Title: Collide
Chapter Six: After All This Time
Pairings: Tatsuki/Kotarou
Summary: When Tatsuki is involved in a car accident, a concussion alters his powers to the point where he sees five minutes into the future. How will this new power change his outlook on life and his feelings toward Kotarou?
That night, standing just outside Tatsuki's room, one hand grasping the cool brass knob lightly, Kotarou hesitated. He balanced a tray of food against his hip as he debated whether or not he should go in.
"Kotarou?"
Kotarou flinched, turning his gaze down the hall, where Grandpa Oohira was coming up the stairs.
"What are you doing?"
Kotarou gave a nervous smile, "I was just bringing Tatsuki dinner, since he didn't come down."
Grandpa Oohira gave a regretful smile as he turned to go back downstairs. "Well that's because he's not here. He left about an hour ago with that friend of yours - Yuuto, I believe." He called over his shoulder.
'Yuuto was here?' Kotarou thought, "Oh, okay. Then, I guess I'll put this in the fridge for later."
Standing under the florescent light of the park street lamp, Yuuto stared down at the brooding black haired psychic, sitting in the bench before him.
"Come on, man." He said, running a hand through his hair in aggravation. "I know something's wrong - your broodier than ever!" He added as an after thought.
Tatsuki remained resilient though, eyes starring off into the darkened space around them as he ignored the ever persistent brunette.
Yuuto's brow furrowed and he took a tentative step forward, "Fine, if you don't want to tell me, that's okay but, would you mind explaining what happened today?"
Tatsuki stiffened, remembering the horrible pain that had taken him over and the visions it had caused. "...I...don't know."
Yuuto mentally smirked to himself for managing to get something out of the brooding teen. 'Now where getting somewhere.' A sly smile played at the corner of his lips as he thought of the perfect way to get more information.
"You know, you had Kotarou really worried." He said, playing his words off as he moved to sit down next to Tatsuki, waving a hand in the air as if dismissing Kotarous worry. "You should've seen the look on his face when you just pushed him aside and ran off!" Yuuto gave himself a mental pat on the back as he watched his words shake Tatsuki's aura into inner turmoil. 'Jackpot!' He thought, triumphantly.
"...They..changed...they're...different..."
Yuuto blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"...My powers... they're different..."
Yuuto starred at Tatsuki, the look on his face clearly saying that he wasn't sure whether the other teen was telling the truth or trying to throw him for a loop.
"...Is that even possible?" He said attentively, watching the Tatsuki's aura closely.
A tense silence settled between them before Yuuto heaved a sigh and Tatsuki finally turned dulled, blue-grey orbs to him.
"I don't know...but it's happened."
Kotarou lay in bed, arms crossed under his head. 'What could Yuuto want with Tatsuki?' Turning on his side, arms gathered close to his chest in a sleeping habit he'd had since birth, Kotarou stared at his open bedroom door. His lashes fluttered, and Kotarou rubbed at his eyes, trying to stay awake.
'Maybe...I'll just take...a small...nap.'
Tatsuki trudged up the stairs, his muscles ached from sitting in the park bench for too long. He rubbed at his back, trying to soothe the burning ache. Figured Yuuto would choose to corner him in a park of all places. 'Stupid benches...'
He stopped at the top of the stair case, noticing for the first time, the golden hue of light highlighting the hallway. 'Is he up?' Walking down the hallway, he noticed the unmistakable light flooding from Kotarou's open bedroom door. As he neared the room, soft snores became more noticeable, 'Idiot must've fallen asleep and left the light on.' He grasped hold of the door knob, quietly easing it open enough to enter.
The window drapes were pulled away from the small window over looking the bed, allowing the soft rays of moonlight to enter and shine over the sleeping blondes body. Soft, sun-kissed locks haloed the blondes features. Long lashes, caressed rosy cheeks as they hid away golden orbs brighter than the sun. Full, kissable lips were upturned in a small pout. The blonde wore a black, short-sleeved t-shit that, although being large enough to reach mid-thigh, was clearly a snug fit. The dark contrast and the added moonlight gave the oblivious blonde an ethereal look that left his admirer breathless. Grey-blue orbs drifted lower still, causing the raven haired teen to give a small groan as his eyes roved over the expanse of creamy white skin exposed to him.
Tatsuki took a step back, shaking his head in an effort to clear the building images of the innocent blonde angel draped so tantalizingly in the bed before him. He turned his eyes away, easily catching sight of the forgotten, midnight blue blanket laying carelessly beside the bed. Walking across the room, Tatsuki picked up the discarded blanket. A small smile crept upon his lips as he ran his cast-free hand over the multiple golden crescent moons decorating the soft cloth. It'd been his present to Kotarou for his seventh birthday. It had been too big for his small form then, though Tatsuki could see that it was just the right size now. Kotarou had loved the blanket though. He remembered how Kotarou had used it as a magicians cape and, more often than not, as the roof to their 'imaginary forts', when they were younger.
He draped the soft cloth over the small form on the bed, being carefully not to touch the blonde in fear of waking him and having to explain what he was doing in his room. He nodded in satisfaction before heading towards the door. Taking hold of the cool knob, he leaned back against the door frame, the urge to glimpse the ethereal form once more time, too great. With one last thought, he closed the door silently behind him and headed towards his own room.
'He kept it...after all this time...'