Fuselage

♡~♡ Chapter 24 ♡~♡

"I-" Eijirou's face went white. Large, scared eyes drifted to Katsuki.

"They told me they'd do worse if I didn't listen." Tetsu continued, looking up to Katsuki as though he were seeking forgiveness from the stranger. "But you're here now. And things are going to change. They have to." A hand stretched out, delicate and questioning. When Eijirou didn't flinch away Tetsu pulled at a loose lock of red hair. "You're getting bolder, Ei." His voice warm and fond. "I think we could change things. Mom won't be-"

"Tetsu!" Eijirou cut him off, "Don't speak ill of Mom. Or aunties." Ei inhaled, "Or dad."

Katsuki bristled, knowing there was a coded discussion happening, unsure what the conversation might have been. He watched closely as Tetsu's eyes widened, glance turning towards Katsuki before stopping midway, moving back to Eijirou. Katsuki stopped himself from reacting, stopped himself from giving away his own knowledge. He knew now that some secrets had to be kept to protect people.

But that wouldn't stop him from gathering crumbs of knowledge and building a foundation.

Tetsu nodded, "I see." He breathed in deep. "I need to get back to them, but..." He stood, looked around. "The shift changes at night. The security camera around the shrines are unattended for an hour between two and three. If you really, really wanted to see. And I think your friend deserves to know..." Tetsu stretched, smoothing out his shirt, pants. "I think..." He hesitated. "I think you do too, Ei. I think you deserve to know."

"Know?" Eijirou smiled uneasy as he stood, "What do you mean?"

Tetsu shook his head. "I mean... everything that no one has told you. What exactly you are, Ei. Why... why it's been so hard for you... us."

"Guys." Katsuki nodded pointedly. "I think we've got someone tailing us. Can't be one hundred percent but, pretty sure I saw someone lurking about twenty yards back."

"Alright, get the fuck out." Tetsu switched immediately from sympathetic to asshole; so quickly Katsuki almost could believe the previous conversation had been a ploy. "I fucking told you I don't give a fuck and I'll prove it right here, right now."

"Bring it, dumb ass." Katsuki sneered, squaring off. "I'll smear your ass-"

"Kat!" Eijirou put a hand on his shoulder, "Let's... let's just go. I'm tired. I don't want to fight."

"But-" Katsuki yelped as Eijirou tugged him backwards.

"I said no!" Ei tugged again, harder.

"I'm not your goddamned lap dog, asshole!" Katsuki yelped. "Don't tell me what to do!"

♡~♡~♡

"Do you trust him?" Denki popped a corn puff in his mouth, grimaced. "Blegh, shrimp." Grabbed another despite Mina's protest.

"I mean..." Eijirou and Mina exchanged a loaded glance over the beat table. "I don't know."

"Oh come on." Mina scoffed, smacking Denki's hand as he dove in for another handful. "You really think after all these years of being-"

"He apologized." Eijirou cut her off, fingers tangling in Hanta's hair as he braided, tied off the strand, moved to a new section. "He apologized and gave us a tip off."

"Oh yeah?" Hanta's voice was heavy, drowsy.

Katsuki was not burning with jealousy. Almost knowingly Eijirou glanced up through his dark lashes, fingers working slowly, diligently. Those red eyes meeting Katsuki's burning glare, that shitty smirk showing off a dimple, lips barely parting to reveal the hint of crooked teeth beneath them.