a fork in the road
{Kei and Jun}
{Kei's Shack}
{Rated PG}
Jun was homeless and exhausted and he only thing he wanted to do was finding a place to sleep that was comfier than park benches. He was afraid to call Jui or Kei because getting kicked out was his problem and he didn’t want to burden them with it but now he was cold and hungry.
His feet lead him to the shack he had been to months before to have pizza and drinks with his friend. He hoped to god the man would be home, if not he’d just let himself in and sleep on that couch he found himself passed out on the time before.
”Kei! Kei are you in there?” He called as he knocked on the door.
Kei was definitely not used to people calling his name in desperation. Not since the last time he'd had sex, anyway, which was, oh...
Four years ago?
Jesus.
But whoever was on the other side surely wouldn't want that, because they sounded a whole lot like Jun. He couldn't imagine what Jun could possibly want that badly; maybe it was just someone who sounded like Jun?
In any case, he opened the door slowly until he recognized his sort-of friend's face and smiled ridiculously. "Hey, JunJun! You don't look like you're feeling too hot!" The door was held open for Jun to enter as he pleased.
“You can say that again,” he responded as he walked inside and went to make himself comfortable on the couch. He let a long sigh, happy to have some place a little warm to rest. He ran his fingers through his hair instantly wishing for a shower. His hair felt gross, he felt gross.
“Kei, can I stay here for a day or two?”
Kei was immediately alarmed by the fact that he'd gotten away with using that nickname. Something was definitely wrong here, and as much as he didn't want to care at all, Jun had helped him when he was in trouble.
So he had an obligation to return the favour at least a little bit.
"You can stay here as long as you want." A shrug; what did he care? "Once I'm dead, you can even have the place. I know it's a great inheritance. Want some Mountain Dew?" He hadn't realized just how bored he'd been, laying low after the Ryutaro incident, until he actually had someone besides Ai to talk to.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
He moved his bag into his lap and began rummaging through it. Some clean clothes were pulled out of it and sat next to him. He really needed to change. Sitting the bag back on the floor the clothes were put on top of it, it would be best to have some idol chit chat before he asked for something else from the guy.
”Uh how have you been recently?”
Kei went to get two cups of Mountain Dew before returning, handing one to Jun. How had he been? How was he ever?
Paranoid.
Energetic.
A little crazy, perhaps.
"Good." And he wasn't really lying. A small smirk; Aristotle really wouldn't know what to make of Kei, would he? "And you? Not too good, it seems."
“I’ve seen better days,” he said taking his cup and taking a sip. It felt good to have something in his body even if it would keep him awake when he wanted to sleep for maybe a day or two or seven. He looked over at his ‘friend’ and pointed at the arm he had attempted to clean and wrap.
”How’s the arm?”
"Better." Luckily, Ryutaro hadn't cut him deep enough to cause any severe damage.
...What a pussy.
But as far as Kei was concerned, his pride was the thing that had come most hurt out of that, since he'd had to go begging for help.
"I'm sure I haunt the dreams of the person who did it to me." A smirk. Kei usually just didn't care, but if there was anyone he wanted to see hurt, it was Ryutaro.
A small chuckle before he took another sip from his drink. He was glad that his horrible nursing skills didn’t cause Kei to loose his arm. He was glad that he was never on the tail end of Kei’s rage because he was pretty sure he wouldn’t live to tell the tale.
“I got kicked out a few days ago.” He might as well tell the guy so he wouldn’t think he was just freeloading or something.
Kei wasn't the tiniest bit surprised, knowing Jun's father. It was time for Jun to get out and do his own thing, anyway. The kid was what, 19?
Something like that.
"See it as an advancement of your independence." A grin. That was what he had done when he'd come home to find everyone dead- though he wasn't sure if he was the ideal example of how a person should turn out.
“Yeah I’ve been trying to think of it that way.” He shrugged and sat back on the couch closing his eyes for a second. This couch had to have been the comfiest couch he had been on. Opening his eyes again he stared at the ceiling wondering when he was going to get called for his job with that magician. He’d have to actually find something decent and clean to wear for the day she did call.
Looking over at Kei he wondered if he should mention to the other his current place of employment. A small frown formed on his face as he changed his mind. He wasn’t in the mood to be laughed at.
