Forgiveness
for @tachiginweek2024's day 3: (post-vampirism) + scars + t4t + betrayal
When Tachihara approached (ambushed) them, Gin was changing clothes before heading home. So he found him shirtless, only wearing the same binder they had on that time when she had come out to him after being found exactly like they were now.
Then Tachihara had also come out to them in return, by literally showing it was something they had in common.
A lot of things had happened since then including the two of them getting closer and facing several catastrophes, the last one being what had prompted quite the reveal about his partner: the Tachihara Michizô they had come to know and care about, who had even gotten to be his boyfriend, was a liar. And he had been since right from the start no less.
“Gin…”
Instead of answering, they opted for remaining silent.
Knowing he had never been fully a soldier deep down, that he had chosen the Port Mafia the same as it had chosen him, helped a little. Knowing harming both Hirotsu and Gin herself had been all for show, to protect them further, helped a little. Actions, after all, said way more than words. That was why the only thing they had done was somewhat reverting to his past ways of being cut and dry to him for a while, to either sign only when talking or straight up making Tachihara infer her thoughts or mood based on behavior (besides, he was way better at that now than he had been back then), instead of fully antagonizing him or cutting all contact.
They were more than glad to have him there, but lies were lies and Gin was also pretty pissed.
“Gin.” She was even trying to avoid his gaze or face him, but in the moment Tachihara grabbed them by the wrist with the softness which indicated a plea instead of obligation, he finally turned towards Tachihara. There was only a split second of eye contact, though, since shortly after his eyes were on the scar remaining from when he had stabbed them with Gin’s own knife. “Gin, I– fuck.” Silence fell, for instead of continuing he lifted a hand towards their skin, caressing said scar with his fingertips and utmost care. And then Gin had to look away too, because the distressed expression over the redhead’s face as he did so was… simply too much.
But, at the same time, she didn’t want to surrender just yet.
(No, they did. That was why he had been keeping their partner at arms’ length, because she knew letting him get close would have that exact effect, and their pride didn’t allow him to do that before being able to fully express what was the key thing bothering her.)
‘I know you became one of us along the way. Hirotsu and I figured that out.’ They signed, glancing back at him and taking just one single step back, so Tachihara could properly see it without needing to remove his hand unless he wanted. And it didn’t seem like it. ‘So, what I want to ask is.’ Gin then took a deep breath, more to gather the remaining courage to go on than anything. ‘Did what we have started out as part of your cover too or…?’ There was no finishing the sentence, but they pointed first at herself then at him with one finger, so there was no doubt about what he meant when saying ‘we’ like that.
“Gin…” Tachihara said her name in a gasp, wide-eyed and almost awestruck, then shook his head with energy. “That was all real, please believe me. All the bonds I have here, they’re all real.”
“Don’t you dare lie to me again, Tachihara.” When Gin finally spoke out loud, it was in an attempt to sound icy and defensive. Except their voice betrayed him, this time not because of its sweet sound, and Tachihara’s eyes getting watery when hearing so wasn’t helping in the slightest.
“I swear.” He answered, serious as one could be. The hand he had established contact with moved from the part of their abdomen where the wound once was to wrap her waist, and Gin allowed it. “By my own life, even.”
A life he could have lost, like the majority of them (at the mafia, at the city and even the entire world). Finally throwing away her resolve to not yield, they mirrored Tachihara’s gesture, lifting their own hand to trace the scar which crossed his temples and eyelids passing through the bridge of his nose, that had stayed even after the vampire regeneration restored the eyes. He even closed them, making her able to go across it entirely.
After that exchange, silence became actually comfortable, and Gin let himself rest their head over Michizô’s shoulder, as well as holding his free hand. Soon, they were fused in a tight hug.
(Also on ao3.)
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Drabble 245/366 - Doctor Who
Immortal, infinite, timeless thing. Her breath bubbles beneath the water. Here the Master is, beseeching: stop the monster you once saved. Her struggles spray freezing water across his face.
He should recognize the cruel glint in her fading eyes. Recognize victory in the mirror. Her body stills.
He’ll have this regeneration. Her hair fans out, a golden halo, as he withdraws his hands from her throat and waits for her to burn.
How about that, her ghost mocks him when she refuses to rise. I win.
He hauls her out of the water. She won’t breathe. “Doctor!” She won’t breathe.
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Why I picked this: Whenever I’m in a forced social situation, as an ice breaker I often say to people that I’m looking to broaden my book reading, and are there any books they’d recommend? This was one of those recommendations. A work colleague said his wife loves this author and in particular, this series, so I’m giving it a go. [side note: why do people recommend such massively long books?]
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