Make Up or Break Up
Hearing such a bold statement, large watery eyes reopened, apprehensive for any unexpected surprise that might be sprung, any turnaround which might follow as had been the case the last time.
But nothing of the sort - instead, the very same encouragement that had been iterated the last time he’d done something drastic at the cost of their happiness. The very same which he had affirmed to Kai and had turned onto him when he was guilty of making the same decisions.
That they were there to share the burden of the great weight on his shoulders. They were coming back, one by one, and banding together in Hive City as opposed to Hitsue, the same rules applied. And Naoki himself had opted not to be any different than had been the norm back home.
What had happened between them months earlier had been a terrible misunderstanding stemming from one of the Scientists’ trials.
He’d still to learn to allow others to help him, in the same way he was so eager to the same for everyone else. His troubles, his fears and problems - they needn’t be kept secret and eat away at him from the inside out.
Though conquering such a bad habit, he knew, was going to take time. But knowing Naoki’s honest feelings would be a great help in getting back on the right track of righting himself. There were things he still couldn’t bring himself to talk about, but perhaps smaller problems might be resolved in the mean time, and he could piece himself together again one day.
An arm around him pressed him more firmly against Naoki’s frame, flooding his eyes with tears that trickled down and rested his brow against the older’s shoulder. Not the audible cries that would be standard for most, but the silence that was for him, sharp inhales and trembles in Naoki’s embrace.
“I don’t want us to get separated again. I’m sorry… It’s all been so distant, I feel lost and can’t find the way or who to go to”.
Finally, after all that time, Naoki had gotten to speak his piece. A weight he knew that had settled there for the long haul had been lifted, and he somehow felt...free.
He’d let the his words sink in, only to realize that Aichi was crying into his shoulder. Those sharp intakes of breath, Aichi really did have a lot of pent up emotions, didn’t he? Naoki wouldn’t move, letting Aichi remain where he was, getting whatever was raggin’ him out of his system.
“Ya finally told me, Aichi.”
“It’s hard, admittin' what ya said, but...ya did yer best. And now ya gotta do yer very best. Yer not gonna separate from us, even if yer scared that’ll happen.”
“Ya always kept those words bottled up, didn’t ya? If everythin’ for ya seems to be down an’ out, do ya honestly think ya can’t overcome it? Or rather...do ya think we can’t overcome it? Like it or not, yer stuck with us, and together we’ll get over any obstacle.”
His words were a little gruff, but gentle and kind. That may have been Naoki’s true nature all along, but only a few had ever seen that. Most would look at him as some kind of suspicious character at first glance, but...he always meant the best.
And he was never one to abandon someone on his own free will.
“Ya got us. We’re always willing to listen to ya, but if we’re not enough, yanno Gaillard counts for us too, right? I know I’ve hurt ya before because of this city...that ain’t gonna happen again. Not ever.”
There was conviction in his voice--he truly believed in what he’d said. His next words, however, were warm. He was...glad to have his friend back. He hadn’t been rejected as someone never to be trusted again. And he’d fight to protect that, no matter what.
“No matter how difficult things get, we’ll get through them, together. Relying on us isn’t using us, so let us help carry yer burden. Let’s find yer future, Aichi. No matter how dark it looks now, we’ll make sure yer future is a bright one.”
“Imagine it--let us be yer vanguard. With us by yer side, ya won’t lose.”
