Archive of Our Own

Nanase Riku has not seen his brother in over a decade.

The last memory he has of his older twin is huddling together in his bedroom corner, dreading the moment they had to part. In contrast, Tenn’s expression had been flat. Unimpressed. As if they weren’t about to be separated for years to come. Maybe forever. And yet his grip on Riku’s hand had been tight enough to hurt.

Riku doesn’t know what he’d expected of his present-day older twin. He remembered him being the perfect older brother. Kind, patient, gentle. He was the one who stayed by Riku’s side the most when he needed comfort and when his childhood illness flared up until he couldn't leave his bed.

Riku loves him deeply. Misses him so painfully, his heart aches. But how much have things changed?

The abandoned, old building Riku is waiting in looks like it could collapse at any moment’s notice. The ruined room, which looks to be a former living room, smells of mold, dirt, and rotting wood. No one’s been here in years or maybe even decades, Riku can tell. The outside doesn’t fare any better, overgrown with weeds, vines, and wild grass that's grown up to his waist.

In other words, it's the perfect place.

Now, Nanase Riku will admit that over the years, he's come up with some dumb ideas. Dumb and reckless ideas that make his friend, Iori, sigh loudly. There's a reason he's not the brains of any operations. And yes, his current idea is ridiculously stupid, too; he sees that. If anyone back home knew, they would've tried to stop him. It's dangerous, they would say. It won't work. All things he's heard before. But this isn't something he can give up on, no matter how dangerous. Which is why he didn't tell anyone. He's in for a nagging once he's back home, but that's Future Nanase Riku’s problem.

His heart speeds up at the sound of the grass outside swishing and the slow steps of someone approaching. A cool breeze blows through the many holes in the walls, making him shiver despite his thick clothes.

His entrance is quiet, with only the quiet wind and the swishing of fabric making his presence known. Before Riku even realizes, he's already there, standing under the crooked doorway silently, just as the wind stops.

His brother.

Nanase—

No.

Kujo Tenn stares at Riku with a blank expression, his lips set into a flat line. Half of his face is hidden under a dark green hood, strands of light hair peeking from underneath, while his simple cloak hides most of his figure. The moment his hand slips out to push the hood back from his face is when Riku manages to breathe properly once more.

Seeing Tenn makes him want to cry.

It's been so long.

“Tenn-nii,” Riku starts after a long while. His voice comes out breathless and almost too hopeful, but he can’t find it in him to care right now. “You’re here…”

Tenn doesn't reply. He looks straight at Riku steadily, almost scrutinizingly, as if trying to gauge his entirety. His reasons, his goals, his intentions. Everything. Riku swallows at the feeling, noting the lack of brightness in his brother’s eyes.

How much has he changed?

“Did you…Did you get my message?”

“I did,” Tenn says, his voice as quiet as his presence.

A part of Riku’s heart cracks. His brother isn’t supposed to be like this. He was gentle, yes, but always full of life. He was energetic and charming while singing and dancing beautifully, brightening up everything and everyone around him. It used to make Riku feel both jealous and ecstatic, but in the end, he wished, more than anything, for his brother to keep being that happy and alive.

Yet it seemed no one granted his wish.

Tenn had been taken away, and Riku was left alone with his illness for the rest of his childhood. He’d never been able to forgive their parents for letting it happen, and their relationship only continued to deteriorate with each passing year. They were long gone now, but Riku wasn’t alone anymore. He has his friends back home, and now, there’s a chance he might get his brother back.

A chance to rescue him from the terrible monster who held him prisoner.

But he should’ve known things are never easy.

Not in this world.

“You shouldn’t have sent it,” Tenn says coldly. “It was foolish of you.”

“I-I know,” he stammers out, taking a few steps closer. “Tenn-nii, it’ll be okay. Please, I know a safe place we can run to. I can rescue you!”

“Rescue me?” Tenn lets out a bitter laugh. “You think you can stand up to him and then run away with me?”

“No, but we can!” Riku rushes to rummage through his bag until he can pull out a metal badge shaped like the sun. An insignia. “L-Look, see! I’m part of the Order. This is our job. To stand up to that monster.”

For just one moment, he sees something flicker in Tenn’s expression. Some of the coldness is thawing, giving way to just the smallest hint of doubt. It’s gone too quickly, but it’s enough. It pushes Riku forward until he can grasp Tenn’s hand, considering it a miracle that he’s not being pushed away. He shivers as he presses the badge into the older twin’s palm.

“Please. I promise. We’ll free you from him.” Riku whispers, his body shaking. “Trust me.”

They both fall quiet, and time stills between them for a long while. Riku's mind flashes with countless possibilities.

He's rejecting me.

He's never going to come back.

I put everyone else in danger. We're going to—

Then, almost imperceptibly, Riku feels Tenn’s fingers lingering on the back of his hand. It’s not a hold, just a feather-like brush that almost feels like nothing. But it reassures him and makes him breathe easier than before. Too quickly, Tenn grabs Riku’s hand to pull it away. He barely manages to hear Tenn letting out a shaky exhale before he’s taking a few steps back until the distance between them returns, wider than before.

“Riku,” Tenn says, his name coming out of his lips for the first time. “I’m going to pretend this never happened.”

All at once, all the air leaves Riku’s lungs, and he feels something sharply painful catching in his chest. “W-What…?”

“Leave now. He’ll kill both of us if he finds us here.”

“Wait! Tenn-nii, what—”

But it ends right there. Tenn’s hand glows a soft gold, and before Riku can react or shout, he feels himself being pulled away with the magic. One moment he’s standing in front of his brother, and the next he’s already gone like he was never there in the first place.

