{Rune}
On Wednesday, we skipped the training to meet up with Ayaka, Ethan and his big brother which I found out was Vince. At first it was only supposed to be those four including Raven but apparently the children insisted that I came along.
This whole afternoon was actually an exception that was ordered by Ms Inoue to give me a little free time as a thank you.
We were going into the city center on this bright and sunny day to go shopping or something. I didn't really know. In the car, Vince sat at the front to drive and Raven next to him while I was in the middle between the two children constantly talking to me. It was totally okay with me though.
"So you've joined our group just recently?" Ayaka wanted to know and I nodded.
"And Rave is your senior?"
"Yup."
"You know he can be really really mean so if he ever bothers you then tell me and I'll beat him up for you." She threw her fists in the air like a martial arts master when Raven turned around to us.
"Are you selling me out for Blondie right now? I won't buy you anything I swear."
The girl stuck out her tongue at him.
"Then Rune will buy it for her." Ethan laughed and I felt a strangely dark aura from Raven so I innocently shrugged.
We parked the car right in the center of the most lively part of the city and as soon as we got off Ethan and Ayaka headed over to an ice cream shop.
Vince went to pay for them before handing me and Raven an ice cream too. Mine was mango flavoured while Raven's had dark chocolate flavour.
"How'd you know I like mango?" I gladly took it but Vince kept his calm and collected expression and said he just guessed.
"You got something spilled there." he then added and wiped away some ice cream that got on my cheek somehow.
"Oi, are you pulling moves on him, Vincent?" Raven perked up behind him and took a bite of his own ice cream.
"Why? Are you jealous?" He said back and I swear I saw him grinning for a little moment. He must also like teasing his friend.
"Pff, lame joke." Raven mumbled and turned around to follow after the kids instead. Vince sighed loudly and we laughed a little before going after them. Since our conversation at the cafeteria two days ago, he behaved weirdly sometimes.
After going through some clothing and gaming stores we later came across an expensive looking jewelry shop that Ayaka wanted to go to. I felt very out of place with us three adults dressed casually while an employee in a suit showed us around. However, they somehow knew Raven already so we luckily weren't suspected to steal.
"What do you say about this, Rune?" The girl pointed at a pair of silver earrings with a black obsidian stone hanging down from it. I had to admit they were looking quiet beautiful.
"They are really pretty, don't you agree Ethan?" I asked the boy and he nodded.
"Why don't you ask me? You always ask me?" Raven made himself some space and inspected the earrings closely.
"Yeah, I guess they are okay." He admitted making Ayaka roll her eyes at him. It was funny how different he was when his little cousin was around...
"Let's ask Vince!" Ethan excidetly jumped up and ran over to where Vince was standing. In the process he suddenly tripped and was about to hit the ground when a stranger caught him and helped him up.
"Hey there, little man. Be careful or you might hurt yourself." The woman squatted down to him and I closed my eyes to calm down when I immediately noticed that it was Vera. What the hell was she doing here at this time of the day? Wasn't she supposed to be at some photoshoot or something? Even worse was how she was wearing my sunglasses and cap. She had at least 10 different ones at home so why take mine?!
"Hey Eth, are you alright?" Vince headed over to him followed by everyone else including me.
The boy slowly got up, his eyes not leaving Vera.
"Thank you, Miss." Vince apologized for his brother's behaviour but Ethan didn't really care.
"Vera..." he mumbled totally in awe and I noticed how she was startled for a second.
"Wait, Vera? That Vera?" Ayaka quickly caught on and stepped in front of her to inspect her more closely.
"It really is her! Can I get an autograph?" Her eyes sparkled with worship and the celebrity kindly patted her head.
"Sure! It's really amazing how you could recognize me." She laughed and pulled out a black marker from her pocket. It was after she signed both kids phone cases when she looked up and finally noticed that I was there.
We blankly stared at each other for a few seconds before she suddenly pulled me over to her.
"What a beautiful young man you are. Wow, your visuals are really exceptional!" She fake cheered and took both of my hands in hers.
"What the fuck are you doing?" I whispered with clenched teeth but the only thing she did was winking at me. Oh no... this wasn't a hood sign.
"Ahaha, thank you. I really love your songs and dramas." I pretended to be a fan and tried to get my hands away from hers but she didn't let me.
"Woah that's so cute. I should give all three of you a kiss." She stated and kissed both Ayaka and Ethan on the forehead making the kids giggle even more. But seriously what was she about to do?
