Arven considered the metaphor a bit… before side-eyeing Doppio. “Is this because of the memory stuff, or are you holding back on talking about, just, the most abusive childhood on me? Geez, Doppio… do people seriously not listen to you? I think what you have to say is always really interesting. I can’t imagine how anyone could ignore it.” 

“Wha? A-ah, I mean…” Flushing again--c’mon! The water was supposed to help!--Doppio shook his head, before nodding a little, confused himself. “I mean…people don’t really listen to me, so…s-so that’s really flattering, that you think I’m interesting, s-so thanks! But that’s not really… That’s not what I meant. A-and it’s not abuse stuff.”

Scrunching his face, Doppio squinted into space a bit. “...well, it could’ve been, but I don’t remember it, so I don’t think it counts. But…it’s like…” He let go of a breath, before shaking his head. “...you know, nevermind. I think I’m still kinda out of it, dunno what I’m trying to say, really, but…I don’t think I said it well.”

“Oh.” Arven frowned, wondering if perhaps he had accidentally chased Doppio off… before shrugging a little, petting Chief’s head as he said, “Well, if you want to try saying it again later, I’m up for hearing about it. See if we can’t figure out what you were trying to say together. For now, though, it’s late, you’re probably still a little drugged, and I won’t push for you to be coherent. Honestly I should probably be insisting you go back to sleep soon. You have work again tomorrow, don’t you?”

Oh…that was nice. Doppio didn’t really have a fear, or general anxiety over ‘one and done’ chances, considering that a lot of the time repeatedly going over things was just…how he lived, but…that was nice. That Arven was willing to listen to his nonsense again. He’d strive to make it…not nonsense, if the urge hit him again. 

Taking a deep breath, stretching his shoulders, Doppio nodded. “Mhmm! Every day, mostly. Though…uh, tomorrow’s Saturday, right? So you have school off? Do you, um…have any weekend plans?”

Arven looked over, a knowing smirk on his face. “Yeah, I have the weekend off, and it’s only the first week of school, so homework is basically non-existent right now. Nothing that comes to mind. I could be persuaded into some weekend plans, though.”

Doppio blinked. Loading…

After a long beat, he startled, turning redder as he let out a soft, nervous laugh. “Uh! I wasn’t trying t-to, yanno! I-I mean, I’m probably gonna be pretty busy, so I’m not sure of any plans I could make, um… A-and we…kind of..” He blushed more, realizing it as he said it. “...have been hanging out every day since we met? I-I know you were kinda strong-armed into it, but I’d really understand if you were kinda sick of me by this point…”

Arven frowned lightly at that, before leaning forward, trying to catch Doppio’s eyes as the other teen sputtered and looked away. “Do you not want to? Sorry, I just sort of assumed… you weren’t asking?”

“I want to!” Doppio blurted out, somehow looking even more panicked as the words came out. “U-uh, if you do! I just…don’t know if I can? And…that’s kind of shitty to ask, actually, like, of course you shouldn’t put plans on hold for a maybe, a-and I wasn’t trying to do that, but, um…”

Looking down, Doppio tapped on his glass nervously, his heart pounding in his chest again. “...if…we happened to run into each other in town again…it’d be nice to hang out more? Today was kind of…a terrible example, but I usually do have time to…sit and get a drink for a bit.”

Arven seemed to consider this… before chuckling a little. Leaning back and shrugging again. “Well, I guess it’s ultimately up to you. You’ve managed to find me twice now, and you know where I live and my schedule better than I know yours.”

Arven smiled, his delicate eyelashes upturning a little as he smirked at Doppio. “Guess I just have to hope you’ll show up again soon. I’ll try not to get my hopes too high every day, promise.”

Doppio had heard the term ‘heartthrob’ before, but it was only in that moment, Arven smiling so warmly at him, did he truly understand it. His heart feeling like it was trying to break free from his ribs, a tingle going through his whole body that was more pleasant, but no less distressing than the weird feelings he’d been having lately. 

A small, desperate sound rattled in the back of his throat, before Doppio swallowed, looking away. A smile like that was far too powerful. 

“S-sure…” he stuttered, trying to shrink into his sweater…only to realize he wasn’t wearing it, and was just kind of sinking into his shoulders. “...uh… I’m kinda trapped under Chief, so…if that was any point for me convincing you to take your bed back?”

“I know your type. You just want the dog for yourself.” Arven laughed, though he did rub his eyes a little, looking a little tired. “Still, I’m not about to separate a man from his living blanket, I’m not that big of a jerk. So, sure. Sorry if the bedding smells like me. I could get you some fresh pillows if you want?” he offered, patting Chief again before getting up with a stretch. “Grab that quilt I put on you?”

Loading…

(O.O …the rain had kind of nullified any…scent left in Arven’s clothes. Plus they had been clean. Was…smelling someone…weird?)

Doppio made a sort of garbled sound before he busied himself gently petting Chief. “I mean…I won’t say I’m not happy about it…” A small laugh. “Uh, it’s alright, I’m kinda sorry I woke you up in the first place--it’s late. Um…the quilt would be nice, thanks. It’s really comfortable.”

Arven raised an eyebrow at ‘not unhappy about it’, not really sure what to make of that… before shrugging again. Giving him a small nod. “Sure, I’ll be right back.”

Going to fetch the quilt, Arven entirely missed Amaina ‘shining’ in big, shimmering, rainbow words on Arven’s back for Doppio to see, G A Y.

Ò^Ó

Face flaming, Doppio glared at Amaina, shoulders shaking with visible hesitation for a moment before he flipped her off. 

(Don’t flip off children, Aceto, even if they’re jerks, that’s so wrong on many levels, but she’s NOT really a child so HE CAN even if he still feels kind of bad and it’s HER FAULT FOR BEING AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA)

O.O

O.O

: P 

They stayed like that for a moment, Doppio more and more fervently flipping Amaina off, who was perfectly content to continue sticking her tongue out at him, before at one point upping the ante and dragging the bottom part of one of her eyes down, intensifying the battle between them. Doppio added a second middle finger in response. The battle was getting intense, before both immediately stopped when Arven walked back in the room. “Got the quilt! …you two good in here?” Arven asked, giving the two stiffly sitting guests a dry look, sensing he had missed something. 

♪ Doppio is a big dumb baby who can’t handle the truuuuuuth ♩  Amaina simply explained. 

“Yeah, whatever this is about, I’m taking Doppio’s side,” Arven said, rolling his eyes as he handed Doppio the quilt.

“I can handle…every truth, shut up,” Doppio huffed. Aware on some level that he was someone that constantly lied to himself, but brushing that truth aside with another lie, unable to take it. 

Sighing, he accepted the quilt, giving Arven a grateful look. “Thanks. Um…I don’t usually sleep in that late anyway, but if you’re up before I am, please don’t worry about waking me up.”

…though there was a part of Doppio that, drugs or no, was determined to be awake before Arven, and…if nothing else, at least start on a ‘thank you’ breakfast. After today he…owed Arven and Kaito quite a lot.

-

Okay, admittedly, Kaito had a brief moment where he was deeply tempted to knock on Doppio’s door and meet ‘The Boss’.

He didn’t. He slipped the letter where Doppio asked him to before staring at the door for a while, hoping he might hear movement. When he didn’t, he headed back to his horse and headed back. It was a quick enough trip by horseback, even if the horse was a little skittish. Or, at least skittish with Kaito. The horse kept randomly stopping, or trying to veer off the path Kaito was leading it down. Kaito could only assume he was maybe just out of practice riding a horse solo. It was a bit of a tricky skill… though, he hadn’t had this much difficulty since he was a teenager, really.

Ah well.

But he did manage to get back, and heading up, he headed inside his room, massaging the back of his neck as he closed the door behind himself. “Heeeeey~ I’m back.”

Shuichi, who was reading a book at the window seat next to a napping Miyako, hummed in greeting, not looking up from his book. Kaito gave him a fond, if slightly exasperated look at that. Aw, Shuichi was deep into something, huh? Kaito would be lucky to get his attention at all tonight then.

“Hey, hun!” Kokichi chirped, quickly drying his hands before bounding out from the bathroom, heading over to give Kaito a proper ‘hello’, since he’d missed Kaito when his husband had come home initially. Pulling Kaito into a hug, Kokichi held him close for a moment before letting go, stepping back to let Kaito actually get into the room more. 

“How was your day? Miya-Miya’s super conked out so I can imagine it was fun,” Kokichi laughed softly. After work, he had checked in on his loves--though Kaito had already gone out--but he’d spent the afternoon painting, and he missed his guys. Even if he might only get Shuuichi time once they convinced him to break for dinner.

Kaito lit up when Kokichi came bouncing out, opening his arms and catching him into the hug, extremely pleased to see him. “Baaaaabe, where have you been? I haven’t seen you all day, I missed you.”

Holding Kokichi a little tighter, Kaito sniffed… before grinning. “Someone smells like paint. Before I get into my day, tell me about yours. Got a new masterpiece to show off?”

“Stole the words out of my mouth.” Kokichi grinned back before laughing softly, giving a small shrug. “Eventually. I’ve been working on these two pieces for a while now… I think they’re almost done, but the last 10% is always the hardest, for me. Like…I could just call ‘em done, but there’s always something I can do to push ‘em further, you know? Putting more contrast in the values, adjusting the line-weight…”

Kokichi shook his head a little before giving Kaito a teasing look. “You’ll see them soon, though. Gimme…three weeks, for a totally non-specific date. No reason for that, absolutely.”

Kaito grinned at that, raising an eyebrow. “Uh huuuuuh. Whelp, I can’t think of anything else significant about three weeks from now. Such a totally random date, but alright.”

Gently pulling Kokichi back towards the bed, holding his hands and more just leading than actually tugging in any way, when he did finally get near the bed, he suddenly grasped Kokichi’s hips and, with a hup, picked him up, before crashing him down onto the mattress. “Hah! Got you!” Kaito cheered, before leaning down to give Kokichi a kiss, lingering on him a moment… before he looked over his shoulder. “Shuichi! I caught Kokichi!”

“Mmmhm,” Shuichi hummed, “Good job, Kaito.”

“Think he heard what I said even a little bit, or just knows my ‘tell me good job’ voice?” Kaito whispered to Kokichi, smirking.

Kokichi let out a delighted giggle as Kaito threw him onto the bed, immediately looping his arms around Kaito’s shoulders as he pressed into his hard-won kiss. Mm, been too many hours since his last Kaito kiss… Not since that morning! 

Kissing his cheek, Kokichi laughed, “Maybe some of column A, some of column B. You did do a great job, though. Masterful hunt against skilled prey. I’m impressed even being the one to be caught!”

Once again, Kokichi kissed him, rubbing his shoulders gently before letting his head fall back to the mattress. Just looking up at Kaito adoringly. “Hope your whole day wasn’t planning that, though. You and Miya get that good sun and fall air?”

Kaito blushed, his grin and eyes growing softer, the way they always did when Kokichi indulged him like that. It was really, just, bizarre, Kaito was starting to realize, how reluctant he had been over their relationship so far to, well… ask for things like that. Little praises, even if they were entirely playful, along with equally playful indulgences of his silly, stupid preferences. Oh, he had taken plenty of things selfishly, absolutely! But a lot of their early sexual relationship had been Kaito convinced he had Kokichi’s type figured out, after that first encounter, and heavily playing into it, to the point where he had started to feel insecure to ever admit he ever wanted anything else. 

Kaito honestly wasn’t sure where the shift had happened, when exactly Kokichi had started to notice, but lately Kokichi had been weirdly… gentle? With Kaito. To the point where sometimes Kaito didn’t really know what to do with it, or how to react to it, just sort of feeling pleased and flustered by it. Kokichi acting playful and indulgent and sometimes fussing over Kaito in the same way he would fuss over them at the end of sex, worried he had hurt them in some way. Which Kaito sometimes didn’t know what to do with because?? He was clearly fine! The way they all had sex rarely ever even gave either of them the opportunity to hurt Kaito, outside of that time with the handcuffs (and Shuichi’s more purposeful moments, but honestly Kaito barely even counted that), so when Kokichi sometimes fussed at him Kaito didn’t really know what to… do?

But he had to admit, he was a little weak at the knees for it. 

So resting himself in a way where he was still sort of on top of Kokichi, but not really putting any weight on him, resting his weight on his side and elbow as he grinned down at Kokichi, running his hand through Kokichi’s hair a bit and giving him another kiss, he said, “Only 90% of it was that, and admittedly most of it was Miyako’s idea. We brainstormed over it at the park. But! You remember that Arven kid that I stole into cooking class with me? Helped me and Doppio make that bread I used for the sandwiches I made?”

They weren’t attached at the hip, or confined to their room, and…Kokichi was working on just…being himself, as someone who could stand tall without Kaito as a safety net or a support stake. But he did really adore his husband, and after a day apart, Kokichi just wanted to talk. Enjoy Kaito’s presence and his thoughts. He knew his issues were in the other direction, but…he did think it was a good sign that he was so excited to see the men he was married to every day. 

“Ah, our smart girl,” Kokichi playfully hummed, before he nodded, easily placing who Kaito was talking about, even if he’d never met either of the boys. “Yeah! Those really were excellent sandwiches, by the way--you and Tim really aced it.”

Letting his fingers trail up to run through the hair at Kaito’s nape, Kokichi gave him an encouraging hum. “You ran into Arven again, then?”

Kaito leaned his head down a little, encouraging Kokichi’s hand by making his hair and the back of his head easier for Kokichi to play with as he nodded… before chuckling a little sheepishly, “Well, ‘ran into’ is maybe the… wrong collective of words. Strictly speaking.”

Tapping his thumb against Kokichi’s cheek a bit, Kaito bit his lower lip a little… before confessing, “I may have just decided to show up at his house randomly.”

“Okay, before anyone says that’s a weird thing to do to a teenage boy!” Kaito said urgently, glancing meaningfully back at Shuichi, who just was not paying attention and didn’t even hum at that, “He gave me his address, which means he had to have known I was gonna check in on him! Like, if you don’t want to be stalked, you gotta be less easy to find! That’s the rules!”

He narrowed his eyes at Shuichi, waiting to be corrected… and when nothing came from there, he looked down at his husband sheepishly. “Doppio keeps calling me a bully. Am I a bully, babe?”

Kokichi widened his eyes, looking…honestly a little surprised. It was in-character for Kaito to just kinda show up, but…even if he’d ended up having a good class with Arven, that was…a little much, for only knowing each other a few days. Even if… 

Not reprimanding or skeptical, Kokichi gave Kaito a mildly concerned look. “...hun, did you ask for his address? And…even if he did give it to you…that’s a little startling. Especially for a kid. And especially having only interacted once. And even more if you’re calling it stalking.”

Sighing softly, Kokichi trailed his fingers down the back of Kaito’s neck, giving him a sheepish look. “...I wouldn’t call you a bully, but you do go for some bullying behavior, sometimes. Like when you trap me to brush my hair…even if I know we’re playing when you do that. I can see how Doppio might see it that way, though.”

“...did…you show up because you just ‘cause you wanted to hang? Arven probably had school today, didn’t he?”

“No, see, I didn’t! He just… told me?” Kaito said, frowning a little. Still not entirely clear on that particular memory. “He definitely just told me. I don’t remember asking. Anyway, his mom is out of town, and I knew school was starting again, and the way he was talking about things when we were cooking? I just wanted to make certain things were okay for the start of the new school year.”

“And I’m glad I checked! Okay, okay, so, babe, you probably already know this, but did you know!?” Kaito continued on regardless of what Kokichi did and didn’t probably know, eyes wide and excitable as he brought his hand up to run through his own hair, scratching the side of his head as he got lost in telling the story. “That high schoolers are putting together, like, basically research grant projects?? For their overall school year projects?? That sounds so important! And Arven was talking about it like he thought it didn’t matter at all, like he wasn’t going to do it at all! I was lucky Doppio– oh, Doppio was there too, by the way, I’m pretty sure my starburst has a crush– anyway, I was lucky Doppio told on him! What, you’re just not gonna do the project?! Yeah, no, that’s not gonna fly. So we sat down and figured out a cool concept for him to propose to his teachers next week!”

Kaito grinned, lighting up talking about that as he said, “Arven’s all into plant stuff, right? And listen to this: he’s apparently found this super rare plant that helps with, like, healing–”

“What plant,” Shuichi said, looking up suddenly suspiciously.

“No, no, I asked, not the poppies, no worries Shuichi~” Kaito grinned over his shoulder, making a ‘simmer down’ motion to Shuichi, “And, yes, I’ll make certain it’s not poppies in the future. But I believe him, and most importantly, he doesn’t have the plant anymore. Apparently he fed it to his dog. Which, kinda irresponsible, but I get it.”

Kaito…didn’t sound entirely certain that Arven had told him his address but…well, that didn’t necessarily raise any flags to Kokichi. Kaito was incredibly smart, but sometimes the source of wherever he got particular information got swept away in the details. From how he described it? Kokichi could guess that while he and Miyako had been out and about, Kaito’s concern for how Arven was doing at the start of the school year passed by as a thought, and before he knew it he was already heading over to his place, hoping to have a chat and maybe take him to a diner. 

Honestly, Kokichi was just pleasantly surprised that Kaito was starting to find his way around the city better. 

Raising his eyebrows in amusement as Kaito started telling Kokichi about Arven’s school project--with Doppio there too; oh dear, the guy was in for A Time if Kaito thought he had a crush--Kokichi laughed softly, before sighing. “I’d really hope it’s not poppies, with all the information we and the medical community put out there… If he’s looking to focus in on plants as much as you say, then he should know without a doubt what Ronpan Poppies look like, and their spores, and…all that. And to report it to Disease and Health Control.”

“But…that’s really cool,” Kokichi grinned up at Kaito. “I remember having a lot of fun with my research projects in school. And if he has found a plant like that? I’m sure a lot of botanists and pharmacists and people will be interested in his work too.” 

Kokichi snorted softly. “I really doubt the school’s pushing for every student to make a field-breaking discovery for their projects, but…it’s not unheard of, really. A lot of those people go on to have very rewarding and fruitful careers.”

“Arven’s a clever kid, I can already tell, so even if the schools aren’t pushing for it, he’s totally capable of achieving it! And I’m not about to let him squander all that potential with a roll of his eyes!” Kaito said fiercely, gritting his teeth… before delight lit up his face as he gave Kokichi a curious look. “You did these projects too?”

Putting his hand around Kokichi’s waist, then nudging it between the mattress and Kokichi’s back, adjusting his other hand against Kokichi’s neck, Kaito with another small little grunt turned himself onto his back. The same maneuver pulled Kokichi on top of him, Kaito enjoying the feeling of Kokichi’s light weight on his stomach and hips as he grinned curiously up at him, asking excitedly, “What did you end up doing? What were your big research projects?” 

Aw… Kaito had told them that he’d made a new sidekick the other day, but…he really was planning on looking after Arven, wasn’t he? Kokichi hoped that the teen was up for what that meant. 

“Yupp!” Kokichi chirped, laughing softly as Kaito switched their positions. Taking one arm back, Kokichi laid his head on his hand, protecting Kaito’s chest from chin damage. “I know it’ll be a little different, since I was homeschooled, but…education starts getting pretty specific, in high school. There still are some expected curricula, so I’d imagine there are some “standard” classes that most students take, but…you’re starting to figure out who you are as a person in your teens, right? Even if it’ll change a million times. So it’s important to make sure that each student gets the support and resources they need to really explore their curiosity and passions.”

Kokichi huffed a small laugh, closing his eyes. “One of my big ones was recreating this experiment where…you basically make a map with food deposits? Like putting down “depots” where big cities are, and smaller ones proportionally for smaller towns and so on. And then leaving slime mold to cultivate, and seeing what kind of pattern it makes…since slime molds will always take the most efficient path to food. So it simulates what the most efficient roads would look like. Then, I compared the results of my experiment to what our roads actually look like, and…posit why certain differences happened, and what would need to change to change the roads, or even if we should… It was cool. I learned a lot about historical infrastructure and slime molds.”

“Shuichi!!”

“Hmm?”

“We have to make slime mold maps!! We gotta do it with the kids!!”

“Mmm. Sure thing, Kaito,” Shuichi said, flipping through his pages. 

“That’s so cool, babe, oh man, do you still have the old maps? I’d love to see what it came out looking like…” Kaito suddenly tilted his head slightly, staring at the ceiling, brows furrowed in thought. “...was the… was the slime part of a food thing… was that the element I was missing? Should I have been a slime, like… digesting something? Ooooh, that’d be freaky looking…”

Kokichi chuckled softly. “We should make sure to have something else to do along with it. The slime molds take a looooooong time to propagate.” Like…days, potentially, though if they had a more contained project…

“Mm… Well, I don’t have the originals, since we had to properly dispose of the slime molds, but…my uncle might have one of the copies I made. He did like holding onto my schoolwork, even if the map I designed wasn’t true to life…and is outdated by this point.” But it was a project that had a lot of relevance, so Kokichi could likely easily get--

Hm?

Kokichi opened his eyes, before giving Kaito a despairing sigh. “No. Please no. Really, hun…just forget about the slime. I was curious, and I got my answer that it’s something I don’t like. I don’t think there’s much more you could do to turn me off than…be a slime digesting things like a snail, or an amoeba. Bleg.”

“What!? Why do I have to eat a snail!? How do you even eat an amoeba?! ‘Kichi, sometimes your goals for me are unrealistic.” Kaito frowned… before smirking. Leaning down to kiss Kokichi’s head. “Kidding~ I know what you meant. And you’re right, slime saliva isn’t the most attractive thing.”

Tilting his head a little, looking at Kokichi, his mind wandering away from him, “...what if I was interested in the idea, but instead of being the slime, it’s our good, sweet, patient with his husband's stupid ideas Kokichi’s teeny tiny self who was all goopy and gross and slimy?”

“Kokichi, do you need rescuing?” Shuichi asked idly from the window.

“Noooooooo! Let me be weird at my huuuuusbaaaaaand!” Kaito whined, wrapping his arms around Kokichi’s waist protectively. “Miiiiiiiine!”

Kokichi made a face, gagging performatively. “Ugh. If I was a slime, then I could slide right out of your arms right now, and out of this conversation.” He heaved a grand sigh, before lifting his head and wrapping both arms around Kaito again. “Tooooo baaaaad this is the reality where I simply must hold and love and appreciate my husband and everything he says~”

Again, that flustered, near giddy look as Kaito relaxed into Kokichi’s hold. “Yeah? My poor, patient husband~ Out here pretending to be fish and cats and weird slime monstrosities for the sake of his curious husband~”

“He in no way said yes to that, Kaito.”

“Are you or are you not listening to us? Read your book and stop trying to stifle me!” Kaito pouted, before laughing. “I needed this. It’s hard, being the ‘responsible guy’ when I’m around the kids, sometimes. And yeah, I’m grouping Arven and Doppio into that category, because I’ll eat Shuichi’s hat if Doppio’s any older than Arven, who’s… okay, I think 15? I wanna say 15. Total baby, they’re both babies, I gotta be an adult when I’m around them! Exhausting.”

“Oh, by the way, babe? Can I just say…” Kaito made a small, wincing face, “I am sorry, for what a pain in the neck I’ve been in the last year. Longer for Shuichi, but I’ll apologize to him when he’s not in book-land. God, Doppio made me want to bash his pretty little head into a wall today, doing literally all the things I know I’ve done to you this last year. The freaking…can’t take a compliment stuff! And the dismissive, like… I don’t know what to call it. Where you kinda shrug off people worrying about you to not be a bother but in the most bothersome way possible, thing. Ugh. I could have throttled him.”

Kokichi could only sigh, but he gave Kaito a smile, nuzzling his chest. And looking up with a bigger grin at Shuuichi, happy that his husband was content to pick and choose when he wanted to be a part of the conversation on his whims. He’d pry out a more full chat about Shuuichi’s day later, but for now…this was nice. 

“Geez…” Kokichi sighed. “I remember feeling like I could do anything at 15, but looking at it now? They’re total kids… It’s ridiculous we gotta be adults.” He nodded, agreeing with Kaito. “Wanna be fun ‘n stuff, but noooo. Gotta be role models, need to make sure we’re not encouraging dangerous behavior…”

It was the same with Tim and the girls, to an extent, in Kokichi’s eyes. He really wanted to be a cool uncle, and yet still someone the kids felt safe going to, and…it was hard walking that line between being interesting, and having the kids just think he was an unreliable weirdo. Though…at some points, he had a feeling kids thought that about all adults, and…it was better to be true to yourself than to strive to impress a few 10-year-olds. 

And 15-year-olds too. 

Though…

Kokichi looked at Kaito in surprise, having not expected the apology at all. And…well, he appreciated it, but… Kokichi gave Kaito a worried look. “Well…all that stuff you’ve kinda been working on, as we’ve been improving our communication skills, so…apology accepted, hun. But…”

Kokichi propped his head up more, looking at Kaito more head on. “...you brought it up when he said that dumb stuff to you before, too. And if he was trying to brush off your concern… Kai-chan? Is he okay?”

“I don’t know,” Kaito huffed, laying his head back and glaring at the ceiling. “Yes? I mean, I think the answer is yes, but…”

…oh. Wait.

Um.

…hm.

Kaito started to idly tap at Kokichi’s back, his mind racing quickly. Would it be… bad? To tell Kokichi about the wounds on Doppio’s arm? Not because Kokichi couldn’t handle that bit of information, but more… uh. What would Kokichi… do?

Uh.

Um.

Hm.

Kaito immediately felt guilt start to eat at his stomach as it occurred to him that maaaaaaaybe Kokichi would make things… overly complicated. Hadn’t Kaito literally told Doppio that he was lucky it had been Kaito to see his wounds, and not some random Dicean? Because Diceans did that whole… seeking justice without the victim’s input, thing. And Kokichi was, like… THE Dicean. Dicean with a capital D. Like, literally probably the embodiment of the spirit that had started that cultural thing in the first place, Dicean. 

Oh, sure, Kokichi had never really done that against Kaito. But Kaito knew he was the exception to most of Kokichi’s beliefs. Love was a hell of a blinder, after all. But Doppio? Kokichi had never even met Doppio, and that made Doppio a ‘Concept’. And concepts had a much rougher lot, in Kokichi’s endlessly kind nature. 

Would Doppio be better off with, like, the guardforce looking into what happened with his arm?

…??? Kaito didn’t know??? Maybe??

Would Doppio be happy to have the guardforce investigating?

No, hell no. Doppio would lose his mind on Kaito if Kaito got the guardforce sent on him. 

……ahhh.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh– ah, wait, this might already be a moot point. Was Kokichi doing his book reading stuff right now? He might already know. Kaito was never sure with Kokichi. Peeking down at Kokichi, he stared at him, trying to get a clue. Were you… listening?? In there??

Kokichi frowned. Kaito said yes, but…there were certainly more complex feelings about that. And how he was staring… Kokichi sighed, giving Kaito a softer look. “Hun…mind-reading and managing. If you want to ask me something, you have to actually ask me.”

…and Kokichi had to do the same, too. 

Pressing his lips together, Kokichi looked down before fixing Kaito with a serious look. “...I’ll believe you, if you say yes. If you say that you don’t think Doppio is being hurt. But if you think there really is a chance he’s…being manipulated, or abused, or just in a bad spot…then I’m not comfortable ignoring that. So…I’ll ask, straight out--Kai-chan, do you think that Doppio is safe, in his situation?”

“...................okay, like, you asked me a lot of specifically different things,” Kaito said uneasily, looking away from Kokichi. “‘Manipulated’, ‘abused’, ‘in a bad spot’... these can all be mutually exclusive! Like, what’s it mean to be maybe ‘manipulated’? Shuichi manipulates me all the time! I love it!”

“No you don’t,” Shuichi called back, not even trying to defend himself.

“Sometimes I love it! And Doppio seems to like it.” Kaito winced, before sighing, “Look, Kokichi, you want me to be honest? I’m still trying to figure out his situation. I do have a few, like, real concerns about how he talks about this boss of his, which you already knew, and I don’t know exactly how ‘safe’ that situation is. But.”

Sitting up, Kokichi still sitting on his knees as Kaito gave him a stern look, he added in, “You know what guys like him do when you push them? They run. And I know you, ‘Kichi. You’re not a ‘chase them’ kind of guy. If you do something that freaks him out and he runs, that’s it, he’s gone. And I don’t feel comfortable being put into a position where I can’t help him out, if you give him to the… whichever program is coming to mind for you, right now.”

“Waaaait, wait.” Shuichi sighed, closing his book and getting up, heading over to the bed. Sitting down and giving Kaito a cool look. “...are you pulling a Nao?”

Kaito tensed up, immediately gritting his teeth. “No. What?”

Kokichi gave Kaito a sterner look. He knew that the definitions, let alone recognizing, manipulation, abuse, or just shitty situations was difficult…so that’s why he had qualified it. Just asking if Kaito thought his new friend was safe. 

…the fact that Kaito was avoiding answering, and instead dancing around definitions was…concerning. 

“...whatever age he actually is… If he’s around our age, or he is a teenager…he could be a young person in a situation bigger than him, who, based on what you said…is having trouble reaching out. Maybe doesn’t know that he could reach out, or doesn’t recognize his situation as one that someone could reach out of at all. We all know what it’s like, being in that position. How bad it can get.”

Sighing softly, Kokichi closed his eyes for a moment, until he could regard Kaito with a softer look. “...if you’re still figuring things out? Then…that’s an answer I can accept, hun. It’s fair, you two have only known each other for a few weeks, and sparsely at that. If you want to find out more, and just…keep looking out for him in the meantime? Then…I think that’s a good judgment call.”

“But,” Kokichi stressed, “If you do start getting the feeling that he’s in trouble? Please, don’t keep quiet about it, because you’re worried about scaring him. About making his situation worse. There are people trained to help others in abusive, dangerous situations, making sure that they can get out without their abuser getting the first move. Don’t keep your friend trapped because you think you’ll get one shot.”

It wasn’t sharp, but Kokichi gave Kaito a cool look. “...one shot is a lot better than never getting out.”

Kaito’s shoulders hiked up a little, uncertainly looking between Kokichi and Shuichi. Both of whom were giving him ‘cool’ looks, which when double teamed by his two sometimes intimidating partners, could be a little unnerving. Still, he nodded. “Right, I will, I just… I just want to make certain everything is good, one way or another. Okay? Like, I don’t want to pull a Nao,” Kaito said, glaring at Shuichi a little, before grinning weakly at Kokichi, “...but, I don’t want to pull a Aihito either. Trust me, being on the other end of that is also, like… really bad.”

“Aihito?” Shuichi asked.

“One of the envoys they sent to Luminary.” Kaito grinned warily. “Outed me and Byakuya to… literally the whole world. Anyone who wanted to know… nngh.” 

“Ah, right. Aihito Houdan. Works for Yasu,” Shuichi recalled, “...sort of ironic, really.”

“Ngh.” 

Kokichi frowned a little. What the envoy had done…had been very bad, for how things worked in Luminary. There was no help, no justice either Kaito or Byakuya got from their abuse being exposed. Nothing for Tengan either, as far as Kokichi knew. Defecting from Luminary once the Party had left Dicea seemed to be a bigger smear on the man’s reputation than his years of being the princes’ abuser. 

But…he didn’t think that was a fair counter to what Nao had done, considering Doppio’s supposed situation. Nao had seen a bad situation, and had exacerbated it and kept it secret under the impression that Shuuichi would die, either from overdose or from running, if his addiction got out. The opposite to Kokichi would be…them digging into Doppio’s life, and there being nothing actually wrong. Just teenage moodiness and maybe some perspective issues, but nothing actually dangerous. Disrupting his life for nothing, but wanting to feel like a hero. 

Which…Kokichi could actually see the fault of. He still thought it was better safe than sorry, but…he didn’t want to ruin Kaito’s friendship with the young man either. Which violating his trust to soothe their own potential projecting would definitely do, from how Kaito described him. 

Sighing, Kokichi relaxed his shoulders and gave a small nod. “...okay. I do trust you to recognize a dangerous situation when you see one… That’s why you tried to talk to him before in the first place, right? Even if it didn’t really go well. We’ll just…keep an eye on it.”

…Kokichi’s mouth scrunched to one side. “...you didn’t happen to get the business he works for, did you? Or his boss’s name?”

Kaito relaxed a little, shaking his head. “No, but I can try to, next time I talk to him. I just know he’s a personal assistant, so that could really make his boss anything. It might not even be a whole business, the guy could be, like, a novelist with too much spending cash and a distinct lack of desire to run errands.”

How that would lead to wounds on Doppio’s arm, he wasn’t sure. Though he was keeping that bit of information to himself. He’d figure out if Doppio’s situation really was as bad as it sometimes looked to Kaito, and more importantly, he’d see if he could talk Doppio into asking for help, rather than forcing help onto him. Well, forcing anyone else's help onto him. Kaito was going to force his own help all he damn well pleased, and yes, he knew that was maybe a ‘little’ Nao-ish of him, but it wasn’t like he was trying to cure Doppio’s problems with his fucking dick! Or a thousand little fun ‘toys’ to substitute his dick. Not wanting to humiliate the kid by exposing his problems to the world was not the same as being Nao. Kaito was sure. Besides, Kokichi and Shuichi now both knew, and were keeping him accountable.

(...Yasu had known. So had Seiko.)

(Neither had saved Shuichi.)

No, no, it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t.

“I’ll talk to him more. Get the situation better figured out.” Kaito promised. “I can handle this. Trust me.”

Kokichi nodded slowly, shifting a bit so he was sitting next to Kaito--all for the purpose of leaning against him without ruining his spine, of course. He couldn’t very well declare a random audit on a random business, and even less on just an individual who simply happened to be employing an assistant…but business records were mostly public. It might be the tiniest thing, but…Kokichi could probably get a certain new angle on the picture, if he could look at the opposite end of it. 

…he knew he could just…go out and “look” for Doppio too. Find out definitively if he was alright. Like searching for Nazumi in the rain, if it was to make sure someone wasn’t hurt…

…maybe he was just condemning Doppio in the same way he was asking Kaito not to. But Kokichi couldn’t bring himself to really think of his investigation as being that innocent. 

But looking up to your boss, even to an excessive degree, and having occasional black outs wasn’t a dangerous situation. Not with only those two things. So…Kaito would keep on the lookout, as he spent time with his new, young friends. 

“I will,” Kokichi hummed, hugging Kaito’s arm…before looking up with a bit of a smile. “...so. You think Doppio likes Arven? I think that’d be a pretty heavy clue that he’s a teenager.”

“It really better be, otherwise me and Doppio have to have words for an entirely different reason,” Kaito said dryly. “Aw, Shuichi, you leaving us?”

“I’m going back to my book. Have fun with your gossip,” Shuichi said, heading back to the window.

“I miss you already… anyway, kinda seeing Doppio stand next to Arven is really what sold it to me. Both things, I mean. Doppio looks pretty unmistakably like a teenager, when you put him next to a teenager. Like, even at your most giddy-giddy gum-drop outfit, babe, if I were to put you next to Tim or the girls you were always going to look more obviously like an adult. Your age illusion really only works when you’re by yourself,” Kaito explained, putting his arm around Kokichi’s waist, hugging him. “But, yes, a crush, absolutely. He gets all giggly and shy and flustered around Arven, now. I have no idea what happened between now and cooking class, but Doppio’s fallen hard.”

“Though, I can’t tell if Arven feels the same way?” Kaito admitted, scratching his goatee a little. “He definitely likes Doppio in a general way. He gets real protective. But I wouldn’t automatically call that boyhood crush territory. Hmm… Kokichi, when do they teach sex-ed in schools? Like, would they know about prep and watching for hemorrhoids and cleans out and stuff? Maybe I should shove, like, a book at them…I mean, I started having sex around that age, though, fuck do they look too young to be doing that to me now.” Kaito sighed, shaking his head, “Seriously, god, they’re both so small. But in a, like, puberty hasn’t finished ravaging them kinda way. Life hasn’t designated them a Small yet, like it has our Kokichi~”

Yeah… As someone who had also left his age a nebulous concept for others to fill in the blanks? Kokichi could understand Doppio being stubborn and not wanting to be called out as a kid at a pub (though he did have some questions why none of the employees had carded him). But it was…a lot weirder, and kind of creepy, if he was hanging out with a teenager and just never mentioned that he was an adult. 

Kaito was…kind of the worst person to trust to clock someone’s age on looks alone, but…well, Kokichi hoped he was right. 

Rolling his eyes at Kaito’s description of his clothes, Kokichi shook his head a little, but…aw. That was cute. …not the kind of thing that would get Kokichi thinking about giving them A Talk, but…they were teens…

Sighing, Kokichi thought for a moment. “Well, again, it was a little different for me… I think the first time I had a sex-ed lesson, I was…9? So…probably around fourth grade, and that was mostly…hey, sex is a thing that exists, it’s how babies are made, though people do it for pleasure too, and puberty is a thing that exists, and you might be getting sexual feelings.”

“After that, I’m pretty sure it just gets lumped in with the pool of everything else in health classes…which are those standardized classes I was talking about before,” Kokichi nodded, “Though they start in middle school and go all throughout high school. I’m…not sure what they’d learn, year to year, though.”

Kokichi huffed a little, giving Kaito a look that was half-wincing. “...it might not matter for him, if Arven’s not interested, but…it might be worth asking Doppio if he’s had a talk with his guardians, or…what he learned most recently in school. It…kinda feels like an overstepping a boundary thing, but it might be easier to talk to a friend, than to ask a teacher or counselor, and it’s better that they get real advice, rather than trying to figure things out in the heat of the moment.”

“What are boundaries between a hero and his sidekicks?” Kaito huffed, before clenching his fists. “Alright! I’ll track Doppio down, make him come to a diner with me, figure out his boss’s business, and make certain he knows about hemorrhoids and how to avoid them! Because hemorrhoids suck! Also I should probably make sure he knows about condoms and things like that. Vaginas and wombs just kinda ‘happen’ sometimes, you gotta be prepared!”

“Where was that enthusiasm when Seiko literally told you I had a womb?” Shuichi called from the window.

“I will bring Miyako with me so he can see that I know exactly what I’m warning him about!” Kaito said determinedly, “Wombs, man. They’ll getchya. Sneak up on ya like POW!”

“W’eh? Eh?”

Kaito’s eyes widened. “Oh, no.”

“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Shuichi sighed, “Well, there goes my book.”

-

Doppio…wouldn’t necessarily call himself a polite person. He did try to be, a lot of the time! But people just got on his nerves, and just…shit got in his way enough that he was either blowing his top, resentfully grouchy, or trying to still hold onto the shattered pieces of a situation gone wrong. So…he wasn’t polite. However! There were certain courtesies that Doppio always tried to adhere to in life, and he prided himself on achieving them! 

Such as, always repaying his favors. 

Which had been currently fighting with the discourtesy of using up someone else’s food, especially someone who did all their own grocery shopping and budgeting and had limited options of both. 

But! Doppio had found a solution, in the sole outlet in which he thought he was even mildly creative!

The kettle starting to steam on the stove, Doppio was cheerfully flipping pancakes, humming softly to himself on a bright Saturday morning. 

Amaina, in turn, was being incredibly helpful by sitting on the head of Chief– who was sat at Doppio’s feet, as always patiently waiting on the hope of treats– and making increasingly outrageous suggestions of what Doppio could put in the pancakes. Having started with the reasonable suggestions of blueberries, then chocolate chips, then sprinkles, cinnamon, chocolate shavings, almonds–

♪ hard candies and marshmallows and a cake OH put a cake into the pancake it’ll be the NEGAPANCAKE it will destroy the world and be yummy if maybe a tad too sweet ♩ 

“Oh, you guys are still here?” Arven asked, rubbing his eyes as he walked out of his room, having actually changed into some pj’s once he had gone to his actual bed. His bare feet plodding slightly on the tile as he headed to the kitchen. “I’ll admit, I was half expecting for you to vanish on me, Doppio. Wasn’t sure when the work day really started for you.”

He wouldn’t actually take any of Amaina’s suggestions--except perhaps at home, for his own food; putting sliced almonds in pancakes wasn’t something he had ever considered, but it sounded intriguing--but Doppio was enjoying himself, considering the hypotheticals. “It wouldn’t be too difficult to make a s’mores pancake, I think. Make the pancake with graham cracker powder and extra cinnamon, put on chocolate and marshmallows… I think you’re onto something, Angelo.”

But…as it was, they were just regular pancakes. Flour was a bulk, staple ingredient, and Doppio had known a recipe that didn’t require eggs, so…he figured it would be a nice, not alarming thing for Arven to wake up to. 

Which was now!

Jumping slightly, Doppio turned, his jaw not working for a moment as he took in a sleepy, sleep-touseled Arven… But he quickly cleared his throat and gave his friend a sheepish grin. “I do have to head out soon, but…I wanted to cook your breakfast, as a thank you. Water should be boiled soon, and, uh…you like pancakes?”

Arven smiled, the expression warm if a little unfocused and weighed by sleep still, as he nodded, sitting down at his kitchen counter. “Sure. Honestly, I can’t imagine who you’d have to be to not like pancakes. They’re like one of the most mild things you can eat, you know? Heh, so long as you don’t take Amaina’s suggestions, I suppose.”

♪ bury the pancakes in whipcream and bacon and more pancake and make it a pancake sandwich eggs are in pancakes ALL YOUR BREAKFAST IN OOOOOONE ♩ 

“Ah, gotta feed Chief,” Arven realized, yawning as he got back up, going to collect his pre-prepared dog food. “Gotta keep the ol’ boy strong and healthy. Also he might beg you a little less intensely for scraps if he’s got his own food to distract him.”

“Did you get any more sleep after I left you last night?” Arven asked, giving Chief his food. “Couch alright?”

“Not these ones,” Doppio mumbled quietly, before carefully spatula-ing off this round of pancakes onto a plate and setting it where Arven had sat at the counter, before pouring out the next batch. “I didn’t want to use anything you had a plan for, so these are just kind of regular, but I can pull out anything you want on ‘em?”

Even if he was already up, feeding Chief. 

Giving the dog a fond look, Doppio hummed with a nod. “I did, and the couch was perfect, thanks. Though, uh…well, you’ve seen how deep I sleep, now. I could probably pass out on a rock beach and call it a good nap.”

“...”

“Though!” Doppio hastily interluded, giving Arven a mildly alarmed look. “Your couch is, like, waaaaay beyond that. It’s really comfortable! And I think waking up under Chief was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. So it was good!”

Arven startled a little at Doppio’s panic, before laughing good-naturedly. Patting Chief on the head as he started to eat, Arven notably looked more awake as he looked at the breakfast Doppio had made for him. “Ooooh, nice. This looks delicious. Thanks, Doppio. Though, I feel a little bad starting to eat without you.”

Still, not wanting Doppio’s hard work to cool before he could taste it, Arven spread a little bit of honey on his pancake, before taking a bite… laughing again, “I don’t know what else I expected. Of course it’s amazing. You’re such a good cook, thank you so much. Though I’m going to try to eat it slow so that we can at least eat together a little bit.”

Arven proceeded to do just that, taking his bites slowly as he asked, “So, what’s today looking like for you, then?

“Oh, uh…” Turning red (already?! Already with this?!), a small, embarrassed smile came across Doppio’s face as he shrugged, loosely wringing his hands around the spatula he was holding. “Thank you. But, uh, don’t hold back on my account. I have to cook breakfast when I get home, so I’m going to eat then. These, uh…”

He did a small flourish to Arven’s plate, and the pancake--oh shit gotta flip those!

Not quite as put together as he’d hoped, Doppio gave a small laugh. “These are all for you! As thanks! Like I said.”

“And, uh…” Doppio sighed softly, turning back. “Well…I need to drop off all the stuff I did yesterday…and give my boss an update about…what happened.” There was a small wince in Doppio’s expression. He was sure that Boss would be far too kind and understanding, but…he wasn’t looking forward to that. “Then I need to catch up on everything I missed in the meanwhile and…start it all over again, you know? I’m sure there’s quite a lot of mail I need to send out.”

At that, Arven frowned a little. Slightly disappointed, as he asked, “You’re not going to eat any of these? Really?”

Doppio went still, eyes fixed on that frown. The weight of disappointment boring down on him. …wasn’t…that what he was supposed to do? It was a kindness, to cook for others. Arven had done a kindness to him, so…he was paying it back. Not trying to…create any more debt, or be a strain on his host. So why…

Sweating, Doppio made a small, distressed sound. “D…did you want me to?”

Arven, seeing the distress on Doppio, smiled lightly. “Kinda, though you don’t have to. I was just looking forward to eating with you, but I don’t want you to change your plans if it's going to make you overeat or something. I’ll get more chances to eat with you, right?”

Doppio quickly, eagerly nodded. “Right! Though, um…” Turning the latest pancakes out onto a plate--a little over on one side, whoops, though it wasn’t like they were burnt--Doppio hesitated a moment before starting the next and final batch, then taking his plate and heading over to the counter with Arven. 

“I can eat with you…I just didn’t want to…assume. Anything.” Starting to dig in, Doppio’s gaze flicked over the counter before he looked up at Arven shyly. “...you were looking forward to it?”

Arven lit up, smiling wide before it split into a grin, laughing as he leaned in towards Doppio, endlessly pleased. “Yeah, kinda? I mean, in the sense when I saw you were still here and making breakfast? I got excited. I think I can count the number of times I’ve had breakfast with someone on one hand.”

Resting his chin onto his fist, he leaned against the counter as he gave Doppio an amused look. “And obviously I just like spending time with you. Is that obvious by this point? You can tell me if it’s weird how much I enjoy spending time with you. I can be a little less, uh, brazen about it I guess.” Arven laughed, “Though, I think part of it is I kinda know you’re enjoying this just as much.”

♪ baby senpai he soooooooo is you nailed it right on the head ♩ 

(Oh no, you couldn’t do this to him, his heart, it was first thing in the morning come on!!!)

Unable to resist matching Arven’s smile, his energy contagious, Doppio shrugged bashfully. “I’m glad, then… I’ve never stayed over at someone’s place so…I’m not really sure how much is too much, you know? I just…didn’t want you to wake up, like, ugh,” Doppio playfully rolled his eyes, “This guy, still here? But…if you don’t mind?”

More than not minding, really. Arven…wanted him there. To eat breakfast with. And…a-and to just spend time with?

Flaring up red again, Doppio turned his gaze down, a little overwhelmed…but the shy, flattered smile on his face was enough indication that it was in a good way. Even the glare he sent Amaina was half-hearted, compared to his joy hearing that. “I-I don’t think it’s weird, or you’re being overly brazen,” he stuttered out. “And…you are right. You’re…cool, Arven. I like spending time with you.”

Enough that…he was kind of disappointed to be heading home soon, even if the awaiting work filled him with a bright sense of purpose. And…he missed The Boss a bit, even if that was stepping over the line. 

“Well, then, you’re not going to keep me waiting too long next time, right?” Arven asked with a grin, before looking around. “Actually, that’s a point. Where’s your notebook? Can I see it again?”

When Doppio passed it to him, Arven just opened it up to the first empty page, before in neat, careful handwriting at the top of the page, he wrote in To do: Go see Arven again :) 

“There! Now you won’t forget.” Arven grinned, passing the book back to Doppio.

When he saw what Arven had written… A soft, delightedly smitten giggle bubbled up from Doppio’s throat, catching him off-guard a bit. Flushing, he quickly covered his mouth before clearing his throat and offering Arven a smile. “U-uh… right. Uh…”

He sighed softly, just looking at the note, feeling warm. “...man, your handwriting is so nice. I noticed before, with the other stuff you wrote, but…really. I know school’s kind of ridiculous, but your teachers seriously have a treat with you.”

Arven smiled, slightly adjusting his hair over his ear as he shrugged. “Sort of a necessity thing for me. When you’re taking your notes into the mountains and caverns and lakes and woods, day and night? You can’t guarantee nothing will damage the pages, so you have to make your handwriting as clear as possible if you want to hope to be able to read it again.”

“Uuuuuunlike yours,” Arven admitted with a small laugh, “Your handwriting is like you’re trying your best to make sure no one can read it, consequences be damned.”

“Ah, makes sense,” Doppio nodded, chewing through another pancake…before widening his eyes, quickly going over to flip the ones still on the stove. Still not burnt! Success! “Though…it’s too nice for you to only have started making it so pretty over the last year. I’m going to believe that at least part of it is purely just you.”

Just like how part of Doppio’s was just him. 

Laughing, Doppio could only shrug as he returned to the counter. “I do try to make it more readable…sometimes. But, honestly, most of what I write is me just trying to write down the stuff Boss says as quickly as possible, and then…” He rolled his eyes. “Who knows. It kind of defeats the purpose, I know, but sometimes I can’t even read it, and I just have to guess what I’m meant to do. But I always get distracted, trying to make it better.”

“Well, if it works it works,” Arven agreed, “No need to make it more legible if you’re the only one reading it.”

“And it’s not like I wasn’t doing nature stuff more than a year ago.” Arven huffed, puffing his chest a little. “I’ve been all over this area since I was a kid. In fact, I should show you some cool things. There’s these underwater hot springs in the mountain, with all these glowing mushrooms? You have to kind of know where they are already to find them, they’re super tucked away and it’s a bit of an intimidating climb down to see it, but man, it’s really something else. I’ll show you that the next time you have a free afternoon,” Arven promised, “Seriously, it’s worth it.”

♪ Doppio would love to do that more than annnnything soon, very soon, work is boring today?? Let’s go today it’s decided♩ Amaina said, nodding with absolute certainty.♪ we’ll skip work and go eat glowing mushrooms with the pretty boy ♩ 

And he would be the only one reading it, the little bit he’d shown Arven before aside. There wasn’t anything explicit, but…Doppio had to give himself some clues. And that was enough to have to do everything he could to make sure no one else would ever know. 

Remembering better this time, Doppio turned off the stove as he gave Arven an intrigued look. It…did seem like quite a jump, if Arven had gone from just being at home, to trekking all over the country, but…wow. A real natural type. 

(...and he said should. Not could. Arven wanted to show him cool things, not just saying it to say that he knew of them.)

“Wow… That does sound amazing,” Doppio nodded, trying to imagine anything close to what a sight like that would be like… Before he gave Amaina a soft, knowing smile. “But, you’re right--it’ll have to be next time I have a day off. I’m not skipping work today, Angioletto. I have a lot to catch up on, today.”

He tilted his head to the side. “...and I think glowing mushrooms might kill us if we ate them.”

♪ maybe if you’re a coward ♩ 

“They wouldn’t kill you, but it’d be a rough few days,” Arven said, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t recommend it. Besides, they wouldn’t taste good either. And we’ve got pancakes to fill up on anyway! Though, I’ll make something for you next time. It’ll be fun.”

Finishing his pancakes, Arven said, “And the hotspring is nice, by the way. I’d say bring a swimsuit, but we could probably just use our boxers and get away with it. Still, bring a suit if you want to take a dip and not have to walk home commando.”

♪ OR YOU COULD SKINNY DIP ♩

“You wish, you little freak,” Arven said dryly, poking Amaina’s forehead, “You talk about my looks waaaaay too much. Maybe if you weren’t there.”

O.O ♪ i would vanish ♩  

“Why does that not fill me with sudden confidence?” Arven joked, catching Doppio’s gaze and rolling his eyes a little.

“I’m pretty sure bravery isn’t the secret to poison resistance,” Doppio said dryly. And he was pretty sure, because he had a storied history of stomachaches and vomit sessions that had been initiated with the full, unstoppable confidence of someone who simply didn’t know enough to be afraid. If fearlessness could make an iron stomach, Doppio had more than a few complaints to make. 

Doppio had made breakfast with the sole (...maybe not the sole) intention of not having Arven and him constantly have to pay each other back for things, but… Doppio gave his friend a grin, finding himself looking forward to whatever Arven might cook for him. He prided himself on his culinary skills, but Arven was much more than adequate in the kitchen, Doppio had found. 

But talk of going swimming…and immediately shot-down ideas of skinny dipping…

Doppio felt a sudden rush of insecurity go through him, less the words but just…the feelings of what those assholes had said the other day going through his head. He knew how to swim, and it was fine, he guessed, if pretty gross considering everything that was in the water, but…

Arven in a swimming suit. And Doppio…

Finished with breakfast, Doppio leaned against the counter a bit, crossing his arms over his chest. Self-aware just enough to not want to make it awkward and obvious that he was trying to hide his body. …he wished he had his sweater back on…

A little uncertain, but trying for some bravado, Doppio gave Amaina an unamused look. “...you said you see everything I see. I don’t think I’d want to go to a hotspring with my eyes closed just to keep you from being a pervert.”

O.O

O.O

OoO ♪ phooey! No fun! ♩ 

“Look at us, being the No Fun Patrol.” Arven snickered, patting the pouting little pseudo-angel on the head, before getting up with a sigh. “Alright, well, don’t worry about clean up, Doppio, I’ll get everything washed and put back into place. You want to use my shower or anything? You’re more than welcome to.”

Ah, that was tempting… Doppio didn’t exactly feel gross, per se, but…he did want to get a shower in. But he was starting to cut time close, if Boss decided to wake up a little early today. 

“Thanks, but I should be getting back home,” Doppio said, pushing himself off the stool. “Uh…thanks, again, for your hospitality, and, heh… I’ll try to make the next time we hang out a little less depressing. Um…”

For a moment, Doppio looked around with an intense expression, trying to mentally gather his belongings. The clothes Arven had washed were next to his bag…should put his notebook back in it, so he wouldn’t forget… Was that everything? Uh…

“Oh! Sweater!” Doppio perked, before looking to Arven. “Uh, can I swing back into your room for a sec?”

Arven, who was already starting to work on the dishes, nodded absentmindedly. “Sure, go ahead.”

“Thank you!” Quickly, Doppio did just as he said, locating his sweater and pulling it on. 

There…much better. Now no one looking at his…chest, or whatever. Nnng. 

…Doppio looked at Arven’s bed for a moment. Arven had laid him down there, yesterday. It was…really kind of him. To…

Doppio speedwalked back out of Arven’s room, face flushed as he picked up his things. “I’ll see you and Chief soon! Promise!”

“Hm? Oh! Uh… bye?” Arven called out, not sure if Doppio heard him by the time the door slammed shut. He stared at the hallway for a moment, before smiling lightly, looking down to Chief. “...It’s weird, right? Am I being weird?”

Chief wasn’t the judgey type. He merely thumped his tail.

-

Doppio really had explained everything in the letter. He’d sent it through a secure method (don’t worry), and he’d been physically compromised so he had needed to spend the night at a safehouse. He wasn’t in grave danger (please don’t worry!) so he would be back the next morning. Here are instructions to heat up what we have in the icebox, please don’t forget to eat or sleep (without implying it so directly), see you soon, I lo…

…well, not the last part. 

So…it should be settled. And Boss did hate having superfluous conversations, despite his patience in having them for Doppio’s sake, so, really, Doppio wasn’t that worried about having to explain everything…

…but he was a little worried. 

Getting back to their house just shy of 9, Doppio quietly unlocked the door and tiptoed in, trying to not wake Boss if he was still sleeping. 

Fingers crossed!

The shower was running. 

There was nothing particularly alarming by that itself. But as Doppio would walk further into the dark house, it wouldn’t be long until he might hear the small slosh of water beneath his shoes. A puddle long started to spread from the bathroom to the rest of the house, only growing wider.

Doppio was puzzled for a moment, looking down at the water across the floor. Then, his eyes widened, heart starting to pound in his chest in a very different way than it had been at Arven’s, and Doppio ran to the bathroom. “BOSS!!”

Diavolo was by the bathtub, standing straight, looking down thoughtfully at all the clothes they owned. Poured and packed into the bathtub so tightly that the drain couldn’t hope to function, the shower spraying against the long soaked and drenched garments. Diavolo, glancing over his shoulder as Doppio came in, raised a finger to his mouth, gesturing for silence, before going back to peering at the clothes in the tub.

“... close,” Diavolo mused, “I think I almost understand.”

Adjusting his naked form, Diavolo looked back to Doppio, before saying, “You have more clothes? Add them to the pile. I believe I’m close to a breakthrough.”

Doppio sagged into himself, letting out a sigh of relief, though he tried to keep it silent for The Boss’s sake. He… He had thought… Well, obviously not. Boss was the most powerful person Doppio knew, or could even imagine, so the thought of someone overpowering him was ridiculous. Stil, though… That terror, thinking someone had attacked over a night Doppio wasn’t there…

He looked at the bathtub. 

…man, he’d just done their laundry. And cleaning the floors was gonna take forever…

Nodding, Doppio first pulled out the clothes Arven had cleaned for him and put them in the tub, before pulling out the new cloak he’d gotten for The Boss and adding it in too. Glancing at the Boss--naked--Doppio started stripping too, though…there were a few moments of hesitation, before he bolstered himself up. Anything for the job. 

Once all the clothes he had were in, Doppio fought with himself for a few moments before whispering, hoping that wasn’t breaking the silence too much. “...only clothes? I can go get sheets ‘n stuff if you need more.”

“Don’t be silly, Doppio, what would be the point of drowning our bedding?” Diavolo asked, staring at the tub. Watching the new clothes rapidly soak and sink and mix with the old. 

“...I received your letter,” Diavolo said… before smirking a little. His dark green eyes looking black in the darkness, as he peered at Doppio with a knowing look. “Does the Prince of Luminary now run errands at the word of my assistant? My, how you rise in the world.”

…he didn’t know what the point of drowning their clothes was either, but Boss always had been a visionary. 

Doppio looked up as Boss called him out, not shocked that Boss knew who had delivered his letter, but…Kaito. He really hoped the prince had kept his word and hadn’t tried to talk… 

Blushing a little, Doppio shook his head, sighing softly in shame. “...I couldn’t make it back home, and Kaito was worried… He seemed like he’d…pretty much do anything to keep me from trying to walk back, like, even trying to do the rest of my errands,” An annoyed twitch to Doppio’s eyebrows, “So…I tried to compromise with him passing on the letter. And he agreed.”

“I see.” Diavolo smirked again, a small, hissing laugh, as he cupped his chin between his thumb and index finger, peering at the clothes. “Interesting… there’s something there, Doppio. Can you see it?”

Heading over to the bathtub, Diavolo sat at the edge of it, water falling around him. Waving Doppio over, he pointed into the tub. “Look. Look.”

Diavolo watched the water ripple beneath the pouring of the shower, clothes soaked and matted together at the bottom of the tub, the colors darkening in their water-soaked distortion. “Look… mountains. Do you see them? Mountains, beneath thundering skies, the scent of sage in the air… fascinating…”

Diavolo blinked, before looking over to Doppio. “Did you know that Luminary once used to be covered in mountains?”

“Or, that’s how one legend goes, anyway. Most everything on that side of the country is pure legend or myth in some manner or another. Luminary’s history is in tatters.” Diavolo explained, peering into the water, “It makes that country easy to take advantage of. They’re unorganized and, even better, fear to be organized. They fear the ripple effects of being destroyed. The more connected they are, the harder the ripples hit when someone is ready to turn on the sky again. To erase their history again.”

“So the mountains are an old legend. But they are a legend that was true. And the destruction of those mountains left behind, packed and melted into each other in large, massive, easy to find and effortless to dig into ravines. Literal, massive cracks in the earth that show off like a display, all the wealth of ore, hidden in Luminary’s lands,” Diavolo said, running his fingers through the shower fall, “That no one has ever had any particular use for.”

Doppio looked over at the tub, still a little bummed at…what would likely come to be an all-day cleaning adventure. But inside…

…it looked like a bunch of wet clothes at the bottom of an overfilled bathtub. 

But Boss could see more, and Doppio listened intently, trying to understand. Trying not to spurn the gift of being someone who Boss wanted to understand. Being someone worth sharing this with. 

Luminary’s mountains. Now, Luminary’s…ore-filled ravines. That…

Doppio’s eyes widened, an enlightened, “Oh!” escaping him. But…

Immediately his brows furrowed, an agitated expression coming over his face. “...Sh…Shoot. Um… Kaito was talking to me about something that needed a lot of metal. Or, potentially would need a lot of metal, because it was…a passion project? Or…no…”

Huffing, Doppio ran a hand through his bangs--incidentally, his injured arm--trying to remember what that conversation was about. It was important. He had meant to tell The Boss. Something that would change everything…

Diavolo reached over and patted Doppio on the shoulder, smiling lightly at him. “Do not harm yourself digging. I already know. You have been doing exceptionally well, lately. Beyond my greatest hopes for you.”

“You’ve domesticated a literal mad prince of a warmongering nation. Oh, certainly I know his mental state isn’t as bad as they say… but those rumors did not come from nothing either. He’s an emotional, vicious thing who rambles of voices in his mind and swears divine intervention, his temper not only rivaling, but feared to out match his own mad father. He beats men and women who cross him, effortlessly stands neutral in the center of a family civil war, coming out the victor either way, and it is said that when he arrived to Dicea he was not even aware murder was a crime to be hidden, and bragged of his intentions to the guardforce itself, that unafraid of consequences for his actions.”

“That’s a frightening mark to take on,” Diavolo said, patting Doppio again, “I commend your bravery in taking him on, and so successfully.”

“Now I just need you to do something else for me,” Diavolo said, smiling warmly at Doppio. “Which by this point I am confident you will accomplish easily. You will bring me the schematics for the train that Kaito mentioned to you. You will bring me an economic report from Luminary’s capital on the status of those ravines. And you will bring me a Kaito Momota who is ready to go to the queen with an earnest endorsement of a locomotive company that is going to outpace and underbid anything this Iruma woman could possibly be proposing yet. Luminary’s safety standards are borderline worthless, and their eyes will be bigger than their stomachs. I just need to get a bid in early, and in thirty years?”

Diavolo smiled wide, eyes wide with wonder. “I will own that country.”

Come on, you know this…

But, of course, Boss already knew it. 

Letting it go, Doppio’s eyes widened in wonder, the warmth of pride filling his chest at the praise Boss laid upon him. Pretty…pretty astounding praise, actually! Especially when so much felt like it had been going wrong lately… It felt kind of fitting that Doppio had misinterpreted everything, and that he’d actually been doing exceptionally well.

Exceptionally… Exceeding expectations. 

(╯✧▽✧)╯ Ha…haha!!

Riding a high bigger than anything Arven could’ve given him, Doppio nodded along to Boss’s commendations. Kaito…had just seemed like an intense weirdo that loved his family a lot. Seemed like he had a lot more going on than Doppio knew! It…it hadn’t felt brave, or difficult, and…he didn’t really feel like he had ‘domesticated’ Kaito…but if Boss said it, then it was true!

And…and if Doppio could do all that, then…

…it didn’t sound like something he could do easily. But, if was for the Boss…

Doppio smiled warmly, earnestly at The Boss. “I’ll get it done, Boss. Anything for you.”

O.O

Amaina was standing in the center of the bath, the shower spraying down on her. She looked down at the ‘mountains’ beneath her, up to Diavolo, who was still smiling warmly at Doppio…

♪ this is stupid why did he make all of your clothes wet to come up with the ‘idea’ of stealing someone else’s idea ♩ Amaina asked, tilting her head in blatant confusion, ♪ is he just stupid he could have literally done the same thing taking a bath and imagining mountains ♩ 

O.O

OoO ♪ also why are you both naked!? ♩ 

You couldn’t just question The Boss’s methods, Amaina. He worked in ways lesser people couldn’t hope to imagine. 

…still…

Still thrilled with the pride and expectations held upon him, Doppio rubbed his opposite shoulder self-consciously…and then ran his other hand over the raised, healing marks of his forearm, giving Boss a more sheepish grin. “Uh…not to question your infinite wisdom, Boss, but… Why did we have to take our clothes off? And, uh…was that the breakthrough you were looking for? I’ll get started cleaning the flood up as soon as you’re done.”

“Hm? Ah, right,” Diavolo said, looking at his feet, like it had only just occurred to him that the floor was flooding. “I was trying to think of how the scent of sage connects to the mountains… I lost the thought.” Diavolo frowned, before giving Doppio a frustrated, withering look. “You spoke too much.”

And, reaching over, Diavolo grasped Doppio’s braid, dunking his head beneath the water. Holding him there.

Eyes going wide, again, Doppio only had time to brace his arms over his chest to protect from the lip of the bathtub, and to take a deep breath before he was plunged in. There was…some sort of idea that Boss would probably be waiting for him to instinctively struggle--a response he, unfortunately, hadn’t been able to stop, when it came to The Boss--to let them get on with their day, but…

…it was hard, just allowing yourself to drown, okay?

As it was, Doppio just let himself be pushed under the water, holding his breath. 

…holding…

…holding…

A few bubbles rose to the surface before another pause, then larger ones followed. 

A deep burning in his chest, that felt far too much like yesterday. Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe! Water flooding his nose… 

Freckled shoulders trembled, fighting against the will to live, and the will to serve. 

Above them, Diavolo was saying things. Something about his frustration that Doppio kept taking risks without permission. What if that crazy, stupid prince had hurt you, Mio Vito? Was that really a risk you were ready to take by yourself? When I have other things in store for you? What was with the scent of sage?

But it would have been difficult to hear beneath the water either way, especially if Doppio was struggling.

But beneath the thrashing water, beneath the escaping bubbles, among the wet, soaking clothes, Amaina was standing. Looking up at him. Eyes wide and blank.

She clapped her hands together to get his attention. Each clap rang like a clear bell through the water. Then, staring him in the eye, she put her hands together and bleeeew out a large, rainbow shimmering bubble, holding it in her hands, before letting it go.

{Swallow it} She told him. {I can breathe easy down here see? With this, Doppio is like me. You can breathe too. Swallow it and you can breathe like me. Swallow it}

Doppio squinted his eyes open at the claps, things starting to get dark and hazy beyond just the fact that his head was underwater. He heard Amaina, clear in his head--clearer than anything--and he could see the bubble, bright in great contrast to everything else, but…

…this was a punishment. Doppio was supposed to lie here and take it, and understand that, even with the great praise, he’d messed up. 

(But there was a part of Doppio, Dicean through and through, that was screaming at him to fight back. To fight for his life, and stand firm and tall against anyone who would try to make him bow.)

(But there was a part of Doppio that was a young being, ignorant and confused to most of the way the world worked, who just wanted to cling to what was kind and familiar. Who just wanted his father to love him, and wanted to earn that love.)

(But there was a part of Doppio that was terrified of suffocating, who had been scared beyond belief yesterday and had felt like Kaito was a savior…even if the feeling building and building and building in his chest was white hot like burning ash, filling an impossible space like a balloon, ready to pop at any moment and splatter matted viscera and dark, thick, sticky blood everywhere, until that would drown too, throat still gasping while ribs shattered outward and--)

Doppio opened his mouth, swallowing the bubble, and took a deep, gasping breath, j̵̧̣̓̍̇̃̚͠ú̴̢̲̖̹̯̫͈̤̣̬̠͉͇̑̌̈̿̉̋͋̍̽̽͛̄͘͜s̷̺̩͍͖̼̎t̸̡̧͎̭̰̤̩̩̫̤̰̹̲̀̿̎̾ t̷̡̫͕̞̰̥͚̮̬̙̳̗͕͈̟͚͔̄́͐̎͋͗̒͜ŗ̵̛̲̬͎̬͓̮̱͚͈̣̜͎̰̝͓̹͐̏̄̔̾̃̇͌̂͒̑̔̂̑͂ͅẙ̸̛̱̝̣͙̀͐͆͊̎̒̾͊͋͊̀̏̚̚͝͠î̸̡̨̡̠̭̟̮̗͚̩̹̬͔̞̾́́͠͝n̷̲̗̘̰̱̯̠̰͕̑͂g̷̛̩̣̪̜̗͍͖̞͔͍̾̃̽̆̌̎̃̂̚͘̕ ̷̧̛̯̘͉̅͑̈́͋̓̇͆̈́ẗ̴̨̳̣̞͉̮͉̦̲͓̠͖͕̗́̀̌̑̇͒̍̇͑̊̕̚̕͘ͅớ̴̧̘̱͓̮̼̮̬͉͉̆̏͑͂́̈̈́͂͘͠

(...)

Ñ̵̥͕̑ö̷̡̨͇̮̤͈́̈́̒͌̔̃͠͠͝

(...)

S̸͚̦̙̲̃̀͐͌͊ͅť̸͎͕̠͗o̵̭̾͆̍̆̿̅̆͊̀͐́̚͝͝p̷̨̢̨̘̪̦̟̮̤͕͎͈̝̯̽ͅ

(...)

P̸͎̩̠̣̦͍̘̞̆Ļ̴̧̜̟̪͇̬͉̤͚̻͇͎̒̏̈͒̆͂̍͑̂̀͝Ę̴̺̩̠̹̭̣̞͇̗̙̺̦̘͖͚̽̈́͆͌͋̌̃͜ͅA̸̢̖̠͉̻̼̣̫̞̮̼̮̳͕̘̟͛̃͊̔͘ͅS̶̰̀̓̔̊͘͝Ë̸̢̛̦̫͓̞͓̱̦̱̠̼̼̱́̇͊́̈̇́̋̎̅͒̿̕ͅ

“STOP!!”

Doppio screamed, audible under the water as he flailed, the water he displaced…staying in the air. Suspended. 

Amaina’s eyes widened slightly, a feat for the wide eyed chibi. ♪ ooooooooooh ♩ 

But Amaina’s joy at Doppio’s display was short lived, as Diavolo dragged Doppio back up. Pulling the creature free of the water before more of it could be displaced and, while he didn’t let go of Doppio’s hair, he was far more interested in looking at the floating water then he was battering the creature further.

He stared in amazement at it– using telekinetic abilities on water was extremely difficult, the water itself not lending itself well to psychic manipulations– reaching out to lightly touch one of the floating bubbles of water with his free hand.

“...truly.” Diavolo smirked, “I am incredible.”

Doppio gasped and sputtered for air as he was pulled up, still struggling even though he had been able to breathe for…

(minutes)

(it had been dozens of minutes of skipped time)

(sequences one right after another as Doppio had reached out with fear and desperation, looking for any possible way to save himself)

Breathe…breathe, damnit! Please…

Shaking, Doppio raised his arms above his head, trying to mimic what Kaito had done…though it was a lot harder without someone helping him. And, like before, he did manage to get some of his breath back, but…

It just came out in choked sobs, Doppio’s eyes scrunched shut in pain as a migraine wracked through his body just as intensely as his fear. 

It hurt…

Something was wrong…

His skin was peeling off…

Diavolo, unable to take his eyes off his latest bout of brilliance, tsked slightly at the noise Doppio was making, before waving him off. “Go get started on breakfast, Doppio. I don’t understand why you’re content to lay about. You have things to do.”

Something was wrong.

He didn’t feel good…

…he had things to do. 

No longer feeling the grip on his head, Doppio shakily pushed himself up, still sniffling in uneven sobs. He turned the shower off and quietly--as much as he could--left the bathroom. 

The water crashing down as soon as he left. 

Diavolo frowned, the water crashing into his face and soaking him. Hmmm. What had he done differently? 

As he tried to raise it again, focusing his energy on the ever twisting, chaotic form of The Wetness, Amaina watched Doppio leave the bathroom, before looking back up at Diavolo.

In a fit of frustration, she remembered what the poor, ugly, giant chibi had looked like, and wanting a form that fit her feelings, she grew, and grew and grew. And having to bend her back to to fit her massive form into the bathroom, her twin tails bordering Diavolo like twisting, eyeless snakes, she opened a mouth with too many teeth, sharp and circular, like the head of a leech, and said with wide, bulging eyes that circled tightly with multicolored, nauseating, shifting rings:

♮ I  W I L L  S H O W  Y O U  N I G H T M A R E S  T H A T  E V E N  Y O U  T H O U G H T  W E R E  T O O  C R U E L  T O  E V E R  B E  T R U E  A N D  I  W I L L  M A K E  T H A T  T E R R O R  Y O U R  E V E R T Y H I N G  ♯

And, her frustration eased a little, she popped back into tiny angel mode, stuck her tongue out at Diavolo, dragged her left eyelid down a bit, and flipped him off, before flying to go check on Doppio.

O.O ♪ your boss is a jerk ♩ 

Eggs. Eggs were easy. Doppio loved eggs, because they were good for tougher days. …but Boss said that he was beyond expectations so…something with eggs too. 

(Not pancakes. Doppio felt nauseous even thinking about it. Wanting to keep a calm, easy morning sharing pancakes over a kitchen counter just…as it was.)

Hands shaking, Doppio cracked eggs into a measuring cup, trying, and failing not to get shells mixed in it with. Still sniffling, still wet, getting cold… Still naked. He’d never been so glad that the curtains were always drawn. 

Doppio glanced over at Amaina as she joined him, and he could only shake his head as he swallowed another sob. “...he’s not. He’s great, really. He…” Perhaps worst of all, Doppio managed to give il suo angelo a trembling smile that was painfully sincere. “He said I was doing amazingly… That’s great…”

Holding back something so violent that it shook his torso, Doppio just placed his hands on the counter for a moment, before looking back at Amaina, something a little desperate in his eyes. “...Angelo, I…I don’t feel so good… Was…that rainbow supposed to do that?”

♪ the rainbow was a small piece of power, like i do for my senpai when she needs an extra boost to do something difficult ♩ Amaina explained, flying up and soothingly rubbing one of her nubby hands over Doppio’s temple, ♪ i thought you might use it to steady yourself and realize you can breathe but you did not instead you did big crazy beautiful things because you are big and beautiful and crazy like wooooooooow that was nuts ♩ 

♪ then that loser thought it was him so at least that distracted him which is something i guess ♩ Amaina huffed, clearly not actually convinced, ♪ but if you’re feeling bad i’m putting my coin on it being because that freak tried to drown you and not my super cool awesome bubble of power ♩  

Rubbing his temple some more, Amaina softly sang-song, ♪ want me to go get your upgrade? ♩ 

Doppio gently tilted his head into Amaina’s little nubby touch. It wasn’t much but…it did help a little. Considering all he wanted to do was get under, like, a million of Arven’s quilts and sleep until the world had its contrast turned back down from the plus ten it was at…he’d take all the help he could get. 

…but he had things to do. 

Fishing eggshells out of the measuring cup, Doppio sighed softly. “...thank you. I know it was kind of the point but…thanks for not letting me drown.”

And the other stuff…

Even with a pounding head, Doppio had noticed the clock. There was…other stuff he was dealing with, so he couldn’t really think about it, but…

…it was a little after 10:30. He was no stranger to losing time, but…

Doppio gave Amaina a wary look. “...I… That was… That wasn’t me… I couldn’t…” He swallowed back another sob and blinked tears from his eyes before making a negative sound. “Please don’t get Kaito… I don’t think Boss wants to meet him until I… I-I fulfill my duties.”

Amaina huffed, before fluttering in front of Doppio, blocking his view of his work for a moment. Forcing him to stop for a moment.

Then she closed her eyes and rested her forehead between his eyes a bit. Glowing after a moment, trying again. Just enough. Enough to get through this. A little bit of P O W E R…

She opened her eyes and leaned back from him, ♪ later when you go out then it’s decided okaaaaaaaaay no argument good boy ♩ she praised, patting him on the nose, before getting out his way so he could go back to cooking. 

…

Heh. It was a little funny. It was kind of like petting Chief. 

Doppio let go of the most even breath he’d had since coming out of the water, and gave Amaina a grateful, affectionate look. “...I know you aren’t, really, but… You really are un angelo custode to me.”

Getting out a whisk to smooth out the texture of the eggs, he gave her a sheepish grin. “I’ll have to hide it, but…want me to make you a mini-portion?”

 ♪ hell yeeeeeeeees feed me I HUNGER ♩ Amaina cheered! 

And through the air, a light, easy to listen to, pretty song started to play. Just something nice, just for now, just for Doppio. 

-

Kaito, because they had asked excitedly now that school was starting if training was coming back, had done an impromptu training session with Tim and the girls after Haneda had asked him to cover for her since apparently there was a bit of a laundry emergency that required additional housekeepers’ help. Kaito, totally fine with that, had picked up Tim, had the girls follow along, promised a training session, and for the fun of it had decided to try an idea he had had aaaaages ago.

Grabbing a little mossy stick, Kaito had cheerfully thrown it into the center, and said, “Whoever grabs the talking stick gets to tell me about their first week of school first!”

And none of the kids had been dying to do that, right up until Kaito made it a literal dog pile wrestling match, and now it was all that any of them wanted to do as they valiantly tackled, wrestled, and chased each other around with the stick, all trying to get out how school was going quickly before one of the other two managed to successfully fight the stick out of the others’ grip.

“And then, Mr. Cendril– GAH! Mr. Cendril said that he was excited for my book report because I– YAH!!-- picked one of his favorite books as a kid which I thought was cool because– AW, darnnit!” Cali cursed, as Timothy managed to grab the stick while Kimiko tried to tackle Cali around the center, not quite knocking her down but definitely distracting her.

“You had it for a good bit of time, Cali! And that’s great! If it’s his favorite, you just know he’s gonna be interested in any cool new thing you observe in it!” Kaito grinned, watching Kimiko try to dance around Cali now, trying to snatch the talking stick from Tim before he managed to regain his balance. “Tim?”

“Some of our– nope,” Tim said, twisting backwards, out of Kimiko’s grasp, “Some of the other kids invited me to their birthday party!”

“Me too!” Cali shouted, “And Kimiko!”

“Tim has the talking stick, Cali.” Kaito laughed, sitting lazily in the grass as he watched the chaos. “But hell yeah. Though, I want you to ask Uncle Shuichi to talk to their parents first, okay? I know, I’m a tyrant, but better safe than sor…”

Kaito frowned, putting his pinky into his ear and cleaning out a little, feeling like he had heard something… before ‘suddenly remembering’ that he wanted to talk to Doppio that day. And, uh… suddenly deciding he knew where he’d go look, after training was done.

 Huh.

-

“THERE WAS SOMEONE HERE, FIND HER!” Saint Madison demanded, tearing through Kaito’s mind, “I KNOW SHE WAS HERE!”

-

So with his gut impulse, Kaito took on Miyako when it was his turn to let Shuichi get a break, Kokich still at work, and headed off.

It had taken…a long time to un-flood their house. And Doppio still wasn’t sure that he wasn’t just leaving water damage to fester under the floorboards. But after hauling out container after container of water, and drying the floor…he’d had to clean all their clothes (the second day in a row), and…try to salvage anything that had been left on the floor before Boss’s…experiment. 

And Doppio had done it all naked. 

It was getting into the late afternoon by the time Doppio even left the house again, drained and sore and irritable, but…duty called, and even if he didn’t have any bigger errands, he still had to send the day’s mail out. 

…it was probably too late to find Arven, huh? Not that Doppio really thought he’d be…particularly good company. So maybe it was for the best…

It was later than he usually got caffeine, if he knew he wasn’t going to be up all night, but unless he wanted a round two of feeling like he’d pass out on the way home, Doppio thought it’d be a good idea to get a coffee. And…he…didn’t really feel like going back home yet. 

It was okay. He had time. 

Curled up in a chair in the window corner of a cafe, Doppio sipped his coffee, hoping that the caffeine would ward off the buzzing headache that had replaced his migraine. And the…pressure, around his head and chest. And the…slightly uncomfortable warmth that still hadn’t prevented him from going out in one of his bigger sweaters again. 

“Ya know?” Kaito grinned, sitting on the opposite chair of Doppio’s corner table, Miyako peering at Doppio just above where the tabletop ended, the eyes of her penguin hoody staring at him just as intently. “I had a gut feeling you’d be here. Isn’t that wild?”

Doppio just looked dully over at Kaito for a moment, before surprise took over his features. Which was quickly replaced with a quiet sort of resignation. “...did you now?”

Letting his gaze fall to Miyako…well, she was very cute, as she had been yesterday, but… Doppio’s brows furrowed. Something out of reach. “...what kind of kigurumi is that? Some kind of…bird?”

“Hm?” Kaito looked down at Miyako, before grinning at Doppio. “Oh man, you’ve never seen a penguin before? Here, here, hold on. Come on, Miya, let’s show you off a little~” 

Unstrapping her, he brought Miyako up for full viewing pleasure, her little baby onesie looking a great deal like a penguin as she sucked on her pacifier. “Oh, man, you’re in luck. These guys are adorable, and they have a whole sanctuary for them right around here. I can show you if you want, they let you do viewings, and Iiiiii have volunteered there!” Kaito bragged, holding Miayko in his arms as he cradled her a bit. “So, like, they might let us take a quick peek inside if I put on the old Momota charm~”

Kaito was grinning, but he hadn’t missed the exhaustion in Doppio’s face. And his mind echoing with Kokichi’s warnings and Shuichi’s accusations of ‘nao-ism’, Kaito grinned a little uneasily as he asked, “Did you get some sleep at Arven’s? You still look really tired.”

“Penguin…” Some kind of black and white bird, for sure. It didn’t look like there were any feather details on Miyako’s sleeves, but…Doppio really couldn’t tell if that was just for keeping it simple, as baby’s clothing, or if there really was something fucked up with “penguin”s wings. 

“Seems like you’ve been to a lot of animal sanctuaries around here,” Doppio noted. …was the ‘old Momota charm’ beating people to death? Kaito had threatened to knock him and Arven around, the day they met…

Doppio let go of a deep sigh, something uncomfortable audibly rattling in his chest. “No, Arven’s was great. He gave me some stuff that sent me out for hours. No, just…” Doppio tilted his head to the side, rubbing a temple without having to move his arm much. “...a pipe burst at home. Got everything fixed, but cleaning took…all day. It was…so wet.”

Kaito winced, shaking his head. “Ah, geez, that sucks, I’m sorry to hear that. Man, a pipe burst? God, that sounds like so much work. I thought it was bad when the kids busted up the vents and a ton of dirt got in that we had to clean. I think I’d lose my actual marbles if instead of dirty it’d have been water. Way harder to clean up.”

“Well, are you done with work now then? I came out to chat with you again, but if you’re coming down from a really stressful day, I could take you to do something relaxing? Let you destress a little… then chat you up!” Kaito grinned. “That way the day isn’t you being annoyed the entire time. Eh?”

Doppio nodded sagely, closing his eyes as he drank his coffee. “That sounds pretty miserable too. I think it’d drive me crazy knowing what the inside of, like…industrial vents look like. Even if it was a fluke, how dirty they were, I’d still feel like I’d have to clean them regularly after seeing it.” He let out a sigh, opening his eyes to give Kaito a commiserating look. “I’d just done all our laundry yesterday too. Timing really just likes to make me the butt of every joke.”

…he really didn’t understand. How Kaito was talking didn’t seem…special. It was how Kaito just talked to people. Doppio didn’t know what he’d done to…especially endear himself, or anything…

Lifting his cup a little, Doppio gave Kaito a short nod. “This is my relaxing thing. If you wanted to talk…” He shrugged a little. “That’s what happens in cafes, isn’t it? Did you need something?”

After a pause, Doppio gave Kaito a more tired look. “...my arm is okay, if you were thinking like you had to check up on that.”

