A/N: It's been a while since I threw out something for Memories so here's something new. From right after the often mentioned time that Kaito and Thomas got in over their heads with Mr Heartland.
Contact
They'd clung to each other's hands since they were young. Kaito hadn't realised how much he'd missed Thomas hanging onto him. He wouldn't let go again.
It was strange to miss someone he saw everyday. Someone he'd shared his life with. Even now. They were best friends growing up. Even though the academy.
Kaito had no idea just what had caused the distance. As they worked through training with the Astrals, Thomas had drawn away. No wonder everything had gone so disastrously. Thomas' injured eye was bandaged up, making his blue Barian eye even more obvious than ever.
How could two of the Astrals best have been reduced to this? Hiding away in the medical wing in the dark because they can't face what had happened to them. Losing to someone like Mr Heartland and his men. How embarrassing. Chris would have been so disappointed.
"Thomas?" Kaito called quietly into the darkness.
Thomas didn't reply. Kaito gazed into the darkness of their room, the silence closing in around him. Thomas had his back to him. They hadn't let anyone in to see them. The medical professionals hurried in and out, spending as little time as possible. The bosses hadn't even come to interrogate them on their failure yet. They were alone until they could figure out exactly what was going on with them. They'd probably be sent out to Spartan City again once the bosses were sure they weren't totally broken beyond repair.
"Thomas, are you ok?"
There was still silence. After a moment, Kaito slipped out of bed, padding across the room and slipping into bed next to Thomas. Still, Thomas didn't make a sound, even as Kaito tucked himself under Thomas' sheets, his back to Thomas'.
"I won't leave you again," Kaito said quietly, closing his eyes. "I shouldn't have left. I shouldn't have left you guys alone. I should have been here to protect you all."
"Is that what he showed you?" Thomas whispered.
Kaito glanced back at him. The first words Thomas had said to him since returning to HQ. He'd barely said a word except to the medical staff. Kaito's hand stretched out, fingers nudging Thomas' side lightly and after a long moment, Thomas' fingers laced loosely between his.
"I won't leave you again," Kaito said, closing his eyes slowly. "I won't let go ever again."
"Like I need you babying me," Thomas muttered.
But Kaito smiled. That was enough. That was more like Thomas. "Of course not. I'd be disappointed if you did."
