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Barnaby wasn’t really sure how this insinuated first and why they even ended up here together, but to be honest he didn’t really care all that much.
At one point of his life, he would have overthought and overanalysed the heck out of it, to hell and back. But lately he’s realised that not everything had to be about the technicalities of how something came to be. It made life just a little less complicated, especially when you were dealing with a man like Kotetsu Kaburagi.
A simple evening together, something that they didn’t always have the pleasure to enjoy all the time because of the nature of their jobs, could lead to some unexpected, good things (for the most part) with Kotetsu and this was one of them.
Elegant, soulful sounding jazz spun on Kotetsu’s vintage vinyl player (a personal favourite from his collection apparently - Barnaby had grown not to mind it so himself), accentuated by the lively and powerful sounds of a saxophone and the low tempo of a bass guitar that filled the apartment.
This was accompanied by the already half drunken third round of glasses of red wine that stood together closely on the coffee table and empty plates that had been abandoned in the sink during mid-rinse, as they found themselves in the small of the living room space, hand in hand, cheek to cheek, swaying somewhat mostly in time with the music together.
“I’ve never danced” Barnaby admitted with slight reluctance and declined immediately at the mention of the spontaneous idea from Kotetsu.
However Kotetsu liked a challenge and was forever persistent, his toothy-filled grin did not waver, arguably it only grew even bigger as he was unmoving.
“Don’t worry about it, Bunny” he said encouragingly. “No one cares, unless you care.” His hand was still held out in front of him, waiting for Barnaby to take it.
“Trust me.”
Green eyes darted to his open hand, Barnaby’s expression dressed with a slight hint of hesitation. He didn’t want to make a fool out of himself.
But Kotetsu must have saw the softening of his expression along with a spark of curiosity cross the man’s eyes, as he reached forward to take hold of a wet hand.
“K-Kotetsu, can’t it wait, I’m washing the dishes here” Barnaby protested insistently.
“It can wait, gotta live the moment!” Kotetsu howled enthusiastically, as he gently tugged a reluctant Barnaby away from the sink, who had wet bubbled soaked hands, as his complaints fell on deaf ears.
He rooted them into place, a spot that waited for them in front of the speakers.
“To tell you the truth, I can’t dance either” Kotetsu also admitted upfront, “but that sure ain’t going to stop me from trying.”
His hand then took to rest comfortably just slightly above Barnaby’s left hip on his T-shirt, as he placed the blond’s atop of his opposite shoulder, some remnants of the suds faintly soaked through the material, but who cares, it’ll dry off quickly. Kotetsu didn’t protest and neither did Barnaby.
He searched Barnaby’s face to see if there was any discomfort from the motion which he did not exhibit, even though he stood a bit tense and upright, which was somewhat expected. His eyes were just seeking for guidance.
“Plus I’ve got this annoying swing in my step now that I need to get rid of and you’re my only choice.”
Barnaby couldn’t help but scoff at that, his face slightly offended as he tipped it to the side with a hint of a scowl. The thought that he would have danced with someone else if he had alternative options somewhat irked him.
However the playfulness of Kotetsu’s smirk assured him that he had no malicious intent by it at all.
“We’ll figure it out”, he said reassuringly, always so full of belief, “but for this once, just follow this old man’s lead”.
He rocked them slowly then, not in time to the beat of the music, but to their very own distinct beat that only they could hear, which had no particular correct flow or rhythm, but still suited them all the same. It was very much like how they fought together in combat, a dance that was somewhat chaotic at times but mostly in synch.
Barnaby occasionally glanced down at their feet, somewhat marvelled at how natural this all felt, for someone who didn’t do this at all.
“Most important thing is not to stop moving, even if you don’t know what you’re doing” Kotetsu said grinning from ear to ear.
“I’ll try to keep that in mind” Barnaby said softly, determined to remain focused.
Barnaby could imagine what those tacky sensationalist magazines would headline with if they knew about his lack skill on a slow new days; One of Sternbild’s most popular bachelors, “All looks but no rhythm”. They would have an absolute field day if they knew.
But they don’t.
The world outside these locked doors had no inkling to any of this.
The fact that he couldn’t really dance.
