Chapter Text
‘I hate you!’
His face muscles convulsed in panic, he jolted upwards in shock. The room around him was cold, alarmingly so. There was a feeling of dread still fresh on his brain from the nightmare. Unsure of his current position, Momo hastily wrapped his futon cover around his back. He held both ends of the cover like it was coming apart at the seams. Where was he? It felt familiar but…
Momo pulled his futon cover tighter, a weak attempt to mend the shivers occupying his body. Things were slowly coming back to him, he was with his sister, he told her the news about Re:vale. It ended with Ruri telling Momo she hated him. Tears lined Momo’s eyes from the memory, he brought a finger up and wiped them away.
He sat there for a moment longer before it finally all came to him, he was in his shared apartment. It has been several months since he moved in with his roommate, and they have been trying to become idols in order to find Ban.
It dawned on him finally, he wasn’t alone, The black haired boy looked over to the other person sleeping in the room. Just one glance helped Momo calm down. After all, he was with Yuki.
Yuki slept peacefully, a bit of drool escaped his lips. That handsome face of his was all it took to bring his partner to ease. Looking down, Momo noticed Yuki’s left hand was outreached towards his own futon, the shorter boy was silently ecstatic.
However that slight boost of enjoyment was but a fleeting moment. His hands were still shaking, cold sweat lining both palms. It seemed he wasn’t going to fall back asleep any time soon. Momo looked at the clock on the wall, ‘3:30am.’
It really was early… Thus, Momo rose from his futon, the cover still on his shoulders, he made sure to be as quiet as he could to not disturb the sleeping Yuki. With an anxious resolve, also with hopes of taking his mind off things, Momo made his way to the kitchenette of the shared apartment.
There wasn’t much choice for drinks, so Momo settled for lukewarm water from the tap. Once it was filled, he seated himself at the small dining table.
Seeing as it was still pretty dark, there really wasn’t much Momo could do to take his mind off the rough emotions still swirling around. With a long sigh, Momo rested his chin on the table, fiddling with his still full water cup.
.
.
.
Sunlight cut the darkness like a knife, it lurked over Yuki’s snoozing face. It was a rare sight to see him wake up early, however his brain had an odd feeling something was off. Due to semi recent events still being harsh on his mind, Yuki felt it best to not ignore these suspicions for fear they may be right.
He let out a harsh yawn, slight mist on his eyes from the sleepy daze still atop him. It wasn’t hard for Yuki to sit up, but that didn’t really help him wake up any further. Yuki tiredly glanced around the room, he rubbed his eyes to get a clearer view. Momo was nowhere to be found.
Yuki had a small internal panic, until he looked up at the clock. It was about 8am, if it were a normal day Momo would’ve been at work by now. Thankfully today it was his partner’s day off, ’Did Momo have breakfast?’
The gray haired man got up slowly, releasing a second yawn in the process. He shuffled to the closed shoji screen door. Sliding it back Yuki was greeted by the living room and kitchenette dimly lit by the fresh morning sun.
Just by looking around for a few moments, he spotted Momo at the table. His partner seemed to be sleeping in a very uncomfortable position. Yuki noticed Momo’s futon cover was on the floor, odd?
Approaching his partner, he saw a water cup toppled over, the water was mostly dried up save for some puddles on the table and chair adjacent to Momo’s. Yuki put one hand on Momo’s chair, using the other to gentle shake his partner awake. “Momo, what are you doing out here?”
Momo wasn’t hard to wake up, he mumbled something incoherent before coming to. Still half asleep, he looked up at his partner confused, “Y-Yuki…?”
Yuki gave him a tender smile, it was a rare sight to see Momo like this, Yuki reveled in it, “Good morning, Momo.”
Momo usually would return the gesture with the most flustered smile ever, yet this time he just looked down at his hands. Yuki’s expression changed, he wearily analyzed this but didn’t say anything. The gray haired man leaned down and picked up Momo’s futon cover. He placed it over his partner’s shoulders, confusing Momo. “Yuki?”
