[log] Fuji & Echizen
Who: Fuji Syuusuke & Echizen Ryoma
Where: Ryoma's room again.
What: Follow up to this thread.
When: 12/05
Rating: PG
Warnings: Not really.
Comments: I solemnly swear I will stop spamming the comm.
Although he'd planned on settling in for the evening with a book in hand and a warm cup of tea, Fuji found it relatively easy to change his plans to include Echizen. The evening was cold, but he didn't particularly mind the trip to purchase the matcha manju he had promised. It helped to be doing something, rather than brooding on his own thoughts. Sometimes the world outside his head was far brighter. A small box containing the treats in hand, Fuji knocked on the door of Echizen's room. Although hoping to meet Echizen's new roommate soon, Fuji found himself wishing it would be just the younger boy inside. He wasn't up to wearing a mask tonight.
Fuji was in luck, because Terry apparently had something to do, so there was just Ryoma in the room. He was on his bed, on his stomach, and from the looks of it, he seemed busy writing in a small notebook. At the knock, he got up and heaved himself into his wheelchair, rolling over to the door and opening it. His clothes were a bit wrinkly and his hair was messy. "Hey~ Come in."
"Echizen." Fuji's smile was a little more strained than usual, but his eyes still lit up at seeing him. He felt some of the tension drain from his shoulders, not even realizing it had been there until the moment it lifted. "As promised." The small, white box was presented with a small flourish before Fuji stepped into the room, hand reaching out ruffle Echizen's already messy hair. "Missed me?"
"Sure did. ... Would that count as you scratching my ears, senpai?" He chose not to comment on the fact that Fuji seemed to be in an off kind of mood. He would say something, but first things first. Manju, manju, manju...
"No." Fuji laughed, moving past Echizen to once again perch on the edge of his bed. The long strands of his hair were pulled back into a messy ponytail, some of them escaping to frame the planes of his face. "I expect purring when I do that."
"Purring? Yeah, right." Ryoma smirked. "Hand over the treats and we'll talk."
The box was promptly dropped onto his lap as soon as Ryoma was within reach. Fuji's hands fell to his side, curving along the edge of the bed, a smirk dancing on the edges of his lips. "Should I take that as a challenge, kitten?"
"Not before I've eaten, or I'll be pissed." And then Fuji should expect hissing instead of purring. Definitely. He bit into a manju and tried to chew off a piece.
"See?" Fuji gave a mock sigh, as if he was being greatly tried by having to put up with Ryoma's bratty behavior. The affectionate look in his eyes, however, said differently. "A complete cat. Preferring food over me."
"Who wouldn't prefer food over... Anything?" Ryoma fought a valiant battle against the chewy treat. "So... Why are you depressed, Fuji-senpai?" The mocking tone in his voice was gone as he looked at his friend with concern in his eyes.
A faint pout appeared on his features, lower lip folding out playfully as Ryoma confirmed his statement. Food ranked higher than Fuji. "If I'd known you would leave me for Manju..." the tensai began in a woebegone voice, trailing off because laughter threatened to ruin his act. The amusement faded from his expression after a moment, leaving him blinking at Ryoma in confusion. "I'm not." The denial was quick and immediate, and while Fuji hadn't intended to lie, the fact that someone would ask had caught him so off-guard he'd reacted immediately. There was something unsettling about someone looking past his smile.
"Okay, sure." Ryoma shrugged, finishing up his first manju. He wouldn't press the matter. If he knew Fuji well enough - and he thought that he did, even with the years they had spent apart... Then it wouldn't be logical to try and force an answer out of the tensai. Then he would most likely try and sidestep for all he was worth. (Ryoma did manage to admit to himself that it was a slight case of 'takes one to know one' on his part.) "Oh, hand me a Ponta, will you? This stuff's way sweet."
