Work Text:
Tap, tap, tap, and Tanjiro still was having trouble. He’d never found the sound of chalk on a chalkboard so intensely annoying until recently.
But of course, he knew why, and it had nothing to do with the science teacher suddenly deciding to change up his chalk-writing technique.
No, it wasn’t that at all.
What it was, as a matter of fact, was that Tanjiro was mated. He was mated to a beautiful omega that he loved more than anything else on this good green earth…and said omega was absolutely no-where near him. He was away at college, had been for the past three months.
And it was getting to him.
Not, well, not getting to him like driving him insane, more like he could feel the stretch starting to grate as his nerves. Because this was what stretched bonds were like. For an alpha they caused a slow climbing increase in irritability and anger. Moodiness and a general exacerbation of negative alphian traits. Tanjiro had been very careful not to snap at anyone, and luckily his friends and family were all aware of the situation. They knew not to push his buttons to hard if it seemed like he was having a particularly bad day. Of course, this had been one of the reasons they’d been warned against getting mated like this, but then again Tanjiro thought his parents hadn’t pushed to hard to stop him. Kyojuro’s father hadn’t cared less. His brother was a little to young to have an opinion on it one way or another, and the same went with Tanjiro’s siblings.
It hadn’t been a ‘don’t do this’ it had been more of a ‘are you sure?’
And the young alpha had never been so sure of something in his life.
Because despite the growing irritation, and the niggling sensation of a headache starting to form right behind his eyes, he could feel far away on the other end of the bond a subtle comfort.
It was Kyojuro. All the way over there, so very far, yet now, and never, would he be out of reach.
Yet it was still grating at him.
When class let out, Tanjiro left a little faster than he ought to. He fled out to the tree-lined sidewalk that connected the school to the club buildings out back. His pulled his phone from his pocket and his thumb hit the name before he could think twice.
The dial tone sounded in his ear once, twice, and then…
“Hello?”
“Kyo! Hi! Uh…sorry. I didn’t check the time, are you busy?”
“I’m walking between classes, so I’ve got a few minutes. Is something wrong?”
Tanjiro exhaled softly, turning and flopping back onto one of the benches that lined the sidewalk. This place that less than a year ago he’d proposed courtship to the person who was his mate now, where they’d be sitting for snacks after judo practice had this been merely a few months ago.
But now that period of time was gone, Tanjiro had known it would be fleeting even as he’d savored each second of it, and he didn’t regret any way he spent those moments. It had been so beautiful in it’s mundane quality. So now, as he raised his eyes to the clouds, he spoke. “Sorry…I guess I just wanted to hear your voice.”
Kyo hummed against the speaker, the sound warm and soft, soothing the anxiety and irritation that’d been rubbing Tanjiro’s beast raw.
“Well, here it is.”
Tanjiro chuckled briefly.
It had been nearly three months since he’d seen Kyojuro.
That much time was a lot. It strained and stretched at them both, from the practical sense in their bond and just from the simplest way.
Tanjiro missed Kyojuro. Missed his idiosyncrasies, his overwhelming presence that could dominate a room in moments. How he’d carry onto topics and switch over just as fast, and insist on running to the shopping district just for the fun of it, and Tanjiro would be dragged into that whirlwind every day. It had been so quiet since Kyojuro had left.
His heart ached again.
“You getting ready for practice?”
Tanjiro was brought back down by Kyojuro, still on the other end of the line.
“Yeah…things are going well so far. After school I’ve got work at my father’s company, he wants me to start getting familiar with the inner workings of things.”
“Fair enough. You are eldest, you’ll inherit it all someday.”
Tanjiro groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
Kyojuro breathed a chuckle. “Hey, don’t blame me for the terrors of adult society.”
Tanjiro scoffed, sitting back up from how he’d slumped onto the bench. “Is your new job going well?”
“Yes. I also picked up another job tutoring for the history department.”
“Another one? Kyo, you gotta rest.”
“Terrors of adult society, remember?” Kyojuro shot back, his voice mirthful, and Tanjiro’s face scrunched up.
Kyojuro had always been like this. He never hesitated to belittle his own efforts, and saw it all as natural. That he worked so hard just to make his own small existence continue to matter, despite the lack of support from his father and the extra burden of trying to keep helping his little brother from a distance as he now was. It was all far to much for one lone person to bear, and Tanjiro found himself feeling determined all over again.
