Chapter Text
Knowing Jouno, he was probably off interrogating some useless criminal for his own entertainment. The idea of hearing a human’s heart race with
dread, the restless movement of their limbs, their desperate cries- these horrors only fed Jouno’s endless cravings. It was relaxing to know that he
had direct power over someone’s actions and life. Whether it was mentally or physically degrading them. Jouno preferred demolishing one's mental
state, listening to their mind become dismantled from the inside out. He knew that humans tend to subconsciously guard the most precious thing in
their life- their own. It was a gift to him, to deprive a human of their sense of mortality and drive them to the point of wanting to take their own life.
However, that is not what he was doing.
After a long contemplation of satanic thoughts, he finally jolted back into reality, recalling how he was returning from an exhausting mission. The
mission consisted of simply killing three terrorists, nothing more. To him, there was not as much excitement in killing someone as there was in
mentally degrading them. It was almost irritating. The entirety of the mission infuriated him to the bone. Worst of all, Jouno was trapped on a small
plane, with crying babies, the roaring of loud engines, and the sound of Tecchou’s obnoxious snoring. Jouno did not want another thing on his list of
things that pissed him off, so he aggressively jabbed Tecchou in the gut, waking the brunette up.
“Ow, what was that for,” yelped Tecchou.
“It’s really annoying hearing you snore like that, Tecchou. I really don’t want to deal with you.”
“Ok.”
Tecchou then slumped back into his seat, crossing his arms and rested his head against the uncomfortable seats. Jouno was not quite satisfied with
Tecchou’s reaction. He was hoping for something to relieve the exhausting feeling that has been nagging him for the whole mission, yet nothing.
Tecchou doesn’t usually give Jouno that satisfying outcome, but it was something he still hoped for. He then aggressively motioned his body away
from Tecchou and rested his head on the window. Jouno was ready to get off this long flight and crash into his bed, and have a couple of drinks, like
always. He craved the sensation of a nice hot shower. He enjoyed nothing more than his alone time. Jouno concluded that thinking about returning
home quickly would only irritate him more, so he tried to change his approach.
Anything would be better than thinking only of the things that pissed him off. He searched and listened for anything that could distract his mind for
just a little bit. While Jouno was resting his head, the plane shook abruptly due to what he assumed must have been heavy turbulence. This caused
him to bash his head against the side, as a small yelp escaped from Jouno’s lips. “Fuck!” He was getting impatient, and his restless body language
clearly revealed that. Jouno was tired of sitting in the same position and yearned for whatever movement he could obtain. It was aggravating. He
decided to get up and use the restroom as an excuse to move his aching body, just for a little. Jouno slipped off his seatbelt and stepped right over
Tecchou’s legs without a care in the world, knowing that nothing wakes the man up. In the end, Jouno was proven right when he accidentally tripped
over his legs and fell, demonstrating that Tecchou did not care for his partner’s well-being. The brunette was still soundly sleeping.
“Great. Just fucking great.”
Jouno picked himself up and grasped the overhead bins to regain stability. He glided his hand across, using it to direct him to the front of the aircraft.
Eventually, he reached the bathroom, contemplating if he really needed to relieve himself. The last thing he wanted to do was go into a disgusting
bathroom, with little to no room to move, that smelled like ass. It was unsanitary and Jouno knew that. Ultimately, him getting up to use the
bathroom was an excuse to stretch his legs. He continued his way back but let something simple slip his mind. One crucial thing Jouno forgot about
was people’s carelessness on long flights. Others would constantly lounge around, leave their bags in places they should not be, or spill various
beverages. All of this was forgotten by Jouno. Because of that, he ended up tripping over an insensitive person’s foot, although before he hit the floor
again, a man with a tall demeanor caught him. It was Tecchou.
“Oh, are you okay?” asked the brunette.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fi- “
“I am not in the mood for your idiotic questions. Now let me go.”
Tecchou then removed his hands from Jouno after he helped him back up.
“What the hell are you doing anyways?!”
“Oh, I came looking for you.”
“You came looking for me? That’s fucking ridiculous.”
“Why is that ridiculous? You could have gone missing.”
“Are you this fucking dense?! We are 10,000 feet in the air, with no way of getting on or off currently. I can’t go anywhere.”