Kujo Tenn is left behind with nothing but the quietness. He stares at the spot where Riku stood, then glances at the metal in his hand.

“The Order…” He runs a thumb across the cold badge before stuffing it into the pocket of his robes. He sighs. “Well. Maybe not both of us.”

In any case.

It’s time to go home.

The Order of the Sun is a pesky piece of shit. Or so Isumi Haruka likes to say. The prince of monsters seems to really hate the Order, often grumbling about their code of morals like it were an inconvenience. It’s not the only group to have ever defied him—nor will it be the last—but it is the one he hates the most. Currently. It’s the one he rants about the most, anyway.

In Kujo Tenn’s opinion, though, they’re more annoying than anything else. He can’t completely hate the group his own brother is in, no matter how much Haruka tries to convince him otherwise, that petty prince.

At the very least, the Order of the Sun has a pretty comfortable dungeon.

It’s more guest room than a dungeon, to be honest. They put him in a small, locked room with a bed, a desk, and a small, connected bathroom. Like he’s one of their guests and not their prisoner—he can see Riku’s influence in this decision. There’s even a window next to the bed, which he’s been looking through for the entire afternoon. There’s not much to see, but it’s the most interesting thing in his room right now.

The Order’s headquarters is located on the outskirts of the capital. From what he’s seen when they brought him in, it’s a medium-sized manor with three main buildings. The one he’s in right now is the east building with the window overlooking the stretch of forest that surrounds the grounds. A nice view, if not a little boring. And if he had to guess, then he would say the members of the Order are probably in the central building right now, discussing what to do with him.

Tenn hums under his breath, fiddling with the green jeweled necklace he keeps hidden under his tunic collar. He can’t help but envy how serene it is around the manor. Peace and quiet have never been the Sunless Land’s—his home—forte between the groans and moans of Haruka’s little pets and the prince’s own presence. Loud perfectly describes the atmosphere. He's never minded the noise before—in fact, sometimes it even soothes him in a way—but it really is nice to get away from it sometimes.

Speaking of Haruka.

Tenn becomes hyper-aware of how cold the jewel feels against his collarbone. He can imagine his prince’s eyes flashing with anger and displeasure when he learns of Tenn’s whereabouts. Not that he asked to be captured, but his prince’s patience has always been thin and his temper short. It’s a wonder why he keeps mostly monstrous, animalistic beasts that obey his every command without question or disobedience.

Except for Tenn. The only human being the prince could talk to with actual words. Why does Haruka keep him around when he despises people? Tenn’s guess is as good as anybody’s. He's known Haruka for over a decade, and he still can’t understand everything about the prince as a person.

The door to his ‘dungeon’ room is unlocked with a click and then opened. From the other side, two members of the Order appear: a very tall man with brown hair and a shorter one with dark hair. Tenn is silent as they come inside. The brown-haired man’s expression is open and friendly, but it’s almost too placating, like he’s staring at a ticking time bomb he needs to soothe. Meanwhile, the shorter man lingers by the now closed door, a cold look in his gray eyes. It appears they disagreed on how they should treat him.

“Hello. Apologies you had to wait long,” the man starts, his tone warm and welcoming. “You’re Kujo Tenn, right?”

Tenn hesitates in saying anything. He’s quite sure that his current reputation precedes him at this point with everything he’s been doing with Haruka. It doesn’t really matter if he says yes or no; they already know who he is. Maybe they're simply being polite, but he can’t help but find it suspicious.

You shouldn’t trust people that easily, angel. He shivers when he remembers that particular memory. Of Haruka’s lips brushing against his ear, his whisper low, while his arms wrap loosely around Tenn’s waist just to keep him close. People are only nice when they want something. Then the prince had let go, spinning on his feet with that mischievous, confident smile of his.

“Tsunashi-san,” the younger man speaks up before Tenn can answer. He’s rigid, standing up straight, while looking down at Tenn with heavy distrust. One of his hands is resting on his waist near where his sword hangs, unafraid to use it when needed. “We all know it’s him. We shouldn’t waste time.”

“I’m simply being polite,” the man says. “It’s okay, Iori-kun. You know the rumors. We’re just here to talk.”

Iori doesn’t seem pleased with that, his cold expression unwavering still. He stares at his fellow member with a contemplative look and glances at Tenn one more time before he lets out a deep sigh and shakes his head. “I don’t like it, but I trust you.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll leave you to it then,” Iori says. “I’ll go stall you-know-who. You have ten minutes.”

The man—Tsunashi—nods as Iori turns around and leaves the small room, his footsteps quiet against the floorboards.

“He seems nice,” Tenn remarks.

“One of our two youngest members,” Tsunashi explains. “He’s cautious, but he’s a good kid.”

Tenn lets out a small hum of acknowledgement. The younger man seems to be around Haruka’s age, and he wonders if they would get along if they were to meet.

Definitely not. Maybe in another life.

“And I meant it. I’m just here to talk,” the man says. “My name is Tsunashi Ryunosuke. Call me Ryuu. I’m the vice leader for the Order.”

The man holds out a hand, and Tenn stares at it for a long while. This is not quite how he imagined meeting up with the Order. He’d expected all the members to be like Iori, given Tenn’s dreadful reputation after years of being associated with the prince of monsters. He’s trying to trick you, Haruka’s voice says in his mind. And yet, something pushes Tenn to take the offered hand and shake it briefly.

“Well, if you’re not here to turn me in to the authorities or to kill me,” Tenn says with a sigh. “What is it that you want to talk about?”

"I'll get straight to the point," the man says. "We want you to join us."

Tenn is almost glad he's sitting down, or else he would've fallen over from the force of the shock that shoots through him. That…is not what he was expecting, either. "Join…you? You jest."

