After school that day she had ended Teyo had a date with the gym. It was a lifting day for the several sports teams he was a part of. They staggered the start time per the team. As usual no one stuck to it and he would make due with his vest and just grab some loose equipment out of the gym and head to the stairwell to start doing some warmups going up and down them.
With one earbud in playing an audiobook of the biography of a famous leader in the country's history, he began to stretch. It didn’t last long because he thought he heard a girl talking to a boy. A flight or two up the stairwell. No bother, let them do their own thing. He had work to do. Trying to tune out the couple upstairs. He could make out one of them was a guy and another was a girl and he refocused on his form and audio book he heard something he couldn’t ignore.
“Stop, please let me go, I was just making conversation” the disembodied female voice said above him. Without hesitation he slipped off the exercise band he was using and began to run up the stairs. This vest made it more difficult for him. Hopefully he was just about to stumble into some clumsy teenagers about to make out in the stairwell but he knew deep down this wasn’t that. He also hoped this audiobook was overwritten with something and he wasn't listening out of the wrong ear. He took his ear bud as he bounded up 2 steps at a time until he made it up the 2 flights of stairs. When he crested the top he saw exactly what he was expecting. A young female probably in his own year and a much bigger man keeping her almost pinned into a corner. The two went silent. As they stared at him making his way up the final couple of steps.
Looking at the girl he gave a questioning thumbs up to indicate if she was ok. Her scared look and vehement shaking of her head was more than enough confirmation. “Get lost, loser” the upperclassmen said.
Teyo responded by walking forward ignoring the manchild.
“I’m warning you to leave us the hell alone!” he said angrily, not quite yelling but close. “We’re just having a little fun” His voice made my skin crawl.
Teyo kept his eye on his fellow 2nd year students, continuing to advance slowly. Keeping eye contact with the girl to make sure there was no misunderstanding.
“That's it man you’re not cockblocking me” the nameless upperclassmen hissed as he raised his fist to throw a punch.
Lunara was excitedly talking with a group of people outside of her ethics club. Thanking them profusely for their input. The group naturally broke up and an upperclassmen from the group waved her down and wanted to continue talking about today's club discussion. Shortly after everyone had left he started switching the topics from what was related to sexual ones and try to debate the efficacy of premarital sex. Lunara tried to put a stop seeing through his thinly veiled advances but lame excuses just weren’t working. She said she had friends waiting for her, had homework to do, and had to eat dinner, all of the classics. She made it to the stairwell but he backed her into a corner wide eyed and terrified she was too scared to scream. Her last ditch to get him to see reason was to flat out say “Stop please let me go” Then the nightmare came. A loud thud reverberated through the stairwell stopping both Lunara and the upperclassmen in their tracks. Then another and another. It was getting closer and louder what could be making that awful sound. Were there 2 monsters in this cursed stairwell? It kept getting closer and closer until Teyo’s head popped up jumping 2 steps at a time wearing that weight jacket she was told about. Looking at him their eyes magnetically locked into place. A pale blue with a caged animal's intensity behind them. He wordlessly communicated with her and all she could do was follow his lead and do the same in return. The upperclassman was talking but there was no sound, just Lunara and Teyo staring at each other as he came to rescue her. She finally snapped out of it when the upper class took a step toward Teyo and raised his fist for a punch. With only a slight quick movement Teyo dropped his head and rammed it into the upperclassman’s punching fist. The sound came back as twigs snapped and he began to wordlessly scream on the ground holding his hand with several clearly broken fingers. Teyo then gently grabbed her hand by the fingers like leading a princess to the ballroom floor and began to escort her down the stairs.
“Thank you Teyo” She said with tears brimming in her eyes the severity of the situation finally beginning to sink in. His head snapped up meeting her gaze once again.
“You know my name? Have we met before?” he said flatly.
“Yes I sat with you for lunch for about 90 seconds in the cafeteria on the first day of school. I’m a dear friend of Kira” the tears are now starting to flow. He simply nodded.
“You have me at a disadvantage. What is your name?” He said while reaching the part of the stairwell with weights and equipment bands.
