Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sonoi stood in the mirror, the fluttering feelings in his stomach had not settled. He adjusted his jacket and swung his scarf over his neck, tying it tightly as the night that awaited him was on the colder side. As he added the finishing touch to his outfit, his eyes found a fixation on the red peach outline stitched into his blue scarf. It was stitched into the scarf by the man who gave him the garment, the man who was the entire reason he found himself here in the first place, Momoi Taro.

Momoi was somebody he never expected to have any kind of positive relationship with, as he was associated with the Don Clan, Sonoi's enemy (or at least, who he was told were his enemies.) But, here Sonoi stood, about to go out into a secluded place in the city to watch the star-studded sky with him by his side. Momoi made Sonoi's stomach turn and made him turn an embarrassing shade of red fairly often when he was alone. He had never felt this way about a person before, denying any chance of it being potentially romantic as he didn't want to accept the fact that he had let his walls come down for an enemy.

Sonoi remembered how he resigned from Nato in the form of a complete disappearance. He had discussed with the Donbrothers on how to leave without causing a stir. The admin, Goshikida Kaito, had chimed in, noting that any way that Sonoi could leave wouldn't be the smoothest transition for his old team. So, Sonoi had decided to not say anything at all, and just leave his only belongings (which were his sword and his flashy blue outfit, neatly folded) behind for his former allies to come across. Afterwards, he was advised by Momoi and Haruka, especially the latter, to change up his appearance, at least to the point where people could second guess his identity if needed. He now donned a blue jacket and shirt, with matching pants and shoes, and a new dyed strip of hair to compliment the outfit (although, maybe keeping the blue color scheme may not have been his brightest idea if he was trying to hide.) But, nonetheless, he was a new man. A new man who wanted to forget about the past and the things he's done, especially to Momoi.

The guilt still loomed over him like a rain cloud, piercing into his heart like an arrow shot from a bow every time he saw Momoi. As much as he loved- er, admired him, Sonoi felt like he couldn't be around him anymore, or at least he shouldn't be. He had technically killed Momoi, dealing the final blow when Momoi became vulnerable. He thought maybe the surprising kindness of the Donbrothers was some form of plan to defeat Nato. But, nonetheless, he tried not to question it too much because he now had somewhere to go and people to turn to with this new chapter of life he had bestowed upon himself.

While he had become tangled in a web of his worries, he felt a sudden tap on his shoulder and a new figure standing by him in the mirror;

"Sonoi, are you feeling alright? You were spaced out for a while there."

Momoi had been standing next to him, carefully and quietly looking at the man donning blue, both out of concern and genuine admiration. There was something about Sonoi that felt so tranquil to the red ranger, always drawing him in and fogging up his brain. Unlike Sonoi, Momoi had accepted that his feelings towards the other were romantic, he just decided not to act upon it unless Sonoi himself would say he felt a similar way, or if the time was right to speak on it. It didn't bother him too much regardless of if Sonoi had interest in him or not, but he silently hoped that maybe his gaze would meet his own again and stay there for a while. He lightly brushed against Sonoi's hand as a reminder of his presence, hoping to get him out of the battle he was having with his mind.

Sonoi felt the contact made with his hand as he had finally touched base with reality, shaking his gaze from the mirror to Momoi, turning on his fake smile;

"Yeah, everything's fine, Taro. I was just clearing my head, that's all."

For someone who physically couldn't tell a lie, Momoi knew that Sonoi was most likely not telling the truth. Something about the vibe he gave off didn't exactly feel genuine. But, he decided not to press any further, motioning for him to follow his lead out into the night.

Chapter Text

After a quiet walk with a couple lingering, one-sided glances, Momoi and Sonoi had found themselves where their friendship had begun to bloom. A busy place in the day, but a quiet place at night. A simple place to most, but a beautiful place to some. The moon and the stars twinkled high above the two as they found their seats in the cold stone stairs.

Sonoi had let his arms fall into his lap as his eyes immediately darted upwards at the night sky. Momoi copied the way Sonoi sat, but instead of his eyes meeting the sky above him, his eyes met the beauty that was sitting beside him. Their mouths did not move for a while. Momoi didn't know what to say to combat the worried silence Sonoi had. He wanted to reach out and ask what was wrong, he wanted to comfort the other and maybe hold him close for a moment or two, but he felt himself uncharacteristically freeze before his blue-tinted flame. After what felt like a long-lasting silence, Sonoi had finally let himself speak;

"Taro, why did you forgive me?"

Momoi had expected a question like that, or maybe something similar. He had an answer, but his concern for Sonoi had overtaken;

"Are you okay, Sonoi? With the spacing out in the mirror and the unusual silence, you aren't the best at hiding your feelings, even if you don't say anything verbally. It's like your actions paint that picture for you."

Sonoi was taken back by Momoi's concern and his attention to detail. Had Momoi been watching him?

"I.." he started, pausing for a few moments to collect his current thoughts;

"..I just don't get it. I've tried to outshine you to show I was supposedly the better person, I've hurt you, hell, I've killed you . But yet, you brought me in with your team the second you found out I wanted to leave what I had with Nato, a team that I wouldn't be surprised hated me after everything I've started and done. I'm supposed to be the person you're trying to rally against, not fight for. You shouldn't have to go all out for me. The question is.. Why do you keep by my side after you've seen the person I've been?"

Momoi listened intently, letting his hand leave his lap to rest beside Sonoi's leg, wanting to lift the hand onto Sonoi's knee as a subtle sign that he cared. He found himself responding no more than a few lengthy moments after Sonoi had stopped talking;

"I forgave you because I know who you really are. You may not have been the best person, and I may have felt betrayed before we met again, but knowing how you felt about what you did, and the person you want to become.. I could never turn you away. I never wanted to turn you away in the first place. It may be strange, but something about you makes me feel like a more complete person."

Momoi took Sonoi's hand into his own, catching the other off guard as a small gasp emitted from him.

Sonoi.. completed Momoi? After everything, he still found good within him. Momoi, although flawed, was too good for this world to Sonoi;

"Complete you? Taro, I don't even feel like a complete man myself, at least, maybe not without you. I don't understand how you can still feel this way, unless you're lying to me. Which, I guess is hard for you to do still, unless coming back happened to change that..?"

Without missing a beat, Momoi stood up, still holding onto Sonoi's hand. Sonoi had lifted himself off the ground shortly after, finally finding himself able to lock his eyes onto Momoi. After letting go of Sonoi's hand, the man in red began to speak;

"Do you remember what you said to me that night we were here last about the moon being a liar?"

Sonoi spoke in response;

"Of course I do, it's a night I'll never forget. Why do you ask that?"

And suddenly, like an incomplete puzzle finally being complete with the final piece, Momoi pulled Sonoi into a hug, carefully wrapping his arms around Sonoi's shoulder, close to his neck, his sleeves making contact with his scarf. Sonoi instantly wrapped his arms under Momoi's, pulling him closer.

"Sonoi, the moon may be a liar, but I can't lie like it can. My feelings for you are honest.."

As Momoi paused, he felt a warmth in his cheeks, while Sonoi felt the same warmth, albeit complete with sudden, long pent-up tears flowing from his eyes;

"..I love you, Sonoi."

And with that, Sonoi's heart had finally felt the weight that had wrapped around it lift, making his chest finally feel lighter. He had finally felt it beat again with the words that he had hoped (at the same time, he felt undeserving) to hear come from the voice of his beloved peach. He soon pulled away for a quick moment to bring a quick kiss to Momoi's cheek, quickly burying himself into his shoulder;

"I love you too, Taro."