But Ryuu shakes his head, his expression too solemn for it to be one big joke.

"Did my brother demand this?"

"No. While he has been advocating for your innocence in all this," Godsdammit, Riku. "That's not the main reason why we want you to join us. We've been hearing rumors."

Tenn narrows his eyes, now starting to feel uncomfortable with where this conversation is heading. "Rumors?"

"Rumors about the Night forcing you to do his bidding," Ryuu explains. "And Riku already told us about your meeting together. About what you said about the possibility that the prince would kill both of you."

Tenn swallows, gripping his necklace again, the sharp edge digging into his skin.

"The Order always lends a hand to those who need it. That's one of our codes." The code Haruka despises more than anything.

"That's…" Ridiculous, he wants to say, but he can't help but wonder if that's Haruka's voice in his head or his own. "I don't—"

"Of course, we won't force you to do anything," Ryuu says, his tone growing softer. "We just want to help. But if you do join, we're going to work together to defeat him."

"And after that?" Don't fucking trust him! Why aren't you listening to me?

"After that, you'll be free."

Kujo Tenn has many opinions on his prince, Isumi Haruka.

One. He's odd. He talks to his monsters like their his children, and pets them like they're not monsters that could tear someone's head clean off. What's more baffling is that, despite their questionable nature, they seem to really love their owner, always curling up on his lap while they sleep or around his feet at dinner and bedtime.

Two. He's unpredictable. His moods are often all over the place, like a chaotic whirlwind. He could be all smiles and jokes one moment—soft kisses and low murmurs—before all of it turns into long, displeased rants, and furniture destruction the next. One of Haruka’s bedroom walls is permanently damaged from multiple ceramic vases being thrown against it in a fit of explosive anger.

Three.

Haruka's hand on his shoulder is almost painful. His cheeks are flushed, and whenever Tenn moves his lips to lightly press a kiss on the side of Haruka's neck, his grip on Tenn's shoulder would tighten as he lets out a small, sharp exhale. The prince shoots him a glare; an expression that has sent thousands of innocents running in the opposite direction, but Tenn replies with an amused smile and a slow kiss across his lips.

They didn’t use to be like this.

They met when they were twelve and thirteen. Tenn remembers Haruka sitting by his bedroom desk, scowling, as his then mentor pushed Tenn not-so-gently into the room.

He’s your companion from now on.

The bedroom had been small then, the bed pushed against the corner easily taking up half the space. It was only when Kujo Takamasa—Haruka’s mentor and the man who took Tenn from his former family—died in a mysterious accident a few months later, did Haruka took the main bedroom of the castle.

Still, even then, their relationship was…distant, more or less. Haruka didn’t seem to have any interest in him, only treating him like a stranger in the castle that he let stay. Tenn was fine with it. He didn’t have any interest in going back home to the parents who sold him, and it’s not like he could traverse through the barren and dangerous Sunless Lands and survive. The castle was cold, but it’s a roof over his head. Everything would’ve probably remained like that until the end of time.

If he hadn’t discovered the truth of the mysterious accident.

Tenn jolts when he feels pain across his lower lip. Not enough to bleed, but enough for him to pull away and stare down at Haruka. The prince licks his lips and huffs, pushing himself from the bed until they’re both sitting up. “You're not allowed to think of anything else.”

“Who says I was?”

“Hmph.”

Just then, a lump of green jumps from the floor and into Haruka's lap. The prince stares down at it for a few seconds before he places a hand against the creature's head, running his fingers through the ball of fur, his expression gentle—a rarity. Out of all the monsters he's created through his magic—a lot of them vicious with sharp teeth—this one is definitely the oldest and Haruka's favorite. It's the only the size of a small dog with green fur, a gaping mouth with blunt fangs, and small yellow spikes down its spine. The small creature has never stepped outside or joined them in battle, and if Tenn had to guess, it's because his prince likes the creature too much to put it in harm's way.

"Haruka," Tenn says after a while.

The prince hums in acknowledgment, his hands continuing to spoil his pet, who purrs and snuggles against his stomach.

"Do you…" Tenn takes a deep breath. "Do you ever think about leaving?"

Haruka's hand stops on top of the creature's head as an unreadable emotion flashes across his eyes. It shakes slightly, probably annoyed that his owner stopped petting him, before hopping off Haruka's lap and scurrying out of the room.

"Leaving?" Haruka says, turning his head slowly to look at Tenn with a blank expression. "Why would I do that?"

Is he angry? Emotionless Haruka is a version of his prince that Tenn avoids. He hates seeing the way those eyes darken and turn calculating, too similar to when he's on his destructive rampage through the continent.

"You're thinking too much," Haruka ultimately says, the blank look in his eyes dissipating. "I don't think we're allowed to leave anyway. The people will never allow that after all this time."

"Ah…that's true."

They really are the two most hated people on the continent, aren't they?

"Like I said," Tenn lets out a surprised gasp as Haruka pushes him back down on the bed, the prince lying down on top of him, head tucked under Tenn's chin. "You're thinking too much."

Tenn sighs, blushing from how close they now, and lets his fingers run through Haruka's hair, his other hand curled around the younger man's arm. He can feel mint-colored strands of hair tickling his chin, and Haruka's slowed breathing against his skin.

It's almost peaceful.

He doesn't notice Haruka's hand pulling something out of his pocket.

The rest of the Order of the Sun's building feels a lot more homey than he'd anticipated. From Ryuu's brief explanations, he knows that everyone here is as close as family; therefore, the living arrangements reflect that connection as well. The man leads Tenn into a room in the main building—a meeting room, most likely judging by the big, wide table in the center and the dozen or so chairs placed around it. The room has big windows that let lots of the sunshine in as well as a clear view of the forest and the blue sky above.

