Chapter Text
“So.”
“So…” Rui echoes. They sit at on the couch the next evening, having taken all day to be told by Kaito they’re both almost out of commission for the next 4-6 months, meaning the most they’ll do is pre-recorded interviews and work within comapny grounds. They started their ‘serious talk’ by getting soda candy, fluffy blankets, and a visit to all their friends. Mizuki though, was given special permission to enter company grounds too in order to see the purple-haired since they were in a soft-lockdown. She brought Mafu, who did some checkups on Rui and cleared him to be able to walk around small distances by himself.
Rui met so many people, he was so ready to sit and recharge talking to Tsukasa for the next few hours.
“We are boyfriends..” Tsukasa looks at him softly.
“I suppose we are.”
Tsukasa stepped forward, turning off the living room lights as he held the blankets, giving a thin one to Rui and straddling him with the thick one. “Warm.” He mumbled.
“Don’t fall asleep on me now, we have things to talk about~” Rui poked his side, causing the blond to jolt with a yelp. “Fufu”
“You’re so mean”
“You’re the one who wanted to talk.”
Tsukasa sighed. “Sorry, stalling out of fear.”
“It’s okay. Let me start. I love you.”
“I love you as well.” Tsukasa responded, not missing a beat. He buried his face in Rui’s neck and shoulder in hopes it would help with speaking his mind.
“Are you okay with me staying over?”
“I want you to live here..” It helped, to say the least.
Ignoring his blush: “I’ll give you my address, so that you can come by whenever.”
Tsukasa hummed happily. He then tensed, a small shiver. “What about? Uh..”
“Don’t stall on me, you don’t have to. I’m here and I won’t judge anything.”
“Public displays of affection..?” Guess they were adressing the elephant in the room.
“I’m okay with whatever you are okay with, after all, whatever we do may affect-“ Rui rerurned to his doubts and fears but was quickly shut down with a soda candy Tsukasa had in his hand and had stuffed into Rui’s mouth to shut him up.
“Again. I don’t care about their opinion of me. Worst case scenario we can open a bakery and compete against Akito-kun and Toya. People would love that. I’m good at baking.”
Rui choked. “The question remains. What do you want to display in public?”
Tsukasa stayed silent.
“Star~ You can tell me I promise I won’t laugh.”
He sighed. “I want to hold your hand. And randomly hug you. You best believe if I catch you in public I’m charging straight at you-“
“Not like I’d dare go anywhere without you, Mizuki considers you a friend, if she had your number and explicit permission to talk to you whenever she will drag you with her”
Tsukasa stopped, chuckling. “I’m not even gonna lie, I’d love that.”
They smiled in silence, leaning in to bump their heads. “Can I finally get that kiss you’ve been keeping hostage from me?”
Tsukasa barked a laugh and kissed him in response. Rui was quick to tilt his head to press harder, wrapping his arms around the other boy in hopes of bringing them closer. Tsukasa laced his hands around Rui’s neck and pulled away. Rui chased him before noticing and leaning back with a cough of embarrassment.
“So cute.” Tsukasa mumbled against the darkness and comforting warmth. “That is not good in public.” He pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, cheek and jaw. “That is good in public.”
“Must you tease your ever lonely boyfriend while you do it?” He pouted.
“I’m just retaliating..” He grumbled. “And you will never be lonely again when I’m here.” he whispered, smiling against his cheek.
“Well you aren’t the only one who can retaliate…” Rui ghosted his fingers up Tsukasa’s sides evoking a laugh out of him. Tsukasa, who is very ticklish, and hates people knowing about it, failed very hard to cover it.
Two minutes later he was yelping on the couch, blankets askew, begging Rui for mercy though his never ending bright laughter. Rui has never been happier. It would be laughable to assume it didn’t evolve into a pillow fight. Rui could’ve won if he wanted to. He let his love win just to see him stand so triumphant on the bed, clutching his pillow in his fingers at his hips. Also because he was injured and couldn’t move very far or fast, but that’s ignorable.
“Ha ha ha! You will never win against the world's future star!”
“Oya? I recall winning against our tickle fight a few minutes ago?” He spoke with an evil grin.
Tsukasa brought his pillow to his chest defensively. “That! Does not! Count!”
“Cute”
“I am not cute! I am cool!” He brought his attention to his boyfriend.
They leave the bedroom and return to their cuddle on the couch. Tsukasa opens another random candy and they settle in with each other again.
“Compliments are fine- no. No. Uh uh. Bad Rui! Do not. Bend that rule- I know you Kamishiro Rui!” Rui, who was smirking, hatching some devilish plot, devolved into a sad pout. “Don’t act like a sad wet cat! No one is going to think I’m cool if I start short-circuiting when you take your compliments too far!”
