Usui Shusei closed his eyes under the burning wave that poured over his body, after the rather quiet day of classes that had followed the fights against the Duras, Opast and Mid-Villain of Reiga, he could finally relax under a hot shower.

His right hand rose to gently rub his scars on his right shoulder, lightly brushing his skin damaged by the burn made by Hotsuma in his adolescence. A slightly sad and yet resigned pout appeared on his pale face while the tip of one of his locks of hair came to tease the tip of his nose, causing a small childish grimace from the Zweilt. With a delicate back of his hand, Shusei threw his hair back, holding his face towards the clear water that fell on him.

Despite Hotsuma's words, he couldn't ignore the almost apologetic look he was giving his body. It was one of the reasons why Shusei didn't take his baths with the rest of the Zweilts; he refused to let Hotsuma feel embarrassed in the presence of the other guardians.

The young man closed his light brown eyes and sighed slowly, finally relaxing completely before turning off the water supply, shivering for a moment under the cold that suddenly enveloped him as he exited his shower.

As he rubbed himself with his towel, he couldn't help but think of his best friend. He would never be able to tell him that he only needed him, living only for him or if this conversation took place, Hotsuma would surely not understand the nuance, his golden eyes would narrow in question and he would groan while turning away quickly like a sulking child. Shusei put his towel on his shoulders as he pulled on his black silk pajama bottoms and resumed rubbing his hair, ruffling it in a way that reminded him once again of his friend. Hotsuma's golden hair seemed to have a will of its own that the comb could not control.

A small smile formed on his full lips, digging a small dimple at the corner of his mouth when he thought back to their childhood and the number of times Hotsuma had asked him to do his hair "like him". Only, if Shusei's light brown hair was easy to style, Hotsuma's refused any discipline to keep a "lion" look as he had told him.

A lion… that was what Hotsuma was. A wild and murderous lion… but also gentle and warm with those he loved… with Yuki, for example.

The smile almost immediately faded from Shusei's face as he pulled on his white long-sleeved t-shirt, the fabric becoming a little damp after its passage over his hair that was sticking up in all directions. The young man ran a distracted hand through it, mindlessly fixing it, looking at himself in the mirror that was located near the shower in the bathroom.

Yuki… he would have liked to hate him, to hate him for the love Hotsuma felt for him but he couldn't really. How could he hate someone so sweet and kind? He knew that all kinds of love circulated between the Zweilts and Yuki, as well as between Luka and Yuki: gratitude, friendship, desire, brotherhood, paternalism and others. All these feelings sometimes mixed together, merging. He himself loved Yuki in spite of himself, with a platonic and friendly love mixed with gratitude because of his status as "Light of God".

His brown eyes filled with a sad glint, veiling them a bit as he grabbed his black indoor jacket and immediately put it on his body, zipping it up to his neck to leave the bathroom and return to his room. All the way there, Shusei thought back to Yuki and Hotsuma. Even though he knew that Yuki was developing strong feelings for Luka and that the top-ranked Opast fully returned them, the fact remained that Hotsuma loved Yuki as well.

A kind of love triangle that Shusei was not a part of.

The young man sighed imperceptibly, his eyes tired as he arrived in front of his room and appreciated the darkness and calm that were present in the adjoining living room. He took off his jacket which he let fall on the high back of an armchair and looked with that slightly absent air that was typical of him at the silver chain supporting his cross made by Yuki. He had left it on the coffee table in his suite before going to wash, he remembered perfectly having placed it near the small Zen garden that Tsukomo had offered him and it was now stuck to another identical chain, even if the cross of the second was decorated with a ruby and not an emerald like his.

That could only mean one thing, he thought as he entered his room, standing silently in the doorway as he watched the figure lying on his bed, slightly bent to the side like a child. Hotsuma was sleeping on his sheets once again, his arms buried under the pillow that he held to his face as he breathed calmly.

Shusei sighed softly and walked silently towards him.

"Are you crashing in my bed again, Hotsuma?" he asked softly, his smooth voice echoing imperceptibly in the silence as a small sigh escaped from his friend who rubbed his nose against the cushion cover.

Zweilt looked at his teammate with a bit of humor on his face. Who could say "I saw the 'Voice of God' sleeping like a child" and then escape Hotsuma's wrath alive?

Why… why did Hotsuma seem to seek out his presence nonstop? After he was kidnapped, shortly after Yuki came, he had promised him that he wouldn't leave him again, so why this fear?

