Work Text:
Right away Koushi knew it was one of those mornings.
In a regular world scenario where Daichi came home late from the firehouse as he had the night previous, he’d still be passed out right now, nose pressed to Koushi’s neck, dead to the world, Momo, their big Samoyed curled against Daichi’s back like they were two pups in a litter. Koushi would carefully extract himself, shower quick and cook them up some half assed omelets that Daichi would emerge later to eat, looking like he’d been hit by a train before biking off back to the firehouse for round two.
This morning however, Daichi was up and out of bed before him. Momo along with him. Had probably, though Koushi would not have the heart to ask, been up since before dawn unable to go back to sleep. He found him at the stove leaning against the counter to take the weight off his knee, shooting him what could pass as a cheery smile. Momo lifted her head from where she was curled up on the rug to blink at Koushi, yawning impressively.
“Morning Kou, I made coffee.”
Any other morning, maybe one where Daichi was up early of his own volition, his day off perhaps when he was feeling good and rested, Koushi, still fresh out of their bed, would emit a vaguely humanoid sound and deposit himself at their table to drink coffee until he became a person again. Instead he was gently bumping his hip into Daichi’s pulling the handle of their frypan out of his grip.
“Hey, let me.”
Daichi, only confirming Koushi’s worry by not arguing, let himself down at the table with a barely suppressed hiss of pain. He sipped his coffee with his eyes shut, leg stretched out in front of him. It’d been bad again lately, Koushi afraid it’d been the long flight from the states, or maybe the hiking they’d done while there, the three flights of stairs up to Daichi’s cousin’s apartment, the sand volleyball they’d played on the beach. If left to his own devices, Koushi had a list a mile long of no good very bad things for Daichi’s knee they’d done while stateside. He wouldn’t take it back, the impromptu wedding, the road trip honeymoon, still unconsciously twisting the gold band on his finger at every turn, but he wondered if they ought to have taken it easier.
Leaving the eggs a second, Koushi retrieved their well-loved ice pack, delivering it to Daichi at the table, who cracked his eyes to give Koushi a sheepish smile. He was in the middle of a long stretch of work, another four days until he’d have time off to rest up. He’d put on the brace when he went in and that’d have to hold him up until he got off.
Daichi scarfed the eggs down, while Koushi kneaded lotion into his knee.
“At least today’s short,” Koushi said, as Daichi staggered to his feet to get his work clothes on. Daichi kissed him gently.
“You’re right, I’ll be home by seven,” he said this with a wink, Koushi unable to hold back the answering grin on his face. A night where they’d both be home for dinner, where they could crawl into bed at the same time. Koushi’s mind running on ahead with how he’d make their night perfect, even as Daichi snagged his bento from the counter, and stole one final kiss before he blew out the door, leaving Koushi to eat his now cold eggs alone.
--
It was a quarter to five and Koushi had another two hours, prepping his ingredients with care. After work he’d stopped by the grocery store where Daichi had worked before he’d started at the firehouse. Picking up fresh ingredients and waving hello to some of Daichi’s old friends there. They still went out for beers sometimes when their free times lined up. There was Temari-san and old man Kamura and the young kid, Sakahara who’d almost made a gambler out of Daichi. Daichi usually liked to cook but Koushi wanted to surprise him tonight, one of his favorite meals, collecting green onions and pork. Chiba-san from school was there with her mother and Koushi slapped back on his teacher face to make polite chatter, finally begging leave that he had to go to get dinner started.
“What a lucky wife you have,” Chiba-san’s mom cooed and Koushi tried to keep his smile even, a secret for keeping.
Daichi was usually like clockwork when he worked this shift, unless something had happened that would keep him late, and he was always good about letting Koushi know. No need to worry about me more than you have to.
This night though Daichi came home early, the sound of their front door startling Koushi from his daydreaming and his ingredients, wiping his hands off on his apron- Daichi’s apron- answering Daichi’s muffled call of “I’m home” with a cheerful “welcome back”. There went his plans of having dinner ready when Daichi got home. He poked his head out of the kitchen with a grin.
“You’re home early,” he said to be met with Daichi crossing the space between him and dragging him into a kiss, slanting their mouths together. Koushi let out a huff of laughter, imagining a horny Daichi at work. Daichi crushing him to his chest with those strong arms of his and Koushi squeezed him back, Daichi’s mouth was insistent on his own, desperate even, and Koushi lost in it, until he felt the back of his thighs meet the countertop, with exhale of surprise. Daichi broke their kiss hefting him up onto the counter top, Koushi with a yelp wrapping his arms around Daichi’s neck.
