Chapter 9
Nowaki blinked awake in the early morning light creeping through the curtains that weren't closed fully the night before, feeling the warmth of Hiroki's body pressed against him. Hiroki was still fast asleep, his arms wrapped tightly around Nowaki, face buried in his chest. A soft, almost inaudible snore escaped his lips, and Nowaki smiled, taking a moment to appreciate the peaceful scene.
Careful not to disturb him, Nowaki shifted slightly, his gaze settling on Hiroki's face. The usually intense features were softened by sleep, contrasting the sharp expressions he often wore during the day. Nowaki's heart swelled with affection, a quiet warmth spreading through him as he gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Hiroki's forehead.
Nowaki's eyes lingered on Hiroki, captivated by how serene and vulnerable he looked in moments like this. He often marveled at how deeply he loved Hiroki—this man who could be stubborn, fiery, and hard to read at times, but who also had a heart that beat with an intensity Nowaki cherished. It wasn't often that they had moments like these, where the world felt still, and their busy lives seemed far away. Between Hiroki's demanding job at the university and Nowaki's own packed schedule at the hospital, these quiet mornings together were rare treasures.
He wished they had more time like this—just the two of them, tangled together in their small world, with no deadlines or responsibilities pulling them apart. Nowaki cherished every second. It wasn't just the physical closeness, but the calm that washed over him, knowing Hiroki trusted him enough to let his guard down like this. His love for Hiroki wasn't loud or dramatic; it was in the quiet things, like waking up beside him, brushing his hair from his face, or simply watching him sleep. It was the warmth that filled his chest when Hiroki reached for him in his sleep, as if even unconsciously, Hiroki needed him close.
Nowaki let his fingers trail through Hiroki's hair one last time, his chest tightening with tenderness. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Hiroki's head, pausing to savour the softness of his wild mane against his lips. As much as he wanted to stay there, holding him for just a little longer, he knew he had to get up.
Gently, he pried himself free, careful not to wake Hiroki. As he stood up, he glanced down at his lover—Hiroki's dark brown hair was tousled from sleep, and his long eyelashes fluttered faintly as he stirred. His lips, slightly parted, looked impossibly soft, and his bare backside peeked from under the mess of the covers, just enough to make Nowaki's heart skip a beat and a smile to creep on his face.
Nowaki found his underwear from the night before and slipped them on quietly. His head throbbed faintly, a reminder of the drinks they had consumed the previous night, though thankfully not enough to give him a full-blown hangover. He grabbed an empty glass from the bedside table and went to the bathroom, filling it with cool water before returning to the main room.
As he rummaged through his bag for his mini medical kit, Nowaki found the ibuprofen and quickly swallowed two pills, washing them down with the water. He then filled the glass again and set it on Hiroki's bedside with the pills, knowing Hiroki would likely appreciate it when he woke up.
The clock caught his eye. It was already just past 10 a.m. They will miss the breakfast window downstairs. Nowaki sighed softly, not wanting to disturb Hiroki's peaceful rest with breakfast – he knew how much Hiroki loved his sleep. He glanced around the room until he found the room service menu tucked away in a drawer. Scanning the options, he quickly ordered coffee and food for two, though he doubled Hiroki's order of coffee. After last night's variety of drinks, he knew Hiroki would need the extra sustenance. He chuckled, remembering how Hiroki used to bounce back from nights like that so easily when they first met, but those days seemed far behind now.
Nowaki sat on the bed next to Hiroki, who was still sound asleep. He let his gaze drift over him, admiring the way Hiroki looked in the soft morning light. Nowaki sighed, but this time with contentment. He gently rearranged the bed covers, pulling them up gently so they would fully cover Hiroki, causing him to stir.
"Ah, sorry to wake you, Hiro-san," Nowaki whispered as Hiroki blinked blearily at him. "I was just trying to make you more comfortable."
Hiroki groaned softly as he stretched, his joints creaking with the effort. "Morning, Nowaki," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "My head and throat feel disgusting," he complained, rubbing his temples.
Nowaki chuckled in recognition and handed him the glass of water and painkillers. "Here, Hiro-san. These should help."
Hiroki gulped the water down, wincing as the cold hit his throat. "Always one step ahead, aren't you?" he said, managing a small smile. "I'm too old to be mixing drinks like that anymore."
Just then, Hiroki's phone vibrated on the bedside table. He scowled at the screen. "Who could that be so early in the morning?" he grumbled. "Could you pass it over, Nowaki?"
