A/N: This is a birthday present for my friend Reciprocate. I hope you enjoy it dude, happy birthday! I worked hard on it and I'm happy with the result, hope you are too!
Suggested listening: Razorblade by The Strokes
The good times
They feel so ancient
But we are in the present
Battling nostalgia
"Man, it's so hot!"
Kouya panted as he walked down the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets. He looked up at the cloudless sky and squinted as the sun beat down on him and lit his body on fire. He cursed whatever spirit was in the sky watching his suffering.
This is ridiculous, the summer is supposed to be gone! It's September and it feels worse than then!
Kouya looked around the street for a sign of salvation. Air conditioning, cold food, anything indoors. He grinned when he looked upon the perfect object of his salvation.
The candy store! Thank God!
Kouya picked up the pace and dodged past a few people until he came to a stop in front of the store. His mouth began watering as he picked up wonderful scents wafting from the entrance.
He entered the candy store and breathed a sigh of relief as the bitter and relaxing cold hit his chest. The shopkeeper laughed and waved at Kouya who began to blush.
"Real scorcher today, huh?" The shopkeeper asked.
Kouya nodded. "The hottest day I've seen for a while."
"Ice cream is in the back."
Kouya smiled. "You read my mind." He squeezed between the packed aisles of candy to reach the back of the store.
The freezers called to him like a tempting evil spirit, and he approached the cold with a wagging tail. He opened the freezer and stuck his head inside.
How about I just stay here? This feels so good!
"Huh, I've never seen a husky stick his head in the fridge before!"
The deep and amused voice startled Kouya from his position, and he shot out of the fridge with a gasp. He turned and locked eyes with a huge green dragon.
"Oh, h- hey, Tatsuki." Kouya's face caught fire again as he stuttered.
Tatsuki laughed and raised his hand for a high five. "What's up, Kouya?" Kouya sighed and met the high five with a small grin.
Okay, keep it cool. Be cool! You weren't just sticking your head in the fridge.
"So why were ya stickin' your head in there?" Tatsuki asked.
Ugh, why else? Kouya looked away. "It's way too hot."
"Yeah, and it's almost fall! Just keeps getting hotter, I swear!"
"I heard it was going to get colder next week, but I dunno. Doesn't help that my fur is gonna start growing thicker again." Kouya started looking through the fridge while he spoke.
"If ya go shirtless like me, you won't have that problem!" Tatsuki laughed and patted his belly. Kouya rolled his eyes.
"Fat chance, Tatsuki." Kouya snickered to himself as he pulled out a cup of vanilla ice cream. He heard booming laughter to his side that reverberated throughout his whole body.
"Oh, I see what you did there! When did you get such a sense of humor?" Tatsuki asked as he grabbed a cup of chocolate ice cream.
Ever since I found the band. "Guess I learned it recently." Kouya shrugged and closed the fridge.
Kouya began to browse the aisles of the shop, and he found that Tatsuki was following him. Well, this isn't too bad. He's not like Tora; he's actually fine to have around. Kouya ran a hand through his silver hair and squinted at the prices of the candy on the shelves.
"Lookin' for something for the old sweet tooth?" Tatsuki crouched down next to him.
"May as well have something with the ice cream." Kouya shrugged. "Probably… umaibo." He licked his chops as he thought of that delicious treat.
"That sounds like a great idea! What's your favorite?" Tatsuki looked at him with a grin on his face.
"Takoyaki for sure," Kouya answered without hesitation.
Tatsuki gave him a thumbs up. "That's a great one, but I love the chicken curry!" He grabbed a couple of sticks of umaibo from the shelf.
"Really?" Always pegged him for a cheese type.
"Yeah! It tastes exactly like ramen!" Tatsuki chuckled and grabbed a few more. "Here, I'll pay for the candy."
A pang of annoyance flashed through Kouya. I'm not that damn poor. I can pay for it! "You don't have to-"
A heavy hand clapped on Kouya's shoulder. "I'm doing this because I care about you!" Tatsuki made eye contact and grinned. "Nothing else!"
It was that smile that did it. That genuine goofy smile melted Kouya's heart. "Alright, fine. You can pay."
"Thank you, Kouya!" Tatsuki started walking towards the front counter with his candy in tow. Kouya's shoulder almost felt cold now that the hand was gone.
Quit spacing out, weirdo! Kouya shook his head before following Tatsuki to the front.
