Chapter Text
“And this is my room!” Reo threw the door open, hands and arms spread wide before stepping aside to let Nagi inside.
“Ehh, Reo lives like a king here…” Nagi looked around the room, impressed with the decor.
“Haha, my parent’s rooms are much nicer. But still, pretty cool right? We can escape here when the party gets to be too much of a hassle. Oh, and check out this balcony!” He ran over to throw open another set of double doors, peeling the curtains back to let in the last remaining light of the day. He gazed outside, face shining in yellow and orange hues before turning around expectantly as if waiting for Nagi to say something.
“Oi, Nagi, what are you doing!?” He balked, seeing Nagi already clambered onto his bed instead of admiring his precious balcony views.
“Taking a nap…”
“Haha Nagi, the party hasn’t even started yet!” Reo lept onto the bed then, unable to hold in his laughter as he rammed an elbow into Nagi’s stomach.
“Oof!” Nagi uttered, and Reo laughed even more. He rolled onto his side, lying next to Nagi in the quiet of the room.
“You’ll mess up your hair lying down, you know.”
“Reo will fix it for me. Close your eyes, Reo. Let’s sleep for now.”
…
The silence between them is only broken up by the sound of the balcony curtains fluttering in the wind, whipping hypnotically like a coiled finger that beckons Nagi to come closer. It feels like walking into a trap, as if Reo baited the earth to fall out from under his feet if he steps through the threshold . Meanwhile, Reo is standing against the balcony railing with his elbows pressed into the cold stone, but his pose looks anything but relaxed. He’s stiff as if the rock has crept into his bones and set him in place with the cool pallor of a statue. Nagi thinks even with such an unpleasant expression frozen on his face, he’s still beautiful enough to belong in the Lourve that he seems to love.
Reo hasn’t spoken yet, giving Nagi time to study his face in the insurmountable silence. He struggles to place the emotions, this twisted countenance that has so much to say but reveals so little; is it fear? Contempt? Confusion? Hatred? He wonders briefly how his own face must look now; scared, hurt, a little pissed.
He locks eyes with Reo and takes a tentative step forward, like checking the temperature of a pool with his toe before diving in. The motion seems to finally break Reo free, stone crumbling away as he speaks.
“What, Nagi? How did you find me?”
Nagi pauses, now standing at the threshold of the balcony with Reo only a few steps away. He brushes the curtains away as they beat softly against his body, like the soft fluttering of butterfly wings.
“I figured Reo wanted to get away from the party…”
Reo laughs, sardonic and heavy. Nagi can’t help but fidget with his eyepatch as he tries to think of how to respond to that. What to say when Reo isn’t taking the lead? His hesitation leaves an opening, and Reo latches on with a bite.
“What makes you think it’s the party I was trying to get away from? What if I was trying to get away from you?”
A rage, dark and ugly, surfaces from inside; it rises like helium until it overflows, with Nagi unable to contain this form of intangible matter within himself as it seeps.
“Reo’s the one that said we should talk. So here I am.” He snaps, digging his nails into his palm as he speaks.
“Maybe I changed my mind.”
The rage shifts inside of him. Reo’s lying and Nagi knows it, no matter how badly it stings. “Well, I’m still here, Reo.” He takes a labored breath, “Besides, I’m not the one who left.”
“Ha! Are you talking about the dance or something else?” Reo retorts and runs a hand through his bangs.
Nagi huffs against the heaviness in his chest as he speaks, “Reo knows what I’m talking about.”
“This is rich, coming from you.”
“You can’t seriously still hold that against me. We’ve been over this. Blue Lock was four years ago.” Nagi hates how pathetic he sounds, like he’s pleading with some phantom of Reo’s past that continues to linger. He watches the soft sway of Reo’s hair as he shakes his head.
“No, no you’re right. I’m over it. But suddenly I leave for myself, and it’s a problem.”
Nagi can feel his heart crystallizing, painfully morphing into some unrecognizable shape molded by each of Reo’s words. Caustic and biting, his chest feels like it’s burning over Reo’s frozen demeanor; fire and ice collide, liquefying under each other’s influence until he’s left battered and bleeding purple.
“...It’s not that Reo left. It’s that Reo didn’t come back.”
“I know, like you reminded me countless times.”
“No, not that Reo…” He stares at his feet as he speaks. His plastic pants catch the light of the moon above, and he’s disappointed that he looks as ugly as he feels in this moment. “You stopped responding. I stopped hearing from you…” and then even softer, “I missed you…”
He notices Reo sits up straighter now, while still overtly tense and rigid. The wind whips through them both, and Nagi wonders how cold Reo’s exposed arms must feel. How the cold stone of the railing must bleed through his clothes.
“Yeah, Reo left Japan. But then you just stopped responding. I thought you were busy with your move and that you’d come back to me. Send me updates.” His voice loses some of its bite with each word, the confession leaking out of him like sugar from a torn sack. “We’re supposed to be the best in the world, together. Win the World Cup, together…” With his admission, he feels the weight of the promise, once light and airy now heavy and oppressive. A binding, a reason to be, a reason to stay together. When Reo left for France, Nagi was undeniably bitter. Bachira and Isagi had tried their best to help him through his grieving, and ultimately Nagi pushed them out with a determination to resolve this himself. He turned it over in his heart countless times, wondering why, asking himself what he could have done differently to have Reo stay. But ultimately, it wasn’t his choice. If Reo thought this was what he needed to become the best in the world, Nagi wanted to support that. For their shared dream. For their partnership. Somewhere along the way, Nagi’s feelings regarding their partnership undeniably blurred, leaving him all the more raw when Reo finally departed for France. He surmised to keep those parts of himself secret, afraid to distort the fragile balance between them, even when a confession tried to claw itself out of him the night Reo visited from Kashima.
“...You can’t say that,” Reo seethes, but his demeanor has lost some of its bite. “It’s not like you made an effort to visit.”
Nagi’s quiet as the guilt squeezes him,
“Even when I came back for all of my dad’s stupid obligations, you couldn’t be bothered to see me.”
He couldn’t bite back at that. Reo was right . He hadn’t, stupidly. He waited for Reo, ever expectant that he would show up to give Nagi special attention. Spoil him, dote on him, and make exceptions for him. And he begins to realize how his listlessness could be construed into something ugly.
“It’s like you don’t care unless it’s convenient for you,” Reo snaps. “So don’t pretend to care about me now.”
“...Of course I care about Reo…”
“Just stop, Nagi.” He crosses his arms to signal that the conversation is over. Nagi feels a familiar panic bubbling in his chest, an uncomfortable reminder that this could be the last time he speaks to Reo. As if to torture him further, his memories poke and prod him to bring up the other undeniable variable.
