victory_road

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[By now, you've probably seen it. It started on a teenager's Instantlergram, and then migrated over to Chatter, Timbr, and you might have even seen a video or two on your For You Page on Joltiktok about it. The Daily Dottler ran an article about it sourced by no one.

About what? About how the hot new band Chicken Choice Judy was recently "caught in the wild" at a child's birthday party dressed head to toe as giant torchics.

And the internet, as it often does, has been having a field day with it:

"guess there's one entertaining thing at my brother's dumb party. #chickenchoicejudy #torchic #canileavenow" - Original Poster MimiKissyKyuutie

"cake is very bad for torchics this is completely irresponsible" - Chatter user badbreedertipsonly, famed meme account.

"what the heck is a chicken anyway" - Timbr user newgearhoothootdis, followed by hundreds of replies of increasingly bad guesses.

"this isn't news, call me when the torchics kiss" - Joltiktok user luvdisco, with a filter that adds sparkles to the picture and a music clip that seems to be Celine Brionne's My Heart Ball Will Go On played badly on a Pokéflute.

And so on and so forth. So it probably isn't a surprise when Ryan pops up after a day or so of this.]

hey so

i get how things go on the internet but how do you take them off

like forever

is just deleting the whole internet an option, or...?

you know, for no reason whatsoever.

[Except you know exactly what reason it's for. Because everyone in all of Johto and Kanto has seen it somewhere recently.]

[ooc: Thank you to

knuxiechan, who Joey commissioned this art from!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Min's not going to touch anyone's butt to take something from them. That's not a sexuality thing. That's just common decency. As it happens, that's not a problem. As long as he has Ryan's attention it doesn't matter where the PokéGear is.

He sits next to him, expression still irritated as he leans in to hug him.]

I love you. That's what there is to talk about.

[Min-Gi's grip is arguably too tight, but he doesn't want him worming his way out of his arms and between the two of them Min does not have the advantage in strength. He's not taking any chances.]

You're my best friend, Ryan. I don't care if you're bisexual... or gay? [His voice goes up a couple of pitches there, but it's more uncertainty of his identity than having to use the words themselves. He thinks Ryan's bisexual? He's talked about having girlfriends while he was gone, so that's probably right. ...Right?] I'm sorry I upset you.

Edited 2023-01-27 22:30 (UTC)

[It's a good instinct, because Ryan was absolutely prepared to try and squirm away - not so much because he doesn't want to be hugged exactly, but because he's expecting this to be some ploy to try and get his Gear away from him. Is he going to try and lift him up so he can grab it without getting gay cooties?!

But that's not what happens.

Min says I love you and Ryan stills. He doesn't dare so much as breathe.

His heart swells but his brain screams that this is obviously too good to be true. Min couldn't even say the word gay two minutes ago, and now he's supposed to believe he's trying to sweep him off of his feet?! He stops trying to squirm away, but he's glad that Min can't see his face this way. He must look so baffled and hopeful and flustered all at once.

Then, the punch line.

...It hurts more than he expected, somehow.]

I...

[He can't. He can't, how is he supposed to do this?!]

I...love you too, man. [He hopes that sounds enough like himself, and not as tiny and devastated as he feels. Haha, yep! Love you too! Like bros!] Look, you didn't upset me. It's fine. I just...want to fix it for you, that's all. The stupid Joltiktok thing.

[Because it's not about him. It's not about him, or how he feels, or how Min-Gi loves him but definitely not like that and how that makes him want to curl up in a ball under a blanket and disappear.]

It's not saying anything that isn't true about me, but it's slandering you and that sucks.

[Because Min is not gay or bi or anything on that spectrum. But it's fine that Ryan is, apparently!]

[At this point Min-Gi's starting to feel hurt. Ryan's still being so weird, and that stings when he's trying his best to make him feel better. He's gone all the way out of his comfort zone, and it's still not good enough.

Something is obviously wrong, but he can't for the life of him work out what it could be. It's not the stupid Joltiktok thing, he's convinced of that much. He frowns, relaxing his grip on him but not letting him go just yet. Hugging him isn't helping, but... what else can he do?]

Forget Joltiktok. You don't have to fix anything for me, okay? I'll... I'll deal with it.

