Work Text:
Hey baby :) Locking the doors up now should be back in 10. Cant wait to see your dumb gorgeous face :P
Though Kaoru rolled his eyes at the new message on his lock screen, he couldn’t stop the upward curl of his lips. He put the phone on the armrest of the couch, leaving the message set as unread, and began to ready himself for Kojiro’s return.
He fluffed the pillow at the couch’s end and stretched himself into a lounging position, long legs reaching to the other end. He pulled down a sleeve of his oversized shirt (his, not Kojiro’s) so it hung off his shoulder. He faced the TV, which softly played some nonsense romantic drama, and closed his eyes. Next, all there was to do was to act asleep and wait until Kojiro entered their home. Then, Kaoru would get what he wanted: Kojiro carrying him to bring him to their bed.
Kaoru, in fact, LOVED to be bridal-carried by Kojiro. It was utterly comfortable being held in Kojiro’s strong arms and against his firm chest. With the combination of his natural heat, perfect scent, and steadfast muscles, Kaoru always felt completely safe and warm in Kojiro’s arms and never wanted to leave.
But ultimately, Kaoru was too embarrassed to admit this out loud, so he never asked to be carried like a princess. For a while, Kaoru would wait for those instances where Kojiro would randomly pick him up, whether it be for a candid photo or to toss him into a body of water. Kaoru would feign annoyance but internally sob once he was put down.
However, that all changed one night after they had moved in together. A customer had rented out Sia la luce for a late night party that kept Kojiro busy until 2am. Kaoru had tried to stay up for him but ended up passing out on the couch. The next morning, though, he had woken up in their bed, and Kojiro had later admitted to carrying him there.
And so Kaoru found a new opportunity. Now, every night Kojiro worked late, Kaoru would pretend to be asleep on the couch. When Kojiro returned, Kaoru would be greeted with gentle words, a soft kiss to his brow, and muscular arms wrapping around him. Then Kaoru would enjoy a few precious moments of being held soundly and securely as Kojiro carried him to their bedroom.
This also benefited Kaoru as it helped calm his mind, to know he had something special to look forward to on those lonely nights. (That, in addition to wearing those oversized clothes that were definitely his, despite their soothing Kojiro-scented smell.) It was like waiting for Christmas morning, only better.
As the minutes passed following Kojiro’s message, Kaoru felt incredibly giddy, giggling and squirming in anticipation. He nearly jumped when he heard the jingle of keys at the front door but quickly regained himself and lay still on the couch. He listened, hearing the door open and shut.
“Kaoru? I’m home.”
Footsteps. A shuffling. Bare feet upon hardwood floor. Silence.
“Ah, there you are again.”
Footsteps approached. Clothing ruffled. A broad hand gently stroked his long hair.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Sleeping Beauty.”
Plush lips pressed to his forehead. Kaoru held back a smile. No need to apologize at all, Love.
He did his best to remain still as Kojiro peppered kisses all about his exposed neck and shoulder, until he replaced the fallen shirt sleeve. Steadily, Kaoru felt Kojiro remove his glasses. “I'll put these away and get changed to match you. Then I’ll be back to take you to bed.”
One final kiss atop his head, and the TV clicked off, leaving the room tranquil. Footsteps paced away, and a door in the distance opened, which indicated Kojiro’s arrival at their bedroom. At that, Kaoru beamed in delight, squeezing the pillow.
The shirt Kaoru had on was part of a pajama set, and it sounded like Kojiro was going to wear the matching pants. Meaning that his chest would be completely bare, just the way Kaoru always preferred.
Kaoru quickly calmed himself and returned to the guise of sleeping. He remained as such as those footsteps approached him once again.
And Christmas morning was here.
Those large, sturdy arms worked underneath Kaoru’s upper back and thighs. They gripped and rolled him closer into a flesh rock mountain of a body. Then, Kaoru was lifted and fully supported in Kojiro’s hold: snug and secure. Kaoru lazily lopped his head so it rested against Kojiro’s firm chest, more comfortable than any pillow he ever owned.
Kaoru relaxed and relished in the solace all around him, as Kojiro walked back to the bedroom. He savored each sensation of touch and smell. He felt the light shift before his closed eyes and assumed they had reached the bedroom.
“But before bed, how about a little detour, Precious?”
