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It was around two in the morning. The sky swirled black with clouds. The wind blew bitterly cold against the window. There was a gut-wrenching scream.
Upon hearing it, Shimazaki sat upright in bed. His heart raced. His thoughts returned to the previous day, in which the Ultimate Five had visited the small northern town. They had planned on recruiting a new esper for the organization. Unfortunately, the woman put up quite a fight before they were able to detain her. She was similar to another scar in Claw, and knew how to make spirits obey her every command. Since their newest member was the only one capable of exorcisms, the others were forced to fight for their lives while he slowly got used to using his powers. Shimazaki had been spared most of the visual terror (apparently these spirits had quite horrifying appearances), but the experience was still exhausting and had shaken them all up.
Hearing the cry from the room next door, he feared the esper had broken free and was attacking his teammates with more awful creatures. He immediately teleported through the wall, readying himself for another rough fight. He stood in the center of the little hotel room and swung his head around, searching for the monsters. Instead, he only felt a single aura.
“Hey, w--” Suddenly, he was being strangled and tied down. Vines wrapped around his body and neck, and only then did he take the time to identify the aura in the room.
“Min--Mineg--negishi--!” he coughed. The vines loosened a bit around his neck.
“Shimazaki?” came their voice, “what the hell are you doing in my room?!”
“I heard you scream! I came to help!” After a moment the plants slithered away. The man gasped for breath. He heard the rustle of blankets, and realized the other esper was still in bed.
“Well, I’m fine now. Leave.” Shimazaki had spent enough time with Minegishi to hear the lies in their voice. In fact, he’d been trying to spend as much time with them as he could, much to Minegishi’s dismay.
“You’re fine, huh?”
“Yes. Now go away .”
“Wait… Did you… did you have a nightmare?” There was silence. Shimazaki’s heightened senses heard the shakiness in their breath. He took a step towards them. “You did.”
“I already told you, I’m fine now. I’ve dealt with this plenty of times before. And don’t think it was about those stupid ghosts. It wasn’t.” There were sounds as they awkwardly shifted in the blankets. Shimazaki took the information in, slightly surprised.
He had an idea. He briefly worried that it would be too much to ask. But that’s never stopped me before, he thought . I’ve been getting a little closer to him, and things are going well. He’s shut me down plenty of times before, I’ve got nothing to lose...
“I could stay here with you for a while.” he suggested casually.
“ No .”
“Why not? I was up anyway.”
“Because I’m a grown adult and I don’t need your help going to sleep.” they snapped. There was a pause. “You were up too?” They sounded more curious than caring.
“Yeah,” he shrugged, strolling towards them. “I’ll probably just go back and listen to some TV or something. So I don’t mind camping out in here for a bit. And hey, it doesn’t matter that you’re a grown man, it’s still nice to have someone watching your back.” He reached the bed, sitting himself on the end. There was a very long silence. The fact that Minegishi hadn’t immediately kicked him off was a testament to how shaken they were.
“...Fine. But only for a few minutes. Then I want you gone.”
“Of course!” Shimazaki eagerly moved to the top end of the bed. Minegishi moved as far from him as they could. He draped his arm around them, only to have it shoved away.
“Don’t touch me.” But it was too late. The blind man had felt them trembling. Man, it must have been an awful one... He knew all too well the effects that lingered after a particularly bad nightmare.
“Aw, come on, how do you expect to get any action with that attitude?”
“I don’t.” He could feel them roll over, their back to him.
Shimazaki smirked. “...Ever?”
“ Goodnight .”
With a smirk, he settled into a comfortable position. He had meant to stay awake, just in case Minegishi needed anything. Unfortunately, the esper had been lying about being awake beforehand, and was exhausted. He immediately fell asleep.
Shimazaki woke up very confused. He wasn’t used to waking with another aura so close to his, and nearly leapt up in surprise. He also wasn’t used to finding another body wrapped around his. Minegishi was sleeping with their arm draped over his torso, their legs touching his, and their face pressed against his chest. Once again, Shimazaki’s heart beat rapidly. He stayed very still, taking in everything he could about this unexpected moment. But after a few peaceful minutes, there was a knock on the door. It was Shibata.
“Yo, Minegishi, get up! We’re moving out in a few minutes!” He called.
Minegishi jolted at the loud sound, but stayed where they were. They lifted their head slightly, and groggily responded with nonsense. They rested their head down again.
Then they must have realized.
Shimazaki was shoved away. He tumbled off the bed, his foot getting caught in the sheets and sticking up. It, too, was kicked off the bed. A pillow came smacking down on his head. The esper lay there a minute, suppressing laughter.
