Chapter Text
I hate when I have these days. Why can’t I be normal for fuck’s sake?
I paced up and down the kitchen,
Seven steps each way, don’t forget,
gripping my hair and muttering to myself.
“Touch; hair, clothes, floor, glasses, shoes… Sight; floor, walls, countertop, knife block, windows…” It was some grounding exercise I had read about a while back. My brain was scattered, and the breathing stuff hadn’t worked, so I was desperate.
“Uh, hearing; me talking, my footsteps, the fridge-” I cut myself off. That damn fridge. It whines, and whines and won’t stop fucking whining, but the kitchen is the only room I could cope with, so I have to deal with it. The carpet in my room had been giving me a headache. It was too soft, and it made everything hot and I thought I was going to suffocate if I didn’t get away from it.
I could’ve gone into my bathroom, but the knowledge of how many germs are in their makes me want to puke. I tried, but my hand brushed off the towel, still damp from when I had washed my hands raw, and I gagged. I knew,
logically,
that they were my germs on the towel, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to burn everything in that room, just so I didn’t have to touch it. Even the tiles, the main reason I went it there because they’re cold and solid, felt wet and dirty, despite me not showering all week.
I never shower in school.
Someone lived in that room before me, and that means they showered in that bathroom before me. Their germs are always there, growing, manifesting, tainting everything I own. On bad days, I can’t even use the toilet. I’m extremely grateful for the fact that I’m able to do my own laundry. I’ll shower at home, but if my routine gets changed, everything suddenly becomes overwhelming and it’s nearly impossible to move, let alone bathe. There’ve been times where Pennyworth has had to drag me into the shower with force, because I refused to take one.
I barely leave my room when at school anyways, so my hygiene isn’t really an issue for other students. I hardly see anyone, except Fukawa of course, but she’s more pest than person.
Being around normal people hurts my head.
It’s for the best
People only want to know you so they can use you
Ruin you
And if someone got close, they’d certainly notice how abnormal you are
And you don’t want that, do you?
So, that’s why I came to the kitchen. Cold and solid and sterile tiles. Hanumura treated this kitchen as his prized possession so it was constantly cleaned and held to high standards. It eased my mind, just the slightest bit, but slight is better than anything at this point.
God, why is it so fucking hot?
I turned towards the sink, and gripped the edge, the freezing metal giving me some sort of relief. Not enough relief, unfortunately. I stared at the tap. Running cold water over my wrists should cool me down, but that means I have to touch the handle. Other people have touched it. There was paper towel dispenser that I could use to
People touch that too.
Stop being a pussy and
just turn on the goddamn tap.
Imagine if word of this got out
“Togami Conglomerate Heir Afraid of Germs”
What use is a businessman scared of some dirt?
My hand gripped the tap and I twisted, cringing at the wet and dirty feeling. I threw my hands under the water as fast as possible to get rid of the germs that I could already feel crawling up my skin. In my haste, I didn’t roll up my sleeves, and two layers of damp, hot, annoying, stupid clothing stuck to my skin and wouldn’t get off, get off, get off, get off, get off, get off, get off
I ripped off my suit jacket and flung it on the ground. My sleeves need to be rolled up, roll them up, roll them up, roll them up
I scrambled to tug up my sleeves, and roll them, but it wasn’t right. Too loose. I tried again, my hands trembling with adrenaline? fear? Too tight.
Oh no
I kept trying over and over, but it wasn’t working, and now my face was hot, and my hair felt clingy with sweat, and my glasses were slipping, so I tucked my hair behind my ear but it came loose, and I fixed my glasses but now they were too high, and my skin tingled, crawled, oh god, it feels like bugs, there’s bugs crawling all over me, make it stop, make it stop, make it stop, make it
Snatching my glasses off my face, I flung them as far and as hard as I could. A tiny shatter echoed in the room, but it was drowned out by my pounding heart filling my ears, by the loud, too loud water that I couldn’t turn off, and by that whine, whine, whine, whine, whine, whine, whine
I collapsed into a heap, leaning against the counter. I held my hair in a death grip, trying to stop it clinging, and I pulled at my sleeves, trying to roll them up, and I clawed at my skin, trying to stop it from tingling crawling but nothing was working, nothing’s working, nothing’s
“Uh, Togami? That you? Y’alright?” My head snapped up, and there stood Oowada a few feet away. How much has he seen? He’s probably seen everything, he knows, he’s going to tell everyone, the media will find out, father’s going to kill me, oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no oh
I opened my mouth, trying to force some kind of an explanation out, but every word I had ever heard rattled in my brain, screaming for attention.