[He really doesn't want to, but it doesn't seem fair to let that responsibility fall to Ryan when he's clearly still so bothered about something. Does he still think he has a problem with him...? He can't, right? There's no way Min could have been more clear.

He draws back with some reluctance, looking him over with hurt bewilderment.]

Did I say something wrong? I told you... I don't know how to talk about this stuff, but at least give me a chance to make it up to you.

You shouldn't have to deal with it. I can deal with it. I mean, no one would have even thought you were if you weren't next to me, so...let me handle it.

[It's basically all his fault that Min was made uncomfortable about gay things in the first place. He can make the call and deal with the fall out.

Min pulls away and Ryan actually resists it at first - maybe hugging wasn't helping, but hugging was keeping his face hidden and he knows Min's going to try and look at him and pinpoint exactly what's wrong. When they first part, he looks more at the floor than Min and seems...sheepish, almost. Guilty. He doesn't like how any of this feels and even more than that he hates that he's dragging Min down with him.

He sounds so hurt though. Ryan finally makes himself look his way and answer him.]

Min-Gi...you don't have to make it up to me. You didn't...

[It's the truth, but he feels like just saying it isn't enough for Min-Gi to believe him.

So with just a beat of hesitation, Ryan reaches out and pulls Min back into that hug - a more gentle version. He buries his face in Min's shoulder, but Min will still be able to hear him.

And if Min can say it platonically and not be weird about it then so can he.]

...I love you too. You didn't do anything wrong, I promise.

That's not on you, man. I shouldn't care what people think. I don't think it's even meant to be an insult in this world? Not that it should be anyway!

[But that doesn't stop it feeling like one. If the internet had existed in the 80s, both he and Ryan know how a post like that would most likely have been intended.

He holds Ryan's gaze like a frightened rabbit, able to anticipate what he's going to say now, but not sure if he means it or if he's just trying to shrug him off again.

Then Ryan pulls him back into the hug, and suddenly Min realises he hadn't quite guessed everything he had to say after all. Between the gentleness of his embrace and the softer, more sincere "I love you" he can't do anything but stay there in a stunned silence. His breath stutters, and he can feel his cheeks turning pink. He's glad Ryan can't see him right now, but he's very aware that he can probably feel him freezing up.

Not wanting to risk any fresh misunderstandings he hastily returns the embrace, sniffling slightly as a few unwelcome tears prick at his eyes. He's not unhappy, though there's a wistfulness for what can never be somewhere that he tries to push down. Min's just never been good at holding back his emotions, and it's a relief to get more genuine reassurance he hasn't done anything wrong.]

It seems like it's safer here. If you did want to be more open.

[Not that Ryan needs his permission, but it doesn't seem fair that he has to feel concerned about how Min's perceived just because they're so visibly connected. Especially with the increased attention on their band over the past few weeks. It's not Ryan's fault that he's been ready for years while Min-Gi can still barely admit to himself who he really is. He shouldn't be letting his own insecurities hold Ryan back.]

[Ryan can feel Min tense in his arms, but he's trying not to think about it. Maybe it's selfish, but he's taking this hug for himself, saying words he wants to say with the safety of knowing they won't be interpreted as the whole truth. He can say he loves Min the way that he means it, without having to look Min in the face and act like it's just as friends.

He wasn't sure he expected a hug back this time, but soon Min's arms are around him too. For an extra second, Ryan can keep pretending it's something more than it is. He doesn't have to look Min's way and see if he's uncomfortable. He can just...have this, for a second.

And it helps. It doesn't make that knot in his chest go away entirely, but it untangles it a little. It relieves some of the pressure.]

I'll, uh. I'll...keep that in mind.

[He sounds a little better, but being in or out of the closet was never really the problem here. Really, it was suddenly having to confront how Min feels about it that dragged up all this old shit he was hoping he would never have to actually think about in depth. At the end of the day, Ryan is himself more than anything and he's pretty sure his sexuality has always been an open secret.]

...It does seem safer though, for sure.

[It's a softer tone that comes with Experience. He has to admit, it's been really nice to not have to think about even a fraction of the things he would have to consider at home.]

[The problem with an open secret is it's usually meant to be secret. Between that and his own baggage he has no idea how to approach the subject, and even if they've patched up the worst of his missteps he still isn't totally sure where Ryan stands.

