Jetlag
2:37 a.m.
The ticking of the clock, the occasional rustling of sheets, and another deep exaggerated sigh from Jin were the only sounds in the bedroom, but it may as well have been the sound of a bulldozer for all the sleep Kame was getting.
“Kameee…” Jin whined for the umpteenth time that night.
“For the last time Jin, I’m sorry you can’t sleep. I told you this would happen earlier today but you just ignored me.”
“Don’t give me any ‘I told you so’s right now okay? Help me!”
“There’s nothing I can do about it. The least you could do is let me sleep. Some of us have to work early tomorrow.”
“Will you get me some warm milk? That might help.”
“You have hands. Get it yourself.”
“It tastes better when you make it.”
Kame was sorely tempted to kick Jin at this point. “For Heaven’s sake Jin, it’s milk warmed in the microwave. I’m pretty sure there’s only one way to do that.”
Jin huffed, rolling over once more, rocking the bed, and Kame didn’t need to see his face to know that he was pouting.
Jin didn’t reply after that, and Kame closed his eyes in relief and was dozing off almost immediately.
Contrary to his current state of annoyance, Kame was elated that Jin was finally home. After being without Jin for months while he was abroad filming his movie, finally having Jin home and not needing to count down the days until he would see him again seemed almost like a dream. Their relationship had so often been a long distance one, he had a hard time adjusting to the feel of having his boyfriend with him once again, even if it was only for a short time before he would be gone again.
Jin had been beyond exhausted once he had finally arrived in Japan once again, and his fatigue had been obvious to Kame from the moment that they had reunited. Kame had done his best to keep Jin awake once they had gotten home, but Jin had looked so utterly miserable and pathetic that he finally given in and let Jin fall into dreamland on the sofa with his head in Kame’s lap.
Needless to say, when it came time for Kame to go to bed, Jin was wide awake.
<><><><><>
3:04 a.m.
“Kame?”
“….”
“Kame? Are you awake?” Jin whispered to the huddled form on the other side of the bed.
“Kazuya?” Getting no response, Jin got up and walked around to the other side of the bed, plopping down on Kame’s side, bouncing a bit.
Kame did not stir.
Frowning, Jin pulled on a book on the bedside table, knocking it off balance until it fell to the floor with a loud thud. “Oops.”
Kame jolted awake.
“Can’t sleep huh?” Jin said in his most sympathetic voice.
“Mmm…? Jin…?” Kame yawned. “…time ‘sit…?”
“Around three-ish. Hey, since we’re both awake, why don’t we play a game?”
Kame pulled himself up on his elbows, squinting at Jin. “Are you serious? Jin, I just got to sleep…” Kame whined, sounding almost as if in pain.
“Come on, Kame. It’ll help us both get to sleep. Counting turtles isn’t working.”
Kame opened one eye. “Turtles?” he asked dubiously.
“Yes. Turtles. But they’re so cute you know, it gets distracting.” Jin grinned at him.
“Then count something else.” Kame muttered, rolling over and burying his face in the pillow.
“Kaaameee. Come on. Let’s play a game. Shiritori, ne?” Jin suggested cheerfully as he pulled on Kame’s arm, dragging him back to his former position. A muffled grunt was Kame’s only response. “Great! I’ll start. Hmm…” Jin tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Kuruma.”*
Jin prodded at Kame when there was no response. “hmm…what? Was it?”
“Kuruma.”
“Agh. Unghm. Makura...”
Jin rolled his eyes, but played along. “Rasetsu.”
“Tsukareta.”
“Tamag-“
“No, Jin. I’m tired. Really. I have an early meeting tomorrow morning.”
“But I can’t sleep Kame. I’ve never had jetlag this bad before. I’m usually still tired enough to sleep again even after a nap.”
“Nap on some hard surface next time instead of my lap.”
“But Kame,” Jin said innocently, “Doesn’t your lap count as a hard-“
“That’s it. Get out.” Kame kicked Jin to emphasize his words.
“Kame....” Jin whined.
“I mean it Jin. I love you and all, and I’m glad you’re home, but you’re driving me crazy. Go read one of my ‘boring books’ as you like to call them or something okay?” Kame had rolled over and buried himself under the blankets before he had even finished his sentence, and was snoring softly before Jin even had a chance to argue.
