night streets, free walking

By: Aviantei

Reincarnation Hours (ShishiRen):

"Lion and Lotus"

Inadama Shishio is no stranger to being hit on by total strangers. It's a frequent enough occurrence—on the train, at bars, in line while getting coffee, that one time between classes at university—so he's not surprised by it anymore. After all, he knows he's rather attractive, even with what Yoshiteru calls his resting bitch face, plus working out is a regular part of his routine, so he's got a nice physique to compliment his existing assets. So, no, this is not the first time he's been hit on by a stranger, not even the first time someone's been so direct or the first time he's humored the person, because he's not so nice to let opportunities slip out of his fingers just like that.

But this is the first time he's looked at someone and thought, I can't pass this up.

It's not that the person is beyond beautiful, would be on the cover of magazines. But they're still more than enough attractive, with the delicate curve of their cheek and the peach tone of their skin and their dark brown hair pulled back into a braid that's just the slightest bit frazzled. The weather is warm today, so their attire is light but form fitting, showing off the faint impression of muscle in their arms and the enticing curve of their legs.

Oh, and now they're stuttering because it seems that they didn't mean to sound like they were hitting on him, except Shishio gets the impression that they so were, and he doesn't even care. Hell, if he didn't have an important rehearsal to get to in the next hour, this person could have his whole everything, they'd just have to say the word. With an apology, they attempt to retreat, but Shishio can't let that happen whatsoever.

I get the feeling that if I don't talk to you now and never see you again, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, they said, and Shishio feels the same, in the same exact sappy way Yoshiteru always described and Shishio always gave him crap for when they were younger. But now he's the one that's feeling like the fool, but also a little victorious because when the stranger rushes out the door for whatever class they're late for, Shishio has their number in his phone—not their LINE info or anything, but their actual number—plus the glance he gets at them from behind is just as appealing as the one from the front, and he'd feel bad about it if it hadn't been so obvious that the stranger had been checking him out as well.

Shishio takes the time after the train starts moving to check that he's not just in this for the looks, because he's already been through that whole stage of dumb hookups, and he doesn't have the time to do that anymore. It was never satisfying in the first place, and none of his previous relationships have borne long-lasting fruit, either, but this—

Yoshiteru is going to give me so much shit once he finds out. Which is presumptuous on Shishio's part to think, because that assumes that something will work out, but Shishio feels sure, and so does the warm little feeling in his heart. Yoshiteru never stopped going on about his great-grandparents' books, and he was insistent that people could be reborn, could have a better life, could find the people they loved before. Maybe, whatever it is with this stranger is like that.

Well, there's just one way to find out.

This is Shishio, the guy you asked for his number on the train this morning. I have some free time this weekend. Want to go get coffee?

Shishio, in fact, does not have free time on the weekend, because he has an exam next week that he needs to study for, along with an important audition coming up that he should be spending every waking moment perfecting his piece for, but he can make an exception this once. Satisfied with the message he's sent, Shishio tries to get back to scrolling through the news story he was trying to read before he got interrupted, but he keeps flicking between apps, checking to see if he's gotten at least a read notification, though he knows they're running late, so keeping up with their phone is not their priority.

Still, it doesn't take all too long for that read notification to pop up, along with the little line of bubbles that indicates typing—and he knows that staring at his phone isn't going to make the response show up any faster, but he can't fucking help it. The bubbles go for a while, then stop, then pick up again, then stop altogether, and Shishio can't help but wonder if he's gotten pranked and that the stranger never meant to get his number at all, and this is just some big elaborate ruse.

And then the train's announcing that it's Shishio's stop next, and, oh yeah, important rehearsal that he can't afford to be late for, kinda need to get that in order, and by the time he arrives he gets caught up in conversation with one of his section mates and someone else is having trouble with their bow, plus tuning everyone together is an absolute bitch, and Shishio would be so pissed off by everything if it weren't for the satisfying moment where everyone in the university orchestra plays the music not quite at a perfect level, but in that transcendent way that resonates together anyways with groups, and Shishio feels like everything in the damn world is worth this.

