ROCKY

It obviously hasn't been a good day for you, but this was just the cherry on top.

Waking up in a hospital with hundreds of bruises and one big gash across your torso wasn't exactly your definition of a good time. You don't even remember how it happened.

In fact, you barely even remember what you did that day. You were walking to the mall? Maybe? It was clearly all a blur.

When he approached you, you almost thought you were hallucinating from all the medication the hospital decided to give you for the pain.

He was almost glowing in the hospital light, like he belonged there like some type of ghost whose soul is trapped inside the building.

"Those cookies aren't very good anyways." Were the words his naturally curved mouth spoke.

Something was off about him, you couldn't tell what it was though. Maybe it was his body language; how his eyes couldn't leave your face and studied your every move. Or maybe the way he spoke; so nonchalant but hard to tell where his social skills lied.

"I've been craving them since I woke up. But, obviously now--It doesn't really matter." You were already irritated, it was clear in your voice when you spoke. You weren't exactly in the mood to make friends.

His eyes looked down, which made yours follow along to the yellow bag that rested in his hand. He reached out to you, letting you see the cookies that sat inside.

"You can have one, if you want." He offered, his eyes watching your face once more.

You couldn't exactly read him, and it was clear that it was his persona. A man who wants to be known as an unsolved mystery. A closed box that couldn't be opened by anyone.

But in this Cheshire man's mind, he felt conflicted; confused. He swore he knew you from somewhere, but he wouldn't dare ask. He'd rather find out from his own mind. He always had a thing for puzzles, but this one felt more complicated than anything he's ever experienced.

You sighed, but with a shrug you dipped your hand into the bag to grab a single cookie. You brought it to your mouth with a crunch and your rating of the snack was written all over your face, and at the same time it almost felt familiar.

He had a good eye, or you guess taste for good snacks. You were almost surprised you've never tried it before, you've always seen it in other places.

"It's good, isn't it?" He raised a brow, a small grin showing on his face.

"Mhm, can I have another one?" You responded mid chew.

He couldn't hold back the soft chuckle as he handed the bag to you, watching as you dove straight in with no questions asked.

"I'm Chishiya, by the way." Chishiya finally introduced himself with his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Y/n." You replied, mouth full of cookies.

He nodded at the sound of your name. It tried to click in his mind, and when it did--it felt like he had just been given some stranger's memories.

He knew now, the borderlands and the person he was stuck with--merely because they were almost smarter than he was. For a second he was confused, concerned and almost convinced he was remembering an old dream.

It wouldn't be the first time he mistook a dream for reality, but he knew this time was different. In dreams there were no names or faces, but your face, the person standing in front of him wasn't just a dream. And nor were the memories he continued to remember.

"Do you... know me?" He asked, his tone unsure as if he was asking a foreign question.

You looked at him with a confused stare, looking him up and down and then studying his face--but none of it clicked.

"No, I don't think so." You shook your head, handing him the bag just for there to only be one left inside.

You gave an apologetic smile when he took it back, but somehow he didn't mind. Mostly because he had bigger things to think about.

Like how the person he told he loved doesn't remember him. It was almost funny when he thought about it that way, but it was honestly sad.

But when he thought about it another way, like how he may have a second chance with you. It felt different, like the god whom he never really believed in decided to grant him the good karma he wasn't so sure he deserved.

He couldn't care less though, the only thing he wanted from his experience in the borderlands was a second chance; and now he has it.

"Shouldn't you be resting? Your injuries seem worse than others." Chishiya tried to keep the conversation, although it almost sounded like he was trying to end it.

You shook your head, "Mm-mm. Doctor said to walk around, to stretch my legs." You explained, crossing your arms to shield yourself from the cold breeze of the hospital.

"Want to take a walk then? We can go outside, I know you aren't exactly fond of hospitals." He suggested, crushing the bag in his hand to stuff inside his pocket.

You stopped for a second, furrowing your brows and opening your mouth. "Uh--sure. But, how did you know that?" Your mouth shaped into a smile because it genuinely freaked you out a bit. He made it sound as if he knew you forever.

"Lucky guess." His response was quick as he turned and began walking. You hesitated at first, but soon followed after him as he passed a girl who pushed an older woman in a wheelchair and an older man following a bit behind them.

Maybe now was a good time to admit you felt like you had seen him before as well. But you couldn't think of where, so you convinced yourself you were crazy.

