You thought you knew why Tooru had scheduled this date. His calendar was quickly becoming overcrowded with trying to manage his professional career, his public reputation, and his relationship with you, but you figured this dinner was an attempt to make up for the time lost that he did spend focusing on those other things. The moment the words left Oikawa Tooru’s lips he couldn’t do anything but watch as he took your heart and drove a knife through it on the table in front of you. “I've met someone else,” was all it took for your senses to shut down and your mind to run blank. It was too much for you. Your half full wine glass plummets to the floor. Tooru had been your longtime boyfriend since highschool which is why you were soon hoping for a shiny ring on your left hand, not a distant ringing in your left ear. The silence at your table-for-two in the dark corner of the restaurant was deafening, and you felt like everyones eyes were suddenly on you. You walked out of the restaurant that night, but it felt like a piece of you will be stuck there forever. 

A week passed and Oikawa seemed as happy as ever. His career was thriving and now that he’s a single man, double the amount of female fans wound up at his games. Couples break up all the time, so why are you so affected by it if he isn't? Maybe it’s because he was there through your first everything. He was with you when you graduated, and when you got your first job, and when you moved into your first apartment. All of these memories that you cherished in your life are now tinged by a bloody smear from your freshly broken heart, broken by none other than the person who helped you create them. 

Another week passed and you're doing better. Well as far as your friends can see, you are. Truthfully, your heart still sits on that wooden table in the dimly lit corner of that restaurant, collecting dust as waiters and waitresses rush by without a glance. You still pretend your relationship with him hasn’t ended, that you're dancing together in a snow globe as people go by with somber expressions. 

Years pass and you still haven't stopped thinking about what once was. You quit keeping up with his career two years ago but you couldn't get rid of what you already knew about him. You could hypothetically give it all up and work to better yourself, but you know deep down a piece of your heart will always be at that table. You stew over how he probably married that girl he left you for, maybe even had kids with her as well, but you decide to stay unaware, knowing that if you confirmed the suspicion your heart would break a million times again. You ponder how if he ever doubted his decision and came back to pick up the pieces of your heart from that table, you would gladly accept him since his hands have always been the only ones capable of taking you from your grief. But until then, you grieve your past relationship and a low instrumental plays while a waitress refills your glass several times over.

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

this collab is now open for any anime fandoms!

only written works are accepted as of this time.

entries must be between sfw-suggestive (slight to moderate) only; no nsfw or explicit content are allowed. no heavy angst or related themes (a little pain is fine). poly relationships are cool.

please make sure to add a title and indicate appropriate tags to your work.

any writing style or format is okay; minimum word count for drabbles is 250 words.

repeated characters are okay. there's no maximum limit as well!

multiple entries are allowed; no anonymous entries!

if you'd like to change your previously selected character or withdraw your entry, please make sure to give me a heads up by sending me an ask so i can modify the masterlist accordingly.

WHO CAN JOIN?

anyone! neither your writing experience nor follower count matters in this collab. as long as you abide by the rules above, you're more than welcome to join!

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?

there is currently no deadline for entries and writing submissions! however, if anything changes, i'll make sure to announce it on my blog. if you're not following me, feel free to check back in here as i'll put the announcement here as well.

HOW TO JOIN?

kindly send me an ask with the character/s you've decided to write for and from which blog your submission will be posted. i ask for your patience in terms of response. feel free to include the domestic task you've selected to write. (e.g. hi, i’d like to join your collab! i’m planning to write timeskip!oikawa x gn! reader who are first time parents.)

reblog this post once your entry has been added to the masterlist. this is required.

once you finish writing, make sure to tag me, link this post, and tag your entry with #♥︎ heart at home ♥︎ collab (feel free to copy and paste this so it's tagged correctly!)

PROMPTS:

need some domestic prompts to help you get started? feel free to check out the list below! all credits go to the rightful owners. please make sure to visit their blogs first for rules and whatnot if you were to use any of these prompts.

