Disclaimer: I'm just a geeky fangirl that likes to play around; I own nothing.
The Long Way Home: Chapter 29
It seemed inevitable that Ueno, resident diplomat, psychologist and sounding board, be the one that Kanoko wished to confide in first.
"Don't you want to know how?"
No, but it looks like you want me to. Ueno nodded. "Sure, if you want to talk about it."
"We were all up there celebrating my birthday, as you know. Well, most of the family. Some of them didn't show-including your boyfriend. I didn't invite Mira formally, but in this family, formal invitations aren't necessary, and excluding anyone is a crime punishable by law. Anyway, it was a slow night; there weren't many guests that weren't family, so we were able to really cut loose. There was lots of noise, lots of alcohol and lots of general crazy activity. If it wasn't a family run business, Aki's dad would have been kicked out for public indecency and disturbing the peace. Owning the place has its perks."
Why the hell was Aki so different from the rest of them? Zany families were awesome, at least in his opinion. Though he had a hard time picturing his boyfriend sloshed or belligerent, Ueno would pay hard earned money to see it.
"It was late, and everyone had already gone to sleep, so I decided to go soak and unwind a bit until I got tired enough to go to bed myself. I left my room, got some sake and went to one of the indoor baths. I didn't even notice that Mira was there at first. He was so quiet, and I would have assumed he would make himself known."
Kanoko steepled her fingers and bowed her head. Ueno wondered for a moment if some sort of prayer was in play until Kanoko continued.
"Mira's right. I could have left, but I ended up sitting down anyway; I would have been okay with sitting by myself, but I really didn't feel like being alone, and Mira isn't always so terrible, especially after he's knocked back a few. He'd already been drinking by the time I got there, and he offered me a beer. We shared the sake I brought, and up until we both got extra happy, we'd gotten along well enough. Afterwards too, when you think about it."
Ueno glanced to the side.
"Come on, Ueno. Mira and I don't fight all the time. The family tends to exaggerate."
Ueno attempted to speed the admission along. "So, is it safe to assume that one thing simply led to another?"
"And another. And another."
"Oh, man." Ueno whispered, dropping his forehead into his palms. He didn't need to hear any more. "I would never have guessed two of you actually liked each other."
"I don't like him."
"But obviously you do, or you wouldn't ha-"
"Stop! Come on, Ueno." Kanoko's brows snapped together. "There was some mutual like, I suppose-we both like sex- but that's all. Don't tell me you think liking someone is required to enjoy what their body has to offer. If that was the case, a lot less sex would take place in the world, you know."
Ueno flushed.
Kanoko's scowl left as quickly as it came and she observed him tenderly. "You're one of those weird people that can't separate sex from emotion. You've got to love them first, don't you? I thought that requirement was restricted to... well, to prudes."
He'd never been in love with any of his sexual partners, but he'd liked them all, at least a little. He didn't understand how it would work without some sort of affection, even though Aki had been able to perform without it. Was it strange that he and Aki hadn't gotten to that stage yet, especially when it was now blaringly obvious that even two people who fought like cats and dogs could not only be intimate, but procreate?
And even if love was required to edify hitting the sheets for Ueno, realistically, he and Aki should have already been going at it like rabbits.
No pun intended.
He supposed that according to Aki and Kanoko, Ueno's standards were incredibly puritanical. And Ueno's standards didn't always apply. They couldn't, given the experience he and Aki had shared. Maybe it was okay to feel that spark with someone he didn't love, when their time together resulted in the love they experienced now.
Considering their introduction in that light, he was then reminded of the comment Aki had muttered as he drifted off into sleep. Maybe Aki's earlier comment had been correct, that Ueno had been meant to find him that afternoon. Ueno hadn't put much faith in the concept of kismet, but if Aki was right and they had been meant to come together for the first time that day, their lack of familiarity as they had sated themselves in one another was insignificant.
Given their drastically different lifestyles, how else were they to meet? At an ice cream stand or the park? And if they had met that way, without their previous encounter to draw from, would Ueno have ever seen Aki as a potential partner, or would he have written him off because he was a guy? Would Aki have seen Ueno as anything other than a mundane, run of the mill college student? And really, if that chance encounter had never taken place, Ueno may never have even had the opportunity to meet Aki; it was possible he'd have remained with his uncle, if Aki really had mouthed off because of Ueno.
"Oh, Ueno. You are precious. It's a shame you're not the father. "Kanoko raised her eyes skyward. "You're a little angel on earth."
Ueno, red filling his cheeks, lifted his head, having forgotten he wasn't alone, noticing Kanoko watching him quietly.
"Did I embarrass you?" Kanoko spoke softly. "I think it's cute, but I didn't mean to offend you. There's no crime in being virtuous or respectful."
Ueno shrugged, not wishing to discuss his lack of bravery or thought process behind his unplanned celibacy. "You know that you can come to me and even Aki f you need to."
"I appreciate the offer." Kanoko's voice had softened. "I absolutely will. I'll come to you, anyway. Aki won't even run dishwater; he'd be no help at all physically, and I can't see him lending a caring ear or giving me any sound advice."
"Noted." Ueno shook his head. "So-uh, what happens now? How is Mira going to fit into all of this? Will you share or something, maybe move in together? How exactly does that work?"
"Who knows? I'll deal with that later. I have more important things to worry about, like talking to my parents. This is a huge offense, you know. It's going to be humiliating for them. I'm expecting them to suggest that I give it up, or worse, marry that idiot. I've never refused them before, so I'm predicting some ghastly conversations in the immediate future." To Ueno's surprise, Kanoko smirked, quite out of line with their topic of discussion. "I'm positive I'll take you up on your offer. My uncle even offered to let me stay here, but I'm saving that as a last resort."
Ueno felt his eyebrow twitch. Another neighbor. He could just see it now; Kanoko and Mira arguing in the hallway on a daily basis or worse yet, moaning and grunting wafting into his ears from underneath one of their closed doors. "How do you feel, Mira aside? Are you scared?"
"Of course. I'm sure there will be some labeling and ridicule- especially here- but I deal with that all of the time." Kanoko smiled. "But I'm excited too, now that I've thought about it more and more. I'll be fine. Some surprises turn out to be the best."
"Hopefully he or she takes after you." Ueno experienced the stirrings of what he recognized as excitement himself. He couldn't help it; kids did that to him. Kids were the perfect excuse to cut loose and disregard the rules of maturity.
"Agreed. But since Mira's genes are thrown into the mix, the kid's only got a fifty-fifty chance of being cute."
"Yeah, sure." Ueno shook his head again. "If you found Mira unattractive, there would have been no conception."
