Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. January, 1991. The world has entered the technology era, portable phones, home computers, internet, video games. Japan quickly became the epicenter of the latest and greatest. Companies and factories flourished. Where money was, people followed. And while many rose to live a comfortable, happy, and delightful life from this new found money... Others did not. You see, money has this effect on people that can't be outdone. People will do anything for it. And when it starts slipping into the wrong hands, it's impossible to stop. Benethe the day time laborers and the double-shift workers, a seedy underbelly of syndicates exists. Narctics, black market, organized crime, money laundering, you name it and it's been growing as fast as the upper world economy. While many do it just to stay alive, there's those who make it their posh lifestyle. Either way, there's only one question. What would you do if the money was good enough?
JAN 29 2021: Welcome!! ƎLEMENT has been open for two weeks now and we're so happy to see such a bright beginning! If you're new feel free to drop into the discord and say hi before joining.
There wasn't much better for Hikaru than an evening out scouring the streets for some back-alley entertainment. Unfortunately, Tokyo was all too forthcoming in that regard, the streets constantly echoing with some case of late-night violence. Be it some small-time kleptomaniacs nabbing big-ticket items from a local shop, a middle-aged sleazebag with disgustingly-roaming hands, or a high-ranking official abusing his power in some unsavory method, the Tokyo streets were always providing the young man with a plethora of lowlifes to let out his frustrations on. [break][break] "Call me the Japanese Batman!" he chuckled to himself, popping a fresh pocky stick between his lips, his enjoyment of that comparison far too apparent across his features. [break][break] So far, the night had been particularly... boring. Nothing much going on, restless spirits clearly finding their methods of violent relief behind closed doors. Hikaru was just contemplating slipping into some nearby club, figuring he could at least grab a drink between his strolling, when he heard the telltale signs of a scuffle. [break][break] Exhilarated grin splitting his features, hands slipping into the pockets of that patented olive jacket, he made his way down the alley towards the rough-and-tumble sounds. He moved casually, excitement building with each further step, that most recent pocky stick disappearing as he rounded the final corner and spotted the crowd of miscreants tucked away behind some restaurant dumpster. He didn't immediately intervene, one golden brow cocking as he observed the scene. [break][break] Four-on-one doesn't seem all that fair, he mused, trying to get a good look at the guy getting roughed up. The four surrounding him were mildly familiar--he was pretty sure he'd seen them scurrying around Tsumaru facilities at some point--but the kid getting beat on didn't spark any immediate recognition. Oh! He's not from around here, is he? he mused, finally catching the poor kid's eye through the four bodies surrounding him. Hikaru plastered on a quick, friendly grin, shooting him some playful wave before lifting his fits in some mimic of a fight; a silent question if he needed any help.
Agh, shit. All he wanted was a drink. One tiny sip of stress relief and warmth and a way to let go even if only for a few minutes. Somewhere warm with loud music so he didn’t have to think and four walls so he didn’t have to be so tense. It had been a long, traumatic fucking week. He was scared and tired. He was almost out of money with no way to make it aside from stealing. That meant no food, no water, no alcohol. As it was, he was sleeping on the streets and he’d stolen a few snacks from various convenience stores to get by. But it was already getting exhausting. So when he found himself sitting at a bar with his last few hundred yen, he was not at all conflicted about his choice to spend it there.
After lingering for three hours with only a few drinks, he headed back out into the elements, where four dudes - four men - had stopped him from exiting the alley. Before Leo could even fight back, they had him disarmed and thrown against the wall. Coming to this country was such a stupid fucking idea. He couldn’t even be drunk in peace, could he?
Leo was pulled from the wall, surrounded, his fists raised and teeth bared when a passerby caught his gaze. He shouldn't have looked as long as he did, but the guy smiled and raised his own fists and-
Confused brows pulled together at the gesture and in his momentary loss of focus he was sucker punched. Leo felt the heat of his lip splitting and crashed into the wet ground. He swore his brain rolled around in his skull when he whacked it against the wall right above where it met the pavement. Hands snaked around his arms before he could get his bearings and he was yanked to his feet, hanging forward.
"What? You all gonna fuck me at once? Isn't that kinda gay?" he taunted in English.