Shusei sat on his bed, digging a little into the mattress under his light weight and bringing a small frown from Hotsuma who instinctively moved closer to him. Light brown eyes slowly traveled over the features of his face, sliding over the straight nose, teased by the long blond locks, over the small sleepy pout that was wrinkling and the cheeks a little reddened by sleep. A tender grin formed on his face as he lightly brushed the lock of hair that was brushing the tip of Hotsuma's nose with a slight index finger and Shusei closed his eyes for a moment.

For what…

His gaze rested on his friend, staring at him silently before sighing, reaching out to the broad shoulder covered in a black long sleeved t-shirt to shake him.

"Hotsuma…" he called softly. "Hey, Hotsuma…"

But nothing woke his teammate who sighed weakly as he rolled onto his back while keeping his face turned towards him.

Shusei bit his lower lip, wondering what to do while being tempted by two things. The reality was that he couldn't push his friend to the ground since his bed was stuck to the wall and he himself was sitting on the side of the void. He had the solution to shout in the blond's ears and wake him up with a start but that risked making him scream in anger for three hours with the impossibility of sleeping... or... the other solution...

Sleep next to him.

Sure, the bed was wide and they had already slept together in their childhood, but not since Hotsuma had burned it during their adolescence, the blond hardly daring to touch him anymore, only brushing against him as if Shusei was going to disintegrate under his hands. Shusei sighed softly as he pushed back with his fingertips the long strands of Hotsuma's hair that were on his forehead, unconsciously devouring him with his eyes with a soft smile.

"Neh, Hotsuma…" he whispered as he lay down gently beside her. "You'll never leave me alone, will you?"

The blond rolled back a little, waddling to regain a comfortable position and turned around to face Shusei who widened his eyes for a moment seeing him close to him but said nothing. He continued to stare at Hotsuma in silence, his sleep eagerly awaited. He suddenly felt a hand come to rest on his hip and he froze a little.

"Hotsuma?" he called in a whisper. "If you're awake, idiot, go to your bed."

Only a slight grunt answered him and the young man smiled tenderly, amused by the attitude of his best friend, able to answer him in his sleep without waking up. Shusei raised a hand and once again pushed the blond locks behind Hotsuma's right ear, brushing the rings that the young man kept there with his fingertips. The soft hair put back in place, Shusei took advantage of his friend's heavy sleep to run his fingers along his cheek to his chin, gently caressing the warm skin of the Zweilt who carried the "Voice of God".

He had realized for a long time now that his feelings for Hotsuma went beyond friendship to plunge into a one-sided love. He knew him as well as he knew himself, knew his fears and weaknesses and wanted to protect him as best he could, grateful that Hotsuma let him do it, wanting his presence. He didn't want to create embarrassment between them by declaring an impossible love that would be rejected.

His eyes fell on Hotsuma's parted lips, unaware that Hotsuma was opening his eyes to stare at him in turn. An exploratory finger came to caress his lower lip slowly and the blond closed his eyes again, just a few seconds before Shusei looked up at him, watching him in silence, unaware that his breathing was speeding up in spite of himself in the anguish of what he was going to dare to do.

After all, he was the only one conscious and with Hotsuma's heavy sleep, the latter would never know.

Shusei lifted himself up slowly, approaching his friend's almost tense lips and brushed them against his own before pulling back, swallowing. A glance at the blond reassured him, he continued to sleep deeply. A small trembling smile formed on his lips before they went back to meet those of his friend. So soft, so warm and full, he couldn't believe that Hotsuma had such a tender mouth, he who could scream and always spoke in such a loud voice.

Lost in his exploration, he forgot his surroundings a little. He forgot his friend's eyes that had just opened wide in surprise before lowering halfway while gorging on warmth and softness, he forgot the hand that his friend had placed on his hip in his sleep and that had just slowly risen towards the nape of his neck. It was precisely this soft, almost tender contact that made him freeze, widening his eyes as he felt Hotsuma's lips move against his.

Anything but that…anything but the idea of Hotsuma kissing someone in his sleep as Shusei brushed his lips.

The young man tried to pull away but the hand behind his neck stopped him, forcing the kiss to continue. Shusei opened his eyes wide as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder to push him away and despite the short distance between them, he realized that Hotsuma had his eyes half-open, looking at him closely while nibbling at his lips before slowly pulling away.

