Neutrality Order (TomBoo)

N.E. - Chapter 10

⚠️ Sexual content warning ⚠️ 

It was Saturday.

Ranboo kept his eyes on his phone, having gotten to Jaku City early to set up a rendezvous point, and was now walking around to settle his nerves, sticking to the more populated part in order to blend in more. It wasn't much of a touristy place; mostly just old-fashioned shops and food stalls, a good midway place to stop at on the way to or from a commute to get something to eat or find a cheap space to rent and live.

It was overcast with the threat of rain all day but not a single drop despite the darkness overhead. A good day to blend in and keep to himself as he waited with herculean patience for six o'clock to roll around.

He wondered if anything would be keeping Tommy.

He wondered if Techno's worst-case scenario had been right.

He wondered if he had spent these past couple of months being nothing more than a goddamn IDIOT.

His wondering didn't keep him from answering his phone on the first buzz from his pocket, swallowing down his anxiety. "Hello?"

"Foot traffic is a nightmare," Tommy's voice came in, sounding weary. "Why'd you pick Saturday again when EVERYONE has someplace to be?"

"Because I know you still have school, you little baby brat," Ranboo retorted. "Should I have asked for a Tuesday?"

"Whatever gets me out of English."

Ranboo snorted, walking along with a bit more ease to his stride. "So how IS school, hm?"

"I don't know, how's your group?"

"Touche. No talk about work or school. This isn't about that anyway, is it?"

"....no. It isn't." Silence for a moment.

Ranboo frowned a little. "Something wrong?" He heard a soft, shaky laugh on the other end.

"No," Tommy said, "just wondering if you realize just how much of a drowned rat you look like."

"I do NOT look that bad, you..." Ranboo paused, looking up and seeing someone staring right at him with a phone to his ear. Only the diamond eyes gave Tommy away, the boy wearing thick-framed glasses, a beanie covering his hair, and a couple of -possibly- fake piercings in his ears and lip. Ranboo felt a buzzing numbness in his guts, swallowing hard. "...goddamn, you look like a hipster douchebag."

Tommy snorted loud enough for Ranboo to hear it even across the street. "Better a hipster than a psycho."

"Aw, you know you love it, baby."

"Ass." Tommy walked across the street to his side, phone still pressed to his ear. "Sorry, gotta go now, some jerk wants to start shit with me."

"I think I can take him on." Ranboo lowered his phone and ended the call, staring at Tommy. He could tell that the boy had actually grown some, beyond the illusion his disguise gave him. Tommy was looking him over too, having not gotten a decent-enough look back on the freeway days ago.

"...your hair's longer," Tommy remarked. Ranboo let out a soft scoff at the blase reaction.

"It tends to do that," he said. "Care to get some tea?"

Tommy shrugged with a shaky grin, and the two walked side-by-side in silence down the sidewalk just as it began to drizzle. Both were wearing hoodies and didn't seem to mind the rain, Ranboo leading the way to a tiny motel complex and fishing out a key to unlock the door. They both went inside as the downpour started and the sky grew darker, the door shutting and locking behind them.