Chapter 18: Understanding

Yuu steps off the train excited to be visiting Mikaela's home for all of two minutes. Then the humid heat of the train station hits him and he kind of wants to go back home or at least back in the train's air conditioning. They've traveled South and it's hotter than the city here, he didn't even know that was possible in Japan.

But still, he's happy to be here, specifically with Mikaela. The other male loved him enough to bring him here and that's worth more than he can say because there's no way he'd be meeting Mika's mother if they weren't serious. It's exactly the type of reassurance he wanted. Mika can say whatever he wants, but until he proves it, there's no way to know if anything he says is sincere. This, though, it's more than enough.

"Why are you just standing there?" Mika questions, nudging him along. "We need to get our bags and meet Krul."

"I didn't realize how hot it was going to be! I hope it's not far, it's worse than home!"

Mika gives him a quizzical look, "You know there's no air conditioning at the house, right?"

"What? Why not?!"

"Because this is the country and it's a traditional house away from the amenities of the city. You get to be one with nature."

Yuu shoots him an unimpressed look, "You at least have electricity, right?"

"No, we use candles for light and pump water," Mika snipes back sarcastically.

"This is going to be fun," Yuu mutters.

Mikaela rolls his eyes, "You can change into the lighter clothes I told you to pack when we get there."

"Yeah…" Yuu laughs weakly. "Light clothes…"

"You didn't listen to me, did you?"

"I got busy! Then I was trying to hurry because everyone was going to the arcade, so I didn't really have a chance to pack right!"

Mikaela shakes his head and steers Yuu along, "One day you'll learn I know everything. Fortunately for you, I repacked your bag before we left."

"What?" Yuu perks up, "You did? Thank you!"

"I did. And I also noticed you have a surprising lack of underwear in your drawers...or so I thought until Guren came to grab your laundry and commented on all the boxers in there." Mikaela's eyes skim lightly over Yuu's reddening cheeks and he smirks, "Any particular reason you went through so many, Yuu-chan? Lonely, perhaps?"

"No! Why were you talking about my underwear with my dad anyway?! That's weird!"

"Uh huh, not as weird as all the boxers you went through. Bet you really gave your wrist quite the workout."

"Oh my god, shut up! I didn't even need to use my hand!" Mikaela gives a startled blink and Yuu's eyes widen at his previous words, "Crap! That's not what I meant!"

"Wow, Yuu-chan, you flatter me. Must have been some pretty vivid dreams."

"You're such a jerk."

"A jerk that you find very attractive."

"Do not!"

"Mikaela!" The blonde cuts off mid-teasing and looks around to see Krul walking purposefully towards them, her long pink ponytails swinging and her auburn eyes flicking between him and Yuu.

"Hey Krul!" Mikaela steps forward and wraps her in a hug, "Nice to finally see you again!"

"The feeling's mutual." She steps back and gives Yuu a once over, "You must be 'Yuu-chan,' I've heard a lot about you."

"Yeah, that's me, but you don't have to use the 'chan,'" he responds with a lot more confidence than he feels.

"He certainly is young, Mika."

"But so cute, right?" Mikaela wraps a reassuring arm around Yuu's waist and gives him a quick squeeze.

"I have no idea. I'm not attracted to young boys." Mikaela pouts and begins to say something, but Krul cuts him off. "I'm Krul, nice to meet you, Yuu."

"Uh...likewise, thank you for having me."

"Not a problem. I know my son probably put you through hell."

"I did not!"

"Mikaela, get the bags. I want to talk to Yuu."

The younger boy shoots him a panicked look as Krul loops her arm through his and drags him away. Mikaela smiles, but doesn't move to his rescue, she would have talked to him sooner or later. He simply grabs the bags and keeps a respectful distance behind them to give their conversation the privacy he knows Krul's after.

"So, Yuu, how has my son been treating you?"

"Oh, uh, he's very nice."

"You don't have to lie to me you, I'm his mother. I lived with him for eighteen years."

"No, really, he's nice, he brought me here."

"Yuu. I've talked to Lacus also. He had a very different opinion."

He laughs weakly, "Lacus would. They're not dating."

"I will find out eventually, I'd rather it be from you."

"Why?"

Krul sighs, "I just want to make sure he's good for you. You're young and Mika has a very strong personality when he wants to, I don't want you to let him run all over you."

"I'm stubborn too!"

"I'm sure you are," she pats his cheek. "But, Mikaela, sweet as he is, also has six more years experience than you do."

"He can be a little...aggressive sometimes."