“Taking my compliments too far? The most I’ve done was earlier today with Mizuki, when I said I was so happy to have you as my boyfriend!”
“You wrapped your hands around my waist and-“ His voice broke “-and you put your face in my neck! You’re so lucky Akiyama-chan didn’t see you nuzzle it because she turned around to continue making tea! How could you be so indecent!” His playful scolding gave Rui motivation to do it again. “I’m killing you one day because you’re killing me.”
“You love me too much to touch me in any malicious manner.” He squeezed Tsukasa.
“Unfortunately so.” Tsukasa melted.
— — ☆ — —
The two sat in an apprehensive Kaito’s office. He wanted the true best for his idols. That means what the idols want. The idols get. And as much as he didn’t want another one of his idols to be so popular for the wrong reasons, the blond wanted to come out. The idol wanted to hold his bodyguard’s hand, and tell his fans no matter what they thought that he was taken by a guy.
He breathed out, folding his hands on his desk and leaning his head on his hands.
“I’m sorry..”
“For what?”
“The higher ups.. “ Rui finished for Tsukasa.
He looked up. “They can’t do anything to me. I can silence them with a snap of a finger and they can only scamper away. They try their best to control me but there’s really nothing they can do but try and make me forget what power I have over them.”
The two rid themselves of their sorrowful faces. Kaito simply smiled at them. “I’m just thinking of how we can help you two come out in a way no one can immediately act out their- frustrations…” The CEO didn’t allow for the two to recount the awful situation that occurred a few days back, because he continued a second later. “So I’ll make it my personal mission while Meiko deals with the law to get you both safe being yourself in your community. Personally, with how much you publicly display your-“ He chuckled. “-distaste… for those who do not at least respect your other community, I wouldn’t be surprised if all you got was support.”
The two giggled. Rui’s mischief shined, and he took the oppertunity to thank Kaito while getting up, pulling Tsukasa with him. He pulled the idol close and kissed him for a few seconds. Tsukasa obviously squeaked, clearly confused between pushing him away and kissing him back-
-but before that, the bastard pulled away and giggled out the door, leaving two equally shocked men.
“R-Rui?!”
“You look happy Tsukasa” Kaito looked at him.
“Uh- Uh huh!” Tsukasa sped out after his boyfriend.
— — ☆ — —
“Thank you for coming everyone! Yes, I’m a little tired, I haven’t done this in a while!” He breathes lightly into the mic. “Yes yes! My choreo isn’t easy everyone!”
The crowds cheer to see the bodyguard. Ever since the accedent he’s grown his own special corner of Tsukasa’s fanbase, full of love and respect for his act to save their favourite idol. “What do you want?” He whined to them like they were puppies asking for pets. They cheered his name, or what they thought was his name based on the panel event. “Ahh! Rui?”
Tsukasa had to cover his ears.
“Rui! Save me!” He looked to the sidelines, “Rui?! Why are you laughing!” The crowds cheered and a minute later he heard a laugh and later voices giggling coming from backstage as Kamishiro Rui rushed on, a mic attached to him.
“I’m improvising!” He ran, the crowd cheering. “BUT! I am here my dearest idol! Whatever you need, I will protect you!”
You could hear laughs as Tsukasa feigned surprise. Rui was languid in his walk to the idol, and the boy was looking fondly at the crowd who was watching the bodyguard.
“Rui-?!”
“A bodyguard must stay close to those they must protect, no?”
“Uh- uh!” Tsukasa was malfunctioning, Rui had wrapped his arms around his waist and placed his head on his shoulder. Yes, they had talked about announcing it like this, but Tsukasa hadn't thought he would actually go through with it-!
Well, the boy relaxed, as much as he could with the squealing crowd. He kept the microphone in his hand by his side, whispering a volume warning to the other as he brought his other hand to hold Rui's face and kiss the cheek of the other side. The warning stayed true as Rui was shocked still, Tsukasa biting his lower lip to conceal his grin and giggle, walking a few steps back.
“Behold everyone!” He called to the screaming crowd as Rui glared playfully at him. “My-!
Haha-!
My shocked boyfriend!”
That snapped Rui, and while Tsukasa was laughing at his overloaded with information fans, Rui pulled him up for a second long kiss.
“Well! I believe there is no threat any longer.” The idol stood wide eyed, a hand on his mouth as Rui straightened himself up. “I shall take my leave! I'd rather not impede your show any longer…”
“Rui! That is the second time you’ve done that since you were cleared to remove your bandages!” Tsuksa shrieked, but it devolved into a smirk as he inched closer. “Okay! Byebye-” He threw himself on Rui, squeezed him, and with a grin pushed him out of the audience's view. “-Before you cause me any more trouble” He mumbled into the mic, raising a brow at his giggly audience.
