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Ken had known that long-distance relationships were hard, had heard others complain about missing their partners all the time. But knowing something second-hand and learning it first-hand were two very different things.
Now, Daisuke was in America, a whole world away, and Ken missed him terribly.
Some days, it was fine, a barely noticeable thrum in the back of his mind. But on days like this, when he had nowhere to be and no homework to distract him, it grew into a deep, deep ache that felt like it was eating him from the inside out.
He wanted to call, message, video chat - anything to hear his voice, see his smile, and remember the times they’d spent together. Those lazy high school days spent playing video games and snacking on junk food, the tense days where they barely said a word because of how busy they were, the days spent together, in the truest sense of the word, tangled in sheets and drawing out sighs of pleasure until they could no longer continue.
He wrapped his arms tight around his slender frame and tried to pretend it was Daisuke holding him.
Lifting his head from his textbook, he glanced towards a framed photo that sat beside his laptop. Reaching out, he picked it up and examined it.
It was from Daisuke’s graduation. His had been on a different day and so he’d been able to attend and watch his friends walk across the stage and accept their high school diplomas. Afterwards, they’d stepped outside to take pictures together under the blooming cherry trees. He remembered this day fondly, when Daisuke had pulled him close and insisted on getting a picture of just the two of them. Ken remembered his mother’s proud smile - she always did see Daisuke as another son - as she took the photo.
He traced a finger over photo Daisuke’s smiling face, along his jawline, down his neck. Droplets lightly hit the glass and Ken pressed his lips together, trying and failing to suppress a whimpered sob. It had been three long years without seeing each other in person, events always conspiring to keep them apart, to prolong the aching agony, and Ken was so tired.
“When will I get to see you again?” He whispered, unable to speak any louder.
His phone trilled, and his head snapped up. Slowly, a smile spread over his face as he picked it up. Daisuke always did know when he really needed the call.
Then again, the opposite was also true. It was probably a Jogress thing.
Sniffling, he hit answer. “Hello?”
“Ken,” Daisuke’s voice was rough with emotion and Ken couldn’t help but sob. “I know, love. It won’t be long now.”
“When?” He choked out.
“My final semester exams are next week. Graduation is next month.” A sniff, a soft sob. “Soon. I promise. I can’t wait to see you.”
Ken hiccuped, wiped his face with his sleeve. “I wish it could be today. I miss you so much.”
“Me too,” he murmured. Swallowing, he added, “I’m wearing your hoodie today. I just… wanted to feel like you’re close.”
He closed his eyes and smiled. “I’m glad it can bring you comfort. I was just looking at the graduation photo we took together.”
“I still have mine,” Ken could hear the smile in his voice. “I like looking at it on days like this, too.”
Ken glanced at the time and frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”
“I ducked out cause I could feel your pain and it was setting me off.”
He grimaced. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, I think I really needed this cry,” he replied, “I think I can make it to next month. I do have to go, though. Smile for me, will ya?”
Well, when he asked like that, how was Ken supposed to say no? He laughed softly and Daisuke hummed in approval. “Get back to your class. I’ll call you when I wake up in the morning.”
“I look forward to it. Good night, Ken. Sleep well.”
“Good night. I’ll try.” A few more soft exchanges and they hung up. Slowly, Ken placed his phone back down on his desk and lifted the picture frame from his lap. This time, he regarded it with a smile, lightly wiping away the tears and replacing it next to his laptop. Then, he stood and headed for bed. Tomorrow is one day closer to seeing him again. I can’t wait. Curling up in bed, he pulled a sleeping Wormmon close and drifted off.
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Daisuke rubbed anxiously as the cuff of his sleeve - well, technically, it was Ken’s sleeve. He’d been so nervous for the flight back that he’d put Ken’s hoodie on, despite how hot it was. He felt sweat trickle down his neck, but he couldn’t bring himself to take the garment off, too comforted by its softness and warmth. It certainly didn’t help that he had a sleeping Chibimon in the hood adding to the warmth and weight.
He spotted his second suitcase as it trundled around the conveyor belt. He dove forward and yanked it off, placing it on the cart with his other two bags (maybe he’d brought too much stuff back. It wasn’t his fault that everything had memories attached!). Now that he had all of his belongings, he could head outside and hopefully make his way to his new flat.
He drummed his fingers against the handle of the cart as he meandered through the crowd. A cab was gonna cost so much, but he didn’t have a Japanese driver’s license so he couldn’t rent a car to take his stuff home and there was no way he was getting all this luggage home on public transport. Biting his lip, he wondered what to do. Maybe the cab was the best opt-
“ DAISUKE!!! ”
His head snapped up, heart blooming with hope. There, waiting as close as was allowed, was Ken.
He almost let go of the cart, perfectly fine to cast it aside if it meant getting to his boyfriend faster. Still, he had to control himself. At least, until they could get home.
Hurrying over, he barely made it past the line of tape keeping non-travellers out of the way when Ken slammed into him, almost sending them both toppling to the ground, and jostling Chibimon until they awoke with a yelp.
“Hey! What’s the big idea?!”
Neither of them noticed his complaints, though, too busy crashing their lips together. A sharp feeling of relief washed over them both, the couple slowly pulling apart, though only far enough that they could still breathe.
“How did you know?” Daisuke whispered.
“Your emotions. The excitement, the anxiety, the longing... They were so strong…” He replied, just as quietly. That made sense; their ability to sense each other’s emotions hadn’t faded after they stopped Jogressing, though it had become difficult to feel them from so far apart without focussing. Unless, of course, they were very strong emotions. Even though Daisuke had tried to keep it a secret, wanting to surprise his friends, he couldn’t hide such things from Ken.
He chuckled, rubbing their noses together a little. “Let’s get home. I have so much that I wanna talk about!” This time, after giving Ken one last kiss, he pulled back completely and grabbed his luggage cart. Ignoring the looks the people nearby were giving them, he steered it towards the exit as he chattered at Ken. “Y’know, I was just wondering how I’d get home. I couldn’t take the train cause this is too much for one person, but since you’re here-”
Ken snorted. “Dai, please, we are not taking the train. I passed my driver’s test last year and my parents got me a car to celebrate.”
Daisuke stopped dead in his tracks, turning wide, sparkling eyes on his boyfriend. “You can drive?!”
His shoulders shook from suppressed laughter. “Yes, Daisuke, I can.”
“You never told me!”
“Surprise?”
Daisuke threw an arm around his shoulders, cackling. “You little sneak! I can’t believe you’d hide this from me!” Slowly, his smile faded. “I’ve missed so much…”
Ken visibly swallowed. “Well, now we can catch up on everything. I’ll tell you all about the test on our way home.”
“Can I pick the music?”
“No.”