Chapter Text
Sitting up slowly, Senku pressed his hand gently to his bandages before taking a long breath. He still felt a shudder, but it was a great improvement from a week ago. Ignoring the watchful eyes at the side of the room, he slowly stood up and grabbed his tunic from the shelf. Getting dressed, he made his way across the hall to the control room. “They’ll be coming today.” He spoke calmly as he approached Ryusui beside the windows.
The blond dipped his head in response. “Yeah, they won’t risk waiting a moment longer.” He turned to look at the scientist. “Are you sure you’re up for this?” His gaze slipped along the other’s features.
Senku caught his look and faced the window, his eyes adjusting to see himself in the dim reflection. His complexion was pale and eyes slightly sunken, surrounded by creases of exhaustion. Even his cheeks looked slightly hollow and his hair was a bit scraggly from laying down for so long. ‘I really do look terrible…’ Standing a little taller, he gave a firm nod. “You need me up there in case something happens mid-flight.” He pointed out and turned his back to the window. His eyes glazed and steps faltered as he realized his heart had been hoping to see a familiar smirking mentalist just behind him.
“He’ll be returning with the others today, so just stay focussed for a little bit longer.” Ryusui’s voice was soft as he spoke.
Gripping his fists, the scientist hardened his gaze and left the room to head towards the hangar. “I know.” He avoided Luna’s gaze as he passed her, creasing his brow when she couldn’t see his face. ‘I can’t wait to see him again… but what am I going to tell him?’ He put a hand to his chest and gripped his tunic, his heart aching. ‘It won’t take long for whispers to spread. And I can’t rely on Francois or Ryusui to explain it all to Luna.’ Letting out a tiny growl, he clenched his jaw. ‘Surely he’ll understand why I agreed to her deal. It was the only way I’d live! She used my injury to her advantage.’ He let out a hot breath, releasing his anger with it as his chest started to hurt from the strain. Giving his head a small shake, he focused on the task at hand. ‘Come on, now’s not the time to let my emotions take over. I can deal with her selfishness after we capture Xeno and get moving.’
Picking up the goggles from the desk, he studied himself in the reflection. His determination hardened and he gripped them tighter. ‘I’ll get to hold him in my arms again today, and nothing’s going to stand in my way.’
Pacing around his room, Gen knew that today was the day. The halls were bustling on the other side of the metal door, and there was only one minor soldier standing next to it instead of the usual two. ‘They’re preparing for some kind of attack… I really hope Senku’s plan is ready–whatever it is!’ His footsteps slowed as his mind drifted to his lover; Deep red eyes, the usual jagged cracks, and his smirk that brought a shiver to the mentalist’s spine. ‘Oh Senku…’
He moved to look out his window in time to watch an airplane take flight at the edge of the cornfields. His eyes tracked the plane before it straightened out and headed away from the American base. Gazing distantly in the same direction, Gen sighed heavily. ‘I wish I was there with you… I want to see your face, feel your warmth, smell your scent, and listen to your heartbeat…’ His anxieties drifted as his mind got lost in memories and fantasies of his dear scientist.
Gen shuffled the contents of his sleeve, mulling over the new situation he found himself in not long after his earlier daydreams. After securing Dr. Xeno and leaving the base with the battle team, the mentalist couldn’t help but feel anxious. Though they had succeeded in capturing the enemy scientist, it did little in the form of feeling victory. ‘All we did was give these Americans more reasons to hate us. And after everything I’ve heard over the earpiece…’ He looked once more at the tree where Xeno was tied up. His hatred for the man only boiled more each time he saw him, knowing it was him who ordered a kill shot on Senku. ‘Still… I’ve heard Senku’s voice over the earpiece myself. He’s okay…so the message reporting he was hurt was a lie or it wasn’t bad.’ His heart ached as the scientist entered his mind as it always did at nearly every free moment. ‘Oh Senku… I miss you.‘
“Come on. There’s actually no need to tie the guy down like that. He’s not gonna make a single move until his ol’ pal Stanley and the others come to his rescue. He’s not some illogical idiot who would cut before measuring, ya know? And I know that, because one thing’s for sure. Doctor X is a world-class man of science.”
Forced from his thoughts at Senku’s voice, the mentalist looked up, his breath catching as he spotted the all-too-familiar green-tipped hair of the very man he was just thinking about. Without a second to waste, Gen burst into a sprint, rushing past the rest of the group until he was forced into a stumbling halt directly in front of the scientist. His eyes shone as they met Senku’s deep red gaze. “Senku…” His voice wavered with emotion, every molecule in his body yearning to touch him.
Smirking as he faced his lover, Senku crossed his arms tightly, obviously struggling against the same feeling. “Gen… We make a perfect team even so far apart.”
Letting out a small chuckle at his words, the mentalist moved an inch closer. “We do. Our plan may not have gone perfectly… But we’re both here now…” He could hear his own wistful tone as he spoke and he battled inside to stay steady. “So…what’s the plan from here?”
Gripping his arms to hold himself still, Senku took a moment to look aside at the rest of his group. “We secure ourselves another vessel…and find a way to get Koseki and Francois here…“ His voice trailed as it slipped to Xeno. “But first, I need to speak with Xeno.”
Gen stiffened slightly at his words, his eyes narrowing as he watched his lover step down to the river bed with the other scientist. The look on Xeno’s face made his stomach sick. ‘He has no right to look so happy and relieved to see Senku alive after he ordered his dear soldier to strike the kill shot!’ Gripping his fists tightly, he clenched his jaw.
