Chapter ● Three
One week passed since Eric and Kosuke had their little argument. Eric apologized with a little dinner, what left Kosuke very impressed. For him everything is fine again. But Eric's problems did not just fade. Kosuke still pains his feelings whenever he talks about Asuka. But he can not blame him for that.
Eric relaxes on the couch, watching TV while Kosuke is getting ready for doing a pub tour with the other members of HOMRA. He remembers the last one where he had to carry Chitose home because he was so drunk. He does not mind helping the others when they are drunk. They would do the same for him. But there is one thing he definitely does mind. While they are all outside having some fun Eric stays at home, watching TV until he comes back.
"Why don't you come with us? It's fun, I promise.", Kosuke says while taking a seat next to him on the couch.
"It surely is fun. But I don't want to come with you.", Eric says, eyes still fixed on the screen.
"Come on, Eric. You need to go outside for a bit. I don't want you to be all alone the whole night." Not a single word escapes the blond's mouth this time. Kosuke sighs, still looking at Eric while thinking about what to say. Even if it looks like it, Eric is not annoyed by Kosuke always asking him to go out with him and the other guys. To the contrary he enjoys this attention. He enjoys seeing Kosuke caring so much like he used to do back in the day.
"You know what? I think you need a girlfriend." Kosuke says, smirking a bit at the other, who turns to him immediately.
"What? Why?"
"Well, with a girlfriend you wouldn't be alone now. But you will never find someone by just sitting around. I think you need to change your kind of style as well."
"Why? What do you even mean?"
"You know what I mean. Look at you. You don't care about your clothes or how your hair looks like. If I would be a girl I would never ever date a guy who looks like that. I know, I know. That sounds mean now, but it's the brutal truth." Kosuke chuckles after finishing the last word. Eric however just keeps on staring at him. He repeats the others words in his head to slowly starting to believe what he just heard. He feels very uncomfortable right now, clearly overwhelmed with the whole situation.
"Oh, you know what Kosuke? Fuck you!" Eric angrily stands up to leave the living room. After entering the bedroom he slams the door, wishing Kosuke would just disappear right now. He would never admit it to Kosuke but he feels hurt. If someone like Bandou would have said that he would not care at all. But Kosuke, the one he has the strongest feelings for is far too much. He suddenly hears the front door closing loudly. He takes a look out of the window, watching Kosuke leaving. He did not even apologize for what he just said.
"What a jerk. Who does he think he is?", Eric says quietly to himself.
It is already after midnight. Eric again watches TV, waiting for Kosuke to come home again. For some reasons he does not feel tired at all. He is not even mad at Kosuke for what happened earlier. He just can not stay mad at him for long. Then he hears the red-head finally coming back. He seems to be drunk. Eric states by noticing how loud he enters the living room. Then Kosuke lets his heavy body fall down on the couch, without thinking about Eric.
"You're actually home early. What's wrong? Didn't have enough of the fun you told me about?", Eric says with a slight smirk on his face.
"Well, sorry if I disturbed you, honey." Kosuke says with a big grin on his face. "Chitose brought me home, I guess. We sat in his car and we talked about stuff and now I am here."
"Ah, interesting." Eric nods, trying to hold back a smile.
Kosuke just lies there for a while. Eric notices him falling asleep and so he tells him to go to bed. As they both enter the bedroom Kosuke carelessly lets his body fall down on the bed without taking his clothes off. Eric automatically helps him getting out of his shirt and trousers. Helping him means actually doing it without Kosuke doing anything, what makes it a pretty hard task to accomplish. But in the end he somehow manages it all.
Eric sits down on the edge of the bed, face turned to Kosuke. He suddenly seems to be awake right now. But Eric is sure that he will sleep within the next three minutes. The way he lies there. It makes him even more good-looking than he already is. Eric turns away, standing up to finally go to bed as well. He lies down on the other side, back turned on Kosuke.
"Night.", Eric says with a little yawn.
"Chitose says you are gay, ha.", Kosuke says and laughs. He keeps on staring at the ceiling, not looking at Eric, who slowly turns around to see him.
"He says what?"
"I said that it's not true. I actually wouldn't want to share a bed with a gay person, you know.", he turns his head to Eric, who still remains silent. "Hey, it's fine. Don't look at me like that. I don't know where he got it from. You know him, he's a bit of a weirdo, sometimes."
"What would you do if it's true. Would you kick me out then?" Eric tests him, his voice sounds a bit more aggressive than usual. Of course, it is true. He likes Kosuke, after all. But he would not admit it. Not here and not now. He just turns around again, trying to sleep.
"Yeah, probably kick you out of bed, pup.", Kosuke still laughs, prodding the other's back a little.
"You really have no idea." Eric nearly whispers against his arm, too quiet for the other to hear. "Kosuke, would you stop already?! I am trying to sleep.", Eric hisses at Kosuke, who finally stops prodding his back.
"You really are someone special to me, Eric. I wouldn't want to ever let you go. I'm truly happy only with you, pup." Kosuke smiles, hugging Eric tightly.
"But what about the others? What will they think?"
"Who cares what a bunch of idiots think. I really love you, Eric. I loved you right from the start. I only care about what you think, you know that." Before Eric could say something Kosuke presses his lips onto the other's. Eric wants to wrap his arms around him but somehow it feels like there is no one there, nothing to grab. Those hands around him suddenly begin to feel cold as ice. He wants to get away, but these strong arms will not let him go.
"Eric. Hey, pup. Be a good boy and hold still." Eric is finally able to free himself. He tries to turn around and run away but when he does, another pair of hands grab him, pressing him down to the ground. There will be no chance to escape this time. The voice, what sounds like Kosuke's is still following him.
"Hold still. It'll only hurt in the first second. You'll get used to it don't you worry, pup."
Eric awakens. It was just another nightmare. He breathes heavily, feeling hot and cold at the same time. Then he suddenly feels someone touching his shoulder. He backs away, defending himself with his aura.
"Woah, easy! It's me, it's me." Kosuke says, hiding himself behind his arms for a moment. "What's wrong, pup? Did you have another nightmare?"
Eric nods, turning his head away from Kosuke because he knows that he is near to tears right now.
"It's all over now." Kosuke comes closer, wrapping his arms around the younger to bring a little bit comfort to him. "It was just a nightmare. There's nothing real about it, okay?", he whispers.
After staying like this for a while Eric slowly becomes tired again. He tells Kosuke that he is fine again and they both go to sleep again. Eric remembers the first part of his dream. He remembers Kosuke's words and his hug. He did not think that something beautiful like this could even turn into such a terrifying nightmare.