He has just enough time for lunch before his afternoon classes, and that's spent cramming in some extra studying for his test again, not to mention after lectures he has plans to meet up with his two high school friends that didn't drive him up the damn wall and are somehow still around, and by the time he makes it back to his apartment his phone has a giant pile of dumb memes from Yoshiteru and other assorted emails that he doesn't want to deal with, except—

There's one text notification that was sent around lunch time, a few simple words that make him start to smile:

Yes, this is Ren, the dumbass who wanted your number on the train this morning. I also happen to have some free time this weekend. When and where should we meet up?

Several messages are passed across the span of that week, though they're bare bones basic information. Shishio has a performance coming up, so he can't just be answering his phone twenty-four/seven, no matter how tempting it is. There are a nice few hours, pocketed in the evening where their free time seems to line up, and Shishio and Ren can exchange minimal info about their lives so that they can both have reassurance that they're not about to meet up for coffee with a homicidal maniac or whatever.

I'm nonbinary, so I prefer gender-neutral stuff, please.

Yeah, I go to college, too.

I just turned twenty this year.

Don't worry about when you respond, I know you're busy. I'm just glad you decided to even talk to me in the first place.

Oh, I live with Kiyoko-chan, my girlfriend. You have any roommates?

Shishio isn't sure what's the bigger disappointment in that message: the fact that he has to remember that he shares a living space with Yoshiteru (which isn't anywhere as bad as Shishio makes it out to be, but it's the principle of the bit at this point) or the fact that Ren has a girlfriend of all things. Shishio knows his own tastes well enough that gender or anything like that doesn't matter whatsoever, so it's not like he's judging—though he does tend to avoid people who are already in established relationships, so maybe he needs to reassess his expectations.

Though if Ren wanted to have an affair, I guess it'd be worth it to—no, no, you're getting too fucking desperate.

It does bring up a whole host of other questions, and Shishio wonders if maybe he should reschedule on the coffee until he can get his head back on straight—but, nope, he's way too selfish for that, and then it's Saturday afternoon, and why the fuck did he not check if Yoshiteru was working at the café in advance, this is going to be the fucking worst, but this place has the best coffee that Kaigaku can stand, and maybe if he texts Ren they can change locations, but, nope, there they are, already coming up the street.

Their hair is let loose, and Shishio realizes how long it is, falling down their back and brushing against their thighs, which are exposed thanks to the short pant-legs of their jumper, which has a pretty flower pattern and a skirt hanging down the back. The heeled boots are cute and emphasize their legs more, and, with a bit of hair falling into their face, Ren is even more stunning than he thought they were when he first saw them.

(Later, Yoshiteru will tease that he could hear Shishio's heart skip a beat from all the way inside the café, and he'll curse but not be able to deny it.)

And then when they say, "I'm polyamorous," well—that just unleashes ten thousand different possibilities in Shishio's head, and he's not about to this chance to go to waste, because this is fucking it. Oh, he'll take it as slow as he can stand to respect Ren's boundaries, that's for sure, but he'll do whatever he has to do to be with them, because he's never wanted anything so bad before whatsoever.

This may not be the first date, but the next time will be, and Ren's hand fits so well in his that Shishio never wants to let go.

"So, about how many dates before you put out?"

It's been about a month since Shishio met Ren on the train, and he's getting used to all their little quirks and habits, the foremost of which just so happens to be talking without a filter. At first, whenever something would come flying out of their mouth, Ren would get flustered, but they've stopped since Shishio never judges them for it. The honesty is refreshing, though he will admit that he misses watching Ren blush after realizing just what they said. Ah, well, it just means they're comfortable enough around him to not have to worry about holding back, so Shishio's not going to complain about that.

Now if he could just stop being the one getting so flustered over the things they say.

It's another Saturday afternoon with the two of them meeting up for their usual coffee date in between everything else they have to do. This one could even be considered a celebration of sorts—Shishio's school orchestra has finished up a successful run of their latest performances, and Ren's dance group just got accepted into a big show coming up, so it's been a good boon all around. Hell, even Yoshiteru happens to have this weekend off since he had plans with that little friend that he's been running around with since they were all kids, since their families had known each other for generations. It's likely because of that fact that Ren asked such a thing in public, since the brat isn't around to hear any of it.

