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Kuro always treated the birthdays of his loved ones like they were something sacred. However, he never necessarily cared for his own. For a man who had spent years of his life trying to get people to stay away from him, all the positive attention he received on his birthday felt unnatural and strange, even though he knew everyone meant well.
That said, he would say that he enjoyed his birthday this year.
The day had been relatively simple, which was something that he greatly appreciated. He received the usual kind words and wishes he got from his friends and family every year, went out to lunch with Chiaki and Tetora, and later returned home to the arms of his lover, Shu, who had cooked a big, juicy steak for him– just as he liked it.
And now, it was time for bed.
Shu was already in their bedroom, unfastening the clasp of his pearl necklace. His eyes met Kuro’s as the latter walked through the doorway, and he gave him a small smile.
“Did you have a nice day today, my love?” he asked, his tone light and airy.
“Yeah. Thanks for the steak, again,” Kuro replied, taking his shirt off and carefully placing it in the laundry bin. His muscles flexed slightly as he did so. The unconscious action was not missed by Shu, who averted his gaze, but still watched from the corner of his eye. He inhaled sharply, hesitating as if he wanted to say something.
“Kiryu,” Shu eventually began, his voice sounding rather small, “I have a…present for you.” Kuro’s body startled at the mention of a gift. He turned to stare his partner in the eyes, bringing his hand up to his neck.
“You didn’t hafta get me anythin’, babe. You know I don’t give a damn what day it is.” Shu huffed, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
“You always speak so lowly of yourself, Kiryu,” His tone wasn’t unkind; it was more concerned than anything. “You think you’d understand how loved you are at this point. That is exactly why I’ve arranged for this gift.”
“‘Ranged for? Just what are you-” Kuro was interrupted by a soft peck on his lips as Shu took his hands and squeezed them. A silent ask for trust.
“I’ll be right back, dear.” He lilted before leaving the room. Kuro stood in place; just what was his love planning? If there was anything he had learned about Shu in their years together, it was that he was incredibly clever. That man certainly had something up his sleeve. And Kuro, for his part, didn’t know whether to be nervous or excited about it.
A few minutes later, Shu returned wearing his nightclothes.
His nightgown was new, a flowing yet modest white piece. Kuro had never seen him wear it before. He felt his face heat up a bit; he was always fond of Shu’s nightgowns, the sight of him in each and every one made his heart beat just a little faster. Shu was quick to notice and started chortling.
“Oh, come now,” he eyed him playfully, “You’ve seen me in these before.”
“This one’s new, Itsuki. How d’ya expect me to act?”
“Kiryu, you already knew I was making new ones for the winter. Besides, it’s comfy.” He hugged himself, letting the fabric swish against his skin. “Honestly, I don’t even know how you sleep with your shirt off in such frigid conditions.”
“I’m naturally warm. Y’know that well, Icchan.” It was true; Kuro’s body temperature was often quite high, making him a kind of living furnace. Most winter nights ended with Shu pulling himself ever closer to try and usurp the warmth radiated by his lover.
Kuro could’ve stared at the beauty before him all night long, but his trance was broken when Shu clapped his hands together.
“Now then, lay down on your back for me. On your side of the bed.”
“Huh?!” Shu’s sudden command took Kuro off guard. Normally, his lover wasn’t very direct about such matters. He couldn’t possibly have been insinuating…
“Seriously, Ryuukun, hurry up and lay down! And don’t think I haven’t seen that filthy look on your face…I promise my intentions are pure.” Kuro chuckled warmly and raised his hands as if he were under arrest.
“Alright, boss, I gotcha,” he did as he was told, resulting in Shu giving a satisfied hum. He slipped into bed, right beside Kuro. The bedsheets rustled as he shifted onto his side to face him. A beautiful, genuine smile had appeared on his face, one that Kuro felt lucky to have the pleasure of seeing. He tried to get up a bit to caress Shu’s cheek, but the elegant man tutted and placed his fingers on his chest to guide him back down. He nuzzled his nose against Kuro’s cheek before rising again.
“You always take such good care of everyone,” Shu idly traced a finger down Kuro’s arm, eliciting a slight shiver from the redhead. He halted at a small scar on his bicep. “Tonight, I want to take care of you.” He examined the scar, hovering a finger over the tissue. “May I?”