Rather than give a response with words, Yuki pulled Momo up so he was standing. Before Momo could ask what was going on, Yuki guided him over to the couch nearby. Once Momo was seated, Yuki gave him a stern look, “Are you okay?”
Momo looked up slowly, something was on his mind, what it was Yuki wasn’t sure of. The taller man crouched down to be at Momo’s eye level, but his partner’s gaze escaped him, looking off into the distance.
This didn’t really ease his worries, against his better judgment Yuki decided to snap close to Momo’s ear in order to get his attention. Momo jolted from the sudden sensation, looking at Yuki in a panic, his partner had a confused look. “…Momo?”
Once again no response, he kept staring, zoning out, as if beyond reach from Yuki. A bit of distress was represented by the mild chattering of Momo’s teeth, a small shiver pulsating from his body. Yuki could only anxious, he didn’t know how to help. ’Momo might go into a full panic attack at this rate.’
Yuki shook his head, mentally scolding himself, ’No, stop, think about what Ban might do.’
An idea popped in Yuki’s mind at last, he slowly reached out to his partner’s right hand. Yuki held Momo by the hand. Momo twitched a bit, his eyes focusing on Yuki. The latter proceeded to use his free hand’s pointer finger to draw circles on the back of Momo’s. He smiled softly at this, hoping to calm Momo down. “Momo, are you there?”
He looked up to see his partner’s gaze fixed upon him, a dumbfounded and flustered expression was plastered on Momo’s face. It was as if he was nervous to say anything for a different reason now, to ruin the moment. Yuki snickered a little at his face, “Y-YUKI?!”
The older man couldn’t hold back his laughter any further, letting out an excited chuckle. Momo tried to slide his hand away out of embarrassment, yet Yuki gripped it with his own. After a minute of laughing, the older partner calmed down and looked at a really red Momo with a calming gaze. “You’re so cute, Momo.”
Momo averted his gaze out of shame, but Yuki thought he heard his partner murmur something along the lines of ‘ikemen’ as a muted response. He grinned fondly, but decided to bring it back down, “Now that you’ve calmed down a bit.”
Yuki proceeded to sit next to Momo on the couch, awkwardly wrapping his arm holding Momo’s hand around the latter. He used his free hand to hold Momo’s face directly towards his own, thankfully his partner didn’t put up much of a fight, still being sluggish from sleeping so poorly, “Tell me what’s bothering you.”
Momo’s flustered look instantly washed away, being replaced with one of fear. It was at that Momo pushed Yuki away, his usual vigor slightly returned. “No!”
Yuki was left dumbfounded, he could only watch as Momo scurried away into their bedroom, the futon cover left behind once again. The screen was slid shut in a rushed fashion. He grumbled to himself slightly, Yuki really wasn’t good at this…
Whatever was bothering Momo was really irritating Yuki, this type of reaction was one he hadn’t seen from his partner in ages. Usually it was Momo that kept up the morale, through it all his partner would look at him with a smile and say, ’Leave it to me, Yuki!’
He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, he really didn’t know what to do. Giving comfort was something still pretty alien to Yuki, even if he’s been capable of it for quite some time.
Taking a moment to catch his bearings, Yuki finally stood up. Giving it a second, he came to new resolve and headed towards the kitchenette with a new goal in mind. The older Re:vale member got to work, and procured a small and easy to digest meal for his obviously distressed partner.
With limited ingredients it wasn’t really something to scoff at, Yuki was proud of himself. He placed the food and a cup of water on a tray, and started walking towards the bedroom. The screen was still slightly ajar, despite Momo’s attempts of shutting it earlier.
He thankfully had minimal trouble opening it, and moved inside. The sight before him was slightly pathetic in itself. Momo was curled in the corner, face to the wall. Yuki wondered if his partner hadn’t left his futon cover behind, would Momo have been there instead?
Yuki set the tray down near Momo’s still unraveled futon. He approached his partner wearily. Upon being closer up Yuki could see Momo shaking, he was hiding something. “Momo, can you show me your face?”
