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“Kagehira! Come drink with me!” Shu laughed loudly, gesturing Mika over to the kitchen with a bottle of wine in his hand.
The two had just come back from a long and tiring dance practice. As previously discussed, they had gone to Mika’s apartment to plan for their upcoming performance, however, Shu was nothing but a good guest. He had snuck a bottle of wine and some snacks in his bag, presenting them as a gift to a surprised and grateful Mika when they walked in.
Mika followed Shu happily and got out some wine glasses, his eyes darting between Shu’s easygoing smile and the beautiful bottle that sat in his hands. Today had been a good practice, they were very in sync and the choreo they initially mapped out worked well with the song, balancing elegance and passion in their moves.
Mika had especially liked the outfit Shu wore today, despite the simplicity of a casual black t-shirt and red cargo pants, it had worked well for Shu. Together, the combination framed his figure nicely and the colours complemented one another, making it a bit more difficult for Mika to focus.
When Shu reached during a move, his attention on lengthening his arms and allowing his energy to flow through his limbs, Mika steeled himself not to stare at the small strip of skin exposed around Shu’s midriff. He would not disrespect Oshi-san like that, and he would control himself to keep his gaze lifted, no matter how tempting the alternative was.
Though, every time they made eye contact, whether to discuss corrections or during the choreo, Mika could not help but feel that Shu’s gaze was heavier, weighted with meaning and… longing if he let himself dream. He was often adverse to eye contact, avoiding the gaze of others to prevent attention on his eyes. But he never felt adverse to Shu’s gaze, in fact, he often sought out his gaze, never wanting it to leave his.
Did Shu feel the same? The same way Mika felt when they locked eyes? The same way he felt every time Shu said his name? The same way he felt when Shu smiled or laughed with him, a view special to only him?
Mika handed the wine glass over to Shu and he started to fill them, the light golden liquid bubbling gently and reflecting the warm kitchen light in all directions.
Mika glanced up to find Shu lifting the wine glass up, a warm smile on his face and a look in his eyes that made Mika’s chest ache. Mirroring Shu’s movements, Mika smiled and clinked their glasses together, taking a sip without breaking eye contact.
The wine was sweet and fruity, and it filled Mika with a comforting warmth that settled in his chest. Smiling, the two headed to the dinner table to plan.
As the night continued, Mika found himself relaxing further and further, his inhibitions lowered. The warmth that initially filled his chest persisted, pulsing happily the more him and Shu talked.
It was even harder to focus now. Mika thought he was distracted during practice, but it seems to have worsened exponentially by this hour of the evening. Every time Shu took a sip, Mika’s eyes inadvertently followed, tracking his hand, which reached out delicately, and his lips, which parted slightly as they kissed the rim of his glass. It was impossible to look away.
Eventually, after a few hours of planning and idle chatter, Shu stretched his arms high above his head and yawned.
“Mikaa…” Shu yawned, a sign that he was drunk. Shu only called him Mika under the influence of alcohol, and he was fast to fall sleepy with it. “I’m tired… mind if I take a quick nap before heading back?”
“Taa… Oshi-san, you know you wouldn’t be able to wake up anyways… just… stay the night…” Mika was talking before his mind could think, but then again, it was not the first time they had lived together.
Shu’s sleepy expression widened into a smile, “If you don’t mind… hehe…” Before Mika could say anything further, Shu stood up and stumbled his way to the living room, leaving Mika at the dining table.
Mika’s alcohol-ridden brain giggled at the idea of a sleepover, and he got up as well. Though, he might as well clean up a bit before finding Shu again.
Mika put away their glasses and gave them a quick rinse, smiling at the pair sitting on the counter to dry. It felt so domestic, he felt so happy right now.
Tidying up their workspace, Mika slowly made his way over to the living room, his eyes adjusting to the darker room slowly. Lit by a single yellow lamp, he stopped in his tracks suddenly as his heart stuttered. Shu was lying on his back, already passed out without a care in the world, on his couch.
He looked… peaceful. It was rare for Mika to see him like this, this stationary, as the image built in his head was always moving forward, a perfectionist with endless motivation. It was one of the traits he deeply admired about Shu, though it was nice to see him like this.
And maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the fleeting touches and looks of longing from the earlier practice, but the sight of Itsuki Shu resting peacefully on his couch in the low lamplight was a reminder of why he loved him with his entire being.
