When Mikoto spoke scathingly of the Kings, Reisi’s gaze turned to him calmly, an even look of solemnity that spoke volumes of what Mikoto should recognize and find familiar, but he was sure he wouldn’t. The pain, the isolation, the burden of being a King. How it felt to stand in a crowded room and relate to no one there but another King. Not even clansmen could fathom what a King lived. They walked on a separate plane of life and they walked utterly alone.
However, Reisi was greeted with an unnerved man. These emotions that he had been witnessing since he arrived were so foreign on Mikoto’s face. The blue wondered if this what it had been like to have known Mikoto before he become the Red King, but part of Reisi recalled that amnesia could cause behavioral manifestations that may not have been there before. Mikoto had forgotten everything, or at least close to it. Even the burden of being King, Munakata thought to himself. His brow eased at the thought of how nice that must be.
But Mikoto was shrouded in mystery, for both the man himself and the people around him. Surely that was no better alternative.
Realizing that his gaze had fallen to the expanse of stone between their feet, Reisi sighed and looked back up to face Mikoto. He expected another unfamiliar expression and he got what he thought he would receive. Nothing could have prepared him for this sort of expression, however…
Suoh…was crying.
Thick, gleaming streams of tears trailed down Mikoto’s sun-kissed cheeks and Reisi was in awe. Such… Such an emotion Mikoto was capable of, of course Reisi knew that, any human could cry, but—
The Suoh that Munakata knew was strong, stubborn, selfish, and tired. Not one who was expected to cry easily, if at all.
Fumbling with his jacket, Reisi materialized a handkerchief and turned to face Mikoto entirely, facing practically parallel to the back of the bench. For a moment, he hesitated until he found the courage to raise his hand and gently swiped the cloth across Mikoto’s uncovered cheek. So careful was the gesture that Reisi noticed the cloth hadn’t even properly dried the man’s skin, so he swept it over his cheekbone once again.
"I…" How could he answer that… Any answer he could provide would hurt one of them or if he played his cards right, both of them. Licking his lips, Reisi forced himself to speak the truth. Mikoto deserved no less.
"Enemies, unlikely allies, friends, l…" He coughed unwillingly.
"Lovers…" Reisi’s eyes flickered to the bulge under Mikoto’s shirt, signifying the gauze that covered the wound. "I was also…your executioner… Or so I thought."
Shit. Fuck. God damn it all, this wasn't how he was supposed to be acting. The entire action of crying, the tightening in his chest, the unbidden tears that ran down his face and the ache at his throat were all so foreign that the entire situation was absolutely jarring. Suoh Mikoto did not cry and yet here he was, chest bouncing ever so slightly through ragged sobs that he tried to mute as best as possible.
"I..." He warbled, voice thick as he tried to recompose himself, but his body remembered and slowly, his mind began to catch up. His head was bowed, hiding his face from the man before him as best as he could. He remembered his crowning, remembered his first two Clansmen. He remembered the fire that came from him that so frightened him for the longest time, but that was kept in check by ... Totsuka, all laughter and smiles, the brat. He remembered Izumo's calm demeanor that helped even out his own feral nature and Tatara's carefree attitude.
Yata, Kamamoto. Anna. Everyone. HOMRA.
Fushimi's betrayal. The subtle shift of his foot towards Munakata when he was asked to join him in the middle of their talk. It had hurt, singed at his heart but he'd respected Saruhiko's decision. He was not a dictator.
Then came Totsuka's murder.
The faintest touch tickled his cheek and, nearly instinctively, he pressed against the hand that wiped at his tears. His stomach was roiling, he felt like throwing up, but the barrage of memories of his past life wasn't yet finished. Enemies; yes, HOMRA and Scepter 4 was always at odds, fighting petty turf wars like children. Unlikely allies; but still, on occasion, they worked together for a common cause, even if it was while throwing bitter glances. Friends.
Lovers.
His sobs had diminished to quiet, trembling sniffles, and even then, they were being smothered by the bite at Mikoto's lower lip. He bit, and bit hard, as he remembered Reisi's blade running through the bone of his sternum. He remembered the Blue's warm hand against his chest, and being supported as he faltered. Why hadn't he died?
Suoh's golden eyes, suddenly brimming with life and not just tears, but recognition. He panted, quietly, his heart racing but this time it didn't scare him. It thrilled him. It brought him life, one that he had lost up until however many minutes ago Reisi had reentered his life. Suddenly he felt too tight in his body, too small for the existence that was encased in his chest, and he felt himself spring and wrap strong arms around Reisi's comparatively smaller frame. He felt restless, lion's fangs bared, and before he knew it, he crushed hot lips against the other King's own with a force that was nearly enough to bruise.
Sloppy, fervent, desperate. And between the licking flames of frenzy, he rasped in a breathless voice that asked for no answers, but instead chastised himself entirely. "... Why did I forget?" His voice no longer broke at intervals, no longer wavered as it had before, but it carried that much more familiar drawl piqued only slightly with emotion. He was ... back.