"Now you, pretty boy. You deserve this for loving my work so much." She grinned and and cupped my face in her hands a little harshly. Urgh this was so cringey... I raised an eyebrow at her when she moved closer and was about to place a kiss on my cheek when all of a sudden I was pulled back into the arms of another person... Raven.
"I think he doesn't want you to kiss him." he coldly told her and Vera guiltily put her hand in front of her mouth. For a professional actress her performance was absolutely awful.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know he was your boyfriend." She pulled the shocked innocent girl and I slowly realized what she was up to. God damn, the fact that I knew that I'd have done the same with her if there was a chance didn't make things better.
From the side I heard Vince trying to suppress a laugh.
"We're not together, now please don't bother wasting your time here. " I faked my sweetly kind voice and literally pushed Vera out of the shop.
"Why did you have to do that?" I whined when she broke out into laughter.
"Did you see his face? That guy was jealous, I tell ya haha." She held her stomach and I wish I had the guts to kick her sometimes.
"Alright maybe it was a little fun but he was not jealous you crazy witch." I accepted my fate and waved my hand at her when she left the shop.
"Whatever you say." She continued laughing before I went back in.
"Why did you kick her out?" Ayaka whined while they were paying for buying the earrings she wanted.
"Haha she wanted to leave herself."
"Hm. You know you look a little like her. Maybe that's why you are so beautiful." The girl shrugged making me sigh and smile. I did not exactly like getting complimented for my looks by strangers but from a child it felt sincere so I appreciated it.
"By the way? Are Raven and you really together?" Ethan questioned when they exited the shop and walked along the streets again.
I choked on air a little on purpose and immediately Ayaka grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the others.
"No way, Rune belongs to me and Rave likes girls!" She threatend, her cute dress swinging in the wind.
"Huuuh? Is that so?" Raven bowed down to her and glared. I could feel the tension between those two electrifying the air.
"Because I think he is my junior so he belongs to me more, doesn't he?" I was again pulled back and forced out of Ayaka's grip so I stood next to Raven.
"Hey, I belong to no one!" I broke free and hid behind Vince and Ethan who had followed the situation with no comment.
The older cousin threw the girl over his shoulder when she started to kick him and told us to follow.
"What's wrong with them..." I spoke my thoughts out loud when only I and Vince stayed behind. For a short moment he stared at me.
"It's just like siblings behave. I'm sure you know how that feels." he stated and I almost caught myself answering with a yes when I remembered I was supposed to have no family.
"I never had siblings."
The olders lips curled up into a smile for a second.
"Sure, whatever you say." He chirped and put his hands into his pockets when following the others.
That was weird. It felt similar to when I asked him about the Falcon massacre... as if he was hiding something.
...
It was already getting dark when Vince took the kids to bring them back. He managed to convince Raven to bring me to the bus station for some reason but I felt happy about it.
The streets were illuminated by the yellow lights and people were chatting or singing in the park we were crossing. The cool evening air smelled like the ocean and the atmosphere was calm and beautiful.
"Thanks for going with me." I said to Raven who lazily had his hands in the pockets of his coat.
"Stop thanking me all the time. It's irritating." He replied shortly but I didn't mind.
"Why?"
He looked at me for a second when I turned my head to face the taller.
"Because I don't deserve it and I don't want to deserve it." he explained still a little tensed and I hummed in response.
"But don't you think loosening up a little and just dropping that tough boy image could be relaxing?" I continued questioning him to keep the conversation going and try to understand him a little better.
Raven chuckled a little.
"It's not an act. It's who I am, blondie."
he let his hand slide through his hair and gave me a wink. What a playboy... gross.
"Yeah sure. But what do you do to relax?"
"Why do you want to know? Are you interested in me by any chance?" he wiggled his eyebrows but I kept my calm and did the same gesture back. I decided it'd be best to simply go along with his flirts for once.
"Maybe I am. So answer me."
He probably wasn't prepared for that because I saw his lips parting for a moment before clearing his throat.
"You're weird... I listen to music I guess." He mumbled and I felt better now that he had calmed down a bit. His hair was reflecting the yellow light beautifully and I didn't even want to take my eyes off it.
"Music by Dandelion?" I asked and the other proudly raised his chin.
"Of course because only those with taste know how to cherish good music and..." he noticed how he had said too much and forgot that he was talking to me so he quickly regained his cool.