Shusei pulled back slightly, aware of Hotsuma's gaze on him and swallowed, ready to flee his own room at the slightest sign of disgust from his friend. The latter continued to stare at him silently, his golden eyes running over his features gently as the hand on the back of his neck came to caress his left cheek.

"Neh, Shusei… I really like this way of waking up," he murmured, smiling softly. "You can do it again whenever you want."

The young man with light brown hair widened his eyes a little more as he stared at his friend before sighing in understanding. Hotsuma cared too much for him to clearly push him away, preferring to keep him close to him, even if he sacrificed his own love. With a painful look, ignoring Hotsuma's questioning one that was waiting for an answer to his words, Shusei got up to sit next to him, placing his arms on his knees before pushing his hair back with his right hand, aware that the blond was positioning himself in the same way in front of him.

"Shusei?

- Hotsuma… I'm sorry, Hotsuma, Shusei muttered in a soft voice.

- Why? You didn't do anything... his friend began.

- You love Yuki… I know it and I accept it, Hotsuma… but I won't let you give up your own chance to find happiness with him because you knew about me.

- What are you talking about? Hotsuma asked, furrowing his thick, blond eyebrows. Yes, I love Yuki… but… he continued, seeing the flash of pain in his friend's soft brown eyes. But… I love him like one loves one's little brother, Shusei… not like I love you.

- Like his best friend, I know…

"I rarely kiss my friends on the lips… or anywhere else, really," Hotsuma said as he approached him. "I was always awake, Shusei… waiting for you."

- Why? Shusei asked in a low voice.

- Because I had something to tell you… that asshole Zess made me understand this afternoon."

Shusei frowned, remembering that Hotsuma and Yuki hadn't had class that afternoon, both returning with Luka in Takashiro's car. According to Tsukomo, Yuki had gone back to the mansion alone, leaving Luka and Hotsuma for a few minutes by the car. Hotsuma had returned flustered a few moments later and locked himself in his room, not letting anyone in.

"And?" Shusei asked in a whisper, aware that Hotsuma was bringing their faces closer but unable to make a move, his eyes fixed on his friend's parted lips.

- After horrifying me by asking me to imagine myself in bed with Yuki… Hotsuma began, grimacing despite an amused sparkle in his eyes. He simply asked me who I would prefer to be with… and the answer was so simple, in fact… it was always you, Shusei.

- Friendship, Shusei cut in. I know very well that… »

His sentence was cut off as Hotsuma's mouth came to take his harder, preventing him from finishing his words while mixing their breaths. The blond's hands came to delve into the brown hair, holding Shusei's head against his while his tongue came to tease his lips before moving back so that he could rest his forehead against his.

"Otherwise, Shusei… I don't dream of kissing Toko or Tsukomo, I don't want to sleep with Kuroto or Senshiro… the idea of sleeping with Luka makes me want to throw up and imagining Yuki in my arms other than as a friend makes me feel like my insides are knotting with disgust. Shusei… Shusei… there's only you I want to hug, to kiss… he whispered, kissing her lips tenderly between two words while surrounding her face with his palms. Shusei… Oh, Shusei… there's only you, there's always been only you…

- Hotsuma… Shusei whispered, holding his wrists. Hotsuma, wait…

"I only need you, Shusei," the blond whispered against his lips.

Shusei pulled away, frowning and shaking his head. He couldn't believe this, not when he could still see his friend's eyes clearly on his fire-scarred body, not when he saw the guilt fiercely veiling his gaze, that sadness in the way his fingertips brushed his scars.

"Hotsuma!" he began, removing his white top, exposing his finely muscled torso and displaying the marks he kept. "Look at me, Hotsuma. That's guilt you're feeling. I don't know how you realized I had strong feelings for you… and you don't want to hurt me anymore but… you don't have the same feelings for me!"

- Are you stupid? the blond growled, gritting his teeth. Do you really think I don't know the difference between friendship and love?

- …Listen to me, Shusei breathed.

- No, you're the one who's going to listen to me now! Hotsuma grumbled, pushing Shusei onto his back, laying him down under his body to hold him in bed. These scars, it hurts to look at them, it's true, I feel guilty because I didn't know how to stop before hurting you... but not because I marked you... because you seem so sad when you look at me, Shusei... I know you blame me for them.

- That's not true! Shusei cut in. That's what you think. I don't feel them, they don't hurt me anymore! Why can't you forgive yourself? Do you think I don't know that you'll never be attracted to me?

