David couldn't help but feel slightly out of place as he walked through the massive crowd of students. He'd never been to a place like this; a skezzed-out party somewhere in Westbrook, far from the City Center. The location was discrete, but the area it was in suggested that it was very luxurious. Corpos were known to reside in this part of Night City, aside from the typical City Center.
There were smart lights beaming all over, and loud music could be heard from all directions. It was hard to hear what Katsuo was telling him, even with the blue-haired boy yelling straight into his ear.
"It's a little more relaxed on the second floor!" Katsuo yelled loudly, gesturing for David to follow him.
David only agreed to come to this place to push some more XBD's, knowing he wouldn't have fun if students caught wind that a street kid was attending one of their parties out of the blue. A week ago, he received messages from different students, all from different classes asking if he had any more scrolls. Knowing the opportunity was too good to pass up, he took it.
And here he was, tagging along behind Katsuo as he witnessed the bundles of couples who were either drunk off of alcohol, high from synthetic drugs, or had their legs tangled in whatever space they deemed appropriate. David cringed at the sight, quickly catching up to Katsuo, not wanting to get lost in the sea of bad habits.
His heart raced as they made their way to the second floor. It was a bit calmer up here, but there were still some people performing intimate acts here and there. Katsuo went up to a small table, pouring some kind of alcohol and something else into two red cups. He walked back, handing his classmate a cup. David looked at him, skeptical of the drink in his hand. He trusted Katsuo, but he wasn't too fond of the brand of liquor that was in the bottle.
Katsuo grinned, taking a sip of his own drink. "Relax, choom. This stuff isn't sold in the States," he explained. "Been secretly imported. Won't find it anywhere else in Night City."
David sniffed it, noticing a slight sweet aroma coming from it. He took a sip, his eyes going wide upon the taste, and he looked back at Katsuo. "What is this?" he asked, taking another sip. It wasn't too strong or sweet, but it went down so smoothly, and the aftertaste added to its flavor.
"Good, huh? Don't know the name, but all I know is that it's from somewhere in the West Indies."
David hummed, swirling the drink in his cup. Back at home, he only had enough eddies to get his hands on cheap tequila and beer, and the quality and taste was almost always subpar. His thoughts were interrupted as he received a message.
"Looks like I have a customer already," he told Katsuo.
"Live a little, Martinez," Katsuo shrugged, feeling bad that David couldn't just stick around and enjoy the party with him. "Who knows, maybe you'll have some fun tonight." He winked at him.
David gave a dry laugh. "Highly doubt it. I'm out of everyone's league here…" He looked around, noticing familiar faces here and there. He always knew the rich Corpos participated in these sorts of events, but he never thought he would be seeing it firsthand. It felt surreal.
Before he turned to look for his customers, he heard Katsuo say something. "Let me know if they don't tip you. You know where to find me," the blue-haired boy said, before heading towards the third floor.
David rolled his eyes, but played it off. His first client was downstairs. Ugh… He really didn't want to wander down there, but he had a job to do. He sipped on his drink as he walked downstairs, his gut wrenching at the thought of possibly being kicked out because he didn't belong here. Because he wasn't one of the rich kids.
He made his way to the kitchen, where he saw some colorful pills laid out on a counter. David watched as a couple giggled and laughed, each grabbing a pill and popping it into their mouths as if they were candy. They then made their way out to the pool area, holding hands. David looked back at the pills. They were definitely not candy…
His first client sat on the kitchen table, sniffing something, and he nodded his head to David. "Martinez," he greeted casually, wiping his nose.
David nodded back, quickly getting to business. "Red tier, number one-oh-one," he said, bringing out the small box in his jacket. "One-thousand two-hundred." It sounded ridiculously expensive, but then again, it was a beheading scroll, and not the guillotine type.
His client nodded, taking the box and quickly transferring the eddies, plus some. "Appreciated, choom." David nodded back, leaving his client with whatever he was doing. He took a deep breath, trying to ease his nerves. That first transaction wasn't so bad, and he hoped the rest of them went just as smoothly.
His second client was out by the pool area, laying on one of the pool lounges, completely nude. She had a braindance wreath equipped, sipping on her fancy drink, watching as David approached her. "You got it?" she asked in a surprised tone, sitting up.
David nodded, trying his best not to wander his gaze below her neck. He handed her the small box, and she beamed in delight. She was different from the rest of his customers in that she requested a celebrity scroll. Even Doc didn't believe him at first, the old fossil laughing hysterically. David wasn't one to judge, but it was a bit out of the ordinary since most of the time students preferred hardcore porn or snuff braindances. Celebrity scrolls were quite expensive too, but it made sense—the more popular a celebrity was, the higher the price of their scroll. His eyes widened at the tip she gave him, and she winked at him. He gave her a small smile before nodding and taking his leave.
Up on the third floor, Katsuo leaned against the indoor modern railing, casually sipping his drink as he zoomed his cyberoptics to the pool area, watching David interact with a few others. He smiled softly, that warm feeling in his stomach returning again. He lazily swirled his cup, pondering if he should finally make a move. Nothing too flashy—just a simple talk to ease his way into asking David out. It wouldn't be the first time he's thought about it.
