Chapter 7
King of Fighters, Kyo Kusanagi, and Iori Yagami belong to SNK
Comments: So this chapter confirmed the fact that the collaboration took an abrupt tone shift, which is why we changed the tag from 'Humor' to 'Drama'. Things get really serious in this one between the boys from both teams, so there is no humor to be had here.
Iori Yagami couldn't hold his alcohol for shit.
He had downed two-and-a-half bottles over the two hours they were sitting in the bar, and by the time they had helped the poor bartender clean the shattered glass - it was pretty clear Iori wasn't in any shape to drive. He was walking a little crooked and nearly tripped headlong over the threshold of the bar's front door. Had 'Other' Kyo, who was eagerly picking Iori's inebriated brain for details on the NESTS pathogen, not caught him by the back of his giant V-neck - he might have broken his nose on the pavement. The car was two blocks off, and by this time Iori was collapsing over every other crack in the sidewalk.
"So did they mutate? Like did they spray blood and gunk everywher- ouf. Hey, you alright? The car's over there man."
"No, no. They just said stuff. Like… stuff… Let go of me."
Ahead, 'Other' Kyo had caught Iori by the arm for the umpteenth time, and attempted to direct him toward the taxi parked up ahead. Kyo snorted. Iori was getting better at hiding it when he got drunk, besides for not being able to walk, he sounded decently sane. He used to go absolutely stupid-ballistic, but tonight he had specifically asked Riot not to come out, so everything was more peaceful than usual.
Which is what we need right now.
Kyo sighed and glanced at the man walking slightly ahead of him. 'Nice' Iori wore a blank expression on his face, but Kyo could tell by his body language he was downcast. He had stuffed his hands into his pockets, and watched the back of 'Other' Kyo's head as he followed. There was an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips.
Kyo rubbed the back of his neck.
He felt bad about what had happened. For as long as he'd known his rival, he found one of the best ways of getting on his nerves was to behave in an overtly sexual manner. Both knew it was just jousting, and nothing was ever supposed to come of it. Iori had always hated it, and it seemed like it made 'Nice' Iori uncomfortable as well - but for a different reason.
It was now evident 'Nice' Iori had a rather unconventional attraction to 'Other' Kyo.
Kyo snorted at that.
It wasn't as if Iori's relationship to him was any less conventional. Although Yagami had no romantic interest, he displayed a feverish devotion which one could only describe as 'unconditional love'.
Iori only cared about one thing. That he was Kyo Kusanagi.
Iori didn't care what sort of stupid nonsense he pulled. He barely acknowledged the crimes Kyo had committed. He didn't care about right and wrong either - he had no problem adhering to Kyo's decision no matter how ridiculous or morally dubious it was. When it came to NESTS, he was there blasting people to bits. With IKARI, he was there helping him hold hostages. Andevenafter the incident a few months ago, where everyone had been horrified? Not Iori. Iori didn't give a shit. For him, nothing had changed.
Kyo chuckled coldly.
It'd make more sense if he were actually gay…
Looked like both Yagamis had their quirks.
The two men up ahead had reached the taxi and had wandered off the sidewalk to the driver's side of the vehicle. Kyo shivered involuntarily as the cold chill swept through the empty streets. It was nearly three in the morning, and he was beginning to feel tired. Kyo watched as his duplicate, who had accompanied Iori to the far side of the car, caught the red-haired man by the arm before he kissed asphalt, again. Naturally, Iori was complaining.
"What are you doing?! Let me go...I'm fine."
"Yagami, you're really drunk."
"You don't know me! Move, I'm driving... Gotta get home, I need to feed my cactus."
"Haha! What?"
'Nice' Iori had come to a stop at the other side of the vehicle, and watched coldly. 'Other' Kyo seemed to be getting along just fine with Iori, and was snickering at the man's asinine drunk talk. Iori was doing his best to remain serious, not realizing everything he said made so little sense he might as well be some sort of sad comedy routine. It didn't help that he had asked one of the baristas for bobby pins and he now looked like he belonged in asylum.
