Shouta: hizashi? r u there?
Hizashi: Yes! I'm here! I actually woke up a bit ago haha! Mostly been lying in bed kinda lazing around and trying to work up the determination to get out of bed! But what's up, Sho?
Shouta: i just wanted 2 thank u 4 inviting me to ur party the other night
Shouta: im not a very social person but that was nice
Hizashi: Well of course! You're my best friend so of course you get invited to the New Years Eve party!
Hizashi: If anything, I think Oboro and Tensei had an amazing time seeing you with us! And the boys got a kick out of see you too! All they talk about is you lately! Hitoshi even asked about Eri once!
Shouta: thts honestly pretty flattering knowing ur sons like me that much lol but how r the boys? if i understood right u said it was the first time, they stayed up 2 see the ball drop?
Hizashi: It was! And honestly, they complained the entire time I was putting them to bed, haha! They kept asking me if that was it and when I told them it was, they seemed very put off
Hizashi: I don't think they'll be staying up next year for it 😂
Shouta: at least Eri is too young 2 ask about staying up 2 see the ball drop lmao 😂
Shouta: i know u've been busy the past couple of days but i was thinking about something
Shouta: and well i think ive held onto ur containers long enough, dont u? i think its about time for you to come & pick them up
Hizashi: Are
Hizashi: ARE YOU REALLY INVITING ME TO YOUR APARTMENT?! IS THIS IT?! IS IT FINALLY HAPPENING?!
Hizashi: Oh my god, Shouta! This is so cool!
Shouta: ik i shuldve invited u over sooner but i figured now was good
Shouta: i wuld drive them over but ik over the phone u said u havent been to mine
Shouta: and tht it was ridiculous cuz we live so close to one another so i figured y not? so did u want me 2 send my address?
Hizashi: Absolutely! Oh my God, I can't believe I'm going to go to yours! Ah! This is so exciting, Sho! I get to see your apartment and how you have it all decorated!
Shouta: oh god r u going to make me regret this? 😒
Hizashi: Not at all! I feel like you've been over at my house so much that you got it memorized! I can't wait to see your apartment, Sho! You know what they say, you learn a lot about a man by his personal space!
Shouta: do they? well thts really interesting if thts the case
Shouta: r u sure u can come over? dont u have the boys?
Hizashi: They're still in bed but Nem and Oboro are here and will watch the kids for me while I pop out! I can come over lickety split! So just send the address and what floor, apartment number, and all that! I'll be over shortly if that's okay? If that's not too eager?
Shouta: not eager at all 😌 2 b fair i havent invited u over yet & its only fair i let u see my place now, right? i mean we've been friends 4 how long?
Hizashi: Like, going on six months! So, it's definitely fair that I get to see your place! Drop your location and I'll head out! 😁
Shouta: alright i'll send it now then so i'll see u soon?
Hizashi: See you soon!
Was this it? Hizashi's heart was racing excitedly against his chest as he rolled over in bed then reached out for his glasses case. His hair bunched beneath him annoyingly, but he happily grabbed his glasses case, flipping it open, and sliding his glasses up into place. He squirmed to the edge of the bed when he took a breath before throwing his blanket off of him and sat up with his legs flying over the edge of the bed. His head spun weakly as he swayed in his spot at the resulting head rush.
A reaching that had him twisting his fingers into the blankets. Holding on while he shut his eyes briefly as he waited out the rush. His temples throbbed gently when he opened his eyes again before reaching out for his hearing aids case. Opening the top. He reached in for the small devices which he held in his hands carefully. Flicking on the small devices, he reached up to carefully towards his ears to work them into place.
Curving them over the shells of his ears comfortingly when the sound of his own soft sigh had him jumping. It was always an odd thing; going from a world of silence to one of sound. Shifting in his spot, he stood up then only to sway on his feet before dropping back down with his hair flying around his face. His room was dark, but it didn't stop the light throbbing of his temples of a hangover from the previous night's drinking shenanigans.
He reached up to gently rub his temples gently with just enough pressure as he pushed off again to stand up. Wobbling on his feet, he shuffled forward on stiff legs to the bathroom with fingers rubbing desperately at his temples. If he headed over to Shouta's first thing the least he could do is brush his teeth, brush his hair, and spray on some cologne. He made his way to the doorway and shoved his hand to the wall to flick the lights on.
Flinching at the bright lighting, he turned to the sink to grab his toothbrush and paste as he stared at his reflection. Blonde locks stood up wildly, there was an excited sparkle to his eyes as pupils shrunk slightly due to the lighting. Spots of red spread over his cheeks chaotically and the crease lines of his pillow case imprinted on his cheek. He hummed softly to himself in a hoarse pitch as he turned the water on and dunked his toothbrush under the rushing water.
Wetting the bristles before unscrewing the cap of his toothpaste and squirting a dollop onto it. He brought his toothbrush up and stuffed it into his mouth. Brushing his teeth, the sound of bristles dragging over his teeth was deafening when his gaze flicked up again. The excitement made his eyes glow; lashes fluttering slightly with freckles melting into the spotty red blush on his cheeks as he tore his gaze away. He was exhausted. How could he not be?
His New Years Eve party had gone off without a hitch; he'd had Tensei, Emi, Oboro, Nemuri, Taishiro and Shouta over with Eri balanced on his hip for most of the night. This was mostly to keep the two-year-old from complaining when Shouta handed her over without a fight when he'd opened the front door. Her little arms had reached out for him, and he'd been helpless not to drag her into his arms where he cuddled the baby to his side for the night.
She had happily babbled her new vocabulary at him as she tried to explain her day while Shouta had mingled with Oboro and Nemuri. When he introduced Shouta to Taishiro, the bigger blonde had wiggled his brows at him behind the black-haired man's back and smirked at him. He'd whacked at the blonde who snickered as he tried to lose himself in the party. He'd had dinner on the table with everyone having brought a dish of their own. Like a little potluck.
He'd brought up extra chairs for everyone and it had been nice sitting at his dining room table with Eri in his lap while she demolished roll after roll that he handed her. Along with the softer foods that would be easier on her mouth. He'd happily devoured his own dinner while he kept a watchful eye on Hitoshi and Izuku who insisted on staying up. They all but dared him to drag them to bed with stiff lower lips and jutting chins that challenged him to insist they go to bed.
And he'd given up after they grew snappy from the lack of sleep. They'd wanted to stay up and so he let them. He couldn't deny that it was honestly a bit laugh worthy at the disappointment on their faces when the adults of the room cheered out a "Happy New year!" when the ball dropped. Hitoshi and Izuku had stomped up the stairs claiming the party was stupid. He'd been cackling with Shouta and Nemuri before he'd chased after the boys in his giddy state with Eri on his hip.
He'd gotten the boys tucked away into bed after their teeth were brushed and they were out like a light. Putting Eri to bed had been a bit troublesome but after crooning not one but two lullaby's to the baby her lashes had inevitably fluttered down to pink cheeks. After putting her in her pack and play with a pillow and blankets. He'd been surprised to find Shouta in the doorway of the spare bedroom. And the expression on his face was something that even now, in a sober state, he had no words for.
There had been something to Shouta's face as he watched him put the baby in her makeshift bed for the night. Something that had twisted in his chest when the black-haired man had stepped into the room a bit unsteadily on legs that trembled. However, it didn't stop him from meeting him halfway there. And God, the way those dark eyes had looked at him was something that had his heart jumping in his chest even now.
The black-haired man's fingers had come up and caressed his cheek clumsily when he had found himself leaning towards the black-haired man. While he'd been far from tipsy, he'd found himself absolutely magnetized to the black-haired man who stared at him with such tenderness. Such thankful gratitude that it had his stomach fluttering. Fingers had traced his jaw lightly with those dark eyes melting him to his core. Leaving him wordless. Brainless.
If he was honest with himself, he'd been a damn fool with that gaze on him. When those full lips had parted slightly then trembled silently as if he were trying to say something but hadn't known what to say. As if his body had been merely moving long before he thought about it. He couldn't deny the desire, the temptation, to press his lips to those full ones had been something powerful. He'd wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around his shoulders to hold himself to him.
To feel those strong arms curl around his waist to hold him closer. He'd wanted to trace that flushed face with his fingers. To watch Shouta, grow more flustered than he'd been and twist his hands into those black curls. He wanted to tell Shouta the truth right then and there, yet his vocal cords had been paralyzed. He hadn't had the strength to tell the black-haired man then, but he had been damn near swooning. Fingers trailing over his cheek that had his breaths trembling in his throat.
