13 The Problem with Mondo
TW: Depictions of past child abuse
Mondo sits beside his kyoudai as that fucking pop sensation finishes up her act, feeling bored out of his goddamn mind as he's forced to listen to /yet another/ bullshit fucking song about boys. He's been trapped in this hell hole for almost forty-five fucking minutes, and he swears to Christ, if he has to listen to /one more goddamn song-/
"Thank you, Hope's Peak, for a wonderful show! I'll see you all later! Bye!" Maizono exclaims from on the stage, blowing kisses at the audience as she and her girl group flounce off, waving over enthusiastically as the crowd goes crazy, screaming their professed love to the group. Ugh. Great. Well, at least it's over...
"Well! That certainly was an... energetic show!" Taka exclaims, a slightly strained smile on his lips as he turns to Mondo and their other classmates that chose to show up. It makes Mondo smirk, seeing how desperately his kyoudai is trying to show his support of a /friend/, even though Mondo knows the kid had not liked the music. At all. In fact, the only measure of enjoyment Mondo got from the entire thing was watching Taka as his face shifted from cringing to enthusiastic support whenever he saw Maizono look their way. Ha. Nerd.
Taka gives Mondo a disapproving look when he snorts at his false support, but whatever. He's just glad this shit show is over with, honestly. That sure as shit is forty-five minutes that he ain't ever getting back... goddamn. The things he does for Taka...
Not bothering to reply to the kid, Mondo moves to stand, wanting to leave this fucking stage. He is halted barely halfway out of his seat, however, when Taka gets distracted talking to their other classmates, since apparently both Fujisaki and Naegi decided to show up as well. Ugh. While he doesn't wanna be forced to hang around any longer than he has to, he supposes he doesn't mind waiting for Taka to finish his chat. Just as long as he isn't being forced to watch that godawful concert anymore, goddamn... plus, Leon is here, and while Mondo still feels a bit tense around the teen, he supposes talking to him wouldn't be the worst thing ever. Especially if Taka is busy with his other friends...
"So. Ya enjoyin' the festival so far?" Mondo asks Leon lowly after a moment, feeling a bit awkward. Leon gives him a brief Look, eyes a little wary, but it fades as quick as it showed up and soon the teen is nodding, shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess it's pretty tight. Lots a' hot chicks from the reserve course showed up, heh. Got tons of numbers, shit. Apparently being an Ultimate has some perks with the ladies, hell yeah," Leon leers, like the disgusting ass he is. Mondo rolls his eyes when Leon waggles his eyebrows, causing the teen to snicker. Before Mondo can say anything in reply, Leon continues, his tone sobering as he goes. "So. How's the festival been going for you and the hall monitor, huh? Having fun?"
Despite himself, Mondo can feel his shoulders tense a little, lips grimacing, not quite liking Leon's tone. It's just... /too/ casual. Like he's saying something without saying it... he can't help but remember that morning, the absolute /bullshit/ Leon was saying, and he just... well. However, he gets interrupted once again before he can speak, Leon sounding a little exasperated.
"Shit, I really was just asking, man. Don't read too much into it, alright? Seriously. Whatcha been up to?"
Mondo gives Leon a hard stare, trying to determine if the dude is being honest or not. Seeing nothing to indicate dishonesty, Mondo sighs, nodding his head slowly. What has he been up to, huh...? Well...
After Taka had grabbed his wrist and dragged him into the festival, the pair had spent several minutes just seeing the sights and window shopping, as it were. Mondo knew the kid didn't intend on buying anything, what with his thing against buying 'useless' items, but there was never a problem with just browsing, right? 'Sides, Mondo certainly had enough money lying around, shit. The school gave him ¥70,000 a /month/ as a living stipend, even though most of his living expenses were covered by the school already and most of his shit for his baby were given to him as gifts from people who either owed him or were impressed by his reputation. He'd already gotten two payments, and should be getting his third the next day, so he honestly was good for cash at the moment.
For the most part, Mondo contented himself to listening to Taka as he enthused about the festival, pointing out various booths he thought might interest Mondo, the kid so fucking cute it was ridiculous. He'd mostly just followed Taka with a stupid ass smile on his face, feeling more at ease than he had all day.
That changed a little when he found the absolute /perfect/ booth, the merchant selling miniature models of various vehicles, including his absolute fucking favorite: hogs.
Pulling away from Taka (feeling oddly reluctant, but his enthusiasm for the booth outweighed the desire to keep his wrist in the boy's pleasantly warm grasp), Mondo had made a beeline for the booth, eyeing the merchandise. There were all kinds of hogs, too, even vintage ones Mondo could only ever /dream/ of owning. Though he would, one day, mark his fucking words. When he found a replica of his ride, a fucking black /Kawasaki/, he couldn't contain his enthusiasm and called back to the kid, eyes never leaving the absolute beauty. It took Taka a second, but soon the kid was by his side, looking curiously at the hog.
"Look at this, kyoudai! Ain't she a fuckin' beauty?" Mondo had muttered, gesturing to the /Kawasaki/ he was looking at. He'd only been distracted from the model when Taka had replied, his response absolutely /hysterical/.
"Yes, of course, kyoudai! She, er... is very beautiful! Very... er... motorcycle-y?"
It had made him snort and grin, knowing the kid hadn't, actually, meant it as a joke, but finding it funnier because of it. He's just so... fucking precious, all the fucking time, god /fucking/ damn...
He'd had a thought, then. And it was fucking stupid, but as he looked sideways at the kid, seeing his pale pink cheeks, the blush so strong it made it passed the fucking makeup... he couldn't resist. He didn't know how much the model cost since it didn't have a price tag on it, though he had known it would be fucking expensive as shit, since it definitely deserved to be. But he didn't care. He'd pay any price, within reason. He then straightened up and signaled the merchant— a man in his mid to late twenties with some old gang tattoos that Mondo kinda recognized— the man striking up a conversation with him about hogs.
When the man had casually mentioned that he had modeled the hog Mondo was interested in after 'the leader of the Crazy Diamonds, Mondo Owada's ride. He's an Ultimate at this school, you know. Hey, do you know him?', Mondo had had a moment of internal panic. On one hand, he was fucking /ecstatic/ that this dude had fucking modeled one of his wares off /his fucking baby, holy shit/. On the other... well. He, uh... wasn't exactly dressed up like he normally was and wasn't quite sure if the dude would laugh at him for how prissy his hair looked. But he'd quickly done away with that thought, realizing that if the dude did that, he'd just punch him, easy.
With some hint of awkwardness that he did all he could to hide, he'd rolled his eyes and said, boldly, "uh, fuckin' /yeah/, dumbass. I'm fuckin' him, duh." It had been pretty gratifying to see the dude's eyes widen, his mouth going slack. He'd apologized then, saying that he just hadn't recognized him without the pomp, being a fucking /bitch/ about it, but eh. Mondo's used to that kinda thing, honestly.
The merchant had then offered him a steep discount, over seventy percent off, which had been super fucking sick to him. Mondo prolly could have argued it down to /free/, but he'd been in a good mood, his ego stroked at having some random ass dude know him. It's not that weird, he /is/ the leader of the largest biker gang in the country and anyone who knows anything about motorcycles prolly at least knows his name, but still. It ain't every day he has someone looking fucking /starstruck/ meeting fucking /him/.
Even with the discount, the model had been pretty pricy, about ¥6000, but again, he didn't mind. Not when... when he /knew/ what he wanted to do with it. Even more so now that he knew it was /his fucking baby/ that he was holding the model of. He'd even have paid full price, it would have been so fucking worth it…
They'd left the booth, then, after Mondo slapped the merchant on the back and gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up, hella pleased with the purchase. He had felt bad for making Taka wait for him, though, so he'd murmured a quiet apology to the kid.
But Taka... Taka had just smiled and said, "You need not worry, kyoudai! I did not mind the wait at all! Besides! It is the least I could do after making you wait so long!"
It had made him smile softly, bumping the kid with his shoulder gently. They'd lapsed into silence then, Mondo starting to feel anxious as he realized that— while he now owned the hog— he had no idea how to implement his plan. It took him a few minutes, but finally he managed to gain the courage to hold the bag out in front of Taka, his face feeling red hot as he did so. But he couldn't just stop, that would have been more awkward, so he'd done his best to keep going.
"Here. Uh... fer you," Mondo had muttered softly, feeling embarrassed but also... nervous. He knew he'd wanted to do it, the idea of Taka owning something that was very much /him/ was... shit. Very, very nice. But it was also terrifying, because... what if Taka didn't- didn't /want/ it...? He had never shown any interest in hogs, prolly didn't even recognize that this was a model of /Mondo's/ hog, so he... he... and then Taka had spoken, not realizing Mondo got it for him apparently, and it had made it all even worse.
"W-what?! But kyoudai, you bought that for yourself! D-do you mean you'd like me to hold it? B-because then I will gladly-!"
"No," Mondo interrupted, cheeks on fire, a scowl rising on his lips as his nerves began turning to /anger/, like always. He fought to keep it down, though, shrugging sharply. "I got it for you. Uh... 'snot like it's a big deal or nothin'... just some stupid trinket, shit..."
Taka had looked almost shellshocked at the words, Mondo had been able to see out of the corner of his eye. He'd been staring at the bag, fucking /wonder/ filling the scarlet, like no one had ever gotten him something so /incredible/ before, taking Mondo's goddamn breath away. He'd still felt all twisted inside, and it was almost worse with the strange way his heart had begun to beat, then. And then...
"A-are you sure, kyoudai? I- I know that it was not exactly inexpensive... a-and you've already spent enough on me for this festival... I- I would hate to inconvenience you more... kyoudai, I-"
"Would you shut the fuck up?" Mondo had then growled, his hold on his anger snapping as Taka tried to get out of receiving the gift. His mind was plagued by thoughts of how he'd fucked it up and that Taka hated the gift and how this was just Taka's way of letting him down kindly, his self-hatred running rampant inside him. But then he saw Taka shut his mouth with an audible snap, his lips wobbling with his upset, making Mondo feel like utter garbage. Like usual.
Sighing, he had forced his shoulders to loosen, smiling at Taka in apology, hating himself even more, then, for fucking /this/ up, too. He'd briefly wondered if he could do anything right...
"Shit, fuck man. Didn't mean ta yell. Just... it's a gift, alright? I wanted ta get it fer ya, so I did. Ain't like I got a lot ta spend the school's money on. 'S just a stupid little thing. Somethin'... somethin' fer ya ta remember me by. Or somethin', I dunno. I- I mean, if ya don't want it, fine, but-"
"N-no!" Taka had interrupted, voice frantic and eyes wide. "I would love to have it! I just... I don't want to be a burden to you, kyoudai. That is all."
Now /that/ had broken his fucking heart to hear. He'd halted in the middle of the path, then, not fucking caring that he was blocking the aisle. Not when he had this goddamn nonsense to fix, Christ. It had taken Taka a few paces to realize Mondo had stopped, the kid looking back at him quizzically in a way that made his heart stop dead in his chest. /Fuck... but he's so fucking gorgeous/, he'd thought softly to himself, before pushing the thought away.
"Y'ain't ever gonna be a burden ta me, ya hear me, Taka? Not fuckin' ever. Yer prolly the best goddamn thing ta ever fuckin' happen ta me. So, when I get ya shit like this, little things that don't mean shit... it's not even close ta enough ta show ya how grateful I am ta have ya. Got it, ya nerd?"
Mondo had held Taka's eyes for several long moments, looking steadily into the wide, scarlet eyes, needing the kid to see how much he meant it. And then...
"T-thank you... kyoudai, I... thank you. Then I happily accept the gift! I… I will find a way to repay you, one day. I promise, kyoudai."
Mondo had snorted at the words, his heart clenching at the kid mentioning /repayment/ again. He'd decided to not make a big deal out of it, though, and just wound his arm around the kid's shoulders, his cheeks heating up weirdly at the contact.
"Whatever, nerd. Ain't gotta repay me shit, but if it makes ya feel better, then fine. Don't stress 'bout it, though. Now c'mon. Whatcha wanna do now?"
They'd begun walking around the festival then, chatting as they passed booths and little games, Mondo feeling very fucking content. But then, when it was nearing 11:00, Taka had decided that he wanted to go to the stage to support Maizono and her fucking concert. Mondo had wrinkled his nose at the suggestion, not at all enthusiastic about watching a show meant for preteen girls, but Taka had been very persuasive.
In that he'd looked at Mondo with wide ass eyes and said, so fucking earnestly, "please, kyoudai, I would like to go and support my new friend! And who knows, maybe it will be fun! It's always good to try new things, kyoudai!"
