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It was just another night in Kamurocho. Rain had passed, so the air was hot and humid, making Kiryu’s clothes stick to his sweaty skin. He walked aimlessly, vaguely towards the direction of Serena yet with another goal in his mind. Whatever that goal was, however, he didn’t really know.
After a while, he heard sudden low footsteps behind him, and a louder familiar voice that made his spine perk up.
“Kiryu-chan! Found ya!”
He hid the smile making its way onto his face and slowly turned around. However, immediately, he could tell there was something... off, about Majima today.
“Majima-san.”
To anyone else, Majima would’ve looked perfectly fine. But Kiryu, who was very observant when it came to Majima, saw what was different than usual about him. His shoulders were sagged down—as if he was tired—and his walk had a slight limp that was just barely noticeable. His eye had a more prominent eye bag under it, and he just overall didn’t seem as excited as he usually did whenever his eye landed on Kiryu.
Majima frowned at him suspiciously, “What’re ya lookin’ so closely at, ehh, Kiryu-chan? Do I have somethin’ on my face, or is it just too beautiful for ya?”
“Ah—no,” Kiryu looked away, a bashful hand making its way to the back of his neck.
Majima smirked and started walking towards him, holding his bat tighter in his hand and getting in his signature fighting stance.
Something in Kiryu felt off about fighting Majima like this, though.. He looked pretty tired and he didn’t want to fight him like this. Kiryu turned his back toward Majima and started walking away.
“Haww?! Whaddya think yer doin’, Kiryu-chan?”
“Go get some rest, Majima-san.”
There was silence. Then, a low chuckle. Kiryu paused and turned around.
Majima sighed with a grin planted on his face, “Ahh, Kiryu-chan. I can never sneak past ya, huh? It was stupid of me to think ya wouldn’t notice.” He looked into Kiryu’s eyes for a prolonged time, then abruptly dropped the bat he was holding onto the street. It made a loud clacking sound as it rolled around.
“Carry me, won’tcha? Since I’m soooo tired,” he teasingly opened his arms and beckoned him over.
Kiryu tensed, eyes widening in confusion and surprise because... what? Was this a joke? Or did Majima really want him to carry—...
He didn’t know what was happening at this point, but he decided to play along with it.
“Alright,” Kiryu walked towards Majima, whose eyebrows rose up in surprise. Maybe he didn’t think Kiryu would actually agree with his request. He chuckled at the thought; then why ask him in the first place? He knew Kiryu could be unpredictable with him (which was mostly because Majima gave him an unexplainable surge of confidence whenever they were together.)
“What’re ya laughin’ at...” Majima mumbled, not really asking, before Kiryu grabbed onto his legs and lower back and hoisted him up, carrying him bridal style. Majima wrapped his arms around his neck and rested his head comfortably on his shoulder, sighing in relaxation.
“Ahh, this is the good stuff! Almost better than fightin’ ya, Kiryu-chan,” he laughed. Kiryu felt his warm breath against his neck. He tried not to think too hard about it before his heart flatlined.
He started walking before remembering Majima’s lonely bat lying in a puddle behind him. Majima noticed. “Don’t worry ‘bout it. That ain’t the bat I usually use, just a random one I found lyin’ around.”
‘Just a random one he found,’ huh. Sure. Kiryu felt bad for whatever poor soul that bat belonged to. He kept walking, ignoring the confused looks he kept getting from passersby. Then, he realized he didn’t have a destination.
“Oh, Majima-san—“
“Drop the formality, yeesh. Pisses me off,” he felt his voice reverberate into his shoulder.
“Alright. Majima. Where do we go?”
“Hah..! The hell am I supposed to know? Yer the driver.”
Now, wasn’t that helpful. What else was he expecting from Majima?
Well, he didn’t know where Majima lived, and he didn’t feel like explaining why he was carrying Goro Majima in his arms to the Majima family today (even he didn’t actually know why), so his own apartment it is.
He adjusted his grip on Majima and kept walking, his steps occasionally splashing against the puddles on the ground. He smelled smoke and Majima’s cologne, a combination so familiarly dangerous, yet he couldn’t get enough of it. He quietly enjoyed this proximity while it was still acceptable.
—
As he neared his apartment, Kiryu found it strange how Majima hadn’t said another word; usually, the man was extremely noisy whenever he was with Kiryu. His own thoughts had kept him too busy to notice before. Looking down, he was surprised to see Majima’s eye closed and his mouth slightly parted. He was asleep. His lips looked slightly chapped and dry, perhaps he could wet them with—
No.
