[It's a concession as much as it is confession. The missing month, the changes here none of the natives seem to notice, Katsuki and his single-minded insistence on trying to get himself and others killed, his job change, Hizashi's efforts to--well, he doesn't know, really, and that's enough to make him feel guilty. Enough that he climbs to his feet, and after a moment's thought, tugs the newly acquired hoodie on over his henley.]
I'll come with. I'm not doing anything but giving myself a headache here. Where to?
[Hizashi grins ear to ear when Shouta immediately puts on the hoodie. He doesn't need any more evidence to determine whether Shouta likes his gift or not. Standing up straight he nods his head towards the door.]
Outside, oh cozy one. The place I need to go isn't far from the grocery shop.
[He doesn't waste any time in heading towards the front door either, grabbign keys and wallet as he strides towards the door. Opening it, he steps aside for Shouta to go first.] It'll be quick, promise.
[Shouta very deliberately does not acknowledge that pleased grin, or the strange warmth that it sparks that feels oddly normal and at the same time at odds with what it usually sparks. Instead, he checks his pockets to ensure he's got his own necessary items, keys and wallet and phone, and follows Hizashi to the door.]
Not a big deal. It takes as long as it takes. Like I said, I didn't have any plans for the day. What are you thinking for dinner?
Mmm... Dunno. Hadn't really thought about it. Your favorite food consists of jelly packets. But I was kind of thinking Hotpot. It's cold enough for it, yeah?
[They're outside now, and as they walk, Hizashi juts his elbow out to playfully jab Shouta. He has the urge to push some hair behind one of Shouta's ears, but he ignores it. Instead, he chooses to focus on the excitement of surprising him with the rest of his gift. As they walk though, he watches Shouta out of the corner of his eye.]
So, modeling. You going to stick with it after all?
[His only answer to the first part of that is an amused snort, batting at that playful elbow before tucking his hand back into the pocket of the hoodie.]
It's not my favorite, it's just what's easiest. Fast and efficient and good enough. Hotpot sounds good. It's starting to feel like fall.
[It doesn't feel like it's been that long. Almost four months now, or something like that; of course, maybe it doesn't feel like it because of that missing month, but whatever. Still.
He takes longer to answer the second part of that question, making a small, thoughtful noise as they walk. Modeling. In no universe could be ever have seen himself doing something so unbelievably silly. And yet...here they are.]
I wasn't, at first. It's incredibly stupid, and you know how much I hate public personas and celebrity and everything that goes with it. But... it's not so bad. Apparently whatever clone they replaced me with for a month was just as surly and taciturn, only they dressed it up in an oversized sweater and some ripped jeans and called it brooding. I don't have to do interviews, I just stand around in silly clothes and get my picture taken a couple hours each week. Better than the last assignment. And...it helps. Gets me access to people I wouldn't have otherwise. Gets me in places. It's useful enough.
[Which is to say, yes. Apparently Shouta Aizawa is a model now. What?]
Who've you been listening to man? Surly? [Hizashi lets out a little laugh. Sure, on the surface Shouta can come across surly, but anyone who really knows him knows how much he actually cares. How much work he puts in to take care of the kids he's responsible for, how hard he tries to be good at his job.
Hizashi's never been quite so sure why people underestimate Shouta as much as they seem to. But perhaps it gives him a certain advantage, to be overlooked like that. Hizashi just finds himself wanting Shouta to actually receive what he deserves. He shakes his head, watching Shouta as much as he is the direction they're headed.]
Never would have thought it'd happen. But hey, if it works, it works! I'll have to save any magazines with your face in them just so I can prove they exist.
But, hm. Hotpot it is, then. Too bad we don't have a kotatsu to sit at, huh? [He shoves his hands into his back pockets with a shrug.] Never thought I'd feel homesick, but there's just some things the US doesn't have.
Surly. I'm not ashamed of it. And if you bring any of those things home you'd better keep them hidden.
