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They loved Kiba and Toboe to pieces. Tsume and Hige. Ever since Tsume had met the brunette that cold rainy Friday when his car had broken down, and the boy had stopped to offer him help, Tsume couldn’t picture his life without him now. They shared a lot of similarities. Kiba was also reserved, and quiet. He kept to himself and was weary of people. He had known pain and despair, in the same way that Tsume and his brother had.
But Kiba also knew hope. And kindness. And love. And despite their state, he knew to not give up. He saw something in Tsume, and in Hige, something tender, something plaintive, pleading with love and care. He could see something a lot of other people couldn’t, or just chose not to. To anyone else, Tsume was scary tall, hulking young man who meant business. And yet Kiba wasn’t frightened of him at all.
It spiraled from there. Tsume hated him at first. Him and Toboe. They were too good to be true. Too beautiful. Too loving. Why did they live in this garbage city? They should have been in a small town somewhere. Not here. Alone. Maybe that’s what changed his mind. He was afraid something might happen to them. They weren’t so much hang outs as it was playdates for Toboe and Hige at first. Hige had a similar revelation to Tsume. He had fallen in love with the boy too.
From the moment they met at school, Hige had fallen completely in love. He took note of Toboe’s reddish brown hair spilling over his shoulders, his bright inquisitive red eyes, and the warm tone to his skin. He loved everyone. There was not a single bad bone in him. Wherever the boy went, Hige followed.
Tsume figured he should break the ice formally, and invite them over for dinner. Hige helped cook. He was much better at it than the elder one. They waited for a bit. When Kiba was 20 minutes late they almost thought they had bailed, until the brunette had arrived in the entrance of the building, Toboe in one arm, and the umbrella and plastic bag in the other. He walked the entire way. They didn’t have a car.
Tsume remembered they both made a mad dash downstairs and quickly brought them inside, immediately wrapping them in warm blankets and giving them hot chocolate, in which Toboe was all too thrilled to see. They had taken so long because they had made some cookies for the older pair, and wanted to surprise them. They were cold now, but they smelled lovely. And were made with every ounce of their love.
Toboe even drew a picture for them. He said that Kiba insisted that he draw something for them. Something pretty. Hige probably would have cried on the spot at seeing the picture. Tsume was kind of shocked at the boy’s talent. Only nine-years-old and he already had a pretty solid grasp of color, shape and subject. It was a large blue caterpillar being led by a single man. They all had human legs, something that Hige pointed out, and was curious about it.
They put aside dinner for the moment, just until the boys could warm up, and Hige wanted to see what the blue caterpillar dance was that Toboe kept talking about. He gave the boy the remote and all of them crowded around the small tv. It was sort of shocking to Tsume and Hige. The elegant mature dance of the caterpillar, that came off both sensuous and intimate, trying to entice Alice with a treat.
Kiba joked that they lived the songs now, since that was all Toboe could think about, draw, and listen to back at their apartment. Anything and everything that was Alice in Wonderland, he consumed Kiba noted. The deep blue and the majesty of the dance and song impressed the other boys, even if they weren’t ballet appreciators, they were happy to share that moment with Kiba and Toboe.
After they relaxed for a bit, and warmed up, Tsume and Hige quickly got back to finishing up the dinner. It was loud, and a bit cluttered, but they made it work at their small table. It was plain cooked chicken with some veggies as the sides, and glasses of milk. It was loud, but cheery at the table. A feeling that Tsume nor Hige had felt for a very long time. They couldn’t really remember the last time they had actually cooked dinner together, or for anyone else for that matter.
The pair stayed late into the night, even at ten when Kiba had made a move to start making their way back home, Tsume immediately stopped him. It was too late, and too dark outside. And the older pair were afraid of the boys wandering home alone in the dark, with potential harm around the corner. Even after Kiba reassured them they had walked home alone lots of times Tsume insisted (with little to no room for discussion) for them to stay. He wasn’t taking any chances of them stepping outside.
Toboe was thrilled, thinking of their stay like a sleep over, as was Hige. The pair were bound to the hip now. Kiba and Tsume sat at the table talking, cups of coffee in hand while the boys watched TV and talked. It was a quiet night, a peaceful one, feeling Tsume and Hige with a sense of ease that they hadn’t felt in forever. They had gotten so use to the monotony of their lives that they hadn’t felt so… warm. In so long.
Tsume didn’t want to admit it. Nor say it. But deep down inside, he knew he’d never be able to let them go now.
It only spiraled from there. The two boys had slowly broken down all of his guards, and reached the very center of his heart. Kiba was just so patient. Understanding. Loving. Empathetic. So unjudgemental. So, kind. Toboe on the other hand was so sweet and cute, he practically gave Tsume and Hige cavities. He always ran up to them when he saw them, and wrapped his arms around their waists. He was a tiny thing. Very angelic.
He had to be protected. They both did. It was something that always sat in the back of Tsume’s mind whenever the pair came over to visit.
It was a quiet afternoon after the boys had come over for movies, games and the like. Kiba was getting their stuff together, and was just about ready to leave the apartment with Toboe in tow, when without warning, Tsume just, shut the door.
Kiba paused, clearly startled. He turned around, facing Tsume.
“What’s wrong?”
Nothing. Or least nothing but Tsume’s quiet stare.