"You'll be fine. I turned out fine, didn't I?" That was laughable, but maybe Jun needed to laugh, and Kei's sense of humour knew no ends. Therefore, he didn't take himself very seriously.
And why should he? Existence was pointless. If he wanted to get into Heaven then he wouldn't kill people to make money.
"You're welcome to come in here whenever. The door doesn't lock." He shrugged.
Jun couldn’t help but chuckle at Kei’s statement because he really didn’t want to grow up to be like Kei. Kei was a little too off for his taste. He sat himself up to finish the rest of his soda. His eyes wandered toward the door that was mentioned and chuckled again.
”Well I’ll make a mental note of that. Does your shower work?” He at least wanted that to work or he would have to try to bath himself with the sink water and that was just odd and uncomfortable.
"Of course. You think I smell good naturally?" A laugh. "The water doesn't get very warm, so don't expect a long luxurious shower."
Then again, why would anyone expect that in the slums?
"Sometimes there's no hot water at all and it's so cold you can't breathe." A smile. "Just to warn you!"
“Fantastic,” he replied sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. He wasn’t going to have fun with this at all but at least it was better than nothing. He was glad he had Kei around even if sometimes the man was just to strange for words. Jui was a good friend too but at least he knew Kei ate most times. He didn’t want to starve if he had to shack with Jui.
”Kei, got any food around here?”
"'Course I do. Everyone's gotta eat. If you like cup noodles, at least. Nothing fancy around here." Kei ate so much bad food that his weight was a mystery, even to him. Then again, he had been prone to going days without eating... and he ran around a lot.
"I'll make them for you while you shower, yeah?"
God, when was the last time he'd been this nice?
Jun raised an eyebrow at how nice Kei was acting and was a tad worried about letting him make his noodles. He just nodded his head a little before grabbing his clothes and going to find the shower. He really hoped the shower was as cold as it had been outside or he would take the quickest shower ever known to man.
There was no reason to be afraid, of course; Kei only killed people if he was getting paid. Jun's noodles went unharmed as he boiled some water and waited for the teenager to come out of the shower.
Which, for Jun's sake, was hopefully not too cold.
...Why would he care?
Jun exited the bathroom never wanting to shower at Kei’s house again. He had never felt water that cold in his life and next to the beating he had gotten a few days later was one of the worse experiences he had in his life recently.
“How the hell do you shower like that Kei?!” he yelled as he walked back to the front room. He knew the other was a bit off his rocker but hopefully that wouldn’t he his excuse this time. He tossed his dirty clothes in his bag and sat back down on the couch, rubbing his arms for warmth.
Apparently it had been cold. Kei just smiled. "It's either that or smell bad, JunJun, and I have to sleeo with myself. Anyway, I'm used to cold rain."
Poor kid probably wasn't made for the life he'd been born into, with his corrupt father who just didn't give a shit. Oh, well; people had to deal with what they were given.
He'd learned, and now Jun would too.
“Don’t call me JunJun!” He exclaimed as he sat there shaking like a leaf in the wind. “How many times do I have to tell you that?!”
He hated being called JunJun almost as much as he was growing to hate Kei’s cold shower. Oh well. At least he was going to be fed now. It made him wonder if he’d be eating cup noodles for the rest of his life now. Maybe he would get a free dinner or something after his gigs with Rurutia.
"A million more, because I'm not going to stop." Kei laughed and stood up to get Jun's food for him, along with a pair of clean chopsticks. He'd made some for himself as well and waited for no particular reason other than it was instinct.
He was a little alarmed by the fact that Jun was still shaking, probably because he'd gotten used to stepping out of a cold shower and into a cold house. He didn't have central heating, of course- just a lot of blankets. One of the few things he'd actually pay good money for.
An over exaggerated groan came from the younger male as he took his food and began eating. The shivers slowly ceased as he filled his body with warm food. He had never had cup noodles that tasted as delicious as those.
”Kei you should be a cup noodle chef.” He was joking because he knew that cup noodles weren’t that good.
A snort. "Right. You must be hungry, because all I did was add boiling water and let them sit." Maybe he just ate way too many cup noodles, but he really could not appreciate the stuff anymore.
