Chapter Text
He wakes to a sleepy voice in his ear.
“Touya,” the voice whines, stretching out his name.
“What?” Touya grumbles, squeezing his eyes tight though it does nothing to rid of the orange glow behind them. He can feel the sun warming the sheets.
Keigo curls into him, tightening the hold he has on Touya’s waist. He presses his head to Touya’s chest.
“Your alarm is going off,” he says, muffled by the blankets.
Touya’s senses tune in and he can suddenly hear the repetitive trill filling the room.
He sighs and reaches out behind him, blindly feeling for a few seconds before he finds the culprit of the sound. He yanks his phone off the charger, hits the snooze button, and blissful silence is restored.
He sighs again and presses his face back into his pillow. He can feel Keigo’s hair against his face. He takes a moment to appreciate the weight of Keigo’s arms and the warmth radiating from where he clings to Touya. But after a minute or two of lying there, he decides he’s hungry and his body is begging to move and stretch, so he begins to untangle himself from his partner.
Keigo’s theatrics reignite.
He begins whining and pressing closer, unwilling to let Touya go.
“Can you stop?” Touya huffs, trying to push Keigo’s arms off his waist.
“Can’t you stay a little longer?”
“I’m hungry.”
Keigo cracks open an eye, looking displeased.
“Don’t look at me like that." Touya palms Keigo’s face away.
Keigo squawks as he’s pushed back.
He lets go of Touya but only so he can grab the pillow under his head and bring it down on Touya’s face. Touya flattens against the mattress and slowly pries off the pillow. He sends Keigo a glare.
“Don’t you have work?” he questions.
Keigo huffs a breath that leaves his nose and his mouth.
“Ha ha,” he says flatly. “Very funny. You know I don’t have work.”
Touya blinks and then his thoughts suddenly fall into place. Right. Keigo doesn’t have a job right now.
“I volunteer today, but I still have a few hours,” Keigo says in a light voice.
He rolls onto his side so he can tip his head over Touya’s and plant a kiss on his cheek.
Touya lifts a hand to the side of Keigo’s face and gives him two sharp pats.
“Unlike you, I don’t like lazing around in bed all day. I want breakfast.”
Keigo tries to wrap around him again. Touya distracts him with a kiss. In a weak moment of contentment, Keigo’s arms slacken and Touya breaks free by pushing him away and rolling out of the bed. He heads for the kitchen, leaving Keigo to complain in the bedroom.
It’s an easy morning, one that follows the usual routine. Touya gets up first and throws together breakfast while Keigo gets ready for the day at a much slower pace.
Their house is fairly small, fit for two people and a handful of guests. The hallway from the bedroom to the living room is only a few steps long. In the kitchen, Touya can hear Keigo humming in the bathroom while he pulls ingredients from the fridge.
The fridge gets closed, a cutting board is pulled out from the bottom cabinet. Vegetables get chopped and fruit is set out next to them. The kettle that sits on the back right burner gets filled with water. Touya goes to light the stove. It clicks a few times but the pilot light doesn’t take. Touya tries again, hinging at the hip to get a look at where the flames should be. This time the stove ignites.
Touya’s hand suddenly freezes on the dial as he stares into the blue flames of the burner. The flame flickers and something tugs in Touya’s chest. The blue light is so familiar.
He stares at the same flame everyday when he makes tea. But today feels different. The flicker pulls him in, like it's something he should pay attention to. An odd feeling settles in his chest, but he shakes away his captivation and steps away from the stove.
Keigo comes waltzing into the kitchen a few minutes later, grabbing at food and throwing himself over Touya for fun.
“Get off,” Touya mutters as he tries to clean the cutting board, an impossible feat with Keigo draped around him.
“Why can’t you just let me love you?” Keigo questions.
Touya ignores the melodrama.
“I always let you do that. I need a break.”
Keigo disagrees, holds on tightly, and kisses Touya on the cheek. Touya swats him away.
