"So, have you screwed your wife into the sheets yet?"
Oh how that question never lost its shock value…His reaction was always the same, since the question was always asked around the same time. A spit-take, always in the direction no one was sitting in and always while he was drinking a peach flavored soda (fortunately not ramune…that would've been a terrible waste). Why…why did he feel it necessary to ask him that? Of course…he had to put just who he was asking into consideration, and because of this he knew it probably wouldn't stop until he gave him a straight answer. But…he couldn't.
Everyone knew that because he was nineteen and living practically alone with his wife…certain things were obviously expected. Only in Hallelujah's delusional little world did it seem 'alright' for him to bring up the privet lives of others, and it was at those times that the oldest had to seriously reevaluate the 'elder' Haptism's mental state. He knew that it was just the kind of person he was, and he was pretty sure he and Setsuna got along so well because of the fact the two of them never beat around the bush. They could've so easily ruined someone's day if they were ever left along with a stranger, the person in question either leaving in tears or feeling completely pissed off. However their bluntness did have differences; the youngest was always frank about everything while the other was only frank about certain thing…usually the embarrassing topics.
There was another big difference the between the two of them…that being that he actually enjoyed Setsuna's blatant disregard for how he came off to others sometimes. He always told him what he wanted flatly, always told him what he wanted to hear no matter how harsh it sounded, and always told him with he did not like without any hesitation in his voice. It was nice to know that the person he loved didn't hold back, because even though he was good a guessing games, he in no way wanted to play them when it came to the younger male. It was mainly because every time he'd done such a thing, he found out something horrible about his wife's past.
Neil still very much played the 'I figured something out but won't tell you' game, but he didn't hold on to it as long as he use to. In the past it would've been days, but now it could only hold it in for maybe an hour or two. God did he hate learning about Setsuna's past…to know that he was so terribly mistreated by the people that were supposed to be kind to him left more then a bad taste in his mouth, wishing that he had been there to at lest fend them off. The oldest had replayed the scene so many times in his head…
His wife always seemed around the age he was currently, and was getting himself picked on by someone his own age. Not wanted his thoughts to be too specific with just what kind of evil deed the other children would do, it was always different from hair pulling to kicking. However, that kind of behavior would never last long. The oldest would come in, usually older then his wife (three years like he already was), and basically punch the living daylight out of whoever was messing with his loved one. The constant praise from Setsuna he knew was nothing more then his overactive imagination, because honestly he would probably never utter the words 'thank you so much Lockon! This is the reason I love you!'…yeah, he might actually get himself hit rather hard if he ever told the other about his bizarre fantasies.
But at lest nothing like that was actually happening to the youngest anymore…well he hoped nothing like that was going on. His wife was always so vague when it came to school, never telling him anything other then 'it was fine'. He knew the youngest was the kind of person who found details unimportant, but dammit he wanted to know if he was alright! But his wife had given him more then the usual explanation a month ago, and from then on he was pleasantly surprised at how talkative he'd become (or as talkative as he thought Setsuna would get about school).
The oldest was in a good mood that day, he had earned himself a rather good grade on a test and his wife had allowed him to actually venture little ways past his neck (so now he had access to the very top of his chest and up). Neil knew very well that the younger male was in no way ready to go all the way, but the real problem was that he himself was ready. He said he would wait for the other, he said he'd only touch him when he was permitted to…but all of this in no way suppressed the desire inside of him. He wasn't going to lie and say he didn't think about it often, to have the person he loved so deeply that close to them. The oldest did control himself rather well, though he did catch himself staring a little too intently at him sometimes.
Neil never acted upon the horribly graphic things his mind made up, thing that should only be known in their privet life. Hell, did the two of them even have a private life? Most of the things they did together were know by the others, even the events that took place behind closed doors. Sure he was intimate with his wife, kissing, hugging, and nibbling on him even in public, so that did not mean they had a private life since they did it in…public. He knew his brother had one, because no one really knew just what went on in that apartment of his…he just hoped it didn't involved pictures of Setsuna.
Of course Lyle wanted to do the exact same things he wanted to! They both liked the youngest, right? So it was only natural…but that would be crossing a line. He allowed him to touch and kiss him, but only if his wife said it was okay…that was all. For him to even fathom his brother sleeping with his wife…he didn't even want to go there. He and his brother had a solid relationship…and it would be devastating if they began to detestation the very sight of one another.
It was the around seven o'clock, and that time meant only one thing to the youngest…anime. The three of them always had dinner according to what anime came on, and given the day also determined just how long the youngest was going to be up. For example if it was a Wednesday (like it was that day) dinner would be ready at six, and from the hours of seven to nine all of Setsuna's attention would be fixated on the TV. He always studied before dinner, so that took care of the 'working into the wee hours of the morning' problem. The younger male always denied such a pattern, saying that his daily habits in no way revolved about a simple 'hobby' of his…he was such a cute child.
It was a part of his wife that he always loved to see…his otaku side. To be more precise he was a 'closet otaku', someone who refused to believe what they really were deep down. It was rather fun shopping with him, since the younger male always acted upon instincts. Neil watched as he practically bolted for the bookstore whenever they were near, spending about thirty minutes just looking for the right manga. If they ever passed the toy store and there was a model of some sort of mech he knew about in the window, the youngest would always stop and marvel at it. He had even gone so far as to set the ringtone for his phone to be the opening song of one of the many shows he watched, though he did change it from time to time (mostly depending on his current interest).
The oldest had thought about taking him to Akihabara or maybe Den Den Town (since it was closer), but did have a slight fear of Setsuna losing all of his self restraint and completely running wild there. It didn't really seem like he would ever do such a thing given how he usually acted whenever the topic of anime ever came up in conversation, so he would probably just ask why he was there and act like he was not at all impressed with what was going on around him. That denial would eat away at his wife until he saw something that truly captivated him, and then…well, it'd just go from there.
It would've been quite the nice sight…to have his wife eagerly walking around with that childlike look on his face, completely forgetting about whatever was troubling him as he browsed through store after store. That was why he could not object in any form to the younger male's obsession; the only time he really saw him act like a child, act his own age instead of portraying himself as years older, was when he was either engrossed in the new mange he had brought or whenever one of the many shows he watched was on. He was only sixteen, and sure certain things were expected out of him. That didn't necessarily mean he had to be an adult just yet, but nevertheless he still continued to believe that he was no longer a child. Even if he hated being called one he was still very much one…
He and his brother were watching whatever the younger male was, though he did glance over at him every now and then just to see that oh-so wonderfully fascinated look of his face. Setsuna had specifically told the two of them to not talk until the commercial break, since he 'didn't want to miss a thing'. The two of them always followed that rule, because there was nothing like a pissed off Setsuna that had missed a crucial part of his show. He too did enjoy watching the same thing his wife did from time to time, finding it interesting even if it was animation. The oldest wasn't really sure if his brother was there because his wife was, or because he still liked that sort of thing…Neil was really hoping for the latter. Of course the three of them still watched Gundam together, it now only coming on Sunday nights which wasn't a real problem.
Once a commercial break finally decided to pop up, the youngest had to lie against the floor because even he needed a break from staring nonstop at the medium sized device. He moved a little, positioning his upper half against his lap while his legs rested against Lyle's lap. He always did this whenever there was a break, but would immediately return to his sitting position whenever the show came back on. Nothing all that important was spoken during this time, but when he heard a small 'I met someone today' come from below him he could help but look down.
His wife began to tell him that the 'someone' went by Christina 'Chris' Sierra, and was apparently the one of the girls he had spoken to on the bus. That surprised him slightly, since he didn't actually think the younger male would ever run into them. Well of course they would 'run into' each other, and the surprising aspect of it all was that, given how his wife usually acted around people he didn't know, he seemed to have spoken more then two words to her. That was new…He never really went into what the two talked about since the commercial break had ended, meaning that everyone needed to be silent until the show ended.
The next following weeks his wife came home…he wouldn't say 'chipper' since he still seemed pretty much the same, but there was some kind of change. He still pretty much gave him the standard 'school was alright', though he did go into more detail about what went on during lunch. 'She said this', 'they did that', 'they talked about this', 'Tieria said that', and so on and so forth. It was easy to tell that he was editing himself, but Neil was just glad that his typically silent wife was opening up about something he never really had before. Had…a miracle just occurred on those school grounds? Had Setsuna actually found someone other then Tieria to talk to, someone he hadn't know for six years?