“I’m Lunara and I'm sorry but can I hug you or something please. Thank you so so so much” the 2 got to his impromptu workout area and he gently sat Lunara on the bottom step. Peaked at his phone and said “Kira is on her way. You’re safe now. Could you please do me a favor?”
Her mind still fuzzy and overcoming the shock “Anything” she said excitedly unsure of what she hoped he was going to ask for. He then walked over to his book bag and took out a textbook and started to flip through pages until he landed on one.
“Could you please read this to me while I work?” he said then paused realizing that was a strange thing to say without context. “I listen to audiobooks and other various learning materials when I’m working out. And that guy punched my last earbud out of me and I’ll have to find it later. It’ll also make me feel better having you not stare at me.”
Lunara laughed and the situation was so ridiculous she couldn’t help herself. “Of course” she began reading at the page selected in a loud clear and concise voice. Occasionally fielding a question about a passage she just read and was helping to reinforce both of their understandings.
An unknown amount of time passed with Lunara reading to Teyo the savior. The sound of pattering footsteps joined the lonely noises of Lunara’s reading and Teyo’s heavy breathing. Kira quickly and casually strolled the stairwell and stopped turning pale at the sight of Teyo. “Why are you bleeding?” she exclaimed looking to Lunara for answers.
Bleeding? Lunara thought standing up suddenly. What was she talking about? She began to walk toward her friend to see what she was talking about.
Without breaking his lunges Teyo said matter of factly. “Some guy was trying to grope Lunara. I don’t know if I got there before he was able to do anything but I broke his hand with my head. I gave her a book to read to me to keep her mind occupied, until you arrived.”
“Wait, you said he punched out your ear buds” Lunara said finally seeing the small stream of blood caked on Teyo’s face. Now realizing he kept that side of his face away from her to hide it. Kira was right, that is a scary level of thoughtfulness.
“Sorry that was a red herring, I couldn’t think of a better way to make that request sound reasonable. So you’d overlook its oddity” he responded, dropping his weight and taking off the work out band. “Would you mind please taking Lunara home. I really need to take this vest off and probably get my head looked at."
“No,” Kira said, crossing her arms. Lunara and Teyo looked at her surprised and when the two of them waited for an explanation she continued “One I want to see you shirtless again. Two I’m curious to see how you take that thing off and Three I have medical supplies in my room. We are all leaving here together.”
Teyo smiled a wry grin “I was waiting for you to whisk away Lunara because it felt improper to do this in front of her and equally improper to leave her to do it and come back.”
Lunara was gobsmacked at her friend. Wait again?!? What does she mean again? Teyo was an oddity but she had at least a little warning about how he interacts with people. But she never saw this side of Kira before. Is that what she meant when she said she is more herself around him? She never interacted with anyone with such straightforward assertiveness. Lunara made eye contact with her friend and mumbled out “I think i’d like to see that too” Teyo never taking his eyes off Kira waited for a nod then casually shrugged. “I don’t mind if you don’t mind,” he said, exhaling deeply.
Teyo got into a position as if he were about to do a high jump, rocketed his body up in the air but didn’t follow through and left the ground. That caused his vest to pop up several inches which he quickly put his hands between the gap between his shoulders and their strap counterparts. He did the maneuver once more lifting the bulking vest above his head and dropping it to the floor. Leaving him shirtless in front of the two young women. While he quickly yet casually picks up his shirt from inside of the vest. And put it back on. Both ladies were blushing and Teyo still had a wry smile touching the corner of his lips.
“Alright then” stretching out his hips. Something gave out and he went down to one knee both the girls rushing in asking if he was ok. “It's ok, I just over exerted myself. And I definitely overdid it with the stairs” he said as he looked up the stairwell like it was the stairs fault. "I’ll meet you all at the front entrance in 5 if that offer still stands to tend this thing cut."
A short while later the trio began their track home. “Did I make it in time?” Teyo asked sheepishly. Looking past Kira to Lunara.