Oh, didn't like that, did they? He doubted they understood and that almost made it funnier. The other two stepped up to beat the shit out of him and Leo let out a growl, the sound more like that of a trapped coyote than a man ready to fight. He fought against them, scrambling to break free, and glanced over at the man at the end of the alley.
Sure, he was getting a great fucking show. But what the hell was he doing? Was he gonna help? Call the cops? Why just stand there putting himself in danger with that stupid grin on his face?
His attention shifted back to the men when he was punched in the stomach and his own knife was picked up and brandished in front of him. His heart rate tripled. Was this it? In this nasty alleyway with his own damn knife? Some weirdo passively watching on? He didn’t exactly want to shift the attention to the guy, but maybe if they saw he was there, they’d fuck off. Maybe.
An animated wince left the blonde as that sucker punch made contact, Hikaru having to stifle a bitter laugh at the scene. Whoops, my bad... he thought, guilt starting to brim in his gut. He stood up a bit straight, popping the pocky box into his back pocket and prepping himself to join in the fray when-- [break][break] "What? You all gonna fuck me at once? Isn't that kinda gay?" [break][break] Gods, was there ever a time he was more grateful for Grandma Ichika's forced language lessons? A cacophonous laugh rushed from him, the English taunt clearly flying over the thugs' heads. Thankfully, they were so preoccupied by the clear insult thrown their way--obvious even with the language barrier thanks to that snarky, snapping tone--that they seemed to miss the chuckling blonde behind them. He was wiping a patch of brimming tears from the corner of his golden gaze when the kid finally called attention to him. [break][break] "Fuck. You- Help me!" [break][break] That request was, really, all he needed to hear, Hikaru's grin turning particularly devilish as he started rushing at the four. Adrenaline spiking, Hikaru didn't slow down as those four faces turned, confusion lacing their expressions. He used the force of his running to guide is fist into one of the bastard's faces, sending him sprawling. An exhilarated little laugh slipped from Hikaru's lips as he turned his attention to the others, if nothing else allowing a distraction for the kid to either run off or get his act together and help out. [break][break] "Took you long enough, kid," he chided in English, the faintest, oddly enough, German accent to the voice. He said it just as his elbow found the gut of one of the other men, Hikaru using the contact and his larger body to thrust him back into the bricks, a satisfying stuttered gasp rushing from the guy. Pleased as hell with his work so far, Hikaru turned to make another comment when he found a fist in his gut. He doubled over, briefly, though the assailant seemed confused enough by the sudden sixth guest to the alley that there wasn't as much force behind the hit as there could have been. Hikaru was fine enough, in fact, that he managed to dodge out of the way of the subsequent knee aimed at his face. [break][break] "I suggest you either help out or get the hell out of dodge," he managed to shoot to the battered lad, dodging another fist and going for some discordant, slightly off-kilter leg sweep before the guy he'd bashed against the bricks got his bearings.
He drew in a breath and glanced over at him but didn’t have long to let the gears fully turn over the fact that the guy spoke English -- a linguistic lottery he never thought he’d win. It wasn’t something he got to think often, but a relieved lucky me restored a little confidence in him that he would not die in that alley by his own knife. Not this time, at least.
Leo managed to yank his arms free, stumbled forward while the group reassessed the playing field as it tipped out of their favor and became a sliver more balanced. It didn’t take them long to figure out that Leo was half the threat that his new English speaking companion was and they all let their focus leave him to instead get this stranger taken care of first. Foolish, he thought, until the handful of men received consecutive hits right off the bat. Who the hell was this guy? Cool. He was...kinda fucking cool.
He winced when the man took a hit on his behalf while Leo himself was busy gawking, just sort of watching without realizing he had yet to move.
I suggest you either help out or get the hell out of dodge.
Fair. Time to decide.
Well, he...he wanted to run. The checked bottoms of his chucks scraped over the pavement, moved back half a step so he could beat it but- Agh, fuck. He wasn’t about to just leave him there. The guy looked high as a kite to have received the invitation to beat the shit out of the thugs but it was Leo’s fight and he’d managed to get him involved and he’d stick around for it. Even if only to prove that he wasn’t a kid.
