Home > Categories > Misc > Écoutez

Rating: AA - general, drama - Posted: 05/8/2006 - Updated: 05/8/2006

Disclaimer: I don't know who Sakon and Ukon belong to, but it's definitely not me.
Notes: Bday fic for Mina. Psuedo Sakon-Ukon. Probably cliche ladened. Un-beta'd, (but all my stuff is).

Summary: Sakon remembers when he learned to talk for himself, and what he gains from it.


Sakon yawned as he got ready for bed. As always, there was a moment where he had to put Ukon down to change his clothes. He didn't like it. Ukon certainly didn't like it, and always complained of how long it took as soon as he was back in Sakon's hands. Sakon patiently listened to his partner's usual litany as he finished the last few nightly tasks before laying down on his futon.

"Sakon, are you even listening to me?" the irate puppet asked?

"I always listen to you, Ukon," came the drowsy reply, "even when I shouldn't."

"What the heck is THAT supposed to mean!"

Sakon only smiled as settled in for the night. Ukon's voice eventually drifted as well, though Sakon wasn't sure if it was because of him, or if Ukon really was tired. Not that he ever cared, so long as Ukon was with him.

He could only imagine what others would think, including his mother, to know he still took Ukon with him to bed. Sakon's sleepy mind lingered on this as the last vestiges of consciousness left him.

-=-=-

Young Sakon looked up as he heard the sounds of running feet faded. He didn't move from his hiding place until he was sure he could no longer hear them, then quickly scooted out from under the tree he'd crawled into. It had become one of many 'panic spots' when he needed to get away from the bullies who seemed to live for nothing more than to torture him because of his puppet.

Sighing, Sakon carefully reached back into the tree to pull Ukon free. Hiding spots were hard to come by, as they had to be big enough for both himself and Ukon. He only hoped those bullies wouldn't find this one for awhile yet.

"It would be easier if I could just tell them to leave me alone. Not that anyone listens, I guess," thought Sakon. Swallowing down another sigh, Sakon took a backway route to get to his house, praying the bullies wouldn't show up along the way.

"Is it always going to be like this?" he asked outloud, only to jump when a familiar though unexpected voice answered back.

"It will be as long as you don't stand up to them, idiot!"

Sakon looked, surprised the see an angry Ukon looking back at him. While Ukon had started to speak more since the visit from Oichan, it was still sporadic at best.

Sporadic, random... much like Sakon himself.

"B-but it's too hard, Ukon!" He cried. And for a moment, Sakon had to wonder if he were talking about the bullies.

"Dummy!" Ukon raged. "Who said it was all going to be easy. Look at me? A pedigree puppet and you with no voice."

This made Sakon pause. No voice? "What do you mean, no voice?" he asked. Ukon tsked and shook his head.

"How is anyone gonna know what you want? How will they know who you are, if you don't tell them?"

Sakon shifted the puppet around to look at him. In truth, it was perhaps the most Ukon had said since Oichan, and Sakon didn't want to lose that yet. Though he knew he was taking a risk of the bullies returning. Still, to have someone to talk to...

Talk.

"What does it matter anyway?" the youth sighed. "Not like they'll listen--ow!" Sakon blinked when a wooden hand thumped him on the head. "Ukon!"

"You really are an idiot, you know that?" Arms folded over his chest as Ukon huffed in annoyance. "How can you expect others to listen to silence?"

Silence.

Sakon swallowed as he thought about it. Before, he thought he was safe in his silence; that nobody would hurt him there. "But is that really so?" he wondered. If anything, people hurt him more, and worse, because it was often unintentional.

Because they didn't know.

Sakon was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the bullies returning until it was too late. He bit his lip before glancing back at Ukon.

"They're never gonna leave you alone until you tell them." Ukon said.

"I--I want them to leave me alone," the boy whispered, "but it's three of them, and I'm just one."

"Oh, so I'm spoilt sushi, is that it? And what about you?" Ukon poked Sakon in the chest. "Nevermind that I am here, in case you've forgotten. More than that, you've got a voice," the puppet said, "so use it!"

Voice.

Use it.

And just before the bullies rounded the corner, a measure of understanding came to Sakon.

As long as he used his voice, then he had Ukon.

It wasn't just him.

One voice, but it was him and Ukon.

Sakon looked up when the biggest of the trio finally reached him and sneered.

"Huh, playing with your doll again? What a fa--"

One voice. And no better time to use it.

"Leave me alone!" screamed Sakon. The bully faltered for a moment, then growled.

"Make me." The sound of wooden knuckles cracking startled him as he turned to see the usually still puppet begin to move. Smacking a fist into his palm, the puppet slowly grinned.

"With pleasure," Ukon replied.

-=-=-

The blaring alarm yanked Sakon from the memory-dream. Squinting, he grabbed the clock and hit the off button before looking at the time: five-thirty a.m. Why had he set it so early--oh yes, his grandfather wanted him for an early session of movement lessons. Again. Groaning, Sakon turned to his partner, bracing himself for the morning routine of griping about sleep deprivation. He was not disappointed.

"What the--normal people are not awake right now, you know," grumbled Ukon.

Sakon paid no attention as he stretched, then quickly got up and changed before taking Ukon back in his arms. The complaints started again without pause, Ukon in top form as his arms and fists flailed about. Sakon only smiled as he carried his small friend out for breakfast, letting Ukon carry on as usual.

"This is ridiculous! The sun's barely up! Don't people know the importance of sleep around here!" He ranted some more before Ukon realised that he was being ignored. "Sakon! Are you even listening to me?"

Sakon smiled and answered a touch indulgently. "Of course I'm listening, Ukon.

"As long as you talk, I will listen."