Fanfic Dump

Wherefore Art Thou? {{No. 6 Reunion Fic}}

{{*cOUGH I have included my own little hc with the baby I hope you don't mind okay thanks}}

It's been six years. Six years since he felt his nostrils be filled with the scent of him. Six years since the feel of his hair would run in between his fingers. Six entire grueling years since Shion had been with Nezumi.
Six years. It all felt like a daze. A dream. It didn't happen, it wasn't real. And if he would just open his eyes, he would find Nezumi next to him, all curled up and smirking. He would say some snarky quip about how much Shion drooled and kicked him. Complaining so much that he'd say he never wants to share a bed with him again, only to be waiting for him on the bed later that night.
But of course, not all dreams come true. Shion's snow eyelashes fluttered up, a small hope shining through like a ray of sun. But he was met with nothing but disappointment and a dog. He sputtered out a breath and sat up, feeling the cold blanket on his lap.
A rush of nostalgia ran over him, causing his fingers to run across the creases of the blanket. He smiled. He wanted to say, 'Look Nezumi. The blanket has less creases now. I don't have to wash it as often. Isn't that useful? No water wasting.' But it caused a sadness to only well up inside, the pain of almost loss banging against his heart.
He sighed as this happened for the millionth time. Every day hope arises, and every day he's disappointed.
He might have stayed like that. Lost and sad if it weren't for a small boy bouncing up and down on the couch. This small boy had wonderfully silk like blonde hair, long enough it touched halfway down his back, though it was tied up. He had heard stories of Nezumi's hair and wanted to have his the exact same. He had shining light brown eyes, on the verge of almost being labeled a sun orange. He was wearing the large yellow raincoat he wore everyday and small blue shorts, just barely visible from underneath the large coat. He was currently barefoot and standing on the couch. He continued bouncing as he held a book in his hands, clearly absorbed in it.
Shion smiled softly, trying to use this ray of light to propel him into moving. He turned over and pushed to the old dog resting on the bed, watching as the old pup slowly put one paw after another onto the floor. Then it was Shion's turn. After a small gathering of energy, Shion swung over his legs and forced himself to stand, his attire revealing itself. His hair was unkept and looked untouched for at least a year. It grew only slightly longer and was absolutely everywhere. He was wearing one of Nezumi's larger shirts, boxers, and nothing else. He rose a hand up and brought the shirt up to his nose.
It still smells like him, but only just barely.
He traced the fabrics' weave with his fingers before releasing it and looking over towards his bouncy son. "Romeo," Shion called with a tired smile, his eyes showing no sign of energy, "Please stop bouncing. You don't want to break the couch now."
The small boy looked up. He hadn't even noticed that his father had stirred awake. He smiled and bounced one last time, landing with his bosom on the couch cushion. He then turned his head and went back to reading. "The Vine Boy. I don't think I've heard of that," Shion read the title aloud, walking over to start breakfast.
"Oh! When you were out shopping and I was with Inukashi, a writer came by to stay one night. Even though he was a cool writer, he didn't have a lick of money. So I helped him get a room and I got one of his books." Romeo giggled as he placed a finger on the page he was one, and closed the book. He looked at the cover while saving his page, nodding. "Only weird thing is, I didn't get his name and it's not on here."
Shion was humming answers, showing acknowledgement and attention to what his son was saying. They were having eggs Shion had received as a gift. "Did you leave?"
"No," Romeo moaned, obviously not fond of being interrogated if he followed the rules or not, "I stayed with Inukashi the whole time, even though I wanted to go talk to that book maker." He opened the book back up and then continued to read.
Shion began looking for something to move the eggs with, and was kindly directed to a tool by a mouse. One of Nezumi's mice. He smiled. "Well? Is it any good?"
"What is?"
"The book silly."
Romeo smiled and nodded, pretending Shion could see him, "Yeah! Well, it's no Shakespeare. But it has an inter... inerest..."
"Interesting?"
"Interesting story! Yeah."
Shion smiled as Romeo showed off his clear fondness of the book. The eggs sizzled loudly, filling up the empty silence that fell in between their words, "What's it about?"
"A boy gets cursed with vines growing on him. They, the village, try to cure him. Right now, the boy is talking to his mom about his missing dad. Oh! And vines grow whenever he feels sad and go away whenever he feels happy."
Shion slowed himself. The plot touching a little too close to their reality. Shion was just like the poor mother, having to tell his pained son all about their mysterious father. His fingers curled around the wood in his hands as he moved over the eggs. He then walked over and picked up one real plate and one chipped bowl. He put one egg on the plate and fished around the small bunker for a fork, before giving it to Romeo. He then put the other egg into his own bowl and sat down next to Romeo.
The small boy studied the page he was on and then put the book down. He excitedly picked up the plate and began to eat quickly, settling down next to his father. He leaned over and snuggled up right onto Shion's shoulder, already halfway down eating.
"Don't eat it all at once. You won't have anything else to eat then."
Romeo didn't seem to mind and quickly chewed his already full mouth. "Fell meef a smory aboum faf."
"Finish what's in your mouth before speaking, please."
It took only a second for all of that egg to be swallowed down, "Tell me a story about Dad!"
Shion paused his own eating, the memories of Nezumi rushing in his head.
Bam.