Instinct finally kicked in and he went for the one still staggering, swinging himself around the guy by his neck, pulling back and choking him even as nails dug into his skin through his clothes. The man slammed them both against the wall, which knocked the wind out of Leo, but he didn’t let go until he finally dropped. Glancing over, he saw one other man knocked out on the ground, the stranger taking and dishing out a near equal share of hits until one had grabbed him and the other started pummeling. Leo managed to tackle the current assaulter and started driving punches hard into his jaw, the two of them struggling for a minute which landed Leo beneath him, choking. Desperate hands reached out to the side, scraping at grime for a bottle knocked over just beneath the dumpster, and as soon as his fingers wrapped around the neck, he brought it around with a furious swing and loud crash. The glass shimmered to the ground around him, some of it falling into his messy, greasy hair, and he staggered to his feet, the stranger standing, too. He walked over to pick up his knife, cleaning it on the knee of his jeans before he slipped it back into his pocket.
“Fuck.” Leo panted and wiped crimson from his lip, smearing it across his cheek and up the back of his hand like a crude brushstroke. He looked down at it and scowled, wiped the blood on the side of his jeans instead as if they weren’t dirty enough already. “I’m not a kid,” he circled back to make sure that was clear, proving the stranger’s comment that he was, in fact, a kid. He looked over at him. “Leo. And...thanks, I guess.”
While Hikaru was a bit preoccupied with his own scuffles, he had a chance amidst the flurry of chaos to catch a few moments of his unexpected ally's moves. He couldn't help the pleased grin that spread across his features at the scrappy young thing, amused, if nothing else, that he actually joined the fray instead of darting off. He couldn't stay distracted for long, though, as he unwillingly took on the role of punching bag. Gritting against the pain, Hikaru flailed around that grimy back alley, managing to catch his bearings once he partner tackled the bastard. A few more swifts kicks, a couple of rough hits, and Hikaru's final target's face making sharp, violent contact with the edge of the dumpster, and the blonde was stumbling to his feet, spots of blood and a few new bruises littering his visage. [break][break] The pain and new indicators of those hits did little to lessen that smile, though, his grin broad as he wiped a drip of crimson from the corner of his mouth. While his companion snatched up his knife, Hikaru made a point to go around, nudging each of those groaning men with the toe of his boot, just to make sure they weren't going to hop up and try anything funny. [break][break] "Fuck." [break][break] A hearty, amused bark of laughter left the older man, golden gaze flicking to that approaching form. For as much as the kid looked like a scrawny ragamuffin, he definitely had held his own, Hikaru's gaze alight with the peaked interest that came with the adrenaline-spiked appreciation. [break][break] "Hikaru," he replied, holding out his scarlet-streaked hand for other to take, trying not to laugh too much at the "not a kid" comment. "And you're welcome." With another lighthearted chuckle he added, "Though you definitely seemed to have them right where you wanted them. Clever, pulling them into a false sense of security by letting them beat the shit out of you." [break][break] The sarcasm was clear in his voice, tone lilting with the playful tease. If Leo actually took his offered hand, he'd provide a firm squeeze and an affirming not; if not, well, Hikaru wasn't one to get caught up in missed opportunities like that. He'd simply shrug the move off. Regardless, once his hand was freed, he stretched both arms about his head, a satisfied groan slipping from his lips as he assessed their work, those broken bodies littering the alleyway. [break][break] "Decent job though, really," he noted, entwined hands fitting snuggly behind his head amidst that wild field of gold. "How 'bout an post-battle drink? My treat. You can tell me how an American ended up fighting for his life in some Tokyo back-alley." [break][break] Without waiting for a reply, Hikaru spun on his heels, his countenance casual, as if they were just old friends heading to catch up over a few drinks. He gestured over his shoulder for Leo to follow before slipping his hands into the pockets of that beloved jacket and sauntering on his way to the nearest dive bar that wasn't in the thick of Tsumaru territory.
Clever, pulling them into a false sense of security by letting them beat the shit out of you.
Ha. So this guy thought he was funny, did he? Pretty bold words for someone who took the bulk of the punches. Could Leo have done it alone? Absolutely not. Those guys would’ve murdered him as a warm up for the rest of their night had Hikaru, no longer quite so much of a stranger now that he knew his name, not helped out. Still, his sarcasm didn’t go unanswered.
Leo responded with a scoff and a dry, “Yeah, back at ya.”
