[closed]

[deontology]

Who: Sousei and Tenka
When: 10/25 ; night
Where: their currently shared apartment
What: There's a lot of canon to catch up on. Alcohol definitely makes that much worse better
Rating/Warning: drunk people, Manpain

[Living with Tenka is simultaneously really, really familiar and also a little irritatingly different. Cutting contact for years will do that, he supposes--but nonetheless, as easily as they fall back into the groove of being partners, there's still a lot under the surface that needs to be said.

Neither of them wants to say it, though.

Sousei still doesn't like this place, certainly, and has no intentions of playing along with them--but at the very least, acting as a kendo instructor is calming. It's familiar, and separate from all of this futuristic nonsense, and while he's doing his best to adapt, it isn't bad to have something very like home to ground him.

There's that, and there's Tenka.

So when he gets home from said work, he expects it to be another night of them trying and failing to return to the place they were before, when all they had had to do was be partners, and the understanding came right along with it.]

Comments

[sunshrouded]

And you criticize the gifts that people get you! Where'd your manners go, Sousei? Mom and Dad would-

[ 'cry' is how he intended on finishing that sentence.

.... Except he knows that it's so much of a lie that he can't even joke about it. Tenka pauses for a moment, letting the joke go by unfinished as he thinks about it. Honestly, he'd been mulling over a toast since he realized that it was Sousei's birthday but... what can he say?

It's been ten years.

Ten years of separation that Tenka caused because he abandoned the Yamainu. Ten years where they weren't partners. And yet after those ten years, here they are - sitting at a table and celebrating Sousei's birthday like those ten years didn't happen. Even if it's not entirely forgiveness yet, Sousei is choosing to deal with Tenka again.

That's more that Tenka deserves and he knows it.

So he turns his gaze to his drink and then lifts it.]

Alright, whatever, nevermind - let's do the toast. Lift yours too, birthday boy.

[deontology]

[Mom and dad, huh.... he'd always been on his best behavior around Tenka's parents. But then--they'd been kind to him. They'd taken him in, and Kumou-sensei had been his master in swordplay and everything he'd aspire to be...alongside Tenka's dream.

... No, he would never not appreciate a gift in front of them. But they are dead too--"too", except that Tenka is right here talking to him.

...Slowly, he lifts his cup, expression flat and eyes narrowed--if only to hide the fact that otherwise, he'd look a little too sad.]

...Fine.

[sunshrouded]

[Tenka watches Sousei for a moment, expression carefully neutral. He tilts his head before a laugh escapes him - he chuckles.]

I've never seen someone so unhappy about being celebrated.

[Still though, he considers his words before he grins. Because despite everything - despite the years of separation, despite the stiltedness of information not yet shared between them, despite the fact that he's still not sure if Sousei even likes him - today is the day that Tenka gets to celebrate his partner.

Someone who he can proudly call his partner, at that. Everything else outside their door is confusing but this? This is a little awkward and not entirely fixed, but it's still more than he ever could've asked for. This is still somehow easy.]

Ah well - today, on the day of Abe no Sousei's birth, a toast! To the most feared, respected, and secretly caring underneath all the layers of ice captain in all of Japan - and I guess here too. I haven't met many captains but I guess I'd still vouch for you.

[He pauses and then with less bravado, he smiles and says honestly-]

And to my partner. [ . . . ] Mom and Dad would be proud, I think.

[With that, he moves to clang their cups against each other-]

Cheers!

[deontology]

[...What kind of a toast is that? That's what he wants to say, honestly. Ice captain? Feared? Respected? Where has Tenka been getting this information? What nonsense is he spouting?

...But then he continues, and very abruptly, there's nothing Sousei can say.

Would they be proud? Everything is a mess now. Tenka... Sousei allowed Tenka to be executed, and by the government's hands instead of his own, as he'd promised so many years ago. Would they be proud?

He doubts it, somehow. But automatically, he allows his cup to knock lightly against Tenka's anyway, and he supposes that he's accepting the toast in the end by doing that, but he's also not cruel enough to not respond in kind.

And he takes a drink to forestall having to say anything, and swallows the bitterness that he's feeling to turn his gaze to Tenka instead. He doesn't know what to say still, so in the end--]

Thank you.

[In the end, he supposes he can thank him for the toast, no matter how much of it he believes. Because...hearing it from Tenka still makes Sousei think that perhaps, it may have someday been able to be true.

And because he'd thought they would never celebrate their birthdays together again, and yet, here they are. so in a way, maybe he's thanking Tenka simply for being alive.]

[sunshrouded]

[Drinking with Sousei is a lot like drinking with Shirasu, Tenka thinks. They both deal with whatever comes out of his mouth even if it's not always the most wise thing and sometimes they get a look on their face that Tenka's not sure how to interpret.

Nonetheless, Tenka doesn't think he said a lie. He trusts Sousei and he knows for a fact that he's pretty feared. Respected too, considering the fact that the Yamainu are even still together. They lost their captain and their teacher both after the incident so long ago, after all. Sousei is the reason they're still together - because Sousei stepped up to the plate when Tenka couldn't.

As for everything else - Sousei is his partner. And of everything, Sousei's part is probably the only one that wasn't a colossal mistake. Sousei always moved forward, sure of himself as he ever was, where Tenka continued to make one shady bargain after another to secure what only ended up as temporary happiness.

Sousei was able to keep everything together. Tenka can't even pretend to make the same claim.

So after he takes his drink, he just shrugs.]

No problem. What else am I good for?

[deontology]

[wow tenka stop comparing your pretty boyfriends???

What else is Tenka good for, though...... somehow, the question irritates him, and for a lack of anything better to be able to do, he takes another angry drink of his sake, even if, for a long moment, he's still not looking at Tenka.]

