Work Text:
There's only one place that Takemichi loves just as much as mountains. Maybe it's not as breathtaking as the view from height, especially if it's not down or rising, but it's still so nice to be on the beach. The smell of the sea is nothing compared to the one in the mountains, but it for sure brings memories as well as the feeling of being so small. Takemichi hasn't felt it in a good way for a long time, so it's a nice change.
But what Takemichi hates everywhere is wind — that motherfucker who just blows straight in his face right now. It's cold, and to even breathe, he has to walk with his head bowed to the ground and eyes narrowed, as the sand is carried above the surface too. He decided to go on the dry sand, not near the water as the coast can be pebbly from time to time and he really doesn't want to earn more scratches today.
The reason why he just won't avoid it when it's necessary is simply — the sun has already gone down and he can't see shit with this wind. So it's safer and he won't be blown away to the cold water. It has its advantages, even if he has a feeling that he walks really slow, as he's going through deep mud, because he won't get his feet wet and so it will be easier to put on shoes. He will be the first one for sure!
But first, he has to find an entrance and, as he wonders now, he hasn't heard any talking for a while… Did he overtake them or just the coast is now farther away than it was earlier?
He should look up right now, but suddenly, his leg falls into the hole and his inner knee stretches rather unpleasantly.
"Shit," he curses breathlessly his clumsiness as he struggles a little to leave the hole and stand straight. Well, as straight as it's possible when his knee hurts and he can't help but stumble when he starts walking again. It's not like there's time for a break and wait for the pain to go away, no, it's too late and he definitely can't slow down the whole group!
Takemichi swore to himself that he won't be a burden anymore to anyone and so he grits his teeth. His leg isn't broken, so it's only a matter of time before everything will be alright. It's not like the pain is overwhelming, he felt many worse things and so he won't pity himself.
Takemichi hates pity. He can be a shitty fighter, but he's not weak — he will achieve a perfect future, some day. Before that, he has to do his best and never, ever lose to anyone nor himself!
Especially himself.
But as the wind seems to get stronger with every step, nearly stopping him in place or pushing him to the sides, there's a thought — a helping hand would be nice.
"Oi, Takemitchy."
Takemichi stops suddenly and nearly trips as he finds Draken's tall figure right in front of him. He blinks, realization that the other blocks most of the wind and he can finally see without problems hits him as he makes eye contact.
"Yes, Draken-kun? Something's wrong?" he asks. Takemichi finds his breath weirdly loud and fast. Shit. Not good.
How can he save them if his durability betrays him in something as simple as a walk on the beach? Long walk after an even longer day, but it's not an excuse! If—
"Oi, don't space out on me here, Takemitchy."
Draken's voice snaps him out of his thoughts and he startles. Shit, I irritated him.
"Sorry…" he murmurs, looking down, so he misses the worry in Draken's eyes. He only hears a long sigh before the taller teen places himself on his side with elbow sticking out in his direction. Takemichi blinks.
"C'mon, we have to hurry up. Hold onto me, will ya? Or should I carry you?"
The vision, no matter how nice it would be to finally let his legs rest, cannot be accomplished. I won't be a burden. But Draken is nearly as stubborn as himself and taking him by the arm won't be that bad, right? Slowly, he interlocks their elbows and makes a weak grip on Draken's sleeve. His fingers are freezing.
And not only them, as he soon realizes. He tries to keep up with Draken's pace, but if long legs really make that huge difference or he's just too tired and cold already, he doesn't know. It's hard. And it's not long before he starts to trip more and more, not falling only thanks to hanging onto Draken's arm. The older teen seems absolutely not absorbed by the blowing wind, as his steps are sure and straight. He's like a tower, like a lighthouse, never bothered by extreme circumstances.
How much he wishes to be like him. Like Mikey. Strong and the best in so many ways.
By the way, where is Mikey?
The thought makes him realize that he hasn't seen any of the group excluding Draken for a long while, but when he looks around, he can't find them either in front of them nor behind them.
"Where's everyone?" he decides to ask after a while. It meets with a raised eyebrow before Draken stops, once again blocking the wind with his wide shoulders and chest. Takemichi fights the urge to lean in and steals some warmth.
He's surprised when he looks up and sees a rather worried expression on Draken's face. It's only a moment before the older teen takes off his jacket and throws it over Takemichi's arms, grounding it with his big hands so it won't blow away before he puts it on. Takemichi does it only because of this action!
(But the warmth is so pleasant and nice… Familiar scent fills his lungs as it's zipped to his chin. Of course the jacket is way too big for him, but the fact that it covers his tights too is so good. )
"I'm gonna carry you. Ya fine with it?"
What?
"W-wait, wait, no, there's no need for it, Draken-kun! I can walk perfectly by myself, you don't have to worry!"
Perfectly is too big word, but it's not like he has ever been a good liar.