- Are you blind? the blond growled, grabbing Shusei's right hand and pressing it against his swollen crotch. I'm not attracted to you, Shusei? What do you think that is?

- Hotsuma!

-I think that bastard was right… Hotsuma muttered, sliding a hand into Shusei's hair to lift his friend's thin, pale face to his own.

- What…

- I shouldn't let you talk and act like you usually do."

His sentence ended when he passionately took possession of Shusei's mouth, which was half-open in surprise, the young man's soft moan resonating in his oral cavity as his tongue went to discover the softness of his friend's. Hotsuma's body delicately settled on Shusei's thinner one, preventing him from moving properly and they both froze.

They could no longer deny the effect their closeness and kisses had on their bodies, each feeling the other's beginning erection against their thigh.

Hotsuma slowly pulled back, observing Shusei before gently taking his mouth again, tenderly brushing it with his tongue, inviting the young man to share this kiss of goodwill and that is what Shusei did by closing his eyes, wrapping his arms around his friend's neck. The delicacy of the kiss made them shiver, the heat that was growing in them made them tremble and a low growl escaped Hotsuma when Shusei gave a slight thrust of his hips against him, making their erections rub together in his attempt to be more comfortable.

The blond pulled back, letting his mouth run down his – he hoped now – boyfriend's neck, brushing his lips over the burn marks he had made, continuing on his upper torso before returning to take his lips for another kiss, aware that Shusei was spreading his legs a little more to give him room.

They've been waiting for this for so long... they've both been dreaming about it for so long...

Shusei let out a soft moan that echoed in the room, his cheeks burning as he closed a hand on Hotsuma's blond hair, pressing his face into his neck that was devoured by kisses, licks and sucks. The young man closed his eyes as he felt the soft swaying cadence of the curved hips of black pants against his own, rocking their manhood between their bellies. A small moan of pleasure escaped him, causing Hostuma to come back to claim his lips, something he offered him willingly before throwing his head back while arching, the pressure on him increasing more and more.

"Hotsuma," he moaned softly, wrapping his legs around the blond's thighs, trapping his feet behind his knees. "Oh… Hotsuma…

- Shusei," he growled in response while increasing the movement of his hips.

Neither of them had ever had a relationship, whether romantic or physical, too in love with each other to "look elsewhere" even if they were unaware that this love was reciprocal. The friction on their sexes quickly led them towards an unknown but so satisfying pleasure.

Shusei tensed slightly upwards, taking his partner's mouth with passion when he felt his body contract, tremble under Hotsuma's. His thighs tensed, followed by his muscles and he shivered violently when his hot sperm settled on his stomach and his sex still hidden by his pants. He perceived with one ear, lost in his pleasure, the dull moan that Hotsuma let out and caressed his back under his black top while feeling him tremble.

A soft smile formed on his lips as Hotsuma's face buried itself in his neck, the blond seemingly unable to stop shaking against him. His right hand cupped a pierced ear and the action made Hotsuma stand up abruptly, looking at him with concern.

"Shusei! I didn't… I didn't hurt you!" the blond exclaimed.

The young man in question raised an intrigued eyebrow before hiding his smile by turning away a little, immediately provoking a somewhat abrupt hug from his friend who lay down behind him, his body molding to his while the tanned hands closed on his stomach. With a slow gesture, Shusei reached out, retrieving his white top which he put back on before pulling the covers over them in silence.

"Shusei… answer me!"

- Idiot… he whispered tenderly. Of course not…

- Good night, Shusei! Hotsuma murmured, hugging him before lifting himself up to pull Shusei's mouth to his with one hand under his chin.

"Good night," Shusei replied softly after the sweet kiss he received.

Neither of them knew when they fell asleep… yet, waking up was easier to remember. Indeed, how could they ignore the screams of "Pervert!" coming from Kuroto who was trying in vain to hide the eyes of a Yuki who was both embarrassed and touched by the sight of his friends finally together. It was also this sweet young man who dragged the still shocked brunette away and closed the door to Shusei's room after giving them a slight smile.

Shusei looked up at Hotsuma's face. During the night, he had to move to turn around to face him, the blond young man's arms closing around his body protectively. He smiled softly as he looked into Hotsuma's eyes who was also staring at him with a tender look.

Their mouths sealed softly before moving to each other's necks…

This was going to be a really good day…