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To any outside viewer it would seem largely comical, two men standing in a comfortably adorned room, just shy of an arm’s length apart and staring into each other's eyes with intensity that might be more appropriate for a theatre play. There was, however, no outside observers present, of course, there couldn’t be.
Tsukasa and Senku stood in a room graciously provided by Gen. This unusual state was 10 billion percent important, since Senku insisted that the space for the further study of physical contact had to be conducted outside of their rooms. The reasoning went that the primary subject, Senku himself, could be affected in his reaction by the surroundings.
Conducting the study in his own room would not produce a decisive enough result as the additional comfort of being in his own space would make the outcomes not applicable to generalised circumstances. Doing so in Tsukasa’s room, regardless of it being a familiar and comfortable space otherwise, could affect Senku’s reactions negatively if the part of his brain that decides on whether physical contact is acceptable thought that the situation was disproportionately controlled by his partner.
With this in mind Gen’s room, a safe and comfortable environment that nevertheless did not add any implications of disbalance seemed perfect. Upon hearing the request, Gen’s face, rather unusually for himself, displayed an utter bafflement that got quickly replaced by a look of mischievous understanding or suspicion. Senku was still unsure which one and Mentalist absolutely refused to elaborate on his thoughts only wishing then “a most excellent studying time” with a tone that left Senku slightly flustered. At the end of the day, however, Gen agreed to lend them his room and that is what the scientific process demanded, so Senku made an executive decision not to spend too much time puzzling over Gen’s reaction.
– So, where should we start Mr. Researcher? ;- said Tsukasa with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes
– Yes, it occurs to me that the procedure for these.. khm.. tests is not very established. Well then, since this is a follow-up on the previous experience why don’t we start with something similar ;- said Senku with a detached wandering voice he sometimes got when forgetting about reality over some logic puzzle -; if you don’t mind that is.
– Of course, Mr. Researcher, that would be most appropriate ;- replied Tsukasa, realising half through the sentence that he might be getting too deep into the bit.
Tsukasa walked to a chair near Gen’s dresser, random bits of craft supplies, bits of cloth and brushes that were, he guessed, used for makeup rather than painting. Of course he would not put it past Gen to Also be a talented painter, but it seemed unlikely to Tsukasa that he would not notice that given how much time he spent around the man these days.
This view of casual chaos somewhat comforted Tsukasa, who’s mind got a little bit tense worrying about doing something wrong during Senku’s followup experiment. This was not unusual though, as the time went on and he settled into the idea of having a partner, it happened less and less. These pleasant musings fell apart the moment he heard Senku’s confused voice:
– Hm, Tsukasa, would you like to stand around there some more or can we start?
Tsukasa turned back maybe a bit too quickly and saw Senku, all serious-looking, sitting in the middle of Gen’s bed. Ah, of course, that did make sense in retrospect and it would be more comfortable. Still, Tsukasa couldn’t help but blush slightly, joining his partner on the soft mattress.
Senku turned his back to Tsukasa and relaxed all his muscles, looking like he was just making enough effort to not fall back in Tsukasa’s arms. So soft and trusting…
Tsukasa started massaging Senku’s shoulders, pressing his fingers into him, moving slowly and gently to the nape of his neck, down along the spine and back up again. It was not as necessary this time, since his partner was not working just then and didn’t need to be readjusted, but, in a way, this time might have been more necessary for Tsukasa himself.
Now, free from the focus and the pressure to help Senku, he could focus on what he was feeling instead. On the warmth of Senku’s skin, on the texture of it under his fingers. On the way Senku moved ever so slightly, following the directions of his movement, as if agreeing with them with his whole body. On the way at times when he pressed just the right spot Senku let out a sound between a sigh and moan and how that made his heart squeeze with love and warmth every time.
Senku was somewhere new, definitely similar to sensations before, but somehow more fitting, more pleasant, more correct. He felt Tsukasa’s strong arms work on him and each touch, each point of expected and welcome pleasure made him feel like he wanted to fall into his partner, flowing like a liquid metal, but not mercury of course, that would be toxic for Tsukasa. This was good, very good even, but he must not forget the purpose of this experiment. And after all, at some point Tsukasa’s hands will tire and his shoulders become overly stimulated. Senku raised his hands to catch Tsukasa’s, flipping one of them in a familiar motion and leaving it with a kiss.
– Phase two of the experiment ;- Senku said, finally allowing himself to melt into Tsukasa, resting his back on his partner's chest. He tried to come up with a specific action that he would want to try next, but his mind was blurry with the pleasant weight of affection -; this time… I want you to decide, ok?
That was, of course, far from any kind of coherent experimental guideline, however, thinking about it did not give Senku the frustration it usually would. This time, he felt, this time it was okay to just be like this and enjoy his partner, his wonderful wonderful partner who was blushing now as surely as Jupiter had 95 moons, even though Senku couldn’t see his face right now.
Tsukasa was indeed, rather inevitably, blushing. He of course knew that this type of experiment was just Senku trying to figure out his boundaries and looking for new types of affection, but to be given the totality of control over it, to feel like he is loved and trusted to the point of such a gesture, made his head spin for a moment. But of course, he wanted this, wanted to make his partner feel, make himself feel, make them together feel pleasure and comfort so he raised his hands again and placed the back of one of his palms on the side of Senku’s neck. Then gently, slowly, made his fingers glide up towards the side of his partner’s face, caressing it, feeling the line where his stylised hair started and continuing with a slight turn of the hand, passing through Senku’s hair with his fingers. And then back again, down to the lines of his face, down to the hot delicate skin of the neck, tracing shapes on the way to his shoulder.
Senku laid there, more comfortable than he could imagine, feeling the touch of his partner on his skin, but even more, knowing that he doesn’t have to know his every next move, doesn’t have to control the interaction to prevent himself from getting hurt or uncomfortable. Of course he would say if Tsukasa did something wrong by accident, but, he thought, it might be more likely that he’d have to ask for Tsukasa to do anything besides what is mostly safe. This worry, he thought, was it related to how his partner viewed affection? There was, of course, only one way to test. He took one of Tsukasa’s hands and placed it, guiding…
Tsukasa was having a moment. One of those moments when he felt like it was unreal and unlikely that he, Tsukasa, was here, participating. His hand was placed on Senku’s lower jaw, holding his partner's head gently but firmly so that it doesn’t sway with his frantically beating heart. His fingers wrapped around the bottom of Senku’s face, lightly pressed into the soft skin of it, below his lips. This was somehow filling him with so much warmth that Tsukasa could not keep it in and let out a long and faintly vocalised sigh.
– You know, it’s nice ;- Senku said as if not noticing his partner’s reaction -; to be held by you. It feels safe.
Tsukasa could not bring himself to answer and instead, violently blushing, buried his head in Senku’s hair and with his free hand squeezed his partner as tightly as he could without damaging him.
They stayed like this and then just laying down, wrapped in a cuddle, content and half-dreaming. It felt wonderful to live, more than any other time, to live and have so much more time for this in their lives.