Chapter Text
It was a mystery why Ryuu had brought Io along to the party. It was a mystery why anyone would bring Io along to anything that even slightly resembled a party.
"Umm, what...are you doing?" Io looked up to find Chiku's hazel eyes confusedly glancing at him. He was sitting behind a table, a variety of glasses spread out in front of him. "Isn't it obvious?", he asked. "I'm making money." "You're making money?" "Yes.", Io nodded. "I noticed that slightly drunk people, especially party go-ers, have a strong need for more alcohol, so I brought some along myself and am now selling it." "I...don't think that that's how you're supposed to spend your time at parties...", Chiku responded. "Also, are those the prices? They're pretty expensive..." "Partying is expensive. And, after all, I'm making quite some profit.", Io responded. "Now, are you going to buy something?" "Uh, no thanks...", Chiku muttered and quickly escaped to the dance floor.
It had been a few weeks now since Chiku had turned into a giant piece of Chikuwabu, and Io had become one of the battle lovers. Ever since, Chiku had become more self-conscious and Io had become a better fighter, but since defending the world was taking his time, he didn't make as much profit, which kind of bothered him. Since he was already here, he had thought he might as well make some money out of it. After all, Ryuu had dropped him after twenty seconds to hit on some girls, and Io wasn't the kind of person to drown drinks, dance or make out with people he didn't know, so what else was there for him to do anyway?
"Umm...Naruko-kun?" Io turned to look at the boy who wanted to speak him, hoping it was a costumer. It wasn't.
It was some boy he didn't know well. What was his name again, Suzuki? Oh yeah. He was the one who was throwing the party. But he wasn't the issue here. The issue was that Ryuu was clinging to that guy, grinning like an idiot and drooling on his shirt. Io instantly knew that this was nothing good. "Can I help you?" "Uhm, yes. See, Zaou-kun drank a liiittle too much and, well, I think it would be better if he was leaving. For his own good.", Suzuki explained. Ryuu looked at him in shock. "Whaaa, you're throwing me out? But Suzukiii...we're friends...I trusted you..."
"I see.", Io sighed. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." "You don't mind?", Suzuki asked, more out of formality than actually caring. "Honestly?" "No, it's perfectly fine. I was about to get going anyway.", he answered. He had already made profit, and the few shots he had left now weren't worth letting Ryuu embarass himself. After all, they were seen together quite frequently, and if Ryuu ruined his reputation, he would ruin Io's along with it.
"Okay, come along...", Io said, putting Ryuu's arm over his shoulder. Ryuu groaned. "I don't have to leave! I'm pefffectly fine! Really...I'm like, almost sober!" "Sure you are.", Io replied, and dragged him out of the house.
It felt weird, leaving the house with the loud music and entering the cool, silent night. Io took a deep breath, and closed his eyes for a moment. A strange feeling came over him.
Maybe he was just tired.
"Io...", Ryuu groaned. With a sigh, Io turned to his friend. "Yes?"
"You're not making me go home, are you?", Ryuu asked with glassy eyes. Io rolled his eyes. "Actually, that's exactly what I'm doing." "Nonono!", Ryuu shouted. "You can't bring me home! If - if mom sees me drunk again, she's gonna be suuuper mad and she'll ground me and I can't go out anymore besides school and my girlfriend would break up with me - no, hold on. She just did break up with me." "I didn't know you even had one.", Io replied. "Is that why you drank that much?" "Ah, now I know! I broke up with her! Why did I do that again?"
"...Idiot.", Io sighed, and started walking. "But alright, you can sleep at my place. It's closer anyway." "Thank you!", Ryuu said, nuzzled Io's hair and giggled.
Io groaned. This would be a long night.
At least Ryuu didn't cause much trouble until they arrived at Io's flat. He giggled occassionally and murmured things Io didn't understand and didn't bother listening to, and soon enough, they were home anyway. "Alright, my parents are in Europe at the moment, so that won't be a problem. You can sleep on the couch, just tell me in case you throw up and don't get anything dirty." "Kay.", Ryuu murmured, and yawned. Io looked at him, and realized that he looked really awful. His hair was a mess, and stains of at least five different kinds of alcoholic drinks were spread all over his clothes, not to forget the whipped cream that was mushed into his shirt.