10 domestic dialogue prompts

10 more domestic dialogue prompts

delightful domestic dialogue

domestic prompts

domestic/relationship situation prompts that make my heart warm

fluffy + domestic friends to lovers prompts

lovely little domestic prompts

some more domestic fluff prompts

QUESTIONS?

send me an ask! (✿◠‿◠)

even after time had trickled and ticked by into five years, the feeling of abandonment - of resentment, sat still and cold in your cracked heart. 

you swore to yourself that you finally learned to breathe without him, to live in a way that wasn't to make you worthy enough for the tooru oikawa. but it was inevitable, the fall, the crashing of your ever so carefully built walls - at the mere sight of him. 

the last time you saw him in person plays in your mind quite often, the one memory you cannot push down. the one that tethers you to him, like an invisible string going from your heart to his little pinky finger, one that doesn't let you rest soundly, the one that has you rushing for the off button when the news plays his latest victory. 

"if you loved me you'd fight for me tooru! you'd .. fight for us."

he stares at you blankly, hoping the rushing emotions in his mind don't linger in his eyes. the feeling - no. the knowing, that he was breaking you, has him stuck in his spot next to your bedroom door. he breaks eye contact when your tear-filled gaze meets him, looking towards the boxes that were freshly taped and ready to be shipped off from your parents' house to your new apartment. the place he was supposed to call home with you, the place he'd never even left a toothbrush in or gotten the chance to. 

because he was leaving, leaving you of all people. the person who out of everyone supported and loved him. gave your all to him, the late nights helping him study material he missed during practice, the early mornings reminding him to eat and have a good day (as if you wouldn't remind him when you saw him between classes), the reassurance and patience that eased his mind and made his heart swell with so much adoration, that even he was shocked at himself and the words he forced out of his constricted throat.

"i don't need you holding me back. argentina is calling and .." he pauses taking in your shaky figure and expectant eyes, wide and red. tears clinging to your lashes, threatening to spill over even more. but he continues, rolling his eyes at the sadness swirling in yours, breathing out, " and your fantasy of long-distance working out between us, is the most childish thing you could ask for .. i don't need you."

and like the coward he is, he doesn't spare you a glance when he runs out of your parent's house. 

that night, he left 20 year old you, cracked and caving. that night was the last time you saw tooru oikawa in the flesh, the last time you smelled the fragrance of his lavender shampoo, the last time you saw him tug at his sandy locks in distress, and the last time you'd allow him to hurt you. 

but that empty promise, made to yourself a hundred times over, was easily broken when you see him. he whose hair has grown and now sits as a messy crown, fitting for "the king'' who still stands in the glory of an adoring crowd. 

a crowd of your peers at the reunion - that before he graced it with his presence, had you reminiscing fondly on past times lost. times of chasing kentaro down the hall, screaming his silly nickname in anger at the theft of your lunch, times of helping your underclassmen study, and scolding them for doing poorly on tests you so diligently prepped them for. times of sneaking off from fangirls and having your lover to yourself between the shelves of the quiet library. 

you pretend your heart hasn't descended to the pits of your stomach when he walks through the rear gym doors, that you're not leaning towards the all-consuming presence that is tooru oikawa, hoping to catch his eye. you pretend that the sight of a woman clinging to his arm - and her love-filled eyes, doesn't send the flood of your emotions raging toward you.

the levees meant to shield you, swiftly carried away. 

oikawa is pretending all the same, something he's grown quite good at actually. he pretends he hasn't come here with the hope in his heart that he'll see you once more. he pretends that the warmth of his new lover isn't suffocating him in frigid air. he pretends his eyes don't sweep over the crowd of his friends to find you - beautiful, gentle, lovely you.

sat alone on one of the fold-out chairs brought out of the old storage room for this occasion, the age of five years having refined your features in a way he doesn't want to look away from.  

