Archive of Our Own

It all started when Ness was 10 years old. He still hadn’t given up on his dreams of magic and the unexplainable. Rather, he kept his ideas and dreams going. He read numerous books, daydreamed about it near constantly, and continued to ignore his family’s cutting words about the entire thing.

When one left a young kid unsupervised and with a head full of magic and grandeur, it was only a matter of time before he stumbled upon something truly dangerous.

"Hi there.” A cute, angelic face beamed down at Ness from his position sitting on Ness’s chest. The kid wheezed as he tried to accommodate the sudden weight of another kid falling from… the sky? “Oh, you’re looking pretty red there.”

“Get. Off.” Ness choked out, not at all used to such a heavy weight on top of him. 

The blue-eyed beauty blinked, wide and innocent eyes stared down at Ness before realization lit up in those deep pools. He giggled and… hovered??

Ness sat up sharply, eyes wide as he looked at the two bat wings that kept the youth aloft. Then, his gaze traveled down towards the thin tail that swung back and forth behind him. If Ness looked even closer, the other boy looked so foreign as well. As if he wasn’t German like Ness was. For the longest second, Ness forgot how to breathe. Up until the strange flying boy knocked on his head.

“H-hey!” Ness protested, rubbing at the spot that he hit.

“You were staring.” A cheeky smile brightened up the boy’s features.

“You- what are you?” Ness whispered, wide-eyed and in complete wonder. Here it was — living, breathing proof that magic was real!

“Excuse me, it’s who.” The boy leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, hovering over the floor with a petulant look on his face. “You can call me Yoichi! You know what, you’re pretty fun — just call me Yo-chan!”

“Yo-chan…“ Ness repeated in a daze. He continued to stare at the floating demon? Monster? Neither of those sounded right, not when Yoichi smiled so nice like that. It was angelic, it was bright — like the sun. There was no way that he was a monster, even if everything points toward that fact.

“You got it!” He snickered and then took a look around. He stared at the crooked drawing of the summoning circle, half of which was covered once more in the snow because of their actions. Aside from that, there was a book to the side and Ness was wearing an outfit that was similar to those magicians and witches in the stories. “So, did you summon me because you were lonely?” 

Ness paused and looked at Yoichi, who merely looked back with a small smile. It looked like the kid was younger than him based on his looks, bat wings and tail aside. 

“You’re not from here?” Ness asked instead, realizing that the nickname sounded foreign. Not just that but he looked extremely foreign as well, his whole bat wings aside. Even with his round eyes, there was something inherently different in his overall face shape and nose. Even if Ness didn’t quite enjoy the science that his family believed and lived in, he was made perfectly aware of how everything worked.

“Obviously, silly!” Yoichi beamed and dropped to sit on the ground across from Ness. He tilted his head to the side and reached out to poke the space between Ness’s eyes, “I’m magic!”

“Then how can you understand me? How can I understand you?” Ness’s eyes were wide and his normally inquisitive nature reared its head. Even if he enjoyed the thought and ideas of magic, he still had the nature to question drilled into him by his family. Even if, every single time, he asked questions related to magic to his family, he would be shot down immediately. This was finally his chance to get his questions answered!

“Because I’m magic.” Yoichi puffed out his cheeks and rolled his eyes. He spoke like the answer was obvious, like there was no other explanation aside from just magic. Ness’s eyes sparkled at the thought. He leaned forward, their foreheads close as he added, “I’d be a dummy devil if I can’t understand you!”

“I have to show my parents!” Ness stood up suddenly, reaching out to Yoichi’s wrist to drag him back inside the house. He was smiling wide and excited. Finally, he has proof that magic did exist! They couldn’t possibly deny him when there was physical proof of it rigt in front of their face. “They’ll finally believe me!”

“Wait, wait!” Yoichi reversed his grip and ended up dragging Ness from the ground as he flew up with his wings. Ness’s eyes were wide with wonder as he kicked his feet in the air. He was flying! “You can’t tell anyone about me!”

“Huh, why not?” Ness tilted his head up to stare into the deep oceanic pools. Something told him, deep within his gut, that if he stared too long or if Yoichi wanted to, he’d be lost in those eyes forever.

Yoichi pouted, “This is supposed to be our secret! Plus, only you can see me like this.”

“But why?” Ness pouted back and Yoichi blinked before he laughed.

“Cause you’re the one that called me, silly.” Yoichi slowly lowered then back to the ground. When they stood like that, Ness noticed that he was a bit taller than Yoichi and his eyes sparkled. “I’ll be your secret friend! Your bestest friend!”

“Okay!” Ness grinned and hugged Yoichi, which the other returned. The two young boys giggled into the snow and that was what began their long-standing friendship.

As Ness and Yoichi grew closer as friends, Ness became the sole witness to Yoichi’s powers and magic. Every single time they interacted and played around together, Ness became more and more enraptured by the idea of magic and the unconventional. 

Ness and Isagi spent lots of time both indoors and outdoors, with Isagi appearing only in mirrors and reflective surfaces to hide away from Ness’s parents. Other times, when they were alone outside, Isagi would use magic to entertain Ness in any way possible. He took Ness flying, summoned various random objects from thin air and even gave Ness different animal appendages for fun.

All the while, Ness barely questioned the origins of Yoichi. Not for a lack of trying, rather it was due to Yoichi’s branch of non-answers, such as:

“Where did you come from?”

“My home, why?”

“What exactly are you?”