And Ren's serious and must be waiting for an answer, because they're looking at Shishio, some happy expectation in their eyes, that faint little smirk at seeing him get so flustered, which is a rare treat. Ren manages to get that reaction out of him pretty easy, but Shishio manages to compose himself soon enough.

"That depends," he says, just as serious as they are, "on how comfortable the stunning person across the table from me is about the idea."

"Ah," Ren says, looking satisfied by his response, "well that would depend on how comfortable the sexy man sitting across the table from me is with me coming over tonight."

Fucking hell, how can they pull stuff like that off like it's no big deal?

Ren's got the bedroom eyes down, and that nice little smirk-smile they have is just what Shishio likes to see, and god, does he want, like the feeling has been cemented inside his very soul. "You wouldn't happen to need permission from Urokodaki to go having sleepovers, now would you?"

"I'm a grown-ass adult, Shishio-san. I can make my own decisions."

And make those decisions they already have. He thought they were carrying a bigger bag than normal, but he figured that maybe they had plans for later in the afternoon or something, like a dance practice or workout, but,nope—Ren was planning this from the start, planning on asking to stay over, and fucking hell, of course he's going to say yes, there wasn't ever another option whatsoever.

"How about I treat you to dinner first, Ren-san," he offers, "and then we can go wherever in the world you want."

The food is good, because Shishio does not have shit taste, no sir, but it doesn't matter much in comparison to what's next. Ren isn't the type to go overboard on their clothes, but Shishio can't help but notice the dip towards their chest, the tightness of the fabric around their perfect legs, the way that their hair is hanging free and beautiful and looks way beyond fun to pull on as they call his name—

Don't go overboard. You don't know what they're okay with and what they're not. Shishio knows that you can't just guess people's limits based on their personality or looks, but that seems to be a very important conversation they should be having but is a little difficult to have in a restaurant, on the train, in public on the walk to his apartment. Ren's up against his side, though, looking beyond giddy, and, yes, this is real, Shishio's going to get to have every last bit of them so long as he can survive to his apartment.

"Nice place," Ren says, looking up at the apartment building with a little bit of awe. It's not the fanciest place in town, but Shishio's money saving habits have always been a thing, so he deserves at least a little luxury, right? It helps that he splits the rent with Yoshiteru, but that's another matter. Once Shishio opens the auto lock door, Ren's raced ahead towards the elevator. "What floor?"

"Eighteen."

"Roger!"

The elevator is empty save for the two of them, and Shishio's watching the numbers rise, feeling the most agitated that he has in a while. How can something so simple feel like it's stretching on for eternity? Or, well, he was watching the numbers, until he recognized Ren's palm sliding down his back, tracing the line of his spine until curving around his ass with no shame.

Shishio doesn't stop them, but he does give them an amused look. "Are we even going to make it upstairs before you're trying to undress me?"

"That depends. How fast is this elevator?"

Ren's still feeling over him, getting in a good squeeze while their other palm pressed up against his chest, tracing over the curve of his pecs with a faint smile. Shishio decides that turnabout is fair play, letting his hands at fucking last wrap around Ren's thighs, packed into their tight-fitting clothes. There's the feeling of muscle, nice and refined, but the rest of the feel is supple, and god he can't wait until those legs are wrapped around him, clenched tight.

Ren leans up for a kiss, and they've done this bit before. That doesn't make the taste or the sensation any less enjoyable, oh no, because Shishio wants to drink in Ren like he's drowning in them, and he adjusts his hold on them, ready to lift them up to pull them closer, except the elevator dings and the doors open.

This is not one of those times where it's a floor too early and someone else is waiting on the other side, at least. Shishio doesn't even think he'd care if it was, but it's the eighteenth floor, and his apartment is just so far away, so instead he grabs onto Ren's hand and pulls them along with a soft "Come on."

