Work Text:
Kusuo wakes up with a start. The moment he opens his eyes, he already feels something is off.
Like clockwork, he immediately reaches for his phone on the nightstand. His lock screen, Shun, with the setting sun behind him serving as backlight, casting subdued shadows along his face and over his front, glares right back at him, blinding him for a second. It was a stolen shot—Shun’s eyes trained on something outside of the scope. (Kusuo later on found out that that something was someone and that someone was, in fact, Kusuo.)
It wasn’t even Kusuo’s photo, it was Yumehara’s, taken back during the confusing time when Kusuo was still in denial of his feelings. Shun was Yumehara’s love conquest then (not that he isn’t until now, much to Kusuo’s chagrin).
They were exchanging pictures and uploading them on their group chatroom, and Yumehara had accidentally uploaded this photo as well. Yumehara passed the stolen shot off as her aesthetic sense at work so as not to oust her big fat crush on Shun but Kusuo knew better. He also knew Yumehara greatly regretted ever uploading it, accident or not. She wanted it all for herself.
Kusuo wouldn’t admit it then but he can admit it now: he saved the picture. He saved the picture despite saying he had no feelings for Shun. He didn’t have a reason (an acceptable reason at that time) so he lived the days after pretending that he didn’t have Shun’s picture tucked safely inside his phone.
Along with the lock screen, however, was the lack of any morning texts from the particular boy, which in itself is already unusual if not borderline worrying.
Even so, he tries to keep himself collected and level-headed. It probably was nothing and his boyfriend was still sleeping. Although Shun is an early riser most days, he wouldn’t let it pass him to oversleep, especially since it’s right after exam week. Just because he felt something was off-kilter doesn’t automatically mean it’s about Shun, right?
Right?
He used clairvoyance to check on his boyfriend anyway, you know, just to be sure. It doesn’t hurt to check.
His uneasiness was not unfounded however, when it refused to work. The only time his clairvoyance ever becomes useless is when he has no idea what or who exactly he’s supposed to be looking for. Using it on his own boyfriend should be fairly easy, a piece of cake, a walk in the park, a goddamn cinch. So why is it not working? What the hell is going on?
He crossed his eyes again, frantically using clairvoyance to check out Shun’s room. It was empty, as expected.
He sits up in his bed, nerves on end as he tries to search every location, nook and cranny he thinks Shun might be at, even though he knows it was fruitless. Is Shun still even in Hidariwakibara-chou? Kusuo has the feeling he isn’t. Shun isn’t here.
He can’t find Shun.
He hears an explosion nearby. Okay, Kusuo needs to keep his calm and think. Otherwise, he’ll end up destroying everything in the vicinity or in the worst case scenario, the world as we know it.
He stands up, heart still racing and mind still on overdrive. Have his powers gone haywire perhaps? He needs to check.
He crosses his eyes again and used clairvoyance on Kuboyasu. He could have picked Nendou but let’s be real, who on their right mind would like to spy on him?
Kuboyasu was still sleeping. It was Saturday after all. Kusuo wishes he was this relaxed right now and not losing his mind trying to figure out where his boyfriend was.
Okay, it seems—wait a minute, what’s that?
Kuboyasu has two erected picture frames on his nightstand (Kusuo had no idea he was this kind of guy, especially considering he was a top-tier delinquent before). One of the picture frames holds a picture of their friend group—Nendou, Saiko, Kuboyasu, Shun, himself and Hairo—while the other one—the one which caught his attention in the first place—holds a picture of Kuboyasu and Shun.
Normally, this wouldn’t have bothered Kusuo, but after knowing that Kuboyasu likes Shun (Kusuo wishes it hasn’t yet and wouldn’t ever evolve to the next level), having been subjected to hearing his thoughts of admiration for his boyfriend everyday, and not to mention how close they are in the picture, it kind of ticks him off.
Kuboyasu’s arm was slung over Shun, hand gripping the bluenette’s shoulder. Kusuo thinks it’s meant to keep Shun close and in place. Their faces are so close too. Far too close, in fact, for comfort and for Kusuo. Kuboyasu was grinning, his free hand doing a thumb up sign while Shun was positively beaming, all crescent eyed and sunny.
