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The sunlight breaking through the horizon seemed to mock Teru, its light painting the edges of the town golden, slowly killing the night: Soon the beaten asphalt below his bloody shoes would be warm, soon the day would start.
Aoi and Akane will be waking up soon, Akane may already be awake, hardly available for Teru to sneak into either bed and let their cuddles wash his stress away, their tangible warmth lulling him to sleep after a work shift.
He sighed sadly at the loss, loving to sneak on Aoi’s balcony and knock on her window until she slammed it open with a glare but still crawled out of bed to personally let Teru in. She is always a delight when she is grumpy, doesn’t even complain if he gets clingy as long as he shut up and lets her sleep.
Going to Akane’s empty house is easier, since he is able to ring the doorbell time and time again without fear of a parent being awoken and questioning Teru’s injured presence in the middle of the night, it doesn’t matter if Akane is angry or happy to see him, he always pampers Teru by tucking him in and doing whatever little favor Teru desires, from little kisses on his forehead to filling up his tub with hot water.
But their houses feel so far away, and his feet are already numb…
(His back is stiff, his ribs ache)
Is it worth it to drag himself to the other side of the city just to pass out on their empty bed? If he’ll sleep alone anyways, he would rather go to his house. With luck he’ll dream of the two.
Teru rubbed his eyes, checking his phone and softening at the flood of messages in their groupchat, both Aois trying to reach him.
Hehe, they still worry about him~
“Good morning~ I live.” He hummed on his phone speaker, sure they would appreciate be enraged when they woke up to his voice message. The mental image of their relieved annoyance made him humm in delight, reading their spam as he slowly walked home and puting a heart on any particularly charming reaction gif. As always, Aoi had the best gifs.
.
Teru locked his front gate with heavy eyes, his sleepy head full of cotton, finding it hard to register much of anything. He kicked his shoes off, not noticing the two extra pairs of sandals by the entrance, and slid the door open.
“Good morning, you piece of shit.”
Teru blinked. Once. Twice. But what he saw didn’t change: Akane was here, pacing his living room in his pajamas, phone in hand with their group chat open .
“Akane?” Teru mumbled, heavy eyes widening.
(Hum, maybe he is more tired than he thought…)
Akane held his shoulders. Nope, those hands are solid, Akane is really here. Nice.
Teru smiled, fatigue making it harder to control his emotions. “Hey~”
“You’re bleeding.” Akane’s eyes softened but he didn’t smile back, sliding the hand on his shoulder down his arm and gently dragging him inside the house. “Were you fighting the whole night??” He bit his lips when Teru nodded, his tone switching to something more gentle “Of course you were…” He sighed “Let’s get you patched up.”
“I’m fine I’m fine~”
“No you’re not.” Akane sat him on the floor and grabbed their medical kit from under the table, getting everything they needed ready. “But you will be.”
Teru felt lighter at the way Akane freted, but he still winced when the boy took off his jacket, the fabric brushing his stabbed ribs.
“Shit, sorry.” Akane said, being far more careful when he took off his ripped shirt.
Teru wasn’t that hurt, it was just a little claw on the ribs, he could barely feel it most of the time, it will heal on its own just fine. Akane was giving him that cute worried stare though, and he is too tired to have their good old ‘you worry to much’ talk right now.
He was able to keep his body calm when Akane took away small pieces of asphalt from his cut with a set of tweezers, but he tensed up once it was time to clean up the blood. The wet towel is so cold!
Akane must have misinterpreted it as pain because he slowed down, barely applying any pressure as he cleaned the wound, sparing one of his hands to gently rub a scar on his shoulder. Teru blushed a little at the improvised massage, it would have been better on his shoulder blades, the muscles there too tense, but the support his rough hand provide is always welcome.
“...You need to push Kunishige-san's ear,” Akane cursed under his breath, yet his touch remained gentle, mindlessly rubbing his forearm when he applied antiseptic on the wound. It hurt, but he was used to it, not tensing up too much.“It has to be illegal to hurt you all the time and give you these stupidly unstable working hours.”
“Hum…” Teru mindlessly agreed, too sleepy to care all that much.
(Are they having a sleepover right now? He hope so…)
“Do you even get sick leave?” Akane cut a strip from his roll of bandages, tragically letting go of his shoulder to fully focus on treating his injury. “Worker’s compensation??”
“What?” Teru blinked slowly, making Akane huff and wrap the bandages around his torso, fast and efficient. He has grown really good at this over the years, unflinching in the face of blood, able to fix up a variety of diferent injuries.
