Ffffinally! Some dialogue between the two!
7
Shusei blinks, trying to adjust to his new surroundings. He looks around the unfamiliar room and realizes not only is he not in his tent, but he's nowhere near the cirque. He looks back at the blond, looking for answers.
Hotsuma gulps. Well this is all MY fault…
"Uh…Hey." Was the best he could come up with.
"…Hey."
"…"
"…"
"Um…" Hotsuma knew this was going to be awkward, but he figured it would still be easier than this, "How you feelin'?"
"Who are you?" Shusei completely ignores his question. He felt this question was more relevant.
"Hotsuma."
"And?"
"…Renjou?"
"Why am I here? Where am I?" Shusei urges him for answers. Like talking to wall!
"Uh… well, you see, "He was fumbling for words, trying to make this sound reasonable, "I, uh, was at the show last night and…uh… well…"
"Wait!" Shusei interrupted him, "Was it you? Who came to my tent last night?"
"Yeah." Hotsuma answered simply. It was easier to let Shusei ask the questions.
"What did you want?" Shusei is curious, "You certainly don't look like the type who'd want a fortune."
"It's not like that."
"Well, what is it then?"
"I…" How does he answer when he doesn't even know?
Shusei nods his head, wanting him to continue.
"I'm not sure."
Frustrated, Shusei lifts himself up until he's sitting on the bed. He looks around again and notices a clock on the nightstand. His eyes widen when he realizes the time, "Oh no!"
Hotsuma watches the brunet jump off the bed. Upon touching the ground, Shusei's weak body can't hold him and he falls. He expects to hit the floor hard but is caught just inches before hitting his head.
"Hey! You shouldn't be moving!"
"Don't touch me! I don't even know you!" Shusei tries to struggle against Hotsuma's hold.
"Stop struggling! I saved you!" Fortunately for Hotsuma, he is stronger. He can feel Shusei's thin frame through his clothes. On top of being sick and living with a traveling troupe, he feels starved.
"Saved me?" Shusei eases up to hear what Hotsuma has to say, "What do you mean?"
Hotsuma gently places Shusei back on the bed and explains what happened earlier; about how he kept him away from the man, whom he now knows as Tanaka thanks to Shusei, and about bringing him to his house.
Shusei's buries his face in his hands. It is a lot to take in, especially in his current condition. He appreciates what Hotsuma did for him, but the blond didn't know the consequences of his actions.
"You shouldn't have done this." Shusei said flatly.
"But-"
"You don't know what you did."
"…But I…"
"You don't think things through a lot, do you?" Even Shusei couldn't hide a smirk.
"I didn't know what else to do! That Tanaka bastard sounded like he was gonna kill you!" Hotsuma tries defending his actions.
"He's always like that…" Shusei unconsciously rubs the bruise on his chin.
The action doesn't go unnoticed by the blond, "He did that?" He nods his head toward the bruise.
Shusei looks at him and quickly turns away.
"He did, huh." The way Shusei avoided him answered the question, "That asshole…"
"It's alright." Shusei laughs, hoping to cut the tension, "I'm used to it."
"That's even worse!" The whole idea angers Hotsuma, "Why the hell do you stay there?"
"Who are you to tell me what I can and can not do?" Shusei didn't raise his voice but his tone was firm. Hotsuma knows arguing won't be effective. Shusei seems set in his ways.
"Hell, I dunno." Hotsuma settles back down, "I just…don't get it."
They both sat in silence before Hotsuma spoke again, "Who are you?" There was genuine curiosity in his voice.
Shusei was taken aback by the simple question, "Why? What does it matter?"
Hotsuma is sick of hearing himself say 'I don't know' and responds by shrugging his shoulders.
"I'm just…" Shusei doesn't want to say much and sticks with the obvious answer, "A member of a traveling show. A ringmaster. That's all. Nothing special."
You liar. There's more than that.
Hotsuma didn't want to push Shusei, not like this, "You can, uh…you know, rest here for now."
Shusei knows he shouldn't. He should leave, head back to the cirque, more than likely receive punishment, and get on with his life. But something told him to stay. After all, Hotsuma did go through all the trouble.
"You don't mind? Or your parents?" He asked.
"No! No, it's fine." Hotsuma gestured for him to lie down, "Need anything?"
"No, I'm alright." Shusei had no right to ask for anything else.
"I'll get you something to eat anyway. You're as thin as a girl…" He mumbles the last part and leaves his room.
