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A few knocks were enough for Katai to jump out of his Futon and dash to the front door,still he checked the spyhole to be sure it was who he hoped it was.
“It's me Katai!”
“Kunikida!”
Katai said as he spread his arms wide open,expecting a hug, but got a bunch of shopping bags in his hands instead.
“I already thought you wouldn't come.”
Katai said, lowering his voice. The sun started to set, while Kunikida usually came to visit during noon. Considering his punctuality, Katai already curled up in his futon and yearned.
“We had a special mission in the agency and I lost my phone during it, so I couldn't call you. I'm sorry I'm late”
Kunikida said, taking off his shoes and going to the kitchen to leave the rest of the groceries. Katai followed him and smiled softly.
“What kind of mission? No one got hurt?”
“No, it was a minor clash with the mafia. We had to handle some illegal weapon sellers.”
The blonde haired man stepped into the kitchen and placed the groceries on the floor next to the fridge, while Katai took two pizza boxes from his dining table to put his two bags on it. Kunikida sat down to rest up and Katai started to clean up the dining table, which was messier than usual.Katai nodded and Kunikida continued explaining how his day went: the cat incident, mafia clash, paperwork, phone loss, Dazai spilling his coffee all over himself…
“Can I treat you to something?”
“Sparkling water”
After giving Kunikida a cup of refreshment Katai looked over the groceries Kunikida bought. It seems that everything from his list is here. Katai doesn't like being in crowds and spending hours trying to find the specific products he uses, so Kunikida does his errands for him in exchange for a nice dinner and a movie night.
After sipping two cups of sparkling water, Kunikida fixed his glasses and looked up to Katai.
“I think we won't be able to do the usual cleaning as the sun sets soon.”
“But you will stay for the night?”
“Yes, I will.”
Kunikida smiled,got up and gently wrapped his hands around Katai and placed his hand on Brunette's shoulder, taking in his warmth. Katai just froze and enjoyed the feeling of arms around him. Arms that caressed and cared for him in the toughest times.
“You missed me so much you cannot put food in the fridge?”
“Kunikida…”
Katai placed everything he was holding on the kitchen counter and slowly took Kunikida's hands off himself. Then turned around and looked at the blonde. Kunikida became worried for a second, his pulse already started to get higher. Does Katai want his hands off him at least until tonight? Or does Katai crave more, like he does.
Kunikida was always scared to go overboard with Katai. Knowing how sensitive he is to touch, sound, everything. Yet whatever they did together felt natural to Katai. Everything they did together never felt overwhelming.
Katai got closer. Kunikida could feel his breath on his skin. He tried not to move,not to squeal Katai to kiss him. Katai put his hand on Kunikida's waist, then another. The blond man twitched,but made no sound. Then Katai squished him into a hug, circling his hands around Kunikida's back, Kunikida doing the same.
“I missed you.”
“I did too.”
“Let's just unpack the groceries and then we can catch up on everything”
“There's not much I can tell you.”
“Well for a start.”
Kunikida got one of the juice packages and placed it into the bottom kitchen cabinet and the other in the fridge.
“Did you finish that game you told me about?”
Kunikida stopped playing video games himself after college, but Katai never really did. Still Kunikida always found time to play with him, even just one round of some first person shooter or online poker. To this day it was also one of their favorite things to talk about.
“Oh yes yes! I don't want to spoil it for you but the ending was so shocking in the best way possible.”
“Was it really worth 10 000 yen?”
“Definitely! I mean the graphics can compete with few games, but the story and characters!”
Katai was sorting out fruit and vegetables as he talked and helped Kunikida carry the cleaning products to the bathroom.
“Oh my god.”
Kunikida exclaimed, opening the bathroom door.
Uhm, it's been a while. Since I washed my clothes. I didn't realize it got this bad..
Two men were looking at a bathroom filled with clothes. The washing machine and dryer were filled with clothes and much more were over the floor. No cloth was found only in the sink, toilet and the shower. Even though a couple of shirts and pants were drying on the shower door.
“Oh yeah, I tried to handwash those.”
“Katai you could've told me sooner you're out of laundry powder and detergents.”
Katai nervously fidgeted with his fingers and looked to the side before answering.
“I thought you were too busy…”
Katai's sentence was cut off by Kunikida picking up as much clothes and piling it up. Katai tried to help, but the bathroom was not wide enough for two of them. In the meanwhile he got all the dirty clothes out of the washing machine and the dryer. Suddenly silence filled up the room.
“Or you could've bought it yourself.”
Katai gulped. He knew. He tried to play off his codependency on Kunikida as cute, but sometimes it really bothered him. He felt like a kid that's too scared of the world around him. And he was.
