teaism | I couldn't utter my love when it counted

Fufu... you're flattering me too much, you know? It's only because of you that I was able to motivate myself in this way.

[Wataru will be able to hear plenty of commotion from inside the echoing vent. Other rooms, and outside, footsteps, yelling, distant and closer. Just shortly after Wataru is fully inside, someone is pounding at the door to this very room. Eichi keeps his smile calm to try and push past it, to make sure Wataru feels less hopeless.]

Go straight as quietly as you can manage, or our voices will carry. The vent is too small to replace the cover behind me, so they'll be able to tell rather quickly where we went. However...

[He breathes out as he slips in, blinking past the dust and trying not to cough for it.]

By memorizing the layout, we can adapt as necessary.

[There's muffled yelling at the door, demanding to be let in, threatening Wataru, threatening "whoever that guy is", and Eichi scrambles to keep moving. However, as they crawl along, it will become increasingly obvious that this abandoned underground station vent system has weak paneling. It's a risk that either of them could fall through to rooms below in certain areas.]

By the way, since I've seen a number of movies involving martial arts, I believe I can mimic some of those moves to help us get out of here. ♪

[Being lighthearted always helps, right? Wataru seemed to be able to spread joy that way, and so... Eichi wants to be able to, too.]

[He doesn't doubt Eichi in any of this, and the blonde's assertions do set him fairly at ease. Maybe they can fight. Maybe they can get somewhere safe so they don't have to. Maybe they won't fall through the ceiling tiles. God knows.

He tries to tune out everything but Eichi, the soothing tone of his voice, even and gentle and strong. Eichi has this figured out, definitely. Maybe someday Wataru will be strong for him, too. This feels like such a reversal of their previous lives.

They reach a junction, and Wataru goes with his instincts. They're the wrong ones, perhaps, because even though the voices get further away, the paneling creaks beneath them. Wataru moves forward onto an unsteady one, and loses his balance as the panel gives way. He doesn't cry out, doesn't do anything but hold his breath and hold on to the edge. There doesn't seem to be anyone in the area beneath them, and as he hauls himself carefully back up, he takes a quick look around.]

I think I see stairs...

[Eichi had gasped, at watching that, scrambling and reaching to grab onto Wataru. But thankfully, Wataru was able to hold on himself, otherwise Eichi most certainly would have fallen down with him. He's dizzy from staying in these vents, his heart is beating irregularly, and he's nervous. Scared. Doesn't know what to do even if he's acting like it.

But thank goodness, Wataru is okay...]

Stairs... That's right, I believe I did see some nearby. However, if we leave and walk on the ground now, we'll become more easily spotted. You're also in no condition to move quickly, Wataru...

The paneling looks unstable ahead, as well, though. What should we do? Ah... I didn't stop to consider that this place might be falling apart.

[A rush of adrenaline surges through Wataru, and he looks at Eichi with a pained, gentle smile before dropping back down into the room. He looks strained, sickly, and Wataru can't help thinking that Eichi's suffering is his fault. So he'll fix it.

He looks up to his partner and takes a deep breath.]

I don't mind sacrificing myself. You came all this way for me, and I'm hardly useful. But let's try to go this way. I'm feeling a little stronger, and I'll fight if I must. Only let me protect you a little, too! This is why I exist! This is my destiny, to protect you. Always and forever.

I'm going to stop your words there, Wataru.

[Cautiously, Eichi shifts and drops out of the hole in the vent himself, reaching to catch himself on Wataru once his feet hit the ground. Just that distance is enough to have him staggering, weakly... He hates it. He's so annoyed at himself.]

I don't mind you saying that you'll protect me, since we can protect one another... but if you continue to insist that you're not useful, or that you might become a sacrifice... then I'll do something rather rash as a punishment.

[He squeezes at his grip on Wataru as he straightens himself, burying a cough into his other hand.]

This "destiny" will only be what we make it. I intend to continue moving forward with you, which is why I came out here. Let's move cautiously and work together to avoid harm on all accounts. There will be no sacrifices. Am I understood?

