Chapter Text
Getting sick hadn't exactly been part of Jo's master plan of getting closer to Haruka, but at the same time it seemed like it had helped a little bit? Even though he was the one who had offered the invitation he had really been too tired to do much of anything when Haruka had stopped in to visit him after patrol like he had promised, and Jo had found himself dozing off against his will as Haruka hovered near the edge of his bed. Still, it had been nice to see him even if Jo felt like the entire inside of his head was filled with dust and cotton and he kept having to stop himself from reaching out an taking hold of Haruka's hand again to ground himself whenever the walls started to tilt. He had eventually fallen asleep at some point without realizing it, and it was fully night time when he woke again. A scan of his bedroom showed Haruka nowhere in sight, but there was a small shopping bag of water and snacks lying on the foot of his bed.
Jo really was a lucky guy.
True to what he had told Haruka, Jo was pretty much over his cold by the end of the following day. This time, Jo waited until the evening when he was sure that Haruka would be home alone before calling him to make plans for their next spar. This time, nothing was going to interrupt them.
Which was easier said than done, as it turned out.
The new planned day dawned unseasonably warm, the sky completely clear and bright. Jo woke up with his goal front and center in his mind. They were going to go to the park and spar like usual, and then he would ask Haruka out. Officially. On a date.
What could go wrong? A great number of things, actually but! Togame Jo may have been many things, but he was not going to be a coward now. Not with this.
The morning almost went off without a hitch, and then just before Jo left his grandfather asked him for help around the house. Jo bit back a growl as he agreed.
Okay, so they would just have to meet up later than they had planned. That was fine. Jo could deal with that. It would give him more time to consider how he wanted to words things for Haruka. This was important. He couldn't make a mess of this.
It was after noon by the time they met up, Haruka standing in his usual spot in the tunnel and attempting to bore holes in the ground with his eyes. Jo hoped he hadn't been waiting there all morning. The grin he gave Jo when their eyes met made all of the waiting and chores worth it. Unfortunately….
Meeting later than normal meant their go to park was taken up by families, couples, and kids out enjoying the last of the year’s lingering warmth, which meant they wouldn’t have the place to themselves like they did when they met up in the early morning. That of course turned Haruka off, and though the way he scrunched up his nose with displeasure was really unfairly cute, Jo couldn’t say he wasn’t just as disappointed. His plan had already been derailed right from the start, but that didn't mean things had to come to naught. It wasn't like they only ever met up to spar. It was, quite frankly, a beautiful day. Sure they normally didn't do anything together until after they had worked each other over a bit, but that didn't mean they couldn't just hang out for a while. It would be a shame to call things off again after so many mishaps.
Jo couldn’t really say what changed. Maybe it was nothing, maybe it was all in his imagination, but he thought Haruka looked…nervous about the suggestion. Just the lightest dusting of pink across his cheeks as he agreed, said he hadn’t had lunch yet. Oh! That was perfect then. They could get something to eat and enjoy the day, just the two of them. And then Jo could…he could….
There were all sorts of places he still wanted to take Haruka, things he wanted to show him. Which one would be the best for what he wanted to say? What he wanted to ask, to offer? What he'd managed to get out while they had watched the fireworks at the festival had come pretty close and he hadn't stumbled over a single word even with the thousands that piled up on his tongue and threatened to spill over, but it wasn't the right time then and so he'd let them rest warm and curled up behind his ribcage. Waiting for the right moment. Now, though. Now he –
The first rain drop fell on the top of Jo's head before he could even open his mouth. The second one fell on Haruka's nose. Then the sky split open and the deluge started in earnest.
Haruka's apartment was closer and so that's where they ran, Haruka cursing louder than even the thunder overhead the whole time. Even freezing and breathless and soaked to the bone as they sprinted alongside each other neck and neck, Jo's heart felt light. He couldn't stop it, it bubbled up from somewhere deep in his belly. He just laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
Even still, Jo felt like all of his limbs were weighed down with sandbags by the time they staggered through the door of Haruka’s apartment.
“Almost drowning is funny?” Water spilled out of Haruka's shoes as he kicked them off.
“Awwww, it wasn't that bad,” Jo tried to console him as he leaned against the door to catch his breath, “Though, I guess I am a little taller so –”
He deserved the wet sock thrown at his head.