Momo shook his head relentlessly, denying Yuki. But the latter didn’t give up, he placed a hand on Momo’s shoulder, “alright alright, how about you at least eat. You were up so early without food. I made you something.”
He hoped this would get his partner to finally turn around, and thankfully it did. What he saw broke Yuki’s heart a little. Momo’s eyes were red with tears, which were still lining his face, leaving a hefty trail. “M-Momo…?”
Yuki didn’t know how to react, he wasn’t expecting Momo’s tears to affect him this badly. He was frozen in shock, unsure of how to proceed once again, his hand had loosened from Momo’s shoulder. This time the other took initiative.
Momo covered his eyes, attempting wipe his tears away, they just kept coming though. “Y-Yuki I’m sorry…”
Yuki snapped out of his stupor at the apology, giving Momo a glare. He didn’t say anything, just stayed silent. This scared his partner quite a bit, making Momo attempt to run again.
This time though, he couldn’t get up. His legs were shaky, and his body refused him. He was taken aback by the protest. Momo looked at Yuki, terrified. He started to sob, closing his eyes in hopes the view before him disappeared. “I’m so sorry….”
A firm grip on his shoulder pulled Momo forward. Within seconds, he was taken into a warm embrace. Momo slowly opened his eyes, Yuki was holding him tightly. “EEK!“
Yuki winced from Momo’s loud noise, but didn’t relent. “It’s okay.”
At first he wanted to run, wanted to cover his eyes in embarrassment, hide from the fact he was acting so weak in front of the one he held in regard so highly. Yet Momo couldn’t, his body just wouldn’t move.
At last he gave in, going into Yuki’s hold, his muscles were allowed to finally relax. But the sobs didn’t stop, and he let out an eruption of snot and tears, unable to hold it back any longer.
Yuki didn’t say anything, he just held his partner tightly, slowly and softly stroking Momo’s back. He started to hum a random tune, what it was, Yuki didn’t quite know, but if it calmed Momo, it wasn’t important.
.
.
.
Eventually Momo’s sobs settled, his body was fully tranquil. The younger had fallen asleep from exhaustion, still in Yuki’s embrace. But his partner didn’t mind, for a bit.
Now it was aggravating, Yuki had been on his knees for almost fifteen minutes by now. It was painful. Even though he would love to just carry his partner to the coverless futon, his body wasn’t strong enough for that.
He proceeded to poke Momo’s cheek, it didn’t take much to wake the younger re:vale member. Momo opened his magenta eyes, and sleepily gazed at him. Yuki gave the exhausted man a loving smile, “Are you feeling better?”
Momo nodded sluggishly, yawning in sequence afterwards. He tried to rub the tiredness from his eyes, yet it lingered. At this point, his body was far too fatigued to give his usual flustered response. Yuki slowly started to stand up, guiding Momo up with him, “Momo, you should take a bath, it will wake you up some. After that you can eat the food I made earlier.”
Yuki figured Momo was still sort of weak from the earlier stress, and decided to help him to the bathroom for now. Just as Yuki thought, his partner staggered once to his feet. “Easy Momo.”
Momo blushed in embarrassment, “Sorry Yuki.”
Yuki brought his face towards Momo’s, “no, don’t apologize, not right now.”
The former gulped, his eyes frantically looking around, he nodded, Yuki smiled at that. The two of them made their way to the bathroom, Momo was seated on a closed toilet. “Sit here while I prepare you a bath.”
Momo interjected in the sudden gesture, “Huh?! Y-Yuki I can do it myself!”
Yuki sent a deadpan expression his way, a critical hit on Momo’s Ikemen meter. The latter sighed, “Momo, I had to support you as we walked a few meters! I hardly believe you can do anything at this moment.”
Momo dropped his head in defeat, both eyes closed, “You’re right Yuki…”
After rolling up his sleeves, Yuki turned on the faucet. As the tub filled, he checked the water temperature a few times, “Momo.”
Momo looked up at the sound of his name, “Yeah Yuki?”
Not facing his partner, Yuki continued, “After your bath and meal, I think we should talk about what’s bothering you. Clearly it’s something pretty dire.”
Momo dropped his head at that, he looked defeated. Yuki looked over at him at last, a hopeful expression was on his face. After a minute or so of silence save for the sound of running water, Momo finally spoke, “…okay.”
Yuki was pleased at his partner, but not wanting to stress Momo further he went back to getting everything ready.
Once he was done Yuki looked to Momo, he stood up and approached his partner, “Strip.”
Momo was taken back by the sudden statement having to do a double take, “YUKI?!”
Yuki, placed a hand to his mouth, snickering, “Just down to your underwear. That way I can help you over to the tub. Then you can um, you know. I don’t really see the problem.”
Momo looked confused and flustered beyond all belief, but rather than deal with more of his partner’s already straightforward phrasing, Momo complied. It took about a minute, getting bare is kinda hard sitting down after all. Whatever he couldn’t manage, Yuki helped.
After he was down to his boxers, Yuki held Momo by the arm, and guided him to the bath. He seated Momo on the edge, hoping that would be enough.
Yuki started to leave the room, turning his back once to look at him, “I will leave a change of clothes outside. I hope the soak will help your fatigue.”
Momo nodded to him, trying his best to hide a blush. Yuki snickered to himself and exited the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
.
.
.
A bath was just what Momo needed. His body felt revitalized like nothing had happened, he felt slightly more at peace too. After drying off, he held the towel around his waist and made way to the door. Momo peeked out.
Just as promised, a change of clothes was right outside the door. He quickly got changed, although Yuki’s fashion choices for Momo were pretty questionable.
Momo was now wearing a pair of yellow sweatpants with a matching duck t-shirt. He didn’t even know they owned these. With his hair still wet, Momo put another towel around his neck to catch excess water.
He looked around to see the meal Yuki had prepared was gone, ’Yuki must’ve taken it to reheat it.’
Momo walked out of the bedroom in the direction of the kitchenette, only to see Yuki working on the latest Re:Vale song, the sound of pencil grafting the empty sheet paper was music to his ears.
Yuki noticed him in the doorway, looking up from his work. He smiled sharply, a smug air on him, “See? You look much better!”
Momo blushed at his words, approaching the table. He pulled out his own chair and sat across from Yuki, “what did Yuki-san prepare?”
In response, Yuki got up and opened the microwave. He placed the dish from earlier in front of Momo, it was a simple but delicious looking stew, “It should be easy on your stomach. Even if you look better, and maybe feel better, being better is a whole other matter.”
His partner was already starting to chow down. With a water cup in hand, Yuki placed his face close to Momo’s ear, “After all, I wouldn’t want to see my partner throw up from stress.”
Momo did a double take, nearly choking on his food. Yuki handed him the cup, as if predicting that would happen. The latter smiled cheekily at his partner, who was currently looking at him with a very bad blush, while sipping at the water.
“Now.” Yuki sat down across from Momo once again, a more focused look on him.
The younger Re:Vale member was getting slightly anxious from his partner’s stare, doing his best to avert gaze. He just tried to go back to eating.
The two sat there for about 15 minutes in silence, Yuki was intently watching Momo eat, as if waiting for him to finish before doing anything else. This made Momo go as slow as possible, a hard feat when tempted by Yuki’s amazing cooking.
Once done, he tried to avoid the subject currently above them. “I saw you working on the song again! Yuki is so ikemen when he’s working!”
Momo tried to do his usual song and dance, but this didn’t faze Yuki. His partner grabbed the pencil resting on the table. He fiddled with it in his fingers, smiling at it fondly, “Yes, I was working because I knew it would make Momo happy if I did. There’s something you can do to make me happy too.”
Momo looked directly at him with a excited smile, Yuki gave him a glance and spun the pencil in his fingers, “Tell me what’s wrong.”
This instantly sent Momo into despair, he looked down. “W-why do you want to know so badly…?”
A sudden slam made Momo look up, he saw Yuki scowling, “is that even a question?!”
