Work Text:
Ken stared up at the building before him, thoroughly intimidated despite its inviting exterior. The walls were a soft yellow, the sign written in mint green and baby blue: Tamachi Live-in Care Ward. A place he hadn’t been in a long time. Biting his lip, he hesitated. Maybe he shouldn’t come. It had been so long since his last visit-
A buzzing in his pocket startled him (he definitely didn’t squeak, though! Definitely not!), and he pulled out his phone, opening his messaging app.
Dai 🍜: Good luck today! I know you two will have a lot to talk about. It sucks that I couldn’t come but hopefully I’ll be free next time! Say hi to your bro for me <3
Ken chuckled, clutched the phone to his chest. Somehow, Daisuke always seemed to know when he needed encouragement. If Ken didn’t know any better, he’d think his partner were psychic.
Me: I will, don’t worry. I hope your stream goes well!
Filled with renewed courage, Ken took a deep breath and stepped forward, pushing open the wooden door; it was as heavy as he remembered.
“Welcome!” the receptionist greeted him. “How may I help you today?”
“I’m here to visit my brother. Ichijouji.”
“Ah, yes! You called last night for the appointment, I remember… Yep, there you are. Fashionably early.”
Ken laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “I was so anxious that I just couldn’t sit still, so I decided to just come in now.”
“No worries, I’m sure Osamu-kun won’t mind. We have a set of lockers back here for you to store your belongings, I’m gonna need you to remove anything hazardous.” The receptionist - her name tag saying Noriko - placed a basket on the desk. “Just put your stuff in there.”
Ken did, removing his coat and bag, the watch Daisuke got him for Christmas, his phone and wallet. “Do I need to remove my shoelaces? I think I did last time.”
“You’ll need to remove your shoes, but we have flats we can lend to visitors. What’s your size?”
Shoes swapped out and belongings stashed away, Ken made his way down the corridor as the receptionist had instructed. It didn’t take him long to find his brother’s room, a personalised plate displaying his name. The bubbles made Ken’s throat ache. He breathed deep and knocked on the door.
“Yes?”
Ken pushed the door open, smiling as his eyes landed on the room’s inhabitant. “Hi, nii-san.” Osamu returned his smile, hitting the spacebar on his laptop and moving it aside.
“Ken! It’s so good to see you!” he chirped, reaching his arms out and hugging Ken when he got close enough. “I was just catching up on some of your youtube videos. I see you’ve made a new friend?”
“Yeah, Daisuke.” Ken sat down in the comfy armchair beside Osamu.
“He seems like a great guy, really funny. Kinda loud, though.”
Ken laughed. “He can be, but he’s not as obnoxious as he might appear on camera.”
“I was just watching the video where you tried to teach him speedrunning.” Osamu snickered. “He’s not quite as quick as you to pick up new stuff, but he sure was determined.” Ken hummed in agreement. “There were some really weird cuts, though. Did you two fight or something?”
“Oh, no, nothing like that. Just a quick talk to keep things open.”
“Huh. What about?”
“Uh, this and that. Nothing too important.” Ken laughed, tugging at his bangs. “How have things been for you?”
Osamu raised an eyebrow. “...Fine, I guess. Kinda boring but hey, can’t complain too much.”
Ken swallowed, the unspoken ending to his sentence squeezing painfully at his heart. “Were there any new games you wanted? I could buy them for you, if you like.”
“Hmm, I dunno if they’re available on PC yet, but I really wanna try those games you’re always speedrunning. With the Disney characters.”
“Oh, Kingdom Hearts? I think the series is on PC now. It took them a while to port it but I actually plan on buying them soon myself.”
Osamu’s eyes lit up. “Really?! Awesome! I can’t wait to try them.” He swayed from side to side happily and Ken couldn’t help but chuckle. “Are they difficult to play?”
“At my level, yes. But they’re pretty easy to pick up if you’re not going for precision.”
“Well, obviously it’s gonna be hard to play at your level.” Osamu rolled his eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Ken pulled a face at him and they both dissolved into laughter. “Y’know, I’ve missed you. You haven’t visited in so long, I barely recognised you when you walked in.”
Ken bit his lip, shoulder tensing. “I’m sorry. I was… ashamed of who I was. I didn’t take what happened very well.”
