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It was the early afternoon when Tatsuya’s flip phone buzzed. He was laying in bed, half asleep, trying to forget that the world was currently ending and that he definitely had school tomorrow.
Jun (7/23)
gd mrning Tacchi! do u want 2 grab lnch?
He stared at the text for a little too long. It wasn’t long ago that they’d saved Jun from being the Joker, and even sooner that he half-confessed his feelings for Jun when he politely (as politely as someone who has told her repeatedly that he is not interested) turned Lisa down. They hadn’t mentioned anything about it at the time, aside from Lisa’s dejected remark that Tatsuya is free to love whoever he wants, but the tension between them had only heightened.
Really, it’s the opposite of what he’d hoped would happen. Tatsuya hoped that saying he liked Jun would simply end the conversation, but that tiny admission had caused him to half-seclude himself from the others, when they weren’t busy trying to stop a god from destroying the world.
A break would be nice. And some time to talk to Jun alone might help clear the air between them. Maybe he’d finally be able to put those feelings in the back of his mind to rest. Just reading Jun’s nickname for him made a smile spread across his face. It was so soft, affectionate. Even if Jun didn’t like him in the same way, he finally had his best friend back.
Tacchi (7/23)
yea
peace diner in 30?
Jun (7/23)
I’ll b there! =)
Tatsuya’s smile widened as he sat up. His room, messy as it was, seemed brighter than it normally would be as he forced himself out of bed.
He threw whatever he could find that wasn’t dirty- jeans and a tank top- before putting on his leather jacket over it. He paused in the doorway, listening for any signs of movement.
… He figured the coast was clear, and stepped outside, only to get blindsided by his older brother’s face in the hallway.
“Oh! Good morning, Tatusya.” Katsuya smiled a bit.
“H… Hey.” His face fell as he sighed. So much for avoiding talking to him.
“You slept in pretty late. Do you want me to make you something for lunch?” He kept the smile, though.
Dammit. How does he casually play off what very well might be a date with a boy?
“Uh. No, it’s fine. I’m hanging out with a friend. I’m leaving right now, actually.”
He tried to push past Katsuya, who didn’t resist him, but also followed his movement with his head. He silently begged that Katsuya didn’t have any other questions. He’s been hiding enough from him already.
“You’ve been hanging out with your friends a lot recently.” He comments, and Tatsuya can’t tell if it’s inquisitive or simply a statement.
“Yeah…? I have friends now.” Tatsuya shoved his hands into his pocket, instinctively wrapping a hand around his lighter. Like a child’s blanket, he immediately felt calmer. “Is there something wrong?”
“No- no! Of course not. I’m glad, actually.” Katsuya smiled a tiny bit. He knew why of course- Tatsuya had been friendless for almost ten years- but understanding didn’t make it any better. “Have fun, okay?”
Tatsuya looked away, flicking the lighter in his hand. “Yeah. See you.” He pushed out the door before Katsuya could say anything else.
Sumaru City always got hot around this time of year, but the sun beating down over it was only made more intense by the fact that the city was currently floating. How it was floating, Tatsuya had no clue, but the air felt relatively the same.
Xibalba was created to support the Mayan’s space travel, Jun had tried to explain once, so there’s probably an artificial atmosphere. It made absolutely no sense to him. It felt like little kid logic- but maybe it was.
Either way, it barely seemed to affect the public. A few confused news articles, people exclaiming it was strange, and then it was onto the next big-time rumor. Katsuya mentioned how odd it was over dinner, Tatsuya shrugged, and the topic changed to his grades. It was like nobody cared about the world ending anymore.
Nobody except them.
He sighed as he put on his motorcycle helmet, walking the bike out of its place in the small alleyway next to their apartment building. Tatsuya tried to put the thoughts out of his head as he swung his leg over the side, straddling the motorcycle with a comfortable familiarity. If nothing else, he had this.
Katsuya wanted to strangle him when Tatsuya revealed he’d gotten his motorcycle license at the beginning of his senior year. He could’ve learned to drive an actual car, but where was the fun in that? This way, as the street signs flew past, he felt the wind cut through his clothes and hair.
It felt real. Alive . This was something that meant he was really here. Even amongst the chaos and unbelievable rumors, the partially-destroyed city blocks and blown up buildings, the temples that he dreaded remembering the contents of. He could still ride through the mostly-empty streets.
It was too soon when he got to Yumezaki, and sooner when he parked his bike in the shopping center’s lot. He hung his helmet off the handle, making sure it wouldn’t fall over before pulling out his phone.
It’d only taken him around fifteen minutes to get there. Jun might not be there yet…
Where did Jun live, anyway? Surely he wasn’t staying wherever he was living before they saved him. He didn’t have any parents- at least, not one that wasn’t a manipulative asshole god- and Jun always kept himself well-groomed.
