Work Text:
I will never leave your side, my love
Standing right beside you is enough
Count on me if you feel any pain
Call to me I’ll run to you again
You can count on me,
and I can count on you
1
«Yuya, why are you crying?»
(Why this question, Yuma? I'm not...)
He opened his eyes wide and found himself mirrored in two warm red glasses that seemed to have no end. Their irises were the same, they were the same warm, enveloping crimson color, but Yuma's had something
(a gear)
more. Yuma's irises were as pure as a newly bloomed rose, they warmed the soul and made the heart vibrate with a feeling that Yuya, before meeting him
(and to lose himself in those deep eyes)
had never felt.
(Calm down, you're still confused. You've known him for too short a time and still have no certainty. Don't rush to conclusions. Still...)
He felt a lonely tear running down his right cheek, then another one running down his left cheek, then the right one again, then the left one again and so on, and his vision became blurred and his body began to tremble and Yuya felt so small in that city so big and still too unknown that he had the bad
(very bad, evil)
feeling of sinking into the void.
He was afraid. He didn't recognize himself anymore.
2
«Forgive me, Yuma» he replied as he wiped away his tears.
They had stopped on the way to both of their homes. Classes were over and they could finally go home and relax a bit before they started studying. It was fortunate for Yuya to have found in Yuma an “almost” neighbor – just a few houses away, they weren't that far apart – because otherwise he wouldn't have known how to do it.
He missed Paradise City more and more every day. He missed his friends and all the beautiful places he used to visit and hang out with them. He even missed his old school, because everything about Paradise City instilled in him a sense of familiarity and everydayness that had accompanied him through his first thirteen years of life.
And now, at the age of fourteen, his hometown had become Heartland City, at least a three-hour train ride away from the still vivid memory of Paradise City. Yuya never thought that moving would involve an emotional burden of such caliber. He could hardly be himself anymore; it was damn hard for him. He had always been a sunny guy, a real entertainer, just like his father; a guy who never gave up and always tried to find a solution to every problem. Too bad, though, that he had always done it for others and never for himself. Because now he felt completely engulfed by the sense of bewilderment that was eating away at his insides, and he could no longer emanate the same light that made others feel so good
(and maybe even himself).
Several weeks had passed since his move, but it was still so difficult to face the days with serenity. That's why he couldn't help but inwardly thank Yuma for having extended his hand to him from day one: if he hadn't been there, Yuya would most likely have let his fears devour him completely.
3
«Why should I forgive you? You haven't done anything wrong».
Yuma stood by his side as he had always done all those weeks. Even though they didn't know each other very well, since they had met for the first time, something had clicked in both of them: a strong liking and trusting each other blindly because it was their heart's whisper that had brought them closer as if they had known each other all their lives.
Neither of them could explain how or why, it simply happened. And sometimes it happened that two people found themselves in sync without having to give who knows what explanations.
4
«I know, but I almost feel like I'm wronging you by acting like this» Yuya continued, wiping away the last tear.
He felt damned guilty towards him
(a real monster, actually)
because Yuma did everything not to make him feel lonely, he dedicated whole afternoons to show him the city in its many nuances, he made him smile and was a concentration of energy so positive that Yuya felt invigorated every time he spent time in his company.
But there was always that disturbing and terrible shadow that followed him and didn't let him breathe; a sense of abandonment that he had yet to leave behind in order to fully focus on his new future. But it was difficult to turn his back on his roots, and he feared that sooner or later Yuma would tire of his sudden whining, leaving him completely alone. And Yuya didn't want that to happen. Not for any reason in the world.
5
«Are you serious? Yuya, if I were you I think I'd be crying day and night non-stop!» Yuma exclaimed resting his hands on his hips. «You're working so hard to settle in as quickly as possible that I can't help but admire you. I don't know if I could have done it... just thinking about leaving Heartland City is inconceivable to me. So imagine you, who left your town and arrived here without knowing anyone. You just don't realize how strong you are, do you?»
6
The moment Yuma approached him and embraced him, Yuya let go. The schoolbag slipped from his hand and fell to the ground as he returned the embrace that he had inwardly yearned for for days and nights. He needed Yuma, he was more than aware of that now. But he also needed to regain his self-confidence and be able to be himself again. He wanted to be able to stand in front of Yuma without any filter, showing himself for what he really was. And he wanted to be next to him without any evil shadow ready to devour him at any moment.
He wanted to be free. And he wanted to be free with him.
7
«Remember, Yuya, that you can always count on me. For anything, I will be there. And don't be afraid, ever. Even to cry. I... I love you».
8
Those last words didn't hurt him – he was confused, but not deluded.
Because he loved Yuma, too. In time, they would mature, and with them, so would the feelings. Knowing that Yuma loved him was enough to bring him back to life. He squeezed him a little tighter and let a smile escape.
9
«The same goes for me, Yuma. You can always count on me, too. And I love you. So much».
10
Heartland City, from that day on, began to look a little more gracious and welcoming to him.
(David Guetta & Sia – Let's Love)