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(Kido Manor, Nighttime, Late July)
“You didn’t have to check up on me. I’m fine.” Ikki says, handing the pegasus a cup of tea.
“I needed to. Even though we won the battle with Poseidon, not even your cosmo could heal the wounds you suffered.” Seiya replies, wincing at the heat of the cup. He put it down on the table so it could cool off. Ikki blinks slowly and shrugs.
“I don’t think about it too much. Dwelling on pain only prolongs it. I’ll be returning to Canon Island soon to revitalize my armor and regain my strength. It’s…gonna be fine.” he reassures him. Sitting down next to him on the couch, Seiya shifted his position to face him instead of forward. Ikki had turned his attention to his tea taking slow sips.
The brunette found himself entranced by something else: He had always known Ikki was handsome in his own right but the moonlight shining through the window behind his contrast with the orange glow of the fireplace painted a picture of night and day. Even his scars didn’t mar the natural beauty of his glowing tan skin. It made him that much more unique. Seiya could feel his cheeks heating up and his eyes fully zeroed in on the phoenix saint without a hint of shame.
“Oi. Your tea’s gonna get cold.” Ikki suddenly speaks up and nearly gave the pegasus a heart attack. He jumped with the phoenix looking confused.
“…S-Sorry. I almost never see you without a scowl or smirk on your face. You look beautiful. I mean…you always did.” Seiya tripped over his own words and felt like a moron. To add a bit more salt in the wound, Ikki was staring at him with distinct concern and Seiya knew this was as red as his cloth by now.
He quickly tries to save face, “Just kidding! Ahahahahahaha!”
Ikki wasn’t laughing with him.
He continued to stare at him as if processing everything he had said so far. He placed his cup down on the table in front of them and turned to face Seiya.
“Seiya. Focus. What’s the matter?” Ikki asks him. Though his expression was as serious as always, his voice was neutral and with hushed tones.
The pegasus purses his lips together, hesitating to answer. He found himself unwilling to keep silent for long as he made eye contact with Ikki. His heart raced to a thrum he could feel nearly beat out of his chest. As if he could hear it, Ikki placed one of his hands over his heart. For a moment. Seiya felt a fleeting sensation of happiness. his touch was so warm and the way he felt himself breathing more steadily as he looked into his eyes.
“You’re staring.” Ikki breaks the silence, voice barely above a whisper.
“So are you.” Seiya follows up, a shade of red spreading across his cheeks.
“That’s better. Now what do you want to tell me? I promise I won’t bite your head off..” Ikki says.
“I…uh. It’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while but I just never got around to it. I’m glad you have so much faith in us to remind us of our own strength and belief in each other but I hate how the next time I see you, you’re in grave danger for our lives after the fact. I want to be able to protect you too. I feel as thought you’re not around as much as you should. You shouldn’t let your past define every action you take. I know that’s kind of messed up for me to say but I feel like you’re letting it hold you back. I worry about you, Shun worries about you. When you’re gone….it doesn’t feel right. You don’t have to force yourself to be alone. I get the feeling that you’re constantly punishing yourself.” Seiya rambles, but he said what he needed to say.
Ikki understood his frustration. They’ve all been fighting battles in a fate they were cursed with going up against gods now and whatever cosmic horrors came to threaten Athena and the world. But upon hearing his life matters caused his heart to ache a little. The phoenix heard it so many times from his brother but from Seiya, it was a different kind of feeling. Ikki could never forgive himself for what he had done and most of all, what he did to him.
He was holding himself back. He thought of himself as being unworthy of being around the others.
“I see. That won’t change the situation we’re in. I prefer not to be bound by duty and I don’t like owing anyone for anything but with you, I feel different about that. Somehow. I feel…more at ease and it’s strange. I try to convince myself to move on but I’m a coward.” The phoenix replies, his hand beginning to move away from Seiya’s chest. The latter quickly grabbed it and took him by surprise.
“If so, then you won’t mind what I say next?” Seiya asks as Ikki blinked at him twice.
“I said I was going to listen. I don’t care about what. You wanted to see me so I’m here.”
“Gosh! You don’t even know.” The brunette shakes his head chuckling as he looks down.
“Know what?” Ikki sighs.
Seiya took a deep breath, the blush on his face turning a crimson shade before finally blurting out: “That I’m in love you! I’ve been in love with you from the first time I saw you. You’re scared to let someone love you, and I get it. But I’m not going to leave, I’m going to fight for you, show you that I can be everything you need.” Seiya confesses.
Now it was Ikki’s turn to blush. Suddenly, his body’s temperature reached a fever pitch as his cosmo suddenly skyrocketed. His emotions were running rampant and he couldn’t find a way to properly process what he had just heard. He pulls his hand away from Seiya’s grasp.
“A-Are you serious?” he gasps. He didn’t sound angry. Just confused. Seiya was temporarily surprised to hear Ikki of all people stutter the way he did.