“I remember.” Osamu murmured. “When I finally woke up, mum showed me some of your videos. Let’s just say, I much prefer your newer stuff.”
“Me too,” Ken replied. “I’m glad I was able to mature and heal. Holding on to that grief was eating me up.”
Osamu’s smile was pained. “I’m glad, too. I’m also glad you met Daisuke-san. He seems like he’s good for you.”
Ken felt his face heat up. “I’m sure he’d tell you not to bother with the honorifics, nii-san.”
“Well, next time you can bring him with you and he can say so himself.” Osamu grinned. Ken sighed. “What’s wrong?”
“Huh? Nothing, why?”
“That sounded like a disappointed sigh to me.”
“I guess? I was hoping he could come this time but he got a sponsor who wanted him to stream today so his hands were tied.”
Osamu was quiet for a long moment. “You two sure hang out a lot…” he mused. “You’re always in each others’ videos and streams. You don’t live that close to each other, right?”
Ken blinked. “He lives in Odaiba.”
“And you?”
“What about me?”
“You moved out, right? From our parents’ place.”
Ken tugged at his bangs. “I see what you’re trying to imply here.”
“Am I wrong?”
“... More like annoyingly observant.” he grumbled.
Osamu whooped. “I knew it! You two live together! You’re dating, too, right?”
“Wha-?”
“Don’t deny it, I know those looks. Mum and dad looked at each other the same way all the time, I remember.”
Ken’s face was now surely aflame, and he ducked to hide behind his long hair. “...Well, yes, we are.” he admitted. “We’ve been together for a couple of years now.”
“That long? Whoa, I thought it was shorter.” Osamu’s eyebrows disappeared behind his fringe.
“Yeah, we’ve been getting pretty sloppy about hiding it, to be honest.” Ken grimaced. “It’s got so normal to be affectionate that we sometimes forget to be professional when the cameras are rolling. Honestly, we’re probably going to have to make a video addressing it.”
“I see. And you don’t want to.”
“No, I don’t. I never realised how difficult it is to be in a private relationship when you spend so much of your time on camera.” Ken sighed, pushing his bangs up out of his face. “I don’t even know how to go about this…”
“Hmm... “ Osamu put his hand to his chin in thought. “I know that FAQ or assumptions videos are pretty popular nowadays. Maybe you could take the pressure off of yourselves by doing an Ask Me Anything video with Daisuke. After all, I’m sure at least some of your fans have also noticed.”
“They have,” Ken murmured. “They never stop making comments or asking about it. But you know… that’s not a bad idea, actually.” He grinned. “I’ll have to suggest it to Daisuke once I leave the ward.”
“Why not ask him now?” At Ken’s confused look, Osamu reached for the laptop and quickly typed something in. Soon, Daisuke’s voice was floating out of the speakers. “You did say he’s streaming right now. I have an account but you can log into yours, if you want.”
Ken’s surprise melted into fondness. “Thank you, nii-san.” he murmured, leaning forward and pulling him into a gentle hug. Osamu squeezed him before pulling back and offering the laptop, Ken taking it gratefully and logging himself into his streaming account. Opening a whisper, he typed quickly.
TH3_K4153R: Hey Dai, reply when you get a sec.
He knew that Daisuke had seen his whisper pop up pretty much immediately, his expression shifting slightly even as his speech continued. He leaned forward and Ken saw the dots indicating he was typing back.
Noodle_Bowl: Yeah, what’s up?
As Ken typed up his response, he heard Daisuke finishing up his story. “And that’s how I managed to accidentally buy thirty bulk boxes of pocky instead of three, and also why I pretty much never eat pocky anymore. Okay guys, I’m gonna take a quick break, enjoy this montage while I take care of some stuff!” Not long after the montage started, Ken received another whisper.
Noodle_Bowl: Well? What’s going on? I thought you were visiting your bro
TH3_K4153R: I am, he’s lending me his laptop. He gave me a good idea for addressing the whole “telling everyone we’re in a relationship” thing
Noodle_Bowl: Really? Ok, shoot
Ken quickly typed out his brother’s idea, Daisuke agreeing that it was a good idea. After a few quick exchanges discussing the details, Daisuke had to return to his livestream.
Noodle_Bowl: Should I bring it up at the end of this stream? We can hash out the details later, this’d be more of a “this is in the works but not final” thing.
