Chapter Text
Aoba is beyond excited to spread the good news and ask everyone to move in together. Haga agrees to let Aoba leave early after he comes back in from a drop off. The blue haired boy is practically bouncing as he leaves the shop Noiz in tow. Aoba is already tapping out a group message on his coil (Group dinner/meeting at my place very important! Bring empty stomachs and open minds <3). he also sends a quick and slightly apologetic message to Tae-san letting her know to expect plenty of company for dinner.
Aoba and Noiz arrive just as Tae-san is returning from the grocery store (second time of the day she might add). Apologizing Aoba reintroduces Noiz and offers their services in helping her prepare dinner for eight people. She just shoos them out of the kitchen and makes them set the table saying they'll be more trouble than help. she also makes it very clear that there was no way in hell this kid would be living with them too he wasn't even family like Sei or Ren. Aoba had a gleam in his eyes and was bouncing on the balls of his feet "Don't worry gran that is almost exactly what tonight is about." she just gives him a quizzical look and a raised eyebrow before ejecting them from the kitchen.
Clear shows up first coming through the front door for once knocking and setting their umbrella in the holder by the door.
"Aoba! Why are we all meeting, what's going?..." Clear's sentence breaks off as they notice Noiz for the first time. "Ehh! Noiz-san are you back for good!?" the excited android bounds over to Noiz and enfolds him in a tight hug.
"What's with the mask again? Don't you remember we all like to see your pretty face?" Clear ducks away from Noiz and hides behind Aoba.
"Aoba-san is Noiz staying? Is that why you wanted to talk to all of us?" Clear asks Aoba who after pinning Noiz with a warning glare answers.
"Yes Noiz is staying and while that is part of the reason for this dinner there is more Noiz and I want to talk to you all about as well." Aoba smiles at Clear and reaches to take their hands into his own. Squeezing Clear's hands and leaning in closer he stage whispers "You know Noiz is right we do miss your pretty face. Besides how can we give you a proper kiss?" Clear flounders head shaking from side to side and babbling incoherently obviously embarrassed. Aoba sighs and touches his forehead to Clear's mask covered one. "It's ok for now Clear I won't press you to remove it but I hope soon you will want to so we can all kiss you properly." Aoba leans away placing a kiss on the nose of Clear's mask an act that is quickly becoming a habit. Clear's shoulders relax and they take one Aoba's hands to hold onto a silent gesture of thanks.
All heads turn as they hear the front door opening Ren and Mizuki coming inside.
"Is anything wrong Aoba?" Ren questions before noticing Noiz in the room and giving him a nod of acknowledgment tugging Mizuki in behind him, Who looks at Noiz and blurts.
"Who the hell is this!?" Aoba realizes that Mizuki wouldn't recognize Noiz by face having never met him only hearing of him from the others.
"Ah, Mizuki this is Noiz remember I told you about him? He helped out a lot during that whole Platinum Jail mess and went back to Germany right after. Well he just came back here to stay and we have things we want to talk with everyone about after dinner." Slight recognition passes over Mizuki's face before the tiniest of pouts settles on his face.
"Hey Aoba is your sister, former dog, and perfect android not enough for you that you have to start dating this kid too? Honestly I don't know how Koujaku or I ever get to see you and now we'll see even less of you!" The pout increases ever so subtly and Aoba's face is as red as a beet. He waves his hands in front of himself in defense stammering.
"It's not that no ones 'enough' for me just that you are all so amazing in different ways and I can't imagine being without any of you!" Aoba puts on his own pout. "Besides you like everyone just as much as I do... well besides Noiz but you don't know him yet." Tae-san calls from the kitchen that dinner will be ready soon she is ignored as Noiz finally joins the conversation.
"Anyway who are you calling a kid?" Noiz directs his words to Mizuki while sporting a pout of his own.