“Oh, man, let me tell you about the time that I temporarily reigned as King of the Vent People, but, after I get my own cup of coffee, then, since we’re gonna chill out here then,” Kaito said, looking back at the thankfully non-existent line at the counter, before getting up and bringing Miyako over to Doppio. “And I did want to check up on that! And other things! But, coffee first. And, here, I’m about to kidnap you by chaining you down with a baby. Hold Miyako for me while I go get my drink?”

“Eh?!” And, despite his instant panic, Doppio managed to keep the noise down to a…reasonable level. 

Unfurled a bit from his ball in the chair, Doppio…didn’t look great. His clothes were clean, his hair was put in order, tied in his usual braid, but…his cover job on his face was much more shoddily done than the day before, giving a distinct discoloring to his cheek, and the rest of his face was flushed, even before Kaito had said anything. And, well…he just looked irked and exhausted and in mild pain. 

And Kaito was asking him to hold a baby???

Holding his hands up slightly, like he didn’t know what to do with them, Doppio gave Kaito a panicked look, remembering that Arven’s protests the day before hadn’t worked out for him either. “I-I’m gonna drop her! I can’t do it!”

Kaito hesitated, staring at Doppio… adjusting Miyako in his arms, as he asked, “Can you really not do it? Why will you drop her?”

“I-I’ve never held a baby before! They’re really fragile! A-and I break things all the time!”

Kaito, again, briefly hesitated… before saying softly, “Here, I’m gonna keep my hands right under her, okay? And I just want to make certain your arm isn’t going to give you trouble, which is the only reason I’m being more cautious with you than I was with Arven. You’re not gonna be careless with my baby, I trust you. Just want to make certain that injury doesn’t mess with you first. Come on, just mimic how I’m holding her, see? Mirror me.”

…why?

Why did Kaito trust him? What had Doppio done… He didn’t understand. 

Making a throaty, panicked noise, Doppio still dutifully mirrored the position Kaito’s arms were in, staring at Miyako with more than a little trepidation. …what if he hurt her? She was so small… You had to be so gentle with small things, otherwise they were hurt, and let you know with scratches and bites and hisses…

(...or other ways. That meant it was too late, and you’d done too much.)

Kaito gently passed Miyako over, carefully watching his daughter’s face, Doppio’s hands, as he lowered his own. “...hah. There we go~ Okay, now just bring her a little closer to your chest, and let her rest against it, that’ll help with some of her weight. Look at that, you’re doing great! And, awwwww, Miyaaa~ you’re so patient. You’re such a patient little baby who’s nooooot gonna spit out her pacifier and make a fuss cause Dad wanted to go get coffee, right? Not gonna be mean and yell at Doppio, or, uh…” Kaito laughed uncertainly, “Anything else. No? There’s my good baby. Alright, I’ll be right back! I’ll have half an eye on you, you’re doing great, no reason to be nervous!”

Kaito gave Doppio two thumbs up as he walked backwards, giving him a few looks every now and again as he went to go make his order.

Miyako, in turn, suckled on her pacifier, staring up curiously at Doppio. 

Soft Wet was back. Maybe that meant Dancing Lights was around too? Miyako had really liked Dancing Lights.

…she was heavier than he’d thought. More solid, sturdier. Just like…well. A little person. And while Doppio gave Kaito a nervous look, it not even having occurred to him that Miyako might start crying in his arms…

He let out a little breath, staring back down at Miyako. Babies really did have huge eyes…

“...I don’t understand your dad,” he softly told the infant. “But…I hope that you “domesticated” him too. He’s…nice, like that. You should have nice things… You’re so little.”

Oooooh… look at that hair. Those were little baby grabbing bangs if she ever saw them. Reaching up, Miyako tried to grab hold of them, making little grabby hands as she wiggled a little excitedly. Come ooooon… she had to be close! She just had to be! Get clooooooser…

She pouted, kicking a little. Darn. Why couldn’t her tiny baby arms stretch farther? Father! Father! Biiiiiiig heeeeeeaaaat! Get it closer! Gah!

Kaito sighed tiredly, thanking the barista as she handed him his drink, bells starting to ring. Right, right, coming Miya. “Everything alright?” he asked, putting his coffee down and chuckling as he saw Miyako wiggling in Doppio’s arms. “Aw, I know that look. She wants to grab your hair. She’s a little hair grabber. Don’t let her, once an infant gets a hand on your hair, it’s a real fight to get ‘em to let go. Here, I’ll take her back now.”

“Ohnoohnoohnoohnoohno--” Doppio kept up a very soft stream of panicked mutters as Miyako wriggled in his arms. He kept still as a statue, trying not to drop her or accidentally squeeze too hard trying to keep her from falling or…

There was a very brief flash of fear, as Kaito mentioned Miyako trying to grab his hair, and Doppio eagerly handed her back over, letting out a small breath of relief once his arms were once again baby-free. And…with that, he tucked himself back into his seat, grabbing his own coffee again. “...please never leave her with me again. That was terrifying.”

“No promises! You did a great job!” Kaito grinned, reaching over to ruffle Doppio’s hair with his free hand… before stopping. Bringing his fingers back as he frowned a bit, not certain if he had seen what he thought he saw. Had Doppio… flinched?

Ah, shit. Um…

Grinning again, Kaito adjusted Miyako to lay out in one of his arms, sitting down opposite of Doppio again as he grabbed his own coffee. “I knew I could count on you, and you didn’t let me down. Also, let me tell you, the easiest way to make certain someone doesn’t run away from you the second you look away? Put a baby in their hands! Wow do people suddenly not want to run away from you when they really want you to take the baby back. It’s a really effective kidnapping strategy, I found, just now.”

Chuckling, pleased with himself, Kaito smirked a little. “I told my husband that you’re always accusing me of being a bully. I’ll have you know, the Ouma heir-apparent says I’m not a bully, thank you very much… I just have bullying ‘tendencies’. Very different. Consider yourself debated~” 

…good job. Great, even. 

Doppio didn’t know how to feel about doing a great job at holding a baby, but…he supposed he was pleased. A good thing to not fail at. 

“I wasn’t gonna run anyway,” Doppio sighed. “I was here first. If I was gonna run, would’a done it when you first sat down.” Kaito had just put extra stress on the whole thing. 

Like a bully.

Doppio gave him an unamused look. “I fail to see how those are different--you are what you do. Plus, Prince Kokichi is a biased party--he married you, ‘course he’s gonna vouch for you. Especially if you bully him as much as everyone else.”

Sighing, Doppio rubbed the bridge of his nose before looking up again. “...so, what did you want?”

“Did you hear that, Miya? Doppio really accused me of bullying Daddy! Isn’t that so mean?” Kaito pouted down at her, before bringing Miyako up a little as he lifted his arm, ducking his head down like he was possibly ‘hiding’ behind her, and saying in a high little voice, “Don’t be mean to Dad, Doppio! Or you’ll have to deal with little baby kicks! Kick, kick!” Kaito tapped Miyako’s feet up with his free hand, while Miyako stared at her strange and bizarre father with the calm baby face of an infant whose father had recently discovered his baby was very patient through little infant puppetry shows.

Kaito laughed some more, entirely pleased with himself, before sipping his coffee as he admitted, “Sorry, I am so tired. I get a little giggly and loopy sometimes, if I haven’t had enough sleep. My little Miya was up for a looooooong time last night, wasn’t she? And it was all Daaaaad’s fault. Shoulda… shoulda really held back on making a big pow noise for a joke. Reaaaaally paid for that one.” 

“What did I want…?” Kaito echoed, trying to think… before lighting up. “Right! I wanted to tell you about the time I became King of the Vents! And also to make sure you changed your bandage on your arm today. You can’t just leave it as the same one overnight, it’ll get infected.”

Doppio just stared at Kaito with Miyako, kind of…very, very mildly bemused. He really was a strange man. (...whose daughter seemed…utterly calm. Trusting. Completely comfortable having her dad do all sorts of weird, inane stuff.)

Except for waking her up in the middle of the night, apparently. 

Making a patient little hum, Doppio…paused, for a moment. Now very aware that…he hadn’t put a new bandage around his arm. Sure, it was a little tender on the healing parts, but no part of it was an open (or closing) wound anymore so he just…hadn’t thought of it. 

…he had been anxious, originally, to show Boss his arm, but…Boss hadn’t seemed to notice it at all. Maybe because it was already healing. 

…but Kaito knew about it. And probably knew that deep gouges didn’t become new skin overnight. 

“I did,” Doppio firmly assured, keeping his arms close to himself in his ball. “I know how to take care of myself, Kaito, I changed ‘em.”

Kaito frowned, looking over at the arm he knew was wounded, and then at Doppio’s defensive expression. “...okay. I won’t make you show me, but look, if you forgot? That’s okay, the most I want is your assurance you’ll change it as soon as you can. If you need bandages, I already told you about the pharmacy one of my sidekicks runs, she can hook you up. You wouldn’t even have to name-drop me really, though you totally always have permission too.”

“But, okay~” Kaito grinned, raising his coffee cup like it was a toast. “Your arm isn’t doing any worse than it was yesterday. Any memories of what happened coming back? Clues to what happened?”

That was a first. Unless this was like the diner situation and Kaito was giving a fake option just to try and convince Doppio to show him his arm later. But…but it was a good thing, this time. Just…not something he could show Kaito, unless he wanted to get into the whole ‘yeah, we really are being haunted by a little doll’ thing. Which he didn’t think Kaito would be as willing to just…roll with. 

Doppio glared half-heartedly at Kaito before scrunching into himself more, pressing his coffee cup to his forehead. “I didn’t forget, and my arm’s okay as it can be. And all my medical supplies at home is…are well-stocked, and up-to-date. I am very prudent about it.”

And as for what happened… Honestly, Doppio hadn’t even tried to think more on it. Amaina had healed him, which had been amazing, and he’d slept… And he and Arven had talked about…

…

…it had been so wet, at home. Doppio had been so worried. Of course Boss would be an outlier, but…there were only a few things that came to mind, when he saw the floor covered in water. It had been so uncomfortable and cold while he was cleaning too… His chest hurt… His head hurt. 

Doppio’s silence just…continued. Becoming even more silent, as his breaths quieted down to nothing, Doppio still in his ball, eyes shut.

Kaito’s eyebrows shot up a little, seeing the change come over Doppio. Glancing worriedly around him– entirely because of what he planned to do next, he really hoped no one was paying any attention to them in the corner– he stood up and took his chair, scooting it over to beside Doppio, before sitting down. Close enough that he just had to lean into Doppio’s space a little, his shoulder lightly pressing him, as Kaito whispered, “Hey, hey. Eyes open. Doppio, open your eyes and tell me where you are right now.”

Immediately, Doppio blinked his eyes open. For how deeply he usually slept, he woke pretty easily, and even now that was no different. Sucking in a deep breath, he blinked, once, twice. …coffee cup in hand. Sitting down…pretty comfortably, actually, for how awful he felt otherwise. And…and Kaito next to him. 

“...coffee shop?” he answered, not sounding…entirely confident.

“Mmmhm~” Kaito hummed encouragingly, saying softly, “How about you describe it to me a little. What pops out? Colors, items, that sort of thing.”

“Uh.” Doppio glanced around, not uncurling himself much, but just enough to be able to look. Though…he didn’t really like how much he had to work to focus his vision. “...I like the sign behind the counter. The…horse with wings, thing. It’s…very green, in here.”

He let out a slow, even breath, headache throbbing annoyingly, as that weird, uncomfortable heat seemed to center in the same spot. “Um… I think there’s a fig tree in the corner across the way? Arven would probably know for sure…”

“Okay, good…” Kaito frowned. This no longer looked like a panic attack to him. What the heck was he looking at right now? “...how do you feel?”

‘Fine’ was right on his lips. The answer everyone expected to hear, and the one that was usually the most useful to Doppio. 

But…

He looked away, biting his lip, something trembling in his chest. How he felt?

“...Kaito…I really don’t feel well…” Doppio whispered, hunching into himself again. “Everything’s too hot and my head hurts… And I thought my chest was gonna explode this morning… I’m so tired…”

“Okay, hey, hey, that’s alright,” Kaito whispered, adjusting Miyako into his other arm so that he could give Doppio a small, soothing rub on his back, running little circles over it as he looked him over. “I’m glad you told me, I know you don’t like that…”

Looking around again, Kaito whispered to Doppio, “I know you don’t want to go, but what if I promised that whatever happens at the pharmacy stays between you, me, and Seiko? She’s really, really good at discretion. She could look you over, make sure you’re okay and help if you’re not. I won’t let anything bad happen to you from a trip with her, I’ll take responsibility for it. Making sure no one messes with you will be a priority, I swear it.”

Rubbing Doppio’s back some more. “A quick trip to a healer I trust, just a quick checkup. You’ll feel better… and I can regale you with weird stories while we go! You haven’t had a chance to hear me in story-telling mode, trust me, it’s a treat, and won’t totally be annoying.” Kaito snickered, grinning imploringly at Doppio, “You’ll only roll your eyes at me a little.”

Even if the healer was good at keeping her mouth shut…

Something deeply unnerved went through Doppio’s core and he shook his head, closing his eyes again. “...no. I…” Doppio huffed something a little panicked. “...I don’t wanna see what my guts look like? O-or be cut open in the first place? I’m just…”

(He couldn’t go to a doctor, because he was wrong.)

…but there were so many other things, now, that were wrong too. And…what if this didn’t just…go away after he went asleep? What if he was dying? 

(...who would take care of Boss then?)

Feeling small and scared, Doppio cracked his eyes open to side-eye Kaito. “...I don’t wanna be a science experiment.”

Kaito wasn’t sure… why Doppio would be, but–

He wrapped his arms around Doppio’s back, pulling him into a side-hug. “No one’s going to cut into you. No one’s gonna make you look at your guts. And kid…” Kaito grinned a little tiredly. “Keeping you from being a science experiment with my Seiko? Is literally one of the reasons I’m assuring you it’s not going to happen. I am not–” Kaito’s grip around Doppio tightened, ever so slightly, as he grit his teeth, “--not letting something like that happen to one of mine ever. Again.”

“Okay? Whatever fear you’re having, I’m not calling it irrational, and I’m not waiving it away or dismissing it. I’ve seen what that reality looks like in real life with real loved ones, and it’s not gonna happen to you. I’m not gonna let it. I’m taking responsibility for you. That means you don’t have to worry about things like that, because I’m handling it. Got it?”

…what did Kaito mean ‘again’?

But as ominous as that was? It…actually made Doppio feel a little better. (Along with that tight grip around him. Almost, almost right…but comforting in the ways it was wrong.) If Kaito had gone through someone he cared about being…dissected and observed and, just… (looked at like they were wrong, wrong, wrong), and he came out of it determined not to let it happen again? Then…

Doppio nervously gnawed on his lip. “...no matter what she might say?”

“Oh, buddy,” Kaito’s eyes glinted with something genuinely malicious, “I kinda wish she’d be stupid enough to argue with me about it. She’s a dear, dear sidekick in my life who I was way too lenient with. Give me an excuse, I’m dying to be a bastard about it… oh! Sorry, Miyaaaa~”

Kaito’s voice went sugary sweet again, beaming down at Miyako as he cooed, “Dad’s sorry, sorry, only gentle language around little Miyaaaaa~”

“Alright!” Kaito beamed at Doppio. “How do we feel? Ready to trust me on this one?”

Doppio looked down. 

If a healer couldn’t do anything about his wrongness? And…and would have to treat him anyway? And…Kaito mauled people who crossed him, and he was just waiting for an excuse with this healer… 

…he really did feel awful…

Gently, Doppio nodded slightly, trying to take a breath to bolster enough bravery to stand up. “...okay. Just…please keep that promise.”

Up, still holding his cup, Doppio started shuffling to the cafe door, holding it open for Kaito, before something occurred to him. Brow furrowing, he looked up at the older man. “...hey, you didn’t try to talk to my boss yesterday, did you?”

“I swear it, kid. And you’re gonna learn that word’s real important to me,” Kaito said, getting up to let Doppio out, putting Miyako back in her straps and grabbing his diaper backpack, humming at Doppio’s question as he followed him. “Oh, no? Dropped off the letter, didn’t so much as hear him walking around inside. Just headed out.”

As they got outside, Kaito giving Doppio a grateful nod for the hold, he asked, “Ah, that’s right. Your boss give you any trouble for me keeping you out all night? You told him I made you?”

He really hoped so. The Boss seemed certain that Kaito was in his corner, so…if nothing else, Doppio could trust that. 

Though… Doppio hummed softly, a curious expression running over his face before…well. Boss did know everything. 

“I didn’t, I explained everything in the letter, and, uh…” Doppio sighed, giving Kaito an almost embarrassed look. “...he was actually pretty happy to hear that you were looking out for me. It was…a little overwhelming, actually. He was just disappointed in my ‘risky behavior’ which, like…yeah, that’s fair.” A deeper, more tired sigh. “...and pretty normal.”

“It…it never feels like I’m taking risks, in the moment… But as soon as he points stuff out it’s, like…oh, yeah. That was pretty dumb. And I know he just doesn’t want to see me going out and getting myself killed, or robbed, or hurt or whatever, but…” His shoulders slumped. “...I just don’t know how to improve, if the problem is I’m not noticing stuff.”

“Oh, easy,” Kaito said, his hands carefully, protectively in front of Miyako as he grinned at Doppio. “I have that same problem. You just surround yourself with familiar people you trust. They do half the looking out for you.”

Speaking of, he took a quick look around, still aiming for the pharmacy as they walked, before looking back to Doppio. “In my experience? Bad things only happen to you if you’re, like, alone and isolated. Like, if it’s just you kind of facing something on your own? Or a person on your own? Then you’re in real danger. And for being out and about, well, kind of the same thing. Being isolated in a group can also be pretty dangerous. Though I’d always argue it’s actually never as dangerous as being genuinely alone in a space. Spaces full of people are intimidating, but so long as you don’t let someone take you away from them you’re usually okay.”

“But, yeah, the easy answer is to meet people and make friends and let them look out for you,” Kaito said, again, quickly, looking around. “And that keeps us guys with our heads in the clouds safer… and you’re already improving on that! You’ve met two people who want to look out for you just in the last few days!” Kaito reminded him enthusiastically. “Me and Arven! So, there you go! Progress!”

Was it? Boss…well, he had never really said it outright to him, but between other stuff he said, and how he acted…Doppio had gotten the impression that the safest way to live was to completely isolate yourself. Never betrayed by anyone, because there was no one to be betrayed by. And it would probably work out perfectly, if Boss hadn’t been a powerful visionary, and so needed an extra pair of hands to keep his empire steady. 

And Doppio had always strove to be someone that The Boss never even had to think for a second would betray him. 

…but…

But some things were easier, with another person. Cooking was faster, doctors wouldn’t cut you up…it was more fun searching for frogs when there was someone to show them to. 

In some ways, Doppio felt like things had just been going wrong since he met Kaito, but…Boss had said that things were better than ever. That Doppio was better than ever. So…

“...I dunno,” Doppio said softly, before he sighed, glancing up at Kaito with a more generous look. “...but you guys have helped me out a lot. …uh…”

A soft, embarrassed laugh left him, and Doppio looked down, rolling his coffee cup between his hands. “...I made breakfast for Arven this morning? As a thank you, for letting me stay over… I had kinda just planned to cook then leave, but…he said he wanted to eat with me. Like…he was looking forward to it. It… That was really nice.”

“Oh?” Kaito grinned, all teeth. “That’s great! Aw, man, I’m still so glad you two have hit it off so much. And, hah, I bet he was looking forward to it.” Kaito snickered, shaking his head. “Aw, that’s so cute. I bet you made his whole day, I bet he’s still thinking about it. He woke up and Doppio was cooking him breakfast, was gonna sit down and eat with him, chat, all in perfect sitting and staring distance… hah! Awwwww, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m not trying to tease,” Kaito promised, laughing behind his hand as he looked away from Doppio. “It’s so cute though.”

Looking down at Doppio, Kaito grinned. “...sooooo~ have you ever had a crush before? Or is Arven the first?”

Kaito had expressed his delight yesterday too, that the two of them had become friends. But…there was just something in the particular way he lingered on certain details, changed the perspective… Something pointed in his voice that reminded Doppio of…

His eyes narrowed. 

Amaina. 

Sighing through something that faintly sounded like, “Not you too…” what Kaito said next caught Doppio more off-guard. He blinked at Kaito a few times, before turning more red than the general flush he’d been sporting ambiently. 

“Wh-wha?” Doppio sputtered, looking increasingly embarrassed. “I-I don’t want to crush Arven! Don’t be weird!”

(...but…it would probably be nice if Arven crushed him. He was pretty strong…)

“....you don’t want to… crush Arven?” Kaito echoed, making sure he heard right. Did Doppio know what a crush was? Uh…huh…

…wait, were crushes things in Dicea? Had he ever used that word with Kokichi? Aw, damn, now he wasn’t sure.

“...” Kaito suddenly snorted, “What if Arven ‘crushed’ you?”

Alert, they’ve reached scarlet stage! 

And while a refute was in Doppio’s throat…he couldn’t speak it. Not when he was thinking about…Arven taking his wrist, pressing the two of them together to compare muscles. Arven right beside him on the couch, talking late into the night. …Arven putting his arms around his back and under his knees, trying to lay him out on his bed…

…if he just…squeezed a little. Didn’t even have to be a lot, not like how…(Doppio sometimes wished. Equally longing and terrified.) Just…a little. And…

“HHhhhhnnnf,” Doppio huffed, a sort of distressed honking noise leaving him as he put his hands to his head, knees buckling in slightly. 

Kaito was an asshole and a bully, so he straight up laughed at Doppio, even going so far as pointing a bit, genuinely delighted, before going, “Awww, kid.” And, gently, as far as Kaito’s slaps could be concerned, patting him on the back. “He’s got you bad, huh?”

“Actually, that might be a good lead-in for something else I really want to talk to you about.” Though, admittedly, maybe waiting until Doppio was adequately trapped in a pharmacy, among health stuff, was the best way to broach this subject fully. “I want you guys, ideally, to end up getting to spend a lot of time together, because it’s awesome to spend time with people you like, and even more awesome to spend time with people you like-like, and that’s great! It’s good for you, even!”

“But,” Kaito said, rubbing the back of his neck a little, “And there’s nothing wrong with this, but, well… you don’t have any parents fussing over you, and Arven literally lives alone, basically… I’m just saying, you both have a lot of opportunities to make decisions for yourselves, and it's important you know what those decisions actually mean, and how you can navigate them, like… safely, and… hmm. Okay.”

Kaito huffed a long breath, before asking, “When's the last time you took, like… a health class? You remember taking any sort of, like… ah, geez, I’m feeling more bashful about this than I thought I would,” Kaito admitted with a sheepish laugh, scratching the tip of his nose. “Did you take a sex-ed class, at any point?”

“Shut up!!” was definitely what Doppio yelled into his hands, voice crack and all, but it really ended up sounding like a groaned, “Sssuh uh!”

M…maybe Arven was making him bad! Doppio had missed a lot of work time, and planned on…n-not missing more, but making time around it to see him, and…and he couldn’t afford to lose focus, not when he barely had any to start with, but…

…but he didn’t care. He liked hanging out with Arven. So there.

Doppio…couldn’t tell if Kaito’s approval of that was actually a good thing or not. But he seemed to think it was important, at least. To ask about… Well, he knew what a health class was, obviously. Kind of self-explanatory. But…

“Secksed?” Doppio mumbled, sounding the…unfamiliar word out in the hopes that it might ping something in his brain. Either way, though… Doppio gave Kaito an uncomfortable look, gnawing on the inside of his cheek. 

…he’d already told Arven. And, yeah, Arven was way cooler than Kaito, but…

“...I…don’t know if I’ve ever been to school?” Doppio tentatively started, looking firmly at the road. “I don’t…really remember anything, past a few years ago…”

“...” Kaito looked away from Doppio, putting a hand over his mouth and worriedly whispering to himself, “Ah, fuck, shit, am I Nao’ing this? Ah shit. Fuck.”

He looked down at his baby, frowned, covered her ears, and because he was a weirdo, proceeded to think worriedly to himself, shit fuck god dammit.

That sounded like a way bigger problem than Kaito had originally assumed.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh– “Okay,” Kaito said, beaming at Doppio like he hadn’t just been worriedly cursing to himself, “Um… hm. That’s… that’s certainly a thing you just said. You’re gonna have to give me a second here, kid. I just gotta… think on that…”

Kaito walked in silence for a couple of steps. “...Doppio, don’t you…” Kaito was going to ask ‘live with your boss’, but he let the question die, rethinking it. “Don’t you… how did you…” get this job, if you’ve only been aware of things for the last few years, and now very much may likely know exactly one person, but that also wasn’t, quite, what Kaito was trying to figure out. What to ask, what to ask…

“Hey Doppio?” Kaito asked more confidently, staring ahead, “How much do you make?”

Doppio let Kaito have his…freak out, he supposed, in silence. It was, as pretty much anyone could’ve guessed, a far less cool reaction than Arven’s, but…Doppio couldn’t quite hold it against him. There was a reason he was hesitant to talk about it, even beyond the fact that, before a few weeks ago, he’d had no one to tell it to. 

It…it was a little scary to think about, sometimes. But…the past was nothing. Your actions in the present, and plans for the future were what mattered, and…a-and if Doppio had nothing in his past to hold him back, then he was simply doing better than most people!!

(...but Arven’s parents had abandoned him. Who…had Doppio left behind?)

Doppio looked up nervously as Kaito worked through a few false starts of questions, a little surprised at the one he landed on, and he opened his mouth to respond--

A sharp gasp left him instead, Doppio dropping his empty coffee cup and holding his head instead, the headache becoming splitting in an instant, and Doppio doubled over, trying not to collapse…

“Woah, woah, oh, hey, okay okay, let’s get off the path, huh?” Kaito said, his voice low and soft again as he quickly– if careful of Miya– went to go steady Doppio. “Come on, it’s starting up again, huh?”

“What is…?” ‘Doppio’ frowned, blinking blearily as he looked around, a small scowl as he instinctively half-closed his eyes at the sun. So bright out… before looking up at Kaito. A little disturbed to be touched so casually, as Kaito tried to steer him off the sidewalk. “What are you doing?”

“Come on, I just want you to sit real quick and we’ll sort this out,” Kaito encouraged, pulling him onto the porch of a store that seemed to be closed, having ‘Doppio’ sit down at the steps. “Like we did before, okay? Tell me what you see, what’s around us right now.”

‘Doppio’ shot Kaito a mildly unimpressed look, before looking around. “Too many people. Sunny. Storefronts… 42 copper an hour.”

“Huh?”

“That’s how much I make. About 5000 a month. You asked,” ‘Doppio’ said, frowning at Kaito a bit, “Though, why did you want to know?”

“Oh, uh…” Kaito sighed. Seemed like Doppio was feeling a little better, at least. “Uh… sorry, kid, I just got worried for a second there. I was afraid you were gonna tell me–”

“What?” ‘Doppio’ scoffed, “That I make nothing? I’m not an indentured servant. My employer gave me a job because my memory issues were giving me so much trouble. Gave me roots and someone to talk to every day. He basically saved me from wandering the streets.”

“...employer,” Kaito echoed, giving Doppio a concerned look… before reaching over to feel his forehead. “That was a nasty spill you almost had. Are you okay? You’re sorta sounding unlike yourself.”

“I am? Ah.” ‘Doppio’ paused, trying to think of what sounding like himself was like… before he leaned against Kaito, wrapping his arms around Kaito’s arm. Batting his eyelashes up at him, as he said, “Thank you for looking out for me. I don’t know what I’d do without you~”

“.........” Kaito gave Doppio a truly uncomfortable look, before saying, “Okay, we’re going to get you to my sidekick faster.”

“You’re not worried about my means of employment anymore?” ‘Doppio’ asked, feeling smug. Nailed it. 

“Just one thing at a time,” Kaito murmured to himself, as he stood up, helping/dragging Doppio up too. “This is why we have the sidekick system.”

‘Doppio’ couldn’t be bothered to indulge in whatever weird ‘hero’ game Prince Kaito was playing, if he was discussing his weird ‘sidekicks’ thing again. Besides, he had done his damage control. Kaito was no longer suspicious. He’d let Doppio take it from here.

Almost comically, and very sad, in a sense, Doppio suddenly dropped, looking very much like a marionette that had just had its strings cut. And he was still, limp, for another moment before groaning softly, putting a hand over his mouth. 

“Fu-” Don’t swear in front of Kaito’s baby.

Kaito?

“Fu…dge,” Doppio groaned, forcing his eyes open. Making himself look around and see what was going on. 

Kaito was…half dragging him along the street. Were they…?

“...shoot.” He looked up, giving Kaito a half-apologetic, half-worried look. “...I, uh… I think I went out on you? Did…we already go to your friend’s, or are we still on the way there?”

“Went out on me… oh?” Kaito looked down at Doppio, before his eyes widened excitedly. “Oh! Doppio! Oh okay, that was… okay, I’ve got you, let me guide and you can lean your weight on me, and I think I might actually have news for you? But let me confirm first.”

“We’re still on our way to Seiko’s. That said, what’s the last thing you remember?” Kaito asked, keeping Doppio close to him as they worked their way through the busy streets.

…what was he so excited for? As much as he had tried to play it down last time Kaito had been there after a black out, Doppio really didn’t think it was, like…something to jump for joy about. 

…nng. That really didn’t help the headache. Or the…dizziness. 

Sighing softly, Doppio did let Kaito take some of his weight, just…in for a copper, in for a gold at this point. “Um…” He blinked. “Oh… You were being uncool about my memory stuff, and…” Doppio squinted. “...you asked me about my wage? Uh, I make 42 an hour, by the way. Copper, I mean.”

A little shakily, he offered Kaito a smug grin. “Not too bad, huh?”

“Uncool? Who’s being uncool? Have you seen me? I’m cool in everything I do,” Kaito said, tucking Doppio into his side further while adjusting Miyako’s penguin hoody a little lower, covering her more. “Maybe your memory stuff is uncool, how about that?”

“But!” Kaito said cheerfully, “I think I can confirm you don’t actually, like… stop moving, when you blackout. Or stop talking or anything like that. You got this headache, I pulled you aside, and you started talking a little… off? Maybe because of the headache? You told me how much you made, said your ‘employer’ basically saved you from living off the streets, got real… uh…” Kaito hesitated, not sure what to call what Doppio did at the end there. “...appreciative? Of my help? That was the most off thing about you, at the moment, honestly. Not that you can’t be appreciative, I mean, you did buy me flowers once, maybe you’re just like that sometimes?? Anyway, then you collapsed and woke up, like, a second later!”

Looking very pleased, Kaito said, “And while all that’s pretty alarming, at least you’re not just falling into little mini comas or totally delirious when your blackouts happen! Like, you seemed really coherent, despite everything, which makes your blackouts way less dangerous, in my mind. So that’s good!”

“Gyah!” Miyako agreed under her hoody.

“Oh, darn, she spat out her pacifier.” Kaito huffed. “Hopefully she’s still in a good mood.”

“I mean, it is, but it’s cool to be cool about uncool stuff, especially if it’s something someone can’t help,” Doppio huffed. And maybe a week ago he wouldn’t have cared, but after Arven’s reaction? Doppio now had a high bar for accepting how someone reacted to his issues. 

…though…this was probably the first time that he had blacked out in front of someone. 

(...and had them still be there when he ‘woke up’.)

Doppio glanced over at Kaito curiously, humming softly at the new information. “...I’m appreciative of stuff. I’m not a complete aaa… jerk,” he quickly self-corrected, glancing at Miyako. “And…well, I guess that’s true about Boss. I suppose I could get housing alright otherwise, but…I’m not really sure what I’d do, if he hadn’t hired me…”

A small huff. “...that’s kinda creepy, though. If I just start talking weird nonsense for a bit before…coming back. Not dangerous, like you said, but…” Doppio grimaced, a slight bit of worry going through him. …what sort of stuff had he said in the past, then? What sort of things had he admitted to, in an addled state? That…wasn’t good. 

Looking over at Miyako for a moment, Doppio glanced down, looking for her pacifier…only to trip over his feet, forcing him to cling to Kaito to avoid face-planting. 

“Oh, whelp, okay, ah… hah.” Kaito laughed, now just carrying Doppio by the waist, Doppio’s arms trying to find purchase around Kaito’s stomach. “Ya know what, this’ll be faster anyway. Wow, you’re light! Okay, try not to look like a kidnapping victim, thanks!”

Adjusting Doppio in his arm, bouncing him slightly higher for leverage, Kaito got a good grip and then ran. Well, jogged. Ducking and weaving around people, adrenaline starting to pick up in his chest like joy, enjoying the physical exertion this was taking. “Alright, we’re almost there, Doppio! Though, I still have more things I need to talk to you about! Oh, by the way?” Kaito panted as he ran, “What’s your, hah, what’s your boss's name? I didn’t catch it last time you said!”

Doppio made a startled sound as his feet left the ground, Kaito just…carrying him??? He knew the answer was Kaito, he was absurd like that, but who just picked people up like this???

But, uh…’like this’ was a pretty big factor. In that Kaito was carrying him around his middle, and…

“Ooooouhn…” Doppio groaned, breaking out in a cold sweat as he dared bring one of his hands away from Kaito to cover his mouth. Uuuugh, he was going to vomit.

…Boss’s name? Had he told Kaito before? Well…if Kaito didn’t remember either, then Doppio didn’t have to worry about matching whatever he’d made up before…

“...urp… V-vinizio…Ginocchio…” Doppio hiccuped, just…coming up with something off the top of his head. 

“Vin… Vinininso?” Kaito tried, frowning, “Vininso Ginoquo… Ginoko… ya know what, I’ll just ask him to take a look at this moment, it’s fine. It’s fine?” Kaito looked down at himself, making sure there was nothing about this situation he wouldn’t want Kokichi to see. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

Though, he did slow down as they got to the street he knew the pharmacy was on, setting Doppio down and helping him stand up straighter, fussing over his clothes and hair a little before frowning at the paleness in his cheeks. “...are you going to throw up? Wait, are you, like, nauseous sick? Oh, man, I wish you had told me that before I bounced you around on your stomach for two blocks. Think you can make it down the street? I can carry you if you want, in, like… well, more like how I would her, not how I just did,” Kaito explained, pointing to Miyako. “But like on my hip, sorta thing. You good?”

Kaito squinted at Doppio. “...I may end up insisting.”

…Doppio had no idea what the hell that meant, but, in fairness to critical thought, he was a little occupied trying to not hork all over the street. 

Once Kaito put him back down, Doppio just took a moment, keeping his hands over his mouth as he breathed deeply through his nose, trying to pull the reins back. Though, he had enough left in him to shoot Kaito a glare. “Y-you didn’t exactly give me any time to say anything. And I wasn’t, really…until you decided to freaking gut punch me f-for two blocks…”

Taking a deeper breath, Doppio pressed the back of his wrist to his mouth for another moment before straightening. …as much as he could bear to, for the moment. “...I’m good. Do not pick me up…” He looked over with a little nervousness. “...it’s close?”

Kaito chuckled, “It is, come on. Here, hang on my arm, slow and steady wins the race.”

Offering Doppio his arm, Kaito walked a slow, easy pace towards the pharmacy. As they walked, he explained, “Seiko’s a great healer, and is actually Kokichi and, essentially, my family's specialized doctor. I’m sure you’ve heard about Kokichi’s health issues throughout his life, she’s been his biggest help in that regard, she really is fantastic. And she’s also the main reason this little one got to the world so safely~” Kaito said, patting Miyako’s stomach a bit, listening to her murmur little baby nonsense now that she could. “...admittedly, Miyako was not Seiko’s most competent moment. But! She figured it out eventually. Miyako here is why you don’t want to be someone’s trial version of birth control, isn’t that right Miyaaaa~”

“Gergh–rp.” Miyako spat up, drool bubbling as she played with sounds.

“That’s right! Which is why you and I are gonna have a whole conversation, Doppio… oh! Second question, before we get in there!” Kaito said, looking down to Doppio. “What does your boss do? Again, I’m sure you’ve said it, I feel bad that I spaced on ya and still don’t know.”

Uuuuuugh, why had he agreed to leave the coffee shop? All Doppio wanted to do was lie down… It wasn’t the smartest move, but he had very nearly fallen asleep earlier and…that was sounding pretty good, right about then…

…that was probably a big sign he did need to see this healer.

Her competence wasn’t really the thing he was worried about, but…well, the person to most help the infamously ill prince the most? That was a glowing review. Especially if her weak point was…c…childbirth?

Doppio gave Kaito a confused look, not really sure what the hell he was talking about. 

In some ways, Doppio was a little grateful that they stopped in front of the door--Kimura Pharmacy, huh?--so he could try and muster up one last burst of courage, but… Kaito really was all over the place right now, and it really wasn’t helping Doppio keep track of things. 

Sighing, he tilted his head, resting against Kaito’s arm for a moment. “You’re so weird… My Boss owns a trading company. Acquiring and transporting and selling goods, all that. S’why I’m so busy… Business never slows down.”

Kaito looked genuinely impressed. “Oh, wow! A trading company! Wow, yeah, no wonder you’re so busy. That’s a lot. And you’re the assistant of the guy who owns it?” Kaito grinned, reaching over to ruffle Doppio’s hair a bit as he said, “That’s so impressive, no wonder you make so much! You’re a big deal, Doppio! People in high paced, intense industries like that require so much maintenance, I know, so you must have your work cut out for you.”

“Very impressive,” Kaito said, taking a moment to step back from Doppio, before reaching forward and steadying him a little, then backing off again. “Alright, deep breath. No need to be nervous. Ready to head in?”

Doppio ducked his head to get out of Kaito’s reach--it didn’t work--but his expression was wholly smug, lighting up with pride. “Told you. Boss is incredible, and the system he’s built is, like…the root system of what so many people rely on, it just becomes background noise. My time is valuable, when I’m a piece of something that big.”

…which is why he didn’t have time to be sick. 

Following Kaito’s advice, Doppio took a deep breath before squeezing his eyes shut. C’mon, you can do this… He promised to make sure nothing happened to you… Nodding, Doppio quickly opened the door and strode in before he could change his mind, jumping a little at the bell he hadn’t expected. 

The pharmacy was moderately busy, but not hectic, and a certain someone lounging behind the counter perked up when they heard the bell. “Hey - oh, hey! Welcome in, Prince Kaito, nice to see you,” Keigo waved, indeed happy to see the prince again, but eyes behind sunglasses trained on the…haggard-looking teen Kaito walked in with. 

Kaito waved back. “Hey, Keigo! Been a minute! Well, I don’t know, when was the last time I stopped in to talk to Seiko… almost two weeks ago? Been a minute!” 

Giving a little smile to the few customers that looked over at Kaito from his shouting, Kaito put his hand on Doppio’s back, gently encouraging him forward as they headed to the counter. Kaito used his free hand to pick up Miyako’s arm and have her wave at Keigo, as he said, “Keigo, I’ve got a whole posse with me today. Little Miya and my sidekick, Doppio! Speaking of sidekicks, pleeeaase tell me Seiko’s around and maybe has some time for us?” Kaito’s grin went a little strained, as he patted Doppio’s shoulder. “We need to ask her to look over my guy here.”

…Kaito really did know this place, didn’t he. Going stiff and looking wholly uncomfortable, Doppio only moved forward at Kaito’s nudges, trusting him not to steer him into everything as Doppio tried to…not look at anything. Or anyone. 

“Crowd-pleaser as always,” Keigo laughed, before raising hidden eyebrows a bit and getting up from the counter. “Sure thing--I don’t think she’s in the middle of anything, but please sit down in the waiting chairs while I get her, if you’d like.”

Though it wasn’t that long before Keigo popped up again, waving them to the back and…

Before he knew it--...though he might’ve just…zoned out for it--Doppio was sitting on an examination chair in a curtained off area, staring wide-eyed at a pale-haired woman in a sanitation mask. 

“H-hello,” she said softly. “I’m Dr. Seiko Kimura. It’s lovely to meet a-any friend of Kaito’s… What can I do for you, Mr…?”

All thought went out of Doppio’s head, as he just stared at the healer like a deer in carriage lights.

“His name’s Doppio,” Kaito said, giving Miyako a small break from the chest strap as he cradled her in his arms, letting her lay down a bit. Now that she was settled, he walked back to the chair, clasping Doppio on the shoulder as he explained to Seiko, “And, he’s a little nervous. He’s had a tough day, tough few days, actually. He’s got some bad cuts on his arm that’d I’d appreciate you looking at, Seiko, but more than that… well, Doppio can explain his symptoms better than I can.” 

Looking to Doppio now, Kaito squeezed his shoulder a little, trying to be a very physical presence, before crouching down a bit, trying to catch Doppio’s eyes. “You really don’t have to be shy with our Seiko here. Seriously, whatever you tell her, I guarantee she’s seen weirder. Kay?”

God, he doubted it.

Doppio half considered just exclaiming that, you know what?! He was fine, just a little rattled earlier, sorry for wasting your time, but he should just go…

But as much as Kaito’s hand on his shoulder brought him back to Earth, it was a reminder that Doppio really wasn’t getting out of this. 

“...my arm’s fine…” Doppio mumbled, glancing around as he held his arm closer to himself, before he swallowed. “And, uh… Don’t…feel well.”

For her part, Seiko didn’t look phased by the vague description. “W-we’ll try and help you out then, Doppio.” Going over to her supplies, Seiko took out a long, hand-held object with a curved side, sanitizing it before holding it out for Doppio to see. “This is a f-forehead thermometer--may I take your temperature? I’m just going to hold it to your head for a minute.”

Slowly, Doppio nodded. And while she was taking his temperature, Seiko asked, “It’s alright if you d-don’t want to answer, but I want to ask you some things so I can give you the proper care. How old are you, D-Doppio?”

…

Doppio just made an uncomfortable sound in his throat, looking at the floor.

Kaito sighed, bouncing Miyako in his arms a bit. “Alright, so, Doppio’s kind of the cagey type, so let me just fill you in on what I best understand. Him not ‘feeling well’ seems to include migraines, which may lead to him blacking out? Or it might be unrelated, but he gets these bad, splitting migraines, and has these periods where he’ll be walking around and talking, but then he’ll suddenly collapse and not remember anything he just said or did. Blackouts.”

“He’s also been feeling nauseous, though I may have caused that by running around with him, he’s been in some bad fight recently, though all of his blackout stuff was happening before that, and… ya know what, I’ll call it a symptom. He’s too skinny. Stop being so skinny. It’s too easy to pick you up and carry you places.” Kaito smirked, poking Doppio’s cheek. “And I don’t think he knows how old he is. His memory only goes back so many years. My guess? I’ve been defaulting to teens, though I don’t really know.”

“I miss anything, Doppio?” Kaito asked, poking his cheek again, “Come oooooon. It’s fine, we’re friends here. If you keep letting me list all your symptoms, I’m just gonna add more stuff. Can him being an edgy brat count? …oh! And he’s been feeling hot? And he told me his chest was, like… what did you say, Doppio? It was, like, full?”

Seiko frowned slightly, though she did an admirable job keeping her visible face neutral. That was…fairly serious. The…well, she would guess teen, too, his…stony countenance really did just look like nerves, and the glare he shot Kaito at his poking did seem to suggest that Doppio was aware of things going on right now, but…

“I see,” Seiko hummed, before looking back at Doppio. “Do you have a migraine right now? We can dim the li-lights back here if that would be more comfortable for you.”

“No,” Doppio mumbled, looking away. “S’just a headache… And the stuff with my chest was…explode-y.”

Okay, now Seiko really did look worried, but she brought the thermometer down. One thing at a time. She would likely check his weight too, but later, so he didn’t have to keep standing up…

“Well, you do have a fever… 100.7. Doppio, may I listen to your chest? You would either have to take off your sweater, or allow me to reach the stethoscope,” she held up the metal disk of it for him to see, “Under so I can hear.”

Doppio sweated a little more. “...under.”

Nodding, Seiko warmed the disk before gently reaching up through his sweater, reassuring Doppio that if he didn’t want to be touched, she’d move away…

…her eyes narrowed. 

“...Could you take some deep breaths for me, please?”

Kaito rubbed Doppio’s back approvingly when he finally started to talk, before backing up a little so that Seiko could actually do her thing. And in truth, he watched her more than he watched Doppio. He didn’t really think she’d have a reason to, but Kaito knew Seiko was a secret keeper, and he wanted to see it on her, if she noticed anything, rather than wait for her to mention it.

And almost immediately, her expression gave away a hint of concern, as she listened to Doppio’s chest? Kaito nibbled a little on his inner cheek. Doppio had a lot of things in common with Kokichi already. For the kid’s sake, he hoped heart problems weren't about to be added to the list…

After a moment, Seiko asked him to cough too, and when she pulled away…

It wasn’t as stern as it was for some of her patients, but Seiko still gave the teen a serious look. “...Doppio. You don’t have to tell me what it is, okay? It’d be helpful, and you’re not going to be in trouble, but I won’t demand an answer. But I have to know… You have water in your lungs. Do you know what kind of water you might’ve swallowed?”

…his heartbeat was too quick, too, but…that made more sense, considering all his other symptoms, and the fact that he was clearly uneasy. Until she could get a calm reading, it wasn’t truly a sign of anything, not yet. 

…all at once Doppio paled, eyes widening and darting around the office. Feeling the need to flee…

…but Kaito said nothing would happen. And she said she wouldn’t ask. 

Slowly, haltingly, he nodded. 

“Do you know if it was clean?” Seiko gently asked. “Such as…not pond water, for example.”

Another small nod. 

Seiko paused for a moment, thinking. …someone so afraid of healers likely wouldn’t consent to surgery… “...if it was definitely from…intaking water… You’re dealing with a condition we call dry drowning. It can cause chest pain, fatigue, coughing, and irritability…and, likely, if you already suffer from regular migraines, it might’ve exacerbated one for you as well. I… I highly recommend getting treatment, to get the excess fluid out of your lungs--for you, that would mean going on a ventilator. Essentially…it would feel like a tube in your throat, that would breathe for you, for…likely an hour or two. Would you be willing to do that?”

Doppio just paled more, shaking a little.

(......)

(what the shit what the actual fuck)

(Can cleaning a burst pipe do something like this??)

(what the fuck)

“Seiko, sorry, could you excuse us for a moment? Just let me talk to him a moment?” Kaito smiled lightly, stepping forward, putting himself slightly in front of Doppio. “Could you hold Miya while I do?”

Seiko looked between them for a moment. She didn’t know what Kaito’s relationship to the boy was…but he had brought him in. And…there was nothing she could do to help someone if they refused to see her. Doppio’s condition was serious, in more ways than one--...dry drowning was usually caused by…an actual drowning, that someone just hadn’t passed out from--but…

“Of course, Kaito,” Seiko nodded, gently taking Miyako from her father. “I will be j-just on the other side of the curtain, if you need me.”

And she left the two of them alone. 

Kaito gave her a grateful nod, giving Miya a little wave as Seiko left with her… before he sighed. Prepping himself… before turning on his heel. A small grin on his face, as he crouched down in front of the chair Doppio was sitting on. Resting his elbows on his knees, looking up a little– even crouching in front of a sitting Doppio didn’t put him that far below the guy– as he said softly, “Hey… I know it doesn’t feel like it. But this is good news.”

“You were feeling bad either way, remember? And we came here hoping she’d know why. And she did! And she knows exactly what you need to feel better now… that’s ideal. That’s exactly what we were hoping for,” Kaito said, smiling gently at Doppio. “This is good.”

…he wasn’t asking why. How. 

Doppio had failed before, couldn’t even take his punishment properly, and that was on him…but he knew what it looked like. What people would think if he said…said that Boss had d…d-drowned him f…for an hour. And he couldn’t…

Doppio made a small, scared sound. Extremely looking his supposed age as he muttered, “I don’t want a vent in my chest…”

“I know. I don’t want that for you either,” Kaito admitted, before taking a risk and reaching for one of Doppio’s hands. Taking it between his own, resting it on Doppio’s knees, as he said, “Especially for an hour or so. But I know Seiko. If there was an easier, better option, we would have heard that one first.”

“So, what about this,” Kaito said, tapping Doppio’s hand, “Obviously, I’m gonna stay with you. You’re not gonna do it by yourself. And…” Kaito hesitated, not sure if Doppio would want to be seen like that. Not sure if he should let Arven see Doppio like that. Rethinking it, he suggested, “We can ask Seiko if you even need to be awake for it. And if you do, we can pick a book beforehand and we can kill that hour or so reading. And then when it’s done, you’ll get some rest and it’ll all be done.”

…it was embarrassing, how much Kaito holding his hand actually made Doppio feel better. What kind of bullshit…

…people got really sick, having fluid in their lungs. People died, with more of it. Obviously. And Doppio hadn’t, because he swallowed a rainbow that an angel gave him, but…

…where was Amaina? She was the one who called Kaito in the first place…

“...don’t really read…” Doppio mumbled, before a hazy, half-remembered thought occurred to him. “...have…have you heard of, uh… ‘The Adventures of Link’? Someone…told me about it, and I didn’t know what they were talking about…”

Kaito lit up. “Do I? Honestly, Doppio, one of my favorite stories. Have you never read any of them? Oh man, see, that’ll be something to look forward to! I’ll even do voices! I do a great Ganondorf, who’s, like, the big villain… you’ll see.” Kaito grinned, squeezing Doppio’s hand reassuringly. “I’ll grab it when I drop Miyako off at home. And then I’ll come right back here, and we’re going to get you all healed up…”

Something flickered in the back of Kaito’s eyes, though his pleased grin never wavered, as he asked, “Do you want me to send a message to your boss? I’ll be a bastard and make one of the guardsmen do or it something, just make certain you don’t have anything else to think about for the rest of today.”

“...or he doesn’t have to know,” Kaito said, searching Doppio’s gaze. “That’s an option too.”

…he’d never really cared about reading, or seeing plays…though it had looked like people were really having fun, when he came across theater groups practicing or putting on shows outside. But Kaito kinda made it sound… He had said he was going to do a monologue performance thing at a bookstore, hadn’t he? Kaito seemed really into that sort of thing…

Doppio fully cringed at the thought of Kaito sending a guard to their house, but… He looked away. It was…early enough in the day… 

“...he’ll know,” Doppio said quietly. “He knows everything. But…I don’t have to… We don’t have to send a message. S’early enough…”

An uncertain golden gaze darted around the…examination room, he guessed. “...you’re gonna leave me here?”

…he knows everything, huh?

God dammit.

God dammit.

“I can’t keep Miyako here for hours, she’ll start crying and I’ll start crying and you’ll just be on the ventilator glaring at us for being two big, sobbing babies in front of you,” Kaito explained, “But! Let’s see what our options are first before we say who’s going where. We ready to talk to Seiko about the next steps?”

Doppio looked around for another moment. 

…fatigue and…all that other stuff the healer said…

…he’d be useless to The Boss like this…

He gave Kaito a small nod. “...okay.”

Kaito gave Doppio an encouraging grin, patted his hand again, stood up… and then, thinking better of it, leaned down and drew Doppio into a hug. “Good. You’re doing great. I’ve got the rest of this.”

Patting the back of Doppio’s neck lightly, running his hand down, Kaito managed to peek down the back of Doppio’s overly large sweater neck as he raised back up. He didn’t have to see far. He knew what he was looking for. That slightly inflamed, red skin at the roots of his hair, practically an outline between his hairline and his neck.

Yeah. Kaito knew what that looked like.

Giving Doppio an encouraging smile, he said, “I’ll go grab her, give me a minute,” before heading out past the curtain.

As soon as Kaito left, Amaian said on Doppio’s lap, ♪ You’re full of water?♩ 

Outside, Kaito went to Seiko, rubbing his forehead, his brows pinched in frustration, though he did his best to smooth out his features when he spotted Miyako. He didn’t like her to see him upset. “Okay, we’re gonna go ahead with the ventilator. Can we do it today, soon? We have to, right, that’s not something Doppio can just… walk around with, right? Water in his lungs? Ooooh, fudge, I wish I had realized how battered up he actually was, I carried him around outside for a laugh. I thought, I don’t know, maybe he had a flu or something. Who the heck guesses drowning…”

Gritting his teeth, running his hand over his face… Kaito whispered to Seiko, “What causes something like this? Specifically.”

Scrunching his eyes shut, Doppio hesitated for a moment before hugging Kaito back, that same (touch-starved) melting shudder going through his back, as when Kaito had hugged him at the studio kitchen. 

…he was doing great. It’d be okay. Kaito wouldn’t let anything happen.

A little embarrassed, Doppio just nodded as Kaito left…before sighing. Giving Amaina a tired look. “...seems so,” he whispered. “...think I took your rainbow too late. It…” His eyebrows scrunched, before he gave il angioletto a soft pat on her head. “...it wasn’t your fault. Thank you.”

Turning to look at Kaito--she’d been doing her best not to listen in on their talk, and softly bouncing the baby in her arms had been a good distraction--Seiko gave him a nod, not too outwardly relieved, but there was still a softening to her eyes. “I can set it up soon, yes. And…y-yes, it’s something that should be treated as soon as possible. More than simply having to suffer the symptoms more…”

Seiko sighed, lowering her voice. “...i-it can lead to a lowered immune response, which can lead to pneumonia… Not to mention that he would j-just have more difficulty breathing… I think he might also h-have a cold, based on his fever, but the fluid in his lungs is the p-priority to treat…”

Kaito seemed just as agitated as she felt, so Seiko didn’t start with her own questions, but she still returned a hard look to him. “...it doesn’t seem like pulmonary edema, i-if he doesn’t historically have an issue with this… Otherwise…” Her expression darkened. “...drowning. Wh-where the patient hadn’t gone unconscious, but was left with water in their system. Kaito…you said he was in a fight… I cannot legally alert the Guardforce while I’m treating him, but…is he…”

Kaito idly popped his thumb, but… these weren’t quite the feelings he usually had, when he was compelled to pop and twist his hands. So, trying to ease it a little, he brought his thumb knuckle up and bit at it a little, that slightly sharper pain focusing him. Not enough to cause damage, just… “I don’t know. Safe bet is something’s up though.”

Nibbling on his knuckle some more, Kaito suddenly let his arm fall with a sigh, reaching over to take Miyako back. “We’ll talk about it more later. Nothing needs to be solved right this second, other than that garbage in his lungs. One thing at a time. Come on, let’s go figure out the logistics of the day.”

It could be that Doppio had just…choked on drinking water. Officially, that was how Seiko would have to treat his condition. But…given that he knew the cause, and knew it was clean water…

…that pointed to a domestic issue, in Seiko’s experience. Without Doppio’s consent, she couldn’t help him any more than giving him medical advice and treatment, and he wasn’t explaining anything more than the bare minimum. But…after explaining how the session with the ventilator would go, as Seiko walked Kaito out, Doppio given the okay--and deeply encouraged--to rest on the examination bed in the meantime…

As she murmured to him. She hoped Kaito would keep a careful eye on the teen. 

It hadn’t taken long for Kaito to drop Miyako off and grab a book--and while Seiko hadn’t really done any further examination, she had gotten Doppio to step on a scale, and…well, at 120 pounds, he was a little on the light side, but not underweight--and…before they knew it, Doppio was on his side on the bed, propped up as Seiko instructed, looking a bit uncomfortable with the ventilator mask over his mouth. …but the blanket she had offered him was nice. 

“So, it’s just gonna be a little under two hours, Doppio, and then the water will have safely passed through your lungs,” Kaito reminded Doppio, sitting on a chair next to the bed, a book in his lap. “Easy-peasy~ And then after that, I just want you to rest for a while too, maybe get a solid nap in. Make sure you’re one hundred percent by the end of the day… Can you give me a thumbs up to let me know you’re good? Or, a thumbs down if anything’s wrong right now?” Kaito asked.

It had been a bit startling at first. Feeling something other than his own breath filling his lungs had briefly panicked Doppio, making him think his lungs would burst from the extra air, but…

…well, it was just a little uncomfortable. But more even than Doppio usually did himself, at least in bad situations. 

Looking tiredly up at Kaito--Seiko had recommended rest afterwards too, and actually a few days of it, since along with “dry drowning”, he did, in fact, have a cold--Doppio gave him a thumbs up… Before furrowing his brow and turning his wrist, his original thumbs up more pointing sideways, since Doppio was lying down, so he turned it to be a proper thumbs up from Kaito’s perspective. 

…nothing was really “right”, right now, but…the things that were wrong they were either fixing, or by design. 

Kaito chuckled, nodding as he leaned back. “Very good. Well, good… pfff. You know, I am being very nice to you right now. Cause, see, you are a perfectly trapped audience, and man, I could make sure by the end of this you know so much about personal hygiene when it comes to hanging out with someone you, ya know… like-like.”

“But,” Kaito said, popping the ‘b’, “The way you said ‘sex-ed’ back to me? Makes me feel like that’s gonna be a way more shocking and eye-opening convo than you’re ready for, in this exact second, and besides. It’d be mean to talk about important stuff like that while you literally can’t question anything. So! Why do I bring all this up? …to warn ya, kid. We’re having a really uncomfortable conversation at some point in the immediate future. But! It’ll be stuff you need to hear, I’m not just talking out of my ass, I promise.”

Kaito grinned. “Thumbs up if you get it, thumbs down if you’re annoyed, thumbs sideways if you have, just, no idea what I’m talking about now.”

…man, Doppio could imagine there was a lot Kaito would gleefully do with a trapped audience. But, he supposed he could just go to sleep if Kaito got too annoying. He was…uncomfortable about being unconscious in a doctor’s office, even if he knew Kaito was there, but Seiko had said he could sleep with the ventilator on no problem. It was the best escape option he had, and damnit Doppio was going to keep it in his toolbelt. 

Especially with Kaito semi-threatening things like… Doppio squinted at him. His personal hygiene was great, thank you very much. Sure, maybe he ended up getting pretty gross and dirty, but he was on his shit about cleaning up afterward. He couldn’t stand staying gross. So he really didn’t need Kaito, like, telling him how to shower. 

Doppio couldn’t huff, so he settled for glaring at Kaito, giving him a thumbs down, before oscillating it with a thumbs sideways, glaring more. 

“Aw, so rude.” Kaito laughed, opening up the book and thumbing through it a little, something soft going through his eyes as he did so. “My husband got this for me as a gift. It’s a collectors edition. See, check out the hardcover, isn’t that artwork beautiful?” Kaito asked, showing Doppio the front and back, where a large, detailed and sprawling image of Hyrule was on display, before pointing to a small image of a boy on a horse, “And that is Link! Our hero! Oh, oh, and look, this is one of those books where you can pull out these folded pages annnnd–”

Kaito showed off a large, detailed map of Hyrule, showing the names and locations of every area Link visits or hears about, as Kaito gushed, “I love books that do these. You can track where everything is happening, get an idea of the layout. I don’t know, I think it’s magical. You can take a better look at it later if you want, when you’re able to move around a little more.”

It was nice artwork. More…well, he supposed, fantasy-esque than the kinds of maps he was used to seeing, but…there was a sort of lightness to it all. Doppio could see how it’d just feed into someone’s enjoyment of the series--hell, if someone made him a cool map of all the places frogs liked to hang out in the city, with little illustrations of all the species, he’d be all about it. 

It was cool, but… 

Doppio’s eyebrows drew in, and he gestured for Kaito to go back to the cover drawing of the boy on the horse. That…wasn’t just that, and… Not really sure what he was asking, or if he was asking anything at all, Doppio pointed to the winged ball of light next to the boy. Meeting Kaito’s eyes before pointing at it again.

“Hm? Oh, hold on, let me see… ah!” Kaito lit up, before pointing at the ball of light. “Her? That’s Navi! She gets introduced early, basically a few pages in, but to summarize her, she’s the hero's loyal fairy companion. And yes, she’s loyal, I’ll fight anyone that says otherwise…” Kaito huffed, shaking his head, “You’ll see what I mean. Anyway, her point in the narrative is basically to help Link and, honestly, probably make sure the poor kid doesn’t lose it from all the pressure. He goes through a lot, and he’s really not that old… but, like I said, a lot of this is explained right away. It’s a good book like that, the pacing is phenomenal.”

“Okay! Without further adieu,” Kaito said, folding up the map and opening up to the start, “It starts with the fairy, Navi, being sent by the Great Deku Tree to call upon a little Kokiri boy, in a hidden village of children who never grow up…”

Kaito started to read the chapter, where the fairy Navi laments that Link, who hasn’t even woken up for the day yet, is meant to do some big, important task for the Great Deku Tree! “Link, Link, wake up! Hey? Hey, listen!” Kaito said as Navi, his voice a little higher, which might have sounded funny on him, had his pitch and inflection not been perfect, as he continued with Link reluctantly getting up, and heading out into the greater village around him.

♪ Oh, oh! I have a song for this! ♩ Amaina said enthusiastically, fluttering onto Kaito’s head as he read, before softly spinning in circles, as around them what sounded like an flute of some kind began to play a jaunty tune. 

“But then, Mido stopped him at the tunnel that led to the Great Deku Tree. Mido was the self-proclaimed leader of the Kokiri kids, both because he was a bully, but also because he was strong, and when strange, frightening things got too close, it was Mido who went to go chase the frightening things in the forest away,” Kaito explained, before continuing on that while Mido was partly picking on Link because of his feelings for Link’s best friend, Saria, Mido also knew there were monsters, giant, munching plants, between the village and the Great Deku Tree, and he was afraid to let Link go alone unarmed and unguarded.

Lowering his voice, Kaito continued softly, “Link thought this was very unfair. He thought Mido was picking on him. The thing that had always made him different from everyone else, not having a fairy, was over! He had Navi now! So why was Mido still treating Link like there was something wrong with him? He was a Kokiri, son of the forest, just like everyone else, and he even had a fairy now. So why did Mido still talk to him like Link didn’t quite belong?”

Oh. Oh. Then…that was a pretty apt comparison, that Amaina had made. Glowing with wings and…a companion. Looking after him. Doppio didn’t really think he needed help with any pressure, but…she had helped him a lot…

His eyes widened as Kaito intonated…one of the first things Amaina had ever said to him. A quiet memory of a song and a beach rolling through his mind. And…well, it seemed like enough for Amaina to join in in the present too. 

If he could’ve smiled, Doppio would’ve. But there was a tube in his throat, so…

It was kind of funny, actually. Doppio hadn’t thought much of it, but as Kaito started the story, he found himself enraptured. Doppio…couldn’t remember anyone ever reading to him. Or learning to read, actually. It wasn’t a hobby he had these days, but…he couldn’t remember anything he might’ve liked, while he was learning. If he had ever enjoyed stories like these…

Wide, amazed gold eyes were fixed on Kaito as he read, almost looking just like Miyako, in a way. A child being read to for the first time. 

Kaito kept going, talking about Link facing some small trials to find– “Well, steal.”-- one of the other kids’ wooden swords in their garden, before negotiating and working to buy a shield from another kid. Each interaction letting Link show off to the reader the village he was in, full of other kids who all clearly were affectionate to him, even loved him… but something clearly separating him from them. A wall that no matter how friendly, or warm, kept some sort of wedge between Link and his fellow Kokiri.

Kaito lowered his voice, eyes suddenly warm, almost adoring, as Saria, mentioned several times by the other kids, finally entered a scene. Playing her ocarina where Mido once guarded the tunnel out, before explaining to Link she talked him and, and talked him into letting him go.

“Try not to be too cross with him, Link,” Saria said softly, something sad in her eyes, “He’s overprotective. You used to be so much smaller, than the rest of us, and I think to him you still are.”

“Link didn’t know what she meant. Hadn’t he always been the same size as the rest of the kids in the village? Kokiri children never grew up, after all,” Kaito said, “And to Link, that just made him more determined to prove himself. If Mido wasn’t going to treat him seriously yet, then accomplishing a mission for the Great Deku Tree would finally make Mido see Link for the Kokiri he was! And he’d finally be accepted by the village!”

As Kaito turned the page, Saria wishing Link luck as he ran off towards the tree, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand real quick. “Sorry, sorry, one second… that scene hits me a little different now, than the first time I read it. Phoo…” Kaito blinked, trying to clear the light shimmer in his eyes, before trying to distract himself, he took out the map and said, “Here’s where the Great Deku Tree is! The next few chapters take place here, and they are wild! So strap yourself in, these opening chapters are intense!”

Kaito then continued to regale Doppio with Link’s greeting of his forest father, before going into the tree itself to find and battle a massive, cursed spider…

Doppio was listening wholeheartedly for every beat, Kaito’s rendition just…more than someone reading words on a page. It was like a world come to life, the narration not some separate thing, but like Doppio was getting little glimpses into the characters’ thoughts, and the setting of the world. It was enough that he nearly forgot there was a tube in his throat, pulsing through his lungs and gently extracting the water from…

(Maybe he’d spoken a little too soon, when he had refused to go see Kaito perform before.)

And…it looked like it wasn’t just Doppio that felt that way. Hesitating a moment, Doppio reached out and gently patted Kaito’s arm as he blinked back tears. Offering a questioning thumbs up before retreating back into the blanket, settling back in for the puzzling, action-filled adventure, climbing through a tree preyed upon by…evil bugs. 

…which Doppio thought was a bit unfair. Bugs weren’t evil. But…he was willing to put that criticism aside to hear what Link would do next, now that he had gotten the Kokiri Emerald. Would the other Kokiri finally accept him?

Given that it was the first few chapters of the story, Doppio doubted it.

“As The Deku Tree told Link about the story of the wandering woman in the woods, pleading for someone to save her starving child, Link briefly thought of all the other lost, wandering souls he had heard cry out in the forest, from the safety of the village. Sometimes the other Kokiri children would go out when they heard the voices. Not to save them, but to chase them farther away, as there was no saving a lost soul in the Forgotten Woods. Link had never been allowed to follow, Mido always bullying him back to the village when he tried, and… now he understood why. How if Link had wandered away from the village, the music of the forest would not have led him to safety, but deeper and deeper, until he was lost forever. For he was not a child of the forest.”

“So I can truly never leave the village?” Link had asked The Great Deku tree sadly.

“You can,” The Great Deku Tree told him, the skies darkening as he spoke, “This is, in fact, one of the few times where you may come and go from the village freely and safely, using Navi as your guide. Though one day you will leave, and find yourself unable to return.”

“Why can I leave now?” Link asked, “But will not be able to return someday?”

“Because the magic of the Lost Woods dies with me,” The Great Deku Tree explained, his leaves graying and starting to fall, “And will not return until my seed starts to grow, which it cannot while the lands are cursed by Ganondorf.”

“You’re dying!?” Navi cried, flying to the great tree, “What do you mean you’re dying!? I thought our mission saved you!!”

“Your mission is to save the village and its children, who now lay exposed to a world that would hurt them, so long as the magic is gone.” The Great Deku Tree explained, “And when you succeed and the magic returns? It will be too late, for Link to hide in the village again. It is a terrible thing I ask of you, Link, to fight to lose your home. But only you can do it. The other children of the forest can never get past the limits of the trees.”

Link didn’t really want to go, Kaito explained in the narration. He was only a boy, and even fighting the great spider had been terrifying, even with Navi’s help. He thought about running into the forest to hide from his mission, but Saria found him, and told him he was getting too big for the village anyway. “You were always meant for more than us,” she told him, giving him her wooden ocarina, tears in her eyes as she pressed it into his hands, “And I’m happy to see you go.”

“Gah!” Kaito suddenly laughed, wiping his palm under his eyes, laughing at himself as he shook his head. “Sorry, sorry, again… man, I had such a crush on her when I was a kid, reading this for the first time. I thought maybe she and Link would get together. That’s so funny to me now, when like…it’s really blatant she’s basically his mom. Fuck.”

…he didn’t really understand. If the Deku Tree was going to die anyway, why did they have to kill the spider? Sure, maybe the Kokiri wouldn’t be able to go in that area anymore, but…they had a whole village, and the whole of the Lost Woods too. They could just let the spider have its own life in the tree. And…

That was kinda fucked up. Link couldn’t leave the village, because he’d be caught in the Lost Woods’ spell, and the Kokiri couldn’t leave the woods because they’d…die? That whole situation was just… And all the Kokiri acted like the Deku Tree was a guardian too. It was just…a no win situation with death all around, people’s plans trying to help but just being fucked up too, now laid on the shoulders of a boy who just wanted to be accepted…

Doppio’s eyes were a little misty too, though he’d deny it later. Again, he reached out to pat Kaito’s arm. Pat-pat-pat. 

Kaito laughed, rubbing the back of his neck a little sheepishly. “Aw, look at you. You get very sweet when you suddenly can’t talk. Though, again, I keep forgetting you’re the guy who sent me apology flowers, which, by the way? I loved those. They’re set up near Miyako’s crib, they’re still really vibrant. You can thank Kokichi for that, I don’t really know how to take care of them.”

“Now!” Kaito said, opening up the map and showing Doppio. “He’s out in the great big wide world of Hyrule! And he’s heading to Hyrule Castle, to get advice from the royal family there, who are blessed to be great leaders by the Goddess of Wisdom! The book doesn’t actually explain that in too much detail, it’s just kind of an understood thing from the series as a whole,” Kaito explained, continuing his reading. 

Amaina, who kept changing the music based on what Kaito was reading in that moment, was now sitting beside Doppio, swaying side to side as Kaito talked about how Link, feeling tired and cold and a little overwhelmed, had snuck into a ranch he had found along the way, only to be woken up as he slept in the hay bale by a little red-head girl with a soft smile and a playful disposition, finding his fairy fascinating and proceeding to call him ‘Fairy-boy’ because of her. Amaina giggled, looking to Doppio and teasing, ♪ Faaaairy booooooy ♩ 

Getting taught how to ride a horse by the ranchers, Link was gifted a horse when their most strong but wild horse, Epona, took a liking to him in a way she hadn’t for anyone else. Now able to get places quicker by horse, Link finally makes it to the market, full of life and fun characters, before sneaking into the castle walls, where he meets–

“Zelda!” Kaito grinned, before describing her. “Like Link, she was fair-skinned, sharp nosed, with big wide, purple eyes…” Kaito trailed off, squinting at that description. Huh. Before continuing on, “And golden-blond hair. And while neither of them looked exactly like anyone else in the surrounding village Link had spoken to, he saw so much of himself in her face that in that moment he understood truly that the Great Deku Tree had not been lying. He was a Hylian. And yet still, he felt out of place, as he approached the princess without fear, not realizing how odd that was of him to do until she startled at the sight of him, before puzzling over his boldness to sneak into the castle.”

“But Zelda came to trust him almost immediately, and explained why: she had seen him in her dreams. And she had been told by those dreams that he was sent to help her in her quest to save Hyrule. From who?” Kaito said, lowering his voice, a sharp, toothy grin on his face as he suddenly, lowly cackled. “Ha ha hah… from the Tyrant Desert King of the Gerudo! A fierce warrior race in the sands, The Gerudo were a tribe of amazons, who were always born looking like the fairer sex of the other races, blessed by a fertility goddess and in exchange always born in her image. But every hundred years was born one Gerudo who did not take on the image of their goddess, taking on the appearance of a man, and when the male Gerudo was born, it was always up to him to go out into the world and re-prove their vows to their goddess by trial and leadership, and if he succeeds, the tribe is blessed by the image of the goddess for another hundred years. So Ganondorf was out meeting the king of Hyrule, as part of his quest to prove his worth to the Fertility Goddess.”

“But. What Zelda knew, which most of Ganondorf’s own people and the world at large did not, was what a different Goddess had offered him as an alternative quest. One that would not only make the fierce warrior race even stronger, but the rulers of the world. Tempted by unlimited power, Ganondorf had rejected the quest of his original goddess and people, and now quested under the Goddess of Power, looking to claim the Triforce for himself, and conquer the world.”

Kaito paused, thinking about all of that… probably not true, right? Yeah, probably. Hm. Was there a Goddess of Power? There was a Goddess of Wisdom, after all… hm.

“The Tyrant was cruel, and greedy, and would destroy anyone else to get his own desires met. So Zelda asked Link for his help to stop him, by collecting the Triforce first, to hide it within Zelda before he could find them himself.”

Doppio gave Kaito an unamused look. Though…he was glad to hear the flowers had been appreciated. He still wasn’t entirely sure if they were the kind of gift that Kaito would really like as an apology, but…well, he thought they were sweet, apparently. 

…shoot. He’d probably owe Kaito a lot for this, huh? And he hadn’t even thought about how to repay yesterday…

But. Back to the story for now. 

Doppio gave Amaina an amused look, Fairy, then, at her humming and teasing, before…hm. That was a lot of worldbuilding. It was…a little hard to keep everything straight but…hopefully it’d come up enough that it’d keep making sense, all together. 

…though, uh…Doppio wasn’t sure what Kaito meant by “fairer sex”. And it seemed a little…implausible, to him, that there would be a whole race of a fantasy people where none of them were trans. Or, rather, that all of them would be the same sex. And that the only one of them born different--and, explicitly that way, born--would be the one to both lead and prove things for their whole people. 

And, uh…

Brows furrowed, Doppio reached out to tap Kaito’s arm, but for a question this time. He held up three fingers, then did a little punching motion, hoping that would get the message across. 

Kaito gave Doppio a mildly bewildered look… before hesitantly reaching out for a fist bump. 

Then, his eyes widened, as he said, “Oh! Were the three goddesses fighting? Eh…”

Kaito tilted his head, scrunching up his mouth a little as he shrugged. “It’s not really a spoiler to say I don’t know. For being as important to the story as they are, the goddesses’ motivations are really vague. They could be in competition with each other, maybe, but… I’m not sure to what end? And, while it doesn’t really matter to this story, for the series as a whole, it’s kind of an understood thing that these three people, Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf, keep having this same fight, over and over and over, in different lives… it’s kind of tragic, honestly. They all have this sort of… doomed, circling relationship with each other. Pushed into this position to be fighting the same battle for reasons that might make sense in their individual lives, but when you zoom out, and look at it all together, seems to mostly be the fates, like… messing with them. Cosmic playthings.”

Kaito paused, brow furrowed. Troubled by that… before shaking his head, grinning. “Which is one way to look at it. But another way is that even though they are being influenced by an outside source, that doesn’t mean that in each individual life, their individual goals don’t matter. It matters to them! And these characters matter to us! More than the goddesses do. So if they want to put value into pursuing power, or protecting their kingdom, or saving their home? Then that’s what’s valuable. The gods and the cosmos don’t get to be the final say on what’s important, and as far as I’m concerned, it barely matters what they think anyway. We get to decide what matters to us, and I say what we decide matters.”

“The gods can be friends or obstacles.” Kaito huffed, looking back to the novel, “Not masters.”

That was…kind of interesting, Doppio supposed. Very philosophical, and probably a huge gold vein for people invested in the deeper lore of the stories. But, uh…it wasn’t what his question was. 

Gesturing for Kaito to turn the book around, Doppio looked for a moment before pointing to one of the words, pointing it out a few times before looking imploringly up at Kaito. 

…what the hell was a ‘triforce’?

Kaito peered at the word Doppio was pointing to… before laughing, though he did blush somewhat sheepishly. “Aw, come on, man. Why punch the air then? I just went on a whole tangent.”

“Though, honestly? The Triforce is, uh…” Kaito paused. “Also kinda vague? Anything to do with the gods is vague. It’s the combination of the powers of the Triforce of Courage, Triforce of Wisdom, and the Triforce of Power, and if you put them all together, it makes you… uhhhhh?” Kaito tilted his head. “Well, we know Ganondorf thinks it’ll make him super powerful. More powerful than just already having the Triforce of Power, which you’d think would already be top-tier power level… Okay, but that’s the thing, right! Being given a Triforce doesn’t mean you already earned it! It’s more like a mark of expectation? You get assigned your mark, and then you have to go pursue it! So, like, in a way, Ganondorf is being pressured to pursue these takeovers, it’s not something he just decided as an aside. No more than Zelda or Link did, anyway! Like, maybe, maaaaybe, Ganondorf just needs a strong, handsome, understanding prince to talk to, who can really understand what he’s going through, and maybe, like, encourage him to find a different way to pursue power… and, like, okay, the other guy doesn’t have to be a prince, but like, that prince could get his own Triforce, when he unites the other Triforces, and breaks the cycle, and sure, Triforce of Love would be cheesy, but you gotta admit that’s pretty poignant–”

As Kaito continued to rant more and more about his self-insert Adventure of Link fanfiction daydreams, Amaina huffed, flopping onto her side, ♪ read the stooooryyyyy see why did you set him off like this look at him this is just gonna go oooooooon ♩ 

Doppio rolled his eyes. How else was he supposed to convey the word he knew nothing about? ‘Tri’ was three, so that made sense, and ‘force’...well, it wasn’t like he could just clearly convey, like, the force of gravity. Punching took force! That made sense!

…he could see how Kaito might’ve thought he was asking about the motives of the three goddesses, though. It kinda seemed too…high-minded to Doppio, to question why a god would do any sort of thing--as far as he could tell, they were just plot devices in stories--but…it was understandable. 

But. Okay. The triforce was something that, potentially, could give you a lot of power. That made sense, as a motive. Big conqueror wants big power, told of that power and given the means to do so by a goddess, so goes to seek that power. Princess and Hero don’t want their homes conquered, so they try to stop Conqueror from getting the power, or potentially to get that power themselves to be more powerful and…stop him that way. 

Solid story. 

…that Doppio really wanted to hear the rest of before he potentially fell asleep. He was getting more used to the ventilator, but…as time went on, he could feel the fatigue that was already pulling at him push harder. 

Reaching over to tug on Kaito’s sleeve, Doppio gave him a sleepy pleading look. Hoping he’d get on with it. 

“Tsk. Want me to get on with it, huh? Fiiiine.” Kaito sighed, feigning more exasperation than he felt, before looking back to the book.

He excitedly talked about Link going up the fiery mountain, meeting the Gorons– one of his favorite areas, Kaito confessed– and saving the Goron tribe leader. He laughed as he introduced the Zora princess– “Who’s ironically, constantly thirsty, despite all the water around her”– and then cringed at the accidental proposal, “See? See? This is why I have to have a chat with ya, Doppio. One second you’re having fun, pulling rocks out of whales. Next thing you know, you’ve accidentally gotten engaged. Someone should have had the talk with Link, spared him and that fish-lady all sorts of trouble.”-- before finally telling how Link successfully brought all three spiritual stones to the Temple of Time.

“But!” Kaito said, standing up dramatically, caught up in the story as he moved his arm like he was slamming open a door, eyes never leaving the book as he did so. “Just as Link thought he had won, the doors slammed open! HA HA HA HA HA! Good work, boy! You have spared me the trouble of finding the three stones myself! But now your usefulness has run its course, and I no longer require your services!” Kaito boomed, before waving his hand through the air, like he was swinging a sword. “And he struck Link down, who despite everything he had learned was still no match for the Triforce of Power’s champion! And Link could only watch helplessly, as Ganondorf walked into the Sacred Realm, cackling in triumph as he did, HA HA HA HA! About to take the power of the gods!”

“But Navi, quick thinker that she was, told Link to use the powers of the Temple of Time to seal himself away, until he was ready to fight Ganondorf, as he had been badly hurt by the blade. Thinking he needed time to heal, Link did as she said, sealing the Temple of Time and taking the Master Sword, time rushing by him like a physical force, a great, intense storm that threw him into an incomprehensible void of sound and images, until he fell asleep… and then woke up,” Kaito grinned, looking up at Doppio, “Seven years later.”

…honestly? Doppio thought it would be a pretty amazing story, just from that. The Kokiri forest, the establishment of the hero as told by the Deku Tree, meeting a princess and a grand plot, adventuring to meet rock people that lived on a volcano, and fish people that, well, lived underwater… It was pretty amazing. If Link had been able to strike down Ganondorf right then, it would’ve been a satisfying story. 

…but it was just the beginning. Doppio staring in astonishment at Kaito’s theatrics, surprised that the villain had used all the hero’s adventures for his own gain. Taking the upper hand without batting an eye. 

And in a last ditch effort…

Doppio blinked, his expression--as much as he could make, with the ventilation mask--falling. Time…rushing through someone like a physical force, huh? Losing…

…seven years. 

…it had been over an hour later…

Looking a bit distressed, Doppio glanced over at Amaina.

Amaina looked back, feeling his concern. Getting up, she went over to him, gently hugging his face, resting her head on his.

♪ …spoiler alert ♩ she whispered as she pet his nose ♪ he figures out how to go back and forth whenever he wants to A Master of Time ♩  

Doppio closed his eyes, allowing himself to be comforted. 

…it was…dumb. To get so upset over a fictional character. But with all the…confusing, scary stuff lately…

It seemed sad, and horrifying. To blink and have a significant portion of your life just…skipped over. Time missed. 

…at least Link had a happy ending to it, though. 

Kaito chuckled, looking to the next page as he said, “And that’s the end of Book One. That’s how they’re decided within the overall book. This is technically supposed to be three books in one,” Kaito explained, thumbing through the large book. “Now, I can keep going into Book Two, but! How are you feeling? We’ve been at this for a while, want me to check in with Seiko, see where your chest is at?”

Ah…that kind of made sense for the pacing, then. 

…he…didn’t really want that healer poking at him again. Sure, it…it wasn’t as bad as he thought (she hadn’t put him to sleep only to have him wake up with her hands in him pulling out his guts, so…that was a win), but he still wasn’t a fan of any of this. But…she did have to check in eventually, so he could stop using the machine…

Nng, had it been an hour yet?

Opening his eyes a little, Doppio blankly regarded everything, before he pointed to the book, holding up two fingers afterward. 

“You sure? Alright, we’ll hold off on getting Seiko then,” Kaito agreed, sitting back down and scooting in. “You’re doing great by the way, I can only guess how uncomfortable being hooked up like that is. I’m proud of ya for bearing through it rather than trying to avoid it and hurting yourself more. You really took a risk, letting us help you.” Kaito grinned, before looking down at the book. “Alright… so! It’s seven years later, and out goes Link into the greater temple. But before he can exit, a mysterious figure steps out of the shadows… and says…”

♪ Oh, oh! ♩ Amaina looked at Doppio, ♪ Senpai wrote a song to this part a loooooong time ago and it is sooooo good like everything senpai does wanna see it? ♩

There was a part of Doppio that wanted to scoff--mentally, at least--and say that, what, he wasn’t doing anything actually hard… 

…but it did feel hard. Admitting to Kaito that he wasn’t doing well, relenting to going to a healer, letting her look at him… Admitting something that, even if they had let it go, Doppio knew wasn’t really a thing most people would let go. And now, just…letting himself be vulnerable, with a big scary machine hooked up to his organs…it was hard. 

And hearing Kaito praise him for getting through it? Doppio looked away, blushing a bit. 

Getting started on part two of the story, Doppio settled in…before he looked over at Amaina. And…it might be a little too obvious to indicate anything to her, and, well, he was pretty sure she could read his thoughts in some capacity…

Obviously he wanted to hear it. …see it? See it. 

Amaina stared blankly at him, as behind her Kaito cheerfully started to read the pages, before starting to spin, spin, spin–

And as she spun, the world shifted around Doppio. And while a part of him would still be aware he was laying in bed, watching Kaito read from his book, he was also now standing in a massive temple, a sword at his hip and a shield at his back, as tango music filled the air. Grasping Doppio’s wrist, someone pulled him into a dance, pulling him close to themselves and grasping his waist, smirking at him.