"You had me at 'come,'" Ren says, following along with his rapid pace. Shishio snorts, fishing his keys out of his pocket to unlock the door before pulling them past the threshold. Their lips reconnect as the door swings shut on its own, and Shishio's hands are around Ren's waist, keeping them close as he takes a few steps back. Ren's preoccupied with shrugging their bag off their shoulders, and it falls to the ground with a thump as Shishio tangles his tongue around theirs. Ren works on guiding him until Shishio's back is pressed up against the wall, leaving him sandwiched between it and them while he feels up their back and returns the favor of clasping a palm against their ass.

Ren makes a happy little sound into his mouth, and, when they pull back, there's a short trail of saliva between their lips. Soon Ren's kissing against his ear and down his neck. "Are you okay with biting?" they ask, their breath releasing a cold puff against his now wet skin.

"So long as you're okay with me biting back." And that seals the deal as Ren's teeth sink around his collarbone. Shishio groans, enjoying the sting and the rush of pleasure it brings with it. Ren alternates between bites and kisses as they explore what skin is visible, while Shishio's hands slip up the back of their top, grasping at their sides, the sensation filling up his palms before he works on undoing the clip at the back of their bra.

"Hold on," Ren says with a pout, "I even wore fancy stuff for you." That catches Shishio's interest, and he relents for a few moments as Ren just pulls off their shirt and tosses it aside. It's loose now, what with the back undone, but the bra is still enticing, a deep blue and black scattered with an intricate lacy pattern. It doesn't matter that their chest isn't that big, they're still perfect, and Ren smirks at Shishio's open staring. "That's the kind of reaction I was hoping to see."

Somewhere in the middle of his admiration, Ren's started undoing the buckle on his pants, which is a welcome relief. Shishio doesn't stay still, though, leaning down to kiss over Ren's shoulders, leaving his own bites here and there. He starts with faint nibbles, gauging their pain-pleasure threshold, but Ren moans whenever he sinks in his teeth hard enough to leave marks, sucks enough that he can already see the hickeys forming, and just what else can they handle? Not taking it off just yet, Shishio's hands slip under the cups of Ren's bra, and he runs his thumbs over their breasts, enjoying the feeling as the soft and smooth skin starts to tighten, and then he pinches their nipples, earning a sharp gasp and look from Ren that he's pretty sure is asking for more.

"My, my, Ren-san," he says, teasing, "it seems that you have some pretty lewd tastes there. Whatever shall I do?"

"If you think this is dirty, you haven't seen anything yet." Ren pushes his jeans so they slide down to his knees, their fingers teasing over the waistband of Shishio's boxers but not going down any lower. "Am I going to have to give you a tutorial, Shishio-san?"

Shishio's already starting to get hard from what little they've done so far, but he's not ashamed of it, not even when Ren's fingers start to tease over the beginning of his erection. He lets out a satisfied breath, already craving more of their touch. "I was more concerned about you. I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable with anything I might want to do to you."

"No scat, no watersports," Ren says with a straight face, their hands slipping up under his shirt as their crotch presses up against his, their hips moving in a simple but enjoyable rhythm. "Anything else, I either enjoy or am willing to try." That doesn't narrow it down at all, and Shishio's almost stuck with choice paralysis from the sheer possibility. "What about you, Shishio-san?"

The little curl of their voice on the familiar honorific is much sexier than it should be, especially with the moan that slips out as Ren presses ever closer to him. Shishio works on kicking one of his legs free from his pants so he can adjust his stance. "I'm about the same, I'd say. Though I'd love to hear more of your sexy voice calling my name right about now."

"My, my, you have to earn that, Shishio-san. But I'm sure you're much more than capable of it." Ren's nails card stinging lines down his torso, and Shishio arcs into the touch, starting to feel impatient. It's not like he's going to tap out after the first round or anything; why not push a little bit further, get a good climax out of them? If Ren's staying the night, they have all the time in the world. "If you're ready to have some fun, that is."

Shishio grins, appreciating the little happy shiver that courses through Ren's body at the look. "For you, I'm always ready if you are." Ren pulls him down into another kiss, this one full of tongue and teeth, and Shishio at last takes the opportunity to tuck his hands under Ren's thighs and heft them up. Their legs hook around his waist as they let out a happy laugh, continuing to kiss and grind as Shishio takes them to his bedroom so they'll have plenty of space.