"Well you look like a twink to me kid I'm just calling them as I see them." Laughter erupts from the entryway and everyone looks over to see a slightly confused Sei with Koujaku by her side doubled over in outrageous laughter. Chaos reigns for a short time Noiz defending himself trying to say that Aoba was the twink obviously and not him. Aoba tries to ignore everything and bring Sei up to speed with the goings on. Koujaku can still not control his laughter and Clear was trying to scold Mizuki for picking on Noiz. Tae-san did not put up with such nonsense for long and soon appeared smacking all the trouble makers with her wooden spoon and ordering everyone to the table for dinner. They all bashfully made their way to the dining room Koujaku, Mizuki, and Noiz rubbing the back of their heads.
Tae-san sits at the head of the table Aoba to her right with Noiz and Clear on the same side. Sei sat to Tae's left with Ren and Koujaku on the left with her. Mizuki takes the other end of the table facing Tae which puts Clear to Mizuki's left and Koujaku to his right. Dinner is an affair but even with all the craziness it's the happiest Aoba has been in a long time. Koujaku fights Noiz for the last roll (even though he doesn't really want it). Ren tries getting them to 'play nice' but with little success. Sei shows of her new haircut which everyone compliments and has Aoba wondering allowed if he should get a trim soon too. Tae-san eats more or less in silence a vein pulsing on her forehead the only obvious sign of her annoyance at the shenanigans.
Dinner finishes and Clear and Koujaku help Tae-san prepare some tea so they can all settle in for their big talk Aoba had called together. As everyone settles down all eyes turn to Aoba and Noiz looking expectant. Aoba nervously starts to explain.
"Well I've been hoping for something like this for a while now, and I hope you all agree. You see I think this could be really great for all of us. I really believe this would make us happier.' Noiz cuts off Aoba's rambling before he can really get himself going and gets right to the point.
"I want to buy a house for all of us to live in." Shocked silence permeates the air as everyone tries to process the information they have just received. Clear is the first one to break the silence.
"Me too Aoba? Me too right? It's ok if I live with everyone. Right Aoba?" Clear's voice catches and they have to remove their mask to wipe at the tears flowing freely down their face. Hiccuping and sobbing they ask again. "Me too right? I want to live together with everyone. I don't want to be alone anymore. Please me too, me too." they are sobbing too hard now for anyone to understand them anymore. Aoba motions for Noiz to switch seats with him and Sei gets up from her seat to come around the table to Clear. Aoba pushes his new seat right next to Clear's and begins to rub their back. Sei squeezes herself right onto Clear's lap both Seragaki's wrap themselves around the sobbing android as best they can whispering reassurances. Sei cries quietly she always cries when anyone else is crying. Aoba is gross sobbing and showering Clear with apologies.
"I should have known, I should have made more time to come and see you. I'll never forgive myself, so sorry Clear, never again. We love you, I love you" and he just keeps saying it like a prayer 'We love you, I love you' over and over again through his own sobs.
"Of course you too" Sei is saying as she buries her face in the crook of Clear's neck. She reaches behind her for Mizuki who is currently pretending he wasn't just crying, he takes her hand and instantly she feels more grounded. Noiz scoots closer to Aoba wanting to lend support but not sure how to do so. This was not the kind of outburst he had expected. Ren stands and places himself behind Clear's chair he presses light kisses onto Sei, Clear, and Aoba's foreheads and wipes at their tears. Aoba sniffling looks across the table at Koujaku who looks upset and a bit left out. Aoba reaches across the table, Koujaku meets him half way their finger intertwining across the table.
"What a mess we all are" Aoba half laughs half sobs. Tae-san takes this opportunity to huff and leave the room exclaiming she couldn't wait to have her house back. Everyone laughs even Clear who is beginning to feel embarrassed about their outburst. they reach for their mask feeling very self conscious about themselves. Sei intercepts their reach.