Kiryu blamed his overactive imagination on his exhaustion and shoved those thoughts down where they usually went, never to be spoken about.
He cleared his mind and walked faster to his front door, now close enough to see it. He was pleasantly surprised that Majima had actually let his guard down around him to the point where he fell asleep. This unspoken trust they had allowed him to be vulnerable around Kiryu, and that gave Kiryu a warm feeling in his chest.
He struggled to insert his key into the lock while carrying Majima, but eventually the door was opened and he walked inside. He shut the door with his foot and shivered as he got used to the warmer temperature. Not bothering to turn on the light, he walked into his room and gently set Majima down on the futon, which was still laid out from last night.
He stopped as Majima grumbled in his sleep, waited a couple seconds for any movement, and then relaxed. He didn’t know why, but he felt like it’d be embarrassing to be caught in the middle of... this. Whatever ‘this’ even is. He grabbed the blanket and spread it on top of Majima, and then awkwardly stood there looking at him.
...Now what?
He couldn’t exactly lay down next to him—that would be crossing a line. Maybe he should just go to Serena and spend the night there. This was overall a stupid situation and he could use a drink.
He started to walk away, reaching in his pocket for his pack of cigarettes—
A sleepy voice interrupted him.
“Kiryu-chan?”
Ahh. Shit. He tensed and turned around.
“...Yeah?”
Majima slowly sat up, leaning on his hands as he looked around, probably trying to figure out where he was. Silently, Kiryu realized he’d never had Majima come over to his apartment.
“This yer apartment?” he mumbled and laid back down, scooting to the side and cozying himself up with the blanket. Kiryu nodded in response.
“C’mere, Kiryu-chan. Can’t sleep outside, can ya?”
Kiryu froze. Was... Was Majima really asking this? This wasn’t a dream, right? He wasn’t gonna wake up in the middle of the street because Majima had actually hit him with his bat earlier, right?
“...Kiryu-chan?”
If he weren’t about to lose his mind right now he would’ve thought Majima sounded worried.
“Oh. Yeah. Yeah, alright,” but he didn’t move. He took a deep breath and felt lightheaded as he started to walk back to the futon. Sitting down, he was careful of where he placed his hands so he didn’t make the situation even more awkward for himself. The blanket fell on top of him, and he laid down a few inches away from Majima. From here, he could feel the warmth of the other’s body. He badly wanted that warmth to be the only thing he ever felt.
Majima chuckled, “Ahh, Kiryu,”
His name.
“D’ya hate me this much? Not even a goodnight hug,” he grumbled.
What? Kiryu didn’t hate him—he better get that ingrained into his skull. And did he really want a hug, or was he just messing with him?
“I don’t hate you, and you know that,” Kiryu said with a confident tone. He meant it. Hell, he felt the opposite way, really.
A sigh. “Yeah. Yeah, ‘course ya don’t. I don’t either, really,” Majima turned his head toward him. That eye pierced through him, as if right then and there Majima knew all his secrets and deepest desires.
He continued, “Quite the opposite, really.”
Kiryu frowned. Did Majima have the power to read his mind?
He guessed it was evident that Majima didn’t actually hate him, but to what extent did he like him? Was it as much as Kiryu did? He wasn’t going to get his hopes up.
“What do you mean by that?” Kiryu asked softly, but Majima just kept staring into his eyes, as if he was searching for something. After seconds or minutes—Kiryu really couldn’t tell—Majima slowly looked away.
He gave a self-deprecating smile, “Ya wanna know the real reason I saved ya at those battin’ cages, Kiryu?”
Well, this was suddenly going in another direction. He wasn’t complaining, though.
He nodded. When Majima saved him, he felt mixed emotions. He felt warmth that Majima would protect him without even thinking, but fear overpowered it. Fear that Majima wouldn’t make it. Fear that Majima would die trying to protect him one day. That’s the last thing he wanted.
After he’d left the batting cages, he couldn’t stop worrying about him. Barely even slept. He was confused as to why it mattered to him so much, but the next time he saw Majima ready for a fight, it all came to him—the reason he felt such a deep connection to him...
“‘Cause I didn’t want to lose ya. Not anymore... I was empty all those years you were gone. I always kept an eye out for ya, y’know. And when I heard you were back,” he chuckled, “I felt like I had a good reason to live again.”
Silence. “What?” Kiryu asked. He didn’t know where this was going.
Majima turned his eye back to him again, looking like he’d made a decision.
