Chapter 3. A Growing Familiarity

Goku shot up by the door bell. Even though a natural heavy sleeper and it had been centuries, the journey to the west somehow made Goku cautious in his sleep. He had lost the touch though, not fully alert once his eyes were open like he used to. He felt a bit dizzy and blurry. After a bit of stretching and yawning, he focused to look at his digital clock nearby.

06:58

Confused expression in face, Goku rubbed his eyes and tried to focus a bit more. Still 06:58. Who could possibly look for him at this hour?

The bell rang the second time. Goku got up from his sofa bed and opened the door-

and there he was.

Looked quite irritated, Gen stood in front of the apartment with his backpack slumped on one of his shoulders. He was wearing a plain long sleeved, china collared t-shirt and khaki shorts.

Shit. The morning wood in Goku's pants was now fully hard, one he clearly couldn't hide from Gen. And Gen was looking down at him, with the bulge obviously in sight.

"Hey," as if nothing happened, Gen passed Goku and let himself come inside the all too homey apartment. "H-hey," Goku closed the door and turned, only then aware of Gen's large backpack and a sleeping bag sack he just dropped. "What are those?"

"My laptop," Gen answered while pulling out his 15 inches laptop and smoothly placing it on the coffee table. He also pulled out his enormous headphones and placed it next to his laptop. He stopped to look at the sofa bed, which was an obvious currently-used bed. "So you do sleep here," he smirked before settling down on the rug just beside the sofa bed and turning on his laptop. Goku felt warmth creeping up his face, but the confusion still left him speechless.

"I'll be here for days, if not longer," Gen answered as if hearing the unspoken question, "It came, the inspiration. I have to finish this before it's gone."

That explained some things and Goku regained his composure. "I see. Why here, though?" He walked to the fridge, "Milk?"

"I don't wanna miss the darkroom. You'll be printing today, right?" Gen said without looking, "...and yeah, sure."

Goku couldn't really explain. There was this serenity and familiarity. That even though they just met the day before, Gen acted like they had known each other for a long time. Goku poured the milk in two glasses and placed one on the coffee table while he settled himself beside Gen, his own glass of milk in hand. "Ya could just tell me and I can postpone the printin', though."

Gen stilled for a second, "It didn't occur to me," and he reached out for the milk.

But Gen did not plan to leave either, it seemed. He just stayed there, drank the milk, put on his headphones and started working. Goku grinned. He could not have the morning in a better way.

After finishing his own milk, Goku brought both empty glasses, washed them quickly and settled back beside Gen, a glass of water in hand. "Whoa, that's a lot!" Goku exclaimed looking at the colorful sound waves at Gen's mixing application.

"Yeah, couldn't sleep last night. After I finished recording all these I still can't sleep, so I thought I'll just make my way here and continue till I drop. Now I need to concentrate. If you have questions just write them down and I'll answer later," Gen answered emphatically.

Goku really liked watching this serious side of Gen. Bossy and did things as he likes, and it reminded him of Sanzo. He smiled excitedly, but it quickly faded when the drowsiness returned. "Kay, 'm gonna continue my sleep then. Ya know where the water and toilet are." Goku yawned as he laid himself back on the sofa bed.

Half an hour passed, and Goku realized he could not possibly sleep. Not with Gen there so close, too close to him. He turned his body to face Gen. Blond soft hair gleamed in the quiet dim room and Goku had to restrain himself from touching his sun. This is bad. Goku shut his eyes.

"Can't sleep?" Once again Gen read his mind. Goku was startled by the remark, "Y-yeah, hard ta get back ta sleep once ya wake up, ya know?"

Yeah, Goku decided to just wake up, take a bath, and start printing.

He got up, took his glass and went to fill it with more water. While he gulped the refreshment behind the kitchen bar, he saw Gen grabbing something from his bag, eyes still focused on the laptop. A small carton box and something like a thick... powerbank? But when Gen opened up the 'powerbank' and pulled out a thinner cylinder, Goku realized it was actually an e-cigarette. IQOS, Goku made out with his superhuman eyesight.