...Perhaps it was time to invest in a rice cooker.
...Yeah, okay. Maybe not.
"Glad you appreciate my lack of efforts, though."
“Your lack of effort is greatly appreciated,” he said with a mouth full of noodles. He really did appreciate all the other was doing because the man really didn’t have to take him in if he didn’t want. He quietly finished his cup noodles, finding it very satisfying for the time being. He knew he’d be hungry again soon but at least he had something on his stomach.
“Will you make me these fabulous home cooked meals every day?” he joked saying with a bit of a smile.
A shrug. "For as long as you live here... but you're the wife, if I will recall." A slow, devious grin. "Since I got you pregnant."
He laughed, then let it go, figuring it was best not to drive Jun insane right then. He was feeling a little tired himself as well. It just wasn't a good time for anyone.
"Y'know, you'd make a good hitman. Coming from the expert, of course."
An eyebrow was raised and a comment almost made about the whole wife and being pregnant joke before he was silenced by the next remark. He stared at the man wonder if he was being serious or pulling his chain again. He never got compliments, per say, from his father about their particular ‘family business’ so he never believed he was worth anything.
”Do you really think so?” He didn’t want to get his hopes up too much, that and he wasn’t sure if he could walk the same path Kei did.
"Sure." Kei wasn't sure if he really did or not, but then again, there were few people who would make a terrible hitman. Jun's only problem was that he got angry too easily...
But if he could fix that.
"If you can take it. And stop exploding at people." A small smirk. "Perhaps it's not an ideal path, but I enjoy myself."
“Well if I loose my current job and am in a bind I’ll think about it. As for exploding at people that’s easier said than done.” He couldn’t help his temper though he never tried to stop himself. He just didn’t care. “I didn’t use to explode at people. I use to be a nice kid.”
Those days were long gone though. He still tried to be a little nice here and there but his temper always got in the way at some point. Maybe having friends would help him be a little more cool about things.
"I know you did." Kei grinned. "I didn't. I was born fucked up, so maybe you really shouldn't try to mimic my actions."
Fuck- remembering his past was something he tried not to do just because he wasn't that person anymore. As far as he was concerned it was fictional.
"...Job? Where do you work?" Maybe he'd visit sometime.
Jun would have responded with he figured but then again that would have been rude and he didn’t want to get kicked out a second time. He could never picture himself living the life Kei lived because he didn’t want to live in constant fear and paranoia like he did. Maybe he just wanted a normal life like he thought he could have had while his mom was still around.
”Hm?” he said as he stopped his walk down memory lane. “I don’t want to tell you where I work.” He wasn’t going to tell anyone he knew which was basically Jui and Kei.
...What? Kei laughed. "You sucking cocks for cash or something? Whatever, I don't care." And he didn't. If Jun didn't want to tell him, that was his prerogative... though he couldn't imagine why.
Ah, well.
Who understood anything Jun did?
"Hope it pays well, because if you devour all of my food I'm making you buy some."
Jun’s eyes widened and he frowned. “I do not suck cocks for cash!” He would never in his life do such a thing and the thought of it made him angry. He already got picked on by Jui and he didn’t need it from Kei.
”It’s just something I don’t want to tell you.” The frown stayed on his face as he sat there with arms folded, glaring at his empty cup of noodles.
"I told you that was okay." Kei's grin grew slowly at Jun's irritation. Was the kid really dumb enough not to know that people wouldn't pick on him if he didn't react like that?
Apparently not.
"I don't care if you're whoring yourself or if you clean the toilets at Jusco. That's your business."
The boy huffed as his glare softened. He knew what his job was so he wasn’t going to try to keep defending himself about it. A yawn escaped the boy defusing his anger and his crossed arms were down at his sides. He was too tired to be angry over little things.
”Do I get to sleep on this lovely couch here tonight?”
"Yep. Unless you wanna climb in my cot with me, but I'm not sure we've reached that stage in our relationship." Kei stood up to get a coat. "I'm gonna go out and..."
...
"People watch. Do whatever, I don't care."
“Okay. I’m just gonna sleep once I grab some blankets.” He stood up as well to locate said blankets because after sleeping out on park benches he was not about to sleep through that kind of cold again. Another yawn and he wandered about the man’s shack to locate the warmth.
{Kei's Shack}
{Rated PG}
Jun was homeless and exhausted and he only thing he wanted to do was finding a place to sleep that was comfier than park benches. He was afraid to call Jui or Kei because getting kicked out was his problem and he didn’t want to burden them with it but now he was cold and hungry.
His feet lead him to the shack he had been to months before to have pizza and drinks with his friend. He hoped to god the man would be home, if not he’d just let himself in and sleep on that couch he found himself passed out on the time before.
”Kei! Kei are you in there?” He called as he knocked on the door.
Kei was definitely not used to people calling his name in desperation. Not since the last time he'd had sex, anyway, which was, oh...
Four years ago?
Jesus.
But whoever was on the other side surely wouldn't want that, because they sounded a whole lot like Jun. He couldn't imagine what Jun could possibly want that badly; maybe it was just someone who sounded like Jun?
In any case, he opened the door slowly until he recognized his sort-of friend's face and smiled ridiculously. "Hey, JunJun! You don't look like you're feeling too hot!" The door was held open for Jun to enter as he pleased.
“You can say that again,” he responded as he walked inside and went to make himself comfortable on the couch. He let a long sigh, happy to have some place a little warm to rest. He ran his fingers through his hair instantly wishing for a shower. His hair felt gross, he felt gross.
“Kei, can I stay here for a day or two?”
Kei was immediately alarmed by the fact that he'd gotten away with using that nickname. Something was definitely wrong here, and as much as he didn't want to care at all, Jun had helped him when he was in trouble.
So he had an obligation to return the favour at least a little bit.
"You can stay here as long as you want." A shrug; what did he care? "Once I'm dead, you can even have the place. I know it's a great inheritance. Want some Mountain Dew?" He hadn't realized just how bored he'd been, laying low after the Ryutaro incident, until he actually had someone besides Ai to talk to.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
He moved his bag into his lap and began rummaging through it. Some clean clothes were pulled out of it and sat next to him. He really needed to change. Sitting the bag back on the floor the clothes were put on top of it, it would be best to have some idol chit chat before he asked for something else from the guy.
”Uh how have you been recently?”
Kei went to get two cups of Mountain Dew before returning, handing one to Jun. How had he been? How was he ever?
Paranoid.
Energetic.
A little crazy, perhaps.
"Good." And he wasn't really lying. A small smirk; Aristotle really wouldn't know what to make of Kei, would he? "And you? Not too good, it seems."
“I’ve seen better days,” he said taking his cup and taking a sip. It felt good to have something in his body even if it would keep him awake when he wanted to sleep for maybe a day or two or seven. He looked over at his ‘friend’ and pointed at the arm he had attempted to clean and wrap.
”How’s the arm?”
"Better." Luckily, Ryutaro hadn't cut him deep enough to cause any severe damage.
...What a pussy.
But as far as Kei was concerned, his pride was the thing that had come most hurt out of that, since he'd had to go begging for help.
"I'm sure I haunt the dreams of the person who did it to me." A smirk. Kei usually just didn't care, but if there was anyone he wanted to see hurt, it was Ryutaro.
A small chuckle before he took another sip from his drink. He was glad that his horrible nursing skills didn’t cause Kei to loose his arm. He was glad that he was never on the tail end of Kei’s rage because he was pretty sure he wouldn’t live to tell the tale.
“I got kicked out a few days ago.” He might as well tell the guy so he wouldn’t think he was just freeloading or something.
Kei wasn't the tiniest bit surprised, knowing Jun's father. It was time for Jun to get out and do his own thing, anyway. The kid was what, 19?
Something like that.
"See it as an advancement of your independence." A grin. That was what he had done when he'd come home to find everyone dead- though he wasn't sure if he was the ideal example of how a person should turn out.
“Yeah I’ve been trying to think of it that way.” He shrugged and sat back on the couch closing his eyes for a second. This couch had to have been the comfiest couch he had been on. Opening his eyes again he stared at the ceiling wondering when he was going to get called for his job with that magician. He’d have to actually find something decent and clean to wear for the day she did call.
Looking over at Kei he wondered if he should mention to the other his current place of employment. A small frown formed on his face as he changed his mind. He wasn’t in the mood to be laughed at.
