Higher Law (YnM, Tatsumi x Watari, #23)
Title: Higher Law
Author: kitsune_tsuki
Pairing: Tatsumi x Watari
Fandom: Yami no Matsuei
Theme: #23 - Candy
Dislcaimer: I don't own YnM, I just like to borrow it every now and then.
Summary: Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law. ~ Boethius
(This is the sequel I've wanted to write for Breaking Tradition for some time now. You don't actually need to read the previous fic for this one to make sense, but it does help. Happy White Day! :D)
By the time Terazuma's managed to ruin the second batch, Tatsumi's convinced the whole thing was a horrible, horrible mistake from the beginning. The fact that he had absolutely no choice in the matter makes no difference in his mind. For one thing, he's still there, and for another Watari volunteered his services with that look in his eyes and that tone in his voice, and there was really no point in even thinking about arguing the point after that.
"It's not supposed to do that, is it? Is it supposed to do that?"
Closing his eyes as Terazuma's voice leans towards panicked and quite possibly terrified, Tatsumi tries to find his happy place with, sadly, little luck.
"This is hopeless!" Terazuma wails, honestly wails, and Tatsumi opens his eyes to see him staring mournfully down into the unholy mess he's managed to make of things this time around. "I'm never going to get this right!"
Tatsumi blinks in surprise, gaze flicking to the small table at the sound of a throat being cleared, where Hisoka shrugs, eyebrow raised as though he expects Tatsumi to fix things.
"Why did I ever think this was a good idea?" Terazuma asks, poking at the contents of the pot despondently. "It's not like I know the first thing about cooking. That's so...so - "
"Effeminate?" Hisoka offers, the smile on his face a little too polite, a little too bright, too cheery to ever be considered anything but artificial.
Tatsumi scowls at a completely unrepentant Hisoka but doesn't actually say anything because he feels a thread of annoyance at Terazuma's views on gender specific roles as well. There is nothing wrong, he knows, with men knowing how to cook or even going so far as to enjoy cooking, and Terazuma should remember that before asking favors.
Terazuma growls, giving Hisoka a dark look. "I didn't want to do this in the first place! He made me!" He snaps, pointing an accusing finger at Tatsumi.
"I believe you're mistaken," Tatsumi begins, offended and somewhat stung at the insinuation that he would ever force another person to do something they would not ordinarily do. Unless it was for a good reason of course. Or for substantial monetary gain, in which case...
"Oh, no." Terazuma says, glaring at Tatsumi like it's his fault things like this happen. "You don't get to play innocent because your...your boyfriend bullied me into doing something so completely stupid!"
Horrible, awkward silence fills the kitchen and Tatsumi knows better than to dare look at Hisoka, because he knows he will be smiling. And quite possibly laughing at him in his own unique way that no one can call him on because he looks as though he's pondering something of great importance instead of laughing himself sick. Which he is so clearly doing judging by the quality of his silence.
Terazuma seems to grasp the enormity of what he's done, what he's said, a moment too late and the color drains from his face as he backs away. "I - I didn't mean it! It was an accident, an accident!"
Tatsumi ignores the muffled choking sound from Hisoka's direction and tries very, very hard to remember there's a reason he's doing this. A very good reason involving blackmail, various threats, and other things Watari is very good at that might not be exactly legal or morally and ethically right.
"Terazuma - "
"I didn't want to come here in the first place!"
That much is true, Tatsumi knows, because as well as Terazuma gets along with anyone else in the workplace, he doesn't tend to spend a lot of time in his company outside of work-related situations.
"Need I remind you that Hisoka was kind enough to offer the use of his kitchen for the day?" Tatsumi asks, eyes narrowing when it looks like Terazuma's about to make a break for the door. "Not to mention the fact that you came to me for help with this matter, not the other way around? If it's too much of a hassle for you I would be more than happy to leave you to your own devices. I'm certain Hisoka wouldn't mind offering you his assistance."
