sleepy little lane

Fukase looked up as he came in and a thoughtful scowl formed on his face. “Shouldn’t you be asleep?”

Akira couldn’t help but smile a little as he walked over to the desk. He leaned over as he put down the package of onigiri and pressed a kiss to the top of Fukase’s head. His boyfriend let out half a sigh and half a hum, but leaned into Akira all the same when he wrapped his arms around him. “You sound like a mother.”

“Ugh,” Fukase pulled away and started typing something out on the computer.

“What are you working on?” Akira picked up the package and carried it over to the sofa. He settled into the cushions.

“Nothing that concerns you.”

Akira pouted. “Hey. That’s mean.”

“Sorry.”

Of course, that made Akira smile. “You apologize much easier now that we live together,” he said sweetly.

“Hmph.” Fukase sounded indifferent, but the pinkness that appeared on his ears told Akira that he wasn’t.

“If it’s so unimportant that you can’t tell me, why not take a break?”

There was a pause, then a long sigh. “Will you let me say ‘no’?”

“I worked hard on these onigiri, Fukase!”

Another sigh and then the sound of his chair being pushed away from the table. Akira opened the package and set it down on the table. Fukase picked up a rice ball as he sat down. He took a bite and them hummed in thanks.

“When was the last time you ate? You skipped out on lunch with me.”

Fukase stopped mid-chew for a split second before resuming. His eyes drifted down to his lap and a little flicker of panic appeared in Akira’s chest. He could tell there was something worrying him.

“I ate something from the vending machine, don’t worry.”

“Fukase, how long have you been at the desk?” Akira’s voice was laced with concern.

Silence.

Akira placed a hand around his boyfriend’s waist and pulled him close, setting his chin gently on the top of his head. “What’s wrong?”

Fukase was stiff for a moment, obviously unused to the affection. “I’m fine,” he said.

“I don’t like it when you lie to me,” Akira whined.

“I didn’t lie.”

“Yes you did.”

“You sound like a child.”

“You keep treating me like one…”

Fukase sighed—again—and finally relaxed into Akira’s arms. “I messed up.”

“Oh?”

“There was a miscommunication with one of your next events with the owner of the location. And it’s really important to you, so…”

“Oh, lovely,” Akira pulled him up into his lap. Fukase didn’t fight against the movement for once. “Didn’t you set that up a week ago? How long have you been working on this?”

Silence.

“Is this why you keep coming home late? Don’t think I didn’t notice how little you’ve been sleeping.”

“Sorry.”

Akira tilted his head awkwardly to look him in the eyes. “Now see here, that was too easy. You have nothing to apologize for. You’re doing your best, lovely.”

Fukase put his head on Akira’s shoulder, but he didn’t return his gaze.

“I… I suppose so. But…”

“Take a break until tomorrow, okay?”

“You won’t let me say ’no’ here either, will you?”

Akira only smiled in response. “I suppose I won’t…”

Fukase finally met his eyes and gave a tiny smirk before grabbing another onigiri and finishing it off.

They sat in silence for a very long time until Fukase’s breathing became very soft and even. Akira looked down at him and realized he’d fallen asleep.