destinytown | (no subject)

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[ saitama's secret stash...

...is something of a misnomer. there's nothing really secret about it, for one; the man doesn't have a lot of space to work with, and everything there is to see in his home is more or less in plain sight. he doesn't have much to hide, made abundantly clear every time genos performs a thorough bi-weekly sweep of their surroundings.

sensei, this flyer is from last month...
don't mind it, it doesn't expire for a while, you know?

the coupons tend to be long-expired, but genos won't say a thing. it's better to live and let live, or on those cases, not let his sensei know so he can pick up any wanted groceries in his stead. saitama doesn't need to know the real price. if he wants to keep thinking the value is worth something in the long run, so be it. frugality is one of his dozens of virtues, anyway.

what passes for the stash is typically nothing more than the latest magazines, advertisements, and other paraphernalia well-stocked by genos to ensure that sensei is continuing to thrive. originally it started out as something of a team effort (though saitama really hadn't seen the need at the time), growing into more and more of genos's side project over time. it makes sense, what with how busy sensei is these days. there's always a squabble here, a fight there, the here association pulling at their ears all the while...

lately saitama isn't even around, which leaves his young ward to his own devices, more often than not. there's no problem in it when genos has plenty of things to study, hero duties he can catch up on, plus the occasional tune-up at dr. kuseno's lab.

which leads him to wonder: what in the world is with this growing pile of discs in the living room?

video games... genos knows of them. his years spent as a cyborg of justice doesn't mean he's forgotten the past, forgotten some of the things which used to fill his spare time. but why are they filling sensei's? surely his hours could be better spent climbing the ranks of the association, just as he encouraged genos to do. not that sensei doesn't know best; he probably has a plan he hasn't told genos of yet, doing things in his own way. sensei, after all, is the strongest man the world has ever seen. what does ranking have to do with it?

at this point it's purely speculation. they could be here due to any number of things. there's no telling they belong to saitama in the first place. it's entirely possible they might have something to do with how much time he spends around the s-class's seventh best. as for why king would be influencing him to bring home piles and piles of games, it's beyond genos's reasoning. is it for training? it has to be for training.

now he's drawn a conclusion, able to proceed with no issues. a little tidying is fine, far from unwelcome, and sensei will appreciate it. if he asks, it's very possible they could play together too, like he does with the king.

if...oh.

wait.

a lot of these don't look like they're for two players at all...

and that is how the biomechanical boy has found himself sprawled out on the floor in the middle of the afternoon, transfixed by a now-empty jewel case with a scantily-clad girl on the packaging, her moans on the television screen ringing in his ears.

training. this is for training. sensei just needed a little...brushing up on how to talk to women. judging from how genos has fared in his game so far, he doesn't seem to have the same trouble. if anything, it's been all too easy to win over this virtual girl's affections and lure her into the bedroom. surely they don't act this way in the real world, too. genos's fanclub throwing themselves at them left and right is harrowing enough! ]

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[ it's a good enough answer for him. nobody will mind if sonic plants a quick one on genos's cheek, too quick for anyone but a artificial teenager to see, stepping aside thereafter. ]

I knew I could count on you.

...? [ wait. what—

oh, never mind. the mess he's gotten himself into isn't worth investigating. all genos can do is sigh out and move on, fixing his gaze elsewhere as he scans the perimeter, the people going about their daily lives who haven't caught wind of the famous hero walking among them.

just as well. when he's convinced, he pulls out his phone, thumbing through messages as they walk. ] Hold on. I have to... [ ah, there. sonic is so big of a distraction he'd forgotten why he'd taken his short trip here in the first place. a quick recap with his sensei's refreshed his memory.

but should he drag sonic along? is he up for that? he came all the way out here to see him, he says, and yet... ]

[ again, he's in the dark. that cyborg sure does like to get into his own little world, doesn't he?

no matter. craning his neck to try and look at his phone is easier than getting into the logistics of how genos ticks, already knowing it's a futile effort at best. ] ...? What? Do you have to leave already?