Nowaki handed him the phone. "It's past 10 a.m., Hiro-san. We've had quite a lie-in."
Hiroki groaned again when he saw the name on the screen. "It's Akihiko. What could he possibly want at this hour?"
"Maybe it's important," Nowaki suggested, though his tone was doubtful.
Reluctantly, Hiroki answered the call, putting it on speaker so he didn't have to hold the phone to his ear. "What do you want, Akihiko?"
"Good morning to you too, Hiroki," Akihiko's voice rang through the phone, smug as always. "What a lovely way to greet your dearest friend."
"My question still stands."
"What's your room number? I've got something for you."
"My room number?" Hiroki frowned and glanced at Nowaki for confirmation, realising he hadn't paid much attention when they checked in, too distracted by Nowaki and the excitement of the night. Nowaki mouthed "1216" with a shrug.
"We're in room 1216."
"Ah, just down the hall! I'll be there in a minute," Akihiko said, hanging up before Hiroki could protest.
Hiroki stared at the phone in disbelief. "What the hell! It's too early and too bright for this. I need coffee."
"I've already ordered room service," Nowaki said, trying to reassure him. "But there'll be a wait."
"Thanks, Nowaki," Hiroki sighed, flopping back down on the bed.
Three sharp knocks interrupted their brief reprieve, followed by Akihiko's unmistakable voice. "Oi, Hiroki! Open up, it's me!"
"Shit!" Hiroki flailed, sitting up too fast.
Nowaki chuckled softly as he bent down to retrieve Hiroki's discarded underwear, tossing them over. Hiroki scrambled to put them on, his movements frantic but uncoordinated as he swayed slightly, a hand to his aching head.
Akihiko knocked again, his voice teasing. "Come on, Hiroki, stop playing with lover boy and open the door."
Hiroki rolled his eyes at the remark while Nowaki stifled a laugh. "I can't find my shirt!" Hiroki muttered, frustrated. "Screw it. I'll wear yours." He grabbed Nowaki's discarded t-shirt and pulled it over his head, the fabric hanging comically on his smaller frame.
With one last sigh of resignation, Hiroki went to open the door, kicking their discarded clothes into a pile on the way. Hiroki opened the door, scowling and still half-asleep. His dishevelled appearance, with Nowaki's oversized t-shirt hanging loosely on him, contrasted sharply with Akihiko, who stood in the hallway looking far too put together for this hour. Akihiko was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his silver hair neatly combed back, and an irritatingly smug smile playing on his lips.
"What do you want?" Hiroki grumbled, his voice heavy with irritation.
Akihiko leaned casually against the doorframe, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement. "Is that any way to greet your oldest friend? You look... cozy," he remarked, eyes flickering down to Hiroki's borrowed shirt and bed-mussed hair.
Hiroki rolled his eyes. "I repeat: What do you want? It's way too early for your nonsense."
Akihiko's grin only widened. "It's already after 10 a.m., sleepyhead. And I come bearing gifts." He held up a brown paper bag, giving it a little shake as if to entice Hiroki's curiosity.
Hiroki raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "What kind of gift requires you showing up at my door unannounced?"
Akihiko pushed past Hiroki, stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation. "Ah, Hiroki, you wound me. Can't I surprise an old friend on a lovely morning?"
Hiroki groaned but let him in, too tired to argue. "Nowaki, we've got company," he called, his voice lacking any real enthusiasm.
Nowaki, still seated on the bed, smiled warmly when he saw Akihiko. "Good morning, Usami-san," he greeted politely, though a hint of curiosity coloured his tone. But as Akihiko's sharp eyes flicked briefly over him, Nowaki suddenly became aware of his own state of undress, sitting there in nothing but his underwear. A flush of embarrassment crept up his neck, and he shifted uncomfortably, wishing he had something to cover himself with.
He glanced around quickly, but his discarded shirt was already on his lover, leaving him without anything nearby. Not wanting to seem rude or overly self-conscious, Nowaki reached for the bed sheets instead, pulling them up over his legs and lap to feel a bit more modest. At least with less skin on show, he felt slightly less exposed under Akihiko's scrutinising gaze.
"Sorry about the, uh, lack of proper clothing," Nowaki said with a sheepish smile, his tone still polite despite his obvious discomfort. "We weren't expecting visitors so early." He shifted slightly under the sheets, hoping the gesture went unnoticed.
Akihiko's grin only widened. "No need to apologise. I'm sure he appreciates the view." His voice was teasing, but Nowaki caught the glint of amusement in his eyes.