"Tenn-nii!"

There's the sound of chair legs dragging against the floor as Nanase Riku shoots up to his feet with a massive grin and tears in his eyes that have yet to fall. Next to him, the young man from earlier, Iori, shakes his head exasperatedly but doesn't comment as Riku almost runs over to his twin. Oh. This is what he meant by you-know-who.

"Oh my gods, you're really here!" Riku exclaims. His arms are open and reaching for him, but Tenn takes an involuntary step back at the sight of them. He sees the hurt in Riku's eyes and the way his steps falter for just a moment, but still his smile doesn't waver. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," he says curtly, glancing at their vice leader with a frown. He wonders if they're trying to bait him into joining by having his brother and his big, pleading eyes here.

"Tsunashi-san, is he…"

"Not yet, Iori-kun. He says he'll think about it." The man smiles at him. "Right?"

Yet, huh?

Tenn shrugs and lets himself relax a little despite the voice screaming in his mind that he's betraying his prince just by being here. Haruka would be angry at him, he thinks, if he knew Tenn wasn't making a break for it already. He would say kill everyone here—except for Riku—then return to the Sunless Lands where the prince awaits him. He doesn't belong in this place like Riku does. His home is—

He focuses his attention on his younger twin brother for a moment. It's been a while since he's seen Riku, not counting their brief meeting a few weeks ago. The last time he saw his brother was of his crying face as he begged Tenn not to go and for their parents to bring him back. It's hard to see that crying child in this proper adult, but…

He's really grown up now.

Tenn almost wants to reach out and touch his brother's face. Identical to his own except for that bright and wide smile that decorates his lips and the sparkle in his eyes. The way he moves is also so different from Tenn, jumping and skipping around while moving his arms in a lively way. A part of him is happy, and will always be happy, that his younger brother grew up this way. It was everything he'd wished for when he was a child.

"Tenn-nii, is something wrong?" Riku asks, his voice tinged with concern.

"No," he says, glancing out the window at the slightly shifting trees below. So peaceful. "Everything's fine."

"That's good, then."

Tenn freezes as the words are spoken in a whisper close to his ear. The voice does not belong to any of the Order members in the room. He sees Riku's shoulders tensing, Iori reaching for his sword, and Ryuu taking a hurried step back.

When he slowly turns his head, Tenn sees him standing so close to him while wearing that wide but blank smile. "Haruka…"

"Don't worry, I'm not really here," Haruka says, spinning in place. "A simple projection spell. Neat, isn't it?"

Iori's blade glints under the afternoon sun as he unsheathes it from the scabbard at his waist. "You're not welcome here."

"Calm down," his prince says with a roll of his eyes. "I'm not here for you. I'm here to bring my angel back home. He shouldn't have flown away so far."

Tenn sees Riku mouthing those two words. My angel. A nickname that Haruka likes to use in a teasing, joking manner rather than endearing. The realization that dawns across his face—across all their faces—is almost comical. Like they've never once considered the possibility that they're—

"You broke through our barrier," Ryuu remarks. "Did you—"

"What? That old thing?" Haruka snorts. "Why should I go through all that effort when I have a quick shortcut?"

When Haruka pulls out a piece of metal from his pocket, Riku's face pales, and Tenn realizes what it is: the metal sun badge Riku gave to him. The Order of the Sun's insignia. He hadn't even realized the badge could act as a key to enter the grounds. But more importantly. How long has Haruka held on to it? How long has he known about Tenn's meeting with his brother?

Now, even Ryuu and Iori seem uncomfortable with this revelation, and Tenn can't blame them. Haruka holds the key to their home in his hands. But then, much to everyone's surprise, the prince tosses the badge and watches as Riku fumbles around to catch it between his open palms.

"So this is your brother?" Haruka suddenly says, staring intently at Riku's face with that concerning look in his eyes. He's leaning in close. Too close. "Hmm."

This can't end well.

"Haruka."

"Alright, alright!" Haruka sighs before, thankfully, leaving his twin brother alone. "I'm not going to do anything, jeez. Don't be mad."

"Why are you here?"

"To see where you flew off to," the prince hums. "And you came here. How fun."

His prince's tone is sickly sweet, not unlike how Ryuu was talking to him earlier. But Tenn can see it after knowing Haruka for so long. He can see the undercurrent of anger, bitterness, and frustration hidden under his smile and cold eyes, waiting to lash out.

"You're staying?"

And this question makes Tenn shiver. It's not the question that makes him nervous; it's the way Haruka asks it like an ultimatum. His voice feels loud, demanding, in his ears. It should be a question with no right or wrong answer, but there is a wrong answer when it comes to Haruka.

About a million different things pass through Tenn's mind.

A part of him wants nothing more than to go back. Yes, he lives in a castle with monsters and an even more monstrous prince who doesn't value innocent lives. Tenn has never enjoyed that aspect of this life with Haruka. But it's Haruka. Haruka, who looks at him with something that's almost hope and desperation for him to take his hand and go home with him.

The other part of him looks at Nanase Riku and wonders how much he's missed.

In the end, he doesn't need to answer. Haruka takes his silence as an answer in and of itself.

"I see," he says, and the slight bitterness that manages to slip into his voice makes Tenn doubt almost everything. "Five days."

"What…?"

"I'll give you five days," the prince says. "And then I'm coming back to get you." When their eyes meet again, Tenn almost misses the way Haruka's eyes glisten and the way his next words are spoken quietly, reserved only for Tenn's ears. "You're mine. Remember that."

The Sunless Lands is exactly as it's called.

Sunless.