That had crumbled any and all defenses he'd had (proving to him yet again that there was absolutely /nothing/ this boy couldn't make him do), though he'd made sure to grumble on the way there. Even that had been halted, though, when Taka had turned to him and smiled softly, his hand brushing against his as he thanked him genuinely for agreeing to go. Ugh. Shit. He was so fucking whipped...
They had hit a bit of a snag when they arrived at the venue and found a fucking crowd of teens surrounding it, the venue clearly fucking /packed/ with fans of Maizono and her fucking band (Mondo didn't even know the band's name, and he still doesn't, as he'd fucking refused to pay enough attention during the concert to learn that shit. But he's digressing). He'd been about to turn to Taka and offer his— not at all /false/— apologies, but before he could, a goddamn security guard had come up to them, looking at them critically. It had made his skin prickle, having had enough bad experiences with security guards to not be immediately on edge.
"Excuse me, are you Kiyotaka Ishimaru and Mondo Owada?" the man had asked, still looking at them so fucking critically. That had made Mondo even more anxious, his mind racing as he wondered what the fuck he'd done wrong to make the man come after them specifically, but Taka had nodded cautiously before Mondo could say the rude and defensive things that had been rising in his mind. And then... "Maizono-sama told us to keep on the lookout for people looking like you. Come with me, she's got some seats reserved for you two."
Sharing a confused look with Taka, Mondo followed the kid as he followed the guard with far more trust than Mondo had. But it ended up fine (or not, considering) since the guard was only leading them to the front fucking row, which Maizono had had reserved for their class, if any of them chose to show up. Not many had, honestly, just him, Taka, Fujisaki, Naegi, Leon, as well as Enoshima and her sister, and— surprisingly— Kirigiri Jr.
Mondo had raised a brow at that, not expecting the little detective to care about a music concert, and the girl had simply shrugged, saying that her father had recommended she go. Mondo highly doubted that, even more so when the girl had looked at Naegi with a small frown and a light blush, ha. So. Seems little Ms. Emotionless had a crush, huh? And on /that/ fucking nerd. /Ha/. It had made him feel so fucking amused. They should be glad he's not the type to gossip, or even care about which classmate is doing who, or else he'd sure as shit make sure to taunt the fuck outta the two of them. Thanks to their little adventure a few weeks back, they both are still on his shit list, after all. But he ain't a fucking teenage girl, so he'd let it slide, privately smug at his knowledge.
That all faded from his mind when Maizono flounced on stage a minute later, doing an overly enthusiastic (and fake as all hell) introduction, saying how /glad/ she was to be able to perform for her school. Ugh. Sickening.
And then... he'd been in hell. Absolute, agonizing /hell/. God fucking damn.
Not wanting to think on that ever again, Mondo quickly stops his internal recounting of events, figuring it doesn't fucking matter. Not like he's gonna tell Leon even a /fraction/ of all that, shit. Bastard would just make fun of him, asshole he is.
With a casual shrug, Mondo returns to his friend, figuring he can answer with an edited version of events.
"It's been goin' well. Taka an' I walked 'round most a' the booths already, which was kinda int'restin'. Found a booth sellin' replica model hogs an' got one, heh. Merchant said he even based it off my ride, fuck yeah! But, uh, that's 'bout it. Gonna head ta the haunted house at some point, but I'm fairly certain Taka's 'fraid a' the dark or somethin', though it ain't like the kid would ever fuckin' admit it, heh. But, uh... tell him I told ya that an' yer dead. I guess."
Leon snorts at the words, rolling his eyes like he always does when Mondo threatens him these days. Ugh. He knows he should back one of his threats up one of these days, knowing intimately that idle threats with no follow through grow old fast. It's why he's never been afraid to back his threats up with action, preferring to give a beating as a 'warning,' not words. But of course Taka is changing that about him, too. Taka is changing a lot of fucking things about him... shit. If only he could be bothered to fucking care...
"Yeah, yeah, gotcha man. Wouldn't dream of it. Anyway, since we're all here, wanna walk 'round the festival now? You still owe me a contest with that stupid ass ball throwing game. Can't back down now, man! Ha!"
Mondo sneers at the smug fucking /baseball star/, still pissed at how that fucker played him. Yes, it's his fault for fucking /forgetting/ the dude used to play baseball so well he is now considered the ultimate in his field, but still! Fucker.
But he can't back down from it since he can't ever back down from a challenge. He'll just have to make sure he does well enough to show that he's still super fucking good with his aim and shit like that.
"Yeah, yeah, what the fuck ever, shithead. Once Taka's done with his chat, we can get going," Mondo says, before pointing a finger at Leon menacingly. "But I swear, if you say a single fuckin' insult more ta him, I will punch your fuckin' lights out, hear me?! An' that ain't no idle threat," Mondo growls, recalling the shit Leon said to Taka when they first got to the venue, the dude calling Taka's costume 'freakin' weird, but kinda cool, I guess.' Which may not have sounded bad but put Mondo on edge since he doesn't want Leon to do anything that makes Taka upset.
Luckily, Leon seems to realize he's actually being deadly serious about this one, since he doesn't roll his eyes or anything. He just nods carefully, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Shit, yeah, okay. Didn't mean ta insult the dude. Ain't like it's untrue, ya know? It is fricken weird seeing him dressed up like that, though it ain't really bad. But okay, okay! Won't say anymore, jeez."
Mondo continues to glare, even as Taka turns to them— seeming to be done with his conversation with Naegi and Fujisaki— with a small frown on his face.
"Is everything alright, kyoudai?" the kid asks, looking back and forth between him and Leon, eyes wide. It makes Mondo settle, and he smiles softly at the kid, nodding.
"Hell yeah, kyoudai, don't worry 'bout it. Anyway, if yer done talkin', we can head out ta wander the festival again. Leon'll be joinin' us. Is, uh... is that okay, kyoudai?"
Taka gives him a long look for a moment, before nodding, smiling brightly.
"Of course, kyoudai! Any friend of yours is a friend of mine! Is there anywhere in particular you would like to go?"
Taka directs the question to Leon himself, his head tilted in question. Mondo can see that Leon is taken aback, but he quickly recovers, shrugging shortly.
"Uh, nah, not really, man. Just gotta head to a ball throwing game at one point, heh. Gotta win my ¥1000!"
Mondo scowls again, lifting his middle finger to the snickering musician. Not wanting to linger any longer than they have to, he finally stands and stretches, heading for the exit before anyone can stop him. He's wasted far too many minutes of his life in this fucking venue. Like hell is he gonna stick around longer than needed.
Taka and Leon follow after him easily enough, the duo seeming awkward together as they walk. Once they reach his side, Leon immediately ropes him into a conversation about the footie team that Mondo has been kinda following recently. While Mondo doesn't honestly care much about sports, he knows enough to be able to keep up with Leon's talks about it, even able to talk about it himself without sounding like a moron. Ever since he became friends with the dude, he's definitely learned more about sports than he ever really wanted, but eh. It's kinda interesting, he guesses.
The topic switches to a movie they both watched once, Leon snickering as he recites the dumbest fucking part verbatim, causing Mondo to laugh as well. Mondo brings up hogs and Leon replies to the best of his ability. Mondo knows the dude doesn't know much about hogs and shit like that, but he appreciates the effort.
It's around then, about ten minutes into Leon joining them, that Mondo realizes that Taka is standing off to the side, his eyes on the ground and his hands held stiffly at his sides. He looks utterly miserable, and it makes his heart clench bitterly to see. The entire time, Mondo had been trying to keep some distance between him and the kid, not wanting to give Leon more fucking ammo for his absolute /bullshit/, but... but he guesses he's been neglecting his kyoudai a bit too much, and now the kid feels left out. Shit. /Shit/, gotta fix this...
Trying to be as casual as possible, Mondo moves fluidly over to the kid and wraps his arm firmly around his shoulder, ignoring the jolt the kid gives at the move. He looks down as casually at Taka as he can, hoping he looks natural, bringing up something about Disney. The kid had confessed to him after they'd watched Star Wars that he had never actually seen a Disney movie, which had been absolutely /insane/ to Mondo. Like... he ain't the biggest fan of the company, but still! It's prolly a crime to not see at least one animated film by that conglomerate. As such, he's been graciously teaching the kid all about the films and the company and the theme parks, even watching one or two of the films with him during their now daily late-night movie watching. The best ones, of course, like /Up/ and /Oliver and Company/ (which, by the by, is a severely underrated film that he and Daiya fucking adored as kids).
Because of this, Taka is actually able to contribute to the conversation, at least a little, and Mondo has to force the soft look off his face as he sees the light return to Taka's eyes, his lips smiling gently as he is included at last. He can see Leon giving them weird looks from the corner of his eye, but ya know what? He doesn't fucking care. Leon can go and fuck himself if he wants, but Mondo ain't gonna let his kyoudai feel left out just 'cuz Leon wants to go and interpret their relationship wrong, okay?!
Leon doesn't say anything about it, though, and they keep on going around the festival, chatting about topics they all know a little about. Which isn't much, considering that Taka has no idea about popular culture and he and Leon don't know much about politics or morality (though Mondo has been trying to learn, for Taka's sake), but it isn't too bad. Taka even makes Leon laugh with one of his 'jokes' at one point, which causes the kid to practically /beam/ with pride, and Mondo to smirk at the surprised musician. Ha. Serves him right for not believing him that Taka /does/, in fact, have a sense of humor. As weird as it may be.
They do eventually find one of those rigged ball throwing games, the one where you have to knock down a certain number of fake clowns in a minute, or whatever. Mondo goes first and does pretty fucking well, considering that these things are rigged as all hell. He even wins a crappy stuffed cat that he hands to Taka without a second thought, really not the kind to care about soft toys (unless they're cute as fuck dogs in costumes, hell yeah). He ignores the bright blush Taka gets at the action and the stupid ass smirk Leon gets, knowing it doesn't fucking matter. He just didn't want the thing, alright?! And Taka needs more gifts... kid deserves it...
Leon, of course, smokes him out of the water, winning one of the bigger prizes easily, but Mondo had expected that. He hands his yen to the smug as fuck musician, scowling angrily at the bastard but not protesting. And maybe he curses the dude out a little, but eh. Could be worse.
They begin wandering the festival again after that, chatting and laughing, but it's not even ten minutes later that Leon decides to peace the fuck out, claiming he wants to try and 'chase more tail' before the festival ends at 3:00. Disgusting bastard.
Before he leaves, Leon gives Taka a calculating look, seeming to be evaluating the kid. Mondo can see that it makes Taka nervous, but he doesn't back down. He just looks steadily at Leon, mild confusion on his face as the look lingers. Finally, after almost ten fucking seconds, Leon holds out his fist, looking strangely determined. Ugh. Pretentious fucker.
Taka, luckily, seems to understand what this means as he hesitantly bumps the fist with his own, returning the fist bump with very obvious confusion written all over his face. It's so fucking adorable that Mondo has to look away and take a deep breath to contain his stupid as fuck grin on his face. Ugh. He's turning into a chick, he swears...
He turns back when he hears Leon fucking /laugh/, a scowl on his face and a reprimand on his tongue, but then Leon punches Taka on the arm, which makes him relax. Ah, okay. Just manly bonding, nothing serious.
"Y'ain't half bad, tightass. Can't say I particularly wanna be best buds with ya, but eh. S'pose I can kinda see what that idiot sees in you. See ya 'round, Taka."
Leon saunters away then, not giving Taka the chance to say anything in reply. Taka continues to stare after the teen for a moment, before looking over at him, head tilted.
"Did that... go well? I... can't tell..." Taka asks hesitantly, his lips pulled down in a soft frown. It makes Mondo laugh, something inside him feeling so fucking light as he looks at the kid, who is blushing softly now. While he and Leon have their problems, it... it makes him feel relieved that the two were able to get along well enough. He highly doubts they'll ever be best buds, but... it's something.
Before he can say much else, Mondo feels his stomach begin to growl, reminding him that they've been wandering the festival for hours at this point, and it's nearing lunch time. With a sharp grin, he jerks his head over to where they passed the food venders a little while before, figuring it might be time for some lunch.
"Heh, I think it went well, Kiyo. But let's ferget 'bout that jackass an' get some food, okay? 'M fuckin' starvin'!" Mondo exclaims, in the way he knows Taka finds amusing. It makes his heart flutter to hear Taka's slight laugh, his lips tilted up into a smile as he nods, the kid turning his body to the direction Mondo indicated. He pushes aside the weirdness inside him and puts his arm around the kid's shoulders again, the pair chatting lightly about everything and nothing as they make their way to the makeshift food court.
Once they get there and see how long the lines are, Mondo rolls his eyes and tells the kid to grab them a table while he buys them both lunch. That makes Taka frown, the kid insisting that he doesn't need anything, that he can just get his usual lunch later at the kitchen, which is such fucking bullshit. Mondo glares back at the words, shaking his head sharply.
