Chapter Text
Mebius was finishing serving the juice and the snacks he just finished in the oven. Taiga and Fuma were visiting, for the 2nd time in 3 days. Mebius and Taro were now 100% sure they were bored as heck.
-For how long is Titas going to be at U49? - Taiga asked - Again?
-I have no idea - Taro answered - According to mother is going to be like 2 years or more
A couple of weeks ago, Titas had a massive accident trying to save some fellow trainees, and Mother of Ultra gave him 3 months at the very least of rest, followed by another 3 months of rehabilitation. But after barely 3 weeks after, Joneus appeared with the purpose of moving Titas to his home planet, as the elders of U40 asked him to do it.
The main issue with all of this, U40 has no infrastructure to take care of health issues in Ultra form, and Titas would have to transform into his original human form. But when you transform into a human after getting some injury in ultra form, that injury can stay there for literal years.
-Brother Seven stayed on human form for almost a year because his Ultra Eye broke - Mebius explained - That happened while he got a broken ankle in ultra form, and it took almost all that year to recover
-Mother tried to explain to him - Taro continued - But Joneus said that he had to. They take care of their people.
-And that’s why grandma is miffed - Taiga pouted on the kitchen table
Taro was worried about the same thing. He has been thinking that maybe, just maybe, it might be time.
Him and Mebius started a relationship (and to live together by will of the destiny he might add) almost a year ago. But Taro was slightly scared Mebius might change ideas (he probably had a different version of me in his mind, he always thought), so they never “technically” told anyone of the family they are together, even if they are so bad at hiding the truth everybody already knew. They officially told Taiga, because he was getting annoyed, but officially no one else. Mother of Ultra for her side was waiting for Taro to officially tell her and Taro was thinking that Mebius had already seen pretty ugly and sad things about him by now, so, maybe, just maybe, he could finally tell her and let his brothers break loose…
Maybe this is not a good idea
No, no, no, this has to happen and all of them have been very gracious so far. Maybe they would not be that annoying. Now, he just needs the right moment to ask h…
-Instructor Taro - Mebius asked, somewhat worried - Is there something in your mind worrying you??
Taro tried to look away while tapping on the table with 8 fingers.
-Nothing important - Taro started to wander - I was thinking that it might be time to tell the family about… you know
-Everybody knows - Taiga replied bored
-I know! - Taro replied back - But official! Official! Your Grandma wants the official version!
Mebius realized what they were talking about, and started to also try to avoid Taro’s gaze. Taro noticed, and he was getting a bit concerned. He holded Mebius’ hand softly to call his attention. Taiga rolled his eyes and was about to comment that this is not that big of a deal, when Fuma shoved Taiga’s face with a bunch of snacks to keep him quiet.
-It’s nothing, it’s nothing - Mebius explained bashfully - You are not gonna like it if I tell you
Taro tried to think of something which would annoy him so much that Mebius would avoid telling him and he just thought in one single situation.
-It’s the Bachelor Pool nonsense, isn’t it?
-Most Desirable Bachelor in the Land of Light! - Mebius completed, getting very animated and his eyes shining with unusual vigor and cuteness - Everybody in the force was thinking that this is the last year, so we’re doing a big push to take you number 1
-I would vastly prefer for all of you to do nothing and just let me sink into the abyss
-It’s tradition at this point
Taiga finally could swallow all the chips Fuma shoved into his mouth and after taking some juice and then he could finally said
-Do you know about the Bachelor pool dad? - Taiga was a bit surprised
-I discovered about that almost a year ago when Mebius told me - Taro answered - I thought I made my disdain clear about it
-But Mar is really motivated!
-When are the results coming out? - Taro asked with his hand in the forehead
-End of the month aprox - Mebius answered - They take around a week to tally the voting usually
-Fine - Taro conceded - a week after the results come out. And you better take me number 1, did you hear??
They locked views in that moment, remembering what they really loved about the other, forgetting for a moment about everyone around them. It just so happens that Taiga hates when they do that (Which is often) since he's a boy! And those are basically his parents! He looked at Fuma trying to find some relief, just to find him looking at them enjoying the moment.
-Argh! - Taiga loudly complained, interrupting everyone and grabbing Fuma’s hand to pull him into the living room - We need to talk about something!
Taro and Mebius watched how Taiga was pulling Fuma away from there to the living room, which can be seen from the kitchen though
-You can go to your room! - Taro yelled from the kitchen
-Do I still have a room here? - Taiga complained very loudly - DAD!
But he went there with Fuma anyway.
-Are you sure this is a good idea?