A moment that crackled and fizzed with that tension that had been plaguing them with each moment alone. Something that grew stronger with each interaction they had alone. And then he'd taken Shouta's hand to lead him from the bedroom where the door had been shut softly. He'd gone back downstairs with the black-haired man behind him when he released his hand quickly before eyes could spot it. He'd then proceeded to lose himself in three glasses of wine and a glass of bourbon brought by Shouta.
He hadn't known how he'd gotten to bed on his own let alone get into his pajamas, but it had been amazing. A party that had been cleaned up with a note from Tensei explaining that he, Emi, Nemuri and Oboro had cleaned up for him. He'd never had better friends than he had with them. Shouta had left him a text message that had been worse than his usual writing, but it had been a thankful one. Thanking him for inviting him to the party and that he'd had a fun time there.
That's all he wanted; for Shouta to have fun with him. With their friends. And aside from that moment of tension, he'd been happy to have the black-haired man there with him. It had been so unbelievably nice to have most of his friends in one room like that. It had been amazingly fun and while he'd been horribly hungover the next morning, he found that he didn't regret a thing. Even if he had to deal with two grouchy sons who'd slept in longer than usual, the party had been a hit.
It had been something he was more than happy to divulge in and even if he got drunker than intended, he had fun regardless. There was so much about that night that he adored Oboro's arm slung over his shoulders with Tensei's as they attempted horrible, tipsy karaoke. But what he hadn't expected, what he hadn't actually conjured in all of his day dreaming, was when he'd felt an ugly prick in his chest when he glanced over. When he noticed Emi saddling up to Shouta.
The awful flirting that had his teeth set on edge as Shouta bluntly retorted with her. Jealousy, he found, was a powerful emotion. Much more powerful than he remembered it being. He'd had his jaw clenched tightly the entire time Emi had been interacting with Shouta. His teeth set on edge with each horrible attempt at flirting was rejected by the black-haired man, but it didn't deter the sea-green haired woman at all. If anything, it had put a sparkle to her eye that shone with determination.
As if there was some goal in getting Shouta to laugh at her awful pick up lines or to see his façade crack. There had been something about it that he hated. Hated with an utter passion. And so, he'd tried his best not to watch their interaction. Instead choosing to focus on the party which ended around two A.M with Nemuri and Oboro offering to stay along with Shouta. The black-haired man took up residence on the air mattress in the room Eri slept in.
He couldn't deny he was happy to see Emi go but it didn't stop his blood from boiling when she winked at Shouta. He knew he had no claim on the man but fuck him if it didn't rub him the absolute wrong way. He hated that. He hated that he'd gotten jealous over Emi who flirted with every man she knew. Woman too. Hell, she joked with Nemuri plenty of times over the years about becoming a third in their marriage. He knew it didn't mean anything, but it didn't stop it from stirring him up.
Biting down on his toothbrush, he tore himself out of his thoughts when he blinked at the mirror he'd been staring into blankly. Finishing up on his teeth with foam forming around his lips, he spit into the sink then reached for his cup to fill with water to wash his mouth out. Swishing the water, he spit it out then rinsed his tooth brush off and tapped it on the edge of the sink before putting it in its place. He turned the water off when he turned on his feet to walk out of the bathroom.
Making his way across the darkened room, he approached his dresser where his hair brush sat. He ran the brush through his hair to work the knots out of it while he tried to take deep breaths. Slow. Even. He was excited, unfairly so, and his legs felt weak; like they might just crumble beneath him. He fussed with his hair, brushing through it repeatedly, until it was resting over his back in a straight curtain. He then shed his pajamas for a dark green sweater and a pair of tan pants.
He was working socks onto his feet when his phone pinged on the pillows where he'd left it. Working his sock onto his left foot then turning, he crawled over his bed to grab his phone where he found a text location from Shouta. Stretched over his bed, he squirmed to the foot of the bed again where he jumped onto his feet. Working his hair free from the neckline of his sweater then rushing over the floor to grab his hair brush which he yanked through his hair.
Brushing the frizz out of it then reached for his cologne to spray himself down. Then he reached into his drawer for his wallet which he shoved into his pocket along with his phone. He rushed across the floor quickly as he fought the urge to pop up onto his feet as he opened his bedroom doors quietly. Walking down the short hallway quickly with his feet foot fall ringing out as he rushed forward into the kitchen.
The light bouncing off of the snow had him wincing, but he made his way through the kitchen to the front hallway where he tried to keep his steps even. Slow. Quiet. He made his way forward where he peeked into the living where Nemuri and Oboro were twisted up together. Nemuri's head on Oboro's broad chest with wild dark purple locks falling over his shoulder. Oboro snored rather delicately with his arms around the woman's slim waist.
Her arms around his shoulders and his stomach respectfully as they slept. He was grateful that they'd come over the other night. That they insisted on it. Grabbing his coat off of the hook, he slipped his arm into it to shrug it up and on as he then reached for the zipper. The couple had slept here last night after popping in with dinner and the insistence on spending more time together. He'd been happy to welcome the couple in to sleep over for the night.
If anything, he felt like his time had been so devoted to splitting it between Shouta and his boys that he happily welcomed interactions from his friends. He kept in contact with his mom friends through texting but he adored having someone there. He had mentioned to the couple he might pop out to do a little light shopping which they swore was more than fine. Zipping his coat up to his throat, he grabbed his hat off of the heater to slip onto his head as he then grabbed his boots carefully.
Slipping his left foot into his boot, he tugged at the top of it while wiggling his foot and heel down into the boot. Once his heel was in securely, he tapped the toes of his boots against the floor gently before shoving his right foot into his boot. Wiggling until his heel slipped into place, he tapped that boot against the floor then reached up to grab his key ring off of the wall that jingled deafeningly. Car keys and house keys on the same ring hitting together but he quickly stuffed them into his pocket.
He turned to the front door as he unlocked it carefully and quietly; slowly and methodically. He opened the door just enough to let himself out when the wind burst into the house causing his hair to tremble around his face. Slipping out quickly before that chill could invade the warmth of the house, he was quickly on his doorstep with the door shutting gently. Pulling his keys from his pocket he did his best to lock them up again quietly.
Just because Nemuri and Oboro were there didn't mean he was comfortable leaving the door unlocked. Not while everyone was sleeping. However, the frigid air tugged at him; pulling at his hair and flinging it into his face as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. The cold wind nipping at his cheeks, nose and fingers ruthlessly as he then began to make his way down the front walkway carefully. The crunch of ice, salt, and snow under his boots was deafening in the quiet morning air.
He made sure to watch out for glistening patches of formed ice. He knew he shouldn't be so eager to rush off to a man's apartment, but he was painfully curious. And his sons would be fine with Nemuri and Oboro there. If it had just been him, he would never have considered leaving the house. Never. At least he knew that while he was out there not one but two adults to make sure his sons were okay.
He'd stop by the store and pick up coffee for Nemuri and Oboro, snacks and toys for Hitoshi and Izuku. To make up for his missing presence when the boys woke up for the day. He nearly skidded when his foot hit a patch of ice, but he quickly caught his footing as he made his way down the walkway to his car. Reaching into his pocket, he pressed his thumb into the keypad to unlock the doors with a unanimous click of the locks.
Approaching his car, he reached out to touch the frigid handle and popped the door open then slipped in quickly. Slamming the door behind him, he worked his phone out of his pocket with a sigh as he jammed his keys into the ignition, twisted, and fussed with the vents. Turning the heat up only to shudder at the cold air bursting through his veins as he then turned his attention to his phone. Pulling up their texts he found the text from Shouta rather quickly.
Containing his address, floor, and his apartment number. Apparently, there was an intercom downstairs that he would need to press to be buzzed in as the door remained locked all times. A resident had to let in guests. He shuddered at the cold air as he copied the address then pulled up Google maps. It was a fancy place that was a good fifteen minutes away by car if he sped slightly. It would take about twenty to twenty-five minutes walking there if he went on foot.
Shivering, he grabbed at his seatbelt to pull it across his chest then snapping into the buckle. Fussing with the placement of his seat then his rearview mirror until he was content with their placements and angles. He looked up then when he noted the ruffle of the living room curtain when he then caught sight of Nemuri in the window. She flashed him a curious look when he held his phone up to which she blinked groggily.
He then quickly opened his texts to send Nemuri a text explaining his situation quickly; that he was running over to Shouta's to pick up the containers. The curtains ruffled again as the woman turned away then they came together cutting her off completely. Opening maps up again, he placed his phone in the holder as the air blasting from the vents began to warm up gradually. Slowly. It had him sighing out when he got a row of smirking emoji's from Nemuri.
