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On the outside, the boy hid what he felt behind an unreadable mask, but if there was one thing Mikage Reo knew how to do, it was to read even the subtlest facial and body cues. The clenching and unclenching of his fists, his pupils dilating when he heard how Reo and Nagi were actually part of a survival group, little tells that were actually saying a lot.
He reached up to cup Nagi’s cheek, brushing his thumb across a web of healing scabs and Nagi nuzzled his palm, eyes staring at him in adoration as he kissed each finger one by one.
Reo chuckled and smiled, his chest feeling warm and fuzzy. “Eyes on the road, treasure. I’m going to chat with the new guy.”
“Why would Reo spend his time with that sprout head instead of me?” Nagi whined, insisting on a few head pats before letting Reo go.
Reo sat next to the boy in the back of the truck, unfolding the fists he had been making and taking one of his hands into his, using his other hand to rub soothing circles into his tense back.
They had picked him up while making a supply run in town. The boy looked quite ordinary but flew into action when a group of zombies almost got the jump on Nagi, so Reo was immediately quite fond of him. He had quickly asked Nagi what he thought about bringing him back to their group, and they both agreed to it. His name was Isagi Yoichi.
“You aren’t alone anymore,” Reo whispered. Isagi smiled bitterly, the words bouncing around hollow in his head and in his heart. He'd desperately wanted to hear those words, but it was coming from the wrong person.
Silent tears streamed down his face, leaving a trail where the dust covered his cheeks. Reo rested his head on his shoulder, letting Isagi cling to him like he was his lifeline.
Isagi still felt alone.
Before crossing paths with Nagi and Reo he’d almost given up. Alone in a dusty apocalyptic world, he'd resorted to hiding in an empty pharmacy. The sky was full of smoke and the sun and moon alike were swamped in a fiery fog, light streaming through broken windows and casting a sinister red onto every surface, like a warning.
He’d spotted the bright blue truck instantly, and it looked like salvation. He’d carefully climbed out from the top shelf of the cereal aisle, where he’d thrown box after box onto the floor, just so he could feel safe when he closed his eyes. He watched as two figures slowly emerged, one white and one purple headed.
He’d carefully observed from afar, straining his ears to listen to their conversation and almost wept when he heard they were a part of a group. His hope had flared so brightly, so intensely it felt like he would actually die if his gut was lying to him.
He had spotted the gaggle of zombies before they had and blacked out.
He had sobbed, incoherently babbling, “No, don’t take away my hope, maybe he’s with them, you don’t get to take him again, please let me see him again.” As he smashed the zombies' skulls to gray matter and bloody mush again and again and again.
Reo just sat there, letting Isagi cry on his shoulder. Reo couldn’t imagine being alone out here, without Nagi. He could tell from the first glance that Isagi was a strong one, alive when his eyes practically wailed into the universe that he’d died a little when he lost something. Or rather, someone. So when Isagi broke down next to him, his eyes welled up too.
He made eye contact with Nagi who had been staring through the truck’s mirrors, his eyes conveying his every thought, You’re hurting, I want to be with you, I want to make it go away.
Reo gave him a watery smile, which only seemed to balm a sliver of his anxiety.
The sun was beginning to set, breaking the sky into brilliant color as the blue truck drove off into the horizon. Soon, Isagi fell asleep, and by the time he woke up, they were back at base.
☆゜·。。·゜゜·。。·゜★
“You can get off Reo now,” Nagi grumbled, startling Isagi awake who had passed out on Reo’s shoulder. As soon as Isagi backed away Nagi enveloped Reo, dragging him onto his lap and circling his arms around Reo’s waist, peppering his face with kisses until he woke up, giggling and throwing his arms around Nagi’s neck.
“I’m sorry, I’ll head inside,” Isagi apologized, his cheeks flushed. He got out of there as quickly as he could and heard Nagi and Reo laughing.
He walked up to the door, but once he stood in front of it he wasn’t sure what to do, feeling like an intruder. He settled on knocking.
“Reo, you fucking bitch why would you knock- Oh, hi?” A beautiful redhead opened the door, his long hair flipped over to one side as he carefully worked a towel down his tresses, drying it.
“Hi,” Isagi said awkwardly.
Thankfully Reo and Nagi stepped inside, dragging Isagi in with them.
“We picked someone up.” Nagi plopped down onto the couch, dragging Reo to lay on top of him, who went down without a fight.
The red headed man regarded him for a second. “I’m Chigiri Hyouma. Ren! Come introduce yourself to the new guy!”
Isagi felt his heart drop when a giant ginger stepped out of the kitchen, every inch of his body corded with muscle. Fear shot through his body, his eyes telling him to run but the kindness in his eyes made his instincts tell him to stay put. After surviving in the apocalypse, Isagi knew you had to follow your gut. The muscle giant held two plates and handed one to Chigiri, giving the redhead a sweet peck and giving Isagi a sweet smile. “Kunigami Rensuke, nice to meet you.”
Isagi nodded, the knot in his throat loosening. “I’m Isagi Yoichi.”
Chigiri hummed, nonplussed. “Just like that guy Bachira talks about.”
Isagi felt like the world paused, his heart stopping dead in his chest. “Bachira?” His voice cracked, he wanted to laugh but he also wanted to cry, “like Bachira Meguru? Brown hair with yellow undertones, golden eyes? Does he ever talk about monsters?”
“Yes, yes, yes, and I don’t know, he hasn’t spoken much since he got here,” Kunigami said. “He’s in the basement if you want to introduce yourself.”
Just then, two people walked in.
“ISAGI?!”
Isagi got crushed in a bear hug, hearing Hiori laugh disbelievingly in his ear.