“Is it…did you find someone else?” He chokes out the words that lay heavy on his tongue, and his mind tortures him with flashes of Yukimiya. The news articles, the dancing, the casual touches that used to be reserved for only Nagi. His breath is shaky now, as if each painful reminder punctures his lungs. Reo looks dazed, looking past Nagi or maybe through him. Nagi shivers against the wind, brushing the curtains away from him once more when Reo begins to speak, barely audible above the breeze.
“What are you-” he starts, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, “what are you talking about Nagi?”
“Are you together with Yukimiya?” He responds. The sinking feeling returns to his guts when he concludes that the look on Reo’s face could have been “guilt”.
“That’s not - what do you care?” Reo spits out, seemingly shaking off the haze from before to come at Nagi with more vitriol. He hugs himself a little tighter and averts his gaze, pretending to look out at the party below. His small brows are knit and wrinkling underneath his bangs, and Nagi thinks if Reo were a real vampire, he would be baring fangs and hissing at him. Nagi cocks his head to the side.
“Why wouldn’t I care?”
Reo snaps his head in Nagi’s direction with a look of disbelief.
“You-” Reo starts again, throwing his hands up in exasperation, “I’ve never seen you give two shits about people’s relationship status.”
“You never asked.”
“Nagi…” Reo seethes, and Nagi can see the toothcaps peaking from underneath his lips. “Even Isagi and Bachira… you live with them and didn’t even consider how they liked each other until I brought it up.”
Now it’s Nagi’s turn to be confused. He fiddles with his eyepatch, turning Reo’s concerns over in his head. What did they have to do with any of this?
“So? They’re not Reo.”
Reo turns away to lean over the balcony, and Nagi is worried for a minute that the other is about to be sick. That would be unpleasant for the partygoers under the balcony, he thinks. With Reo’s defenses lowered, he feels confident enough to finally step onto the balcony. His shoes softly echo against the stone as he moves to stand beside Reo, looking properly at the view for the first time. When Reo doesn’t chase him off, he sidles beside him and watches quietly. Reo’s running his fingers through his hair, looking terribly tense and not looking at Nagi.
“...Does Reo want a massage?”
That gets Reo to look at him, incredulous.
“Nagi, what?”
“...Reo seems so tense…I thought maybe I could help.” He offers, fidgeting with his eyepatch as the only means to dispel this nervous energy coursing through his body. He wants to touch him, feel him, make him understand . Reo laughs without feeling as he looks back out at the lawn.
“I don’t understand you…”
Nagi perks up at this. He leans forward, matching Reo’s pose to look out at the lawn. It’s getting late. The moon is high in the sky, but partygoers still dot the lawn below. Now that he’s on the balcony, he can hear their conversations, stippled with laughter. He’s reminded of the spot of bright laughter Reo shared with him on the dance floor, and he hopes to hear it again tonight.
“Reo knows me best…that’s not true.”
Reo sighs at this as his eyes scan the yard ahead.
“I used to think that…but I’m not so sure anymore…”
“...Reo’s just a little rusty…it’s been a while, yeah?” He tries to offer, and he can see the anger from earlier soften on his features, replaced with hurt.
“Yeah, it’s been a while.”
They’re silent for a beat, watching the party. Nagi feels omnipotent beside Reo, watching the people below move across the yard like ants. He spies one particularly drunk ant that is hobbling around and being chased by other ants - drunk ant looks an awful lot like Bachira with a pirate hat, he realizes with horror. He looks away like he’ll jinx himself into getting involved if he watches the scene unfold any further. He looks back at Reo, noticing the upward tilt of his brows, the far-off gaze in his eyes, the slight downturn of his mouth; features all drenched in a quiet sadness. Nagi’s shaking when he reaches a hand out to gently brush a strand of purple behind Reo’s ear, and Reo jumps at the contact.
“Sorry, Reo. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s…fine, Nagi.” Reo’s hand jumps to the spot Nagi brushed, as if undoing the contact, and Nagi feels an unknowable hurt at the gesture.
“...Does Reo really not want me around?” He manages to ask, feeling sick. Reo’s eyes widen, such beautiful lavender, looking celestial under moonlit skies and laced with the heaviness of twilight. Nagi’s heartbeat thrums in his ears, and he swallows against the dryness of his throat. Reo lets out a lofty sigh as he leans further over the balcony, speaking to the ground.
“No, Nagi. Of course I want you around...”
The admission washes him in a relief that trickles from his head to his chest. He’s nearly lost in the feeling that he barely registers Reo’s next words. “...That’s why this has been so hard.”
Nagi inches closer to Reo, noticing goosebumps on his pale arms that still look ethereal under the guidance of the moon.
“I don’t understand. Reo is the one that left.”
Reo flinches and crosses his arms on the railing, shirking in on himself once more.
“It’s nothing, Nagi. Forget it.”
All of the Nagi’s fight was rapidly evaporating, and all he wants is to be close Reo. He gives into the impulse, leaning against his shoulder. Reo’s skin is cold against his cheek. He presses so gently, testing the waters again, and is relieved Reo doesn’t shake him off to drown.
“I didn’t know what to do when you left…” He admits quietly because Reo’s gone silent again. “I felt really lonely… I missed you… even when you were in Kashima, it was too far.”
Reo chuckles quietly, sounding authentic for the first time since the dance floor.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“I missed you too…”
Nagi sighs, letting more of his weight lean into Reo, and he can feel the other shift his own to accommodate.
“I almost kissed you, that night you visited.”
Reo sits up immediately, and Nagi is dumped off his shoulder, barely catching himself from eating shit on the balcony stone and staining it forever. He wonders briefly if Reo would make Ba-ya clean it up, or if Reo would care enough to clean it up himself.
“Nagi, what?”
Ahh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
A familiar anxiety creeps back over him as he plays with his eyepatch.
Reo might not want to hear that if he’s with Yukimiya…
“I thought Reo was going to, but-”
“Hold on, Nagi. You said kiss ?”
Reo looks puffed up, like a scared cat.
“...Yeah?”
Reo doesn’t speak but displays a flurry of emotions on his face. Nagi worries he’s losing him again, having barely gotten him back. Determined to fix this, Nagi chokes out, “But, if you’re with Yukimiya, don’t tell him. Jealousy is such a pain.”
That seems to snap Reo of whatever thoughts he was grappling with because he shakes his head immediately.
“No, we’re not - I mean, we’re not official.” He stammers out, and Nagi wonders if the pink rising on Reo’s cheeks is from being bitten by the wind.
“Oh…” Elation washes over him with the warmth of a sunlit patch in winter. Not even the night breeze can chill him now.
“...Yeah.”
“So earlier…?”
“It’s fine. Just, leave it.”
Nagi leans his back against the railing and looks up at the sky, shivering against the cold stone railing. He’s surprised when Reo begins to speak once more.
