I'm so sorry guys- apart from almost forgetting about this story, I also feel like I've completely lost my muse for it. I'm pressing ahead and trying to finish it so please bear with me for the next couple chapters if the characterizations seem totally off. I hope you still enjoy reading!
XxXxXxXxX
Yamato's breath hitched at the familiar friction against his lower body as a leg forced its way in between his thighs. His mind vaguely registered the coldness of the bathroom wall against his back and a roaming hand that was somehow untucking his dress shirt and caressing his left hip in one motion.
He felt his inebriated consciousness slowly fading against the feeling of a warm tongue making circles against his neck.
In what was likely a final effort of the sane part of his brain to prevent a disaster, an image of a certain brunet was dangled in the forefront of his thoughts. It miraculously seemed to do the trick and Yamato slowly shook out of his reverie.
Oh god, Taichi!
Yamato scrambled to string his thoughts together; quite a feat considering the alcohol that was still wreaking havoc on his nervous system.
He's… here, back at the booth… right now? And I should… be with him?
A light squeeze against his backside drew Yamato's attention back to his current predicament. The unpleasant realization of where he was and exactly who he was pressed against left Yamato immobilized once again.
The feeling he was currently experiencing was kind of like waking up, looking at the clock, and realizing he'd just slept through an exam, except maybe ten times worse.
How the hell did I even let myself get into this situation?
Yamato vaguely remembered being on the dance floor. Though he had been initially disappointed, he was later grateful that Taichi hadn't joined them on the dance floor, as Yamato wasn't quite confident in his ability to keep his hands off of him. Not with how unfairly sexy Taichi looked tonight.
He'd then decided that he would never drink this much around Taichi again if he didn't want to do something he'd regret in the morning.
Some time later, Cai was whisked away for a dance by the senior he'd been making eyes at all night. Yamato had planned on heading back to the table shortly afterwards to join Taichi again. Except somewhere along the way he'd been derailed, by him.
Yamato knew that he should've gotten away when they had first made eye contact across the dance floor. He should've known better- that a spark of eye contact would quickly lend itself to physical contact. He should have recognized the usual pattern of events that would lead him to the messy position he was currently in.
It was at times like this when he hated his drunken lack of self-awareness the most. It was as if he used up his entire reserve of self-control on every moment he was with Taichi, leaving him with little to no restraint to draw upon for any other situation. That absolutely can't be healthy.
Calling upon every last lingering fragments of sobriety in his subconscious, Yamato willed himself to pull back firmly, releasing his neck from the aggressive mouth. He glared into the crystal grey eyes of opposite of him and placed a palm squarely on the taller male's chest, forcefully putting distance between them.
"I can't-" Yamato grimaced when his voice caught momentarily in his throat like cotton. He restarted, injecting as much seriousness into his tone as possible. "This can't happen right now, Yuno."
XxXxXxXxX
Kyo came back from the bathroom to find Taichi perched at the edge of his seat looking around.
"Jeez, that line was insane. It didn't help that the first stall had someone puking in it… and the second one was clogged…" Kyo trailed off when Taichi looked at him intently, something clearly bothering him.
"Hey Kyo… did you see Yamato in the bathrooms?"
Taichi was aware that the worry in his voice was poorly hidden. He also knew he was acting uncharacteristically motherly (or rather, Sora-like), though he couldn't put his finger on the reason for it.
Sure, him and Yamato were protective of each other, maybe more so than most friends. It was part and parcel of the whole "being in countless life-and-death situations together and saving the world" thing. But, by that same token, he had complete faith that Yamato could take care of himself. So why did he feel such a need to know where he was?
Taichi spoke again, making more of an effort to come off nonchalantly this time. "I thought he was on the dance floor, but last I checked he wasn't there anymore. I thought maybe you'd seen him."
Kyo placed a slender finger on his chin and thought for a moment. If Taichi had been slightly more sober, he may have comprehended the knowing look that flitted past Kyo's face before it was replaced by one of mild annoyance.