“Hey, dude, it’s alright, yeah? Don’t force yerself to talk. I’m gonna ask ya questions, and yer gonna respond with either one blink or two blinks, okay?” He had crouched beside me, leaving enough space for me to breathe. His tone was gentler than usual, his voice quiet for once.
“Blink once if that’s okay,” I stared at him, or as best I could. Without my glasses everything was blurry, but it shouldn’t be this blurry- Was I crying?
“Togami, I need ya to answer, okay?” I glanced up and gave a forced blink. I think he smiled, but I couldn’t tell. “Good. Alright, are yer sleeves bothering ya? One blink, yes, two blinks, no,”
I blinked.
“Can I roll them up for ya? One blink, yes, two blinks, no,” Have him touch me? The amount of germs that most definitely lived on him were endless. He was always in that dirty garage so
He looks clean,
And you need to have your sleeves rolled up because you’re too incompetent to do it yourself.
Take the help
Just this once
My brow furrowed. “Togami, ya with me?”
I blinked.
“Okay, good. I’m starting with your right arm, okay?” He slowly reached out his own arm to. To touch me. Bad idea, bad idea, red alert, red alert, red alert
He stopped moving. I must’ve flinched.
“I’ll try my best not to actually touch ya, I promise. I just wanna roll up your sleeve,” I needed my sleeves rolled up. The water was seeping into my skin, making me feel wet and dirty, just like the tiles and tap. Reluctantly, I stuck my arm out.
“Thank you,” He delicately gripped the cuff of my sleeve, and began rolling. He rolled them like you’d cuff jeans, folding the material almost. The sleeve reached past my elbow and he stopped. “Good?” Perfect. I blinked. He smiled, and I was certain about it this time. “I’m moving onto the next sleeve, okay?” I blinked, and same as before he rolled or cuffed or folded, I wasn’t entirely sure, my sleeve. The tingling, crawling stopped, only staying around my neck and face.
“Yer hair bothering you? Once, yes, twice, no.” I blinked. “It’s kinda long. I got a hair tie in my pocket; I can tie it up if ya want. Yes, no?” Hair germs. There’s dandruff, lice, maybe he uses a weird shampoo, “It’s clean, I haven’t used it yet, I swear,”
He doesn’t seem like the liar type unlike you
But be cautious
Remember, no one can be trusted
You’ve only got me
I blinked.
“Can ya get up, and sit at the island thing? I’ll help ya up. Yes, no?” I blinked. He stood up and reached out his hand, and I took it with only minor hesitation. He pulled me up with almost too much ease. I had been skinny before but finding food that I didn’t throw up straight away had become nearly impossible over the past year.
You don’t need food anyways, just enough to survive
It distracts from your work
Your career comes before anything else
Even your sanity
“Will I turn off the tap?”
I blinked. I stood still, arms folded as I watched him turn it off. I sniffled, my tears now dry and tacky against my skin, but it wasn’t enough to set me off again. “Can ya sit down please?” I was probably meant to sit while he was turning off the tap.
Idiot
.
The seats surrounding the island counter, were fake, cold, comfy, leather.
“Right, I’m behind ya. I’m going to tie up yer hair now, okay?” He wouldn’t be able to see me blink, so I gave the slightest of nods because that’s all I was able to give. His hands were surprisingly nimble, and his fingers felt light as he gathered all my overgrown, greasy, dirty hair into a miniature ponytail. The tingling stopped. I felt
clean,
cold,
good.
I kept my arms folded and rested them on the cold marble of the island. The pressure against my chest soothed me and I sighed in content, laying my forehead in my arms. I stayed like that for a few moments, until I grew bored and needed to move. Squeezing my eyes shut and grimacing, I slowly unfolded my arms and rubbed my temples, my hands now cold from the counter.
Don’t get too comfortable
You don’t know what he’ll do
“Do ya want some water?” Mentally I jumped, but physically all I did was open my eyes and tense. Oowada speaking broke the almost quiet. The fridge was still whining, but it didn’t hurt anymore.
