Chapter Text
Hoji's face was seemingly relaxed, blank, even as he continued to endure the obnoxious behavior next to him. Did Ban's mouth ever shut? Did it ever run out of words in that barking, loud tone that made his gears grind like metal on metal? It was more than hard to get used to, and what was worse...the stupid idiot always insisted on being close to him. Physically close, that was.
Today the fool's arm was slung over his shoulder, and Hoji could see his other hand motioning wildly, about halfway through whatever the hell he'd been talking about. Something something...training camp...his old friend.....ehh....Hoji literally didn't care. He was to busy staring at the bright smile on Dekared's dumb, idiot face. How his eyes were glimmering with past and present excitement of being able to re-live his tale and trap someone under his arm for a solid ten minutes. Because that's how long they'd been doing this already. An entirely uninterrupted ten minutes and Hoji was at his wits end. They had work to do.
His lips pursed, eyes narrowing slightly before he sucked in a breath and reached out, grabbing a handful of Ban's cheeks and squeezing, stopping some sentence right in the middle as he yanked him in. Yanked him right in and kissed him dead on his slightly squished lips. A long one too, just to make sure he was paying attention.
When he let go Ban's eyes were wide, and Hoji cleared his throat, straightening up as he watched the other stagger back and begin to point at him with a shaking extended index finger.
"...You- You just! "
"...Hm? "
"....AIBOU. YOU JUST- "
"......." Hoji tightened his jaw and turned away with a roll of his eyes, taking the opportunity to go to one of the computers in the control room and sit down in the office chair there, fingers working on tapping the keys to log himself in. "...Anyway. We have a report to write. "
"...N-..no, we- Ehhh!!?!? " Ban stomped a foot into the ground running over, his tall, red, spikey-headed frame towering over his seated partner as he pulled the office chair away from the computer, wildly spinning Hoji around and taking his shoulders.
"...You just KISSED me. "
"...I don't know what you're talking about. "
".......Y-y......"
Dekared's lips fell open just as the door to the room slid open, the rest of the team wandering in, and Sen-chan was the first to speak up, folding his arms across his chest and tapping his chin with a finger.
"...Hmm?....How curious, Ban's face is so red. " He inquired with a slowly widening smile.
"..What!? I want to see- " Came Umeko, pushing right past her taller coworkers to ogle today's excitement.
"....What could have happened to embarrass him so bad, I wonder?..." murmured Jasmine, and Ban sharply took a step back when she almost threateningly began to de-glove one of her hands with a knowing smile. She did have a bet going with Sen-chan over when 'it' was going to happen.
But the ESPER was stopped when the door to the command room slid back open one more time. All heads swiveled, watching Boss enter and take note of everyone for a moment. "...Good evening.." He said tentatively, feeling as if he just walked in on a strange situation. He..often felt this way.
Everyone seemed to even out and go back to their own things after that. The girls took up speaking with Boss, Sen-chan managed a very vertical headstand in search for answers, and Hoji had rolled his chair right back to his computer. But Ban just kind of stood there, staring at his back. With a whining outburst he wandered right back over and slapped a hand down on Hoji's shoulder.
"...We aren't done talking - "
"....There's nothing to talk about, Ban......except for maybe why you think you can continuously call me aibou when i've said on multiple occasio-"
Dekared moved. The incoming kiss had been nothing more than a swift, stealthy peck on the lips.
"......Did you like it?.."
Hoji's eyes were wide this time, and his head snapped over to the team, so thankful everyone was still absorbed in conversation or otherwise.
"...What the hell was that. " He hissed, eyes wheeling back around to Ban who now grinned at him with almost manic expectation, brows raised.
"...Hm? " Ban smugly sounded, mimicking a certain Dekablue from earlier.
"...Listen, smartass, you can't just- not while people are arou-" Came that hushed, hissed out voice again, it's sound cutting off abruptly as he was yanked out of the chair by Ban's grip on his arm, stumbling as he was soon dragged across the room. Ban yelled some excuse to the group who barely looked up, because he was always loud and always yelling so what did it matter.
When they were far enough away from the command center Ban slowly let him go, and Hoji yanked his arm back, righting his clothes with a huff.
"...So? " Ban asked.
"...So what. "
"...So did you LIKE it? " He asked again, and Hoji just stared, his expression in disbelief at what he was being asked. He groaned and tried to shove past his teammate but Ban's palm slammed into the wall right next to his head and Hoji sucked in a breath as he felt the other's hand grab his shoulder and press him into the wall.
Ban tilted his head, giving him a curious and determined look, seeming to decide something all on his own before giving a self satisfied smile and leaning in.
"..Ah ah ah- Hey- no-! " Hoji tried to warn him but he was soon smothered by the kiss Ban had probably wanted to give him in the first place. Slow...clumsy...god, was it his first time or what...and why was he so confident about it....and why were his lips so damn soft.
Hoji exhaled shakily as they parted, his eyes narrowed, staring at Ban who hadn't pulled far back yet.
"...Not while people are around. "
"...What?.." Hoji said, voice low, breathier than he wanted.
"...That's what you said. Anyway. I think I like this. Do you like it?...."
Hoji's lips parted and he turned his head for a moment, swallowing hard before he turned back and slid his fingers around the back of Ban's neck.
"...Yeah. You can't talk if your mouth is occupied. "
"...Hehe, m-mnf- "