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“Fuck!” Soichiro curses as he flinches away from the sharp metal blade that was pressed to his face until mere seconds ago.
He can spot a small but steady stream of dark blood oozing from the fresh cut near his bottom lip as he judgingly stares at himself in the bathroom mirror.
Grumbling, he throws the bloody razor away to god-knows-where on the sink and grabs one of those scratchy paper tissues from an overly colorful box. He doesn't care if there's any blood splattering on the white porcelain - the bathroom already looks like a mess to begin with. Soichiro presses the nasty paper against his bleeding skin in a futile attempt to stop the red liquid from dripping onto his clothes.
It's like his reflection in the mirror is staring at him.
He looks so pathetic like this - sitting on an old rancid plastic stool, his long hair open and unkempt while copious amounts of white shaving cream are still smeared all over his lower face and neck. He's clutching the paper tissue in his left - his non-dominant hand - because his right arm is still in a stupid cast and immobilized by this equally as stupid sling around his shoulder that he can't even put on without help.
This sucks.
It's been a week since he broke his arm during a mission. One single moment of carelessness landed him in this more than miserable and undignified situation. He's been cursing himself for his foolishness ever since.
The worst part, though? The division's doctor said it would take weeks for the fractured bone to heal completely and they won't remove this absurdity of a cast any earlier than that. Weeks. Several weeks.
Looking into the mirror, he sighs again. Shaving his face has never been a bothersome task. He'd merely take a few minutes out of his morning to clean the white stubble off his chin and cheeks before going on about his day. Nothing spectacular, nothing to get frustrated over.
Now, with only his non-dominant hand available to work on the usually so simple task, things are a little different.
Soichiro put shaving his face off for several days already but the stubble that grew during those days was getting harder to ignore. Maybe he can convince Gen that he's growing a beard on purpose?
“Are you going to stitch that cut up with your left hand as well?”
Speaking of, he should've locked the door.
“I don't think it's that bad.” Soichiro tries his best to remain light-hearted despite the situation, yet, he refuses to look at Gen directly, afraid of his frustration slipping past the mask. He can imagine the younger man leaning against the door frame all smugly with his arms crossed while watching Soichiro's sad act in front of the bathroom mirror with glee in his eyes.
Deserved, he thinks.
Soichiro experientially lifts the paper tissues from his skin. He's still staring at his reflection in the mirror critically but to his relief, it seems like the cut stopped bleeding for now.
Suddenly, Gen's reflection pops up in the mirror as well and he stands behind him before Soichiro can even register what's happening.
“Are you even listening to me?” Gen pouts and places his hand on Soichiro's left shoulder before the two men lock eyes in the mirror. Soichiro can see the irritation in Gen's eyes bubbling up and suddenly feels a little bad for spacing out on him. “I asked you why the fuck you sneaked out of bed in your condition to experiment with a razor blade instead of asking me for help.”
In your condition.
The words sting, even though he knows that Gen didn't speak them with malice.
Soichiro is aware that he must look weak and pitiful like this, needing help with the simplest of tasks. It's starting to drive him insane despite Gen's constant reassurance that he's not being a bother, that he doesn't mind helping.
Despite his discontentment with his situation, he’s not ungrateful. He loves that Gen decided to temporarily move in with him - he truly does. Soichiro appreciates his boyfriend's willingness to support and care for him like nothing else but he hates that he's so dependent on his help in the first place.
Getting dressed? Gen will have to carefully maneuver his right arm through the sleeves of his shirts. Taking a shower? Gen will have to wrap the cast in some special foil beforehand so it doesn't get wet and help him with washing his hair. Soichiro can't even braid his hair on his own like this. It just feels so wrong to rely on Gen for all of those things he should be able to handle without help - let alone the humiliation of going to the toilet with his partner’s assistance whenever he's not wearing sweatpants.
“I'm talking to you,” Gen huffs as Soichiro still doesn't respond and pokes his finger against his boyfriend’s cheek playfully, getting shaving cream all over it.
