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“You’re hovering.”
He doesn’t need his heightened senses to alert him of her presence. He can practically feel her behind him, knees slightly bent, balancing her weight on the balls of her feet. She’s prepared to pounce at a moment’s notice, arms outstretched to catch him should he fall; a lioness tasked with protecting her injured king. He thinks it’s ridiculous—it’s his first night in her (their) apartment, his first night outside of his two week slumber in the hospital. He’d requested a bath; a soak in the hottest water he could handle sounded extremely appealing for his atrophied muscles. His wife had initially refused, telling him that a shower would be much safer. She could stand in there with him, help him wash his body, and hold him up should he grow tired.
But a flash of a smile and a kiss on the cheek had been enough to do her in. Touka Kirishima— Kaneki , she often points out, though unofficial in the eyes of Japan—had folded, and the One-Eyed King had gotten his way. His wife drew the bath while he unclothed himself, running his fingertips along scarred skin. One look from his wife, however, and he felt like the handsomest man in the world.
“Am not,” Touka grumbles. “I’m just watching my husband take a bath. Normal married couple things.”
He can see her clearly in his mind’s eye, the queen of the pride ready to pounce upon and eliminate any threat to her king. He chuckles at the image, his shaking body making small waves in the bath water.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing! I just—you’re cute , you know?”
And just like that, she is at his side, hands on her hips, glaring down at him.
“I’m not trying to be cute , Ken—” a delicious chill crawls up his spine; she’d recently taken to calling him by his first name, and it sounds like the most beautiful song he’s ever heard—“Your injuries healed, but ghouls are still susceptible to atrophy. It’s going to take time to build your strength back up. I don’t want you to fall and hurt yourself.”
“I’m not gonna fall and hurt myself.”
They stare at one another for what feels like an eternity. Touka scowls down at him out of concern, while he does his best to reassure her with a smile…
…That is until she begins to undress.
“Touka!“ His palms hit the tub’s bottom forcefully, making larger waves in the water. They splash over the tub’s sides, wetting the bath mat and tile flooring, and against his chest and abdomen as he scoots his body backward. His face grows hotter than the water as his wife steps out of her shorts and underwear, and steps into the tub. “Wh-what are you doing!?”
Her bangs hide the majority of the blush that has crept onto her face. She lowers herself into the water, bending her knees and positioning her feet to settle between his legs. She takes care to fully submerge her chest, still shy around her husband despite their activities during their time underground. “If I’m in here with you, it’ll be easier to help you out.”
He supposes she has a point. Should he slip while getting out of the tub, even in a ready position, there would be the chance of her not making it in time. With her in here with him, she could stand and assist him as he stood, providing him safety and stability should his legs give out. Not to mention, bathing with her has its benefits, and a great deal at that.
He watches her sink further, submerging herself up to her nose. A cluster of bubbles form on the water’s surface as his wife exhales. They pop instantaneously, amusing Kaneki to the point of laughter. Touka rises from the water, her breasts exposed, with a scowl on her face. “Would you quit laughing at me!?”
“I’m sorry!” His laughter is hearty, his body once again shaking and disrupting the stillness of their bath. He can’t help himself—he and his wife have finally been granted the happiness they’d sought after for years. They can let loose within the walls of their own home, learning what it means to spend their days without fear, and to behave as married couples do in their day-to-day lives. Though much has happened, Kaneki does not hold regrets. He wouldn’t be here, in this tub, in this apartment, with Touka as his wife and mother of his child, without the decisions he’s made.
He reaches out in front of him and grabs the air like a child begging for a treat. “Come here.”
She stares at him for a brief moment before sighing in defeat. She closes the distance between them and seats herself between his legs, pressing her back to his chest. As his arms wrap around her, he feels the tension leave her body. She leans her head back and closes her eyes.
They stay like that for some time. He has her head tucked beneath his chin, and she traces lazy patterns along his forearms. He listens to her breathe, his body instinctively synching its own rhythm with hers, and he swears that he could fall asleep like this. But all he wants now is to dry off and crawl in bed with her, their limbs tangling together as they explore each other’s bodies. He knows that Touka will reluctantly turn down any advances he makes to further their activities, making good on the vow she made not to overexert him during his recovery process. And he’s okay with that. While underground, the only thing they could do together was lose themselves in one another late into the night, for a king’s time was precious, and he had matters to attend to almost constantly. There had been little time for them to just enjoy each other’s company. Kaneki finds himself craving that the most.
“This is nice,” Touka’s voice is soft and relaxed, a tone he’s heard only after they had caught their breath and began drifting off to sleep. He wants to hear more of it, to play it on a loop in his head, to proudly state that Touka speaks in such manners only to him.
So, he hums in question, urging her to elaborate.
“The bath. I’ve never taken one with someone before.”
One of their many firsts. Not only as a couple, but as individuals. Prior to their first night spent together while on the run, neither Kaneki nor Touka had so much as kissed another person. Everything had been new to them, and they were constantly discovering new things together.
Another hum, this time in agreement.
“…hey, Ken?”
“Hm?”
A deep breath, held for a moment, and a long exhale through her nose. It’s something she still isn’t used to saying, he knows, but with every instance, his heart soars. “I love you.”
He angles his head and presses his lips to her crown.
“I love you, too.”