"Ain't gonna fuckin' make ya wait ta eat, dumbass. Let me buy ya some fuckin' food, Jesus," he grunts, his tone absolutely no nonsense. For a moment it seems that Taka is going to continue arguing, his face all pinched and annoyed, but after a moment he loses his steam, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
"Alright, kyoudai. If you insist. But nothing fancy, please! Just something simple. You know what I like," the boy says simply, like it means nothing at all. But it takes Mondo aback for a second, because... shit. Yeah, he /does/ know what the kid likes. They've only really been friends for two weeks, but Mondo... Mondo has picked up a lot of knowledge about the kid over that time. And before it, too. Things like his preference for simple, basic Japanese foods, and his aversion to anything too rich in flavor. It makes sense, they're fucking /kyoudai/, of course he notices that shit, but... shit. Shit, whatever. Doesn't matter.
They part ways then, Taka saying he will find a way to repay Mondo for this all one day, to which Mondo rolls his eyes and bumps the kid's shoulder, telling him very seriously he doesn't have to, but whatever. Taka just smiles shakily at him for the words, before wandering off to find them a table, while Mondo looks around the food booths to see what looks good.
After wandering around for a bit, he sees a traditional Japanese bento box place, which looks decent enough. He considers texting Taka to ask what he thinks, but honestly? He's pretty sure he knows what the kid will want. The line is fucking long as shit, but all the lines are, so he figures he can handle it. He hates waiting, but he'll do it so Taka can get fed. He isn't certain, but he thinks the kid skipped breakfast that morning in favor of working on the festival, so he definitely needs the food.
After a few minutes of waiting on line, getting steadily more and more bored, Mondo feels his phone buzz. Taking it out with curious hands, he reads Taka's text, snorting lightly.
From: Kiyo:
/Kyoudai,
I have met up with Hina while looking for a table and she requests that we sit with her and Sakura! Would you mind if we do that?
Sincerely,
Taka/.
Ha. Fucking nerd. He and Hina have been growing closer recently, and while it does still make his stomach churn with something that is /totally not jealousy, shit/, he's come to appreciate their friendship. Taka even seems to enjoy the swimming, the kid enthusing about the new techniques Hina taught him, or how great swimming is as an exercise and that he's so glad he started 'utilizing' the pool and shit. It always makes Mondo's insides squirm, in ways he doesn't even want to acknowledge, so he doesn't. He has yet to see the kid swim, since he's only had a couple sessions with Hina, but something about the idea of it... s-shit. Fuck.
Anyway, the point is that he is always a lot happier when he comes back from hanging out with the chick, which Mondo can appreciate. Taka needs more friends, after all. All the fucking friends. Shit...
Not thinking much of it, Mondo replies back quick enough, not bothering to use full words for something as simple as this, shit.
To: Kiyo: /k. wtvr./
Mondo keeps hold of his phone after that, to see if the kid replies back, but after a minute he concedes the kid prolly won't and puts it back in his pocket. Not that he's disappointed or shit. Just... line's boring, s'all.
A couple more minutes pass in agonizing boredom, Mondo moving slowly but steadily through the line. It's right when he's almost at the front, about two people away, that Hina approaches him, a wide smile on her face. She's dressed as fucking /Tinkerbell/, which, honestly? Makes sense. Her hair's always reminded him a bit of the fairy's anyway, heh. He lifts his hand to wave hello as she bounces up, giggling softly to herself.
"Hey Mondo! How's the festival going for you? Taka told me what you guys have been up to and it sounds like a lotta fun!" she enthuses, twirling as she stands, shuffling closer to him in a way that he thinks is supposed to be subtle, but sure as hell ain't. It makes him smirk when he realizes that she's decided to cut with him, the people behind him looking very annoyed at the swimmer. Heh. Whatever, not like he cares.
"Eh. Could be fuckin' worse. Nice seein' all the different booths, I guess. Not as borin' as some festivals I've been ta. How 'bout you? How's the date goin'?" Mondo asks, remembering that the chick had mentioned she had a date today. Her eyes go wide as her smile widens, the chick nodding with enthusiasm to rival Taka's.
"It's going great! We're having a great time; the festival is awesome! It sucks that we missed Sayaka's concert, but we got held up at the 'test your strength' booth and they wouldn't let us in after the concert started," the chick laments, pouting slightly. Mondo snorts at the words, shaking his head as he moves up in the line, the two of them now next. Well, Mondo is now next. Hina technically isn't supposed to be in the line, but again, whatever. Taka'll blow a gasket when he learns, since he's always going on and on about not cutting during the lunch and dinner lines, but does Mondo give a shit? Hell no.
"Honestly? Ya didn't fuckin' miss much. Worst fuckin' concert I ever been to. I mean, looked nice I guess, but fuck, was that music just /terrible/. All 'bout boys an' shit. Ugh," Mondo shudders, his ears still crying at the so-called music. And he knows he's being unnecessarily cruel, but honestly? So was that music to his poor eardrums, ugh. He'd honestly rather listen to that upperclassman's disturbing music. Fucking… Mioda or something.
Hina doesn't seem impressed with his statement, the swimmer pouting at him and crossing her arms.
"Aw, I'm sure it wasn't that bad! I've heard some of Sayaka's music and I think it's pretty good! You just don't like it since you're not in the key demographic," Hina states simply while she nods her head firmly, making Mondo blink. Uh... huh. If he's being honest, he wouldn't have expected the flighty swimmer to know what the word 'demographic' is, let alone how to use it in a sentence. Though... maybe he is just being a dickbag, heh.
Mondo doesn't get a chance to reply, though, since the cashier is calling to them, asking for their order. Mondo walks up to the register without complaint, Hina following resolutely behind him. He gives the chick the side eye. Hm... he's okay with the chick cutting with him, but she sure as hell better not expect him to pay for her food...
Luckily, it seems she doesn't, since she says nothing as Mondo orders Taka and him two bento boxes, one with teriyaki beef and another with smoked salmon. He thinks Taka will like the beef box better, but he is down to eat either, if the kid decides he'd prefer the salmon. The boxes come with seaweed salad, some sticky vinegar rice, a couple tempura veggies, and some hard-boiled eggs. Mondo hands the cashier his debit card and pays for the pretty pricy but not horribly so meal, walking over to the area where you're supposed to wait for the food as soon as he's done. He can hear Hina placing her order as he walks away, shaking his head with mild amusement. Shit, Taka ain't gonna like that, heh. Hina comes to stand beside him as they wait for their meals, the swimmer going on and on about some swimming move or other. Mondo doesn't say it, but fuck, does he not care...
Thankfully, the wait for the food itself doesn't actually take long, since the boxes are mostly preprepared, with only the entrée being cooked to order. The vender must be pretty competent, though, since it's barely three minutes later that his name is being called, the man behind the counter handing him his meal with a bright smile and a small bow. Mondo inclines his head back and looks at Hina, wondering if he should wait for her to get her food or not. He knows it would be /polite/, but...
"Oh! You don't have to wait with me, Mondo, it's okay! The others are seated over there if you wanna head back!" Hina giggles, pointing over to where the seating area is. Mondo doesn't question the chick and just nods casually, heading in the direction she indicated with a quick wave goodbye. The seating area is not super large, which is prolly why the area is so fucking crowded, but he bets he can find Taka quick enough.
His assumption is proven right when he sees his kyoudai sitting across from Sakura (he figures he might as well start calling the chick by her first name, seeing as how she and Hina are so close, and Taka is growing closer to both of them. Plus, she's decent to talk to. Sometimes). Something about that fact niggles at his mind, but he's not entirely sure why, to tell the truth. It makes him frown unconsciously, but he pushes it away as he approaches the table from behind Taka, Sakura inclining her head as she sees him approach.
Pushing aside the weirdness, he takes a seat on the bench beside Taka, feeling the kid jolt at the unexpected contact. Heh. The bench is so small, though, that he has to press up close to Taka to fit, leaving them both a little cramped. Not that he minds, of course...
"Shit, place is fuckin' crowded, bro. Didn't even realize we had this many fuckin' people who went ta this school, the fuck? Anyway, got ya some beef bento box that looked pretty good. 'S pretty hot, though, might wanna let it cool down a bit first. Hey, Sakura. How's it goin'?"
Mondo looks across the table at the martial artist, a grin forming on his face. It feels a little strained, but the chick doesn't seem to notice as she inclines her head again, meeting his gaze evenly. Ugh. Fucking creepy...
"Hello, Mondo. I am doing well. Taka was just telling me how you two have been wandering the festival together as friends. It sounds like you two have been having fun."
Mondo grins, nodding immediately, feeling more enthusiastic about the question now that Taka is beside him.
"Heh, hell yeah! Festival fuckin' rules! I usu'ly hate shit like this, the booths lame as fuck, but I gotta say, this shit is tight! Taka did a great job with it, huh?" Mondo exclaims, looking down at his kyoudai as he wraps his arm around the kid's shoulders, like always. He can see the bright blush on Taka's face, which makes his stomach start to churn again. Like always...
"Hm. I agree with you there. This festival is highly entertaining, Taka. Hina and I have been having a wonderful time together. Thank you for the effort you put into it. It is greatly appreciated."
Taka flushes a deeper red, the kid looking so fucking embarrassed as he grabs the chopsticks that came in the bag and pokes at his food with them absently. Heh... fucking adorable...
"Ah, thank you, Sakura! A-and thank you, for what you said earlier! Your words... they mean quite a lot to me!"
For some reason, the words make Mondo stiffen, his mouth opening to question what the kid meant by that. What... what the fuck did Sakura say to the kid...? Shit... are /they/ friends now too? He knows that Taka has been getting closer to the martial artist, since the chick is always around Hina these days, but... shit. Is /she/ the kid's type...? He wouldn't think so, but maybe...
He doesn't get a chance to ask, though, since Hina chooses that moment to return, the bouncy chick skipping over to Sakura and placing her tray down on the table clumsily. And then... then she...
She kisses the martial artist on the cheek...
"Hi guys! I'm back! Man, those lines sure are long, huh? Thanks for letting me cut with you, Mondo! I'd probably still be there if you didn't, jeez! So, what are you guys talking about?"
Mondo can distantly hear Sakura explaining what's going on to Hina, but it's like he's hearing it through a tub of water or something, because that fucking /weirdness/ is back, his head going stupid with it. Because... because...
The chicks are holding hands...
And that's not weird. Right? Chicks hold hands sometimes, especially when they're close. Hell, he and Taka have held hands a couple of times, it's just... what close friends /do/, ya know? And maybe if he wasn't feeling so weird inside, he'd not find the action weird at all, but he... he just...
He doesn't know.
He doesn't know, but he... shit. He's not stupid, okay? People always think he is, but he's /not/. Not when it comes to people, at least. He's trained himself from a young age to notice shit about people, his instincts often letting him know if they're to be trusted or not. And he... he...
Shit.
Hina... Hina had mentioned she had a date today... right? And when Mondo asked earlier, she made it seem like she's been on that date, is currently still on it, not being all weird or sad about it, which had made him think that she's having a good time. Right?
However...
However... if she is on her date... then...
Where the fuck is the dude?
And that's the thing that he thinks is causing the weirdness inside him. The little niggling at the back of his head. Because... when Taka had texted him about meeting up with Hina, he... he had mentioned Sakura. And it hadn't been weird at the time, Sakura and Hina are always seen around each other, so it made sense. But... but he also hadn't remembered at the time that Hina was supposed to be on a /date/. When he'd seen the chick, then he'd remembered, but she hadn't said anything that stood out to him, so it hadn't been weird then, either.
But then... then he'd seen Taka and Sakura sitting together, no one else around, and that's when the weirdness started, because... because...
If Hina is on a date... and there ain't no dude around... and she seems so enthusiastic still, not like someone who went on a bad date and is bummed it didn't work out... and /Sakura is here/...
But no. No, no, no. Just... heh. /No/. Because... because it can't fucking be like that. It just fucking... /can't/. Hina and- and /Sakura/ are just friends. Best fucking friends, close as two people can fucking be without being related. Or without... w-without...
Dating...
So, he must be wrong. Maybe the dude is elsewhere, getting his own food. Or maybe they ended the date early and Hina decided to meet up with Sakura to tell her all about it, wanting to share in her happiness with her best friend. Or- something. Anything.
Because they can't be... t-they /can't be/...
Mondo tries to act normal. He chimes into the conversation when he has something to say, doing all he can to sound normal and natural. He can't help how he stares at the chicks across from him, though, eyes narrow as he looks for signs that- that he's /right/, but as the minutes pass... as they pass...
Suddenly, he can't take it anymore. His head is being so fucking stupid, his insides clenching. He's barely touched his food despite how starving he is, and he can't... he fucking /can't/...