[ he can go right ahead and examine the conversation if he wants. it isn't anything spectacular; as he's gotten accustomed to, it's more wordy on genos's end than saitama's, full of promises to make good on a business's everything must go! sale. since t-city is hardly the longest day trip he's ever been on, what's the harm in heading over to pick up a few (dozen) items? donning the demon cyborg mantle wasn't in his itinerary, but it'll help pad out his regular report. it certainly aided him in dispelling some unwanted tension, another plus to what was otherwise a big nuisance.

blinking rapidly, he'll clue sonic in. ] Got to pick up something. [ the details can be omitted, he thinks, clearing his throat. ] If you need to split...

[ will he? sonic must surely have his own agenda. he's eaten, he's heckled his so-called loyal hound, so what else is there for him? it's doubtful he has the time to stay, the heart to hoof it back home at genos's side. most likely he'll wind up with a long string of messages after arriving safe and sound, obnoxious boasts about being beaten to the finish line or some nonsense over the poor mutt who's getting put to work playing fetch for his master.

anything could happen. what they have is very new, unlike anything genos has ever experienced in his life. he has no means of measuring how much will change between them, if things do at all. currently they appear to be straddling an incredibly fine line cut across two extremes. it doesn't necessarily need to be altered, though genos won't deny holding a curiosity in seeing where exactly they can go. ]

[ what's most surprising in all of this, past their budding companionship turned something more meaningful, is genos suggesting that he didn't come all the out here, by foot, nonetheless, to spend more than an hour or so with him.

squinting up at his friend is all sonic can do for a beat, and then: ] Are you being serious... [ why would he say his goodbyes after taking the time to visit randomly, when there was a slim chance he wouldn't find the guy meandering about?

either way, it looks like the cyborg isn't cracking wise at him. ]

Do you really think I'd leave after only eating? [ sonic's a touch offended, perhaps. their immediate reunion should have told genos enough already about his want, how much he missed... this thing they have, whatever it may turn out to be. ] Stupid toaster. Dense blender.

[ he's putting words into genos's mouth. a little confirmation doesn't hurt matters, sometimes needing an indicator for where they're standing. ]

Okay. [ the last thing he wants to do is get on sonic's bad side. he can tell when he's rubbed the wrong way, hurriedly snatching up his hand to cram it into one of his own front pockets for concealment, holding fast to it. ] Good. [ this is a last-ditch effort to make amends, deficient in the means he'd normally use behind closed doors. if he tunes in he swears he can hear a few mutterings about the demon cyborg in the crowd here and there. while it could also just be a recap of what's happened a short while ago, he won't take his chances.

pressing onward is...a challenge when they're joined this way, but genos will spare sonic a glance and keep moving, jaw set firmly atop the background of his gradually-reddening face. it's one of the most human features he possesses, in no control over it as they walk. ]

[ genos was in the clear from the start. like sonic's usual tantrums, it wasn't going to last long, anyway. two, maybe three minutes tops would be the shortest route for him to take, lacking the ability to focus on a petty irritation for more than half a day, perhaps shorter if the time called for it. ]

—!? [ starting up again isn't planned, but then genos had to go and do something so... ] What are you—

[ no, it's too late, he's being pulled along for the ride towards wherever the pickup location may be. sonic's body is more than happy to mirror off of the man walking beside him, also teetering into a flush that's so violent, so fast that he can't think straight. it's a successful way to cut off any sputtering or flailing over such a blatant display of public affection, as if the peck he deposited on a now-reddened cheek was any different than holding hands.

it is, though, isn't it? this will last a lot longer, carry on for an uncertain amount of time. what does he even do? does he have to do anything to begin with? belatedly, sonic's fingers will twitch, crawling to stop after they curl slightly in genos's grasp. is that okay? is that what he's supposed to do...? ]

[ admittedly, he didn't think this through very well. this is as much to prove a point as it is to prolong the contact they can share, however fleeting it's going to be. a few blocks blur by before he has to be bid a hasty retreat, not knowing what to do when a small child squawks excitedly at the two of them. of all the things he needs, playing twenty questions over why playing twenty questions about what they're doing in his pockets isn't one of them. he's seen how bad they can get when sensei is involved, and that man has an infinite amount of patience in contrast to what they possess.

