voidtreckerexpress | (closed) and dispatches from the back of my mind

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(closed) and dispatches from the back of my mind

Who: Inigo, Yuki and Taiki
When: Egret 28
Where: The dining carriage
What: Inigo introduces his soft soft friend and his sweet sweet boyfriend to each other.
Warnings: None. Probably just enough sweetness to cause cavities.

Maybe it's to distract himself and the others from how that last mission ended, or maybe it's just the right timing now Taiki doesn't seem as sad anymore.. but Inigo decides it's about time to introduce Taiki and Yuki to each other. They're both so important to him, after all - it just wouldn't feel right if they didn't at least know each other. And he figures those two would probably get along, anyway.. they're both more quiet types than he is! And they seem to have the amazing ability to infinitely tolerate Inigo, so that means they have one thing in common already.

So he's asked Taiki to come join him and Yuki for dinner that night, while explaining to Yuki that Taiki would be coming to eat with them since he wanted to introduce them. So he and Yuki made their way to the dining carriage with a little extra food this time, and a spot left empty on the other side of the table. (Because of course Inigo is going to sit right next to Yuki. How else is he supposed to be all affectionate with his boyfriend, huh?)

When he spots Taiki entering the carriage though, he stands up for a moment to wave the other over.

"Taiki! We're here!"

Once he's sure Taiki noticed it, Inigo sits right back down, gently bumping his shoulder affectionately against Yuki's with a dumb grin on his face. He's just excited for Yuki and Taiki to meet, okay! Sue him!

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Practical Yuki is practical enough to ignore his boyfriend's dumb whining..

There's absolutely zero surprise on Inigo's part when he sees Taiki trying to help out Yuki though. If there's anything that's very much like Taiki, it's exactly this. Always being so sweet and helpful in every single situation. It's making him look bad! (No, Inigo, you're making yourself look bad by not helping..)

So he finally does stand up at Yuki's last words.

"Alright, alright, I'll go get the food. You two just finish everything here. And.. you know. Talk a little."

Please just don't work in awkward silence while he's gone, okay, that's the main message here. Get to know each other! You can do it, you bunch of introverts.

With that, he's already moving to head from the dining area to the kitchen, calling out: "I'll be back in a moment!"

Taiki nodded at Inigo as he went to get the food and concentrated on laying the table, copying how Yuki had done it, to make sure he had done it right.

Or at least in the way Yuki was used to laying a table. His eyes flicked up at Yuki and it seemed for a moment he would speak, but then he looked down again.

It's not that he doesn't want to get to know the other boy, someone important to Inigo. But he doesn't know what to say. He has no experience in this.

He settles instead for a slightly nervous smile.

It was half on his mind to go help Inigo who was definitely getting a talking to at leaving them alone like this. Yuki didn't know Taiki at all though he would totally cover it. The other boy was still setting the table, though he himself didn't have a strong opinion of it. He'd just copied what he'd seen Miss Honda do.

For a moment he thought the other would say something, but then the moment seemed to pass them by and so he smiled. "I'm sorry he was whining about being hungry. Normally he doesn't get like that."

It was a small attempt at humour certainly, but really he was apologizing for the warrior's behaviour.

"Um..." Taiki blinked at Yuki a moment, looking a bit awkward. "It's alright... I mean. You don't have to apologise."

Inigo hadn't done anything wrong really and it was a bit strange that Yuki would apologise for him. But then again, perhaps that was what boyfriends did. Taiki wasn't really sure.

He finished putting the last of the cutlery out, hoping he had laid everything out correctly.

At least the awkwardness - or the quiet awkwardness, anyway - won't have to last long, since Inigo does return quickly enough. With the food. He's actually managing to balance it all without dropping it too, since he's putting it down on the table safely without spilling anything.

"There we go! I even got some extra dessert!" And no, not just for him, okay. Inigo may be dumb at times, but he's most certainly not cruel. It's for all of them! Hell, he'll let the two of them have all of it if they want, because they're certainly two of his favourite people.

He sits down with a grin. "I know, I'm great."

Yuki smiled at Taiki stating he didn't have to apologize. Normally he wouldn't, but sometimes Inigo could be an idiot and he was just covering for the boy. It was the least he could do for someone who didn't go away when it was best that he ran far and stayed gone.

But before he could say anything further, the warrior's voice cut the silence. Gray eyes looked at Inigo as he mentioned having extra dessert. When did he have the chance to do that? Well now wasn't the time to ask so he nodded at Taiki and tried to help get everything served.