[And yet despite the words, there's that little note in his voice that belies amusement, the smallest quirk of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Yes, surly. Of course he cares, but it isn't useful for anyone to know that, or for him to wear it on his face. Better to keep it to himself, like he keeps so much to himself. He's never needed or wanted the spotlight.
Which does make all this pretty incongruous, huh? Oh well. It's got its advantages, so he'll take it while he can. While it suits him.
At Hizashi's mention of a kotatsu Shouta hums, agreeing as he runs a hand through his hair.]
You're right. We should find an import store. Or--well, whatever they call it here. A kotatsu would be nice, if we're stuck here through the winter.
My secret stash of Shouta Aizawa pictures. You're lucky I'm not some people, shoving pictures of my best friend in my wallet to show off at a moment's notice.
[He's still laughing to himself as the subject changes. They could always order online, honestly. That's still a thing here after all. When that hand of Shouta's drops from his hair back down to his side, Hizashi barely registers his own hand pulling out from his back pocket so that he can scoop it up, loosely lacing their fingers together. They don't have much further to walk, either, just a few more blocks.]
As long as you promise not to let it swallow you whole, I'll check online after dinner. Dunno where the hell we'll keep the thing, could probably just replace the dining room furniture with it I guess...
Because you know that would end in someone's serious injury.
[There's no vitriol in the retort, and he doesn't even notice at first when Hizashi takes his hand. It's not something they do, not ever, but it feels so much like second nature that it barely registers. He even shifts his own fingers a little, accommodating Hizashi's and making the grip more comfortable.]
We could get rid of the table in the living room, push the couch back. Or move that to another room. It's just us in the house, until they assign someone else. If they do. And everyone can appreciate a good kotatsu, once they learn what it is.
MY serious injury! [He's joking, the expression on his face makes that clear, if the tone of his voice doesn't.]
But you're right. The place is basically ours, who cares what we do with it?
[There's a shrug of a shoulder as they walk, and for a moment Hizashi falls silent, just enjoying the brisk air and the comfortable silence between them. He's missed this.]
You know, I kind of missed this. It's not even been that long since we hung out, but it felt weird, coming back to all this and then hardly seeing each other. I know we're busy, but I'm glad we've got time off together today.
Who would ever have thought we'd end up living together?
[The words are easy and amused, though as Hizashi shrugs his shoulder, Shouta finally feels his attention drawn to the slight tug on his own hand, eyes traveling downward--and then pausing, not quite sure what to make of what he sees. When did that happen? How long have they been holding hands without him realizing it? Not that it's a problem, it's not, it's just--he hadn't expected it. He hadn't expected it to feel so...normal.
And now it's been happening too long to just stop, and Hizashi's telling him how much he's missed hanging out, and he can't just pull away when his best friend is telling him that he's been feeling lonely, can he? So instead, he just looks away, letting their fingers stay tangled, pretending vast interest in the shop window they're passing.]
I know I've been away a lot the last few weeks, but did we not hang out at all when you were off in that...wherever it was?
[It's an attempt to change the topic. Little does he know...]
[It's the question about what happened in the other, alternate reality that gets Hizashi to realize that he's been holding Shouta's hand for the last however long. He frowns, fingers squeezing gently almost as if he's testing the reality of it before he eventually lets go of Shouta's hand, his gaze fixed somewhere other than where Shouta is.
From the outside, they probably look like two lovestruck teenagers afraid to look at each other.]
Huh? Oh, no. Actually you -- he? I was around the other you pretty much all the time. We had a farm that you were kind of the big head guy over. I think you were the first person I actually found after waking up in that place.
But it wasn't really you. Well, it was, but it wasn't you dig? You're not the same person but you are. Things were pretty different, yo. Not in a bad way, just a different way.
[Please god, for once Hizashi wishes he could shut himself up.]
