Chapter Text
Whirring could be heard from the room just across the hallway from the bedroom, Tsukasa stuck awake in a fit of irritation. Annoyedly, Tsukasa got up from the bed, and made his way to the workshop, where Rui was, drill in hand.
“Rui, I swear if I have to hear you drilling with that thing one more time- WHY ARE YOU EVEN UP?! It’s 2 AM!”
“Tsukasa-kun… you’ve been on my case about this for multiple nights now, why don’t you just let it go already?”
Rui looked back towards the entrance of the room, Tsukasa resting his body on the doorframe, arms crossed.
“‘Let it go’?! How on earth can I allow my dear husband to sacrifice his health for the sake of his hobbies?”
“Sacrificing my health for a hobby of which I hold dear should not be out of the ordinary, especially when coming from someone with experience, such as yourself, Tsukasa-kun…” Rui held the temples of his forehead tiredly, his head pounding from spending a multitude of nights with little to no sleep.
“Ahah, as much as you may try to hide it from me, I can see through you! You’re incredibly fatigued- just look at how tired you are!” Tsukasa’s confidence faltered as his face softened, worry seeping through his features. “I’m just worried… You know I care a lot about you, and I understand that you love your… hobbies, but this seriously isn’t good for you. Please, would you just give it a rest and go to sleep for me?”
“And yet again, you prattle on, without seeing the full picture…” Rui lolled his head back, moving his gaze from Tsukasa to the ceiling. “As much as I love you, there’re still some things I’d like to attend to…”
“Things that you need to- sigh Rui, please, your health should be your #1 priority. If you won’t make it yours, I’ll make it mine. With that being said, I will repeat this again: Go. To. Bed. We’ve been over this multiple times now.” Tsukasa shook his head, disappointment evident in the gesture.
Rui leaned back in his chair, irritation in clouded judgement filling the room. Without more being said, Rui went back to work, dexterous hands working with bent, affixed metal.
“Kamishiro Rui, don’t you dare turn your back on me like that!” Tsukasa stormed over to the table that Rui was hunched over, only stopping when Rui’s eyes met his again, head slightly tilted to at the very least glance at Tsukasa.
The way his eyes glow underneath the lamplight… this guy, how can he still look good even in his most infuriating moments?! Tsukasa internally screamed, being taken aback once more by Rui’s attractiveness.
“I’ll be done with fixing this robot if you give me a few nights more… but perhaps you’re just too impatient to wait for that, aren’t you?”
“How dare you turn this on me again?! I’m trying to look out for you, and yet all I get met with is constant resistance! Do you not care about your own health? No wait- don’t answer that. I already know you don’t. I wish you would, but you never have.”
Tsukasa turned to rush out of the room, sniffling slightly as he fought tears. As soon as he entered the confines of their bedroom, he slammed the door shut and let his tears fall. Having tucked himself into bed, he reached for something to hug, only to realize there was nothing- or nobody to hold onto for comfort. The tears turned to frustration as he cried angrily into his pillow.
That stupid- he- why doesn’t he realize that sacrificing his health affects me too? That I care- or does none of it matter to him? Does he care more about his robots than me?!
Tsukasa’s heart flipped around in his stomach, all the while knowing that Rui values him more than he does all of his robots combined, despite considering each and every one of them his children.
Through the tears, he managed to fall asleep, the emotional exhaustion having caught up to him.
-
About an hour after Tsukasa had left Rui to his own devices, both figuratively and literally, Rui put down his tools and stretched, fatigue setting its way into his bones. Knowing that his back would hurt if he decided to hit the haystack on his desk, he began to make his way down the hallway. He hesitated for a moment before opening the bedroom door, the metal of the door handle cold against the palm of his hand- once he opened the door, he was soon met with the sound of Tsukasa’s deep snores, choked by what could’ve only been unshed tears. He approached the still body, watching as his chest rose and fell with each breath, guilt beginning to grab at his heart. He made sure to barely make as much as a sound as he left the room, regret making his heart sink, himself constantly making rounds that went over all he’d said before, now more weary with sleep.
After descending the stairs and creeping into the living room, he just sat on the couch, idly.
Tsukasa was only looking out for me… he didn’t deserve me lashing out at him like that, not now, and not ever… Rui slumped over as he covered his face with his hands.
We’re supposed to be equals, and yet I treated him with disrespect that I never should have given- how would- no, could I make it up to him…?
Now even more downcast with the guilt that’d just about spread its roots into his heart and lungs, Rui laid his body down on the couch, contemplating silently until he eventually fell into a deep slumber.
…
Tsukasa let out a big yawn as he stretched, morning rays filtering through the solid curtains. He reached a hand out towards his left, his gaze following suit, himself having realized that he was left with nothing. In that instant, the conflict resurfaced in his mind, and the frustration soon with it.
He huffed angrily as he trekked down the stairs, lost in his own internal conflict. His thoughts spiraled further and further- Why can’t he just take care of himself for once? Why does it always fall onto me? And even when it does- he doesn’t let me do my job! Why must he be so stubborn, why- a spec of purple in the corner of his vision suddenly awoke him from his spiraling thoughts.
Tsukasa made his way to the couch, mind reeling slightly when he saw what it was. He… slept on the couch…? Whatever anger Tsukasa felt before quickly melted into a painful sort of sadness that clawed away at his heart, leaving him feeling guilty for lashing out at his husband. Even if he was being stupid, Tsukasa didn’t want him sleeping on the couch- Did I just make everything worse by trying to confront him? Was I too pushy?