“Yes, Thank you again my hero” Lunara blushed and looked down at the pavement while saying it. She got 3 gentle head pats in return. Kira saw this and gave Teyo a disapproving look. She got 4 gentle head pats and a loving smile. She seemed content with the exchange. Kira and Lunara exchanged witty positive themed remarks as Teyo followed closely behind lost in trying to untangle this new knot in his and Kira’s relationship. If he wasn’t doing 2 things his mind would often wonder to internalize and rationalize his feelings and try to expand upon them. But all he could think now is how he was headed up to a girls room. He hoped Lunara would and would not be there. He hoped for the former to make it more proper so there was a third person in the room, not just a young man and young women alone. He hoped for the latter because he never truly had been alone with Kira before.. The possibilities quickened his heart rate.
“Earth to Teyo,” Kira said, waving a hand in front of his face. “Sorry I zoned out for a moment there” Then he realized he was at the entrance of their building. Oh right, he thought this was really happening. He couldn’t help but romanticize something that was most likely going to be mundane.
“You look pale, Take my hand” she said proffering hers. He took it warmly and with a smile. If only she knew how just this made his heart race.
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“I guess you do smile” Lunara said cheerfully finally coming back to her normal bubbly self.
“I am capable of smiling. I even laugh sometimes” he replied, holding back a smirk.
“I’ve heard him make several jokes that were quite funny as well” Kira interjected, trying to mark her territory just a little bit.
“Really? I don’t think I can imagine that.” She said, putting her finger on her chin in contemplation. “Oh by the way I asked Kira to ask you if I could join your study group?"
Kira looked abashed because Lunara probably knew she had no intention of asking him just yet. It's only been a month since they started spending time together but there was still so much she wanted to do before bringing in a third wheel. Especially one as pretty and clearly into him as Lunara. She knew she had to walk a line between friendship and boyfriendship but luckily Teyo took the burden right off of her by saying “Maybe when the midterms come around. I am getting to know Kira as much as the lessons in this curriculum and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”
Kira melted. Teyo read her mind and if he was still reading her mind, his pants would probably get a little tighter she blushed.
Lunara visible shaken “That sounds lovely, I will definitely take you up on that. And if you expand at all I hope to be the first call.”
Kira patted her friend on the shoulder “we’ll still have plenty of time to study together. Teyo has a hellish schedule more often than not”
Both of them kept walking and Teyo followed feeling more tired than he had in a while. When was the last time he slept? He soldiered on and felt his emotions wear as all 3 of them went into Kira's room.
“Where may I sit” asked Teyo “And no that doesn’t count”
Lunara looked at the two of them puzzled. She didn’t like feeling like a third wheel but she wanted to personally make sure Teyo was properly mended after his heroism. She also desperately wanted to feel safe and was afraid to find out if she could feel that way away from Teyo. She felt a pang of envy at Kira for holding Teyo’s fancy. She knew just by looking at them that they were already in love. And all she could do was respect that. Even if she had to resolve some feelings about the situation. The way he instantly took charge of a completely fucked situation and took a literal punch for her despite being basically strangers. The gentle way he led her down the stairs and the in depth well thought provoking questions he was asking about the textbook she was reading. Kira was right, he is very bright, even the thoughtful way he lied to her regarding the earbuds was wholesome and alluring. Which didn’t make any sense. But seeing him rung dry with a little more than a little bit of blood caked in his hair and on his shirt made her fall. A man who gave his all for her until there was nothing left is what she was looking at. And realized that's all she ever wanted in a partner.
Kira sat him down with a smile to say that absolutely counts “Lunara could you please make some tea while I pat him dry like a dog left out in the rain?”
“If you could be so kind, could you also look at the bedroom window and tell me if you see the building around the corner to the right. the middle middle window?” Teyo added
Lunara, who is no stranger to Kira's apartment, smiled as Teyo essentially admitted to never being in her bedroom.
