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Yata Misaki was quite young, when he realised he was gay.
In his opinion there was no problem with it. In society there was but he decided to burry all of those thoughts in his head and there they would stay forever.
Or at least that were his thoughts when he realised it by having a big crush on his classmate.
Misaki hated this stupid private school and all the people in it and all the boring classes and the mean community on this stupid Jungle App he didn't understand.
The only thing he found interesting was this mysterious classmate of his.
It was stupid to have a crush on a guy he didn't even know and not even being entirely sure about his name. Fushimi was it?
And just going by looks and mystery was not really something to rely on. This was all so very stupid. He wanted to know this boy but it was hard to just do that with the guy only rarely being in class.
So he was thrilled to find him in the neighbouring toilet stall as he was curious about the clicking of a keyboard on the other side and had checked it out. They introduced each other and Misaki crawled over the wall into his stall.
After this they got closer each passing day. The only negative thing for a while was that he also had to be closer to Saru's annoying cousin who basically stalked him since the first day of school. After that there were only more concerning and, to be honest, terrifying things about the Fushimi family that came to life. What human in their right mind neglected their only child to the point where it was ill and on the borderline to starve?! And then there was also the emotional abuse from Sarus father and Misaki was very sure it wasn't ending there.
Even thou he loved his own family he was very proud of the plan the two of them had formed. At first it was just a wishful dream to rent an apartment together but the more they would fantasise about it the clearer it was that they would really go through with their plan.
And they did and it got so much better. Everything was good. Just not the growing feelings Misaki had for Saru. He was fine with them being best friends but all he really wanted to do was to kiss him or to hold hands with him. He wanted to experience those things with him. But he would never actually do this and just resulted to being a bit more physical than would be considered normal. And why the fuck was this perfectly fine for girls to be so affectionate in public but not for them?!
All their relatively happy life started to crumble when the two of them decided to stop Jungle and help the Red King.
The plan was risky for both of them but it would all go well, hopefully. Misaki would distract all of them, acting like one of them while Saruhiko would hack into the deeper layers of the App. As it was time for them to part ways Misaki hugged his friend tightly and Saruhiko whispered a small encouragement in his ear, brushing his lips softly against his cheek for a mere moment, sending him furiously blushing on his way.
First everything went well. Until it didn't. They had lost contact with each other and Saruhiko came to look out for him and got caught by the mob.
It was the worst feeling Misaki had ever had.
Hurt and panic.
Fear and desperation.
And worst of all weakness.
This was horrifying!
He wanted to run to him and kick the faces of all those fuckers in but he simply was too weak. If he was stronger he could actually help or this whole fuckery would never have happened!
Saruhiko would never had to leave their appartment and even if he had, he would not be dragged away by an angry mob, led by his goddamn bitch of a cousin!
But Misaki was weak and all he was able to was to watch in horror.
It broke his heart as his friend cried out for him in his panic, seeing his struggle to break free. And then Misaki did the only thing he could.
He ran.
Ran for his life to get help. Help from the Red King himself. And he begged like his own life depended on it. What did his stupid pride matter if he could save Saruhiko by throwing it away?
To his surprise he actually received the help he needed.
The other just looked so defeated and helpless and all Misaki could do was to rush to his side and hug him. He never wanted to see his friend like this again.
Now it was going to be better. He was sure about it!
And it actually was. At least for a while.
They both got accepted into the Red clan by passing Mikotos test. Heck, they even got their Tattoo at the same place. Right over their hearts. They shared their apartment and spent almost all the time with the Homra guys.
One cold and rainy night they were cuddled together and, as if in trance, Misaki let his fingers carefully brush against Saruhikos Homra Tattoo. "Strange we both got it at the same place, right?", he whispered and after a moment of silence where he thought his friend had fallen asleep, he was surprised that Saruhiko just grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers. "Tsk. Is it really, Misaki? Cause I don't think it's strange." Even if his voice sounded a bit annoyed, the furiously blushing Misaki knew he wasn't. "How?", he squeezed out and was met with an eyeroll and a click of his tongue. "Stupid Misaki." He gently squeezed his fingers. "It has to be because we have the same feelings for each other. Obviously."
This took Misaki by surprise. This couldn't be. How low was the chance of his feelings not being onesided? There was no possiblity Saruhiko could share those. He couldn't tell what he really felt. This hurt so fucking much! But he had to say something about this. "Yeah. We are...best friends after all." He was amazed that his voice did not tremble at all. "Yeah...Right." Saruhiko sighed, trying not to let his disappointment show too much.
After this they never talked about it again for years and while Misaki started to glow and bloom in the environment of Homra and it's members, spending even more time with them, Saruhiko grew more miserable and frustrated with every passing day. He felt out of place and even jealous with how little attention Misaki was giving him. He felt like he wouldn't see Misaki less if he just left.
And then came the faithful day. They had an argument which led to their bond breaking beyond repair.
Even thinking about Fushimis burnt Homra insignia made Misaki furious but he couldn't bring himself to throw away the watch he had gifted him. It was the only thing he had left from their good times together.
Every time the two of them met after that, they would provoke each other with the same shit that Fushimis father had used on them all those years ago. Then they would fight and feel even worse after. It got to the point where no one was allowed to call Misaki by his first name anymore. And the worst thing was that Yata hated Fushimi but at the same time still couldn't get him out of his head.
