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Yugamu loved watching Takumi from afar. To an untrained eye he could appear like any ordinary guy. But to a seasoned observer, one would know just how strange he could behave.
This time, it seemed as if he were up to something stupid. They were in the cafeteria. It was late at night, and most people had already eaten their dinner and gone to bed. Yugamu wasn't even expecting to see Takumi here, having stayed up late doing an experiment in the Bio Lab, but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless.
His beloved Takumi was holding a cup full of water, except instead of bringing it to his lips to drink from the rim of the glass closest to him, he seemed to be putting his chin into the glass and drinking from the far end. How ridiculous.
Now was his chance! He could teach poor Takumi that there was an easier way to drink water which wouldn't end with half of it spilled down his shirt. Though come to think of it, seeing Takumi in a wet shirt where the fabric stuck right to his chest was certainly eye candy… Yugamu procrastinated longer, but it seemed Takumi had given up after spilling a few drops of water on himself.
Yugamu decided to approach him.
"Hey cutie, you seem like you're in the mood for some tort- I mean, a massage," said Yugamu, switching his words last minute to mask their true meaning. He had yet for someone to actually agree to be tortured.
Takumi covered his mouth, cheeks pink as the sound escape him. His whole body bounced upwards against his own control. Yugamu couldn't help but smile. Aww…
"I can't -hic- stop -hic- hiccuping!" Takumi exclaimed. "I've tried -hic- to hold my breath, -hic- and drink water backwards -hic- from a cup, if you have any ideas -hic- I'll try anything."
It was almost too good to be true. Yugamu had to do a double take when he heard the word. It was one he always dreamed of, giving him a sandbox of opportunities for creative solutions. Though it always came with a catch. Most people knew better than to be too vague with their words, since he would always jump at the opportunity to twist them in his favor. He'd give Takumi another chance, in case he didn't truly want to give himself up to the whims of Yugamu.
"Anything? Sumino-kun, you're playing a dangerous game." Yugamu held a finger up to his mouth as if he were sizing up Takumi for nefarious purposes. Hiccuping was caused by the diaphragm contracting uncontrollably. "How about a sedative? I happen to carry a few syringes already prepped."
"I changed -hic- my mind!" Takumi stammered out, holding his hands in front of him to keep Yugamu from coming any closer.
"I just wanted to make sure when you say anything you truly meant it. You really got my hopes up… No one ever says what they truly mean… You know, Sumino-kun, I could just wait for them to stop on their own. It's adorable, really, seeing such a cute boy afflicted by a condition out of his control," teased Yugamu. He brushed his fingers against Takumi's jacket. "Of course… I could always surprise them out of you, if we don't want to go the biological approach."
Technically, surprise would have a biological affect, since it affected the sympathetic nervous system. Which, when triggered, would flood the body with adrenaline, enough so that the nerves causing the spasms in the diaphragm would get disrupted. Though the divide between psychology and biology was fuzzy at times, both were prevalent for understanding the human body and how to alter it. Yugamu doubted Takumi had the relevant opinions on this scientific debate to actually call him on bending the rules.
"Fine, -hic- sure, whatever," said Takumi. "It's kind of -hic- starting to hurt."
"Oh my poor dear," cooed Yugamu. "We can't have that… Close your eyes."
"Why does this -hic- feel so sinister?!" Takumi exclaimed.
"Do you want me to cure you or not?" asked Yugamu.
"… yes… -hic-"
"Then close your eyes," said Yugamu. "It won't be a surprise if you see it happen."
Takumi rolled his eyes first before he shut them. Even silent, he was trying his best to hold in the hiccups, lips pressed tight together as his whole body tensed up with each one. Yugamu circled him like a shark, making sure his every movement sent a light rush of air in the direction of Takumi. After he was sure Takumi could sense his position, he dropped into a stealth circling. He moved slowly, keeping his position as static as he could so his robes didn't sway and give away his position.
He stopped when he faced Takumi again. He was a few centimeters taller than Yugamu, though with his slight slouch sometimes it felt like they were almost the same height.
Something startling…
There were so many ways to startle a person with their eyes closed. Physical sensation was definitely the way to go. He could inflict pain, either through puncture or striking, but this was a rare opportunity of Takumi trusting him. No matter how much he wanted to open him up, Takumi was better kept in one piece. Yugamu's eyes drifted to the glass of water on the table. He could splash Takumi for a temperature effect. Though it seemed a bit boring to waste this opportunity on.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Yugamu's mind, one that satisfied his desires, wouldn't harm Takumi, and would definitely snap him out of his hiccups.
He pressed his lips against Takumi's. It had to be quick; he hadn't grabbed onto Takumi's arms until after he made the initial contact, arms wrapping around and around like an octopus.