Haruka's bedroom, with its giant windows, opens up to the sight of the inky darkness across the starless sky. There's nothing up there, as if cursed. No better than the sight behind your eyelids when you close your eyes.

But his prince likes it, for some odd reason. Tenn often spots him sitting by the window, hand curled on top of his favorite pet while he gazes up with an indecipherable look in his eyes that feels heavy. More often than not, Tenn leaves the room whenever Haruka falls into such a mood. It feels like something he shouldn't intrude.

But not tonight.

Tonight, Haruka's eyes slowly look away from the inky sky to look at him with the same almost forlorn expression.

They have two separate rooms in the castle, with Tenn's being the second biggest, and they usually slept in their own rooms. But sometimes, Tenn gravitates to Haruka's space on nights like this. Never to chat or to discuss things, but just to stay.

"You're staying?" Haruka asks. He's sitting by the window as always, knees tucked against his chest, and his presence too quiet and frayed around the edges.

He always asks this question whenever Tenn enters his room at this hour, and Tenn's answer is always the same. "Yes."

Tenn doesn't fall asleep right away. He sits on top of the covers with a book in his lap. He's not really reading properly, just letting his eyes skim through the sentences until he feels his eyelids growing heavy. It doesn't take long for Haruka to follow. He doesn't slide under the covers either. Instead, he manages to curl himself up half across Tenn's chest, ear pressed against where his heart beats.

Haruka will never want to admit it, but Tenn can feel how fragile he is right now. How exhausted he is, like he's trying too hard to keep himself from breaking. His hands are holding Tenn close like he's trying to hold on and keep himself together by sheer force. He doesn't cry—he never does—but his eyes are bloodshot.

He wants to say I'm here, but he keeps it to himself and lets the silence of the eternal night stretch on past them. He pushes strands of Haruka's hair away from his face and brushes his lips against the prince's forehead, feeling his hold tighten.

Soon, Tenn tosses his book aside and settles down on the bed. He wraps his arms around Haruka, too, and somehow manages to maneuver the blankets to cover them both. This way, Haruka is just a little bit more hidden from the world, cool and heavy in Tenn's arms.

He falls asleep quickly, and the night continues above.

"What's that?" Haruka asks the next morning, one of his larger pets snoring across his lap. "Where did you even find the time?"

"Secret." Tenn teases, smiling at Haruka's annoyed pout. "And I have the same one in a different color, so we match. What do you think?"

Haruka stares at the jewel sitting across his palms now. The monster on his lap gets up to sniff the item before Haruka rolls his eyes and shoos it away. Slowly, the prince picks up the necklace until the pink gem glints under the torchlights.

"It's pretty," he says quietly. "You got this for me?"

"Yes. I did." Tenn takes the necklace from Haruka's hands and carefully places it around the prince's slender neck, clasping the metal at the back. "It's enchanted to show you how I feel about you. It's intact, which means nothing's changed."

"Ah," Haruka whispers, his fingers slowly coming up to touch the gem now resting above his collarbone.

Once he finishes connecting the chains, Tenn brushes his lips against the skin underneath the metal clasps, feeling Haruka shivering slightly at the brief touch. When he pulls back, he sees a blush across Haruka's pale cheeks, which makes Tenn smile even more.

"It feels strangely warm," Haruka remarks, grasping the gem. "Does this show me how deep you feel for me?"

Tenn kisses him once before connecting their foreheads, hands cupping Haruka's cheeks. "It does."

Living with the Order of the Sun—actual people—takes some getting used to.

They offered him to stay in another room during his stay, but Tenn rejected the offer, preferring to stay in his previous accommodation. It's a little cramped, but he's already gotten used to the view he had from the small window. They all looked at him weirdly for doing that, but let him be. It's not like he's causing any trouble, which is what they're probably thinking about as they let him stay.

Which leaves him mostly alone except for the occasional visit from an overexcited Riku. Not an entirely bad thing, but still. It doesn't take away from how much he's been thinking about everything.

It's been three days now, and Haruka hasn't made any more attempts to contact him. Tenn doesn't know how to feel about that. Conflicted, probably. On one hand, he's glad Haruka is giving him the space he wordlessly asked for, but on the other hand…

Sometimes he dreams of gold eyes.

They've never been apart for this long. It scares him how empty his space feels.

Which is a good thing, then, that they let him step outside into the nearby town.

Riku barged into his room earlier in the morning, grinning while excitedly inviting him to join their small patrol around the town. He's almost surprised at how much they're trusting him to go outside without running away. A part of him deeply worries about the future of the Order.

But, in any case, he's grateful for the reprieve. The fresh air he inhales as they step into town is almost relaxing enough for him to forget about his worries.

The town isn't actually that big, and it makes sense for the Order to build their headquarters here. Not as many eyes and easier to keep a low profile. Tenn knows that Haruka doesn't really care for small, niche places like this, always preferring to go big or go home.

Riku walks energetically in front of him, waving at the people and greeting them like they're his friends. They might as well be, since they waved back at him and seemed excited to pull him into various small talk. Meanwhile, Tenn is content to stay behind, keeping his hood up to conceal his face. Not that anyone would recognize him, it's better to stay safe than sorry.

"Everyone here really likes you," Tenn comments when they finally manage to find a quieter spot.

"Hmmm, I guess so. The Order always tries to connect with the people we're closest to. We might need their help, and so they know that they can come to us if they need help." Riku explains. "Plus, it helps us understand our surroundings better. Our job doesn't stop at stopping the Night. We want to help everyone live a happy, peaceful life!"

A happy, peaceful life, huh?

"Is that written in your Order of the Sun guidebook somewhere?" Tenn smiles, pulling his hood further down his face to hide it. "If so, you did a good job memorizing it."