Tsukasa shook his head as he returned to the middle and Rui started dramatically faking tears to win the audience over. It worked, as they started booing the idol who looked at them betrayingly. “Anyways” He changed the topic amongst their fun,
“Thank you so much for coming in today!” He said cheerfully, Jumping up and waving to everyone with a grin on his face.
“Rui no kisses for the next week.” He continued. His tone shifted to mock anger and he stood stiffly, side eyeing the entrance Rui ‘left’ from. The displays on the side of the stage shifted from Tsukasa to Rui, who was backstage getting comforted by Nene. He smiled through his silent dramatic wailing on her shoulder and Nene visibly sighed, tired, behind the paper that covered her face as she patted his back.
“Thank you! Bye!” And the venue went dark as everyone cheered.
— — ☆ — —
Tsukasa threw himself onto Rui the moment they locked eyes. Said boy carried the idol to his dressing room as he rambled on about fans he took note of and how happy he was. Everyone and their dog would take one look at Rui’s face as they passed by and could see how infatuated he was with the idol he carried.
Tsukasa opened the door while Rui walked them inside. As soon as it closed Tsukasa relaxed, letting out a sigh in relief. “Alone at last” He held the other's cheek and kissed his lips. “Been waiting to do that. I love you.”
Rui’s face fell almost sleepily. “I love you too.” He set the blond down, talking about whatever while he changed. “You have a mole on your shoulder.” He commented, smiling as he leaned on the wall.
“Hm? Yea! You know it’s cute.. My parents used to say that the moles on your body represent where your lover loved kissing the most in your past life. It’s a nice thing to think about…”
…
Interesting..
What a cute thing to think about.
“…Do you think we know each other in every universe?”
“What?”
Rui smiled at him. Tsukasa took a moment to think while he put on his second shirt and brushed through his hair.
“Well. I'd like to think so!” He giggled. “Maybe I could be a knight for a royal kingdom in one. Your knight in shining armor! You could be by my side! A knight as well”
Rui took a second before chuckling. “Well that wouldn’t make for an interesting story wouldn’t it? I could be against you, you know. And through our battles we learn more about each other only to be forever fated against each other… shiku shiku..”
“Don’t say that! Plus if you were against me I’d win! Even if you had powers!”
Rui laughed at that. “Yes Tsukasa, a world exists out there where you are a knight and I’m a sorcerer against you.” Tsukasa paused, and they both started giggling at the prospect.
“Let’s think of something more realistic. Hmmm..” Tsukasa daydreamed.
“You could be an office worker and I could be an eccentric bookstore shop owner down the road.”
“What. How’d you come up with that?!” Rui laughed in response.
“Whatever! I have one! We could be a pianist and director! Like that one play! I’m good at playing piano too! You could be the director that has me join his orchestra through auditions!”
“A pianist named Torpe…? I’ve heard of that play. Though I don't think you’d fit his role the way you are now, Torpe-kun isn’t very- outgoing to say the least.”
Tsukasa rolled his eyes.
Silence passed between them as they walked out through the backdoor of the stadium minutes later, getting in the car.
“Tsukasa-kun?”
“Yes?”
“What if we were highschool kids?”
“Highschool kids?”
“When I was in highschool, I wanted to be a stage director. I still do, but I enjoy guarding too. You told me on a date once you’ve wanted to be a star since you were a child. What if we met in highschool? I didn’t have a very good life, but knowing you, you would’ve chased me around till I joined. We’d disagree and break off a few weeks later, because everyone kind of left me back then, but you’d come back for me. Maybe Nene would be there too, urging me to join you again.”
Tsukasa stayed silent. “That…
Haha… Hahahaha!
Would be great…! We’d be dating for far longer if that was the case. I wouldn’t want anything more…” Tsukasa leaned on Rui’s shoulder as they drove off.
All is fine.
All is good.
They arrived at the company housing units and went up to their floor. They passed by Saki’s dorm where they heard her friend’s giggles and stumbled through their own door. “We’re home!” Rui called out to no one in particular. Rui just chuckled as he settled in.
“I’m so glad you went to Kaito and signed the paperwork to come live with me here at the agency.” Tsukasa hugged him from behind.
“Well the lease on my current rental ends this month so it’s not official yet.” Rui said matter of factly, smirking.
Tsukasa’s face fell as he let go and walked away. “Go to hell”
Rui laughed.
Ah yes, I’ll be just fine with him next to me.