“Ya think I, a ‘dangerous lunatic’”—he formed air quotes—“in the eyes of everyone else, would have any people close to me? My boys are scared of me, same with the others, and the higher-ups are all asses. I can’t ever show weakness to any of them. But you, Kiryu,” he shook his head, “You’re the only one I feel a... an understanding with. It’s like I feel this connection to ya. Like I can actually be myself with ya, and ya don’t get scared or look for any weaknesses ‘n shit. Ya have fun around me. Not to mention those good ass fights,” he chuckled.
Kiryu saw the honesty in Majima’s eye, but he also saw the small amount of fear in it. This was probably the deepest he’d talked with anyone in a while. In this world, trusting anyone can be very difficult, and telling others secrets involving your weaknesses can be even harder. Kiryu should reciprocate.
“I feel the same way... I was also empty all those years in prison. Couldn’t stop thinking about you, for some reason... When I came back, I found out I lost my sworn brother—he’d changed too much. And then I was back to having no one to confide in, just like it was back in that dirty prison cell. But when I saw you...” He ran a hand through his hair. “When I saw you, something clicked in me. It was like my soul was telling me to trust you. I believed it then, and I still do now.”
There was silence for a few moments, and then a low snicker. “You and I are the same, Kiryu. Jus’ two lonely men with nobody to confide in but each other.”
“...Yeah.”
Kiryu decided to be bold and give Majima the hug he’d asked for previously. Whether it was the time for it or not, to hell with it. He scooted closer to the other, who gave him a confused look, before wrapping his arms around him. The other tensed as he buried his face into his collarbone. No turning back now.
“Kiryu-chan...” Majima hesitated before wrapping his arms around the other’s torso and resting Kiryu’s head against his warm chest. After a while, they relaxed into each other.
Kiryu was the first to break the peaceful silence. “Feels good to talk like this with you...” He chuckled, “I’m glad I’m special.”
Majima huffed a breath of laughter, “Oh, yer more than that, Kiryu-chan... I’m glad, too. It’s good to feel this again.”
Kiryu nodded, his nose rubbing against Majima’s pecs. He smelled his cologne better from here. His grip on Majima’s waist tightened.
Majima wormed his hand under Kiryu’s shirt and started rubbing his palm across his back, tracing any scars he found. The touch felt so light and relieving, like any tension left in his body melted away.
He could stay like this forever.
“Haww? Well, ain’t that bold, Kiryu-chan,” Majima said with a cheeky smile.
Kiryu was confused, before realizing he must’ve said that out loud. Shit. Shitshitshit—
His face reddened, “Ah, I’m sorry Majima-sa—“
“What did I tell ya about the honori—“
“Yes. Sorry, Majima,” he scrambled out of Majima’s hold and sat up. Majima groaned in protest.
“What’re ya doin’? Get back here,” he whined and also sat up.
...What? Didn’t Majima find it weird? Hadn’t he just crossed a line by saying that? Kiryu didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know just how much Majima liked him. He desperately wanted to know, but didn’t want to make things strange between them by asking. Ultimately deciding on a plan, he would go with the safer route with a smaller chance of success.
“Why?”
Majima blankly stared at him.
Maybe this “plan” wasn’t as good as his mind made it out to be.
“Haaaaww?” Majima frowned.
“I... I want to know why. Why you want to be close to me.”
Majima sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “Ya know, if ya didn’t like it from the start, why the hell didya even hug me in the first place?”
“No!” Kiryu flinched at his own volume and toned it down, “No. I really do like it. I just want to know why you like it.”
“Well that’s a little unfair, eh? If ya wanna know my reasons, then I gotta know yer’s. It’s a fair trade.”
He does have a point there...
Kiryu hesitated, “Alright. I’ll tell you. What’s your answer, then?”
Majima was silent, as if contemplating what to say. With an almost inaudible grumble, he reached in his coat pocket and took out his cigarette box and a lighter.
He offered the box toward Kiryu. “Ya want one?” Kiryu nodded and grabbed one, placing it between his lips. He didn’t know what to do with his hands, so he might as well give them a task.
Majima lit their cigarettes and put the items away. They smoked for a while, not looking at each other. Kiryu noticed how Majima’s hands were slightly trembling, like his own.
“It’s simple, really. Yer special to me. Ya feel warm. I feel warm whenever I’m with ya.”
“Your heart feels warm, right?”
Majima lifted his eyebrows in amusement and snorted, “Well, if ya wanna put it that way. Yeah.”
“Yeah... Me too.” Kiryu’s hands felt clammy.
