#9 Theme 26: Magical Dreamer - Panic Channel; Tora/Hiroto
Title: Dream Catcher
Author: beyondtheremix
Theme: 026 Magical Dreamer (Panic Channel)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Tora/Hiroto
Band[s]: Alice Nine
Disclaimer: swearing, major sap (lol my brain has fallen away)
Comments: If you haven’t seen The Exorcist… um… okay lol. (I’m sure if you google it you’ll find something that disturbs you)
Dream Catcher
The thunder had rendered itself silent, the rain moving on to other parts of the city. The midnight streets remained reluctantly empty save the few cars that rushed wetly down the pavement; they anticipated more rain and maybe, just for today, the rowdy night scene would turn in early.
For the life of him Hiroto could not fall asleep.
The lightning had left burning imprints of jagged shapes and spiked creatures on his eyelids. They slowly faded from his vision. It was quiet inside the bedroom; AC a light hum in one ear, croak of frogs and nighttime bugs muffled alarms in the other. Tora still wasn't home and it was beginning to wear on Hiroto's nerves; he didn't want to be alone right now and was beginning to freak out.
Okay, so maybe it was mostly his own fault for watching all those "Exorcist" DVDs in one stormy and rather dark day. And maybe he should have stopped after Tora left midway through the first one claiming he had to "be somewhere." But Hiroto had been utterly and completely entranced by the sick way the possessed girl shook and rumbled in an enticingly demonic voice, twisting her head and body into unseemly angles and all in all being awfully creepy. He could probably do that voice too.
Now though, now Hiroto couldn't help but run through their apartment turning all the lights on. He was God-fearing, dammit! Or rather Satan-fearing. As it was, he'd seen the demons possessing and decapitating people in broad movie-daylight and didn't feel the least bit assured by the soft glows surrounding him.
He pulled the larger comforter further up into his lap. He was sitting on their bed, alone as ever, leaning on the headboard. Better to see anything coming at him from the hallway or the window or... not under the bed. Hiroto's eyes widened fractionally at the thought and he nearly peed his pants loud shuffling sounds suddenly assaulted his ears. His head swiveled to the right, facing the adjoining closet he had securely closed before flinging himself beneath the covers.
Something was moving around in there and it sounded big. Another muffled movement, like clothes was being pushed aside. Hiroto was going to bite through his bottom lip if this kept up. Regardless, a high-pitched whimper escaped through his clenched lips when that something made a swipe at the door, sharp claws sliding against dry wood, ungodly hollow clunks against the back wall audible in the still room.
“Fu-Fuck you!” Hiroto yelled, jumping up and pointing accusingly at the closet door. “Fuck you fuck you! I know it’s you Chicken! Stop fucking around-” It would have been a threatening roar of sorts if Hiroto’s voice hadn’t heightened in pitch at the last sentence, cracking and breaking off when the loud thump of something falling, hitting, possibly body slamming the closet door sounded.
“Fuck you fuck you fuck you,” it was like a mantra shakily chanted as Hiroto hurriedly zipped and buckled on a pair of jean, hands fumbling, eyes fixed on the closet and its monstrous large sounding inhabitant. He grabbed a jacket and practically ran out the apartment door, shoes in hand.
The night sky was a surprising comfort. The moon’s face was clear of clouds, stars glinting against deep velvet, competing with the neon glow of store lights and the thousands of windows in the city. He kept his walk at a slow gait, killing time until Tora hopefully showed up. Now that he was out in the open air he felt silly for overreacting, but he wasn’t feeling silly enough to go back into the apartment.
The streets were mostly empty, empty and flooded.
Dips in the sidewalk filled with rainwater, leaves and the occasional drowned worm, bloated and seeming to glow in the dim moonlight. Smoky steam rose up from the kitchens of passing restaurants. The sounds of dishes clinking and clattering, being cleaned and readied for the coming morning grew fainter with each step Hiroto took. He was moving towards the clump of neighborhoods and apartment down the street now.
Saga’s outline came up ahead, surprising Hiroto. Then again the only people Hiroto had seen wandering the streets that night were tugging at dog leashes or lugging garbage bins towards the curb. Saga’s head was bent waiting for his drink to come out of a vending machine and Chiko was at his feet.
“Hey Saga,” Hiroto called brightly, happy he could finally have someone to talk to.
“Oh, hey Pon,” Saga started before smiling. “I’m walking Chiko... It’s been raining hard all day and I haven’t been able to take him out until now.” He made a face at that. “He took the biggest load around where you’re standing.”