"You can't sleep in that.", Io finally said. "Take it off."
Ryuu plopped onto the couch. "What do we do now? Can we order pizza and watch a movie? Oh, I know, let's have ice cream!" "No. You take off your clothes and then we go to sleep.", Io answered coldly. Ryuu's eyes began sparkling for some reason, not quite the reaction Io had expected. "Ehehe, Io, I didn't think you were that kind of guy!" "Just take off that disgusting shirt already.", Io groaned, and plopped down onto the couch next to Ryuu. Ryuu giggled. "Of course~" He grinned, and unbuttoned it, slowly, and it looked pretty ridiculous. Halfway through, he started giggling again, and Io couldn't take it anymore. "Just take it off!", he shouted, grabbed the bottom of the shirt and pulled it over Ryuu's head. Ryuu squealed. "Iooo~", he moaned, grabbed Io by the shoulders, and pressed him down on the couch.
Somehow, Io was getting the feeling that Ryuu was absolutely misunderstanding the situation.
"Could you please get off me?", he asked. Ryuu laughed. "So you wanna be top?" "I want to be what? I have no idea what you're talking about, but please get off me and take off your pants instead." Ryuu's grin grew a little broader, but at least he crawled back, even though Io found it quite weird how he ran his fingers along Io's body and dangerously close to his crotch.
Ryuu giggled. Again. Apparently, he did that a lot when he was drunk. "Really, Io, I didn't think you were this kind of person, but I've been wrong! You're so...forward...I like that...", he muttered as he kicked off his pants. In only his underwear, he leaned back halfway over Io. "But, you know, you can't just stay like this too..." His hands found their way under Io's shirt, along his waistband, and his face was coming closer, until Io could feel Ryuu's breath, their lips nearly touched and his eyes fluttered shut...
Oh dear god. THAT was what was going on.
"Ryuu, I am NOT going to sleep with you."
Ryuu's eyes shot open. "Eh, what?" "I said, I am not going to sleep with you.", Io repeated. "Or interact with you all in an even slightly sexual manner."
"But Iooo..." Instead of pulling away, Ryuu even scooted a little closer, until Io finally pushed him off him. "You are not in your right state of mind, and I am not interested.", he told him. "We should just go to slee- go to rest right now...and hope you don't remember this tomorrow. For your own good."
"But Iooo..."
"No."
"Io-chan..."
"WHAT did you just call me?"
Ryuu smiled, grabbed Io's face, and pressed the cheeks together. "Io-chan. Because you're cute." "Ryuu, I'd like to remind you that you're attracted to women.", Io replied and took Ryuu's hands off his face. Ryuu pouted. "That's a lie. I'm attracted to YOU." "You're drunk." "I'm also attracted to you when I'm sober."
Io sighed. "You're just saying that because you're horny." "No, it's true!", Ryuu protested. "Io, you're soooo cute and soooo hot and I really want to kiss you! Always!"
Io shook his head. "Go to sleep." "Not without you!", Ryuu moaned. "Please?" "I already said I am not going to sleep with you!", Io groaned, and started thinking about putting some duct tape over Ryuu's mouth and locking himself in his room for the rest of the night.
Ryuu shook his head. "We don't have to...we can just..." "Just what?" "I dunno.", Ryuu mumbled.
Io rolled his eyes. "Alright, then go to sleep now, and I'm going to my room." And thus, he stood up, and walked away.
Ryuu grabbed his ankle. Io turned back around, sleep deprived and ready to kill a man.
"Stop-" "Io!" Ryuu looked up at him with tears in his eyes. "Io. I love you."
"What."
"I love you.", Ryuu repeated, and started climbing up his friend. "I really, really love you."
Io's heart skipped a beat. How strange. Maybe he was getting too tired.