It had him groaning under his breath. He knew he wasn't going to hear the end of it when he came home. Putting the car into reverse, he began to back out of the driveway as he made sure not to hit the car parked next to him. The couple would be miffed if he accidentally nicked the paint or anything of the sort. Making his way out of the driveway onto the street, he put the car into drive then shot forward gently. He sighed out when the heat began to burst from the vents.
Warming him as he fussed with his seatbelt before relaxing. He wouldn't be long. He swore he wouldn't be gone long. He was picking up the Tupperware from Shouta and then he'd be heading home after checking out the other man's apartment. It wouldn't take long. Sighing out to himself as the wheel brushed softly against his hands. And then he lifted one hand from the steering wheel to reach out and fiddle wiht the radio.
Flipping through the stations before he found something soft enough that wouldn't worsen the throbbing in his head. Flipping his middle visor down he grabbed his sunglasses only to groan to himself. Glasses. Dammit, he hadn't put his contacts in when he should have! If he had contacts in, he could use his shades but fuck, he forgot to put them in! Dammit! He snapped the visor up harder than he intended with irritation as he lowered the visor before him.
Doing his best to navigate the bright roads that shone wetly. He tightened his grasp on the wheel when he let out a slow breath to himself. Despite his irritation, his stomach was doing flips, and his heart was sprinting against his chest. His hands trembling lightly in their tight grasp of the wheel as he drove down the street before taking his first turn. He was nervous. Excited. Irritated. It was hard to pin down the emotion twisting in his chest restlessly.
He shifted in his seat with a low groan in his throat. Fuck, he really ought to remember his contacts next time. He'd been thinking about his sunglasses in his room, yet he hadn't thought to put his contacts in. What a frazzled mind he had this morning. Sighing out quietly to himself, he reached up to rub a temple. Nemuri and Oboro had, last night, brought over their "remedy" for a hangover which just so happened to be a few glasses of wine.
He hadn't been drunk, not knock-me-down or black out drunk, but a pleasant bubbling tipsy. Apparently, however, his body had hated the additional alcohol that he was drinking far too soon after New Years Eve. He was only two days into the new year and he was hungover, tired, and God knows he wasn't keeping to any of his resolutions. Well, he was keeping to the resolution of confessing to Shouta. That was the one resolution he no doubt would go through on.
But what was the point of making others? What was the point in saying he'd lose weight? Or exercise more? Or that he'd keep his house cleaner when it was as clean as it could get? He'd stopped making resolutions when he was a teenager and learned it was pointless. However, that one resolution, that one goal, weighed on him like nothing else. They were technically in the new year so would there be not the time to confess? Is today it? Should he made today the day?
His heart was racing in his chest at the thought as he let out a trembling breath with his hands tightening on the steering wheel. It doesn't have to be today. He knew he didn't have to be. But how long did he go on? How much longer did he have these moments with Shouta before it became too much? That night two days ago, on New Years Eve, it had been crackling. Oh, he swore there had been the chance to say it to Shouta.
How he replayed the way those fingers had been trembling as they caressed his cheek. His jaw. How warm those dark eyes were as they stared at him with all the intensity in the world. All that was possible for a man well on his way to being drunk. He didn't know how much more he could take. How much more can be saddled onto him without him breaking. He was drowning under his own feelings, and God knows it wasn't a good thing for him to do.
To let himself get so emotional. Hell, he felt some guilt over growing so jealous over Emi the night of his party. That hadn't happened before, and it had been a startling thing. Feeling that venomous jealousy at the way she flirted so shamelessly. Pushed herself onto Shouta. The way Shouta hadn't shut her down out right but rather replied dryly. He'd tried his best to ignore it, to focus on other things, and yet he found himself glancing over his shoulder subtly at the two of them.
And he had not a clue what stirred his jealousy more. The way she so boldly touched and talked with him or the fact that, in some twisted way, they looked good next to one another. It had lit a flame in his chest that festered long after she had left. When he'd given Shouta a blanket and spare pillow while Nemuri and Oboro set up the pull out couch. When he'd been lying in bed with his arms crossed over his aching chest as he tried to relax enough to sleep.
Trying to forget the irritation that hummed through his veins. He knew he had no right to be jealous. That Emi was like that with everyone and yet he couldn't shake it. He couldn't shake it no matter what he'd done until he ended in a sleeping stupor. His jealousy had no rhyme or reason. It was the first time in a long time that he'd felt jealous. God, it had been so long, but the emotion had been so much more powerful than he realized it to be. So much more venomous. Angry. Irritating.
Like a cord had been plucked and he'd been vibrating at a frequency he didn't understand. And he knew once he had one moment of jealousy that others would follow. It would be nothing but a damn spiral downwards leaving him absolutely scrambling to appear normal before Shouta. It had him sighing out quietly when he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel with his eyes locked out the window at the shimmering road. He didn't want to be jealous.
He didn't want to act like that, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to be jealous over a friend like that. If anything, he wanted nothing more than to have a good time that night and yet it had all soured the moment Emi had locked her eyes onto Shouta. He couldn't fault her; Shouta was a handsome man, very much so, and his stoic nature made him all the more alluring. Would make anyone attempt to get a smile out of him or a laugh.
Yet the black-haired man hadn't given her anything. He knew Emi would try twice as hard the next time they were all together and it had his shoulders scrunching up at the thought. He had no claim on Shouta, yet he was jealous over the thought of Emi throwing herself at the black-haired man again. How could he be jealous over someone who wasn't his? Someone who might not be his? It had his heart aching at the thought.
He knew that until he confessed, until he was honest, that Shouta would never be his. He would never know what the outcome would be, and he wanted nothing more than to tell Shouta. To be honest with the man. That he felt like he was nothing short of happy to be with him. That he was mesmerized by the black-haired man. Fascinated was too weak a word. Intrigued nowhere near enough. He wanted to know what made the man tick, what made him think and feel.
He wanted to know everything he could about the black-haired man. And he wanted nothing more than to throw his arms around him without hesitation. Without fearing he'd be pushed away. His hands itched to bury themselves in those black curls. To be lifted off of his feet as he was spun around in a circle with lips on his face adoringly. To kiss Shouta's face until he was pink. It was a nice fantasy to have but he knew that eventually his fantasies were going to pop like a bubble.
They were going to shatter and he was going to be face with reality. He'd see the world around him as it was and not as he hoped it'd be. He was truly a hopeless case, wasn't he? Until he confessed to Shouta, he would be pining. Longing. And he found that while it made him sickeningly nervous, he wanted to confess. He wants to tell the black-haired man how he felt and what he wanted. What he needed from him. What he wanted to do about their friendship, or possible relationship, going forward.
He wants nothing more than to spill his guts to the black-haired man. What would Shouta say? What would he look like? Would his eyes widen with black lashes fluttering as his mouth dropped open slightly? Would his brows shoot up like he'd seen countless times? Would he turn red or go white? Would he look excited, or would he look remorseful? Would he reciprocate his feelings, or would the axe come down on his head?
Tightening his hands on the steering wheel, he tried to shrug the thoughts out of his head in order to pay attention to the road. He took another turn as he glanced out the window at the tall apartment buildings around him. It was amazing that this was only a slight speed, fifteen minutes away from him. The neighborhood was so much different than his own. The wheel brushed his palms as he straightened out the car with his hands clutching at the wheel.
He hummed softly under his breath with the music as he tried to focus better on driving. On following the map as he clung to his steering wheel while trying his best not to think. Today was about going to Shouta's apartment, checking it out, and getting his containers that he'd loaned him. It was about dropping in to visit a friend while he tried desperately to fight off the hangover that had him squinting against the bright light.
He hoped the damn thing was gone by tomorrow so he could get to work. Taking another turn, he found himself face to face with a rather chic building. Sleek. The windows of the building appeared dimmed, but he knew it was the light glinting off of them. Flinching away, he navigated into the parking lot where he parked in the guest section. It was a nice building with designated parking; one half for guests and the other from residents if he understood the signs well enough.
Pulling into a parking spot, he let out another sigh of relief as he flipped his visor up. He reached for his buckle which had his seatbelt zipping over his chest as he tugged his phone from the holder it rested in. The map declaring he'd made it to his destination. He closed it out then opened his texts as he reached up with his right hand to adjust his hat before reaching to the keys. Twisting the keys to shut the car off then tugging them out of the ignition.
