Work Text:
It's been a little over one year since their first encounter, on a weird coincidence to say the least. Yet now it just feels like fate. Because Leo matches his rhythm so well. In silly talks about reminiscing college life, in sharing their hobbies and work advices, in frequent small hangouts of playing video games every other weekend, to his friend group adopting Leo by just a few stories he mentioned of the new resident moving in right beside his own.
Leo's addition to his routine feels like a breather, like morning breeze on an empty beach. Supposedly quiet, yet grounding him in steady crash of waves. Liberating, in a sense.
...
"I guess we're besties now," Leo said with a cheeky grin one summer midnight they went for an unplanned konbini trip to get ramune. Both opening their apartment door at the same time, ended up spending a good half an hour talking their work-piled-stress away over soft creaks of swings down a nearby playground.
"Sometimes I still think about how you thought I was a ghost."
Claude laughed at that.
"Shut up, the room beside mine was empty for so long and I was exhausted after a couple week trip overseas, okay?"
Leo have heard Claude telling the exact same story over and over again yet it never failed to amuse him.
"Was my screaming that scary?" He was just playing some online games, Claude knows because Leo also mentioned it every single time.
"Let's say getting your walls soundproofed was the best decision you've ever made in your life."
Claude wasn't looking but knows by his scoff that Leo was rolling his eyes.
"I guess the next best decision is getting on swings with your neighbor, drinking ramune while both our shits are due in less than 3 hours."
And they immediately scram back to their rooms, swearing and laughing.
...
Until now, Claude didn't entertain just how much he's been trying to deal with his own fight behind obnoxious wall of insecurity, of how his past partners will look at how disciplined and well put together he is, to the expectations—no, assumptions of imbalance in his relationships.
He handled breakups like watching a withering flower. Its once intoxicating scent unraveled petal by petal, bright colors blurred in grey, his palm no longer feeling its delicate weight like the wind was ought to carry it away. Inevitable, Claude learned that much.
What he didn't thought of was how the whole situation will come to a full circle with Leo finding out how he's always, always wanted to be treated like.
In that one time he was almost unconscious after just a couple of drinks.
...
Knowing some of them—Leo included—was not gonna have alcohol, Claude was taking it easy and cut himself some slack after a long while. Tainting one date from his steady diet of calculated nutrition intake and just gave in, indulging himself.
Not long until it's pretty obvious to the eyes, that yep he's a clingy one—unexpectedly, for others.
Leo saw this coming, yet still hardly processing that it's himself on the other end.
Claude stayed by his side all night, drinking. Not really saying anything. Wrapped in a peaceful silence while sometimes shooting him short glances. He appreciated it thinking Claude was just taking care of him—the plus one neighbor he dragged into a flashy celebration filled with friends and co-workers all from one famous company he's familiar with through Claude's stories.
Aside from enjoying all the fancy bar desserts he was promised with, Leo's still a decent part of society. So he return the gesture. Exchanging chatters with some previously introduced friends, like with Finana about their similar little indoor life, or with Shu comfortably going on and on talking in a second language as fellow bilinguals. Claude was always there, listening, chiming in, even a group of four seniors from his division got in a fit of playful conversation with him about taking a hint in situationships at one point.
At the end of the night when everybody's busy singing and chattering, some already passed out and left the venue, others dunking even more bottles, the two of them were just there. All cozy and quiet at the corner of the bar.
Claude had his head resting on Leo's shoulder. His breath steady and his weight pinned to Leo's side, eyes hardly opening.
Sometimes he mumbles under his breath. Joyful things, regretful things, just mundane stuff. "I'm so tired," that came up eventually—because he always is, Leo knows. Claude is a hardworker.
"I'm sleepy," he said in a hoarse voice. "Am I heavy Leo?" no, you can keep resting, the answer said confidently. Claude is obviously more built than himself, trained muscles visible even beneath thick fabric of Claude's favorite hoodie.
Except at that very moment, all Leo can feel from his best friend was tenderness seeping through slow exhales, the body contact that sparks butterflies down his stomach, and the serene way his lashes were slowly blinking open and shut, all laid back and content.