Then came the first time in years they actually fought together and if the situation hadn't been so bad and serious, it would have felt really good.
After that they didn't cross paths for almost a whole year. Fushimi had to keep the base of Scepter 4 alive with the Blue King spending most of his time keeping the Dresden Slates save and Yata falling into depression after Mikotos death. Homra, the people he had felt save and at home with who had accepted him how he was, had basically disbanded and with only Anna and Kamamoto around he felt empty and alone.
Until Anna was kidnapped by the Greens he did nothing but lay around and dwell in the memories of all he had lost. With Kusanagi gone his only way of getting information was bringing him near desperation. He had to call the traitor monkey. And Fushimi actually provided him with all he needed, so now he had to get over himself and really thank him.
After Anna was save and confirmed to be the new Red King, the Red and Blue clan had a moment together and Yata stammered out a very awkward apology.
Homra was brought back together again and settled into their new life with a new King. Yata was happy with one of his biggest worries being to thank the damn monkey properly. Those green fuckers were annoying but weak enough to not even be fun to beat up but he never missed a chance to do so and in one of those potentiell hideouts he was only met with Fushimi. But before he could really thank him again that damn monkey was insulting him again.
Red, Blue and Silver made an alliance against Green which went fine at first but totally failed on Christmas when the Slate was stolen. From that point on they all had their hands full with keeping all those newly awakened Strains and the socienty save but Yatas mind still wandered sometimes and all he could think about was the question how Saruhiko was doing after he left the Blue clan.
It drove him insane.
So he tried to push those thoughts as far away as possible.
Only when he was noticed on the street by the Blue King who told him that it was highly possible that Fushimi was about to die all his sorrows flared up like a flame and he was about to just rush in there all by himself to save this idiot. He just couldn't loose another person that was important to him. Not because he had to pay his depts back.
Even if Fushimi was injured, it felt good to fight together again. Like it should have been all the time. Like years ago. They worked together like they never did anything else and it hurt to leave Saruhiko behind. But even thou he felt bad, he was basically ushered away.
By some miracle all of them were able to survive even if their powers were gone.
Even if it was very awkward at first Misaki and Saruhiko were able to reconnect and it didn't take long for them to be as close as ever and to move back in together. And the months passed.
One winter evening Misaki layed on their couch with Saruhiko sat on the floor in front of it, cuddled into his blanket, sharing Coke and some snacks while watching some movie, when his feelings finally made him speak up. "I was so stupid back then. It really had a deeper meaning with us." The blackhaired man turned around and looked up at him in surprise, taking a moment to think what this was all about. "You mean the Tattoo?" Misaki nodded, hoping he wasn't destroying anything. While Misakis had completely vanished after Mikotos death, Saruhiko had the remains of his, only being some burn scars, professionally covered up with a single fiery black feather between them, looking like a crow had attacked him and only left those scars and a burning feather behind. For him it symbolised the whole relationship he had with Misaki. The burning crow who would never leave him completely and stay in his life forever. "Tsk...Of course. We are...", he wanted to say 'Best friends' but that would hurt him too much and before he could say 'Partners' which would be right in some sense, Misaki mumbled "More than just friends, right? Like partners?"
They both looked at each other in shock before Saruhiko smiled at him as honest as he could be. Not the slightest bit twisted. "I think we should be. In every sense." And then he gently cupped one of Misakis furiously blushing cheeks but stopped to give him time to react and push him away if that should be.
Misaki expected his friend to kiss him and his heart was pounding like crazy but as there was nothing, he lost the little patience he had and just leaned in himself to close the almost non-existing distance.
The kiss was long enough to close his eyes but too short to be considered more than a longer lasting peck. After they parted they first realised what happened but as none of them got anything but a mad blush they both relaxed and Misaki slipped off the couch to cuddle under his blanket next to him to be closer.
The couch was not really an option with the younger one almost refusing to sit on it and preferred the floor.
It was a bit messed up but so were they and both thought this fit them perfectly. "You don't know how long I hoped for this to happen, Saru.", Misaki mumbled into his neck after a moment. He was met with a click of his tongue. "You didn't get it, everytime I tried to tell you, you idiot." And Misaki immediately realised what he ment and burried his head even more. "Am not..." "You are, Misaki, you are." But so am I he thought. But Misaki knew, giving him a tight hug.
Over the next few months their relationship developed and bloomed. Sometimes after work they would go for a drink at Homra with the guys still not nessecary liking Fushimi but accepting him after Misaki had explained everything to them. Or a walk in the park ending everytime with the shorter one playing at some playground like he was a child again and encouraging his boyfriend to join him climbing or on the swings.
When they stayed at home, they would cuddle a lot and had no problem showing their affection in those walls. Even if they took their time exploring their relationship and boundaries they had all the time they needed.
"This is like our own small world." Saruhiko said lowly, his hair sticking to his sweaty forhead, sinking down half next to, half on top of Misaki, who smiled tiredly but really bright at him. "It is...And I wouldn't change it for anything." Cuddling even closer to him Saruhiko murmured "I love you." Absently tracing his Tattoo and almost asleep, Misaki responded with the only thing on his mind. "Love you too...Very much."
Those four walls with the two of them living there was their own small world that had been lost for so long and was now found and rebuilt by their love for each other.