#konbeni

"and I think that after shinra makes a new world it makes sense for them to take that step"

That's actually what I was thinking/where I was going with it! But I didn't want to say it outright just in case it was too spoilery. I think prior to then there's just too much going on and Beni's hands are too full. Even if Beni approached him about it Konro would know that it would be too much of a distraction at best. He knew what role he needed to play for Beni to fulfill his potential, and that Beni still had some more growing to do.

"I think Konro started to fall in love ever since after the great fire and beni had to shoulder asakusa... like their relationship evolved there from mentor to partners, and that's when konro started to see beni in another light"

I think that specific moment, during the great fire, he still saw Beni as a boy, his underling that needed protection and guidance. He had probably felt the need to step into Hibachi's role in Beni's life after he died, understanding why Hibachi did the things he did and that he was absolutely right about Beni. He needed to make sure Beni didn't turn into the monster they all knew he could become.

But then their dynamic shifted and Konro, as much as he loathed it, knew he needed to not only start pushing Beni toward the leadership he was intended for but also had to rely on him. Beni became his caregiver, nurturer (in his way), and simultaneously started wearing the shoes of the Leader. I agree, that's probably where his view of Beni changed.

He'd developed an admiration for him, a genuine respect. Compounded with this new dynamic and seeing Beni care for him with such patience and tenderness - he'd have probably started developing feelings then but stamped them down before he even had a chance to contemplate them. He'd talk himself out of them, maybe even berate himself for letting the thought cross his mind.

"and i think beni would push but can't quite figure out why it also scares him"

YES! That so feels like him, especially when he's still trying to wrap his head around all that being a leader entails. He very much seems like a living in the moment kind of person, chasing his desires as they come without considering the consequences - which, some of that comes with youth. But, outside of Hibachi and Konro, he doesn't seem to have had many severe long-term consequences.

If he drinks too much his people have his back, and he can just steam it off (I'm assuming, kind of like he did with the poison at the Holy Sol temple). If he gambles his money away it's fine, it's just money, that's just the nature of the game. Just like his little adventure with Joker, he didn't consider the consequences of starting an all out war with the most powerful entity in the world, the one that supplies Konro's life-saving medicine.

He'd find himself thinking of Konro in a different way and wanting to chase that feeling, but when the moment comes to have the conversation/make the move he's paralyzed and confused and unsure what to do with that.

"and in the end. once he's no longer "god" and once konro is cured. they have the time they have the freedom and they can explore it at their own rhythm"

AND ALSO Beni would have matured enough to understand the weight of changing the relationship with His Person, his rock, best friend, pillar (great way to put that!).

Konro really sees the man he's grown into, his respect and admiration has fully bloomed. He can take off the mentor hat (especially now that I think Hibachi is back too?) and allow himself the opportunity to step into a different role with Beni.

And you're right! They'd have all the time and freedom to explore these new feelings and let their relationship bloom naturally, without the pressure of their people (the WORLD) counting on them to save them.

OH BUT IT WOULD BE SO COMPLICATED. What would their people think?? What would Hibachi think??? Do they keep it secret? For how long? How do they navigate this new relationship, this new world, and the anxiety of not knowing how everybody is going to feel?

"also konro being your husband is so legit. i don't really get joker but KONRO??? yeah sign me tf up too XX"

GET ON OVER HERE SISTER WIFE!! There's enough of our big boy to go around!!! 🤣🤗 I really, really love the idea of Konro and Beni kinda sharing their partner. I didn't really ship them together myself but BOY did I ship tf out of a throuple situation 🥵 Beni secretly getting turned on listening to Konro and his partner, Konro teasing them knowing they're attracted to Beni and that he can hear them, an invitation to join them turning into all three of them eventually sharing a room. Or vice versa, Beni sharing his partner with his lonely best friend, watching his partner take care of Konro and breathe new life into him, giving Konro something he'd probably thought was behind him. And sharing it together. Just 😩🙌

I always liked Joker but I didn't really get SUPER INTO HIM until pretty recently. I love me an antihero and can relate with his backstory. And despite how awful his life has been (and how he's kind of cracked over the years because of it), there's still humanity and even glimmers of softness in him. Also he's sexy as a mfer, that voice 😩, he's a little unhinged, broken, weird, but oddly charming. He's ✨complicated✨😂 Idk maybe it's a little toxicity with some trauma sprinkles but wheewww he's been taking over my life lately. But lbr I always, always come back to my Konro 🥹🥰

OKAY I'M SORRY, I got a little carried away there. Below is what you *actually* asked for lmao

This is (mostly) sfw, there's a tiny little spicy bit there at the end but nothing vulgar. Mostly just angsty fluffy fluff

Sagamiya Konro x Shinmon Benimaru

Try

Konro sat cross-legged in the center of his room, his back to the door, head lulled to the side as he practiced his morning meditation. The golden sunlight filtered through the screened windows gave the room a warm glow; incense burned in a dish on his dresser, adding an earthy spice to the soothing atmosphere.

Beni crossed his arms and propped himself in the doorway, smirking as he burned this moment to his memory. The open wounds once riddling Konro's shoulders had diminished to faint scars, his bare back an expanse of the bronzy skin it used to be. Months of intensive training had bulked up his atrophied muscles, his shorn black hair was tied into the high knot Beni remembered from his youth. If he didn't know better he'd think he was a kid again, idolizing the strength and sturdiness of his young superior.