[He quiets, looking at Eichi with fierce determination, and equally fierce affection. His arms go out to catch Eichi as he tips forward, and he embraces him warmly, as tightly as he can manage. If Eichi is annoyed at his own issues, Wataru is ten times as upset with himself. He's brought this upon Eichi, somehow. He could've run from those men, or something. Anything! Anything to avoid this!

Now all he can do is lean into Eichi a bit, almost stumbling forward as his partner pulls away.]

I might like it if you scolded me a bit! Remind me of my place, here by your side! For an eternity before, and an eternity more, I'll give you the satisfaction of my company. I'll do my best to move quickly, quietly... To fight if I must, though I've always been more of a lover! Whatever it takes to stay by you, then. We have so much left to do together, after all.

Mm. That's right. I'll be here to scold and remind you each time, so you won't forget it.

[Leaning closer, holding Wataru just as much as he's held himself, he places a gentle kiss on his lips. And then, he pulls away, stepping closer to the stairs, but hanging back enough to allow Wataru to step forward first.

This place is large. Some sort of underground abandoned subway station not meant for public use, attached to... a normal office building? The layout is difficult to understand, even for someone like Eichi who understands what a wide variety of companies there can be. It sounds as though they're trying to keep their volume down as well, to catch Eichi and Wataru off guard. Listening doesn't grant him any hint as to where they might be. And looking?

This is a dark little side room with stairs going up, white walls, and from there, long hallways from what Eichi can tell. Not much else is clear.]

Shall we, then?

[They're in a unit together, and Wataru is steadfastly by Eichi's side, but they're still learning how to work together. It wasn't instantaneous magical harmony. They've earned this. And Wataru won't let it be taken away.

He steps forward boldly, but not before reaching for Eichi's hand to stay connected. It makes him feel warmer, stronger. Like nothing will stop them. He holds a finger over his lips and offers Eichi a wink, then begins leading them both down the corridor.

They're fine at first, dodging the enemy with turns and momentary backtracks, but soon enough they come to a junction they can't pass without conflict. Wataru looks to Eichi, considering.]

Have you caught your breath a little? My legs are more steady, thanks to you. I can fight.

As idols, violence isn’t something we should ever be ready for, is it? Fufu, but I’m not so naive as to think we can avoid it completely, in this situation.

[ He’s still looking like he might fall over at a moment’s notice, but his eyes are more fierce. He’s determined not to be a liability. Especially with Wataru as beaten as he is. He squeezes his hand, looking ahead. ]

Still... perhaps we should try something rather than straight violence? They’re unaware of who I am, it seems. Perhaps introducing myself might buy you more time to get a better angle. We should decide quickly, before they move— what do you think?

I wish it hadn't come to this, dear Eichi! If only I'd been just a little stronger and not outnumbered, it wouldn't have been so! However, I'm fully prepared to do whatever it takes for us to get out safely, even if it means being very un-idol-like!

[Wataru looks directly into Eichi's eyes, his own determination shining back at his unitmate. They can do this. They can do anything. He knows it.]

Let's try that. If they're affiliated with your family, they might hesitate to harm you, after all.

It can't be helped. We're only human, after all. Ah, but I shouldn't speak too much now, or they'll catch us like this. Since it's you, Wataru, you can find somewhere to sneak closer and stay hidden while I attempt this, can't you?

[He brings Wataru's hand up to his lips, brushing them over knuckles, a soft kiss.]

I intend to try my hand at acting again, so don't worry for my sake until everyone else has been taken care of.

[With that, he slips away, and in perfect timing with the movement, staggers out into the open, grabbing onto a wall to support himself as the men ahead all turn to stare. He's acting... Mostly.]

Wait. [One of his hands lifts, to stop the men, and they're cautious, but one is already stepping closer to Eichi.] You all have no idea who I am, do you? Before you do anything rash, I'd suggest you take a closer look at me, now that my hood is down.