It took him a moment to decide, as he had yet to see such kindness on the streets (especially with no apparent expectation of anything in return), but he ultimately reached out to meet the other’s hand, their bloodied palms meeting in a firm pact. It was just a handshake but the simple gesture had the weight of something more since it was so unusual to him. Like they were blood brothers, or something dramatic like that, and Leo had a creeping concern that this help didn’t come free. Owing people made him uneasy.
As he took his hand back and stuffed it in his pocket, the other one following suit after wiping blood from his lip again, he watched the man as he continued in that equable manner he’d somehow managed to keep to the entire time. Leo didn’t accept or reject the compliment of being “decent” but it cleared away the concern that Hikaru might’ve thought he was weak. Because god forbid a stranger underestimate him. Actually, he seemed to think they were on pretty equal ground based off his friendliness and the fact that he hadn’t hit the road after seeing how disgusting or at least greasy Leo was sure he looked up close. He even suggested spending a little more time together. The guy was going to buy him a drink! That he would accept. Out of money and busted up, it was the best thing Hikaru could’ve suggested to get the boy to tag along, though Leo noted mentally that the amount he owed the man was quickly growing. Hopefully, he wouldn't find himself dead in some alley a few hours later in place of that one.
He wordlessly followed behind him - if only because the man didn’t give him a chance to respond before he was headed out of the alley - when gestured to do so. He didn’t know that he cared much for all the ordering around and he never would’ve admitted it but, shit, he really was cool. Or at the very least managed to easily pique Leo’s interest, which was quite a feat as far as the boy himself was concerned. If he was lucky enough, maybe he'd found a bed for the night. Was that this guy's intention, too? Nothing he wasn't used to, but it would've been a shame to know he was just like the rest of them. Still, he'd use that to his advantage.
“You smoke?” he wondered in hopes of getting to bum one. He wasn’t big on it himself, but getting the snot beat out of him and then returning the favor called for a cigarette and they were celebrating, after all.
Gods, if there was one thing Hikaru liked in a companion is was snark, and this kid had an overload of it. He barked out a laugh at that scoffed remark, already far more endeared to his new comrade than he probably should have been. Honestly, the moment he'd heard that first smartass remark his interests were pricked. After all, what superhero didn't need a wisecracking sidekick? [break][break] And it seemed like that was the trajectory they were on, some flood of please exhilaration rushing through the blonde's form as Leo took his hand. Start of a beautiful friendship, he jokingly mused, grinning like the devil at that firm clasp of grips. The moment would have only been made better if Hikaru could have flung an affectionate arm around the younger man as they trekked to the bar, though he was sure Leo would've been opposed and, besides, walking together was enough. He even slowed his pace after a moment so that they were walking side-by-side as they exited the alleyway. [break][break] "You smoke?" [break][break] Hikaru's brows rose in mock surprise, that teasing curvature back to his grin. [break][break] "That shit'll kill ya, you know," he mused, but after a moment of digging in a pocket of that beloved olive jacket he tugged out a small half-empty pack. "I usually only reserve them for special occasions or when I'm drinking; suppose this is a bit of both." [break][break] He popped out two, passing one over to Leo before slipping the other between his lips. The lighter came out as that box slipped back into his pocket, Hikaru lighting his cancer stick first before holding it out to Leo, pausing in their strolling as he silently offered to light it for him. Normally, he'd have just handed the lighter over, but there was a part of him that wanted to see if the kid would lean in, would partake in what could debatably be considered a friendly--if not intimate--move.
Yeah, thanks, Dad, he thought with a mental roll of his eyes. Didn’t need some guy off the street lecturing him about what would and wouldn’t kill him, especially after the same guy helped him in a fight and offered to buy him liquor without even knowing his age. Wasn’t exactly the type of guy he needed advice from. Wasn’t the type who should’ve been giving it out, either.
“If I make it thirty more years, maybe,” he returned. “Lotta shit that’ll probably kill me first.”
Leo grinned to himself as he dug into his pockets anyway, if only because he knew his nicotine addiction was about to be catered. Of course this guy smoked. And of course he’d share one. He didn’t want his advice but he had no problem taking his cigarettes.