"Not yet, please I want to look at you for a little while longer." Clear blushes but relents pulling away from the mask and letting their hands rest on Sei's hips. She leans down and kisses them quickly on the mouth murmuring a 'thank you.' Tears well in Clear's eyes again but do not fall this time. everyone is quite for a few minutes as they all collect their emotions and simply enjoy one another's company. Noiz speaks first blunt and demanding as ever.
"Now you all have to agree or you're terrible people." Another bought of laughter softer this time and finally the real discussion begins. Ren and Sei agree right away they consider themselves a package deal with Aoba. They are more or less willing to follow him wherever also they both think living all together might be fun, at least make it easier to see all the others everyday. Sei's only condition is that once she starts working (doing what she has no idea) she be allowed to contribute to the household. She expresses not wanting to be a burden to everyone forever. Aoba pinches her cheeks.
"Deal, but you are not a burden and I'm sure everyone will want to contribute to the household. I mean we can't just let some punk kid be our sugar daddy" Aoba laughs and pinches Noiz's cheeks as well for good measure. Noiz Grumbles rubbing at his cheeks and batting Aoba's hands away.
"It's not my fault you are all perverts for liking such a young guy. You're practically cougars really."
Clear is in for the big move that goes with out saying but they vocalize their agreement to the plan anyway. "Me too, me too." They chirp happily fingers drumming excitedly against Sei's hips. Koujaku agrees but solely he assures so that Noiz isn't able to leave him out of things and his lease would be up shortly on his current place anyways. Everyone calls him out on his bullshit and can tell he's actually very excited at the idea of making a home with everyone seated around the table.
Mizuki is the only hold out he likes the idea but he reminds them all he still has 'Dry Juice' to think of and his place 'Black Needle' was more popular than ever. He lived right above 'Black Needle' and was very dedicated to his business. He was finally talked around to half living with them. He would keep his place above 'Black Needle' and when things weren't too crazy or busy he'd come and stay at the house. Aoba wants to wheedle more out of Mizuki but knows how important both 'Dry Juice' and his tattoo business are to him so tries to be satisfied with what he can get.
Sei and Ren yawn in near unison and Aoba nows it's time to wrap things up.
"Ok so until we can find and secure a place who is going to let Noiz crash with them and who's taking clear home with them. He looks pointedly between Koujaku and Mizuki hoping they will come to a calm agreement. Clear worries a fight will brake out and tries to just say they'd be fine going back to their own place until they get a house. everyone in the room shouts at once.
"NO!" Clear pouts but stays quite while they figure out the arrangements. Secretly pleased at not having to be alone anymore they felt so light and happy. In the end Koujaku agrees to take Noiz with him seeing as Mizuki didn't really know the guy yet. They all agree to meet up at Mizuki's in the morning well everyone except Aoba who has work. Koujaku will simply be dropping off Noiz before finding a spot to set up shop for the day. Mizuki has work too but as he lives and works at the morning meet up spot it's no trouble to drop Clear off with everyone before opening his parlor for the day. with the details more or less worked out they leave so the Seragaki siblings can get some rest.
The walk to Koujaku's place had been mostly quite so far especially after they parted ways with Mizuki and Clear. Noiz was beginning to get annoyed he knows he and Koujaku fight a lot but was Koujaku really that upset with taking him home? He was just about to pick a fight to find out when Koujaku suddenly turns around to face him. The older man's face a mess of emotions Noiz didn't understand (he still wasn't very good with those). Startled Noiz finds himself unable to react as Koujaku brings their mouths together and kisses him soundly. When Koujaku finally releases Noiz's mouth he rests his head on the others shoulder they are both panting lightly.
"Thank you." Koujaku whispers hoarsly gripping the younger man's shoulders. There is more he wants to say but is unable to find the courage to form the words. Instead he straightnes up face slightly pink and takes Noiz's hand. "Come on it's late" and continues toward home not looking back or letting go of the hand he holds fingers interlaced. Noiz grins very pleased with himself.
"You're welcome old man!" Koujaku's shoulder bunch slightly at the comment but he says nothing and they walk the rest of the way in comfortable silence.