“Oh”
“Just get out of my way! You’re blocking the aisle for other people, and it’s getting on my nerves.”
Jouno shoved Tecchou aside before swiftly returning to his seat. Sometimes he wonders if anything existed in Tecchou’s head or if he was this stupid.
It was almost as if he were babysitting a toddler who knew nothing better, only this toddler turned out to be a grown ass man. Tecchou returned
about two minutes later, crashing into his seat. Once Tecchou settled in, Jouno got a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“Tecchou…did you use the restroom?”
“Yes”
“Did you wash your hands…?”
“…”
“Tecchou, I swear to God”
“No…was I supposed to?”
Out of rage, Jouno shot up out of his seat and loomed over Tecchou, screaming, “YES?! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! THAT’S FUCKING
DISGUSTING.”
“Why, do I need to? I mean, my hands are going to get dirty again anywa- “
“DO YOU APPLY THAT SAME LOGIC WHEN WIPING YOUR ASS AFTER TAKING A SHIT?!”
“I mean…no- “
“THEN WHY AREN’T YOU DOING THE SAME WITH YOUR HANDS? GOD WHY DO I HAVE TO LOOK AFTER YOU FOR SIMPLE TASKS. YOU’RE A GROWN
ASS ADULT WHO SHOULD KNOW BASIC HY- “
“Excuse me sir, we do not tolerate yelling on this flight. We ask you to lower your voice or else – “
“Ok fine jeez, just go away.”
Jouno sat down and listened as the flight attendant walked away, with her long heels and unsteady walking pattern.
“Tecchou”
“Yes?”
“Go wash your fucking hands.”
“Wh-“
“Do it or I’ll kick your ass off this flight.”
“Ok.”
Jouno pondered how often Tecchou did disgusting things like this. Was he never taught basic hygiene as a child? Was he always covered in filth?
Based on the stench of his hair and clothes, he never learned properly. It undoubtedly made Tecchou appear unattractive, yet this prompted another
set of thoughts. Jouno has never seen Tecchou, nor was he given a clear description on his appearance. There have been a couple of times when they
wrestled during training or when he started working out in meetings. These experiences gave him an idea of Tecchou’s build. All he knew was that
Tecchou has unkept hair, a strong frame, and was slightly taller. Perhaps I could ask him what he looks like. I mean he’s probably ugly as hell, yet the
medical staff has mentioned his good looks. I’ve been his partner for four years and have no idea what he coul –
“I’m back.”
Jouno’s train of thoughts suddenly froze. For a moment he just sat there, blankly facing Teccchou. After about ten seconds, he snapped back into
reality and responded.
“About damn time. Sit your ass down before that stickler of a flight attendant rolls around again.”
Jouno was on the verge of slapping himself for having such thoughts, until more turbulence hit the plane. The seatbelt light flickered back on, and
tray tables locked back into place. Jouno considered the content of his recent thoughts. Objectively, it was disgusting. Why would an officer ever think
such things about his own co-worker? Was it horrible to consider the brunette even briefly; or was it justified out of innocent curiosity? There is
nothing wrong with curiosity, right? Trying to learn about him is not bad; it just encourages more trust. All these thoughts raced through Jouno’s
head, and he did not notice the brunette staring at him. Once Jouno freed himself from his own trance, he noticed Tecchou’s abnormal behavior and
chastised him for it.
~*~
Hours passed, and Jouno became increasingly bored by the second. All he had was his devices, a braille book, water, and his headphones. He’d been
listening to an audiobook for the past two hours and was growing restless. Jouno then shifted back to Tecchou and shook him awake.
“Tecchou, do you know when this flight ends?”
Tecchou was exhausted and was able to mumble a couple of words in a half-awakened state.
“Wha- I…uhm I guess…. we have three more hours?”
“Are you fucking kidding me?! Three more hours?! That’s annoying.”
“Are you okay? You seem real- “
“I don’t need you to bash me with stupid questions again. Just go back to sleep and stop pestering me.”
