SENIORITIS (Ishimondo)

7. Tall Tales

[TW this chapter- possible ED triggers, Taka doesn't understand boundaries
Mostly fluff. Enjoy!]

Mondo had thought of so many good lies he could tell Taka about what really happened in Mexico. Tales so graphic that they would scare the poor boy, stories that weren't far off from the real, intense encounters he'd had with the Crazy Diamonds.
But after a while of waiting for him, he realized that Taka would probably get more genuine enjoyment out of the actual truth.
The problem was, Mexico wasn't actually that exciting of a story.
He'd gone on impulse (Daiya had given his permission) with Leon's family on vacation right before high school, and had fallen off a ledge while hiking. He was being an idiot, and got hurt because of it. They spent like five boring hours in the ER. Not too thrilling.
Suddenly, down the hall the bathroom door was cracked open, an invitation to enter.
Taka's voice echoed from inside the bathroom as Mondo drew near to the open door, heart thrumming like the wings of a hummingbird.
"Of course, everything is wonderful!" He said in a cheery tone, the same one Mondo heard him use at school every day. "Yes, plenty to last me three weeks.... It was busy, but not overwhelming."
What was he talking about? Mondo gently opened the door, to see Taka wrapped up in a towel on the phone. He was facing away from the door.
"No, I got...rice, and....yes all healthy things, Dad...."
It was then that Mondo realized....Taka was straight up lying. He was lying to his father, an ex police officer, about getting mugged. Mondo couldn't believe it. The door squeaked slightly on it's hinge.
Taka turned in an instant. Damp, red eyes pleaded with Mondo, as he pressed a thin finger against his lips. Mondo made a zipping motion over his mouth.
Despite being caught in the middle of a serious situation, Mondo couldn't help but notice how toned Taka actually was, with a tight chest and stomach, finely detailed muscles and features. He definitely hid it well under that uniform.
"Of course, father.....Thank you....Goodnight."
Taka hung up the phone and groaned, slumping down onto the seat of the toilet. He turned his head to the side to look at Mondo through half lidded eyes.
"I apologize for that. I did not expect him to call this early." He said weakly.
"Taka... you just..."
"Yes, I know. Don't remind me." Taka snapped, before sighing. "Sorry....I- I'm a bit irritable at the moment. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I apologize."
"You're just hurtin', Taka. Let's get you fixed up, kay?"
"Mmm.." He hummed, pointing to the mirror. "Thank you, kiyodai..."
Mondo smiled at the nickname. He popped open the mirror, examining the contents.
He could work with this.
Now it was time for Taka. Mondo finally took in the state that his friend was in.
His ribs, stomach, and chest all had dark bruising. Kneeling on one knee next to Ishimaru, he gently took his hands and turned them over. They were scraped at the palm, as he'd suspected. A quick glance down told him that Taka's knees had also been scraped pretty badly.
A small voice from above him surprised him.
"You still have to tell me about Mexico."
"Ohhh, that's right." He chuckled, looking up.
Mondo stood to examine Taka's face and head.
The cut on his temple was long and jagged, but not deep. Not bad enough to need stitches, anyways.
"S' not gonna be as exciting as you're probably thinkin..." He took the slim face into his hands, feeling Taka's jaw and the bridge of his nose. "Let me know if I hurt you, by the way."
"I will alert you if I feel serious pain, yes, just tell me already!" Taka said excitedly, a blush spreading from his cheeks to his ears at the contact.