Too adorable, Kusuo thinks, Shun is too adorable for his own good.
Anyway, clearly, this is hardly the time for that. He still needs to find said adorable boyfriend first, and quickly, before he really does lose his damn mind and accidentally blow up the earth.
He uncrosses his eyes and stops the clairvoyance. He tries doing it multiple times on multiple people as well to see if it really was working. It’s working without a hitch, apparently, except on Shun.
He tries teleporting next.
He teleports to their dining room where he finds his dad lounging, drinking his morning coffee and reading the morning paper. He startles and almost spills his drink when Kusuo abruptly appeared before him, but before he could even open his mouth and ask Kusuo for help on something most likely stupid, Kusuo has already teleported himself safely back into his room.
He tried teleporting to Kuboyasu’s room next. He convinced himself it was to test his powers and absolutely not so he could turn the picture frame down. He wasn’t that petty. (He was.)
Kusuo allows himself a little victory smile before finally teleporting to Shun’s bedroom. Surely, there must be some clues here.
Shun’s bedroom is exactly like how it was since the last time Kusuo visited, which was just the other day. They were studying for mid-terms the whole week—yesterday being the last day of exams.
They went out for ramen with the guys after their last exam due to Nendou’s insistence. Nendou has a strong affinity towards ramen and, apparently, so does Saiko, who suspiciously accepted the invitation a little too eagerly for someone who constantly states that ramen is for the poor and was complaining the whole time.
After their post-exam celebration, Shun and Kusuo headed straight home. Kusuo knew Shun was tired from all the studying he’s done the whole week (what with his mother constantly at his throat about it—the only reason she ever agreed about her baby boy dating in high school was because it was with Saiki, the genius), so he convinced Shun that they should go out tomorrow instead, which is now, today.
But instead of the relaxing date he was looking forward to, he woke up with his boyfriend missing and his day just about royally ruined.
Kusuo had been wanting to spend time with Shun too, properly, without exams looming and stressing his boyfriend out.
Sounds of ringing filled the room. Kusuo reaches underneath the covers on Shun’s bed where the sound was coming from, only to find the bluenette’s phone, the lights blinking on and off as it vibrated. Nendou was calling.
Come to think of it, why has the thought of calling Shun never crossed Kusuo’s mind? He blankly stared at the phone, which by now has stopped ringing. Well, it would have been useless anyway.
The screen showed 14 missed calls from Nendou.
He answered the phone when it began ringing again. Yare yare, the guy really doesn’t know when to stop.
“Yo, Chibi—” Nendou starts.
“Shun can’t come to the phone right now,” Kusuo says via telepathy.
“Pal? Are you two toge—” He doesn’t let Nendou finish, abruptly ending the call. He doesn’t think it would be a good idea to let anyone know that Shun was missing. At least, not yet.
Just where is Shun and why did he leave his phone? Clearly, the bluenette successfully got home last night, Kusuo made sure of that when he walked him home. Did he leave after coming home? Or was he taken by someone?
Kusuo scrolled through Shun’s call log, having already learned Shun’s passcode a long time ago—their anniversary—which admittedly was Kusuo’s passcode as well.
Shun had flamed red when he found out they had matching passcodes, but later on became super ecstatic about it. Kusuo never once thought about changing it since.
The situation right now loomed over Kusuo like a nightmare. The fact that his boyfriend was missing and he, with his psychic powers and all, can’t even find him, were catching up to him and making his stomach sink.
The last time Shun went missing was when—
Realization hit Kusuo like a train the same moment he found a certain contact in Shun’s call log. How did Shun even have his number? What does he want this time?
Kusuo was furious.
Kusuke.
Without even a moment’s hesitation, Kusuo teleported himself all the way to England.
Kusuke was lounging in the living room, sipping tea and eating breakfast when Kusuo appeared. He wipes his mouth with a napkin before putting his teacup down. "My, my. You’re earlier than I expected," he says, not looking at Kusuo.