Ueno rode the elevator back to their floor after seeing Kanoko to a cab, lost in contemplation. Aki's cousin certainly seemed to be dealing well with the dramatic redirection of her future, and hadn't shown any remorse for sleeping with her adversary. Matter of fact, even.
People were weird.
Mira had opted not to bare his soul and disappeared to his apartment before Ueno had left to walk Kanoko outside and wait for her cab. It was anyone's guess what he was doing behind that closed door; perhaps plotting his suicide or a permanent jaunt from the earth's radar. Ueno couldn't imagine Mira coming to either of them for advice or support anyway; he didn't seem the type to value anyone's opinion or decision over his own. His blasé little Aki would predictably be in the apartment, bored to tears with the subject and ready for bed. He indeed cared more for sleep than he did anything else.
Strange. He'd expected a more extreme reaction out of his boyfriend, though Aki wasn't the type to freak out, at least not outwardly. Despite the fact that Aki hadn't loved Mira in a romantic sense and what they'd shared together had passed long ago, was it reasonable for Aki to accept the news so calmly?
Aki perked up at Ueno's entry. "How did it go?"
"Not much to it." Ueno stretched. "Alcohol has a wonderful way of temporarily burying a hatchet, I guess."
Aki unfolded his legs. "I'm not surprised."
"No?"
"Well, you know what they say about love and hate, right? Underneath all of that arguing, they were both a little obsessed with one another."
"Huh?"
"Yup. Think about it; Mira teases Kanoko all the time about her weight, and about the number of guys she's dated or slept with. Believe me, Mira knows where she's lost the most weight, and where 'she still needs some work, man'. He's told her that she probably can't keep count of the guys she's messed around with, but ask him and he can give you a pretty accurate estimate. He remembers physical flaws, personalities, you name it. But somehow, he could care less?" Aki shook his head, the corner of his mouth turning upward.
"So you're saying that underneath all that talk about hate, that there's a little love underneath?"
"Oh, no." Aki shook his head again, with more force. "I just think that people who have an intense dislike for one another have no idea exactly how fixated they are on each other. They spend so much energy digging for dirt and trying to come out on top that it develops into a sort of obsession. When you add some alcohol to the equation, the sound of running water, dim lighting and privacy, Mira and Kanoko's situation isn't so unpredictable."
"Huh. So you don't think they like each other at all?"
Aki stood up. "One has nothing to do with the other. It doesn't have to, anyway."
Here we go again. Ueno shuffled into the semi-dark bedroom, Aki close behind. "I suppose not, but isn't sex more satisfying that way?"
"If you're looking for a connection, then yes." Aki, already dressed for bed, crawled under the blankets. "But why should emotional attachment be necessary for people who are just looking for physical satisfaction? Some people aren't looking for an emotionally fulfilling experience; they just need to come, you know?"
"They could do that alone," Ueno muttered, sliding in next to Aki and arranging his pillows just so. He wasn't anticipating a reply to his comment, but Aki answered.
"Why, if both people consent to sex with no strings attached? The process is wonderful. I don't think even you can argue with that. Getting yourself off is quick, takes the edge off and gets the job done, but coming alone isn't much fun."
Aki paused, a smile present, before continuing. "Some people are lucky enough to share that with someone they love. I'm a bit of a late bloomer, but thanks to you, I realized that sex is better if there's some touching, kissing, exchanging and kindness to go with it. It's funny, because it makes sex more enjoyable, but it also keeps sex from being a focal point. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah." He shifted as Aki scooted closer and slid a leg over him.
"I'm not putting saying one is better than the other for everyone, Ueno. But I can only speak about what I know, and my experiences haven't included deep mental or emotional connections, except for one. Even though it's unfamiliar, I did like it. I guess you could say it opened my eyes, or something else as corny as that."
Ueno felt Aki caress his chin before turning his head to the side. Aki's eyes, soft and sleepy, stared into his own. "I realize now that it takes much more… more something to live the way you do. Maturity? Strength? I'm not sure. Meaningless sex is easy. You don't have to be honest, care about anyone's feelings, or take any responsibility. You don't seem like the type to pull that off, and that makes me very lucky."
The heat in Ueno's cheeks intensified. "Kanoko called me precious."
Aki, still holding fast to Ueno's jaw, pressed a kiss to his cheek. "That must have burned, but she's right; precious is fitting."
"I've only used the word precious when I refer to kids or animals." Ueno closed his eyes.
"Honest, loving, faithful and loyal? Someone who doesn't judge and has no pretext? That's you."
"Woof." Ueno replied, throwing an arm over his eyes.
A light sound of mirth filtered into his ears. "That's nothing to be ashamed of. I don't think she was mocking you. I think even though she has her preferences, that she realizes the same thing that I'm learning." His arm was brushed aside, and he felt a small puff of warm air before Aki kissed him. "People like you are a rarity for me; that makes you precious."
In his own way, Aki was too. At a loss for adequate reply, Ueno closed his eyes and rolled to his side, tossing an arm over Aki and drawing him in. Compliments, when worded that way and given life through Aki's low, silky voice, made him a little too self aware of his naiveté for comfort. "How do you feel about Mira and your cousin?"
"Am I wrong for finding it funny?"
"No." Ueno sighed. "I guess not. But that's all you feel?"
"What feeling are you assuming I should be experiencing that I'm not?"
"I thought you'd be at least a little upset, or disapprove, or something."
"Why?" Aki shifted against him. "The idea is a little disturbing but in the end, it really has nothing to do with me."
"How can you say that?"
"Easily." Aki was quiet for a minute. "Oh. You think I should be jealous or hurt."
"Well, kinda. I know you told me that you didn't love Mira in a romantic way, but you were still with him, you cared about him, and you're still attached to him because of that, I thought."
A hand slid to Ueno's back, pressing gently. "I would be angry if you impregnated my cousin. I think I've told you that before." Humor dominated his tone. "I promise you, even though it might make sense if I was a little upset with him, I'm not. I don't have the interest or time to worry about what I had with him before. I don't think that in the end, anything healthy would have come from staying with him then or reuniting with him now. I'm just glad that he hasn't grown to hate me. It's true that I was very attached to him, but what I really needed from him had nothing to do with sex. Besides, things change. Would you prefer that I was interested in him, that way you could worry some more? Disappointed?"
"I'm not disappointed." Ueno shut his eyes. "It's jus-"
"Let Kanoko and Mira worry about the demon seed she's hosting." Out of nowhere, lips nuzzled at his chin. "When it pops out, we'll buy it a huge box of diapers and an engraved rattle or something just as useless but until then, I choose to leave the stress to them."
