond. 

—

Victor dropped Yuuri off with Phichit at HQ. He covered Yuuri with a blanket since he was now freezing, his body unable to warm him, and gave him a kiss on his forehead with a promise to save him before he was off.

It didn’t take him long to get to the Vasilevsky's house. He didn’t even bother knocking on the door, instead busting it open and marching through the house. He found Mr. Vasilevsky in the bedroom. He was quick to subdue. Victor knew he was simply an accomplice in this scheme, he was always fond of his Yuuri. 

Mrs. Vasilevsky was in the ensuite bathroom. 

“Dimitri, what’s all that noise?”

She turned toward the door and was greeted with Victor’s gun in her face.

“Oh, Vitya-“

“It’s Victor,” he seethed, not hesitating to meet her chin with the butt of the weapon. “What did you do to him?”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” She asked innocently, as she pulled a bloody hand away from her mouth.

Victor took a step towards her, “Don’t play games.”

“Vitya, why don’t we go downstairs. We can talk.”

This time Victor took a swift kick to her legs, toppling her to the ground and standing over her.

“What did you give him?”

“Yuuri drank his own wine.”

“So the food then. It doesn’t matter. What. Did. You. Give Him.”

Mrs. Vasilevsky sighed. “He’s dead isn't he?”

“What!?”

“Dimitri.”

“What does that matter?”

“It doesn’t, I’m just curious is all.” She knew she wasn’t going to survive this. “I gave that stupid minx of yours a special kind of sedative. I hoped your silly brain wouldn’t catch on until it was too late. Seems I’ve underestimated your intelligence.”

“Seems like it. How do I save him?”

“You can’t,” She laughed. 

A gunshot rang out and she slumped back against her far too large tub. Victor stepped back and out of the bathroom. Dimitri was still out, and likely would be for another 30 minutes. Victor didn’t have time to wait. He pulled a small vile from his pocket and poured it onto a rag and pressed it to Dimitri’s mouth. His eyes shot open with a gasp.

“She’s dead. What did she give Yuuri.”

“I don’t-“

“I advise you not to lie to me.”

“I really don’t know, Mr.Nikiforov. Whatever it was is likely still in the kitchen.”

“That’ll do.”

“Are you going to kill me?”

“I should. My Yuuri was left in your care.”

Dimitri tried to speak.

“But I know your wife does, or I suppose did, as she pleased, so for now…” Victor lowered his gun and stepped back, “You’re welcome.”

Dimitri didn’t speak as Victor crossed the bedroom.

“Cleaning crew will be here in a few hours, I suggest you make yourself scarce.”

Dimitri nodded and Victor made his way back down the grand staircase to the kitchen.

He was beginning to panic. He didn’t know the state Yuuri was in, nor how long he had. He had no answers. He didn’t bother nearly looking for the drug. Instead he tore open every cabinet in the kitchen and adjoined pantry until he found an unlabeled liquid. He pulled Phichit’s test strips out of his bag and dialed his number.

“Ksatriy,” The voice on the other line greeted.

“Aria. I have what I think is the drug. I’m running a test now.”

He could hear Phochit moving around the room as Victor dipped the test strip in and waited. Once the color stopped changing he read of the results. 

It’s a base. 

“Got it, see you soon.”

Victor hung up and made his way out of the house and back to his car. The drive to HQ was a blur, Victor didn’t remember any of it, and it was likely he hadn’t obeyed many traffic laws. He threw the car in park and cut the engine before taking off into HQ.

“Where is he,” He shouted once he got through security.

An agent, a smart one at that, simply pointed down the hall to a door. Victor took off, throwing the door open. Yuuri was lying on a table alone, no aids or monitors hooked up and he feared for the worse.

“Yuuri-“ He crossed the room and grabbed Yuuri’s hand. It was still freezing, so he couldn’t use that as a sign. He reached his hand up to his neck to feel his pulse, but before he could, Phichit entered the room.

“He’s okay.”

“Phichit, thank god.” Victor stepped away from Yuuri to wrap the shorter man in a hug.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m the best.”

Victor let go and returned to Yuuri.

“My Yuuri, I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.” He brushed his hair back from his forehead, and Yuuri began to stir.

“Vitya,” He croaked.

“I’m here.”

Yuuri smiled weakly and tilted his head against his hand. 

“Is she dead?”

“She’s dead.”

“Good,” Yuuri said and he let his eyes close again. 

Chapter Text

“That’s it, we’re lost.”

“We’re not lost.”

“Okay, Senku, if we’re not lost, which way is the camp.”

“It’s,” Senku looked at the map with a scowl.

“We’re doomed.”

“We’re not doomed, Senku used his pinky finger to scratch his ear while he spoke. “We just need to find the river. Once we do that, our camp is south, where the river meets the lagoon.”

“And how are we going to do that?”

“Shh,” Senku stuck his hand out, cutting off Gen. They stood in silence for a few moments. “This way.”

Gen followed Senku as he made his way through the trees. Sure enough, Gen started to hear flowing water.

“Great but how are we going to find which way is South?”

“We don’t need to. The water will flow to the Lagoon, so if we follow it we will find the camp.”

The walk appeared to be much longer than they had originally thought, as the sun began to set. 

“How much further is the camp?” 

“Not sure.”

“It’s getting dark.”

“I know.”

Gen just trudged along after him until Senku stopped below a tree.

“We can camp here.”

“Here?”

“Yes. The canopy of this tree should offer enough protection if it rains, and the roots offer the perfect barrier.”

Gen didn’t argue with that, until he stepped closer and saw the size of the gap in the roots.

“We are going to share that?”

“Why not,” Senku shrugged. “We’re both fairly small, we will fit.”

Gen just looked at Senku and shook his head, “I guess I’ll gather leaves.”

“Good. Be sure to choose soft edged ones only.”

“Yeah yeah.”

While Gen was gone, Senku managed to get a small fire going to allow them some light and warmth. 

Gen returned and they made their bed. Situating themselves in it was difficult, but they managed to make it work like Senku had said.

They laid quietly in the leaves, the only sounds the occasional pop of the charcoal and the flow of the river.

“Senku?”

“Hm.”

“Do you ever miss your old life?”

“Oh. I suppose yeah. Do you?”

