KHRrarepairweek2024: Storm Day: Space AU/Found Family
The Astral Express is much bigger than Fuuta imagined when he first asked the Ranking Planet where he would be safest. The parlor car alone would fit almost an entire Famiglia, maybe not one of Vongola's size but a smaller one like the Todds for sure, with long red leather couches, globulous chandeliers, and floor to ceiling windows looking out into the stars. A phonograph in the corner plays a record that fills the car with the sound of electronic-sounding strings and piano chords.
Fuuta inches closer to the phonograph. It doesn't look like anything he's ever seen before with it's tall base and floating bowl, but it's definitely got a record and it's definitely playing music. The black disc spins around and around beneath a needle of made of light.
"I see you've found the phonograph," a voice says from above and behind Fuuta.
Turning, Fuuta clutches his Ranking Book tightly to his chest. He knows his rankings are true and he knows everyone on the Astral Express ranks extremely low for using his rankings to further their own ambitions, but he also doesn't really know man standing behind him has a kind smile and kinder eyes behind rectangular-rimmed glasses. Brown hair almost flops in his face, the front strands already gray. There's an itch to set his book down and rank the man in front of him: his combat ability, his favorite foods, anything he can think of.
"You must be our newest passenger- Himeko mentioned she brought someone aboard," the man continues like Fuuta's silence and intense scrutiny is nothing out of the ordinary. "My name's Welt Yang," he holds out a hand, and Fuuta takes it, carefully shaking it.
Welt's hand is warm and calloused and so much bigger than Fuuta's, and something about this simple handshake makes Fuuta want to cry and fling himself into this stranger's arms with the intent to stay there forever.
Instead, he introduces himself as Fuuta de la Stella, watching the man carefully for any hint of recognition just like he always does because that brief spark of realization in someone's eye is often the only warning he'll ever get. There's no spark in Welt's eye, no tightening of his grip, no shift in his weight like he's going to pull Fuuta to him and never let him go. In fact, he even releases Fuuta's hand and folds his own hands behind his back. "What do think of the record? I found it in a used bookshop a couple planets back, and it's become one of my favorites."
Fuuta tilts his head, looks back at the phonograph and the spinning record. A frown tugs at his lips as he considers the music. "It's… nice," he settles on. "I like the sound of it, but it does get a bit repetitive."
Welt laughs. "I suppose that's fair. We'll have to keep an eye out for something more to your taste then." He says it so easily, so matter-of-factly, like Fuuta's going to be with traveling with them for the foreseeable future and they should accommodate for that.
Like Fuuta already belongs.
This time tears do streak down his cheeks, and he frantically wipes them away with his jacket sleeve as he quietly hiccups. Welt immediately kneels down and reaches out, stopping just before touching Fuuta as if waiting for Fuuta to accept the offered comfort.
It just makes the tears come even stronger.
It feels like ages pass before Fuuta is able to stem the tide, and the entire time, Welt just waits. His hand still held out in a silent offering and his eyes never leaving Fuuta's face, even though his knee must be aching with how it's digging into the red carpet below and his arm must be getting tired with how long he's held it out. Sniffling and still clutching his damp sleeve, he asks, "Do you really mean that, Mr. Yang?"
Welt nods. "You're a member of the Express Crew from now until you choose to leave us. Of course, we'll find some records you'll really like."
"You… you really mean that." The urge to do a ranking just to be sure is strong, but Fuuta has already ranked the Astral Express crew and Welt Yang ranks high on People Who Mean What They Say.
"I do."
The Ranking Book falls to the floor as Fuuta flings himself into Welt's chest. Strong arms wrap around him in a firm hug, and the steady rhythm of Welt's heart fills his ears. It feels like a bubble bursts in Fuuta's chest as he clings to Welt. The electronic music of the record continues it's loop.
Fuuta was right: He wants to stay cradled in Welt's arms forever.