Written for Springie as a part of the 2016 gatchamania gift exchange.
Her prompt:
Ken and Jun get stuck in an elevator for quite some time. They are forced to admit their feelings for one another (sort of the way it *should have happened* during the destruction of Crescent Coral Base). Of course, I'd be just as happy if Jun and Joe found themselves stuck in the elevator if you decide to change it up! Hmmm...Jun x Joe in the elevator could be interesting...
"Going up?" Ken asks, a slight smirk on his face. I return his grin, happy to see him in such a good mood.
"Well, since it's either that or smash our way through the base of Crescent Coral and swim, I think up works for me," I reply with a laugh. We'd just sent Katse packing again and I'm looking forward to heading back to Utoland. With any luck, Jinpei and I will be able to get the J open in time to make the most of the dinner rush and maybe even turn a profit for a change. Lost in thought, it takes me a few moments to realize that the elevator has stopped moving.
It's Ken's snort of frustration that brings me back to the present. My eyes automatically snap to him, watching as he stabs at the control panel uselessly. I cross the small space, inserting myself between his body and the console. Without saying a word, I drop to my knees and tug at the access port until it opens. Behind me, I can hear Ken trying to call for help over his bracelet, his tone growing more frustrated with each attempt. I block him out, focusing on the task before me. There is an emergency handset, but if Ken's bracelet isn't getting a signal out, I doubt it will either.
Not seeing anything else in the compartment that looks likely to be at all useful, I turn around and motion to get Ken's attention. He heaves a heavy sigh as he drops his arm to his side, giving up on his attempt to call for help. "Your birdrang, Ken, give it to me so I can unscrew this panel and try to get us moving again."
He unzips the hidden pocket in his jeans and pulls out his weapon, handing it to me without a word. Dropping to one knee, he watches as I begin to disassemble the plates hiding the elevator's inner workings. As I pull each screw from the panel, his hand is there to take it from me. We work together in silence, our ability to read and anticipate each other's needs honed from years of training and battle. We've known each other for so long that I sometimes forget that there was a time in my life without Ken in it. Finally, the last screw drops into his hand, clinking gently against the others resting there. He pockets them, then helps me pull the metal from the wall, both of us wincing at the awful sounds that it makes when it bends from our efforts.
I peer into the space we've just revealed, straining to see into the darkened area. A mass of wires stretches vertically within the shadows. I run my fingers between two of them, merely trying to separate the strands for closer inspection. I've barely touched anything when the lights in the small elevator begin to flicker. Afraid I've accidentally loosened something, I withdraw my hand from the opening and lean against the opposite wall, try to ease some of the tension in my back and shoulder muscles. The wires remain still, seeming to mock me as I stare at them.
Ken takes up a similar position near me and we sit in silence, contemplating our options when the lights begin to flicker again before giving out altogether, leaving us in the dark. I peer around the small compartment, but it's no use. My eyes might as well be closed for all that I can see. We sit there together, neither of us speaking, each lost in our own thoughts. Time passes, though with only the sounds of our breathing, I can't tell how much has gone by.
Keeping my back against the wall, I move my hand before my face, trying to make it out in the darkness, but it's no use. A soft sound gets my attention, reminding me that I'm not alone. "Ken?" I call out quietly.
"I'm here, Jun," he replies as his hand closes over mine. "Not that I could go anywhere if I wanted to anyway."
I pull my hand from his and turn away from the sound of his voice. "I'm sorry you're being forced to spend your afternoon here with me. I had other plans for today too, but I'm at least trying to make the best of it," I snap out, my anger and frustration finding a target.
He sighs quietly and I can hear him shifting behind me. I almost jump when his hand lands on my shoulder. "Jun, it's not like that," he whispers, sliding his hand down my arm to entwine his fingers with mine. "I'm frustrated about being stuck in here, not the company," he says, squeezing my hand gently.
I resist the urge to turn and face him, forcing myself to stay still and silent. When he rests his chin on my shoulder, I begin chewing my lower lip slowly, trying to keep my emotions in check. I can smell the scent of his shampoo, feel the warmth of his skin, and it's stirring up feelings that I've been working so hard to fight. Closing my eyes, I concentrate on breathing in and out steadily.
"Honest, Jun. If I could choose anyone in the world to find myself in this situation with, it would be you." I shiver slightly as his hot breath tickles my ear. He disentangles his fingers from mine, brings both hands to my arms, stroking them slowly. "Are you cold?" he asks quietly and I shiver again, his touch spreading fire along my skin. Before I can answer, he's gently grasping my shoulders, turning me to face him, holding me close.
I've dreamed of a scenario like this for so long, wanted more than anything to find myself in Ken's arms, but then I remind myself that this isn't an act of romance, merely one of survival and I start laughing. The absurdity of the whole situation sinks in, making me feel like the punchline of some huge cosmic joke.
Ken stiffens against me, his body immediately growing tense and rigid at my laughter. As soon as he starts to pull away from me, I regret my outburst, my giggles quickly fading back into silence. "I… I'm sorry, Ken. I didn't mean to laugh." Reaching out with one hand, I grasp for him in the darkness, needing to make things right between us again. My fingers touch fabric and I grasp onto his shirt, trying to pull him close. He resists and I can picture the look that must be on his face. Sighing in frustration and resignation, I let go, pulling my knees up and resting my forehead against them. I don't know how long we sit there like that, our breathing once again the only sound in the small chamber.
