30 Day OTP Challenge ft. Sannochieyomi

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Warning: mentioned CSA/trafficking, child abuse, nightmares, illness, needles

***

A couple hours later, Setsuka had managed to pull Mikado up from the couch and went up the stairs with him, and Nikei followed them while chatting about the article he was writing before they went to the beach. Despite Mikado remaining silent, Nikei and Setsuka chatted as they all went into their bedroom.

After changing into pyjamas, brushing their teeth, and finishing up any other things they needed to do, the three of them tucked themselves into bed. As always, Nikei was stuck in the middle of his lovers, who happily clung to him and trapped him in bed. Even with a night as chaotic as this one was, they all still needed to go to sleep.

But even with sleepiness overtaking them, one person's mind wasn't completely at rest yet. The news of Utsuro's supposed death had shaken Nikei, even if Setsuka was right about the circumstances surrounding it being very suspicious. It was a surprise that Mikado had fallen asleep instantly, but then again, he was very tired after bawling his eyes out. But it wasn't him suffering now.

Alone in his dark bedroom, a young boy who would grow up to be a journalist quietly sobbed on his bed. He could hear people talking outside, shadows of people he'd rather never remember in his lifetime.

"Hiroki, should we really do this?" a woman asked, one that he would never associate to be anything close to him again. "He's brought us so much money, is it really okay to just get rid of him?"

"If we keep doing this, the cops will find out and kick our asses sooner or later. If we get rid of him, then not only does it throw them off our tail, but he can't testify either," a man answered. "Plus, that court case is coming up soon, Akira, and we need a good attorney. We have to sell him."

"Hm, but who to?"

Nikei curled up tighter into a little ball out of fear, covering his mouth with his hands. He didn't want to go anywhere, he didn't want this to be happening to him. But it had already happened, didn't it?

That's right, he was an adult now, and he was terrified of the things that could occur if that door opened, if his blessing wore off, if those two reported dead in their cells came and dragged him back to hell. He didn't want to go back, he didn't want to, he didn't want to-!

Nikei jolted awake in a cold sweat, his chest heaving as he gathered his bearings. He felt the bedsheets beneath him and the warmth of his two lovers on either side of him, he soon realized that he was safe in their house.

But even if they were safe here, that didn't stop the threat of his luck going away and hell coming to greet him again. He felt like he couldn't show vulnerability again, not wanting to expose his inferior heart to anyone or anything, but he didn't know how he would go back to sleep without having another bad dream.

Nikei let out a quiet sigh and turned over, lazily staring into dull golden eyes. The journalist nearly jumped as he realized that Mikado was awake and staring at him from his place in bed. "Jesus, what the fuck..." Nikei muttered, trying to settle his heart rate.

"I felt you jolt against me, and I woke up," Mikado stated matter-of-factly. "I felt you stiffen and breathe heavily for a minute until you turned over. Normally, you sleep like the dead."

The journalist groaned as he remembered that Mikado was an extremely light sleeper. "Well, maybe it was too fucking hot in here; I can turn over half-awake, dammit."