He felt his heart wildly fluttering against his chest; his stomach dropping icily with the nerves he felt. It left him feeling sick from the hangover. From the nausea he felt but he swallowed it down the best he could. Would Shouta be willing to put on coffee for him? Did he, as a guest, have the right to ask that? Did he have a choice? He stuffed his keys into his coat pocket as he soaked up the warmth the best he could when he moved his thumb to tap on his texts.
Bringing them up, he read over the last one Shouta sent him when he quickly typed out a message. Telling him that he was here. He then turned to his door which he threw open, thanking God there was no other cars around him, and jumped out. Shuddering when the freezing cold snapped over him; tugging at his hair and stinging at his cheeks. His nose. He slammed his car door with the phone in hand and he stuffed his hand into his pocket to touch the keypad of his car.
Tugging it out just enough to lock the doors of his car with a unanimous click. Then he began to make his way forward across the parking lot towards the rather chic building. The sound of his boots on the frigid ground was deafening as he rushed forward with a pep to his step. The icy wind sliced through his coat and pants effortlessly leaving his thighs and knees tingling from the cold. He tugged his hat down over his ears while being careful of his double helix's.
The last thing he'd want is the jewelry to catch on to the fabric of his hat. It was amazingly quiet today. Was it because everyone was nursing a hangover? Was that why there was barely anyone on the street? Or was it because it was early? His temples throbbed as he swallowed against the rolling nausea he felt, and he couldn't help but wonder if this was a bad idea. Maybe he should have put it off. Should have insisted on tomorrow after work.
He swallowed as he listened to the thud of his boots on the ground with his quick, long strides until he was closing in on the front doors. A small roof boxing it in slightly but the wind continued to tug at his hair, his clothing, and biting at him with a vicious sting that had him shaking. Shuddering. He pulled his phone out again, the wind stinging his fingertips as he looked over the text message before turning to the wall before him. On it was multiple numbers for different apartments on different floors.
Pressing on Shouta's, there was a moment of silence before the door clunked lightly as it unlocked, and he eagerly reached out to grab the handle. Tugging it open, he stepped into the warm lobby of the building with a sigh as heat swirled around his cold face. Making his way into the rather classy looking lobby, he found there was a nice theme. Deep blacks meshing with soft mahogany wooden objects like small lamp tables, a coffee table, and the glossy front desk which was suspiciously absent.
The floor was carpeted with a deep black rug, soft red walls, and another set of couches to the left of the room with an elevator. Across from him, the way he was facing, there was another elevator. He wondered if both elevators went to the same floors on opposite ends of the hall. He'd have to ask Shouta about it. Looking up, there were low, softly lit chandeliers above him. The were rather simplistic but damn if they weren't pretty.
The entire place screamed of good money to stay there, and it had him in awe. Or could it be considered good decorating? He lowered his head from his gawking to walk over to the shiny doors of an elevator. He squeezed his phone as his hand slipped back into his pocket and he came to a stop before the sleek doors. Pressing the button with the soft golden ring of light, he lightly tapped the toes of his boots on the floor while he waited for the elevator to come down.
Listening to the quiet hum of it as he then felt his phone vibrate in his hand with the ping being muffled yet deafening in the empty lobby. Pulling his phone out once more, he found a text from Nemuri explaining that she'd save him something to eat and not to worry on dinner. He can only imagine what she'd be making for dinner. Honestly, he hoped it was her miso soup with whatever she had up her sleeve. He knew soup would be nice on his queasy stomach.
He jumped when the doors opened sleekly to which he stepped into the rather sizeable space then closed his texts with Nemuri out for Shouta's. Reading the floor number, he pressed the button which glowed a rich yellow as the doors slid sleekly shut. Shuffling to the back of the elevator, he leaned against the bar when he felt the elevator lurch lightly before beginning to slid upwards as he held onto the bar.
He had a bit of anxiety when it came to elevators but nothing that stopped him from using them. He clung to the bar while he stared down at his text exchange with Shouta while the elevator hummed quietly around him. Leaning back, he then decided to send a text to the black-haired man. Explaining he was on the way up which got him a few emoji thumbs ups back in response. He stared at the text with Shouta's apartment number; nine-C.
He repeated it again and again, trying to memorize it. This wouldn't be hard, would it? Or was there more than one? What did the C mean? He pinched his lips together as he stuffed his phone into his pocket as he tried to keep his breath even. Calm. His heart and stomach were going absolutely wild the longer he stood in the elevator as it quietly hummed with that sleek glide upwards. Watching the screen on the elevator as the numbers ticked past until it came to a stop on a glowing five.
The elevator lurched gently as it came to a stop when he shuffled forward with fingers trailing over the metal bar. There was then a light ding, his boots thudding over the floor lightly, and when the doors opened, he was face to face with Shouta. It had him rolling onto his toes before dropping his heels back as his breath flew out of him. Shocked was understatement to the emotion twisting into his chest at the sight of the black-haired man.
His heart jumped to his damn throat at the sight of Shouta standing on the other side of the elevator doors. He wore a soft beige sweater, dark jeans, with curls falling on his shoulders with thumbs hooked into his pockets. Dark eyes stared at him expectantly with lashes fluttering as he blinked. And then a soft, gentle smile was curling over those full lips as Shouta stepped back allowing him the space to step out. He rolled back onto his heels before he forced himself to move.
To step forward when his stomach dropped excitedly. His boots thudded quietly over the floor as he stepped over the threshold of the elevator into the hallway. It was much like the lobby; it had deep red walls, a dark carpet covering the floor, yet it lacked the chandeliers of the lobby downstairs though the lighting was soft. Comforting. And that soft light looked beautiful when haloed around Shouta. It played off those black curls making them appear glossier than they could possibly be.
Made him look paler than usual. It sparkled off of those dark eyes of his and made his dark lashes look all the longer. He looked beautiful with spots of color on his cheeks. And yet he felt like an absolute mess before the black-haired man, yet that smile didn't diminish in the slightest bit as he stood before him with his lips parting. What did he ask? Where was Eri? Was she sleeping? Or in the apartment in a playpen? Where did you put a rambunctious two-year-old where she wouldn't get in trouble?
"Eri is down for a nap at the moment, she had some jacked up sleep last night. I thought that it would be-be better if I were to meet you at the elevator rather than have you walk up and down the hall, you know?" He blinked at Shouta who then cleared his throat with those spots of color smothering themselves in a soft pink blush over his cheekbones when the elevator doors slid shut behind him. "So. Are you ready to see the apartment you've been wanting to see for months now?"
"Absolutely! Sorry, it just really surprised me that you were waiting here for me but I appreciate it!" He smiled then with that relief flooding his chest when he watched that soft, gentle smile widening on Shouta's full lips when the black-haired man then shifted with his head gesturing him to follow. Together they walked forward with boots thudding over the carpet quietly as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Honestly, this is a really nice apartment complex. How do you afford it?"
"It's not as expensive as it looks. It's much cheaper but it's gone under renovations in the past which is why it looks the way it does." Humming softly as their foot falls thudded gently down the hallway as he watched Shouta's loose curls bounce and sway slightly when the black-haired man lifted his head to look at him with a sparkle to that gaze. "Don't judge my space too harshly, alright? It's not like super tidy like your place but I did my best to clean the place a bit."
"I would never judge you on your space! It's what makes you yourself!" He nudged at Shouta with his elbow which had the black-haired man snorting to which he happily chuckled himself at the way Shouta's head ducked down. That smile on his lips. "Besides, my place is hardly clean when you come around and you'll see that next time! The boys have all kinds of toys all over the place that I might have to invest in a toy chest for the living room for them! It's a catastrophe half the time!"
This earned him a barking laugh from Shouta, who then threw his head back slightly as he did so. A wide grin on his lips as they made their way down the hallway when an elbow was nudging at him to which he turned his attention to the black-haired man. "You look like hot garbage, Zashi. Please tell me that you're not still hung over after the whole New Years Eve party, are you? That was two whole days ago! I'd be surprised if you managed to hang onto a hangover that long!"
"One, don't be a dick, it's not a flattering image on you!" A snort left the black-haired man which had him grinning wickedly as their foot falls thudded over the floor of the hallway deafeningly when he began to toy with his keys in his pockets as they walked. "And two, I most definitely was hungover from the party but now I'm hungover again because Nem and Oboro came over last night! I had a glass of wine with dinner."
Shouta looked to him with that look of incredulousness that seemed to call him out on his bullshit. And then a hand was pushing at his upper arm with the black-haired man smirking at him with tight, manic, Totoro-esque smirk that he'd come to recognize over the months. Something that had his heart jumping as it would with the softest, sweetest smile of his. "You mean two glasses of wine, don't you? Or I'm betting at least three or four if you're hungover again! That's certainly one way to spend the new year!"