"I wasn't trying to be difficult but I would understand if you weren't happy for him, or if you stil-"
"Ueno." Aki sounded a little put off. "I would first like to point out that you seem to enjoy putting yourself last, and then forcing yourself to be okay with it. Second; I'm here next to you, telling you that I'm so into you that I could care less how many eggs Mira brings to life. I'm also, in case you didn't notice, more interested in physical contact between us, not them. In spite of all that, you keep going on about how it's okay if I'm stuck on someone I used to sleep with. Do you see anything wrong here? Sometimes it's appropriate to be a little selfish."
"I'm not-" Ueno stopped himself and took a deep breath. "Okay, yeah. I am."
They were so close, but the guy was hopeless. Aki was going to have to prod him along.
He switched gears; it was an easy lead in for a subject that had been eating at him anyway. "A couple of days ago, we were talking about the first time we met, and I have a question for you." It was somehow easier to refer to that day as a meeting, neglecting to point directly to their sexual experience.
"Shoot."
Do you ever regret it?"
"Never. You?"
"No, but I think about it sometimes." Aki bit his lower lip. "As disturbing as it sounds, it was a turning point for me. I hope I always remember it." He lay quietly for a moment, carefully pondering his sentence structure and terminology and then rose, easing backward and propping himself up against the headboard, drawing his knees up. "What about you?"
"U-uh, well, like I told you-"
"Besides the guilt, I mean."
"Then what are you asking?"
"What else?" Aki wondered if it was too late to table the conversation. After all, wasn't he grateful that their already convoluted relationship wasn't further complicated by sex?
Simultaneously, Aki was suddenly desperate to know why Ueno hadn't yet pushed for it, and whether or not he was feigning cluelessness. Aki had to speculate. Was Ueno traumatized somehow by their first time? Was he grossed out by it? Was he simply attempting to be considerate? What kept him from trying, from even mentioning it?
"Disturbing situation aside, I'm happy. If it hadn't happened, we never would have met, right?"
"Forget it." Aki wasn't angry, only unwilling to fight for a simpl reply and uncertain he wanted the answer at this point anyway.
Seconds passed before Ueno spoke. "Aki?"
Ueno sat upright, and after a few seconds of shuffling and urging, Aki found himself between his boyfriend's legs, his back resting against Ueno's chest. Arms wrapped around his ribcage from behind and enveloped in warmth, Aki felt his resolve to address the issue continue to waver- slightly.
"What else should I have been feeling?"
"Hot; what else?" was Aki's succinct answer.
"Oh." Ueno cleared his throat. "I didn't know the conversation was headed there; you should have said so. You want to know if remembering that day turns me on?" His fingers splayed over Aki's belly. "Yes, the memory gets me hot. How could it not? I figured you would have already known the answer to that."
"How?" Aki leaned back fully. "You don't try anything, so is it odd to assume that you're not interested in going that far again?"
Ueno's hand, which had begun moving in a circular pattern, ceased and instead inched below the hem of Aki's thin t-shirt. "Not regularly, no, but neither do you."
Yikes. Aki could have just as easily initiated the fun himself; that was true. They should have had this talk already, and saved themselves a load of misunderstanding.
Ueno wasn't through. "So you think I'm not interested?"
"I've wondered."
"Sorry. I felt selfish and stupid for worrying about sex when there were so many other things we hadn't figured out yet, and I was afraid I'd look like a pig. I remember what happened that first day, of course, and that you seemed to… enjoy it, but that was such an out of the ordinary thing, at least for me. How would I know whether or not the things we did were something that you prefer, or just put up with after everything you've told me?"
"Oh." Aki mumbled, unexpectedly at a loss. "I-I hadn't thought about that. So are you afraid to try; is that it?"
"Well, yeah. It felt good, but I can't believe that the way we did it is normal, or that it would be what you want all the time. I know some people have no problem moving so fast, but we skipped everything; talking about what feels good, how you like to be… um, touched, all that. It's like we started out at the end, and now we have to try to fill in all the blanks we missed. We never even discuss normal stuff like birthdays and we had to ask each other for our family names like what, almost two weeks after we slept together. I think about how I'm supposed to act around you- a lot, and not just in bed, either. My friends and I drink together, have contests to see how hard we can punch each other, and pass out together, stuff like that. I mean, we're together, but I don't know if I'm supposed to treat you the same way I'd treat a girlfriend. Like if I should hug you or put you in a headlock. You're a guy, but we're dating, you know? Am I allowed to kiss you whenever I want, or should I crush a beer can on your forehead instead? I don't know how to treat another guy. There are things I'm used to doing when I'm with someone, but I don't know if they're appropriate now."
Tirade completed for the moment, Ueno lapsed into silence.
Ah. Fresh from the closet jitters; of course Ueno would have them. Aki inhaled deeply. "You're right; I hadn't considered that. I feel a little stupid. And just so you know, I don't believe I'd care for a wrestling match- at least not that kind. And no beer cans on my head, either."
Ueno continued, his voice hushed. "I'm sorry. It wasn't right to completely ignore sex just because I was trying to backtrack and cover the ground that we lost. I figured it would happen later, after we got more comfortable with each other, so I try not to think about it. But I guess we've got to do things a little different. If we don't talk, we'll never be more secure together."
Busy basking in his relief, Aki provided no answer. Temporarily at a loss for words, he lay in the crook of Ueno's arm quietly, digesting his confession. Ueno made so much sense, Aki felt tempted to apologize for even voicing his concerns.
"When I was confused about how to act, doing nothing was the easiest thing, I guess. And with everything you told me a couple days ago, I figured it was another reason to ignore the subject. So… yeah. I'm not always indifferent; I am human, I've got hormones, and I love you, and I think you're the sexiest person-male or female- that I've ever met. Sometimes I'm trying to convince myself that my cock isn't attached to my body, which may look like I don't care, but I do. I was trying to stay focused on what I assumed should be most important."
"I understand, but I didn't expect the answers you gave me. You're so laid back most of the time, so I didn't think you would be so nervous." Aki covered Ueno's hands with his own, wondering exactly when Ueno had to try and convince himself he wasn't a sexual being, but decided to skip the inquiry. He couldn't help speculating, however, if there was something that he did specifically that instigated it, so that he could do it more often. "I'm not demanding that we have sex tonight or anything, but I don't want to ignore it."
Previously immobile, the hand resting on his belly tugged on his shirt, and Aki could almost hear Ueno's brain churning.
A finger inched down his belly, circling his navel slowly. "Okay."