Haruka grumbled something about seeing if he'd ever let Jo in here again if that's how he was going to act as he stomped off, peeling off his jacket as he went. Jo saw the lights flicker briefly before they fizzled out and heard a muffled curse.
The cold hit Jo all at once and he shivered. He followed Haruka into the next room, intent on stripping out of his own wet clothes before he got sick again.
“Here.” The towel hit him in the face as he rounded the corner.
He saw that Haruka had already started to strip down by the time he wrestled the towel off and draped it over his head. Haruka was hanging his sodden clothes in front of the window to dry.
“I've only got the one so you have it,” he said as he wrangled his uncooperative jacket onto a hanger, followed by his shirt “You wanna hang your stuff up?”
“Oh, uh. Thanks.”
Jo tried not to think about the fact that it would leave them both mostly naked, but also couldn't ignore how weirdly at ease Haruka seemed about the same thing. His heartbeat sped up. Not the time, not the time…
Jo swore he could feel Haruka's eyes on him the whole time he was undressing, but Haruka was always looking somewhere else every time Jo tried to catch him in the act. Haruka had wrapped himself up in one of his spare blankets and was sitting shivering near his futon by the time Jo had finished hanging up his own clothes. They looked so big next to Haruka’s even soaked through, and it made something weird and wonderful twist in his belly.
The wild wind rattled the window pane and howled around the eaves and rain hammered against the glass, leaving the world beyond a swaying, blurry mess of grey and green. Jo bundled the towel around himself as he took a seat on the floor and squeezed as close as he could to Haruka without it seeming too weird. They were both half frozen, staying close would help them keep warm. Right. That was all.
They both flinched as a peal of thunder boomed overhead, seeming to shake the walls, lightning flashing a few seconds later and illuminating the tiny room. Barely an hour ago the sky had been completely clear, powder blue and sun warmed. Now dark clouds blanketed the horizon and the rain hammered down with no signs of stopping. Jo could only imagine what sort of damage there would be tomorrow; downed signs, fallen trees, damaged roofs. As if on cue there was a cracking sound from outside and a branch broke off from the tree outside Haruka's apartment, the wind tossing it away like it was nothing.
Jo heard the shaky sound of indrawn breath next to him. Haruka had wrapped the blanket as tightly around his body as he could manage without choking himself, his hands twisted in the fabric. Jo could see them tremor even in the dim light, see the tightness in his jaw. His eyes were wet.
Jo swallowed. A million different thoughts and words and plans formed in his mind all at once, fighting for his attention. He didn’t want to see that look on Haruka's face ever again, but what could he –
Oh. He knew what he could do.
He reached a tentative hand out, gently curling it around where Haruka's arm should be, “Hey, Haruka?”
“Yeah?” Haruka's voice was small against the world crashing down outside. It should never be like that.
Now or never, “I'm gonna do something real stupid, okay?”
Haruka's eyes went wide, “Okay.”
Through all of this Jo had been inching closer, close enough that they were nearly on top of each other. Close enough for his breath to stir the strands of dripping hair that fell around Haruka's face. Close enough that he could almost count each individual eyelash. Neither of them blinked. Neither of them moved away.
Then Jo leaned in and carefully pressed their lips together.
Haruka made a soft sound as their mouths met, or maybe it was Jo. Maybe it was both of them. He couldn't really tell through the rush of blood in his head, the frantic pounding of his heart in his ears. He allowed his eyes to slide shut.
He had been waiting to do this for so long and he didn't want to screw it up now, but Haruka's body still felt stiff under his hand. He didn't dare open his eyes, terrified that he'd made a mistake. Terrified that if he did then all of this would dissolve like sugar floss in water, like every dream version of this very moment the second his alarm went off. He brought his other hand up to gently cradle Haruka's face, stroking his thumb across his cheek, using it to guide him into something more natural. He angled their heads so their lips fit together, and this time he felt the quiet sigh against his mouth. Felt the body under him go loose. A hand gripped his wrist. Not hard, not pulling away. Just holding on. Keeping him right where he should be.
The storm outside didn't matter, not the wind, not the rain. None of it. The whole world narrowed down to only the places where their bodies connected, warm, and soft, and familiar.