One day, he was going to take part of that burden, no matter how much Kyojuro fought him over it. He’d help take care of this omega who’d, for far to much of his life, had only had himself to rely on.
Tanjiro knew there would never be an end to Kyojuro’s workaholic attitude, nor to his ridiculous tendency to drive himself till he nearly broke.
But Tanjiro swore in his heart he’d manage enough to stand by his side and support him. For a far-away dream that’d have the two of them together, and Tanjiro could convince Kyojuro to take a day to do nothing in particular at all.
What a feat that would be.
“Just try to take care of yourself, please?”
Tanjiro felt his smile through the phone.
“I know, I know. I won’t overdo it.”
“I can’t believe that, coming from you.”
“A lack of trust from my own alpha? For shame. What did I ever do?”
“Do you want me to answer that?”
“No. Definitely not.”
They both laughed.
It was strained laughter. Heavy laughter pained with a distance they’d just have to start getting used too, because they still had so many more months of this before their eventual forever could begin.
But that forever would be worth it. Worth every ounce of this wistfulness.
Tanjiro looked up at the clouds and the sun, brightly glittering in the sky. “I’ll let you get ready for class. Call tonight?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Tanjiro cheeks dusted pink, and the warm feeling of soothing comfort eased into his chest ever further.
“Tonight, then.”
“For sure. Talk to you later.”
The dial tone droned, and Tanjiro slowly lowered his phone from his ear, another somber sigh breaking from his lips.
One day. One day I’ll take care of him the way he’s always deserved.
That Night.
“Did you just finish talking to Kyojuro?” Nezuko was leaning her head into Tanjiro’s room with a raised eyebrow, her favorite pink yukata wound loosely around her.
Tanjiro lolled his head back from where he sat at his desk, phone dangling from his hand. “Yeah? Why?”
“Because I can practically feel the love sickness from here.”
“Oh come on! You’ll see how it is eventually!” Tanjiro groaned even as he tried to wipe what was an admittedly forlorn expression off his face.
“Don’t talk like you’re some wisened old man.” Nezuko giggled after she said this, stepping into the room.
Tanjiro spun to sit sideways in his chair, one elbow hooking over the back. “So what did you need?”
Nezuko folded her arms over her chest. “Just thought I’d check on you. You always get so gloomy after you get off the phone with Kyojuro lately.”
Tanjiro’s face screwed up in frustration. “It’s not that I’m sad! I just…I dunno, talking to him makes me feel so much better but then it just reminds again that he’s not here and I’m not there and…ugh. Forget it.”
“When is he coming back?”
Tanjiro sighed. “Not for another month and a half. Besides, when he does come back he won’t stay long. Only a few days to see his little brother. I guess he plans to take more shifts at the cafe he got a job at over the winter, apparently the owner there is going to give him a bonus because she usually loses her typical employees over break.”
“Oh…” Nezuko mused quietly, putting a hand to her chin.
Tanjiro slumped forward onto the desk. “…a few days after all these months…? That’s like…nothing! And I’d hate to take time from his little brother so I’m sure I won’t get to see much of him even then…”
Nezuko planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t get it…why don’t you just go visit him?”
Tanjiro face went blank, and he blinked at her owlishly.
“…did that not even occur to you?” She demanded, looking exasperated.
“No, I mean, it did! But train tickets are expensive!”
“So what? Dad’s paying you to help with his work isn’t he? I’m sure if you save up…and besides, if you mention it to Mom or Dad they’d probably just buy you a ticket. You know they practically already love Kyojuro like he’s another son.”
Tanjiro again had a frustrated expression that bore no reply, and Nezuko narrowed her eyes. “Come on, what’s the real reason?”
“…I don’t wanna seem to clingy.”
Nezuko snorted once before she fully burst out into laughter. “Clingy? With Kyojuro? Are you kidding?”
“Don’t tease me…” Tanjiro mumbled.
Nezuko finally collected herself and straightened up again. “Kyojuro would be over the moon to see you and you know it. Besides, it’s already been like three months, I think that safely puts you out of range of being clingy. Like, he’s already got our last name and everything! Sheesh, hows it gonna be when you guys move in together?”
Tanjiro’s face burst into a bright red and Nezuko laughed again at her lovesick older brothers expense.
“Well, hope you find a train ticket!” Having done the damage she’d intended to deal, Nezuko ducked out.
And Tanjiro probably started searching up train lines on his phone a little too quickly thereafter, but then again, he could be stubborn too when he put his mind to something.