<><><><><>
4:23 a.m.
A sudden crash startled Kame into sitting straight up in bed, his heart pounding from the sudden adrenaline rush. Several smaller crashes soon followed, as well as a few muffled curses and a dog barking.
Kame groaned loudly, dragging himself up and out of bed toward the location of the racket.
The location of the noise was the kitchen, and source just happened to be Jin, and to a much smaller extent, Ran-chan. The room was a mess, appearing as if a small explosion occurred somewhere in the vicinity.
“What on earth happened in here?” Kame asked, determined to be patient.
Jin, who was kneeling on the floor in front of a cupboard, jumped at Kame’s voice, staring up at him like a deer caught in headlights. “Kame! I’m sorry babe, did I wake you?”
Kame raised an eyebrow, looking decidedly unimpressed.
Jin smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”
Kame sighed as he bent down to pet Ran-chan, glancing around once again, noticing the various pots, pans, mugs, and dishes strewn about.
“Jin, what happened in here? Were you trying to cook something?”
Jin looked confused. “No. All I had was a bowl of cereal.”
Kame surveyed the ruin that was the kitchen once more, and stared at him in disbelief.
“Well, I had some warm milk too. Didn’t taste the same though…” he added under his breath. “And now I was trying to feed Ran-chan, but she just got so excited and wouldn’t stop running around and bumped me and-“
“Okay okay. I think I get it.” Kame said, rubbing his face wearily, not bothering to point out that the dog weighed all of eleven pounds. “Do you at least feel a little bit sleepy now?”
Jin shrugged. “Not really.”
Kame sighed again. “Well, you may as well come back to bed anyway. You’ve made it clear I can’t sleep when you’re out and about.”
<><><><><>
5:19 a.m.
“Oh come on. I never said that. You’re being dramatic.”
“Yamapi told me. I’m not making it up. Apparently you said something like if I loved America so much I could stay there forever for all you cared.” Jin snorted.
Kame giggled. “Well I was frustrated. That was a long time ago, Jin.”
“So you never feel that way now? When I’m gone?” Jin asked, nudging Kame’s foot with his under the blankets.
Kame hummed thoughtfully, playfully nudging back in the impromptu game of footsie. “Maybe a little bit, once in a while, but it’s not nearly as bad as it was back then, and I would never go as far to say something like that again.”
“How is anything any different now though? I’m gone for even longer amounts of time...” Jin said meekly, scooting closer to Kame.
Kame shrugged. “We’re older now. More mature. And you’re no longer sending everyone pictures of the hot American girls you hang out with in an attempt to make me jealous.”
“Well you would never talk to me…”
“I was busy Jin! With dramas and debuts and dealing with a certain member being gone and-“
“Okay okay. I am properly repentant.”
Kame somehow doubted it after hearing Jin’s decidedly unrepentant giggles. “Whatever. We’re past that now.” He said, leaning in to give Jin a peck on the lips.
The last half hour had flown by with memories of their past, some good, some bad, and even though Kame needed to get up in a little more than an hour, he was grateful for getting to talk with Jin like this again. Some things just weren’t always good enough over the phone.
Speaking of which…
Aside from a quick round that had been over much too quickly after they had arrived at Kame’s apartment, their physical contact had been limited to a couple kisses and now, a game of footsie. And since they were both up anyway…
Kame leaned in again to capture Jin’s lips with his own, making his intentions obvious, and Jin hummed appreciatively, his hand skimming up Kame’s back and into his hair, deepening the kiss.
Jin gasped into Kame’s mouth when his boyfriend’s hand found its way into the back of his boxers, teasing and squeezing the ample flesh he found there, and Jin slipped a hand underneath Kame’s shirt to play with a nipple in response.
Kame rolled on top of Jin, his hands wandering eagerly over Jin’s body, and his hips grinding into Jin’s repeatedly, to discover… Nothing… What the…?
Kame broke the kiss, lifting up to stare at Jin, a confused expression on his face. Jin wouldn’t look at him, and when Kame ground his hips down once more to double check, he thought he could see Jin blushing even in the very limited lighting.
“Sorry.” Jin muttered. “I guess I’m just too tired.”