He felt his cheeks warm at the idea. The more he looked at him, the more fluttery his stomach got. And the more he thought about him… Katsuo shifted slightly, leaning more against the railing, quickly finishing his drink. He scoffed—as if he actually had the guts to ask him out after all they've been through…
"I'm such a pussy…" he muttered to himself, blue eyes still watching his newfound friend. His newfound interest. Would David even trust him again—would he even want to be with someone like him? A privileged student who came from a wealthy family with career ties to Arasaka; a former typical bully who had nothing better to do but torment his underprivileged classmate… and for what? To assert dominance? To prove he was better because he had more money? For enjoyment?
The loud ambience of students talking and music sounded like background noise to him as he pondered, unable to take his eyes off of his friend, his mind racing as he thought about the many things they could do together, the many things he could introduce to David from someone coming from a life of luxury and comfort. A simple date night at the movie theater—the one in Downtown; a nice dinner at one of his favorite authentic Japanese restaurants in Jig-Jig Street—
"He actually came?" a familiar voice said in French, pulling him from his thoughts, the scent of her perfume very prominent as she moved closer to him, joining him against the modern railing.
Katsuo blinked a few times, steeling himself. "Yeah…" he said dryly, pretending to finish his empty drink. It dawned on him that he wasn't interested in hooking up with her anymore, and he had yet to tell her.
"You invited him?" she asked, slightly turning to him. The tone of her voice indicated she was more surprised than upset.
"Perfect place to push XBD's," he shrugged. There was more freedom here than in the Academy's library or bathrooms, with the many surveillance cameras watching the students in the halls. He turned to her. "He's got good scrolls."
"You're endorsing him?" she scoffed, lifting an eyebrow. "The same Santo Domingo kid who broke your nose?"
Katsuo clenched his jaw lightly, looking back at his friend. They may have had a rough start in the beginning, but that didn't mean they couldn't start over. "It's in the past now," he said firmly. David would have said the same thing if he were the one being questioned.
There was a small silence between them before she started speaking again. "So… you two are friends now?" she asked in a lighter but curious tone.
He shrugged again. "Why not?" A few drinks wasn't going to let him fall for her seduction again. No, today he was going to leave with David.
"Didn't seem the type to strike up a friendship with you," she said, also looking out past towards the direction of the street kid. "What changed?"
Katsuo pressed his lips in a thin line, slightly shifting again. She wouldn't believe him if he actually told her the truth. "Just trying to finish the school year without going at each other's throats, I guess…" Katsuo said, before adding, "And besides, my father wants me to get along with him." It was a small white lie, but nonetheless a very sufficient answer. He hoped she didn't pry anymore towards their newfound friendship; rumors spread like hot circuitry in places like these, not just at the Academy.
Katsuo inwardly let out a sigh of relief, seeing that she was somewhat satisfied with the answer, as he was now listening to her talk about some new biochip she was going to get. The blue-haired boy continued listening, but still stole a few glances back at David. Right now, he needed another drink to calm his nerves, and he made himself towards the small table with her and others.
David smiled softly as he neared the last few customers. If any of them were upset that he was here, they didn't show it, too cooped up in their drinking and drugs. And they tipped him hella good. For once, he felt like he could breathe without the consequence of financial instability. Katsuo's first tip helped out too.
He glanced up at the third floor. The rich boy was somewhere up there, doing god knows what… with who knows what. David shrugged off the shimmer of a new emotion creeping up on him. Why should he be concerned about who Katsuo was flinging with in this wild party—if he was even flinging, that is. Once again, his thoughts betrayed him, filling him with doubts and insecurities, whispering to him that the blue-haired boy wouldn't be interested in him. What he said earlier to him was true, though: he was definitely out of everyone's league here, especially Katsuo.
David sighed through his nose as he made his way to his final two customers. Good riddance, he thought, not wanting to overstay his welcome. He could have sworn some guy was eyeing him with ill intent as he made his way back inside towards the large kitchen area. He pondered as he waited for his two clients, casually leaning on a counter with many students talking up a storm around him. Their conversations sounded muffled, their words going in one ear and out the other. Someone handed him a beer bottle, and he looked at it questioningly, raising an eyebrow. They didn't say anything, but turned around to continue whatever conversation they were having with their choombas. David opened it with ease, taking a swig. He read the brand label; it definitely tasted better than the ones at home—
"Martinez."
David turned his head to the person calling him, his stomach clenching upon recognizing who it was, and right next to them stood the other taller and bigger fellow. Ever since the fight in class, David had never interacted with Katsuo's friends. His heart pounded heavily out of slight fear, his hand gripping the beer bottle for a sense of stability.
The short blond signaled him to follow, and David hesitated. Taking a large swig, he swallowed before following suit, and was eventually led to an empty laundry room, by the looks of it. There were pristine and high-end appliances, all wall-mounted. It was the perfect place to conduct shady business, since no one would find anything interesting in a more boring room in this large home.
The short blond—Lukas, his name David finally remembered—seemed a bit… off. All other times, besides class, he'd been in a bratty and scrawny attitude. David assumed he was just trying to make up for his height, or because he was just another arrogant rich kid like the others here tonight. That was not the case with him today.
"Got your scroll. Red tier, number five-one-one," David said, trying to keep a stoic manner. The last thing he wanted was to cause trouble. "Five hundred." He brought out the small box.