Two Weeks Later.
The soft rumble of the train down it’s track gave Tanjiro the jitters.
Not because he was uncomfortable, not because he was bored, either.
He was ecstatic.
He’d talked to Kyojuro every day as per usual these past two weeks, and had managed to glean a lovely bit of information that the cafe he worked at would be closing for the weekend to do some necessary upkeep and therefore he’d be out of a job for three days. Being Kyojuro, he’d only complained the news came to late for him to pick up extra hours at the tutoring center, and Tanjiro had poked fun at how he’d be forced to actually find something to do with his time that didn’t involve a to-do list.
The deeper issues behind Kyojuro’s workaholic mentality were no secret to Tanjiro. They’d never hashed the problem out, but then, it wasn’t a problem, per say. It was getting better, at least Kyojuro seemed to like his new jobs and comprehended that a decent amount of sleep was necessary to keep his grades up.
Or well, that’s what he told Tanjiro.
But while he was certainly stubborn, the alpha was sure Kyojuro would never lie about his schedule to avoid worrying him. Kyojuro was far to straight-forward for that even occur to him in all likelihood. So Tanjiro just had to hope his omega wasn’t overdoing it, and while that was probably pointless, he’d still try his best to intervene when he could.
Returning to the jitters on the train, well, that lovely little detail had set all the cogs turning and before long Tanjiro had purchased a train ticket.
So now he was on his way, headed to surprise Kyojuro after his last shift before the weekend off, intending to stay over a couple nights.
Considering he and Kyojuro had gotten mated but never actually lived together, which was altogether very common for those who met in high school, he hadn’t actually spent all that many nights with his omega.
Which definitely sent his mind in choice other directions, but he’d leave all that for later. Right now, all he wanted to think about was seeing Kyojuro in person. Hearing that booming voice, feeling his hands rough and worn from a life working harder than anyone around him, always with a smile on his face.
That smile, that brilliant unwavering beam, and the scent of spiced cinnamon that could overwhelm him at times.
Tanjiro drummed his fingers on his knee, a private smile pulling up the corners of his lips. A bubbling giddiness was rising in his chest like soda pop. A pure excitement because three months was far longer than anyone ever realized, especially when missing someone so deeply.
Or so Tanjiro thought, anyway.
…he’ll be happy too, right?
The thought floated across his brain, and he briefly halted his fidgeting.
Kyojuro was certainly someone difficult to read, not at all due to being stone-faced. He was actually intensely positive at any and all hours of the day, and even when he wasn’t energetic, which was a rarity, he was still upbeat. So few times had Tanjiro actually seen his omega in the throes of any strong emotion that it might have worried others. But the point was exactly that.
Kyojuro didn’t like showing his emotions to others.
In fact, he absolutely hated it, the mere idea made him uncomfortable, Tanjiro had certainly approached that theme before when they’d tackled the issue surrounding Tanjiro’s desire to meet Kyojuro’s father prior to them mating.
But that was a whole different story.
The fact that Tanjiro had breached past Kyojuro’s typical facade at all, especially after knowing him for a comparatively brief period of time when it first happened, was strange. Kyojuro’s childhood friend Shinobu had told him as much. So Tanjiro wasn’t about to complain. He’d pursued and desired Kyojuro with all these complications involved, he wasn’t going to let it bother him now.
But the small thing needling him, in the back of his head, was that he had no real way of knowing how Kyojuro would feel about the surprise.
Should I have told him I was coming? But I feel like if I had he’d have insisted I didn’t need to worry, or that he was fine or something…or maybe he’d have gotten excited? Maybe he’d be counting the hours like I am right now? I don’t know…probably.
Tanjiro knew he was overthinking. Something he often accused Kyojuro of doing, but he was falling victim on this long lonely train ride with nothing but himself, his thoughts, and all the passengers around him with their eyes on their screens or in the midst of a snooze.
The young alpha had always felt pulled into the whirlwind that was Kyojuro. His omega dominated pretty much any room or conversation he entered. His appearance was unique, Tanjiro found him stunning, but the fact stood that he was tall for someone of his secondary. His hair was bright, his eyes were fascinating, and his voice was so loud that it caused people around to feel quieter. It was a perfect storm of all sorts of intensities and Tanjiro loved it.
Tanjiro loved him.
Loved his quirky, loud, sometimes oblivious omega so much it hurt.
So much he was sitting here on this train right now, just for the chance to steal a few precious days with him away from the separation that would define these next two years for them.