She nods knowingly, "Yes, you have to be firm with him sometimes or he won't learn." Yuu shifts uncomfortably as Krul gives him a once over. "You look like you just roll over and take it."

"N-no, I- no! What?!"

"I didn't mean sexually, Yuu," she shakes her head. "Do you like cookies?"

"Y-yeah."

"I just made a fresh batch of red velvet. We can kick Mika out of the house when we get home and have a real conversation."

Yuu winces, the last thing he wants is Mika gone and leaving him to the mercy of his mother. In fact, he really doesn't want to be separated from Mika at all right now. He looks back to see Mika far behind them, carrying the bags and taking in the scenery, unconcerned with anything.

"Maybe Mika wants cookies too."

"No, you won't be honest if he's in the room too."

"I will, I promise."

She gestures him into the passenger side of the car, "We're going to get to know each other very well and Mikaela will not be there."

"It'll be fine, Yuu-chan," Mikaela comforts him, tossing their bags into the trunk. "Krul is nice, she's just thorough."

"Is that supposed to help?"

He comes around to press a kiss to Yuu's forehead, "I'll see you later."

"Wait! Where are you going?" Yuu grabs ahold of his wrist before he can slip off and Mika gently pries himself out of the grip.

"Didn't Krul say she was going to kick me out anyway? You have your talk and I'll be back."

"Mika!"

"See you this evening!"

Yuu watches him walk off, aware of Krul's eyes on him and desperately trying to hide his despair.

"It'll be fine, Yuu." She turns on the radio to fill the silence and probably to relax him, but he's well aware of how the rest of the day is about to go.

And he's not disappointed, Krul doesn't even let him grab his bags before dragging him into the house. "Let Mika get them when he gets here," she says. It's a nice house, Yuu thinks, despite having no air conditioning.

True to Mika's description, it's a traditional style house with an engawa that looks perfect for sliding down in his socks, tatami floors, and lots of open air rooms to let in the breeze. "Where's Mika's room?"

Krul gives him a sardonic look and guides him towards the sitting room, "You don't need to see Mika's room right now, I'm sure you'll spend enough time there anyway."

Yuu clears his throat awkwardly, "Soo...cookies, you said?"

It doesn't prove to be too terrible of a time. Rather than have him spill all of Mika's dirty secrets, it seems she genuinely just wants to get to know him and how he's doing.

She asks about school, his friends, Guren, how he met Mika, and fortunately doesn't press as much as he'd thought into the details of their relationship. She questioned more on how Mika makes him feel, something that he hadn't put much thought into other than that he really liked Mika.

His answers are...interesting. Not only do they reaffirm his feelings, but they also bring back his feelings of inadequacy and the helplessness he felt with how quickly things progressed once Mikaela touched him back in the beginning when he was barely listened to. Yuu can appreciate how far they've come.

It's nearing dusk when Krul finally ushers him away so she can fix dinner. He takes the opportunity to explore the house, grabbing their bags from the car, and seeking out Mikaela's room His room is just as tidy as the one back at his apartment, but furnished more elegantly. A wooden platform bed, flowers on the end tables, a chabudai with cushions around it, and a bookshelf. It doesn't look as if he spends much time in here at all.

He uses the free time to check his phone and reply to Guren and his friends, letting them know he's arrived here safely and that Mikaela's mom is really nice and makes great cookies before Krul calls him in for dinner. And still no Mikaela.

Dinner's quiet which he's thankful for because he's kind of tired of talking about himself and about anything in general. They eat in relative silence with Krul throwing him the occasional curious glance, now and then.

The meal is surprisingly tasty considering it all consists of cold food, the main course being noodles. She probably thought he'd appreciate something lighter after the heat of the day and well, she's not wrong.

Afterwards, Krul handles clean up while he heads to the bathing room, eager to feel refreshed and clean after spending a majority of the day in a light sweat. He strips down and takes a seat on the small stool to clean himself first, relaxing under the hand held shower and letting the tension melt out of his shoulders.

His eyes shut and he tilts his head forward enjoying the brief moment of peace. Yuu jumps, nearly dropping the shower head when he feels fingers massaging into his shoulders and he whips around to meet amused blue eyes before his shoulders drop in relief. "You're back!"

"Mmhmm."

"Took you long enough," Yuu complains, relaxing into his ministrations.

"Sorry, I didn't know how long you guys would take."

"You missed dinner."

"I met up with some old friends, we had dinner."

"..."

"It wasn't like that," Mika sighs, kissing his wet hair. "I had to do something while Krul wanted me away."

"Why don't you ever make me cookies? She said you guys used to bake together."