Shusei furrows his brows at the comment he wasn't suppose to hear. He's not really hungry but doesn't say so. He has a feeling if he doesn't take the food, Hotsuma would shove it down his throat.
He settles back into the pillow and takes in deep breaths enjoying the moment.
It seems like hours until Hotsuma comes back with a bowl of soup, "I'll just set it here." He places it on the nightstand next to the bed.
"Thanks."
"Yeah."
Shusei takes the bowl. It smells good and he takes a small spoonful. It wasn't bad. He looks at Hotsuma, "It's good."
Hotsuma acknowledges Shusei but stays silent. He watches Shusei take a few more spoonfuls of soup. Shusei catches Hotsuma looking at him a few times.
The awkward silence came back. Hotsuma blushes a bit and turns away to avoid being seen by the boy, "Ya mind?" He says as he points to his video game collection.
"'Course not. It's your house after all." Shusei set the half empty soup bowl on the nightstand and lays back down on the soft pillow, already sounded sleepy.
With Shusei's approval he turns on a video game but puts the volume on low. He gets through the title screens of the game, but he is barely paying attention. He wants to turn around, to check on the boy, but any sort of contact with him makes him anxious. He tries to lose himself in his game, but it's futile. After a few minutes of playing, the sound of deep, rhythmic breathing catches his attention. He looks over and sees Shusei fast asleep.
Maybe it's all he needs. A few days of rest.
He hopes so anyway. He doesn't know what else to do.
He notices the time on the nightstand. He has to go to school in a few hours. Hotsuma isn't concerned though. By this time, he already decided he's skipping class tomorrow.
Whether he's going or not, he still needs to sleep. Hotsuma grabs a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and changes in the bathroom. He'd rather give Shusei a little privacy and heads downstairs to the living room. There are a few guest rooms in his house but he wanted to be somewhere he could hear if the brunet tries to escape later on.
He lies down on the couch and pulls a blanket over himself and falls asleep shortly after, with images of Shusei going through his mind.
….
Shusei's sleep went uninterrupted the rest of the night, despite what had happened. It was the first time in so long Shusei has slept in a real bed. He forgot how comfortable they were. He tries to get up but whether it is his illness, he's tired, or just lazy, he settles back into the bed.
What happened?
Last he remembers he was in his tent, preparing for a show and next he wakes up in a stranger's home.
What does he want?
He did say it was him that came to his tent the other night. What did he want so badly that he went through all that trouble?
I have nothing to give.
Shusei passes it off as the cirque atmosphere rubbing off on the blond. And what happened last night, was out of concern for his health. Hotsuma doesn't actually care. He was just trying to help, even though he doesn't seem like the type who'd go out of his way for a stranger…
Hotsuma doesn't care! He was just being impulsive.
Shusei decides it's a good time to get up and clear up this whole misunderstanding between him and his host. He notices his shoes and jacket by the bed and looks down to see he's still wearing most of his costume. He takes off the tie and vest and is left in his white shirt and black and gray striped pants. He looks almost normal now.
He gets out of bed and now that he's awake, takes a good look around the room. He isn't surprised by the amount of video games Hotsuma has, he seems like a gamer. The unused desk and books still in his backpack tells Shusei he isn't serious about schoolwork. The light brown walls don't suit him at all.
Instead of snooping around his room, he decides to go downstairs. He opens the door to leave and looks out. Hotsuma's room is at the end of the hall, so Shusei walks out and follows it to the staircase. He wonders if Hotsuma's gone and if he's all alone in the home.
He reaches the bottom of the stairs and looks around some more. It's a huge open space, well kept and elegantly designed. There are rooms to his right and left, a dining room and a study. Behind the staircase was another room. On the couch in that room is the blond, still sleeping.
Shusei walks over silently until he is standing right in front of Hotsuma. Hotsuma appears to be a heavy sleeper and Shusei takes this as an opportunity to really examine the boy. His hair is messy, although that could be from the way he sleeps. He notices he has multiple ear piercings. He doesn't look like the kind of person who smiles a lot…
Shusei feels unable to stand much longer and sees a clear spot on the same couch Hotsuma is on and slowly sits down. The dip in the couch doesn't wake Hotsuma allowing Shusei to relax even more.
"I shouldn't be here…" Shusei whispers.
The blond mumbles, still asleep.
Shusei smiles, "What? You want me to stay?"
Shusei can't make out what Hotsuma says as he is grumbles into the pillow.