Yes…he could certainly say it had…However, he did wonder why he only talked one girl opposed to both of them. The oldest was informed that the other girl (who's name was Feldt Grace) didn't come around that often since she was part of the school band, which meant she had to spend all of her free time practicing for the culture festival. That seemed reasonable given that the band was one of the more important attractions of the festival, and since the event was taken as such a big deal obviously everyone in a club or sport needed to practice months before it actually took place. It was a big deal for the school, because not only were the students representing themselves but the entire student body…or so he was told while he attended.
The six of them never actually joined any clubs, so their festival participation was limited to whatever their class was doing. It was mainly due to their close relationship, and not having everyone who was currently attending on the roof made the entire forty-five minutes seems somewhat empty. Knowing that he felt horrible for leaving the two of them alone in high school, and he was rather pleased with Setsuna skipping a grade. There was no telling just what would've happened if he was left alone, if he didn't speak to the people he known for so many years. He already knew what would happen if the younger didn't speak to him for a certain duration of time, having been away from each other for an entire week.
Neil hated camping…period. If he had his way the whole thing would be banished from the face of the Earth. But of course if he hated something long enough it would come to bite him rather hard, and the bite just happened to come in the form of the second year outdoor education…aka, the camping trip. Had he actually known that such an event existed, he would've gotten the 'privilege' of going taken away from him like his brother had to avoid the whole thing (he hated him so much for leaving him alone like that). Camping sucked, camping sucked, camping sucked so much! It didn't have to do with him being outside, oh no, he was indeed an outside person if the situation called for it. What he hated was the feeling of something watching him, and the fear that that something was going to eat him if not careful. He knew it sounded idiotic, but he just knew something was out there…
The oldest wasn't spoiled so he knew the importance work, however…when it came to working outside, in the heat, being couched by lazy upper classmen that decided to tag along for the hell of it…he always felt about five seconds away from catching the bus home. He'd played in the forest before, gotten himself lost in the forest before, he lived near the forest, and hell, he'd even rescued his wife from the raging stream in the forest during a horrible storm…but being there at that moment made him want to lose him mind! He stayed because he needed to be there for his classmates, and it only made the punch he so desperately wanted to give Lyle upon his return even sweeter. Oh…he was going to get it…
No matter how many tents he pitched, hikes he went on, meals he cooked (they took him off that station fairly quickly), the only thing on his mind was how much he missed the youngest. He knew the other missed him, and it pained him to know that he had left him back home for so long. Maybe…he'd hit his brother depending on how well he'd taken care of Setsuna for him, and he better have been doing a good job. There was no telling what kind of state the youngest had gotten himself into, so he just left it up to his brother to make the right decision.
And he was so very glad he had a twin. The moment he returned he was given an update as to what had actually happened to his wife. Apparently the youngest had spend most of his time with Lyle, always coming over when school ended and not leaving until the next morning. During their time together (which they had a lot of since his brother didn't need to attend school) the youngest did nothing but stay near him, never speaking all that much and seemingly never having the energy to do anything. They didn't sleep in the same futon, but the youngest did sleep near him once night finally fell. His brother tried to get him to speak, tried to get him away from the fact that his husband was gone. He said it worked to a certain degree, though he was still pretty much moping the entire time. Well…it was nice to know his wife was being taken care of…but he still punched him, just not as hard as he had originally planned.
"J-Jeez Hallelujah, could you say that a little louder?" Neil coughed out, still hating that his reaction to said question was always the same.
"I'm just asking. I mean you two are young, so that means lots of dirty se-"
"Oi, you're on break so stop the perverted comments," Graham started as he swatted the back of the 'elder' Haptism's head, "And for the last time, get off the counter."
Hallelujah muttered a few curses as hopped down from the front counter, the fact that the blonde was his boss still irritating him to no end. Out of the six of them only four actually worked, those four being himself and his brother as well as both Haptism. He and Lyle needed to pay rent, so it only seemed logical for them to get jobs, right? Their work days were different; Neil only worked on Tuesday and Thursday while his brother worked weekends. Of course it was only a part-time job because having a full one meant interfering with their class time, and the two of them already had enough issue when it came to their studies (they weren't the best of students…but that didn't mean they were horrible).
Allelujah worked because he said it was 'a good way to gain experience', while on the other hand Hallelujah was actually forced to work. Apparently the blonde had been paying for the cat (who now only seemed to like the 'elder' Haptism) that lived in the forest, and therefore needed to pay him back. How funny that was…The two of them worked on the same day, while Allelujah worked when Lyle did worked. Funny wasn't it? The 'older' twins worked during the week, while the 'younger' ones worked during the weekend. Though that sounded nice, it was clear that the saying 'never work with friends' was very true. They were productive but compared to their oh-so talented boss they were slackers, which was why all four of them were dubbed 'The Slacker Pack'. They did get the job done…it just took a little longer.
"Come on Boss, aren't you the least bit curious about the privet life of one of your employees?" Hallelujah asked while leaning against a wall, which just happened to be his second favorite pose.
"No during work hours." Their blonde manager answered truthfully, sounding as if he really didn't have any interesting in the conversation.
"See? Not everyone has the same warped thinking as you, Hallelujah-"
"I said 'not during work hours'"
Those two were the worst…It wasn't like there was anything to really talk about, but he didn't want them knowing that he and his wife hadn't actually done anything in bed yet. It wasn't shame or embarrassment he felt, it was just something only he and Setsuna could talk about. Well…they didn't really talk about it, rather bringing it up and shooting it down after about one minute. Neil never really thought much of how quickly those conversations always went…but maybe that was the problem. The two of them really needed to talk about said issue; it wasn't like they were going to set dates or anything, rather just the two of them talking about what that three lettered word really meant to them.
He wouldn't do it right away, probably waiting a little longer until he felt that it was actually important enough to bring up. After their break was over it was back to work, or as much work as the two of them were going to get in. Working for a military brat turned diehard florist was rather challenging, which was another good reason to have someone else work with them. Graham liked things a certain way, saying that if anything was off the flowers would not be at their best. He treated them like people, each one having their own individual wants and needs. One set was not supposed to be treated like another, they were their own, well, flower and if anything they were to be cared for like a small child. He understood this…TLC was needed when tending to something so delicate, and he dealt with them the same way he dealt with his wife.
Just because he did something idiotic and got himself poked by those obvious thorns, it didn't mean he'd give up. It didn't mean it, only protecting itself from the world around it because small thing didn't know any better. If he was kind, if he let it see that it was alright for it bloom then it would over time. Setsuna was just like those flowers…even if he had 'bloomed' and opened up, it didn't mean those thorns of his were completely gone. Given how the younger male's personality was, it would be rather absurd for him to believe that they could be completely gotten rid of. But…if he could just shave a few more off of them then maybe…maybe he could at least get him to enjoy the world a little more.
Work was long and hard, but once it finally ended the two of them were finally allowed to leave. He wanted to get home as quickly as possible, knowing that the youngest was probably on the verge of depression. If it was ever a work day that meant his wife would be over at Lyle's apartment, probably working on homework or taking a small nap. He really did work too hard for someone his age…he wasn't a middle aged office working that actually needed to be that way in order to get his next paycheck. He was a high school kid, nothing more nothing less. Neil had always knows the youngest was smart, and seeing that he had skipped an entire year only reinforced his thinking. It was even more reason for his wife to slow down, because no matter how much he tried to hide it he was stressed.
There was just something about him that practically screamed 'I need a break', but the oldest still allowed him believe that he hadn't noticed a thing. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't very well confront him about this. It was a serious issue no matter how much he looked at it, but he had a different way of dealing with it. The culture festival was tomorrow after all…
"It's a tea house." The 'elder' Haptism said from behind them.
"Huh?"
"Their theme, it's a tea house." He said, adding an 'I'm not saying it for a third time' tone. A tea house? Interesting…The thought of Setsuna serving him tea was the first thing that popped into his mind, and he wasn't sure if he would be able to contain his excitement. Since the festival was indeed the next day, the oldest was allowed to ditch his classes since his 'relative' was participating. As much as he wanted to say 'his wife was participating', but he was sure his teachers wouldn't have believed him. His brother and the Haptism twins followed suit, so that meant the four of them would be surprising both Setsuna and Tieria.