Nowaki chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond, while Hiroki scowled at Akihiko. "Could you not make this weirder than it already is?" Hiroki muttered, his face a slight shade darker at the implication.
"I'm not making it weird Hiroki." Akihiko replied.
"Enough chit-chat this doesn't explain why you're here at—" he checked the clock again—"10:18 in the morning."
Akihiko chuckled. "I figured you'd be hungover after last night, and I wanted to make sure you weren't getting too comfortable lazing around. Besides, I thought you'd like this," he said, pulling out a takeaway coffee tray with two large steaming cups of coffee from the bag, "I know how much you need your caffeine in the morning."
Hiroki's eyes lit up slightly at the sight and now smell of the coffee. "You actually thought this through?" He glanced suspiciously at Akihiko, though his annoyance was beginning to melt away.
"I do have my moments," Akihiko replied, feigning modesty as he handed over the cups. "Though I assume you'll be more grateful after a few sips."
"Thank you, Usami-san. That was thoughtful of you," Nowaki said, his sincerity contrasting with Hiroki's usual sharpness.
Akihiko waved a hand. "Don't mention it. Besides, I knew Hiroki would be in good hands this morning. If anyone knows how to take care of him, it's his own personal physician."
Nowaki chuckled softly, while Hiroki rolled his eyes again. "Well, I'd love to stay and chit chat, Akihiko, but I'm kicking you out now," Hiroki said bluntly, already moving toward the door.
Akihiko pouted dramatically. "Ah, so soon? You're a terrible host."
Hiroki scoffed. "We need to clean our mess before breakfast arrives."
"You've ordered room service? Someone's living the high life this weekend," Akihiko teased, leaning against the doorframe, taking in the piles of discarded clothes and shoes in a path to the bed, before making eye contact with Hiroki again.
"Shut up, you ass. It's my birthday weekend, and we can do what we please. Now get out."
Akihiko chuckled, clearly enjoying himself as Hiroki practically shoved him toward the door. "I'll say it again: you're a terrible host, Hiroki," he said, the smirk never leaving his face.
Nowaki, glanced over with a small apologetic smile. "Before you go, how's Misaki doing? He seemed pretty… drunk last night."
Hiroki scoffed, loosening his grip on Akihiko and turning back to the bed. "I bet he's feeling rough."
Akihiko, with his usual smugness, "He's currently lying in bed with very little memory of last night, but he did manage to force me to go on a coffee and pastry run," he said with a smirk, as if amused by the whole ordeal nodding the bag in his hand.
Nowaki laughed softly, shaking his head. "Maybe it's for the better he doesn't remember," he said, sharing a knowing look with Hiroki.
Hiroki snorted, "He'd probably never show his face in front of me again if he did. Ahh, to be young and drunk, such fun."
Akihiko's smirk widened as he glanced around the room, taking in the scattered clothes, dishevelled bed, and Hiroki's oversized shirt—which obviously belonged to Nowaki. He raised an eyebrow and gave Hiroki a look that was all mischief. "Looks like you two had a little more fun after we left, huh?" His eyes gleamed with amusement, clearly enjoying Hiroki's current state.
Nowaki, who had been quietly observing. "We had a quiet night in, actually."
Akihiko's grin widened. "Oh, sure. Looks like the quiet really lasted." His smirk deepened as Hiroki narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "Nice shirt, by the way. Really suits you, Hiroki."
Hiroki rolled his eyes, already exasperated. "Oh, grow up." But then, a smirk tugged at his lips as he remembered Misaki's drunken ramblings from the night before. "Misaki's right. You are a creepy uncle."
Akihiko chuckled, feigning a look of innocence. "Creepy uncle? That's harsh."
Hiroki crossed his arms, a smug grin now firmly in place. "Oh, it fits. What did Misaki say again? Grabbing him, touching him, doing weird things when no one's watching... Definitely creepy uncle behaviour."
Akihiko rolled his eyes, though his grin remained. "I showed full restraint last night. I would never take advantage of a poor, drunk Misaki."
Hiroki raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Restraint? You?"
With a mischievous glint in his eye, Akihiko shrugged casually. "Hey, it's not my fault if Misaki was asking for it. Begging, actually. I can't say no when he asks like that."
"You're an ass," Hiroki shot back, though there was a hint of amusement in his glare.
Akihiko grinned, unfazed. "Oh, come on, Hiroki. Don't pretend you weren't a little demon yourself last night. Looks like you and Nowaki had quite the time." His eyes flicked pointedly to Hiroki's borrowed shirt, the smirk on his face widening. "Demon in the bedroom, huh?"
