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If you asked Kyoya Ootori to describe each host, he’d tell you facts: he’d list their sales numbers, unbiased observations on their appearances, grades, strengths, and weakness, he’d tell you that are a valued member of the host club and that they are essential to the success of the club. He’d see your heart eyes or hear your wistful sighs and sell them to you, or see your suspicion and talk them up. He’d describe them objectively, their hair color or the amount of customers they brought in, what type of host they were, and how they fit into Tamaki’s ideas of the ‘family’. He’d tell you the absolute truth, with a straight face or an all-knowing smirk. He’d tell you exactly what you needed to hear, nothing more, but maybe a little bit less- it depends on why you’re asking.
If you asked Kyoya Ootori about Kaoru Hitachiin, he’d narrow his eyes in a way even he couldn’t control. If he saw your heart eyes, he’d sneer and send you off to either pay for Kaoru’s services or leave. If he saw your suspicion, he’d quickly defend whatever action caused your strife against the boy.
And for a long while, he didn’t even realize it was jealousy.
He’d tell you how caring, yet calculating Kaoru is. He’d talk about how the boy was always willing to take a backseat to his twin brother, just to give him a chance to get some spotlight, and how Kaoru sacrificed everything, how dependent he was. If Kyoya Ootori was drunk, which was a rare sight, he might even emit a longing sigh of his own, his eyes growing distant and his stare gaining a certain dreamy quality, all uncommon on his stern and rigid face.
And for a long while, he didn’t even realize it was love.
Of course, he’d never admit it. When Tamaki, ever so observant of his best friend, demanded to know what was going on, he brushed it off. Nothing was wrong, and Tamaki must be going crazy. Had he eaten today? Oh, it looks like Haruhi’s guest just brought them a cake. Maybe Tamaki should try that.
When Tamaki persisted, it quickly became troublesome.
To begin, the blonde never seemed to notice when a Hitachhin twin was sneaking up on him. Trying to get Tamaki to quit talking without clueing the twins in that what he was saying was private was a nearly impossible task. Kaoru realized within two weeks that Tamaki was bothering Kyoya with something personal and embarrassing. And it was all Tamaki’s fault.
One evening, after Kyoya demanded some help with cleaning up, Tamaki, Haruhi, and the Hitachiins had stayed behind. Hani and Mori had both been busy with family commitments, meaning that only the underclassmen could stick around. That was fine.
What wasn’t fine was that Tamaki really wanted to know what was going on with Kyoya, and was trying to figure it out in the worst way possible.
“Mommy,” Cried Tamaki, spinning around with a broom in his hand, more for decoration than practicality, “Can you come here? We need to talk!” Kyoya rolled his eyes at the melodramatic tendencies of his friend, but made his way over. He knew what this was about- Tamaki proceeded to ask why Kyoya was so distant and zoned out, and Kyoya proceeded to roll his eyes, defending himself. He wasn’t zoned out, he was planning a budget in his head. He was busy, so Tamaki should leave him be.
As Tamaki nudged him, whispering predictions- did Kyoya have a girlfriend? A boyfriend? Tamaki wouldn’t judge, he swore, and he had always secretly known that Kyoya swung that way. It was so obvious! I mean, he worked with a host club and rarely took clients, but didn’t expect anyone to notice? And, God, not to mention how he stares so constantly-
“Whatcha talking about?” Asked Kaoru, far too close for Kyoya’s liking. Close enough to hear what Tamaki was saying. Close enough to know that Tamaki was onto him, that they were discussing men in a way that an Ootori man should never even think of another man.
Kyoya snapped his head around, glancing at Kaoru, then sending a hateful glare in Tamaki’s direction. He ignored the blonde’s puppy eyes and pitiful face. He hadn’t meant for anyone else to hear, but someone did, and now it was all his fault.
“Kyoya and I are talking about male customers!” Tamaki yelled; his voice almost cracking. Anybody less analytical than Kyoya wouldn’t have even noticed the lie, but Kyoya knew that Kaoru would. He didn’t always look it, but he was a cool and calculating bastard, sometimes almost rivaling Kyoya in that sense. He just didn’t always look or act the part.
“Why? We don’t get many.” Haruhi pitched in, their face contorted awkwardly and their lips downturned in suspicion. They were right, too- the host club had a primarily female clientele.
“I’ve been thinking it’s a market we should expand into. After all, there are many men at this school equally as bored as the women we host here are. I’m sure that some of them have homosexual tendencies.” Kyoya said, hoping to recover. “Tamaki has offered to take up a campaign of sorts, advertising the host club as a space welcoming to all who wish to spend their time and money here. It’s an untapped market, honestly.”
He didn’t know why he made up such a lie, but he did know why he threw Tamaki under the bus to do the campaign.
“That’s cool.” Was all that Kaoru added, but he gave a suspicious glance at Kyoya before wandering off to see Hikaru again.
After the group finished cleaning up, everybody slowly began to leave. Haruhi was first, needing to stop by the store on their way home, and Tamaki followed soon after, his chauffeur already waiting on him outside. Hikaru and Kaoru had already left, leaving Kyoya with a few minutes of peace to pack up his own belongings and take inventory of assorted teacups, teapots, tea leaves, and tea cakes. As he noted down what tea leaves they’d need to replenish before the next week, the door creaked open.
“Tell me why I knew you’d be here.” Kaoru said as he entered, still wearing his school uniform with his bag still on his shoulder. “Didn’t you just send us all home, Kyoya?”
“Yes, and I thought you and Hikaru both went home?” Kyoya questioned, raising an eyebrow at the ginger.
“I sent Hikaru home without me.” Kaoru replied, without bothering to elaborate.