"Oh, yeah, haha," Riku laughs, blushing. "But it's true! I believe in those words, too. Helping everyone live a happy, peaceful life. I want that so much."

You really have grown so much. Yet his smile drops as his small moment of pride over his brother's ambitions and wishes deflates when he remembers that something is currently getting in the way of his brother's dream.

"Riku, I'm sorry." Tenn mutters, stopping.

Riku's eyes widen, and he scrambles to fix it. "No! No, it's not your fault, Tenn-nii! You've been with him for over a decade. I don't blame you for being too scared to go against him."

Tenn feels a lump in his throat. Scared? No. It's not fear that's stopping me from telling them everything.

"Tenn-nii, I…" Riku continues. "You know I trust you. More than anyone. But I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want."

"Riku…"

"And it's okay! Really. I'm just happy I get to see you again." The red-haired young man smiles shakily. "If I'm allowed to ask for anything from you, then I want you to trust me, too. I want you to trust me enough to tell me what's on your mind and tell me about everything you've experienced when we were apart."

Tenn swallows, unable to look into his brother's eyes. He presses his hand over his clothes, against where his necklace is. The gem is cold, without the enchantment that Haruka's has, but the way his own heartbeat thumps under his palm—he can almost pretend it's Haruka's.

"I…" he takes a deep breath and looks up. "I'll try. I promise I'll try."

"Thank you," Riku says, relief clear across his face. It makes everything infinitely worse. He pretends not to notice his brother turning around and wiping his cheeks. "I'll, um, get us some food. Will you wait here for me?"

Tenn nods and watches as Riku almost runs away from him, blending into the crowd of people until not even a strand of his bright red hair stays in sight. He feels his body growing tense, his vision swimming, and his chest becoming heavy as he stands there, wind blowing his hair across his eyes.

Gods. How am I supposed to do this?

How—

"Please, breathe."

He feels arms wrapped around his middle—cool and familiar—squeezing tightly, and a soft voice murmuring encouragements gently in his ear until the air in his lungs stops constricting and squeezing. He sighs, holding the other person's hand that twists against the fabric of his cloak.

"None of them are here, so don't worry. Just…" An audible swallow. "Turn around and come over here, please."

When he does, he's not surprised by what he sees. In fact, he's relieved.

Haruka stands in front of him, wearing an oversized cloak that covers almost all of him. It's simple and plain, making him almost blend in with the background of the alleyway behind him instead of standing out like he usually does in his throne. His golden eyes are wide as he stares up at Tenn, a rare, desperate look in them.

The prince pulls him deeper into the alley by the hand. "Tenn…I—"

His emotions drive him forward before Haruka can finish.

Tenn pulls him closer, and closer, until he can hold Haruka by the cheeks and kiss him completely across his lips. His heart jumps when he feels Haruka sighing contentedly against his lips. He vaguely notices Haruka's back meeting the brick wall of the alley, but he's too lost in the warmth and the way Haruka is pulling him, hands gripping the sides of Tenn's shirt tightly like he's trying to keep him from leaving.

"I miss you," Haruka whispers between kisses. It's almost dizzying, how soft those words are.

"And I you," Tenn replies, running his thumb across Haruka's cheekbone before kissing him again until he runs out of air.

He wishes this moment between them could last just a little longer. He wants to keep feeling Haruka close enough to touch, wants to hear his voice, and feel his warmth at this short, almost nonexistent distance.

But their world is impatient, and it waits for no one. Especially not for them.

"Tenn-nii, where are you?" Riku's voice shouts from a distance. Any moment now, he could enter the alley and find them here together.

Reluctantly, he forces himself to pull away from Haruka's hold, already missing the closeness. But, before he can, Haruka grabs his arm so tightly it almost hurts.

"Please, stay."

The tone of Haruka's voice makes him freeze in place.

Kujo Tenn has known Isumi Haruka for over a decade. He knows almost everything about him inside out, and he knows how prideful he is. Never. Never once, during their long time together, did Tenn ever hear Haruka's voice waver this much, nor has he ever heard him plead for something before.

"I'm sorry."

Haruka exhales shakily and closes his eyes like he's just heard of his judgment. Then, Haruka reaches up, placing a hand over Tenn's that still lingers on the prince's cheek. He feels something crack inside him as Haruka leans into the touch, holding on to his hand tightly. When the prince lets go, it's only so he can wrap both his arms around Tenn's shoulders.

"The day after tomorrow," Haruka whispers into his ear. "There will be two fights. East and West. Tell them about it. Tell them that one is a distraction while the other one is the real fight they have to focus entirely on. If…If you tell them that it's the East one, then I'll come get you and we'll go home. And if you tell them it's the West…" Haruka pauses, holding him tighter. "…then I'll leave you with them. Forever."

It feels like his skin is being sliced open when Haruka lets go and pulls away. "Haruka—"

"I'll do what you want. Whatever you choose for us. I…I promise you. This isn't a trick." Haruka takes another step back, and it takes everything in Tenn to stop reaching for him. "I'll see you soon."

"Wait! I—"

He blinks.

And Haruka is gone.

"Tenn-nii, there you are!" He hears Riku running up to him. "Did something happen?"

Tenn stands there silently for a few seconds more, dazed. It almost feels like a dream that Haruka was just here in front of him, in his arms. He takes a few deep breaths and fixes up his cloak before he turns towards his brother.

"Nothing," he says. "Let's just go back."

When Isumi Haruka manages to reach the halls of his castle, he lets himself collapse onto the floor of his bedroom. His knees protest as they bump against the stone floors, a dull ache pulsing across the skin, but Haruka makes no move to fix them. The ache barely feels like anything compared to the one in his chest.

