synflux | ( OPEN ) JUNE CATCH ALL

If that's what you want.

[ Aki saw those wandering eyes.

It's not as if it bothers him. There's something nice about being appreciated, even if his cheeks are a little red in return. His hair is hanging damp, sticking to his face, and his expression is warm as he moves forward and reaches for his spare clothes. He can use the style chip later, but there's a robe and some sweats, and they'll be enough for now.

Tugging the sweatpants on, he turns to put the towel back in the bathroom before he comes over to sit beside Tsurumaru, lifting the towel to begin to dry off his hair. ]

I wonder if they have a hairdryer in here.

[ It would be nice, but... Not his main concern right now. ]

Did you pick food?

(The bed is big enough. It's not like the single sized ones back at the base where they have to make room for one another. Still, he shifts to give him enough space to get up and go over to one of the dressers,)

It's in one of these drawers.

(As he searches,)

Mhm. It hasn't come yet. They said they'd knock and leave it outside.

(He finds the dryer and comes back. It's wireless, lightweight, probably something fancy given the current year so he settles back next to Aki reaches for him,)

Let me.

(He'll dry his hair.)

That's normal. Thank you, for ordering it.

[ Aki shifts, making himself comfortable on the bed as Tsurumaru moves around. When the hairdryer is discovered, he's reaching out to take it before the offer is made, and then he feels his face soften into a smile.

He can't help it. His heart aches a little. ]

Go ahead.

[ Turning, back to Tsurumaru, he closes his eyes and tilts his head back. ]

Thank you.

Eh~, I can't wait.

(Its just room service but he's excited. It's his first time trying it out. The whole idea is so novel to him.)

You can do the same thing in Neo Tokyo, in a sense. (Switching the dryer to a low and cool setting, he starts to run his fingers through Aki's hair gently,) You can get food at any time if you fill out the right form.

(Applications. He means if you use the right apps.)

I thought it would be a lot of paperwork... but there's no paper at all! It's so easy.

(He's happy to chatter away as he takes care of Aki,)

Food is so convenient to get these days... humans have come so far. (Because at the end of the day, no matter how human he may seem, Tsurumaru isn't human. He's spent most of his years simply observing. He's witnessed plenty of famines and hes' heard of how people struggle in times of hunger.) It's really wonderful.

(And it's only at the end that he changes the setting to something warmer and a little stronger to make sure Aki's hair is all dry and soft,)

There. All done!

(... And he takes his hands and gives Aki's hair a good ruffle for fun. Maybe a little harder than he needs to.)

[ Aki leans back into the touch, letting Tsurumaru talk and discuss and do whatever he wants with himself while he takes care of drying him off.

It's nice, to just relax, warm and languid from his shower, calming down from the intensity of everything. He feels less like he might snap into pieces, less like a brittle candy now and more like someone who can breathe properly.

Turning his head a little, he hums absently. ]

We had take out where I was from, but you'd have to call or go and pick it up yourself. It's more convenient here.

[ Nodding, he leans slowly, back and back, until he's collapsed against Tsurumaru and expecting his twig of a partner - are they partners? Maybe they should clarify - to hold him up. ]

Thanks.

Wah!

(It isn't what he expects but he catches him all the same. Arms wrapped around him, to support him and now looking down at him...

He looks better, Tsurumaru thinks. Maybe it's because he's refreshed from his shower but he really does seem better these days. He seems more relaxed. He seems happier. He has more fun. He smiles more.

(Good, he thinks. This is how it should be.)

Leaning down so their faces are close,)

You're heavy. (And he smiles. It's clear he doesn't mind. He's stronger than he looks. This is nothing for him.) Are you comfortable?

(And he adjusts his hold so Aki can slink more into him, so he can hold him in his arms, run his hand across his chest.)

You're comfortable.

[ Aki slides down into him, curling into the length of Tsurumaru's body and almost nuzzling into him. He doesn't really want to move, doesn't want to shift his weight, not when he's so comfortable, and he sighs softly.

