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If they were different people, Nine would have probably enjoyed this outing. Twelve’s carefree smile would probably be less of a trickster’s and more genuine. Perhaps Nine would even have a light smirk on his lips at being here.
Sadly, they are not.
Nine sits under the shade of a tree, overseeing the events of the festival with apathy. Twelve has gone gallivanting with Lisa to the heart of this festival, saying that he wanted to see everything with his own eyes. Nine turns down the offer to join along, happier with the solitude and the headphones that are currently plugged into his ears.
He doesn’t always have the chance to do it, but Nine likes to watch people. There’ll be days where he actively avoids contact with people and it’s usually his set mood wherever he is surrounded by strangers. When he’s alone though or he’s waiting somewhere for long periods of time, his eyes drift to his surroundings.
It’s not like Twelve’s observations, where he dissects every little action and probes into the reasons why. Nine simply watches because he can. It’s a pleasure he was devoid of at the Institution and it’s nice to be able to indulge whenever he can. It’s not like he has the time for it.
The shade protects his fair skin, but the summer heat is still present and it’s starting to get uncomfortable sitting on the tree trunk the way he is for such a long time. At least an hour has passed and he hasn’t moved an inch. The battery on his music device is also blinking red and he doesn’t know if he can handle this many people without the comfort of his music.
Just as he entertains the idea of leaving by himself, his music player changes to the next song – a somber piano piece that he enjoys very much- when a pair of legs stands before him. If he were someone different, he would greeted the person or at least see who it was.
“What?” Nine hopes that his cold demeanor is enough to scare away this stranger. But when nine seconds pass and this person doesn’t leave, he comes to the conclusion that it’s someone he knows. There’s only one other person it could be.
Sure enough, there stands Mishima Lisa looking very pale and fragile against the bustling atmosphere of the festival. Nine pulls the headphones out of his ears, a courtesy he gives her only because even after a few months of living together, she still mumbles her words to herself.
She’s holding the hem of her skirt tightly as she speaks (probably repeating herself). “Kokonoe-kun? A-are you listening?”
No, he wasn’t. Despite their living arrangements, their interactions to each other are cursory and succinct, only a few sentences and it’s usually Lisa asking for permission to do something or clarification from one of Nine’s requests. It’s clear to Nine that she wants to belong with the two of them and try to fit in as best as she can. Twelve has definitely been more accepting of her presence in their lives, but it appears that isn’t enough. Despite her obvious hesitance around him and fear in incurring Nine’s wrath somehow, she still strives to be on better terms with him.
With that conclusion in mind, Nine pockets the music player and then rises from his seated position. His back aches from sitting on such a tough surface for so long and a headache is slowly approaching, but his voice is steady and calm as he asks, “where’s Twelve?”
She fidgets under his cool gaze, but keeps her eyes on his as she answers. “He went…I tried…” And she mumbles the rest of her reply under her breath. While he understands that Lisa is still vastly uncomfortable around him and he hasn’t done anything to alleviate that, Nine has to briefly wonder if he really makes her that nervous.
He closes his eyes as he asks again. “Where is Twelve?”
She trembles now and her head is angled downward, breaking eye contact, but her words are clear. “I don’t…know.”
“You lost him?” He doesn’t mean to make it sound harsh and scolding; it’s merely a clarifying statement. Still, Lisa tenses up at his words and she’s starting to look less like a teenager and more like a scolded child. “Where?”
He doesn’t see it, but she knows that the girl is biting her lips nervously. It takes a moment for her to gather her thoughts and reply softly. “H-he ran for one of the stalls…I think h-he wanted to play a game.”
Knowing Twelve, a game to him could mean anything. He could be anywhere on school grounds, especially with his expertise and knowledge. The amount of hiding spots and places that could hold his interests are too many. Nine can feel a familiar growing ache spiking behind his eyes and he hopes that the boy is easy to find.
Of course, since it’s Twelve, it’s going to be unnecessarily difficult trying to find him. That’s usually how he works with Nine.
