Chapter Text
With a click, Kyoujurou opened the door. "Make yourself at home," he smiled, they kicked off their shoes, and stepped into the apartment.
The apartment was clean, with white walls and wooden flooring. There was a sofa placed in the living room, facing a television that stood on a simple bench.
He stepped further into the apartment, noticing a dining table that was enough for four people, decorated with a small vase of flower. Kyoujurou opened the balcony door, revealing pots of plants of flowers. He approached Kyoujurou who beamed proudly, surrounded by leaves and petals. The balcony was clean and tidy, Kyoujurou really does take good care of his little garden.
"It's amazing," Akaza said, his finger lifted one of the plant's leaves, the pot sat in the plant holder, there were other plants sitting in the other holders. "Thank you, I'm very proud of them myself!" Kyoujurou grinned, delighted with Akaza's expression.
Kyoujurou laughed when Akaza ruffled his hair, he caught the other's hand and took it into his own, and felt Akaza squeezing softly. "What do you feel like doing right now? Video games? Movie? Or something else?" Kyoujurou asked, as they slowly walk back into the living room. "Movie, you can choose what we watch," Kyoujurou nodded with a smile and crouched down in front of the television bench, Akaza followed suit. Kyoujurou picked out a movie disk, "Avatar's one of my favorite, interested?" Kyoujurou showed the cover to Akaza. "Definitely." Kyoujurou grinned at his answer, "Great!"
Inserting the disk into the player, Kyoujurou flopped onto the sofa, he pulled his knees to his chest and pointed the remote control at the television, starting the movie. When Akaza places an arm behind and around his neck, Kyoujurou nuzzled comfortably against him, it was just the right distance, not too far away that it feels distant, and not too close that it's uneasy.
They stayed quiet throughout the intro of the movie, and began chatting occasionally, laughing over the dialogues, also immersed in the tension and actions of different scenes.
Even when Kyoujurou had a vague idea of how's the story going to play out, he was still engrossed with it, clenching his fists during an action-packed scene, and smiling with amusement at light-hearted moments. Whenever Akaza commented on certain characters or scenes, he would chuckle and make a short reply, gaining a few laughs out of Akaza.
By the time the movie finishes, the sky had already turned dark, the weak twinkling of the stars was covered by the vivid city lights. They laid against the sofa, Kyoujurou leaned closer to Akaza, brushing their shoulders together, and it's only when Akaza had patted his arm that encouraged him to rest his head on Akaza.
They shared the warmth in the quiet apartment, their bodies pressed close to provide comfort to their souls. Kyoujurou closes his eyes, letting his shoulders fall, each breaths escaping his lungs softly.
"I think someone used to hold me like this."
He whispered, and felt Akaza stir lightly.
"I used to dream about a new home, a home where I feel safe, a home I wanted to come back to." He continued and fluttered his eyes open.
"I was scared, in my old home, and I wanted to leave," Akaza nodded after Kyoujurou's sentence, he tightens his grip lightly, hinting to Kyoujurou that he was still here.
"I felt alone, so I'd hurt myself, so I don't lose it completely," Akaza furrowed his brows, and Akaza wrapped his arms around Kyoujurou when he heard a quiet sniffle.
Kyoujurou's breath stuttered, his forehead laid on Akaza's shoulder and he gripped at the fabric of Akaza's shirt. Akaza caressed the back of his head, his other hand smoothing over his back, calming Kyoujurou's anxiety.
The warmth on his back, his hand that bore too many scars, was being held. It's warm like the hugs he used to receive, when he had sat with his family during dinner, when he had laughed along to some TV show on the television. When he and his younger brother caught bugs and ran in the woods, the summer nights of complaining about mosquito bites and drifting off to sleep in the middle of the cicada's songs.
"Kyoujurou?"
His eyes burned, and he had never thought he could cry so quietly.
"It's okay, everything's alright."
Akaza tightened his hug, reminding Kyoujurou to breathe with each touch.
"You made it, see? You've found a new home,"
Kyoujurou felt relief flooding into him at each word. For a long time, he had forgotten what he was looking for, lost in his own blizzard of thoughts, he had forgotten to look for the light.