The two could hear Lunara humming to herself as she did what she was asked, leaving Teyo and Kira alone. Kira hopped onto Teyo’s lap while padding a warm towel over his face. Just a little teasing for both him and Lunara. But she was starting to get legitimately worried Teyo looked more drained then she had ever seen him before. She had seen him being punished with exercise, after track meets, after workouts before but never this. His eyes seemed heavy and focused on Lunara. Who after putting the water to boil walked to Kira's bedroom to try and find if they could see the light coming from Teyo’s kitchen. Then his attention snapped back to Kira with eyes of glowed true silver he hooked his finger down Kira’s neck line, hooking it in her blouse between her chest and began to gently pull her close to him. Again they were completely on the same page as they met each other and kissed once, twice, three times. Only to hear.
“Which window? And it's the apartment building on the other corner of the playground right?” Coming from Kira’s Room.
“Yes,” Teyo replied, “ the second floor apartment, middle window.” and immediately began kissing Kira again. This was different; it was an adult kiss. As well as the bulge building underneath of her. They knew their window had closed and it was the new most intimate gesture the two have ever had thus far.
Lunara paused walking back into the general living area. Seeing Teyo still pale but getting some color back and Kira sitting on his lap! Lunara tried to play back all the ‘boyfriends’ she had in the past and this was something she’d expect out of Rin. But I guess her ears wouldn’t be so red. Something definitely happened but most of the blood is mostly gone so that's nice.
“Any luck?” asked Teyo.
“Yes,” Lunara said, losing much of her normal cheery voice. “But no the light wasn’t on”
Teyo gently grabbed Kira's wrist. “I think I should go home to take a nap and a shower, I don’t think either of those things could properly be done here” Teyo said, clearly the exhaustion was getting the better of him. “Thank you for taking care of me” he said with still enough strength to stand up holding Kira who was still on his lap.
Lunara notices Kira trying to come up with a reason for him to stay and interjects “That's just reckless and immoral” she said louder than she meant to.
With an amused smirk “Reckless I can concede that point but in what way would it be immoral? The immorality would be to allow a young man bathe and sleep in the presence of 2 young women especially when one of them is a stranger.”
Lunara’s breath caught. Just a smirk but he was sure Kira was the only person this one smiled for until now. She remembered Kira’s warning “so thoughtful it's scary” Is that depth of reasoning what drives him? She was struck again at the exact opposite nature of his argument versus what the upper class men's position was. Was she really ready to take the position of the pervert who tried to grope her? No this was a morality question not an advance. She hoped it was at least and continued “It would be immoral and unjust to disallow me to take care of you given your current condition and my role in causing it.”
After gently putting down standing Kira up and without looking at Lunara “I reject the premise that you had any role in my exhaustion. The architect of that situation got his comeuppance. He won’t be able to masturbait with that hand for months” He said with a wry tired smile.
“Is that why you broke his hand?” Kira said wide eyed.
“Yes, I like poetic justice” he responded simply. He kissed Kira on the forehead right in front of Lunara and began heading for the door. “I sincerely appreciate your hospitality dear”
Envy gave way to jealousy as Lunara began to cry. “It would be immoral to dismiss my feelings of wanting to repay the great kindness you showed me.” She said doing a formal bow. Lunara watched as Teyo stopped, crossed his arms and thumbed his chin in contemplation. Kira and Lunara held their collective breaths.
Kira looked on with a medley of feelings. She’s had deep meaningful conversations almost every day but this was the first time someone challenged him in such a way he had to stop what he was doing to consider. And Lunara was the one who did that. She wasn’t exactly mad at her friend but she did not like the idea of competing against a traditional treasure such as her. Even if she had a sizable head start. She wanted him to ease her worry and show him that she could take care of him. She had trust in Teyo to make the thoughtful decision on any number of levels. If she learned nothing about him she knew that.
