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Ok, so “I’ll wait out here” hadn’t been the best thought out of plans, but what was Bravern supposed to do? He supposed he could have chosen an outdoor bar to take Isami to, but no, this was the better location. He knew these guys, or at least had fond memories of drinking with them. They were a good group. Friendly, warm, an absolute delight to drink with. And from what they said about this place, the bartender was a good guy. They were taking care of Isami for sure. Still, there was something not unlike regret pinging in the back of his mind. He could pick up the sounds of a packed bar, jovial and comforting and he wanted so badly to be able to fit in the door. Smith was supposed to be here tonight. He’d planned on it, until Lulu had become top priority. She wasn’t at a place to be left on her own yet. At this point, she could barely stand not being latched onto his arm. But Bravern knew it would be all right in the end. At least he thought this was going to go all right in the end. He wasn’t looking forward to-
The hotel doors being flung open caught his attention and he peeked his head up to see Isami starting to meander his way over to where Brave Thunder was parked. He popped his head up to greet him. “Welcome back, Isami! Did you have a good time?”
Isami stopped and leaned back a little to look up at Bravern, and for the first time Bravern could recall, smiled at him. “Yep!” he said, his stance wobbling slightly. Isami climbed up Bravern and instead of going to take the pilot seat, he clambered up to his face.
“Isami?” Bravern asked, startled by the sudden closeness. Isami hadn’t been this close to his face, and Bravern’s optics couldn’t decide what to focus on. “What are you-”
“Gift,” Isami said, placing a ring of sausages on Bravern’s head ornament. “The guys said to give these to you since you couldn’t come in.”
They’d thought about him? That was touching. He knew this was the right choice. Isami seemed more relaxed as well. “The guys, huh?”
“Mm hmm,” Isami said with a nod before sliding down into his seat. Bravern enclosed him inside. “Hey Bravern can you…” he paused, huffed as he struggled to find his words and eventually made motor noises with his mouth.
Oh. Isami was drunk drunk. “Drive?” he said with a slight laugh.
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“Of course, I can, Isami.”
“What if you couldn’t?”
“Well, I’d power off the controls and wouldn’t let you drive. You appear to have had a few drinks.”
Isami laughed. “Figured. But you’d keep me safe in here?”
“I would.”
“Thank you,” he said, relaxing back into his seat and giving Bravern’s console an affectionate tap with his fist. Cute.
“Are you ready to head back to base?”
Isami popped his neck and rolled his shoulders. “Nah. Let’s drive around a little bit.”
Excitement shot through all of Bravern’s circuits. It was the first time Isami had ever suggested to do anything without being prompted or being clearly annoyed by something or someone else. “Where would you like to go, Isami?”
“Wherever. Let’s see the island we saved.”
We. Was Isami starting to see Bravern as a partner? Was their bond finally beginning to grow stronger? “Let’s go, Isami!”
He selected a beachside road, something where they could easily see both the water and the landscape, beautifully serene in the moonlight. Stars sparkled in the night sky as the waves gently lapped at the shore. Nothing about the scene would have implied the fights they’d undergone to protect it. It was such a beautiful place. How dare anyone try to destroy it? “It’s beautiful, isn’t it, Isami? Doesn’t it feel good to be able to protect a place like this?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“You guess so? You saved a lot of people, Isami. I think all of them are extremely grateful for that!”
“You did most of the hard work. I was just sitting there.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Isami didn’t respond right away but just continued to look at the passing scenery. “I’m glad we saved as many as we could. I’m glad there’s still places in tact. I…I’m glad people can find ways to keep their spirits up.”
“So was I right about the bar? Was it fun?”
Isami groaned.“Americans are loud, you know? And overly friendly,” he sighed. “But that’s not always a bad thing. They were a really nice group of people. And yeah. I had a lot of fun. I met this pilot couple who claimed I…we saved them. They were cool, Made me feel welcome, got everyone fighting to buy me a drink... I hope we can meet up again some day. I don’t want anything to happen to them.” He inhaled and Bravern noticed it wasn’t a steady one. “I’m so scared something will.”
“Isami?”
“I’m sorry,” he said and Bravern could hear him crying. “I keep telling you you have the wrong guy! I’m not the brave heroic idiot you think I am!”
“That’s not true, Isami!”
“It is! I’m scared! All the time now! You don’t know what it’s like! I’m not a hero. I’m not brave. I’m not like Smith!”
Bravern almost slammed the brakes. “ Smith ? I thought you didn’t like…”
“Of course I like him!” he interrupted. “Just because he’s a big loud idiot who won’t leave me alone doesn’t mean I don’t like him. I like you, don’t I!? You’re even louder and dumber!”
“Why do you push him away!?” Bravern asked, more aggressively than he should have.
“Because I-” Isami abruptly cut himself off. He settled back into his seat and heaved a sigh. “...it’s complicated.”
Bravern sighed. “Try to explain?”
Isami groaned and didn’t answer. Bravern didn’t push further and continued their scenic view along the Hawaiian shore. He wasn’t sure how long they’d been out but he was starting to think they should turn back toward base. “He wasn’t there tonight,” Isami said at last. “I was kind of hoping he would be. Maybe that’s why you’d brought me there.”
“You wanted to see him?”
“Yeah.”
“So you have been thinking about him?”
Isami huffed. “Something like that.”
What!?
“He saved me,” Isami continued. “He looked really cool. And he was so gentle. And I want to thank him for everything but then that girl…”
“Are you really blaming Lulu?”
