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The grass tickled Kuugo’s rib cage where his shirt was riding up, lightly flicking his slick skin as the breeze blew through the field. The deep ocean blue, dark enough to mistake for black of Kuugo’s markings, soaked up the sun's rays, casting warmth over his body. His eyes closed as the sun passed from behind a cloud and the light began to flood his vision.
He was waiting, ruminating on the blossoming heat inside his heart that overtook him every time he caught a glimpse of hazelnut brown eyes and burnt-umber fur. His hands brushed over the stalks of grass bent from his weight, almost able to imagine the soft texture of a mane under his fingers.
The faint whistle of the wind over the field whipped into the tree line, ruffling the birds perched high up and tempting them into the sky. They cried out, the song drifting through Kuugo’s mind in an echo of cacophonous laughter that stirred something deep in his gut, something that had been simmering for far too long and finally threatened to boil over.
Gentle waves of lavender filled Kuugo’s nose, mimicking the candle he kept burning most nights as he read before turning in for the evening and succumbing to sleep as the scent slowly faded away. It was comforting, the flickering of the flame easing the weight of the empty space of his apartment that pulled at him and twisted his gut until he feared he would live in isolation until he withered away. The scent grounded him in the moment, pulling him back into his body when he risked a dissociation spiral, and teasing his memories of sitting in the very same lavender-dappled field with a comforting presence by his side.
The sun inched across the sky, the bright afternoon blue of the sky begging to fade into something warmer from where it peeked through the clouds. Kuugo let out a contented sigh.
There was a minute rustling in the grass and a deft thump next to Kuugo. A comforting musk overtook the lavender breeze, replacing the bright floral notes with the crackling firewood of a brick oven. Kuugo felt the tidal waves of emotions that had been rolling through settle into the serenity of a freshwater spring. He tried to hide his smile.
“Took you long enough,” Kuugo said sarcastically, peeking one eye open and turning his head to meet Shishido’s warm brown eyes.
“My fucking interns wouldn’t stop asking questions,” Shishido fumed, “I don’t know how other pros take on more than two at a time.”
“Usually their agency handles it, and they don’t take them all out on patrol at the same time,” Kuugo pointed out helpfully.
“I know!” Shishido growled, “But their professors are demanding more hours on patrol, so what the fuck am I supposed to do?” he fell onto his back with a huff and looked up into the fading blue sky of the early evening. “I feel like I don’t have any time alone anymore.”
Kuugo hummed, “If I’m taking up too much of your time–”
Shishido smacked him on the chest. Kuugo stifled a snicker.
“Obviously, you don’t count,” he griped, “You’re the only person my brain doesn’t want to punch in the face after seeing for more than three hours straight.” He left his hand resting on Kuugo’s chest, the warmth bleeding through the fabric of his shirt warming the lion’s palm.
“Glad to know you’ll never get tired of me,” Kuugo said with a smirk pulling up at the corner of his mouth. Shishido’s hand went from slack and relaxed to digging his claws into the fabric hard enough to scrape at the thick skin of Kuugo’s chest.
“Don’t go getting cocky on me,” he growled in a warning.
“I’m just repeating what you said,” Kuugo replied innocently.
“No, I said I don’t want to punch you in the face as frequently as everyone else,” Shishido corrected him.
“That’s basically a confession coming from you,” Kuugo said with humor.
“Stop twisting my words!” Shishido shouted, moving before Kuugo could react and positioning himself over the orca. He was straddling his waist, thighs pinning Kuugo’s side, one hand fisted in his shirt and pulling the orca closer as the other hand flattened the grass where it braced Shishido’s body.
“You do a pretty good job of tripping over them yourself,” Kuugo said smoothly. He allowed Shishido to overpower him, relaxing into his iron grip.
“Are you trying to make me punch you?” Shishido snarled, leaning in closer until their noses were mere inches from colliding. Kuugo tipped his head back and chuckled, his body shaking lightly as the sound bubbled up inside of him. It filled the warm evening air, accompanied by the flapping of wings and a small gust of wind. Shishido released his grip on Kuugo’s shirt in favor of wrapping his fingers around Kuugo’s throat and slamming his head back into the grass. His claws pricked the skin just shy of breaking through and drawing blood. “I don’t think today is a good day to test your luck,” he hissed.