“...I feel bad… I know he likes me…and it’s not like I haven’t tried.” Reo laments bitterly. Nagi looks back at Reo, drinking in his features, and wants to selfishly say I’m so glad you couldn’t . Reo glances at Nagi, feeling his gaze. Nagi catches a glimpse of annoyance cross his features again.
“What about you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
There’s a subtle hurt behind Reo’s eyes, as if to say “It’s been three years for you, too. Three years since you wanted to kiss me, apparently”. Nagi’s seen that look before. It’s familiar, one he recognizes from his own eyes. It’s a sadness that the bathroom mirror seems to amplify late at night under clinical fluorescence; all those times he tried to convince himself that the heartbreak can’t tear into him physically no matter how corporal it feels.
He shakes his head. “No. I’ve been waiting for Reo.”
Reo sits up straighter, cheeks flushed a cute pink and Nagi swears he’s glowing under stars like he is one of them.
“...you mean that, Nagi?”
“Yeah. Always have.”
Reo is studying him again as he takes a careful step forward. His eyes are scanning Nagi’s features, picking him apart in the darkness, looking for cracks. Nagi swallows as Reo is mere centimeters from him, the warmth of his body radiating out and blocking some of the chilly night air. The noise of the party fades into the background as his focus turns to Reo, always to Reo.
“What exactly do you mean by that?” He questions. He sees the hesitancy in Reo’s eyes as they flicker across Nagi’s face, and Nagi swallows against his own nerves.
“Um…I like being with Reo.”
“Mhm…” Reo cocks an eyebrow, looking unamused by such a bland confession. “Like being with me in what way?”
Nagi’s impressed that his body finds a way to sweat with how cold it is, but Reo seems to hold that effect on him as he fights to voice these feelings that feel so inherent yet intangible, like the inability to hold water in his fingers. It spills, leaks through the gaps, impossible to seal, and he’s choking on the sensation.
“I missed you so much.” He manages to say again under Reo’s temperate gaze. “When Bachira and Isagi started dating, I was miserable. I was never interested in stuff like that, never cared, but it made me realize that...” he pauses to catch his breath. “It made me realize that’s what I wanted with you.”
Reo’s quiet and contemplative. He takes a step back, rubbing his hands against his exposed arms as if trying to warm them. “But…I asked you.”
“Huh?”
“I did ask you.” Reo states again. “I asked if Bachira and Isagi started dating, what you would do.”
Nagi strains for the memory, scared at how it didn’t leave a lasting impression. Reo seems to sense this in him because he continues with a hint of spite. “ You asked me ‘why would I need to look for something like that’? ”
Nagi wants to bash his own head against the stone railing, or maybe he could exit Reo’s room and throw himself down the lavish staircase down the hall to leave Reo’s room absent of his blood.
Why doesn't Reo understand?
“I don’t want to look for something like that.” He says, exasperated. He tries to catch Reo before his face falls anymore by saying, “I thought I already had you, Reo…it was always Reo that I wanted.”
Reo turns away from him with his arms wrapped tightly around himself.
“Is Reo-”
“Nagi just, stop for a second.”
Nagi sighs and rubs his face with his hands. He fights against the weight of this conversation, determined to see it through despite the protests of his body. When Reo doesn’t face him, he hesitantly approaches him, resting his head on Reo’s shoulder and lacing his hands around Reo’s waist. Reo’s breath hitches in a way that leaves Nagi feeling like he’s been transported back to the dance floor.
“Nagi what-”
“I’m mad at you too, you know…” He mumbles into Reo’s shoulder. “...It hurt when you left…”
Reo sighs, but he doesn’t sound angry anymore. He eases into Nagi, releasing a small amount of tension from his form. Nagi accepts it readily.
“I’m mad at you too… and mad at myself…” Reo says over barely a whisper. “...Do you really mean all those things?”
“Mhm.” He rests his eyes and squeezes Reo gently, savoring the press of his body against his own. “I do, Reo.”
Reo shuffles under his grasp, and Nagi’s heart sinks at the prospect of getting pushed away again. His heart skips a beat when Reo twists in his grip until they’re face to face once more, a small pout on his face.
“...When are you going to take off that stupid eye patch?”
Nagi moves his eyes as if he’s trying to look at it, and Reo laughs quietly. His slender fingers run along the side of Nagi’s cheek until it meets the strap of the eye patch. He runs the other hand through the tangles of Nagi’s hair until he finds the elastic there before gently peeling it away. Nagi squints, with even the moon feeling too bright as Reo tosses the eye patch to the stone below.
“Did Reo not like it?” He asks again as Reo smiles, and warmth blooms in his chest at the sight.
“I like your eyes. Wanted to see them both.” He runs his fingers through Nagi’s hair, and the pads of his fingers massage his scalp; a long forgotten feeling that Nagi leans into, feeling so touch starved after three long years. His eyes close as he leans into Reo, so reminiscent of the past.
“Hey…Nagi…”
“Mm?”
“...Do you still want to?”
Nagi opens his eyes as Reo averts his, suddenly looking shy. Nagi can only nod.
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.
He nearly forgets to breathe as Reo leans in, gently pulling Nagi toward him with the hand wrapped in his hair. Reo’s lips feel cold against his own as he presses them together, and Nagi’s cheeks feel contrastingly warm. Reo’s fingers untangle from Nagi’s hair and trickle down to his neck, pressing in and guiding the tilt of Nagi’s head. His head is swimming with worries surrounding his inexperience that evaporate as soon as Reo parts their lips, swiping against Nagi’s with the warmth of his tongue. Nagi squeezes Reo’s waist at the sensation and wraps one of his arms completely around him, pressing in and craving more. He brings his free hand to cup Reo’s face and feels the heat radiating from his cheek against the cold. Reo is here with him now. Reo is kissing him, and seems to be enjoying it. Four years worth of desire seeps into Nagi’s bloodstream, and he moves so Reo is caged against the railing and pressed flush against Nagi’s body. Reo’s breath hitches, sending a shockwave of desire down Nagi’s spine that gathers and pools low in his stomach. He wants more, needs more, desperate to elicit all that he can from Reo. He licks into Reo, and his tongue brushes against his fangs, along his gums, messy and desperate. His lips chase after Reo as he breaks the kiss, breath coming on ragged and spent already, and Nagi opts to leave soft kisses across Reo’s cheek, down his jaw, along his neck. Reo’s skin is so cold against his lips, and Nagi thinks he can almost see traces of his breath dance along Reo’s neck. A soft noise escapes Reo’s lips at the contact and he grips Nagi’s hair in one hand, tugging like he had an hour ago. Under Reo’s influence, the spot of pain courses through Nagi’s veins straight to his dick, which is beginning to feel uncomfortable in the confines of his pants. Reo still tastes like salt, and Nagi wonders if his bite from earlier is still visible; a mark of worship, a sigil of devotion. Nagi wants to leave all that and more. He hesitantly licks a stripe along the exposed portion of Reo’s neck before kissing softly and open-mouthed beneath his jaw. He brushes his fingers down Reo’s cheek, gripping the collar of his turtleneck and pulling it away to expose his collarbone, choosing to nip and suck at the junction between his neck.