On any other day, Kyo might have gone over and harassed him, but that would be wildly inappropriate right now. Standing next to 'Nice' Iori made him feel like he was participating in a funeral procession. Kyo exhaled hard and came to a stop alongside the other man, who glanced briefly at him. Kyo mimicked his posture, stuffing his hands into his pockets and gazing across the taxi's roof.
Well… I guess they're having fun…
Kyo didn't know how to apologize, or even if his apology was welcome. After all, the catalyst which had instigated this entire chain of events was entirely his doing. 'Other' Kyo was behaving like his rival didn't exist. 'Nice' Iori looked positively downtrodden. It was something Kyo felt was profoundly unfair… but after all, that 'other' guy wasn't him…
… gonna try and toss the guy who went through hell with you? You… that's not… haah.
Kyo sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. He shouldn't be indignant. This was nothing. After all, he himself had turned on his rival after Iori nearly killed him during the Istanbul KOF. Iori had run - and rightfully so - to some godforsaken town in Sweden, because the whole Kusanagi clan was out for his blood… and Kyo was at the forefront leading the charge.
They had actually tried to murder each other for two years after that. There was a fear between them that had never existed before. The relationship was only repaired after a literal zombie apocalypse. From then on, they stuck together like two peas in a pod.
'Other' Kyo ignoring 'Nice' Iori for twenty minutes should mean absolutely nothing… but Kyo was compelled to provide the other man some silent company anyways. He wasn't even sure if the other man appreciated his presence, but at least like this he'd know someone was paying attention.
*Thud*
Kyo grimaced as he watched his rival hit his head against the doorframe in his attempt to climb into the driver's seat. He was hella drunk. In the state he was in, he'd definitely kill all four of them. Two and a half beers… what a pussy.
Beside him, 'Nice' Iori vocalized the thoughts running through his brain. The man's voice was low and seemed to rasp very slightly. His tone was incredulous and held a bitter tinge.
"That guy's driving?"
Kyo sighed and stepped off the curb.
"Not if I can help it. Take the front. Don't need his drunk ass sitting shotgun."
Kyo Kusanagi was making every effort not to look at the man sitting diagonally from him. He kept his attention fixed raptly on 'Taxi', who was now experiencing the full effects of the beer he'd ingested. Unlike the Iori that Kyo was familiar with, 'Taxi' had a shockingly low alcohol tolerance for a man of his stature. He was pressed up against the opposite window and rambling nonsense answers to whatever questions Kyo asked. There were certain times where Kyo was sure he was speaking a different language, but he didn't care.
Anything to keep him occupied… and to discourage Iori from speaking to him.
Don't look at me… just….
Iori kept glancing at him - Kyo watched him half turn and fix his gaze on him, evidently listening for an appropriate opportunity to interrupt - something Kyo was determined not to give him. The last thing he wanted was to confront the other man. Actually, he didn't even want to look at him. Kyo's memory flicked back to all the times he was in any sort of close proximity to Iori and wrinkled his nose in disgust.
I don't… I don't think we can go back to before…
Kyo didn't know why - but the fact Iori considered him in that manner was simply unacceptable. It was weird. Kyo wasn't comfortable with it.
He didn't want to deal with it.
He wanted nothing to do with it.
He wanted nothing to do with him.
Kyo wasn't homophobic by any means. He was a generally nice person, and tended not to make assumptions about people. He couldn't care less about what people did in the privacy of their bedrooms - so long as it didn't involve him directly.
But this was direct. As a human being, he was allowed to determine who to keep close, and who to push away. He had tolerated his stalker for years. Although he couldn't say he particularly liked the other man's company, there was some comfort in the regularity of his visits.
Kyo had always thought the habit was borne from Iori's weird obsessive personality. However, having considered how the other man felt about him, Kyo was getting a clearer picture into his rival's psychology - and he wasn't liking it one bit.
For all it was worth, Kyo would be quite happy if Iori never spoke to him again. He had asked his double in the driver's seat to take him to the nearest capsule hotel, and they were quickly reaching their destination. All Kyo needed to do was to ride out the next ten minutes - then he would be free of this nonsense forever.
