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When gaps are made, Nagisa finds a way to fill them in.

Monday

The alarm echoed throughout the room.

"Rei-chan, five more minutes please."

Nagisa barely mumbled out the words as he turns away from the light hitting his side of the bed. Pristine white sheets shuffled underneath him; chilly fingers sought warm comfort beneath his pillow. His eyes slowly cracked open at the feeling of being alone on their bed.

"Nagisa, you'll be late for your class. You've got Professor Nakatani for first period, correct?"

Rei would say. He's always been good at math, so he probably wouldn't even need Nakatani to teach him the tricks. Nagisa is certain Rei would have laughed at the way he groaned at the mention of the professor's name.

Grudgingly, Nagisa sat up on their bed, slightly wincing at the loss of warmth. A relieved sigh escaped his lips as he got off from the mattress–his socks, mismatched pink and green dots and stars, helped greatly in keeping the coldness from seeping into his soles. He ran his fingers through the blond mess atop his head, not even bothering with making it neater, while hurrying to the bathroom to brush his teeth. He opened his drawers to fish out a dark blue sweater and grey jeans then quickly put them on. He grabbed his scarf and made his way to the kitchen. "Dammit, Nakatani sucks."

Nagisa made coffee while Rei would peruse a magazine (one of the sports sort). He reached for their usual mugs: black one for Rei and an orange one for himself. Rei's fingers would linger on the dark ceramic and he'd allow his lips to form into a small smile as Nagisa's fingers would ghost over his when Nagisa hands out his now filled mug to him. Nagisa sat down and brought his hot drink closer to his body, finding the heat comforting.

"Come on, Nakatani isn't all that bad," Rei would state, peering from behind his red frames, "he's actually a pretty decent teacher." Carmine eyes rolled, then was followed with a chuckle, "But Rei-chan, you're Rei-chan." Rei would laugh with a shrug. "You'd probably be a better professor anyway," Nagisa mumbled, downing his much needed caffeine. Rei would smile with his eyes. And Nagisa loved it when he does.

"You'll miss your train."

Nagisa stood up and headed to the genkan to put on his shoes, haphazardly wrapping his scarf around his neck in the process. Rei would saunter towards Nagisa to smoothen out the white scarf and attempt to tame his unruly hair, and once Rei deemed Nagisa presentable, in comparison to his earlier state at least, he'd kiss him on the cheek.

Nagisa opened the door and he'd get on his toes to reciprocate the action, a morning routine he and Rei got into the habit of doing every morning before leaving for class or work. Nagisa found it adorable, treasuring the little gestures they picked up over the years. In no way Rei would think otherwise.

He peeks at Rei. "I'll see you later." He pulled on his sleeves as he kissed the other again before stepping out. Rei would poise his back against the dark, wooden doorframe. "You will."

He ignored how his Rei couldn't close the door, so he closed it himself.

Nagisa grinned brightly.

His sweater was stark against pale skin, the dark fabric brushing against the small R bracelet on his wrist as he fixed his scarf to cover more skin–the room chilly despite it being warmer than the asphalt pavements outside the university.

"Nagisa-kun," the person next to him started. Nagisa turned his head towards her, his usual smile lighting up his features. "Yes?"

Nagisa lost her at I'm sorry, but he wanted to be polite so he was careful to not make it seem that he was tuning her out – even if he was.

He only had three classes on Mondays. Though Nagisa hates how early they start, he's glad to be done around lunch.

Nagisa's fingers twitched in the pockets of his jeans, unaccustomed to the absence of the warm, calloused fingers that would usually squirm themselves in among the gaps of his – the perfect fit in what used to be arm's reach.

But it's okay, because Rei would be treading down the same grey path he's on, closing the distance until they're side by side, next to each other, where they belong.

He ignored the empty feeling and focused on the fleeting warmth, desperately clinging onto that momentary flash of heat. He bore his eyes into Rei's. Rei would ask him what's wrong, to which he'd flash his grin, cheeks flushed due to the autumn wind running through his being.

"Nothing, Rei-chan."

They proceeded to have lunch.

Rei had classes after lunch and over the years, Nagisa grew to be less clingy (not at all less attached, however, because if anything, his attachment only grew day by day – painfully so).

"I'll see you back at home," Rei would say. "Where else would I be?" Nagisa joked, "Don't make me wait too long, Rei-chan." He winked with his smile hidden behind the fluffy scarf. "I won't."

They parted so Rei could continue with his classes. Nagisa ignored the emptiness in his hand.


hi hello my ships are ruining my life send heLP

i've been thinking about this plot for quite some time, so i just went for it.

this is my first actual fic to be posted, so reviews and constructive criticisms are very much loved!