Chapter Text
“You know, that night, I had meant to ask you something, but just never got around to it.”
Badd was in the kitchen getting preps done for dinner before having to go and pick up Zenko from her Piano lessons.
He laughed, knowing exactly what night his boyfriend was talking about.
The ravenette looked at Garou, who was seated behind the bar-like counter, on the side opposite of the kitchen and raised an eyebrow, wondering what was on the teen’s mind.
The lighter male was gingerly holding a cup of tea between both palms, fingers so long that they overlapped upon one another. The martial artist was without a shirt, and whether it was to distract Badd(which would have worked, even fully clothed), or irritate him(it was only so long before the idiot would get sick) the ravenette wasn’t sure.
Garou’s silver brows were furrowed in concentration and Badd smiled at how endearing his partner looked. They’d been together for almost a year, and yet, the wonder never left the ravenette. The feeling of surprise when he woke up in the morning and rolled over, only to be met by a gorgeous porcelain statue. Or on the mornings he slept in, groggily heading to the kitchen in preparation for breakfast, only to feel his mouth waver between over-salivating and drying up as he stumbled upon the martial artist doing his daily workouts.
“‘Bout a year late isnit? But I don’t mind so shoot.”
From his peripheral, he saw Garou take a deep breath, as if stelling himself, momentarily shutting those sharp golden eyes away.
“The one who taught you to dance, that was your mother right?
Suddenly, Badd felt faint. He understood now why the other teen took a deep breath.
“How’d you manage to figure that one out?” He choked out, the air seeming to leave his lungs.
“You mean other than the fact that you spoke to her like twice while we were dancing?” Garou raised an eyebrow and Badd felt himself blush.
He hadn’t realized that he did, it was something he hadn’t done in years.
“Yeah, my ma taught me how to dance.Though it was more like forced.” The hero chuckled, lost in his memories.
“She was real fascinated with hispanic culture and was constantly finding new dances to do. My dad wasn’t into it all as much, so of course she went to me.” The ravenette spoke, a small smile on his face.
“Some days I’d come home from school and she'd just be sittn in the living room, muttering number sequences under her breath, like she was under some sort of possession. I’d always try to sneak past her, and I’d always fail. That woman had reflexes fast enough to rival your own.” He shot a wink at Garou, laughing at the way the boy reddened.
“She was a beautiful beast. I can’t look at Zenko without seein’ her. My dad, he died before she did. It was a monster attack, typical bullshit story. He died on impact. Ma was hospitalized. I remember visiting her everyday, watching as she got worse. Never once did my pops dance with her, so asked me to, as replacement, y’know, in his spot. She was so frail, so weak. Literally on her deathbed. But so so strong. There’s nothing scarier than feeling someone you love die right in your arms. It makes you scared. Makes you want to shut everyone out. ” The tan teen laughed softly, looking at his boyfriend with fond eyes. “But then you came, ya jackass. And forced your way into my heart. With a solid punch to the face.” The last lines were whispered, and the pale teen reached out a hand to stroke Badd’s cheek lovingly. His fingers were warm from the tea he’d been holding and the hero found himself leaning forward into the touch.
“But yeah, to answer yer question, all of those skills came from Hiroko, my mother.”
Their silence was calm, as both males watched the sun set, in the evening, watermarked sky.
“I almost killed the old man, you know.” Garou spoke, his voice coming out in tiny rasp. “And I was so mad when I found out he was alive. Because a part of me was happy, and was glad that I failed.”
Badd listened patiently, knowing that there was more. It wasn’t anything that he hadn’t heard before, but it was rare for Garou to speak openly.
He had to really be in a mood.
“Then I met Tareo, that brat. He didn’t die, but when he ran away from me, scared shitless and pissing his pants, it hit. That I was losing someone who had grown important to me.”
Garou stood, and in one smooth motion, heaved himself onto the counter-top, walking gracefully over and squatting down until he was perched in front of Badd.
“Everyone left you. And they’re gone. For good.”
The words hit the ravenette like a punch to the gut, but before he could say anything, the pale teen spoke again.
“I can’t promise you that I won’t leave from time to time. It's in my nature.” Garou’s eyes blazed, a golden hellfire that smothered the hero under its intensity and all too sudden Badd was aware of how close they were and the heat emanating from the silver headed male’s body. “But I can promise that I’ll come back. I’ll always come back. Because you forced your way into my heart too, you damned meathead. With one good swing of that bat you lug around. Knocked me right out.”
It was never a good idea to stop the martial artist while he was ranting. It was one of the “villainous” qualities he seemed overly insistent on keeping. The whole “Oh-so-lonely" monologue.
It drove Badd crazy. And regardless, their relationship was a plethora of terrible ideas.
So why stop now?
He leaned in and caught Garou’s lips with his own, successfully shutting the boy up as his eyes shone brightly with surprise, a happy yellow.
Finally, the Hero Hunter was captured.
He smiled through the kiss, lips curving against his will.
It was about damn time.