… It was supposed to be quick, and startling, but Yugamu couldn't help himself, like a dog who had tasted blood. He shoved his tongue past his own lips and into Takumi's mouth, stretching it out so it could go further, deeper. It was embarrassing how much of him could actually stretch, and when he was overwhelmed he tended to lose control. He really hadn't meant for it to get that long, but Takumi was the first boy he'd kissed since they were stationed at the academy and he just couldn't resist-
"M-mph?!"
Chomp.
He felt light headed, the taste of copper filling his mouth so quickly he could hardly breathe. Yugamu pulled out of the kiss, saliva dribbling down the corners of his mouth. Though he could make an educated guess that it was only partially spit, as Takumi's mouth was red with evidence.
The edge of Yugamu's mouth twisted into a delirious smile, leaking from the corners.
"I didn't mean to!" Takumi called out. "Aughhh…"
Takumi dropped to his knees, unsuccessfully dry heaving towards the floor. He wiped the side of his mouth with his jacket, staining it with bright red blood, and grimaced.
Yugamu swallowed the pool forming in his mouth. His body could recycle it and reuse the iron. The pain was only now starting to make itself known, his stump of a tongue throbbing with every heart beat. He was no stranger to pain, to him it was akin to an anxious friend who would show up and stress about whatever unique situation he'd gotten himself into. It meant well. His body only wanted to protect itself from further harm. Yugamu's attention was elsewhere.
He knelt down next to Takumi, and rubbed his hand on his back. Poor guy. This was probably the first time he'd tasted another man's blood.
"Thumino-kun… it's okay…"
"No, it's not! I just bit off half of your tongue!" Takumi exclaimed, as if that wasn't the hottest thing he had ever done to Yugamu. "What were you even thinking?!"
"Well, I got your hiccupth to thtop didn't I?" Yugamu slurred out. "Oh my goodneth… My wordth… Tho embarrathing…" Yugamu held his hands over his mouth and batted his eye bashfully at Takumi.
Takumi scrunched his nose.
"I guess you did stop the hiccups, but at the cost of— Oh! Oh no…"
Takumi's face went pale. He seemed almost frozen in time, as if his brain had encountered an error.
"Hm?" Yugamu offered as a prompt to continue. He felt a little dizzy but chose to ignore it. People tended to reflect the level of chaos presented around them. So long as Yugamu remained calm and bit his tongue through the pain, Takumi was less likely to freak out about it.
It seemed to be internal turmoil. Takumi looked green in the face. It complimented the red of his hair, and was a bit cute if Yugamu had to describe it properly.
He finally spoke.
"I think I swallowed your tongue."
"Ahh! How romantic! A piethe of me inthide Thumino-kun!" Yugamu swooned. Soon enough, Takumi's stomach acid would dissolve the bit of tongue he'd swallowed, and all the nutrients would be absorbed. They'd get dispersed throughout his body, and he'd carry a part of Yugamu with him everywhere he went. They'd be together forever, his flesh alive within Takumi's cells.
"Ahg! Don't say it like that! It sounds like…" Takumi stopped talking abruptly.
"Like what, Thumino-kun?"
"… Like something else went inside me," Takumi said with a sigh. He looked over at Yugamu. "Oh! You're still bleeding. Uh, what do I even do for this… would an ice pack help?"
"What lovely aftercare!" Yugamu swooned.
"Sure, whatever. It's the least I can do to make up for… the accident." Takumi chose his words carefully, likely because thinking too hard about his accidental human cannibalism would make him vomit until there was nothing left to expel.
Now that the adrenaline had worn off slightly, Takumi seemed to be taking charge of the situation and mess that they were both in. He rushed over to the freezer and picked out a few ice cubes, then handed one to Yugamu. Instead of picking it up with his hands, Yugamu simply opened his mouth.
Takumi grimaced.
"That looks painful… I'm really sorry… Here…" Takumi put the cube into Yugamu's mouth. The chilled ice felt really nice against the laceration, numbing the pain that had been pulsating through to where the tip used to be. Takumi grimaced again, and handed him a napkin. "The blood just won't stop, will it…"
Yugamu shook his head. Takumi took charge and dabbed the napkin on Yugamu's cheek, soaking up whatever had escaped the corners of his lips. Even though the injury had happened minutes ago, he could feel his mouth filling with more blood every heartbeat. Which was fast, thanks to Takumi being absolutely adorable as his little nurse.
Yugamu sucked on the ice, and popped a new piece into his mouth to keep numbing himself.
Takumi got himself a nice big glass of water, and rinsed his mouth out a few times before returning to Yugamu. He didn't seem as horrified as before, but there was a distinct guilt written across his face.
