Work Text:
Thunder bellowed, shaking the walls of their small apartment as raindrops soaked the cooling pavement outside.
It was late, but Heizou sat hunched over the papers on his desk, his hair tied up and out of his face. He shuffled the documents around, searching for something specific.
The lamp on his desk flickered. Once. Twice.
Another boom of thunder.
“Wha-” Kuni mumbled sleepily from the couch.
The light went out. Complete darkness.
“Shit.” Heizou sighed and stood from his desk, pulling out his phone to turn on the flashlight. He pointed it across the room at Kuni, who squinted and shielded his eyes in response. “You okay babe?”
“Mhm… did the power go out?” Kuni rubbed his eyes groggily.
“Yeah, I’ll light some candles.” Heizou moved his flashlight, searching for a lighter.
Kuni sat up, their black cat mewing in his lap at the movement, disturbed from her nap. “Sorry Sourpuss, I gotta get up now.”
“That’s not her name.”
Kuni nudged her off of his lap before standing to help look for candles. “Neither is ‘Detective Fluffypaws,’ but you call her that all the time.”
Heizou breathed a laugh. “That’s fair.”
Kuni pulled out his flashlight as well, the rain coming down even harder outside their window. After rummaging around their storage closet, he found their stash of unscented candles. He gathered them in his arms and brought them to the kitchen counter.
Heizou walked up beside him, handing him the lighter. He spoke gently, sincerely. “Sorry the thunder woke you.”
“It’s not your fault.” Kuni replied quietly, flicking the lighter on.
Heizou leaned close and kissed him on the cheek.
A small smile crept onto Kuni’s face, barely visible in the dim flickering candlelight.
But Heizou saw it. It didn’t matter that they’d been together for years, seeing Kuni’s smile always felt new, like the first time they met. All thoughts of the work on his desk faded, his gaze transfixed on his love’s soft smile.
Once the candles were lit, they spread them through the living space, casting a low warm glow over their home.
They settled in on the couch, with Kuni curled up in Heizou’s lap, resting his head against his chest, his ear right over Heizou’s heart.
Without the low hum of electronics to fill the gaps of silence, their home felt calm and natural.
Their cat, whose true name was Princess, found her place with them, cuddling against Heizou's thigh, purring her contentment.
They bathed in the tender gentleness of that present moment, in the sounds of distant thunder, quiet purrs, and their mingling breaths. The air they breathed belonged to them. It held them together, enveloping them in its comforting warmth.
Heizou snuck his hand under Kuni’s oversized t-shirt, tenderly rubbing his back. He watched as his love relaxed to his soothing touch, as he traced the soft curves of his back muscles. His other hand held Kuni’s head against his chest, brushing through his hair with his fingers. Heizou gave him a soft, prolonged kiss on the crown of his head.
Kuni lifted his head and straightened his back until they were eye level. His hand reached up and held Heizou’s cheek, brushing his thumb across his freckled cheekbone, gazing at him through tired eyes. He brushed a hair out of Heizou’s face, tucking it behind his ear. His hand rested on the nape of his neck, playing gently with the small wisps of hair that weren’t long enough to fit into his bun. Kuni leaned forward, and Heizou wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close, as their lips locked in a warm kiss.
It was fleeting, but it was a taste of heaven. The noise of thunder grew distant as the world drifted away. Everything was still, peaceful. All that they knew was each other’s presence, the warmth of their skin, the sweet moisture shared by their lips.
Kuni pulled away, just far enough to look into Heizou’s eyes. They gazed at each other, both in enamored disbelief, sharing one thought between them: ‘What did I do to deserve you?’
Heizou kissed him again before resting his forehead against Kuni’s.
Then, he breathed the words, barely a whisper. “I love you. So much.”
“I love you, too.” Kuni replied. “Always will.”
They stayed like that, exchanging kisses, gentle touches, and soft whispers until the lamp on Heizou’s desk turned back on.
Even then, they dared not move.
The rain still fell and the candles still burned.
And they still held each other.
Like they always would.