He never actually told his wife he was coming, nor had he heard the other say he could or could not come. It wasn't really a school day, so it seemed like he'd be intruding on anything. He'd come before and there weren't any issues, right? Why shouldn't he come this time? As a husband he should support his wife no matter how small or big the event was…that's what he thought. The youngest wasn't a part of any of the school athletic teams, so he couldn't really attend any kind of practice or game to cheer him on. He probably wouldn't allow him even if he did…The oldest wouldn't go so far as say his wife was ashamed to be around him, seeing that he was actually allowed to hug and kiss him in public. It really seeming like when it came to school and home his young wife wanted to keep them as a separate affair, keeping the two as far apart from one another as possible.
Now why would he want something like that? Not wanting to dwell on something that was obviously deeper then he wanted to admit, he walked to the bus stop while the 'elder' Haptism continued to pester him about want really went one in his apartment. Nothing went on! They slept together just not in that way, they were intimate but they never went that far, they were together and yet nothing went on. Neil wanted to say that out loud, but he knew that the second oldest had a way of twisting thing to the point where anything could be completely taken out of context. Wasn't he an photography major? Didn't that entitle him to see thing for what they really were? If that was true then he liked playing games a little too much…
"For the last time, drop the subject. It's really not that important." The oldest said as they reached the bus stop, plopping down on the bench as he sighed.
"Not important? You know, people who say that either haven't done anything yet or have gone all the way." Hallelujah said, taking a seat next to him.
"No, it means you don't need to know what goes on between me and Setsuna."
"So you two have done it!"
"W-We haven't done a thing!"
Damn, he fell right into that didn't he? Neil would've been called an idiot if his wife was there, and on top of that hit for saying something like that. The youngest hated being talk about, and it didn't matter if it was in a kind or teasing way. He did let a few things slide like the conversation on the bus, though the end result would be him getting jabbed sometime after the event (luckily he had been spared for this that night). The oldest couldn't help but talk about him, wanting to show just how much he loved him that wasn't physical. He could touch him, kiss him, and nip at him as much as he wanted but until he said those words his actions meant nothing.
The oldest said he loved Setsuna at lest four times a day, said that he was happy he was married to him two times a day, and only told him that he could tell him anything once a week. That might've been a little excessive, but it seemed to make up for the lack of acknowledgement the youngest gave him. He didn't mind if his wife didn't say it vocally, because Neil knew that deep down he felt the same way he did. That bond was there, the one that was different from the ones they shared with the others. Even if his affections weren't frequent they were still there, and he loved every minute of it.
The youngest constantly gave silly reasons for his actions; if he was leaning against the oldest or had his head in his lap, it was because he was sleepy. If he kissed him it was because he thought there was something on his face. If he was hugged then it was because he wanted to 'make sure he was wearing clean clothes'. It was his wife's way of feeling comfortable when dealing with his feelings, but he couldn't hide that familiar blush that was always present every time he attempted something.
Once the bus finally arrived Neil really couldn't get excited just yet, since he still had to ride the damn thing until the first stop with a rather mouthy Hallelujah. What would he give to go back and stop himself from saying something so stupid…The two had the bus to themselves, so they chose to sit near the back. Unfortunately Hallelujah decided to sit behind him, which basically meant the pestering was just about to start…and it was. The second youngest went on and on, telling him that if he wanted to lose his virginity before he turned twenty he needed to act fast. It wasn't about that! If the only thing he wanted out of Setsuna was that, then he probably would've been more forceful with him. He never once thought about forcing him down, and he knew the reason why his mind never fathomed such a thing.
His relationship with the youngest was sacred, and if he did something as stupid as basically rape him it would end it without a doubt. To lose someone like that would be devastate him, and there really was no telling what would become of him.
"You keep talking about me and my cute wife, but I wonder…" Neil started, noticing the look on the 'elder' Haptism's face, "What about Tieria and you?"
Silence…he had finally said something to shut him up. But he actually curious to know what he was going to say, or rather…do. He looked at him blankly, and the oldest wasn't sure if he should back up or not. However it was not necessary; Hallelujah stretched himself along both seats, placing his arms behind his head as he relaxed against the window. He told the oldest that he would've loved nothing more then to ask Tieria out, but there were two things preventing this. The first was his brother's feeling, because no matter how dense he might've been he knew there was something telling him that he actually liked the second youngest. Neil had to hold back a small chuckle to this…
As much of a jerk as Hallelujah put himself out to be, he really did have a soft spot when it came to family and friends. He probably would never do anything that would mentally harm his brother to the point of doing long term damage, so if he wanted to do anything with Tieria it would become a delicate matter. But the smile the oldest wore was quickly wiped off his face when the 'elder' Haptism began to move on to the second reason, and he too couldn't help but see reason behind his logic. The second youngest said that Tieria's cousin was someone he did not like in the slightest…and even though he had only met him once he felt that something was off about him. Because of this he felt like if he ever became close to the second youngest then something horrible would happen to him, something he'd be responsible for.
So Neil and his wife weren't the only ones…everyone had met the man at least one (the second youngest much more since he, well, lived with him), and he had originally thought they were the only ones who deducted that there was something sinister about him. Setsuna had brought it up first, saying that he just flat out disliked the man but the oldest just took at as his general reaction to new people. But then he had the pleasure of meeting other gentlemen himself…Now he wasn't one for hating people right off the back, but this seemed to be a special case.
"So what are you going to do?" The oldest asked, finding that his old friend was in quite the predicament.
"I'll wait obviously. There's nothing I can do now, so until that time where I can actually tell him comes that's all I can do. It might sound cheesy and stupid, but what else can I say?" Hallelujah admitted, directing his attention out the window. Wow, for someone who wasn't really known to be a deep person…that was surprisingly deep. Or maybe he in actuality was a deep person but never let it show, instead making people think he was nothing more then a perverted jerk. Yeah, that seemed like the kind of game the second youngest would play.
Thankfully that conversation had completely made the slightly younger male forget about the pervious topic, so it was on to random things. As long as it wasn't about his non-existent sex life he didn't care, because he didn't like talking about something that wasn't there. The ride to any stop was never long, so when the bus finally pulled into the village they weren't completely surprised by the suddenness. He really did miss home…he did visit from time to time, usually around the holidays or if it was someone's birthday. He thought about moving back a few times, but he was growing up so the oldest had to learn to live without his parents…even if his wife did on occasion act like his mother.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow, oh and go easy on the kid when you actually do deflower him, 'kay?" Hallelujah said as he began to exit the vehicle, making anything profound he had said during the ride completely fly out the door. But even with his pervertedness those words did have a slight hint of concern in them, which only reinforced his thinking that the second oldest wasn't all that bad. The next stop was his apartment, and he reminded himself to act as natural as possible so he wouldn't give himself away.
The oldest didn't want to give any kind of hints, not wanting to his wife to catch on to anything. Hopefully his brother hadn't opened his big mouth, because he had a tendency to let onto things that the younger male could so easily pick up on. It wasn't like he was terrible at keeping secrets, Lyle just had a harder time keeping things from the youngest no matter how small it seemed. It was just a little white lie that he had to deal with until the next day, and the outcome would be rather pleasant if he managed not to say a thing. After all, how often did they see Setsuna at school? Never, that's how. He had wished a few times for the age difference between them wasn't three but two years, therefore he would've at lest been with the youngest for one whole year.
But alas, there was nothing he could do to change the past. Leaning back a little he looked out the window and saw that the village has completely disappeared from view, which left him with a slight homesick feeling. He was still a child in some respects, but that didn't mean he couldn't still be one in the near future. Growing up was a fact of life, but no one ever said how soon that was supposed to happen. As far as he was concerned he was pleased with the way he was, his happy-go-lucky attitude made being around people more enjoyable. His mother had told him once that he got his outgoing personality for his father, while his brother obtained his somewhat withdrawn outlook from her…at lest when she was younger she added.
That was slightly surprising to hear, and it just meant his brother would completely grow out of his reserved nature at some point. He would miss it once gone, since it would mean his usual interaction with Setsuna would change as well. It was beyond amusing watching him flirt with his wife…because it would always backfire on him. Once of the worse and probably funniest attempt would've been the one he tried to pull three months ago…so priceless. When his wife was tired he was tired, and with his drowsiness came the rapid weakening of his common sense. He was liable to say anything if spoken to in that state, which was exactly why Neil chose not to. He would've much rather heard some sort of confession when the younger male was more then semi-conscious, and seeing that he always denied whatever he had said during that time him decided against the action more.
