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The warmth of the water coated their waists and down as they sat cross-legged in the bathtub, Shu sitting behind Mika and scrubbing his back with the soap-soaked loofah before setting the water to pour from the shower head and directing it at the areas decorated by foam.
“Now then, Mika, wash your own hair,” Shu said, grabbing the bottle of soap to wash his own body. “We’ll get ready for bed afterwards.”
Mika, a bit bummed to lose the physical contact he was in, grabbed the shampoo bottle and poured some on his hand before bringing it to the top of his head, rubbing it gently.
Shu was quicker than Mika, as Mika had grown drowsy since noon. Therefore, he finished cleaning his own body while Mika was still scrubbing his head– well, not exactly scrubbing with those lazy movements of his.
“Mika, you need to wash it thoroughly,” Shu said, interrupting Mika’s thoughts and actions, “don't be so sloppy when it comes to your hair.”
“Ngahhh, ’m tired and just wanna get ta bed already,” Mika mumbled. With all honesty, he knew Shu would then wash his hair himself, and he wasn't opposed in the slightest. So, he kept the tired movements.
“Non, what a fool you are. Get those hands off your scalp,” Shu replied. With that, Mika knew he succeeded. Shu shifted closer to Mika and placed his hands on the top of his head, his hands gently massaging each inch of Mika’s scalp. His fingers would slightly scratch his head every few strokes, reminiscent of the times where Shu would lightly scratch Mika's head when he was reading with the heterochromic-eyed boy beside him. His fingers scrubbed the shampoo against the top of his scalp, his temples, behind his ears and the back of his head. Mika subconsciously leaned into Shu’s touch. Soon after, Shu tilted Mika’s head back, warm water from the shower head rinsing the soap off his hair strands. Shu continued stroking Mika’s head until there wasn't a spot of white left on his head, “you can get out of the tub now.” Shu said.
As they got out, Shu took three towels; one for himself, one for Mika and one for Mika’s hair. He handed the two other towels to Mika. He dried his body and put a robe on once he was done, hanging the towel up. He glanced at Mika, who was drying his hair. , once again not thorough at all.
“Mika, give me the towel”
“Wha…?” Mika looked at Shu as he stood with his arms out, fully expecting Mika to hand him the towel. Mika handed him the towel, knowing he’ll get Shu’s full attention again. However, this time it wasn't what he intended, so maybe he’s just naturally bad. Shu started drying his hair, rubbing wet strands together between two ends of the towel held in his hands.
“You already dried the rest of your body, right?” Shu asked, still efficiently drying Mika's hair, messing it up.
“Yes,” Mika replied, “ngahhh, yer practically rubbin’ the towel into my brain,” Mika whined.
“That contradicts the reality of you being utterly brainless,” a smile creeping up to Shu’s lips as he continued drying the green haired boy’s scalp, “now, put that robe on,” he continued as he released Mika’s head.
Mika put the robe on and turned to Shu, who was waiting for him by the mirror above the sink. Once he stepped closer, Shu moved Mika to stand in front of the mirror before grabbing a hairbrush and combing through his hair. He brushed hairs back, then stepped closer to Mika’s right to brush the hair there, then Mika’s left, then he brushed each side of his hair from the hairline and then he moved to the bottom of his scalp. He continued to meticulously comb through Mika’s hair before turning Mika to face him and combing his bangs. He maneuvered the hair on the left side of Mika’s face behind his ears, revealing more of Mika’s face. Shu found himself observing Mika for a little too long– his clear, soft skin that glowed under the sun during the day; his jaw that Shu urged to hold while scrutinizing every thought Mika had behind those eyes of his; his soft, pinkish-red lips Shu wanted very badly to press against his own; that perfectly built nose of his, aesthetically pleasing to look at and better than all, the juxtaposition the two of his eyes had.
“Oshi-san…? Yer starin’ pretty intently, y’know?” Mika muttered, “you’ve been starin’ since you pulled my hair behind my ear. My ear hole didn't get an infection, did it?!”
“It's called a piercing, I believe,” Shu replied, tone composed, “and no, there's nothing wrong with your ears.”
“Oh,” Mika answered, “well I can't say the same for ya,” he continued with a growing smile.
“Hm? What's wrong with my ears?”
“They're redder than usual.”
“Non! No they're not! Your eyes are fooling you, I’m afraid,” Shu bit back, each word laced with defensiveness. Shu’s cheeks only grew warmer as Mika just giggled innocently to himself. “Okay, no more laughing, it's time for skincare.” Shu said as he grabbed a spa-headband and put it on Mika’s head, and the container beside the faucet, opening it and squirting some out onto his hand, turned to Mika and with his other hand, he took bits from the cream and smudged them on Mika’s face until there was none left. He started spreading it towards the other spots on Mika’s face in circular motions.
“Oshi-san? I can do skincare on my own, ya don't gotta…” Mika spoke, his voice trailing off as Shu started smearing the cream around his nose.
“Well, apparently if I give you too much freedom while you're tired you do everything sloppily,” that was an excuse. Shu simply wanted to pamper Mika even further after washing him, drying his hair and brushing it.
