Author note : got a little inspiration for this bromance this morning. Had to get it out of my head. I hope you'll enjoy it ! I had fun writing it !
I don't know why it got cropped on the cover but credits to Elysian0117 for the art.Title inspired by one of my favorites King Diamond song/album/story but this have nothing to do with the story ;)
How glad he was that Hajime-kun was back. Life wasn't the same without him. He never knew why Hajime-kun left in the first place, why he disappeared from the Sheikan one day. But he did, without a word, without a note... Or maybe he did left a note but not to him, anyway. That was just so Hajime-kun...
And then, when they all headed to Kyoto, he thought he'd never see him again. He missed him. Heisuke, Sano and Shin were fun to hang out with and Kondou-san, well Souji would have followed him anywhere, even to hell if he had to. Yet, it wasn't the same without the taciturn presence of what he could call his best friend.
It's funny how opposites often attract each other. Hajime-kun was so serious, so respectful, so disciplined... He would always walk without dragging his feet, his back straight and when he would sit, he would do it in seiza, the formal position. Sometimes, Souji was making fun of him, saying that maybe he should remove the broom up his ass but Hajime-kun wouldn't care and would stay impassive, as always, enslaved by the strict discipline he was imposing on himself.
Souji admired him... He wouldn't confess it to anyone though. He didn't want people to make fun of him. In fact, anyone who dared would be killed immediately. But he did admire him. Hajime-kun was always facing even the worst situations with a stoic expression. He would kill in a blink, mechanically, if given the order or if his life was threatened. He wouldn't feel any guilt or any remorses... and he would keep his mask, sheltering him from the world under any circumstances.
Souji would have liked to have a mask like this. Unlike Hajime-kun, he was so easily distracted and so easily surrendering to his emotions... Especially anger. And when the dark feelings in his heart were overwhelming him like a tide, nothing could stop him. Except one, Hajime-kun. He would speak his name, in his calm toneless deep voice and that would be enough.
« Souji. »
Just that. No need for more words when it was coming to Hajime-kun... and Kondou-san, obviously. And then, after he said his name, Hajime-kun would stay silent again and wait for him to make a snide comment or a joke, proof that everything was back to normal. Sometimes, Souji was thinking that his life would have become dark pretty fast if Hajime-kun wasn't always there to get him out of the abyss of his anger.
And now, Hajime-kun had returned. Souji was feeling complete again. They were dueling almost every day, just like back at the Shieikan. Most of the time, Hajime-kun was winning but it didn't bother Souji. Maybe it should have. He was the best here and he was the Sword of The Shinsengumi, he shouldn't be beaten by anyone. Yet, Hajime-kun was beating him. What an experience it was to duel with Hajime-kun. He wasn't leaving any room for mistakes, concentrated, even with a bokken. It was as if he was defending his life for real everytime. And that was entertaining Souji so much that he was often getting too enthusiastic. He would laugh and chuckle and start making comments and that's when stoic Hajime-kun would win. Because his discipline wouldn't allow him to loose focus.
That was the kind of man Hajime-kun was. He was without flaws, without fears... His piercing blue eyes reading people like open book. Sometimes, Souji was thankful that Hajime-kun never saw all the darkness in him, all the rottenness that was him. Or maybe he did... Maybe he just chose to ignore it. Often, Souji was wondering how someone like Hajime-kun could be friend with someone like him. He didn't deserve that friendship.
« Souji. »
Speaking of the devil... Hajime-kun seemed to be outside his room but at this hour ? Lying on his futon, Souji quickly closed his sleeping nagajuban that had loosened since he went to bed.
« Hai, Hajime-kun. I'm coming. » he answered with a half curious, half sleepy voice.
He slid the shoji open and found the short swordsman still with his kimono on but also his white haori and his headband. He must have been returning from a night round with his unit. Hajime-kun's face was lit by the moonlight reflecting on his pale skin and his haori. It was looking at the ground with a very stern and grave expression. Immediately, Souji could decipher that something was off. Even if the younger swordman was as placid as usual, his discreet posture changes were showing the typhoon of feelings inside him. Another man probably wouldn't have noticed but Souji did. He knew Hajime-kun even better than himself.
« What's wrong, Hajime-kun ? » asked Souji with concern, his usual smirk totally absent from his face.