“I was wondering whose elephant got loose,” Hiroto snorted, careful to watch his step. “Have you seen Tora by any chance? He told me he needed to ‘be somewhere’ and he’s still not back. I think I scared him off with my horror movies.” Hiroto laughed nervously at the rushed statement, he half-hoped it wasn’t true so when Tora came back he could laugh at him and make him feel safe again.
“Nah I haven’t seen him. Maybe he went over to Shou’s to watch Wall-E or something instead.” Saga grinned at the thought, chugging the rest of his drink before tossing the can into a recycle bin. “You wanna walk around with us? Maybe he’ll be back by the time you get home.”
Hiroto quickly agreed and the three began walking aimlessly down familiar streets.
Walking with Saga and Chiko was distracting, mostly amusing. Every so often they’d come across the flattened remains of a frog or lizard, lured out by the day-long rain only to be run over by cars quick to find cover. Chiko would spend forever playfully sniffing and nosing at it, scratching the ground near the road kill before rolling onto his back trying to bite at the poor animal from the pavement. It didn’t help that Saga would always burst into giggles and grab a stick, peel the flattened animal off the road and flick it Chiko’s way; basically sending the energetic dog into hyper circles around their legs.
They split off their separate ways when Saga decided it was about bedtime for him and Chiko. Hiroto bid them goodnight and by the time he returned to his own apartment complex the grey rain clouds had returned. They were twisting the sky into an ominous swirl of moody shadows that were rapidly kicking Hiroto’s imagination into overdrive.
It was 2 nearly 3 AM by his watch. Tora had better be home by now.
The hallway lights gave a small flicker with the nearby crack of thunder, causing Hiroto to flinch. Almost there. Almost there. Nobody’s going to come up me with a huge pair of garden shears and cut off my head, nope. No way no how. He quickened his pace and all but threw himself into the wall opposite their apartment door when it abruptly flew open.
“Holy shit Tora can you not do that?!” Hiroto hissed, clutching his chest.
“Where’ve you been?” Tora chuckled sheepishly, “Chicken must have been locked in the closet for at least an hour.”
“Where the fuck have you been? Geez Tora, I think my heart fell out my ass back there.” They moved into the apartment, Hiroto on shaky legs still clutching his chest as he tried to recover from the shock. No garden shears at least.
Tora gave him a weird look and cocked an eyebrow. “I came home around 12:30 to an empty apartment. For some reason a scared little squirrel left all the lights on.” He gave a waggle of both eyebrows for added effect, smirking because they both knew Hiroto had been holed up in their living room watching horror movies for half the day.
Giving him an incredulous glare, Hiroto slouched off to their bedroom mumbling about going on a walk because Tora was slow and didn’t care, wiggling under the covers to sulk. Their closet was slightly ajar now, most of the lights in the apartment off. Hiroto felt the itching urge to get up and shut the closet door. The idea was immediately squished by a heavy form settling itself atop his own curled frame, making them both dip into the mattress with their combined weight.
Hunched over on his knees and nuzzling his way towards Hiroto’s neck, Tora was warm even under the sheets and comforter. His elbows rested on either side of Hiroto’s head, his body draped over the other’s back and making him blush into the pillow.
“Come on Pon, I was just teasing,” Tora coaxed placing a lick on the sensitive skin he found there.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Hiroto allowed himself a sharp jab of the elbow to Tora’s side and a whispered “Go to hell” before sinking further into bed. The jerk of Tora’s body from the blunted blow and the withdrawing weight and warmth made him regret it immediately afterwards. He secretly wanted the attention, wanted to be coddled and spoiled and hugged and kissed because he’d been out of his mind with worry that night. It was ridiculous, but he couldn’t control the way his mind worked itself up sometimes. Most of the time it was okay because Tora was around and Tora was the one his mind (and body) got all worked up about and Tora was the one there to take care of it. Of him.
Hiroto’s mind immediately calmed when warm arms returned, enclosing him in their embrace and lifting him, blankets and all, into Tora’s lap. This time he snuggled willingly into the other’s shoulder, the tightness in his chest easing into the warm body against his.
“You could have gone to sleep you know. I would’ve been there before morning.” Tora’s voice was hushed, gentle as he maneuvered them both so he could lean again the headboard, the other still seated in his lap. He could tell the other was more than just pissed at his small joke, there was something else.