Lukas nodded, quickly transferring the eddies, and David handed him the box. His final client was standing next to him, and they both quickly got to business, with David being the only one talking.
There was a tight feeling in his stomach, unsure if they were done here. Probably not, considering they led him to a secluded area, away from the others. David was about to say something, wanting to clarify if they were all nova, before Lukas beat him to it.
Him and the taller one both bowed down, their heads stooped low, as if they were being scolded. Ahh… David understood now.
"David Martinez," Lukas began, his voice surprisingly soft with a hint of vulnerability. "We would like to apologize for our past behavior."
David blinked, suddenly feeling awkward as he was put on the spot yet again. He gave a dry chuckle, his eyebrows furrowed. "Did Katsuo send you guys…?" he asked in a bored tone. He had nothing against the two, since it was mostly Katsuo who did the bullying. No, these two were always in the background of their scuttles, following in the blue-haired boy's footsteps. And what was with the awkward professionalism?
They both tensed when asked about the question. "Not… necessarily," Lukas stammered, both of them exchanging glances. He was having some trouble finding the correct words, and David wondered if these two were hiding something from him. "Katsuo merely mentioned that you two have… made amends… We don't wish to cause any more trouble for you, David." The taller one nodded in agreement, both of them still keeping their heads low.
David blinked, slowly taking a sip of his beer. "And so he sent you two to… apologize…?" he asked tiredly.
Both lackeys glanced at each other again, before Lukas cleared his throat. "Not quite…"
David rolled his eyes. Again with the poor professionalism…
"He just made it very clear that we are not to cross paths with you in a negative manner anymore," the taller one chimed in, finishing Lukas' sentence.
David held back a laugh, finally seeing what they were getting at. "So… he threatened you?" It sounded more like a statement rather than a question.
"… a warning, more like it."
Yup, that sounded like Katsuo, alright. David sighed, running his free hand through his hair. "Look, I have nothing against you guys," he said, shrugging. "I 'preciate the gesture, but I just want things to run normal for me at school. Nova?" Having people apologizing to him wasn't something he was gonna get used to.
The two lackeys quickly thanked him, both for the scrolls and for hearing them out. David nodded in return, feeling grateful that this little awkward meeting was over. He checked his internal chrono; it was definitely time to head home. Leaving a quick message—as if Katsuo would actually respond with all the noise and partying going on—he and the two choombas began walking towards the large kitchen area.
Along the way, Lukas mentioned David's line of work. Nothing detrimental or ill-spoken—both him and the tall choom were genuinely surprised to know David was working for a ripperdoc. The brown-haired boy sighed through his nose, finishing his beer before adding on to what he does on a daily basis when working with Doc. It was only small details, the usual stuff, but the two chooms seemed very intrigued, and they began asking more questions, even going as far as asking when new certain cybernetics were going to hit the market.
David hid a small smile. "Not an area I specialize in, choom," he explained. "I only do hands-on work, with the occasional side hustle." He nodded to both their scroll boxes.
"Anymore like these?" Lukas asked, waving his scroll. His contained a common slaughter braindance. Those were always cheap. The one that the tall one requested however…
"Always plenty in the market."
They each shook hands. "Keep us posted, David."
David watched as they disappeared into the large crowd, not noticing Katsuo had messaged him back.
Katsuo: What?? Already?!
David: Gettin' pretty late… Besides—
He felt two taps on his shoulder. Raising an eyebrow, he turned to see who it was. Part of his judgment believed it was someone who wanted to request a scroll. Or perhaps it was someone who was looking for a particular type of BD, but wanted to keep a low profile. These small thoughts couldn't have prepared David for what came next, and whatever he wanted to respond to Katsuo's text was left incomplete.
Pain immediately radiated on his cheek, and he clutched his face, wincing at the sudden blow. He opened his eyes, blinking a few times, trying to figure out what just happened. What the fuck?! He was on the floor, the impact of the blow making everything around him seem surreal. He heard a commotion in front of him—no surprise there, and beside him he heard the faint voice of Lukas, asking if he was okay in a worried shout.
David didn't answer as he scooted away from the perpetrator who struck him. He shook his head, as if to get out of that stunned daze. When he looked up, he saw who had assaulted him, only now the perpetrator was dealing blows to a familiar tall blue-haired boy.
David didn't notice Lukas handed him a small ice pack—did he just get it from the freezer in the kitchen? The street kid applied the ice over his now throbbing cheek, wincing a bit at the cold touch and pressure. Some of the pain remained ignored as David witnessed the fight happening in front of him, unable to take his eyes off of Katsuo as he took a few hits to the face.
David swallowed. This wasn't Katsuo's usual fighting style like their previous encounters, heavily relying on his kung-fu chip; there were no silly exaggerated fighting sounds coming from him either. Brown eyes were wide in bewilderment and fear, fear from the many kicks and hits Katsuo was receiving as he tried his best to block them off.
That goes without saying the perpetrator wasn't receiving any hits back at all… David looked around him. Students were rounded up around them, shouting and egging the two boys on, eager to see who would come out on top. Half of them shouted their support for Katsuo, the other half towards the perp.
