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It has become almost like a routine. Pun studies and studies until he quite literally can’t anymore before finding his way to Chain, exhausted and barely functioning anymore. Chain catching his tired body, getting him something to eat and then taking him home.
Tonight is no different.
“I told you you don’t have to carry me” Pun murmurs sleepily, his hold on Chain’s shoulders tightening just a little bit.
“You’re so tired you could barely get up from the bench,” Chain tells him sternly. “Just take a nap, I’ll have you home soon.”
Pun huffs and rests his head on Chain’s shoulders. He mutters something incoherent that slowly fizzles out into a deep sigh. He is mostly quiet after that. It’s clear that he’s fighting to stay awake, though. Sometimes he starts humming some off-key tune, before sighing and melting into Chain once more.
It’s quite nice. Of course, Chain thinks just about any time spent with Pun is nice. But there’s something different about moments like this. Moments where Pun will unconsciously gravitate towards Chain. Moments where Pun makes it clear that he trusts Chain and feels safe with him. That’s all Chain could ever ask for. He hopes to be this for Pun forever. Even more, he hopes that, one day, he can be home for Pun.
“Chain?”
“What is it, Pun?”
Pun stays quiet for a moment and then straightens up a bit, before resting his cheek against Chain’s shoulder again. “Have you… Have you ever thought about…”
When he notices Pun wiggle his feet the way he only does when he’s very nervous, Chain’s heart starts racing. A thousand possible things Pun could possibly ask come to mind and Chain really tries his best to not get his hopes up. Which, usually, he’s very good at.
“... kissing me?”
Chain stops dead in his tracks at that question. If Pun hadn’t been so tired, that probably would have scared him and made him deflect his question into a joke. Chain himself wants to yell, “ Yes! Every day, every time I see you.” But he manages to keep it together, his heart beating wildly in chest, so hard that Pun must be feeling it too.
It doesn’t seem to matter to Pun that Chain doesn’t react instantly. He just keeps talking, as if he wasn’t expecting an answer yet. “Because I have. I have thought about it. A lot.”
Chain turns his head to look at Pun, who is cutely resting his cheek against Chain’s shoulder with his eyes closed. He knows what he wants to say, but for some reason the words just won’t come. Instead, he just adjusts his hold on Pun’s legs to just be able to do something.
Only when Pun slowly opens his eyes and calls Chain’s name in that voice that always makes Chain’s heart clench, he manages to reply. “I have,” he says, sounding a lot more confident than he feels.
It takes a while for Pun to process that, it seems. He blinks at Chain slowly, almost visibly connecting the dots in his brain. Which doesn’t surprise Chain with how tired Pun is. He has dealt with brain melted, exhausted Pun enough to not immediately drown in anxiety.
But then, a bright smile slowly spreads on Pun’s face.
Chain doesn’t miss how Pun’s gaze drops to his lips, but that doesn’t mean he is prepared in any way for the ferocity Pun kisses him with. He’s proud of himself for not dropping Pun in that moment with how taken aback he is. He’s even prouder of how fast he gets himself together enough to kiss him back just as passionately.
Pun’s hands twist into Chain’s shirt, his ankles locking together to keep Chain as close as possible – as if Chain would be able to go anywhere without him right now. Chain is happy he does, though, because this means he has his hands free to reach up and cover one of Pun’s hands with his own, the other threaded in Pun’s hair as he deepens the kiss.
He can feel Pun’s heart racing against his back, his own doing not much better. He’s having trouble forming any coherent thought other than Pun Pun Pun Pun Pun and I’m kissing Pun. Pun kissed me. Pun and I are kissing.
When Pun finally breaks the kiss with a dopey smile on his face, and rests his cheek on Chain’s shoulder again, Chain can hear himself say, “Be my boyfriend, then.” It’s not a question, really, and far from how Chain had envisioned asking Pun to be his boyfriend. But he had no control over his mouth or words.
Pun doesn’t say yes, nor does he nod. He just smiles even wider before raising his head again and sharply nibbling Chain’s earlobe.
“Aish, Pun! That hurts!” Chain complains fondly, squeezing the hand he’s still holding.
To which Pun just laughs as he hides his face in Chain’s neck and intertwines their fingers to squeeze back.
Kissing Pun rocked Chain’s world. It changed it completely, forever. There was no turning back now. And somehow, it feels like nothing has changed. At most, the world feels more right now.
Chain’s lips burn and his heart is warm and still beating way too fast, but he feels calm, light. He doesn’t fear what is to come now, because they are still Chain and Pun. Pun and Chain who have kissed. Pun and Chain who are boyfriends . They will figure it out.
And if Chain gets to kiss Pun both good night and good morning after he tucks him in tonight, that will be a great start.