“I am serious. I want to fight for Athena’s cause and protect the world but I want the past between us to be left behind. I…always wanted to be closer but with you leaving so often I almost gave up….” Seiya answered. Ikki froze and before long began to laugh as he stood up, turning away from the pegasus. Taking a deep breath, he quelled his rising cosmo from the initial shock.
“You’re a fool for falling in love with me, Pegasus Seiya. I thought that kind of love was for the princess, but me?” Ikki says, his voice sounding bewildered at the idea.
Of all things he knew that Seiya has extreme loyalty to Saori almost to the point where Ikki had considered the pegasus loved her. At first, it hurt but he eventually got over it remaining silently resigned. He found solace in calling Seiya a friend but in the back of his mind, that was a lie. Something more than friendship was there and once again, Seiya exceeded his expectations and confessed a truth that he suppressed for so long.
Seiya stood up, walking up to him.
“Now you know that could never happen between me and her. Still, I’m not oblivious to all that you do, even when you’re not around. I think about you constantly, worry even. In all our battles you’re my last beacon of hope. No matter what, you were always there by my side trying to protect me, even if you don’t admit it. It reminds me of my own weakness in a way but you know it’s not my fault. You shouldn’t have to put your life on the line for me but you do. I think you’re an incredible Saint even more than me.” Seiya replied. Ikki faced him once again, blue eyes now making full contact with Seiya’s red ones.
“…But I hurt you, wanted to hurt you, did so many irreparable things to you, and even then, you had these feelings for me. Even after, when we all made up. I just wasn’t ready then. I didn’t want to fall in love again, especially because I lost someone I loved once. With you, it’s the same. I don’t want to lose you.” The phoenix continues.
“You won’t lose me. I know I’m a reckless idiot who is somewhat lucky to be standing here right now but with whatever time either of us has left on earth, I want to make it something we’ll remember, even after we join all the stars in the sky up there. I don’t know how or when and I don’t really care. Nothing is going to change that.” Seiya takes hold of Ikki’s hand once again, the latter accepting it.
“Seiya I...” Ikki huffs out, tears filling his eyes.
“Are you crying?” Seiya now held Ikki in both of his arms this time.
Ikki chuckles,“Aha. I guess I am.”
The two leaned in closer to where their foreheads were now touching. The phoenix slowly placed his hands on Seiya’s hips.
“It’s okay to cry, y’know?” Seiya hums.
“If you tell my brother, I’ll roast you on a pike.” retorts Ikki
“I won’t. You have my word.” Seiya tilted his head to the side slightly.
“Can I—no—may I…um…” Seiya started to ask before trailing off.
“There’s no need to hesitate. I’m with you now. Isn’t that right, Seiya?” Ikki showed no hesitation in any situation.
For Ikki, if he saw something he wanted, he would take it for himself. It was his go-get attitude that helped him and his younger brother survive for so long. Now this was different.
Of all things he wanted, love probably would have been the last thing yet now he needed it more than ever. The reassurance that someone saw his in such a light looking past his most glaring imperfections, his nature of wanting to be alone, but never lonely. It was something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Gently, Ikki pressed his lips against Seiya’s and remained there for a few seconds. He then pulled away for him only for Seiya to lean in afterward and do the same.
“That felt nice.” He whispers against Ikki’s lips.
“It did. And I want to do it again.” Ikki replies, his voice an octave lower. They kissed each other once more starting with only a few pecks but around the fifth time, the phoenix got a little more adventurous with his tongue almost effortlessly slipping into Seiya’s mouth.
Hooked on this intoxicating feeling, he slowly began to explore the pegasus’ mouth. Seiya himself seemed to follow his lead, his own tongue doing some exploring of its own. His arms were now secure around Ikki's waist and he pulled him in closer. They wanted this moment to last forever. Hell, Ikki probably would have kissed Seiya until the entire universe collapsed around them. When Seiya pulled away from him Ikki felt a little disappointed. For a moment he almost pouted but that would be too childish
“W-We should…uh…maybe…stop here?” Seiya questioned, growing hesitant.
“Stop?” Ikki repeated, sadness rising in his voice.
“Do you want to keep going?” Seiya asks
“Yes.”
The two closed in on each other once again before sharing with each other another passionate kiss but this time it was much more tender.
“You’re...beautiful.”
“As are you.” Ikki whispers against Seiya’s lips.
“Ikki. There’s something I want to tell you.” Seiya whispers back.
“Hm?”
“S-See just confessing to you felt impossible. And now we're even kissing I’m nervous about what comes next. I don’t want to ruin it.” Seiya answers.
“We don’t have to go any further. I’m comfortable with this actually. We can do even more later.” Ikki replies, putting Seiya at ease with a peck to the top of his head.
“Phew! Thanks. I really appreciate all you’ve done for me. I love you.”
“So do I.” Ikki smiles. Seiya’s heart was set aflame and he blushed thinking about every word and what it meant for the both of them.
This is what love is.
The two saints sat down on the sofa and scooted closer to one another, both enjoying the quiet ambiance of the night.