Mika flushed more deeply, the same rush of heat that filled him when he drank from his glass returned, however, it originated from seeing Shu.
Only he could fill Mika with such joy and warmth, no drink could compare to. An everlasting thirst in his throat, his salvation in the desert. His love, his partner, his one and only.
He took a step towards Shu and stumbled, collapsing to his knees as his head spun. Catching himself on the couch ledge but cautious not to disturb Shu, Mika’s gaze rose from their place on the floor to Shu’s face.
Entranced was not an accurate word to describe how Mika felt, how could one express such a feeling? His eyes traced over Shu’s form, his hand unintentionally ghosting just above the path his gaze traced.
The warmth in his chest grew stronger, and he felt the overwhelming urge to press his lips to Shu’s forehead, right under where his pink hair met the pale of his skin.
“You never let me return the favour, Oshi-san…” Mika mumbled, his memories of being awoken with a kiss, one Shu never confirmed or denied happening, coming to mind. Mika knew it happened though, his smile widening at the thought.
Gently, and ever so slowly, Mika leaned forward to press his lips to Shu’s forehead. With a reverance and respect only comparable to a god’s most loyal worshipper, Mika’s eyes fluttered shut before he pulled back slowly.
Taken aback by his boldness, Mika blushed furiously and stood suddenly, careful not to wake Shu. Murmuring a goodnight, Mika quickly ran to his room, closing the door quietly and turning to lean back against the door.
Flustered, he ran his hands through his hair and slid down to the floor, unable to stop the radiating warmth of embarrassment rising from his chest up to his face.
Kagehira Mika, you are a gone man.
Why did he do that? What compelled him? What could he do if confronted about it? Shu didn’t seem like he was awake, so perhaps he could pretend it never happened. Or if he did remember, he could blame it on the alcohol.
But why did those scenarios send a pang of sadness through his heart?
God, his head hurt.
Mika sighed as he stood, collapsing onto his bed and resolving to deal with this the next morning. Though, the blush on his face never disappeared as he fell asleep, remembering the brush of his lips on Shu’s forehead.
The second Shu heard the bedroom door close, his eyes flew open as his brain caught up to what just happened.
Kagehira Mika. Next to him. His soft lips on his forehead. Returning the favour.
Shu felt his face heat up rapidly, and he brought his hands up to his cheeks to cool his face, a look of flustered panic plastered on his expression.
Ever since Shu’s impression of their relationship changed from puppet and master to partners, he had started to realize some things. Particularly, how much he admired Kagehira and some… feelings he had regarding him. His willingness to follow Shu’s lead had served him well in the beginning, however, having opened his eyes to Mika’s potential on his own was so much more interesting to Shu.
A force to be reckoned with on his own. A partner and equal he could stand beside, hold hands with, and be in unison together with.
Ever since that revelation, Shu had a hard time not realizing his other appealing traits. His trust and undying loyalty, his loving nature, his infectious smile, his beautiful piercing eyes, Shu knew he could wax poetic on Mika for decades to come, a notion embarrassing and exhilirating in its own right.
Now, every practice they had was laden with tension, an acknowledgement that their partnership went deeper than friendship, yet a mutual fear to take that leap. Shu knew there was always something, there had to be. So he decided to lie in wait, wanting something from Mika to confirm Shu’s hopes.
He always wanted to enter this relationship as partners, on mutually realized feelings. But he could have never expected this outcome.
This was more than the confirmation he required.
His expression slowly shifted into a smile. They say alcohol lowers inhibitions and reveals one’s true intentions, and Shu could not be more proud and giddy at the thought.
His Kagehira, his Mika, taking that first step to return his feelings on his own volition, return the kiss Shu thought he had forgotten about, made Shu’s heart race.
Shu had always wanted this to be the plan, wanted to be together, but his perfectionism desired an ideal relationship borne from his making.
All his life, he had to be perfect, he always had to be driven towards a goal, constantly improving. No one could ever top his need to be perfect, no friends, no rivals, no partners. A constant wall, barricading his heart in thick concrete.
Yet somehow, somewhere along the way, Kagehira Mika stepped into his life and tore those walls down. It was so easy to be more than the idolized image of Itsuki Shu with him, and Mika drew the best out of him.
He had never confronted how he would react or respond to affection that was unplanned. He was always in control of how and why he would react to certain situations, and how he could recover and move forward.
