Disclaimer: Deka is not mine

Author's Notes: One-sided shounen-ai (Sen/Ban) and spoilers for Episode 41.


Every now and then, Sen remembers when Akaza Banban saved his life twice in one day.

The first time was after he woke up alone and imprisoned in the trick room. He had tried to be brave, to focus on the case, but the walls were closing in and he was all alone and it was just like before and why wasn't anyone coming to save him--

There was no way Ban could have known he was repeating verbatim what the policeman had told him all those years before while screaming at him to snap out of it. But he had, and in doing so kept Sen from giving into despair.

The second time was at the very end, sandwiched between the still moving walls, air being forced out of his lungs. It would have been easy, even easier than before to give up. This time, however, he refused. No! I know Ban will come to save me!

After spending such a long time in darkness, all that light all at once had made it hard to see. But there was no mistaking that it was Ban stretching his hand out to him.

Just like before.

What Ban did for him that day... he knows he'll never be able to truly thank him for. He kept him sane, kept him going.

Sometimes, he thinks he loves him for that. He's not sure yet. But that's okay.

Given time, he can solve any mystery.