But what wasn't crazy, was thinking you had a chance with this Cheshire man. He made you comfortable in a way you couldn't understand, and weren't exactly sure if you wanted to.

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That was all interrupted by the loud banging of the front door. Your first thought was to ignore it; it was in the middle of the night and you couldn't be bothered.

But it didn't just stop the first time, it happened again, and once more before you finally--and annoyingly, got up from bed to see who could be so inconsiderate.

When you opened your door, you fully expected it to be some stranger, or someone informing you of some terrible news that was so important that it couldn't wait until morning.

You definitely didn't expect it to be Chishiya.

The white haired man standing outside your door, his hair disheveled and his dark eye bags visible under the moonlight. It wasn't just out of character for him to be standing outside your door, but you could smell the stench on his clothing; he was drunk.

"Chishiya?" Your voice was soft from the past action of your interrupted sleep, rubbing your eye with the back of your hand as you tried to decipher what was in front of you.

"Can I come in?" Chishiya muttered with a broken tone, his gaze never meeting your eyes as he stood there; unsure of what to do with himself.

"Uh--i guess..." You replied, taking a step to the side as a confused look found its way onto your face. "What are you doing here?" You asked as you watched him walk past you, his unsteady balance becoming obvious with each step.

"I don't usually drink..." He whispered to himself, his palms pressing into his eyes as if he was trying to pop them back into his skull. Doing anything to get this feeling he had to go away.

"Yeah, I know. You never saw a point in it, at least--that's what you told me." You shrugged, shutting the door and locking it behind him. He won't be able to bring himself home walking around like that..

"I don't!" Chishiya's voice was far more stern when he spoke, his head turned towards you as he did so. He didn't have much time to react to himself, just standing there like some type of horror movie.

"Okay.." You nodded, trying your best to keep a soft tone. "Everything okay?" You finally asked, taking small steps towards him. You felt like you were walking on eggshells. You've never seen him drunk, hell--you don't even think he's ever been drunk. You had no idea how he'd act in this state, and you were almost afraid to find out.

"No, everything's not okay. You think I'd be drunk if they were?" His words were sharp, digging into every spot his mouth could hold.

"You're right." You nodded, stopping a foot in front of him. "What's not okay, Shuntaro?" Your words came out in a whisper this time, you wanted him to feel more comfortable. Switching his name was a way of telling him that he could be, at least you hoped that's how he'd take it.

"I don't want to be drunk anymore." He groaned, his eyes moved away from you to aim behind your body. Spotting the couch under the dim light that casted from behind the curtains.

He didn't hesitate to walk past you and towards the comfortable couch that was calling his name.

"Chi--Shuntaro." You called out for him, not doing much as he sat down but quickly changed positions to spread his body across it.

You honestly felt bad for Chishiya. It must've been really bad if he felt the need to break the promise he had on himself. You almost felt glad that he didn't like being drunk, but you were also afraid if it happened again--he'd come to enjoy it.

"How do I make it go away?" He asked, his tone had completely changed. He sounded sincere, like he truly needed an answer or he'd go more insane than he already has.

You sighed walking towards him, stopping at the head of the couch to look down on him. "Get some rest, you'll probably wake up with an undeniable urge to throw your brains out. Bathroom is down the hall." You tried to be humorous with your words, but it was obvious he wasn't having it.

"I forgot about hangovers." He mumbled, turning his head to face the head of the couch. Like a child finding comfort in the small spaces, that's the only way to describe what pushing yourself into the crevice of the couch felt like.

"Mhm, they're different for everyone. Just go to sleep, you can actually talk to me in the morning." You suggested, grabbing the throw blanket from on top of the couch to lay on top of him.

"I'm serious. You better still be here when I wake up." You whispered, his body having no response as you walked back to your room--soft breathing following the body laid in your living room.

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"Oh my god, Chishiya!" You whispered to him, stopping in your tracks to lean in front of you and grab his jacket to stop him.

"What?" He spoke, not bothering to match your tone.

"It's a baby rabbit!" You smiled wide eyed, bringing your arm out to point in front of you.

When he turned, just a few feet away he could see the tiny rabbit you spoke of. It stood still in the short grass, not bothering to move.

"Hm." He hummed, approving that he could see what you could.

"Isn't it adorable!" You smiled, bending down to see it a bit better.

"I guess." He spoke back with a shrug, shuffling his hands deep into his pockets.