Leo accepted eagerly but didn’t say anything - no thanks or witty comment - and when the man extended the lighter over to him, he didn’t think twice about the gesture. It wasn’t unusual for men to light cigarettes for him and he’d already convinced himself of where this was going. If anything, it only solidified what he'd already assumed. So while he did understand the sort of intimacy the offer might’ve suggested, he wasn’t fazed by it and moved right in, eyes locked on the other until he had to glance down at the flame. It brought extra heat to his lip other than the throbbing already was and the smoke stung where it was split but he didn’t wince. Not in front of Hikaru, who took way more damage and had yet to stop grinning. It only took a second and a brief inhale to get it smoldering, a short amount of time to withstand. He removed it from his lips to exhale, wiped blood from them once more and pushed his hair back with the same hand, trying not to cringe at the feeling of greasy locks he still wasn’t used to. Desire to shower aside, the cigarette had him feeling much better.
“So you help everyone in back-alley brawls around here,” he wondered with his next exhale, “or just the ones you think’ll take you up on the offer for a drink?”
"If I make it thirty more years, maybe. Lotta shit that'll probably kill me first." [break][break] A kid after his own heart. Hikaru snorted a laugh at the comment, appreciating the honesty if nothing else. He couldn't quite argue with the opinion either; Leo definitely came off as the type to get into trouble a bit too often. Hikaru had a sneaking suspicion that had something to do with the fact that he was there in Tokyo in the first place... alone... on the streets... looking like a grease monkey. [break][break] Hikaru didn't mind the lack of a thanks--again, he'd mildly expected it--but his brows did raise in surprise at the immediate acceptance of that lighter offer. Amused if nothing else, curiosity just further peaked by the kid and what had brought him stumbling into that back alley, Hikaru matched that eye contact right up until the moment Leo pulled away to take that first inhale. He mimicked the move, backing away and slipping the lighter into his pocket as he let that first rush of nicotine spiral down to his lungs. [break][break] "So you help everyone in back-alley brawls around here, or just the ones you think'll take you up on the offer for a drink?" [break][break] Another laugh slipped from the blonde's lips as they began their trek again, embers at the ends of their cigarettes lighting their way to the bar. He actually took a moment to contemplate the question, letting it linger in the silence between them before answering. [break][break] "Bit of a trick question, honestly," he finally replied with a carefree shrug. "I do have a tendency to stick my nose in places it's not supposed to be; doing my part for the common man and all that. Doesn't really matter who it is needing help... I just like doing my part." A lighthearted laugh slipped from him, shooting Leo a similarly friendly wink as he took another drag from his cigarette. "Don't invite them all to drinks, though, just the one's that seem like they'd have a fun story to share." [break][break] Out in the open now, Hikaru noticed a few bits of blood splattered across Leo's neck, motioning to the area on his own body as some indicator for the kid to wipe it up. No need to cause any of the public to freak out. He took a moment to wipe at his own face as well, hands depositing crimson onto his tshirt. It was dark--people probably wouldn't notice the signs of their little tussle, but it was better to be safe than sorry. [break][break] "What about you?" he posed after another few moments, pointing out their destination as its sign popped up across the street. It was a subtle-enough place, locally owned by an ex-weapons dealer who used to work closely with the Ajiwau. Nice place, balancing the excitement of a party stop in the front with the quiet of a dive bar in its back room. "You make a habit of getting your ass beat in back alleys of foreign countries? Your method of getting asked to drinks?"
Don't invite them all to drinks, though, just the ones that seem like they'd have a fun story to share.
Was that so? His grin widened, a drag of the cigarette concealing it, sort of, though it became obvious that the comment was well received when the man winked and Leo couldn’t quite hide it anymore. He exhaled to the side before looking over with his head tilted playfully forward, eyes up on his companion. He was interested in his story, was he? Some dirty kid getting in a fight outside a bar in Back-Alley Tokyo? Leo wasn’t sure what the guy expected to hear, but it wouldn’t be much. Probably wouldn’t even be the truth. Still, he was fine enough at entertaining. He’d put together something good to tell him.
“Oh, yeah? Ha, lucky me then. But sorry, it isn’t that good of a story.” Leo stayed close, right up next to Hikaru so he could easily follow whichever direction he led. Another two puffs of that cigarette and it was burning out close to his fingers. The boy tossed it to the pavement, eyes following as it skidded against the wall to join a few more butts littered around a busted part of the sidewalk, then looked over to the bar Hikaru directed his attention to. Hopefully, they wouldn’t get the snot beat out of them at this one. Leo doubted they wanted someone in his current state hanging around. But it wasn’t quite so scary approaching it with a second and a reason to be there that wasn’t just loitering.