However, his brother did not know this. It was one of those rare days where his wife came home extremely exhausted, so much so that slept through the entire afternoon. Before he actually fell asleep he tried to prepare dinner for them, but it just ended up being instant noodles. He and his wife didn't always eat over at their apartment, sometimes decided that his brother's apartment needed more life. The youngest was practically lying against the ground, the bottom half of his body lie in Lyle's futon while the other half upper half was resting in Lyle's lap. He didn't mind the two being like that, and since the younger male was sleepy there was no way he could move him. He looked so…peaceful! He couldn't disturb that!
Out of the corner of his eye he could see his brother playing with his wife's hair, the youngest looking up at him with a slightly dazed look about him. He was trying to be romantic, saying thing along the lines of 'you look really cute when you're like that' and so on and so forth. How cheesy he was…but Neil too had his moments so he couldn't really say anything about it. The oldest heard something like 'you're cute enough to kiss' come from his brother, but really didn't much…until he heard a muffled noise right after it. Quickly looking over he saw that his wife's lips were connected with Lyle's, but given the 'mmph!' that his brother was making it seemed pretty forced.
He went through two feelings at that time, the first being shock. Setsuna was…kissing him? Willingly? He let that run through his mind a few times before it went 'hay wait!' since he was not the one being kissed. He might've said he wouldn't fight over him anymore, but nowhere in that statement was it expressed that he wouldn't feel jealous from time to time. Neil was about to break them apart, but once he caught sight of his brother's face he was swiftly brought into his next emotion…amusement. Obviously he wasn't expected that, and the huge blush on his face said that he in no way knew how to react. He couldn't help but laugh at this, because no matter how much Lyle hated to admit it…the youngest was his one true weakness.
Upon leaving the bus he made his way to his apartment, having a little stretch as he did so. This was his second home, because there really was nothing that could replace the home he was raised him. He wondered if his wife felt the same; he was born in the States but moved to Japan when he was nine, so did that mean he held some sort of attachment to it? The younger male never spoke about the place he spent the first nine years of his life, so that either meant he didn't care for it or there was something else he wasn't telling him. His wife's past was filled with abuse by his own peers, he knew this, but what else was there? Was there really no saving grace while he was there? If that was true it really did hurt…
Walking into his apartment complex he discarded his shoes, placing them in a small cubby with his room number labeled on it. After properly placed, he made his way up the stairs to the second floor as he hummed some kind of tone to himself…probably the opening or ending to one of the shows Setsuna watched. They were rather catchy, he'd admit that. Since today was Thursday it meant noodles, and since it was already seven fifty-five his wife would be glued to the TV for the next few minutes. The youngest told him that Thursday, Friday and Saturday were 'slow' days went it came to anime, so that either meant he'd fill the remaining time with studying or…well just studying. He had accused the younger male of being a 'study bug' just to tease him, but of course it just earned him a jab to the side and a 'shut up'.
Once he reached the right room, he rummaged through his pockets for a few quick seconds. He owned keys to both his and his brother's apartment, because it just made coming and going easier. It also helped him enter without disturbing them if it was 'no talking anime time', and the last thing he wanted to have an irritated Setsuna answer the door if he ever knocked. But as always he opened the door with ease and found a somewhat usual sight; the youngest was sitting at the table, head down as it rested against his crossed arms. He looked bored, but in truth he was focusing on every little detail of what he was watching. His brother was surprising asleep though, his head in the younger male's lap as his arms wrapped loosely around his waist.
It was a pretty hectic day for the two of them, since they had to take three tests in three different classes. They pretty much had the same schedule, so whatever kind of hellish fate awaited one would await the other. Quietly closing the door behind him, Neil walked over and took a seat next to Setsuna, who had not acknowledged his presence in the slightest. It would pass, and seeing that the show looked to near its end it would only be a matter of time.
And of course, he was correct.
"I'm back, my cute wife." He said while leaning against him, placing a hand on his shoulder and pulling him close.
"Good…and stop calling me that." His wife said, pushing him away slightly.
"But you love it!" Neil said, wrapping bother arms around him.
"C-Cut it out! I don't like it! I hate that stupid name!" The youngest said, trying to pry him off but instead only making them fall back against the ground. Lies! All lies! If he really hated the name so much wouldn't be blushing so much! He struggled a little, but Neil knew that he actually wasn't trying to get away.
"You do love it, Setsuna-chan." The older male said, gently rubbing his cheek against his. And that was that. His wife's struggling had stopped, knowing that there was no way he could win. That was the truth…if Lyle's weakness was Setsuna, then Neil was definitely his wife's. Whenever the youngest become like he was, saying he hated something when he clearly didn't, it really only took a few simple word and actions to make that poker face of his break down. It was rather amusing to see it fall so easily, but as soon as it was gone it went right back up once he finally accepted that he had no way out.
He turned his wife's head a little and pressed his lips against his, feeling him tense up for a quick second before he actually kissed him back. He wasn't as shy as he use to be, in the past either never kissing him back or just parting the moment their lips touched. But that had changed…when the two would perform such an action he didn't pull away or it was almost unnoticeable if he did. It always felt nice when they were like this…the two of them on the floor, close, alone-
"What a way to wake up…"
Oh right, they weren't alone. Parting, he looked over and found his brother sitting up as he yawned, looking slightly groggy since he had been disturbed from his sleep. Neil quickly apologized because he was one that made his wife fall back, which basically threw off the position of the two. Lyle just shook his head, saying that he probably should've been up anyway. That was true since, well, the two of them still had to study…but maybe putting it off wouldn't be a completely bad thing. But of course they would get themselves hounded by the youngest, but the scolding would be worth it since they'd (hopefully) be served tea the next day by his cute wife.
It had been quite some time since he had graced the hallways of such a building, and he had to say that nothing had really changed. It was nostalgic to say the least, but he could reminisce later.
After cuddling with his wife for a few more minutes, he decided that it was probably best to get his noodles started (since his stomach was telling him to rather loudly). It really didn't take much to cook instant noodles, which was why before the youngest decided to stay with him he and his brother ate them all the time. But now instead of everyday it was once or twice a week, which probably pleased Setsuna to no end. But there was one little problem with making noodles…once water was added to the small container it needed to be watched, because if it went over a certain amount of time the contents would become soggy. There was nothing worse then eating soggy noodles…well, anything Tieria made was beyond horrible.
He watched it carefully, only looking away once to ask his brother just how long he'd been asleep. He replied an hour and he couldn't help but ask if the 'nap in class did him any good', to which both of them were swatted in the back of the head by the youngest. He told them that sleeping in class wasn't going to help them, but Neil just had to bring up the fact that his wife was also guilty of sleeping while he was supposed to be taking notes. Setsuna had told him that once during his first year he had taken a nap after finishing a test, and the oldest was swiftly reminded that it was 'after a test' and not during when he was swatted again. Maybe he was a masochist…since he really couldn't stop himself from talking, and he really didn't mind getting hit by his wife.
Once he remembered that his noodles were cooking he quickly look back over, but alas…he had talked too long. Upon removing the top he let out a little groan once the mushy contents were revealed, and he could only blame himself for it. So he was stuck with bad noodles for dinner, and neither his brother nor wife were willing to have pity him. The taste was horrible, but he got over it as soon as he finished them (which he did quickly…even if they were hot). He was disappointed, but he put that disappointment behind him as he asked his wife if he wanted to stay over.
It wasn't uncommon for the three of them to sleep in the same room, and since they were going to be doing practically the same routine it wasn't like they were throwing anything off. When he nodded it was the signal for Lyle to retrieve the two extra futons from his closet, which wasn't as organized as theirs. Neil helped his wife clean and store the table they were using, because they really couldn't fit everything inside the tiny room comfortably. To put three futons out and have a table out would mean someone would be crapped, and being pushed against a wall wasn't an option. It happened to him once and it was not at all pleasant…and since his brother was basically smuggling with his wife it only make it more awkward.
Once the futons were laid out, one blue in the center and two green on its sides, the three of them took their respective places. He was always on the right near the wall while his brother was on the left near the door, and Setsuna was always, always, in the middle. This served two purposes: to make sure the two of them had something to hold onto, and to make sure the other wasn't hogging the younger male. The night always started off the same when the three of them slept together; in the beginning they would be in their own futons, no one touching anyone. But the next day Neil would always be hugging him around the chest, his brother holding him around the waist. Obviously the youngest couldn't move, so he had to wait till at least one of them awaked from Dreamland to actually start his day.