Hiroki flushed slightly but masked it with an eye roll. "Keep talking like that, and I will throw this coffee at you."
Akihiko, completely undeterred, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "Just saying, I wasn't the only one enjoying myself last night. You look like you had quite the 'quiet night in.'" He made air quotes, his teasing tone bordering on smug.
Nowaki, rolled his eyes discreetly, though neither of them seemed to notice.
Hiroki's face flushed slightly, but he masked it with a scowl. "You're such a pain. If anyone needs to clean up their act, it's you. And stop acting like a smug know-it-all, Akihiko."
Akihiko's eyes sparkled with mischief, clearly enjoying riling Hiroki up. "What can I say? Some things never change."
Hiroki shot a glare at Akihiko. "Seriously, though is Misaki alright?"
Akihiko shrugged, his smirk softening into something almost fond. "Don't worry. Misaki's fine. A little hungover, but nothing a strong cup of coffee and some pastries won't fix. He's young, unlike us"
Hiroki sighed, finally relenting, though the irritation lingered. "I guess it could've been worse." Ignoring Akihiko's comment about their age.
Akihiko nodded. "It usually could be. But don't worry, I'll leave the real mess-making to you two." His grin returned, mischievous as ever, as he eyed the room one last time before heading toward the door. "Anyway, I've got a hungover Misaki to check on. Enjoy the rest of your morning, lovebirds"
As Akihiko made his exit, Hiroki groaned, collapsing back on the bed. "Why do I put up with him?"
Nowaki chuckled, leaning down to brush a kiss across Hiroki's forehead. "Because, despite everything, he is your oldest friend."
Hiroki grumbled, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, yeah. I still want to strangle him half the time." He sighed, letting the tension of the uninvited visit drain away.
Nowaki, having discarded the bed sheets and feeling more comfortable now that they were alone again, reached for the coffee Akihiko had left. "Come on, Hiro-san, let's drink this while it's still warm," he said, extending the other cup toward Hiroki with a gentle smile. "Then we can sort the room out before our breakfast gets here."
"Yes, coffee is definitely needed before I do anything else." Hiroki said as he reached for the coffee.
They both settled on the edge of the bed, sipping their coffee in comfortable silence. The warm, rich flavour of the drink helped clear the last of Hiroki's grogginess, and he glanced around the room, fully registering the mess they'd made in their excitement last night. Clothes were scattered, the sheets were tangled, and the pillows were in disarray.
Nowaki took another sip and let out a contented sigh. "It was nice of Akihiko to bring the coffee, even if he's still a bit of a pain."
Hiroki nodded, though a slight frown tugged at his lips. "Yeah, he's always been like that—pushing his way into situations where he's not needed. But," he paused, glancing at the cup in his hands, "the coffee's good."
Nowaki chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "See? Even you can admit it's thoughtful, Hiro-san."
"Yeah, yeah," Hiroki muttered, taking another sip. The warmth spread through him, easing his earlier annoyance. He glanced sideways at Nowaki, who was gazing contentedly into his own cup. Hiroki felt a small pang of affection surge through him. Nowaki always knew how to make him feel better, no matter what mood he was in.
After a few more minutes of peaceful sipping, Nowaki stood up and stretched, his tall frame making the hotel room feel even cosier. "Alright, let's get this place looking half-decent before breakfast gets here. I don't want the staff to think we were completely out of control last night."
Hiroki snorted but set his cup down, following suit. "Out of control? I'd say we were very much in control," he said with a sly smirk.
Nowaki's cheeks flushed slightly, but he smiled fondly. "Well, either way, we should clean up a bit."
They started picking up their clothes, straightening the bed, and tidying the room in a comfortable rhythm. The remnants of last night's passion still lingered in the air, but the morning had a different feel—one of quiet intimacy and shared warmth. Hiroki's earlier irritation faded entirely as he watched Nowaki move around the room, his focus on making everything just right for them.
By the time they finished, the room service knock came right on cue.
"Perfect timing," Nowaki said, glancing at Hiroki with a grin. "Let's enjoy breakfast, Hiro-san."
Hiroki returned the smile, feeling grateful for this quiet moment with Nowaki. "Yeah, let's."
AN: I couldn't help but bring Akihiko back into it – who knew he was so thoughtful as to bring coffee? Clearly wanted more 'inspiration' for his books.
If you are still here, let me know :D
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