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The view doesn’t get any better than this.
You heard that apparently nowadays you can get a whole ass couch when going to the movies. Sprawl out as you like. Certainly, an upgrade from the regular seats – especially when sitting next to some stranger and having to fight over who’s allowed to put their elbow on the lone armrest in between. More harmonic.
Not to mention technology has also improved drastically since the days when you and your friends still marvelled at the novelty of being handed 3D glasses upon getting your ticket checked – something that’s long since become normal or that you actively try to avoid. Not every movie’s meant to jump right into your face, is it?
Thankfully, this is a feature you don’t need to put on any extra glasses for. You don’t need to pay for a fancy seat either. Don’t even need to leave the house.
And yet, it’s the absolute best thing you’ve watched in ages.
Your husband, Kiyoomi. Changing.
Arguably, not an unfamiliar sight – far from it – yet one that does not lose its appeal in the slightest no matter how many times you’re allowed to watch. The only thing missing is a bucket of popcorn. Then again, crumbs. Now those would downgrade the front row seat you have from your side of the bed, lying on your side, head propped up in your palm. Besides, this requires your undivided attention.
Attention that doesn’t go over Kiyoomi’s head – in fact, it’s like he can feel your gaze boring into his back as soon as he so much as lifts a finger towards the wardrobe after coming home from practice. Typical. He can’t say he gets the fascination exactly – after all, this is old news, no? – yet he’d be lying if he claimed he minds, a smirk tugging at his lips despite his best efforts. And who would he be not to indulge his spouse a little? So, if he flexes just a bit while taking his shirt off, peeking back at you over his shoulder as he does so, just so you know you’ve been caught ogling…
He expected a reaction, yes. And yes, seeing just what it would be today had largely been the point. After all you’ve got a whole arsenal of them, ranging from giggling to winking to blushing – to that one time you wiggled your eyebrows and told him to take it off slowly. This, however, is a new one.
Because as soon as he catches your eye, you let out a small noise somewhere between delighted and flustered – yeah, it’s basically a squeak – and place one hand right over your heart, the back of the other on your forehead like you’re fainting theatrically, flopping backwards onto the bed.
Now, it’s not like Kiyoomi never laughs – far from it, especially when you’re involved – but he’s not exactly a snorter. Even less so a loud and ugly one like the sound that bubbles up in the back of his throat at the sight of you swooning so dramatically, yet here he is. Giggling, amused to no end by your antics. It’s silly and kind of stupid, but his heart leaps in his chest anyway. Because it is simply a fact that you’re too cute – always, but even more so when not caring in the slightest about how ridiculous you’re being, zero shame to act like a fool when he’s involved, completely unabashed in your affections.
“Do I need to call an ambulance?” It’s hard to keep the fond amusement out of his voice as he crosses the room to slightly bend over your struck down form on the bed as if assessing the damage done by his toned physique.
“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” That you manage to say that with an entirely straight face – even if he can see you struggle ever so slightly, the corners of your mouth clearly just itching to curl into a smile – should be offensive. Same for how he can just tell – years of marriage will do that – that you’re entirely too pleased with your own terrible joke.
Kiyoomi finds himself biting his lip to stifle a laugh anyway.
“Very serious case of ‘my husband’s too pretty’.” You add a moment later, no doubt in an attempt to get him to crack after all.
“Are you seriously telling me you’ve been taken out just from seeing me shirtless?” Obviously not, but there’s always been something about you that’s compelled him to play along anyway. Not that you need the incentive. Your jokes might be notoriously terrible, but he still can't help but be utterly charmed by how incredibly dorky you are.
“’Just’?!” Even your exaggerated outrage, as well as the immediate switch to you looking and sounding as solemn as a judge, is cute. “I’m about to perish.”
And though you do play it up for the bit, it’s the truth. Nothing just about this, about him. Doesn't matter that you’ve seen him in every state of undress countless times, doesn't matter what he's doing or if he's doing nothing at all. There's never going to be anything just about this. He's everything to you and you’ll have none of this just-business.
“You see me without clothes all the time, though.” It’s not that Kiyoomi doesn’t get (and appreciate) the sentiment, but that doesn’t mean he won’t mess with you a little. Or at the very least point out the flaws in your logic. Because if you were to have that reaction every single time you catch a glimpse of his skin… Frankly, it’d be a problem. “You’re not going to die.”