However when it was just the two of them the sleeping arrangement was different, since there was more space and more of a chance that he would have his wife to himself. When the two of them were alone the youngest would always push his futon to the other side of the room, saying that them sleeping together was slightly 'indecent'. He didn't mean that…The oldest would wait ten minutes into their 'rest period' before the mattress was pushed back against his, his wife getting as closer as he could to him. Whenever the younger male did such a thing the Neil consistently asked if he was 'enjoying his stay', to which his cute wife would always reply 'shut up and go to sleep'.
Vulnerability was not something his wife liked to show…or rather he didn't like showing it around other people. He didn't need to hide his true emotions from him, because the oldest knew his wife was human. It was nice sleeping next to the youngest, but it was rather odd when he woke up that morning and found him gone. He actually panicked for a few seconds, thinking that something had gone horrible wrong and that his wife was in need of saving. After his little freak-out his logic started to kick in, telling him that he needed to calm down and remember what that day as. The culture festival…that meant the youngest probably needed to leave earlier then usual. That made sense.
What amazed him slightly was that fact his wife had actually managed to wiggle himself from out of his spot, and had disturbed neither him nor his brother on top of that. Maybe he was really in a hurry…after all that tea wasn't going to make itself, right? Sitting up and yawned a little, noticing a small piece of paper fall off of him as he did so. Upon picking it up he saw that it was a note that read 'sorry, couldn't make breakfast today, had to leave early', which meant the two of them had to fend for themselves. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but the oldest felt that if he touched anything other then the microwave his wife would yell at him later on. So what did that mean? More noodles of course!
Neil shook his brother a little, but given how he was holding his pillow (which he probably thought was Setsuna) it was going to take more then just a good shaking. He'd found that if certain things were said around his twin while asleep they were sure to wake him, and it was a something his wife had yet to learn. He hadn't told the youngest about the quick way to wake up his brother because…well…it involved him. 'Setsuna's getting a divorce', 'Setsuna's leaving you', 'Setsuna's dating someone else', all were examples of little sayings that would make Lyle immediately wake up and scream 'NO!'
As funny as it was to witness (and it was really funny), he couldn't laugh. One reasons being that he couldn't bring himself to was because it would be making fun of his brother's love for the youngest…and that wasn't really the nicest thing he could do to the other. His brother really did have significantly strong feelings for the youngest, and he in no way wanted to test them. The fight they had all those years ago still stuck with him, and it wasn't until much later that he realized just how much passion he put into his words. But Neil was still right regardless…his brother could not love the younger male the same way or as much as he did.
The other reason he didn't laugh was because it worked on him too. One couldn't really laugh at something that could so easily happen to them, so he decided that it would probably be best if he kept his little amused laughter to himself. But he still needed to wake him up, so he positioned himself a little ways away from him and called out 'Setsuna's going to leave you'. As soon as those words left his lips his brother was up as he quickly yelled 'NO! SETSUNA, I'LL DO BETTER!', and by the force of him slinging his body forward was exactly the reason he never got too. His brother frantically looked around for a few seconds, trying his best to located the person who was 'leaving' him…that was until he laid eyes on him.
Of course he gave him the usual 'you unbelievable bastard' look, the one he always had whenever he was woken up in such a manner. Before anything negative could be spoken, he reminded his twin that today was the culture festival and that meant they needed to leave right away so they could meet up with the Haptism twins. It worked since the look seemed to diminished slightly, though obviously it still remained. The three of them weren't morning people…and when that time came they would've rather slept in then actually bother to get up. It would've been nice if he and his wife could sleep in all day, because the kid seriously needed some kind of break.
Maybe they'd go on a vacation sometime soon…yeah, that sounded nice. Before leaving he rolled up and place futon back in the closet, finding himself once again surprised that Setsuna had actually pulled his out from under the two of them. His wife was the kind of person that never liked leaving things undone, and when it came to making something tidy he was always quick to make it right. He was not a neat freak, oh no, he was the kind of person who'd rather take care of the little things before they became something big. To the oldest, however, he saw this behavior as his other half being nothing more then a his usual housewife self, but he never said a word while watching clean the apartment. Of course Neil helped, he was the husband wasn't he? Though he did get himself a little distracted every so often…
The older male needed to return to his room because his brother might've worn the same size clothes as he did, but wearing his brother's clothes wasn't going to be an option today. He wanted to wear something nice, not to say that his brother didn't own anything decent. Maybe he'd wear that his favorite rust colored vest and green shirt his wife liked to so much, because the younger male really did love anything blue or green. Honestly, he'd wear just about anything as long as it wasn't his uniform. He hated that thing…in high school he hated wearing one and in college he hated wearing one. It was just something about looking like someone else that irked him slightly. Yes, he did know he had a twin, but he only had one of those opposed to the over one-hundred male students that dressed in the same manner he did.
The oldest had actually found a loophole in the 'you must wear your uniform at all times' rule during high school, and even though it wasn't much he did exploit it to the fullest. In the god-awful handbook, given to them on their first day, it never stated that students couldn't wear their shirt unbuttoned…so guess what he did? Obviously he wore something underneath it, that being a different colored tank that he would randomly pick up in the morning (usually it was the same green one). The teachers always frowned at him, but there wasn't anything he could do since it was clearly within the rules. But there was a nasty little catch that came along with it…When it was time to change into his fall and winter uniform he couldn't very well keep his shirt open, because even he too became cold when the temperature dropped.
So he was forced to look like others once again…but at least through high school he was allowed to different at some point. Collage didn't have a single loophole; there wasn't a single way he could get around the rules, and as much as he hated it the oldest still sucked it up and went through the day. Uniformity was never really his cup of tea, and for some strange reason people actually thought he was odd because of it. Sure while he attended the school in the village everyone was free to wear what they wanted, but it wasn't until he left that the mentality around him changed. If someone was different, that nail that decided to stick out, they would be looked at as in there was something wrong within their chemical makeup.
It didn't concern him though, the disapproving looks from people he didn't know never really got to him. What they thought shouldn't and wouldn't affect him, and he tried to instill this way of thinking into his wife. Setsuna was far too tense around other people when he was younger, and it did disturb him slightly when he would flinch away whenever strangers came too close. It was even worse if there was a crowed, his wife clinging to him tightly and constantly telling him he wanted to go home. It was a hard thing to watch…so the oldest usually gave in and took him home. Don't get him wrong, his wife was an outgoing person…just not when other people he didn't know where around.
However, Neil still needed to do something about it because having the youngest become locked away against was not going to happen. So he decided to perform an experiment of sorts…the two of them went out by themselves in the middle of the night, just into the northern town. Little by little he would get his wife around more and more people, starting out with the small groups that would form in the cafes and going to the larger crowds that always seemed to be in the arcade. With that continuous exposure came the slight taming of his wife's social anxiety (it taking approximately two whole months). He still had a few minor issues, but they went mostly unnoticed while they were in public.
He knew the youngest wasn't a normal kid, he's known this from the first moment he'd met him, and once he found out about just what he had to go through on a daily basis before moving to the village…he could completely understand his fear. Such a fragile child…Setsuna would probably always be that way, and it would be rather foolish of him to say he'd protect him from everything…but trying was always an option.
Once he was fully dressed he walked over to the small kitchen, reaching into one of the cabinets he pulled out a bowl of instant noodles. The oldest didn't own as many as he use to, having to give up quite a few of them when his wife moved in. It wasn't really a healthy habit for the two of them to have to begin with, eating ramen everyday like it was their only real source of food (which…it kind was at the time). But he'd gladly give up any packaged product if the younger male's home cooking was going to replace it.
Placing the hot water into the now open top, he vowed he would watch it with the utmost concentration. He was not going to eat soggy noodles again! It sounded rather nice, but as soon as he heard a knock at the door his attention went right over to it. It wasn't have been so much of a problem if hadn't answered the door, telling his brother that he'd be right out. He had the attention span of a small animal, didn't he? By the time he refocused on his bowl it was once again too late, and he could only as he lifted the lid. More…soggy…noodles…
Disappointment didn't even come close to what he felt, it was more 'he was an idiot' then anything else. How could he let this happen twice? And for the second time in that week he was forced to eat ramen he had prepared wrong, and for the second time that week no one could help him. He ate them as quickly as he could, because there was only so fast one could eat piping how ramen without burning their mouth. Once it was gone after much struggle he threw the bowl away and walked out the door, joining his brother as they began to walk downstairs.