Minegishi leaned over the bed. They harshly whispered, “what's so funny? You have to get out of here before anyone-- ” They hadn’t even finished when Shimazaki teleported back to his room. Shibata just knocked on his door.
“Will do! Be there in ten!” he called back.
It was strange, though. The man thought he’d feel happier with the events of last night. He had won the battle of wills and gotten what he wanted -- more than what he wanted, actually. But learning that Minegishi also had nightmares left him with a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
He was soon able to forget his discomfort, however, by spending the entire rest of the day whispering taunts to Minegishi about cuddling...
Minegishi glanced over at Shimazaki as he slept. The man’s breathing became heavier and heavier. They really didn’t want to wake him. He’d gotten such little sleep the past few days. Phase four of world domination had begun, and the Ultimate Five were much busier. Minegishi was given no choice, however, when Shimazaki started to mutter fearful protests into the air.
“Ryou!” Minegishi reached over and shook his arm gently. They got rougher when he still didn’t wake up. “Ryou, hey!” He jolted awake, sucking in a panicked breath. Minegishi squeezed one of his hands. “Hey, you’re alright. You’re here in your room. Relax.”
Shimazaki returned their tight grip as his chest heaved. “Toshiki…?”
“I’m right here. We’re in your room.”
“In my room...” he repeated distantly. Minegishi had learned that Shimazaki took much longer than most people to detach himself from a nightmare. Whether it was the intensity of the dreams, his blindness, or something else, it was very difficult for him to return to reality once he’d woken up. Minegishi had found it very effective, therefore, to remind him of where he was and what was real. They never knew exactly what the dreams were about, so they slowly listed off facts about the present moment. “It’s very early. You’re in your bed. It’s just us here. I’m right beside you. There’s no danger here. You can relax. You’re safe. I’m safe.”
“You’re safe?”
“I am.”
“Your arms…” he said, still sounding frantic. Minegishi sat up in bed, and moved right next to him. They held out their arms. Shimazaki’s shaky hands felt around them for a while. “And your…” he trailed away and moved his hands up. He gently touched around their neck. His hands trembled still. Finding nothing, he seemed to calm down a little.
“I’m okay, Ryou.” Minegishi was filled with an uncomfortable feeling knowing that something truly awful must have happened to them in the dream. At the same time, there was something sweet in knowing Shimazaki cared enough to have nightmares about them in danger. Minegishi wasn’t one who was taken with “sweet”. Usually.
They repeated, “I’m okay.”
Shimazaki grasped their hands, and softly pulled them back down. Minegishi laid next to him again. Without warning, he pulled the smaller esper into a tight embrace. Minegishi’s first instinct was to pull away, to protest. Even though they responded well to the man’s more playful ways of showing love, they didn’t know what to do with this gentle, vulnerable kind of affection.
Still, something caused them to stay. I’m only doing this for him , they thought, allowing Shimazaki to hold them to his chest. This won’t happen again.
But Minegishi had never been very good at lying to themselves.
Shimazaki gradually steadied himself. His breathing slowed and he stopped shaking. The two stayed where they were for a while.
Each day, the espers loved nothing more than to argue and compete. Most of the time they could get on each other’s nerves with nothing but a look. However, as soon as the sun went down, both were more than willing to set their arrogance aside. The two had been plagued with unbearable nightmares for most of their lives. It made them experts on the other’s pain -- and more importantly, the experts on how to ease it. It may have taken a long time, but they had both overcome enough stubbornness to give and receive some help. Now, they didn’t need to face every agonizing night on their own, at least.
“Hey, Toshiki?”
“Mm-hm?”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” And of course, he would never. “Now go back to sleep.”
A hush of anticipation fell over the facility as the stars came out on that early summer night. Minegishi went to their room, trying to sort through their complex emotions. They stood in front of their small mirror, pushing lavender hair away from worried eyes. So this is it, huh? They began unzipping their jacket. Shimazaki’s reflection suddenly joined them in the mirror.
“Hey Toshi.”
“What do you want?” Minegishi turned, throwing their jacket on the bed. The man leaned against the desk. They didn’t let him answer. “Shouldn’t you go get your sleep? We’re going to need it for tomorrow.” They walked over to the door, closing it quietly and turning the lock. After a moment of thought, the esper double checked the knob.
“Well, that’s kind of why I’m here. I got to thinking, and tomorrow's the big day. World domination and all that. I’m wound tight, ya know? Lot’s of things on my mind. Maybe wound a little too tight, actually. And I get the feeling you are too.” Minegishi went to their closet.
“What are you saying?”