Tatsumi feels a tiny, nagging sense of guilt that he might be reacting more than thinking at that point, but he's still not entirely sure what to call Watari himself, even though this thing between them has been there for some time now and is still regarded by him as something wholly incomprehensible. He knows it's gone far beyond anything he could have imagined, and yet he's not entirely certain he understands it, or even why it's there at all. It's like nothing he's ever known and utterly refuses to be catagorized or labeled or named in any way shape or form.
"Tatsumi."
He looks up to see Hisoka giving him a meaningful look, gesturing at the stove and the pot on it before his eyes dart to Terazuma.
As far as things go, it's not the subtlest way to be told to get on with business, but it's better than most and manages to get the message across in an efficient and effective manner, which Tatsumi heartily approves of.
Clearing his throat, Tatsumi steps forward and peers into the pot, frowning thoughtfully as he takes in the situation and tries to determine if there's a way to salvage things before it's too late. They've been at this for hours already, and Hisoka is almost done with his book, which has been doubling as cover to hide behind while he laughs at their efforts.
"I believe we might be able to fix this." Tatsumi says, eying the contents of the pot as though it were a dangerous enemy. "Hand me the cooking oil, please."
Terazuma gives him a wary look but does as he's asked, moving a little closer to watch as Tatsumi carefully measure out several spoonfuls of oil. "How is that going to help?" He asks, almost in spite of him self. "I really don't see how you can save it."
Tatsumi smiles, a small pleased thing, and beckons Terazuma closer with a tip of his head. "It's important not to let any liquids get into the mixture when you're working with it, otherwise it will seize, like it did here." He says, indicating the pot as he stirs. "The chocolate gets hard and grainy, but adding a little bit of cooking oil or shortening can help fix it if that does happen."
Terazuma nods, frowning a little as he watches Tatsumi. "So...this will work?"
Tatsumi's smile widens as he looks at Terazuma. "It will work."
Terazuma grins then, startlingly bright and open and for a terrifying moment Tatsumi almost thinks he's going to hug him.
"That's great!" Terazuma says, and Tatsumi tries not to stare because seeing a grown man on the verge of tears is a frightening thing. "I was afraid I'd be stuck doing this all day, and it's not exactly my idea of fun."
Hisoka snorts, and they look over at him only to see that he is studiously not looking at them, and is, in fact, to all appearances thoroughly absorbed in his book.
"Yes, well, try to remember that the next time you allow Watari to bully you into doing something you'd rather not do." Tatsumi says, feeling a bit annoyed at the slight, intentional or not.
Terazuma looks confused, and then actually guilty as it occurs to him that he has been, over the course of the day, something of an ass.
"Oh, hey...I didn't mean it like that." Terazuma starts, looking awkward and uncomfortable. "I just...I'm not good at this sort of thing."
"Cooking?" Hisoka asks, "Or being sensitive in general?"
Terazuma glares, but he's not stupid enough to deny the fact that Hisoka has a point.
"This." Terazuma says by way of answer, waving a hand around to indicate the kitchen and everything in it, including and most probably especially the three of them. "I was never all that...social."
Tatsumi shares a look with Hisoka, and the genuine surprise he sees there helps to confirm a thought he's been entertaining ever since the three of them met that morning. Something he knows he'll need to take up with Watari at some point, but for the moment...
"I think we're ready for the next step." He says quietly, gesturing for the molds on the counter.
Terazuma goes to get them, a ridiculously relieved expression on his face as though he's grateful for the subject change, and Tatsumi knows there was a reason for all of this beyond the obvious. Knows that he's been manipulated into this situation, this time and place, along with Hisoka and Terazuma, but looking back on it, he finds that he honestly doesn't mind.
That much.
==================
==================
Tatsumi doesn't get home until it's already dark out, but then he was rather expecting something along those lines. Was told as much when Watari handed him a bag full of ingredients, patted him on the shoulder that morning and was promised that Wakaba and him would make sure that Tsuzuki would be kept away from them the whole time.