He needs to know. For sure. That he- he's /right/. That the dude just left early, that- that... he just needs to know. Okay? He just... needs to know...
During a lull in the conversation, Mondo finally man's up enough to ask the question that is fucking plaguing his mind, everything in him screaming for reasons he doesn't want to examine.
"Yo, Hina. Got a question fer ya," Mondo states as casually as he can, staring at the chick with intent. Hina frowns as she looks up at him, seeming confused, but she's smiling politely soon enough.
"Sure Mondo, what's up?"
What's up? Well...
"Last week. Ya said ya had a date today, yeah? So, uh... where's the lucky fella? Or did yer plans change?"
Mondo can both see and feel as everyone at the table freezes, their eyes wide as they stare at him. Taka is stiff as a board beside him, and he- he /doesn't know why/, doesn't know why he's so stiff, it was just a question, s-shit. A good fucking question, one that makes sense, and he knows Hina is going to explain soon, is going to tell him what the fuck is going on, and she... she...
"U-um... what exactly do you mean, Mondo? I am on my date..."
It's Mondo's turn to stiffen, his eyes intent on the swimmer as she darts her eyes over to the chick beside her, and then back to him, quick. I-it's funny. The way she said that... the way she's acting... it makes it seem like she- l-like she is on a- a date with... with...
But no. /No/, that... that can't be fucking right, that can't...
"... what?"
Mondo has no idea what it is that he is currently feeling, other than his insides are fucking /twisting/. He almost feels like he wants to throw up, his head fuzzy and stupid and /wrong, wrong, wrong/. H-Hina and- and Sakura... they can't fucking be... they fucking /can't fucking be/... be...
On a fucking date...
They just /can't/. O-okay? They just... just...
"U-um... Mondo, I... I mean..." Hina starts, sounding very awkward, before she gets interrupted.
"Hina and I are on a date together, Owada-san," Sakura's steady voice cuts in, slightly louder than usual, her eyes like daggers as they stare into him. S-shit... h-holy shit... "I asked her out last week, and she thankfully said yes. Do you have a problem with that, Owada-san?"
Does he... have a problem... with... with...
Mondo can't think. He just... he can't fucking /think/, it's like his brain has fucking shut down, like his mind is rebelling against him, like- like he was just told that everything he has ever known and believed in is a /fucking lie/. He... he...
/They reminded you of us/, he thinks faintly to himself, staring into the middle ground, not looking at anyone or anything. He has never felt so tense before, like he's a second away from shattering into a hundred pieces, everything swirling and twirling and breaking and /aching/ and-
/They were like us. Two people, close as can fucking be, but not related. Not dating. Not... not. They were like us, you knew they were like us, but now... now.../
Mondo's breath hitches as his mind keeps going, keeps assaulting him, keeps... keeps...
/What if they still are? Like us. Like Taka and you. What if there is no fucking difference between you and Taka, and Hina and Sakura? What if... what if.../
But no. /No/, no. No. Just... f-fuck...
/You do realize that you straight up just described Ishimaru... right?/ his mind whispers to him, causing his hands to fucking tremble before he can stop them, his breath hitching again. But that- it's stupid. Stupid, stupid, /stupid/, because he's not... he- he's /not/-
Not.
Okay?
He's /not/.
And neither... neither is... is...
Taka...
And it wouldn't be a problem if either of them were, you know? Shit, it wouldn't even be a problem if they both were- but they aren't. They're /not/, and he knows that, and he just... he and Taka are close. So fucking close. He likes being close to the kid, likes t-/touching/ the kid, but that doesn't mean he- he wants... it doesn't. Okay? It doesn't. They're friends, /only friends/, and that's all it is. And if- if Sakura and Hina ain't just friends, then- then /shit/, that's fine, he doesn't care. More fucking power to them. He doesn't care, he has nothing against gay or lesbian couples, he never has, he- he just...
He realizes abruptly that it's been a while. That he has three sets of eyes trained solely on him, waiting for his response. He's been frozen for over two fucking minutes, his fracturing mind racing, and they're fucking waiting for him to fucking answer. He prolly looks like a fucking /moron/ for not answering, s-shit. He has to... h-has to...
"... Nah. Uh... good fer ya two, I guess," Mondo mumbles, grabbing his chopsticks and stabbing it into his salmon, not hungry at all anymore.
The tension at the table sticks around, even with his fucking words, silence echoing around them. Mondo hates it, fucking /hates it/, but when Hina lets out a high-pitched giggle and engages Sakura into a conversation, he realizes he hates that, too. He's never felt so fucking stiff and tense before, has never felt so /wrong/ inside. And it has nothing to do with Hina and Sakura, he /knows/ it doesn't, but hearing them talk, being around them as they interact, /knowing that they're fucking dating now/-
Mondo retracts his arm from around Taka's shoulder, heart twisting in his chest as he does it, but he knows he has to. He can't- can't... he just fucking /can't/, okay? He can't.
He can't deal with this, he can't figure out what the fuck is going on inside his head. He can't figure out anything at all. He knows he doesn't have a problem with Hina and Sakura, knows he ain't fucking /homophobic/, but then why... why...
Mondo begins shoveling his food into his mouth, then, wanting to leave this fucking table and go somewhere else. Somewhere where he ain't forced to listen as Hina and Sakura talk, their voices unnatural and strained, knowing that it's /his fucking fault/ they're acting like that, but not knowing how to fix it. He can feel that Taka is frozen solid beside him, and he hates that, fucking /hates it/, but he... f-fuck he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know what to fucking /do/, he's freaking out, fucking /panicking/, but he's not allowed to panic in public, people aren't allowed to see him be so fucking /weak, weak, weak/, so he has to suck it up and deal with it, but he fucking /can't/ fucking deal with it, and he wants to leave, he wants to go away, he wants to get on his hog and drive until he can't fucking /think/ anymore, but he can't do that, Taka would worry, and he wants to- h-he /wants to/-
"'M done. We should get goin'. If y'ain't gonna finish that, I got a lid. We'll see ya guys later."
The words are unnaturally flat and cold, foreign to even Mondo's ears. He's never heard himself talk like that and it would fucking terrify him if he could feel anything at all, holy shit. It's like he's trapped in a fun house mirror, the whole world twisted and bendy and he has no idea how to fucking fix it, how to... to...
Mondo stands quickly, unable to stand how everyone is staring at him, and he slams the lid for Taka's bento box down on the table in front of the kid, before storming away to the trash can to toss his stuff. He can feel eyes on him, but not red ones, and it shouldn't make him want to kill something, but it /does/, and he doesn't know why, he doesn't know what is going on inside his fucking head, he doesn't... doesn't...
When a minute passes and Taka doesn't join him at the trash can, he feels his anger spike, the twisted feeling making him want to cry, but he fucking /can't cry/, so he screams instead. Like he always fucking does, piece of fucking shit that he fucking is...
"Taka! What the fuck is taking you so fucking long?!" he bellows out, not looking in the kid's direction, not caring that all sound stops as hundreds of eyes land on him. It makes him even tenser, somehow, but he can't show weakness, so he just glares at them all, clenching his fists to stop how they want to shake.
After a moment, Taka joins him, the kid's eyes wide as saucers, looking fucking /terrified/, and that just makes everything so much worse, holy fucking /shit/. Because he knows, he knows, he /knows/ that he's fucking this whole thing up, he knows that he- he's ruining shit, but how can he make it stop, how can he make it better, how can he- he-
Mondo storms away without a single word to the kid, not wanting to scream at him but knowing he will if he opens his mouth. He can feel it building within him, the meltdown, and he doesn't want to do it, doesn't want to, but it doesn't matter what he /wants/. It never has, not when it comes to his anger. It's not like it's rational, shit...
Part of him wishes the kid would leave him alone, would realize that something is wrong and give him space, but of course the kid doesn't. And he gets it, he gets it, but the pressure inside him just gets worse the longer he walks, Taka trailing him like a silent ghost. He can tell that Taka is upset, can practically feel it, and it makes the pressure worse until it's almost choking him, and he knows he can't keep a lid on it, knows that he's going to explode soon, going to /ruin this shit/, but he can't... h-he /can't/...
It all finally comes to a head several minutes later, Taka seeming to come out of his shock.
"Mondo-" Taka starts, his voice low and /angry/, and that's fucking /it/. The thin thread that has been keeping him together snaps and he can't help how he turns abruptly, snarling as he glares at the kid. He doesn't want to, he doesn't, but... but...
"Shut the fuck up!" he growls, hoping that that will work, hoping the kid will leave him alone now, but of course... of course...
Of course Taka doesn't.
Instead, Taka sets his jaw, his eyes filling with anger. He then reaches out and grabs Mondo's arm, dragging him away through the festival. Mondo wants to pull back, wants to scream at the kid, but he manages to contain it enough to follow Taka. He figures the kid is bringing them somewhere private, away from the festival, which the rational side of him (as small as it currently is, shit) thinks would be better. He doesn't exactly want to be thrown out of the festival, ya know. Or force Taka to be thrown out, too...
It takes a minute, but soon they are in a fairly isolated area a ways away from the festival, where they should have at least some modicum of privacy.
And then... then Taka begins his rant. Shit...
"What, in God's name, has gotten into you?! You don't actually have a problem with Sakura and Hina, do you?!" the kid bites out, his voice shaking as he glares at Mondo, looking super fucking /upset/. Mondo does his best to ignore it as he scowls and shakes his head. Because he doesn't have a fucking problem with the chicks, alright?! He fucking doesn't! Shit!
"Fuck, I already said I didn't, didn't I?! What the fuck is your fucking problem?!" Mondo shouts back, feeling so fucking angry he doesn't know what to do. He... he just...
He watches with mounting anger (and numbness) as Taka bares his teeth, standing up straight as he glares at Mondo directly in the eye, poking him in his chest. Mondo snarls at the rude action, but he doesn't hit him away. Because even now, with how angry he is... he doesn't actually want to hurt Taka, s-shit...
"Then what the /heck/ is your problem?! This isn't like you! Mondo, y-you... tell me you aren't-"
"Aren't what?! What the fuck do ya think I fucking am, huh?!"
Mondo is breathing heavily at it all, something akin to /fear/ filling him then. What... what the fuck does the kid think he is...?! S-shit... he... he don't think that he- he is... is...
Is fucking /gay/... does he...?!
Because he's not! He's not, he's not, he's /not/! It wouldn't be a fucking problem if he were, it wouldn't fucking matter if he liked dick, but he fucking /doesn't, and he's getting so fucking pissed off at people thinking he is when he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not-/
Mondo can only watch, so angry and /only angry/, as Taka lifts his chin, a look of fucking /righteousness/ rising on his face, and Mondo... Mondo...
_Mondo has never felt so afraid._
"Mondo Owada... are you /homophobic/?!"
The words hang in the air as Mondo tries to comprehend them, not quite understanding. Because... because why- why the /fuck/ would the kid ask him that, huh?! How fucking often does he have to explain that he fucking /ain't/ homophobic, that he has no problem with the queer community?! Didn't he /just fucking say/ that he has no problem with Hina and Sakura?! Didn't he just fucking say that shit?! So why the fuck would Taka /ask him that fucking goddamn bullshit/-
"And what if I fucking am?! What does it fucking matter?! You ain't fucking gay, are you?!"
Mondo doesn't know why he said that, he doesn't know why he said that /at all/, holy shit. Because he's not, he isn't, but part of him is so fucking angry at Taka for fucking /assuming/ he is, like everyone always fucking assumes the worst of him, and he just... he just...
And he doesn't know why he asked the kid that, either. H-he /doesn't/, he doesn't, he just... he just...
He can hear Taka gasp, the righteousness and anger flooding out of his face so fucking fast, his eyes wide and /horrified/, before he closes them, his lips wobbling so fucking hard. He tries to hide it, tries to press his lips tight together, but Mondo can see how he trembles, and it... it fucking...
It cuts through the anger he feels, and suddenly it feels like he's been doused in ice cold water, his body beginning to shake with the shock. Because... because... despite everything he's been trying so hard to do and not do over the last two weeks, despite everything he has been wanting, he... he...
He just ruined everything... didn't he...?
When the kid opens his eyes and looks at him again, he knows the anger is still frozen on his face, knows he still looks angry, but he can barely feel it as Taka fucking /deflates/, looking so fucking sad and- and...
Defeated...
"What I am and am not does not matter. A person does not have to be gay to see the inherent value in another human being. I do not care if someone is straight, gay, bisexual, asexual, or any other sexuality in between or outside. I believe they all deserve equal rights and should be treated fairly, regardless of who they love or are attracted to. B-but..." Taka pauses then, his face frozen, before he looks down at the ground, like he can't handle looking at Mondo anymore... h-holy shit... "But the one thing I do mind? The one thing that I absolutely cannot abide? Is someone who does not view things the same way. Who… who is cruel to others for reasons they cannot help. As such, I- I... I cannot abide by someone who is homophobic. I- Mondo... O-Owada-kun... i-if you are... if you are homophobic, then... then I..."