“A devil, dummy.”

“What… kind?”

“The devil kind?”

“Do you understand German? Can you speak other languages?”

“Is that what you’re speaking? I’m magic, it wouldn’t matter anyway.”

It had come to a point that asking questions was more confusing than just letting things be. So, Ness had accepted the fact he now had a midnight haired, blue-eyed friend with devil wings, a tail, and magic. He had learned that sometimes with magic, it’s best to leave things unexplained. Especially when it came to what exactly brought Yoichi to his life in the first place.

Even with his branch of non-answers, Yoichi always found time to answer each and every single one of Ness’s questions about magic itself. It seemed that he only dodged more personal questions but was fine with anything else. Ness used this to learn more and more — diving deeper into the fantasy and safety that was magic.

As the years grew and Ness grew older, he still kept seeing and interacting with Yoichi who also grew alongside him (even if he still looked a tad bit younger). While their meetings grew sparse, Ness treasured each one of them deeply. Along the years, Ness found his own magic in the form of football. He grew into the sport with Yoichi at his side as his best cheerleader and supporter. It helped to keep him motivated and even more determined to keep this special kind of magic for himself. If Yoichi could make him fly and create objects from nothing, then Ness would score a goal that would make an entire stadium roar.

Even if no one else believed him about magic, he had that one true evidence that it was real and it was in the form of Yoichi.

His savior, his light, his everything.

Yoichi, though, never seemed to lose his mischievous streak.

“You’re growing to be prettier than me.” Yoichi pouted, leaning against the other side of the mirror as his cheeks pressed against the glass. Ness kept wondering if it worked similar to a window to Yoichi or if it was a container — like some kind of aquarium or room for him to sit in while he spoke to Ness. Then, the words registered and Ness flushed a bright red. “So you do think it too! You think you’re growing prettier.”

“You’re the prettiest.” The teenage Ness, just newly fifteen, assured Yoichi as usual. It wasn’t even a lie to him since he’s always found Yoichi to be incredibly beautiful — right from the start. He watched in satisfaction as Yoichi preened, similar to a cat, at the praise. Then, in a vulnerable moment — because Yoichi’s visits became far and few lately, “Do you not get bored being with me?”

“When I’m with you, I’m my truest self.” Yoichi tilted his head and he looked at Ness meaningfully. No more lies, no more tricks, no more deceit. Whenever he looked at Ness like that, somewhere deep in Ness’s heart, he knew that Yoichi was being the most truthful he’d ever be. “You think I go around looking like this all the time?”

Ness looked at Yoichi. At his perfect midnight black hair that reminded him of a starless night sky. At the deep blue eyes that reminded him of the darkest depths of the sea. At the pale white skin that resembled the first snow. Ness looked at Yoichi. He looked at the alluring red outline that made his eyes look sharper rather than the cute round it used to be when they were younger. He looked at the equally black lipstick that only reminded Ness of freshly picked blueberries during the season. Even the presence of the deep black devil horns, that recently grew when he got older, equally black wings, and tail added to his beauty and appeal. 

Ness would hope Yoichi didn’t go around looking like that normally. After all, only Ness deserved to see him in all this beauty and glory. 

“If you did, you’d have more friends than me.” Ness mused out loud, keeping his inner thoughts to himself. What started as childish adoration and excitement for something new grew to be deeper and more passionate. He wasn’t all too sure whether Yoichi knew what love was but he would rather not find out the hard way.

“As if.” Yoichi snickered and leaned closer, resting his head against the surface. Ness mirrored his action and he stared deep into Yoichi’s eyes. “You’re still my bestest friend, Alexis.”

“And you, mine.” Ness whispered, scared that if he said it any louder then it would break whatever spell was placed between them and he’d lose Yoichi forever.

“You’ll never leave me, right?” Yoichi batted his lashes with a cute pout, as if Ness ever thought of leaving the devil to his devices. 

“What kind of ideas are in your brain, Yo-chan.” Ness snorted and leaned back to stare at his friend and confidant. “I’m not going anywhere. It’s me that should be telling you that, with your penchant of disappearing who knows where for who knows how long.”

Yoichi beamed and leaned forward. Rather than being stopped by the mirror like some kind of glass window, he passed through the mirror like it was some kind of curtain and fell straight into Ness’s lap. He looked up at him with a cheeky grin, “Well, I have to recharge somewhere.”

“And it’s taking you longer every time?” Ness whispered, hands hovering over Yoichi’s head and his horns. He was always so hesitant to touch. So hesitant to suddenly reach out and have Yoichi disappear from his hands like it was a long fever dream. 

“Well…“ Yoichi reached up and took Ness’s hands in his own. He then pressed them downwards on his own head and leaned into his touch. “I like spending lots of time with you, so I’d need more energy for that.”

“Okay.” Ness barely reacted to the slight tidbit of truth that Yoichi handed to him. It was a long game of whittling down Yoichi’s walls but it had gotten to a point where some of his more personal questions were answered. Vague, yet still answered. 

He ran a hand through the soft locks of Yoichi’s hair, marveled at the texture of his horns, and pressed his palms against Yoichi’s cheeks. He was rewarded by the deep purr that came from Yoichi’s chest as he leaned into Ness’s every touch. He relished in the moment for a little longer before he decided to break it with his new declaration.

“Someone approached me about trying out for a football club.”

Yoichi perked up at that, always the same reaction every time Ness would talk about his interests and especially football, “So, did you?”

