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The first thing Phoenix noticed when he woke up was the cool breeze against his skin, it wasn’t cold per say but compared to the unforgiving heat of LA it managed to cut through him and chill him to the bone. The duvet that had been protecting him from the cold was pulled off him sometime in the night and crumpled on the other side of the bed where the man who stole in from him had been sleeping.
Phoenix rubbed his eyes taking a moment to remember where he was. Ms De La Fuente’s house. Gekko (or Mateo as they’d been calling him since they arrived) had invited Phoenix, Yoru, Iso, Raze, and Jett over with the promise of good food and good company. That promise was more than delivered on with each of them going to bed late in the evening with full stomachs and cheeks sore from smiling.
Gekko and his mother lived in an inviting three bedroom house in the heart of Los Angles, they had thought about booking a hotel but Gekko assured them there’d be more than enough room for all of them. Phoenix assumed this suggestion was a result of Brimstone giving Jett and Gekko a talking to in regards to their spending habits. The sleeping arrangements had been divided so that Gekko and Iso were in Gekkos room, something that the others had teased them relentlessly for, Jett slept on the single bed in the spare room with Raze on the floor in a sleeping bag. That left Yoru and Phoenix to share the sofa bed in the living room. Phoenix didn’t mind the idea of sharing a bed with the other man but he couldn’t ignore the nerves he felt whenever it was brought up. The idea of sleeping in the same bed as Yoru caused his cheeks to darken and his mind to spin, though that wasn’t exactly something he felt like acknowledging.
Phoenix assumed sharing a bed would be a rather simple affair but was quickly proven wrong, almost as soon as he fell asleep Yoru had cocooned himself in the duvet that they had been trying to share, though there was only so much of it they could share when they were determined to sleep as far away from the other as possible. Phoenix would’ve said that the blanket cocoon was endearing if it wasn’t for the fact that there were no covers left for him. When he tried to wake the sleeping man all he’d heard from inside the bundle was a quite “fuck off” before the duvet once again shifted and all that was visible of Yoru was a small tuft of hair sticking out. Phoenix had cut his losses then instead using his radiance to maintain his higher body temperature this, however, seemed to be appealing to Yoru as Phoenix was later woken up by a ball of duvet pressed against his back with two pale, cold arms wrapped around his stomach. Maybe due to how tired he was or how comforting the presence behind him was Phoenix didn’t care enough to move away instead placing a warm hand over one of the arms wrapped around him before falling back asleep.
That led him to where he was now, sat up in bed mourning the feeling of a warm body pressed up against him, Yorus gentle breathing against his neck replaced with the gentle wind coming through the open window.
Phoenix didn’t know what he was thinking when he grabbed his coat and one of the many pairs of shoes he’d brought with him before, as quietly as he could, exiting the house.
He was shocked by how light it was, the sun had yet to rise but still it felt like every stone on the pavement was visible. Phoenix now felt the brunt of the cool air that had previously only slipped through the window, it caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on edge. For someone made of fire he felt the cold surprisingly often.
It only took a couple minutes of walking before he spotted the riftwalker, leaning against a low wall he stood as confidently as he always did with both hands tucked into his pockets and his head tilted back showing off the pale expanse of his throat. His hair was down for once, it looked soft as it fell across Yorus face not noticeably ruffled from sleep. From what Phoenix could see of his wrists, Yoru had forgone his usual gloves, surprising considering how cold his hands had felt.
“Oi bruv!”
Phoenix called out when he was a couple meters away from the other man. Yoru seemed to be taken aback by the sudden loud noise, his eyes flicking open and instantly locking on to where Phoenix was walking towards him. It didn’t take him long to recover from the initial shook, seeming to tired to flash his usual cocky grin he instead ran a hand through his hair whilst looking at the other man, almost inviting him to say more.
“I noticed you were gone, felt like I should come find you.”
“Well-” Yoru thinks for a moment “-you found me.”
He states matter-of-factly before turning and resting his hands on the wall in front of him.
“Was there something else you were wanting?”
Phoenix nudges him with his shoulder,
“Maybe I was just missing your warmth.”
He smiles as Yoru huffs and looks very purposefully away from him.
“Nah, for real though fam, I can tell somethings bothering you.”
Yoru scoffs,
“And what gave you that idea?”
“Well for starters most people don’t go for walks at four o’clock in the morning.”
“Ok fair point.”
A beat passes before Yoru speaks again.
“It’s so bright here.”
“I thought Tokyo’s light pollution was worse.”