but you, looking down at your empty cup, swallowing the lump in your throat, and trying desperately to reign in your traitorous tears. after all this time avoiding even the mention of him, it's laughable how easily you're crumbling. (did all these years apart really change nothing?) 

you wonder if anyone will notice if you slip away, surely they'd understand - if they even realize you're gone at all. you shake your hesitation, standing and walking off into the dark hall, the booming of the mixture of voices and music drowning out the further your feet take you from the scene. 

breathing heavily, as if you've just been in a marathon, the pressure in your chest lightens for the first time since seeing him. you can't help but feel he showed up today just to ruin things, like he hadn't already done enough. maybe you're being too immature about this (i mean he's clearly, gotten over it), maybe you should let the past stay in the past, maybe maybe maybe.

deep in these thoughts, you slide down the tiled wall of the dim hallway, not registering the shadow enveloping your crouched figure.

oikawa knows he shouldn't be alone with you. whether it was for your sake or his own, he doesn't know. he knows the clammy feeling of his palms and the build-up of saliva are just his body's completely natural reaction to seeing an ex. (the ex he was so hopelessly still in love with.)

because he also tries not to think back on to that night. 

but seeing you now - eyes watery, lips rolled into your mouth, eyebrows scrunched; a face of pure stress and confusion, it comes crawling back into the forefront of his mind, after years of distractions and "forgetting". 

he tried not to remember the sobs he let out on the side of the road when his eyes got too blurred for him to drive. the way his lungs felt crushed and empty, but he knows he has no right - no reason, to act heartbroken over something he did. over the things he said. because he remembers you, and the way you were, and the way he left you. 

"what are you doing out here alone .."

lavender. him. oikawa. tooru.

"why are you here?" the words escape you smooth and chilled, like they've been rehearsed a million times - times when you imagined how and why you two would reconnect again.

"here here? or like the reunion because last time i checked i also grad-"

you finally look him in the eyes, the last thing he deprived you of that night. those soft brown eyes, once the color of deep topaz, now a mud-colored hue. just a few feet away from you and even in the poor lighting, you can truly see he's just like you remember: dangerously beautiful. one look and you nearly forget why you're here here.

"i'm out here so i don't have to see you, but here you are." completely ignoring his sarcastic rambling, you answer his original question bluntly. earning a feign of offense when he scoffs. (how long is he going to play dumb, how long is he going to torture me ..)

looking down at you, into your eyes. the eyes that once held an almost overflowing amount of love for him, now held something he cant quite place. not the nostalgia of being face to face, not the anger or even awkwardness about your history. only indifference, maybe annoyance, mostly sadness. 

the sight makes him quiet for a moment, deciding to settle on the floor across from you, with mirrored positions and deep down, mirrored pains. (don't you see how hurt he is?) (don't you see how hurt i am?)

"mm .. so you're the one running away now?" he was still trying to lighten the mood.

you look up and whatever words you were ready to stab him with, dull.

head lulled back leaving only his bobbing adams apple visible - you let your eyes travel the expanse of his stilled body, with hands clasped over his bent knees, you can almost hear sniffles but no, that must just be your imagination. what's he got to cry for?

"im glad you know you ran away, oikawa. was worried you forgot about lil ol' me .." he can feel the sarcasm dripping off of you, and simply snickers to himself. 

the vibrations and boom of the music and bustle in the gym are still within earshot, and thankfully filling the awkward air of two scorned lovers. hanging your head down against your knees, thinking of why you were still sitting there, why you were even entertaining him with a conversation, why your heart still leaps out your chest from just being near.

he notices the shift in your feet like you're trying to weigh them down in preparation to get up, this time you really would be leaving .. and he panics. 

"remember that night?"

still watching you, he now sees your whole body tense - your shoulders raise higher against your ears and your head is stuck as if you forced it to stop from snapping up at him. 

the only "night" you recall, the only one you reluctantly recall, can't be the same one he's referencing. not with the chuckle in his voice and not with the way he flashes an all-too-knowing grin at you when you finally raise your head - eyebrows still tight, and your frame still caged in all the barriers you've build since that night.

but you were right, oikawa remembers another night, fondly of course. 

