Chapter Text
It was around two in the morning when Kagaya arrived at the destination; he knocked twice on the door and smiled when it opened. "Good evening, Pillar. I hope I’m not interrupting anything."
Himejima shook his head and stepped aside to let the other man enter. "Weren't you in bed? Or are you going to tell me you sleep in your uniform?" Ubuyashiki walked down the hallway and stopped at the entrance to the living room, turning to face Gyomei—looking up at the giant who followed him with his head bowed.
"I was attending to some other matters, my lord; I was just about to get ready to rest." He accompanied the shorter man to the dining room—the house was both elegant and comfortable—he pulled out a chair for his master before heading to the kitchen. The kitchen was separated from the dining area only by a counter, allowing Kagaya to keep an eye on what Himejima was doing.
"Good to know. I don't like it when you stay up late; it’s bad for your health. I heard about your new friends, and I’m curious to know more about them." He watched the blind man shiver slightly from across the room and smiled again. Gyomei returned with a tray of tea and animal-shaped cookies, carefully placing them on the table before sitting down opposite him.
"My lord, I can assure you that this will not affect my performance in the slightest. I will continue to carry out your orders perfectly—I promise you that. They aren't my... friends; they are merely people with whom I need to build relationships to maintain my cover."
Kagaya picked up a bear-shaped cookie and took a bite, snapping off its sugary head. "I know that. I am fully convinced you won't let me down. I’m just curious about how you’re handling these relationships... they usually don't end very well."
Himejima felt along the table with his fingers, trying to calm himself and find the right words. "I know, but this time is different, my lord. I promise I’ll be more careful—I’ll stay calm and be understanding, though not too understanding, and I’ll also..." He went on chattering about his new approach while his master sipped his tea, a look of pity in his eyes.
"Gyomei, I know full well that you’ve changed, but you also know that some things remain the same. You have every right to form attachments to people; the problem is that you don't know how to handle it." He finished his tea and slid the plate closer to the other man.
"I... I don't eat after midnight..."
That was all the blind man could manage to say as he processed his master's words. He lowered his head in embarrassment, trying to think of something that would convince Ubuyashiki not to turn a blind eye to the situation. Kagaya sighed and smiled gently at him.
"I’m not saying you can’t try to form bonds; I just want to trust that it won’t ruin you like it did last time. I need you to be careful—even if it’s just for a single mission." Himejima fell silent again, searching for the words to express his feelings. "Yes, my lord... I... I will improve my professionalism. I promise."
The other man smiled, ate a few more biscuits, discussed the upcoming missions, and stood up to leave. "Are you leaving already? Don't you want me to walk with you? Do you have security with you?" He followed the shorter man to the exit, looking much calmer than he had at the start of the conversation.
"Don't worry, I'm safe. I need to go home now; Amane must be missing me. She misses you, too—she wants you to come have lunch with us next week. See you later, Pillar." He opened the door and stepped out, leaving Gyomei alone with his thoughts—or perhaps not entirely alone.
"Genya!" "I know you were listening to the conversation—you can come down now!"
That was the first thing Himejima shouted after closing the door behind him, directing his voice toward the second-floor staircase. He smiled wryly as he heard hesitant footsteps descending until the boy stopped right in front of him.
The boy kept his head down—partly because he had disobeyed orders, and partly because he’d been caught—fidgeting with a bit of loose skin on his finger as he waited for the lecture. "So? What do we say when we do something wrong?" The boy sighed softly, closing his eyes in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Gyomei; next time, I'll hide better." He smiled and glanced discreetly at the older man, seeing him try to stifle a laugh; he joined in when he realized his slip-up had actually worked. "No, no—not this time. I usually let you get away with it, but not today. I don't want you listening to my personal conversations, especially with my... boss."
Genya fell silent, stifling the rest of his laughter and turning truly serious; he knew a stressed-out Gyomei was bad news. "Well... I do have a reason. That weirdo won't stop calling you—Tengen Uzui. Here, talk to him." He handed the phone over and helped answer the call.
"Uh... good evening, Tengen. You're still up this late?" He signaled for the young man to head to his room, and the boy stuck out his tongue but obeyed, heading toward the second floor.
"Oh, sorry... I don't even know why I called; I... I just wanted to know... know more about you." Himejima stifled a laugh. "Getting to know me at three in the morning? Sounds fun." The man on the other end of the line fell silent for a few moments.
"Look, it's just... how did you know I was looking for another profile of yours?" The blind man smiled—a logical smile, as if he could convey his facial expressions to the other person. "I just assumed; Miss Kanroji said you were excited to get to know me better, so I figured you might be looking for a more exclusive network."
He sat down in one of the living room armchairs. "Oh... well... if that's all it was, then okay... I... I-adopted-the-cat-you-liked-bye-goodnight." The call ended before the other man could react; he let out a cheerful little laugh once he finally processed the platinum-haired man's words, then stood up to get ready for bed, his mind filled with thoughts of the conversation.
"You need to deal with your feelings, Gyomei."
Shut up.
He emerged from his bath wearing the kitten-print pajamas he always wore, along with his familiar cat-paw slippers. He moved calmly through the house, turning off the remaining lights, finishing up in the kitchen, and tidying away any lingering clutter so he wouldn't have to deal with it the next day.
His final check was on the teenager’s room, making sure the boy was settled under the covers and comfortable on his pillows. He opened the door gently, stepping inside slowly so the wooden floor wouldn't creak. "Genya? Genya, are you still awake?" Silence—no answer. He approached cautiously, surprised to find the duvet the boy had been sleeping under lying on the floor.
He picked up the bedding and tucked it around the young man without making a sound, listening to the boy's soft snoring. He smiled gently, happy to know he had managed to provide a good home for this vulnerable child. "Goodnight, Genya." He ran a hand through the kid's poorly cut mullet and planted a soft kiss on his forehead before leaving. "Goodnight, Gyomei," came the sleepy reply. He closed the door with a beaming smile, looking forward to a peaceful night of his own.
"Gyomei, I had a nightmare. Can I sleep with you?"
Or perhaps not—though who knows what counts as "peaceful" for the great Himejima.