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It's late at night when Yato and Yukine arrive back in the heart of the city. He cautiously eyes the streetlights and the figure of his god walking beside him. It's not completely dark, and from what he can see, there's no phantoms to be found– so it should be fine.
The pair walk down the street, hands intertwined between their bodies– a safety measure since Yukine is prone to wandering off into crowds, and with his short stature, it's easy to lose sight of him.
He realizes Yukine has come to a stop alongside the sidewalk when he has to tug at the god's hand. Yato turns around, slightly annoyed because it's cold outside and he's still sore from the job they went on today. He's in the middle of calling out for Yukine's name when the syllables die out on his tongue–
There's a man and a woman engaging in less than savory activities out in the open. It's borderline public indecency and it makes Yato want to cover Yukine's face and direct his attention away.
His amber eyes are wide as they take in the display, seemingly transfixed by the connection of their mouths pressed up against one another.
“Why is he eating her face?” he questions after a moment of silence.
Yato struggles to hold in a laugh. “Don't say it like that. You're taking away the romance,” he responds, amused by Yukine's innocent question. It's cute, the fact that his god lacks knowledge on the matter– it just fuels his desire to protect him from the depravity of this world.
He tries to pull Yukine away by his hand, but he remains still, unmoving as he continues to watch the couple. “What romance? That looks disgusting…” he comments but he doesn't sound revolted, just intrigued.
“It's just how people express love. Not everyone is into it, y'know,” he says, and hopes that the explanation satiates any growing curiosity. It's the simplified answer, there's so many intricacies to love but to further explain it, would mean to stand here longer than he even wants to.
Yukine makes this noise, a thoughtful little hum as he contemplates saying something. His eyes remain locked on the indecent sight before him as his lips move. “Do you love me?”
A question that ventures off into complicated territory, it makes him swallow nervously as he tries to think of a response. He's not good with emotions, it's a problem that has caused issues in their relationship in the past– something that makes him feel guilty to this day despite having apologized time and time again.
Human beings are painfully emotional, and though he's made a great effort to hide his feelings, they still bubble up to the surface. People like to add unnecessary details to simple equations under the guise of love– he's supposed to be above it, those bothersome feelings, but unfortunately he finds himself susceptible to it.
It's dumb, really, but he supposes it's only natural to feel something like that towards the god he serves.
There's different types of love, neat little labels people have created to place a name to such a complicated emotion. He has to wonder, just which one resides inside the deepest cavity of his chest.
In the end he sighs, resigned to his fate of confessing to a poorly maintained secret. “Yeah…” Yato looks away, unable to get the words out while looking at the blond. “I love you,” he finishes lamely.
It would be pointless to lie, and it would just cause Yukine unnecessary pain. It's better to admit it than to sting his god– even if the confession wears down on his pride.
The god isn't watching the couple anymore, and he knows this, because from the corner of his vision he can see Yukine look down to their conjoined hands.
He wants to make a joke, a snarky comment just so they can return back to a place of familiarity. His palms are always damp despite being dead, perpetually clammy when he wishes they wouldn't be. For once he would like them to be dry so he could really enjoy the sensation of Yukine's hand in his. It's a fact that the god reminds him of on a constant basis but in this moment, he avoids calling attention to it.
“You can kiss me if you want…” he mumbles out, voice insecure while he makes the proclamation.
It shouldn't make his heart flutter as hard as it does. He's surprised to feel a warmth throughout his chest, like a small flame has been ignited within the center of his torso. Love can be beautiful, he easily comes to this conclusion as he takes in Yukine's shy little expression– his averted gaze and pretty pink blush.
He's hesitant to move closer despite wanting to. The world is lost to him as he gazes down at the blond. Yato needs to know the desire is mutual, that Yukine wants Yato's lips on his own. “Do you want me to?” he asks, eyes steady on his god's face.
“Don't make me say it…” Yukine whines.
Unfair, when he made Yato admit to his feelings but he chooses not to point that out. “C'mon, use your words,” he gently prompts.
“I want you to… kiss me,” he weakly confesses. “I want you to show me what it's like, Yato.”
With the confirmation he allows himself to lean in. He grabs for the side of Yukine's shoulder with his free hand and pulls him in close. From this view he can really make out the blush on Yukine's pale skin, a soft pink reminiscent of the color in the morning sky.
He drags Yukine's hand to cup the side of his face. His palm is cold against Yato's cheek but the contact couldn't be more perfect. Yato moves downwards, while his god stands on the very tips of his toes– eager to meet his lips.
Would it be weird to keep his eyes open? He wants to see what face Yukine will make, but as their faces come closer, Yato makes the quick decision to shut them. It's only so he can really focus on the sensation, on the press of his lips against Yukine's.
It's a quick peck, innocent and sweet. Remarkably different from what Yukine saw from the couple. He pulls away after a second and opens his eyes to catch the furious flush over Yukine's cheeks. “Do you love me too?” he asks.
Yukine hides away his face in Yato's chest. The reply he receives is barely audible but he can still make out the sound of a quiet yes.
And,
Beneath the streetlights with the chill of December accompanying the pair, he decides that there's no better warmth than the sensation in his body. It's pure what he feels, and though he doesn't bother to label it, he decides to deem the emotion brighter than any star– better than any type of love. It doesn't need to have a name or to be placed below a specific category, whatever it is he feels it for Yukine.
He'll keep Yukine safe with his entire being, with the entirety of his soul. It's a promise that doesn't need to be said because Yukine has to know already, he has to feel it too.
No, instead he kisses the top of his head and it's enough.