David's cheek was still throbbing, no doubt it was beginning to swell. He carefully and slowly got up, slightly missing his footing, but the tall choom helped him regain balance.
"Thanks!" he said loudly, although it wasn't really needed as the two lackeys were too engrossed in the brawl as well. David's eyes narrowed in slight confusion. Part of him understood why everyone was watching the boys throw hands, but something deep down inside him irked him the wrong way.
Why was no one stopping them?
He obviously couldn't step in. Being mostly organic—save for his chromed spine—he would get severely injured, way more than that car crash and Katsuo's fists combined. He leaned towards Lukas' ear, trying to explain, hoping he would understand his point of view.
"No point!" Lukas shouted back at him, still watching the fight. "It's either this or watching two go at it at four-dimensional chess!"
And so from the sidelines, just like how his peers stood, David watched, his expression being the only one of distress and concern. The only thing he could do is hope Katsuo would come out victorious. A shaky hand lifted the ice pack back to his bruised cheek.
Sometime between his thoughts, David noticed the fight had gotten a little more intense—as if it wasn't brutal from the beginning. Katsuo's nose began dripping blood, and from what David could tell from the raging lights, it seemed as though a blue eyebrow was split. The perp didn't look any better, either. His face was a bloody mess, and he was trying not to give out on his side from where Katsuo had landed a powerful kick.
Loud cheers arose when the perp stumbled to one knee, clutching his side with a pained expression. Katsuo was still standing before him, his fists raised and knees bent in a professional and intimidating fighting stance, his breathing ragged.
"Get the fuck up…"
A cold shiver ran down David's spine upon hearing Katsuo's low growl. Oh, he was pissed. Brown eyes quickly shifted to the perp who shakily got back up, spitting out blood on the floor. Ugh…
The perp faked a punch, trying to dupe Katsuo, but the blue-haired boy caught on quickly, easily avoiding the real oncoming fist. In that moment, it was almost like something awoke in Katsuo, as he was now dealing critical punches and kicks, similar to a martial art type manner, but not from any chip. David gasped as the perp was slowly backed up, the crowd moving out the way as if to not disturb them. Suddenly, David noticed the familiar glow of Katsuo's slotted chip in his neck briefly light up, and those fists came to life, dealing fast and hard blows to the perp's face and torso.
David couldn't help but wince at the memory from when it was him who received that physical assault back then. But there was a small distinction this time; instead of Katsuo finishing with a kick to the perp's torso, he aimed higher, striking him in the face.
Everyone watched as the perp fell back, hitting the floor with a loud thud.
"Get up…" Katsuo groaned, wiping blood away from his mouth, leaning against a small table. He was breathing hard, but some of the adrenaline still lingered. "Get the fuck up…"
No response came from the perp, who was obviously badly bruised and knocked out, not to mention bloody as hell. All the students stayed quiet for a moment, the loud music filling in their silence, before one of them excitedly announced the 'winner' of the fight. As if on cue, they all cheered for Katsuo. David blinked in surprise at the small victory, a few students pushing past his way to congratulate the blue-haired boy.
"Well done, Tanaka," David heard Lukas comment, both him and the tall choom exchanging a quirky hand gesture.
It went as quickly as it came, and everyone soon went back to whatever they were doing, the knocked-out choom being dragged outside by the looks of it. David gulped, his attention now turned to Katsuo, who was looking back at him.
Katsuo tried to walk over to him, almost losing his balance but not quite. David quickly helped him up, slinging an arm over the blue-haired boy.
"Thanks…" Katsuo muttered. Blood was still slowly oozing out of his nose, and he raised a hand to catch the warm fluid. David frantically looked around, trying to find some napkins or a rag or something to contain the blood flow. In a kitchen as fancy as this one, he of all people didn't know where rich folks stored their cleaning supplies.
Ah, fuck it, David thought annoyingly. "Can you walk?" he asked Katsuo, seeing that the only place the blue-haired boy was going to get cleaned up was in one of the many bathrooms in this large three-story home.
Katsuo nodded quietly, his free arm holding onto David tightly.
"C'mon." They both slowly walked away from the main kitchen, David trying not to bump into students that continued their partying. They weren't far from a nearby bathroom, a half-one by the looks of it. David tried opening the door, only to find it locked.
"Come in," a girl's voice said seductively from inside.
Huh?! David cringed, doing his best of half-carrying Katsuo somewhere else, somewhere where they wouldn't have to deal with horny students.
"Bedroom…" Katsuo breathed out weakly, nodding up ahead. David took his advice, leading them there. Upon walking closer to the door, though, he made out faint noises of moans and grunts.
He silently cursed, but it was the best chance they would get. As they walked inside, he noticed that the bedroom's bathroom was open and unoccupied. Both boys quickly hurried inside, ignoring the two students who were occupying the bed.
For a small guest room, the bathroom was surprisingly spacious. David quickly swiped a hand towel from a rack, handing it to Katsuo as he helped him sit on an ottoman bench.