He's tired, but in a good way, warm and cozy rather than exhausted. ]

I don't want to move, but I'll shift if it's uncomfortable for you.

[ He peers up at Tsurumaru, eyes covered a little by his long hair.

Maybe he does need a haircut... ]

Kiss me.

(He's comfortable? Is that what he thinks? It's not a word most people would use to describe him and maybe later, when he's alone with his thoughts again, he'll think about it more. Does he like being called that? Or would he rather still be surprising?

Without thinking, as naturally as if it was the same as breathing, he brushes aside strands of hair from his face so he can, in turn, see him better. So they can see each other better.)

How demanding.

(He laughs lightly, so endeared by it all. Fingers brushing at another strand of hair, tracing down the side of his face, down his jaw, settling under his chin. He raises his face up ever so slightly, playful and teasing as he seems to consider it for a moment...

... He leans in and kisses him. Gentle, slow, and sweet; no need to rush, no need to be greedy when he knows he can take his time and just enjoy him.)

[ It might not be comfort in the literal, physical sense, but there’s more to comfort than that. Aki is well aware of the fact that he’s careful around others, guarded and unsure, but with Tsuru… Baring himself, admitting his hurts and pains, sharing his darkest memories… It’s eased that burden, just a little. He feels more secure, safer, confident.

Comfortable.

There’s still a thread of uncertainty that lingers, the wonder of being loved and wanted and the uncertainty of desire, but it’s not as frightening now. It’s not as scary, when he can reach out and be held back in return. He can give Tsuru the pieces of his shattered heart - he doesn’t need much in return.

Sighing, he leans into the kiss and takes and takes and takes, tilting his body towards the other man. It’s soft and sweet, it feels good, and he laughs with the sheer enjoyment of it, eyes twinkling a little when he leans back. ]

Tsurumaru… I like you. [ Another tender confession, unable to hide it as he leans in for more of those soft kisses, pleased and proud as he sinks into his partner and enjoys the warmth of him, his skin flushed down to his neck and chest. ]

("I like you." There it is again. That twisting feeling in his heart and he isn't sure how to describe it. He thinks it's good. He certainly doesn't dislike it. It's like... that feeling before a surprise. When he doesn't know what to expect but maybe in a good way this time. Anticipation? Excitement? Maybe he only likes it because it's Aki.

He opens his mouth just slightly, as if he has something to say but the words catch in his throat. It hangs there for just a second and as if realizing how he looks, he closes it shut again. He leans down, curling into himself as he comes down to kiss Aki once more, almost apologetically.

He still can't say it. Not yet. Even if... he likes spending time with Aki. He likes how he treats him. He likes when he indulges him. He likes how he makes him feel. It should be easy enough to say that--

(Ah, he's a coward.)

As if to distract him, he kisses him once more and says quietly, )

You taste different.

[ It’s not as if Aki expected anything else, but his heart is still a little sore.

There’s enough here for him to be content all the same, leaning into the kisses and letting himself indulge. It’s easy, uncomplicated when he shoves the emotion aside, mouth on mouth in easy pleasure. A kiss is a kiss and he needs no more, wants no more, even as his wounded heart asks for it.

It’s only pride. Tsuru likes him enough to be here, to take care of him, to kiss and touch him. That he’ll never have a place in his heart - well. Maybe Aki ought to concern himself with himself more, but that’s never been his strong suit.

Leaning back, he hums softly before he considers. ]

Taste…? Oh.

[ A short, huff of a laugh. ]

I ran out of cigarettes. They don’t have my brand here, so it’s different.

(It's selfish. It isn't fair. Aki deserves more than this, he thinks, but when he tries, the words always catch. It's embarrassing in a way. He should be stronger than this. But having a heart really does make you weak in ways, doesn't it?

He's glad for the distraction though. He's grateful that Aki rolls with it.