"It certainly is! God, can you believe it's a new year already? Christmas was a week ago and now we're in January!" He rolled his head back with his shoulders shrugging slightly when Shouta bumped lightly into him with a chuckle, and he then grinned at the black-haired man delightedly as they began to slow down. "But I mean, Nem said it would help my hangover! And by the way, jerk, it was only three glasses of wine that I had, and I hardly got drunk, just tipsy!"
"And yet you're still hungover? Either you're the weakest light weight I know or you did some more serious drinking!" The black-haired man grinned that wide, manic smirk at him with a sparkle to those dark eyes as he then nudged at the black-haired man who snickered as he pulled out what looked like a set of house keys as they came to a stop before a door. Glittering gold on it with a nine-C. "I know you're not staying long but could you take your boots off before walking in? Eri crawls around and I try to keep the carpet clean."
Watching Shouta slip the key into the lock, he nodded at the black-haired man silently with his eyes on the key. The light metallic click of the lock when the black-haired man then opened the door before making a sharp sound with his mouth. At the door was a fluffy black cat, a sleek white cat, and a rather large orange cat tried to get out into the hallway. The black-haired man shooed them away as the door opened wider to which he happily stepped in after him.
The cats seemed to scuttle away the moment he entered the apartment which had him grinning slightly. He stepped out of the way allowing the door to shut behind him. He then stepped on the heel of hsi right boot to work his foot free then stepped on his left to get his left foot free. He was going to respect Shouta's requests and, if he was honest, he was going to suggest taking his boots off before he entered the apartment.
The last thing he wanted was for Shouta to clean up the carpet when he had a rambunctious two-year-old now. And he was in awe of the black-haired man's apartment. The living room and kitchenette had walls of soft red, a shaggy black carpet, and the pieces of wood that had looked like mahogany in that picture were darker than that. Black. The living room coffee table made out of thin black metal and glass with a half-open laptop sitting on it.
A binder with a few papers sticking out of the top with a red pen sitting atop it. As if he had been grading before he'd shown up. A large leather couch, a recliner, and a flat screen TV. The walls plastered with pictures of Eri. He found himself gawking at the black-haired man's living room. At the TV stand with its doors that held books or movies, games possibly, behind the glass. He stepped into the room further with his gaze flicking over the walls.
There were toys scattered over the living room floor. Dolls and balls, bright plastic rings, a few blocks and a ball that had yet to be picked up. The kitchen had a large black fridge which spilled halfway into the living room. Dishes piling over the strainer they sat in as they air dried. There was an oven, stove top, and dishwasher. There were closet doors to the left of the leather couch that he had no doubt led to a washer and dryer, but he can only imagine the limited space within it.
He stepped forward without thinking twice about it as he wandered into the living room where he gazed at the pictures on the wall. Most consisted of Eri; of her as an infant tucked in Shouta's arms. There were a few other pictures that were a slow progression of the infant aging into the one-year-old he'd met this year and then a new picture of Shouta, Eri and his sister. At least that's what he was guessing, he'd never asked, but he he knew she had to be Shouta's sister.
There were two diplomas on the wall; one of high school and another for a bachelors for teaching. Then there was a picture of young Shouta; high school graduation as he recognized the background. In the picture was a girl with long, straight hair with light brown eyes that shimmered at the camera. There was a woman behind Shouta with dark copper brown hair that curled with the same rich dark eyes that the black-haired man had.
Dark eyes that bore into the camera with not a drop of pride or warmth for the black-haired man. He could at least see where Shouta got his curls from. And to his right there was a man with dark brown hair with the same light brown eyes as the younger girl in the picture who had her arms around Shouta's waist. His arm around her shoulders. And then there was another graduation picture of Shouta in different robes and a cap holding a diploma in his hand.
Looking for all the world much older than his high school picture but not quite as filled out physically as he was now. Young but how much so? How old had Shouta been when he got through college? He found his gaze flicking over the wall where he found another picture of that girl. Her light brown eyes shimmering at the camera as she stood in graduation robes with Shouta being the only one with her. Looking perhaps the same age as he looked in his graduation photo.
She looked far more mature in this picture with her long locks cut up to her shoulders much like Shouta's own shoulder length hair. In the picture his hair was tugged away from his shoulders in a low ponytail. Pride was glittering in his dark eyes as the girl beamed at the camera with a pride of her own. Letting his gaze wander from that wall to the far left one, there were a few baby pictures of this same girl on the wall.
His sister. It was hard to imagine Shouta being an elder brother but he found himself gawking over the pictures on the wall. Milestones met and the sight of a childlike Shouta with an eye patch on his right eye. An injury? He wished he could find the words to ask the black-haired man behind him. He could feel Shouta lingering behind him; as if he were trying to shadow him without making it obvious about it.
He stepped forward carefully while being mindful of the toys scattered on the floor to get a closer view of the pictures before him. He'd seen glimpses in that one picture Shouta had sent him of Eri in her then play pen. He stared with awe at the shining black frames glistening against the deep red of the walls around him. While it was a bit cluttered with the toys on the floor, there was something to the apartment that had his shoulders relaxing.
Had him comfortable even as he began gawking at the pictures he had on the wall. He knew it could be rude - no, that it was rude, but the pictures were telling. They showed a Shouta both young and old. Snippets of the black-haired man's life that had him in awe as he let his gaze flicker over the framed pictures. If he was being honest with himself, his favorite was the one of Shouta holding Eri. The girl a mere infant with tufts of white hair on her little head.
The black-haired man smiled adoringly down at the baby despite his nervous stance. It had been captured, immortalized, but out of all the pictures on the walls it was his favorite. Moving over the floor as he glanced at the pictures, he turned to find a rather sizeable bookcase filled to the brim with books. Some fantasy titles he recognized and a few romance options that he also happened to recognize thanks to Nemuri.
There were a few texts books down near the bottom and there were the two baby books that Shouta had bought from his store. There was a row of self-help books ranging from infants to toddlers. To single parents. Shuffling forward, he lightly trailed his fingers over the spines of the books before him. There was a new self-help book that Shouta must have bought online about toddlers. He didn't have that book in his arsenal yet, but he found himself curious about it.
He wished he had something like that when he took in Hitoshi. Humming softly to himself under his breath as he let his gaze flicker over the bookcase. There was so much to look at in Shouta's apartment. It was decently sized, nothing cramped and tiny, but not huge. Not penthouse levels. It was a nicely sized apartment with deep reds, blacks and hints of gold around the place to keep it light without trying too hard. It was a rather comfortable place that screamed of Shouta.
They had signs that a small child also lived here without question. The quiet of the living room was deafening as he drifted his fingers down to the second shelf of the black-haired man's bookcase where he bent slightly to stare at the few familiar titles. He didn't strike Shouta as the type to read romance novels; the books looked worn. The spines creased from reading, no doubt, and he drifted his fingers lightly over them with a quiet hum to himself.
Listening to Shouta puttering around behind him while he grabbed and put his containers together. It just left him time to politely snoop. He squatted down to look at the bottom shelf as he tilted his head. A few more romance books, a few self-help books about single fathers and anxiety. There were a few text books and it had him tilting his head. Shouta was quite the interesting person with this book case alone, wasn't he?
He was learning more about Shouta by his books, his pictures, than he'd learned in months of meeting the black-haired man. He couldn't help but wonder if this is why the black-haired man was so quick to invite him over to his apartment. If there was a reason for pulling a move like this so soon into the new year. It had him drumming his fingers lightly on the shelf when he reached up to grab the spine of a book.
Wiggling it free from the others, he looked down at the cover of two lovers clearly in a passionate embrace with hair blowing wildly in the makeshift breeze. Very romance novel like. He grinned to himself when he flipped the book over in his hand to read the back of it when he glanced over at the sound of a clatter. Shouta had dropped a container on the floor with the black-haired man cursing as he bent over to pick it up.
Black curls spilling over his shoulders falling into his face which had his heart jumping in his chest. Humming quietly under his breath, he slipped the book back into place when he straightened up out of his squat. Making his way past the bookcase, he squatted again to look at the titles that jumped out of him behind the doors of his friend's entertainment center. There was a Nintendo switch and a PlayStation five sitting on the shelves with games gathered behind the doors of the stand.
Titles he'd recognize rather quickly; he wasn't the biggest gamer out there, but he adored his Doom. He adored playing Stardew Valley now and again along with Animal Crossing when he wanted a chill day. Calm games that Hitoshi and Izuku could watch him play as they cuddled up to his sides. He hummed softly as he straightened up then turned on his feet to make his way around the coffee table again. He knew he was being painfully nosey about his friend's apartment, but he was curious.