“There’s never a good day to do anything, but we do it anyway,” Kuugo mused, voice rasping lightly from the hold on his throat putting pressure on his windpipe. Shishido’s fury was building, body racked with heavy breaths and eyes narrowed. Kuugo looked up at him, his red eyes bright like an amber glinting in the light that pierced straight through Shishido’s heart.
“What are you even saying?” Shishido spat out. He was breathless, face warm from the heated emotions building up under his skin. His hair was wild, easily one of the most untamable things in existence, and the wind ruffled the fluffy brown strands framing his face. His mouth was a half snarl, fangs peeking through in unintentional and unsuccessful intimidation.
He looked beautiful.
“I love you,” Kuugo heard himself say as the words slipped from his lips.
Shishido blinked, brain short-circuiting and causing his hold on Kuugo to slacken. He processed the words slowly, feeling the weight their impression left in his mind. Shishido didn’t know how to accept that the words were true. He stared down at the man beneath him, Kuugo’s red eyes wide in shock and swirling with a hurricane of emotions that rivaled Shishido’s inner turmoil.
Before he could overthink it, Kuugo reversed their positions in one fluid motion. His hulking form loomed over the lion, thick thighs holding him still as Kuugo gripped his throat with the practiced ease of a hero able to tell how much pressure to apply to get what he wanted.
“Move in with me,” were the next words that fell out of Kuugo’s mouth. He could feel his heart leap into his throat, blood rushing in his ears, and pressure building behind his ribcage. “If you don’t hate being around me,” Kuugo started, not thinking through anything he was saying, “And I like spending time with you too, and it’s hard to find moments alone– It would just be easier if–”
Kuugo’s grip on Shishido had slackened just enough for the lion to surge forward and headbutt Kuugo mid-sentence, catching him by surprise and knocking him onto his back. Shishido pounced on him, a guttural growl bubbling deep inside of him as he pinned Kuugo against the grass and used one hand to cup the back of Kuugo’s neck.
Kuugo gasped, “What are you–”
Shishido barreled forward and crashed their mouths together.
Kuugo’s brain blue-screened, eyes wide and mouth half open, caught too off guard to react in time. As the fire of Shishido’s presence overtook him, he melted into the motion and allowed Shishido to deepen the kiss.
It was a mess of teeth and tongues slicking over wet heat, fighting to gain control. It was too much and not enough all at once, pulling them in closer and building pressure with each movement. Shishido held Kuugo’s head, claws scratching along the smooth skin and threatening to leave marks in their wake. Kuugo didn’t mind the prickling sensation trailing along the nape of his neck, letting himself fall into the hold and bask in the intensity of it all.
Shishido could barely breathe, fully consumed by the raw desire to push deeper and feel more. His heart was pounding against his ribcage, his whole body aching as he fell into the kiss. He couldn’t think of anything other than the press of Kuugo’s mouth against his.
Kuugo pulled Shishido closer, his arms breaking free from where they were pinned and winding around Shishido’s waist. His fingers slipped under the loose material of Shishido’s shirt, savoring the contact and tracking warmth as they skated across his sides. He felt Shishido’s grip on the back of his neck tighten, and Shishido’s free hand came up to trace along Kuugo’s jaw and tilt his head for a better angle to dive deeper. The weight of the lion was keeping Kuugo grounded; every inch that Shishido pressed in closer didn’t feel close enough.
Their bodies were pulled flush together, moving as one and building heat between them until it became unbearable and they were forced to break apart. They both gasped for air, still holding onto each other as their brains tried to resume function.
The cool breeze teased at their exposed, sweat-slicked skin, the slight chill snapping Shishido out of his haze as exhaustion settled deep into his bones. His head fell, dipping over Kuugo’s shoulder until the orca could feel the hot exhale from Shishido’s nostrils puffing against his neck. Shishido pushed his nose in, breathing in salty ocean air and velvet blankets.
“… Is that a yes?” Kuugo asked softly, tone playful. Shishido huffed and buried his nose deeper.