Hiroto was quiet for a while, leaning against Tora’s chest and playing with the other’s fingers in his own lap, searching for the words to describe what he was feeling. Tora reached out and grabbed his fingers, making Hiroto finally look up into his eyes.
“You… You know how we need air to breathe?” he whispered in a shuddery voice.
Tora nodded, holding Hiroto’s hands and eyes with his own. He waited patiently for what the other had to say.
“You know how our brains need oxygen to think?”
Another nod.
“Sometimes… I stop breathing just so I won’t think.” His eyes were watery this time and they made Tora hug him closer, strong arms tightening their hold.
“Ever since I was little… my imagination… it’s gotten the best of me. I saw so many bad things in my mind. At night I would have nightmares and in reality I would think myself into panic attacks. I know, I know I’m being stupid and they’re just silly fears, boogey men in the dark, but it’s hard to laugh when part of me is convinced they’re real.”
“You’re not stupid Pon,” Tora replied sadly. It hurt to think Hiroto had been forced to deal with his fears all alone.
“But I have you now,” Hiroto continued softly. “I’m so lame,” he chuckled, “When I’m with you you’re the only one I can think about. You’re my air, my oxygen, my thoughts and dreams, and all those boogey men can’t possibly exist because I have you. Nothing’s real, but you.”
Tora’s chest tightened at his whispered last words, he wanted to pull the other into a crushing embrace and never let go.
Instead he pulled the other into a crushing kiss, threading fingers into hair to pull closer. Tongues and teeth licked and nipped desperately, bodies pressed close together because this was all they would ever need.
Their lips slowed and separated with lingering pecks, chaste and sweet. Hiroto was smiling through tears, head slightly bent on Tora’s shoulders. “Don’t think feel, right?” he asked with a watery laugh.
“I’ve gotten so used to being around you, to breathing more because of you. When you’re not here I can’t help but get scared sometimes…” he trailed off, hiding his face in Tora’s neck.
“I love you too,” Tora smiled. “Keep breathing. I’ll stay here.”
It was getting late and they were both so tired no more words were needed.
Lying back onto bed, spreading blankets out to accommodate, reuniting in dreams.
"You're the biggest dream catcher I have, Tora-shi."
A/N:
Nothing to say except I feel super lame here and did not just write this XD
Archive
Author: beyondtheremix
Theme: 026 Magical Dreamer (Panic Channel)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Tora/Hiroto
Band[s]: Alice Nine
Disclaimer: swearing, major sap (lol my brain has fallen away)
Comments: If you haven’t seen The Exorcist… um… okay lol. (I’m sure if you google it you’ll find something that disturbs you)
Dream Catcher
The thunder had rendered itself silent, the rain moving on to other parts of the city. The midnight streets remained reluctantly empty save the few cars that rushed wetly down the pavement; they anticipated more rain and maybe, just for today, the rowdy night scene would turn in early.
For the life of him Hiroto could not fall asleep.
The lightning had left burning imprints of jagged shapes and spiked creatures on his eyelids. They slowly faded from his vision. It was quiet inside the bedroom; AC a light hum in one ear, croak of frogs and nighttime bugs muffled alarms in the other. Tora still wasn't home and it was beginning to wear on Hiroto's nerves; he didn't want to be alone right now and was beginning to freak out.
Okay, so maybe it was mostly his own fault for watching all those "Exorcist" DVDs in one stormy and rather dark day. And maybe he should have stopped after Tora left midway through the first one claiming he had to "be somewhere." But Hiroto had been utterly and completely entranced by the sick way the possessed girl shook and rumbled in an enticingly demonic voice, twisting her head and body into unseemly angles and all in all being awfully creepy. He could probably do that voice too.
Now though, now Hiroto couldn't help but run through their apartment turning all the lights on. He was God-fearing, dammit! Or rather Satan-fearing. As it was, he'd seen the demons possessing and decapitating people in broad movie-daylight and didn't feel the least bit assured by the soft glows surrounding him.
He pulled the larger comforter further up into his lap. He was sitting on their bed, alone as ever, leaning on the headboard. Better to see anything coming at him from the hallway or the window or... not under the bed. Hiroto's eyes widened fractionally at the thought and he nearly peed his pants loud shuffling sounds suddenly assaulted his ears. His head swiveled to the right, facing the adjoining closet he had securely closed before flinging himself beneath the covers.