"I love you, Io, so please...stay here..." Ryuu, half standing, nuzzled his face into Io's chest, and Io carefully put an arm around him. "You're imagining things.", he said softly. "You like girls alright, I know that." "You don't know anything!", Ryuu cried. "You don't knooow. You have no idea, no, no no. I love you." "Ryuu..." "No. Listen to me now." Ryuu somehow managed to get his face into the same height as Io's. "I love you. I mean I like girls but I love you. But, it's complicated. I mean I know I love you, right? But then I'm sober again and I don't know anymore. Like, I forget that I love you, you know? But I remember I like girls. And I remember that I like you and sometimes I remember that you're cute and hot and that I love you but I forget. So you gotta stay now. Before I forget that I love you."
"Ryuu...", Io sighed. "That didn't make the slightest bit of sense."
"No yeah it does.", Ryuu protested. "I love you. When I'm sober, I think I don't love you but ack-choo-al-ee I love you. And when I'm drunk I know things. Like that I love you. And that's why you have to stay with me when I'm drunk." He bumped his forehead against Io's. "Please..."
It was weird. They were both standing there, Ryuu drunk and Io sleep deprived, forehead against forehead, but somehow, it didn't feel as awful as it should.
Io sighed. "You need to go to sleep now. Alone. We'll talk tomorrow." Ryuu gulped, and plopped back onto the sofa with tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Io.", he muttered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." "I-it's okay, just sleep now.", Io quickly responded, trying to figure out how to deal with a drunk friend who just confessed his love and now started crying.
Ryuu nodded. "Alright. Good night." "Good night.", Io answered, and covered Ryuu with a blanket. Ryuu smiled, and closed his eyes.
Io let himself fall into his own bed, turned off the lights, and was wide awake.
He should have known.
It was always the same. Endless times of being tired, only to have thoughts explode in his head once he actually tried to sleep. It wasn't like he didn't know that Ryuu's confession had been nothing more than the alcohol talking. It wasn't like he actually cared about relationships and the like. It wasn't that he felt that exact way for Ryuu even remotely.
So why was he playing the last ten minutes through his head over and over again? What was it that he was trying to find in them? Satisfaction? His true self? The meaning of life?
His heart was beating faster than usual, and even though the room wasn't any warmer than in any other night, Io felt heat creep along his skin and onto his face. Maybe he had caught a cold when they had been walking home. It would probably be for the best to stay in bed for the next day.
Ryuu had called him cute. And hot. Io found himself replaying that moment again and again in his mind. Cute and hot. Ryuu had actually said that.
When Io realized he was grinning like an idiot, he quickly put a frown back onto his face.
There was nothing good about this evening. All Io could hope for was that Ryuu would remember nothing. He'd wake up with a headache that would teach him a lesson about drinking more than he should, he would ask what had happened and Io wouldn't tell him anything, Ryuu would make up with his girlfriend - currently ex-girlfriend, Io supposed - and they'd be fine. No unneccessary awkwardness, since this evening had absolutely no significance.
None of what Ryuu had said mattered. Ryuu liked girls. He was NOT into Io.
Why did that feel so bad?
Io's dream was weird, and a nearly undressed Ryuu appeared way too often in it. When he woke up, he felt awful, and in big need of a shower. Yawning, he took off his clothes, and wandered into the bathroom. When he closed the door behind him, he realized that the shower was already running. As he opened his mouth to call for Ryuu, the shower stopped and the curtains were pushed aside.
After all the times they had been bathing with the entire Defense Club, it really shouldn't have been this awkward to stand in front of each other completely nude. It probably wouldn't have been if it hadn't been for a certain incident that had only happened a few hours ago.
"I just would like to mention", Ryuu said after a long silence, "that I am absolutely into girls."
"I know.", Io replied quickly.
Ryuu didn't move an inch, but his face had become the same colour as his hair. Io couldn't help but think that he looked quite attractive, from a completely objective point of view. He had a well-formed face, a well-trained yet not too muscular body, soft, shiny skin, and sparkling eyes. When he realized he was staring, Io quickly cleared his throat, feeling the heat rush to his cheeks.