"Where’s Shun?" Kusuo asks immediately.
"What’s that? I can’t hear you, remember? Telepathy canceller," he says pointing at the canceller on his head, a teasing glint in his eyes. “You have to speak like a normal person.”
Kusuo looks murderous as he moves closer.
"Alright, okay. I get it," Kusuke says, throwing his hands up. "You want to know where Shun is, right?"
"Yes." Saiki glares at him but halts his steps.
"Don’t worry, he’s unharmed." Kusuke relaxes back in his seat and offers the other chair to Kusuo. "I just gave him a gift." Kusuke offers the tray of sweets to him, making him roll his eyes and sit down. "You know I would never harm him,” Kusuke adds, smiling teasingly and knowingly at Kusuo.
He’s unsure if Kusuke really likes Shun that way. It’s rather very hard to imagine his brother having any real interest in anyone ever. Not to mention the fact that he can’t read his mind at all, so there’s no surefire way of knowing what his true intentions are. It could very well all be a ploy just to rile him up.
He has no idea what happened between him and Shun the first time he kidnapped him, claiming Shun wasn’t worthy of Kusuo, and adamantly insisting he would find out what exactly had made Kusuo so smitten.
Kusuo was absolutely fuming. Not only did he take his boyfriend away, he also called him unworthy. In Kusuo’s book, that was already grounds for a beat up.
Kusuo knows Shun still had low self-esteem and self depreciating issues then. He often times catches the bluenette’s mind wondering why Kusuo was dating a guy like him, thinking he wasn’t good enough, that Kusuo can leave him any day.
It hurt him that Shun thought of himself like that. Of course, Kusuo did the best he could to assure him, showed him how Kusuo sees him. And slowly, it was getting better.
So he wasn’t all too happy to know that just because of his stupid older brother that could not, for the life of him, mind his own business, all their progress could possibly go down the drain.
Astonishingly, when he finally found them, Shun was unharmed, relaxed and happy. He thought Shun would have been depressed and mopey—might actually go as far as to break up with him (Kusuo knows too well just how dangerous Kusuke’s words are, has seen him break people just by talking). Instead, Shun was smiling warmly, a skip in his step as he stood up to hug Kusuo.
It gave him so much whiplash, but at least Shun wasn’t sad. He might really have to beat up his older brother if he ever broke him.
Kusuo was suspicious. Wasn’t his brother talking down on Shun just recently? Why was he looking and smiling fondly at him like that? He even went as far as to call him by his first name.
The events took such a hundred eighty degree turn in such a short time that it’s still a mystery for Kusuo, even until now.
When he finally went to settle things with him after they returned Shun home (Kusuke insisting he wanted to come), the blond began talking before he could even clarify things for the sake of his sanity. “As expected of you Kusuo, you always choose the best,” he started. “I might want him for myself, so be careful.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, actually speaking with his voice when Kusuke began walking out of their house, his jet already waiting for him outside.
Kusuke halted his steps and chuckled. For Kusuo to use his voice like that—
“Take care of him,” he had answered, not bothering to face him anymore. He resumed walking, “or I might.”
Kusuo remained planted there. He didn’t know what to think.
He didn’t know what to think then and he doesn’t know what to think now. Why was his brother kidnapping Shun again? And why hadn’t Kusuo’s powers worked this time?
He stood up. This was no time to be lounging around eating cake. He wants to see Shun.
Kusuke didn’t even look at him when he informed him where Shun was. Apparently, he was in his bedroom—on his bed. Kusuo glared at Kusuke.
Shun was sleeping when he entered. He moved closer, wanting to run his fingers through the other’s hair. Was it wise to wake him up now or would it be better to teleport him while he’s sleeping?
“He was really tired so I let him sleep here,” Kusuke says, having followed Kusuo inside. He glares at him again. Of course he kidnaps him when he needed rest.
He reaches for Shun’s hand, noticing a gold ring that wasn’t there before.
“Oh, that? That’s the gift,” Kusuke informs him, smiling smugly. Kusuo might really have to strangle him this time. “It’s a telepathy canceller.”