And so, Shu did both of their skincare routines. They washed their teeth while they had to wait a few minutes for one type of cream, Shu reminding Mika to use the dental string. When they were done, Shu pulled the spa-headband back, removing it. He placed it back where it was before grabbing the hair brush and arranging Mika’s hair back to the way it first looked.
Shu gently kissed the right side of Mika’s forehead, his lips lingering there, pressed against the soft skin. When he pulled away, they both left the bathroom. As they stepped into their room, as their feet got used to the texture of the wooden floor from the cold bathroom ground, they walked over to the closet. Shu pulled out Mika’s pajamas; a simple shirt that's far too big for Mika’s size, the hole for the head large enough to leave some of his collarbones exposed and loose sleeves that cover his upper arms until the elbows. The pants were simple loose sweatpants that Shu had to hand-hem the ends of so they don't drag across the ground. After he handed the pajamas to Mika along with some boxers, Shu took out his own pajamas; a white notched collar button up, the two upper wings of the collar a dark ash blue. The buttons start lower than where an average shirt’s buttons usually start, leaving some of his upper chest exposed. The pants were made out of a thin yet comfortable fabric, the same white color as the shirt. He slid the robe of his shoulders before catching a glimpse of Mika, eyeing him, seemingly lost in thought.
“Mika,” Shu spoke, breaking Mika out of his thoughts, “I’m not some ancient statue for you to admire, nor am I a work of art. Quit the admiration and dress up.”
However, Mika couldn't help it. He found Shu so utterly gorgeous no matter the time, he couldn't possibly stop admiring him. The shoulders exposed by the robe that had slid down to Shu’s bent elbows, the shadows that shaped his shoulder blades, the curves of his side profile as his head remained turned to look at Mika with that sharp, annoyed expression. Mika would memorize every angle of his furrowed eyebrows if Shu allowed him to stare for that long. Man, if someone told Mika he was staring at a goddess, Mika wouldn't give it a second thought!
“Mika! I just told you to quit staring at me like I'm showcased in a museum and ur staring even harder! Cease this idiocy and dress up!” Shu scolded, turning his face away from Mika’s eyesight, his lips creating a slight pout.
“Ngahh, ‘m sorry, Oshi-san!!!” Mika whined, “yer just real pretty…” he muttered as he finally changed into his pajamas. He looked over at Shu once he was done and saw him in his own pajamas, no longer annoyed.
They both got in bed, under the same soft blanket, Shu, on the left side of the bed, laid on his side, facing Mika, and so did Mika towards Shu, laying on the right side of the bed. Mika’s left hand rested on the space on the mattress between the two of them, his palm softly pressed against each wrinkle of the bedsheets.
“Now I can look at ya…” Mika said, followed by a yawn. It was clear exhaustion was taking over him.
“Good grief, Mika…” Shu murmured. He placed his hand on top of Mika's hand, lightly rubbing it with his thumb. He looked at Mika’s sleepy face with loving adoration. He didn't even realize the warm smile in his lips until Mika commented on it.
“Ngahhh, yer starin’ real intently,” Mika whispered, keeping his voice quiet. He scooted closer to Shu, then propped himself up on his elbow, looming over Shu. “Yer pretty…”
Shu merely hummed as a response, looking up at Mika. “Get back down, imbecile, you need sleep.”
“That can wait,” Mika said with a sweet smile. Shu didn't know what the other boy was plotting, but he had an idea of what it would be in his head. Before he knew it, Mika leaned down to press his lips against Shu’s nose, then his cheek, then his forehead, and he continued. He moved his hands to Shu’s jaw to tilt his head whenever he leaned down to press a kiss to another spot. Shu’s face had long turned to a new color, the darkness of the room helping him conceal it.
He pressed the tips of his fingers against Mika’s lips the next time he hovered to a new spot to kiss, pushing him away, “Mika, go sleep. I won’t argue with you,” Shu commanded.
Mika, however, had other plans. He continued kissing Shu’s face, now hovering to his temple. Seeing as Mika didn't budge, Shu wrapped an arm around Mika’s waist, intending to pull him down to his side but pulling him onto his chest instead. “Oshi-san, I don' wanna go ta sleep yet,” he complained.
“You want to go to sleep, you don't want to miss quality time,” Shu corrected, “quality time you get about every night, might I add.”
Mika sighed, “well can ya blame me? It's supa’ fun…” Mika replied, dropping his head to rest on Shu’s chest. “I missed ya all day…”
Shu smiled softly, “okay then.” He wrapped his second arm around Mika’s waist and pulled him to lay down beside him, rather than on top of him. One hand moved up to Mika’s head, fingers combing through the dark hairs. Mika found the contact incredibly pleasing. He wrapped his arms around Shu’s torso, forearms pressed against the taller man’s back as his hands rested on his shoulders. His face was right under Shu’s chin. Sooner or later, Shu felt Mika’s breath steady and his body grow peacefully limp. He closed his eyes, the fingers in Mika’s hair detaching from his scalp and falling onto the mattress. Before he actually fell asleep, he opened his eyes and looked at Mika through half lidded ones. With a sleepy smile, he mumbled “I love you,” before his eyelids grew too heavy for him to keep open and he fell asleep, in the arms of his partner.