Notes: Not mine

--

Considering the circumstances, Ryuuta had gotten off easy-- especially since the circumstances included Mason attacking him from behind. Having to sit still while his ribs and arm healed was going to be a pain, but it was still much better than how things could have gone for him today.

If it weren't for Shingo, he might have considered himself lucky.

Shingo had been the one to stop Mason before he could strike his final blow (he could still see the laser hitting the cyborg's shoulder when he closed his eyes), he had stayed with him until he could move again... and hadn't so much as looked at him since. At first, he thought he understood. Shingo blamed himself when things went badly, and the fight had gone badly for all of them. However, each passing hour of solitude led him to wonder if there was something else, but he convinced himself it would be best to let Shingo bring it up if there was... until he went to bed and found it empty, and decided that was the last straw.

He was moving slower thanks to his injuries, but he finally found Shingo in the garage, leaning heavily against Bio Turbo. He waited in the entrance way until the other man noticed him.

"You're supposed to be in bed."

"You're supposed to be there with me." He hobbled over to Shingo, punching him lightly with his good arm. "Otherwise you kind of defeat the purpose of having someone to sleep with."

Usually he had no trouble getting Shingo to laugh, but his frown only deepened. "Maybe... maybe this is a mistake."

"What do you mean?"

Shingo said nothing as he took the uninjured hand, squeezed it briefly, and then pulled away.

Ryuuta couldn't believe it. He wouldn't believe it. "It's just a couple of cracked ribs and a cut on my arm! It's nothing to break up over--"

"I should have been there to protect you--"

"But you saved me!" His voice echoed against the metal walls. Ryuuta took a breath, remembering that he was (for once) going to have to be the rational one here. "And I never asked you to protect me." I just want you to love me.

Shingo turned back towards him, looking better but still distraught. It was about then Ryuuta decided words weren't going to be enough to reach him, and decided to try kissing him instead.

He was gentle at first in case Shingo pulled away, but to his relief he responded. Boy, did he respond. Shingo pulled him in close (but not enough to hurt him). A whimper escaped Ryuuta as his teammate started working on his neck, and it felt almost as good as the pure relief that flooded his system in knowing that Shingo was all right, everything was going to be all right.

When it ended, Shingo held him in a way that could only be considered protective, but Ryuuta was still having trouble catching his breath, much less complain. And the fact that Shingo was ginning at him that way took the remaining fight out of him. "Ryuuta?"

"Hm?"

"I'm ready to go to bed now."