“I couldn’t have done it that quick.” Ness patted Yoichi’s hair and watched as the devil relaxed in his lap. Once more, he was wearing an outfit that befuddled Ness. Never one to appear in normal human clothes, Yoichi always wore something regal and official looking. The outfit always had shadows that clung to it, like it was made from it. It even came with a hood, whenever Yoichi felt like it.

“Then, what are you waiting for?” Yoichi pushed himself up and leaned close to Ness’s face. Like this, Ness could imagine Yoichi’s eyes as the depths of an abyss that he would willingly drown in forever. “Don’t tell me that you think you won’t pass. You will.”

That conviction, that steady support — the belief that Yoichi poured out in that single sentence made Ness’s heart skip a beat and his stomach flutter. For so long, all he’s ever heard was that he ‘couldn’t do it’. That he wasn’t smart enough or serious enough or… enough. 

With Yoichi, however, he always enough. Sometimes, Ness felt like he was more than enough. He was something better and bigger than what he was even if he was the normal human between them. Yoichi made him feel special and magical and that was enough. Enough for Ness to want to keep Yoichi close, to fall for his sincerity and charm. 

“I’ll need to train a little bit more.” Ness turned away because if he continued to stare into Yoichi’s sincere eyes then he knew he’d do something he couldn’t control. Instead, he turned his gaze at a fixed point of his wall that was overrun with posters about his favorite series and fictional stories. “Just to be sure.”

“Do you want me to help?” Yoichi grinned and it was devilish and reminded Ness exactly who he was dealing with. 

He honestly forgot that Yoichi was an otherwordly demon equivalent, with horns and bat wings, becuase of the way he acted around Ness. He was like an overgrown cat, always one to play around and cuddle with Ness. Then, it was times like this that Ness was reminded Yoichi’s true nature. As a child, he had never really put too much mind into what exactly he had summoned. As the years went on, he put a little more care and research into it alongside the few questions Yoichi actually answered. 

A demon that was capable of mass destruction and harm — that was what Yoichi was. 

Most of the time, he avoided the whole destruction and harm part because Ness insisted on peaceful resolutions. He had his own bouts of physical anger and violence but he knew that Yoichi’s version of it would have more permanent consequences. Permanent and lethal. So, he always drilled it into Yoichi that he didn’t like or enjoy such acts. Still, there was only so much that Ness could do to curb Yoichi’s usual bloodlust. 

“No need.” Ness shook his head and cupped Yoichi’s face in both his hands. Yoichi pouted and yet leaned into the touch as he always did. It was like he craved Ness’s contact — something that Ness never complained about. He, too, craved for Yoichi’s touch. “I can get in on my own, as you said.”

“So cruel.” Yoichi whined as he wrapped his arms around Ness’s waist. “I meant I could help you practice!”

“While your horns and wings are out? No thank you.” Ness chuckled. He could just imagine the looks everyone would give them if they saw Ness practice football with a demon that had horns and wings. Either they’d think it was a weird Halloween costume, even if the holiday was over, or they’d call a priest. “I can make do.”

“But I like playing with you.” Yoichi continued to whine like a petulant child. Ness found that he didn’t mind. 

“I will play with you soon.” Ness promised and he watched as Yoichi stared deep into his eyes, piercing his soul. He was always so aware that each promise they made for each other meant something deeper — more real. Like a contract. A deal with the devil. 

“Promise?”

“If you wait for me.” Ness amended. He still felt like he could be better. That he could grow as a player and reach new heights if he pushed himself further. To do that, he’d have to broaden his horizon. The moment Ness would play with Yoichi, it would be the moment that he sets foot on the field with a more refined version of his magic. Something that would impress Yoichi the same way he impressed Ness.

“I always will.” Yoichi reached up and pressed their foreheads together, the only physical manner that they’ve sealed their promises ever since they met as children. 

Ness held on to the hope that Yoichi meant that promise, the same way he meant every single one previously. 

It seemed like Ness hoped a little too much. 

The Bastard München entrace match was almost underwhelming. Ness wasn’t sure if it was the increased ability of his opponents who truly wanted a spot in the U20 starting lineup or if his own teammates were just that bad (or if Yoichi had been just that good of a teammate) but it felt lackluster. Still, Ness pushed himself to get in to the club because that was something he wanted, it was something to help solidify his proof against his family in a way that didn’t endanger Yoichi. 

It was in this match and in this mindset that Ness met Michael Kaiser. 

This would have marked the second time that Ness experienced magic in front of his very eyes. He knew that there were people out there with the magic of football, the magic to turn a silent crowd into roaring fans. He knew that it was possible for magic in football, a kind of magic that was different from Yoichi’s but still enchanting all the same. 

To think that he experienced it with his very eyes was wonderful, exhilirating — Ness felt like his entire world flipped once more. Finally, both sides of his magic were fulfilled. The magic that Yoichi brought and whatever magic that Kaiser could bring — two sides of the same coin that was Alexis Ness. 

From that moment forward, Ness spent almost every waking hour with Kaiser. It was almost laughable how much he clung to the other. Where Yoichi was a secret — a magic — that was just for him and him only, Kaiser was something he could share with everyone. His magic was something that Ness could flaunt, something that Ness could empower. 

He spoke as much to Yoichi, happily recounting his entire day to him as he listened attentively with his usual small smile. Ness wanted to share this brand of magic with Yoichi too. He wanted to insist that Yoichi show himself to everyone else — to be by Ness’s side so they could bask in this magic together. Yoichi had always been by his side, after all, why wouldn't he in this one?