Tecchou once again, leaned his head back and fell right asleep, leaving Jouno alone with his thoughts. Jouno then considered how annoying
turbulence was. It was unpredictable and usually caught him off guard. He was almost afraid of leaning his head to the side, fearing he would bash his
head again. Jouno started to question a few things. Now that I think about it, I wonder where we are exactly. Are we flying over land or sea? Is it
bright or cloudy outside? Is the scenery appealing or is it pointless to look at? All of these questions flooded his head at once. He realized just how
vulnerable he felt in that moment. He knew very well that someone could easily attack the flight while they were so high up. He became increasingly
aware of his inability to determine exactly where they were in that moment. All of these burdensome thoughts made him feel uneasy. Jouno disliked
feeling vulnerable, for he had been wired to believe that it deemed him as useless. Vulnerability was pure weakness. Having the higher ground always
gave him that sense of control. That power distinguished him as both a Hunting Dog and a human. He wasn’t supposed to be afraid; he was supposed
to be feared.
His nasty reputation as a bitch who solely enjoyed torturing people was what made him so feared. God, Jouno loved fear. Fear reveals the truest
colors in people, and everyone is uniquely fearful. He enjoyed experiencing the unique feelings in which he never felt himself. That sense of power
was completely in his hands the moment someone broke. Ever since he lost his sight, his ability to see was stronger than ever. He now sees right
through people’s lies with their heartbeats, breathing patterns, movements, and more.
Jouno began to wonder about more things. Did he genuinely care about how people perceived him? Did he ever want to feel loved? To be loved by
someone is just a burden that weighs you down in the end. People come and go, and the emotion that comes with both is too painful for many.
Humans are selfish. Who could ever love an egoistic human for three-fourths of their life? It’s pathetic as hell. Revealing one’s vulnerable side to
someone- while questioning wether they will safeguard that vulnerability or reveal it to others. Jouno has witnessed many criminals and their genuine
personalities to understand it all. The way they treat the most important people in their life, as if they are nothing but disposable. There is too much
risk involved with trusting someone, which begs the question: why trust at all? That’s why Jouno never pursued a relationship with anyone. Whether
its friendship, dating, or simply being partners.
Jouno did not like Tecchou in the slightest. Tecchou possessed undesirable qualities that made him unpredictable- always setting back their
performances on missions. There was no point in getting to know him, as their work simply watered down to the notion: kill or be killed. At any given
moment, the Hunting Dogs could be ambushed and die for all he knows. They all stood for justice, which meant they either had the blood of the
enemies on their hands, or their very own. It was unpredictable and Jouno hated it. Although it’s something he grew accustomed to and simply
focused on whats ahead. The exhaustion suddenly hit him- providing the perfect opportunity to catch up on well deserved rest.
~*~
Jouno woke up to the rocking of the plane as it landed in Yokohama. Fatigue washed over him once more, drastically ruining his mood. His body felt
tense, and his ears were in an uncomfortable state due to the altitude. Jouno reached for his nose and lightly pinched it, just enough to relive the
pressure in his ears. All his sense suddenly rushed back to him, which forced him to hear everything within a mile radius. He regretted popping his
ears and wished he could go back to those simple, muffled noises. Fortunately, Jouno and Tecchou had the opportunity to board first due to their
status in the military, allowing them to be a couple of the first to exit. They were also reluctant to be placed in first class. Tecchou smoothly unbuckled
his seat belt right as the plane stopped at their gate and got up to grab their bags. Due to Jouno’s restored hearing, he noticed a slight movement
from their luggage.
“Tecchou, be careful when opening up the o- “
Before he could finish his warning, the bags tumbled right out of the overhead bin and right onto Tecchou’s head.
“-ver head bins…. you’ve got to be kidding me”
The brunette rose back up, with bags scattered all around him and groaned from the sudden impact. He continued to grab the bags and handed Jouno
his own.
“You should have let me finish what I was saying.”
“Oh, sorry”
“Sorry?! That’s all you have to say. You know what, you deserve it anyways for being stupid this whole flight.”
“…” No comment from Tecchou.
They promptly exited the aircraft and soon found themselves in a bustling airport. Jouno let out a weary sigh, feeling exhausted. The last thing he
wanted to deal with was the overstimulation of people and excessive activity in the airport. He thought about using his earbuds, but they provided
minimal relief. He felt too overwhelmed. Tecchou noticed this when descending the escalator, prompting him to subtly shield Jouno’s ears.
