Chapter Text
The muted yellow falls on the transparent curtains, allowing the rays to bend a bit more and spread inside the room even paler. The room has lit up completely, a gentle summer breeze blowing the drapes apart, the beams now dancing throughout the room like leaves in the heavy wind. It looks almost magical, only if anyone was awake to see.
Two men lay sprawled on their stomachs on the bed in an almost unsightly view, their legs draped over each other and hands let loose. The room had risen above the bearable temperature as soon as the sun had made an appearance, and so the two sweated at the point(s) of contact. This rouses Eiji and blinks his eyes until the blur clears away.
“Ash”, he mumbles. “Get off me.”
“Hm?” The other answers offhandedly, peeking a glance at Eiji fleetingly to confirm his attention. Eiji, on the other hand, knew that Ash had no clue what he was talking about. He sits up on the bed and pushes Ash’s legs off of his’, muttering “Oh God, you are so heavy!”
The blonde lets out a light laugh at this and shifts closer to Eiji, wrapping his arms around the latter’s waist, not letting him move. “M’kay, stay for a while.”
This softens Eiji, who was about to deliver a sneak tickle attack on the other. Instead, he lets his own arms caress the soft blonde hair. It doesn’t feel as hot anymore, as the rays slant even more, half illuminating the walls. The air feels cooler too, and Eiji is glad. He lets his fingers tangle in the hair as he hums a song he’s only heard once or twice on the radio. An english song that didn’t make sense to him at first, but he asked around the lyrics and soon came to like it.
It’s like being lost in heaven,
When I’m lost in your eyes.
It reminded him of Ash and his remarkably green eyes that seemed to change shades every time he stared too deep. Eiji studies the half sunlit face of his lover, so graceful even in slumber and leans into the hug.
“Not again...:” Ash groans, pressing his face into Eiji’s chest, faking distaste. He had heard Eiji hum the same tune for a week now, and he wouldn’t ever tell anyone, but he loved it. He loved watching Eiji sing something so incredibly cheesy, loved watching the carefree look on his beloved’s face as he crooned off tune.
“Fine”, Eiji snaps, pushing Ash away ever so softly, “Get up, you big baby.”
It’s a little before 7 (and too early, Ash whines), precisely the time they had decided to wake up the night before. The older rolls his eyes as Ash chants bully , and he finally shoves the latter to the other side of the bed. Ash rolls over and lands with a thud on the solid floor, wailing once before the sounds of him snoring hit Eiji again. The latter laughs, all the guilt dissolving in a puddle once he walks around the bed to find Ash sleeping on the floor. He couldn’t blame him, the wood was cold compared to the warm bed.
He crouches down at Ash’s feet, softly rubbing along the bear pyjamas that Ash especially loves. “Ash. You have an interview today. We have to go together, remember?”
“Mm. Five minutes?”
“Fine. But you better be awake by the time I am done brushing my teeth.”
There’s a lazy grunt as a response and Eiji is almost positive Ash didn’t hear him. He smiles and leaves for the bathroom anyway. He comes back into the room exactly ten minutes later; he knows this because he had brewed coffee in the kitchen watching the clock. He sets two mugs on the table next to the bed, carefully avoiding the sleeping man on the floor. Then he sits on his knees and swats at Ash.
“Mmpfh??!?”
“I made coffee. Wake up and drink with me.”
Ash sits himself up slowly, grabbing at the bed sheets to support himself. He almost slips, (causing Eiji to laugh until he loses breath) but makes it onto the bed. His hair is disheveled, he looks like he hasn’t slept for days and his face is set in a grumpy frown. Eiji thinks he looks beautiful.
“Meanie. You are mean. So bad and mean. I didn’t know Japanese people were this mean.”
Eiji suppresses a grin as he sips on the hot coffee, hiding behind the mug. His breath hitches in his throat as he wonders what it would have been like if Ash had not come home a year ago. Would he be so happy and light and free? Would the apartment look as good as it did now, with pictures of Ash and Eiji (mostly Ash) everywhere? Would Eiji look forward to the little things everyday, the waking up soaking in each other’s warmth, the rushed breakfast routine, the coming back from university together, the watching movies together? Perhaps not, Eiji muses. Perhaps it would be just as empty as it had been without Ash.
“I am sorry, love.” Eiji mouths. And this time, Ash forgets how to breathe. Sometimes it skips his mind that he’s in Japan, living the dream with Eiji. He still wakes up to nightmares and he still has a hard time adjusting, but this domestic life, these little things keep Ash sane. He pouts in an attempt to seek the other’s attention.
Eiji plants a wet kiss on Ash’s lips with a loud smack and howls with laughter at the expression the latter makes, all wide eyed and confused and shy. He’s still not used to all of the love. Maybe he never will be.
The younger aims a pillow at Eiji and sends it flying, not hard enough to actually cause any damage but Eiji utters a cry anyway. “Ash! My coffee!”
“To hell with the coffee”, Ash grins and grabs Eiji’s feet, full on assaulting a tickle attack. Eiji has a hard time breathing and sets his mug on the table, responding with a loud strike with the same pillow. They giggle and play until Eiji has tears in his eyes, and he waves his hands in defeat.
Ash smiles smugly, his eyes clearly implying I win.
The older smacks Ash one last time before getting up from the bed, frowning slightly. “It is 7:15. We have less than one hour to get ready. Do not laze around anymore.”
“No. My interview starts at 8:30. We have lots of time. Come back to bed.”
Eiji blushes a bright red at that, half from shyness and half from anger.
“You have to prepare your papers too. Ash, please get ready.”
Ash sighs, puffing air out from his cheeks. He complies, holding onto his mug and taking a sip of the (once) hot coffee. “Okay. I’ll get ready, mom .”
The older rolls his eyes, the second time this morning. “I am making eggs with furikake today. When you are ready, come and eat.”
Ash nods, draining his cup and softly kissing Eiji’s forehead. “Sorry, can’t help with the breakfast today.”
“It is okay. Your part time job is more important.”
“Is it though?” Ash asks slyly, “I still have Dino’s money left.”
Eiji gasps noisily, “You said you wanted to do this!”
“Yeah, yeah. And I will. This way I can spend more money on you and use the job’s pay for uni.”
Half of the time, Eiji swears he can’t understand Ash’s logic. Is Ash too smart or Eiji too dumb? “You do not have to spend money on me. My photography internship is enough. Plus after this year I can get an actual job.”
“I know you’re talented, Eiji. I just want to spend some money on you, is that bad?” The older is about to debate, when he sees the hopeful expression on Ash’s face. So he sighs in defeat instead. Damn that blonde boy and his puppy eyes.
Ash grins in victory again until he remembers something. “I have a paper due tomorrow. I haven’t even started!”
Eiji guffaws at the sudden turn in the conversation and asks, “Which one?”
“The literature one. I sent in the thesis for psychology yesterday, remember?”
The older scoffs. “You did not get up from your chair for two entire days. How can I forget?” He shakes his head then, “I do not know how you manage double majors. I would combust.”
“You see, unlike some people here, I’m actually smart.” Ash pipes up, a laugh threatening to burst out of his chest. Eiji lands another smack on Ash’s arm before scolding him for wasting time again.
Ash chuckles and walks towards the bathroom, his heart impossibly full.