"with the fireflies y/n .. and the pouring rain?" he forms a question, as if shocked your gaze doesn't immediately fill with the sentimental bliss he can't help but feel when he remembers.

long gone were the streaks of orange of the sunsetting sky, the gentle bumping of tooru's new 2012 mazda against the shifting road, from concrete to grass-patched gravel. so gentle that you've fallen asleep in his passenger side, and on a road less traveled he takes more than a couple glances at your slumping figure. glances that when it was for you, carried a permanent smile, that when it reached his love-filled eyes, made you swoon whenever you caught him. 

you two were only 18 now, a silly age honestly. a stupid, naive, lovesick age. an age filled with self-discovery, ego, and hormones. (blissfully ignorant of course, to what the years would bring.)

but the future was a long ways away for you two, it especially seemed so on this night. 

when he finally reached the edge of the field, softly illuminated by his earlier set up of lights and now by some uninvited guests.

"y/n .. y/n! wake up baby." the deep rasp of his voice calls you out of your sleep, cracking from hours of being unused and driving towards a "surprise." he was standing outside, leaning down into your seat to unbuckle you. the soft hum of your groaning and stretching after your sound road nap tickling his ear when he places a chaste kiss on your shoulder. 

giggling softly when you throw your arms over his shoulders next, the glow of the new setting through the windshield, causing your eyes to widen and your hold to tighten. 

"kawa .. you didn't!" pushing the weight of both of you out of the passenger seat, you playfully slap his back at the display - baby blue blanket sprawled on the grassy ground, candle-lit lanterns lining the corners, flickering fairy lights slung over the low branches of the weeping willow. all capturing your eyes one by one, but easily the most awing sight .. the floating balls of light, buzzing in the night.

coming up behind you with a quick nip at your ear, "happy anniversary, lovey" silly nickname blushing your cheeks, as you take hold of his calloused hands, dragging him towards the blanket. 

when finally settled on the ground, he takes all the opportunity to watch you, like his favorite tv show, observing and content to simply be in your presence as the night grows later and quieter. but now with this glow, not just from the warm lights surrounding you, but with all you were to him, he couldn't contain himself any longer.

"i love you .."

"hm?" fluttering your eyes over to his, warm topaz sticky like honey, trapping yours. you hadn't heard his timid proclamation. or maybe you had and wanted to be sure your mind wasn't playing tricks on you. either way, oikawa wasn't shy this time, embarrassingly raising his voice and head to the star-filled sky.

"I. LOVE. YO- what the hell." the break in his words catches you off guard, unsure of why the 3 words you've been waiting months to hear, are now replaced with annoyed curses. 

the damp pellets hitting your bare thighs and the hem of your shorts gives you your answer. a sky that was star-filled yes, but also cloudy - and with the clouds came pouring rain. right onto his plans for a perfect night, just when he was finally ready to put forth the words of his overwhelming adoration for you.

you see him pull his sandy locks between his slender fingers, tugging at the wet roots in annoyance at the sudden onslaught of heavy rain. you wonder if he'll ever kick that habit, imagining him going bald has your rain-soaked cheeks plumping into a large smile when you start laughing.