The kettle starts to whistle.
He pulls the pot off the stove, astutely ignoring the blue flame as he turns the burner off. Keigo fetches two mugs and shoves an apple in his mouth. He sets them on the counter and Touya preps them with a tea strainer. He fills each cup with boiling water.
The entire time, Keigo sleepily lingers at his back, head resting against Touya’s shoulder.
It's peaceful. Mundane. Routine. Until there’s a knock on the front door.
Touya waits for Keigo to get it but Keigo remains slumped over him.
There’s another bout of knocking.
Keigo chomps on his apple and lazily says, “You should probably answer the door.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Touya huffs.
He shuffles to the door anyways, leaving Keigo in the kitchen. He undoes the deadbolt, and lets the door swing open without a pre-emptive peek at who’s on the other side.
He startles at the sight of his brother.
“Natsuo,” he says dumbly.
His heart drums in his chest. Seeing Natsuo has him feeling unsettled, which is odd because there’s nothing unsettling about Natsuo. He stands there with his snow-white hair and broad shoulders, staring at Touya with a bored expression.
“Why aren’t you dressed?” Natsuo asks, lifting an eyebrow.
Touya scoffs at the obvious judgement.
“Why are you here?” he retorts.
Natsuo’s expression widens with surprise.
“Did you forget?” he asks in mild disbelief.
“Forget what?”
“You seriously forgot?”
Touya tries racking his brain but nothing comes up. He’s still trying to shake off any lingering sleep.
“You’re unbelievable,” Natsuo sighs.
He cranes his neck to look behind Touya at where Hawks is fluttering around in the kitchen. Then in a whisper he says, “Aren’t we ring shopping today?”
Touya’s eyes widen.
Oh shit, how could he forget? He’s been agonizing over today for the past week because he needs to pick out a ring and once he’s picked out the right one that means he’s a step closer to actually proposing to Keigo. The very thought makes him light-headed. A terrible sickness of giddiness and nausea stirs in his stomach.
“We are,” Touya quickly says. “Let me get ready.”
Natsuo rolls his eyes but lets Touya run off to put on a clean shirt and pants.
Keigo lights up when he sees Natsuo come further in.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Had plans with Touya, which he rudely forgot about.”
Keigo laughs as he butters a piece of toast.
“Don’t take it personally."
Touya returns and is out of the house with Natsuo before Keigo can question what they’re up to.
“I thought this would be the number one thing on your mind,” Natsuo says once they’re in his car. “Like, top priority.”
“It is,” Touya says, slamming his head back against the headrest. “It just makes me nervous.”
There’s a reason he asked Natsuo to help him and no one else. Natsuo always keeps him calm. He intuitively knows what Touya needs. Fuyumi would flounder too much and unintentionally be overbearing, Shouto would be clueless, and Touya’s friends would be absolutely no help.
Natsuo smiles, a little smug. “Nervous? You’re nervous?”
Touya gives him a smack.
“Of course, I am. This is a big deal.”
Natsuo laughs. “It’s not like he’ll say no.”
Touya drags a hand down his face.
“Great. You just jinxed me, dumbass.”
It’s a short ride to the ring shop, a place that Natsuo’s girlfriend had recommended. Touya, having never bothered to buy jewelry besides what’s offered at piercing shops, hadn’t had a clue where to go.
It’s a tiny, a perfect shoe-box sized store. When they enter, Touya sees an older woman sitting at a small table in the back, drilling away at a diamond, and an old man standing behind the display cases. The rings and diamonds and jewelry are tucked behind glass all around the perimeter of the shop. The old man happily waves Touya and Natsuo in and lets them peruse what’s around while he helps a young woman looking at necklaces.
“Okay, so how do I do this?” Touya asks as he leans down and examines one of the displays. “Which do I pick?”
Natsuo sips on the ice coffee he strolled in with and gives Touya an unimpressed look.
“He’s your boyfriend,” he says, providing no help at all. "Shouldn’t you know what he likes?”