-They live together - Taro exclaimed - If they were thinking about it, they would not doing it here
-Well, feelings are swelling right now - Mebius replied
-He’s the one who grabbed Fuma by the hands, it’s his fault - Taro kept making excuses to not do anything about this - He’s a big boy, he should have…
A door slam could be heard and big stomping steps of anger
-Why are you right when I don’t want you to be right? - Taro complained to Mebius, who giggled a little, standing up to catch whoever was going up the stairs, who turned out to be Taiga
-Taiga! - Taro yelled, using his stern father voice. Taiga stood there, mid walk. He knows it’s not a good idea to disobey now - Go talk with your grandmother. I’ll tell her you are going.
Taiga nodded and made a faint noise of affirmation. And then he flew away.
Mebius looked really worried at the door and then to the stairs, on the way to Taiga’s room. He tried to ask Taro why he told Taiga to go with his grandmother, but Taro took the initiative
-He’s pissed off with us - Taro explained, while Mebius was nodding in acknowledgment - He’s not going to listen if we’re part of the issue
-I’ll ask Fuma while you call Mother of Ultra - Mebius said, going up the stairs.
—
Fuma was looking at his hands. He was touching his palms, but was a bit on a loss of what to do. He has known Taiga for so long, they even fused together, then why now he’s feeling so different about his hands?
He might remember another time when he noticed Taiga’s tiny soft baby hands and he made a somewhat cruel joke about it. Titas was very fast at stopping him in his tracks and told him to knock it off. Taiga has this weird proportion, in which he looks like very soon he’s going to grow like 20 meters up in one go, and maybe that helped with him having these short digits and very soft palms. Yes, he has known about Taiga’s hands for a long time, but today, he felt different. Why?
-Do you want to talk about it? - Mebius offered from the door
-Why does Taiga still have a room here?
-Because my beloved has a hard time letting people he loves go - Mebius answered - Even if he knows he has to
Fuma stayed there, thinking for a moment.
-Do you want to go to our room? - Mebius offered, talking about the room he shares with Taro - This is still Taiga’s room after all
—
Taro finished talking with his mother using telepathy and was walking very fast to his room, to find Mebius and Fuma, cuddling on the bed
-I knew you two will be doing this - Taro commented with his arms crossed
Mebius took slight offense to that - He’s sad!
-I know he is - Taro sat on the bed and poked Fuma to make him sit up - Now we’re going to talk about what’s happened, care to tell us what it is?
-Why does Taiga have tiny baby hands? - Fuma asked immediately. Taro got a bit surprised
-Mmmm - Taro looked at his hands for a moment, pondering what to say - Maybe it is because he has my hands
Fuma got animated all of a sudden and grabbed one of Taro’s hands to touch it. Taro just stood there. The last time he tried to jank his hand out of someone who wanted to touch them, he did not only fail, but he also ended up in a romantic relationship with that person, so, he’s not risking the thing again.
-Your hands aren’t that soft - Fuma exclaimed, disappointed
-I close my fist too strongly - Taro explained - And sometimes you get calluses by grabbing certain equipment too strongly as well
-He also has fought a lot of battles - Mebius added - I suppose they need to get hard to fight so many
-Mebius…
-He also has calluses in parts you don’t imagine - then Mebius added
-You just want to tell that to someone, do you?
-Yes
-Where?
-You know, that Little Sensible Place in the fin? - Taro introduced - I have no idea if Mebius has one, but he discovered I do
-You knew?
-Of course! - Taro was slightly offended - I just thought that… wait… no… no…
Fuma stood up and immediately went to grab where normally that sensible spot is, only to find it was slightly cushiony. And hard.
-It got a callus - Taro explained, slightly disappointed - you cannot touch it anymore
-Who knew you could get a callus in the fin - Fuma commented, amazed
-You have to bite it - Mebius then added
-Mebius! - Taro yelled, standing up and getting his back away from Fuma’s face. Mebius laughed softly, while Taro was a bit embarrassed
-But now you are feeling better - Mebius finally said, while petting him in the head, trying to make Fuma sit down - What did happen when you and Taiga were in the room?
-I don’t know - Fuma said with complete sincerity - Taiga did say something, I think, but I was too distracted by how soft his hands are
-He’s really pissed off with us if he’s being this rude with you - Taro commented out loud - This cannot be
-No, no - Fuma suddenly realized what Taro was saying - I’m fine, I’m fine, I don’t wanna be the reason he gets in trouble, again
-He needs to be responsible for his actions - Taro replied - But the last time he was, so, I’ll wait for a week and I’ll ask you if he
-He did apologize before storming off! -Fuma yelled all of a sudden -I don’t know when exactly but he did!
Mebius and Taro stood there, looking at Fuma for some reason making the flimsiest lie he could possibly said.
-Well - Mebius said eventually - Taiga has good friends
-I already knew that