"I can if you want me to, but you've never asked before."

"There's a lot I still don't know about you," Yuu considers.

Mikaela chuckles lightly, "Was Krul telling you childhood stories when she finished questioning you?"

"Not really, just a random fact every now and then."

"I see," he muses, pressing open mouthed kisses against the wet skin of Yuu's neck and massaging his way down to his lower back.

Yuu tilts his head to give him a better angle and sighs in contentment, "You'll be here the rest of the time, right?"

"Of course and you can ask me anything you want."

"Mmm…"

Yuu tenses when Mika's hand slides from his lower back to his waist, hovering there for a second before moving to its inevitable goal. Yuu jerks automatically, grabbing Mika's hand and shoving it away from his crotch. "Mika stop! Your mom's here!"

"So what? She won't know as long as you're quiet," he murmurs into Yuu's shoulder, moving his other hand to Yuu's inner thigh.

"I'll know!" Yuu answers, turning to rinse his hair and making sure Mikaela gets a faceful of water.

"Fine," he takes the hint and moves away. "But you'll have to make it up to me later since I know you wanted it too."

"I'm not making anything up to you! Keep it in your pants!"

"Funny coming from you when you're half hard and naked."

"I'm taking a bath!"

Mika raises an eyebrow, "And the first part?"

"I don't have to answer that."

"I see Krul's rubbing off on you."

"For the better!"

"Uh huh." Mika leaves him to go finish his bath on the other side of the room and departs while Yuu chooses stay a little longer and soak in the tub.

Part of him is still a little surprised that Mikaela actually listened to him and backed down. For a few seconds there, he'd thought he would have to struggle to stay silent in Mika's lap while they had sex, so secretly he's relieved. He's not so sure it would have turned out this way a few weeks ago.

Still, he misses his boyfriend and once he's done soaking, he's eager to curl up with him for the night. Yuu enters the bedroom to see Mikaela reading a book with a fan stirring the air and he's relieved the blonde waited up for him.

"Mika, talk to me," Yuu demands climbing into bed next to him and Mikaela automatically adjusts so Yuu can squeeze under his arm.

"You've been talking all day, aren't you tired?" He questions, flipping a page in his book.

"I've been talking to Krul, not you. I miss you."

"Did you? You rejected me pretty easily earlier."

"I said talk."

"About what?"

"Anything."

"What do you want to do tomorrow?"

"Anything."

"That's not how you have a conversation."

Yuu yawns and snuggles down further under the sheet, into Mika's side, "Yeah it is." The cool air combined with Mika's warmth is starting to lull him into sleep and while he doesn't want to sleep just yet, he hardly has the energy to actually come up with answers to Mika's questions.

"Anything you want to try?"

"..."

"Yuu-chan."

"H-huh? What? Yeah..."

"Food?"

"Anything sounds good."

He lets out a huff of laughter at Yuu's drowsiness, he's barely even awake at this point. "We should come back in winter, then we can cuddle for warmth under a blanket and have lots of fun under the kotatsu."

"Yeah...with hot chocolate…"

Mikaela climbs out of bed and Yuu immediately rolls over into his previous spot, asleep before his whine of protest even finishes passing his lips. He pulls up the blanket to tuck Yuu in, kisses his forehead with a fond smile, and hopes there's many more nights like this to come.

"Where's Yuu?" Krul questions as he enters the living room.

"Asleep. I think all your talking exhausted him," he jokes, but Krul blinks back at him dispassionately.

"Don't hurt him, Mikaela."

"What are you talking about?" He asks, settling next to her with a pillow. "I'm not hurting him."

"I wasn't kidding when I said that I know you put him through hell to be with you."

"No I didn't!"

"Mikaela."

"It wasn't that bad," he protests weakly.

"Yes, it was. I can see it in the way he looks at you."

"Huh? How does he look at me?"

"With love but also with the fear of you leaving him. As if at any moment he'll turn around and you'll be gone."

"….." If that's true, he really has been a terrible boyfriend. He'd thought they were doing better, but if Krul can see Yuu's feelings that quickly and that clearly, obviously there's still more he needs to prove to Yuu.

"Yes, your relationship could use a little work." She stands and flips the light switch, leaving him sitting in the dark, "Go to bed, I'll see you in the morning."

He slips back into his bed, still pondering Krul's words until he feels lips press against his back and a few whispered words, "Don't leave me."