“Well, I've also seen the sunset a million times before and that doesn't get any less beautiful.” It would be an unbearably corny thing to say if it weren't so wholeheartedly genuine – the sheer sincerity of the statement overriding any dramatics or cringe. And you say it without thinking twice. Because it's not something that needs another thought. A simple fact of life. Natural as breathing. It's comical how stark of a contrast it is amidst all the theatrics you return to without so much as missing a beat. “Are you really willing to take your chances with that, dear?”
You almost expect Kiyoomi to roll his eyes anyway. Almost. And maybe he almost does. But ultimately, nothing of the sort happens. Instead, you watch him freeze for a second, staring down at you blankly. No doubt, he’s caught off guard by the absolute sappiness, the complete lack of hesitation on your part to come out with a line like that. Maybe even a little appalled. But ultimately, there’s a certain kind of softness his expression settles into – the same you’ve seen come over his features time and again, since… Well, you can’t remember the beginning of it exactly, but you recall it being there over the entire course of your relationship – sometimes more of a subtle thing, sometimes plain as day like the day you got married. A quiet kind of joy. A gentle weight you know he feels just the same.
It mingles with amusement once more creeping in – causing him to look comically unconcerned despite his words as he braces himself with one hand next to your head, hovering over you like examining a particularly concerning patient. “Perish, you say?”
“Perish.” You repeat firmly yet make no attempt to quell the smile tugging at your lips this time. It’s a lost cause anyway when he’s indulging you and going along so willingly with your whims. There’s just something about him being so comically serious in the face of the most ridiculous situations that never fails to delight you.
But no, it’s only right you treat this with the appropriate seriousness as well, fixing your expression into the gravest you can manage. “Only you can save me now, Omi.”
Oh, how you take delight in the treacherous twitch of his lips – and is it just you or does he look the tiniest bit smug? “Oh, the burden of responsibility…”
It doesn’t seem much like one when after what barely qualifies as a pause to consider the effort saving you would take, Kiyoomi’s quick to lean down further with a sight that sounds anything but bothered or fraught until directly above you, free hand coming to rest on your cheek. His other slides further up the sheets until blindly finding yours, lacing your fingers together automatically. “Mh… the situation’s dire… I suppose I have no choice but to save you from such a tragic fate, my love.”
Your efforts to conceal your delight grow increasingly vain by the second, the anticipation in your eyes growing with every inch that dwindles between you. And who can blame you when you love him so? Still, you make a point of nodding extra firmly in confirmation of his assessment, not bothering in the slightest to not look way too eager for someone supposedly on their deathbed due to husband too handsome.
“I definitely need mouth-to-mouth.” Because of course you do. And naturally, you double down on it. It's only right. “Urgently.”
When is it ever not when it comes to getting a kiss from him?
“Mh… an immediate response is crucial in such a case…” Kiyoomi muses, fighting just the same to keep a straight face – a far more notable and fortunate achievement than your own struggle, you daresay – and as much as you want to see him lose it, you can’t help feeling endeared by the effort.
And reliable as he is, he doesn’t waste another second. Although it is debatable what his lips on yours are going to do to your oxygen supply depending on how long he’s planning to keep them there – a thorough person by nature and encouraged by the happy hum that leaves you at the contact – but you’ll worry about that when you get there.
For now, you give as good as you’re getting. Because even if you’re the one saved by his heroic effort, you’ve never been the type to save or hold back any of your gratitude for everything Kiyoomi does on your behalf. This is no different. Just a peck could never be enough to cure such a serious ailment anyway. And judging by how content he sounds sighing against your mouth, allowing some of his weight to rest on top of you and sinking further into the bed together as he deepens the kiss, it’s a well-received exchange.
It's only with great reluctance and difficulty that you part eventually, lest you end up in need of actual resuscitation – and even then, just enough for a breath.
“Better…?” The way Kiyoomi’s eyes hardly stray far enough from your lips to lock with yours, almost makes you want to tease him. Because he doesn’t particularly look like he wants you to be – if only to have an excuse to dive right back in. Not like he needs one.
Instead, however, you turn your head slightly into his hand still cupping your cheek, kissing the ring right there on his finger – immovable. Feeling the gentle motion of his thumb stroking your cheek falter and then come to a halt completely, your lips spread into a smile as you peek up at him.
“I’m afraid it might be terminal.”
And you wouldn’t have it any other way.