A sigh was Aki's response.
"Can we get rid of this?"
Ask and you shall receive. Aki couldn't prevent the tremor that ran through him as he sat up, raising his arms and allowing Ueno to work the material up and over his head. Heat washed over his bare back, and he was struck at the dizzying anticipation, at his steadily increasing heart rate.
Aki complied when Ueno urged his head to the side, and seconds later, the feather like touch of Ueno's soft lips registered on the sensitive skin of his neck. A hand returned to his belly and he closed his eyes, unsure of what to expect, but welcoming whatever was coming.
It was almost laughable that in spite of his early introduction into the world of sex and the years of activity, that the wonder of touch, so simple and basic, was only now being revealed. Equally striking was the realization that this was probably the way he was supposed to feel.
He couldn't figure out whether Ueno's touch tickled or not. As fingers slid up, slow and tentative, Aki couldn't prevent the minute shuddering before motion from both of their bodies ensued and his mind cleared briefly enough to register that they had moved together so fluidly, he hadn't realized what particular position they had adopted; he was no longer reclined against Ueno's chest, but leaning back, supported by one of Ueno's arms, slowly being lowered to the pillows.
Ueno hovered over him and Aki stared up at him in the dimness, amazed at how long he'd agonized over the subject, and how quickly that anxiety had been extinguished. It no longer mattered how tonight or the next would end, so long as he and Ueno were together to conclude them.
He reached up, fingers wrapping themselves around Ueno's biceps. "Are you okay with this?"
"Yeah." Ueno's reply came, whispered, immediate, and honest. "I should stop thinking so hard, huh?"
A puff of breath escaped Aki's lips, suspiciously similar to a laugh. "We should both stop, I think."
Ueno had only one request to make, before Aki raised his head slightly and Ueno dipped his own.
"We should start working on that comfort thing. Now a good time?"
As if Aki would have given any answer other than yes.
What the hell am I doing here?
He asked himself that same question, countless times in the last few minutes. Aki was likely across the hall, wondering where his boyfriend had run off to.
Of the many aspects of their relationship that had changed was one neither of them had expected, which was an increased absence. No fighting, no breaks, just a realization that they didn't have to spend every moment together, and that being reunited was so much fun when they'd spent enough time away to actually miss each other. Still, Aki would want to know where Ueno had gone, since he hadn't told Aki of any plans.
Ueno had the day off, and in his haste to get upstairs, he'd almost bowled Mira over as he'd entered the elevator. Mira, on his way outside to have a quick smoke, asked Ueno to join him. After his talk with Aki, Ueno saw Mira as less and less of an annoyance, and at times Ueno really felt for him. Mira still hadn't spoken much of his looming responsibility, but he seemed suspiciously calm; did anything bother this guy? He'd followed Mira outside, where idle conversing had quickly turned dirty, causing Ueno to regret his decision.
Today, Ueno had a suspicion Mira was attempting to fill his humiliate Ueno quota. That had to be it. What other reason could there be for this?
Still, Mira always, always had a point, buried under all that nonsense and mischief. He also suspected that Mira just may have spoken to Aki some, though he wouldn't dream of inquiring. This discussion, in addition to his earlier conversations with Aki and Kanoko, had Ueno thinking the sexual theme kept invading his life for a reason. So Ueno complied, partially out of curiosity and partially of coercion, following the older man upstairs, where he coincidentally had supplies on the ready.
And there they both sat, in Mira's apartment. They were both silent, save for the crinkling sounds of wrappers being torn.
"Now," Mira began, brandishing his teaching aide, "you ready?"
Ueno stared at his flavored ice with a degree of loathing. "I don't think so. I think you're messing with me. No; I'm positive you're screwing with me."
"Oh, grow up, will you? You've been with Aki for what, a month and a half now, and you're still not fucking each other upside down and sideways? An intervention is long overdue."
A month a half didn't seem very long. "I never said that- look, it's none of your business what we do, whether or not we're doing it or how fast we're doing it, okay? We're m-"
"You didn't have to say it. That red face of yours told me plenty. And I can't for the life of me understand why you'd have such a hot, willing body next to you every night and not put it to good use. What are you, the poster child for celibacy? That's the suckiest title ever, in case you weren't aware."
Ueno drummed his fingertips against his knee. "I've never wanted to put Aki to good use."
"Quit stalling."
Ueno complied, coughing violently.
"Idiot. Don't jam the thing all the way down your throat on the first try; you're not a porn star. Think of the sucker as… well, a sucker, I guess. How would you normally eat it?" Mira pulled the frozen stick from Ueno's fingers. "Here."
He wasn't about to show him. Ueno, lips pressed firmly together, refused the offering. He was ready to go. He had studying to do, or he could wash his hair. Anything sounded more fun than this.
Mira stood before him, wheels turning, before he reached out and pinched Ueno's lower lip between two fingers. "Come on. How long do you want to be that guy?"
He wasn't stupid. In order to reply, Ueno would have to relax his jaw. Mira had a point, but who did this kind of thing? And who did it with their boyfriend's ex-lover? And what ex-lover was willing to give this kind of advice? And what kind of idiot was he for even entertaining Mira in the first place?
He was an idiot determined to satisfy his Aki when the time came, and to avoid revealing his idiot status. He'd been hoping to glean some information while feigning disinterest but that obviously wasn't going to happen; Mira demanded participation.
"Just give it a chance." Mira urged. "How many people will have stories to tell years from now as crazy and hilarious as yours?"
Ueno sighed. "I feel stupid. And for the record, this is not a story that I'm willing to share."
"Well, this isn't an exercise in coolness or sexiness. The goal is to keep from puking, and no one looks good then, not even your little cottontail. You want to waste a perfectly good sucker? Hah, sucker."
Mira eased the cold, flavored slab of ice past Ueno's lips, stopping at what he estimated to be halfway, letting it rest on his tongue.
He watched approvingly as Ueno's cheeks billowed. "Don't hold your breath; just inhale and exhale through your nose. Good boy."
Eyes watering, nostrils flaring, Ueno had never felt more foolish. To make matters worse, he was beginning to imagine with the iced sucker actually represented, noting the obvious difference in temperature, unyielding stiffness, lack of velvety skin and textures. Also missing was a voice he'd recognize in his sleep, in a deafening sea of racket, above all else.
He hadn't expected this type of reaction to those musings. Sitting there, he didn't notice Mira letting go and his eyelids slid shut, throat relaxing, unheeded tears drying on his cheeks. How would he work on it normally, anyway? He thought about it, noting that licking or sucking alone wouldn't cut it; he'd always alternated between licking and sucking, working on the top roughly half the time, and catching the melted syrup from the bottom before it could dribble onto his hands and get his fingers all sticky, which he'd always hated with a passion, since licking his fingers never alleviated the stickiness.