He hesitated. “I’m saying, if we sleep alone tonight, I think we’ll both have nightmares.”
“You think I’ll have nightmares.”
“I think you’d rather spend the night with me.”
“I think you’d rather spend the night with me .”
Shimazaki’s phone began ringing. Saved by the bell, he sighed, I didn’t really have a comeback for that one. He picked it up, giving a cheerful “Heya!”
Minegishi turned back to the closet and began rummaging around for something to wear to bed.
“... Sure thing … Yeah, yeah ... Oh, Minegishi?”
The two glanced at each other. They had managed to keep their little meetings secret for this long, but both of them always felt a hint of panic each time something threatened that secrecy.
Shimazaki continued coolly, “Nah, I haven’t seen them. What’s up? They should still be up if you want me to give them a ring and -- … uh huh … alright …” The caller hung up. He placed the phone on the desk, saying, “Boss wants to see ya first thing tomorrow morning.”
“He didn’t suspect anything?”
“I know the man’s a genius, but he’s also an idiot.”
A dry chuckle. “Look at who’s talking.”
“I wish I could -- I bet he’s hot as hell right now…” Shimazaki gave a smirk, running a hand through his black hair to spike it. He tilted his head at them.
“He looks just as irritating as usual to me…” Minegishi replied, rolling their eyes. They walked by the desk, and the other esper followed them a few steps to grab their wrist.
“Are you sure?” Why don’t you take a good look...” Minegishi was pulled around to face him. They gave an annoyed sigh, hoping it sounded as if they were refusing him. Instead, they took some time to really study his face. They hardly got the chance to stare, so they took it happily now.
Shimazaki leaned in and kissed them.
“Hey!” Minegishi shoved him backwards and hurried to the side of their bed. They had too much on their mind tonight, and couldn’t have another thing to fill them with emotion. They smoothed out their jacket, deciding to wear it tomorrow.
“What?” the teleporter appeared behind them. Minegishi didn’t turn around. “You act like we’ve never kissed. Come on, Toshi, we’ve done much worse than that…”
“I’m in a bad mood today.”
“You’re in a bad mood every day.”
“Then why don’t you leave me alone every day?” Minegishi crossed their arms. “You drive me crazy.”
Shimazaki leaned closer, and whispered slyly through their purple hair. “ And you drive me crazy… ”
Minegishi’s heart leapt upon feeling the man’s arms slide around their waist. But they pulled away for a brief second, spinning to face him. “Ryou… we can’t. I mean… it’s so quiet tonight… what if the others --?”
“What if the others find out? It won’t matter tomorrow. I think you and I both know that.”
And they both did. As much as they had worked hard to help Claw reach world domination, the two had seen changes in Touichirou recently. They both had the feeling that once they gained the world, the boss would have no intention of sharing it. The espers both suspected that they wouldn’t get the happy ending they had been promised. In fact, without even telling the other, each of them had developed their own plans to escape together once things went south.
Thinking of all this, Minegishi was struck with a sickening realization. This could very well be our last night together, that we aren’t on the run, or in danger, or dead…
Shimazaki had come to the same conclusion earlier, which was what had brought him here.
“You know what?” Minegishi asked, turning their head to be very close to his. “You’re right. I’m wound tight. I think it’ll be good to relax before going to bed. You know, to prevent nightmares.”
“Of course. I want us to get the best possible sleep.”
“The soundest, most peaceful sleep we’ve ever had.”
Minegishi’s jacket was thrown onto the floor. It was soon joined by other articles of clothing In the end, neither one got much sleep that night.
It was around two in the morning. The sky was completely black with clouds. The wind was bitterly cold outside the window. There was silence.
Minegishi and Shimazaki were passed out in their bed. They were breathing peacefully, curled up against one another. The teleporter pressed his head against Minegishi’s lavender hair. The small esper rested their cheek against his chest.
In a few hours, the alarm clock near the bed would wake Minegishi, and they would head out to the florist shop. After giving a kiss goodbye, Shimazaki would soon leave the apartment, too, and walk down to the radio station.
Minegishi would spend the day selling flowers, sassing annoying customers, and secretly helping the flowers in the back greenhouse grow during the chilly winter season. They would also enjoy talking quietly to all the plants about the big and small things in their life that made them so happy. Shimazaki would spend his hours chatting with the other radio personnel about funny stories, celebrity gossip, and whatever else was entertaining to listeners. He liked taking calls and finding new songs for the station. All the while, he would search for every possible opportunity to talk about his incredible life with the person he loved.
But that was later in the day. For now, the two of them slept. They slept quietly, staying warm in their partner’s arms.
And they had pleasant dreams.