Mondo is frozen. He knows he is frozen, he can't feel his hands or his legs or /anything/. He can only stare at Taka, ice cold /fear/ and /panic/ replacing his anger as he... he begins to realize what Taka is saying, what he... he's...
"Taka... w-what the fuck are you saying? You... kyoudai, you can't..."
"Don't," Taka interrupts, his eyes blazing as he looks up at him, though the anger wavers at whatever he sees on his face. And Mondo has no idea what it is he's seeing, he just knows that he... he is feeling... o-oh god... "Don't call me that. I could never be /kyoudai/ with someone who is homophobic."
Oh. Oh. Oh. O-oh... /Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh fuck, oh god, oh- o-oh... oh holy fucking s-shit! Oh shit!/
No. N-/no/, he can't... he can't /fucking mean that/, he can't... can't... h-he /can't/...
It would really be so... so easy for him to... to end this...? M-Mondo fucks up once and that... that's it? T-they... they can't be fucking k-/kyoudai/ anymore...? H-heh... f-fucking figures, y-ya know? N-not l-like he... he coulda ever- e-ever made this work long term... he even tries to deny it, vainly hoping that Taka will take it back, but he knows... he knows the kid won't.
The funny thing is... he's not even homophobic...
"Y-you can't mean- kyo- T-Taka... Kiyo, you... t-this... this really means so much to you? You'd be willing... willing to..."
And he knows. Knows he would, knows the kid is so- s-so set with his morals that he truly would. And Mondo could never fucking ask him otherwise, wouldn't fucking /dream/ of asking him otherwise, he- he wouldn't... wouldn't want Taka to go against his morals, but... but...
H-he's not... n-not...
"Yes."
He expected it. Knew the kid would say it, knows Taka would believe that, but it- it still fucking /hurts/, it hurts, and he has no idea what the fuck he is supposed to do now. He can feel his body stumble back, his hands clenching and unclenching uselessly, but it's so fucking distant to him, like he's not even present. All he feels is cold, his body frozen from the inside out, and he wants to scream, wants to beg, wants to tell Taka that he's /not/, he's not, but- but...
Maybe...
Maybe...
Maybe it's better this way...
This was always going to happen, after all... he could never fucking dream to hold onto something so fucking nice... h-he...
"Mo- O-Owada-kun... I... I want to become Prime Minister one day. I have plans— many plans— for what I will do should I- should I achieve my goals. And one of those plans include assuring that members of the- the LGBTQIA+ community... assuring that they are seen as equally as anyone else by the government. And by the people if I can. I- I... I saw... as a child, I saw many people get /bullied/ and /abused/ because of who they were. Who they... who they /loved/. And I never understood it. Understood what was wrong with people who- who happened to be attracted to people the same gender as themselves. And I can't say that I am the most knowledgeable about p-people like that... but I have done research. And I know that I want to help people like that. How... M-Mon... Mondo... tell me, how can I say that, but be friends with someone... someone who... who is..."
"I'm not."
The words come out before he can stop them, and he knows he shouldn't, knows he has no right, but... but after hearing Ta- /Ishimaru/ say that shit... he can't bear the thought of the kid thinking that of him. H-he doesn't expect him to forgive him, not after the shit he did, but he... fuck. He can't have T-/Ishimaru/ thinking that he's that big of an asshole.
Even if they are never close again, even if Ishimaru never wants to talk to him again, he... he needs to clarify this. He fucking /hates/ homophobic assholes, has always done all he fucking can to ensure douchebags like that get taught how fucking /wrong/ they are. There are many things that Mondo is. A criminal. A douchebag. A fucking /monster/. But...
But he ain't a homophobe. He just... he ain't. At least...
He doesn't want to be one...
"Shit. Fuck. God fucking dammit!" he cries, his chest aching with the fucking /pain/ he feels. He knows the kid is staring at him, his eyes wide, but he- he can't focus on that. He slams his eyes shut and brings his hands up to his hair, pulling so harsh he wonders if he's going to yank it all fucking out. He knows he's ruining his braids, but he just doesn't /care/, he... h-he... Mondo does his best to calm himself down, breathing evenly like Daiya taught him, trying to settle the roiling emotions within him. He knows that he needs to at least be somewhat calm when he says this shit. He... he can't ruin this anymore. He needs Taka to know the fucking truth, /owes/ him that much, but he... he can't get angry or upset over /his fucking mistake/. Because it's not Taka's fault. None of this... none of this is Taka's fault...
It's his. Only… only his…
After a minute, Mondo feels like he can handle this— /barely/— and opens his eyes again. He feels so fucking resigned, the sorrow and heartbreak still so strong within him, but he thinks he can handle this. And then, smiling sadly, he... he begins.
"I don't know why I... why I said I was. I ain't. I... I /ain't/. I know I'm a fuckin' piece a' shit, but I ain't that big of an asshole. In fact, I've beaten the shit outta people who are, ya know? People who hate on others fer things they can't control. My... my second in command, Michi, he, uh... he's queer, an' I don't think any less a' him fer it. An'... an' I can't say I'm completely comfortable 'round people who are, ya know... gay... but that don't mean I'm gonna tell 'em they ain't got any right ta exist or shit. Or hurl abuse at 'em, shit. My fuckin' fucked up shit don't mean shit ta anyone else." Mondo pauses here, looking down at his clenched fists, shaking his head sharply. "So, I don't... I don't know why I got so angry. Seein'... seein' Ogami a-and Asahina together... I don't know. I just... wasn't expectin' it. Ya know? An' I know that's a shit fuckin' excuse, but... I just..."
Mondo pauses again, before looking back at Taka, desperation within him as he tries to explain his inexcusable actions, tries to... to /explain/...
"They reminded me of us, ya know? Two people, so close. Ain't related, ain't datin', but... still- still close. An' I- I just... seein' 'em, together... an' I didn't fuckin' see it comin', shit, prolly everyone saw it, /but I didn't/ an' I just... Taka, shit, I can't... I /can't/-"
Mondo growls, frustrated that he's so shit at explaining this, hating himself so fucking much, oh god. He looks away from Ta- /Ishimaru/, unable to take the wide-eyed look, and runs his hands through his hair, catching on the braids, ruining them, but he /doesn't care/. He... he wants to destroy them. To cut off all his fucking hair, to get on his hog and ride so fucking fast until he crashes into a fucking pole, his body bloody and broken and /dead, fucking dead, like he was always supposed to fucking be/-
"An' I fuckin' understand if ya can't forgive me for this. I understand... I know you can't go against your morals and I wouldn't ask you ta do that, I wouldn't ever... 'specially since I know this ain't the first fuckin' time I did shit like this, f-fuck... but... K-Kiy... I-Ishimaru-s-san... fuck. I- I can't promise I won't do shit like this again. I just... I just get so angry sometimes and I- I can't control it, it burns inside me, and I can't make it stop, and I say shit I don't fucking mean, and it... it fucking /terrifies/ me sometimes, I don't wanna fucking be saying shit like that, but I can't... I /can't/... s-so I can't promise I won't be a fucking goddamn asshole like this again. I want to, but... shit. Just please... please fucking believe me when I say I ain't fucking homophobic. I'm not. I'm /not/. At least... I don't wanna be."
The last part comes out a hell of a lot softer than he means it to, but he- he can't fucking help it. He feels so fucking sick right now, his chest aching like a goddamn motherfucker, and his eyes fucking /hurt/. He can feel water gathering there, and it makes him hate himself more than before, and he... he...
"I don't know. If I can forgive you."
Oh. He... oh.
I-Ishimaru continues quickly, but Mondo can barely hear him over the sound of his heart shattering in his chest. Because...
He truly does ruin everything... doesn't he...?
"B-because it is not me you hurt! Your actions, to Hina and Sakura... i-if... if you want me to forgive you, to forgive what you said... you have to apologize to them. An honest apology. And... and if they accept... then I will forgive you, M-Mondo... but... but you have to..."
"I will," Mondo breathes, interrupting, his heart stopped as an overwhelming amount of fucking /hope/ floods through him, so quickly he feels like he's about to pass the fuck out. His eyes are so wide they burn, the liquid still gathering, everything in him hurting so, so bad. He feels so fucked up right now, but he can't... he can't... he feels his feet take a half step forward, wanting so bad to touch the kid, to hold him and know that it's /okay/, but he jolts back just as fast, knowing he... he doesn't have the /fucking right/...
"I- I will, I fucking- I promise. Shit, was prolly gonna anyway, I was a fucking asshole, I know... actu'ly, shit, no, that's a lie, I fuckin' suck at apologizin' an' shit... b-but I will this time! T-Taka, I swear I will, I promise. A man's promise, I'm not- I'm not gonna break this, I promise, Taka, I- I promise, /Kiyo/-"
Mondo gasps, his eyes closing as the pressure gets too much, the fucking /tears/ too heavy h-he can't fucking see. He feels them as they begin falling down his cheeks, so fucking /pathetic/ he wants to stab himself in the fucking head, but he- he can't... can't make it stop, can't stop the way he trembles, so fucking scared and hurt and /angry, still so fucking angry/, but not at anyone but himself. He... he...
God, he hates himself... himself and the way he can't control his anger, /like his goddamn old man/, how... h-how could he ever have hoped that T-Taka could see him any differently...?
He doesn't deserve to be seen differently...
H-he's a goddamn monster...
H-he...
He hears movement coming from in front of him and he lifts his head unbidden, eyes opening, fucking /tears/ blurring his vision, but he knows who it is before him. He always knows. And as he stares wide eyed at the approaching figure, he realizes that the kid is prolly coming forward to beat the shit out of him, /like he fucking deserves/, and- a-and... and he knows that he'll fucking /let him/, he'll let him, let him beat him again, and again, and /again/, not stopping until he's a pathetic /stain/ on the floor, marring the ground with his filth, disgusting in the worst possible way, not fighting back because he /deserves it/, he... he once vowed he'd never let someone beat him without a fight ever, ever again, that he'd always go down fighting, that he'd never be so weak and pathetic and /nothing, nothing, nothing/, not ever again, but here, now... he'll let Taka do it. Let him... l-let him...
"T-Taka..." he mutters softly, quietly, before turning his face away, eyes closing, fists clenching, heart... heart /aching/. He... he can't see his anger. He can't see his /disgust/. He... he can't watch as Taka destroys him entirely, as he... as he breaks him the way he was born to be broken...
This... this is all he is fucking good for... anger and violence and rage... f-for... for taking other people's anger and violence and rage... for... f-for...
He wants to flinch back when he feels something touch his cheek— feather soft and light— just as much as he wants to lean in, but he doesn't let it fool him. His... h-his /da/ sometimes would do that, too. T-touch him softly, gently, before beating him again and again and again. M-make him think it wouldn't be bad this time, make him think he wasn't going to get hurt, before destroying him entirely. He... he always hated those moments the worst... h-he's always hated hope...
But he doesn't. Flinch back. Lean in. He stays where he is, tense and /scared/, but not so big of a coward that he can't accept punishment where punishment is due. T-Taka... Taka deserves this, deserves... d-deserves...
Instead, he lets out a soft sob, too pathetic to stop it, and opens his eyes again. He doesn't want to, doesn't want to at all, but he can't help it, he never could. He lets his eyes meet red, lets them see how pathetic he is, lets them... and then he feels the hand touching his cheek move, sliding along his jaw until his cheek is being cupped, and his da would do this, too. Would take the comfort that Mondo would get when Daiya did it and turn it on its side, punishing Mondo for thinking he was worthy of softness, of kindness, of anything good or clean at all. He isn't. He isn't, he isn't, he never was. He's not worthy of softness, of kindness, of being able to be soft or kind, because he's too broken to be either. He was born wrong, born twisted, born unable to be treated with kindness in any way, shape, or form. To show kindness. He still yearns for it, though, tilting his face into the warm hand despite himself, pathetic like the child he is and always will be. But he doesn't know what else to do, h-he... he wants...
"Taka... I... fuck. I'm so fuckin' sorry, I- I... f-fuck..."
He doesn't know why he says it, he doesn't /deserve/ to say it, but he always would, as a child. Weak, pathetic, worthless child that he was, begging to be forgiven for the sin of being alive, begging his da to leave him alone just this once, begging for the forgiveness he's never fucking deserved.
B-but then... h-he... he feels...
Arms... around him, holding him, /hugging him/... part of him wants to struggle, wants to tear himself away, wants to cringe back and apologize and cry, but... but...
H-his da never did this... n-not ever... he was never hugged by the man, not even during the times he wanted to take the foolish sentimentality Mondo always had and twist it until it broke. H-he... o-only Daiya would hug him, after his da was done, after Daiya rescued him, after...