Kuro simply grunted in approval, watching as Shu’s finger trailed across the shape of the scar. Shu’s eyes were downcast, transfixed on the scar, as if he were etching it into his memory. He had long known about the many scars Kuro possessed; he saw them almost every night. However, it was not often that they received his undivided attention.
“You never told me how you got this one,” Shu gently traced his finger back and forth across the scar. “If it’s alright, would you tell me now?”
“Fell off my bike once,” Kuro answered, his tone rather flippant, “Hit the pavement pretty hard. Nothin’ too bad.” Shu’s eyes widened, and he leaned forward to press a feather-light kiss to the scar. Kuro’s heart stilled instantly; he hadn’t expected this much affection from the other, especially in regards to such imperfections in his skin. Much unlike himself, Shu had not a single scar on him; his skin was smooth and always handled with care like porcelain. The idea of a perfectionist treating something flawed like it was a masterpiece never failed to give Kuro butterflies in his stomach.
“Itsuki…” he muttered, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. Shu paused his actions, gazing at Kuro with an unreadable expression.
“Would you like me to stop?” His tone was level, yet his eyes had become quite serious. Kuro sank further into the bed under the scrutiny of the rosette.
“…No. Keep goin’.” As much as Kuro felt he didn’t deserve to be loved so gently, he knew he’d get a stern talking from Shu if he chose to depreciate himself on his birthday of all days. Besides, he would be lying if he said the fleeting touches and kisses weren’t pleasant to receive.
Shu planted a couple of sporadic pecks across Kuro’s arm and shoulder, smiling fondly as the other squirmed under his touch. Kuro grinned as he felt a lovely warmth spread throughout his body.
Shu’s hands had migrated over to Kuro’s chest, moving up to his collarbone. He had quite a few scars in the area, they varied in shape but all appeared to be similar in age, as the color of the tissue seemed almost identical on each of them. Kuro noticed Shu’s focus wavering a bit from this realization.
“Fights,” he said abruptly, causing Shu’s hand to flinch. “Got into ‘em a lot as a teenager. Reached a point where I stopped fightin’ back, so they hit me as much as they wanted.”
“Oh, Kiryu,” Shu whispered, raising himself and moving a little so that he was hovering over the other man. “You’ve been through so much. I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” He traced little circles around each and every scar, eyes locked on the uneven edges and raised skin. Kuro placed a hand over Shu’s to cease him temporarily.
“Nothin’ you coulda done, babe. I probably would’ve shut you out anyway, wouldn’t want you gettin’ involved with that stuff.” He closed his eyes, thinking of all the times his family cried over him. He certainly wouldn’t have wanted Shu to be amongst them.
“...Please say you let someone tend to these when you got them.”
Kuro didn’t respond. They both already knew the answer to that.
Nonetheless, Shu’s fingers trembled, and he dipped to press a slow, deep kiss to Kuro’s collarbone. The tender and sensual action caused Kuro to groan, hands gripping the bedsheets as his lover continued giving kisses to each and every scar on his chest, leaving none uncared for. The fabric of Shu’s nightgown whispered against Kuro’s bare chest, creating a tickling sensation that made him feel warm and relaxed.
Shu, now overcome with emotion, brought his hands to Kuro’s side, where the remnants of a large gash resided. He already knew the story to this one; the size of the scar had terrified him so much the first time he saw it that Kuro explained it immediately. However, he never really needed to hear the story; Kuro got into a lot of fights in his youth, and the sharp and jagged edges of the injury did enough to reveal the object that would inflict such a heartbreaking wound.
He inhaled shakily, his eyes threatening to spill tears. His irregular breathing alerted Kuro, who opened his eyes to look at him with a worried expression. He wanted nothing more than to take Shu into his arms, to kiss away his tears, to tell him it was all okay, to protect him from all of the feelings that came with his scars. Regardless, Shu always treated Kuro’s pain as if it were his own; he felt these emotions so strongly because he loved him.
“It’s okay, Itsuki,” Kuro tried to ground him with words, “That one happened a long time ago. But you can skip it if it makes you sad.” Shu stilled himself, and then slid down so that his face was level with Kuro’s side.
“It deserves just as much love as the others, my dear,” he brushed his lips against it. “It’s a part of my beloved Kiryu, after all.” He began to hum, tracing the scar as he moved back up. He went back over to Kuro’s collarbone and hummed softly as he pressed more kisses up his neck and throat.