The fact that he’s been romantically involved with his partner for some time now.
The fact that there was so much more to him, than the tabloids thought they knew, other than being just a cool-headed, intelligent with a sad story that had become public knowledge to everyone. But he wasn’t willing to share every part of him to them.
There would only ever be one person in his life that he deemed worthy of all his time and effort, that he would allow them to see him for who he really was. He would unashamedly show every side of him to the love of his life, even the not so perfect sides, which he would continue to treasure and even crave for more.
Barnaby looked into those warm amber coloured eyes with admiration as they just huddled together in the comfort of their home and swayed gently to the music. He was amazed by Kotetsu’s consistent loyalty, unwavering support and kindness, that he had gifted him throughout their time of knowing each other, even during the moments that he deserved it least. Those mighty hands that cradled around him, enveloped him with a inextinguishable amounts of warmth and a sense of conviction that was truly unbreakable.
They could be destructive and heavy-handed to a fault at times, but when he wanted them to be, they were the most protective thing that wouldn’t hurt a fly.
As they continued to dance, Kotetsu felt Barnaby relax slowly in his arms, as his shoulders sunk a little, the tension slowly dissipating. He hummed approvingly.
“See Bunny?” He smiled with eyes shone brightly, “nothing to it really” content on their little dance, the closeness of their space reduced further, comfortably pressed against one another. “We’d be a hoot at one of those company corporate parties.”
Barnaby just let out a small cackle, that was filled with somewhat relief. Kotetsu noticed this.
“I think the alcohol might be talking a little here” Barnaby professed, he seemed lightly buzzed, the more playful side of him out in full force tonight. Blame the fact that he was not much of a wine drinker.
“Maybe a little” Kotetsu admitted, being completely candid about it with a leering smirk to accompany this sudden confidence.
“Besides, you can’t stand those corporate events or being the centre of attention if it has little to do about protecting the people. And Mr Lloyds would shut it down completely.”
“If they’d just liven it up more and not be such a stiff, I’d be on that floor all night showing off my best moves! Lloyds couldn’t stop me!”
Barnaby cackled again aloud at the image, unable to contain himself in slight disbelief.
“I’m sure you would” Barnaby rolled his eyes slightly with sarcasm, the glint of his glasses frame shone briefly.
“Don’t believe me huh, Bunny?” Kotetsu somewhat tsked, raising an eyebrow. “Well I’ve got plenty of moves that I’ve saved up since high school and something that Kaede showed me recently. She said that it was the new in thing at the moment on the internet or something, which I think I’ve gotten down to a tee. Want me to show you?” He dared gloatingly, Barnaby immediately shook his head however, his curls ruffled with slight fraught.
Last thing he needed tonight was to be overwhelmed with more embarrassment by this man, to the point that he wouldn’t be able to look him directly in the eye for the rest of the evening or get himself into an accident.
“Save your “moves” for another time old man” Barnaby said, then just continued to rock to the music with him, refocusing them as his hand snaked around Kotetsu’s neck more tightly. Their hold becoming more intimate as he pulled himself further into the man’s space, chest-to-chest, almost nose to nose, save the slight height difference between the two of them. He briefly shut his eyes, fanning those ridiculously long eyelashes at him, but smiled contently in their hold.
“I think what we have right now will suffice quite nicely.”
He felt the large of Kotetsu’s hand move upwards from his side, climbing the length of his spine, now holding the small of his back securely, as they moved in a slow small circle.
“Alright, if you say so. Can’t blame me for trying though”, he chuckled warmly not disheartened whatsoever, then gazed upward into the sparkling emerald green within Barnaby’s eyes, finding a sense of safety and tranquility there.
No matter how much of a fool Kotetsu could make of himself sometimes, he knew that Barnaby would stick with him through thick and thin and that he’d always inspire him to become a better person and the best version of himself everyday. Even just making him laugh a little whilst being the fool, would make it worth it.
“But yeah” his voice went low then, barely a rumble in his throat, “I kind of like this thing that we’ve got going on here too.”