[When Hizashi lets go, Shouta's fingers curl inward, and he resists the urge to put his hand back in his pocket, doing his best to pretend he hadn't noticed in the first place. It's silly. Silly, and stupid, they're friends, they've been friends since they were fifteen. They're both too old to be acting like this. But ever since that missing month, ever since Shouta had woken up on the red carpet to a missing chunk of time and a brand new career he'd had nothing to do with, ever since Hizashi had some back with memories of another world, something had been off.
Maybe that's what he's hoping to figure out, finally asking these questions. Even if the answers are ridiculous, finally making him look at Hizashi, eyebrows raised and a laugh in his voice.]
A farm?? I was running a farm. Me. Well, yeah, I guess that's different, all right...[He trails off for a moment, hesitating. There's more to it, he's sure, but he's not sure he wants to ask.]
[It does sound kind of ridiculous doesn't it? Hizashi manages a laugh. It had been so REAL though, and the way it was explained... it made sense. He isn't sure where to start on retelling.]
A farm and a resistance movement. With Shigaraki. Apparently, in everything that happened, we'd found common ground with him. It was probably the second strangest thing, but somehow it made sense.
[Hizashi pauses, hesitant.] But you... you seemed happy. Even if there was serious shit going on in the background, you were happy man. Happy and married and I'm pretty sure you'd adopted some version of Bakugou.
[He looks startled, looking over at Hizashi again, and then away, brow creased slightly in thought. Well, that makes sense. Explains why more than one night since, when he'd woken from dreams he couldn't remember--nightmares, maybe--he'd find himself opening his phone and scrolling to a number he'd never yet texted. Or never hit send, anyway. If they'd known each other...maybe he was remembering little bits and pieces of that other place. Some weird sort of overlap with his other self.
He's about to voice this thought to Hizashi when he finally processes the rest of what the other man is saying, and that's enough to clear all thoughts of other things from his head.]
[He looks over at Shouta now, an amused sort of expression on his face. That's about what he expected to see splayed across his friend's features, to be honest. he lifts a hand in front of himself to wave dismissively, amused.]
Bakugou. Little quirkless kiddo somehow. I don't know, it didn't really make a lot of sense, you dig? But yeah, married. A ring and everything.
[There's another pause as he searches Shouta's expression. There's so much he's glossing over, especially about Oboro and Kurogiri. From what he remembers, Shouta doesn't even know the two are on in the same yet. How would he even start? Is right now even the right time to?]
Weird is right. Not the Bakugou part, I guess, since, well. You know.
[He cares a lot about his kids, and if Bakugou had shown up in that other world, quirkless or no, they both know he would have taken him in. That's not surprising. But marriage...He's shaking his head, still mildly boggled. Who would marry someone like him? Especially if he's off on a farm, running a resistance group.]
But marriage...god. Marriage, and working with Shigaraki. And living on a farm. Did you meet whoever it was that was stuck with me?
[Maybe that's why this is a little weird and awkward feeling. Was it someone off? Someone who was rude to Hizashi, maybe? That could explain it.]
A lot happened to get everyone to that point, apparently. It was years ahead of now. You were in your fourties.
[That last question though has Hizashi shrugging. He pauses, considering. He's not the type to lie, especially not to Shouta, but he doesn't exactly want to make things between them even more strained or awkward.]
He was an okay dude, man. You don't have to worry about having met and married some jerk or anything. Dunno if "stuck" is the right word for it. I got the feeling yall were pretty happy.
Ten years or more--I can't even imagine what it'll be like, if we're still here ten years from now. I guess anything is possible, given that much time.
[He's quiet for a moment as they walk, considering Hizashi's answer. An 'okay dude', not a jerk...pretty happy. He doesn't even know what to think. Marriage isn't something he's ever really considered as an option in his life. Hell, even dating is out of the picture, otherwise he'd had humored Ms. Joke with at least one. When she wasn't performing for the crowd, she was perfectly tolerable company. Not as good as Hizashi, of course, but who was?]
I can't tell if you really liked him, or if you're just trying not to insult my taste in men.
