𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬

file 053 | who will dry your eyes when it all falls apart?

Hiro hadn't been gone for too long on the assignment, only two days, and was surprised to find his lover and roommate cuddled up in Suzume's bed, dead to the world. His lips twitched up into a fond smile before he continued on his way to his room to drop off his bags.

Once that was done, he went back downstairs to go into the kitchen to brew some coffee, knowing that if Suzume and Shuichi were cuddling in her bed, she must have gone through an emotionally taxing case. Which meant that they were definitely going to want some coffee when they woke up, and Hiro was happy to provide it for them.

Not even fifteen minutes after the coffee was finished, Shuichi tread into the kitchen and pressed a kiss to Hiro's cheek before taking the offered cup of coffee, exhaling softly after the first sip.

"Everything alright?" Hiro asked, leaning against the counter with crossed arms.

Shuichi shrugged as he took another sip, not minding the heat of the coffee. "Don't know. She was tight-lipped about what happened, but it's easy to tell it was a case."

Hiro hummed in understanding.

"When'd you get back?" Shuichi wondered.

"Literally forty-five minutes ago," Hiro chuckled. "Saw you two cuddled up in bed and figured you'd want the coffee for a pick-me-up."

"And you would be right."

The conversation died into silence. It was comfortable because they didn't have to say anything, just taking in each other's presence. It was a routine they had gotten into after their reunion since Shuichi thought Hiro dead for a few years and Hiro wondering if Shuichi was okay, along with Zero.

"I smell coffee," Suzume grumbled as she walked into the kitchen, making a beeline for the mug in Hiro's outstretched hand. She took a gulp and sighed, leaning heavily into Hiro's side. "Thanks..."

"No problem," he responded with a frown, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You okay?"

"Just exhausted," she said, holding her mug with both hands, as if she were trying to warm them up. Maybe she was since she had poor blood circulation to her hands and feet, which had on her warmest fuzzy socks.

Hiro raised an eyebrow, eyeing the blue fuzzy socks that he knew were Suzume's go-to pair when she wasn't feeling her best emotionally. "I'm guessing the case got to you?"

"Boyfriend killed his girlfriend because of cheating and falling out of love with her. He made it look like she committed suicide. One of the reasons I figured out it was him was because he didn't care that the glass from the window he smashed in would cut her up," Suzume murmured, staring down at the floor. "Do you think I'll become like that?"

Shuichi's brow furrowed as he set down his mug. "Like what?"

"So hateful about my relationships," she murmured, and Hiro's arm around her tightened ever so slightly. "To the point where I would hurt you guys."

Hiro felt his heart crack as Shuichi's face fell, both realizing just how badly this case hurt Suzume.

"Am I gonna become like him?" she whispered, a tear streaking down her cheek and dropping off her chin onto the floor. She sniffled, turning to bury her face in Hiro's chest as she began to silently cry.

He took the mug from her hand and set it on the counter before wrapping his arms around her, his hand rubbing up and down her back as he let out comforting shushes. He heard Shuichi move over to stand next to him, putting a comforting hand on her arm.

~ — — — ~

"She wasn't referring to the case when she said 'him', was she?" Shuichi asked as he sat on the couch in the library.