Kaoru’s heart jumped. There was a bit of mischief in Kojiro’s voice, and he didn’t like it. Still, he remained motionless as he was tousled slightly, and he heard another door open.
“Been wanting to try out this prank.”
Prank!?
Kaoru heard a switch, and the world behind his eyelids became brighter. Kojiro walked a little more, with sharper footsteps, and stopped. “Let’s see how you like a surprise bath.”
Kaoru’s eyes immediately shot open. “NO!” He flung his arms around Kojiro’s neck, wrapping tight and clinging desperately. He looked down in horror… only to see a completely empty and dry bathtub. “Wha…” he breathed out.
A snort sounded. Kaoru looked up slowly to meet the snarky gaze of his partner.
“Well, would you look at that?” Kojiro lifted Kaoru higher, looking closer at his face. “You seem very awake for someone who was apparently fast asleep a second ago.”
Kaoru growled and smacked Kojiro’s chest. “What was that? Going to drop me into an empty bathtub!? What a cruel gorilla!”
“I was never gonna drop you, Cherry Pop.” Kojiro pecked Kaoru’s nose and walked out of the bathroom. “Just had to confirm my suspicions, which I have.”
“And what, pray tell, are those?” Kaoru demanded, though his voice came out a little shaky.
Once returning to the bedroom, Kojiro spun them a couple times and planted another kiss on Kaoru’s forehead. “You love being held like this. And you pretend to be asleep when I get back late just so I can carry you.”
Kaoru prayed that the reduced lighting in the bedroom hid his ever-heating cheeks. “You are being completely absurd! I-”
“Then how come you’ve fallen asleep without fail every time I’ve worked late?”
“You work stupidly late and-”
“And why do I feel you cuddle into me when I hold you, when you’re supposed to be asleep?”
“It’s perfectly valid to-”
“And I totally see you smile as I lift you.”
“Maybe your ape-eyes need to get-”
“Come on, Kaoru, admit it!” Kojiro squeezed Kaoru tight and nuzzled him cheek to cheek. Then he whispered in Kaoru’s ear, “You’re crazy for my bridal-carry.”
“I-You-ACK!” Kaoru released his arms and covered his face with his hands, cheeks now blistering hot.
Kojiro chuckled above him. “Hey, it’s all right, Kaoru. No need to be embarrassed.”
Kaoru sunk his face deeper in his hands.
“...Kaoru?”
A few beats of silence, then Kojiro sighed and moved. Kaoru felt him lower himself, guessing he had sat on their bed, though he still cradled Kaoru. Kaoru kept his position but listened as Kojiro cleared his throat.
“You know, you don’t have to be shy about wanting to be carried. I mean… Why else do you think I trained myself so hard?”
Kaoru lifted his head and looked at Kojiro. The moonlight that seeped in through their window allowed him to make out Kojiro’s sheepish expression. “I thought you trained for skateboarding.”
“I mean, yeah, that was part of it but…” Kojiro glanced away and shrugged. “What kept me going through each workout was the thought of being strong enough to carry you effortlessly, whenever you needed to be.” Kojiro returned his gaze to Kaoru, a shy smile appearing on his lips. “I like being the guy you can always rely on.”
Kaoru’s eyes grew wide, heart fluttering in his chest. Slowly, he rewrapped his arms around Kojiro’s neck. Then he said, “Wow. You are an even sappier gorilla than I thought.”
Kojiro just laughed, sending the rest of Kaoru’s unease away. “Yeah, but you know you love it.”
“Yes, I suppose I do,” Kaoru agreed, resting his head against Kojiro’s shoulder. “And… I do love when you hold and carry me like this. You have the most stupidly comfortable gorilla arms.”
“There we go, he admits it.”
Kojiro reached down to kiss Kaoru, which he happily returned with equal tenderness. Upon breaking, Kaoru settled deeper into those ever-comforting arms, feeling Kojiro give him a squeeze.
“So then, now that we’ve established that we mutually benefit from this,” Kaoru smirked and kicked his legs a little, “I expect that you shall carry me whenever I say, regardless of the current situation.”
“Hmmm, sounds pleasing, but I should be worried about this new arrangement?”
“You’re the one who trained for this.”
Kojiro let out a chuckle and stole a kiss from Kaoru’s lips. “I love you, Four Eyes.”
Kaoru stole one himself. “I love you, too, Gorilla.”