He sighed against the glass and turned his attention back to what 'Taxi' was saying. Kyo had asked him a couple of minutes ago about his clan's mafia activities, and 'Taxi' Iori was slipping between English and what sounded like Spanish. Kyo didn't understand a word.
"So you know what we did? Cortamos eso putamadre en fucking half. Right en frente de su hijo too. Pendejo deserved it. That's what happens when you fucking rob us. There was also this other time when-..."
'Taxi's tone was becoming more and more rambling, and it seemed he had begun arguing with the headrest in front of him. Iori, who had been trying his best to hide his nervousness, flinched forward as 'Taxi' jabbed a finger into the leather cushion behind his head and began hissing.
Shit...
It seemed that until this moment, the only reason Iori had refrained from addressing him was he typically didn't like to interrupt others. Kyo had been working hard to keep 'Taxi' talking - but when Iori turned around to find his double's attention fully occupied with the back of his chair, it was clear he saw his chance. He cast his gaze to Kyo.
Kyo gritted his teeth and turned dramatically to look out his window, showing Iori his back. He focused on the streetlights passing by and made it as clear as he possibly could, that he didn't want to talk to anyone. If only 'Other' Kyo had driven faster, he'd already be checking into his hotel - ready to put his rival behind him entirely.
"Kyo...I -"
Before Iori could get a word in, Kyo jerked forward to tap his double on the arm. 'Other' Kyo seemed to be concentrating very hard on driving and flinched violently at the contact. He gave Kyo a very brief dirty look before fixing his eyes back on the road. He didn't look in the mood to talk, but Kyo decided to hold a conversation anyways. Better him than Iori.
"You can drive faster, you know. There's no one on the road. Just gun it."
He leaned forward until he was nearly hovering over his copy's shoulder. 'Other' Kyo huffed a response. For whatever reason, he seemed unhappy.
"I haven't driven a car in two years. If you don't wanna crash, leave me alone. I need to focus."
"Ah… okay, um… "
Out of the corner of his eye, Kyo noticed Iori staring at him. He grimaced and tried his luck again with his double.
"So… what bike do you ride?"
There was a silence as 'Other' Kyo ignored him. Iori took the silence as an opportunity. Kyo curled his lip into the beginnings of a snarl and his eyes went hard.
"Kyo, I need a word -"
Something akin to anger welled up and overflowed in his chest. Something else burned like hot liquid behind his eyes. Kyo whirled on his rival and snarled; the sound came out nastier than even he had anticipated. When he spoke, his words dripped with searing venom.
"Was I talking to you, Yagami?"
That shocked him. He retreated, nearly shrinking into his chair as if injured. Beside him, 'Taxi' had stopped talking to the chair and had turned to look at him - eyes no longer unfocused. He noticed his double had stiffened and was gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles stood white. Kyo huffed, then continued. He maintained his toxic cadence.
"That's what I thought."
Silence. It stretched tense and thin.
After a moment, 'Other' Kyo broke it. His words were slow and measured. They held a sternness Kyo hadn't heard in him before. Something started stirring in the recesses of his brain.
"No… you weren't talking to him. But now he's talking to you. Have some fucking manners."
"..."
That was unexpected. Kyo narrowed his eyes. Who the hell did this guy think he was? Was this murderer trying to boss him around? Ridiculous. He snapped, nearly hissing the words into his copy's ear.
"I don't give a shit about him. Don't need some thirsty fuckboy following me around. He can say whatever the hell he wants, but none of it is my problem. Go ahead and entertain him if you want! But I'm warning you, he might come crawling after you nex- aack!"
Whatever the front seat's reply was, Kyo didn't hear it. He had expected some backlash for those stinging words, but not nearly the amount he received… and especially not from the person he received it from..
"you... fucking... PIECE OF SHIT!"
It happened so fast Kyo didn't even have time to react. He heard the man beside him growl, and by the time he turned his head, 'Taxi' was already bearing down on him - fingers outstretched and reaching for his throat.
