Work Text:
At this time of year, the small seaside town of Yokohama is hardly busy. It’s too cold for most people to want to visit, but at the same time, it’s not winter so none of those attractions are available. Shibusawa sits relaxedly behind the counter of the town’s resident pet shop, eyes shut as he thinks of the warm bubble bath he intends to take once he’s home.
Just fifteen minutes til closing time, and then he can go back to his apartment, run a bath and relax. He’ll make dinner after, then go to bed. He makes a content hum to himself.
The bells chime as someone steps inside. Shibusawa opens one eye, glancing at who it is.
“Shibuuu!” Ranpo Edogawa runs in, leaning on the counter with so much of their body that their noses touch.
Shibusawa chuckles, not minding a customer so late if it’s them. “Yes?”
He and Ranpo have been going out for about a month now, and the young Dazai and Chuuya would say this is thanks to them. But the two actually in the relationship know better; Ranpo was intrigued ever since Shibusawa came to town, finding the ex-model now looking for a fresh start away from the busy city fascinating .
The courting began from there, from Ranpo getting his number to their first date being one spent on a lovely walk in the park. (Nevermind that Dazai and Chuuya had sent the invite under the guise of being Ranpo, writing a sweet invitation with a glitter pen Dazai had stolen from Kunikida.)
And now, a month later, Shibusawa… Dating is a rather strong term, so he settles on the simpler one of that he and Ranpo are going out. It’s comfortable, something he can curl around easier then dating. He’s had a few relationships that progressed too fast, much to his discomfort, and he appreciates Ranpo’s willingness to wait for him. They’re wonderful like that.
Shibusawa cups Ranpo’s face, pulling them closer, so that they’re partially on the counter, now. Ranpo giggles as Shibusawa gives them a brief peck on the lips. They wiggle their way onto Shibusawa’s lap. “I wanted to ask if youuu wanted to go see a movie.”
“You couldn’t text?” He teases, setting his head on their shoulder, humming in approval when they nuzzle his cheek.
“Nope!” They snicker, pressing themself against him more, as if trying to steal the heat he doesn’t even possess; Ranpo is the warmer out of the two. “Was very urgent.”
Shibusawa runs a hand through their hair. “I see.”
They flop into the touch like a happy cat, blinking up at him innocently. “Do you have plans tonight?”
Shibusawa shifts a little, “Not any substantial ones.”
“Well, what were they?” Ranpo sits up, wrapping their legs around his waist. As if they can’t just piece it all together with that deduction which Shibusawa finds so, so charming.
And then they add, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Can I join you?”
“If you’d like.” Shibusawa traces their cheek with one finger.
Ranpo grins. “Duh! We can go to the theaters another time.”
–
Shibusawa’s apartment is an organized mess. Draconia’s–his beloved pet corn snake–first shed is in a frame on the wall, his bug collection on another side of the apartment with his gemstone collection under it on a shelf, all neatly organized. Ranpo gasps a little, looking around before turning back to him. “Pretty!”
“Thank you.” Shibusawa looks fondly at the bug collection. “I’ve had that since I was a child.”
“Ooh, that’s what all the little dates are for, right?” Ranpo peers at the first bug Shibusawa ever pinned, a big shiny beetle. “Woww, this one was the size of your hand when you found it!”
“I love when you let that brilliant mind of yours shine.” Shibusawa stretches, shrugging his shirt off. Ranpo immediately takes the chance to hug him from behind, one hand tracing the scars on his chest fondly. Shibusawa makes a noise like a purr, that starts from the base of his spine, right where Ranpo can feel it, and goes up to his chest from there. Ranpo flops against him even more in response.
“Prettyyy.” They murmur, kissing his back. He leans into it, sighing softly as they pepper him with kisses in the middle of his apartment.
The window is open, he realizes a minute later, when Ranpo’s moved to kiss his chest, but he really doesn’t care. It’s his living space, he can be as tender as he likes without having to prevent the sun from shining in.
A few minutes later, and Ranpo’s scurried to the bathroom to prepare his bath for him, so Shibusawa goes to check on Draconia. He just gave the snake a mouse yesterday, so he doesn’t need to worry about feeding it now, instead simply picking it up and letting it slither over him as it likes.
He doesn’t mind when it tangles itself in his hair, uncaring when his white locks are tugged now and then. It’s not like the snake is intentionally trying to hurt him, after all.
A fond laugh interrupts, and Shibusawa glances over. Ranpo–now shirtless too–is watching them, green eyes open. They stroll over, leaning against Shibusawa. “Is Draconia having fun?”
Shibusawa lets the snake slither onto Ranpo. “Did you take your shirt off for this?” He teases dryly.
“Shibu!!” Ranpo whines, indignant. He laughs, watching the snake make itself comfortable. “Maybe I just wanted to match.” Ranpo pouts.
“Mhmm, sure.” Shibusawa traces Ranpo’s side. They’re fatter than him, and comfortable in that. He likes it, really; they’re comfortable to cuddle, have so much to kiss, and any hug from them is enveloping in such a way that Shibusawa falls even harder every time they give him one.
Ranpo sticks their tongue out like the creature slithering all over them. “Bath’s ready, by the way.”
“Thank you.” Shibusawa kisses their cheek, then carefully picks Draconia up. The snake coils around his arm, but he manages to put it back in its tank anyway. He grasps Ranpo’s hand after, leading them to the bathroom. The scent of honey fills the air, relaxing Shibusawa’s senses. He strips completely, eyeing Ranpo’s soft smile from the corner of his eye, then gets in the bath. Ranpo does the same, snuggling up to him and playing with his hair that’s floating in the water like some rare plant.
“You,” Ranpo starts, kissing his neck, “Have such good taste.”
“Is this about going out with you or my soaps?” Shibusawa teases back, wrapping his arms around them and relaxing into the affection.
“Maaaybe it’s both.” Ranpo reaches up and kisses his cheek. “You’ll never knoww!”
“Oh no,” Shibusawa chuckles, “How terrible, I’ll wonder about it for the rest of my life.”
Ranpo smirks. “I’ll be on your mind for that long?”
They probably expect another joke, some snark from Shibusawa in return, but he cups their cheek, and replies so simply that he watches them melt . “Yes.”
They pause, green eyes going wide, before they wiggle a bit and bury their head in his shoulder, mumbling something incoherent. He laughs, playing with their hair.
–
The bath is one of the softest moments Shibusawa’s shared with another person in a while. When they get out, he mostly expects Ranpo to leave, to head home. But he spies them texting what he’s fairly confident guessing is their father as he gets them both clothes, before they set the phone down.
They clap their hands together. “Do you wanna watch a movie here?”
“What did you have in mind?” Shibusawa tosses them a shirt and shorts of his own that he hopes will fit, before slipping into his own outfit.
They grin brightly, reveling in how it’s not a did you have one in mind at all but rather a sure what did you have in mind . One of Shibusawa’s favorite things about them is that little detail, how praising them and trusting their beautiful mind is something they adore so much that he can compliment it in such subtle ways, and they’ll understand .
“Of course!” They get dressed themselves… Somewhat. Shibusawa would worry that his shirt didn’t fit if he didn’t watch them inspect it before they tossed it back into his bedroom. He isn’t going to complain about the lack of upper covering, though. He knows that during the movie, they’ll make an excuse about being cold and demand cuddles. And who is he to deny them, really?
He loves being close to them. Letting them show him that they can be more; that hopefully, they will be more. That this time they’re spending together isn’t a waste, and if that more ends up as something other than romantic, he won’t complain either way. All he wants is for them to be at his side, no matter the dynamic.
Regardless of how, he loves them.