Chapter Text
It was yet another morning walk to school for Aren Kuboyasu, but Kaidou wasn’t there today, unexpectedly. It was silly really, but Aren grew really attached to the guy. Sure, he had other friends, he got lucky enough that even knowing of his past they let him into their friend group, but Kaidou… Kaidou looked at him differently, in a good way. He felt more seen and respected and cared for in his eyes. And besides, he really was his best friend.
Aren would let insecurities swirl around in his mind at times, wondering what others thought of him, but Shun had erased all of his worries from the very beginning. From the moment he beamed up at him, “I don't care about your past. What matters is who you are now and who you'll be in the future.” Not only were these kinder words than he felt he had ever heard, but at that moment it hit him like a brick that the chuniibuyou had still asked him to run away from a fight. He had still urged him to safety, even knowing about his (not so secret) secret. Shun really cared about who he was now and not about who he used to be, it wasn’t just his words, his actions spoke. In the though world of normies, he was his safety.
First period was over and Aren was walking down the halls, mentally cussing himself for being bummed out by something as stupid as an absent friend.
Hey Aren! Good morning!
Oh! Shun! Good morning! Where were you? You missed first period.
oh, yeah. I had a dentist appointment this morning. Nothing the Jet Black Wings can’t handle!
Kaidou let out a nervous laugh. He hated the dentist. The taste of mint and lead was still lingering in his mouth and he felt like a fish out of water when his routine was disturbed, leaving him a bit tense and uneasy. But seeing Aren helped, he saw him smile and he looked… relieved? Was the Jet Black Wings’ second in command worried for him? Well, he supposed, that was his job to look after him if he was to fight by his side. Ha!
Were you worried? Sorry I forgot to warn you.
Aah- haha! No, no, don’t worry about it, it’s fine.
...
I’m happy to see you though
The hell, why did I say that? I sound so clingy… or maybe I’m overthinking it? Normies can be softer right??
Uh? Happy to see him? The way he said it sounded… really sweet and sincere.
Aren.
Aah me-me too. Always!
Kaidou beamed.
Why did I have to add always. Dammit that was suspicious wasn’t it? …and soo criiinge. Stop being gay for one second.
Neither of them could focus during class after that. Kaidou was always suprisingly distracted for an ace student, thinking about Dark Reunion and perhaps having one too many feelings in his opinion (and overthinking everything a bit too much), but today was particularly bad. Actually, it’s been this bad ever since he admitted to himself that he was gay… with a crush on his best friend. He naïvely thought after the whole gender-crisis that passing, binding and, well just dealing with the whole trans thing in general was going to be the last of his queer worries. Damn him for teleporting into an afab body he should have been more careful when he did that phantom technique. How could he have messed it up this bad… ugh there was no writing this down positively even as the Jet Black Wings. But then he had to be gay too.
Why.
And why Aren.
I mean why not right? He’s litterally the prettiest and kindest boy around…
aaaah stop is Shun you’re making it worst. shut up shut up shut up shut up
Shun really looks deep in thoughts theses days, Aren thought. But then again he couldn’t blame the kid, he had to continuously scold himself for staring at him for too long. And then he went ahead and made everything worst by opening his dumb mouth… Like this morning. He’s getting worst at it. He really should be more scared of being gay, it’s going to cost him the most important person in his life. Why. Why did it have to be Kaidou? How is he supposed to deal with having the cutest friend in the whole world.
Stupid Shun making him dumb and happy.
Snap out of it Aren! You’re supposed to be a normal student that actually listens to class and cares. You can’t afford to get lost in thoughts like this.
…
uuuugh but I hate math so baaad. This is boooriiiing.
The school day was nearing its end and Jet Black Wings was on duty. He had been tasked with top secret documents. The fate of the world was in his hands, he had to secure them to their destination. A mission of the utmost important, perfectly fitting for the Jet Black Wings!
Kaidou darkly chuckled to himself as he strode down the halls, papers against his chest, dodging hidden assassins and sly spies. He was hurrying away from one such suspicious figure when he bumped into Aren, spilling the pile of essays of the floor... And falling down faster than he could think, hitting the floor, the soft warm floor…
Eh!?
Kaidou blinked, looking at Aren’s chest under him.
Ah.. s-s-Shun, are you okay?
Kaidou’s eyes made their way to Aren’s, registering what had just happened… and in what situation he was currently in… He blushed deeply, frozen for an instant before promptly standing up.
Y-y-yeah. s-sorry. sorry. I-
He looked at Aren who had yet to move. A soft blush spreading on his cheeks. The boy blinked and stood up too, looking off to the side, and taking in his surroundings, or more specifically, the mess of papers on the floor.
Let me help you with that,
he blurted out.
Oh uh thanks.
They picked up the papers in silence and as they were finishing, Kaidou’s head had cooled down enough to form sentences again.
Sorry about that, I was trying to be carefull…
He stopped for a moment, realization hitting him and quickly spun around to look at Aren
I didn’t hurt you did I?
oh no, not at all, don’t worry about it. You’re taking those to the teacher’s office right?
ah, um, yeah.
Alright then! Let me take that for you.
Aren took the remaining of the papers from Shun’s hands and started walking.
Eh- wait, what are you doing?
Aah? Taking this to the teacher’s office?
No I meant- You don’t have to. I- I…
Haha don’t worry about it Shun, I don’t mind, let me help you.
Kaidou strud to catch up and started following him. He smiled softly to the ground.
thanks.
Aren turned around to look at him and beamed
You’re welcome!
You really didn’t have to do that you know?
hey! stop that! You’re almost complaining for getting help!
ah- sorry I-
hey!
Aren tackled the small boy and rougly ruffled his hair.
waaah!
Flustered and every so slightly annoyed at Kuboyasu’s antics, though, it’s far from the first time the ex-punk ruffles his hair. Kaidou turns around with an idea flashing in his eyes. He grabs Aren’s head down to his level and ruffles his hair back. Two can play at this game! It takes a moment for Aren to react, but he then grabs Shun’s hand to stop him and-
Two flustered boys are staring at each-other, faces close enough to smell the other’s breath, one hand nearly touching the other’s face. Time freezes before they break it off. Trying to pretend like nothing happened and failing miserably.
Lately, it seems like they keep getting in those situations. Or is it just that everything looks different through the rose-colored glasses of someone with a crush. Either way it’s stressful torture, bumping into fluster-inducing situations left and right. But neither of them would dare to distance each-other for the world and… As Aren lays in his room staring intently at the ceiling at night and as Shun wriggles in his sheets, muffling whimpers of embarrassment on his pillow, neither of them can bring themselves to hate it. These stupid moments where hearts beat faster and insecurity dances in their eyes.