Chapter Text
Reality had well and truly set in for Will Ospreay.
New Year Dash had followed hot on the heels of Wrestle Kingdom; and it resulted in yet another loss. Granted, Will wasn’t the one to eat the pin – that dubious honour fell to Francesco Akira – but still a loss. To add insult to injury, Kenny Omega, the newly minted IWGP US Champion, not only won his tag bout but came out of it with far less additional damage.
Will had managed to get to the doctors to get big cuts on his forehead checked out, at least. He’d been told that the prompt wound care and application of steri-strips meant that the rest could be sorted out with glue – no stitches or staples needed. Thank fuck for small miracles, I guess. The doctor had re-dressed his head wounds, and he’d been able to participate in the six-man match last night. Not sure why I fucking bothered though, he thought bitterly, as he boiled the kettle in his room for a cup of tea.
What the fuck more do I have to do?
He thought of stepping outside to have his tea on the private balcony, but the answering gust of icy wind had him shutting the door just as quickly. Sighing, he sat himself at the small table in his room and tried to think.
He had a little over a fortnight before New Beginning in Nagoya. Time enough to get his body right…or right enough. His heart and mind, on the other hand…
Gentle arms, drawing him in. Fingers stroking the back of his head.
Will – Will. Shhhh, shhh. I’m here now.
Will felt a pang of embarrassment at the memory. Bad enough that he’d lost his composure at the press conference; worse still to completely break down in front of the man who treated him like a petulant child having a tantrum.
Fingers curling around the hand on his shoulder. Nestling his cheek into the other man’s palm to chase every last bit of warmth.
All his life, Will had known himself to be a tactile creature. For him, the need for physical contact – giving or receiving – was every bit as vital as water, or oxygen. That simple contact, and the caress that followed, felt like the first drops of rain after a long, long drought.
Why did you come back? You took the one thing I had for myself. Earned for myself. Why?
Because I’m a selfish idiot who missed you too much to stay away.
A flash of anger, quickly replaced by a sense of wonder. Kenny had many friends in the United States. He certainly wasn’t starved for human interaction or physical contact the way Will had been. And yet – he made the flight to Japan. For me. The thought was a curious balm to his troubled mind, warm and comforting.
Coming to a decision, he brought out his phone to message a familiar number.
Doc said the steri-strips on my head saved me from stitches. Thought you might want to know.
Will regretted sending it immediately. You stupid twat, he thought. If he wanted to know, he’d have asked you last night at the Dash…
The phone vibrated.
You’re welcome, William. And the rest?
Will paused. Apart from the two on his forehead, the rest of the abrasions had scabbed over and didn’t need new dressings. The ones on his back however…Will smiled as he tapped a reply.
Not needed now. Well, the ones I could get to anyway…🤔
When his phone vibrated again, Will let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding.
Well, isn’t it a good thing I extended my stay for a day or two.
And an address.
Hi - I’m here. I think.
Will figured the address was for a hotel of some kind, given that Kenny said he was flying back to the United States in a few days. But he hadn’t expected…this. The place looked like something out of an old Japanese film! As he stepped into the lobby, travel bag slung over one shoulder, he noticed that guests were walking around in…kimono? But these weren’t nearly as elaborate as the kimono he had seen Japanese people wearing at shrines and tourist spots…
“They’re called yukata, William,” came a familiar, sardonic voice from behind him.
Will turned around, to see Kenny Omega dressed in the same garb, wearing a pair of tatami house slippers. The navy blue…yukata…had a simple geometric pattern in white, and Kenny had brushed his wavy hair into a neat ponytail, the bleached streak snaking its way past his temple. Will winced a little at the sight of Kenny’s angry-looking black eye, now fully developed.
“Jesus Christ bruv, that looks even worse than it did last night…” Will half-teased.
“I expected nothing less, considering who put it there.” Kenny drawled, arching an eyebrow.
Will had the decency to look contrite. “Yeah man, about that…”
Kenny held up a hand. “Hazard of the profession. Now – you’re probably wondering why you’re here.”
Will shrugged. “Figured you were soaking up as much Japan as you could.”
“Well…you’re correct, in a manner of speaking,” Kenny chuckled. “In addition to being a place to stay and to eat – it has a rather fabulous public onsen.”
An onsen? Isn’t that… “You’re staying at a bathhouse?” Will said incredulously.
Omega rolled his eyes. “It’s called a ryokan, William,” he said tersely. “All this time you’ve been in Japan, and you’ve never stayed at one?”
Will blushed suddenly. “Well, um…I…”
Kenny shook his head, smiling. “Typical English. Too prudish about getting naked in front of others.” Kenny took his elbow and guided him to the front desk. “Time to rectify that.”
“Hey, wait – what are you …”
Kenny ignored Will in favour of politely getting the attention of the lady behind the desk. Will had – with great difficulty – learned enough Japanese to get by in daily interactions, but the rapid-fire conversation was too fast for Will to follow. He gathered they were talking about him by the way they occasionally glanced in his direction: he also heard segatakai and kega. A hushed arigatou gozaimasu from Omega with a bow, and the older man turned to face Will.
“Okay, that’s taken care of. Come with me…”
“Now wait just a sodding minute, mate. What is taken care of? What the hell was that?”
“Do try to keep your voice down, William,” said Kenny with some asperity as he led the way down a corridor. “I was seeing if I could add you to my booking. I could, so I did.”
“Booking for what?”
“My room. Given my…injuries…” – Kenny gestured to his eye – “it was suggested upon my arrival that I might prefer to bathe privately. Which works out well for you, because you’re in the same boat,” Kenny said, looking pointedly at Will’s forehead dressings. “As for where we are going…”
They stopped at a small set of shelves, with stacked and folded bundles of cloth in different colours. Small labels with numbers were visible under each shelf. Kenny bent down, scanning the labels until he pulled out a navy blue bundle. He cast a glance at Will’s feet before pulling out a pair of tatami slippers. Kenny handed both to Will and gestured to an archway partly covered by noren.
“Just through there is a change room. I’ll wait.”
“Uhhh…Kenny? What do I…”
Kenny sighed. “Strip down to your briefs, boxers, whatever. Put the yukata on, tie with the belt. The jacket – it’s called a haori – is optional, only put it on if you feel cold. I left mine in my room, since the heating is pretty decent here.”
Will shot a dubious look at Kenny before disappearing through the curtain with his travel bag and the clothing given him. “Unbelievable,” Kenny murmured to himself. How does a guy spend all that time in Japan and not… Kenny shook his head. There’s being a creature of habit, and then there’s…
“Errr…Kenny?” A hesitant voice behind him.
Kenny turned, and felt his breath catch at the sight of Will dressed in the same navy blue yukata with white pattern, haori over one arm. “Now you look the part,” Kenny said, unable to completely erase the admiration in his tone…or the smile from his face. Almost to himself he said softly, “utsukushi desu ne…”
“What?”
“I was saying you look good, William. Try accepting a compliment for what it is.”
“Okay…sure.” Will looked at the older man quizzically, before hefting his travel bag. “Lead on, Omega-san!” he said, with an exaggerated bow.