Kyo's vision went white as he was bowled over into the seat. The force itself knocked the wind entirely out of him, and he was conscious of a knee pressed sharply against his hipbone, pinning him down. A set of deadly fingers wrapped themselves around his throat. By the time his vision returned, he was staring up into pure rage.
Kyo gagged, more so out of shock, than having his throat squeezed. 'Taxi' Iori screamed.
"You fucking coward! I should do your clan a favor and slit your throat right here! They should be ashamed knowing that their clan leader is such a bitch!"
Kyo didn't know why, but the moment he was seized, he automatically looked across to his rival. Iori had whirled and looked prepared to tear into his assaliant's back. 'Taxi' didn't seem worried in the least - he didn't even glance behind him as the hooked claw came down on him like a scythe - ready to snip through his spine. Kyo couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief.
What an idiot. You expect 'that guy' not to react when-
An arm whipped out from the driver's seat and struck Iori squarely in the shoulder. He was hurled back to sprawl into his chair before he could touch 'Taxi'. There was a panicked shout and the commotion up front seemed to be turning violent. Kyo thought he saw the flash of ignition before his vision was obscured by the man shaking him by the throat. His ears rang and he began fighting desperately. He threw a clumsy strike upwards and tried to kick 'Taxi' off. None of his strikes hit, and his attacker began hissing.
"You piece of shit bastard!"
The world spun. His struggling became feeble and he gasped for breath, but the vice grip on his throat didn't loosen at all. He had been talking and laughing with 'Taxi' earlier, and couldn't even imagine him to be the killer he claimed to be… until now.
Fuck… is he…
"Look at him!" 'Taxi' whipped around to gesture wildly at Iori. He was alight with orange flames, but somehow wasn't burning. He trembled where he sat; yet, his eyes were fixed on them and his face was set like flint. "One wrong move, he's dead… but even now he's trying to save your ass… did you know?"
He leaned in close, once again obstructing Kyo's view. The lack of oxygen was beginning to make him dizzy.
"Did you know, I would've killed you ten times just tonight if not for him? The last time someone held that Kusanagi bastard hostage, a thousand people died. It's a miracle you're alive. A fucking miracle… andthis is how you thank him, you fucking bastard?! Where's your fucking honor?!"
'Taxi's clenched teeth clicked with each strangled word that escaped from behind them. His voice was burning contempt. Kyo saw the derangement in those dark eyes - they were cold, black and unfeeling. It was like staring down the barrel of a gun. This man was a serial murderer. This man was prepared to kill him.
And for the first time today, Kyo was truly terrified.
He grabbed the hands about his throat and ignited. Flames burst out and spread, running like frantic serpents up 'Taxi's arms and enveloping him in the burning heat. The air around them rippled and crackled… but the man pinning him down didn't even blink. The flames danced harmlessly over him - as if they were nothing at all.
Shit… shit!
'Taxi's voice rang in his ears. Everything sounded like it was underwater. He vaguely heard his own voice protest and watched 'Taxi' turn to address him.
"Coward! You ungrateful shit!-"
"Yagami you fuck, hell you doing? You're gonna kill him."
"This is none of your business, Kusana-"
"Let him go."
There was silence.
It was Iori who spoke.
His voice was quiet and stricken with grief. 'Taxi' flinched and turned to look at him, but the stranglehold didn't loosen. Kyo's vision was beginning to go black. The strength in his hands was gone, and he was conscious of his arm slumping limply onto the car floor. Tears welled in his eyes as he gasped for even the slightest breath.
"Please. Let him go."
"..."
...
The first thing Kyo was conscious of was his own loud gasping. It rang in his head. He felt his pulse pounding where his throat had been squeezed. Sweet air flooded his lungs and his vision slowly came back into focus. He jolted upright, throwing his arms up in a clumsy defense as he scrambled backwards - away from 'Taxi' until he was pressed against his window. He glared and tried to shout, but his voice came out strangled and weak.
"You! Wha-"
'Taxi' cast him a look dripping in such hatred that Kyo went quiet. He noticed the car was pulling to the curb outside a capsule hotel. Iori… his Iori, was staring straight ahead. When he noticed Kyo looking at him, he turned slightly away so his face was hidden. 'Other' Kyo brought them to a stop - clacked the gearbox into park, then folded his hands. He remained silent.
