Chapter Text
Hide took a deep breath and tried to ignore the way his hands shook as he carried the two cups of coffee into his living room.
Haise was curled into the corner of Hide’s couch, nose buried in a book. He glanced up with a smile when Hide held out a cup for him, but his smile fell when he saw his friend’s face.
“Hide, is everything alright?” he asked, frowning.
“Haise,” Hide began, looking down into his cup to avoid meeting Haise’s eyes, and risking losing his nerve. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Haise heard the gravity in Hide’s voice, and closed his book to set it on the arm of the couch. He waited patiently, silently, for Hide to calm his breathing and speak.
“I really like you and, I want our relationship to – I don’t know. I – I want this to work. But, there’s something you need to know.” Haise listened attentively as Hide stumbled over his words, and Hide’s heart felt like it was beating out of his chest. He couldn’t remember ever being so nervous in his life. He wanted to believe that Haise wouldn’t care – he hadn’t cared before. But he couldn’t help the fear that had wrapped itself around his heart. What if he cared this time?
He shook his head, told himself he needed to trust Haise more. Then he took a deep breath, and decided to just say it.
“I’m trans.”
The silence was a roar in Hide’s ears. He risked glancing up, and wasn’t sure if he regretted that decision.
Haise blinked at him, expression blank. “Oh,” he said finally.
Hide fidgeted, looking down at the coffee still in his hands, growing more uncomfortable by the second. His ability to read Haise’s mannerisms was usually a blessing, but right now, it was just a glaring reminder of how off-guard he’d caught Haise.
Maybe he should have brought it up sooner. But when would have been a good time? The day Haise met him? While they were working any of their cases together? When they’d gone on their first date?
The time had never seemed right, and now Hide was cursing himself for waiting so long, and wondering if Haise was angry with him for not saying something sooner, or –
“Okay.”
Hide’s eyes shot back up to Haise’s face, and he drank in the easy smile that had spread across his features.
“O-okay?” Hide stuttered.
Haise reached out to pull one of Hide’s hands up to his lips, and pressed a gentle kiss to his knuckles.
“Okay,” he repeated, still wearing that full, warm smile. “Nothing’s changed.”
Hide felt tears pricking in his eyes and nervous, relieved laughter bubbling up his throat.
Of course, he thought to himself. Of course, he’d been worried for nothing. He should have known Haise better than that.
Haise pressed his lips to Hide’s hand again, and gave it a gentle squeeze. Hide squeezed back, wondering not for the first time how he’d been lucky enough to end up with someone like Haise.