“I still have some clean clothes, I could've survived a week or two. I showered every day too.”
“That's not what I'm implying.”
They stood in silence as Katai turned on the washing machine.
“This is not about cleaning supplies.”
Katai bit his lip and turned around to go into his room, Kunikida followed.
“I saw your prescription box is empty. Why?”
“I'm, I shouldn't have been so distant. I know.”
They both sat on the floor, Katai's PC quietly humming in the background.
“I also should've been less distant. Cannot say I don't blame myself on that part.”
“I thought I could go without that.”
“Pills?”
“You.”
“What do you mean?”
Kunikida’s eyebrows furrowed. Katai lowered his head and fidgeted with his sleeves.
“I just wanted to be normal. I wanted to function without those,but it got worse and worse. And I relapsed.”
Katai’s voice was getting shaky as he tried pulling his sleeve up, but failed. Kunikida grabbed Katai's hand tugging the sleeve, then the other one. Slowly intertwining their fingers and looking at him with a soft gaze.
“I wanted to make a whole speech to lecture you, but I realized you know you made a mistake. Katai… This isn't you I knew in high school or in college. That Katai knew his limits,but never felt discouraged by them. Like when 18 year old Katai got wasted in a bar and got such a bad hangover his head hurt for 3 days straight.”
Katai smiled and raised his head to look at the blonde. Looking more carefully, Kunikida also wasn't in his prime. His hair was greasy, eyebags were much darker than usual and he felt that his hands were dry.
“What if I wanted a lecture?”
Katai said with a smile, to which Kunikida tapped his shoulder.
“Some things never change. But I was serious. You should step outside and go shopping for new clothes.”
“Ughh do I have toooooo?”
Two men slowly got up from the floor and went to Katai's wardrobe. When met with Katais groaning he crossed his arms and looked at him. Kunikida's scary teacher stance always worked on Katai and he agreed.
Kunikida helped him pick an outfit from the wardrobe. They managed to find light summer pants and a white shirt that compliments it well,except for the small stain on the neck, which they deftly covered with a dark blue tie.
Kunikida helped Katai undress, not because Katai couldn't (which is up to debate,as he was as red as a tomato) but because Kunikida craved the feeling of Katai's skin against his own.
Katai got the pants and shirt on easily, but struggled tying the tie,which Kunikida did with ease. Katai just blushed and looked at him, giving him a small peck on the cheek when he finished.
Katai got his bag and soon they left. It was already dark outside and street lamps started buzzing in the background of Katai's pretty quiet street.
Once at the bus stop, they tried to stand as close as possible,but not touching. It made them smile. They have done that since high-school. Since they first fell for one another. Exchanging little intimate touches and rubs was their speciality by now. And nobody had to know.
As the bus came to the stop, three other people waiting got up from their seats,except the old man who was visibly struggling. Everyone got in,but Katai stopped at the entrance as soon as he felt Kunikida wasn't following. He forgot how strong his morals are sometimes.
Kunikida helped the old man to get up and enter the bus, to which he smiled and tapped his back and wished him a pleasant evening.
Meanwhile Katai sat on one of the free seats(and there were plenty) and fidgeted with his fingers. He was at ease that the bus was half empty and that Kunikida was there. When Kunikida sat down he leaned in and whispered.
“I suppose we just got blessed.”
“What??”
“Old people, they usually give me luck.”
“Whaa???”
Katai tilted his head and raised his eyebrow.
“I don't believe in superstitions or ghosts or anything. But I have realized that every time I help someone older my schedule is perfect and uninterrupted.”
“Interesting.”
Katai nodded and continued to chit chat with Kunikida. It took them about 10 minutes to get to the shopping mall.
The first thing they looked for was a map of the place and after they found it, Kunikida made a whole plan on how they're going to walk through it. Katai missed this side of Kunikida so much. He hated making plans, more or less because he rarely stuck to them, but Kunikida was different.
According to Kunikida's plan, they should be done in an hour, which turned out to be true.
Other than clothes,they also bought some soy sauce. Kunikida forgot it the first time and he used it in ramen. Katai of course mocked his forgetfulness.
It was 9pm and they were at the bus stop again. This time there were more people at the bus stop and everyone stank of sweat.
They all barely squished into the small bus and Katai and Kunikida were very thankful that their stop was close. As they got out they took deep deep breaths and walked to Katai's home. Katai got bored and tried stepping on Kunikida's feet to which he swung the shopping bags and hit him. Katai kept playfully jumping around Kunikida's feet and tried so hard to make him stumble or fall. In high school that worked wonderfully, now Katai's skills got rusty.