"c'mon, this isn't funny! we're soaked. i skipped practice to set this whole thing up, i woke you up so late for this! i can't belie-" you figured your lips against his would be enough to stop his stressed rambling, his warm hands finding purchase on the sliver of skin beneath your t-shirt.

holding onto his nape, your small moan at the chill of rainy breeze opposed to the warmth of his body making pulling apart that much harder, but the "i love you too, tooru." was too much to keep inside at the moment, and the look he gives you is worth the cold you're sure to get.

a whole body shiver from him, and the pink taint on his soft cheeks, when you raise your thumb to caress them, is a reaction you didn't expect. you had the tooru oikawa, speechless - with just 3 little words. and in that moment, with those words, he realized the power you had over him and it scared him, to say the least. what could be the problem with that, right?

but that's not what he thought when he pulled you up and ran towards the car and the safety of the dry interior. instead thoughts of 'i've never felt like this before .. i need her. i need her with me always.' ran through his mind. 

and with the clock on the dash blinking 2:23am, window wipers on full power, and the love between two naive teens engulfing the small space. he knew and she thought, this was a night they wouldn't soon forget.

the look on your face is nothing short of dumbfounded - while a soft smile plays on his face when he recalls that rainy night, you can't even stop the tears from tipping over onto your cheeks.

"heh. and how would your girlfriend feel about you reminiscing on .. stupid memories with your ex." you're sure to emphasize your relationship with each other or lack thereof. you want him to never forget how he left you, he doesn't deserve to remember how you were. 

he mutters a shameless, "sorry" and it's aimless, not an apology for anything specific, not the one thing he should be apologizing for. making you roll your eyes with a scoff, leaning back to push yourself up off the hard floor.

"thanks for wasting my time with that little story, oikawa." the second time you've called him that tonight, no kawa, not even a tooru. but his stale family name, sharp on your tongue as you dust off your bottom, ready to walk away - hopefully somewhere else in this large school where he won't follow, going home to an empty apartment wasn't too appealing right about now.

because that "little story" pushed down a wall you had built around the 'good' times, times of sitting in the back of that little mazda eating caramel-drizzled pieces of milk bread, times of timing his laps when he ran those loaves off, times of cheering loud enough to lose your voice at all his victories, and times of comforting him in defeat. you and him, that's how it was, what you chose to forget and what he chose to hold dear.

"y/n please." his brooding frame - that to no surprise, still towers over you, was now stood too close for comfort. with his tanned fingers reaching out for you with an apprehension that said he knew, once again he knew, that you were still broken. and he was the culprit, but like most criminals - he doesn't think of the consequences.

not when he pulls your retreating figure in for a kiss that shatters you. (i'm sorry) (no you're not.) rough hands crumbling the fabric of your shirt, holding on tight, because he also knows he has no right to be this selfish with you. 

and you also know, know that your own hands shouldn't be reaching for their place on his nape, you shouldn't be letting 20 year old you take the reigns - being stupid with her heart.

but you love him, remember?

As you observed Keiji sleeping peacefully, a warm smile spread across your face. There was something undeniably serene about these quiet moments shared together. The sunbeams gently filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the room, creating a cozy atmosphere.

With careful movements, you slid out of bed, being mindful not to disturb Keiji's slumber. Making your way to the kitchen, you prepared a simple breakfast, filling the air with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm toast. The sound of clinking utensils and the sizzle of bacon resonated through the tranquil morning.

Returning to the bedroom with a tray of breakfast goodies, you set it down gently on the nightstand. The enticing aroma began to stir Keiji awake, his eyes slowly fluttering open to meet your loving gaze. A gentle smile formed on his lips as he sat up, his sleep-ruffled hair adding a touch of adorable disarray to his appearance.

"Good morning," you whispered, your voice filled with tenderness. Keiji's eyes sparkled with gratitude as he reached out to hold your hand, pulling you closer. The two of you enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in bed, savoring each bite and sharing stories about your week.

As the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, you decided to embrace the simplicity of the day. Together, you curled up on the couch, a soft blanket draped over both of you. Books were opened, and the pages turned as you lost yourselves in captivating stories. Occasionally, you would steal glances at each other, exchanging knowing smiles that conveyed a world of unspoken love.

Time seemed to slow down as you relished in each other's presence, finding solace in the comfortable silence that enveloped the room. No words were needed; the connection between you was enough. It was in these quiet moments that you realized the true essence of a happy and fulfilling relationship.

