nilielh | Fast Forward. Rewind

Title : Fast Forward. Rewind (part 13)
Rating : PG
Pairing : Ohno/Nino
Disclaimer : fiction, yo!
Summary : He’d been trying to uncover the truth about the events prior to their departure from Yamato for years, but all he could dig out from it was the same thing that had been reported repeatedly on national television, regarding the congregation’s involvement in the attack in Tokyo, and nothing more.
Note : Also crossposted in AO3

Undisclosed hospital in Tokyo
Tokyo, Present day

Nino supposed it ought to shock him, hearing that. But somehow, he wasn’t. He guessed it had to do with the fact that he had years to come to terms with it all, of everything that had happened to him and his sister, his mother, everything they had to endure from the moment they set foot in Yamato until that night they got out, he and his sister, all because of his father and his father’s choices.

The years they spent in hiding didn’t hold much now that they’ve been found out. It was evident in the way he’d almost been killed twice in a row now that whoever was behind it obviously had no plans on stopping until they were done.

And it sure looked like it wasn’t over yet.

“When you met him, did you talk to him?” he said, and it was a statement rather than a question. Ohno nodded, hand still gripping Nino’s own.

“I did, but he made sure it stayed one-sided. The conversation, I mean,” said Ohno, then, “It was a mistake,” Ohno murmured, apologetic; Nino wanted to tell him it wasn’t his fault but before he could, Ohno was speaking again, pulling at their joined hands and using his other free hand to cup Nino’s cheek. “I thought I would be doing the right thing, that talking to him would help, but I was wrong. Your father’s misguided beliefs, like the others who served the Leader with him, they’re the reason why we have suffered, why we’re still suffering. I thought I could persuade him to give up the names of those who wanted us dead, but obviously I was wrong.” Ohno breathed. “I have a feeling they had me followed. I should have been more careful. Your friends were almost killed because of me,”

“Oh-chan, you didn’t know, okay? It wasn’t your fault.”

Ohno shook his head. “I should have known better,” he muttered, “But all I thought of after I talked to your father was to make sure you’re safe. On one hand, I’m glad I did, because who knew what might have happened if I didn’t? They would have found out where you were anyway. I just...I didn’t count on them finding out your friends would be there, too.”

“I’m not worried about that, you know,” he said, shaking his head and meaning it. “You came just in time to save us, Oh-chan. That’s what’s important.”

“This time, yes,” Ohno countered, fingertip stroking Nino’s cheek softly. “But what if it’s not the case the next time they try again? I can’t...I won’t be able to forgive myself if that happens, Kazu.”

He released the breath he didn’t realize he was holding, eyes on Ohno’s face. He had years to come to terms with this, too, and somehow, his thoughts drifted to this moment, of him and Ohno here, together, despite the dangers looming over their heads. Being here, surrounded by Ohno’s presence, it was easier to hope they’d make it through somehow.

“Then, let’s end this,” he said, pulling Ohno to him. The look on Ohno’s face made the knots in Nino’s chest tight, but it was different this time around. Looking at Ohno now made Nino realize so many things, one that involved wanting a different life with him and Ohno in it.

“Kazu,”

“You said it yourself, right?” he whispered, closing his eyes and leaning further into Ohno’s hand. He still needed time to get used to this, to be fully convinced that this was really happening. He hoped Ohno would indulge him with it, be patient with him at times when he was plagued with doubts because of the circumstances.

“They won’t stop until they’ve killed us all,” he added, leaning over until he had his face buried against the front of Ohno’s chest.

Clinging, he breathed deeply and held on. “Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, Oh-chan. Tell us what you need, how we can help. Please.”

--

Aiba and Sho were asleep when they arrived, but Matsumoto Jun, thankfully, was not.

The injuries did nothing to hide the other man’s rage, and Ohno guessed it couldn’t be helped. The surprise upon Nino telling Jun who he was didn’t escape him either, nor the accompanying sputtering the moment after.

“But but...his name was on the list!” Jun pointed, wincing at the gesture. Nino snorted and told his friend to quit moving so much lest his injuries might get worse, but Jun obviously wasn’t done yet.

“We thought you were dead!”

He saw Nino’s answering eye roll at that. “That should be my line, Sensei, don’t you think?” Nino said, shaking his head and smiling. “Come on, try to calm down, will you? I could tell your blood pressure’s off the roof, and you look like you’re going to pop a blood vessel and die. Seriously, calm down,”

“Easy for you to say, Nino -”

“I know, okay?” Nino countered, cutting Jun off. “But that’s not what’s important right now. Obviously, this -” Nino gestured towards Jun, as if pointing out the obvious. “Is what we should be worrying about now. You almost died yourself, you realize, and because of what? Because somehow, those bastards who’d wanted us dead have finally caught up to us. Jesus, you’re lucky they stupidly bombed someone else’s car or you wouldn’t have come out from it in one piece!”

“Could you not remind me of that, please?” Jun grunted, “Because I honestly want to think of it as stupidity instead of luck. Those fuckers are seriously going to pay for this, I swear to you,”

Nino shifted on the wheelchair and nodded at Jun. “That’s the plan,” Nino said, before turning to him. There was something behind those eyes that reminded him of a past long gone, feeling like he was staring right into the eyes of that fourteen-year-old boy for the first time. His heart clearly still wasn’t immune to it, feeling the way his pulse skyrocketed when Nino gazed at him and offered him a smile.

“Ohno-san here promised he would help,” Nino added, “Right?”