And he feels the same.
It didn’t matter if Kyojuro had never really told him so in a sense that was less than matter-of-fact. And maybe that was just like him, too? All the times Tanjiro cast his mind to Kyojuro had never said those precious three little words strung together in that ever-so valuable order.
But then again, Tanjiro couldn’t remember much of their mating night at all, so if he’d said it then he couldn’t have told you.
But Kyojuro had said plenty of other things, things equally if not more shameless and very much enough to send Tanjiro flushing up to his ears. So it wasn’t like he was hung up on that either, not really.
Because even if sorting through his feelings was difficult for him, Kyojuro loved him. Loved him enough to give himself to Tanjiro for the rest of their lives.
The jitter returned, he bounced a knee and the strange wash of worry ebbed away.
I’m so excited to see him.
That evening.
Tanjiro didn’t know why he was running.
His duffel bag thumped against his side as he hurried along the sidewalk, the evening breeze rushing through his bangs and teasing over his green hoodie.
He was in no rush. Kyojuro didn’t get off work till the end of the hour, and it was still ten till. Plus he had to close, so Tanjiro should wait. Not to mention Kyojuro, as Tanjiro had pondered on the train, didn’t like showing strong emotions aside from relentless positivity in front of others. Barging into the cafe he worked at while his coworkers were still there was not the move.
It couldn’t possibly be the move.
He should wait.
He should have killed some time at the train station shop and bought some souvenirs for his siblings or something and then gotten in touch with Kyojuro. He should slow down and look around the town, wander a bit. He shouldn’t be beelining it right for the cafe.
But their bond, which had been stretched for so long, was loosening. Uncoiling all the stress and anxiety and frustration that’d been building to a head. Tanjiro could feel it, like the last vestiges of a dam about to give way.
Crumbling and weakening.
And maybe Tanjiro gave in to his beast, but he hadn’t seen his omega in so very long, and he didn’t want to wait even a second longer.
So when he barged through the door and found a pink haired girl with a service-ready smile on her face looking at him from the counter, he tried to reassemble his thoughts.
“Hi! We’re almost closing so we can’t seat you, so sorry! Can I get you a to-go order?” She asked.
Tanjiro blinked owlishly. He probably looked like an absolute idiot. He’d come rushing in here like he was trying to beat closing and now he was just staring at her.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m not actually here to buy anything…Kyojuro works here, right?” He finally managed to spit some words out.
No sooner had the words gotten out did a loud crash come from the back of the cafe. Both the omegian girl behind the counter as well as the young man who’d been clearing the tables whirled their heads to stare at the door that must’ve led back there.
Fair enough, because within an instant that door was shoved open so hard it slammed into the wall and Kyojuro’s head popped around from it, blonde and red ponytail hanging from his shoulder.
More pebbles crumbled off the dam, rushing emotions eager to push through, his beast about howled with joy over such a simple sight.
There he is.
All the anxiety sloughed off his shoulders at the mere sight of those golden-ringed eyes staring at him like he was a ghost.
Tanjiro smiled brighter than he had in three months, raising a hand awkwardly to wave. “Ah, Kyo! Surprise!”
Now, there were a couple things that came with the rather distinct height difference between the two of them.
Namely when Kyojuro flew across the cafe at the speed of sound and threw his arms around him, he nearly knocked him to the ground.
Tanjiro was glad he’d seen him coming enough to brace himself, and Kyojuro folded easily into his arms. There was the smallest quake to his omegas hands and the voice that came out of him was far smaller than Tanjiro could ever recall. “…when did you get here?”
There was the softest tremble at his shoulders, and Tanjiro felt the dam shatter, and release a flood.
Kyojuro sounded every bit as overjoyed, to the point he might be letting some unimaginably tender expression show while hiding his face in Tanjiro’s shoulder. The tremble might’ve been tears, might’ve been a dam of his own breaking, and he hadn’t been anticipating it at all.
Tanjiro held him tightly, running one hand up and down along Kyojuro’s back, fingers brushing up against the bottom of his ponytail.
“Um, like ten minutes ago? You think I couldn’t tell you were having issues? I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”
Tanjiro said it all so confidently, like he’d known for certain this was how his arrival would be received. Any worry, and all disbelief had evaporated as Kyojuro had come to him so immediately.
Nearly tackling him to the ground aside, it had felt incredibly good.
Perhaps that was wrong, but knowing Kyojuro had been every bit as desperate to see him made his chest feel warm.
