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He was here again. In the familiar classroom that was often the setting of his dreams. He was sitting, looking at the paper his teacher had passed out. He looked up, and it was different this time. Something was off, that was for sure. Sure enough, there was a new presence in his little setting of a dream. He looked around, and although he couldn't make a lot out, he could sense a familiar warmth. The smell of lavender and patchouli had appeared in his dream, as did he. He sat by the teacher, looking directly at him, yet he failed to utter a word. Even Kazuichi could tell he was silent, despite his mouth being covered by his scarf. His voice was indistinguishable- it was lovely. He was lovely, and wonderful, and-
He felt sick. He shouldn't think these thoughts, yet he did. It was all becoming too much. He had to leave. He had to-
Kazuichi opened his eyes, unmoving for a moment. The room was dark, yet the glistening moonlight from outside shaded the room with a bit of light through the curtains, spotting the layout. Considering he just woke up, he wasn't able to tell that this was, in fact, not his room. What gave it away was the round plushie, smooshed against his cheek. He may of found them cute, but Kazuichi was pretty sure he had no such item. And the blanket... it was a different one from his bed! He brought it up to his nose, and- yes, this wasn't his smell at all. He was tucked in nice and warm, so it would be a pain to move about, but something was amiss. He turned around onto his other side, and saw his close friend, Gundham Tanaka, sitting up in the bed right next to him. Their bodies were barely touching one another. His arms were folded, as his head was drooped down. A slight snore came from him; he was sound asleep, uncomfortably so. He was still in his day clothes.
Kazuichi froze. Surely, this was a dream. It had to be. Why was he sleeping next to him out of all people? Why was he tucked in so nicely, when Gundham had the opportunity to wake him from his slumber? Damn it, why did he feel so... warm! So comfortable! It wasn't supposed to be like... well, like this! Now he was responsible for whether or not he should wake Gundham. 'Hey, dummy!' he would yell at the breeder, 'What gives! Why you lettin' me sleep next to ya, huh? You tryna cuddle?! Tryna kiss?! Well, I'd love th-' No! He wasn't even safe from the hypothetical situations where he was yelling at the poor guy!
A switch flipped in his head, and it suddenly became quiet, except for the breeder's snores. Kazuichi had forgotten how loud his mind can get sometimes. He glanced at the boy next to him once more, watching how his chest rose and fell as he quietly breathed. He subconsciously had measured the size of his head, and how well it would fit onto his chest. He looked too at peace for someone wearing skinny jeans in bed, and surely he would endure a nasty cramp in his neck if he slept like this any longer. He had to wake him up, and they had to accept the situation that had fallen before them.
Originally, they were just set to hang out and watch a movie together. The mechanic had a nasty case of insomnia, so he was hoping to get to stay up and talk to Tanaka as long as he could for the night. It just so happened that hanging with the boy made him feel the upmost comfort he had felt in awhile; too comfortable, to where he didn't question why his eyes drooped so heavily, and why he could just... fall asleep.
Which he did. And now he's here, next to some guy; the only guy in this godforsaken school that he had feelings for. Yeah, okay, he did have feelings for him. But it would never work.
Which, he asked himself again, why did he tuck him in so nicely? It would have been fine if he woke him up, but he didn't. He even gave him a stuffed animal to sleep with! What gives?!
Without thinking, he stretched his hand out from the soft blanket, resting it on Gundham's arm. He shook it lightly. "Pssst." He spoke. "Hey, Gundham." An inner groan had emitted from him, his eyebrows furrowing. Kazuichi drew his hand back, assuming that he was awake enough. "Y'fell asleep."
"...As did you." He had muttered. His voice was lower than usual, and has even sounded a bit croaky. He cleared his throat, rubbing his eye. "You... I had thought you suffered the curse."
"The... curse?"
"The curse of eternal consciousness."
"Oh, my insomnia?" Kazuichi had wrapped himself up once more, looking up at Gundham. "Yeah, dunno what happened. Was hoping I got to talk to you for longer."
"As we are now?"
"Well, I don't wanna keep ya awake, or nothin'."
"But... you awoke me from slumber?"
"Well, yeah." Kazuichi had chuckled lightly. "You ain't in yer pj's or nothin'. Plus, sleepin' like that is gonna give ya a cramp."
"...hmph."
"Just lookin' out for ya, dude." Kazuichi felt himself ease up back to normal. That is, until Gundham had stretched. Even in the darkest of rooms, you could see his pale torso peeking from his shirt. Kazuichi had then reverted back into his previous self, anxious as ever. "Uhm... you should... get outta yer... arm wrap, and stuff..."