This might not be the first time Claude made Leo feel this way. He's suddenly reminded to the day Claude knocked on his door only to hand him a warmed can of café latte after his twelfth hour being so fixated on FPS games, or that other day he complied to Claude's random call when it's almost midnight, saying that he's celebrating so they went to get a simple takeout and ate together in his car.
He's also reminded to the frustration Claude was battling with one night and how he went to him for questions, asking if he was wrong, if he was doing a bad job at work, if his decisions were unreliable and if it was all just his own incompetence. Leo knows that's not the case and he made sure Claude understands it too. His best friend spent the night then, naturally.
Leo woke him up the next morning to a simple breakfast for two that he prepared on the usually empty dining table. Claude's slightly puffed eyes were looking back at him somewhat shy after the long rant all night and the unplanned sleepover. His bashful words of apology however only endeared Leo even more.
From the little things in common, to hours and hours of Friday nights spent together gaming or chatting after a long week of endless work, it can't be helped how Leo secretly came to feel like he can just put the blame on sparkly summer fireworks they can enjoy in the comfort of home balconies without needing to go to festival sites.
Might as well blame his favorite video game that keeps on getting exciting updates and won't let him stop playing so Claude ended up dragging him out his door for morning walks, night walks, soon enough even a personalized fitness plan. His words strict but voice soft with care and worry. Also, Leo won't lie that whenever he glances over, Claude always looks amazing in those loose gym outfit pushing through all kinds of reps.
For the umpteenth time, Leo can't help but secretly feel like they could be something.
He didn't realize when exactly did Claude stop his trail of drunken mumbles, because Leo snapped out of his thoughts to look over and he's there, already sleeping soundly. Snores audible under his steady breathing.
Took him just a little of hesitation, but Leo ended up reaching a hand out to pet his head. Slowly ruffling through soft platinum-lavender locks just like he did back when Claude wrapped up his impromptu visit to the barber at one of their hangouts, showing off the fresh cut with a satisfied grin.
He can't contain his smile because Claude nuzzled into the touch, his lips in a slight pout, strands of hair brushing his cheeks and nose—oh, it's grown a bit, huh.
"Claude, wake up," a low whine and another nuzzle. "Let's just go back if you wanna sleep, okay? You'll have a sore neck in the morning."
"Nooo you just got here…" Leo chuckled to his response. "We've been here the whole evening. Now it's past midnight."
"Don't wanna move…" Leo sighed. This big boy is the most adorable he have ever seen.
"If we go back now, I can tuck you to bed, and pet your head," Leo leaned in closer to his ear, soft voice whispering playful words. "I can even kiss your forehead good night~ Better than hanging around sweaty people and forced with noisy music until morning, no?"
He never settled with the offer being said as a joke or if he's trying to push his luck.
Either way, it did made Claude slowly pulling himself back, finally sitting up straight.
What Leo didn’t expect was Claude's fingers reaching over to grab his, scrambling to intertwine them and as the man looked up to find his face, all Leo see is want, but also fear, like something he's been hiding before the alcohol finally tore him bare.
"Fuck, Claude. Don't give me that face. What's wrong?"
Claude can only stare at first. He looked away quick, glimpsing side to side, even when Leo shifted closer to him with concern. Feeling his body heat radiating in the small gap between them, Claude still didn't budge.
He didn't dare.
Yet the proximity only made it easier for Leo's low voice rounding up his name to give him trembles.
He can feel how Leo's gaze has never left him he's eventually forced to return it. Reluctant, but they still locked eyes.
Claude's face was red. So, so red. Like he's caught in headlights. Teary eyes squinted as if there's something he's fighting to hold in, to contain. Still, it pours into Leo like an angry storm. Like whips of thunder. Like heavy drops of rain falling into the endless depth of ocean.
Leo pulled away. Sighing on the visible hurt in both Claude's eyes now that he's on his feet and the gap between them widened, cool air filling in the space while the previously comforting warmth now just merely felt through a frail grasp of their fingers.