After a sizable pause he turned to Kira “How do you feel about this? I’ll leave the decision to you”
“I’ll get the bath ready,” Kira said excitedly. Of course he would involve her in this decision, It was her house, her friend and her man. Then she froze in her tracks when she heard Lunara still recovering from crying squeaked “I would like to wash your hair”
“I don’t know if that holds any significance but absolutely not.” Teyo said although that did sound incredibly nice. That was a level of disrespect he could not let bloom toward Kira and the relationship they shared. But although this Lunara was emotionally raw and understandably so she seemed to both understand and respect his motives. He was just so damn tired he didn’t know how much longer he could persevere through the objections these two highly capable women made. Still he reflected on her emotional appeal. To pivot from ‘I caused you suffering and I need to make amends’ to ‘respect how your suffering makes me feel’ was a very intriguing thought process. I’m going to have to keep that one at arm's length, he thought. The morally gray area of the impropriety of bathing with someone who he hasn’t even officially asked to date him yet, and her friend versus respecting both of their feelings. The scales in his mind on the correct thing to do evened out, when he considered the turmoil he’d put his mother through coming home in such a state. He wanted Kira’s input regardless of where he stood but he ultimately decided to let her choose. The way her face lit up when he said that aloud made the emotional struggle entirely worth it. And with her smile a feeling of peace came to reinforce the rest of him fighting the exhaustion. He really needs to sleep more than 3 hours a night. But having his hair washed does sound incredibly nice. I wonder if Kira would do it if he asked. He knew the majority of the remaining blood on him would be in his hair.
Kira’s faith in Teyo continued to be well founded. The smile he returned when she said she would get the bath ready warmed her heart and sent it racing. She continued to work diligently to set it up. Trusting Teyo to be alone with Lunara just around the corner.
"What significance does washing hair hold in this culture?" Teyo broke the silence by asking.
"The washing of another is usually an intimate gesture, however it is also a job at places like open bath houses or hot springs. And washing hair is considered to be the least intrusive area to wash another." Lunara replied desperately, holding onto her positive disposition.
"Would you be offended if I asked Kira to do that for me?" He asked behind his light blue eyes and usual stoic expression.
Noticing the color of his eyes changing took second to the piercing question he asked to register. She fought to keep her eyes from watering. "No of course not" she muttered, refusing to look at him anymore. She knew she was emotionally compromised but she needed to stop talking to him right now. His innocent questions hurt to answer. Of course she would be offended, this whole bathing fiasco was offensive.
"Would you like to change your answer?" He simply asked.
She couldn't take it any more "of course I'd be offended. You took my fantasy and immediately gave it to another woman, my friend no less" she hissed, unable to appear civil anymore.
"I understand and apologize for my role in the turmoil you are facing right now. Please take the opportunity to talk to Kira while I'm indisposed. I think that would be very helpful to the healing process. You have a support structure, you are loved" and with that Teyo stood up and gave her 2 head pats. "You have the strength of character to overcome this, you're safe here."
The dam of tears burst after the first head pat.
Teyo made his way to the sound of running water. Kira saw him and began to blush immediately. She quietly said "could I please wash your hair"
"I can't imagine anything more I would want right now. But your friend needs you, she has had a far more trying day than I". he replied with a blush and a look of determination.
All Teyo could think about was showering and trying to stay awake doing it. Thinking about where he was or who was on the other side of this apartment would distract him from what he needed to do. He didn’t eavesdrop but was worried about the two friends fighting. He had trust in Kira to support a friend when she clearly needed it and I believe Lunara was aware of that as well. He heard faint crying but didn’t hear the door open or close so he was hoping for the best. Finally clean he walked with his towel around him to the bathtub. ‘Bless that woman’ thought Tayo as he noticed the container of epsom salt open at the side of the tub and bubbles. He felt like a child again taking his first bubble bath. Smelling all of the citrusy scents permeating from the bubbles helped finally put him at ease with the situation. Teyo sitting in the tub began to zone out and became truly relaxed, when he heard a knock. And before he could say anything Kira poked her head in. His heart began to pound double time seeing her and watching her blushed smile.
She entered the room without a word. Teyo didn’t know which ones to say. Shortly behind her walked in Lunara and Teyo’s mouth dropped. Both of them showed signs of recently crying and he began to get the feeling he was hallucinating. Lunara wouldn’t look directly at him and Kira locked eyes.
Kira then broke the silence she allowed to become Awkward. “We are both going to wash your hair, respectful to our feelings and respectful to Lunara’s.” With no resources left to fight Teyo just nodded his head.