Gen took out a Marlboro heatstick and started to smoke. The view was too appealing and the bulge in Goku's pants suddenly returned. Goku turned his gaze away and hurriedly went into the bathroom to take a bath, and probably jerked himself off.

Shirtless Goku stepped out of the bathroom and grabbed a casual v-neck t-shirt from a rattan basket. He slipped on his cloth and opened up the door to the studio. The sun had risen and the way the studio room was designed made the light shine through the small apartment perfectly, even without any lights on. Goku breathed deeply as he welcomed the new bright day.

As he turned back to face his living, he found the flawless poised Gen. Sitting before his laptop with enormous headphones, e-cigarette in hand and smoke elegantly escaping his tantalizing mouth. The moment and lighting was too perfect to be missed and Goku would not let this chance slip away. Briskly he took his analog camera and easily found the perfect angle.

Snap, snap, snap!

Goku stood up and carefully took out the film. "What'd you do that for? Another photoshoot session?" Gen took off his headphones and shook his head, alleviating his stiff hair. "Naah, like I said, I love capturing moments, and ya were just perfect," Goku smiled widely before adding quickly, "in the morning light." "Tch, yesterday's fantastic, today's perfect," Gen took out his finished heat stick and threw it into the bin.

Soon after, they finished their breakfast. While Gen voluntarily washed the dishes, Goku started lining up cameras on the bar table in front of the darkroom. Gen took a brief look, not wanting to miss a thing. Those cameras were the ones he used yesterday, he recalled. Goku took two film rolls that he had developed before. "Hey Gen, 'm gonna use the darkroom now." "A minute," Gen finished his task, dried his hands and followed Goku towards the darkroom.

It was certainly dark, all the more compared to the morning blaze outside. Goku had turned the redish safelights on, yet Gen had to wait a couple of seconds to adjust his eyesight and spot Goku. He walked slowly towards the shorter man and saw what he knew as an enlarger. Goku turned the enlarger on and now Gen could see the form of himself playing, or pretended to, the harmonica. The angle was indeed perfect and he was decidedly satisfied with the photo. "This is an enlarger," Gen could somehow imagine the big smile in Goku's face when he started the explanation. Gen moved closer and suddenly his body practically touched Goku's. Goku was not prepared for the contact and he continued shakily, "a-an' this is how we m-make the photo focused." Goku did something with the focus finder and the picture became clearer. "Mhmm," Gen voiced out his comprehension.

"Kay, after it's enlarged, next step is we develop the photo," Goku turned off the enlarger and took the sheet. They moved to the table with trays. Goku stood in front of the first tray from the left and Gen took his spot on Goku's right side. Goku gently slipped the sheet in the clear liquid, grabbed a tongs to hold the sheet in place and started to shake the tray with the same care. "Now we're gonna develop the photo. We shake this real carefully." Goku shifted his view to his right and within the dim light, Goku could look at Gen's attentive face. Once again Goku admired the serious face, somehow it made him at peace. He smiled and returned his attention to the not-so-blank-anymore sheet.

Carefully Goku moved the sheet to the next tray, which was quite troublesome because Gen didn't budge. Goku's elbow had to bump the taller man's stomach but Gen still did not budge. "Hey, can I try those?" Gen reached out his hand. "U-uh, 'course," Goku gave the tongs and moved instead to stand at Gen's right side. Gen was very awkward with the shaking and Goku had to hold his hands to show the way. Their shaking became smoother and in a moment they established a steady rhythm. "That's it, keep shakin' like that. Don't over shake and spill the liquid, kay? The liquid's dangerous," Goku slowly let go of the thin hand. As soon as he let go, Gen lost the rhythm and he shook too hard. Quite an amount of liquid spilled onto Gen and Goku panicked, "Oh shit! Don't move!" Goku quickly and carefully moved the half developed sheet to a dry tray, took Gen's hand and led him towards the bathroom.

Having spilled many times before, Goku inspected the spill and he unfortunately found it spilled over Gen's shorts. "Open your shorts, I need to wash your skin first," Goku said firmly.

"I don't wear any underwear," Gen's reply was short.

Goku's face suddenly felt too warm, "What?"