I'll do my best. But, ah, Eichi... you're not the best at flat-out lying, so try to only tell the truth. Silence is your friend!

[He practically titters at the kiss to his hand, leaning in toward Eichi a hair before the blonde slips away, and Wataru's heart leaps into his throat.

Eichi steps out, and Wataru ducks into a darkened corner, barely peeking around the corner before flattening back against the wall. Eichi...

Two of the men move toward Eichi, one reaching out to grab him by the corner of his cloak.]

Who the hell do you think you are? You look half dead, anyway. You think you're gonna fight us?

"No, wait... That looks like the rich kid."

They're all rich kids, dumbass! Which one?

[Man number two steps closer, too, and leans in to look Eichi over as man number one holds him by the collar.]

"The heir... you know. Wonder if he was dumb enough to bring his pathetic ass to rescue the blue one."

Where's he, anyway? You musta let him run off...

[That's good advice from Wataru, and it's ringing in his mind as he faces these men. His heart rate skyrockets, especially as he's grabbed, but his expression stays calm. He tells himself to focus on breathing, even as he allows himself to cough into a hand.

After the cough, that hand rests on the wrist of the man holding him, not prying him away, but attempting to 'warn' him not to go further.]

Eichi Tenshouin. Surely you recognize that name.

[It's just the biggest zaibatsu out there, after all... And he knows that even if it's possible that his parents handed off Wataru to someone they didn't really get along with, the truth is that most people wouldn't want to pick a fight with the Tenshouins. Right?

He's wearing clothes he stole off of guards around this organization, so that much is probably very clear. He was up to no good. He knows it looks bad. But he's relying on his name. Two men here, and he can't see how many further back right now... Maybe one or two more?]

I'll forget that this altercation happened at all so long as you release me now. Why don't we see what we can discuss?

[Wataru listens carefully, trying to still his heartbeat a bit. He's terrified, not for himself, but for Eichi. For the one who's only in danger because of him. He hates himself a bit for it! He'll make this up to him later.

Man number one looks to men three and four when Eichi gives his name, and man number two makes a low, frustrated sound, almost a growl.]

"I told ya it was the rich kid. Nobody here listens to me."

Shut up, I'm listening now! Alright, kid. You want me to forget I saw you, right? And let you go? Then hand the blue one back over.

[That's a surprising thing to hear, for Eichi, who any day before that fated meeting with Wataru on the roof might have agreed to the idea. Now, though, he'd decided to change things. To stop being bitter at life and focus instead on the good, to hold tightly to something this precious, to fight viciously against a cruel fate. His expression goes cold for it.]

How confident you must be, to believe yourself to have more influence than I do. Regardless of what happens to me now, your actions here are changing your future. With just the lift of a little finger, it's possible that you could lose everything, you know? Not just whatever small amount of status you might have, but your family, your loved ones, the hobbies you enjoy. They could all burn right before your eyes.

Let me make this clear, in case that off-topic rant is something that went in one ear and out the other. You have no business with Wataru.

[In reality, even Eichi is aware that he's the one who's in no position to bargain this. But it wouldn't be the first time his big words worked. If he's retaliated against, then it's fine, too. But he won't give up Wataru, not at all.]

[Maybe the chill in Eichi's voice sends a thrill through Wataru. Just maybe. Even now, he's a force to be reckoned with. Wataru remembers when that was turned on him, in its own way, and he knows these men are in trouble. They have no idea how much.

He half expects Eichi to bluff a bit about him, not to directly defend him, and his heart swells with emotion.]

Ain't gonna fly. I oughta just lay you out and say the blue one did it. He's the one they paid for, you're just some chump.

"Hey, we oughta not--"

Shut the hell up! This is our chance to get in good with the bosses.

[The men turn to bickering, and the other two turn their backs on the scene for a moment, just long enough for Wataru to peek out to check on Eichi. His clothing is released, and he's free to move around. Wataru waits, waits, waits, waits for a sign that he should move, even though his body is weak and battered.]