"Hmm?" But Yuu remains silent and he's left wondering if it was a conscious or subconscious thought. Either way, just to reassure him, he pulls Yuu in close to him and holds him tight the entire night.

~~~~~
The next day is just as warm as the previous day and Yuu can't bear to spend the entire day indoors. Krul's off running errands, so it'll just be them most of the day. Part of him even entertains the thought of walking around in his boxers all day, but Guren would flip at his rudeness if he ever found out.

Plucking at his shirt to send some air against his skin, Yuu steps out onto the engawa with a cup of lemonade in his hands. Even with the icy drink, there's no relief from the day.

The cicadas chirp loudly as he pads barefoot into the outside air for a moment to breathe. It's nice out here in the country, but a little boring especially with Mika gone to buy the popsicles he'd demanded. He would have gone, but then he would have had to put on actual clothes and staying in comfortable clothes here sounded like a better option.

Yuu takes a long gulp of tart lemonade and stretches out in the slight breeze, eager to cool off. He'll lay there for a little while, just until Mika gets back with his popsicles.

It feels like barely any time has passed when he wakes up feeling like he's being smothered, yet unsurprised to find Mikaela wrapped tightly around him. He really should have remembered by now what a cuddler the blonde is and realized he was leaving himself wide open taking a nap out on the engawa.

There had been a breeze when he'd come out here earlier and it was enough to lull him into a drowsy state that eventually turned into sleep, but now it's gone and there's only Mikaela's hot heavy weight crushing him in the already humid summer heat.

"Mika, get up! It's too hot for this," Yuu protests, pushing at the other boy's chest in an attempt to lift him off. He fails and Mikaela only pushes closer, sweaty skin sliding against his own.

"It isn't."

"It is! I can barely breathe!"

"Then take your clothes off," he mumbles into Yuu's neck.

"Ha. Ha. What are you doing out here anyway?"

"I came looking for you and you looked so peaceful here, I had to join you."

"You mean suffocate me."

"Maybe." He replies lazily, slipping his fingers under Yuu's shirt to grip his sides.

"Absolutely not! It's too hot Mika!" Yuu yells in aggravation, even as he feels arousal stirring from the way Mika's thigh is rubbing against him insistently in their thin clothes.

"If it's already hot, then what's it matter?" Mikaela questions, mouthing down Yuu's neck and using his free hand to reach into Yuu's shorts.

"Miiiiika…"

"Hmm?" He murmurs, pulling his hand out and exposing Yuu to the air.

"Are you serious right now?"

"You're not even wearing boxers, I think you're pretty serious too."

"That's cause it's hot!" Mika slips one of his fingers into his own mouth and then prods gently at Yuu's entrance, slipping the first finger in with far less resistance than their first time several months ago. Yuu grimaces, "You're using spit."

"I didn't come out here prepared, it was a nice turn of events."

Yuu scoffs, shifting slightly as the third finger nudges its way in. "You don't even have a condom."

"Why would I need that?" Mikaela questions, wrinkling his nose and positioning himself between Yuu's legs. "Did you catch something?"

"No!"

"Good," he murmurs, pushing the crown of his cock inside with a little more force than necessary, "You're mine and I don't share."

"Ah, stupid. Of course that's not what I meant!"

"Mmm…" The blonde readjusts his hands to get a better grip on Yuu's thighs, difficult when they're both sweating from the heat and his fingers keep slipping.

Yuu sucks in a quick breath when he feels Mikaela slide the rest of the way in, balls resting firmly against his ass before he pulls out and shoves back in. Knowing by now exactly where to aim to give Yuu the most pleasure. He runs sweaty hands through blonde strands that stick to his fingers as Mika kisses him and he can't help but think, it really is too hot for this. He's already starting to get a little dizzy and even if the blonde wanted this, his flushed face reveals he's not immune to the heat either.

He groans aloud as Mika presses against that spot over and over again, hands traveling from his thighs to his hips for a tighter grip and faster thrusting. His eyes shut as he pulls Mikaela down for another kiss, feeling Mikaela smile at his cry from a particularly hard thrust.

A hand wraps around his own cock, pumping him quickly and Yuu's eyes pop open to narrow at Mikaela when his hips slow into a more gradual pace. His gaze skims over Mikaela's face and his suspicions are confirmed when he catches sight of the other boy's glazed over blue eyes. "You wanted this, you can't half ass it now!" Mikaela insisted on this, he's going to have to suck it up and pleasure him until the end.

"I'm not. I just…"

"Hot?"

"Yeah…"

"I have no pity for you," Yuu wiggles his hips. "95 degrees and humid, you wanted this."

"And I still do, just give me a second."

"No way! This was your idea."

"Yuu-chan…"

"Move it Mika," he demands with a thrust of his hips.

Yuu watches as Mikaela flicks a few beads of sweat out of his eyes and looks at him with renewed determination. His hand wraps around him tighter and he strokes faster, intent on finishing Yuu off first.

His body tenses as he comes with a quiet groan, feeling the stickiness land on his stomach and he could swear he hears Mikaela sigh in relief as he speeds up while Yuu is still tight from his high.

He sees the moment the blonde's orgasm hits him, his body goes rigid as his eyes shut and his grip on Yuu's waist tightens followed by the familiar feeling of warm seed spilling inside him, a feeling that he's come to appreciate, even if he does sometimes prefer Mikaela to use a condom. No sooner than the last spurt empties him than the other boy's collapsing against him, sweat slicked body nearly feverish from the exertion and Yuu smirks to himself, secretly pleased the heat got to Mikaela also. It's no less than he deserved.

The breeze is back cooling his skin when Mikaela finally rolls off him and he sighs in relief until the blonde cuddles back against him, taking away what little comfort he had. "Seriously? You got what you wanted!" Yuu argues, yanking his shorts up to hide the dried cum on his inner thighs before Krul comes back.

"I want you," Mikaela insists, pulling him closer.

He's a huge baby, Yuu thinks. How was I ever even slightly intimidated by him? Yuu rests his hand against Mikaela's shoulder and gets a pleased noise in response. "You're terrible, Mika," Yuu tells him, feeling the other male's heartbeat gradually slowing back down.

"I know, sorry." A few beats of silence, "I bought your popsicles."

"Why didn't you say?! Move!"

"Hey, wait!" Mikaela protests as Yuu shoves him aside.

"We can cuddle later," Yuu tells him impatiently, leaving him there and running back inside the house.

Yuu sticks his head in the deep freeze and yanks out a strawberry popsicle, popping it his mouth and grinning at the surly look Mikaela gives him. "Sorry Mika, popsicles come first!"

He rolls his eyes and turns away, "I'm going to take a bath."

"See ya!" Yuu laughs at his retreating back, knowing that was really an invitation he just rejected. He'll survive one bath alone.