There was a small smile at Inigo for his great comment but that talk would wait until later.

"Oh. Thank you, Inigo." He stood up to help him with the plates, though he had done well to get them all the way here without dropping any. Taiki felt bad that they had left him to fetch the food on his own.

"It looks good, um thank you again for inviting me."

He sounds nervous and he is. It's not as if he doesn't eat around everyone all the time, but this is different, having been specifically asked.

"No need to thank me," he replies. For a moment he stares at the food in that kind of way that shows he definitely wants to start eating so badly, but he's at least remembering some manners here and is waiting for the other two to get started too...

He turns his attention back to Yuki and Taiki, hoping it'll keep his stomach at bay for a few more moments.

"You two are among my favourite people, after all. Spending time with you is a pleasure."

Yuki slightly bowed his head to Inigo in reply to his kind words. "Food will be getting cold..we should sit down and eat." He was hungry too and everything looked good, but he wasn't sure how great it would taste. There was only one way to find out really.

So he went over to his chair and waited for the others to sit down too before he did. It was odd too, he was so used to eating with chopsticks that this fork and spoon business took a little bit of work on his part.

He moved to his seat as well, copying Inigo and Yuki for when to sit. Forks are pretty new to him also, his earth family had been very traditional in that sense at least and his grandma had had strong opinions on the correct use of chopsticks.

He smiled at Inigo's words, it was nice to spend time with him and Yuki seemed very kind, he can see why Ingio likes him.

All this worry about eating utensils, and then Inigo is from a world where people just eat with their hands....

Thankfully (for them, anyway) he has learned that's not really the standard here, so he's being polite and actually using them rather than look like a total barbarian. And he also realises that if he doesn't get started on eating, then the other two much more polite ones will probably forever wait on someone else to be first. And it's not like it's a punishment to finally get to eat, so Inigo just immediately shoves some food into his mouth.

"Oh, it's so good! The people here really know what they're doing."

(Let's be real, he probably mooched this food off Bucky..)

Feeling a little self conscious, Yuki looked over at Taiki. "So you two met on the train..is it alright to ask how you met?"

Gray eyes then stare at Inigo as he seems to wolf down his food at first for more than a few moments. But he's too polite to say anything in public so they'll talk about that later. However a question is on Yuki's mind as he makes the comment about people knowing what they're doing.

"Wait..you cooked the food, right?"

"Yes." He nodded, he didn't mind explaining how they met but then Yuki turned his attention to Inigo and Taiki fell silent, not wanting to interrupt.

His eyes flickered over to Inigo, he didn't know if Inigo knew how to cook or if he had asked some of red team to help.

"Hm? No, I got it from Bucky, of course." Although he's helped Bucky out with cooking before, so it's not like it's terrible of him to mooch of the guy a little, right.. Especially since they're brothers! And Bucky likes cooking. And most importantly.. what he's made is way better than anything Inigo could've made, so.. you know. Be grateful for that.

Apparently it's no big deal though, since he just casually continues talking. "Anyway, Taiki and I met back when he first showed up on the train. Although we didn't really become friends until after that whole thing with the strange dreams went down." Which, ironically enough, is also exactly how he and Yuki got closer, huh.. Maybe he does have to thank the train - or whatever it exactly was that caused it all - for giving them those dreams to begin with, even though they weren't exactly fun.

Yuki had waited for Taiki waiting for him but then Inigo mentioned where he got the food. A relieved sigh came out of the silver headed man because at least Inigo hadn't decided to cook. Who knew how that would've turned out had that been the issue.

But as he sat down he listened to the story of how the two other boys met. That was odd..the dreams event had a hand in his relationship with Inigo..funny how that happened. But Yuki of course remained silent and didn't comment to Taiki about the dream he shared with the warrior.

After plates were filled, gray eyes looked over at the boy who became friends with Inigo. "Do..you mind if I ask if it was a good dream?"

"Um..." He blinked and glanced at Inigo again before shaking his head, "It wasn't... Sorry..."

Not a good dream at all. Yet Inigo had made it... different than what it could have been. Nothing there had been good but he had not been alone.

"Inigo was very heroic though."

Inigo knows he's witnessed something very personal for both of the guys sitting here with him in these dreams. It's why he's being very careful to not reveal any details. He made a promise to Yuki to not tell anyone about the whole rat thing, after all, and while he didn't promise Taiki something, he still wouldn't want to throw something out there that might hurt him.