''Today's just for us girls!'" He'd all but chirped, bright and bushytailed and perhaps a little demented, but that was the norm for him when faced with thoughts of facials, racy gossip, and movies.
There had been a time where Tatsumi would have been justifiably horrified at such a declaration, all things considered. Long experience and prolonged exposure have since taught him that things could be worse, so much worse, that the things Watari does no longer surprise him...all that much.
The place smells strangely flowery, and Tatsumi suspects there was perfume involved, but he knows better than to ask. Always has, when it comes to Watari and his 'girls only' gatherings, as doing otherwise is beyond foolish and borders on idiocy.
He takes a moment to stash the paper bag he's carrying in the kitchen, content in the knowledge that it will be safe from Watari for the night tucked away next to the granola bars and other foods Watari considers to be of a questionable nature, and heads into the living room.
He finds Watari sprawled, long and lean and boneless on the couch, eyes closed and a small smile on his face. 003 is perched on the back of the chair closest to the couch like a small feathered sentinel, standing guard over her charge. She hoots quietly in greeting as he walks past, and Tatsumi smiles as she gives herself a little shake before flying off, handing him the next watch, confident that he can handle it.
"How was your day?" Watari asks sleepily, opening his eyes as Tatsumi's shadow falls over him. "Good I hope?"
Tatsumi sits on the edge of the couch and simply...looks. Up close he can smell the faint scent of herbs and fruit that he knows Watari uses in his facial masks. And yes, Tatsumi's fairly certain that that thought will never stop being odd, but when it means Watari looking as peaceful and content as he does at the moment? It's well worth the mental contortions involved.
"It was," Tatsumi says when Watari's smile fades slightly when he doesn't answer right away, "trying."
"Oh? Do tell."
Tatsumi smiles a little and reaches out to smooth the frown lines on Watari's forehead. He knows how troublesome Watari finds them after he works so hard to keep his skin looking nice, and that too is a strange thought he has long since resigned himself to. "Terazuma is not especially suited to a career in the world of fine cuisine, but - "
"But?" Watari prompts, capturing Tatsumi's hand and bringing it down to his chest.
"He's capable of learning." Tatsumi admits, a reluctant smile tugging at his own lips.
"So not completely hopeless?"
"Not completely, no."
Watari grins, delighted as he reads everything he needs to in Tatsumi's response, in the things he's not saying as much as what he is, and by the look in his eyes. "Wakaba and I were worried," He says, "Terazuma's fine with the workplace relationships, but not so well with those outside of the office. He's a bit...on the cranky side of things. You didn't mind, did you?"
And this, now, would be the time for Tatsumi to voice a complaint about having been so clearly manipulated, for all manner of things, and yet he finds that he can't. It's not that he thinks Watari had a perfectly good reason that excuses what he's done. It's more that he understands what Watari was trying to do and most likely would have done the same himself in his place.
The simple fact is that their lives now, their society, is a closed one that doesn't have room to allow for things like petty grievances or hurt feelings. It doesn't allow them to pretend not to see things that are blatantly obvious in the hopes that someone else will see to it or that it will go away, because there is no one else, and the only way it will go away is if -
"How did he take the second part of the deal?"
Tatsumi blinks and looks up to see Watari watching him curiously. If it weren't for the hand in his giving him a gentle squeeze, it would be easy to think that Watari hadn't already thought of all of that. Hadn't already known.
"He was...upset, of course, but Hisoka managed to convince him it was for the best. I think he'll enjoy the chance for the two of them to have some time to themselves for a change." Tatsumi answers, squeezing back. "And it will give the rest of us a nice, quiet weekend as well."
Watari laughs, and just like that everything makes sense in all the ways that matter, and Tatsumi feels woefully lacking for not having understood before now. For not realizing that things like labels are painfully obsolete and clunky and could never do this thing between them, as he insists on calling it in his mind, justice. For not getting it sooner.