“I like the green tunic.” Arven smiled behind a tight blue mask, his long lashes on full display among the wrap around him. “You should ditch the hat though. I like your hair.” 

And with that, Arven tossed Doppio’s green hat away, before twisting him expertly in his arms, singing to him as they danced around the temple: “Let me just, give you a second to let you stretch out your bones, boy, cause seven years is such a long time~” Arven smirked, raising an eyebrow as he dipped Doppio. “To sleep.”

Then, bringing Doppio up, Arven flung him out, Doppio spinning in place, and as he spun the temple shifted and morphed into into the market, filled with lumbering zombies and debris as Mount Doom erupted in the distance. “While your eyes were tight shut, things got a tad out of hand, now I hate to break it to you but,” Arven huffed, rolling his eyes in exasperation, “Darkness reigns the land.”

Doppio looked around, amazed by the vision of the temple Amaina had made. That by itself would be incredible--and, honestly, he had forgotten that she could give him dreams, so that was pretty mind-blowing too--but, uh…

…now…Doppio didn’t really know how to dance, but…that didn’t seem to be much of a problem, Dream!Arven effortlessly throwing him around. Being close, then far, even the delivery of the song--which was quite good, actually--just seeming…intimate. Even as it explained the plot of the story. 

It was…a lot. 

And, on the outside, what Kaito would see… Doppio’s eyes had gone unfocused, half-lidding and just barely open, as a deep, rosy blush came over his face. 

Kaito didn’t break his narration, though he was amused by Doppio’s expression as he got lost in the story, meeting Sheik for the first time. Yeeeeeaaaah, he remembered that feeling. Kaito had developed a lot of crushes in this series, and Sheik, phooooh, a pretty, badass, effeminate boy who could play the harp and also fight alongside Link? With a little bit of grace and a little bit of attitude and, Kaito always liked to imagine, plenty of hips? Kaito was glad that Doppio was so caught up in it.

Meanwhile, ‘Arven’ was now explaining to Doppio that Ganondorf’s army was after him, singing all the variety of enemies he’d have to face while, in fact, fighting said enemies alongside Doppio, with musical grace and narrative ease. 

Though, because of the nature of the song, Arven was slightly chastising as he suddenly turned and clashed his sword against Doppio’s, telling him dryly, “While you were sleeping? The world was weeping. I hope you had the sweetest dreams while you were gone, because you woke up to a nightmare.”

And as Sheik in the book gave some examples of things that had been changed in Ganondorf’s rule, Doppio was able to see it displayed in front of him: the frozen water kingdom. The overflowing lava of the mountain. The ravaging of spirits not just in the Lost Woods, but in Hyrule villages and fields, the dead rising and attacking everywhere.

And a brief image of the desert, where Ganondorf cackled and power-posed over the landscape… before turning back and beaming at Doppio, looking far goofier as, essentially, Kaito in ‘villain’ armor. Less terrifying and more just like a guy really having a lot of fun, before Arven grasped Doppio’s hand and pulled him back in, singing, “And now it’s time to go, because you’re our only hope~”

And, giving Doppio another wink, Arven pushed him backwards, causing Doppio to fall… and with one final musical swelling note, Doppio was back in the bed, as Kaito said cheerfully, “So he decided to go check on his home, the Kokiri village, first! …you still paying attention, Doppio?”

It was kind of a weird feeling. Seeing the absolute devastation of a full, beautiful world…while it was Arven in front of him, always either too close or too far, whisper-singing in his ear or belting out across space. 

…Doppio was kind of excited to go out exploring with Arven, like they’d talked about. Hopefully without, yanno…an apocalypse happening. Though, seeing the cause of that terror…Doppio wasn’t able to laugh with the ventilator on, but he would’ve, seeing Kaito like that. He had a feeling that’s exactly how the prince would play the conqueror, if there had been a stage adaptation of the book. 

However, as Arven, and Amaina, more realistically, pushed him out of the dream, Doppio’s eyes snapped open, his body jolting like one did coming out of a half-sleep, feeling the sensation of falling. But…given that he was being forced into even, steady breaths, Doppio just kind of seized for a moment, holding his torso in panic. 

“Oh, oh, oh, hey, it’s okay, it’s okay,” Kaito said, putting down the book and hurrying up, placing his hand on Doppio’s, like he’d be able to feel whatever Doppio was feeling beneath his palm if he did that. “You in pain? If you don’t shake your head I’m going to go get Seiko. Are you in pain, Doppio?”

It was bizarre, panicking while having his breath even. It was like having a clear head through a nightmare, sort of…not that that had ever happened to Doppio, so he couldn’t really say if that was an apt metaphor, but something about it seemed right. 

But, well…as startling as it was…he wasn’t in pain, and he definitely didn’t want Kaito to go. …get the healer. 

Though he couldn’t very well shake his head with a tube down his throat, guy.

Turning his hand to grasp Kaito’s, Doppio gave a thumbs up with his other hand, before slowly trying to ease himself back down onto the bed. Kind of…awkwardly so, since he could really only use his elbow. …were side sit-ups a thing? He may really suck at side sit-ups. 

“Alright, here we go, let’s get you laid out again,” Kaito murmured, placing his hand firmly against the side of Doppio’s head, the other one around his back and steadying his shoulder as he helped him down. “You’re alright. I think you just may have fallen asleep a little. You got really phased out for a second, you probably drifted off while my eyes were down.”

Smoothing out Doppio’s hair a little, running his fingers through it to push his bangs out of his face, Kaito sighed as he eventually backed off, sitting down. “Heart attacks, poppy mutations, pneumonia, now dry drowning… it’s a good thing I don’t get sick easily.” Kaito sighed warily, scratching his goatee a little. “You all sure as heck keep me busy enough without adding my own illnesses to it.”

Opening up his book, looking down at it, Kaito looked for his place… before sighing. Looking up. “...Doppio… how…”

Kaito hesitated. The desire to ask clear on his face… but he frowned. Shaking his head and looking back down at the book. “Nevermind. Let’s get through a few more chapters, yeah? Alright, where was I… ah, right! The temple in the woods! Ooooh, I think the werewolves show up in this chapter.” Kaito grinned, looking more enthusiastic. “That’s fun.”

It was certainly something like that. Doppio looked around for Amaina as Kaito helped him get back into position, down on his side. That dream had been very cool (and…uh…) but…he could use a little warning. Or…easing back into regular stuff. Pretty much any time she wanted to do that! But, again, especially while he was getting water pumped out of his lungs!

Doppio was usually not a fan of however Kaito felt like messing with his hair, but…the little touch he did, brushing his bangs out of his face? …not so bad. And…well, Doppio had noticed that Kaito was tired before--the prince had told him, self-inflicted baby shenanigans and all--but…

…he looked really tired right then. 

Doppio had told Arven that it seemed like Kaito had experience helping someone in the middle of a panic attack. …how much experience did he have with this? Waiting at someone’s bedside, reading to them and ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice?

Kaito was supremely silly, but…there was a certain responsibility to him that, maybe, Doppio had been too quick to brush off before. 

…he…he couldn’t tell Kaito, though. Not even to repay his debt. 

Trying to give the prince an encouraging look, Doppio settled in for the next chapter.

“Link had finally returned to his village, after following the music through the lost woods, and what he found there after seven long, devastating years?” Kaito read, his voice soft. “...nothing. Nothing had changed. It was like he had only stepped out for a moment, just long enough to explore the tunnels before Mido inevitably dragged him back, chastising him for trying to leave into the woods again. The village was, thankfully, untouched by the ravages of war… but also by the ravages of time. And indeed, as he walked up, a small, round-cheeked little boy with wide eyes and a determined glare ran up to him with a wooden sword in hand, demanding to know how Link had gotten into their village.”

Kaito turned the page, his eyes misty again as he said, “And Link realized in that moment that the little boy was Mido. Mido, who had always seemed so big and strong and imposing and insurmountable, barely coming up to Link’s hips as he stood tall and threatening against Link. And somehow worse than anything, not even a hint of recognition in the other Kokiri's eyes, who had spent Link’s entire life pulling him back from the dangers of the woods. Link had outgrown Mido. Outgrown and surpassed, the idea of being intimidated by a wooden sword in the hands of a small child laughable. But Link didn’t want to laugh, not at Mido. In that moment, he wished for nothing more that he could be half Mido’s size, grumbling as he was sent back to the safety of his tree house, Mido scoffing at his recklessness while Saria gave him a warm, patient smile. Link wished he was small again. Small enough to be protected. Small enough to need Mido.”

“But the Lost Woods were in danger, and while the village had hidden well so far, given enough time Ganondorf would find this place too, and no slingshots or wooden shields would save the family that raised him. Link could no longer use Mido’s protection. He didn’t need it. Now, Mido needed him,” Kaito read, clearing his throat as he pressed his shoulder into his lower eye, muttering, “Damn parent stuff, man, that shit’s always going to get me now. Ahem. Link asked Mido where Saria was, and to prove he knew her and she trusted him, played for Mido her song. Appeased, Mido led Link to the overgrown temple, saying Saria had gone inside ‘longer than he knew how to count’, and hadn’t come back out again. Link was worried. Had something happened to his childhood friend?”

After that was more adventure, as Link worked his way through the temple, eventually beating a phantom left behind by Ganondorf's curse, and with its banishment, Saria appeared. But the reunion was short lived, as Saria informed Link that in order to protect their family, she had sacrificed the life she could have lived, and had taken up the mantle of a sage. She was now the Forest Sage, and when it was time, her power would be lent to Link.

“Before she faded away, to take her place in the Sacred Realm, she looked up at Link with a smile and said, ‘I knew you’d outgrow us. Was the world big enough to fit you?’ Link said yes, that the world was great and vast and bigger than he might ever be able to fully explore. And Saria laughed, ‘I know you believe that… but I don’t think it’s true. I just get this feeling: someday you’ll outgrow Hyrule too.’”

“If so? I’m glad to see you go,’ Saria said, smiling like all the joy in the world was in her eyes, before her spirit faded away, joining the sages.”

Kaito took a second, taking a breath, looking pretty light and happy himself for a moment… before he gave Doppio a sheepish look. “Sorry, I know I keep getting emotional when the Kokiri stuff comes up. Family and parent stuff gets me right here, ya know,” Kaito said, thumping his chest a little. “...Family’s important, ya know? Or, I guess it just feels important to me. Though it can get preeeetty complicated… I have to imagine you know how that feels. I mean, if your boss hired you a few years ago to keep you off the street, you were really just a kid when he took you in. In Luminary? That’s basically a mentorship, and for a lot of orphans in Luminary? Mentorships essentially become a form of alternative adoption. The relationship between a mentor and their charge can be just as close as any parent/child relationship.”

“...and, you know, if that relationship doesn’t work?” Kaito said hesitantly, thumbing the page nervously,  “You don’t have an obligation to stick with it. Parents, mentors… brothers, anything, really. If they don’t treat you well, cutting them out of your life and moving on… I mean, it’s not easy… but sometimes that’s the best move…”

Kaito looked away, before sputtering, “A-anyway, uh, next chapter! It’s back to Mount Doom! So Link rode through the fields, heading towards the mountains–”

It sounded surreal…but also just a blatant metaphor for growing up. And yet…to Doppio, the surreal side of it stuck out more. He supposed that would make sense for him. Without…benchmarks or memories, he had nothing to compare his “now” to. He knew, objectively, that he had once been a small child, but…for everything that actually mattered in his life? To Doppio, it was like he had always been how he was now. 

(...then why did some things feel nostalgic, though?)

It was obvious, seeing the effect the story of family and growth had on Kaito, but…well, Doppio could tell it was a good story! But it didn’t really…resonate. Because…even as Kaito explained his own parallel…The Boss wasn’t his dad. Or even a father figure. The Boss was his boss! And anything more than that was…

Doppio looked down. Refusing to think about the feeling he refused to see as longing. 

…refusing to recognize the small moments he had been getting over the past few weeks as filling that hole in him. 

(...it was a small thought, very small, but…Doppio tried to imagine The Boss doing this. Staying by his side while he was…sick, he supposed.)

(...mostly, all Doppio could think about was the shame he would feel. Boss wasn’t supposed to take care of him, at least in this way.)

(...and even if it happened? Doppio could only expect to…be locked out of the house in the rain, or…or pressed to a burner, or something, after the moment, just to lock in how awfully Doppio had performed in getting sick in the first place.)

Tears started to burn in his eyes, a feeling of dread building in him at the thought of going home after this. And a feeling of disgust quickly following, for feeling that way. 

Kaito was just getting into how Link needed to dodge and weave massive, fiery boulders, when he glanced up and saw Doppio’s expression, clearly not really paying attention now, lost in his own head at something alarming. Eyes turning red at the edges as he fought with tears. Putting the book down on its face, Kaito reached out, lightly touching Doppio’s forehead, making an excuse to himself that he was checking how his fever was going, before brushing the stray hairs out of his face again.

“...I hate that I can’t ask you what’s wrong,” Kaito admitted, gently brushing the slightly inflamed edges of Doppio’s scalp, “I really hate it. I’m gonna ask Seiko to check on you. I just want to know that the water is actually passing. I want to get this tube out of your throat and let you actually, really rest soon. And I want to be able to ask you what’s wrong.”

“But I’m going to wait until your eyes dry, alright?” Kaito whispered. “So no hurry. You’re okay. We’re just gonna wait this out a moment, and then I’m gonna see how far along you’re coming.”

He didn’t understand. Doppio just really, genuinely, didn’t get it. And, yeah, he knew he was kind of dumb, and forgetful, and he took forever to put simple things together, but…but he wasn’t completely braindead. And he just…didn’t understand this. 

Why some random man people called a monster was reading him a fantasy adventure and telling him things were okay, and promising not to leave when he was scared. 

(...and why the greatest person Doppio loved kept ignoring him. Hurting him. All Doppio ever wanted was to protect ⱭƖ@ʌ0l0 and make all his dreams come true, make him happy, and…and he was succeeding. So why was he being punished? Over and over and…)

Doppio only glanced at Kaito miserably for a moment, before he brought an arm up to tuck his hand into his sleeve and press it to his eyes. Rushing, regardless. 

Kaito laughed lightly, seeing Doppio trying to hurry, trying to accommodate. “You’re a really sweet kid. Alright, alright, let me go talk to Seiko, get you checked on. The sooner all that crud is out of your lungs, the better. And don’t think you’re getting out of hearing the rest of this story just because you’re not a trapped audience. I love this book, I don’t care if you end up snoozing on me, you’re freaking hearing it in your dreams as far as I’m concerned. It’s a really good book! The temples and sages he has to meet get really, like, varied from here.”

Running his thumb over Doppio’s cheek a little, Kaito sighed and got up. “Alright, be right back.”

In some ways, Doppio was a little more resigned of it all, when the healer came back. She took his temperature again--it had risen a bit, but not significantly--and listened to his lungs--and to Seiko’s confusion, now his heartrate was…a little too slow. But not with any of the other symptoms that really should’ve gone along with that--and…well. The wet, crackly sound she had heard before was gone. So the ventilator could come out. 

Doppio coughed forcefully once the tube was out, honestly…a little dizzy, back to breathing on his own. But he was much happier doing so. 

“Small sips, please.”

He looked up, taking the small cup of water the healer offered him, and…sure. Took small sips. “...shit’s terrible,” he croaked. 

Seiko smiled softly. “Thank you f-for bearing with it, regardless.”

“Hey,” Kaito said dryly, lightly flicking Doppio’s arm, “Seiko rearranged her whole day to help us out, Doppio. Let’s go ahead and thank her for her hard work and patience, yeah?”

Doppio sent Kaito a half hearted glare before looking…somewhat close to Seiko. Giving her a small nod. “...thank you. For treating me.”

“Thank you for allowing me to,” Seiko gently responded, before offering a small, apologetic sigh. “In honesty, I w-would prefer to give you more of a check-up… But I understand that you’re likely exhausted and uncomfortable, and…” she gave him a drier look, “Regardless if that’s t-true, you do need a lot of rest, Doppio. Between your cold, and giving your lungs some time t-to heal, I am firmly suggesting you take the next three days to rest. Lots of sleep, nothing strenuous, soft foods, at least for today to be easy on your throat, and…if you would accept it, I would like to prescribe you cold medicine and an anti-bacterial booster, to make certain you d-don’t contract pneumonia or bronchitis.”

Doppio just shrugged, looking to the side. 

No way any of that would happen, but…he was too tired to argue right now. 

Kaito raised an eyebrow at Doppio, before grinning at Seiko. “Alright, I’m on all that. Do me a favor, write that down for me, would you? It seems easy for me to follow right now, but I can be a little dense given, oh…” Kaito shrugged, “Twenty minutes. Better to just write it down.”

Looking to Doppio, Kaito grinned a little lazily. “Guuueeeeess who’s being kiiiidnaaaaaped? Though, admittedly, I am down one baby, so I gotta figure out another way of doing that particular part of it,” Kaito admitted. Tapping at the bed as he started brainstorming ways to make Doppio stay put. “...Maybe I could recruit Arven. Have Chief lay on you?”

Seiko returned Kaito’s smile. If they couldn’t confirm that Doppio was safe and taken care of at home? Then…she was grateful that the prince could step in. …hopefully get some confirmation and get CPS on the case. 

“Of course--p-please, one moment.”

And as she left, Doppio sighed, wincing a little as he coughed into his arm. “...you can’t just literally kidnap me for three days. I have to go home.” …though, perhaps it was telling in how Doppio’s tone was more…tiredly resigned, rather than combative. Like going home truly wasn’t a choice, and not simply something he was insisting on. 

“...n don’t get Arven involved,” he muttered, before his eyes widened in horror, looking back up at Kaito. “...colds are contagious. What if I got Arven sick?!”

Kaito placed his chin in his palms, leaning on the bed as he dryly said, “Oh, nooooo, that’d be… just so terrible. If Arven got the sniffles? Man I just… don’t know what he’d do.” Kaito said tiredly, before giving Doppio a somewhat thin grin, “Relax, either I or someone I know is gonna go check on Arven, alright? If he’s got the sniffles, we’ll make sure he has medicine and water and a firm stay at home note.”

“And really I want Chief more than him. Chief’s a big ol’ dog, he could pin you down… and it’s not fair to ask Arven to take care of you anyway. Sure, it’s a great bonding opportunity, but seeing someone you like barely able to move can be really, like, uncomfortable and traumatic, and it’s not his job to suddenly learn how to be a home-healer. You guys can leave that dose of reality when you’re both old.” Kaito smiled, before chuckling to himself, “Aw, that’s super presumptuous of me, sorry. I’m kind of a sap, you can’t take half the things I say seriously.”

“But, yeah, no, we won’t ask Arven to take care of you for the next three days. That’s gonna be on me,” Kaito decided, stretching his arms above his head. “We’ll go through it one at a time. What’s your first argument? Is it you have to work?”

Doppio gave Kaito just a withering glare, sweaty, flushed face and all. He’d never been sick before, and so far?! It was horrible. At several points throughout the day, Doppio genuinely thought he was dying, and it was only the fact that he had un angelo custode looking after him that he was confident he wasn’t going to end up as a corpse on the ground. 

Making Arven feel the same way? Unconscionable.

…but it did make Doppio feel better to hear that Kaito was going to bully Arven too and check up on him. It was the weekend…Doppio wasn’t sure that anyone would be expecting Arven until Monday, and if he was just left with Chief for two days…

Well. Chief did have a way of getting help. 

…so it was just back to Doppio’s own predicament, he guessed. 

Shifting uncomfortably, he poorly suppressed a sudden shiver and gave Kaito a shrug. “...I could take sick days.” As much as it sickened him to consider. “...but you really can’t just keep me from going home.” Doppio looked at the floor, something tight and ashamed in his expression. Similar to what had spurred Kaito to get Seiko just before. “...Boss is gonna worry if I just disappear for three days.”

“Well, sick days are, in fact, for when you’re sick. And kid, I hate to tell you,” Kaito said, gesturing around the ventilator and medward-bed, “You are so sick. Like, this is the time. The reason sick days exist.”

“And he doesn’t need to worry,” Kaito said, looking away from Doppio, keeping his expression carefully neutral. “We can send him a message saying you’re feeling under the weather and taking a few days to recover. I know your job is important, but if he can’t spare you for three days to regain your strength? That’s, uh…” Kaito tsked his tongue against the top of his mouth, “...pretty unprofessional of him. No single employee should actually be irreplaceable. Him never accounting for you needing emergency leave is a sign of… ill-prepared leadership.”

…

…

…

There was a sudden growl from Doppio as he sprung up from the examination bed, eyes wide and teeth bared in a snarl. And, throat pretty wrecked, the rasp of his voice actually managed to sound…relatively intimidating, rather than just juvenile. 

“Boss is the most professional, he prepares for everything, he’s the best leader you could ever think of! Thinking any different doesn’t just make you a moron, it’ll leave you six feet under, barely fit being food for worms! Don’t even try to--”

And…in an instant it was over, Doppio doubling over into a coughing fit, swaying even without the force of his coughs moving him.

Kaito flinched back, a genuine rush of fear and unease running through him at Doppio’s fierce rage. Uncertain what the best next step was and compensating by staying still and waiting to see what Doppio was gonna do next.

And unfortunately, what he did next was look like he was about to pass out. Which, well, at least Kaito knew what to do with that, as he hurried to his feet and reached over to steady him, sitting next to him on the bed and placing his hand on his back, murmuring, “Let’s straighten your back a little, lift your chin. Can you catch your breath?” Kaito asked, waiting… Doppio was breathing. He had just wrecked his throat shouting after the tube. Sighing, Kaito pulled Doppio in, letting him lean on him, while reaching out to grab the cup with the rest of the water. “Let’s take a few more sips, alright? Your throat took a beating, let’s take care of it. Can you take a few sips for me?”

Doppio let Kaito maneuver him, the room spinning and his throat burning, and it was…pitiful how familiar the situation was. How easily Doppio knew he could rely on familiar instructions. He drank the water, keeping his eyes shut tight as he lolled his head to rest against Kaito’s shoulder. 

“...he’s not a bad boss…” he whispered. 

And…not even meant to be said, really. And even quieter than a whisper. Maybe not even Doppio’s words, but simply a truth. 

“...it’s going to be even worse next time…” 

And to that truth, Doppio trembled under Kaito’s arm. 

Kaito made sure Doppio got a few sips, before putting it back down, just wrapping his arms around Doppio for a bit. His jaw clicking a little as he felt that little tremble. Heard that little whisper.

“...” Kaito grinned against Doppio’s hair. Lightly rubbing his arm as he said evenly, “A good boss can survive without you for three days. No need to bury me, I’m just saying, it’s only three days. Three days to recover, and then everything goes back to normal.”

Then, taking a risk, Kaito said, “If it wasn’t okay, your boss would just tell you so, wouldn’t he? Tell you to come back? Otherwise, what’s the harm in just asking him for the time off?”

It was tempting to put his hands over his ears. Try to block the world out again. Kaito was holding him just tight enough that…maybe… 

But he was too hot and achy and he could almost feel that his throat and lungs were a connected cavity in his body and it was…too much. Too physical for him to even pretend. 

But he still kept his eyes closed. 

Doppio nodded a bit, before making a sad sound. “...but I haven’t cooked in advance to make up for it…”

Kaito huffed a little laugh. “If I offer to bring him food myself, am I gonna get a sarcastic response, a long explanation of why my cooking is inadequate, or another death threat? I’ll still offer either way, just curious which flavor of put-down I should be prepping for.”

Doppio gave Kaito a little full-body nudge. “...he wouldn’t take it.”

Peeking around the curtain, Seiko carefully took in the scene before coming closer. “I’ve written up a c-care sheet, and prepared a prescription for you. How are you feeling, Doppio?”

“...tired,” he defeatedly sighed.

“We’re just working out the logistics of him staying with me for the next three days.” Kaito gave Seiko a small, tired grin. “Thank you for the care sheet, I’ll grab it and the prescription before we leave. You think Doppio can handle stairs, Seiko? Trying to figure out where exactly he’s sleeping, maybe a first floor spare room? If stairs are too rough on you, Doppio?”

“I would recommend anything that makes rest easier on you,” she gave the teen a soft look…though it seemed like he’d had more than enough, completely checked out. Which…was very fair. Seiko had seen plenty of sick, fed-up children to recognize when they’d had enough.

“If he’s going to be st-staying somewhere new, then perhaps the easiest option would be best,” she gave Kaito a nod. “A-and I wrote it on the sheet, but…keep an eye on his fever. If it starts to exceed 103, please seek medical help again. Otherwise…fluids, rest, and medicine.”

“Got it. We’ll sort it out. You ever stay at the castle before, Doppio? Sincere question, it’s basically a very big, very cool hotel. We’re gonna get you all set up, okay? Three days of letting me fuss over ya, eating the food the kitchens make. It’ll be easy. You’ll be feeling better in no time.” Kaito promised. 

Seeing the exhaustion on Doppio’s face, Kaito asked Seiko if he was good to leave now or if Kaito should give him more time. When she recommended some sleep before Kaito moved him, Kaito nodded, rubbing Doppio’s arm as he said, “We’re gonna lie down soon, and then I’ll keep reading to you.”

“... want me to lie down with you?” Kaito asked, “I know I run a little too hot for a kid with a fever, but I’ve been assured a thousand times that I’m great to nap against. True luxury, I promise.”

…the castle… The castle was a bad idea, but…why? He couldn’t think…he was so tired. Just thing after thing after thing today, and Doppio was done. He was done, and finished, and he didn’t want to think or exist anymore. Goodbye. 

Kaito had already tried to refute all his reasons why taking time off was bad anyway. Surely they’d already gone over the castle issue. 

…Doppio could deal with it later. 

“...s’been too hot all day,” Doppio grumbled in a tired whisper. “...also, you’re huge. Gonna break the bed…”

“Rude? That might be rude? But I am pretty big, I work hard at these muscles,” Kaito said, painfully sincerely. Finding time to work on his body was more than a little difficult, but Kaito valued his body and his looks and watching his muscles start to waste away a few months ago had pushed him into finding time. Even if that time was pushups during midnight Miyako feedings.

So, with a slightly proud, offended sniff, Kaito nodded. “Alright. Let’s put you down then. Come on, there we go~ Everything’s gonna look more manageable after you’ve gotten some rest. It's all overwhelming now just cause you’re tired. Sleep will help. Seiko, anything I should give him now? Here, let me see these prescriptions you said were ready.”

Getting that sorted with Seiko, Kaito eventually sat back down, picking up the book he had placed down. Giving Doppio a small look, Kaito said, “It really is all going to feel better soon. Now’s just a bad moment. It’ll end. I promise.”

He looked down at the book. “...alright. So, the mountain is in trouble, and Link is on the case…”

…the present ending, huh? Not the apex forever…

It didn’t take long before Doppio was out, despite his great interest in hearing what had become of the rock people on the volcano in the seven years of Link’s sleep. But it was okay; his own sleep didn’t mean he had to skip anything--he could always go back. 

…Seiko only had to reassure Kaito twice that Doppio was alright, just a light and still breather in sleep. 

-

Getting Doppio set up into a room was surprisingly easy, thankfully. It helped that he seemed depressed and listless and hopeless, which sure made getting him to lay down and go back to sleep in the new room with promises of bringing dinner over later that day muuuuuch easier. So Kaito had done that. And had thought about going back up to their room, letting his partners know what was going on…

But Doppio needed clothes! So he went out and bought some fresh clothes instead, enough for roughly three days, plus pajamas. Picking clothes that seemed his size and might suit him was fun, though Kaito leaned into the sweater thing Doppio enjoyed so much. Still, he had thought he had done a good job, and brought them back to drop off into Doppio’s room. Who was still sleeping.

After that, Kaito thought about going back upstairs…

But then he realized he totally forgot about hygiene stuff! Toothbrushes, soap, deodorant! So he went back out and he got a bunch of hygiene stuff, not worrying about getting too much because, well… Doppio could keep using them! Later! After three days! Wherever he… happened to be.

And he brought those back. And Doppio was still asleep.

And he thought about going back upstairs to his room, to check in with his partners and apologize for being gone all day…

And now he was in the south garden, worryingly pacing back and forth, biting his thumb joint because again twisting his joints into knots did not quite ease the anxiety he was feeling in this situation. Joint twisting was for… personal sadness and apprehension. Biting? Biting was knowing that he was fucked.

Oh god, god, god, what was he going to do? 

Could he just??? Go punch this guy??? Kick him out of Doppio’s life, go all in on the kidnapping thing? Boy he’d like to! Kaito suspected that was not going to work though. But what was Kokichi going to do? What did Kokichi’s solution look like? Was Kaito about to ruin Doppio’s life? What if Kokichi did his Kokichi thing and Doppio, like… went back to the guy anyway? And suddenly Kaito had no way of helping him!? Or kidnapping him!? Kidnapping was much harder when the kid saw it coming! Probably?? Kaito didn’t know, this was his first kidnapping attempt! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Kaito spun on the whale statue and, glaring at it, demanded, “Well!? What would you do!?”

The whale said nothing. Coward.

“Just gonna leave a guy hanging like that? Wow, coward.” A drawling, easy-going voice might’ve seemed like it came out of nowhere to Kaito, if he hadn’t happened to look up. A man, perhaps in his 30s, lounging on the castle retaining wall, red hair cut close to the scalp, barring a scar curving around his skull, and sea glass green eyes admonishing the whale statue, the black cat flopped next to him continually unbothered. 

Wearing a red, short-sleeved studded leather jacket over a black textured shirt, he gave Kaito a shrug and a grin, like the two of them were sharing a joke. “Can’t find good help anywhere these days, am I right? Eh, shou ga nee naa~”

Kaito’s whole body jerked in sudden surprise, having really thought he was alone in the garden, but looking up to see a… very attractive older man. Oh no. Ooooh dear. Don’t stare, don’t stare, look at those cheekbones, no, look away, looking at his biceps is not the next best place, holy shit those abs, look at the cat! Oh, hey! There was a cat too. Aw, it was a shame Kokichi wasn’t here, he’d love to see a stray cat, just chilling on the wall– FOCUS THERE IS A PERSON TALKING TO YOU– oh no he’s hot.

That all went through Kaito’s mind very quickly, his brain otherwise stuttering for a moment as he tried to follow what the man had said after interrupting Kaito’s mildly panicked ranting a moment ago… before saying, “Sorry, I don’t know Tradean very well. I didn’t catch that last bit.”

Lazily kicking one leg off the wall, the man shrugged, somehow managing to make it look comfortable and effortless nearly sideways. “That’s life; it is how it is~ Oooooh well~ C’est la vie.”

He grinned, eyes scrunching up a little. “That last one’s a freebie, since you’re Trad’ain’t. Try it out sometime, add a little spice to your speech, impress some linguaphile. Unless it’s the whales you’re trying to sway,” he nodded at the statue. “Tough critics, I’ve found.”

Oh nooooooo he was good at talking… focus! You have an abused teenager whose literal life you’re trying to save! Stop getting distracted by big, weathered eyes…and a strong nose… that smirk was not fair– focus! 

Kaito grinned a little warily, as he said, “Uh, yeah, my husband’s tried to teach me the odd word or two. Uh, I know… wait, shoot… oh no, I’ve forgotten how to say it, shoot… Uh, he taught me ‘I love you’. I’ll figure it out.”

Stepping back a little, Kaito glanced at the whale he had been yelling at, before rubbing the back of his neck a little, flushing slightly in embarrassment. “You saw that, huh? Uh, that’s my bad, it’s not like I’m actually hearing the whale talk to me. I’m just trying to get my thoughts organized. Sometimes just talking like something is listening helps, ya know? I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“Aw, that’s cute, cuz. It’ll come to you, sooner or later,” the man grinned, giving Kaito an encouraging nod. 

Though, he gave the whale a considering side-eye. “No worries, no worries--all sorts’a ears out there when someone feels like talking, you feel? Seemed like quite the thoughts to be organized though. Think something listening and talking back might help?” The man cocked his head, and, with the right kind of imagination, someone might be able to practically see him flicking a tail, all the body language right.

Oh nooooooooooo he kinda looked like a caaaaaaaaaaat–FOCUS.

Be strong. Be true. Stick! To your ‘weird older gentleman crushes’ already! Band guy! Talks like poetry! Plays bass! Very specifically was not actually right in front of him being hot and cool and older– Dammit Kaito, Doppio!

Kaito gripped his hands into fists, running from the bad sexy thoughts as he barreled right back to his actual problem of the day, as he half-shouted at the man, “I think I’m trying to kidnap a kid because I’m pretty sure his boss might be physically abusing him and I don’t know what to do– oh fuck wait.”

Kaito’s eyes widened with actual panic, literally physically covering his mouth as he heard himself. Having gotten too caught up in trying not to think about how hot he found the other guy by talking about what was worrying him… but shit, this might not be something he should have told anyone. Oh fuck. Um???

“...meeeetaphorically?” Kaito tried weakly. “Metaphorically. Uh, the metaphors being kidnapping… and abuse… also kid. Teen. Metaphorical teenager… please don’t get the guardforce if you need to talk to someone I can go get my husband?? He’s a prince if that helps?? I shouldn’t have said any of that.”

The man simply raised his eyebrows in surprise. Well that was a hell of a lot of shit in a single bag to throw. One of their princes had stumbled into a domestic situation, huh? Hmmm…

“I think you were barking up the wrong whale,” the man said eventually. “I think orcas might be more of the energy you’re looking for.”

“Hmmmmm…” the man hummed, languidly swinging himself to sit up on the wall, this seeming like it was more of a ‘vertical’ conversation. “So, literal kid, right? Not some bright eyed 20-year-old. Well, what’s your plan for the kidnapping? ‘Cause I think you might still be part of the problem if you’re planning on locking some kid in a dungeon, cuz.”

“We don’t have dungeons here,” Kaito was quick to say, looking around to see if there was anyone else in the garden. No? Both a good and bad thing. Fuck… cause the truth was? Kaito really wanted to talk to someone about this. Like, badly. He felt so out of his depth right now, and could desperately use some advice.

But, also… Kaito knew he had a really bad habit of just spilling his guts out to the first person who’d let him. Which most of the time wasn’t that bad because when he was spilling his gut it was usually just his own guts. But this could affect Doppio. Kaito had promised to take responsibility for what happened to Doppio. It was up to him to make sure it wasn’t anything bad.

Looking slightly distrusting at the older man, Kaito scratched the side of his neck. “...he’s not twenty, no. We’re not sure… maybe fifteen…? Look, who are you? I can’t… this kid needs help. If you’re the type who’s about to go spreading this around… not like I’m not, I guess.” Kaito sighed, pinching his brow. “Fuck, I just don’t know what to do… could you promise not to tell anyone anything? I swear, I really am trying to help this kid. I just don’t know what I’m doing… and I could use advice,” Kaito admitted, sheepish.

Anything could be a dungeon if you really needed it to. But this guy seemed pretty literal, and the man couldn’t quite tell if his answer to the gauging question really indicated one way or another if he was gonna hurt the kid trying to be a savior…ah, oh well~

Waving Kaito down, the man answered, “Name’s Firenze. Ex-bouncer, ex-carriage driver…professional layabout, I’d say today, but now I suppose it makes me a confidential kidnapping consultant. Interesting path to take, huh?”

Firenze tilted his head to the side. “Help’ is a pretty vague term, cuz. Best case scenario, no one can stop you, everything goes right--whatssat look like to ya? What are you hoping for this kid?”

Ooooooooh, he was coooooool–focus. Shuichi would kill you if he could see your head right now. Focus!

What if everything went right? Uh… Kaito chuckled sheepishly, shrugging a little. “If we’re talking pie in the sky, total daydream scenario? Like… okay, so, I have this teenager who I just dragged to a healer today because he’s freaking, like… drowning.” Kaito frowned, his fascination for Firenze eased a little as the bubbling anger– anger that had been steadily growing all day, since Kaito hadn’t allowed himself to tap into any of it yet– of Doppio’s situation came back. “That’s how the healer described it, he was drowning. From water in his lungs from, you guessed it! Someone drowning him. And I am, just… almost certain I know who. Actually, fuck that, I know it was him. His fucking roommate/employer did it, the kid basically told me without actually saying it.”

“So, not wanting him to go home, not to mention he was just on a ventilator today to get that water out of his lungs, I convince the kid to stay here to rest for a few days. Three days, ideally. It takes a lot of hounding to get him to do it, and I think the only reason I managed it is because the ventilator just wore him down so much.” Kaito scoffed, looking down as he creaked his neck a little. “So, ideal scenario? The kid loves his stay here so much that he, like… stays a few more days! Just wants to stay! Realizes his boss is shit and, hey, that Luminary guy isn’t so bad, maybe I’ll let him look out for me for a bit! And then, like, on the fourth or fifth day?”

Kaito suddenly grinned, canines glinting in the light as he practically snarled, “That fucker shows up to try to take Doppio back, and I rearrange his fucking face. Find a fucking puddle in the courtyard and drown him in it. See how he fucking likes being thrown around and beaten by someone big enough to hit him the fuck back.”

“And then, ya know.” Kaito shrugged, the tone gone. “He begs Doppio for mercy, Doppio sends him away, decides to stay, I enroll his ass in school so he gets to hang out with his friend who's already going, happily ever after.”

“...but it’s not going to go that way,” Kaito said tiredly, “I already know that.”

That was…pretty intense. For the sake of hearing more, Firenze had been willing to accept that the prince was right, and the kid was being abused, but taking the kid to a healer to be put on a ventilator because he’d been drowned was…a lot. And damning. Plenty of accidental drownings happened, but not usually with someone trying to be cagey about it afterward. 

And it sounded like the prince had already kidnapped the kid, so…

“Does seem like some plot holes,” Firenze nodded, putting his chin in a hand as he thought. “‘Specially since it sounds like Double-Trouble there isn’t so willing to be saved.” Eyes closed, Firenze tilted his head. “...why wait so long to go after the big guy? If you were planning on claiming defensive assault…the fact that you’ve kidnapped his kid already nullifies that, so…why not be proactive about it? What’s that reasoning?”

Kaito looked down, staring at his feet a little, before glancing up at Firenze. “I go to ‘The Boss’ and kick his ass on my own, then the kid is going to resent me, leave, and go back to him. Just, automatic. He loves the guy, and even if he knows for certain all I’m trying to do is protect him… he’s going to want to defend the guy from me. And that’s something I can’t fix in three days. Fuck, that… that takes a long time. To stop wanting to actively defend your abuser. It’s not just something that goes away with a rational argument.”

“But if the guy came here, throwing his weight around, being an asshole and embarrassing Doppio, forcing me to protect Doppio, where he can see it? Doppio might be willing to send the guy away just to spare him from me killing him, which would feel more under Doppio’s control if he’s standing there watching me do it in his name. Then it’d be Doppio making decisions, which means he’d be more willing to stand by those decisions, which means he wouldn’t suddenly run off in the night to go running back to the bastard… I just want to make him feel powerful. Facing assholes is easier when you’re the guy with all the power in the room. And since Doppio is a little stick of a thing, I want to be his power for him.”

“Mind you,” Kaito sighed, rolling his eyes, “I tried literally that exact same thing once, with my husband? And totally fucked it up. Didn’t get the apology, didn’t make him feel strong, didn’t manage to do anything other than look like a reckless moron and embarrassed him in front of his people. What’s the definition of insanity? Doing something over and over again, even if it never works? Ugh.” Kaito groaned, rubbing his temples. “...it wouldn’t work, right? How I’m envisioning it?”

Firenze hummed before nodding slightly. “Ah, my bad--just jumping to conclusions. You never actually said anything about getting the boss-guy arrested or taken away in your ideal circumstance, didja? Just sent him off running with one big beatdown. I did ask for a power fantasy~”

“That is one biiiig old hiccup to the plan, though, if the kid’s caught in the cycle. Hard enough to escape abuse if you’re fighting against it, let alone if you’ve got your claws all stuck. So~ Your plan’s to manipulate him into a better circumstance, huh? Very crafty!”

Chuckling softly, Firenze shrugged. “It could work! The world is full of possibilities. But it’s not an outcome I’d bet on myself, nah. Manipulation’s hard enough with only a few factors--and the human element is the one that fucks it up the most, in my experience. Hard to get people to feel a certain way if you don’t understand their feelings in the first place.”

“I got this cousin, right,” Firenze rolled his eyes fondly. “Tiny little guy, just a little puffo, think he’d be just rolled over by the world, right? Well, you’d better be ready to go deaf if you try to mess with him for a moment--or being so shamed you’ll have to leave the country if you try for more. Power comes in a lotta forms, cuz, not just for you big guys,” winked the not particularly tall man. 

“...sounds to me you want to have your cake and eat it too, eh? Save the kid and also have ‘im love ya for it? Though the thing you wanna save him from, he’s tryin’ to run right back into?”

Kaito flushed at the wink, forcing himself to look back down at the ground again. Stooooooooooop. Ugh, Maki was going to give him another earring…

But he sighed, shoulders falling a little, at the last point. “...yeah? I mean… ugh, that is the problem, isn’t it,” Kaito muttered, running his hands through his hair a little. “I want him to be happy that I saved him. To maybe want to stay… I get attached to kids really easy. I hate, just… imagining someone taking him away and having no idea if he’s being taken care of or not. I’d take care of him. I want to.”

“But I know damn well how fucking hard it is to convince someone in his position to choose to leave. God, I… I’ve got my own history, right? And, man, I… I’m taking active steps to try to put it behind me, but if the people who messed with me called me up? Like, literally any of them, if they even still could, just… showed up? Walking through the castle gates, asking to see me?”

Kaito stared at the floor. “...fuck, I think I’d literally go running to see them. Any of them. That feeling is so hard to get rid of. The only reason I haven’t is because, well… life forced me away from them. Which I resented the shit out of for a long time. Your king hasn’t exactly had the easiest time with me…”

Kaito shuddered, before looking warily up at Firenze. “That’s another thing I’d really appreciate you not repeating to anyone. Seriously, thank you for hearing me out, I need someone to talk to about all of this, but… please don’t spread any of this around.”

Firenze waved Kaito down again. “No worries, cuz--not a blabbermouth in the first place, and I’m not gonna talk out of my ass when it’s gonna get someone hurt.”

“So,” he sighed through a stretch, “You know the position your little Double is in, then. So if you want to value your relationship over his more immediate safety, then this is gonna take some time. ‘Course, you could always do an anonymous tip-off…but something tells me that it’s not in the cards for you, if you haven’t already,” he gave Kaito a knowing nod. “And that still runs the risk of your kid putting two and two together and coming up with betrayal.”

“Wha-? Oh, see ya.” The black cat that had been sitting next to Firenze this whole time suddenly got up, giving a loooong stretch before jumping off the wall onto the outer side, and Firenze gave it a parting nod before turning back to Kaito. “...well, you know if the kid has anything outside of his abuse? Could make it easier to convince him to get clean if he has something else to fight to keep, too.”

Kaito winced at the accusation– even if that wasn’t what it had meant to be– of him choosing his own feelings over Doppio’s safety. Nnnngh… damn. Damn. Fuck, he was Nao’ing this…

“He has another kid he’s got a pretty blatant crush on,” Kaito said, looking tired. “Other than that? His whole world seems to revolve around his abuser. Like, literally. He has no family, no school, no personal space without the guy, he talks like he gets one day off a week and feels weird about even taking that day, and he talks about his boss like he’s the single greatest thing, ever. Kid threatened to bury me in a hole just for suggesting the guy might be unprofessional. Not that that worried me too much. Kids threaten to kill you sometimes. It’s just a thing,” Kaito said, that exhaustion growing on his face.

“...you think I should just tell my husband?” Kaito asked, looking up at the man. “I mean, I know I’m supposed to tell one of your Dicean things, but I don’t actually know anything about the programs I hear Diceans talk about sometimes. But if I tell my husband… he’s an Ouma. He’s gonna use the programs. Which scares the shit out of me, but… I mean, the fucker drowned him. And he had these big, awful cuts on his arm the other day… I can’t just let this go on…”

Kaito rubbed his temples. “...he’s gonna hate me.”

Another hum, though all that finally managed to make Firenze’s light-hearted half-smile dim. That…was a hell of a situation. Textbook, comically exaggerated abuse. That, unfortunately, wasn’t an exaggeration outside the bounds of reality. Made sense why the kid would try so hard to defend his whole world, then. 

“Child Protection Services are pretty true to their name,” Firenze half-pointed out, half-explained. “Their whole thing is getting kids out of bad spots. If you went to them with all this, or had your husband do it, Doppino would be safely taken out of range and influence of his abuser, and the guy slammed with everything the law could possibly do to a guy that drowns kids. Then, your kid would be given support to heal from all the blows that life gave ‘im.”

Firenze gave Kaito a steady look. “He might hate you for it, but he’d be alive to one day appreciate it.”

In a graceful, yet lazy movement, Firenze stretched back out along the wall. “Or~ You could just kill the guy. Or get him killed, same difference. Take the problem out at the source, even if it’d leave you with a lotta threads and clean up. Kid can’t run back to a corpse.”

Kaito had given the man a grim look… right up until that last point, where Kaito laughed. A little taken off guard, but that flush coming right back to him, a little taken aback by the suggestion of murder the guy given so flippantly… but not exactly resenting it, as he flushed red. “Uh… hah. Look, if I’m honest? I’d happily beat the guy within an inch of his life, but I’m really not a killer. I know how I talk, so I know that’s not super obvious, but… killing kinda freaks me out. I just like terrifying someone until they’re begging for the chance to fix their mistake,” Kaito muttered, gripping his hand into a fist… before he sighed. Letting that fist go as he shrugged. “Oh, sure, in the moment I might really mean to kill the person. Adrenaline turns me into a monster, I’ll admit it. But that same adrenaline has never actually gotten me through to the end of a full fight. And once it eases up even a little bit? I just can’t do it. Never have.”

“...I do know someone who could… two people, actually…” Kaito narrowed his eyes, considering it… before shaking his head, “No. Well… no. I don’t want them to get into trouble. Ugh… I’m just gonna tell my husband. Kokichi will know what to do. Like you said, Doppio… why do you keep calling him double? I thought it was your accent for a second, but no, you’re saying double… anyway, Doppio will hate me, but at least things will be better for him, sooner. And at least that bastard who hurt him will probably disappear into some garden somewhere… hopefully.” Kaito muttered.

“Ah, commitment issues,” Firenze nodded knowingly. “Eh, well, probably serves you better, legally. Even if it makes other things harder.” Though, in the long run, more easy stuff than hard stuff, considering he was hitched with an Ouma. They were part of the puzzle for the only legal murders the country allowed, but…still. Shit hadn’t happened for a long time, and he didn’t see that changing. 

“Doppio, si?” Firenze drawled. “His name--Double. Funny name, but I got a cuz named “Ice” and a cuz named “Black”, and you got a hubby named “Luck”, so we’re all out here, taking the piss with language. Shou ga nee naa~” 

“Well, good luck with all that, cuz,” he nodded to Kaito. “Hope your kid forgives you one day.”

“Oh, you’re going?” Kaito said, feeling briefly disappointed. “...hey, can I ask? I’ve never seen you around the castle before. Are you… just passing by?”

“Don’t gotta--just seemed like you got your head pointed in a direction, now.” Tapping one booted foot on the wall, Firenze chuckled lightly. “I come and go, I come and go. Got a lotta fun folks at the castle, so I stop by, time to time--I’m just good at passing by without notice.”

And it was a good place to while away hours when Prom got it into his head to basically fumigate the whole townhouse. Or not be told to get off his ass and find a new job. Basically, a peaceful place, with kind princes that loved to pet friendly cats.

“No, no, I do have to go and take care of this stuff, so, I’m not trying to keep you here, I just…” Kaito bit his inner lip a little. “...I just gotta say, I love your whole, ‘everything’, thing you’ve got going on. Is your hair curly? God that looks cool. Look at your eyes! Wow. Also, I’d kill for that stomach definition, forget what I said a minute ago, that stomach lining would be worth it, I’ll take the blood on my hands, you’re really hot and I’m super married so that's as far as I’m taking that, I just wanted you to know! That you’re hot! Holy shit!”

Firenze chuckled, turning more on his side and leaning on his arm, before he gave Kaito a wink. “Thanks, kitten. You be sure to tell i tuoi tesori that I’m not in the habit of touchin’ artwork either, yeah?”

“I don’t know what that means but okay,” Kaito practically whispered, eyes just sparkling as he stared at Firenze, who just… had no business looking like that. Gah! Goth Band Guy was getting a roommate in Kaito’s mind. Holy shit. 

Still, Kaito knew he couldn’t stick around more to do anything more after telling the guy blatantly how attractive Kaito thought he was, so giving a sheepish grin, Kaito took a few step backwards, waving a little. “Uh, thanks for talking it out with me again… um. Okay. Maybe see you around? No, no, probably not. Maybe! Okay, bye!” Before turning on his heels and starting to hurriedly walk away.

“.... wait?” Kaito turned and called back, “Who’s taoi taoi!? I don’t know who I’m giving the message to!”

By the time Kaito turned back to the wall, it would be empty. An orange cat with a scar along one ear shaking itself on the other side, before casually walking off.

-

“Maki?” Kaito said dreamily, as they headed down the hall, “Do you think I could be… artwork?”

“What?” Maki asked dryly.

“Nevermind. Just something someone said.” Kaito sighed. “Thanks for coming with me short notice, by the way. This is gonna be a bit of a family emergency, I think, so I wanted all four of us together when I talked about it.”

“I’d ask again what this is about, but I’m sure I’m about to find out in a minute.” Maki shrugged, as Kaito unlocked the door, giving a light knock as a warning before heading in.

“Guys, Maki’s here. Anyone naked?” Kaito called in, looking around.

“Just a bitty baby~” Kokichi half-sang back, in the middle of changing Miyako. “Hi, Maki-chan! How’s it going?” 

He had been…a little surprised, when he got back from Dad Club with Temp and Addason, and found that Ikuo was watching Miyako. It was totally fine, of course, and Kokichi would always be happy about Kaito taking time for himself…

But he didn’t, usually. Not when he was watching Miyako, and…if he did take some time to go out, he usually just brought her with him. So Kokichi was already a little confused, and…

…the nerves coming off of Kaito only added to that. 

Finishing up the diaper change--hold, HOLD…okay, no fuss--Kokichi scooped up his sleepy daughter and placed her in her crib, before giving Kaito a questioning look. 

“Maki,” Shuichi greeted, reading on the bed– he had been deep in research lately, struggling with some potion or something he had been trying to make– though he looked up to watch Kaito and her come in, also a little weirded out that Kaito had left. “Not hanging out with Elia today?”

“We don’t hang out every day,” Maki huffed, immediately taking a chair in front of the fireplace for herself, turning it around as Kaito took the desk chair. “She’s working. Someone’s getting a full body done today, apparently.”

“Ouch. All at once?” Kaito winced. 

Maki shrugged. “Couldn’t wait.”

“You went somewhere today, Kaito?” Shuichi asked, turning his focus on Kaito next, who tellingly immediately looked anywhere but at Shuichi. “Kokichi said Ikuo was watching Miyako when he came back.”

“Ah, yeah. I had a bit of an emergency… um, ‘Kichi?” Kaito said, looking uncomfortably to his husband. “...I think I’m out of my depth, with the Doppio thing. I think I need your help, babe.”

Nearly every day, though, to Kokichi’s utter delight. He’d only met Elia once in passing, but…well, if how pleasant she was to him wasn’t enough? Then how red Maki turned when Elia mentioned that Maki had been talking up his art, and wanting to set the two of them up to talk art nerd shit was a very good sign. 

Kaito talking about an emergency right before talking about Doppio was a very bad sign though. 

Kokichi immediately looked worried, though with a breath he pulled himself together. A prince handling an emergency. “Alright… Thank you for asking for help, hun. Is…” He pressed his lips in a line before continuing. “Is Doppio back at home today? You said he was sleeping over at Arven’s yesterday…”

“Ah, see, that’s…” Kaito clapped his hands together, grinning because that was his default expression when he wasn’t sure what to do. “The first thing! Doppio’s downstairs, actually, first floor, room 112. Ah, he was asleep the last two times I checked on him, and hopefully is still asleep now… Seiko said it’d be tough for him to stay awake too long today, so I’m kinda hoping that exhaustion will… keep him there,” Kaito said, looking away a bit, “Reliably.”

There was a beat of silence.

“...Kaito, did you steal Doppio?” Shuichi asked.

“I’m going to bet it was ‘persistent pressuring’.” Maki sighed, taking out a dagger and lightly playing with it. “Though the fact that you’re counting on illness to keep him still means that pressure wasn’t terribly effective.”

“I had to, guys. What was I going to do, carry him back and deliver him to that fu–” Kaito glanced at the crib, “Fudger and go ‘here you go, try not to break him any more, I’ll be keeping an eye on you’. Doppio sure as heck wasn’t walking back on his own!”

“Kaito,” Shuichi said sternly, “What happened?”

Kaito, reluctantly, explained.

Kokichi was not a fan of trapping someone with their illness, but as Kaito explained…

He was so glad that Doppio was at the castle. 

Kokichi sat down heavily on their bed, a hand over his face in silence for a moment. Being on a ventilator was bad enough--Kokichi could achingly empathize with the dry, chilly discomfort that lingered, even knowing that you were leagues better off having used it, and the fatigue that could knock out a whole day easily--but…being drowned? 

With a small, bracing breath, Kokichi stood up. Looking at Kaito firmly. “...I’m notifying CPS. What’s his address?”

Kaito felt a shiver of fear at that– you could tell people things, but it was bad when it got official, and even though Kaito knew better than that now, that was still what he had been raised to believe– before nodding, telling Kokichi the address. That final nail in the coffin, he asked, “But… what’s going to happen next? I, uh… I told Doppio I wasn’t going to let anything bad happen to him…”

Kokichi sighed and softened his gaze, going over to take one of Kaito’s hands and squeezing it gently. Trying to ease that spike of fear. “One of the CPS agents will…well, probably try to interview you as soon as possible, to officially notate everything you just told us. Then, they’ll talk to Doppio, and get a warrant--which I believe they’ll be approved for--and talk to Seiko, and…then they’ll try to talk to Doppio’s boss. If he complies…it’ll probably go to court, where he’ll plead his case, and…hopefully he’ll be given a sentence, and Doppio can get a restraining order against him. If his boss doesn’t comply?” Kokichi’s eyes darkened a bit. “...he’ll likely end up being arrested.”

“Either way, Doppio is going to be out of his reach,” Kokichi reassured, before something a little sad turned his eyes down. “...it might not be what Doppio sees as ‘not bad’, but…it’ll keep him safe.”

“Right… right… Maki?” Kaito said, watching Maki put her knife away and get up, “Where are you going?”

“Watch the room,” Maki said simply. “If you’re in here talking to us about getting guardsmen involved, then we’ve really only got a small window of opportunity before this guy of yours realizes that you’re going to do something like this and makes a run for it. That’s assuming he hasn’t already woken up long enough for it to occur to him.”

“I told him everything was going to go back to normal in three days,” Kaito said softly.

“And you were lying. And he might realize that,” Maki said, “So I’m going to go watch the room.”

“I’ll stay here with Miyako,” Shuichi sighed, “But I think Maki’s right. I think your timeline needs to be quick, if you’re doing this. The first twelve hours of an operation like this are usually the most fragile of them.”

Kokichi sighed, but…they weren’t wrong. Some kids were too young to really realize what was happening when CPS got involved, he’d learned. And another big portion were thankful to have someone protecting them. 

But Doppio was of the portion who didn’t want protecting, and that made this…difficult. 

“Please be gentle with him, Maki-chan,” Kokichi asked, not expecting Maki to be cruel or rough, necessarily, but finding that he wanted to say it anyway. “Being on a ventilator really sucks, and your chest hurts for ages afterward. Being sick on top of that is gonna be miserable…”

He shook his head with a small sigh, before squeezing Kaito’s hand again. “Would you come with me to the office? It’ll be faster if you can give them your account from the start.”

“Right, we’ll do that,” Kaito said, watching Maki leave with an increased look of concern… before shaking his head to himself. Taking Kokichi’s hand and squeezing back. “Hnn… this is a good thing. He may hate me for it, but it’s more important Doppio’s safe than that he likes the guy who harassed him a couple of times, right?”

It wasn’t fair to ask Kaito what he thought about the people that helped him get away from his own abuse. But… 

Kokichi kissed Kaito’s arm. “I believe his safety is the most important part of this, yeah… But if he’s safe, then…you two can work it out. You’ll have time.” Young himself, Kokichi had the perspective to know that just dismissing Doppio’s emotions now was ridiculous and cruel, but…well, he was young. Time, safety, and healing might get him to a place where he’d be more considering about what Kaito was doing. 

Kokichi could hope, anyway. 

-

To his credit, when Doppio woke up it only took him about two seconds to immediately bring his arms up in a defensive position. Maybe not quick enough to truly save him, but it was pretty fast, and if he were in grave danger, the danger probably wouldn’t have waited around for him to wake up. 

But, anyway…

…where was he?

This…definitely wasn’t home. Or Arven’s house. Doppio…couldn’t recognize a single thing around him. And his chest ached, and his head spun, and…god he was so sweaty…

Sniffling, before stifling a cough, Doppio looked around before lighting up, seeing his notebook nearby. Yesss, answers! Okay, he just had to see what had happened and then he’d be right back on track and--

To do: Go see Arven again :) 

…w-well, that was nice and all, but…

Doppio looked around, a little more concerned with his surroundings. 

Slowly, he shuffled out of the bed he’d been put in--it was pretty comfortable, actually--and…grimacing at himself, he peeled off his sweater, his t-shirt (and pants, he would find) sticking to his pits and chest and lower back, dark with sweat…eugh.

Giving another careful look around, he squinted past the fuzzy heaviness in his head before quietly shuffling to the door, opening it slightly to take a peek outside. 

Maki leaned against the wall on the other side of the hall. Her arms crossed around her chest, face impassive.

“...” she didn’t say. Just staring at him.

“...”

Eyes wide, confused and wary, Doppio stared back at the woman across the hall. 

“...”

“...”

It could’ve continued for a while, had a rougher series of coughs not snuck up on Doppio, forcing him to turn away and hack into his shoulder. 

“You sound sick,” Maki said, “I’d go to bed, if I were you.”

Sniffling something deep and phlegmy, Doppio glanced back at the woman before sighing softly. Fatigue in his eyes. “...who are you? And where is this? Am I in trouble?”

“Maki Harukawa,” Maki said, “I’m a friend of Kaito’s. He said you weren’t feeling well. I thought I’d check in. You feeling any better?”

“Oh!” At that, Doppio’s eyes immediately lit up--as much as they could, hazed with fever and illness. A friend! That meant this was a safe place! So…so no danger, having been asleep, or would be, going back to sleep. Ah, that was a relief--it’d be pretty embarrassing if he’d gotten kidnapped or something and was just chilling out while his captors were preparing for, like…torture, trying to get Passione’s secrets out of him. HA! Fat chance! Aceto Doppio would NEVER squeal!

…he was feeling pretty bad. So…if Kaito…hmmm… Doppio squinting his eyes, trying to piece together what had happened to bring things together like Kaito taking care of him--...he’d been…reading to him?--and bringing him to a safehouse… And…hmmm. 

It was…a substantial length of silence before Doppio looked back up at Maki, startling slightly like he’d forgotten she was there. “Oh, uh… Probably not? I feel kinda like shit,” he said honestly, sniffling again before he gave Maki a worried look. “Hey, uh… Kaito and I talked about sending word to my boss that I was gonna take some sick leave,” he thought, anyway, “But, uh…I forgot, I was sorta…kinda planning on meeting up with someone, er, a-a friend? Kinda soon. Would…”

Doppio glanced around the hall. Still not recognizing anything…or picking up anything that would really…be of much help. “...could I send a message? O-Or, uh…if you could ask Kaito, if he could let Arven know I’m sick? He knows him, it’d make sense.”

“I’ll tell Kaito,” Maki agreed. Not moving. 

Doppio nodded, giving Maki a small, yet genuinely grateful smile. “Thank you, Miss Harukawa.”

“Uhh…” He would leave it at that, but… Doppio glanced back at the room for a moment, before sheepishly looking back at Kaito’s friend. “Um…there are clothes in here? Can I use them? I’m kinda…” He glanced down at his sweat-stained clothes, wrinkling his nose. “...gross.”

Maki’s eyes shifted in slight surprise. Shifting off the wall, she headed over to the room, leaning into Doppio’s space, to peer over his shoulder, peeking into the room… before her expression softened a little. A few different outfits, next to a stockpile of freshly purchased overnight items… yeah. That was Kaito.

“I’m pretty sure Kaito got those for you, for while you’re sick,” Maki said, finally looking closer at Doppio, now that she was next to him. Peering at him, she said, “I know the answer is ‘not good’, but how do you feel? Any sharp pains?”

….mmm. Doppio wasn’t…thrilled, if Kaito had gone out to get him new clothes…but that’s how it was sometimes, with safehouses. And he wasn’t sure who all was using it, but between Kaito and his friend…er, yeah, there wasn’t really anything that would probably fit him. Well…more debt to pay, he supposed. 

Nodding a little at his comprehension, Doppio looked at Maki again in slight surprise…though he probably shouldn’t be, if she was Kaito’s friend. “Uh…hot. Head’s kinda fuzzy and heavy, and my chest feels like I’ve been breathing through a mouthful of snow…”

Sniffling, he gave her a slightly less pleased look. “Look, if he told you about my arm, I’m just gonna cut in--it’s fine, you don’t - “

Doppio cut himself off. Looking down at his bare arm. Because he was only wearing a t-shirt. 

….oops.

Kaito had mentioned the gashes in Doppio’s arm, like someone had sliced at him several times in a fight. Though… hadn’t Kaito said it was on his arms? 

“...” Maki narrowed her eyes slightly. “You should show me the cuts you’re talking about. We want to make sure some of your flu symptoms aren’t infections in disguise.”

Doppio just stared at his forearm. Which was on full display. …look, he knew that it had been dumb to take his sweater off before he had confirmed his safety, but…it was sooo hooooot… It felt like he was baking in his skin, and…c’mon. Give him a break, he was sick. 

“Uh…” Doppio said softly. 

Bringing his arm closer to himself, though just his opposite hand wasn’t nearly enough to cover the foot-long lines of healing skin, Doppio gave Maki an unsure look. “...they’re not open?”

“...” Maki’s mouth scrunched slightly. “Let me get a closer look.”

Maki took Doppio’s wrist, bringing his arm up. There was… some thin scratches. Long healed lines. “Weren’t these recent?”

“Uuno,” Doppio shrugged, staring at Maki with a certain kind of wariness. Not necessarily with notes of anxiety, but just…carefully watching to see how she’d react. What she would do next. Though, he was pliant and obedient in her grasp. 

“...”

Kaito wasn’t an idiot. He wouldn’t look at light scratches and call them ‘gash wounds’. Kaito treated cuts like they were skin-blemishes, little more than temporary acne. But he had talked about Doppio’s like they were signs of a fight of life or death.

….so what the hell was she looking at?

“Well,” Maki said, putting down his arm, glancing at the other one just in case, before stepping back, “What about your chest? Anything feel unusual?”

…ngh. No reaction could either be great, putting him in the clear, or…

…she was Kaito’s friend. So…she wouldn’t hurt him, right? He did appreciate her stepping back away…

Doppio sighed softly, before quickly turning to cough into his arm, clearing his throat with a wince as he finished. “...I mean, it doesn’t feel great, but I’ve never been sick before, so…I dunno. I’m guessing this is how it’s like. Dry, cold, and achy?”

“I’m going to touch you,” Maki said, reaching for Doppio’s face, “Don’t be weird about it.”

Taking his head into her hands, Maki turned his face left, then right. Staring at his skin, his eyes, where his gaze focused… “You’re exhausted. Go to bed,” she said, letting her hands fall and stepping back.

He appreciated the warning, at least. He rarely got those. 

Doppio wasn’t really sure what Maki had done. That…seemed kind of obvious, even if he had just been sleeping--sick people needed a lot of rest, and…well, he had obviously decided not to try and power through and possibly get other people sick, so…he had the time to. But if this was her way of ending the conversation…

He gave her a small nod, leaning more back into the room. “Okay. Um…it was nice to meet you, and please tell Kaito thanks for the clothes ‘n stuff.”

“Will do.” Maki said, nodding, before turning to go lean against the wall again. Leaning back on it, crossing her arms. “Get some rest.”

Giving her a little wave, Doppio shut the door to the room again. 

…

Well…he kind of wanted a shower, since he was very gross, ew, but…he probably shouldn’t tempt not just passing out in it. And…he was kinda hungry… A look out the window (windows were a nice touch, didn’t see those often in safehouses) told him it was firmly evening, so…he probably hadn’t eaten anything since…breakfast. 

Plopping down on the bed Doppio blinked. 

…he’d…made breakfast for Arven that morning, hadn’t he? Pancakes over a kitchen counter…

Sighing, Doppio lethargically changed out his clothes--clean on a dirty body was better than nothing--and crawled back up to curl up on the bed. …Arven had been looking forward to seeing him again… Hopefully he’d understand. Arven was cool, so…probably. 

Maki watched the door for a moment, considering all of that… Why were there no open wounds…? 

-

They didn’t even really discuss it. If Maki, Kaito, and Shuichi could be counted on, as a group, to do one specific thing… it was to keep watch. They had done it so many times, both back in Luminary and in Dicea, that it was second nature to them. Someone was in danger? Whelp. Time to keep watch.

Though, honestly, when Kaito had finished giving his statement, he had been… surprised. And a little alarmed, that nothing more immediately happened. He had been thanked for his time and let go, and Doppio was still… just downstairs. None-the-wiser. Kaito had almost thought it’d be instantaneous.

But it wasn’t, so… they had to keep an eye on Doppio. And make sure everything was okay. And so, when Kaito went to Doppio’s room at dinner, holding two plates, to find Maki still dutifully outside Doppio’s door, he whispered to her, “My turn.”

“Hmm.” Maki said, nodding, “He was up for a little while earlier, really only long enough to ask me some questions and let me check on him. He wanted you to let Arven know he wasn’t going to visit today.”

“Oh? Oh.” Kaito sighed, glancing at the door. “Shoot, well… did you–?”

“I wasn’t sure who Arven was, so no.” Maki shrugged, “And I didn’t want to wander away to figure it out.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll take the blame, say you told me and I just couldn’t find the time,” Kaito said. “I’m gonna try to eat with him, talk to him a bit. I was reading him a book earlier, maybe he’ll want to hear more.”

“You were reading him a book?”

“Yeah, while he was on the ventilator.”

“You’ve gotten too attached too fast, you know that right?” Maki asked dryly.

“Well, what else is new,” Kaito rolled his eyes, “That’s my whole ‘thing’, isn’t it? Literal divine purpose?”

“In theory,” Maki said, “You’re still your own person though, so you could knock it the hell off a little bit… His arm is healed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean the gashes there are long healed. They’re just scratches. Thinning into light scars.”

“...that’s impossible.” Kaito frowned, looking to the door again. “I was borderline ready to sew one of them shut, like, two days ago.”

“They’re healed,” Maki said again.

“...I have no idea what to do with that,” Kaito admitted. “I… I’ll double check them. Not that I don’t trust you!” Kaito hurriedly added, seeing Maki’s eyes narrow, “But… I saw them. They were fresh.”

“I saw them. They weren’t,” Maki said. “You going to stay here for a while?”

“Yeah.”

“Want me to help with Miyako?”

“Just ask the guys, see if they need it… and don’t let Timothy just skim through his chapter tonight. The assigned book they’re reading hasn’t exactly captured his imagination, he keeps just, like, barely reading every other page.”

“He won’t try that on me,” Maki said.

Kaito sighed, “Just, trust me, please? Ask him some questions on it after he’s done, I’m telling ya.”

And with that, balancing the tray, Kaito knocked on the door. “Doppio? You still sleeping?”

There was quiet for a few moments, before a soft groan and some muffled coughs, if Kaito was listening for them. Then…after another moment, a louder thump, like something had been dropped to the floor…

…before, flushed and bleary eyed, Doppio opened the door, giving Kaito a weak smile. “...hey, Kaito.”

Kaito grinned. “Hey! Guess who has food?”

Showing Doppio the tray, he explained, “The kitchen always makes a few different options, so I wasn’t sure what you’d want. So, I got two different things, and whichever one you don’t want, I’m gonna eat, okay? And I don’t have a preference, so don’t worry about that. I am practically famous for being willing to eat anything.” Kaito grinned, winking, “Can’t afford to be picky in the desert, right?”

Not true. Not even kinda true. But Kaito was half making a joke Doppio wouldn’t get anyway, trying to put himself at ease, as he asked, “Can I come in?”

“Oh…thanks,” Doppio said softly, honestly…a little surprised, in a good way. After being told to sleep, he kinda…figured food wouldn’t be in the picture. Sure, a good safe house was always stocked up, but…well, Doppio wasn’t gonna be a snob about it. At least not while people were helping him out of a bad spot. 

Shuffling back to let Kaito in--and leaning against the wall for a moment as the headrush made him sway--Doppio made a small, confused noise. “...didn’t you live in one of the…the most metropolitan, central trade hubs on the continent? I’d think…”

With a sniffling sigh, he just shook his head a little. “...nevermind.” Swallowing, Doppio looked up to give Kaito a thankful look. “Um…thanks for giving me a place to stay while I’m on sick leave. I’m sure you told me, but made for a real confusing time, waking up. Uh…I met your friend, too. She seems…” Doppio’s gaze wandered around the room. “...nice.”

“Boy I sure did!” Kaito grinned a little uneasily, hurrying inside now that Doppio had stepped aside, mostly hurrying because Doppio looked like he was a hard breeze from collapsing. Sitting the tray down on Doppio’s bed, he hurried back to Doppio, saying, “Huge city. Massive. Lots of fruit imports. We love our fruit imports. Who can be a picky eater when you’re surrounded by a variety of fruits?? Hey, let me help you out here. Seiko did say you were gonna need a ton of rest today, but you still look a little too out of it for comfort. Let’s settle you back down on the bed.”

Putting his arm around Doppio’s waist, Kaito grasped an arm to steady him, leading him back to the bed… before his eyes widened. Staring at Doppio’s arm. “...”

“...” Before he continued leading Doppio back, saying brightly, “You mean Maki-roll? She’s my best friend, actually! Mother of my son! My ride or die gal! I love that woman. I only want to punch her in the face sometimes! That’s a joke, me and Maki have a unique relationship. And really, ‘punching’ means actually, like, aggressive dancing these days. Partly because my Maki-roll is very nice, because she super could punch me in the face if she wanted to, but she knows I don’t like it, so she doesn’t! Dancing instead!”

“Alright,” Kaito said brightly, settling Doppio down, “Food time. Then, I probably shouldn’t keep you up much longer, but I did bring that book I was reading to you before with me, just in case.”

Seiko… Seiko? …oh, yeah…he did see a healer. That’s why he was on sick leave--needed, like, a doctor’s note to take sick leave…probably? Doppio had never taken it before, he wasn’t really sure what that looked like. But, well…he wouldn’t be of much use to The Boss like this, and he sure didn’t want to give Boss his cold. 

Doppio hummed softly--or he tried, but it was a little painful when his sinuses were all full of pressure--as Kaito helped him back over to the bed, a little embarrassed that…he kind of needed that help. At least Kaito wasn’t asking about that thump… He had a feeling the guy would enter a new level of fretting if Doppio admitted he’d fallen trying to get to the door. “Mm… She seems quiet. And she’s touchy like you, but at least she warned me before doing anything… That’s pretty nice.”

Letting out a shaky, tired breath as he sat back down on the bed, Doppio nodded before looking at the plates. Hesitating a few moments before picking up something that looked kinda like fried eggplant and rice. “Thanks… Uh…”

Doppio looked down, embarrassed, and it was only because he was already flushed from his fever that he didn’t noticeably blush more. “Um… I told Miss Harukawa, but… Could you let Arven know that I’m not gonna come, er, hang out this weekend? Though…I guess that kinda just means tomorrow, since…today is Saturday?” Eyes squinted, Doppio ruminated on that to himself before shaking his head a little. “But…yeah. We didn’t really make plans or anything, but…”

Doppio frowned, looking truly bothered. “...I don’t wanna make him think I’m just…brushing him off, or something. I just…don’t wanna get him sick too, you know?”

Kaito smiled, honestly feeling a little relieved. Aw, okay, so Doppio hadn’t actually missed any plans. That was alright then… reaching over to lightly rub Doppio’s back, he said, “I’ll tell him, and I still gotta check on him too. I’m sorry I haven’t done it yet, it’s been a busy day. But tomorrow morning, okay? Or…” 

Kaito frowned, thinking of Arven. “...does you boss know where Arven’s house is?”

“You’re telling me…” Doppio sighed, digging into his dinner. It was…really good, actually. He did figure Kaito could cook somewhat, unless he really was just head-empty during those cooking classes, but…well, Doppio was pleasantly surprised. Unless someone else had made the food, but…it wasn’t really something he needed to think that much on. 

Unlike…

Doppio looked up in surprise, before furrowing his brow, trying to think. “...uh… I don’t…think I told him? But he probably does… Boss knows everything. Um…” Doppio tried to think back to when he’d first told The Boss about Arven, and Boss had said it was acceptable to use his home as a safehouse. Uh…he’d mentioned it was close to the castle, right? But Doppio hadn’t…

Looking distinctly more worried and uneasy for a moment, Doppio glanced away, subconsciously putting a hand over the bruise on his face. 

“I’m gonna have someone check in on Arven tonight!” Kaito quickly reassured, reaching over to squeeze Doppio’s shoulder. “Like, now, even. In case he caught the flu! To bring him food and medicine and such… I’ll send someone, I’ll send…”

Kaito faltered a little. Whenever he asked anyone for anything, it was usually for Kokichi. His success rate at getting anyone to follow an order when it was for anything else was… low. Uh… who could he ask that would actually, maybe say yes, and then actually, reliably do it, that wasn’t Maki taking care of Tim or his husbands taking care of the baby…

…maaaaaybe? Lake? Not Katsuki, if it wasn’t for Kokichi, Kaito doubted he’d even find her. Hajime was reliable, errand wise, but also distinctly unreliable, covering for abuse-wise. Ikuo. Ikuo would definitely do it… but Kaito didn’t want to put his father-in-law inbetween a teenager who distrusted authority and a bastard who beat and drowned and cut at kids. Lake then. He’d find and ask Lake.

“If I go send someone to check on Arven now, will you promise to stay in bed and keep eating? It won’t take me long.”

Dropping his hand, Doppio looked up in surprise, before giving Kaito a slow, confused nod. “Uh…yeah, sure? I-I mean…yeah, that’d be good to help him out, if he got sick, but…i-it was kind of a no pressure thing. We saw each other this morning, so I kinda doubt he was, like…” This flush did show up through the sickness. “...waiting around for me.”

Shrugging, Doppio ate another forkful of his dinner, not really having planned to get up if he could help it, at this point.

Yeah, but that was before Kaito had kidnapped Doppio and now Arven was literally the last place the kid’s boss had known he was. Kaito needed to make sure Arven would be safe. “It’d make me feel better, honestly. You know how I get. An idea gets in my head, and suddenly it’s all I can focus on.” Kaito grinned, getting up before gently ruffling Doppio’s hair, frowning lightly at the matted feeling. “You haven’t showered yet, huh…”

If it was Kokichi, Kaito would be immediately insisting he bathe him himself. But, uuuuuuh, his current patient was not, in fact, also his husband. Or even at a Shuichi/Maki level of ‘taking care of sick patient’ levels of intimacy, where Kaito would feel justified bathing them. So… what would probably happen was Kaito would gently insist Doppio bathe to get clean, at some point that night, and just hope Doppio took the advice. 

But! Arven first. Which meant Lake first. “I’ll be right back,” Kaito said, “Eat, rest, regain your strength, everything’s okay. Be right back!”

Kaito hurried off.

♪ He didn’t eat a bite of his food what a waaaaaaste ♩ Amaina huffed, sitting in Kaito’s plate, ♪ you should hide chilly peppers in it as punishment ♩ 

“Yeah,” Doppio said pointedly, but…well. It wasn’t always annoying. Case in point, all this. The…the clothes and safe place to recover and food and… Doppio sighed, looking down. “...yeah. I wanted to shower when I woke up the first time, but I didn’t know where I was, and…then from there, I ran into your friend, and then she just told me to sleep so… I probably will after I eat…or you go.”

He wrinkled his nose. “I’m pretty gross.”

And, maybe the timing would work out, depending on how long Kaito took. So…

Doppio laughed softly, glad that Kaito wouldn’t get to pull an Arven and get grossed out potentially eating angel-food. “Maybe…if I had any. Though, I’d feel kinda bad, since he’s going out of his way to look after me. I’m…really not sure where I would’ve gone on leave. Probably just holed up in my room and hoped none of my germs seeped out.”

Eating a little more, he gave Amaina a soft look. “...com’è? I can’t imagine it was much fun watching me sleep… Did you check in with your boss?”

 ♪ I do lots of things not just look after pretty boys and take care of senpai i rode an elephant ♩ Amaina explained, sounding matter of fact about it, as she stretched her legs out over Kaito’s vegetables, using his sweetbun as a backrest,  ♪ or something like that it had many eyes probably stress ♩

 Glancing at the window, where stars were twinkling out now as the sun finished setting, she said, ♪ This place is nicer than your room ♩

“A many-eyed elephant…” The stress, and elephant, honestly, were…probably metaphorical, right? Stress couldn’t actually give you more eyes. “Sounds pretty wild.”

Chewing thoughtfully, Doppio looked around the room. “...is it? I mean…I think the sheets are nicer, objectively…” It was bigger, for sure, and the furniture looked…more solid. And there was a certain cozy feeling that was missing at home, but… He shrugged, giving Amaina a soft smirk. “Doesn’t have my leaves or rocks, does it?”

Doppio didn’t have many belongings. Kind of the nature of sometimes suddenly having to move very quickly, and not wanting to be tracked down. But every now and then when he saw a particularly cool leaf or interesting rock while he was out…well, it wasn’t leaving a coin trail, was it? And they were small enough, and, well, impermanent enough, in that Doppio never took them with him when they left that…he was pretty comfortable that Boss wouldn’t mind. 

Just…little things to try and make the new place feel a little more like home. Like his, for as long as it was. 

 ♪ we can get more leaves ♩ Amaina said, hopping up on the plate and looking excited,  ♪ we should go pick flowers from trees and feed them to children anything they don’t eat we keep! ♩

Doppio laughed softly, before sharply turning his head to cough into his shoulder. This bout a little rougher than the last, and leaving him slightly breathless by the time he looked back at Amaina, sniffling as he gave her a grin. “I don’t think we’d even have to convince kids much--I’m pretty sure I saw a group just eating dirt, the other day.”

Sniffling again, Doppio laid his half-empty plate to the side as he laid back against the--quite plush, he had to say--pillows, groaning softly. “...ugh. Being sick sucks.”

Amaina pouted, mostly because Doppio looked tired, which wasn’t fun. Crawling out of Kaito’s plate, she then bounced her way across the mattress, before settling next to Doppio. Patting him on the nose, she asked  ♪ there there… should I try to send it away? ♩ making the ‘shoo away’ motions with her hands.

It was a sincere question. She had managed to close up injuries before with the ‘spell’, but she wasn’t sure if it’d work on illnesses.

Doppio gave il angioletto an affectionate look, giving her a pat on the head. “I appreciate it, but…I dunno if it works that way, Angelo. Think being sick is a bit different from being injured.”

More than a bit, and now having been sick? Doppio knew that for sure. And…honestly, he’d take being injured almost every time. He could still work while he was injured, and right now… It felt like a weird, fluctuating status with the worst parts of blood loss and shock, only with a lot more coughing and goo in his head that he kept sniffling. Probably only less gross than an injury by the fact that blood really was a bitch to clean…

…but it was super gross. 

Doppio looked over at the other door in the room before sighing, dragging himself back up. “...should probably get a shower in, before Kaito comes back, huh?”

Amaina spun around, now wearing a tiny towel, her hair up in a loose bun, holding a small rubber ducky and a tiny wooden sponge brush,  ♪ WE SHALL BE CLEEEAAAN ♩

-

Kaito honestly got lucky, which he appreciated. Sometimes his trips of looking for someone specifically around the castle felt awkward. It almost never happened anymore, but in the back of Kaito’s mind he still knew he made some people nervous… or, had made people nervous. Again, it really did seem to genuinely be going away almost entirely, in the castle itself. People either acting impassively to him, or sometimes even, like… friendly! In an overt way, smiling at him in a way that made Kaito briefly worry that he knew the person and had forgotten.

But, no, his reputation around the castle was just… getting better. Which, great! But Kaito still worried about doing anything that took him a step backwards, made people nervous or frustrated with him again, and running around talking to people felt like tempting fate.

He was finally getting to the point where he was aware that maybe he didn’t have to worry about that, anymore… but he still hadn’t quite internalized that feeling yet. Progress though! 

Spotting Lake in the entrance hall, talking to a small group of visitors about something– he got the sense she was giving directions and had gotten caught up chatting from it– he idly wondered if Lake knew the feeling he was talking about. That fear of stepping backwards and making people afraid again. No doubt Nazumi did, but, like… Lake had been just a child. Kaito couldn’t imagine anyone being cruel enough to treat her poorly. 

(Ha. Well, okay, he could imagine it. But like with everything in Kaito’s mind, the rules were always a little bit different for him. And he rarely noticed the hypocrisy in that thinking unless it was pointed out to him.)

When the visitors gave Lake a wave and moved on, Kaito quickly hurried over. “Lake! Hey, can I grab you for a second?”

Lake lit up, giving Kaito a bright grin as he came up to her. “Hey, Kai-guy!! How’s it goin’? ‘Course, I have all the time in the world for ya!”

Lake was off-duty, at the moment, and not even just off. She’d had a morning shift, had gone back home to do some housekeeping and chores, but, well…unless Kokichi specifically said he was planning on staying home, Nazumi tended to stay around the castle all day. And there was something to cooking at home, but, uh, Lake had partially grown up with castle food, and it was a lot more fun eating with Nazumi and dozens of other people, than alone at home. So! She’d come back for dinner, and…had just been hanging around a bit. 

So she really did have plenty of time for whatever Kaito needed. 

Clapping him on the shoulder, Lake let out a loud hum. “Ah, school started back up this week, huh. Kids mourning their free time, or excited to be back? Man, I always hated when the term started again, but now I can’t wait for the yearly guard seminars! Maybe I’ll get to see your crew this year!”

Kaito grinned a little at the shoulder clasp, warmed by it. “The kids are back in school, yeah. They hate it in the morning but really don’t seem to mind in the afternoon. They got invited to a birthday party! It’s gonna be Tim’s first, like, non-military kid party, and I think he’s excited. In his ‘Tim’ way, you know how it is.”

