Story takes place during the 10 month time skip, post-Jake. This time told from Kotetsu's POV.
It had become commonplace, these little evenings spent at his townhouse. They happened after a long day at the office, or after a thrilling evening full of spectacular arrests. The two heroes would make their way to the corner store a block from his place. With a 12 pack in hand and bag full of junk they really shouldn't be eating, they return for a night of good company and hopefully a good buzz.
It pleased Kotetsu to no end how close they had become in the matter of a few months. In the beginning, the ornery enigma that was Barnaby Brooks Jr. did nothing but test his patience, nearly finding himself on the bad end of a good punch or two to the face, but luckily he didn't test Kotetsu's restraint as well. As they had worked together, teamed up (much to Barnaby's own chagrin at the time) to take down the blonde's object of 20 years of revenge by the name of Jake Martinez, and simultaneously the terrorist group that was Ouroboros, Kotetsu had seen a quick and visible change in the other man.
Maybe it was the enormous chip that was lifted off his shoulder, maybe it was the absence of sleepless nights, endless worry and sorrow, or maybe it was the absence of the forced celebrity front he presented to the public. Each day it seemed that every smile, every peal of laughter came more and more natural. So genuine that no camera flash could contain the shine. All of this almost eclipsed how Kotetsu's heart had soared when the younger man started calling him by his given name. The veteran hero had felt the wall around his heart slowly melting, brick by brick, with everyday they spent at each other's side.
This is how it should be, Kotetsu mused as he clinked cans amicably with his companion, kicking back comfortably on his couch. This is what he had been missing, what he hadn't known he was craving. Companionship and friendship, someone he could rely on to catch him when he fell (no matter how embarrassingly literal that could already be applied to their relationship.)
It also didn't hurt that Barnaby was so easy on the eyes. Now, Kotetsu would have the first person to deny any sort of attraction to his partner, in the beginning anyways. But in the several months after the incident, after getting to know the younger man even better than before, it seemed that his heart had opened up to more than he had originally anticipated. Kotetsu had expected to love the brat like a younger brother, or maybe even something like a son. He hadn't expected this feeling of unconditional affection for him. He hadn't expected wanting to hold him and pet his hair, wanting to soothe away the bad things, hadn't expected wanting to touch and feel things that tingled in parts of him he had forgotten existed.
It seemed that the heart wants what the heart wants. And veteran hero, widower, single father, and admittedly a little too old, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi's heart wanted Barnaby Brooks Jr. The gorgeous and heroic Sternbild heart-throb, most eligible bachelor, King of Heroes and his very untouchable partner. Kotetsu knew very well that he didn't stand much of a chance, and even if he did somehow, two things held him back. One; could he be sure that Barnaby was even interested in the same sex, let alone Kotetsu himself? And two; his biggest fear. What if he accidentally ruined this amazing thing they already had going? Kotetsu would rather stay a pining, sentimental old man then ruin their partnership with an awkward love confession.
So if that meant spending his days hero-ing at Barnaby's side, and his nights knocking a few back with the blonde for company, then so be it. He wasn't about to complain.
An inquisitive look from ivy green eyes, accompanied by the arch of a primly groomed brow brought Kotetsu out of his reverie. The older man returned a warm smile. "Yes?"
"Just curious about what was rattling about that mind of yours for that five minutes of silence."
"Nothing much," Kotetsu chuckled, taking a sip of beer and wriggling to sink more comfortably into his cozy sectional. "Just sentimental fool thoughts."
Barnaby smirked, "Don't go wasting my precious time with fool thoughts. I'll never forget that you wasted five minutes of my life."
"How many minutes am I up to now?'
Barnaby smiled earnestly, leaning onto his elbows, the can of beer hanging languidly from his hand. A soft look graced his features as he started down, seemly seeing beyond the scarlet carpeting at his feet.
"I've lost count," he murmured.