As the day progressed, you ventured outside for a leisurely stroll, hand in hand. The gentle breeze caressed your faces as you walked through the park, sharing stolen kisses and playful laughter. The world around you seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of you, immersed in the blissful bubble of your love.

Returning home, you decided to indulge in a cozy movie night, cuddled up on the couch beneath a pile of soft blankets. The flickering light from the TV illuminated your faces as you laughed and cried together, completely absorbed in the stories unfolding on the screen.

As the evening drew to a close, you found yourselves back in bed, the day's activities having filled your hearts with contentment. Holding each other close, you whispered sweet nothings and exchanged promises of forever.

The first step was to let him sleep in. The two of you weren't early risers at all, but Satoru could easily out-sleep you.

It was a bit difficult to get out of bed without completely waking him up. He did stir out of sleep and ask where you were going, and when you responded with "I need to pee," he went back to sleep.

You did pee, but then you also brushed your teeth and washed your face before quietly tip-toeing out of the bedroom to go to the kitchen.

You decided to make soufflé pancakes for Satoru to wake up to, but you had to be quiet since you didn't want to ruin the surprise.

You made the soufflé pancakes as quietly as you could, but there would be an occasional banging of pans or clattering of wooden spoons as you attempted to mix everything before putting it on low heat on a pan.

You had never made them before, but you didn't realize how much work truly went into them. If Satoru didn't say thank you for these, you were going to kick his ass.

Once both sides of the soufflé pancakes were finished cooking on the pan, you placed them on a plate and topped it off with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

Satisfied with your work, you placed the plates on the dining table and put the dirty dishes in the sink. You poured two glasses of milk and placed them on the dining table, then washed and dried your hands before walking back into the bedroom where Satoru was still sleeping.

You leaned over and gently shook him, even though you knew that wouldn't wake him up. Even if it did, he liked to fake it so that he could sleep more.

"Wake up and come get breakfast, 'toru," you gently said. "I made pancakes."

He slowly opened his eyes and blinked away whatever drowsiness he had earlier, then grabbed your hand and placed it on his cheek. You smiled as he rubbed into your hand like a cat.

"Pancakes?" he questioned.

"Mhm. Soufflé pancakes."

"Really?"

"Yep. I made them myself," you said.

"I'll be right there," he said eagerly as he let go of your hand and sat up in bed to stretch before walking to the bathroom to get ready.

You smiled before walking to the dining room and taking a seat. You waited patiently for Satoru, but it didn't take long before he skipped into the dining room.

He must have brushed his teeth at an unholy speed just so he could eat your pancakes sooner. He sat down across from you and his eyes practically sparkled at the sight of soufflé pancakes in the morning.

"They look like they're straight out of a bakery," he complimented.

"Thank you, 'toru. I made them for you," you said as you grabbed a fork and knife.

You cut a small piece and held it out to him. He looked at you with a smile before greedily eating from the fork.

You laughed. "It's not going anywhere, 'toru."

"Ah."

He opened his mouth and waited patiently for another bite. You rolled his eyes, knowing just how childlike he could truly be.

You continued to cut pieces for him, but eventually, he began to do the same for you. The two of you went around in circles, feeding each other until it was all gone.

"Ah, that was so good," he said with a heavy sigh.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," you said as you leaned forward to swipe a crumb off from the corner of his lip.

His infinity turned off to allow you to do so, but as soon as you left his space, it was turned back on unconsciously.

You licked the crumb off your finger and stood up to clear the plates. Satoru immediately stood up and snatched the plates from you.

"I'll do the dishes since you cooked for me," he said.

"Hmm, the Gojo Satoru doing dishes?"

"Hey, I do dishes," he retorted.

You laughed as you followed him into the kitchen. While he stood in front of the sink to wash the dishes, you hugged him from behind.

His infinity stopped you from fully touching him, but as soon as he felt you against it, he turned it off without a second thought. You fell against his body, smothering your cheek against his back.

