Hi guys! I'm so sorry this took so long orz
This said, enjoy!
During his flights, Suoh Mikoto has developped the habit of thinking about the past, because what else can you do when alone in the sky? It is this tranquility and relative idleness that makes him like this job so much, along with the impression of freedom that flying gives.
But alas, such times do not always bring back good memories; painful ones too.
It's been almost a year now since the day Totsuka died in that accident. It was painfully ironic, really, because at that time, the war had just ended, and the Air Forces had been assigned to the transporting of strategic goods, a much less dangerous deed than that of a bomber's or a scout's.
He was flying a prototype plane, and that was when things went wrong. As the investigation went by, it was found out that the plane had been sabotaged.
The researcher who had elaborated the new engine, a certain Isana, then accused the slackness of the surveillance of the facilities.
It was true that the security level had been reduced after things settled down when peace was established. Still, it was unlikely for any unauthorized person to having been able to access the hangars; Suoh always calls Munakata a stuck-in-the-mud but his stubbornness to stick to drastic rules when it comes to the equipment ensured as much.
This naturally drew the suspicions on the researcher himself, since no one could have touched the plane after him. Besides, the guy had a motive: Munakata had rejected some of his engines, deeming the weapons too brutal. Munakata wasn't one to tolerate a victory gained without honor, a value that all the men under him shared (and it was probably the only thing he and Munakata agreed with, then) Isana, took the rejection as a personal offense and had begrudged Munakata since then. The blow of a pilot's death was a perfect occasion to ruin Munakata's reputation.
When proof confirming the scientist's guilt was established and an arrest warrant was issued against him, Isana took to his heels but several men were sent in his pursuit.
However, even with the warrant and the number of men sent after him, there still reigned an atmosphere of unease among the pilots -and even the Blues, actually. Isana's actions were tantamount to high treason, and should therefore have been punished with death. But the man was an excellent researcher, an irreplaceable one, even, so there was little doubt that the higher-ups, to keep him, would make for a much lighter sentence, and the unit found that unacceptable.
Suoh, more than anyone else couldn't accept the situation. He felt that part of Totsuka's death was his fault because the guy had joined the forces to follow Suoh after he'd heard about his exploits. But Totsuka wasn't made for this life; he was too soft, too naïve to enter the armed forces. Suoh and Kusanagi had always known that, and they'd warned him when he talked about swelling their ranks, but to no avail. He'd insisted that it would be fine, that he wanted to serve his country just like Suoh.
He learned later that Totsuka wasn't the only one who'd joined after hearing of his prowess; Yata and Fushimi too, and if he had known earlier, he'd have told them that if it was glory they sought, it wasn't worth throwing their lives away in a meaningless cause such as war.
But it was exactly what Totsuka did in the end, and it was Suoh's fault for not being able to convince him, so he felt it was his duty to personally make sure that the bastard who killed him would pay with his life.
During his quest for vengeance, fate had served him well -as if it approved of his actions- so he managed to find Isana first. The ensuing fight hadn't lasted long and he was still gazing at the murderer's corpse when the men charged of Isana's arrest found him, subsequently making them switch their target to Suoh for taking the law into his own hands.
Suoh had known that it would have come to that when he'd decided to chase after the guy, he'd known that it was martial court he risked but he had to do it, and was prepared for the worst.
What he didn't expect when he returned to the base was to have Munakata cover for him.
"I ordered him to go after the culprit and bring him back, dead or alive," he'd said. "So I'll take full responsibility for this."
Suoh was astonished when he heard that. Out of all people, Munakata was the last person he thought he'd find in his camp; they were far from being friends. Munakata despised Suoh for his sluggishness and his repeated irresponsible actions during his missions (even if these were the very reasons for his remarkable success); Suoh on the other hand found Munakata's attachment to decorum and his too rigid leadership annoying to no end and neither ever bothered to hide this animosity to the other.
Suoh therefore wanted to say something when Munakata took his defense, but Munakata shoot him a glare that was clearly meant to compel him to silence until the other agents had left the room after freeing him first.