“All the time,” Gen laughed. “The stone world isn't made for guys like me.” 

Senku laughed at that, “No, it’s not.”

“What do you miss about it?”

“My lab.”

“I should have guessed that.”

“I also miss the chips from the vending machine at my high school.”

“Oh?”

“I never bought them, such a waste of nutrients, but Taiju got them everyday and I always took one or two. They were the same kind Byakuya always bought.”

“Sounds sentimental.”

“I suppose. They just had the perfect combination of assorted chemicals and lab made powders to be considered good.”

“Yeah, sure. I think I just miss… Well, I don’t know what I miss. I guess my life wasn’t all that fun but it was easy.”

“What about your show, you seemed to have fun on there.”

“It was acting. Don’t get me wrong it was fun for a while and I enjoy what I do, but it was different… You watched me show?”

“Nah, it was usually on for background noise.”

“Right, it was a waste of time.”

“Precisely. Though the mind tricks you do are fairly interesting.”

“Well, thank you. Your science is cool too.”

They fell silent.

“Why did you pick me?”

“Huh?”

“You know, back when I was on Tsukasa’s side.”

“Oh. I saw your potential.”

“Ah.”

“You have a skill not many succeed at. Though you use it for the silliest of reasons, I saw your value, and all it took was a cola to win you over.”

They feel silent again.

“Thank you,” Senku said, breaking the silence. It was such a shocking interruption that Gen hadn’t thought he heard him right.

“What?”

“Thank you. For all you do to help us, to help me. I know we had a rough meeting but you came through. You like to pretend it’s in your own best interest but we both know that’s not true. So, thanks…”

“Oh… yeah, it’s no problem.”

Gen didn’t say thanks back. Thanks didn’t begin to really cut it. Senku had saved his life and inspired him to go against his typical selfish interest. He had never thought Senku could really make him a Cola but Senku had said he would try. Senku had taken him in even when he had attempted to betray him. It was a kindness he hadn’t deserved in any time, but it was offered. “Thanks,” wasn’t enough. 

Gen didn’t know when he had fallen asleep, but when he woke again, it was to the smell of food cooking. He climbed out of the makeshift bed and sat down next to Senku.

“I’m not a cook but-“

“Let me do this, you go do whatever it is scientists do.”

“Think?”

“Yeah, that.”

Gen took over cooking a piece of fish. Gen took the makeshift harpoon by the shore as a sign Senku caught the fish himself and Gen was disappointed he slept through it, that would have been funny to watch.

Once they finished eating, they took off down the river again, making it to camp before noon.

Chapter Text

It had been just 12 hours since Gojo saw Getou on the busy Tokyo street.

12 hours since he had raised his hand, ready to kill his best friend.

12 hours since he watched Getou walk away.

The sun had just set. Shoko brought him food at some point but it had gone cold. He remembers everything up until when Shoko had stepped up to him on the street, asking how it went. He didn’t remember going back to the school. He didn’t remember talking to Yaga. He didn’t remember anything besides Suguru and where he was now, perched on the window to his room, looking out at the empty campus.

There was a noise below him. A rustling. Then a face. 

Someone placed a finger over their mouth and began to scale the wall. Gojo stepped off the ledge and waited as a hand reached over and pulled themselves into the room. The stranger stood up.

Suguru.

Getou smiled weakly at the stunned Gojo.

“What are you doing here,” Gojo hissed. “I should report you. I should kill you.”

“But you won’t. You tried already didn’t you.” Getou tilted his head. He looked exhausted.

“What are you doing here,” Gojo repeated.

“I came to apologize.”

“Hah.”

“I mean it, Satoru. I never meant to hurt you.”

Gojo wanted to look away, wanted to be anywhere by here, but he couldn’t move. 

“You didn’t try very hard.”

“I’m sorry. Can we just talk?”

“I think we are a little beyond that.”

“Just one night, that’s all I ask. Then I will leave, and I won’t bother you again, Satoru. Please.”

Gojo could tell that Getou needed this. He needed it almost more than Gojo did.

“Fine. But no promises that I’m just going to let you walk out of here.”

“That’s fine.”

They both knew Gojo would. He would let Getou leave without a word. No one would know he had even come.

“Well?”

“I don’t know where to start.”

“The beginning would be good.”

Getou sat on Gojo’s bed as he explained all of it. From the day he saw Gojo’s dead body on the ground outside the school. Seeing Riko get shot in front of his eyes. The year of depression and guilt and anger festering in him.

“Why didn’t you talk to me,” Gojo whispered.

“How could I? Satoru, you were growing more than I could have ever dreamed. I was so proud of you, I didn’t want my problems to weigh you down. I just-“ I want to protect you. Getou remembered the fear. Seeing Haibara’s body, the dream that night of losing Satoru. It was all too much. If his fall from grace would somehow keep everyone he loved safe, it would be a price to pay. He didn’t care how many monkeys had to die. Satoru was worth them all.

Gojo ran a frustrated hand through his hair. 

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t need you to. I just need you to know… it wasn’t your fault.”

“I never said it was-“

“Satoru.” Getou knew. Gojo would never admit fault for anything, whether it was truly his fault or if he just felt guilty, but he still carried it around inside him.

“I want things to stay how they are. I want you to be happy here, with us…. with me.”

“I’m sorry.”

Gojo sighed and Getou took a deep breath.

“Can I ask one more thing?” The most selfish action he would ever do.

“Shoot.”

“Can I kiss you?”

Gojo didn’t hesitate to lean in and kiss Getou. He didn’t stop at one. Each kiss delved deeper and deeper as both boys knew this was it. They would never have a chance again. Getou wanted to hope maybe one day, if he survived this, they could be together again, but he knew better than that. This was it.

Gojo leaned into Getou, pushing him back onto the bed. Getou went willingly, his hands finding Gojo’s soft hair as Gojo moved over him.

They spent the night in that little bed. Exchanging last kisses and last words.

When the sun began to turn the night sky into a navy blue. Getou knew his time was up. 

“Satoru….” He said standing at the windowsill. “I will always love you, you know.”

Gojo didn’t say anything as Getou made his way back down the side of the building and into the early morning.