“Wow, Sawamura, boring day at work?” he managed to exhale before Daichi was kissing him again, pulling off his apron and then tugging insistently at his ratty t-shirt, Koushi wriggling out, having to separate their mouths for a second, the rough warm palms of Daichi’s hands skating across his ribs, his chest, Koushi shivering somewhere between the cold of being shirtless and the sensation of Daichi’s hands, thumbs brushing his nipples, giggling a little as Daichi started at his jaw, trailing hot wet kisses down his neck, pulling raw sounds from the back of Koushi’s throat. “Daichi, what’s gotten into you?” he panted and in the silence that answered him, a thread of worry started in Koushi’s stomach, teeth grazing his nipple, drawing a moan out of him, thoughts flying away like scattering birds. He tried to pull back his focus, even as Daichi’s hands working clumsily at the waistband of his sweatpants were making his head blank with pure want.
“Daichi?” he gasped again, watching Daichi shimmy his sweatpants down his thighs, kissing his belly button, a ticklish swell of nervous laughter wobbled out of his throat, reaching to try and catch Daichi’s hands in his own and that’s when he saw the hospital ID bracelet on Daichi’s wrist, panic swelling through him, gripping Daichi’s hands tight. “Daichi, hold up,” he managed to choke out, Daichi stopping, chest heaving. Koushi couldn’t help the shiver trembling through his shoulders now, wishing he had his shirt back on. “Were you at the hospital? What’s with the bracelet? What’s going on?” Daichi looked down in what was maybe surprise at his own wrist.
“’s nothing,” he answered. Koushi squeezed his hands tighter, Daichi locking their fingers together and holding on.
“Nope, we don’t do that, you don’t get to just brush a question like that off,” he reached a hand to Daichi’s cheek, Daichi finally straightening and daring a look up at Koushi. His eyes were red and full of tears, lower lip trembling. “Daichi? What is it?” Koushi thumbed back the tear that escaped, fright pinching in his chest, tracing a soothing stroke with his thumb across Daichi’s cheekbone, Daichi leaning into his touch. Daichi wasn’t a crier, Koushi was the crier. He tried to marshal his fears. “Are you sick? Hurt? Is it your knee?” panic peaking.
“No, I’m okay,” Daichi’s voice came out rough but it sounded honest, “They just… smoke inhalation, wanted to…” he tried to take a calming breath, “do some x-rays on my ribs.”
Koushi was then the one forcefully dragging Daichi’s still slightly sweaty t-shirt up to rake his eyes over the darkening shadows of bruises already blossoming there, fingers tracing cold against them, Daichi shivered, covering his cold hands with his own.
“Anything broken?” Koushi whispered.
“No, I’m okay.”
“Okay, good,” Koushi sighed out, feeling the spike of fear in his chest start to dissolve. He shivered again. “And you were what? Going to sad fuck me because of that?” Daichi’s eyes filled again and he shook his head
“’m sorry.”
“Daichi, what is it?”
The tears were coming out harder now and Daichi couldn’t form the words. Koushi dragged him closer to wrap his arms around his shoulders, Daichi pressed his face to Koushi’s shoulder, arms strong around his waist, shuddering in his arms, gasping out warm damp breaths against his neck. Koushi hung on, tracing circles against Daichi’s shoulders, as long as they were like this, he reasoned they’d be okay, no matter what terrible thing Daichi was going to tell him.
“He went back for the damn dog,” Daichi finally said, voice cracking. “I couldn’t find him, the house was coming down and I couldn’t find him.” Koushi stroked his head gently, his own eyes stinging at the pain in Daichi’s voice. “Then I did. I dragged him out, but… but…” he couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Fuck,” was all Koushi could whisper, kissing the side of Daichi’s head.
“All I could think was… I kept imagining… our house… you and Momo.”
“I’m right here, Daichi. I’m okay,” Koushi said softly gripping him tighter.
“Thank god,” Daichi sighed out, voice lost.
They stayed like this until Koushi could hear the oil at a boil on the stove, Momo whining at the back door, scratching to be let in.
“Daichi?” he murmured stroking his hair one more time. Daichi shuddered a little, lifting his head, eyes dry now but the pain still there. “You want to take Momo for a walk or maybe a hot bath? And I’ll finish dinner.” Daichi rested his cheek against Koushi’s shoulder and shut his eyes as Koushi ran his fingers through his hair again.