"Excuse me."
Ueno's jaw went slack, and the iced proxy slid, forgotten, from his lips into his lap, a blue tinged line of drool following. He turned to his right.
Pepper, Aki's favorite accessory, was balanced on the lighter haired man's forearm as he calmly stood in the doorway.
"I'm sorry for just walking in Mira, but your door is always wide open these days, so it seemed silly to knock." Aki took in the scene, cocking his head. "Ueno, that's going to stain. I didn't realize you'd made it back yet."
"Um, yeah. Sorry." Ueno slid the proxy back into its wrapper.
"How rude. The two of you having a party without me?"
Mira took Ueno's snack and made his way into the kitchen.
Aki squeezed into the small space between Ueno and the couch arm, using a finger to rub the kitten in between its eyes. "Love?"
"Yeah?" Ueno didn't care for Aki's tone; he wasn't laughing, but it couldn't be far off.
"If you're attempting to desensitize your gag reflex- and correct me if that's not what you're doing- use a condom."
"A condom?" Ueno stared blankly. "Why? It's not the real thing. And would you even use a condom during… that?"
"Well, otherwise, when the ice melts the syrup will probably stick to the roof of your mouth or the back of your throat, which makes the urge to gag even stronger. If you put a condom over it, none of the syrup gets out." Aki paused briefly. "One other thing; Mira is not the ideal instructor in giving or receiving head. He doesn't often give it, and it's fair to assume that had he chosen to receive it more often, he wouldn't be in his present situation."
Ueno fought the urge to offer Aki a high-five, which the fairer always refused to return, or utter a superbly timed "ooh," and heard a particularly colorful string of expletives come from the direction of the kitchen.
Aki had the grace to appear just slightly apologetic. "Tending to a cock orally has never been one of your gifts."
Regrettably, Ueno had nowhere to run. "Aki, I didn't-"
"It's okay, love." Aki curled a slender hand over Ueno's knee, rubbing him a soothing, slow motion. "But next time the subject comes up, it may be in your best interest to come to me before him. I'm sure I'd be a more lifelike, willing, appreciative test dummy. Ice pops never say thank you afterward- or return the favor. And the major perk- no brain freezes."
"And Aki's calorie free. Actually, there would no nutritional value whatsoever, as long as you're careful." Mira, not to be forgotten, piped in from his post at the sink.
Ueno's first thought was that never in his life had he worried about counting calories, but then he grasped the meaning behind Mira's comment and groaned.
Aki rolled his eyes. "I'm going home. Let's leave the sex god and his pupil to their session, shall we?" Aki directed his question to Pepper, who provided no objection. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to Ueno's temple. Ueno felt the slightest pressure as Aki used his knee to push off, and watched him lazily make his exit before burying his face in his hands.
"Wanna keep going? We've got a whole box in the freezer, minus two."
"Forget it. Forget you." Ueno stomped through the open door into the hall.
If Ueno had been hoping for any relief, he should have headed back to his own apartment. But it wasn't really his home anymore; with each passing day, he felt less and less attachment to it. As he entered, he noticed Aki balanced on the arm of the couch, observing him expectantly.
"I figured you would be right after me." Aki reached out with both arms.
Ueno warily approached, his cheeks rosy, as they often were these days. "First lesson, I swear, and one I didn't sign up for."
"Obviously, from the look of things." Aki took his hands, a smug little smile wreathing his features. "You're cute, you know."
"Cute." Ueno echoed him weakly. "Is that another word for pathetic?"
A brief shake of the head, and Ueno relaxed marginally. "It bothers me that you talked to him about it instead of me."
"I didn't." Ueno replied, good humor returning. "I ran into Mira downstairs, and we were just talking, and you know how nosy Mira is; he was asking me questions about our.. you know."
"Our sex life?"
Or lack of. "Right. Anyway, I didn't confirm or deny anything, but he figured it out, as you can guess, and dragged me upstairs. How does this happen?"
Aki bit his lip. "How do you get into any situation? You let him run you over. It wouldn't kill you to simply walk away."
"True. You would know." Ueno stuck his tongue out.
Aki hopped to his feet. "You can come to me. I won't ask questions, and I promise not to embarrass you." Smooth hands cupped both his cheeks.
"Yeah." Ueno agreed verbally, although not in his head, before Aki pulled him in. Topics of that nature were still difficult for him to mention, but his hands had grown bolder, making up for what he lacked otherwise. They slid over Aki's backside in a gentle caress, while Aki caught Ueno's upper lip between both of his own. Two weeks made a world of difference.
He tightened his grip, and Aki hummed into his mouth, sifting through Ueno's hair, molding his fingers to his scalp.
"Blueberry?" The question was mumbled.
"I think so."
Aki stepped backward, rounding the couch and still attached, Ueno followed, until Aki was able to push the other onto the cushioning. Descending, he covered Ueno's prone form with his own.
"What did you do with Pepper?" Ueno inquired.
Aki, mouth attached to the tendon of Ueno's throat, mumbled his response again. "Asleep. He's in Usagi's lair. He was active this afternoon."
Oh. That meant Usagi had caught him by the ruff of the neck and dragged him under the bed, where they frequently rested together. The kidnapping had been worrisome at first, but after concluding that the older cat harbored no ill intent, they allowed it to happen. Even Ueno tired eventually in the face of the kitten's energy, grateful when Usagi assumed some of the responsibility.
"So," Aki began, "what have you got planned for today?"
"If I can knock out a little homework, I'm good. You mind?"
"Nuh uh." Aki eased off of him, and they both sat. "If you don't mind being left alone for a while, I was thinking of walking to the new bookstore in the next district. I've never been there before, and it will keep me out of your hair for a couple of hours. Doesn't that sound nice?"
Ueno slid from the couch to the floor, snagging his bag and dragging it to his side. "Oh, yeah. I've gotten tired of you these days. Go."
A gentle slap to the side of the head, and Aki stood. "You almost sounded serious. Do we need to have a talk?"
Ueno smiled, a bit of mischief shining through. "Anything but that."
Aki browsed to his heart's content, making his way through each aisle. He cracked open text he had absolutely no interest in for the sake of fun. He thumbed through magazines both intellectual and frivolous, read all signage and posters, eventually sinking into a vacant armchair located toward the back of the store, where the hubbub of the evening crowd was more a faraway hum than a disturbance.