"Fuck. I'll look for him." Kyo said exasperatedly, before pointing directly at Taichi. "I'm sure it's not big deal, so you stay here. Since you're already drunk."
Then he walked away, muttering to no one in particular something that sounded suspiciously like, "Yamato would kill me if you went and got picked up by someone. Although I should kill him first, what does that idiot think he's doing?"
Taichi did his best to busy himself with the club's fun atmosphere, honest he did. The eccentric outfits on the dance floor and the scantily dressed group of girls who'd gotten just drunk enough to dance together on the table over were certainly enough to grab his attention.
But alcohol and time had a strange relationship, and five minutes of people-watching later Taichi could've sworn that he'd been waiting at least a half hour.
He was ready to go home – but he was missing something, or rather, someone. His anxiety gave way to irritation as he grumbled, "Of course Yamato would bring me to a raunchy gay club and just leave me here." He's lucky I still owe him for that time I threw up in his carpet. And also that I can't bring myself to go back without him.
As he sunk back into the booth, a random line floated out of Taichi's memory, muttered casually by Micah outside the club just a few hours prior. "Stay away from the absinthe-flavored lollipops. And the third-floor bathrooms."
The recollection incited something instinctive within Taichi, who had never been an incredibly patient person in the first place. Kyo's demand that he stay put was easily forgotten as he clamored to his feet, an innate curiosity pulling him to a flight of stairs that could only lead him up to the third floor.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
"I'm not interested tonight, Yuno." Yamato repeated, wishing that would be all it would take for the male across from him to somehow disappear. From prior experience, though, he knew it wouldn't be that easy.
Yuno grinned, flicking away the blond-streaked bangs that covered his right eye, before inching closer. "Really? That's not what you," he looked Yamato up and down slyly, "were saying until just a moment ago."
Yamato knew he should have kept his distance from Yuno from the beginning, when Yuno had first asked him out after the third time they'd hooked up. Yamato had refused the dating, but the physical contact between them only became more frequent.
"I mean it this time, Yuno." Yamato straightened his body and took a step towards the exit, but Yuno mirrored his actions in an obvious attempt to keep him cornered.
"How long has it been since we saw each other Yamato… over a month?" Yuno's eyes flashed, the obvious possessiveness in them barely masking an unmistakable hunger. "Been keeping busy with other people? "
"Yes, I have been busy." Yamato gritted out. Keep it short and simple, Yamato, you don't owe him any explanations.
Yuno had figured out at some point the reason Yamato was so emotionally unavailable was because he was already in a hopelessly unrequited love. But rather than being deterred, he'd seemed to be even more interested in Yamato as a challenge.
It was at that time that Yamato had realized that what had started as a casual friends-with-benefits relationship had gone much farther than normal.
Yamato stared ahead warily, keeping his wandering mind off echoes from the other drunken sex sessions occurring in the bathroom stalls. "I think you've drank too much tonight Yuno…"
Yuno let out a short bark of a laugh. "Even if I was sober, how was I supposed to stay away when you were putting on such a show for me out there on the dance floor?" He said it jokingly, but the resumed touches against Yamato's thighs were anything but funny.
"I wasn't doing anything for you." Yamato spat out.
But his very own skin, which was so magnetized to every one of Yuno's heavy touches, seemed to be pulling him towards the other in spite of his words. Just as it was in this moment, it was always so difficult to say no to Yuno.
Yuno seemed to notice this too, and called it out with a coy upward turn of his lips. "Your body seems to be saying otherwise. Why are you fighting it?" He ran the back of his fingers over the goosebumps on Yamato's otherwise smooth arm.
Yamato was so busy chastising his body for betraying him that he barely noticed a shadow fall over them.
He finally pulled his arm away from Yuno's grasp. "I'm not-"
A tanned hand suddenly fell onto Yuno's shoulder and shifted him slightly back.
Yamato's brain, which had already been moving at a turtle's pace, completely stalled when he recognized whose hand it was.