—-

Gojo didn’t see Getou for 10 years. He returned to Jujutsu High to wage war on them. Gojo wished, somewhere deep down in his stupid naive heart, that Getou had been there to turn himself in. To be done with his stupid plan, but he knew better.

Months later, Gojo stood crouched on the ground outside Jujutsu High. Getou sat just a feet in front of him, Gojo’s six eyes betraying how little energy remained in the man he once called his best friend.

Gojo knew what he had to do. The very thing he should have done on that Tokyo street. What he should have done when Getou showed up that same night. What he was forced to do now.

One last chance to say whatever he needed to say.

“Suguru…” He said. “I’ll always love you.” 

Those same swords he never got to return. Getou’s face fell from pain and for a moment, Gojo saw his best friend again. 

Minutes later Gojo carried that same boy from all those years ago, who was lost to anger and hatred, dead in his arms. A piece of Gojo would be buried with him.

Chapter Text

Neil was heading back to the dorms when he caught sight of Todd sitting along th walls of a walkway alcove.

“Todd? Hey,” he greeted, waking up to him.

“Hey,” Todd replied, barely looking up at him.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Todd started but when he realized Neil didn’t buy it he said, “Today's my birthday.”

“Is today your birthday? Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

“What'd you get,” Neil asked, nodding to the object sitting next to him.

“My parents gave me this.”

Neil looks back down to the deskset, still in its wrappings.

“Isn't this the same desk set-“

“Yeah, yeah,” Todd interrupted. “They gave me the same thing as last year.”

“Oh.”

“Oh.”

Neil laughed, “Maybe they thought you needed another one.”

Maybe they weren't thinking about!anything at all,” Neil said without hesitating. “Uh, the funny thing is, about this… I didn't even like it the first time.”

Todd, I think you're underestimating the value of this desk set.” Neil picked up the desk set and examined it more closely. “I mean, who would want a football or a baseball, or-

“Or a car,” Todd supplied.

Or a car,” Neil smiled. “If they could have a desk set as wonderful as this one? I mean ifI were ever going to buy a desk set twice, I would probably buy this one both times. In fact,” Neil swung the set a little bit. “It’s shape is rather aerodynamic, isn't it? I can feel it. This desk set wants to fly.”

Todd stood up and Neil handed him the desk set.

“Todd? The world's first unmanned flying desk set.”

Todd flung the desk set over the side of the walkway and smiled.

“Don’t worry. You'll get another one next year.”

Todd laughed at that and Neil smiled at him, until the moment was interrupted by a shout from below.

“Run!”

Neil grabbed Todd’s hand and took off back towards the dorms. He didn’t let go until they both

we’re in their room with the door shut. Neil leaned against it to catch his breath while Todd sat on his bed.

“That was exhilarating!” He let out a breath, stepping into the room. “What a nice desk set,” He smiled, running his fingers along the leather before stopping in front of Todd. “I feel like we need to celebrate. It’s still your birthday after all.”

“Neil, that’s not-“

“Ah-“ Neil interrupted. He reached his hands out for Todd to grab. “Carpe Diem, my boy,” He said in his best impression of Mr.Keating, gaining another laugh from Todd.

Neil pulled Todd off the bed and into his arms. He extended one arm out and they wrapped the others around each other's waist. 

Todd’s face was beat red, “Neil, what are we doing?”

“We’re dancing.”

“There’s not hardly enough room for that.”

“Nonsense, we don’t need much.”

Neil led them as they waltzed in small circles. They danced like this for a while, no music only the sound of their breathing and the creaks of the old wooden floors. Over time they inched closer and closer together until their faces were just a breath apart. Neil began to lean in before there was a sharp pounding at the door.

“Lights out!”

Good had jumped back at the noise and now stood by his desk.

“I guess we better…”

“Yeah,” Todd said looking at his feet. 

Neil nodded and moved to turn off the lights. They got into their respective beds and fell into the typical silence that curfew brought.

“Thank you,” Todd whispered into the darkness. Neil turned his head to see Todd looking over at him. “For making today feel special, even just for a little bit.”

“Of course,” Neil replied. “Happy birthday, Todd.”

Chapter Text

Jongwoo’s stomach tied in knots as he made his way through the halls of Eden’s boarding house. Blood traced multiple paths up and down the hallway. Whether it was Jieun’s or Seokyoon’s was anyone’s guess.

He thought back to when he had last seen him alive just hours before. Seokyoon had begged him to stay, had confessed to him. Jongwoo hadn’t had time to process any of it, but he wanted Moonjo to pay. He wanted all of them to pay. 

Seokyoon had reminded him so much of himself before he moved to Eden’s Boarding House. He was new to the city and so full of life and ambition. Full of hope. The very emotion Jongwoo was trying not to let himself hold onto. Moonjo was far more intelligent than Jongwoo liked to allow himself to think. He likely caught on to he and Jongwoo’s friendship and put an end to it the best way he knew how.

Jongwoo’s fear were confirmed when Moonjo dragged him down the hallway twenty minutes later. When Moonjo pointed to Seokyoon’s tooth on the bracelet Moonjo had so carefully crafted for him. 

Moonjo’s elaborate monologue was interrupted when Seokyoon came limping into the room. He was covered in blood from who knows what kind of injuries. He was going to be brave. Jongwoo didn’t want him to be brave.

Moonjo stood up with an annoyed sigh and made his way towards Seokyoon slowly. Jongwoo thrashed against his restraints.

He was alive. He was alive. He was alive.

But not for long.

Jongwoo thrashed more as Moonjo grabbed Seokyoon by the hair and grabbed onto some injured part of him. Seokyoon cried out and Jongwoo soured through the gag in his mouth. 

Moonjo drug him towards Jongwoo and through him to his feet.

“This could be fun,” Moonjo smiled as he tugged Seokyoon’s head back. Jongwoo tugged ferociously at his binds while Seokyoon apologized. He apologized for not listening when Jongwoo tried to run. He apologized for not telling Jongwoo the truth when he showed up that afternoon. He apologized for not returning his charger the second time he borrowed it.  

Moonjo’s smiled and placed a blade to his throat. Jongwoo continued trashing, getting his leg free just in time to kick Seokyoon in the stomach, making him topple to the side. His cry of pain made Jongwoo wince but he could apologize later when they survived. 