He pressed a kiss against the side of Kyojuro’s head where it was tucked by his shoulder, so naturally. Tanjiro knew his scent was changing towards comfort, trying to ease a perceived distress, even if he’d caused it with this surprise.
Things moved rather quickly after that. He was briefly introduced to his omegas co-workers, and before long Tanjiro found himself in a very familiar position of being towed along by the hand as Kyojuro led the way from the cafe towards the apartment complex he lived in.
“When did you plan this?” Kyojuro had since gotten his emotions reined back in, which Tanjiro had been expecting, but of course, this was the person he’d fallen in love with. Kyojuro with his curving smile and bright eyes. Having him crack that facade for a moment to show how deeply he’d missed him had certainly been nice, but this was just as precious.
Tanjiro laced their fingers together tighter. “Well, I wanted to for awhile, but you work all the time, so I was waiting for a weekend you’d have some time off.”
“You were asking me about that a lot…I didn’t even realize.” Kyojuro seemed to recall Tanjiro’s pointed questions now, and the alpha just chuckled.
“Well, I wanted to surprise you!”
“You did. I thought our bond felt strange today but when I texted you, you said you felt fine…you liar.” Kyojuro jabbed, and Tanjiro laughed again.
“White lie! It was a white lie!”
“Fair enough, I suppose.”
As they approached the cement brick looking buildings that passed themselves off as off-campus student housing Kyojuro hesitated.
“My studio is pretty small…”
Tanjiro shrugged. “I can stay on the floor, it’s not a big…”
“What? Of course not!”
“But I mean…”
“We’re mated, Tanjiro, you’re sleeping with me.”
When Tanjiro’s ears went pink at such a firm and loud declaration Kyojuro laughed at him. A booming laugh that rang through the gathering dark.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“W-Well, it’s just…new, I guess.”
Kyojuro scoffed. “For you, maybe. You know I go by Kamado now, right? It took me the longest time to get used to it. At the tutoring center they’d be calling me, saying the student I was working with was there, and I’d be completely clueless. Didn’t even realize who they were talking too!”
He chuckled again. “But I’m quite used to it now.”
Tanjiro felt that same warm burning sense of pride, and nodded. “You’re…happy with it?”
“Of course. I’m the one who insisted on it, after all. Once I got used to it, it made me feel good. After all, you’re not getting rid of me now, not after all that paperwork.”
“I wouldn’t have even if there wasn’t any paperwork.”
“Very charming, Tanjiro.”
“You said it!”
They laughed again.
As they were mounting the stairs to head up to the apartment, that was another thing that occurred. Tanjiro hadn’t been laughing as much these past months. He wasn’t depressed or anything, nor did he even feel particularly sad, but it just occurred to him that Kyojuro made him laugh more than anyone. Or maybe they just made each other laugh? Kyojuro certainly had an odd sense of humor, but it settled nicely with Tanjiro’s.
It was just so comfortable.
Kyojuro’s studio apartment was cramped as expected. A narrow entryway, a small kitchenette, tiny bathroom, and bed. Still, Tanjiro was fine to kick off his shoes and drop his duffle bag to the ground.
“Here…my Mom sent you some stuff.”
“She didn’t need to do that!”
“Tell her that, you’re lucky I convinced her not to send me along with an entire extra bag just for you!”
Once Kyojuro’s snack supply had been stocked up, as well as an extra handmade scarf because ‘it gets cold up north, doesn’t it?’ they found themselves stalling.
Eventually, Kyojuro pulled out his phone, lighting up the screen. “Well, it’s getting late. Dinner?”
Tanjiro pressed his lips into a thin line. “…that requires going out.”
“And?”
Kyojuro stood framed in the narrow doorway by the entrance. His phone half-lowered, his pose unguarded.
Obviously it wasn’t. The front he put up for the rest of the world fell away when it was only the two of them.
Tanjiro knew that all the doubts he’d felt on the long trundling train ride had been for nothing.
Kyojuro wasn’t someone who wore his heart on his sleeve like his alpha did. And he never would be. But that wasn’t necessary, because Tanjiro had fallen ass-backward into courting him exactly as he was.
With a smile steadfast that might be a bit forced, but to the point Tanjiro could see a difference. With a physique built from the weight always mounded up on his shoulders to face the real world on his own. With a self-made soul pieced together from a lifetime repeating whatever worked, and a heart that pumped because all he had to do was keep running.
