Chapter Text
1
Throwing the bag of popcorn in the microwave, Kotetsu grabbed the remote controller and turned the television on. He knew the show where Barnaby was being interviewed already started but he still took his time pulling out a glass and filling it with grape juice. He had promised Barnaby a while ago to cut back on alcohol. Once the microwave beeped, he grabbed the hot bag of buttery snack and his glass and sat on the couch comfortably.
Two weeks ago Barnaby was contacted by the director of a show about some host that interviews celebrities and other people about their personal life, struggles, overcomings, and whatever. Apparently she was very famous for it or something. He was asked if he would like to appear in the show and talk about what happened with his parents and also about the whole deal with Maverick and maybe open up about his private life with the citizens of Sternbild and the rest of the world since it was national television.
What Kotetsu didn’t expect was for his young partner to accept the offer and fly to the other side of the country three days ago in order to get ready for the interview.
Grabbing some popcorn and shoving it in his mouth, Kotetsu turned the volume up once the advertisement was over.
Barnaby was already sitting in a pretty comfortable looking chair. The room where they were in seemed to be very cozy looking, and the window behind them showed the beautiful, blue sea in the background. The blond boy looked dashing in a white tee and loose white slacks. His partner seemed comfortable, but Kotetsu knew otherwise. He knew how touchy the subject was to Barnaby, thus him being surprised his partner sitting in that room.
“So Barnaby, you were telling us about Maverick and how he manipulated your memories. How did that make you feel?” The host lady asked in a very gentle voice, Kotetsu noted.
“I felt violated.” His partner looked down, his pretty and long eyelashes shadowing his eyes.
“Imagine if someone comes to your house and takes away your most precious possession. Maybe some earrings your late mother gave you. You know where you left them, yet you look and you look and you can’t find them. Later, after many years of looking desperately for those earrings that mean so much to you, you find out someone walked into your home, grabbed those earrings and not only did they take them, they destroyed them, so there is no way for you to have them back. You know how they looked like, how they felt, but you can’t have them back.”
The host nodded and Kotetsu put the glass of juice back on the coffee table after getting a sip. It was weird listening to Barnaby explain his feelings to a stranger, and it gave him shivers thinking he wasn’t next to the blond supporting him.
“How are you coping with all of this? Have you gotten professional help?”
Barnaby remained silent for a minute, probably trying to remember what he was going to say. The blond reassured Kotetsu the answers were premeditated and thus he was not going to get asked something he didn’t want to answer.
“I have not looked into getting professional help, I doubt many, if any, out there have had their memories altered by a Next. There is probably limited help I can get.”
“I see, you’re right, there are not many Nexts out there. Let alone mind controlling Nexts. But there is always help out there to coping with other elements of what happened to you.”
“I think I could be doing better coping with what happened, but the Heroes have helped me by being good friends. My partner Tiger has been exceptionally helpful now that I’m at his side again.” His lips formed a small smile and Kotetsu felt his face get hot. He knows the blond deep down likes him even though he always gets the short end of the stick, but hearing him say such nice thing flatters him.
“So you’re saying Tiger didn’t help on the year you two took off?”
Shaking his head, the blond curls bounced comically.
“Even though I wasn’t aware of what I was doing, I hurt him physically and emotionally when Maverick framed him for my parents’ deaths. In the year I took off, I felt terribly guilty of what I did even if Tiger had forgiven me long before. Actually, he never really blamed me for what happened, but the guilt was too much for me.”
“Tiger sounds like a great man-”
“He is. He is amazing; always looking out for everyone and making sure to put you before himself. He is so selfless and has a big heart. I look up to him, he is my best friend and the most precious person I have left in this world.”
“You seem to be very fond of him.”
“Yes, I’m the luckiest man in the world. I don’t know what I would do without him.”
Kotetsu was now on his feet looking intently at the television. Did he hear right? Did his partner just say all those things about him? Rubbing his neck, Kotetsu flopped on the couch and blushed even more. Never in his life he would’ve thought his partner had such amazing things to say about him.
The show went on with more details about how he felt not that it was all over and what he was planning on doing with himself. Barnaby explained that having much free time being in the Second League would let him explore his likes and maybe come up with new hobbies. He assured the host that even though what happened was a tragedy to him, he was going to overcome it and keep on with his life; there was plenty of things to catch up to.
“Well, it has come to the end and I’m very happy to have had you here. I know it’s difficult to talk about things openly sometimes, but I’m glad you gave us a chance and welcomed us into your private life. I have one more question to ask you, and this one was chosen by the viewers throughout the two hours we were talking.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll answer one last question.” Barnaby smiled and Kotetsu could tell he was relieved the show was over.
“Is there any lucky girl out there you’re interested in?”
The blond blinked at the host not knowing what to say but kept the perfected smile he always gave in television.
“No lucky girl.” The host laughed and gave a closing statement before the scene fading off into credits.
The brunet rubbed his face and looked at his watch; eleven o’clock. He felt so tired it was probably best to go to bed. He put the now empty bowl and glass in the sink and retired to his room in which he threw himself on the bed without changing out of his clothes.
His face still felt hot from what his partner said on national television, and he couldn’t help smiling at the thought of the blond. He really could be very cute sometimes.