“Hah-” Reo’s hips buck, and Nagi has to still his own from seeking the friction. “Nn…Nagi, it’s cold.”
“Mm…” Nagi hums into Reo’s neck, not ready to give this up. Reo’s neck is coated in his spit that quickly chills under the influence of the night breeze, and Nagi can see the goosebumps on his arms under the forgiving light of the moon. Reo manages to eek out, “Let’s go back inside.”
Let’s. Together.
Nagi pulls away, looking at Reo properly now, drinking in his features. His cheeks are flushed, eyes half-lidded with want, and Nagi feels the desire curl inside of him as he commits this face to memory. He also feels a satisfaction wash over him - no way Reo would send him away when he’s looking at him like that.
Reo’s smiling now, soft and delicate, and he brings one his hands to overlap with the one Nagi is resting on his cheek. Reo feels fragile wrapped around him like this, like the scales could tip out of his favor at the slightest disturbance. He leans his forehead in to meet Reo’s, closing his eyes with a sigh.
“You’re shaking…” Reo laughs quietly, like it’s a secret between them.
“Nervous…” Nagi breathes, “and cold.”
Reo tilts his head and presses a chaste kiss to Nagi’s lips like it's something they’ve done a thousand times, and Nagi hopes for a thousand more.
“I feel so gross from the dance floor…I almost didn’t let you kiss me like that,” he laughs when Nagi pulls away so Reo can see the full effect of his pouting face. “I said almost…C’mon, we should both shower. I want out of these clothes.” He pokes at the toothcaps with his tongue. “And I’m over these.”
Nagi feels soft as Reo laces their fingers together, dropping away from Reo’s face and hanging in the night air. He let’s Reo guide him inside, closing out the chill of the night and ambience of the party as he closes the doors to his bedroom.
...
Nagi stands awkwardly next to Reo’s bed as Reo rummages around his closet in search of clothes. He’d been so preoccupied earlier that he hadn’t bothered taking in his surroundings, and his eyes wandered under the stretch of silence. It was a lavish room. A queen size bed with ornate wooden headboard is pressed against one wall, across from Reo’s large walk-in closet filled to the brim with pressed suit jackets, winter accessories, and dress shoes.
“God, I only ever stay here for parties. I can’t find anything comfy,” Nagi can hear Reo’s complaining from behind a mountain of clothes. His eyes linger on the closet a moment before continuing around the room. Only a small bedside lamp illuminates the room. The crimson curtains were drawn and tassled together with a small golden cord that just screamed wealth, and Nagi notices a few new, artistically interesting, paintings adorning the walls.
“Reo, this painting is new.” Nagi points to one situated next to the closet door that faces the bed. Reo pokes his head out of the closet to check.
“Yeah, my parents gave it to me last year. They won it at some charity auction. Do you like it?”
“...It’s kind of creepy.”
Reo laughs and resumes his search, “C’mon, I think it’s cool!”
Nagi blanches when Reo is out of sight. He hopes Reo invites him to spend the night, even if it is under the watchful eye of some abstract clown painting.
Reo emerges a few moments later with a pile of clothes in hand. He separates them in his hands, holding a few articles out to Nagi.
“Here, I figure you’ll want to change, too.”
Nagi could cry at the sight of his old sweatpants.
Goodbye, terrible pirate pants.
“Mm, thank you, Reo.”
“I think Ba-ya must’ve washed them at some point, and we forgot to pack them. They’ve been shoved to the back of the closet for years.” Reo admits before slinging his clothes over his shoulder. He walks to the bathroom door, “I’ll be quick,” before disappearing behind the threshold. Nagi fidgets when Reo is out of sight, and he lets instinct guide him once again when he hears the sound of the shower kick on.
Reo nearly shrieks when the bathroom door slides open with Nagi in tow. Reo’s figure is obscured by the steam of the shower, but he’s stripped down to his boxers.
“Nagi, what-”
Nagi groans and leans against Reo, knowing the other will catch his weight. He’s right. “I’ve been away from Reo for too long…don’t wanna be away anymore.”
Reo laughs nervously as Nagi nuzzles his face against his bare shoulder.
“I’ll just be a minute, you know.”
“Mm…let me stay, Reo.” He presses, and Reo relaxes, giving in. “Kiss me more.”
Reo melts into the request, catching Nagi’s lips with his own. Reo moans softly, and Nagi licks into his mouth as his lips part. He notices the fangs are gone now as he maps Reo’s mouth with his tongue. Reo’s fingers tease the hem of Nagi’s shirt, drifting lazily over his abdomen. Reo feels so warm underneath his hands as he traces the curves of Reo’s hips and holds him steady.
“Mm…hot…Reo…” Nagi groans against Reo’s lips, and he separates long enough for Reo to help him out of his shirt. His eyes scan the bathroom in the break; the shower is the same, an expansive walk-in made of expensive tile with a large showerhead that makes Nagi feel like he’s been caught in the rain. The beautiful marble vanity stretches across the wall, complete with a large mirror that spans its entirety. On the vanity, Nagi’s eyes catch the sight of something plastic and purple, wrapped poorly in a hand towel. Reo’s waits expectantly to continue when he follows Nagi’s eyes in horror.
“Don’t,” Reo utters, avoiding the knowing look Nagi gives him. Nagi notices how stained his cheeks are, all crimson and cute, slightly muted by shower steam. Nagi raises an eyebrow ever so slightly.
“Is that what I think it is?”
Reo smacks at Nagi without bite, a nervous reflex Nagi recognizes from their youth. “Don’t ask.”
Nagi shrugs. “There’s no need to be embarrassed, Reo.” And as Reo loosens the hold on Nagi’s wrist, Nagi springs forward.
“Nagi!”
He peels the towel back and is greeted by a purple plastic dildo.
“Nagi, what the fuck-”
“I told Reo, you don’t need to be embarrassed. It’s just me.”