As they entered the house Katai rushed to the kitchen and started to boil water and prepare all the ingredients for dinner. Kunikida went his way to the bathroom. Putting the clean and wet clothes in the dryer and putting the new clothes in the washing machine along with some dirty stuff he could squish in.
Katai swiftly cut the meat and veggies. Got ramen out of the kitchen drawer and put it in one bowl. In another he put meat and sauce. In the third one, the eggs were boiling. As ramen noodles got softer he put all the spices and vegetables and stirred it.
Kunikida just lovingly watched him from the dining table, getting up as soon as he realized Katai was done with most of the work. Everything just had to cook itself now. He stood next to him and watched water boil in all 3 bowls. Kunikida then playfully rubbed his sleeves with Katais. A gesture they often did in high-school and college. Katai laughed when he realized what the blond man was doing.
“Cmon here.”
He grabbed Kunikida's arm and hips and looked at him with his puppy eyes. Kunikida tried his hardest not to melt into it, but seeing how red Katai looks in this light got him blushing too.
Katai pulled him even closer and kissed him. Kunikida kissed back, holding himself onto the counter. He didn't think that Katai could sway him off his feet like this. Kunikida pulled out and made a comment about the food, which Katai didn't hear but continued with the kissing. His hands kept the blonde in place as he kissed his jaw,from the top to the bottom.
Kunikida let out a quiet groan as he made another comment which Katai did hear and turned off the stove. Kunikida barely stood on his feet but continued.
“I told you!”
“I didn't hear you dumbass!!”
The fact is that the meal is done and that Kunikida saw the food was overboiling. He made sure Kunikida sits down and he prepared the table and the dish himself. Kunikida found it cut, now visibly red himself. The other didn't notice or didn't have time to notice as he wanted to make sure the ramen looked perfect. He just cut some spring onion on top before serving the meal.
“It seems that you feel better?”
“Yes, perhaps I really needed some fresh air.”
“Mmm, this is delicious.”
“Good to know my cooking skills didn't get rusty.”
“But you do need to contact your psychiatrist tomorrow okay?”
“Yes yes.”
…
“I'm sorry. I should've been smarter.”
“Mistakes happen Katai, don't beat yourself over it.”
“I'll try.”
“No, you won't try, you will.”
“Eeek! Okayyy.”
Katai jerked at the tone shift,but continued eating. Soon both men were full and Katai went to his room to put the movie on while Kunikida washed the dishes. He also folded the dry clothes in the bathroom,washed his teeth and changed into pajamas he bought in his bag.
He brought the clothes into Katai's room,but he jumped at him.
“NO MORE WORK FOR YOU! GO LAY ON THAT BED! I DONT WANT TO SEE YOU DO ANY MORE ERRANDS AROUND THIS HOUSE!”
Kunikidas jaw dropped.
“Okay Katai I'm going I'm going!”
“YES! LAY RIGHTT THERE!! UH.. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!”
Kunikida decided to listen and lay down. He heard nervous footsteps from the room next. Almost as if Katai was looking for something. Kunikida let his mind wander,but not for long as black haired man rushed back into the bedroom and threw himself on the bed.
“Katai? Did you put on a cologne?”
“Yeees?”
“Was that what that rumbling was all about?”
“GODDAMN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SO OBVIOUS.”
Katai curled up in a ball and pulled at his hair. Kunikida tilted his head and sighted before he wrapped himself around Katai.
“I still want to see that movie Kataii”
Katai let out a quiet squeal before he relaxed himself in Kunikida's arms.
“I lost the remote.”
“You what?”
“I usually turn the TV on with my ability.”
“Oh. Well can't you do it now too?”
“Hmm, no. I'm not feeling relaxed enough. You did force me to go outside after all.”
Katai said jokingly as he turned around to face Kunikida. They stared at each other in the dark, before Kunikida decided to climb on top of Katai, cupping his face and playing with his hair. It was too dark for Kunikida to see, but he could feel how hot Katai's face was getting.
“Better?”
“Mhmmm,keep going.”
Kunikida now laid on him and looked at his eyes. Then leaned into a kiss, then another and another. He planted kisses all along Katai's face before laying back on his chest. Listening to Katai's heart rushing was one of Kunikida's favorite things in the world. And Kunikida's hands were one of Katai's favorite things in the world.
In reality Katai could turn the TV the moment they laid down, but he wanted a little bit of Kunikidia's affection to fill his battery before watching a movie.
As the movie started, the couple laid one on another and interlocked fingers, Kunikida still laying on Katai's chest, his heartbeat now calmer and synced with his own breathing.
Both fell asleep within an hour. Katai's ability turned off the TV as soon as he dozed off.