Tetsurou looks at the little mushroom on his hand, unassuming, like most of its species, but deadly.
"With age comes the thirst for new hobbies," he shrugs.
Tetsurou looks at the little mushroom on his hand, unassuming, like most of its species, but deadly.
"With age comes the thirst for new hobbies," he shrugs.
—
—
He cards his fingers through blonde locks and gives him a reassuring kiss.
"We can always go back to Sendai," he offers. "Restore your mother's summer house, just as you promised we'd do."
He cards his fingers through blonde locks and gives him a reassuring kiss.
"We can always go back to Sendai," he offers. "Restore your mother's summer house, just as you promised we'd do."
In the evening, he gives the same tea, and Kei gladly takes it, thankful for his husband.
—
In the evening, he gives the same tea, and Kei gladly takes it, thankful for his husband.
—
He answers to his every beck and call. Bathes him, eats with him, wraps him on his arms, and hums the same lullaby he heard his brother in law sing to his daughter.
He answers to his every beck and call. Bathes him, eats with him, wraps him on his arms, and hums the same lullaby he heard his brother in law sing to his daughter.
Tetsurou sends the committee a formal email on behalf of his husband as he holds his hand. Kei is pale and weak and needy, advised to take a long bed rest after he overworked himself.
Tetsurou sends the committee a formal email on behalf of his husband as he holds his hand. Kei is pale and weak and needy, advised to take a long bed rest after he overworked himself.
"Because I'm not as smart as you? Because your work is more important than mine?" he challenges.
Kei never replies. He didn't have to.
—
"Because I'm not as smart as you? Because your work is more important than mine?" he challenges.
Kei never replies. He didn't have to.
—
"I only wish that you pause." Tetsurou tries to reason. "It's like you're never here, love. You make me feel like I'm alone in this house. In this marriage."
"I only wish that you pause." Tetsurou tries to reason. "It's like you're never here, love. You make me feel like I'm alone in this house. In this marriage."
That he is neglecting his husband.
That he is neglecting his husband.
—
—
They don't see Kei when he drops on one knee and opens the box that contains a family heirloom.
They don't see Kei when he drops on one knee and opens the box that contains a family heirloom.
All they see is his sharp edges. The thorns he wears proudly. The brashness and brutal honesty.
All they see is his sharp edges. The thorns he wears proudly. The brashness and brutal honesty.
And what an honor, to see this god unravel and be human, only for Tetsurou.
—
And what an honor, to see this god unravel and be human, only for Tetsurou.
—
Kei is withdrawn and tense, his countenance screams for isolation. Tetsurou sees the challenge, and he gladly bites.
Kei is withdrawn and tense, his countenance screams for isolation. Tetsurou sees the challenge, and he gladly bites.
Three years earlier, he was awarded the Fields Medal.
There had been rumors of a Nobel. Tetsurou is not surprised if it's the next thing Kei would achieve.
Three years earlier, he was awarded the Fields Medal.
There had been rumors of a Nobel. Tetsurou is not surprised if it's the next thing Kei would achieve.