Chapter Text
You and Karamatsu are sitting on the couch, together. He's in his tank top and jeans, looking cool as usual. You two were watching television together, at your house, but a conversation struck up earlier. It was quiet now, and starting to get a bit awkward. You don't usually sit so close to him but...there was something magnetic about him today. Was he wearing cologne, or something? You couldn't tell if he was studying you through his sunglasses. One arm, the arm on your side, is wrapped around the back of the couch, unintentionally inviting you to sit even closer. You do, and begin to feel his warmth. You lean in for a sniff.
"So, you did notice, _______."
Karamatsu's closed-mouthed smile began to stretch. He was wearing cologne, and it was actually quite pleasant. Not too strong, even for someone who went great lengths to be absolutely painful. Maybe he got the memo for the first time ever. It was quiet again.
"I got it at that beauty and makeup place in the mall, in case you're wondering."
You weren't, but you took the advice anyway. Although it was quite nice, it wouldn't suit you at all. Silence befell. You were still quite drawn to him too. Was it the tank top? The jeans? His presence in general was making you scoot closer and closer to him by the second. Before you knew it, you were right next to him, your arm and shoulder rubbing against his side. He jumped a bit.
"What?"
You look up at his confused face, which quickly became a grin.
"Heh. Looks like I am irresistible, even to my friends."
He ripped off his sunglasses, and pulls you in closer with his other arm. Your head is now resting on his left collarbone, and your hip is touching his. The smell of his cologne is much stronger here, and you can feel his breathing against you. This was it. His arm is now wrapped around your body, and, in turn, you wrap your arm around his body. God, Karamatsu is so warm. His ribs moving beneath your ear soothes you greatly, and you close your eyes. Karamatsu leans his head back, hugging you tighter to where your hair is brushing against his throat. The arm you used to wrap around Karamatsu's body is now rising, around his ribs... You place a fully opened palm on his chest, feeling his heart in several places. This causes him to look back down, confused.
"Are you... Feeling me up..?"
You jump backward.
"No! I was just... Nothing. It was nothing."
You felt the heat rising in your cheeks. The blush was visible on your skin. Even from there, Karamatsu could see the red in your face. You two have been friends for a while now, but you never thought it'd go...there. You look down at your feet, embarrassed. Karamatsu, laughing, pulls you back in for another snuggle, putting you closer to his chest on purpose.
"You want to hear it, don't you?"
What? How did he know? The question was moot, now that you could hear his heartbeat through his words. His arm and hand had you pinned to his chest, so it's not like you had a choice. You were too shocked, too soothed to reply. His chest moved gently, but greatly, like ocean waves. You wanted to comment, but no words came to your mind. You just listen for a long while, counting his pulse over and over for several moments before he spoke up again.
"What's it sound like?"
It took a moment.
"Like a drum, but inside of you."
You smiled uncontrollably as his hand played in your hair. He crossed his legs and leaned his head back again, relaxing. You keep your eyes closed for a little bit longer, studying every beat of his heart. You look up again, ear still planted firmly on his chest, and notice the pulses in his neck. It's visible, and thumping in time with his heart, if with a millisecond of a delay. It was...strangely sexy. You lazily lift your free hand up to the pulse in his neck, and you feel it gently. It throbs quietly against your fingertips, to the sound in his chest. Karamatsu was rather quiet, seemingly asleep, until he spoke again.
"Heh. The heart is, as they say, the drum of life."
His voice rumbled in his chest and throat. It was very weird, but soothing. His voice was just that right kind of deep. He paused dramatically for a while, then sighed; his chest moved correspondingly. He stretched his arms, and put them behind his head, and flexed his shoulders for a while. His breathing was deeper for a while. It was starting to get boring now, the same rate beating in your ear. It was becoming less like romantic snuggling and more like a pet sitting in his lap. Karamatsu yawned, and scratched his side. It was weird being so close to him, seeing him at his most natural, and awkward. He wasn't even your best friend, just closer than farther. You'd known him since high school, and hung out with him -- and his brothers, of course. He had to be your favorite, though. He was just so...different. He went out of his way to look like some flashy celebrity stuck out of the 70's, but no one seemed to mind besides a few offhanded comments, and the abuse from his brothers. His heart continued to drum in your ear; it was becoming something of white noise.