Reo crosses his arms in front of his chest with a pout. “I wasn’t-” he stammers, “I didn’t plan on bringing anyone back here tonight so…”
The admission lodges itself in Nagi’s brain - it stung that he wasn’t considered an option, but he felt relieved to know no one else made the cut, either. Nagi replaces the towel and in a poor attempt to cover Reo’s dignity before wrapping himself around the other. He kisses the length of Reo’s neck in quiet apology, before grazing his teeth just above his pulse. Reo’s breath hitches as Nagi whispers, low and rough. “I’d like to see you use it…”
“Nn…Nagi,” The way Reo calls his name is velvety, sweet, and Nagi presses his hips into Reo to show him how it’s affecting him. Reo’s breathless as Nagi kisses his neck again, leaving love bites across his skin. Nagi eyes the spot he’d left earlier, a marred speck of purple contrasted against perfect skin, and he kisses it in worship. His eyes catch sight of Reo’s reflection in the mirror, taking in every detail of how his body is wrapped around his own. Nagi’s eyes narrow as he imagines bending Reo over the vanity, hands pressed into his hips while Reo grasps helplessly at the mirror. His fantasy is interrupted as Reo tilts his head back to catch his breath. “Nagi, hah, come on, I wanted to shower before we did anything else.”
That breaks Nagi away, and he meets Reo’s eyes.
Is Reo having the same thought?
“...Then Reo wants to-”
“Just get in the shower.” Reo pushes him playfully. He turns away to remove his boxers, and Nagi swallows his nerves, as his worries surrounding his inexperience return.
Get it together. You’ve been in the shower with him a hundred times.
Reo looks over his shoulder coyly before stepping behind the glass partition.
Okay, but not like this.
Nagi’s cheeks feel on fire as he slips his pants over his tented boxers before removing them entirely. Reo’s already washing the suds from his hair as Nagi joins him. He watches stray droplets trickle down Reo’s neck as he leans his head back; his eyes catch the decorated marks Nagi made of him, and he feels a rush of desire flood through him like a dam overflowing. Reo pushes his hair back before pulling Nagi to him, leaving chaste kisses on his nose, his lips, his cheeks. The warmth of the shower envelopes him, but it’s nothing compared to the fire Reo is lighting inside of him with each pass of his lips.
“Want me to wash your hair?” Reo whispers against him, and Nagi nods.
Reo’s fingers feel good as he works his fancy products through Nagi’s hair - he wonders briefly if Reo can tell he stopped buying the expensive stuff after he left, like the condition of his hair could betray him, but Reo makes no comment.
“Mm…feels nice, Reo…” Nagi hums as Reo’s fingers massage his scalp and brush the suds away. “Missed this…”
Reo lights up, unable to contain his smile and Nagi’s glad for it. Reo looks good like this. Nagi notices how he’s filled out, looking more toned than three years ago. Evidence of his hard work and limitless determination. Nagi watches beads of water roll off flexed muscles as he reaches behind him to gather soap, and Nagi feels a strange desire to lick each droplet and savor the taste, wanting to experience all of Reo.
Reo’s washing himself now, and Nagi stirs as he watches the suds coat his body, obscuring parts of his body. His eyes had been avoiding a certain area out of shyness, but now he found himself drawn to it as his own member twitched with anticipation. Reo seems to catch on as he washes the suds away.
“Like what you see?” He teases as the soap falls away from his body. A nervous lump is rising in Nagi’s throat that he tries to swallow away.
“Mhm.”
Reo presses against him and Nagi gasps as his back hits the cold tile of the shower wall, like the shock of emerging from a hot spring in winter. He melts into Reo as he kisses him again, dissolving under Reo’s touch as he brushes his hands against Nagi’s thighs. The skin of his chest burns as Reo presses into him, feeling so warm at the contact. He digs his fingers into Reo’s waist as Reo’s hand caresses his abdomen, teasingly soft and tantalizingly sweet.
“What do you want?” Reo lilts as he leaves a trail of kisses down Nagi’s jaw. Nagi’s hips buck and Reo withdraws his hand. “You’ll have to tell me…”
“Mean, Reo…” Nagi pants as he stares down at Reo, who is just as hard as he is. “Want…Reo to touch me.”
“Hm? Touch you how?”
Reo’s fingers ghost along the skin of his abs, dipping dangerously close his cock and Nagi leans in, searching for friction. “Nn…Reo, please…want you…”
“Yes?”
“Hah,” Nagi is impatient now as his grip on Reo’s waist tightens. He pulls him in closer, trapping his hand between them as he ruts into Reo, chasing friction. “Wanna… feel you around me, Reo…please…touch me.”
Reo frees his hand and wraps it around Nagi’s cock, stroking it softly.
“Good…good boy…” he whispers, nearly sounding undone himself.
Nagi leans against Reo’s shoulder and moans as Reo grips him tighter, jerking him with a concentrated rhythm. Nagi wraps his free hand in Reo’s hair, needing something to hold onto as he unravels under Reo’s touch. Years of fantasizing couldn’t prepare him for how good it felt to have Reo’s attention, Reo’s affection, Reo’s passion.
“You’re so good, Nagi…” Reo hums and Nagi feels Reo’s pulse, rapid and shallow, against his forehead as he presses into his neck, “Want…want me to take care of you?” Reo nips at Nagi’s ear, and his hips buck in response. “Fuck, Nagi, let me - can I suck you off?”
Nagi manages to stand up as Reo’s hand disappears from his cock, already missing the sensation, but he decides what comes next makes up for it. He nearly loses himself seeing Reo situate himself between his legs. Beads of water gather on his clavicle and overflow down his chest, terminating at his thighs as he positions himself in front of Nagi.
“H-ha, Reo,” Nagi digs his fingers into Reo’s hair, scrunching out water as Reo licks a stripe up his erection. “Want you…”
“Mm, I’ll take care of you, treasure,” and Nagi’s blood ran hot at the affectionate nickname. It had been so long since Reo called him that, and to have him murmur it while between his legs…
Reo finally stops teasing to Nagi’s relief as he takes the head of Nagi’s cock into his mouth. Nagi’s moan catches in his throat, feeling so good, so warm, under Reo’s touch. He watches Reo hollow out his cheeks around his dick and barely resists the urge to buck deeper into his mouth, riding out the sensation of Reo’s throat. When Reo pulls back, he stays connected by a string of saliva as he whispers, “Feeling good, treasure?”
Nagi thrusts forward clumsily, and Reo laughs gently before taking Nagi into his hands once more, stroking him against the slick of his spit. Reo licks the slit of Nagi’s cock, cleaning up the precum before enveloping his length with his mouth again.
“Hah, Reo,” Nagi feels out of control with his hips as every movement from Reo guides him closer and closer to completion. The warmth pools deep within him as he leans his head back, lost in the feeling.
“I want you to cum for me, treasure,” Nagi meets Reo’s eyes as he continues to stroke him. His lips are red, matching the flush of his cheeks, and Nagi shudders at the sight. “Can you do that for me?”
Nagi groans as his climax crescendos, “R-Reo, I’m-” he pants, watching as Reo takes him back into the warmth of his mouth as he finishes. He moans, tugging at Reo’s hair, as he rides out the final waves of his orgasm in frenzied messy thrusts. Reo cleans him up dutifully with delicate licks of his tongue, leaving Nagi feeling cleansed under the pleasure. Nagi’s legs shake as he slides down the wall a few centimeters, feeling weak and spent. Reo rises to his feet and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. He’s smiling shyly, and Nagi takes a deep breath as he pulls him in for a hug.