Tatsuki walked up to the counter and set their spoils down on the table. The shopkeep rung him up, and Kouya paid for his ice cream afterward. They also grabbed some spoons sitting by the register after paying.
"Thank you, please come again!" The shopkeep called as the two left the store and returned to the intense heat of the day.
Tatsuki nudged Kouya. "Hey, do you… uh…" Tatsuki trailed off.
Kouya's ears perked up as he looked over at Tatsuki. "Huh? What is it?"
Tatsuki blushed. "Do you… wanna hang out? For a little while?" He swallowed. "I figure it's been a while since we have, and I don't have work today, and I thought it would be fun. You don't have to, I just thought it would be something to do!"
Kouya grinned. "Sure, we can hang out."
Tatsuki perked up and laughed. "Awesome! Come on!"
Kouya yelped as Tatsuki grabbed his arm and dragged him off down the street. He couldn't keep his tail from wagging as he was lead away, though.
Tatsuki seems... Different. Is he happier than normal? Or… lighter maybe?
After being taken around a few street corners, Kouya found himself in the park. They walked down the path and sat on a bench under a huge oak tree.
"Is this fine?" Tatsuki gestured to the park around them.
Kouya snorted. "Anywhere would've been fine." He peeled the lid off of his ice cream cup and dug in.
"Man, nothing beats ice cream on a hot day!" Kouya exclaimed. The cold did wonders to improve his mood.
"You've got that right!" Tatsuki laughed and patted Kouya's arm roughly. The impact sent a jolt through his body, and he responded with a strike to Tatsuki's shoulder.
"How's that feel?"
Tatsuki blinked. "Huh? Did you do something to me?"
Kouya growled. "What the hell? You should've felt that!"
"You wish!" Tatsuki laughed and gave him a thumbs down. "I've got thick dragon scales! Nothing can hurt me!"
"Whatever you say, man." Kouya took another bite of his ice cream, and Tatsuki handed him his umaibo stick as well.
They ate in silence for a few moments, just taking in the atmosphere and shade. Kouya watched as a group of children played a game of tag in the clearing across from them and felt a flash of deep nostalgia cut through him.
That used to be us… way back when we were kids… God, it feels like forever ago.
Kouya cleared his throat. "So, how have you been? What's your life been like?" He asked, looking at Tatsuki.
"Oh, it's been pretty much the same. Working with my dad and the guys! Being a carpenter and stuff." Tatsuki grinned and scratched his neck.
Kouya narrowed his eyes. "That can't be it, can it?"
"Well, I haven't really had much time. Dad wants me to do everything, and I've gotta. This is the first day off I've had in a bit," Tatsuki replied.
Still feels too stilted. "Huh, alright. You hung out with any of the guys at all?"
"Me and Tora a few times, when he's not at school or swooning over Hiro." Tatsuki stuck out his tongue and cringed. "They're so disgustingly cute!"
Kouya snickered. "Well, the guy is happy. I I can't blame him."
"But he gets so wishy-washy and dumb!"
"Tora is like that all the time. He's a chronic dumbass." Kouya finished his ice cream and set the cup down before opening the umaibo.
That drew a hearty laugh from Tatsuki. "Yeah, that is true! But he's been acting dumber than ever!"
"That's what being in love does to you." Kouya took a bite of his umaibo and hummed. Amazing as usual. Can never go wrong with that dependable flavor!
"Makes you wonder what that feels like, huh?" Tatsuki cradled his chin in his hands.
Kouya patted Tatsuki's shoulder as a strange blush crept to his face. "Absolutely, buddy. It's a mystery."
Tatsuki shook his head and smiled again. "Enough about that! What have you been up to recently?"
Great, I gotta explain it now. "Uh, nothing much. Got a job, been living on my own for a while." He chomped down on the umaibo as anticipation mounted.
"You live alone?" Tatsuki's voice was way too soft.
"Yeah." A nod. "About a year now."
"And… are you doing okay?"
"I'm fine! It's honestly not a big deal; live by my own rules and stuff. It feels good." Kouya winked at Tatsuki in reaffirmation.
"But that can't be alright! What about your parents?" Tatsuki's voice rose.
"They didn't support my dream, so I moved out. I'm doing fine now, really," Kouya responded.
Tatsuki was silent for a moment. Kouya watched as the gears turned in Tatsuki's head for a few moments before he opened his mouth.
"Your parents should still love you, no matter what. That's not a question," Tatsuki murmured.