But they were men now, both of them, marked by war, loss, hard decisions and, ultimately, a literal earth-shattering victory.

A conversation replayed in Beni's mind as he hovered, anxious anticipation rolling in his stomach. They'd talked about it only once, the words left unsaid speaking volumes over what had been. The timing was wrong, there was too much at stake and no room to sift through confusing and uncomfortable feelings.

But now, in the relative peace of their new reality, the idea was a persistent gnawing in the back of Beni's mind. There just never seemed to be a good time to bring it up, and he really didn't even know how. Things continued business as usual, despite the unspoken tension between them.

So, Beni figured, if the right time wouldn't happen on its own he would have to make it happen. Now that he was here, he didn't know what to say or how to proceed. So he stood, propped in the doorway, watching Konro meditate.

"You planning to say something or just stand there all day?" Konro glanced over his shoulder, eyebrow cocked, grinning.

"Oh. Uh, hey. You busy?"

Konro rolled his shoulders and swiveled on his behind to face Beni, forearms resting on his legs. "Not anymore. Did you need something?"

Beni's mouth went dry, heart thumping in his throat. He was already nervous but seeing Konro like this - eyes and face no longer sunken, every bit the young heartbreaker he used to be, awash in glowing golden light - made him want to melt to the floor and slither away.

"I guess I just figured... maybe we should talk." He barely got the words out of his dry throat, cringing inside at the insecurity dripping from his voice. Konro nodded, patting the floor in front of him.

"I agree. Come, sit." He straightened his back as Beni folded his legs in front of him, avoiding Konro's steady gaze. He bit his tongue to quell his smirk seeing Beni, wild and impetuous and fearless, such a nervous mess.

Neither of them spoke for a drawn out moment, Beni suddenly captivated by the mat beneath his legs, Konro watching his face with a poorly restrained smirk quirking his lips.

"Beni," Konro started quietly, "look at me." Konro's stomach fluttered when Beni met his gaze, the weight of his heavy emotions passing wordlessly between them. His smirk faltered, gaze softening. "I wanted to talk to you, too, but-"

"There never seemed to be a good time," Beni finished.

"Yeah. You too, huh?"

"Yeah." Another long pause stretched between them, Beni's heart still thundering. "So, have you-"

"I've been-"

"Sorry, go ahead," Beni offered, cursing the raw sound of his dry throat. This feeling was torture, but Konro's patient smile set him at ease a little.

"I was going to say I've been thinking about what we talked about."

"We didn't really say much."

"No, I guess not. But... I think we need to." Beni's heart skipped a beat. He swallowed.

"Yeah? About what?"

"About..." Konro sighed, his patient confidence crumbling under the pressure of the confusing feelings he'd spent months combing through. "We have a lot we need to talk about, this isn't something we should take lightly. You mean the world to me, Beni. I've always loved you as family but... the man you've become. I..."

Seeing Konro struggle this way, pained confusion in his eyes, wrenched Beni's pounding heart. "Konro... I don't want to put you in a difficult position..."

"No, no," Konro dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I put myself here. I just... this was very unexpected." He wiped a hand down his face, breath heaving and heart thundering, eyes averted to his own lap. "I... have feelings for you, too, Beni. I catch myself thinking about you in ways I shouldn't. I've thought a lot about this and... you're a grown man capable of making your own decisions. If this is something you want, if you're really sure, then... I'd like to try."

"I do - I mean, I am. I'm sure." Beni reached for Konro, stroking his fingers over his clenched jaw and lifting his chin so he would look at him. "I'm sure."

Konro sighed and chewed on his lip, his wide eyes scanning Beni's face. With a smirk on his lips and softness in his eyes Beni rose to his knees, nudging Konro's legs open to scoot between them. He took Konro's worried face in his hands and tilted his head to meet his gaze, thumbs stroking his cheekbones.

"Are you sure?" Beni asked, his panting breaths puffing over Konro's face. Konro nodded, his hands nervously slipping around Beni's back, eyes dropping from Beni's heated gaze to his lips and back. Nodding back Beni nuzzled his nose against Konro's, watching his eyes drift closed, then brushed his lips tenderly over his. Konro's lips parted in response, head tilting back further, one hand sliding up Beni's back to rest on the back of his head, fingers curling in his hair. Beni smiled, teasing Konro once more with a gentle brush of his lips. Konro, frustrated, pulled his head closer into a proper kiss.

Konro inhaled deeply as their lips touched, sucking Beni's bottom lip between his and running the tip of his tongue over the outer ridge. Their nervous panting became heated huffs, a low groan in Konro's throat when Beni scooted closer, his fingers tangling in the short hair at the back of Konro's head.

They stayed like this, sharing deep, sucking kisses, the wet sound of their lips and their panting breaths filling the air. Konro pulled back, breaking their kiss before it went too far, and cupped Beni's face in his large, rough hands. Beni looked confused. Konro smoothed the wrinkle in his brow with the pad of his thumb, chuckling.

"I don't want to rush this. And it's the middle of the morning, the girls and the Master will be looking for us soon." Beni huffed and rolled his eyes, but he knew he was right. There would be time for that. But Beni, ever the precocious brat, shifted his leg so that his thigh would press between Konro's legs, grinning at his surprised gasp and what he found there. Konro's eyes darkened, his hands fell to Beni's hips and squeezed roughly, pinning him so he couldn't do it again. "Stop it. I don't want to start something I can't resist finishing. Not yet."