"--he gets hurt, they really might have your head. The Tenshouins--"

Ehhh, screw them. Rich bastards. Who gives a damn? I'm just gonna knock him out and we can set him somewhere they'll find him. That fine?

[It's clear none of them are taking his threats as seriously as perhaps they should. Oh, such fools.]

[ There are too many men here to fight, he thinks. He steps back once or twice once he’s free from the hold, but he knows he can’t do too much or he’ll be noticed and centered in on. He sees Wataru, too, even without facing him directly, and he’s afraid. His threats aren’t working, which means they won’t be good enough to get them out of here without a fight.

He’s so easily in arm’s reach of any of these men if they move carelessly, and even stepping back like this probably isn’t enough. Eichi doesn’t think he’ll be able to fight at all really, but Wataru might be able to help... But where would they go?

Ah, he can’t think this entirely through. They’re already talking about knocking him out, and so he shifts his stance just slightly to be defensive, at least until he steps forward out of nowhere and slams a kick into one of the men’s groins. He’s not sure who he managed to hit, but he knows that that had to have been the clearest way to signal Wataru to go without actually alerting the others to him. They still might work this out! ]

[Wataru breathes steadily, focusing on every action and word Eichi shares, until finally his unitmate attacks the man and Wataru reads that (possibly erroneously?) as time for him to step into the fray, too. He can't run terribly well still, but he thinks if he can slow these men down, they might be able to make a go of it.

So he comes out from the nook he's been hiding in and daintily leaps over the man Eichi has artfully felled, landing as spryly as he's able before executing a perfect roundhouse kick to the second man's face. 3 and 4 are too startled by the kids fighting back to react right away, but 1 and 2 are on the floor, well and truly laid out. There's the chance.]

Eichi, let's away!

[He hurries over, a surge of fear-induced adrenaline keeping him going, and takes Eichi's hand before darting down the nearest corridor. The two remaining men are dumbfounded, and for several seconds they simply stare after the retreating teenagers.]

That went better than I thought it might~!

[Eichi squeezes that hand tight and runs like his life depends on it, ignoring the hammering in his chest to keep up.]

Incredible... As injured as you are, you still managed that splendid kick. Ah, but it has me concerned... Your injuries, are they...?

[He can't manage to talk and keep up, and even if he was silent, he wouldn't be able to run like this for long. He staggers, trying to keep his footing even as they go, blinking away the fog as he covers a cough with a free hand.]

Nn, we can't stop to focus, so let's continue to push ahead. Those men won't gawk silently at us forever.

[Wataru laughs, still just dragging Eichi along as fast as they both can manage. He thinks he sees natural light coming from down the hall... Maybe it's a window or an exterior door?]

My injuries are positively excruciating, but I'm ignoring them~ Nothing can compare to my desire to leave this place, so let's fly to freedom!

[But now Eichi is staggering, and Wataru misses a step, stumbling into a wall. Their progress forward stops, and he looks at Eichi, alarmed. How he hates worrying.]

I won't let you be left behind. Come now, just push on a little longer! We'll--

[Running footsteps. 3 and 4 are coming down the hallway, and they're mere meters away. One has a gun drawn, and Wataru makes a strangled sound.]

My dear Eichi, let's go a little more quickly...

I'm... fine, so—

[He's not fine. He can't see the men coming behind them, can't even spare a glance, but he knows from Wataru's reaction that it must not be good. He's holding Wataru back like this, and that's what he hates most of all. Clutching tightly at Wataru's arm, he drags him into a stumbling step forward, staying on his feet and forcing them to move.

But he looks like he's straining himself too much. His body is being pushed, moving forward through pure adrenaline and willpower.]

Move ahead if you must. As a Tenshouin, they may be less likely to cause me any harm. [He's still forcing his words out okay, so at least there's that.]

I recognize where we are now, from the floorplans. There should be... a main staircase, a couple of halls over. [Larger than the one they came up. The men behind them shout out in warning, Eichi thinks, but he can't hear them. He's too focused.]