Momo was unsure how to answer, but didn’t get a chance, “I’m worried about you Momo! Whatever it is caused you of all people to crumble and become a sobbing wreck! The one with tons of stamina and strength! Momo is always so bright, but today you’ve been so down!”
Yuki had left Momo dumbfounded, he was stunned. Yuki looked at him, hoping for some kind of reaction. Suddenly, tears fell from his partner, Yuki panicked, “Shit, Momo!!”
He ran over hurriedly, placing both hands on his partner’s shoulders, he kneeled down to check on Momo. “I’m sorry…!”
Momo came out of whatever trance that plagued him and quickly wiped his tears. “N-no Yuki you didn’t do anything wrong! Yuki is too handsome!”
Yuki was confused, “Then…?”
Momo’s knuckles clenched against his lap, “it’s just…”
He paused then looked up at Yuki with teary eyes, “you made Momo happy…!”
The purity of that statement made Yuki instinctively blush. He put a palm over his face, ‘He’s too pure..!’
Momo tilted his head, “Yuki?”
Yuki opened his fingers to see Momo looking at him, a sad look was present, “I-I had a dream… no, nightmare, about my sister….”
Momo eyes closed as he kept going, Yuki put his hand down, he looked at Momo with a caring gaze, Momo kept going without looking, “It was the time Momo left… she said she hated me… and it brought back all the stress… Momo just didn’t know…”
He held back a sob, “I… didn’t know what to do!”
A rush of tears dropped like comets, he couldn’t stop himself. Momo tried what he could to dry them, but it was useless. They just kept coming.
“Momo…” Yuki wasn’t sure what to fully do, but he approached Momo, and opened his arms.
The younger one naturally was pulled into his embrace, finally letting himself be comforted. His partner’s palms had become wet with tears, but Yuki didn’t care, Momo needed him.
He wrapped his arms around the younger man, rubbing him like before, but this time, it felt more tender. “Momo just… he didn’t want…. I didn’t want to make people upset… I-I thought she would be happy… Re:Vale wasn’t over….”
He tightly gripped Yuki’s arm, looking up at him. His eyes shined with water, they were puffy and red from crying, “Why do they all hate me…?!”
Yuki held the back of Momo’s head, pushing the boy against his chest. Momo cried into the fabric of Yuki’s clothes. “You know Momo, even if the whole world hated you. I never could.”
Momo opened his eyes, Yuki stroked his partner’s head softly, “Because Momo is the kindest, most passionate person I could ever hope to know. He came to me when I was at my lowest and brought me out of it.”
Yuki held his head high, “And you know, those people are all stupid for hating you. Because you Momo, are the best.”
Momo smiled through teary eyes, his arms returned Yuki’s hug, and he started to cry again. This scared Yuki, “D-did I say something bad?”
Momo shook his snotty face in response, “No, Yuki was so elegant when he spoke. D-Darling was the coolest!”
Yuki was confused, he tilted his head, “Darling?”
Momo blushed, “yeah! Yuki is darling!”
A stupid grin plastered itself on Yuki’s face, accompanied by the biggest blush he’s ever had, he was so glad Momo couldn’t see it.
They stayed there for a bit, which was just what Momo needed to calm himself down. Once his tears were done, and his mind more at ease, Yuki pulled his partner out of his chair. “I think you and I need a break.”
He guided Momo along, making the younger man ever curious about his partner’s plan.
.
.
.
The two had sat down and were now watching a random show on their tiny TV. It wasn’t that large so the two were sitting at the coffee table with some warm water, saving their tea stash for another time. Yuki’s idea of a break was to watch random things for passing the time.
Momo stretched out against the table, his front laying over it. He looked up at Yuki with a blushing smile, “Thank you for being there for me! You’re so ikemen!”
Yuki looked down at Momo, giving him a loving grin. He tousled Momo’s hair, taking in the softness of his partner’s freshly washed locks. “No. Thank you for relying on me, Momo.”
Momo blushed at him, processing his partner’s statement, “You’re welcome Darling!”
They exchanged a sweet set of smiles, and turned back to the TV. For now things were just right.
FIN.