Work Text:
It was late night. The bell had rung, signalling someone had entered the bar. The blonde was wearing a hat, trying to hide his eyes to prevent anyone from noticing you. The ginger working at the bar stared at him.
"It's you again." He sighed. "What do you want?"
"Just a beer like usual please!" he sat down at the stool in front of the olive eyed man.
He nodded and turned around.
Tsukasa had purposely come to this bar. Toya had told him that Akito had worked here. He had one goal, make Akito smile.
It had been a week since Tenma had started to check on Akito. And God's, the more he saw him, the more he noticed his details. His rough calloused hands, his dishevelled hair, his tired eyes with the eye bags and his somewhat good physique. He looked very much like life had kicked him a million times, like Toya had said, but despite all that, he still managed to look hot. Irresistably hot. He hadn't felt that way about someone since high school, and coincidently, it was the same man.
A blush crept onto Tsukasa's cheeks. No! He couldn't fall for his brother's best friend AGAIN!!! Damnit...why did he have to look so fine for!? The blonde swore his feelings died after high-school, so why did they come back!!!!??????? He covered his mouth with his hand, in an attempt to hide his blush.
Akito turned around again, placing the beer on the counter.
"Here's your-" he paused and raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"
He chuckled sheepishly. "Ahaha yes! Thank you for my beer."
Their hands brushed against each other briefly, sending Tsukasa's heart through the roof. This wasn't the first time this had happened.
"You really don't look okay."
"I am!"
The ginger sighed. "Whatever you say Ayumu."
The name felt bitter to Tsukasa. He wished Akito would call him Tsukasa, but again, he was undercover after all. He couldn't blow his cover with just his name.
Tenma's fingers wrapped around the glass of beer and took a sip. His gaze fell back onto Shinonome.
"So, Akito how have you been?" he asked, a way to avoid confronting his feelings.
"I've been okay."
"Still no sleep?"
Shinonome grumbled in response. Tsukasa let out a bitter laugh. It was painfully obvious the taller boy wasn't doing okay, and it hurt. Maybe if he said something nice he'd feel a bit better?
"You know you look hot even with your eyebags and dishevelled hair, right?" the words escaped his lips before he could even think twice about what he was saying.
He put the glass he was polishing down and turned his head. "What?"
The blonde turned crimson. He did NOT intend on saying that. "Nothing!!!"
Silence. The ginger looked like he was processing a thousand emotions.
Eventually he spoke. "I know what you said."
"Ah..." the blonde was about to apologise but he was cut off.
"I want you to say it again." his voice was almost sultry.
"Eh!? But why? I'm basically a stranger to you!!!!" Tsukasa was so confused, where did this side of Akito come from???????
"..."
They fell in silence again. Okay, maybe Tsukasa shouldn't have mentioned the fact that they're strangers... Shinonome looked hurt.
"What so you just said that because you could?" his voice sounded upset.
"Uh... I guess..."
The ginger silently got back to work. Tenma took another sip of his beer. He let out a sigh. Did Akito want him too? Was that why he wanted him to say it again? Or was it to do with what Toya mentioned, how he rarely talks to people except for Toya, his sister and his niece? He took another sip. He wanted to say the truth on how he felt but that would mean giving himself away... but then again, seeing how happy Akito had looked when hearing himself be called hot...He was like a puppy that Tsukasa couldn't resist.
He took another sip, much longer than the others. "Okay...maybe I didn't say it just 'cause I could. Maybe."
Akito turned around again. His face had a glipse of hope.
"Really...?" He sounded like a puppy, curious but excited. Tsukasa could even imagine the other having a tail wagging rapidly.
The blonde brushed that off quickly however. He mentally prepared himself. Just tell him how he feels. Yeah that's easy. Totally not hard...
"Yeah." He said awkwardly.
Akito blushed, a small smile of happiness and hope on his face. He was so close to smiling! Telling Akito his feelings was the right thing to do!! His heart fluttered in his chest.
Tenma continued, with a newfound confidence. "You're irrestiably hot in all honesty. The good physique, the eyebags, the messy hair, the attitude, the smug smirk, the scent of alcohol that lingers whenever I'm in your presence. It's so alluring. You've managed to draw me in twice... first high school and now again..."
His olive eyes widened. "High school...?"
Shit- He wasn't supposed to say that. Tenma tried to hide his face with his hat.
"I didn't know a Ayumu in high school...?"
"Ahaha..." his mind tried to think of a cover story. "Uhm..."
Akito noticed how the blonde was almost hiding behind the hat. He raised his eyebrow. "You wear that hat all the time... I wonder what beauty is underneath it~" he teased with a hint of genuine curiousity.
The ginger leaned forward over the counter, pulling the other boy's hat off.
Shinonome fell silent.
"Ahh uhm... you got me?" Tsukasa said sheepishly. He didn't expect to be found out like this, but he had to be grateful nobody was around.
"TSUKASA TENMA!!??????? I- how the fuck did you find out I work here! I thought I cut everyone from high school off!?!?"
Tenma rubbed the nape of his neck. "Let's just say... Toya."
He sighed. "Damn you Aoyagi Toya."