So Inigo wisely stays quiet, just listening to the other two while he eats some of his food...

.. only to near choke on it when Taiki says that last part. It's only for a moment, but he coughs, his face growing red.

"W-- Well, I'm always heroic!" It's a weak attempt at pretending to be confident as always and like he's not getting flustered over the slightest compliment here.

"I'm..sorry." Yuki said, looking down at his plate. He felt bad that he had asked, but had done so in the hope that Taiki had a better dream than the one he went through. so he sighed and then lifted his head back up at hearing Inigo was heroic.

Gray eyes focused on the warrior and wondered why his face was turning red at the praise. And that's when he realized the truth. So he smiled. "I guess that's just how he is."

Eat that one too Inigo.

"I think it is." Taiki smiles, suddenly a lot more confident when the topic is praising Inigo.

"It is his true self, I think Inigo-san is even a bigger hero than any of us realise."

He's being serious. He might not have known Inigo for long but his bravery and kindness were plain for all to see.

You two are killing him. This is straight up murder in the middle of the dining carriage! Is anyone witnessing this? At least he knows Taiki is just genuinely innocent here, but that smile on Yuki's face makes Inigo stare at him instead for a moment. Is this an attempt at teasing? Is this revenge for all those times he's tried to hold Yuki's hand or kiss his cheek with other people present?!

It's working anyway. Inigo's face is so red. He can't even shove another bite of food into his mouth in fear of choking all over again. These two have a way better impression of him than what he's really like, he thinks..

"Of course, I'm the biggest hero on this whole train.." But it's half-mumbled in that kind of way that makes it obvious he doesn't fully believe that, despite his attempt at bravado. "But to me the most important part of being heroic is that I can protect you two."

"And he's very..kind." Yuki piped up. Really that was who Inigo was to him. Sure he was an idiot, took too much on and pretended to be more than he was. But underneath that bluster was a soft kind heart who cared far too much about what other people thought of him. Still, that was the type of person that looked out for others and so Yuki had decided that he would look out for the warrior in return.

No one else had really reached out to him with a hand and no one else knew his secret either, let alone try and actually help when he found out instead of running away. So there was only a smile at Taiki and then returned his gaze to Inigo.

"And you'll be protected in return."

Taiki nodded to Yuki but he did look worriedly at Inigo. He doesn't want to actually make him upset or embarrass him too much. But at the same time, he believed it completely. Inigo was a great hero. He was brave and kind.

Taiki isn't sure what he feels about being protected by him, but he remembers Inigo stood next to him in his dream, holding his hand and refusing to run even as Youma descended upon them.

He nodded at Yuki's words. He had no doubt that Yuki would protect Inigo as hard as Inigo would protect Yuki. He feels guilty, naturally, because he can't make such a promise in return. He can't protect Inigo. He can't protect anyone. He can't even protect those who he exists to protect, never mind a boy from another world who is a hundred times more capable than him anyways.

His gaze slips down to his food, though he has stopped eating it.

No matter how flustered he still is, Inigo can't help but smile at those words from Yuki. They're just so sweet. And he knows they're meant when they come from Yuki. The guy isn't one for meaningless platitudes. He wouldn't be saying these things if he didn't actually think them about him.

He's not sure what to even say in return when it feels so overwhelming, so instead he just silently reaches out to hold Yuki's hand. He's even making sure he doesn't embarrass the other in turn, so he's holding the other's hand under the table instead. The smile on his face says enough about how grateful he is for those words though.

But then there's Taiki's silence. And Taiki being silent isn't that weird, but coupled with the look he spots on the other's face when Inigo looks over at the third guy present, he can't help but worry.

Inigo's smile shrinks a little, but doesn't fully disappear as he looks back over to Yuki, determined to lighten the mood. "What would I do without my strong, cool boyfriend, huh?" He glances back to Taiki, using his free hand to poke the air in front of Taiki as if to try and draw his attention. "And my great friend Taiki, who has the magical ability to always make me smile."

Gray eyes noted Taiki had stopped eating, but was too polite to call attention to it. He had no idea if he should ask if he was okay..that might be rude too because he didn't know the boy all that well at all.

But those thoughts scattered when Inigo took his hand. Why had he done that? He wasn't sure what to say but then felt a little put on the spot when he got called a strong cool boyfriend. Those first two adjectives didn't belong anywhere in anything related to him at all. Why was that a thing?

