Chapter Text
Mob didn't yet come to terms with the fact that the world had it in for him. Currently at the entrance of a Fir tree shop with his friend, how had a peculiar quirk of fate led them under the mistletoe? Mob didn't have a clue; Teru still didn't have a clue. Unmindful his friend was to nosy looks and knowing smiles worn by kids and adults alike. Teru's solely focused on his apartment's dimensions on his phone, calculating big-sized Christmas trees he could buy. Assuming that he knew he was being watched, unlike Mob, Teru was definitely used to stares. The social pressure, including social expectation had great influence on Mob's social awkwardness. The way he saw it, fulfilling their wishes was the quickest way for things to go back normal.
Languidly, Mob tapped Teru's shoulder, "Hanazawa-kun,"
"Just a moment, I need to research something real quick."
"Hanazawa-kun, everyone’s point–"
"I know. I remember. If you get stressed out by the crowd, we'll leave. But first–"
Distracted Teru left Mob no choice. The audience gave Mob no choice. Taking a leaf out of his friend's book, the name "Teruki." made the blonde's shoulders twitch, his mind a tabula rasa-blank state. Left with only intuition, Teru's head turning round subsequently short-circuited, his brain electrified with impulses. Mob had been shifting weight on both feet, curled fists by his sides shook, and sweat beaded his temples as numerous whispers had been pounding in his ear drums. It was now or vanish. His inexperience created one-off courage as he had surged and planted one on his friend. Hard, hurried and half a second described his act more or less a peck. A peck which had missed its target–hitting just the one corner of Teru's lips. His poor coordination wasn't a surprise.
Although closed eyes were a sudden must when explaining himself blushing profusely was all on Mob, "Um, er, I uh, tried to tell you, Hanazawa-kun. I wanted it over and done with band aid style like Master Reigen says. There's a um, just up there..." trailing off pitifully, Mob's finger directed Teru's sights upwards which lead to realisation dawning over Teru's face exactly when an immediate thirst dawned over his entire being.
Teru's acumen (!), 'Hmm, I do believe a re-do is in order’ remained effective, 'Apart from pleasing the crowd, we really should uphold tradition'
Under a growing strain deriving from the boos (the kiss had been a fail), and his friend's undivided attention at full force, Mob yearned for invisibility, though he wasn't granted such. Instead, his pale face mantling with emotion again by an unexpected suggestion was what laid in store for him. His stomach had clenched. Teru's request was so hushed that it could've been swallowed by Mob's frantic heartbeat–which had just stopped. Had it not been for the transparent psychic dome Teru waved around them, cutting off noise as well as the view of their audience, decisions would've been harder.
"But if you're uncomfortable," Teru's forehead leaned against Mob's in peace, "deny me now."
As soon as that was out in the open, time had paused. The sensed proximity between them, unimaginable once, left Mob befuddled. His eyelids popped open at last, allowing him face to face with exposure more detailed than the norm. It prompted wonder from him, His eyes are so blue, definitely unforced. Jittery sensations on the inside, including salty sensations on the outside multiplied; yet, neither were enough for him to break eye contact. Mob swallowed thickly, mouth parting steadily as he breathed an answer he had no courage to repeat again. This year the pair weren't quite the same height. Little centimeters happened to favour the blonde more, that being so, Teru had no problem resting a palm on the brunet's face, drifting closer, tilting his head, shutting his eyes, and finding Mob's pliant lips with his own. Although Mob's heart changed rhythm Mob remained statuesque, not moving a single muscle. This was after all the last place he’d expected his first kiss to ever happen, let alone publicly.
He didn't respond until Teru's lips pressed firmer, its presence affirmed if forgotten, its sole mission to evoke emotion, seeking to leave imprints that would tingle for days. He didn't react until Teru's hand slid behind his head, fingers running through thick sable hair, clutching a sensitive section unawares–perfect precise pressure, unleashing outbreaks of rapture pulsing all over Mob's head, thrilling through every nerve in his body, something undefined driving him to impulsive places. Dormancy over, Mob's own eyes shut as his eager lips met their match for the first time. He relished in this besides divine friction as their closed lips moved together, giving rise to a fever that might never break. Consequences were bypassed, regardless of how mutual elicited sighs spoke volumes, regardless of how their mutual zeal shook important cornerstones of friendship.
The moment when when Mob made satisfied sounds, Teru, as level-headed as they came, couldn't control his body anymore. It moved to please and to be pleased. It moved to act in response to Mob and it wanted more. He was all primal instinct, pulling Mob tight into his taut arms–their bodies impossibly close–heated up by degrees their coats couldn't possibly take credit for. Teru had half a mind to unzip them. Mob equally in a mindless state, clasped and tugged the front of Teru's winter jacket in growing passion for more lip impacts than lip glides, becoming more and more comfortable with a person he trusted, showing a side to himself he'd never believe. The pair alike were unmoved by all cheers outside their private bubble. Whatever remained of Teru's mind was gripped by Mob's arresting form, frenzied senses heightened at the pressure of that body swaying to the rhythm of their kiss. Delirious was what Teru fell under. In that state he let out a low moan; Mob followed suit. The pair opened a new realm. Intimate and inviting was the furnace of shared breaths in their recent opened mouth kiss. No tongues were employed, albeit it crossed Teru's mind. His tempted tongue in particular twitched. Now, everything could go another direction; yet, Teru hesitated in the middle of diverse urges. So his tongue settled for sliding slow along the outline of Mob's dry and lush lips, savouring hints of sweet cream along the way, determined to never forget them. As a rewarding result, more soft and pleased sounds emerged from Mob's throat in ragged sighs, reverberating straight down into the deep pit of Teru's gut. Heat exploded in him accordingly. Little by the little the compulsion to request tongue action was trumping his hesitation. Without question, Teru’s willpower was at an all-time low.