"And ponta isn't?" Fuji arched a brow, but did as was requested. "You're going to have diabetes by the time you're twenty." Although his voice was wry, he still handed the drink over. He'd snagged another bottle of water while at the fridge, and moved to pinch a bite of Ryoma's manju off. "One sided crush," Fuji finally said in the voice of one that might be describing the healing properties of cacti. Detached but informative. Then again, Fuji would probably have displayed more excitement if they were discussing the healing properties of cacti. He chewed the Manju thoughtfully, elegant fingers reaching up to toy with the small snake with green eyes earring he now sported, hidden behind the strands of hair escaping the ponytail. "Nothing life threatening."
"Kaidou-senpai?" Ryoma was far from slow. He decided not to comment that he might very well have diabetes in a few years, if only because of the HIV. He didn't really feel like bringing that up right now. "... I think Akutsu's got a thing for him too..."
"Small one sided crush." Fuji raised a hand, index finger and thumb a few millimeters apart to show that it wasn't the loss of the love of his life. After all, if his feelings had been stronger, he would be fighting tooth and nail for the younger boy. As it was, he knew Akutsu would be better for him than Fuji's careless affection ever could be. "So it seems." Amused laughter bubbled forth, Fuji's eyes crinkling with it. "I've been warned away."
"Oh? Akutsu told you to stuff it, huh?" Ryoma grinned. "So damn territorial, that dumbass."
"Not in so many words." The message, however, had been loud and clear. Not that Fuji would have listened if he hadn't been planning on it already. Ryoma's description sent a razor sharp grin slashing across Fuji's features. Akutsu wasn't the only territorial one. Fuji did not share. "I don't like playing with other people's toys." The tip of his tongue flicked against the pads of his fingers, removing the last traces of the sweet bun. "They're not as shiny."
"Guess not. You know, that's a pretty good quality... To think like that." He searched for the correct words. "I mean, that way you're not the kind of person who gets a thrill out of stealing other people's partners. Or stealing, period."
"There's more of a thrill in knowing you can keep someone's entire attention," Fuji's gaze wasn't playful this time, but simply thoughtful as he stared at a spot behind Ryoma's shoulder. "I think I would like that." The gaze returned to Ryoma, familiar smile easing over his features. "But I'm in no hurry to find it."
"Well, it's not like you have to be in a hurry." He shrugged, sipping on the ponta. "Dating's pretty overrated anyway."
"Besides," Fuji's smile grew a little wicked along the edges, lashes lowering to shadow his gaze. "There's easier ways of finding a thrill."
Ryoma's eyebrow shot up under his fringe at that, and he smirked. "Really?"
"Really." Fuji crooked a finger, urging Ryoma to move closer so he could lean in to whisper in his ear. "Like stealing candy from a baby." And his hand moved to pluck what was left of the Manju from Ryoma's hand, shifting his upper body away to take a quick bite.
"Senpai...!" Ryoma complained, then frowned a little. "You know that's not entirely safe, right?"
Fuji's gaze stayed on Ryoma's for a quiet moment before he began reciting in accented English. "Deep or open mouthed kissing is a very low risk activity in terms of HIV transmission. HIV is only present in saliva in very minute amounts, insufficient to cause infection with HIV." He had done his research after the first meeting with Ryoma, pouring over books and web pages of information. "I'm hardly tonguing you, Echizen." Voice a little dry, Fuji pointedly took another bite.
The blush was unbidden and immediate and he had to stare down at the ponta can to keep from glaring childishly at Fuji. "Well, yeah, but..." Without meaning to, as Fuji had spoken in English, he slipped into his second mother tongue smoothly. "... Never mind." Yeah, he couldn't come up with a proper retort to that, even as his eyes almost unconsciously found Fuji's lips. Stupid senpai.
Fuji watched the blush steal across Echizen's skin, a thoughtful expression on his usually smiling visage. He noticed the way his gaze was avoided, glare directed at the can instead. A tiny frown knitted itself across his brow. With a single digit placed under his chin, he tilted Ryoma's face upward and leaned in to place a chaste kiss against a pink tinged cheekbone. "Cute."