“Or we can stay like this,” he offered, “I don’t really feel like a sad fuck right now.” Daichi huffed a breath that could’ve been a laugh, it just didn’t quite make it. Koushi stroked his hair again. “I mean, if you really think it’d make you feel better, maybe…”
“No, no, I’m sorry, Koushi,” Daichi said then, his voice rough, “I shouldn’t have, I wasn’t thinking, I just saw you and...” he heaved out a heavy sigh shaking his head, “I’m sorry.”
“I mean it was kinda hot until I realized you were crying,” Koushi said softer, kissing Daichi’s forehead. Momo was barking now, insistently.
“Maybe someday we’ll have to try that out.”
Koushi hummed with huff of laughter.
“Just come home and fuck me right on the counter.”
This time it sounded more like a laugh when the sound came out of Daichi’s throat pressing a gentle kiss to Koushi’s neck before he lifted his head up and straightened with a wince, hand reaching for his ribs.
“I’ll let Momo in. Then bath.”
Koushi tugged him back for one more kiss against his temple and then on second thought one for his cheek as well, Daichi met his lips for a third before they separated, Koushi sliding off the counter and pulling back on his sweatpants, Daichi handing him his t-shirt to shiver his way back into.
“I’ll finish dinner. Don’t judge my cooking too harshly, sensei.”
“I’m sure it’ll be great,” Daichi said with a small smile, “Or at least edible,” his smile shifted and Koushi swatted him on the shoulder as he headed for the back door to let Momo in.
He found Daichi later, dozed off in the bath, snoring, head back, dark bruises standing out across his torso and shoulders. Koushi grimaced, not for the first time wishing silently that Daichi had found a safer line of work, where he could feel like he was helping people without putting his own life and body in danger.
“Baby, dinner’s ready,” Koushi whispered, crouching to softly rake his fingers through Daichi’s hair, Momo right behind him not hesitating to aggressively lick Daichi’s face. Daichi groaned blinking at the two of them, rubbing his stiff neck and then slowly heaving himself out of the lukewarm water.
Daichi made a show of being enthusiastic about dinner, hair still damp.
“Smells good,” he said with a forceful cheer that made Koushi’s chest hurt. It wasn’t until Koushi started in on his daily update on the world of grade two that Daichi’s smiles started looking genuine, where the bites he took weren’t just a default action, he was sighing over the pork. “It really is good,” he said then, “You graduate, you’re going to cook every night from here on in, right?”
Koushi grinned back at him.
“Only if you want to eat this meal every night. It’s the only thing I know how to make.”
“Fine by me. I could die happy eating this every night.”
“Noo,” Koushi complained leaning forward across the table, Daichi’s foot brushing his beneath the table.
“Maybe I’ll still cook every once in a while,” Daichi amended, “Teach you to make a couple other things before I retire.”
When they’d finished Koushi waved Daichi off to relax and let him do the dishes, but Daichi followed him back into the kitchen anyway wrapping his arms around Koushi’s waist from behind and resting his chin against his shoulder, before pressing a gentle kiss to his neck.
“It really was good, Kou.”
“Everything tastes good when you’re hungry,” Koushi brushed the compliment off.
“I’m sorry about earlier.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Koushi wiggled loose of Daichi’s grip so he could turn to face him, wrapping his arms around him. “I mean it was weird, yeah? But also you came home to me cleaning the kitchen in my underwear singing opera last week so like, we’re even.”
“We’re not even, you’re way weirder than me,” Daichi whispered and Koushi pinched his side, Daichi laughing. Koushi leaned forward to kiss him, soft and sweet, Daichi holding him a little tighter. “Just for saying that you have to help me do the dishes. As punishment,” Koushi told him. Daichi hummed and kissed him again.
As Koushi was precariously balancing the containers of leftovers into their tiny fridge he caught sight the hospital bracelet again, sitting out on the counter, his stomach knotting for a second. Daichi was drying the last of the dishes, the slump returned to his shoulders.
Just as easily Daichi could’ve been the man not returning home tonight. He tried not to play that scenario out in his mind… half way through making dinner, a call from the chief or from the hospital, the pit of his stomach dropping. Koushi’s knees felt weak for a second with it, Daichi turning to him as if he could hear his distress. Koushi crossed the kitchen, pulling Daichi’s lips to his, gripping him tight.