“Tsume? What’s wrong?”
“… I’m not letting you go.”
Kiba could only raise a brow. “I- what?”
“Just stay.”
“I…” The brunette paused, probably uncertain what to say, as Toboe held onto his other hand looking up at them confused.
“I- Tsume we’ll be all right. Really. It's still light out. We’ll- “
“Just stay.”
“For the night?” Kiba tried to clarify. “We, could. I mean we don’t have an extra set of clothes but- “
“No. Stay.” It was a long moment, as the words sunk in. His eyes widened somewhat, and he looked back up.
“Tsume, w-we can’t- we barely have any money and- “
“I don’t care about that. I care about you. And Toboe. Just stay.”
“Tsume we have a home, I mean I know it’s not much of one, but it’s our little apartment and- “
Then the older boy took Kiba in his arms, silencing him. Toboe stared up, confused, patting Tsume’s waist.
“Tsume? What’s the matter? Are you sad?”
“Uh, he’s just worried about us love, that’s all. He wants us to stay.” Kiba immediately assuaged, kneeling down to Toboe’s level, tucking some of his hair behind his ear.
“Ooo! Another sleepover?” The boy beamed. Kiba nodded, trying to smile.
“Yes love. Another sleepover.” Although his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. In fact the older boy seemed worried. Put off almost.
“Yay!! We get to stay with Tsume and Hige!” The younger boy cheered, wrapping his arms around Tsume’s waist, completely oblivious to the situation. The young man smiled, and returned the embrace, hoisting him up in his arms.
“Come on, let’s take you to Hige.”
The rest of the night was pretty quiet. They watched one more movie, a sort of scary one, at least one that appropriate enough for Toboe. Hige picked it. Super 8 was really fun. Neither of them had seen it before. Though the infamous train crash scene did sort of startle them. They eventually settled in, but even while they had a peaceful even, the elephant in the room still stood out.
“So… something on your mind?” Kiba asked his partner, shifting towards him in the dark. Tsume shrugged, “Nothing.” Kiba sighed.
“You know I’m not buying that. Right?”
“Let’s just sleep. I’ll tell you later.”
Kiba, scooted closer to him, wrapping his arm around his waist and snuggling close to his back. “You can tell me. You really insisted on us staying. Were you worried about us?”
“… It's stupid.”
The brunette sighed, gently leaning into the crook of Tsume’s neck. He felt warm to the touch, and smelled of pine and earth.
“It’s not stupid if it's bothering you this much.” He whispered.
Tsume was still for a moment. “I can’t let you go.”
Kiba had to strain to hear the murmured answer. “You, what?”
“I can’t let you go. Not you. Not Toboe.”
Ah. There it was. He was afraid. They had let the pair into their hearts and now he was scared that something would potentially take him and Toboe away. It stung Kiba’s heart. They were so emotionally repressed that any notion of warmth or kindness frightened them. Vulnerability was terrifying when he took a moment to think about it. It was just easier to brush over things rather than be honest with someone. At least it had been that way until Tsume had met Kiba and his brother.
“Tsume, we’re not going to leave you or Hige. Just cause’ we live in a different apartment doesn’t mean we’re split apart. We just have to work around our schedules.” Kiba explained.
“Or you could just live here.” Tsume suggested.
“I mean, as much as I would love that, I do love our little apartment too. We’ll talk about it though. I’m sure Toboe would appreciate the thought.”
“So, this could be your home too. Hige really needs you. He thinks your mother goose.”
Kiba snorted, “Is that his nickname for me.”
“Sort of, yes.”
“How sweet. Very sweet.”
“He talks about you a lot. And feels like he can communicate his thoughts to you. I’m an idiot. We’re just dumb guys who can’t tell each other anything.”
“Being vulnerable is hard to do. Everyone struggles with that. You know that.”
“So stay.”
Kiba wanted to facepalm. Trying to reason with his partner was like trying to reason with a brick wall, “… You’re just gonna keep pushing this, aren’t you?”
“I want you both here, and safe with us. This city is shit. You, Toboe and Hige deserve better than whatever the fuck this city can offer.” Ah, now he was
“Okay, okay we’ll talk about it. But later. I gotta work on Monday.” Kiba patted Tsume’s shoulder, pressing a kiss to the back of his neck.
That must have sparked something in the older male, because he suddenly turned around, and was soon on top of the brunette, enveloping him close into his embrace. “Just… stay. Don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere! Can’t you see that’s what I’m trying to-“
Ah, well, he didn’t get to finish his sentence, because soon Tsume’s lips met his. It was a soft, sweet kiss, in which Kiba found himself breathless soon. The other continued to nuzzle his face, leaving kisses wherever he could.
“Tsume, wait-“
“Please, stay.”
Even if it was dark, and he couldn’t see his partner’s golden eyes, Kiba could certainly feel them. His desperation, and want, and need. He should have said no. He should tried to talk some sense into him, talk him down from his emotions so to say. After all, Kiba was the more emotionally intelligent of the two. But he couldn’t do it. Not with this young man, who was pleading with him. Love, and be loved.
“I- “he paused. “Okay.” He finally conceded. “I’ll- we’ll talk about it more tomorrow.” That was enough of an answer for Tsume. He pulled Kiba into his arms, safe and secure.
The brunette inwardly sighed. What had he gotten himself into?