"You'll be fine. I turned out fine, didn't I?" That was laughable, but maybe Jun needed to laugh, and Kei's sense of humour knew no ends. Therefore, he didn't take himself very seriously.
And why should he? Existence was pointless. If he wanted to get into Heaven then he wouldn't kill people to make money.
"You're welcome to come in here whenever. The door doesn't lock." He shrugged.
Jun couldn’t help but chuckle at Kei’s statement because he really didn’t want to grow up to be like Kei. Kei was a little too off for his taste. He sat himself up to finish the rest of his soda. His eyes wandered toward the door that was mentioned and chuckled again.
”Well I’ll make a mental note of that. Does your shower work?” He at least wanted that to work or he would have to try to bath himself with the sink water and that was just odd and uncomfortable.
"Of course. You think I smell good naturally?" A laugh. "The water doesn't get very warm, so don't expect a long luxurious shower."
Then again, why would anyone expect that in the slums?
"Sometimes there's no hot water at all and it's so cold you can't breathe." A smile. "Just to warn you!"
“Fantastic,” he replied sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. He wasn’t going to have fun with this at all but at least it was better than nothing. He was glad he had Kei around even if sometimes the man was just to strange for words. Jui was a good friend too but at least he knew Kei ate most times. He didn’t want to starve if he had to shack with Jui.
”Kei, got any food around here?”
"'Course I do. Everyone's gotta eat. If you like cup noodles, at least. Nothing fancy around here." Kei ate so much bad food that his weight was a mystery, even to him. Then again, he had been prone to going days without eating... and he ran around a lot.
"I'll make them for you while you shower, yeah?"
God, when was the last time he'd been this nice?
Jun raised an eyebrow at how nice Kei was acting and was a tad worried about letting him make his noodles. He just nodded his head a little before grabbing his clothes and going to find the shower. He really hoped the shower was as cold as it had been outside or he would take the quickest shower ever known to man.
There was no reason to be afraid, of course; Kei only killed people if he was getting paid. Jun's noodles went unharmed as he boiled some water and waited for the teenager to come out of the shower.
Which, for Jun's sake, was hopefully not too cold.
...Why would he care?
Jun exited the bathroom never wanting to shower at Kei’s house again. He had never felt water that cold in his life and next to the beating he had gotten a few days later was one of the worse experiences he had in his life recently.
“How the hell do you shower like that Kei?!” he yelled as he walked back to the front room. He knew the other was a bit off his rocker but hopefully that wouldn’t he his excuse this time. He tossed his dirty clothes in his bag and sat back down on the couch, rubbing his arms for warmth.
Apparently it had been cold. Kei just smiled. "It's either that or smell bad, JunJun, and I have to sleeo with myself. Anyway, I'm used to cold rain."
Poor kid probably wasn't made for the life he'd been born into, with his corrupt father who just didn't give a shit. Oh, well; people had to deal with what they were given.
He'd learned, and now Jun would too.
“Don’t call me JunJun!” He exclaimed as he sat there shaking like a leaf in the wind. “How many times do I have to tell you that?!”
He hated being called JunJun almost as much as he was growing to hate Kei’s cold shower. Oh well. At least he was going to be fed now. It made him wonder if he’d be eating cup noodles for the rest of his life now. Maybe he would get a free dinner or something after his gigs with Rurutia.
"A million more, because I'm not going to stop." Kei laughed and stood up to get Jun's food for him, along with a pair of clean chopsticks. He'd made some for himself as well and waited for no particular reason other than it was instinct.
He was a little alarmed by the fact that Jun was still shaking, probably because he'd gotten used to stepping out of a cold shower and into a cold house. He didn't have central heating, of course- just a lot of blankets. One of the few things he'd actually pay good money for.
An over exaggerated groan came from the younger male as he took his food and began eating. The shivers slowly ceased as he filled his body with warm food. He had never had cup noodles that tasted as delicious as those.
”Kei you should be a cup noodle chef.” He was joking because he knew that cup noodles weren’t that good.
A snort. "Right. You must be hungry, because all I did was add boiling water and let them sit." Maybe he just ate way too many cup noodles, but he really could not appreciate the stuff anymore.
...Perhaps it was time to invest in a rice cooker.