"Stop asking me questions. You probably plan something, don't you." He was back to his old self. I exhaled slowly, watching a woman with a mic singing at the side of the path surrounded by some people.
"I don't. I just want to become friends with you and that actually makes you the first person I willingly give my attention to for so long." Every one of those words were true. Normally, I got tired of people when I was the only one showing interest or talking to them but with Raven it was different. I liked his brutally honest personality in a way and I hoped to find out what he was hiding behind his tough appearance.
I didn't even realize how he hadn't replied to what I said when I put on my cap and hood so only the lower half of my face was visible.
"Come." I grabbed Raven's hand and pulled him to the small crowd of people that was applauding the singer that had just finished.
"Hey-" he wanted to leave but we were already there and I went to the woman to ask her if I could sing a song. She kindly allowed me to and I connected my phone to the box. There was still the audio file for "Bonnie&Clyde" by Yuqi on there. I uploaded it a week ago so I could it the best at the moment.
The playback started at the beginning of the file and as I waited for the singing part to begin I made eye contact with Raven who stood closest to me, completely confused. I gave him a smile and began to sing.
"You pick me up
When I feel down~
No matter how deep in the night~"
I put my emotions in every part of it and kept my eyes on Raven the whole time. Other people were starting to take videos but I didn't worry because my face wasn't actually seen in the dark and covered by the hood and cap.
Energy was running through my veins at the feeling of revealing Dandelions identity to Raven. I had just done it because I wanted to prove myself again, maybe even to impress him and not having the burden of more secrets on my shoulders.
The song ended and people clapped their hands and cheered. I thanked them and handed the mic back to the original singer before quickly leaving the scene to a small bench a little further away. Luckily not that many people knew about Dandelion so I needn't worry about being disturbed.
As I expected Raven had followed me and when I took off my cap I faced him breathlessly standing in front of me.
"And? Was it relaxing?"
"You- you fooled me." He stated but I couldn't determine whether he looked hurt, angry or admiring.
"Yeah I did. Want an autograph? Oh wait guess what, I'll give you none." I quoted what he had said to me on the first day of training. It really felt amazing getting back at him like this but I still didn't want to hurt him so I laughed it off a little.
"You can't be Dandelion." Raven ignored what I said and I crossed my arms.
"I am. I can prove it anytime." I stood up and bowed dramatically so Raven took a step back.
"Even if that's the case. Don't think I'll be nicer or anything from now on! You're still just a weakling." he pointed out his opinion but it was easy to tell how uncollected he must be at the moment. I knew very well that I wasn't weak so his comment didn't bother me. This was the one moment when he didn't have the upper hand but I did. I should use that, right?
What I was about to do already made me feel really awkward and I had no idea why I got the idea in the first place... but in the next second I wrapped my arms around Raven and embraced him in a tight hug.
I knew he probably hated it but with a personality like his he probably wasn't hugged often. Maybe almost never... similar to me. I had to admit I wasn't the type to enjoy hugs when my sister did them but secretly... these whole years when I was alone I had wished for someone to be there and just feel the warmth of a person I appreciated. It was a little egoistic but I held on tightly even when Raven tried pushing me away.
"Wh- what are you doing? Are you crazy?! Let go!" He grabbed my shoulders and I couldn't do anything against his strength when I was pushed back onto the bench hardly. It hurt a little but being pushed away hurt more. I knew he'd do it but it still made me sad.
"Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking." I said and rubbed my back when getting up again. I had to stop for a second to not hiss in pain but it would surely get better quickly.
"Man, I didn't want to push you so hard. You shouldn't randomly attack me like that." Raven mumbled and awkwardly scratched his neck. This was the first time I ever heard him express some kind of apology...
"Ah it's fine, just another bruise like all those from training." I tried making him feel less awkward when I realized I achieved the opposite with what I said.
"Are you not taking care of them?" Raven wanted to know and I let my eyes trail over some bushes to avoid looking at him because I might have forgotten to treat training injuries because they stopped hurting really fast.
"I... do. But sometimes I forget haha." Suddenly he wrapped his arm under under my shoulder and around my back and started walking while supporting me.
"Uhm, I can walk just fine. I didn't hurt my ankles." I tried explaining. I didn't even think I was actually injured at all.
"No, I hurt you so I'll help you now. The bus station is right around the corner." He sternly kept his eyes on the path in front of him and kept me close to him.
My heart beat was rising with every step and at some point I felt like I really needed someone to support me while walking... god I felt so pathetic.
And yet, I didn't want him to let go.
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