"But I don't belong here."
Hotsuma kicks Shusei in the thigh lightly.
"Are you really asleep?" Shusei laughs and immediately covers his mouth to hush the noise, "You're something else. But thank you."
Shusei isn't aware of his conversation with the sleeping Hotsuma, but he can't control it, "I've never had someone care for me so. It's…weird. But, I don't think you're aware of your actions. You seem impulsive." Shusei laughs at himself, "I'm not making any sense, am I? Just…think next time you do something stupid."
He decides to leave Hotsuma with those words, or so he thought. As soon as he stood up, a hand caught his wrist.
"Where ya think your goin'" Hotsuma spoke into the pillow. Shusei barely heard him, "You better?"
"I'll be fine."
"Don't mean you're better."
"You can't keep me here. You realize you're a kidnapper, right?" Shusei said.
"An' you're an idiot for walking around doing all this shit while you're half dead." Hotsuma shot back.
Shusei held his hand to his forehead in frustration, "You're impossible."
"I just want to make sure you're okay-"
"But why?!" Shusei screamed. He was tired of playing these games, "I'm grateful for what you've done for me so far, but what are you talking about? You came to my tent the other night, but what did you want? I can't give you anything! I don't even know you! I feel like I'm some stray dog you've taken in!"
"That's not it!"
"Then what is it? Tell me!" Shusei demanded, "Otherwise, you have no right to keep me here. I have no reason to stay."
Hotsuma sighs. Shusei's right.
Shusei doesn't think he will get an answer, so he turns to leave.
"Sit down." Hotsuma ordered, although he doesn't think Shusei will, "Just give me one more chance."
Shusei looks Hotsuma in the eye and after a moment of thinking he agrees, "Alright. One more chance."
Hotsuma blushes, "It might all sound strange so-"
"It's already strange." Shusei teased.
"You bastard…" Hotsuma growls, "Well, at first it was just…you"
Shusei raised an eyebrow.
Hotsuma notices, "You don't make this any less awkward ya know?"
"What did you expect my reaction to be?"
"Well, yeah…but anyway," Hotsuma waves his hands and gets back on subject, "but then there was this dream or something…"
This caught Shusei's attention, but he made sure to hide his interest.
So…you dream to?
Shusei knew it wasn't just an ordinary dream the blond had.
"You were in it…" Hotsuma said weakly.
"…"
"Can I ask you something?" Hotsuma asks.
"Sure."
"Do you…have any scars?"
Shusei shows him his hands, tiny little marks cover his hands from all the work he's done over the years and he even shows him one on the back of his neck just underneath his hairline.
While all these scars made Hotsuma want to ask questions about how they occurred, Hotsuma had to keep himself on track, "Burn scars?"
"Huh?"
"Do you have any burn scars?" Hotsuma clarified.
"…No."
"Oh…" Hotsuma feels dumb for asking now, but he just had to make sure.
Maybe the dream was a coincidence then.
In his heart he knows he's mistaken. That dream was real, but he doesn't bother to argue with himself now.
"Is that all?" Shusei interrupts Hotsuma's thoughts.
"Well for now…"
"What do you mean 'For Now'?" Shusei asks.
"What do you mean?" Hotsuma questions back childishly.
"I won't be here much longer. The Cirque is moving tonight. I have to leave soon."
"What?" Hotsuma jumped up off the couch, "But-"
"But what?" Shusei asked, knowing he shouldn't have to ask permission to leave, "I appreciate what you did for me, really. But I must leave. I don't belong here."
"Shusei…"
"Thanks." Shusei says honestly, "It was nice to spend the night here."
"You're leaving now?"
"Might as well. It's getting late." He answers casually.
"It's only noon." Not late by Hotsuma's standard.
"I'm sure the rest are packing up and preparing to leave. I should be there helping. I'm sure Tanaka is upset about my absence." Shusei begins walking back upstairs, "Just gonna grab my stuff."
Shusei disappeared up the stairs, leaving Hotsuma alone on the couch. He didn't want to leave Shusei just yet. He knows he isn't in perfect health now. He gets up and walks towards the door. There's a coat rack at the entrance and he slips on a coat over what he's wearing. Hotsuma also puts on his shoes and sits at the bottom of the steps waiting for Shusei. He hears Shusei's footsteps from behind him, but he doesn't turn around.
"What are you doing?" Shusei asks.
"I'll walk back with you."
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! I always love hearing from you!