“Though, actually, speaking of kids?” Kaito said, rubbing the back of his neck a little, “Could I ask your help with something I’m managing with these two teens that I’m… kind of? Looking after? Um… it’s me sticking my foot in things that aren’t my business again, really, but the foot is in! So! ... Sorry, I’m trying to work out how to word this.” Kaito realized, frowning a bit, “I’ve got this kid, Arven, right? Fifteen, something like that. I’m worried about him. I’ve got this other kid…”

Kaito suddenly looked around, a spark of paranoia running through him. “...hey, can we step aside to a corner? It might not be wise to throw his name around in the open right now.”

“Really?! Aw, that’s exciting,” Lake laughed, very much knowing how it was with Tim-excitement. She’d spent a very sulky afternoon icing her shoulder from over-extension the first time she’d gone to demonstrate violence-reduction fighting techniques to Kaito’s little class, having gone a little too far trying to impress Ol Stone Faced Timothy. “That’s great. Especially at their age, inviting the whole class is kinda, yanno? It’s a great way to start out the school year and meet some of the new kids, though. I hope they have a blast.”

Lake gave Kaito a curious look at his actual request…or, the build-up to the request, at least. Kaito was Dad Guy Extraordinaire, so it wasn’t so surprising he had gotten himself involved with some sticky stuff, but…

Nodding and looping her arm around his shoulders, guiding Kaito over to a more private offshoot than the middle of the entrance hall, Lake closed her eyes, giving some deep hums. “Arven… That’s a familiar name. Arven, Arven…”

She peeked her good eye open, gesturing with her other hand. “Ash blond-brunette, fluffy hair? Bright teal eye? That Arven?”

Kaito lit up, nodding as he put his hand up to his lower chest. “Little gut-puncher build, broad shouldered? Yeah, that’s him! He’s really smart, he did all these amazing things with herbs that I really want to push him into showing off to the school… but!”

Kaito looked around again, before lowering his voice still, even in the offshoot, leaning in towards her. “He’s friends with this other kid, Doppio. I’d be genuinely surprised if you knew him. Roughly the size of Arven, though Doppio’s kind of a stick of a thing, and…” Kaito winced a little. “It’s my fault, really. Doppio was looking tired, and he lives way too far walking distance, so I insisted he spend the night with Arven the other night? But, like, today I realized the person Doppio’s living with? Is dangerous. Like, really dangerous. So I’m sorta, uh… Kokichi got a program involved, what are they called… CPS? We got them involved, and we have Doppio here, but I’m worried the guy he lives with is gonna come looking for him. And I’m worried he’s gonna check Arven’s place for him too.”

“So!” Kaito grinned warily, “Do you think you could check in on Arven for me? I have his address. The kid lives alone, basically; if this bastard comes to his place looking for Doppio, I don’t think the kid would be able to defend himself. Could you help?”

Lake let out a deep laugh. “Aw, he filled out? Hell yeah, little guy--honestly haven’t really seen him around since…sheesh, if he’s 15 now? Middle of middle school, then. Glad to hear he’s kicking butt!”

Lake was truly happy to hear that--she did try to remember most of the kids she spoke to through the school presentations, and it was always a joy to see ‘em grow up--but as Kaito continued… It wasn’t like a switch. It was calmer than that. Lake’s grin fading, her expression becoming serious, without becoming severe. Just a type of grave knowledge that…as goofy and over-the-top as Lake could be, did show why she was the kind of guard people relied on. 

Sighing softly, she crossed her arms, thinking. “...okay. If you got CPS involved…that’s good. And if Doppio is out of harm’s way…” She locked eyes with Kaito. “I’ll help. Does Arven know about Doppio’s situation?”

After a moment, there was a slight questioning twitch to her eyebrows, but…later. Not the priority. She…vaguely remembered something like Arven’s mom being away on some science expedition…but, like she said, that was years ago. …how…regularly was she away, for Kaito to say the kid lived alone?

Kaito felt notably relieved, as he watched Lake’s expression steady. A part of him had been more than mildly worried he’d be told off for getting so involved, but… well, actually? Maybe he should have expected her to take something like this at face value. Who would know better than her, how desperate a situation like this could get?

Shaking his head, he said, “No, and I wasn’t sure if we should tell him either. Doppio really likes this guy, and I’d hate to make their relationship more complicated by putting Arven in a position where, like… well, you know.” Kaito shrugged, looking tired. “If he’s like me, he’ll feel some obligation to take action. And that can make a relationship hard to maintain. Doppio’s probably gonna be pissed at me the second he realizes I got other people involved, I don’t want to give him any reasons to feel betrayed by Arven either.” 

“...am I overthinking it?” Kaito frowned, suddenly feeling self conscious. “...I know I didn’t want people to know things when I was a kid… maybe that’s not universal though. Brainwashing and all that.”

Lake hummed a low note, but her expression did soften a bit in the face of Kaito’s own vulnerability, and she gave him a pat on the shoulder. “It’s not just you. When I was a kid…I didn’t tell folks a damn thing,” she grimaced. 

“I was embarrassed, like it was my fault my parents were monsters. And I didn’t think anyone would believe me, so, like…why bother, you know?” She gave him a sympathetic shrug. “Why open myself up to that ridicule if it wasn’t even going to help? But, at the same time?”

Lake let out a sigh, and a grim, soft chuckle. “...I wished all the damn time for someone to come save me. That someone would just magically know, without me saying anything, or them coming to spy on the house or somethin’... And even then I felt worse for hoping for that, because why would I deserve to be saved if I was just letting it happen? If I wasn’t trying to save myself, then why would someone reward me?”

She shook her head a little, letting out a breath. “...it’s rough, being in that position. But…at the end of it all? The embarrassment would’ve been worth it, to get out. My insecurities were things I’d outgrow--my safety isn’t.”

Running a hand through her hair, Lake’s mouth pulled into a hard line. “...if Arven’s gonna be in danger, being targeted or stalked by Doppio’s trouble…I want to tell him. I can look out for him, and I’m sure as hell not gonna let any creepo get near him, but…if there’s danger, he should be aware of it.”

Kaito’s eyes grew a little wide, listening to Lake talk about it. A part of him felt drawn to her, in that moment. He wished he could just sit down and talk to her about it at length, maybe drag Waku into it too, just… sit and talk to people whose parents hated them. People who’d understand…

But now wasn’t the time. Doppio and Arven took precedence. Maybe someday he could ask Lake to sit down with a beer with him and just chat about it all, but it was one of those moments where they both had to be the people that they wished had been around as kids.

So, Kaito nodded, “If you want to make that judgment call, I’ll back you up. Here, hold on, Arven can be a little dismissive of authority, let me give you a note to pass to him, prove I actually sent you.” Kaito said, patting his pockets and pulling out a paper and pen, “Here. Thank you, Lake. I appreciate you stepping up like this.”

“Oh!” Kaito said, “And, the kid might be sick? Doppio’s got a flu or something on top of everything else, and like I said, Arven basically lives alone. So maybe check on that too?”

Lake gave Kaito an accepting look, feeling a little proud, honestly. From some of the stuff Kokichi had mentioned about his husband…Luminaries were weird about secrets, man. Lake wasn’t sure if Kaito would’ve insisted on keeping Doppio’s situation a secret from Arven, for all the reasons he mentioned. But, him accepting her judgement… Aw, look at ‘im go! Go, Kaito!

“Hey, if I can’t help out a couple of kids in a rough spot, what kind of hero would I be, yeah?” Lake grinned, saving her back pat for after Kaito had pulled the pen away from the paper. 

Though, she blinked, giving Kaito a determined look as she took the note. “Shit, really? That’s rough…but you can count on me! I…” She looked around for a moment before giving a little determined full-body bob. “Have things to buy before I head over! Give my health well-wishes to Dippin-Dots, and let him know that some busybody guard says that as scary as it feels now, things really do get better!”

Holding a hand up, almost threateningly in her zeal, Lake bared her teeth in a wide, intense grin. “Up top!! We’re gonna take care of some kids!”

Oh.

Another hunter.

… cool~

Feeling loads better about all of this, trusting Lake to handle Arven’s end of it, Kaito grinned fiercely and nodded, returning the high five. Hell yeah, they were.

-

It had only taken about half an hour, really. Lake getting cold medicine and a new thermos to pilfer some of the chicken soup that had been at dinner--and a few rolls for good measure, wrapped and kept warm in a napkin--and…well, since she had been at a pharmacy anyway, she got a cold compress, tissues, and some juice bottles (variety of grape, orange, and apple) and, well, she sorta remembered that Arven had had some big, bulky dog with him, so she picked up some jerky treats…

All fit in one bag, at least!

So, it wasn’t long before Lake was knocking cheerily at the address Kaito had given her, looking around the tended yard as she waited. 

…no one else paying attention to the house. No one lingering oddly on the street… Okay. 

There was loud barking, immediately. 

“That’s right, Chief,” Arven muttered into his pillows, eyes caked shut with sleep, drool on his chin, “Get ‘em. Knock ‘em out.”

But, when the door knocked again– so not someone doing some sort of door to door signature thing then– Arven grumbled, pushing himself up and, putting on some sweatpants, shuffling to the door, where Chief was valiantly barking. “Good boy… alright, ol’ guy, get out of my way so I can open it. Scoot, scoot…”

Arven squinted as he opened the door, taking a second but, “...Guardsman Lake?”

“Hiya, Arven!” Lake cheered, waving a little bit. “Sorry for the impromptu drop-in, but I’m passin’ on a message!” With a small flourish, she offered up the note Kaito had given her. 

“Ran into my brother-in-law, and hooo boy things are shakin’ today! Apparently your buddy’s caught the flu, and he told Kaito to tell me to tell you that Doppio’s not gonna be by. And also, to tell you that you might be exposed to the flu, so I brought a battle pack for ya!” She raised the bag, indicating it to Arven. 

“...also,” she said more softly, giving him a more serious smile, “I dunno how much Kai-guy wanted to broach it in the note, but…could I talk with ya, for a sec?”

“Prince Kaito is your brother-in-law?” Arven murmured, taking the note and reading it for a bit, blinking some of the bleary out of his eyes, before wiping his nose with his bicep, “...yeah, this sounds like him. Really?” Arven said, rolling his eyes a little, groaning a little, “I have a cold, so he sends the guards to check on me? Luminary royalty is so weird. Sorry he wasted your time, I’m— I’m…”

Arven blinked once, twice, his face scrunching… “ACH-OO!”

Sneezing all over the note, Arven wrinkled his nose lightly, glaring at the snot littering the page now, before looking up at Lake. “I’m good. I can handle a cold, I don’t need a babysitter.”

Arven’s expression softened a little, though, as he said, “Man, Doppio’s sick too though, huh? I hope he’s not trying to work while he’s sick. That guy would try to work if he was on fire, I’m pretty sure. If Kaito’s going to be weird and intrusive, at least he might get Doppio to rest.”

Squinting at the note, Arven said, “He just says that I can trust you. Which, duh… sure, you can come in.” Arven said, stepping aside to let her in, “I can… make tea?” He sniffled. 

“This is a family favor, rather than work,” Lake chuckled, before puffing her chest with pride. “Spiritually he is! Koco-Kichi has been like a little brother to me his whole life, so I get the benefit now of getting a whole crew of in-laws. It’s great! Bunch of little siblings and a little niece to fawn over.”

Feeling validated for her shopping spree--he was sick! That sucked!--Lake reached into the bag and offered Arven a pack of tissues after his sneeze, giving him a light-hearted, yet sympathetic look. “I believe ya, but I did already buy all these.” And…it wasn’t the main reason she was there. 

“I don’t think your bud is workin’,” Lake hummed, a vague worry in her eyes flashing for a moment. “Kai-guy said he was at the castle, so…unless he’s lookin’ for another part-time, I think he’s just resting.”

Coming into the house, giving Chief a fond look--big dog, hell yeah--Lake waved Arven off lightly. “Nah, I appreciate it, but I’m not gonna make you play surprise host when you’re sick. Did bring over some soup, though, if you were feelin’ like eatin’ or anything.”

As they settled, Lake looked at Arven for a moment before sighing, giving him a serious look. “...Kaito said he wasn’t sure how much you knew, but…you close to Doppio? Like…know about his situation and all?”

“I mean… not gonna turn down someone else making food. Means I don’t have to make anything today.” Arven shrugged, taking the tissues and snorting into it.

“The memory stuff? Yeah, I know.” Arven sniffled, shuffling over to the kitchen counter, sitting down as he warily watched Lake. “If he’s forgotten something, he just needs that journal of his. It’s how he keeps track of stuff. Why, did he forget something?”

Lake blinked in surprise but…well, that wasn’t her job, here. Hopefully Kaito and CPS were sorting that out, for however much of it needed to be sorted out. 

“Uh, no,” Lake shook her head, before regarding Arven again. Her voice gentle, but factual, not patronizing but not callous. “Kaito told me he contacted CPS about your friend today. And he’s worried that the guy hurting Doppio might come after you, since you guys were hanging out. Like I said…Doppio’s at the castle right now, so he’s out of harm's way, but we didn’t want to leave you without backup.”

“Have any strangers tried to contact you today? Anyone lingering around your home, you’ve noticed?”

Arven’s eyes widened. A shock of alarm running through him. “Child protective services!? Why!?”

Arven narrowed his eyes slightly, as he said, “Doppio isn’t, like, a runaway or anything like that. He works, he has a place to live… he’s basically independent. Why did Kaito…”

Raising an eyebrow, surprised at Lake’s question, he shrugged uncertainly. “I don’t know. Not that I’ve noticed? I’ve been basically sleeping all day… wait, is this about the cuts?” Arven asked, understanding lighting his face, “Did you guys find out who attacked him?”

Cuts? Geez, Lake hadn’t asked for details, since she knew how sensitive cases like this could be but…damn. Damn. He could’ve given her a little more so she could explain things to Arven better. 

Nodding, not refuting Doppio’s living status (it wasn’t that kind of case, from the little she knew) and that Arven hadn’t seen anything (as soon as she saw he was sick, she’d doubted it), Lake paused in surprise before she sighed. “Honestly? I don’t know. I didn’t ask for details about Kaito’s report because…it’s not my business, you know? I’m not gonna demand that your friend tell me his whole life story ‘cause I’m worried. He has people on the case now, so I’m trusting in that.”

“But,” she conceded, tilting her head a little, “Kaito told me that the guy Doppio’s living with is dangerous. Very dangerous. And…after knowing my brother-in-law for the past year and change? He’s not gonna call someone being a little strict dangerous.” 

She didn’t want to scare Arven, but… Sighing, Lake gave him a gentle look. “He means, like, ‘life in danger’ dangerous. So, that’s what CPS is investigating. And that’s why I’m here, to make sure you’re not put into danger either.”

Arven’s brow furrowed. Doppio’s life was in danger? That… was scary, but Arven knew he wasn’t quite actually feeling that fear yet. He had just seen Doppio yesterday (that morning), how was… his life in danger?

…hopefully Amaina was looking after him. 

Frowning, grasping his hands into fists, Arven said, “If someone is gonna come here to find Doppio, then I hope they do come. I– ACHOO!” Arven’s head violently rocked forward, briefly choking on his snot before blowing his nose again… before growling, “I-I can take them! I know how to swing around a mean shovel!”

Grinning, Lake held up a fist, pumping it in the air with a strong motion. “That’s the spirit! Home protection to the max! Giving the underrated shovel some rep too!”

“But,” she said a little more calmly, “I know I’d feel a lot better if you had back-up nearby. Other than your doggy bud, of course,” Lake nodded to the mastiff sitting patiently, looking at the bag. What a nose on that guy! Smelling treats from a mile away!

Looking at the teen, she huffed a small laugh. “...man, you really have grown up a lot. Surprises me every time, when I meet the same classes again. Kaito did say you were a bruiser, but it’s crazy what a few years do.”

“Alright, so what’d be most comfortable for ya, Arven? I could ask extra patrols goin’ nearby… Won’t ask ya to host, ‘cause that’s a little yikes out of the blue,” she shared a chuckling grimace with him, “But…I could stay nearby, if ya wanted someone with a name you know. Just in case.”

Arven brushed his fingers through his bangs, lightly pushing them further over his eye as he looked a little flustered at that. Was he? Getting bigger? Honestly, Arven sometimes felt a little insecure that he wasn’t bigger by now. A few of his classmates had started shooting up since last year. Arven was just getting wider, it felt like.

Though, asking how she could help him? He… wasn’t sure. The question made him feel a little uncertain and embarrassed, actually. He wasn’t used to thinking about how others could help him. So, shrugging, he muttered, “ ‘dunno. Whichever is easier? Is it just for tonight?”

“Most likely, though we’d--Kai-guy an’ me, I mean--keep you up to date about the situation,” Lake explained. “If I know CPS like I do? They’re prolly gonna try and detain the guy tomorrow, so…if he’s detained or arrested, no more danger for you.”

Crossing her arms, Lake thought about it for a moment…but who was she kidding? She knew which option she was gonna take, she was just trying not to barrel through Arven’s boundaries. “Right, I’ll stay nearby, then. I’ve been tryin’ to brainstorm somethin’ new and pastry-like anyway; time to go snoop around the cafes here.”

Giving a laugh--only not booming to be respectful of any sort of cold-induced headache the kid might have--Lake gave Arven a kind look. “Well, I don’t wanna keep you up and hostin’ too late. Is there anything else I can get you? You can take care of yourself, but…man, it sucks being sick by yourself. I’m such a little baby about it myself, honestly--my roommate says I’m insufferable. But~” Lake grinned with a cheeky look, “She keeps making me tea, so I think I’m at least a little sufferable.”

“Sure, you can do that. Not going to stop you.” Arven sniffed. Blinking blearily at Lake… before tilting his head a little. A thought poking through his feverish brain, hearing Lake refer to a ‘roommate’. “We’re talking about Doppio’s boss, aren’t we. The guy getting arrested? Huh…”

Doing his best to give Lake a stern look– Arven was not aware his young face still hadn’t quite mastered ‘cool and aloof’-- Arven said, “Doppio’s not gonna be cool with that. Where is he, anyway? I should… sniff… I should go be there for him, or something. I don’t know. Is he safe?”

Boss? Doppio lived with his boss? Uuuuuuuuoh, Kaito, what did you stumble upon…

Lake sighed, she gave Arven a cool look back. Not unsympathetic, but…just the wisdom of an adult. “And I don’t think any of us are cool with him being hurt and endangered.”

“He’s staying at the castle, right now--Kai-guy got him set up.” She could assume, anyway. No way Kaito would be bringing a sick teenager around his immuno-compromised husband and four month-old baby. “He’s safe… And, yanno? I think he’d really appreciate you being there for him. Even if they’re doing good work? It’s scary, getting involved with a CPS investigation.”

“But,” she stressed a little, “It’s already late, and you’re both sick. Why don’t you take the night to rest, so he can too, and then if you’re feeling up to it, I can walk you to the castle? I’d be heading there anyway, so it’s no detour for me.”

…sniff. Sniff. “Yeah, alright.” Arven sighed, nodding, “But if you try to sneak out of it, I’m just gonna go ask the prince himself. The Luminary is a flighty weirdo. He doesn’t strike me as someone who can keep a secret.”

Lake let out a hearty laugh. “He really can’t, bud. But don’t worry--I’d get cold shouldered for the next year if he heard I flaked out on ya. Guy takes his promises seriously, yanno? Okay, I’ll check on ya in the morning, then.”

…maybe bring over more tissues. And, well…if he wasn’t doing better, and still insisted on going to the castle…there were a bunch of healers there. Better than holing up in his house alone. 

-

Something…strange had gone through Doppio’s stomach, when he considered drawing a bath. At first, he thought his nausea had returned, but he didn’t feel any of the heaving pulls that came along with it, normally. It was just…uneasy. 

…so he decided to take a shower. 

And that had been good! He honestly preferred showers pretty much all of the time! But, uh… Partway through, he had gotten…really dizzy and light-headed, and his limbs had started to feel like rubber, and…

Doppio coughed, groaning as he laid his head on the side of the tub, curled up under the shower spray. The steaming hot shower spray, because for how uncomfortably warm he’d been all day? The second he got into the shower he was freezing. What kind of bullshit…

“Doppio?” Kaito called out, looking around, hearing the shower going, “Hey, I’m back! I sent someone to check on Arven, she should be there soon.”

Sitting down on the bed, Kaito started to eat his food… before frowning. Doppio was taking a shower with a fever? He was feeling strong enough for that? 

“...you good in there, kid!?” Kaito called out.

Oh great… So much for perfect timing…damn. 

That meant time to get out of the shower, then. Okay, just…hup! Let’s do it! No biggie! Just! 

Doppio groaned out…some sort of affirmative, before the sound of the shower turned off, and there were several thumps from behind the door. And…eventually it opened, all bare skin on Doppio’s body flushed a deep pink as his hair stuck to his cheeks and shoulders, some parts of the pajamas he’d changed into sticking to him too, Doppio just not having the patience (or energy) to dry off completely, making Kaito wait longer. 

Clinging heavily to the doorframe, Doppio…didn’t move. Breathing a little heavily as he tried to focus in on Kaito’s image. 

“Oh, whoops, okay. Hold tight there, kid,” Kaito said, recognizing a body when it’s borderline about to collapse. Getting up, he hurried over, catching Doppio around the waist, raising an eyebrow at how wet he still was. “Allllright. Alright. Come here, come here. Let’s sit down… ya know what? Wait here, alright?” Kaito said, after helping Doppio sit down on the bed.

Hurrying into the bathroom, Kaito grabbed a dry towel, before heading back out. Grinning at Doppio, he said, “Let’s do a better job at this, yeah? Bear with me, I’m gonna dry your hair first. Sorry if it feels like you’re in a tornado.”

Putting the towel on Doppio’s head, Kaito started ruffling Doppio’s hair with the towel, running it through Doppio’s hair, grinning down at him as he did, “Can you hear me in there, kid? You doing alright?” 

“Nnmmmrg,” groaned Doppio, though…it was easier with Kaito supporting him. What was easier? …uh…everything. 

He barely had the relief of sitting back on the bed--though true relief would be letting himself flop down onto it again--before Kaito was back (he’d left?) and… Doppio stiffened, his breath catching a bit as he tried to brace himself. However, he didn’t have the energy to do that long-term, and before long just had to endure…

…being toweled down? What…?

Doppio squinted at Kaito through the breaks in the towel, making a questioning sound before he sighed. “...s’cold. ‘N I got dizzy in the shower…”

“Cold? Alright. Did you take the medicine yet?” Kaito asked, glancing over at the tablet packet Seiko had given them, before huffing, “No, is the answer to that. Alright. I’ll dissolve those in some water for you, that should help with the cold and dizziness. Let’s just get you dry first and… Doppio, man, you really put on pajamas still basically wet?”

Kaito tsked, shaking his head, as he wiped down Doppio’s neck next, then his arms. “I’m gonna turn on the fire, alright? And you’re gonna sit in front of it while you sip, let you dry these clothes a bit, warm up.”

Kneeling down, Kaito took Doppio’s feet next, wiping them down, drying his legs a little better, before tossing the towel aside. “Okay, tablet first, then fire.”

He said this like he was half-talking to himself, more than anything. In full caretaker mode, as he grabbed Doppio’s cup, bringing it over to the bathroom, cleaning it out and filling it with water, before going to the tablets. Taking some out, before crushing them a little, dropping them into the water. Watching it dissolve for a moment, Kaito handed Doppio the cup, before murmuring, “Fire next, Kaito. Let’s get him warm…” Before starting to work on that.

…medicine? Was he supposed to…

Doppio made a displeased sound. “Did use the towel… Just… kept falling over…” he mumbled, pliant as Kaito toweled him down for a more proper session. And…it was bad, if you were called, and you delayed too long. Made people pissed, caused trouble…got people hurt. It had been taking too long so…he’d just thrown clothes on, as best he could. 

Blinking tiredly, it seemed like barely a second before Kaito was handing him the cup, and… Doppio frowned more. “...not supposed to do drugs.”

“Not supposed to do drugs…” Kaito echoed, as he lit the fire, closing up the gating, before taking a look around. Pushing the armchairs closer to it, Kaito went back to the bed, frowning a little. “...I feel like Seiko would have asked if it was gonna be an issue, but… are you allergic?”

“Also, keep a good grip on that cup. If you’re falling over a bunch? I’m just gonna do this,” Kaito said, putting his arm around Doppio’s back, and then under his knees. “Got the cup? Okay, and… up we go.” 

Picking up Doppio, Kaito brought him over to the armchair, sitting him down, giving him a look over, before pushing the chair closer to the fire. “Alright, that should help. Gotta keep an eye on the temperature though, don’t want you to overheat…”

Kaito put his hand on Doppio’s forehead, getting a baseline– the fever was still going strong. Not surprising– before stepping back. ”Why can’t you take drugs?”

Doppio made a surprised, wary little sound as Kaito scooped him up and…uh… It was a lot more successful than Arven’s attempt had been. Um. Hm. It was…

(...kind of nice. Being held.)

But he’d rather it wasn’t because he couldn’t stand straight. 

Semi-melting into the chair he was placed in, Doppio closed his eyes as Kaito put a hand on his forehead--it felt like a cool glass of lemonade…that was somehow refreshing, even when the rest of him felt wracked with shivers--before sighing, looking petulantly at the glass in his hand. “Don’t think I’m allergic to anything… Just can’t take any drugs but caffeine or alcohol, though. Boss said it was pathetic ‘n it’d ruin my life…”

Looking to the side, Doppio softly admitted, “...took painkillers Arven gave me yesterday, though.”

“Ah. Boss said no, huh?” Kaito said, squeezing the back of the arm chair for a moment, his grip tight… before he leaned over, peering down at Doppio pleasantly. “Ruin your life, huh? Kid, is it possible he meant recreational drugs? Like, things that make you see pretty colors and spaces you out and stuff? That sort of thing?”

“Because if that’s what he meant, he’s totally right! Drugs can ruin your life, if you’re not careful or not suited for them. But, stuff like this? Medicine? Probably not actually what he meant. This stuff will make your brain more efficient, not less.”

Doppio’s eyebrows pinched in a little before he nodded lightly. “Asked…um… I asked him what the deal with fentanyl was, ‘n… Well, he said a bunch of stuff, but…biggest thing was that ‘m not allowed to touch drugs. Said I had too much potential to waste it on…” Doppio looked to the side, deciding to ad-lib that part a little, “...crap like that.”

He still sent a wary look to the cup, before looking up at Kaito. Looking for direction. “...it’s gonna make my cold go away faster?”

“It is,” Kaito said, nodding. “Specifically? It’s going to lower your fever, clear your sinuses a little, and help some of the muscle ache. That’s all going to let you eat better and rest more, and that is going to make your cold go away faster. Medicine to help the symptoms. Choices to help the body. Both those things, together, with time and… well, a little bit of luck, but with a flu luck is on your side,” Kaito grinned, reaching down to ruffle Doppio’s hair a little, “Then you’re gonna be better in no time.”

“Luck usually isn’t on my side,” Doppio mumbled, but… He sighed. Was there any point to resisting anything anymore? He had already gone to a healer, was already taking sick leave… Of course he would object to anything clearly horrible, but…the small hills to die on? Seemed a little redundant at this point….

Curling up sideways in the chair, and resting his head against the back, Doppio sipped at the medicine-infused water. About halfway through he blinked, giving Kaito a questioning look. “...you said you asked someone to check on Arven?”

“Thank youuuu.” Kaito grinned, feeling warm as Doppio finally started drinking. Good. That’d help. Now to just keep an eye on him. “I did! I sent my, uh, my sister. We can trust her, she’ll take care of him. She’s like me. Likes kids, friendly, kind of a busybody, kind of a weirdo.”

“But that’s alright. I don’t think you can be like us without also being kind of abrasive and weird. She’s gonna help Arven out, no matter what. I’m sure of it.” Kaito mused, staring at the fire, “Even if he’s mean and salty about it. That’s, like, literally half of it honestly. Can ya get past the salt? Alright, cool, you can help.” 

Chuckling, Kaito went to go pick up his plate, going to sit in the opposite armchair with a small, satisfied sigh. “Ah, the fire’s already feeling nice… tell me if you feel like the heat’s starting to suffocate, Doppio, I’ll bring your chair back farther. We just want you dry, okay?”

“Sister?” It was a question, but not one Doppio felt that much of a pressing need to have answered. As far as he knew, Kaito had only immigrated with his husband and…that woman he had met before, he supposed, but it wasn’t like Doppio had been reading all the papers and keeping up with all the gossip. 

Kaito had a weird sister, sure. 

And…well…Kaito wasn’t half bad at looking after people. If he said his sister could give Arven a hand? Then…Doppio would let himself stop worrying about it. …even if he would feel like garbage if he found out he did indeed get Arven sick. 

Nodding a bit at the fire instructions, Doppio sipped through the rest of the glass before idly looking around the room. Thinking about his conversation with Amaina from before. “...it’s pretty nice here. How…um…”

…Doppio started to look distinctly worried, right then. Chewing on his lip as he shifted in the chair. Maki hadn’t told him where he was, when he asked, and…well, technically all he really needed to know was that he was in a safehouse, and that was that. Really, it was better the less he knew. But…

Bracing himself, he asked, “...where…is this?”

Kaito, literally halfway through a bite, digging into his food– long cold, but whatever– stopped with his food in his mouth, staring at Doppio… before starting to chew again. Humming to himself a bit. “Hmmm…”

Swallowing, Kaito asked, “Before waking up here, what’s the last thing you remember?”

…the chair seemed heavy. But there was nothing Doppio could really…do, about that. Or the fire… But he could put the glass more out of reach. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad, if he didn’t have to worry about glass shards getting anywhere. 

Very carefully, Doppio reached down to put the glass down, subtly trying to nudge it farther away as he tried to answer promptly. “Uh… Um… You…were reading to me, right? I…guess, at the healer’s?”

“Ah, okay,” Kaito nodded, taking another bite, “You haven’t missed much then. I basically bullied you into coming home with me. I wanted to be able to keep an eye on you. You had me worried, Doppio.”

Kaito glanced at the glass, watching Doppio push it away from himself in a way that was a little unnatural. In any other situation, he probably wouldn’t have thought anything about it, but… it brought back a memory. Of being much smaller, kneeling on the floor, listening to Byakuya get angrier and angrier, getting frustrated as Tengan gave him logic puzzles that he couldn’t figure out, berated policy concepts that Byakuya was playing with. Kaito increasingly aware that the more angry Byakuya got, the worse things potentially were about to get.

And, subtly, trying to move himself away from objects that could be used on his back… like maybe if it wasn’t close enough, Byakuya wouldn’t get the idea…

Kaito’s grin was soft. A little sheepish. “Do I make you nervous, Doppio?”

Home? That…was barely more of an answer than Maki had given him. Home could mean anything, really. Doppio called the house that he and The Boss had taken up base in Usott in ‘home’ all the time, though they had only been living there for…a little while. So…so was this just…a less angry way to make him stop asking? Or a test? Or…

The look Doppio gave Kaito was very nervous. “...I’ll stop asking, if that’s what the point was. I-I was just curious, it wasn’t, like…like I’m trying to get information, or anything. A-and I can keep my eyes closed when I leave, if that helps!”

“No, man, that’s not the point,” Kaito said softly, something sad settling in him, looking at the fire a bit. Doppio was scared of him. Okay… that felt new. Doppio wasn’t usually scared of him, was he? What was different?

Well, Kaito had him hidden away in an unfamiliar room, for one.

“You can ask me anything you want, Doppio. I’m just trying to look out for you, I don’t want… I don’t need you to be scared of me. That’s not a goal,” Kaito said, taking another few bites, “And, it’s not a secret, where you are. Maybe I was too vague. You know I live in the castle, right? This is the castle. Big building on the top of the hill.”

Licking his lips, Kaito suddenly grinned at Doppio. “Hey, if you’re feeling well enough after the medicine kicks in, want to sit outside for a bit? It’s a nice night, and the small chill might cool your head a little. We can sit out in the courtyard, I can show you the stars! Just for a bit, to get some clear air!”

Just long enough that Doppio might not feel trapped.

…

(...Boss was just looking out for him too.)

Doppio looked down, a waterfall of absolute revulsion going through him. God…he was so pathetic…

But…he did finally get an answer. And… Doppio’s gaze flicked back up, widening a bit. Not just a safehouse. The castle. Usott Castle. Ouma Castle, where Kaito Ouma Momota lived…with Kokichi Ouma. 

But…it had just been Kaito’s friend to see him, other than Kaito himself. And the castle was pretty big, so, maybe…

“...oh,” Doppio said softly, looking around the room again. “That makes sense, I guess. Lotta rooms, ‘n stuff. Just…figured it was supposed to be secret, when your friend ignored me.”

Doppio looked back at Kaito for a moment. He still wasn’t feeling great, but…

…he had always heard that the Ouma Castle Gardens were really beautiful. He thought it might be something to see, one day. And…well…if he was already here…

Doppio offered a small, shaky smile. “Sounds nice. I heard you all had some of those…uh, whale art installments here?”

“Oh, Maki-roll? She’s kind of a lady of few words, sometimes.” Kaito laughed, before getting excited. “Yeah? Yeah! Awesome, you want to see it? I actually really like the castle gardens, I go there when I want to, like, destress and kinda feel my feelings, ya know? They’re really pretty, the benches are comfortable, weird whale statues to yell at, the works! Oh, and at this time of day the west garden is actually usually pretty sparsely populated, so it won’t be crowded or anything. Awesome! I will totally take you to the garden!”

“But,” Kaito laughed, putting his plate aside and getting up, heading over before checking Doppio’s temperature again– still hot– then checking his pajama shirt– better– and taking the back of his chair, said, “Pick up your glass for me, so it doesn’t fall, I’m gonna pull you back from the fire a bit. Let’s give your medicine a chance to kick in first. Then, we’ll go!”

Heading back to his seat, Kaito settled in, before saying, “Yeah, a little bit of fresh air, and then more rest tonight… it’ll be good for you. You’ll feel better soon. Things will be good tomorrow.”

No, yeah, Doppio had gotten that, but…’safe+few words’ usually meant at least acknowledging questions with a single syllable, or a gesture. Completely ignoring a question, in his experience, usually meant ‘shut up, you don’t need to know, if you ask again you’re dead’. 

…or, well, threatened to lose a few fingers, since Boss had preemptively looked out for him when it came to the more testy members of Passione, but…still. Doppio got the message. 

…but it’d be nice to see the gardens. 

Doppio gave Kaito a wary look, but…if he was given a direct order, there was no getting out of it. …though, maybe he was getting a little lucky today, since ‘it’ turned out to be…exactly what Kaito said he was going to do. 

…he knew he was just being…dumb, and pathetic, and useless… Kaito wouldn’t… 

Doppio sighed. “I hope so.”

-

He wasn’t feeling strides better or anything, but…

Just wearing shoes and a sweater over his pajamas, Doppio took a deep breath of the crisp night air, coughing slightly but looking pleased as he sat on a bench. The gardens really were as beautiful as people said… There were all sorts of rows and patches of flowers, climbing vines and native grasses and mosses all comfortably nestled on statues and fountains and trellises. It was dark, but the moon was still bright enough that Doppio could make out all the different colors of the blooms around him. 

It was lovely. Quiet and peaceful. 

…Amaina? Angelo?

“Che bello,” Doppio said softly, thinking the thought loud enough it came out his mouth. 

Amaina looked up from Doppio’s lap, her expression calm and curious, like she had been sitting there the whole time, rather than just appearing the second he reached out for her. ♪ Sorry the baby keeps distracting me she demands that I must DANCE and she giggles when i do so i must it’s the law ♩

“You say something, kid?” Kaito asked, leaning back on the bench, his arms spread across the back lining, eyes looking towards the sky. In the middle of the city, outside the castle, there was a lot of light pollution, so the stars weren’t vibrant, but… well, there were still a good amount up there, and Kaito was considering teaching Doppio a few constellations. “Still feeling okay? You can tell me if it’s too much out here right now, we can go back inside whenever you’re ready.”

Doppio smiled softly. That did sound like the law--to withhold a baby’s laugh? A top felony. And it sounded like it was working out, since Amaina always seemed like she was having the time of her little angel life when she danced. 

(...having other people dance too 0///0;;)

“...nothing,” Doppio murmured, glancing back at Kaito, folding his arms in front of Amaina, like one would do with a stuffed animal. “I-I’m okay… Well, not okay-okay, a-as you know but…I’m good. I…want to stay out here longer.”

He didn’t often just sit in beauty, but…considering if he started walking around, he’d very quickly become less okay, it was sitting time. And just appreciating it, this was nice too. 

Especially as…

Doppio gasped softly, his face lighting up. “Oh! Hello there!”

An orange cat, perhaps familiar to Kaito, perhaps not, strolled through the garden with its high-class kitty snout held high, only to pause at Doppio’s call, regarding the two on the bench curiously. 

Kaito didn’t recognize the cat specifically, but that still made him think of what had happened earlier, and he smiled a little. “Ooooh, kitty-cat… maybe we’ll get lucky, Doppio, and it’ll get curious about us. Tst-tst-tst, kiiiittyyyy… my friend Doppio here likes cats… tst-tst-tst, come get pets…”

The cat didn’t seem particularly beckoned by Kaito’s calling, but it didn’t move away either. Just looking at the two with sea glass green eyes. Hmmm…

Maybe thankfully for the cat, though, Doppio didn’t have any qualms about…picking up some invisible thing from his lap, holding it by his chest as he got down on the ground, and holding his hand out slightly as he smiled at the cat. “Ciao, signore. Out on a night walk too? You picked a lovely place to do it…”

The cat seemed to cock its head a little, before blinking slowly in amusement. It came forward, sniffing Doppio’s hand for a few moments before haughtily walking over his legs to lay claim to his lap, flopping down comfortably. 

“Miao,” said the cat. 

٩(OᗜO)۶ exuded Doppio, practically vibrating with delight. 

OoO!!

Amaina, fully on board with cat appreciation time, ran a circle around it on Doppio’s lap, before belly-flopping into its belly. Hugging around the cat happily as she made a soft, musical eeeeeeeee sound.

Kaito laughed, though he tried not to do so loudly, not wanting to startle the cat away. “Awwww, hell yeah. Look at that, Doppio, you made a new friend! You’re seriously on a roll this week, huh? Little social butterfly~”

Feeling a little far now, Kaito grunted slightly, standing up, stretching his arms above his head… before sitting down next to Doppio. Using the base of the bench as something to lean back on, crossing his legs as he yawned, resting his arms back on the surface of the bench. “My husband’s going to be so jealous when I tell him. Yeah, ‘Kichi, Doppio was just chilling out and a cat Chose Him out of Nowhere… truly magical.”

Watching Doppio radiate excitement, petting the cat, Kaito grinned fondly. “...ya know what? I have a favorite version of you now. Easily above and beyond.”

“I like watching you get excited about stuff. You get excited with, like… your whole body. It’s sweet. It reminds me of my Kokichi. You guys are both really expressive, when you’re happy,” Kaito mused, before amending, “Second favorite version of you? …definitely when you’re all pissy at me. It’s not always my favorite in the moment, but I like it loads better than you being, like… nervous around me. There’s no reason to be nervous around me. Ya know what? I think you could totally take me. I’m actually not all that tough. You don’t have a lot to worry about, around me.”

Doppio giggled softly, sniffling, at Amaina’s joy, the cat barely flicking an ear. And, carefully at first, looking for any signs the cat didn’t want to be touched--it wasn’t always a sign of that, if an animal touched you first--he gently started petting it…only for his grin to grow as a deep purr started vibrating against his legs. 

Even Kaito talking about the heir apparent couldn’t dampen Doppio’s joy because…hell yeah, being chosen by a cat was magical. 

Though…he did send Kaito a somewhat questioning look, at his weird musings. “Version of me? It’s…all just me, though…” It felt a little…invasive, for people to just decide on a version of someone they wanted to have. Kinda weird. But…Kaito was a weird guy. 

Sighing, Doppio rested his head against the seat of the bench, gently letting his nails scratch down the cat’s back, enjoying the continued purrs. “...probably. But it would be a tough fight. You’re taller and have a lot of bulk…also, you can pick me up no problem, which is a real issue in a fight. It’d be smarter to run, if it came down to it…”

He frowned briefly, shooting Kaito an unsure look. “...there’s almost always a reason to be nervous. Even the most powerful person in the world can have an off day. If you wanted to hurt me, you could. I just…have to trust that you won’t.”

While still relaxed, the cat side-eyed Doppio. A scarred ear flicking briefly. Hmmmm…

“Right,” Kaito said, staring back up at the sky, “...so why don’t you?”

“It’s not an accusation, by the way. You’re allowed to be nervous around me, even if I don’t like it. The reason I even want to say I don’t like it is because… I know sometimes, when someone’s acting intimidating, it’s because they’re trying to be intimidating. And I just don’t want you to think that’s what I’m trying to do, ya know? The goal’s not to make you afraid. It’s never to make you afraid,” Kaito explained, closing his eyes, “But I still see you get afraid of me anyway. So I’m just trying to, like… adjust. Into someone you don’t have to be afraid of.”

“So,” Kaito said, sitting up, grinning at Doppio, “Any hints? Requests? Come on, help a guy out. Think there’s anything I could do to help, like, not be the big, bad Kaito?”

Doppio blinked. Then blinked again. Then, for good measure, furrowed his brows and blinked once more. 

What…

“What…? I don’t…” Doppio gave a stressed little sigh, shaking his bangs out of his face--and quickly going back to petting the cat in his lapse of concentration when the cat nudged him--before he gave Kaito a strained, shamed look. “...my brain’s bad, Kaito. I can’t…” 

He looked away, squinting. “...I know I’m being all…weird, today. Maybe it’s from being sick…or hormones, like Arven said. I dunno… I don’t…usually cry, or freak out or…whatever, like this. Yeah…y-yeah, maybe I’d call myself a bit of a nervous person, but…”

“...I don’t understand what you’re asking me. Or why you’re asking it,” Doppio softly admitted. “But I’m not really scared of you. You probably wouldn’t’ve seen me again, if I was.”

…though The Boss had asked him…

“O-oh!” Doppio froze for a moment as the cat got up, jutting its head on top of Doppio’s shoulder and lounging its body across his chest. Though, quickly, Doppio recovered, smiling bewilderedly as he held the cat, trying to better support it. “Oh…wow! You’re very friendly, signore.”

“Miao,” the cat agreed.

Amaina, determinedly, held onto the back of the cat’s neck, riding it up Doppio’s chest, still looking absolutely serene in her commitment to body hugging it. Kaito chuckled, watching the cat aggressively ask for more Pets, before rubbing the back of his neck.

“Ah, geez, I guess I’m not really expressing myself well… you gotta be patient with me, Doppio, sometimes I try to just brute force my way into understanding people and it doesn’t always work.” Kaito admitted, resting his weight on his elbows as he leaned against his knees. “I’m just not very good at head games, or talking, like, around issues and stuff… there’s always this temptation to just talk about what I see. And I saw you get nervous earlier, and it just made me worry I was doing something wrong.”

“Honestly, maybe I’m projecting.” Kaito laughed, a little sheepishly. “I think in your situation I’d be a little nervous of me. I did sort of force you to let me look after you for a few days. That can be kinda intimidating! I really am just trying to help, but I think in your position I’d be giving me a much harder time than you currently are. Though, if you really aren’t intimidated by me? Then great! I’m just looking for an issue that isn’t there, and we’re good, and you can just focus on getting well for the next few days! And everything’s good!”

“...” Kaito glanced at Doppio’s arm. The question of the cuts on his mind… before he decided to hold off on that. Kaito couldn’t even begin to guess what the answer to that would be, but it had occurred to him that ‘some magic shit’ had happened, and boy, was magic shit a difficult topic to broach, especially with everyone keeping a thousand secrets from each other about all that stuff. He’d leave it be for now. “Can I touch your forehead? I wanna check on your fever.”

Doppio huffed a soft laugh, though he had to turn away to avoid coughing on the cat. Thankfully, it didn’t seem bothered by the sudden noise and jerking from his chest. “...you know? Sometimes I still don’t get what people are saying even when they lay it right out. …I’m kinda dumb,” he softly admitted…though it was broken by a soft noise as the cat headbutted him more. 

And what could Doppio do but acquiesce more pets? It was the law.

“...it is kinda fucked up,” he conceded once he got the cat comfortably settled again. “You come on way too strong…but…I think you were right, before. What you said. I accept help like it’s arsenic…”

“Honestly?” Doppio sighed. “...I probably would’ve put off admitting I’m sick for…ages. And it’d probably take Boss demanding that I take time off to heal, and…yeah, he probably would’ve set me up in a nice hotel or something, but…” Looking away, Doppio shrank a little, insecure. “...I dunno how to deal with illness… I…probably would’ve made myself worse. So…thanks. For bullying your way into looking out for me. That’s kinda why I’m not scared of you, even if you’re kinda crazy and I maybe should be.”

“Miao,” the cat softly insisted, rubbing his cheeks under Doppio’s jaw. The placement of his paws almost hug-like. 

Doppio sighed softly, lifting his chin slightly to give Kaito access. “Sure.”

Kaito winced lightly, wishing he could just beam brightly and be happy at Doppio’s thanks… but… 

Reaching up to check Doppio’s forehead, he murmured, “Still pretty warm, but then, at least you’re not ‘passing out’ hot.” He turned his hand on his palm, then on the back of his knuckles, before putting his hand on Doppio’s shoulder and squeezing it lightly. “You’re okay. I’m sure you’re still plenty uncomfy, but you’re not in danger from being a little toasty like this. Rest will help.”

“...you…” Kaito cleared his throat, taking his hands back, taking out his pebble and starting to fuss with it a little, “...you do know what was happening with you wasn’t going to survive laying alone in a hotel room, right? Like, great that your, uh, your boss would have let you rest, but… you needed a healer. That sort of damage, Doppio… it could have killed you. That wasn’t a ‘whoopsie’, sleep it off thing. You were really badly hurt. Being allowed to rest without help wouldn’t have been enough.”

Could that happen!?!? Sure, he knew people could pass out from heat exhaustion and all that when it was hot out--which was why he pleaded with The Boss to, occasionally, ditch the cloak in hotter weather--but…from internal heat too?? …well, spelled out like that, it did make sense. Damn. 

But…he wasn’t always wrong about things…

Doppio glanced at Kaito before looking down, petting the cat and scratching the side of its face…before he huffed softly. A determined set to his frown. “...I would’ve found a way around it. I’m…I’m good at that. I’m the best, at that. I make so many mistakes, I kinda have to be good at fixing them, through sheer practice. Otherwise I’d…I’d just be completely useless…”

And…well, it didn’t feel great, not fixing something himself, but…he had Amaina now too. His chest had…hurt a lot. And breathing had felt pressured and heavy… And his body (and everything) had felt wrong… But she had given him the gift of breathing underwater, so…he couldn’t die from having water in his lungs. It’d just…suck. 

But he would’ve been fine. He was good at being fine!

Kaito gave Doppio a curious look at that. “You did find a way around it. You did fix it. That’s literally why you’re okay right now. Because you made a bunch of good choices for yourself, taking advice and networking and being brave enough to face a healer and enduring a really, really tough medical procedure… you did all that shit, Doppio. You beat the problem. I’m saying that your boss…”

Kaito remembered Doppio baring his teeth at him, threatening to bury Kaito for calling his boss incompetent. Kaito wasn’t sure what Doppio would do if he followed through on the accusation ‘Your boss very nearly killed you, and then left you to wander around and die’. Doppio might get real aggressive about it…

“...Doppio, can I ask why you trust your boss so much?” Kaito asked, running his hand through his hair. “Like… like it’s not going to shock you, if I say I don’t think this guy is very… nice. Right? But you make him sound–” truly horrifying, “--amazing.”

Doppio blinked at Kaito before an incredibly confused expression crossed over his face. The whole nine yards; a slow, puzzled sweeping gaze, a furrowed brow, parted lips that half-mouthed half-formed thoughts. It was practically visible that several gears were spinning in the teen’s head, and yet none of them connecting. 

Oh man. This kid really was it, Firenze thought, before purring a little louder, kneading into the kid’s sweater a bit. 

While Doppio still was puzzled over…doing well? He sent Kaito a wary look, almost daring him to finish his thought about his boss. And…well, it was far less than Boss deserved, but Doppio couldn’t expect Kaito to fulfill that, so he simply huffed. 

Before smiling dreamily, proudly. Almost like a parent praising their child’s accomplishments, mixed with someone gushing over their favorite singer. “He is amazing…and I don’t think your opinion means much, since you’ve never met him.”

Idly scratching by the cat’s tail, Doppio hummed happily. “He’s the most brilliant person in the world! When we were talking about passion projects, all that stuff aren’t dreams, or ‘one-day’ things to him--he sees a goal and then grasps it, making the future his immediate reality. He’s super strong and super smart, and he can see all sorts of things I’d never notice in a million years.”

“He’s really nice and caring too!” Doppio cheered. “Someone so amazing could easily sit on top of the world alone, but he’s decided to share it with so many people--like an empire, everyone getting to have their little piece! And, well, he took me in,” Doppio chuckled softly, shrugging and giving Kaito a knowing nod. “That’s a huge endorsement of his kindness and ability to see potential in anyone if there ever was one.”

“I just…he’s great. So I want to do everything I can to help support that greatness, you know? I really love my da-”

All at once Doppio froze, his happy cheer immediately washing into shocked horror. 

Yeah but… the guy was drowning Doppio. And cutting him up. And punching him in his tiny pink face! And…

Kaito rubbed his rock, forcing his hands to move, to keep his temper and worry in place. He wasn’t going to be able to change Doppio’s mind overnight. It wasn’t going to happen. Tomorrow, or the day after, or whenever Doppio found out what Kaito had done… he wasn’t going to be happy. Relieved. He was going to be furious and upset and betrayed…

Kaito just had to accept that. It was more important for Doppio to be safe than it was for him to be happy with Kaito. Kaito couldn’t avoid paying one for the other.

Though, Doppio’s expression at his slip up… Kaito frowned, reaching over to place his hand on Doppio’s back. “...Doppio? You alright?”

Amaina looked up at Doppio. Staring.

…he wasn’t. That was impossible. He wasn’t. It…it was just some…stupid, horrible, evil idea that had just…gotten into his brain, and… 

Well…of course! Of course Doppio would… There wasn’t anyone greater! Doppio couldn’t hope to compare, and it was kind of an insult in the opposite way, but…but for horrible, traitorous thoughts, indulgences of the worst sort, then…of course! 

But…

Doppio blinked, before smiling cheerily back at Kaito. “...hm? Ah, sorry…what was I saying? Yeah, my boss is great! So…that’s why I believe in him.”

Kaito gave Doppio a long, concerned look. What should he say? What would have been something that would have gotten through to Kaito? Would… would anything have gotten through to Kaito? He didn’t know. The presence of conditioning at the beginning made Kaito such a poor example of talking to an abuse victim. But, well, what about after the conditioning had been fixed? Would that experience help?

…honestly, probably not. Because Byakuya– and Tengan, and his parents, and honestly, more than a few of his lovers– hadn’t been waiting at home for him anymore. Constantly there to re-enforce the things that Kaito had accepted as reality by that point, and to intimidate and frighten any ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ thoughts out of Kaito’s head. Distance had helped. Distance and time had probably helped more than anything.

Kaito wished he could spare Doppio the heartache of this process. It wasn’t fun. It didn’t feel good. Even now, it wasn’t like Kaito had had a ‘aha! I am mentally free and have won the battle! Screw those people!’ moment. He had tried to, a few times. Tried to brute force it. Had gotten drunk after the memorial garden and, in a desperate bid to find someone to blame that weren’t his actual loved ones, had pinned his fury and hatred on Tengan and his father and Hideki, all the older men in his life who had treated him like garbage, and had denounced them. 

But it hadn’t felt good. It had felt like a bandaid covering up a still gushing wound. Only love and support had felt good, when coping with his past. Everything else had hurt.

Doppio would need time, distance, and support.

Rubbing Doppio’s back a little, Kaito nodded, taking his hand back and going back to fussing with the small rock. “I see. Well… just don’t forget you’re great too, Doppio. You’re smart, you’re reliable, you’re intuitive and tough, you’re fun to hang out with, and I’m not the only one that thinks so. Arven clearly thinks you're awesome, and your fellow starbursts like you a lot, and animals apparently adore you, and we all know what good judges of character they are,” Kaito smirked, nodding to the cat, “Anyone who got to know you would agree with me. You’re a galaxy outpacing all of your peers. You deserve nothing but good things happening to you.”

…he was a slow, traitorous parasite, but…sure. 

…

…Doppio closed his eyes, for a moment just…trying to pretend that Kaito’s words were right. That he was in a small, dark place that was safe and easy…

…no. 

That he was sitting at Arven’s counter, having breakfast together while they talked, and Chief put his head in Doppio’s lap, hoping for treats, and Kaito stopped by with his daughter in a new, cute kigurumi, and Amaina was dancing over all of their plates. That it was sunny and warm and there was the scent of the sea coming through an open window…

And in that world…he was a…smart, reliable, intuitive and tough starburst, spending time with people that liked him and…

Doppio swallowed thickly and looked to the side…but he shuffled a little. Just barely resting his head on Kaito’s shoulder. 

…what did Kaito know what he deserved?

“...what’s with the gem?”

Kaito felt a strong burst of affection, as Doppio leaned against him. An honest sense of pride that Doppio would want to. Kaito wanted to be someone Doppio could lean on. Metaphorically and otherwise.

Looking down at his pebble, Kaito smiled, showing it to Doppio more fully. “It’s pretty, right? It’s a little silly, but it’s my meditation stone. My therapist kinda strong-armed me into using it to help deal with my temper.”

Pulling out his polish and cloth, Kaito opened it up and dabbed the cloth in, before rubbing the rock a bit, as he explained, “You might not know this, but I got into a lot of trouble last year on my honeymoon. A lot of trouble. It was a… tough time in my life, and I made some bad decisions. Anyway, they made me go to anger management therapy, and my therapist made me pick a rock, and every time I get upset? Or angry? Or even nervous, I’m supposed to polish this rock in order to give myself something to focus my energy on, kinda ground me and calm me down a little.” Kaito grinned, idly polishing it. “I thought it was the stupidest fucking thing I had ever heard of. I honestly had a ‘of course Dicea would suggest something so worthless to deal with anger’ kind of moment… but it helps. It helps soooo damn much. It’s kept me from punching people so many times. I like to think someday I’ll polish the damn thing into a perfect oval and find inner peace or something.”

“Wanna try it?” Kaito asked, “I don’t know if you have the same kinda physical anger as I do, but if you do, I’d genuinely recommend it.”

It was pretty… Shiny and smooth and a nice swirl of blue and purple, the colors just vibrant enough that, with Kaito showing it off, Doppio could actually distinguish the colors in the moonlight. And…well, the ‘shiny and smooth’ part came from Kaito, apparently. 

Doppio hummed shortly, nodding against Kaito’s shoulder. “You mauled a guy that was committing a hate crime against you…or so I heard. Some people say you did it for fun… Arven was kinda nervous about you, when we met, because of that, but…” Doppio shrugged. Sometimes you mauled a guy. 

He had a perfectly good cat against his chest to pet…but Doppio was a little tempted. Just to see what it was like. And while he didn’t quite think it’d do the same for him as it did for Kaito… Doppio gave him a sheepish look. “...broke a dude’s arm once. Arven agreed with me it was warranted, though.”

“Hah! Aw, Arven… it’s a fair thing to be nervous about. Not like the kid knew much more about me than that. Was not the best way to introduce myself to the Dicean people as a whole.” Kaito huffed, rolling his eyes, “And honestly, even saying the guy was doing a hate crime isn’t entirely correct. He didn’t know who the hell I was. I shouldn’t have lost it over what he said, if I had been in a better headspace in general, I like to think I’d have just shouted at him, or walked away. He didn’t deserve me trying to rip his stupid face off.”

“...in that moment. For that,” Kaito said, narrowing his eyes, “He deserved a lot of shit for the things he did later, though. Sorry, but… he fucking did.”

Though, raising his eyebrows at Doppio a little, he asked, “Oh yeah? Shit, what happened? Were you okay?”

Eh, well…that’s why Kaito had gone to anger management, he supposed. Even assholes had to be tolerated sometimes, and if you couldn’t, that was a mistake on your part. …hadn’t those people died? Doppio didn’t think it was something related to Kaito, but…like, a kidnapping thing, right? What a disaster. 

“I was fine,” Doppio reassured first, giving the cat some head scratches…before he corrected, “Well, Boss was pissed, but I brought that on myself. I don’t need to be picking fights that will just get me hurt or in trouble with the law, you know? But…”

He sighed, irritated. “That douche was jabbing a raccoon with a stick. And I lost it on him. Seemed like it worked, too, ‘cause I didn’t see him again…though, we did move pretty soon after, I think.”

Kaito winced. “Ah. Man, I understand that. You should never just stand by when someone’s hurting, like, kinda anything, really. Though, well… I’m assuming it was probably another kid around your age…” Kaito huffed, rubbing the back of his neck. “...actually, fuck it, if I’m honest? Me and your boss kinda agree on that. That guy probably did need a solid knock upside the head, if only to learn what it feels like to be on the other side of that, but I’d rather you find less violent ways to deal with stuff like that in the future, if only entirely to protect yourself.”

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s good of you to want to protect others.” Kaito grinned, patting Doppio’s back lightly, “I’m proud of you that you’d want to defend something that couldn’t defend itself. But I care about you, so I’d want you to do it in a way that keeps you safe too. You don’t want to be like my dumb ass. Losing your temper and causing a shit ton of trouble for yourself.” Kaito huffed, rolling his eyes.

…well, considering that Doppio wasn’t…super sure about his age…

Sure. They could go with that. 

Letting out a long sigh, Doppio nodded, trying not to just…feel totally warmed and pleased with the praise and pat on his back. “Yeah…I know. This is definitely a talk Boss and I have had. He doesn’t wanna see me hurt, and…I know it’s worse when I am ‘cause of a situation I chose to get involved with.”

…Doppio huffed softly. Again, finding it a little easier to be, er… With Kaito, instead of Boss. “...s’hard, though. Most of the time I do just leave, or whatever, not getting myself involved with nonsense…but sometimes I just…get so pissed off,” he growled through gritted teeth, before turning to cough. “...and it’s hard to really…think about the consequences of what I’m doing. Know that’s my fault, but…I’m trying. It’s just hard.”

Kaito let out a low whistle, before giving a loud sigh, staring at the sky. “Oh my goooood, tell me about it. Man, my friends make me feel crazy sometimes, because they’re so good at managing their anger. Well, Kokichi isn’t, but he also doesn’t get angry the same way I do, so it took me a long time to realize that. But man, when you’re around a bunch of people who don’t want to punch walls, like, even kinda? You start being like… why am I the wall punching guy? What’s wrong with me? Am I just out of my mind?”

“But the truth is, everyone deals with their own kinda anger, and it’s challenging for everyone, in its own ways. But honestly, just accepting that it’s going to be challenging and that it being challenging isn’t a failure in itself is a huge first step in the right direction. Hard things are hard, there’s nothing inherently wrong with you for struggling.”

“Accepting help in figuring out how to manage your anger is a great second step, by the way,” Kaito said, looking to Doppio, “Think you’d want your own rubbing rock? It can give you a second to think about your actions, give the anger a second to pass and lessen, that sort of thing… I could take you to pick one tomorrow, if you want?”

Doppio…couldn’t really relate. Boss didn’t get angry, only displeased, and…well, he supposed he sorta knew how Kaito and Arven got angry now. But they both seemed like ‘explody’ types too, and…all the people Doppio had ever been at the other end of their anger? Definitely explody-types, just…with enough consequence to that explosion, or with Doppio being too pathetic to be a good target for escalation that it was never too bad. 

But he could imagine that it would feel surreal and discomforting, to be an explody-type, and be surrounded by people who weren’t. Or…to be surrounded by people who could manage their anger…

Doppio blinked slowly. “...hard things are hard. You said that to me before, didn’t you?” He could…kinda remember not thinking much of it at the time, but…that was kinda nice. It was hard to think through his anger, when it was at its peak, but Doppio was trying and…him trying wasn’t in vain, even if he wasn’t successful. It was just hard. 

Sighing, Doppio shifted and leaned on Kaito a little more. “I dunno… I really don’t think I need more things to distract me. It’s hard enough staying focused on anything, let alone something that manages to piss me off so bad and for long enough I have one of those ‘boom’ moments.” 

Reaching under his sweater, to where he’d tucked his notebook into his waistband, Doppio waved his notebook for a moment before returning to Cat Pet Town. “This is like, the ultimate focus-helper, and even then half the time I still feel kinda lost. But…honestly, I don’t think that matters too much. I just do what I need to do in the short-term, and it works out.”

“Hah, that’s fair. My relationship therapist said that people who are recovering for stuff do this, like, ‘projection’ thing on other people? Where we start seeing our own symptoms on other people, and try to, like, pass on the things that helped us like it’s universal and stuff. I’ll try not to do that too much, apparently it’s not very helpful. Everyone’s got their own thing going on… though!”

Kaito gave Doppio a half-hug, idly considering the possibility that he was going to end up needing to bring a sleeping Doppio back to his room. That was alright. He was heavier than his husband, but not as heavy as, heh, his husband, so Kaito knew he could do it easily enough. “You know what could help? Maybe seeing a therapist yourself? They’d encourage the journaling thing, that’s a total, like, therapy thing to suggest, I think, and they could give you other tools, to, like, manage your memory stuff and blackouts and, ya know,” Kaito shrugged innocently, “Annnnny other thing you might be having trouble with. More tools to help yourself!”

(...projection, huh…)

Doppio made a sleepy, pleased little sound as Kaito half-hugged him. It almost felt like the conversation might’ve been a dream, but…Kaito was right--he was comfortable to lean against. Doppio still felt kind of uncomfortable, temperature-wise, but…it wasn’t as bad as it had been all day, and Kaito being so warm was just…nice. 

“...I dunno,” he hummed softly. Therapists weren’t as scary as other kinds of healers…but they still were a little scary. Doppio definitely didn’t want someone physically poking around in his brain, and he wasn’t sure he wanted someone doing it metaphorically either. There were a lot of important, secret things in there. 

“I feel like I manage the memory and blackout stuff pretty well. And…I don’t think my notebook is journaling, exactly. It’s mostly reminders ‘n stuff. That’s why I got so worried when I woke up earlier, ‘cause I didn’t write anything about going to the castle with you, and there was just a note from Arven.” Doppio blushed lightly. “...w-which is nice, and all, um…but not super helpful when I’m trying to figure out what happened.”

“Oh? Is that what happened?” Kaito asked, peering at the notebook, “Aw, cute, but also, put me in your journal, kid. You worried me earlier, I don’t want you to feel lost here. That’s half the reason I was so worried I was intimidating you. But, yeah, if you just literally didn’t remember where you were or how you got here, your nerves make a lot more sense.”

“Put. Me. In. Your. Journal. Doppio,” Kaito insisted, poking Doppio’s journal. “So that you know you’re safe here tomorrow, kay? Dooooo it. Do it. Don’t make me poke your face, you know I will,” Kaito teased, lightly poking Doppio’s cheek.

 ♪ I like him ♩ Amaina yawned, stretching out on the cat’s back, who was still happily laid out against Doppio,  ♪ can we keeeeeeeep him? … and the cat too! ♩

“I diiiiid,” Doppio sleepily grouched, scrunching his nose as Kaito poked his cheek. “See, look?”

And, written in the journal, lower down on the page from Arven’s reminder, was:

You are ill and on sick leave (2✔ Tues 4 fin)

You are staying with Kaito at the castle to recover, safe, K-friend there too

Meds? Took Sat pm, ✔ time?

Though, after showing Kaito, Doppio hummed, pausing. “...did you want a page just for you?”

…he did have to keep Kaito whether he wanted to or not, at least for a little while. Boss said so. 

…Doppio was at the castle. The schematics were probably there too. 

Gently, Doppio stroked Amaina’s back, trying to play it off as just petting the cat more…even if his fingers were a few inches above it.

“If it’d help?” Kaito nodded, “You can write whatever you want about me in there. Actually, my husband Shuichi does the exact same thing? He uses a journal as a way to organize his thoughts. Not to remember things, his memory is, like, insanely good. But he finds it easier to work out how he feels about things when he writes them down. In fact! If you have any questions you want to ask me, to write down to help you out later? I’m an open book, Doppio, ask away.”

Doppio hummed, flipping to a new page…before hesitating, and flipping back to Arven’s, settling on the page opposite. He never really…had indexes in his notebooks, other than the first page, so…hm. That might come to be a problem, down the line. 

Pulling off the pen that was jammed into the spine, Doppio wrote Kaito’s name before pausing again, tilting his head back to sleepily blink up at Kaito. “...I dunno right now, but…you should write something on your page. So I can recognize your handwriting.”

“Oh? Sure.” Kaito said, taking the pen and journal, before humming a little, looking at the black page, “Write something, huh…”

Kaito Ouma Momota, of the Saihara House, Excommunicated Second Son, Luminary Prince of the Stars, Prince-Consort of the Dicean Cacti-Fields, Savior of the Fifteen Year War

Kaito paused, re-thinking that. ‘Savior’ left a bad taste in his mouth these days, though he still thought his involvement in the fifteen year war was one of the most important things he had ever done…

Kaito Ouma Momota, of the Saihara House, Excommunicated Second Son, Luminary Prince of the Stars, Prince-Consort of the Dicean Cacti-Fields, Savior  Treasure of the Fifteen Year War, Star Genius, whose heroic deeds of note include and are not exclusive to: Earning the love of murder children.

“I’m sure I have more deeds of note to add to the titles, but honestly I’ve never gotten further than talking about being loved by murder children, so I haven’t really thought that part through much further than that.” Kaito grinned, passing Doppio his journal back. “But there! My full title, all written down! Uh… don’t ask anyone which bits of it are ‘official’, I am going to get all of it added to my crest someday, it’s just a matter of time! Pretty cool, huh?”

“Miaooo!” insisted the orange cat, picking itself off of Doppio a bit to insistently nudge at Kaito’s hand. Not necessarily for more pets, but, uh…

Fully limp against Kaito, Doppio’s eyes were closed, his breathing so soft and faint it had disappeared into the ambient noise of the night. 

“Tsk,” Kaito scoffed, rubbing the cat’s head with large, rough hands, “See that, cat? Rude. You’d think I took a thousand years just to write my name down. Kids have no respect.”

“Well, I should probably get him inside and to bed…” Kaito murmured, petting the cat some more, fingers quick and massaging its little kitty back, as he stared at Doppio’s journal. “...should just get him to bed…”

… Kaito reached over the cat. Picking up the journal again. Staring at it. “...what do you think, kitty?” Kaito murmured, staring at the book, “Doppio says he writes his whole life in this thing. It’s how he remembers stuff… I know I should respect his privacy, but… maybe there’s a way I can figure out how to turn Doppio against his abusive, dickhead, murderous boss in this… maybe something he’s forgotten?”

…… Kaito sighed, shaking his head, putting the journal back in Doppio’s lap. “I’m pretty sure the kid remembers being drowned. He’s just not saying it… If he can remember that? And still not turn against the guy? I don’t know what else in here could actually do it.”

Petting the cat some more, Kaito sighed. “...time, distance, and support. I already know the answer. Browbeating him into hating the guy isn’t going to work. It’s just…” Kaito’s eyes saddened. “Not. It doesn’t work… time, distance, support. I’ve got this. I’ve got you,” Kaito whispered to Doppio.

“...Alright, don’t hate me, cat. I gotta get him to bed,” Kaito explained, shifting around to pick Doppio up.

It was just as Firenze had said before--no commitment. The prince was very nearly okay with manipulating the kid into a healthier life, but…no follow through. 

Or, well, that was a bit reductive. Firenze could easily admit that, as he listened to the promises the prince made the teen--there was some commitment. Just of a different kind. And…honestly, it would probably be better for the teen, down the road. Even if one was kinder…it was a poor lot, trading one cage for another. 

As Kaito started to pick Doppio up, the cat easily hopped off the warm lap, stretching before rubbing up against Kaito’s legs for a moment, leaving behind orange fur. A thanks for the nice massage, before he headed off for the rest of his night. 

Hmmm~ There were some things worth paying attention to in town, coming up. Sure, sure, he’d keep what he promised to the prince, but there were still plenty of tips to give the guys. 

And, well, what those busybodies decided to do wasn’t any of his concern. It’s just how it goes~

-

It had been a long night for Lake, though that wasn’t something she’d say with a groan. She had indeed stayed around Arven’s house, loading up on coffees and snacks while stores and cafes were still open, and just…hanging around greenspaces. Yeah, it might’ve looked weird to a third-party…but not totally. People were allowed to just sit in gardens and parks, and, well, Lake did get a reputation pass, being a pretty recognizable face to many Usott citizens. 

But, thankfully, no one had showed up. Everyone who passed by any of the nearby streets seemed to be doing so naturally, no one approached Arven’s house…

And also thankfully--sorta!--Arven seemed to be doing a lot better when she was the one to approach his place. So, after stopping and getting the three of them breakfast…Lake kept her promise, and escorted Arven and Chief to the castle. 

“Have you ever stayed at the castle before, Arven?” she asked, making conversation with the kid. “You do live pretty close, but it can be fun to make a mini-vacation without the hotel costs.”

“Stayed? No. I do use their libraries,” Arven said, petting Chief’s head as the dog trotted patiently by his side, excited to be on a little adventure. “And two of my classes did labs here at different points.”

Arven thought about asking Lake if she lived in the castle, but honestly, he was a little nervous, which didn’t make him want to talk that much. He had never been in a situation like this before. He kinda hoped everything would be okay, but he kinda knew it really might not be. He hoped he wasn’t going to handle this wrong. 

As they got through the gate, Arven looked around, huffing a little at the crowd. It was always busy here. “You think– ahrm. Hrrrm…” Arven cleared his throat, still a little sick from yesterday, though doing loads better after a good night's sleep. And the medicine Lake had brought, admittedly. “Sorry. You think he’d still be asleep? We’re not too early? I know he’s an early riser, but he’s sick, so…”

“It is a pretty kick-ass library--even more to a big brainiac like you, I bet!” Lake laughed, patting Arven’s shoulder with comradely pride. “The classes are all over the place, but I’ll be honest, I was a biiiiig fan of the workout rooms and auxiliary gyms when I lived here. Still am, when it’s easier to get a workout around work, rather than going out to a bigger gym!”

Humming as she idly looked around the crowd, Lake gave Arven a bright grin. “No idea! I don’t know which room he’s in either, but if it is early, what do you think about bringing him some breakfast? Nothing says, ‘sorry for waking you up’ like a full spread!”

“Also, you can claim seconds if you’re still hungry,” she gave him a wink. “I remember being a black hole at your age.”

Hopefully she might be able to catch Kaito also getting breakfast…and if not? Well, she could leave Arven under the surreptitious eye of someone she knew while she left to ask around. 

Arven nodded, “Yeah, that sounds like a plan.”

To Lake’s luck, Kaito was in the dining hall, eating breakfast with his family, Shuichi fussing over Miyako while Timothy was on Maki’s other side, peering at Miyako for a bit before asking, “Can she eat… peas?”

“She can, but there’s no real need yet.” Shuichi said, “Nectar is still the best thing for her.”

“She’s gotta be bored of it by now,” Timothy muttered, a little offended on his sister's behalf. 

“Okay, so, the agent’s going to be here soon, and they’re gonna take Doppio’s statement… then?” Kaito asked Kokichi, while Maki listened in carefully. “...is it possible we keep him?”

“I feel like you shouldn’t get your hopes up for that, Kaito,” Maki said, glancing at Kokichi and Shuichi as she said it, “And I think that’s a conversation you need to have with everyone more than the breakfast before everything happens.”

“What? No, no, I don’t mean, like… adopt him! That’d be crazy! Hah hah hah… but, like, the castle takes in strays, doesn’t it? Waku, Denji, Lake… oh! Lake!” Kaito spotted, waving at Lake. “Oh, Arven’s here too. Oh… okay?” Kaito said, glancing worriedly at Lake, “That’s… a choice.”

It…definitely was a conversation they needed to have more deeply, but…well, Kaito did have a point, at the end. Denji’s case was a little different, since they had demanded a place at the castle themself, but…for Waku and Lake? They had tried out the beginnings of foster programs, of going to an orphanage, but…when they had come into the government’s care? They had been terrified, incredibly traumatized kids who latched onto the first people to care about them and treat them kindly. Waku would regularly try to attack anyone who came near her, and Lake had refused to be more than a building away from Aiichi, wanting the protection of the highest law authority of the land. 

So…they had stayed at the castle. 

Doppio…

“Mornin’, folks!” Lake boomed, giving her family a friendly wave. 

“Good morning, Lake-nee,” Kokichi waved back, before widening his grin and waving a little more at the teen next to her. “Oh! And hello, Arven! It’s wonderful to meet you! I’m Kokichi, Kai-chan and Shuu-chan’s husband.”

“Yupp! We’re here on a mission of support!” Lake grinned at Kaito, giving a subtle nod to Arven. Better to come with him, than have him do the same thing on his own, yeah? “We were talking about bringin’ over breakfast for our guest--you know if he’s awake?”

Arven startled a little, suddenly looking a little shy, looking down at his feet. “Oh, uh, hello, Prince Kokichi… it’s nice to meet you. You, uh, probably don’t remember, but you helped me get a spelunking permit for a cave system once. There were some paperwork issues I couldn’t navigate because I was a minor, and you helped me find a workaround. So, thank you.”

“... I don’t know if I approve of you helping a kid going into cave systems, ‘Kichi,” Kaito said pointedly, giving his husband a somewhat dry look, before giving Arven a grin, “But! I know why you did it, and it all worked out, and that’s incredible!”

“I was safe about it.” Arven sniffed.

“Kaito, you literally have no room to judge, shut up,” Maki said, Shuichi humming in agreement. “Doppio’s still asleep, last time we checked on him, but a visit from a friend is probably worth waking him up. He’s about to have a tough day.”

“Maki.” Kaito hissed.

Maki raised an eyebrow. “What? He is.”

Kokichi perked, lighting up with joy. “Really? Wow, small world, huh? It was my pleasure! Ah, you know? That was last year, right? I’m glad I managed to help you out.” At the dry look, Kokichi snorted, nudging Kaito’s arm softly. “In a way that made sure that you could achieve your goals safely, and with backup.”

That had been the purpose of getting the permits and other authenticating paperwork, after all. 

“Aw, that’s my bro-bro,” Lake beamed, before trailing off onto a more sheepish laugh. “Yeah… Not exactly fun stuff coming up, but! Like Mak-Attack said! That’s why we’re here!” Nodding emphatically, Lake turned to Kaito. “So, Papa Bear? Arven here allowed to know what room his bud’s stayin’ in?”

“Papa, who’s papa, I’m not papa!” Kaito said defensively, highly aware he was way too attached.

“You’re not?” Tim asked.

“Oh, oh, no, I totally am, papa all day, every day, love you kid!” Kaito quickly hypercorrected, reaching across the table to ruffle Tim’s hair, who begrudgingly bore through it. “Um, anyway. Anyway. Yes?” Kaito asked, looking to Kokichi, “Yes? Yes. 112. And, I’m sure Doppio’s gonna be happy to see you, Arven, but.” 

Kaito winced, motioning his hands like he wanted Arven to quiet down, as he whispered, “Doppio doesn’t… know yet. And I still haven’t entirely figured out how to tell him, if I’m honest. So let’s… hold off on that. Mentioning anything. Okay?”

Arven blinked. “...okay.”

Snickering a little at Kaito’s scattered dad-energy, Kokichi just looked a little bemused at Kaito asking him if it was alright for Arven to visit his friend. Though…

Lake watched that for a moment before beaming at Arven. “Eyyy, permission granted. I’ll be honest, I’ve never met the guy, so can I leave choosing breakfast to you, Arven? Thanks, bud!”

And as soon as he was farther out of earshot, she gave Kaito a worried look. “...just my personal advice, Kai-guy, but…you should tell him before the agent comes over. Don’t surprise him with it.”

Arven huffed, taking a hint when it was shoved at him, before heading off to go harvest some food from the tables. 

Kaito gave him an encouraging grin that Arven entirely ignored… before whispering to Lake, “I know that, but… what do I say? You guys have never seen what I’m talking about, okay, Doppio’s fixation on this guy isn’t idle, and his reactions to stuff aren’t exactly…” Kaito’s left eye flickered, “Rational. I’m seriously worried he’ll, like… I don’t know. Run away?”

Maybe attack someone. Kaito suspected Doppio was capable of it. A man who had poked a raccoon with a stick could probably confirm. 

“Even if he runs off, ‘The Boss’ is going to be arrested,” Shuichi pointed out, “That still mostly solves the problem. And Lake’s right. However bad his reaction is going to be, being told? Being surprised is going to be worse.”

“And, honestly?” Maki said, watching Arven fill a plate full of food, “If you don’t tell him, Arven’s going to. I know when a kid’s lied to your face. He decided to tell him the second you told him not to.”

“...fuck,” Kaito muttered, running his hand over his face, before wincing, “Sorry Miyako, sorry Tim. Gentle language, gentle language… okay. Okay. Should I just go talk to him now then?”

Kokichi gave Kaito a soft look. After everything he’d told them…he knew Kaito really cared about Doppio. In his Kaito way of being great with kids, and seeing enough of himself in the teen, and just…seeing his sidekick struggling. Kaito cared enough to go against his misgivings and ask for help. For government help. 

Giving Shuuichi a nod, Kokichi rubbed Kaito’s arm gently. “...even if he isn’t…’rational’? He still deserves to be treated with agency. His rights don’t just get to be revoked ‘cause he’s a kid, or he’ll act out. He deserves to have a part in this too.”

Not to just let him run away (...or other things) but to let Doppio do more than just be shoved around into new situations by other people. Always having the rug pulled out from under him, and never being able to trust that the people around him were telling him the full truth. 

He needed to be protected…but not controlled. And while that was a line that they had all failed to walk in the past…this was a chance to do it better. 

Lake looked over, amused and satisfied with everything Arven was loading up on. “If you wanna beat his buddy to it? Probably.”

Kaito felt his heart sink into his stomach. A part of him wished he could make someone else give Doppio the news… but. This was what he had signed up for, by shoving himself at this problem. Okay. Okay! 

Standing up, Kaito looked to Lake and said, “Convince Arven to sit down and eat something, would you? I just… yeah. I’m gonna go do this.”

“Good luck, dad,” Timothy said gamely.

“Oh my god thank you.” Kaito whispered, eyes sparkling at the rare bit of affection Timothy was willing to blatantly throw his way, before clearing his throat, “Okay. I’ll be in Doppio’s room. Okay.”

Taking a steadying breath, Kaito stomped off. Determined to do this while his courage would last him. 

Again, Doppio was woken up by knocking. 

He didn’t feel as bad as the day before, at least the parts he could remember of it. He felt sticky with dried sweat, though not soaking in it, his head ached with a buzzing fuzz, in just a few seconds of waking up he was already sniffling, and…man. His chest and throat ached…

But it was…doable. Livable. Not something that would spur him to curl up in the corner of a cafe and desperately confide to someone how bad he was feeling. Progress!

So, with only a little bit of a headrush when he first sat up, Doppio shuffled over to the door, peeking out. Then opening it more with a stifled yawn when he saw who it was. “G--mmmmph--g’morning, Kaito.”

“Good morning.” Kaito smiled fondly– d’awwww. Cute sleepy pink bed-head. Kaito loved Doppio’s hair, there was a reason he kept wanting to ruffle it-- though after cooing over the cuteness, he saw the sniffling and exhaustion and ache of pain, and asked, “You take your medicine this morning?”

Kaito stepped in, looking for the tablets and, seeing only the openings he had made last night, immediately started setting up for Doppio to take his next dose. Getting the cup, water ready, crushing the tablet, letting it dissolve. 

As he worked, he said, “Hey, I hope you slept well. Feeling any better? Last night was nice… Hey, Doppio, there’s something pretty serious I have to talk to you about.” Kaito said, bringing the cup to Doppio, “Nothing, like, immediate danger wise… just important.”

Doppio sighed softly, though his exasperation was dulled by fatigue (...and that…yanno…Kaito was nice). “I just woke up…how would I’ve taken it? Weirdo…” Though…it wasn’t like he exactly knew the dosage he needed so… Doppio just let Kaito take care of it, flopping himself back on the bed. 

It was kinda novel, honestly. Normally once Doppio was up, he was up! Already sorting things out in his head to prepare for the day! But…

…there was nothing for him to do here. He was on leave, he didn’t have any plans…and he still felt pretty awful, so just…spending more time in bed was probably the thing he should do, and so…he tried it out. 

…it was really comfy… Not as much as Arven’s bed, though. Or sleeping under Chief…

“Hm?” Rolling over, Doppio took the cup and started sipping, giving Kaito a skeptical look. “...if you just threw me in this room without getting…clearance or whatever, I’m not taking the fall for that.”

Kaito laughed, cracking his knuckles lightly, “Hah. Ah, no, nothing like that…”

… come on. Come on, you coward. Just tell him. It’s time.

Taking a chair and bringing it in front of Doppio’s bed, Kaito sat down in it, fussing with his knuckles. 

“...Doppio,” Kaito licked his lips a little, “...it’s not okay that your boss drowned you. And… I’ve asked someone to talk to you about it. To work out exactly what happened with that. I… do you know what Children Protective Services is?”

“What?!”

By itself, his first reaction wasn’t…angry, or outraged, or scared or…anything like that. It was pure, simple shock. 

Kaito…

(Stay calm.)

(Getting rid of witnesses won’t solve this problem. Running won’t solve this problem. This isn’t a fight you can win head on.)

(Stay calm. Protect The Boss. That is your purpose.)

Still staring at Kaito in astonishment, Doppio sniffled, before he held up a finger, quickly shuffling to the bathroom, after which there was a loud honking noise, Doppio returning with a slightly redder nose. And when he got back to the bed…

Doppio sighed, biting his lip before giving Kaito a hurt look. “...I know what the Child Protection Service is, yeah. Just…” He let out a deeper sigh. “...look, I can get the fucking message you don’t like my boss, but…Kaito.” Doppio squinted at the prince, hurt written all over his face. “That’s so shitty. My boss didn’t drown me…what the hell?”

Kaito squeezed his hands together, feeling the ache in his joints grow worse. Briefly, briefly, uncertainty rushed through his eyes… before he shook his head a little. “Doppio, covering for him isn’t going to work. You basically told me it was him, when you were recovering from the ventilator, I didn’t make this up out of thin air. It’s already done, people already know.”

“I know you don’t want to hear this, but before you get upset, I need you to consider that this is going to be a good thing for both of you,” Kaito stressed, having been thinking about this as he imagined how this conversation could go, “Your boss has issues, clearly. People can help him now. They can help both of you.”

