TITLE: Falling Away With You AUTHOR: bucciaratimilf on AO3
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Moonlight cascaded over the quiet temple, the surrounding trees sparkling with water droplets left from the day's summer rainstorm. Silent footsteps befell the damp earth, practiced in their precision.
Satoru walked with his hands in his pockets, glancing around casually at his surroundings through his blindfold. He'd always had good eyes, sharp senses screaming at him to run back the other way. They tried to warn of the immediate danger ahead, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Since when had his body unlearned the comfort of the one presence he could trust, he thought to himself.
Now under the shade of the grand facade, his heart pounded in his ears. The feeling of being prey once again washed down to the tips of his fingers and tops of his ears, a sensation he would never be used to. He knew he'd been noticed, long since he stepped onto the grounds of the temple.
Steeling his resolve, he cleared his throat and uttered out one word.
"Suguru."
He felt him before he saw him, cursed energy immense and unmistakable. A figure appeared as the large doors opened, a wicked smile gracing his lips.
"To what do I owe the pleasure this evening, Sa-to-ru?"
Suguru drew out each syllable of his name, catching on the last one with a purr. Satoru smiled back, taking a single step forward.
"Just wanted to see where you'd been crashing the past five years. Can't say I'm all that impressed."
Suguru crossed his arms, exhaling at his snide remark.
"Finally come to kill me?"
"Not particularly, just wanted to keep tabs considering we both know I'm the only one capable of finding you."
Suguru rolled his eyes at that, uncrossing his arms to put a hand on his hip.
Satoru bit his lip, hesitating to speak.
He glanced his former best friend over, looking at the lines that had formed on his forehead and his gaunt cheeks. There were dark circles beneath his eyes that matched his own. His strong build had gone slightly lithe beneath his monk attire, long hair now cascading down his back.
"Could we... talk?"
Suguru's eyes widened before he broke out into a fit of laughter, clutching his side.
"Talking seems a bit off the table for us now, doesn't it?"
Satoru's lips formed a straight line, hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"It doesn't have to be."
There was a brief moment of silence before the large double doors opened fully, Suguru turning his back to Satoru before walking into the compound. He took a hesitant step forward, infinity up.