His guest didn't answer but he tensed. Some of his dark hair rised on his head and a subtle yet noticeable blush invaded his ears as he grounded his teeths. That unsettled Souji even more. What could have happened to Hajime-kun that shook him so much ? If it had that much impact on the stoic swordsman, it couldn't be good news. Did someone die ?
« Do you want to come in, Hajime-kun ? » he asked again « What happened ? »
The taciturn swordsman froze again and the blush of his ears spread to all his face, turning it from pale to a dark shade of pink. Somehow, it was pretty cute. He closed his eyes in embarrassment, his head still down and he muttered something but his voice was so low and grave that Souji couldn't understand a thing.
« What did you say, Hajime-kun ? » he asked, getting more and more confused by the minute « I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that. »
« There's... » started the younger man, his face completely red now.
« Yes ? » asked Souji, loosing his patience and exceeded by this little game. Yes, Hajime-kun was a very silent man but right now wasn't the time for it.
The younger man opened his eyes again and looked up to meet Souji's eyes. Damn these blue eyes were gorgeous and even more when they reflected the moonlight, sparkling with what seemed like holded back tears. His gaze dropped again and he clenched his fists and took a deep breath before opening his mouth again.
« There's a spider. In my room. » he spitted out and that seemed to cost him dearly.
Souji opened wide eyes and his mouth fell agap in shock but he quickly regained his composure and put a hand on his mouth to contain the bark of laughter that was building up in him. So Hajime-kun did have fears then ! Spiders !
« Do... Do you want me to come and kill it ? » asked Souji, trying to keep his calm but his shoulders were shaking and his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Hajime-kun didn't answer, he just turned his head away but Souji got the message. He was too proud to admit he wanted him to come but he wouldn't have walked all the way to here and spit out his fear if he didn't want any help.
« Ara » said Souji with his smirk back « guess it's time to save your ass for a change. »
He put on his sandals and headed out, closing the shoji. The short swordsman followed him, face red with shame and they walked together to the latter's room. Souji slid the wood panel and Hajime-kun instinctively shivered and took a step back. It really was cute. And so not Hajime-kun.
« Where is it ? Your spider ? » asked Souji with arms crossed and a grin on his face.
The short man didn't answer but his hand left the pommel of his sword to show a wall of his bedroom. Souji's eyes followed the direction pointed by his shaking finger but there was nothing there. The wall was completely immaculate, no decorations, no ornements, no spider.
« Are you sure you weren't dreaming ? » he asked his friend with a shrug but the murder-thirsty gaze he got in response silenced him.
Right. Hajime-kun had his haori and headband on. He wasn't sleeping... Then the spider must be here somewhere...
« I'm gonna look around, okay ? » he sighed.
The black mane nodded slightly, his gaze still looking on the side, avoiding Souji's eyes and the interior of the room. Hajime-kun wouldn't even come it. It was getting cuter and cuter by the minute.
Getting in, Souji lit the oil lamp and started to look inside, everywhere. He even opened the cupboard and messed with Hajime-kun's clean, all identical, black kimono. But he couldn't find that damn spider. He was starting to think that maybe, the thing was so small that he wouldn't even notice it.
« How big was it ? » he asked his friend and the latter made a movement with his hands to give an estimation of the size of the beast. « Okay, so I should notice it, right ? I think it's gone, Hajime-kun. You can come in. »
But his friend did no such thing, instead he started to tense again and Souji sighed.
« Ara... You really are terrified of these things, aren't you ? » he muttered « guess we have no choice. »
He unfolded Hajime-kun's futon, just to be sure the spider wasn't in there and he folded it back and took it on his shoulder, heading out.
« I guess you and I are having a sleepover tonight. »
He winked at the smaller man, causing him to blush even more and hide most of his face into his white scarf. Yet, he didn't object and followed Souji back to his room. They both took their sandals off and Souji laid down the spare futon on the floor, next to his. He laid back in his bed and sat up on his palms, looking at uneasy Hajime-kun who seemed completely lost.
« Go sleep, Hajime-kun. » chuckled Souji « And try not to have nightmares, I need my sleep too. »
« Understood. » replied his friend with a nod.
Ara, a sound... I guess being here with me is driving the fear away then... Makes me happy, somehow... To be able to be reliable for Hajime-kun. Reliable never had been something people could say about me.