He kicked again, this time aiming for Moonjo and hitting him square in the jaw.

He shouted through his gag for Seokyoon to run.

“I’m not,” He gasped for air. “I’m not leaving you.”

Jongwoo expressed his disapproval, begging him to just leave. He did his best to distract Moonjo until Seokyoon could crawl away. 

When Moonjo finally released his gag, he said to Jongwoo.

“Don’t worry. He won’t get far, I can deal with him later.”

“Please. Kill me, just leave him. He’s naive and happy, just leave him be, I’ll do whatever you want just-“

Moonjo took this moment to get a swift blow into Jongwoo’s head. 

Minutes, maybe hours later when Jongwoo sat over Moonjo and watched the life drain from his eyes, he thought of Seokyoon’s smile. Of his jokes and his songs he sang in the city. He conjured up every positive image he could of the other man and sought his revenge on Moonjo until there was nothing left to give. He hoped the other man had escaped somehow, that he had gotten out and maybe even gotten help.

Another indeterminable time later, Jongwoo registered being wheeled out of the building. He recognized the smell of blood and the sound of someone talking to him, but everything left him at the sight of Seokyoon still in the boarding house and then Moonjo, the man he just killed, smiling at him from across the yellow tape just as the doors to the ambulance shut.

Hours later, when the police decided he was sane and conscious enough to recall what happened, photos of all the people found or living at Eden’s Boarding House were laid out in front of him. He explained everything he knew about everyone leaving Seokyoon for last. 

Once he had pointed out everyone else he laid his finger on the picture of Seokyoon and pointed to Moonjo.

“He killed him,” He heard himself rasp. The detective looked at the photograph and then went back to Jongwoo.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

He looked to his partner, who shrugged her shoulders. They thanked Jongwoo for his cooperation and left the room.

——

Jongwoo left his psychiatric appointment just as empty as he went in. He never really saw the point of the appointments anymore but they were court ordered and he preferred them over the holding cell waiting for him if he missed one.

He sat on a bench outside the office, waiting for his ride when he heard it. 

He turned around to see Seokyoon across the square. This wasn’t the first time he had hallucinated the other man, but this time he was passive. Usually he was looking at Jongwoo or speaking to Jongwoo.

His feet were moving before he realized and he was across the street in an instant. He just watched as the apparition performed a song Jongwoo had never heard before. The people around watched on, and Jongwoo had half the mind to assume he had imagined them too. Figments of his imagination supplemented from the last time he had watched Seokyoon perform over a year ago.

He didn’t realize the music had stopped until someone was saying his name.

“Jongwoo? Jongwoo? Jongwooooo…” 

Jongwoo closed he eyes and placed his hands over his ears, practicing the tactics his therapist had taught him.

“This isn’t real, this isn’t real, this isn’t real.”

Hands grabbed his wrists and pulled his hands away from his ears.

“Jongwoo it’s me,” The apparition spoke.

Jongwoo opened his eyes. He could feel the distinct warmth of the hands on his wrists. 

“Seokyoon?”

“I’m real, Jongwoo.”

Chapter Text

When Ronan Lynch was a kid, he used to sing in the shower. Declan hated it. Ronan was a night showerer, meaning when he was belting random Irish folk songs stuck in his head, or whatever emo-pop was on the radio, it was likely when Declan needed to be studying.

When their father died, Ronan stopped singing. The house was filled with an eerie silence at night, and even though Declan could now focus on his work, it still hung over the house. A constant reminder of why it was quiet.

When Ronan graduated high school and moved to the city to be closer to his best friend Gansey, he found himself singing those old folk songs again in his crappy one-bedroom apartment. With no brother down the hall to come banging on the door, Ronan could be as loud or as off-key as he pleased.

However, his neighbor had other thoughts. Some nights, when Ronan showered later in the evening, his neighbor would pound against their adjoined wall. Ronan didn’t care much about it though. Since he moved in, he hadn’t run into a single one of his neighbors anyways.

One day after a particularly good one-man concert, Ronan gets a knock at the door. He wasn’t expecting Matthew and Declan for another few hours. He wrapped a towel around his waist and answered the door. 

A tall man with warm skin and dirt brown hair stood on the other side. He took in Ronan’s appearance and flushed. He was the most beautiful man Ronan had ever laid eyes on. 

But he was not happy.

“Can you sing a little quieter,” The stranger asked, his distinctly Virginia accent peeking through the you and little . “We share a wall.”

“So that’s you banging.”

The stranger flushed again, “Yes. So can you please be quieter. They aren’t thick.”

“Sure,” Ronan said with a sly smile. He leaned against the doorway. “Is that a Virginian accent?”

The man faltered for a moment before responding, “Yes, I grew up there.”

“Me too, Henrietta, Virginia. You?”

“Oh, me too?”

“You’re kidding. How come I don’t know you.”

“I kept to myself.”

“Makes sense.”

Silence fell between them for a moment. The man tugged on his sleeves a bit, seemingly uncomfortable with the ongoing conversation.

“I don’t think I caught your name.”

“Adam. Parrish.”

“Parrish… Ronan Lynch.” Ronan extended his hand for a firm handshake which Adam took.

“Like Niall Lynch’s son?”

Ronan’s smile faltered but he replied, “Yeah, something like that.”

Adam just nodded. Everyone in Henrietta knew about the Lynches.

“Are you hungry?”

Adam’s eyes met Ronan’s and he cracked a bit of a smile, “I could eat.”

“Cool. Lemme get changed and I’ll meet you in the hall.”

That evening, Ronan ignored Declan’s persistent calls and texts to eat cheap burgers down the block. They were the best burgers he’d ever had.

Chapter Text

It was against the rules.

He knew it was against the rules, but the rules meant nothing compared to the gaping hole ripped through his chest.

The letter lay abandoned on the counter of their once shared home in west London. Kit hadn’t even needed to read it before he collapsed onto the ground. At some point the gasping panic and grief turned into silent tears and shaking. 

Fuck the rules.

He could be fired for it, he could be jailed, or worse. It didn’t matter. A similar fate bestowed him just for who he was, for what he and Thomas had between these walls. None of that’s consequences mattered then, why would they matter now?