“ Yes, I’ll move in with you,” he agreed, voice muffled as he enjoyed his resting place for a moment longer before pulling back and hovering over the orca, taking Kuugo’s face in both of his hands and feeling the emotion spill out his mouth as he said, “Fuck, I– I love you, Kuugo. And if you give me an inch–”
“I’d let you take a thousand miles,” Kuugo admitted, bringing up one of his hands to play with a fluffy strand poking out behind Shishido’s ear, “I’d let you take every mile I have left.”
Heat blossomed in Shishido’s gut and tore through him, crawling its way up his neck and spreading red splotches across his cheeks.
“You can’t just say that,” he whined. Kuugo tugged experimentally on the strand, causing Shishido to growl lightly and pull away from his touch.
“Why not?” Kuugo asked.
“Because!” Shishido exclaimed, rocking back on his heels and settling down on Kuugo’s lap, “Because, I don’t know what to say, or do, or be, or anything to make those words something I deserve to hear.”
Kuugo pushed himself up and rested one hand on Shishido’s thigh.
“Shishido,” he said, pulling the lion’s gaze back to Kuugo’s swirling garnet eyes, a color that sent a calm wave washing over him like a low tide, “There is nothing in this world that you, or anyone else, could do that would make you undeserving of my love. Not in my eyes,” he pressed, “I don’t care what anyone else thinks. You will always be more than enough for me.” Kuugo slid one hand over to where Shishido’s arm was hanging by his side and threaded his fingers through the lion’s. “I’m lucky to know you, to be able to show you love,” he said with a fierce sincerity that made Shishido’s heart hammer in his chest, “And I will make sure you feel that love every day, if you let me.”
Shishido stared at him, searching his eyes for something Kuugo could only guess at. There was always an air of mystery as to what went on in Shishido’s mind, every small movement, every twitch, every huff, all meaning something that Kuugo had begun learning the language of a long time ago. He could spot a sour mood from the dip of a brow, and tell when Shishido was getting overstimulated by the way he held his shoulders. Kuugo had carefully cataloged every expression, committing their meaning to memory in the moments he saw them firsthand. He could tell if something was on Shishido’s mind by the way he pulled his punches, seeing the cracks in his furious facade plain as day.
Kuugo knew Shishido better than anyone else ever had.
The wind kicked up, tussling Shishido’s wild mane. It carried the warmth of the fading summer and the promise of a fresh day as the sun rose tomorrow.
“I’m not good at this,” Shishido admitted softly, “I know I’m going to fuck up, and I’m scared I’ll ruin everything,” he took a calming breath, “But you make me want to try.”
Kuugo’s grip on his hand tightened, grounding the lion in the present as the lavender scent carried on the breeze softened the edges of the moment, allowing them to settle into the serenity of the evening. Shishido forced himself to hold Kuugo’s gaze, not wilting under the intensity. It was an internal battle of pride screaming at him to push further while his stomach was in knots from the effort.
“I think you’re doing a pretty great job already,” Kuugo offered, a small smile spreading across his face. Shishido shoved his shoulder playfully with his free hand. Kuugo rocked back with it, feigning a stronger impact as he toppled back onto the windswept grass. His hand slipped from the lion’s and fell across his forehead in a dramatic show of fainting. Shishido rolled his eyes and slid off Kuugo’s lap, settling down onto the broken stalks next to him.
“I can come over tomorrow after class to help you start packing,” Kuugo suggested, “I can bring boxes. However many you need.”
“I barely unpacked anything from my last place,” Shishido lamented.
“So half the work is already done,” Kuugo added cheerfully, “That means I can take a few back to my place since I’ll already be there.”
Shishido huffed and turned onto his side, throwing an arm and a leg over Kuugo and pulling himself flush to the orca’s side. His hair tickled Kuugo’s jaw for a moment, until Kuugo leaned into it, nuzzling his face in the absurdly soft texture.
“We should go home,” Kuugo stated.
“Yeah,” Shishido hummed tiredly, “I’d like that.”
They lay there for a while longer, letting the breeze wash over them until the late September warmth began to turn crisp as the sun sank from view. Kuugo’s arm held Shishido close, tracing shapes on his back subconsciously. The lion’s breathing evened out, eyes drifted shut, and heart returned to an almost normal rhythm.
When the last of the light faded away, Kuugo yawned and scooped Shishido up as he stood. The lion made no moves in protest, letting Kuugo manhandle him until he was held close to the orca’s chest with his legs wrapped around Kuugo’s waist and Shishido’s head lolling onto his shoulder.