Tsukasa groaned, burying his face in his hands and stalking over to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for himself. Though he didn’t want to wake Rui, he wasn’t about to starve himself either. Perhaps a nice full breakfast would help him shake off the negative thoughts clouding his mind! Maybe he could make Rui’s favorite- I can make it up to him that way…
But not with Rui so close in the other room.
Tsukasa peeked past the partition dividing the kitchen and the living room, seeing Rui’s face, so peaceful and unbothered. He sat down on an armchair near the couch, unbothered by anything but his husband at the moment. As time passed, though slowly, the room began to light up. After a while, Tsukasa approached Rui, at first to check if he was still asleep.
The way his features are illuminated so clearly by the skylight… He’s as still and as beautiful as a painting- I wish I could capture this for myself… Tsukasa found himself thinking.
With a shadow now cast over his face, Rui slowly blinked his eyes open, one of the first things he saw since waking up being “Tsukasa-kun…?”
Said blonde’s brain was now fried, hearing Rui say his name first thing in the morning, Rui’s voice being deeper than usual. All he could do was stand there and stare at the increasingly more conscious Rui.
Rui asking “Do I have something on my face?” while chuckling softly was the only thing that snapped Tsukasa out of his trance.
“UH- WHAT? NO! It’s not- a-anyway, we need to discuss… whatever that was last night! I believe the best way to solve our problems will be to talk this out.” Tsukasa said flustered, shaking his hands lightly.
Rui’s expression darkened rather quickly, it being a surprised one just a moment before.
“Yes, I suppose that is in order…” Rui said, looking away.
“Oh, really now, Mr. Kamishiro?” Tsukasa planted his hands onto his hips as he bent down to get a little more in Rui’s face, Rui simply sitting upright whilst the rest of his body laid down on the couch.
Rui pressed his lips into a fine line as he grimaced.
Heh, exactly-
“Forgive me, Tsukasa, for my composure wasn’t at all agreeable last night… I shouldn’t have said what I ended up saying, it’s true that you were only looking out for my well being and yet, I somehow didn’t see it in the same light… I sincerely hope you’ll overlook my actions this one time, for a second time may be too much for me to bear…” Rui’s face became slightly rosy as he turned his head downwards, embarrassed from admitting his fault, though he didn’t realize that Tsukasa also had something to say.
“I’m glad that you at least realize that I was only looking out for you… but perhaps I was wrong in my method of doing so. I was too pushy, I forced all of this onto you, and I had no respect for your feelings in the matter, even if the whole thing was about you. I shouldn’t have belittled your hobbies like I did, I was just… too caught up in my love for you, that it turned into me forcing my feelings down your throat. I just wish you’d think about your health more… You know, it hurts me to see you not caring. But I’m really sorry that I hurt your feelings in the process, perhaps what I did was selfish, after all, I did just mention that it hurts me too… I hope you can forgive me for being selfish, I- it’s just- I… love you. I love you so much, it hurts. I can’t stay mad at you, I can’t bear you being mad at me, please just… Rui!” Tsukasa kneeled down to hug Rui tightly, crying into his shirt.
Rui gasped softly, taken aback at first, but then smiled gently. “You weren't acting wrongly in the slightest, Tsukasa-kun… I was out of line making you worry like that, though most of all…” he bent down to press his face against Tsukasa's hair. “...I love you too, and would never dream of hurting you like this again.” With that being said, he tilted Tsukasa's head upwards slightly to kiss his forehead, cupping Tsukasa's face afterwards.
Tsukasa let out a little sniffle before hugging Rui tighter, burying his head into Rui’s shoulder. “Please just make sure to take care of yourself more, you worry me so much sometimes… and I- love you, so I have to say this- it’s all out of concern, but also, perhaps I’m a bit selfish, too. I want you with me always, I miss your warmth beside me every night…”
Rui exhaled a breath he didn’t realize that he was holding, though not before opting to hold Tsukasa as well. “You just can’t stop yourself from conveying your love, can you?”
“Idiot…” Tsukasa muttered in response.
“Aww, but you still love me, don’t you?” Rui joked, chuckling softly, before pulling away, gazing at Tsukasa longingly.
Tsukasa merely groaned in response before suddenly sitting up straight. “Ah, blast! Rui! We’re gonna be late for work!”
Before getting dressed, the two stared at each other silently, basking in each others’ attention.
And now, it’s time to truly start the day!
…
Clanging this time, could be heard from a neighboring room.
“Rui, you better get your butt over here right now, we’re already late because of you!”
Said purple highlighter of a man ran over, still fastening his necktie.
“Ah, Tsukasa-kun, have mercy on my poor soul~....” Rui said, feigning tears.
“You’ll be begging for our boss’ mercy when we show up late if you keep going at this pace… here- I’ll go get some water for us,” Tsukasa scolded before turning off the stove.
Rui sparingly picked out bits of food from the pan, being sure not to get any vegetables- “...I never said you weren’t to eat your veggies.” rang a voice behind him. In the end, he got a punishment of extra carrots on his plate.
“*sigh,* You sure know how to torture a man…” Rui cried, all while the smile on his face betrayed his words.
“Hm, what was that? Less talking, more eating- hurry!”
-
Eventually they did leave the house, rushing out to the car as if fire was pouring from out the windows, though they almost missed the mark…
…But of course they got there on time regardless, Tsukasa’s planning is impeccable, after all!
End :3