Chapter Text
Ayato sighed as he let the cool Autumn breeze run through his hair, his eyes fluttering closed as he took everything in. It was already getting colder outside, the same as every Autumn in Inazuma. Ayato’s clothes seemed to give no aid to the cold, as he shivered slightly when the wind blew around him once more. Soon, however, he felt an arm snake around his waist and a lazy kiss being pressed to the nape of his neck.
"Thoma. How lovely of you to join me." Ayato hummed, leaning back into Thoma’s embrace. Thoma smiled, placed the basket he was holding on the ground, and wrapped both arms around Ayato’s waist. He hugged Ayato gently from behind, pressing a few more soft kisses to his neck.
"Were you waiting long? Sorry, I was just trying to prepare everything perfectly." Thoma said before laughing. Ayato wanted to drown in that sound. Warm, beautiful, Archons. Everything about Thoma was just perfect.
"No, it’s quite alright. You’re right on time." Ayato replied, snapping out of his thoughts. He cleared his throat and quickly turned around to face Thoma. Thoma couldn’t help but smile- so widely that his lips began to hurt- as his lover faced him. Ayato’s eyes were like moonstones; lavender-hued and sparkly and just so warm. Thoma absolutely adored Ayato, and it was prominent in the way he looked at him.
"Shall we eat?" Ayato asked before he placed a light kiss on Thoma’s forehead. Thoma nodded and pulled a blanket out from the basket. He laid it over the grass and took a seat, patting the space beside him. Ayato stared at Thoma for a moment before sitting down next to him. Then, he leaned to the side, enough to lay his head on Thoma’s lap.
"Ayato? What are you doing, silly?" Thoma asked, chuckling, as Ayato relaxed next to him. Ayato gently took Thoma’s hand and placed it on his head. Thoma quickly took the hint and began to card his fingers through Ayato’s hair, tugging softly at a few strands in a half-hearted attempt to unknot them. This was the side of Ayato he loved best- not his usual Head of the Kamisato Clan self, completely drowned by the swarm of the public, but more…Soft.
"…Oma. Thoma." Thoma heard Ayato’s voice repeat before he snapped out of his thoughts. He noticed the slight pout of disappointment on Ayato’s face, and he realized that he had stopped untangling Ayato’s hair. He quickly began working his way through the soft strands again when he heard an exasperated sigh escape from Ayato’s lips.
"Busy day?" Thoma asked, and Ayato nodded. Ah, so that’s why he was being so soft.
He must be exhausted from all the work lately.. Thoma thought, and he scratched a certain part of Ayato’s scalp, watching as Ayato hummed with comfort. Thoma brushed Ayato’s hair to the side.
"Oh! I almost forgot! The food!" Thoma then said, reaching over- and trying his best not to disturb Ayato- and grabbed two small bowls out of the picnic basket. He took off the lids and gave one bowl to Ayato. "It’s Miso soup, your favourite. Eat it now, or it’ll get cold."
Ayato pouted and looked up at Thoma. It seemed he wanted more attention. However, he sat up and picked up his spoon, using it to create a small whirlpool in the broth.
"Ayato," Thoma chided, "eat it, or you’ll be in big trouble if you say you’re hungry later."
"Oh, I’ll be in trouble? Let’s not forget who has the authority here." Ayato teased, lightly pinching Thoma’s cheek. Thoma laughed and smiled at the action, grabbing at Ayato’s wrist to get him to stop, but to no avail.
"You’re just adorable."
"…Please just eat the soup.."
"But I’ve found something much better to do."
"Ayato!"
"Okay, okay, I’ll eat it."
Thoma huffed and began to eat his soup. Once he had finished his own, Ayato only smirked and leaned his head on his hand, staring down Thoma with a lovesick expression as the other boy ate.
"…It’s hard to eat with you staring at me like that." Thoma muttered, shooting a glare at Ayato, but it looked more adorable than menacing. Thoma’s cheeks and ears were already red, and it was clear that he was getting embarrassed now.
"Why? I’m simply admiring my lover." Ayato mused, leaning in quite close. Thoma had to use every ounce of self restraint in his body to not kiss Ayato right then and there. "Is that so wrong?"