“So…so good, Reo…” He says breathlessly, and Reo presses a soft kiss to his temple. “Really, good…”
“So spoiled…” he teases and caresses Nagi’s cheek with his hands. He leans into the touch, savoring every piece that Reo will give him.
Nagi finds himself being shooed out of the bathroom after he finishes bathing, with Reo exclaiming he needs a “few minutes”. Nagi protested, wanting to continue, but Reo shoved him out of the door with a wink, and all the fight was sucked out of him. Nagi places Reo’s towel over his hair as he collapses on the bed, heart still thrumming in his chest. He closes his eyes, close to sleep, when he hears the soft sound of a phone buzzing. Annoyed, he leans up, realizing it’s coming from his pile of clothes. He shuffles over to silence it, but not before messages catch his eye. Over ten missed messages in the Egoist Four ( Nagi) group chat.
Bachira : guuys waht if he is lst in the hedg e maze
Chigiri : we’re NOT going back in the hedge maze, leave it alone
Kunigami : maybe he already went home?
Bachira : NOOOooOOOOoooo he cnt
Isagi : I’m not sure if he’d have the initiative to do that, but it’s not a bad guess…
Chigiri : Should we reconvene in the lobby?
Chigiri : honestly, he’s always on that damn phone. It’s pissing me off.
Nagi frowns.
Do they have that little faith in me? That they had to form a search party?
The speculative texts continue to pour in until Nagi decides to put an end to it with a sigh.
Nagi : not lost. with Reo. go home without me.
He barely has time to lock his phone before a text from Bachira sneaks through:
Bachira : YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
With that, Nagi puts his phone back on Do Not Disturb and tosses it aside. That’s a problem for tomorrow.
He leans back into the soft mattress with a sigh. It pillows around him, soft and comforting, so reminiscent of the other parties he had crashed at Reo’s request. Each night ended with them sharing a king-size bed like an unspoken rule despite the villa boasting fifteen guest suites. Nagi was never one to complain or question, finding this ritual to be the one solace in attending a Mikage party.
He rolls onto his side, facing the bathroom as he waits for Reo. His heart still hammers in his chest, keeping the same pace that it had during their shower excursion. When the bathroom door opens with an eruption of steam, Nagi can’t contain the soft smile on his lips. Reo wastes no time jumping on the bed, and his elbow catches Nagi’s stomach.
“Oof!” Nagi huffs as the air is dislodged from his body, and Reo erupts into such earnest laughter that the sound is apology enough for Nagi. Reo’s dressed in a similar fashion to Nagi with only sweatpants, and he curls into Nagi wordlessly, resting his head in the crook of Nagi’s outstretched arm. Lying there, bathed in gentle lamplight, Nagi feels warm. Reo’s return polishes down his crystalline edges as he slots back into Nagi’s life, pressed into his chestpiece like an inset jewel. The gentle sound of Reo’s breathing is hypnotic, and Nagi fights the urge to close his eyes, so heavy with the weight of the day.
“Not falling asleep, are you, treasure?” Reo chides and he looks up at Nagi through his bangs.
“Mm…maybe…”
Reo kisses him so gently, leaving Nagi with a tingling sensation that tastes sweet and delicate like spun sugar.
“Can you be persuaded to stay up?” Reo grins at him, and Nagi can’t find it within him to deny that smile anything. He groans half-heartedly without meaning, and Reo seems to know that.
“Mmm…for Reo, sure.”
“We can sleep in tomorrow,” Reo has moved on to bargaining now.
Ever the businessman.
“Oh, that reminds me, Reo…” Nagi closes his eyes, nuzzling his face into Reo’s hair, “Chigiri bullied everyone into meeting for brunch tomorrow in Tokyo…would you want to go?”
Reo cocks an eyebrow. “You want to go?”
“No,” Nagi answers immediately, “but if Reo goes with me, I would.”
“Hmm…” Reo pretends to think. “My schedule is pretty busy…I might have to move some things around…” Nagi begins to physically deflate with every word until he’s melted and boneless. Reo laughs, shoving Nagi onto his back before climbing on top. “I’m kidding. I would love to go with you.”
I love you.
Nagi hears the words in a jumble as they echo in his own head. Reo looks so radiant seated on his lap, looking down at him like some benevolent seraph framed in soft violet. His hands rest against Nagi’s chest, ebbing with the gentle rise and fall of his breaths, and Nagi brings his own to rest over Reo’s fingers.
“I still can’t believe this happened…” Reo admits quietly. “...I’ve liked you for so long.”
“Mm…” Nagi hums in agreement. “I think I’ve liked Reo since the day we met.”
Reo laughs with an eye roll.
“Now I know you’re lying. I was so annoying!”
“So?” Nagi counters.
“Hey!”
“Reo said it, not me…”
Reo furrows his brows, looking so cute, and Nagi gives his hands a reassuring squeeze.
I love you.
It feels too early - too delicate - to admit now, but Nagi embeds it in each gentle caress. He tugs at Reo’s arms, bringing him into another lazy kiss, savoring each motion. Reo’s fingers brush against Nagi’s chest like a trail of fire, and Nagi grips his wrists before flipping their positions. Reo squeaks as his back hits the mattress before Nagi cuts it off with his lips.
“Mm, what’s gotten into you?” Reo asks breathlessly.
“Don’t wanna stop touching Reo…” He whispers as his hands reach between Reo’s legs, caressing a line up his thighs. He’s frustrated by the barrier of the sweatpants, but Reo still shivers under his touch. Feeling that familiar heat, that insatiable hunger return, he kisses down Reo’s chest to his naval, nipping near the waistband of his sweats. Reo’s hips buck, and Nagi moves his hand to grasp at the meat of Reo’s thigh, bending his leg and opening him up. “I’ve wanted you for so long…” he whispers against his abdomen, watching how Reo’s breath hitches as color floods his face. “Can I have you, Reo?”
He moves his free hand across Reo’s stomach, dipping the fingers beneath his waistband. Reo twitches under his touch, and he moves the palm of his hand against the tent of Reo’s sweatpants. He relishes how Reo’s back arches against the friction as he presses the heel of his palm against his dick.
“Hah, yeah, pants. Off. Now.” He pants and presses his shoulders into the mattress, lifting his hips.
“Yes, boss.” Nagi grips the waistband of his pants, wondering why Reo even bothered to put them on at all. He pulls them to his ankles, tossing them aside along with his boxers. Reo’s face is obscured by his hand, and he catches Nagi’s eyes through the holes of his fingers.
“What?” He asks under Nagi’s gaze. Nagi smiles softly, bringing Reo’s thigh to his lips.
“You look good, Reo. Don’t hide.”