He gets reminded then that T-Taka... that Taka isn't like his da. T-that he... h-he is /good/, and /kind/, a-and... and all kinds of wonderful... even to a goddamn monster like him... i-it makes him feel ashamed he ever thought the kid could be like his old man, Mondo doesn't even know why he confused the two at all, the two couldn't be more different...
A-and he knows he should pull away, knows he should rip himself away because he doesn't deserve this, doesn't deserve the kid's overwhelming kindness, but his arms don't get the message as they cling to the boy so desperately, his face burying itself into the space between a thin neck and a bony shoulder, his pathetic tears gathering in the hollow found there. He's shaking like a leaf, his fucking /terror/ still rife within him, and he doesn't even know why, why he got so scared like that, why he's /still fucking crying/, he... h-he...
"I'm so fucking sorry... I- I don't know why the fuck I'm crying, shit... I don't... I just… I can't lose you, T-Taka. I can't... y-you don't know what the fuck you mean to me, I can't bear the thought of losing you... T-Taka..." Mondo mutters against the boy's pulse, realizing as he says it how fucking /true/ it is. H-he... he can't imagine losing Taka... he can't imagine /surviving/ losing Taka, and maybe it's fucking stupid, maybe he's being a /goddamn moron/, but Taka... Taka is all he fucking /has/. H-he... he has nothing... not his brother, not his gang... he's fucking /nothing/ here, at this school, out of his fucking depths... he doesn't deserve to be here, doesn't deserve /anything/ that he's been given, b-but... but...
But when he's with Taka... when he's /holding Taka/... it's like it doesn't matter. His worthlessness. His inferiority. His... everything. Fucking... everything. When he's with Taka, when he's holding the kid and comforting him and being so fucking /soft and kind and gentle/... he can pretend. That he deserves it. That he is worthy of it. That he... he... a-and he knows he isn't, knows he doesn't deserve anything, doesn't deserve /Taka/, but... but he...
He...
"Please... please don't hate me..."
Oh, oh... oh, why did he say that, he doesn't /deserve/ to say that, doesn't deserve to have the kid not hate him, doesn't... h-he deserves hatred, and disgust, and /rage, fucking rage/. He doesn't deserve the kid's kindness, he doesn't deserve to have the kid view him kindly, he doesn't... he doesn't deserve his forgiveness... h-he... he...
He wants to scream when the kid pulls back, wants to cry and scream and make a mess. He wants to slam his head against the wall until he can't fucking think anymore, until his chest stops hurting so goddamn bad, until there's nothing left but a bright pink stain on the ground. He wants to apologize and beg for forgiveness, but he knows he can't, knows he deserves this, deserves to have the kid hate him, be disgusted by him, but he- h-he... he doesn't want to see this burn down, he doesn't want to be the cause of it, he... he doesn't... he /wants/... he... he wants...
Taka...
"I could never hate you, Mondo. You... there is nothing you can do to ever make me hate you. I... I may be disappointed, or hurt, or... or something like that. But hate? ... I can't hate you. K-kyoudai... I could never hate you, my dearest kyoudai."
...
...
...
W...
What...?
Taka... he... he can't mean that. He... he can't /fucking mean that/, he... h-he's being kind, and he's being nice, and he... he... h-/he/...
But Mondo... Mondo can't detect a lie. A deception. A-and maybe there is and he's just too stupid to see it, too hopeful, but as he looks into Taka's eyes, as he sees the softness and the sincerity and the /goodness/ that resides there... he...
He can't help how he rushes forward, his hands rising and grasping Taka's face within them, as soft and gentle and reverent as he can, needing to have, needing to /hold/, he... and Taka doesn't even flinch, doesn't look scared, he just gasps softly, eyes wide, lips open, and... and Mondo leans forward, mind fully offline as he goes on instinct alone, his forehead pressing oh so softly against Taka's, the presence so comforting and soothing and... and... and he... Mondo, he...
_He has never felt so in love before..._
But he pushes that thought aside, knowing he can't focus on it, not when he still has so much to say, so much to... t-to...
"Taka... Kiyo, I... thank you. /Fuck/, thank you... I will make this up ta you, I promise. I can't promise I won't do shit like this again, that I won't get- get angry an' say shit I don't fuckin' mean an' shit like that, but... b-but I promise I will try my best not ta. Or ta... ta tell you, or leave the room, or /somethin'/ if I- if I feel like this again, I can promise that. That I will try. I- I'm sorry I can't promise more than that, shit, Kiyo..." he says, desperate, frantic, needing Taka to see, needing Taka to /know/. That he... that he understands, now. That he won't take this for granted, not ever again. That he... h-he...
"I-it's okay, Mondo... kyoudai, it's okay... all you can do is your best. I won't ask any more than that from you. Your best is enough. It's /more than enough/. I believe in you. I... I believe in you, kyoudai... you are not a bad person. I /know/ that you are not. And I will help you. When you… should you feel like this again. I will always... always help you..."
Mondo presses closer to Taka then, unable to help it, unable to stop himself. He... no one has ever fucking said that shit to him. No one has ever told him that he's not a /bad person/, that he... that they will help him, that they... they /believe in him/... Daiya might have felt it, may have believed it, but he never /said it/, not like... not like Taka. And he... he...
He wants...
He wants...
/Would it... would it be so bad...?/ he wonders softly to himself, heart beating so slowly and yet meaningfully in his chest, his eyes staring deep into bright scarlet, into the most beautiful and wondrous eyes he's ever seen, body swaying subtly forward. /To be... t-to be gay... would it... y-you could have him... Taka, the most perfect and amazing person you have ever met... y-you could have him, if you were gay. Daiya always told you that you had to pick one, but maybe... maybe you could change. Just once, only once, maybe... maybe you could... could have.../
He isn't even able to finish the thought before Taka pulls away, a soft smile on his lips, sadness in his eyes. And Mondo... Mondo knows. He... he knows. And he's not gay, he knows he's not gay, and he knows he would never be allowed to switch, Daiya would hate him if he did, but... but even if he were able to... if he were allowed...
He'd never deserve someone as perfect as Taka...
Not ever...
He doesn't even deserve him as a friend.
"We... we should go back to the festival, kyoudai. Unless... unless you want to head inside? I understand if you do... but we've not seen the haunted house yet, and I know you wanted to see that. S-so... do you... want to go?"
Mondo stares at the kid for a long moment, feeling like he's waking from a dream, dazed and confused and almost a little scared. But then he blinks his eyes, shakes his head to clear it off the fuzz, and... and...
And he /smirks/. It feels wrong on his lips, more false than any expression he's ever made, but the kid either doesn't notice, or he pretends not to notice, and it... it's okay. It's okay, it's okay, /he's/ okay. He just... he has to stuff it all down. That's all. Stuff everything back down into the little, tiny box it belongs in and never, /ever/ examine it again.
That's all.
"Heh, I... shit, yeah. I... yeah. I should prolly head to the bathroom first, though. Uh... eyeliner prolly looks like shit, heh... fuck, I really just fuckin' /cried/ like a fuckin' infant, didn't I? Shit, goddammit..."
Some anxiety fills him again at the reminder of how fucking /pathetic/ he is, but then Taka is frowning, /pouting/, crossing his arms with a small huff, and Mondo... Mondo...
"There is no shame in crying, kyoudai! It just proves that you are human! And your eyeliner looks fine, but we can head to the bathroom if you'd like! It might be a good idea for us both to freshen up!"
Mondo feels a smile grow on his lips, so fucking shaky, but at least it is there. He nods slightly then and turns to leave, wanting to forget this entire thing ever happened and move the fuck on. He just... he wants...
However... before he can leave, before he can fully force everything down... he remembers something. Something he said, something he'd snarled. And it... shit. It prolly doesn't matter, it prolly would be best to ignore it and hope that Taka can forget this whole ordeal, but he... he finds that he can't. He can't, he can't, he /won't/. He may be weak. He may be pathetic. And he may be selfish as all hell. But...
But he can't leave here without clarifying something. And maybe it doesn't matter, maybe it doesn't matter at all, but... but he... he has to say it. He just... has to.
Big brothers always right their fucking wrongs, after all.
And so, he turns back to the kid, watching him as he bends down to pick up the bag with his stuff in it, his heart pounding strangely. And he watches as the kid stands, turning to face him, looking startled to see him turned back around. It makes Mondo nervous, his eyes darting back and forth over the kid's face, wondering how the fuck he's going to be able to say this, knowing it could make everything worse again, reminding Taka of the shit he said, but he... he can't let the kid think, for even one second, that he... that he would...
After a moment he decides to say 'fuck it' and just blurt the words out, hoping against hope that they come out right for once...
"Look. 'Fore we go back. I, uh... I gotta say somethin'. An' ya can fuckin' deck me if I'm outta line, but I wanna clarify somethin' I said earlier. Or rather... fix it." Mondo pauses here and takes a deep breath. He looks the kid deep into his eyes, and— while it makes him nervous as all hell— he also knows he must do this. He just... he must. "Taka. If you... now, I ain't sayin' ya are, or that I think ya are, but... but if you /were/... ya know... gay. I wouldn't mind. I... I ain't... but ya mean more ta me than any fuckin' bullshit goin' on in my fuckin' head. So... I ain't sayin' ya are. But... if... then yeah. Y'ain't gotta be afraid a' me. Never. Now... let's go ta see the haunted house. Okay?"
Mondo doesn't entirely know why this was so fucking important to him to say, but... shit. Taka never denied him, earlier. When he... when he asked. He evaded the question, moved swiftly on, but he'd never denied it. And when he's denied it the previous times, he... Mondo...
_Mondo could always tell he was lying._
He just wants to make sure. Right? That Taka understands this. That even if there is some unconscious homophobia lurking within him, that he would never let it get in the way of /them/. O-of their... of their friendship. Their brotherhood. He... Taka means so fucking much to him. So fucking much. A-and... shit. Even if the kid /likes both/, he... he'd learn to deal with that, too. Because Taka is more important than anything else, okay? He... he is goddamn /everything/. He... he is Mondo's everything. More so now, now that the kid has seen him like this, has been reminded of how monstrous he is, and yet... and yet...
And /yet/...
Still chose to stay...
He makes a decision, then. In the split second when Taka is staring at him, wide eyed, shocked. He... he decides that... that he will do right by this kid. He had already made that decision, but now he means it /even more/. He... he won't let whatever bullshit anyone says get to him. He won't let his /own/ bullshit get to him. It... it doesn't fucking matter if no one on this goddamn earth understands their relationship to one another. Okay? It doesn't matter if it's 'normal' or 'understandable,' or anything like that. He... he... Taka is everything to him, and that is all that matters. Words cannot describe what he feels for Taka, he can barely comprehend it himself. All he knows is that it's important, so goddamn important. Taka... Taka is important...
And he knows that Taka will leave him one day. If this day has proven anything to him, it's that he /will/ ruin this all someday. Even when trying hard, even when doing all he can... he still fucked up. He still hurt Taka. And he has no hope that he won't do it again, one day. He will try so, so hard not to, but... shit.
The kid will realize that eventually and he will leave him. He knows it, has always known it. And he knows it will be his fault when it happens. Everything always is. But... well. He will do everything in his power to do what he has set out to do before that day. To help Taka get out of his shell. And... and if he wants to date a chick (or a dude, he refuses to judge), then... then Mondo will support him. He won't feel that goddamn /jealousy/ anymore, won't let it stop him. He just... he won't. Okay? Okay.
He watches as Taka smiles at him, nodding his head slowly. And Mondo... Mondo smiles back, and he begins moving, and Taka follows. He... he always follows.
Together they walk to the bathroom inside the school, Mondo frowning when he sees how much of a mess he looks. He glares lightly at Taka for having lied to him about his eyeliner, as it looks like /shit/, but it doesn't last as he realizes he doesn't deserve to feel even slightly annoyed at the kid, not after the shit he did. Instead, he just sighs and turns back to the mirror, assessing the damage and thinking about how he can fix it. Well... he won't be able to fix the rest of the makeup, but he can at least fix his eyeliner, he thinks.
Bending down, he carefully washes the makeup off and takes out the kohl he always keeps on his person, to refresh his look when need be. He applies it as evenly and carefully as he always does, trying not to feel nervous that Taka is watching him intently as he goes. It... shit. Doesn't fucking matter.
Once the kohl is on, he takes out his braids and grabs the comb he keeps in his pocket as well, brushing the curls out carefully. It hurts, since they're all so fucking knotted, but... but maybe he fucking deserves it to hurt, h-heh... once his hair is as neat as it's gonna get, he redoes the braids carefully and hopes it doesn't look like utter shit. And then...