"It's so cute I could squeeze it until it stops breathing." You smiled to yourself, never peeling your eyes away until it hopped away on it's own.

"What did you just say?" Chishiya asked, pinching his brows together.

You stood back up, staring at him with an innocent glint in your eyes as if you didn't just threaten a small helpless bunny.

"What? It's too cute! Don't act like you've never felt that way before." You tilted your head, watching his expression as it stood straight with slight disgust.

"I have. With you, in fact. Except maybe I just want you to stop talking." He shrugged, grinning at his own reply.

Your facial expression quickly changed, offended by his blunt words and watching as he walked off.

Even though his back was turned, he still wore that proud grin you, also, wanted to squeeze out of him.

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CHISHIYA he wouldn't really mind you being quiet. In fact he most prefers it. As long as you show your enjoyment in other ways; like your body language and facial expressions he wouldn't even think twice.

He'd definitely overhear others on the beach about the subject. Maybe a guy bragging about how loud his girl is in bed.

At first he thought it was different for everyone, but he quickly put the two and two together when he could recall the moments you'd stop yourself from even making the slightest noise.

And when he asks you about it, as nonchalant as he is, he still assures you that it shouldn't be embarrassing.

Then he'd start listing off the female anatomy, and the psychological reasonings behind every noise.

NIRAGI was confused at first. You not making much noise definitely bruised his ego, making him think he wasn't good enough for you.

Every time you'd try again you'd notice how he'd try different things. Going faster, harder, and switching between different methods of dirty talk just to get a noise out of you.

He'd definitely urge you to make noise, to tell him just how much you like it. You'd definitely try, but you wouldn't help how embarrassed it made you feel.

He finally has enough and eventually gives up. Giving this entire speech of how 'he just must not be good enough for you'.

You assure him and finally explain why you aren't as loud, causing him to feel like a bigger idiot than he always had been.

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He was far more impulsive than he used to be. He was smarter in the other world, he actually had a little bit of sense.

Why did he have blood on his clothes? Holding that rifle everywhere he went?

He was almost unrecognizable. You weren't sure who you were looking at when you both settled to the beach.

Psychologically, you knew. He needed people to be intimated by him. He refuses to be bullied anymore.

But you know what they say: "The bullied becomes the bully."

It was sad to see him like this. Acting out of line and purely intrusive. He wasn't the same.

Sometimes you wondered if he really was the same, just not masking his true intentions until now. Until there were no consequences.

Distancing yourself was easier than you'd like to admit. You barely spent any time together anymore, but you knew you needed something else to do.

Chishiya asked you before. Asked you to help him to steal the cards, you were close with Niragi after all. He hoped you'd distract him.

You denied at first. You told him it was because you don't think you'd be much help. But now, you think it was because you couldn't betray him. Not yet.

But walking down the hallway with a walkie talkie stuffed in your back pocket, Niragi and the other militants just a few feet away.

If they'd get caught, you'd be afraid of Niragi finding out you were in on it too.

He's far too stupid, now. He wouldn't think you would do that, right?

But you had the first hand view to Chishiya ratting them out. He knew you wouldn't say a word, because if you did, everyone would know you were in on it too.

You were a bit frustrated when Chishiya turned out to be untrustworthy. But not for the reasons you convinced yourself of.

Not because he could hurt the others. Not because he just betrayed everyone to your face.

But because you wanted to see the look in Niragi's eyes when he put the pieces together about you distracting them.

To see the new way Niragi would look at you, betrayed and possibly hurt.

He deserved it after all.

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He could tell you've gained more confidence when you'd stare right back at him and continue the soft movements of your wrist on the notebook you had laid on your lap.

Then it became more frequent, like you'd been following him and knew everywhere he'd be.

At some point he thought he was the one following you.

He couldn't pull away when he saw you again. Up on a balcony with the ability to look at every other beach resident, but every time you looked up--your eyes were on him.

He had given you the nickname 'Stalker' when talking to Kuina about it. And Kuina happened to be the one who put the paranoid thought that you were plotting an evil scheme against him.

Honestly, it could make sense. The constant writing, the more frequent encounters. What else would it be?

Chishiya, the curious cat. Far too curious for his own good the way he made his way back inside the Beach. Fast and large footsteps going towards where he saw you. Hoping he'd catch you before you'd disappear again.

But just with his luck, the chair you once sat in was empty. He took smaller steps to walk deeper inside the balcony, looking down to see your perspective.