"Apparently, I also have a boyfriend." Tatsumi says, trying for nonchalant, even as he watches Watari closely.
Watari goes very, very still, eyes locked with his, their hands still wrapped around one another, and smiles. "Do you, now."
"Hmmm, so I've been told."
"Well then, did you happen to get him something for tomorrow?"
Tatsumi smiles, head tipped to the side and nods. "I did, but it's a secret."
"A secret." Watari repeats, looking for the entire world as though he's fighting laughter. "Care to let me in on it?"
"Well..."
"I'm good at secrets." Watari tells him, which is nothing short of the truth and they both know it.
"I know." Tatsumi says.
Watari smiles and tugs on his hand, and Tatsumi follows willingly, because it's what he's been doing for some time now. He stops, bracing himself over Watari with a hand on the arm of the couch, and smiles. "Would you like a sneak peek?"
Watari snorts, and Tatsumi knows, knows, he's trying desperately not to laugh, trying to give Tatsumi at least the illusion of dignity. "Could I?"
Tatsumi's eyes narrow when Watari's expression cracks, when he sees him biting his lip to keep from laughing outright. "I don't know if I should - "
Watari loses the battle and laughs, high and clear, and apparently has had enough of Tatsumi trying to be smooth and in control, because his hands are tangled in his hair and dragging his face down until their mouths meet. Tatsumi's widen as they make contact, and then it's all heat and lips and suction with the scent of herbs and fruit and chocolate around them mixing and blending until Tatsumi's dizzy with it, unable to tell where one begins and the other ends, and it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter because he's never felt more safe and loved and cherished in his life than he does at this moment. Has never felt that someplace was home as much as now, and he never wants to let go. He never wants to lose this and does his best to say everything he's feeling, everything he can't say, without words, losing pieces of himself in Watari and gaining something infinitely more precious and valuable in exchange.
Through it all Watari is laughing and whispering his name, telling him he's an idiot and so incredibly dense and best of all, mine, mine, mine.
Author: kitsune_tsuki
Pairing: Tatsumi x Watari
Fandom: Yami no Matsuei
Theme: #23 - Candy
Dislcaimer: I don't own YnM, I just like to borrow it every now and then.
Summary: Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law. ~ Boethius
(This is the sequel I've wanted to write for Breaking Tradition for some time now. You don't actually need to read the previous fic for this one to make sense, but it does help. Happy White Day! :D)
By the time Terazuma's managed to ruin the second batch, Tatsumi's convinced the whole thing was a horrible, horrible mistake from the beginning. The fact that he had absolutely no choice in the matter makes no difference in his mind. For one thing, he's still there, and for another Watari volunteered his services with that look in his eyes and that tone in his voice, and there was really no point in even thinking about arguing the point after that.
"It's not supposed to do that, is it? Is it supposed to do that?"
Closing his eyes as Terazuma's voice leans towards panicked and quite possibly terrified, Tatsumi tries to find his happy place with, sadly, little luck.
"This is hopeless!" Terazuma wails, honestly wails, and Tatsumi opens his eyes to see him staring mournfully down into the unholy mess he's managed to make of things this time around. "I'm never going to get this right!"
Tatsumi blinks in surprise, gaze flicking to the small table at the sound of a throat being cleared, where Hisoka shrugs, eyebrow raised as though he expects Tatsumi to fix things.
"Why did I ever think this was a good idea?" Terazuma asks, poking at the contents of the pot despondently. "It's not like I know the first thing about cooking. That's so...so - "
"Effeminate?" Hisoka offers, the smile on his face a little too polite, a little too bright, too cheery to ever be considered anything but artificial.
Tatsumi scowls at a completely unrepentant Hisoka but doesn't actually say anything because he feels a thread of annoyance at Terazuma's views on gender specific roles as well. There is nothing wrong, he knows, with men knowing how to cook or even going so far as to enjoy cooking, and Terazuma should remember that before asking favors.
