Chapter Text
Takemitchy just came back. He’s tired, it’s dark, his hands feel numb. He’s shaking. He’s here, but not really. He slowly puts his hands against his own, mimicking Mikey’s ones, as if he were still there in that moment. He needs something to hang on to. To feel. Surprisingly, he laughs, soft and choked. This is all a joke. Everyone’s already saved, everyone but Mikey. He’s not in the past, it’s all a big lie. It’s a dream, it has to be. He’s in bed right now, it has to be a dream. Everything is dark. His cheeks feels wet. His vision blurred from the ongoing tears he didn’t even know he was shedding. He couldn’t hear a thing. Everything was a mess.
He closed his eyes and grins, he felt warm. “Will it be a gun this time?” But he quickly crossed out that idea. It was too fast, too idealistic. “Stabbing, maybe? I hope it’s not a train again.” He chuckled again. “I can’t die yet, they’ll blame me if I died and then I’ll never hear the end of it.” He opened his eyes once more, contemplating his choices.
He could either go and get a good nights rest and deal with this tomorrow, or he could do something right now. But truthfully, what can he do right now? He didn’t feel like doing anything but lay down and wait for the warmth to take him away. And that’s what he did.
“....Partner...”
Chifuyu’s voice, gentle and comforting, made him feel worse. Oh how he failed Chifuyu back then. Back when he still had a chance. He was holding on to Baji, for God’s sake. He was right there. Holding him, still warm and a beating heart. Still alive.
“...Partner!”
Chifuyu’s voice brings him back to reality.
Chifuyu. His partner who’s been with him through the thick and thin, the good and bad, for the past months now. He was right there, in the flesh, holding him, green eyes laced with concern staring right back at his. The flash of two blondes makes him look away from Chifuyu.
Behind Chifuyu sat Mikey and Draken, both seemingly confused and taken aback.
It took a moment before Takemichi realized. They heard everything he just said.