With no real need to rush, he decided to examine his prospective take-home material more thoroughly before making a purchase. With more than an hour to kill before he was due to meet Ueno for dinner, he had nothing better to do anyway, as he didn't fancy visiting any other shops.
He equated his slight giddiness to that of a prisoner who was experiencing life on the outside again. Having only been imprisoned, as he thought of it now, a year, he still didn't venture out into the world much without some sort of companionship. Ueno was always good company, so he hadn't felt any urge for privacy, but he could do this again- often- in fact. The layout of the shop was aesthetically pleasing; this just might become his second home.
Was it weird that he deemed this such a liberating activity? Was he nuts for feeling a thrill and exhilaration run through him at such a basic independent act of an adult?
Probably not; there were other factors to be attributed to his level of wackiness.
Still, he cheerfully dove into the bounty he had balanced on his lap. His plan, having three weeks to go before his much anticipated vacation, was mainly to find some material to take with him and a little something to satisfy him in the meantime. He'd likely need something to focus on while Ueno's attention was commanded by everyone in attendance, a fact he did not appreciate, but had to deal with. He must have been crazy for considering a vacation at a spot maintained by his family; his grandmother had immediately notified his father, who had in turn elected to turn their winter break into a family vacation.
No point in stressing about it. He continued perusing his literature; he'd carefully chosen a few selections of poetry, which he didn't often read, but wanted to give another try, and then added an autobiography, a work of literary criticism and some works of fiction to the stack as well, rounding out his selection nicely.
His idle time passed so quickly he failed to notice, noting the hour as he glanced casually at a wall clock. He gathered up his chosen reading material, stretching to work out the kinks he incurred from sitting too long in one position before making his way to the front of the store and quickly making his purchase. Ueno would be meeting him outside in a few minutes, and then their next destination was the restaurant he and Ueno had decided on before Aki left the apartment-another first. It appeared neither of them was opposed to dining out; Ueno seemed pleased at Aki's suggestion, but had never made a similar suggestion himself.
After such a relaxing couple of hours- minus the amusement of catching his boyfriend sharing a blow job rehearsal with his ex-lover- sharing a dinner, situated in a quiet corner, would top off his day nicely.
Ah, simple pleasures. Aki couldn't remember when he'd felt so undeniably upbeat, a fact he pondered while he began to walk through the automatic double doors at the store's entrance. Ueno would be along any min-
He crashed into a brick wall.
Well, to be truthful, the brick wall turned out to be a man, head bowed to examine the screen of his cellular phone. Aki had stopped mid-step when he realized the mass was coming toward him, but still collided with him forcefully enough that he fell backward, and the stranger let out a startled shout, kind enough to reach out, wrapping his fingers around Aki's biceps to steady him. The phone flew from his hand and dropped to the floor, back plate sliding in one direction and the battery in another.
Aki opened his mouth to apologize, though the other party was to blame for the accident. He looked up, customary niceties on the tip of his tongue, but choked on his apology and the words never made it through his lips.
An average looking guy stood there. He was slightly above medium height, though a smidgen on the portly side. His light brown hair was shaggy, unkempt, and obviously not an intentional style; the guy didn't appear to care much about his appearance, made obvious by his baggy, wrinkled, designer button-down top, matched with a pair of sweatpants. The outfit was made complete with a pair of high-priced flip flops. Judging from the labels he wore, the man was most likely well off financially, but simply didn't have the time, skill, or interest in matching and grooming. He wasn't someone Aki would have given a second glance.
That is, he wouldn't have given the guy a second glance unless he recognized him on sight, which sadly, was exactly the case.
Plump, hot fingers that grasped his arms to steady him turned hard, squeezing tightly enough that Aki gritted his teeth. An instant later, he was shoved backward, almost losing his balance again.
Aki straightened and backed away, vowing to keep his cool and reveal nothing as he bent, retrieving the pieces of the dropped phone. He even went as far as to pop the battery back into place and secure the plate before reaching out with one arm, offering the device to its owner. "Hopefully it isn't broken." He spoke quietly, but his assailant went stiff, staring at Aki's offering for a moment before silently snatching away the phone, turning about face, and all but sprinting off in the opposite direction, his original destination forgotten-or disregarded.
Aki let out his breath with a whoosh.
He didn't blame the guy for running, of being scared shitless. Or for being confused, angry, or any other emotion he dared experience. Aki wouldn't have been able to recall the face, the hands, or the body until they reappeared before him, but this chance meeting brought back the memories, and the impact hit him harder than the other man physically had a moment ago. He'd felt no shame about what a single, random encounter could do to an individual long term, at least not then. He wondered if the guy-he couldn't recall if he'd even been given a name- was currently as big of a mess as Aki himself was, or how often he recalled Aki's face and shuddered in humiliation.
Maybe he'd been afraid that Aki would open his mouth and talk, but who would he have shared that crazy bit of filth with? Perhaps he'd been afraid of his own reaction; he'd responded favorably to Aki's advances, so being fearful that those feelings were still there was a possibility, and a frightening one to a guy who had never thought himself attracted to men, who might still be fighting memories, attempting to categorize or make sense of them.
His face was one of many that Aki had wished never to see again but as he gathered his wits and exited the bookstore, he knew that after this chance meeting, the image would be hard pressed to fade.
There went his relaxing dinner with the love of his life. Aki wondered, as he spied Ueno approaching him, as if working from a script, if the big pile of shit hovering directly over his head ever took a day off.
All in all, it hadn't been a good week. Or a bad one. The constant rise and drop in stress had been tiring. The pleasures had made the shocks much more detrimental, and the shocks made the pleasures a bit less enjoyable.
This was his second visit with Ueno's family since establishing their firm commitment to one another, and so far, the get-together had been easy and fun. Ueno had explained that each visit differed; his mother always came, but the tagalongs varied. She'd come with Ueno's little sister and grandmother in tow again, but had two of her grandchildren- Ueno's nieces- in her care this for the weekend instead of one. Seven people in Ueno's little apartment made it seem even smaller, but in no way unpleasant.
He'd enjoyed awkwardly explaining away the few mottled, purplish-red blotches adorning the pale skin of his neck, which he had forgotten to cover and Ueno's sister had bluntly pointed out. Ueno had sported a furious blush no one noticed during Aki's explanation; over the course of the previous week, Ueno had developed a new-found fascination with that area, a discovery Aki rather liked. He also wasn't put off by the fact that Ueno's family hadn't been informed of their relationship yet, convinced that confessions would come in time. His family wasn't quite as wacky as Aki's, at least not in the same way.