Ken hesitated before replying with an affirmative. Daisuke simply sent back a thumbs up emote and then the montage was gone and he was back on screen.
“Hey all, sorry about the sudden break; sometimes, you just gotta take care of stuff right away, y’know?” he laughed. “Anyway, just to remind you guys that this stream was graciously sponsored…”
Ken returned the laptop to his brother with a smile. “I really appreciate the help. Thanks, nii-san.”
“Don’t mention it,” he replied. “Honestly, I’m happy I could help. I may be stuck here, but I can still be of use somehow.”
Ken’s heart ached at his brother’s words. He must be bored out of his mind. “You know, I could make you a mod or my social media manager, if you want,” he suggested. “Give you something to do, a way to stay connected more easily.”
Osamu’s eyes widened. “Oh, no, that’s okay-”
“I’m not saying this out of obligation or anything like that.” Ken interrupted. “I want you to be as happy as you can be, and it’s clear that helping me makes you happy.” His expression softened. “Please don’t reject the idea without at least thinking about it.”
“I’m not even sure I’d be allowed to,” Osamu admitted. “They’re pretty strict about social media here. I’m glad they at least let me watch livestreams.”
“Is there any way I can convince them to allow it, do you think?”
“I don’t know. You should try asking the head doctor, maybe they’ll be willing to consider it?”
“Hmm, I’ll ask the receptionist on my way out for any info.” He glanced at the clock. “Speaking of which, it’s almost time for me to go.” Osamu deflated and Ken smiled sympathetically. “I know, it wasn’t a long visit. I’ll make sure to visit more often, though, to make up for it.”
“You better.” Osamu pouted. “It is nearly time for my physio, so I guess it’s not that bad. At least I have something to do after you leave.”
“How is your physio going?”
Osamu wrinkled his nose. “Slowly. It’s really hard, but I’m getting some movement back in my legs.”
“That’s great news!” Ken gasped. “Considering what happened, I’d almost say it’s miraculous.”
Osamu winced. “Yeah. I put you, mum and dad through a lot of pain and expense, huh? I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologise. I’m just glad you’re still here, and I know Mama and Papa would say the same.” He reached forward and lay a hand on his brother’s arm. “Really, we all know how hard you’re trying. And we’re all so proud of you. I just know that one day, you’ll be able to come home. I hope I can be there for that day.”
Osamu sniffled, giving Ken a big, wobbly grin. “Thanks, Ken. I’ll work hard to make that happen.” Smiling, Ken leaned forward and pulled his brother into a gentle hug.
A knock on the door interrupted the moment and Ken stood to answer. A nurse smiled at him. “I’m afraid your visitation time is up.”
“Okay, I’ll be right out.” Closing the door, he returned to Osamu’s side and hugged him again. “See you soon, Nii-san.”
“Better be sooner than this time.” he joked, both of them laughing. “See you soon, Ken.”
After gathering his belongings (and putting his shoes back on - those flats were less comfortable than they looked), Ken made his way to the train station. Once on the platform, he unlocked his phone.
Me: On my way home now :)
He didn’t have to wait as long as he’d expected for a reply, his phone buzzing just as the train pulled into the station.
Dai🍜: Awesome! Be safe, I’ll have dinner ready for once you get in.
Me: Oh, is the stream over already?
Dai🍜: Yep, ended like 5 mins ago. You caught me right near the end of it
Ken sent a little thumbs up emoji, lifting his head to gaze out of the window with a soft smile on his face.
--------------
Daisuke glanced up from the pot he was stirring at the sound of the door opening.
“I’m home!” Came Ken’s voice.
“Welcome home!” Daisuke called back, returning to his stirring. A few moments later, he heard Ken turn the corner into the kitchen, a pair of arms winding around his waist and a chin resting on his shoulder. Ken sighed, his warm breath tickling Daisuke’s ear and eliciting a smile. “How was it?”
“It was nice. I really have missed speaking to him.” Ken replied. Daisuke glanced over to see him staring at the pot curiously. “What’s this?”
“I figured I’d make something a little different. It’s gravy, we’re having salisbury steak and mashed potatoes.”
“Ooh, that sounds good!” Ken beamed. “I’m gonna go wash up and change, will it be long?”
