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The window was barely opened, letting a slight blow get into the room. It has been about ten minutes since Kenji started telling Jouno how he and Tecchou had found him.
He told him everything he could remember. From their "nap" to the moment they found his body lying on the floor, almost dead.
Jouno listened to the young man. Their fight didn't really interest him, but at this point the farmer was the only one who visited him so he didn't have anything better to do anyway.
It was in fact not true. There was someone else that was in the room with them. And that someone was no other than the brunette, asleep, his head lying on the bed, next to the blonde's leg.
When Jouno woke up, a few hours earlier, he was surprised with a hand in his. The brunette, already asleep at the time, was holding him. The blonde's cheeks quickly turned red as he realized what was happening. His blushing ass didn't know what to do and after some time just threw his hand away. He love the idea of keeping it but the fact that he even touched his partner in a - almost - romantic way made his heart go crazy and fuck it ! How he hated it.
He hated being overflowed with that much emotions and despised it the most when it was something he didn't know yet. The brunette was the only one able to make him feel like that and that made him hate every interaction they had as much as he liked them.
A stream of thoughts were mixing up in his head, just ending up confusing him more. All that was starting to make Jouno go crazy, he needed to move, to do something.
Luckily, Kenji arrived only a few minutes later, saving him from his situation and his thoughts that he definitively didn't want to have. The young blonde, after a fast introduction, sat down next to Jouno. He then quickly started his tale that wasn't yet finished.
After spending another five minutes telling his story, it seemed to be the end of it. The young boy had told him everything for as far as he could remember. Although, Jouno seemed unsettled by something.
He knew his partner and as much as he hated him, he still knew his values and his reactions facing such situations. And such things didn't resemble Tecchou. Why on earth would he get himself in such fights even though the "right" thing to do was to prioritize the vampires' execution ?
Jouno thought about it a lot but didn't get any answer from it, he didn't understand. Why would he end up fighting the farmer ?
The boy, realizing the look on Jouno's face, asked him about it.
- Is everything alright Jouno-san ?
- Yes.
- Do you have a question about the fight ? Feel free to ask if you do !
Jouno was about to decline his offer when he resigned himself to do so, his curiosity taking over. He wanted to know.
- Do you remember if this asshole explained why he started fighting with you ?
- Yes of course ! I thought I already told you, I'm sorry !
And so, Kenji started his explanation. It wasn't that long but it was enough to disturb Jouno and his mind. He wasn't prepared for that answer.
- Tecchou-san fought me to get you back ! I think he talked about something lie.. Nobody understand you, and that you're a hero too !
Jouno was left speechless. Surprise was not enough of a word to tell what he felt after that.
He agreed with the 'nobody understand him' part but why in the hell was it that bastard Tecchou that was telling him that ? Was he implying that he understood him ?
And, him, Jouno, a hero ? He probably was one for some people he helped, but to call him that... It was too big for him. He didn't deserve to be called that.
His head was a mess. He was still trying to understand Tecchou's point but was not succeeding. To Jouno, the brunette was the person who embodied the most justice itself. So why would he choose to fight the kid instead of following justice ?
He really didn't get it and it annoyed him so much.
- That bastard..
- He also taked about something else. He said that you were more important than justice, Jouno-san !
Jouno's fist clenched when he heard those words. Even though he was previously confused, not knowing how to react and think of it, he was now furious. He was furious with Tecchou, furious with the justice, furious with Fukuchi, but most of all, he was furious with himself.
Since when did Tecchou think of him that highly ? Since when was he so important for the brunette that he placed him above justice ? Was he that important for him that he chose to sacrifice his and many other's lives to find him ?
As he was understanding everything that the situation was implying, Jouno was just getting angrier. He didn't know why, he was just angry. He wanted to shake Tecchou with all his strength and shout at him, telling him how dumb all of that was.
This fool didn't even take the time to think about the possible outcomes of the situation. If Fukuchi had been the one falling onto them he would have understood that Tecchou was now with the agency. He probably wouldn't be alive as they were now speaking...
Just thinking about that enraged Jouno. Tecchou was a complete moron. He hated him.
- Could I also know why you're here, spending your time with me ? Wouldn't you be better in your friends' rooms ?
It seems that he cares about you a lot, Jouno-san. You are lucky to have a friend like him ! I wanted to make sure you were aware of the whole story, everything he made for you !
