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Thunder roared. Thoma shifted uncomfortably on top of his bed, struggling to find a comfortable position to lay down. The wind screamed bloody murder by his one-room apartment’s window, the heavy rain pounding on the panes and painting the world outside a murky grey. Thoma sighed and sat up, the blankets falling down to his waist, and further mussed up his blonde hair in frustration. Seems like he wasn’t going to get any sleep that night.
Thoma was in his final year at Inazuma University, and it was through sheer luck that he managed to snag this little apartment with decent rent that was only a short walk’s away. No way was he going to afford a better place with his salary as a part-time warehouse worker. Ayato had offered to help multiple times, but Thoma would always refuse the help. He didn’t want to burden the man, and besides, he loved his apartment - it was small, yes, but it was close to the university, which made it a great gathering place for their group of friends after class. Thoma loved being surrounded by his friends and loved ones, and having everyone he cared for squeezed into his place made his heart warm. Besides, Ayato loved Taroumaru, his (their) pet shiba, and he doubted many other landladies would allow pets in an apartment.
Thoma glanced over at Taroumaru, curled up on the little pet bed Ayato had bought for him. He remembered finding the little guy in an alley on a rainy day just like this one a few years back, lost and abandoned in a foreign place. His situation struck too close to home, and he couldn’t not pick him up and bring him back to his apartment. When he told Ayato about him, it was Ayato who negotiated with his landlady, weaving his clever words with just enough charm to sway the already smitten elderly landlady to allow the dog into their house, on the condition that he did not bark incessantly since the walls of the apartment were terribly thin. Thankfully, he and Ayato had raised the best boy, and there were no complaints from the landlady and his neighbours alike. He even spotted the elderly lady slipping Taroumaru a dog biscuit once.
A bolt of lightning sliced the sky outside his window in half, followed by a boom that seemed to shake the building’s core. Taroumaru slept on. Thoma sighed again, mildly jealous of his dog.
Right as he was about to lay down again, a sound that rang different from the thunderstorm’s booms came to his attention. Thoma paused, straining his ears to pick it up. It was faint, but there. It sounded like… knocking? Yes, it was definitely there. Who would be at his door at this hour? Thoma frowned, getting up and making his way to the door cautiously. The faint knocking grew slightly louder. Placing his hand on the handle, he took a deep breath and unlatched the door, pulling it open slowly.
Once he saw just who was on the other side, he swung the door wide open, abandoning all caution.
“Ayato?”
Ayato stood at the doorway, silent and face down. He was still dressed in the thin pale blue yukata he usually wore to sleep. His usually neat, silver locks were clumped together from the rain, his clothes soaked and clinging to his body. The sound of water dripping to the floor snapped Thoma out of his shock.
“My god, did you run here in the rain?
Ayato kept his gaze downwards, nodding softly.
“Get in, come on.”
Thoma took his hand gently, leading Ayato into his apartment and shutting the door. He busied himself with gathering towels and a fresh change of clothes, focusing on what needed his immediate attention. Ayato stood in the middle of the apartment, looking unusually small and lost, arms hugging around himself. Once he had found what he needed, Thoma turned back to Ayato and handed him the clothes and towel. Just then, Ayato looked up, opening his mouth.
“Thoma… I-”
“Shh, we can talk later. But first we need you to get into the shower and change, or you’d catch a cold.”
Thoma placed his hands onto Ayato’s shoulders, and led him to the entrance to the small bathroom.
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While Ayato was in the shower, Thoma was unable to sit still, busying himself with making the hot matcha tea that he knew Ayato loved. Taroumaru had woken up from the commotion, his head raised as he gazed at Thoma from his bed. He added in the spoonful of sugar to sweeten the tea, even though he knew that Thoma would never admit to liking it so during the countless formal tea ceremonies he had to sit through as the heir to the Kamisato clan.
What had happened? Why was Ayato here at this hour? What made him take the 10 min run from his family estate to Thoma’s, in the rain, no less? What has subdued the usually mischievous, full of life Kamisato Ayato? These thoughts raced through Thoma’s head as he paced across the floor. The last time he’d seen Ayato like that… No. Ayato was better now, he had promised. Thoma had seen him at his worst two years ago. Something must have happened to make him like this.