Kusuo whips his head to face him, shocked.
“I figured how hard it must be knowing your boyfriend can read your thoughts. It can damage him mentally, so I made him this.”
Kusuo looks at the ring. Honestly speaking, he personally loves reading Shun’s thoughts. It’s cute what Shun usually comes up with and besides, his boyfriend tends to overthink a lot. To know what Shun was thinking just so he can respond properly, is in all seriousness, pretty convenient.
“And the power imbalance in your relationship doesn’t sit too well with me,” Kusuke adds, serious now.
But he knows Kusuke was right. It might be convenient for him, but it must be hard for Shun. Knowing your thoughts were out there in the open can’t be too good.
There’s just one thing still bothering him though. The so-called telepathy canceller can only cancel telepathy, right? Clairvoyance should be fine. It even works on Kusuke, so why isn’t it working on Shun?
He doesn’t want to give up clairvoyance on his boyfriend too. It would absolutely drive him crazy—not knowing where Shun was. What if he was in trouble? He’d lose his damn mind.
“Oh right, I forgot,” Kusuke says, as if reading Kusuo’s mind, reaching towards Shun’s back. He showed Kusuo the tiny device that was attached to Shun just a moment ago. “Clairvoyance canceller,” he informs, smirking evilly.
It was so tiny, it’s unnoticeable at first sight.
Kusuke is scary in his own right.
“I don’t know why, but it somehow only works on Shun,” Kusuke says with a crazed look in his eyes, unblinking, having studied the device like crazy and still not figuring anything out.
“How do you know it worked on Shun?”
“You might be wondering how I know it works on Shun?” As always, he’s frighteningly accurate. “You couldn’t reach him using clairvoyance, right?”
Kusuo’s too tired to ask him how he knew that. His brother really is annoying. Did he bring Shun over here to experiment on?
Shun stirs, making them shift their focus over to him. Shun’s eyes slowly fluttered open.
“Kusuo?” Shun mumbled, sleep-laced. He was confused at first but immediately shot out of bed when he came to. “Kusuo!”
“Hey, baby,” Kusuo says via telepathy, reaching out so he can hold Shun’s hips and pulling him forward. “You okay?”
Shun blinks owlishly at him.
Oh right.
Telepathy doesn’t work.
If Shun decides to keep the canceller, does this mean Kusuo has to speak to him verbally from now on? Yare yare.
Kusuke, lacking any tact, laughs at them.
“Oh,” Shun says, realizing what’s happening and unsurely thumbs the ring. Oh. “I can take it off!” he says hurriedly, immediately reaching for the ring.
Kusuo gently touches his hand, making him halt. “You okay?” he asks softly, smiling at Shun.
Shun looks dumbfounded, this being the first time he actually heard Kusuo’s voice. He nods dumbly, still gaping.
“Let’s go home then.”
“Um—” Shun starts but Kusuo’s hold on his hand tighten, giving him an assuring squeeze.
He turns towards Kusuke boredly. “You need anything more?”
Kusuke smirks, waving his hand. He didn’t voice out how both Kusuo and Shun are still in their pajamas.
“Bye, Shun,” he says instead, smiling towards Shun.
Shun stares at Kusuo before turning towards Kusuke.
“Bye—” Kusuo teleports them.
—Kusuke-san.”
Shun giggles and slaps Kusuo’s shoulder when he realized he was already at Kusuo’s bedroom.
Kusuo smiles and lies down on his bed. It’s still morning and he’s already exhausted.
Shun was standing awkwardly at the foot of the bed. He clearly wants them to talk about it—the elephant in the room.
Kusuo opens his arms for him instead. They can talk after. Right now, he just wants to relax and snuggle with his boyfriend, like he was supposed to. He deserves this.
Shun smiles at the invitation and happily collapses on top of him.
*ೃ .
Kusuo wakes up first. He reaches for his phone on the nightstand, which he remembered wasn’t there, so he reaches for his pockets next, fishing out Shun’s phone as well.
They only have two hours until lunch time, and they haven’t even had proper breakfast yet. It seems they’ve slept well through the morning, after the whole fiasco.
