The gentle rain pattering against the window was soothing. C sat at the edge of the bed, watching the flowers outside her window bend and flow in the wind. An old photograph lay in her lap. She was too afraid to trace the lines in the picture, in case it faded or distorted the image. She remembered the day she took it as clear as crystal. She had saved up for the camera for months - it was a chunky, professional grade one and she was overjoyed to finally have it in her hands. The man at the shop had always shooed her away from the window, waving a broom like a sword, but the look on his face when she swaggered in and slapped the cash on the desk... Beyond was hysterical when she had told him.
She had sprinted all the way back home, proudly waving the camera under Beyond and Adam's noses while dragging them outside.
It took a few minutes to figure it out, the settings, lighting, timer and such. They were out in the rose garden, and had propped the camera up against a tree stump and rock. She had pressed the timer, and bounded back to them with a wide grin showing her slightly crooked teeth. They all wrapped their arms around each other, Beyond on her left, Adam on her right, and grinned at the camera. She was certain they only did it to please her, but she certainly wasn't complaining.
They had taken almost a hundred pictures, striking poses, and leaping and bounding. The day was filled with laughter chiming all around the gardens. Then, Watari (it was Whammy, back then) had found them. They weren't being subtle, and the flash had obviously caught his attention somehow. He was furious, and had wrenched the camera from her hands. He ranted and raged, asking how she could be so ridiculous, screaming that she could compromise everything he - no, "they" had worked for.
By that time, Adam and Beyond had solemnly went back to their room, gazing back at her with sorrow, refusing to meet Wataris eye. C was taken hold of by some surge of panic and anger and had screamed right back. She had thrown herself at him, desperately reaching for the camera, only to have him hold it even higher above his head. She collapsed at his feet, begging and pleading like a dog for him to please, just give it back, she won't be reckless again, she promises, she won't take any photos of the house or the boys ever again. She was left bawling like a baby in the corridor as he stormed into his office.
A few nights later Roger had knocked on her door at midnight. He pushed a small brown paper bag into her hands, patted her head and bid her goodnight. She almost started sobbing again. He had developed and printed the first picture they had taken, thrice. She had bounded to their room and passed on the gifts to Adam and Beyond, not caring what time it was. She stayed the night in their room. they had dragged their blankets to the window and stargazed, talking if the future. "Someday," she had said, "I'm going to take our picture, and there won't be any of Wammy's rules to stop us." They didn't say anything, but they squeezed her hand.
Adam was buried with his photograph in his chest pocket, she made sure to put it there at the wake. Last she saw, Beyond's was kept in the pocket of his dismal prison overalls. Which left her. It was usually framed but she now kept it hidden away in her battered bkue copy of The Catcher in the Rye. It was a birthday present from Adam and Beyond and it just... seemed fitting, somehow.
C felt arms wrap around her shaking body, and she turned into Matsuda's chest. She didn't realise she had been sobbing until he cupped her face, wiping away her tears with his thumb. Questions were flung at her and she grabbed his hand, holding onto it desperately. "Please... Just hold me for a minute?" Touta quietened and nodded after a moment. He pulled her gingerly to his chest and she wound her arms tightly around his midriff, head buried in his neck. Hours or minutes could have passed, but C eventually pulled away sniffing. "Thank you, I'll explain," she assured him, even though she knew she didn't have to "just... I'll make some coffee."
She bounded into the kitchen,putting the kettle on to boil. Touta followed after her. He now wore trousers but had left his shirt hanging open. In his hand was the photograph. C was easily recognisable, with her bright ginger hair and crooked smile. The other two boys, however, were complete strangers.
He rested his chin on the crown of her head, hands resting on her waist. "You don't have to talk about it if you aren't ready." He murmured, and she turned into him. She reached up on her toes, pressing a chaste kiss on his cheek. "I... Will, just later. I have a few missed calls from L. He's probably wondering where his team members are." She chuckled, rubbing her fingers over Touta's knuckles. "Thank you."
This is an excerpt from a little project I've been working on lately. When I publish the fic,I'll take this down, but until then, I'd love to get your criticism or see if there's any interest. This is a fairly early edit, so some things night change