Prompt- Well this is awkward considering the last time we saw each other I was screaming at you to never talk to me again, my dog recognised you all the way across the park and literally dragged me over here because she misses you so hi

"Rei! Rei come back, Rei I swea-" His words cut off fast as he finally took in the sight of his suddenly disobedient dog, jumping up excitedly at somebodies ankles, frowning because she knew better than to harass strangers, approaching with the intention to apologise. But his eyes met green when he was too close to hide instead and he had to walk over and pretend his heart hadn't twisted painfully the second he saw him, had to smile awkwardly and curse his stupid dog. "Hey."

"Hi."

"It's been a while, how've you been doing?" Such a stupid conversation starter for two people who used to be in love, who used to be closer than anybody, like greeting your brother and asking calmly how his job was going as if you didn't know all that surface crap already.

"Good, um, yeah, good." His answer was uncertain because that was a lie, things had not been good, he'd lost his boyfriend, his home and his source of income all in once go, he'd had to move in with his brother and his boyfriend and deal with a horribly messy breakup alone. He'd had to find a job and go out and work to get his own place and try to pretend that he thought about something, anything other than Mizuki and how much it ached to not be with him. But he wouldn't let him know the truth even though he already must, just clearing his throat uncomfortably and enquiring back, because that was polite but detached and that's all they were now. "How about you? I saw you extended the bar."

"I've been good too. Yeah, we needed to, we weren't big enough real-" his words stopped as Rei all but leaped into Mizuki's arms, trying to do exactly that and limbs flailing around in a very ungainly manner, tongue lolling out and tail wagging madly as he leaned down to say hi, spoiling her again already. "Hey girl, ah I missed you."

"I think she missed you too, she dragged me all the way over here."

"Dragged you?" While Sei might not be the strongest man alive, he could surely control his tiny Italian greyhound, expression just turning the tiniest bit annoyed at his words, holding eye contact for too long and olive flickering away nervously to focus on getting his face licked by Sei's traitorous dog.

"Well, more like she ran over here and I thought I was going to lose her," he explained, and this conversation was so nice, so calm he could almost ignore his own voice screaming through his ears all those weeks ago.

"You fucking cheated! You slept with somebody else, in our bed, Mizuki! What the hell is wrong with you? No, don't you dare say you made a mistake you knew exactly what you were doing. What's your excuse this time? You were lonely, you missed me, you were drunk?"

"Sei jus-"

"No, Mizuki! You know, the first time I thought maybe it was a mistake, I believed that it wouldn't happen again but I didn't think I'd have to catch you with somebody to realise how fucking stupid I am!"

"Sei, babe please jus-"

"Don't you dare call me that, ever again! In fact you know what? Just don't speak to me, I never want to hear your voice or see your face ever again." The wet anger hadn't started yet, he knew it would the moment he left the apartment they had shared, now it was hard and dry and filled with rage because he'd shattered all his fragile trust and he couldn't stand the fucking sight of him. But he'd followed him down the stairs, yelling bullshit apologies he refused to listen to, making a spectacle in the street as if he had any right to embarrass Sei more than he already had, and he felt himself crack even as he spun round to scream at Mizuki.

"Never, never speak to me again! I don't want you anywhere near me," then he'd ran, because he didn't know what else to do, ran all the way to his Grandma's where he barely lived any more and cried the whole way, burst through the door in hysterical tears and collapsed onto the floor, Rei whining as she lapped at his tears ineffectually.

"Sei? I asked how Aoba was."

He snapped back to now worryingly fast, his eyes dry and expression that feigned casual only ex-lovers could ever master, pretending he wasn't in pain just being here and smiling as if he was just talking to an old friend. "Oh, right, yeah he's good. Still at the junk shop, still with Noiz too, they moved in together a month or so back."

"Ah that's great, and I don't have to ask how Rei is, do I? Yeah you're a good girl," he grinned down at her, obeying her commanding paws and scooping her into his arms easily, the way he always used to, scratching her ears and laughing as she almost licked into his mouth, grimacing away.

"Hm, she always did like you," and just like that the tone was sad and he felt small and lost and hurt all over again, wondering if he'd ever really hated Mizuki and thinking that the answer was probably a no, he'd hated being hurt, but he knew now that if the bartender asked he'd get back with him instantly. It scared him a little.

"And I liked her too, she's my gorgeous little lady," he had heard the atmosphere shift, he must have done, but he tried to pretend for a minute, meeting Sei's expression a second later and hand stilling on Rei's side, only continuing in his petting when she began pawing at his shoulder again. He hesitated for a minute, then gathered up the excitable bundle of limbs and skinny body and handed her over to Sei, who had to fight the jealously in his chest as she whined and tried to get back to him. He sighed, glancing into the distance then he turned back and his face was so apologetic, so suddenly tired and regretful and sincere that Sei already knew what he was going to say. "You know, I've said it before Sei, but I am really sorry."

He didn't quite know what to say at first, whether to just nod and say that he knew, that he'd said it enough at the time, or whether to say the words that were on the tip of his tongue and made his mouth taste bitter and sweet at the same time. "I know, I think this time I might actually believe you."

"Well that's good I guess," he shrugged, expression saying that was all he'd expected but seeming the tiniest bit surprised, eyes crinkling at the corners and not leaving Sei's as he spoke again, voice calm and tranquil despite his words.

"Doesn't mean I forgive you."

He shook his head, because if Sei forgave him he had the feeling it would hurt worse somehow, he deserved to know he still hated him for this, he deserved to feel pain and regret, to wake up every day alone and know it was all his fault "I don't want you to, I don't deserve it. It's my fault, I have to deal with it, I'm just sorry you had to get hurt too."

"Yeah." He raised his eyebrows a little, because things would have been a lot less painful if Mizuki had just admitted he wanted to fuck other people, or if he'd just broken up with him, that way Sei wouldn't have the memory of him and somebody else together in their bed burned into his eyes.

They stood there in silence, life continuing around them, a kid screaming in excitement as it raced past followed by a harassed mother with tired eyes and a wide smile, an old couple feeding the ducks and laughing, the sun shone and birds tweeted but things suddenly seemed black and white for them. But then he spoke and it was back to that strange disposition of ex-lovers again, people wounded by each other but still clinging onto some sort of horrible, agonising attachment that made this so painful. "It was good to see you, both of you. Really good."

"Yeah, it was," and he felt like it was a little true, finally they were telling each other the truth, the issue was that it had come rather too late to save them, Sei still resentful and angry at the man who had wormed his way into his heart only to break it, and Mizuki not trusting himself any more.

"I-" He began, but he didn't know how to finish that sentence, to say sorry again, to beg for another chance on his knees, which he was certain he'd do and make a complete fool of himself in the process. Just telling a lie that came too easily instead and reminded him why this had happened in the first place. "I better go, I don't want to be late for work."

"Mm, I'll tell Aoba you asked after him."

Mizuki just nodded, wondering how that would go considering Aoba hated him even more than Sei did, if that was at all possible, giving Rei one more head rub and having to ignore her whines for him to go back, because animals were a lot easier to understand that humans. The fact she missed him was obvious, but the fact Sei did was only belied when he looked back to see him hurriedly wiping one eye as he headed off, Rei close to his side and back on her lead.