Shishio is not one for personal effects, and his bedroom contains the necessities: his bed, the desk in the corner, a small shelf with some books he thumbs through on occasion, his violin and keyboard meticulously taken care of. He and Yoshiteru share the upright piano out in the living room, though one day he wants a grand one of his own—but for now he wants Ren, so he sets them on the mattress and tugs down their jeans, making sure to get a good look at the matching panties that they wore, which are so to his tastes that he wonders if they've read his mind. He kisses over their stomach, enjoying the softness of their skin, the way Ren's hips jerk up at his face when he trails a few teasing presses of the mouth there, too.

He lets out a playful growl, enjoying Ren's gasp as he grabs the hem of their underwear with his teeth to pull them down. He already knew that this was planned, but the fresh-shaven skin just adds to his excitement, and Shishio pulls Ren into his lap as he feels over their silken legs. Ren shuffles to adjust themself over the swell of his erection, and they both groan together while Ren's working on pulling up Shishio's shirt, leaving it half on as they fondle his pecs, leaving several more marks up along his neck, though they stop once they reach his choker.

"That stays on," Shishio grunts out, his voice sounding much more fragile than he intended. Shishio doesn't know why, but he's always felt so much safer with something around his neck, like something belongs there, like it's keeping him together. Ren hums in understanding, amusing themself with peeling off the jacket from his shoulders instead, and their bra follows next, until they're bare in front of him—except they don't stop there, donning Shishio's jacket a few seconds later with a satisfied smirk. "God, you're so fucking sexy."

"You're just noticing this?" Ren asks, running their fingers through his hair.

"Like hell. I noticed the first time I saw you. This just happens to be the most appropriate time to say it." Ren's flushed with satisfaction, and, when they go to push him back on the mattress, Shishio doesn't fight it. There're a few extra rolls of their hips, and their wetness starts to soak through his boxers, a sign that they're more than ready. Shishio lifts his hips, raising Ren up with them, and he goes to pull the damn things off, because he can't wait anymore. "Ren-san…"

"Right, right, I'm ready." Ren adjusts out of the way, helping Shishio pull his underwear off, and the second they're gone, Shishio's fumbling in the bedstand for a condom that he just can't seem to get a good grip on. Ren steals it from him, tearing into the package with their teeth, and Shishio's hands are on Ren's hips, and their graceful fingers are gripping his dick to keep him in position, the condom rolling on first, and then they start to sink down onto him, warm and wet and welcoming. Shishio groans over Ren's moan, and they make it about halfway down before rising back up, their wetness slicking over him for their next move, where they end up going all the way down to the hilt, every bit of Shishio fitting nice and neat inside Ren like they both belong together, just like this.

Shishio catches his breath, feeling breathless by the sight of Ren on top of him like this, and Ren's biting their lip, a whimper spilling out regardless. "Come on, it's pretty soundproof in here, you know…"

Ren's just as breathless as he is, but they still manage to snap back, "I told you that you had to earn that, Shishio-san," and is that supposed to be a challenge? "Though," they continue, their walls starting to adjust into a comfortable hold around him, "maybe I'll be the one to earn you calling my name, first?"

Shishio bares his teeth. "You're playing a dangerous game there, Ren-sa—ah, fuck—"

The curse is a good sound, no doubt about it, because Ren moving is amazing. They do a few slower movements, adjusting a bit, and then a nice little gasp slips out of their throat as they find the right spot for Shishio's tip to press against. He's half trying to remember the angle, half distracted by the feeling of pleasure, but, once Ren starts to pick up the pace, Shishio starts to move, too. "G-goodness, Shishi—ah, Shishio-san, is that the—the fastest you can keep up?"

Shishio doesn't have the patience to answer with words, instead starting to buck a bit faster, a bit harder. He doesn't have as much control from this angle as he would from the other way around, but Ren on top of him is too good to pass up, and he can contribute plenty as it is. He holds onto Ren's hips, helping them along, but not completely controlling them, as they move in a way he wants to experience. Ren lets out a half-moan, half-laugh, and the grin on their face is contagious and glorious as their hair starts to spill over their shoulders from all the moving around.

