Track 11: Hero.

Would you dance
if I asked you to dance?
Would you run
and never look back?
Would you cry
if you saw me cry?
And would you save my soul, tonight?

Breathing, at first. Deep, fast and hard, the kind of breathing Ritsuka only did when he was trying not to cry. Soubi frowned a little bit, buttoning his coat again, letting the cigarette he had just started to burn alone, barely noticing it.

True enough, Ritsuka's voice was subdued, almost chocked, and yet there was anger there… and sadness. So much of it that he went outside, throwing the cigarette and stepping on it while he climbed as fast as possible the stairs without running.

No reason to panic yet, right?

Then, Ritsuka's voice.

"… I know you're not going to hear this and that's the only reason I'm calling and it's stupid, really, because I know you're not there, Soubi; you can't keep your promises! You're probably fighting alone right now and SEE IF I CARE when you're hurt next time! Tch, it's not as if you actually…"

More breathing then. Soubi's frown deepened and he decided that Ritsuka being sad and angry was enough reason to run, thank you very much. His fighter's voice was but a murmur on his voice mail,

… I just wanted to… … nothing…"

Ritsuka was over his bed, curled over him, back against the wall, only part of his ears showing from underneath the covers. Soubi let his shoes outside on the balcony, sliding the window to get inside, kneeling by the bed. If Ritsuka hadn't flinched when he had moved a hand as to touch him, Soubi'd have thought he was asleep.

"Ritsuka?"

"I didn't tell you to come." Ritsuka said in a muffled voice, but he didn't stop Soubi from pulling down the covers, didn't even took his eyes from his closed cellphone while the fighter took on the new bandage over his sacrifice's face, reaching just to cup his face.

So many things to say but only a few would be accepted.

"Can I stay here?"

When Ritsuka didn't answer, Soubi took it as his answer. Just as he was moving to stand again, the boy's hand suddenly clenched over his and Soubi smiled softly, taking off his glasses and Ritsuka's movil phone, putting them under the bed before moving inside the bed, drawing Ritsuka's body toward his.

"What! Soubi! I didn't say-"

"I'm Ritsuka's. Whatever Ritsuka wants, I'll do it." Soubi interrupted softly both his words and the half hearted struggles about being held, kissing the boy's forehead. "I just want to be with you."

And Ritsuka's body relaxed at that, face pressed against the crook of his neck, his own dubious hands moving to wrap around his body, holding as tightly as Ritsuka dared. Not as much as he could, Soubi realized, but it was enough. It was a beginning.

"… idiot."

Soubi just smiled.