Kuro's eyes became heavy as Shu’s voice continued to lull him. Eventually, he allowed them to close, and any previous tension in his body was lost to the comfort his darling provided. The couple remained in a serene state for a few moments before Shu decided to switch gears, shifting back up and skimming his hand down Kuro’s arm to grasp his left hand. Kuro’s eyes quickly opened; he knew what Shu was looking for.
On Kuro’s left palm was a long yet thin scar. It was much more faded than any other mark on his body, so it was difficult to see at first glance. However, Shu knew exactly where it was. He smiled as he held Kuro’s hand close, rubbing scar with his thumb.
“You remember this one, right, darling?” Kuro laughed in response.
“How could I forget? I dropped my needle while sewin’ with you when we were brats. It hurt and there was blood everywhere, but you patched me right up.” Shu let out a fond sigh, bringing their hands closer to his face.
“You really were such a reckless child, Ryuukun.” He gave a big kiss to Kuro’s palm, his lips lingering there for what seemed like an eternity. Kuro felt his body heat up even more, his breath catching in his throat.
“Well, judgin’ by how roughed up I am, I never really changed, did I?” The comment appeared to catch Shu off guard, as he swiftly retracted his lips and brought a hand to Kuro’s jaw to turn his face to stare at him. The redhead’s eyes broadened at the sight before him.
Shu was staring at him with impossibly kind eyes, the dim light of the lamp on the nightstand reflecting against lavender orbs, making them appear even warmer. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, but he was smiling. The moonlight from the window behind him illuminated his silhouette, emphasizing the pure white of his nightgown. From this perspective, he resembled an angel; a glowing, ethereal deity who had come from the heavens to give Kuro all his love and affection. He squeezed Kuro’s hand before speaking in the softest tone he had ever heard from him.
“You are beautiful, Kuro Kiryu. Not despite your scars, but because of them. Each and every one tells the story of the handsome man I fell in love with. Even though I wish I could take all the pain they must have caused away, I’m happy that I can take care of them now. No matter what happens, or how life changes us, I’ll always take care of you, Ryuukun. Please do your best to remember that for me.”
Kuro felt his chest tighten. He tried to speak, but found that his words failed him. A flurry of emotions barraged him all at once, and he found himself falling even more in love with the man before him. His body felt hotter, his breathing felt faster, his heart was threatening to jump out of his chest. That was when he knew he couldn’t take it anymore.
Teary-eyed and red-faced, he took Shu into his arms, bringing him down to be level with him on the bed. Shu yelped at the sudden movement, but relaxed when those familiar lips he adored so much met his own. The kiss was passionate, Kuro pressing closer and closer, pouring his entire being into the exchange. He ran a hand through the other’s downy pink hair, taking in his clean, floral scent. Shu, for his part, gasped softly and melted further into his sweetheart.
When they finally split apart, they were both left flushed and panting. Shu inched towards Kuro’s face to plant a kiss on his brow.
“You could stand to be a little more patient, my love,” his voice had taken on a sultrier tone. “I could’ve kept going, you know.”
“Icchan, you can’t just say all that and expect nothin’ in return. Hell, I should know that more than anyone.” Kuro drew Shu a little closer, gliding a hand up his thigh. “I wanna thank you for your gift. This is the best birthday I’ve had in a long time.” Shu preened, happy about his success. His operations to get Kuro to care about his birthday would become stronger year after year, but for now, he was elated with this result.
“Well then, what are you waiting for, my darling?” The sleeve of Shu’s nightgown slipped off his shoulder, creating an enticing view for Kuro, who shifted his hold on the other to keep him warm.
“Yeah, yeah, hold on, angel.” Kuro’s strong arms enveloped Shu, cradling him close enough to feel his heartbeat.
“Angel? That’s a new one,” Shu thought out loud, blushing slightly at the endearment. Kuro smirked as he rolled them over so Shu was the one on his back.
“Just thought of it. Suits you perfectly, don’t it?” Kuro melted against Shu, caressing his waist. The rosette simply laughed in response, tangling their legs together. Kuro stared down at Shu lovingly, giving him a toothy grin.
“Now, why don’t I thank you for takin’ good care of me, Icchan? Gettin’ all these scars led me back to you, after all. Least I can do is show you my gratitude.”
Shu hummed eagerly and swathed his arms around Kuro to pull him back in. It was clear that their night together was far from over; in fact, it was just getting started.