“I’m not covering for anything,” Doppio sighed, exasperatedly drinking more of his medicine. “Look…I don’t even remember what happened after I got off that machine, but I wouldn’t exactly call whatever I was rambling over-exhausted and feverish and in pain ‘coherent’. I…”

He sighed again, sniffling, before his cheeks went red. Hunching his shoulders in embarrassment as he looked away. “...I probably just wanted to be comforted…you know? I-I know it’s a little much for a working relationship, but…like my boss does, when I accidentally burn myself cooking. He…”

Doppio looked back up, struggling for a moment before trying to give Kaito a firm frown. Like Arven, coming up a little short due to softer, youthful features. “...Boss doesn’t hit me, or yell at me, or…fuck, drown me, Kaito. If…this is a genuine concern you have? I’m sorry for giving off that impression. And I’m sorry to waste the time of whoever from CPS you talked to. But…Boss has always done all he can to keep me from being hurt. He’s not abusing me.”

Again, a flash of uncertainty. Kaito twisting his joints some more… “No, Doppio. Please don’t try this, okay, I am literally the last guy this is going to work on, okay?” Kaito said stiffly, lifting his chin and squaring his shoulders. “You didn’t fake shit looking for comfort, there was water in your lungs kid. Gashes on your arms, a massive shiner on your face… you’re not the type to make shit up for attention, and you couldn’t fake all that if you tried.”

Lowering his tone, trying to soften his features a little, he said slowly, “I get it, okay? You want to keep the secret, I know it feels so important right now, but Doppio, the absolute worst outcome today would be you going back to that house with that man still there. It’s not going to get better. People like that just keep hurting you until something makes them stop.”

Doppio chewed viciously on his lip, gaze going everywhere…before he trembled, letting out a shaky, nervous breath. “...I didn’t want to tell you or Arven before,” he quietly murmured. “I…I really don’t remember what happened with my arm but… But I didn’t go home that night. I wasn’t back until that morning, and the cuts were already there.”

He swallowed uneasily, before seeming to draw himself up with a breath, weakly glaring at Kaito. “...if you’ve just…made your mind up about my boss…fine. I don’t care. I’ll talk to the agents and tell them the truth and…whatever. But Boss didn’t hurt me. I…just wish you’d believe me.” 

Kaito wilted a little under the glare… (could he be mistaken? No, no, Doppio had sounded terrified. Don’t forget ‘it’s going to be worse next time’, Kaito. Don’t forget. Doppio needs you right now) before saying softly, “One day you’ll be grateful I didn’t, Doppio. Being believed in a situation like this isn’t a good thing. It’s just going to hurt you.”

Getting up, Kaito thought about making one last bid to try to get Doppio to understand… before steeling his nerves. “Arven’s here. He wants to spend some time with you, he knew your day was going to be rough when I sent the message yesterday. You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to, but he’s coming by soon. The CPS agent is going to be here soon too, at the very latest lunch was what we were told, maybe as soon as an hour. Doppio, when they question you, let them help you. Let them help your boss. This is a bad situation for both of you.”

“...you can be mad at me,” Kaito said, “But I told you I would take responsibility. And I mean to follow through. Mad or not, with me or not, you’re going to be okay, Doppio. I swear it.”

And Kaito headed out.

(...he really thought that one would work.)

Doppio just kept looking at Kaito with that tense, hurt expression, but as Kaito mentioned Arven, the way his face fell was entirely genuine. Sounds working in his throat before, with true, soft betrayal, he managed, “...you told everyone about this? Except me?”

…what, was he just…going around, telling everyone that a man he’d never met was a monster? How… Why…

Doppio’s jaw trembled, before he sniffled. Leveling a much fiercer glare on Kaito. “Are you? Helping me? Or are you just helping yourself?”

And Kaito just left. 

And Doppio…

…

“UGH!” With as much sick strength as he could muster, Doppio threw one of his pillows across the room, heaving with anger. “FUCK!”

Kaito winced as he heard Doppio curse on the other side of the door, clutching his hands to his side, eyes a tad too… wide.

…shit.

It had actually been easier inside the room. Kaito staring at Doppio making it easier to remember why he believed what he did and had done what he had done. Feeling like he was standing in combat against Doppio’s worst instincts, and that if he wavered even a little he’d lose the fight and Doppio would be doomed.

But out here, there was nothing to stand against. It was just Kaito by himself suddenly thinking and re-thinking and re-considering and hyper-analyzing everything that just happened, and feeling that buzz of anxiety as every thought marched steadily towards oh shit I could have done this better I fucked this up

Should he have talked to Doppio first, before starting all of this?

He had tried, hadn’t he? Had he? Shit, had he? Kaito had tried bringing up Doppio’s abuse to him a few times… but always in that shitty, side-step kind of way. And never telling Doppio what Kaito was considering doing. Should he have?? Oh shit should he have? He agreed to tell Arven yesterday, why had he done that? He had known bringing the other kid into this would be bad for Arven, but it hadn’t even occurred to him to think of what telling Arven before Doppio would mean by itself. Not just straining their relationship and putting way too much pressure on Arven to take up the protector/caretaker role (God Kaito wanted to protect Arven from that, fuck fuck what had he done?? Arven was literally here now) but just the… disrespect. Fuck. The disrespect of telling all of these people what Kaito was going to do to Doppio before he even so much as hinted it to Doppio.

Kaito should know better.

Oh, god, he had fucked this up…

Kaito blinked a bit, trying to clear the water that was building in his eyes, before biting his lip. Squaring his shoulders and gripping his hands into fists. It… didn’t matter. Well, it did, but also it didn’t. Kaito had fucked up, sure, and he had absolutely hurt Doppio in the process, but… the pain of that humiliation and betrayal still didn’t equal the danger of being drowned again. Slashed at again. Both of those injuries could have maimed or killed Doppio immediately, the fact that they hadn’t arguably more luck than anything else. Kaito had to take action, he had to…

(...should he have just asked Mr. Nidai for a favor… was the bastard’s life really worth Doppio’s humiliation…?)

(... Kaito wasn’t a killer. Not really. He had never ordered anyone’s death before, and in truth it’d frighten him to do it.)

(Hypocrite)

(Coward)

(what had been the point of all those fights if you were always too much of a soft worthless coward to ever actually follow through?)

(Should he have just done it?)

(he wished he could have just beaten the shit out of the guy and chased him off…)

(would that have worked either?)

(Was Kaito’s true impulse solutions, for any of his real life problems, anything more than endurance for its own sake?)

(Just endure and hope with time…)

Kaito blinked, before shaking his head. No, no. He already had the answer, remember? Time, distance, support. Maybe he had fucked up in both  ‘support’ and how he was enforcing ‘distance’, but that was still the answer, ultimately. He was certain. That was how you help…

(“Are you? Helping me? Or are you just helping yourself?”)

…was Kaito projecting?

That one stopped Kaito cold in his tracks, as he headed back to the dining hall. Doppio’s situation seemed so similar to his own… private places with an authority figure you lived with, where bad things happened in those places… where painful things happened where no one could see, and even if everyone knew, no one could help, no one could even talk about it, and when you finally reached out for help, or someone reached out for help for you, it felt safer or better in the moment to reject that help, feed into the lie…

…….what if that wasn’t what was happening to Doppio?

What if Kaito was projecting?

What if Kaito was projecting?

… Kaito grit his teeth. Doppio had drowned. The… there was no faking that. Or misunderstanding that. Doppio had never offered an alternative reason of what happened. His boss had done it. Kaito was certain. And… and the CPS agent would see that too! Confirm it! And then everything would be taken care of. Doppio would be safe, and Kaito would… well, be right. Validated. He’d have saved a kid who had been in his position. He’d have done this right. He wasn’t crazy. He knew what he was seeing. He wasn’t projecting.

The CPS agent would confirm it.

Walking into the dining hall, Kaito was idly surprised to see everyone was still there. He really hadn’t been gone long… Going to the table, he said to Arven, grinning weakly, “Uh, so, you can go visit Doppio now, but, he might not be up to visitors. So just be conscious of that, okay?”

Arven glowered at Kaito a little, before huffing. Getting up with his extra plate, a “Knew Doppio wouldn’t like it,” before storming off.

“Yeah…” Kaito said warily, watching Arven leave with a touch of exhaustion, before looking to the table, “...it’s gonna be fine. Right? They’re gonna do an interview and figure this out.”

Kokichi gave Kaito a soft, sad look. He didn’t know how it had gone, of course, but all the things Kaito was feeling…it hadn’t gone well. Determination and guilt and hesitance and anger and worry…

“It’ll be alright,” he reassured. “Everything you presented is…well, pretty dire. Even if he’s stubborn about it…they know kids lie, sometimes. And there’s enough physical evidence to point that there’s something to be worried about. They’ll figure it out, and Doppio will be okay.”

-

Running wouldn’t solve anything. It’d just indicate that something really was going on, and Kaito knew where he lived. Where The Boss lived. 

(It had been a mistake. He should’ve insisted more on walking home alone.)

Doppio knew he had to stay calm, come up with a plan for the agents, but…

He was curled up on his side, facing away from the door, breathing harshly into the mattress. He’d punched it a few times, let loose some truly shocking language, but…

…he hadn’t expected it to hurt so much. That Kaito had done everything behind his back. And now…he was just left squeezing his eyes shut against tears, trying to fight against both impulses of sobbing his heart out and tearing the room apart. 

Hearing a knock at the door, Doppio growled, “LI MORTACCI TUA! Non ni inchiri i pila…” (GO FUCK YOURSELF! Stop bothering me…)

“Okay, I’m not sure what that last bit was, but I’ve got better things to do than that first part, Doppio,” Arven called through the door, “Would it sweeten the deal if I told you Chief’s here? Chief, bark… Chief, bark… alright, I’ll admit, that particular trick only works when he feels like it. But I swear he’s here.”

Doppio’s eyes snapped open, widening a bit. …Kaito had said that Arven was here… Had said that Arven knew.

He…wanted to be angry. Wanted to demand all sorts of things, like, like, how long Arven had been just snickering behind his back. Was the sleepover just some ploy to keep Doppio from his home? Was everything…

…but it hadn’t felt like that. And Doppio couldn’t…

With a sniffle, he got up and opened the door, still looking close to tears, but he managed a small, shaky smile. “...Chief is a good tipping point.”

Chief’s tail thumped happily. He still did not bark, because usually he was not supposed to bark in places like this, and he was a Good Dog.

He also felt entirely entitled to walk right in as soon as Doppio opened the door, while Arven gave Doppio a sympathetic look. “I heard what that busy-body asshole did. Kaito’s a dick. Can I come in?”

A crack went through Doppio’s face, like a mirror about to break, but not completely shattered yet. With a heavy breath and a sniffle, Doppio nodded, opening the door more. “...he probably told you I was sick, yeah?”

He didn’t want to be angry with Arven, but… “...just like he told you everything else?”

Arven huffed– a small line of snot escaping as he did so, wiping it off on the back of his sleeve– as he said, “Yeah, I heard. Guardsman Lake came by last night to tell me Kaito wanted me watched, because he was afraid someone was going to attack me trying to get to you before CPS could intervene. Of course nothing actually happened. Figured I’d get here as soon as I could in the morning to help you out with all of this, since Prince Kaito’s apparently made a bunch of leaps over those cuts on your arms.”

“I brought food, by the way,” Arven said, shrugging, “It’s alright. Mass produced stuff, you know how it goes.”

Last night… Not that long ago, but…Kaito had been there all evening. And he didn’t even… And he asked for Arven…

“Magnasborae; ma over faj?! Ma che oo?! UGH!” (Jizz-eater; are you serious?! What the hell?!) Doppio huffed, slamming the door closed before throwing himself into one of the armchairs. Just sitting there for a moment before slamming a fist down on the plush cushioning, and stifling a cough into his shoulder. “What the hell is wrong with that guy?! Boss wouldn’t go after you! He wouldn’t go after anyone! Because he’s not hurting anyone! AAAAARGH!!”

Putting his face in his hands, Doppio huffed for another moment before looking up at Arven a little more calmly, a bit of worry in his eyes. “...oh no… Did you get sick too? I’m sorry…”

Arven laughed a little at ‘Magnasborae’, before feeling his throat tickle in sympathy as he heard Doppio cough. Clearing his throat a bit, Arven shrugged, “Don’t be sorry, there’s just a flu going around. It’s not hitting me all that hard; I’d have gotten it eventually, no big deal.”

Putting the plate of food on the desk– Doppio would eat it when he felt like it– Arven went to go sit in the other chair while Chief went to go sit at Doppio’s feet, looking up at him expectantly, though who knew for what. Pets, treats, just wanting to look at him for the sheer joy of it. Dog stuff.

“Yeah, when the guardsmen showed up talking about ‘CPS this’ and ‘attacks that’, I knew Prince Kaito had done one of those big leaps he does. Like wanting to talk to the school for me to get my resource paper approved? The guy just comes to conclusions that have, like, no basis in reality. Your boss sounds like a hardass sometimes, but you’ve never said anything that’d make me think he’d slash you with a knife. It didn’t even occur to me that was where you could take that theory,” Arven said, before rolling his eyes again, “But then, Kaito does come from a place where they solve everything by killing it. I bet he’s been thinking about this since he first saw the cuts.”

…was there? Honestly…Doppio thought he had gotten sick because he’d been out in the rain one day, and then had been wet and naked for several hours the next, and he was skinny, but…well. That made him feel a little better, if he hadn’t actually gotten Arven sick. Just…one thing, at least, that wasn’t his fault. 

Smiling softly at Chief, Doppio leaned forward and granted the dog pets, hopefully the right answer of what he wanted. It was what Doppio wanted, at least. And right now, he was taking the small joys. 

Doppio shook his head with a groaning sigh. “Boss isn’t a violent person… Sure, he has high expectations for me, but…that’s because I can reach them. And with everything he has to do, he doesn’t have time for someone half-assing things… I tried to explain to Kaito that, even if I don’t remember? What I do remember, it wasn’t possible at all for Boss to have been the one to hurt me, if he, fucking, didn’t want to believe my character endorsement, but…”

Doppio huffed, squeezing his eyes closed. “...this sucks. Why’d he have to do this to me…? You…you know?” he sniffled, glancing up at Arven with a pained expression. “He didn’t even tell me about this until…like ten minutes ago. But, oh, now half the fucking city thinks my boss is some evil child-hitter.”

Arven nodded. “I did know that. I think the only reason he told you is because he realized I was gonna tell you the second I talked to you. He tried to tell me not to bring it up when he saw I had come for a visit, and then immediately headed over here when they made me go collect food for you. Seriously, I don’t get why adults think they’re so damn slick, it’s like they think we’re idiots.”

“But,” Arven said, clapping his hands together, “I was thinking about this last night, trying to figure out how to help you? And I think I’ve got it.”

“What,” Arven said, smirking a little, “If you aren’t a teenager?”

Doppio looked away, clenching his jaw. He knew Arven didn’t deserve his anger… Now he was actually a friend. Someone that didn’t kidnap him or call fucking CPS over some imagined grudge… “What a…bischero…damn.” (Dumbass)

And, like a true friend? Arven had been thinking. 

Doppio looked back up, blinking…before his eyes widened. Nodding slowly. “...CPS doesn’t have any jurisdiction if I’m not a C… But…” His eyebrows drew in a little. “...I don’t have any ID on me. If I just say I’m 20, I don’t think they’ll believe me…”

“I know,” Arven said, “Or, well, I guessed that, based on how Kaito talked about you. Cause he thought you were an adult when you first met, didn’t he? He just decided you were a teenager when we became friends. And, sure, I still think you probably are… but.”

Arven leaned forward, looking determined, “If it’s a matter of ‘he says, she says’? Your boss has known you for years, right? Kaito’s just guessing your age. Your boss would actually know how old you are better than anyone else, cause he actually knows you.”

Leaning back, Arven shrugged, “And, as for if the guy is attacking you? If you can convince everyone you’re an adult, then they can’t drag you away from him while you guys are proving Prince Kaito has no idea what he’s talking about. And they won’t be able to find anything to arrest your boss with, because there isn’t anything there… right?”

Well…Kaito had been undecided about his age when they first met, but…Doppio had a good hunch he had been able to successfully insist he was an adult, at the time. And…yeah, it had only flipped once he was hanging out with Arven. Because, yeah, that’d be a little weird…

(...weird in more ways…)

But Doppio didn’t care about being weird if it’d save The Boss. And it was a pretty solid plan…except…

“Right, right, there isn’t anything, but…” Doppio gave Arven an uneasy glance. A chill going down his spine. “...I…don’t want them bothering Boss. I…” He took a breath. “...I wanna stop it before it gets to him. It… I’d feel so ashamed if an accusation got that far, on my behalf. He doesn’t deserve that…”

Arven frowned, scratching the side of his neck a little. “...well… hm.” 

Arven crossed his arms, thinking about it, before looking around. “I mean, maybe it’d just be enough to tell the CPS agent that nothing’s happened. If we could blame the cuts on something else, they’d have to take your word for it, right? Hey, where’s Amaina, by the way? Sorta expected her to chime in by this point.”

♪ i am heeere i am just being veeeery quiet ♩ Amaina whispered in Arven’s ear.

“GAH!” Arven jumped, looking back at her as she fluttered near his head. “Did you have to do that!? Geez… what do you think, Amaina? How can we get Doppio out of this?”

O.O

Amaina said nothing.

“Saying I can’t remember what happened isn’t a great sign, huh,” Doppio sighed. “Even though I can prove it wasn’t Boss…without another reason, they’ll just think I’m lying. So…” He could come up with something. 

Looking up as il angioletto made her appearance, Doppio smiled thinly at her. …she hadn’t been there for his bruise or the cuts, but…she had been there for him…fucking up. She knew what happened there…even if it had just been Doppio’s fault. But the agents wouldn’t see it that way…

“...I know you don’t like Boss either, Angelo, but…” Doppio gave her a pleading look. “...you wouldn’t make up some fake story to call CPS on him, would you?”

Amaina stared at him.

Then, her mouth opened wide. So wide that it seemed like her mouth split from ear to ear, her head swinging back like it was on hinges. And out of her mouth little, rainbow bubbles floated gently up, until the bubbles hit, one after another, the ceiling.

And each time a bubble popped? Out sang a small, echoey voice, like musical air had escaped the bubbles.

I’m / Begging / You / Please / Wake / Me / Up. / In / All / My / Dreams / I / Drown

And as each bubble popped, the word of song escaping, the water splashed back down, soaking Amaina. And when all the bubbles had popped, she closed her face back up. Staring at them. Soaked in water. O.O

“...whelp. That was the scariest thing she’s done so far.” Arven frowned, “Amaina? Translation?”

O.O 

OoO ♪ drowning suuuuuuuuuuuuucks ♩ 

Arven frowned, “Drowning?”

…Doppio knew he was in trouble from the first rainbow bubble. As much as one had saved his life the first time…

…Kaito hadn’t told Arven about…

Doppio looked to the side, taking his arms back from Chief as he held himself in a self-hug. That small, shaking…uneasiness, from when he had considered drawing a bath last night returning. 

“There…” Doppio swallowed. “When I got home from your place…there was a pipe leak. Trying to clean it, I…I-I fucked up. And I was already sick… Kaito ran into me later and took me to see a healer…”

Arven looked to Doppio, brow furrowing. Not saying anything for a moment, just analyzing Doppio and what was being said.

Before, carefully, he guessed, “This isn’t about the cuts?”

There was nothing, for a moment, before Doppio very slightly shook his head. Looking at the floorboards across the room. “...not entirely, at least.”

Arven frowned. “...okay?? Wait, how does pipe leaks equal drowning, and how does all of that equal Kaito taking you to see a healer? Is Amaina just being extra about the drowning thing?”

♪ bitch how dare I am not eeeextraaaaaaaa ♩ 

He should just…lie. Amaina knew but…she wasn’t just spelling it out, so he could trust in her flair for dramatics. And her not being visible to anyone but him and Arven. 

Doppio flushed in embarrassment, hunching into himself more. “...got stuck under the counter the leak was at. I didn’t pass out, but…” He looked away more. “...the healer said it was called ‘dry drowning’. Had to use…uh…a…ventilation machine? To…get water out of my lungs. I was so exhausted at the end, I don’t even remember it, but…Kaito thinks that my boss did it to me.”

“Holy shit!” Arven shouted, looking alarmed, as Chief looked up in surprise at his boy shouting. “Doppio, you were on a ventilator!? What, yesterday? How are you not at the hospital!? What, you got a pipe shoved down your throat and Prince Kaito just took you home after!? Like a gift bag??”

Squinting, Arven looked around the room– clothes, hygiene supplies, medicine– before asking, “...Doppio, forget even insisting you’re an adult. Have you been kidnapped? You might have straight up been kidnapped. You could maybe get Kaito in trouble for this.”

Doppio gave a full-body startle at Arven’s shout, gaze snapped back to him in shock. …was it really that big of a deal? Was…he not supposed to have left? “I-I didn’t even want to go to a healer, b-but…he insisted. Promised she could keep a secret, ‘n wouldn’t hurt me… I-I didn’t want to stay.”

He followed Arven’s gaze around the room. “...he did keep calling it that.”

…he was supposed to gain Kaito’s endorsement for The Boss, though.

(Kaito cared about him…)

…Kaito cared about himself. Went around Doppio’s back for his own, fucking…hero complex.

Doppio’s face crumpled a bit in distress. “...I don’t want to get him arrested…”

“Well… arrested is a bit much,” Arven agreed, frowning a little as he crossed his arms, “Kaito’s absolutely crazy, but I think the guy genuinely means well. He’s probably just used to snapping his fingers and getting everything he wants handed to him. It’s probably never occurred to him he could get in trouble for butting into our lives like this.”

“...and, I mean, for my own stuff, I don’t really care if he wants to talk to the school on my behalf,” Arven admitted, “Like, sure, whatever, knock yourself out… but for you? This is waaaaay more serious, he could ruin your life doing this. You live with and work for the guy whose reputation he’s trying to destroy. So like… maybe some sort of slap on the wrist…”

Tilting his head, Arven hummed, “...okay, tell me if this is a weird idea… what if we went to Prince Ouma? Explain what’s happened, have him reel his husband back in. If anyone could, it’s him, right? Get the accusations dropped entirely?”

Doppio nodded sadly as Arven talked. This could absolutely ruin his life. Get him fired, put The Boss in danger… All because some idiot was projecting the worst thing that popped into his head. But…

(...he was already breaking so many rules… But Doppio felt another shiver of fear at Arven’s suggestion.)

Sighing, Doppio rubbed his face. “...maybe. They said the agents could be here any moment… I’ll talk to them first, and…a-and if they end up believing some stranger’s story over mine? Then…I’ll try to explain things to the prince.”

“Well, I’d offer to go chew out Prince Kaito for you, but honestly I doubt he’d actually listen to me.” Arven said, “...how did you drown, Doppio? Like, clearly. You gotta practice telling me the story, if you aren’t clear, they’re gonna think you’re hiding something… Amaina, could you stop??”

Amaina was currently very notably sulking on the floor. Laying down in a puddle that was slowly getting bigger. Clearly annoyed with both of them.

“I’d still appreciate it.” Doppio offered Arven a small smile, before sighing softly, looking over at Amaina. “...Angioletto… We want things to go back to normal, si? Go back to having pond days? You…you said you wanted to go pick flowers for ducks, right? I can’t…show you beautiful things if a bunch of…o-of haughty, know-it-all adults are gonna keep…locking me in rooms.”

Another sigh. Doppio closed his eyes for a moment before straightening, looking back at Arven. “...one of our bathroom pipes broke, under the sink, and while I was fixing it, I got caught in the cabinet. I was struggling in it long enough that I swallowed water, but I didn’t think anything of it until later…when Kaito took me to see a healer.”

He paused, before deflating, giving Arven a worried look. “Better?”

Arven hummed, “Better… remember, it’s your word against his. Do you know why Kaito’s so convinced it was your boss? You need to be ready to explain why he’s mistaken.”

Doppio shook his head a little. “He said…it was something I said, when I got off the ventilator. But…I don’t remember that at all. I was just…tired and hurt and delirious… I just wanted to go to sleep, by that point. But I know I wouldn’t have said anything about it being Boss.”

Arven considered that. “So… you got caught beneath a burst pipe, swallowed water, and it made you sick. Kaito noticed, took you to a healer, who put you on a ventilator. When you were recovering from that, you said something that convinced Kaito you were drowned by your boss, and he kidnapped you and reported the boss to CPS. And now we’re here… and Kaito doesn’t believe you, right? You’ve already told him all of this?”

Doppio nodded tiredly. “He said I ‘didn’t need to cover for him’, that this would ‘help me and Boss’, and that I’d ‘be grateful for this one day’. Just…buncha bullshit…”

“Well, it sounds like he has no real proof to me. I bet the CPS agent’s gonna see that too. And, like…” Arven thinned his lips a little, shrugging, “...I mean, it is your word against a Luminary’s. They’ve got to take your word for it over his. Where he comes from? He probably assumes everything was some sort of life or death fight. They just straight up kill people over there. The CPS agent is gonna know that too.”

Scratching his neck some more, Arven slowly nodded to himself, convinced by his own reasoning as he said, “You know, that really probably is all this is. Like how he attacked that guy on the beach? He’s probably still just adjusting to being here. He sees someone got into an accident with water? Of course he was attacked. He probably really thinks it to… aw.” Arven frowned. “That kinda makes me sad actually, if he really thinks he’s saving you from something… That still doesn’t justify all of this, he could have at least asked you if that was what happened once you were coherent again. But, well, he did get my house watched at the same time. He probably is genuinely scared about this. Cause it was probably common back in Luminary, you know?”

“...we talked about his assault at the beach, last night,” Doppio said softly. Uncurling from himself and leaning back against the chair, honestly a little tired out. From what, he couldn’t guess but… “...he said that it was his fault, a mistake. That he should’ve reacted differently, but was too blinded by anger…and that’s why he’s been in therapy. Has a little rock to help him now.” Doppio gave Arven a small nod. “A ‘boom’ moment.”

“...he probably is projecting, though. Just…seeing danger that isn’t there. I do appreciate him wanting to help but…” Doppio’s expression twisted, hurt still glimmering in his eyes. “...he could’ve talked to me. He…he keeps telling me I’m not an idiot so…why couldn’t he act on that too? If I’m not braindead, like he’s been saying then why couldn’t he just…”

“Maybe whatever you said when you were out of it was really convincing?” Arven asked. “Not that I want to play devil’s advocate, I am entirely on your side about this. But, like, it is possible delirious you straight up looked at him and was like ‘my boss drowned me please help also don't believe anything I say about it later’?” Arven asked… before shaking his head, “No, that sounds stupid even as I say it. It really is probably just him acting too rashly on nothi–”

There was a knock at the door. A soft, feminine voice calling out, “Good day? My name is Apple Leif, I’m from Child Protective Services. I’m looking for Doppio?”

Doppio shook his head softly. Even at his most addled? He couldn’t imagine saying even the slightest negative thing about Boss. Let alone…actually telling Kaito that… 

Well, of course he wouldn’t. He’d gotten stuck under a cabinet. 

Startling slightly at the knock on the door, Doppio sighed, just…taking a moment and rubbing his eyes before getting up. Flashing Arven a nervous smile. Showtime.

Opening the door, Doppio gave the woman with long, coiffed hair a nervous look before he nodded. “Uh…that’s me. Good morning. Um…I’m a bit under the weather, so…sorry about that.” Glancing back, he shifted his weight. “...do…you need to talk to me alone, or…?”

Arven gave him a small thumbs up, mouthing ‘you’ve got this’ before Doppio went to go open the door. He stood up, almost on instinct, when the door opened and a tall, slender woman with broad shoulders and maroon-tinted skin with honey colored eyes looked in, sucking on a lollipop, which she took out of her mouth  and held like a wand, flicking it around like she was leading a small orchestra as she spoke. “Good day. I’m sorry to hear you haven’t been feeling well. Normally I’d offer some candy as an icebreaker, but… actually, I may have cough drops…”

She murmured this, patting at her pockets– which honestly Arven couldn’t imagine holding anything inside of them. Her clothes seemed to lay flat against her frame– before sighing, shaking her head. “No, sorry, don’t have them.”

Glancing at Arven, she turned to look at Doppio again. “While I can make accommodations for translators or an anxiety argument, I do prefer to be able to talk to you, Doppio, without someone looking over your shoulder. I want to be certain no one is making you feel compelled or intimidated to say one thing or another, you understand? Is there a reason this other gentleman needs to be here?”

“I’m a friend of his, I’m trying to show him support… What about my dog?” Arven asked, Chief thumping his tail on the floor. “Can he stay?”

“Dogs pretty rarely have intimidation agendas so…” Apple smiled lightly, “Yes, if it’d help? Of course.”

Doppio’s gaze went a little flat. Offering candy to scared kids to get them to open up, huh? It was almost so stereotypical he could laugh. 

…damn. He should’ve not spoken Common! But…well, he didn’t want to put the onus of his argument on Arven either. Even if he’d probably articulate it better and not keep tripping over his words and…all that. 

Giving Arven a grateful look, Doppio sighed softly. “Thanks… Um. Unless you were…planning on going back home? Would…you want to hang out after this? Kinda…tripped up making this time chiller than the last, huh?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll just go hang out in the dining hall, you can come get me when you’re ready.” Arven said, “We’ll hang out and talk shit, when you’ve got all this cleared up.”

Apple looked curiously at Arven at that, but stepped aside to watch him go, Arven giving Doppio a wave before telling Chief, “Stay. Take care of him. Good boy!”

Chief’s tail thumped. Yes. He knew he was a good boy.

As Arven left, Apple turned back to Doppio, before looking around the room. “...we don’t have to talk here, if you’d prefer somewhere else,” she said, spinning the lollipop in her hand lightly. “Do you have a preference, Doppio?”

Doppio weakly waved back to Arven as he left, his gaze lingering. Before, paired with Apple’s question…he looked down. …he was still wearing pajamas. He hadn’t even brushed his teeth yet. 

…uuuuurgh.

Flushing lightly, Doppio shook his head and went back to the chair he’d been sitting in before, mostly because Chief was still plopped there and, well, if he had more dog time, Doppio was going to take advantage of it. “Here’s fine. I, uh…only kinda just found out you were coming here, so…I haven’t really gotten ready for the day. Apologies for the unprofessionalism, miss.”

“Noooot aaaaat allllll,” Apple drawled, her light, country accent more obvious when she elongated her words, looking around the room, before taking a seat. Popping her lollipop in her mouth, she pulled out a small, thin notepad, before taking out a pen as she flipped it open. Still looking around as she did so, placing the flipbook down on the arm rest, pinning it in place with her pen, before taking out the lollipop with her free hand. “You’re still recovering from a pretty substantial medical procedure, yes? I’ve been told you were on a ventilator for a few hours yesterday, getting your lungs drained, and that you’re still recovering from that and a flu you had caught as well. Do you have any concerns about answering questions right now? If you feel like your answers wouldn’t be exactly reliable in this moment, I can come back at another agreed upon time.”

Doppio’s eyes fixed on her notepad for a moment before he sighed. Gently rubbing the area behind Chief’s ear as he made himself comfortable in the chair. “I’m recovering, yes, but I believe I’m lucid at the moment. My friend and I were talking for a bit before this, so…I believe I’m as coherent as I mean to be.”

He offered a small smile, inviting her into that joke. Since she had been kind enough to give him an opening. 

“In that vein, though… I don’t remember what was going on after my procedure, yesterday, and Prince Kaito said that I’d said some concerning things. Considering the amount of pain and disorientation I was experiencing, I don’t think anything I said was particularly reliable, at the time.”

“Hmmm,” Apple nodded, like that made plenty of sense to her, as she flipped back a few pages, “As you may already know, Doppio, I’m not to withhold any information in regards to the statements given about you and your situation. So, for your knowledge? What Kaito Momota specifically said was that you told him ‘it was going to be worse next time’, after discussing your boss at length. He said you sounded frightened.”

Apple looked up at Doppio, before smiling lightly. “I’d like to know how much you already know about what’s happening, and then I’d like to fill in any gaps you may have in your knowledge. Could you explain to me what’s going on? From your perspective? There are no wrong answers. I’m here to help, Doppio.”

Doppio looked up, his eyes widening in genuine surprise. He…what? 

(A bubble of disgust growled in his stomach. How dare he…)

“Uh, that…”

He sighed, shaking his head a little. “...yeah, I don’t know what that means, but…okay. Kaito’s made it no secret he doesn’t like my boss, though…I really don’t know why. They’ve never met. And…yesterday, after taking me to his family’s GP, and staying with me through the procedure and everything… I was going to take sick leave, for a few days, since, obviously, it’s irresponsible for me to work like this, and Kaito offered to give me a room at the castle and keep an eye on me.”

“Though,” he tilted his head towards Apple, “I don’t…really remember that last part. I remember planning to take leave, but…then I just woke up here, and Kaito filled in the rest.”

“And…then I’ve just been here, resting, until this morning.” Doppio’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance, his teeth gritting a little. “Where out of the blue, Kaito says he contacted CPS, and he’s worried about me and…he wouldn’t listen at all when I asked him what he was thinking. So…I’m talking with you, now.”

“I see,” Apple said, flipping to the next page. “We spoke to the healer who Prince Momota took you to, Dr. Kimura. She said that while she wasn’t privy to what you both spoke about privately, that she can confirm you had water in your lungs that had been settling there for a few hours at least, which put your life in serious danger. However, she couldn’t–” Apple said, flipping back to a previous page, “--confirm other injuries Prince Momota brought up. Could I ask you about your arm? He said you were recently attacked by a blade, and when asked to guess at the date of the injuries, he put it as roughly three days ago. Your doctor said the injuries she saw were nearly healed and had to have been much older than that. Can you clear that up for me?”

Doppio nodded, before looking briefly surprised, then exasperated. “Geez, Kaito… Yeah, here.” He held up his arm, pushing the sleeve up to show the thinning, whitening scars going up his arm. Offering the agent a small, sheepish grin, he half-shrugged. “I know the scars are a little intense, but…if I can be a little crass, I don’t know what the hell Kaito’s talking about. Had a cooking accident like…a month ago, maybe.”

Okay, okay, okay, he was doing well, just go with it! You and Arven practiced!

Sighing softly, Doppio looked away, rubbing the back of his neck with his other arm. “The water stuff… We had a pipe break, yesterday, and when I was fixing it, I got caught under the sink cabinet for a bit. I didn’t really think anything of it until I was feeling bad later, which is when Kaito caught up with me and he took me to the healer’s.” Looking a bit embarrassed, he tapped his fingers together. “...my boss had asked me to get a plumber since…that’s kinda their deal, right? But…I really thought I could fix it myself… And I did, but…” Another ashamed sigh. “...he’s probably gonna want me to take more leave than I already notified for. Restoration and recovery pay, and all that, right?”

“...honestly, I feel pretty bad,” he winced. “Workplace accidents are always the employer’s fault, but…I went against the specific protocol for it, and…I just didn’t want to get him in trouble for something that was just my fault. That’s…why I didn’t tell anyone. But…”

Doppio frowned. “But a child abuse accusation is way worse, and I don’t want to just…keep silent to save my own skin, when someone who’s professionally looked after me so well is going to be condemned like that.”

“I…I do appreciate, what Kaito means to do for me, with all this… But I think he might just be projecting some personal issues. Seeing danger where there isn’t any, you know? I’ve always heard that Dicea and Luminary are really different social climates…”

“Good,” Apple murmured, jotting down some notes, nodding, “Good… Prince Momota has been in therapy for nearly a year now for anger management. Could recommend his therapist help with, mmmm… paranoid tendencies? Something like that. The details don’t matter, he’s just not a reasonable witness…”

Tapping the notebook, she nodded, “That makes a lot of sense. So, Aceto Doppio, can you tell me clearly and plainly: are you being abused? Has anyone harmed you purposefully? Do you feel like your life, freedom, or wellbeing is in danger?”

…it was what he had been aiming for, without actually getting the investigation turned on Kaito, but… Doppio had to keep himself from doing a double-take. The thing was, even if his accusations were bullshit…Kaito was reasonable. He…hadn’t sold it that well, had he?

For a moment, Doppio could only stare at Apple. Taken off-guard as she addressed him by his full name. Sure, he had told Kaito, but…he felt like the guy would’ve forgotten by now. …maybe it was the same deal as him remembering his address…

But it wasn’t time for that. 

Taking a breath, Doppio sat up and did his best to speak clearly. “I am not being abused, no one has harmed me purposefully, and I do not feel as though my life, freedom, or well-being are in danger.”

“Whelp. That’s clear enough, isn’t it.” Apple nodded, jotting it down. “And you are under no duress? No one has threatened you or bribed you into making false statements?”

Doppio shook his head. “I am declaring this under my own free and unswayed will. I am under no duress, persuasion, or incentivization to claim this.”

“Good,” Apple nodded, before saying, “I’m going to draft up a report about my findings for this investigation, and when I’m done, I’d like you to read through it and sign it, confirming everything in my report is accurate as far as your knowledge allows. It won’t take me long, I’ll have it ready to sign in not even thirty minutes. The report will, essentially, say that you had a kitchen accident a month ago, and a dangerous work accident a day ago, that did, in fact, require additional medical attention, that Kaito Momota helped you obtain.”

“However, Kaito Momota, due to so far undiagnosed mental medical issues– of which this organization will officially pass this report along to his assigned government therapist for additional support in getting him properly diagnosed– saw scars and, alarmed by the stress of getting you serious medical assistance, either had a delusion or fabricated evidence while you were delirious during your medical procedure, to sincerely get you help in what he had decided in his paranoid state was a direct murder attempt against you. It won’t be hard to argue, he has a well documented history of delusions. He’s currently on medication for it, actually.”

Apple said this with a small, knowing smirk at Doppio. Like they were sharing a mutual ‘aha’ moment. 

“But, upon talking to you, there is no signs of abuse, all of those incidents have a logical explanation, and this was little more than a concerned but unwell citizen making false reports. Anything else you’d like me to add to the report?”

Only Amaina and Doppio would see it, of course. But as Apple spoke, above them, water started to drip from the walls and ceiling. Raining down on Apple, who smiled warmly at Doppio. Entirely unaware of being covered in water.

At that, Doppio did do a double-take. His eyes squinting slightly in unsure confusion. 

…some…government agent shouldn’t…have access to Kaito’s medical history like that… Or the authority to make a claim about his mental wellness, as a witness reporter and not the person the report was about. Sure, his concerns could be officially dismissed, which was what Doppio was hoping for, but…

…he hadn’t wanted this! 

“...uh…” Doppio said softly, eyeing the water start to drip from the ceiling. “...um…I-I mean… Kaito meant well. He just…jumped to conclusions. It…he wasn’t…uh…”

Apple waved him off, shaking her head. “Trust me, if we say no abuse is occuring, and Prince Momota keeps trying to insist there was? Then the safest path forward for you is to discredit him as a reliable witness. We’re already working against the fact that he’s married to an Ouma, which is a problem by itself: if Kokichi Ouma gets involved, there’s very little I can do to make that disappear. It needs to be convincing. To everyone. Even Prince Momota himself.”

“And, like I said, historically there’s plenty to work with. We could likely even drum up more witnesses of him expressing paranoid delusions about other people. It might even be true, honestly, based on his medical records and his history in Luminary. Getting it properly diagnosed could be the best thing for him,” Apple mused, crossing her arms and tilting her head. “He’s already being medicated for Psychotic Depression. Just have to suggest it’s full blown psychosis and, poof. Any signs of damage he thought he saw? Gone, along with this case.”

“Actually, that’s a point, though… that Arven kid who was just in here,” Apple asked, giving Doppio a cool look, “Did he see anything?”

Doppio grimaced, feeling something tight coil in his chest. He…didn’t mean for this… Kaito shouldn’t have notified CPS, but…but he didn’t deserve to have an investigation launched into his mental health. He’d taken Doppio to the doctor! Had given him a place to stay, and…and he’d read to him while Doppio was hooked up to that awful machine and…and gave him hugs and said it was okay to need them and that it was okay when things were hard, because they were hard and…

Doppio’s eyes widened. The pupils shrinking. And he barely noticed crossing half the room, gripping Apple’s collar in chokehold tightness. Rubberbands snapping under his palms. 

„⅄on pou,ʇ ƃǝʇ ʇo ʇɐʞǝ ʇɥᴉs ɟɹoɯ ɯǝ˙„

Not caring about any sort of disorientation the woman might’ve been experiencing, Doppio looked down at her with a cruel sort of detachment, the gold of his eyes just as cold as the metal. 

“You will confirm that I’m not being abused, or put under duress, and that the report was the result of a miscommunication while I was delirious. You will not investigate or tip-off any information concerning Kaito Momota or Arven.”

Glancing down, Doppio took her notebook and ripped out both the page she had been writing in, and the next one under it, before going over to his clothes from the day before. Pulling out a lighter, and reducing their conversation to ashes.

“Write the report to those specifications. Understand?”

“Grk! Hg…” Apple tried to speak through the grip on her throat, before taking in a deep breath when he let go of her collar. Rubbing her neck, she glared at him, watching the pages burn, before muttering, “I did wonder how some little squirt like you was supposed to be his Number One… tsk.”

Straightening herself out, she said with a scowl, “... who… who said anything about Arven? I was just trying to tell you that Momota has a history we could use… nevermind. I don’t get paid enough to talk clients out of their own bad ideas. You want to leave the prince a threat? More power to you.”

Giving him a dry look, she said, “But don’t expect me to be able to show up and make this disappear again. This is a one time trick. It won’t work again. Nothing I or anyone else can do about that. You sure you want to tie your hands like that?”

“I can take care of it,” Doppio said shortly, still staring coldly at Apple. “I clean up people like your mistakes all the time. The Boss still needs Momota, and if your microscopic, insignificant view can’t see how undermining his word might just be a problem down the line, then maybe no one will need your words anymore either.”

“Thirty minutes for the contract. Go.”

Apple glared at him… before turning. Obediently heading out, if looking a little stiff and frustrated. The door slamming slightly behind her.

♪ … okay but she was a biiiiiitch ♩ Amaina said, landing on Doppiio’s shoulder, ♪ seriously screw that lady ♩ 

Doppio watched the agent leave, standing tall. The Boss of Passione’s Number One. 

…and when the door closed, he was Aceto Doppio. 

Doppio crumbled to his knees, holding his stinging hand to his chest as he trembled, thick tears welling up in his eyes. “Sh-she was, wasn’t she…”

With a deep sniffle, he ducked his head down, biting hard on his lip and trying not to sob. “...what’s wrong with me, Amaina? I-I…I didn’t mean for this!”

Amaina fluttered in front of Doppio, looking at him… before she scooted forward. Hugging his nose and resting her forehead between his eyes. While she did this, Chief, who neither Doppio nor Apple noticed had been getting very growly behind Doppio, plodded over and laid himself out on Doppio’s lap, shoving his big body over him. 

♪ shhhhhhh shhhhhhhh shhhhhh it’s okay… the upgrade’s not gonna abandon you, pretty little senpai is on your side, and your fairy is going to lead you through the woods. You’re not lost, fairy boy. You’re just in the middle of the adventure. It’s tough, being the hero ♩ 

Bowled over by Chief, Doppio sniffled and reached out, petting through the dog’s ruff. And, as his tears started to fall, he put a hand over Amaina too, giving her a hug. Forcing out a broken, yet still hopeful laugh. “You do have good songs to follow…”

♪ I really doooooo ♩ Amaina agreed, nodding knowingly. ♪ …it’s good you didn’t let her do that though really i wish more that she wasn’t who she is at all. Your boss is a jerk you should talk to a real agent lady and not her stupid ass doodoo head ♩  

Doppio shook his head a little, just…embracing Amaina still. “I can’t let people mess with Boss…but I couldn’t… Kaito doesn’t… He didn’t mean to try and ruin my life. I can’t ruin his…”

“I’m not talking to CPS,” he sniffled. “I’m not being abused.”

Amaina sighed, petting his face some more, ♪ you are so very dumb but that’s okay i love you anyway pretty dumb boy ♩ 

Chief ruffed, before turning on Doppio’s lap a bit, whining a little, before reaching back to lick Doppio’s face a little, before slumping onto his side again. Whining softly at Doppio’s tears. Poor sad boys.

“Aw, Chief…” Doppio sniffled, though he let out another laugh. “I-I’m okay, boy… Good dog…”

Closing his eyes, though that didn’t stop the tears either, Doppio tipped his head back on the floor. “...she was gonna hurt Arven…”

“...I had to, right?”

♪ Oh yeah totally♩ Amaina nodded, no doubt in her little face, ♪ sure Arven is Sheik and can do cool things and play a harp and has an awesome dog and can make tasty plants but he’s also Zelda and sometimes ya gotta go and rescue a princess that’s just how it goes for heroes ♩  

“I don’t think Arven needs rescuing,” Doppio said softly, “But…”

His face crumpled a bit, something uncomfortable squirming in his stomach. “...but ugly things happen to…to people like Miss Leif. To people around her. I can’t…I couldn’t…” He took a deep, shaky breath, more of a desperate gasp really. Finding a solemn vow within himself, and terrified to have it. “...I’m not gonna let anything happen to him.”

O.O ♪ … ♩ 

OoO ♪ gaaaaaaaay ♩ 

♪ but yeah good idea ♩ Amaina agreed, giving Doppio a small kiss on his forehead, before smacking him in the forehead, ♪ now you smell drink your medicine shower and and go give your boyfriend his dog back!! ♩  

Squinting his eyes open, Doppio pouted at Amaina. “Rude. And he’s not my b-boyfriend! And…didn’t I already take my medicine…?” Doppio muttered to himself as he wriggled out from under Chief, nonetheless following Amaina’s instructions. 

-

“...this doesn’t seem right,” Kokichi muttered, staring intently at the case file he’d put back down on the bed. “It’s…possible, sure, but…how do you “miscommunicate” that badly? And you saw his injuries, Kai-chan, heard Seiko’s diagnoses. This doesn’t just…”

…but they couldn’t do anything officially anymore. If they found another incident of probable cause, sure, but…overtly looking into Doppio’s life, or his boss’s would just put them at risk of being accused of stalking themselves. So…

But Doppio wouldn’t confide in Kaito again, after this. 

…his “Dicean solution” had failed. In the exact way his friends had feared. Kokichi glared at the report, feeling shame in his throat. 

…looking into…Vinizio Ginocchio, of a trading company…huh?

Kaito had already read the file. Had wordlessly shown Kokichi it when he got back from work, bouncing an agitated, fussy Miyako in one arm as he sat cross-legged on the bed, chewing on his joints with his other hand. Having been sitting on this information for about a half hour now.

“...those cuts were a month old?” Kaito murmured, brow furrowed, his words slightly muffled around the joints of his thumb, “...how? I… they were bleeding… I re-wrapped the bandage myself…”

Chew, chew, chew, “...Doppio must have lied his arse off,” Kaito decided, pulling out his hand and rubbing Miyako’s belly a little, who whined and fussed in his arms, not quite crying, not quite throwing a tantrum, but clearly an unhappy baby in the moment. “I knew he would, but… I thought with Seiko’s testimony, it’d be undeniable… He had enough water in his chest to kill him, there’s no way he just got sprayed in the face by a broken pipe…”

“I’m gonna talk to him,” Kaito said, suddenly standing up. A wide, strained look in his eyes. “I’ll convince him to admit what happened, convince him to leave the guy. I can convince him. I just need to talk to him again.”

Kokichi nodded slightly before getting up, reaching out to be given Miyako. “...I think you should. Whatever is going on between him and his boss isn’t healthy, even if it really isn’t what we’re thinking. Talk to him…but be careful, hun. If he’s determined to make such a convincing case…don’t push him into feeling like he’s in a corner. Just…be honest with him.”

Kaito nodded, carefully passing over Miyako– who was not appeased, now getting more red in the face– before giving Kokichi a quick hug. “I’m going to. I can still fix this. I can… he told me his boss drowned him. He told me, Kokichi. I don’t know… how the heck they decided it was a miscommunication, but I know what he said to me.”

Kaito backed up, giving the report a frustrated look, before going to pick it up, rolling it up and putting it in his pocket. “I’ll be back. Just gonna go fix all this real quick! And then be right back. Sorry to leave you with a grumpy baby. I’ll be back, beautiful!”

Kaito headed off.

A work accident, a month-old injury, and Doppio miscommunicating with Kaito while still recovering from a medical procedure… The report was barebones, otherwise. Did they even talk to this Vinizio guy!? They had to have, right!? Oooooh, if they didn’t, Kaito sure was about to…

Kaito stormed downstairs. Getting to the door, before steeling his nerves, knocking on it. “Doppio. Doppio! I need to talk to–”

Arven opened the door, giving Kaito a dry look… before he sighed, stepping aside. “Doppio, it’s Kaito. Told you he was gonna show up if the report’s finished.”

“Damn right I will,” Kaito muttered, stepping inside, pulling out the report and giving Doppio a strained look. “Miscommunication?”

Doppio had showered and dressed--regretfully, indeed in the clothes Kaito had bought, because Doppio’s were disgusting and there was no way he was going to wear smelly clothes around Arven--and…had made the bed and tidied what he could of the room, and eaten breakfast and took the plate to the kitchens… And he and Arven had just been talking for a bit. Sharing a pack of tissues and playing paper games on a blank page in Doppio’s notebook. Something chill, while they were both still under the weather. 

And while this was expected…

Doppio side-eyed Kaito for a moment before turning his head away with a huff. 

“He told you it was a miscommunication before he ever spoke to the CPS agent, didn’t he?” Arven pointed out, “Why did you think he’d suddenly change his mind?”

“He said that he was… Arven, I need you to step out of here for a moment,” Kaito said, gripping his hands into tight fists, “Doppio and I need a word.”

“...no?” Arven said. Tone implying the ‘duh’ he didn’t say.

Fuck do not lose it on the teenager. “Arven, it’s not a request,” Kaito snapped at him. “I need to have a conversation with him!”

“Don’t yell at him!” Doppio was up from his seat in a flash, growling at Kaito. “You don’t get to barge in here and just throw us around on a whim!”

Walking up to Kaito, Doppio glared at him, all the hurt he’d been stewing in since Kaito had left the first time deciding to…well…”boom”. “Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of him. Or would you rather just tell Arven, since apparently it doesn’t matter what I think, or what I say, or what I feel at all?!?”

Kaito, entirely on instinct, made himself bigger as Doppio approached him. Squaring his shoulders and filling out his chest, baring his teeth down at him… but as he saw Arven quickly hurry to stand behind Doppio, clearly trying to back him up, he remembered that they were both small. And that he wasn’t trying to intimidate them, he just needed them to listen…

So he took a step back, and then another step. Hunching his head down a little, trying to be a little smaller, though he couldn’t help the radiation of frustration he currently had, as he said, “Of course it matters, all of that stuff, Doppio! I’m not trying to leave you out of things, I just…”

Holding up the report, Kaito growled, “I was trying to avoid something like this! I was hoping if I didn’t give you time, you’d be… less likely to run! Less likely to sabotage this for yourself!”

“He didn’t sabotage anything.” Arven frowned. “He told you, he wasn’t attacked. Why are you so determined to ignore what he’s saying?”

“Because he’s lying!” Kaito shouted… before taking another step back, covering his face, “Don’t yell, don’t fucking yell… sorry, sorry, I’m not yelling…”

In the face of Kaito squaring up, Doppio didn’t back down. No matter how big or how strong or how crafty, Aceto Doppio didn’t give up. Even if he pulled himself to the finish line bloody and broken…he’d get there. 

Doppio just glared more. “Like this’? You were hoping if I was blindsided by everything, that someone I trusted tried to sabotage not just my life, but someone I respect too, then I’d…what, Kaito? Say all the things you want me to say? Everything you wished you said?!”

Even still…a full-body flinch vibrated through Doppio’s body as Kaito shouted, a breath hitching in his throat before he growled. “You don’t get to decide if I’m lying! You don’t get to just make a daydream of what my life is! You don’t get to control me because you were “nice”, KAITO!”

(...it was his decision. He wasn’t being…brainwashed, or controlled. Staying by the Boss…even if it was hard…it was his decision.)

(Because he loved Diavolo. How could a tool not love its purpose?)

Kaito’s chest squeezed a little, a part of him genuinely surprised to hear Doppio call him someone he trusted. Had trusted. Kaito wasn’t stupid… he had known he had forced his help on Doppio basically every step of the way. In truth, he hadn’t really thought Doppio thought much of Kaito at all, let alone trusted him. He was used to barreling through that. Most people, for one reason or another, didn’t. 

As surprising as it was to hear it, it was more sad to hear how he had lost it. But Kaito didn’t have long to lament it, the next thing Doppio bringing up feeling like a solid slap to the face.

What Kaito wished he had said?

Kaito looked away, gritting his teeth, clenching his fists as the rest of Doppio’s rage washed over him. Kaito knew why he had been doing this, because he didn’t want Doppio to make the same mistake Kaito had… he had known he was doing that. And he had known it was… possible… he was projecting…

Had he misjudged the situation that badly? How?? It had… it had all seemed so… black and white… it had seemed undeniable… had he made a mistake?

…….. He had….. Been wrong about Kokichi….

Oh, god, had he done what he had done to Kokichi again to Doppio?

Kaito was sweating, his whole body tense as Doppio screamed at him. A part of him was still screaming at him, telling himself that he hadn’t been mistaken, that Doppio was lying, to trust himself. But it was getting increasingly drowned under his doubt. His uncertainty. 

Arven, in turn, glanced warily at Doppio, wondering if maybe he should try to calm the guy down… but not wanting to undermine him, not when he was standing up to Kaito, Arven just crossed his arms and nodded, trying to look stern. Backing Doppio up. 

When Doppio stopped, catching his breath, Kaito felt his left eye flicker a little. Glancing at Doppio, then the floor, then Doppio again… doubt clearly in his gaze.

He opened his mouth to say something, paused, licked his lips, tried again, “...you’re not lying?”

“I’m not lying,” Doppio gritted out, his voice shaking a bit now. “What, just… My boss hired someone just to beat them around?! He’s not trying to hurt me! Like I’ve been telling you all along!”

Taking a deep breath, Doppio tried to straighten himself out from the coiled, defensive position he’d been in, sniffling a bit as he glared at Kaito. His voice trembling a little more as he said, “You know how relieved I was, when your friend said she was your friend? I didn’t know where I was, I felt like shit, your friend obviously has experience in, in guard duty or something like that, but! She’s Kaito’s friend! That means I’m somewhere safe, no matter what else is going on. I’m not kidnapped, o-or in a place I can’t sleep ‘cause I’ll be in danger! That’s what I thought, and I was relieved.”

“And thEN,” his voice cracked, but Doppio didn’t so much as blink, “You go around and tell the whole fucking city that my boss is abusing me, all while I’m just…sleeping! You never asked me once what was going on, and you just decided to make something up and go behind my back and…”

Frame shaking now, not just his voice, Doppio snarled up at Kaito, tears shining in his eyes. “How could you do this to me?!”

Kaito felt dizzy…

The guilt was starting to become a little overwhelming. Whatever part of him that still thought he had done the right thing– and there was a part of him, still, that was hollering at him that he hadn’t been wrong, that this had been the right thing to do– was small and dying as Kaito swallowed, hearing a ringing in his ears. A cold, sudden bout of anxious terror ripping through Kaito as Doppio’s argument got through to him. 

… had he told the whole city? Well, he… he hadn’t meant to, but, fuck, fuck, he had, hadn’t he, he hadn’t held back telling anyone, he had put out Doppio’s life for public spectacle, ruined his boss’s reputation, Kaito had done likely irreversible damage to both of them. 

Arven raised an eyebrow, something deeply uncomfortable running through him as Kaito, suddenly, got down on his knees. There was something incredibly unsettling in the act, as he asked, “What are you doing? Don’t be weird.”

Kaito knew this was wrong, he knew, but he was so freaked out that he was defaulting to what he knew, even if he knew better. He didn’t bow into a submission bow– as fucked up as the mindset was, Kaito didn’t respect Doppio in that way, to invite him to harm him, even in a moment of massive guilt–but he did put his hands on his knees and bow his head as he said, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I… I’ll fix it. I’ll fix it, we’ll, I’ll, I’ll make some public statements, I’ll restore your reputation. Uh…” Kaito winced, swallowing, that small, dying voice screaming he was making a mistake. “... I’ll fix his reputation. I made a mistake, I didn’t mean to damage you, Doppio. I took responsibility for your safety and I…” Kaito clenched his hands onto his knees. “...severely misjudged the situation. I thought you were in serious danger, Doppio. I… wouldn’t have gone to these extremes if I hadn’t thought it was life or death… I’m sorry.” 

Just like Arven, Doppio became quite unsettled as Kaito lowered himself to the ground, and though Arven was already behind him, Doppio shuffled a little more in front of him. Raising his shoulders, trying to bulk up as much as he could without being obvious to try and cover his friend. Arven had said he’d been through dangerous stuff, but…

…was he…just making himself smaller? Inviting Doppio’s wrath, showing that he wasn’t going to…to defend what he had done?

…where was this a day ago?!

Letting out a harsh grunt, Doppio let himself relax from covering Arven and looked away, crossing his arms. “No shit! I asked you t-to make sure I wasn’t gonna be strapped to some psychopath’s operating table! Not…any of this! How could you even think you could “judge” the situation at all if you wouldn’t talk to me?! And no one asked you to in the first place!”

He knew this was…a mistake. He needed to keep a good relationship with Kaito for The Boss’s plan. For his dream. 

…but all Doppio could feel in the moment was his hurt and betrayal (...and a mounting panic, as things started to feel…out of control. Like things were happening that he couldn’t take back, and he was ruining something that…he had really loved. Things feeling so…big. That he could only double-down into his pain, watching those good things float further and further away).

So he turned, gently nodding for Arven to go back into the room, before he glared over his shoulder. “A ietta sangu.” (Bleed to death) And the door slammed shut behind him. 

Kaito’s shoulders fell, his body jolting a little as the door slammed shut. That high, ringing anxiety and fear finally easing a little now that Doppio wasn’t right in front of him, but that hardly being a relief. As the terror and anxiety eased, Kaito felt a sudden rush of depression run through him. Exhaustion filling him as his skin cooled from the sweat of his anxiety, Kaito staring at the floor for a bit, before quietly getting up.

He’d…still fix it. He had promised to take care of Doppio, and he still meant to do it, but…

…yeah. Kaito had ruined it. Probably with both of them. Kaito would still talk to the school too. Losing the relationships didn’t mean he lost the responsibility he had sworn himself too. But, yeah.

Yeah.

… Kaito should… probably go back to taking care of the baby…

-

Arven gave Doppio a slightly worried, uncertain look. Idly patting Chief on the head, trying to appraise the situation. “...you good?”

Doppio just stood in front of the closed door for a moment, face still twisted and set in anger. Just for a moment, Arven would be able to see the expression shake and tears start to fall before Doppio put sleeved fists over his eyes, trying to stop and stem them immediately.

And he just…slowly sank to the floor, curling in a ball over his knees, whispering out an apology. “...’m sorry…”

“What? Why?” Arven asked, though he was genuinely alarmed as Doppio curled up onto the floor, fretting a bit as he went to sit by him, insisting, “You had to do that! Kaito was way out of line, it was clearly the only thing that was going to get through to him! You don’t need to apologize for that!”

There was quiet, before a small sniffle from Doppio’s ball. “...yeah. Yeah…it…it was fucked up, what he did… I just…”

…shouldn’t have yelled at someone who’d sat with him for hours and read him a story. Gave him a safe place to sleep while he was delirious and probably would’ve ended up in a ditch somewhere. Checked in to make sure he was eating, and told him that everything was going to be okay. 

You shouldn’t…yell at people who…care about you. Or tell them to die. 

(...or try to drown them.)

“...sorry for…putting you in the middle of all this,” Doppio eventually decided on. “You’re sick too ‘n…shouldn’t have to deal with this…”

Arven shrugged– half wiping his nose simply because Doppio had reminded him he was still runny as all heck– before nudging Doppio with his shoulder a little. “Honestly, that was Kaito too, remember? He’s the one who got my house watched, and the guardsman he sent told me you were about to be in trouble. Past that? Of course I was going to come. You’re my friend, I wasn’t going to let you face this alone.”

“And that’s not your fault,” Arven insisted, now just resting his arm next to Doppio, pressed close to him. “None of this was your fault. You had a few accidents and a bunch of adults decided to use it as an excuse to get you into the system. They don’t like guys like you and me being on our own. They always assume something is going terribly wrong that they need to save us from. It’s not your fault that Kaito took it to such an extreme.”

Doppio couldn’t bear to look out at the world right then (too much, too big, too scary) but…Arven right next to him was a connection to “outside” that he cherished. It was too much, but…he wasn’t alone in it. He had Arven, and…so Doppio pressed a little against him too. 

(...he had Kaito before too…)

“M not supposed to make trouble,” Doppio softly moaned, the weight of failure pressing heavily, heavier with every second he had to think about everything more. Maybe…yeah, he hadn’t done any of this on purpose but… He had taken risks, risks that were his fault for taking, and the accidents, and fallout of all of it was…still his fault. Should’ve just…

Doppio trembled in his ball. 

…he couldn’t tell Arven. Can’t…can’t tell anyone. Should’ve just…stayed in the dark silence. Not moving, not choosing, not…not anything. ‘Cause this?

Doppio let out a small, frightened gasp, breaths coming a little too quick. “...the CPS agent was paid off--she was gonna try and get people to think that Kaito’s hallucinating to discredit him.”

Arven gave Doppio a blank, puzzled look. 

“....eh?” he asked, smiling uncertainly, like Doppio had told a joke he hadn’t quite understood, but wanted to prove willing. “...you paid her off? Ha, well, that’s one way to… she was gonna… how much coin does it take to pay off a CPS agent?” Arven asked. Genuinely baffled. Corruption in government agencies was basically non-existent. If Doppio himself hadn’t said it, Arven would have assumed it was a dumb rumor and little more.

Doppio shook his head a little against his knees, unwilling to look up, or think more about what he was doing. He didn’t know what he was doing, he just…ugh! He was hurt and guilty and scared and he just…

(...he loved The Boss, and all he wanted was to go back to work and put this all behind him, but…)

(...he was terrified to go back home.)

(...for that yawning horror on Kaito’s face to just be…all there was from this.)

“I didn’t pay her off…dunno who did,” Doppio…half-lied, speaking softly. “...said Kaito had a history…sh-she could use. …she called me by my full name a-and I don’t think Kaito remembers it…”

“...oh.” Arven said.

The two sat there for a bit. Chief, feeling lonely, nudged his nose meaningfully into Arven’s lap, and when Arven didn’t make space, he trotted to Doppio’s side of the huddle, pushing his head into Doppio’s side, trying to get an opening in. 

“...what is your last name, anyway?” Arven asked, staring at the other side of the room. Eyes still wide as he processed what all of that meant. “I’ve never asked.”

Doppio let go of an uneven sniffle…and even so, he let himself fall backwards slightly onto his ass, unfurling his legs just enough to let Chief poke himself in. Enough for it to be just his hands covering his face, and…well, even the surmounting horror of everything wasn’t enough to keep Doppio from peeking through his fingers in confusion at Arven. 

“...Doppio?”

Arven stared at Doppio.

“...Doppio did your boss pay off a CPS worker to get the charges dropped!?” Arven suddenly whisper-shouted. Giving Doppio a wide eyed, strained look. “Doppio, are you being abused!?”

Doppio jolted slightly, mirroring Arven’s look with…significantly more panic. Words stuck in his clicking throat for…too long of a silence.

“...no?” he eventually whispered back.

“Doppio, who the heck else would pay her off to get the charges dropped?” Arven whispered back, “Who else would have a reason other than you? Oh my god…” Arven suddenly looked horrified, putting his hand on his forehead, looking increasingly nervous as he said, “...they had to put you on a ventilator. You had water in your chest…”

“...oh dammit we just chased off the only guy who was ready to do anything about it,” Arven suddenly realized, brow furrowing. “Oh dammit… Doppio, is it even safe for you to go home after this?” Arven asked, looking earnestly at his friend, afraid for him, “Are you going to be okay?”

“I don’t know?!” Doppio panickedly whispered back, gripping tightly at his sweater collar. “Wh-who the hell has a CPS agent on retainer in the first place?! It’d be way easier to have someone pose as an agent o-or briefly infiltrate the office than to suddenly find someone on staff willing to be bribed i-in an evening! I don’t know!”

Closing his eyes, Doppio shrank down into himself, mouth pulled into a terrified grimace. “I don’t know, I don’t know. I-I’m safe at home, it’s f-fine! It wasn’t… I’m not… It’s my fault! I-I just didn’t want people thinking Kaito was crazy! I was fine! Amaina gave me a rainbow, it was fine, I-I was safe!”

Arven gave Doppio a bewildered look… before his mouth thinned into a tight, frustrated line, before looking around. “Amaina! Amaina, come out, I need to talk to you!”

♪ Yes handsome senpaaaai? ♩ Amaina sang out, fluttering out of Doppio’s sweater and flying around them, before resting on Arven’s knee, looking up innocently, ♪ what? ♩

“What happened to Doppio? How did he get water in his chest?” Arven asked her plainly. “And don’t explain it in song. Be clear.”

♪ oh boy let me teeeeeell you it was craaaaazy ♩ Amaina sighed, shifting her hips, looking like a teenage girl about to spill some hot gossip, ♪ that ugly loser in the robe was drowning all the clothes talking about mountains and empires and drowning the whooole house and making a big mess and even though Doppio was sooooo patient and listened to his stupid speech the whole time that big stupid doo-doo bitch still drowned him like everything else ♩

Arven shot Doppio a truly frustrated look, before looking back at Amaina. “And the rainbow?”

O.O ♪ P O W E R ♩ she said, ♪ enough to survive though i’d have given my pretty Doppio more if i could have ♩

“...” Arven stared at her, before putting his head in his hands, “...I’m gonna be sick.”

Normally, the feeling of being crushed was a dangerous allure for Doppio, but what he was feeling at the moment? It was like everything was going flat, his body feeling too hot and like he was going to throw up and piss himself at the same time, like he was falling through the floor. 

…Amaina was there. And she was telling Arven what happened. 

“...he’s not, h-he’s not…” Doppio could only weakly protest, feeling miles away, and yet like he was being shoved right up against a wall. “I’m sorry… I-it was my fault, I’m sorry…”

Arven ignored him for a moment. Not because he was mad at Doppio– though he kinda was– but mostly because he was scared for Doppio. Because… this was scary. And Arven had no idea what to do about it. Doppio had almost been killed. They had literally just chased off the guy Arven would first think to go to, right now, to get Doppio out of this…

“...Amaina?” Arven grumbled, feeling like he just needed to ask, “Was it Doppio’s fault?”

♪ fuuuuuuuck no ♩ Amaina sang.

“I believe you,” he told her, before looking sternly at Doppio, “And since her word is better than yours, I’m gonna tell you to stop apologizing for it. Or… or any of it! I don’t know! Just stop…”

Arven frowned, staring at Doppio’s panic-stricken face, looking at him for the first time properly since the revelation… before Arven’s face tightened. His bottom lip trembling, small tears edging at the side of his eyes, before he growled and shut them tight, banishing them. Sniffling– partly still because he was sick– Arven put his arms around Doppio, half leaning on him and half pulling him in, just holding him for a moment.

…before, voice still tight and warbling, he said, “Holy shit Doppio. What the heck are we going to do?”

Falling through the earth, Doppio could still feel all the words right there. It was his fault. It was…because Boss had said so. Because Boss wouldn’t hurt him just for fun, so it was because he was being punished because…

…Doppio was broken. It was his fault. Boss wasn’t abusing him, and he wouldn’t hurt him, and even if he tried to kill him it…it would be fine since… Doppio was…so it was fine if…

Doppio broke into a sob, pulled back to that nice, airy, spacious, comfortable room in Ouma Castle by his friend. Arms firm around him just…real. Something real. 

“I don’t know,” Doppio sobbed into Arven’s shoulder, clinging to him back. “I-I don’t want Kaito to get killed, o-or convinced to go to a psych ward, a-and I don’t want people coming after Boss. I fucked up! I don’t know what to do!”

Doppio sobbed against his friend, terrified and knowing this entire situation was of his own making. He was the one who had befriended Kaito in the first place. He never confirmed his age in any way--this wouldn’t have happened if Kaito thought he was an adult the whole time. It was his fault for so constantly endangering The Boss and Passione these past weeks, and his fault for not taking his punishments with humility and grace. For being so…sniveling and pathetic that he just made them worse, and got other people involved. 

It was his fault for daring to be dissatisfied with everything he had, and now throwing everything away. And Doppio just…

He hadn’t noticed, when his sobs turned to gasps, and when the gasps turned into choking. Not until he was sliding back off of Arven, fuzzy vision distinguishable from his tears by the black spots encroaching in, and the chokes started turning into heaving gags. His chest feeling brittle, like glass grasped in hands holding too tight. 

“Doppio?” Arven said, staring at Doppio, frozen with shock… but only for a moment. A sudden, intense, determined look on his face as he scrambled up, running to open the door, looking around outside, before shouting, “Help!”

And heading back inside, Arven grasped Doppio’s armpits, pulling him outside, as he shouted again, “Help!”

Maki, who had been standing at the opposite end of the hallway, hadn’t watched Kaito argue with the boys, hanging out around the corner… but she had heard them. And had just quietly listened, none of what she had been hearing changing her plans to keep an eye on the boys. Kaito seemed to be doubting his assessment of Doppio’s abuse, and Maki couldn’t say, one way or another, if Doppio was lying or not: she didn’t care. If you wanted to ensure something happened, you better be ready to stay and stare and see it done yourself. Who cared what anyone said about it? If she wanted to help Kaito out, then the best way to do that was to keep an eye on Doppio– especially while he was in the castle– and assure there were no more ‘accidents’.

And, when Arven called for help, Maki almost rolled her eyes before bolting for them.

The universe could be too predictable, sometimes. That’s what made it so easy to bully.

“What’s happening?” Maki asked, kneeling down to check on Doppio, Arven staring at her as she intersected them in the hallway.

“I-I don’t know, he just collapsed!” Arven said, even in his panic looking a tad bewildered when the woman put her arms beneath Doppio’s knees and around his back. “You’re going to need help carrying him, he’s not as light as he looks– woah! Wait for me!”

“Keep up, kid!” Maki shouted back, sprinting with Doppio down the hall. 

The pressure in his chest felt…inescapable. Like not being able to get air in the middle of a park. Like being forced underwater for so long that all air left and was replaced with liquid, regardless of his ability to actually breathe. Like every nightmare and longing wish for something, someone to squeeze him so tight until he popped, until Doppio was just a splatter on the ground, until he was no longer flesh and blood and just…

…the empty space around someone else’s brain. 

In the waking moment where the living doll realized what they had done, facing existence, and wanted nothing more than to be in the innocent state of wooden limbs and study strings. A tool couldn’t make mistakes. Even broken, it just meant its user needed to fix it. 

As he gagged, face going a bit beyond pale, Doppio could almost feel his limbs…slacken. Everything going a little too firm and a little too soft in all the wrong places. That brittle-glass pressure in his chest squeezing and squeezing…

With a surprising burst of strength, by any metric, Doppio shoved at Maki’s chest, forcing his body to flop until he was facing the floor. Heaving, heaving, until…

SPLORT. TINK!!! Tink-tink-tink-shoowoowoo…thunk. 

Doppio gasped a deep, clear breath…as a, er, sizable gear clunked to the ground, about four inches across and latticed with…something. Some…red, sticky goo and viscera that clearly resembled entrails…but, especially to a top assassin, would clearly not be anything that actually would come from a human body. 

Maki twitched, staring down at the boy as he gagged up something after shoving himself out of her arms, and…

Maki stared at the gear. 

Hm.

Leaning down, Maki grasped the back of Doppio’s sweater, and said simply, “Do you wanna die!? Stop squirming.” Before dragging him back up into her arms, and with another glance at the gear, swiping that up– along with the tubing around it– before she continued her race to the healers. Arven and his dog chasing behind them. 

She ran harder and faster. Doppio was vomiting up his insides. Kicking the healer doors open, she shouted, “IF THIS KID DIES SO DO YOU!”

(because some habits were hard to break)

And after long enough, most of the castle healers simply understood what Maki meant, and everyone who wasn’t already tending to someone sprung into action. In some ways, it was lucky that Doppio had nearly suffocated for the second day in a row. It meant he was too dazed and exhausted and disoriented to freak out (or lash out) against what would be one of his more frequent nightmares. 

Doppio wasn’t suffering from any throat trauma, no more than the irritation from his cold and coughing, and from having the ventilator tube the day before. He wasn’t suffering from blood loss, and in fact didn’t even have any blood in his mouth. Really…all that the healers had found, that weren’t Seiko’s findings from the day before, was…that he’d had a panic attack, and in struggling to breath from it, had irritated his sensitive lungs a bit. Nothing all that dangerous, though it was scary to witness. 

…Grinnell had lingered, though. A slight confusion in her eyes. She knew of beings that lacked blood, sure. But…none of them had blood pressure, or pulses, usually. None of them had liquid that oxidized into a deep red when the skin broke. …maybe even calling it oxidation was making too much of a leap, though. 

The child Maki brought into the medical wing had all those things…but he sure as hell didn’t have blood. 

Doppio curled into a ball on the cot once the last healer left, whining softly, “...get me out of here…”

Arven was waiting in a chair near the entrance of the med wing with Chief, entirely because Maki had sat him there and told him that if he moved he’d die. Arven didn’t think that was true, especially with all these healers around to, well, witness his murder… but the woman had a weird, intense gaze that had made him sit still anyway, watching Doppio be taken care of from the other side of the med ward.

Maki, in turn, had listened to the healers explain Doppio had just had a panic attack, had nodded acceptingly, and sitting by his cot, she stared at him as she said, “Sure.”

Before showing him the gored up gear. “Just explain what this is.”

Doppio peeked exhausted, terrified gold eyes out of his ball…before flinching, making a very undignified squeak. “Whatthefuckisthat?! Why are you just holding it?! Ew!”

“Don’t be pathetic,” Maki said simply, turning the gear over, like Doppio just needed a better look at it to explain its existence, “If you can spit it up, you can look at it. Take responsibility for anything that comes from inside of you.”

“I-is Doppio talking again?” Arven called over, “I’m gonna come over–”

“I’m having a conversation!” Maki called back, shooting Arven a blood-red glare over her shoulder, staring him down until he sat back down in the chair, before looking back to Doppio. “Why was this in you?”

…what?

Doppio cringed away from the gear again, though Maki hadn’t shoved it any closer to him, and he stared at her, uncomprehending. After a moment just shaking his head softly, before--

“Don’t yell at him!” His voice was pathetic and reedy, having lost any strength he could put behind it after everything that day, and yet still trying. Uncurling from himself a little as he sat taller against Maki. “Wh-why do you and Kaito do that?! Stop yelling at Arven, he hasn’t done anything!”

But faced with the gear again, Doppio wilted. Too tired out to be thrown into a panic again, and so left in the swamp of dread. “...that’s impossible. People don’t…just have gears in them.”

“You’d rather I yell,” Maki said simply, looking at the gear, before bringing it up to sniff it… and to Maki’s credit, her nose only wrinkled slightly, the confusion obvious on her for only a few seconds, before she sighed. Flicking her wrist, the gear disappeared, though the gore remained on her hand. She gave it a slightly frustrated look, before looking to Doppio, staring at him.

“...” Maki stared at him, her mind whirring. “...how many more days are you planning to stay here.”

While Doppio was just feeling every bad feeling a person could feel, he was sure, he did give Maki a disgusted look as she smelled the…thing that couldn’t possibly come from him. Feeling a little nauseous seeing the sticky red remains on her hand. 

“...uh…that…” Come on, a question like that, now? Doppio would consider it a miracle if he could remember what Arven had brought him for breakfast. “Um…”

Rubbing his temple a little, Doppio took a breath as he tried to remember. “...that healer said…three days, I think? Uh…so…tomorrow? I leave tomorrow?”

Opening an eye, he gave Maki’s hand a wary look. “...I’ll leave as soon as you want, if you wash your hand.”

“Leave today,” Maki said. 

“There’s nothing left for you here,” she said, pulling out a black handkerchief, wiping her hand with it. The red of the gore disappearing into the dark cloth. “No one here is as much of a busybody as Kaito is, and you turned down his help already. Now? You’re just a danger to my family. Go home. Live with your choices. Keep my family out of it.”

…

He didn’t understand. 

Wasn’t this…good? What he wanted? After everything…just things going back to how they were before. No Kaito, no castle, no anyone getting into his or The Boss’s business, no one to endanger, because…well, he was a danger. Anyone not in the business around him was a liability. 

So…leaving everything behind was good, right?

…

…then why did he feel like crying?

Nodding silently, Doppio shakily got up from the cot, and when Maki didn’t stop him, he started out of the med bay. Some steps swaying a little too far to one side, making him stumble but…enough to keep him going. 

…battered, bloody, and broken, he still had enough to cross the finish line. 

(...he was going to die if he went home.)

“Woah, hey, Doppio, are you supposed to get up already?” Arven asked, quickly standing up and rushing over to lend Doppio an arm, glancing back at Maki– who just stared at them– before whispering, “What’d she say to you? Why are we leaving the med bay, are you better?”

Again, Doppio shook his head, before whispering back. Something…defeated. Resigned, in his tone. 

…what had he even been thinking, really? He had work. That was…that was everything. All he was and…all he’d ever be. It was a privilege. 

“...I’m going home.”

Arven gave Doppio an alarmed look at that, glancing back at the med bay– a part of him a little baffled, that none of the actual adults in there seemed at all concerned about stopping this– before saying to him, “You can’t do that. It’s dangerous!”

Doppio glanced at Arven for just a second, before the fakest, most pathetic smile was given his way. Something barely hanging on with rusty, broken hinges. “...it’s fine. …I…I’ll deserve, whatever happens.”

A shiver of helpless fear ran through Arven’s stomach. He didn’t know what to do with that. He didn’t know what to do…

“Come to my house!” Arven insisted, gripping Doppio’s arm, a little desperate in the hold, “You don’t have to stay here, if she said something cruel, but you don’t have to go home either. You can come to my house. I have the space, you know that. Come live with me.”

Doppio looked at Arven’s grip around his arm and, gently, put his other hand on top of Arven’s. It was kind of funny, actually. Just a couple days ago Arven was holding his arm like this, while Doppio had yelled at him to let go. …he wished Arven never had to. But…

A slow round of tears beaded in Doppio’s eyes as he just…kept his hand over Arven’s. “...it wasn’t cruel…she was just…right. I rejected Kaito’s help and…I-I’m just a danger to the people around me. I wasn’t…” Something crestfallen came over Doppio’s face. “...I’m not meant for this. Angelo wanted to show me beautiful things but…I just make ugly ones.”

“...Kaito was right to send a guard to your house,” Doppio said softly. “I have to go home eventually… Boss knows everything, and…and if he could pay off a government agent then…it’d be easy, you know?”

Doppio’s shoulders shook, though his hand tightened a little. Despite his words, his body pleading with Arven to not go. “...we haven’t even known each other a week. It…” Even as the words came to his lips, they died, a new wave of guilt falling on his shoulders. Doppio realizing, “...I don’t want to abandon you too…”

Arven gave Doppio a frustrated look… before saying, “I bet he doesn’t know tunnel systems.”

“I bet he doesn’t know caverns and mushrooms and where water spouts are dead ends and where they’re actually little entrances to greater cave systems,” Arven argued, brow furrowed, “I do. I’m a survivalist expert. I know a thousand nooks and crannies, far away from here… I don’t even want to go to school. Who cares? I don’t care if we’ve only known each other a few days, I’d rather run with you, than stay and watch you get hurt.”

Grasping Doppio’s hands, Arven gripped them tightly, saying, “If we can’t go to anyone for help? And we can’t hide in my place, or we can’t hide here? Let’s run away together. We’ll just… go! Go anywhere we want! What’s keeping us here!?”

Boss knew everything. There was no exception to that, and to Doppio, his word was law. 

(...but Boss regularly needed his instructions on how to heat things up. The scorch marks Doppio sometimes came home to weren’t always because of tantrums.)

(But…Boss never went outside. Never even looked outside, unless they were moving, and even then it was under the cover of night, in heavily fortified and blocked out carriages.)

(But…)

But he loved Boss. 

…but Doppio was going to die if he went back to him. And as much as it was Boss’s right to kill him…Doppio didn’t want to die. 

Tears falling down his cheeks, Doppio clasped Arven’s hands just as tightly (for once it feeling just as right to hold, as to be held) and came close, dropping his head on Arven’s shoulder. Whispering, “Okay. Okay, let’s go.”

It maybe said something to how entirely confident Arven was in this plan that he did not seem at all surprised or taken off guard when Doppio said yes. He just lit up, looking elated, as he shook his hands out of Doppio’s so that he could hug around him, holding him tight as he said, “It’ll be perfect! Who cares about this place anyway, I’ve always been happier out traveling anyway! And we’ll see all those beautiful things you and Amaina are always talking about! Right, Amaina?” Arven asked, looking around, certain the false angel was listening.

Amaina, in turn, popped into existence between them, wearing sunglasses, a floral shirt and shorts, a straw hat and holding suitcases as she sang,  ♪ WE’RE GOING ON VACAAATIOOOOON i wanna visit the worlds biggest haystack ♩ 

Arven huffed, shaking his head, “Not a vacation, an adventure. Vacation implies we’re ever coming back.”

 ♪ whatever you saaaaaaay my little senpai ♩ Amaina said, petting Arven’s nose before tapping on his forehead,  ♪ head empty  no thoughts ♩

“Hey!” Arven whined, though he squinted as Amaina spun quickly, now wearing a green tunic, with a cloth green hat, with tights and brown boots, “There, better. That’s more the spirit.”

Beaming brightly at Doppio, Arven said, “I know we can’t really go back to your place to pick up any of your stuff, but you can take anything you want from my place. And we can take some of the supplies Kaito bought you too. We’ve got this.”  

Even with how defeated Doppio felt, and how miserably wrung out his body felt, his eyes still widened a bit as Arven tugged him closer, closing the last of the space between them and holding him tightly in a hug. Arven had hugged him before, just a bit ago, but this…chests flush together and…

Doppio kept his head on Arven’s shoulder, turning red as he awkwardly hugged his friend back. A little embarrassed to be doing this right in the middle of the hall, and mostly hoping that they could just…stay like this. Forever. 

…and then, of course, Amaina decided to show herself. 

Sighing softly, Doppio couldn’t help but smile slightly. If nothing else…this was an opportunity for more beautiful things. Hadn’t he thought that exact thing? A globetrotting adventure…

(...even if his heart sunk a little, seeing Amaina dressed as Link. Kaito had never finished telling him the story.)

(...not that he would whether he and Arven left or not. Doppio had made sure of that.)

Letting go of a shaky sigh, Doppio nodded slowly. “...kinda wish I could do laundry, since my clothes and a lot of the clothes Kaito got me are pretty gross, but…we’ve got this. It’ll be okay.”

A twinge of nervousness went through Doppio and he glanced back up at Arven. “...it’ll be okay?”