A noise shook the bunker at the same time. As if the heaven above had heard this request and decided to chime in its own heavenly opinion. Truly though, it was lightening and thunder from some supposed storm outside.
"A story about... Nezumi?"
"Yeah! About Dad!"
"Okay... how about when I found Nezumi in the theatre, and-"
"Nooooo!" Romeo shook his head and turned his face up to his father, pouting. He then set the plate down and glared at Shion. "You already told me that story! I want a new one."
Shion bit his lip, swallowing down some pain accompanied by egg. That was the last of it. The egg, unfortunately. He placed the bowl down and sighed slightly, a soft feeling entering his body. He blinked and then looked over to his son. "Okay. Then how about... how about when Nezumi and I first met."
Romeo perked up immediately. He turned his head back forward and leaned into his father, closing his eyes and listening. The old dog now joined them on the couch and the mouse rested on Shion's left shoulder.
"It was quite a long time ago. Back when No.6 was still a city."
"Really?" Romeo asked, mostly just trying to comprehend how the great city ruins of No.6 was actually a, well, city. He kept his eyes closed, though, and tried to imagine the scenes Shion was about to describe.
"And your fath- Nezumi had just recently escaped an evil facility run by the city. He was injured and looking for a safe place to reside and recover in."
Thunder boomed.
"There was a very big storm, like the one we have now, and I felt caged in. I felt... something that could not be defined with words. All I knew was that I needed to scream. So I opened the doors to my balcony and walked out. The wind obviously kicked up and was louder than any sound I've heard before. I leaned up against the railing, reeling back and took a deep breath. And then I... let it out. One big, long scream. And coincidentally, Nezumi was hiding in my yard."
"What happened next??" The scene had caused a large smile to conjure upon the small boy's lips.
"Something that would change my life for forever. Nezumi broke in using the window I had opened. He held me against the wall and threatened to kill me if I alerted anyone. I think I surprised him when I actually helped his injury." A small chuckle escaped from Shion, surprising even himself, "His face was so cute back then."
Romeo's smile grew. He opened his eyes and turned around, wrapping his arms around Shion. He buried his face in his father's presence and whispered, "I'm glad you two met. I hope I can meet Dad soon too."
Shion looked down with a small hint of fear. He didn't know if Nezumi would ever come back. He slowly raised a hand up and rubbed his hand up and down his son's back. He looked up and stared out into the bunker.
He could still see it clearly, even today. Nezumi and him, linked in arms, dancing on their tiptoes around this little home of theirs. The pure joy his heart held, how his spirit did leaps in the arms of Nezumi.
Oh how Shion would do anything for Nezumi to be here with them now.
But Shion could no longer dwell. He promised to help Inukashi with the dogs today, and they'll need even more help because of the large storm outside. Gently, he lifted his son and set him to lay against the dog. He stood up and gathered his own clothes. He then grabbed a trench coat with a blue hue and threw it on. He also grabbed one of Nezumi's scarves and wrapped it around. He reached out and opened the door before pausing. "The rules?"
Romeo groaned again, "No leaving the bunker or answering the door until you get back."
Shion smiled and nodded before turning out and leaving.
Romeo waited a bit after Shion left to move again. He jumped up and ran to the other end of the bunker, turning a bit. He then reached into a dark corner, concealed by a bookshelf. He reached through an empty gap in the shelf and reached down until he felt some leather. He smiled and slowly lifted it up, careful not to drop what the leather jacket held.
Nezumi's jacket emerged along with something it was holding. Romeo's smile grew as he jumped up. He then ran back and jumped into the bed, bouncing only slightly once. He quickly unwrapped the jacket to reveal a book.
Specifically, a revised version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The book he was named after.
That was his special place. The jacket Shion gave him when he first learned about Nezumi. The book Shion showed him and how he was named. He held both close to him. His special items.
He opened his eyes and looked at the book. He reopened the book to his favorite page. The one where Juliet calls out for her love. He read it aloud, slowly, digesting and getting past hard words Shion taught him.
"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy: thou art thyself, though not a Montague." Romeo understood she really was just talking about their families' feud. But isn't it nice to just think of it as a love call? Romeo liked it better that way.
He turned over on his back and rested the book on his stomach, closing his eyes. He imagined Nezumi out there somewhere, calling out for him. His son. For Shion. His lover. And then, and only then, they could differ from Shakespeare and have a happy ending.
The dog barked with the next set of thunder. Romeo shot up. He grinned a childish smile, an idea beckoning upon his mind. He jumped out of bed and slipped into yellow boots. He raced towards the door and was about to open it before being stopped by a mouse on his shoulder. He smiled and whispered, "I'm only going to the playground outside."
The mouse did not move.
"You can come with."
The mouse seemed content with that and laid down on Romeo's shoulder. The small boy bounced up and opened the bunker door, and sprinted out. He heard a loud thud behind him and the howling of the storm in front.
He rushed outside and felt the world suddenly lash at him, the wind a fighting force taunting him. Don't come. Don't come. It screamed over and over. Thunder. Lightening.
And Romeo loved it all. He looked around and saw the edge of his near his door. Railing traced it, keeping unlucky people from falling. Romeo smiled and ran up, jumping onto the railing. He recalled Shion's earlier story and reared back. He took a deep breath.
And began to scream.