![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[dsrk/p5] words of the heart
The sunset is always most beautiful out on the pier. After a day of good fishing, good company, and coaxing fun facts about various aquatic mythologies and monsters out of Jouhei, Akira is in high spirits. The water is nice and cool on his bare toes and the silence that's settled between them is comfortable. They'll need to starting heading to the subway soon, but not yet. Akira is a gambler. He's willing to risk a race with the schedules if it means stretching out a few more moments of peace.
"When we moved into our house, we were told it was haunted," Jouhei says, suddenly and without provocation.
Akira focuses in immediately. He's come to learn that anything Johei offers freely, without prodding or prompting, tends to be the most important.
"I think, sometimes, it's half the reason my family bought it," Jouhei continues. His eyes are on the setting sun, its soft orange hues warming the color of his skin, but the distance of his gaze offsets what would otherwise be a lovely image. "We've never found a sign of restless spirits. No bumps in the night or creaks in the floorboards we could prove were anything other than foundation. No slamming doors or wailing voices in the halls." His voice dips, hushing as he admits, "Privately, I always thought that we were the ones haunting it."
Akira plays with a curl. He's never seen Johei's house, but from the things Johei has told him about the family, he's guessing it's within the range of big and rich. A place with too many doors and corners. "A maze instead of a home," he says, and is rewarded by a small, sad smile.
"I have one wing, my parents another, and the staff a third. When I was young my parents would walk me to bed and tuck me in. As I got older I was left to navigate it by myself, day and night. I've spent hours in that wing and forgotten I'm not the only soul in that house until a maid comes by to tidy up, or check that I've eaten. I was isolated at home, and with my busy schedule of school and training, I was isolated outside of it too."
He falls silent, staring at the ripples cast out by Akira's foot, tracing slow, idle circles in the water. Akira doesn't press him. With Jouhei, it's not a matter of needing prodding when he's started speaking, just a break now and then to collect his thoughts to his satisfaction. Akira watches him, keeps track of the minute shifts of Jouhei's expression, the tiny details that he can't hide. The silence spins out until Jouhei nods and finds his voice again.
"Then the flower shop got a new hire in." Jouhei finally looks up at him, and he treats Akira to a smile. One that's small but genuine, full of warmth, and Akira feels his heart constrict at the sight of it. It's truly unfair that the world saw fit to put a boy this beautiful in his life and make Jouhei absolutely unaware and uncaring of that fact. "Your friendship has meant a lot, Akira. Even outside of your advice. The smallest moments with you are..."
Jouhei's voice, for the first time that Akira can remember, falters. There's color on his face separate from the rays of the sun - a blush. Akira's heart skips a beat.
"They're precious to me," Jouhei admits, so quietly, so hesitantly that Akira is certain, without a shadow of a doubt, what he's actually saying.
> I should choose my words carefully...
> ...
Akira reaches out. His hand folds over Jouhei's, resting on the planks of the pier, his fingers finding the spaces between Jouhei's. His eyes are locked on Jouhei's, wide with open surprise.
"You're precious to me," Akira says, no hesitation. He smiles when Jouhei's blush deepens, when his fingers tighten around Akira's. "I would listen to you talk spooky to me all day because it meant being with you."
Jouhei's shock breaks in favor of something even more precious: a laugh. It's brief, but light and warm, and Akira knows he's going to dream the sweetest dreams tonight because he got to see and hear Jouhei laugh today. When Jouhei recovers, he leans into Akira's shoulder, eyes back on the water but his smile bright. Akira squeezes his hand and doesn't say anything else. Theres's nothing else that needs to be said.
In the end they have to full on sprint to the subway, carrying tackle and frozen fish. It's completely worth it.
"When we moved into our house, we were told it was haunted," Jouhei says, suddenly and without provocation.
Akira focuses in immediately. He's come to learn that anything Johei offers freely, without prodding or prompting, tends to be the most important.
"I think, sometimes, it's half the reason my family bought it," Jouhei continues. His eyes are on the setting sun, its soft orange hues warming the color of his skin, but the distance of his gaze offsets what would otherwise be a lovely image. "We've never found a sign of restless spirits. No bumps in the night or creaks in the floorboards we could prove were anything other than foundation. No slamming doors or wailing voices in the halls." His voice dips, hushing as he admits, "Privately, I always thought that we were the ones haunting it."
Akira plays with a curl. He's never seen Johei's house, but from the things Johei has told him about the family, he's guessing it's within the range of big and rich. A place with too many doors and corners. "A maze instead of a home," he says, and is rewarded by a small, sad smile.
"I have one wing, my parents another, and the staff a third. When I was young my parents would walk me to bed and tuck me in. As I got older I was left to navigate it by myself, day and night. I've spent hours in that wing and forgotten I'm not the only soul in that house until a maid comes by to tidy up, or check that I've eaten. I was isolated at home, and with my busy schedule of school and training, I was isolated outside of it too."
He falls silent, staring at the ripples cast out by Akira's foot, tracing slow, idle circles in the water. Akira doesn't press him. With Jouhei, it's not a matter of needing prodding when he's started speaking, just a break now and then to collect his thoughts to his satisfaction. Akira watches him, keeps track of the minute shifts of Jouhei's expression, the tiny details that he can't hide. The silence spins out until Jouhei nods and finds his voice again.
"Then the flower shop got a new hire in." Jouhei finally looks up at him, and he treats Akira to a smile. One that's small but genuine, full of warmth, and Akira feels his heart constrict at the sight of it. It's truly unfair that the world saw fit to put a boy this beautiful in his life and make Jouhei absolutely unaware and uncaring of that fact. "Your friendship has meant a lot, Akira. Even outside of your advice. The smallest moments with you are..."
Jouhei's voice, for the first time that Akira can remember, falters. There's color on his face separate from the rays of the sun - a blush. Akira's heart skips a beat.
"They're precious to me," Jouhei admits, so quietly, so hesitantly that Akira is certain, without a shadow of a doubt, what he's actually saying.
> I should choose my words carefully...
> ...
Akira reaches out. His hand folds over Jouhei's, resting on the planks of the pier, his fingers finding the spaces between Jouhei's. His eyes are locked on Jouhei's, wide with open surprise.
"You're precious to me," Akira says, no hesitation. He smiles when Jouhei's blush deepens, when his fingers tighten around Akira's. "I would listen to you talk spooky to me all day because it meant being with you."
Jouhei's shock breaks in favor of something even more precious: a laugh. It's brief, but light and warm, and Akira knows he's going to dream the sweetest dreams tonight because he got to see and hear Jouhei laugh today. When Jouhei recovers, he leans into Akira's shoulder, eyes back on the water but his smile bright. Akira squeezes his hand and doesn't say anything else. Theres's nothing else that needs to be said.
In the end they have to full on sprint to the subway, carrying tackle and frozen fish. It's completely worth it.