You never know what'll happen. You never thought you'd be a good teacher, after all--
[Somehow, the way what comes next is phrased gets a loud, booming laugh from Hizashi, one of his arms reaching around to hold his own middle. He lifts his other to reach underneath his red-rimmed glasses to wipe at his eyes.]
No, really Shouta. It may be your birthday but if you married some weirdo I'd still tell you. [he pauses, something in his expression a little fond as he calms down.]
Feels weird complimenting him but you could've done much much worse, man.
[He pauses for a moment, lips faintly quirked in that inscrutable smile, glancing over at Hizashi before looking away.]
Nothing wrong with a little weird, but 'I could have done worse' isn't exactly a ringing endorsement, especially coming from you. I wasn't married to Tom--
[He pauses for a moment, a mildly puzzled frown coming over his face. Why was he about to say that name? He wasn't over there, he doesn't remember that life or that world, except...no, it's lost again.]
No, he'd probably be the 'worse,' wouldn't he? [The words are accompanied by another little shake of his head as he clears his thoughts. No sense thinking about things that didn't happen and probably aren't going to. Instead:]
So what was the other you up to in that world? If I was the first person you saw, must mean we haven't gotten sick of each other yet.
Tomura's like ten years younger than us dude. Almost anyway. I'd be calling you a cradle robber and everything. Also yeah, that'd be real weird, I wouldn't have kept my mouth shut about that.
[There's another laugh but the next question gets Hizashi to stop. He doesn't like lying to Shouta, not even by omission, so instead he just sort of watches him for a minute.]
I was helping you and Tomura out. You know, doing the renegade dj gig. Got married, fed a bunch of farm animals, that sort of thing. Turns out you're just kind of stuck with me, dude.
Good to know my other self hadn't completely lost it, at least.
[He's quiet for another long moment, picturing that image Hizashi's painting. Not even figuring Shigaraki in there, not even considering that weirdness--just...him and Hizashi. Living on a farm, both renegade heroes, married--and still together after all those years. Still together. (Together again, a small voice in his head reminds him, again because for a few years there, hadn't he just vanished? Left Hizashi alone because he was hurting, and too selfish and young and stupid to realize maybe he wasn't the only one. He'd almost ruined something irreparable. One of the very few friendships he had.)
It's funny how easy it is after a moment to picture it, even if he can't quite come up with a spouse for either of them. Those figures are faded and fuzzy and faceless, but Hizashi is as bright as he always is. And after a long moment, his lips quirk in that smile again, along with a huff of quiet laughter.]
Guess I could be stuck with worse.
[He's still grinning after his own fashion when he reaches out with a hand, pushing at Hizashi's shoulder.]
Come on. Where are we going? Where's this errand of yours?
[Could be stuck with worse. Hizashi laughs. They could both do worse for best friends, couldn't they? Even with that small gap in time, Hizashi can't think of anyone he'd be closer with. He hums thoughtfully, almost missing the question that he's asked -- but it doesn't matter. Hizashi's already strolling over to a set of double doors, fingers curling around the handle.]
Just here, man. We've got about an hour and a half.
[he nods his head in the direction of the name of the establishment splayed across the large glass window. "Purrs and Tea", it reads.]
[Shouta's eyes find the window just as Hizashi reaches the door, and his eyebrows lift high enough to almost disappear under his hair. Purrs and Tea, huh...Leave it to Hizashi to find a place like this in a country like this. There's a warmth at the thought that he can't really deny, and even as he sighs and shakes his head, he's smiling.]
I should have known.
[That's Shouta for 'thank you,' but Hizashi already knows that, doesn't he?]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[It's a concession as much as it is confession. The missing month, the changes here none of the natives seem to notice, Katsuki and his single-minded insistence on trying to get himself and others killed, his job change, Hizashi's efforts to--well, he doesn't know, really, and that's enough to make him feel guilty. Enough that he climbs to his feet, and after a moment's thought, tugs the newly acquired hoodie on over his henley.]