"I... suppose you are right." Gundham sighed, making haste to stand from his bed. He stretched his shoulders back, a few bones cracking in the process. He had grabbed some clothes from the dresser next to his bed, and made way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him, and leaving Kazuichi in the bed all by himself. Well, he thought to himself, he shouldn't bother staying, right? He should leave. He hesitantly stood from the bed, and- oh, how cold Gundham kept his room! Kazuichi shivered, but gathered his stuff nonetheless, which consisted of a bookbag and some sandals. He never had any intentions of staying the night, but it wouldn't hurt to bring some items with you nonetheless. As he slung the backpack over his shoulder, he heard a deep voice from behind him. "You... You are planning to depart?"
"Eh?" Kazuichi turned around, and immediately wished he hadn't. It wasn't anything grand, but he simply felt as if he wasn't supposed to see Gundham like this. The light on in the bathroom had lit the way that he had stood. He wore black boxers, as well as a gray t-shirt that was a tad bit baggy on the guy. He was without a scarf, so his neck was bare, revealing... nothing, really. In fact, this was the most skin Kazuichi had seen from him. He saw the scars and bite marks trailing up and down his arms, he saw... oh god, his hair was drooped down onto the sides of his face. His lightning mark was still there over his eye. He... he was...
"Well?" Gundham quirked an eyebrow. Kazuichi yelped in surprise, taken off guard by how lost in thought he was.
"Ah- just- uh, yeah, sorry, didn't mean to... stay for so long- sorry- ah-"
"Kazuichi." Gundham's face dropped into a more neutral, if not, concerned look. This had grounded Kazuichi, and ceased him from spewing out any more rambling apologies. They both looked upon one another. "I... I believe it would be rather beneficial for you, actually, if you were to..."
"To... what, Gundham?"
"To... stay over, perchance?" Gundham's face was flushed in a slight twinge of blush- the most color his face had in awhile. Before Kazuichi could deny or agree, Gundham spoke up once more. "You may choose to leave, if you so wish. I will not keep you captive. However, I know you are cursed... I know of your curse to keep you at wake for all times. But... it seems as if... there may be something here to help combat against it?"
"Wh- huh?!" Kazuichi dropped his bookbag, his face doused with red. "N-No! It ain't... I don't know why I'm sleepin' now, but-"
"It is no trouble." Gundham spoke, ignoring Kazuichi's flustered state. "I want to... help you."
"Psh, you just wanna get to stay the night with me." Kazuichi looked out the window, squinting his eyes. "Wanna... sleep in the same bed as me. Weirdo..."
"Who said anything about you sleeping in my bed with me?"
"I-!" Kazuichi dropped his defensive act and once more resorted back into a rambling state of craze. "I just... assumed that's what you meant when you- cuz, that's when I fell asleep, and stuff."
"Do you believe falling asleep in my bed helped your state of mind?" Gundham asked, not looking to berate Kazuichi, but just genuinely curious.
"No! It- I mean, I don't fuckin' know!"
"Would... that be okay?"
"Huh?" Kazuichi paused, curious about the sudden change in tone. Gundham sounded... sincere.
"I do not know what... mortal companions do with one another, but... they do sleep with one another, right? In the same dwelling?"
"I... guess? Sometimes." He thinks to himself. He has had some instances of him and Hajime sleeping with one another in the same bed, and that wasn't weird. But that's not why this is weird! It's not like he can say that out loud, though. "Yeah, it's not weird or anything. You ever sleep in a bed with someone?"
"Scarcely so, with my mother. Only when we had to share a bed for warmth and comfort, back when I lived in the cursed atmosphere, dwelled only by demons and a behemoth of other sickly creatures."
"Ah, gotcha." He did not really get the last part, but he could guess that he had to sleep with his mom. Maybe that's all they could afford? Kazuichi didn't want to make assumptions or anything like that. "But whadda 'bout friends, and stuff?"
"No, I have yet to experience such a thing."
"Oh... well, it- it ain't gotta be weird. Sorry for being a dick."
"So... you'll stay?"
"I... yeah, I'll stay." Kazuichi smiled. "Boy's gotta sleep sometime."
"Aha!" Gundham laughed. "Excellent!"
Gundham made his way back to the bathroom to wrap up his nightly routine. Kazuichi had kicked off his sandals, sitting onto the bed awkwardly. He decided to lay down back into his spot that was previously slept in. The fabric brushing up against his bare legs were cold; it had lost his warmth. Nothing to fear, he could warm his spot back up. He was excited. Nervous, but excited overall. This wasn't weird, and it didn't have to be weird, right? Just friends hanging out. Friends sleeping next to each other in the same bed. Friends... watching the other sleep; how they breathe so gently, and are at peace. Friends snuggling into the other for warmth, and-
The bathroom door opened. The light behind Gundham had shut off. It was dark once more, the room these boys shared. Kazuichi hoped, as Gundham stepped closer to the bed, that he hadn't heard his thoughts. Gundham stood over the bed, staring at the mechanic under the covers.