“Kou?” Daichi murmured against his lips.
“Let’s sad fuck now,” Koushi whispered.
“Quit saying sad fuck,” Daichi answered him a quirk to his lips, Koushi kissed him again and Daichi did not resist as Koushi tugged on the hem of his shirt. Daichi shed it, still kissing him slow, deliberate as if to compensate for his desperation earlier. Koushi tracing hands up Daichi’s stomach, his chest, shoulders trying to pull his mouth away to kiss him there, to kiss him everywhere, his whole and alive husband.
“Here?” Daichi managed to pant out before Koushi descended on his neck, hushing his words into a needy groan.
“You’re going up on the counter,” Koushi told him shucking his shirt and earning him a startled burst of laughter from Daichi.
“You gonna pick me up, muscles?”
“Damn straight,” Koushi’s backed him into the kitchen island, choosing to ignore the boost up Daichi gave himself as he gripped him around the waist and lifted. This angle was decidedly worse, Daichi already taller than him, now hunched forward on the counter to meet his mouth, laughing silently. Koushi pulled back to frown at him.
“This isn’t sexy at all.”
“Was it supposed to be sexy?”
“I was trying to recreate earlier when you had me so turned on.”
Daichi gave him a helpless smile.
“Should I get down? Want to try again someplace else?”
Koushi slapped his thigh.
“Daichi!”
“What? I’m trying to help.”
Momo appeared with her rawhide bone, dropping it expectantly on the floor, ready to play. Koushi groaned and Daichi laughed again, Koushi’s frustration softening. At least Daichi was laughing now.
He slipped off the counter, taking Koushi’s arm and pulling him back toward their bedroom, turning on his heel to walk backwards, kissing Koushi again, hot and needy now, licking into his mouth, Koushi’s stomach reigniting, then Daichi was backing down onto the bed, Koushi crawling over top of him, leaning to pick up where he’d left off, kissing collar bones, chest, fingers pulling on Daichi’s sweatpants, Daichi kicked them off, Koushi’s hand sliding beneath the waist band of his boxers and Daichi choked on a breath, surging up to steal another kiss, as Koushi stroked him, Daichi’s kissing falling off into breathless panting against Koushi’s mouth, eyes shut, pink painted across his cheeks, lips red from kissing. It’d be a lie if Koushi were to say he didn’t like this Daichi as much as regular steadfast Daichi, there was something special in unraveling Daichi to a shuddering mess. Koushi brushed his lips against Daichi, a sound from the doorway turning his head.
“Kou, fuck,” Daichi gasped. Koushi pulled off, to a whine from Daichi.
“Hold that thought,” he shut the bedroom door where Momo had reappeared whining with her bone for attention, Daichi rolling onto his side to let out a winded laugh. Koushi fumbled in their night side table for the lube and condoms waving them at Daichi who started pushing himself up to sit. Koushi with a hand on his chest gently pushed him back down.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do all the work,” Koushi promised him, Daichi peeling his eyes back open to give him a look.
“Work?” he growled.
“I mean,” Koushi started as Daichi lurched back up snatching the lube from his hand and pushing him onto his back, flipping their positions. “Daichi, I just…” Daichi was peeling off his sweatpants for the second time that night, with vigorous determination, Koushi giving a yelp and earning a smirk from Daichi. He’d figured the underwear would go the same way all in one go but Daichi slid them down slow, hot open mouthed kisses to his stomach, lower and lower, Koushi’s heart pounding in his chest, hips trembling, until at last they were gone too. Exposed to the cold air Koushi sucked in a breath just to have it stolen by Daichi’s hot breath there against him.
“Ah!”
Daichi pulled back with a devious look that somehow only made Koushi feel hotter.
“What’re you…?”
Daichi silenced the question with a kiss, slow and deep, Koushi slipping into it like skinny dipping in the ocean, water warm and salty. Daichi could be as patient as he could be desperate, and right now that patience only increased Koushi’s desperation, trying to kiss him harder, lifting his hips to get some kind of friction, hands reaching for Daichi’s waist, connecting, gripping him tight, Daichi’s breath hitched flinching back for a second, and Koushi remembered the bruises. Knocking him back like a gut punch.