He carried the sleeping lion through the field, slowly picking a path worn down from their previous trips to lie in the lavender and find peace in a small moment of the day. Kuugo enjoyed the night air as he walked to the bus stop nearby, appreciating the low buzz of insects hiding in the brush and the twinkling of the streetlights illuminating his path. He arrived at the worn and weathered bus stop, blue paint chipping and peeling away along the sides, and hefty dents in the bench. He gently placed Shishido down on the bench in one of the dips before taking a seat next to him. Shishido’s head fell onto his shoulder, and a small rumble that almost sounded like a snore exhaled through his nose.
They waited for the bus, Kuugo’s eyes trailing after the red taillights of passing cars. Shishido wound himself around Kuugo’s arm, seeking the heat radiating off him.
The comforting almost-silence of the night blanketed the bus stop, nudging the tiredness persisting in the back of Kuugo’s mind until he was fighting back a yawn. He leaned into Shishido, resting his head on the lion’s and letting out a contented sigh. He could breathe in the remnants of the lavender still lingering on the strands, and closed his eyes as a mouth softened into the ghost of a smile.
By the time the bus arrived, it had begun drizzling, dampening Kuugo’s knees where they jutted out from the cover over the bench. Shishido had pulled up his legs to avoid it without jostling his hold on the orca’s arm. Kuugo nudged Shishido up and led him onto the bus, nodding at the driver and letting his eyes scan the rows of seats. There were a few teenage girls near the front who had quieted their gossip as soon as Kuugo stepped on, an elderly couple a few rows behind them, and three or four sole passengers scattered throughout.
He guided Shishido to a window seat near the back and slid in next to him. Shishido leaned his head against the cold glass of the window, letting out a satisfied sigh. Kuugo took Shishido’s hand in his own, tracing his knuckles with the pad of his thumb, marveling at the size difference of their hands and how little that actually mattered when it came to winning a fight.
The other occupants on the bus were sparse and kept to themselves, headphones in and eyes trained out the window. Kuugo didn’t mind, it was better than the stares he normally received from the general public. Even a good ranking in the hero charts didn’t outweigh his intimidating appearance.
After an hour, they arrived at their stop and filed off the bus. Kuugo kept his hand in Shishido’s as he led them to the door of his apartment, a small dent in the wall next to a shop advertising canned sardines. Kuugo slid the key in the lock and twisted, a satisfying click following. He shouldered in and pulled Shishido in after him, swinging the door shut and flicking the lock. Without another moment of hesitation, he swept Shishido off his feet and carried him up the stairs bridal style. At the top, he unlocked his second door one-handed with practiced skill, finally entering the comfort of his own home.
Kuugo went straight to the bedroom, not wasting time taking off his shoes at the door. He extracted Shishido and let him fall onto the mattress, letting out a contented sigh when he sank into the plush material. Kuugo unlaced the lion’s boots and slipped them off, letting them fall on the floor at the end of his bed. Kuugo did the same with his own shoes, flung off his shirt and pants, and climbed into bed in his boxers.
Shishido grumbled as he stripped, getting his shirt stuck halfway off and letting out a frustrated huff. Kuugo reached over and helped untangle the mess, chuckling warmly as Shishido launched the offending garment across the room, and it landed on the lampshade. Shishido promptly fell back onto the bed and pulled the covers up to his chin.
“Getting cozy?” Kuugo asked with good humor as he settled into his side of the bed. He lay on his back, one arm behind his head. Shishido scooted closer, half on his stomach, and leeched his way onto Kuugo until he was nearly lying on top of the orca. Kuugo felt his heart swell. “Don’t get too comfortable,” he teased softly.
“Shut… the fuck up…” Shishido mumbled, pressing in closer until his face was smushed against Kuugo’s shoulder.
“Whatever you say, Lionheart,” Kuugo hummed in response.
Sleep greeted them swiftly, dipping their minds into a peaceful quiet.
When the sun peeked through the blinds in the early morning, it cast a beam directly into Shishido’s eyes. The lion turned over, burying his face in the pillow next to Kuugo’s head. The larger man stirred, eyes blinking open slowly. It took him a minute to comprehend the weight on the mattress next to him and the warmth seeping into him from the shared body heat.