I'll come with. I'm not doing anything but giving myself a headache here. Where to?
no subject
[Hizashi grins ear to ear when Shouta immediately puts on the hoodie. He doesn't need any more evidence to determine whether Shouta likes his gift or not. Standing up straight he nods his head towards the door.]
Outside, oh cozy one. The place I need to go isn't far from the grocery shop.
[He doesn't waste any time in heading towards the front door either, grabbign keys and wallet as he strides towards the door. Opening it, he steps aside for Shouta to go first.] It'll be quick, promise.
no subject
Not a big deal. It takes as long as it takes. Like I said, I didn't have any plans for the day. What are you thinking for dinner?
no subject
[They're outside now, and as they walk, Hizashi juts his elbow out to playfully jab Shouta. He has the urge to push some hair behind one of Shouta's ears, but he ignores it. Instead, he chooses to focus on the excitement of surprising him with the rest of his gift. As they walk though, he watches Shouta out of the corner of his eye.]
So, modeling. You going to stick with it after all?
no subject
It's not my favorite, it's just what's easiest. Fast and efficient and good enough. Hotpot sounds good. It's starting to feel like fall.
[It doesn't feel like it's been that long. Almost four months now, or something like that; of course, maybe it doesn't feel like it because of that missing month, but whatever. Still.
He takes longer to answer the second part of that question, making a small, thoughtful noise as they walk. Modeling. In no universe could be ever have seen himself doing something so unbelievably silly. And yet...here they are.]
I wasn't, at first. It's incredibly stupid, and you know how much I hate public personas and celebrity and everything that goes with it. But... it's not so bad. Apparently whatever clone they replaced me with for a month was just as surly and taciturn, only they dressed it up in an oversized sweater and some ripped jeans and called it brooding. I don't have to do interviews, I just stand around in silly clothes and get my picture taken a couple hours each week. Better than the last assignment. And...it helps. Gets me access to people I wouldn't have otherwise. Gets me in places. It's useful enough.
[Which is to say, yes. Apparently Shouta Aizawa is a model now. What?]
no subject
Hizashi's never been quite so sure why people underestimate Shouta as much as they seem to. But perhaps it gives him a certain advantage, to be overlooked like that. Hizashi just finds himself wanting Shouta to actually receive what he deserves. He shakes his head, watching Shouta as much as he is the direction they're headed.]
Never would have thought it'd happen. But hey, if it works, it works! I'll have to save any magazines with your face in them just so I can prove they exist.
But, hm. Hotpot it is, then. Too bad we don't have a kotatsu to sit at, huh? [He shoves his hands into his back pockets with a shrug.] Never thought I'd feel homesick, but there's just some things the US doesn't have.
no subject
[And yet despite the words, there's that little note in his voice that belies amusement, the smallest quirk of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Yes, surly. Of course he cares, but it isn't useful for anyone to know that, or for him to wear it on his face. Better to keep it to himself, like he keeps so much to himself. He's never needed or wanted the spotlight.
Which does make all this pretty incongruous, huh? Oh well. It's got its advantages, so he'll take it while he can. While it suits him.
At Hizashi's mention of a kotatsu Shouta hums, agreeing as he runs a hand through his hair.]
You're right. We should find an import store. Or--well, whatever they call it here. A kotatsu would be nice, if we're stuck here through the winter.
no subject
[He's still laughing to himself as the subject changes. They could always order online, honestly. That's still a thing here after all. When that hand of Shouta's drops from his hair back down to his side, Hizashi barely registers his own hand pulling out from his back pocket so that he can scoop it up, loosely lacing their fingers together. They don't have much further to walk, either, just a few more blocks.]
As long as you promise not to let it swallow you whole, I'll check online after dinner. Dunno where the hell we'll keep the thing, could probably just replace the dining room furniture with it I guess...
no subject
[There's no vitriol in the retort, and he doesn't even notice at first when Hizashi takes his hand. It's not something they do, not ever, but it feels so much like second nature that it barely registers. He even shifts his own fingers a little, accommodating Hizashi's and making the grip more comfortable.]