Yet, a small part of him was selfish and greedy. Ness looked at the way Yoichi’s lips curved into his unique and sweet smile. That sight was something only he could see and possess and own and—

“Alexis?” Yoichi called out with a tilted head. This time, only his head and part of his hand that rested on Ness’s shoulder were out of the mirror and in reality. Ness blinked at the sudden address.

“Yes, Yo-chan?” Ness smiled and leaned closer. He drank in Yoichi’s sight and memorized every part of him. If there was anything Ness would never trade away for anything in the world, it would be Yoichi’s presence and effect in his life. 

“You stopped there.” Yoichi teased, his grin turning blinding. Ness laughed and shook his head.

“You distracted me.”

Yoichi pouted and leaned forward even further, falling into Ness’s arms as usual. This time, he nuzzled into Ness’s neck and he wrapped his arms around his neck. Ness reached around Yoichi and tightened his grip around his waist, pulling him closer. They basked in each other’s warmth (even if Yoichi was colder than most) in silence for a beat before Yoichi huffed into Ness’s neck, sending goosebumps over his skin.

"How was I distracting you?” Yoichi muttered into his skin and Ness hummed to distract himself from the way his face was slowly burning up. 

“Like this…“ Ness turned away but it wasn’t like he could escape Yoichi when he was on his lap and in his arms like this. He had even hidden his wings and horn to perfectly fit into Ness’s hold without much hassle. The only thing that remained was his tail that wrapped it’s completely around Ness's leg and tapped against his thigh in a rhythmic pattern.

“This is distracting, yes.” Yoichi agreed and Ness let out a strangled sound from the back of his throat. At least Yoichi was aware of what he was doing to him. As if that made anything better but it soothed Ness’s soul and heart that Yoichi wasn’t just doing these things by accident. "What I was doing a while ago was just listening, Alexis… How was that distracting.”

Ness mumbled something unintelligable into Yoichi’s hair and buried his face into the crook of his neck. He knew he had trailed off in his narration but that was because Yoichi was just too pretty. Once more, Ness was reminded that Yoichi had such otherwordly beauty that no one could compare to. If he thought Kaiser was beautiful then Yoichi trumped even that. If Kaiser was the sun then Yoichi were the stars.

“You’re so silly, Alexis.” Yoichi snickered and hugged him even tighter. Ness barely had any strength to complain, melting into his hold like ice cream against the cone on a sunny day. 

“Never leave me, Yoichi.”

“Never, Alexis.” Yoichi promised and Ness knew he was a liar.

Yoichi was a liar because months into playing with Kaiser and their last talk, Ness hadn’t seen Yoichi at all. At first, he brushed it off as Yoichi’s disappearing spells. The few weeks where he wouldn’t even show up at all because he needed to recharge his energy. Then, few weeks turned into months which turned into a year and Ness felt a void in his chest. Yoichi had never been gone from his side for this long. It was horrifying — it was empty.

Not a single note, a single peep or even a glance. For hours, Ness stood in front of the mirror as he waited and called and hoped that maybe — just maybe Yoichi would answer again. When he did so, all he was awarded was sleepless nights and even more restless energy. There was no way that Yoichi would just disappear like that. There was no way that he disappeared from Ness’s life like he never even existed in the first place.

The last thought made Ness’s entire world freeze over.

As the days marched on and Yoichi continued to stay away, Ness began to doubt his existence in the first place. No one else saw or spoke to Yoichi. What if everything was just his imagination? What if Ness had sunk into his delusions so deeply that he crafted a whole imaginary friend? What if he had been so desperate to believe magic was real that he had hallucinated the entire thing? What if he had made himself into a fool, creating a world of make believe and a monster to accompany him? 

Either way, Yoichi was gone. Yoichi was gone and Ness was alone again and—

“What are you doing?” Ness jolted from his thoughts, eyes zeroed into Kaiser’s figure that was reflected from the mirror. He stood behind Ness with his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Ness blinked as his thoughts slowly funneled into a comparison. Where Yoichi appeared closer in the mirror, replacing Ness’s reflection with his entire appearance, Kaiser only took up a smaller space and showed both of their reflections. Where Yoichi fell out of the mirror and into Ness’s arms, Ness watched as Kaiser moved closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. Where Yoichi was- “Hurry up, we have practice.”

Yoichi wasn’t here anymore, Ness realized with emptiness. But Kaiser was.

Ness beamed at Kaiser and stood up to follow him out to the practice field, “I was spacing out. Sorry, it won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t." Kaiser scoffed and rolled his eyes. Even if Ness was empty now that Yoichi was gone, Kaiser slowly trickled into his life and filled that empty hole that threatened to swallow him whole. 

He had no time to worry over a potentially imaginative friend that disappeared — he had football and Kaiser now. That was enough.

It should have been enough.

♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠

Ness could hardly care about what Blue Lock was and whatever competition they could bring up. It wouldn’t matter, not in the long run. Not when Kaiser existed and set his goal to be better than Noel Noa — the number one striker. No one would, or even could, dare to challenge him in that regard. Especially not when he had such a wonderful support as Bastard München and Ness. 

So, when Ness appeared inside the facility on the other side of Noa, he barely had any expectations for the participants. 