"Just say the word, Ren," he manages to get out, though his voice is strained, "and I'll give you whatever you want."

Their smile is beauty and danger all wrapped into one. "Even moaning for me?"

"If it makes you happy, I'll scream for you." Ren's face flushes, and Shishio lets his voice rise, "Ren-san! Ah, Ren—!" It's not even faked; he's enjoying himself so much right now that calling out for them is the least he can do for them. "You're so amazing, please don't stop!"

The reaction he gets is just as wonderful as everything else, Ren squeezing tighter around him as their hands across his abs start to clench into fists, half scratching the skin. Hard and fast seems to be the name of the game they're both playing, which is just fine, Ren's breasts shaking with each happy movement they make, riding up and down. Shishio can't decide what to watch: their face, their body, the place where his dick presses inside them, the way it becomes visible and vanishes with each deep movement, and shit, he's in love, isn't he? Oh, who is he kidding, he's been in love from the very start, all the way back on the train to school.

Dear god, you're home for me.

Shishio lets himself relax a bit, his eyes fluttering shut, one of his hands grabbing onto Ren's and intertwining their fingers together. Ren squeezes back, the two of them trading off calls of each other's names, though Ren's voice sounds a little bit more strained than before, and Shishio pulls himself back to a functioning human being that's not lost in the pleasure of the moment to look at them, where there's a half scowl formed on Ren's face.

"Hey," he says, pushing himself up into a half sit, reaching up for their face. Ren adjusts quick, catching onto Shishio's shoulders, still moving. "Hey, hey, what's the matter?"

"N-nothing," Ren gasps out, though it doesn't sound convincing in the slightest. "I-I'm just close, but I can't—"

"You should've said something. I want to help you out." After a bit of adjustment, Shishio's gotten a hand free enough to pop a few fingers into his mouth, lining them with spit. "You've made me feel amazing, so it's just fair if I return the favor." Pulling Ren into another kiss, he rubs against their clit, earning a sharp gasp into his mouth. "Just tell me what you need, and I'll do it, Ren. You don't have to worry."

"I—I—" Ren groans again before slowing down, starting to pull away. "I need a break. J-just a minute, I'll be back—"

Shishio doesn't fight them, though it's hard to resist the urge to, because he's so filled with want that the idea of taking any longer seems unbearable. But with Ren so flustered, he can't argue, even as a half-pained sigh slips out of his mouth when they've pulled off. His dick is still hard and erect, Ren's cum shining across the condom, and they take a moment before they're steady on their feet again, glancing around. Shishio points, indicating the door to the bathroom, and Ren covers the space as quick as they can with tottery steps, muttering out sorry every couple of seconds.

"You don't have to apologize," he calls after them, meaning every word. "I already feel like I've been waiting for you my whole damn life. I can hold off for a couple of minutes longer." It's hard to tell, as they disappear into the bathroom and shut the door a few moments later, but Shishio's pretty sure that Ren's shoulders slump in some kind of relief before they go. Ignoring the throbbing of his dick, Shishio runs a hand over his face and takes stock of his body, where Ren's left plenty of marks on him, and he falls back onto the mattress, staring up at his ceiling and whistling the solo part from his last recital to make the seconds until Ren returns pass a little quicker than before. He considers pulling off his shirt all the way, then decides not to bother, because if Ren wanted it off, they would have done it already, and he doesn't want them to think he's upset just because they needed a breather.

It's not all that long before the mattress sinks from the weight of another person climbing up on the side, and Shishio reaches a hand out to Ren, whose face is still red. "You good, babe?"

"Y-yeah, I just needed…sometimes if I…" They sigh, starting over. "I told you I'm not a fan of watersports. They get in the way of me enjoying myself. Sorry."

"I told you, you don't have to apologize about it." Shishio tugs them closer. "You still good to go? If not—"

"If you think I'm stopping before I come, you're going to be very fucking disappointed." Ren's irritation seems real this time, though it melts away a few seconds later as something like concern starts to slip onto their expression. "You don't mind if I…?"

"Please ride me again, Ren," Shishio says, and he's not above begging, if that's what it takes. "I want to finish with you, from you, and I don't care if you just went to the bathroom or whatever. I love you, and I want you. Please."