Not that he's about to ask any more questions now. Maybe not again for a while. Even with Ryan's reassurances it seems clear he'd blundered, and really, it's none of his business. Ryan will date who he dates, and that's that. Min has no place being jealous when he still can't even bring himself to admit he knows he's gay.

He doesn't want to make this weird by holding onto Ryan for too long, but Min-Gi's eyes are still wet and he doesn't want him to see that. He allows himself a little longer, breathing in the scent of his hair while he composes himself in a way he really hopes Ryan won't notice. When he does let him go he doesn't move away. If anything he shifts to sit a little closer to allow them to remain touching.]

So, we're good now...?

[It feels like they might be, but he wants the confirmation. He knows his attempts to be supportive were awkward and not as helpful as he'd intended.]

[Ryan doesn't mind the remaining closeness at all. He didn't want to really let go, but any longer really was going to get a little weird, so sitting close enough to still be touching is a good alternative.

By now he's composed himself well enough, and honestly the fact that Min himself is this worried about it is...weirdly reassuring? That feels shitty of him, but it banishes some other fears he's had deep down that were creeping up and starting to show.

He leans over and bumps his shoulder against Min's, to try and reassure him back.]

We're good. We were good the whole time though, so like. Sorry to make you worry about that. You did everything right; I was the one being weird about it.

[He's not going to try and explain it, but Min doesn't need to worry about misstepping around him. The last thing he wants is Min feeling like he has to walk on eggshells.]

You weren't being weird!

[He was. He was very weird, otherwise Min would have never been so direct about this particular topic. It still seems like the right thing to say though.

He leans against him slightly when Ryan bumps his shoulders. Partly to try and show Ryan that nothing's changed, but also just because it feels nice. Comfortable.]

Thank you. For telling me. I know it's a big deal.

[Yeah, he still hasn't clocked on that Ryan doesn't actually think of this as coming out and they are looking this from opposites sides of the "open secret" thing.]

[There's a small blip in Ryan's expression - not so catastrophic as before, but something seems to confuse him and then click into place in the span of two seconds. He doesn't know what Min's talking about and then he knows exactly what Min's talking about.]

Gonna be honest, man. I...kinda thought you already knew?

[It feels obvious to Ryan, and to some degree it feels like it's always been obvious. He never said so outright, but there was only so much he could really hide it.

Then again, telling Min was never really in the cards. If he told Min, he always felt like it would call attention to his every move. He might not be able to be as open and close with him, or at least that's what it felt like back in high school.]

But, uh. You're welcome? ...Thank you for being cool about it.

[A beat, and then he realizes he never actually answered Min before. Maybe he should?]

...Bisexual was the right one, by the way. Since you were wondering.

[Min-Gi's face drops for a moment, cheeks heating up as he processes that bit of information. It isn't as though he hadn't known exactly. There had been things Ryan had said. Things he'd done. Nothing outright, but enough he eventually figured that maybe Ryan wasn't completely straight.

But he hadn't thought he was supposed to know.

He goes quiet for a moment, seemingly unsure how to react again. And then... he laughs.]

You never told me! What, did you think I read your mind?

[He sobers slightly then, a faint smile still on his face.]

I... guess I wondered. Sometimes. I figured it was stuff I wasn't supposed to notice. Or I was just misreading.

[The laugh makes Ryan laugh in turn, and he pulls back to playfully shove Min.]

Maybe! You never know!

[Except he does know, and so does Min - neither of them are mind readers and they have to actually talk things out so both of them understand. But it feels right to tease him back about it.

He didn't actually want to pull away though, so he settles against Min again.]

Well...congrats? You weren't misreading, dude. You were just...reading.

[Like everyone else in Ryan's life. Somehow, that doesn't feel as bad coming from Min though.]

[Teasing is good. It's easy, and it lets him settle back into a place he doesn't have to feel worried he might do or say the wrong thing.]

Even if I could I don't think I could handle whatever goes on in your head.

[Min doesn't pull away either, leaning slightly so his cheek can rest on Ryan's head. He still feels a little stupid for not realising that Ryan hadn't felt like he needed to say anything directly for him to get it, but some of his offhand remarks do make more sense knowing that.]

Man, guess I'm not as good at reading as I thought.

[This is the stupidest joke, but he clearly thinks he's being funny.]

Pfft. If I can handle it, you probably could.

