.

Especially

by fluffystring

Title: Lovesick

Word count: 1,119

Notes: A prompt sent into me on Tumblr. I feel extremely proud of this one, if only because I finally made it over my usual word count after five years of struggling.

"I don't want you to go."

"I don't really have much of a choice," came Seto's offhanded reply from afar, his words muffled out by the shirt shrouding his head before the familiarity of his voice returned full-force, his tone dripping with mild disappointment. "I gotta be at work early today."

Kano made no effort to hide the pitiful pout forming along the line of his lips. "Eeeeh…? You never said anything about that."

"I didn't wanna ruin the mood."

"You could have told me anyways," Kano argued, slouching. "I wanted to lay next to you for a little while longer." He didn't bother mentioning his previous assumptions regarding Seto's work schedule (what would be the point, when the other was nearly ready to strode out the door?), didn't bother making note about how he could have sworn the boy didn't have to be there until ten, that they still had a bit more time to lay side by side before duty called and tore him from Kano's grasp; it wouldn't have made much of a difference, even if he decided to tell Seto at the last minute. Regardless of how he felt, a job was a job, and not even he could come as a first priority in comparison to something like that.

Kano didn't realize Seto had moved from his position at the far end of the room until the green-clad teen was already seated at his side, disturbing the springs in the mattress, leaving a hollow dip at the side of the bed as his hand came to encompass Kano's own. " 'm sorry," Seto murmured, his voice almost too soft to hear. "I know I shoulda said somethin', and it's my fault for not tellin' ya sooner, but I promise I'll make it up to ya later. I just didn't wanna bring your mood down last night because you were so happy to see me."

Had things been different that morning, Kano would have felt embarrassed by Seto's observations, would have protested against the other boy's claims before giving him a playful nudge, but things hadn't been different, and the circumstances he now came to face weren't, in any way, happy enough for him to joke around in.

It wasn't that it hurt not to be told this sort of information sooner; it wasn't even the fact that Seto had to go in early. It was merely Kano's petty temptations, his selfish wants and desires for the raven to stay home for just a few more hours, to cuddle up beside him underneath the bedsheets, to feel that welcoming warmth of their combined body heat sending his heart into unbridled somersaults, to breathe in Seto's heady scent as his head wedged itself against the crook of the boy's neck. He wanted to lace his fingers through Seto's, wanted to whisper sweet nothings into his ear, wanted to feel the rise and fall of the raven's chest pressed against his own. He needed the closeness, the nearness of their bodies, and the light of Seto's presence to get him through the day, but knew that their close proximity was the last thing he'd receive today.

He was so lost in thought that he almost missed the chaste kiss Seto left on the corner of his mouth, his somber gaze flashing, golden irises wide with surprise. Hastily, Kano snapped himself out of his silent reverie, eyes snapping in the boy's general direction, hoping he hadn't missed anything the other might have said.

"I promise, 'm gonna make it up to ya when I get back, okay? I gotta go."

"Seto, wait–"

"I'll see ya later. Be nice to Kido and Mary, and don't go harassing Shintaro out of nowhere– Kido doesn't want ya to make him upset."

"S- Seto–" It was no use. Seto was already saying his goodbyes. He'd be out of the room and out of the apartment complex in a matter of seconds, and Kano wouldn't be able to reach him in time before then. Chasing him down was out of the question– where Seto had been smart enough to keep his boxers on that night, Kano had made the dimwitted decision not to wear anything at all. At this rate, he'd never be able to reach the raven before it was too late.

Or, at least, that could have been the case, had Kano not taken hold of Seto's wrist and pulled him back.

Without further delay, Kano pressed his lips hard against the slightly chapped surface of Seto's mouth, relishing in the rough texture and the subtle taste of his skin before gradually drawing back, smiling. "Have a good day. I'll see you when you get back."

For a moment, Seto said nothing, his honey-coated gaze firmly fixated on Kano's, his body perpetually frozen in place on the mattress. In that same instance, Kano felt his stomach lurch, and he began wondering if he might have done something wrong, if maybe he should have given the other prior warning before leaning in for a kiss; it wasn't like it was completely out of the norm for them to do, mind you, though it could have easily been unexpected, considering how earlier, Kano hadn't spoken a single word after Seto finished laying out his thoughts, and was only just now showing signs of some sort of reaction to the things the boy had said.

As if sensing his unease, Seto's face turned a bright shade of crimson, giving Kano the reaction he'd been waiting for (but not at all anticipating), flooding the blond's visage in a wave of relief before his eyes glimmered mischievously amid the calmness befalling his features. "Be careful, alright?"

With a brisk nod, Seto stammered, "Y- yeah– Uh, I- I'll… I'll see ya later," before turning on the heel of his foot and bolting straight out the door without so much as a single flick of the hand to signal a temporary farewell, leaving Kano alone with his thoughts, but satisfied by the response he managed to gauge from the teen.

A soft sigh hadn't even passed through Kano's lips when the door suddenly flew ajar once more, revealing none other than the lanky, red-faced teen himself, his hair sticking out in several different places, his eyes scrunched tightly shut as he inhaled a deep breath and closed the door behind him. Before Kano even had time to question Seto's abrupt return, the raven opened his eyes and briskly strode across the room, sheepishly muttering, "S- stayin' a little longer might not be a bad idea," earning him a soft but teasing grin from Kano as he discarded his shoes and jumpsuit on the floor and slid beneath the covers.