Work Text:
6 am
Some mornings were easier than others.
Some mornings are just difficult.
Like this morning, Takeomi had been fighting to fall back asleep since 4 am, and was now watching the sun rise through the curtains in their small apartment. His eyes heavy, but unable to find sleep again, blinked slowly as he rolled onto his side.
Shinichiro, still soundly asleep even as the sun rose, was smiling in his sleep like an absolute goofball, but Takeomi couldn’t help but wonder what he was dreaming about.
Motorcycles, or swimming in a pool of coca cola, or running into the arms of his favorite actress. Takeomi couldn’t even be jealous about that, because he had loved her since he was 10, and even if Takeomi was the one who now shared his bed, that actress would always have a piece of his weird little heart.
As he watched him Shinichiro sighed, and smiled even wider. He untucked an arm from beneath his head, reaching out to Takeomi with grabby fingers.
“Takeomi…” Clearly still asleep, but his voice requested so much that Takeomi couldn’t help but slide over, letting Shinichiro’s arm wrap around him in his sleep.
Takeomi exhaled, closing his eyes as he attempted to relax in the warmth of Shinichiro’s embrace.
All he wanted was five more minutes. Maybe five more hours, if Shinichiro felt like sleeping in today.
7am
He didn’t really have to wake up at 7 am. The shop didn’t open until 9, and he didn’t have any pending orders that were due that day, so really, nothing to rush through that would necessitate him getting up so early.
But Takeomi was already in the shower, so Shinichiro needed to hurry if he wanted to help his boyfriend out before his exciting day began. Quietly as he could, as if Takeomi could hear him through the running water, Shinichiro tiptoed into the kitchen.
Opening the refrigerator, Shinichiro observed the contents, wondering what he could cook quickly and not totally mess up. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he could do a few simple things like reheating last night's dinner and making sure the eggs weren’t super rubbery when he scrambled them.
Determining that scrambled eggs in toast would be the easiest and least fuck-upable thing he could make, Shinichiro set to work, cursing when he almost immediately dropped an egg shell into the mix. He struggled for five minutes to corral it and get it out, knowing he had to be quick when he heard the shower turn off.
Throwing some bread in the toaster, Shinichiro turned back to the stove, mixing the eggs with milk and pepper before pouring them ever so carefully into a buttered pan. He jumped when the toaster popped a couple minutes later, knowing he was running out of time.
Slathering up the toast with jelly and butter, Shinichiro tossed the breakfast onto a paper plate, hoping the eggs were cooked all the way through just a moment before Takeomi exited their bedroom. Dressed in a casual suit, hair still slightly damp from the shower, Takeomi wandered over to the table looking down at the breakfast Shinichiro had made for him.
“I was wondering where you had run off to,” Takeomi mumbled, still sleepy despite the cold shower he had just subjected himself to. He poked his eggs with a fork, checking their doneness before scooping a bite into his mouth.
“Wanted to make sure you had a full stomach before your interview this morning.” Shinichiro sat down across from him, nibbling on a spare piece of toast that hadn’t fit on Takeomi’s plate. “For good luck and all that.”
Takeomi nodded, life coming back to him as he continued his meal. About halfway through, he looked around his plate as if he was missing something. Shinichiro was confused as to what that might be, and he cocked his head to the side as Takeomi searched.
“No coffee?”
Shinichiro rolled his eyes, walking over to their fridge where Takeomi’s pitcher of iced coffee lived.
“You’re lucky I love you so much. Better get that job for me.”
8am
Waltzing down the sidewalk, Shinichiro found himself in front of their favorite donut shop, fresh glazed pastries shining in the glass case inside. Waving at the cashier as he walked in the door, Shinichiro perused the case as the worker got their order ready.
“No friend this morning?”
Shinichiro laughed and shook his head. “Bit too early for him today. Takeomi needs to sleep in today. He chaperoned his sister at a concert last night.”
The cashier shook her head, folding over the top of the paper bag to make a neat seal for the walk home.
“You two are too young to be acting so old.”
Shinichiro couldn’t help but agree, however, the thought didn’t bother him so much. He liked when his friends joked that they were an old married couple, because he could really see that being their reality one day.
“Maybe so. But I bet if you threw in one of those strawberry mochi donuts for free, it would make Takeomi feel like a kid again.”
Winking at the cashier, she sighed, throwing one in the bag, but not before adjusting their total to include the price of the pastry.
“Cheer him up, but you’re not a kid, so you get full price.”
9am
“Shin.”
“What?”
“Stop.”
“Stop what?”
“You know what.”
Takeomi looked down, below their kitchen table, to the bare foot slowly creeping up his leg. Not even the inside of his leg. His shin. Toes inching up his leg like a worm, threatening to pull his leg hair out if he pulled away. Shinichiro’s foot had almost reached his knee when Shinichiro dropped it, pulling it back underneath his chair while crossing his ankles.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t… Shinichiro, I swear to god if you don’t stop -” Takeomi grumbled, trying to scoot back to avoid Shin’s wandering foot, but only succeeding in pressing himself against the wall behind his chair. Shinichiro pushed the table forward, effectively crushing Takeomi’s guts as he trapped him against the wall, resuming the torture.
“I’m not doing anything at all. This is fine. You like it right?”
Takeomi frowned, trying to push the table away, but not having a good leverage point to push with his full strength.
“Can I ever just read the newspaper in peace without you getting into shit?”
“What kind of old man are you? Who reads the paper?” Shinichiro grinned as he pushed his chair backwards, allowing Takeomi to finally scoot away from the wall. Finally able to return to his breakfast and reading in peace, Takeomi shook his head, stirring his nearly empty cereal bowl.
Peace. Quiet. At least until Shinichiro decided on a new way to distract him.
10am
“We should really get up….”
“Should we?”
Takeomi pondered the question, knowing that he was too weak to say no to the way Shinichiro was cuddling up to his chest, holding onto him with a death grip that was maybe his only carry over from their days in the black dragons.
Hug your enemies to death. Shinichiro assured him it was a very effective tactic.
“Can we at least get breakfast?” Takeomi complained as his stomach grumbled, Shinichiro poking his belly to force it to stop.
“Breakfast in bed?”
“Sure, but who is going to go get it?”
Shinichiro paused…wondering the same thing. Nuzzling his face into Takeomi’s neck, Shinichiro pretended to snore until Takeomi stabbed a finger into his ribs.
“Guess we’re just gonna starve!” Shinichiro yelped as he rolled away, pulling Takeomi on top of him. “We’re trapped in bed. Can’t move!”
11am
“We should get a dog.”
The suggestion came out of nowhere, and Takeomi almost wondered if Shinichiro had even said it. He was staring right at the TV, which was tuned to some animal show with puppies rolling around and being kind of adorable, so maybe, he had said something.
“A dog huh?”
“Yeah, a dog would be cool. Never got to have a pet growing up, so it might be cool.”
Takeomi nodded, remembering that Shinichiro was never really allowed to have pets when there were kids, but always remained in good spirits about it, despite telling him regularly how badly he wanted a pet.
“I’m not sure…. We don’t really have a whole lot of space for a dog, or time to train one.”
Shinichiro nodded, as if he truly agreed with that reasoning. An idea struck his eyes and brought a dangerous look to his eyes, however.
“Would you prefer a cat, Takeomi?” His eyes were teasing, as if he wasn’t really being serious, but Takeomi wondered. A pet was a pet, right?
“A cat wouldn’t be so bad…”
Shinichiro’s eyes widened in surprise, but still appeared to be satisfied by the response.
“A cat it is them. It can be our practice baby.”
“No pets.”
“Awe, Takeomi, come on, you already said yes.” Shinichiro begged, fake tears in his eyes as he leaned over the back of the couch to plead with Takeomi.
“I absolutely did not.”
12pm (Noon)
Shinichiro yawned, laying back on the blanket, the scratch of the grass somehow still making it through his thin t-shirt to make his back all itchy. He opened his mouth as a grape was pressed to it, frowning as he felt a seed between his teeth.
“Don’t start yawning on me now, you have to go back to work later.” Takeomi’s voice was light, teasing, and Shinichiro knew he’d let him get out of work for the afternoon if he begged.
“Do I really?”
“Yes… we always help each other shirk our responsibilities…but maybe we should actually be good for each other.” Another grape was pressed against his lips, and Shinichiro took it, but not before he licked Takeomi’s fingertips. His lick was wiped on his shirt, and he laughed, picturing the way Takeomi was shaking his head. “Just this once.”
“You’re so good for me, Takeomi.”
“Am I really?” Skeptical, and Shinichiro could only imagine that Takeomi was thinking he was about to say something dirty in response. Well, he’d show him.
“Absolutely. You keep me sane.” Opening his eyes, Shinichiro grabbed a grape from the fruit salad they had bought at the store. Holding it to Takeomi’s lips, he waited until the other man opened his mouth, taking the grape and accidentally kissing his fingers, all in one motion.
“Don’t know what I’d do without you, Takeomi.”
“Die probably.”
Stretching his arms over his head, Shinichiro yawned again as he stretched out on the scraggly grass of the park they’d decided to take his lunch break to.”
“Yeah, that's probably true.”
1pm
Trailing behind his little sister, their shopping trip already burning a hole in his pocket, Takeomi dragged his feet, not exactly wanting to follow her into the underwear store she was currently eyeing.
“Hey Takeomi, isn’t Shinichiro’s birthday coming up soon?”
Senju’s voice breaking her out of his internal bitter older brother monologue, Takeomi frowned, caught off guard both by her question and the date.
“Yeah…I guess it is, isn’t it?”
“Have you thought about what you’re going to get him yet?”
Shaking his head, being honest in his shame. Remembering dates was never a strong suit for him…unless it was something awful. Also, Shinichiro was hard to shop for…so he tended to put these things off until the last minute.
Takeomi told Senju this, and she just rolled her eyes, shaking her head at her older brother’s ineptitude as a boyfriend.
“Oh come on, he can’t be that hard to shop for.” Grabbing Takeomi by the elbow, Senju dragged him away from the shop she had previously been eyeing. “We’re going to find something for Shinichiro before we leave. I’m not going to let you look like a bad boyfriend.”
2pm***
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Takeomi’s voice was muffled, Shinichiro’s sweaty shirt having just been tossed on his face while he was sitting on the couch.
“This morning has sucked , I need something to eat on my lunch break.” Shinichiro was next, climbing into his lap, stripping the shirt from Takeomi’s face as he straddled him. Takeomi let him do what he wanted, because hey, his morning had kind of sucked too, so might as well get another kind of sucking in before Shinichiro had to go back downstairs.
“You haven’t had lunch yet? Was it that client who keeps coming in and hovering over you?” Takeomi lifted his arms as he felt Shinichiro’s fingers tugging at the hem of his shirt. Shinichiro was on him in a second when the shirt joined his own on the seat beside them.
“ Yes , I just don’t understand how someone can hire me to do something, and then not trust me enough to do it without breathing down my neck!”
Takeomi nodded as Shinichiro continued to rant, bitching about this annoying client that Takeomi had only heard everything about. Takeomi wondered if Shinichiro even remembered that ranting wasn’t the kind of catharsis that he had been aiming to achieve during his break, so he helped ease the process along by kissing down his neck, leaving one good bruise for that annoying client to see later if the neck breathing continued, and working open his pants with one hand, the other fully occupied with keeping Shinichiro still and steady as his habit of gesturing with his hands took over, nearly rocking him right onto the floor.
“And Takeomi, you won’t even believe this. The asshole said he’s coming back at THREE to see what else I’ve fucked up in the meantime. I should just fire him as a client.”
Knowing Shinichiro wouldn’t, because he never fired any clients because well. Everyone needed the money. Takeomi nodded, indicating he was listening as Shinichiro’s hands reached for the button of Takeomi’s jeans.
“Well, I guess we better make this fast so you can get back downstairs.”
“As if. That old man can fucking wait.”
3pm
At first, Takeomi didn’t recognize him. Takeomi had only ever heard about him, but he wasn’t around enough for Takeomi to have the pleasure… or whatever this was… of meeting him. He stared at Takeomi, piercing violet eyes judging Takeomi as he sat behind the counter of Shinichiro’s shop, greeting customers while he was out for a quick break.
“Can I help you?”
“Where’s my brother?” Izana asked, tone accusatory as if Takeomi had done something other than keep the shop open for ten minutes.
“He’ll be back soon.”
Seemingly not believing him or caring about what he had to say because it was one of the two, Izana crossed his arms, tapping his toes as he looked Takeomi up and down.
Takeomi wanted to ask what his problem was, the unblinking stare was a little unsettling, but he also so badly wanted to make a good impression on Shinichiro’s family, even if the family only had a short tolerance of him for some reason.
Izana didn’t say another word to him. Just stared him down, judging him , as Takeomi tried to not break his gaze in return.
When Shinichiro finally returned, it felt like hours had passed, even if it had only been five minutes. Izana’s intimidation act faltered, and he accepted Shinichiro’s greeting hug, stating that Takeomi was funny and he liked him.
Takeomi tried to avoid snorting, not believing a word that came out of that little shit’s mouth. Shinichiro seemed happy that they had gotten along, and he gave Takeomi a quick kiss on the cheek before asking Takeomi how their first meeting had gone.
Takeomi couldn’t wait to explain to him later tonight what “your brothers are scary” meant.
4pm
“What on earth are you doing?”
Shinichiro shrugged, though Takeomi likely couldn’t see it under the massive blanket that hung over his shoulders. “I was cold.”
“I see.”
Creeping over to where Takeomi was laying on their couch, Shinichiro joined him, laying nearly on top of him rather than beside him, covering them both in the blanket as he got comfortable. Takeomi grunted as Shinchiro elbowed him in the gut, his pain and suffering being comforted with a kiss to his jaw.
“You looked cold too, Takeomi.”
“Did I?”
“Not very conversational today?”
Takeomi hummed, wrapping his arms around Shinichiro’s waist as he got comfortable with the new weight laying atop him.
“Sleepy.”
“It’s only four. Old man.” Shinichiro accused, poking him in the side before relaxing himself, head resting on Takeomi’s shoulder.
“It’s the rain.” Nodding towards the window, Shinichiro followed his gaze to the gray sky outside. Beads of water slid down the window panes, blurring the view to the outside. Shinichiro felt a similar sleepiness overtake him as they watched and listened to the rain. Takeomi’s hand rubbing circles on his back didn’t help his attempts to stay awake, and a large yawn ripped through his body.
“Maybe it's nap time…” Shinichiro wiggled his head against Takeomi’s neck until he found the perfect place to nestle into. Takeomi sighed, closing his eyes as the rain continued, ruining their plans for their day off, but providing them with a much better alternative in return.
A quiet Shinichiro for a few hours? Couldn’t pass that up.
“Maybe it is.”
5pm
Rare as it was for all of them to gather like this these days, it was still a fond pastime. Though these days, it was without the formalities of the Black Dragons, and the number of their generation dwindled down to four.
Cracking open a beer from the case Benkei and Wakasa brought (“really? Only a six pack? Are we supposed to share the last two?” Shinichiro had complained before making a joke about sharing an indirect kiss with his boyfriend) the four relaxed in the relatively quiet of the bike shop. Wakasa leaned against the wall, enjoying the AC that poured down on him after a long walk in the sun, and Benkei browsed Shinichiro’s current stock, as if he were actually considering buying a new bike after all of these years.
Shinichiro plopped down on the floor in front of Takeomi who sat on his work bench. Leaning against his knees until Takeomi parted them, allowing Shinichiro to find a much more comfortable lounging position between his legs. Shinichiro discovered Takeomi’s thighs were perfect armrests, and tilted his head back to smile at him, another good day under his belt, and a good night with friends ahead.
Shinichiro’s smile was so soft, Takeomi couldn’t help but return it, brushing his fingers through his boyfriend’s hair, removing it from his forehead. So soft, and only a little bit sweaty from a hard day’s work, Takeomi also couldn’t resist leaning down to press his lips against his forehead, Shinichiro’s eyes fluttering closed at the contact.
“Get a fucking room, you two,” Wakasa called out, fanning himself with his shirt as he stuck his tongue out in fake disgust.
Takeomi scoffed, cheeks turning pink at being caught in the sentimental moment.
Shinichiro squeezed his knee to console him, knowing Takeomi was never the biggest fan of PDA, even in front of their friends. But of course, that never stopped him from running his mouth.
“Great idea. Our room is right upstairs. What do you say, Takeomi?”
“I say come up with another idea.”
6pm
Takeomi stared down at his plate, suddenly uncomfortable in the home of the people he had known for years. It usually just wasn’t this…formal. Shinichiro was being so serious for no reason… and Mikey was staring the soul out of him like he knew something Takeomi didn’t.
The teen’s stare was accusatory. As if he was angry at Takeomi for being there… but maybe he was just reading into things and Mikey always made him a little bit nervous. He never could read that kid.
Shinichiro leaned over, whispering that Takeomi should ignore Mikey.
Shinichiro then smiled at him, that comforting reassuring smile that always made Takeomi feel so much better… He also grabbed Takeomi’s hand under the table, his thumb rubbing reassuring circles on the back of his hand as they continued to eat dinner.
Takeomi never quite figured out what was going on while dinner was happening. The normally lively Sanos were quieter than ever, and Takeomi simply felt out of place amongst them.
Shinichiro thanked him on the way home for coming with him, a full body hug was his reward as soon as they stepped outside.
Thank him for what, he asked… feeling as if dinner with the inlaws was just something to be expected as he and Shinichiro continued their relationship.
Shinichiro shook his head with a laugh, remembering finally that he forgot to share the occasion of the family dinner.
“Thank you for coming…we just like to get together on our parent’s anniversary. Seems a bit happier than their death day, even if it never is.”
7pm
Digging through the bottom of their shared closet, Shinichiro threw shoes behind his back, digging through sneakers and boots and heels, looking so closely for the missing and elusive dress shoe that he wore once a year. Maybe twice a year if he was being honest. The left was already snuggly tied onto his foot, but the right was still MIA.
Digging deeper into the bottom of the closet, wondering if it had fallen behind some box that had been kept as storage for the miscellaneous things that he didn’t need on a regular basis, Shinichiro paused as he discovered a little blue book that he hadn’t seen in a while.
Pulling it out of the nook it was squeezed into, Shinichiro began flipping through the pages. A photo album. So small that only two pictures fit on each layout at a time, so each page turn revealed two new images. He had had it for years… the pictures printed out of some old disposable camera that his parents had let him finish off after his birthday party one year. He was what…eight? Nine? Still an only child, as Mikey and Emma had not been born yet. Maybe Izana was…or was about to be. But he didn’t come into their lives until much later, so even if he was around in the world, he still wouldn’t have made it into these pictures.
No..these pictures always brought a smile to his face as they were mostly of him and Takeomi. After flipping through the pictures of his birthday party, he discovered the pictures with the bad lighting and his finger partially over the lens and a much smaller version of Takeomi…hair buzzed, missing a front tooth, and smiling so widely with blue frosting stained lips.
So lost in the memories, Shinichiro didn’t notice when Takeomi had walked up behind him until he ruffled his carefully styled hair.
“We’re going to be late. That doesn’t look like your shoe.”
“It’s not…but look, Takeomi. Look how cute you were!” Shinichiro held the album up, pinching his thigh after Takeomi grabbed it. “Still cute, but…a different kind of cute now.”
Takeomi flushed as he closed the album, not returning it because Shinichiro still hadn’t finished his task yet.
“Find your shoe. We can look at this together later.”
8pm
“Takeomi guess what .” Shinichiro plopped down beside him on the couch, throwing an arm around his shoulder and kissing his cheek in greeting. Shinichiro had just returned from an afternoon with his little brother, and was as happy as he always was after spending time with one of his siblings.
“What?” Because what could it possibly be? Takeomi wouldn’t be surprised if the grand surprise Shinichiro was so excited about was a new burger at their favorite fast food place. Shinichiro could get excited about anything.
“Our little brothers…Manjirou and Haruchiyo… they went out on a date .”
Furrowing his brow at the revelation, Takeomi sat up straight, questioning Shinichiro. “Really?”
“Yes… Manjirou couldn’t stop talking about it. It was so cute.”
Cute wasn’t exactly the word Takeomi would use to describe it. Surprising maybe. But definitely not cute.
“Takeomi…”
“What now?”
“You know I’ve been thinking…” Reaching into his pocket, Shinichiro grabbed something, concealing it with a closed fist. Takeomi eyed him cautiously as he opened it, revealing a bright red twist tie wrapped around itself to form a makeshift ring. “We should get married first.”
“No one is getting married today.”
“Sano Takeomi, I can hear it now -”
“Absolutely not.”
9pm
“Time to come upstairs, you damn workaholic.” Calling down the stairs, Takeomi waited for a response. His brows furrowed in concern as he heard nothing except the soft sound of the radio Shinichiro always listened to when he worked. No tools tinkering away on the bike he was working on, no Shinichiro singing along. Not even the sound of frustrated curses if the project he was staying down here so late for wasn’t going well.
“Shin?” Calling downstairs again, Takeomi tried to walk down the rickety stairs carefully. He couldn’t help but rush though, because what if something had gone wrong and Shinichiro had cut off a finger and was now laying in a puddle of blood, passed out… Takeomi let his mind run wild, missing the last step, twisting his ankle in a way it definitely should not be twisting.
“ Shit, ” Takeomi swore as his other foot caught up with him, catching his breath as he looked around the shop, seeing Shinichiro hunched over the seat of the bike. His heart beat hurt as he hobbled over to him, shaking his shoulders. “Shin?”
Snores interrupted by the intrusion, Shinichiro snorted as he sat up, clearing his nose. He rubbed his cheek with his gloved hand, effectively smearing grease across the left side of his face, he smiled up at Takeomi, ignoring the pained glare on his face.
“Hey Omi, what's up?”
“What’s up? It's after 9, you weren’t answering when I called you, and now I’ve busted my damn foot.”
Looking down at the foot Takeomi was holding above the ground, Shinichiro frowned, wondering what he had done to it when it looked perfectly fine for now.
“Awe, do you want me to carry you back upstairs, Takeomi?”
“Shut up.” Takeomi turned back towards the stairs, winching as soon as he put his twisted foot on the ground. Turning back towards Shinichiro sheepishly, he mumbled with an angry pout “I may need help.”
10pm
Trying to stretch the sheet out over all four corners of the bed for what felt like the hundredth time, Takeomi admitted defeat. Laying face down in the center of their bed as the edges of the fitted sheet snapped back up around him, encasing him in a freshly washed tomb of laundry. He had been at it since he retrieved the laundry from downstairs, not wanting to ask for help when he could one hundred percent do it himself this time.
Except he couldn’t because Shinichiro had to have the most complicated set of sheets he had ever fucking seen.
He just wanted to go to bed…
“What are you doing?” Shinichiro’s voice called out to him as he laid there in shame, admitting his defeat yes, but not admitting he had been outsmarted by a piece of fabric.
“Sleeping. What does it look like?” Takeomi snapped, not raising his face from the bed that he laid out like a starfish upon. It was obvious what he had been trying to do, each limb extended to try to keep the damn thing in place while he pulled on the last corner.
“It looks like you’re struggling,” Shinichiro teased, pulling back the edge of the fitted sheets to expose his boyfriend who absolutely refused to look at him. “Need any help?”
“No.”
“Sure, okay.” Shinichiro chuckled as he began helping anyway, pulling each corner of the sheet around the mattress, the elastic neatly snapping it into place without much of struggle. Shinichiro observed his work as he finished, lightly patting Takeomi’s ass to let him know he was done. “See wasn’t so hard now, was it?”
“I could have done that too if you had been holding it down for me.”
Shinichiro nodded, pretending like he agreed, before slipping a hand under a bottom corner of the sheet, making it lose its grip and flipping back over Takeomi like a net. Takeomi sat up on his knees, whipping around to glare at his boyfriend who simply shrugged, the mischievous smile on his face teasing and cruel.
“You said you didn’t need my help.”
11pm ***
Wiping the soap out of his eyes, Takeomi stepped directly in the spray of the shower, rinsing his face and hair before the soap started to sting. It had been a long minute since he had gotten soap in his eyes, but Shinichiro was really testing his abilities to be a competent adult by coming into the bathroom every other minute to talk to him when all he wanted was a few minutes alone before the day ended. Usually he showered in the morning, but a long hard day sometimes required a second so he could relax.
But of course, he would never get his wish because his boyfriend loved to torment him, even with the best of intentions.
“Shin, if you don’t leave me alone…” Takeomi trailed off as he heard the bathroom door close again, assuming that Shinichiro had left as he wanted. But of course, he could never be that lucky… Feeling cool air against his back and hearing the squeak of feet on the wet shower floor, Takeomi knew that Shinichiro had just joined him for a quick dip, and wouldn’t leave until his mischievous nature was satisfied.
Not acknowledging his presence, Takeomi continued to rinse out his hair, ignoring the hands that crept up over his stomach, pressing the lightest of touches to his skin until Shinichiro reached his chest, squeezing his pecs twice before letting his hands drop to Takeomi’s hips.
Feeling Shinichiro’s bare chest against his wet back was forever a strange sensation, but the chills he got down his spine as his boyfriend rested his chin on his shoulder, whispering into his ear.
“You seemed stressed.”
Finally unable to ignore him, Takeomi placed his hands over Shinichiro’s, trying to remove them from his bare skin so that he might exit the shower. What he wanted was gone now, as a quiet ten minutes standing under the spray of the shower was not possible when Shinichiro was poking into his back. It was so easy for Shinichiro to distract him with that…but he was feeling spiteful and didn’t want to let him win today.
“You make me stressed.”
“I’m so sorry, Takeomi…” Shinichiro kissed his neck, clearly not sorry at all. He weasled his hands out of Takeomi’s grasp, the water making it easy for him to slip away and drop his hands between Takeomi’s legs. “I can fix that for you, if you let me.”
Sighing in exasperation and at the feeling of Shinichiro’s hands. Letting his head fall back on his boyfriend’s shoulder, Takeomi allowed the assault on his neck to continue, thinking that maybe this wasn’t the worst way to relax in the evening.
12am (Midnight)
Even with his head tucked under the comforter, the light from Takeomi’s lamp still pierced through his eyelids, making it impossible for him to sleep comfortably. He even tried covering his eyes with his hands, but that just made his face sweaty because it was already sweltering under the covers.
Tossing the blankets aside, Shinichiro sat up in bed, groggily looking at his boyfriend, who was paying him no mind. Still reading away, finger keeping his place in his book as his glasses slipped down his nose. It must be some sort of good book because Takeomi had been reading for a couple hours now, but Shinichiro's sleep was much more important at this point.
Ignoring Takeomi’s protestations as he climbed over him, Shinichiro reached one arm out to yank the chain of the lamp. Finally doused in a darkness that he could actually sleep in, Shinichiro slumped down, laying his body over Takeomi’s lap.
Nestling his head against Takeomi’s stomach, Shinichiro snuggled in, whining as Takeomi tapped his head with the paperback he could no longer see.
“Excuse me?”
“Ew did you fart? While I’m on your lap? Gross, Omi.” Shinichiro joked as he wrapped his arms around his brand new boyfriend body pillow. Too bad this version came with the commentary.
“Are you going to get off?”
“Not anytime soon I don’t think.”
Takeomi sighed, reaching back over to his lamp before Shinichiro grabbed his wrist.
“Don’t you dare.”
“Then move. ”
“But Takeomi…I’m so cozy…”
Takeomi set his book and glasses to the side finally, much to Shinichiro’s joy. But that was immediately before Takeomi used all the strength in his body to roll Shinichiro back onto his own side of the bed. Takeomi groaned as his effort was defeated and Shinichiro immediately slithered back over to use his belly as a pillow.
Just soft enough, with an ambient noise of Takeomi’s stomach gurgling. He’d lay here just long enough to make Takeomi suffer for keeping him up with his reading light.
1am
“More!”
“No more….” Takeomi groaned, rubbing a hand over his face as he pushed his half full glass away from him, allowing Shinichiro to grab it and down it in one go. “You’re going to get sick…”
“No I won't, Takeomi! I feel great! Alive!” Shinichiro waved at the bartender, gesturing for another drink, despite Takeomi trying to pull his arm down to get him to stop. “Party pooper, Takeomi.”
“If you puke in public again, I’m going to break up with you.”
“Liar.”
“Try me.”
Shinichiro raised an eyebrow, grinning at the bartender as he returned with Shinichiro’s beverage. Takeomi lost count of how many drinks he’s had. Keeping eye contact with him as he chugged his new drink, Shinichiro whipped his mouth, letting out an oh so satisfied sigh.
At least the sigh was satisfied before he burped, and his cheeks turned from a flushed, drunken pink to “I’m about to hurl” green. Takeomi leaned back, his eyes widening as Shinichiro hopped up and ran to the end of the bar to puke in a trash can.
Takeomi waved the bartender over to close their tab, giving them a much needed 50% tip for the inconvenience of serving Shinichiro that evening.
Walking over to Shinichiro, who was still leaning over the trash can, Takeomi rubbed his back, asking if he was okay.
Shinichiro turned his head towards him, face tearful and nose snotty.
“Are you going to break up with me?”
Grabbing a napkin from the bar, Takeomi dabbed at Shinichiro’s mouth, removing the last of the gross evidence of their night turned wrong from his lips.
“Not tonight.”
“Ha, I knew it -” Shinichiro began to celebrate, attempting to stand back at his full height before the sudden movement caused his stomach to heave again, returning him to his hunched position over the trash.
“Maybe tomorrow though…” Takeomi mumbled, his own head swimming as he rubbed Shinichiro’s back, comforting him as he continued to empty the night into the trash.
2am
Elbowing his boyfriend once, twice, then three times, Shinichiro groaned, sitting up in bed as Takeomi’s arm fell from his chest to his waist. His head was right where it was when he had woken up, open mouthed and right on his pillow.
His as in Shinichiro’s. He was 100% invading Shinichiro’s space, leg thrown over him and arm keeping him from rolling away. But also, being an inch away from the edge of the bed prevented him from rolling over as well.
“Takeomi, roll over .” Shoving his shoulder, Shinichiro tried to get him to move so that he could go back to sleep, with little success as Takeomi just groaned and continued to snore. Shinichiro so badly just wanted to pinch his nose, closing off his airway for just a second so maybe his sleepy self would get the hint and roll over on his own.
But maybe that was a bit mean. And even though he so desperately wanted to be mean for just a second, he wanted to go back to sleep more. Free from Takeomi’s hot breathed snores in his ear.
Slipping out of his octopus-like grasp, Shinichiro walked around to the unoccupied side of the bed (what was meant to be Takeomi’s side), and slipped under the covers. It was nice and cool and soft, and Takeomi’s pillow was nice and fluffy because he rarely, if ever, used it.
Shinichiro tucked the blankets up around his chin, feeling sleep pulling at him already before he felt Takeomi’s heavy arm sling around his waist, the other man finally having rolled over. Rolled over just far enough to trap Shinichiro in again as the little spoon, Takeomi’s breath on his neck as he moved from Shinichiro’s pillow back to his own.
Shinichiro sighed, too tired to move back to his own side of the bed. He contemplated getting belts to tie Takeomi down at night, but decided that would be fruitless. He would still find a way to cling onto Shinichiro at night.
At least the snoring stopped.
3am
Blowing a puff of smoke into the air, Shinichiro watched the cloud swirl around him before disappearing into the night. Taking another slow drag of his cigarette, he held the smoke in his lungs for a second longer than he should have, and he coughed out his exhale, nearly spitting on Takeomi’s face as he crawled up the fire escape.
“Gross.” Takeomi scowled as he finished climbing the ladder, carefully walking around to sit at his side, legs dangling off the edge of the building.
“Couldn’t sleep either?” Passing Takeomi his half smoked cigarette, he watched as his boyfriend’s lips sealed around it, sharing the same smoke. Breathing the same air.
“Was sleeping just fine until I woke up and you were missing.”
“Awe, did you get worried about me?” Shinichiro teased, elbowing Takeomi in the side playfully before accepting the return of his cigarette.
“Hardly.” Takeomi rolled his eyes, fingers curling around the side of the roof, bare feet swinging in the night breeze. Shinichiro placed a hand over Takeomi's, lacing their fingers together as they looked out over the street below. A night of yellow street lamps and dark shop fronts and Takeomi biting his tongue. Shinichiro understood, even if it was hard for Takeomi to be honest and say it.
“You know, it's hard for me to sleep when you’re not there sometimes.” Because it was. Takeomi was always there, and when he wasn’t…it was hard to beat out the loneliness that followed.
Takeomi stared at him as if he didn’t believe him at first, but still, flipped his hand around so that their palms could meet as they looked at each other.
“It’s hard for me too.”
Shinichiro smiled, squeezing Takeomi’s fingers tightly, thanking him for finally being honest.
4am
The darkest hours of the night always make room for the warmest moments. Passed out after another long day of just existing, sometimes, reaching out for your person in your sleep was all the reassurance that you needed that you would survive the night, and the next day, and all of the years to come.
Good thing Takeomi never had to reach very far. Shinichiro was always beside him, even when they ended the night on a sour tone with a bitter argument over something stupid. Shinichiro rolling into his arms in the night was all he needed to know things were going to be okay. They would apologize in the morning, and figure out how to come to a compromise on the disagreement.
They always did. And they always would. Because that was what they had to do to continue moments like these. Where Shinichiro smiled at his touch and Takeomi felt like crying in his dreams because he still felt as if this was too good for him.
He didn’t deserve to be treated so nicely.
But he never wanted to let this go.
5am
Closing his eyes, Takeomi settled his chin on Shinichiro’s shoulder, allowing the cool evening breeze to caress his face as Shinichiro drove through the streets of downtown, slowly but surely taking them home.
It had been a long day, and even a longer night. Takeomi wasn’t even sure what kept them out so late, but sometimes that just happened and they weren’t crawling into bed until the sun came up. The city had been sleeping for hours, and finally, it was their turn.
Takeomi always liked driving with Shinichiro at this time of night. The lack of traffic allowed for such a smooth ride, with so few starts and stops, that the rumble of the bike and the wind on his face could almost lull him to sleep.
He was always glad Shinichiro was the one driving, because the only thing Takeomi had to focus on was keeping his grip on Shinichiro’s waist strong so that he wouldn’t fall off when they did finally stop.
Though maybe he did fall asleep this time, as the comforting warmth of Shinichiro’s back on his chest was really the only thing Takeomi could focus on until he felt Shinichiro patting his hand, coaxing him back to life.
“We’re home, Takeomi.”