Jouno didn't answer. He didn't have the strength to do so. Earing all that somehow made him feel so weak.
Silence fell in the room, leaving Jouno with nothing else than the annoyingly loud heartbeat of the farmer for only sound. After some time, Kenji decided to finally get up. He saluted the other man before leaving the room.
Jouno sighed. He could still hear the heartbeat he was listening for almost an hour. It lasted for a few more seconds before vanishing away, relaxing him a bit. He was left alone in the room. Alone with Tecchou, who was sleeping.
Even though he was alone, he wasn't relaxed. His thoughts from earlier didn't leave him and he was still mad at Tecchou. That dumbass got himself in a shitty situation that he didn't approve at all. The situation could have turned really bad, he shouldn't have taken that much risks. At least, not for him.
God. How he wanted to smack the shit out of him.
Putting aside his remaining anger, other emotions took over, curiosity over all. He needed to know why Tecchou did what he did. He wanted to understand. What did he have that was so special in his eyes ? How could he put him above justice ?
He had too many questions but he knew almost none of them would get any answer. Even so, there was one that was stuck in his head and he couldn't distract himself from it.
Why was he so happy to hear about what Tecchou did for him ? Why did the idea of being close to him made his heart go crazy ? Why did he want so bad to brush the brunette's hair when he saw him sleep so peacefully ?
He didn't exactly know why but his hand was already dangerously close to his friend's head. And before he even realized it, his hand was losing itself in his partner's hair. He was stuned realizing how soft it was, he surprised himself feeling happy about it.
- What the fuck...
He quickly took his hand away from Tecchou. Did he really put his hand in... HIS hair ?
He couldn't think straight. His cheeks started heating up. The thought of replacing his hand on top of his partner's head didn't leave him and he had to restrain himself not to do it.
He hated himself so much. He hated this feeling. He hated Tecchou.
And then, just like that, he understood.
The feeling he was experiencing for so long. That was it.. It definitively was love.
God. He hated it. He hated whatever it was implying.
Why, of all the people living on this damn planet, was it HIM ? Did he really have to fall for.. that ?
- Jouno ?
Tecchou's voice made him jump. Too concentrated on his own heartbeat, he didn't hear his friend's changing, informing him that he was awake. It usually never happened to him. Curse you Tecchou Suehiro, he thought.
- Is everything alright ? You are paler than usual. I'll go take a nurse.
- Stay here.
- What ?
- I'm fine. Stay here.
Jouno relaxed a bit when he heard Tecchou sitting down next to him. However, he couldn’t relax much when he felt the weight of the brunette’s gaze on him. He was analyzing him, his reactions, carefully making sure nothing was wrong.
Jouno took that time to calm himself down. Even though he just understood something that would change his whole life, he didn’t want the first one involved to notice it. The last thing he wanted to do was to worry him. What he wanted, he actually knew what it was and he was about to get it.
- Tecchou, you dumbass.
- Huh ?
- What got to your head ?
- You're sure you're good, Jouno ?
- I am.
- Then what are you talking about ?
- Since when am I more important than justice ? Where the fuck does that even come from ?
- Oh, you're already aware.
- Yeah, the kid told me.
- That's good.
- Do you intend to reply me ?
Tecchou nodded before giving his answer.
- I know that, as a member of the Hunting Dogs, I should have followed the path of justice. But, at that moment, I just realized that you were more important. You were higher.
- Elaborate.
- I live to serve justice. But I think that, if one day I have to stop doing so, I would survive.
- What’s the link with me ?
- I thought you would have guess it yourself.
Jouno lost his patience and grasped Tecchou’s collar, elevating him a few centimeters higher than the floor. The brunette started worrying and asked him to put him back on the floor. He hadn’t fully recovered yet, it wasn’t a good idea. The blonde ignored him and lifted him higher. He wanted answers to his questions.
- Stop making fucking fun of me and speak.
- We can talk about that on the floor too, you know.
- Speak.
- Okay. So I was saying... Yeah, I think I would survive without serving justice, but the idea of losing you just terrify me. I think that without you I wouldn’t be able to survive.
Jouno could hear his friend’s heart beat faster and faster. His didn’t take long before joining his pace, slowly assimilating what he had just been told. He wasn’t sure, with Tecchou, that what he told him was what he thought it was so he chose not to think about it and just let go of his collar.