"Is... somethin' wrong?" Kazuichi questioned. "You want yer plushie back?"
"You... do you have a covering of your own?"
"Huh? Oh!" Kazuichi gripped the blanket covering him. "Oh, sorry, you want this back?"
"Do you have one of your own?"
"Er... no, I can- I can get one, though."
"No need." Gundham spoke, getting into the bed. "A supreme overlord such as I has no need for a covering. I can sleep fine like this."
"What! You ain't gotta. This is yer bed." Kazuichi pouted. The blanket... was big enough, he thought to himself. He uncovered himself, lifting the blanket. "Get under here!"
"Pardon?!" Gundham raised an eyebrow, almost offended. "I musn't share! You musn't touch me; even how we are now is almost dead-"
"C'mon, dude! Yer gonna catch a cold!"
"I-" Gundham bit his tongue, before sighing and moving under the covers with Kazuichi. They were close to one another- close enough that Kazuichi could feel the warmth of Gundham radiating off of his body. They were both stiff and awfully silent.
"S-See?" Kazuichi awkwardly laughed. "Nice and... warm."
"Hmph." Gundham rolled his eyes, as he shifted and laid on his back.
"Ain't my fault you got one fuckin' blanket!" Kazuichi groaned.
"It's all I need."
"What if you get cold?"
"I simply won't."
"Ugh, whatever." Kazuichi sighed, grabbing onto the blanket and attempting to wrap himself up more. The plushie was once again smooshed against his cheek and used as an extra pillow.
"Comfortable?" Gundham turned his head to face Kazuichi. Kazuichi only nodded, trying not to look at him.
"Gettin' there."
"Good."
"Hey, uh..." Kazuichi fidgeted with the fabric of the blanket. "Wanna... talk?"
"About?"
"Er, I dunno. Just talkin', 'til we fall asleep."
"Talking doesn't aide me in delving into a slumber, but if that is what you wish, then we may."
"...Alright."
And so they did. At first, however, it was a bit uncomfortable, but they begun to talk as they usually did with one another. Joking around and delving into their interests, talking about any upcoming projects they have; essentially, anything under the sun. It was so easy to talk to each other, which was something Kazuichi had questioned.
"Can I shoot ya a question, actually?" Kazuichi said. Gundham had cut his laughing short (he was laughing at a silly thing Kazuichi had jested) and put his attention on Kazuichi. They were both laying on their sides, looking right at each other.
"Of course."
"...didn't we... hate each other?"
"...did we?"
"Somethin'. I dunno." Kazuichi's cheeks had flushed, feeling dumb at his question. "I just remember us meeting, and... we didn't really like each other. I think we were jealous."
"I think we were, as well. I never hated you." A smile had donned on the breeder's face. "I think it was you that had initially started to dislike me. I had no idea."
"And when I made it clear-"
"I felt betrayed, in some way."
"Betrayed?"
"Something like that. Maybe that's not the word I was looking for..." He looked down at his bed, furrowing his eyebrows and thinking. "Perhaps... I'm not quite sure. I remember thinking to myself, 'how dare that mortal think of me like that. Surely, I must protect my honor.'"
"I don't blame ya. Sorry about that, by the way. I never meant to make yer life harder."
"As am I."
"It's just... funny. We used to hate each other, and here we are, layin' so close."
"I said I had never hated you." Gundham wrinkled his nose, looking up at Kazuichi's face. "But, yes, I see what you mean. The divines are surely playing our favor." To that, Kazuichi nodded. He gulped, feeling his chest tighten up. He stared at Gundham's hands, and how soft and delicate they had looked. This was like his dream, this feeling of dread. He hated feeling this way. This wasn't some silly little crush. Kazuichi had fully believed that at this point, he had fallen in love with his friend. Something was going to come from this night, for sure. He wanted it. Needed it.
"Can I try somethin'?" Kazuichi had spoke quietly. Gundham looked at him, before humming a sign of approval. As he weighed his hand down on the bed, he felt electricity buzzing through him. He moved and shifted himself closer to Gundham; close enough to stiffly snuggle into his chest. "Ifyouwannamoveyoucan." He choked out. He felt Gundham tense up and- this shouldn't have happened. What was he thinking! He-
Gundham had shifted onto his back once more, making their position more comfortable for the both of them. Kazuichi laid his head upon Gundham's chest, his mind racing. If he couldn't before, he was sure that now the breeder could hear his thoughts. He didn't even know what he himself was thinking, it was all too much. Kazuichi shifted his body up, to where his face was closer to his neck now. They lay silently for a moment. He could tell Gundham had no idea what to do. Gundham's hand had awkwardly hovered over Kazuichi's back, not knowing if he should touch him. "Is this-" Kazuichi shakily spoke, "Is this okay? You- you can move me, Gundham, if you aren't..." He trailed off.