He fought the urge to open the cabinets to gawk at the games within. Straightening up, he walked around the coffee table where he sat down cautiously on Shouta's leather couch. Running his hands over the material, the worn lines in it, and he couldn't help a quiet sigh to himself. Before he'd adopted Hitoshi, he had been thinking of getting a leather couch. They were so nice and he'd wanted one so bad. However, it was something he talked to his mothers and siblings about.
In the end, he'd had been advised not too when he took in the then three-year-old for his mothers fretted that the leather would be ruined over the years. It's what kept him from taking the plunge on something like it. What was Shouta going to do with Eri? Now that she was officially toddling around everywhere, she'd be getting her hands on any and everything. Shouta would have to store his books in his bedroom to keep Eri from ripping the pages out or drawing on them.
Something he learned the hard way when he had kept his books in the living room only to run in to find that Hitoshi had torn apart some books and drew on a few pages. He'd have to give the black-haired man some advice but only if he asked for it. Turning his head to gawk around the room at the pictures on the wall, the book case with its book and the TV stand with its consoles and games. The thin flat screen that Shouta had with its gleaming black screen shining at him.
Reflecting him in that muted way TV screens did. He let his gaze lower to the coffee table before him where the binder sat with papers slipping past the edges slightly. The red pen that he had no doubt been using to mark off the papers. The half-closed laptop with the screens light washing over the keyboard. It felt like he had been intruding on something so early in the morning, but Shouta hadn't breathed a word about it on their way down the hallway.
If anything, the black-haired man had seemed a bit apathetic, but he could see a sparkle to him. As if Shouta were excited at the thought of showing him his apartment. He let his gaze wonder over the living room then to the kitchen where Shouta was capping containers. Then to the dipped doorway that led down a short hallway which held two bedrooms from what he could make out when he walked in. Eri and Shouta's rooms?
There had also been what he assumed to be a bathroom if he was right. He licked his lips then to wet them to keep from picking at them nervously as he leaned back against the couch. The leather felt nice; wrapping him up as he braced an elbow up on the back of the couch to raise his hand up. Pressing it to his forehead as he let his eyes slip shut instinctively with his head tilting backwards slightly. He wasn't horribly hungover; if anything, it felt something akin to a migraine brewing in his temples.
He hadn't had that much to drink last night but he knew it had been enough to leave him plagued with this irritating throbbing in his temples. The stiffness in the back of his neck and the roiling of his stomach fluttered with excitement. Because, despite it all, he was here. He was gawking and staring around his best friend's apartment for the first time since he'd met him. It was five months too late, but it didn't matter, did it?
Or cold he say it was six months now since they were a few days into January? It had his heart jumping in his chest at the thought when he heard a hissing of dripping liquid which had his eyes opening. He lifted his head up to find Shouta fussing with the coffee pot. He could drop on his knees and thank this man for his obvious attentiveness to his current state. A coffee was exactly what he needed to help fight the pounding in his temples when Shouta then walked over with the four containers he'd loaned him in hand.
They were placed down on the coffee table before him with hands pushing at his binder which, in return, pushed at his laptop. He reached out to move the laptop over safely which got him a smile of appreciation from the black-haired man. And then Shouta was straightening up with full lips parting slightly with a silent tremble before pinching together. And then Shouta was turning on his foot to dash across the living room to that dip of the hallway entrance.
What was the black-haired man doing? What did he have up his sleeve now? Leaning back into his couch, he found himself staring at the containers that he'd loaned Shouta last month. Two weeks ago, if he was doing the math right. He then tore his gaze away as he let his head roll back to press against the back of the couch. His foot lifting up carefully as he crossed his legs as he bounced them lightly with his lashes fluttering shut again.
It was far too early to be over at someone's house and yet Shouta had seemed ready for him. Had seemed eager to see him. He continued to lightly bounce his crossed legs as he listened to the gurgling hissing of the coffee pot. He hummed softly to himself with his knees continuing to bounce comfortingly as his lashes rested on his cheeks. It was so comforting here in Shouta's home. There were no windows leaving it dimly lit unlike the hallway and the lobby.
It was dimmer in here than it was out there making for a rather comforting atmosphere in the room. There was a lingering scent of vanilla in the air that had him inhaling deeply as he did his best to be quiet about dragging that scent down into his lungs. He didn't want Shouta to come back and catch him huffing the scent that seemed to cling to even the leather of the couch beneath him. Keeping his head pressed back against the couch, he let out a slow breath to himself when he twisted his hands together in his lap.
From his first glance, the area of Shouta living room and kitchen was cluttered. Cluttered but in a neat way; sort of like how he kept his own room organized. It was easy to tell by looking around the living room then the kitchen that there was an organized chaos to the apartment. Everything had its place. He couldn't help but smile at the scribbled drawings he'd caught on the fridge. The magnets.
There was something utterly adorable about signs of Eri living here from the pictures cluttered on the fridge to the pictures on the wall. He didn't take Shouta for the sentimental type to put pictures on his wall but there were quite a few. If anything, he didn't fault his friend for placing things up on the wall. It's why he had so many pictures of his family, of Hitoshi, and now of Izuku on his living room walls. He understood the need to display family photos or drawings.
And yet he wondered if that family picture of Shouta's high school graduation was special to him. There had been a coldness in his eyes, in the dark eyes of the woman behind him and the man off to the side. As if it were something rehearsed. The only truly delighted one in that picture was the girl with her straight locks and light eyes. He didn't need Shouta to tell him who the man and woman were; it'd be easy to call them his parents.
He didn't need the dynamic of his family explained for him to look at pictures. He didn't want to pry into Shouta either and be deemed nosy. He didn't want the black-haired man to think he was trying to invade or push into something he didn't need to know about. After all, what had he told Shouta about his family? Had he explained in depth already that he had two younger sisters and a brother? Had he told him he had two mothers?
Had he told him about how he worried about his younger brother who already had two kids under ten? That he worried what it'd do to his future as he took night time courses at college? Or how he worried about his younger sister who had just given birth to twins? He knew he hadn't told him because it was private. It was something that he hadn't divulged to the black-haired man yet because there hadn't been time to think about it.
To think about divulging his family history to the black-haired man. All Shouta had to know was that he was the single father to two young boys under the age of ten. He knew that eventually they'd be making those introductions. That soon they'd be talking about their families when they got to that point. There was no rushing it, that much he knew, and there was only time. They had so much of it that he could hardly wrap his head around it. But for now, he wanted to focus on the here and now.
And the here and now was consisting of himself being in his best friend's apartment. He'd been too busy gawking at all of the things he kept in his living room that he hadn't thought of joining the black-haired man in the kitchenette. Lifting his head up from the back of the couch, he uncrossed his legs then pushed himself up to a stand. He was curious. Painfully so. Making his way between the space of the couch and coffee table, he padded over the carpeted floor to the tiled one.
A microwave hung above the stovetop, the fridge wider now that he was in the small space, and there was a small pantry. It was an interestingly laid out apartment. His socked feet slid silently over the tiled floor of the kitchenette's floor as he peeked at the pantry. The thin door hung halfway open before turning his attention to the counter top. It was a deep black marble that shone from a cleaning no doubt. There was the gurgling, hissing coffee pot and a toaster on the counter top.
A blender. He trailed his fingers lightly over the smooth, cool counter top of the kitchen as he glanced curiously into the sink that was empty of dishes. He wasn't about to go into Shouta's cabinets or his drawers to find out what he had. He refused to be that nosey. He brushed his fingers over the edge of the counter when he came to a stop before the fridge. Glancing over the scribbles on the papers that Eri had no doubt made for Shouta was sweet.
The fact that the black-haired man went to the extent to make sure that they were hung up. That he wanted to hang them up on the fridge for the sake of the white-haired toddler. It was by far one of the most heart touching things he'd seen. He'd done the same with Hitoshi; he'd been happy to slap the then toddlers pictures onto the fridge. Even now, he still hangs the boys' pictures on the fridge when they come home from school with papers in hands.
Staring over the fridge, he realized he'd missed the calendar on the black-haired man's fridge door. Marking off the days that had been filled in with tight numbers in the corner. Then there was another metal slate on the freezer half of the fridge with meal ideas for the week. It was cute. The idea that Shouta would be sitting down at his coffee table writing out meal ideas for himself and Eri? It was the cutest thing in the world to him as he smiled at the sight of it.
