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Ryoma arrives home a quarter past nine. The sun has long since set, leaving only moonlight filtering through the windows of his cozy duplex. He removes his shoes in the hall, sliding them off and kicking them against the wall with a pair of soft thumps. Bit more careless than he usually is, but he's bone-tired. Practice had run longer than ever, no thanks to Kaito showing up at the end and challenging Ryoma to "mano y mano tennis combat," whatever the hell that meant. He'd beaten Kaito handily, and while that made him feel decently accomplished, now he just wants to crawl into bed and sleep.
Walking into the living room, it seems his partner has a head-start on him in that regard. There's an old-timey crime serial on the TV, illuminating the dark room with flickering sepia. Shuichi is curled up on his side on the couch, head resting on one throw pillow and arms wrapped around another, sleeping peacefully. Ryoma approaches with quiet, careful steps and looks down at him for a moment.
"Geez," Ryoma huffs, shaking his head. "Barely even 9 and you're already out like this...how late did you stay up working last night, anyway?"
Shuichi doesn't respond. His breathing is slow, peaceful, and his twilight-colored hair fans out over the pillow messily. Something about the scene feels...fragile. Like if Ryoma reaches out the wrong way, it might shatter.
...Not supposed to be thinking like that anymore, he reminds himself, in almost a grumbling tone. He sits down by Shuichi's torso, careful not to accidentally touch him and wake him up. Then, he's quiet, listening to the vague murmuring of hardboiled detectives from the TV, the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock Shuichi's uncle had given to him, and the soft, familiar snoring of Shuichi himself. Even just a year ago, he would've never expected to be living this...peaceful, domestic life. With a relationship that feels real and permanent, and not just like a temporary and ill-considered indulgence.
But things are different now. The mafia is on the back foot after an investigation into their corruption and influence over the courts, spearheaded by the Ultimate Detective and spotlighted by the celebrity Ultimate Astronaut. And the courts, eager to prove their innocence in the entire affair, had offered Ryoma something he'd never thought possible: clemency. Parole. A life outside prison. So here he is: freshly graduated, looking forward to college. Safe and sound, supposedly.
There is good reason to believe he's safe now, from the mafia at least. As much as they might want to send a message, by this point, they've probably learned tangoing with Ultimates isn't worth it. If they killed Ryoma, they'd have the Ultimate Detective on their case. If they killed Shuichi, they'd have the public pull of the Ultimate Astronaut and the deadly ruthlessness of the Ultimate Assassin to contend with. Besides, killing either of them would bring that highly-publicized case and the criminal underground back into the limelight, and the mafia needs that less than anything. Doesn't mean he doesn't think he could wake up to Shuichi's corpse next to him someday, but at least he doesn't expect it. Mostly.
He startles out of his thoughts when a hand brushes his thigh. Looking over, he sees Shuichi, one arm outstretched towards him, pale golden eyes watching him through heavy-lidded eyelashes.
"You're awake," Ryoma says, voice still low and hushed.
"Mm," Shuichi grunts vaguely. Well, mostly awake, Ryoma thinks, and he stifles an amused smirk as Shuichi rubs at his eyes blearily. "When'd you get back...?"
"...Were you waiting up for me?" Ryoma shakes his head, but this time he can't stop a fond smile from quirking at his lips. "Wasn't that long ago. Practice ran late today, that's all. I probably should've texted you...that's my bad."
"It's alright. I just got caught up watching this show I used to watch as a kid and then...well, you know." Shuichi yawns and stretches, then sits up, carefully moving his legs past Ryoma as he does. "Have you eaten?"
"Come to think of it, no," Ryoma says, frowning. "Must've gotten so wrapped up in practice, I didn't even notice."
"Sounds like you had fun, then," Shuichi says, with a small smile.
"'Fun'...yeah." Ryoma mulls over the idea. "Yeah, I guess I did have fun."
Shuichi's smile softens, and he leans down to press a kiss to Ryoma's temple. The gesture is simple, maybe even a little embarrassing, but something about it and the grandfather clock and the TV and the couch and everything else that's his, that's theirs, makes Ryoma's heart swell dangerously in his chest. He hasn't had enough time to get used to this.
"I didn't eat either," Shuichi admits, breath warm against Ryoma's ear. "I'll make us both something."
As Shuichi moves to get up, Ryoma grabs his shirt.
"Hey," he says, to Shuichi's questioning glance back. "Lean down a sec."
Shuichi's eyes light up with understanding, and he dips his head down to Ryoma's level. He lets Ryoma close the distance and kiss him himself, though. That's something (well, one of many things) he appreciates about Shuichi: he's considerate. He's conscious of all the complexities that come with Ryoma being as short as he is, and he makes it easier to do things like this without taking all the initiative himself. Ryoma's still a man, all said, and having his partner be the one taking charge and doting on him all the time just...wouldn't be cool.
The kiss is long and unhurried; Ryoma takes his time to quietly savor the feeling of his partner's mouth against his, the softness of Shuichi’s hair between his fingers, and the small, contented noise Shuichi makes when he deepens the kiss just a bit. It feels...comfortable. Like coming home. What a weird thing for a guy like him to have again.
He pulls back after a few moments, letting his fingers unwind from Shuichi's hair and come to a rest on the nape of his neck. Shuichi's eyes open with slow, confused blinks, and he frowns just slightly.
"Got a little caught up in the moment there," Ryoma says, a little apologetically. "I should probably let you go make food."
"...Ah. Right," Shuichi says, laughing sheepishly. Not especially cool of him to tease Shuichi like that, but eh. He'll make it up to him later, he's sure.
They have all the time in the world now, after all.