Crackship

Toichi you owe me

The hustle and bustle of the subway station enveloped and overwhelmed. Rush hour was long over, but the stragglers following the Wednesday night commute bumped and jostled their way onto the trains, no doubt eager to be home with their families and loved ones. Toichi tapped his foot against the dingy cement steps, watching them all pass him by. No one so much as offered him a glance.

Rather rude of them, he thought. The birthday boy should always be the center of attention.

Toichi  smiled to himself and laughed a little, low in his throat so no one would notice. He gave the phone in his hand an artful spin, opening up the messenger app to reread the text he'd already long memorized.

[Sent 3:49 from Rea <3 ]

Meet me at the Femboy Hooters bar at ten. Take the train.

His mouth curled at the corners, tugging at his lips until he gave in to the hungry smile he'd been fighting all day. A shiver of warmth rolled down his spine at the thought of what it could all mean. He knew of the bar in passing. He hadn't expected Rea to, though. And the train... Toichi glanced around at the emptying station. Why the train? It would be far easier to hire a car for the evening, and far more private too should Rea deign to accompany him home from the bar...

The phone in his hand vibrated, startling him a little. Toichi thumbed over the dark screen, reading the new message.

[Sent 9:42 from Rea <3 ]

Are you on your way?

Toichi didn't try to fight his smile. Eager, aren't you? He typed out, hitting send before standing. The next train was just pulling in, and it'd only take a few minutes to reach the bar in question. He moved to the yellow line by the tracks and waited for the subway car to come to a stop, the pneumatic doors hissing open to let out the few passengers still out and about this late at night.

Another buzz from his phone. Toichi read the message as he walked onto the train, finding a seat near the exit door.

[Sent 9:46 from Rea <3 ]

You'll be late.

Oh, how cute. Toichi settled into his seat and glanced around the train car for a moment, taking stock of who all he shared it with. A tired looking man sat at the far end of the train, nodding off into his newspaper. Adjacent to Toichi sat a couple, two wild looking college students with book bags in hand and their noses buried in a notebook spread out on their shared laps. Finals, perhaps. Toichi looked down at his phone and rattled off a quick, It's my birthday. I can be late if I want to.

His eyes widened when the phone buzzed back immediately, the train lurching itself to life while he read.

[Sent 9:48 from Rea <3 ]

That's a shame. I suppose you don't really want your present then.

That warm feeling was back again. It was back with a vengeance. Toichi licked his lips and sat a little lower in his seat. The bar was only four stops from here. Perhaps fifteen more minutes. If he didn't waste time meandering, he could be there only a few minutes late. His fingers hovered over his touchscreen as he tried to quell the thought of what Rea might be planning. It was nearly impossible to predict what the thief might do. Toichi choked back the moan building in his throat. He definitely should have rented a car.

The train slowed down and lights began to flash by as they entered the next station tunnel. Toichi bit his lip and watched the college students gather up their things in a rush, stumbling out of the car as they bickered about some theory or another. The man at the far end didn't so much as stir. Toichi bounced his leg impatiently and tried not to fidget as the doors closed without any new passengers coming aboard. Three more stops. He couldn't help but glance at his phone.