Walking Wounded

I learned the 'mother knows everything' through my own mother, that's why I added it in. I came out to my mother and she just said, "yeah, I know." So I figured it was a mother thing.

CHAPTER 4

Late afternoon rolled around, several weeks after their largest fight, and still no word between the two. Choutarou gently closed the door to his bed room before quietly heading down the stairs. His parents had constantly questioned him about his depression, had told him to call Ryou-kun because seeing his friend always seemed to make him feel better.

He wanted to call him, but at the same time he didn't want to. He hated Shishido and never wanted to see him again, but seconds later he was in tears because he missed him so badly.

He always found himself checking his cellphone, hoping and not wanting a text or phonecall from Shishido. Frustrated because he never received anything, and relieved that he didn't receive anything.

Coming to the bottom of the stairs he was just in time to see his older sister hang up the phone with a quiet "Good luck."

"Who was that nee-san?"

Her lips twitched as if trying not to smile, her eyes showing a flicker of forbidden knowledge. "Just a friend." She turned on her heel and went back into the living room, a barely visible bounce in her step.

Choutarou simply marked that into his brain as; 'older sister business, probably don't want to know.' Shrugging, he followed her into the living room.

By midnight the rain had started to fall heavily, flooding the streets in a matter of minutes. Cars cast large waves as they drove through puddles, flooding the sidewalks and any unfortunate patrons on the side.

Soaked runners padded along the sidewalk, the white turning a dull grey due to the water. No umbrella to cover dampened hair, clothes plastered to frozen skin. No jacket to shield against the water and wind, long forgotten in the doorway.

He didn't know why he was walking, or where he was going, all he knew was that he had to move around. Staying in his small empty apartment was driving him mad. Without even realizing what he was doing, Shishido had slid on his shoes and headed outside. Leaving his jacket and umbrella in the hall closet.

He couldn't even feel the rain, his mind was so withdrawn it never acknowledged the pain in his limbs.

"Ryou-kun?! Oyasashiburi, is everything alright? Do you want me to go get Choutarou?"
"Uh ...no, that's ok ...I kind of wanted to talk to you ..."

He had done it, and now his mind was running through thousands of thoughts and plans. Could he win Choutarou back? Did he want to? Did Choutarou want him anymore? Would he forgive him?

"Umm ...Choutarou and I had a fight ..."
"I kind of figured that, he's been really depressed lately."
"R-really? O-oh ...umm ..."
"You two broke up didn't you?"
"I-what?? How ..."
Chuckle, "please, I'm not blind like my father. Choutarou is in love with you, it's painfully obvious ..."

In love with you, in love with you, in love with you. Was he still? After all the shit he put him through? Would be be willing to continue loving him?

Shishido was a wreck, the past few weeks simply passing through the days in a haze. He couldn't tell one day from the other, he wasn't quite sure what day it currently was, Thursday perhaps?

"Well ...I don't know what to do right now ...I'm afraid to talk to him ..."
"Ryou-kun, if I know anyone, it's my brother. If you don't talk to him, he won't talk to you, he'll just sit in his room staring at his phone waiting for you to call him. So, the longer you wait the more he'll slip away."

No, he couldn't let that happen. He had to talk to Choutarou, had to lay it ALL out for him. He had to tell him about Akutsu, he had to lay himself out completely. Leave nothing unsaid, leave no room for misinterpretation.

When? He didn't have the nerve to talk right now, but he had to, if he waited too long he might very well lose Choutarou.

"Talk to him. Tell him everything. Choutarou is a sweet boy, but he's dense. You have to tell him the way it is, and don't let his little attitude stop you."
"I don't think I can ..."
"Listen, do you love my brother?"
"Well, yeah ..."
"Then don't be a coward. Use your feelings as fuel, tell him what's going on in your head, if you don't, how's he supposed to know?"

Without realizing it, he had made it to the Ootori residence, standing awkwardly in the doorway he finally came to his sences. He could either stop being a coward and talk to Choutarou, or he could turn and run home with his tail between his legs.

"Just a second nee-san!" Choutarou opened the front door, intending to run out and grab the garbage cans before they were blown away and came face to face with a rain-soaked Shishido.

"Ryou!" He gasped in shock.

"Umm ...uh ...I think we should talk ..." Shishido stuttered, teeth clacking because of the cold, voice softened by nerves.

"Never mind that! What are you doing out!? Without a jacket or umbrella! You're going to get sick!" Maternal instinct kicking in before his feelings did. Grabbing Shishido by the elbow he gently pulled him into the entry way. "Stay here, I'll get you a towel!" He walked briskly into the hall bathroom, fishing around in the linen closet for the largest towel he could find. Coming back out he threw the towel over Shishido's head, rubbing it over his hair.

"Geez, you always were an idiot Ryou, it's raining for gods sake, you have to learn to take better care of yourself!" Choutarou chided.

"Hai ..."

Choutarou crouched down, giving the brunettes soaked jean-clad leg a light slap, "leg up."

Shishido obeyed as Choutarou untied his runners and pulled off his socks.

Standing back up, he toweled down Shishido's arms, "not even a sweater! Ryou! Take your shirt off, I'll get my mother to throw your clothes in the dryer!"

Struggling with his soaked shirt, he gave up with a groan and a huff, the soaked material making it too difficult for his frozen arms to pull it off. Choutarou sighed and rolled his eyes, grabbing the shirt by the hem and peeling it off of the other male's torso. The towel was wrapped around him immediately, briskly rubbed over his arms and back.

"Your skin is practically white from the cold! Ryou no baka!" Worry filled the large brown eyes.

"I'll be fine ..." Shishido mumbled.

"Hai, hai, hot shower and then dry clothes, and then you'll be fine!" Dropping back onto his knees Choutarou grabbed Shishido by the waist and with a quick flick had the jeans unbuttoned and half way down his hips.

Shishido squawked, "Choutarou!"

"My parents are in the living room, relax, and it's not like it's anything I haven't seen before."

Shishido blushed, trying to cover himself in modesty. His boxers had clung to him due to the water, leaving absolutely no part of him to the imagination.

Pulling the towel from his partners shoulders, Choutarou quickly tied it around his waist. "Bathroom, now, I'll make tea." Leaving no room for argument, he pointed up the stairway, glaring down at the smaller teen.

Shishido grumbled as he staggered up the stairs, blood flow return to his legs making them feel weak.

"Choutarou, who was that?" His mother shouted from the living room

"Ryou! He walked over here in the rain, could you throw his clothes into the dryer while I make him some tea?" He called back, balancing the tea pot as he stuck his head from the kitchen doorway.

"He was out in the rain!? Is he alright!?" She came into the hallway, eyes wide with worry, her large brown eyes a mirror to Choutarou's own.

That was when the situation finally hit Choutarou, his boyfriend he hadn't seen in almost a month had shown up at his door looking like a pitiful drowned rat.

His expression softened, "I'm not sure, I was going to talk to him once he was warmed up."

His mother smiled and gently took his free hand, "I think that would be a good idea."

His eyes widened, did she know? No, she couldn't!

His mother smirked and winked, "don't worry, I'm sure you two will work it out, just be patient with him." She squeezed his hand in quiet support and left the kitchen to tend to the heap of wet clothes in the doorway.