"So?" he asks quietly, seemingly at random.
"So, what?"
"What was so funny? I know you, Jun. It's not like you to laugh for no reason, so what was so funny? I could use something to laugh about too."
I swallow hard, the hurt in his voice apparent. I don't answer right away, not sure just how much I'm willing to share with him. "Just the absurdity of the situation, I guess," which isn't exactly a lie. "All the times we've escaped from tight spots with Galactor and it's an elevator in our own base that manages to trap us," I blurt out, pleased at my quick thinking.
"Yeah, I can see how that might make you laugh. It is pretty funny when you think about it," he whispers softly. The elevator grows silent again as we sit there helplessly.
Not knowing what else to do, I fidget, trying to prevent my muscles from cramping in the small space. Growing restless, I stand up and stretch. I start pacing and almost immediately trip over Ken's legs. Unable to stop myself, I land on top of him, and his arms come around me, instinctively catching me. Thankful that he can't see me in the darkness, I feel the burn of a fiery blush racing across my cheeks. Without thinking, I shift around until I am straddling him and bury my face against his neck, clinging to him as emotions swirl within me. I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. For years I've pined after Ken, wanted to have him hold me, and here I find myself in his arms twice in the same afternoon.
I must have made some kind of noise without realizing it, because his arms suddenly hold me closer, rubbing my back as he makes soothing sounds, his lips brushing my ear. His touch is calming and I feel myself relaxing in his embrace. Between the darkness, and his caresses, I feel myself start to drift somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. I snuggle in further, deciding to give in to the pull of fatigue.
When I open my eyes again, it's still dark and I can feel the warmth of Ken's body against mine. I shift slightly, adjusting limbs that grew stiff while I dozed. Ken moves gently beneath me, but when I try to slide from his lap, his arms tighten around me, holding me against him. Before I can begin to think about what that means, his lips brush their way across my cheek and meet mine in a kiss. Startled by this unexpected attention, I start to pull away only to have his grip intensify. Deciding that he must be asleep and dreaming about someone else, I take the opportunity presented to me and act on the desire that's been burning inside me for so long. He deepens the kiss, his hands running through my hair, his heart pounding under my fingers as I explore the muscles of his chest and arms, relishing the feel of his toned flesh.
Eventually he ends the kiss, his lips sliding their way from my mouth to my ear, never quite breaking contact with my skin. "I love you too, Jun," he breathes before moving to trail kisses along my jawline and neck. I tilt my head, providing him better access to the delicate skin before his words sink into my lust addled brain. I freeze, pushing back from him gently, straining to see his face in the darkness.
"Ken?" I ask in confusion, "What did you just say?"
"I said that I love you too," he repeats softly. "You said 'I love you' and I said that I love you too. Is that really so hard to believe?"
I sit there for a moment trying to figure out what he's talking about when a memory hits me. Ken and I snuggled together, spending a perfect afternoon comfortably in each other's arms. I must have been talking half in my dream and half out loud leaving Ken to think I was awake when I spoke. I open my mouth to explain the misunderstanding, stopping myself when the significance of his statement hits me. He loves me. Ken loves me. All these years of pining for him and burying my feelings only to find that he feels the same way.
"Jun?" he calls, breaking into my thoughts. "Still with me?"
"Huh? Yeah, sorry, just caught off guard. I never expected to hear those words from you. I thought you always saw me as just another part of the team."
I hear him sigh, feel his chest heaving against mine. "I've never thought of you as just another anything, Jun. I've always had feelings for you, but the time never seemed right to tell you. I was about to ask you out but we got activated and I didn't think it would be right to try to start a relationship as we were being called to battle Galactor, not to mention the fact that I'm your commander. I wasn't sure that I'd be able to put you in dangerous situations or that the others wouldn't accuse me of favoritism. It just seemed to make more sense to leave things the way they were."
Reaching out with one hand, I stroke his cheek, run my fingers along his jawline to his chin before leaning in to kiss him. I don't hold back, letting all of my feelings show in the embrace. When the kiss ends, I sit back slightly, and stare at the space where his face should be. The darkness is proving to be both a blessing and a curse, for as much as I regret not being able to see his expression, I'm also thankful for the freedom that comes with his inability to see me. "So what's changed now?" I ask. "Why is now the right time to take this next step?"
I hear him breathing quietly for a few minutes, feel his hands moving in his lap. Just when I start to think he's going to ignore my question, he reaches out and begins running his fingers lightly up my arms until he finds my face. His thumbs stroke my cheeks and I can feel his gaze on me through the darkness. "Honestly, I don't know. Once you told me how you felt about me, my feelings just kind of slipped out and I can't tell you how much better it feels not to be holding that all inside anymore."
I smile, forgetting that he can't see me in the lightless room. My lips meet his, preventing any further words on his part, feeling a weight lift from my own chest as we give in to the passions that we've both kept buried for so long.