“Shit, sorry,” he whispered, but Daichi kissed him again pushing him back insistently into the bed, Koushi about to protest until he felt Daichi’s hand, a finger trailing against him. Koushi felt his hips jump at that, heat beginning to coil low in his stomach, letting out a small embarrassing sound as Daichi pressed in, still slow. Daichi smiled against his lips.
“You’re not work,” he said, “You’re never work, Koushi.” Koushi was panting softly, his turn to feel overwhelmed by the sensation, messily kissing Daichi. He’d wanted to take care of him tonight, wanted to make Daichi feel good and somehow the tables were always flipping on him. “Okay?” Daichi asked with a second finger, Koushi’s eyes shut, a moan leaving his throat with the spike of pleasure as Daichi’s fingers curled inside him.
“O-okay,” he hoarsely agreed. Daichi kissed his jaw.
“Just okay?” The damn man was smiling, Koushi could almost sob, gasping for breath.
“Shit. Fuck. Daichi. Come on, please, please, I’m ready,” he was burning now, a forest fire, hot and nearly, almost, maybe desperate. Daichi withdrawing his kiss and after another hazy strokes, subsequently withdrawing his fingers as well, leaving Koushi achingly empty. Condom on and then Koushi was gasping, Daichi catching the sounds with his mouth, still moving frustratingly slow, twining their fingers together.
“Y’okay?” Daichi panted, voice raw.
Koushi couldn’t summon words just a wordless sound of agreement, and then he was all the way in, pausing as Koushi tried to catch his breath, adjust before slowly working back out and picking up the tempo, kissing again, Koushi’s lips were swollen, all thoughts erased of what they’d stood to lose, the bruises, the hospital bracelet, the house always burning down, always about to collapse, all he could think was that he loved Daichi, he loved the little crease of concentration between his brows, the flush on his cheeks and across his chest, the soft sounds coming out of his throat, pupils blown wide, half an awed smile on his face. God, Koushi loved him. Breath squeezing out of him with each thrust, grinding back against Daichi, who was hanging onto him like a life preserver, raggedly chanting his name like a prayer.
“M’close,” he choked then. Koushi squeezed his hand tighter, as Daichi’s thrusts began to fall out of rhythm, Daichi’s hand detaching from his to reach between them, Koushi choking on a moan of his own at his touch, all disjointed, where he ended and Daichi began, hot and hot and the way that stars fell out of the sky, the coil in his stomach snapping, even as Daichi’s hips stuttered against his, gasping, breathing hard. Riding it out together, pleasure like starbursts through Koushi’s whole body, pinpricks of glittering light. Daichi bent over top of him on his elbows, panting, trying not to crush him, though Koushi thought he wouldn’t mind if he did, eyes shut, trembling hands reaching for Daichi pulling him down to his chest, to the sweat and mess, their racing heartbeats. Daichi rested his head there, eyes shut as slowly the world resolved back into focus around them, Daichi finally slipping out of him with a weak groan, Koushi didn’t let him go yet though, hanging on tight, Daichi hanging on just as hard, a supernova condensing back down to its basics, the small foundational core, a neutron star of their love.
“Fuck,” Daichi whispered, Koushi humming an agreement, his whole body still tingling, thighs and abdomen sore, he felt like if he shut his eyes he was going to be out until morning, warm and tired and sated. And then with the sound of their house’s furnace kicking on, like a car driving by on their street, reminding him they were here but the world went on, the worries tickled back in, worming their way in past his defenses.
“Let’s call in sick tomorrow,” Koushi whispered then, voice still sounding raw. “I’ll make you breakfast. We’ll take Momo to the park and then go to that bookstore you like. Get coffee. Just you and me.”
Daichi hummed but did not move, head still against his chest, Koushi could feel the tickle of his breath against his neck, hot and sticky as they were. Koushi prodded him in the shoulder.
“I’m serious.”
Daichi shifted to look at him. The bliss wasn’t gone but it was overshadowed by the worry. Koushi squeezed him tighter.
“Kou.”
“Dai, I want to.”
“I know but I can’t. I’ve got four more days.”
“You can. They’ll be okay without you for a day. You deserve it.” Daichi was just barely shaking his head. “Daichi?”
Slowly on still shaky arms, Daichi peeled himself off of Koushi, sitting up and surveying the damage. Koushi pushed himself up, they’d made a mess. The idea of getting to the bathroom to take a shower seemed like more effort than it was worth, but Daichi was already up, opening the door and limping toward the bathroom. His damn knee. Koushi felt hot tears burning, shuddering for a second to gulp them down. Collecting himself, Koushi followed knees feeling wobbly. Daichi had already started the shower but wasn’t inside.