Thoma whipped his head in the direction of the bathroom the moment he heard the sound of its door opening. Ayato emerged, freshly showered and in Thoma’s clothes looking none the better. Thoma chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, taking the towel draped around Ayato’s shoulders and sitting him down on the bed to towel dry his hair.
“Come here, Young Master. Let your humble servant dry your hair.”
Usually, Ayato would respond with an intelligent quip, a teasing remark. But this time he was silent. Thoma bit his lip, knowing that he had to wait for Ayato to be ready to speak. They spent the next few minutes in silence, Thoma sitting behind Ayato and rubbing the towel gently through Ayato’s long silver hair to soak up the damp.
Finally, after what seemed like eternity, Ayato spoke.
“Father.. He’s coming back.”
Thoma froze.
Ayato had never had the best of relationships with his father, the current head of the Kamisato clan, though Thoma had only seen him a few times on the news. Heck, not having the best of relationships was an understatement. But Thoma thought that they could catch a breather, use this time for Ayato to recover while the man was away to handle government affairs in Liyue. It had been two years since he left. Three years since Ayato had built himself back, his true personality shining through. He was dazzling, glowing. But it was naive of them to think this would last.
Slowly, Ayato turned around.
“I heard Mother speaking about it over the phone when I couldn’t sleep and went to the kitchens for a drink. I-” His voice broke. “What would he say when he sees me? What if I’m still not good enough? Thoma, I don’t want to face him anymore. I can’t do this. I don’t want to go back to how things were.”
Thoma’s heart broke.
“Ayato, things are different now,” he murmured, discarding the towel to the side. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around Ayato, keeping his movements slow and giving Ayato the time to back away. Instead, Ayato gently rested his forehead on Thoma’s collarbone, allowing himself to be held.
“You weren’t alone like you were three years ago. There’s Tomo, there’s Kazuha. You know they have your back. Tomo would do nothing less than storm into your estate with a nerf gun if your father tries to lay a hand on you. Kazuha would be reprimanding him for his recklessness right till the end, but you know he’d be the one holding on to the extra bullets for him.” Ayato chuckled softly, still sounding choked up. “Yoimiya too. She’d probably sneak in one of her family’s fireworks, set the place on fire. And you know your sister will be watching out for you now.”
Thoma softened. “And you have me now, too. Servant’s duty, you know? I would never let any harm befall my Young Master.”
At that, Ayato chuckled again, sounding more like himself. “Oh? And what proof does this humble servant have that he can serve me well?”
Thoma straightened, puffing out his chest slightly with pride.
“I have your tea on the table, one spoonful of sugar, and by now the temperature should be just right to drink. Shall I get it for you, Young Master?” Thoma made to pull out of the half embrace they were in, only to be pulled back by Ayato’s arms tightening around his waist.
“No, stay. I like my tea cold.”
“The Kamisato elders are turning in their graves over such blasphemous words coming from their only heir.”
Ayato laughed, eyes crinkling.
“Let them. It’s not like they would be getting the chance to drink hot tea, where they are.”
There he was. Internally, Thoma breathed in a sigh of relief. Carefully, he lay down on the bed, dragging Ayato down with him. Ayato shifted minutely so that his head rested upon Thoma’s chest, arms thrown across him.
“Thank you… Thoma. Sorry for barging in like this.”
“Anything for you, Young Master. You know you always have a place here.”
Taroumaru chirped in agreement from where he had moved to the foot of the bed, tail wagging with anticipation.
“And it looks like our son agrees.” Reaching out, Ayato picked the dog up, settling him onto the bed in between them before resuming their previous position.
Not long after, Ayato fell asleep, the panic and his run in the rain no doubt having drained most of his energy. Thoma lay awake, tightening his arms around the man in his arms and his precious dog between them. He had lost so much, yet gained something so precious at the same time. He made a silent vow to protect those dear to him, with whatever strength he had.
Thoma closed his eyes, and soon only the intermingling sounds of their breaths and the rain pattering against the windows remained.
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