But now, lying on his partner’s couch in the lowlight, drunk off the wine he brought, Shu felt like an uncontrollable live wire, heating up all over.
He couldn’t stop smiling. He couldn’t stop blushing. He felt like a mess, and maybe it was the alcohol, but he could no longer control himself. Shu wished this moment would never end, this giddy feeling of happiness. Maybe, this unplanned, imperfect getting together was how relationships were meant to be entered, and Shu decided he liked this uncertainty a lot more than whatever “perfection” used to mean.
Letting out one final giggle, Shu settled back into the couch, his face smushed into the cushions and plastered with a loopy smile. He fell asleep soundly, a plan starting to form in his mind.
Tomorrow was the day he would confess to Kagehira Mika.
The next morning, Mika had woken to shuffling in the living room. Opening his door revealed a giddy Shu, trying to sneak out the front door but incidentally failing. He whispered some excuse about heading out and thanked him for letting him stay the night. Once Shu left and closed the door, Mika let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
Even though the excuse Shu gave wasn’t convincing, he at least seemed happy and not angry or avoidant in the slightest.
The rest of the day, Mika forced himself to be busy. He was a bit scared pondering what Shu must think of him now, but Mika knew from experience this train of thought was unhealthy. He decided things must be fine, and if anything, he trusted Shu to bring up if there was a problem.
It was closer to evening when he heard a knock at his door. Peeking through the peephole, he saw Shu waiting outside, dressed nicely in different clothing and looking weirdly… nervous? His hands were clasped behind him, and he seemed to shift his weight from foot to foot.
Mika opened the door and couldn’t resist the grin that appeared on his face. “Oshi-san you’re back! Did you forget something?”
Shu lit up when he saw Mika, his nervousness turning into a confident warm smile. “Kagehira, can I come in?”
Mika nodded and stepped back quickly to let his partner come in. Closing the door behind him, Shu finally brought his hands out from behind his back, revealing a bouquet of white and pink acanthus flowers, wrapped elegantly with green ribbon. Mika’s eyes widened at the sight, his mouth opening slightly.
“Kagehira, I wanted to tell you something… will you allow me to speak unrestrained for a second?” Shu’s voice was strong, yet it had a layer of anxiety underneath his tone. His eyes shifted down, but like a moth to a flame, they couldn’t resist glancing up to meet Mika’s eyes every so often.
“You have been my partner, my everything, and Valkyrie would not be where it is today without you. I… would not be where I am today without you. You change me for the better, and I truly admire and love your dedication and loyalty.”
Shu took a breath, embarrassment evident by the flush in his cheeks, before continuing slowly, “I love every part of you, and I never want our partnership to die. I could not imagine life without it. And I know… you feel the same too.”
Shu looked up, and violet met amber and blue. “Kagehira Mika, I love you. I want our partnership to extend beyond Valkyrie, beyond professionalism. The passion I feel for you can no longer be contained within implicit metaphors.” He extended the bouquet out towards Mika, smiling bravely at his lover despite his fears. “I love you, entirely and unequivocally.”
It was too much, Mika felt the same warmth return, this time while fully sober, as his heart swelled. He swallowed heavily and he felt his eyes grow wet, how could he not at his partner’s words of declaration?
Mika whispered I love you too, barely audible but enough for Shu to break, before reaching out to finally connect. He felt Shu’s arms wrap around him tightly, and his head came to a rest in the crook of Shu’s neck. His world, his god, Mika could never experience this level of joy again.
At the sound of Shu’s sniffle, he realized they were both crying. Looking back up, he felt his cheeks start to ache with joy, his smile open and genuine and raw, a mirror of Shu’s expression.
“Were you awake last night, Oshi-san?” Mika laughed through his tears.
“Mhm, couldn’t resist my feelings after that,” Shu murmured honestly, his eyes roving over Mika’s face with awe and uncontained love.
“Though, you didn’t actually return the favour properly. If I recall…” Shu’s voice dropped a tone as he smiled, “I didn’t kiss you on the forehead.”
Mika giggled, before leaning in to connect their lips properly, a set of two puzzle pieces finally coming together.
Mika kissed him with fervour, an energy reciprocated happily as the two finally became complete. His hand wrapped around Shu’s head to gently grasp his neck, and he felt Shu smile against his lips.
Holding each other tightly, with uncomparable care and love, Mika knew he would never let go.