Terazuma growls, giving Hisoka a dark look. "I didn't want to do this in the first place! He made me!" He snaps, pointing an accusing finger at Tatsumi.
"I believe you're mistaken," Tatsumi begins, offended and somewhat stung at the insinuation that he would ever force another person to do something they would not ordinarily do. Unless it was for a good reason of course. Or for substantial monetary gain, in which case...
"Oh, no." Terazuma says, glaring at Tatsumi like it's his fault things like this happen. "You don't get to play innocent because your...your boyfriend bullied me into doing something so completely stupid!"
Horrible, awkward silence fills the kitchen and Tatsumi knows better than to dare look at Hisoka, because he knows he will be smiling. And quite possibly laughing at him in his own unique way that no one can call him on because he looks as though he's pondering something of great importance instead of laughing himself sick. Which he is so clearly doing judging by the quality of his silence.
Terazuma seems to grasp the enormity of what he's done, what he's said, a moment too late and the color drains from his face as he backs away. "I - I didn't mean it! It was an accident, an accident!"
Tatsumi ignores the muffled choking sound from Hisoka's direction and tries very, very hard to remember there's a reason he's doing this. A very good reason involving blackmail, various threats, and other things Watari is very good at that might not be exactly legal or morally and ethically right.
"Terazuma - "
"I didn't want to come here in the first place!"
That much is true, Tatsumi knows, because as well as Terazuma gets along with anyone else in the workplace, he doesn't tend to spend a lot of time in his company outside of work-related situations.
"Need I remind you that Hisoka was kind enough to offer the use of his kitchen for the day?" Tatsumi asks, eyes narrowing when it looks like Terazuma's about to make a break for the door. "Not to mention the fact that you came to me for help with this matter, not the other way around? If it's too much of a hassle for you I would be more than happy to leave you to your own devices. I'm certain Hisoka wouldn't mind offering you his assistance."
Tatsumi feels a tiny, nagging sense of guilt that he might be reacting more than thinking at that point, but he's still not entirely sure what to call Watari himself, even though this thing between them has been there for some time now and is still regarded by him as something wholly incomprehensible. He knows it's gone far beyond anything he could have imagined, and yet he's not entirely certain he understands it, or even why it's there at all. It's like nothing he's ever known and utterly refuses to be catagorized or labeled or named in any way shape or form.
"Tatsumi."
He looks up to see Hisoka giving him a meaningful look, gesturing at the stove and the pot on it before his eyes dart to Terazuma.
As far as things go, it's not the subtlest way to be told to get on with business, but it's better than most and manages to get the message across in an efficient and effective manner, which Tatsumi heartily approves of.
Clearing his throat, Tatsumi steps forward and peers into the pot, frowning thoughtfully as he takes in the situation and tries to determine if there's a way to salvage things before it's too late. They've been at this for hours already, and Hisoka is almost done with his book, which has been doubling as cover to hide behind while he laughs at their efforts.
"I believe we might be able to fix this." Tatsumi says, eying the contents of the pot as though it were a dangerous enemy. "Hand me the cooking oil, please."
Terazuma gives him a wary look but does as he's asked, moving a little closer to watch as Tatsumi carefully measure out several spoonfuls of oil. "How is that going to help?" He asks, almost in spite of him self. "I really don't see how you can save it."
Tatsumi smiles, a small pleased thing, and beckons Terazuma closer with a tip of his head. "It's important not to let any liquids get into the mixture when you're working with it, otherwise it will seize, like it did here." He says, indicating the pot as he stirs. "The chocolate gets hard and grainy, but adding a little bit of cooking oil or shortening can help fix it if that does happen."
Terazuma nods, frowning a little as he watches Tatsumi. "So...this will work?"
Tatsumi's smile widens as he looks at Terazuma. "It will work."
Terazuma grins then, startlingly bright and open and for a terrifying moment Tatsumi almost thinks he's going to hug him.
