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Takemichi won. Mikey—Invincible Mikey lost.
It felt like an end to a story.
As Chifuyu and the others drown him in cheers and screams. Mikey's could only watch in disbelief, their respect for Mikey hit rock bottom and so they left.
Mikey could only stare at the ground, on his knees.
This made him think 'I did it but at what cost?'
He is reluctant when Tokyo Revengers tells him to celebrate. Chifuyu catches on as usual and stares in understanding, grinning at him and hitting him in the chest with a fist "Go ahead Captain"
"Takemitchy, Take care of Mikey for us will you?" Mitsuya says, sporting a grin alongside with; Pah-Chin, Peh-Yan, Angry and Smiley
He nods and heads to Mikey
Everything turns quiet as he does
"Mikey"
He extends a hand to him and expects rejection yet to his surprise he accepts and lifts himself up.
He grips Mikey's hand "Come on"
They go to Takemichi's house
As he goes to turn on all the lights, Mikey stands, his disarrayed hair drapes on both sides of his face, as he looks down, fists clench, posture tense, shirt and pants dirtied and bloodied.
He hasn't talked once.
Takemichi sighs through his nose.
Not yet.
He isn't done with saving Sano Manjiro yet.
He approaches Mikey, and with the soft thudding, he raises his head slowly, staring at him, his face, scratches and for the first time, bruises, coupled with sadness, hurt and adrift, swirling in those eyes, softening and breaking the impossibly impenetrable obsidian. Invincible Mikey or not, he is like any soldier would be; left scarred, bruised, any remnants of innocence, anything that kept them on the ground of reality has been burnt, its ashes tossed into the wind, never to be seen again.
Takemichi tells him to go undress, take a bath he says. Mikey complies, dragging himself like a doll.
Entering the bathroom, he eyes his bathtub, he hasn't used that in a long time. Last time he used it was when he was an ignorant, snotty, and loser teenager, back when Fate had not looked at him and threw this mind-boggling role as a time leaper. And then onwards, with the knowledge of the future in his mind, never had he felt the need nor had the time to relax anymore, not when everyone's future was to be in a coffin or the one responsible for others to be in that coffin. Shaking his head, he twists the knobs of both cold and hot. Steam floating in the air after a few seconds.
He flinches as he feels Mikey's presence behind him, until now, even after losing, his presence and stance remain superior and large; King. He is what is instructed of him; undressed. He pays no mind to his naked figure, after all this wasn't the first time. Takemichi tilts his head, inviting Mikey. He is about to leave when he a hand shoots to grab him in the forearm, it screams 'Stay'. Takemichi softens, and hesitantly takes off his clothes. Surprised when Mikey averts his gaze.
The heat of the water is relaxing, euphoric. Suddenly all his problems, are instantly wiped from his mind. They manage to fit just fine, thank god. It's awfully awkward, something he's never experienced with Mikey, devious and cheerful Mikey. They stare at each other's eyes then look away, Mikey does, sinking his nose down, bubbles emitting from above, he lets out a chuckle and looks down when Mikey looks at him. It lingers when he looks down. Another group of bubbles come up again and he smiles softly. Mikey bows down, pushing his head to his direction. He blinks for a couple seconds, confused then reaches for the tie holding his hair, carefully prying it off, the remaining falls to his shoulder to the water, a small splash as a result, expecting Mikey to go sit properly again, he does not and without thinking does Takemichi cards his fingers through his hair, grimacing as it wasn't as soft nor fluffy anymore, rough and full of knots.
Mikey stays as he is, he brushes back all the strands to his forehead, grumbling when one of them falls out, he hears Mikey huff, he takes it as a chuckle. Shampoo on his hand, he frowns as what he has done resembles Original Timeline Mikey, the Mikey that had Kisaki-gross, twist his mind and stood by his side, the Mikey that killed Hina, the Mikey that never met him. He huffs in irritation and skims his head, entwining his hands with the strands, banishing Original Timeline Mikey, massaging his scalp, massaging it like dough, like if he does it would remove any painful thing that has ever happened in the blond's life. Tense shoulders sags when it turns to scratching.
Mikey does not ask him for it but Takemichi continues to bathe him. Carefully, he breaks the knots, breaking them as if he was born to. Takemichi fights the blood rushing through his cheeks when his soaped hands slide down Mikey's toned torso, the muscles protruding proudly. He grew looking more like a god. At least this Mikey never let his body malnourished. It trails to his arms, down to his knuckles; bruised despite him mainly using his legs.
Takemichi wistfully stares, cups them and rubs each one with care.
They finish and are left to dress, already is Mikey yearning for Takemitchy's touch, it provided what Hanagaki Takemichi was like, when he cleaned the dirt and blood on Mikey and washed his hair as if he was a man on a mission, doing his absolute best to wash off even a morsel of dirt on Mikey and himself, loving how soft and gentle it could also be when touching his muscles. He would have never expected to revel in being treated like glass.
Mikey, in Takemitchy's shirt and sweatpants, about to leave, stops when he spots something on his bed. Curiosity gets the best of him as he gets closer and takes a good look, pulling it out to discover it was his sweatshirt, one that he let Takemitchy borrow when he had practically disturbed the boy's sleep, dragging him out at 3am for McDonalds and the night was cold. Mikey wears it, humming as it still fits him yet the scent has been changed to that of Takemitchy's; lemongrass and bergamot.
"Mikey?"
Takemitchy comes in, his hair; wet, sticking to his head, he could see his natural hair; black, slowly bleed in his piss-colored one. It looks good on him. He watches as Takemitchy heave out a huge sigh of relief, and approach him "Hey" he says softly. Takemitchy stares at him with his blue eyes, loving yet afraid, losing his hair as Mikey would leave him. It hurt him more than he thought it would be.
Mikey's hair was a disarray, the waves going in different directions, covering his eye. He looked like a child. Takemitchy lands a towel on his hair, dries it, he melts when Mikey closes his eyes, pursing his lips, expression as if he head ate a lemon. He smiles as he finishes, running his hands and it felt soft. His eyes widen at the contact of a fabric "Oh...You found it" Mikey hums "I did, you kept it" Takemichi cups Mikey's cheek, caressing his bruise "Of course, why not?"
His heart ached, ached so much it felt like it would explode. After beating him up, shooting him, breaking his heart. He still thought of him. He never gave up on him. Takemitchy was so kind, so incredibly kind. He was the one thing that Mikey knew he did not deserve. He leaned into his palm, muttering "M' sorry" He hasn't uttered those words since Emma. Takemitchy takes in those words with a stare then came the gathering of his tears, a smile spreading on his face, the tears fall as he lets out a chuckle "Yeah..."
For the first time in three years, he tightly wraps his arms around his waist, gritting his teeth as Takemitchy, sobbing, returns the hug, comfort and love spreading all throughout out Mikey.
Mikey smiles, burying his head on Takemitchy's shoulder "Thank you"