Kotetsu smiled as he brought his beer to his lips, taking a long, cool sip. He put his feet up, crossed at the ankle on the table top, closing his eyes and just soaking in the comfortable silence that spanned between them. He could hear the soft ticking of the clock in the kitchen, muffled sounds of slow, midnight traffic beyond his walls, and the decidedly loud rustle of Barnaby bringing one leg up under himself, settling as Kotetsu was, but not before placing his empty roughly onto the glass table top. The out of place sound brought the older man out of his short trance.
Glancing towards Barnaby, Kotetsu noticed the somewhat tense line of his shoulders and the pursing of lips. The blonde's well manicured hands curled and uncurled into fists, resting on top of his jean clad thighs. Where had this nervous energy stemmed from? He watched curiously for a moment longer, but decided to break the silence, if not to save the younger man from the thoughts that seemed to be racing in his head.
"Okay, what is it?"
Barnaby's gaze shot up from the spot it was trained to on the floor, to meet with concerned amber eyes. The sharp movement caused those soft, almost downy looking curls to bounce after him. Cute, Kotetsu's mind supplied. Too darn cute, especially with that thinly veiled look of surprise, somewhat resembling a deer in the headlights or maybe that of being caught red handed thinking something naughty. Okay, stop that train of thought. Perhaps he'd already had too much to drink.
Barnaby's gaze returned to the floor, something of an embarrassed flush visible under the poor veil his bangs provided. His hands scrabbled together nervously, clearly thinking of how to answer the older man. He stumbled over his words, "Ah, well, I uh-…well, that is-"
Damn it all, he was adorable when flustered. It wasn't often Kotetsu got to see this side of the blonde so some good natured teasing was definitely in order. " Aw, you're such a cute bunny when you get like this. What's the matter? Tiger got your tongue?"
Green eyes widened as the pink of his flush deepened to red, and spread across his cheek to the tips of his ears.
"Kotetsu!" the younger man cried out, scandalized.
A hearty laugh bellowed out of the veteran hero. "Oh, come off it! What's on your mind? I'm dying of curiosity over here."
Soft lips pursed once more and green eyes averted from their amber companions. With something of a deep breath, Barnaby seemed to screw up some form of courage, a look of fierce, reckless determination set on those handsome features.
"Kotetsu."
Amber eyes widened in acknowledgement of the tone in which his name was said. Getting a little ahead of himself, Kotetsu's heart beat a little faster and he could feel the warmth of an excited flush start to creep up his neck. This was ridiculous, this teenage reaction to the blonde hero addressing him so bluntly, with that look of recklessness on that too handsome face. Obviously he wasn't going to admit his unrequited feelings to you Kotetsu, they don't exist. But even as he thought this, seeing the look on his partner's face was enough to make him doubt himself. He couldn't feel the same, could he?
Kotetsu averted his own eyes, bringing his hands up to try and stop such a confession with the gesture. Words tumbled out his own mouth, nervous and jumbled as his heart raced. "W-wait Bunny, I don't think-"
But before he could finish, Barnaby interrupted him, ploughing through his weak excuse for a protest.
"I-I need your help with something! You see, there's this person I'm interested in, and I-I think I might be in love with them. So to speak."
And that was the sound of Kotetsu's hopes and dreams getting crushed. Broken and grinded into little particles of glass, piercing him right in the exposed section of his heart. Ah, what was he expecting, honestly? Head lolling forward, he took a deep gulp of alcohol in desperation, choking a bit on his wounded pride.
"Ah…I see. So Bunny has a special person. How can this old man be of service?" Kotetsu took another sip of beer mournfully.
Staring at the older man, Barnaby's fingers laced thoughtfully in his lap, a grimace twitched across those lips and a flush skittered across high cheekbones. For what he asked next, Kotetsu was thankful he had at least the decency to blush.
"I need you to teach me how to kiss."
Whatever beer had passed his lips in that brief moment, was next sprayed out in exasperation or choked on violently.
"Hah!"