Another chapter, another successful day! I have so many exams and projects going on, its a nightmare. T_T Hopefully I'll survive by the time this story finishes. ^^'
Anywho, enjoy!
Tatsumi's eyes fluttered open and his mind tried to process the blurry vision of an unrecognizable room. The first instinct that hit him was looking for Lubbock, but then the hours before he fell asleep began to replay in his head. That's right...
He looked down and found Lubbock half on top of him. He did not remember them laying down on the bed and tried not to let his mind wander.
"Hey..." He whispered, nudging his friend's shoulder. His response is the cute wrinkling of Lubbock's nose as he apparently tried to keep sleeping. This made Tatsumi give an airy chuckle.
"We can't stay like this forever, you know." He reasoned and in a few seconds, Lubbock's eyelids finally rose. Once again, the tired yet sparkling emerald green eyes made Tatsumi's heart skip beats. Is it normal to acknowledge these features in such a manner?
"Mm... Tatsumi...? Why are you staring at me like that?" Lubbock murmured and Tatsumi caught himself before turning his head to the side. He hoped this action hid his heavy blush. It also did not help that Lubbock continued to lay on him as though he was some pillow. However that was quickly resolved.
"Oh, let's get going. They could be waiting on us." Lubbock announced as he sat up with furrowed brows. It's amazing how Lubbock went from a vulnerable sleepy head to a proactive leader.
"It looks like we slept past noon. Sky's starting to set." Tatsumi monologued. "Haha we slept for quite a bit, huh?"
"Hm yeah." Lubbock agreed and stood. Tatsumi hummed.
"In fact I didn't have a nightmare." He wondered aloud. Lubbock shrugged as he opened the door with Tatsumi behind him.
"Probably cause we slept on a nice bed after a while." He reasoned.
"And you slept on me." Tatsumi joked and voiced his pain when his bicep was punched pretty hard.l
"Don't take it the wrong way. I just forgot to warn you that I'm pretty mobile while I sleep." Lubbock said and Tatsumi could see he was trying to hide a blush. "Haha sure."
They eventually made it downstairs where Lubbock's mother bustled in and out of the kitchen.
"What happened to those chefs we used to have?" Lubbock asked curiously and the mother batted her hand.
"You came back after all these years. It would be a crime not to cook a home made meal." Tatsumi could practically feel the guilt wavering from Lubbock's acknowleging grin. He placed a hand on Lubbock's shoulder with a reassuring look.
"I personally don't see a problem with it, mrs..." Tatsumi trailed off. The woman smiled.
"Mrs. Heartfield, dear. But don't be afraid to call me Nora." She completed for him before checking on the oven. Tatsumi's eyes widened once he made a connection and whipped his head at Lubbock, who was slowly trying to creep away.
"Lubbock Heart- wahaha!" Tatsumi fell down while clutching his stomach. He could hear Lubbock screaming "Shut up!" and only continued to laugh more.
"It's not funny, you dick!" Lubbock yelled over his laughter with very red tinted cheeks. Tatsumi finally took a breath, but pointed at Lubbock with a humored grin.
"Of course! What, you put a little heart by your name too?" He teased and rolled away before Lubbock could kick him.
"Why you-!"
"Settle down boys! Why don't you go see if Lauren needs help with the cattle?" Lubbock's mother shouted from the kitchen.
Tatsumi stood and apologized multiple times to Lubbock, although not being sorry at all. Lubbock continued to walk ahead of him out the foyer and outside.
"Happy now?" Lubbock growled and Tatsumi chuckled.
"Quite."
Tatsumi followed him to a shed, where Lauren was spraying a hose of water in the grass.
"Oh hey Tatsumi! Lil bro!" He greeted with a wave. Tatsumi wondered why such a rich family needed a barn. Then again, they do live in a rural area.
"Need any help?" Lubbock asked while stepping into the wet grass. Tatsumi continued to observe the area. Cows, pigs, lamb, nothing out of the ordinary. Wait, why is he inspecting the place?
"Think you can clean up the cow dung?" He heard Lauren snicker.
"Gross!" Was Lubbock's outburst.
"Haha figured. Here, you can water the grass for the cows to eat." Lauren negotiated. Tatsumi sighed exasperately yet still finding it funny at Lubbock's old nature starting to show.
"Almost like a stuck up princess." He joked to himself.
"Huh?" Tatsumi waved his hand in a dismissive manner at Lubbock's curious gaze.
"Tatsumi, wanna feed the pigs?" Lauren asked. Seeing as he had nothing better to do the swordsman followed the older man to the pen. "All you have to do here is fill up the feeding stations. I have some coleslaw in buckets."
