(Untitled)

[successoroftime]

Who: Doumeki Shizuka (drainedpaladin) and Watanuki Kimihiro (successoroftime)
When: Afternoon of July 23
Where: A laundromat in sector 4
Summary: More domestic stuff. Talk about Doumeki's new job.
Warnings: none!

Comments

a little later; at home

[drainedpaladin]

The laundry had been mostly uneventful after their conversation, just a quiet domestic task shared together with a bit of conversation. Doumeki was still feeling strangely overwhelmed, though, lost in thought, and maybe a bit broody. They'd gotten the laundry done, though, folded it and brought it home and put it away, and Doumeki was in the kitchen making tea, still thinking a little too much about his observations earlier.

A week, then.

He still wasn't entirely sure what Watanuki's true feelings about the whole situation were, though he felt slightly more reassured than he had earlier. It seemed that Watanuki was seeking comfort from him, at any rate. He lifted a hand to rub gently between Kouki's ears - the little brown kitten was sitting on his shoulder as he quite often did - and then set about brewing the tea, leaning on the counter after he'd done that and looking at the pot, hands braced at the edge of the counter, eyebrows furrowed.

[successoroftime]

Watanuki made a satisfied sigh as he closed the door to his room and went out the corridor. It was the last major chore that needed to be done for the day, and with that he could stretch a little on the couch and take a smoke

[drainedpaladin]

He heard Watanuki come up behind them, between the mewing Kouki was making against his ear, purring a little and rubbing his face against Doumeki's ear. He shifted, reaching up to stroke the kitten's fur again, speaking softly to the kitten.

"You'll get your fur dirty that way, Kouki. You know you hate baths, too." he said, voice very low and quiet, pitched in an attempt to keep Watanuki from hearing. The kitten responded with a purr and a small sandpapery lick to the rim of his ear. He shifted his head, a huff of air coming out of him at the tickling sensation, and reached up to pull the kitten down into his arms. Kouki was growing, but the feeling of his fur against the small v-shaped bit of chest that was exposed by the top of his samue was comforting and warm stil. He held the kitten against his chest in one arm, and with the other hand he poured two cups of tea before speaking quietly.

"Come and have tea with your smoke." It was addressed to Watanuki, acknowledging his presence without turning to look at him.

[successoroftime]

Watanuki took a breath and unclenched his hand before entering the kitchen and taking Doumeki's invitation, leaning against the counter beside him. He hadn't missed Doumeki whispering to the kitten, and though he wasn't able to hear what was said it seemed that Kouki was behaving himself.

The kitten mewled in greeting and he reached forward to rub under his chin.

"He seemed comfortable where he was a while ago," he said, keeping his gaze focused on Kouki. The strange mood that came on him since their talk on their way to the laundromat was still with him, but at least it felt lighter. Like a still day before the downpour from a storm.

[drainedpaladin]

Doumeki turned to watch Watanuki come into the kitchen and cross over to stand near the counter with him, his hand extending to stroke the kitten. Doumeki shifted, a gesture indicating that Watanuki could take the kitten from him if he wanted to cuddle Kouki, and picked up the cup of tea he'd poured for himself, sipping from it.

"Maybe." he said, after a few moments, "I wanted to hold him here though. I think he's fine with it."

He paused, just watching Watanuki, eyes scanning his face, still wondering what he was thinking. His throat felt tight after a moment, remembering his arm around the boy's waist - it was one of those moments where he felt the desire to hold the boy in his arms.

[successoroftime]

Watanuki couldn't take the kitten away, not when he remembered Doumeki's expression from an hour before. He settled for stroking Kouki's furry cheek instead before picking up his cup, no longer noticing how close he was standing next to Doumeki compared to the distance of their regular proximity a month ago. Doumeki's presence was comforting where it had been annoying before, unless one of them had said something to bring back the tension of their situation to the forefront.

He took a sip of the tea and kept his back pressed against the counter, the nagging sense that something was missing tugging at him. A warm and solid presence.

"He grows fast," Watanuki said quietly, setting down his pipe on the kitchen counter. Tea and smoke never went well together. "It's hard to imagine you were able to hold him in only one hand only a few months ago."

[drainedpaladin]

Doumeki was very aware of how close Watanuki was standing, and he looked down at him while he stroked the kitten, that strange protective feeling of wanting to gether both boy and kitten into his arms coming back. He tightened his mouth slightly, and sipped his tea again, cradling the kitten back against his chest as Watanuki stroked the kitten's cheek, and then put his cup down.

He kept watching Watanuki as he put the pipe down and sipped his own tea, his hand shifting at his side, and after a moment, he extended it, hesitating before placing his hand gently back on the boy's hip. He paused, and then looked down at the purring brown kitten in his arm.

