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]

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."

[shiro2hero]

He's already relaxing, and feels himself slot in wherever there's space. Wherever works. Things suddenly just... they feel easier. Doable.

"Hm?"

Though he can't help but ask. Lift his head to peer at him.

"For what?"

[saltyadam]

For waiting for him all this time. For keeping himself together. For being such a good man. For loving him even when it wasn't easy. For doing his best to take care of himself. For having an impossibly, infuriatingly large heart.

Adam exhales.

"For being you."

[shiro2hero]

There's something there. Under that pause, that exhale. Shiro doesn't answer for a minute, just studying him - like he's going to memorize that face all over again.

"Yeah, well, someone has to."

A lame comeback, but it's full of affection.

"Get some rest."

[saltyadam]

Adam feels himself drift, only grunting at the terrible line. He chose this.

"You too."

[shiro2hero]

One more thing before he slots himself back into place. Back into where he should be.

He, very carefully, removes Adam's glasses. Setting them on the side table.

Where they should be.