"Do you not appreciate my presence? Even after seeing me for a week without realising it was me?"
Akito leaned against the counter, Tsukasa's hat against his chest. "...don't you have better things to do..?"
Tsukasa's face softened. He could tell from Akito's voice that he was putting himself down.
"No. I don't."
"Wow. So, you waste your free time, that can't be replaced, drinking beer on my shift."
"I'm not wasting any time, Akito."
"You are. Just leave me alone."
Tsukasa felt hurt. Akito was pushing him away. He hadn't done this before, but now he was. Why was he doing this...
"Akito. You know what I said earlier was true, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Says the world-famous star, great at acting to the point it seems real."
The ginger sounded almost...envious as he said that. Like he was jealous of Tenma's success. Ah!? Was he really jealous? It would add up though... all his dreams had crumbled to the ground, of course he was jealous! But that didn't mean he could push him away... Should he try admit his feelings again? Maybe... a more direct approach was needed.
He stood up from his stool and pushed his beer to the side. The blonde pushed himself up onto the counter. Akito watched him in confusion.
"What are you doing..." he sounded sick of the blonde.
Tenma jumped off the counter, now standing right next to Akito. He was significantly taller than him now, much more than the previous 4cm difference. The boy's scent was much stronger than from behind the counter. He smelt mainly of alcohol, however, there was a hint of sweetness. His eye bags were more noticeable as well as his face on the whole. He looked so much handsome up close that it makes Tsukasa want to say every thought of his about the younger one.
But then something caught his eye. Underneath Akito's shirt sleeve there was something there? Curiousity took over the blonde. He gently grabbed Akito's arm.
"Hey you can't!" the ginger pulled his arm away.
Eh? Why did he pull away???? He knew he shouldn't but he grabbed his arm again, quickly pulling up his sleeve before he could stop him.
A soft gasp escaped his lips. He didn't expect to see this...
Wrapped around his arms were bandages, slightly red, meaning he...
He looked up at Akito. The taller boy's eyes were wide. Shinonome was shaking, his breathing becoming heavy.
"Akito..." his voice trailed off.
And it was like that was all it took. He broke down into tears, his body shaking at his immense sadness. The older boy brought a hand to his face, trying to hide from the older one.
Tsukasa didn't expect to see this but it didn't matter now. What mattered was helping Akito. He pulled the ginger's hand away gently.
"It's okay... don't cry." his hand brushed away his tears.
Akito looked at him with his tear-filled eyes. "No, it isn't. I'm a jealous asshole..." he pulled at his hair in irritation. "I feel jealous about everything, about everyone's success' when I should be celebrating them like a good person. I want people to like me; to love me but I can't like them back regardless of platonical or romantic because I end up jealous. I can't do anything right that why I have nothing left...I'm so fucking selfish..."
"You're not selfish Akito. It's okay to feel the way you do. Just...please don't do this." he looked down at the bandages on his arms.
The taller boy's body still wracked with sobs. Tenma continued to wipe his tears away.
Suddenly, he got an idea.
The blonde went on his tiptoes. Gently he pressed his lips against the other boy's. He could taste pancakes and alcohol on his lips. It was an odd mix, but he didn't really care. All he cared about was to be gentle with the kiss. He didn't want to go too far and hurt Akito. If that happened, he would never forgive himself.
The kiss lasted a few seconds before the blonde broke away.
Shinonome was silent. A tear rolled down his cheek.
"W-Why did you..." his voice was shaky.
Tenma cupped his face with his hands. "Because I don't care about your flaws. I think you're brilliant. You need to stop doubting yourself. If you try hard enough you'll get somewhere eventually...even if it didn't work out the first time, it doesn't hurt to try again. It hurts me to see you like this, even if you look hot it still hurts to know why you have these dark eye bags and dishevelled hair. I don't want you to be hurting anymore, physically and mentally."
Akito was stunned.
"I love you Akito."
"You...You do?"
He nodded and instantly, he started crying again. The blonde was startled.
"No, no, no, no please don't cry again..."
The ginger sniffled. Tsukasa ruffled his hair. He had to admit, seeing Akito so vulnerable like this was odd, but oh well. The ruffling of his hair seemed to calm the taller boy.
"...I think I love you too Tsukasa." the ginger admitted quietly.
The blonde blushed. "Eh? I thought you wouldn't?"
"Well I guess... maybe I liked you back in high school too."
"Really?"
He nodded. "Yeah...before that happened...assuming you know. But anyways that doesn't matter. What I'm saying is well..." he rubbed the nape of his neck. "Will you be my boyfriend?"
"Of course!!!!" Tsukasa's eyes lit up.
He kissed Akito again, slightly less gentle than previously. Shinonome reciprocated the kiss. His hands instinctively grabbed Tsukasa's waist. Their kiss was passionate but tender. God did it feel like heaven. Tsukasa's pleasured himself with the taste of the ginger's mouth against his own for the second time today, trying to make the kiss last forever. However, Akito pulled away shortly after.
"You're mine. Only mine." he growled possessively.
The blonde giggled. "I guess I am now."
Akito pushed Tsukasa against the counter and kissed him. Oh, how Tsukasa wished this would last forever.