So Leo stopped trying to hide his smile. Small giggles even escaped his lips because he finally realized, has this man ever stopped making him feel the way he's been contemplating about?
"Come with me. Let's get out of here." and they went out of the room without any more words spoken, sneaking in the dark between seas of people. Hand in hand.
...
This won't be the first time for them to spend the night in the same room, on the same bed.
Usually at Leo's because he has pretty much all kinds of games and will get his hands on all the fancy recent consoles. Claude remember his first room tour to Leo's and the endless explanation about every meticulous part of his gaming gears collections. With increasing frequency of Leo inviting him to game together, it became a casual routine. Whether the night went by with ranking session or switching up to movies, snacks on the side or sometimes just cans of red bull, it mostly goes on until the next morning. For either one of them will fall asleep first—usually Claude.
It's none of that now, though.
Tonight, Leo was the one driving Claude's car back to their building. Leo was the one reaching up over the visor to get Claude's apartment key. Leo was the one holding a sleepy Claude up to step into the elevator, trying to calm his heartbeat with Claude's weight clinging onto him all their way back to his door.
"There we go." Leo said as he sat Claude down on his plain white sheets. "I'll get you some water real quick. Be right back."
Except Claude stood back up and tailed Leo to the sink, closely watching him under blurry sight. Leo was opening the left side of his cupboard, swiftly taking a cup and shutting the window back, already filling the glass with water.
He caught Leo glancing over, was he smiling?
"So cautious, aren't you? I know what goes where, okay?"
Claude didn't reply. Slowly gulping the glass of water Leo handed him, eyes finding Leo's studious ones on his grip, noticing both Leo's own hands kind of hanging in his front as if the glass might suddenly slip out of his hand and he would be there to catch it.
The thought went by fast because Leo immediately took back the glass once he finished, putting it back in the sink for him. Then a hand on his waist, leading his way back to bed.
Claude's mind was trying to reroute on the echoing noises in the bar, on the sweet taste in his tongue he think was a bite of dessert Leo let him have, on Leo's touch carding through his hair he pretend to not notice—and on the sly affectionate words Leo said that tugged something in his chest.
Leo was already pulling the covers for him, saying something about how behaved and calm he is despite the alcohol.
Is he? Claude wish he wasn't so drunk and sleepy.
"Aren't you gonna stay?"
He can feel the pulse under his own palm wrapping around Leo's wrist, but Claude wish he can rather tell what kind of face Leo is making.
"Here. Stay here with me."
He felt the mattress shifted, eyes following Leo's figure carefully getting under the covers, laying down beside him.
Claude leaned in, closer. Seeking Leo's warmth back. Trying to stay awake. Focusing for any words Leo might say. He felt a gentle hand back in his hair instead, then a soft hum that might successfully lull him back to slumber.
His muscles immediately relaxing, sight quickly disappearing, and mind drifting to everything and nothing at the same time.
Mustering the fight to unconsciousness, Claude opened his eyes once again to find Leo's tender pink irises were already looking back at him.
Like a calm lake in the middle of the night. No waves, no streams. Just there already filling in the hollows of Claude's creeks and coves.
Quiet. Composed. Tending.
It left his chest taut in something he's always been longing for. Like he wants to drown in it. Like he'd rather be consumed whole. Like he can finally breathe.
So Claude surges in, shifting his weight to lean further into the crook below Leo's jaw, pressing an audible kiss on the skin over pulsing veins.
Pulling back a little just to linger, he can feel Leo's throat swallowing a gulp. Familiar voice whispering curses in thick accent of how unfair Claude is for being under the influence.
Claude blinked his eyes once, twice. Taking in the sight of a flustered mess he made out of Leo. "Fuck—I want to kiss you so fucking bad." He already have his answer.
"Do it. Kiss me."
They met in the middle. Leo started tenderly, giving soft pecks over and over. The tip of his tongue brushing under Claude's upper lip before drowning himself in for more.
Claude sighed as he felt himself fall deeper and deeper in Leo's kisses, slowly letting sleep drift him away.
Knowing he painted a ripple on Leo's still surface.
...