Blue Lock was a stepping stone for Kaiser which meant that it was nothing to Ness. This meant that he barely paid any mind or attention to any of the disgusting fledglings that thought they could dare stand in the same stage as Kaiser. He merely went through the drills that Noa put forth as usual, an almost bored and plastic smile on his face the entire time. 

Something like this was easy for Ness. It was almost routine. He barely glanced back to check the status of the Blue Lock fledglings considering it didn’t matter who was behind him. He only cared about who was in front of him. Who he was chasing to achieve the impossible. 

Michael Kaiser.

His only savior, his light. 

His everything.

A small pump of adrenaline rushed through him at the thought. He didn’t know how he survived without Kaiser. After all, he had the most beautiful blue eyes (it was never dark — as dark as the deepest ocean), wonderful blonde hair tipped in blue (not the mignight black of a starless sky), and a smile that screamed self confidence (no more mischief, no more fondness, no more softness, no more lo-). 

What else was there to yearn for? 

Ness would follow Kaiser to the ends of the Earth. It was why he even bothered to show up. Something about Blue Lock was giving Kaiser the chance to escape Bastard München and grow to be a better striker than Noel Noa. There was also that additional challenge named “Yoichi Isagi” that Kaiser had ranted about. 

When Ness had first heard the name, he shook himself back to reality. He wasn’t so sure about Japanese naming conventions but he knew that the name must’ve been pretty common. Plus, it was imposisble that this Isagi was actually (his) Yoichi. It was plain coincidence. Those things happen and Ness was sure that Yoichi was just an imaginary friend he had come up with to keep himself motivated and going. There was no such thing as magic that defied the laws of physics. 

There was just the magic that Kaiser and Ness created on the field.

So, Ness completely froze when he turned to give the Blue Lockers the required translator earbuds (at the behest of Noa) and he met deep (abyss-like) blue eyes. For the briefest moment, they were locked into a stare-off and Ness forgot to breathe. 

He wasn’t real, he wasn’t real. They were clearly different. There’s no wings, no smirk, no horns. He wasn’t real, he wasn’t real. He was a figment of his imagination. He left. He never existed in the first place. This was a coincidence. There was no way that this was the same person — being — monster. There was no way, no way, no way, no way, no way, nO WAY, NO WAY.

Ness snapped out of his internal spiral when a hand landed roughly on his shoulder and he almost jumped. He glanced to the side and saw Kaiser with narrowed eyes directed at him.

“Alexis?”

Ness wanted to claw the skin off his arms and face at the name. It felt wrong all of a sudden. So, so wrong. There was a lack of warmth, no fondness — nothing. It was just a name to Kaiser. Just something used to call Ness for his attention and forced him to listen. It was far from the term of endearment — far from the spell that Yoichi used to say it as. It was now glaringly obvious, especially since Yoichi (because who else could that be) was practically staring holes at Kaiser.

“It’s nothing.” Ness responded and put on his fakest smile and bounded forward like he hadn’t just stopped and spiralled into an almost breakdown just a second ago. He continued his explanation about the translation earbuds while he distributed them to the rest of the Blue Lockers. He avoided looking into those abyss-like eyes and instead turned his back on the Yoichi look-alike. 

He was here in Blue Lock with Kaiser. Nothing about the Project should interest or intrigue him. He was here for Kaiser and with Kaiser. Nothing more, nothing less. 

He repeated the useless mantra in his head multiple times throughout the training. Ness even went along with taunting Yoichi (Isagi, he needed to remind himself, this one and Yoichi are different, they would always be different) alongside Kaiser. Even with all that, Ness was too acutely aware of Isagi (Yoichi) staring at him during the entirety of it. It was as if he wanted to get his attention. As if he was begging for it.

Ness ignored it all. 

It was fine. He had his own magic and Kaiser’s as well. Whatever childhood fantasy Yoichi was, it was gone now. He was probably just seeing things. His brain filled in the blanks and connected an old childhood (memory) imagination to reality because of how attached he used to be to Yoichi. He thought he had let Yoichi go in the duration he had stayed in Bastard München and became Kaiser’s close friend. 

Maybe he was wrong, since the ghost of his childhood came haunting him now in the shadow of Kaiser’s current interest. 

Ness let it simmer for two days before he finally snapped. He caught Yoichi (Isagi) staring at him after practice, in the locker rooms, blatantly. His gaze scraped against Ness’s skin like a cat’s claws and he couldn’t take it anymore. With a thunderous scowl, he snapped towards Isagi (Yoichi), grabbed his wrist, and dragged him towards his room. There, he slammed Yoichi against the wall and towered over him with a deadly glare.

“Shitty Yoichi, what the fuck do you want?” Ness hissed and ignored the feeling of wrong, wrong, wrong becuase he never snapped at Yoichi. He was always so patient with him, always so indulgent to the normally naughty and immortal demo-no, he was human.

“Alexis…“ If magic were real, Ness would liken Yoichi’s voice to a siren’s call. Irresistible and dangerous. If magic were real, Ness was sure that Yoichi had just unlocked years upon years of memories. Memories of days spent in each other's arms, memories of laughter and witty banter and magic. If magic were real…

“Who the fuck said you could call me that, trash?” His chest tightened and his gaze moved from Yoichi’s face to his eyes and then finally to the side. He couldn’t bear to look at those (familiar) eyes and say such cruel and cutting words. What usually came naturally to Ness felt like pulling teeth when he was doing it to Yoichi. It was odd, it was unnatural. 

