Work Text:
Takiishi didn’t remember the world before Endo Yamato.
What he remembered was a boy, suddenly barged into his life without warning, persistently clung to him and gave him everything. The boy always came in the morning, followed him to the school while talking about anything. Takiishi barely responded, but always listened.
What he remembered, in his world there was a boy, who treated his wounds after he fought. Takiishi let him, even when it wasn’t hurt. A boy who never left, even after Takiishi almost made him dead.
Before Takiishi knew it, he got used to the boy’s presence. He even remembered the boy's name. He knew Endo would be there when needed, provide anything that piqued his interest. And without anyone knew, Takiishi started looking for him, accepting him. It was subtle, but the boy Takiishi knew was perceptive.
The acceptance came in the form of demand, Takiishi never bother to ask anyone, but he told Endo anything he want. Endo was always eager to please him, so Takiishi let him.
The acceptance also came when he told Endo he wants to leave Furin, since Umemiya became boring. He could leave anyone whenever he want, but he wanted Endo Yamato to follow him around, since he didn't remember the world before him. Got used to Endo's presence around him.
“Words didn’t matter.” He told Umemiya once. So Takiishi never told Endo how important he was with words.
Takiishi thought, since he let the man live with him, let his hair be touched by him, and designed a tattoo for him, Endo would knew he was important. Takiishi thought he knew, since Endo came, always came, to take care of him.
“Takiishi? Can you get up?” The man asked after his fight.
“No, I don’t think so.”
He would never told anyone his weakness, but this was Endo Yamato, Takiishi could be honest to him about anything.
“We better get moving, or we’ll be shit.” Takiishi didn’t want it, he wanted to fight again, but he was so tired. So damn tired. Endo noticed that. He always noticed. Then, because he was used to Endo's care, Takiishi asked to be carried, while he would never let anyone to even touch his skin outside of the fight. Endo was the only one who can. Endo would know that, right?
Endo was important, and Takiishi thought he knew he was important. Takiishi always looked at him, in his own way, cause Takiishi knew he wasn’t normal.
Takiishi was so sure that Endo knew.
And yet—
“…Start by calling people by their name. That’s how you tell them that you recognize them. That you’re looking at them.”
—did he?
Did Endo know he was important to Takiishi? That Takiishi wanted Endo to beside him? The reason he always told Endo anything? It made him contemplanting.
“I’ll see you later then, Hajime Umemiya.”
Umemiya’s words made Takiishi realize that he had never called Endo’s name, since Endo Yamato was always here, beside him. He didn’t need to call his name, cause Endo was always ready to do anything for him. And yet, Endo was silent, he could feel Endo became stiff, it made the doubt came, what if, Endo didn’t knew his worth in Takiishi world?
He didn’t bother to say a word when Umemiya told his number, he knew Endo would tell him later, he kept replaying Umemiya’s word while leaning his chin to Endo’s shoulder. The scent was familiar, and comforting. But he knew the person who carried him didn't feel comfortable.
Takiishi wanted to tell Endo his worth, but Takiishi was never good with words. So he started with something familiar:
He had a plan, and like always, like when he told he wants to leave Furin, he told Endo his new plan.
“I’m going to find more interesting people.” That was how he asked Endo to join his plan. He told Endo because he wanted the man accompanied him. That was how Takiishi showed that Endo was always an importand part of Takiishi world. By always letting him knew his plans.
“Sounds good! Let’s find a bunch of people that’ll pique your interest. We’ll move out right away.” Endo replied, but he didn’t sound genuinely happy like always, his tone sounded sad, even.
He doesn’t know, Takiishi realized.
He should know. He decided.
“Yamato Endo,” Takiishi looked at the sky, he really needed to change, it could start by calling Endo’s name, “I’m cold, but I want a bath first.”
There was a pause. Then—
“Your wish is my command.” Endo replied softly. And suddenly, the atmosphere changed, Endo hummed. It made Takiishi glad he called the man’s name for the first time.
Because Endo Yamato was important, he was different from Umemiya Hajime who was annoying, he didn’t give him excitement, since he was so obedient. Endo was like a blanket that covered him in the cold, like a home he knew he had when he felt tired, it made him feel content. Takiishi could leave anyone when they became boring, but he knew he’d never left Endo Yamato who was always here beside him.
Endo Yamato might not have known, but Takiishi was always looking at him. Maybe words matter sometimes, to let someone know they were important.
***