Work Text:
Fortune was on their side.
Sakito and Byoon D sat huddled around a small camping stove, a pot much too big for it teetering on the tiny supports. Still, the pot boiled, its delicious, savory contents maintained at just the right temperature.
Byoon D hummed a song unfamiliar to the other.
"S'that from?"
He continued the little ditty to its finale, letting go of the ladle to face him. "It's an old racing song for the BBG! Every few centuries, there's a song contest that all competing planets enter!"
Sakito didn't dare turn from the bubbling curry, but grinned wide. "Song competition, huh... sounds chaotic!"
"Mhm!" Byoon D's shoulders sagged a little. "Never did win a spot though."
"Ehh?!" His head shot up. "Maybe we can help with the next one!"
They shared a laugh before their stomachs growled.
"Ah! It's ready, and just in time too!"
Sakito threw two fists up to the stars. "Aaaaalright!"
Byoon D scooped out some very fluffy rice in each of their bowls before ladling on some much, much needed curry.
Sakito grabbed the bowl closest to him, and scooped a hefty spoonful. The culmination of today's hard work was a hair away.
A chill ran up his spine.
He'd drawn and aimed the Boonboom Controller before their intruder even had time to blink.
The sky, inky blue, and dotted with hundreds of stars, shielded them both from one another. Sakito couldn't see them, but his other senses were razor sharp. The scant light from the run-down buildings was enough for them to see the bow drawn, aimed right between the eyes.
An all too familar face materalized from the shadows. "Yo, Cleaner."
He'd recognize that burning orange anywhere. He didn't lower the weapon.
"Procurer..." A spoon hung from his lips.
The last time they saw each other, he'd seen that face wracked with sorrow beyond what he knew. That much he understood.
Byoon D nearly choked on a chunk of potato. "Eh?! What are you doing here?"
Genba folded his arms, meeting Byoon D's visor, but refusing to face the other.
He opened his mouth to speak, but it seemed the moment to passed, and much too soon. He exhaled through his nose, lips tight.
The hum of nearby generators and the still bubbling sauce were the only other answers given.
Sakito gritted his teeth and tossed the Controller aside without a second thought, rushing Genba down. He could've reacted, dodged at just the right moment, maybe thrown a punch or kick to keep his distance.
He didn't. He let that arm pin his chest to the closest building-side. He let the other knock the breath from his lungs, making his head swim. He let Sakito get even closer, teeth bared.
The spoon clattered some distance away.
“Sakito, wait, you didn't even give him a chance to–”
“You've got some nerve showing that face around here! I went easy on you last time, figured I could talk some sense into you. Screw that!”
His eyes were downcast.
“If you want a real fight, you'll get it!”
“That song you were singing…” He remembered only bits and pieces of it until it echoed down the alleyway. “Bureki won that round.”
“Hah?”
Byoon D shot up from his seat, pointing right at him. “You're right! Though, it was before your time, wasn't it?”
A smile of recognition faded as the man right before him lost what little patience he had left.
“The young master think he too good for us, huh?!” The arm pressed only harder, its fist balled up tight.
Genba could feel the muscles flex against him, and all he could let out was strained gasps. The last time he felt this helpless was at the hands of Disrace, as loath as he was to admit weakness at all.
“Don't gotta care about how I feel, but you won't even face your friends! Not only are you a huge idiot, but a coward to boot!” A vein on his forehead bulged.
Apologizing to the other Boonboomgers, his comrades, his friends, was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. Yet even that was leagues easier than this.
“I'm sorry,” was all he could eke out between shallow breaths.
“You wanna talk smack, then speak up!”
“You're not letting him!” Byoon D waved his hands in the background, wanting to approach but unable to figure out how.
Sakito’s forearm trembled with barely restrained anger before it dropped completely. The cool night air filled desperate lungs as Genba fell back against the brick.
He was given little reprieve as a fist gripped his coat’s collar instead. Sakito refused to let him escape this time. He had two choices: to leave with a bruise or an apology.
“Come on, procurer, what's the problem?”
Genba swallowed hard, his breaths beginning to normalize. “You were right. I'd been nothing but blind. So focused on vengeance I couldn't have.”
