honeysuckle

twenty - eight.

TRIGGER WARNING: some mentions of past relationship with himari, vulgar language, mention of emotional abuse, manipulative abuse mentions, past assault, slight mention of blood, denial.

DENIAL: is a powerful and primitive defense mechanism. Someone who is dependent, frightened and themselves the victim of abuse, can remain silent and not even see or hear the abuse in order to maintain the desperately needed relationship with the abuser.

,,

"now my dear new friend, would you care to explain to me how you found yourself with horrible people?"

Silence seemed to fill the air between them after that question was asked. Well — realistically it was silent the whole time ever since Tetsurou came back from getting his broken phone and making sure to lock his front door before coming over. Ever since he walked through that door he sat at the dining table staring at the floor but listening to the sizzle of food cooking and the footsteps of Shan moving around the kitchen. He tried to collect the correct words to say in this moment. But it always seem to not go in his favor these days.

"She isn't that bad." Tetsurou started lifting his hand towards his mouth in a habit, to start biting at the skin around his thumb. His mind began to replay the words Himari's father said. Feeling slightly offended at the question, he continued to bite at the skin looking down at his broken phone that was in a ziploc bag infront of him on the table.

Shan had looked up from the pan that had eggs sizzling in it. Confusion hit her, 'was he just not yelling and saying how bad they were?' Tetsurou caught her looking at the wall before down at the pan. Slowly, she decided to chose her words carefully.

"Kuroo. What were you and your girlfriend's relationship like?" Shan asked, thinking to try from another perspective turning around to grab the sausage from the freezer thinking of making an American style breakfast. "You don't have to answer if you don't want too — and also don't get scared if you hear the front door open. My roommate should be coming here soon."

"you have a roommate?"

"Yeah, we gotta pay the bills somehow. And, back to you."

"oh—um well I've been dating her for almost four years so far."

"That's nice."

"Yeah, it's been a long journey so far. You know? she always like going out places. And, I enjoyed going out with her but sometimes I didn't like some of the places we went too but she my girl so I agreed and went to make her happy."

Shan nodded, putting the eggs on two plates, while making sausage and also using her waffle iron to make some waffles. "Is that so?"

"Yeah. I remember one time she wanted to go out for dinner right? And I didn't mind but it was too a fancy place. I didn't mind but once we went there — the waiter seemed to be judging me but flirting with Himari. And, I tried to get Himari attention but she didn't mind me. Kinda just brushed it off as him just the waiter being friendly."

"Seriously?" She put the waffles that are done on the plates, along with letting the sausages cook longer.

"Yeah, this was during our second year dating. Our first year dating — we had met at her University. Because my friend attended there and I came to visit him but I noticed her with her friends talking."