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A few months of Nozue’s replacement and Togawa’s ready to quit. Now normally he would never so much as joke about doing something so drastic, but his new “boss” is intransigent in every sense of the word. He never wants to do his assigned workload, coercing his subordinates to do it in his stead. Will pocket almost all of the instant coffee and deny the fact even after getting caught.
What Togawa doesn’t like is how he manages to slack off just enough to stay under the chairwoman’s radar. He hates it even. Hates how someone who’s supposed to be better than him could be so incompetent.
And he knows, he knows that it sounds harsh but just the thought of that insignificant slack-off getting a promotion later when he's barely qualified for the custodian position makes his blood boil.
Okay.
Maybe he was just a little biased. After all, he's borderline obsessed with everything Nozue is as a person. He loved working under him but gave it up with no complaints as they moved in together soon after Nozue was transferred. But in his defense, this new guy knew how to lie his way up the corporate ladder. He nags, berates, and talks to everyone in the most condescending tone Togawa thinks he's ever been addressed with. He knows anyone listening to him would say he was exaggerating.
Even so, Togawa’s never been one to lie; believing that there's nothing that couldn’t be solved with honesty. He’s never been one to hate something either, no matter how much it might annoy him. Let alone another person. It’s this thought that has Nozue considering his lover's situation as he paces around the living room instead of signing it off as Togawa being sensitive.
Forever patient, Nozue let out a soft sigh at just how bothered his lover was. And at the hands of someone who sounded so rude. A person who doesn't give him good attention isn't someone worth being around. Nozue closed his laptop, (having given up on completing his diagram when Togawa loudly came home earlier and slammed the door in anger) and stretched as he looked up at his partner until he noticed him.
Togawa finally stopped pacing the living room with a “But I digress..” before taking a deep breath.
Looking at Nozue with a small pout, tears sprang to his eyes as he saw the older man attentively waiting and patting his lap. An invitation that he'd never deny. He crawled into his lap and the dam broke as soon as Nozue hugged him.
“I-i just—.. I don't like feeling this way.” he hiccuped.
Nozue knows him enough to read his mind. He studied Togawa just as much as the other studied him. Always knew what he wanted to say and what his mind was telling him. He was idly rocking back and forth, comforting his sensitive lover. He heard sniffles before the other continued.
“Knowing someone like that, is valuable to the company. It makes me hurt Sanae. It makes me think that people think that if I was in his position, I'd do worse.” His cries were soft and hazy. Nozue would consider the word weeping to be a good fit. He moved his hand to pet Togawas head.
“My poor doll. You've been worrying about so much for so long.” he whispered, carding his hands through Togawas freshly trimmed hair. Taking a few minutes to let the younger man cry his frustration out before suggesting a solution.
“How about this” he hummed. “I know you don't like these thoughts. They're mean and hurt your feelings.” Nozue spoke as he leaned back to cup his lover's face in his hands. Togawas eyes were dried out from his face being buried in Nozue's shirt for the small while that he hid in it.
Cotton hurts his sensitive skin Nozue thinks in passing.
He grabbed a tissue from the small box on the side table beside him and explained himself as Togawa used it.
“Despite your brain saying all those mean things. Listen to it.” he sighs. “What?” and he hurries to elaborate as his lovers face contorted into a mix of confusion and slight hurt.
“Ahh.. I'm not saying to hear them out, love. I'm saying to listen to them. Think all those stupid thoughts until you tire of the same thing being told to you over and over again.” Nozue bounces his leg and caresses his back. “They won't last long. If you constantly think about it and what happened to make you feel that way, when it's over; you'll realize just how tiresome that mentality is.” Wiping a stray tear from the other's face, he continues. “And I'll be with you every second okay?”
And Togawa knows he'll live up to his new promise. He knows Nozue’s right. That being so upset about another person will only hurt him in turn. When he thinks about it, Togawa really doesn't want to get a promotion. That's not what he was worried about. It was..
“Maybe I just have a complex.” he jokes, making himself laugh as he feels his lover's leg slow to a stop. “Inferiority?” Nozue questions. “Yeah. But I don't think it's too bad. At least for now.”
He skimmed his lover's body and his heart stuttered when he made eye contact with him. Nozue's eyes held nothing but pure affection for him. The gentle love and care he's so used to getting staring at him in all his vulnerability. He truly was lucky that the older man decided to give him a chance with his heart.
“Well it could always be fun in bed.” Nozue chirped. “What?” Togawa’s blind confusion making him laugh. A husky and deep one that reverberated of the walls. He should've know that his mind would go that route. Nozue, his superior, his lover, his home. Always the promiscuous type. It didn't stop him from hitting his arm as he felt his face heat up.
“You’re so-”
“Right? I know doll. Let's go wash your face though. And moisturize it. You wouldn't want to go out having tear tracks down your face.”
“Out?”
“Of course. Tomorrow isn't sunday but I scrolled past an ad for a new parfait flavor and I thought you'd like a little date.” Togawa was off his laps and into their shared bathroom within a second. ‘I was going to ask before you cried’ Nozue mused in his head before getting up change his shirt.
He was showered with attention and kisses all night. And the next morning he wore his favorite tie as he and the love of his life walked down a path they’ve treaded so many times now.
He’ll listen to the thoughts later. Get in his feelings and cry about is until he tires of it another time. He knows he has to so he can truly get over it the situation. Maybe it'll take a little longer than a couple of days, but he's not alone. It'll be okay. And if the supervisor isn't in the next time he goes to work then he's thanking Nozue.
He told him he didn't have to talk to chairwoman Kirishima, though Nozue denies his involvement, he's thankful to have such a caring lover. Despite his small adjustments to praising him over trivial matters.