Reo flushes a shade darker as Nagi presses his lips to his thighs, and he notices how his cock bobs in want as he trails kisses closer to his hips. He grips Reo’s hip with his other hand, hard enough he hopes it bruises, wanting to cover every inch of Reo in evidence of him. He feels his own groin stir as Reo melts under his touch, pressing his hips up in want, and he wants to give Reo everything and more.
“Lube, Reo?” He whispers as he moves his hand from Reo’s hips to trace along his cock. Reo whimpers, still covering his face with a hand.
“Mm, bedside drawer,” he points with his free hand. Nagi releases his hold on the other and stretches his body across the bed. He fumbles around the drawer before finding a small bottle, bringing it with him as he settles between Reo’s legs. He coats his hands, shivering against the cold, and he warms the lube in his hands under Reo’s embarrassed gaze.
“Stop covering your face, Reo. I want to see you,” he whispers. Seeing Reo in such a state has erased all previous anxieties - whatever he was doing was obviously working. Reo shakes his head rapidly, still hiding behind his fingers, and Nagi accepts the challenge.
He places a slicked hand against Reo’s cock, rubbing with the heel of his palm. Reo bucks, and Nagi wraps his hand around the base of his cock, pumping languidly. A strangled noise escapes Reo’s lips as he peels his hand away from his face, gripping at the sheets below him.
He looks so perfect like this.
“So good, Reo…” Nagi praises, his eyes dark with want as he watches how each pump of his hand reflects on Reo’s face. He kneads the meat of Reo’s thighs with his other hand, wanting to lift his leg over his shoulders, to open him up completely for Nagi to devour.
“Nn…feels good, Nagi...”
Nagi swipes his thumb across his sensitive tip, gathering up the precum that spilled. Reo arches in response, and Nagi’s eyes drift down, wanting more. Like reading his mind, Reo spreads his legs with a slight bend to his knees. “Want you…if you want to…” The flush has spread from his face down his chest, looking pink and rosy. Nagi’s eyes travel from Reo’s lips down to each of the marks Nagi left behind, like piecing together constellations on bare skin, and settle between his legs.
“I do,” he confirms. “Help me?” He straddles Reo, shifting his weight as Reo helps him out of his own sweats. He eyes Reo hungrily, feeling so starved as his own erection is freed. He brushes his left hand across Reo’s lips, as if begging entrance, and feels a heat rise in him as Reo parts them. Reo takes two of his fingers into his mouth, his tongue coating them in spit as he sucks. Nagi’s cock twitches, remembering how good it feels to be in Reo’s mouth, yet he aches for something more.
“So good, Reo…” he whispers, taking his slicked up fingers back. He settles back between Reo’s spread legs and coats his fingers in additional lube. He nudges Reo’s left thigh, and Reo reads him again, lifting it hesitantly over Nagi’s shoulder, exposing him. He covers his face with his hands again before eeking out, “Do you know what you’re doing? We don’t-”
“Shh,” Nagi kisses his thigh in reassurance and squeezes it with his free hand, hoping Reo doesn’t mind the remnants of lube he rubs there. “I know…just let me know if it hurts, yeah?”
“How do you-” Reo asks between his fingers but stops as Nagi’s hand leaves his thigh to resume stroking him.
“Did my research,” he answers simply, bringing his coated hand to rest against Reo’s hole. He teases against the entrance with his index finger, blood feeling hot as Reo whimpers. “Wanted to do this with you, Reo…” He lifts his hips to rock against Nagi’s finger, and they both exhale as it breaches the tight ring of muscle. He pumps his finger in and out, mesmerized by the sight, feeling closer complete and yet still wanting more. He crooks his finger as Reo relaxes into him, enough that he can add a second finger. “Wanted you for so long…just like this…”
“Hah-” Reo gasps out, face still obscured by his hand. “Feels…ha, good, Seishiro…”
His honeyed voice goes straight to Nagi’s dick, having never heard his name be called so sweetly. He scissors his fingers as Reo rocks his hips into him, sucking him deeper.
“Ah-!” Reo calls out, hands falling away from his face to grip the sheets once again. “T-there, Sei.” And Nagi obeys, hitting the bundle of nerves that have Reo calling out his name.
“Fuck, Reo,” Nagi keeps pace, adding another finger, but removes his other hand from Reo’s member to stroke his own, unable to hold himself together at the sight.
“Want you, Sei…so good,” Reo begs as he rocks his hips desperately. “My good boy…”
Nagi exhales as he removes his fingers, completely clouded by desire, needing more.
“Can I…?” He asks, slicking up his cock with more lube before lining himself up with Reo’s entrance. Reo nods and hooks his other leg over Nagi’s shoulder. Wasting no time, Nagi groans as he presses in, losing himself in the tightness. His breath comes on, shallow and strangled as he enters gently, holding himself back from becoming completely lost in the sensation.
“Good… good Sei…” Reo adjusts his hips on the bed, and Nagi feels himself slide deeper. He rests his forehead against Reo’s leg, feeling dissolved as Reo stares at him with half-lidded eyes. “Move, please.”
Nagi obliges with a snap of his hips that have Reo digging his nails into the sheets.
“Fuck!” He calls out, and Nagi chases the high, determined to coax him into screaming his name. He presses in, rocking his hips into Reo, coming undone at the way his walls squeeze him with delicious friction.
“Is…hah, good Reo?” He asks as he punches in again, reaching so deep that Reo squeezes him with his hips in response.
“Nn, so…yeah Sei, you feel…” He barely manages to say, his voice ragged and fucked out as Nagi rails into him with enough pent-up passion to erase the last three years. Nagi leans forward, and Reo bends his legs in response, making room for Nagi to slot against his chest. He pants against Reo’s lips, taking Reo’s bottom lip into his and sucking.
“You…look so good, like this…” he whispers, “Want you like this, always…want you to want me…only me…”
Reo moans against his lips and threads his fingers through Nagi’s hair.
“Only you, Sei…”
Nagi adjusts his position, rocking Reo’s hips forward, mercilessly driving into him even deeper. Reo feels so good, squeezing against him, each drag of his walls against Nagi’s cock bringing him closer and closer to the edge. Reo pulls at his hair with each thrust as his other hand drifts down to hold Nagi’s shoulder, nails digging into the skin. Pain mixes with pleasure as Reo squeezes him, and Nagi pants against his neck as Reo’s nails drag down his back.