"Thanks…"
"No need to thank me," David sighed, frantically opening every drawer and cabinet, trying to find any kind of bandages or antibiotics for Katsuo's injuries. Hell, a simple bounce-back injector would have been great. He groaned in frustration at the lack of supplies. "Does no one keep a first-aid kit in their home anymore? Can't find shit in here…"
Beside him, Katsuo let out a soft hum, his voice slightly muffled by the hand towel. "No point if one's got the Platinum Package," he muttered. He felt what he thought was a drop of sweat rolling down his face. Swiping it with his finger, he saw that it was actually blood. "Ah, fuck…"
David turned to him, grabbing another hand towel and heading for the sink. "Gotta clean you up first," he said, running the towel under warm water. He wringed it as best he could before sitting next to his classmate on the ottoman bench, gently dabbing away the fresh blood streaks, fingers gently pushing back soft blue bangs.
Katsuo slightly winced, but sat still. His classmate was sitting so close to him; it was a comforting feeling. Blue eyes settled on David's focused gaze, scanning for any other visible injuries. "Incidentally, are you ok?" he asked quietly.
David raised an eyebrow at him. "You're asking me that?"
"He did hit you…"
"I got grazed," David stated. He folded the damp towel, now cleaning up the dried blood caked all over Katsuo's face and neck. "You took a beating."
Katsuo smirked. "No worse than he did." He felt proud. The fucker deserved after all.
"Not how I expected this night to go," David muttered, cleaning up a blue eyebrow, which was visibly split. He got up, trying to look for some remedies again.
"Me neither," Katsuo agreed. His nose had stopped bleeding, and he placed the bloodied towel on the sink, looking up at David. "I'm sorry…"
"For what?" David asked, sitting back down with a small topical cream he found. It was very rudimentary, meant for minor cuts and bruises, but it would have to do.
The blue-haired boy looked down at the floor. "Thought nothing crazy would go down," he said softly. He turned to David, both their eyes meeting. "Didn't mean for you to get hurt."
There was a small pause between the two before David spoke up. "Honestly, nothing could have prepared me for this kind of event," he said earnestly with a small smile, trying to light up the mood. Picking up the damp towel again, he cleaned up the rest of Katsuo's face.
They sat there in comfortable silence, David gently dabbing away blood as best as he could without applying too much pressure on Katsuo's wounds. Aside from his classmate's slight winces and harsh breaths from the pain, the only other noises that stood out were the faint music and the two students going at it in the bedroom. Not that either seemed to mind.
Most of Katsuo's face was cleaned up now, but David had no doubt it would look worse the next day. "Fucked you up good, huh?" David asked passively, noticing the cuts on the blue-haired boy's lip and cheek.
Katsuo scoffed. "Please…" he said, a smug smirk forming on his lips. "He's the one who ended up getting KO'd—" He hissed in pain as David applied some cream on his split lip, slightly flinching away. "Fuck!"
"S-Sorry! I know it burns, but this stuff'll help," David explained in a nervous tone. His free hand gently cradled Katsuo's face, holding him still as he applied the cream on several spots.
Katsuo could feel his heart thumping against his chest, blood rising towards his cheeks. "… it's fine," he said softly, all too aware of just how close David was to him. "I was just… surprised…"
Surprised at how warm and soft David's hand was against his cheek; surprised at how close they were sitting together, David's face only inches apart; surprised at how intimate this whole situation was. The whole time Katsuo kept his eyes on David's, before settling lower, tempting. But the choom was too occupied to notice—
"Look at me," David said, now cupping both sides of Katsuo's face.
Katsuo raised his blue eyes, meeting focused brown ones. He was in awe, seeing how human David truly was.
"…your pupil's expanded…" Katsuo heard David say, feeling his head slightly tilt back.
"Is that bad…?"
David paused before answering, his eyebrows furrowing. "Don't recall seein' you gettin' hit in the head…" he said slowly, carefully examining both of Katsuo's pupils. "You take anything before shit went down?"
Katsuo blinked twice, his eyes still glued to David's. He was pretty sober, save for a drink or two. "No… Must've been when he first punched me, though…"
David quirked an eyebrow, his face painted with slight confusion. "Why'd he attack you?" he asked quietly, lowering his hands. "Choom was clearly coming after me." He picked up the cream tube again, motioning for Katsuo to turn his head.
The blue-haired boy complied in silence, sucking in a breath as he felt a small sting next to his ear. Trying his best to ground himself, he said, "Soon as I got your message, I went down to look for you… Although, it took me longer than expected…"
There was another pause, Katsuo welcoming the pain that ensued from his injuries. He couldn't help but feel guilty for what happened. "I saw him hit you," he recalled quietly, concealing his anger, his hands clenching tightly on his thighs. He couldn't remember the last time he got angry that he saw red. "As I got closer, I could hear him. He was talking shit about you…"
David paused, screwing the cap back onto the cream tube. His brown eyes looked at Katsuo, then to the floor. It was no surprise that someone wouldn't take too kindly to his kind. But did it really need to escalate to violence? Had he been told to leave by the perp, he would have done so without any second thought. No point in causing trouble if one can avoid it.
A sigh from Katsuo broke through David's thoughts. "I saw myself in him…" he heard Katsuo murmur. "I was no different than him not too long ago…"
Guilt wrenched through Katsuo's stomach at the memories of when he used to say the same things to David at school—
"But you're not him," David said firmly. Without hesitation, he cupped Katsuo's face again so that he was only looking at him, being careful not to apply too much pressure. "Don't bring yourself down 'cause you saw a reflection of your past self. You're more than that, Katsuo. And I know 'cause I've seen it."