“Yeah? Yeah?!” A fist reared back before the words reached his ears. “Wait, huh?”
“I didn't come here for a fight. I came to apologize. For everything.”
It'd been so long since he heard that voice. Not the fractured tones of a man hellbent on revenge, or the rasps that came before his sobs, but the gentleness he'd come to miss.
Sakito let him go in confusion, hands instead pressed against his shaking head. The gulf between them grew as he retreated.
“Arghhh!” He was relieved but his body was playing catch-up.
Genba took a chance to close the distance again, bowing low in the hopes that the other could see it. “You don't need to forgive me, I only hope you'll listen.”
Byoon D approached them both, placing hands on Sakito’s shoulders. They'd been wound up so tight, even light pressure hurt. “We'll hear you out, right?”
Genba straightened up with a quiet sigh of relief. “I've already spoken to the others, and they welcomed me like I'd barely been gone. I don't deserve them.”
“W-well I'm glad you settled it with ‘em.”
“Your feelings are important too. You don't need to forgive me, just know I truly am sorry.”
He held his hands up. “Hey, hey, don't worry about it, really.”
“Sakito’s a bit of a hothead, but he means well.”
“He does. I'm sorry I was blind to that.”
“Past is in the past. You came to your senses, s’all I need. All we need.”
He bowed once more. Sakito took the opportunity to get him in a headlock. Without even thinking, or even really noticing himself, he planted a big kiss on the procurer’s forehead, and shook him with a hearty laugh.
“I said don't worry about it! Right, Byoon D?”
“Right!”
Once free, he shot them both a warm smile, gingerly touching the spot he felt those lips. It was wet, and he wasn't sure whether it was saliva, sweat, or maybe even tears. Before he could think about it any further, an arm wrapped around his shoulders and guided him to their spot around the pot.
Byoon D made sure to place a lid on it, lest some good food went cold after such a heated moment.
“You hungry, procurer?”
“Famished.”
He watched intently as two hearty spoonfuls drowned the sticky rice, and as he stared at his reflection in the sauce, his stomach roared.
“Eat up, eat up! We made way more than either of us could eat!”
And eat he did. It was delicious. Boondorio was a master at it, but this had a warmth he hadn't felt in such a long time. Whether it was the right spices, the right amount of time to stew, or even the right temperature, he didn't know.
Maybe it was the overwhelming kindness it was served with. He sniffled and wiped his eyes with the heel of his palm, as his spoon clattered against a cleaned bowl.
“It's a bit saltier than normal…”
The other two looked at each other, their bowls, and laughed. Genba joined them with a quiet laugh of his own.
As their bowls were stacked nearly by the pot, they all let out a long, satisfied sigh. The night was cold, but the food and understanding between them was warmer than any chill.
Genba looked to the stars, part of him still wondering if his home was among them. As he smiled, orange stained his cheeks. The wavy bright hair parted, now curtained by white on either side. His night vision grew in strength as well, the stars doubling in number before his eyes.
Byoon D nearly fell over at the sight. “Woah! Mr. Genba, are you alright?”
A hand shot up, fingers clutching onto a fluffy ear. He had been so busy trying to atone, he forgot to stock up on some treats.
The initial fear of being exposed still gripped him, but it's grip was loose. There was nothing to hide. They accepted him, they trusted him. And with nothing to hide, there was…
“Nothing to worry about.”
The two before him hummed loud in thought, before Sakito felt a bulky arm nudge his.
“Eh? Oh!” He was quick to fish into his various pouches before procuring something for Genba. It was a lollipop. “Seems like you could use some help.”
He chuckled at those familiar words. “For me?”
“Now it is!” Sakito grinned.
As he went to unwrap it, the wax paper fell off at the lightest touch. Beneath it was a deep purple sphere.
“What flavor was that again?” They'd stop by a sweets shop but Byoon D was too enamored by their chocolate selection to recall.
“Grape!” As expected of a man who took the color violet seriously. Sakito was more a savory foods guy, but he had to admit, the sweetness hit the spot.
Genba held it up, inspecting it briefly to see if it'd been compromised in any way, before popping it in his mouth.