He hummed softly when he then caught the sound of music filling the quiet of the apartment. Just loud enough to be picked up but not so loud to cause a disturbance. It had him blinking slightly when he glanced over at the thud of feet coming towards him when Shouta reappeared in the doorway of the small hallway. The music he'd chosen was a rather jazzy, relaxing song for first thing in the morning. Slow. Calming.
It had him smiling when the black-haired man then raised his brows at him with a soft smile on his lips. He felt awkward standing in the middle of the black-haired man's kitchen but the gurgling of the coffee pot behind him had him glancing over his shoulder curiously. Shouta hummed softly then as he padded forward with socked feet thudding over the floor to which he jumped out of the way. Allowing the black-haired man to make his way over to the coffee pot.
Staring at the amount filled in the pot, he watched as Shouta reached under the cabinets to grab two mugs. Both being cat themed, the only difference was that one was black and the other a mottled appearance to match that of a calico. It had him smiling when they were both placed down on the counter when he felt a curious brush against his calf. Looking down, he found himself staring down into large yellow eyes of the fuzzy black cat.
He was in awe as he stared down at the black cat at his feet when he got a nudge of its head against his calf. Reaching down, he slid his hand over silky, thick fur. So was this cat large because of his fur or was he naturally a big cat? He felt in awe as he slid his hand over the black fur happily with the cat making a rumble in their throat. A content filled sound. And then as he glanced over with awe, the large orange came trotting forward; it wasn't obese, but he was a big boy. Or girl.
Their stomach swaying slightly as he ran over with ease to which he eagerly stretched his hand out with the cat smelling his fingers and knuckles. Green eyes watched him warily before that head was rubbing into his finger and it felt like he'd won the lottery. He happily rubbed his fingers into the cats head and face delightedly. The tiled floor beneath him shimmered in the low lighting; as if catching the light after being recently clean.
He sank down into a squat as he ran his hands over the cat fur delightedly. He had no clue what their names were, what their genders were, but he absolutely adored these two affectionate cats. Running his hands over fur, down backs to tails, he was happily absorbed into the cats with a delight that couldn't be matched as he scratched behind ears. He caught the hiss of coffee dripping on the burner then the sound of liquid being poured.
He happily scratched under the orange cats chin and behind the black cats ear gently. Loving how they twisted themselves close to rub against his knees when the black-haired man turned around. Lips parting as if to speak when he blinked, and dark eyes were dropping down to him where he squatted on the kitchen floor. He grinned sheepishly as he pets the cats in question, but it merely had those black lashes fluttering in another blink. And then Shouta was smiling down at him.
Not at all like that Totoro-esque smirk from the hallway but rather something softer. Sweeter. Something that had his heart jumping in his chest as his stomach fluttered wildly. A smile like that could melt ice. It could melt butter. God, it was melting him as he swayed on his feet before popping up with the cats rushing off from his sudden and fast movement. Standing up straight once more, he felt warmth tickling over his cheeks as he twisted his hands together with that grin on his lips
Shouta merely raised his brows at him with that smile on his lips. And while it made him feel small after having been squatted down before the black-haired man, he continued to twist his fingers nervously as he listened to that soft music. A gentle swelling of sound that had him shifting his weight from foot to foot. Should he start them off the? Should he speak up first since he was the guest? Or let Shouta go first? He cleared his throat slightly only to have the black-haired man beat him too it.
"So, tell me, how do you like my apartment? I know it's not the cleanest right now but that's because I planned on jumping on some grading for work. And then I got distracted and washed the dishes, but I had the containers ready at the very least. Is it everything you'd thought it to be?" Shouta paused then with spots of pink popping on his cheeks as black curls swayed when his head tilted slightly with dark eyes darting away from him. "I don't, um, really have people over at my place all that often. I'm a bit of a hermit sometimes."
"I think your apartment is sexy!" He blurted out without thinking as he rushed to reassure the black-haired man who blinked at him with a look of confusion pinching at his face. And heat was rushing to his face as his hands wavered between them before he clapped them together with fingers twisting together. Fuck, he said the wrong thing! Shit! Fix it, fix it, fix it! "Not sexy! Um, I mean classy? I think it looks better than my place! It's very fitting for you! You know, like your vibe?"
Shouta's head tilted then with a curious glint to those dark eyes. Full lips pinching together slightly when the black-haired man shifted slightly with those spots of pink causing his fingers to itch. What he'd give to reach across the distance and touch that pink cheek. To feel the warmth of it beneath his fingertips but he fought the urge to reach out. To touch him without permission when those dark eyes locked to his. "And what exactly is my vibe to you then? Cloak and dagger?"
"Not quite cloak and dagger at all! No, you give off a classy vibe, Sho! Your apartment is like the lobby only you don't have mahogany in here; rather it's black and red! And I think that black and red with those hints of gold are very fitting for you as a person!" Black brows rose up on his forehead when he twisted his fingers together as he fought the urge to babble when he took a breath. "It looks chic, classy, and you as a person I think are very classy! I think black and red fit you very well!"
"I think you have a loud vibe." He blinked at the black-haired man who looked away with that pink blush smothering itself over his cheeks. It was lovely. Utterly lovely. He squeezed his fingers together against that urge to reach out and touch those pink cheeks; to feel the scratch of the stubble beneath his fingers. His palms. "I think you fit your house very well; something bright. Clear. Lighter colors like perhaps white and yellows. Beiges. Greens. I think your home is very you."
He felt the heat burning in his own cheeks when he grinned at the black-haired man as he looked away from the black-haired man down to the kitchen floor. Admiring the black and gold tiles gleaming up at him when he took a slow breath in then letting it out as he then let his gaze raise up again to Shouta. "Well, thank you! At least for throwing in a few colors that aren't white and beige! When I was a teenager, my room was bright yellow, but I had a green blanket! If I were to repaint, I might go for a calming blue, honestly!"
"A calming blue, huh? I'm sure you'd find a lovely color for that." Shouta smiled at him with all the sweetness, the warmth, in the world to get his pulse racing. To get his heart throbbing against his chest as he kept his fingers interlocked as he fought that urge to reach out. To cup his lovely face while he spilled his damn guts. It had him biting at his lip when the black-haired man then turned halfway to the counter. "I know you should be getting back but would you mind joining me for a cup of coffee? Is that alright?"
"Of course it is! I'd love to join you for a morning coffee!" He hated the yelp to his voice, but it had that warm smile aimed his way over Shouta's shoulder and he happily shuffled forward. His socked feet sliding over the tiled floor effortlessly as he joined the man at the counter who stepped away then. Soft thuds of his feet on the floor as he made his way to the fridge when he grabbed for the container labeled for sugar. Opening the top, he grabbed one of the spoons on the counter.
"Thank you. It's not often that I have someone over in the morning, you know? Typically, I like to keep my mornings to myself, but I figured that I might as well invite you over, you know? To get it over with?" He glanced over his shoulder to find Shouta pulling half and half out of the fridge. He hummed when he began to spoon in his sugar to his coffee when the black-haired man began walking back over. "Normally Eri sleeps through the night, but she was having some troubles last night."
"Poor girl, she's still a baby when you think about it!" He stirred his coffee when the black-haired man sat the half and half down on the counter then reached for his own coffee. Watching from the corner of his eye as Shouta spooned in two scoops of sugar into his coffee. Swirling his spoon around in his own coffee he noted the eyebags beneath the black-haired man's dark eyes. "But it's more than Eri, isn't it? You're not sleeping right, are you?"
Shouta sighed out then with the heaviness that one man could create. It had him frowning when he reached for the half and half, twisting the cap off, and Shouta lifted his mug up to take a sip. He watched his Adam's Apple bob as he swallowed as his mug was lowered slightly with lashes fluttering as the black-haired man peeked up at him. "I've been having some trouble sleeping but it's not a big deal."
And his fingers were moving before he could stop himself as Shouta's head turned towards him. He reached up then touched beneath his eye where he then slid his fingers gently to trace the shape of the eye bag beneath that glittering dark eye with full lips parting. He pulled his fingers away then when he grabbed a curl of Shouta's to coax behind his ear. "It is a big deal. You're a single father of a two-year-old, you need all the sleep you can get. You look exhausted. I shouldn't be letting you drink coffee."
"I'll be fine." Low. There was a trace of a husky pitch to the black-haired man's voice as his fingers clutched at the mug. His fingers traced the shell of Shouta's ear before he dropped his hand away with heat flooding his cheeks with a new blush as he grabbed his mug. He lifted his mug up to gulp at his coffee when he felt fingers skimming over his cheekbone then tucking his hair behind his ear when he glanced over at Shouta. "You look tired too. Can't be easy with two boys and all those cats."
