Chapter Text
“Drinks on me.”
Katana hummed, gently sliding onto the bar stool. His limbs were aching from all of the action earlier today, exhausted would be an understatement. “You do not have to do that, Hyperlaser. You know I am more than happy to pay.”
“You always pay. Let me.” Hyperlaser moved to sit beside the taller man. He, too, was exhausted, but perhaps not in comparison to Katana.
Katanas' job on the battlefield involved much more… action. His involved focus, so long as he wasn’t interrupted or bothered. In that case, it would involve running. Sadly, running was something he had to do a lot today.
Katana hummed, sitting for a moment before speaking, “If you so insist.”
As the bartender approached, Hyperlaser already knew what to request. He knew Katanas’ order by heart, they’ve gone drinking so many times. He knew Katana very well in general, so his drink order certainly wouldn’t be something… He didn’t know.
“One bottle of sake.” Hyperlaser himself didn’t necessarily care what he drank, as long as it got him drunk. He knew Katana had a favorite, though. “For me… Just surprise me. Something strong.”
Katana hummed. He was content. They both were. Sometimes, the only time they can feel content is when they’re with each other.
No matter what happens, they still have each other.
They shared a few moments of silence, before Katana broke the ice.
“How’s work at blackrock?”
“It’s…” Hyperlaser took a breath, shaking his head. “...About the same as always. Exhausting.”
Katana hummed, “I see…”
“I don’t.” Hyperlaser tried to joke, but he ended up sounding more confused than anything. He was bad at joking, and neither of the two knew how to tell tone normally. As Katana tilted his head in confusion, Hyperlaser spoke again, “Nevermind… bad attempt at a joke.”
“That was a joke? Do you mean-”
“My eyes? Yes.”
“You are wearing your helmet, Hyperlaser. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Exactly, which is why it’s such a bad attempt at a joke.” Hyperlaser sighed, painstakingly rubbing the glass on his helmet. “Remind me to never try and be funny ever again.”
“You tried, and that is what counts.” Katana rested a hand on Hyperlaser's shoulder, earning him another exasperated sigh.
“It was a pathetic attempt at a joke, but thank you anyway.”
The bartender interrupted the awkward situation with their drinks, Hyperlaser felt his prayers had been answered. Katana hummed at the sight of them.
“Here are your drinks.”
“Thank you.” Katana took his with a small nod, directed towards the bartender. Hyperlaser took his mystery liquid, God knows what it was, but he hoped it would get him drunk.
Katana took a sip of his own drink, watching as Hyperlaser discarded his helmet. His moves were cautious and careful, not wanting to damage anything.
He set said helmet beside his drink, sighing. He couldn’t see anything now. Usually, he hated it. He hated the feeling of being unaware of his surroundings, it made him feel vulnerable.
But Katana was here. He trusted Katana.
And he knew that Katana would not let any harm come to him.
It was safe to let his guard down, because Katana would keep him safe.
He carefully reached for his drink, holding it in hand.
“What do you have there?”
“I wish I knew,” He shrugged, bringing it up to his lips and taking a sip. “Whatever it is, it’s not bad.”
“I am glad.”
Hyperlaser took another sip of his drink before folding his arms on the table, resting his head upon them.
“Hey, Katana?”
“Mmn?” Katana hummed. He seemed to be going through his drink quicker than Hyperlaser was, which was a surprise. Usually Hyperlaser was the one downing multiple drinks at a time. Sometimes it was a problem.
“You know Ban Hammer, right?”
“Of course. He makes quite the name for himself, it is hard not to.”
By that, Katana meant he had an ego too large for his body and was hard to ignore. He meant that in the worst possible way, but would never outright say such a thing.
“He’s so stupid,” Hyperlaser scoffed, sitting back up. “Insensitive, too.”
“Mmn.” Katana simply hummed in agreement, “I do feel pity for him. He seems… how shall I put this politely… oblivious, towards the emotions of others.”
“And yet he acts like the greatest thing in the world.” Hyperlaser mumbled.
“If you were raised by a Goddess, would you not feel the same way?” Katana tilted his head, “I do not believe in false Gods, but if I were to be raised by one, I myself may have developed quite the ego.”