There was another pause between them, only this time it didn't feel out of the ordinary. David's eyes bore into Katsuo's in a serious yet comforting manner, a silent reminder that whatever he thought, he wasn't like the rest of them.
Katsuo's hands remained clenched, more so out of nervousness than guilt. Over the past few years of attending Arasaka Academy, he had seen how others fought in parties like these—how violent and animalistic it got that it was quickly perceived as a form of amusement for spectators. Entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less. And they often began over the most ludicrous things. Katsuo never thought he would become a part of that unknown statistic. Not that he was complaining—it was fucking worth it. And he knew he'd do it again to defend and protect David.
Blue eyes slowly dipped low, remained there for a second or two, then back up, and he visibly swallowed. The mood had changed, both of them fully aware.
Heat rose to Katsuo's cheeks and ears, his eyes slightly widening at what might just happen now, hoping it would happen. He felt a thumb gently caress his left cheek, his eyes settling upon the contact, a warm and soothing touch. David caught on right away, but he didn't waver or deter.
Katsuo's heart hammered rapidly, and his breath caught in his throat. One of his hands moved away from himself and onto the ottoman as he slowly leaned in. He felt David's breath, and then the slightest brush of his warm lips against his—
"Lady needs to use the John, yo."
Both boys snapped their eyes open, quickly turning their heads to whoever interrupted their little moment. It was the couple from the bedroom, both of them half nude without shame or embarrassment.
David quickly got up, quietly clearing his throat as the girl passed by them and towards the toilet. "S-Sorry," he stammered, his face burning red. He shot a quick glance at Katsuo. "Let's get you home."
Katsuo's jaw tightened, and he quietly got up as well, slightly wincing. His blue eyes looked ahead at the choom who interrupted them, fully recognizing who it was. Damn bastard couldn't have stayed in the living room giving out his 'candies' instead of cock-blocking him in the worst possible way?!
Laughter wanted to erupt from the blue-haired boy at how unfortunate this whole night was going for him, but he kept a calm demeanor, quietly following behind David.
"Yo, Kats," the 'candy' choom said cheerfully, walking up to Katsuo. "Heard you took on—"
A small yelp came from the choom as Katsuo violently shoved him with one arm.
"Why…?" he whined on the floor, but Katsuo didn't pay attention to him as he left the bedroom, catching up to David.
They both waited for the Delamain cab outside in awkward silence. David stood by, his hands in the pockets of his yellow jacket, eyes looking everywhere but the rich boy's direction. Katsuo sat down on a nearby bench, a subtle scowl on his face, his head stooped low, eyes staring at the cold pavement. I'm such a fucking pussy…
It was only when they entered the taxi did David say something. "How are we gonna explain this to Hamasaki-san?" he asked quietly, turning to his classmate, and Katsuo noticed his classmate's leg bouncing up and down in that familiar anxious manner.
"Don't worry," the blue-haired boy reassured, opening a small compartment in the taxi and fetching an injector of some sort. It didn't look like the standard ones David was used to seeing back at Doc's, but he remained quiet as he watched Katsuo inject it on the side of his neck. "I've got a perfect excuse…"
Granted, he was sure Shira was going to scold him for getting himself into trouble. Not to mention if he had taken a few more hits, or if he was the one who got KO'd, Trauma Team would have shown up at the party. And that would have given his father yet another reason to look down at his only son.
David stared at his classmate from the side, wondering what the blue-haired boy had up his sleeve. A 'perfect excuse'? It only made him wonder if this was a regular thing for Katsuo, and it didn't calm his nerves in the slightest.
Of course, when they arrived at the luxury apartment, David thought he short-circuited from the words that came out of Katsuo's mouth.
———
"One of Léna's ex's jumped me."
David almost froze upon hearing those words, eyes slightly widening in confusion. He was half-carrying Katsuo again, both of them trying to pass this half-act off to Shira, who was speaking firmly in rapid Japanese and on the verge of scolding Katsuo right then and there, but held back because of David's guest presence.
"'Léna's ex's'?"
A melancholic hand wrapped around David's heart, cold and numb. Katsuo was taken? He had a girlfriend? For some reason, David was surprised and disappointed and…
He didn't bother to pay attention as both Katsuo and Shira exchanged small arguments, but their heated conversation quickly died down as Shira walked somewhere and fetched a small med-kit, handing it to the blue-haired boy.
Everything felt like a blur to David as he helped Katsuo walk up the grand stairs and to his bedroom, a familiar environment. If he thought the bathroom back at the party was big, he was rightfully wrong. Katsuo's bathroom was bigger, at least three times its size.
The rich boy opened the med-kit, going for one of the balms inside, before David stopped him. "What? They're practically the same," he huffed, sitting down on an elegant ottoman bench.
"This one's for bruises," David pointed out, holding out the balm in one hand. He then held up a different one. "You need to apply this one first since you're all cut up."
Katsuo scoffed. "Tch… same thing…" he mumbled, observing his face in the large smart mirror. Clearing his throat, he added in a nonchalant tone, "Where did we leave off?" Heat rose to his cheeks, and he hoped David would take the hint and reciprocate—
"Your pupils were dilated abnormally."