Something was moving around in there and it sounded big. Another muffled movement, like clothes was being pushed aside. Hiroto was going to bite through his bottom lip if this kept up. Regardless, a high-pitched whimper escaped through his clenched lips when that something made a swipe at the door, sharp claws sliding against dry wood, ungodly hollow clunks against the back wall audible in the still room.
“Fu-Fuck you!” Hiroto yelled, jumping up and pointing accusingly at the closet door. “Fuck you fuck you! I know it’s you Chicken! Stop fucking around-” It would have been a threatening roar of sorts if Hiroto’s voice hadn’t heightened in pitch at the last sentence, cracking and breaking off when the loud thump of something falling, hitting, possibly body slamming the closet door sounded.
“Fuck you fuck you fuck you,” it was like a mantra shakily chanted as Hiroto hurriedly zipped and buckled on a pair of jean, hands fumbling, eyes fixed on the closet and its monstrous large sounding inhabitant. He grabbed a jacket and practically ran out the apartment door, shoes in hand.
The night sky was a surprising comfort. The moon’s face was clear of clouds, stars glinting against deep velvet, competing with the neon glow of store lights and the thousands of windows in the city. He kept his walk at a slow gait, killing time until Tora hopefully showed up. Now that he was out in the open air he felt silly for overreacting, but he wasn’t feeling silly enough to go back into the apartment.
The streets were mostly empty, empty and flooded.
Dips in the sidewalk filled with rainwater, leaves and the occasional drowned worm, bloated and seeming to glow in the dim moonlight. Smoky steam rose up from the kitchens of passing restaurants. The sounds of dishes clinking and clattering, being cleaned and readied for the coming morning grew fainter with each step Hiroto took. He was moving towards the clump of neighborhoods and apartment down the street now.
Saga’s outline came up ahead, surprising Hiroto. Then again the only people Hiroto had seen wandering the streets that night were tugging at dog leashes or lugging garbage bins towards the curb. Saga’s head was bent waiting for his drink to come out of a vending machine and Chiko was at his feet.
“Hey Saga,” Hiroto called brightly, happy he could finally have someone to talk to.
“Oh, hey Pon,” Saga started before smiling. “I’m walking Chiko... It’s been raining hard all day and I haven’t been able to take him out until now.” He made a face at that. “He took the biggest load around where you’re standing.”
“I was wondering whose elephant got loose,” Hiroto snorted, careful to watch his step. “Have you seen Tora by any chance? He told me he needed to ‘be somewhere’ and he’s still not back. I think I scared him off with my horror movies.” Hiroto laughed nervously at the rushed statement, he half-hoped it wasn’t true so when Tora came back he could laugh at him and make him feel safe again.
“Nah I haven’t seen him. Maybe he went over to Shou’s to watch Wall-E or something instead.” Saga grinned at the thought, chugging the rest of his drink before tossing the can into a recycle bin. “You wanna walk around with us? Maybe he’ll be back by the time you get home.”
Hiroto quickly agreed and the three began walking aimlessly down familiar streets.
Walking with Saga and Chiko was distracting, mostly amusing. Every so often they’d come across the flattened remains of a frog or lizard, lured out by the day-long rain only to be run over by cars quick to find cover. Chiko would spend forever playfully sniffing and nosing at it, scratching the ground near the road kill before rolling onto his back trying to bite at the poor animal from the pavement. It didn’t help that Saga would always burst into giggles and grab a stick, peel the flattened animal off the road and flick it Chiko’s way; basically sending the energetic dog into hyper circles around their legs.
They split off their separate ways when Saga decided it was about bedtime for him and Chiko. Hiroto bid them goodnight and by the time he returned to his own apartment complex the grey rain clouds had returned. They were twisting the sky into an ominous swirl of moody shadows that were rapidly kicking Hiroto’s imagination into overdrive.
It was 2 nearly 3 AM by his watch. Tora had better be home by now.
The hallway lights gave a small flicker with the nearby crack of thunder, causing Hiroto to flinch. Almost there. Almost there. Nobody’s going to come up me with a huge pair of garden shears and cut off my head, nope. No way no how. He quickened his pace and all but threw himself into the wall opposite their apartment door when it abruptly flew open.
“Holy shit Tora can you not do that?!” Hiroto hissed, clutching his chest.
“Where’ve you been?” Tora chuckled sheepishly, “Chicken must have been locked in the closet for at least an hour.”