Hyperlaser decided not to answer that question. He instead downed the rest of his drink, wiping his mouth. Katana hummed at the silence.
Only a bit had passed before they started to feel the effects of their drinks. Perhaps not yet drunk, but certainly more than a buzz.
Hyperlaser groaned, his head resting upon the table in front of him, “...Katana?”
“Do you need something?”
“Well, no. I’m just wondering… do you ever think about what it would be like to feel loved?”
Katana gently tapped the glass bottle in front of him, “That is certainly a question,” He looked over to Hyperlaser, “Sometimes I do. But I am far too busy for relationships. I cannot waste even a moment, there is no time to rest. I’ve already devoted myself to ridding the world of corruption. I cannot devote myself to a person and my mission, having both would not be possible.”
Hyperlaser just laughed.
“You’re right. I can’t waste my time with such things, and there’s no use dreaming about something I’ll never be able to have.”
Katana paused, “What makes you unable to have such a relationship?”
Too many things. Too many situations. Too many risks. Too many everythings. Hyperlaser had to take a moment to think of a response, it was getting harder to collect his thoughts and feelings, or even process them.
“Well…”
He began, clearing his throat.
“Like you said, I can’t… devote myself to a person, when I’m already devoted to blackrock. I owe Subspace. He saved me, took me in, gave me the ability to see again…” He laughed, though it sounded quite sad. “I can’t leave. Not after he saved me.”
Katana hummed. It was something he did when he was thinking. Hyperlaser knew that.
“You make time for me, do you not? Surely, you could also find time for a partner.”
“Couldn’t the same be said for you?”
“You are a special case.”
Hyperlaser sighed, sitting back up. “It’s just like you said. I can’t rest, or become too emotionally involved with someone, because when I lose them it’s going to hurt.”
I can’t handle that again, he wanted to add, but he decided not to.
“Everyone leaves — involuntarily or voluntarily. Break up or death, divorce or by force, everything ends the same. Nothing is permanent.”
Katana looked like he wanted to say something, but he decided not to. He wanted to avoid upsetting the man further or making things awkward, especially while said man was intoxicated, so he instead settled for his classic statement.
“I see..”
“I don’t.” Hyperlaser laughed, he meant it this time. His helmet was off. He couldn’t see a single thing. “Swords, that’s so cheesy…”
Katana stayed quiet, Hyperlaser wished he could see the taller man's body language, anything to feel less quiet, less awkward, less rejected, but he couldn’t. Not right now. He’d have to sit with the silence, just for now.
Luckily, it was broken quite quickly by Katana.
“...Hyperlaser, I am going to touch you for a moment,” He slowly moved his hands, gently grabbing Hyperlasers chin. He didn’t want to flare up any pain, so he was as cautious and gentle as possible. “Do not be alarmed. It is just me.”
To say Hyperlaser was alarmed would be an understatement. He was a plethora of things. Shocked, confused, alarmed, worried… Katana was never this touchy, especially not near his face, was this just because he was drunk?
“Are you okay with this?” He mumbled. Was hyperlaser okay with this?
He wished he could see Katanas reaction, maybe he’d get more information about what he was doing right now. He decided to go with the safest option, placing his trust in Katana, and with a shaky breath, he spoke.
“Yes.”
“I am.”
Katana hummed, and before he could tell what was happening, his lips were now on his own. Katana was kissing him. Katana was kissing him. He gasped into the kiss, his breathing practically stopped as he blinked.
Katana was most definitely drunk.
It took a moment, yet he still leaned into the kiss, slowly wrapping his arms around Katanas neck. He could taste the Sake in Katanas mouth. Katanas hand moved from his chin to his waist, resting it there gently. The last thing he wanted was to flare up Hyperlasers pain.
It’s as if the world stopped. He just wished he could see Katana.
As Katana pulled away, he wanted to linger there for a moment longer, but he decided against it and pulled away himself. Katanas hand ghosted his waist, but was slowly removed.
“That is what it feels like to be loved, Hyperlaser.”
And yet he would never expect what was to happen the next time he saw Katana.