With that, nobody asked another question. Kaoru didn’t lecture Kyoya on overworking himself, and Kyoya didn’t question why Kaoru stayed behind. When Kyoya finished taking inventory, filling his silence with a polite conversation, he turned to Kaoru.
“Would you like to go to dinner? I’ll have my chauffeur drop you off afterwards.” Kyoya offered, picking his own bag up and placing it on his shoulder. Kaoru only smiled and nodded, following Kyoya’s lead. The duo stepped out together, enjoying the brisk autumn air.
“This is probably one of my favorite times of year,” Kaoru said, referring to the early October breeze, “it’s not too warm, but not too cold. Plus, the leaves and trees are gorgeous.”
“I’ve always loved the look of the yellow and orange leaves.” Kyoya admits with a slight hum as he continues to walk, his gaze flicking between the hair on Kaoru’s head and the leaves on the autumnal tree limbs.
Kaoru felt like his stare was burning holes through his skull.
When the chauffeur dropped the two off at the restaurant, Kyoya had already called ahead and made sure that they had an available table. The place was fancy and traditional, and the hostess gave the two slippers as soon as they walked in the door. Both changed into the slippers, leaving their shoes in a cupboard by the door. They followed their hostess to the suite they were given- a small, private room with tatami mat floors and a low table, set for two- and thanked the woman as she left.
Kyoya was the first to sit, and Kaoru took the seat directly across from him. Kyoya quickly delved into the menu, and Kaoru left his menu untouched.
“So, about what you and Tamaki were talking about earlier-”
“Male host club clients? You don’t have to accept male clients if that’s uncomfortable for you.”
“That’s not really-”
“Then why bring it up?”
Kaoru sighed, giving up for the night.
This routine continued for ages. Host club evenings passed, the duo dined together at restaurants they’d wanted to try, or even at one or the other's house. Hani and Mori graduated. Tamaki and Haruhi officially began dating. Hikaru began branching out on his own. Kyoya and Kaoru, sensing that the people they often relied on for sociability were slowly drifting away, seemed to cling to each other more than ever. Kaoru tried to learn more about Kyoya.
Kaoru learned that Kyoya liked baby’s breath and roses. He liked earning money, but he also liked spending it on those he cared about. He liked his sleep, but the safest way to wake him up was being as gentle as possible. He snored lightly. He was excellent at video games, despite swearing that he had only ever really played when Tamaki insisted.
Kyoya learned that Kaoru liked hyacinths and lavender. He hated the way that his family treated fashion as a business, rather than an art. He loved mangoes, and when Kyoya introduced him to mango lassi drinks, he fell in love with those, too. He kept a sketchbook that he showed a little bit of to Kyoya. Kyoya showed Kaoru some of his paintings, too.
As they grew closer, the others grew more suspicious. It all came to a head in the spring of their third year.
The two were in the music room, a few minutes after the host club closed, with Kyoya typing away at his computer and Kaoru leaning over the back of the couch he sat on to hang off his shoulders, occasionally adding in new ideas to Kyoya’s writing. He was finalizing some new merchandise ideas for the club, and Kaoru was absolutely helping him. This wasn’t enjoyable, just efficient.
“Hey, Kaoru! Leave your boyfriend be and come help me carry this!” Rang Hikaru’s voice from across the music room as he attempted to move a table by himself. Kaoru zoned out his twin’s words, an excellent trick that many twins learn by age eight, and waved him off.
“Do it yourself, I’m busy.” He mumbled in response.
The mumbling, typing, movement, and calm talking in the room ceased.
“You didn’t deny it.” Said Tamaki, face lighting up.
“Deny what?” Asked Kaoru.
“You’re dating Kyoya?! Why didn’t you tell me!?” Yelled Hikaru, slowly inflating with excitement.
“We’re not-” Kyoya began, but was cut off.
“We started dating last school year, guys; I thought you all knew.” Kaoru responded. His only answer to Kyoya’s look, as if he was between strangling Kaoru and asking ‘wait, really?’, was a quick wink.
Ah. This was just another bit. Maybe Kyoya could also throw a wrench into everybody else’s ideas.
“I guess the cat is out of the bag now.” Kyoya stated simply, before returning to his work.
The entire music room erupted into chaos.
Kyoya and Kaoru came to a silent agreement to continue the bit. It was almost like a game of gay chicken, but the first to chicken out would have to explain to all their friends that this was all a running joke and that, yes, Kyoya was in on it.
That would’ve been really awkward after Tamaki threw them a one-year anniversary party. Or after Kyoya met Kaoru’s family, to sell the bit to Hikaru. Or after Kaoru met Fuyumi, since she occasionally chatted with Haruhi. Or after Hikaru convinced his mother to save an heirloom engagement ring for Kaoru and Kyoya- just in case. Or after they were given combined gifts on holidays. Or after they shared a kiss on the New Year. Or after Kaoru supported Kyoya through irreversibly leaving his father’s control.
Okay, maybe this was more than a bit now. Maybe it was more than a bit when the two ended up in bed together, and Kyoya had to wear high-collared shirts for two weeks afterwards. And then for another two weeks after that- habits were forming. Maybe it was more than a bit when Kaoru used that heirloom ring to propose to Kyoya after their graduation. Maybe now, that Kaoru’s mother was fitting Kyoya for his wedding suit and gushing about how cute he looked in white, it was far more than just a game of gay chicken sparked from one joke and a wink.
Either way, Kyoya was standing at the altar, happier than he had ever been, without his father’s overbearing hand controlling his marriage, and he felt his throat burn and eyes moisten as Kaoru stared back at him.
If he didn’t chicken out soon, Kyoya would actually think Kaoru was gay.