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It’s crazy, really. How much a person can forget about their youth by the time they’re twenty-six. Takemichi had learned that many times through the trial and error he’d almost grown accustomed to. Even if it hurt, and he longed for an ending.
Holidays always were a fuzzy boring tradition, at least, that’s what he thought they had been. His life had spun so differently since he met Mikey. What could be memories were new experiences. There’s no surprise to hear that the red light district, where Draken lives, held huge ‘parties’ every year. And somehow there is surprise when he learns that Draken invites him and the other Toman members to such festivities. They dress up for the fun and make it a competition between themselves of who looks the best.
Takemichi was nervous to do anything real different, but it was Halloween. Dracula was simple, easy, buy a cape and fangs like a one trick pony.
He’d just stepped outside when he heard the familiar rumble, almost like a purr from behind.
Mikey.
His nerves caught in his throat before he spun around to catch the blond’s appearance.
A skirt.
A hood.
“Little..Little Red Riding Hood?” He’d said it outloud, and his staring was apparently amusing. Judging by the response and the way Mikey stretched his leg out. Hands at his sides, Takemichi's fists tightened, because sometimes he really hated how much his body responded to Mikey.
‘Happy to see me?’ rang in his ears and he shook out of his stupor. Takemichi gave the biggest, goofiest smile and failed to see the way Mikey’s gaze seemed to soften at the sight.
They did that to one another. Either on purpose or accident, ignoring the intimacy and want. Even as his hands tremble and his knee wants to bounce so badly while he settles behind Mikey. Why is it the fabric feels so soft, so fragile and thin and easy to- he noticeably scooted back. Pressed against Mikey was dangerous territory.
He missed the way he pouted in response.
Keep his head blank, focus on the ride. Think about what anyone else might be showing up in. The mystery was well answered. Everybody looked great! Chifuyu looked really cute with the cat ears, and he made sure he knew that.
He does it once more, missing the look in Mickey's eyes. That possessive greed that followed him in his gaze.
And again, when Mitsuya comments on how he looks good with fangs.
And again, when Draken jokes about grabbing a bite.
Until he feels arms around his waist and lips pressed to the back of his ear. ‘A snack has to look the part’ they mouth and he spins until he’s right there. Inches away from Mikey. And maybe it’s the heat of the party that it gets to his head because his hand lifts and moves the hair from Mikey’s neck, gulping at the sight.
But Mikey laughs and Takemichi immediately ducks away, face flaring red. He has to wander away from the bright lights and the blaring music for a while. Calm down, take a breather.
It’s hard to pretend that the way he moves through the crowd doesn’t pull somewhere in his chest. That the way the skirt bounces sends images through his head and reacts between his legs.
He hates it.
He loves Manjiro Sano.
He loves Mikey.
He hates it.
Wishes it would go away and yet he remains hopeful.
Wishful.
Wanting. For that future.
If there was one-
The haze disappears because there he was, approaching, coming closer.
Mikey plops himself comfortably beside Takemichi, legs going up and over his lap. His head is leaning against his arm while he quietly looks his way, that subtle smile tugging at the corner of his lips. And it’s easy then, for the music to drown away. As though it was never playing.
He moves without thought. He tends to do that he knows but not like this- not usually. Takemichi leans in, repeating the same motions as earlier but this time Mikey isn’t laughing.
Takemichi’s fake fangs brush against skin and he feels Mikey slightly stiffen, a hand reaching out to curl fingers against the front of his shirt. But he doesn’t push him or move away, instead Takemichi watches as he bares his neck for him. His heartbeat is ridiculous with how loud it is in his ears. Despite the way his conscience yelled at him- Takemichi found himself gently pressing a bite down against skin, and the sound that came from Mikey made his vision blurry. Just as he had enough courage to press a kiss to the same spot they were interrupted, Draken having come looking for Mikey because of Emma.
Takemichi could only yelp and scoot clear across to the other side of the couch while Draken stared. His eyes clearly tell of how he ‘didn’t want to know’. With that, Takemichi excuses himself and outside to get some air.
Maybe the night air was what he needed. He was ‘Dracula’.
Only all it took was one bite.
He loved Manjiro Sano.
He loved Mikey.
But now- he yearns for Mikey.
He yearns for Manjiro Sano.
He despises it.
Hope twisting into desperation like a ticking time bomb. And all he can do is cry, but no, he wasn’t a hero. Not anymore, if he ever was. All he wants is to feel Mikey hold his head, but he can’t do that right now, not when he was the whole reason Takemichi’s chest felt like it was about to explode and his head splitting.
So he cries. He sounds ridiculous with those fangs between sobs, fist rubbing away at eyeliner around his eyes.
Mikey cannot know, he mustn't know. Everything, everyone was so fragile and most of all it was him. So he fakes it, hides it. Not Chifuyu, not Draken, not Naoto. No one could know.
Only the night sky knew his reasons.
Maybe holidays were better as only boring fuzzy traditions.
New experiences, new memories.
They only brought him more pain for what he couldn’t have.