Not shy about their curiosity, the other two leaned in, watching closely as the marks on his face disappeared. The long white hair draped over his shoulders receded, color dripping through as strands became shorter and curlier. Pointy ears melted into his head as those terrifying, stark white, slitted eyes warmed into delicate browns.
Normally he was alone when it happened, or could at least hide it, so their scrutiny was more embarrassing than he'd admit. He instead focused on the tart flavor on his tongue, swirling it around. It was a flavor they now shared.
“Delicious.”
“Right?!” He hoped tomorrow would be just as profitable so he could buy a few more, just in case.
Fully sated, they cleaned up the mess they made, pot cleaned, and the powerhouse of a stove packed away, alongside their bowls. Sakito recovered the Controller, relieved that it wasn't worse for wear. “Boondorio makes ‘em tough, huh.”
Rising to their feet, they all stretched, Sakito tugging at his sore arm as Genba rolled his shoulders, knowing his chest would feel it tomorrow. No words said, but everyone knew their time tonight was coming to an end.
Byoon D placed a finger to his chin before he broke the silence. “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
Both men stared at him, dumbfounded.
“Where'd that come from?!”
“Ah, well, I've been doing some research on human books, y’know… for my novels.” He muttered that last part, embarrassed.
In their downtime, they'd occasionally stop by a library, or bookstore if the wallet was heavy enough. Sakito would go off on his own, watching some F1 races on the computers instead while waiting.
“So that's why…”
Genba laughed and laughed, a hand covering his mouth. It had been so long since he felt like this. “I hope yours don't end so tragically.”
“Happy endings only!” He shot out a thumbs up with a smile the other could hear.
A strong breeze flooded the alleyway. What lights remained around them shut off, one after another.
“Then good night ‘til the morrow. I look forward to working with both of you again…if you'll have me.”
“You worry too much.” Sakito winked. “See you bright and early, procurer. No slacking!”
Genba bowed, a hand to his chest, before taking his leave.
They waved and waved until the shadows took him in again.
Both wouldn't see Genba again for a bit, as he'd slid back to his rightful place in procurement. That was fine, it meant things were finally back to normal.
He only wished normal didn't sometimes mean a dry-spell with jobs. Throwing himself against a nearby bench, Sakito sighed, folding his hands behind his head.
“So much for dinner tonight…” Byoon D groaned, patting his stomach.
“We'll just go see Taiya!” For once it wasn't food he fretted over. He craved some sugar. They didn't even have enough for some cheap candy, and that was more demoralizing than even their biggest loss.
They groaned in unison, throwing their heads back. Eyes were shut as they both thought of what to do next.
And then... a sound. At first, it was low, but something could be heard nearby. Turning around, a voice from behind hummed a familiar tune.
“That song…ah!”
When they turned back, there Genba stood, bowing as he did that night. He twirled the stick between his teeth before pulling out a dark purple lollipop.
“Woah!” Sakito pointed with excitement, shaking the other’s shoulder.
“Looks like you could use some help.”
“You got that right, procurer! You got an extra one of those?!”
“As a matter of fact…” From his pocket he pulled out another, wrapped tight. “I've got two right here.”
The pair stared at his hand, then at each other, and back at his hand.
Genba took Byoon D’s hand and gently placed it in his palm. “That's one.”
He took a step back and wiggled the stick between his teeth. It was a risky gambit. Sakito hadn't noticed then, but Genba would be more forward now.
One could see the gears turning in his head, and a bit of exhaust out his ears. Then it all clicked into place.
“That’s some chaos…I like it! Hand it here!”
“Hm?” It worked. He could scarcely believe it, the candy barely hanging out of his open mouth.
Sakito strolled up and plucked it from his hand, shoving it into his face with a grin. “Always tastes better when it's free!”
He nodded, thoroughly confused.
As Sakito enjoyed his spoils, Genba materialized another one from behind his back. This one had a distinct creamsicle flavor.
“Wait a minute!”
He grinned. “Oh, this? It's for me.”
Byoon D chuckled to himself, a pen in one hand, and his note-filled book in the other. He watched as his partner chased the procurer around, swinging the Controller wildly. He hummed a little song as he jotted some things down. He had some new ideas…