Work Text:
The heavy weight of Tsukasa’s head on his shoulder was a little unnerving in the best way possible, at least to Rui. More so in the way that having him there was both a comfort and a burden- of course he’d embrace Tsukasa’s warmth with open arms, but how would he be able to sleep when Tsukasa looked so peaceful doing so? How would he be able to shut his eyes for a moment when the privilege of glancing down and seeing his boyfriend was presented only to him?
Though, Rui supposed he’d have to get used to it at some point. Tsukasa was his boyfriend, and they’d only just begun crossing the boundaries of sleeping in the same bed. The first time was at the house of the older’s, and while having Saki there made it just a little bit more awkward, Rui hadn’t felt happier in years. Sitting on Tsukasa’s bed and pointing up at the glow-in-the-dark stars sticking on the blonde’s ceiling may have been just a little bit childish, sure, but Tsukasa’s smile wasn’t something that Rui would give up for the world. Only a fool would throw away the brightest star around in order to see those in the sky, those that paled in comparison to Tsukasa Tenma.
(And, well, Rui supposed that he was a fool, too; not for throwing away his love, but for falling into it with open arms, for him .)
He turned in the slightest so Tsukasa’s head leaned against his chest, and wrapped his arms gently around the blonde. It wasn’t exactly normal to see Tsukasa sleeping, as it left him in a vulnerable state surely not meant for a confident star in the making. Most of the time, Rui held the benefit of sleeping freely around Tsukasa, whether it be on the train or during practice of all things. To be able to hold Tsukasa so tightly in this way without the other’s embarrassed remarks or flustered complaints was a little peculiar, to say the least, but not unwelcome in the slightest. He’s warm, Rui thinks as he presses Tsukasa closer to his chest. I’m always so cold. He isn’t anything like me.
That was… interesting to think. The infamous inventor had gone for so many years knowing exactly what to say and do, having thought up some interesting plans that were completely out of the ordinary. It was safe to say that meeting Tsukasa had opened up his eyes to another world, another universe full of possibilities. Tsukasa met all of his challenges with confidence, and performed any direction given to him perfectly, astoundingly to the point where Rui had found himself admiring rather than simply respecting the blonde, and, ah, the rest is history.
“What do you think about Tsukasa, Rui?” the girl had asked him as they walked home together, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.
His eyebrows raised in the slightest. Nene was always an observant individual. “Tsukasa-kun?” he laughed, mouth forming a smile at how simple the question seemed to be. Was there not an obvious answer? “I find him interesting. More than anything, and anyone. He’s both selfless and selfish, knowledgeable and naive. I view him as someone I’d continue to work with.”
To his surprise, he hears the sound of her laugh, and looks at her to find her lips upturned in a smile. “I know that… doesn’t everyone feel that way towards him? I asked you what you thought of Tsukasa. Not what we thought of him.”
“And I answered your question, didn’t I? What else could you be implying?”
“You view him differently, Rui,” Nene hums, and the words leaving her mouth leave him speechless, “I just wonder when you’ll realize.”
His arms tighten instinctively as he smiles into the older’s hair, shutting his eyes and shaking his head to himself. Out of all people, he’d fallen for a boy that boasted of great stories and faraway lands, and he himself had failed to notice his feelings. The time they spent together was time that he cherished, whether knowing it or not. It was confusing, but it wasn’t anything particularly unpleasant. Rui supposed that when it came to Tsukasa, he knew everything yet nothing at all. Could it be anxiety? Or could it just be the consequences of first loves?
He doesn’t quite realize that the boy he’s thinking about (particularly, the one he thinks about all the time) has opened his bleary eyes and is looking up confusedly at him. “Rui?”
Rui’s heart skips a few beats as he meets the eyes of the other, shifting to move back and give him some space, but stopping when Tsukasa pulls back on his shirt and fixes the blanket covering both of them. “Tsukasa-kun… I thought you were asleep. It’s late, why are you still awake?”
“I could say the same for you, you know. Were you thinking about something?”