"I'm glad you're home," you said quietly.

His white eyelashes fluttered down, closing his eyes. He repeated the motion of scrubbing the plate in his hands while enjoying the feeling of your body against him.

"Me too," he said softly.

It scared him to say things like that — statements so pure and raw that he feared they would come crashing down with the power of a million Curses.

He didn't want to talk about things that made him happy in fear of the universe deciding he wasn't worthy of such happiness. A man of his power — of such destruction — shouldn't have been allowed to feel safe and happy.

But here he was, feeling so thankful that you were in his life. If he had to become the villain against humanity to save you, he would. But he wouldn't admit that to anyone.

"Oh! Let me go get my phone to play some music," you said, unwrapping your arms from his torso to scurry off into the bedroom.

He immediately felt cold, and he knew he would be in trouble when he had to go to work tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that.

It was so easy to get addicted to your touch, body, warmth — everything and anything about you. To him, you were addicting.

"I'm back," you said as you shuffled around the corner in your fuzzy socks, sliding against the floors.

"Be careful," he warned quietly, absentmindedly scrubbing the mug in his hands as his eyes were glued onto your body.

"I know, I know," you reassured.

But did you truly know? Satoru always thought he was going to have a heart attack at his young age because of how much he worried about you.

You walked over to him, eyes glued to the screen of your phone as you swiped to find a suitable song for the domestic moment. Once you found it, you hit 'play' and placed your phone on the counter, then hugged Satoru from behind again.

His body relaxed against you. This is what it felt like to have a home. He would do whatever it took to protect you because you protected him in your own way.

you hop off the counter, and he turns the faucet on for you. it’s a quiet morning; the neighbour’s kids aren’t out in the backyard, nor is the neighbour across from you mowing their lawn. the only sounds are running water while you splash your face, and keiji humming the tune he’s complained has been stuck in his head for the past 2 days. a smile finds its way to you when he quietly sings the chorus. “thought you didn’t like that song?”

he pauses. “i mean it isn’t bad, it’s just annoying to think of the same 30 seconds over and over. i kind of accepted it’ll just be stuck in my head until the next one.”

there’s a tap on your arm while you wipe your eyes, and with them closed you reach for the towel keiji holds for you. “i can play you an equally annoyingly catchy one?”

“oh please don’t.”

“it’s the one stuck in my head. we could match.”

he scoffs and pinches your side, grinning when you try to elbow him back. “i’m fine suffering over here, thanks.”

there’s a lull when you put the towel away, the two of you looking at each other in the mirror. even after putting the water to cold, sleep still lingers and you almost yawn again. instead, you take the half a step between him and you, resting your head against his shoulder.

an arm easily wraps around your waist and a chaste kiss is pressed to your forehead. you can feel keiji's fingers rubbing circles against you as his lips linger on your skin. he teasingly murmurs, “you okay, or do you need me to brush your teeth for you?”

“mm, maybe i do.”

“yeah? okay.” your head falls slightly when he moves to pick up your toothbrush and toothpaste. “what? keiji, i was kidding.”

keiji ignores you, getting the brush ready before facing you. “say aahh,” he sing-songs, hovering the toothbrush near your face, not even trying to hide his smile. “keiji no—”

“no, keiji aahh.”

you can’t help laughing, and he takes the opportunity to sneak the toothbrush in. a choked sound of betrayal escapes you, but there’s nowhere to go with his hand where it is, the other positioned to catch anything that drips. so you stand there as he carefully brushes your teeth, your own hands awkwardly hovering as if you’d be able to help. keiji starts to hum his song again after praising you, “good job, baby.”

you know he really doesn’t mind even though it’s a silly thing to do, he probably finds it amusing, and you wouldn’t be surprised if he finished. so for a while you let him believe he’s going to, before you suddenly close your mouth and reach for his wrist. the action takes him by surprise, and just as quickly as you move, you get jabbed at the back of your mouth. “ah, ow.”