"I didn't mean to hurt you… I just wasn't expecting it— you kissing me. This isn't permanent, is it?" Takumi's worry almost made Yugamu want to tell the truth. Technically no injury was permanent with apt use of the Revive-O-Matic, though the longer he waited the more likely a new snapshot of his current self would be added into the database, rendering it part of his design. He could guilt Takumi into killing him to atone for the injury, but even in his worried state Yugamu doubted he would actually go through with it.
If the tip of his tongue wasn't in Takumi's stomach right now, he could stitch them back together, and it would fix right up. Technically, he could still do that with tissue from a donor. Eva, of course, wouldn't refuse if asked, but it would be hard to hide it if she suddenly had a prominent lisp, and then Yugamu would be forced to explain exactly why this happened. He'd rather get the tissue from a cadaver. Perhaps the next time they absorbed a commander, he would take his own sample first. To tell Takumi everything would be fine wasn't a lie when considering these situations. Yugamu was alright with that.
He shook his head no again.
Takumi closed his eyes in relief.
"Great. I don't know what I'd do with myself if I permanently disfigured you," admitted Takumi. He was certainly lucky Yugamu's mouth was too full of ice to reply, or he would have spouted out at how gratifying that actually would have been. To be changed by the one he loved was almost like a dream come true! There were few parts of his own body that had yet to be altered or replaced, each with their own purpose of either enhancements or a quick fix up. His arms were augmented to be elastic with bones that wouldn't break; his skin was covered in a patchwork of past injuries. He wasn't sure where to classify his tongue. Takumi only bit him because Yugamu took more than he should have. He was strangled by his own greed, stricken with divine retribution for his depraved action— one he was now physically incapable of repeating.
He looked up at Takumi with excitement in his eyes, but was met with sorrow.
A glob of blood dripped out of Yugamu's mouth. Takumi dabbed it up with another napkin, always so careful to clean up after him. They'd have to clean the floor later, and the tables, and their clothes. He'd hold off on washing the stains out immediately, a convenient excuse to tell everyone about the incident if they asked. Of course they never would; everyone had come to expect Yugamu to have weird stains on his robes and not press further since the answer could be terrifying.
Takumi bit down on his inner lip.
"I think something weird happened when we k-… I bit you. My head is all fuzzy," said Takumi. "I feel like I saw some things I really shouldn't have."
Ah. One of the fabled effects of cryptoglobin, or so Yugamu had assumed when he read one of the anatomy books in the Bio Lab. Memory could be stored in senses, it was why certain smells would evoke strong emotion, or why simple images could cause an almost flashback-like effect in a person. But for it to be stored in the blood? He had done a few experiments on hemoglobin before, it was truly fascinating, and a large enough endeavor that it would take far longer than the 100 days to uncover all of its mysteries.
This made him all the more excited.
"No worrieth. I can always take a bite out of you later!" Yugamu said with a bloody grin. "Then you can be inthide me too."
"Huh?! What if I don't want to be inside you," Takumi recoiled. Yugamu shrugged his shoulders flirtatiously. Oh well, it was worth a shot. Takumi could be a bit strange, but not so much so that he'd jump at the idea of Yugamu taking a bite out of him. If Takumi asked politely, Yugamu would even let him bite again.
He knew he wouldn't, though.
"Heh, that can be arranged. I do go both ways, Thumino-kun."
Yugamu could notice the ever so slight flinch in Takumi every time he lisped out his name, a painful reminder of his injury. Takumi sighed, and sat down next to him. He handed Yugamu the bowl of ice.
He could tell Takumi wanted to say something by the way he was playing with the strings of his hoodie, restlessly fidgeting next to him.
"I didn't hate it," Takumi began. Yugamu's eye widened. "The kiss! Not the biting."
Yugamu smirked, sucking on a new piece of ice. He didn't know what Takumi had seen from his blood, but he hoped it wasn't too haunting. The taste of copper in his mouth reminded of him of his first kill when he was still young and a little clumsy about it. Years of practice allowed him to hone in on poisoning tactics rather than brute force. It was a side of him that was always there, loudly toted about when he presented himself to the others, yet drowned in internal indifference. It could have been killings, or surgery, or self experimentation, or even a glimpse of his crush back on the satellite. That would certainly be embarrassing! Yugamu decided that he didn't want to know what it was he saw. If Takumi wanted to tell him, that was his decision.
"Maybe ask next time, so I don't take off whatever's left of your tongue?" suggested Takumi. "If you want to, I mean. I don't know the next time I'll need to be scared out of hiccuping. I can't really plan that kind of thing."
Oh Takumi… His refusal to accept that Yugamu had the biggest crush on him was the one hurdle Yugamu couldn't clear. No matter how much flirting he threw his way, it seemed like Takumi would find creative excuses for it.
Unless this was his way of flirting back, awkward and noncommittal.
Yugamu swallowed the piece of ice, and grinned.
"Then I gueth I'll have to come up with another excuse!"