A scowl on Draken's face shows that he saw right through it, too.
"I don't know if you noticed, Takemitchy, but we're behind the rest. For quite a distance, so if we wanna catch up, we have to walk faster."
"Okay! I'll do it, sorry."
He's ignored.
"And you're definitely in no condition for it. I'm sorry for dragging you with us today." And then leaving you behind us goes unsaid.
"No, no need to be sorry! It was great fun, really, I don't regret waking up early to go with you guys!"
He tries to answer with as much energy as he can to persuade Draken, but fails spectacularly. Suddenly, all the recently bad slept nights sum up and sit on his shoulders heavily and he closes his eyes. Just for a while.
He's just so, so tired. If it's just for a short while, it's okay to rest, right…?
When Draken lifts him up with those strong arms of his, he nuzzles his face into his neck with a sound suspiciously near to a purr, but Draken is just so warm and steady, that it's too hard not to. He wraps his legs around his waist as well as arms around his neck. He's a little tense at first, afraid of falling, but Draken's steps are just so full of confidence, that soon his muscles relax and it's only a matter of time before he'll fall asleep — he's aware of that, yet, he can't resist this urge. It'll be only a while…!
He jolts visibly when new voices mix with the wind in his ears. He slowly blinks, taking one arm to his eyes to rub them and wipe away some saliva from his mouth. Wait— Oh fuck, he just…! Pretending to change his position a little, he tries to wipe it away from Draken's neck, feeling how his cheeks burn in embarrassment. He really just fell asleep and salivated like a kid!
"Oi, look who's just woken up!" someone behind his back speaks up and Takemichi doesn't really register who.
"Good morning, partner," Chifuyu, who's on his right, greets him with a mischievous grin and Takemichi can only groan loudly in Draken's shoulder, who starts to laugh from his suffering. Takemichi can feel it deep in his chest — how Draken's one resonates with the sound in a way that makes him almost purr again.
"Hi, Chifuyu…" he finally answers with a yawn. "How far…?"
"We're almost there."
That's good.
(That's not good. I want to sleep some more. It feels so good here… so safe…)
"Oh, okay. So, uh, Draken-kun, I can walk by myself from now on, I think—," he starts, yet he makes no move to get back on his own feet.
"Exactly! It's my turn to carry Takemitchy!"
What the heck, Mikey?!
"If you want Draken-kun to carry you, Mikey-kun, I can—"
"That's not what I mean, Takemitchy."
Yet, before they can start to argue (Takemichi won't let Mikey carry him, oh no, he would die! They're nearly the same height, how stupid it would look? Not to mention that Mikey can be not as not bothered by the wind as Draken is), Mitsuya speaks up on his left and Takemichi turns his head to rest it on the other shoulder. During this, he of course nuzzles onto Draken's neck. He's too warm for his own sake!
"Are you eating enough, Takemitchy? Draken said that you're really light." The concern in his voice makes a small smile on Takemichi's mouth.
It's… nice, being on the opposite site for once.
"Exactly! You've almost blown away into the sky before I came to you!" adds Draken.
"You took that sentence too literally, didn't ya, Takemitchy?" Chifuyu snorts behind his back and fucking pinches him on the arm. Takemichi throws his hand away blindly as fast as he could, because losing grip on Draken lets the cold get between their bodies and it's not a nice feeling.
"I did not!" he pouts. "I'm eating just fine, all of you are just monsters with monstrous muscles!"
It makes everyone laugh and Takemichi decides it's a good idea to be offended and hide his face deep in Draken's neck. They can wake him up once they're done with walking!
It happens too soon, to be honest, as Takemichi feels like he has just closed his eyes a while ago when he stands on his own legs with Draken huge hands supporting him on his waist to make sure he won't fall on his ass.
"I'll drive Takemitchy home," he announces and Mikey pouts. "You have to go home straight, Mikey. Emma is worry sick of you for sure."
"We can ride together another time, Mikey-kun," Takemichi adds and it seems to work. He sighs, sitting down on Zephyr and waiting for Draken to hop on, too. Right after it, Takemichi wraps his arms around his body. His whole chest and abdomen are like glued to Draken's back, as well as his cheek to his shoulder blades when he hugs him.
The ride home is nice, less stressful than with Mikey, but it'll definitely stay in his memory for a long time. As Draken walks him to the door, he uses the stair to peck his cheeks without struggling, though his cheeks stays red.
"Thank you, Draken-kun," Takemichi says with a soft smile. "Do you want to stay overnight?"
When they walk in together, Takemichi wonders if it's really that bad to let others take care of him too… Cuddles with Draken in bed, even if he doesn't know yet how he'll persuade the older teen to it, looks like a perfect end for this tiring day. If he let himself relax and take care of himself (and his nightmares) for a little longer, it can't possibly be that bad, right?