"Hello?" It's only been about a week since he's seen him and only one and half days since Kotetsu left, but his voice still makes Barnaby smile. He'd missed it, even though it had been such a short amount of time. "What's up, Bunny?"
"I wanted to call and check up on you," Barnaby says. "We have just a little bit of time before the next season starts…"
"Oh yeah! Hope you're taking care of yourself," Kotetsu is quick to say. "That leg injury of yours-"
"It's fine, Kotetsu," Barnaby replies. "In fact, I'm feeling healthy enough I was thinking of visiting you, just for a day or two."
There's a long pause. One that sets off alarm bells in Barnaby's head. Did something go wrong with the move? Was Kotetsu upset by the idea? He's thinking about all the potential issues and swallows hard.
Being a hero had been a passion of Kotetsu's. What if he was taking it harder than he initially let on?
Eventually, the older man laughs. "A-ah, I dunno about that! Maybe the next time you have paid leave, instead?"
"Oh," Barnaby frowns, the worry still there. "Things too busy there?"
"Y-yeah! Still getting settled in and all that. I have so much to catch up on, I couldn't be a good host yet!" Kotetsu jumps on the excuse in a snap. "When things are calmer, though, I'll be sure to invite you down! How about that?"
Barnaby sighs. "Sure, I guess that would work. Feel free to call me anytime, though. I know this must be rough."
"I know, thanks partner," Kotetsu's voice is soft in a way that makes Barnaby's heart squeeze. "Ah! But I should go - Mom's taking advantage of me being around and putting me to work!"
Barnaby chuckles. "Well, you better pull your weight! I'll talk to you later, see you."
"See ya!"
Kotetsu hangs up and Barnaby looks at the phone. He frowns, sighing before finally locking it and placing it back in his pocket. That could have gone better, much better. He can't help but feel Kotetsu is hiding something from him.
Or maybe, another part of him says, some one ? He had gone to high school with his wife, right? Who's to say he won't find someone else there? Who's to say there's not someone there for him to rekindle things with already?
It's not like Barnaby ever told Kotetsu how he felt. There was a chance it was requited, but there was a chance it was unrequited. He supposes he got caught up on that, as well as on everything else. It always seemed something came between them.
And maybe now it was too late. Maybe he should have acted sooner, rather than waiting. Here he was thinking he could confess now - finally get it off his chest and clear any tension left between them.
He's… really not good at any of this, really. A side-effect of how he'd lived his life for so long, he guesses. Maybe he'll ask someone else for an idea of what to do. Someone who seemed savvy with this kind of stuff…
Nathan.
"You think he's hiding something from you, but want a second opinion?" Nathan raises an eyebrow. "Handsome, you two are the closest any buddy duo ever was! I would think you would trust your gut when it came to him."
"Well if it had to do with hero work or friendship, I would agree, but…" Barnaby trails off, his face heating up.
Nathan's mouth forms a small 'o' after a moment. "Handsome… Are you in love with Kotetsu?"
"I think I am, yes," Barnaby admits. "I… couldn't bring myself to even admit it to myself until recently, and I wanted to go see him and confess, but I think it might be too late?"
Nathan taps their cheek. "Do you think there's another person down there that he's into?"
"It's possible, but I could also be too nervous," Barnaby says. "So I wanted to ask you."
"Hmm…" They tap their cheek once more. "What I think is you are overthinking it. You know how important his hero work is to him! He's probably struggling with the change, and just doesn't want to worry you! You know him."
"He is the type to do that," Barnaby hums and nods. "I guess I was overthinking it. He still doesn't want me down there right now, though."
"He doesn't want you to go out of your way to go down," Nathan says. "So let's make it more than you and more of a… whim."
Barnaby raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"All us heroes - let's go make sure he's doing alright because… well, why not?" Nathan suggests. "I can ask Keith, and the other ladies. You can hit the rest of the boys. What do you say?"
"Well…" Barnaby rubs his chin and thinks for a moment. "I think that would work, but do you really think they'd all come along?"
"Some of them are shy," Nathan admits. "You can always use that worry of yours as a weapon. Say you think he's hiding something and anyone not on board will hop right on!"
"You really think so?" Barnaby asks.
"Oh, handsome, I know so," Nathan replies with a smile. "We have plenty of snoopy types among us."
"You included," Barnaby points out somewhat jokingly.
"Guilty as charged," Nathan chuckles. "But that snooping is why I had any advice for you, don't you think?"
"I guess you're not wrong," Barnaby smiles a bit. "Thanks, Nathan."
"Any time."
Kotetsu sighs as he sits at the table, looking at his phone. Good thing he'd been able to convince Barnaby not to come, at least. He had more time to think on what to say and how to say it now.
But he has a bit of a bad feeling in his gut. Yuri passes him muttering about a stomach ache, too. He wonders if that's something he should pay attention to…
Eh, not like he's on the field fighting anymore. It should be fine!