“You want to go first?”
“We’ll both fit.”
“I’m not…”
“No funny business, I promise,” Koushi said prodding him toward the stall.
It was a tight fit, but true to his word and despite the temptation, there was no funny business.
Massaging shampoo into Daichi’s scalp to feeble protest? Sure.
Digging his thumbs into the knots at the top of Daichi’s back? That went without saying.
Kissing him when they were face to face again? Koushi was only human.
Daichi kissed him back, sagging against the wall in the hot spray.
“I’m so tired,” he mumbled against Koushi’s mouth, Koushi rinsing the shampoo from his hair and shutting off the water.
Somehow the sex had made it worse, Daichi dancing around him in the bathroom, stripping their sheets on his own, wrangling the fitted sheet by himself before Koushi caught up to him to help him get on the four corners. This in place, Momo arrived to place herself in the center of the mattress. They didn’t bother making it all the way, tucking in the flat sheet Daichi lay down beside Momo and shut his eyes. Koushi got the lights before sliding in behind him, wrapping his arm around Daichi’s waist, settling his chin against the juncture of neck and shoulder.
“Are we going to talk about it?”
“About what?” Daichi sounded exhausted and Koushi regretted deciding to die on this hill.
“You can’t go in tomorrow.”
“I have to, Kou. I have to go back.”
“Sure, but it doesn’t have to be tomorrow. The chief would understand. I don’t…” Koushi weighed his words, the things he could and could not say, “I don’t want to lose you, Daichi. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you at work.”
“Koushi.”
Koushi wished he could see Daichi’s face to know what he was thinking, shoulders tight and tense against him. Koushi kissed his bare shoulder.
“You don’t have to carry it alone, y’know.” You don’t have to carry it at all.
Daichi let out a shuddering breath, Koushi tracing fingertips across the soft skin of his stomach, trying not to imagine the bruises there, gentle enough to not hurt him further. He pressed his cheek to Daichi’s shoulders. His fingers stilled with the thought that maybe there was nothing he could do and that thought sucked the air out of his lungs. Daichi’s hand settled over his, drawing in another ragged breath.
“Koushi,” he started and Koushi felt his stomach lurch. “They didn’t clear me to come home today,” Daichi said slowly.
“Like?” Koushi’s voice came out small, fear clenching his heart.
“Like I was supposed to go back to the firehouse but I came home instead. What if,” Daichi started like he was gasping for air, like the words were hard to force out, Koushi pulling on his shoulder now to see his face. Daichi rolled over looking stricken, “What if I didn’t go back? What if I was done? Would you… would…?”
Koushi’s hand found his, squeezing.
“Would you be disappointed?”
Koushi clenched his hand so hard that Daichi flinched, shaking his head.
“Why would I be disappointed?”
“For walking away, I put in all that time, your parents looked so proud when you told them I was a firefighter.”
“Daichi,” Koushi bit it out, cutting him off. “Whatever you want to do, I support you, one hundred percent. If you don’t want to go back, you don’t have to go back.”
“What about the mortgage…?”
“We’ll figure it out,” Koushi told him, “You can find another job, we’ve got savings to tide us over for a bit. I could get something part time on the weekends.” Daichi was squeezing his eyes shut.
“Koushi.”
“I didn’t want to ask it from you. I hate all the time our schedules don’t line up. I hate going to bed alone, Daichi. Your knee, your fucking knee, I worry so much,” Koushi whispered, words nearly frantic, Daichi’s eyes flashing open in fright gripping Koushi’s hands.
“Kou.”
“But don’t do it for me,” Koushi forced himself, “Don’t decide tonight. Sleep on it. We’ll take it easy tomorrow. We can talk it over more if you want.”
“Okay,” Daichi agreed, settling closer, he breathed out, fingers still tangled with Koushi’s. “How long have you thought that?”
“A long time,” Koushi admitted shivering, “I know you like the job though. I didn’t want to say anything.” Daichi swallowed.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered leaning in to kiss Koushi.
“Stop apologizing,” Koushi told him, “I just, I’m here for you okay? Whatever you want to do, however you need me, I’ve got your back, let me take care of you sometimes, okay?”
“Only sometimes?”
Koushi could hear the tease in Daichi’s voice, lightly headbutting him in retaliation.
“All the time, if you’d let me, you big stubborn ass.”