'Taxi' stared him down. His face portrayed absolute disgust. He spoke slowly and threateningly.
"People like you, I can't stand them. You just want it perfect, huh? Someone gave their whole fucking life for you, but you'll treat them like trash for liking you in a way you don't wanna be liked?! Pathetic. Fuck you. Grow some balls... I'm leaving."
'Taxi' threw the car door open and stepped out. He slammed the door behind him, froze, then bent over to open it again. He held onto the roof and stuck his head in to address 'other' Kyo.
"Kusanagi, I'll find you tomorrow… and you..." He clapped Iori on the shoulder. It looked like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't verbalize it. Iori stared straight forward, unmoving. After a moment of silence, 'Taxi' withdrew and disappeared into the depths of the city.
"Fuck."
Kyo muttered as he watched 'Taxi' Iori stagger off. He seemed much more stable than earlier, but it was still obvious to the passerby that he was thoroughly hammered. Kyo gritted his teeth.
I almost got killed by a guy who can barely walk straight…
He sat there for a couple of long moments before exiting the vehicle. The men in the front seats were as cold and unmoving as statues. Nobody tried to stop him as he cracked open the door and stepped into the cool evening air. As he left, he felt eyes boring like needles in his back.
It was when Kyo left, without looking back, without saying a word, that Iori knew he had truly been abandoned. The car door slammed shut behind him - the sound echoing in the uneasy silence - and he continued looking ahead, uncertain of how to even process what had just happened. His cigarette, unlit and forgotten, had fallen to the edge of his seat. He didn't retrieve it. Didn't know what to do...how to even begin living again, in a sense.
He'd thought he knew Kyo. That he and Kyo understood each other, having gone through years of being rivals and reluctant allies. That while he always dreaded Kyo knowing about his actual feelings, that at most Kyo would make faces and stay away from him in the way kids did.
What he hadn't expected was for Kyo to completely sever ties with him. How he'd talked to him? About him? That tone of voice? It was… He slowly leaned back into his seat and slumped into it. Kyo had hurt him in the worst way possible and he had nothing to counter it. Nothing at all.
His whole life from childhood until now revolved around Kyo Kusanagi. A life without his rival there...without his acknowledgment...being essentially dead to him was…
For him, what kind of a life was that?!
He sat there, frozen, numb and still in disbelief - the hurt running deep - until the slight movement of a car driving past on their left finally caught his attention and broke his stupor. He blinked and turned his head a fraction to the left to catch the passing tail lights. As he turned, he saw that 'Other' Kyo was still there with him, seated in the driver's seat and staring blankly forward as if he were dead.
The painful irony of that cut even deeper. The Kyo from another world was still here. He hadn't left him alone while his Kyo had. Had left and likely wasn't coming back. Kyo - his Kyo - no longer considered him a rival or...anything, for that matter.
He let out a long breath.
Iori was tired. Tired beyond exhaustion. The ache had started when Kyo first spoke those words to him in the bar. And after what he said to him earlier…? Iori closed his eyes.
He just wanted to go home. He should've never gotten out of bed. Maybe he wouldn't be in this situation now if he hadn't. It wasn't fair, but he'd known life wasn't fair since the day he was born. He had never complained, but…
"Hey," he heard his voice roughen. "Can you take me home?"
He gave 'Other' Kyo the address and then fell silent, not trusting himself to speak any more. The ache inside of him had moved into his throat and lodged there, threatening an onslaught of tears. He wasn't about to cry. Clenching his teeth, he put his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. He saw his reflection in the night-darkened glass and quickly looked away. He didn't like what he'd glimpsed there.
'Other' Kyo glanced very briefly at him before starting the car. He'd been sitting silently with both hands on the steering wheel and even now didn't say a word. His expressions, which had been so easy to read before, were now entirely incomprehensible. The car started with a rumble and they peeled off the curb and into the street.