it's a crisis easily averted, albeit with a few drawbacks. sonic's warmth is instantly missed, his tentative participation somehow more charming to him than if he were to go at it with his usual gusto. realizing it leaves genos standing rigidly at the next crosswalk, addlepated from the plethora of mixed feelings the day's had to plunge him into. there's more gravity here than when he's had to deal with the screen of his phone, the easy banter he's more or less participated in from the very beginning. it borders on just this side of overwhelming, and it's all he can do to maintain his typically cool exterior. he can't let sonic know.

by the time they've reached their destination, he's thankfully able to let most of it go. genos is here for a reason, after all, and he's not about to let the shaky, somersaulting feeling in his core (which isn't even real, merely something his mind is irrationally superimposing—) interfere with his errand. the affair is a cut and dry one, and in no time they're in and out with a dozen cases genos has no use for, but saitama apparently does, so far be it from his disciple not to dash out the door at the first mention of it... ]

All right. [ now he just has to get everything squared away with saitama. they'll be back by dinner in the blink of an eye, though it's too early to tell if they'll be spending that together, too. ]

[ some outing this is turning out to be. sonic can't be sure if he's exhausted because of the trip (highly unlikely, he has enough energy for a dozen more) or if all these flipflopping emotions are taking its toll on him (very likely, given how their time together has progressed thus far). this is turning out to be not as interesting as he had hoped, although the undercurrents leaves not as much to be desired, had he decided to not follow through with a whimsical chance meeting. what he wanted was to see genos, talk to him face to face... and then what?

feeling this way wasn't supposed to be his crowning achievement for the day. acting like such a hot mess wasn't factored into it, either, but here they are, mimicking two shy, confused preteens, lost in where to go and how to start something new. in some respect, that's a refreshing feeling to have. sonic's all about his pride, his ability to dive head-first into things and come out practically unscathed. with genos, however, he's bumbling around so much, and yet he's barely skimming the surface of genuinely liking a person (a cyborg, rather). is this how it's always going to be?

this is torture—it's a passing thought, one he idly muses over as he stares down at his hand that tingles ever so slightly, ignoring the business genos is conducting in favor of giving himself a moment to mull over so many new emotions. in spite of the hurricane raging inside of him, sonic's smiling something soft, still lost in his own world when his companion regards him. ]

Hm? [ the upward curve of his lips smooth out, expression a bit disoriented. ] Oh... That's it?

[ as if he actually paid attention, even knew what genos was up to. the kid could've been dealing drugs, exchanging explosives, any number of things without being any wiser. ]

[ genos won't reveal the secret. what saitama plans on doing with all these boxes of fried buns, however, is beyond him. he doesn't plan to live off of these for a time, does he? no one could like red bean paste that much, unless they wanted to see themselves turn into any number of villains roaming the streets sooner or later. ]

...these are for sensei. [ oops. the cat's out of the bag now, attention divided between the messages he's writing and sonic as a whole. he saw that smile, no matter how momentary or minuscule it was. genos thinks he'd like to see it again, with varying frequency. the problem lies in how to stir it... ] I don't know why he'd insist on these when you could get ten times the bread at the nearest corner store for only a fraction of the price.

[ he's doing it again, stopping short of going into the deeper economics of it, and why beans as an ingredient in general are so overrated. genos finds it in himself to smile as well, although it's more self-conscious, laced with a hint of cynicism. ] Not as exciting as lighting monsters on fire, is it?

[ such is genos's life: he's a walking two-ton tank as comfortable in combat as he is in keeping the cupboards well-stocked. he'd almost wonder which one sonic prefers, or if he has a preference at all—it's hard to get a read on him, especially after getting surprised like this. ]

[ sonic's hand descends to his side, blinking up at genos when he's slow to register his words, then a sweep downward to scrutinize the boxes he's holding. ]

... it's fine. [ really, it is. executing beasts and slaying people are things he never bats an eye at, so perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, this is much more inspiring than the explosive mess he wandered into earlier. ] I'm sure he has a reason, so whatever, right?

