Chapter Text
"What is it like," Akane began: unsure of the words leaving his mouth. ".. exorcising supernaturals?"
The two were paired at the student council desk, Teru seated across from his vice president as he would regularly. The question did intrigue the president though, as Akane usually never indulged him voluntarily.
The blinds were pulled up, revealing Kamome's garden in the fullest and the sun beginning its descent downward outside— it really did get late quickly in the early months. It was February now, which meant there were also an absurd amount of lovebirds in the garden confessing at almost all hours of the school day.
It made Akane somewhat consider asking Ao-chan out there, but she and Yashiro had already been spending so much time together— he'd hardly been able to confess as regularly as he did. Which was still a concerning amount of three times a week, minimum.
"Why, are you curious Aoi? — Do you want to know more about me?" The president pried, peering through the stacks of paperwork that he had already completed on desk toward Akane, who had his own stack of.. somewhat completed pile of sheets for an upcoming school event.
Akane's gaze met Teru's, not daring to show any interest in his expression in worry that Teru might believe his vice president was actually interested in his personal life. Or him. Akane inwardly frowned at himself for the thought, as well as the way he really couldn't pull his eyes off of Teru's. He always lost inevitably in their unsaid staring contests.
"Forget I asked."
Akane rolled his eyes at him. Of course he had to go and make it.. embarrassing.
"Don't be like that." His soft tone indicated he wasn't actually upset at all, actually— he was rather pleased with Akane's inquiry.
"If you're really curious, It'd probably be fine if you tagged along."
It was Akane's turn to stare, surprised that the president wasn't completely against the idea, he wouldn't have been surprised if Teru flat out said no as well. Teru's hands were twiddling, or more so fidgeting underneath his own desk. Constantly burdened with an urge to be hands on, fidget, or interact in general. He really only found it around supernaturals, (Akane) dismissing it as the urge to destroy..
It may be another reason why the Mokke avoid him as well, but that he disregarded. Either way, he wasn't sure why he invited someone who made him feel in such a way— after all, Akane was only asking to hold conversation, right?—
"Alright."
"I dont see why not, I guess."
He crossed his arms defiantly, as if he wasn't actually interested. Teru read him like an open book unfortunately.
"I didn't expect you to actually be interested," Teru began, relenting a scoff from his vice president. "Ill text you when I'm outside then, okay?"
"How do you know where I live?"
"Akane-san told me~"
Teru replied with a grin, and Akane felt somewhat concerned that Teru and Aoi were close like that— but more so that he knew where he lived.
".. I'll see you there then."
———
Akane had given Teru his phone number reluctantly after the severance, the president arguing it'd be good to be able to contact each other quickly if a breakthrough was made. Afterward— even when everything was normal, and Akane insisted he deleted it, Teru kept his contact.
And when he began to receive a call at an hour he deemed way too early, he felt extremely tempted to throw his phone out of his window. Begrudgingly, Akane picked up his phone and glanced at the contact covering his entire home screen now. He didn't have to read it to know. Who else but Teru would call him at this hour?
(Unfortunately, this was not Akane's first time being awoken by Teru. Likely not the last either.)
He picked up his phone, answering the call with a groan and an upset "What do you want, Minamoto?" even though he knew why he was being rung.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten, Aoi!" Akane could practically hear the bright smile through his words. "Im outside. Don't be long!~"
His feet felt heavy as he swung them over the bed. The clock keeper figured that he was wearing would suffice— he wasn't going to dress up for Teru of all people.
— Is what he told himself, as he brushed a hand through his ginger locks and tugged on the bottom of his black, random band shirt to make sure 'he atleast looked presentable.'
Akane stored his shoes underneath his bed, pulling them out and crouching down into a kneel to tie them on.
Akane wasn't sure why he was putting his shoes on at such a horrible hour, or why Teru was blowing up his phone with a line of texts reading different variations of 'hurry up', or why he was actually going through with this.
But his mind had already been made up when he was halfway out of his second floor window, climbing onto his roof, It wasn't hard to unlock— actually, he'd unlocked it plenty of times in the past whenever he'd wanted to hang out with Aoi.
So he descended, ignoring the pain of a new bruise as his knee banged against the roof on accident. He had just hoped his parents didn't wake up..
It pays to be careful, contrary to popular belief, so Akane tried to be a bit quieter.
He hit the ground with a thud from the contact of his feet and the dirt that was slightly damp from the snow they were supposed to expect, receiving nothing but rainy days instead.
"You must've really taken your time, hm?"
A voice rang from behind him, and Akane recognized it as Teru's. He wasn't sure how the exorcist had such clear, radiating energy at such an hour. Akane figured it was the adrenaline the sick bastard received from killing and crushing the supernatural beasts that roamed the streets. He shuddered at the thought that Teru didn't find the aforementioned supernaturals much different from him. Teru stood behind him on the street in-front of Akane's residence.
"You are so impatient. Has anyone ever told you that?"
"No, actually. Most people think I'm the opposite— isn't that fun?"
"Hardly."
Teru bore a plain white yukata, but if Akane squinted— he could've sworn he saw faded bloody stains on it. A trick of the light, he told himself. Even if the sword Teru carried on his hip very obviously proved otherwise.
"Shall we get going?"
Akane nodded as he stuffed his hands into his sweater pockets. It wasn't snowing, but it was still pretty chilly. He felt a little cold just seeing the sandals Teru wore and how he didn't seem at shiver at the wind at all.
"How are you not freezing?"
"It's not that cold, Aoi. Unless you need to go back and grab yourself a coat."
"I don't need one," His huff was visible, illuminated by the dim streetlight and the cold temperature. "I was talking about your clothes."
