Chapter Text
… love…
…
What was love exactly?
It had never troubled Uta before. He'd never put much thought into it, hadn't cared about it enough to consider it.
The matter of what had brought it to the forefront of his mind was trivial, and he cared not for it. However, now that it was on his mind, he really did wonder.
Did he know what love was?
Heated nights spent together with a certain silver-haired ghoul under the moonlight…
Was that love?
Casually hanging out with Itori and the gang, drinking rounds of blood wine and laughing together…
Was that love?
Would he know what love was when he felt it, and what did it feel like?
Late morning, early afternoon. The sun was much too bright, shining through his open window as a particularly strong breeze blew his black curtains out of the way for a brief moment.
A fleeting ray of sunlight shone on the face of one sleeping Uta.
His nose scrunched a little, followed by his eyelids before slowly he cracked one red and black eye open. His eyes wandered his room in search for a certain ghoul; the one who was currently absent from his room.
He then noticed the numbers on his alarm. He'd slept in. He'd forgotten to set the alarm.
And Renji hadn't even had the decency to wake him up, even though he'd woken up before him.
That absolute ass.
That was when he noticed a steaming mug beside the alarm. Underneath the mug was a small slip of paper with handwriting on it that could only be recognized as distinctly Renji's.
Uta lifted the mug and grabbed the slip, setting the mug back down on the table as he went to read the note.
"Uta
Sorry I didn't wake you up. You were sleeping so peacefully and you had such a long night last night that I didn't have the heart to wake you up.
Hope the coffee makes it better.
(I hope it's still hot by the time you wake up.)
—Yomo"
Uta reread the note a few times until eventually he just shook his head, snickering softly. He took back his earlier thoughts. Renji wasn't just any ass. He was a sentimental ass.
Then again, he supposed that was just one of the things he liked about him.
Renji liked to act aloof all the time, but he actually was often the one cared the most.
Uta smiled to himself as he mused at what a sap Renji was.
He picked up the mug, raising it to his nose to inhale the aroma that only Renji and Yoshimura were known to achieve just so.
He rarely drank coffee, but he made exceptions when his best friend was the one brewing it. Uta took a tentative sip to test the flavor, then hummed in contentment as it warmed his throat and belly.
Perfect, as always.
Words he'd genuinely spoken to Renji once before, and the man had proceeded to accuse him of 'blowing smoke rings up his ass'.
Whatever that meant.
Uta finished off the coffee (and discreetly hid the note away in a drawer that was most definitely not used solely to store keepsakes from Renji). He got up from the bed, leaving it as it was and wandered off with empty mug in hand in search of Renji.
He found the man reclining on his couch, seemingly very absorbed into the novel he was reading.
Uta snuck over and pressed the still warm surface of the mug against Renji's cheek.
"I was gonna kick your ass for not waking me up," he said in way of greeting to his silver-haired companion, "but I decided that since you were so kind as to make me this, I'd let it slide."
"A simple 'thank you' would have sufficed," Renji pushed the mug away with the back of his free hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Uta apologized, though not sounding entirely sorry, "did I not sound gracious enough?"
Uta set the mug on the coffee table and plopped down right on Renji's lap. He gently took Renji's book from his hands, careful to keep his place, and leaned forward.
Renji was vaguely surprised to feel Uta's lips press against his own, but invited the sensation all the same. He reached up, burying his fingers in dark locks, pulling Uta closer, and breathed him in.
When he finally pulled away, the corner of uta's lips twitched upward just a twinge, "Thank you for taking care of me."
"... You're welcome," Renji replied slowly, then slapped Uta's ass, "now go put some damn clothes on before I decide I want a round two and use your body to desecrate this couch."