Ryoma's reaction was as close to a mental keysmash as you could ever get in real life. The blush intensified tenfold and he couldn't come up with a reply for almost fifteen seconds, before he tried his usual snark right back at Fuji. "I know." It didn't sound very believable.
The reaction was enough to make Fuji want to lean forward again. If a simple kiss made Ryoma's face look as if on fire, what would the feeling of Fuji's tongue against his ear accomplish? It had been that line of thought that had gotten him in too deep with Kaidoh. White teeth bit down on a soft lower lip, reminding himself that he didn't need to be playing those games with someone who was still underage. Despite what he might try to make others believe, he wasn't a complete asshole. Just a partial one. Instead, he shifted on the bed so his back pressed against the wall, unable to resist teasing at least a little. "Are you going to come lay on my lap so I can scratch your ears?"
"Ass." But despite his words, Ryoma actually did crawl closer to Fuji, plopping his head down on said lap. Then it became pretty evident that it was a good idea Fuji hadn't decided to lick at Ryoma's earlobe, simply because as he lay down and his hair was swept back, it was revealed that he didn't exactly have an earlobe anymore, just scar tissue from a wound that hadn't healed in a particularly pretty way, all knobbly and odd looking.
"You like it," Fuji murmured in a smug voice, laughter trembling on the tone. Slowly, his fingers caught the strands of Ryoma's hair, brushing it back from his face and neck. Tangles were slowly smoothed out, fingers gentle enough not to tug when they got caught in the strands. The strands were soft and shifted beneath Fuji's fingers as if liquid silk, the black-green a rich contrast to Ryoma's pale skin. Nails dug lightly behind Ryoma's ear, a soft scratching motion before he began tracing the misshapen shape. He'd noticed the scarring during their first meeting, but he made no mention of it now as his fingers moved over it and back into Ryoma's hair, much as if he was trying to soothe a real kitten.
He couldn't help but shiver at the touch. It was so long since he had allowed anyone to touch him in a way that wasn't just casual every day touching, and close to his ears none the less. He closed his eyes, still that embarrassing warmth in his face, and he couldn't help a small, pleased sigh escape him. It set his nerves on an edge, but at the same time it was nice, comforting even. He guessed he had always liked it when people played with his hair. Not messing it up in the way Momo-senpai tended to do, but... More like this. He wondered if it was girly of him.
Fuji continued administering the light attention, knowing exactly how he enjoyed his own hair to be stroked and turning it in kind to Ryoma. There was no hesitation in his touch, simply exploring the younger boy's neck, jaw, scalp, and ear in turns before starting the cycle all over again. his fingertips smoothed over eyebrows and then down along the line of Ryoma's nose before dragging over a rounded cheekbone and threading back into the strands. "Are you going to purr for me?" Fuji teased after a few quite moments, wondering if Echizen felt as drowsy and relaxed as he usually did when his own hair was toyed with.
"Mm," Ryoma replied, before the words really registered in his head. He was drowsy all right, and he made no attempts to hide the yawn that worked its way out of him. ".... I keep falling asleep on you," he muttered, feeling a bit silly. "... You like my hair, huh?"
"I don't mind." In a way, it was refreshing seeing Echizen being able to relax around him enough to drowse off while resting against Fuji's lap. People tended to feel many things around him, but relaxed was rarely one of them. Fingers caught and tugged playfully at the long strands. "What makes you say that?"
"Why wouldn't you?" Ryoma turned his face towards the older boy, a very familiar smirk playing on his lips.
"Because it's attached to a shameless brat?" The inquiry was made in a thoughtful voice, but they both knew that Fuji far from minded Ryoma's brattiness.
"A very awesome brat, okay?" He rolled over on his back, so that he could look up at Fuji properly without having to strain himself. "You do know I'm not all that much younger than you, right?"