“Not at all, the salisbury steak should be done soon. All I have left to do is mash the potatoes.” He turned the heat down and left the gravy to simmer, turning to lift another pot from the stove. “Go get comfy, you have like five minutes.”
“Right.” Ken swept out of the room and the sound of the bedroom door clicking shut followed.
Daisuke focused on finishing their dinner, mashing the potatoes with some milk and butter and then arranging the food on their plates. He was just bringing them out to the dining room table when Ken emerged from the bathroom.
He grinned. “Hungry?”
“Starving.” Ken groaned in response, quickly seating himself opposite Daisuke. As soon as Daisuke himself sat down, Ken said his thanks and dug in.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding,” Daisuke chuckled. “Emotional day?” Ken hummed in response. “Well, you can tell me all about it later. But y’know, my stream was pretty sick today!” Ken made a curious sound and Daisuke launched into a (slightly exaggerated) retelling of the events.
At some point, Ken interrupted. “Wow, that’s a lot. I’ve heard a lot of complaints from other streamers about stream snipers but I never figured you’d get any.”
“I know, it was so damn frustrating!” Daisuke griped. “But my teammates seemed to figure out what was happening and started protecting me so things turned around pretty fast.”
“Honestly, it’s pretty embarrassing that they were doing so badly they felt the need to snipe the noob.” Ken frowned. “You said this was an unofficial beginner’s tourney, right? They should’ve been penalised.”
“They were,” Daisuke reassured him. “After we wiped the floor with them, they got disqualified for cheating.”
Ken snickered. “Good.” He put his cutlery down and leaned back with a satisfied sigh. “Thanks for the food, that was divine.”
Daisuke grinned. “Glad you liked it. I’m gonna be trying out more recipes, so get used to having something different.”
“Sounds good.” Ken’s smile was soft. “I’m happy that you feel more confident in your cooking now. I look forward to trying everything you cook.”
There was a lull in the conversation as Daisuke finished up his own meal. Once done, Daisuke frowned. “Okay, what’s up?”
“Huh?”
“You’re being quiet. And not the usual reserved quiet, this is a weird quiet.”
Ken stared for a moment. “I don’t get you. Sometimes, you’re oblivious, and then you go and get all observant like this.” He sighed, tugged at his bangs. Neither of them spoke for a few seconds, Daisuke content to wait for Ken to build his courage. Then, “I want you to meet my brother.”
Daisuke’s eyebrows rose. “Where’d this come from? Not that I mind, I’d love to meet him.”
“He knows we’re together already anyway,” Ken muttered. “He picked up on the clues, figured out that we’re living together and dating.”
“Huh. Were we that obvious?”
“I don’t know, he’s always been very sharp. Either way, you’re both my family so I think it’s high time I introduced you to each other.”
Daisuke’s heart flip-flopped in his chest. He’d considered Ken his family for a long time, but hearing him say he felt the same…
His throat felt tight.
“I’d love that,” he said. “I’ve wanted to meet my future brother-in-law for a while, but it felt… wrong? To say so, after what you told me happened to him.”
Ken scoffed. “‘Future brother-in-law’, huh? But I’d like that. You two meeting each other.”
“Did you already book another appointment?”
“Not yet, I wanted to figure out a day when we’d both be free.”
“You have that charity thing coming up soon, and I have a couple more sponsored streams in the next couple of weeks… Should we aim more for next month?”
Ken smiled. “That sounds good. How about we keep the first week of next month open, start planning for then?”
“Perfect.” Daisuke beamed. He couldn’t wait to meet his boyfriend’s brother. He was pretty open about his family situation, but he couldn’t deny the longing he had for a loving sibling. Ken’s parents had accepted him readily, and were already aware of their relationship, but he couldn’t deny that he missed his older sister. Even though they had argued often, he would’ve done anything for her.
“What’re you thinking about?” Ken’s voice cut through his thoughts and he blinked. His partner’s expression was concerned. “You seem upset…”
Daisuke scrubbed his eyes hurriedly. “Just reminiscing, I guess.”
Ken reached across the table and laid his hand over Daisuke’s. “I just know you and nii-san will love each other. So don’t be sad, okay?”
Daisuke turned his hand over and held Ken’s, gently stroking with his thumb. “I know.” He murmured, smiling softly. “I’m looking forward to it.”