We could get rid of the table in the living room, push the couch back. Or move that to another room. It's just us in the house, until they assign someone else. If they do. And everyone can appreciate a good kotatsu, once they learn what it is.
no subject
But you're right. The place is basically ours, who cares what we do with it?
[There's a shrug of a shoulder as they walk, and for a moment Hizashi falls silent, just enjoying the brisk air and the comfortable silence between them. He's missed this.]
You know, I kind of missed this. It's not even been that long since we hung out, but it felt weird, coming back to all this and then hardly seeing each other. I know we're busy, but I'm glad we've got time off together today.
no subject
[The words are easy and amused, though as Hizashi shrugs his shoulder, Shouta finally feels his attention drawn to the slight tug on his own hand, eyes traveling downward--and then pausing, not quite sure what to make of what he sees. When did that happen? How long have they been holding hands without him realizing it? Not that it's a problem, it's not, it's just--he hadn't expected it. He hadn't expected it to feel so...normal.
And now it's been happening too long to just stop, and Hizashi's telling him how much he's missed hanging out, and he can't just pull away when his best friend is telling him that he's been feeling lonely, can he? So instead, he just looks away, letting their fingers stay tangled, pretending vast interest in the shop window they're passing.]
I know I've been away a lot the last few weeks, but did we not hang out at all when you were off in that...wherever it was?
[It's an attempt to change the topic. Little does he know...]
no subject
From the outside, they probably look like two lovestruck teenagers afraid to look at each other.]
Huh? Oh, no. Actually you -- he? I was around the other you pretty much all the time. We had a farm that you were kind of the big head guy over. I think you were the first person I actually found after waking up in that place.
But it wasn't really you. Well, it was, but it wasn't you dig? You're not the same person but you are. Things were pretty different, yo. Not in a bad way, just a different way.
[Please god, for once Hizashi wishes he could shut himself up.]
no subject
Maybe that's what he's hoping to figure out, finally asking these questions. Even if the answers are ridiculous, finally making him look at Hizashi, eyebrows raised and a laugh in his voice.]
A farm?? I was running a farm. Me. Well, yeah, I guess that's different, all right...[He trails off for a moment, hesitating. There's more to it, he's sure, but he's not sure he wants to ask.]
Was that the only thing that was different?
no subject
A farm and a resistance movement. With Shigaraki. Apparently, in everything that happened, we'd found common ground with him. It was probably the second strangest thing, but somehow it made sense.
[Hizashi pauses, hesitant.] But you... you seemed happy. Even if there was serious shit going on in the background, you were happy man. Happy and married and I'm pretty sure you'd adopted some version of Bakugou.
no subject
[He looks startled, looking over at Hizashi again, and then away, brow creased slightly in thought. Well, that makes sense. Explains why more than one night since, when he'd woken from dreams he couldn't remember--nightmares, maybe--he'd find himself opening his phone and scrolling to a number he'd never yet texted. Or never hit send, anyway. If they'd known each other...maybe he was remembering little bits and pieces of that other place. Some weird sort of overlap with his other self.
He's about to voice this thought to Hizashi when he finally processes the rest of what the other man is saying, and that's enough to clear all thoughts of other things from his head.]
Wait, what? Married? And I'd adopted who??
no subject
[He looks over at Shouta now, an amused sort of expression on his face. That's about what he expected to see splayed across his friend's features, to be honest. he lifts a hand in front of himself to wave dismissively, amused.]
Bakugou. Little quirkless kiddo somehow. I don't know, it didn't really make a lot of sense, you dig? But yeah, married. A ring and everything.
[There's another pause as he searches Shouta's expression. There's so much he's glossing over, especially about Oboro and Kurogiri. From what he remembers, Shouta doesn't even know the two are on in the same yet. How would he even start? Is right now even the right time to?]
no subject
[He cares a lot about his kids, and if Bakugou had shown up in that other world, quirkless or no, they both know he would have taken him in. That's not surprising. But marriage...He's shaking his head, still mildly boggled. Who would marry someone like him? Especially if he's off on a farm, running a resistance group.]
