Akihito peered around the door to stare at Asami. The man in question was sitting in his bathrobe watching the news with a tumbler of whiskey in hand. He had an air of relaxation and contentment that Akihito was secretly thrilled he got to witness. This man was notorious for hiding everything behind a cool façade.

But not even the relaxed atmosphere helped Akihito with what he wanted to do.

He was used to going at Asami's pace, always getting swept up by the man and it was easier to just go with the flow.

Which meant that he didn't know how to go about this.

How the hell did he ask him out on what could only be called a date?

There was an awesome new burger place that opened up walking distance from their apartment and he wanted to try it out. It might not be the fancy places that Asami was used to but it was totally his turn to take the man out on a date. Not that they had called any of their previous outings dates but that's totally what they were, even if they did always end in Asami making a mess of him somewhere. Often somewhere entirely inappropriate.

How many times had he been dragged to a fancy sushi place and then out to a hotel? Or to a show? Then there was that time at the fancy cinema.

They were totally dates.

Asami had chosen places that he thought Akihito would like but thy were all 'Asami style' places. It was Akihito's turn to drag Asami out to a place that was more his style to try.

But he didn't know how to ask.

Hell, the only times Akihito ever initiated things with Asami was when he was drunk or horny. Both states of mind were shameless and he had no qualms about baiting the man to get what he wanted. Which was usually encouraging him to have his way with him.

That was not what he wanted right now.

"Are you going to hide behind the door all evening or are you going to join me?"

Akihito jumped at the amused baritone of his lover and scowled. Damn, how long had be known he was there? Dragging his feet, he moved into the lounge and sat down on the other end of the couch. Pulling his feet up, he rested his chin on his knees as he faced Asami. His heart was pounding in his chest and he could feel his cheeks heating up with embarrassment already.

Shit, he hadn't even said anything and already he felt like a teenager about to ask their crush out and confess their feelings.

How long had they been together for? How many things had they done together? Why was asking the man on a date so embarrassing when last night he hadn't blushed even when he was tied naked to the bed and the man did terribly erotic things with his tongue?

Although he was blushing thinking about it now.

"Do you have something to say, Akihito?"

Asami moved to face him more and the way he said his name should be illegal. Golden eyes danced with amusement as they watched him fidget nervously while he gathered up the courage to ask him out for a damn burger.

Akihito opened his mouth to ask but lost confidence half way through. The worst part was that now Asami knew that he had something on his mind, he would get it out of him by any means necessary. He really didn't want to fail so badly that Asami has to use bedroom methods to get him to confess his desire for a casual date.

"I-I wanted to ask…" he trailed off and took a deep breath as he stared a hole in the couch. He could do this. Another deep breath then he said very quickly, "if you wanted to go to that new burger place with me?"

Silence greeted his words and he didn't dare look up to see what expression Asami was making.

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

Akihito flushed and chewed worriedly on his lip. "Maybe."

A large hand reached out to tip his head back and he finally met his lover's eyes. They were filled with warmth and amusement, but not the mocking kind of laughter that so often was seen in those golden depths.

"When do you want to go?"

"Really? You'll come with me?" Akihito lit up and looked up at Asami with surprise. The man's lips twitched up into a warm half smile at his enthusiasm.

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"Well, I'M taking you out this time, so that means no suits and I'm paying, got it?"

Asami raised an eyebrow at his demands but his smile widened and he chuckled.

"Alright then. When are you thinking?"

"Whenever you don't have an evening meeting. They are open for dinner but they close at midnight."

"Tomorrow then," Asami replied.

"Okay!" Akihito beamed at his lover. HE was taking Asami out!

He leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to his lover's lips. It was soft, gentle, and held a warm promise rather than the usual heated suggestion. When he pulled back, it was to see Asami staring at him in wide-eyed surprise.

Akihito blinked, confused until he realised the sheer emotion that he had put into that kiss. He flushed bright red and went to move away hastily but Asami grabbed him and pulled him back in for another.

Their lips slotted together and once again it was soft and gentle, a promise of emotion that he really didn't want to think too much on right now. Asami made no move to deepen the kiss, instead matching Akihito's slow pace. He didn't know what to make of it, the feelings were about to short circuit his brain in an entirely different way than he was used to.

They did heated passion and desperate couplings. But this hinted at a depth of feeling he wasn't yet ready to face.

He was breathless when they parted, his face as red as it could be. There was a flash of a nameless emotion in Asami's eyes, gone too quick to place but it left him feeling warm. He stuttered something about getting a drink and fled to cool down in the kitchen.

He wasn't ready to face his own feelings just yet. He could acknowledge Asami for his lover but maybe, just maybe, there was more to them than steamy night trysts.