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“who do you think you’re fooling?” jouno sighs, chin falling to the palm of his hand as his eyebrows furrow. “i can tell you’re exhausted.”
“i’m fine. i just haven’t had time to rest lately.” he can hear the pout in your voice and the light sound of wood hitting together from across the table; you’re fidgeting with your chopsticks.
“what about right now?” his hand falls to his lap as he straightens his posture, all too aware of the opportunity presenting itself. “it’s not like we have a mission.”
you and jouno were sharing lunch in the briefing room, consisting of only a large conference table and stiff office chairs. it wasn’t the best place to sleep, but he can’t ignore the sound of your muffled yawns anymore. you were so cute, trying to hide it from him, like he couldn’t see through your every movement.
“i don’t know…what if the captain sees?”
“i’ll keep watch,” he abandons his food to move to the seat next to yours, ignoring the stall in your heartbeat as he rests his hand on your head, urging you to relax against his shoulder. “stop making excuses and just go to sleep already.”
it’s quiet for a few moments as you sit still against him before you let out a little laugh, the sound pretty and soft in his ears.
“you’re being nice today, jouno.”
“i’m always nice,” he huffs, pushing the brim of your hat down, trying to ignore the feeling of you hugging his arm to your chest as you get comfortable. “i just don’t want you to…hold us back by passing out during training.”
it doesn’t take longer than a couple of minutes for your heart to slow down to a relaxed, steady beat, and he knows you’re asleep. just as he expected, you were exhausted.
he sighs, trying to remember the last time someone was so calm around him. the fact it’s you of all people makes something unfamiliar stir inside his chest. he’s so used to reveling in the agony of others, he almost can’t believe how much he’s enjoying this.
he’s always been a little more gentle with you, but he can’t help it. enveloped by the feelings and sounds grating on his senses everyday, you were always the one he sought out for a moment of relief.
he remembers the sarcastic “aww, how sweet,” you’d given him when he explained that you were simply less irritating to be around than everyone else, his way of complimenting you. the memory draws a small smile onto his face.
he wants to indulge in this moment and ingrain it into his mind forever. he doesn’t know when he’ll get the honor of being so close to you again. he wants to be greedy and stretch it out for as long as he possibly can.
except he can’t, because the door opens.
“oh, you’re here, jouno-san,” jouno digs his nails into his palms. of course, it would be tecchou of all people to interrupt this moment. “and…y/n-san, too?”
“don’t.” he grumbles through gritted teeth. he strains his ears, making sure you were still asleep, even if it meant tecchou’s annoying breathing was amplified too.
“don’t what?”
“don’t talk, don’t breatheーjust don’t be here! they’re sleeping. even you standing there is too noisy.”
he can sense the bothersome presence in the doorway trying to decide if he should get what he came for or leave. somehow, tecchou manages to make his mood worse by leaving; he closes the door a little too hard, and jouno frowns as he feels you startle against him.
“everything’s fine,” he says before you can ask. he pushes your head back to his shoulder with as much gentleness as he can conjure. “you can go back to sleep. there’s still a few more minutes before lunch is over.”
“mm,” you nuzzle into the fabric of his uniform. “‘m glad ‘cause you’re really comfy.”
“oh, am i?”
unfortunately, you’re already back asleep before he can milk anymore compliments out of you. comfy. no one has ever called him that before. he doesn’t know why anyone would’ve until now, but it makes his stomach flutter pleasantly nonetheless. if it came from anybody else, he probably would’ve scoffed.
he doesn’t know how long he sits there, simply basking in the feeling of being next to you. listening to the sound of your breathing and the blood in your veins felt so intimate, he didn’t even mind that you were drooling on his sleeve.
he’s so engrossed in you, he loses track of time. certainly the two of you will be late for training now, but he still can’t find it in himself to wake you.
he decides to wait until he hears the approaching footsteps of his co-workers when they inevitably search for the two of you to rouse you from your little nap. for now, he allows himself to savor the moment for a little longer. and maybe a little longer after that, too.