Mob’s emotions, coincidentally, were reaching a limit–soon. No matter what hedonistic part of him had no issues with breaking boundaries, When have I ever felt this right? years upon years of his inner alarm fired urgent signs at point-blank range, reaching and entering Mob's cortex. The body had protested; the mind had overruled. Coming to the grips with his emotions, Mob detached himself from Teru, stepped out their private bubble and then inhaled deep breaths he’d previously forgotten.
When Mob's lips and hands had left his person without warning, Did we just-? Teru's brain was disorientated besides deprived of oxygen for a time, 'God, I can't believe we did that' just an absent-minded lick of his own lips resonated with meanings. Some meanings fused with some feelings. Particular feelings, not unlike knotweed, had been sprouting unnoticed behind a home of admiration, up to silently creeping beneath doors and windows each and every month this year or perhaps last. A naked truth struck him. Unavoidable in every way. Teru's eyes bugged out, Of course I admire him, It was breaking news in the form of candid lightening bursts striking his heart from stormy skies. Teru absently worried his bottom lip, I always have. I don't–I'm not–that's totally...
Itching for a distraction from his puzzle-solving mind, Teru received his in the form in of unbroken attention, a set of eyes fixated on his navy blue ones with patent intensity. Teru didn't believe for a second that his compared. For one his orbs weren't as black-grey as the dense smoke from unfinished forest fires, ascending and permeating the atmosphere, exuding unresolved, undefined, unknown signs.
One of them soon got a clue.
Mob gradually struggled to hold eye contact. His very skull was a hotbed of unthinkable urges multiplying without mercy, I'm losing control. He's making me lose control. I can't stop-I feel–It's like fire under my skin…I don't want Hanazawa-kun to pay the price. Not him. He's too-, decided thus, his body faced the exit, "I have to go now. Please don't follow me."
Momentarily stupefied, it took no more than five seconds for Teru to chase after his friend.
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On the edge in next to no time, Mob’s face read halfway between dread and forever slow frustration thanks to his disobedient friend. Even if Mob was a rare esper strong enough to command rumbling lands, crumbling skies and stumbling oceans at whim, it only took five of Teru's fingers on his wrist to reduce him to nothing but a human teenaged boy, his strongholds rattled with inner delight and disturbance simultaneously. In such circumstances, how on earth did one protect a friend from harm without mentioning the threat being oneself?
"...Kageyama-kun, I get the awkwardness you might be feeling as well. Believe me, I wasn't expecting us to...go over time. I think we should tal-"
"I don't think that's necessary."
Teru’s eyebrows like jump ropes were forced upwards, genuinely fazed by the interruption. His somewhat different tone hindered Teru from reading any hidden clues, "Okayyy, honestly, I'd appreciate it if you turned round and looked at me as you spoke, you know? I'm no mind reader plus it'd help me understand-."
"Do I really have to, Hanazawa-kun?" Mob sounded anodyne through and through, but came off rude all the same. "Is it that difficult for you to understand things this way?" His inner straightforwardness put his foot in his mouth by habit.
Without conscious effort, Teru's head jerked back as if he'd been smacked. He was sent reeling; he was in shock. This situation was slipping out of his hands, the reins terribly misplaced in his avoidant friend's grasp, Every time I think I'm closer but...I really don't know you at all, one simple corner of his mouth crooked up, entirely grim in nature. Whatever it was smouldering between them grew more complicated the more it was left aside. Falling back on his distorted acumen, Teru let the ball in Mob's court. Seeing how this game played out may prevent unnecessary fouls. This idea prompted a flexible tension stretching critically thin until a cold breath of wind loitered near them. Mob's shoulders shivered once more. Teru hadn't failed to miss this. Past affection over present affection, his sunshine aura went on autopilot. One gracile ray left its glowing mass, lightly covered Mob's form in yellow strips, suffusing long lasting heat, completely unaware to his friend's inner gratitude and turmoil.
'Hanazawa-kun....'
For Mob's sake Teru letting go of his wrist would be much appreciated about now. Multitasking hardly was his forte: ignoring their skin to skin contact to no avail, suppressing instincts to run straight back to a sultry mouth, including sweeping aside the singeing souvenir left on his soul with no returns greatly took a leave of Mob’s spare senses, "I'm sorry but...something came up. Something really, er, bad. So, um, that’s why I have to go. I'll text you...maybe tonight? Is that alright?"
"Whatever."
Even though Mob couldn’t quite put his finger on it, his unquiet spirit was seized with a feeling. Something significant, in a way, had just been lost under brick and mortar just as Teru spoke and drew away from Mob, Hanazawa-kun doesn't answer like that, he lost his nerve to turn round before curiosity overpowered him, Did I sound rude? Is he...hiding something from me?’ he mused. Teru hadn't said one thing mean; still and all, nostalgic hues from his mind recalled an unreachable, unyielding urabanchou from two years ago, "I will text you, Hanazawa-kun."
"I heard you, Kageyama-kun." toneless therefore unreadable was his unfamiliar voice, "I heard you loud and clear." belied by sad shades slipping their small way in. Faintly similar to tender, falling snow soon suppressed, and reduced to sore sensitive sleet under both their feet.