it’s late when chuuya finally slips into bed. his hair is damp from the shower, having bypassed the hairdryer in fear that it’ll wake atsushi. still, as he pulls the covers over himself, atsushi rolls over to face him, arms outstretched.
chuuya snorts, quiet and fond. “thought you were asleep.”
atsushi smiles, his eyes still closed as chuuya gives into the hug, nestling against him. atsushi’s warm, his hair fuzzy and reminiscent of his tiger fur.
“couldn’t fall asleep,” atsushi explains, nosing chuuya’s hair. “you smell like shampoo.”
“mm. had to shower,” chuuya agrees. he also had to use his ability to get into the shower, lest he tracked anything into the house.
“i could smell the blood,” atsushi says. his hands card through chuuya’s hair clumsily, then press to the back of his neck, colder than chuuya expected.
he yelps, bringing atsushi’s hands down so they rest on his shoulders. “sorry,” he murmurs, and presses an apologetic kiss to atsushi’s collarbone. he lifts his head and atsushi meets him halfway for another kiss, this time to his lips.
“‘s fine. it’s not unnatural; there’s plenty times yosano-san comes in covered in blood… though i’m never really sure whose it is,” atsushi reminisces, huffing a laugh. “was your mission hard?”
“not particularly. just… messy.” chuuya shrugs, wiggling up so he can hug atsushi more comfortably, his head resting half on the mattress and half against atsushi’s shoulder.
atsushi hums, squeezing him tightly. “i love you.”
chuuya smiles, eyes closing. “where’d that come from?”
“my mouth?” atsushi suggests.
chuuya huffs and tugs atsushi down for another quick kiss. “love you too,” he says against his lips, feeling—more than seeing—atsushi’s smile.
“yay,” atsushi says, drowsier now.
chuuya laughs. “yay,” he agrees.
within minutes, atsushi has fallen asleep, breath steadied and comforted as chuuya holds him close.