"I'll be here whenever you need someone, always."
Something he had wished for, something he thought he'd never feel again. It pumps his heart full of something he can't explain. He grasps at Akaza, as if he was afraid of losing this person, the person that held his heart to remind him that he can still feel.
He wants to keep this person, wants to take him to the places that made him feel nostalgic, and share the view with him. He wants to hear his story, and he wants to let Akaza know that he cared about him.
Akaza feels like an old friend, he brings a sense of safety, his arms feel like home. Akaza doesn't lie, Kyoujurou knows, by Akaza's eyes where Kyoujurou had caught his own reflection in, and by Akaza's heartbeat which pace was as fast as his own.
So he lets himself lay onto him, when he had too many scars, and he's too tired to hide, he lets Akaza hold him.
"Thank you."
Akaza nodded, he pulled away from the hug, one of Kyoujurou's hand remain in his, he cupped the side Kyoujurou's face, and wiped away his tears. "Feel better?" Akaza asked, his tone gentle, adorned with a smile, soothing like the breeze after the morning rain. Kyoujurou bobbed his head, he felt Akaza closing in, shortly, Akaza pressed a chaste kiss onto his forehead.
Kyoujurou caught Akaza in another embrace, he sighed contently, closing his eyes, he was reminded of a starry night. Maybe they could go stargazing soon.
Right now, though, he'll stay in this evening, and stay here with Akaza.
"Sorry," Kyoujurou whispered, and Akaza shook his head, "No, I'm glad you told me." Kyoujurou closes his eyes, taking in a long breath, he smiles at Akaza again. Akaza's hand fondled his head, he let Kyoujurou lay on him, his chest clenched, wanting to hold this person closer.
Kyoujurou's kindness was not wanting others to go through the fear and pain he had been through. Kyoujurou was kind because he had been hurt.
Which hammered at Akaza's chest because he knew he could never be as kind as Kyoujurou.
So he could only embrace him. He wants to tell Kyoujurou, that he had come to like the world more, knowing that Kyoujurou's here.
"Thank you for today," Kyoujurou said, he stood outside of his apartment building, yet to let go of Akaza's hand. "Thank you, too," Akaza looked down at their intertwined hands, before raising his head to gaze at Kyoujurou.
"Hey, I'll give you my number, when you need someone, I'm just a call away," Akaza said to him, and Kyoujurou pulled out his phone from his pocket, he unlocked the screen and opened his contacts, smiling as he handed it to Akaza.
Akaza typed his number into Kyoujurou's phone and saved it, when he was about to return Kyoujurou's phone, he felt a hand tugging at his neck, Kyoujurou stood a step closer, Akaza saw himself in Kyoujurou's eyes, his breath was caught in his throat as he forgets where he was.
He tilts his head and welcomes the soft warmth that lands on his own lips, breathing in, Kyoujurou's scent fills his nose, his hand found Kyoujurou's shoulder, while he felt Kyoujurou clutching at the sleeve of his shirt. He adjusts his footing, he almost felt like he was floating for a second, his head was light, his mind was wiped clean and all he could focus was Kyoujurou's lips, he kisses back, and his skin burns where Kyoujurou's fingers had touched.
Blood rushes to his head and he could feel his face burning, he draws in another breath to keep himself on his feet, he felt Kyoujurou's exhale against his face, his hand on Akaza's nape and his chest that emitted heat was reminding Akaza of how hard his heart was beating in his ribcage.
Kyoujurou pulls away from the kiss, wearing a shy smile over his blush. Akaza swallowed, startled by Kyoujurou's finger that brushed against his when he took his phone back.
"I'll see you soon," Kyoujurou whispered, Akaza only nodded in response. "See you soon, too," Akaza smiled, and turned away slowly, his fingers released Kyoujuou's, sliding out of reach as he wanted to hold onto Kyoujurou for just a moment longer.
After taking a few steps, he glances back, and he waved at Kyoujurou, who was still standing outside, waving back at him.