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It was a beautiful, hot day. The kind of day you spend at the beach, relaxing, playing in the water, tanning... That's what the two men were doing today. Shidou pulled Sae out of the appartement they shared to go swimming. But as much as Shidou loved it, Sae didn't. He went into the water a few times, just to cool down, but they did not share the love for the beach. Ryuusei played in the water, managed to join a beach volleyball club and found some kids who needed help with their sand castle. Basically, his day was as perfect as it could get. On the other hand, Sae just laid on his towel, tanning the whole time, not realising what's about to come.
After a long day at the beach, they finally decide to head home. It was already evening and both of them were somewhat tired. They head into the appartement complex elevator and, of course, Shidou starts yapping.
"Come on, that was fun! For me that is. Your lazy a*s didn't do sh*t"
Shidou starts his usual teasing. He always does that if they don't share an interest.
"I didn't say that I would"
Sae was pretty much used to all of this. Although today, he seemeeeddd a little bit colder than usual, Shidou thought.
"Yeah, should've not joined me then" Ryusei nudges his Itoshi, getting out a frown out of him. Hmm, interesting. It usually takes a lot more to get that reaction.
"Well, it's not like I had a choice." Sae ends and hurries out of the lift, taking the keys out of his pocket and walking towards their rooms door.
"Comee onn Saeee!! Why are you so down right noww?? I just wanted whats best for you!!"
Shidou teasingly yells, running up to his friend and wrapping his hands around Sae's waist, squeezing his front to Itoshi's back.
A loud, hitched breath escapes Sae and he quickly, but strongly pushes Shidou away. Ryusei hits the wall behind him and looks at the other guy worringly. He knew that Sae never ever in the world would hurt anyone, at least physically, so why?..
Sae had this strange expression on his face. Like he was guilty, angry, scared and in pain at the same time. Instead of apologizing, he turns to the door and puts the key in.
"My skin hurts. Don't touch me"
He finally unlocks the dolor and walks in, leaving Shidou standing still.
*"My skin hurts? What does he mean by.. Ohhh*" Shidou realizes. Sae got sun burned!
Ryuusei has always been a sun person and spends his time outside, developing a deep tan that naturally protected him more than Sae's porcelain white skin. In the darkness of the evening they probably didn't notice the redness. Did he not put sunscreen on?? Shidou specifically told him to do that. Well looks like it's too late. He'll have to find another way to help his best friend.
He walks into their appartement, locking the door behind him. Emedetly noticing Sae's presence in the bathroom, he hurries there. His dearest was standing shirtless, backside in front of the mirror with his head looking back, a shocked expression on his face.
His whole back was red. Like, pink red. Shidou had to hold in his laughter. This was a serious situation and his friend is in pain, he must not make fun of him.
"What the hell" Sae murms.
"I told you to put sunscreen on.." Ryusei approaches carefully.
"..." Sae glances at him, still angry from the touch before.
"Go lay down on your bed. I will bring some foam from sun burns. I'll try to be quick."
"Huh? We have that?" a hopeful glint shows up in his eyes.
"Uhh... No, but I am going to buy some" Shidou smiles reasuringly. He would do so much more for Sae.
"Like, right now?"
"Right now."
"Oh.. Hurry up, then."
"On it, bossman!" Shidou cheers up and runs straight through the door. Sae is left standing there in the quietness of the room. He felt guilt creep in inside of him. Sure, Shidou is dumb and annoying, but he truly cares for him. He warned him to put on sunscreen, and when he pushed him away harshly because of his own, Sae's, fault, Shidou was understanding and ready to help. Sae didn't even apologize or thank him. Dang it... He walks out of the bathroom and heads to his bedroom, laying down on his bed, just as Shidou told him to do.
Dang it...! He shoves his face deeper into the covers, wincing I pain whenever something touches his back.
After a few minutes, the appartement door opens again and Sae lifts his head. His dearest Shidou enters the appartement. He was breathing heavily and sweat was rolling down his forehead. He had a bag beside him, filled with creams and foams that help sun burn. Sae can't help but to hide his face again.
"Wassuppp" he wheezes out. Reaching Itoshi's room, he asks for permission to sit down next to him on the bed. Sae nods quietly.
"Listen, I know it's going to hurt, but it is nescesersy if you want to have a break from pain."
Ryussei got it wrong. The pain was the last thing Sae was worried about.
"I'm just going to put something on your back and spread it around. Tell me if I need to stop or you feel uncomfortable.. Hm?"
"Hm." He can't speak. He won't speak.
"Very well then.." Shidou pulls some medicine from the bag and starts slowly applying it on Sae's back. The guy flinches at the coldness of the cream, making Shidou stop emedetly.
"You good?" Sae nods back to that. "I'm continuing then. Putting my hands on your back in 3... 2...1."
Shidou carefully put his fingers on Sae's back, dipping them in the cream and slowly spreading it around. Sae's breath hitches but he gestures for Ryussei to continue. The touch was filled with pain and pleasure. His fingers slithered around so gently, so comfortingly, that the pain was worth it every second.
Sae could cry. He didn't remember the last time he got touched with so much love and care.
"Why... Why are you doing this for me?"
"Huh? Because you're my friend, of course."
Shidou was really calm and gentle, not like he usually is.
"No, I know. But... But you told me to put on some sunscreen, and I didn't. You hugged me, because *I* didn't tell you that you couldn't and you got hurt. And- and I didn't even say sorry?? Or thank you?? So w-why...
Why... You even ran to buy me medicine.. I-... " Sae's voice cracks. He never thought he would start tearing up because someone cared for him. Much less if it's Shidou of all people.
"Hey there... You're my friend despite all that, you know? And it's never too late to apolgize or thank someone (not that I require that from you). Sae, I care. This is the bare minimum that I would do for you. I like taking care of you. So please, relax."
Ryuusei kept masaging Itoshi's back, he didn't seem angry, or tired, or sad about any of this. It made Sae question the true nature of the man sitting beside him. He definetly can be gently and caring. How has he not seen this side before?
It's his own fault. He just didn't pay attention to it. The many times that Shidou showed gentle affection to him were thrown off as a joke or a prank. Sae felt even more guilty than before.
He reaches for Ryuusei's hand.
"Hey there! Don't move, it'll hurt-" Shidou shuts up after Sae squeezes his palm with his own. Their finger intervine, Sae ignoring the fact that Ryuusei's hand still feels creamy and smells like vanilla. He pulls their hands closer to his face, nuzzling his nose close to Shidou's.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't see you before."
"..." Shidou's mouth fell open. He never thought Sae could be affectionate. And his words echoed in his mind.
"Thank you.. I know that not any amount of words can describe how much you've done for me. Thank you for doing this, all of this, even when I didn't notice it."
They keep quiet, neither of them moving, both of them enjoying the peace. Not everyday they get to be calm around one another. They stay like this for a while. Until Shidou gets enough courage to say his truth.
"Sae, I love you."
For a second Sae thought that Ryussei was joking. But he reminded himself that he doesn't see the true Shidou often, so he tried to look deeper. He looked up at the guy next to him. Nothing could've prepared him for the vulnerability and nervousness in Ryuusei's eyes. Oh god, he really did love him.
Sae smiles gently.
"I love you, too"