Nine leaves the shade of the tree and strides forward. His sudden movement takes Lisa by surprise, but she quickly jogs up behind him and follows close behind him. Though he walks around with his usual cool, Nine quickly realizes that he doesn’t have the slightest clue about the layout of this festival. It only takes him five minutes before Nine finds himself lost amongst the crowds. He quickly pushes through to a rest stop and takes in his surroundings, hoping to see a recognizable landmark.
However, Lisa is not wary of his stopping. He feels a light thump and hears an embarrassed meep. He turns around and faces her with an impassive expression.
Her face is dusted pink as she stutters out an apology. “I-I’m sorry! I wasn’t paying attention…”
For the sake of honesty, Nine knows that she is not at fault. The headache is beginning to pound behind his eyes now and the noise of this event is sincerely not helping. Add to that the quest to find Twelve and he finds that he can’t really get mad at Lisa for running into him. Really, there are more important things to be upset over.
“It’s fine.” And then a thought occurs to him. “Where did you last see him?” Easier to ask her where they were at and narrow it down from there.
She recovers quickly, looking relieved that he didn’t scold her. “I-I don’t know. He was the one taking me everywhere…I had two maps for us, but he said that he didn’t need one.”
The way Twelve’s mind works, Nine won’t be able to fully predict what the other boy will do. Especially considering unforeseen circumstances like people and this whole festival. Nine really just wants to leave Twelve behind and go home by himself. It’d honestly be a lot easier on everyone and Twelve would be able to understand for the most part.
The only thing that stops Nine from taking that action is the fact that what Twelve considers entertainment is not what other people would call it. He may wreak a small havoc somehow and then jump to another all the while laughing .
Simply put, Twelve is a little devil in the guise of a innocently smiling teenager.
“Alright.” Mentally pushing back the quickly encroaching migraine, Nine holds his hand out. “Mishima, give me a map.”
She stares at his hand for a few seconds before finally processing the request. The girl looks away with a muttered apology and digs through her handbag, quickly pulling out a wrinkled paper map.
Okay, now begins the questioning. “Was there any place he wanted to go?”
“He said…he wanted to go on every ride…”
That does not help in the slightest. The festival that they are attending boasts a grand total of over a hundred different attractions and over twenty thrill rides. If it were anyone other than Twelve, they would simply be boasting and exaggerating their claim.
“What rides have you gone on together?”
Lisa looks a little ill thinking about it and it shows in her response. “Well…we went on about five rollercoasters and a merry-go-round…then a ferris wheel…and even some of the kid rides.”
Nine listens to it all, ticking off a mental list as he compares her information to what’s present on the map. So far, he’s literally been all over the damn place, dragging her around with him in his self-imposed mission.
“Did he say anything to you before he left?”
She’s looking more and more uncomfortable with each question and he silently wonders if it’s because she thinks her answers are unsatisfactory. Lisa bows in apology. “H-he said that he was going to get the both of us something…and that’s when he took off.”
So far, the only things Twelve has given him are a headache and the added trouble of reining in the energetic boy before he starts trouble.
“Umm…Kokonoe-kun?” She has a small frown adorning her face. “What should we do?”
He assesses the map in his hand once more, mentally following the trail that he’s been taking. If Nine also takes into account Twelve’s last words, then there’s really only one place he’d be able to do all of that.
He taps the center of the paper. “We go here, to the main plaza. If Twelve wants to get something for us, this is where he’ll get it.”
The main center of this place is where the arcades and prizes are. It’s the best conclusion Nine can come up with in this situation and with the limited information he’s been given. Lisa nods resolutely and chins up with a determined expression. If Nine was a different person, he might have commented on how serious her expression was.
Instead, he starts the tread to the arcades.
Before long, they’re standing in the main plaza of the festival, where all the main attractions are. It seems like the ideal place to find Twelve. However, it’s also the area with the most by-traffic. People of all ages and the festival workers are coming through here and it’s only making this search – and his headache – worse.
Lisa is also kind of making this difficult as well. Her small stature is being pushed around by the throngs of people and she’s struggling to keep up with Nine, who easily walks past everyone with his long legs. At first, he purposefully slows down for her to catch up. However, it isn’t enough and it seems that Nine has misjudged just how many people are attending this damn event. At one point, he’s even stopped in the middle of the crowd and waits for her.