“Sorry for frightening ya, but ya need to re-hydrate,” I stared at him. It was the first time I’d seen him in months. Instead of that ridiculous pompadour, his hair had been pulled into a lazy bun. It suited h
You can’t think things like that
He wasn’t wearing all his normal outfit either. Just that white tank top accompanied by a grey tracksuit that I hadn’t seen before. That made sense. It was midnight, on a weekend. He would dress in what normal people think are comfortable clothes. I was the odd one out in more ways than one because I was still wearing my suit. Most of my suit. I turned to look at my discarded jacket. The longer I leave it, the more wrinkled and dirtier it’s going to get, and there’s going to be more for the maids to tell father about.
“Will I pick up yer jacket?” I looked back at Oowada, making eye contact for a brief, unbearable second. My gaze flickered between him, my jacket, and the counter as I decided what do to.
You can get it yourself
Just tell him thank you for the help
Tell him to go away
I cleared my throat. “Yes, please. And a glass of water would be much appreciated.” It was the first time I had spoken in a week. My voice was hoarser than normal, but then again, I spoke so little I could hardly have a normal.
“Yer speaking, that’s good. Great,” He grinned. It felt good to make someone smile. Most of my interactions with people consisted of insults. I didn’t want people to get to close enough to notice something was wrong with me, “No problem, whatsoever. Any preferred type of glass? Do you want a straw?”
“An old-fashioned glass, if they’re there, and a straw, but could you…not touch it?” I trailed off, feeling stupid, abnormal. My eyes were deadlocked to the counter.
“Yeah, no bother, I’ll just bring ya over the box so ya can choose yourself,” He brushed off my request like it was completely in the ordinary.
“Ah, t-thank you,”
Fuck.
I stuttered.
He’s thinks I’m idiotic, immature, he’s going to tell everyone that I stutter and they’re all going to think I’m useless, he pays no heed and walks towards the tap
He pays no heed and walks towards the tap?
That’s not right
“I’m about to turn on the tap. If ya want, ya can cover your ears, it’ll help block out the noise,” He called over. Dumbfounded by his lack of reaction, I did as told and cupped my hands over my ears, waiting for him to hand me my water.
This is some kind of elaborate trick
He’s going to hurt you
Don’t trust him
Do
Not
Trust
Him
He carefully hung my jacket on the back of a chair, pulling out another for himself so he could sit beside me. With two glasses in hand and a box full of plastic straws tucked into his arm, he was cautious in every move he made. Sliding one glass over to me, he placed the other down and held out the box towards me. I scanned it over. They were stripped with white and various colours, but I wasn’t scanning for which colour I wanted. I was always going to choose green, and blue, if green wasn’t an option.
I was scanning to find the least populated area in the box, the easiest area to pull out a straw without touching the others so people wouldn’t get contaminated if they also wanted to use the straws. I settled on a section, and as skilfully as I could, pulled out a green straw, plopping it into my glass. Oowada did the same, minus the scanning and he used a red straw instead. I looked away from his glass. I didn’t like red. My hand clenched around my glass and I lifted it so the straw reached my mouth. I liked plastic straws. They felt nice to chew.
“Are ya autistic?” I froze.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit
I told you, but you didn’t listen!
Why didn’t you listen?!
“It’s not a bad thing! Togami-” My hands trembled, my teeth splintering from the pressure of being pressed together. The tingling crawling was back, around the base of my neck. “Jesus be careful, yer gonna hurt yerself with that kinda grip,” He pushed my wrist down and pried my hand off the glass. There were red marks from where the design had dug into my palm. My hand fell into a fist, and I moved it down to join my other hand clenched on my knee.
Get out of here as fast as you can
Do whatever it takes
No one can know
“How much do you want?” Now my voice was quiet. I stared straight ahead, unsure if I was blinking or not.
“Huh?”
“How. Much. Do. You. Want?” My teeth ached, but I didn’t let them separate.
“For what?”
“‘For what?’ To not tell anyone, what do you fucking think?!” I snapped, finally moving my head to glare at him. He looked… upset?
He’s probably just annoyed you caught him trying to blackmail you
Don’t think about him
His feelings don’t matter
“I don’t want shit, dude.”
I scoffed, and turned away, folding my arms, and slouching into my seat. “People always want something. So, come on. Name your price,”
“I said, I don’t want shit. This isn’t my shit to tell anyone,” I relaxed slightly, but I was still on edge. There has to be a catch.