What was Taichi of all people doing on the third floor? How did he even know about the third floor?
This was the second time Taichi had caught him in a less than ideal situation.
Shit, lady luck officially hates me.
Yuno looked over his shoulder at Taichi with an irate expression.
"Hey man, as you can see, we're a little busy here. Don't you know not to interrupt people on the third floor?"
"I was just looking for Yamato." Taichi returned, his voice steely. Yamato was all too familiar with that tone, having been on the receiving end of it for so many years. Hearing it directed at Yuno almost made Yamato laugh out loud, which was a sure sign that the impossibility of this situation had just about broken his sanity.
"Oh?" Yuno studied the brunet with piqued curiosity. "And who are you, his boyfriend?"
Yamato blanched at the question. He wanted to tell them both off for acting like he wasn't even there, but was having a touch time coordinating his mouth with his brain. I am never, ever, drinking this much again.
Taichi seemed momentarily caught off guard by the assumption as well, but quickly replied. "No, I'm Taichi, and I'm a good friend. And Yamato and I…" Taichi looked over at Yamato meaningfully, "…were just about to head home soon." His posture was composed and his tone was slightly calmer, but the subtle threat in his voice towards Yuno was still evident.
"Ye-" Yamato was just beginning to voice his agreement with Taichi when he realized Yuno was looking between him and Taichi suspiciously. Yamato watched with increasing dismay as a slow understanding registered on Yuno's face.
The angry gleam in Yuno's eyes when his gaze settled back on Yamato practically screamed, "Oh, so he's the guy?"
Taichi's frown deepened as Yuno once again invaded Yamato's space and whispered into his ear.
"You've been keeping it a secret all these months, right?" Yamato could hear Yuno roll his tongue piercing against the roof of his mouth as he drew out the words. "I wonder what his reaction would be if he knew. Disgust or anger?"
Yamato's eyes widened as he grasped exactly where this was going. "Don't you dare…"
But Yuno had already moved back to face Taichi, who was eyeing Yamato with concern.
A wicked grin played upon Yuno's lips as he asked ominously, "Taichi, have you ever felt like Yamato was keeping something from you?"
The confused expression on Taichi's face finally kicked the gears in Yamato's brain into action, prompting him to do something, anything, before Yuno ruined everything.
He knew that stopping Yuno was impossible, so that only left one option. He needed to get Taichi away from here.
Yamato let out a measured breath, and stepped forward to lock onto Taichi's brown eyes. "Taichi, thanks for coming to find me and all, but I'm fine. You can go back without me."
Taichi's expression, which had previously been completely composed, darkened and the muscles across his jaw tightened. The two of them seemed to be able to control their emotions around just about anyone except each other.
"You didn't exactly seem fine to me."
"I'm an adult just like you Taichi, I can make whatever decisions I want to." Though he said them as coolly as he could, the words were physically painful for Yamato.
Staring into Taichi's brown eyes, he wanted nothing more than to grab the other and go home together. And he would have, if it weren't for the fact that Yuno was watching the pair like a hawk and had Yamato's deepest secret buzzing on his tongue.
Taichi studied him for half a second before speaking. "Yama, you're drunk."
"I think you're drunk, Taichi. Your ears are red."
Taichi crossed his arms across his chest. "That's not the point here. We're talking about me helping you get out of here."
Yamato noticed Yuno, who was growing impatient and unhappy at being ignored, open his mouth.
"And who says I wanted your help in the first place? Or to leave at all?" Yamato snapped frantically, too desperate to shut Yuno up to consider Taichi's feelings in the moment.
He quickly regretted his words at the sight of Taichi's wounded expression.
"So you want to stay here? With this jerk?" He asked heatedly, waving his hand in Yuno's direction.
They were now loud enough that they were disturbing the surrounding couples.
"That's what I already said right?" Yamato said, his own voice escalating in response to the situation. "Why are you being so stubborn?"
Taichi was about to fire back a retort, but he quickly bit the inside of his cheek.