“I should’ve bought Fuyumi instead,” Touya jokingly laments.
Natsuo elbows his ribs.
“Yeah right. She’d be micromanaging your every move. You’d both be on edge. Probably get kicked out.”
“Hmm. Shouto, then.”
Natsuo laughs into his drink. “Might as well have dad help you.”
Touya ignores that little remark. He straightens up and rubs at the back of his head, keeping his eyes trained on the rings before him.
“Keigo likes shiny things. Gems and glitter in general. He likes gold more than silver.”
“Gold?” Natsuo guffaws.
“Gaudy, I know,” Touya sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment, “but that’s a compromise I’m willing to make.”
“If that’s not love, I don’t know what is,” Natsuo sighs.
Touya rolls his eyes.
The bell above the shop door rings as the other customer leaves. The old man wanders over and begins talking Touya and Natsuo through the ring buying process.
He asks about what Touya’s partner likes. Touya answers with ease. He asks for ring size. Another easy answer. Eventually it just comes down to picking between a few favorites. Touya wonders if it should be more difficult to decide. Maybe it’s more typical for someone to go to multiple shops over the course of multiple days to find the perfect ring. But he stares at his top three and knows immediately which one he’s putting his money down for.
It’s a slim gold band encrusted with a variety of green and goldish stones. It’s subtle, nothing overbearing, but sparkles when it catches the light.
The sun is high in the sky when Touya and Natsuo finally leave the shop. Touya with a ring box in hand, Natsuo with his coffee.
“So, how are you going to do it?” Natsuo asks as they walk back to the car.
“Do what?” Touya asks, not really paying attention. He’s too busy feeling the shape of the box in his hand.
“ Propose! ” Natsuo hisses.
“Oh, that,” Touya says dismissively. “I’m just going to do it when the moment’s right.”
Natsuo groans.
“That’s terrible. I’m telling Fuyumi.”
Touya shrugs.
“She already knows,” he says.
Natsuo makes a noise of general disagreement.
“As surprising as it may seem, Keigo isn’t one for big public displays of affection. Some big, fantastic proposal isn’t what either of us wants,” Touya says.
Natsuo looks skeptical. He takes a long sip of his drink.
“I’ll give you my approval after dinner,” he finally says.
“I don’t need your approval,” Touya snaps and then after a moment adds, “What do you mean after dinner?”
“Family dinner,” Natsuo says, lifting a brow.
The statement means nothing to Touya.
Natsuo’s expression flattens.
“What is with you today? Family dinner , Touya-nii. You and Hawks are hosting. Ring a bell?”
Like a puzzle piece snapping into place, Touya remembers the tradition of weekly Todoroki family dinners. It’s a staple, really. Something that doesn’t usually slip his mind.
He feels suddenly unsettled again, like when Natsuo first came to the door. He takes a breath that feels like two stones grinding together. The thought that something is wrong wraps around his brain and he can’t get it to leave.
“Touya? You okay?”
He blinks.
He and Natsuo are at the car now. Natsuo has cracked the driver’s side door open and is waiting for Touya to do the same with the passenger door.
He shakes himself out of the odd feeling.
“Of course I’m not okay,” he huffs as he ducks into the car. “I forgot about family dinner and I left Keigo alone to cook.”
-
Natsuo convinces him to get lunch before he ends up going home. Lunch is an easy sell can be hard to catch up with Natsuo one-on-one.
Over sushi, Natsuo updates Touya on everything he’s been up to, throwing in the details that can’t usually make it into conversation at family dinners. He talks about his girlfriend and how they’re thinking about moving in together, he talks about medical school, he dishes out his opinions on Shouto’s friends. It’s a nice enough afternoon that Touya almost forgets about Keigo being left alone to figure out the meal for dinner.
Touya rushes home. He’s surprised when he gets there and hears the sound of something sizzling on the stove combined with the hum of idle chatter backed by quiet music. Touya’s face furrows. He wonders who’s over.