His face burned hotly as fingers lightly traced over the shell of his ear, touching his piercings lightly before drifting away with fingertips touching the side of his face lightly. It had his heart jumping out of his chest up to his throat to choke him. Had his sensitive stomach fluttering with such intensity it had him choking as he squeezed the mug in his hands tightly when fingers skated over his jaw before dropping away. "Like you said, I'll be fine. I guess we both just need to catch up on sleep, huh?"
His voice trembled as he spoke when he then lifted his mug up again to gulp at his coffee that scalded itself down his throat. Warming his chest before making its way to his stomach when Shouta then chuckled softly with that same husky pitch his voice had been at. It did little to help his sprinting heart or his fluttering stomach when the black-haired man bumped his shoulder to his lightly. "We both do. But I have a question for you, I know you have your obligations today-"
"I don't really have as many obligations as you think! I mean, I-I gotta get back so I can have brunch but it's really not a big deal! That won't be for another hour or so!" Babbling. Was he babbling at this man? He tightened his grasp on the mug again then lifting it up to take another sip at the hot liquid before he turned his attention to the black-haired man who turned with his lower back pressing to the counter when he swallowed. "But it sounds like you're about to ask me something or make a proposition."
"I suppose it's a bit of both?" Shouta had a musing tone to his voice that had him raising his brows even as his heart sprinted against his chest when the black-haired man smiled at him. It was a coy, playful smile that did little to help his racing pulse as the black-haired man swirled his coffee lazily. "I was wondering, if you're not opposed to it, do you think you'd staying just a bit longer while we have another coffee? Would that be possible? If you need to go after this, I'll fully understand."
God, this man was going to be the death of him. His hands squeezed his mug with thumbs moving over the mouth of the cup in a rub when he peeked at the black-haired man. There was a sparkle of worry to those dark eyes; a contrast to that playful smile on his lips. Almost as if he were preparing for a rejection. Swallowing, he shifted to turn around with his back pressed into the counter. Did he stay? Or did he go? What did he want the most? He smiled softly at the black-haired man. "I don't mind staying a little longer."
Dark eyes shifted away from him then as the black-haired man lifted his mug up to take a sip at. He watched his Adam's Apple bob again with black lashes fluttering down slightly; as if he were looking into his mug. He tore his gaze away from the man next to him when there was a shift and then Shouta's arm was pressing into his. Pressing side to side. He looked up at the black-haired man who smiled at him with that warmth to get him falling apart. "Then I suppose we should find something to watch, huh? Nothing awful."
"Like those Hallmark Christmas movies?" He questioned with a nudge at the black-haired man who snickered at him with a sparkle to those dark eyes; amusement. Delighted. His skin thrummed beneath the sleeve of his sweater as Shouta pressed into him lightly. His hands holding onto the mug desperately to avoid touching the other man again. He knew he'd slipped up once and he couldn't afford to do it again. Not again. "I mean, I'm down for one of those god awful Christmas romances that are probably still playing!"
"Absolutely not." It had him snickering at the absolute tone in Shouta's voice when the man was grinning at him. He lifted his mug up, snickering into it as he took another sip of his coffee; smaller this time but he felt those dark eyes on him. He swallowed his mouthful when the black-haired man's shoulder nudged at his playfully. "Maybe not a movie but a show perhaps. They're shorter and I think something easily something we could get done within the hour."
"I think that sounds wonderful." He paused then when he licked his lips with his heart thudding against his chest; not just fast but with hard hits that made him feel sick. Thud, thud, thud. His stomach was fluttering when he looked down at the half cup of coffee, he had remaining knowing that soon enough he'd be getting a refill. Then he lifted his gaze up to meet those playfully sparkling dark eyes when he swallowed again. "Hey, Shouta? Could I tell you about something? Something I wanna mention?"
"Of course. It seems like you've been wanting to say something for a bit now. Oh, don't look so surprised! Do you really think I wouldn't notice?" He felt his face burning as the black-haired man smirked at him then tightly with the mug being turned idly in his hands. "Hizashi, we've been friends for how long now? Five months? Or is it six now since we're in January? It doesn't matter so much to me because at the end of the day if you need to talk, I'll be here. Willing to talk. Willing to listen if all you need from me is to listen."
This man really didn't know how to make things easy, did he? It had him choking up with his thumbs moving awkwardly to rub the rim of the mug. The handle of it. He knew he could say it. He knew he could at least mention what he was thinking if he didn't do it outright. If he couldn't confess right here, right now, then when would the time come? When would it be most perfect? When would he have the chance? Turning to Shouta again he cleared his throat. "I've been, um, thinking about something. About a-a talk I want to have with you."
"What kind of talk? Have I done something wrong? Is there something going on with you that is going to impact you negatively? Is there something going on that you haven't told me about yet?" The questions had him dizzy as the black-haired man shifted slightly with that worried expression pinching at his face now rather than usual stoicism that he had. "Is it the-the touches? I really am trying to do better about that, I know being drunk is no excuse, and even now I know I should keep my hands to myself but I just-"
"No! No, it's fine! You haven't done anything wrong, there's nothing impacting me negatively, and I won't lie you touching me like you do has me a bit frazzled sometimes! But I don't mind them! Casual touches are more than fine, I mean I just did the same so it's okay!" He paused then as he took a deep breath that had his chest expanding. "No, it's nothing like that! I've just- I've been thinking about wanting to talk to you about something! And I want to do it soon but I'm just unsure how to do it, you know? I want to tell you!"
Dark eyes flicked over his face with full lips parting slightly as Shouta's head tilted to the side gently with black curls swaying lightly. Brushing against his cheek. And God, if he didn't want to reach out and touch that cheek again; if he didn't want to caress it gently to tilt his face up. To trace his finger around the shape of his mouth gently. The arch of his brow. His cheekbone. His jaw. "Well, you have time, don't you? You have time to figure it out, right? If it's something serious there's no need to rush it. I'm still here and will be."
"It's serious but I want to talk about it soon. I want-want to be honest with you and I want you to understand what I say when I'm ready to say it, you know? I've been sitting on this for-for a month now and I feel like an idiot, but my new year's resolution is to have this talk with you!" He couldn't help a humorless bark of laughter then when fingers were touching the back of his hand. Sending tingles up his arm when he met that dark gaze. "I want to be ready now. I want to say it now. I have to be ready for it, you know?"
He pulled his hand from his mug when he reached out with fingers touching Shouta's. And then they were sliding between his with that rough palm touching his as he squeezed the hand in his which got him a squeeze back from the black-haired man. A soft smile curled over Shouta's full lips, yet his dark brows knitted together. It was hard to tell the expression on his face; if he was interested or concerned. "We have time, Zashi. We have so much time, so it doesn't need to be now. Figure out what you want to say then say it, yeah?"
"I just- I wanted to tell you that I want to have that talk with you. I don't know how to say it, when to say it, but I don't- I can't keep going on the way I have been." The hand in his squeezed gently when a thumb moved against his as he took a breath then smiled softly at Shouta. "I just thought that even if I can't-can't say it right now then I can at least tell you that I'm thinking of something. That I want to talk to you about something, you know? That way it's not sprung on you outta nowhere. I just need a bit of time, okay?"
The smile on Shouta's lips was warm. It was small but God if it didn't have his heart thudding against his chest when the black-haired man's thumb moved against his again. Caressing. He knew friends didn't just hold hands. He knew that it would be seen as odd. Yet he tightened his grasp rather than insisting they let go; his hand felt so good in his. Perfect. Something he wanted to hold onto for hours even if it meant having that thrum run up his arm. "Then take your time. I'll be here when you're ready to talk about this thing of yours."
"You promise? You promise that you're willing to be that patient with me? I promise it'll be soon, very soon, because I can't continue to sit on this." He squeezed at Shouta's hand when he moved his thumb against the back of his hand when he then took a breath to try and soothe his fluttering stomach. His racing heart. It was hard when he had a current thrumming up his arm leaving him frazzled when he squeezed at the hand in his. "Do you promise you'll be willing to hear what I have to say when I'm ready?"
There was a warmth in those dark eyes as Shouta's hand squeezed at his. It did little to soothe that thrumming up his arm when he noted the way those fingers pressed into the back of his hand. Holding onto him just as fervently as he held onto the black-haired man when he met that gaze again. The soft smile on the black-haired man's lips had his stomach doing flips. It wasn't exactly a confession yet but surely this was okay? Right? And then Shouta was squeezing his hand again. "I promise, Zashi."
