madimpossibledreamer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
madimpossibledreamer) wrote2023-03-02 08:10 pm
madimpossibledreamer) wrote2023-03-02 08:10 pm
Entry tags:
For Once, Your Way
Main Points:
Persona 2/Persona 4 crossover
Chapter Summary: Tatsuya and Katsuya actually manage to have a civil conversation. Both of them are surprised about this.
Word Count: 550
Rating: gen
His brother hesitates, then says simply, “…I’ve been taking motorcycle lessons.”
“…” On instinct, Tatsuya retrieves the lighter and flicks it, at a complete loss for words. Katsuya has never approved of the motorcycle, which is part of why he likes it so much. It’s an escape, the only time he’s free, and if Katsuya is merely going to disapprove of every life choice and personality trait and his existence, he might as well go for broke. Is he talking to Katsuya’s Shadow, perhaps? What the actual hell?
“I wanted to understand you a little better, and I thought this could be a start.” He sounds perfectly calm, perfectly perfect, but now that he’s paying attention, Tatsuya realizes that Katsuya’s anxious, too.
“Of course, I will probably be issued a police motorcycle, and thus it aids in my work.” He actually chuckles, and Tatsuya realizes with shock that he can’t remember the last time he heard his brother laugh. It might have been before the fire, honestly, which is a little unfair when he thinks about it, that his brother has as much trauma as Maya when fire and the shrine don’t even faze him. Then again, self-preservation hasn’t really been a motivation recently, so perhaps the real answer is that there’s something wrong with Tatsuya—like that’s any surprise.
“But I’d like it if we could ride together sometime.” Tatsuya does not need to be present or be in a video call to picture the face Katsuya’s making, the one that says he wants to hide his face in his hands because he’s convinced he’s said something ridiculous, undignified, and yet wants to glare you into not commenting or even thinking about his words.
Tatsuya realizes he’s smiling when he laughs. Both of those actions feel unfamiliar for him, too. “You think you could keep up with me, Katsu-chan?”
He hears his brother swallow the desire to answer competitively and answer honestly. “Honestly, no, given the speed I drive, but that’s never stopped me from trying before, Tatsu-chan.” They’re both aware the discussion isn’t just about motorcycles anymore, and honestly it’s the best conversation they’ve had in years.
Tatsuya, realizes that he’s simply holding the lighter in his hand aimlessly, having forgotten the need to open and close the lid to get through an awkward conversation, and abruptly pockets it again. “I’d like that.”
“I hope to hear from you soon,” Katsuya ends the call abruptly, probably out of a desire not to mess this up now that he’s gotten a single win (now that Tatsuya has identified his older brother’s anxiety, it’s a concept he’s all too familiar with), but for once Tatsuya considers the possibility as an actual possibility rather than a distant wish.
Persona 2/Persona 4 crossover
Chapter Summary: Tatsuya and Katsuya actually manage to have a civil conversation. Both of them are surprised about this.
Word Count: 550
Rating: gen
Contrary to their usual interactions, Katsuya hasn’t bothered to get to the point of the call, only asking meaningless questions about if he’s enjoying the inn and how it feels seeing Jun again. Tatsuya will answer the former with his usual distant words but he’s not getting near the latter. It’s making him nervous, because whatever Katsuya has to say must be something awful if even he can’t be blunt like he usually is. “Katsu. Why did you call.” He doesn’t bother phrasing it as a question or softening it in any way.
His brother hesitates, then says simply, “…I’ve been taking motorcycle lessons.”
“…” On instinct, Tatsuya retrieves the lighter and flicks it, at a complete loss for words. Katsuya has never approved of the motorcycle, which is part of why he likes it so much. It’s an escape, the only time he’s free, and if Katsuya is merely going to disapprove of every life choice and personality trait and his existence, he might as well go for broke. Is he talking to Katsuya’s Shadow, perhaps? What the actual hell?
“I wanted to understand you a little better, and I thought this could be a start.” He sounds perfectly calm, perfectly perfect, but now that he’s paying attention, Tatsuya realizes that Katsuya’s anxious, too.
“Of course, I will probably be issued a police motorcycle, and thus it aids in my work.” He actually chuckles, and Tatsuya realizes with shock that he can’t remember the last time he heard his brother laugh. It might have been before the fire, honestly, which is a little unfair when he thinks about it, that his brother has as much trauma as Maya when fire and the shrine don’t even faze him. Then again, self-preservation hasn’t really been a motivation recently, so perhaps the real answer is that there’s something wrong with Tatsuya—like that’s any surprise.
“But I’d like it if we could ride together sometime.” Tatsuya does not need to be present or be in a video call to picture the face Katsuya’s making, the one that says he wants to hide his face in his hands because he’s convinced he’s said something ridiculous, undignified, and yet wants to glare you into not commenting or even thinking about his words.
Tatsuya realizes he’s smiling when he laughs. Both of those actions feel unfamiliar for him, too. “You think you could keep up with me, Katsu-chan?”
He hears his brother swallow the desire to answer competitively and answer honestly. “Honestly, no, given the speed I drive, but that’s never stopped me from trying before, Tatsu-chan.” They’re both aware the discussion isn’t just about motorcycles anymore, and honestly it’s the best conversation they’ve had in years.
Tatsuya, realizes that he’s simply holding the lighter in his hand aimlessly, having forgotten the need to open and close the lid to get through an awkward conversation, and abruptly pockets it again. “I’d like that.”
“I hope to hear from you soon,” Katsuya ends the call abruptly, probably out of a desire not to mess this up now that he’s gotten a single win (now that Tatsuya has identified his older brother’s anxiety, it’s a concept he’s all too familiar with), but for once Tatsuya considers the possibility as an actual possibility rather than a distant wish.