will you be there up on the shore

[shiro2hero]

Who: Shiro (shiro2hero ) & Adam (saltyadam )
What: A beachside Reunion
When: Early November
Where: The Shores

Content Warnings: Squid-related nudity

Today is one of those days he would have preferred to spend in the Orphanage. It's bitter cold, the sky a solid slab of steel grey, hanging low toward the buildings. Sure, he'd graduated to one of the heavier coats sold around town - but the wing keeps howling through the fabric. Cutting into it off the ocean.

Should have guessed it'd be brutal out here today.

Regardless, Shiro is once again patrolling the shores. He's seen new faces crop up on the network lately. It's that time of the month. He'd promised more than a few people he'd keep an eye out for their loved ones. It's the least he can do, considering he'd failed to bring his own across. Those thoughts aren't going anywhere any time soon. Not even after Vyng yanked him out of the surf and out of his head.

Or out of potential Return Of The Squid anyway.

He stops for a moment, pulling his hands out of his pockets to try and blow some warmth into his left hand. Maybe he should turn around. Maybe he should go back to the Orphanage and play jungle gym for the kids for a while. That'd help.

It looked as if there weren't many new arrivals today. Maybe even the squids were too cold.

One more failure of a day to add to the list, looked like.

Comments

[shiro2hero]

He sighs, slowly, heavily. Breathe - focus. "I'm sorry. I know. I know - I just hoped waking up would be easier. You know?"

Less nightmares. Fewer horrors. They're not so lucky, apparently.

Then, silence. The tension creeps back into his body, hands curling again, while he fights the urge to roll over. Away. Avoid this. He said he'd work on it. He said he'd try.

"... Yeah," he manages, through set jaw. "There is."

[saltyadam]

"Hey, it's just me. It's alright. You're allowed to be mad, upset. To feel cheated by this place. You have been."

Adam stiffens too. He smooths a hand across Takashis back, rubbing in slow circles.

".. ah." His jaw clenches. "So much for this being a more peaceful place."

He didn't want Takashi anywhere near that arena.

[shiro2hero]

"Guess it was too much to hope for. Things getting better." Him being allowed to be mad? That sounds fake. That sounds like something he can't accept.

Not yet.

"I - " For a moment his shoulders pull away. Pull back from the contact. Like he's worried about something. About the reaction. "I never wanted to be there. I didn't try. I swear, I just... I woke up there. Like the beach."

But there's no scolding. There's just the offer of comfort. He stops fighting the touch, finally.

[saltyadam]

"Takashi, I know. I believe you." He can't imagine a world where Takashi would enter a battle ring willingly. Not unless he had no other choice.

He continues to rub his back.

"Was it just you there?"

[shiro2hero]

Another deep breath. Slowly forcing himself to relax by degrees. All right... no arguments here. He really hadn't been seeking out dangerous situations here. They found their way to him.

A shake of his head.

"I don't really remember." He'd blanked out for a good chunk of time. "Someone - I had to fight someone. Peter got me out, in the end."

[saltyadam]

Adam nods absently, hoping he's able to keep the angry tension out of his body language. He's seething, simmering with rage towards this place that dared to put Takashi in such an overwhelmingly traumatic situation.

He owed Peter a fruit basket too.

"I'm glad he got you out," He manages. "And thank you for telling me. On my way in it felt..." He hesitated. "It was like this place was convincing me this was a fresh start. Somewhere peaceful. I'll be more careful now."

[shiro2hero]

Irrationally, for a moment, his brain tells him the anger he can feel from the other side of the bed is his fault. That he’s gone and screwed up again - broken a promise, overstepped - feelings he hasn’t had in a long time. It’s irrational.

At least he knows that much now.

“The locals are better,” he says, a quiet thread of hope finally back in the words. “The people from Trench. They really do like us, for once. No one… gives any of us a second glance for being anything other than a Sleeper.”

They don’t care his arm is metal. They don’t care Will has a boyfriend. Or that people are more color than pale paper white.

That’s a step up. At least.

[saltyadam]

Adam is a deeply cynical man. He didn't trust Deerington and he doesn't trust this place, especially after hearing how it hurt Takashi. He's waiting for that kindness to vanish, to find out they have some nefarious reason for being decent.

