Wrote this on and off yesterday with storms rolling through the area; the plotbunny's been hopping around for weeks, I just lucked out with the weather :D

*Jack Skellington voice* what's this, what's this, it's not the OT3~ and uh all I know about this tiny thing is it's post-curse

In the span of 15 minutes, the sky has gone from robin's egg blue to brightly overcast to steel wool. Even from inside their apartment, even with the balcony doors shut, Kyo can feel the air pressure changing and it's making his nerves tingle. So he gets up, slides the door open, and leans over the railing as far as he dares.

The summer breeze smells heavy, and already he can almost taste the petrichor. Thunder rumbles distantly. He drums his fingers on the railing, waiting, feeling wound up and unsure why.

Then the first tiny droplet hits, and it's like a starting gun going off. He doesn't move right away, forces himself still to let the feeling roll through with an exhale. Then he goes back inside, leaves the door ajar, and moves quickly through to the front door, setting the book Yuki dropped while dozing on the side table next to him.

He mumbles himself awake. "What's happening?"

"Going outside." Excitement doesn't allow him to keep his voice down.

Barefoot, he descends the one flight of stairs to the ground floor and leaves the door open as he steps out into the drizzle, head to the sky.

It transforms into a downpour within seconds, soaking him through. He closes his eyes, and he breathes. The wind has stopped, and the rain is almost warm, and he feels wonderfully rooted to the sopping grass, and he breathes.

"What in the world are you doing?"

He spins, droplets flying, to see Yuki standing under the overhang wearing a gentle smile. "It's raining!" he responds, spreading his arms wide, smiling even wider.

"It certainly is."

Kyo walks over, holding a hand out. "Come on," he says. "It's not even cold."

Yuki shakes his head and takes his hand, following Kyo out from under shelter. His glasses fog up instantly but he's still smiling as he says, "I can't see a damn thing."

"Doesn't matter." He takes Yuki's face in his hands and he stares, watching raindrops slide down his forehead. Then he kisses him, soft in the split second before Yuki throws his arms around him and returns the kiss with such ferocity it nearly knocks Kyo off balance. He clutches back.

They sway in the rain. Thunder rolls overhead, and the blood sings in Kyo's veins; if not for Yuki in his arms, he might leap into the stratosphere.

Long moments later, Kyo breaks the kiss, hands sliding down Yuki's neck to his shoulders. He rests his forehead against Yuki's and says, "I can breathe."

He's caught off guard by his own words, but Yuki stays silent looking at him, so he keeps talking. "I don't feel like I'm dying. It's not smothering me. I— I feel so alive I almost can't stand it."

Yuki squeezes his torso. He smiles, eyes bright behind his rain-coated glasses, and gives Kyo another kiss, slow and lingering.

When they part again, the sky has begun to lighten along with the rain. In unspoken agreement they walk back to the front stoop.

Kyo scratches his neck. "Getting back in without flooding the staircase is gonna be a process, huh."

Yuki shrugs, peels off his shirt, and wrings it into the grass. "It'll be fine," he says, stepping into the stone and bending to squeeze a pant cuff. "I think."

"Smart idea." Kyo imitates him, shirt wringing and all. "Then we'll, what, leave our pants on the balcony?"

Yuki straightens, eyeing the sky. "Sure. The sun might come out again."

They do just that when they get back in, and towel each other off haphazardly. Then, finally, a pleasant exhaustion hits Kyo. It's the kind of exhaustion from a good workout or a run, a far cry from the lethargy rain had carried for years. He lets Yuki coddle him— getting a blanket just because, making tea (in nothing but his boxers, only smirking a tiny bit).

The tea tastes even better than it did yesterday, its scent more rich, and the blanket feels impossibly soft. Kyo lets the urge to doze take him over, laying his head on his arms on the table and watching Yuki read, snuggled in the blanket beside him.