Shun was still sleeping beside him, his breath coming out even. Kusuo smiles and gives a soft peck on his boyfriend’s forehead. He quietly got out of bed, deciding to take a shower before Shun wakes up.
Shun would most likely want to talk about the telepathy canceller ring later, and Kusuo knows Shun would let him decide everything, knows Shun wholeheartedly trusts Kusuo, and knows Shun would completely accept what Kusuo wants.
But Kusuo also knows this is a decision they must make together. He wants to take into consideration Shun’s wants, needs and well-being, and he has to insist on this, make Shun understand. This could very well change their relationship dynamics after all.
“Yeah, I’m with him,” he hears Shun say as he was finishing up.
Kusuo gets out of the bathroom, already having changed inside. He catches Shun talking on the phone—with Nendou, Kusuo checked. He’s sitting on the bed, back propped up by Kusuo’s pillows against the headboard.
“It’s not like that, you idiot!” Shun bellows, face turning beet red. He can only guess what Nendou was teasing him with.
Kusuo goes closer to him. Shun, having noticed him, blushes harder. Kusuo smiles playfully before sitting at the edge of the bed, in front of Shun.
“Anyway, I have to go,” Shun says, staring at Kusuo. “Bye.”
They stay quiet for a while.
“You hungry?” Kusuo asks, knowing Shun was still wearing the ring. Shun realizes this and began idly thumbing the canceller.
“I can take it off,” Shun says, staring down at his hands.
Kusuo reaches out and covers Shun’s hand with his own. “It’s fine. We can talk about it later, okay?” Shun stares at him before smiling, turning his hand—palm up, so he can hold Kusuo’s hand in his. “So, lunch?”
“Yes, please,” Shun answers, pouting. “But I wanna shower first.” He scrunches his nose.
Kusuo smiles at him before teleporting them both to Shun’s bedroom.
“Wait here, okay? I’m gonna be real quick.” Shun stands and gets a set of fresh clothes before heading to his en suite bathroom.
They finally head out half past 1.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Nendou and the guys are at the pool and wanted us to come,” Shun informs him. “I told him we were busy.” He looks at Kusuo. “Is that okay? We can still go there if you want.”
“No, you did the right thing,” Kusuo replies, making Shun smile. He’s certainly not in the mood to go to the pool or hang out with them today. Besides, he’s always happy just being with Shun.
“I’m so hungry. Where do you want to eat?” Shun asks, swinging their entwined hands.
Kusuo, relaxed and contented, leads him to the first decent restaurant he sees.
*ೃ .
The familiar melody of I Believe in You—the ringtone Kusuo set specifically for Shun—fills the otherwise quiet room.
The phone on the nightstand floats steadily, Michael Bublé crooning all the while, until it’s in Kusuo’s hand. He groggily checks the time, 3:03 AM. He blinks twice before answering it.
"Hey," he says via telepathy, as what he was accustomed. He’s greeted by silence, his cogs taking a while to work. Oh, right, the canceller. “Baby,” he tries again, his voice croaking from having just woken up.
“Oh shit!” He hears Shun curse on the other line, making his eyebrows furrow. “Of course you’re sleeping, I’m an idiot. I’m sorry, baby, I’ll call later.”
“No, wait,” Kusuo stops him from hanging up. He sits up, rubbing his eyes. “What is it, Shun?”
“It’s nothing. It can wait,” Shun says hurriedly. “You should sleep.”
“Says you,” Kusuo counters. “Have you even slept?”
“Well…”
Kusuo sighs. “Shun—”
“I’m sorry!” Shun says immediately. “I—”
“Where are you?”
“Huh? Oh, in my room. Anyway, liste—”
“Okay, I’m coming.”
“Wha—”
Wasting no time, Kusuo teleports himself to Shun’s bedroom. Shun screams at Kusuo’s abrupt appearance beside him, falling from the bed.
“Shun?” Kusuo calls.
“What the hell?” came Shun’s outburst from below.
“You wanted to talk, right?” Kusuo asks lightly.