How funny. Most people would say that he didn't have a heart at all, and he likes entertaining the thought.

If he has no heart, then it wouldn't hurt like this.

Something scurries out from under his bed and makes its way towards him. Haruka runs his hand through the short fur and lifts the ball of green into his lap. "I'm sorry I left you alone, T-kun."

The only response he gets is his little monster ball letting out a ragged snort. The creature is flawed. Heavily imperfect. Its mouth can't close, the spikes across its back do nothing, and its vision is poor. His ever creation. He's made so many of them now. Stronger ones and smarter ones, but he can't let this one little imperfect creature go.

He still remembers the way his former mentor—that bastard—sighed disappointedly when the creature came to be, criticizing Haruka about his lack of focus and dimming potential. He ordered the creature to be thrown away, but Haruka managed to keep it hidden in his bedroom.

That was the first time he'd ever disobeyed his mentor's orders.

Truth be told, Haruka knew then that his mentor was already making plans to get rid of him. He regretted ever bringing Haruka in, and he wanted to start fresh. He knew that he didn't bring Tenn to be his companion. No, the older boy was his replacement. The better option, in his mentor's eyes. He must have seen endless potential in him—potential that Haruka once had until his mentor saw his supposed limit. He couldn't even wait until Haruka was gone to bring him in. He must have been so eager to teach him things he'd never once taught Haruka, show him things others could only dream of

Then Kujo Takamasa died, and it wasn't even difficult. A little potion in his nightly tea, a few forged inheritance documents, and his acquaintances were none the wiser. After all, Kujo Takamasa was an old man. Some could even say he was losing his mind after years of studying and failing to use magic. So, it's not a big surprise to hear about him falling to his death after too much to drink, was it?

"You must be very upset."

"I can't believe Kujo-san jumped off his balcony. His poor protege."

"It's so tragic. But he left everything under his name to his student to support him, how kind of him."

It was perfect. He had everything in his grasp then. He moved to the main bedroom, threw away or burned everything his mentor ever owned, gave T-kun the freedom to roam everywhere it wanted to, and studied everything Kujo never wanted to teach him—so much power to do anything he wanted to.

There was just one thing he failed to deal with.

"I know what you did, Isumi Haruka."

He can't remember what exactly went through his thoughts in that exact moment, but he remembers staring for a long time and feeling a sense of awe. So many of Kujo's supposed close friends and acquaintances came to his funeral, yet none of them suspected him or called him out—maybe because they were really stupid, or they didn't care enough to be suspicious, or they did know something but they didn't feel the need to dig deeper—but this boy, who's only a year older, stood under his bedroom doorway at midnight, and said those words to him. Haruka wasn't deluded enough to assume the other boy actually cared for Kujo. He wasn't accusing Haruka of anything, just stating a simple fact. His voice had been calm and his gaze steady.

After that, he spent days observing the other boy. And as he does so, a thought slowly forms in his mind as the days turn into weeks, then months, and then years.

Kujo Tenn. 

He wondered what would happen if he could have Tenn for himself. Keep him here in the castle so no one else can see him. Give him everything he wants so he stays right next to Haruka and never once entertains thoughts of leaving.

Was it not enough?

T-kun nudges his hand when his hand stops stroking the top of its head. Haruka swallows and pulls the monster closer against his chest until he can bury his face in its soft fur. The gem resting between his collarbones is warm, but he wonders if the coldness that's seeping in is because of the cold wind blowing through the castle or because the gem is starting to grow colder.

His little monster purrs against his chest. I really do love it a lot, he thinks to himself.

Yet it's not the one thing he loves the most.

"It's just the wind. He'll come back," he mumbles. "He has to come back."

The final day is accompanied by dark grey clouds and a gloomy-looking sky.

Tenn finds himself slipping out of his room and heading towards the main building. It's almost eerie how empty the building is now without a single sound except for the wind. By now, almost everyone here should be making their way towards the battleground. The day he returned from the outing with Riku—the last time he saw Haruka—he made his decision the moment he stepped into the building. He just hopes it was the right one.

When he steps inside the meeting room, he sees Riku sitting on one of the chairs while looking out the window with furrowed brows, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Tenn knows why his brother is here instead of with the others—to watch him—but Tenn feels relieved knowing Riku is still close by.

"Riku," he calls, sliding into the empty seat next to his brother.

"Oh, Tenn-nii. Hi." Riku says, trying for a smile that doesn't really ease the worry plastered all over his face. "How are you feeling?"

"The same as I have been for the past five days. You?"

"I'm, you know. Worried over everyone." The redhead sighs. "But I'm alright, physically."

"Good."

"And, uh…" Riku clears his throat and shifts nervously in his seat. "I wanted to say thank you."

Tenn tilts his head. "Thank you?"

"Yeah. I'm grateful for what you told us about the Night," Riku nods. "You have no idea how much it helps."

Tenn reaches up to fidget with his necklace again. "Riku, I'm—"

"And, you don't have to answer this, but I really hope this means you'll give us a chance." His voice comes out breathlessly, and the words rushed. Too hopeful. "Everyone here is really kind and helpful. I know it can be like a home for you, too."

His younger twin's words stop when Tenn holds his hand and squeezes it gently. When he looks up at Riku's eyes, he sees tears in them yet again. The way sadness colors Riku's expression makes his heart clench. The one thing he didn't want to see the most when he was a child was the sight of his younger brother crying and being sad. It hurt, and it never stops hurting.

"I don't think I've said this before, but," Riku sniffles. "I really missed you. And I still do to this day."

"I…I miss you, too." Tenn smiles before wiping away the tears now running across Riku's cheeks. "I always think about you."