Kit tossed the letter and arranged for passage on a ship heading to America. It took all the money he had but it didn’t matter really. He wouldn’t need it.

He knew there had to be a Time Facility somewhere in Europe but he couldn’t be bothered to find it and the London branch wouldn’t open until after the war. He couldn’t wait that long.

By the end of the following week, Kit was in New York City. He knew the location of the Time Facility like the back of his hand. He didn’t have his clearance card anymore. It was stolen with his watch when he first got to London. His name and photo should be in the member registry, saved for this exact scenario, so he wasn’t too worried.

Just as he thought, gaining clearance to the facility was easy. It would be jumping back that would prove hardest. Sure he could just go back to his time and jump again but every day the ache grew, he was desperate.

Luckily his clearance level meant he didn’t need to be supervised during his jump but if it was tracked that he lied about his journey… that would cause issues.

He didn’t care.

New York City was the exact same as it was when he left, given he only went a year in the past. He and Thomas would still be dancing around one another. In a month the bombs would drop and they would have their first kiss, and in two months Thomas would be dead.

Kit stowed away on a ship to England, making it to the coast and on a train to London.

The next step in his plan was to wait. Realistically, he could try to get Thomas out of London, but he knew Thomas wouldn’t leave work, his family needed the money. And if he did leave London, he would move home to Wales, which wasn’t any safer. He just needed to keep Thomas from the bar across town. If he could do that, they would be fine.

The month and a half before his plan started went by tremendously slow. Kit had no money and nowhere to stay, so he had to stow away in empty hotels and sleep at the house when he knew the past version of himself was gone. He knew meeting himself was technically against the rules, so he had no option then to catch Thomas when he wasn’t around. Unfortunately, in the weeks leading up to Thomas’s death, Kit was always around. 

He knew he and Thomas got into an argument that day. There was nothing he could do to stop that. He would have to find Thomas after work and apologize. Beg him to come home and then somehow make himself scarce before they made it. 

He found Thomas walking across London Bridge after work. He tugged him down to the street and into an alley way.

“Kit,” He hissed, “What are you doing?”

Thomas shook his hand from Kit’s grasp. He was speechless. It was hard to see Thomas again after thinking, knowing, he had died. Kit wondered if dying was Thomas’s fate. What if he couldn’t save him. 

The look on Kit’s face, softened the fire on Thomas’s.

“Kit?”

His name out of Thomas’s mouth was wrong. 

“Come home.”

“What?”

“Come home with me. Please, I’m sorry.”

“Sasha, what’s the matter?” It didn’t matter that they were in public, Thomas cupped Kit’s face. “You were just pissed at me this morning and now it’s like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m sorry for getting mad, I’m sorry for what I said. Can you just come home with me.”

“I told some buddies from work I’d meet them.”

“Tell them something came up, please.” Kit knew his desperation was showing but he needed Thomas to just come home with him. He knew the Kit of the past was still at home fuming, but Thomas would be across town from the bar. If he decided to go out it would be at the corner bar near their house. He would be safe there.

“Sasha. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

He could just tell him. Thomas knew Kit was from the future, but he didn’t know how Thomas would react. How was one supposed to react when you say “Hey, you can’t go there because you die and I’m here from the future to stop that!”

Kit didn’t say anything.

“Fine, okay let’s go home. You can explain there.”

Kit let out a breath. They walked side by side to the station. When it made it to their building, Kit slowed down.

“Can you grab the mail? I’ll wait for you in the house.”

Thomas hesitated, but nodded. 

Kit made his way up to the house. He knew he would likely be in the study so he krept out the back window.

The travel back to New York was longer than the trip there. The recent bombing making it nearly impossible to find voyage, but he did. 

When he got back to he and Thomas’s house, all the lights were off. Panic settled in his gut as he moved through the house.

On the second floor, light filtered into the hall from the study. Kit made his way to the room.

Inside, Thomas was asleep on the desk. As Kit approached he saw Thomas had been sifting through his countless sketches of Kit, some dating back to before they confessed their feelings.

“Thomas,” Kit whispered, shaking his shoulder. Thomas stirred and looked up to him. I’m a second he was wide awake, chair thrown back, his arms right around Kit’s body.  

“Sasha,” The air rushed out of Kit’s lungs as he hugged Thomas back. “Where have you been!?” Thomas extended his arms to meet Kit’s eyes. “I thought you- I thought you were…”

“It’s okay, I’m here. I’m sorry I had… work. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” Kit pulled Thomas back in, breathing in the scent of his shampoo and after shave. “We’re okay.”

Chapter Text

Ash was glad Eiji fit in with his crew and the neighbors. He really was, but for some reason he couldn’t name the feeling in his gut that only came around when Eiji talked about the shop clerk that was super friendly to him, or when the boys asked Ash how he was doing, or when the other housewives waved to him on the street with a flush to their cheeks

Ash didn’t know if Eiji was oblivious to their attention or if he just didn’t care.

It was Halloween and they were lounging on the couch in their living room. Eiji was laughing and asking Ash about girls. 

Ash shooed away the top with an air of his hand. He never had much interest in girls or anyone, really. Until Eiji. 

Eiji was a new, wild feeling for Ash. From the day they met it was like Ash was pulled to Eiji in a way he couldn’t explain with words. A tug that he couldn’t ignore no matter how dangerous it was for both of them. Ash would protect Eiji with his life and as much as he hated it, so would Eiji to Ash.

“What about you, you must have a girlfriend back home in Japan.”

Eiji laughed. Head tipped back, eyes scrunched back.

Ash didn’t see what was so funny and he showed that on his face.

“Why would you be jealous,” Eiji teased.

“No.”

Jealousy.

Maybe that’s what the feeling was. Was the hot suffocating anger that filled his chest, jealousy? 

It was never something he had really experienced before, at least not in a long time and not like this.

Ash tried to recall the way he had felt when Bones would lean on Eiji while they were at the house. The way the shop clerk laughed as he put a hand on Eiji’s shoulder.

“Ash Lynx is jealous? I didn’t know that was possible.”

“I’m not jealous. You’re with me, not her, so why would it matter.”

“What about that shop clerk today? You seemed in a bad mood when we left.”