(He really is too good for him, he thinks. He should try to be better. Stronger.))

Ah...

(Gold eyes light up and one can practically see the metaphorical light bulb go off.)

Wait.

(And even if he hates to disturb him, he needs to move. He needs to work off some of that uncomfortable, cowardly energy he has. Carefully, he shifts and scrambles away and off the bed. He has to rummage through the nightstand for moment. It doesn't take long because the next minute... he turns back to Aki, holding a familiar pack in his hands.)

Here. These are for you.

[ It strikes him, like an odd punch in the gut.

Aki is accustomed to taking care of himself. He lived alone for years after his family died, and there was a distance between himself and others, one not even Himeno could crack at times. It was only when Denji and Power bullied their way into his life that some of that pain and grief had faded and left him vulnerable - but he was still the master of his own care. He still cared for himself, he just had others in addition to it.

One packet of cigarettes is painfully simple, but it speaks volumes to a man who had lived in pain and isolation for so long that something as bland as a gift could move him to tears.

Reaching out, he takes the packet and tilts it, one way and then the other. It’s his brand, the kind he’d struggled to find here, even with similar companies selling their wares. His craving for a cigarette might have been tempered by stress and exhaustion, but there’s no denying the itch now.

Lifting his head to look at Tsurumaru, he can barely resist.

Cigarettes squeezed in his fingers, he leans in to kiss him, harder than before, all tooth and tongue and desperation. The feeling floods him, burns inside of him; I like you, I like you so much, thank you even as his heart races and his skin burns with warmth.

It’s just cigarettes, but it isn’t.

Hand on Tsurumaru’s cheek, he barely breathes, biting at his mouth gently before he leans back. ]

Thank you.

(He watches as Aki takes the packet and turns it over like there's some sort of trick. It's the type of reaction he was hoping to get and he holds his head up high, chest out, clearly proud of his gift.

It's the type of thing he'd expected to happen. In case the mission was difficult, in case Aki ran out, in case he couldn't find what he wanted in a new land, then Tsurumaru would have a surprise ready for him. Of course, he'd wanted to give it to him earlier but with everything that hat happened, with all that had gotten in the way, there were delays. It feels good to finally give it to him, the though.)

I wanted to give it to you ea--

(And he makes a surprised sound. It's undignified and totally uncool the way he squawks when Aki practically lunges at him. He's so caught off guard, he can only respond. He gasps, he smiles, and he keens. There's no time to prepare. He's breathless before he even knows it and when it's over, he lets out a breathy laugh.

Face flushed, chest out, chin raised, so proud.)

Were you that surprised?

(At some point, he'd wrapped his arms around his shoulders and he finds himself hanging, dizzy and so utterly taken. He pulls himself up, leans back in, and kisses his neck, teeth teasing skin and sighs,)

Good.

I'll be sure to give you more surprises.

(It's a promise.)

[ The promise is alluring, delightfully so, and Aki thrives with it.

Cigarettes and room service, a mindless movie, a hot body beside his own that he can tease and touch and care for. The warmth of Tsurumaru’s eye and gaze, the arms on his neck, the mouth on his skin… It is all delicious and heady, leaving him fit for nothing more than desperate and delicious yearning.

Aki is briefly possessed by the memory of the maid outdoors, of hand on skin and silk, of dark eyes and quiet, breathy noises, and he can feel his skin flush as he tilts to give more space for kisses. He knows he’s embarrassed by his own reaction, his own want, but despite all his contracts he is only human. Aki is unable to resist the pull of desire in the same way many others fall victim.

Shifting, he kisses along Tsurumaru’s jaw, lips curling into a placed, smug little smile. ]

Is it my turn to surprise you, in that case?

[ Aki curls into him, half tempted to leave a mark, a hickey, kissing at Tsuru’s skin as he pushes closer. ]

I’ve been told cigarettes are the most fun after orgasm.

( OPEN ) JUNE CATCH ALL

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