Work Text:
Come over.
Alarm bells ring in Hifumi’s head after work. It isn't often that Gentaro asks something in such a straightforward manner, let alone this late at night, yet the text he receives holds but two simple words. Unaccompanied by an explanation, Hifumi could only heed Gentaro's request while worrying about his beloved.
The door to Gentaro's apartment opens with a mere knock, and Hifumi steps in with unease creeping upon his skin. Nothing seems out of place as he heads towards Gentaro's room, but he knows better than to let his guard down. Carefully, he slides the shoji screen and —
— what greets him is a few knocked over bottles of sake and one Yumeno Gentaro face flat on his futon.
"Gentaro-kun...?"
"Hrm...?" Slow and languid, Gentaro picks his head up. He squints, gaze unfocused. "...Fumi?"
"Are you okay, Gentaro-kun?"
At the sound of his name, Gentaro breaks into a grin — a rare sight, indeed. Constantly hiding behind a mask, a smile worn so freely makes him appear his age, if not younger. Admittedly, Hifumi wishes he could see this sight more often.
"Hifumi...!" Gentaro says, and as if remembering who he is, he tones down his thrill with a cough. "Yes, I'm perfectly fine. What brings you here tonight?"
"You asked me to come, didn't you?"
Gentaro blinks. He gasps. Eyes widening, he flushes pink before averting his gaze. "Ah, my apologies. I'd sent that message by accident."
Of course, Hifumi doesn't miss any of Gentaro's tells. Too much alcohol poses problems, certainly, but it has its uses in moderation. Loosening a liar's lips is one of them.
"Well, it's no matter," Hifumi says, taking a seat beside Gentaro and pecking his cheek. "I'm here now, aren't I?"
Unable to look at him, Gentaro says, "I suppose."
Lifting himself up, a familiar suit jacket slides off Gentaro's shoulders. Combined with the sake that Hifumi had bought for him and Gentaro's bashfulness, the pieces click together. Try as Gentaro might to hide his true feelings, parsing those emotions is a part of Hifumi's duties as a host.
Chuckling, Hifumi fiddles with the jacket’s sleeve. It’s one of many that he’s left in Gentaro’s closet should he be in a hurry. "Did you miss me that much, Gentaro-kun?"
"...No," Gentaro says, tugging it closer. "I was rather bored, is all. I've completed my work for today and neither Dice nor Ramuda were available, so I took it upon myself to enjoy a drink or two."
"This is more than 'a drink or two,'" Hifumi says, amused as he clears the space of Gentaro's drunken mess.
Droopy eyes following his every move, Gentaro hums. "Mayhaps three."
Hifumi lets him have that, a comfortable hush falling over. The bottles lined up at the side, Hifumi can at last devote his attention to his beloved. He curls up around Gentaro and ever so easily, Gentaro nuzzles his face into his chest. Ringed fingers threading through brunette tresses, a content sigh seeps through his vest.
It's been a while, now that Hifumi thinks about it, since he's held Gentaro like this. Between the festivities at his club and the deadlines awaiting Gentaro, they haven't had much time to spend together. Hifumi has been able to drop by and give Gentaro a bento and a kiss for the day, yes, but that doesn't replace their house dates in the slightest. Clinging onto him, the way Gentaro thumbs his necklace tells Hifumi that they share the same thoughts.
"I've been neglecting you, haven't I, my love?" Hifumi says quietly.
Gentaro stills. He pulls back, his brow furrowing a second too late to be natural.
"Don't be ridiculous. We're both busy adults, so there are bound to be periods where we don't see each other." A pause. A quiver underlays Gentaro’s voice when he says, "In fact, I've barely noticed your absence."
"Even so, that's no excuse to leave you alone." As if to mirror his words, Hifumi presses Gentaro’s palm to his chest, saying, "You're number one in my heart, after all."
Fingers clutch at his vest. "Please, there’s no need to offer me such bunk. You’re off the clock, are you not?"
"I may not be at work, but that doesn’t change how I’m serving my one and only Gentaro," Hifumi says, cupping Gentaro's cheeks. Finally, he gets to see those beautiful emerald hues up close. "As your lover, it's shameful of me to have left you on your own for so long."
Closing the gap that separates them, Hifumi's lips meet Gentaro's — soft and sweet, the overwhelming taste of strawberries, grapes, and peaches. How easy it would be to deepen their kiss right there and then, especially when Gentaro melts into him so, but he's taken enough advantage of the hints of honesty that’s already slipped through. Besides, Hifumi prefers to make Gentaro spill the truth with his own touch.
He breaks apart, breathing a laugh at the small whine that escapes Gentaro. Forehead resting against forehead, Hifumi murmurs, "Allow me to make it up to you."
Gentaro’s Adam's apple bobs. "’Make it up,’ how?"
"Any way you wish," Hifumi says, thumbs caressing Gentaro’s cheeks. "I'm all yours."
Light and listless, Gentaro’s arms wrap around Hifumi’s neck. Irises roaming over him as if weighing his words, Hifumi uses this chance to admire how vulnerable Gentaro can be. Few and far between are the moments he gets to see this side of him, anyhow.
After a spell, Gentaro drags him down. There’s no real force in his pull, what with his sluggishness, but Hifumi follows him nonetheless as he falls back onto the futon. Pressing up against his body, no space left between them, Gentaro burrows himself into his embrace.
"Stay with me," Gentaro says softly. Even softer still, "I've missed you."
Placing a kiss atop Gentaro's head, Hifumi holds him tightly. "I wouldn’t leave you for the world, Gentaro-kun."
(bonus)
"Go~od morning, Gen-chan!"
A groan fills the room. Giggling as he skips over to the lump laying on the futon, Hifumi shakes Gentaro with a little more force than he should.
"Wakey, wakey~ Breakfast is ready!"
Gentaro tries to swat him away. He misses, but his loss is Hifumi's gain. Hifumi grabs his hand and jiggles Gentaro’s arm like a pen that’s run out of ink.
"Gen-chan, I made oyakodon, just the way you like it~"
Poking out from underneath the covers, Gentaro shoots him a glare — a complete one-eighty from earlier; the usual distant Gentaro. So not cute. "Shut up. You're giving me a migraine."
"Maybe you wouldn't be having such a bad hangover if you didn't down all that sake!" At that, Gentaro winces and Hifumi has the decency to lower his voice. "Sorry~ Here, take this."
Helping Gentaro sit up, he uncaps the water bottle he'd brought and hands him some pain relievers. Gentaro takes it slowly, but Hifumi is more than happy to simply stay beside him, running a hand up and down his back. All finished, Gentaro heaves a sigh. He glances at him before looking away, ears red.
“This is hardly an acceptable apology,” he mutters as he nestles into his side.
Still, Hifumi smiles and kisses Gentaro’s cheek. “Whatever you say~”
Honesty isn't Gentaro's strong suit, for sure, but he knows words aren't everything when it comes to him.