Hey, everyone! Sorry for this chapter being so late. I was pretty dang busy this whole last week. I still have a million ideas for this crazy little family, so I couldn't possibly abandon this story, haha. Enjoy!
As soon as the front door opened and Jiro stepped inside his home, he wasted no time in pulling off his shoes and tossing them aside unceremoniously, adjusting his backpack over his shoulder and rushing towards the stairs. He didn't even halt when Shion's voice broke through from the kitchen.
"Oh good, Jiro, you're home. I made you some—where are you going?" The snow-haired man asked, blinking as he followed and watched his young adopted son disappear over the stair-steps.
"I'm gonna study, I don't want anything!" He called back, followed by an echoed slam of his bedroom door.
The commotion hadn't been lost to Nezumi's ears as he emerged from the bathroom, rubbing away any traces of dampness in his dark hair from the shower he'd just taken. He approached Shion and stood by him, also observing the uninviting shut door of the bedroom on the upper level.
"What's up with him?" Nezumi asked in a murmur, draping the towel over his shoulders, his hands on his hip and an elegantly raised eyebrow.
Shion shook his head. "I have no idea. He never rejects after-school snacks. He said he had to study."
Nezumi scoffed. "Awful liar. He never studies unless I threaten to confiscate his video games." He gave a sigh and a casual wave of his hand. "Well. I'll leave you to do what you do best." Just as he started toward the doorway of their own bedroom, Shion suddenly reached out and entangled his fingertips in Nezumi's still-warm hair, forcing him to pause mid-step and close his eyes over Shion's pleasant touch.
"Hey, you smell nice. Like flowers." Shion grinned.
"I don't smell like a girl. For your information, I found the manliest shampoo product yesterday. It says so on the bottle." He defended with a scowl.
"Mm." Shion ignored him, smiling softly, still caressing his fingers through the other's soft, oxford-blue locks, making sure to grasp a fistful of hair each time and watching how his partner's entire being melted in Shion's mercy.
"Shiiion, if you don't let go of my hair this instant, I won't be able to move ever again. Besides, you've got business to attend to. See what's going on with the little brat."
Shion chuckled. "I don't think it's very customary for a father to call his son a 'little brat.'"
"Hn." Nezumi waved another dismissing hand at him, then pulled away from Shion's angelic touch to turn and show him an unexpectedly warm smile before pressing a gentle kiss to Shion's cheek, close to his ear. He made sure to take his time there, allowing Shion to hug his arms around his shoulders and press himself so close, one would think he intended to meld them together. When Nezumi's lips brushed away from his skin and he pulled back just enough to look upon Shion's face, he chuckled deeply at the dreamy expression and his glazed ruby-red eyes. He traced the "snake" on his left cheek with a thumb, touching their noses together and coiling his arms tightly across Shion's mid-back.
"I can never control my actions around you. And it sucks, cause I know you're just doing this as an excuse to postpone talking to Jiro." Nezumi said, narrowing his eyes at the other.
Shion released a quiet laugh and pressed a chaste kiss to Nezumi's lips. "Maybe, maybe not. I was just thinking about how it's been a while since we've shared a little affection, what with having to give our attention to the kids a good portion of our time, so I'm satisfied. I'll go see what's wrong now." He laughed as Nezumi rolled his eyes at this response.
They detangled themselves from each other and Nezumi strolled toward their bedroom again. "If you still want some good old-fashioned 'affection' when you're done, feel free to come find me." Nezumi chuckled at Shion's small blush and eager smile to the offer, then closed the door behind him. Shion released a small sigh and any lingering lovey-dovey emotions with it, then made his own way up the stairs to the closed-off bedroom.
Wonder what's up with Jiro? Guess we'll find out next update. :D I just needed to write some pointless Nezushi fluff first. Aha.