Chishiya turned around, eyeing the chair that he wanted to stuff in an evidence bag and get it tested for anything and everything to figure out who you were.

He kneeled down, bringing his hand out to grab onto the black piece that felt like chalk on his fingers.

It was charcoal. Why did you have charcoal?

And as smart as Chishiya was. He now realized every theory he had, was now wrong just by this small piece in his hand.

He stood back up, studying the charcoal under his intimidating gaze as if it would talk to him with words.

You were an artist. At least, that's what it seemed like. Someone plotting on his demise wouldn't be writing a plan in charcoal. But rather draw a picture, like a face they could see daily.

That was his face.

Now he really wanted to find you; more than before. He wanted to ask you if he was right, and then maybe you'd show him your art with a smile.

He thought about that charcoal piece since he had woken up. And he realized maybe he could see the way other people viewed him, outside of his life and onto a piece of paper.

Catching you in the act seemed easy in his mind. He went to the same place every morning, and he'd see you there too. But instead of being on his side of the room, he'd sneak up behind you. Startle you, then help you up before taking that charcoal piece out of his pocket and into your view.

Sometimes he scared himself how easy it was to predict other people's moves, it felt like he had some sort of superpower.

Because that's exactly what happened.

You jumped to the sound of his voice, "Stalking again?" His voice husky, but soft as he spoke with a grin.

"Maybe?" You spoke as if it was question towards him, afraid you had made him uncomfortable.

"Maybe?" His grin grew larger when he quoted your words back to you, bringing out that charcoal piece you left behind.

You put on a shy smile when you saw it, reaching your hand out to grab it before he pulled away.

"It took me a while to find out what you were doing." Chishiya spoke, looking around your body to try and spot that notebook you carried around.

"It's only fair you show me what you were really doing." He cleared his throat after the words left his mouth, his eyes going back to yours to study your expression.

"That's true..." You chuckled, "I guess that is fair." You sighed, taking the notebook out of the satchel that rested on your body.

You handed it to him. You didn't need to show him a certain page, the entire notebook was just filled with him and maybe someone who was standing beside him if you got bored.

He noticed a few of him and Kuina, noticing the perfect strokes of led or charcoal that stained the white pages.

"These are better than I thought they would be." He hummed honestly, slowly flicking through the pages and taking in everything they offered.

"Thanks." You nodded, "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable... Or anything. I'm not good at talking to people. And you're quite satisfying to draw." You explained through a nervous lump in your throat. Your fingers fidgeting with each other as they rested above your thigh.

"I'm not uncomfortable." He shook his head, finally peeling his eyes away to look at yours. "I thought you were trying to kill me at first." He shrugged, looking back down.

"Oh," You nervously laughed, trying to wait patiently for him to hand it back.

"Where'd you learn how to draw?" He asked curiously, finally closing the notebook and handing it back to your shaking hands.

You shrugged, "Just something I taught myself over the years." You explained, stuffing the notebook into your bag.

"If you ever draw me again, you should show me." He wasn't suggesting it, he was hoping it.

You nodded before watching him walk away, only realizing he hadn't given the charcoal piece to you until he was out of sight.

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His silence was what made you realize you had zoned out, moving your eyes to his. "Yeah, sorry." You nodded, trying to get him to continue his story with a soft smile.

"It's okay if you're not interested. I'd rather you tell me then pretend to." He raised a brow.

You shook your head, "No, I am interested. I just day dream a lot. I'm sorry." You tried to explain the best you could with the little words that could form in your mind.

"If you were interested you wouldn't constantly be in another world. It's not a big deal, you don't care." He shrugged, turning his eyes away from you to the side to stare down the large gap between him and the first floor.

You couldn't help but roll your eyes at his idiocy. That wasn't how it worked; at least in your mind. If something catches your attention in your mind rather than what was in front of you, you just couldn't help yourself.

"I do care, Chishiya. And I was interested." Your words were far from convincing when you spoke. You tried your hardest not to look away from him, afraid if you did you'd be in another world again.

"Start from where you left off." You suggested, tilting your head in an attempt to be more inside of his peripheral vision. "Please?" You pleaded in a soft whisper.

Chishiya finally turned his head back to you, his eyes anywhere but yours once he let out a huff of air; his giveaway.

"Fine." He sighed, bringing his eyes to yours.

You smiled at him once he continued his story of the last game, mostly complaints of how stupid players can be.

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