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College drained him. Lately, assignments piled up and midterms loomed a few weeks away, bringing with it the threat of deadlines and tests in every class.
Natsuo dropped his bag by the door as soon as it shut. He sighed at the leftover takeout containers from the previous night and the mess of textbooks and notes strewn across the entire apartment. He swept the old takeout into the trash and started a pile of notes on the counter.
If Fuyumi saw this mess, she’d scold him. He chuckled at the thought.
A movement in the corner of his eye startled him. On the couch, Tomura sat with his Switch. Red eyes peeked at him over the paused game, and one hand held the switch, while the other scratched at his neck habitually.
Natsuo scowled at the villain. “Stop that.”
Tomura blinked, unsure what the other meant. Natsuo let out a breath that almost sounded amused. He stepped over the mess of notes and textbooks to sit next to his boyfriend.
Tomura lowered the switch, before turning it off, and leaning over to set it on the coffee table. He curled in on himself and brought his hand back up to his neck.
Natsuo caught his wrist gently. “Stop that,” he repeated. He tugged Tomura’s hand away, bringing it to his lips to place a soft kiss on his knuckles. “Stop hurting yourself.”
Natsuo’s voice was soft and caring, and the words filled Tomura with a feeling he didn’t know the name of, but made him furrow his eyebrows and look away, his cheeks warm.
If all else was a lie, and he couldn’t put his faith in anyone or anything, Tomura knew that he could always trust in the fact that Natsuo loved him, and that he truly cared. He cared when no one else did. Despite the fact that Tomura had a horrible past, and still did horrible things, he knew Natsuo loved him more than words could say. It could remain unspoken for the rest of time, but Tomura would always know, and it was enough.
That’s what had initially drawn him in when they met by accident. Natsuo had been looking for his older brother after finding something that led him to realize his brother was still alive.
He knew that he’d never say it out loud, but Tomura knew that he never wanted to know what it would be like to not have Natsuo in his life. Remembering a time before Natsuo was strange. He would definitely never say it out loud. Stupid mushy feelings.
“Hey, where’d you go?” Natsuo asked with an air of amusement. Tomura blinked at him again, having been pulled back to the present. “You disappeared.” He smiled softly, melting Tomura’s heart.
“I was just- thinking.” Tomura said, Natsuo’s eyes searching his face.
“Right,” he said, seemingly satisfied with whatever he found there. “Well, back to the scratching-” He shifted, looking unsure of himself. “Look, I know that your scars are a part of who you are. And I love them for that, just like I love every part of you. But, I don’t want you hurting yourself more. I know you don’t even think about it most of the time,” He sighed. “It’s just- you’ve been hurt enough, haven’t you?”
Tomura listened quietly, and he watched as Natsuo’s eyes filled with concern. If he had to name a list of the things he loved about the other (without simply saying ‘everything’), Natsuo’s compassion would be the first on the list.
Tomura smiled, soft enough that it could easily be missed. Natsuo caught it and returned a smile of his own.
“Just promise me you’ll try?” There was a hopeful look that made Tomura’s insides turn to goo. How could he say no to Natsuo, anyway? How could anyone say no to Natsuo?
He nodded. “Yeah. Promise.” his smile grew into a lopsided grin, and he could pinpoint the exact moment Natsuo’s insides melted just like Tomura’s had a few seconds earlier.
“Good.” He reached over and grabbed one of the game controllers on the table. He passed it to Tomura and grabbed another for himself.
Tomura let himself uncurl, the tension draining from his body. He pressed his shoulder to Natsuo’s, who didn’t seem to mind, as he continued, ”So, what should we play today, player one?”