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It had been a while since Barok first paid attention to that habit of Kazuma’s: whenever they were alone and Barok was standing with his back turned to his apprentice, Kazuma would rush in his direction and hug his waist from behind.
Once Barok noticed how often he did it, he came to expect it as well. And every time, without fail, Kazuma would hug him tightly, sometimes refusing to let go for a long while. Barok considered it so endearing that he couldn’t hold back a slight smile whenever he did it—a clear sign of how loved he was, despite all of his shortcomings.
It had happened that very morning in the kitchen, and once again in the office when Barok took a minute to drink some wine while looking out of his window. He counted the seconds, and, without fail, soon felt those arms closing around his waist. Barok glanced back, and Kazuma seemed so pleased that, for the first time, Barok couldn’t help but comment on it.
“I must be quite pleasant to embrace, considering how often you do it.”
His words earned a small laugh from Kazuma. “You are. That’s why it feels like a waste when no one is doing it.”
“So, you are taking matters into your own hands?”
“Exactly.”
With that response, Kazuma rubbed his face against Barok’s back, making him smile, amused.
“I see,” he said. “Keep up the good work.”
“I will.”
He tightened that hug before letting go, as if it were a hard thing to do. Barok watched as he returned to his desk, drinking from his chalice while lost in thought.
He had become so accustomed to Kazuma’s constant gestures of affection that, sometimes, he almost forgot how, just one year before, he had been affection-starved to the point of believing that he would die alone, without ever feeling the warm touch of another human being again. It had been Kazuma who, little by little, gave him what he wasn’t even aware he craved. Even back in his nameless apprentice days, every small gesture of care brightened Barok’s life, suddenly making him believe for the first time in an eternity that a better future was possible and just within his grasp.
He finished his wine with those thoughts still in his mind. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he owed his current life—joyful and full of purpose—to that man. As if hearing his thoughts, Kazuma raised his eyes and looked at him.
“Am I that beautiful?” he asked in a playful tone.
“More than I could possibly describe with mere words.”
That earned him a chuckle. “Aren’t you in a romantic mood today, my lord?”
“Only because I feel loved.”
“How confident.”
“This is all your fault.”
“Good to know.”
Kazuma offered him a smile, which Barok returned. They focused on their work for the next few hours, until it was time for them to leave the office. After taking a moment to organize their desks and leave some food for the bats, they returned together to the van Zieks mansion.
They changed into more comfortable clothes, then moved to the kitchen, preparing dinner together—or Kazuma did most of it, while Barok tried to help in every small way he could. Once they finished their meal, they cleaned the kitchen together, and that was when something suddenly came to Barok’s mind.
Kazuma had his back turned to him, almost like a quiet invitation. Without thinking much, Barok approached him, closing his arms around his waist, pulling him closer until Kazuma’s back was resting against his chest. The proximity felt nice, and brought a pleased smile to Barok’s lips.
“I can see why you enjoy doing this so much,” he said.
“I…”
Kazuma stopped talking, and that, along with the stiffness of his body, surprised Barok.
“What is wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Kazuma paused briefly. “You just don’t usually do things like this.”
That was true. Most of the time, Kazuma was the one to initiate any physical contact, not because Barok disliked or had little interest in it, but because his fears of doing something wrong and being rejected still lived in his chest. A silly thing, he knew it… But even the thought of displeasing Kazuma made him nervous.
“Should I stop?” he asked.
“No!”
The answer was so immediate it surprised Barok. Kazuma raised his hands, holding Barok’s arms in place.
“Move away and I’ll never forgive you,” Kazuma added.
The seriousness in his voice was quite amusing. But knowing that Kazuma welcomed the gesture made Barok relax.
“Am I trapped here for the rest of my days, then?”
“Unless you want to make me angry, you are.”
Unable to hold back a small chuckle, Barok pressed his lips against the crook of Kazuma’s neck. In a moment, Kazuma turned around, hugging him tightly as well, a low, pleased sound leaving his lips. Barok rested his chin on the top of his head, once again noticing how perfectly their bodies seemed to fit together.
Now that he knew how welcome his actions were, he would make sure not to hold them back again.