So to go along with the atmosphere, he tried a smile, hoping that the boy who'd fallen silent felt a little better somewhere somehow.

Taiki looked flustered as well. Honestly he was glad that he had this power to make Inigo smile, because Inigo should smile. He deserved to smile. But he's not actually sure he had much to do with it.

Still he tried a smile now, it didn't quite meet his eyes but considering he knows Inigo likes it when he smiles it is an attempt at reassuring him.

Oh boy. Between that very faint delay before Yuki smiles and the way Taiki's smile only seems like a half-smile, Inigo is pretty sure he screwed this up. Or didn't manage to quite get it done the way he imagined, anyway. His brain frantically scrambles for a way to set this right, but then it just.. gives up.

Which means there's only one way out. Falling back on his familiar dumb dramatics in the hope that it's a distraction from the awkward.

"Oh.. by Naga, you two! At least say something in response!" He actually doesn't really care at all that they're silent, he knows they're both more quiet than he is, but look, this is the easiest dramatic topic to fall back on right now. "Do you see all those other people eating over there?"

He points his eating utensil at said other people, even though those other people don't even seem to be paying any attention to them at all...

"They're all going to think I'm crazy! Oh look, there's crazy Inigo, off talking to himself again!" To Inigo's credit, he somehow manages to sound very genuinely desperate about this.. "You can't do that to me, okay, I have a reputation to keep up!"

"And here I thought you had the cool boyfriend part down." Yuki observed quietly, going back to his meal with a smug smile. Gray eyes lifted when Inigo pointed with the utensil and he sighed. "And pointing at other people is rude."

The admonishment was gentle and he kept the smile on his face, tucking back into his meal. "You talk enough for all three of us." Which this was very true and he shrugged in a non committal sort of way. But when he looked at the warrior there was nothing but a serene smile on his face.

This was fun, being able to turn the tables on the normally glib handsome warrior. So silence and smiling quietly unnerved him..observation duly noted.

He glanced over at the people who Inigo gestured at. He didn't think they would judge Inigo, after all it was clear he was talking to him and Yuki, even if neither of them seemed to be able to find anything to say.

"Sorry Inigo..." He focused on his food a moment, taking another bite. Once he had swallowed the mouthful he blinked at them both again. "Um... So how did you two meet?"

Inigo's pointing hand falls down to the table with almost comedic perfect timing, right after Yuki says it's rude to point at other people. Guess who's totally and utterly whipped? This guy over here. Yuki didn't even have to full on scold him, considering he said it so gently, and yet Inigo listens instantly.

Although he is pouting a little. Just for a second. Especially in the face of that smugness. Thankfully it seems like his plan kind of worked, at least..?

He could add a part 2 to that plan though. By not being the one to answer a question for once. "Yeah, Yuki, how did we meet?"

Inigo totally knows, of course. But this is his plan to make his boyfriend be the one who has to explain. He even quickly shoves food into his mouth right after asking that, as if to say he can't explain, he's got his mouth full!

Looking up from his plate, Yuki hadn't realized that he would be the one put on the spot to answer the question. Considering Taiki had specifically directed the question at Inigo, it made a pair of gray eyes look at the boy who was busy shoving food in his mouth.

So he sighed.

"Apparently Inigo is eating so I'll answer. We met on the train, but it was on the train platform, awhile back. We were both new, and Inigo was joking about ghosts." It really wasn't funny at the time." He took a sip of his juice and turned back to Taiki.

"I don't know what happened, but I seemed to have lost track of him. And the next thing I knew, I was agreeing to learn how to wield a sword from him."

Taiki's eyes flicker between them, seing how Inigo reacts so quickly to what Yuki says and yet also makes him answer the question.

He can at least sort of empathise with part of the story. Losing track of Inigo and having Inigo suddenly being a friend sounded just like Inigo.

Even if the reminder that Inigo was a warrior, who wielded a sword and taught others to do that same made him uncomfortable. He hides it though, he isn't going to judge either of them.

He just nods.

Inigo looks so pleased when Yuki actually does answer. Partially since he's glad the other is going along with his shenanigans, no matter that it's slightly exasperated, and also just since it's nice to hear Yuki recount the story. It's like seeing himself through the other's eyes.

Even the mention of him not being funny doesn't seem to make the look on his face fade in the slightest.

"And agreeing to be friends with me!"

That's so much more important than the sword thing to Inigo. Yes, sure, he knows how to fight. He's glad he knows that. But there's nothing more important to him than his bonds with other people.