“Sorry, Gen-chan.” Soichiro sighs and lets his shoulders slump down in defeat before leaning back against Gen's body. Feeling the younger man so close to him is relaxing. Sadly, it doesn't change anything about the problem at hand.
“I don't need you to apologize,” he snaps back but his words lack any real heat.
Gen lets himself sink down a little more so Soichiro's head lies right against his chest - close to his heart. The younger man then rests his chin on top of Soichiro's hair and just stares at him in the mirror without speaking another word.
“Gen-chan, I-”
“Am I that lousy at helping you?”
What?
Gen sighs once more and lets his chin rest heavier on Soichiro's head, bringing his arms around the older man's neck from behind. He just lets them hang there, dangling in front of Soichiro's chest aimlessly, mindful of his injured arm.
“What do you-”
“I've been trying all week…” Gen interrupts him and nuzzles his cheek against Soichiro's head. The older man's confusion just intensifies and his eyes widen upon seeing and feeling his partner's display of affection. He was pretty sure this would end in a scolding he'd remember for a while and not… whatever is happening here right now.
“What… have you been trying all week?” he quietly asks.
“To get you to take a break,” Gen replies, his expression defeated as he exhales dramatically. “I just wanted to make this shitty situation easier for you but apparently-”
“Gen-”
Soichiro can see Gen’s cheeks flushing in this cute rosy red color as he struggles to find the right words. “I just- Are you that incredibly stubborn or do I just suck at taking care of you?”
There is no anger in Gen's voice. He is being honest - just spilling his heart right in front of him. Soichiro is at a loss for words for a moment. It usually takes so much more for Gen to open up about his feelings. Yet here he is, doubting himself, feeling like it's him who failed Soichiro when in reality…
“I-” The words get stuck in his throat, their meaning too overwhelming for them to come out. He takes a deep breath before he's ready to face Gen's big sad eyes again. “Gen, you didn't do anything wrong.”
“I feel like I should be better at this whole thing,” he whispers and his arms around Soichiro's chest tighten just like the insecurity that's gnawing at his heart.
Soichiro lifts his left hand to cover Gen's on his chest. “I need you, Gen,” he breathes, just loud enough for the younger man to hear. “I need you so damn much.”
“Then why-”
“You're doing so much to help me,” he starts, not wanting him to blame himself any further and presses a quick kiss to Gen's hand. “I just feel like I shouldn't need your help with all of this, I just- I should be able to handle this myself instead of rely-”
“Fucking idiot,” Gen cuts him off. “I don't wanna hear any of this. We’re partners. You take care of me when I’m sick or injured, too, so- I want to do this and now let me help before you turn the bathroom into a horror movie set.”
“You don't have to…” Soichiro tries again but the stern look it earns him from Gen makes him rethink his words. “I mean- yeah, if you don't mind.
The smile Soichiro puts on for Gen doesn't entirely reach his eyes. He's tired, a little frustrated even - but the love he can feel is real and having Gen there with him will make everything worth it.
Gen picks up the razor and cleans it under the running water before turning around to Soichiro, looking him up and down critically.
“Something wrong?” Soichiro attempts to chuckle upon seeing Gen’s analyzing gaze.
“I think you wouldn't look half bad with a bit of a beard,” he sing-songs and brings two fingers under Soichiro's chin to angle his face upwards a little. “I can see it… looking kinda attractive on you, I guess.”
They're both blushing at this point.
“I don't know-” Soichiro chokes back his words as another movement of Gen's hand brings his chin up higher, making him look directly into his eyes.
Gen laughs as Soichiro's pupils grow wider. “Just kidding.” He releases Soichiro's chin before kissing his forehead tenderly. “I like you all smooth.”
Soichiro sighs and watches as Gen brings the razor closer to his face. The younger man's tongue is pushed out a little, concentration evident on his face. Soichiro notices that his hand is trembling slightly. “Does the angle work for you?” he asks as he sees Gen hesitate.