...Yeah, okay. Maybe not.
"Glad you appreciate my lack of efforts, though."
“Your lack of effort is greatly appreciated,” he said with a mouth full of noodles. He really did appreciate all the other was doing because the man really didn’t have to take him in if he didn’t want. He quietly finished his cup noodles, finding it very satisfying for the time being. He knew he’d be hungry again soon but at least he had something on his stomach.
“Will you make me these fabulous home cooked meals every day?” he joked saying with a bit of a smile.
A shrug. "For as long as you live here... but you're the wife, if I will recall." A slow, devious grin. "Since I got you pregnant."
He laughed, then let it go, figuring it was best not to drive Jun insane right then. He was feeling a little tired himself as well. It just wasn't a good time for anyone.
"Y'know, you'd make a good hitman. Coming from the expert, of course."
An eyebrow was raised and a comment almost made about the whole wife and being pregnant joke before he was silenced by the next remark. He stared at the man wonder if he was being serious or pulling his chain again. He never got compliments, per say, from his father about their particular ‘family business’ so he never believed he was worth anything.
”Do you really think so?” He didn’t want to get his hopes up too much, that and he wasn’t sure if he could walk the same path Kei did.
"Sure." Kei wasn't sure if he really did or not, but then again, there were few people who would make a terrible hitman. Jun's only problem was that he got angry too easily...
But if he could fix that.
"If you can take it. And stop exploding at people." A small smirk. "Perhaps it's not an ideal path, but I enjoy myself."
“Well if I loose my current job and am in a bind I’ll think about it. As for exploding at people that’s easier said than done.” He couldn’t help his temper though he never tried to stop himself. He just didn’t care. “I didn’t use to explode at people. I use to be a nice kid.”
Those days were long gone though. He still tried to be a little nice here and there but his temper always got in the way at some point. Maybe having friends would help him be a little more cool about things.
"I know you did." Kei grinned. "I didn't. I was born fucked up, so maybe you really shouldn't try to mimic my actions."
Fuck- remembering his past was something he tried not to do just because he wasn't that person anymore. As far as he was concerned it was fictional.
"...Job? Where do you work?" Maybe he'd visit sometime.
Jun would have responded with he figured but then again that would have been rude and he didn’t want to get kicked out a second time. He could never picture himself living the life Kei lived because he didn’t want to live in constant fear and paranoia like he did. Maybe he just wanted a normal life like he thought he could have had while his mom was still around.
”Hm?” he said as he stopped his walk down memory lane. “I don’t want to tell you where I work.” He wasn’t going to tell anyone he knew which was basically Jui and Kei.
...What? Kei laughed. "You sucking cocks for cash or something? Whatever, I don't care." And he didn't. If Jun didn't want to tell him, that was his prerogative... though he couldn't imagine why.
Ah, well.
Who understood anything Jun did?
"Hope it pays well, because if you devour all of my food I'm making you buy some."
Jun’s eyes widened and he frowned. “I do not suck cocks for cash!” He would never in his life do such a thing and the thought of it made him angry. He already got picked on by Jui and he didn’t need it from Kei.
”It’s just something I don’t want to tell you.” The frown stayed on his face as he sat there with arms folded, glaring at his empty cup of noodles.
"I told you that was okay." Kei's grin grew slowly at Jun's irritation. Was the kid really dumb enough not to know that people wouldn't pick on him if he didn't react like that?
Apparently not.
"I don't care if you're whoring yourself or if you clean the toilets at Jusco. That's your business."
The boy huffed as his glare softened. He knew what his job was so he wasn’t going to try to keep defending himself about it. A yawn escaped the boy defusing his anger and his crossed arms were down at his sides. He was too tired to be angry over little things.
”Do I get to sleep on this lovely couch here tonight?”
"Yep. Unless you wanna climb in my cot with me, but I'm not sure we've reached that stage in our relationship." Kei stood up to get a coat. "I'm gonna go out and..."
...
"People watch. Do whatever, I don't care."
“Okay. I’m just gonna sleep once I grab some blankets.” He stood up as well to locate said blankets because after sleeping out on park benches he was not about to sleep through that kind of cold again. Another yawn and he wandered about the man’s shack to locate the warmth.