“Ew get your grimy hands off of me!!”
“Huh?”
“What are you doing anyways!?”
“Oh, I was trying to help with the noise. You seemed uncomfortable so I- “
“Your help wouldn’t make a single difference and what makes you think I’m uncomfortable right now huh?!”
Tecchou paused for a moment and stepped off the escalator, beginning to walk to their next destination. The officers continued over to the APM,
waiting for their transportation to arrive. The silence was still lingering between the two until Tecchou finally broke it.
“Your body language.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yes. You’re shifting around more than usual, and you seem to get more and more irritated when something small happens.”
“…”
“…”
“So that automatically makes you believe I’m uncomfortable right now?”
“Mhm.”
“That’s fucking ridiculous.”
The problem is that Tecchou was spot on. Jouno was indeed shifting around more than usual, even he himself noticed. This quickly escalated his
frustration due to Tecchou’s commentary. He marveled how this fool could ever comprehend the intricate details about himself. It made absolutely no
sense. During some missions, Jouno would subtly hint to Tecchou that his behavior would give away their position. Obviously, he didn’t get the hint,
prompting Jouno to spell it out, in grave detail. The man struggled with social cues and was horrible to be around with in public. He acted as if no one
in the world existed and that all his actions affected just himself. Maybe if he cared a little more, it would ease Jouno’s anxiety just for a moment. To
be honest, Tecchou never concerned himself with many things. From all that Jouno knows, his interests revolved around ants, justice, and the
approval of the commander. It’s as if his brain only functions off those three things. So, for Tecchou to read Jouno’s body language and considered
anything beyond those specific aspects, made him question the man. Their transportation finally arrived, and the soldiers entered, ready for their next
destination. It was uncomfortably quiet. Only the sounds of the raggedy train and the shifting of people’s body and luggage filled the air. It was a
quite soothing to have some sort of silence, without the rowdy noises of insensitive people.
After reaching their destination, they proceeded to collect their luggage from baggage claim. Tecchou always fetched their bags since Jouno couldn’t
distinguish between theirs and others. In all honestly, Jouno always hesitated when relying on Tecchou to handle the bags. Accompanying the
brunette on trips always stressed him since he was terrible at social interactions and lacked navigational skills. If he struggles with basic hygiene or
simple direction, what makes Jouno think he could be relied on with getting their bags. There have been instances where Tecchou carelessly grabbed
the wrong bag, and it wasn’t until Jouno felt for his luggage tag that he noticed. They had to return and retrieve their luggage while apologizing to the
owners of the bags they just stole. Fortunately, Jouno learned his lesson and checked their luggage every time to ensure it was theirs.
“Why aren’t the bags out yet?”
“I don’t know”
“Well, they better hurry up because I’m getting really pissed off”
“…”
Tecchou wasn’t the best at holding a conversation. Jouno didn’t exactly despise the silence he carried with him, but it still made it uncomfortable
every time they tried having a conversation. Typically, Jouno would sway the conversation in his favor, allowing him to get additional information while
keeping the awkward tension at a minimal. Although with Tecchou, there was no getting through to him. Each jab he landed, or insult always rolled
over his head, creating a tense and uncomfortable silence between them. After minutes of people conversing and the rolling of suitcases, the familiar
sound of a bell echoed throughout the room, signaling to everyone their luggage was here.
“About damn time. Now get our luggage so we can leave this shitty airport”
“Ok”
A couple rounds of bags circuited the conveyor belts until theirs finally appeared. The brunette spotted the familiar looking bags, and quickly fetched
them, handing them to Jouno. Jouno ran his delicate fingers over the suitcase, searching for his luggage tag. He knew that his was in a rectangular
shape with a bell right on the top, resembling his earring. This allowed him to identify if the bag was truly his, and to his surprise, he felt the jingle of
that very bell between his fingers.
“Wow, you actually got it right this time”
“Thank you”
“Did you check that suitcase to see if it was yours?”