Jo could have kept kissing Haruka forever. He very much wanted to, but he could also feel himself getting lightheaded, giddy and breathless. He reluctantly pulled away.
Haruka's eyes were open. Had he closed them at all? The skin under Jo's hand was warm, grew hot when he realized Jo was looking at him again. He still didn't move.
Jo ran his thumb across Haruka's cheek again, as much to ground himself as anything. His heartbeat felt so loud he was surprised it wasn't drowning out every other sound.
A shaky breath. Haruka's mouth quivered and he let go of Jo's wrist. And then he ducked his head.
Jo dropped his hand and tried not to make a sound. He'd made a mistake, hadn't he?
“Haruka, I –”
He paused. The tips of Haruka's ears were bright pink, and though his hair had fallen in front of his face, Jo could just see his mouth move like he was trying to say something.
Jo held his breath.
“Why was that stupid?”
Jo swallowed. He dared not get his hopes up too high, but was Haruka saying what Jo thought he was saying?
“Aahh, well. I was. Worried I was outta line, maybe. That you wouldn't like it.”
I wanted to distract you, I wanted to see you smile, I wanted you to be happy.
I wanted to be cool for you.
Haruka lifted his head. His eyes met Jo's head on, just for a second before they darted away again. The redness on his face spread down his neck.
“Shouldn’t…” Haruka's throat worked, “Shouldn’t I get to decide that for myself?”
Jo could barely hear himself talk through the thundering of his own pulse, but he had to know, “And?”
Haruka's eyes met his again. Flickered down to his mouth.
Then Haruka kissed him back.
Their noses bumped. The angle wasn't the best. It was a little sloppy. Jo couldn’t stop himself from smiling into it regardless. He leaned forward, trying to adjust, make it better for both of them.
Haruka pulled back abruptly. Jo barely managed to catch himself from falling.
“What're you smilin’ for?” Haruka's voice held a hint of wariness.
Oh. Oh! Of course, “ ‘cause I'm happy,” Jo said, trying to impress every scrap of sincerity he could muster, “You make me happy.”
Haruka's mouth trembled. His face went a concerning shade of red. Jo felt hands gripping the towel that had started to slip off his shoulders, not so subtly urging him forward.
Who was Jo to deny him?
This time when he leaned down, Haruka met him in the middle.
This time Jo was ready.
Thunder cracked overhead and it sounded like the whole world split in two. Several things happened at once.
They leapt apart, or tried to anyway. Haruka's flailing elbow somehow caught Jo right in the throat. Jo struck his arm out instinctively and caught Haruka on the chest.
They both fell backward, clutching their respective sore spots.
“Freakin’ hell….” Haruka gasped at the same time as Jo wheezed, “S’rry….”
Lightning flashed again, followed by another subdued rumble of thunder.
Had they really just been scared by a loud noise like little kids?
Jo couldn’t quite tell what he was hearing at first. It was so soft that first he thought he was imagining it entirely, but no. He recognized that sound. He had heard it the last time he was here and would never forget it, even once.
Haruka was laughing.
Jo couldn’t help it, hoping his grin was audible in his words, “Taking a cheap shot at me is funny?”
The laughter trailed off and then there was a shuffling noise before Haruka loomed into his vision a moment later. Jo could just make out the light dust of pink on his cheeks, highlighting the softness of his eyes.
“Says the guy who just punched me in the tit.”
Haruka sat back as he said this, and when Jo tilted his head he could already see a faint bruise forming on his chest.
Jo frowned, “Shit, I'm sorry…”
“S'fine. I've had worse.”
Still…Jo struggled to push himself up into a sitting position, Haruka moving back to make room for him. Outside the storm only seemed to be growing worse, the clouds were even darker now and the wind was howling even louder than before. Window panes rattled, the broken front door shuddered, the rain poured down in endless sheets.
Miserable and cold. Neither of them would be going anywhere any time soon.
Warmth pressed surreptiously against his side. Jo turned his head, but Haruka very deliberately wasn't looking at him. His face was bright pink.
"So." Haruka said, still not looking at Jo.
Jo couldn't have stopped the smile spreading across his face for anything, "So."
Neither of them said anything. The pink spread to Haruka's ears. Jo felt hot where their bodies connected.