[ saitama, he means. the ninja doesn't know him very well past his punches that could probably level out the entirety of t-city if he so wishes, yet he won't do so much as lift a finger unless something random triggers it. it doesn't matter, sonic has no real inclination to get to know the guy, learn the hows and whys of his person. a job like that is much more suited for the kid he's accompanying on this short trip. ]

[ huh. he expected a little more lip out of sonic. this sounds surprisingly charitable, coming from him; in the interest of peace, genos won't pick at it like an old scab, treating the noncommittal comment as simply that.

with a grunt of acknowledgment, his phone is pocketed, having no more use for it now that saitama's been notified. there's nothing left for them here, unless they'd enjoy milling about while genos balances a stack of boxes nearly as tall as sonic is. heaving these home will be a chore, yet well worth the end result. keeping sensei in mind soothes the sting of it well enough. ]

...would you accompany me? [ back to their stomping grounds of z-city, that is. he opens his mouth without thinking, there before he can put a stop to it. he knows he doesn't need to ask, convinced now his friend would follow along whether he wanted him to or not. the fact he does want him to is what prompts him, inclined to give him an invitation as opposed to abruptly leaving the door open for him.

it's all about etiquette, to an extent. in the long run it doesn't matter, but in genos's eyes, if they're going to do this dance, they may as well follow all the steps to a t. ]

[ of course it doesn't need to be said, but the sonic months ago isn't the sonic that's now standing alongside an s-class hero in broad daylight; hearing the invitation is what he needed, a reason to act on something he was going to do no matter what. busting through doors isn't as big of a specialty of his as it once was, more mindful and willing to adhere to some social standards, however far and few between they're acted upon.

turning surprisingly knowing eyes on genos, he manages a placid smirk before pointing at the load cradled in robotic arms. ] Only if I can take some of those off your hands. [ surely a package or five will topple off and into the streets if they're zipping around. sonic couldn't care less of the state the boxes, or how the contents inside will end up being when they reach their destination, only extending the ultimatum for his friend's sake. ]

Oh? You didn't want to be carried, too?

[ who can say if he's joking? maybe genos was really planning on it, far from intimidated by adding sonic to his cargo. he has to weigh, what, seventy kilograms at the most? probably not that high. for modesty's sake he's never recorded the actual amount. ]

[ tilts his head to the side. ] Oh? You were going to do that? [ parroting back at him is just sonic's way of being cute, as per usual. ]

Not anymore. [ he can have some boxes instead. just as he wished. ]

[ snickers out like a jackal, accepting what's offered to him. ] You're too easy to read.

... [ is that good? bad? neither? genos can't figure it out, giving him the flattest look right now. ]

And? [ he's really that much of a predictable, droll dog, huh... ]

[ takes a few steps backwards, stopping only when he can see genos in all his glory, take him in fully with a long, meaningful look. ]

It's nice. [ pivots around before offering the other man a fleeting glance over his shoulder. ] Let's go, lover-boy.

[ there's no need to wait around, sonic knows he'll follow when he takes off first, up and away from the surrounding crowd bustling to and fro. ]

Tsk. [ when did it get so warm out here? summer has come and gone, but genos feels like he's on fire. he scarcely notices his exhaust fans spinning to life, toning them down once sonic's turned and fled. ] Honestly...

[ another miniature lecture dies before its time. he springs into action, ready to leave the city behind them. it's a decent place to visit, more of his speed than some of the ritzier parts of the country. yet nothing will ever beat the comforts of home, no matter how overrun or ruined it's gotten throughout the months.

it's highly possible he'll be able to cut loose early from his master as well. while also not part of today's to-do, he has his sights set on something (someone) much better. the thought leaves him swallowing heavily, hotter under the collar than he has any right to be. ]

[ sonic's blind to genos's internal struggle, will continue to be even on their trip back to z-city.

they can't rightfully have any meaningful conversation this way, but there's a back and forth every now and then when sonic wants to race, barks and yells at his friend for cheating with his stupid rocket feet. other moments go by where they speak not a word, a silent companionship masked in a false form of solidarity of their travels. mostly sonic's relishing in the way his own body moves in long, fluent motions, closing his eyes every now and then so he can concentrate on the way the wind flows through short hair, recalling times in the past where he experienced this same specific type of sensation. there's a peacefulness here he can't quite explain, almost as mysterious as his newfound appreciation of the clumsy, floundering personality that appears every now and then around genos, a phenomenon he's not entirely accustomed to.