Arven showed literally no doubt– because he didn’t feel any– as he nodded, “It’ll be okay.”

-

Elia blinked, a little startled by the warmth against her head, and…honestly a little embarrassingly, it had taken her a long few seconds for her to react to that at all, from where she had been staring tiredly at the wall. But Dante wasn’t going to mention that. 

Looking up, Elia gave her co-worker a grin, and accepted the, what smelled like, green tea he’d been holding. “Thanks, D, appreciate it.”

With a silent nod, the giant man returned to his own desk and drink at Cogito Ink, taking a sip before giving her a slight nod. 

“Nah, I’m alright,” she sighed, letting the tea warm her insides. It wasn’t like they didn’t have heat, but there was something about a hot drink on a fall day that warmed you no matter what. “Been having some nightmares, lately. Throwin’ me off a bit, but I just need a proper night’s sleep, I bet.”

Dante wasn’t fazed by the encouraging grin she gave. “...have to do with your family stuff?”

Elia sighed, running a hand through her bangs. “...yeah.”

…the alarm for the Qliphoth Counter had sounded so…real. And her heart hadn’t known the difference when she jolted into wakefulness, pounding fast as she prepared to see all the broken parts of the universe shambling towards her in their most distorted forms, ready to kill anything in their path. It was their nature…and beating them back into submission was hers. 

She had a bad feeling, about the Tulpa out there. The time manipulations were getting more frequent. She’d overheard Enoch theorizing if there was some way he could try to measure or detect the energy it was putting out, because even the far-away signs they could detect painted it as something incredible. An Aleph-level at least, if not remarkable beyond the loose categories the angels had defined to sort their monsters. 

“I can close tonight, if you want to take off early.”

Again, Elia blinked out of her thoughts, before giving Dante a smile at his offer. “...you know, I might take you up on that. Thanks, D.”

A kind nod in return.

-

Among the armfuls of binders Kokichi was sorting through in their room, he sighed softly, looking down. Before looking back at Kaito. Kaito had been…despondent didn’t even feel close enough, for the depression and guilt wafting off his husband, when he returned from his talk with Doppio. He’d just…sort of mentioned he’d been mistaken, and had taken up Miyako, and had been fussing with her ever since. 

Kokichi had seen before how the teen had managed to bitingly cut to his husband’s core, but…

…there was another source of that same tinged depression coming from downstairs. Honestly, Kokichi was overwhelmed for a moment, feeling things that…perhaps would’ve drove him to act upon things he hadn’t felt an urge to in months. 

Kaito could say to drop it, but…Kokichi still thought Doppio was lying. Kaito saw what he saw, and Kokichi trusted him. So…he was going to embody some of that trademark Dicean stubbornness and stick his damn nose where others thought it shouldn’t belong. He did have some time--it wasn’t like Doppio was going anywhere, sick as he was. 

But still…

“...Kai-chan? Can you sit by me? I miss you…”

Miyako was in a much better mood when Kaito had come back than when he had left, and he supposed he had Kokichi to thank for that. Kaito had, in fact, thanked Kokichi, before insisting it was still his turn and he was happy to take her back and had she been fed yet? What about changing? He’d check– she was fine– what about bathing? Do you think she needed a bath? She might need a bath?

And when there was nothing in particular Miyako actually needed, Kaito had taken Little Lamb and started playing with her. Miyako delighted as Little Lamb bounced and danced in front of her, before randomly kissing her on the nose, keeping this up until Miyako finally managed to snatch Little Lamb when it got close and immediately nibbling on her friend’s head. Kaito had started to massage her legs and feet when she did that, not risking earning her fussiness back by trying to retrieve the toy, and some of that playing had devolved into what it had been when Kaito had first started, honestly. Just… the guy running on auto-pilot. Trying to seem okay by trying to keep busy. Nothing could possibly be wrong with Kaito if he was helping someone else with something.

Sometimes that worked really well. But Kaito wasn’t surprised to hear the worry in Kokichi’s voice. His husband knew him better than anybody.

Never one to deny Kokichi anything, Kaito picked up Miyako and, holding her to his chest, headed over to the bed, sitting down beside Kokichi and being careful not to disturb his paperwork. He could have left Miyako in her crib, but the baby girl was a lifeline in that moment. If he wasn’t fussing over her, he was going to have a breakdown. He could feel it. Like electricity buzzing in the back of his skull.

He hoped his own sadness wasn’t hurting his empaths. Miyako seemed okay, but Kaito searched Kokichi’s face for signs of stress, as he asked softly, “You alright, babe?”

With a little happy, approving noise, Kokichi leaned against Kaito’s side appreciatively. Even earth-shatteringly sad, being in Kaito’s presence was still something he loved. “I am,” Kokichi hummed, though he gave Kaito a gently knowing look. 

It…probably wouldn’t be good for Kaito’s mindstate right now to admit that he was looking over business reports for mentions of Vinizio Ginocchio. Which…he had to do, because there hadn’t been mentions of anyone with that name in any business overview he’d skimmed through before. Something was up, Kokichi could feel it, but…Kaito was done. And Kokichi wasn’t going to force him back. 

But the other side of the issue…

Giving Kaito a soft look, Kokichi said quietly, “...do you wanna talk about it at all? Or something else?”

Kaito was so lucky. Everytime his husband did something like that, said something like that, Kaito was reminded how lucky he had actually gotten. Kaito had gotten so lucky, to get Kokichi…

“...I don’t know,” Kaito admitted, looking down at Miyako. Running his fingers through her little tuft of hair a bit, smiling despite himself as he saw her immediately blink heavily when he did so. If she was already a little sleepy, petting her head was a surefire way to get a very snoozy baby. “...I really messed up, babe. I… I almost thought about asking to see Miss Crystal. Like, a…” Kaito winced, looking uncomfortable, “Not an ‘emergency’ session, I’m okay, but like… I don’t know… I tried to upend Doppio’s whole life, just cause I couldn’t see the difference between his and my situation. I really messed up… I tried to trick him, go around him, overwhelm him…”

Kaito closed his eyes, looking pained. “...I have to fix this. I have to… I keep thinking about who does and doesn’t know. I told strangers, Kokichi. Why did I do that? Would it be enough to find everyone and explain my mistake? Should I make some sort of public statement? Would that make it worse?”

“M-maybe?” Kaito said, suddenly looking up with a sort of desperate hope, “W-we could do something nice for the business? I could talk to the newspaper and ask if they’d be willing to do one of those community acknowledgement pieces on Doppio’s boss? What’s his name? Stomp out the rumors I started with some official praise?”

Kokichi paused flipping through the binders to put an arm around Kaito, holding him close for a moment before gently rubbing his back. Kokichi still thought there was something going on, but…well, after how everything had turned out for Kaito? Even if it turned out that nothing else was…it was a mistake that he hadn’t talked to Doppio. Kokichi couldn’t discern from what, without looking closer, but…the kid was devastated. And that…

“...maybe it’d be worth bumping up a session soon?” he offered. “Or…we have our appointment with Dr. Mariah coming up. I know you hate being the focus of those, but…maybe it’d help to talk about it.”

But that was processing, and…actually making it up to Doppio…

Kokichi’s lips thinned, as he looked over the binders. Hesitating a moment, before sighing. “...Vinizio Ginocchio…is what Doppio said, in that memory you had me look at. But…I’m starting to think that isn’t a real person.”

“...” Kaito hesitated, his brow furrowing. “...?”

Kaito wanted to ask if Kokichi meant Doppio had lied to him about his boss’s name. But a part of him was afraid to ask. Because if Doppio lied about his boss’s name, was he lying about other things (a part of Kaito, small and buried beneath the guilt, screamed YOU FUCKING KNOW HE IS YOU IDIOT) and if he was lying about other things, what was Kaito supposed to… do? Were there any more good options to choose from? 

……….Maybe Kaito really would just go to that house and bust the door down and break the fucker’s hands and jaw and blind him in one eye and see if he could go around drowning kids with his broken bones–

Kaito grit his teeth, trying to bury down the bloodthirst, shaking his head. “Doppio said that was his name. You didn’t see him, Kokichi. He was devastated that I didn’t trust him. That I wasn’t trustworthy… I owe Doppio the benefit of the doubt. It’s the literal least I can do right now.”

Fussing with Miyako some more, massaging her little ears… Kaito glanced at the binders around them. “...why do you think that?”

Kokichi glanced at Kaito, giving him another squeeze. “I believe you, and I believe him, that he’s feeling like that. Nothing’s going to work if we’re just…fighting him the whole way. And that isn’t fair to him either.”

But…

Sighing softly, Kokichi narrowed his eyes at the binders. “...it’s not unthinkable, that I wouldn’t have heard of his boss. Yeah…we did do a lot of work with imports and trading companies while we were hashing out our trading agreements with Luminary, but…I don’t know everyone in Dicea. Even all our representatives, I still need refreshers to remember all of them.”

“...but the owner of a trading company shouldn’t be difficult to find,” Kokichi furrowed his brows, flipping the dossier page. “They should have to sign off on customs’ addendums, they should be one of the first names listed in a company’s information, they should be on business tax forms… I should barely even have to know the name of the company to be able to find a name I already know.”

“But right now I’m looking through tax records and business statements for anything even tangentially related to trade. And I haven’t found one mention of a ‘Vinizio Ginocchio’. And I’ve checked alias’ and different spellings too.”

Kaito frowned, staring at the binders, rubbing Miyako’s stomach again. Miyako yawned in his arms, curling her arms and legs around Little Lamb and nuzzling more into Kaito’s arms. 

“...ah, fudge.” Kaito cursed, closing his eyes… before letting out a little shuddering breath, “... I have until tomorrow. He’s going to spend the night tonight too, he agreed to three nights. And… and I have no idea how I’m going to convince him to stay. No idea…”

Kaito looked lost and despondent for a moment… before he grit his teeth. “...but I can’t let him go back when I still have doubts. I can’t. I need to make certain, really certain, I need to…”

Kaito’s brow lifted, before he realized, “I just need to talk to this guy myself.”

Shaking his head, Kaito sounded a little bewildered as he said, “Why have I been avoiding just talking to this Ginocchio guy myself? I’m not afraid of this guy. What’s he doing to do, fight me? Oh, I’d dare him.” Kaito growled, eyes flashing with rage, “If I talked to him myself, I could get a read on this guy. I don’t care about his opinion, he won’t be able to brush me off or trick me. I could find out once and for all if Doppio is safe and… and…”

Kaito wilted. “...it won’t matter. If Doppio refuses to leave him, it won’t matter how confident I am that his boss is an abuser. I need to convince Doppio, not myself, and… and Doppio seemed so convincing. He was so hurt…”

His confidence drained, Kaito's shoulders fell, before looking to Kokichi. “...Kokichi, I don’t know if I can help him,” he admitted, “I feel like an idiot.”

Kokichi wasn’t thrilled for Doppio to leave either. He trusted Kaito’s appraisal of the situation, even if CPS had dropped the case, and…well, even if the real situation wasn’t as bad as they thought? Hitting and drowning a kid was a horrifically low bar, and ‘not as bad’ could still be awful. Still dangerous. 

Kokichi knew how awful being on a ventilator was. Anything that put Doppio on one…they needed to help him. 

And if they weren’t getting answers from Doppio, then…his boss was the logical answer, no? “Even so…” Kokichi worriedly hummed, “Don’t go see him alone, okay? I’d feel better if you had backup… Heck, I’ll go with you.”

And if they found something enough to get the guy arrested? Great! …but if not?

Sighing, Kokichi put the binder in his lap away, turning onto his knees and putting his arms around Kaito. “...My Kai-chan is good at helping people. He’s kind, and loving, and he’s able to push past the greatest obstacles, even when they’re put in place by the people he’s helping.”

“...maybe it didn’t work out before, but…we can help him. You can help him.” Kokichi sat back, giving his husband an adoring, encouraging smile. “You care about him, and if I know anything about my Kai-chan? That means you won’t give up until he’s okay.”

Kaito gave Kokichi a warm smile in turn, leaning into his hug. “...thanks, Kokichi. This is one of the harder ones I’ve come across, I’ll admit. This was all a lot easier when I just worried he was a child workaholic.” Kaito chuckled lowly, resting his head against Kokichi, “...I think the mistake I made was I kept trying to fix this by myself. I thought I could handle this alone, and it spiraled out of control, just…”

Kaito groaned, straightening up and looking up at the ceiling, looking entirely exasperated. “So quickly. So quickly. Arven needs more adult supervision because his independent lifestyle was denying him the same opportunities as his peers! Easy! Talk to the school, support his education! Doppio’s out here pretending to be an adult in a job that demands too much from him? Easy! Treat him more like a kid, add more gentleness in his life, let him lean on me! Eeeeeasy.”

“Then, pow,” Kaito said quietly, not risking upsetting Miyako again, “Water in chest. And now Arven thinks I’m an intrusive moron because I’ve upset his friend so much. And now both of these kids are wildly more difficult to help.”

“...you’d come with me?” Kaito asked, somewhat hopeful, somewhat wary, “If I decided to confront Ginocchio?”

“Our therapists do keep telling us that’s the problem,” Kokichi laughed softly, nuzzling Kaito’s head. Problems could seem so gigantic and unwieldy alone…and even if you did find it within yourself to tackle them, you were so often missing out on easier solutions, or better solutions that just weren’t possible to use on your own. Relying on others…it was what people did best. Not inherently, but to find the best solutions. 

Especially to difficult problems. 

Kokichi sighed. “Maybe we are intrusive, but that’s what they need…and you’re far from a moron. We needed an adult with our issues. Even if we weren’t suddenly dealing with a case of child abuse, a couple of teens need more adult interference, when they aren’t getting that support elsewhere.”

“I’d come with you,” Kokichi confirmed, leaning against Kaito again. “I’m not leaving my Kai-chan to fight his battles alone. And…I’ll admit I’m bugged now. Even if everything else is fine…I wanna check up on his business records. Doppio could be lying for different reasons…but they’ve gotten my attention now.”

Kaito let Kokichi’s encouragement warm him, feeling much calmer now since the whole debacle. He still, even if he was (potentially) right about what was happening, had wildly mishandled not talking to Doppio about it. Kaito had sincerely messed up there no matter what. But Kaito was a busy body through and through, and so long as he had any doubts, he knew he really couldn’t just leave the kids be. And Kokichi’s encouragement made him feel less stupid in that impulse.

…and he couldn’t help that mean little smirk, as he chuckled into Kokichi’s hair. 

“They’ve got the heir-apparent’s attention, empath extraordinaire, paperwork master?” Kaito chuckled, baring his teeth as he did so, “Oh… they’re so screwed now.”

-

The city was a good pace behind them, as evening started to fall, so it wasn’t immediate…but Doppio was starting to have some doubts. Not about surviving out in the countryside! Sure, Doppio had never really lived anywhere but within towns himself, but he wholeheartedly trusted Arven’s experience to lead them in the right directions. But…

Doppio sniffled shallowly, glancing back over his shoulder at the becoming-more-distant lights of the city behind them. Gnawing on his lip and twisting the strap of his bag in his hands. 

He always made sure the icebox was well-stocked. Or, rather, that was a result of the fact that he always cooked enough for multiple meals, but more often than not Boss preferred to have something fresh so…they just accumulated. Which worked out! Since Doppio never had to worry about there not being something ready if Boss got hungry during the day while he was out, and whatever lunch he’d prepared wasn’t enough. 

So, despite his worries to Kaito the other day, there were enough meals back at home for Boss to be fine for a few days. But…this was going to be more than a few days and…

“...maybe I could just…sneak back in,” Doppio nervously mumbled to himself. “Boss is usually asleep in the morning…if he’s sleeping at all. I could just…let myself in, do a bunch of cooking… Just…never be at home. Do…do errands as a true shadow…”

Arven frowned, looking over his shoulder as he adjusted his travelpack– it was half the size of himself and more than his width, but he held it with familiar ease– before sternly shaking his head, “No, cause then we’d have to stay close by, right? And besides, it’s not your job anymore. If he wants food, he can cook it himself. You have better things to do!”

“The first thing which? Getting to the hills and setting up camp,” Arven said, looking forward, “Or, we really can set up in a cave system I know nearby, though we’ll be walking a bit into the night to make it there. You alright with that?”

Doppio started to sweat a little, grimacing to himself as he faced the road ahead again. “...oh god. I quit, didn’t I? I didn’t even put in a notice of intent to leave…oh fuck…” …and…people didn’t really…leave. Passione. He supposed that if they were hiding from The Boss--...was he The Boss anymore? If Doppio quit?--then that would be just as fine as hiding from the rest of Passione, and it wasn’t like his face was super well-known among the organization, so they could still probably pop into towns if they needed to, but…nng.

Making a strained, stressed little noise, Doppio nodded. “...got a bit of a nap in at your place, while you were packing. I…uh,” he huffed out a nervous laugh, “It’s probably not the best, to set out like this while we’re sick, but…I’ll be alright, ‘long as you are.”

“Oh, honestly, I half forgot I was sick,” Arven admitted, idly wiping his nose. “I’m really pumped about all of this. But, you are probably not one hundred percent yet… so if you need more rest?” Arven said, looking to Doppio before reaching out and clasping Doppio’s shoulder, “Don’t hesitate to say so. I know I keep talking about ‘roughing it’, but I have plenty of coin on me too. We could always stop somewhere and rent a room at an inn. Sleep in a bed? I mean, if you can handle the idea of sleeping in the same bed with me, as I have to imagine single bed rooms are cheaper than double, and it might be wise to make our coins stretch until we’re sure we’ve got a handle on this.”

“And yeah, you quit. And I quit school. We’re entering a new chapter in our lives.” Arven sighed, though he puffed out his chest a bit. “True independence, Doppio. I don’t know about you, but honestly I feel like it’s about time. I don’t need my mother, and you don’t need your boss. We don’t need anything! We’ve got each other!”

…he really wasn’t. The nap had helped a lot, and Doppio had fit in one more shower before they left the castle, but…he still ached. But he had to wait it out one way or another and it was…p-probably. Better. This way. For sure. 

And Doppio didn’t really mind the idea of camping out indefinitely (hygiene concerns aside, at least for the moment), but, uh… His eyes widened a little as he stared at the road. Heat creeping up on his face. 

…sleeping in the same bed as Arven. One inn room, one bed. Sharing the bed. Arven…right next to him in close quarters… Doppio hadn’t been able to get the feeling of Arven’s arms around him out of his head since it happened. And…

He made another little stressed sound before Arven mentioned something a bit more…sobering. And…normally, Doppio wouldn’t even let himself think it. It was inappropriate! And rude! And disrespectful and not really true and…

…but he did think it. 

“...but I think he needs me,” Doppio softly murmured, clutching the strap of his bag tighter.

Arven glanced at Doppio, frowning, before clenching his hands together…

Stopping, Arven turned to Doppio out in the dirt road they were using as a path, grasping his shoulders. And, already feeling a little self conscious about this, turning red in embarrassment, he turned Doppio towards him, puffing out his cheeks for a moment before saying loudly, “What’s your first name?!”

Doppio startled briefly, looking at Arven in surprise…before he quickly matched Arven’s complexion. Eyes darting everywhere but his friend before he managed to spit out, “A…Aceto.”

…and even though he trusted Arven…Doppio just burned more, sagging against Arven’s grip on his shoulders. “...don’t laugh.”

Arven grinned brightly, that flush still on his cheeks as he said, “Aceto, huh? Cool name.”

“Now! Aceto Doppio! Repeat after me!” Arven insisted, looking stern again, “I, Aceto Doppio, am more than what other people need!”

“...you don’t laugh,” Arven insisted, looking more uncomfortable now that the words were out of his mouth, self conscious about his attempt to be inspiring, “A-and just say it, okay?”

…cool? Well…Doppio didn’t really mind his first name, he would’ve changed it if he really did, but…well, there was a reason he went by his last name. Even if most people didn’t really know what his name meant, some people just said it so…badly that he defaulted to…

(But he hadn’t, had he. Doppio went by Doppio because…that’s what Boss called him. And it had always sounded special in the grand man’s voice. ‘My Doppio, mio vito…’ How could he settle for anything else?)

Startling again, Doppio balked a little at the declaration, but…something about Arven’s forcefulness, and his subsequent embarrassment… 

“I, Aceto Doppio, am…am more…” Screwing his eyes shut, even as he turned scarlet, Doppio raised his voice, clenching his fists at his sides. “I’m more than what other people need!”

…

…it was just words, but…as he shouted into the countryside, something about the declaration felt…freeing.

“You are!” Arven agreed, looking excited at the declaration, like Doppio had said it out of nowhere. “Same way that I’m more than Professor Sada’s son! I don’t have a legacy to live up to, and you don’t have anyone to serve! We’re walking away from all of that!”

A warm wind blew, and briefly, Arven looked happy and energetic as the wind ruffled through their hair and clothes. Something about it feeling meaningful, though the teenager would have a hard time pinning down exactly why. It just felt like the wind was agreeing with them. Making the declarations carry in the breeze.

Then, realizing his bangs were flying up, showing off his burn scar, Arven looked more self conscious as he smoothed his hair back down, continuing the walk as he sputtered, “Sorry, maybe that was cringe… I don’t know. Felt right in the moment, ya know?”

Fuming in his self consciousness for a moment, Arven flustered at how embarrassing his big declaration had been, both to himself and likely to Doppio, who was way too cool for stuff like that… before Arven gave Doppio a warm look, “Aceto, huh? Cool name… why do you go by Doppio? I mean, Doppio is also cool, ‘Double’ is a fun name, but ‘Vinegar’ is so unique. Feels like I’m calling you an ‘intense flavor’, which… accurate.” Arven laughed.

They…they were their own people. Not trapped or bound by decisions other people made. If they saw a path they wanted to take, they could confidently start walking it. Other people were…either friends or obstacles. Not masters. 

(...Doppio felt a small swoop of guilt in his stomach at that.)

Doppio opened his eyes as the wind picked up, immediately glad he did, despite his lingering embarrassment, as he got to catch a glimpse of Arven’s full face. Something about the moment feeling…big.

Or, big, as Amaina would be excited about. 

“No, I…thanks.” Following Arven’s lead and continuing down the road, Doppio let go of a little breath. “It’s kinda obvious but…I’m nervous, about all this. I think I needed that.”

And now that one of the bigger cats was out of the bag…

Doppio sighed, wringing his bag strap in self-consciousness, flushing again as being called an intense flavor. (Geez) “I mean…it’s just what most people at work called me so…I got used to it. And…I-I mean, thanks but…it’s a little weird, I know.” He flashed Arven a self-conscious look. “Even if most people don’t know Tsumarian well…”

His face twisted. “...and they kept calling me “Ay-Set-O”, if they saw it written first, so it was just…easier to ask to be called by my last name.”

“Ay-set-o?” Arven mimicked, tilting his head slightly. “Oh, I could see that. A-che-to is cooler, though. Strong name.” Arven said, “Sort of name that feels like it’d suit the main character of an action book. Not like ‘Arven’.”

Arven rolled his eyes, giving Doppio a dry glance as he said, “My name makes me sound like a nerd, I always thought. And that’s before you find out what it’s actually meant to mean. My parents really looked at their tiny baby and decided ‘we’re gonna name this kid peppermint and then leave him on his own, he’ll be fine’. Honestly, it’s like they were hoping I’d get bullied.”

“And you said you told Kaito, but you don’t think he remembers? Kinda sounds like him, really,” Arven mused, the two walking quietly down the path for a moment… before Arven shot Doppio a somewhat uncomfortable look. “You know, it seemed kinda unimportant in comparison to everything else you were saying, so I didn’t really think about it, but… you said you were trying to keep Kaito out of the psych ward?”

Doppio flushed more. …Kaito had said the same thing, when they met, but Doppio had just brushed it off then. He still didn’t think he was really ‘main character’ stuff, but…it was nice that Arven thought so. 

Unlike the next stuff. Doppio’s attention was pulled back up off the road, listening to Arven in astonishment before he furiously shook his head. “I-I really like ‘Arven’! I mean, between two food names, I like peppermint way more than vinegar, and…it kinda fits? Mint and peppermint have been used for a lot of medicinal stuff throughout time, not to mention hygienic uses, but they’re also incredible flavors too. I always get really excited around Unity, ‘cause I can start finding peppermint bark around… An herb that’s been known throughout history, and has uses in, like, every discipline? That’s really cool!”

“...so, ya know. My opinion,” Doppio coughed, looking away, flustered. 

…which he knew didn’t really…account for much…

Doppio sighed, chewing on his cheek. “...I know…mental hospitals shouldn’t be something to be scared about, and all… But…” He cringed into himself. “...but Kaito’s not crazy. And…and whatever stuff he actually is going through… I couldn’t, just…let that lady take advantage of it, and get him committed.” 

Doppio glanced around the road nervously. “...even if…it made my own case weaker… I couldn’t do that to him… I never meant for all this to blow up like it did…”

“Yeah? Well, I prefer vinegar, honestly.” Arven laughed, looking flustered but pleased, “It’s such a unique flavor, and it adds so much to so many ingredients. Plus, I’m one of those freaks that likes to drink down a shot of it by itself every now and again. It’s such a kick, it wakes me up more than coffee some days, and I don’t care who thinks it’s gross, I like how it tastes straight too.”

As Arven listened to Doppio’s explanation, Arven crossed his arms, closing his eyes as he walked easily forward. “...ngh.”

Opening his eyes, Arven confessed, “...I don’t feel… great. About how hard a time we gave him, when it turns out he knew exactly what he was talking about. I mean, he still absolutely flubbed the landing, the guy kind of falls apart if you put any sort of pressure on him, which can get pretty weird, but…”

“Ugh,” Arven huffed, blowing out a puff of air, “I really thought he was full of it. Like, entirely. Just a crazy Luminary assuming everyone was as bloodthirsty as he is. Like, of course your ex-boss would drown you, probably everyone he ever knew would do the same if it was convenient, sort of thing.”

“And, in a lot of the places I excavated caves, it was smaller towns where they’re kinda more… open? About their frustrations with Luminary? People try not to talk about it around here in the capital, but in a lot of the towns I stayed in the last year, people were gossiping and complaining a lot about Luminary, and about Kaito in particular. And I remember this one couple that I bought some oranges from, talking about how Dicean ambassadors found evidence of, like, even the royal family beating their kids or torturing them or something, and when they tried to expose the abuse, no one in Luminary even cared? And how it really said something about everyone who came from that country…”

“So,” Arven tilted his head, “I was a little? Surprised? That Kaito seemed so freaked out about your abuse. It’s what made me think some of it was performative. Like he was trying to game Dicea’s system to force you to… I don’t know. Let him pretend to be your dad or something. Something weird. A part of me didn’t really think he cared about the abuse at all, that he was just trying to manipulate you. And watching him fall apart when you were yelling at him just… didn’t fit that mental image at all either?”

“I don’t know.” Arven frowned. “I think I may have misjudged what was going on. I feel kind of bad now.”

…

(...people did just drink straight vinegar? Doppio thought…)

Groaning, Doppio covered his eyes, shrinking into his shoulders. “I know. I…I’m still pissed at him, for what he did, but…” Doppio wilted a bit, his voice going softer. “...I shouldn’t have yelled at him like that. It doesn’t make up for him jumping to conclusions behind my back, but…he really has just…been trying to help me. And I…”

Threw it back in his face. Spurned a sort of kindness that Doppio had never received before, and hurt someone that just…wanted to help. 

Doppio did know what Arven was talking about. In smaller towns, where anyone who left for the war would be felt more by the community, and who would have less propaganda over the past year from the castle about healing international relations… People were angry about the war. About the invaders that attacked them. About the strange, blood-thirsty ways Luminary’s culture filtered in through the gossip lines. 

…Kaito had alluded to his own abuse, before. It was vague and confusing enough that still Doppio didn’t really understand exactly what the prince had told him, but…he could get the idea. And that…

Doppio shook his head a little, shoulders weighed down by guilt. “...he told me before that…he’s kinda been the worst-case scenario he’s been trying to warn us off. I…I think he’s been in some deep shit and just…doesn’t want us to go through the same.”

He ducked his head more, voice going softer. “...I’m scared of healers. They really freak me out… And the whole time I was on that machine…Kaito stayed with me. He took me to his personal family’s healer, a-and they didn’t ask questions and…and he promised that he wasn’t gonna leave me there, and he wasn’t gonna let me become a science experiment. That he’d seen it before, and he wasn’t gonna let it happen ever again.”

Doppio covered his face. “...why did I do that to him?”

Arven shook his head, reaching out to place his hand on Doppio’s shoulder again, lightly squeezing it. “No, sorry, that’s not what I meant. I don’t think you did anything wrong. If anything, you know… I mean, you were scared, you know?” Arven said, looking a little more uncertain, his voice slow, like he was working it out for himself, “I think that’s… normal? For you to get defensive and scared, in this situation. I mean, the guy could kill you. Of course it’d be scary to be told someone was intruding on that. Because that could put you at risk. That makes sense?”

“I just mean on my end. I thought he was being really stupid. I entirely dismissed what he was saying from the beginning. But if I hadn’t gone into that conversation just assuming he was wrong? I could have, I don’t know…” Arven shrugged uncomfortably. “Helped you? Maybe stopped that conversation from exploding the way it did. I did kind of just root you on the whole time, when maybe it’d have been better if I had been a mediator or something.”

Doppio sighed softly, closing his eyes. Immediately he felt himself wanting to defend The Boss. Saying that he wouldn’t kill him, and things were fine, and Kaito was wrong for…doing anything about that…

…but after all this, Boss would kill him. And…and…maybe…Doppio wasn’t fine with that. And…even if he fucked it up…Kaito had been trying to help him. 

It still felt like a mistake. Everything. But…

Doppio nudged his shoulder against Arven’s. “...maybe. I dunno if I just would’ve started yelling at you too. But…I didn’t tell you before. But…I really appreciated you backing me up, so…thanks, Arven. Even if…”

He sighed, shaking his head a little. “...thanks for believing me.”

Even if he was believing something that…wasn’t quite…fully true.

“Hey, we’re, uh…” Arven faltered, feeling an impulse to say ‘bros’ and something not quite right about it, outside of how it was such a jock thing to say, before deciding to try it anyway, “Bros, right? Friends need to stand up for each other. Even if one of them is full of shit…” 

Arven paused, listening to the sound… before laughing a little, “I was wondering if she was going to start doing this soon.”

The wind had become accompanied by background music, one that fit their easy pace through the natureside. And after the music had settled into a steady rhythm, Amaina suddenly fluttered out of Doppio’s sweater. “Where have you been, little angel?” Arven asked.

 ♪ checking in with a loser spaz to make sure things are being handled ♩ Amaina said simply.  ♪ he was gonna tell on me because he’s laaaaaaaame but i didnt need to be there long to confirm things are GOING DOWN so that’s good ♩

“What’s so frustrating, is that I know if I had more context, that would all make sense to me.” Arven muttered, “Like, I’ve realized you’re not talking absolute nonsense when you do that. You’re not even speaking in riddles. You just offer no context.”

 ♪ I AM A TRUTH TELLER CLEAN OUT YOUR EARS ♩

Doppio let out a small defeated, yet grateful laugh. “Yeah? Well…thanks anyway. Honestly…if I hadn’t been freaking out so much, I wouldn’t’ve been surprised if you tracked down Kaito just to tell him how full of shit I’d been. I…” …he wasn’t even really sure why he’d told Arven. Doppio had just been…scared. And upset, and hurt, and…it felt like if he didn’t tell someone then…

…he’d disappear one day and no one would know. 

His smile dropped, at that thought, but it was soon soothed by a tune on the wind, though Doppio jumped and let out a small, “Eep!” as Amaina came out of his clothes. Even if it was something she was regularly doing now, it never became any less startling. 

He agreed with Arven, that Amaina wasn’t just talking nonsense, but just presented it in a nonsensical way, but…

He gave the angel a concerned look. “...what kind of things are going down?”

 ♪ the wise baby’s getting involved because sexy dungeon guy is saaaaad ♩ Amaina sighed, literally, physically melting, her face dripping skin like she was ‘crying’, ♪ it’s not easy being the better option and wise baby won’t let his man fall apart he is RIDE OR DIE i love it I toooootally ship them ♩ Amaina squeaked, swaying back and forth as her face pinked pleasantly.

“Okay. Hold on, um… I swear, I’ve heard Amaina call someone ‘better’ over and over again, it’s one of those things I hear her rant about to you sometimes… your senpai? The singing lady?”

♪ you are sooooo lucky you are pretty and brave because your head is all BRICKS ♩

Doppio huffed softly. “Arven’s plenty smart, you’re just cryptic, Angelo.” …but… Well, it did take a moment of thinking but…’better’ was like an ‘upgrade’, wasn’t it?

He gave Amaina a confused look. “...how…is Princess Miyako helping Kaito out? I guess I don’t really know but…I’d assume she’s the only baby regularly around him…”

…if ‘better’ was ‘upgrade’, then…that also meant he was ‘sexy dungeon guy’ and…

Doppio let out a little breath, coughing into his shoulder before he wilted. “...Kaito’s sad ‘cause of me, huh?”

♪ if his head is full of bricks yours is full of STRAAAAW but no worries we will find the wizard and get you a PHD ♩ Amaina promised. 

“Do you do this on purpose?” Arven asked.

O.O 

OoO ♪ I am a construct of desperate dying joy and love and I cannot help my nature ♩

“... well, that made me weirdly uncomfortable,” Arven admitted, before looking to Doppio, “And, well, Prince Kaito being sad isn’t exactly news. The guy got on his knees and looked like he was about to start bawling near the end there. It was… really uncomfy. It made me feel gross. The guy’s such a big personality, I didn’t like watching him… I don’t know? Try to make himself small or something.”

“Also, is Princess Miyako ‘baby wisdom’?” Arven asked, “How wise can a baby be?”

♪ wise enough to give up a piece of yourself and dumb enough to give up a piece of yourself it can be both ♩

“Nope. Didn’t follow that one at all… how is Kaito sexy dungeon guy??”

♪ That’s his words not mine what can I say the man thinks dungeons are stylish ♩

Doppio flinched a little, the jeer no easier to hear in Amaina’s innocent tone. Doppio could admit he was often the first to admit he wasn’t the brightest, but…he didn’t know. Something about being called out as truly having nothing in his head just…hurt. 

But it really didn’t make Amaina’s words any easier to parse. 

Doppio sighed, nodding with guilt. “...it made me feel like…I dunno, he was waiting for me to attack him or something? He talked about that with me before too, saying I could take him. It was weird… I don’t want to fight him.”

“...whatever,” Doppio sighed again, rubbing his face a bit. “Whatever Kaito’s getting up to… Even if he’s…like, getting a restraining order against me, then…that just makes what we’re doing easier. Just two guys off to see the world on their own, together. Nothing holding us back.”

“You know, of all the things that worry me about Kaito, him insisting we leave him alone is not the thing that comes to mind.” Arven admitted, “It has occurred to me he might, like… come looking for us.”

“But, how could he possibly find us?” Arven shrugged, “So it doesn’t really matter. Though, maybe, when we’ve figured out a semi-permanent place to settle for a bit? We should send him a letter assuring him we’re still alive. Like, your ex-boss didn’t swoop in on the room and murder us or anything. My teachers probably will guess I finally ran away for good, they didn’t come looking for me when I took the year off either so that’s fine. He’s honestly the only person I can think of who’d be actually worried about us. We should let him know we survived.”

True… That morning, before everything? Doppio would’ve whole-heartedly agreed. There was no getting away from Kaito Momota. 

…but seeing him on the ground, like he was waiting for the entire world to engulf him in flames of retribution… As Doppio told him to die…

Doppio quickly side-eyed Arven before looking back at the ground, sweating slightly. (Or, more than he was from their trek, which was starting to go uphill now.) He…hadn’t quite just left the room after showering and packing up. Maki’s bloody stare hadn’t left his mind and…and it was for the best that he leave. He knew that. 

…but something in Doppio just…couldn’t quite let him leave things as they were. 

He wasn’t obvious about it, but…hidden in the lampshade of one of the lights in the room…he’d left a note. Short, but…apologizing. Explaining that he and Arven were leaving, and they were gonna be fine so…Kaito could just stop worrying about them. Doppio hadn’t said where they were going, because honestly he still didn’t even know, just trusting Arven to lead them, but… 

Well, it was a start, if someone really wanted to track them down. 

“...yeah,” Doppio sighed, before nudging Arven’s arm gently. “...I’d go find you, if you suddenly disappeared one day.”

Arven lit up at that, nudging him back. “You’d find me, because I’d already be looking for you too.”

♪ ….gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ♩

“Just ignore her. She’s gotta stop doing that if we ignore her.” Arven whispered determinedly. 

(...oh what the hell AAAAAAAAAAAAAA WHAT?! (๑♡⌓♡๑);;)

Doppio lit up scarlet, covering his face with one hand. 

-

After some discussion, the two decided to camp out in the hills rather than head to the nearest town for an inn. It had been an interesting conversation, both of them changing their minds on it several times. Doppio, a few times, asking Arven if he’d really be okay with, uh, not having a bed, for the night, if he was sure, no no Doppio was fine, no pressure either way, just, if Arven wanted a… bed?

And eventually the two decided no, neither of them needed a bed. And Arven was delighted to find out he could show Doppio the best way to make a good sized fire in an area like this. 

“So, yeah, the fungus that grows on the bark of trees are so important for fires out here,” Arven re-affirmed, as the two settled down next to the fire they had made, laying out sleeping bags and Arven setting up a cooking skillet. “Stir-fry sound good?”

Doppio really was fine camping out for the night! …but he was glad when they stopped. He liked to think he was relatively in-shape, but by the time they’d staked out a place to set up, his head was buzzing and his coughs were becoming more frequent, the sting of them never quite leaving his chest. There was some distant part of him that…considered that he probably should’ve taken that medicine the healer prescribed for him, but…well. He’d be alright. 

Poking at the fire, making sure that it was condensed solely in the pit they’d made for it with focus, Doppio hummed in interest and gave Arven a nod. “That’s really interesting… I always kinda consider fungus to be wet, since…at least the ones for cooking absorb a lot of water, but, yeah, that makes sense. Huh…”

Backing away a little to dig through his bag--he’d had extra space after collecting all his things, so Doppio was carrying some of their more general supplies too--Doppio gave Arven a grin. “Sounds great, actually. You wanna use the soba noodles for it tonight, or save ‘em for another time?”

“Let’s do it tonight. We should consider this a sort of celebration! It’s our first meal as free men!” Arven grinned, pulling out the cooking oil, getting started.

Within minutes of cooking, the air started to warm with the scent of cooking, Arven’s pre-prepped ingredients for the most part just needing opening and mixing rather than any additional cleaning or cooking. It was soothing, a comfortingly familiar smell, along with the burning wood and the warming rocks.

“In fact,” Arven said, digging into his pack and pulling out a small jar of clear liquid, before pulling out a long pipe, Arven asked as the food cooked, “Do you mind if I take a few puffs from my kiseru tonight? I’m not really looking to get high, I just sort of want to do something to mark the occasion.”

It was…far less involved than most things Doppio cooked. He knew that was by design, since a lot of his planned recipes were deliberately complicated, just…him wanting to push himself to his culinary limit and feel…special about what he was doing. But food didn’t need a million steps to be delicious, and Doppio found himself enjoying the moment as all the ingredients cooked together on the open fire. 

Cooking by campfire, the last vestiges of the sunset behind them, the trees rustling in the wind… Another special, beautiful moment. Better shared with a friend. 

And…even more special too. 

“Oh, I don’t mind, no.” Doppio shook his head, though he gave the pipe and jar a curious look. “...what is that, though?”

Arven opened up the jar, carefully dipping the end of the pipe into the liquid, closing up the jar and putting it aside, before holding the pipe over the fire. In the air, there was a slight scent, like warmed vanilla, but served cold. Temperature was the only way to describe the scent. Otherwise, it was just distinctly ‘chemical’, but in a pleasant way.

“It’s a pretty rare drug, from a tribe down farthest east that’s still more of a ‘tribe’ than a town. People who took their history seriously, still actively honor and maintain the old ways, sort of thing,” Arven explained, taking a long breath through the pipe, holding it, before letting it go. The ‘smoke’ of the pipe coming out curiously light and smooth, like he was breathing out steam in the cold rather than actual smoke. “I did some odd jobs while I was exploring the caves there for Titan herbs, and they gave me a jar of this as a way to thank me for the help. It’s called Oop-oë. Apparently, it means ‘Open Eyes’.”

Closing his eyes, letting the feeling of it run through him, Arven said, “It’s a very, very short high. Even a really strong dose really only lasts maybe a half hour, forty minutes. And that’s a strong dose, not what I’m doing. And they insist that’s a good thing: it’s a drug that makes you incredibly clear headed, but incredibly calm too. You’re meant to use it when you’re reflecting on important things without getting overwhelmed, but that too much of it can lead to a sort of ‘hyper’ rationality that’s basically as bad as delusion. So you don’t want to be able to feel it too long.”

“I like to use it whenever I’ve made a big decision,” Arven explained, “To basically see if I feel the same way about my decision on it as I do off it. I don’t even really know if it works, it’s hard to gauge how ‘clear headed’ you are, and honestly the ‘insight’ stuff might all just be a placebo and it just makes you feel calm for a little while. But I like it… plus it smells good too.”

“You can try if you like,” Arven offered, “but I know how you feel about stuff like this, so no real pressure. I just like the ritual of it.”

Doppio looked on attentively as Arven…prepared the pipe, he supposed, watching with interest as he took a huff. It…smelled pretty good, surprisingly. Sure, Doppio didn’t begrudge anyone for doing drugs (obviously) but…a lot of them that you smoked or otherwise heated up tended to smell pretty horrible. But…vanilla? That seemed like a dangerous comfort. 

As Arven explained about the drug, Doppio found himself determinedly filing that information away…before he sighed a little at himself. 

He’d…quit. So…there was no reason to hang on to information like this, other than just being interested in something Arven was telling him, he supposed. He wasn’t…aiding the drug trade, or keeping an ear out for new things or…

…fulfilling The Boss’s dreams…

“...I dunno,” Doppio said after a moment, watching the fire. “...being clean was, yanno, a hard requirement of my job so…I’ve never really thought about it more than that. Now…it still doesn’t really appeal to me. Though…I guess it’d be nice taking pain-killers without getting all nervous about it now…”

He sighed, shooting Arven a small smile. “It does smell good. This idea still seeming good?”

Arven smiled, leaning back and watching the sky as he said, “I don’t know yet. Give it a moment to kick in.”

He took another long puff, held it, let it out with a sigh… before he opened his eyes again. His teal green eyes flickering like emeralds in the firelight, as he seemed to sit there and contemplate things quietly…

His eyes shifted to Doppio. Stared at him for a moment… before his gaze suddenly widened. Looking genuinely startled. 

…before he held his hand in front of his face, looking away. Turning bright red. 

Doppio hummed softly before nodding, shifting a bit to settle in by the fire. He did like watching the sky, but…well, he really did have all night for that, and he had a feeling it was going to be pretty spectacular when all the stars came out. Farther out from the city like they were…it was sure to be something. 

…but right then? There was something breathtaking right in front of Doppio. 

As a comfortable silence fell between them, Doppio rested his chin in his hand, looking over at Arven. The peace and contemplation in his form…well, obviously his eye, gorgeous as ever…

(While he enjoyed how the fire illuminated Arven, Doppio didn’t even consider how it might possibly look reflecting off himself. How the orange flames warmed gold eyes, flickering shadows making his freckles look even more chaotic than usual.)

And…when Arven startled, Doppio perked too, clearing his throat in embarrassment. “Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to stare, I-I, my gaze just kinda settled. Sorry, that’s weird!”

“Oh, yeah! Yeah… I mean no?” Arven corrected, still covering his face, starting to sweat a little, “No, you’re not weird, I’m weird… uh. No one’s weird? Nothing’s weird! Who said anything about being weird!?”

Covering his mouth, Arven squinted at the ground… before glancing at Doppio… before staring at the ground again. Face turning red.

“...a-anyway! Um, like I said, it could all be placebo anyway. Honestly, expecting any kind of high to make you more clear headed is probably s-silly, who knows what weird thoughts it actually makes you think,” Arven reasoned, pouring out the rest of the liquid– not that there was much left, the dose had been very small– before starting to clean it. 

Though as he cleaned, he seemed to consider things… before saying, “I think this was the best thing we could do. Staying was dangerous. I’d rather we take our chances out here, over putting you in direct danger.”

Tucking his arms in a sort of half self-hug, Doppio shrugged as he determinedly stared at the ground. “Still, uh, sorry… Um…” 

…don’t just…stare at people, Aceto. Even…if they’re really beautiful, and looking peaceful, and really cool… It’s rude!

Letting go of a nervous breath, Doppio scratched his arm before nodding. Then pausing, and nodding again. “I think I was…being dumb. Before you brought up running. There was… I wasn’t… If I…” He huffed softly, frustrated with himself. Seeming to internally fight with something before his voice came out softer. “...Boss means a lot to me. But…I don’t…think I would’ve been okay, if I went home. And…other than with you…I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“So…thanks, Arven,” Doppio looked up, more calm than he’d been…pretty much all day, and giving Arven a soft smile. “I know you’ve said all that stuff about bros looking after each other, but…it still means a lot to me, that…” He let out a soft laugh. “With…pretty much no hesitation? You were just like, oh yeah, come with me. Things feel…better. With you.”

Arven laughed a little, smiling wide and looking incredibly pleased, but still staring at the ground as he said, “Yep! Bros! This is what… friends do! Good friends! Great friends, even! They…” Arven’s smile twisted, looking a little baffled with himself, “...run away together.”

Before laughing, shaking his head at himself, and running his hand over his face. Oh… shit. 

Suddenly, behind his ear, Amaina leaned in and whispered, ♪….gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ♩

Hurriedly waving his hand at his ear, like shooing away a fly, Arven smiled at Doppio, “I’m happy too, honestly. And it’s exciting! I’ve always sort of wished I had more than Chief to travel with,” Arven said, patting Chief– who had, of course, been walking quietly with them this whole time– on the head. “He’s great, but not the best conversationalist. But now? Well…”

Arven shrugged. “Between you, me, and Amaina? It’s just gonna be nice to travel with other people.”

“...you know, I sort of envied you, when you talked about your boss before,” Arven admitted, his mind still buzzing with the Oop-oë. “It was… nice to think that someone had stepped in and picked up where your parents had left off, ya know? Someone giving you a job and looking after you without belittling you. I don’t want my mom back, she’s basically abandoned me and I’m not that pathetic. I don’t want someone who doesn’t want me.”

“But it is nice to imagine someone, like… I don’t know.” Arven sighed, “Caring about what happens to me. More than just my teachers vaguely worrying I’ll starve if left alone. I envied that you had that, when we talked.”

“...but being beaten isn’t a good trade-off,” Arven said, wrinkling his nose, “So I don’t envy that.”

Doppio…wasn’t really sure if that was right, just from what he’d seen, but…well, he’d never had any other friends before. If Arven was confident this was a true expression of friendship, then Doppio would trust him about that. 

“I’m looking forward to it, honestly,” Doppio softly laughed, brushing some hair behind his ear. “I’ve been all around the country but…not really exploring, you know? I’m excited to finally do that, and with you. I think we’ll be able to find some really amazing things.”

Not in that they’d find anything particularly unique, or groundbreaking but…just that seeing anything, the world around them, together was just going to be…amazing. Because they were going to experience it together. A world of beautiful things to find and…and Doppio was going to leave the scary things behind. 

Like…

Doppio’s face fell, along with his gaze, back to staring at the ground. Even with newfound and accepted freedom, not…really able to embrace it without guilt. “...I always felt like I did have a life worth envying. I had everything I could possibly ask for, a purpose, security, just…”

…why hadn’t it been enough? Why hadn’t he been enough?

Shaking his head, Doppio took a deep breath and held it for a few moments…before letting it out in a few harsh coughs. And by the time he caught his breath again, he simply gave Arven a small smile. “...well, I care about what happens to you. I guess it’s different, since, like,” he snorted, a sarcastic grin curling at the corners of his lips, “I’m not gonna try to be your dad or anything. But…that’s something, right? And I promise I’m not gonna…”

A sharp breath, and Doppio had to close his eyes. Sweating a bit, as he clearly forced out, “...abuse. You. Or anything. In return.”

Arven snorted at the ‘be your dad’ comment, though his stomach warmed pleasantly at being told Doppio cared about him. Though…

Scooting over to Doppio, Arven leaned against him. “I wasn’t worried you would. But I’ll hold you to it. And, look, for what it’s worth?” Arven said, putting his arm around Doppio’s shoulder and pulling him into a half hug. “I’d never hurt you to get what I want… argue with you? Yes. Corner you to a wall? Uuuuuuh, apparently so, though now that I know you I feel much worse about that,” Arven admitted, “But especially now that I know you? You’re safe with me, okay?”

“...I’ll make sure you’re okay.” Arven said determinedly. “I’ll take care of you.”

It still felt wrong. Boss hadn’t abused him. Sure…s-sure, yeah he’d…hit him. And drowned him…long enough that it’d…kill someone who didn’t have a guardian angel helping them out. And…regularly made Doppio feel like…useless garbage… But that wasn’t… Those were all just…his own short-comings. Boss always had made him really happy too, so it was just…him making sure Doppio wasn’t going to sabotage his own potential! 

…what would be enough, though? Boss had looked the happiest Doppio had (seen him in years) and he’d still just…immediately drowned him. Sent him off crying, not even acknowledging him… So…

Letting go of a shaky breath, Doppio hesitated a moment before looping an arm around Arven’s waist, as his friend hugged him. Hugging in return. And offering up a wobbly smile. “...I’ve never really seen myself as someone to take care of, you know? That was always my job… How…how about we take care of each other, okay?”

Arven nodded, looking a little reassured by that. “I mean, that’d probably be easier, yeah. We’ll do it together.”

Arven stared at Doppio. That crooked little smile. That smattering of freckles. Big, wide eyes, golden and shining like the sun…

B-bestest bro! Such a dude! What a guy! Guy-friend being a dude-bro! What a friend Arven had in Doppio! 

Disentangling himself, bright red, Arven reached for the stir-fry. “I think it’s r-ready! First meal on the road! You ready?”

That sounded nice. Doing it together. 

…

‘It’ being, like…traveling! And being cool! And (helping each other heal from their respective trauma). Just cool things!

(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA)

Letting Arven go and immediately mourning how he felt in his arms--and refusing to acknowledge that--Doppio nodded, getting out utensils from their packs. “Absolutely! Um…” He glanced around before offering Arven a shy, sheepish smile. “Here’s to a path of our own making?”

“To a path of our own!” Arven beamed.

-

So, here’s the thing.

It was windy.

It was the hillsides.

And it was fall.

And even as the fire kept going, Arven knew it’d put itself out before morning came to warm things again, and that could be a problem… for Doppio. Because Chief, big, furry beast that he was, was going to plop himself right on top of Arven. Which was one of the ways Arven had always stayed warm camping.

But Doppio was going to be out of Dog Cuddling range, by this point. And, assuring himself he had no ulterior motives… Arven finally said, just before they settled in for the night, “Maybe we should join our sleeping bags. Like, use one for bedding, the other for blanket, and just… maximize Chief’s body heat.”

There were some things that Doppio was willing to concede and give up when it came to life on the road--however. Basic hygiene was not it. Especially when Doppio was going to be side-by-side with Arven, who always looked effortlessly put together, and there was no way Doppio was going to spend any more time around him with unbrushed teeth. In a way…it was a little lucky that Kaito had kidnapped him, since he had a brand new stick of deodorant to work through too. 

So…as it was, Doppio was brushing out his hair before bed before he paused. Hearing what Arven proposed, definitely, but…

(One bed.)

(...less than one bed, really.)

(One sleeping bag. Even if it was two layered, but…they weren’t all that wide, so they’d have to… Doppio and Arven would have to…be pretty close together. As they slept.)

(To keep warm.)

Putting his brush down, Doppio gave Arven a grin. “Sounds like a good idea. After your couch, I don’t think I’ll turn down an opportunity to sleep under Chief either,” he chuckled, getting up to bring his sleeping bag over. 

“You want yours top or bottom?”

“..........” Arven, who had just finished cleaning and packing up their leftover dishes, sat on his ankles and stared at his hands. “...I don’t know,” he admitted, mind entirely on the wrong subject, “I’ve never thought about it.”

“...d-do you have a preference?” Arven asked, both meaning the sleeping bags and no nothing else why would he mean anything else?? “Cause, I mean… it matters, if you do.”

“Uh…not really?” Doppio shrugged, not really…sure why he was feeling those accursed flutters in his stomach, and really not sure why they were ramping up as he came over to Arven’s bedside. Which would be their bedside, in a moment. “I’ve never done anything like this before, so… I guess I was just asking, if you had any grand survivalist tips for joining up sleeping bags.”

He huffed a small laugh, looking away as his cheeks burned. This was…dumb. Why was he feeling so nervous to go to sleep?

“I guess yours is down already, so we can use mine as a blanket. And…oh,” Doppio glanced down, noting his hair falling over his shoulders. “Uh…I usually sleep with my hair loose, but I can put it up, so you don’t wake up with more than dog fur in your mouth. Um…and…well, you know I don’t really move around…”

“Oh, well, I’ve never really done this before either. Because I don’t travel with other people,” Arven explained, before feeling weirdly defensive as he added, “Obviously I’ve done it with myself a few times, that’s why I have two. More comfortable, especially in damp areas. But that’d be more laying out one and still using the other on top of it normally.”

Arven was, in truth, not entirely sure how he felt about using Doppio’s blanket as the top… and then he got a little confused at himself, because literally what did it matter, why was he being like this, ahhhhhhhhhh– “I don’t mind you sleeping with your hair down. Your hair looks nice down.”

“...not that that matters,” Arven added in. “Obviously. Just whatever’s comfortable for you.”

Doppio nodded, just…nervously looking around for a moment before he sat back down next to Arven, the squirming feeling particularly…warm and tingly. Weird. “Sounds practical to me. Which makes sense, since…yeah, it’s you.” Nervously, he huffed a small laugh. “...even if we could’ve gone to my house…I don’t think I even own a sleeping bag. Even if we had to stop on the road while we were moving, I’d just kinda curl up somewhere with a blanket. Not really picky about sleeping, really.”

Awkwardly bringing the other sleeping bag forward, Doppio blinked in surprise before he looked away, red again. “...you did mention that, before… Um…okay. Just don’t blame me later, alright?” 

Nervously combing his fingers through the ends of his hair, Doppio half-shrugged. “Though, I guess you’re pretty used to managing your own, right? It’s really pretty, so I guess camping doesn’t pose much of an issue.”

“...should we?! Lie down?!” Doppio hurriedly squeaked.

Was his hair pretty??

Arven, entirely subconsciously, ran his hand over his bangs again, trying to straighten it out a little, though the loose, messy curls immediately bounced back. His hair was always a little uneven, because he had always had to cut it himself, and admittedly on his worst days he sort of thought he looked ‘shaggy’. On his best days, he thought he looked ‘okay’. 

Doppio, in turn, had never looked anything less than entirely pretty. Arven marveled at it a little, honestly. He couldn’t imagine what looking like Doppio must be like. “Yeah, let’s lie down,” he said.

Settling into the bedding, Arven adjusted his pillow before laying his arm under his own head, staring at the sky as he felt Doppio adjust next to him, while Chief trotted out away from them. The dog likely had to pee. Arven tapped at his stomach a bit, extremely aware of the body next to him, even if they weren’t actually touching…

“...so, uh,” Arven said, “...you probably get flirted with a lot, huh?”

…what was the appropriate distance away from someone, if you were sharing a bed? This was something Doppio had never had to consider before. Was, like he was doing, being…almost arm-to-arm…normal? It was almost, because Arven had his interior arm up and…Doppio was definitely sure that completely cuddling up to his side would be weird! …even if it seemed like it’d be nice! So, uh…

…well, he wasn’t saying anything, so Doppio was probably fine!

…he was right about the stars. Doppio had folded his hands over his stomach--hoping to ward off the squirms and flutters--and…well, something about the position was working. It was…really amazing. 

“I, uh… Don’t really know what ‘a lot’ would be but, sometimes, yeah,” Doppio softly admitted. “I never knew what to do with it, if I’m honest. Just…people calling me cute, and then…after a second getting…”

His brows furrowed as he thought about it. “...like…this weird sort of expression? I dunno how to describe it, really. And if it was a situation I hadn’t just left myself, usually they’d leave after that, so… It was relieving, but…I dunno. Makes sense for people to lose interest the second I open my mouth.”

“What about you? I can imagine you handling just about every approach more smoothly than me.”

“Does it? You have a really nice voice,” Arven said, and it didn’t even make him flush to say so. It just seemed obvious. Doppio had an objectively attractive voice. Smooth. “I never really get it when I’m traveling. If you put me in a crowd, I’ve found, people tend not to register I’m there. Honestly, it might actually be Chief’s fault. People tend to stare at the massive dog, they barely see me.”

“But at school, sure, I’ve had a few people who were flirting.” Arven said, shrugging a little, “But, and this is going to sound mean, and it is… but it was never the right people? That’s mean… and I don’t even know who the ‘right’ person would have been. But other kids would confess to me and it never really registered as a big deal to me. I’d thank them for the confession, tell them I wasn’t looking to date, and move on.”

“I’ve never actually dated anyone or anything like that,” Arven said, “...never, uh, never kissed anyone or anything either. If you have?”

??? Did he??? Doppio didn’t really…register anything about his voice. It was just…sound. Honestly, if anything, he thought it was a bit annoying to listen to, not just from the quality of his voice itself but, well…what he’d meant originally. Him just saying stupid things. And making…dumb noises, that he’d never really been able to stop. 

It wasn’t like Arven’s voice. Amaina had definitely been playing it up with her puppet show, but Arven’s voice was noticeably deeper than his own. And it felt…warm. Friendly, even when he was gearing up for a fight. The kind of voice that felt like someone welcoming you home and putting something warm to drink in your hands. And Arven had, like, the opposite problem that Doppio did, because everything he said was super interesting and thoughtful. Doppio could listen to him for hours. 

“I guess that’s fair,” Doppio huffed softly. “Not really to you, since…well, obviously. You’re awesome. But Chief is adorable, and, uh…well, I’ve definitely had more than a few moments of walking into things and people ‘cause I’ve been distracted by a cool animal.”

He didn’t think he could get distracted from Arven, though. Even with the stars twinkling above, Doppio didn’t think they could quite compare to Arven’s smile. 

Or, uh…

“I-I haven’t,” Doppio stuttered, feeling his face heat up again. “For either. I mean…maybe you could count Amaina but…I don’t. Kissing an injury away doesn’t count for that kind of thing.”

“...um, uh… I, uh…kinda get what you mean, about…it not being right? I never even considered dating anyone since…my job keeps…kept, me busy. But…I dunno…” Doppio’s voice trailed off as he frowned at the sky. Gnawing on his lip, before he swallowed. “Well, now I’m traveling with you, so… That’s that. Wouldn’t really wanna meet anyone else now either.”

…the fluttering in his stomach was starting to pick up again, furious enough that it made Doppio want to physically squirm too, but…don’t be weird. “Uh,” he started, a little breathlessly, “Do… Um. Some people kinda…consider first kisses to be, like, big deals, right? Do…you?”

Arven kinda wanted to say that traveling with him didn’t mean Doppio couldn’t date people… obviously. Obviously? Because that’d be weird. It’d be weird if Doppio traveling with Arven meant Doppio couldn’t flirt with and get with other people. There was literally no reason for that.

But Arven couldn’t bring himself to say that aloud. The idea made him tense.

Though, that tension went away when Arven felt a bout of nerves at Doppio’s question. Clutching at his shirt with one hand as he said, “Well… maybe? Is it weird if I say yes? I mean… it feels like it could be a big deal. I don’t think I’d want to kiss someone it wasn’t kind of a big deal with, if that makes any sense. Big deal equals the kiss, I guess.”

“....you?”

Doppio nodded slightly, finding sense in that. “I don’t think that’s weird--I mean, I brought it up ‘cause…even I’d heard of it so…yeah. I think that’s pretty normal. I think it’d be a little…disappointing, if you were just…trying to get your first kiss over as soon as possible. Kinda rude to the person you’re kissing, too.”

He tapped on his stomach, crossing his ankles. “...I dunno. I think so. I just…well, not just from the first one, but…I don’t wanna initiate a kiss I’d regret? Maybe that’s…a little intense, but…I dunno. If I was gonna…” He flushed more. “...be romantic, with someone? That kinda feels like a big decision to me, right now. I don’t think I’d be comfortable just…like, kissing someone at a party, and never seeing them again.”

“...not that…I’ve really been to any parties.”

Arven laughed lightly, turning over to lay on his side as he looked at Doppio. “I was about to say, I agree with you, I’m not sure I’d want to do random kissing at a party… but I think we’d have to go to parties first. I’m not a big party guy.”

“...it’d be fun to go to a party with you though,” Arven said quietly.

Doppio turned his head as he noticed Arven moving, just…stunned for a moment. Which was dumb. Sure, they were still fairly close to the fire, but…it was dark. He could barely see Arven. But even the barest impressions…

(why was he so pretty AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA)

“I think I’d go anywhere with you.”

The darkness served him well, as Doppio’s face blazed red. “Cause! You’re fun! So…I-I mean… Yeah. Going to a party together would be fun! And…probably a lot less nerve-wracking, if I was going with you.”

“Uh, hah, yeah! Same! It’d just be fun–gah! Chief, you mother… ahhhhh.” 

Arven clutched at his balls as Chief, stepping out of the dark, thoughtlessly treaded on top of Arven’s lap, in pursuit of laying himself out in the middle between the two boys, panting happily as he did so. As Arven struggled to regain his composure, Amaina popped up from inside the sleeping bags, glaring at Chief.

♪ smelly dog! They were getting somewhere! Ahhhhhh! ♩

“Ahhhh.” Arven agreed, still whining about his smashed balls. “Chief, you have no idea… you’re so lucky you’re neutered… fertility is pain.”

Chief’s tail thumped happily.

“Ah?!” Doppio jolted, turning more onto his side as he just sort of reached out uselessly, further barricaded as Chief flopped down. Though…as it became more apparent what had happened, he winced in sympathy, curling a little around his midsection. “Ah, shit.”

Sighing, Doppio still reached up to scratch behind Chief’s ears, shaking his head a little. “Geez… Well…uh, I guess that’s a sign as any we should…probably sleep.”

Looking over Chief, Doppio gave a half-grin that was both teasing and genuinely concerned. “...you gonna be okay? I don’t gotta carry you to the closest town?”

“‘M alright, ‘m alright.” Arven grunted, stretching himself out as the pain passed, before sighing as he wrapped his arms around Chief, burying his face in the dog’s fur. “Big ol’ jerk. I swear, he does that on purpose. You’re too heavy to just put your paws anywhere, big guy.”

With his arms around Chief, Arven noticed his arms were lightly touching Doppio now too. Arven thought about apologizing and pulling his arms back… before quietly deciding to leave them there. Hugging Chief and feeling both of their warmth.

“...are you comfortable, Doppio?” Arven asked quietly.

It was not something only Arven noticed. Yeah, Chief was between them now, but…well, Doppio was never going to complain about getting to snooze with a dog. 

(...and it was probably for the best O///O)

Still…just that…small point of contact…

“Yeah, this…this is nice,” Doppio answered back. “Um…this was a good idea, Arven. Don’t think we’re gonna get cold at all. Uh…goodnight?”

“Yeah,” Arven said, as Amaina made a big show of yawning, before snuffling in next to Chief, on Doppio’s side, “Goodnight.”

Doppio smiled softly, looking at all of them in their sleeping bag pile, and he closed his eyes, heading to sleep.

…

… (...it was impossible. That…that thing couldn’t have come from him. He’d just…had another panic attack, like the healers said. She was just trying to scare him.)

(...he…he wasn’t… Aceto was a human. Nothing more, nothing less. He was a person… It hadn’t come from him.)

-

Maki was doing the kendo exercises, carrying a large practice sword and, methodically, swinging it, first in one position, then the next, over and over, repetition. Maki wasn’t really a sword wielder. Even as she did this, she couldn’t help visualizing another version of herself, standing in front of her. Taking advantage of that opening. Of this limitation. Of the slowness of the moment. Stabbing into her side, her chest, her eyes. Ripping her apart and killing her as she practiced a fighting style and movement that she had been taught how to kill back when she was thirteen.

But kendo exercises were fairly decent arm exercises, and she liked how normal she felt, doing it. She wasn’t a kendo expert, so no one stared when she practiced these movements. She was just one more loser exercising at the dojo, practicing a fighting style she’d never actually use. 

…she didn’t feel great, at the moment. And feeling Elia’s gaze on her back, she said, “You don’t get any points for guessing something’s wrong.”

Elia chuckled softly, taking her form movements to move more into Maki’s eyeline. “Damn, now I’ll really never win the 500-point, top-shelf prize.” She always did enjoy working out by Maki, even if they only talked in spaced apart snippets, but… Well, it wasn’t totally a guess. An absence of happiness didn’t always mean that something was wrong. 

…but the slight sour taste in the air was a bigger hint. 

Moving into another kata, Elia gave Maki a softer look. “...is something wrong, though? Won’t ask you to spill your guts, but…I’ll listen, if you want an ear.”

Maki huffed, though, she did soften her features a little when Elia got into view. This relationship had been… interesting, so far. Maki still found herself randomly flustered looking at Elia– how could she not, the woman was beautiful– but in truth, their relationship had been going slowly. Sometimes it felt more like a friendship, which was fine, but because that push hadn’t come yet, the romantic side of their relationship hadn’t progressed much. They held hands, and a few times, Maki had very chastely kissed Elia. But neither had led to anything more yet, and admittedly, Maki wasn’t sure why. She had never been shy about sleeping with her girlfriends fast and early before, she enjoyed sex for its own sake, and she wasn’t shy about it. But…

She didn’t know. It was different, with Elia. Things were going slow.

Still, Elia was a soothing presence, and Maki didn’t want to take her frustration out on her. So, taking a steadying breath, Maki calmed herself… before gruffly admitting, “Kaito and I are about to get into another fight.”

“Ah,” Elia winced in sympathy. Maki had never delved deep into her family’s inner issues, but Elia knew enough of the surface level by now. And if Maki was describing a brewing storm, then… “More than figuring out a new dance routine, then? I would offer up some excuses to hide out, but you don’t really hide.”

Lowering her arms with a slow, releasing breath, finishing the set, Elia gave Maki a sheepish look. “Bad time to let you know my brother’s starting to get sneaky about trying to meet you, then? I think it’s kinda sweet, if very annoying, but I can tell my folks to simmer down if you think you’re gonna want to focus on family stuff for a while.”

It’s not like she didn’t understand. Despite doing their bests to just live as normal--’best’ being highly relative to each member of the Di Carmelo family--things were…tense. If things were about to explode between Maki and Kaito…well, Maki might just want to focus on getting through that. 

Maki’s lips thinned a little… she’d have to ask Kaito. But that was alright, because Kaito was going to say yes. Even if Maki argued that maybe she wasn’t… maybe it wasn’t okay to meet Elia’s family… she still had so much to work on…

She’d ask Kaito. He’d say yes. So Maki nodded. “I don’t mind the idea. Honestly, if I were him, I’d want to appraise me too. It’s only fair to give the family a chance to make sure you’re good.”

“...not that I’m not aware that’s not why he wants to meet me,” Maki clarified, giving Elia a slightly exasperated look, “Sorry, I just mean even if it wasn’t just him wanting to meet the new girlfriend, I’d be okay with it. I’d understand.”

“Though, if we’re talking today or tomorrow?” Maki sighed, getting into the next position, practicing the new movement, “Maybe hold off a bit… Kaito’s trying to adopt a teenager. And I sent the kid home without telling him. Kaito hasn’t realized yet. When he finds out, I think the spar we’ve been trying not to have for the last five months is going to happen.”

Maki sighed, looking irritated. “Kaito can muscle through arguments if he thinks it just affects him more than anyone else, and because our last few big fights were either about responsibilities he took on or his Momota family, he let it go. This is going to be different. And I’m just mentally preparing for that.”

Elia laughed softly and gave Maki an easy wink, starting up her next set. “You’re not totally wrong. Thankfully I don’t have to contend with ‘baby of the family’ over-protectiveness, but I’ve told you--we’re close. Daniel probably wouldn’t do anything if he…” Elia searched for the right word, rolling her eyes a little with a huff, “Disapproved of you, except maybe be a little rude so I’d have to kick his ass for being a jerk. But he’s absolutely going to judge you for your coffee order and extrapolate some stuffy idea about you from that.”

She shook her head a little, giving Maki a softer, kinder look. “Don’t stress about it, though, he’s just a little dramatic. Mostly, my folks are just curious about the amazing gal I’ve been talking about, and they wanna flex the sibling urge to embarrass me in front of someone I like.”

But…something like that could definitely wait. Especially for…

Elia raised her eyebrows a little. “...you really just keep having crazier things happen to you. Why’s Kaito adopting a teenager? You guys already have Timothy and Miyako, and those girls you all mentor too.” With a little sigh, she settled back into her sets. “So…what’s your angle on the argument? Defending your actions?”

“No,” Maki said, swinging the sword, “Though, performatively, I’ll have to a little. I feel like if it will actually turn into a fight, it’s long overdue. It’d be nice to not feel like I owe him.”

“But, I will admit, the actions I took were a… risk.” Maki frowned, readjusting her grip on the sword. “One that could go very wrong. And if it does go wrong, then that’s another reason to not defend my actions.”

Maki swung the sword, once, twice… before she lowered it. A troubled expression on her face, as she said, “... the kid was inviting danger into the castle by staying around, but refusing help. He’s got some weirdness going on. Dangerous weirdness. And leaving him in the castle was basically baiting that weirdness into following him where my entire family lives. Well, not all of them, but… you understand what I mean. So, my thought process was, instead of keeping the kid in the castle and waiting for the people hunting him to come up with some sort of ‘plan’ to work against, I’d send him back, let that powder keg blow up, but have my mentor there to pull him out of the blast radius while still making use of the explosion. As in, if my mentor can catch the person hurting the kid in the act, well, then we don’t have to ‘prove’ the kid’s in danger to anyone. Problem solved.”

“...but my mentor didn’t come back this morning,” Maki said, lips thinning a little, “Which either means something went wrong, or nothing exploded, or… I trust my mentor, no problem I could send him after would kill him. But I don’t love not knowing what’s happened yet.”

Very briefly, Elia looked more worried as Maki mentioned weirdness. Just from hearing bits and pieces of stories here and there, Elia knew the term was very much warranted, if Maki used it…but not the sort of weirdness that was…alarming. In a different way. 

…the chances of the Tulpa just…happening to be in Usott were tiny. There was something to be said of birds of a feather flocking together, but…Tulpa didn’t have communities. No across the board affinities for anything in particular, let alone others of their kind. Yes, the angels had been able to observe its power, but with something like time, an ability like that could have a range of the whole world. 

A creature like that just incidentally being in the same city as all of them? Unlikely. 

…and…well… It wasn’t like there weren’t any that Elia wouldn’t describe as a ‘kid’. Shy Look, Dreamer, and Galaxy were all very much children, in Elia’s eyes, despite their physical forms, and even Laetitia… There had been something distinctly other about her. 

She was just…on edge. And Maki had a real problem on her hands, not just something in Elia’s head. 

“That does seem risky…but also an understandable call, when it comes to protecting your family,” Elia nodded after a moment, thinking about what Maki explained. “And if your mentor is keeping an eye on things, then you already planned on how to lower the risks inherent to that plan.”

She sent Maki a sympathetic look. “...did Kaito disagree about using the kid as bait?”

“He will, when he finds out,” Maki mused, resting the tip of her false sword on the ground, “Kaito’s the type where he’s pretty sure people are safe so long as they’re in arms’ reach. Even if it’s unrealistic, he’d be convinced the problem could be solved just by keeping the teen close by. It’s overly optimistic. Sometimes you need to go face danger to solve it.”

“...sorry.” Maki sighed, looking to Elia, “How’s your morning going? My problems aren’t the only things to talk about. How’s work?”

“Ah.” Elia could wager that Kaito would be pretty pissed about the teen being put in danger--even if Maki hadn’t just confirmed it--but…if Maki had sent her own plan into action without him knowing. That was the reason for the upcoming fight. A fight that Kaito didn’t even know was coming yet. 

A fight that, despite saying that you needed to face danger to solve it, Maki wasn’t ready to have, so…that was why she’d done it in secret. Well…Elia would hope that they’d be able to work things out. And that Maki would be more ready to debate over plans before setting them into action next time. 

Still, she sent Maki a knowing Look, before laughing softly, easily going along with the change in subject. “It’s been good. That full-body I told you about for yesterday looks amazing! I can’t wait to see how it looks healed, when our client comes back for the first touch-up. I don’t know if he’s been doing more studies lately or what, but Dante’s been knocking it out of the park with his water forms lately.”

She snorted, giving Maki a sharper grin. “Starting to light my competitive fire a bit, actually. Can’t have the old man leave me in the dust, when it comes to people searching out aesthetic specialties.”

Maki smirked at that, giving Elia a fond look. “You could give him a run for his money, once you decide to do it…” 

Maki paused, considering what she’d say… before looking away. Blushing a little as she pouted, puffing out her cheeks. “...I daydream sometimes about asking you to give me a tattoo,” she confessed, feeling embarrassed as she said it. “And that’s not me asking, by the way. I just… like to imagine what tattoo I’d ask you to give me.”

“It feels like that’d be…” Maki huffed, looking flustered and irritated, “...special.”

Elia looked pleased with the praise, but her eyes widened a bit at what Maki said next. Her grin growing, and a rosy dusting of a blush making its way over her face. “I feel like it’d be special too. Aw…geez,” she sheepishly laughed, flicking some loose hair out of her face. “That’s really sweet, Maki, you got me out of nowhere with that.”

Laughing a little more to herself, Elia gave her girlfriend a warm look. “I wouldn’t push it on you, if you’re not asking…but I’d really love to design something with you. I feel like it could be some of my best work, if it was for you.”

Maki looked a little frazzled, reaching up to run her hands through the sides of her hair, before nodding. “Yeah… yes. That’s… that’s what I want too. I think it’d be nice.”

“...W-when I’m ready to ask!” Maki said again, putting up her sword again, getting back into the poses, “Eventually!”

Elia grinned, adoring. “Whenever you like, eventually.”

-

Doppio had always been a silent and entirely still sleeper. But…as he dreamed of amazing landscapes and a teasing teal eye pulling him into impromptu dips (with full musical numbers, of course), one of the most drastic signs of him having an exciting sleep occurred. 

His lips parted slightly. 

And so it was with a dry mouth that Doppio awoke, sleepily blinking at the first rays of the sun, pleasantly warm and pressured on one side and…

O.O

Not even really having moved, Doppio froze, his eyes snapping open up at the sky, a creeping blush starting to take over his face from minute one of the new day. He was warm, comfortable…and a little overly excited in a way he had no business being. Especially zipped into the same sleeping bag as his…friend. 

…how…how light of a sleeper, was Arven?

Arven wasn’t a light sleeper at all. But he was an insatiable cuddler. Growing up with a dog the size of you that liked to sleep in your bed had conditioned Arven to full body cling onto the mass of warmth next to him without shame. And he was doing the same now.

The only thing was, at some point in the night, Chief had gotten up, checked on a disturbance in the night– and gotten a treat and a few head pats for his trouble– and when he came back had needed to flop himself horizontally across the the boys, because there was no longer any space in between. Because Arven had closed the space and clung to the warmth.

Arven clung to Doppio how Miyako clung to Little Lamb. It was a full body experience. He was perfectly warm and content in the grip. Snoring softly into Doppio’s ear.

…it was pretty nice, actually. As Doppio had talked about with Arven the night before, he’d never slept with anyone before and having Arven’s arms…and legs all coiled around him was…comfortable. So much that Doppio could only guess he’d been so comfortable that it hadn’t woken him up. 

But it was a problem, now. And Doppio could only be thankful that Arven didn’t…um… That nothing was… 

Doppio bit the inside of his cheek hard, holding back a sound that might even be more embarrassing than the embarrassment it was meant to express. 

Okay…okay! So…well, Chief was on top of him too so…trying to…slide out of the sleeping bag without waking Arven was…probably impossible, and would just… No way. So…maybe he could just…breathe deeply! And stay still. And calm down! And it’d be fine!

Should be easy, right? It…it wasn’t like all this wasn’t mortifying so…it should be easy. 

Clenching his eyes shut, Doppio shifted his legs a little, trying to take the top sleeping bag’s pressure off…of him.

Arven sighed softly in Doppio’s ear… before bringing up his leg, curling himself around Doppio’s waist more. Unconsciously shifting himself to better grip him, as he murmured nonsense into the side of Doppio’s head, before grunting a little in his sleep. Burying his face into Doppio’s neck, getting comfortable again, before settling back down into sleep.

“Nng-a-ah”

Doppio’s eyes popped open, his face blazing red at the horrifying, breathy sound that left him, almost so consumed with mortification from it he could nearly ignore the hot, tightening knot in his stomach, and the shiver that went down his spine. (Or how…nice it was, for Arven’s face to be pressed into his neck, and the weight of his body starting to settle more onto him. In other circumstances…Doppio would never want to move from this.)

…but as it was THIS WAS NOT EASY AND ARVEN WAS PRESSING HIS LEG INTO NNNNNG

Starting to breathe in little panicked bursts, Doppio suddenly decided he didn’t care about accidentally waking Arven up (though…he did feel a little bad for it), and he quickly started trying to push himself out of the sleeping bag, glancing around the surrounding hillside for…anything. Remotely hidden. 

Arven blinked sleepily, feeling Chief pull out of his arms suddenly roughly, murmuring, “Need to pee, ol’ dog?” before blinking again and looking down at Chief laid out across his legs, having not stirred even a little bit at all the movement. Well, that was the dog accounted for… so who…?

Arven blinked again, saw Doppio scrambling up and out, and turned bright red as he realized who exactly he had been spooning. Sitting up, Arven scratched at his chest a little, feeling much more awake now as he called out, “U-uh, sorry! Are you– oh, you’re off.” Arven realized, watching Doppio scramble away, “...he must have to pee.” Arven reached over to scratch Chief’s side a bit. “...phoooo. I need to calm down…”

There was a fading, “SORRY!” as Doppio made his mad dash out of that situation, trying…not to mourn it. And trying not to think about how he was mourning it, the warmth and press of Arven’s body against his, how comfortable Arven seemed murmuring in sleep, in his ear, how with slight movement Arven only pressed closer and--

Doppio held a hand over his mouth as he doubled over behind a tree. 

…how was he supposed to survive doing this every night?

-

♪ i wanna do something fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!!! ♩

“You know, getting as far away from Doppio’s ex-boss as possible seems the most fun to me,” Arven said, ignoring Amaina fluttering to and from them, whining in their ears, “And to put the most space between us and them? We need to keep moving forward.”

♪ Then we should zig-zag! ♩ Amaina insisted, plopping herself on Doppio’s shoulder and insisting, ♪ Pretty boy agrees with me! A straight line is an easy line! But if we went to the nearest cool toooooown or the nearest cool caaaaave or the nearest cool poooond ♩

“I know it feels like we’ve gotten far, but we really haven’t. We’re maybe only an hour away from the capital by horse. Forward might be easy, but I just can’t imagine us ‘zig-zagging’ by this point would actually make us hard to find either.”

Doppio sighed softly, though he gave Amaina a soft pat on the head. He had been trying to keep an eye out (...after things calmed down from waking up) just…to see if they had been followed, and while he hadn’t seen anything… Maybe it was just anxiety. Knowing what happened to other people who had tried to leave on their own terms. 

“...straight lines are pretty easy to follow…especially since we’ve been walking on established paths,” Doppio nodded to the dirt road they were currently following. “But…I mean, I don’t think we made any indication what direction we left from. So that’s still a lot of, uh…leeway, I guess, if someone tried to follow. So…covering the most distance should be best.”

“And there’s been some pretty cool stuff on this path too!” he tried to cheer il angioletto up. “It’s neat, being able to see the flower fields over the hill, here.” 

Traveling could get a little boring, at times, but if he ever had the opportunity to? Doppio loved watching the landscape, finding things to admire even in an “empty” field. And considering they were walking, he wasn’t even close to just tuning out. But maybe…

Shooting her a hopeful look, Doppio offered, “If you’re bored, do…you want to play I Spy or something? I don’t know a lot but…there are probably a lot of games we could play while walking, right?”

Amaina whined, melting into Doppio’s pats, whimpering at the lack of destination to look forward to. Arven, in an attempt to back Doppio up, clapped his hand together, “Yeah! I Spy! That’s a great idea!”

QmQ

“Alright, I’ll go first,” Arven said, looking around, “...I spy–”

♪ Doppio ♩ Amaina guessed.

“...okay, that’s an easy first guess,” Arven said, “Let me go again. I spy–”

♪ that tree ♩ Amaina whimpered, pointing, ♪ over there ♩

“...Amaina. Can you read minds?” Arven asked.

♪ No. ♩

“Oh, well, I thought–”

♪ i live them ♩

“Alright, well, ‘living’ thoughts is cheating at the game, so cut it out.” Arven grumbled.

Doppio gave Arven a thankful look for his enthusiasm--and…Doppio kind of wanted to play too. Traveling with The Boss, er, hadn’t…really had time for games--though he flushed a bit at, apparently, being Arven’s first item. But as Amaina could immediately guess everything…

He supposed that he and Arven could play, but…it wasn’t as fun if someone was left out…

“Hmm…” he hummed, crossing his arms as he thought. “Well…what if you give clues from our thoughts, then, Angelo? And then Arven and I have to guess what it is? You’re already kind of abstract, so I feel like it’d be hard for either of us to guess anything immediately.”

♪ oooooooh! ♩ Amaina cooed, flying ahead of them as she nodded, ♪ okay, let’s play! I will ref and say who wins and who loses! Winner gets a kiss!! ♩

“Alright, sure.” Arven smiled, “We’ll go back and forth and see who guesses first. Because I’m feeling confident, you can go ahead and give Doppio his clue first.”

♪ Ooookay, okay ♩ Amaina sang, fluttering around them, flying around Doppio’s head, like she was peeking inside of him, before saying, ♪ I spyyyyy with pretty boy’s eeeeeye–♩

“Which one?” Arven whispered to Doppio, “She uses that name for both of us.”

♪ something itty-bitty! ♩

Arven frowned, “Isn’t it meant to be a color?”

♪ teeeeeny tiiiiiiny!! ♩

“Okay, okay,” Arven looked around, trying to spot itty bitty things… and just in case Amaina was ‘weird’ like that, he pointed to a mountain in the distance– which certainly looked small from here– and said, “That mountain?”

♪ close but no cigar!! ♩ Amaina shouted, ♪ alright! I spyyyy with little king’s eyeeeeee signs of an ecological disturbance!! ♩

She did call them both ‘pretty boy’ but…well, Doppio didn’t really want to sound vain, but he thought she called him that a little more, interspersing more ‘handsome’s and ‘little senpai’s in for Arven. So…this was something, probably, from himself. 