Gen scowled, "It's exactly as I said. I was in a rush, remember?"

Goku made a difficult face, fighting to focus on the matter in hand over his wandering fantasies.

"'kay, 'm gonna leave ya ta wash yourself then. Wash three times, or, five times or, the more the better."

"And.. what should I do with the shorts? I don't bring spares either." Gen asked. Goku made a troubled face, which Gen unexpectedly found really cute.

Gen literally saw a lightbulb appear above Goku's head when the wide smile appeared. "Right! I can borrow ya one of mine, 'll hang it at the knob outside, kay?"

One end of Gen's lips made a curve. "Okay, thanks."

Goku closed the bathroom door, grabbed one of his shorts and hung it up on the knob. Upon hearing water spraying inside the bathroom, he leaned his back against the nearest wall and let out a small laugh. It had not been 24 hours since their first encounter yet so many things had happened. He wondered whether the surprises would continue, and he really wished they would. Goku exhaled a deep breath. Afterwards, he went to the kitchen, took a dishcloth and went back to the darkroom to tidy the rest of the spill.

Ten minutes later, they were both sitting at the kitchen bar. Gen looked down at the glass of water in hand. To Goku's surprise, Gen looked gloomy and his frown showed distress. "Sorry, I was careless," Gen apologized. Goku's eyes went wide, obviously he did not see that coming. Another contrast indeed. Not unpleasant, though.

"Nah, don't worry, did that too in my first try," Goku answered with a sheepish smile. And he was so relieved seeing the frown loosen up.

"By the way, are the shorts okay?" Even though Gen was not as boney as Sanzo, he was still a bit skinny for his height. Gen gulped his water and put the glass down, "A bit loose, but it'll do. I can fetch mine later…" He paused before adding, "...or even now, if you want."

Goku's eyes went wide again, "Right…" a serious face now in place, "Where do ya live actually?"

Gen jerked his thumb, "Cattleya Tower, 10th floor." Goku gaped.

"What? Ya live here too?" Their apartment towers were named after Orchid flowers. Goku' was on the 8th floor of Dendrobium Tower. Now it made more sense to Goku. How Gen got to his apartment so early in the morning and was not afraid of staying there. "No wonder."

Gen smirked, "Yeah, wanna come?"

A smug smile painted Goku's face, "Well it's not like I have somethin' else to do. We can continue ta print later."

"Yeah, that'll be great," but after saying that, Gen's face suddenly went pale and his body falling down from the stool. Luckily, Goku's reflexes had not worn out and he easily caught Gen mid air. "Hey, Gen, ya okay?" came the worried voice.

One of Gen's eyes opened tiredly, "My bad, fucking weak body. Give me an hour and I'll be better," and with that he drifted back to sleep.

By the reaction, Goku concluded that the particular event did not happen for the first time. Such a careless guy, no wonder he doesn't have many friends, Goku thought while carrying Gen to the living room. Sanzo was way more reluctant in receiving help but Gen was not, and Goku was happy with this. He could freely help Gen without the overt rejection he always got, not that Sanzo rejected his help though.

Gen was already in deep sleep when Goku settled him in the sofa bed, his breaths deep and stable. A scowl nested on his face, yet it still brought peace to Goku's heart. His hair kind of messy, yet it still shone brilliantly in Goku's eyes. Goku gathered his courage to slowly touch the soft blond hair. It was as soft as Goku imagined and his heart beamed with happiness. But then, Gen unexpectedly let out a soft moan from the light pressure. It headed directly towards Goku's groin and suddenly the feeling of longing surged through his blood. Goku's heart thumped loudly and he could not control himself from pressing a light kiss on Gen's lips. Oh, the lips were as tender and soft as he remembered. But as much as he desired, Goku did not want Gen to wake up, so he pulled away and he had to avoid looking at Gen to calm himself down.

When at last Goku decided to look up again, he gasped. He could not believe what he saw, a genuine smile on Gen's face. His heart melted by the tranquil scene in front of his eyes. And a couple of seconds later, the clouds decided to go away as sunlight brightened the scene noticeably.

For the second time that day, guided by his photographer instinct, Goku retrieved his camera.