Daichi let out a soft laugh, leaning his forehead to Koushi’s.
“So we’re calling in?” Koushi asked before the sleepy silence could devour them.
“Calling in,” Daichi agreed. Koushi sat up to grab their phones, pausing as he woke Daichi’s to see the five missed calls from the chief, he grimaced handing it over. Daichi looked down into the screen, worry still there in his brow. He made the call.
“I’ve got food poisoning, I’m not going to be in tomorrow,” he explained, “My housemate made dinner tonight and I’ve been on the toilet for hours.”
Koushi slapped his arm, covering his mouth to keep the laugh in. The corner of Daichi’s mouth quirking up.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry about that. Sorry about tomorrow too, I feel like shit. Yeah.” Daichi turned away from Koushi, “It won’t happen again, I swear. No, I’m okay. I’ll give them a call tomorrow if I’m feeling better. Yeah.” Daichi’s voice had lowered with contrition. Koushi rubbed his back, Daichi silent, listening. “Right. Yeah,” he answered. Koushi kissed the back of his neck, Daichi groaning softly. “Sorry, I’ve gotta let you go. I’m sorry again. Alright, okay. Good bye.” Then he was hanging up and pushing Koushi’s tickling fingers off, the look on his face the only indicator of what the chief had had to say. Koushi grimaced, and Daichi laid back down.
“Food poisoning huh?”
“Sorry.”
“And I’ve been demoted back to housemate.”
“Housemate, husband, what’s the difference?” Daichi was smiling a little and Koushi ruffled his hair.
“Okay, acquaintance, guess it’d be pretty weird if I kissed you right now, that’d probably be inappropriate.”
“You? Inappropriate? Never,” Daichi snickered, “You’re going up on the counter,” he said in his very worst Koushi impression. Koushi growled leaping on top of him tickling fingers at his sides, Daichi laughing and trying to toss him off. Momo leaping to her feet eager to join the game, the two of them wrestling and Momo barking until at last Daichi had Koushi pinned.
“Mercy,” Koushi pleaded tapping out, Daichi kissing his nose and flopping off of him onto the mattress beside him. Pouting a little, Koushi allowed Daichi to gather him into his arms, kissing both his cheeks.
“What’d chief say?” Koushi pressed, unable to curb his curiosity, Daichi shrugged.
“Nothing important,” he deflected, “Your turn to call.”
“I already texted my principal while you were on the toilet with the shits from my awful cooking.”
Daichi barked out a laugh.
“I’m sorry.”
“Apology not accepted.”
“I’m too tired to fuck you again, Kou, sorry. We just got all cleaned up too.”
“How inappropriate, talking about fucking your housemate.”
Daichi fixed Koushi with a look, narrowed eyes like he was a naughty kouhai which only made Koushi laugh. Daichi gave a harassed sigh.
“I’m immune,” Koushi crowed.
“Goodnight, housemate,” Daichi said rolling over to put his back to Koushi. Koushi squeezed up against Daichi’s back, wrapping his arms around his waist, planting a flurry of kisses against his shoulder, Daichi melting under his touch.
“You’d really be okay if I quit?”
“I would. It’s your call, Daichi. Don’t worry about me.”
“Impossible.”
“Did you get in trouble?” Koushi kissed his shoulder one more time.
“Maybe? We’ll see. I should’ve gone back, I just didn’t think I could do it. I wanted to see you, I didn’t think I could face everyone.
“Roll over so I can kiss you,” Koushi told him tugging on his shoulder again. Daichi did it, and Koushi kissed him. “It’ll be okay. Either way, it’ll be alright, baby.” Koushi tucked Daichi’s head beneath his chin, pressing another kiss to the crown of his head, in return Daichi nuzzled his neck, a kiss to his sternum.
“Thanks.”
The quiet folded in over them, Koushi trying to silence the worried loops his brain continued to run over tonight, the things they’d talked about, Daichi for a bit tracing shapes against his spine. Finally his hand was still as his breathing evened out, Momo snoring already. Koushi had to remind himself he wasn’t going to work tomorrow, letting his eyes slide shut and imagining a world where Daichi didn’t walk into burning buildings, where his hospital visits were few and far between, where they could fall asleep together every night like this. He could feel himself drifting.
Daichi shifted beside him tugging him closer in his sleep, mumbling something that was suspiciously like his name.
Ah.
And Koushi loved him.
He really did.