Work Text:
The Fractured Bear Whole
January 20, 2012
The arduous school day felt extra-long to a tired and expectant Yu Narukami, waiting to come home to his cousin Nanako, freshly recovered and discharged from the hospital. As much as he enjoyed lunch with his friends, he'd missed his family and the comforting high spirits of Nanako and Dojima. A return to the norm he'd grown used to in Inaba was more than welcome.
Walking home, the neighborhood streets were uncharacteristically empty. Heavy snowfall had grazed the streets overnight, so the cats that'd usually come to greet him were absent. Without the little livelihood Inaba got from its residents, Yu could really feel the small-town loneliness. As much as he'd loved his stay, the eerie quiet of the countryside is something he'd never gotten used to, and certainly the one thing he wouldn't miss.
Making his way through the glazed-over gravel, Yu reached for the knob of the Dojima residence. A slight smile crept on his face; Enough about the atmosphere! He was just excited to see Nanako again. But before he could unlock the door, it flung open unexpectedly, causing Yu to topple onto the floor…
…?
"WELCOME HOME!!"
Yu hadn't fallen onto the hardwood floor, but rather into the soft, welcoming arms of his favorite bear, Teddie.
Teddie usually lived with Yosuke, but while the Dojimas were gone, he took it upon himself to look over the house and to keep Yu company. Unlike Yosuke, Yu loved Teddie's presence, and never found him to be overbearing or too annoying. He was just happy so long as Teddie was. Over the empty weeks alone with Teddie, the two had grown quite close.
"Hi Teddie!"
Yu poked his head over Teddie's arms to look for Nanako, but the little bear just turned Yu's face back to look at his.
"Sensei? Sensei… Oh how I've waited for this moment! I can't bear to be away from you… I feel my heart being swept away. Oh, dear sensei, won't you give me a kiss?"
Well, Yu thought, This is is an unexpected surprise.
Looking into Teddie's innocent blue eyes, he couldn't help but give another smile.
"Dear sensei?"
"Oh, pretty please? Enough with the games. My heart can't take it any longer!"
Surely it wouldn't be unfaithful if he kissed another man? Teddie was a bit of a gossip, but certainly it'd sound like nothing more than an embellished story coming from him. It's not like Yu was beyond cheating in the first place, though none of his girlfriends were aware. The group hardly ever talked about interpersonal relationships, anyways.
"If you insist," Yu whispered, and leaned in to give Teddie his long-awaited kiss.
"Oh, sensei… You're so bold… It feels like a dream…"
…
"GAH! WAIT A MINUTE!"
Before they could seal the homosexual deal (so to speak), Teddie jumped back, pushing Yu back to the door frame.
Yu stifled back laughter, a bit relieved by Teddie's silly nature relieving the tension.
"So Teddie, are Nanako and Dojima-san home yet?"
Teddie just as quickly regained his composure to answer his sensei's question.
"I dunno! I thought at first they were at the door rather than you. Maybe they're coming back at night?"
"Let's call them, just to be sure."
After a tedious call to the hospital, Yu was informed Nanako's discharge was delayed another day or so. While it certainly wasn't the news he'd hoped for, he complied. At least Teddie was with him.
"They won't be home for a few days."
"Whaaat??? Cruel is the fate of the patient bear…"
"Speak your truth, Teddie."
Yu defeatedly walked towards the couch, instinctively reaching for the TV remote. However, before he could so much as sit, he was once again interrupted by the weak force of Teddie pulling on his arm.
"Let's do something!"
Yu chuckled in response. Was the unorthodox greeting not enough? He never knew what to expect from Teddie.
"Easy, Teddie. I was gonna put on some more movies. Are you okay with that?
"NO! Sensei, let's play!"
"Okay. What game?"
Teddie rubbed his hands together mischievously, before once again walking up dangerously close to Yu.
"It's a new game called "Answer Teddie's questions!"
Well, here's hoping Teddie's questions aren't anything too outlandish.
"Sure. What do you wanna ask, Ted? Hit me."
Yu regret saying that, because Teddie actually hit him before asking his question, that proved to be equally as ridiculous.
"What's a 'glomp'?"
Wherever this was going could certainly not be good.
"Umm… Where did you hear that word?"
"Yosuke! It's something weird, isn't it? That's why you hesitate?"
Yu laughed a bit, this time in attempt to ease his own apprehension. Teddie spoke fluently, but he was still constantly learning about different kinds of casual lingo. Yu then decided it's only fair to keep Teddie on the same page as everyone else.
"Do you mind if I hug you again?"
Teddie blushed, and practically jumped into Yu's arms.