Aki was thoroughly entertained by Ueno's interaction with his family. Their affection for one another was obvious in every hug and the banter between them. Aki didn't doubt that they argued, but that their disputes were always settled by dinnertime; it was something out of a television show. Solutions took twenty-two minutes, maximum.
That affection apparently extended to others; Aki was both disregarded and loved the way family typically was, having been somehow stripped of his acquaintance status. Ueno had also explained to Aki that his mother typically welcomed most of Ueno's friends with a few exceptions, but that for some reason, his mother seemed rather taken by him in particular. Aki believed him, as Ueno's mother had already mussed up his hair and kissed the top of his head twice. She'd even swatted at his rear end as he passed by her to help Ueno's grandmother in the kitchen and teased him about his hair color, which he assured her was natural.
It seemed awfully backwards that he would have jumped out of his skin had his own mother touched him in that manner. Aki was puzzled at the warmth blossoming in his chest when dealing with Ueno's mother, of the blanketing of peace he experienced while in her presence, reactions that were dormant when dealing with his own.
She listened raptly as Aki described his course load and the paper he was currently outlining for class. She asked after Aki's own family, inquiring as to Aki's own number of siblings and extended family, and what his parents did for a living. She pinched Aki's side, estimating his weight and prescribing more meat and sifted through his hair, still disbelieving and determined to find his natural color.
Ueno's niece clung to Aki's calf as he stood and climbed over him as if he was some playground toy. Kikuyu, almost two years of age with thick black hair, large velvety brown eyes, rosebud lips and a darker complexion that resembled Ueno's, frequently climbed up onto the couch next to him and stared up into his face with rapt curiosity. Aki couldn't prevent himself from smiling at her whenever he caught her watching him.
Aki unwound under their attention, having little time to focus on his own issues.
Until Kikuyo, energy waning, approached her Uncle Ueno, who was on the floor, eyes closed and shoulders supported against the couch. She clambered onto his belly and shimmied her way upward until her head was tucked underneath his chin, chubby legs spread on either side of him. Settled nicely, she stuck her thumb in between her lips and immediately checked out of the conscious world.
Without opening his eyes or reacting otherwise, as if he were long used to serving as a makeshift bed, Ueno raised an arm, palm on her rear, and adjusted her position.
Aki opened his mouth in protest before becoming aware of his reaction. His heart lodged in throat, but he caught himself in time, before he made a scene that there would be no way in hell to explain. As he stared at his boyfriend and his niece cuddled up together, his forehead went moist, scalp tingling at the roots.
Aki knew that Ueno's hand would never cause a child-or any individual- intentional pain, shame, or anguish. Not everyone had Aki's background; some people grew up normally, free of abuse. Still, Aki's hands began to shake, his breathing became ever so slightly labored, and his eyes burned.
"Aki? You're going a little pale." Ueno's mother leaned over him, lips pursed in thought. "Do you need to lie down?"
"N-no. I'm fine. I will go get some air, though. I'm a little warm. Excuse me." Aki pushed off from the couch and almost flew to the front door, escaping into the cold.
It was freezing out there; his sweat dissipated almost immediately, and he took several deep breaths, willing calm to return. If he didn't get himself together quickly, Ueno would come out to check on him, and he wasn't prepared to explain himself, not when he hadn't yet made complete sense of his reaction.
"Logic. Logic, logic." Aki whispered aloud to himself, and his trembling slowly subsiding.
The comfort and ease of his afternoon was fading. He wanted to go home. The area underneath his own bed, now claimed by Usagi, had never seemed so inviting; he longed to hide there now. Any place small and cramped would work.
The concrete slab of Ueno's doorstep wasn't a welcoming or spacious lounging area, but he slid down to it anyway, legs dangling from the edge. His temperature returned to normal, then quickly dropped further still, until he was shivering more from cold than nerves.
Okay, okay; given his upbringing, his reaction made sense. For a kid who had been exploited at such a young age, jumping to conclusions was inevitable, right?
He heard the door creak open behind him and he slowly turned around to see Ueno standing in the door frame.
Ueno eyeballed Aki cautiously from where he stood, making no move to approach him.
"I think I started to run out of steam." Aki's explanation was lame, but it was better than nothing. "I thought the cold air would help."
"That's weird coming from you. It's freezing out, and you go all immobile when you're cold. Maybe you need to eat. Dinner's almost done. Hungry?"
Ueno moved and made to grab Aki's hand, but stopped at the last moment, mindful of his unsuspecting family inside.
"Sure." Aki would have to force the nourishment down his throat, but he didn't bother refusing; it wouldn't be taken well by the matriarchs. "It may help."
He followed Ueno inside, in disbelief that yet another potentially wonderful day could take such a horrible turn.
But he made it, and hours later, after saying their goodbyes, took a deep breath and silently gave thanks.
Preoccupied the remainder of the visit and grateful to have to put on airs for only one individual now instead of six, his stress level was ebbing.
Physical contact, which he'd been denied all afternoon, was once again his to take. He did so, sitting on the carpeted floor, leaning against the couch. His knees were raised and spread, with Ueno arranged between them. Ueno was ignoring him; the video game required his full attention. He clutched the controller in a death grip, his tawny fingers pressing buttons in what Aki could only interpret as a vicious, disorganized mashing, though Ueno had insisted he was implementing a technique that Aki simply couldn't recognize.
Except for the accompanying sound effects from the television, the only other noise was the occasional grunting and a muffled curse here and there from his boyfriend. Witnessing Ueno losing his head over an insignificant battle between two fictitious characters was entertaining.
"Feeling better?" Ueno spoke finally, and Aki lifted his head, startled.
"Much better."
"Are you going to tell me what's really wrong now?" Ueno paused his game and waited.
"Nothing in particular. I think this week just started to catch up with me. I think my nerves are starting to react a little. I'm a little tired, I think." It was amazing how he could cover up the truth with the absolute truth. Out and out lying to Ueno was a no-no; Aki couldn't bring himself to do it anymore.
Ueno gave a murmur of agreement, then tilted his head back to let out a yawn.
"Running out of steam?" Aki wound his arms around Ueno's middle. "Are you through with your game for now?"
"Sure." Ueno used his controller to exit the game and then powered down his console. "Does the fact that we're always safe at home and in bed before midnight worry you at all, make you wonder if we're getting old before our time?"
"No. I feel the same way about rest as you do about vegetables, I suppose. The more you get, the better off you are. Maybe it's the novelty of having my own place, but I like hiding out at home, having a routine."
"That proves my point. Your actions show that you've living up to your hair color." Aki couldn't see Ueno's face, but there was a smile in his voice. "I guess if I were you and I had a nice place like yours, I'd feel the same way. I do wonder sometimes if you get bored, if we should start going out and doing things that a typical couple do."