"Try telling that to mine."
"I'm sure they both love you, Kouya! They probably regret driving you away!" Tatsuki turned to face Kouya, his umaibo forgotten.
"I don't know about that…" Kouya looked down at the floor.
"When was the last time you talked to them?" Tatsuki raised a brow.
Damn, why did he have to ask that? Kouya sighed and finished his umaibo in one bite.
Tatsuki crossed his arms. "That's what I thought."
"Well, what do I say to them? 'Hey, sorry I've been gone for a year! I've just been dealing with the fact neither of you support me!' Then everything will be okay?" Annoyance sparked into anger in Kouya's chest.
"No, but you should talk to them and understand their side. I always do that with my dad!"
"But what if they don't do that to me in return?" Kouya raised a brow. "What if they refuse to see my side?"
Tatsuki sighed. "Then… you've just gotta make them listen to you. You gotta be loud and make yourself heard." His faced constricted into pain, and Kouya's heart ached.
"Tatsuki…"
"We're just kids to them. We have to make ourselves heard. We're people too, we aren't nothing." Tatsuki smiled weakly. His eyes were glassy and wet with unshed tears.
Kouya felt a pang in his chest. Wow… Tatsuki is wise beyond his years. That's… that makes me feel better. I wonder what he's been through.
Kouya wrapped Tatsuki in a side hug. "I'll… I'll try to talk to them again. I'll listen to them, and I'll make them listen to me."
Tatsuki hugged him back. "You don't have to be alone. I'm here."
Kouya smiled. "Thank you, Tatsuki. Seriously."
Why haven't I hung out with him more? He's great…and he seems different than before, back in August. I wonder what it could be?
"Anytime." Tatsuki wiped his eyes and laughed.
I'm glad I made this decision.
Kouya watched as the children continued playing and laughing. He chuckled to himself when one of them fell, only to be helped up by a few of the others. They kept running and jumping around without a care in the world. It was so familiar and so distant now. So far gone.
"Remember when we were all kids?" Kouya asked. "Everybody always went everywhere together. We did everything."
"Feels like forever ago!" Tatsuki laughed and picked his umaibo back up.
"Nostalgic watching them, isn't it?" Kouya gestured to the kids.
"Definitely. Makes me wanna be a kid again!"
"Things were so much simpler then." Kouya crossed his arms and grinned. "Didn't have to worry about drama, or school, or music, or anything."
"I miss it," they said at the same time. They looked at each other for a second before they both burst into laughter.
"Guess that's a trend that runs with our group!" Tatsumi exclaimed while he laughed.
"Doesn't surprise me." Kouya shook his head and leaned back on the bench with a sigh.
If only there was a way to go back to those days. Now we've all got jobs, school activities, higher education...
Things just aren't fair anymore. Nothing's gonna be the same as before.
Tatsuki watched Kouya as his face dropped, and he frowned. He set a soft hand on Kouya's shoulder. "I know it's hard not to feel upset about it, but we can still be happy about it! We can be happy that stuff happened!"
Kouya matched Tatsuki's gaze with a cocked head. "What do you mean?"
Tatsuki looked up at the sky. "We can't dwell on the past. It already happened, and we can't change that. We can only hope for the future and live in the present. We gotta cherish the present, Kouya!" Tatsuki smiled, but his eyes were full of pain. "It's all we have!"
Kouya stared at Tatsuki with widened eyes. He's… Tatsuki really is something else, isn't he? There's so much behind that goofy laugh of his.
Kouya touched Tatsuki's hand, which sent sparks flying through Kouya's arm. "Thank you, Tatsuki. Really."
"Of course; anything for my friends." Tatsuki smiled and squeezed Kouya's hand. Kouya swallowed hard and nodded.
Yeah, there's definitely something different about him. What could it be? It's probably right in my face.
"Hey, Tatsuki. You seem… more different than usual. What's up with that?" Kouya leaned closer to Tatsuki and squinted his eyes. "Something you ain't telling me?"
Tatsuki snorted. "Maybe it's because I've been sober for a month?"
Kouya's mouth dropped open in strong shaking shock he'd never felt before. "An entire month? With no alcohol?"
"Yep. Not a drop since August!" Tatsuki exclaimed with a wide grin.
"Whoa, how'd you do it? Why?" Kouya bit his lip. That's a great thing… but it's something outta nowhere.