“They were out of mustard,” Ash grumbled.

Eiji poked him. “You’re jealous,” He teased.

Ash didn’t respond as Eiji giggled and leaned into him.

“You don’t need to be, you know,” He whispered when his laughter died down. He sat up and met Ash’s eyes.

“They don’t stand a chance.”

Eiji didn’t say what, but his hand on Ash’s said everything it needed to. Ash smiled. He loved that in the wreckage that was his life, he could have moments like this, moments with Eiji. 

He would do everything in his power to protect them.

To protect Eiji.

Chapter Text

Sophie had been working in her family’s store since she was 14. 

It wasn’t a difficult job, she got paid for her time and the villagers were always so kind when they came in.

That day hadn’t started any different.

She opened the store at 7am and helped her sisters get everything ready for the day. They had just got their new shipment of produce for the week. It was mid spring, so they had plenty of fresh strawberries, apricots, asparagus and many other produce forms locally but also imported from other places.

It was common to get questions about when certain fruits would be in season, but a particular customer seemed to be certain a fruit should be here.

“Excuse me, miss.”

A tall man with golden blonde hair and an elegant outfit approached Sophie as she was restocking later in the day.

“Hello Sir, how can I help you?”

“Yes, you seem to be all out of  Akebi today. Do you know when you will get some more?”

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Akebi, Chocolate Vine, it’s a fruit. Have you ever had it before? It’s divine.”

Sophie nodded. “Yes, I know of it, however I’ve never had it. It’s a rare stock so I tend to save them for the customers…" she said politely. “I apologize though, it’s not currently in season.”

The man looked at her if she had 4 heads, “What?”

“It’s a late summer fruit, we likely won’t have it until August.”

“Is it not August now?”

Sophie laughed, “It’s not.”

“Oh.” The man looked confused for a moment as he looked around the store. “Odd, I could have sworn it was August… What month is it then?”

“It’s mid-April.”

“Mid- April! Well, I suppose I will be back in a few months.”

The man made his way out of the shop leaving Sophie to watch on as he did. 

She recounted the story to her sisters at lunch who insisted he had to have been messing with her.

Sophie wasn’t so sure. The way he had reacted and the fact that he was obviously not from the village made her wonder who he could be. 

What if he was a wizard!

-

Sophie had long forgotten about the odd man when late summer rolled around. August was hot in the village making her shifts sticky and miserable. 

Just the, with a flash of pink and yellow, the man was at her counter again.

“Hello,” He smiled.

“Hello. Welcome back.”

“Thank you. Do you have an Akebi?”

“We do. Do you want me to show you to it?”

“It would be an honor.”

Sophie smiled as she lead the handsome man back to the produce where the Akebi display was.

“We just got a shipment in yesterday. First of the season.

“So you know it’s the best. Thank you….”

“Sophie.”

“Sophie. I’m Howl Jenkins Pendragon.”

Howl Pendragon. Where had she heard that name?

“Pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Pendragon.

“Please, Howl is fine, and the pleasure is all mine. Is there a limit?”

“No, however they are one of our more expensive stocks.”

“No worries.”

Sophie handed Howl a produce bag to put his haul in, and they walked back to the counter.

“So you said you’d never have one before?”

Sophie shook her head.

“What a shame. I guess I will have to share mine, when are you off?”

“Oh, um,” Sophie flushed. Her younger sister was standing next to her wide eyed before she nuged Sophie to answer. “We close at 6.”

“Splendid,” he smiled before checking out and leaving.

“Who was that,” Her sister asked.

“Howl Pendragon? He’s the Akebi guy.”

“Howl Pendragon!? Like the wizard?”

That’s where Sophie had heard the name.

“Weird he has to get Akebi from us, rumor has it he eats human hearts and can time travel.”

“That’s just made up.”

“Maybe. You better be careful, Sophie.”

—-

After work Sophie locked up and sure enough, Howl was waiting for her. He bowed to her and extended her hand. She let him have it before he called “Hold on,” and politely grabbed her before they took off.”

They ended up on a bill outside of town looking over the gorge. It was beautiful. Howl laid out a blanket fnor them to sit on and began to cut open the Akebi, handing Sophie half. He showed her how to eat it and she helped herself.

The fruit was delicious. It was unlike anything she had ever had before.

“Thoughts?”

“This is amazing!”

“I knew you’d like it.”

Chapter Text

Kaoru was looking forward to a break. Sure, the trip was technically for business but growing up in Okinawa, then moving to Tokyo, he didn’t get to experience much snow. He looked forward to cold days spent inside the large library of the resort reading and looking out at the vast snowy mountains and skiers.

Which is exactly what he did… However, trying to find the library proved a bit difficult. It was a large central room, but was rather a space tucked away at the back of the resort. Kaoru didn’t mind, that meant it would be quieter, but it also meant he had to traverse the complex halls and unmarked doors to find it. He consulted his resort map and sighed a breath of relief when he thought he found it, however upon opening the door he found himself in the kitchen. 

It was empty of people aside from a man hunched over one of the stovetops. He caught Kaoru out of the corner of his eye and turned to him.

“Sorry. I was looking for the Library.”

The man smiled, “No worries. If you give me a moment, I can show you to it.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll be going.”

“It’s no problem really. This has to set anyways and its a little hard to find.”

Kaoru gave in and waited by the door as the chef finished cooking. He placed whatever he had been making into a bowl and placed it in the fridge by the door.

“Okay, we can go.”

The man led Kaoru out into the hall. They walked silently for a moment before he spoke up again. 

“I wish they would just label these doors and hallways.”

Kaoru nodded once in agreement.

“I assume you’re a guest?”

“I am. And you?”

“Haha, no. I work here…partially. I’m a rotating hire. Sometimes I’m here, sometimes I’m at my restaurant in Tokyo.”

“Ah.”

“I’m a chef.”

“I gathered,” Kaoru replied. “What cuisine?”

“My father is Italian so naturally, I had to bring the joys of Italian food to Japan. Have you had it before?”

“A few times. I’m afraid I’m not a fan of what I’ve had. Besides Carbonara. When done right, it’s one of my favorite dishes.”

“A good choice…well, here you are.” The man opened up a twin door to the one leading to the kitchen except this one in fact led to the library. “Enjoy your stay.”