But Takashi is already so tired. He can't bear to take this from him. So he tucks the suspicion back inside himself and nods.

"There's that at least. Hey, we might even count as legally married here then."

[shiro2hero]

It's been a long few months. Longer than even the start of the Dream. At least then, he hadn't known how many people were gone. How much he was missing, aside from his team.

Now... things are starting to slot back into place. Starting to patch themselves together again. He's grateful for the agreement, even if it's only on the surface, and squeezes their joined hands again.

"Still not upset it wasn't a normal wedding?"

Something lighter. Something teasing, gently.

[saltyadam]

Adam snorts.

"After you asked me out in a McDonald's bathroom? Never. We have standards to maintain."

He leans in a bit closer, propping his chin against Takashis shoulder.

"I've never been one for big shows anyway. And you have way too many friends to fit into any one building."

[shiro2hero]

He feels it - the last unease, the last tension finally fading out. Finally relaxing to nothing. This is real. This is happening.

"Kind of thought a greenhouse was a step up from restrooms."

Somewhat, anyway.

"Not going to apologize for friendships..." Even though he knows it's not necessary.

[saltyadam]

"Greenhouses are good. Better when the world isn't ending though."

He sighs dramatically.

"Do you have to be friends with absolutely everyone though? How many children have you adopted at this point?"

[shiro2hero]

"We could ask Eddie for another go... if you want."

Does Eddie even have a greenhouse, here? He's not sure. But he doesn't want to break the mood in the room right now.

"Same number," he admits, with good humor. "Plus one. You'll like him. He reminds me of us. Him and the friend he talks about all the time." A beat. "If we were musicians, not astronomy nerds."

[saltyadam]

Adam blinks, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye.

He speaks slowly.

Deliberately.

"Takashi. You're good at math. I know you are. The same plus one is more. Not the same."

1/2

[shiro2hero]

Shiro's silent. Staring at him, and trying his best to keep a straight face. To defend what he'd just said.

"That's why I said same plus one - "

[shiro2hero]

No, he can't keep that up. Not beyond that single statement. Then he's starting to curl up. Starting to turn into that cooked shrimp shape.

"... I ... I missed that look on your face."

Yeah, he's laughing now.

[saltyadam]

It's the first real laugh he'd gotten out of Takashi since he arrived, and it earns him a kiss.

"I'm sure I have no idea what face you're talking about," he answers primly.

[shiro2hero]

He all but sinks into it, in return, exhaling. It's... lighter. Everything feels lighter. One person he didn't let down. One promise he's been able to keep.

"Yeah, you do. You know exactly which face."

[saltyadam]

He feels warmer, somehow. Like he's been in a drafty room and suddenly the heater kicked on. All he wants to do is sink into their blankets, tangled around his husband, watching him remember who he is.

"Hmm. No idea at all, I'm afraid. You'll have to show me."

[shiro2hero]

Honestly, after the last month, he'd been so genuinely ready to believe he'd done nothing right. He'd lost too much to be of any worth - and the pulse in his blood hadn't helped, if anything, it had reinforced it all.

It's hard to believe he won't wake up tomorrow and find this all slipped through his grasp.

But he'll take it, right now. Take that familiar smile and the threads they built back up into something whole. Maybe... there's finally a real chance.

"Hey, I've got time. Don't I?"

[saltyadam]

Adam chuckles, kissing the corner of his mouth.

"You married me, remember? You're pretty much stuck with me forever. That's the whole marriage deal."

[shiro2hero]

It's been too long - says part of his mind. It's been five minutes - says the other. Maybe five minutes is too long, after thinking things had fallen apart again. That he'd left again.

He turns his head. Leans into that kiss.

"Yeah... yeah, I did. Finally."

[saltyadam]

He reaches up to brush back a stray hair, pushing it against the side of Takashi's head like he could make it stay there through sheer force of will. Then again, his will had gotten him through a lot.

"Sleep with me?"

[shiro2hero]

"Yeah."

It's like permission. Like a single question has finally given him the okay to just... rest. Just stop.

"Yeah, that's... that sounds good."

It's been a while.

[saltyadam]

Another gentle kiss to his temple. Whatever else was going on could be dealt with in the morning.

He slides his arm under Takashi's, looping it through to his back so he could pull him in tight. He tangles their legs together. They're inseparable.

"Thank you."