(He wonders if Akane researches these things on his free time…)
“...I should sue that shrine.” Akane huffed when he finished tying his bandages.
“That would be fun,” Teru gave him a twisted smile, liking the mental image of Akane kicking down the shrine doors to grab Kunishige by the collar of his stuffy kimono and shake him until he gave Teru his rights or whatever Akane is going on about. “But I’m not sure it's worth losing my job, Kane.”
“We can get you a new job.” He said softly, caressing his bandaged chest, very near his injury “We’ll find something that’s fancy and pay well, you’re so smart, and capable, and handsome-"
“Hehe,” Teru giggled at the flatery.
“I’m serious, Teru.” Akane rolled his eyes, looking exasperated but keeping his voice soft, audibly fond “You are amazing, you can find something better.”
Teru blinked at his tone, shaking some of his sleep away to pay more attention to those big brown eyes, feeling his heart squeeze at their eyebags “Did you not sleep?”
“Barely. You said you would be back for game night and you weren’t picking up your phone-”
“The phone need to be off during patrol.”
“-So we rushed here the second we got your message.” Akane frowned, gently pating his side, making sure not to actually touch the fresh injury “We never know when you’ll come back or how beaten up you’ll be, it’s not exactly easy to sleep like this.”
Teru's smile grew smaller, grabbing his hand and nuzzling it, the smell of antiseptics burning his nose “I’m sorry Kane.” He closed his eyes, “I really can’t leave the shrine.”
He could feel Akane’s staring at him, his thumb brushing his cheek “I know.” His voice was solem and Teru risked cracking an eye open, his heart skipping a beat at his gentle downcast eyes, acting so painfully careful when he tucked Teru’s fringe behind his ear “...I just wish they were kinder to you.”
Teru clumsily held his shoulder and kissed his forehead “I won’t die.”
Akane snorted, though his sadness didn’t fully dissapear. “I know that much. You’re like a cockroach.”
“...That’s mean.”
He must be pouting, because Akane kissed his lips, always weak for a good pouty face.
“You’re mean…” A sleepy voice came from upstairs. “You never promise us you won’t get hurt.”
Aoi!
“Sorry Aoao...” Teru scratched his cheek, so warm under her glare that he wouldn’t be surprised to be told his sheepish act is being ruined by a giggly smile.
Aoi was in her pajamas, her bedhair making it clear she dragged herself out of the covers the second she heard them. Oh he is about to get an earful for ruining her night.
Akane's eyes crinkled, aware of it too, his voice somehow growing even softer “Couldn’t sleep Ao-chan?”
She nodded slowly, glaring even harder at Teru. “Stop getting hurt.”
“Sorry.” Teru whined pathetically, “I’m trying…”
She didn’t look like she would forgive him, switching her focus to Akane “Did he whine today?”
“He behaved.” Akane caressed a fading scar on his back, his palm very warm… Teru unconsciously leaned on it “No ‘bleeding is gone with a shower, I can heal on my own, look at me I am so stroong ’ tantrums this time.”
Aoi’s glare softened, pleased by the news.
Teru blushed at his mockery of an impersonation “I don’t-” He yawned, “I don’t sound like that…”
“You do.” Aoi yawned too, walking down the stairs with the assistance of the railing and rubbing her eyes, slowly sitting on Teru’s side.
She had eyebags, her beautiful eyes narrowed, glaring at the bloody spot on his bandages as if she could intimidate them into dissapearing. They did not.
Teru tugged her hair to make her focus on something else. Aoi blinked, taking it as the request for attention it was and holding his hand with her numb one, her soft palm very small on his. She let him squeeze it, frowning at the scars on his knuckles “You’re an idiot.”
“Aoao…” He whined sadly, playing with her fingers and keeping her numb hand close to his chest “So mean.”
“Ugh…" She mumbled "Hug?”
Teru lit up, hugging her and curving himself to snuggle her neck, her shampoo a nice floral smell today.
“Are you hurt somewhere else?” Akane asked.
Teru shook his head, closing his eyes in delight when she carefully wrapped her arms around him and brushed his hair, her nails scratching the nape of his neck.
“Really?” Akane challenged
He hummed at the weight of their stare, feeling warm. Technically his ribs are his only major injury, but maybe he can push his luck to be spoiled, just a little “My back is a bit stiff?”
“...Are you asking for a massage?”
Teru blushed, smiling sheepishly.
