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The morning light falling through the window wakes Korekiyo, tickling his nose.
It reminds him that Kokichi once again forgot to close the blinds, but he can't really be mad. The tree behind the glass softly sways in the morning breeze, dewdrops sparkling in the sun and falling off where birds hop along the branches.
Korekiyo tries to move and finds himself unable to. The warmth of other people seeps into his subconscious and he freezes. That familiar weight settles inside his chest again, the old paralyzing fear of sharing the bed with someone.
Blinking hard, he takes a deep breath. Rantaro did breathing exercises with him to help himself with sudden panic attacks, stopping the spiral before it fully starts.
He can't move his arms, but his head works just fine. Tilting it to the right, he's greeted by Shuichi's sleeping frame. His hair is all over the place and his cowlick looks like it picked up electricity from shuffling against the pillow. He's laying on Korekiyo's arm with his hands tucked under his head, his eyes closed and his lips parted.
The prior fear Korekiyo felt subsides. He's not in his childhood home and not in the hospital, no. He's safe with the people he loves.
He marvels at the sight of a contently sleeping Shuichi for a moment longer before he rolls his head to the other side.
Rantaro is laying on Korekiyo's other arm, rolled on his stomach, his left arm spread over Korekiyo's stomach and fingers curled into Shuichi's shirt there. Always reaching out to each other and touching somewhere. Rantaro thinks he's so subtle.
He's snoring very quietly, his hair is pressed flat against the back of his head and a thin line of drool runs from his mouth. He's going to be embarrassed about this later, but Korekiyo thinks it's so painfully human. So painfully raw and beautiful.
Being allowed to see Rantaro like this, vulnerable and laid bare in his sleep. Korekiyo knows he's lucky. Kind and gentle Rantaro has a paranoid side to him too, and Korekiyo feels a wave of warmth spread through his chest knowing he's safety for Rantaro too.
He pries his eyes away from him and frowns. Shuichi and Rantaro are there, but where is Kokichi? He shifts and cranes his head up. The blanket is tugged half off his body, wrapped tightly around the culprit tangled between his legs. Kokichi has his arms crossed under his chin like a cat, laying under Korekiyo's left and over Korekiyo's right leg, however he managed to get there.
Korekiyo moves his foot and Kokichi groans, stretching his arms with a yawn. "Is it breakfast time already?", he slurs and blinks against the light falling into his own face now.
"Someone did not close the blinds yesterday", Korekiyo softly scolds and Kokichi turns his head with a glower.
"It was Taro-chan's turn."
"Was not", Korekiyo shuts him down, "I reminded you."
"Liar", Kokichi scoffs, "I hate liars. Taro-chan, tell him."
Rantaro is still asleep. Kokichi clicks his tongue and wiggles free from Korekiyo's legs, sprawls himself across them and pokes Rantaro's ankle. He flinches and tries to pull away, but Kokichi grabs him and starts tickling his heel.
"Stop it!", Rantaro wheezes through a choked laugh, trying very hard not to squirm too hard, "Kokichi! You're gonna make me hit Kiyo!"
"Then I'll have to cut off your hands", Kokichi snickers. He does not show Rantaro any mercy, so he can only bury his head into the pillow under muffled laughter while he tries not to kick after Kokichi in reflex.
"Let him go", Shuichi finally interrupts and to Korekiyo's surprise, Kokichi immediately stops.
"I knew you'd have my back!", he cheers and puts on the sweetest smile he can muster, "They're bullying me."
"You probably deserved it", Shuichi huffs. He's rubbing his eyes and Korekiyo doesn't miss how Rantaro is staring at him, visibly lovestruck.
"Wahhh! Taro-chan rather makes bedroom eyes at Shumai than to mend my broken heart!", Kokichi starts crying loudly, crocodile tears streaking his face.
Korekiyo glances at Rantaro, who's now bashfully looking away with his cheeks tinted a soft rosy.
"You're insufferable", Korekiyo sighs and pulls his legs up, leaning forward to pat Kokichi's head, "There there, love. We could hold a seance to sacrifice the lovers later."
"Hello?!", Shuichi complains and Rantaro bursts out laughing again.
Kokichi stops crying at least and hums, closing his eyes and leaning into Korekiyo's palm. If he could, he'd be purring, Korekiyo thinks.
"I must agree however, Rantaro can hardly take his eyes off Shuichi", Korekiyo muses and Rantaro muffles his lough into a cough.
"Are you ganging up on me?", he blurts out.
Kokichi giggles and cracks open an eye. "We all know he's your favorite", he teases and ducks away from Korekiyo's hand, swiftly scooting over to wrap his arms around Shuichi, "But I had him first!"
To make a point, he traces his tongue over Shuichi's exposed neck and causes him to squeak.
"Not even true", Rantaro mumbles, "You wish it was like that. Jealous?"
"Guys." Shuichi raises his flat hands. He's beet red and chews on his lower lip. "Please don't tear my arms off while I'm still attached."
"See! Taro-chan wants you dead!", Kokichi calls out and throws himself against Shuichi, both of them falling back into the mattress. Kokichi laughs gleefully and Korekiyo watches Shuichi struggle half-heartedly underneath him.
But it's all in idle fun. Shuichi is laughing carefree and Kokichi beams brighter than the sun itself.
"Hey there."
While they are distracted, Rantaro lays his hand against Korekiyo's shoulder. His eyes are soft and half lidded, and he's smiling with remnants of a good night's sleep. "You're alright?"
Korekiyo reaches his hand over to lay on top of Rantaro's. It's still foreign, to be unwrapped in front of them, to feel skin against skin and the warmth of bodies clinging to him without suffocating.
"I had a brief struggle", he admits, "But Kokichi has his ways."
"He sure does."
Rantaro rests his chin on top of his hands, leaned against Korekiyo while they watch Shuichi and Kokichi derailing into a pillow fight that ends with Kokichi drawing Shuichi into a kiss.
If he turns any redder he might as well be a tomato.
Content with his victory, Kokichi returns and drapes himself into Korekiyo's lap, playing with his hair while he sways and hums.
"You can have him now", Kokichi says to Rantaro, "I oiled him up for you. But be careful, he drools."
"I don't!", Shuichi whines.
Rantaro flicks his fingers at Kokichi, then he directs his attention to Shuichi before he melts in embarrassment.
Kokichi leans back into Korekiyo's hold and stretches out his legs, wiggling his toes and reaching up his arms to tangle them around his neck. It's an awkward position, but Korekiyo enjoys it. It's safe. There were times he couldn't stand sleeping in the same bed with them.
"I could make Kiyo-chan breakfast", Kokichi prompts, "Not those two gross idiots though, they can starve."
He flicks his wrist towards Rantaro and Shuichi. They're mumbling something to each other Korekiyo can't hear, heads together until Rantaro leans forward and kisses Shuichi. The poor guy might not have any blood left to turn a darker shade of red.
"I did not plan to let you burn the house down today", Korekiyo hums.
"Lame! Saw right through me. Kiyo-chan could princess carry me to the kitchen then! I would look really sexy on the counter watching you."
Korekiyo likes cooking. Rantaro does it most of the time unless Korekiyo wants to do it. He does want to today, he thinks.
"Can be arranged."
He snakes his arms around Kokichi and easily swoops him up, swinging his legs off the bed and Kokichi squeals gleefully.
Korekiyo never thought it would be possible. To allow touch, to enjoy it, to feel content like this. He's come a long way. And nowadays, he never wants to miss waking up feeling his partners cuddling up against him, the grounding weight of sleeping bodies that reminds him that Korekiyo is finally home and safe from the past.