“Did you...” Yoichi paused before he huffed and crossed his arms. He frowned up at Ness and he resisted the  familiar urge to flick the frown away from Yoichi’s face. He shouldn’t have been familiar with Yoichi in the first place. This wasn’t (his) Yoichi. This was Isagi Yoichi, the dearest heart of Blue Lock and Kaiser’s current stepping stone to be the best striker. “Did you forget me?”

“What are you-” Ness’s incredulous laugh cut itself off when the shadows swallowed Yoichi and melted off him just as quickly. This time, it wasn’t Isagi Yoichi but Yoichi that stood before him. Beautiful midnight black horns peeked out of his slightly ruffled hair, equally black lipstick stained smirking lips and two sharp fangs pressed against Yoichi’s lower lips. Ness’s eyes flickered down and Yoichi’s bat wings spread around them both, shielding them in an almost hug like hold, and his thin tail curled around the arm that Ness used to press Yoichi against the wall. 

“Do you remember me now?” The smile and purr that came from Yoichi were downright sinful — further punctuated by him crowding into Ness’s space and snaking his arm around Ness’s neck. Ness swallowed when Yoichi tugged him lower, his eyes glittered like they always did before and Ness found himself drowning in them all over again. 

“That-” Ness let out a strangled sound, his arm lost all strength and fell to his side. When faced with Yoichi’s overwhelming beauty once more, Ness felt his chest tighten and his face flush. Ness, distantly, remembered some saying that went “distance makes the heart grow fonder”. He had scoffed at the idea as he always hated being alone. 

Now, however, he was faced with the cold hard truth. That no matter how hard he had buried everything over the years — no matter how much he claimed to hate and forget Yoichi for what he did — he never quite let him go. He might have stopped standing in front of mirrors for hours as he waited for Yoichi to appear again but he always found his gaze drifting to mirrors anyway. He might have pushed every memory and thought of Yoichi to the back of his mind but he always seemed to compare him with Kaiser, albeit unconsciously. He might have dedicated his entire mind and body to football but his heart stayed in the same place as it had years ago — right in Yoichi’s hands. 

“Alexis…“ Yoichi whined and pulled him closer. The action alone had Ness choking on air as he steadied himself. If he wasn’t careful, his legs would give out and he’d fall right into Yoichi’s arms. If that happened, he wasn’t quite sure he wanted to leave or let go. Not again. “Did you really forget me?”

“No. I would never.” Ness spoke before he even processed the words that left his mouth. He blinked and sucked in a deep breath. This was dangerous territory. He wanted to be mad at Yoichi. He was mad at Yoichi. How dare he leave me for years and show up like this, Ness thought. Then, the thought flew right out his brain when it did a factory reset the second he looked at Yoichi’s pouting face. He was playing a balancing game on a tightrope and he was failing. “You. You were gone. You left me.”

“No, silly.” Yoichi closed his eyes and leaned close, “You left me.”

“That’s fucking bullshit.” Ness never spoke this way to Yoichi but it just came out. He felt Yoichi tighten his hold around his neck and his eyes narrowed dangerously up at Ness. He recognized that glint in Yoichi’s eyes — it was the same one that showed up whenever Yoichi was about to do something stupid. So, before he could even think about what kind of plan Yoichi had in mind, Ness continued, “I stayed in front of mirrors for hours, Yoichi. Yo-chan. I was waiting for you.”

“You liked that blonde more than me.” Yoichi pulled Ness down even closer, lips pulled into a pout as he looked deep into Ness’s eyes — into his soul. He shivered at how deep and dark Yoichi’s eyes were. How much they reminded him of how different they truly were.

“I didn’t.” Ness protested weakly. Even the excuse sounded weak to his own ears. He would admit that he had focused a lot on Kaiser, especially since the other teen demanded a lot from him. He would even admit that the last time he and Yoichi spoke, all he spoke about was Kaiser, Kaiser, Kaiser. But that hadn’t warranted Yoichi disappearing on him for years. “Even if I did, you didn’t have to- you shouldn’t have left.”

“Who said I left?” Yoichi huffed and slowly pulled away. In the slightest panic, Ness reached out and wrapped his arms around Yoichi’s waist, keeping him in place. Yoichi blinked and let out his bright and twinkling laugh. The same laugh that Ness yearned to hear again for years. The laugh that he had thought was fake and an illusion and— he squeezed Yoichi’s waist and reminded himself that this was real. “Alexis, you dummy. I didn’t think you’d notice if I went away for a while since you paid so much attention to that Kaiser idiot.”

Ness refrained from correcting Yoichi about Kaiser. Even when slight indignation rose at the insult to his friend, the fondness and care he felt for Yoichi won over. Where his affection for Kaiser was deeply rooted, even Ness knew that when it came down to it — he would choose Yoichi and Yoichi would choose him back. At least, he had thought Yoichi would choose him and yet his years of disappearance brought out that shadow of doubt that gnawed at the edges of Ness’s thoughts and memories of Yoichi.

“Either way, I never left you!” Yoichi insisted with a small pout. He even leaned into Ness’s embrace and nuzzled his cheek against Ness’s shoulder like an overgrown cat. Not even the sharp horns or the rhythmic tapping of Yoichi’s tail against his arm bothered Ness. What bothered him was how many times Yoichi repeated that he never left when Ness would argue otherwise. “I know how much you loved football and I hate making you choose. So I thought that the best way to be by your side forever was to also be part of it through football!”