Without realizing, lost in thought, Souji was staring at the younger man as he was undressing himself, causing the latter to turn around. Yet, his back was as beautiful to look at as his chest. Muscular, well defined... A swordsman back. Souji realized his mistake and laid down, closing his eyes to not embarrass Hajime-kun any longer. The dark haired man borrowed one of the older's sleeping nagajuban, blew the light and went on his futon, inches away from Souji. To not make him even more uncomfortable, the older one turned his back on him and faced the wall, trying to find sleep.
He got disturbed though when he sensed flat hands on his back, hot breath in his neck and another body spooning him. He chuckled and the body detached himself from his immediately, as if it had been burned by his contact. Souji turned over to face Hajime-kun and took him in his arms, holding him close.
« Ara, look at you... Aren't you cute when you're afraid ? » he said snidely which caused the other to shiver.
« Souji... » he scolded in his toneless deep voice.
« Don't 'Souji' me, Hajime-kun » he laughed in return « You're the one coming to me for comfort. »
The smaller one didn't answer anything but he relaxed a bit and allowed himself to snuggle into the bigger man's muscular arms.
« By the way, Hajime-kun » added Souji playfully « It's the first time I ever share my futon with a man. You tell anyone and I will kill you. »
« Understood. » nodded the other, his breath sending shivers in Souji's neck.
« Do you want me to sing you a song ? Or maybe a bedtime story ? » commented Souji snidely « I've got one perfect for tonight... The Spider's Lullaby »
Hajime-kun just sighed and Souji laughed some more, amazed how Hajime-kun could be so damn calm all the time. Stroking his friend's hair to reassure him, they fell asleep together in each other's arms.
« Souji, get up. Kondou-san needs you to... »
The vice commander stopped his sentence halfway when he saw the two futon and especially the two men still entangled into each other's arms. Hajime-kun was the first one to push Souji away, getting up and arranging his nagajuban with his stoic face a bit flustered.
« Fukuchô ! » he said, seeking help in Souji's gaze.
« What is the meaning of this ?! » asked Hijikata-san, his brows furrowed and a vein poping on his forehead.
« I can explain, Hijikata. » replied Souji, coming at his friend's rescue.
« Then explain. Fast. » ordered the vice-commander, crossing his arms.
« See, Hajime-kun was coming from a night round and there was a... »
He stopped his sentence when he saw two words forming in Hajime-kun's eyes : please, don't.
« There was a... ninja. » he said out of nowhere.
« A ninja ? » asked Hijikata-san, raising an eyebrow.
« Yeah, a ninja. » nodded Souji very seriously « in Hajime-kun's bedroom. He tried killing him and I got woken up by the clashing of their blades so I ran to help but the ninja fled and so, for safety, we decided to stay together in case he would come back. »
No way he's buying this...
« I see. » nodded the vice-commander « Saito's room does look messy. I saw it when I looked for him this morning. It looks like someone was looking for something... »
« Yeah, exactly ! » yelled Souji « That's really strange, isn't it ? What do you think, Hijikata, Choshu maybe ? »
« We can't exclude it. » nodded the vice commander, holding his chin « Saito, you'll give a full description of your assaillant to Shimada and Yamazaki. We'll have the Watch look into it. »
« Ha, Fukuchô » bowed Hajime-kun, his face impassive with only a trace of blush.
« Alright, I'll let you get prepared, then. Meeting in fifteen minutes. Go grab breakfast before. » he ordered, closing the shoji.
Souji sighed deeply, relieved and turned to Hajime-kun with a smirk. The latter was finishing to tie his obi around his waist, fully dressed. He passed his swords inside it and turned to his friend before he headed out.
« Souji » he said calmly in that deep toneless voice « thank you. »
« Don't thank me » grinned Souji wryly « You don't know it yet but you're fucked, now. »
« How so ? » asked Hajime-kun, perplexed.
« You~owe~me~one » sang Souji, making his finger move like a metronome in front of Hajime-kun's saphire eyes.
The latter didn't answer but a hint of a smile appeared on his face. That sight, too rare to be unnoticed, warmed Souji's heart as the younger one stepped out to get some breakfast.
Alone, Souji smiled too and passed a hand in his hair. How glad he was that Hajime-kun was back. Maybe he would sneak some spiders in his room now that he's found his weakness. He wouldn't mind having these little sleepovers more often.