as soon as three, four years drops, so does his stomach, and tsukasa slowly lowers his hands. three, four years, when leo'd told him he'd arrived just shortly before his birthday— he'd had his suspicions, certainly, but to hear it confirmed, he... he listens to the rest of it, hugging his knees.
he listens to his parents, too, and knows that it's nothing leo's going to agree to. he loves baba, he loves him, (but not enough to tell him—them—the truth, not enough to come around, not enough to not keep up some shitty, awful charade— three, four years—), but not enough to do ask they (as their father) ask, which is simply: giving that up and returning to the shrine. he can keep his boyfriend as long as he's aware it isn't something that can last; he can keep at least two piercings; he can't get in trouble; but whatever he's doing now, wherever he's staying, it has to end. he's going to become a full-time caretaker of the shrine, as the heir and as an adult.
(it's not as if their mother is entirely unsympathetic. she takes after her mother, in a way, but she also had her father. she knew when it was time to stop playing around, and she knew that there was a greater happiness waiting when one steps back past the boundary lines of life instead of dashing ahead without a care in the world. it's time to get serious, leo. she says so, reaching out to stroke his hair, eyebrows knitted together.
[it's nothing leo can agree to and he steps back, jerking his head from his mother's touch and feeling hurt sear his heart. mom might get it, just a bit, but dad?
(he thinks of how the other leo, the one in his memories of yumenosaki, said his father was one of tough love; he thinks of how that's similar now too, how his dad worries in his own way just the same as his mom, but they're not listening they don't get it they--)]
No. [firm.] I could do some of those things, but I couldn't do all of them. Giving up my freedom? My music? Coming back here, leaving Nazu to take care of his family by himself? Forget it.
[leo wouldn't mind becoming the heir again, to taking care of the shrine, but it'd never be his first priority the way they wanted it to be. he loves telling the stories he learned all his life. he loves the shrine. he loves the gods and the rituals and everything about it, it's in his blood as much as music is, as much as selfish freedom, and he just
doesn't want to choose, have it be all or nothing.]
I am serious. It's just not what you want me to be serious about.
[ then there's no helping it, dad replies. mom frowns slightly, turns— but defers, hands folded in front of her. there's no helping it, she repeats softer, voice soft, hurt at his pulling away tucked beneath it.
it's true; their dad doesn't understand, having lived a life free of that, or rather, he'd been happy to accept what came his way. working hard, finding satisfaction in that achievement, in a land (in a time) where homogeneity was celebrated. is celebrated.
if he isn't going to meet them in the middle—and this is the middle, their father continues, (and if it reminds leo a little of what tsukasa said when they first reunited, about the give and take, then that's that)—then he can leave. ]
[leo wishes his mom fought more, but. there's no helping it. he squeezes his fists and did just as he'd done that night, going to the front of the shrine and pulling open the door hard enough to shudder the walls around it--
but he turns to look back at them, biting his lip at his mother.]
... Sorry, Mom. [for hurting her, since she can understand him to a point.] Can you tell Baba that I'll visit her sometime? Whether you two want it or not, I'm gonna be part of their lives again -- I spent enough time looking away, I'm not going to anymore.
[he doesn't really expect them to, but. thought that counts.]
[ dad simply turns away, stalking off— mom casts a glance after him, and asks, one more time, why he wouldn't simply listen to them. it's the same question as so many years ago— was how they raised him so terrible? if he knows they did their best, then why would he throw it back in their faces? ]
[... at least he has an answer this time, even if he can't look her in the face.]
It wasn't terrible. It just... wasn't for me. I wasn't happy with myself living like that, and so I ran away. I wouldn't be happy if I accepted his terms, so I'm leaving. It... shouldn't be that I have to choose one or the other, you know? Maybe I'm just selfish, maybe I really am just a child, but is it wrong to want parts of both?
[leo doesn't think so. there's others in his circle that would probably think the same, and... maybe it's just a generation thing. the older you are, the more accepting of circumstances you are; the young rebel and fight with fire in their hearts, searing their paths.
mm.]
One day I'll probably settle down. Maybe I'll even regret not taking this. Who knows. But... before you start assuming Tsuka's gonna end up going the way I have, or that he'll just sit under your thumb, you should listen to him when he talks. [a beat.] He's a person too. And he's a smart one at that.
[ her lips press into a thin line, forehead creasing, before she shakes her head slowly—he hasn't been in tsukasa's life in years; he has no right to tell her anything about her son—and, stiffly, thanks him for coming by to see baba to pay his respects, and for talking with them today. ]
[leo opens his mouth to say anything at all, but he shuts it without a word. he ducks his head as he leaves, sending a text to tsukasa once he's a ways out.]
[ tsukasa, for his part, has retreated to baba's room, once leo's left; he's curled up at her side, holding his cooled tea as he listens to her soft, almost inaudible despite the quiet. he stares at the text, squeezing his drink, and carefully sets it down despite his shaking hands. ]
Okay. I'm
[ he hates lying. ]
Sort of busy, the rest of the month. I'm hanging out with my friends a lot, and there's school stuff to get, and some other things with the shrine and all, but I'll let you know when I'm free.