“You,” Rui responds almost immediately, as if he’d been preparing his whole life for that question. Which, knowing his other antics when it came to certain things, wouldn’t exactly be anything absurd.
“Stop it with that, you…” Tsukasa grumbles and flips on his stomach to bury his face into one of the pillows, shaking his head dramatically. The star boasted frequently about his talent when it came to acting and bringing smiles to others’ faces, but Rui’s favorite part of Tsukasa was how sweet he could be, and how shy he was when it came to genuine compliments. The inventor laughs softly and lies on his side, reaching out to poke Tsukasa’s cheek with a finger, feeling the other’s cheeks warm up in response. Just because Tsukasa happened to be the only person he’d ever entrust his heart to, and the only person he’d dream of loving in several lifetimes didn’t mean that Rui wouldn’t take any chance he could in order to tease him.
He felt a pull on his wrist, and Tsukasa’s lying on his back properly now, his hand clutching Rui’s wrist to pull him closer. The younger smiles, and moves closer to rest his head in the crook of Tsukasa’s neck, pressing a kiss to Tsukasa’s cheek lovingly. Closing his eyes, Rui took in the silence with nothing less than open arms as he shifted a little more to lean against Tsukasa’s chest. The occasional moment of quietness made Rui feel even happier to be with Tsukasa; it wasn’t exactly news that they were both eccentric, but it was nice to simply hold him in the simplicity of the night, just like this.
A humming on the other’s chest, and Rui’s attention is diverted back to Tsukasa. “Do you hear it, Rui?”
“Mm? What do you mean?”
“My heartbeat,” Tsukasa says, and although the director can’t exactly feel it nor see it, he swears that Tsukasa’s blush deepens, and his voice gets quieter. Rui stays silent, instead reaching for his boyfriend’s fingers and lacing them with his own. Tsukasa’s chest rises and falls as he takes in a shaky breath, letting it out after a few moments. “Do you hear how fast it is? It’s weird, isn’t it? It always- ah, it’s a hard thing to describe… it always changes when I’m around you. It speeds up, and slows down, and it just…” He cuts himself off to take in another breath. “It feels as though butterflies swarm my chest. As if my heart will burst.”
“Tsukasa-kun-”
“Rui, I’ve never felt this way for anyone, not in a million years. And my heart is so weak to the point where you’ll do anything, and it just- I’m gone. It’s confusing, and being in love with you is confusing, it’s really scary. Scarier than any show I’ll ever perform or have the privilege of performing all by myself. But I like it! I like being in love with you. Heck, I would give anything to fall in love- to do this over and over again, so long as it’s with you! When you say that you’re thinking about me, it only just-”
“Tsukasa-kun.” He plants both hands on the mattress, on either side of Tsukasa’s body and lifts his head to press a small kiss to the other’s lips, just to reassure him a little bit. “I was only teasing you. Though, it is true. I think about you quite a bit.”
“Ah,” Tsukasa is only able to gasp before he leans in again to return the kiss with a flustered look on his face. His expression is priceless enough that Rui laughs lightly as they separate, leaning his forehead against Tsukasa’s with a smile. “... I rambled, didn’t I? Well- that’s embarrassing.”
“I agree, that’s embarrassing.”
“ Rui.”
He laughs again and kisses Tsukasa’s cheek gently as a makeshift apology, dropping his head onto Tsukasa’s chest again and closing his eyes. “I can assure you that you occupy a lot of my thoughts, Tsukasa-kun. There’s nothing more that I enjoy than seeing you happy, and when you’re happy, I can’t help but feel the same way as well.” He’s suddenly too aware of the hand that’s interlocked with Tsukasa’s, and tightens his hold. “I want nothing more than to love you, that’s all… and I do, I love you more than anything that could exist in this world.”
He doesn’t need to hear a reply to acknowledge that Tsukasa’s heart melts just at that moment, nor to know the words Tsukasa leaves unsaid in the air.
(Rui was a fool, but so was Tsukasa, and what more could a fool do then to love?)