“He was all over her!” he barked.
“Have you even listened to his explanation? He doesn’t think of her like that at all. He’s- “ Bravern cut himself off entirely. It wasn’t his place to say anything, even though perhaps it was. Could one out themselves without permission?
Isami sighed and slumped back into his seat. He rubbed at his forehead. “I know, I know. It’s pretty clear she’s just a kid. Doesn’t make me not jealous.”
Oh shit. It was jealousy? Did Isami even realize what he was saying?
Isami dramatically groaned and ran his hands through his hair. “It’s so stupid. I wanted him to show up. Everyone was buying me drinks. Can’t believe that bartender kept up. But I kept looking at the door, waiting for him to burst through, buy his stupid beer. And he’d buy me one too. And I’d drink it before all the others, just to see what he’d do.”
Bravern felt something akin to a shiver run through his frame. He could picture it.He could see the sly smile Isami would have had on his face after he downed a beer in one go. And he knew just how he’d…how Smith would react. They’d be making out the moment Smith could get him alone. “Is that how you flirt, Isami?” he asked before realizing he did so out loud. How out of character!
Isami chuckled. “Ah, so you understand flirting, huh?”
“Yes. I have feelings, Isami. But either way, have you thought that you should tell him?”
“Fuck no!” he shouted. “And don’t you go telling him either.”
“Why not?”
“What if he’s not interested? I’d die of embarrassment.”
“What if he is?”
Isami squirmed in his seat. “No way. No way someone like that would want me.”
“Someone like what?” If Bravern thought about it, he’d feel a little guilty for asking to hear Isami’s thoughts, but how often did someone get this opportunity? At least he’d know how he really felt.
“Someone so full of life,” he said. “He shows up and everyone just lights up. Like he’s everyone’s best friend and damn, if he isn’t. He rushed in to save me, no questions asked. He stood up for me, he supported me even though we’d barely met. He believes in me. Belief I don’t deserve. He's so kind and genuine and…and…fuck he's hot.”
He felt like he could explode. “You think he's hot?”
“Yeah, don’t you?” Isami said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Bravern laughed. “You're more my type, Isami.”
“Ok, but why though? I know you've got a big robo hard-on for heroics. That's his thing. I'm just a guy.”
“Don’t talk like that, Isami. You’re incredible. He’d be an idiot to not think that!” Bravern would know. He was feeling foolish for not confessing before.
“Shut up,” he groaned, but Bravern could hear a small, playful smile in his voice.
“It’s true, Isami! I wish you could see yourself like I do!”
Isami scoffed. Bravern liked the smirk on his face almost as much as he liked the way Isami looked up when they were talking. It was so cute. “And what do you see in me?”
“You’re so brave. You’re passionate. You’re strong. You’re skilled. You're an amazing pilot. You’re kind. You’re loyal. You bring out the best in people. Come on, Isami! You have to know how amazing you are. Say something you like about yourself.”
Isami closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat before humming in thought. He opened his eyes. “I can drink Americans under the table,” he said.
Bravern laughed. “Not an easy feat!”
He sat forward. “ And keep speaking English while drunk!”
“See, Isami? You're smart! What else?”
He smiled and his speech grew more excited. “I blew up a big fuckin robot!”
Bravern laughed. Isami’s increasing enthusiasm was infectious. Was he truly so lively? “Multiple! And a tower!”
“I PILOT A BIG FUCKIN ROBOT!” he yelled with a big grin on his face.
“You’re the best pilot!”
“YOU’RE THE BEST ROBOT!”
Bravern gasped. If a robot could blush he was doing that too. “... really?” he asked before remembering Isami was drunk. But still, he seemed far more open and honest after he'd had a few. Maybe he really meant it. How Bravern wanted him to.
“Yeah. Don't tell Miyu, she'll kill me.”
“I think she'd agree, ultimately.”
The airfield was growing ever closer and soon the evening would come to an end. It was almost a shame. He had no idea Isami was such a cute and talkative drunk. He could stay up talking to Isami like this all night. He wanted to. If Isami wanted to fall asleep inside his cockpit, he’d let him. He should let his past self know to go get a drink with him. Hopefully that wouldn’t change too much. As long as things kept going the way they should, he knew what he had to do. Hopefully Isami would understand when the time came.
“Hey, Bravern?” Isami asked, breaking Bravern’s train of thought.
“Yes, Isami?”
“Thanks for tonight. Needed it. Sorry you had to deal with my drunk rambling.”
“Of course, Isami. And don't apologize. I love talking with you. Tonight I got to see a side of you I haven’t. That’s nice too. Don't forget, you have so many people who look up to you and who think you’re amazing. Not just me, Isami! Miyu, Hibiki, Honoka…they adore you just as much. Talk to Smith. I’m sure he’d at least have something to say. He wouldn’t keep trying to get your attention if he didn’t want it. At least stop brushing him off.”
Isami grunted and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Fine. I’ll listen. But he's got to come to me if he has anything he wants to say.”
“I'm sure he will.” He'd make sure of it.
“And don't tell him anything I said.”
“I won't.”
Isami lightly hit the console. “ Promise. ”
“I won't, Isami. I promise.” Bravern slowed to a stop to let Isami out.
“Next time,” Isami said before standing, still taking a moment to steady himself, “we’ll go to the beach. That way you can hang out too.”
“I look forward to it, Isami.”