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Ed found himself sitting alone late at night, tape recorder in hand. He was at KK’s apartment, the one that had become their home-base of sorts, as KK and the rest of their crew was out on their latest mission.
With Ed now without the company of others, he had the opportunity to record his latest thoughts uninterrupted-- with one glaring issue on his mind.
During their time working together, Ed had discovered his feelings for KK had become more than simply coworkers or teammates, no-- it was something deeper now. All the late nights working together had caused something to blossom. Ed could admit he’d been touch-starved as of late, and hell-- KK was a ridiculously handsome man, anyone could see that.
Ed was keen to tell KK how he felt, but it was ever more difficult with his current inability to talk to the man verbally face to face. Even moreso, how could he put his feelings into words, recorded or not? But that wasn’t the worst of it--
KK was married. Or at least, he’d told them once that he was married, with a house, wife and kid-- and all the rest that comes with it. It felt so out of place, in Ed’s opinion. If it were true, and KK had a family, then he’d made little mention of them, or found any time to see them.
Ed made a frustrated sigh, staring down at his tape recorder with no words to grant it. Instead, he pocketed the device, turning around in his chair and focussing on the latest gadget he’d been working on. If his calculations were correct, it would allow them to easily transfer spirits electronically through katashiro… but the technology still had a number of bugs to iron out.
At least it would help him take his mind off KK for a while.
Sometimes, Ed considered himself an outcast compared to the rest of the group, mostly due to his inability to properly communicate with them. He couldn’t help that, though-- he’d been like this for as long as he could remember, and it wasn’t for lack of trying. Social situations would fill him with such a level of anxiety that words wouldn’t form, finding a balance between communicating through a mix of pre-recorded messages, hand-written notes, and basic sign language.
KK never appeared to find his communication language a detriment, as far as Ed could tell. It wasn’t something KK had bluntly told him, but Ed always felt like he could understand him better than the others. At least right now, with them away for the evening, it allowed Ed to remain in his element-- working through his ever growing list of technical bugs to keep his mind off the other man.
Hours ticked by, and the apartment remained vacant.
It was only natural for sleep to beckon him, eyes refusing to stay open no matter how hard he tried. With a yawn, he travelled to the couch, slumping onto it and taking the opportunity for his tired mind to make sense of his feelings.
Tape recorder in hand, he left in on as he rambled endlessly into slumber.
KK returned shortly before daybreak, only to find a slumbering Ed upon his couch. Exhausted from the night’s events, the others had gone their separate ways home-- leave KK alone with his leftover teammate.
Staring down at Ed, KK smirked, shaking his head. The man had a habit of overworking himself, but KK didn’t mind. He yearned for the man’s company, if he was honest with himself. It was easy to spend time with someone when talking was not an issue.
Seeing Ed like this was a rare treat. He looked younger without his glasses; his tie loosened with the top two buttons of his shirt undone. His usually slicked-back hair had now turned into a mess, falling against his forehead as he dreamt.
KK noticed the glasses on the floor, just beside the couch-- clearly having fallen rather than being removed. He assumed Ed hadn’t exactly planned on falling asleep, adding to his previous conclusion that the man had all but tired himself out from overworking. Nothing unusual or out of the ordinary there.
As KK reached for them, something else caught his attention; an old-fashioned tape recorder. It was the same one that Ed would always carry on his person at all times, so seeing it here was no surprise. But KK felt a tug of curiosity pulling at him-- after all, Ed had only ever spoken a few words directly towards him, becoming an enigma to KK-- never aware of what was on the other man’s mind.
Or, more importantly-- what his opinion of KK was, on a personal level.
The tape made a loud click once it had finished rewinding.
KK sat at his desk, not too far from his still sleeping companion. He swiped the device from the table, lowering the volume, thumb hovering above the play button. In that moment, KK faltered-- knowing full well he was overstepping his boundaries and breaching both privacy and trust.
But KK couldn’t wait any longer. He hoped he could find some semblance of understanding, or advice on how best he could approach Ed with his ever growing feelings. Communication had always been a difficult hurdle to overcome, and his own desperation was coming as a surprise to him.
Without further hesitation, KK listened to the tape’s contents, eventually finding the answer he sought most.
Ed stirred from sleep, hearing the unusual sound of his own voice echoing throughout the room. He nearly lost his balance on his initial attempt to get up, momentarily forgetting where he was, and grasping his bearings.
The voice was his, no doubt about it. But that could only mean one thing. Ed panicked, searching for his tape recorder and finding it nowhere nearby-- but then he heard it, his own words-- of a personal and intimate nature.
The tape recorder clicked, just as his confession concluded. Ed then listened in stunned silence as the tape was paused, rewound, replayed; over and over again-- speaking those few specific words he’d never been able to say to KK.
Turning his head, he recognised the silhouette as the last man he’d hoped it to be.
Ed was up on his feet in an instant, stumbling to cross the distance, reaching KK’s side and pulling the recorder from his hands. KK was startled by his movements, or perhaps more so by the look of shame and regret that Ed had no doubt he was conveying.
Any opportunity to flee was in vain; KK’s hand capturing his wrist before he could leave arm’s reach. Ed’s eyes immediately locked onto the other man’s-- attempting to speak without words.
“What are you afraid of, Ed?” KK slowly, gradually leaned in closer. Ed had nowhere to go, trapped between the other man and the desk. “Is this really how you feel?”
Ed’s lips parted as he stared at KK’s, knowing full well he’d be unable to respond to his question. It wasn’t something he could respond to loud, not without a recording at least. All he could do was avert his eyes as heat crept up his neck, cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
“You don’t have to say anything,” KK said, trying and failing to capture the other’s attention. “Ed, please… look at me…”
Ed swallowed thickly, licking his lips. He tried so hard to say it, a simple word-- one that would make his feelings known, and alleviate any confusion.
But it wasn’t working, his voice refused to cooperate, as usual.
Ed couldn’t bring himself to look at KK, not directly. He didn’t want to stare into those eyes, knowing he’d be unable to control himself. Yet KK ignored the silent warning, touching Ed’s cheek gently enough to finally allow their eyes to meet.
Then Ed lost control the moment their eyes met-- kissing KK as if it was the only chance he’d ever been granted.
KK’s expression softened by the time Ed pulled away, eyes wide, stunned by his own actions. But KK smiled, leaning in as Ed attempted to retreat.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” KK replied, before capturing Ed’s lips once more. “I’m glad.”
Ed didn’t have the time or care to consider why KK was returning his feelings, hands and lips advancing with haste as their bodies pressed up against each other.
This might be his only chance to hold KK in his arms, and if that were the case-- then Ed wasn’t going to hold himself back.