being distracted for the last half of their trek back has time flying by just as fast as they do, coming to a stop somewhere between the threshold of y-city and their hometown. now is when a slower pace is appropriate, only having to adjust his hold on the stack of boxes once when they land onto familiar territory, a few blocks down from where the man with a fearsome fist resides.

shifts his cargo to the left when he takes a moment in their walk to fix his hair, running thin fingers through the finer strands that refuse to go down. such is the life of a man with unruly locks... ]

Uh. [ oh, are they here already? he takes a pause once the complex is suddenly in view, crawling to a stop just outside of it. a flash of something uncomfortable burns at his stomach, brows knitting together as he attempts to work this out, wonder why he's so reluctant to go any further. it isn't because of saitama, is it? surely sonic would still love nothing more than to bring the man to his knees, but after he's been in his home so much—mostly uninvited, at least from the original owner—it feels sort of strange to waltz in when the cyborg's so-called sensei is occupying those quarters. ] So...

[ what now? does he just hand over the packages upon packages he's toted along for a few hours? since he's uncertain, it'll be a bit awkward when he's offering everything about to genos in relative silence, almost a bit mechanically. ]

[ what indeed—in the old days, this would be around the time where genos shushes him and shoos him off, acting on the sake of sonic's preservation rather than not wanting to let sensei know what he's doing, who he's doing it with, because why would he care? he probably can't even put a face to a name, or vice versa, despite the fact they've had it out as a hero and villain at least a few times by now. but knowing sonic, it wouldn't matter. he'd still be ready to kick down the door and bark out a challenge, no matter the place. very troublesome, especially for someone on the sidelines like genos, who wouldn't know who to begin rooting for.

he wonders if that's changed any. as an unspoken rule, he tries to avoid mentioning saitama in conversations wherever he can. contrary to what his fellow heroes and acquaintances seem to think of it, genos's life doesn't revolve around the caped baldy twenty-four hours a day. they're friends, true, and he admires the guy to no end, would walk to the ends of the earth for him...ultimately, however, he is his own person. he fights hard, trains hard to hone his strength in the pursuit of the enemy he's had yet to ever personally face. he studies tirelessly, not only from his sensei's teachings, but from other avenues as well. his brain, although organic, comes equipped with more than enough augmentations to make absorbing information a breeze. building a rapport with someone like sonic has fueled him all the more, consuming data at a rate faster than the the ninja can move, committing it to memory with precision. and so there's no need for him to ramble on at length about his best friend and teacher with seemingly limitless power. not when there are so many other things he can talk about, so much television to watch, or (now that he's met her) so many hundreds upon hundreds of bottlecaps collected for mister speedy mcfaster to run and fetch.

is it okay, then? it's okay for sonic to trail after him as the unlocks the door to the apartment, isn't it? genos can't imagine it being an incredibly eventful affair; maybe some muttered greetings, an offhanded comment that genos is heading back out, he still has things to do, merely wanting to drop off his cargo before heading to the next destination. sonic's permanent home, ideally, where he can stretch his legs out, listen to the other's breathing, and not think about much of anything for a good long while. that sounds fine. that sounds like something that would happen, should happen, is going to happen after accepting sonic's awkward offering and quirking his eyebrows up at his antics. ] Don't worry about it. [ easier said than done, coming from someone who's fumbling with the key, the latch. ] Just a moment...

[ and there's...nobody here. odd. they live in such a small space that hiding here is next to impossible. plus, it isn't really saitama's style, not when he's more suited to droll techniques, getting up in someone's face with it, just to see the reaction.

genos double checks every nook and cranny of the apartment, just to be safe. when he can't find a shred of evidence to show his sensei is nearby, he visibly droops, letting out a long exhale. ] What in the... [ when in doubt, he resorts to his cellphone. getting a hold of saitama is, unsurprisingly, no real trouble. he can picture in his mind's eye the nonchalance as he's reaching over to check the screen, happy to shoot a few messages back and forth with the blond do-gooder.