“Too fucking bright,” the lion grumbled face first into the pillow. Kuugo laughed and slid off the bed, adjusting the blinds so they no longer offended Shishido’s vision.
“Better?”
“Mmmff…” came the unintelligible response.
“I’m going to make breakfast, take as long as you need to get out of bed,” Kuugo said softly. Shishido made a small noise, and Kuugo accepted that as an acceptable answer and slid out of bed, leaving the room to head to the kitchen.
The food was ready by the time Shishido finally dragged himself out of bed. Kuugo slid an omelet onto each plate, accompanied by a steamed frozen meat bun and tall glasses of barley tea for each of them. Shishido pulled up a seat at the table just as Kuugo was setting down the food.
“Sleep well?” Kuugo asked.
“Like a fucking rock,” Shishido replied contentedly.
“I hope you like omurice.”
“I fucking love eggs.”
They dug in, passing sauce and eating in companionable silence. When the plates were polished, Kuugo took them to clean them, but Shishido stepped in at the sink.
“You cooked. I clean,” he stated plainly, snatching the plates.
“You’re my guest,” Kuugo argued, “I can’t ask you to clean.”
“Well, I’m about to live here, so it’s the least I could do,” Shishido argued back. He bumped Kuugo aside with his hip and turned on the water, reaching for the dish soap and sponge. “Now go get fucking dressed.”
Kuugo blinked at him dumbly.
Shishido growled, “You’re going to be late for class, professor.”
Kuugo glanced at the clock.
“Fuck,” he breathed.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll… be back out in a sec,” Kuugo said before disappearing down the hall. Shishido snorted and started scrubbing the plates. A few minutes later, Kuugo reappeared dressed in business casual attire, adjusting his tie as he entered the room. “I should still make it with a few minutes to spare,” he told Shishido as he walked to the door and slipped on his shoes, “But I do need to head out now.” Kuugo walked over to the kitchen and reached into his pocket. “You can lock up when you leave.”
“Lock up?” Shishido asked, only to have a small keyring with two distinct keys looped on it.
“The older one is for the exterior door. The lock is pretty shitty so you’ll need to put some elbow grease into it,” Kuugo explained.
Shishido stared up at him, eyes calculating. Kuugo felt his face begin to warm under the scrutinizing gaze.
“Is that… not okay?”
Shishido dropped the sponge and lunged for Kuugo, but the larger man dodged and caught Shishido around the middle, twirling them around to counter the force of the attack. Shishido pushed away, but Kuugo didn’t let go, holding his body close while allowing his head to pull back.
“How long have you had a second set of keys?” Shishido pressed.
“I…” Kuugo stammered, face growing warmer, “I thought it would be good to make a set ahead of time–”
“How long.” Shishido’s hardened walnut eyes held Kuugo’s gaze, assessing the small movements as Kuugo tried to prevent spontaneous self-combustion.
“Since March,” Kuugo said weakly.
“You’ve been planning on asking me to move in for six months!? ” Shishido said incredulously. His head tilted back as laughter racked through his frame, vibrating against Kuugo’s chest. “You’re hopeless,” he bit out between wheezes.
“I made the first move eventually, didn’t I?” Kuugo tried, embarrassed by Shishido’s amusement. “Better late than never?”
“You should’ve asked six months ago, would’ve saved me from my shitty neighbors,” Shishido stated.
“I didn’t want to rush things…” Kuugo trailed off, his grip slackening on the lion, “If we weren’t both ready… I was scared it might ruin things.”
“What gave you the idea that I wanted to take things slow?” Shishido asked. “I thought it was pretty clear I speed run everything.”
“I wasn’t sure if I was ready,” Kuugo admitted. Shishido slipped far enough away to look Kuugo in his eyes.
“What changed?” he asked simply.
“I don’t think anything did,” Kuugo replied, “I just didn’t want to wait any longer and let it slip through my fingers because I was too scared to try.”
Shishido smiled and thrust himself forward, burying his muzzle in Kuugo’s neck.
“Good,” came Shishido’s muffled reply, “Because I was sick of waiting.”
Kuugo laughed and held the lion close, warmth settling into his bones as the reality of the moment sank in.
With Shisihdo in his arms, everything felt right in the world.