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Yukichi knows something is wrong with Ougai as soon as their joint meeting ends. He can see it clear as day, painted on his love's face, because even though Ougai is notoriously unreadable to everyone else, Yukichi knows him better than anyone else in that room. In fact, it's partially because of how he notices Ougai's emotional condition rapidly deteriorating, that Yukichi ends the meeting as quickly as he can.
They don't speak at all on the ride home. Despite it being Ougai's car that they take, Yukichi drives, because when he asks Ougai if he would prefer to, all he gets in response is a quiet "No", accompanied with a shake of his head.
It's worrying. Immensely so.
When they get home - back to Yukichi's home, that is, but it is already starting to feel like it belongs to both of them now - Ougai shrugs off his coat, and it nearly falls to the floor (another unusual behavior, as Ougai always carefully removes his coat before hanging it up) before Yukichi catches it. After that, he's going to say something, to ask if Ougai is alright-
That is, until Ougai's shoulders start to tremble, and he covers his face with his hands, quiet, choked little sobs leaving him as he curls in on himself as best he can while still standing up.
"Oh, Dove," Yukichi murmurs, pulling Ougai close, letting him wrap his arms around Yukichi's middle as he buries his face in his chest, continuing to shake and cry. "Oh, my love, it's alright. It's alright. Just breathe, love, deep breaths. Easy. What's wrong?"
When he can finally speak, Ougai keeps his face pressed into Yukichi's chest, but his words are clear nonetheless:
"They're going to hate our baby, Yukichi."
Oh. Yukichi feels his heart sink into the pits of his stomach as his arms wrap a little tighter around Ougai's back. "Ougai…"
"You were there, you- you saw how upset they all were. You heard it, too." Ougai pauses to take a few shaky breaths, his hands curling into Yukichi's clothes as he does. "I- I don't want that for our baby, Yukichi. But- it's my fault."
Yukichi shakes his head, leaning down to kiss the top of Ougai's head as he does. "It is not your fault, Dove, because they aren't going to hate our baby."
"How can you know that?" Ougai asks miserably, pulling his face away from Yukichi's chest so he can look up at him. There are still tears in his eyes, and on his face. Carefully, Yukichi lifts one hand, gently rubs at Ougai's cheek with his thumb, then leans down again to kiss away his tears.
"More than anything else, our people respect us," Yukichi murmurs, his voice soft and gentle, yet firm as always. "I believe today, they were mostly just shocked." Then, he sighs, frowning slightly. "Though, I am not sure how much room any of them truly have to be shocked, considering the sheer number of relationships that were revealed today."
Ougai huffs out a dry laugh, pressing his cheek against Yukichi's chest as he does. "You're telling me."
"Furthermore… even if the members of our respective organizations distrust one of us, they will want to protect what you or I hold dear. That includes each other, and most certainly includes our baby." Gently, Yukichi puts his hand under Ougai's chin, tilting his head up to look at him; it isn't forceful, and Ougai knows he can pull away if he really wants to, but as it stands, he simply allows his head to move with Yukichi's hand, looking at him with uncertainty still in his eyes. "I know you are afraid, Dove. I know that there are things in your past which make the fear more real to you."
Ougai's lip trembles as he fights back a choked little sob at that, only half-managing to succeed. "I—"
"You don't have to talk about it right now," Yukichi says, quickly but softly, seeing the hesitance in Ougai's eyes. "Just know that these are not fears you have to face alone. I am here, and will be here, for every step of this journey. I love you."
"I love you, too." Ougai returns the words without hesitation, leaning his face further into Yukichi's hand, letting his palm rest against his cheek. "I… suppose you are right, that they were all more shocked than angry." He manages a soft laugh, rubbing at his eyes with his palm. "I can't really blame them. If someone had told me a year ago that I'd be here today, dealing with a situation like this of all things, well… to say I wouldn't believe them would be the understatement of the century, I'm afraid."
Yukichi allows a wider smile to curl the edges of his lips. "I feel much the same. However…" He pauses for a moment, as if unsure, before continuing: "Undoubtedly, I believe I am happier now than I would have been had I not started a relationship with you."
Ougai looks away bashfully at that, laughing softly. "I- while it surprises me that you would say that, I- very much feel the same."
"It shouldn't," Yukichi murmurs softly, his expression growing a bit sad. "You bring happiness to my life that I didn't believe I could have for so many years of it. And I know our child will only add to that happiness."
"I'm going to cry again if you keep this up," Ougai says through a watery laugh, rubbing furiously at his eyes as if to prove it. "I already cry far too much these days, we both know that."
"I fear you do not cry nearly enough, my dear," Yukichi says.
Ougai groans, looking up at Yukichi with narrowed eyes. "Please don't say that, I don't need both you and Elise telling me that."
"Perhaps if we are both saying it, that means there may be more truth to our words than you realize, love."
"So harsh! Even to your pregnant lover!"
In all honesty, Yukichi prefers the childish whining from Ougai which continues over the next few minutes as they banter, to the tears of despair which he'd shed when they got home. It is a sign to him that he can, at least, help to soothe his Dove's fears for the time being, and that is more than enough to put his own mind at ease.
If it is to be Yukichi's duty to put Ougai's fears to rest, and to kiss away his tears, even if only for these next few months? Then it is a duty he will carry out with pride.