Akane chuckled, walking out of his sight and putting his hands on his shoulder blades. It was still relatively new, the privilege of feeling utterly safe when his loved ones touched his back, so it made Teru melt, groaning in satisfaction when Akane smoothed his muscles and slowly traced his spine, Aoi’s had grown too tired to brush his head, trying to caress his back too but growing flustered by how much she brushed agaist Akane’s hand, her limit being hit when Akane paused the massage to pat her knuckles.
Teru held Aoi closer when she curled up, liking how she was the perfect height to be tucked under his chin. She grumbled but didn’t complain, using his chest as a pillow.
“Do you feel better?” Akane asked, eyes twinkling when Teru nodded, closing his eyes. His body relaxed as he squeezed Aoi, his muscles slowly unwinding.
He is so tired...
The world blured at the edges, eventually going dark. He must have dozed off, for he felt a poke on his nose. “Hey.”
Teru looked up at Akane, his annoyance at being poked awake gone as soon as his view got less blurry, processing how the morning light made his messy hair shine like polished copper, his eyes the warmest shade you can imagine, filled to the brim with love “We should sleep.”
Teru blushed, barely registering his words “Mmm...”
Akane rolled his eyes, smile intact “Yeah yeah, I know how hard it is to let go of our girl.” He gently raised his chin off Aoi’s head “But I’m not letting you two sleep on the floor. Your back will get fucked again.”
Teru sighed when Akane offered Aoi a hand, slowly raising her up, her messy hair a mesmerizing mix of purple, dark blue, and little hints of magenta under the sun. Akane blushed, letting her lay some of her weight on him before pushing Teru to his feet too. He stumbled when Teru flooped on his shoulder, acting as dead weight.
“Come on…” Akane sighed, cheeks rosy as they clung to him “I can’t move like this.”
He absolutely can, but he would have to remove either Teru or Aoi from his arms. So not an option.
Hehehe~
Teru kissed his round cheek and forced himself to stand up on his own. The sooner they get to his room, the sooner they can sleep together~
Aoi was having more trouble, holding on to Akane’s sleeve as she walked around like a zombie.
“Do you want me to carry you?” Akane asked her, tucking her fringe behind her ear and leting his hand slide down her long hair.
Aoi glanced at the stairs she just walked down from and huffed, burying her head in his arm in a silent ‘yes please’
Akane softened, carrying her bridal style. Aoi blushed, but she must truly be tired, for she merely closed her eyes when he kissed her nose.
Teru's heart melted at the sight, extending his arms “I can carry her~”
“But you shouldn’t.” Akane didn’t deny his current strenght but he still walked past him, his pace slow so as to not bother Aoi “You’re hurt.”
“It’s not that bad.” Teru dismissed, “I had it worse.”
Akane seemed unimpressed. “Behave and” He yawned “And I’ll kiss you when he get to your room, ok?”
“You’ll kiss me anyways, ” Teru hummed, following Akane upstairs and holding his waist.
“Teru-” He blushed, though his glare had real heat “If you lift me up again, I swear I'll leave!-”
“You’re too loud.” Aoi, cracked one eye to glare at them.
“Sorry Ao-chan.” Akane whispered, sounding in pain at the notion that he bothered her and walking even more carefully to compensate.
Aoi would probably kill him if he lifted Akane and rushed upstairs, so Teru reluctantly let them be, watching them with a small smile.
(He wasn’t sure who he was more jealous of: Akane for getting to spoil Aoi, or Aoi for getting to be spoiled by Akane)
.
Aoi was put on his bed like a fallen princess on an altar and gently tucked, getting a little kiss on the forehead and another on the lips. Despite the curtains already being closed, their eyes shined.
Akane softened at Teru expectant look, brushing his fringe out of the way and getting on his tiptoes to kiss his forehead too. Teru blushed, smiling at his boyfriend and kissing his lips. Akane melted sighing in his mouth and nuzzling his neck before gently guiding Teru to bed. Teru had a bit of trouble keeping his eyes open, so he didn't process much of anything while Akane dressed him in his sleepwears, forever moving despite how tired he looked.
Teru curled up beside Aoi, keeping her close to the wall, his ribs aching when he laid on his side to spoon her but it was very worth it. Akane laid down on the edge of the bed, his leg brushing against his as he adjusted Teru to lay on his back, holding his chest to keep him in place. Teru inwardly chuckled at his warning stare, snuggling his forehead and tucking Aoi closer.
Aoi liked to cling in bed, her hair either tickling him or ending in his mouth somehow, and Akane tend to slap his face in the middle of their slumber, their 'peace' temporary, and yet, he never felt safer, easily falling asleep between the two.