Tatsuki's expression darkened. He clasped his hands together and stared at the grass below them with furrowed brows. Kouya could almost feel the tone shift around them, and it sent a chill down his spine as worry crawled through his chest.
"I had been building a plane for a while, and at the end of August, right after Hiro left, I decided to fly it." He swallowed and covered his eyes. "I was a little too drunk, and the plane wasn't ready. Crashed after I got in the sky." He laughed bitterly.
Kouya covered his mouth with a hand. Sinking emptiness pooled into his gut as he listened, and he felt an ache inside himself.
"Dad found me and took me to the hospital. Was lucky not to have broken anything, but I couldn't look at alcohol the same way again. I quit cold turkey; haven't looked back since."
Kouya's chest felt tight. His exterior finally shattered as he went in and embraced Tatsuki hard. Tears pricked at his eyes as he held him close.
"Dammit, why didn't you tell us? You almost died!" Kouya's voice quivered as he buried his head in Tatsuki's chest. Tatsuki wrapped his arms around Kouya just as fiercely.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want anyone to worry about me! I've messed up enough by being drunk all the time, anyway."
"Why? Why did you?" A few tears came and Kouya sniffled.
Tatsuki swallowed. "I thought… I thought you all liked me better like that."
Kouya moved to look up at Tatsuki. "Of course not! We all like you for you, not who you're pretending to be!" He scooted even closer to Tatsuki on the bench.
Damn, he's really warm. I wonder if all dragons are like this? I guess I wouldn't mind staying here.
They did break the embrace, although it was reluctant on both sides. "Thanks, Kouya. I promise you, I'll never drink a drop of sake ever again!" Tatsuki pressed a hand to his chest.
"If you do, will I get to beat your ass?" Kouya grinned and cocked an eyebrow.
Tatsuki winked and sent a hot bolt through Kouya's body. "Absolutely!"
"You better not, then! I won't hesitate to beat you to a pulp!" Kouya punched Tatsuki's shoulder lightly.
Tatsuki laughed and clutched at his stomach. "Understood! I'll be a good boy for you, Kouya!"
Kouya's face ran hot. That actually sounded good, coming from Tatsuki's mouth. "Well, let's make it official then." He held his hand out, pinkie finger extended.
"Oh, a pinkie swear? I can't back down!" Tatsuki looped his finger around Kouya's. He cleared his throat and continued, "I promise to never drink sake and get drunk again, or Kouya will beat me up."
They shook. The contract was sealed.
Kouya found himself tearing up again. "Thank you. Thank you for telling me everything."
"Of course, old friend." Tatsuki's eyes were glassy as he nodded. They both stood up and relished the breeze that blew through the park.
It carried the scent of fall and a brisk chill with it. Change was in the air.
Kouya found that he couldn't tear his gaze away from Tatsuki's. Why not? Why couldn't he? What was so captivating as to not let him look away, to want to move closer and-
Tatsuki cleared his throat and threw Kouya into reality. "So… it's getting kinda late."
Kouya's ears and tail dropped. "Yeah… it is."
Tatsuki scratched the back of his neck and looked to the floor. "Well, since it's a long way to your place, do you want to spend the night at my house?"
And Kouya's ears were right back up to attention. "Oh, uh, yeah! Yes. Absolutely. I would like that. Thank you." He nodded vigorously as he spoke.
Tatsuki chuckled. "That's awesome! It'll be a sleepover, just like old times!"
Oh man, those were the best times. We would all just hang out together at one of our houses and spend the night. All of us just being together.
"Yeah, it will." Kouya's voice was quiet. His face felt warm, and he almost growled.
Tatsuki started to walk back the way they came. "Well, let's get going! It's still a little while to get to my house!" He looked back over his shoulder and grinned.
"Alright, I'm coming!" Kouya walked behind him.
He found that Tatsuki looked ethereal when basked in the orange glow of the afternoon sun. It brought a soft smile to Kouya's face as he followed Tatsuki.
How does he stay so strong? He's been through so much by himself, and he's still so happy go lucky. I wish he didn't have to deal with it alone.
Kouya hummed and scratched his chin as an idea popped into his head.
He doesn't have to be alone… not if I help him! I can be there for him. I haven't hung out enough with him enough lately anyway. I can start here.
"Keep up, Kouya!" Tatsuki called over his shoulder.
"Yeah, coming!" Kouya sped up to walk next to Tatsuki.
He won't be alone.