“shit, sorry, sorry.” keiji lets go of the brush for you to take, frowning even when you laugh. you wave him off but he's unconvinced, and you try to reassure him. the words come out oddly as you try to brush and not accidentally drool, “it’s okay. at least i didn’t choke or something. do you know how embarrassing it’d be if i died because you tried brushing my teeth?”

keiji huffs before shaking his head, the joke relaxing him a little. “you’re the one who moved. i was fully prepared to stand here for 2 minutes,”—he reaches for his own brush and the toothpaste—“also i think they’d find it silly and romantic.”

as soon as he’s moved back to standing up, you move to turn the faucet back on. “oh yeah? please tell that to my funeral audience.”

“‘kay, i’ll even photoshop your funeral photo so there’s a little toothbrush in the corner.” the image flashes in your head, and you manage to spit out your toothpaste before laughing, “i'd break up with you in the after life if i saw a toothbrush at my funeral.”

putting your toothbrush back in its spot, the counter calls for you again. you hop back on top and begin to swing your legs as you wait for keiji to finish. he shoots you a questioning look, but doesn't complain about your company. “so you really don’t want a little toothbrush friend?” he asks after a while.

you snort. “you’d put my murderer in my image?”

“the toothbrush is innocent, i think we’d be considered the murderers.”

“fuck,” you mutter, earning a huffed laugh in response. “homicide at 7 in the morning is a great way to go, i guess. still keep the toothbrush out, though.”

“okay,”—he spits out his toothpaste—”no funeral toothbrush photo.” and as soon as he's cleaned up, keiji leans against the wall, gesturing for you to join him. he asks softly, “ready to actually get ready now?”

for a second, the question confuses you; you forget you actually had plans today. keiji looks at you expectantly, a ghost of a smile on his lips. you see an opportunity and, jokingly, put on puppy dog eyes and pout, leaning against him again. “...help me get dressed?”

rintarou breathes out a laugh, knowing what you were doing in a heartbeat. he turns to you with a slightly shocked and confused expression. "what'd you say?"

"i said i love the smiths." you tilt your head with a teasing smile.

you start to sing as the chorus hits, "and if a double decker bus." rin leans against the counter and watches you walk toward him. you reach for his hands and intertwine your fingers. "crashes into us,"—he takes your hands and places them around his shoulders, his own wrapping around your waist as you continue to sing to him—"to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die."

you look at him expectedly as you finish your line and his smile grows a little. rintarou’s never really been a singer, but if he was going to sing around or to anyone, of course it would be you.  "and if a ten ton truck," he sings, his voice starts soft and a little raspy. he gets a little louder with the next lines as he begins to sway the both of you around the kitchen. "—kills the both of us, to die by your side well the pleasure, the privilege is mine."

"there is a light that never goes out…" he mumbles along. you’re smiling at him when your timer goes off behind you. rin doesn’t attempt to move to get the cupcakes and you try to pull away. "rin, the cupcakes—"

"there is a light that never goes out," he cuts you off, voice louder as he pulls you toward the oven where the beeping continues. he uses one hand to turn it off, the other lifting to spin you. you try to let go after, but rin doesn't let you. he finishes the spin just to dance you away from the cupcakes again.

a laugh escapes you and rin grins before kissing your forehead. and he kisses you again, and again, and again on your cheeks and nose and lips, watching your reaction with a tightening hold around your waist. he continues to sing the last repeating line between kisses until the song's fade-out finishes, to no complaint from you. the both of you giggle as rin presses one more kiss to your temple before mumbling against your skin. “y’think i could draw the smiths on the cupcakes?”

“god, please—” you groan and rin starts to laugh loudly at his question and your face. “please do not try to do that.”

"no? they might match your little guy over there. maybe he's the secret member. you don't know," he teases you.

"yeah, yeah, the secret smith, whatever. i can sense your joke from a mile away you nerd. let's just finish these so we can go take a nap."