Of course there’s a catch, don’t be idiotic
“Well, it’s easy revenge, then,” There has to be a reason, “Every time we interact, we’re at each other’s throat. Tell everyone that I’m,” I couldn’t say it, “Tell everyone this, and you’ve shamed me, ruined my life and career. A quick, effective way to get back at me for all the corncob insults,” The corncob ones were less insult and more observation, because his hair was truly atrocious. But I did feel partially bad about the likely possibility that I’ve hurt his feelings.
Don’t waste your time being concerned about him
Let him be hurt
He’s going to hurt you
Think of it as pre-emptive revenge
“Ya really assume the worst in everyone, huh? I don’t care that yer au-”
“Don’t say it.”
“That yer… different. Sure, yer a dick, but I barely care anymore. I hardly see ya enough to care. You’ve holed up in the last year. Everyone’s worried about you,”
“Bullshit,”
“I mean it, Togami. Even Toko struggles to find you anymore and she could have her talent changed to Ultimate Stalker, for fuck’s sake,”
He can’t know
Push him away
Hurt
Him
“How I spend my days are no plebian’s business. And you say Fukuwa being unable to bother me like it’s a bad thing,”
“That’s not the point I was making. What I meant is that yer here, but yer not at the same time,”
“That statement is impossible, I can’t be in two places at once,”
“Metaphorically. Yer at school, but ya just stay in your room 24/7. Ya don’t go to class, ya don’t go the canteen, ya barely even go the library anymore and that was yer second home,”
HURT
HIM
“I’m surprised you even know where the library is,”
“Don’t deflect what I’m saying,”
“Deflect’s a big word, it’s shocking that you know how to use correctly,”
“Ya can’t just push everyone away for the rest of yer life!” His normal temper quickly fired up, cutting me off, but it was quenched just as fast, “Look. I know it’s easier said than done, but ya gotta trust me, dude. I’m not gonna tell anyone. It’d be way worse to do that than anything you’ve ever said to me. And I’ve too much to lose if I go babbling. It’s a lose-lose situation,”
“What could you possibly lose?” I sneered.
“Everyone’s respect, Taka’s especially,” Ah, yes, his kyoudai. I can’t pick who’s louder and more annoying.
I’m just jealous of how close they are because I’ve never had any friends
.
There are no friends for Togami’s
There’s only people who want to hurt you
“Why would Taka care? I’m certain I’ve insulted him more than once,”
“We’ll he’s au- different too,” I twisted in my seat and stared at him. “That’s how I knew what to do to help you, through your meltdown. Or maybe it was a shutdown. I get confused between the two, but I’m learning,”
What?
I’m
I’m not alone?
It’s a trap
Don’t be fooled that quickly
“You’re lying,” It couldn’t be true.
“Why would I lie about that?” I couldn’t think as to why he would, but he must be.
He IS lying
“But he’s so… so… is well-adjusted the word?” Oowada chuckled.
“It’s taken him years to get to this point. He was diagnosed when he was five though, so he’s had a while,” If I had been diagnosed that early, I would be in some French orphanage, not the heir to Japan’s most powerful conglomerate.
I never would’ve stood a chance.
And you still don’t if you insist on going around and telling anyone who shows you the slightest bit of kindness
He’s
going
to
hurt
you
“Wouldn’t Taka be upset if he knew you were telling me this?”
“He doesn’t care, I mean, everyone knows already,” I sat back in my seat, scrunching my face as I thought. How could he not care? More importantly, how did everyone else not care? “When were ya diagnosed?” I quickly glanced up at him, and back down at the counter.
Don’t tell him anything
Leave
NOW
“Um, around a year ago,”
“Is that’s why you disappeared?”
“Partially, yes. Over the years, it’s become more of a struggle to…” I was really lacking with vocabulary tonight, “To pass, I suppose is the best word. I’m at my most calm when alone. I don’t have to think about everything when alone,” Although I knew I would regret sharing this, I felt unrestricted, and.
And free.
It was like for the first time, I was finally able to breathe.
I mean it, LEAVE
Oowada nodding knowingly, “Ya don’t have to pretend to be normal when yer alone. I half get it. I got dyslexia, so people think I’m an idiot ‘cause I can’t read well. So, I just stopped reading so they wouldn’t bother me ‘bout it anymore. Ya change yerself so ya don’t stand out for assholes to mock,”
He understands.