“Mhm”
“I don’t trust that. Look at the tag”
After grabbing the white tag on the luggage, he finally replied with,
“Oh…this isn’t mine”
“I fucking told you so. Now put it back and find your actual bag”
~*~
The officers swiftly made their way to headquarters to submit their report on an exceptionally accomplished mission. Upon entering, the staff warmly
greeted them as Tecchou reached for his office card. After making their way to the elevator and pressing the button, they were notified by the familiar
ding that the elevator made when it reached their floor. Tecchou pressed his card against the control panel and hit the button for the fourth floor. The
elevator was very spacious and gave Jouno a much-needed breath. The ding alerted the officers that they’ve reached their destination. As they were
walking out, a familiar voice echoed from the receiving end of the hall. Oh God, not this again…
“OHHHH TECCHOUUUUU”
And before he could register those familiar screams, the vice-captain tackled him to the ground, embracing him for a hug.
“TECCHOU WE’VE MISSED YOU!! I SWEAR YOU TOOK FOREVER”
“Why is it that you missed me on this specific mission. I mean, I’ve been gone like this before.”
“The one you took was for two weeks!! I was getting really bored because nothing exciting happened in Yokohama. The Commander was also out in
Europe dealing with some conflict and Tachihara just came back yesterday to file reports on the Port Mafia’s whereabouts. Which left little ol’ me to sit
and do all the paperwork YOU left me with.”
With that said, she caught Tecchou by the ear and shifted to her adult form. Teruko was exceedingly short compared to the man, so she had a
tendency to use her ability to get on his level. This allowed her to do things like grab Tecchou by the ear or give him a well-deserved smack.
“YOU ARE’NT GOING HOME UNTIL YOU FINISH ALL OF YOUR PAPERWORK AND MINE. I TRIED TO COVER YOUR ASS SO THE COMMANDER WOULD’NT
NOTICE AND NOW ITS YOUR TURN.”
“Ow! Let me go Teru- “
“DID I SAY YOU CAN TALK BACK? NOW LET'S GO”
And with that, Teruko dragged tecchou off to his office; to file his and Teruko’s overdo paperwork.
“I guess that leaves me to file the report.” The officer continued his way down to the meeting room, in hopes of finding the commander. Upon entering
the room, he found Fukuchi, head down and arms spread out across the table. Struggling with what to do, he quietly came up to the captain, report in hand.
“Ahem sir.”
In a drunken state, Fukuchi finally replied,
“Oh, hey Jounooo hiccup Long time no seeeeee~”
Jouno noticed the array of booze, lingering on the man’s tounge as he spoke. All he desired was to get out of the room and stop all his senses at that
moment.
“Sir, I’m back with my reports. Would you like me to leave them here?”
“Nahhhh just leave them on my desk. Im too hiccup dizzy to read jackshit”
“…ok”
Jouno swiftly made his exit, knowing the captain would soon barf up his guts across the floor. Just as he predicted, the second he closed the door, the
foul stench of the captain's guts, greeted his senses. God that’s fucking disgusting. I need a shower after hearing all that. Wanting to spare his nose
and ears, he did just as the captain asked and made his way to the office. As he approached the far end of the hall, preparing to open the door,
Teruko let out a loud scream that caught his attention.
“JOUNO, HAVE YOU SEEN TECCHOU?!”
You’ve got to be kidding me “No, I haven’t seen him,” replied Jouno in a sarcastic tone.
“Sigh you know I didn’t mean it like that. Do you know where Tecchou could have gone? He’s trying to avoid doing his paperwork”
“I have not”
“Uhggggggggg”
The vice-captain let out a frustrated groan and went else where to find Tecchou. The officer, sick of everyone’s bull shit, opened the door, wanting to
get home quick. Upon entering the room, he confirmed his suspicions and sensed the presence of another person in the room. He gently closed the
door and made his way to Fukuchi’s office. Jouno lied when he told the vice-commander that he knew nothing about Tecchou’s whereabouts, despite
knowing damn well he was hiding in the commander's room. He made his way to the desk and laid the reports down. Jouno continued to settle onto
the desk and let outa sigh before acknowledging Tecchou’s presence.
“Tecchou, you should know that I can sense your presence no matter how quiet you are. Your heartbeat is roaring in my ears and it’s pissing me off.”
Tecchou rose from his hiding spot behind the door and continued over to Jouno.
“Sorry.”
“Why aren’t you completing your files? Are you feeling extra lazy or something?!”