Snickering softly at Arven’s guess--just the sort of trickery that Amaina would probably have him guess for hours around--Doppio hummed, looking around as well. “A tiny ecological disturbance… Well, probably not anything like…a landslide, then. Um… Oh! A piece of obsidian?”

He looked to Amaina hopefully. “Since…they come from volcanoes, right? That’s a disturbance!”

Arven gave Doppio a mildly bewildered look. “...Doppio, bro, uh, sorry, I’m trying ‘bro’ out, it doesn’t quite sound right. Anyway, I don’t think there’s any obsidian around here… is there?” Arven asked, looking around, “That’s the sort of thing you notice.”

♪ Next clue!! ♩ Amaina fluttered to Doppio’s head, ♪ I spy!! Fragile beauty!! ♩

“Fragile beauty…” Arven whispered, looking around, “...Amaina?”

♪ awwwwww thats cute I  C O U L D  C R U S H  Y O U ♩ O.O… OuO ♪ Next clue~ impermanent decay!! ♩

On a hill, waaaaay behind them, but able to keep an eye on them as he traveled from hilltop to hilltop, Nekomaru raised an eyebrow as both of the boys’ heads seemed to follow the air in the same odd, irrational way. Huh… maybe they were watching a bug fly around Nekomaru couldn’t see.

Or a demon. In which case, they were handling it very well.

Probably a bug though.

…bro? He…supposed that was fine…

Doppio’s face scrunched a little, showing his uncertainty towards the nickname more than his thoughts, though he soon looked away, hands twisting his bag’s strap in embarrassment. “Oh, uh… Yeah. You’re right. Guess I got a little caught up in the clues…”

Amaina was pretty, so she did fit half of the next clue, and…

Doppio let out a small huff of breath, trying to think it through. “...impermanent decay? Um…shoot. What are those called… The little… Uh…” He looked to Arven, semi-pleading. “Bacca di poa? Um…I don’t see those around but…that’d be my best guess for those…”

He scoffed softly, screwing his eyes shut… “Shoot. What are they called in Common…?”

Arven’s eyebrows raised a little. “Poha berries? No, but if you see some of those, I’d be up to doing some harvesting before we keep going–”

♪ I thought we were in a hurry no fun allowed ♩ 

“Okay, you make me sound like a wet blanket.” Arven grumbled, “Harvesting isn’t fun… or not strictly fun. Having a good supply of fresh food on hand means our dried rations will stretch more.”

Doppio nodded, backing Arven up--though he did light up briefly, murmuring the Common name to himself--though…after a moment he offered Amaina a sheepish smile. “It is a good idea for us to not take a bunch of detours until we’re farther away from Usott, I think…but it shouldn’t mean that we’ll just ignore anything cool in our path, right? And…it’ll just make it more fun planning a cool destination when it seems safer.”

“...though,” he sighed, “I really don’t see anything around that better fits the clues so…yeah. Poha berries are my guess for this round. ‘Cause they have that dried husk around them, but the berries still grow so…it’s decay, but still growth?”

“I wish I could think of something that cool,” Arven smiled, looking fondly at Doppio, “Honestly, you may be overthinking my guesses. What you’re imagining I’m looking at is much cooler than what I actually picked. Makes sense… I bet yours is something really neat.”

♪ if you give it little kisses on its little feets ♩ Amaina sighed, suddenly looking sad, ♪ it will perish ♩  

“.... little kisses on its little feet kills it…” Arven’s brow furrowed, “...is it? Some sort of bug? I feel like birds could survive feet kisses.”

OuO;;;

…Arven had…picked something? Like, consciously? Wait, were they each guessing something different?! Aw shit…

“...oh,” Doppio said softly, suddenly looking around them with more focus. “Uh…maybe. Probably…overthinking it.”

Slowly, he started burning up. Gnawing on his cheek and tapping on his bag. “...um… I…think I didn’t…really understand the game we were playing? Uh, sorry… Um…”

“What?” Arven asked, before clarifying, “We both pick something, and Amaina gives us clues to what we picked, right? Oh, shoot, what did you think we were doing?”

Doppio shrugged, staring at the road with an embarrassed expression. “...thought she just picked something randomly from one of us? And was giving us clues for both of us to guess? I…I guess that…makes more sense, since…all together that’s a pretty difficult thing to guess…”

Arven hummed a bit… before laughing. Putting his arm around Doppio. “That’s alright. I think that just means I misunderstood what you said earlier. And I guess Amaina too?”

♪ I did not stuuuuutter ♩

“Well, whatever. One more guess between each other?” Arven said, “I feel like I’m close. Some sort of bug, right? Frail beauty, kisses could kill, itty bitty… I’m gonna guess… a butterfly.”

“But!” Arven said, giving Amaina a dry look, “How she described all of my clues is way too obscure. So, one more clue for you: I spy with my little eye, something brown.” 

Doppio jolted slightly as Arven pulled him into a sort of side-hug…but it was more just from being surprised, than upset any. Just…like Arven wasn’t upset. Not seeming to be annoyed or exasperated from just…how dumb Doppio was. Just laughing like usual. 

His blush burned a little brighter, though Doppio looked back up, offering Arven a small smile. “Uh…so I guess your clues were…ecological fuckery, and impermanent decay, just those, then. And…brown. Um…” And if it was something Arven was actually looking and thinking about…

Doppio squinted over at the treeline. “Um…were you thinking of some sort of weird mushroom? I know about tree chimeras, but…I have no idea if stuff like that happens with fungus, or if it’d be enough to qualify as a ‘weird nature thing’.” 

“Ha! You got it!” Arven complimented, “A brown hay mushroom. They’re really common, and they’re on the base of a lot of the trees around here. Some are edible, but they look so much like the poisonous types that a good rule of thumb is to not eat them, even if you think you’re an expert. I mean, I am an expert, so I could totally find non-poisonous ones, but that’s the common advice. But anyway, was I right about the butterfly?”

♪ YOU WERE BOTH RIGHT! SO YOU BOTH LOSE!! ♩ Amaina gleefully sang. ♪ AND BOTH WIN ♩

O.O ♪ …now kiss ♩   

Doppio laughed softly. “I trust you, but…yeah, good advice. I feel like I’d end up in a hospital within a day if I was left on my own to forage. Like we talked about before…I’d just kinda go, ‘why not?’ and try, like…everything.”

Even if he’d misunderstood the game for most of their playtime, Doppio still grinned as Amaina announced the results, feeling like it had been fun. And…he hadn’t really thought much of the prize she’d declared initially, because it was very much just An Amaina Thing, but…

Doppio swallowed thickly, feeling his stomach flutter before he shot Amaina a feigned exasperated look. “...I really don’t get why you’re such a little creep about that stuff.”

♪ try being a one of a kind creature that has no hopes of dating and we’ll see who gets weird and creepy about kisses ♩ Amaina told him plainly back.

“Aw, Amaina, that’s… not true?” Arven said, his voice uncertain by the end of the sentence, not sure if he really believed what he was saying, “There’s someone out there for everyone. Probably?”

♪ I’m not dating other lame losers just because he’s my size and also a reeeeaaaally good imitation I HAVE MY SELF RESPECT ♩

“Here, come here, little angel,” Arven said, waving her towards them. “Alright, a kiss as a prize, right?”

Amaina fluttered over, nodding. Keenly watching the boys, hoping to see the kiss… and her little face looked surprised and pink, as Arven leaned over and placed a little kiss on her cheek. O//o//O;;  

…it was a good comeback. Even amid his own self-consciousness, Doppio’s face fell, feeling…bad. He knew she wasn’t really an angel, but…they’d come no closer to really figuring out exactly what Amaina was. It…kinda felt right, that there weren’t a ton of beings like her around, but…

It hadn’t occurred to him that she might be…alone. 

(...most constructs didn’t really have their own consciousness or identity. It was simply a facet of the consciousness they had been made from. But for something like Amaina…a combination of more than one would become more than the sum of their parts. And for something like Doppio…)

(...what did it mean, for your existence to be on the bounds of reality?)

Doppio paled a bit, thinking about the…the thing. From yesterday. 

…but it was easier to be distracted with what was right in front of him. Doppio smiled, warmed by the act of kindness. “Guess you’re a big deal, Amaina.”

♪ Was that ever in question?? I am a QUEEEEEEN ♩ Amaina sang out, not looking entirely smug, as Arven smirked at her as she peered at him again, ♪ Another kiss? ♩

“Next time I lose a game.” Arven said, “...or feel like it.”

♪ Pretty boy better be glad I am not a homewrecker ♩ Amaina sighed, ♪ i’d eat you up baby senpaaaai ♩ 

“Well,” Arven gave Doppio a wink, “Guess I’m lucky I’m taken, or else I’d be beating off the fairies with a stick, huh Doppio?”

Doppio huffed a small laugh. He did sort of remember Amaina saying something like Arven would instantly fall in love with her, if she showed herself to him. 

(Maybe it’d be a…sparcer path. But Amaina would be alright. The world was full of beautiful things, and they were looking for them together.)

But, uh…

Doppio didn’t even register he’d stopped walking, eyes blown wide as he stared at Arven in surprise. …Arven was…taken? But…but he’d just said he’d never dated or anything, when they talked about it… Did…he just imagine that?

Did…

Uh…

Doppio swallowed, feeling a little…dizzy. Like the world was going fuzzy. 

(...what was going on?)

“Oh, Doppio! Are you okay?” Arven asked, grasping Doppio’s arm, steadying him. “Do you need to rest?”

…he…had heard right…right? This wasn’t…

It was like focusing binoculars. Things feeling distant and blurry, then sharpening, but blowing right past normalcy and feeling too…wide. And out of sorts. And it just kept going back and forth. 

Doppio had…intended to put his hand over Arven’s, but missed by a good few inches, just patting his own arm before honing in as he nodded. “...Th-...think so…uh…um…”

It was just like…a flash. Like blinking, almost. But for a moment, it wasn’t the bright morning, the dirt path and green hills around them. Instead…it was a familiar hallway, shrouded in darkness. A side table he bumped into almost every day. 

Doppio drew in a sharp gasp, stumbling to the side, like he couldn’t quite discern the texture and makeup of the ground under him. 

Arven caught him more, frowning at Doppio, a shudder of fear running through him. If something was wrong with Doppio, it’d be really hard for Arven to get help for him like this… “Come on,” he said, leading Doppio off the path, looking for a nice spot to lay him down in the grass. “Come on. We’re going to sit until you’ve caught your breath. Let’s go…”

As Arven found a soft-looking spot and made Doppio sit down, Amaina fluttered in front of Doppio’s face. Peering at him. 

♪ …where are you? ♩ she said, reaching out to pet his nose, before resting her forehead against his. ♪ Stay with us. ♩  

…there were so few constants in the world. Sometimes it felt like Doppio would blink and he’d be somewhere he didn’t recognize, surrounded by people he didn’t know. With a purpose he wasn’t sure about. Everything was…big and rapidly changing and he just…never knew what to do. 

…that’s why he had loved his job so much. Boss always knew what to do, always had Doppio write down his expectations and…and even across the city, it never felt like he was truly alone. 

Now…Doppio was blinking, and he was in the dark. And…everything…

…how much had he imagined? What…if he was just at home? And he’d just been…shamefully daydreaming? Some stuff sure felt like it could just be a nightmare. It…it felt so impossible, at points, that…he had to be, right? So…he was just at home, and…and soon Boss was gonna get up and…

Doppio blinked, feeling grass under his palms. 

“...notebook,” he softly mumbled.

Arven at first didn’t understand, but that was mostly because his mind was elsewhere, wondering with greater fear how he was going to get Doppio to a healer in time, would anything Arven have packed help, he wasn’t even sure what was wrong–

“Oh, hold on, okay,” Arven said, remembering where he last saw Doppio tuck his notebook away and digging it out for him, passing it to him, “What else? Are you in pain? I can give you a painkiller?” 

In the dark, or in the light, the notebook was the same. In a world that was like a whirlwind, one of Doppio’s truest constants. Okay. Okay, he’d open it and he’d know exactly where--

You are ill and on sick leave (2✔ Tues 4 fin)

You are staying with Kaito at the castle to recover, safe, K-friend there too

Meds? Took Sat pm, ✔ time?

…Tuesday? Saturday? How was he supposed to know… And…and…this wasn’t…the castle. 

Or…was… Was he sleeping? He was sick…

Painkiller. No…he took…meds?

Blinking back to the sun, Doppio sucked in a deep breath, squinting. Gripping his notebook tight as he tried to…stay. 

“...A-Arven? I don’t…” Doppio’s voice was reedy and wobbly, almost shaking with confusion and concentration. “I can’t…” Tell what’s real. I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t know what happened. “...t…tell me what to do.”

Arven’s eyes widened… before they suddenly looked very sad. 

…Doppio had forgotten, huh?

…..it was a shame, to lose those memories. Arven liked to think the last few days had been good ones, for Doppio.

“Sorry, Doppio, we’ve been moving so much that you haven’t had time to write things down,” Arven said, looking at the notebook, before digging out one of their pens and passing it to Doppio, “Alright. Write this down.”

Arven tried to think of the best way to word it, before starting, “Arven asked me to run away with him, to quit my job so that we could be safe and happy together. I said yes. We ate stir-fry the first night we camped, and ate the leftovers and some eggs the next morning. We’ve played I Spy with Amaina and fetch with Chief. It’s been fun…”

And, daring to push, Arven said, “We promised to take care of each other. We’re going to keep traveling together. We’re going to be okay… and…” Arven looked at Doppio, “...well, I can’t put these words in your mouth. But I hope you’re happy. You seemed happy…”

Even squinting, trying to stay on the grass…darkness flickered in Doppio’s vision. But…dutifully as ever, he started writing.

Quit, ran away w Arven 4 safety/happiness

8 stir-fry 1st ♞, leftovers/O 4 bre

‘Doppio.’

Doppio froze, carpet under his legs, only a dim lantern behind him for light. An all too familiar voice echoing in his head. 

“...Boss?” He let out a panicked whisper. 

“Boss?” Arven asked, looking around, like someone might actually be standing behind them, before refocusing on Doppio. “...Doppio, no one is here. It’s just me and Amaina and Chief.”

…

…

It…wasn’t like Boss to say nothing, if something like…this was happening. …uh…wasn’t it? (But Boss regularly ignored him.) But…Doppio was…doing something wrong (unless he wasn’t, unless nothing had ever happened) so…

Doppio looked at the few lines he’d written, before holding his notebook close to his chest. Pale and expression pinched in panic and distress. “...I don’t know. I dunno. I dunno. What’s happening? I can’t… Is…”

He blinked, the sun back. The blurry forms of Arven, Amaina, and Chief in front of him. 

With a scared sniffle, Doppio desperately asked, “Is this real?”

Arven really didn’t know what to do. 

So, when Doppio asked, he said, “Yes,” and when that didn’t feel like nearly enough, not to handle what was happening… he pulled Doppio into a hug. Desperate, like he could somehow physically anchor Doppio into reality, as he said, “Yes, Doppio. This is real.”

“We’ve run away together. We’re traveling through the hills. We just played I Spy. We tied so we both lost, so I gave Amaina a kiss as a prize,” Arven said, continuing to try to reassure Doppio. Remind him. “Your little angel got smug about it, and I said I was lucky she basically already thinks we’re together, otherwise she’d try to sweep me off my feet. Not exactly that, not in those exact words, but… s-sorry, I’m overexplaining, I just… I don’t know what to say.” Arven said, holding him tight, “Are you okay?”

It hadn’t felt like he was floating. But…maybe far away. Maybe swinging like an out-of-control clock’s pendulum. But when Arven put his arms around him and held tight…

It stopped. And Doppio was sitting on grass, the morning sun shining down through the trees on them. Chief plopped down at his side and Amaina staring wide-eyed right back at him. 

And, slowly, Doppio hugged Arven back. Just listening to him. (...it wasn’t… Amaina thought they were together. Not that…) And…and he was there, but… Just to confirm, Doppio attempted a steadier breath and asked, voice still a little unsure, “...promise? I’m not…still at home? Or at the castle?”

He…he needed it confirmed plainly, but…Doppio knew. Or, knew enough to hold Arven a little tighter. “...I remember. I-I’m sorry… I just… I’m okay, I…got confused… I’m sorry…”

Arven looked, briefly, a little confused… before just nodding where Doppio could feel it, keeping his hold. “No, you’re not at home. Or… you’re not at your old home,” Arven corrected, “Because we’re going out to find a new one. And it’s gonna be awesome, and way better than your old home. Our old homes.”

“And we’re not at the castle either. We left,” Arven continued, “I promise. We’re out on the road, and it’s a beautiful day, and there’s a lot of mushrooms and butterflies around, and a dog that I am certain is expecting treats soon. And a weird pervy fairy… as weird as that last part is.”

Amaina huffed at that, while Arven laughed. “It’s all pretty weird, but… it’s what’s happening right now. It’s real. No need to be sorry.”

…they were out on the road, because Arven said so. And even if he hadn’t turned to the page, Doppio knew for a fact that inside his notebook, it said that Arven was his buddy. And…Doppio could trust that. 

Taking a deep breath, fingers curling slightly against the side of Arven’s vest, Doppio nodded. “...okay… Okay. It’s… We’re out here. For real.”

Bringing one hand away to pinch the bridge of his nose, Doppio let out another slow breath. “...that was weird. Sorry, I…uh! I mean s…” For a moment, he struggled, wanting to apologize, and wanting to apologize for apologizing since Arven said it was unnecessary, and just…stuck in that loop, before he shook his head a little. “...thanks.”

Arven smiled, feeling a little relieved as he nodded, “You’re welcome. We can just sit and rest for a while, if you’re still feeling… whatever that was. What was that anyway? You seemed really confused.”

Doppio gave Arven a grateful look, not…really wanting to let him go, but…there was no reason to, uh, keep hugging. So, with some disappointment, Doppio brought his other hand back, picking up his notebook again to finish writing down…his new reality, he supposed. 

…it was cute, all the things that Arven decided were important things to write down. It was personal, in a way that the items Doppio wrote down rarely were. And…

Just kind of hoping Arven wouldn’t notice, Doppio went to the first page.

Hello! :) Your name is Aceto Doppio and you have memory problems! It’s okay, because everything you need to remember you’ve written down here! Good luck!

If you ever get confused, just ask Boss for help!

…he couldn’t even remember when he’d first written that down. Doppio knew he’d been through a few notebooks, just from filling them up or losing them, but always in the front he’d found a message like that. Repeated every time he opened the notebook that Doppio didn’t even have to read it anymore to remember it. 

Gnawing on his lip, Doppio hesitated for a few seconds before crossing out the second line, and before he could think about it, writing: Arven and you promised to take care of each other--it’s going to be okay. Uphold your end of the promise. You’re more than what other people need. 

“...I’m not sure,” Doppio sighed, just…holding his notebook to his chest. “It just… I just…got the idea in my head that…maybe I was making things up? But it wasn’t, like…a passing idea, or a thought experiment. It was like someone constantly screaming it in my head and…nothing felt right. Everything kept going dark…”

Arven frowned, before humming a bit… before reaching out and forcibly taking Doppio’s hand. Squeezing it, as he said, “Well, hugging seemed to snap you out of it. So, how about this? If you feel it start to happen again, hold onto me. Cause I’ve never been to your house, your old house, you know? I don’t really plan to ever go, unless I’m dragging you out of it. So if you think you’re there, but I’m with you? Then you’re not. You can always use me as proof you’re not.”

“...if that helps?” Arven shrugged, “I won’t even pretend to know what I’m doing right now. I’ve never come across anything like what you’re describing before. I’m just basing everything on the hug, really.”

Doppio’s eyes widened in surprise as Arven stole his hand, starting to flush. …it was nice, Arven’s hand. Their hands were pretty similar sizes, though Doppio’s fingers were a little longer, proportionally. Arven’s hands were roughly callused, likely from digging through rock and dirt, like his muscles, but to Doppio that just made them…comforting. Distinctly Arven’s. 

Looking to the side with a shy smile, Doppio squeezed Arven’s hand back. “...I think that’d help, yeah. I’ve never…” His smile faded a little. Doppio wanted to say that he’d never had that happen to him before, but…something didn’t feel quite right about that. Maybe it was more… (It had never mattered. Doppio could be in any dozens of realities, but there had always been a single, constant, inescapable figure that…made everything else irrelevant. Doppio would walk into fire if The Boss had asked him too, so…it didn’t matter what the world was like around him.)

(Without that consuming figure? He’d been left floundering.)

“I, uh…” Again, Doppio blushed, looking at small clover patches in the grass. “...it was a nice hug. I’m not…really used to them? But…Kaito said that people just need hugs sometimes, and…I think he might be right. So…it was nice, and you helped. So. Thanks.”

Arven huffed, rolling his eyes. “I refuse to assume that guy knows what he’s talking about, just because he keeps ending up right about stuff. I feel like it’d make him smug. The guy’s already borderline insufferable, imagine him but also, like, smug about being him… well, it’d be less creepy than the kneeling thing, at least.”

Arven, briefly, wondered what it might have been like to follow Kaito’s education advice. To do the research paper and see if he could get that specific education track approved for him… but. That future, as far as Arven could see, didn’t include Doppio.

So, no good.

He had no regrets. 

“Well, if you need hugs, I’m here for it. It’s nice. And, well, I think we’ve ripped the bandaid off for being way too close contact with me clinging to you in our sleep… sorry again for that.” Arven laughed, looking a little sheepish, “I just assumed the warmth was Chief. I’m sure that was surprising.”

Doppio laughed. “That’s kind of how I’ve been seeing it too? Like, I’ll admit, he does have some good points about things, but on the whole? Nuh-uh, he’s ridiculous, and he doesn’t need an ego booster to top it off.”

…though Kaito hadn’t exactly been…assured and bombastic, the last time he saw him. And that was…all Doppio’s fault. Because for how badly he’d been hurt…Kaito had been right. And he had…

…he’d apologize again, more than the note he’d left, with that letter that Arven had suggested, once they found a place to settle down more. Especially with Passione potentially on the lookout for them, Doppio didn’t think that’d be any time soon but…maybe the time would let him think of better words to say. 

…if Kaito would…ever even want to hear from him. Maki said they were better off with him gone…so…

Doppio swallowed, before flushing, subconsciously holding Arven’s hand tighter in his embarrassment, as he tried to grin. “S-surprising, sure. I-I mean, it wasn’t bad, but, u-uh, you were kind of lying on my bladder so…so that’s why I left so fast! But…I didn’t mind it.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought happened.” Arven nodded. “That’s one drawback to a life on the road. Depending on how you look at it? You either have no toilets around, or… well, are overwhelmed with choice.” Arven snickered, gesturing to the hills around him, “Just depends on your comfort level.”

Now that things had calmed down a bit, Arven leaned back on his free hand, letting the breeze flow over them and looking up at the blue sky. “...do you have any regrets?” Arven asked, watching the clouds drift slowly overhead, “About leaving?”

(Nailed it.)

(Phwoo)

Doppio pulled a grimace at the unfortunately true fact. As much as he really enjoyed nature…a big part of nature was really gross. Like with a lot of things, he just tried not to think about how…practically everything he’d touch out in the wild were millenia-established toilets. 

…eeugh. 

But…he had been thinking about…

Doppio let out a nervous laugh in a sigh. “Yeah? Yeah… All the time. Constantly. I mean…all this happened because I just…fucked up supremely. And then fumbled everything along the way. Kinda…par for the course, for me, but…never this bad, before.”

He took a breath, looking around at all the trees around them. Smiling faintly as he saw some squirrels dash across upper branches. “...but I’m happy to be here, with you. I never imagined anything else for my life, and…it’s kinda scary for everything to be open now…but I’m kind of excited too. Just…figuring it out now, with you. If things had to end up this way? Then I think this is the best case scenario.”

Doppio looked back at Arven, giving him a warm grin. “With my…best friend? This is pretty good, I’d say.”

Arven didn’t think Doppio had done anything wrong– well, okay, maybe he was biased, but it didn’t feel right to blame Doppio for anything– but he figured he had plenty of time to help Doppio realize that, and it wasn’t something he needed to beat the guy over the head with. They had plenty of time to figure out a lot of things.

Matching Doppio’s gaze, he grinned back, nodding confirmation to the question. “Yeah. Best friends… brrroooooos? Bros? Man, that just does not sound right. Don’t know why I keep trying it.” Arven laughed, “I don’t think I’m a ‘bro’ guy.”

“It does sound a little unnatural, from you,” Doppio chuckled, tucking some hair behind his ear. “I can respect a good effort, but uh…doesn’t seem to be working out. What about ‘dude’? Sometimes I feel a little weird with it, I guess because of, like, professional settings, but I do like using it sometimes.”

“Or, hmmm,” he hummed, looking up at the sky. “Amico? Fra? Bud? Though…I guess you use that for Chief.”

Speaking of the dog, Doppio looked over and gave the mastiff some pats with his free hand, thinking about digging through his bag to get those treats Arven had mentioned but…

(...it was kinda nice. Just holding hands.)

“Amico is fun, but that’s not quite right. Fra is easy, I like that, but, hmmm… it’s missing something…”

Arven closed his eyes, thinking of more nicknames. Migliorare? Though that translation wasn’t clean, Arven wasn’t sure if it meant ‘bestie’ or was just slang in certain areas… Compagno was quirky but not exactly good for more than a joke, really… Arven wanted to think of something to call Doppio that really conveyed how he felt about the guy… (even if he hadn’t entirely figured out what that was.)

“...hey, Doppio?” Arven said, opening his eyes, looking over at him, “...do you not like being called Aceto?”

If it had been anyone else asking? Doppio probably would say yes. Between people butchering the pronunciation, his coworkers using it to condescend to him, and Boss calling him by his last name, ‘Doppio’ was just his preference. 

…but…Arven was saying it right, and wasn’t being rude about it and…hearing it right then, it sounded…good.

Flushing, Doppio looked around, trying not to linger on their hands. “...not usually, but…if it’s you… If you want to call me by my first name…you can.”

Arven lit up at that, squeezing Doppio’s hand. “Yeah? ….Thanks Aceto.”

“I’d offer the same, but, ya know…” Arven laughed, shrugging, “One name.”

(Oh.)

Flushing deeper, Doppio grinned, squeezing Arven’s hand back. “I do really like your name, but… Did you ever think about giving yourself another? Changing it legally is super easy, and, well, no one really bats an eye if you just start calling yourself something different.”

(....what the fuck.)

(Don’t offer up your own last name WHAT)

Choking on words in his throat, Doppio quickly looked away and pretended to cough into his shoulder. Absolutely burning. 

Arven Doppio would…give them the same initials…

Arven wasn’t sure what flustered Doppio, but he hummed at that. “I don’t know. Maybe? I’ve never thought about it. I’d have to think about it… I think I’d want it to be something special.”

“Maybe one day,” Arven mused, “It’s a good idea though, Aceto.” 

♪ the love is so strong you’re both sooooo stupid ♩ 

“Yeah, yeah,” Arven huffed, reaching over to pat Amaina’s head, who had sat herself between their hips, “You’re such a weirdo.”

♪ ONE DAY MY TRUTH WILL BE VALIDATED ♩   

(oh noooo maybe this was a bad idea (´////`))

“I mean…yeah, if it’s something you’re picking then, why not, right?” Doppio stammered, grinning unsurely. “Might as well give it thought and make it special…”

Joining in on Arven’s huff, Doppio poked Amaina’s cheek before drawing in a deep breath. “...I think I’m okay, now, if…we wanted to get going again?”

“Let’s do it.” Arven grinned, shooting Chief up to his feet, offering Doppio a hand up. “Still lots of things to see, and we’ve only just started.” 

-

Initially, Kokichi hadn’t gone to meet Doppio because…well, he was sick. And as much as Kokichi wanted to meet the teen, being a friend of Kaito’s, it just was a supremely bad idea for him to knowingly expose himself to a cold virus. But…Seiko’s medicine was really amazing, and it had been a few days, and…well, Doppio hadn’t answered the door, the last few times Kaito had tried to check in for meals. 

Kokichi did know that it…wasn’t exactly fair, that him being the heir apparent did have a certain amount of pressure associated that might get Doppio to at least respond to him… But that was kind of why he was doing it. Kokichi knew better than most how much an upset teen might want to hide, but he also knew better than most how important it was for people to still check on them. 

And…if strong arming him a little to make sure he was alright was what was needed? Kokichi could at least try to be gentle about it. 

Around midday, after work, Kokichi went down to the first floor bedrooms, knocking gently on room 112. 

“Doppio? I’m sorry if I’m waking you up--I’m Kokichi, Kai-chan’s husband. It’s alright if you don’t want to talk, but we’re getting worried about you. Could you let me know if you’re alright? Or if you need anything?”

Silence. 

Kokichi tried calling out again, but…well. Maybe he really had just caught the kid sleeping…

…those feelings yesterday had felt like death…

Fighting with himself for a few moments, Kokichi looked around the hall, before putting his hands around the keyhole of the door. Just barely opening it, taking a peek…

Before amethyst eyes widened.

-

“What do you mean he’s gone!?” Kaito shouted. 

Kokichi had pulled Kaito out of the room, Shuichi watching Miyako, before telling Kaito that not only was the room empty, but it had been packed up. Empty-empty. 

Kaito, briefly apologizing for shouting, hurried downstairs. Needing to confirm it for himself. He didn’t know where she had come from, but halfway down the stairs he noticed he had a shadow, and Kaito said, “Maki, Doppio’s gone!”

“Hm.” Maki agreed.

“Go to his house, look for signs of him being there. I don’t care what you have to do, we have no idea how long he’s been there–”

“He’s not at his house.” Maki said.

Kaito paused on the stairs, looking back at her. His eyes briefly intense… before he turned around and kept down the stairs, saying, “Stay close then, I want to know what you know. How can he be gone?”

Opening up the room, Kaito hurried in… and immediately felt a little lost. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting to see. Kokichi had told him the room had been cleared out, but… “Shit,  I should have brought Shuichi,” Kaito realized, looking around warily. “I need my detective.”

Kokichi hadn’t spent long looking at the room, initially. He’d first noticed that Doppio wasn’t there, which…well, wasn’t too alarming. Despite his illness, and the threats to his safety, he wasn’t a prisoner. But it had soon become apparent that he really wasn’t there.

No clothes, the toiletries that Kaito mentioned picking up nowhere to be found, and, most obviously, the sheets were stripped and folded on the bare mattress. And…well, Kokichi couldn’t tell how it fit in, but he’d noticed a few small flecks of ash on the dresser…

But however clever Kokichi liked to think of himself, Shuuichi really was in a different league. 

“I can go get him, switch places and take Mi-Mi?”

Kaito glanced at Maki, who was standing by blankly… before nodding at Kokichi. “Thank you, babe, that’d be so helpful. Our Shuichi has a case.” 

“Hm.” Maki agreed.

Kokichi paused only just long enough to give Maki a worried, semi-frustrated look before nodding, turning to head back upstairs. “Love you.”

Kaito echoed ‘love you’ back, giving him a wave as he left… before he turned to Maki.

“What the hell do you know?” he asked. 

“...hear me out before you get angry.”

“No,” Kaito snapped, stepping towards her. “No. Absolutely not. I have given you the benefit of the doubt a thousand times… I’m fucking angry now. You have a chance to convince me I’m wrong to be angry, and that’s it.”

“Mr. Nidai is on him,” Maki said.

Kaito’s eyes briefly widened with real, genuine fear… before he huffed. Relaxing himself forcibly as he ran a hand through his hair, staring at his feet. “You mean ‘following’ him, right? Watching? I know you fucking mean he’s watching him… is that why the mentors postponed their travels?”

“Of course I mean follow,” Maki said, looking irritated, “I didn’t send a hit on the kid, no matter what sort of trouble he is.”

“Yeah, forgive me for being alarmed to hear our top assassin was sent after my–”

“None of us are your anything.”

“...” Kaito looked briefly furious… before he ran a hand over his face. Breathing, “...shit, you’re right, sorry, I’m sorry. I’m stressed, I’m defaulting to old shit, I’m sorry. He’s not my kid, you’re not my assassin, I’m sorry… Maki, Doppio could be dead.”

“He’s not,” Maki said, “Mr. Nidai hasn’t returned.”

“What if he was killed with Doppio?”

Maki gave Kaito an exasperated look at that. 

“...okay, fine. When did this happen?”

Maki’s hand twitched next to her skirt. “...yesterday morning.”

“What the FUCK MAKI!?”

“Mr. Nidai is very reliable.”

“I know, I know, but… why didn’t you…” Kaito growled, looking away, “...how did you know he was leaving?”

“...” Maki blinked, “I told him to.”

Kaito swung at her.

Despite what she told Elia, Maki dodged. She dodged again when he swung again, though she said as she jumped backwards, “We can’t fight. You know we can’t fight.”

“I’m not looking for a fight, I just want to slug you!” Kaito shouted, swinging again… before freezing as he noticed she stopped moving. The blow so close to her face that her bangs shifted in the wind of it. “...don’t do that. Don’t you dare do that to me. Don’t you fucking hold still. You’ll make me the fucking bad guy.”

Maki just stared back at him.

Kaito cursed, letting his arm fall. “God, you’re such an asshole sometimes… Why did you tell him to leave!?”

“Nothing was going to be accomplished with him staying.” Maki said, “We were in a deadlock. And he’s dangerous, Kaito. There’s something happening with him. Sending him back and putting a tail on him sends the danger away from Miyako and Tim and progresses what we need to deal with his situation.”

“What do we need?” Kaito asked uncertainly.

“Proof of abuse.”

“...you did not send that kid back just to let him get fucking beaten.” Kaito grumbled, “You didn’t do that.”

“It would have worked.” Maki said.

“What went wrong?”

“I don’t know.” Maki said, “Doppio never went home. Mr. Nidai never came back.”

“Shit, I should ask Arven, I should–”

“Arven’s not at his house either.”

Kaito gave Maki a pained look. “...Maki, are you telling me both of the teenagers I fucking promised to help are missing?”

“To us,” Maki said, “Mr. Nidai likely knows where they are.”

“...” Kaito stared helplessly at her. Watching her look blankly back at him. “...Maki, why are we like this? All I want to do is punch you in the face right now. I lied to Doppio. You lied to me… are we learning nothing?”

At that, Maki looked a little uncertain. “...it felt like the right choice.”

“Doesn’t it always.” Kaito muttered.

-

Back at their room, Kokichi explained the situation. “...and you’ll see it for yourself, but…I found some ashes on the dresser too. Not a lot, just some, like leftovers from cleaning up more…” He sighed softly. “I have no idea what that means but…all the clues for my great detective.”

With a soft look, Kokichi kissed Shuuichi’s cheek. “Love you, honey.”

Shuichi gave Kokichi a gentle smile for the kiss. “Thank you, Kokichi…” Before, eyes lighting up, he headed down. 

He was on a case. 

Kokichi sighed softly, looking down at his daughter. Miyako was uncaring of the switch, far too busy suckling on one of Little Lamb’s ears to pay much mind to the rest of the world. “...it’s gonna be okay, sweetbun. Your daddies and aunt are gonna figure this out. And even if the system failed him once…we’ll make sure Dad’s friend is gonna be okay. He’s one of Daddy’s people, you know? So…that means I won’t fail him.”

He kissed her forehead before starting to hum. “I’ll see you on the moooon~ / Where we’re having a party~”

-

Maki and Kaito, while still tense, had stopped fighting by the time Shuichi got down there. Kaito gave him a grateful look, saying, “Thank you, handsome. I really need you.”

“You don’t.” Shuichi smiled faintly, though he was already looking out. Taking a mental inventory. “Though I’m curious why you decided you did.”

“What do you mean?” Kaito asked.

“If you wanted to know where he is,” Shuichi said, though he frowned at the multiple dishes, “...Where ‘they’ are? Definitely two people left here… Arven left with Doppio. At the same time. Anyway, if you wanted to know, immediately? Why not ask Kokichi?”

Kaito grimaced… before looking away. “...Kokichi doesn’t like using his abilities that way.”

“Still would imagine you’d ask.”

“Maki said Mr. Nidai was on them. If he’s watching them, they’re not in danger. So I just… didn’t want to put Kokichi in that position,” Kaito explained, “We can find them without putting all the burden on ‘Kichi.”

“I agree. Was just curious how you’d explain it,” Shuichi said, looking curiously at the lamp, before running his finger through the inner line of the lampshade, taking out a folded piece of paper. 

“How’d you spot that?” Maki asked.

“The wire in the back of the lamp was turned towards the front, like it had been disturbed,” Shuichi explained, opening it up and letting his gaze go over it, “Could have been a coincidence. Wasn’t. It’s for you, Kaito.”

Kaito’s eyes widened. “Me? Here, let me see.”

I’m sorry, Kaito

I’m still angry, and hurt, but you didn’t deserve my ire. Shouting at someone that’s just trying to help you is cruel, and despite everything, you don’t deserve my cruelty. 

Arven and I are running away together. I…I think I’m going to die if I go home, so we’re leaving--we’ll have each other, and Chief of course, so please don’t worry. 

I’m sorry for being a burden and bringing danger into your life. I just bring trouble wherever I am and your friend just reminded me of that. I hope you have a good life.

Doppio

Kaito’s hands gripped the letter, a wide range of emotions running through him. Guilt at what he did wrong, along with gratitude at the kind words. The rush of frustration and anger as Doppio confirmed what Maki had said– brought trouble?? Dammit Maki– and also…

Kaito’s eyes watered. “Awwwww, oh no… they ran away together… oh, I’m so proud of them. Oh fuck I need to go drag them back.”

“Why?” Shuichi asked.

“Huh?” Kaito said.

“Dicea’s not perfect, but it doesn’t really have a ‘homeless’ issue, not that I’ve seen,” Shuichi said, tilting his head, “They won’t starve. They have a steady supply of coin. They’re not in danger if they’re away from Doppio’s boss, and you told me that Arven had basically already given up on his education. Maybe it’d be okay to let them go?”

Kaito blinked at him… before saying, “Shuichi, handsome, I love you. I respect you. You’re the best and the light of my life… but fuck no, that’s so stupid.”

Shuichi gave Kaito an irritated look at that. “Why is that stupid? If I physically could have, I would have run away as a kid too. With Maki, most likely,” Shuichi said, Maki nodding, “it was only conditioning that kept us there.”

Kaito briefly looked sad, and Shuichi reassured him, “We’d have kidnapped you too,” which caused Kaito to brighten considerably. “But sometimes escape really is the best option for someone. There’s worse things that could happen to them, than being independent.”

Kaito frowned, considering that… before shaking his head. “No. I mean, I get why that sounds attractive, but… no.”

“Why?”

“Because! Because…” Kaito hesitated again. His brain not catching up to his gut yet. “...Doppio has medical issues–”

“The memory stuff? That can be managed–”

“Let me finish! Doppio has medical issues, and Arven’s a guy of action. He traveled all over the country, diving into caves and exploring mountains and forests, to try to save his sick dog. And succeeded! Great! But completely forfeited his education for a year and has no support network now. No close friends, no family… and the mere fact that they did this together? They’re already so close…”

Kaito clenched his hands into fists, staring at the ground. “...Don’t repeat this. I wouldn’t say this in front of Kokichi. But being the caretaker of someone who’s dangerously sick? Is fucking terrifying. Over and over again. Especially when you’re new to it. You become hyper aware of how little you know and how little you can do when they’re in danger or in pain, but it feels like you’re responsible to not falter, not make a mistake, not give up or get overwhelmed or they’ll fucking… die. Or their lives will get destroyed. Or they’ll just be… s-so unhappy, and it’s your fault.” Kaito said, eyes reddening, knuckles turning white, “And you can do everything you can and things are still bad and it still feels like your fault even if you’ve done everything you can do, and all you can do is watch them hurt feeling helpless… and you have to put aside everything. Everything. There’s no room for your issues, not when their issues are live or die…”

“...I know I’m projecting,” Kaito murmured. “But I don’t want that for Arven. He needs time and space to work on himself, he’s 15 and Doppio has blackouts and memory issues and also a shit ton of trauma he needs to work through, because by the way, he’s absolutely being abused, this proves it!” Kaito shouted, shaking the letter… before his eyes lit up as he looked at it. “This proves it. This proves it! I could get the case reopened with this! I’m not crazy, right!? This would prove it!?”

Maki asked to read it, and as she did, Shuichi looked at Kaito. “...do you really feel that burdened?” he asked, “With us?”

Kaito winced. “Burdened? No. No, it’s not a burden. That’s the wrong word… but I can’t say it’s not hard, Shuichi. It’s a duty I want, but just wanting to do it doesn’t make it easy, or without drawbacks. And, honestly, I don’t know if I could ever say any of that to Kokichi. I hate the idea of him ever thinking he’s a burden, and I need you to believe me when I say you aren’t. Neither of you are burdens. That’s not what I mean when I think about stuff like that.”

“...but pretending it’s not hard isn’t fair.” Kaito muttered, “At least when I’m talking to myself. And I don’t want Arven to do it. And I don’t want Doppio to only be able to rely on one person. I’m taking those kids back. I don’t care if I’m a projecting busy-body. I’m gonna shove a childhood down those idiots’ throats.”

“...it’s what I would have wanted,” Kaito said softly, “In their shoes. I can give them that.”

“...just don’t get too distracted, Kaito.” Shuichi said, reaching over to hug him, resting his head on his shoulder, “Don’t forget you have a baby and an 11-year-old and a harem of parents to take care of already… not to mention yourself.”

“I have you guys to help take care of me.” Kaito grinned, accepting the hug, leaning back on him too. “That’s the main reason I’ve managed to handle all of this at all.”

“I’ll bring this letter to Kokichi, see if it can open up a case.” Maki said, “After that, we may not have to find the boys ourselves. Since we can prove abuse, maybe the guardforce can be utilized to bring them back.”

“I feel like that’d backfire on us.” Kaito frowned. “We’ll figure it out. They’ve been traveling on foot, probably, they can’t have gotten far. I just need a direction, and I could go find them on horseback.”

“Let’s discuss it with Kokichi first,” Shuichi agreed, the three heading up.

-

Kokichi looked up from the note, smiling wide with a smug, almost vindictive look. “This can absolutely open the case back up. He’s declaring in his own words that he doesn’t feel safe at home. While he doesn’t mention anyone specifically, that’s still enough for him to be granted custody of the law, and for anyone at “home”, ie. his boss, to be taken to court.”

“Still…there may be an issue of someone arguing that this isn’t Doppio’s handwriting, or that someone forced him to write this, but…” Kokichi glanced back down at the note, sobering. “...I think, if we find him and Arven? If he’s feeling this bad about it…he’ll confirm that he wrote this.”

Kokichi sighed, placing the paper down. “...we don’t have to ask him to testify, but we do need a little cooperation.”

And for the other half of their problem…

Kokichi looped a few strands of hair around his fingers, tugging at it gently as his brows furrowed. “...I…could pop in, just for a second. See where they are…”

Maki immediately nodded, while Shuichi automatically looked to Kaito. Kaito, in turn, briefly looked hopeful… before reaching over to place his hands on Kokichi’s shoulders, looking worriedly down at him. “I’d be grateful if you did, beautiful, but… we can find other ways, if you don’t want to. We could ask for help with the guardforce, or let Maki track them down, between her and Shuichi we can find them. But…”

Kaito grinned warily. “Nothing would be as fast or as sure as you. And it’d ease my nerves to confirm they’re okay.”

“If you don’t want to do it to the teens, Mr. Nidai is with them too,” Maki reminded them, “If he understood the entire context of what was happening? I feel like he’d agree.”

It was…all true. It was unlikely the teens had left the city without anyone noticing, and, well, Maki had trained to be able to track down people, but…Kokichi could potentially find them in a minute or two. And the faster they could find the boys, the less time they had to keep moving farther away. 

And…

Kokichi sighed, giving Maki a hopeful, wary look. “...he would? I’ll admit, I would feel better about peeking in on an adult… And I’m hoping to one day speak to him like that, anyway…”

…and it’d be easier. Kokichi had felt what he could only guess was a burst of Doppio’s emotions the other day, and he had met Arven face-to-face, but…he didn’t know either of the boys well. It would be an exercise in looking for minds of people he didn’t know but trying to track down a few runaways didn’t really seem like a good time for experimentation. 

Taking a breath, Kokichi nodded and closed his eyes. Reaching out for a familiar, electrifying presence… He wasn’t going to dig around at all, just needed to see what Nekomaru was seeing for a second…

Nekomaru was pretty amused at the moment, watching from a distance as the two teenagers had, after chasing Chief up a hill, the dog having apparently seen something he felt like chasing, discovered that rolling down the hill was not only totally possible, but a ton of fun. The two at first starting shyly, both clearly worried the other was going to think it was odd, before enthusiastically starting to race each other down the hill, seeing who could roll faster before crashing softly into a particularly soft patch of grass.

Man, it could be tough to remember how young 15 really was. Nekomaru sometimes had a hard time not seeing teenagers as fully grown people, as the charges he had been in charge of, and he had seen other mentors take care of, well… usually if they made it successfully into teenagers? Then you did it! You raised them! 

There were so many kids, that Nekomaru wished he could have seen be young, immature teenagers… He was enjoying keeping an eye on the charges that his own kids were apparently determined to mentor. Ha ha ha! Look at him, a proud grandpappy. Fun…

A small, wistful smile came over Kokichi’s face before he opened his eyes again. Those kinds of feelings weren’t exactly…surprising, to Kokichi. He didn’t think he really knew any of his partners’ parents deeply, but in the few serious heart-to-hearts he’d had with them… Well, people had a lot of depth to them, and Nekomaru and Kyouko were no different. 

“First thing, they’re okay,” Kokichi laughed softly, giving Kaito a gentle look. “It looks like they’re having some fun rolling down a hill. But…given everything I saw? They’re traveling almost straight north, heading a little east--just enough that they’re going to miss Corbra and keep to the rural roads.”

Giving the group a more serious look, Kokichi posited, “If you head out of town on the Fujia route? I think it’d be a straightaway.”

Kaito honestly had trusted Mr. Nidai to keep an eye on things– you didn’t become the royal assassin or even raise the next royal assassin if you were bad at keeping kids alive–but the feeling of relief when Kokichi confirmed it was still palpable. Kaito let out a little sigh, some of the tension of the situation leaving him a little. Only a little, though, because Kokichi’s advice over which direction to head to put Kaito on the go again, as he said, “Alright, I’ll head off now then. Gonna drag those two little morons back by the damn scruff of their necks if I have to–”

“I’ll go with you.” Maki said.

“Are you kidding?” Kaito said, looking to her, “Absolutely not. You can apologize to Doppio when he’s back and safe and I’ve locked him in a room somewhere.”

“Okay, Maki should go with you.” Shuichi sighed, “And maybe Kokichi too, honestly. You’re in ‘Momota’ mode. You can’t just brute force Doppio into accepting your help, Kaito.”

“Yeah I darn well can,” Kaito muttered, though he forced his hands to unclench when Shuichi put a hand on his shoulder, pouting at his husband a little. “Doppio’s not going to accept my help unless I push it on him, Shuichi…”

“You are pushing it. You’re showing up. Which is how you won me and how you won Maki and how you won Kokichi and basically every other person in your life.” Shuichi said gently, “Showing up is honestly one of the best things about you. But past showing up? That’s the ‘Kaito’. But the ‘Momota’? That’s when you shout and grab people and try to force them to do what you want, and that is not the help that won any of us over, and it’s not the help Doppio or Arven need right now. You just need help keeping that in check. Take one of us with you.”

“...do you want to come–”

“You are not putting me on a horse running all the way out of town.” Shuichi said dryly, “I carried a child for nine months and only gave birth four months ago, my hips still ache just going up and down the stairs.”

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a soft look before going over to give him a half hug. “We are good at balancing each other out, but I don’t think this needs all four of us. And…honestly, I’d feel better if you stayed here, Shuu-chan--one of us, at least.” Kokichi didn’t think there would be any immediate danger to their family, but making sure that one of them was around Tim and Miya, even with the rest of their family there, gave him some peace. 

“That said…I’d be willing to go,” Kokichi gave Kaito and Maki a nod. “I know Dicean law and systems pretty darn well, but I’d like to imagine I’d be a little less daunting than you guys rolling up with someone on the Guardforce. Maybe that--”

Kokichi looked over in surprise as the door knocked softly. 

“Hey, guys? Hate to bother ya, but… Oh, it’s Lake!”

Kaito’s eyebrows raised, glancing at the others to see if anyone else had known she was coming, before hurrying to the door. Opening it up, Kaito asked, “Lake? Hey, did you… oh! Wait!” Kaito said, “Oh, your timing might be perfect! Unless you’re here with bad news! In which case, your timing is terrible!”

“Uh, might be neutral bordering on bad?” Lake tried, offering him a grimacing smile. “I wanted to ask you, well, hey all,” she waved to the rest of the room, “I asked some buds of mine to take a swing by Arven’s neighborhood on patrol? I dunno, he might just be sleepin’ off that cold, but…do you know if he’s been staying with Doppio here? No one’s seen lights on at his place.”

Peeking around Kaito, Kokichi held up the letter in his hands. “They ran away, Nee-chan.”

“What?!” Lake almost did a spine-induced hop, the way she suddenly straightened to attention, giving Kokichi, and Kaito because he was in front of her, an alarmed look. “Where?! Have you notified the force yet?!”

Kaito grinned. “We just did! You count, right? But, look, come with me, I know where they are and I was just about to head out to get them back.”

“Though without the intention of returning either of them to their homes yet,” Maki said, “At least not unaccompanied. It’s dangerous.”

“Oh, right. Good point, Maki-roll… still mad at you!” Kaito said cheerfully, grinning more fiercely as he told Lake, “We have proof! Real proof! They are totally in danger!”

“Which is something we’re not happy about,” Shuichi called out behind Kaito.

“Which we’re not happy about!” Kaito agreed brightly.

“Also, the current danger is small, I sent Mr. Nidai to protect them when they left,” Maki called.

“Am I mad at Mr. Nidai for not bringing them back already?” Kaito asked, looking quizzical, “Eh, I’ll figure it out later. Come on, Lake! Let’s go be overbearing and invasive!”

“I am all about it!” Lake fist-pumped, before she gave Kaito a calmer, more measured look. “But let’s keep this on the up and up, okay? Last thing we need is to scoop up the kiddos to fly ‘em back to safety, only for them to turn the law back on us out of hurt feelings. Did…they run because Doppio was mad about the warrant, or…?”

“The case got dismissed.”

Lake gave them a wholly quizzical look, before Kokichi quickly got her up to date on everything. 

“Hmmm, I see…” Lake hummed, crossing her arms. “Well, no time like the present! Okay! Kai-guy, Mak-attack, you guys pack what’cha need, sign out horses, the whole thing. Coco-Kichi, bring that letter to the guards’ office with me, and I can get official clearance to go bring back some runaways--then, you take that letter and give CPS what for! And hopefully by the time we return with the boys, we’ll have legal custody to keep them out of harm’s way, as part of the reopened investigation. Oh, actually!”

Lake shrugged sheepishly. “Honestly, if someone really wanted to fight it? You might be dismissed on the grounds that you’re too emotionally invested to be a reliable source but…Shumai? If you go with ‘Kichi to the CPS office, do you think you could use your detectin’ skills to confirm that Dippin’ Dots really wrote the note? That would help grease the bureaucratic wheels double-time!”

Hands on her hips, Lake gave the royal family a bright grin. “Everybody got it!?”

All the Luminaries stared at her…

Kaito looked over his shoulder at his sidekicks, whispering fiercely, “Where was that all year!?”

“We really should just ask for help more, this shouldn’t be such a shock every time,” Shuichi mused.

“Speak for yourself, did you think I shadowed Lake all that time because she’s incompetent?” Maki scoffed.

“Also, who’s emotionally invested? I’m not emotionally invested! I am… cool… as a cucumber…” Kaito said, trying to put on a relaxed stance… before saying, “Maki, grab the first aid backpack, I’ll go grab the horses, and Kokichi, Shuichi… what Lake said! Let’s go!”

Maki and Shuichi glanced at each other, rolled their eyes, before following suit.

-

Kaito and Lake rode out into the road, Kaito following Kokichi’s directions, at first entirely focused on the mission… before he blinked. Looking around curiously. Why did this look familiar…

“...oh! Lake, Lake! Hey Lake!” Kaito called to Lake, grinning brightly, “This is where I broke my arm! Look at that spot! Katsuki kicked me in the balls over there! She ever tell you about that? What a coincidence, right!?” 

“Oh geez!” she boomed, following Kaito’s direction before looking back to the road. They weren’t going at a break-neck pace, but the sustainable gallop was still fast enough that Lake didn’t want to get too distracted. And uh…the chestnut mare Kaito was riding seemed a little nervous. She didn’t seem like she was going to buck him off, but…better to be aware of things. “You know, I always thought all that happened farther out? Lucky you guys were so close to a town.”

“Geez, Kitty-tsuki…” Lake shook her head. “Fantastic guard, let no one say different! But ya always gotta be real specific with her briefs. Ya know we’re not supposed to get physical with anyone unless they’re posing a danger and won’t respond to verbal cool-downs, but even so, kickin’ a guy in the nuts is a little far even for physical subjugation.”

She laughed, giving Kaito a quick, comradely, joking grin. “Bet it shut ya down real fast, though.”

Kaito chuckled, nodding, his voice bouncing a little as they rode at a steady but quick pace, “Oh, I was posing a danger alright. Well, a danger to myself, at the very least. I was trying to steal her horse. Mine had… I wasn’t…” Kaito looked down warily at his horse, the spot his last (stolen) horse had died now behind them, but oof. “She said I was in a ‘manic state’ or something. I don’t know, she had specific words for it. She was probably right too, apparently that’s, like, just something I do sometimes. I get into these ‘zones’ where, like, I make a ton of aggressive, bad decisions.”

“So, I’m stranded on the road, right?” Kaito said, perfectly content to recount the memory, “And these two guys came to check on me, but I was doing, like, my crazy Luminary routine, demanding their horses, so they started to fight me. And Katsuki shows up outta nowhere– and my arm’s totally broken by this point, I have a sword in my hand, acting like a crazy person– and gets in between all of us, and, well, I try to steal her horse instead, so she laid me out.”

Laughing a bit, Kaito whistled lowly, before saying fondly, “Maki came to my rescue though. She literally stood over me, ready to defend me. It was such a relief, honestly… Who do you think would win in a fight? My Maki or your Katsuki? I mean, obvious I wanna say Maki-roll, but Katsuki does have that height advantage…”

Lake hummed along to Kaito’s story, listening, but…man. Kokichi wasn’t super explicit, but he had mentioned “moods” Kaito would get into sometimes. Where he’d start a million projects at once within an hour and get halfway and jump at the chance to help with anything anyone else needed, but would neglect himself, and…man, it still wasn’t great, but if Kaito had gone from challenging strangers on the roadside to swordfights, to extreme-home-crafting? She’d seen it for herself, but the guy had changed a lot, in the past year. 

“Crazy…” Lake shook her head, before chuckling at the hypothetical Kaito posed. “Aw, man, now those are some real betting odds. Have you ever seen them spar? Uh, Dicean spar, I mean. Ya kinda do have to hold back in ‘em, in that you’re not supposed to actively try anything that would mean real harm to your opponent, but…damn did it look like they weren’t holding back anything else. Sparring Katsuki is a blast, but the gal can outmaneuver me six days ‘til Sunday.”

“In a real fight?” Lake whistled. “No idea. But I bet it’d be a once-in-a-lifetime thing to watch.”

“Though,” she smirked, “We’ll see if the odds go more for Mak-attack in the coming years. Kitty-tsuki may have height, but Maki has age--even the dang Terminator’s gotta have a retirement day, eh?”

“I hope not. She’s a lifesaver, honestly. Literally. Katsuki’s saved Kokichi’s life, like…” Kaito paused, thinking about it, “I’m not sure how many times. Definitely once since I’ve met her, like, specifically, but she’s done it more than that, and her protection even outside of life-saving stunts has been extremely reassuring. She’s incredible, and her loyalty to Kokichi is the sort of guardsmanship my br…”

Kaito twitched, correcting himself, “Lord Byakuya dreams of. Between her, you, and Nazumi? It’s nice knowing my smallest husband always has you guys watching out for him.”

“...oh!” Kaito said, looking to Lake, “I guess since we’ve got time to talk while we find our runaways… uh, did Nazumi tell you about what she and I talked about? After me and my husbands’ bonding ceremony? I gotta imagine she did… if you have any feelings about that, I’m up to hearing about them. I know what I said wasn’t fair.”

Lake nodded with a warm hum. “The day she retires, we’re gonna lose a damn powerhouse on the force. But that’s always the goal, you know? This isn’t a job you do forever, and if by the time you leave, a ton of people are gonna miss ya? Then that was time well used, don’t’cha think?”

“Though Coco-Kichi’s not getting rid of us that easy,” she snickered. “At least for me and ‘Zumi, we’re locked and loaded! Even if you hadn’t asked us to be godmothers, just being Mi-Mi’s aunties? ‘Zumi and I aren’t headed anywhere, save for the damn city turning into an eternal popsicle. But I’d guess you and the brood would be headed for sunnier skies before we even started packin’.”

But they were Miyako’s godmothers, and so with everything else that entailed, it meant they were sticking around. 

“Aw, geez,” Lake sighed, shaking her head a little. Pausing to collect her thoughts before she sent Kaito an almost bizarrely teasing look. “You’re lucky we’re on different horses so I can’t give ‘ya a noogie and mess up that hair you spend a half-hour on.”

“Kaito… Does it get a little disheartening that we keep having the ‘you don’t trust us’ conversation, like, every other month? Hell yeah, man, ‘course it does. But does that actually bother me?” She glanced over to him, waiting until their horses were synced and steady enough to actually maintain eye-contact for more than a second. “Nope.”

“You can ask me for a fight, or stop talkin’ to me, or have one ‘a these conversations again in a month or two if I’m over-stepping but…Kaito? When it comes to people like us…when it comes to making big decisions…no fuckin’ duh we lose our heads worryin’ about safety.” 

Sighing, Lake patted her horse’s neck for a moment, keeping up encouragement for the long ride. “We never want our loved ones to go through what we did, right? So even if we’ve been through years of therapy, have healthy social lives, find peace in our day to day; the second it looks like danger could potentially pop up? We go into Big Hero Mode, and the Big Hero don’t come out for nothin’. We have to fight the Big Monster…even if there’s only a podunk li’l stinker to actually fight.”

“Nazumi isn’t hurt,” she smiled at Kaito, “And neither am I. You’re worried about your daughter’s life… Why would we get angry about you wanting to be a good dad?”

Kaito’s eyes couldn’t manage to maintain contact with Lake’s for long, glancing down at his horse the second she blinked, a flush of red embarrassment running through him. Not that Lake had said anything wrong, just… “I know I’ve been difficult. I’m sorry,” Kaito muttered.

“I don’t think you’re overstepping. Though, I know why you’d say that. I’ve put you through so much shit,” Kaito said, twisting the reins a little in his hands. “And just so we’re clear, I don’t think Nazumi would hurt Miyako. Or you, in case that was ever in doubt. Miyako’s not in danger with you guys, I just… worried that it’d be a difficult homelife. I mean, I want to… I trust you guys to be able to judge if you’re up to this or not. And you said you could! And I believe you! Totally managing my trust issues!” Kaito said, clutching reins tighter, “But, those trust issues– which I am managing– have never been about you or Nazumi hurting Miyako or anyone, really. I just want Miyako to feel loved.”

“But, ya know… you and Nazumi have always been the most consistent, showing love to our Kokichi,” Kaito said, “Honestly, that’s the most reassuring thing of all. A lot of people fucked up when it came to Kokichi, but you? You were there in some form during every big emergency. Like, you were always involved, in some way. Looking out for him, chatting, bringing him flowers… I didn’t appreciate that at the time, my standards were too high. But honestly? You and Nazumi were the most involved, dedicated people in Kokichi’s life.”

“And I’m sorry we keep having this conversation.” Kaito said a little drearily, “We both know why I keep having it, but I’m just as pissed off and annoyed with myself as everyone else is. So… thanks for being patient. Again. Pretty sure I’ve thanked you for that before. Sorry.”

Even though he was struggling a bit, Lake could only let out a booming laugh and give him a wink. “If you’re difficult, then good thing I’m so cool, right?! Hyper-competent Superhero, Lake Meo!”

Honestly, it was the sort of sentiment that she had a feeling they’d be having another conversation about later. In most cases, but especially for victims of abuse, it wasn’t their fault for being cagey or distrusting, or even for bursts of emotion or actively making things difficult. You don’t blame a mouse for biting if it’s being cornered by a cat. Yes, it could mean that they were hurting someone, and…that just meant that they needed to work on that. Get help, get better coping mechanisms, all that. What it didn’t mean was that they were horrible, violent, selfish people who deserved to be abandoned and reviled. 

They were just hurt people that needed help. And the people helping them needed to be prepared with some armor and bandages. 

Smiling more softly, Lake gave Kaito a nod. “Like I said, it’s no hard feelings, little bro. I know we’ve had this conversation too, about how I feel like I really messed up, not being there as much as I should’ve been, for Kokichi growing up. So, really? Hearing you say that I’ve been a consistent source of family for him is…great. Fantastic! It’s all I can try to be. And just you wait, Kai-guy, you’ll have to raise those standards again, with how good I’ll get with it.”

Holding a fist out, Lake twisted her wrist into an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “We’re all out here trying our best, bro-bro. Let’s keep walkin’ the road together.”

Kaito gave her a grateful look. “I just mean my standards at the time. Sorry, that sounded like a dig, everyone’s already above and beyond where they were a year ago with Kokichi. For where everyone was at a year ago? You guys were the best.”

Grinning at Lake’s enthusiasm, Kaito gave her a thumbs up back. “Yeah, let’s do it. And hell, between the two of us? Maybe we can talk those kids into coming back without me grabbing them by their little delinquent collars and throwing them over my damn horse!” Kaito suddenly growled, glaring down the road, “Those little punks… want to run away after all that, make me come looking for their asses, put themselves at risk like either of them even come to my damn chest. Seriously, I’m gonna throttle them! They could get hurt, what were they thinking! When I ran away from home, I didn’t even get down the road! Where do they get the balls!?”

Lake ran a hand through her hair with an aggravated sound. “Little knuckleheads, for sure. Gotta appreciate the enthusiasm! And promptness, damn, but this is some grade-a dummy-business. Arven was still wearin’ snot-sleeves yesterday! They really think the cure for head colds is to sleep outdoors?!”

Grinning down the road with a gleam in her eyes, Lake chuckled, “Oh, those boys are coming home whether it’s a nice talk or a hillside chase. I’m legally obligated to take runaway minors into custody, now that their case is in the system. And I trust Coco-Kichi and Shumai to throw every book in the castle at those CPS folks until we get Dippin’ Dots’ case back up. They’re gonna be taken care of and they’re gonna like it.”

Kaito lit up, ecstatic Lake was on the same wavelength as him. “Hell yeah! Let’s go fucking get ‘em!”

-

“...man,” Arven said, staring up, and up, and up at it, “...this is a really tall tree.”

They had gotten to a massive parting in the road, which seemed to exist entirely because the road-workers had taken one look at this tree and decided it’d be easier to carve a path around it than through it. Now, Arven had been this way before, but he had gone through the pathways through the villages this early into the journey outside of the capital, picking up additional supplies along the way. So he had never seen this massive tree before.

♪ i bet you could touch a cloud up there ♩  Amaina decided.♪ …we should go eat a cloud!!! ♩   

It was lucky Doppio was wearing a side-strapped bag, rather than a backpack like Arven, since with how far he was leaning back to look at the massive tree he’d undoubtably fall over. It was truly incredible, the kind of thing he’d expect more to see in an old forest, rather than on the roadside. But to be fair, the trees had definitely been there first. 

Despite occasional bursts of paranoia, they had been taking their time hiking out into the wilderness, stopping for…well, weird moments, and giving Chief treats, and rolling down grassy hills, and…

…it really was the most fun Doppio had had in (a long time) a while. 

It…made him a little nervous, but, along with Amaina’s excitement, he shot Arven a nervous grin. “...you much of a tree climber?”

Arven considered it… before smirking. Shifting his backpack off his shoulders, placing it at the base of the tree, before heading to the lowest hanging branch. “Let’s do it. Bet we can make it to the top!”

♪ YEAAAAAAAAAH CLIMB CLIMB CLIMB ♩

“Flying is cheating, angel!” Arven called to her, straddling the branch for a second before standing up, showing it was steady as he grinned down at Doppio. “Come on! Need a hand up?”   

…so. The thing was… Doppio didn’t…have the best track record with trees. Sure, most of the ones he’d climbed in memory were within towns, so naturally they were a little weaker and younger than old forest trees, but that wasn’t…always the defining factor. 

…but the view from a height like that would be pretty amazing, if he had to guess…

Taking a small, steadying breath, Doppio set his own bag by Arven’s--he’d be a little nervous about leaving their stuff unattended, but Chief was a Very Good Boy who definitely couldn’t climb trees--and followed Arven over to the low branch, appraising it for a moment. 

“Um…I think I’ve got it. But you should probably move to a different one, just in case.”

“Sure, hold on,” Arven laughed, looking around before heading to the next available branch. Hefting himself up, he tested its weight by bouncing a little, laughing as the leaves shook, before looking down to Doppio. “Come on! I weigh more than you do, any branch that’s gonna hold my weight will hold yours. I’ll lead the way!”

Hopefully that was true…

Giving Arven a sheepish grin, Doppio reached up for the branch and hefted himself up, scrambling a little to get enough purchase on it to get on top. And after that, well, it really was just following Arven’s lead. Following his path from branch to branch, as the sunlight dappled through what seemed like endless layers of leaves, painting Arven in bright, warm tones. Watching him scale with ease, a true outdoorsman, that, um…

(...Amaina was…er, right. About the butt, thing. Watching Arven stretch and flex and climb… His pants really. Fit.)

Carefully sitting on a branch, as Arven figured out the next one to reach for, Doppio gazed up at his friend. “You do this sort of thing often? I…can’t really think of many fruit trees that would have limbs like this, but…anything worth foraging from treetops?”

“Some flowers and pinecones. But for the tip-tops of trees?” Arven grinned, sitting down at a thick branch, letting his legs swing a little. “I’ve only ever gone up for the view. And with this one? This will easily be the tallest. Hope I don’t get nervous~ think you could dramatically catch me if I fall?” Arven laughed, giving Doppio a wink, “Just reach out and snatch me out of the air?”

♪ he cannot he has skinny stick aaaaaarms ♩ Amaina sang out, fluttering over, ♪ you should carry him in your buff arms ♩ 

“Don’t underestimate him, Amaina. Doppio’s stronger than he looks,” Arven huffed, “And honestly, I probably couldn’t carry him through the tree either. Maybe we should just both try not to fall? Might be for the best.”    

Doppio flushed, glancing away with a flustered smile at that wink. …a-and the thought of Arven carrying him in…yeah. His buff arms. Even if history had shown that Arven really couldn’t lift him. 

“I’d probably try, but…yeah,” Doppio laughed sheepishly, “I think that’d just become us both falling through the tree. Not a great experience…though I’d try to cushion your fall, at least a little.”

Running his fingers along the edge of a nearby leaf--it felt a little scratchy…probably soon to fall, along with all its colorful brethren at the bottom--Doppio looked out at the hills, already getting a decent view. “They don’t tend to agree with me, but I like getting up high, when I get the chance. You’ve heard about the people who parkour over city roofs, yeah? It’s not my style but…I ended up on top of the Limbus Smokehouse, out on the west end, industrial side of town, once? People say the view from the top of Ouma Castle is amazing, but I felt like I could see all of Usott from the smokehouse.”

“Wow, really?” Arven asked, giving Doppio a slightly wondrous look, “I bet that was cool. I never really get a chance to explore areas like that. Obviously nature is my jam, but there's something almost mysterious to me about areas like that, just because I’ve spent so little time in them.”

Following Doppio’s eyes out at the view, Arven took in the long path and the rolling hills as he said, “Maybe the next settlement we go to, we can explore some of the lesser traveled areas in them. Warehouses, factories, just kind of see how those areas look and work. Just because it’s kind of neat. Though of course I have a ton of places out here that I want to show you. I really hope you like the caves. I kind of love the… the…”

“...” Arven squinted, “...okay, am I crazy, or do those two travelers… look familiar?”

Flushing a bit, Doppio had to look away from the look Arven was giving him, feeling overly bashful, but kind of proud too. “They’re pretty neat, if you’re patient. You’re not gonna get grand vistas, but…some of ‘em have neat architecture, and almost all of them have great views, since they’re such big buildings. There’s usually cool street art hidden away too, if you know the places to look.”

Doppio was…pretty used to checking those areas out. Like Arven said, they were less traveled, only really seeing traffic by employees or the occasional tour or inspection so…the areas outside of the warehouses and factories themselves? Good places for things to happen unseen. But, that said? He’d never really traveled around them for pleasure. It would be nice, getting to just enjoy the districts…and he probably had enough knowledge to keep Arven out of trouble while they explored too. 

…maybe…in a bit. Since Doppio still wasn’t sure that trouble wouldn’t just follow him. 

“Hm?” Squinting as well, Doppio looked out into the hills, eventually spotting a few horses and… Well…red showed up pretty well… And…

Doppio jolted, a cold sweat breaking out down his back. “We need to get down. Our stuff is too much of a giveaway.”

Arven looked down, then up at the horses, then down again. “We may not have time?? Like, where are we going to run to? It’s all open hillsides around here, there’s no foliage to run into.”

Looking up at the tree, nibbling on his bottom lip, he said, “Let’s keep climbing. They might miss the bags entirely, and if they don’t, w-what are they gonna do? Drag us down?”

♪ knowing the upgrade? ♩ Amaina sang cheerfully, ♪ Probably. ♩   

“I-I don’t know?!” Doppio stuttered, “We could…hide behind the tree? Until they pass? It’s a split path so…just go down the other one…um…” 

Doppio glanced down at their bags. And Chief. If you were keeping a lookout for something, then…he doubted they’d miss a whole-ass dog, and even if not? Arven’s bag was bright green. Sure, the fall leaves around it would downplay the brightness a little, but…

If there was any doubt, Amaina confirming it was Kaito dashed it to nothing. Doppio bit down on his lip and closed his eyes for a moment. He shouldn’t have left that note… No doubt Kaito was just…furious with him, enough to do the crazy thing and go out looking… Could’ve…just gotten lucky with the direction…

…if…Kaito had been able to find them, though, then who…who else might’ve…

Looking up, visibly stressed, Doppio gave Arven a pleading look. “We’re sitting ducks up here, Arven. We’d have a better chance for…for anything on the ground.”

Arven nibbled on his bottom lip again, gnawing it. He just couldn’t see it. They were on horseback… they couldn’t outrun them. The best they could do was dodge. “I just think our odds are better up here. We can chase them off, make ourselves more trouble than we’re worth. We’ll tell Kaito we’ve made a decision and he has to respect it! Annnnd make it too hard for him to actually lay a hand on us.”

Looking down the tree, Arven called out, “Chief! Guard dog mode!”

Chief looked up from where he was laid out on the grass before thumping his tail playfully.

“Eh, he’ll be fine.” Arven said, looking to Doppio, “We can’t outrun horses, Doppio. Up is our best option. Just keep following my path, I’ll get you to the top.”

He hesitated. “...you can trust me. I won’t let him take you. Yeah?”

Doppio…wasn’t sure they could. Kaito was stubborn to a fault, and more likely, Doppio could just see him and whoever he was traveling with shouting up the tree until they won a war of attrition. But…well, it could be possible. He had…chased Kaito off once…

(...Doppio didn’t want to do something like that again, though.)

But…more than that… If Kaito had managed to find them…then other people might’ve too. And while he and Arven weren’t as fast as horses…they had better maneuverability on the ground when it came to a crossbow. In a tree? It was either be a slow target, or meet the ground very quickly. And…

Doppio let out a short, nervous breath, meeting Arven’s eye. Feeling his resolve start to crumble. “...I trust you…okay. Alright, I’m coming up.”

Arven nodded determinedly, before now hopping from branch to branch. Testing the weight of each one before looking back at Doppio, making sure he got to the next branch safely, before heading to the next one. 

Down below, Chief opened up his maw and yaaaaawned… before sniffing the air. Sniff. Sniff.

Ah. The green lady was back. As was odd-smelling red man. He made Chief nervous sometimes, but he was nice enough to his boy, so… Woof! Another friendly woof. Hello, friends.

Kaito squinted down the path… “Lake! That’s Chief!”

“Oh! Whoa, lady, whoa, let’s take it easy,” Lake soothed her horse, slowing down. She’d been planning on it anyway, since there was a hefty split coming up, but…would you look at that! They’d found their destination!

“Hey, Chief!” Lake greeted as she and Kaito approached the large tree that was the cause for the divergence. Patting around in her pockets for a moment, she pulled out a dog biscuit and knelt a few feet away, grinning at the dog. “Aw, hey buddy, we’ve been looking for you! …been bein’ a good guard dog? Bet you are!”

…two bags. Maybe the boys were taking a break nearby? There weren’t any streams and…she hadn’t seen anyone hanging out on the fields on either side of the path, so where…

A yellow leaf drifted down in front of Lake’s face. She slowly looked up.

As Chief, quite cheerfully, trotted over to eat his treat, Kaito glanced around, before following Lake’s gaze upwards… “HEY!”

“Just keep climbing, ignore him.” Arven said, moving to the next branch.

“Hey! Don’t you ignore me! You’re not out of shouting range, you come down here… stop climbing!” Kaito shouted.

“Stuff it!” Arven called down.

“I swear, the damn mouth on that kid.” Kaito growled.

“Good boy,” Lake praised, petting Chief a bit before she sighed, looking up at the tree. The ol’ ‘if I run they can’t detain me’ defense, eh?

Doppio’s shoulders jolted as Kaito shouted up, but he dutifully kept climbing up. …though he sent a nervous look down. “No one followed you here, right?!”

Lake raised an eyebrow. “Not yet, young man! But given that you two are officially runaways, I can call in other guards to help bring you both home safe and sound! It’s just up to you how long this takes!”

Which…could be indefinitely, on her and Kaito’s side, since the boys’ bags were on the ground, but…

Reaching into one of her gloves, Lake rolled an elastic around it, giving Kaito a small smirk. “...how long you wanna give ‘em before we start climbing up too?”

Kaito cracked his knuckles, grinning with all his teeth. “Was just about to ask you that.”

And then, with a shout, he ran to the tree. Throwing himself against the bark, he scuffled up the side to the first branch, putting on foot on it before throwing himself up another. Then another. Then another. Each time catching himself by body hugging the branch, which let him be a little more reckless with his speed.

As he climbed, he shouted, “Hey! Would you two stop climbing!? We just want to talk!”

“She said she was gonna call more guards!” Arven shouted down.

“We preferably want to talk on horseback, taking you dumbasses home!”

“We are home!”

“You don’t get to live in a tree!”

“Home is where we decide it is! We’re basically adults, we can pick our own home.”

“Oh hell no you are not!”

For the kids’ sake, Lake kept her snickering silent, and…well, she’d give them a sec or two. Just in case. 

Squeaking as he felt the tree vibrate with Kaito’s lunges--even affecting a tree this big, what the fuck--Doppio tried to hurry up, knowing that it’d be him that Kaito caught first. “Go away! You’re going to make someone fall! We…” Doppio swallowed a nervous shudder, “We don’t want you here!”

After a moment, a hot flash went through him and he spat up, “A-and you obviously don’t want me…wherever! Either! Your friend told me to leave immediately! I did!”

Lake frowned a little at that. That hadn’t been part of the story Kokichi had told her…

“My friend is almost as big an idiot as you two! She made a stupid plan that didn’t pan out! And she had no damn right to do that!” Kaito shouted, scurrying up another branch, wincing as he felt the bark scratch at his chin a little. He didn’t care. Keep going! “What the hell about the last week made you possibly think I’d want you to leave!? What, did you two miss the whole ‘sidekick’ speech!? Do I need to get it embroidered and notarized!? You two are my responsibility!”

“We told you, we don’t need it!” Arven shouted down, noticing the branches were getting thinner. Phoooo they were getting up there.

“I don’t need your permission to care about you! Also move slower, those branches are bending!”

Arven scoffed, looking around, before grabbing a pinecone and saying down to Kaito, “Go back down! I’ll throw it, I mean it!”

“Do it, I have a hard head!”

…he hated it, but for a moment, there was a warm tingling of hope in Doppio’s chest, hearing Kaito basically say that…he hadn’t wanted Doppio to leave. 

But that didn’t change the fact that Maki had been right. 

“Who made you the judge of who has rights?! If you get to decide, then I get to decide you had no right to fucking call CPS on me! O-or to kidnap me!”

The kid did have a point on the second one, but on the first… “You were being beaten, Doppio!” Lake called up, taking a slower approach around the tree, keeping an eye on all of them. “And you said you felt unsafe at home! That gives anyone the right to notify CPS, simply for the fact of…you’re a person! That deserves to feel safe and loved and supported at home!”

While he cringed a little--they definitely found the letter AAAAAAA why had he written that?!--Doppio…paused for a second. Baffled by the green-haired woman’s remarks. But noticing that he’d stopped, he quickly tried to make up the timeloss but…

“F-fuck!” 

Doppio gasped, clinging to the branch he was on more with forceful control of his muscles than regular movement, as a blinding white pain lightninged through his head.

“No, you’re right, I shouldn’t have kidnapped you, and I should have talked to you first, but I don’t regret calling them because my other option was going to your home and punching that jackass in each individual ball!” Kaito snarled… before wincing, “Ouch! No throwing things!”

“You said your head was hard!”

“It still hurts!”

Arven was about to throw another pinecone, when he startled at Doppio’s curse, looking over at him in alarm. “A-aceto?”

Diavolo grunted, looking around blearily. Nnngh… it was tougher, taking control from this distance, but…

This was ideal, honestly.

The case would go away if Doppio died. And no one could argue that Diavolo had anything to do with it, if he died like this, right in front of everyone. Diavolo could find another way to get his steel empire from Kaito. Plant other employees in Kaito’s life. And he could hide Doppio under a floorboard for a while. Until the heat died down. This was all more than manageable.

Diavolo glanced up at the concerned call of Doppio’s first name, raising a thin eyebrow at the boy. Ah, right… the sage smell… the mountains under the water… the source of all the confusion.

Smirking at Arven, Diavolo gave him a two fingered salute, before leaning backwards.

Arven’s eyes widened, reaching out to catch him even if he had no chance of reaching. “ACETO!”

Kaito’s eyes dilated and focused, his jaw setting as he threw himself out, aiming for where his gut (and animals instincts) (and years of throwing his body in the way of harm) told him Doppio was going to be, grabbing Doppio’s body, pulling it close and into his stomach and chest, aiming his back to the ground and closing his eyes. 

Everything was, briefly, quiet. Just the whistle of the wind and his own heart slamming between his ears.

(Dad?)

(Is this what it felt like?)

(Atua, Saints, please–)

Maki said curve your shoulder Maki said roll into the impact Maki said don’t hold your breath Maki said curve your legs up Maki said break a rib over breaking your spine Maki said Maki said Maki said–

Lake would be lying, if she said her heart hadn’t jumped into her throat. Heroes were calm, cool, and collected in the face of danger. They saved even the darkest days with a smile on their face, because there was no need for anyone to be even more frightened by their savior acknowledging how bad things were. They weren’t, really, but heroes had to look untouchable. Otherwise, their greatest superpower--giving hope to others--just wouldn’t work. 

Lake was human. But she’d spent over a damn decade trying to be the hero the little girl patching herself up under her bed had needed. 

Not making a sound, Lake widened her stance, eyes fixed on Doppio and Kaito’s trajectory down. If it was just the kid, she could’ve probably tried to catch him, or just cushion him, but…Kaito was big. Forget crushing her, she’d barely cushion anything for the two of them. So, the next best thing would be…

Quickly picking up Arven’s giant backpack, Lake threw it forward, the seconds almost counting down slow motion in her head. One shot, one push to save the day. 

Plant your feet. Push from your thighs. Twist with your waist. And…

With all of her considerable might, Lake SLAMMED into the falling forms of Kaito and Doppio, pushing their trajectory towards the bag she’d thrown. Hopefully counteracting enough of the forces to matter. 

Maki said Maki said Atua who loves me help– OW?? AHHHHH!

It was like the world suddenly started spinning, Kaito suddenly moving entirely sideways as the force of the ‘crash’ came from his side rather than his back. But before he really could even process anything that was happening, he crashed into a… surprisingly soft?? Landing??

It still fucking hurt, but as Kaito rolled off the backpack, still curled protectively around Doppio until he finally rolled onto his back, staring in bewilderment up at the tree… huh.

… the light through the leaves was pretty…

“....ooooooooow.” Kaito whined. “Ow??”

“Aceto!” Arven called down, still hurrying down the tree, “Aceto, are you okay!?”

Getting the first aid bag off Kaito’s horse, Lake was over to the two in a flash. Chuckling softly, she gave Kaito a grin. “I’m gonna hope that if you’re whinin’, you haven’t broken anything, but hold off on gettin’ up just yet, big guy. You too, D…”

Lake’s eyebrows furrowed as she took in the kid. Eyes shut, limp within Kaito’s grasp… Pulling off one of her gloves, she gently pressed two fingers against his neck…okay… “Shoot, I think he passed out… Maybe from the fall, but…”

She didn’t see any blood on Kaito…not that she would expect any. Doppio’s pulse was slow, like he was sleeping--or just unconscious--but it was there, so he hadn’t broken his neck… Okay. Okay. 

Almost familiarly, Lake put a gentle touch to the back of Kaito’s neck. “You let me know if anything hurts, any sharp pains or numb feelings, ‘kay, Kai-guy? You feel all accounted fingers and toes?”

Kaito whined, clenching his jaw… before taking a deep breath, at first through his nose, and when that didn’t hurt, taking a deep breath, holding it, then letting it go…

“I think my ribs are good,” Kaito said, carefully flexing his fingers and toes, before letting out another relieved breath. “Spine seems good. Legs seem good. Arms seem good. Fuck. Just need to sit up and I’ll officially not have totally fucked myself up. Just need my hips to be good. Got a little baby and a little husband to balance on them, got a kid who still likes to ride around on my feet, can’t have busted hips… the kid good?” Kaito groaned, glancing down at his chest, where Doppio was still laid out.  “Shit, kid, you better still be good… Alright, help. I’m gonna try to sit up, brace me.”

With Lake’s help, Kaito sat up, at first slowly and then with greater ease. “Hips good. Alright. All good!” Kaito said, before looking down at Doppio in his lap. “Well, I am anyway… Lake, did you tackle us into that bag?” Kaito asked, giving her a bewildered look, “Is that what happened?”

