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The thing Tetsuya noticed was how much he touched people in Baku's dream. He knew he was more touchy-feely than most men his age. But... it seemed excessive. It seemed too much.
It seemed like the thing he'd do if he saw Odaka...
His eyes kept slipping to one side. To where Baku addressed Odaka, as if his former partner was there. Odaka was... well, "out of frame" so he couldn't see him, but... Tetsuya ached to see him.
No, he didn't ache to see him.
He ached to apologize.
It was weird how Baku dreamt of things he, personally, wouldn't have been there for. But it was so much weirder that Baku dreamed so accurately about their final meeting, Odaka trying to convince Tetsuya about the Black Cases, and how Tetsuya ignored him. His shame, for all available to see, and for Odaka to remember. Tetsuya wanted Baku to shift the "camera," to show Odaka, so he could...
What?
Bow so deeply his forehead was on the ground as he begged for forgiveness?
Try to get in so he could hold Odaka again?
One hand gently touched Baku's hair while he slept, grounding himself. Baku was here. Asleep, but alive. Just like all the other men he would hug, pat the shoulder of, touch, just touch them, keep them in his life unlike the man he had failed, the man he hadn't believed until it was too late.
When Odaka would get back, he knew what he'd do.
Odaka was getting the biggest hug Tetsuya could ever give him... and then he was never going to let go. It didn't matter how. He just...
He had to make sure Odaka was going to stay this time. That he knew that Tetsuya believed him now. That Tetsuya was going to help him, and wanted him to live, and...
Tetsuya gently clasped Baku's shoulder.
He wasn't going to let the man he cared so deeply for get away a second time.