[Wataru won't leave him even a step behind, and he resolutely looks forward, trying to be as strong as he can, trying to motivate Eichi, even if the blonde is supposed to be his rescuer. His whole body is crying out from stress and strain, his stomach feels half caved in, his head is foggy, but Eichi, Eichi!]

I won't. I'm staying with you. Now, on we go...

[He can't admit to being terrified. He just has to keep going. He grips Eichi's hand tightly, looking to Eichi one last time.]

Come on. Together.

[And he takes off at as fast a run as they both can manage.]

[Together. Together, together, together. Eichi runs, focuses only on running, on Wataru's hair trailing behind him, on the warmth of his hand. A gunshot rings out from behind them, and Eichi gasps audibly, squeezing Wataru tight, but as the bullet digs into a wall where they turn around the corner, it only acts as motivation. Closer, closer...! He knows where they're going! The only exit, he studied the map thoroughly!

They manage better than Eichi thought they would. The stairs are in sight, down the end of a long hallway, and it gives him a boost of stamina. He pushes forward, and though he's trailing slightly behind Wataru, he manages to keep up. The men behind them shot a couple times more, but thankfully, none of the bullets struck them.

For a second, he thinks they're going to make it.

But then one of the doors slams open in the narrow hallway just as Wataru passes it, knocking hard into Eichi's shoulder and causing his hand to slip from Wataru's grip as he staggers to the side. It's enough force to probably knock Wataru from the force of it, too, but the man that emerges from this door doesn't stop to look at the magician. He goes for the easy target, instead.

Eichi has doubled over near the opposite wall, but the man's hand grabs his hair and yanks him up by it, causing the idol to gasp out in pain, weak hands reaching up to try and free himself. But a knife is brandished and held to Eichi's neck before he looks back and over at Wataru. To top it all off, familiar footsteps are sounding from behind them again. The two men have nearly caught up.

This new stranger addresses Wataru, voice demanding.]

"On your knees, or I'll slit the Tenshouin brat's neck right here."

[Wataru can barely feel his limbs anymore, but he's not letting go, he's not giving up, they're so close to at least being where they can cause a public scene and get help... But then, disaster. The door flings open, and Eichi is ripped away from Wataru like some ragdoll. He stumbles and hits the wall face-first, but rebalances himself, his hair whipping behind him.]

Ei--!

[A flash of metal. He sees the knife, sees the men gaining on them, sees how weak and spent Eichi is, and he just... Drops. They don't even have to tell him. Just a few days ago, they were regular (if a little odd) high schoolers. Now they're fighting for their lives. And losing.

He crumples to the floor, hands clasped together atop his knees, eyes fixed on Eichi, on his forbidden love, his poor unitmate.

The men who were in pursuit catch up, and one of them grabs Wataru's hair, shoving his head down as he plants a foot in the center of Wataru's back, as if daring him to struggle. But the magician doesn't, not this time.]

Let him go. Just let him go, and I'll do whatever you want! I won't say a word of complaint.

Wataru—

[His name falls out strangled from Eichi's lips, in the pain he's in. He's not fully standing, but the way the hand is in his hair is keeping him from being able to rest on the floor, either. It's incredibly painful, and his weak hands can't do anything to pry it away. The man looks cold as he lifts the steel of the blade, over Eichi's clean cheek.]

"Both of you shut up, or I'll give you one to match the first." [That cut on Eichi's other cheek— so the blonde had run into this man before, and somehow managed to scramble away? That explains the violence now, at least partially. He does not release Eichi. Instead, he eyes Wataru like he's thinking.]

"Listen here. Neither of you are in any position to make deals. The next time you give me trouble, you're both dead."

[Just like that, he releases Eichi's hair and watches him crumple to the floor, coughing and grasping at the tiles as he tries to push himself up. He doesn't even need a foot on his back.]

"Rough him up all you like, but keep him alive." [That's to the other two men, about Wataru, as he glances over.] "We'll bring them back down to confinement until I decide what to do. Make sure it's secure this time, or you'll be the ones dead."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject