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It was a slow afternoon, Ikki could hear the rain falling. He was putting the clothes into the washing machine while Vice was sitting on the chair behind him. Ikki turned to him. ‘Do you want to put your mask in too?’ he asked softly.
Vice’s hand came up to touch the bright blue mask. ‘I can?’ he wondered. Ikki nodded.
Vice took the mask off and Ikki tilted his head. Vice stood up and dropped it in. Ikki closed the lid. He picked up a packet of candy then sat down.
Vice didn’t move, he was staring at the washing machine. ‘What are you doing?’ Ikki asked curious.
‘Just watchin,’ Vice replied. He turned around and sat down on Ikki’s lap. Ikki smiled. He lifted the pack of candy. ‘Are you going to eat this,’ he shook it, ‘or am I going to all it all by myself?’ His voice was playful.
Vice perked up. He reached for it. ‘Gimme, gimme, gimme!’ Ikki’s smile widened and he pressed it against Vice’s hand. Vice quickly ripped it open. He paused. He looked at Ikki. ‘D you want some?’ he asked slowly. Ikki smiled and shook his head no.
He tapped the space between and under Vice’s eyes, where a nose would be in someone else’s face. ‘You can have all of it,’ he answered warmly.
Vice brought the pack of candy to his face. A seam on the bottom of his face opened and under the lights, the rows and rows of sharp white teeth gleamed. He stretched out his tongue.
It was bright blue and it made Ikki think of those candies and ice cream that turned his tongue that color. Vice tilted the pack. He poured the candy into his mouth. Ikki shook his head with a smile.
Vice bit down and there was a loud crunch. He chewed and Ikki yawned. He leaned against the backrest of the bench. Minutes passed, the whirring of the washing machine and Vice’s chewing the only sounds.
‘What if I get inside it?’ Vice asked, there was genuine curiosity in his voice.
‘Don’t talk with your mouth full,’ Ikki scolded automatically. He blinked. ‘What?’ he asked confused.
‘What if I’m inside it while it’s spinning?’ Vice wondered.
Ikki frowned in confusion. ‘You’ll get dizzy! You won’t fit anyway,’ he pointed out.
‘But I can!’ Vice protested, ‘I can squeeze into it!’ Ikki shook his head. He yawned. ‘Thleepy?’ Vice asked.
Ikki nodded. ‘A little.’
‘You can take a nap,’ Vice said.
‘I will. But later.’ Ikki leaned against the wall.
The minutes passed. Ikki’s eyelids felt heavy and his head lowered. Vice leaned forward, tilting his head. He held up a finger. Ikki looked at it confused. Vice tapped his finger against the tip of ikki’s nose. Ikki smiled.
‘I can carry you back to your room,’ Vice offered.
Ikki blinked. He shook his head. ‘No.’
‘Why not?’ Vice asked confused.
Ikki yawned. ‘I can just take a nap here.’
‘But sleeping on the bed is better! We can sleep there instead!’ Vice protested.
‘Then you should go so you can sleep there,’ Ikki pointed out.
‘Okay, I’ll do that,’ Vice declared. He looked into the candy packet.
He held it out. Ikki blinked then took it, folding it. Vice got off Ikki’s lap. Ikki turned to the side to throw it into the trash can. Vice walked off so Ikkk out his legs on the chair, setting his cheek on his knee. The machine whirred. His eyelids slowly lowered.
A moment later,Vice poked his head into the room. ‘Ikki,’ he whined. he stepped into the room, stopping in front of Ikki. ‘You’re supposed to go with me!’ he declared.
Ikki’s eyes fluttered opened and he raised his head. He looked up at Vice blearily. ‘It’s alright if you sleep there,’ he said slowly.
‘That’s not the point,’ Vice said annoyed. He bent down and laid his cheek against Ikki’s shoulder. ‘You’re supposed to run after me,’ he muttered, ‘you’re supposed to go with me!’
‘I can’t, I have to wait until the washing finishes so I can dry them,’ Ikki answered spleepily.
‘You can do it later. Do it later!’ Vice ordered.
‘I can’t because the clothes will smell,’ Ikki pointed out, ‘I’ll have to wash them again.’
Vice huffed. ‘Then wash them again!’ he insisted. ‘Go with me!’
Ikki reached up. He laid his hand on Vice’s shoulder. ‘Just let me take a nap,’ he said exasperated.
‘I am!’ Vice protested, ‘but you’re taking a nap with me!’ He took a step sideways then bent down lower.
He put an arm around Ikki while the other tried to slide under ikki’s knees. Ikki looked into Vice’s eyes. ‘I have to wake up to get the clothes out.’
‘Then I’ll wake you up,’ Vice answered simply. Ikki blinked then smiled. He got his feet off the chair, lowering his legs.
Vice got his arm beneath ikki’s knees then lifted him he started walking, Ikki in a bridal carry in his arms. Ikki laid his head and a hand on Vice’s chest. He didn’t care about the ridges on Vice, a finger laying on the sliver of bright blue. His eyelashes lowered.
The sway of Vice’s walk had brought the sleepiness back. Vice pushed the bedroom door open with his foot. He went to the bed and laid Ikki on it carefully. Ikki opened his legs. He was making space for Vice.
Vice lied down on top of him, laying his hand on Ikki’s ribs. Ikki sighed then his eyes fluttering shut. Vice leaned forward and he pressed his cheek against Ikki’s. Ikki heard him breath. Vice opened his mouth and ran his tongue down ikki’s neck.
Ikki shivered. Vice’s tongue was wet. ‘What’re you doin’?’ he mumbled.
‘Tastin’ you.’ Vice replied. He laid his hand on Ikki’s arm. He wrapped his hand around it, careful not to scratch Ikki’s skin.
He brought Ikki’s arm to his mouth. He ran his tongue down Ikki’s forearm. He stilled. His teeth was barely pressed against the inside of Ikki’s wrist. He lowered Ikki’s arm on the bed then set his knees on the bed.
Vice moved down. He laid his hand on Ikki’s leg. His hand slid down, claws ever so lightly scratching Ikki’s skin. Ikki shuddered. His eyes opened a sliver. Vice put his hand under Ikki’s knee then lifted it.
He nosed against the inside of Ikki’s thigh. He licked up, finishing by pressing his lips against the skin. His thumb stroked the inside of Ikki’s knee. He put Ikki’s leg down then scooted up the bed.
Vice laid down next to Ikki. Ikki rolled over to face him. ‘ar’ you ‘kay?’ he mumbled sleepily.
‘I’m okay,’ Vice answered. He laid a hand on Ikki’s ribs. Ikki’s skin was soft under his palm and he listened to Ikki breathe. ‘You taste terrible though.’
Ikki frowned slightly. He was trying to understand what Vice had said through the sleepiness. A few seconds later, he snickered. His head lowered and the snicker turned into a laugh.
Ikki opened his eyes. He looked into Vice’s eyes. ‘What do you did you think I’d taste like?’ he asked amused.
‘I don’t know! Not this bad?’ Vice answered, ‘you taste worse than candy, blegh!’
Ikki laughed. ‘Do you want some food later?’ he asked warmly.
Vice perked up. ‘Yeah! I want ice cream!’
‘We don’t have ice cream,’ Ikki said with a smile
‘Go get me some!’ Vice whined.
Ikki shook his head with a fond smile. he leaned closer. He kissed Vice’s cheek. ‘I might,’ he said playfully.
‘Ikki!’ Vice protested.
Ikki’s smile widened. ‘Are you gonna take a nap?’ he asked.
'No, I have to get the washing out,' Vice said.
Ikki looked at him with surprise. His eyes got ever warmer. 'Well you should!' he said all matter of fact, ' you're the one making me miss it!'
'Am not!' Vice laid his cheek against Ikki's.
Ikki wrapped his arms around Vice then settled it. He fell asleep and Vice listened to him breath. After minutes, Vice untangled himself from Ikki with regret and went back to the washing machine. He took the clothes out onto the hamper to let it drain.
When Ikki woke up, he and Vice hanged the clothes. After they finished, Ikki went out to the conbini. He brought ice cream for his family and for Vice. He handed a popsicle to Vice and they happily walked home.