When they were alone, Suoh finally asked for an explanation, "You do realize you're risking big for that little heroic action of yours?"
It wasn't Suoh's intention then to show ingratitude to Munakata, he just really couldn't see why Munakata had done such a thing for him. While it was Munakata's right to initiate this chase as both the culprit and the victim were under his supervision, the superiors wouldn't easily forgive the death of their precious scientist, so Munakata was clearly compromising his chances of ascension there.
"I fail to see where the heroism in that action lays," Munakata merely replied. "And just so you know, I didn't do it for you."
The thought never crossed Suoh's mind, actually. There was no sort of sympathy between them, then, and Munakata was too impartial, anyway to do that for the sake of any individual. Suoh didn't reply anything, but still gave Munakata a questioning look that the latter met with an unreadable one.
After a while of scrutinizing each other, Munakata finally spoke, "It may be hard to believe but I think you did the right thing there. If Isana Yashiro had been caught by those men instead of you, he would have never received the fair retribution to his crimes. The law states that the punishment for such treason is death, but you and I know that the higher-ups would have gotten around the law to preserve their asset. So what you did was the only way to do justice to Totsuka Tatara."
Munakata paused at that, but Suoh still didn't say anything so he continued, "And you said I'm putting my career at risk by covering for your action, but what kind of leader would I be if I let my men pay for something I approve of, anyway? You did the exact same thing when you went and executed that man, so I believe you can understand that."
With that, Munakata walked past Suoh and left him appalled by Munakata's revelation. It was then that he realized that, however differently they acted, they still felt the same sort of responsibility toward the men who followed them...
Suoh is at this point of his reminiscences when he hears the radio tell him that he is allowed to land and indeed, he can now see the landing strip. There's a warm feeling building in his chest then, at the thought of coming home after days of absence as he executes the all too familiar manipulations to bring his plane to the ground.
Among the people who were waiting for his arrival, he can see Munakata and surprisingly, the guy looks almost happy to see him.
"You're late," he says by way of greeting.
...Yes, almost happy. Suoh was a fool for hoping to hear him say something like "Welcome back," or any friendly salutation, really. Munakata is Munakata, his annoying stuck-in-the-mud supervisor, and there is nothing to be done about that. Suoh sighs and answers, "If you've checked your information properly, you should know that I had to delay my departure."
"It doesn't change the fact that you're late. And rules say that pilots must respect the flight schedules."
There we go again, Suoh thinks, mentally preparing himself for the inevitable argument. "Fuck the rules," he retorts, "you should be happy I arrived during the night, I could have not arrived at all, the sky still looked pretty bad when I took off."
"You can 'fuck' the rules if you want," Munakata says (and Suoh can't help the amused grin on his face as he sees that Munakata almost spat the offending word like it physically hurt him), "but you still have your late penalties and a report to write about it."
"So what should have I done, then?" Suoh asks, curious to hear what clever answer Munakata will find.
"You should have arrived on time," he deadpans.
"It was impossible."
"I know," Munakata admits with a bitter smile. "But you should have tried."
Suoh finally realizes that it's only another of Munakata's torments that he's pouring on Suoh. A torment about rules that he knows are at times unfair but are necessary for the unit to run smoothly. This conversation is getting nowhere, Suoh concludes internally, and it is equally annoying for the two of them so he lets out a second sigh and puts a hand on Munakata's shoulder, taking his leave, "If you'll excuse me, I have a report to write, then."
"Make sure you're not late again tomorrow, because then you'll have no excuse," Munakata says with a paradoxally grateful look.
Suoh breathes a hollow laugh and with a hand waving Munakata good night, "I won't give you the pleasure of making me write two reports."
When he enters Bar HOMRA, he sees Awashima at the counter, sipping a suspicious looking purple drink with Kusanagi looking at her with a funny disgusted smile.
Some people sure are carefree, Suoh thinks when he sees the pair. Kusanagi has quit the job of pilot to come back to his previous occupation before the war started to be able to take care of a young girl left to their care, Anna, and he certainly looks happier now. Awashima too, actually; she no longer has that worried expression she'd always wear when Kusanagi was on a mission back then.