[nothing feels off from that to him, it's all in order... he's glad that tsukasa has friends, that he's busy with them on top of everything else. it's a relief.]
okay~ have fun, tsuka ♪ i'll see you whenever and don't forget!!! if you need help with anything in school, you can ask me ☆ i was an honor student before i skipped out, you know i'm sure i can be of some use
[it
is a lot easier to pretend to be okay over text, that he's not shaking with anger and something far sadder, that he's not heading for the nearest bar to try and forget his troubles. leo won't end up in someone's bed tonight (not for a lack of trying, really, he's faithful to the one he's with) but he won't be coming back to nazuna's place either, just... going someplace to settle and figure things out, maybe.
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as soon as three, four years drops, so does his stomach, and tsukasa slowly lowers his hands. three, four years, when leo'd told him he'd arrived just shortly before his birthday— he'd had his suspicions, certainly, but to hear it confirmed, he... he listens to the rest of it, hugging his knees.
he listens to his parents, too, and knows that it's nothing leo's going to agree to. he loves baba, he loves him, (but not enough to tell him—them—the truth, not enough to come around, not enough to not keep up some shitty, awful charade— three, four years—), but not enough to do ask they (as their father) ask, which is simply: giving that up and returning to the shrine. he can keep his boyfriend as long as he's aware it isn't something that can last; he can keep at least two piercings; he can't get in trouble; but whatever he's doing now, wherever he's staying, it has to end. he's going to become a full-time caretaker of the shrine, as the heir and as an adult.
(it's not as if their mother is entirely unsympathetic. she takes after her mother, in a way, but she also had her father. she knew when it was time to stop playing around, and she knew that there was a greater happiness waiting when one steps back past the boundary lines of life instead of dashing ahead without a care in the world. it's time to get serious, leo. she says so, reaching out to stroke his hair, eyebrows knitted together.
she does understand, in her own way.) ]
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(he thinks of how the other leo, the one in his memories of yumenosaki, said his father was one of tough love; he thinks of how that's similar now too, how his dad worries in his own way just the same as his mom, but they're not listening they don't get it they--)]
No. [firm.] I could do some of those things, but I couldn't do all of them. Giving up my freedom? My music? Coming back here, leaving Nazu to take care of his family by himself? Forget it.
[leo wouldn't mind becoming the heir again, to taking care of the shrine, but it'd never be his first priority the way they wanted it to be. he loves telling the stories he learned all his life. he loves the shrine. he loves the gods and the rituals and everything about it, it's in his blood as much as music is, as much as selfish freedom, and he just
doesn't want to choose, have it be all or nothing.]
I am serious. It's just not what you want me to be serious about.
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it's true; their dad doesn't understand, having lived a life free of that, or rather, he'd been happy to accept what came his way. working hard, finding satisfaction in that achievement, in a land (in a time) where homogeneity was celebrated. is celebrated.
if he isn't going to meet them in the middle—and this is the middle, their father continues, (and if it reminds leo a little of what tsukasa said when they first reunited, about the give and take, then that's that)—then he can leave. ]
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but he turns to look back at them, biting his lip at his mother.]
... Sorry, Mom. [for hurting her, since she can understand him to a point.] Can you tell Baba that I'll visit her sometime? Whether you two want it or not, I'm gonna be part of their lives again -- I spent enough time looking away, I'm not going to anymore.
[he doesn't really expect them to, but. thought that counts.]
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It wasn't terrible. It just... wasn't for me. I wasn't happy with myself living like that, and so I ran away. I wouldn't be happy if I accepted his terms, so I'm leaving. It... shouldn't be that I have to choose one or the other, you know? Maybe I'm just selfish, maybe I really am just a child, but is it wrong to want parts of both?
[leo doesn't think so. there's others in his circle that would probably think the same, and... maybe it's just a generation thing. the older you are, the more accepting of circumstances you are; the young rebel and fight with fire in their hearts, searing their paths.
mm.]
One day I'll probably settle down. Maybe I'll even regret not taking this. Who knows. But... before you start assuming Tsuka's gonna end up going the way I have, or that he'll just sit under your thumb, you should listen to him when he talks. [a beat.] He's a person too. And he's a smart one at that.
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sorry, had to leave
let's get ice cream sometime
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Okay.
I'm
[ he hates lying. ]
Sort of busy, the rest of the month.
I'm hanging out with my friends a lot, and there's school stuff to get, and some other things with the shrine and all, but I'll let you know when I'm free.
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okay~
have fun, tsuka ♪
i'll see you whenever
and don't forget!!! if you need help with anything in school, you can ask me ☆
i was an honor student before i skipped out, you know
i'm sure i can be of some use
[it
is a lot easier to pretend to be okay over text, that he's not shaking with anger and something far sadder, that he's not heading for the nearest bar to try and forget his troubles. leo won't end up in someone's bed tonight (not for a lack of trying, really, he's faithful to the one he's with) but he won't be coming back to nazuna's place either, just... going someplace to settle and figure things out, maybe.
hhhh. tsukasa's a good boy.]