the result doesn't impress him, reporting it to sonic as it occurs. ] He isn't coming home. [ needing more clarification, he types, waits for it. ] He is...out with someone. [ there's some vague phrasing on saitama's end. he could be living it up with king once again, binging on ludicrous electronic entertainment, or perhaps snooping around with the mumen rider, who seems to be getting on well with him recently. it could, for all genos knows, be a third party altogether. the small details are irrelevant. sensei is untouchable regardless of where he goes, so the potential for danger is of no concern. he'll make it home intact, hopefully with a story or two to regale genos with. he doesn't tell them often, and even the most minor details of his days and nights remain of great interest to him.

where exactly does that leave them? he offers sonic a helpless look, setting aside the souvenirs which will serve no purpose today. he supposes they may as well may themselves at home, like in the old days, unless sonic has any better ideas up his sleeve. ]

[ even with the invitation, sonic's uncharacteristically hesitant, holding his ground when the door opens, hanging back and away as genos tromps on in to survey the place as if he'd never seen it before.

perhaps this is the damage done from everything that's transpired between them. sonic's changed in very subtle ways, hidden deep beneath all the locks that seemingly had no key to partner with, though they're still very drastic for him, sometimes too much for him to swallow and process. the walking contradiction that he is begs to differ, chide him for even thinking anything's been altered at all. he knows, though. if he thought long and hard enough, there's a high chance he'd feel it like the raging storm he was a few weeks back, hit him in ways that'll have him second-guessing all of this and spook himself out of what little happiness he's able to grasp. part of sonic still heeds to those urges, yet the greater portion of his subconscious wants to stay. if not for himself, then for genos's sake, a stark contrast to the cold-blooded, hard-hearted person he was named and also prided himself to be.

saying goodbye to some of his old habits hurts a little. it's not grand enough to put him over the edge, but it's still there, a gnawing ache that's just as irritating as it is distracting.

he isn't home. those are the words that break him of his inner monologue, interest piqued enough to finally step through the threshold and into the apartment he frequented months ago. ] What? [ although sonic heard him loud and clear, the ninja will still sneak a peek inside once genos is busy with his phone, fingers lingering at the doorknob in case the bald-headed man somehow pops up out of nowhere. not that he'd seriously flee... would he?

shutting the door is only accomplished once his friend's last words turn into a stretch of silence, politely kicking his shoes off to the side before making his way into the one large, currently unoccupied living area. ]

... [ tips his head to the side when all of the attention is back on him, suddenly feeling self-conscious even without meaning to be. ] Okay.

[ are they staying here, then? it's not sonic's territory to hunker down in, not anymore, not when they're on the boundaries of friendship and something else that isn't fully being acknowledged. so he'll have to be forgiven for standing there dumbly, arms crossing over his chest as he briefly averts his gaze, over to a neat pile of dvds they must have been watching together at some point. ]

[ for once, all this is lost on genos. he can't pinpoint what's making sonic so slow to act when he'd normally waltz his way in here and act like he owns the place. one would think that hearing saitama doesn't plan on coming to call anytime soon would mean he'd lower his hackles and settle on it, but it appears to have had the opposite effect on him. it may even be making matters worse, though it requires further investigation to be sure. ]

...? [ he pads over to him, keeping a respectable distance between them while he weighs their options. if staying here is intimidating sonic so deeply, then perhaps... ] We could go somewhere else. If you wanted.

[ it doesn't have to be either of their homes if sonic doesn't want it to be. genos still has energy to spare, hardly winded from their travels, so spending some more time outside before the sun dips below the horizon doesn't sound like such a bad thing. if not, there's other choices at their disposal. it isn't up to him, the demon cyborg who'd assumed he'd be shuffling back here on his lonesome to let the television drone in the background as he reviews his notes, maybe pester sonic if he felt too lonely. ]

[ the affair he's going through has nothing to do with their location, not really at the heart of things, so sonic shakes his head in an immediate response. ] No, this is fine. [ because it is. leave it to the ninja to make matters more complicated without even meaning to.

since it seems like the role falls on him to get the ball moving, he'll drift around genos, take a seat on the ground after nudging the pillow he recalls being saitama's away from his rear. ]

Did he even say what he wanted them for? [ an abrupt start as to shake off the weird air about him, inclining his head over to the boxes occupying some of the very limited space in the apartment. ]