He watched the man gesture to his neck, raised his fingers to the spot on himself and felt at the skin there and- Ah. Pulling them away, he saw a smear of red the same as he had on his jeans and stained on the back of his hand up past his wrist. He grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it up, wiping his neck (and his busted lip for good measure) down with the inside of it before glancing over at Hikaru for approval. Shit like this - violence and blood - seemed pretty normal around there, so he was surprised the other man was worried about it, especially since they were going to be in a bar. Though doubtful, maybe Leo just got the wrong impression that first week. Maybe Tokyo wasn’t so bad and the normal people in the city weren’t as desensitized to it as it seemed. Maybe. Certainly didn’t explain Hikaru’s predatory vigilantism or anything else up until that point.
“Yeah, actually, in my spare time. Seems to work for me,” he teased back, hands returned to their respective pockets now that he was smoke free. Entering the bar, it seemed like...a bar. Decent place, fairly busy but still plenty of open space. Leo found his way to the bar where he set up camp on a stool, deciding what he’d get this time around. That fight had sobered him up but left him with a headache and throbbing lip. Maybe he’d just let his co-part decide for both of them.
“Whatever he’s having,” he told the bartender when approached, fake already slapped down on the bar. Propped up by his elbow and cheek on his fist, he looked up at Hikaru with that same head tilt and little grin from earlier. “What’ll it be?”
Hikaru wasn't quite convinced by Leo's assurance, perfectly confident in the entertainment value of the kid's story. If he was being honest, he had a soft spot for travelers, some shadow of his mother's influence. And while Leo was more than a little different than his mother--the young German woman certainly had never found herself in a back-alley brawl--it was difficult for the blonde to leave someone foreign struggling in that much-beloved land. A brief but wholly affectionate smile flitted across his features as he tossed is depleted cigarette away, thoughts of that adored woman circling his mind. [break][break] "Yeah, actually, in my spare time. Seems to work for me." [break][break] Another teasing response, another airy laugh from Hikaru's lips. He continued to chuckle as he held the door open for Leo, following him in a moment later. He was pleased enough to see Leo's casual manner of moving about, taking it and the lingering memory of that smile from earlier as some indication that he was managing to get through the guy's barriers, even just a little. [break][break] As they mad here way across the space, Hikaru nodded and waved at a few different groups he recognized. He was never one to spend a night drinking alone, always finding someone to toast with, and in a place like this it meant he was plenty familiar with the regulars dotting the space. It also meant that the bartender knew him by name, the guy shooting him a friendly, welcoming grin as he plopped into the stool beside Leo. The two older men exchanged a bit of a shared, quiet humor when Leo tossed down that ID. [break][break] "Bottle of the house umeshu and two glasses, on the rocks," he said, slipping back to Japanese, all too enthusiastically meeting that little grin with one of his own, golden gaze trained on the younger man even as he placed their order. As the bartender moved away to retrieve their drink, Hikaru's attention never leaving that ragged form at his side, he posed, returning to English "I assume you've never had umeshu before? It's one of Japan's specialties, and Uraraka in the back makes the best of the best here in Tokyo." A pause, contemplative, as he mirrored Leo's pose, cheek propped up on his fist, blonde brows knitting for a moment as his gaze drifted across the other's form. "You hungry?" he finally posed, golds flitting back to the other's darker eyes. "I assume by the look of ya that you haven't eaten much recently. Feel free to order whatever ya want."
He seemed popular and Leo wondered what that implied. He must’ve been pretty reputable around there. A bunch of people he’d helped in alleys in the past? People who appreciated him keeping tabs on the area, maybe? If that was what he even did.
Leo slid the ID back toward himself when the bartender glanced at it, surprised it wasn’t inspected more closely since he was used to being suspected everywhere he went. Still propped up on his elbow, he watched Hikaru order, picked up a word or two but otherwise was at a loss as to what they were getting until the man asked him if he’d ever had it before - umeshu. Never even heard of it.