“Even if it is something about this shithole is just… it’s too bright.”
They stand in silence for several moments, Phoenix staring out into the street in front of them a million thoughts running through his head but none of them quite tangible.
He’s briefly pulled from his trance by the sound of a packet rustling and the wheel of a lighter being spun. Yoru looks about ready to bite down on the cigarette hanging loosely out of his mouth as he continuously tries to get the lighter to light.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“I’ve used it too much, the flints worn down and now it wont create a spark.”
Phoenix thought for a moment before taking the light out of Yorus hands, earring him a pissed off glare. He pays it no mind slipping the lighter into his pocket and moving closer to Yoru. He lifts his hand and cups Yoru’s jaw softly, his thumb pressing just under where the cigarette rests, keeping it stable as he lifts his other hand and presses his thumb to the end of the cigarette. The soft sizzling sound of tobacco and filter paper can be heard as it’s lit a steady flow of smoke already flowing from the tip.
Yoru takes a long breath making sure to hold the smoke in his lungs, relishing the burn for as long as he can before exhaling. Phoenix doesn’t seem to mind, moving closer as he breathes in the smoke that’s just been exhaled, if Yoru wasn’t so tired he would’ve called it pathetic, if only to distract from how attractive he found it. Phoenix turned away when he breathed the smoke out properly, taking a full step back leaving Yoru slightly colder and uncomfortably yearning for his touch.
“I didn’t know you smoked.”
Phoenix just shrugged,
“I stopped when I was nineteen.”
“You started and stoped in a year?”
Yoru looked at him genuinely confused,
“Nah started when I was around fourteen had to stop in case it fucked up my acting chances.”
“Why is everyone in your country so strange?”
“I think it was just the places I was and the people I was with-” he paused to think for a moment before continuing “-Peckham isn’t a bad place, especially not now, but it couldn’t shake the reputation it’s earned…”
He shakes his head and takes the cigarette from Yoru, taking a long drag before speaking again.
“But what do I know, right?”
After Phoenix had taken another inhale of the cigarette Yoru took it back making sure to hold it so it couldn’t be stolen again.
“Stop taking it, it’s my last one.”
Phoenix flashed him a lazy smile,
“I wouldn’t mind shotgunning it.”
Yoru muttered something under his breath that was either said in Japanese or just too quickly for him to hear.
“I’m just messing we don’t have to-”
Phoenix was cut off by lips pressed harshly against his, he wasn’t given much time to react with his hand barely reaching Yorus waist before the kiss was deepened and smoke was pushed into his mouth. He found that he couldn’t care less about the cigarette when he felt arms around his neck and a cold body pressed firmly against him. His eyes had been firmly shut since the second after the kiss began but with the way Yoru leaned into him he assumed the man was stood on his toes in order to reach him, something about that image made his heart beat grow ever faster, feeling like it was about to burst from where it was safely nestled behind his rib cage. Desperation was evident in both of them and Phoenix’s grip on Yoru’s waist seemed to carry a thousand words and when his tongue met Yoru’s it felt like something between them was suddenly understood.
Inevitably they reached a point where both of them were in need of air, separating was a soft whine Yoru was quick to bury his head in the crook of Phoenix’s neck, almost hiding from what he’d just done.
“How long have you been wanting to do that?”
Phoenix asked, a gentle hand resting on top of Yoru’s head. He received a reply muffled by his neck and coat.
“What was that sweetheart?”
Yoru groaned at the audible teasing in the other man’s voice.
“I said that if I told you it would probably only feed your massive ego more.”
Phoenix leaned back slightly, still not taking his hands off of Yoru’s waist.
“My ego isn’t the only thing that’s massive.”
He laughed loudly as Yoru pushed him away and started walking back towards the De La Fuentes’.
“Aww come on baby that was a good one.”
Yoru stopped and raised a brow at him.
“Ok ok I’m sorry.”
“Good, now hurry up, I’m cold and you’re the most efficient heat source I have.”
Yoru said, holding out his hand for Phoenix to take. Phoenix happily clasped the hand offered to him, they were much softer than his own, protected from callous’ by the gloves he always wore.
“I can’t believe you’re only using me for my warmth.”
A smile was evident in the way he spoke. Yoru pressed himself into Phoenix’s shoulder, he looked like he would easily fall asleep if it wasn’t for the minor issue of him being stood up.
“It’s all you’re good for.”
They fell asleep that night tangled up in each other with soft kisses and softer touches shared between them.