“Yes, exactly!” I smiled, nodding vigorously. Too vigorously.
Like a freak.
My smile dropped, and I turned away, embarrassed from my outburst. I shifted my hands so I could fold my arms tighter.
“Don’t get upset. Yer cute when yer excited,”
He thinks I’m
cute?
Don’t even THINK of indulging in anything like that
Your career will be destroyed before it even begins
You’ll be disowned
You’ll
“Ah fuck, that kinda slipped out, I, uh,” Mondo stared at floor, blushing, and rubbing the back of his neck. My own face had heated slightly as well, “What I meant by it was, uh… I mean, I meant it, but not in that, er, way. Yer cute, but I wasn’t tryna come on to ya or something, I was just making an observation, and, uh,”
“You’re digging yourself into a hole,” I stated.
He sighed, “I know,”
I chuckled. It lasted only a few moments, but I believe it was the first time I’ve ever genuinely laughed. No judging or insult behind it, and it certainly wasn’t forced. It felt really good.
Don’t ignore me
My lips rested in a smile, “Thank you, for the compliment, but I feel as though you wish to change the subject,”
“That would be fantastic, actually,” He laughed, his cheeks still hot, “So, uh, can I ask more questions ‘bout… ya know,”
Don’t say another word
“Depends on the question,”
“Did ya always know that yer different?”
STOP
TALKING
I sighed, “I’ve always been… off, but everyone just thought I was a little savant, or something. I grew up in a such a competitive environment, our work and status mattered more than anything else,” The taunting faces of my dead siblings spun in my head but I pushed the thoughts away as soon as they arrived, “I worked harder than anyone else, and I rightfully won the title of heir, but winning meant people payed more attention… to me…” I could tell he wanted more information, but wasn’t going to ask, so I wasn’t going to answer.
“What pushed it over the edge?” He asked, leaning forward, his elbows on the counter, “Getting the diagnosis, I mean,”
“Oh, um, it was a few things. I struggle with haircuts, handshakes and touching in general… showers,” I muttered the last word, “Eventually, father had heard enough from the staff, and got a psychologist to evaluate me. He thought it was something simple like over-working, or something stupid like anxiety. When he found out, he… he…” I subconsciously traced one of the scars on my arm. Oowada noticed.
“The fucker hit ya!?” His voice rose. I instinctively winced and shushed him.
“Don’t say that!” I whisper-shouted, glancing around nervously at the cameras. Father’s had them monitored more than once, but I’ve behaved, so I should be safe. “He didn’t hit me… not exactly… I. I can’t tell you,”
“Togami, if yer dad’s abusing you-”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He clamped his mouth shut and sank into his seat.
The only intelligent thing you’ve said tonight
“Sorry I shouted, I didn’t mean to,” He was quiet again, “I’m always here if ya ever want to talk about it,”
“We barely know each other, that’s hardly a sensible thing to do,” That familiar, bitter, defensive tone took hold of my voice again.
Good
If you leave now, you can still save your hard work
Just get up
You don’t even have to say goodbye
“After tonight I probably know ya better than anyone else at school,”
“It wasn’t on purpose,”
“Most good things aren’t,”
Good?
I was part of something… good?
Stop falling for his tricks
You have to listen to me
“Yer blushing,” I pressed my hand against my face. I was burning.
Shit.
“It’s hot in here,” My voice was calm, but my posture clearly was not.
“Let’s get ya to bed, then,” He hopped off the chair, and stretched, resting his hands behind his head. I followed suit, grabbing both our glasses to put them in the sink. I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I knew they were just sitting on the counter the whole night. “I’m serious, Togami,” He lazily cocked his head towards me, “My old man wasn’t great either, so no matter what ya think, I’m always here,”
Why is he being so nice to an asshole like me?
I’m warning you
He’s going to hurt you
------------
The walk to my room was long and silent. I never minded keeping quiet company, but I could never truly enjoy it, always conscious that I should be filling the void with irritating babble. Normal people constantly talked and pauses between conversation were always nicknamed ‘awkward’, which I never understood. Not that my opinion would matter. This world was run by normal people, for normal people, and I just have to blend in and be accepted.
“We’re here,” He broke the silence for me. My door felt imposing, but for good reason. Behind it stood the whole reason I was in this mess: carpet. I was grateful that I was carrying my jacket because it gave me something to fidget with. Oowada must’ve sensed my apprehension. “What caused yer meltdown?”