"Oh, of course not! So long as you answer my question."
Yu held Teddie tightly, the way he'd held any of the other girls in the investigation team. The boy's frame was small and feminine enough that, for a split second, Yu actually couldn't tell the difference.
"Well, it's basically this. The way you jumped into my arms, too. All of that. It's essentially an intimate hug."
Teddie laughed, before squeezing Yu back tighter than he'd expect.
"I love glomping my sensei!"
"Eugh… Um, maybe don't say that in public, Teddie."
Teddie just laughed more in response, and made no effort to move or loosen his grip. At this point, Yu was straining his voice just to speak.
"Too tight, man…"
Yu gave Teddie a slight push to break off the hug. At once, Teddie sheepishly loosened his grip, uncharacteristically averting glances. Yu couldn't tell if he was actually nervous or if this was another act.
"I didn't think you'd be so strong," Yu remarked.
Teddie's eyes just as quickly met his once more. It was definitely a bit.
"It's my bear strength! Don't underestimate me just because my human complexion is akin to that of a porcelain doll!"
"Fair enough. Just give me some breathing room next time."
The blonde boy smiled at the implication of a next time.
"Well, my questions aren't over! And there's nowhere to go but up!"
"I'm ready for whatever you have planned."
"How many girls have glomped you?"
Yu very clearly found that question to be more invasive than the last.
"I, uh… No hesitation, huh?"
Teddie just smiled in response.
"Well, hugging isn't necessarily romantic, right? So it doesn't matter."
"In other words: A lot! You're a real ladies' man, huh sensei? Teach me how! Teach me how!"
Yu wanted to shift the conversation fast before it got any weirder. He didn't want Teddie thinking differently of him.
But for some reason, he couldn't.
"Okay, Teddie… I guess this still counts as the game. What do you want me to teach you?"
Teddie once more rubbed his hands together. He walked towards the couch and sat, patting for Yu to sit next to him.
"Pretend I'm a beautiful lady! I'm sure it'll be easy, because I already look like one! What's your first move?"
"Ted, if I'm gonna do this, I need you to comply. Just answer honestly, okay? No need to play a character."
"How bold! Okay, sensei. I'll let you sweep me off my feet!"
Yu took a deep breath and put on his suave face. He had a way with the ladies that was strikingly simple, and he'd always wondered if it'd work the same on guys. Not that he was gay, but rather he was curious. Teddie was right, too: He was quite noticeably attractive. Yu stood back up to talk face-to-face with the bear. He figured his regular technique of prolonged conversation would work equally as well.
"Hi, Ted. What are you doing?"
Teddie giggled.
"Waiting for you to win me over! You know this!"
Yu smiled at Teddie's graven innocence.
"Well… What can I do to help you with that?"
"Score with me!!!"
…
"Let's go a little slower."
"Can I feel your pecs?"
Yu actually felt a faint sweat begin to form on his face, but he quickly shook it off to maintain his usual stoicism. How far was Teddie planning to go?
"Sure thing."
Teddie then got up and pushed Yu back onto the couch, unbuttoning his shirt to touch his chest. Yu was used to the eccentricity of Teddie, but he still never knew what to expect from the man. He figured he and Teddie were close enough that this kind of thing wouldn't be weird anymore…
Or so he told himself…
"Your chest is so toned, Sensei! How many sit-ups did you do to get a body like this?"
"It's not really a one-time thing. I actually used to be pretty skinny, but you've known me long enough that all the fighting in the TV world has shaped my muscles."
"Hm? From fighting? Then why don't I look like that?"
Yu actually considered that question for a bit. There's no doubt that Teddie is a strong fighter, but his human form is very small. Considering the fact that Teddie wasn't human to begin with, he wondered if the bear's body functioned like a normal human's or was purely cosmetic.
"I actually don't know the answer to that one," Yu admitted. "Did you grow, like… Functioning muscles? I know you can eat, but…"
Teddie seemed annoyed at Yu's response, and left his chest to sit across from him on the couch.
"Of course I can eat! My human body can do anything my bear form can do!"
From that response, Yu figured that Teddie's human form wasn't actually fully-functional the way normal people's were.
"You could probably get muscles, if you wanted to grow them," Yu stated, "Using whatever method you did to turn human in the first place. But I don't think your body would change by conventional means."
A slight moment of awkward silence passed.
"I dunno how to score."
Another unexpected response.
"Is this still part of the lesson, or…?"
"No, sensei. I don't think I'll ever have your womanly charm."
Teddie was still messing around with wordplay, so Yu decided to let that one slide.
"Why do you say that?"