Fuji blinked, slow and deliberate and placed a fingertip across the bow of Ryoma's lips. "You're twelve," he replied with an innocent air.
"... Almost seventeen." But he guessed it didn't matter how old he was... Understanding how Fuji ticked would always be a mystery he wouldn't be able to solve.
"You're twelve," Fuji repeated again, finger still pressed against the bottom curve of Ryoma's lips, even when the other had spoken. The same finger slid down, caressing the curve of the younger boy's jaw. "Twelve until you turn eighteen."
"That's stupid." He almost entertained the thought of pushing the hand away, but in the end, decided not to. "You realize I'm far from a virgin or any shit like that, right?"
"You also said you don't like sex," Fuji reminded him with an arched brow. "So what does that have to do with anything?" There was a challenge in his gaze, as if daring Ryoma to argue with him.
"I'm not planning on hating sex forever." He frowned. "Not when I have quite the good memory of loving it. With Taichi. Be--before." Oh, he hadn't told Fuji that he had been in a relationship with Dan Taichi, had he?
Fuji jaw tightened, even the suggestion of a smile stripping away from his expression. Before, Fuji thought to himself, someone did this to him. A slim hand fitted itself over Ryoma's mouth, stopping the flow of words before the younger boy could go any further. It wasn't because Fuji would think any less of him if his thoughts were confirmed, but because he wouldn't know what to do with the killing rage after hearing it from Ryoma himself. "And," Fuji mused, in an attempt at his usual calm drawl when teasing the younger boy. "you want to make sure I'm aware of just how old you are when the time comes?" His hand moved away from Ryoma's mouth, curling a few strands of the long hair around his fingers. "I had no idea you cared."
He wasn't fooling anyone. But as it was now, there was something in Fuji's eyes that Ryoma didn't know how to respond to, didn't even know if he dared poking. He dropped the subject, instead focusing on Fuji's next words, taking the fake cheerfulness - or whatever you could call it, Ryoma wasn't overly good with words - for what it was. "So, the tensai doesn't know everything? Wow, that's like... Lame."
His fingers curled into a loose fist, tugging on Ryoma's hair as punishment for the comment even as Fuji's eyes narrowed. "Anything you want to enlighten me on, Ryoma?" The name rolled off his tongue, purposely using it as opposed to the usual way of addressing the younger.
And again, he couldn't help but blink, his first name sounding odd in the tensai's mouth. He took a moment to stare at Fuji, then he pushed a grin to his face. "Nothing I can think of."
Fuji traced the shape of Ryoma's smile, quietly watching the younger as seconds ticked by. "Move over," he finally murmured, pushing Ryoma away from his bed so he could make room on the bed for the tensai.
The younger boy pushed himself away, rolling over onto the side of the bed, closing his eyes. "Wanna stay the night? I don't think Terry will mind." He'd better not.
"I didn't bring any sleeping clothes," Fuji pointed out, but it wasn't a no. He shifted and settled himself on the bed next to Ryoma, blue gaze still firmly focused on the younger boy.
"That just means you have to wash your clothes tomorrow. Big deal." He noticed the look. "... What?"
"I like looking at you." It was the only response he would give, and Ryoma could make of that what he wished.
"Keep looking, then." The younger boy smirked, almost unconsciously sliding closer, snuggling against the brown haired boy. "Hi."
"Hi." Fuji's laugh was a simple puff of breath against Ryoma's temple, an arm sliding around the small boy's waist. The warmth that spread throughout him was soothing after the ragged edge the encounter with Kaidoh had left in its wake. Lips brushed against the top of Ryoma's ear before Fuji allowed himself to settle, eyes sliding shut.
"Good night, senpai." Ryoma smiled, making himself comfortable against Fuji, his own eyes sliding shut. He'd be here, he decided. He'd be here whenever Fuji-senpai needed time to unwind. It was the least he could do. It was what friends did. Pleased with himself, he snuggled even closer, one arm around Fuji's waist, and then sleep slowly claimed him.
