Abandoned Driveways

11-Start With Me, I Am Your Gateway Drug

Kurogane looked up as a sharp, insistent knock came at the window of his bedroom. As expected, Fai was on the other side, his bright blue eyes unusually hard and serious. Wondering what could possibly be stuck up the blond's ass this time, Kurogane leisurely made his way over the the window and pushed it open, raising his eyebrows when Fai wasted no time in scrambling over the sill.

Fai dropped to his feet inside the room, looking up at Kurogane with what could only be described as a glare. His expression added to Kurogane's surprise; he rarely saw anything on Fai's face other than his annoying fake smile, and he never saw anything as harsh as a glare.

"I don't know how you did it," Fai spoke suddenly, softly, "but I wish you hadn't."

"What the hell did I do this time?" Kurogane asked, bewildered.

"You made me trust you!" Fai snapped, his lips curling in the beginnings of a snarl. His eyes widened at his own admission and he turned away with a soft curse.

"Hey, id-Fai, what are you talking about?" Kurogane asked, trying to turn him around. He had originally intended for his wording to be different-more like his usual style-but at the last minute he decided his usual charm wasn't exactly suited for the situation.

Fai refused to turn to him, bowing his head instead. Kurogane sighed; he had no idea what to do in this situation. What does one do when the person they love is apparently having a crisis over the fact that someone cares about them and puts himself in that situation anyway?

After several long moments of awkward silence, Kurogane decided to change the subject. He looked around the room, trying to find a distraction, and his eyes finally landed on his collection of DVDs and games. He wasn't sure Fai was up for the kind of games he owned, so he finally asked in a suddenly quiet, awkward way, "So, uh...do you...want to watch a movie? Or something..."

Fai looked up, blinking rapidly. Kurogane wondered if it was his imagination or if there was a wet sparkle in those deep sapphire eyes. "I-yes, please," Fai answered almost shyly.

"Go ahead and pick something out," Kurogane told him gruffly, gesturing with his head to the bookcase containing his collection, as he tried to hide his blush.

Fai complied, moving across the room with easy grace that Kurogane couldn't help but watch. His crimson gaze softened, and a small smile quirked his lips.

Part of him wondered if their relationship-whatever it was-would change now that Fai had admitted to trusting him. A part of him doubted it, but another, larger part of him couldn't help but hope it would. He couldn't help but hope that Fai might actually stay with him and love him as well as trust him. He shook the thoughts away, blushing again at how sappy they were.

When he looked up, Fai was grinning at him, holding up...one of Tomoyo's girly movies. Kurogane groaned as he recognized Hanamizuki, which Tomoyo had forced him to watch at least ten times since she got it last year. At the look on Fai's face, however, he gave in. After all, how awkward could it be watching a romance movie with your not-boyfriend?

Very, very awkward.

Kurogane found himself looking everywhere but at the screen. He practically knew the movie by heart though, so it wasn't much help. He kept glancing at Fai instead, but the blond actually seemed to be completely absorbed by the storyline. At one point he considered taking the pale, thin hand that rested on the couch between them, but he rejected the idea with a quick mental scolding.

"It's a beautiful story, don't you think?" Fai asked suddenly. He kept his eyes on the screen, but his expression was dreamy rather than attentive now.

Kurogane couldn't help himself. He snorted loudly, drawing the other's concerned gaze. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

"I guess...if you're into that kind of thing..." he admitted, "I guess after the fourteenth time, the story is kind of lost on me."

"Fourteenth?" Fai asked, his expression amused.

"Tomoyo forces me to watch it, okay!" Kurogane snapped. He could feel his face heating up rapidly and was sure his blushing cheeks shone like a beacon even through his tan and the darkness of the room.

"And you don't like it at all," Fai confirmed with mock sincerity.

Kurogane glared at him, but Fai's only response was a cool smile as he settled back against the arm of the couch. Seeing him sitting there, looking relaxed and comfortable in Kurogane's house, made the darker-haired boy's thoughts run wild. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and he couldn't help but wonder how it would be if Fai could be here every night. He started to open his mouth, but as he cleared his throat to speak, he thought better of what would probably have been a unusually forward question. He must have been getting to tired to think straight. It was after two in the morning, after all.

