In cyborg´s skin
The months follow each other. Saitama returns to his routine. It is difficult. Of course it is difficult, but it has been possible. He has rearranged his life, adapting it to live without him. He feels proud of himself, until one day ...
Genos returns.
He is sure it is him. He has heard him. He has heard his heavy steps climbing the fragile stairs. He has no doubt. However ... something is weird.
Genos is not coming in.
Why?
Saitama, cautiously, approaches the entrance door. He doubts. A part of himself would like to open the door, receive him as if nothing had happened, forget those weeks in which he has been going around and around the subject, drink a beer, play video games, leave everything behind ..
But another part ..
Another part of him, refuses to ignore the wound that the boy has left in his absence. Another version of himself, more vengeful, more bitter ... but also more thoughtful and rational, tells him that an injustice has been committed there. That he did not deserve that treatment in the first place. That silence has been an undeserved punishment.
It is for this reason that Saitama remains still in the place. That does not prevent him from entering but also does not come close to opening the door.
A minute pass, and then..
Three dry blows.
"Saitama .. I know you´re inside. Can I come in?"
Can he? He asks himself in turn. He does not know. He is aware that Genos has his own key, that he could have thrown the door down if he really wanted it. If the cyborg asks for permission, it's for something. Something has changed between the two.
"I don´t know." He finally responds and it is not simply his resentment taking his voice. Genuinely, he does not know. Can he let him enter his house again? To his life? Can he try something with him again? Can he tolerate to be hurt again?
Genos seems to have expected that answer. Resignation is palpable in his words.
"It's fine I understand it. I just came .." A pause "I just wanted ..."
Saitama understands that in that conversation, he is not the only one insecure.
"I wanted to talk, I wanted to explain that ..." Genos gives a deep sigh, How to expose part of his soul in front of a closed door?
"I'm sorry. I know I´ve hurt you ... it was never my intention."
Saitama can´t do anything to stop the laughter that comes from his throat. Everything is so absurd. Genos has returned to ask for forgiveness ... again.
"That's why you came? To say "I'm sorry" again? I think your note was clear enough." The irony speaks for him. He knows he's being very hard, but he's fed up with the situation.
"That's why I wanted to see you and explain ..!"
Saitama feels childlish. He should open that damn door to have a conversation like two grown men. But deep down he fears that seeing Genos face after so much, all his resolution goes overboard. It is easier to direct his anger and bitterness against wood, than against the gentle cyborg with puppy eyes.
"You just left me. I didn´t know if it was because you regretted it, or because you did not love me anymore, if you would return. I could not know anything! Not even ..." He forces himself to swallow his anguish to continue. "You didn´t even give me the opportunity to ruin it..."
That was it. The door is suddenly pulverized in front of himself. He does not have a moment to recover from the impact, when a figure already surrounds him with a hugging force.
"It is not like this. You shouldn´t understand it like that. That's not why I left ..."
Genos speaks against his neck and he can understand only parts. Family, murderous cyborg, deaths, Bang, sacrifice, the words follow one another and to them, gradually, they add their own tears.
So...
It was because of that. Not for anything else. Saitama tightens him in turn and allows himself to lean against him. He has suffered so much.
The emotion of the moment overflows him so much, that he does not notice that there is something different in Genos. That his contours are not so hard, that his edges are not inclement ... that something in his anatomy has changed.
It's only when he puts some distance between the two that he notices it.
"Genos! What ...?" He can not finish asking his question that the boy is already blushing.
His face and hair are the same, but his arms, his neck ... all the skin in sight, are no longer mechanical. It is not metal that forms his body. Is..
"Skin" Saitama uses his hand to touch it. It feels so real.
"It's synthetic skin. The doctor has done it for me. "The boy speaks as if in a trance while leaning to his touch. That's why I took so long to come back, because ...
Saitama silences him with his mouth. He recognizes that what he tries to explain is important. That has been the reason for his prolonged absence, but he can not contain himself ..
Genos is suddenly too real and he has to feel him. He have to see him, touch him. He has to let him know that he has missed him, that he feels grateful and blessed by his presence and that, no matter what happens from that moment, he will not let him go.
They love each other. He no longer cares about his zero experience with male lovers, nor his clumsiness, nor the voice that reflects his insecurity ... he does not care about any of that because he needs it... and Genos needs him.
The young man follows him in everything, he offers himself without qualms, without fears and he is happy. After a long time. He can be happy again.
The sunset light finds them on the futon. Saitama sleeps clinging to his waist. Maybe, he's afraid he'll leave again.
Genos smiles. he should no longer fear. He has made his decision. He wont go away anymore. He has set aside his revenge. The skin that covers his body is proof of that. He is no longer a weapon.
That cyborg has taken away his family, part of his life and the possibility of being completely human. It has taken away so much. But he's not going to let it take away more ...
His future and his happiness with Saitama are the most important things now.
Saitama stirred against him. He has awakened. He watches him with a smile. They study each other a few moments, lost in the other's gaze. Genos approaches to kiss him, but Saitama stops him.
"Hey, if we're going to continue this, we should repair that door. Unless it's one of your fantasies .."
Genos notices that they have been all the time with the possibility of being seen by anyone. His face turns red like a tomato and, in his shame, he hides under the sheets.
The One punch man smiles. Definitely they have to repair it.
End.
Thank you very much to those who read, left comments and kudos. Your words and support were very important to finish this translation. Until next time!