Kame waited a moment, going over that statement several times in his head. “You are all for letter games, kitchen adventures, and reminiscing back to our junior days, but you’re too tired for this?”
Jin squirmed. “I’m exhausted Kame. My brain just won’t shut off, you know?”
“That’s a first.”
Jin kicked him.
Kame sighed and rolled off of Jin, settling again into his former position. “Eventually your brain will need rest as well. Just lie still and let your thoughts drift; you’ll be asleep before you know it.”
“Okay.” Jin sounded doubtful, but he shifted into a more comfortable position anyway. “Sorry, though.” he murmured, his breath evening out after a long exhale.
After about ten minutes of Jin’s near constant rolling over, he stilled, and Kame sent a quick prayer of thanks to God as he finally closed his eyes…
“Kame?”
A pause. Then a long, long sigh. “What, Jin.”
“I want a baby.”
Kame’s whine was one of frustrated despair, and he nearly gave in to the almost overwhelming urge to cry. “I’ll get you pregnant tomorrow, Jin. Just please, please, go to sleep.”
<><><><><>
6:02 a.m.
Kame’s hazy doze was broken by Jin rolling over yet again, and Kame once again regretted his decision to let Jin stay in his bed tonight rather than the sofa, first night back in Japan or not. Kame let out a soft, but long-suffering sigh, nuzzling into his pillows once again.
Apparently it hadn’t been as soft as he had thought, for less than a minute later he heard soft sniffles coming from Jin’s general vicinity.
“Jin…?” Kame propped himself up on his elbow to glance back at his sniffling boyfriend.
Jin didn’t respond, instead buried himself stubbornly under the blankets.
“Jin.” Kame tried again, this time taking a hold of Jin’s shoulder and turning him to face him.
“No.” Jin huffed, sounding like a little boy. “You’re mad at me.” And the sniffling started up again full force.
Kame let out a breath, knowing that it was Jin’s desperate exhaustion that was making him so extremely sensitive. He wasn’t completely without understanding and sympathy. Jetlag sucked. “No I’m not mad at you baby. Calm down now.” Kame said gently, pulling Jin to him, who came more willingly than he’d expected, nuzzling his face into the crook of Kame’s neck.
“I’m so tired, Kazu.” Jin sniffed. “This sucks.” Sniff.
“I know babe.” Kame tucked Jin’s head underneath his chin, cooing into his hair and gently rubbing his back and shoulder.
“Sorry I made you not sleep too.” Jin muttered meekly.
“Shh. Don’t worry about that now.”
A few more soft apologies and gentle reassurances were uttered before every was quiet except for the soft ticking of the clock.
<><><><><>
6:30 a.m.
Kame actually did give in slightly to the urge to cry when his alarm blared loudly into his bedroom, letting one small tear of despair escape his eye. But he was Kamenashi Kazuya, and he was going to get up and go to work, desire to roll over and die or not.
His fans would never forgive him if he died.
Clothes. Right. Toothbrush, not red one. Jin’s. Jin, on the bed, asleep. Sleep. Jerk. Hate him.
Jin rolled over, his peaceful expression morphing into one of discomfort. “Kazu…” he whimpered, distressed, clawing blindly at Kame’s side of the bed.
Kame’s sleep deprived heart of stone melted at the sight, his expressions softening, glazing over with uninhibited affection, almost bringing him to tears again.
Jin. Don’t hate. Not Jin. Love him.
Jin whimpered again, and Kame went to him, kissing him with the over-flooding emotion of the severely sleep deprived, before stumbling into the kitchen, not killing himself in the obstacle course of pots and pans, to make breakfast for Jin, good boyfriend that he is.
Kame went to work. Made it through the day as normal. If normal includes regular mood swings and emotional outbursts. Which it totally doesn’t.
His manager did not even bat an eye at the end of the day when Kame mumbled something about needing to go home to make babies.
終わり
A/N: If anyone can't tell, I'm not a morning person. This has been in the back of my head ever since I got back from Japan.
*A lot of you probably know the Japanese words used in this, but just in case:
Kuruma- car
makura- pillow
rasetsu- type of evil sprit (buddhist term)
tsukareta- 'I'm tired'
tamago- egg