Prompt: Free Prompt/AU (2022)

Takano Masamune was many things: hardworking, crass, stubborn, maybe even a little scary at times, perverted according to some, and...secretly very needy.

Well, that was a secret only to some, but Onodera Ritsu was well aware of Masamune's needy habits. Even at work, Masamune was usually glued to Ritsu's side. Out of work it was even worse with Masamune always wanting to hold hands or cuddle or kiss or go on dates or even just sit on the couch together. It was like if he didn't get a minimum amount of minutes in the same room as Ritsu he couldn't function.

At this moment, the needy side of Masamune had a very important question pressing on him. He'd seen a few couples on the internet pose this question to one another and he was desperate to know Ritsu's answer. He knocked repeatedly on Ritsu's front door, groaning impatiently when Ritsu didn't immediately appear in front of him.

Instead of the door opening, Masamune's phone went off with Ritsu's name lighting up across the screen.

"Stop pounding on my door." Ritsu demanded the moment Masamune accepted the call.

"How'd you know it was me?" Masamune asked, kicking the door a couple times boredly.

"Because only you are rude enough to knock on my door nonstop after no one has answered."

"Then why haven't you already let me in?" Masamune asked. "That's probably the fastest way to get me to stop." He added, kicking still.

"Just tell me what you want over the phone." Ritsu groaned. "Is it work related? If you're trying to kidnap me for a 'date', it won't work! It's getting late, anyway. I want to go to bed soon."

"I have a really important question and I don't want to ask it over the phone. You can go to bed after you answer it." Masamune said.

He heard Ritsu sigh which was then followed by some shuffling until he could hear the front door unlocking. Masamune hung up as the door swung open, Ritsu standing there with an exasperated expression.

"What?" Ritsu said.

"Let me in first." Masamune said, trying to scoot past him.

"No, just ask your question and then leave!" Ritsu blocked his path with both arms extended.

"No, because you're gonna think its stupid and close the door on me, but this is important to me." Masamune said.

Ritsu's head fell back as he groaned. "Will this take long?" He asked.

"It shouldn't." Masamune said. "It's just a yes or no question."

"Fine." Ritsu relented as he made space for Masamune to get by.

Masamune slipped into the apartment, toeing off his shoes before going to sit in the living room. Ritsu joined him, sitting as far away as he could on the opposite end of the couch.

"So, what's this important question?" Ritsu asked.

"Would you still love me if I was a worm?"

Ritsu stared, blinking a couple times as he opened and closed his mouth, completely failing to process the question.

"I'm sorry, what?" Ritsu said.

"Would you still love me if I was a worm?" Masamune repeated like that was a sane thing to ask another person.

"Okay." Ritsu took a deep breath. "First of all, I haven't even said I love you as a human."

"But we both already know that you do." Masamune said. "So, would you still love me if I somehow got turned into a worm?"

"What the hell even made you think of this insane scenario?" Ritsu asked.

"I saw videos of couples asking each other that question online."

"Oh my god, you sound like an old man." Ritsu pinched the bridge of his nose. "No, Takano-san, I would not love you if you were a worm."

"...What the fuck?"

"What? What do you mean 'what the fuck', why would I love you if you were a worm? You'd be a worm!" Ritsu exclaimed.

"I'd still be me, I'd just be a worm." Masamune said. "I'd love you if you were a worm."

"That's stupid." Ritsu said. "I wouldn't be able to talk as a worm or do anything-we wouldn't even be able to kiss!"

"Okay, but I would still love you because it would be you." Masamune said. "You really wouldn't love me if I turned into a worm?" He asked, sounding genuinely distressed.

"Takano-san, worms are barely more than sentient slime. How could I love one?"

"You could make sure a bird doesn't feed me to her babies. Or that I don't dry out on a black top during a really hot day."

"Ew, stop describing ways worms die." Ritsu said before sighing at Masamune's slightly disappointed expression, which for Masamune was basically the equivalent of looking like a kicked puppy. "I guess, if I somehow knew you were a worm, I would keep anything bad from happening to you and I'd try to figure out if there was a way to turn you back. If there wasn't I'd get a tank of the best dirt to keep you in."

"That sounds like love to me." Masamune said, stretching and laying down on the couch with his head in Ritsu's lap.

"You have a strange definition of love." Ritsu sighed. "But if that's all you want to ask me, then please leave!" He tried to push Masamune off him, but Masamune basically became dead weight.

"I don't want to. I want to sleep here. Let me spend the night."

"No!" Ritsu's voice started to approach a whine. "I answered your silly question, now leave me alone."

"It wasn't silly. It just proves that our love extends through all realities, including realities where we are worms." Masamune said.

Ritsu looked down at him, his eyebrows furrowed in perplexion. "You're drunk. That's why you're being weird, you're drunk."

"Drunk off love." Masamune said, a smile starting to pull at his lips. "Come on, let me stay the night, please? All we'll do is sleep, I promise."

"I've heard that before." Ritsu said, staring down at Masamune, unamused.

Masamune stared back, not planning on being the one to break.

"We can stay like this all night, doesn't bother me at all. I love the view." Masamune sighed contently.

"You are so annoying." Ritsu said.

"I know." Masamune said before he stood and offered a hand to Ritsu. "Come on, let's go to bed."

Ritsu glared at him for a good ten seconds before huffing and taking his hand, standing from the couch and following him to the bedroom. They got settled under the covers together, Masamune wrapping and arm around Ritsu's waist and pressing close to him.

"Good night, I love you. And I'd love you if you were a worm." Masamune said.

Ritsu rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Yeah, good night, you weirdo." He said, a laugh escaping him.

Masamune kissed his cheek before they both drifted off for the night.