Work Text:
The front door shut with a low click; it was already past midnight when Yuma returned home. The dorm was relatively dark, except for the soft glow of the lamp in the living room. Yuma took off his shoes, still placing them neatly on the shoe rack despite his tired state before dragging himself further into the dorm.
“You're back,” a voice chimed before Yuma's eyes could even comprehend the space. Yuma froze, he hadn't expected anyone else to be awake- or well, out in the living room. He reluctantly lifted his head, despite his mind's protests (he just wanted to go to bed), only to find Maki already scrambling to his feet and making his way towards the shorter. Yuma blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
“You're still awake,” he muttered, shifting his gaze as Maki approached. He waited. And out of everything, he waited for him. That thought alone made Yuma's heart flutter, way too much for his own liking.
“You look like shit,” Maki chuckled, pulling the other into a warm embrace. Yuma tensed for just a split second, before his muscles relaxed again. Even though Maki liked to initiate skinship, even though Maki liked to bother him, Yuma had never really gotten used to it. And the fact every interaction, every glance he catches, every small brush of their shoulders does something to him that he's unsure he should even be feeling.
“You're not the one who had to work 'til midnight,” Yuma huffed however he didn't pull away from the hug. He let his eyes flicker shut, and his head rest on Maki's chest. Maki let out a small laugh, bringing one of hands up to brush a stray strand of hair off Yuma's forehead.
“Do you only reciprocate my love when you're sleepy? Should I start clinging to you at night then?” Maki teased, his hand still lingering near the others hair. Yuma's eyes quickly fluttered open, pushing himself back - as much as he can since Maki's other hand is still wrapped comfortably around his waist. He just eyed the younger with a look mixed of suspicion and confusion, earning a sly grin from him. “What?”
“You're annoying,” Yuma said, deadpan, rolling his eyes, “Let me go, I need to take a shower.”
Maki laughed again, releasing the other from his hold before ruffling his hair. God, Yuma hated how addicted to that sound he was. He could feel his cheeks and ears begin to burn and hurriedly made his way out of there before Maki could notice- or if he already had, comment on it.
By the time Yuma had finished his shower and blow-dried his hair, it was already nearing one-thirty in the morning. He carefully shut the bathroom door behind him, dragging his feet down the hall towards his bedroom. He reached for the knob, pushing his door open, and there he saw it. Maki. Sitting comfortable in his bed, scrolling away on his phone, like it was his own.
“What are you doing?” Yuma questioned, closing the door behind him, feeling like an intruder in his own space. Maki briefly glanced up at him, shrugging like it was normal for him to be there, before turning his attention back to his phone. Yuma sighed, attempting to appear annoyed, heading over to his vanity to do his skincare. Halfway through his routine, he glanced at Maki through the mirror who was already looking at him. Yuma quickly looked away, turning his attention back to his skincare.
“What are you looking at,” Yuma mumbled, barely audible unless you were paying full attention, in which Maki was.
“You,” he responded without missing a beat. Yuma froze for a second, his cheeks beginning to heat up again, looking at Maki's reflection once again. That stupid smug grin was plastered across his face again. He scoffed, continuing his skincare, attempting to distract himself from the butterflies forming in his stomach.
Once Yuma had finished up his routine he went and sat on the edge of his bed, grabbing his phone to do a final check of notifications, actively avoiding Maki's gaze. It was quiet for a bit, seconds that felt like hours, until Yuma heard shuffling behind him. Maki was finally leaving, but some part of him wanted him to stay. But Yuma didn't see Maki walk towards the door, instead he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist and a chin rest on his shoulder. Yuma froze, again.
“Y'know, for someone who looked like he was about to pass out the moment he came home, you're taking an awfully long time to go to bed,” Maki spoke, his voice soft but laced with a tease only Yuma can recognise. Yuma let out a shaky breath he didn't know he was holding, placing his phone back on the bedside table.
“What are you doing?” Yuma asked once more, this time sharper, his hands instinctively moving to rest over Maki's.
“I want cuddles,” Maki said way too nonchalantly, like this was such a casual request.
“What?” Yuma spoke, taken aback.
“Come on,” Maki raised his head, using a hand to turn Yuma to face him using his chin, “Don't act like you don't want it too.”
Yuma just stared at him for a minute, 'you don't want it too', what was that supposed to mean? What was he trying to imply? Yuma hesitated for a moment before exhaling, “Fine. You're annoying.”
“You've said that already,” Maki grinned from ear to ear, already moving back to his former spot, allowing space for Yuma to crawl beside him. He turned off the lamp before lying next to the taller. Maki's hands already finding Yuma's waist like it was the most natural thing in the world. Yuma just shifted closer, resting his head in the crook of Maki's neck, the sound of his heart beating against his ear. Yuma was about to fall asleep until Maki began to speak,
“Y'know...” he paused, like he was unsure if he should say it or not. Yuma shifted slightly, an indicator for him to go on. “I really like you, and not in that friendly platonic way. In the way where I can't take my eyes off you, in the way my heart beats weirdly and my stomach does flips whenever I'm near you, in the way where I want to sleep beside you and wake up next to you every day.”
“Then why don't you?” Yuma said before he could even stop himself. Maki froze this time, his breath hitching, “What?”
“Then why don't you wake up next to me every morning,” Yuma spoke again, his intentions clearer this time.
“Yuma-”
“I like you too, idiot,” Yuma blurted out before it was too late. Already digging himself deeper into Maki's body, shocked at his own sudden confession. Maki didn't respond, he just tightened his grip around Yuma's waist.
...
A beat passed.
“Shut up,” Yuma grumbled.
“I didn't say anything.”
“You're thinking something and it's disrupting my peace.”
Maki chuckled, rubbing small circles on Yuma's back.
“Okay, okay, good night, Yuma,” he whispered, placing a soft kiss to the top of his head, “Sleep tight, I won't be going anywhere.”
And so, Yuma began to drift off to sleep. Entangled in Maki's warm embrace, the moon ever so subtly creeping in through a gap in the blinds. The world outside was still progressing, but in this room, time felt like it had frozen. Yuma tucked against Maki like he was something precious, and to Maki, he is the most precious thing alive.