"So. You remember last evening?" "...mostly.", Ryuu replied, snapping out of his absent-minded state as well. Io nodded. "So, just to make sure we agree. You drank too much, we went to my place and then we went to sleep right away, with no further incidents." Ryuu nodded quickly. "Yes. Exactly."
Io nodded too. "Now, in that case, could I please use the shower?" "Uh - sure!", Ryuu responded, grabbed a towel and walked out of the bathroom.
The hot water felt as if it could wash away all problems, worries and thoughts. Io sighed as he embraced the warmth, and blended the world out for a moment. After the weird conversation last evening, the odd dreams he had had that night and that incredibly awkward encounter just now, he could use a few minutes to calm down and clear his head.
When Ryuu had confessed his love to him out of the blue, Io had been surprised. Naturally. And yet it felt like there was something Io hadn't realized yet, some factor that was there all the time that he simply couldn't lay a finger on. Something in his head, something in his heart, was different. But what in the world was it? This weird, sudden feeling...
When Io thought about it, there had always been some subtle feeling. Something odd that just didn't fit in his soul. It was warm, it was welcoming, and it could make Io's heart beat so fast that he wondered if he should better go to the nurse's office. It could make him smile, and fill him with life, but it could also drain him and let him be overrun with sorrow. It started glowing in Io's chest when Ryuu smiled, and filled him from head to toe when they were close. It was a kind of happiness, but it came as if it didn't have a reason, as if it didn't need any other reason than Ryuu's presence. What a strange factor to have in one's heart.
An odd thought struck Io. Was that, by any chance, the feeling of being in love?
He chuckled at that thought. How stupid. Ryuu was his friend. Hadn't he said himself that something like that would be gross? Io wasn't great with emotions, but he was pretty sure that he was NOT in love. He was Io after all. Money was his one and only love. It was loyal, useful, honest, supportive and could give him whatever he wanted, entirely different from a human who would lie, betray, and could just leave him alone whenever they wanted to. Money was a tool and never thought about itself. Humans were egoists. Who wouldn't prefer money over some person?
Sure, Ryuu was...pleasant to have around. And, they cared about each other, since humans evolved to beings that teamed up for additional strength, not for some sentimental reason. But there was nothing more between them. Never.
Io wished he could at least convince himself.
When he left the bathroom in fresh clothes, he was greeted with the weirdest sight he had seen since they had been attacked by a pile of chopsticks.
1. Ryuu was cooking,
2. humming to himself and
3. wearing only a towel around his hips.
Io caught himself staring. Most certainly, because this was weird, and not because the freshly showered Ryuu was attractive.
"...Do you need clothes?", he finally asked. Ryuu jumped. "Ah, Io! I...yeah. Mine are pretty gross, I think when I got too drunk I ended up spilling more of my drinks onto myself than actually drinking them..." He laughed awkwardly, and turned back to his cooking. Io waited a second, and when nothing else came, he went into his room and got a set of clothing for Ryuu. "Here, put this on.", he said. "I'll manage the food meanwhile." Ryuu quickly mumbled a thank you, grabbed the clothes and went into Io's room to change.
Io examined the food. He wasn't very experienced in cooking, but making breakfast couldn't be too hard, now could it...carefully he pushed some egg around a little, and checked the rice.
When Ryuu returned, he laughed and shook his head. "You don't do much cooking, do you?", he asked, even though he already knew. "Here, look." He gently put his hand on Io's, and lead him. "If you want it to turn out well, you should do it like this. See?" "Uh, yeah...", Io murmured. There was the mysterious emotional factor again. Also, why did his face feel so hot? Maybe he really had caught a cold.
Their shoulders brushed against each other, and the boys exchanged looks, suddenly aware of what they were doing. "Well...", Io said and quickly pulled his hands away. "I'll just - leave the cooking to you." "Yeah. You, uh, probably should.", Ryuu muttered, and turned away quickly.
Io fled the kitchen, looking at Ryuu only long enough to realize that he was looking quite good in Io's clothing. From a merely objective perspective, naturally.
There had never been a more awkward breakfast.