Work Text:
Near and Dear to My Heart
~Buzz buzz~
The sound of Kenny’s phone briefly cut through the lighthearted conversation he was having with the Bucks. It had been a while since the trio last hung out away from work, so Kenny had decided to fly to California instead of Florida that weekend. The three were sharing the large, comfy couch in the Bucks’ living room. Grabbing his phone off the coffee table in front of him, his face suddenly lit up with the sweetest smile Matt and Nick had seen out of him in quite some time.
“I know that look,” Nick teased with a grin. “What’d he say?”
Ibushi had sent him a YouTube link, and Kenny turned up his phone’s volume a little as the video showed fan footage of his post-Dynamite promo two nights before. He was leaning against the ropes, a steel chair in one hand and a microphone in the other. The camera panned up to one of the big screens in the arena.
“There was a week where my whereabouts were unknown. I didn’t stay home. I didn’t go to Canada. But where I went was to recruit an old friend, someone who’s very near and dear to my heart.”
Kenny blushed at the absolutely lovestruck expression on his face, clearly and perfectly captured. Video him closed his eyes and ducked his head down as a tender smile graced his lips, and that’s where he hit pause. There was a short message underneath the video.
[Ibu-tan]: I love you too. I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks. :)
Matt scooted until he could peek over Kenny’s shoulder while Nick stood up on the couch to see.
“Aww.”
Kenny blushed even further at Matt’s response, if that were possible. He took a few moments to collect himself before typing out a response.
I’ll be waiting for you. Always. Just try not to get lost in the airport this time! ;)
Nick hopped down and made his way over to Kenny’s other side, sitting down on one of the arms of the couch. He and Matt snickered at Kenny’s response as the typing bubble appeared on the screen.
[Ibu-tan]: That was one time! I haven’t gotten lost since then. I know where I’m going now.
Do you? :P
[Ibu-tan]: Yes. Home.
Kenny let out a harsh breath at that.
[Ibu-tan]: Anywhere you are is home.
[Ibu-tan]: When we saw each other a few months ago, it was the first time I’d felt that in far too long. And when you left… It was almost unbearable. That’s why we were both such a mess. XD
Kenny felt a tear slip down his cheek, nodding with a sad smile.
Yeah. I couldn’t have said it better.
I miss you. <3
Matt gently laid his head on one of Kenny’s shoulders while Nick laid his head against Kenny’s on his other side, a comforting quiet settling over the trio as the conversation continued.
[Ibu-tan]: I miss you too. <3
[Ibu-tan]: I’m sorry I haven’t called lately. Between finalizing some details for my training academy, trying to get back to 120%, and everything else that’s been going on it’s hard to make time for myself to try and relax.
It’s okay, I understand.
I know you keep pretty busy these days, and that things have been hard since last summer. As long as you’re taking care of yourself, that’s all that matters to me.
[Ibu-tan]: Are you busy right now?
Kenny froze, preparing to ask the Bucks if they minded when Matt tapped out of his messaging app and into FaceTime. Nick tapped Kota’s name, and the pair left it up to Kenny to start a call if he wanted to. Fresh tears fell then, and he wondered how he was so lucky to have such understanding and encouraging friends (especially after about a decade of watching Kenny pine over him). It wasn’t long after he pressed the button that Ibushi’s face appeared on his screen, and he waved adorably at the trio from his dimly lit bedroom. His eyes found Kenny’s, and the couple shared soft, affectionate smiles reserved only for each other.
“Kenny-tan.”
“Hey,” Kenny whispered, knowing his voice would crack if he tried to speak any louder at that moment.
As the Bucks cheerfully greeted and spoke to Ibushi in bits of accented but accurate Japanese, Kenny felt his heart melt as it sunk in that his family was almost all together again. He handed Nick his phone and put his arms around them in a gentle hug as the four talked the rest of the day away.