"…"
Katsuo blinked. It had been a while since he'd heard that tone of voice coming from David. Perhaps he was just as upset as he was that their first official kiss was interrupted. He sighed through his nose, sitting back as David helped him with healing his beat-up face.
Silence reigned between them—uncomfortably this time—before David finally said something. The most important question for him to ask. "Who's Léna?" he asked quietly, avoiding eye contact.
"A girl I hook up with," Katsuo admitted flatly, one eye closed as he rubbed the cream around his bruised eye and eyelid.
David paused his ministrations for a second before continuing. That answer didn't alleviate his previous emotion. In fact, Katsuo said it so quickly and casually. It made him feel worse. Not knowing how to approach this new level of topic, David asked, "So your girlfriend…?" He silently hoped it wasn't true, but then again, people who usually hook up end up being together after a while… that's if the chemistry is there.
"Ha, no… We just hook up."
David remained quiet by his side, not wanting to add anything to this conversation anymore. He couldn't recall the last time he experienced jealousy towards someone. Coming from a poor background, he had already accepted who he was and where he came from at such a young age. But he was still grateful for the small things he had, knowing others had to make do on the many streets of Night City. This new emotion mixed with the cold sadness didn't bode well together. And he hated how they felt, one churning in his stomach while the other swathed his chest. A perfect combination for someone on the verge of emotional instability.
Katsuo noticed his classmate's quietness, and he sucked in a breath, now realizing what he had said. "B-But we haven't done anything in a while," he quickly added, a nervous hand going through his blue hair. "And I don't think we ever will…"
"How come?" David asked, trying to sound surprised. He didn't want to know; he didn't want to hear about their relationship, even if it didn't exist. He wished Katsuo would stop, as this was just feeding his emotions brewing inside. David realized how surreal he felt right now, how his hand didn't exhibit the same touch when he helped Katsuo back at the party.
"I don't know. It's… complicated, I guess," Katsuo muttered, slightly bowing his head down. There was another pause before he continued. "I think you've met her before…"
David listened quietly as Katsuo recalled the memory to him. And he was right—he had met her.
From the entrance of the courtyard of the Academy, David could spot Katsuo on the far side. The blue-haired boy was casually leaning against a wall, his back towards him. From the looks of it, it seemed as though he was conversing with someone.
David pursed his lips. He wondered if the rich boy scheduled his XBD meet-up at such an improper time on purpose, knowing he would chew out David for being late or interrupting his conversation. And of course he chose the courtyard of all places to meet at, seeing that other students can watch if David got ridiculed. There was no win-win in this situation…
Steeling his mind, David walked over to him, his hands in his pockets, wanting to get this delivery over with. The courtyard wasn't his favorite place to pass time in, but he couldn't deny that the scenery was beautiful. The pixelated smart glass simulated different weather patterns and seasons to match the correct weather occurring in real-time. There were also real organic plant life scattered across, something so rare in the city nowadays. It was a peaceful location for one to be in and enjoy. But not for someone like him.
As he got closer, he saw that the blue-haired boy was talking to a girl. They were conversing, alright, and David could make out a few chuckles coming from both of them. As he approached them, he pondered if he should say something to make them aware of his presence. His undevised plan got beaten by the girl.
She spotted him, her shifted gaze obviously noticed by the blue-haired boy, who turned around, his smirk gone as his blue eyes landed on David, giving him an icy stare.
Not wanting to possibly cause any trouble to himself, David reached into his blazer pocket, retrieving the XBD scroll the rich boy requested, handing it to him. No words were spoken as the blue-haired boy took it, his eyes changing its color hue as he wired the money to David.
"Get lost, trash…"
It wasn't a pleasant memory. For either of them.
Katsuo cleared his throat. "I'm sorry for what I said…" he said, heat rising to his cheeks from guilt and embarrassment.
David slowly blinked. "It's fine…" he sighed, applying a new balm on one of Katsuo's scraped cheeks. The blue-haired boy groaned at the stinging sensation, trying his best to sit still.
"You did that on purpose," he breathed, gritting his teeth. He heard David give out a small giggle from his side. "I knew it…"
"Well I do have to apply this one now," David stated, holding up the previous balm. "This'll close your wounds and alleviate any permanent scars that should occur."
Katsuo sucked in a breath. It stung like a bitch. "I'll take your word for it," he muttered, quickly adding, "Dr. Martinez…"
David couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I wish."
A small smile formed on Katsuo's lips. "You'd make a good ripperdoc."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"I mean it."
David looked at him for a brief moment before continuing. "Not that easy, choom. Gonna take me years before I come close to holding the scalpel."
"Thought you worked on patients now," Katsuo said, bringing up a previous conversation they had.
A sigh wanted to escape from David, but he remained patient with the rich boy. "Not how it works," he stated. "My ripperdoc does all the incisions. I only help out with alignments and such, makin' sure things are in place… but only if he trusts me enough to do so."
"Mmm," Katsuo nodded as he listened. It was interesting, this line of work that so many people relied on, especially a heavily tech-modded place like Night City. He turned to the large smart mirror, observing his half-healed face. Smirking, he added, "Well I think your work speaks for itself. Look at how well you patched me up."