This feeling is new, too, this desire to be with someone in every way. Oh, Shishio's been needy before, been driven up the wall by his partners, but this is different. Today feels like a whole new experience, one that he wants to see through to the end, not just for the satisfaction of his own orgasm or knowing that he's the one that's gotten Ren off, but for the joy of being together, for being happy and intimate with the person he loves in every single way.

Ren lets out a soft laugh, their eyelashes fluttering as they crawl closer, legs opening again as they straddle him. Shishio reaches out this time, his fingers teasing over their clit once before spreading them open, and Ren's already adjusted to press down over him, and they fit back into place together, just like that. This time, Ren leans down over him, their torsos pressing flush against each other, and they let out such a happy moan that it's almost impossible for Shishio to keep it together, because they sound even more amazing than before, much more like they're enjoying themself, and they give Shishio another tongue filled kiss before they start to move all over again.

"You should've said something sooner," Shishio sneaks out between moans. "I would never want to deny you the ability to feel as good as possible."

Ren's moaning, too, focusing on making sure Shishio's dick is pressing against the best possible place. "I thought—I thought I could make it. A-ah—Shishio, touch me again!"

Shishio meant it when earlier he said that he'd give them whatever they asked for, so he doesn't hesitate to play with their clit again. Ren bucks against his hand, and he plays around with a few different angles, sticking to the one that earns the loudest sound from their mouth, and then he gets into matching up the swipes with his thrusts. Ren's voice echoes off the walls, a symphony of its own filled with yeses, and mores, and Shishio, Shishio, Shishio, a beautiful refrain that he wants to hear over and over again.

He's returning the favor as best he can, because between their voice and their mouth on his skin and their walls pulsing tight around him, Shishio's caught in his own form of bliss. "Ren—hey, Ren, I'm getting close—"

"Me, too, me, too, please don't stop!" Ren's hold on his shoulders tighten, and then there's a deep gasp next to Shishio's ear that's unlike any other sound that he's ever heard from there before. "Mm, like that, like that, Shishio-saaan—you feel so good, yes—!"

Ren is somehow even more noisy when they're orgasming than any other time, and their mouth just doesn't stop, even when they start stuttering over the syllables in his name. Knowing that they've gotten off from him just makes the whole experience all the better, until Ren's shaking in pleasure, unable to move, and Shishio reaches his limit as their body weight drops down onto them, and he's hitting hard and rough, too far gone to even think about controlling himself. Ren's still moaning though, and he trusts they would tell him to stop if he was doing something they didn't like, so Shishio lets himself ride out his full orgasm, making sure to call Ren's name right next to their ear so they know just how much he's enjoying himself, how much he's enjoying them.

When he's done, Shishio makes a few more slowing thrusts to make sure he's pulled every bit of pleasure possible out of the moment, but soon he's just laying still, his arms wrapped around Ren's shoulders, his fingers playing with their hair, both of them left trying to catch their breath. Ren nuzzles into his shoulder, trailing a few feather light kisses up his neck and to his mouth, where Shishio returns the affection, no tongue necessary to show just how much he loves this.

"You're so amazing," Shishio whispers, meaning it. Ren's always been home, but this, this—Shishio has been fortunate enough to have a good life, but being here together makes it feel like something in his heart's been filled up in a way it hasn't ever been, and it's Ren that did that, that brought him here. "You're home for me. In every possible way."

Ren looks at him, a half-sleepy smile on their face. "Can't say I've ever heard that in pillow talk before," they whisper back, nuzzling their nose against his. "You're wonderful, Shishio-san. I—" They pause a moment, and it must be something concerning if it's making Ren of all people hesitate. "Earlier, when you said you loved me. Did you mean that?"

Their voice is shaking, but hopeful, and Shishio realizes that he missed his opportunity to make some big grand gesture about it, but doesn't Ren already know, doesn't their soul sing out for him the same way that his does for them? Yoshiteru said so, and if there's one thing you can put stock in him for, it's things like this. But even if that's the case, isn't Shishio waiting to hear those words as well, to know it's the absolute truth?