Kaoru bowed thanks and made his way into the library. He spent the remainder of the evening tucked away in the quiet space, watching out at the skiers and ice skaters.

When dinner time came, he replaced his bookmark in his book and went to his room to get ready. 

The dining hall was situated just off the main lobby with high ceilings and two walls of windows overlooking the resort’s frozen lake. Kaoru’s team was seated in a far corner. They discussed their days and the group plan for tomorrow while awaiting the first course. The meal for the evening was Pesto Alla Trapanese. Kaoru wasn’t looking forward to the meal, but he knew how to be polite when his meals were being paid for by his company.

Servers brought out dinner to the tables on carts, but a waiter brought Kaoru’s food straight to him, setting it down and removing the lid.

“From the chef,” they said before whisking away.

Kaoru looked down at the plate. Instead of thick, curling Busiate pasta noodles and a light orange sauce, his plate was filled with thin spaghetti noodles and cured pork.

“Carbonara? Jealous! The cook must like you,” The intern sitting next to him teased.

Kaoru didn’t respond as he wound his fork into the noodles and took a bite. The flavor nearly exploded on his tongue and he had to refrain from audibly responding to it. One bite in and this was easily the best plate of Carbonara he had ever had.

After dinner and dessert were done, Kaoru made his way to the waiter that had delivered the dish.

“Good evening sir, did you find the meal satisfactory?”

“Yes, I would like to give my thanks to the chef.”

“I will have to pass the message along, I’m afraid he’s gone back to his room for the evening.”

“Very well. Thank you.” 

The next day, on his way to the library, Kaoru stopped by the kitchen. However this time when he went in, he was met with the kitchen staff.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“Yes, I’m looking for the chef.”

“He’s in his office right now, I can tell him you’re here.”

Kaoru nodded as the sous chef showed him to the chef’s office. 

“Oh! Mr….” The chef said, standing up upon

“Sakurayashiki”

“Mr. Sakurayashiki,” He nodded. “Kojiro Nanjo. What do I owe the pleasure?”

“I don’t need you to make special accommodations for me. I am just fine eating what everyone else has.” 

Kaoru was standing across the room. Kojiro stood up and moved in front of him, standing an arms reach away, arms crossed.

“You didn’t like the Carbonara?”

“That’s now what this is about.”

“So you liked it. One of the servers gave me your thanks this morning. I don’t see the problem.”

“The problem is, I’m here on business and I don’t need my colleagues thinking I’m making special arrangements because I’m ungrateful. You don’t even know me.”

“Maybe it’s not about you.”

“What?”

“You’re pretty, sure, but maybe it’s about me. A dear customer of mine expressed disdain for what I was preparing. Unhappy customers mean bad reviews. Therefore, I adjusted his cuisine to boost his opinions on my food, and therefore told one of the servers to give me his thanks. That looks great to my employers, you know.”

Kaoru stood speechless. The whiplash from having this attractive, competent chef calling him pretty to then saying he only adjusted his meal for his own benefit was making his head spin.

“Now, Mr. Sakurayashiki. I have work to get back to. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, that’s all.”

“Great. I am making a simple spaghetti tonight served with flame grilled garlic toast. Is that fitting to your taste?”

“It’s fine,” Kaoru spit out before making his leave.

The dinner was excellent. The sauce had just enough oregano and basil to satisfy Kaoru without being overbearing and the toast was perfectly crisp around the edges and soft in the middle.

Dessert was served to the table soon after. Once everyone had their plate, they were approached.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” Kojiro stood behind Kaoru as he greeted the table. “How did you find your meal?”

“It was exquisite,” Kaoru’s boss answered with nods from the men and women around her.

“I’m glad you think so. It’s been an honor to prepare the meals for you, and I am glad you are enjoying them. What brings you to our resort?”

Kojiro began to engage the table with casual business banter. He stood beside Kaoru the whole time, his hand on the back of Kaoru’s chair. He smelled faintly of oregano and sweet cologne. When he finally left, Kaoru let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“Do you know him,” The intern whispered, leaning towards Kaoru with a smile.

“No. He’s just the chef.”

The intern looked at him as if they didn’t believe him but shrugged. After a moment they spoke up again, even quieter, “You’re blushing by the way.”

Kaoru’s head shot up and over to him but the intern had already turned away. Kaoru looked around the table to see if anyone else had heard, but everyone was lost in conversation.

—

“Just what do you think you’re doing,” Kaoru stormed into the kitchen the next day.

“Ah, Mr. Sakurayashiki.”

“Care to explain why you came to our table.”

“I was creating my patrons.”

“And you chose my table.”

“Well you are close to the kitchen.” Kaoru looked at him blankly. “You’re awfully full of yourself, aren’t you.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Kojiro shrugged. “Let’s go on a walk.”

“No.”

Kojiro didn’t listen and just walked out of the kitchen. Furious, Kaoru followed.

“Why is it you see acts of kindness as a personal attack? Have you always been that way? Is it some deep childhood trauma.”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“I suppose not. Can't blame a man for being curious.”

“I don’t need pity.”

“Acts of kindness aren’t pity, Mr. Sakurayashiki. They’re acts of kindness. I like you, so I do something kind for you. It’s as simple as that.”

“I don’t need you to like me.”

“I didn’t ask.”

Kaoru didn’t reply.

“Have you seen much of the resort yet?”

“No.”

“Do you just go to the library every day?”

“Yes.”

Kojiro sighed. “Come on. Do you have a coat?”

20 minutes later. Kaoru was standing beside the resort ice rink while Kojiro talked to the woman at the counter. He returned, handing Kaoru a pair of skates.

“No.”

“Oh come on, Mr. Sakurayashiki”

“Not happening.”

“Fine. We make a deal. You skate, and if you don’t have fun, I’ll leave you alone.”

“Are you serious?”

“Dead.”

“Deal. What can be fun about skating over hard ice in thin blades.”

Kaoru ate those words. He struggled to get a hang on skating, refusing to take Kojiro’s assistance until he nearly fell on his ass and Kojiro had to catch him.

“How can you even balance with all that extra muscle?”

“Practice.”

“Do you skate often?”