“Meltdown?” I looked at him quizzically. He’d said the word earlier, but I was too caught up in my distress to pay much attention.
“What happened to you in the kitchen. You weren’t talking though, so it might actually be a shutdown…” His face contorted as he concentrated, but he quickly ran through all he could think of about the subject. It made me concerned for the amount of thoughts he was capable of having. “Like I said, I’m still learning,” He was so relaxed talking about the topic. Perhaps it was because he didn’t suffer from it himself.
“I wasn’t aware that they had a term,”
“They happen often?” Said with pure curiosity, no other motive behind it.
Don’t answer
“As a child, nearly every day. I was punished accordingly for the outbursts. Now, they’ve become quieter and happen in privacy. Tonight was an exception,” At the mention of punishments, he tensed but thought better of pushing the topic any further.
“What set ya off?” I considered not telling him, but he knew so much already, it wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Consider it more
It will make a huge difference
LISTEN TO ME
“Carpet, mainly. I can’t bear the feeling, and it’s in both my room and the library,”
“I know all yer senses can kinda work together to irritate ya ‘bout something, but if ya just kept yer shoes on when walking ‘round, wouldn’t it sorta help?”
“I can’t wear my shoes inside my room,”
“Says who?”
“Society,”
“Is society watching ya in yer room?” Oh. That was a good point. “No one’s watching ya, and even if there was, just tell ‘em fuck off, it’s yer room and ya can do what ya want,”
“You’re right, I. I never thought of it like that,”
“Ya feel better ‘bout going in now?” The way he looked at me had no expectations. He didn’t care how I answered. It was one of many firsts from tonight.
He expects everything of you
Everyone does
You have a name, a title, to uphold
“I do. Thank you,”
“Anything else?”
“The, uh, tiles, in my bathroom. And the hand towel. I struggle with… germs,”
He gave me the first quizzical look of the night.
Oh no.
I told you
Shut up while you can
“Is that not normal?” There was a slight panicked hitch to my voice which I hoped he hadn’t noticed, “Or as normal as I can be at least?”
“Oh, it’s probably nothing, I just haven’t heard that being a common thing with, er, different people, that’s all. It’s different for everyone, obviously,” That relaxed me the smallest bit. “D’ya spill something in there?”
“Huh? Oh, no, I hardly use it. I’m concerned about other’s people’s germs,”
“Who else uses yer bathroom?”
“The previous owner,”
“The last time someone else was in yer room was nearly three years ago. It’s definitely been cleaned since then; their germs wouldn’t be around anymore…”
He was confused. He was concerned. He was judging.
Shit
You fucked up.
“Ah, never mind, it’s nothing, I shouldn’t have brought it up,”
“No, it’s something,”
“It’s fine, you should go get some rest, Oowada,”
“Togami, I want to help. And call me Mondo. I hate that formal shit,”
He’s talking down to you, like a mother does a child
He thinks nothing of you
Go
RUN
We faced each other, my head tilted towards the floor, arms folded. Despite us being the same height, I felt small and frail beside him. We stood inches apart and yet we lived in completely different worlds. He was so earnest and open, and I’m forced to be closed off and cold. He was so full of life, and I.
I was barely anything at all.
He’s giving you the chance to change
But you won’t take it
You’re too afraid, and for good reason too
There’s no point even trying
Just tell him to go away, like you always do, and go back to how it always was
Pretend tonight never happened
If you change, you have to throw everything you worked so hard for away
And what are you without your work?
Your title?
Nothing
Worthless
Think about it
That’s all you’re good at, anyways
Thinking
So put your big brain to use and make the right decision
Don’t take the risk
“Togami?” My head lifted.
And I spoke.
“First, if I’m to call you Mondo, then you’re to call me Byakuya, and second I. I want your help, Mondo. I need your help,”
What are you doing?
You’re a fool
Are you really going to throw away everything that easily?
Putting your life in the hands of a man who probably can’t count past ten?
I thought you were smarter than this
Fine
Go ahead
Don’t listen to me
You’re making a huge mistake
Don’t come crawling back to me when you realise it yourself
Mondo smiled at me, “How’s ‘bout we start by raiding the janitor’s closet and bleach yer bathroom?” I smiled back.
“Sounds fantastic,”