"Are you worried about me?"
Teru let out a chuckle before the clock keeper got to interject.
"I'll be fine, exorcising supernaturals is lot easier when I'm not limited by clothes."
Akane didn't reply to that, instead following Teru down the road as the two ventured into the night. The occasional blink of a street light whenever the pair walked past unfortunately reminded Akane he harbored supernatural energy— just as much as the ones he and Teru ventured for. It was a little unnerving, but he didn't dote on it.
The exorcist stopped in front of him and turned to face Akane, a slight cheeky grin on his face as he tilted his head and stepped forward, Akane remained still as he noticed what was approaching them.
"Make sure you're watching this one, Aoi."
A large, eight— probably more, legged beast. It had about probably hundreds of mouthes on it and drool trailed from underneath it as a cause. The clock keeper scrunched his face at the sight. And at the smell.
He took a step back, listening to the 'tip tap' of Teru's wooden soles as he charged at the thing, dodging easily out of the way as it swung a talon.
Teru leaped to the side and went straight for the creatures side, knocking it off balance.
The exorcist's spiritual energy caught Akane off guard momentarily, who flinched at the flash of color. It didn't distract him from watching Teru exorcise it, as he stabbed his blade deep down one of the many throats of the creature. It let out a noise of distress.
The noise irritated Akane's ears— plainly due to how loud it was. Why did the thing need so many mouthes? Its screech was interrupted by Teru's charge of lightning, silencing the supernatural and finishing it off.
Akane let out a low whistle, slightly impressed.
"How was that?" Teru asked, as if he wasn't purposely showing off. Normally he would've taken his time with something of the size— but someone was watching, so of course he had to show off.
He told himself it didn't matter that the 'someone' was Akane.
(It did)
"Impressive," Teru shined inwardly. "but it's the first thing we've seen, I'm sure you can do better than that."
Akane spoke, and Teru smirked— allowing the clock keeper to catch up to him as they continued down the dimly lit streets that seemed a little cleaner now.
"Is that a challenge?"
".. You can take it as one."
Teru was competitive— Akane knew all too well. So he wasn't surprised the exorcist was intrigued.
———
The streets weren't packed by any means, but it was a little odd to Akane how many supernaturals roamed the streets. Maybe it was because it was almost a new season-- or maybe it was because valentines day was right around the corner.
Once the night had began to wind down, the two slowed their stroll and began to talk. Akane had half considered offering Teru his jacket, but the bastard would probably poke fun at him for it— so his hands remained in his pockets.
"I should've gone home a while ago."
The clock keeper muttered whilst gazing up at the star filled sky. Neither were really sure what hour it was, since Teru didnt have pockets for anything and Akane stupidly left his phone at home.
"Maybe so, but I think theres no supernaturals out now anyway. I'll walk you home."
Teru didnt leave room for any objections, so Akane shrugged as they turned down an alleyway the exorcist previously insisted was a shortcut.
No more than a few moments later, Akane heard the familiar 'tip tap' of footsteps, but they seemed far too heavy to belong to the boy besides him.
"No supernaturals out now, you said?"
They pair turned their heads to the sight of a monster that vaguely reminded Akane of the first supernatural they had seen that night. Another beast— but with hundreds of eyes. The clock keeper hated the feeling of being stared at, so he wasn't in the slightest interested in it.
Teru charged— much quicker than before. It was obvious they were just trying to get home, and the exorcist pieced together that the beasts were pretty similar aswell, so he figured the same strategy would work.
Bait it out, let it think it can attack. Then use that as an opening, stab a weak point, and release his lightning. It was as simple as that, atleast he figured.
So when the creature swung its clawed fist at Teru, he swiftly dodged it and ducked toward its side— being met by its entire side, covered in pink, wide eyes. It blew his own eyed slightly wide
Maybe he was imagining things and he was tired, but the pink, heart shaped eyes of the supernatural seemingly piercing into his soul just might've had an effect on him.
The exorcist wasnt sure why he halted. Or why he didnt dodge its next swing til the next moment— but his chest felt heavy as he ducked once more.
He wasn't worried. Everything was still fine. He was a Minamoto— for christs sake.
Akane caught a glimpse of the supernatural before Teru stabbed it and discharged his spiritual energy quickly. The creature vanished— but Teru's heart still felt heavy, worsening when he met Akane's gaze.
Was it the warm lighting, or was the clock keeper's face always so entrancing?
Neither realized how long they stared til Akane broke the silence with a cough and the shuffle of his feet.
"You looked like you were struggling there, huh?"
"Oh, be quiet."
Teru broke into a smile as he walked back to catch up with Akane this time— walking slightly faster than he was earlier. He wasnt in any rush to get home, but the tug on his heart hadn't left and Teru figured it'd be better to figure this out himself first rather than involve Akane.
So the walk home was quiet, for the most part. Occasionally Teru would point out a playground or a store that he 'Took Tiara here,' and 'Shes growing up so fast..' with a frown.
Akane would occasionally add on aswell— pointing out a trail that he and Aoi had taken once, and he got lost for a few hours. 'Ao-chan hugged me when I found my way back,' and 'Shes was so sad' even if his stories usually told of Aoi rejecting Akane even worse than she did now..
Eventually, they were back at Akane's residence and they both parted with a wave. The clock keeper struggled to make his way back up and into his window— grazing his other knee now.
With a slump he opened his window and landed on his floor on his feet. He slipped his shoes off and shut the window— not bothering to even change out of of his current attire before heading straight back into bed. His heart pounded as he stared up at his ceiling. Akane ignored the heat in his cheeks as he fell deep into thought.
Was it the exhaustion into the night hours, or was the exorcists voice so pleasant to Akane's ears?