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Tecchou didn’t know how long it’s been since the entire situation ended.
With that- traitor, the man they had called their boss, wrecking the very foundations of this so-called "justice" he had held so dear.
Time was flowing- no, rushing as it would, like a river. And Tecchou was a boulder, time and his own mind slowly chipping away at any semblance of a comfortable thought, but remaining still and stony.
As if nothing had changed.
Everything had. Everything he’d thought was true, reduced to rubble.
Tecchou had loathed himself when he noticed the mere idea that his partner might not return from that mission-
dreaded every last beep from the heart monitors that made moments stretch into seemingly endless eons.
Every second that wasn’t spent by Jouno’s side was spent wishing he was. Wishing he had told his beloved how much he loved him before he would be reduced to a motionless body on a hospital bed.
It’s been far too long for Tecchou to be still hung up on the last mission he had gone on before being placed on long-term leave by the government.
He knew he was lucky he was still getting maintenance after what his captain had done. But he couldn’t help but feel unwanted. He was so useless, unable to see through such blatant lies. Tecchou had left most of the planning to Jouno when they were together. After all, Jouno would see everything. Every twitch, every palpitation of their hearts, every- lie. Tecchou had never lied to his beloved.
Only to himself.
When he told himself everything was going to be ok.
When he told himself that he couldn’t have made a difference.
When he told himself-
Tecchou blinked himself out of his thoughts.
It was- dark.
He was warm, coddled in blankets on a bed that could barely accommodate his frame.
Against his chest was a man.
Jouno.
Jouno was alive. Alive, and here.
Tecchou wrapped his arms around the figure, pulling him closer, and resting his chin on snow-colored hair.
Maybe it would be ok- the same-
No.
It would never.
All he could do was savor the moment, and every last touch he could get.
He had to.
Jouno felt so frail, he had to protect him. Frail by the standard of Tecchou, he knew, was far off the usual, but Jouno felt so- small. Like a small puppy, he had to safeguard.
Tecchou ran his fingers over Jouno’s body, being careful not to wake him.
The types of need their jobs entailed almost always meant fresh scars would be cast about their bodies at every turn. It was a part of them to protect. And protecting means receiving injury. Even knowing this, Tecchou still flinched at every mark left on Jouno.
It felt so- wrong.
So wrong for such a delicate frame to be littered with remnants of former slashes and stabs.
The scar stemming from Jouno’s neck crept into the visible veins left behind from the vampirism.
He almost lost Jouno.
By his own fault. By his own incompetence.
Tecchou couldn’t help but think of how things have gone differently. If just maybe, he could’ve convinced Jouno not to go alone through that airport.
If only
If only he had taken a second look at what their ca- no. What that- traitor- sent them into.
He probably couldn’t have changed anything.
Jouno would have brushed him off.
We’ve dealt with similar things before. I know you remember Kenya, or are you lacking in memory as much as you are in taste?
Tecchou smiled at the imagined comment.
But only if he had insisted that Jouno hadn’t gone alone. If he hadn’t gone alone then maybe he could’ve stopped Jouno from getting hurt.
No.
Thinking about what could’ve been is meaningless.
What matters now is that Jouno is here. Here, and safe.
Jouno looked at peace in his sleep. He looked just as tranquil as he was as he rested on that hospital bed. Just as serene as he did as he fell to the ground, covered in his own blood after he had regained control from the parasite puppeteering his body.
Tecchou heaved a sigh as he finally closed his eyes.
What time was it?
How long has it been?
Time is a blur.
Is it though?
Maybe in this moment.
Tecchou wished that this moment would last forever with Jouno wrapped safely in his arms. He wouldn’t let anything so much as touch his partner ever again. Nobody will be able to harm Jouno.
Tecchou knew these thoughts were but a delusion. He knew he would never, as much as he wished, as much as he tried, he would never be able to protect Jouno forever.
Part of him wished they could leave the Military, leave the Hunting Dogs, with Jouno to live a simpler life.
Maybe they could run a flower shop together.
Or maybe they could live a simple life in the countryside.
Perhaps a bakery?
That would be nice.
Wouldn’t it?
Anything would be better than Tecchou’s beloved being placed in the line of danger every time they were on duty.
It was at that moment when Tecchou realized that all he wanted was a life with Jouno by his side, safe and sound. Nothing else mattered more.
They probably couldn’t do anything about their current situation.
Maybe once they retired they could.
Tecchou only realized how much he missed Jouno when he wasn’t there. To the lengths, he would go to to get Jouno back.
For now, though, all he had was this moment, while Jouno was still here.
Tecchou would hold onto everything he held dear. And Jouno, he knew, was his everything.