Archive of Our Own

“Ah, man, shortie, don’t cha ever get tired?”

Ryuusei lounged against the tree off to the side of the clearing, lazily dragging his eyes toward Yoichi’s relentlessly determined form. He tossed the dagger in his hand up, catching it idly and repeating the motion boredly. In his other hand, he held a half-eaten apple that was starting to turn brown at the edges from his inattention.

Yoichi paused, looking over his shoulder at him with a frown. “Don’t you ever get up off your ass?” They came here to train , but he hadn’t seen Ryuusei move from that spot since they got here.

As if Ryuusei could read what was on his mind, he smirked. “Hey, don’t look at me like that~ It wasn’t my idea to come here.”

To prove his point and his stubbornness, Ryuusei took a big bite of the apple he had long forgotten and gave Yoichi a wide mischievous grin when he gave him a deadpan look. When he leaned forward, dangling the dagger between two fingers dangerously, his partially unbuttoned shirt collar flapped open as if taunting Yoichi. He shook his head and looked away.

“Say, how is that under-lashes bastard?” Yoichi, once again, stopped his tireless sword-swinging to give Ryuusei his full attention. He wiped his forehead with the collar of his shirt and leaned on the hilt of his sword. “Sae, obviously, is just as sexy as I imagined-” At this, Yoichi forced himself to keep down the eye-roll just begging to be let out, as Ryuusei looked up to the sky like the memory pleasured him. “-but little Itoshi is a fucking ass, right? I heard from the other trainees that he’s real picky, too.”

Well, Yoichi wouldn’t say Rin was horrible. As the Second Prince, he did have to be cautious of who he chose to be his personal guard, so Yoichi could understand his strictness in that department. However, his personality… needed at least some getting used to. But in that aspect, Yoichi didn’t think Sae and Rin were all that different. Sae was just as much of a cold-hearted bitch as Rin was, maybe even more, if Yoichi was being biased.

“Rin’s not all that bad,” Yoichi sighed tiredly. He’d had this conversation many times with other recruits. They hadn’t had great prospects, so they had complained to him with jealousy and contempt in their tones. A sudden memory popped into Yoichi’s head. He smiled, perking up. “Ah, right! Just the other day, Rin even gave me some pointers!”

He picked up his sword and proceeded to explain what changes he had made given the Prince’s suggestions. When he looked back at Ryuusei, he was surprised to find a frown instead of the expected playful smile. “Ryu-chan?”

Pink eyes locked onto his. Yoichi swallowed nervously—Ryuusei’s pupils had shrunk into slits like a predator’s eyes. And his body was responding as if he were prey. He shivered slightly, his body tensing as if he wanted to run. Which was ridiculous , he reasoned. This was his best friend. There was no reason to be frightened. His limbs trembled nonetheless.

In an instant, the tension dispersed, Ryuusei’s frown shifting into an easy smile. “You two are getting closer. Think he’ll choose you as his guard?” He tossed the core of the apple to the side.

Yoichi blinked, still reeling from the previous weighted atmosphere. “Uh- Well, I’m not-” He pinched his side to clear his head. “I’m not sure…”

If he was being honest, though, Rin definitely seemed to favor him, if their private meetings were anything to go off of. And really , those had been an accident that started from Rin randomly happening on one of his solo practices! There hadn’t been anything wrong with that! And they weren’t doing anything wrong! Rin wasn’t giving him an unfair advantage if he literally just stood there and watched him with a displeased expression on his face! Why did he suddenly feel so guilty about this?

His right arm crossed over his body and hugged his torso. Ryuusei was giving him that heavy look again. Were their secret meetings wrong? Was it not right for Yoichi to do anything in his power to get the position that he had always wanted?

“Yo-chan,” Ryuusei purred teasingly. “You’re thinking too much about other men~”

Yoichi laughed quietly, a fond smile playing on his lips. “Yes, yes. I know. ‘You’re already here.’”

Ryuusei stood up, and Yoichi thought for a blissful moment that he might be joining him in training. But that thought was shattered when Ryuusei hooked a finger under his chin and smirked down at him.

“I must joke too much with you,” he said, noticeably quieter, letting the sounds of wind and the edge of the forest wash over them. “You never take me seriously.”