He nodded, in lieu of a verbal reply knowing that he might only end up embarrassing himself if he did. He turned to give Matsumoto Jun a look and nodded.

“I promise we’ll talk about it next time,” he said, hoping the other man would understand. He’d been eyeing Nino since earlier, and he had a feeling Nino had been in pain and was just trying not to show it. Matsumoto Jun seemed to catch on anyway, nodding back.

“Yeah, preferably when those two idiots are awake,” Matsumoto Jun said, clearly referring to Sakurai and Aiba. “I have no patience to explain things in detail, especially things about you and your involvement in all this so I’m hoping you’ll do that part yourself, Ohno-san. For now,” he paused here to point at Nino with a shake of his head, and said, “get him out of here, or make someone poke him with something because seriously, look at him. He’s been trying not to wince in pain, but it’s obviously not working.”

Nino frowned at that, clearly feigning innocence. “What? I’m not -”

“Yes, you are, Ninomiya,” Matsumoto Jun cut in, before Nino could even finish. He felt like laughing, seeing how good Matsumoto Jun was at keeping Nino on his toes. It was the kind of friendship he envied, for he had no one like Matsumoto Jun in his life ever since he’d left Yamato. The closest he had for friends were Nino and Aiba, but unforeseen circumstances separated them from one another.

Until now.

“And don’t argue, please. I know I look like shit, but between the two of us, you’re worse. Please let Ohno-san help you or I’m strapping you to a hospital bed myself. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I’m fine!” Nino insisted, even when he stepped forward to stand next to Nino, worming an arm around Nino’s waist as Matsumoto Jun chuckled and shifted to get comfortable.

“Yeah, Nino, keep telling yourself that,” Matsumoto Jun said, eyeing Nino teasingly. Then he shifted his attention to him, turning serious all of a sudden.

“He’s all yours now, Ohno-san. Please make sure to bring him back here in one piece or I won’t be held responsible for when the love of my life decides to hunt you down for hurting his favorite friend. You’ll meet him soon, of course, if you promise to be good.”

He could very well hear the sound of Nino’s answering eyeroll at that and he smiled, squeezing Nino’s hip lightly as he guided them both towards the direction of the door.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Matsumoto-san.”

--

The Tokyo Towers Midtower
Kachidoki, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo, Present day

The drive from the hospital to Ohno’s apartment was quiet and, if Nino was going to be honest about it, kind of awkward, though he guessed that couldn’t be helped. It wasn’t like he’d insisted on being taken home - just the thought of it was enough to make him blush furiously - and it wasn’t like Ohno said the same thing out loud either. Obviously, that was to be expected, given the circumstances. Nino couldn’t exactly go home after the bombing incident in his apartment, and he also couldn’t go to his friends’ house to stay there because they were all in the hospital, recuperating.

The only logical choice was, obviously, to go where Ohno would take him to.

They were in the elevator on their way up to Ohno’s apartment floor when he decided to break the silence, eyeing Ohno through their reflection on the elevator’s door.

“I can’t believe you told the doctor I should stay in the hospital,” he chuckled, half-hearted at best because Ohno looked embarrassed enough as it was. He figured he should say something to stave off the awkward air between them, half-hoping he wasn’t going to make things worse instead.

That clearly prompted Ohno to look up, and smiled back despite his obvious uneasiness. Nino chuckled despite himself.

“But maybe you’re right to suggest that I stay there,” he commented blithely, “I mean, I understand if you’d rather leave me there in the hospital than take me home with you.”

Ohno looked surprised for a moment, and then shook his head and frowned. Nino noted the way his ears turned red, and he looked as though he’d been doused with cold water. It wasn’t embarrassment per se, but something else.

“I’m sorry if that’s how I look to you,” Ohno said, voice low. “But you must know that that’s the last thing in my mind when I suggested it. I was worried about you, so I thought it might be best that you stay there where they could take care of you better. I did kidnap you from the hospital earlier, after all. But if the doctor agreed to admit you there, I hope you know that I have no intention of leaving you there by yourself.”

Nino looked away. “Well, that doesn’t look that way to me, if you know what I’m saying.”

A beat, and Nino felt himself shivered when Ohno’s hand migrated to the small of his back at the same time the elevator dinged and slowed to a stop. Ohno’s warm breath followed, hitting the side of Nino’s neck and Nino trembled on cue, feeling the hairs at the back of his head standing on end.

“You’re wrong, Kazu,” Ohno murmured, just as the elevator door opened, Ohno taking a step forward and guiding Nino out. Nino stopped, and Ohno did, too.

The look Ohno gave him then was part-frustrated and equal-parts awed, fingers finding his jaw and settling there.

“Tell me,” Nino whispered, as Ohno backed him against the elevator’s wall, it’s door swaying shut.

“God knows I’m trying, but it’s been so long and you being here isn’t helping. I ache for you, more than you ever know, but that’s the last thing I should be thinking about right now, but god, it’s hard. It’s - I don’t think I’m strong enough to resist you now, Kazu.”

Nino gasped, sharp and sudden, at the feel of Ohno’s lips to the side of his mouth, warm and seeking, but still trying his best not to give in to the urge. Nino’s fingers itched to touch, to discover more, but the elevator’s hardly the place.

He pulled Ohno to him and kissed him quick, pulled away just as quickly despite the whining noises Ohno made afterward.

“Then, don’t,” he whispered. “You don’t have to anymore, Oh-chan. I’m here now. I’m all yours, remember?”