"Honestly, putting it like that kind of makes it sound like I somehow forced you two into becoming friends with me." Not that it's entirely wrong, considering he's the much more outgoing one between the three of them here. Someone had to pull this friendship carriage to get it moving. And it was worth it to have an incredible friend and a perfect boyfriend in the end.

Gray eyes lifted to look at Inigo when he said the friends part. Somehow Yuki had the feeling that they would've been friends at the warrior's insistence no matter what he said. But instead of being annoyed about it, Yuki was grateful. Sometimes the other reminded him strongly of Manabe which he would only quickly admit to himself and that was it. But really there were parts of Haru in him too. His kindness reminded Yuki of Miss Honda in parts and yes even Machi too.

So there was a smile at the 'forced friends' comment and he didn't say anything else about it. Instead he decided to try and change the subject.

"Did I leave anything out?"

Taiki just shook his head, he had definitely not been forced into friendship with Inigo. It had just happened. He hadn't met anyone quite like Inigo before and honestly the idea that someone like him would give Taiki the time of day is still shocking.

He continued watching them silently, eating again slowly.

He shakes his head.

"I don't think so."

Nothing important, anyway. And then there's the fact that Taiki already knows all about how Yuki and Inigo got together as well, but he's definitely keeping the fact that he asked about half the train about that time they danced together to himself..

"I really wish I could've somehow introduced you guys to the rest of my friends though. The ones from back home." If not just since he's clearly of the opinion that both Yuki and Taiki could always use more friends. "Don't get me wrong, they're a bunch of weirdos. But they're good weirdos."

Yuki waited for Taiki to say something but he hadn't so he wasn't about to force the other to talk. But then Inigo piped up and then spoke about the friends he had. This had him become quiet and mentally review the limited information that had regarding them.

He mulled and turned it over and over in his mind until he was pretty sure the other would want him to say something. Lifting the silvery head a little, he nodded.

"There's still plenty of time for the train to go find them and bring them here."

"I'm sorry you are apart from them." Taiki said softly. He had people he missed as well, but he was used to being alone.

And he had his king here. He would feel a lot differently about being here if Lord Gyousou wasn't here.

He nodded at Yuki's words, it might be that Inigo's friends would turn up. It seemed random who the train would bring.

Inigo gives Taiki a smile, as if to non-verbally tell him 'don't worry about it'. He's been here without his friends for months now. Back home he went even longer than that without them when they got seperated after going to the past. He'll be fine. He has to be fine.

Yuki's statement has him thinking for a moment though. "You think?"

He guesses Yuki is right. It seems totally random who shows up. But it just feels that if none of them have shown up already by now, none of them ever will, though that's a thought he keeps to himself.

"In that case you guys have to promise to not tell them any embarrassing stories about me on the train."

"I really don't see why not." Yuki replied after taking a sip of his drink. He was about to say something else when he simply changed his mind. "Do you think they won't show up for some reason?"

This had him thinking unpleasantly of all that the train could be bringing aboard for him. It wasn't like he wanted to be here as the only Sohma but the Cat..depending on his time frame would present a challenge and may show a side of himself he'd really rather Inigo not see. But if the disagreeable 'Carrots' came along and was the same time frame, they would at least be able to tolerate each other.

To the last, there was only a smile and the slightest inclination of the silvery head at the promise.

"I wouldn't have any embarrassing stories to tell." Taiki replied softly but then fell silent as Yuki asked his question.

He had no idea how these things worked. It was strange that not only was Lord Gyousou the only person he knew, but they were the only people from their own world, indeed from any world that seemed to work like theirs.

Yet he had met a few people who came from Earth. It was strange and he had no idea how such things were decided.

Oh, don't worry about that, Taiki. You'll have plenty of embarrassing stories to share about Inigo, it's only a matter of time.. He creates these embarrassing stories all by himself with his dumbass actions!

For now he seems distracted by Yuki's question though. It's a good thing the topic has pulled his inner walls up a bit more - it keeps him from choking on his food or drink the moment Yuki makes that suggestion, as if he's seen right through him. Instead Inigo calmly smiles, like nothing's up. He's practiced this smile for years and years, he's an expert by now.

"I mean, I don't think they won't show up necessarily.. It's just a little odd that I've been here for all this time and yet I'm still the only one from my world, right? It makes it seem like the train either is taking its sweet time or thinks I'm the only worthwhile candidate from my world."

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(closed) and dispatches from the back of my mind

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