“What?” Ness’s entire mouth went dry at the naive explanation. Years of longing and loneliness only for the answer to be so simple.

If Ness was attached to football, then Yoichi would only get closer by also being part of that world. Where Ness was fine with Yoichi being a whole new world where only both of them existed, it seemed Yoichi was far greedier than him. He wanted to be in both of Ness’s worlds at the same time. Ness wasn’t sure whether to be happy or mad, either way he should’ve anticipated this with how much interest Yoichi began showing football before he disappeared.

“You don’t like it when I cheat.” Yoichi sighed, as if the restriction was something too burdensome for him. Ness knew that Yoichi had all the power to easily discard Ness’s words for his own benefit and yet he still held onto them. It was both sweet and cute, coming from an all powerful and normally sadistic demon. “I started from the bottom and I’m working my way to the top so I can stay by your side. If I can’t beat Kaiser fair and square, you won’t want me by your side, right?”

Ness swallowed and before he could overthink things, he pulled Yoichi closer and buried his face against his neck. He breathed in Yoichi’s scent and everything, his hold tightened even more as he reminded himself that Yoichi wasn’t going to leave now. Not when Ness finally had him back. Kaiser can stay in the back burned for a little while longer. “You didn’t have to leave, Yoichi. You were always mine — always by my side.”

“Ah…“ Yoichi’s tail slowly unwrapped from his arm only to wrap around Ness’s waist. His wings stretched and covered them both, pulling them closer together. “Are you mad at me, Alexis?”

“No. Maybe.” Ness paused and breathed out against Yoichi’s skin. “Yes.”

“Sorry.” Yoichi ran his fingers through Ness’s hair and he wondered when exactly did the roles switch. It was always Ness running his hands through Yoichi’s hair before. It was always Ness that held Yoichi close in his arms while the other nuzzed into him. “How can I make it up to you, Alexis?”

“Don’t leave.” Ness lifted his head up minutely, enough that he caught sight of his bed and a plan formed in his mind. He’ll deal with the fact that Yoichi was now well known and under the scrutiny of the entire football world later. Now, Yoichi was just Yoichi and he was back in Ness’s arms, just like he was supposed to be. “Never leave, again. You’re mine.”

“I was always yours, dummy.” Yoichi laughed and as if he read his mind (which Ness was sure he did), he lifted them both up from the floor with a single flap of his wings. In a blink of an eye, Ness and Yoichi were tangled in each other’s limbs on his bed. “Pick something else. I can’t make up years of being gone from you by doing something I would’ve done already.”

Ness pulled away from the hold, hovering over Yoichi’s sprawled form on his bed. He had yet to return to simple, old Isagi Yoichi but Ness found he much preferred this sight. Bat wings spread out like bed sheets, his tail lazily thumping random rhythms against the mattress and the honestly sinful black lipstick that stained Yoichi’s lips made for a beautiful masterpiece under Ness. 

He considered Yoichi’s request and his eyes trailed from his eyes down to his lips. For the longest time, their relationship had always been a vague kind of title and understanding between them. Ness was Yoichi’s and Yoichi was Ness’s. That was all there was to it. From being each other’s first friend to whatever kind of label they had now, Ness always felt like it wasn’t enough. 

He always felt like something was missing.

He knew that he liked Yoichi, far more than he liked anyone else — even Kaiser. He liked him even before he liked football and football had become Ness’s entire life at this point. He liked — no, Ness had to stop lying to himself now — rather, he loved Yoichi. He loved Yoichi so much and he knew he couldn’t settle for less. He couldn’t go back to their innocent touches and cuddling sessions without his chest tightening with need and desire. 

Ness recalled the way Kaiser had gripped Yoichi’s chin in between his fingers and dragged him close. He recalled the slow bubbling need to snatch that hand away. At the time, he had chalked it up to being annoyed that Kaiser was focusing on someone else — some useless nobody. Now, he could say that it was because he hated how close they were. How he wanted to be in Kaiser’s place.

He had that chance now.

“Yo-chan…“ Ness muttered and he watched as Yoichi’s gaze focused on him. Only on him, as it should be. He wasn’t all too sure how Yoichi would react to a new change of their relationship but if Ness wouldn’t do it now, he couldn’t do it any other time. Ness lost Yoichi once, he won’t see that happen again. So, Ness reached out and brushed his fingers along Yoichi’s jaw before gripping his chin and tilting his head upwards slightly. Yoichi blinked at him, but made no move to go against Ness. Rather, he just smiled up at him, eyes crinkling in the way that Ness loved. “I might forgive you if you let me kiss you.”

Yoichi’s smile turned into a grin and he fluttered his lashes, “Just one?”

Ness took that as his signal to press his lips against Yoichi’s own, finally able to taste them like he’d always dreamed. He pressed close, soft and passionate, and was thrilled when Yoichi responded in kind. Yoichi’s arms wrapped around Ness’s neck and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. Ness hummed and bit down on the black stained lips, finally claiming them as his. 

“Alexis…“ Yoichi breathed out when they pulled apart, eyes sparkling as he licked his lips. Ness’s gaze was drawn back to them and he focused even more when Yoichi bit on his bottom lip. “You only said you might forgive me if I kissed you.”

“Yes.” Ness considered his next words and smiled. If Yoichi can be a sly smartass about everything else, he’ll make use of this opening he gave Ness. “I’ll just have to kiss you again and again. For how many hours I’ve spent waiting for you.”