+

"So, you know Leon."
"Kuwata, yes." He scowled at the name, as Mondo examined his face.
"Known him for a long time. Anyway, freshman year he invites me on a trip with his family."
"And you just went with? That was acceptable?!"
"Yeah, I mean his dad and brother likes me an I ain't never had a vacation before! Sides, not like I had any parents to stop me." Mondo muttered, turning his head.
Oops.
"Sorry, I didn't intend-" Taka stuttered, before being cut off.
"No no, S' fine. You're good." Taka shifted uncomfortably as Mondo released his chin, evidently finding no other injuries.
"So we're in Mexico, right? We're hiking down by this beach, and Leon and I really wanna go down to the water, but there's no path or nothin."
Mondo began dabbing hydrogen peroxide onto a cotton ball.
"So I see this ledge, and I'm thinkin that it's not really that far, I could probably jump down it and be fine. Probably could've, actually, but I was being a dumbass. This might sting."
He started gently wiping at Taka's palms, cleaning the wounds with a delicate precision that was uncharacteristic for Mondo. He hissed slightly at the contact, but didn't pull away. He distracted himself with Mondo's story.
"So you jumped off the ledge? What then?" Taka mumbled.
"Nah, actually I fell."
"What?" Taka let out a surprised laugh.
"Yeah, I was dickin around too much. Foot slipped, and I fell. Turns out there was a staircase leadin to the water right there, too, we just didn't see it, because I hit the railing of it on the way down. That's what broke my rib."
"You're joking....I spent all that shower time wondering who you could've possibly chosen to battle in Mexico, and you slipped and fell?" Taka giggled. Something about the innocence of the story warmed his heart.
"I know, I told ya it wouldn't be all that exciting."
"No, no I'm thrilled! Tell me more." Taka exclaimed as Mondo bent to tidy his skinned up knees.
"I mean, that's about it. Spent like five hours or so in the ER. Couldn't read the fuckin paperwork, it was a nightmare." Mondo laughed. "Lemme see your head..."
Taka watched him soak a new cotton ball in peroxide before taking the bruised face gently in his hand. He leaned into the touch, so that Mondo could better look at the gash on his temple, and also because the biker's hands were warm and nice.
The shower had made him a bit sleepy, and Kiyotaka would also acknowledge the fact that he was indeed 'touch starved', as he'd heard people say.
He whimpered at the sudden pain, pressing his cheek deeper into Mondo's palm as cold, damp cotton was pressed to the open wound.
"Sorry, I know...S' not even that bad, I promise....just a lil' scratch... Almost done..."
Taka lost himself in the comforting murmers as Mondo finally pulled away the cotton. He didn't, however, remove his hand from Taka's cheek, which he was grateful for. The simple pressure was grounding him, keeping Taka calm.
"Can I ask ya something?" Mondo said, reaching for some kind of cream or something.
"Mm, yes, go ahead." Taka hummed, when suddenly the warmth on his cheek was removed.
Mondo uncapped the small tube of Vaseline he'd procured from the medicine cabinet.
"Why'd ya lie to your dad?"
Taka froze.
Well, it wasn't like Mondo didn't already know.
"It's...ah...you see..."
Taka flinched as his friend continued his work. Mondo was smoothing his dark hair and the goop was applied to the cut.
"I was going to tell him what happened, but I just.... I couldn't bring myself to. I feel awful about it, I know lying is wrong, but he caught me off guard with the early call, and we were talking and then it was just easier to continue conversing as if things had gone according to plan..... My father gave me money for groceries, and...and whoever attacked me took all of it. But last month, we could barely pay the water bill...I can't ask him for more money again....and if he found out I'd been injured, he'd most likely leave the business trip early, and miss out on whatever commission money he could've possibly made-"
"Taka." Mondo's voice snapped him out of his spiral. His hands were on Taka's shoulders, squeezing gently. "Kiyodai, his decisions are not yours to make."
Kiyotaka started to protest, but then paused.
Mondo was, unfortunately, right.
"Oh." Was all Ishimaru could manage to push out of himself. Owada gently placed a strip of gauze over the area and wound a bandage around Taka's head to secure it.
"M' not gonna let you go hungry, though. You wanna come back to my house and get a bite or something? I was planning on getting takeout for me 'n Daiya tonight, you're invited if you want."
"I'm not so sure..." Taka replied nervously. The thought of being under the same roof as the infamous Daiya Owada? It made his stomach twist with anxiety. Not to mention the thought of Mondo spending money on him....
The biker spoke again as he began applying bandages to Ishimaru's knees and hands.
"Knew you wouldn't exactly be jumpin on the opportunity...if you change your mind, I'm not too far away."
Taka's heart fluttered as Mondo's lavender eyes glanced up at him, rubbing his wrist with a calloused thumb after his final patch.