Work Text:
Yakumo collapses into his bed as the moon rises. He has been on his feet all day, cleaning, cooking, and doing whatever else Aster requires around the mansion. He loves being here, loves Eiden and the other clan members, but he's also exhausted. The scale of the work is much larger than he ever did for his grandparents, and he's still adjusting.
Gingerly, he rolls onto his stomach and watches the garden outside his window. His arms are sore under his chin, but it's worth it to enjoy the beauty of the garden for a short while before he sleeps. A distant thought arises that he should change his clothes, so they aren't too wrinkled to wear tomorrow, but he dismisses it. He has plenty of clothes to change into now, and wants to enjoy the small luxuries where he can.
Just as he begins to feel his eyes grow heavy, there is a knock at the door. Yakumo startles awake, a "come in!" escaping him as he lifts himself upright.
The door opens to reveal Eiden, looking at him with such care in his eyes, care Yakumo never felt from anyone aside from his grandparents before. It still takes him a moment to remind himself that this is all real, and Eiden really does care for him. He's reminded of exactly why he works himself to the bone every day under Aster's orders.
"Mr. Eiden! Do you need something?" Yakumo braces himself to stand, prepared to do whatever Eiden needs.
Eiden's kind smile shines on him. "No, I just wanted to check up on you. I know you were working all day." He sits next to Yakumo on the bed gingerly, and Yakumo relaxes slightly.
"I'm doing well!" Yakumo says, trying to disguise the exhaustion in his voice.
"It's not too much?"
Yakumo shakes his head forcefully. "No, I'm used to work! I always helped my grandparents, and…I want to pay back the kindness you've shown me."
"I admire your work ethic, but you don't have to overwork yourself to 'repay' me," Eiden makes a strange motion with his hands as he says repay. Yakumo may not know what the motion means but Eiden's tone makes it clear that he doesn't think repayment is necessary. "Here," he says, taking Yakumo's hand. He begins to rub it with his thumb, varying the pressure across it.
Yakumo sighs involuntarily, the ache in his hands briefly blooming before it begins to ease. "What is…?"
"It's a massage! I used to do this when my hands got too sore from work. Though I could only ever do the one hand for myself…" Eiden grins up at Yakumo. "I could do a full body massage for you though!"
Yakumo flushes completely. "F-full body…" he lets out a small moan as Eiden shifts to massaging his forearm. "You'd have to…on top of me…if we…right now…" Yakumo is having trouble forming a complete sentence.
"Hehehe." Eiden's mischievous chuckle cuts through Yakumo's fuzzy mind. "I probably would huh? Though I think that can wait right now." He squeezes Yakumo's arm reassuringly. "I didn't mean sex. At least, not yet. Turn around for me?"
Yakumo does as he's told, and as Eiden gently pushes against his back he follows the suggestion, lying face down against the blankets. "There we go," Eiden mutters, satisfaction in his voice. "Right where I want you."
Yakumo flushes again at the comment. "Mr. Eiden…"
Eiden doesn't respond, instead moving to Yakumo's other arm and massaging it, beginning at his hand. "Relax," Eiden whispers. "I'm gonna take care of you tonight."
Yakumo nods, allowing his consciousness to drift and focusing on the sensations in his body. Eiden's fingers are a paradox, firm and gentle, the aches of work giving way to relaxation under his touch. He takes his time, massaging each of Yakumo's fingers before moving to the palm of his hand, his forearm, his upper arm. Yakumo lets out a hum of pleasure, feeling the tension drain away from his tired body.
When Eiden shifts to Yakumo's back, he straddles his hips, eliciting a surprised squeak. Eiden pats Yakumo's back gently, then begins his massage again, using the heels of his palms to dig in, before replacing the feeling with a gentle rub from his fingers. The shifting sensations send Yakumo further into the strange but pleasant space where thought is unnecessary. As Eiden works, Yakumo finds himself allowing all sorts of sounds to escape, his eyes closing softly. It's not quite sleep that Eiden's guiding him towards, but it feels just as restful as when he falls asleep with Eiden in his arms.
Yakumo's shoulders take a long time to release their tension, and by the time Eiden shifts to Yakumo's legs he is putty under Eiden's hands. He imagines that this is what it feels like to be the clay of a skilled potter, formed and guided into just the right shape, care evident in every touch.
Eiden finishes with Yakumo's scalp, massaging gently and running his hands through Yakumo's hair. Yakumo lets out little pleased hisses with every stroke.
Finally, Eiden gently taps Yakumo's cheek. "All done!" He chirps, standing from the bed. Yakumo smiles, the soreness and tension of the day having left his body completely, replaced with the memory of Eiden's hands on him and the pleasant tingling that's spread across his body. Eiden laughs, kindly. "You really enjoyed that, huh?"
Yakumo simply nods, though some awareness of common courtesy begins to wiggle its way back into his mind. "I should…repay the favor…" he says, attempting to lift himself from the bed. His limbs are not cooperating, however, and Yakumo finds himself frowning as his body twitches and moves by mere centimeters at a time.
Eiden laughs, then apologizes when Yakumo looks at him in confusion. "Sorry, you just look so cute like this." He smiles wide, running a reassuring hand along Yakumo's struggling limbs. "Also, I uh, probably should have warned you that this kind of massage takes you out for a while. It'll be a half hour or so before you can move like normal again."
Yakumo is reassured. If it's supposed to happen, and if it's Eiden who does it to him, then it will be okay. Despite this, a different ache settles in his chest, a craving to have Eiden close to him again. Eiden must see it in his eyes, because he chuckles and slips onto the bed, curling up with his back to Yakumo's chest. Yakumo rests his head at the nape of Eiden's neck, breathing in his scent.
"After," Yakumo mumbles. "Then we…?"
Eiden kisses Yakumo's hand. "Hehe, of course."
Yakumo smiles to himself and falls asleep with the reassuring weight of his love in his arms.