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It’s been a couple months since Shigeru found what many had referred to as “Mad Dog.” And the name wasn’t far off from how his recent partner has come across. The man slouches, with a permanent scowl on his face, and when he bares his teeth, his canines look sharp. The fading black stripe running through his bleached hair was very much akin to the fur of a dog… It wasn't hard to point out why he was called “Mad Dog.”
Also, his personality is not… what some would call approachable. However, he was Shigeru’s saving grace that one fateful night, and Shigeru will forever be grateful.
What truly had Shigeru captivated by this “Mad Dog” was his loyalty. He could’ve left Shigeru in the warehouse, beaten and near death, about to be suffocated by the infected banging on the loosely held together doors. That was not the case. Even with his heavy looking bag on his back, “Mad Dog” hefted Shigeru up in his arms, and ran with him for at least a mile and a half away from the incoming horde. He nursed Shigeru back to a healthy state, fed him, helped him around with his broken leg, and many other things that Shigeru couldn’t even start to remember.
“Mad Dog” has been loyal to Shigeru, to the point where it’s sort of freaking him out. Through thick and thin, he has stayed by Shigeru’s side, shielding him, housing him… Shigeru had sometimes wondered if he's worth all the effort.
His self-demeaning question was answered when his partner became vulnerable for a hot minute, when they were surrounded by a horde, coming at them from all sides. They were in an enclosed space too, so it seemed impossible to escape. Almost.
“Mad Dog” had a plan. He would distract the horde into one corner while Shigeru climbed up the metal boxes and out the window to their left.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he screamed, voice hoarse and almost overpowered by the screeching of the creatures around them. Mad Dog’s eyes grew into big round spheres, and his face fell. He then pursed his lips, nodded, and grabbed Shigeru by his arm and hefted them towards the window himself.
Once they were out, Shigeru had so little self control left, he almost slapped Mad Dog right then and there. But he saw his face first, and his anger vanished.
“Don’t ever question my decisions again.”
And then Mad Dog simply began to walk away, as if they weren't just in a do or die situation.
That night, the man opened up to Shigeru, and began telling him about himself.
Mad Dog became Kyoutani Kentarou that night.
Shigeru wakes up a few months later to the scent of smoke, but instead of dread and panic filling him, he focuses on the crackles and the scraping of food being cooked a few feet away from him. Rubbing his eyes gently, he sits up, and watches as Kyoutani scowls at the slowly cooking food.
“Squirrel or…?” he asks, flipping his blanket off and rising to his feet.
Kyoutani grunts a response and turns the dead animal. “Size of a rat, this one was.”
After Shigeru does his normal morning routine, he sits next to Kyoutani and rubs his hands together over the fire.
Autumn had blurred into winter, which came a bit early, so their mornings are crisp and chilly and less so when the sun comes out. Still, they both know they need to find a more permanent shelter, and an actual building rather than a car they'd find and settle down in.
They'd been together through it all; through all the pain, paranoia and fear, but also through the peace, shared laughter and comfortable silence. Things have been going well for them. Scavenging for supplies hasn't been so hard, however, finding suitable shelter is very hard to come by these days. It is their first and foremost goal, and they need to find one quickly before the sky grants snow.
It was coming close to the first anniversary of the apocalypse starting, which meant this was their first winter to experience. Shigeru knows there isn't any way to know how the creatures will react to the cold, and he's afraid to find out.
Suddenly, Kyoutani’s head snaps up towards their right. His hand slowly inches towards his katana, and his other slowly goes to lay on top of Shigeru’s chest. He scoffs quietly, but stays still as Kyoutani rises and pinpoints the sound he heard.
There's a deep growling and leaves rustle, and there stands one of the infected, coming out behind an old pine.
Kyoutani spins his katana in his hand, and slightly turns his head to Shigeru. “Stay.”
Shigeru sighs, and begins to pack up their belongings as his partner approaches the infected and cuts it down. With a sneer that Shigeru absolutely knows he's giving it, Kyoutani walks back, wiping down his katana.
Shigeru once asked him where he got it, but all he got in response was a little smirk from the other.
“Need to move,” he says, walking past Shigeru and towards his own bag.
“And breakfast?”
Kyoutani heaves his bag over his head and onto his shoulder. “To go for today. Sorry.”
“No, it’s ok. As long as it doesn’t get cold.”