“Not sure,” he admits. “Maybe you could sit on the sink instead?”
“I doubt that the sink will hold me,” he huffs and grins at Gen. “You’ll understand I'm not too keen on breaking the other arm as well in a freak bathroom accident.”
“Yeah, fine, you have a point.”
“I could sit somewhere else-”
“Do you think the stool will hold both of us?” Gen interrupts him and already sits down on Soichiro's lap before he can think about the question for too long. They’re face to face now, Gen’s gentle gaze meeting Soichiro’s reluctant one.
The older man is quick to bring his left arm around Gen's waist the second he sits down. “Gen-chan!” he nearly squeals as Gen gets himself comfortable on top of him. His boyfriend just smirks and locks his legs behind Soichiro's back.
“Better,” the younger man declares with a smile and takes the razor into his hand again. “Ready?”
Soichiro nods carefully. “Yeah, go ahead.”
“That shaving cream is nearly dry already,” Gen laughs as he brings the blade in contact with Soichiro's cheek, testing the pressure it takes to shave off the stubble carefully at first. “Good enough, though,” he decides and continues, albeit a little anxiously.
Soichiro is frozen in place, mesmerized by Gen's mindful movements and the way the blade moves over his skin so smoothly.
“I'm not hurting you, am I?” the younger man asks as he turns around to rinse the razor under the water before facing Soichiro again.
“You're doing great,” he breathes and focuses on Gen's eyes as his boyfriend turns his chin with his fingers to access his jawline more comfortably, shaving off the hair there swiftly.
Gen sticks his tongue out again as he works on Soichiro's chin, mindful not to cut him on accident. “Just saying… the idea with the beard isn't exactly leaving my mind.”
“For real?” Soichiro laughs and Gen takes another short pause to clean the razor blades. “I mean… you- you'd like it?” he carefully asks.
“I'm not saying you should grow a beard,” Gen mumbles as he continues shaving the other side of Soichiro's face. “Just the idea… I don't know, maybe this more mature dad-like look would look sexy on you as well.”
Soichiro nearly chokes upon hearing Gen's words and the younger man realizes it was a wise decision to hold the blade away from Soichiro's face before bringing any kind of compliment near him after seeing how the older man can only bring an awkward strangled moan out in response.
“Hey, come back to me,” Gen chuckles and wraps his arms around Soichiro's neck to pull them a little closer together - or well, as close as you can get with a cast between two people. “What got you so worked up? I call you sexy all the time, no need to get all flustered.”
“You don't… usually call me a dad, though,” Soichiro mumbles as he snaps out of his stupor, still a little breathless but calm enough for the younger man to deem continuing shaving his face as safe.
The blade runs across his neck slowly, calculated. “Oh, would you like that?” Gen laughs and enjoys the look of mortification on Soichiro's face. “You sure would make a good dad… maybe I should call you daddy more often…” Gen drifts off and smirks as he puts the razor away to marvel at his work, wiping the excess shaving cream away from Soichiro's face with a towel to reveal the once again smooth skin beneath it.
“Gen-chan, do you really think it's a good idea to discuss this while holding a blade to my neck?” he splutters as he tries to catch his breath.
“It’s not anywhere near your neck anymore,” Gen retorts and turns around to grab the bottle of after-shave from the sink before splashing some of it onto his palms. “Plus, I think the sharp blade makes it even hotter, no?”
“You'll be the death of me,” Soichiro huffs. He's smiling brightly at Gen by now, enjoying the way the younger man's fingers gently massage the skin of his face with the cool liquid, making sure to spread it across his neck as well.
“You can't live without me, though.”
I know, Soichiro thinks, the arm he has around Gen's waist tightening.
“All done,” Gen declares as he wipes his hands before bringing them around Soichiro's neck again. “I think we got some shaving cream on your shirt, though.”
Soichiro looks down on himself before his hand cups Gen's cheek, pulling the younger man into a short and sweet kiss. “Help me change, please?”