Earlier in the week he along with his brother and Haptism twins talked about just how their day would unfold; first and foremost they would meet in the northern town bus stop, and from there they would walk to the school. It was somewhat similar to their routine a few years ago, but that was in the past and they needed to focus on the task at hand. The part that was a slight gamble was actually finding his wife's classroom, since he never mentioned what floor he was located on or the room number. They hoped that the school had posted something on the bulletin board, a list of some kind that informed the parent or whoever was coming just where the students were. If not then they would probably spend half an hour asking around, which would be a waste since he was sure Setsuna had not talked anyone while in school (excluding Tieria, Christina, and Feldt of course).
Upon stepping outside they found the bus had already arrived, and not wanting to miss it, the two of them ran for it while yelling 'wait!' They didn't want to hang around for another one since that would only prolong what they wanted, and prolonging what they wanted would result in them getting eager. An edger Dylandy was apparently an annoying Dylandy (or so said Hallelujah), and he in no way wanted to mess up to the mood of such a wonderful day. So when he and Lyle actually managed to catch the bus it was a sign of things to come, that it was going to be a good day for everyone.
Or so he originally thought…
"Dammit, we're never going to find them like this!"
That was slowly becoming their reality. After leaving the bus, in a relatively good mood he might add with the Haptism twins and his brother in tow, walking to the school was quick since none of them could ever forget the path they had taken for from their first to third year in high school. Nothing had changed in the slightest, and given that they had only been away for a few years it was obvious that nothing would differ from their time all that much. He wondered briefly if his teachers remembered him, not that he gave them hell or anything…that was Hallelujah's job.
Neil was the kind of person that did not sit anywhere near the back of the class, did not mind getting call on even if he was wrong, somehow figured out a way to take a short nap, and always joked around with the teacher when he had time. He was one of those students, the one that everyone thought were weird for seemingly enjoying his time his school time. The oldest didn't 'enjoy' school, he just knew how to make the time past so he could actually tolerate it. He knew his brother didn't act like he did in a classroom setting, though he didn't confirm this until his third year.
Throughout their 'school life' the two of them had never been in the same class together, this trend being broken when they entered their third year. It was amazing how diverse the two were, his brother opting to be the 'quiet student that didn't fool around'. Had he always been that way? But that changed as soon as they entered college, both following pretty much the same pattern of 'study and sleep a little'. College was tiresome, and the teachers didn't seem to mind as long as they got what they needed done. It was much more laid back then high school, but as always his wife told him that 'it was still school so he shouldn't be slacking'. He really did want to please him, but the oldest really wasn't the kind of to make studying a daily thing. Cramming was more his thing.
He ALWAYS did well on exams much to the amazement of the youngest (and just about everyone), and with the little notes he took it really did seem like some kind of miracle. He told Setsuna he should try it at least one, but the youngest declined since he would be 'missing too much'. Neil would always watch as his wife worked, be it studying or finishing homework that was due the next day. He blocked everything out until he was done, and the oldest really did mean everything. Nothing reached him, not a sound, a motion or a touch…it was like he was locked away in his own head.
Half of the older male's happiness was shot down when the four of them found out that there was nothing posted on the bulletin-board about classrooms, but Allelujah said that the second youngest had once told him where the room was located so there wasn't a problem! That…was a lie. They spent the next thirty minutes wandering around, the 'younger' Haptism soon admitting that the conversation he had with Tieria was quite some time ago and he thought he remembered where the class was. Great…just great! Granted it was still morning, but he wanted to spend time then entire day with his wife (or the time he was allowed to)!
"I hate to say it, but Hallelujah might be right…" Muttered Lyle as he looked over at his brother. Despair…utter despair is what he felt at that moment, all of his happiness except for a small sliver was gone and he wasn't sure why he was holding onto it. He was never going to see Setsuna, was he? He would spend the rest of the day wandering aimlessly, never meeting with his cute, tea serving wife.
"I-I'm sorry, this is all my fault…" Allelujah said, seeming to be in the same despair ridden boat as Neil. The 'elder' Haptism told him to forget about it, since there wasn't any point crying over something they couldn't change. Even if that was true, they still didn't know what floor the classroom was on and hoped was seriously starting to dwindle. Maybe they shouldn't have come, maybe they should've stayed home and actually slept the day away.
The four of them began to leave again, and all the while he felt like each step he took got him further away from the youngest. He didn't like feeling so defeated when in such high spirited place, fearing that it might spread to the other students. It was the culture festival…he was supposed to be happy, cheerful, and actually enjoy himself while there…but he couldn't. Since Setsuna wasn't around he couldn't really bring himself to enjoy anything, and even if it was possible for him to have a pleasant time without him around knowing that he was so close was driving him crazy. First floor, second floor, third floor, fourth floor, up and down, it really felt like they'd walked the entire length of the school (which wasn't true since they hadn't found his wife or Tieria).
Time was slowing down, he knew it, making the search seem longer then it probably was. He felt terrible…so terrible that it took him a while to figure out that someone was tugging on his shirt. When Neil finally looked back he was pleasantly surprised to find that he knew the person tugging him, and he wasn't sure which name he should use to address them by. The youngest might've talk about spending his lunch with other people, but he had exactly been descriptive on which girl was which. But then again that was the vagueness the youngest always had when talking about school. So he needed to guess…He said the first name that came to fine, that being 'Chris', and was nearly knocked over when he was hugged.
"That's me! And you're Setsuna-kun's husband- wait…" She said, letting him go and taking a step back, "There's two of you…oh no, did I hug the wrong person?"
"No, I'm his husband. He's Setsuna-chan's boyfriend." He said as he pointing to his brother, earning him looks from the group.
"N-Nii-san, don't tell strangers that!" Lyle stuttered out, and Neil didn't even have to look over at him to know that he was blushing. Well, she wasn't really a stranger since they had a short chat prior to the moment. The oldest explained to the others that he and his had met the girl before, but it didn't make the blush on his brother's face disappear. After a quick exchange of words from the Haptism twins to the younger girl (mainly asking if she was really Setsuna's friend), he noticed what she was wearing and it took him aback a little seeing that she was from Tokyo.
It was an oversized jersey with a matching baseball hat that she wore backwards, but wasn't what she was wearing that surprised him…it was the team. The Hanshin Tigers, or as most people who lived around him called them 'The Pride of Osaka'. They really were though, since he had never met a single person that lived in Osaka who didn't like them and that was saying a lot. All six of them were fans of them, and he knew his wife would probably never admit it out loud that he actually admired them. But how could you not? He'd been told that at least eighty percent of the inhabitants of Tokyo didn't like the Tigers one bit, so he had to wonder about the younger girl's feels for wearing such an outfit.
In truth the Tigers didn't have the best record in the league, and when it came to playing against Tokyo's team they didn't fair so well half of the time, but it was the overwhelming fanfare the team received that balanced it all out. They didn't care about if they lost or won, just that they were getting a chance to play in the name of Osaka! There were cheers dedicated to just them, sports bars open only when they played, and when it came to bad mouthing the team it was a big no…those things made true fans.
Neil would freely admit he'd been following them since he was young…he loved the Tigers, and he was pretty sure that if a game was one it was the only thing that would make Setsuna completely forget about whatever anime he was supposed to be watching. At first the younger male didn't understand the game at all, but after a little explanation and examples he fell for it completely. It was an odd habit he noticed in his wife, that whenever he showed something new to him the youngest would practically obsess over it. It was kind of cute, him asking if they could go out to play ball when the weather was nice. But the two hadn't done such a thing recently, the younger male always saying that he was far too busy to go out. Really now…he was only sixteen but yet sounded like he was thirty-five and had to work six days out of the week.
"By the way, is your class theme sports related?" He finally asked, grabbing her attention.
"Yup! And I might not speak like it, but both of my parents are one-hundred percent kansai born! So of course I was raised on the Tigers! Our room isn't a nice as Setsuna-kun's tea house theme, but hay, we're just first years!"
Wait…has she just said…?
"W-Wait, wait, you know where his room is?" The oldest asked, feeling that little spark of happiness begin to grow.
"Of course, don't you?"
Their…savior! The four of them asked in unison if she could take them to the room, to which she laughed a little and replied with another of course. Finally progress was being made! Maybe he was holding onto that sliver of happiness because he knew he'd need it later on, and with that happiness came the resurrection of the hope that seemed to be nearly six-feet-under not too long ago. They were on the first floor there wasn't any place they could go but up, so they followed Christina up the stairs. So this was it…the oldest really was going to see his wife, he was really was going to see just how elaborate his room was, and was really hopeful about being served tea. Hell, even if the tea was just a part of his delusion he had when the words 'tea house' and 'Setsuna' were put together, the mere fact that the younger would be there would be enough!