Teddie frowned, defeatedly looking towards him.
"My body… If I can't even grow naturally, then it definitely can't do those kind of things, can it?"
Alarms were firing off in Yu's head. What in God's name has Yosuke done to him?
"Erm… That's your own business, Ted. If you wanted to find that out, I really don't think I'm the guy you want."
Teddie laughed half-heartedly in response.
"Don't worry, Sensei. I'm well-aware what that implies! But I don't think the body I grew is capable of that… Actually, I'm pretty much like a doll!"
…
“Really?”
Yu was admittedly a bit shocked. The way Teddie acted around girls all the time, he thought for sure he created his human body for all purposes. But thinking back on it, unless Teddie saw anything from Kanji’s dungeon, it’s not like he’d understand how biological males work in the first place.
“Girls want a guy that can score, right? I feel like half a bear…”
“Well, not necessarily, Teddie. There are tons of people that would find your companionship enough. You shouldn’t feel pressured to do anything you don’t want to.”
“Sensei…”
Yu’s comforting words made Teddie begin to tear up. He scooted across the couch to once again touch Yu, this time resting his head on the man’s shoulder. Yu's almost began to smile, but what Teddie said next quickly ruined the moment.
"But you've scored before, right?"
This conversation had more twists than a fucking churro. Yu was really just expecting a calm day with Nanako; None of whatever this was.
"I mean… Yes, Teddie, I've been around…"
"Tell me all about it!"
"No."
Another moment of silence.
"Look, Ted… Sex is something that—"
"S-E-X?!"
Teddie jumped up, and Yu began to visibly panic. He couldn't hide it this time.
"Um, that's what you meant right??"
"Yes, but I didn't expect you to SAY IT!"
Yu relaxed his joints. At least he was on track with the conversation.
Thank GOD Nanako isn't home today, he thought.
"It doesn't have to be a foreign word. I mean… In everyday conversation, and in public, and any place with decency it should be… But when it's just us it's okay."
"Hmm… Okay! You're the sex master!
"Please don't call me that,"
"I'm your sex kitten!"
"Go back to the TV world."
They both laughed in unison, but the tension remained in the air.
"Can you teach me how to sex?"
Yu grimaced.
"Certainly not, Teddie."
"Then can you tell me how it works?"
Yu applauded his bluntness, but was reluctant to answer Teddie's questions all the same.
"It's like Twister… But instead of circles, it's sexuality, and instead of different colors, it's different positions…"
…
"Look, sex is never something you should force in any situation." Yu felt a bit awkward, but carried on with his explanation. "Like I said, there are people that live perfectly fulfilling lives without ever having it. Do you understand?"
Teddie slowly began to nod, placing his hand below his chin as if to ponder.
"Well, I don't really care about all that stuff. I just want to eat snacks and smooch cuties!"
Yu smiled.
"Then you never need to go anywhere further from there."
Teddie grinned in return, and gave Yu another hug.
"Yay! Sensei, let's eat snacks and makeout! I'll put on my dress and everything!"
"Er… Makeout? Hold on Ted, let's slow down here…"
Teddie jumped on Yu for the third time and began kissing him up and down. Yu laughed, trying to push Teddie off, but ultimately failing due to his own delight in the moment.
"Would you ever marry a girl you couldn't physically score with?"
Yu ruffled Teddie's hair as he was granted more little kisses.
"Ladies are more than their bodies."
Teddie straddled Yu and comically threw his hands in the air.
"Yippee! Let's get married and have lots of not sex!"
Yu laughed harder, pressing his forehead against Teddie's.
"One step at a time, Teddie."
In that moment, the two leaned forward to kiss (for real this time). Both their hearts skipped a beat, feeling something new and soon to be deeply confusing awaken in them.
But in that moment, none of it mattered. Teddie was uncovering his very obvious crush on Yu, and Yu was feeling something none of his girlfriends gave. Maybe it was love… Or maybe it was a homosexual experience. Their first kiss quickly turned into something more passionate, more intimate… But also something completely asexual. Regardless, the two were preoccupied when the doorbell rung.
Yu's shirt was still unbuttoned.
The doorknob turned.
They were still on the living room couch.
The front door opened.
"Hey, we're back! I appealed for an early discharge for Nanako, and—"
Dojima returned home with his newly recovered daughter to find his nephew in the throws of gay passion. Nanako was the first to break the silence.
"Wow! What are you guys playing?"
"GAH! DOJIMA-SAN! We were um, just…"
Dojima just as quickly covered Nanako's eyes and slammed the door shut.
It was likely Nanako's therapy would go beyond physical.
"Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." -Colossians 3:14