Title: here, together
Rating: G
Fandom: Buddy Mission Bond
Relationship: Aaron/Luke Williams
Wordcount: 1190
Short summary: Aaron and Luke visit Arana’s orphanage, which has become another important place for Luke.
“They’re here!”
Luke finds himself stumbling backwards as a group of children rush up to him and Aaron, greeting them with unbridled enthusiasm. Logically it shouldn’t come as a surprise to be greeted like this knowing how much the kids here love them as the “heroes” of the team BOND stories, but it still takes Luke’s heart by surprise. He blushes from all the attention as well as the fact that Aaron has to catch him before he falls.
“Where’d you go this time? What did you bring back? I wanna see! Yeah!”
It’s hard to figure out who is saying what. Luke’s head swings back and forth but Aaron expertly deals with this in his usual manner. “You’re all spoiled,” Aaron grumbles, but nevertheless he opens his bag and tosses out small candies for each of the kids that have gathered around. Of course the kids by now know that this gift is also from Luke; after all, someone had to guarantee that the sweets would be delicious and it wasn’t Aaron.
“Welcome back, you two.” Arana appears from the kitchen area, likely informed of their arrival by all the commotion. The children obediently part to let her give Aaron and Luke each a brief hug. She smiles. “Go ahead and rest in the dining area. I’ll make tea.”
Aaron nods and stalks past the kids towards the dining area. The smaller kids can’t help but show the disappointment on their faces even if they don’t make a commotion. Luke wants to sigh too, but for a different reason. He knows that despite liking the kids, Aaron is socially frazzled out after all the small mishaps that occurred while trying to come back to the orphanage.
It just means Luke will work double hard to entertain the kids until the mood is back up. He puts on his brightest smile. “Well, I’m fine. Seeing these cheerful faces perked me right back up!”
Arana gives him a pointed look. “You sure?”
Luke nods to Arana before crouching down. The kids gather closer to him. “Hey, want to hear a story?”
“Do we have to keep it secret from Aaron?” one of the boys asks immediately.
Luke laughs. “Well, we’ll see.” He actually has no idea what stories he’ll end up telling the kids. All he wants is to hear the laughter and see their smiles, and to give Aaron and Arana a little bit of a break…
Well, if nothing else, he can always talk about their time as part of team BOND once more…
“Thank you, Luke. You really helped out earlier.”
A few hours later, after dinner had been consumed and the kids had decided to run around outside to burn off their remaining energy before bedtime, Luke dries the dishes that Aaron washes while Arana prepares tea.
“Oh, no problem!” Luke grins. “It’s always a joy to come here and a pleasure to help out.”
“Workaholic,” Aaron mutters as he continues to wash the dishes diligently.
Arana giggles. “You are one too, you know,” she says teasingly to Aaron. Then she looks directly at Luke. “But Luke, you do seem extra willing to help here. I appreciate it, but…”
Arana stops herself but Luke can sense the unasked question. He shrugs. “I don’t have the happiest childhood memories.”
Arana looks surprised. Luke gives her a sheepish look. Perhaps he had dropped that knowledge a bit abruptly. “I was at an orphanage for a time, but…” But I was yelled at every day and… Luke catches how Aaron’s posture has stiffened and coughs. “Well, that one wasn’t great. But before that time, I was at a great place. I had fun every day.”
Aaron stops washing dishes completely and turns around to look at Luke. “You…”
“Yeah.” Luke means exactly that time. The memories are still a bit fuzzy, even if Chesley has helped to unearth more of them via hypnosis, but every single memory they find involving him and Aaron from that time warms Luke’s heart. Every single moment where he got to be the “Hero” for…
When Luke snaps out of his reverie, he finds Aaron shaking his head, his cheeks a bit pink. Arana meanwhile remains quiet. Luke thinks she’s probably enjoying seeing this side of Aaron again. As for Luke, well… It might be too much to explain right now while they still have dishes to finish washing and drying. Someday, maybe when Aaron’s off snoring, he’ll let Arana hear it all.
“So I think, just because you are an orphan, it doesn’t mean you have to be unhappy. That’s why I want this place to always be a sanctuary.”
Arana smiles while Aaron grumbles. “Stop being so cheesy,” he mutters as he returns to washing dishes with vigor.
Luke laughs. “Besides, this is Aaron’s home. I want it to stay as warm and loving as the man himself.”
The reaction is a little delayed but once again Aaron stills. The back of Aaron’s neck flushes dark like his jacket. Noticing this, Arana lets out a hearty laugh. Luke can’t help but snicker, even if he just said something pretty embarrassing.
“Thank you, Luke,” Arana manages to say between laughs. “I’ll do my best. And…”
Luke cocks his head when Arana trails off. “And?”
“I’m glad you two met, even if it was under those circumstances. You two really make a great pair.”
Under those… Luke bites his lip. Arana would be thinking about her kidnapping case, but in Luke’s mind, their meeting at the facility is also… Well, Luke is grateful to both events.
“He was troublesome,” Aaron grumbles, “but…”
“But?” Arana prods.
Aaron grins widely. “He’s proven to be useful, at least.”
Luke huffs. “Aaron!” But he and Arana smile, knowing that Aaron feels much nicer things that what words he actually says. He’ll always be the type to show more kindness with actions over words, and in private over in public.
The room falls silent, but it’s a comfortable silence as Aaron and Luke finally finish with the dishes. Once the last one is safely placed back in the cabinet, Arana clears her throat. “Well, I better check on the children.” Arana gives Luke a knowing smile. “Take all the time you want. Your room is already prepared.”
Luke nods. “Thanks, Arana! Goodnight!”
“Don’t let those brats make too much noise,” Aaron adds.
Arana giggles before exiting the room. A few moments pass before Luke figures they have enough privacy now. He steps closer to Aaron and leans against his side.
“Useful, huh. I’m glad.”
Aaron grunts. “Shut up.” He places a light kiss on Luke’s forehead. “Useful would be getting off me and heading to bed.”
Luke laughs. “Alright.” He supposes it is late now. “Let’s get you to bed, ‘Luke’.”
Aaron might have said something like “stupid Hero” under his breath as they walk hand-in-hand to their room, but Luke doesn’t mind. He might have failed to be a good “hero” in the past, but from now and forever he’ll be here for his ‘Luke’/Aaron. Even if tonight is just cuddles under the bedsheets.
They’ll be here, together.