He shrugs off his coat, kicks off his shoes, and walks further inside the house.
House , he thinks to himself for no reason at all. The word just seems to stick with him. We have a house.
Touya rounds into the kitchen and when he looks up at the scene before him, he stops in place as if turned to stone.
Keigo is at the counter with his back turned, whisking something in a bowl, and next to him stands a boy with the head of a bird.
That can’t be right.
Touya stares, refusing to blink.
The boy looks familiar, with his black feathers and a snapping beak, and yet he looks completely out of place. Because people with bird heads don’t exist here. That’s just not possible.
“What?” bird boy asks sarcastically. “Something on my face?”
Touya blinks a few times and reminds himself that Tokoyami just looks like that. That’s normal. Everything is normal. Everything is fine. Everything is real.
“Oh, Touya!” Keigo chirps, turning around with a smile on his face. “You’re home!”
All of Touya’s concerns are forgotten.
“Glad to see the house isn’t on fire," he says dryly.
Keigo laughs. "Have some faith in me."
Tokoyami snorts at that, turning over the chicken in the frying pan on the stove.
“You literally called in the neighbor kid for help,” Touya says monotonously, flicking his wrist at the kid in question.
Tokoyami is certainly more than just their neighbor. He lives next door, but he’s also friends with Shouto and volunteers with Keigo. He’s never warmed up to Touya much but he gets along with Keigo like two birds of a feather, so he’s around pretty often.
“I didn’t!” Keigo argues. “Tokoyami was just hanging around after we worked today.”
“Not true,” Tokoyami says bluntly. “You practically begged for me to help you pick out a recipe.”
Touya barks out a laugh.
He doesn’t know the kid well, but their sense of humor sometimes aligns.
“I appreciate your service, kid,” Touya says. “If you’re looking to go home, I can take over for you.”
“Finally,” Tokoyami sighs but he’s smiling too. Or the best someone can smile when they’re mouth is a stiff beak. Touya tilts his head to the side. He observes Tokoyami’s expression, still not completely settled by the whole bird thing. Something’s not right about it, but he doesn’t care enough to figure out what. If no one else is going to call out the oddity, he won’t either.
“I’m not trapping you here!” Keigo defends.
“Of course not,” Tokoyami agrees, “But I didn’t want to see the neighborhood burn down, so I was stuck here.”
Touya laughs again and walks further into the kitchen.
Keigo groans and hangs his head.
“I’m not that bad at this, am I?”
Touya peeks at the bowl he’s been stirring.
“You over beat the eggs,” he comments, earning him a wack from the whisk.
He grimaces at the smatter of eggs left behind on his shirt.
“Seriously?” he questions, taking the bowl from Keigo and grabbing a pan off a hook.
“Good luck,” Tokoyami says sincerely.
He says goodbye to them both and heads out.
It's quiet for a moment and then Touya asks, “How was the zoo?”
He usually doesn’t initiate the chatter in their household, but he wants to drive the conversation as far away from his day with Natsuo as possible. He’s a great liar, but if there’s one person who always manages to squeeze the truth out of him, it’s Keigo.
“Good as always. It was busy today,” Keigo hums. “Lots of ridiculous questions from visitors. Someone, a full grown man, genuinely asked if birds were born.”
“What?” Touya laughs as he pours Keigo’s over-beaten eggs into a fresh pan.
Keigo laughs too.
“This guy had no clue how birds were made,” he says. “I pretty much blew his mind when I told him they lay eggs.”
Keigo shares a few more stories, but then he becomes fidgety. He starts roaming around the kitchen, searching for god knows what. He sets the table and then circles back to it to straighten the placemats.
“Come back here and finish what you started,” Touya calls to him.
Keigo returns to Touya’s side.
“Finish frying the chicken,” he instructs.
Keigo nods.
He looks determined as he sets a few fresh pieces of chicken in the oiled pan. His expression is intense, severe even.