"It is. It's good to see him grow and be healthy, though." he said, voice low.

[successoroftime]

There it was, that missing sensation. A small, almost self-deprecating smile spread on Watanuki's lips as he leaned closer and slowly relaxed, surprised with himself. It was helpful in dispelling the growing feeling of tension that had followed him since their walk back home, and he hoped that, perhaps, they could clear things up now instead of doing what they used to do. What he used to do.

"He did his best." The position he was in allowed him to continue to pamper the kitten, which he did use to his advantage. Kouki's fur was soft and warm under his fingers, a familiar comfort. "So did you."

It was the end of a topic, and the beginning of a new one. Time to ask about what he had seen earlier on Doumeki's troubled face.

Slowly, he twisted and put down the mug on the counter behind him. Rested his head on Doumeki's shoulder. Tried to stop himself from tensing up. Hesitated.

Then, breathed.

"What were you thinking about earlier?"

[drainedpaladin]

He could feel Watanuki relax slightly when his hand settled on the boy's hip, could feel the way it affected him, and that gave him hope, somehow. He swallowed, and half-shut his eyes, looking down at Kouki and relaxing his hand against Watanuki's hip, just staying still with his little 'family' for a few moments

[successoroftime]

Doumeki wasn't one to talk about what bothered him. Watanuki couldn't blame him when he himself didn't like talking about certain topics that were too personal for him. He exhaled softly, closing his eyes for a moment as Doumeki's hand rested on his back.

"Say what comes to mind," he said quietly, shifting to slide his arm under Doumeki's and loop it around the other's waist. Doumeki's frame had truly grown compared to when he was in high school, and he laid his palm flat on the other's back.

"Don't hold back. If something's troubling you, I want to know."

[drainedpaladin]

His lips pursed as Watanuki moved closer, his arm sliding around his waist and his palm pressing to his back. He could feel the warmth of it through his clothing, and he stayed still for a few moments, Watanuki holding him and holding Watanuki, the boy's head pressed to his shoulder, breath fanning against the kitten that purred in his other arm and Watanuki's living body against him.

Watanuki asked him to share something again, told him he wanted to know. His heart beat hard, feeling like it was clenched in a strong fist as he stood there, frowning.

"I don't know what you think of me." he said, after a long, long pause, his fingers curling against Watanuki's back, "You've sent...mixed messages."

[successoroftime]

Doumeki seemed more rigid, tense, and Watanuki could feel the other's fingers shifting on his back. He took a breath, and his feet moved to close the last step between them, the floor beneath them feeling unsteady when his heel touched it again as if he had made one long leap

[drainedpaladin]

Watanuki moved closer to him, pressed his head near where Doumeki's heart was pounding hard and a little fast under his ribcage. When the boy pressed himself against him, pressed his face into his neck, when he felt the cool edges of his glasses against his throat, the boy's breathing and heartbeat, his own arm tightened around him, fingers twining into the back of Watanuki's clothing, closing a handful of it as if to keep him closer. His breathing was shallow, and he was too aware of the feeling of his own body and Watanuki's

[successoroftime]

Watanuki strained his ears after that, nervous for any sort of response. It was only when Doumeki held him closer that he allowed himself to feel a little relief that his response had been heard, that it hadn't been denied or thrown away.

He sagged a little and leaned more fully on Doumeki, careful enough not to press on Kouki, and let out a shaky breath.

"What did it feel like?" he asked quietly when he felt he could speak without his voice cracking, his grip on Doumeki's samue as tight as Doumeki's hands were on his own clothes.

[drainedpaladin]

His heart was beating too hard - he'd thought he was over feeling like this. Things had felt so dead for such a long time, since long before he came to this new place. Since Watanuki's choice, and for some time on that Island as well. But now he felt alive again, and he had to hold tighter to Watanuki's clothing to keep his hand from shaking slightly.

Kouki was sandwiched between their bodies, purring, obviously enjoying the contact from both of his favourite people, warm and soft just like Watanuki felt. His clothing was soft and silky, his body warm, and he was clutching to Doumeki's shirt like a dying man, his weight resting on Doumeki's body.

He took the weight. He liked taking the weight, holding Watanuki up, being strong for him.

'All of this will end with the end of my life.'"It felt..." he started, his voice low and hoarse, "...it felt like I was a disant second." He paused again, his voice slightly strained - it wasn't natural for him to reveal things like this, "To that woman..." He paused, and swallowed hard, his heart

[successoroftime]

There was no denying the difficulty of the circumstances they were in. Watanuki would have to remain at the shop until he and Syaoran find a way out, and while he had already implied to Doumeki before that waiting for Yuuko was not all there was to it