Self-deprecation does not suit you. I don't want to hear it from you.

[He doesn't want to hear the person who gave all of them their dreams saying he's good for nothing.

What good are all of them, if Tenka is good for nothing?]

[sunshrouded]

[there's a lot of similarities what do you expect him to do

Though at the sharpness of the comment, Tenka is visibly surprised. Admittedly his moments of self-deprecation are rare, though they do comment out more often when he's thinking about his parents. Because in truth, he has no idea if his parents would be proud of him-

But people pleaser that he is, he just snorts and takes another drink.]

Is that your wish for the day?

[Also considering how thoroughly Sousei is going through his sake, Tenka's not really hesitating to pour him some more.]

[deontology]

[He's going through it so thoroughly because he has to deal with Tenka like this and it's!!! Irritating!!!!

But he just huffs a sharp breath at that, and even rolls his eyes. Calm and collected captain of the Yamainu, where did you go.......]

Of course you would want my birthday wish to involve you.

[YOU'RE ALWAYS SO SELF-CENTERED, TENKA.]

Even when we were younger, it was always that way. [PLS.]

[sunshrouded]

[is this the only way that you can stomach his presence, sousei. through drinking. that's so insulting he doesn't even know where to begin

BUT HONESTLY AT THAT HE'S JUST HUFFING

and also not watching his words]

Yeah, but you were a total stick in the mud without me! You definitely needed me around.

[deontology]

[This is at least familiar. It means that all of that irritation and anger and heartbreak are just (temporarily) shoved under the rug, but...well.

At least this means that some things never change.]

There has been nothing wrong with how I've been.

[OKAY...]

Your perception of things isn't the only one that matters, you know.

[Someone has to be the stick in the mud here...........]

[sunshrouded]

Yeah yeah, but if I left you alone, you'd have just been doing calligraphy and studying all the time!

[and now instead Sousei hates wasabi and has experienced being chased around with poop at least once in his life

you're welcome]

I don't know what you're complaining about. With my help, I think you turned out pretty good!

[you're welcome x2 combo]

[deontology]

[Excuse????

Sousei legitimately sets down his drink to give Tenka the most incredulous look.]

With your help? Don't overestimate your importance! [SHEESH] I'm sure Sasaki would be far from amused to hear that from you!

[Look, their lady bestie is terrifying and her support and protection is also part of what made Sousei into who he is.]

[sunshrouded]

[WHOA HOLD ON THERE NOW-]

Wait, wait - I didn't say it was all me! C'mon, don't badmouth me to Kiiko! That's not fair!

[IT'S OBVIOUS WHO KIIKO WOULD BELIEVE]

[deontology]

[It's also obvious who strikes the fear of god into Tenka and it's not Sousei.

But Sousei is honestly pretty content at that.

HA.

THAT'S WHAT HE THOUGHT.

So he picks up his drink again, calmer now.]

It's simply telling her the truth. What actions she takes from there are her own.

[Except they both know that Kiiko's actions will always be punting Kumous who are mean to Souseis.]

[sunshrouded]

That's not telling her the truth! No duh I'm glad she went with you!

Probably would've been hopeless and twice as gloomy on your own.

[KIIKO IS IMPORTANT, TENKA WILL ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE THIS]

[deontology]

[WOW........ HOW DID THIS COME BACK AROUND TO INSULTING HIM

RUDE????]

I won't deny that I'm glad she has been there as well, but you're still overestimating yourself.

[HMPH]

[sunshrouded]

Didn't you tell me just to stop underestimating myself?!

[sousei plz]

Pick one, birthday brat!

[deontology]

[TCH]

Now you decide to listen to me.

[OF COURSE.]

[sunshrouded]

Well, I was trying and then you brought Kiiko into it!

[and that just started a whole 'nother conversation]

You play dirty, Sousei!!

[deontology]

[WELL...]

Are you really surprised...

[A huff, faint.]

Didn't you comment on that earlier? [When they saw each other again......after ten years...]

[sunshrouded]

What - quick and dirty?

[Yeah, no he remembers. He thought it was a clever joke.]

I mean, it was accurate. You just knocked out that serial killer in a blink of an eye! It was brutal!

[deontology]

[you're not clever, tenka]

And you were playing with a dangerous murderer.

[WHY...]

You should have known better. I shouldn't have to cover for your mistakes. [But he will. Always.]

[sunshrouded]

I knew what I was doing!

[Sort of. Except honestly now, Tenka's taking a drink of sake and even though he can already feel the warmth and his words getting looser from it, he's still just as honest and earnest as ever-]

I mean, the guy was against the whole government! What do you think would happen if you just tossed him into jail without anything? It would've just gotten worse. Then there'd be no saving him!

[as in yes, tenka thought that he could save him. but tenka thinks that about everybody]

[deontology]

[Sousei is quiet for a long moment.

Yes, he knows that Tenka always wants to save everyone. As the Yamainu, their job was to protect Japan as a whole, and that includes people like Naoto. And yet...

Sousei's tone is flat, but his expression is hooded as he focuses instead of his drink.]

Kagami Naoto escaped prison, returned to the shrine, and kidnapped Chuutarou.

[Do you know, Tenka? Do you know what happened, in the end? He's not sure, but he thinks that he should. There's no judgement passed on Tenka's way of thinking.

He's just giving Tenka all of the facts, at this point.]

[sunshrouded]

He did what?!

[That should answer the question of whether or not Tenka knew.

Along with the exclamation, he's standing rather abruptly - on his feet in no more than a second, looking shocked and disturbed and more than that, worried.]

He took Chuutarou?!

[He looks ready to bolt for the door, although they've already confirmed that there's no way to get back home immediately. But Tenka wants to - god, does he want to.]