[It feels so good to know that this isn't something that he's going to lose - to know that Min still feels comfortable resting his head against Ryan's and that they won't be dancing around each other, too afraid to touch the way they have their entire lives.

The biggest--

No, the second biggest barrier to telling Min in the first place was completely irrelevant. The actually biggest still might catch up with him one day, but right now he isn't losing anything and it's such a relief.]

Or you're really good at reading and just second-guessed yourself. 'Cause I mean, you weren't wrong. Just...

[Ryan searches for a word, but one he really wants never actually comes and the one that's sticking out in his thoughts isn't quite right. He laughs a little bit.]

...I dunno, polite?

[Polite feels like the wrong word here, and he's sort of glad Ryan can't see him glance down at him then open his mouth to fill in with a better word... only to find he can't.

Huh.]

Is it polite? I dunno. I guess it was kinda dumb not to just ask you about it.

[They both know it's more complicated than that, but it shouldn't have been. Not really. Not when it came to the two of them. But then it's not like either one of them had been great at communication back when they were younger.]

I'm glad we talk more now. That's better than being polite.

It wasn't dumb. Really. I mean...I don't know how long you wondered, but odds are pretty good I wouldn't have given you a straight answer. [A beat.] ...I mean, a real answer.

[Ha, ha. He's got puns for days over here.]

I'm glad too though. It's...not always easy, but it's definitely better.

[Though really, he's speaking more for himself than Min now. Sometimes it's hard to talk things out, and he still can't say he always wants to, but it never leaves him feeling worse than before. Min doesn't let him get away with hiding as much, and even if he hates it in the moment sometimes, he knows it's a good thing. It's good for both of them.]

[It doesn't matter that Ryan can't see him. He can probably still picture the way his eyes narrow at that. He can definitely hear the long exhale of air from his nose. Maybe even feel it tickle his hair.]

You did that on purpose.

[The irritation in his voice is false though, and he nudges him as best he can without actually having to move away. You're only a little funny, Ryan.]

It is better. You worry me sometimes, but... I like knowing what's going on with you.

Edited (tagging while messing with icon keywords is a mistake) 2023-01-29 19:15 (UTC)

[Ryan can feel the pretend annoyance, he can almost see it all over Min's face, and it makes him laugh.]

Maaaaaaybe.

[Excuse you, he's very funny - especially with the playful insinuation that it was absolutely on purpose.

The tone shifts very slightly though. It isn't necessarily bad, just...a little more serious. More sincere.]

...Really?

[It's not so much that he doesn't believe Min - it's just weird to think about. That someone worries about him and likes knowing what's going on with him? He doesn't actually want to worry Min, but the fact that he does is kind of touching.]

Sorry, that came out way too much like a question.

[It was definitely on purpose, and he gives him one more gentle nudge to reprimand him before he lets it go.

The "really?" gives him pause, because to him that was obvious. He's his best friend. Of course he worries about him.]

Of course I do. [Although, maybe he's taking it as a bad thing...] Not because I don't trust you. I do.

I just... I care about you. I want you to be okay.

[And even though he means it when he says he trusts him, Ryan isn't always known for making the smart decision. Even if he did, Min's a natural worrier.]

[Yeah, that wasn't the right way to say that. He's kicking himself internally for it now - of course it would sound like he doesn't think Min trusts him.]

No, I know. I know you do. I didn't mean it like that.

[But that requires a follow up that feels harder - expressing what he actually meant. It's a hard transition for someone who spent a lot of his life acting like everything is always going great, and he's still pretty sure he sucks at not doing that, but he at least makes an effort now.

For a long time, it felt like the smart decision. Why would he want to make anyone worry about him on purpose when he could just deal with his shit himself? He should be able to carry his baggage. It's strange to have someone help him carry it, even someone he loves and trusts more than anyone.

Strange, but...not bad.]

It's just...really cool that you do, that's all.

[He can feel his cheeks warm up, but it's the best way he can put it. It's really cool, and it means the whole world to him.]

[Someone else might have to wonder why Ryan thinks that's cool, but not Min. He hates that he doesn't even expect that from him, but he knows exactly where he got the idea that most people wouldn't care what he does.

He goes quiet for a bit, annoyed. Not because he minds worrying about Ryan. That feels natural. But it isn't fair to Ryan that he's the only one who does. It never has been.]