"Kuro-chii?" Fai asked, leaning into his personal space. He seemed to have forgotten the movie in favor of the fact that Kurogane had clearly been about to say something. Kurogane wondered if Fai really wanted to hear what he had to say or if he just wanted to make Kurogane uncomfortable by pressing the issue.

"What do you want?" he asked gruffly as he leaned back, hoping he could avoid scrutiny by playing dumb. He immediately regretted his decision when a hurt look passed across Fai's face and he sat back as well. When the fake smile returned, he cursed him himself, afraid his stupid hesitation had cost them months of progress. Still, when he opened his mouth, he couldn't quite find the words to amend the situation.

"Fai," he began suddenly, sounding exhausted with defeat. The blond pulled his eyes away from the TV again, looking surprised.

"I..." Kurogane tried again, glancing at Fai and away again.

"You...?" Fai prompted, raising his eyebrows.

Kurogane shifted uncomfortably, then took a deep breath and forced himself to turn and focus on the attractive blond boy in front of him.

"Are we friends or...something else?" he asked, chickening out on the suggestion he'd planned halfway through.

Fai's eyes widened anyway, suggesting that he knew exactly where Kurogane had been headed with his sudden outburst. Kurogane started to panic, and Fai started to lean in, a smirk playing across his face. Kurogane was sure he was about to be rejected, successfully ending the first relationship he'd had before it began.

"I did tell you I was single, didn't I?" Fai whispered in his ear. He sat back, still smiling, to meet Kurogane's eyes.

Kurogane gaped at him, his brain still trying to catch up with his ears. His mouth worked without sound for a few moments, and Fai continued to smile patiently at him.

Finally he recovered, swallowing hard. "Uh, yeah...Well...You-you willing to change that?"

He had to be sure. Fai had so many options with his looks-as if his shaggy, shiny blond hair and bright sapphire eyes weren't alluring enough, he had near-perfect porcelain skin and the ideal height by most girls' standards. He waited breathlessly for Fai's response.

The blond rolled his gorgeous blue eyes and leaned in, still smiling, to press a chaste kiss to Kurogane's lips.

Kurogane was sure he stopped breathing for several long moments. His heart fluttered as if it were trying to burst free from his chest or fly up to his throat. He froze for several long moments, but then instinct kicked in and he kissed Fai back.

Their lips moved together in a smooth, relaxed way that seemed more right than any moment in Kurogane's life up to that point. His arm wrapped loosely around Fai's waist, and the blond leaned into him at the slightest pressure. They stayed that way for what seemed like ages, and when they finally pulled back, their faces were flushed and they were panting for breath.

Fai gave a breathless little laugh, slumping into Kurogane's shoulder. Kurogane was still trying to recover from the new developments, his arm still holding Fai to his side. He relaxed finally, focusing on the movie for the first time all night. It was near the end now, but he couldn't say he was particularly interested in the climax. A small part of him wondered if even Tomoyo would be concerned by the unfinished plot line if she'd been here. Personally, he doubted it-she'd probably be taking pictures of this rare moment of snuggling he was doing with the blond boy beside him.

The credits began to roll, dragging him from his thoughts. He started to sit up, then realized that Fai's weight on his shoulder seemed to have increased rather than lessened and that he hadn't moved away, as expected. His eyebrows raised with surprise, Kurogane lifted a hand and gently brushed his golden bangs out of the way.

Of course, he thought with a small, private smile. Fai had fallen asleep nestled into his shoulder. As usual, he face was peaceful and practically radiated beauty.

He thought about moving Fai to the bedroom or at least settling him comfortably on the couch, but found himself reluctant to move the other at all. In fact, he quickly came to realized he wasn't particularly interested in moving either. Instead, he began carding his fingers through Fai's silky hair unconsciously, leaning his head back against the back of the couch.

The credits were still scrolling across the screen, and the music that accompanied them quickly lulled Kurogane to sleep, his fingers still tangled in the blond locks.