“Only while I’m here. When my cousins visit, that's all they want to do… You noticed my muscles?”

Kaoru flashed red, grunting a “How could I not there’s so many,” before attempting to move away for the man and falling on his ass with a huff.

Kojiro couldn’t contain his laughter and eventually it passed to Kaoru who lightly laughed as his ass sat on the cold ice and Kojiro helped him up.

“I didn’t know you could smile.”

“I can’t. Don’t get used to it.”

“Sure.”

They made their way off the ice and handed their shoes back to the woman.

“So….”

“It was tolerable.”

“Hah!”

“Whatever. I’m freezing so I’m going back to the library.”

“Aye aye, hermit.”

The week came and ended fast. On Kaoru’s last day in the library, someone joined him for the first time.

“Here,” Kojiro sat next to Kaoru and handed him his card. “For when you’re back in the city. My interim chef has my Carbonara recipe. Tell him Joe sent you.”

Kaoru looked at the card and nodded.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sakurayashiki. I hope I helped make your stay enjoyable.”

“It’s Kaoru.”

“Huh?”

“You can call me Kaoru. We’re long past formalities now anyways,” He grumbled.

“Kaoru,” He repeated like he was testing the way it felt in his tongue. “It was still a pleasure. I hope to see you again sometime.”

“Yeah.”

Kojiro nodded and made his way out of the library. Kaoru didn’t see him again that trip. 

—

Kaoru didn’t bother going to the restaurant once he returned to the city, he was far too busy with work to even consider going across town.

“Kaoru.”

Kaoru looked up to see his boss standing in the door to his office.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Good work on your last project.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.”

“You finished 3 weeks early.”

“Yes.”

His boss nodded. “I’m suspending you.”

“What?”

“Just for the rest of the week. Take a break.”

“Ma’am, I just had a break.”

“That was a company trip, and it was 4 months ago. You know it’s not the same. I appreciate your effort, but you’re going to work yourself to death, and frankly you’re blowing through the workload. I’ve got nothing for you right now. Go home.”

Kaoru just stared where his boss had just been standing in disbelief. He opened his drawer to grab his things and noticed the card sitting at the bottom. He looked at it and examined it.

It took 25 minutes by train to make it to the neighborhood that held the restaurant. It was tucked away next to a flower shop and was near impossible to find without an older woman directing him.

The inside was small, but nearly packed with people for lunch. Kaoru managed to find a table secluded in the back. The waiter took his order and brought his drink while he waited for the food. 

He didn’t have to wait long though. The plate was set on his table, but toned hands. He looked up to see Kojiro standing by his table.

“Kaoru.”

“Hello.”

Chapter Text

It wasn’t allowed, although nothing was, really.

If he was caught, Kevin didn’t know who would suffer worse. Him or Jean.

He shouldn’t have risked Jean for his own selfish reasons, selfish needs.

He shouldn’t. But he did.  Every week since Jean’s 15th birthday.

Kevin would always find unique places to put them. Since he and Riko shared a room, there wasn’t much risk to leaving them in Jean’s room. Jean would never write back anyways.

Kevin began the letter at the start of each week and dropped it off on Friday while Riko met with Tetsuji. It was the only time he was both in The Nest and away from Riko.

He always started them the same.

"Mon Amor,"

Kevin knew Jean missed home, and he missed speaking French. Riko had forbidden it as soon as he realized Kevin knew the language too. Jean had taught him.

He would start by asking how Jean was. Even though Jean never replied, Kevin worried for him. He knew life in The Nest was brutal. Both he and Jean had grown up there after all.

He would talk about Exy and what they were going to do when they graduated, when they got out. As the years went on, Kevin started to talk less and less about Kevin and Jean and more about Exy. He asked if Jean was learning the new drills okay, or what he was worried about in the upcoming match.

Then they just stopped. Jean hadn’t known at the time that Kevin had left, until he saw on TV that Kevin had signed with the Foxes. 

He still kept all the letters. His favorite one, old and tucked under his pillow case, entirely written in French it read:

Mon Amor,

How are you today? Are you well? Have you eaten? The dining hall had a really good chicken salad this week. I highly recommend it. 

How are your classes going? I know you were struggling with that essay for English. If you need help, I’m sure Riko will let me on Sunday. The semester is almost over. One more year closer to graduation,

I know it’s still a long ways away, but I like to think about what I’ll do after. Obviously, we will be Court, but we will be able to travel more. We should go to France. My spoken French is so much better now and I know you miss it. You can take me to Paris, or Marseillie if you feel up to it. We can go to Spain or Japan, too. As long as I’m with you, I don’t really care where we go. 

I wish I had more to say this week, I wish you would write back. We should meet for lunch next week. I miss getting to eat with you. 

See you on the court,

Kevin 

Jean went 3 years without a letter. He got occasional postcards from Kevin over the years still but nothing akin to the letters he would hide in his room.

Until one day, he came back to his flat and Jeremy handed him a letter. There was no return address, only Jean’s name and address written in all too familiar script.

He opened it.

Jean, 

Apologies for not calling. I don’t really know what to say. Neil and Jeremy have kept me updated on you. Everything I hear makes me happy. I’m so glad you’re safe…

I wish there was something I could say after all this time to make up for everything, but I know there isn’t. Betsy tells me over and over that it’s not my fault but we both know the truth. 

I left you. I used you to help me leave and then I just never looked back, and I’m sorry. If anyone on this Earth knows what it was like for me in The Nest, you do, and I should have come back for you the second I got out. I should have come back before… before everything. 

I’ll forever be grateful to Neil. He and Renee did what I never could. What I was too afraid to do and I will always live with that, but in the end, I’m so glad you survived. I’m glad to know you’re in good hands. In safe hands. I wish that could have meant having you by my side, but I’m smarter than to let silly selfish feelings like that control me. 

Do not feel pressured to respond. I just needed to speak to you and can’t get myself to call unless I’m shitfaced drunk and Betsy highly suggested against that.

Tell Jeremy I said hello.

Kevin

Jeremy watched as Jean finished the letter and folded it back up. He took it to his room where all the letters he had managed to salvage before he left The Nest sat in a box. He returned to the living room, Jeremy’s eyes still on him.

“What did it say?”

“Kevin says hello.”