Did I ever tell you about the first time your dad came into Dumpty's after I started working there?

[It's a question he already knows the answer to. It's impossible for the other Akagis not to come up sometimes when their families have known each other their entire lives, but it doesn't always lead to good memories and Min-Gi avoids it when he can. This seems like a good time to make an exception to the rule though.]

[This is a turn Ryan clearly wasn't expecting, for a number of reasons.]

What? No! I-I don't think so?

[If he did, Ryan doesn't remember, but he's pretty sure a story about his dad after he left home would have stuck out in his memory. He pulls away from Min so he can turn and look him in the face while he tells this story. He has no idea what to even expect of his family now that he's left them in the dust, and the part of him that always craved their attention is so, so curious.]

What happened? Are you gonna tell me now?

[There's a story here and even though he knows it might hurt, he wants to know.]

[He slightly regrets bringing it up. Partly because he knew bringing it up would either lead Ryan to pull away, or force him to so he can tell him the story properly. Less selfishly, he knows talking about his family comes with the risk of upsetting Ryan.

Though in this case he's pretty sure the end result will be gratifying. At least he hopes so.]

Yeah. If you want me to.

[God, why is he stalling when he's the one who brought this up? It had seemed like something that would help perk Ryan up, but now he's worried it may have the opposite effect. It's not as though he can back out now though.]

I guess he didn't even know we weren't talking. When I came over to his table he was acting all friendly. [He puts on a voice that doesn't actually sound anything like Ryan's dad.] "Oh! Hi, Min-Gi. I thought you ran off with Ryan."

[He makes a face, already clearly annoyed.]

He tried to make small talk, but to be honest I didn't want to think about him or you so I told him we were short and I needed his order. It was sort of true? It was one of the first times Horace left me to do a shift on my own, so...

[He shrugs. It hadn't been busy. Dumpty's often wasn't. It had been a convenient excuse though, and he hadn't argued. He doesn't even think Mr. Akagi had noticed there was no one else there besides a couple of kids drinking shakes and throwing balled up napkins he'd have to clean up later.]

Anyway... I just wanted to make his food so he'd get out of there. But I kept thinking about how you were wherever, and I was stuck at Dumpty's, and he hadn't even known that. I was so pissed off I wasn't timing things right. I left one of the pans too long, and you know how light your dad likes things done.

I thought; what if I leave it a little longer? He's already going to make me redo it.

[Ryan can probably see where Min's going with this, but he pauses anyway. It seems like a good time to look at him properly. To check he's okay hearing this.]

[He didn't know Ryan left on tour alone.

Ryan seems a little stunned by that information at first, since it feels so obvious to him. It was heartbreaking and devastating and it colored everything about leaving home. But, when he thinks back on it...it makes sense. He didn't exactly have the best goodbye with his family.

For now he keeps that inside, and just listens to Min tell this story. It sounds like his dad for sure - friendliness and smiles for the public but totally clueless about anything outside of his own life and interests, including his kids. It's totally like him to just dump that nugget of information on Min without thinking about what that would mean or asking any sort of follow-up questions.

He knows exactly how light his dad likes things toasted. It's a preference they share, though Ryan kind of hates thinking about it that way. He gasps when he realizes where this story is heading, choosing to be more interested in how Min handled it than what his own dad had to say.]

What! No! Really? Holy shit, you actually burned it on purpose?! Min-Gi!

[Ryan looks and sounds delighted by this. He can only imagine the look on his dad's face, but it would have been so cool to see it for himself.]

[Ah. Validation. A smile starts to creep over Min-Gi's own face now he has confirmation that Ryan is, in fact, enjoying this story. At least the parts he'd intended him to.]

I wasn't going to burn it! Not at first. But Horace wasn't there, so what was he going to do if I did? There wasn't anyone there to complain to. Then I figured, why stop with one thing? Why not really make a point if I'm going to?

So I... burned all of it. It's actually sort of weird the smoke detector didn't go off.

[Actually, why didn't it go off? Why didn't he think about this at the time? Did they even work? He looks vaguely alarmed at the realisation, but it's not like it really matters now. He's going to just... focus on how gratifying it had been at the time, and how good it makes him feel to see Ryan smile that wide.]

I basically gave him a plate of charcoal. No one could have eaten it, especially not your dad.

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