Where: Ryoma's room again.
What: Follow up to this thread.
When: 12/05
Rating: PG
Warnings: Not really.
Comments: I solemnly swear I will stop spamming the comm.
Although he'd planned on settling in for the evening with a book in hand and a warm cup of tea, Fuji found it relatively easy to change his plans to include Echizen. The evening was cold, but he didn't particularly mind the trip to purchase the matcha manju he had promised. It helped to be doing something, rather than brooding on his own thoughts. Sometimes the world outside his head was far brighter. A small box containing the treats in hand, Fuji knocked on the door of Echizen's room. Although hoping to meet Echizen's new roommate soon, Fuji found himself wishing it would be just the younger boy inside. He wasn't up to wearing a mask tonight.
Fuji was in luck, because Terry apparently had something to do, so there was just Ryoma in the room. He was on his bed, on his stomach, and from the looks of it, he seemed busy writing in a small notebook. At the knock, he got up and heaved himself into his wheelchair, rolling over to the door and opening it. His clothes were a bit wrinkly and his hair was messy. "Hey~ Come in."
"Echizen." Fuji's smile was a little more strained than usual, but his eyes still lit up at seeing him. He felt some of the tension drain from his shoulders, not even realizing it had been there until the moment it lifted. "As promised." The small, white box was presented with a small flourish before Fuji stepped into the room, hand reaching out ruffle Echizen's already messy hair. "Missed me?"
"Sure did. ... Would that count as you scratching my ears, senpai?" He chose not to comment on the fact that Fuji seemed to be in an off kind of mood. He would say something, but first things first. Manju, manju, manju...
"No." Fuji laughed, moving past Echizen to once again perch on the edge of his bed. The long strands of his hair were pulled back into a messy ponytail, some of them escaping to frame the planes of his face. "I expect purring when I do that."
"Purring? Yeah, right." Ryoma smirked. "Hand over the treats and we'll talk."
The box was promptly dropped onto his lap as soon as Ryoma was within reach. Fuji's hands fell to his side, curving along the edge of the bed, a smirk dancing on the edges of his lips. "Should I take that as a challenge, kitten?"
"Not before I've eaten, or I'll be pissed." And then Fuji should expect hissing instead of purring. Definitely. He bit into a manju and tried to chew off a piece.
"See?" Fuji gave a mock sigh, as if he was being greatly tried by having to put up with Ryoma's bratty behavior. The affectionate look in his eyes, however, said differently. "A complete cat. Preferring food over me."
"Who wouldn't prefer food over... Anything?" Ryoma fought a valiant battle against the chewy treat. "So... Why are you depressed, Fuji-senpai?" The mocking tone in his voice was gone as he looked at his friend with concern in his eyes.
A faint pout appeared on his features, lower lip folding out playfully as Ryoma confirmed his statement. Food ranked higher than Fuji. "If I'd known you would leave me for Manju..." the tensai began in a woebegone voice, trailing off because laughter threatened to ruin his act. The amusement faded from his expression after a moment, leaving him blinking at Ryoma in confusion. "I'm not." The denial was quick and immediate, and while Fuji hadn't intended to lie, the fact that someone would ask had caught him so off-guard he'd reacted immediately. There was something unsettling about someone looking past his smile.
"Okay, sure." Ryoma shrugged, finishing up his first manju. He wouldn't press the matter. If he knew Fuji well enough - and he thought that he did, even with the years they had spent apart... Then it wouldn't be logical to try and force an answer out of the tensai. Then he would most likely try and sidestep for all he was worth. (Ryoma did manage to admit to himself that it was a slight case of 'takes one to know one' on his part.) "Oh, hand me a Ponta, will you? This stuff's way sweet."