Either way, he had time… But none of the other shops really interested him right now. He could go to any Satomi Tadashi, Tony’s wasn’t open right now (maybe the Mafia got him?), and Anima Mundi hadn’t gotten any new stock in weeks. Instead, he leaned against a wall, getting his phone back out.
Tacchi (7/23)
hey i got here early, u on the way?
He stared at the screen, as if willing Jun to reply. Or maybe to spawn him from the ether. Could a rumor do that…? Well, if they can create Shadow clones of themselves, then surely it could do something like that.
The relative silence left him alone with his thoughts again. They drifted, as they always do, back to Jun. He knew what he’d do.
Jun would show up, and Tatsuya would greet him. They’d exchange pleasantries, and Tatsuya would look at him, and ask. “What do you think of me?”
Jun would flush, brush the hair away from his one free eye- it’d be especially sparkly- and he’d say. “I really like you!” To which Tatsuya would turn away, to hide his blush of course, and say “You do?” and that would settle it. They’d be dating. It’d be perfect.
But the thoughts shatter when his phone buzzes in his hand. He must’ve zoned out, because he’d already missed two texts.
Jun (7/23)
i got here early 2 where r u?
Jun (7/23)
oh i c u!
look up silly!!
Tatsuya blinked deftly at the screen for a moment, before raising his head. He locked eyes with Jun, who was approaching him. He was sure he looked like an idiot, staring dumbfounded at Jun.
Then he finally composed himself, pushing himself off the wall and meeting Jun halfway. “Hey- uh. Morning.”
“It’s almost two in the afternoon, Tacchi.” Jun huffed with an affectionate smile.
Shit. He stammered for a second, trying to recover, until he just shrugged. “Guess it is.” This earned a soft laugh from Jun, which sent Tatsuya over the moon.
Everything about him was perfect. From his definitely meticulously styled hair to the smile that just slightly closes his eyes to his outfit that looks like he raided a Victorian-era closet. He stood out like a sore thumb and Tatsuya wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around him and make sure he was safe.
Wait, what is he thinking?
“Let’s go.” He turned, motioning for Jun to follow. He matched Tatsuya’s pace, walking close enough that their hands brushed against each other.
Tatsuya tried to not let the flush on his face show as he headed for the Peace Diner. It was on the other side of the mall, so they had time. He could ask now, but all the wind was taken from his sails the moment he saw Jun.
“Well… It’s a wonderful day, isn’t it?” Jun spoke, and Tatsuya realized he definitely missed Jun saying something before this.
“Oh- yeah. Hot though.” He spoke nonchalantly, not exactly bugged by it. Ever since he received Apollo, he noticed that heat didn’t exactly bug him anymore.
“... Do you worry about…?” Jun stopped himself, looking away.
“Yes.” Tatsuya replied fast, looking the opposite direction. They were both silent for a beat, before Tatsuya cleared his throat. “But I mean. We’re all back together now, right? All of us.”
“I’m grateful for that.” Jun recovered, smiling at him. “Really. You all opened my eyes and made me remember the truth.”
Tatsuya could feel the butterflies in his stomach. Any notion of being unsure of his feelings towards Jun were gone in an instant.
“Yeah. I’m glad. I missed you.”
They finally reached the Peace Diner. However, Jun stopped Tatsuya from entering.
“Hey, Tatsuya?”
“Hm?” Tatsuya flicked his lighter idly.
“You remember what happened in Lisa’s temple?” He looks away sheepishly. “What you said?”
Oh. Tatsuya flushed. “I… Yeah. That I have feelings for you.”
“You meant it…?” Jun looked back at him, eye searching his own.
He wasn’t sure what to say in response, so he simply closed the distance between them and pulled Jun into a hug. The shorter man yelped in surprise, and there was a beat where Tatsuya worried he might’ve overstepped. Until Jun returned the hug, tight and full of an affection Tatsuya had no idea he was missing.
“Tacchi…” His voice was light and full of happiness, the most he’d heard Jun have. It made him grin.
“I don’t want to leave your side ever again.” He finally admitted, not caring about how public this was. Surely, they were getting dirty looks or people remarking under their breaths. But it didn’t matter.
Right now, his entire world was his best friend, his closest person, his doppelganger held tight in his arms.
He wanted the moment to last forever, to never have to let him go again. Tatsuya was terrified of losing him again. But eventually, he let go, pulling back. Jun’s arms dropped until he was holding Tatsuya’s hands.
“I’m happy you feel the same way. I never considered that you would…” He trailed off, looking up at Tatsuya.
“I didn’t think you would, either.” He still had a smile, one of relief. “Honestly, when I was telling Lisa, it just kind of… Slipped out.”
“Well I’m glad it did.” Jun finally let go, seeming to remember why they were here. He turned, holding the door open. “Now, I think we should celebrate.”
Tatsuya couldn’t hold in his chuckle as he walked in, practically beaming. A stark contrast from how he normally looked. Jun loved it.