Leo shook his head, a crooked, tiny smirk at the observation that the guy had leaned forward just like he was. He didn’t move. Just lingered there, holding eye contact.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he challenged with a quirked brow, feigning offense as if he had no idea what could have possibly prompted Hikaru to say such a thing. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the pity but he wasn’t stupid enough to decline a free meal. He’d just run out of money. If he hadn’t taken it, he was going to wish he had. “You sure? I’m not gonna pick the cheap stuff just because you’re treating me.”
Leo finally broke the eye contact, leaning back in the chair and tapping his fingers on a menu the next seat over, dragging it over to look at it and glad to have pictures to reference rather than Japanese only. They weren’t the most helpful but they got the idea across. There was nothing he disliked, so when the bartender returned with their bottle, he pointed to a few things with the most basic location word kore (that sounded notably unnatural) and topped it off with a standard thank you at the end. He could at least manage that much, thanks to his mom.
Leo waited while the bottle was opened and poured over the ice in the glass, the sticky sweet scent of the amber liquid making his brows pull together in curiosity. He wasn’t too into sweet stuff, but it was a whole bottle and it was free. He picked it up to inspect it a little before turning to Hikaru with that same crooked grin.
“To back alleys and good timing,” he mused, drink just barely raised before he brought it to his lips and- Hm. It was super sweet, but it was good. Cold. Easy to drink. He could’ve gone through that whole bottle in minutes if he’d been drinking alone like usual. “So you’re blond and you speak English. Where’s that make you from?”
"I said whatever you want, didn't I?" Hikaru shot back, matching that lighthearted tone as Leo began to peruse the menu. He watched where that gaze swept, trying to see if he seemed to recognize any of the dishes or words; some little attempt to detective-work the information that his companion had, admittedly, claimed he was prepared to give freely. With a nonchalant shrug he added, "It'd be rude of me not to buy a new friend a meal when he's hungry." [break][break] Probably a stretch; they were hardly friends, though if Hikaru had any say in the matter, that would soon change. He liked the kid, had an immediate interest sparked. The blonde wasn't quite the type to let something like that slip away. Life was too short and relationships too fickle to ignore even the slightest hint of a positive connection... even if it was cultivated on the battlefield. [break][break] The Japanese, though minimal, was a pleasant surprise. Unexpected; the guy didn't seem like he'd prepped at all for this trip. Probably just picked a locale and hopped on a plane, he silently guessed as he poured their first round from the delivered bottle. The sweet scent was enough to drown out all the lingering aches in his body from their tussle, umeshu one of his favorites, Uraraka's the best of those favorites. He was all too pleased to see his new companion so willingly lift it in salute. [break][break] "To back alleys and good timing," he agreed, mirroring Leo's movements and throwing back his first bit of that sweet nectar. He hummed appreciatively at the taste, golden gaze closed for a moment as he let his mind linger in those familiar flavors. He'd have to remember to grab a bottle for home before he left. [break][break] "So you're blond and you speak English. Where's that make you from?" [break][break] Hikaru chuckled, breaking out of that brief bliss and turning that bright-eyed gaze to his neighbor's form once more. It wasn't quite the topic he'd wanted to start with, but he wasn't about to act shy. Plus, it made sense wanting to know a bit more; he had just shown up out of nowhere, saved him, spoke his language, and then invited him out to drinks. Coincidences be damned, that one had to be a lot to take in. [break][break] "Right in here in Tokyo, born and raised," he replied, swirling his glass, careful not to lose any of that amber liqueur. "The blonde hair is from my mother," he further explained, running a hand through those golden locks, a flash of clear adoration in his expression. "She was a German exchange student. Fell in love with a Japanese businessman, had me, and stuck around until she passed when I was twelve. Really lovely woman; was the one who taught me English at first," a pause, expression comically darkening for a moment, "which my grandmother then perfected with horribly-painful daily lessons and discipline-heavy quizzes." [break][break] He took a moment, sipped at his drink, another faint hum of approval slipping from his lips as he stared down into that golden pool. There was some sadness there, lingering under that lighthearted visage, just barely recognizable should Leo take the opportunity to perceive it. It was gone in a flash, though, as he turned his attention back to the younger man, warmth from that liqueur mirrored in his soft grin. [break][break] "What about you?" he posed, perhaps a bit grateful for the opportunity to turn the conversation away from the souring taste of his family. "You're clearly a mutt like me; and one from America no less. What brought you to Tokyo?" He chuckled, the sound low and gravelly before he took another sip of umeshu. "I assume by the look of ya it wasn't a particularly well-thought-out endeavor."