"And ponta isn't?" Fuji arched a brow, but did as was requested. "You're going to have diabetes by the time you're twenty." Although his voice was wry, he still handed the drink over. He'd snagged another bottle of water while at the fridge, and moved to pinch a bite of Ryoma's manju off. "One sided crush," Fuji finally said in the voice of one that might be describing the healing properties of cacti. Detached but informative. Then again, Fuji would probably have displayed more excitement if they were discussing the healing properties of cacti. He chewed the Manju thoughtfully, elegant fingers reaching up to toy with the small snake with green eyes earring he now sported, hidden behind the strands of hair escaping the ponytail. "Nothing life threatening."
"Kaidou-senpai?" Ryoma was far from slow. He decided not to comment that he might very well have diabetes in a few years, if only because of the HIV. He didn't really feel like bringing that up right now. "... I think Akutsu's got a thing for him too..."
"Small one sided crush." Fuji raised a hand, index finger and thumb a few millimeters apart to show that it wasn't the loss of the love of his life. After all, if his feelings had been stronger, he would be fighting tooth and nail for the younger boy. As it was, he knew Akutsu would be better for him than Fuji's careless affection ever could be. "So it seems." Amused laughter bubbled forth, Fuji's eyes crinkling with it. "I've been warned away."
"Oh? Akutsu told you to stuff it, huh?" Ryoma grinned. "So damn territorial, that dumbass."
"Not in so many words." The message, however, had been loud and clear. Not that Fuji would have listened if he hadn't been planning on it already. Ryoma's description sent a razor sharp grin slashing across Fuji's features. Akutsu wasn't the only territorial one. Fuji did not share. "I don't like playing with other people's toys." The tip of his tongue flicked against the pads of his fingers, removing the last traces of the sweet bun. "They're not as shiny."
"Guess not. You know, that's a pretty good quality... To think like that." He searched for the correct words. "I mean, that way you're not the kind of person who gets a thrill out of stealing other people's partners. Or stealing, period."
"There's more of a thrill in knowing you can keep someone's entire attention," Fuji's gaze wasn't playful this time, but simply thoughtful as he stared at a spot behind Ryoma's shoulder. "I think I would like that." The gaze returned to Ryoma, familiar smile easing over his features. "But I'm in no hurry to find it."
"Well, it's not like you have to be in a hurry." He shrugged, sipping on the ponta. "Dating's pretty overrated anyway."
"Besides," Fuji's smile grew a little wicked along the edges, lashes lowering to shadow his gaze. "There's easier ways of finding a thrill."
Ryoma's eyebrow shot up under his fringe at that, and he smirked. "Really?"
"Really." Fuji crooked a finger, urging Ryoma to move closer so he could lean in to whisper in his ear. "Like stealing candy from a baby." And his hand moved to pluck what was left of the Manju from Ryoma's hand, shifting his upper body away to take a quick bite.
"Senpai...!" Ryoma complained, then frowned a little. "You know that's not entirely safe, right?"
Fuji's gaze stayed on Ryoma's for a quiet moment before he began reciting in accented English. "Deep or open mouthed kissing is a very low risk activity in terms of HIV transmission. HIV is only present in saliva in very minute amounts, insufficient to cause infection with HIV." He had done his research after the first meeting with Ryoma, pouring over books and web pages of information. "I'm hardly tonguing you, Echizen." Voice a little dry, Fuji pointedly took another bite.
The blush was unbidden and immediate and he had to stare down at the ponta can to keep from glaring childishly at Fuji. "Well, yeah, but..." Without meaning to, as Fuji had spoken in English, he slipped into his second mother tongue smoothly. "... Never mind." Yeah, he couldn't come up with a proper retort to that, even as his eyes almost unconsciously found Fuji's lips. Stupid senpai.
Fuji watched the blush steal across Echizen's skin, a thoughtful expression on his usually smiling visage. He noticed the way his gaze was avoided, glare directed at the can instead. A tiny frown knitted itself across his brow. With a single digit placed under his chin, he tilted Ryoma's face upward and leaned in to place a chaste kiss against a pink tinged cheekbone. "Cute."