They looked at each other, silently communicating the real meanings behind their words. This feeling they were talking about—they both knew what it really was, but they were too scared to say it. Too scared of what it really meant for them to allow themselves to hold another person so highly, to allow themselves to show any form of weakness in this cruel world.
Majima put out his cigarette on Kiryu’s bedside tray—Kiryu following after him—before slowly redirecting his hand onto Kiryu’s cheek.
He softly rubbed his thumb—now bare after taking off his gloves—against Kiryu’s chapped lips. Kiryu caressed the hand on his face with one of his own, before his face was guided toward Majima’s.
Their noses touched, Majima stopping right before their lips touched, hesitant. Kiryu closed the distance, and Majima breathed out softly, the air tickling Kiryu’s face. They licked into each other’s mouths, and Kiryu placed his hand behind Majima’s neck to reposition them and make the kiss deeper. He explored, trying to feel every single bit of everything he could get out of this man, like he always did. He’d been so desperate for this moment for a long time now, and judging by the noises the other was making, he would guess Majima felt the same.
They kept going until they were out of breath, going back in again, then again, until they were both satisfied and Majima had his face rested against Kiryu’s collarbone. Kiryu ran his hand through Majima’s hair, careful not to tousle his eyepatch string. He felt his hair lightly tickling his chin. Majima had his hands around his waist, holding on as if Kiryu was going to disappear if he didn’t hold him close.
The silence was broken by a low giggle from Majima. Kiryu parted from him to look at him questioningly.
Majima sat up, lips forming a small smirk. “We’re just a pair of oblivious idiots, huh.”
Kiryu raised his eyebrows at him, but nodded in agreement. They’d been dancing around each other for so long, and only now is when they end up actually finding out about their feelings for each other. At least now, the storm inside of him whenever he thought of Majima had settled into something bright. They can forget about the time they’ve wasted and instead focus on all the time they now have to spend with each other. They’d have to keep it a secret from the families, but that’s a problem he’ll think about later.
“Back to bed?” Kiryu asked, warm smile on his face.
“Hell yeah!” Majima rolled back onto the futon, Kiryu going right after him, and they pulled the blanket onto themselves. Majima settled his head on Kiryu’s shoulder, letting out a comfortable sigh, before abruptly lifting himself up again. He looked pensive for a split second, and Kiryu was about to ask what was wrong before he saw him reaching behind his head.
It hit him as the eyepatch came down, but before he could see anything, Majima had turned his head around to hide his eye. “Wouldn’t want to see this ugly thing, would ya,” he muttered with a self-deprecating smile.
Kiryu frowned. “Nothing could ever make you ugly in my eyes. Especially if it’s physical. I understand if you don’t want to show me tho—“
“Oh shut up, ya big buffoon,” he shook his head with a laugh before turning his entire face towards him. His eye looked fairly normal—just like a closed eyelid that was slightly sunk in, with a small faded scar. The other—his good eye—looked a little more watery than normal.
Still beautiful.
Despite Majima’s faux nonchalance, he could still see the fear of judgment on his face, and notice his quicker-than-normal breath. Kiryu sat up and gently brought his hand to Majima’s right cheek, caressing it softly.
“You’re beautiful,” a soft whisper.
Majima’s teeth clacked; he was trying to compose himself. His limp grip on the eyepatch tightened, and Kiryu could see his knuckles whitening.
Kiryu reached behind Majima’s head and pulled it in. His lips slowly made their way onto Majima’s forehead, skimming over it and over his eyebrow.
“...Can I?” Kiryu whispered, not wanting to offend Majima or make him feel bad.
He felt Majima’s eyebrow brushing against his lips, a soft nod, and proceeded. Lips pressed against the empty eyelid in a soft kiss, before pulling away, their foreheads resting together.
“Thank you,” Kiryu said in a low whisper and felt the other’s warm breath hitch. Majima once again pressed his face into his neck. It was wet.
Having this vulnerable moment to themselves—it felt so right. Kiryu was sure they both needed this; you can only hold everything in for so long before you start to break. And this was the break they needed, pure honesty and trust between themselves.
“I also trust you with my life, you know,” Kiryu said, wanting to let out some truths as well.
Majima cackled, “Don’t get too ahead of yerself now, Kiryu-chan. Remember, I’m the one who’s gonna kill ya in the end.”
Kiryu smiled, “Sure,” and brought them down, back under the warmth of the covers, until both of their breaths evened out.
The last thing Kiryu remembered before being enveloped in comfortable darkness was Majima softly kissing his neck, and the light pitter-patter of the rain against his window.