"I... believe this is... fine."
"Yeah! Yeah, it... it is."
"This is... what friends do, correct?"
"Uh, yeah, I... it can be something..."
"So we are... We are just doing what is normally done?"
"Yeah."
"Just... being friends."
"Yep." Kazuichi smiled, hiding his face in embarrassment. It's quiet for a moment, besides the hamsters chirping in their enclosure. Kazuichi feels as if he can melt into Gundham, and become one. He feels like this is right where he needs to be. He feels warm. Nice.
He feels as if he doesn't deserve this. Before he can delve more into his self deprecating thoughts, Gundham's hovering hand had finally planted onto Kazuichi's lower back, wrapping him more around himself. He was rubbing his hand, up and down, and Kazuichi couldn't help but contently hum, breathing into his neck. Gundham had shuddered at the feeling, his hand weighing heavier on Kazuichi's back. It was a foreign feeling to the both of them, but one they had opened up to. Though, Gundham was a tad bit more hesitant being touched, it was a warmth reciprocated mutually. Kazuichi laughed, nuzzling closer to the warmth that was Gundham. "You know, for some overlord of Ice or whatever, you're pretty fuckin' warm." Kazuichi looked up at Gundham, and had underestimated how close their faces were to each other. Gundham stared right at Kazuichi, a softness on his expression. Kazuichi would usually look away embarrassed, but instead, he stared back into his gray eyes. "You wear contacts?" He barely spoke. Gundham nodded, looking away shamefully.
"You really shouldn't look into my eyes like that."
"Why's that?"
"I... I could hurt you." Gundham stuttered. He was obviously nervous. "I may be too powerful for a mortal like you."
"A mortal like me, huh?"
"You aren't like the others, though." He wrapped both of his arms around Kazuichi, who was now basically on top of him.
"No?"
"You and I... we seem to be on the same wavelength. Those below us cannot comprehend."
"Yeah?" Kazuichi's heart fluttered, as he leaned closer into Gundham. For someone who was poisonous to the touch, this sure as hell was addicting. It was as if Gundham could read his mind, as he almost responded to that train of thought.
"It's... strange. With most people, my touch is damning, but you don't... you don't seem to be hurt in any sort."
Kazuichi smiled. Their noses were almost touching. "I can handle it." And- damn it, he couldn't help himself. Not with how he was looking at him. Not with how his warm breath felt on his face. "Can I... kiss you?" He figured that with Gundham, it would be best to ask. Gundham's eyes went wide, a frown had donned on his face. This made Kazuichi cringe at himself, and his boldness.
"I..." Gundham broke through his thoughts. "You must forgive me! I-"
"No, dude, I- I shouldn't have asked."
"You're mistaken!" Gundham's grip tightened unintentionally around Kazuichi. All Kazuichi could do was quirk an eyebrow, unsure of his meaning. "I... I am not against it. But I have simply never partaken in that leisure."
"Oh! Oh..." Kazuichi furrowed his eyebrows. "Well... neither have I."
"So then... we can learn together."
"You sure? I know how ya are with touchin' and stuff. I don't wanna cross any boundaries."
"If I don't like it, I will tell you. For now, I am fine with the idea."
"Okay... if you say so." Kazuichi breathed, propping himself up more. He looked at Gundham's face below him. They just looked at each other, waiting for something to happen.
"Kazuichi."
"Y-Yeah?"
"..." He lifted his hand to the side of Kazuichi's head, pulling the hair that hung over his face away. "Your hair... was in my face."
"Ah, sorry." He laughed. Gundham massages his scalp while holding his hair, and he once again feels as if he's going to melt. This is enough for him to lean in and kiss Gundham. It starts out softly and short, but the kisses go on to be more prolonged. It's messy, of course. They're both unexperienced, but it's still exhilarating. Kazuichi pulls away, looking at Gundham and breathing hard. His bottom lip is swollen. They just stare at each other, before bursting out into giggles.
"Just friends, huh?"
Through the giggles and hot breaths, they fall asleep bundled up closely to each other. This time, Kazuichi dreams of a different place- a field of some sort. It's a sunny day, and he's not alone. Gundham is there, and he's not dreading the love he feels for someone he didn't believe he could fall for. He's happy, as is his companion. They both remain close to one another in the dream, and even in that state of mind, Kazuichi can feel Gundham's warmth.
And he hopes Gundham can feel his, as well.