“Where the fuck have you been? Geez Tora, I think my heart fell out my ass back there.” They moved into the apartment, Hiroto on shaky legs still clutching his chest as he tried to recover from the shock. No garden shears at least.
Tora gave him a weird look and cocked an eyebrow. “I came home around 12:30 to an empty apartment. For some reason a scared little squirrel left all the lights on.” He gave a waggle of both eyebrows for added effect, smirking because they both knew Hiroto had been holed up in their living room watching horror movies for half the day.
Giving him an incredulous glare, Hiroto slouched off to their bedroom mumbling about going on a walk because Tora was slow and didn’t care, wiggling under the covers to sulk. Their closet was slightly ajar now, most of the lights in the apartment off. Hiroto felt the itching urge to get up and shut the closet door. The idea was immediately squished by a heavy form settling itself atop his own curled frame, making them both dip into the mattress with their combined weight.
Hunched over on his knees and nuzzling his way towards Hiroto’s neck, Tora was warm even under the sheets and comforter. His elbows rested on either side of Hiroto’s head, his body draped over the other’s back and making him blush into the pillow.
“Come on Pon, I was just teasing,” Tora coaxed placing a lick on the sensitive skin he found there.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Hiroto allowed himself a sharp jab of the elbow to Tora’s side and a whispered “Go to hell” before sinking further into bed. The jerk of Tora’s body from the blunted blow and the withdrawing weight and warmth made him regret it immediately afterwards. He secretly wanted the attention, wanted to be coddled and spoiled and hugged and kissed because he’d been out of his mind with worry that night. It was ridiculous, but he couldn’t control the way his mind worked itself up sometimes. Most of the time it was okay because Tora was around and Tora was the one his mind (and body) got all worked up about and Tora was the one there to take care of it. Of him.
Hiroto’s mind immediately calmed when warm arms returned, enclosing him in their embrace and lifting him, blankets and all, into Tora’s lap. This time he snuggled willingly into the other’s shoulder, the tightness in his chest easing into the warm body against his.
“You could have gone to sleep you know. I would’ve been there before morning.” Tora’s voice was hushed, gentle as he maneuvered them both so he could lean again the headboard, the other still seated in his lap. He could tell the other was more than just pissed at his small joke, there was something else.
Hiroto was quiet for a while, leaning against Tora’s chest and playing with the other’s fingers in his own lap, searching for the words to describe what he was feeling. Tora reached out and grabbed his fingers, making Hiroto finally look up into his eyes.
“You… You know how we need air to breathe?” he whispered in a shuddery voice.
Tora nodded, holding Hiroto’s hands and eyes with his own. He waited patiently for what the other had to say.
“You know how our brains need oxygen to think?”
Another nod.
“Sometimes… I stop breathing just so I won’t think.” His eyes were watery this time and they made Tora hug him closer, strong arms tightening their hold.
“Ever since I was little… my imagination… it’s gotten the best of me. I saw so many bad things in my mind. At night I would have nightmares and in reality I would think myself into panic attacks. I know, I know I’m being stupid and they’re just silly fears, boogey men in the dark, but it’s hard to laugh when part of me is convinced they’re real.”
“You’re not stupid Pon,” Tora replied sadly. It hurt to think Hiroto had been forced to deal with his fears all alone.
“But I have you now,” Hiroto continued softly. “I’m so lame,” he chuckled, “When I’m with you you’re the only one I can think about. You’re my air, my oxygen, my thoughts and dreams, and all those boogey men can’t possibly exist because I have you. Nothing’s real, but you.”
Tora’s chest tightened at his whispered last words, he wanted to pull the other into a crushing embrace and never let go.
Instead he pulled the other into a crushing kiss, threading fingers into hair to pull closer. Tongues and teeth licked and nipped desperately, bodies pressed close together because this was all they would ever need.
Their lips slowed and separated with lingering pecks, chaste and sweet. Hiroto was smiling through tears, head slightly bent on Tora’s shoulders. “Don’t think feel, right?” he asked with a watery laugh.
“I’ve gotten so used to being around you, to breathing more because of you. When you’re not here I can’t help but get scared sometimes…” he trailed off, hiding his face in Tora’s neck.
“I love you too,” Tora smiled. “Keep breathing. I’ll stay here.”
It was getting late and they were both so tired no more words were needed.
Lying back onto bed, spreading blankets out to accommodate, reuniting in dreams.
"You're the biggest dream catcher I have, Tora-shi."
A/N:
Nothing to say except I feel super lame here and did not just write this XD
Archive