But marriage...god. Marriage, and working with Shigaraki. And living on a farm. Did you meet whoever it was that was stuck with me?
[Maybe that's why this is a little weird and awkward feeling. Was it someone off? Someone who was rude to Hizashi, maybe? That could explain it.]
no subject
[That last question though has Hizashi shrugging. He pauses, considering. He's not the type to lie, especially not to Shouta, but he doesn't exactly want to make things between them even more strained or awkward.]
He was an okay dude, man. You don't have to worry about having met and married some jerk or anything. Dunno if "stuck" is the right word for it. I got the feeling yall were pretty happy.
no subject
[He's quiet for a moment as they walk, considering Hizashi's answer. An 'okay dude', not a jerk...pretty happy. He doesn't even know what to think. Marriage isn't something he's ever really considered as an option in his life. Hell, even dating is out of the picture, otherwise he'd had humored Ms. Joke with at least one. When she wasn't performing for the crowd, she was perfectly tolerable company. Not as good as Hizashi, of course, but who was?]
I can't tell if you really liked him, or if you're just trying not to insult my taste in men.
no subject
[Somehow, the way what comes next is phrased gets a loud, booming laugh from Hizashi, one of his arms reaching around to hold his own middle. He lifts his other to reach underneath his red-rimmed glasses to wipe at his eyes.]
No, really Shouta. It may be your birthday but if you married some weirdo I'd still tell you. [he pauses, something in his expression a little fond as he calms down.]
Feels weird complimenting him but you could've done much much worse, man.
no subject
[He pauses for a moment, lips faintly quirked in that inscrutable smile, glancing over at Hizashi before looking away.]
Nothing wrong with a little weird, but 'I could have done worse' isn't exactly a ringing endorsement, especially coming from you. I wasn't married to Tom--
[He pauses for a moment, a mildly puzzled frown coming over his face. Why was he about to say that name? He wasn't over there, he doesn't remember that life or that world, except...no, it's lost again.]
No, he'd probably be the 'worse,' wouldn't he? [The words are accompanied by another little shake of his head as he clears his thoughts. No sense thinking about things that didn't happen and probably aren't going to. Instead:]
So what was the other you up to in that world? If I was the first person you saw, must mean we haven't gotten sick of each other yet.
no subject
[There's another laugh but the next question gets Hizashi to stop. He doesn't like lying to Shouta, not even by omission, so instead he just sort of watches him for a minute.]
I was helping you and Tomura out. You know, doing the renegade dj gig. Got married, fed a bunch of farm animals, that sort of thing. Turns out you're just kind of stuck with me, dude.
no subject
[He's quiet for another long moment, picturing that image Hizashi's painting. Not even figuring Shigaraki in there, not even considering that weirdness--just...him and Hizashi. Living on a farm, both renegade heroes, married--and still together after all those years. Still together.
(Together again, a small voice in his head reminds him, again because for a few years there, hadn't he just vanished? Left Hizashi alone because he was hurting, and too selfish and young and stupid to realize maybe he wasn't the only one. He'd almost ruined something irreparable. One of the very few friendships he had.)
It's funny how easy it is after a moment to picture it, even if he can't quite come up with a spouse for either of them. Those figures are faded and fuzzy and faceless, but Hizashi is as bright as he always is. And after a long moment, his lips quirk in that smile again, along with a huff of quiet laughter.]
Guess I could be stuck with worse.
[He's still grinning after his own fashion when he reaches out with a hand, pushing at Hizashi's shoulder.]
Come on. Where are we going? Where's this errand of yours?
no subject
Just here, man. We've got about an hour and a half.
[he nods his head in the direction of the name of the establishment splayed across the large glass window. "Purrs and Tea", it reads.]
no subject
I should have known.
[That's Shouta for 'thank you,' but Hizashi already knows that, doesn't he?]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)