“Hah, Reo, close…” he chokes out. “Want me to-”
Reo responds by locking his legs around Nagi’s waist, holding him close. Nagi shifts his weight to one arm, reaching between them to pump Reo to completion. A choked breath escapes his lips as he arches back off the mattress before spilling over Nagi’s hand and onto his stomach. Nagi gasps as Reo writhes beneath him, nearly sobbing as his body wracks with pleasure. Losing all rhythm in his hips, he chases his own orgasm as Reo squeezes against him, looking utterly fucked out beneath his grip until Nagi loses himself completely. He groans against Reo’s neck as he empties into him with shallow thrusts before collapsing in a heap on top of the other. The room is silent except for their labored breathing. Reo’s eyes are closed as he gently strokes a comforting hand up and down Nagi’s back while he catches his breath with Nagi still sheathed inside him.
“Is Reo okay…?” He manages to ask with his forehead pressed against the pulse in Reo’s neck. It hammers, feverish and fast, against him. The vibrations from Reo’s laugh tickle his face.
“Mhm, that was…” he pauses, as if searching for the words, “worth the wait, I guess?”
Nagi snorts and pushes himself up to his elbows, feeling sticky with sweat and other fluids. He places a chaste kiss on Reo’s lips before peeling himself away entirely, groaning as he unsheathes, feeling sensitive and raw. Reo rocks to his side and runs a hand through his messy hair in a sad attempt to smooth it.
“C’mon, we need to clean up. I think I have spare sheets in the closet.”
Nagi groans as Reo ushers him off the bed and back into the shower. After a quick rinse and sheet swap, Nagi collapses in a heap on the bed.
“Reooo, come back,” he whines when Reo hasn’t emerged from the bathroom. “Tired…”
“Coming, coming,” he responds, pausing to turn off the lamp before settling into bed. They lay with their limbs intertwined, and the intimacy of it all squeezes at Nagi’s chest as if his heart lies in the palm that Reo is holding so tightly. Nagi closes his eyes, forehead buried in Reo’s hair, and he’s nearly asleep when Reo begins to stir in his arms.
“...Hey, Nagi…”
Nagi blinks.
“Why is Reo calling me Nagi now? Am I in trouble?”
Reo laughs under his breath, quiet and tired, but genuine and sweet. Nagi can feel the way his lips turn up into a smile against his bare chest.
“Sorry, the force of habit, I think.” He takes a deep breath that wracks through his whole body, and Nagi tightens his hold like he’s afraid Reo might slip away to someplace unreachable. “I’m just thinking…what now? What is this? What will it be?”
Nagi exhales, feeling Reo’s hair move under the force of his feelings. He figured this was coming; it was the same question that had been on repeat in his own brain since Reo made him shower a second time.
He opts to hold Reo’s hand a little tighter and brings it between their chests, forming a connection between their ribs.
“...I don’t really know. I want to be with Reo, though. I do know that.” He emphasizes, leaving no room for another miscommunication to bloom between them. “S’all I’ve wanted…”
“Even though I don’t even live in Japan anymore?” Reo’s voice cracks, betraying his nerves.
“We don’t have to figure it all out right now…but we will figure it out. Together.” A pause. “Reo’s the smartest person I know…who always gets what he wants…”
And I hope it’s me that you want.
He feels Reo relax into him a bit more, and Nagi feels satisfied that he could bring Reo some small comfort.
“Yeah, you’re right…” He smiles again, bright enough Nagi thinks he could light up the room. “I want you too, Seishiro.”
Heavy with sleep, Nagi leaves a trail of soft kisses along the crown of Reo’s head, each a quiet promise.
I love you, I love you, I love you.
We’ll be okay. We’ll be together.
“Well, look who decided to show up.” Chigiri leans back in his chair, looking smug. Kunigami stands, giving Reo and Nagi each a chaste hug before helping a waiter add two more chairs to their patio table. Reo waves a hand in greeting before placing his bag on the chair Kunigami provided for him. Bachira lifts his head from the table, and Nagi thinks he looked less dead last night as Frankenstein’s Monster compared to now.
“Nagichii…Reochii…welcome,” he drawls before putting his face back on the table. He’s out instantly. Isagi laughs, placing a loving hand on Bachira’s back.
“We’re glad you guys could make it!” Isagi says, more to Reo than Nagi. Nagi finds he doesn’t care.
“Are you cold, Reo?” Chigiri chides, referencing the warm scarf Reo has wrapped around his neck. He laughs nervously and makes no move to remove it.
“Good to see you too, Chigiri. It’s been a while, yeah?”
“Tell me, is it a fashion statement, or is it that much colder here than France?”
Reo laughs again, and Nagi sends a knowing glare Chigiri’s way. Chigiri seems to catch onto this.
“Or, is it for another reason entirely?”
“Can we order food?” Nagi interrupts when he sees the flush starting to creep up Reo’s cheeks. Chigiri smirks before tossing Nagi a menu.
“C’mon, don’t be sore. We spent half of last night babysitting you before you disappeared on us.”
Nagi ignores him and passes the menu to Reo.
“So have you guys been here before?” Reo asks as he scans the menu.
“Tell us all about last night.” Chigiri blows off the question, wasting no time asking for details. Nagi fights the urge to join Bachira with his head on the table. Reo nudges Nagi under the table with an open palm, requesting his hand. Nagi gives it to him with a comforting squeeze.
“Um, sure. We…talked.” Reo says with a smile. Chigiri looks less than enthused.
“C’mon, I know you guys did more than talk.” His eyes glance at the scarf before jumping back to Reo’s eyes. “Hell, the last I saw of you two, you were basically having sex on the dance floo-”
“Shh, c’mon Chigiri, don’t embarrass them.” Isagi scolds. “We’re happy you both showed up today. Together.”
Reo beams at that, looking at Nagi in his peripherals. He feels warm under Reo’s gaze, like drinking up the sun.
“Yeah, me too,” Reo says, squeezing Nagi’s hand as he does. “Right, Nagi?”
“Mm…” Nagi lays his head on Reo’s shoulder, hoping he’ll hurry up and pick something to eat so they can get out of here. And as Reo keeps up conversation with their friends, Nagi closes his eyes, relishing in the sound of Reo’s laughter and how it carries over the conversation. He concentrates on the cadence of his voice, how it rises when he gets enthusiastic and lowers when he feels sarcastic. And while they don’t have everything figured out now, he feels comfortable knowing that they will. With eyes closed, their friends’ chatter fades into background noise, and it’s easy for Nagi to imagine what a year in their future will look like. He thinks next Halloween, Reo will force him into some matching couple's costume despite Nagi’s protests, and they’ll get ready together at the villa. They’ll greet their friends at the main entrance and escort them to the drawing room with drinks in hand. There, Nagi will be seated on the couch with Reo situated comfortably in his lap. Nagi will keep Reo grounded, with his hands wrapped around his waist and head resting lazily on his shoulder while Reo enthusiastically takes on the burden of catching everyone up on their life together. Nagi isn’t sure what Reo will be saying: where they’ll have been for that year,or what kind of life they’ll have lived in that time, but he doesn’t get lost in the details. He doesn’t need to. Because they’ll figure them out, together.