"That's great!" Terazuma says, and Tatsumi tries not to stare because seeing a grown man on the verge of tears is a frightening thing. "I was afraid I'd be stuck doing this all day, and it's not exactly my idea of fun."
Hisoka snorts, and they look over at him only to see that he is studiously not looking at them, and is, in fact, to all appearances thoroughly absorbed in his book.
"Yes, well, try to remember that the next time you allow Watari to bully you into doing something you'd rather not do." Tatsumi says, feeling a bit annoyed at the slight, intentional or not.
Terazuma looks confused, and then actually guilty as it occurs to him that he has been, over the course of the day, something of an ass.
"Oh, hey...I didn't mean it like that." Terazuma starts, looking awkward and uncomfortable. "I just...I'm not good at this sort of thing."
"Cooking?" Hisoka asks, "Or being sensitive in general?"
Terazuma glares, but he's not stupid enough to deny the fact that Hisoka has a point.
"This." Terazuma says by way of answer, waving a hand around to indicate the kitchen and everything in it, including and most probably especially the three of them. "I was never all that...social."
Tatsumi shares a look with Hisoka, and the genuine surprise he sees there helps to confirm a thought he's been entertaining ever since the three of them met that morning. Something he knows he'll need to take up with Watari at some point, but for the moment...
"I think we're ready for the next step." He says quietly, gesturing for the molds on the counter.
Terazuma goes to get them, a ridiculously relieved expression on his face as though he's grateful for the subject change, and Tatsumi knows there was a reason for all of this beyond the obvious. Knows that he's been manipulated into this situation, this time and place, along with Hisoka and Terazuma, but looking back on it, he finds that he honestly doesn't mind.
That much.
==================
==================
Tatsumi doesn't get home until it's already dark out, but then he was rather expecting something along those lines. Was told as much when Watari handed him a bag full of ingredients, patted him on the shoulder that morning and was promised that Wakaba and him would make sure that Tsuzuki would be kept away from them the whole time.
''Today's just for us girls!'" He'd all but chirped, bright and bushytailed and perhaps a little demented, but that was the norm for him when faced with thoughts of facials, racy gossip, and movies.
There had been a time where Tatsumi would have been justifiably horrified at such a declaration, all things considered. Long experience and prolonged exposure have since taught him that things could be worse, so much worse, that the things Watari does no longer surprise him...all that much.
The place smells strangely flowery, and Tatsumi suspects there was perfume involved, but he knows better than to ask. Always has, when it comes to Watari and his 'girls only' gatherings, as doing otherwise is beyond foolish and borders on idiocy.
He takes a moment to stash the paper bag he's carrying in the kitchen, content in the knowledge that it will be safe from Watari for the night tucked away next to the granola bars and other foods Watari considers to be of a questionable nature, and heads into the living room.
He finds Watari sprawled, long and lean and boneless on the couch, eyes closed and a small smile on his face. 003 is perched on the back of the chair closest to the couch like a small feathered sentinel, standing guard over her charge. She hoots quietly in greeting as he walks past, and Tatsumi smiles as she gives herself a little shake before flying off, handing him the next watch, confident that he can handle it.
"How was your day?" Watari asks sleepily, opening his eyes as Tatsumi's shadow falls over him. "Good I hope?"
Tatsumi sits on the edge of the couch and simply...looks. Up close he can smell the faint scent of herbs and fruit that he knows Watari uses in his facial masks. And yes, Tatsumi's fairly certain that that thought will never stop being odd, but when it means Watari looking as peaceful and content as he does at the moment? It's well worth the mental contortions involved.
"It was," Tatsumi says when Watari's smile fades slightly when he doesn't answer right away, "trying."
"Oh? Do tell."
Tatsumi smiles a little and reaches out to smooth the frown lines on Watari's forehead. He knows how troublesome Watari finds them after he works so hard to keep his skin looking nice, and that too is a strange thought he has long since resigned himself to. "Terazuma is not especially suited to a career in the world of fine cuisine, but - "
"But?" Watari prompts, capturing Tatsumi's hand and bringing it down to his chest.
