Work Text:
Satomi sighed as he stretched, arms reaching up as he felt his shirt slightly untuck from his pants. He reached down and fixed his shirt, rolling out his shoulders as he did so. He checked his watch, noting how it was already past eight and that he had skipped dinner again. Satomi blinked hard as he felt how dry his eyes were from staring at the computer screen all day. He heard a ping, a notification on his company’s messaging system. Yuki, his coworker, had messaged him privately.
Oka-san! I see you are still working late :)
Hi Yuki. Yes I am.
If you haven’t eaten dinner, would you like to grab something light? My treat!
Satomi hesitated, fingers hovering over the letters N and O. It was quite the company gossip that Yuki had a crush on Satomi, with their coworkers teasing them as Satomi quietly brushed it off.
“You should be exploring your youth! Make some friends, go out on dates! Satomi-kun is too cold, you need to be more open and uhh… how do you say it… expand your horizons?”
Satomi froze, hearing that voice echo through his head. It had been around eight or nine years since he had last seen that man. A rush of anger overcame him as he quickly typed out a reply.
Sure, I’ll meet you downstairs
He packed up his stuff, ignoring the gnawing feeling of something he couldn't quite describe in his stomach. He checked his phone to see that Yuki had hearted the message and anxiously tapped his foot as he waited for the elevator.
‘It’s just the nerves. It’s because I haven’t been on a date with a girl in a whil- ever. It’s ok. It’s not him, and that’s ok.’
The elevator doors opened and he got in, watching the numbers (and his stomach) drop as he approached the ground floor. The doors slid open as Satomi stepped out, seeing Yuki smiling as she waited by the exit.
“Oka-san! Hi!” She greeted him brightly as he smiled awkwardly.
“Hello Yuki. It’s quite late for you to still be here.” He nodded as they began to head outside, both shivering lightly from the chill night air.
“I could say the same for you. There’s a reason we all call you a workaholic.” Yuki giggled as she walked, Satomi noticing a slight skip in her step. He felt uneasy.
“Just trying to finish everything to make it easier. Is your department busy as well?” They matched pace as they continued down the street, conversation flowing easily as they discussed the differences and similarities between their departments. Satomi wondered if the rest of the night would be this easy as well. Maybe there would be a spark between them, and he no longer had to worry about the dark figure who-
“We’re here! I don’t know if you like curry, but this place is pretty good.” Yuki’s voice interrupted his thoughts as they stopped in front of a restaurant. Satomi glanced over as she shyly looked up at him, tucking her hair behind her ear.
He smiled softly. “I do like curry. Let’s go in.”
He opened the door for her as they entered. He held up two fingers as the server motioned for him to sit wherever in the restaurant. He noticed a small corner table and headed over with Yuki. As they sat, he placed his bag and coat next to him as Yuki chattered about how the curry here was her favorite after a long day at work. He nodded as he looked up at her, freezing when he made eye contact with a man across the restaurant.
Earlier, Kyouji had sat down at a table, surrounded by his men as they all grumbled about how tired they were. He laughed as they began to dig into the food. He heard the door open, glancing up to see who came in. He looked back down at his food before snapping his head up, processing who he had just seen. He watched as Satomi walked in with a beautiful young woman, smiling as he opened the door for her. He watched as they walked to a corner table, the young woman babbling about who knows what as Satomi smiled softly and nodded along. He stared, taking in the older Satomi he only dreamed about before he startled, making eye contact with Satomi.
Satomi stared as Kyouji’s jaw dropped, curry falling from the spoon he was holding. Satomi’s eyes followed the falling curry, Yuki’s voice fading as his eyes trailed back up to the face of the man he last saw by the river. A tidal wave of emotions overcame him, a mix of happiness and anger and surprise. The biggest of it all was peace. He felt content and for the first time in many years, his anxiety left him. He began to laugh as Yuki stopped talking, staring at him curiously.
“Oka-san? Is there something wrong?” Yuki questioned as Satomi laughed harder, eyes tearing up as he glanced over at Kyouji, who was making that weird face he makes when he doesn’t know how to handle Satomi. Kyouji, who had a few more wrinkles on his face and deeper lines. Kyouji, who Satomi had thought he got over from his younger days. Kyouji, who made him feel like he was starting all over again.