“Well, yeah. But still!” Shun says, adamant, standing up and dusting off his clothes even though he always kept his room ridiculously spotless. “You could have warned me,” he continues, pouty.
“I did,” Kusuo answers, as a matter of fact. “And stop shouting.”
Shun might be home alone right now but it’s still too early for noise and bustling, too early for the world to wake up. And Kusuo’s sure the neighbors won’t appreciate that.
Shun pouts even more before righting himself in front of Kusuo. Kusuo moves towards the edge of the bed until his legs dangle before stepping them firmly on the ground. He looks up at Shun. “So?” he questions, beckoning him to start.
They talked about it. They were on the concluding moments of their date when Shun softly broached the subject, giving Kusuo the look that they really should talk about it then, that Kusuo has glossed over it enough.
Of course, the first thing Shun said was: “I can take it off”, moving to remove the ring. Kusuo stopped him, proceeding instead to explain things to him thoroughly—things that are, in Kusuo’s opinion, worth thinking hard over.
He had asked Shun to think it over longer, along with the additional information Kusuo just graced him with, one last time. And although Shun was hesitant, Kusuo still somehow managed to convince him.
Or that’s what Kusuo would have hoped. Because here they are right now, only a few hours later, not even a day longer. Kusuo thinks maybe Shun doesn’t understand the weight this one decision has or what it could mean in their relationship.
Either way, it seems Shun is done thinking it over for now and Kusuo can’t push him for more without looking like he’s just buying time and running away from the situation altogether. Whatever Shun decides to do, Kusuo just has to alleviate it the best he can.
“So I thought it over,” Shun starts.
“So much so that you couldn’t sleep?” Kusuo asks him. “Have you been thinking all night?”
“Yeah,” Shun whispers and then fixes Kusuo a levelled stare. “And I want you to hear me out this time.”
Kusuo watches the bluenette’s eyes glaze with determination before he nods, steeling himself. “Okay.”
“I can take it off,” Shun says, holding Kusuo’s eyes in his own, wanting to be taken seriously this time. Kusuo holds himself from uttering a word, holds off any defiance from rolling off his tongue, and lets Shun continue. “From the start, up until now, my answer has always been the same.”
Kusuo agrees solemnly.
“You said it might not be good for my mental state, right? Kusuke said the same thing to me. You both think it’s scary and stressful for me knowing you can read my mind all the time, right?”
Kusuo listens intently. Good. It’s good that Shun actually listened.
“But Kusuo, you’ve been reading my mind way before we even got together, when I still called you Saiki and I was still Kaidou to you. Of course I didn’t know you could read my thoughts then, but even after you told me you could, I was surprised but I wasn’t scared. And even until now that I know my thoughts are out there in the open, I’m not scared at all. I’m not scared because it’s you. I will never be scared of you.”
Kusuo stares at him, mouth slightly gaping. He doesn’t know what to say or how to react to this.
“How could I?” Shun gives him a smile and fixes him a soft look. “When you’ve been protecting us—me, the whole time. How could I even be scared?”
The silence settles in for a few seconds before Shun continues.
“Power imbalance? I don’t care about any of that. I’m offended that you would even think of giving yourself a handicap just so it’s easier for me,” Shun accuses him, but one look at him and Kusuo knows he’s kidding. “Have you forgotten I’m the Jet Black Wings? Hey, stop laughing!”
Shun complains but his grin is as wide as Kusuo’s. Shun has thankfully gotten over his eighth grade syndrome a while back. And even though Shun forced Kusuo and their friends to never speak of it again, they still bring it up from time to time.
Shun continues once their mirth has settled. “One step closer to being a normal couple?” Shun asks. “Who cares what normal is for other people? This is normal for us. This is our normal.” He steps closer and cups Kusuo’s face with his hands. “Besides, how can I choose normal when I can have you instead?” Shun says softly, gently, reverently, like he’s speaking directly to Kusuo’s very soul. And Kusuo thinks that maybe he is. Kusuo would let him, after all.
Shun smiles sweetly and Kusuo feels his chest constrict.