After packing everything up, they begin to walk along the paved road towards a small village they were scouting the day before for any activity. It seemed pretty deserted, an occasional infected walking through, and no more than three had been seen. It was an open layout, much like the interior of a mall, probably a small spot for those on road trips to replenish their supplies. It’s off the map, not by much however, so they may get lucky.
They slowly make their way towards the first building, ivy crawling up the sides and curling around the corners.
It’s eerily quiet, but once they do a thorough search, they find no infected. In fact, the village seems to be abnormally spotless, like no one has gone through it since before the apocalypse.
It’s a bit dusty, dirt all around and trash littering the ground. It’s very… quaint, as Shigeru would put it, as he inspects his surroundings. Fairly small, that rural look, and the smell of soil overwhelms his nose in a way he hasn’t felt in a while. Glass gently shatters under his weight as he walk across a few shards.
The wind blows through the wind chimes still up, hanging in front of the stores and softly knocking against each other. It creates a soft, jumbled melody, and it’s nice to hear, after everything that has happened.
Shigeru feels a little tug on his sleeve, and he turns to Kyoutani, beginning to tense up. Instead, he begins to relax, as he follows Kyoutani’s gaze to a small music store. Shigeru smiles, and nudges Kyoutani with his elbow.
“Go on,” he murmurs, voice just above a whisper. Kyoutani lowers his head a little, and Shigeru spots the smile that curls on his lips right before he turns away and walks into the store. Taking one last look around, Shigeru follows Kyoutani.
As he steps in, his senses are overwhelmed with the scent of old records, and the plastic smell of magazines.
He spots Kyoutani towards the back, sitting on a stool and holding a red electric guitar in his arms, gently strumming the strings. Even with the sound not being as accurate as it should be, the tune sounds… familiar. Shigeru wacks his brain for the name, having it right at the tip of his tongue.
He snaps his fingers, and then gives a confusing look to the other man.
“Is that Grease?”
Kyoutani’s head snaps up, his ears turning a bright red.
“That’s ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You,’ isn’t it? Kyou, I didn’t think of you as a romantic,” Shigeru teases as he moves closer. He glances off to the side, and sees albums of a few classics, still in their packaging. His eyes land on a particular one, and his lips curl into a smirk as he spots a record player nearby. Picking up the album, he walks over to that record player and inspects it to see if it’ll still work.
He puts the record onto the player, and slowly brings the tonearm down into the groove of his selected song.
Kyoutani’s head slowly rises, eyes wide and lips parted.
Shigeru chuckles softly and holds his hand out as the voice of Olivia Newton-John rings out in the abandoned music store. Gently, he watches as Kyoutani sets the guitar down, propping it on the stool he sits at, and stands, staring at Shigeru’s outstretched hand.
After another second, he takes it, and takes a hesitant step forward. Shigeru smiles again, this time brighter but softer.
“Now does the romantic know how to dance, also?”
Now with a full, powerful flush adorning his face, Kyoutani gives a little pout.
Endearing, Shigeru thinks, and gently pulls him in and takes the beginning stance of a slow dance. Kyoutani follows his lead, and slowly, they begin to sway to the music. Shigeru doesn’t know when or how it happens, but they shuffle closer to each other, and Kyoutani’s head ends up on his chest, and his chin is tucked over Kyoutani’s.
They sway together, gently rocking side to side, and breathing each other in. Shigeru would consider it weird, had it not been him offering to dance, and the way they’ve gotten closer. Intimate. But instead of that crushing feeling most get in their chest, the overwhelming adrenaline one would get… it’s a breath of fresh air for Shigeru. It’s powerful, and it brings him ease and a gentle warmth inside his chest, right where Kyoutani’s head currently lies. He supposes they had it coming. It was probably just a matter of time before they became this close, but this is another level Shigeru hadn’t expected. Not that he’s complaining. He likes this. He likes Kyoutani.
And it seems the feeling is mutual.
He feels laughter bubble up in his chest through his throat and out his mouth. It’s light, and something that he hasn’t experienced in years.
He feels the rumbles of laughter from Kyoutani, and he looks down to see the other man already looking up, a smile gently placed on his lips. They smile at each other softly, already knowing that they’re already in deep, and never getting out.
Their lips meet, and it’s tender, and oh so soft. Shigeru just about melts in Kyoutani’s arms, and the other pulls away to huff a laugh. Shigeru raises an arm to flick at his ear, and then they fall into a silly fight that only lasts a few seconds, but will live in their memories for the rest of their lives.