“You seem tense,” Touya observes.
“I am!” Keigo cries out. “I don't know why I offered to host. That was such a bad idea.”
Touya snorts.
“Why did you decide to host?”
“I want to impress your mom,” Keigo says.
“Are you being serious?”
“Yes!” Keigo huffs, flipping the chicken again even though it needs more time on that side.
“Keigo,” Touya says, “you don’t need to impress her. She loves you.”
For the briefest moment, Touya considers proposing right then and there. The ring is in his pocket and nothing says ‘my family loves you’ like offering his hand in marriage to officially make Keigo a part of it. But that’s a lackluster proposal. He’s just eager.
“If you need to impress anyone, it’s my dad,” he says, thinking about how his father is the last person he wants to tell about the impending proposal.
A little seed of dread plants itself in his stomach.
Hawks flusters at the words.
“You’re not helping my nerves!”
Touya cracks a smile and steals a kiss while Hawks is busy fretting over Touya’s family and the chicken in the pan.
“I didn’t realize that was my job here.”
“Get your act together. We’re professional in this kitchen,” Hawks says with false dignity. “We only have an hour to get things ready.”
“Relax,” Touya says, “It’s not like we don’t see them every week.”
“But usually it’s your mom cooking. Sometimes you or Fuyumi, but not me! ”
For the sake of preventing Hawks from going into cardiac arrest, Touya steps back in and helps with the rest of the meal. Things run smoothly and before they realize it, it’s 6:00 and the Todoroki family is flooding through their front door.
Touya finds himself just as startled as he was when he saw Natsuo this morning.
There’s a surreal moment when his siblings come in. He feels like he hasn’t seen their faces this close in years. A weepy feeling fills his heart.
Shouto bee-lines for the couch, not even uttering a hello. Natsuo follows in after him, tossing Touya a teasing wink before giving his greetings to Keigo. Fuyumi’s next. He sees her every week and yet he can’t help but notice how she’s shy of being only an inch shorter than him. Her new glasses frames make her look older. When she smiles at him though, it’s the same smile he’s seen ever since she was born.
Fuyumi gives his arm a squeeze as she passes by.
“Hi, Touya-nii,” she says.
Rei and Enji walk through the door at the same time.
The beating of Touya's weepy heart suddenly jumps into his throat.
His father’s sharp eyes land on him. There’s no smile on his broad face, but he nods in greeting.
A repulsive feeling curls in Touya’s chest. It’s heavy and dark, like a thundercloud. He doesn’t understand the feeling. It’s doused out before he can explore it by his mother kissing his cheek and delicately moving his hair from his eyes.
“Nice to see you, Touya,” she says.
He smiles and breathes a sigh of relief.
“As always, mom."
After thirty minutes of hustle and bustle, everyone gets seated at the table. It only sits six people, so Shouto is forced to perch on a stool to the left of Touya. Hawks sits in the seat to his right. Across from them are Rei and Fuyumi, and heading either end of the table are Natsuo and Enji.
Conversation fills the atmosphere while forks clink on plates and dishes get passed around.
Enji asks Fuyumi how her week teaching has been. Rei follows up his inquiries with her own. Meanwhile, Keigo and Natsuo start talking about fitness routines. Touya comically gags when the conversation starts and only goes acknowledged by Keigo who steals some food off his plate as punishment.
With everyone occupied chatting, Touya finds himself listening to a proposition from Shouto.
“I want to dye my hair,” Shouto says quietly. “I want you to help me.”
“Why are you asking me ?” Touya asks, glimpsing his white hair in the window reflection behind his mom and sister.
“Didn’t you have a phase?” Shouto asks, stuffing his mouth with chicken.
“Having good music taste and getting a few piercings doesn’t count as a ‘phase’.”
Shouto goes quiet for a moment. He's contemplative, making the same expression Fuyumi does when she thinks too hard.
“Well, we don’t hang out that much anymore,” he suddenly says. “So that’s why I’m asking you.”