“Can’t fucking believe yer here! I thought about ya every day, worried sick.” Hiori choked up, and Isagi choked up too, the words wouldn’t come out of his throat.
“Yo!” was all he could croak.
Hiori swiveled around. “And yer being a jerk Rin, say hi.”
Rin’s face scrunched up, his hands twisting. “I left you,” he stated, and Isagi nodded. “I’m so sorry, that was lukewarm.”
Isagi came up to him and pulled him into a tight hug. “It wasn’t your fault. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
The smell of blood and rotting flesh filled the musty air, permeating every sense. Isagi had his arm around Hiori, supporting him as they quickly hobbled to the door. Outside, Rin and Bachira were waiting in the blue truck they picked up, but Isagi could hear the zombies gaining on them, the sound of snarling and gnashing teeth coming closer.
And closer.
It didn't take Isagi long to realize either he or Hiori wasn't going to make it.
“Just leave me here!” Hiori yelled, trying to push him away. His leg was slashed, pouring out onto the floor and leaving some zombies slipping in the blood. Isagi had wrapped his school jacket around his leg to slow the blood flow, but it wasn’t doing much.
“No way in hell will it be you!” Isagi shouted back.
Isagi used all his strength to haul him to the door, pushing him through. Immediately, he barricaded the door with some broken pieces of wood lying on the ground to give him some time. Then before a zombie could grab him, he sprinted in the other direction to distract them. To lure them away.
He was never the fastest, never the strongest, but he had the will. The will to get Hiori to safety, to outrun the horde, to leave the person he cared the most about so he wouldn’t have to lose a friend, because he sure as hell wasn’t losing any more of his support system. Bachira treasured them all dearly and Isagi knew Hiori and Rin would take care of him.
“ISAGI!” His heart shattered hearing the despair in Bachira’s shrill scream, swearing to himself he will make it back to him as he kept running.
"Where's Isagi?" Rin yelled when Hiori stumbled into the truck. Bachira was sobbing uncontrollably and Hiori was practically passed out from the blood loss, his face turning paler and paler.
There was no time for Rin to think. More and more of the horde was coming.
He growled, making his decision. He drove away, ignoring Bachira's pleas for him to stop.
Hiori brushed away Rin’s tears, who swatted his hand and glared at him. Rin returned Isagi’s hug, and when they parted both made peace with what happened.
“Bachira’s in the basement,” Rin said.
“I’ve been told,” Isagi replied.
Rin and Hiori accompanied him until he was at the basement’s door, wishing him good luck. Isagi paused at the door but his heart felt like there was a thread pulling tighter and tighter the longer he wasn’t inside that room. He pushed open the door and slipped inside.
The room was pitch black, the silence disturbed by the sound of sniffling. Isagi’s hands scrambled for a light switch, and when he found it, his heart dropped at the sight that greeted him.
Half-finished food was scattered around the bed, which was piled high with pillows and blankets and stuffed animals. In the middle of the bed sat a shivering lump. A head slowly peeked out from his bed fort. Isagi noticed him when he closed the door, leaning against it. He was nervous as Bachira stared at him with a blank expression.
Bachira blinked.
“Hey Isagi,” he said. “How was your day?”
He asked him like it was normal. Isagi's head tilted to the side.
“The monster says you’re doing good. You never left. Hiori was alright after Rin bandaged him up and we met some really cool people. The monster says you’re wearing something different, and it’s weird to see you wearing something other than our school uniform, but I think it looks good!” Bachira rambled, burying his face into a pillow and the rest of whatever he said was too drowned out by said pillow to hear.
Isagi’s breath hitched when he pieced it together.
Isagi slowly made his way to the edge of Bachira’s bed, reaching out to his partner like he was a wild animal. Bachira jolted out from under the covers, looking spooked when the mattress dipped under Isagi’s weight.
Isagi’s eyes roamed over him. His hair looked like it had been unbrushed for weeks, his hands fisted in the green fabric Isagi recognized as his favorite hoodie Bachira would constantly pilfer whenever Isagi did laundry. The jacket he was wearing, just above the school crest, had white print that clearly read ‘Isagi Yoichi’.
“Bachira... I’m real. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere ever again,” Isagi whispered, his vision blurring. He blinked through the tears and wiped them away, but they wouldn't stop. The full scope of reality hit him. He knew Bachira was right there, but Bachira didn't know Isagi was right there with him.
Bachira sobbed. “The monster says I’m an idiot for still wanting to believe you.”
Isagi clambered into Bachira’s lap, laying his weight on top of him and wrapping his trembling shoulders in a hug. Bachira’s hands were frozen in the air and his eyes were rapidly darting around the room, trying to find the flaw in the mirage. It made Isagi's heart clench, watching Bachira try so desperately to ignore the reality he was too scared to believe in, terrified to find out it wasn’t real.
Isagi held him like he could glue every broken, battered piece together as he tightened his embrace with Bachira. His partner. His best friend.
“Isagi?” Bachira called out, voice brittle with hesitance and terror and hope and happiness.
“Bachira,” Isagi whispered reverently.
Bachira wrapped his arms around Isagi, soaking in the presence he missed too much. It felt surreal, listening to his steady heartbeat and holding his real flesh. Bachira could only hold him closer and tighter in case he woke up and realized it was just another dream.
Bachira never minded the fact he was probably insane, Isagi had accepted him and his monster long ago and never went back on it, but Bachira prayed his mind wasn’t so fractured, so broken his Isagi could feel this real. This was the one break in his psyche that would shatter him whole.
But it wasn't a dream. The next day when he woke up, he woke up next to Isagi.
And he woke up with him the next day.
And the next.
And the day after that.
Bachira was finally able to smile again because Isagi was back.