- What are you saying ? You’re the strongest of us four and you know it. Why the fuck wouldn’t you survive without me ?
- Jouno. I wasn’t saying that in that way.
- Well be more specific !
Jouno was between two states. He was angry at the brunette but at the same time, he wanted to know if Tecchou would tell him what he wanted to hear.
When he heard the brunette’s heart race so fast, he thought that maybe he was going too far. But he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad when he imagined the man’s face turning red. And because he was busy with his mind imagining it, Jouno didn’t prepare himself well enough to what he was about to hear.
- I love you.
The sentence was out, without a warning. Jouno was so surprised he almost choked. Tecchou, seeing the other man coughing, got closer to him and started to pat his shoulder in attempt to help him.
- Jouno ! Are you okay ?!
His cough stopped. He tried to calm himself before answering him, as calm as he could.
- Yes, it’s okay. It just caught me off guard. You can go on.
- I said that I love you.
- What’s your fucking problem ? Seriously ?!
Jouno hit him, clearly flustered. How could this guy tell him that as if he told him about his day ? Tecchou knew what was coming for him so he just dodged the move and answered him, a bit lost.
- Is it your way to reject me ? No need to hit me, I would have taken it well if you only told me you didn’t like me, you know.
- I hate you.
Silence fell once again in the room. Tecchou turned to the window to look outside, waiting for his friend to start talking again. Jouno couldn’t answer yet. The brunette’s heartbeat was bothering him, he couldn’t think straight. He knew he had hurt him so he had to make up for his mistake. He had to find something to erase the misunderstanding. This, however, meant that Jouno had to talk about his feelings and he never really knew how to talk about those things. It was new to him.
But, for once, he would take it upon himself. He didn’t want to hurt the one he loved. He didn’t want to let him leave his side when he could tell him how he really felt. He just had to do it.
- You know, I…
He took his time to breath a bit, still not realizing what he was about to say.
- I love you.
- What.. ?
- I won’t repeat. You heard what I said.
- Jouno !
Tecchou rushed to his “friend” and embraced him awkwardly. Jouno, at first surprised by the move, didn’t return the embrace. When he was aware of the hug happening, he moved his hands in his partner’s back and placed his chin on his shoulder.
- Do you want to go out with me ?
- I thought it was pretty obvious.
- Huh ?
- Do you really think I would have bothered saying all.. that, if I didn’t want to go out with you? Dumbass.
- So, does that mean that you’re now my boyfriend ?
- You understand what being a couple means, congrats. Now, will you let go of me ? You are suffocating me.
- Sorry.
Tecchou broke the embrace and distanced himself from a few steps, letting his boyfriend room to breath. Jouno smiled at him and sat up on the bed.
- Lay down, you need to rest.
- It’s good ! It’s not like I’m gonna melt, I’ll survive. Come here.
He patted the bed at his side, inviting the brunette to sit down. So he did. The two of them were then in the same posture. Sat in front of the window, their hands on the mattress, their body relying on it. It was nice.
Jouno, who decided that it was too much feelings for the day, changed the subject. After all, he spent some time in his vampire form, he had a lot of questions for Tecchou. They then spent the next few hours talking about whatever they wanted to. Sometime it was silent and sometime they would start a fight.
They were happy.
Happy to finally be together.
Happy to know they wouldn’t get separated again.
As they were talking, their hands got closer to the other’s, as if they were magnetized. Tecchou realized their closure the first and just slipped his hand in Jouno’s.
Now that their hands were intertwined, they started talking about the future. What would happen for the Hunting Dogs ? What would they become ?
- I guess Teruko will soon get promoted as the new Commander. Well, if the government still has faith in us… With Fukuchi’s betrayal they’ll probably shut our division down.
- I wonder if we’ll work together again.
- What kind of question is that. You’re my partner, right ? As much as I hate to admit it, we do work pretty well together and they know it. We won’t get separated.
- I hope we’ll be able to go on missions together, it would be nice.
The sky was pretty this night. There was no cloud, only stars were apparent. The moon was a full one and it made just enough light to illuminate the room. A shooting star appeared and Jouno answered his – now – boyfriend with a soft smile on the lips.
- Yeah.. it would be nice.
The head full of promises and the heart lighter, it didn’t get too long before both of them fell asleep, one next to the other, one hand in the other's.
This day, this date was the beginning of a lot of exciting stories that they couldn’t wait to live, together.