Nodding as Kaito gave his self-assessment, Lake still checked down his spine, watching him carefully for any winces… But no sharp bits or weird lumps and…well, she did trust him to know if anything was truly wrong, even if he’d likely downplay it. But…it seemed he was okay! So now…

“He’s breathing and his pulse is…regular, at least,” Lake said quietly as she helped Kaito up, able to hear Arven still making his way over. “Can’t tell too much more than that until he wakes up.”

Giving Kaito a sheepish grin, Lake laughed bashfully. “Uh…it works with punching bags? And I figured that the bag would be softer than skidding on the ground. Uh, actually…” 

She looked over her shoulder, calling out to Arven. “Sorry for using your bag, bud! I’ll pay and replace anything that broke, promise!”

At that moment, there were some thick groans from Kaito’s lap, Doppio’s face starting to scrunch. 

“Aceto!” Arven shouted, hearing Doppio groan before just straight up jumping from the branch he was on, landing on the ground with a thud before scrambling over to Kaito and Doppio, “Aceto! Aceto!”

Once Arven was there, he just knelt in front of of where Kaito was sitting, too afraid to touch Doppio, afraid his clumsy grip would harm him in some way, but unable to really give him space either as he stared worriedly down at him. “Is he okay? Did he break anything!? Aceto, why did you do that!?”

Kaito frowned at the question– do what?-- before saying to Arven, “Hey, let’s save tough questions for once he’s out of the woods, alright? He’s going to be okay, Arven.”

“You don’t know that!” Arven said, giving Kaito a frustrated look. Before flinching when Kaito’s grip suddenly shot out, wrapping around Arven’s neck… before reassuringly gripping the back of his neck, shaking him slightly.

“Yes I do. He missed the worst of the impact, Lake has a first aid kit, we have horses on standby and a town nearby. Whatever the worst case scenario is? He’s going to be okay. Trust me.”

Arven bit his lip– his nose still snotty, regardless of the red in his eyes– before looking down at Doppio. Calming down a little as Doppio groaned again in Kaito’s arms. Doppio was gonna be okay…

Slowly, gold--for sure, gold--eyes squinted open, not really focusing on anything at first, but then… A soft sound came from him. 

“...ooooh what the fuuuuuck I hate this…”

Doppio had once told Kaito that one of the worst ways he’d ever woken up was with a crowd of people worriedly looking down at him. It turns out, three worried faces above him wasn’t much better. 

Scrunching his eyes shut again, just…choosing not to see it, he tried to raise a hand to his pulsing head, only to have it stopped with a soft touch. 

“Easy there, Doppio. Don’t move just yet, okay? If you can, could you tell us if there’s anything that’s a sharp pain for ya? Or anything you can’t feel?”

Doppio squinted his eyes open again. “...this’s happened before.”

“I swear, you are the worst patient.” Kaito sighed, keeping still while Lake looked Doppio over, “If you don’t answer her questions, guess who’s getting round two of Kaito picking you up by the waist and bouncin’ you around?”

“Don’t even joke,” Arven said, glaring at Kaito, before worrying over Doppio again. “Aceto, what do you remember? Did you… did you black out?”

“I will actually vomit on you this time,” Doppio muttered before taking in a deep breath, closing his eyes again. “Um…no, everything feels fine, ma’am. Like, uh, I…I guess my head hurts but that’s…”

Eyes blinked open again, looking out past the faces above him. Above him. Like…

His eyes widened into dinner plates. “Did I fall off the tree?!”

There was a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. “You did, buddy, but Kai-Guy here caught you on the way down. And, uh…I sorta caught you guys too. Big Man’s lookin’ alright! We just wanna make sure you’re right as rain too, yeah?”

“...I-I think I’m ok - hah…” Doppio let out a scared, bewildered breath. He fell out of the tree?! And Kaito caught him. They…they were probably…he didn’t know, more than 20 feet up, probably. They were…

His gaze locked onto Arven. “...I-I think I did? I just… I wanted to tell you not to throw pine cones, cause…s-someone could…fall. But I got a migraine flash…”

“She tackled you into safety,” Arven said, giving the guardswoman a bewildered look, “It was kind of insane??”

But Arven’s brows pinched together, a brief look of anxiety crossing his face as he considered what he should say… before whispering, like he could somehow keep Kaito and Lake from overhearing, but not really wanting to be alone in this knowledge,  “...Aceto… it kind of looked like you threw yourself backwards…”

“Let’s not worry about that right now,” Kaito said immediately, Arven’s gaze pulling from Doppio to Kaito. “No, really. Doppio acts a little unlike himself when he’s blacked out, let’s not assume he did or didn’t throw himself, okay? No assumptions. And, at the very least, the Doppio we have right now didn’t, okay? He just had a scary accident. We’ll handle it from there.”

Lake just gave Arven a sheepish shrug, before she gave Doppio the okay to sit up. She…really didn’t know what they were talking about, with black outs and migraines and such, so she’d trust the people who actually understood the situation better, but…well, if his head hurting was unrelated to the fall, then he was probably alright. 

Doppio’s face just pinched into confusion, looking over to Kaito with just more of it as he dismissed it. ‘It’ being… 

He wasn’t suicidal. Sure, Doppio knew he could be…reckless, sometimes. And…and sometimes he got really sad. And… (...and maybe there was an argument that when he had told Arven, in the castle med bay, that he was going home, that was a…a kind of suicide) But he wasn’t suicidal! Life was a really amazing, precious thing, and he’d never want to take that from himself! 

He didn’t… He wouldn’t…

Lake’s expression barely had time to soften as she saw the wobbling jaw and wrinkling jaw, before tears started to stream down Doppio’s cheeks, a frightened, whimpering sob hiccuping up his throat. 

“I-I’m s-s-sorry!”

Arven gave Doppio a helpless, startled look. Swallowing hard as he put his hands up, like he wanted to reach out to Doppio, but was still too afraid of getting it wrong. Of hurting him somehow.

But Kaito rarely had that sort of reservation, as he immediately shifted, repositioning Doppio to hug him to his chest, his hands almost instinctively protecting his neck, moving his hips in alignment with his spine, pressing Doppio’s ear and cheek to his chest so that he could hide as needed as he said softly, “You don’t have to be sorry. Hey, hey, no… you’re fine. Everything’s fine. You just had a scare. But everything’s fine…”

It was cruel, how much Doppio genuinely took comfort in Kaito holding him. He had been furious with the man for going around his back, leaving Doppio helpless to his own life. He had felt like there was almost no hope for the future--until Arven had declared that they make one together--when Maki said that Doppio wasn’t…wanted. That he was just making things worse. 

And those things he still felt, but…

…he had almost died. Kaito could’ve died trying to save him. 

And as much as Doppio had liked to think he could brave even death if someone needed it from him…he was scared. He was scared, he’d just had a near-death experience, and now…the person who had been consistently trying to keep him safe the past three weeks was there. 

So Doppio cried, clutching onto the edge of Kaito’s shirt. 

Lake looked on with a soft sigh before turning her efforts onto the other kid they’d come to help. Shuffling closer, she gave Arven a soft smile. “It’ll be okay,” she promised quietly. “You took that last jump like a pro; very impressive. But I still wanna ask… You okay, Arven? I do have this whole first aid kit out. I’m gonna bully Kaito into letting me swab up those scratches on his face in a bit, so now’s your chance to lemme know about any of yours.”

“Um,” Arven sniffled, wiping his sleeve under his nose, unable to help his emotional response as Doppio wailed. It was hard to look away, but at the same time he really didn’t know what to do, and Lake offering something else to think about felt almost like a saving grace, Arven helpless and floundering in the face of something this emotionally intense. Wiping his eyes, he turned to Lake. “I-I think I’m okay… I-I scraped my wrist a little, b-but it’s nothing, really.”

“Ah, Arven, you’re just determined to make me see myself in you, huh.” Kaito grinned, though he didn’t look up from Doppio, keeping an eye on his body for signs of pain. Holding him firmly, feeling oddly at peace in the moment. This part was awful, but… usually crying was the turning point. Sometimes people just needed to cry. “Let Lake take care of your scrapes, kid. We’re gonna fuss either way, you may as well let us. Aw, Doppio… you’ve had such a tough couple of days… you both have had a really scary few days…”

“Tree’s’ll getcha, huh,” Lake nodded knowingly, getting out the antiseptic, cotton swabs, and bandages…and some tissues too, placing the pack on Arven’s knee with a kind, soft smile. “Sneaky bastards. ‘Zumi--my roommate--she’s big into the nature scene. Like you, I hear. She’s a glove gal, like me, but even so the number of scratches and burr abrasions…”

Lake shook her head with fond exasperation as she gently held Arven’s wrist, tending to his scratches. “Well, she gets me back with everything I get on guard duty, so we’re equal. Keep each other honest!”

(It was not equal. Nazumi knew very well it wasn’t equal, but she’d never held it over Lake’s head, instead choosing to fawn over the times Lake had spread balm over her cuticles with the same energy Lake laughed about her bruised ribs.)

With a gentle, caring touch, Lake patted Arven’s hand. “Let us help, yeah? I know you wanna take on the world yourself, and that’s the kind of energy I love to see! But no one’s really alone out here. It’s easier to carry with more hands.”

“Safer too,” Kaito mused, watching as Chief tried to brute force his way into Arven’s lap, Arven absentmindedly petting Chief’s head, “Easier and safer.”

Arven mostly focused on Lake, though his head did nod slightly at all of that. Bringing up his hand to let Lake help him, wincing a little at the sting of the cleaner, followed by the soothing balm. “...we would have been okay,” Arven pouted, “We agreed to look out for each other. I was gonna take care of him. We’re enough hands between us.”

“YEAAAAAAAH, NO.” 

Kaito looked up, frowning as Mr. Nidai finally appeared, some… discoloring on his clothes that made Kaito immediately say, “Let’s watch what we say… this isn’t Luminary. I can’t protect you…”

“What?” Mr. Nidai asked, before looking down at himself, “Oh. Nah, this dumb fuck’s still alive. Actually what I need to talk to Miss here for. WHEN YOU HAVE A MOMENT, GUARDSMAN? I AM A CONCERNED CITIZEN WHO NEEDS TO REPORT A DISTURBANCE.” Mr. Nidai smirked. “A DISTURBANCE OF THE PEACE, IF YOU WILL.”

“Who are you!?” Arven gasped, giving this new person a bewildered look.

“I’M THE EXTRA SET OF HANDS YA LITTLE PUNK! GOT SENT BY MY LITTLE GIRL TO LOOK AFTER YA! BEEN HERE SINCE YA LEFT! SURPRISED YA DIDN’T SPOT ME A FEW TIMES. YOUR DOG SURE DID. LITTLE GREEDY TREAT MONSTER!”

Chief’s tail thumped happily in Arven’s lap. He heard treats. Yesssss.

It was good to have someone to rely on…but a community wasn’t two people. Or four. Or eight. It was the consistent kind effort of all sorts of people, some of whom you might never meet face to face in your life, that truly made a safe, comfortable society. People could certainly live outside of it, but it definitely made things harder. 

And, well, the kids had never been alone from the start. 

“Oh, hey Mr. Nidai!” Lake greeted, giving the man a wave. Maki wasn’t exactly brimming with childhood stories to tell, but Lake at least knew who Nekomaru Nidai was, and during his vacation in Dicea, they’d bumped into each other a few times. 

Plus, like, those muscles, man. Lake had to know how much a wall of a guy like Nekomaru could bench. 

Though, her cheer faded a little at his business showing himself. Duty never waited during the down moments, she supposed. “Alright…” Sighing, Lake set the medical supplies on the bag--Kaito was not getting out of his healing session--before she offered Arven a lop-sided grin. “I’ll admit, Arven, I’m a hugger. Can I have one, after this terrifying shit? Good luck for my second mission out here?”

Arven gave ‘Mr. Nidai’ a nervous look– those stains didn’t look like dirt– before almost absentmindedly nodding, barely thinking about what he was agreeing to, so unnerved by everything that had happened.

But when he leaned in for the hug… it was strange, how he suddenly clutched her back. A sudden rolling wave of fear hitting him. No, that was wrong, he realized. He had been scared the whole time, and had only just now noticed it. Overwhelmed and alarmed and terrified of messing things up, of being out with someone looking for them, of being caught, of Doppio falling…

Arven let out a shuddering breath, suddenly noticing how his body was shaking. Had he been shaking the whole time? When had that started…?

He held her, body trembling, for as long as he could, before reluctantly pulling himself away, the stains on Mr. Nidai still present on his mind. Looking uneasily at the ground as he muttered, “Good luck?”

Aw, kid…

Lake adored children. Their bright, unabashed passions, their moments of rewarded curiosity as they explored a world new to them, their cutting bluntness… Not every child had all those things, of course, or even one, but…they were a joy. Every class she did a seminar for, every call out in public, someone delightedly recognizing a guard they knew, Lake knew her purpose was strong and true, if she could keep those smiles shining. 

And like Kaito…it baffled and enraged her that there were people out there who didn’t feel that way. That saw children as property or punching bags. And while she loved protecting bright smiles… Lake would always keep fighting for moments like these. Tears and shivers better than silence and stillness. Better than obituaries. 

Lake held Arven tight as he hugged her back, rubbing his back and gently scratching the back of his head with her ungloved hand, careful not to snag his curls. Humming and shushing almost silently, but just enough for him to hear. 

…she had been worried, when it didn’t look like anyone was in his house. She was glad she’d decided to ask Kaito about it. 

As he started to let go, Lake gave him one last bracing bear squeeze before giving him a bright grin and ruffling his hair. “Thanks, bud. Can’t fail with you cheering me on!”

Pulling her glove back on, Lake got up and turned to Nekomaru with a fist pump. “Alright, concerned citizen! Lead the way--all your concerns can be blown away; the hero’s here to save the day!”

-

Lake and Nekomaru were gone for a while, and when Lake came back it was without the older man. Kaito considered asking, but honestly, he felt like knowing what that was all about would distract him from the ‘traumatized teen’ situation he had going on right now. So he made a mental note to ask the two what the hell was going on later, as he tried to figure out the whole… dog… thing.

“...” Kaito squinted at Chief. Chief panted back. “Dammit. We’re gonna have to walk, huh,” Kaito realized, rubbing the back of his neck with an already exhausted sigh, “Chief isn’t gonna fit on the back of any of the horses, and he’s not gonna be able to keep up with a trot that long. Okay…”

Looking at the boys, then Lake, he frowned. “...any merit to us splitting up?” Kaito asked Lake. “Might be you and Doppio could at least get back before the day’s over? I could stay with Arven and the dog?”

Even if he did have a head that screwed on right, Doppio really wouldn’t have been able to tell how long he spent sobbing onto Kaito’s chest. He was familiar with immediate fear and anxiety, the ‘present’ and ‘future’ versions that filled him with nerves and adrenaline, but…’past’ fear? 

…the past was useless. He’d always been told. There was no need to be afraid of something when it was already over. But…still, Doppio couldn’t think of a better way to describe what his wailing had been for. 

But eventually he had stopped and embarrassedly shuffled out of Kaito’s lap, sitting next to Arven again as…well…he supposed they were making plans to be dragged back to Usott.

Lake had been just as peppy when she returned to the group, not giving anything away, and she looked them over as well. Particularly where Doppio and Arven were sitting shoulder to shoulder. “...I don’t think there’s much of a point to it,” she admitted. “If anything, us taking our time will just give the Law Squad more time to get the CPS investigation reopened. And, correct me if I’m wrong, guys? But I don’t really see any of ya wanting to split up right now.”

…sticking together as a group would be better if anyone else came after the boys too. 

“I’m not leaving Aceto.” Arven said simply. Pausing, before adding, “Or Chief.”

Kaito gave Arven a mildly exasperated look, before nodding. “Well, that kinda decides it there, doesn’t it. Ugh… I’m gonna have to do something special for my poor husbands. Hopefully they’ll understand. You two!” Kaito said, pointing to the boys with a stern look, “Are keeping me from itty bitty baby time! Right now, my daughter’s poor feet are, very likely, remaining entirely unbopped! No little baby feet taps! My daughter loves little baby feet taps! Keep that in mind next time you’re thinking of making me come all the way out here!”

“Also, I’m just saying it now, I am not sleeping on the ground tonight,” Kaito told Lake plainly, “My back and sides are black and blue right now, I guarantee it. I’m sleeping in a bed tonight. We’re renting a room somewhere. Or, me and the boys are. You can go ahead of us if you need to, Lake, I’m fairly confident I can get these two back myself if I have to.”

Smiling faintly, Doppio pressed his arm against Arven’s more, thankful for the sentiment, before he returned to what he had been doing before--staring at the ground and petting Chief. He…he felt like he should be doing more, at least apologizing or…something to Arven but…honestly it felt kind of like a miracle that he hadn’t passed out again. Doppio was Done, and it was only the knowledge that he’d be leaving his best friend to the over-enthusiastic wolves if he fell asleep that was keeping him up. 

…he still felt the urge to tell Kaito off, telling him he could buzz off if he was that annoyed not being home, but…Doppio could already tell that would be dismissed, and he simply didn’t have the energy to go through that song and dance right now. 

Thankfully, Lake was an ever-flowing well of energy. 

Rolling her eyes, Lake stopped back at the first aid bag she’d left, before coming over and karate chopping Kaito straight on the head. “Hi-yahh!”

“Don’t go being a bad example to these two already, Kai-guy!” she tsked, before crouching down and starting to wet some cotton with antiseptic. “All hands on deck for the best results! I’m sticking with you all until I can confirm that every citizen here is safely back home, or within claimed custody.”

“...but I do agree,” she nodded more calmly, starting to clean the cuts on Kaito’s face. “We’re not that far from Corbra, even on foot, so we should try and make it there before nightfall. And from there we can make a call back home, so you can keep Coco-Kichi from frettin’, Kai-guy, and I can let the Captain know what the situation is out here.”

While they wouldn’t be riding, to keep together as a group… Lake glanced over at the boys. “...I’ll be honest, you two look pretty worn out. If you want, you guys can ride on the horses while I lead ‘em?” She then raised an eyebrow at Kaito. “You too, bro-bro. A walk shouldn’t be too bad on your sides, but it’s your body. Think you’d be more comfortable walking or nah?”

“Ow! What’d I do!?” Kaito whined, pouting as he rubbed his head, before staying still for the cleaning. Though, because his version of being ‘tough’ could sometimes be contradictory, he whined more as the alcohol hit the cuts, “Ooooooow, you’re trying to melt my face, Lake… ah-ah-ah.” Kaito winced, as Lake put a bandage at his jaw, where the scrapes had been the thickest. “Sadist.”

Though, he nodded along with her plan. Hmm… he arguably could walk, and the boys were exhausted, so it might be wise to let them get the horses, but…

Let’s be honest. Doppio couldn’t ride a horse like this, not by himself. He’d slide off. So, Kaito said, “Maybe Doppio and I ride one horse, Arven rides the other? You lead? You and I can trade off when you get tired?”

“That’s right, Big Guy! Tryna melt all the germs off!” Lake cackled, lightly pinching Kaito’s upper cheek. “Get healed on! …now show me your hands, dude, you were playing slap-attackies with that tree.”

“And that sounds fine to me, though I might just end up leading our parade all the way to town. Been a while since I’ve ridden a horse like that and I feel like I gotta run a couple miles to get my legs back on straight again.” She snorted into a laugh. “Not that anything about me’s straight in the first place.”

There was a quiet scoff from the side, Doppio blinking swollen eyes slowly. “...can’t believe th’ horse didn’t just collapse under Kaito ‘n the first place. Don’ wanna do that to it…”

“This kid just call me fat?” Kaito whispered to Lake, as he held out his hands for her. Left eye twitching slightly. “Why did I decide to take care of these brats again?”

“Cause you’re a glutton for punishment that wants to give kids all the chances in the world,” Lake whispered back, starting to tend to the cuts on Kaito’s hands, which were shallow but numerous. 

Snorting a little, Lake looked back over at the boys. “Well, would you two rather ride together then? Talk shit in whispers to pass the time? Look, if three of you are riding someone’s gotta double up anyway.”

Kaito gave Lake a mildly wary look– he wasn’t entirely confident Arven could keep a very likely sleeping Doppio on a horse for the rest of the day– but Arven spoke up before Kaito could make meaningful eyes at her. “That sounds okay… right?” Arven asked, looking to Doppio, “...that sounds good?”

“...are we going back?” Arven whispered into Doppio’s ear. “We can still figure something out, if you want to run.”

Doppio nodded slightly, pressing against Arven’s arm again. And at the whisper…he just sighed softly. “...I think it’s over. Prince Ouma’s getting involved in my case, a-and the Guardforce has declared us runaways… We’d never be able to go to a town again without havin’ to dodge them.”

Peeking over his knees, Doppio gave Arven a small smile. “...know that’s not a deal-breaker for you, but… I think it might be more trouble than it’s worth, now.”

…and faced with an actual test of…potentially? Having to defend Arven against someone coming after them? Doppio had failed. Failed. All because he was too…stupid. And broken. And useless… And he’d just made more danger by just…being there. 

…he would’ve died if Kaito and Lake hadn’t been there. If he’d blacked out in the tree. He would’ve…

Doppio put his forehead on his knees again, curling back into his ball. 

Arven frowned as he saw Doppio start to curl into himself, placing a hand on his back as he said, “Hey… are you okay–”

“Alright.” Kaito said, giving up for now. He’d bring up switching when it looked like Arven was struggling with Doppio. For now? His body actually really did hurt. Nothing was broken, but everything ached. He’d let himself relax for a mile or so and then figure it out from there. “If that’s what we’re doing, let’s do that. Boys, I’m taking your packs. Let’s get on the horses and get going.”

Time to go. 

Even battered and…and broken…

With a small breath, Doppio offered Arven a wobbly smile before he pulled himself up. …er, tried to. He did make it up--for a moment, looking like he was entirely rising from his spine, like a weird puppet--but…how he swayed just standing wasn’t a good sign, nor was how he immediately scrunched his eyes shut and placed a hand to his head. 

Rushing over, Lake steadied Doppio by his shoulders, making a soft, soothing sound. “Hey, easy, buddy. We have some painkillers, if that migraine is stickin’ around.”

Arven quickly grabbed Doppio’s other side, also trying to steady him, eyes widening with sudden worry. As Arven gave Doppio a strained, nervous look, holding his arm to steady him as his gaze flitted over him, trying to find ways to help… Kaito grit his teeth. “Actually, I’ve changed my mind.” Kaito said, grabbing the reins of his horse and guiding it close to Doppio, “Doppio’s riding with me.”

“What? Doppio and I are supposed to ride togeth–”

“To chat, right? Look at him. He’s exhausted, he’s not gonna be chatty. He needs rest, and it’ll be easier against me,” Kaito insisted, “I’m like a wall, he can just collapse on me.”

And it wouldn’t be up to Arven, who was honestly barely bigger than Doppio, to keep him from falling apart. “I’m insisting, alright? Give ‘em here,” Kaito insisted, trying to take Doppio from Lake.

For a moment, Lake gave Kaito a stern look, above the eyeline of the boys (even if Doppio still had his eyes closed). It wasn’t that she disagreed with Kaito’s decision, even the initial suggestion of it. She was just as surprised as Doppio that the kid hadn’t conked out after sobbing his heart out--honestly she was a little surprised both of the boys were on their feet at all, after traveling while being ill. Letting Doppio rest against someone stronger and sturdier than Arven was a good idea, and took more pressure off of Arven to be The One With The Answers, when it came to Doppio. 

…but the kid was already feeling like garbage, and not just physically. Arven and Doppio had just been through something traumatic together, after a few days of traumatic things, and Lake didn’t want to forcibly separate them. And she didn’t want to give Doppio no options about how people would handle his body either. 

Holding a finger up to Kaito, Lake turned back to Doppio. “...you probably could get away with a nap with Kai-guy--my little brother raves about ‘em, gives Kaito Naps five stars! Are you okay with that?”

After a moment, Doppio nodded, before squinting one eye open at Arven. “...sorry.”

Kaito stopped at the finger, still looking tense and pensive, but taking Lake’s lead and waiting dutifully for an answer. He’d probably argue if Doppio said no, but, well, he wouldn’t force the issue if there was actual pushback. And no, he did not consider complaining about his choices pushback. If he stopped doing things just because someone complained at him about it, he’d never do anything. 

But, to his relief, Doppio was apparently not up for any pushback, as Arven’s features softened. “Yeah? I mean, don’t be sorry, but… alright. At least that’ll let you sleep.”

Kaito still waited, but when Lake and Arven took a step back from Doppio, Kaito swooped in, picking up Doppio and hefting him up on top of the horse, before climbing up behind him. “Alright… we ready? Arven, don’t keep quiet if you need help. I’d rather we stop and figure out a way to keep moving safely than you falling off the horse, okay?”

Arven nodded, went to Lake’s horse… stood awkwardly next to it. Glancing at the saddle, then the reins, warily…

“...oh my god.” Kaito whispered to himself, letting his head fall back and staring at the sky, “...he doesn’t know how.”

While he was exhausted, Doppio still had enough in him to be embarrassed as Kaito almost threw him on top of the horse, holding the saddle horn for balance. But…well if there was anything… Reaching forward, he gently petted the horse’s neck, whispering greetings and a thanks for taking them into town. 

But on the other horse…

Lake laughed sheepishly before she clapped a (gentle) hand on Arven’s shoulder. “Not the most intuitive thing, huh? Well, I’ll be taking up the reins of this pretty lady, so no worries about steering for your first time, alright? You can just sit normally in a saddle, but it gets pretty uncomfy on your thighs after a while--if you sit up and clench them a little, it helps. But, like Kai-guy said, if you feel unbalanced, we’ll figure out a better way for ya, okay?”

“Now!” she grinned, crouching slightly as she folded her hands together into a step. “Step right up and use my shoulder for balance! Then swing your other leg over Miss Strawberry here, alright? I’ll catch’ya if you start to overbalance, so give it your best, Ven-Ven!”

Arven gave Lake an embarrassed, but grateful, look, following her advice and shakily letting her help him get onto the horse, stepping on her waiting hands. He sat on the horse like he was waiting for it to suddenly kick him off, tried to grab the reins… before gratefully watching Lake slide them off the horse, before Arven just sorta found himself half laid out, grasping the back of the horse's neck nervously. 

Arven had never been taught how to ride a horse. And without having someone willing or available to teach him, he had learned to rent trips on carriages, hitchhike on wheelbarrows, or his preferred method, just walking where he needed to get to. It made traveling with Chief easier, so… it just never came up, usually. 

Arven made a small ‘eep’ sound when the horse shuffled beneath him, holding onto it tighter. His thighs clenching the sides like a vice grip. Meanwhile, Chief had fondly watched his boy climb the The Runner, before looking to Lake. Idly curious if more treats were in his future with her. 

“Eyy, atta boy!” Lake cheered, giving Arven a celebratory fist pump in the air. “I know it probably feels weird, huh? But Strawberry, and Bandit, who’s taking care of Kai-guy and Dippin’ Dots, are some of the castle stable horses--they’re some calm ladies who are used to all types hitchin’ a ride, so she’ll take good care of ya.”

“Holding onto her neck works, if you feel like you need the stability, but this fella right here,” Lake tapped the saddle horn, “Is built for holding if you feel like you need something closer to your body. Now, it’s gonna feel sorta like a…man, what are they called? The oval-like shape? That kind of motion when she starts walking. Strawberry’s a big ol’ girl, so she’ll do all the work if she’s gotta, but if you lean into that motion? It’ll make things easier on ya.”

Giving him an encouraging grin, Lake tilted her head. “Want me to start her up slow, as a test?”

Watching all of this quietly, Doppio blinked as something occurred to him. “...Lake’s your sister, isn’t she?” he softly asked Kaito. “That you talked about before…” 

“...she seems way cooler than Arven’s mom…” he quietly muttered.

Kaito glanced down curiously at Doppio, before looking back at the scene. Watched Arven shakily take Lake’s advice, adjusting his grip to the area she showed him, before changing his pose, looking a little steadier the more he adjusted. Each time he moved, he looked to Lake again, waiting for adjustment or approval, before nodding as she offered to move the horse again. Holding on tight, eyes wide as Strawberry started to trot slowly around. 

Kaito grinned. “She’s way cooler than Arven’s mom. Lake’s my sister-in-law, and she’s a hero too, though I don’t think she collects sidekicks. Does have some pretty cool capes though… not as cool as mine, but she makes an effort.” Kaito chuckled, adjusting his grip on the reins around Doppio, “Do you know how to ride a horse? Maybe tomorrow, when you’re rested, Lake can show you how to do it too? You two can race! Racing horses is so exciting, it’s such an adrenaline rush. I bet you could kick Arven’s butt!”

…he was weird about cloaks. Amaina was right. 

“A little,” Doppio murmured, finding it harder to keep his eyes open, even past the pain of his headache. “Mostly use carriages for long-distance, but…had to learn for emergencies. But I feel like racing is different.”

Glancing up, he shot Kaito an unamused look. “...being able to win against someone I’m literally currently watching learn how to ride a horse isn’t much of an achievement.” He looked back at the impromptu lesson. Flushing slightly. “...but he is super smart and intuitive… Arven could probably zoom past what I know in a few days.”

Kaito’s eyes lit up at that, grinning down at the little starburst. “Ah, riiiiight. Almost forgot about that whole situation… shoot, I still have to have that conversation with you.” Kaito sighed. He’d make time. After his last attempt? He did not feel confident Doppio knew what sex… was? Seck’s ed?? Kaito was certain Doppio said ‘secks’. Yeah, he was not letting this kid figure that out the hard way.

But, as he watched Lake and Arven work on Arven’s form, Arven looking a little more confident as Strawberry walked in circles, Kaito knew there was another conversation he needed to have more.

“I know you’re tired.” Kaito whispered, “So we don’t have to talk about it now. It can wait… but I know how much I messed this up, kid. This wasn’t fair on you. None of it.”

Were there still more? Ugh. Doppio hadn’t said anything at the time, but he was starting to agree with Arven that Kaito’s ‘sagely advice’ was…at least partly him just enjoying talking. …even…if some of the advice was good. 

But some…

Doppio closed his eyes with a sigh. …he really didn’t want to get into this now. Or…ever. But that ‘ever’ was in the world where he and Arven were headed back down the road after having seen a wonderful view from the tree and got down safely and…

“...no shit,” Doppio grouched, before sighing again. Sitting up a little more just to…create whatever space he could from Kaito. Swallowing hard. “...sorry. And…and I’m sorry for what I said before, or…how I said it. You didn’t deserve that.”

“...but fuck, Kaito,” Doppio sniffed, not having any energy or tears left to cry again, but his voice wavering. “I begged you to make sure I wasn’t gonna be a science experiment. But I don’t wanna be someone’s pet project either.”

Kaito felt his shoulders fall a little… before he shook his head.

“I know what you’re saying.” Kaito said, “But I can’t promise you that one. Not if it means what I think it means.”

“Hell, even when I left after our last convo, I still wasn’t ‘done’ with you.” Kaito sighed, nodding as Lake gave him a thumbs up, gently nudging Bandit forward as the group started slowly moving down the path. “I’ve spent the last day trying to figure out how to undo the damage I did. Trying to negate any rumors that may have spread because I was careless…I can’t leave you alone. I’ve never been able to leave anyone alone. It’s not my nature.”

“But me wanting to help doesn’t always mean I make the right decisions.” Kaito said, adjusting Doppio’s pack around his side and Arven’s backpack on his back a little, “And not talking to you before I made my decisions? …I did that on purpose. I was afraid telling you where my head was at would warn you away from me. It seemed right in the moment, but I was wrong to do that. You trusted me to let me look after you back at the castle. I took advantage of that trust. I feel fucking terrible about it, I was incredibly wrong. You can hold it against me, I won’t begrudge you that. But I’m going to keep telling you I was wrong anyway. I really fucking messed up with you.”

Doppio looked away, even if the horse’s gait as they started heading for town forced him to sit back against Kaito again. Biting his lip fiercely as it trembled before he let go of a sharp breath. “You don’t know what I’m saying, even if you’re half right.”

“If you told me you were going to call CPS on my boss, I would’ve fought you at every step. That’s not “helping” me, that’s ruining my life, and…a-and I’m still saying that! I’ve lost my job, because of you, and I’ve lost my home, and the trust of someone that…that even if I messed every other single thing up with, I wanted to be trustworthy to. And…and I can’t now.”

…and now, even in the safest places, Doppio would never truly feel safe letting his guard down. There was a reason Passione had survived through the drug cartel purge. 

“I… Kaito, that’s devastating,” Doppio choked, before he took a deep breath. “But…it happened. There’s no going back now so…so I don’t care how many times you say you’re sorry. Nothing is going to change those consequences.”

“I’m just…” Doppio huffed, a small tremble going through his shoulders as he clenched his eyes shut. “...if I wanted to be treated like a desk, I would’ve stayed home. I…” Another bracing breath. “I’m a person! And I’m more than what people need! Or what people want! So just…consider that! And don’t treat me like I’m a rabid dog!”

Kaito had been feeling the tension of Doppio’s rage, for a moment… before he lit up. Looking down at the kid with wonder. Trying not to get overly excited. Ooooooh, fuck… Kaito was about to fucking swell with pride. Maybe Doppio and Arven running off and getting a chance to bond was exactly what Doppio had needed. Kaito was so damn proud. How much should Kaito show it!?

Doing his best not to let his happiness radiate too hard– he was in the middle of being chastised, dammit. Tap into that shame! Be ashamed!-- Kaito nodded along. “You’re right. And I’m sorry. I’m gonna try to earn your trust back, but I fucked up. And you’re not–” Kaito grinned, unable to help the joy in his voice, “-- a dog, or invaluable, or for anyone else. You matter so much more than that. And…”

Kaito winced. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like you weren’t. I can be an asshole. You were right to peg me as a bully. I’m lucky to have people like Lake to keep me in check. We’re both very lucky to have people who care about us so much.”

Doppio felt his hackles rise as Kaito seemed happy, just…patronizingly listing back what Doppio said, but at the last bit… He looked to the side, feeling…weird and warm and…a little happy. Hearing someone say that he mattered. 

…it shouldn’t feel so novel. Boss told him he mattered all the time. Mattered so much more than a lot of the world that he seemed more than ready to dismiss at even the slightest mention. 

(...but especially in these last few days, and talking with Arven… It…it was starting to feel, upon reflection, that…Doppio had mattered to Boss like…like a prized knife mattered to someone. Like he…well… Doppio hadn’t dared consider himself as more than an asset, because it’d be unprofessional otherwise, but…maybe…not quite like how an employee was an asset, and more like…)

(...a stack of paper.)

Doppio sighed softly, slumped back against Kaito. “...just stop trying to make all the decisions of my life yourself, okay? It’s not yours…”

Wilting a little more, Doppio worried his lip. Looking dully at the slow passing of the hills, not entirely glazed over with exhaustion, as the proposition that drifted into his mind was…more pressing than anything he could truly consider idly, but…tired. Unsure. Nervous. 

“...Kaito?” Doppio whispered. “...I think I might be in a lot of trouble. And am bringing it to you.”

Kaito nodded to Doppio’s request for more control over his life– Kaito could honor that– though at Doppio’s whisper…

Kaito frowned. Tensing.  “If this is about what Maki said…”

Clearing his throat, not wanting to shut Doppio down if he was trying to warn him of something, Kaito clarified, “Your trouble is my trouble, sidekick. I already vowed that. So, what kind of trouble are we in?”

Doppio looked down, eyes scrunching a little. …honestly, he still felt sick, thinking about being rushed to the castle med bay. There was just… The whole thing was terrible, and if he never had to think about it again, he wouldn’t. But…

“...she wasn’t saying anything I don’t already know…even if she… Nevermind.” (it was a lie it was a lie she was just trying to freak you out it wasn’t real) “I…”

…he’d already told Arven. How much worse could it get?

“...the…the woman who spoke to me from CPS…was paid off,” Doppio mumbled, gripping the saddle horn a little tighter in anxiety. “And…and she…um. And that kinda is… It’s…”

“...it’s…possible. That uh…at any point? We…might be followed. Because of...um…someone coming to silence me.”

Kaito tensed a little, processing that quietly… before he let out that breath in a small whistle, “Oh Doppio… what’d that bastard involve you in…”

“Okay, well.” Kaito said, sounding more confident as he explained, “You don’t have to be worried about peeps who go bump in the night. That’s already taken care of. We’re already being followed by that big guy from earlier. Mr. Nidai is the biggest bump in the night. And honestly, including my Maki, half of the staff at the castle are all the other things that go bump in the night.”

“But as for… wasn’t her name Apple Leif? How can you have a name like ‘Apple Leif’ and be evil?” Kaito scoffed, “...how do you want to handle that? Any suggestions? I kinda want to go punch her teeth in, personally.”

Doppio gave Kaito a worried look over his shoulder, but he let out a little sigh. “...I knew she had experience with that kinda stuff…” Sure, not all high-level criminals were like that, but enough did have that almost comically dramatized stoicism to them that Doppio had been able to recognize it on Maki. Might’ve been a bad guess, but…he was right, so…a win?

Shaking his head a little, Doppio murmured, “...was just planning on leaving her alone. I already handled the dangerous stuff she was doing… She’s not a fixer, just an industry plant, so it’s not like she’s that important…”

…though it had been bothering him since he realized what she was. Why…did Passione have a CPS agent on payroll? They didn’t deal with children in…like any capacity. So why expend the resources?

“Well, personally, I don’t like having a woman who’d let you go back to that place continue to be the final word on that shit for other kids.” Kaito said, gritting his teeth, “Like, if you don’t have any strong feelings about it, fine, but what that’s likely going to mean is my husband’s going to report her. I don’t beat up a lot of people these days. It’s harder when you’re not, like… literally above the law.”

“But,” Kaito said, looking down at Doppio, “...’fixer’? Also, what ‘dangerous’ stuff? Wasn’t the dangerous stuff her sabotaging you getting help? What else was there to handle?”

Well, she had to be decent at her job in some capacity. It’d be a ridiculous waste of time to bother going through the whole risky process of bribing a government agent just for them to accrue suspicion and get fired. So…it had probably just been a ‘him’ thing. 

But Doppio wasn’t exactly gonna cry a river if she got reported by the heir apparent. She was an asshole. 

Not because of falsifying his report, since he’d wanted that, but, uh…

Doppio’s shoulders tensed against Kaito as he chewed on his cheek. And for a long time, Doppio was silent. Almost like he wouldn’t answer the question at all. But after that silence, very softly…

“...she was gonna report that you were delusional, and recommend that your therapist look into a diagnosis of paranoid delusions to discredit you. And…she said stuff about going after Arven too…”

Kaito’s stomach rolled at that. Feeling nauseous. In a way, though he was ‘surprised’, he wasn’t ‘shocked’. The feeling was more ‘oh, fuck, not this again…’ Kaito feeling a swelling of anxiety at trying to navigate the ‘wow Kaito’s kinda crazy, huh? Maybe we shouldn’t let him… do stuff’ argument. That was an argument he was famously bad at winning.

Though… Kaito grinned, if a little strained, at Doppio. “Fuck, kid, you handled it? Shit, did you go to bat for me? I’m grateful if you did… though, if that dumbass tried to target Arven too? In front of you?? Fuck, no wonder you did. I’ve seen how you get when you’re defending someone you care about. You get mean, it’s so fucking intimidating! Oh, man,” Kaito lit up, laughing, “Please tell me she got the ‘bury her six feet’ line. That’s such a good line. Also, fuck her, I’m gonna ruin her life. Threaten one of mine…”

Shaking his head, feeling a bit bad for her now– tried to gaslight Kaito? Threatened a teenager? Kokichi was gonna bury her under paperwork– before saying, “I don’t think it would have worked anyway. Miss Crystal would have never allowed it. Dr. Mariah would have backed her up. I’m… pretty sure any random person isn’t allowed to diagnose me with shit my therapists after hours and hours and hours of therapy ‘missed’.” Kaito chuckled… before clearing his throat a tad nervously, “Pretty sure. Miss Crystal went over what people can and can’t do to me over mental stuff, like, extensively. No more fucking… grades.” 

“And we’re going to protect Arven. Arven’s one of mine, just like you. Even if he wants to sass me literally every chance he gets. I’m not gonna let miss stupid Apple-face fuck with him… damn, it’s such a shame she’s evil. She was so pretty.” Kaito pouted, “Damn. Now she’s gonna be really ugly the next time I see her. Shame.”

“Also, don’t think I forgot my first question.” Kaito said, “Fixer?”

“Don’t think I said that, exactly… Think it was something like…” Doppio blanked for a few seconds. “...like…if she couldn’t see what a bad idea it was, she wouldn’t need to be saying anything ever again? Something like that… Um.”

Doppio looked down. Specifically, at his left hand. Something uneasy and nervous squirming in his stomach, until he looked away. 

“Didn’t think she was allowed to do that either,” he mumbled after a moment, tripping over his words a little. “S’what kind of tipped me off, along with her saying my full name. It’s not like it’s impossible to find someone’s psychiatric records but…some rando CPS agent shouldn’t have known that much about you.”

As Doppio worried his lip between his teeth, he could taste the metallic, salty tang of blood. “I… I wasn’t… I hadn’t meant for you guys to… For things to go so wrong. I wasn’t just gonna let her…” Letting out an uneven breath, Doppio curled his left hand into a fist and tucked it against his stomach, curling into himself a little.

…and what Kaito said next just made his stomach curdle more. 

“...i…industry term,” he mumbled.

“Right,” Kaito said, “Okay.”

“...can I tell you a story about a guy I know?” Kaito said, “His name is Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu.”

Kaito paused, before asking, “...does that ring a bell?”

Doppio let out a deep sigh, before turning enough to give Kaito a very dry, very tired look. “...you’re really asking me, if I recognize some name you’re bringing up out of nowhere?”

Kaito shrugged. “Thought you might. He’s a pretty big name in ‘the industry’. And the only other kind of person who calls the person who goes to solve problems with violence his ‘fixers’. The rest of us called them ‘assassins’ or ‘guardsmen’, like civilized people,” Kaito said idly.

“Look, my point is that I’m not as ignorant to the world as you think I am. Fuyuhiko was a god damn asshole who made my life miserable a thousand times, but he was also a good guy who pulled my ass, and people I cared about, out of the fire a thousand more times. It… it gets complicated. I know. But I’m not going to judge you, okay? Especially for something you were raised into. That’s barely a choice, when that happens.”

He…hadn’t really meant to say the word in the first place. Despite quitting, despite everything…Doppio wasn’t a snitch. And he wasn’t going to destroy something he’d spent (his whole life) years assisting. So…when it became clear Kaito knew exactly what his slip-up meant…

Doppio froze. 

Even if Kaito said that he…he wasn’t going to judge, Doppio had… 

“...I-I don’t even know if… If I was raised into it,” Doppio stuttered, his voice strained. “That’s a little… I just got a job… I…chose…”

…he chose to follow The Boss. It was his choice.

…wasn’t it?

“Yeah?” Kaito said, sounding a little tired, “Ya know what? If you can explain to me why you chose this life? I’ll let that particular point go then. Wanna hear why I chose to be a prince and then a prince-consort? Spoiler alert: I was born into it. Wanna know why my Maki-roll was an assassin? They made her do it when she was 5. My Shuichi? He was nearly 6. My Kokichi will tell anyone that he chose his life. It’s just a coincidence it was the one that he was also born into and raised into and was told he had a responsibility to do it.”

“My point,” Kaito said sternly, “Is that most of the people I know didn’t choose what they were doing in their lives, not for most of it. So when I say I don’t think people should be held accountable for the shitty things they’re raised into? I mean it. It’s important to me.”

Doppio scrunched his eyes shut, gripping his sweater tightly as he felt his lip stinging, his teeth digging in nonetheless. “You…you’re saying that you were all kids… I…” Can’t remember. He couldn’t remember anything about being born, or five, or six. “I-I don’t…just do anything people tell me. So…I chose it. I was offered a job and I chose it… I had to’ve…”

Otherwise… “...why else would I be here?” he whispered out in a strangled tone.

Kaito listened to the way Doppio’s voice started to strangle, and decided to course-correct. “Hey, hey, no… look, I’m sorry. I don’t want to push you to talk about this, you’ve already had a really tough few days, you’re exhausted, I’m not trying to corner you.”

“We can talk more about this later. When you’re feeling strong and can reasonably try to scream me down again,” Kaito decided, “For now, just… don’t worry about it. How is your head?”

It sure seemed like that’s what he was doing, though. 

Huffing softly, Doppio forced himself to take a few breaths and relax. “...hurts,” he admitted. “But…like, normal headache stuff so… ‘ll be fine.”

Just barely opening his eyes, Doppio looked up at the sky. Just watching the late afternoon clouds. “...what are we gonna do when we get to town ‘n the inn ‘n stuff? I still had some money on me from when you kidnapped me, but…most of my money is at home still. S’partly why I was pretty happy to just camp with Arven on our trip.”

Kaito tsked, raising his chin, “Doppio, we’ve talked about this. I’m Kaito Ouma Momota. I’m richer than god. Assuming Atua probably doesn’t carry coin. Anyway, I think Lake gets a tithe from the government for financially helping people in emergencies, and I think making sure three citizens don’t sleep on the ground while they’re being hunted counts. Don’t worry, she’s got us.”

“Also, how much money is money you’ve left back at that house?” Kaito frowned. “I don’t want that guy to take it from you. You work hard, that’s your money. I want to make sure you’ll get it back.”

Doppio was already so indebted to Kaito, and the thought of owing him for a night at an inn too just made the already dreary day worse…but he wasn’t as concerned about costing the government money. If Lake making sure they had a place to sleep for a night (and, exhausted as he was, some part of Doppio’s mind lit up in happiness at the thought that, with beds, usually came showers) was, basically, a business expense? …then he could accept that. 

Unlike…

Doppio went stiff again. “Do not break into my house.”

“I won’t,” Kaito promised, with no hesitation. “I can’t. If I thought I could get away with something like that, I wouldn’t have called CPS. Luckily for your boss, Doppio, I have a loooooot more to lose here than I ever did back in Luminary, and way less protections to not lose those things. Plus, have you ever seen my husband’s ‘I’m so disappointed in you’ face? It’s brutal. The little one. The bigger one will just yell at me. That is also pretty brutal.”

“But I still want you to be able to have your things, Doppio. If I can, I’d like to make it so that you picking your safety doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all the things you’ve collected over the years. Sometimes you can’t help but leave things behind, it’s unavoidable, but…”

Kaito frowned. “...ah. I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

“A little,” Doppio grumbled, before he sighed. “...it’s not really about the things. I have my workbag with me so…I still have my cookbook, ‘n my journal ‘n stuff. Mostly…” Doppio fidgeted a bit, starting to feel slight discomfort from riding the horse that he just hadn’t processed before. “...not counting the clothes you bought, that I took? …I have one pair of underwear. And…”

Doppio knew he had sort of a…different philosophy when it came to money, than a lot of people. Considering what his job had been, it was inevitable. But, still, his cheeks colored as he looked away with some embarrassment, admitting to exactly how much he had in savings. “...should, er, have… 1,260 gold. In savings.”

Maybe it wasn’t that much, especially when you considered how much people spent on big purchases like houses or swathes of land. But…those were usually paid over time, if not just granted through wills or, well, government grants and acquisitions…and were usually paid off by adults established in secure, profitable fields. 

…not by 15-year-olds. 

(not by someone who had only started earning money a year and a half ago.)

“...” Kaito tilted his head.

‘Kichi?? Babe?? You happen to be listening right now?

If someone seems tense telling you they have twelve hundred gold, does that mean they’re embarrassed because it’s a lot, or too little? What if they’re wee-lads– it’s Doppio– does that change it up? Babe?? Babe help.

Kaito paused, waiting to see if he’d get lucky…

-

Kokichi, waiting in one of the CPS back offices, suddenly took on a baffled expression. He’d just wanted to…not check-in check-in with Kaito, Saint Madison would give him an earful, but just…reach out for…strong feelings. And, well, he happened to be quite attuned to one person, and…

Kaito was…confused about…a culture thing? Not horribly surprising, considering the delicate situation, but…man. Those were some…specific and confusing feelings. 

{^3^/)} Kokichi cheered Kaito on.

-

Kaito’s brow furrowed. Kokichi was… encouraging Kaito in an affectionate way? Maybe cheering him on?

Wait, what did that mean? For one, did that mean Kaito had gotten lucky and Kokichi just happened to be listening? How often was Kokichi listening? Was he ‘listening’ listening? If he was, that was not helpful as an answer, babe! Also Kaito was very cool about the mental check-ins, and honestly, he wanted more credit for that! Not everyone would be cool with a husband who could randomly read your mind! Kaito wanted a lot more credit for the mind reading stuff! 

Kaito blinked, letting that mental tangent run through him. He waited to see if Kokichi would have anything to say about that. Nothing. Hm.

“Sometimes being in a relationship is confusing, Doppio,” Kaito told him out of nowhere, lost in his thoughts, “It’s a lot of communication and compromise… look, just tell me. Is that a lot of coin? If so, then yes, it’s important you get that back. You deserve to be able to keep your things.”

Doppio blinked, before giving Kaito a mildly disgusted look. “Look, I told you, my relationship with Boss is,” A sharp intake of breath, Doppio biting down on his cheeks harshly. “...was. Purely professional. He wasn’t creepy with me.”

Look, sometimes your boss asked you to strip to add your clothes to the massive clog he was making in the bathtub. That wasn’t sexual at all. Just work things. 

Huffing, Doppio rubbed his forehead a bit, his headache really not helped by all of this. “...yeah, that’s a lot of money. But…honestly I’m more concerned about getting more underwear. Or at least being able to do laundry.”

A creeping red made its way across Doppio’s face as he looked away, mumbling softly, “...I dunno how he does it, but Arven always smells like sage and pine, and I sweat a lot. It’s gross.”

“Awwwwww,” Kaito mused, “Aww to the ‘Arven’ thing. If I ever find out your boss touched you like that, I’m cutting off his dick. I’m doing it entirely for me. Sometimes I wish I had cut off a lot more dicks in my day. I feel like I could have avoided a lot of uncomfortable nights if people thought of me as ‘that guy who cuts off dicks’. It’s a solid reputation to have.”

“...ya know what? You’ve already been alone with the guy so much.” Kaito sighed. “Arven, I mean. Doppio, if you’re determined to stay awake, maybe… maybe it’s time,” Kaito sighed, “To have The Talk.”

Doppio grimaced. Sure, he didn’t have any sympathy for rapists, and it seemed like a fitting punishment but…eugh.

But in true Kaito fashion, the guy was determined to jump around from subject to subject and leave Doppio floundering to keep up, and Doppio could only sigh. …and look over his shoulder to give Kaito a confused look. “...what talk?”

“The…” Kaito hesitated, before deciding, yep, he was doing this, “The sex talk. Like… uh…”

Kaito huffed, looking up at the sky, blowing out his cheeks a little. What was important? “...like hygiene. Both yours and his, and really anyone’s, because you have to have standards, Doppio. If they reek, or something looks off, you don’t have to follow through… and health stuff… protection… damn, I wish I had a banana available… do you guys have any bananas in your packs?”

…

Doppio had to turn even more in the saddle, fixing Kaito with the most bewildered, slightly disgusted, kind of offended, and condescending look a 15-year-old could muster. “...Kaito, I know what sex is.”

“Oh, good! That’s a fantastic start!” Kaito grinned, “Oh, phew, I was kinda worried I’d have to start with the birds and the bees, ya know? Okay! That’s a great start! …okay, but seriously, the hygiene thing? If the person you’re with has any warts that they get real cagey about explaining? Abandon ship. Though! Some things you really can’t avoid if you’re active, and you shouldn’t shame anyone for catching something. But you? Abandon ship. You don’t owe them shit, got it?”

…okay, Doppio had no idea where birds or insects came into the picture, but he certainly wasn’t gonna be fucking any animals, what the hell?!

Making a sort of disgusted, embarrassed scoff in his throat, Doppio quickly waved his hands, trying to end this conversation. “Alright, yanno, stop?! I-I haven’t even kissed anyone, I’m not gonna - You know?! It’s not even for…”

Doppio’s voice trailed off as his gaze unfocused, expression going blank. 

…Boss had said that relationships weren’t for him. And Doppio had never even considered thinking more about it. 

…but…he wasn’t working anymore. So now…

…did? He want a relationship? If the possibility was open, then…

Slowly, Doppio’s face went from pink to red to crimson, as an embarrassed, slightly distressed expression pulled at his brows and lips. 

Kaito leaned to the left, peering around to get a good look at Doppio’s face… “That is the look of someone with questions,” Kaito decided, straightening up. “Alright, consider me a safe, reliable, extremely learned source of information about everything connected to sex! No practical demonstrations,” Kaito suddenly said, brow furrowed, before lighting up again, “But otherwise an open book! What’s on your mind? You sorta started to spazz out at the ‘kiss’ thing. Got some fears there?”

“I’m going to throw up,” Doppio grunted, still kind of…reeling. Did…he want a relationship? Mostly…any time he was cat-called, or people started flirting with him, he just felt annoyed. Or embarrassed. He hadn’t even had his first kiss! How was he even supposed to consider things like sex?!

…

…he bit his lips all the time. What if he was a gross kisser?

“You definitely want to avoid that type. Trust me, if they start with admitting a ‘vomit’ thing, then run, because the things they’re holding back on until you’re more invested in them is the sort of shit you want nothing to do with,” Kaito said gravely… before laughing a little. 

“Look, you know I’m teasing you a little, right?” Kaito grinned, leaning over again to catch Doppio’s eyes, “I know it’s an uncomfortable conversation, and not one you think you need. But I’m just being weird about this so you know it’s okay to ask whatever, even if it feels weird and uncomfortable. You haven’t had a sex ed class, and sex and relationships really are more tricky than your average smutty copper-novel is going to suggest. And, again, you and Arven spend a lot of time together… I don’t want to discourage that. I just want you both to be safe if you decide to experiment.”

Doppio made a strained noise, and seriously started to consider how injured he’d get jumping off a moving horse. She really wasn’t walking that quickly, and he could probably throw himself with enough force to…

The line of thought dried up there. Actual bile rising in his throat just thinking about…falling and being thrown around. 

Hugging himself, Doppio leaned back against Kaito with a weak, shaky huff. Still red, but not getting even more embarrassed at the mention of him and Arven being a thing, like he normally would. 

“...there’s nothing we’d even experiment with,” Doppio muttered, glancing over to make sure that Arven was still focused on his conversation with Lake and Chief. “We’re not…t-together. And it wouldn’t… A-arven said he’d only ever kiss someone it’d be a big deal with, so…like not even accident, weird stuff would happen.”

…Kaito…he could ask him anything, huh?

Eyes darting around, Doppio checked once more that no one was listening in before biting his abused lip. Voice unsure as he asked, “...I… I don’t…dress like I’m trying to look like a prostitute, right?”

“What? No?” Kaito said, giving Doppio a bewildered look, “Kid, you dress well, don’t get me wrong, but not that well… Ah, geez, did someone say something shitty about the way you dress? I like how you dress! It’s trendy! Maybe? Look, my idea of ‘trendy’ has been hugely distorted by my husbands, who are either in one of seven varieties of black blazers, or was sewn together by a very ambitious colorblind seamstress.”

“And actually, that’s great, that you two have already talked about what kissing would mean to you!” Kaito said brightly, “Communication is so important, Doppio, seriously. If Arven only wants to kiss someone if it’s important to him? A ‘big deal’? Then that’s important to know! Means you won’t try to spring something on him and get slapped. And he likely won’t put you in a position where you need to slap him. So that's nice…”

“...regardless of what anyone suggested? No. You don’t look like someone trying to seduce anyone or who’s loose or easy or slutty or anything like that. Anyone who suggested otherwise has their own shit going on.”

Trendy? Well, Doppio didn’t think he looked bad, but… He pretty much just wore some variety of sweaters and jeans every day, with unseen t-shirts and raglan shirts depending on the weather. Sure, he did have some tanktops for the summer, but…they weren’t really what he defined his style by. Mostly Doppio just thought he looked…unassuming. Forgettable, but pleasant and professional enough if you had to look at him. 

Just another weird Kaito thing. 

Huffing a bit, Doppio shook his head as Kaito just…refused to look at reality and see that there was nothing going on between him and Arven, but…

…his reassurance didn’t… It wasn’t…

Grimacing, Doppio looked down at his arms. Nervously playing with the idea for a moment before…trying to think of what Boss might’ve said, if Doppio brought something like this up. If he’d say that it was…utter nonsense, and that Doppio was such…leagues above the mindless rabble that them even recognizing him as an object of desire was a moth praying to a table lamp. 

…or something like that. 

Doppio felt his chest squeeze, and he wrapped his arms more around his chest. “I… It…” He struggled, unable to really verbalize the concept of body insecurity, when it was a concept he’d never conceived of before a few days ago. “It’s…”

Huffing, he tried a different approach. “...Arven told me about this underground, glowing cavern he found, with a pool in it. And…he proposed going swimming, if we hiked over there? And…” Still chewing on his poor lip, Doppio cringed into himself. “...that’s…something really cool, right? I…I’d normally be super excited, ‘n stuff…”

“...but all I could think about was…” He squinted, again lacking proper words. “...not wanting to take my clothes off. …shirt. Off.”

“Oh, buddy, that’s totally normal,” Kaito said, absentmindedly reaching up to carefully ruffle Doppio’s hair, before taking the reins with both hands again, “Especially in a situation like that, around someone like Arven. Though, that’s not exclusive to feeling nervous just around a crush, you’re allowed to feel nervous undressing around anyone. Still okay. Still entirely normal.”

“And, look, if it bothers you, you can always swim with a shirt on. But the important thing about that is basing it on when it does and doesn’t bother you. Feeling comfortable being undressed around someone is something you get to decide, it’s not an expectation on you. You don’t want to get undressed? Don’t. You start and decide you want to put your clothes back on? That’s your choice, you put them right back on. You decide to take them off and someone asks you to put them back on? That one is more complicated, I’d recommend taking that basis by basis and erring on the side of caution.” Kaito frowned. “There are peeps who might disagree with me on that, and you’re allowed to decide I’m full of it. That’s just where I’m at in regards to that right now.”

“As for why you don’t want to get undressed? That matters, but it really only matters how much you want to explore that. It might not be something you have to ‘fix’,” Kaito stressed, “But if it’s something you want to talk about? I’m all ears. You can talk to me about it.”

…it was normal? Even around…everyone?

Of any response Doppio could’ve thought to expect, that…wasn’t it, and he looked back over at Kaito, not even complaining as he messed up his hair. (Not that it was particularly neat after falling out of a giant tree and sobbing against someone for thirty minutes.)

…it was normal. 

Doppio relaxed a little, bringing his arms back down to the saddle horn, adjusting his posture from where he’d been sliding a bit in the saddle, from all his shifting and slouching. 

“...” He sighed. “...it’s dumb. I never really…thought like this at all about my body before. S’just a body. But…then…” A small huff. “...these assholes were…being jerks. Made some comments… And I know they were full of shit, and I should just dismiss everything they said but…”

Doppio wilted a little, his voice softening. “...I can’t. And…lately everything…feels so weird. And I don’t know what happened or what to do about it and I just feel…strange. And wrong. And so…now I’ve been wearing my biggest sweaters when I can just…so people can’t see my body.”

Kaito winced. “Ah, yeah. That’ll do it… Look, this is not to downplay what you’re going through, just to be clear. It being common does not mean it’s not important. But, that said? Doppio, you’re at that age where, yeah… people are gonna start commenting on your body more. And that can be really uncomfortable. Not just because most of the time it’s not the type of person or the type of comments you want, but just because, yeah, it makes you more aware of yourself. Which honestly is a whole ‘experience’ for everyone. We all react to it differently, but no one just doesn’t react. Again, normal.”

“For instance? I kinda had the opposite reaction to you,” Kaito mused. “I, heh… I ‘noticed’ people would look at me, ya know, like that, and I got really, really attached to those looks. I liked the attention, which I kinda naively decided equaled people liking me. So I started doing anything I could to encourage it. Went through a ton of different fashion styles, looking for the ones that’d make me more attractive to more people, got really, really skinny... I still like looking attractive now, but the way I went about it at your age? Was basically just what you’re doing now with the sweaters thing. Just obsessing and anxious over how people were perceiving me and trying to, like, do things that gave me more control over how people looked at me. That’s what all the reactions usually boil down to. People staring and judging takes away your sense of control, so you start trying to force people to see you in specific ways you want to be seen to get back that control. Totally normal reaction.”

“And ya know, wearing sweaters for a while until you feel more comfortable in your own skin isn’t hurting anyone. There’s no hurry to just suddenly be okay with how you look. You can take your time with that, and with time and emotional support, the ‘hate what you look like’ phase will pass.”

…it wasn’t just him? Though…

Doppio huffed softly. “...that’s dumb. Why can’t people just keep their mouths to themselves? People really think it’s okay to start putting that kind of scrutiny on teenagers? That’s moronic.”

What he did understand a little more was… Oh. That’s…what Boss was always talking about. Keeping absolute control, never letting anyone see him. Every person’s gaze taking a piece away and morphing it into an idea that was just some mirror of themselves until there was no true piece of you left…

…Doppio had never understood him more, hearing it explained that way. (...too bad it was too late. Boss would…have probably been pleased to hear that Doppio could understand a more complex idea like that.)

He sighed. “...I don’t…hate how I look. I just don’t want other people looking…” …well, if it was normal… Doppio glanced back shyly. “...how do you deal with the ‘skin peeling off’ feeling? Or the rubber band snaps?”

To Kaito’s credit, he just smiled brightly and went ‘hm’ at first, before saying, “I might need a little clarity on that one, Doppio. I’m not always good at metaphors.”

Doppio’s expression immediately became more timid. Wary. “...the…body feeling weird stuff. I…I don’t know how to explain it more… Just feels like…peeling, sometimes, and other times snaps. Ummm…” He looked around, thinking. “...like…peeling off masking tape, but everywhere? And, um… Getting slapped, but, like…with tiny hands, everywhere, with a sunburn.”

His brows furrowed. “...also my stomach’s been fluttering a lot? I don’t know if that’s just ‘cause I’ve been sick, though…”

Body… peeling? And snaps… many, many tiny sunburn hands… hmmm.

…oh! Oh. Maybe it was like when Shuichi was having his panic attacks and touching became alarming rather than soothing. He described it like feeling like the parts of his skin being touched being too ‘bright’ in that moment. Could be ‘peeling’ and ‘snapping’ was just how Doppio interpreted skin sensitivity. Okay! 

“It’s something we can get looked at to confirm, but if it feels like your body reacts unusually strong to stimulus? You might have some skin sensitivity issues. Maybe certain textures cause reactions in your skin, or it could even be a ‘overstimulation’ issue. We’ll talk to Seiko about it, especially if that’s only started recently, but I wouldn’t start worrying about it. Stuff like that can be managed, we just need to explore some coping techniques that work for you. I won’t say everyone goes through something like that, but it’s not unheard of, and is more than manageable.”

“Also, I don’t know how else to tell you this, kid, but stomach fluttering? Feeling like butterflies are all trying to get out? Warm and fuzzies?” Kaito laughed lightly, “That’s a symptom of being around a crush. Or, since you don’t know that phrase, it’s a symptom of being around someone you like. In a ‘kisses’ kinda way, not a ‘friendly handshake’ kinda way.”

“Let me guess,” Kaito grinned, “They happen around Arven?”

“I don’t want to go back to a healer,” Doppio said quickly, shuddering a little, but…it was…good to hear that even the peeling and snapping feelings weren’t just…weird. Maybe uncommon but not…science experiment stuff. If they were caused by…texture sensitivities?

Doppio wilted a bit, mumbling, “...worst peeling was after…th-the pipe burst. Thought I was gonna melt ‘n die…”

But more importantly--

Huffing, he shot Kaito an annoyed look, though tellingly his cheeks were red again. “...yes. But I do like Arven in a friendly handshake way. He said we were best friends ‘n…I like holding his hand…”

Right. The pipe burst. Ngh.

Kaito knew Doppio didn’t want to, but he was gonna try to talk the kid into getting a checkup on his chest again when they got back to the castle. 

…where Doppio was staying. If Kaito had his damn way. Arven for a while too, until this ‘guy who drowns teenagers’ business is taken care of. (Not eating any of his kids, cat.) But! He had to talk to Doppio about it. Couldn’t force the guy into it. Just… strongly… nudge??

Nag. Kaito was planning to nag Doppio. Whatever, he was a nagger now, that was just his life. Nag Kokichi about vegetables, nag Shuichi about school, nag Timothy about, uh, well, also school. Miyako wasn’t moved by nagging yet, Kaito mostly had to resort to begging with her, but when she got older and became more susceptible to peer pressure? Kaito was gonna be a nag. 

“Honestly, Doppio?” Kaito said, “Anything you experienced during the ‘pipe burst’ incident is gonna be an outlier. That was… that’s the sort of thing that shouldn’t happen to a person. And anything you want to talk about with that? I’m here to listen… though, kid, I’d like you and me to talk in the future about maybe finding someone smarter than me to listen to that too. If Dicea’s sold me on anything? That therapy shit works really,  really well.”

Kaito lit up, though, shaking Doppio’s shoulder lightly as he said, “Doppio! You got to hand-holding with Arven?! You freaking champion! Way to shoot your shot!” 

Amaina has kinda said that too. That anything bad he’d been feeling after it was probably because of the…drowning. And not her bubble, or…anything else, probably. Doppio still wasn’t…entirely sure of that, but by this point he was willing to concede that it hadn’t been…great. 

But there wasn’t much to say about it. (...not much he could bring himself to say about it.)

Huffing softly, Doppio frowned. “...don’t want someone poking around my brain. Metaphorically or literally.”

And Doppio just shot Kaito an even more annoyed look, before he hesitated. “Wasn’t like that. I…” …ugh, his mouth tasted so gross now… “...I had a freak out…’n things were going dark ‘n light. It stopped when Arven hugged me and he just…kept close after that. ‘Cause we’re friends.”

Kaito’s grin was wide and unashamed as he said, “Hell yeah you two are friends! God I’m so happy for you. I mean, bad that you had another emergency, but good that you and Arven could get closer for it! Well, not exactly that. Eh, you know what I mean.”

“...I am so surprised you’re still awake,” Kaito admitted, “You were tripping over yourself on the ground. Are you uncomfortable? I mean physically, not from my attempts to educate you on sex and relationships.”

Doppio huffed, though…he supposed he could accept that. The weird…flickering, not knowing what was real thing had been terrifying, but having a system for dealing with it, and holding Arven’s hand as they talked afterward had been nice. It felt really frontloaded, how much Arven had done for him after their deal to look after each other, but…well, Doppio just supposed that meant he had a long list of opportunities in the future to make up his half. 

…maybe he’d make a ‘thank you’ meal for him soon. Admittedly, he was feeling the itch to get back in the kitchen. 

Grumbling a little, Doppio just shrugged at first. “I mean…is being on a horse ever actually comfortable? And you’re using the stirrups so it’s not like I can support myself much…” Not that…he would even if he had the chance, though. Doppio didn’t think he had the strength to support himself long-term with his legs, at the moment so…he was kind of just left jostled by the horse’s movement whether he liked it or not. 

But mostly…

Doppio shot Kaito a dry look. “You’re talking to me. Why would I sleep in the middle of that?”

“Well, I’ve found, with sick and tired people, sometimes talking to them is a great way to lull them to sleep,” Kaito mused. “Though, if you mean that I’m just so interesting that you can’t imagine falling asleep considering all the interesting things I have to say? Accurate! I am pretty interesting,” Kaito grinned.

Though, he really did want Doppio to rest. He also wanted to keep having this conversation with the kid, because this stuff was important, but… “How about, when you’re ready to pass out? Why don’t we get you Miyako style? We’ll turn you around, you can lean forward on me and rest that way. I’d do the same with anyone else I was riding with who just had surgery after a drowning incident and then was on the road all night and then fell out of a tree… well, not anyone else. There’s a few people I’d maybe keep it to myself how comfy I am to lay against. And others I’d bring it up, get them comfortable, and then maybe slide them off the horse when their guard is down and, like, if they break something?” Kaito shrugged.

“...but not you! I adore you.” Kaito grinned, “You get comfy Miyako time!”

Doppio rolled his eyes. “It’s rude to fall asleep in the middle of someone talking, smartass. Considering how much I zone out normally, I need all the help I can get actually processing what someone’s saying to me…even if it’s a load of nonsense. And it’s rude to leave someone hanging if they ask you something.”

“...I don’t see how turning around would change anything,” he groused, grimacing a bit at the description of what Kaito might do to some folks in this position, but…just trying not to think about it much. Which wouldn’t doom him because…

Doppio blinked. Then again. His mind going blank, save for a phrase bouncing around his empty head like an atemporal DVD logo. 

…adore you?

Adore? 

…Doppio…had thought that Kaito had been genuinely concerned about the…abuse stuff. Not trying to live out some weird parental fantasy, like Arven said he’d thought. But…

Looking up, Doppio gave Kaito a mildly uncomfortable look. “...you…do know I’m not your daughter, right?”

Kaito blinked down at him, giving him a mildly baffled look. “...yes? My Miya’s not even fifteen pounds yet, you’re got more than a few feet on her. Why?”

Doppio’s lips formed around a few unsaid words, just trying them out for a bit. Trying to…properly convey…whatever this was. The space between Kaito’s actions and Doppio’s discomfort. 

“...I’m… Not your child? And…” Again, he paused, struggling. “...you don’t… You barely know me, so…why would you adore me?”

…why would a monster claim him as their own, when his god treated him as a neat amusement, at most?

“Adore?” Kaito said, genuinely confused for a second, “...oh. I did say that, huh? Hmm.”

Kaito rode in silence for a bit, considering that… “I don’t know why I adore you?” Kaito admitted, “God knows you’re a little brat sometimes, and holy shit, you’ve aged me years in the last three weeks. Seriously, you are way more stressful than an infant. Miyako’s way better at managing her temper than you and Arven.”

“And I’ll admit, when I adopted Timothy? It took me a while to really feel… attached?” Kaito frowned. “I got there! I fucking love that kid now, I’d fight the world for him. But it was tough in the beginning. I didn’t know who I was trying to be for him, and, well, the kid had poisoned and stabbed me a few times by then, kinda had to get past that. That took a second.”

“But! In contrast? My god son, Addason? I loved him the second I knew he existed. It was actually a bit of conflict with my family. I got so attached to that kid so fast… and I love Cali, one of Timothy’s little friends, she’s my little powerhouse, and I like Arven a whole lot, though that kid makes me want to shake him sometimes…”

“I don’t know if it helps answer your question, to hear all of that,” Kaito admitted, shrugging a little, “It’s not that you’re not ‘special’. You are. I adore all those kids for different reasons, it’s not just because they’re around. But I am saying that me getting really attached like this isn’t… unusual for me. To the point where I can forget how creepy and out of nowhere it can seem. I just fall in love easy. Not like you and Arven, though also, yeah, like that too. I just can’t help but put a lot of myself into stuff like this. I liked you when we met at the bar, one of my new starbursts. I got invested in you when I noticed you were struggling with stuff, wanted to connect with you through cooking and all of that. And now I’ve chased you out of town and up a tree, so yeah. I adore you.”

“I can say it less if it helps?” Kaito said, “But it's still gonna be true.”

…he didn’t really get it. Sure, his friendship with Arven had come up quickly, but…Doppio was willing to chalk that up to being an outlier, one fueled by the fact that Arven was super cool and awesome. Like…obviously they became friends, even if they had started as adversaries--how could Doppio not fal - er, recognize just how brilliant and dedicated and amazing Arven was? And he wasn’t a masochist, so why stop himself from outwardly recognizing that too?

But it was definitely an outlier. So he…didn’t really understand. 

“...Arven said at one point he was worried you were trying to…like, ruin my life so you could play out some weird fantasy being my dad,” Doppio admitted, figuring that that scenario kinda summed up the uncomfy bits of his feelings too. “So…say it less. People don’t just go around saying that kind of stuff, it’s creepy. And don’t go kidnapping any of those other kids either!”

“...other than your actual kids, I guess, since…it’s not really kidnapping then.”

“Yeah, I know I didn’t get it ‘right’, but I am literally trying to do the opposite of ruin your life,” Kaito said dryly, shooting Arven an irritated look. “And yes, I know I’m not your dad. Honestly, I’m not old enough to be your dad… maybe more like a cool, aspirational big brother type,” Kaito said, eyes suddenly sparkling with wonder, “I’d make an amazing older brother. It’s easy! Just don’t do all the awful stuff.”

“But, I’m kidding.” Kaito chuckled, “I’m not trying to be that either. I already told you what I’m trying to be! Come on, I’ve used the word a thousand times with you… you know the one… starts with ‘h’... rhymes with… with…”

Kaito paused, before calling over to Lake, “Hey! Lake! What rhymes with hero!?”

Doppio scoffed quietly, closing his eyes. “Don’t be a prude, you’re absolutely old enough to be my dad. Hell, I bet you’re even older than Boss. You just tried to give me a sex talk, you’re absolutely filled with weirdo-dad-vibes.”

Pausing mid-sentence from the absolutely thrilling story she was telling Arven about how she once spent the better part of a day corralling deer and badgers and other forest critters back to their home after someone set off fireworks in the middle of the Sorl Woods, Lake looked over and, without a beat, called back, “Bolero said wrong!”

“Oh, subzero!”

Doppio cracked an eye open. “...what is wrong with you two?”

“Weirdo!” Arven called back.

“I’m assuming you’re just contributing, Arven, and not being mean!” Kaito shouted, giving Lake and Arven a thumbs up, before laughing at Doppio’s reaction. “And, I am still, in fact, trying to give you the sex talk. I know you haven’t kissed yet and you’re still deeply in denial about your feelings, but trust me, that shit can escalate before you know it, and being the only person who has no idea what’s going on can at least be a little awkward and embarrassing, and at worse, like, deeply traumatic…oh! I should ask Kokichi to talk to you about it. I bet Kokichi would have good advice by this point. Honestly, at a glance?” Kaito said, looking between Doppio and Arven, “It’s probably actually Arven I should be talking to.” 

“How?” Doppio gaped, sending Kaito an almost offended look. “We moved on to, like, three other subjects. Just take it as a loss and move on, weirdo.” He gritted his teeth a little. “...and I’m not in denial about anything.”

And don’t you say anything, Amaina!

Though, that left Doppio in a weird place. Because for as much as he’d want Kaito to change targets and leave him out of this weird conversation…Doppio didn’t just want to put Arven in the line of fire either. “Arven’s never kissed anyone either, why would that change anything?”

“...and I don’t want to talk to your husband,” he pouted after a moment.

“Why not? He’s the heir-apparent! An Ouma! Don’t all you Dicean nerds trip all over yourselves over that stuff?” Kaito teased, poking Doppio’s leg, “And I know he’d love to talk to you. But, no, the reason I think I should talk to Arven would be… wellllll…”

Kaito tilted his head, looking a little uncomfortable. “...you strike me as a… well. There’s this dynamic that happens in relationships, where one person tends to… decide? How things… actually, ya know what! No! That thought process screws people over all the time, I’m not gonna let it happen to ya!” Kaito suddenly decided, a blaze of passion erupting inside of him as he said, “Doppio! When the decision-making time comes for stuff in relationships, you can’t just docilely go along with whatever the other person wants, okay!? Even if they’re doing things right! In the end, giving up communication in the name of keeping things going ‘smoothly’ is bad for you, both mentally and also, like, almost one hundred percent of the time physically too!”

“What is he shouting about?” Arven asked Lake, during a breath of her forest story, “Wasn’t the point of this to let Doppio rest?”

“He’s the heir apparent,” Doppio repeated, dread in his voice. “If you’re talking to an Ouma and you…like, didn’t get invited to a Unity party, that means you need help from the government, or you’re in a lot of trouble. I’m not willingly bringing that on myself.”

…if he…was no longer working, then…did that still mean he had to avoid Prince Kokichi? It hadn’t seemed exactly like a work order though. Boss had…shoot, what had he said? Something like…it was a delicate situation, and he didn’t want that meeting happening without oversight. 

…Oumas were scary, and Kaito regularly talked about how scary his husbands were. No way Doppio wanted to invite that into his life. 

As Doppio just grimaced at Kaito’s next impassioned speech, Lake looked over at the other horse before shaking her head. “Honestly? My bad, dude. Kaito tends to keep goin’ if he’s around ears, though I kinda expected Dippin’ Dots to just tune him out by now.”

Calling over, she boomed, “Hey, Big Man! We can prolly have this conversation later, yeah?! Let Doppio sleep!”

“We’re having an important conversation, Lake! He said he was interested! You said you were interested, right?” Kaito asked Doppio, before trying to recall, “Wait, maybe you just said it’d be rude to not listen… Lake! Have you ever run a sex ed class!?”

“What?” Arven said, giving Lake a bewildered look.

“STAI ZITTO! Te dò una pizza che t’arestano pe’ vagabondaggio, bischero!” (SHUT UP! I’m going to slap you out of this world, dumbass!)

“Oh for fucks…” Lake chuckled, before shouting over, “Time and place, little brother! Try not to turn Doppio into a tomato while he’s a captive audience, will ya?!”

“But it’s easiest when they’re a captive audience! Otherwise people run away! It’s a lot of effort to chase people!” Kaito shouted.

“Why sex ed!? W-what are they talking about!?” Arven said, floundering a little, before squeaking as his balance on the horse drifted a little. Gripping onto the steer, Arven re-steadied himself, before whispering nervously, “He said Doppio was interested in that? Why? Why is Doppio asking about sex ed?? Sex ed is boring, it’s all just ‘uteruses have periods’ and ‘sometimes erections just happen’. Why is Doppio asking about that!?”

“You really were a lot of effort to chase. I think I’ve earned a little captive audience time.” Kaito pouted. “Though, I can stop talking if you want to rest. Is that what you were saying before? In Tradean? ‘I want to rest’?”

“I’ve only run once,” Doppio grumbled, before he sighed, running a hand over his face before he closed his eyes again. “...wasn’t speaking Traditional Dicean. But…can I? I figure I should be awake when we get to Corbra and I think I might actually just pass out forever if I stay up any longer.”

She wasn’t right by him, but Lake had preeeeeetty solid hearing, so she gave Arven a small smile over her shoulder. “It can be a little more than that, Ven-Ven. If I really had to guess, Kaito’s just sayin’ Dippin’ Dots was interested because he was too nervous to straight up tell him to shut up. But ya never know, right? Shit’s complicated, and especially at your age I’d imagine you guys might have some questions. Considering the amount of relationship counseling my brothers do, I’d imagine Kai-guy’s got a good bit of wisdom to pass on.”

“Hell yeah you can. I’m still offering it Miyako style too, if you want. With nooooo weird pseudo-dad implications! Just a cool guy offering another cool guy to sleep against his chest like a swaddled baby! …” Kaito tilted his head, looking amused, “Sometimes I hear myself. I’m kind of a freak.”

“...do you think Aceto is asking about someone, like…” Arven frowned, glancing at Doppio, ”In particular?”

“At least you’re not wholly unself-aware,” Doppio grumbled, before settling back against Kaito. Taking a few deep breaths. It was harder than usual, even exhausted, but…well, it wasn’t like Doppio hadn’t ever fallen asleep on something moving before. And before he knew it, he was limp against Kaito’s chest, breathing faintly in the creepy, corpse-like way he was wont to do while sleeping. 

Lake raised an eyebrow before shrugging. “Maybe! To be honest, this is the first time I’ve met him…and you two are thick as thieves, right? You’d have a better guess than me.”

There was a pause, before Lake let out a small chuckle. “...look, I can guess you’d probably be more comfortable talking to your guidance counselor or someone, but…I’d do my best ta help you out if you had a question or two, Arven. No pressure, but…we do still have a long walk ahead of us, if ya got something stewin’ in your brain.”

“Me? Questions? Why would I have questions? I’m a lone wolf. I live by myself, I take care of myself, and I’ve never needed anyone. Ever.” Arven huffed, doing his best to lift his head and square his shoulders while still half hugging the horse. “...”

“...”

“........”

“.............but, okay, do you think it says something about you if you get a, a, ya know, like… like if your body does stuff in your sleep, when you’re sleeping next to someone?” Arven asked, brow furrowed, staring straight ahead, “I feel like it doesn’t, right? You’re asleep! You don’t even know who’s there! Your body does stuff even when you’re not sleeping next to someone, so there being someone there shouldn’t add, like, weird…connotations! Or something! Right? Obviously.”

Aw, kid. 

Lake easily shook her head, voice light. “Nah, ya’ve got it. Hormone cycles are weird, man, and, sorry if I keep repeating it, but especially at your age. Really, teens should get a damn reward, doin’ everything they do while their bodies are constantly freaking out about everything. It doesn’t mean anything if ya get morning wood while sleepin’ next to someone.”

“Sure, it might get a little awkward, talking about it later,” she shrugged, “But…you’re right. Can’t help what’cha do when you’re asleep. Though…”

She sent a look back at him. “...after the fact, did it feel different? Emotionally, I mean, if you were thinkin’ more. ‘Cause that can mean different stuff, though it’s a different conversation.”

“I don’t know!?” Arven said defensively, the tips of his ears starting to burn red, “No?? What does that even mean!? Like, what’s supposed to be ‘emotionally different’? Nothing’s different! Everything was entirely the same today as it was yesterday.”

“.....”

“.........”

“.......................... I don’t get attracted to people,” Arven suddenly said, “I’m too busy. And it’s a pain. Who has time for all of that?”

“You’d know best how you feel,” Lake said calmly. “Even if it’s hard to figure out how to express it. If nothing feels different to you, then that’s that! No one can tell you you’re feeling your emotions wrong.”

Laughing softly, Lake ran her free hand through her hair. “Yeah? Sometimes I do think aroace folks have it lucky. Love makes ya a little crazy, I think. You’re just livin’ your life then BAM! Someone’s suddenly consumin’ all your thoughts, and ya get super focused on what they think of you, and you wanna know everything they think about everything, and you wanna find out all the things that make ‘em happy and just…do all of that all the time. It is time-consumin’, I’ll give ya that.”

“...but it does feel pretty great. I’ve never been all that great at bein’ on my own, so you’d probably have a different perspective, but spendin’ time with someone that makes you feel like every second with them is worth double? Some of the best feelings in the world, to me.”

“................................” Arven glanced at Doppio. “..................I think Kaito thinks Aceto is dead,” he warned Lake.

As he watched Kaito worriedly put two fingers to the pulse on Doppio’s neck, Arven’s head swam with what Lake had said. Is that?? What love felt like?? What, just thinking about a person a whole lot, and worrying about them, and wanting to spend all your time with them, and find out what they like, and thinking it was cute that they literally slept like the dead…

!?!

Arven tried to worriedly slap his cheeks, before squeaking and grabbing onto the horse again. He wasn’t, uh, he wasn’t…. Doing all of that!? Was he? No. That’d be ridiculous. He didn’t feel that way…

…especially because Doppio definitely didn’t feel that way. 

No way.

-