"Oh okay." After he picked up a bucket, Lauren stepped beside him as they both filled up a station.
"So, you and Lubbock are outlaws?" Figures. It was no coincidence that Lauren would ask him to join in on this task.
"I guess." Tatstumi answered carefully.
"Strange. I never thought he of all people would run from the government. What did you guys even do?" His heart raced as he emptied the bucket.
"Kinda hard to explain."
"How come? Was it that bad?" Obviously.
"We just did something and now we're trying not to face the consequences. I assure you we aren't trying to ruin anyone's lives."
"Then what? It's not like you killed someone, right?" Tatsumi hesitated. Shit. Now he is suspiciously quiet.
"W-We just... got caught in some confidential things that involved the Imperial Army."
"Wow. Lubbock is pretty hardcore huh. What have you guys been doing since he was gone?"
'Oh you know, just murdering people.'
"Um just looking for ways to improve the Capitol." Tatsumi answered instead. He noticed the furrowing of Lauren's brows.
"Improve the Capitol? What's wrong with it?" Oh no. Is this family sided with the Capitol?
"I'm done." Lubbock said behind their backs. Tatsumi had jumped, but Lauren only turned around. The brunette swallowed when he noticed the brothers staring at each other, both with a skeptical look. This can't be good.
Suddenly, Lubbock grabbed Tatsumi's arm and yanked him back.
"We're going to see if mom needs any help. See you at dinner." Lubbock simply said and dragged Tatsumi from the pen.
"Of course!" Lauren farewelled cheerfully. Although Tatsumi had a feeling it was a mask. Had he said too much?
"Lubba-"
"Shh. Not now." Lubbock interrupted with a finger to his lips. The stern look his friend had suggested that Tatsumi was going to be discussing quite a lot after dinner. Hopefully, Lauren does not have the same idea with the rest of the family.
"Pumpkin!" Tatsumi snickered from his seat at the dining table as Lubbock stood and headed toward his mother, frowning with a blush of embarrassment.
"Yes?"
"Unfortunately, Erin and Houstin can not make it for dinner but most likely they will be here tomorrow." Mrs. Heartfield said with a dimpled smile.
"I-Is this all necessary?"
"Hush your mouth! It's been years sweetheart, everyone must see your handsome face. Look how much taller you've gotten! Oh, you're almost as tall as your brothers..." Lubbock sighed as his mother had went on. Tatsumi did not mind at all in fact. He stayed seated with a permanent smile on his face. There is so much love and warmth in the family. Najenda must have been truly special to Lubbock for him to give this up years ago. Just then, a weird churning feeling erupted in his chest. What was so special about Najenda anyway?
Tatsumi snapped back into reality with wide eyes. What the hell is he thinking!?
"What do you think, Tatsumi?"
"E-Eh?" Lubbock blinked at him.
"Vegetables. What should go in the broth?" Tatsumi continued to stumble with an answer until Lubbock said "Never mind. Just tell me what's going on with you?"
"What do you mean by that?" Tatsumi asked and watched with interest when Lubbock began to shed potato skins.
"It's obvious you were thinking pretty hard. Is something wrong? Other than what happened earlier."
"Oh uh... it's nothing really. Where's your mom?" He changed the subject. Whether or not Lubbock noticed the subject change, he answered back.
"Out with Lauren. They're bringing in pumpkins. Apparently she feels this buffet isn't finished without another pie."
"Haha makes sense, pumpkin." Tatsumi dodged a thrown spoon at him. "Easy there!"
"Fuck off!" After getting another good laugh, Tatsumi stood beside Lubbock and watched him clean off the squash.
"I didn't know you could cook." He finally said.
"I would have preferred to keep it that way."
"Why?" Lubbock scoffed.
"Have you seen the way Night Raid eats? There's no way I'd be able to do this every day with them." Tatsumi sweated.
"Throw me into the wolves, why don't you?"
"Hey, they weren't kidding about making every meal like its your last. I'd rather join in on the fun and watch you suffer." Lubbock said with a shrug.
"That's cold!"
"Anyway, since you know a little about my background and full name... what's yours?" Lubbock demanded. Tatsumi stammered.
"B-But-!"
"Please?" His heart almost gave out from the look he got from his friend. There is no way to resist now.
"O-Okay fine. Just don't tell anyone." Tatsumi warned before leaning in to whisper his full name into Lubbock's ear. His reaction is a small laugh.
"Is that so? Suits you." Lubbock commented with tinted cheeks. Tatsumi leaned in closer.
"Likewise."