Then he turns to Taka, heart pounding when he gestures for the kid to come closer, wondering if he'll allow it. When the kid does it without a moment's thought, he... fuck. His heart lurches, but he ignores it as he takes his comb and tries to fix the somewhat deflated pomp. Taka's hair isn't really suited for the pomp hair style, as straight and short as it is, so it doesn't surprise him that it deflated a little. Especially after... well. While he isn't able to fix it fully, not without more hairspray, he at least is able to fluff it up a bit to make it look nicer.
With that done, the pair exit the bathroom again, Mondo making a hesitant joke about people thinking Taka's hair had deflated just because he was engaging in /illicit activities/ with someone (being careful to not mention gender, shit), as the kid calls it when he rants about catching other students making out in the halls. Mondo had initially been nervous that the kid would get offended, but Taka just glares at him in the overly dramatic way that he's slowly coming to realize is false, a small smile teasing the kid's lips. It... it sure is a nice fucking smile... he snickers softly, trying to hope that things may be able to go back to how they had been before...
Once they reach the festival again, they head straight to the haunted house, since Taka had suggested it earlier. The line is long, but Mondo finds it bearable, especially when he has Taka with him to talk nonsense to.
Even with how long the line is, it doesn't take too long to get inside, the tent pitch black with random strobe lights appearing every so often, with people in masks jumping out to 'scare' them. Mondo has no problem with it, finding it kind of lame actually, but he gets reminded that the kid is afraid of the dark when he feels tight fingers grab his hand, the tension within them clear. It makes his heart lurch, and he can't help how he twines their fingers, hoping to provide some measure of comfort. He also grabs the bag from the kid, not wanting him to possibly drop it and lose it. S-since he knows it would upset the kid, of course...
The 'house' (lame as fuck tent, more like) isn't that long, at least, and soon they are back in the sunlight, Taka relaxing as soon as they are. However... however, Mondo doesn't pull his hand away. Rather, he keeps hold of the kid, their hands clasped tightly together, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. He knows he will have to let go eventually, and he promises he will soon, but he just... he wants to keep a hold on the kid. Just... just for a little bit longer. He does let go when he sees an anime booth that they've passed a dozen times but only now is interested in, but... but it's so much harder than it should be... shit.
After a while... after a while, Mondo feels himself freeze, his eyes landing on a pair of familiar heads, heart racing as he sees the chicks sharing a dessert together. Part of him thinks he should leave them alone, that they wouldn't want him to bother them again while they're on their /date/, but he... he promised Taka he would. He... he promised...
Before he can talk himself out of it, he's straightening his back and marching over towards the pair with determination in his movement that he doesn't feel, hoping he's not making things worse.
He doesn't let himself get cowed when he sees /Ogami/ stand up, the chick glowering down at him, since she's actually several centimeters taller than him, shit. But he doesn't let it stop him. He just stares as calmly back as he can, and... and he begins his likely shitty as all hell apology.
"Look. 'Bout earlier. I... shit. I was a fuckin' jackass. I shouldn't a' reacted how I did an' I was fuckin' shitty ta ya an'... an' Asahina-san. I... an' it's no fuckin' excuse, but I hadn't been expectin' it, an' I just... I dunno. But I wanted ta let ya know I ain't got anythin' against it. An' I'm actually fuckin' happy fer ya two, if yer both happy. I know we ain't exactly friends, but... yeah. Just... I am sorry. Legitimately an' fully. Y'ain't gotta forgive me, and I don't expect ya ta, but I don't want either a' ya thinkin' ya got someone against ya or anythin'. In fact, I'll fuckin' make sure anyone who tries ta mess with ya two ain't able ta fuckin' breathe properly fer a month. So... I'll stop fuckin' ramblin' an' let ya get back ta yer date, but... yeah. I'm sorry."
The honesty makes Mondo want to squirm, but he doesn't. He just stares steadily back into Ogami's eyes, showing his seriousness as she evaluates him. He can see Asahina hovering over by Ogami's shoulder, looking at them anxiously, but he doesn't look away from the martial artist. And then, after an unknown amount of time passes, Ogami...
Ogami smiles and she... she nods...
"It takes a lot of courage to apologize for a wrongdoing. I accept," she says simply, her smile growing slightly when Mondo looks at her with shock, before he lets out a shaky but relieved laugh, not sure what he is feeling at her acceptance. It ain't forgiveness, he knows that, but it... it's something... more than he expected, shit... but before he can say anything in reply, the chick is continuing, shaking her head slightly. "But you are wrong about one thing. I do consider you a friend, Mondo. That is why your actions earlier had hurt as much as they did. I know that you have... a lot of repressed feelings, but that still does not excuse such behavior. And, while I do accept your apology, whether or not I actually forgive you depends on what Hina thinks. After all, it was not just me you hurt."
Ogami (or... or is it still Sakura? And shit, are they actually /friends/...? Or were they? H-he didn't think the chick saw him that way, but he guesses they do hang out occasionally, talking about weight training and grappling and shit like that... but shit, he's digressing) stops talking and looks down at Asahina. Mondo does as well, feeling strangely anxious. After all... Taka's one condition for forgiving him was if both chicks forgave him first, and if they... if they don't...
What will that make of him and Taka...?
Before he can mentally prepare himself at all, the swimmer is beaming at him, bounding over and- and fucking /throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tight/. It takes him aback so much that he doesn't know what to do, his hands hovering uselessly in the air as he tries to process the fact that the chick is fucking /hugging him/. No one... no one ever really hugs him... only Taka, and usually Mondo is the one to initiate that shit...
Mondo does eventually lower his arms and pat the chick on the back, feeling so fucking awkward. Shit, now he knows why Taka didn't gain anything from Maizono hugging him earlier... getting randomly hugged by hot chicks is a hell of a lot more awkward than he would have thought, honestly...
Asahina thankfully pulls back after a moment, her face still beaming. S-shit... but fuck, she really is pretty... too bad she's taken. And gay...
"I'm glad you apologized, Mondo! I also consider you a friend, and yeah, it had hurt to see you react... like that. But I'm glad you apologized to us, and I forgive you!" Hina exclaims happily. Before Mondo can feel even slight relief from that, the chick is pausing, a small frown appearing on her face, while her eyes dart to Taka, concern filling them. She then looks back to Mondo, a look of determined strength in her eyes as she glares at him. Oh, shit... "On one condition! You have to apologize to Taka too! Since you... you yelled at him!"
Mondo's heart clenches at the angry words, reminded of how fucking awful he was to that wonderful fucking kid, his self-hatred rising again. He... he doesn't fucking deserve to be forgiven, doesn't deserve to even /apologize/, he knows that, he /knows that/, he-
Before his thoughts can spiral further down, his eyes seeking out Taka despite himself, he... he sees the kid smile. And... and take a step closer...
"I appreciate the concern, Hina, but Mondo and I have already resolved our issues!" the kid exclaims, before turning to look at Mondo, staring him straight in the eye as he continues, his smile bright and his eyes shining like the fucking sun. "And I have forgiven him! Completely! And he... he and I... we are good."
He... Taka... he has forgiven him...? And he thinks that they are... are...
Are good...?
...
!
Mondo cannot stop the rush of absolute /joy/ that fills him then, a bright and happy smile finding its way onto his lips, feeling so fucking /happy/ he doesn't know how to express it, he... he...
God... Taka sure is... is /everything/... ain't he?
Their gaze gets broken when Asahina (or, again, should he call her Hina? Fuck, he doesn't know... he's godawful at friendship...) squeals, darting forward to hug him again. Oh, shit...
"Yay! Okay, then I forgive you too! Oh, I'm so happy! We should spend some time together sometime, just the four of us! Like a girl's night in, but with two boys! We can make popcorn and braid our hair and paint our nails and everything! It'll be so much fun!"
Mondo can hear Taka laughing at him and whatever ridiculous look he's sure has found its way on his face, which prolly expresses the abject /horror/ he feels inside at the chick's words. He quickly forces a smile on his lips when the chick pulls back and looks at him expectantly, shakily saying, "uh... yeah! Sure... uh..." That just makes Taka laugh again, which earns him a glare.
But he doesn't mind it. And as Taka laughs louder, H-/Hina/ giggling as well, he realizes he honestly doesn't even mind the idea of a /girl's night in/. Not if it makes Taka laugh like that, all unrestrained and happy and... and /bright/... and it ain't like he doesn't owe the chick, and if a 'girl's night in' is what she wants, then... okay.
He does allow himself some mild grumbling, but he refuses to deny himself the joy that is holding onto a bright and shining Taka, moving over and wrapping his arm around the kid as naturally as he always does. And god... does it feel like heaven...
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. See ya two later, I guess. Taka an' I'll let ya finish yer, uh... yer date in peace. Stay safe, ya crazy kids..."
With that, they leave the two alone, Mondo talking about everything and nothing as they continue through the festival, finally stopping off at the booths their classmates put out. And while he doesn't quite like the fucking 'prediction' Hagakure gives him (what the fuck does he mean that he'll /finally/ get a date, huh?! Shit! He's been on dates before! And while maybe they were mostly just him keeping the younger sister of one of Daiya's girlfriends occupied while they got freaky, they still counted!) and he does lose quite a bit of yen betting against the Ultimate fucking Gambler (he doesn't /care/ what Taka says, he had good fucking odds of winning that game, alright?!) he finds it's not all bad.
Especially not when Taka asks hesitantly if they could get their portrait done by Yamada, Mondo agreeing easily enough. Not like he'd ever deny Taka anything, especially after earlier. And while it takes a little while, the pair forced to sit mostly still for fifteen fucking minutes as the Ultimate Fan Artist (which is a stupid fucking Talent, shit) paints their portrait, he... he can't help the way his stomach lurches when he sees the finished product, the overweight teen actually a super fucking amazing artist, hot damn... not only did he capture their likenesses perfectly in a semi realistic, semi anime style, he even managed to fully capture their expressions. And while it makes him oddly nervous to see the soft as fuck expression that's always on his face when he looks at Taka reflected on the canvas, he... he also kind of fucking likes it, too. He's totally fucking putting this shit on his wall, prolly next to his Crazy Diamonds banner, shit.
The best part of all is that the teen had even been able to draw them like they normally are, not in their costumes, which Mondo feels so fucking grateful for, shit... being able to see them as /them/ and not the stupid as shit costumes is so fucking perfect... and it's more than worth the hefty fee (normally ¥5500, but the dude knocks off ¥500 since Taka organized the festival or something) Mondo forks over. Taka tries to argue against the discount, saying he was just doing his job, but Mondo quickly talks over him, not wanting to have to pay extra, shit. Putting his arm around Taka again, he walks them away, grinning down brightly at the kid when he tries to glare up at him, heh.
Mondo goes on a couple rides by himself, then, trying to convince Taka to join him, but the kid apparently is super fucking afraid of rollercoasters or something. The rides at the festival aren't at all scary, more just rinky dink, but Taka refuses to budge. He insists that Mondo go, though, not wanting him to miss out just to stay with him, which Mondo (very reluctantly) agrees with. They wait on line together, which helps pass the time, but Taka bows out once they reach the front. Heh.
Once Mondo finishes riding the rides that he finds interesting, they wander over to the costume contest, which is at that goddamn 'theater' that Maizono's concert was at earlier. While he hates the place on principle, he gives in easily enough when Taka turns his big, pleading eyes on him. There's not much he thinks he'd ever deny those eyes, to tell the honest truth...
It turns out going was worth it, though, as Taka actually wins a prize, the judges (which include both Naegi and Kirigiri Jr., apparently, as well as a couple of upperclassmen, including Soda. Who, honestly, is one of the only upperclassmen that he can fucking stand, the dude super fucking knowledgeable about hogs and shit, even if he's even more disgusting than Leon about chicks, especially that princess one. But, shit, he's digressing again) voting him as 'Most Unusual' despite the kid not even entering, ha. The kid seems super fucking confused, but graciously accepts the ribbon anyway while Mondo snickers. He also gets a coupon for a free dinner at a local restaurant, which he gives to Mondo without a second thought, absently saying it's a repayment for paying for his lunch earlier. The words make him feel a bit unhappy, but he quickly moves passed it as he congratulates the kid with a grin and a boisterous 'hell yeah!'
The festival ends not long after that, most students heading out to various parties to celebrate the holiday. While Halloween is more of a western thing, it's pretty fucking fun to go out and party while dressed up, he's gotta admit. Not that he's gonna do that tonight, of course. Not when Taka wants to stay around and help clean up the school grounds, overseeing the removal of all the tents and booths and shit like that.