He turns to Touya with puppy-dog eyes and a pout that would trick half the family, but not Touya.
He pushes Shouto’s face away with the back of his chopsticks and grins when Shouto grumbles at him.
“Dad won’t pay for it, but you know I will,” he guesses.
Shouto doesn’t argue. He nods, knowing this is the truth.
“Because you love me,” Shouto adds flippantly.
Touya sneers at him.
“Who said anything about that?”
Keigo suddenly leans across Touya’s space.
“You know, Shouto, it’s pretty bold of you to be talking about something so brash at the dinner table.”
Shouto’s eyes go wide and he takes a wild look around the table.
No one but Keigo is paying attention.
Natsuo has gotten wrapped up in his parents' conversation. He’s trying to convince his sister that she should leave teaching for a job that pays better. Rei is telling him off. Enji is defending Fuyumi’s work, but Fuyumi isn’t hearing the praise because she’s busy prattling off the jobs Natsuo has gotten fired from.
Shouto sags in relief and shovels another bite of food into his mouth.
“So,” Keigo says with a smile, chopsticks picking around at his bowl, “What color?”
Shouto shrugs.
“That’s part of the reason I want help,” he says. “I don’t really know what I want to do. I just want a change. My friends say it might be therapeutic for me.”
Touya raises an eyebrow.
“Your friends might be pranking you.”
Keigo flaps his hand in front of Touya’s face, dissipating his words.
“Midoriya would never!” he says to dismiss Touya. Then he looks at Shouto and his smile grows. “I think they’re right. Shake things up! Touya’s got a good eye for that kind of stuff. You two will figure it out.”
Shouto nods, cheeks rosy as he keeps eating.
Dinner winds down as plates empty and drinks drain. Everyone is ushered into the living room at the behest of Keigo who starts gathering plates by himself until Rei urges Shouto to assist.
She sits now next to Touya on the love seat. A warm cup of tea is clutched in her hands. Fuyumi and Natsuo are still squabbling, warring with each other on the couch. Enji has stepped outside to take a phone call.
“Dinner was delicious, Touya,” his mother says with a sigh.
“Thank Keigo,” Touya says. “He did most of the work. I just babysat him while he did it.”
Rei chuckles and smiles.
“He’s such a nice boy. The sweetest thing,” she hums, peering into the dining room where Keigo is clearing the table with Shouto. “I don’t think you could find anyone better.”
Touya raises an eyebrow and gives her a side-eye glance. There’s an extra layer to her words, a knowing cue that she’s giving him.
“Oh my god,” he huffs in disbelief. “Fuyumi told you, didn’t she!”
Rei continues looking into the dining room, but she lifts her mug to her mouth to hide the smile that grows on her face.
“To be fair,” she whispers, “I pried it out of her.”
Touya groans and flings his head back so he can stare at the ceiling.
“So what? Only Dad and Shouto don’t know?” he says, feeling hopeless. This all feels like an omen for a failed proposal. “I wanted to tell everyone myself.”
Rei laughs, a noise breathy and soft that burrows into Touya’s chest and crowds his heart.
“Keigo doesn’t know,” she points out. “It’s all for him, don’t worry about surprising us.”
Then she sidles closer, wraps a hand around Touya’s arms, and pulls him against her. He finds himself leaning into her, resting his head against hers.
“I’m so excited for you,” she says, giving him a squeeze.
Touya smiles and places his hand over hers. He doesn’t understand why he suddenly feels so sad. His heart weeps again.
“You know,” Rei says, “Your father would be excited too if you told him.”
Touya snorts.
“Yeah right. You’re just hoping I give him an aneurism.”
“Touya,” she scolds, nudging him.
“Sorry,” he mumbles.
“I’m serious. He’d really appreciate hearing about it from you before it happens. And I think you’d be surprised at how he’d respond.”
She takes a sip of her tea.
Touya watches her. He takes in all her delicacy, all her kindness, all her age.