Ryoma's reaction was as close to a mental keysmash as you could ever get in real life. The blush intensified tenfold and he couldn't come up with a reply for almost fifteen seconds, before he tried his usual snark right back at Fuji. "I know." It didn't sound very believable.
The reaction was enough to make Fuji want to lean forward again. If a simple kiss made Ryoma's face look as if on fire, what would the feeling of Fuji's tongue against his ear accomplish? It had been that line of thought that had gotten him in too deep with Kaidoh. White teeth bit down on a soft lower lip, reminding himself that he didn't need to be playing those games with someone who was still underage. Despite what he might try to make others believe, he wasn't a complete asshole. Just a partial one. Instead, he shifted on the bed so his back pressed against the wall, unable to resist teasing at least a little. "Are you going to come lay on my lap so I can scratch your ears?"
"Ass." But despite his words, Ryoma actually did crawl closer to Fuji, plopping his head down on said lap. Then it became pretty evident that it was a good idea Fuji hadn't decided to lick at Ryoma's earlobe, simply because as he lay down and his hair was swept back, it was revealed that he didn't exactly have an earlobe anymore, just scar tissue from a wound that hadn't healed in a particularly pretty way, all knobbly and odd looking.
"You like it," Fuji murmured in a smug voice, laughter trembling on the tone. Slowly, his fingers caught the strands of Ryoma's hair, brushing it back from his face and neck. Tangles were slowly smoothed out, fingers gentle enough not to tug when they got caught in the strands. The strands were soft and shifted beneath Fuji's fingers as if liquid silk, the black-green a rich contrast to Ryoma's pale skin. Nails dug lightly behind Ryoma's ear, a soft scratching motion before he began tracing the misshapen shape. He'd noticed the scarring during their first meeting, but he made no mention of it now as his fingers moved over it and back into Ryoma's hair, much as if he was trying to soothe a real kitten.
He couldn't help but shiver at the touch. It was so long since he had allowed anyone to touch him in a way that wasn't just casual every day touching, and close to his ears none the less. He closed his eyes, still that embarrassing warmth in his face, and he couldn't help a small, pleased sigh escape him. It set his nerves on an edge, but at the same time it was nice, comforting even. He guessed he had always liked it when people played with his hair. Not messing it up in the way Momo-senpai tended to do, but... More like this. He wondered if it was girly of him.
Fuji continued administering the light attention, knowing exactly how he enjoyed his own hair to be stroked and turning it in kind to Ryoma. There was no hesitation in his touch, simply exploring the younger boy's neck, jaw, scalp, and ear in turns before starting the cycle all over again. his fingertips smoothed over eyebrows and then down along the line of Ryoma's nose before dragging over a rounded cheekbone and threading back into the strands. "Are you going to purr for me?" Fuji teased after a few quite moments, wondering if Echizen felt as drowsy and relaxed as he usually did when his own hair was toyed with.
"Mm," Ryoma replied, before the words really registered in his head. He was drowsy all right, and he made no attempts to hide the yawn that worked its way out of him. ".... I keep falling asleep on you," he muttered, feeling a bit silly. "... You like my hair, huh?"
"I don't mind." In a way, it was refreshing seeing Echizen being able to relax around him enough to drowse off while resting against Fuji's lap. People tended to feel many things around him, but relaxed was rarely one of them. Fingers caught and tugged playfully at the long strands. "What makes you say that?"
"Why wouldn't you?" Ryoma turned his face towards the older boy, a very familiar smirk playing on his lips.
"Because it's attached to a shameless brat?" The inquiry was made in a thoughtful voice, but they both knew that Fuji far from minded Ryoma's brattiness.
"A very awesome brat, okay?" He rolled over on his back, so that he could look up at Fuji properly without having to strain himself. "You do know I'm not all that much younger than you, right?"
Fuji blinked, slow and deliberate and placed a fingertip across the bow of Ryoma's lips. "You're twelve," he replied with an innocent air.