"He's capable of learning." Tatsumi admits, a reluctant smile tugging at his own lips.
"So not completely hopeless?"
"Not completely, no."
Watari grins, delighted as he reads everything he needs to in Tatsumi's response, in the things he's not saying as much as what he is, and by the look in his eyes. "Wakaba and I were worried," He says, "Terazuma's fine with the workplace relationships, but not so well with those outside of the office. He's a bit...on the cranky side of things. You didn't mind, did you?"
And this, now, would be the time for Tatsumi to voice a complaint about having been so clearly manipulated, for all manner of things, and yet he finds that he can't. It's not that he thinks Watari had a perfectly good reason that excuses what he's done. It's more that he understands what Watari was trying to do and most likely would have done the same himself in his place.
The simple fact is that their lives now, their society, is a closed one that doesn't have room to allow for things like petty grievances or hurt feelings. It doesn't allow them to pretend not to see things that are blatantly obvious in the hopes that someone else will see to it or that it will go away, because there is no one else, and the only way it will go away is if -
"How did he take the second part of the deal?"
Tatsumi blinks and looks up to see Watari watching him curiously. If it weren't for the hand in his giving him a gentle squeeze, it would be easy to think that Watari hadn't already thought of all of that. Hadn't already known.
"He was...upset, of course, but Hisoka managed to convince him it was for the best. I think he'll enjoy the chance for the two of them to have some time to themselves for a change." Tatsumi answers, squeezing back. "And it will give the rest of us a nice, quiet weekend as well."
Watari laughs, and just like that everything makes sense in all the ways that matter, and Tatsumi feels woefully lacking for not having understood before now. For not realizing that things like labels are painfully obsolete and clunky and could never do this thing between them, as he insists on calling it in his mind, justice. For not getting it sooner.
"Apparently, I also have a boyfriend." Tatsumi says, trying for nonchalant, even as he watches Watari closely.
Watari goes very, very still, eyes locked with his, their hands still wrapped around one another, and smiles. "Do you, now."
"Hmmm, so I've been told."
"Well then, did you happen to get him something for tomorrow?"
Tatsumi smiles, head tipped to the side and nods. "I did, but it's a secret."
"A secret." Watari repeats, looking for the entire world as though he's fighting laughter. "Care to let me in on it?"
"Well..."
"I'm good at secrets." Watari tells him, which is nothing short of the truth and they both know it.
"I know." Tatsumi says.
Watari smiles and tugs on his hand, and Tatsumi follows willingly, because it's what he's been doing for some time now. He stops, bracing himself over Watari with a hand on the arm of the couch, and smiles. "Would you like a sneak peek?"
Watari snorts, and Tatsumi knows, knows, he's trying desperately not to laugh, trying to give Tatsumi at least the illusion of dignity. "Could I?"
Tatsumi's eyes narrow when Watari's expression cracks, when he sees him biting his lip to keep from laughing outright. "I don't know if I should - "
Watari loses the battle and laughs, high and clear, and apparently has had enough of Tatsumi trying to be smooth and in control, because his hands are tangled in his hair and dragging his face down until their mouths meet. Tatsumi's widen as they make contact, and then it's all heat and lips and suction with the scent of herbs and fruit and chocolate around them mixing and blending until Tatsumi's dizzy with it, unable to tell where one begins and the other ends, and it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter because he's never felt more safe and loved and cherished in his life than he does at this moment. Has never felt that someplace was home as much as now, and he never wants to let go. He never wants to lose this and does his best to say everything he's feeling, everything he can't say, without words, losing pieces of himself in Watari and gaining something infinitely more precious and valuable in exchange.
Through it all Watari is laughing and whispering his name, telling him he's an idiot and so incredibly dense and best of all, mine, mine, mine.