twisted perfection

chapter one

"Get off," Asahi huffed, voice catching in his throat.

He pulled Ryoma's hand off of his chin, wondering when on earth the soft 5-year old he'd first met had been replaced by this arrogant asshole of his best friend within a day. He didn't even know why he felt such a strong obligation to care for the older of the two the way he did, when Ryoma was all the more capable of taking care of himself without Asahi, often - if not always - disregarding all of his feelings if they weren't of use to Ryoma.

Asahi started the car before Ryoma had a chance to sit back properly, making him spill the water on his shirt.

"Woah, calm it. What the fuck?"

"You're damn annoying, that's what. Shut up and take the shirt off. You're getting blood on the seat."

"Oh, come on, Asahi," Ryoma whispered sassily. "You know you love it."

The younger boy rolled his eyes, glancing sideways as Ryoma pulled his shirt off. The deep scars from his past made Asahi upset, still unsure as to how he hadn't seen the signs before. He should've known what was going on when Ryoma started to push everyone away, even attempting to do so with his best friend.

He hadn't let him, of course. Ryoma meant too much to him to let himself be pushed away, so despite having his feelings fucked with, he stayed beside him. Even when he first found out what Ryoma was going to do for a living, and they almost lost everything. It took everything Asahi had not to up and leave.

"Ryoma... what have you done?" Asahi stood in the doorway of his best friend's apartment, dropping to the floor. Ryoma turned, gun in hand, grabbing a blanket to cover the body.

"I guess you were going to find out one day," he shrugged, making Asahi's head snap up, his expression a mix of shock and pure anger. Something that wasn't very common for his nature. "What? I'm a good enough assassin."

"I... are you fucking crazy, Ry? You just killed a man! In your apartment. With a gun! And you're calm about this? What's gotten into you? You won't answer my texts, my calls, and you're acting like the biggest asshole right now," Asahi yelled, standing up now. He walked over to push Ryoma hard on the chest, making the older boy fall back. Ryoma grabbed Asahi's waist so he fell too, the two of them collapsing onto the couch.

"Calm down-" Ryoma started, interrupted as Asahi snapped again.

"There's no way I'm calming down, you idiot! Get off of me, you disgust me right now," Asahi scoffed, climbing off of Ryoma. He glanced down at the gun on the ground, looking back at Ryoma one more time before walking out the door again, leaving Ryoma alone.

Tears quickly forming obstructed Asahi's vision, streaming down his face as he walked straight past his car and towards the main road. He realised there were blood stains on his shirt, instantly buttoning his jacket up as he approached the main road, shaking uncontrollably.

"What the hell are you thinking, Ry... how could you be so stupid? You really want to throw it all away like that? I don't even know if I want to see you again."

~~~

"Asahi, darling! Ryoma's calling," Ms Izumi called from downstairs, her son's phone in her hand. She hadn't realised he'd snuck out the window and was making his way towards the abandoned skate park. He'd intentionally left his phone behind, entirely ignoring the hundreds of calls his best friend had been leaving for the past week.

The skate park was luckily empty, Asahi leaving his bag where he could see it. He placed the board down and let himself fall along the slope of the bowl, the board suddenly moving from beneath his feet.

"Shi-" He yelled, almost slamming down on the concrete. A pair of strong arms caught him and he latched on, body trembling.

"You're gonna get paralysed or something doing that shit."

Asahi froze at the voice, pushing away so he was stood up. Ryoma held onto his wrist tightly, pulling him back down to look him in the eyes. "Why are you here? You've really got some nerve to try talking to me, you know."

The younger boy stood up and grabbed his skateboard, entirely ignoring his best friend and skating silently. Ryoma then got up, sitting in the middle of the ramp.

"Move, asshole. You're gonna get hit," Asahi groaned impatiently. Ryoma knew he was getting on the latter's nerves, chuckling softly.

"Wow, you're talking to me! You on your period, Izumi?" He smirked. With another groan, Asahi said nothing, sitting at the top of the ramp. He didn't react as Ryoma sat beside him, picking at the nail polish he'd decided to wear for once. They'd done it together the week before, a much more happier and relaxed atmosphere compared to their usual teasing and remarks.

"Asahi. Asahi. Asahiiii." Ryoma said in a singsong tone, prodding at his best friend's side.

"You're annoying, shut up," Asahi snapped, pushing Ryoma's hand away.

"Asahi, I mean it. Talk to me," Ryoma whispered, turning Asahi so they were facing each other. He took Asahi's face in his hands, the younger boy instantly turning away to avoid Ryoma's eyes, seething with anger.

"No, Ryoma! You listen to me. I never want to see your face again, you hear me? I am not having you in my life if that's what you do to earn money, and if you think I'm about to forgive you because you're my best friend, you have another think coming, I swear. I'm going home. Don't call me, don't text me. Don't even think about me. We're done."

Asahi stood up, leaving Ryoma sat on the concrete alone. The young assassin didn't tear his eyes away from the other boy, biting his lip.

"Like hell, you're leaving me. You can't live without me, Izumi," Ryoma growled. He stood up and grabbed Asahi by the arm, pinning him up against a pillar.

"Who said I can't? Watch me." Asahi tried to release himself from Ryoma's hold, failing miserably. "Ryoma, get the fuck off-"

"I need you," Ryoma blurted out suddenly, making Asahi freeze. He started laughing in disbelief, not believing a word for one second.

"Stop lying. You've never needed me; you're so full of yourself, nobody could be good enough for you but you. You don't need me. You never have."

Asahi let his head fall, staring at the floor. A tear fell onto Ryoma's shoe, followed by another, and another. Soon, Asahi was screaming in Ryoma's face, hitting him repeatedly on the chest and clutching at his shirt.

"Why do you have to do this, Ry? Don't do this to us, please. I can't leave you alone. I won't. Promise me you'll stop whatever it is you've decided to do. For your own sake as well as ours. It's dangerous and stupid, and I won't lose you like that!" Asahi cried, his porcelain-pink skin blotted and tear-stained now.

Ryoma stayed silent, holding Asahi close to his body, studying his face without a word. He sat on the floor, still holding Asahi, as the boy continued to cry harder, hiccuping every so often.

Two hours passed until Asahi was completely silent, and Ryoma looked down to realise he'd fallen asleep on his chest. Laughing softly, he stood up and carried Asahi over to his car, strapping him in.

"Maybe you're right, Asahi. Nobody will be good enough for me except myself. But, then again... I can't have anyone else by my side except you."

"Hello, Ryoma! Oh, Asahi went out? That's probably why he wasn't answering me," Ms Izumi smiled softly, taking her son's bag from the redhead. "You can put him in bed. Stay over if you'd like, too."

Ryoma nodded and kicked open Asahi's door softly, placing him on top of the sheets. He sat his best friend up into a sitting position to take off the oversized jumper, lying him back down again.

"Ry... stay here. Please," Asahi mumbled, wrapping his arms around Ryoma's neck. Ryoma sighed in despair, slipping off his shoes and climbing under the sheets beside Asahi.

"You're really a piece of work, Asahi. You know that?"

"Fuck off," the brunette mumbled, shuffling closer.