“Ooh, we finally found you, thanks to you calling with your location.”
Senku stiffened slightly at the voice and turned as Luna, Max, Francois, and Koseki filed into the small clearing. His red eyes narrowed as he spotted Luna, gathering himself to figure out what exactly he was going to say. Giving Gen a loving glance, he stepped toward the new guests and bent his head as he gave the pink-haired girl a positive remark.
Gen watched this exchange with narrowed eyes. ‘Senku makes sure to compliment everyone on their accomplishments… So why do I not like the feeling of this one?’ He forced a smile to his face as the two familiar members of the party joined them. Making a surprised remark that Francois immediately began serving tea, he felt himself relax at the comforting feeling of their casual lives. ‘They know everyone must be tense right now. Seeing them set up as if this was a casual gathering is definitely helping my nerves.’ His gaze slipped back to Xeno, the uneasy worm in his stomach growing. ‘Still…Xeno’s dear Stanley isn’t just going to give up. How long are we going to be locked in a chase? And what’s going to happen when Stanley catches up to us? Oh, Senku~ How do we always find ourselves in these tense situations?’
“Master Gen, please take a moment to enjoy some tea.”
Distracted from his stressful thoughts, the mentalist’s eyes widened at the cup Francois was calmly holding out to him. He took a long breath before gently taking the tea and gave the butler a grateful look. “Thank you, Francois. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
The butler gave their usual smile and a small nod before returning to the mobile lab for more.
“Our advance party’s now complete. That’s everyone.” Ukyo broke the chatter, focusing the group back on their objective.
Sipping some of the tea, Gen gently set it down on the table and stalked across the clearing to his lover’s side as the others began talking about returning to the American base and stealing a new ship. Regaining his usual spot next to the scientist, the older’s eyes gleamed. “The sooner we get that new boat, the sooner our next journey begins.”
“You’re right, so let’s get everyone moving.” Senku smirked as they shared a knowing gaze before he turned to face him and took another step closer. “I missed you…every moment.” He softened his voice so nobody could overhear amongst the chatter
Heart melting as his words, Gen had to take a moment to steady his voice. “I missed you too…I was so worried.” His throat croaked out the last word and he creased his brow to try and keep his emotions in check.
Lifting his hand up, the scientist stopped himself short as he reached for the other. Gripping it into a fist instead, he forced a small smile. “I know, I’m sorry.”
“Senku, Gen, we need to get moving.” Ryusui called from the back of the group. The blonde studied them for a moment before pointing over his shoulder. “You can ride in the mobile lab.”
Gen looked to the captain before he took a shaky breath. “Right, thanks!” He called back and began walking over with Senku close behind. Following the captain into the vehicle, he blinked a little in surprise that only Koseki was inside. “What about the others?”
Ryusui took the wheel and started to drive once Senku shut the door. “I sent them on ahead. The battle team will handle securing the vessel and we’ll meet them just outside the base.” He focused his eyes ahead. “Francois took the rest on a shorter, more direct route—a route the mobile lab can’t go.”
Koseki settled in the front of the vehicle with Ryusui. “I’m only here due to the decades I’ve seen.” He added in a lightly cheery manner. He peeked back to study Gen and Senku. “You two don’t need to tiptoe around me. I’ve seen enough in my years that I picked up on your feelings ages ago.”
Eyes widening, Gen failed to stop a small snicker at the old craftsman’s words. “Eriously-say?” Shaking his head slightly, he relaxed as he processed their situation. “Then that means...” His voice was quiet before he gasped softly as Senku grabbed his wrist and spun him around. Nerves lighting with bliss when their lips met in a deep kiss, he smiled against him. ‘Oh~ How much I’ve missed this~’ Pressing closer, he hugged his lover tightly, grasping at the back of his tunic in desperation.
Senku slowly tightened his arms around the mentalist’s waist, holding their bodies together as the moment wore on. He only broke their lips apart once his lungs were desperate for air, panting softly to catch his breath. His wounds ached at the strain but he pushed the pain away, eyes gleaming as they met the other’s gray-blue.
Gen’s heartbeat was strong in his chest as he searched his gaze, reading the pure affection in their red depths. The mentalist swiftly hugged him tightly, burying his face into the space between Senku’s shoulder and neck. Creasing his brow, he fought back tears of relief. “I’m so glad you’re okay!”
Hearing the cry in his muffled voice, the scientist felt the corners of his eyes burn–threatening tears of his own. He dipped his head into his lover’s shoulder and nuzzled into his purple coat. “Me too…”
Unable to pull himself back, Gen buried his face deeper into the scientist’s neck and refused to move away. ‘I never want to part from you again!’ He focused on every aspect of his lover—the feeling of his arms tightly around his waist, the sound of his breathing, and his all-too-familiar scent. “Senku…” His voice was full of relief.
Letting out a small chuckled sob, Senku nuzzled against him as if they could never be close enough. “Gen…” He replied softly, letting his pain be washed away and replaced with his pure joy and love for the other. Their hearts pounded between them as they endured within each other’s comfort, small breaths beside their ears and warm tears on their shoulders.
Ryusui glanced over his shoulder at the two before hardening his gaze and focusing ahead once more. Koseki was silent as he watched out the window, but his brows were lightly creased.
The two stayed firmly in each other’s arms as they ventured ever closer to the enemy base to retrieve their next home vessel.