They drove in silence until Iori began recognizing the neighborhood. He was grateful for the quietness. He noticed 'Other' Kyo regularly took his eyes off the road to check on him. Checking to see if he was all right. To see if he was holding up. Iori didn't want to crack in front of this virtual stranger, but seeing that familiar face worried over him - especially after what had just occurred - was threatening to tear down his facade. All he wanted was to curl up and hide.
Just shut himself out, and wallow in his misery.
There was nothing he wanted more. He was done with this world. Nothing else, nobody else could ease the low groaning of his wounded heart. He felt cold. The silence covered them like a heavy sheet.
I… I can't…
That familiar voice broke the silence. The words were slow and weighty. Iori turned to look out the window… it was too close. The man beside him was too similar to the one whom he'd loved for years. It was as if life played a cruel joke on him.
"It's not your fault, Yagami."
It wasn't but knowing that wouldn't bring Kyo back. He'd seen the expression on his face. He could bear hatred - that was how they started - but he couldn't bear that disgust, that disdain...that cold-eyed dismissal of him just for the knowledge to which Kyo was naive to only...how many hours ago?
He'd lost track of the time. He didn't want to know. It was easier that way. Beside him, Kyo's voice continued.
"You've given enough, there's nothing more you could have given."
'Other' Kyo was hesitant. Choosing his words carefully. Iori turned to look at him as he spoke, but quickly averted his gaze.
'And… I'm sorry."
Silence.
"You couldn't have known." He closed his mouth, shut it tight, was afraid to say anything more. 'Other' Kyo didn't look at him when he spoke. He kept his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead. Perhaps to offer him some sort of privacy? Iori didn't know. But regardless, he appreciated it.
"Three years ago, I tried to kill Iori Yagami."
"Why?" It came out low and quiet, as though he was now afraid to voice his thoughts. He hadn't even needed to for his Kyo to realize the unspoken.
"We were in a tournament, Istanbul. He Rioted and split me open - my guts were spilled out on the stadium… so for two years I chased him. I was going to boil his blood. If he hadn't run, I would have blown him to bits - piece by piece."
The turn signal ticked as they made a left. Iori turned to look at 'Other' Kyo's face. The expression was bitter. It mirrored a deep regret.
"He didn't mean to do it, but I was too angry. After he got his flames back, we met again in KOF Paris. We almost killed each other again - in front of an audience of a hundred million people. To say I wanted him out of my life would be an understatement… I wanted to murder him with my bare hands."
"You still fought him as your rival," Iori said, tone bitter.
'Other' Kyo shook his head.
"Not a rival, an enemy. The hate is different. It's not somewhere I ever want to be again… it took time. I don't know your Kyo very well, but at the same time, I think I do."
"Three years." Iori scoffed but it was directed inward at himself. "It took you three years. He's...he's never going to...you heard him...how he…"
Kyo had cut him off mid-sentence with a tone so vicious it was shocking. Those words burned in his head, each one seared into his brain and radiating a suffocating pain. It had cut him deep. It had split him open. The wound was so grievous, Iori feared he wouldn't survive.
'Other' Kyo continued in his slow, measured cadence. Iori turned his attention back.
"Do you know what Iori did after that?"
They were pulling to a stop outside of the apartment complex Iori lived at.
"He ran. He was scared shitless. Terrified. Took a plane to a random country and holed up there for a month. You've seen enough of him," 'Other' Kyo gestured vaguely. "You can imagine what it takes to make that guy turn tail and run… but even so, here we are."
He turned off the car with the clink. The low hum of the motor faded and died. Iori closed his eyes and listened, clinging to each word as if their utterance could save him.
"Throwing each other off bridges, laughing like idiots - just like before… but in between there were two years of hatredbetween us. That man died for me, and I hated him with everything I had. I was a fucking idiot, but in the end it didn't matter."
'Other' Kyo turned to gaze at him for the first time since they began driving. His face was wooden, but his eyes were sad. Iori wished with everything he had that Kyo was the one sitting here with him, not this otherworldly duplicate.
"Hang in there, Yagami. You're a damn tough motherfucker… you can handle it."