“Sure, there are still things I want to hide from you, but only because they’re embarrassing. The only thing I really strongly wanted to hide from you before were my developing feelings.” Shun closes his eyes and chuckles. “But you already knew, even before I acknowledged them myself.” He drops his hands and steps back. Kusuo instantly misses the warmth of Shun’s hands on his face. “You always knew what I was thinking. You—” Shun heaves a breath and swallows. He focuses his gaze on the floor. “You’ve heard my darker thoughts. Ugly, daunting, superficial, selfish… thoughts”
Before Kusuo can even reach out and stop him from going downhill, Shun has already lifted his head up to stare directly at Kusuo, his features happy and relaxed, devoid of any ill emotions Kusuo was expecting.
“But you loved me.” Shun’s smile wobbles. “You still love me,” he whispers.
“Shun—” Kusuo’s throat is parched. “Yes,” is all he manages to say, frantically reaching out for Shun. He wants to say more, a million other things, to reassure him, to comfort him, to protect him.
Shun giggles, reaching out as well and holds Kusuo’s hands in his. “Do you get it now? The very thing you said that’s supposed to give me insecurity, makes me feel loved instead.”
Kusuo’s hold on Shun’s hands are tight, as if finding cracks, making sure Shun isn’t lying for his sake. But Shun’s determination is unwavering, his eyes earnest, his smile genuine, his posture relaxed.
So Kusuo concedes. He gives a sigh and concedes. His hold on Shun loosens, his whole body eases and sags with relief.
Shun uses this opportunity to remove the canceller from his finger. Kusuo surreptitiously reads his mind in a last ditch effort to find out if he’s lying.
There weren’t any traces of doubts or fears or lies. Maybe, Kusuo thought wrong. Maybe Shun really had thought things through.
When he watches Shun—so bright and positive and beautiful, he knows he’s fallen for him all over again.
“So are you going to give it back?” Kusuo asks.
Shun hums, examining the ring over. “I think I’m gonna keep it,” he answers then turns to Kusuo. “Might be useful for some… things.”
Kusuo raises an eyebrow before tugging Shun close by pulling at his hips. “Hm? Like what?” Kusuo keeps tugging until Shun is straddling him. He slides his hands upwards and places them snugly on his waist.
Surprises, for one, Shun thinks.
“Surprises, huh?” Kusuo smirks. He wouldn’t let himself admit it out loud but he sure missed being able to read Shun’s mind.
Shun gasps then groans. So much for surprises. Kusuo can read my mind now.
“What else?” Kusuo asks him, chuckling.
Shun does his best to clear his mind, hell-bent on not thinking about it. But he should know by now that it never really works. Just how many times has he tried suppressing his thoughts, trying to think of something else—anything else—just so he can surprise Kusuo or hide the things he deems Kusuo absolutely must not know? A lot. And not a single time has he succeeded.
When you think about it, you think about it. When you think about not thinking about it, well, the more you think about it.
Even so, Shun does his best.
Hide sexual thoughts about you, his mind supplies, ever the traitor.
“But I like your sexual thoughts. Love it.” Of course Kusuo wouldn’t let this pass.
Shun gasps again, face flaming red before covering his face with his hands. He buries his face on Kusuo’s chest and groans. Shun really, really wants to die, like, right now. Right now, would be nice. He wants to shrivel up and die.
He has always known, it has always been in the back of his mind, that Kusuo knew of his concupiscent thoughts, but hearing the confirmation from Kusuo himself—he’s beyond mortified.
To reiterate, Shun absolutely wants to die right now.
Kusuo chuckles and Shun flushes some more. “Love,” Kusuo says, “It’s fine.” He grabs Shun shoulders and pushes him back. Shun cautiously peeks between his fingers at Kusuo’s face. Kusuo smirks at him and Shun already knows what’s coming. “I told you, I love it.”
“Oh my God!” Shun moans, curling in on himself. He’s still straddling Kusuo so his head ends up buried on Kusuo’s chest again.
Kusuo gladly throws his arms around Shun, chest heaving because he’s laughing so much.
“That’s it. I’m wearing the ring!”