A new friend, huh? Was that what they were now? Friends? A bold declaration, but he supposed it’d be fun to have a friend for the night. And that was all they would be - friends for the night. Come sunrise, Leo would be back out on the streets and Hikaru would be back...wherever it was he belonged. His job. His apartment. His life. Not his family - at least not from what Leo inferred from a quick glance at his left hand. For now, though, Leo would enjoy the food, the drink, and the company, free or otherwise.
He listened to his explanation regarding his hair and English ability, watching the man run his fingers through it before he went back to sipping his drink. Sounded almost like his parents, if it were reversed. A Zainichi Korean woman who found herself in the States, made the mistake of marrying his dad and then made the mistake of having Leo. Died when he was fifteen. Really lovely. The one who taught him the fumbling household Japanese he couldn’t really manage anymore. Leo didn’t make a comment about it, but it might’ve been pretty clear on his face that the personal history struck something deep within him, so he brought the glass back to his lips with a thoughtful hum as his response and downed the majority to cover it up. ‘Mom’ wasn’t a great topic for new friends to start on.
What brought him to Tokyo?
“First a cab, then a plane,” he recalled. “Another cab after that.” Again with that by the look of ya comment. Really. What was he trying to get across that he thought Leo didn’t already know? He looked like shit. Probably smelled like it. He was starving and roughed up and he’d found him while he was in the middle of getting his ass handed to him. But...he was right. This wasn’t well thought out. It wasn’t thought out at all. It was pure impulse and by the time he was second guessing himself, it was too late. Regardless of his garbage situation, though, it was better than being home. He was sure of it. If he’d stayed, he’d be dead or back in jail awaiting trial as an adult for homicide.
“I dunno. Guess the stuff in America isn’t for everyone.” Leo gave a casual shrug and sipped back the last of the umeshu, helping himself to a refill, making it quite obvious that he didn't want to talk about it when he brought the glass to his lips again. “Food here is better, that’s for sure.”
Hikaru all too easily notice that striking expression, that undertone of some familiarity of empathy. Just another piece to the puzzle, he supposed, holding back against the urge to pry. Leo seemed willing enough to chat about his life; it wasn't Hikaru's place to abuse that offering. [break][break] "First a cab, then a plane. Another cab after that." [break][break] The snort was involuntary, the cascade of laughter afterwards lighthearted and appreciative as he tried to clear his throat of the rush of umeshu that got caught there. He hit his chest with his less damaged hand, still chuckling as he righted his vocals, waving at Leo to continue. [break][break] "I dunno. Guess the stuff in America isn't for everyone. Food here is better, that's for sure." [break][break] Again, that intuition that there was so much more than was being said, but Hikaru wasn't about to press the issue. Leo clearly didn't want to talk too much about it, and if the blonde had his way, they'd have plenty more conversation opportunities in the future for him to delve deeper into that foggy past. And so instead of prying, Hikaru followed suit and finished his glass, grabbing up the bottle once Leo was done with it and pouring himself a refill. [break][break] "Fair enough," he replied with a languid shrug, popping the cap back on the bottle. "Never been to the States, but I know the food here is better than German stuff" A quiet laugh left him; his mother had been a wonderful woman, but not the greatest cook in the world. He took a sip of his refreshed glass. "So what's your plan then? Got any job prospects? Friends you can stay with?" [break][break] It was all asked casually, Hikaru relaxing against the bartop, eyes trained on his companion, watching each and every little movement and expression Leo surfaced. He wondered what the kid's reaction would be to an invite to his apartment that night. He'd seemed receptive enough to the offer of food and drink, surely some cushions and a blanket would garner the same response, right? A hot shower, too, Hikaru silently mused, trying not to laugh at the thought as he caught the smallest whiff of Leo's scent. Not the best, he'd admit. [break][break] "Ah, thanks Hoshi," he said, flashing an appreciative grin at the bartender as he brought over Leo's food. He gave the meal a quick, approving once-over and continued to nurse his umeshu.