“I’ll consider it.”
Her soft smile grows.
“No time like the present,” she says sagely.
Touya rolls his eyes but rises to his feet and heads towards the front door. He doesn’t bother grabbing a jacket. He wants this to be a short conversation.
His father is tucking his phone back into his pocket when Touya finds him. He curses to himself, having half hoped Enji would still be too occupied to have a conversation about marriage.
“Dad,” Touya says, casually leaning against a post on the tiny porch, “Got a moment?”
Enji stiffens and nods.
It’s an unusual request from Touya. Usually it’s the other way around.
“What is it, Touya?” Enji asks.
“I…I have something to tell you.”
Enji stays quiet, only giving Touya a nod in response.
Touya swallows hard.
Even at 25, he still craves his father’s approval.
“I bought a ring today,” he says, “I’m going to ask Keigo to marry me.”
Enji’s face doesn’t change from its usual stony expression.
His father stares him down for a moment that stretches on long enough that it makes Touya feel like burning up. Blue eyes appraise him, just like they always have, but they soften. Something flashes through them, almost too quick for Touya to catch, but he still recognizes the joy.
“Feels like a long time coming. I’m happy for you,” Enji says and Touya can hear the truth in his words.
Touya tries to be dismissive.
“Maybe wait until he says yes,” he mutters.
“He will,” his father replies without missing a beat.
Touya can’t hide his surprise in time.
“Keigo is a diligent, caring young man. You’re making a smart choice in marrying him.”
Touya doesn’t know what to say. Rarely do he and his father have such a docile exchange of words.
Enji smiles. It doesn’t reach his eyes, because smiling has long been out of practice for the man, but it’s genuine all the same. He carefully sets his hand on Touya's shoulder as he moves to go back inside.
"You're grown up, Touya," he says. "I'm proud of you."
Touya's emotions swell.
It's the strangest thing. He feels weepy from his father's words. He's relieved, as if he's been waiting to hear them his whole life. And yet underneath his skin boils an immense hatred. Deep down there’s a desire to wrap his hands around his father’s neck and squeeze and burn –
Touya’s frightened by the thought.
Such a perfect moment, Enji happy for him, ruined by Touya’s own mind.
He suddenly feels weak in the knees, exhausted.
I’m proud of you, his father said.
I hate you, something inside Touya screams.
It’s so familiar, like he’s felt it a million times before.
His heart is pounding again, loud in his ears, drowning out his senses.
His father goes inside but Touya stays stuck on the porch.
Everything is fine. Everything is normal.
He lets the cool evening breeze nip at his face, his arms.
His stomach is in knots. Coiled. Messy.
He doesn’t know how long he stands there. He only returns to himself when someone speaks.
“Dabi, are you okay?”
Dabi –
Touya’s heart drops as he spins to face Keigo where he stands in the frame of the open door.
“What did you say?” Touya asks.
“I said Touya …I said Touya, are you okay?”
But Keigo’s face contorts. Worry crumples into confusion, and he looks just as befuddled by his words as Touya is. They both heard that name. They both know Keigo said the wrong thing.
Keigo is frozen for a moment, staring at the worn wood of their little porch. His expression stills.
Touya swallows hard. The hair on his neck is standing on end like lightning is about to strike. He watches Keigo carefully, waiting for the next wrong thing to be said. But then Keigo is shaking his head and trying to smile.
“Sorry,” he says, “It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Touya replies hoarsely, “It has.”
He cups the side of Keigo’s face. His cheek is smooth and warm beneath Touya’s palm. Keigo leans into the touch.
Touya looks at him. He takes his time, like looking at a painting in a gallery.
“C’mon,” he says gently, trailing a hand down Keigo’s arm until their fingers lace together, “I bet Fuyumi will get a kick out of your encounter with the guy who didn't know birds were born.”
Keigo snorts and lets Touya pull him back inside.
Everything is fine.
Everything is normal.
This is all real.