The third floor was where they stopped, and if the school had actually placed all of the third year classes on this floor there wouldn't have been a problem. Scattered was the best way to describe the layout of the school, having classes in the most random of places. It was something none of them had ever gotten use to, all of them getting themselves lost at some point or another. Turning a few corners the five of them came to a complete stop, the girl of the group saying that the room was four door down and that 'you seriously couldn't miss it'.
He knew this hallway very well, knew what classroom she was speaking of since it was the very room he had he spent his third year of high school in. Neil felt like kicking himself…badly. If only the notion of visiting his old classroom had crossed his mind, then they wouldn't have been drifting around the building without a clue! If only that nostalgic feeling he had upon entering the school had fully kicked in, telling him to revisit this and that, then the time they had wasted could've been used doing something entertaining! The oldest could scold himself much later, because his body was moving on it's own since it knew what it wanted. He was there…he was right…there! One door, two doors, just two more…just two more doors until he could surprise his wife with his presence.
"He might be mad that we're late, but I guess if he doesn't know it's alright, right?" His brother said, probably feeling as equally peppy as he did.
"Right! He can't get mad if he didn't know- is that my wife?"
However, he stopped just as he was about to pass the third door, witnessing two figures emerge from the room that he recognized without a doubt. The first was the second youngest, dressed in a yukata since he'd probably die of heat exhaustion if he wore a kimono today (it was fairly hot outside, but bearable…just not in a kimono). But what was this? The person that was following him couldn't really be…no…they looked too cute. It was a known fact that there were two types of yukatas, one for males and one for females (the ones the second youngest always wore), but the person following Tieria was obviously not wearing a male one…
His wife was wearing a yukata intended for a female, and the oldest was sure he could die right there from happiness. Setsuna was done up in the similar fashion as Tieria…with a few variations of course. The style of clothing they wore was the same, the pattern being made up of what looked like petals of some kind and they didn't seem like cherry blossoms. Water lilies perhaps? The two major differences between them were the color of the actual outfit and the accessory they worn in their hair. Yes…his wife was wearing something in his hair, and to be more precise it was in front of his left ear, probably clipped to the side of his head. Now that was a lily, with its white petals that extended outwards, the tips looking as if they had been dipped in very light, almost unnoticeable yellow.
Tieria wore his hair back in a ponytail, his accessory being a simple jade butterfly pin that held everything in place. He'd remembered that clip…it was the very same one Hallelujah was rather fond of whenever the second youngest wore it, and because of this he couldn't help but glance over at him. Completely captivated, just as he expected. Why shouldn't he be? The person he felt deeply for was dressed in a lilac yukata, hair held back with a pin the second oldest had admitted he liked quite a bit. He completely understood his feelings, seeing that his wife's garment was colored a, what else, sapphire that made those petals practically dance around his body as he walked. It wasn't wrong that he was looking at his wife's body…but maybe in public it could be seen as such.
"Oi, Setsuna-chan!" He called out, making the younger male quickly turn and look at him. The blank expression on his face was slightly expected, but when he quickly hid himself behind the second youngest he couldn't help but wonder why. Walking over with the others he could see his wife peeking from behind his hidden spot, and the oldest couldn't help but remember that was exactly how they'd met. He still very much cherished that moment, even if he was just a little too straightforward with his actions. He didn't regret them, since he was in love and, never having felt something like that, how else was he supposed to act?
Neil knew he was clingy, knew he was very open about his relationship, but it was only because he didn't want to waste a single minute when he was around the younger male. It seemed like an obsession, but he didn't care. The youngest was someone close to him, and it wasn't like he was isolating himself and his wife from the world, wanting no one to even look at him. There had been enough seclusion in Setsuna's world to last him a lifetime, and the last thing he probably wanted was for his own husband to keep him locked away. He wouldn't do that…
"S-Setsuna-chan, what's wrong?" He asked, glancing over Tieria's shoulder, which made the youngest try to inch his way out of sight (which was technically impossible). The youngest looked at him for a quick second then turned away slightly, as if ashamed that the older male had come. He didn't…really feel that way…right? The thought of his wife not wanting to see him made his heart sink, Neil now feeling that calling ahead was probably in his best interest.
That hurt feeling, though rare, was beginning to make itself known and he really couldn't blame anyone but himself. He started to ask if his wife wanted him there at all, but was quickly stopped when the younger male finally looked over at him. Setsuna admitted that he didn't mind the older male being there, but there was a problem. He paused, eyes darting to the side as a small blush slowly began to form across his face. Wait…he was blushing? Why? He opened his mouth a few times, as if trying to find the right words, but in the end he couldn't say anything. Now that was scary…Setsuna unable to say what he wanted…yikes.
Seeing that he had apparently lost his will to speak, Tieria decided to step in, adding that the reason Neil's presence was so unnerving to the youngest was because of his fear of being called 'cute'. That was the reason he felt the needed to hide himself? Reaching over he tried to touch him, but before his hand made contact his wife flinched away. Oh…now he understood. He would usually call him an odd child in this kind of situation, but his action seemed completely justified given where they were. Festival or not it was still school; no matter how many times he told the youngest not to care about the options of others, Setsuna was still…well, Setsuna.
It was funny how much the oldest found he overacted to certain situations, getting himself worked up without knowing the full details. Sometimes that was acceptable, but this was one of those times where he needed to laugh at himself for being an idiot.
"Okay, okay, I get it. I won't get all lovey-dovey while we're here." The oldest said, scratching the back of his head as he tried to think of way for him actually keep his hands to himself.
"Really…?" His wife said, coming from behind the second youngest slightly.
"Yes, he means it, now will you please stop acting ridiculous?" Tieria said, pulling the younger male in front of him and towards Neil, "I get what you're feeling, but the hiding is a bit much."
"Heh, that's kinda funny, Tieria understanding the workings of a love struck kid…sort of makes you wonder doesn't it?" The 'elder' Haptism said, since he just had to start something.
"Shut…up…you…pervert!"
And they were off, which probably wasn't the greatest of things since they were inside a building surrounded by people. Of course Allelujah ran after them, yelling that they 'shouldn't be running in the hall' yet at the same time he was committing the very same act. The three of them always did this, be it while they attended high school, or when they were younger; Hallelujah saying something, Tieria chasing him because of it, and Allelujah running after them as he tried to stop the two. The only real way to stop them was to wait till they ran out of steam, which took longer then one would think.
Christina asked if the three running around was normal, and all he could do was sigh a little and nod, an amused look crossing his feature as he watched them fade off into the distance. It was a waiting game with those three, and until someone made a move there would be a continuous lack of progress between them. If something actually did happen, the outcome would be…the oldest wasn't sure if even he had an idea. Was someone's heart going to be broken, or were the three of them going to find some kind of middle ground? Only time could really tell…
"Well since we're, um, here, how about serving us tea, Setsuna-chan?" Lyle said, and seeing that the two of them were related the words 'tea house' and 'Setsuna' probably meant they were on the same wavelength.
"I can't…they kicked me out…" The youngest said, earning him a shocked look from the three of them. Kicked him out? But…why?
"What? Why? Your tea was really good!" She said, looking as if she was five second away from marching in the room and demanding an explanation.
"I wouldn't talk to anyone…" He said, acting as if it wasn't that big of a deal. It actually wasn't, but it shouldn't have gotten him kicked out.
"Huh! But you talked to me!"
"No, you were just talking a lot…"
"O-Oh."
With that came the murder of any and all hope for Neil's fantasy to be fulfilled. He wasn't mad at his wife for getting himself kicked out of his own classroom, instead feeling rather relieved since this now opened up the option of him spending the entire day with him around the school, opposed to the small room he thought he'd spend most of his time in. That made up for everything. Upon telling them this, the mood seemed to perk up. So the four of them went off and finally began to enjoy the fruits of such a wonderful festival, the oldest all the while tried to figure out just what kind of person Christina was.
What? Wasn't he supposed to be a little weary of the people his wife hung out with (he thought his mind was going to malfunction with such an oddly new statement)? Since he never thought the younger male would take to someone so well after only recently meeting them, he began to ask questions off the top of his head. What class are you in? What part of Tokyo are you from? Do you eat on the roof with Setsuna? Are you on any teams? Are you a part of any clubs? On and on he went, and even if some of the questions he asked were already told to him by the younger male, he wanted her to support it. But everything she said matched what his wife had told him, which made the slightly uneasy feeling he had.