"... Almost seventeen." But he guessed it didn't matter how old he was... Understanding how Fuji ticked would always be a mystery he wouldn't be able to solve.
"You're twelve," Fuji repeated again, finger still pressed against the bottom curve of Ryoma's lips, even when the other had spoken. The same finger slid down, caressing the curve of the younger boy's jaw. "Twelve until you turn eighteen."
"That's stupid." He almost entertained the thought of pushing the hand away, but in the end, decided not to. "You realize I'm far from a virgin or any shit like that, right?"
"You also said you don't like sex," Fuji reminded him with an arched brow. "So what does that have to do with anything?" There was a challenge in his gaze, as if daring Ryoma to argue with him.
"I'm not planning on hating sex forever." He frowned. "Not when I have quite the good memory of loving it. With Taichi. Be--before." Oh, he hadn't told Fuji that he had been in a relationship with Dan Taichi, had he?
Fuji jaw tightened, even the suggestion of a smile stripping away from his expression. Before, Fuji thought to himself, someone did this to him. A slim hand fitted itself over Ryoma's mouth, stopping the flow of words before the younger boy could go any further. It wasn't because Fuji would think any less of him if his thoughts were confirmed, but because he wouldn't know what to do with the killing rage after hearing it from Ryoma himself. "And," Fuji mused, in an attempt at his usual calm drawl when teasing the younger boy. "you want to make sure I'm aware of just how old you are when the time comes?" His hand moved away from Ryoma's mouth, curling a few strands of the long hair around his fingers. "I had no idea you cared."
He wasn't fooling anyone. But as it was now, there was something in Fuji's eyes that Ryoma didn't know how to respond to, didn't even know if he dared poking. He dropped the subject, instead focusing on Fuji's next words, taking the fake cheerfulness - or whatever you could call it, Ryoma wasn't overly good with words - for what it was. "So, the tensai doesn't know everything? Wow, that's like... Lame."
His fingers curled into a loose fist, tugging on Ryoma's hair as punishment for the comment even as Fuji's eyes narrowed. "Anything you want to enlighten me on, Ryoma?" The name rolled off his tongue, purposely using it as opposed to the usual way of addressing the younger.
And again, he couldn't help but blink, his first name sounding odd in the tensai's mouth. He took a moment to stare at Fuji, then he pushed a grin to his face. "Nothing I can think of."
Fuji traced the shape of Ryoma's smile, quietly watching the younger as seconds ticked by. "Move over," he finally murmured, pushing Ryoma away from his bed so he could make room on the bed for the tensai.
The younger boy pushed himself away, rolling over onto the side of the bed, closing his eyes. "Wanna stay the night? I don't think Terry will mind." He'd better not.
"I didn't bring any sleeping clothes," Fuji pointed out, but it wasn't a no. He shifted and settled himself on the bed next to Ryoma, blue gaze still firmly focused on the younger boy.
"That just means you have to wash your clothes tomorrow. Big deal." He noticed the look. "... What?"
"I like looking at you." It was the only response he would give, and Ryoma could make of that what he wished.
"Keep looking, then." The younger boy smirked, almost unconsciously sliding closer, snuggling against the brown haired boy. "Hi."
"Hi." Fuji's laugh was a simple puff of breath against Ryoma's temple, an arm sliding around the small boy's waist. The warmth that spread throughout him was soothing after the ragged edge the encounter with Kaidoh had left in its wake. Lips brushed against the top of Ryoma's ear before Fuji allowed himself to settle, eyes sliding shut.
"Good night, senpai." Ryoma smiled, making himself comfortable against Fuji, his own eyes sliding shut. He'd be here, he decided. He'd be here whenever Fuji-senpai needed time to unwind. It was the least he could do. It was what friends did. Pleased with himself, he snuggled even closer, one arm around Fuji's waist, and then sleep slowly claimed him.