~~~~~
Yuu's head rests against his shoulder, their joined hands cradled between them as Mika points out the different constellations. Getting away from the city was good for them. Yuu seems happier with him now and he doesn't feel like he's constantly pulling Yuu closer while simultaneously pushing him farther away anymore. It's a nice feeling, one he should have sought out much sooner and that would have avoided a lot of stress for them.

"Next," the younger teen nudges him to reclaim his attention.

"That's Taurus, my sign," Mika explains, pointing towards the night sky.

"What's it say about you?" Yuu questions with a glance in Mika's direction.

"Hmm, that I know exactly who and what I want, and that my love is wonderful. Pretty accurate, I think."

Yuu scoffs, "Well I can agree with half of that, you always made it clear exactly what you wanted." He glances over to where Krul's sitting with a cup of tea and lowers his voice, "Even if it was completely inappropriate."

"That makes it even better!"

"To you!" Yuu grabs his hand and points back towards the sky, "Show me mine."

"It's over there, six signs away from mine."

"Tell me about it."

"Libra," Mikaela grins. "Loud, obnoxious, and always trying to pick a fight. Stubborn and headstrong, unable to make good decisions."

Yuu stares at him, "You just made that up."

"Did I? I think it describes you perfectly."

"No, it doesn't."

He glances back to the sky, "Unfortunately Libras are extremely incompatible with Tauruses. Libras cause them a ton of grief from their stubbornness."

Yuu sits up to glare down at him, "That's not true either."

"I wasn't aware you were an astrology major," Mikaela teases, laughing at Yuu's increasingly annoyed expression. He really is surprised they made it this far. All those nights ago when the thought of bringing Yuu out here first crossed his mind, Yuu had still been angry with him about the Narumi thing and he was far less invested in their relationship. Yet, here they are laying together in his backyard, happy for the most part.

"Stop smiling Mika! It isn't funny!"

"I was kidding," he rectifies, circling his arms around Yuu's waist to pull him closer, but Yuu wriggles out of his embrace instead. He stands and Yuu darts off across the backyard. Mikaela laughs, but lets him go, knowing that he'll catch Yuu eventually and they'll cuddle while looking at the stars again. For now he's content to let Yuu taunt him, staying just out of reach and he thinks that something as simple as this, laughing together while he chases Yuu around the yard, must be happiness.

Thanks everyone who read and left comments, I hope you enjoyed this slightly dubcon story with a happy ending! :)