“I just don’t want to right now. Ill do them tomorrow”
“No, you wont!! Don’t spout bullshit in front of me, I know you. You tell yourself that, believing you’ll file the documents tomorrow, yet you never do.
How much more ridiculous could you get?!”
“You…know me?”
“That’s not the point I’m making. Work on your files or continue to bring the rest of our work down. It’s not a life-or-death decision you know.”
The words appeared to have hit a vital spot in Tecchou that Jouno couldn’t pinpoint. Why did it matter anyways? They were fair accomplices, nothing
more. Nothing ever meant anything to that airhead. He jabbed him in every way possible, yet something so basic got through to him? Maybe he’s just
too incompetent to understand anything fundamental. The officer removed himself from the desk and paced himself towards the door, until Tecchou
caught ahold of his wrist.
“What the hell are you doing now, huh!?”
“…”
“Well!? I could out you to Teruko right now and have her drag your ass back to the o-“
“It’s nothing…”
“It’s nothing?! Ah so you’re just fucking with me right now, got it.”
Jouno proceeded to force his wrist out of Tecchou’s grasp and slammed the door right in his face. The last thing he wanted was Tecchou pestering him
over some nonsense.
~*~
Getting back home was definitely the highlight of Jouno’s day. Ascending the stairs with his key in hand, he was ready to wind down and rest. The
cold from the winter night bit his face as he fumbled around for a moment, trying to unlock the door, until he successfully opened it a minute later.
After shutting the door, he let out a sigh of relief, knowing that he was finally alone, and didn’t have to worry about anything. The apartment itself was
small and well-maintained. Jouno hated stumbling over unnecessary shit, which is why he made a habit of neatly putting everything away, as a
precaution if needed later. Due to his habit, the first thing Jouno did was unpack all the clothes and essentials, ensuring they were carefully put away.
Another weird habit of Jouno’s was he always had the urge to clean or wash something if contaminated. For example: he continued to pick up the
disinfectant wipes and thoroughly ran it around his suitcase. It’s been in places he never knew, so the last thing he wanted to do, was let some
infected garbage enter his sacred space. He continued to shove it in his closet and made his way to the bathroom.
Jouno followed the same routine of showering after every long mission. Regardless of if he was feeling tired, sick, or overwhelmed, a shower was
necessary in those situations. The officer turned the water on and allowed it to warm up to a soothing temperature. In the meantime, he removed his
sweaty uniform and threw it in the wash for the next day. The water finally hit his ideal temperature and took this as the perfect moment to hop in
and relax. This was precisely what he needed-all those worries and unpleasant feelings washed away in a matter of seconds. Oh, how he yearned for
that relief. While shampooing his hair, there was a persistent feeling, tugging at the pit of his stomach, refusing to let go. Jouno was confused and
considered every reason to what that unsettling sensation was. Even after his shower, something was still wrong. He tried brushing it off and
continued his after-mission routine, brushing his teeth and taking care of his skin. The best part about this routine, was it leaving him refreshed when
he flopped onto bed. Fatigue enveloped him completely as he settled down.
“Finally, I was starting to get really agitated due of those lunatics today. Why can’t anyone be normal or civilized anymore? It’s almost as if no one has
fundamental values at this point.” He finally let his body release all the tension and stress piling on. Jouno shifted around, eventually finding a
comfortable sleeping position. All preparations ready- uniform in the wash, all necessities put away, and a clean Jouno. Yet, why couldn’t he shake the
sense of unease? It kept Jouno restless, plagued with the thoughts he wanted to leave behind on the plane. It made him feel even more pathetic. A
specialized military officer’s primary focus should always advance and uphold justice. He didn’t have time to contemplate pointless feelings that would
drag him down. His job also didn’t give him the time to let a single emotion cross his mind. The sole notion occupying the minds of the Hunting Dogs
was kill or be killed. Everyone was informed upon joining. It meant many sacrifices had to be made in the process, Jouno’s feelings being one of them.
It’s not like he cared about them anyways. It always slowed him down and prevented him from running his life. His job as a Hunting Dog just helped
solidify that ideal. These suppressed emotions finally began to fade, as Jouno dozed off into a deep sleep.