Work Text:
“I love you. I really do.”
———
“Rui it’s time to wake up!”
Tsukasa flicks open the duvets and opens the curtains, revealing the piercing glow.
The purple bug slithers before sitting up and looking around the room with half opened eyes.
“Rui- Rui! Don’t fall back-“
And with that, the purple bug falls back to the bed with a soft smile on his face.
———
With some sort of effort and kisses as bribing, Tsukasa finally dragged Rui out of his bed to start the day.
“So I have a new movie shooting today and you have a directors meeting, I remember I have to meet up Nene to talk about a new song I want to play, and you…”
Listening to Tsukasa’s long speech, Rui munches on his morning toast while his ears automatically block out every word he says.
Staring into his eyes, Rui always finds something special. This time, it’s that Tsukasa’s eyes have a tint of pink in them when the sun shines in a certain direction.
“And you ha- Rui are you listening?”
Tsukasa leans close with suspicious eyes with his hands on his hips, a slight pout on his face.
“Uh…”
Not thinking much, Rui closed the distance between with, softly landing his lips on his. Sleepy minds.
“Rui-“
Rui pulled away slowly, with a proud grin spread across his face, crumbs from his toast still scattered on the corner of his lips.
The blonde paused a little before going back to his itinerary, determined to finish.
“As I was saying, Rui look in my eyes and tell me you’re listening-“
———
“I think that’s that for today, I’ll ask Toya about some advice on the last chorus…”
Tsukasa stacks his books and notes together as he finishes the last checks with Nene.
Nene was now a famous singer, although she hasn’t released a lot of songs, she’s well respected by many people and has garnered a number of fans with her genuine music.
Tsukasa was still eager to make music, but he focused more on his acting work. The two often meet up to discuss musical work and find comfort in catching up.
“So… how’s Rui?”
“Well, he got a new directing job and found a few other things up his sleeve. Made a new robot to sell, if I’m not mistaken.”
Tsukasa says calmly as he leans back on his chair, sipping on his long cold coffee.
The cafe had a soft tint of wood scent, with the bell ringing every once in a while, signalling new customers.
Nene cupped her chocolate while she looks around, finally landing her eyes on a calendar lying in the cafe.
“It’s… it’s been 4 years hasn’t it.”
The words trail off, leaving an unknown emptiness.
Tsukasa has long forgotten when was the last time he saw “Wonderland X Showtime” on top of a project folder.
Nene turns to Tsukasa with a soft smile before glancing at her watch.
“It’s 7pm. You going? I have a recording sometime later.”
“Oh- my bad.”
Tsukasa quickly gathered his notes and finished his coffee, stuffing his belongings in a huge bag.
Slowly, they walked out the cafe chatting random small topics.
“I’ll be leaving then. See you next time.”
Nene smiles before waving and leaving without much thought, disappearing into the loud crowd during dinner period.
Tsukasa stares at the crowd as Nene could no longer be seen before he looks up into the sky and sighs,
It’s been four years.
He sighs again before checking his belongings and opening his phone to check his messages.
(I’ll be home soon :3)
Chuckling, Tsukasa huffs and walks to the towards the supermarket, opening his shipping list.
“We need some more pasta…”
———
“This movie is boring…”
Rui mumbles as he leans his head on top of Tsukasa. He hands wrapped around Tsukasa’s waist as the blonde sits between his legs.
“I think- it’s just slow paced.”
Tsukasa shrugs as he hummed his opinion, comfortably leaning into Rui’s embrace.
The heater was on, the blanket wrapping then was extra thick, the matching PJs they were wearing were cashmere, if anything, they should be sweating.
But this doesn’t change the fact that they want to touch each other. To be in each other’s arms.
“Rui?”
“Yes darling?”
The silent was overwhelming, with the movie merely being a background noise.
“It’s been four years, since we um- graduated.”
“Mmhm.”
Rui nods as he rests on the blonde’s head, stealing a few more kisses and hugging him even tighter.
“Do you miss it?”
“Miss what?”
“Wonderland X Showtime.”
Rui pauses before sniffing and looking around, trying to act calm. His hands fluttered around Tsukasa waist as his head slowly rose from its position.
With that, Tsukasa could finally turn to Rui to see his expressions. Despite the darkness and only the light source being the movie, the closeness makes up for it.
“I do. I do miss it. Being- being the purple director.”
“Mm. I know. I know.”
Tsukasa turns back to the screen with small nods, not daring to continue to look at his lover.
He might cry.
Or maybe he is already.
He thinks about it. Times in high school.
How he goofs around and tries to minimise all the damage Rui does. Or how he needs to hide Emu every time she comes without an explanation. And when his lower class men run to him with the best news.
And when he leaves school and walks to Phoenix Wonderland instinctively. Where he holds the same script until it crumbles, where the same creek falls on lines he struggles, where tears fall when he fails at certain interpretations.
He still wonders what Emu is doing. Being the president of a theme park.
Not like they don’t talk anymore, but Tsukasa gets so used to her bubbly personality that he can’t bring himself to see Emu on the screen when she needs to address new ideas and content. The strict tux just doesn’t suit her, he thinks.
“Have you thought of going back? To- to Miku and them.”
“To Wonderland X Showtime?”
Rui whispers. He bites on his lips, controlling the tears that welled up in his eyes, threatening to roll down any moment.
Tsukasa opens his chat box, scrolling for some time before finally landing on the WxS chat box, his fingers hovering over the last message.
It was merely just a picture of the four in a restaurant, celebrating their last show together, with Tsukasa raising his huge cup of Coke and the other three joining along.
“I remember thinking that extra size-up Coke was expensive…”
Finally letting a chuckle to ease tension, Rui ruffles his lovers hair as he tries to stifle his tears.
“We can go again… if you want…”
Rui slowly mumbles as he traces slow circles on his lovers waist, cooeing sweet nothings.
“We can’t um- it closed service a few months ago.”
The tracing paused before slowly continuing, the air stiffening again.
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
Tsukasa looked down, fumbling his fingers. Rui quickly noted the uneasy atmosphere, wrapping his hands around the blondes.
“Let’s- let’s meet up one day okay? I’ll make some time. Like a- Wonderland X Showtime meetup.”
When was it when the name felt so… unfamiliar?
Rui quickly typed in his phone a few dates for Tsukasa to choose from, and Tsukasa nervously typed in the chat room that has stopped its clock four years ago.
(Is anyone free on XX/X? I got some coupons for that new restaurant.)
When was it that someone had to find an excuse to even eat a meal together?
Tsukasa hit send, his stomach dropping as the cartoon showed no reply.
But it wasn’t for long.
( I’m free that day, I’ll be a little late because of the new recording, but I’ll try my best. )
(I’m fine too! ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡ Anything for this! )
The chatroom quickly filled with chatter and silly stickers, as if the four empty years were nothing, as if the last messages weren’t the four still in school uniform, raising their cups at the unknown future.
Tsukasa stares into the chat room, the notifications never stopping.
Rui smiles as he actively replies to Emu’s rant about executives while Nene spams chat with weird meme pics
“I love you. I really do.”
Rui turns Tsukasa’s cheek towards him, landing a small kiss. They both knew that Tsukasa already had tears rolling down his face, but Rui found himself unable to hold himself back at the vulnerability.
“I-“
The blonde finally sighs out of relief, giving a smile.
“I missed this.”
“Me too.”