His eyes glazed over, a string of thoughts fluttering behind them as he digested Yamato's last words. He gradually looked between Yamato and Yuno, as if he was asking himself the same question.
"You know what, forget it." He finally announced, running a hand through his brown hair. "Forget I said anything."
Taichi met Yuno's triumphant grin with narrowed eyes before he turned back to Yamato with a nearly apologetic expression. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, Yamato."
Then he quickly stalked off, leaving Yamato perplexed and feeling worse than if he'd just kicked a puppy. He stared off in the direction Taichi had left and attempted to follow, but it felt like his legs had turned to jelly.
Not even a minute passed before Yuno confidently sidled up to him once again. He lightly grabbed onto Yamato's chin. "Look, why don't we settle this back at my place?"
Yamato looked at him incredulously and shoved him off. "Are you kidding me? Taichi, you- this- this is all your fault!"
Yuno sneered through his bangs, "Oh come on, it didn't even seem like he cared about you that much." He lowered his voice. "There's no way someone like him could make you squirm in bed the way I do."
Yamato inhaled sharply, Yuno's words hitting him like a bucket of ice-cold water.
"You're not even in the same league as him, so don't bother," he seethed. He was suddenly extremely disgusted by the thought of ever being attracted to Yuno.
He managed his way out of the bathroom, only to slump against the nearest wall. He had a sudden urge to crawl into the nearest corner and cradle himself to sleep in the fetal position.
Fortunately, Kyo appeared out of the shadows and grabbed Yamato's shoulders.
"What the fuck are you doing up here?"
Yamato pulled at his hair frantically. "I fucked up Kyo. Taichi's really going to hate me now. I mean, I hate me now too."
Kyo struggled to process what had happened. "Wait, you saw Taichi? He was up here?"
"Yeah, and he saw me and Yuno-"
Kyo's mouth tensed. "What was that bastard doing there?"
"-and then we got into a big argument. And basically this is all my fault. Why did I bring him here in the first place? And why do I always react in the worst possible way around him, Kyo?" Yamato slammed his fist into the wall.
Kyo took a deep breath. "Okay, just calm down for now. You're totally smashed. I don't know what happened, but there's no way Taichi can hate you-
"Yes, there-"
Kyo cut him off. "He was so worried about you! What do you think about how he's feeling right now?!"
Yamato just blinked at him, expending great effort to sort out the messy threads in his head into one cohesive thought.
Knowing Taichi... rather than him hating me it was much more likely that he would somehow think he was the one who did something wrong in this situation… Even though I did literally every single thing wrong.
"Okay, so maybe he doesn't hate me, but how am I supposed to explain-"
"Figure it out later!" Kyo exclaimed, half-carrying and half-shoving Yamato down the stairs. "Just go find him and talk to him!"
XxXxXxXxXx
It wasn't until the lack of circulation caused a sharp, painful tingling in his fingers that Taichi realized his fists were clenched way too tightly.
He loosened them slowly and attempted to take a deep breath. His mind was still reeling with questions from his encounter on the third floor as he weaved in and out of clumps of drunk people.
Yamato was right – what the hell had I been trying to do up there? Who was I to butt in on whoever Yamato wanted to be with? He was Yamato's best friend, not some sort of bodyguard.
And it's not like Yamato has ever intruded on any of my hookups like that. Granted, Taichi had never gone home with anyone nearly as sleazy looking as that guy who'd been cornering Yamato, but that wasn't technically Taichi's business either.
Taichi's stomach swirled with emotion. Despite what Yamato had said upstairs, Taichi was not completely convinced that the situation was okay. Or perhaps there was another layer of Taichi's apprehension that he was in no mood to explore.
Maybe I should wait at Yamato's place just in case… to make sure he gets back okay… Taichi shook his head at the ridiculous thought. Yamato would probably punch him if he did that. Why did he have to keep reminding himself that Yamato wasn't some girl he needed to take care of?