The rest of Jo felt cold, however. The towel had helped with the worst of it, but now he was starting to shiver again. He nudged playfully against Haruka's side.
"You gonna let me in? I'm cold."
Haruka jolted, "Huh?"
"The blanket." Jo prompted, "Gonna share with me?"
Jo was being awfully bold, and he knew there were other blankets in the closet, but. Just one taste and now he was ravenous. Amazing how you never knew what you were missing until you had it right in front of you.
Several different emotions flashed across Haruka's face in the span of seconds. Then he pulled away from Jo and lifted his arm, opening one side of the blanket. Jo didn't have to be told twice.
He peeled the damp towel off his shoulders and tossed it aside, taking the offered blanket and wrapping it around his shoulders. Haruka tensed for a split second as their bare skin met, only relaxing again once they were both secure. There wasn't enough room under the blanket to leave any space between them, pressed flush together from shoulder to thigh. Even though Jo had been the one to suggest it, it still felt like his heart was in his throat.
"Much better. Thanks, Harukaaaa." Jo drew the name out, teasing.
Haruka grew even hotter against him, somehow.
"Sure, whatever." He sounded so flippant, but the way he settled against Jo's side said all that it needed to.
"I can't kiss you more if I'm frozen after all," Jo said, and the sound that tripped out of Haruka's mouth would fuel his ego for at least a month.
Jo couldn't stop himself from laughing as he reached an arm out from under the blanket, taking hold of Haruka's face again and guiding him into another kiss, greedily swallowing down every indignant noise until Haruka's hands settled on his shoulders, using them to lever himself forward and set his own pace. Oh yes.
It was just like their first fight. It was even better than that.
Jo wasn't going to lose this time.
Jo blinked his eyes open sometime later to an unfamiliar ceiling. What the….?
There was a bundle of heat on top of him, damp breath ghosting across his collarbone. Soft hair tickled his chin.
Oh right, he was….
The weight on top of him shifted, and he heard a mutter of something that he couldn't quite catch. The storm had moved on, not even a distant rumble of thunder as Jo came back to himself. Pale moonlight filtered through the curtains and their drying clothes, illuminating his and Haruka's stirring forms.
"Haruka?" He kept his voice low, not wanting to disturb if he was still mostly asleep.
The shifting stopped, "Hmmm?"
Haruka's face floated into view a second later, half lidded eyes unfocused.
His cheeks were rosy, eyes glassy, mouth slack. His hair was mussed from where he had apparently been resting on top of Jo's chest for the past few hours. Skin felt sticky everywhere they were pressed together, their legs tangled and the blanket lost somewhere around their feet. Haruka froze.
Hands planted on either side of Jo's head as Haruka pushed himself up, away. Jo hooked an arm around his waist without thinking, rolled until their positions were reversed and Haruka was settled snugly underneath him. He didn't really have a plan of action, his sluggish brain only focused on not letting go just yet.
"Heyyy, don't run away." Jo laughed.
Tired struggles stopped, ""M not runnin'." Haruka huffed, despite all evidence to the contrary.
Tense limbs went loose beneath him and Jo marginally relaxed his hold, allowing Haruka to get comfortable. A heavy sigh reached Jo's ears, Haruka's breath warm on his skin.
He had a pretty good idea of what Haruka was thinking, because Jo was thinking the exact same thing. Where did they go from here? What were they? What did it all mean? Jo wasn't quite sure, wasn't ready to name all of them yet in case doing so made the realities disappear. But….
Haruka's eyelashes fluttered against Jo's neck where his face was pressed against it, and yep, that was definitely Haruka's arm sneakily winding its way around his back and gripping tight.
"We can talk more in the morning. I'm not going anywhere." Jo assured him.
Haruka's arm went still. There was a hitch of breath, and Jo felt the way Haruka's mouth twisted against his skin, his face growing hot.
"…Better not." he warned.
And really, didn't that answer all of their questions anyway?
Jo angled his head so he could brush his lips against the crown of soft hair.
A pause. Then he felt Haruka's nose nudge against his jaw. Of course, there was no way he was getting off that easy.
Jo couldn't stop himself from smiling as their mouths met, lips sliding eagerly together, unhurried, warm. The storm was long gone, they had all night just for this. Jo could get used to that, easy. He planned to.
They had all the time in the world.