“I’m sorry Yuki. I’ll pay for your meal, but I can’t eat with you.” Satomi stood up, bowing his head in apology as he grabbed his stuff. Yuki began protesting as Satomi walked over to the other table, standing right by Kyouji.
Kyouji looked up at him, flustered as Satomi looked at him. “Satomi-kun, you can’t just ditch your date-”
“Kyouji.”
Kyouji shut his mouth up as the men around him watched in silence.
“...Satomi.”
Satomi smiled brightly as Kyouji spoke his name, a sense of relief flowing through his body.
“...Kyouji.” Kyouji smiled, shaking his head.
“Satomi-kun, what’s the point of us saying goodbye if you’re going to continue to chase me around?” Satomi laughed as Kyouji stood up, handing his card off to the men to pay.
“Did you remove the tattoo?” Satomi questioned as Kyouji froze before grinning at Satomi. Kyouji grabbed Satomi’s hand as he grabbed all of his stuff, dragging him out the restaurant. He glanced back to see Satomi with a large smile, eyes twinkling as he let the older man drag him out of the restaurant. They quickly walked into the side alley as Kyouji pressed Satomi into the wall, eyes staring as Satomi looked up at the older man. “...let me see your arm.” Satomi spoke softly, fingers tugging at Kyouji’s sleeve.
Kyouji shivered, letting out a shaky breath as he unbuttoned his wrist cuff and tugged up the sleeve. Satomi glanced down, his eyes softening as he reached out to trace over the inked marks. “Satomi. I’m past the age of acting like a proper adult. If…” He hesitated before he inhaled deeply, continuing. “I won’t be mature and let you go, thinking it’s better for you like I did before. I’ll be selfish. Do you know what that means?” His breath hitched as he felt Satomi’s touch trail up his arm, traveling up to his shoulders and then on his neck. Satomi reached up, wrapping his arms around Kyouji’s neck. Kyouji tried to pull his head back, his breath becoming uneven as Satomi tried to tug him closer.
“Is this why you avoided touching me? Because you were scared you wouldn’t be able to let me go?” Satomi murmured as his breath ghosted over Kyouji’s neck, sending shivers down his spine.
“Satomi-kun, can you answer my question before anything else happens?” Kyouji strained, his eyes looking everywhere but at Satomi. Satomi smiled before reaching up, tugging Kyouji’s head down to face him directly.
“I never wanted you to act like an adult. You’re too immature to suddenly want to act like one. I- I want you to do what you want. With me. Together.” Satomi whispered as his eyes pierced Kyouji’s.
Kyouji felt his knees go weak. “Oh. Ok.” Kyouji breathed out quietly before smiling softly. “I missed you. I had no one to eat takoyaki with.”
“Please die.” Satomi laughed softly as his hand tangled in Kyouji’s hair.
“Be careful Satomi-kun. I’m losing hair now that I’m old, you gotta make sure you don’t pull any precious pieces out.” Kyouji grinned as Satomi rolled his eyes.
“Please shut up. Why do you keep bringing up your age?” Kyouji chuckled as Satomi tugged lightly at his hair. He reached down, a hand holding Satomi’s cheek before he softly pinched. Satomi’s mouth opened to protest when Kyouji bent down, pressing a soft kiss against his lips. Satomi froze before melting into the kiss, wrapping his arms tightly around Kyouji and pulling him closer. Kyouji’s arms held Satomi’s waist as he pulled away, panting lightly as Satomi chased after his lips.
“I love you.” Kyouji blurted out. Satomi’s eyes shot open, staring in shock as Kyouji stared back, eyes wide. Satomi bursted out in laughter. Kyouji had a sudden flashback to the scene in front of the river, when he tried to jump in to get Satomi’s money. He smiled, before laughing with Satomi. Satomi continued to laugh as he stood on his toes, reaching up to kiss Kyouji. Kyouji felt his smile against his lips.
“I love you too.”