Yoichi felt his face heating up, and he felt the inexplicable urge to cover his face with his hands. Fortunately, one of them was occupied with his sword and the other refused to destroy his pride in one cowardly motion. “... Was- Am I supposed to…?” Would that mean…?

Ryuusei smiled smugly, thumbing over his bottom lip gently. His eyes dipped, following his bold finger’s movements. Yoichi felt himself tremble all over again. Predictably, Ryuusei ignored his pointless question. “You’re blushing, Yoichi.”

“...!”

Yoichi couldn’t fight the urge any longer and swatted Ryuusei’s hand away, covering the lower half of his face with the back of his hand. His face burned . “‘M not.”

Ryuusei was still dangerously close when Yoichi found the courage to look back up. The smooth, visible expanse of dark, tanned skin in front of him only seemed to mock him more. This guy and his games. What was Yoichi even supposed to believe?

Ryuusei grasped his sword and flung it to the side, leaving Yoichi gaping. That was his sword! Where’s the respect?! “Hey-!”

“Yoichi, don’t fall for Rin, ok?” Ryuusei took the sword’s place, interlacing their fingers. Each brush of skin sent tingles up his arm and made his nerves ignite.

Ryuusei’s hand traced around his knuckles and his palm, then released him to lightly glide up his wrist, circling around his pulse point before continuing up his arm. His hand settled at Yoichi’s elbow, pulling him closer until they were inches apart, their faces closer than they had ever been. Yoichi couldn’t look away from Ryuusei’s dilated pupils. They were magnetic, sending sparks of electricity down his spine.

Yoichi licked his lips nervously, watching as Ryuusei’s eyes darted down. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

“Really?” Ryuusei sounded doubtful. Yoichi didn’t quite understand—Rin certainly didn’t see him that way, what with his hateful glares, and Yoichi himself would never subject himself to loving someone… like that . “You should tell him that.”

Yoichi scoffed lightly. Blaming Rin was such a predictable reaction. “So…? What’s the real reason you’re all upset?” Ryuusei always managed to throw him off, but Yoichi was naturally a pretty smart guy. At least, he liked to think so. Moments like this made him rethink that. But the aforementioned moments all had to do with Ryuusei anyway. He was unwilling to unpack all that. Yoichi smirked challengingly. “Are you jealous?”

“Of that stupid brother-complex brat?” Ryuusei’s mouth pulled up into a cruel grin. Yoichi felt like he was once again back in the training grounds watching the two of them fight over Sae. Despite himself, he wanted to laugh. “No way.”

Yoichi leaned in even further, leaving nothing but a small slice of air between them. He could feel Ryuusei’s breath hit his lips, and he was sure if he stuck his tongue out just a little, he would be able to lick his mouth.

“Really? Not even if I tell you he watches me practice sometimes?” Yoichi grinned wider, taking great satisfaction in the way Ryuusei’s eyes narrowed and his smile dropped into a frown. Or what could be considered a pout, if Yoichi was really pushing it. “ Alone .”

Yoichi’s back collided with the ground, a grunt of pain slipping past his lips at the harsh fall. A hand wrapped around his head, protecting him from an injury, but that same hand curled into his hair and pulled until Yoichi was staring Ryuusei in the eyes. Well, he practically did ask for this; he should’ve expected it.

Ryuusei rested his fingers over Yoichi’s neck, lightly caressing the skin as they traveled down to his collarbone. “You’re testing me, Yoichi~” He leaned down until he could whisper right into Yoichi’s ear. “I have nothing to be jealous of. This-” He pressed over Yoichi’s chest, finding his heartbeat while his other hand pressed into the artery on one side of Yoichi’s neck. “-already beats for me.”

Yoichi huffed, smiling. “That doesn’t change the fact that you were still jealous.” Before Ryuusei could say anything else, Yoichi fisted his hand in his long dyed hair and pulled him close. “Whatever. You can’t ever just be straightforward?”

“Well,” Ryuusei started, smirking. Yoichi regretted ever saying anything. “I’m not straight so…”

“You are such an idiot.” Yoichi rolled his eyes. “Kiss me.”