If he were someone different, the idea that pops into his mind would not be viable for a multitude of reasons up to and including embarrassment and the fear of sending out the wrong implications.
When she finally catches up to him again, he takes her hand in his.
It’s really more for his comfort of mind than anything. Despite the disdain of her being an inconvenience in their plans, Nine has to admit that there is a certain charm to her that not many possess. Behind the demure personality and clumsiness lies an unyielding steel that could handle Nine’s icy demeanor and Twelve’s eccentricity. Keeping her safe is something that should stem from his need to not harm anyone.
He ignores the strange feeling that’s creeping into his thoughts.
Lisa goes stiff when his hand curls around her wrist. “A-ah…Kokonoe-kun?”
“It’s so you don’t get lost.” He brings her closer so that her body is even in steps next to him, but he doesn’t let go. “It’s better like this.”
“O-oh. Okay…” Lisa is staring at where he’s holding her hand, but seems more embarrassed than actually afraid of his touch.
However, she doesn’t linger on their hands for long. Now that she can actually look around, there’s a spark of recognition her usually dull eyes. “We…we were here! This is where we split up!”
Immensely grateful that one problem is solved, Nine pulls back out the folded map and grunts in acknowledgement. “Good. Twelve should be around here then.” He better be. If the boy isn’t nearby, Nine swears that he’ll leave, chaos be damned.
Despite her enthusiasm though, Lisa still looks fidgety. Before Nine can ask her though, Lisa speaks up. “Umm…are you going to keep holding my hand?”
Ah. Right. She’s still uncomfortable around him. If Nine were to be honest, he’d rather let go of her hand as well. “Too many people. I don’t want to have to look for you too.”
And she doesn’t talk about it anymore.
It takes twenty seven minutes of browsing each stand, turning down all their offers, and prying as much information as possible out of Lisa – was he here? Is this place familiar? – to finally ascertain that Twelve wandered off to the stand with water guns. The people at the booth remember Twelve dropping by and wanting to play.
He left just a couple of moments ago, carrying a rather large teddy bear and a smaller Kururin plush.
Already, Nine knows his intentions for those things and he doesn’t know how to feel about it. However, he’s met his goal and now he’s going to go back home.
Lisa greets the other man farewell before turning back to Nine. “What now?”
“Home.” His headache is now at the point where it’s unbearable and he needs to rest.
Lisa gets closer to his face, a frown marring her otherwise delicate face. “Are you okay? We could have gone back. I’m sorry-“
And then there’s a warm press on his cheeks. Time dilates to a standstill and it’s merely the two of them in that moment.
When Nine regains his senses, he immediately notes his surroundings in a state of hyperawareness. There’s a small child that’s profusely apologizing and a fussy parent standing beside him with an upset expression. Lisa’s now blushing red and stammering out assurances that it was fine.
And Nine holds his cheek, unsure of what to feel.
At this point, it wouldn’t really matter if he was a different person. He’s pretty sure that he would still have the same reaction. He’s also acutely aware of her hand in his and the growing well of embarrassment.
Before Lisa even gathers her thoughts, Nine tugs her forward. “Let’s go home.”
This whole moment seems to have changed something in their frosty relationship, Nine notes. He’s not expecting the warm smile on her face nor the slight nod of her head. It appears that she thinks he’s starting to accept her. She doesn't say anything about what just occurred - a merciful thing for the both of them, really - and simply strolls alongside him. Though if she did ask...
She wouldn’t be wrong.
~~~
When he comes home, he sees Twelve reclining on the couch and the bigger plush sitting next to him. If he were a different person, Nine would have complained about the futile search for Twelve and simply yelled at him.
When he takes the big teddy bear and throws it at Twelve, he feels a twinge of sadistic satisfaction because damn it, he needed that. Lisa giggles at the whole thing and Twelve is pouting at the sudden assault.
Nine ignores it all, walking into the spare room and shutting the door behind him with a slam. Though it doesn't help his headache, there's a sense of relief from letting out some stress. He lays in the bed, hoping that the constant pull of exhaustion finally completes its work. However, sleep does not come easy to him.
He holds his cheek for the rest of the night, which still feels warm.