[closed] sorting out memories

[suicideprototype]

Who: Ritsu and Gokudera
What: Ritsu arranges a meeting to help Gokudera undo his brainwashing
When: August
Where: The gymnasium
Warnings: Mild body horror

Ritsu, true to his word, waits a week without contacting Gokudera. In truth, it's a week he feels he's spent mostly unfruitfully - the more acquainted he is with his surroundings, the more disappointed he is. Moldy vending machines? A robot that throws drinks at bar patrons (okay, admittedly, that one can be funny to watch)? Living arrangements that mostly give him absolutely no privacy to speak of? Honestly, a pain doesn't even begin to describe it; even the simple matter of looking for a comfortable place to take Gokudera proves to be an annoyance. If possible, he'd like it to be someplace with beds or at least a seat of some sort so Gokudera can rest afterwards. He'd also prefer privacy, given the nature of what they're about to do.

The intimacy lounge fits his requirements best, but... Well, how does one begin to invite someone they've just met to a place like that? It's shifty beyond belief - there's no way it wouldn't make him sound like some kind of creep! Even if explains his reasons to Gokudera and Gokudera is fine with it, he's not comfortable with it, given what the intimacy lounge is built for. What if someone sees? What if there are rumors?!

And so, after much deliberation, Ritsu decides to settle for the gym, firing a message off to Gokudera.

"Gokudera-san. Can you meet me in the gym?"

Comments

[bakudan_bambino]

"Well, so long as my collar won't take any damage," Gokudera says with a shrug. It's not like the accessory is something expensive, but that if it were damaged, it could possibly kill him. He's not going around pointing out that it's such a big weakness, so he won't offer more information unless Shikishima is asking for it.

The bomber stands, watches, and continues to smoke, blinking at the change that happens to the other guy's appearance. He's seen a lot of strange shit, but this is unique in its own way. There's not much that could have prepared him for what he's witnessing.

"You said it looks painful. Is it?" Gokudera seems relatively calm about this.

[suicideprototype]

"A little. But I'm used to it."

Calm is good. Gokudera looks young, but he seems to be relatively mature for his age, much to Ritsu's relief. Part of Ritsu has to wonder just what Gokudera's been exposed to that he can take something like this in stride, but... Well, there will be time for that later.

First things first.

He walks up to Gokudera, then raises his guns, pointing them at Gokudera's chest - might as well pick that spot, since Gokudera's concerned about his collar.

"You ready?"

[bakudan_bambino]

"I'm sorry."

For causing him any pain or discomfort. Gokudera is a nice, good person. The last world he was on showed him some real horrors. The way Shikishima wants to help him eases how he looks. It is odd, but Gokudera won't react too obviously.

"You're going to fire both?" He wonders if it will be like an energy shot, or light, or... the black that he can see beneath the other boy's skin. He isn't sure how he'll react, and is at his base level scared. Green eyes widen and look down at those pistols, his eyebrows knitting as he tries to ready himself.

[suicideprototype]

I'm sorry, huh? They're words Ritsu doesn't hear very often, and for a brief moment, a tiny smile - wry and sad - appears on his face.

Little sparks of white electricity flow through Ritsu's pistols, lighting up the flower-shaped imprints carved into the guns' sides. "It'll help if you try to think of a pleasant memory."

He gives Gokudera a few more moments to mentally prepare himself.

Then he pulls the trigger, and two bright beams of light - bright pink to the point of almost being indiscernible from white - snake out from the pistols, taking on the shape of the same flower insignia as they head towards Gokudera's chest; and as they envelop Gokudera, then once the initial impact of them thudding against his chest fades, he should find his mind becoming clearer, his memories clicking back into place where they were supposed to be.

[bakudan_bambino]

It's easier to apologize for what someone feels, especially pain, rather than for anything he's done. Gokudera can take responsibility, but is not eager to hand out apologies when he makes mistakes. Usually if he hurts anyone, it's with full intention to do so.

Gokudera gives a wry breath of a laugh. "Can't tell which pleasant memories are real..." And then he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

He didn't grow up in Guardian, with other children. He grew up homeless. His father never attempted to reach out to him... he allowed his son to live on the streets.

Disappointment seeps in. He wasn't raised around sex or prostitution. He was... involved. Everything for the last two years happened... Gokudera puts a hand over his mouth, feeling suddenly ill. He puts his other hand up and turns his head away.

His real life, the truth is uglier than what he thought was real. What Amoi put him through was horrible, but the past it covered feels like something he won't be able to escape. He has... it's okay... it's just the past... he's better... A little overwhelmed, but better.