And all those things accumulated, pooling together into exactly what Tanjiro could trust, because in all those habits were ways that he would break them.
He’d be willing to slow down if Tanjiro asked, and he’d drop his ever-present guard when they were together alone.
And maybe one day, he’d be willing to split the weight he was constantly shouldering for himself? Maybe once in a while, every so often when Tanjiro slowly, carefully pried his way through the construction of stressors and expectations, he’d give it all away.
Maybe one day he’d hand it all over, and let Tanjiro hold that weight, even if it were only for a few moments of rest.
Tanjiro smiled, and he saw the quirk of Kyojuro’s brow as if he were asking ‘and what’s so funny?’
And it was perfect.
“I don’t wanna.” He felt a rush of confidence, and his smile only got brighter.
“Don’t wanna go out? Well, there’s nothing more than instant noodles and whatever your mom sent kicking around in here.” Kyojuro pointed out.
The young alpha shrugged, dropping back to perch himself on the edge of the bed.
“That’s fine. I wanna just have you to myself. Is that ok?”
Tanjiro couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Kyojuro make a face quite like that.
Maybe it was when they’d agreed to get mated?
Maybe it had been in those hazy memories he had, jigsawed together, of when they’d performed the act?
But this time it came into sharp focus, memorized into the tiniest detail. His cheeks dusted barely pink, his eyes averted off to the side for just an instant, and one hand went up to rake back some flyaways, arriving at his ponytail holder. A split-second he worried his bottom lip. Finally, a sigh, eyes closing, a wry smile tugging up the corners of his mouth, and he pulled the elastic out. His hair fell in golden red folds down his back, unruly and frizzed out from the day of work.
“Of course it is.”
He crossed the room to where Tanjiro had sat down on the bed. It was a single, it’d be a bit of a squeeze, but they’d missed each other enough not to mind it.
He turned, dropping back onto the edge beside his alpha, and after a moment, another breath, he dropped his head to the side, landing it on Tanjiro’s shoulder.
The alpha reached his arm around, wrapping it about and settling it above Kyojuro’s waist. “You ok?”
“…I’m fine.”
“You’re always fine.”
“Touché.”
A weak snicker.
“I’m just tired. But I’m so happy you’re here.”
Tanjiro’s chest felt warm again. He leaned his cheek against the side of Kyojuro’s head, enjoying his scent like a wisp of smokey cinnamon. So familiar despite the months apart that Tanjiro could never forget it. He hugged a bit tighter. “I’m happy to see you too.”
And he promised himself all over again.
“One day I’ll always be here. And I’ll always take care of you, then.”
Kyojuro gave a scoff. “That’s quite the dependable line, there, alpha.”
Tanjiro stiffened. “Did I say that out loud?”
“You did.”
“W-Well, I…I don’t mean it like you can’t, I just…!”
“I know. I know exactly what you mean.”
Finally, Kyojuro straightened up, and no matter how work weary, his eyes still seemed like glowing embers. The smile that curved his features blossomed into view, and all the sharpness and steadfast resolve he’d constantly present to the world melted away.
Left behind was someone no less powerful, but ever so slightly softened, like an easing of tension, the unwinding of a coil that’d grown ever-so tight in all this time apart.
“I’ll be looking forward to it. Our ‘one day’.”
Tanjiro’s other arm came around, hand gliding easily into that frizzy, unkempt hair and they came together, kissing a capstone perhaps less confused, perhaps even more sweet than their stumbling together in a storage closet.
Another story, that one.
But Tanjiro felt their bond singing and their beasts calming, both together where they were meant to be. And no matter what doubts might surface here and there, they’d never succeed in breaking them.
Nothing could.
And ‘one day’ they might be in a slightly bigger apartment, tripping over each other with due dates and work schedules slotting into something that would create a brand-new mundane. It would arrive, somewhere down this long winding road they’d chosen to walk together. But right here, right now, that wasn’t on the alphas mind.
He’d savor these moments of desperate closeness, where every second mattered and nothing could be allowed to go to waste.
When they broke apart, Tanjiro could feel his omegas smile in the curve of his cheek and the low hum of his voice in a barely audible appreciation.
“I love you.” In Kyojuro’s voice it was soft and rumbling, like far-off thunder.
Tanjiro had thought his chest was warm before, but now?
His heart was blazing.
“I love you, too.” He murmured the reply.
One day would come.
But Tanjiro didn’t plan to rush it.