Maybe if given time. But not now. It was still too raw and the wound was still open, still bleeding. Iori opened his car door, paused, and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he turned back to the Kyo sitting in the car with him. "You don't have anywhere to stay. You know the place. Might as well spend the rest of the night."
Iori turned and started heading in the direction of his apartment. Behind him, he heard 'Other' Kyo slam the car door and follow, his footfalls mirroring his. As he climbed the steps leading to the second level of the apartment complex, he reached for his keys, dimly aware that it'd only been hours ago when he'd taken them to go outside. It'd been a night like most other nights, except...it wasn't.
He pushed his way into his home, somehow removed his shoes, and let his feet carry him to the living room, where he seated himself on the couch in the dark. He became aware that 'Other' Kyo was no longer following him. Judging from the clinking, the man had presumably disappeared into the kitchen to fetch a beer. As he sat there, surrounded by everything familiar - everything else drastically changed - the ache returned, full force in his throat and deep inside of him and everything that Kyo said and did to him, he recalled, sharp and hurtful and forever embedded in memory.
The room began to blur, becoming indistinct. His eyes grew hot and wet. He reached up, if only to stem the beginnings of it; his fingers reached into his hair instead, covering his face. He couldn't hold it back.
Tears spilled from his eyes and he found himself hunched over, shoulders shaking as he fought to keep it from turning into sobs. He'd known it would hurt, but like this?… Grief? Pain? Even brief stabs of anger?... oh, but it kept coming. He couldn't stop it now that it had started. He was conscious of tears dripping from his chin and spotting his pants. They were warm and wet where they landed.
That was when he heard familiar footfalls approaching.
Along with all the other emotions stewing within him, Iori felt panic rise there as well. He heard 'Other' Kyo step into the room and immediately, dread began to pool in his stomach. He didn't want to cry, much less cry in front of someone he'd met a couple of hours ago...but what could he do? He covered his mouth and did his best to keep his breath from hitching. His cheeks were slick as hot tears ran down and he shut his eyes and hunched in on himself - ashamed.
He didn't dare look. He didn't trust himself to gaze upon Kyo's face and not lose himself. He felt that if he did, he'd crack. Just break down entirely. Why did he invite this man into his home… what was he thinking?!
"Fuck."
He flinched at that. The voice, Kyo's voice, was concerned and carried an undercurrent of rage. There was a pause and a clink as two bottles were placed on the coffee table.
Iori was frozen, tears running down over rigid fingers. What was this 'Other' Kyo thinking? Was he looking at him with disgust? Just like his Kyo had? Perhaps pity, treating him like some pathetic kicked puppy? Maybe he was disappointed? After all, just minutes ago, 'Other' Kyo had encouraged him to stay strong. Look at him now, buried into himself with tears running down his face. He didn't look strong. He didn't feel strong. He just felt…
There was too much roiling through his mind - too much shattered tonight - and that thought alone slicked his face anew with fresh tears.
"Dammit, come here you bastard."
He flinched as the other man spoke. Then flinched again - shocked - as Kyo sat down beside him and pulled him into a tight embrace. There was no disgust in the other's actions. Neither judgment, nor disappointment nor pity nor… nothing at all. Iori felt the low voice rumbling in the other man's chest as he murmured.
"It's okay. It's alright… just let it out."
So, he did.
Tentatively at first, then freely. He wrapped his arms around the other man and clung to the back of his shirt. He heaved silently, spilling tears like water onto that comforting shoulder. Other' Kyo didn't seem to mind in the least. He held him closely and without reservation, rocking them back and forth whilst whispering encouragements into the crook of his neck.
Iori didn't know how long he sat there in the dark, weeping into a stranger's shirt, but 'Other' Kyo remained there until he was spent and his tears ran dry. Exhaustion swept over him, then. The room seemed to dim and whatever energy he had left vanished. His eyelids were heavy; he closed them and allowed himself to relax into that warm embrace. To let himself fall into the deep well of forgetfulness, however short his stay might be.
As he drifted off, he was vaguely aware of being lifted up and borne through the hallways. By the time his head hit his pillow, he had already succumbed to a deep and dreamless sleep.