"No, but-" Thoma started, but was cut off by chilled lips crashing onto his own. Thoma immediately sighed and wrapped his arms around Ayato’s neck, pulling away to breathe for a moment before diving back in for another kiss. Ayato gave an amused chuckle and kissed Thoma softly, planting his hands on either side of Thoma as he leaned back.
"You taste like miso." Ayato said after he pulled back. He smirked down at Thoma, who was red as a cherry and breathing somewhat heavily.
"That’s because I just had some, you-" Another kiss cut him off, and he let out an angry sigh before kissing back.
Lazy and gentle kisses were exchanged between the two before Ayato pulled away again and settled right back down with his head on Thoma’s lap again.
"You’re warm. I love that about you." Thoma could feel his heart begin to race- well, more than it already was- and he simply huffed before putting his bowl down and beginning to thread his fingers through Ayato’s hair again. Ayato sighed in contentment before closing his eyes, leaning into Thoma’s touch.
The two of them just sat there, in complete silence, simply enjoying each other’s embrace. It wasn’t often that there was a day as nice as this, with both boys free from their work for just a while, before work carried on. Thoma took a deep breath of the chilled Autumn air and smiled down at Ayato, who reached up a hand to caress his cheek.
"What are you smiling about?" He asked.
"Oh, just.." Thoma laughed. "I’m just so happy I’m able to spend today with you, y’know? And, on the day we first met."
Ayato’s eyes widened when Thoma uttered those words. He immediately sat up and stared at him in shock.
"You actually remember that day? But that was so long ago!"
Now it was Thoma’s turn to look shocked. However, he only laughed and kissed Ayato’s nose.
"Of course I do, Ayato. After all, you’re the reason I’m still alive." He said before taking Ayato’s face in his hands. He chuckled as he squished Ayato’s cheeks, and Ayato grumbled in response. However, Ayato really loved this. He loved Thoma.
"Quit laughing at me." He muttered, trying to seem annoyed.
"Why?" Thoma replied, squishing his cheeks once more. Ayato softly took Thoma’s cheeks and pulled them down from his face.
"Because you’re making me never want to go back to work." Ayato said, and his eyes grew sad when he thought of leaving Thoma.
"Oh, love," Thoma sighed and let Ayato’s fingers interlock with his, "I promise we’ll do something like this again soon. There’s still plenty of time left!"
Plenty of time.
"Yeah, you’re right." Ayato repeated, a smile growing on his lips. He thought for a moment, before scooping Thoma off the ground.
"A-Ayato?! What are you-" Thoma exclaimed before Ayato dipped him slightly backwards. He glared daggers into the other man, and he laughed.
"Better hold on tight. Wouldn’t want me to drop you, hm?" Ayato teased, and Thoma begrudgingly wrapped his arms around Ayato’s neck.
"Where are we going?" Thoma asked as Ayato began to walk forward. Ayato simply hummed and shook his head.
"You’ll find out when we’re there."
"I swear, if this is another one of your stupid-"
"Oh, hush. You know I’d never hurt you."
"…Alright."
Ayato laughed and kissed Thoma’s forehead. He really wished that they could do things like this more often. However, it wasn’t every day that he could slip away from the papers that crowded his office and the duties that filled his days. It was days like these where he could really love Thoma, fully and completely.
"We’re here." Ayato said once the two had reached their destination. Thoma stared in awe at the sight before him. They were standing at the edge of a hill, far above where the people of Inazuma lived. The sun was just beginning to set, creating ripples of red and orange and pink painted against blue, and it was beautiful. The wind tousled Thoma’s hair as he gazed out into the distance, and he found himself holding on tighter to Ayato.
Because, just as the Sun rises, it sets. Just as the Moon comes to replace its Light, it soon returns to the Darkness. Night and Day, Moon and Sun, for neither could exist without the other, but neither could stay forever. ‘Twas simply Fate, and that could not be changed.
"Thoma, why are you crying?" Ayato asked, immediately setting Thoma down and hugging him tightly. Thoma hugged him back and buried his face in his chest.
"I love you." Was all that Thoma said.
"I love you, too, Thoma." Ayato replied. When Thoma raised his head from Ayato’s chest, he was met with a kiss. It was fast-paced, and passionate, as if there were only seconds until they would be torn apart from each other. As soon as one pulled away, the other pulled them back in, and it truly seemed like every kiss would be the last.
They were right.
Each kiss would be their last.
That was months ago. Now,
Thoma was going to die.