For a moment, the worry and anxiety in Riku's expression pull back, not entirely but just enough for the small bit of happiness and hopefulness to shine through. He can almost imagine the alternate future where he stays by his brother's side. Maybe they could be part of the Order together. Or maybe they could stay as normal people who stay close with one another as they build their lives and future.

There's happiness there, he knows. So much happiness. But—

Tenn closes his eyes when he hears the distant sound of a magic explosion. Riku tenses and shoots up to his feet, eyes wide as he looks out the window.

"What—"

"Riku," Tenn opens his eyes and stands, pulling his hand away from Riku's warm touch. "I'm sorry."

"Tenn-nii…"

"You're right, you know," Tenn says quietly. "I know this place can be like a home to me, like it does for you. But…there's one thing you got wrong. What the rumors got wrong. I…am scared, but I'm not staying by Haruka's side because I'm scared of him."

"Haruka? Who—you mean…you mean…the Night?" Riku's expression twists into one of distraught, his voice turning into a ragged whisper towards the end, and Tenn almost forces him to look away. But he needs to do this this way. "Tenn-nii, I don't understand."

"You don't have to. I still don't understand everything, either."

"What are you afraid of?"

Tenn pauses for a second, pulling out the necklace from under his collar and stroking the gem with a thumb before closing his fist around it.

Does this show me how deep you feel for me?

It does.

"I'm afraid of him not being mine anymore." He whispers into the air. "Riku, you have so many good things in your life. All of this—" he gestures at his surroundings "—belongs to you. Friends. Family. A home. Something to fight for. But Haruka and I…we only have each other. He needs me just as much as I need him. That's why this is goodbye for us."

The temperature of the room drops then, turning to almost freezing cold, which sends a chill down his bones. This is it, he thinks. This is the last time we'll meet like this. Tenn makes use of the extra seconds to commit Riku's face to memory. He's reminded of that moment again. The day he left his brother for the first time. His expression was like this, too. Lost, hurt, sad. It sends an ache across his chest that will scar him for eternity, but it's alright.

Let this be the punishment for choosing someone over his own blood.

"Riku," he calls to him for the last time. "I'm proud of you. Be happy."

Goodbye.

He hears Riku's voice calling out to him, too, but then it was over before he could hear his name leaving his brother's lips.

When he blinks, he finds himself staring at familiar dark stone walls. To his left, he can see that endless span of nothingness stretching across the sky. Then, to his right, he sees the open doorway leading out into the halls and wide golden eyes staring at him.

"You…" Haruka says, his hand gripping the doorway until his knuckles turn white. "You won't regret this?"

"I won't."

He watches the prince giving him a curt nod before he finally steps inside his room. Tenn isn't sure what Haruka is trying to see in him with the way his eyes are studying Tenn's face from across the room, but whatever he sees, it's enough to send him running close and wrapping his arms around Tenn's shoulder, letting a quiet, almost inaudible sob.

Tenn lets out a deep breath and leans his head against Haruka's, pressing a kiss against the prince's temple. "I'm here."

Haruka's response is only a nod against his shoulder, but it's enough.

It's enough for now.

Later, they're curled up on Haruka's bed with the prince half-lying across Tenn as usual, and Tenn lets himself fidget with a strand of Haruka's mint-colored hair, twisting the strand around his forefinger and letting it go before repeating. He has a feeling that his bedroom is about to become obsolete.

"Haruka," he says after a while, tucking the strand of hair behind Haruka's ear. "How did you find me? Before. How did you know I was with the Order of the Sun?"

There's a moment of silence between them that makes Tenn think that Haruka has fallen asleep. But it's clear he was just in the middle of deep thinking as he slowly pushes himself up and lies down on his side next to Tenn to face him properly.

"How do you think?" Haruka scoffs, his hand reaching for Tenn's necklace. "The same way you always seem to know where I am."

"Ah…"

"Hmph. Don't underestimate me. I knew mine had a location tracking spell as soon as you gave it to me."

"Well," Tenn clears his throat and looks away from Haruka, feeling his cheeks growing warm. "Do you hate it?"

"Why would I? I wouldn't have done the same if I hated it. Relax." Haruka snickers before leaning in to give him a quick peck on the cheek. "If only they knew you were like this."

He sighs despite the blush across his cheeks deepening. Shaking his head, he leans forward to press their lips together in a slow kiss, one hand holding Haruka's cheek while his other hand reaches for Haruka's hand. He feels Haruka's fingers pressed against the base of his neck—it doesn't hurt or strangle him, but it leaves traces of warmth and touch that will linger in his mind for a long time.

"Tenn," Haruka mutters against his lips. "You're not allowed to leave me again."

He drags his lips to the corner of Haruka's lips, his cheek, his jaw, his shoulder, before burying his face in the crook of the prince's neck with a sigh. "Promise. I'm yours as long as you want me."

Slowly, time ticks on until there's only the sound of soft, quiet breathing.

Haruka looks at Tenn's sleeping figure next to him. The older man (unfortunately) had turned around in his sleep, so Haruka could only see his back from where he was lying down.

He couldn't sleep.

For the past few hours, Haruka has kept his eyes locked on Tenn's sleeping figure. In the back of his mind, he knows that Tenn isn't going anywhere—he promised, after all. Still, it's like his mind can't catch up just yet. Haruka lets out a slow, deliberate exhale before he moves. He presses his forehead against Tenn's back and wraps an arm around his middle.

He parts his lips to say something, but he hesitates. He'll have to say this when Tenn is awake—he wants to—and he knows Tenn would say it back to him, but for now, he can have this quiet moment to himself.

"I love you," he whispers.

Then the sweet feeling of falling asleep slowly claims him, too.