Neither of them seems to have noticed Suoh's entrance so Suoh coughs to attract their attention. Awashima looks back and when she sees him, greets him with a nod, and Kusanagi with a cheerful grin, "Ah, Mikoto, welcome back! How was your flight?"
"Fine. But Munakata gave me a report to write for one damn hour of delay," Suoh says in an annoyed tone.
The barman just laughs at this, "The boss ain't going easy on you, eh? Well then, we won't keep you any longer."
Suoh takes his leave and heads to his room to write the goddman report, but not intending to spend more time than necessary on it (less than necessary is what he actually gives it, but Munakata can't be waiting for more from him anyway, he thinks)
When he's done, he thinks about getting a drink at the bar but doesn't feel like playing Kusanagi and Awashima's chaperon.
He settles for going to another bar instead and when he sees Munakata inside, he is less surprised to find him here (since Suoh knows he comes here often) than to feel that warm feeling in his chest again at the sight of Munakata.
Since Totsuka's incident, traces of animosity between him and Munakata had slowly faded. They'd become able to hold relatively civil conversations on their impromptu but ironically frequent meetings on public places, unlike before when they'd ignore each other(but never leaving the place, they were too proud -or stubborn- to do that pleasure to the other). As they came to understand each other's situation better, they learned that they didn't need to put on facades around each other outside of work, so they started to seek the other's company. After a particularly drunken night, it even turned into a physical relationship that quickly became nearly as regular as their meetings, as they mutually decided that such a relationship was practical for them. Suoh knows Munakata is an extravagant sadist with a tendency for blabbering, Munakata on the other hand knows Suoh is a barbarian with no regards for appearances, so they have no delusions about each other, and do not have to hide anything either. A perfect situation for casual sex buddies.
When Suoh sees Munakata at that bar, he thinks it's his chance. He hasn't had any since he started his current mission, and its next part should last another week, so this occasion is god-sent, truly. He makes his way to sit next to Munakata who still hasn't seen him come in.
"Same as this guy's," Suoh orders to the barman, pointing at Munakata with a movement of his head.
At hearing Suoh's voice, Munakata lets a slight twitch of brows escape his usually imperturbable composure. With a long-suffering sigh and a side glance, "And here I was having a very nice evening... Why did you have to come here and ruin it?"
"I have the right to come here if I want. I believe you don't own this bar, Munakata."
"No, I don't. But I recall you do live in a bar, so I fail to see why you would come here to have a drink, unless to purposely bother me."
"Don't get too full of yourself. The heartless woman is there with Kusanagi. Just didn't feel like playing the third-heel."
Munakata just gives him a "Oh" as a reply, and his experience serving, Suoh knows that when Munakata doesn't demonstrate his usual volubility, it means that he's quite drunk already. He smirks, because this will make his seduction scheme much easier. "Munakata," he calls.
"Hum?" the other replies abstenly, staring at his half-emptied glass.
"If you really don't like me here, there's a way to make me leave in an instant."
Still not looking at Suoh, "And what would that be?"
Suoh leans in to whisper at Munakata's ear, "Well, it all depends on you. You could invite me to your place and we'd continue this um... discussion there."
Munakata finally turns to look at him, and their faces are really close now. He can feel people staring, but neither he or Munakata seem to care. Munakata takes a moment before saying haughtily, "Still lacking subtlety in your speech, as always, huh, Suoh Mikoto?"
"No news for you there, " Suoh replies, witholding Munakata's look. "So?"
Munakata finishes his drink in one gulp. As he stands, obviously to take his leave, Suoh is already celebrating victory in his mind.
"Fine," the bluenette says. "But since I'm inviting you to my place, it's only fair that you invite me for this turn, right?"
It's Suoh's turn to give a look of surprise at that, quickly followed by a laugh and he pays heartily. What a sly bastard, he thinks but he reasons that the night promises to be a lot of fun anyway, so he actually gains on the exchange, really.
We all know what's going to happen on the next chapter, right? *winks*