"Ren, I'm in love with you." He pulls their hand to his mouth, kissing over their knuckles. "I'm in love with you, and I'll always mean i—"

Ren's mouth crashes down on his, and Shishio can't tell if this is supposed to be returning the sentiment or stopping him from saying something they don't want to hear. But Ren's body is trembling again, except this time it's because tears are welling up in their eyes, and Shishio loses track of how many seconds the kiss lasts while he worries that he misread the situation, that he misread what's going on, and of course he's fucked this up, of course—

"I love you," Ren says, their lips fluttering against his from how close they are. "I'm in love with you, Shishio-san. Please, please, please remember that." They press another soft kiss over his lips, and Shishio can feel the curve of their smile. "I—I think I've been in love with you since before I even met you." Shishio's breath catches, and Ren presses a hand to their mouth. "No, shit, that sounds stupid, forget—"

"No," Shishio says, and Ren blinks at him. Shishio wraps his arms around their shoulders and pulls them as close as possible, and are his eyes stinging, too? "No, it doesn't sound stupid at all." He gets what they're getting at, every last implication. "Didn't you say Urokodaki thought you two had met in a past life before, and that's why you two started to hang out together? So—so why not us, Ren?"

Why can't the same be true for us, too?

There's a little part of him that's always suspected it, that he's not a new soul, and it all started with the stupid books that Yoshiteru has been obsessed with ever since he was a brat. Whenever they were taking a break from kendo practice or music lessons, it was almost all he ever talked about, some far-away fairytale written by his great-grandparents, about demons that once terrorized the night and the slayers that stood up against them. And it sounded like a bunch of lies, even when Yoshiteru dragged Shishio around the house, pointing to the heirlooms and family photos from decades ago with that stupid pout on his face, like "See, Aniki, I told you it was real—"

It sounded like a bunch of lies, until one day it didn't, because Shishio could feel himself feeling something far too familiar when he caved in out of boredom and read them, a scary, familiar anger bubbling in empathy in his chest, and, he couldn't help but think, that, maybe, he was just as much a part of this as Yoshiteru's great grandparents had been.

He had started to make an effort to be less rude to Yoshiteru after that, just in case.

And now, with Ren—

Reincarnation exists in this world. And since it does, I'll do it, Ren. Even if you don't remember, even if I don't remember, I'll give you that second chance for them, we can live out what they didn't get to have.

Saying all that is a bit too much, what fresh after an orgasm and their tentative emotions still lingering between them. But Shishio can't help but think that Ren understands well enough anyways, even without discussing it, because they smile and settle back down into his embrace, warm and wonderful and every way.

"You're right, Shishio-san," they whisper, and the words fill up his heart, "why not us, too?"

The world is filled with a strange sort of hope, and Shishio swears that he'll make every moment that Ren decides to spend on him worth it.

[Author's Notes]

This one was supposed to originally be just Shishio POV of the epilogue, until it spilled over into smut, hence why it's in this collection, whoops.

Thanks to Cookie The Dark, patamon642, JhotoLoraxius, Milan McBride, The last night's Shadow, HantaShiromoto, and lizyen2000 for the faves and follows dropped on this fic and the walk steady series as a whole. I'm at the end of my semester, in which I'm exhausted and dying, so if anyone wants to drop a comment on this baby, please do, I swear it'll help keep me standing.

The timing of this one worked out since walk steady canon is that Kaigaku's birthday is in May. Reincarnation counts as a bonus chapter, right? I just enjoy reincarnation content super hard. Also Kaigaku/Shishio and Rairi/Ren have the highest sex drives out of the main walk steady ships, so you'll see a lot of them, whoops.

Aaand the beginning of June is going to be the start of the next [Twelve Shots of Summer] season! I'm going to be spending all twelve weeks publishing the little paths we find ourselves upon, which is the walk steady extended epilogue collection! I have like...two pieces finished in advance and scattered bits of the rest, so hopefully once school lets out, I'll be able to knock out more drafts of that so I don't repeat last year's drafting panic lol. This collection will update after the summer is over with our first AU piece!

Next Time: Demon!Rairi AU Raigaku. Please look forward to it!

-Avi

[05.06.2023]