Mondo doesn't have to stay, he knows he doesn't, but... shit. He doesn't wanna leave Taka's side, not after the shit from earlier. He would never admit it out loud, but he... he feels a bit shaken from the fact he almost lost the best fucking thing to ever happen to him, all because of his fucking stupidity. He's always hated his anger and his tendency to get blindingly angry, though he's done his best to use it to his advantage in life, but now... now he fucking /despises/ that aspect of himself, despising how it keeps ruining shit for him. It's the biggest similarity he has to his old man (outside of the purple fucking eyes that he hates), and fuck does he wish it would just go away.
It won't, though. And he's not a big enough idiot to ever think it will. It's easier to handle when around Taka, but even then... well. Today proves that he can't fucking grow complacent. He doesn't know how he can prevent shit like this from happening again, but maybe... shit. He doesn't know. But... he's gotta fucking try. It's all he can do...
It takes about an hour before the headmaster forces them to leave the remaining cleaning to the professionals (though Mondo actually got a fucking /smile/ from the dude for helping out, shit. After Taka vouched for him and got the hundreds of detentions reduced to a month's worth, done mostly at lunch time every other day, the headmaster has been a lot less short with him. Perhaps it helps that he ain't seeing the dude every fucking day anymore... heh). Taka doesn't argue against the headmaster, though Mondo can tell he wants to, and soon they are heading back inside, Taka following him to his room dutifully. Like the kid doesn't even have to think about it, he just... does it. Mondo tries not to let that fact make his insides self-destruct, to minimal success.
Mondo leads them to his room, for lack of a better idea, and he contents himself to doing fucking /homework/ for an hour, Taka seeming super fucking relaxed as they work on the problems together. And it's honestly not bad, not bad at all, not when he has Taka beside him to help make all the confusing shit make sense.
When dinner comes, they head to grab a bite to eat, Taka finishing his bento box to 'prevent food waste', as he calls it. Then they head back, Taka finally taking a shower to get out of his costume, and he returns fifteen minutes later looking like /himself/ again, to Mondo's private relief. Mondo takes his shower next, part of him not wanting to so he can spend more time with the kid, but he figures it would be better to be, ya know... clean and shit.
And then... then Mondo puts on another film, sitting on the couch with Taka beside him, fucking /snuggling/ close, the kid's head on his chest as they watch some more Disney films. Mondo had considered putting on one of Daiya's classic horror films, to honor the holiday and all, but he has a feeling Taka wouldn't like shit like that. While he tries his best to hide it, Mondo can tell the kid hates scary shit, heh. Though... it would be nice. Having the kid pressing even tighter to him, hiding his face in his chest, Mondo vowing softly to keep him safe from any and all harm... s-shit...
But this is nice, too. Watching /Lady and the Tramp/ while snuggled up close to his kyoudai, whispering details about his life to the kid, telling him about the good memories that he treasures so fucking much. Like how he and Daiya fucking /loved/ this movie as kids, how it was a favorite of both of theirs, though neither would ever admit it to anyone else. It... it's so nice...
And it reminds him oh so bitterly that he almost fucking lost this. That because of his fucking temper, he could have lost this completely and never known this bliss. He... fuck. He knows that he gets so, so much more out of this friendship than Taka does, that Taka gives him so much more than he has ever earned, and he honestly doesn't know /why/. Yeah, sure, he was the kid's first real friend, but... but he has more, now. Hina and Sakura, of course, but also now Maizono, apparently. And Naegi and Fujisaki. He... he doesn't really /need/ Mondo. Yeah, he's insecure and needs someone to build him up, but there's no reason why the kid needs it to be /him/ who does it, he knows that, and he...
He doesn't fucking deserve it. The kid's loyalty. His friendship. He only ever breaks shit; he doesn't know how to maintain it. How to build it up and keep it safe from all harm. He... he wants to, wants to keep his friendship and /brotherhood/ with Taka alive, but he... he just doesn't know. He just...
He doesn't even know why Taka forgave him earlier... why he went back on his anger, why he gave Mondo another fucking chance... he just doesn't get it. Part of him wonders if the kid truly means it, if he actually forgives him or if he's just... going along with shit just because he's too much of a martyr to tell him what he really feels. H-he hopes not, hopes the kid actually has forgiven him, but now that he's thinking it, he can't stop. It would be like Taka to do that, after all…
After a couple minutes, his stomach churning with fear and inadequacy and... and shit like that, he realizes he can't fucking take it. He just... fuck.
"Hey, Taka?" he calls softly to the kid, his heart racing fast, oddly terrified for stupid ass reasons. He can see the kid turn to look up at him, his face looking so /ethereal/ with the pale moonlight that streams in from the window, as well as the faint glow from the screen. He looks calm, serene almost, but his eyes hold a question within them, his breath stuttering as their eyes meet. His kyoudai looks away after a moment, though Mondo can tell his focus is still entirely on him...
"Yes, kyoudai?" the kid mutters back, shivering as Mondo absently trails his fingers up and down his side. He... he can't describe the /elation/ he feels at hearing the kid call him that still, even though he's been using the epithet all night. It just... it's nice. Knowing the kid still views him like that, even after what he did. He... he can't help how he leans in closer to the kid, nuzzling against his face softly with his nose, knowing it's fucking weird but just... not wanting to stop. It's just... so fucking nice...
After a few minutes of this— Mondo silently reveling in Taka's warmth— he finally gathers the strength to continue, fearing the answer he may get.
"I know, uh... I know ya said this earlier but... are we really good? I mean, it's just that, I know I was a fuckin' asshole ta ya, and I don't blame ya if ya... if yer still mad at me, and I will respect yer wishes, whatever they may be, and-"
"Kyoudai," Taka interrupts, a small frown blooming on his lips as he looks back to Mondo, his eyebrows furrowed and a look of gentle concern in his eyes. It... it is so... and then, when Taka smiles at him, small but very much there...
"I told you already. We are good. I... I forgive you, Mondo. Kyoudai. What you did... it hurt, but you apologized and that is what matters. And if such a thing happens again, well... we will deal with it, together, should it occur." He pauses. And then smiles... "But kyoudai... I will not leave you. Not unless you truly, truly want me gone. You are my best friend, my /kyoudai/, and that is what matters most. And you... for what it is worth, kyoudai... you matter to me, too. Very much. I would hate to lose you, not without trying everything I can to fix it. So... so don't worry, okay? I am here. We are here... together."
It... he... f-fuck. Fuck, it's like the kid fucking read his mind, like he fucking /knew/ what he was thinking and said the exact right thing to- to make him feel better, he... s-shit, he doesn't deserve this kid, he doesn't deserve him at all, he... he...
He doesn't let it ruin shit again, though. Rather, he just lets out a small, shaky laugh, turning to look at the wall to try and gain his composure, knowing he needs to cool off. He doesn't know how much he can believe Taka's words, knowing that even if the kid truly believes them now, he won't always, but... but for now, he'll accept them and just... try and move on while doing all he fucking can to make it up to the kid, who is far too forgiving for his own good.
His heart is feeling so fucking light in his chest, though, relief mixing with the silent joy of having such an incredible person in his life, and he can't stop the words he says, even if he wanted to. Which he doesn't. God, he doesn't...
"You... you're incredible, kyoudai. I'm glad ta have ya," Mondo informs the kid softly. And then... before he can stop himself, he... he...
He leans in, heart pounding, mouth dry as a desert as he... he...
Kisses Taka's cheek...
If he's being honest, he'd say that it's not the first time he's wanted to do it, god. He's had the mad desire to press his lips to the boy's cheek (or forehead, or nose, or _lips_) for ages now. He thinks maybe even before they became kyoudai, which really is saying something. He's never given in before, so afraid of what it means, but he... he just... fuck. He just doesn't care, anymore. Not now, at least. Not after… shit.
And as he feels the warm, smooth flesh under his lips, electricity flowing through his veins as his body flips into fucking overdrive, he... he realizes he wants to do this again. And again. And... and... and again...
He jolts back to reality when he hears Taka gasp softly, the sound breathy and shaky, reminding him that he's lingered too long. Pulling back with warm cheeks and an embarrassed mind, he turns his face hastily to watch the movie, feeling Taka slowly relax in his arms again as he does the same, the charged moment fading as they listen to the dogs sing about love.
(As he watches the two dogs share a chaste kiss, somehow looking bashful even despite their canine features, he is reminded of his own kiss. A gentle kiss gifted sweetly to his kyoudai, his entire universe, his mind assaulting him with the question of what would have happened had he aimed that kiss just a bit to the left...)
(But Taka wouldn't have wanted that. So, he pushes it from his mind.)
(Still...)
The movie eventually ends, and he and Taka stand together, stretching as they go. Mondo lets out a groan and some muttered curses at the pop his back gives, but he doesn't mind it too much. Not when he glances at the kid and sees him smiling fondly at him.
When the silence descends around them, Mondo is reminded that it's gotten late, the time for Taka to leave approaching, and he... shit, he doesn't want that. He doesn't want that at all. The only time he's been able to get a decent night's sleep at all is when that perfect as fuck boy is in his arms, sleeping silently beside him, trusting him so utterly and completely and... and...
"Y-you, uh... ya wanna, uh... sleepover, kyoudai?" Mondo asks softly, hesitantly, before he can really stop himself. His eyes dart between Taka and the bed nervously, suddenly afraid that the kid won't want it. That he doesn't feel comfortable doing such a thing with him anymore, not after what he did, not after all Mondo has done that day, not after-
"Of course, kyoudai. After all, we need plenty of sleep tonight! We have a busy day tomorrow!"
Uh... okay, that wasn't what he had expected. What... shit. What is the kid planning on doing tomorrow...?
"Er... maybe I'm just an idiot, but what have ya got planned fer tomorrow?"
He sees Taka smile brightly as Mondo settles into the bed, the kid walking over to the lamp to turn it off, like he always does.
"What, you do not remember?! Kyoudai, I am hurt! We are going to be going out for a ride on your... /hog/, remember?"
Wait... what?! Holy shit... holy shit, he'd completely forgotten about that! Well, not really, but he just... he had assumed the kid wouldn't wanna do it anymore, since he had only agreed so he could 'repay' Mondo for whatever bullshit he thought needed repaying, but after today, he'd thought... he had assumed...
But... shit. Shit, if the kid is willing... then maybe that's how he can make it up to the kid. He'd had some ideas that morning about making it the best fucking trip ever, but now... now he knows he /must/ do it. And he knows exactly how to do it, too... s-shit...
"S-shit, really?! I figured... figured ya wouldn't wanna, anymore... but hell yeah, bro! If ya wanna... if yer okay with it... then hell /fuckin'/ yeah!"
Taka climbs into bed then, a gentle and happy smile on his lips as he slots against him so naturally it's like he was born to fit there. Like his body was designed by the gods themselves to fit Mondo's arms exactly. It's stupid to think, but... shit. Just... shit.
As he watches Taka slowly fall asleep atop him, looking relaxed and at ease and /content/, his fingers trailing lazily through silky hair, heart full to bursting, he...
He doesn't think he's felt more at peace in his life.
God, he wishes they could do shit like this every night...
Hey guys! I managed to not be super late this time, only a little late! :-D
Anyway! This chapter is one I think a lot of y'all have been waiting for! The Fall Festival! I like this one, so I hope y'all do too! Also! I don't remember if I said this before, but I finally started watching the Game Grumps' Danganronpa 2 playthrough, so I finally know who they all are, ha. Obviously I can't really add them to this story or TPWP, since it would be way too much hassle, but now I can make at least some references to them in places where it makes sense. Also, I ADORE Gundham, he is the best. I love his hamsters— I'm sorry, /Dark Devas of Destruction/— so, so much. I'm at the fourth trial in that game, during their investigation, and I know what happens, so I'm very sad. :-( Ah well. That's what fanfiction is for. I don't think I'll be able to write a fic with the characters from the second game, but who knows. Maybe someday.
Thanks for all the comments! I really do love reading them, and I've been doing my best to respond. I apologize if my responses are ever a bit weird, I tend to respond to comments late at night, after I've taken my sleeping meds and am tired.
Enjoy!
Ahhhh, so they had their fight and made up. So sweet. 3
I hope Mondo's moment of panic during his and Taka's fight made sense. Basically, when Mondo saw Taka start heading towards him after he said he didn't know if he'd forgive him, he automatically assumed that Taka was going to hurt him, even though logically he knew Taka never would. It just… was a PTSD response, pretty much, with Mondo equating what was currently happening to what he went through as a child. When he's bad, he gets punished. The main thing to note is that Mondo would have let Taka hurt him without fighting back. This is not meant to be seen as a good thing by any means, but it does show just how much Mondo is willing to give away to Taka. The start of their kind of dysfunctional codependency. I know the scene may have been a bit confusing, but this is what I was going for.
Anyway, I'm excited for the next chapter! It introduces an OC character I created, who I actually really like. If you've read my little spoiler posts on Tumblr several months ago, you'll have some idea as to who this person is. If not, you'll meet them next week, and I hope you like them! :-D