The exit of the club finally came into view. It had only taken this long because he'd headed in the wrong direction twice, but he chose to blame that more on this club's ridiculous layout and dark corners than his own inability to think straight.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Taichi!" A familiar deep voice floated into Taichi's ears as he walked down the sidewalk away from the club. He also heard footsteps rapidly approaching him. Was Yamato running towards him?
Taichi turned around slowly, not entirely sure what to expect and half-prepared for Yamato to lunge at him. He certainly didn't expect the ever-graceful Yamato to stumble over a rock and nearly fall over about a foot in front of him.
Out of reflex, he moved to position his arm around Yamato's waist and used the other to prop Yamato's weight against his own.
"Maybe I should help you home. Those drinks were really strong." Taichi said, attributing the warm sparks inside of him to his drunkenness, or maybe his relief that Yamato was alone.
Yamato struggled against Taichi's hold on him as his own guilt multiplied. First he ruined their night and simultaneously made Taichi feel awful, and now he was making Taichi help him again- in what world was this fair? And worst of all, why did these damn butterflies have to appear every time Taichi touched him?
Yamato gave Taichi a dulled glare, shame from the previous incident amplifying his irritation. "Why are you offering to walk me home when you can barely walk at all either? Just because I'm gay doesn't mean you need to suddenly start treating me like some kind of damsel in distress."
"I know, I never thought you were." Taichi muttered back.
Out of anyone else in the world, he probably understood Yamato's stubborn need for independence the best, but that didn't mean it didn't still hurt sometimes.
"Fine then." Taichi huffed and quickly let go of Yamato, who fell right to the ground from the sudden lack of support.
"Thanks a lot." Yamato said sarcastically, rubbing his sore bottom. There was too much alcohol in his system for the statement to come out with much bite though.
"You were the one who asked for it." Taichi responded, turning around to shrug his shoulders at him while walking off. If Yamato didn't want any help, he could comply with that. Whatever, he can get home whenever he wants.
Unfortunately, Taichi didn't realize that looking at Yamato left him unable to look in front of him, which was definitely a problem.
Yamato, from his spot on the ground, was very quickly greeted with the amusing sight of a disoriented Taichi walking right into a bus stop pole and landing squarely on his butt.
Once the concrete stopped spinning, Taichi made eye contact with Yamato who was struggling to keep a straight face.
"You know, I think I might have just had a drunken epiphany on why Sora thinks we're both idiots." Taichi announced seriously.
"You mean… because she's a smart person and was totally right?" Yamato slurred back.
"Yeah, pretty much."
And just like that, like the snapping of a rubber band, the tension between them vanished. They threw back their heads and laughed freely under the clear sky. They'd probably seem crazy to anyone watching.
Yamato finally got up and brushed off his dress pants before staggering over to Taichi and extending a hand.
"Okay, how about we walk each other home? We're going in the same direction anyway. We can split up at the corner of 63rd."
"I guess that probably makes more sense." Taichi acquiesced with a small smile and allowed himself to be pulled up.
They took a few steps in silence before Yamato said somberly, "I'm really glad I caught up to you... I- I wanted to say sorry about earlier in the club." Taichi caught the frustration in his voice, though it seemed to be directed at himself.
Taichi almost missed a step out of surprise after hearing the apology. Usually, they would fight until they were satisfied, or just revert back to their usual antics without talking about it again. It was a normal ebb and flow, and there wasn't generally any need for apologies because it would just be understood. Then again, they weren't exactly in their normal states right now.
"No," Taichi insisted, "You were right with what you said about not being a damsel in distress. And it wasn't really my place to butt in-"
"But still, I shouldn't have snapped at you… I'm really sorry." Yamato said softly. "You were right that I was drunk, and I wasn't thinking soundly, and you were just trying to help. And I freaked out because- well, I wasn't expecting you to see me like that and I was scared of what you'd think."