"Not even a little bit. We're not typical anyway. A little more activity probably wouldn't hurt either of us, but believe me, I don't mind the solitude right now." Aki pressed his lips to the nape of Ueno's neck, lingering there while running his hands along Ueno's sides, muscles bunching and tightening under his fingers. "You make my solitude bearable, you know."
"Glad to be of use." Ueno sounded bashful now.
"You're intentionally misunderstanding me." Aki gave the back of his neck another kiss, with an accompanying nuzzle. "Being with you makes everything better."
And that was the honest truth. His week had been a constant contrasting of ups and downs. Ueno wasn't privy to the daunting variety of thoughts and anxieties that had ping ponged between his ears and could not comprehend the enormity of Aki's statement, but he had helped simply by being himself. Aki needed his stability.
His thoughts had been much too scattered throughout the week to focus on the progress they'd made at the beginning of the week. But now, Aki pressed his nose into the fine hair at the nape of Ueno's neck, inhaling deeply, taking in the clean scent of shampoo remaining from Ueno's earlier shower. A calm settled over Aki while he delivered his ministrations. The bristly, fine hair tickled his nose, but in no way deterred, he kissed that soft, warm skin again, and then again, while his fingers joined above Ueno's navel.
Aki moved his lips to Ueno's earlobe. "Can we go to bed now?" He spoke quietly.
Ueno stirred in Aki's embrace, and then rose to his feet before reaching for Aki's hand and helping him stand. "I could sleep."
Ueno turned and strode toward his bedroom door while Aki, frozen in place, clasped his hands together and opened his mouth. His boyfriend could be awfully dense. "Hey."
"Yeah?" He stopped mid-step and turned. "What is it?"
"You're slow."
"Huh?"
Aki inhaled deeply. He could still back down, come up with some wisecrack, and avoid the possibility of rejection. He could reign in his recklessness. They could go to sleep. He could go another night somehow, another week, a month even, without kneading Ueno's neck, back or shoulders in his hands, without experiencing the heated rub of Ueno's skin against his own, without the slow, moist slide of their forms working in unison.
"I'm not interested in sleeping." He lowered his eyes and waited. Any argument against his desire lay buried under temptation and curiosity, and regardless of how quickly they did- or didn't- have sex, Aki was unable to predict a negative consequence. To call Ueno special was an understatement, and pulling back made as much sense as dousing himself in gasoline and skipping the circumference of a bonfire.
Awkwardness was a rarity for Aki but right then, as Ueno's mouth fell open in apparent befuddlement, Aki opened his mouth and pure clumsiness poured out.
"I'm being selfish. I know you didn't get much rest this week. It's not like I have a job or any other responsibility like you do. I mean, you have work and school and somehow you seem to manage it all fine, and you take care of the kitties and cook and run all the errands, but I'm sure it gets-"
Ueno closed his mouth and held up both hands, assembled in the universal time-out position. "What the hell?"
Aki stopped, unable to look away from his clasped fingers. "Sorry."
"Sorry for what? The rambling or the offer?"
"Both." He lifted both hands and covered his face and apologized again. "I'm sorry."
After a small pause, Ueno's voice was audible again, this time closer. "How rude. So are you backing out?"
"Please," Aki muttered into his fingers, "don't mock me right now. I don't cope well with humiliation."
"I'm not teasing you." Aki's hands were pulled down and away.
Aki recognized the absurdity of his innuendo. It made a lot of sense to suggest sex when they hadn't even kissed; his solicitation had come from absolutely nowhere, at least from Ueno's perspective. He said as much, confused when Ueno looked close to laughter.
"I wouldn't mock you." Ueno said, slowly and carefully. "Not when I couldn't get up the nerve to bring it up myself. On top of that, I didn't say I needed to sleep; I said I could. And, if kissing has to happen first, should we get started or what?"
Ueno was not consenting. Aki had to be hearing him wrong. It was improbable. As unlikely as Ueno welcoming Aki into his life as a friend after the way they met. It was about as crazy as entering into a relationship, as odd as remaining after reviewing Aki's complete curriculum vitae.
It would have been truly absurd, if Ueno hadn't already done all of those remarkable things.
Ueno released his wrists, lifting his hands to cup Aki's face and draw him forward. He shouldn't have jumped, shouldn't have felt the shock he did when their lips met, but Aki trembled at the contact.
Ueno didn't stop and ask him what was the matter, or attempt to figure out the answer himself; he continued the caress, soothing the tremors in a more satisfying manner.
Ueno drew back, but only for a cheek-to-cheek cuddle, while Aki caught his breath. He warmed, closing his eyes as arms encircled his midsection.
Still, he had to ask. "You want it too?" He spoke against Ueno's cheek.
Then Ueno said something, and it wasn't what he said, but how that had Aki in tremors all over again. That silky murmur wasn't typical Ueno in its blatant honesty, in the desire that fairly oozed forth from it, wasn't what he would have expected, but then again, Aki and Ueno were new to bedroom talk, to vocalizing their wants with one another.
"Yes." Ueno angled his head for another kiss, and it was quite some time before he broke away to complete his response. "I know we finally talked about it a little, but I guess I still expected it to take longer than this. Anyway, I've been dreaming about going to bed for weeks, remember?"
Previously resting at his sides, his arms finally wound around Ueno's neck as Aki recovered from his stupor and the reality of what was about to occur dawned. An audible click registered, and Aki's arms tightened.
The living area was instantaneously blanketed in something darker; not sinister, oppressive or wicked, but hushed, almost serene, while still possessing a voltaic quality. Primal, maybe.
A hand slid up the back of Ueno's neck and pulled, urged, until Ueno heeded the pressure and leaned in.
Ueno's mouth was warm, soft, and gentle as always, though this time Ueno kissed him even more tentatively than usual, as if he were testing the waters before moving on. In lieu of a long, drawn out lip lock, he drew back frequently before returning for another kiss, until Aki's fingers tightened in his hair and held him there, intensifying the exchange by refusing to allow any further break in contact.
Warm digits slid under his shirt, and instead of gripping the material and pulling, Ueno ran his fingers up, starting at Aki's belly and working his way up, the fabric following.
Given the size of Ueno's domicile, a good five or six steps would have taken them to the bedroom easily. Aki couldn't recall a single step though; when he opened his eyes again, they were there, with no poof sound effect to prove any method of movement other than the logical. A second later, Ueno fell backward onto the bed, with a wiggling, ecstatic Aki on top of him.
Finally. Finally.