David gave a light chuckle, turning to the mirror as well. "Don't be surprised when you look in the mirror tomorrow," he said jokingly. He pondered for a moment. "You're lucky the choom only gave you a beat down…" He trailed off, brown eyes now staring at the sealed balm in his hand as he realized something.
Katsuo noticed his pause. "What is it?"
"Who was he?" David asked, turning to him. "Don't think I've ever seen him at the Academy." Come to think of it, the perp did not look familiar at all.
"That's 'cause he doesn't attend Arasaka Academy," Katsuo muffled as he wiped his nose with a tissue, hiding his scowl. "Asshole goes to NCU."
"Night City University?"
Katsuo nodded. "Don't know who invited him, but he's now been blacklisted," he stated, pressing his lips, his tone of voice indicating he was satisfied with the perp's punishment. "Won't be seeing him again."
"Kinda surprised you didn't use your kung-fu chip on him right away," David commented. "Would've taken a lot less damage too…"
Before the blue-haired boy could protest, David curiously asked, "Where'd you learn to fight like that? Didn't see you use your chip 'til the very end." He noticed the rich boy shift slightly, as if searching for the right words.
"Well…" Katsuo began quietly, sighing in the process. "After my… 'accident'… Shira thought it would be best if I learned how to defend myself… if I ever found myself in such a predicament again."
"Sorry for the trouble," David apologized, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
The blue-haired boy couldn't help but roll his eyes and groan. "It's fine, David. All is forgiven." One of his hands moved his blue bangs back, rubbing the balm on his forehead, not that there was much there to begin with. "She trained me, y'know."
Brown eyes perked up, widening in interest. "Hamasaki-san? What—no way…" David exclaimed in curious surprise. Not to sound judgmental, but Shira did not look like the fighting type.
As if reading his mind, Katsuo explained further. "She's pretty fierce. Got my ass kicked plenty of times during my training." He chuckled at the last sentence, smiling fondly at the memory of easily being swept onto the floor in a split second.
"I—uhh… does she see me as a threat to you?"
Katsuo raised a blue eyebrow at his classmate, but the worried expression painted on David's face made him realize it was a serious question. Of course, someone getting a first glimpse of David's build would assume this was just a scrawny kid—someone who didn't pose an immediate threat. The choom had a lean and athletic build, but not from someone who worked out daily.
If Katsuo had to use the correct terminology—the one he's recently learned—David had the body of a twink.
But then again, someone like David ended up punching him so hard that he went flying across the room. And then there was the broken nose as well.
Katsuo's eyes settled, as if trying to ease David's doubts. "No," he said softly, shaking his head. "Not anymore, at least."
David's eyes widened. "Not anymore—?!"
"Don't get the wrong idea!" Katsuo interrupted quickly. He let out a sigh. "Look, if she had any reason to believe you were a threat now, she would've turned your ass into grass the moment you stepped inside."
His classmate was still giving him an incredulous look, remaining silent.
"She's fast, y'know. Not as fast as your… speed-implant you've got on your back," the blue-haired boy added. From the corner of his eye, he saw the smallest tinge of a smirk form on David's lips. "I trust you, David. That's enough reason for her to trust you too."
His words must have had an impact on him, as he now seemed a bit more at ease now. And that was enough to ease Katsuo's mind as well.
David was about to say something, but held his tongue as he viewed the time in his internal UI. "Shit," he muttered his hands quickly placing items back into the med-kit. "Gotta get home."
"I'll walk you out—" Katsuo began to say, but got cut off.
"You needa lie down and rest," David stated firmly. "And you should see a doctor tomorrow."
"Why? Just some cuts 'n bruises—" He let out a small gasp as his classmate once again cupped his face, brown eyes slowly and carefully inspecting his blue eyes once more.
"Your pupils are still dilated abnormally…" David pointed out, pulling away. "And apply this first thing in the morning. Should keep the bruises from lookin' like death." He placed one of the balms closer to the rich boy.
Katsuo wanted to protest; it's not like he was dying. A small groan escaped his throat, but he obliged either way. David knew way more than him when it came to medical attention. Of course, if shit did get worse, Trauma Team was one holocall away. "Fine…" the blue-haired boy muttered, rolling his eyes.
Not that he had been attentive to recognize certain patterns in David's behavior, but usually when the choom was about to leave, he would leave behind a physical touch. A quick contact. Katsuo kept a nonchalant expression, indirectly turning his head to angle his cheek—
"See ya later, choom," David said, giving him a small smile and waving at him before leaving the bathroom. "Get well. I'll let Hamasaki-san know you're ok."
"…"
Katsuo blinked. Nothing could have prepared him from the small pang of melancholy that struck him violently. It felt cold and distant, the opposite of what ensued whenever David left. He sat there on the ottoman bench, the silent humming of the bathroom keeping him company. One of his hands involuntarily went up to his non-caressed cheek, and he visibly winced. Very obviously not from the pain, but from the lack of affection he was getting used to receiving from his classmate.
He was so confounded that he didn't notice Shira's message—another doctor's appointment tomorrow. Great… And in the morning, too.
Tiredly getting up, he walked out of his large bathroom, not bothering to remove his clothes as he plopped himself on the bed, which was met with a loud but muffled groan of pain. Why was everything going so wrong for him…?