He leant forward then, his forehead met Barnaby’s, noses bunched up against one another, as Kotetsu kissed him unhurriedly, packing in a thousand emotions and feelings which all conveyed how much the man loved him from the deepest depth of his body. He felt Barnaby’s lips frame upwards against his into a smile as he gently kissed him back, reciprocating with his own feelings that were just as plentiful and came from a bottomless pit, that couldn’t be contained. They were each other’s rock.
A slight chuckle then came from Kotetsu, who momentarily broke their kiss.
“Damn” he muttered huskily, “why’ve you got to be so tall, Bunny?” His eyes led Barnaby’s own down to Kotetsu’s feet, where the blond noticed that the older man was slightly tipping upwards on the balls of his feet so that he could reach him. Barnaby couldn’t help but laugh, Kotetsu pouted more loudly.
“There’s always plenty of time to catch up with me still” Barnaby jested.
“Not at this age, there ain’t! My days of growing have long gone.” The older man retaliated with a huff. “I’ll always remember being one of the shortest kids in class for the longest time, from early middle high to about mid way through high school, then suddenly shot up overnight” Kotetsu mused.
“Really?”
“Yeah! All my clothes suddenly didn’t fit anymore, mom couldn’t believe it. I had to borrow some of Muramasa’s, which he hated. My slacks were always swinging by my ankles. Tomoe used to say that I had flamingo legs, because of how stalky they are” Kotetsu reminisced with a laugh. “I think even Antonio was kind of pissed at me when I showed up to one of our weekly showdowns almost towering over him. Didn’t do well for our scuffles”.
“She does have a point about the flamingo legs description though” Barnaby agreed, making Kotetsu playfully huff. He liked that Kotetsu was sharing these small little bits of details about his younger days, his precious memories becoming somewhat his own. “And your trousers are always swinging around your ankles, they’re doing it even now” the man pointed out, making Kotetsu exhibit his foot. The hem of his trouser leg swung, exposing his ankle freely.
“Dah-! Taking her side now huh? I see how it is” a betrayed Kotetsu wiped away an exaggerated speckle of an invisible tear that pinched the corner of his eye. “And it’s kind of fashionable nowadays anyway!” Barnaby only rolled his own eyes again.
“If you just decided to take training more seriously and focused on your legs, then they wouldn’t be so “stalky”, Barnaby said in a matter of fact sort of way. “And I don’t know where you heard that from, but it’s never been a fashion trend.”
“In my world it is” Kotetsu insisted.
“I can assure you that your world is very different to everyone else's Kotetsu” Barnaby asserted.
“I think “unique” is what they’d call it” Kotetsu already coined a term, making Barnaby smirk.
“Unique is certainly one way to describe it” the blond somewhat agreed.
“Rather unique than boring, I say” Kotetsu nodded proudly, Barnaby’s smirk didn’t disappear.
“Hmm, it certainly would be a much more dull world, if you weren’t here” Barnaby said in a more hush and softer tone that Kotetsu just barely caught.
He moved slightly then, tipping forward to rest his cheek against the broad of Kotetsu’s comforting shoulder, the blond of his curls slightly cascaded down the back of his green shirt, like a waterfall, as his face burrowed snuggly into the arc of his neck. He could faintly smell a hint of the scent of his heady cologne on his collar, all musky and woody, with a sense of pepperiness. All very familiar and so him. He felt Kotetsu also descend slightly, feet fully back on the ground.
“Happy now?” Barnaby asked somewhat flatly, to which Kotetsu surprisingly replied with a loud, indecisive hum.
“MMMmmmm-“
“Oh for goodness sake” Barnaby tutted with a hint of impatience, but rose his head slightly from his shoulder to smoothly plant a tender but brief peck on the broad of his jaw. It tingled lightly on Kotetsu’s skin.
“You’re not getting anymore than that” Barnaby stated unbudgingly, which only made Kotetsu chuckle warmly to himself, enjoying his partner’s stubbornness. Again, he enjoyed a challenge.
With a satisfied grin, Kotetsu tilted them slightly to the side, as the tips of his fingers just barely managed to touch the dial of his vinyl player, amping up the music tenfold, not caring if the neighbours could hear or not and just carried on dancing slowly, amongst all the love and the memories of the cherished framed photos from both past and present.
“Fine by me Bunny.”