Yoichi laughed, twinkling and enchanting, then he pulled Ness closer, “Just kisses?”

“Who said we’ll just stop there?” Ness cupped Yoichi’s cheek in his head. He watched, mesmerized, as he nuzzled into his touch. He chuckled and pressed their foreheads together, “We have so much missed time to catch up to, Yo-chan.”

Yoichi’s tail wrapped around Ness’s waist at the same time one of his legs hooked around Ness, "We have the whole night…“

“Then, let’s not waste any more time.” Ness leaned back in and captured Yoichi’s lips again.

His hands wrapped around Yoichi, never leaving a single part of his skin untouched. He wanted to memorize his entire being and imprint every single crevice and curve into his memory. It seemed that Yoichi had the same idea with the way his hands traveled all over him and his tail tightened it’s grip on him. Ness pulled back and licked his lips, his hands and fingers brushing against Yoichi’s outstretched wings. He drunk in the sight of Yoichi shivering under his touch and relished over the fact that it was him that made Yoichi feel this way. No one else, just him. 

“Stop thinking so loud.” Yoichi muttered, reaching up and pulling Ness down. Rather than capturing his lips, Yoichi pressed kisses along his jaw and neck. He buried his face against Ness’s skin and his breath hitched at the contact. “Just pay attention to me, Alexis.”

“Get out my head.” It was lighthearted, a tease almost, as Ness ran his hands and memorized the feeling of Yoichi’s wings. He had always wondered how they’d feel like but Ness had always been too shy — too careful. He hadn’t wanted to scare Yoichi away, that time. 

“Never.” Yoichi promised into the skin of his neck and Ness shivered. He could feel the light brush of Yoichi’s fang against his skin. That and the way his tongue dragged along the surface made Ness lose his mind. 

“You’re mine, Yoichi.” Ness breathed out as he pressed kisses along the nape of Yoichi’s neck as well. Then, he whispered a promise against heated skin, “So, let me take over your mind as well.” 

Yoichi threw his head back in laughter, giving Ness more room and extra access to press kisses and bites along the curve of his throat. He felt Yoichi’s fingers dig into his hair, nails pressing against his scalp in a way that was remniscent to how Ness used to do to him in the past. 

“You always have, Alexis.” Nails dragged down and pressed against his nape, all the while Yoichi hooked both of his legs around his waist and pulled him closer. “If I’m yours, then you’re mine. Let’s make it official, hm?”

Ness had already felt need and desire for Yoichi even before this. Yet, the desire that shot through him after that declaration multiple ten fold, rather it multiplied a hundred fold. If magic was a drug — if Yoichi was a drug, then Ness was an addict because he wanted more. He craved more and nothing, not even whatever higher power that Yoichi had, would stop this kind of drive. His grip on Yoichi tightened and he pulled back just to look Yoichi in the eyes.

“Mark your words.”

If Ness and Yoichi spent the entire night reacquainting themselves with each other’s bodies — in a far more intimate manner this time, that was a secret kept behind closed doors. 

“You’re cuter like this.” Ness muttered into the skin of Yoichi’s neck as he held him close. Yoichi merely laughed and tilted his head to look at Ness. 

“I had to hide my wings just so we could cuddle like this, Alexis.” Yoichi pointed out and Ness let out a sound of acknowledgement. Then, Yoichi rolled his eyes, “Plus, it’s not like I’m any different.”

“Your horns and tail make you cute.” Ness sighed and traced circles around Yoichi’s hip with his thumb.

He hated the fact that in a few hours, they would have to either go back to their previous dynamic or confuse everyone at their sudden closeness. Plus, Yoichi had been incredibly insistent on doing it the normal “human” way to get to the top so he could deserve the spot by Ness’s side. Even when Ness had assured that Yoichi could be utter shit at the game because he’d still pass to him anyway, he had been stubborn about it as he usually was. 

“And my lips and fangs, hm?” Yoichi teased as he turned around and wrapped his arms around Ness’s chest. Ness snorted and flicked Yoichi’s forehead lightly.

“Stop reading my mind.” 

“I will if you let me play like a human.” Yoichi shot back easily and Ness realized that he only grew cheekier even when they were apart. He snorted and shook his head fondly. 

“You’re so stubborn.” Ness pressed them close, his hand trailed down and pressed against Yoichi’s lower back. He pressed a small kiss on Yoichi’s forehead and chuckled. “But that’s part of your charm, I think.”

“You think?” Yoichi’s tail swished back and forth even when he snorted incredulously. 

“Yes, I think.” Ness rolled his eyes and pressed more kisses around Yoichi’s face while the other giggled and laughed. Then, he pressed one last soft kiss to his lips and muttered, “Or else I wouldn’t have fallen for you.”

“You fell for my smile.” Yoichi muttered back.

“Maybe, maybe I fell for your stubborness more.” 

“That doesn’t make sense.”

Ness chuckled and kissed Yoichi once more to shut him up. It did the trick as Yoichi melted into the kiss and pressed back easily. The next day couldn’t come any later as Ness wished they could stay in this position forever. After all, his two worlds were finally one and he had his dear guardian demon back in his arms.

The world might have their eyes on Isagi Yoichi, the Heart of Blue Lock, but Alexis Ness had Yoichi’s heart in his hands and vice versa. 

So, they could keep watching because that’s all they’ll ever achieve with Yoichi.