Title: Illumination
Fandom: Get Backers (animeverse)
Characters/Ships: Masaki/Teshimine
Summary: He never would have expected to be thought of as "scary" when he drinks.

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Masaki is used to being seen as intimidating. Above, as one with intelligence and aptitude, fast-tracked to become one of the gods of Babylon City at an unusually young age. Here below, as one of Raitei's newly appointed "kings", aloof but benevolent, a protector for those without power in the slums of Mugenjou. Above and below, he is admired - and dangerous, for differing reasons.

Those reasons do not apply to the children in the filthy alleyway to his right. They've come to shelter under the blanket of protection Raitei provides, perhaps someday to join Volts themselves. He hears the conversation quiet, the hushed exclamation from one of the older children, as they spot him passing by. It was not meant to get his attention, so Masaki pretends he doesn't hear.

Instead, the response comes from someone else in the alley - that noisy, irreverent boy who's been hanging around Shido lately, the one they call the 'Joker'. "Shh, stay here," Masaki hears him murmuring, a change from the boy's usual volume. "You see that bottle there, just barely peeking out under his sleeve, hmm? Well, I won't say he's ever a bad person, or Raitei wouldn't have made him one of his kings, but Kurusu-han can be scary when he's been drinking."

Again, not meant for his ears, and Masaki pretends not to have heard, the only outward indication being a slight grimace that he's not quite sober enough to suppress. It's more bewilderment than anger; is he really?

He can't help but overthink the comment as he continues on his way. He never objected to being intimidating, but he also certainly never thought of himself as anything close to a "mean drunk".

On the contrary, when he thinks of drinking, Masaki thinks of good times. Fond, awkward laughter as they pass the bottle back and forth, and fumble with buckles and buttons amidst the blankets. Silver hair somehow soft in the harsh artificial light; a trusting, peaceful smile even brighter shining clean and pure despite the gloom of Mugenjou's ruin, brightening even the dark uncertainty in his heart when that smile shines up from his pillow.

...Of course, when he thinks of drinking, he thinks of drinking with Teshimine Takeru. He doesn't think of himself drinking alone. And yet it's the only way he's been drinking for the better part of a year now.

He bypasses the room in the building where he's been staying, heading instead for the fire escape that will take him to the rooftop. From there, he can see the world beyond Mugenjou - the warm, vibrant city lights of Shinjuku and further making nightfall seem merry even as the sky darkens. He remembers standing there at the edge, unsteady and smiling as they spoke of the possibilities, but he's not smiling now.

Masaki wonders if Takeru still smiles when he drinks, if he drinks. Or if he still smiles at all, for that matter.