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he doesn’t really know why he’s chosen this place to come out of all of them. it’s not really special, it’s not exactly close to his house, and he wouldn’t say it’s the warmest place to be, even if it is summer.
but he likes that about it. he likes how it’s a place that doesn’t belong. something out of a different universe.
he’s far too engrossed in his imagination to care about the dangers of being out so late — or early. he hasn’t really been focused on the time.
he glances at the red bandages on his hands, wondering why he bothered putting them on if he’s alone anyway.
he looks in front of him, at the open area of land in the forest, and then up, at the sky that’s slowly littered with less and less stars.
it’s not that he doesn’t like his home. he just likes it here better.
cans rattle and his ears ring and he looks for anything to grab to defend himself before he hears a ‘damn this stupid string!’ that makes him stop.
he blinks, peeking through the dark, and looks as a familiar frame makes itself known to him.
“aren?” he blinks, confused. what’s he doing here?
“i think. tripped so hard i don’t know if i remember.” he’s chuckling though, so he thinks he’s okay. “how long have you been here?”
shun’s still frozen, still confused. he shakes himself off, coughing out whatever’s blocking his throat.
“an hour? maybe longer.”
aren sits down beside him like it’s the most natural thing to do. he’s never been one for closeness, neither of them, but this feels nice.
“i didn’t come out of nowhere, you know? you suddenly stopped replying to my messages so sue me for worrying.”
“huh? you didn’t think i’d just fallen asleep, you know, like rational people do?”
aren smiles gently. “you’d have said goodnight.”
he’s surprised at the statement. he didn’t think he even paid attention to that.
“oh. sorry for making you worry.”
“it’s cool. i found you, didn’t i?” he’s adjusting his glasses when shun looks over.
“following a hunch?”
“something like that. i usually just call it instinct.”
shun pulls on some of the bandages wrapped around his fingers, a nervous habit. spending time here together at night is different than during the day.
but a good kind of different, he thinks. a kind of different he could grow accustomed to.
“i just needed to get away from home for a bit. mom’s pressure usually lingers in the air for a long time.”
he doesn’t need to explain himself with aren. but he wants to.
“i get it. home is hectic.” aren bumps his shoulder into his. doesn’t move back.
“yeah. thank god we built this place huh?”
aren smiles. “definitely.”
shun leans back against his shoulder, looks up at the sky again, and points.
“that’s orion’s sword i think. i’ve been trying to memorise them.”
aren’s arm comes to rest by shun’s side, letting the blue-haired boy settle against him a little better.
“anymore you can name?”
“how long you got?”
“all night.”