Apparently Christina lived in Shibuya, and given the location of the school that meant she had to travel one full hour by train just to reach it. That seemed a bit excessive, and Neil couldn't help but ask why she braved such a long trip every weekday (and of course those few Saturdays). She simply replied that her parents once graced the halls of the school, so that entitled her to do the same. That seemed to be a common trend whenever she spoke about school or home; her parents seemed to have quite a bit of say over what she did, from telling joining the track team to 'suggesting' that she joined at least three clubs.
It seemed that the younger girl didn't have much freewill, but that was how some adults chose to raise their children. The oldest didn't have the jurisdiction to interfere with something like that (well…it didn't sound like a horribly dire situation), so as much as he wanted to ask 'well, what do you like?' he couldn't. It wasn't uncommon for parents to instill the belief that 'work, work, work' was all that mattered, and that a popularity contest was close second. His parents had never hinted or outright told him anything like that, basically wishing him to be an overachiever (not that it was a bad thing). However, they had said that they wanted him to be happy with whatever he decided to do with his life, and he made sure to follow their wishes.
Setsuna's parents were a special case…He'd met them countless times and had gotten to know them, so much so that he found out that the two were actually concerned with how hard their son worked. Sure, they want him to do well in life, but not at the expense of him stressing himself out to the point of…well they didn't want to even think about it. But he did admit he felt the same way, which was why the two of them actually allowed the youngest to move in with him. They thought that if their son spent more time around his husband, then he'd be more inclined to work a little less. He was trying! He really was! His wife was stubborn without a doubt, so set in his ways that actually getting him to break away from the 'study bug' habit of his was a hassle. Neil just needed to try harder, that's all there was to it.
Once his round of questioning was over hers began, though she evidently only wanted to ask him one thing. Oh yes…the 'how long have you two known each other' question. It wasn't an annoying one, rather one that made him think about the old days and make him remember how much he loved musing over the past. Instead of telling her the oldest reaching into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, showing her the photo he always kept with him. It was one of the many group photos taken when the six of them were smaller, and everyone was in their usual positions.
He was hugging his wife around the neck, a rather jaded expression on the younger male's face. His brother was next to him with his usual blush on his face, probably because Setsuna was holding his sleeve. Hallelujah and Tieria were too busy fighting to realize that a picture was being taken, the 'elder' Haptism tugging on his hair while the second youngest pulled on his. Allelujah was once again trying to be a peacekeeper, trying his best to pull them apart but still failing at the same time. It was just another day for the six of them, and of course the thought of laughing occurred to him since their behavior was so normal to all of them. The three fighting, his brother blushing at the slightest touch from the youngest, and the youngest acting as if everything going on around him didn't matter…he'd grown up with all of it.
As he expected her first reaction was giving off a high pitch squeal of joy, Neil having to quickly pull it away so he could keep it in one piece as the lone girl of the group tried to grab it. He'd let her look, just not tear it apart. The older male showed it to her again, saying that she couldn't grab it since it was his only copy. The lone girl nodded as she gazed at it, looking completely captivated by the sight of miniature versions of the people she knew or had just met. When she asked just how old everyone was in the photo, he was given a quick look from Setsuna. He hadn't even said anything yet! But maybe that was it…maybe his wife didn't want him telling Christina how old everyone was because it meant revealing the age gap between the two of them.
Did that even matter? Neil didn't think so…He told her their ages, starting with his wife, who was ten in the photo, and ending with himself. That did not go over well with the youngest…He growled out a loud 'Lockon!' basically telling him that he probably should've kept his mouth shut. Before the youngest could thoroughly scold him, he watched as the young girl quickly took the younger male's hand and called him her 'ultimate uke'. Neil hadn't a clue what she meant by that (other then the word having something to do with martial arts), but apparently his wife and Lyle did and given their reactions he wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing.
They were both blushing deeply, the younger male more so then his brother. Setsuna had a somewhat horrified look on his face, while on the other hand his brother looked to have a strange mix of slight amusement and shock on his. His wife quickly reclaimed his hand, telling her that it was 'completely indecent' to say something like that around other people. So…'uke' was something bad…? The conversation apparently stopped there, the younger male quickly walking away and the three of them quickly following him. Neil wanted to ask his brother what she was talking about, but he looked like he was in no condition to speak. Since the air seemed pretty heavy, he decided to drop the issue and continue enjoying the festival. He'd bring it up later.
And it stayed that way for three hours. There was always something to do wherever they went, from games to food and even without looking he could tell his wife was having fun. He was so subtle with his emotions, be it his almost unnoticeable smile that could be missed so easily or the small laugh that could be easily taken as a cough. He'd been around the younger male long enough to know what those awkward movements of his meant, and of course he noticed the youngest only displayed such subtly when in public. It was much easier and common to catch him smiling or laughing when inside, basically away from other people. Knowing that it was probably wrong of him, the oldest would sometimes deliberately act in a perverted just to get a rise out of his wife. Those wandering hands of his knew what they were doing, given the specific instructions to feel him up but not go too far.
Through all the fun, food and games he'd mange to win the youngest a goldfish, and since it didn't involve him touching the other it was completely within the 'no lovey-dovey while there' rule. None of them had never really owned a pet before, excluding Hallelujah whose devil cat seemed to wreak havoc in the forest when no one was around. If anything it could be considered a 'wild cat' since it was indeed trained, but it was by no means a house cat. It didn't seem intentional but that feline had taken on the role of the 'Hallelujah of the cat world', and the resemblance in behavior was so uncanny that it seemed to be another fate meeting between two things. The world worked in interesting ways, didn't it? If only they could find a Tieria cat...that would be a sight to see, the two bickering in 'kitty language'.
Neil said he'd buy a bowl for it before they caught the bus home, which approached much faster then expected. Everyone who was not a student needed to leave the grounds, leaving the actual students to clean up everything they'd put up. The oldest began to leave, but not before stopping by the office to pick up 'Terrible Threesome'. It didn't come as any surprise to him that the three had been sent to the main office, since it was a very common while they were in high school for them to visit such a place. It also didn't shock him that the 'elder' Haptism was chatting it up with a few teachers. Of course they still remembered him, because honestly who could forget? When you had a student that came to the main office practically everyday, people tend to take notice.
After bailing them out the entire group walked to the main gate, the older male slightly saddened by the fact he had to leave. He knew he'd see his wife at their hideaway later on, but the problem was that he was leaving in general. The youngest didn't want to part with Setsuna just yet, it feeling as if they had only begun to have fun at such a festive event. He could clean!
"Lockon…" Came a small voice from behind him, a hand gently tugging on the back of his shirt.
"Yes, Setsu-" Was all he could really get out before he felt soft lip press against his cheek, the fish he was holding nearly slipping out of his hands since he obviously wasn't expecting that. He was kissing him…in public? The youngest quickly parted, looking to the side a little as that familiar blush crept across his face.
"S-Setsuna-chan, I thought you said you didn't want to be all touchy-feely." He said, pleased without a question by his wife's action.
"Y-You um…just had a piece of rice on your face…Get the fish a nice bowl, okay?" The youngest quickly said the last part as he began to flee, Tieria and Christen following behind him. He heard the younger girl giggle and ask Setsuna something, which only made him speed up. A piece of rice, huh...what an amusing person he was married to…Setsuna's love for him would probably always be expressed in odd ways until he became really comfortable around him, not to say that he wasn't already. It just took more time to reach that level, the one that basically allowed everything to be a free for all. The youngest would freely smile around him, tease him about anything, and just have the two of them become much closer then they already were. It was possible…
Even if his 'private' life was practically non-existent, his relationship was still very much blossoming. Just where was it going to go? How much stronger was it going to get? Or better yet…just what were they going to go through to strengthen it? As much as he wanted everything to be nothing but perfect, that was not how the world worked. The two of them were going to be pushed into some kind of situation, one that would test just how strong that bond of theirs was. But for now he and his wife would live life in bliss, acting completely unaware to what was to come.
The four remaining members of the group left, Neil feeling much better then he originally had. He'd have to repay him later on for lifting his spirits, and he was sure a few marks on his neck would make his wife happy. He knew exactly what they did in their hideaway was called, but he refused to acknowledge it since it meant giving into temptation. Not yet…he wouldn't do that. As long as his kept his hand under control everything would be fine, if he just stopped them going too far he didn't need to worry. But really…his hands were not the only thing he needed to keep under control…
"By the way, Lyle…" He spoke up, finally remembering that he was supposed to ask him about something that took place earlier that day.
"Huh? What is it?"
"What's a 'uke'?"