Taichi just nodded quietly in understanding. It wasn't often that Yamato rambled about the way he felt, and to be honest, he was completely captivated by the vulnerability in his voice. He didn't want to ruin it until he was certain the other had disclosed everything on his mind.
Yamato swallowed visibly, apprehension growing in his eyes. "Aren't you going to ask about… all that happened back there?"
Taichi looked in the opposite direction of Yamato before the other would have a chance to read his expression. Of course, Taichi was curious. Like, so curious he was damn near willing to sell his right pinky to figure out who the hell that Yuno bastard was and why Yamato seemed so willing to let him do whatever he wanted.
But he was less certain he would be able to control his own reaction to whatever information Yamato was about to divulge. And he was even less sure that he wanted to uncover exactly why he had the sudden urge to go back to the club and shove someone's head into a table.
And because of that, he refrained.
Taichi shrugged. "Nah, it's okay. You can tell me when you want to tell me. I was also drunk and intruding on your own private life." He held up a single finger and smirked. "Rule #1: Don't intrude on Yamato's personal feelings unless you want to end up falling off of a mountain in subzero weather, I learned that firsthand in Yamato 101."
The corners of Yamato's mouth turned up slightly. "So… you're not mad at me?"
"Huh?" Taichi's eyebrows rose slightly. "Why would I be mad? I thought you'd be mad at me for always butting in?"
Yamato shook his head in disbelief. "You're so ridiculous. If you butting in made me mad, we would never have been friends. I learned that all the way back in Taichi 101."
Taichi just snickered and raised his hands behind his head. "I'm glad you were paying attention."
They walked a few more moments in silence, but it was the comfortable type this time.
"Taichi… thank you." Yamato finally mumbled as they rounded the corner of 63rd.
They had reached the fork in the road, and Taichi stopped walking and turned to Yamato.
He was taken aback when he found Yamato already staring back at him, blue eyes bright and sparking under the moonlight.
"What for?"
"I don't know- for all of this." Yamato gestured widely around him. "For accepting me for who I am. For being the best friend I could have asked for. For forgiving me so often and always being so nice. I owe you so much more than a thank you… but thanks for being you."
Taichi gulped. If this is the kind of effect he has on people when he opens up, it's probably better for the world that he acts like a cold, closed-off introvert most of the time.
But it wasn't just Yamato's voice or words that were captivating, Taichi realized. It was all of him, from his rose-colored cheekbones to the angelic skin that practically seemed to glow.
"…Taichi?"
Yamato was looking at him expectantly, now looking slightly less embarrassed and slightly more annoyed. "I know you have virtually no manners, but usually people would at least say 'You're welcome"'when someone pours out their soul to them."
"I'm sorry," Taichi chortled, trying to cover up the fact that he just been rendered speechless in real life. "I was just trying to figure out how much of that was the alcohol talking and how much of it was real."
Yamato rolled his eyes and reached up to flick Taichi in the forehead.
"This is literally the last time I'm ever thanking you-"
"No, but really, you need to give yourself more credit, Yamato." Taichi interjected gently. "I definitely wouldn't have stayed your friend all these years if I didn't truly value your friendship, either. You don't owe me anything."
Yamato smiled back in response, a true smile that lit up his face. "Thanks. And good night, Taichi. Let's not have another night like this again, though, please."
"Yeah, good night. If I never see another hurricane drink in my life again, I'll die a happy person."
Yamato laughed in agreement, and a few strands of golden hair fell into his face.
Taichi's hands twitched. Had Yamato's hair always been so touchable? I mean, sure, it had always been pretty pleasant to touch when he would ruffle it to make Yamato mad, but why did this sudden desire feel so different?
Before he could do anything ridiculous, Taichi shoved his hands in his pockets and turned around to walk down the other street. He only trusted himself to pull them out again to wave goodbye to Yamato at a safe distance.
Though I'm not extremely thrilled with this chapter, am proud that it's done! And now excited that I can now continue with the rest of the story.
Let me know if you're liking it - it helps me stay motivated to write! :) New year, same torturously adorable taiyama~