This year has not gone at all the way Shinsuke Nakamura had planned. Yes, there were good moments- tag title win, and some interesting matches that had left hs skin buzzing under his gear, but surfing had been so limited this year, and almost no travel. He exhales, yearning for Japan in a way that he hasn't in years previous. Whispers from home are concerning as well, Kazuchika's year almost as shaky- further betrayals, attacks from those he thought of as friends, perhaps even a little brother, and Shinsuke worries for him. As if this year isn't isolating enough as it is.
He's still mulling these things over when his phone chimes. He blinks, long and hard, and reaches over for it, skimming the message there before smiling. In a moment, yes, he texts back and sits there, calm and serene, until the device chimes again. This time, when he looks, there's a invitation that he accepts. It takes a moment for the device to load the app, but when he does, he gets a sharp flash of blond hair and grins when Okada slowly pulls back the phone and peers at the screen. "Ah! Moshi moshi!" Shinsuke chirps, his lips twitching as Okada beams back.
"Moshi moshi," he says with a soft giggle that warms Shinsuke up from the inside out. "Sorry it is late, time zones, I just returned from walking outside, and..." His eyes skip away for a moment before returning to the screen, to tracing Shinsuke's face. "I wanted to talk to you."
"No worries," Shinsuke says, relieved that Okada is still trying with English to help him. Sometimes he thinks he's doing better grasping the exasperating language, and other times he feels like he's freefalling and no one will ever understand a full sentence coming out of his mouth again, between still struggling with the vast differences in sentence stucture and his accent. "How are you?"
"Fine," Okada says with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "How are you?" He looks anxious for a moment and Shinsuke understands. All too well, he does.
"Doing fine as well," he says, trying to ease the lingering uncertainty in Kazuchika's deep, dark gaze. "We are getting through this."
Some angst clears, and Okada grins, teeth flashing. "That's good," he says softly. "I'm glad." They sit there quietly for awhile and then Okada breathes out something Shinsuke can't quite catch before surging forward, "I wish I could be quarantined with you."
It's the most that they've had these last few years, a quiet yearning, slow sort of missing of each other that sometimes gets verbalized, but most times doesn't. Shinsuke closes his eyes and imagines how different the last few months might feel with Okada holed up with him, and smiles tentatively. "I wish for that too," he confesses and Okada exhales out a small laugh.
"It seems we always say so on Christmas, hm? As if it is our holiday wish."
Shinsuke nods. It is. They do. But the time isn't right. "Someday," he says softly. Someday he will tire of WWE's ways, he will miss home more than he enjoys the adventure, will return to Japan's customs and its ways, people stacked on top of people, he will decide between a retirement tour with NJPW, or he will easily settle into training new people at the dojo, and he and Okada will finally be face to face once more. And things will settle into calm, peaceful, happiness. But not today. Not this year, or probably next.
"Someday," Okada says with a small, sad smile that lingers in the back of Shinsuke's mind for the rest of the year.
"Meri Kurisumasu, Kazuchika," Shinsuke says softly, reveling in how even that little bit of Japanese makes Okada's face light up.
"Meri Kurisumasu, Shinsuke," he echoes and the two of them sit there, smiling goofily at the other.
Shinsuke glances at the clock and grimaces, thumbing the screen a little, wishing he could actually touch Kazuchika right now. "I apologize," he says. "It is late here, I should go. We have taping tomorrow."
"Ah," Kazuchika says, a startled, sad little noise deep from his chest. "Right, of course." They linger for a few moments longer, looking at each other. "Good night, Shinsuke," he says quietly and Shinsuke smiles grimly.
"Good night, Kazuchika." The dark screen leaves him exhaling slowly and he shakes his head, gently laying the device down. He doesn't regret his decisions, but he still wishes he could be there for Okada this holiday, especially after everything he's been through this year, how lonely and dejected he still looks after Ospreay's betrayal.
Shinsuke breathes in deeply and looks outside at the neighboring Christmas decorations and smiles faintly. Someday.