Kurochi frowned, brows furrowed. “Yeah, but still--ah.”

He cut off with a gasp; Rantaro pressed his lips against the injured skin. His cheeks tinged with rosy pink, eyes darting away as Rantaro kissed something that Kurochi had his own mouth own before. A satisfied smile curled Rantaro’s lips at the reaction, and he lingered just a moment to relish in Kurochi’s flustered behavior.

“There, does it feel better?” he asked, lifting his head, Kurochi’s hand still held gently in his grasp.

“Pfft.” Kurochi broke into giggles, reclaiming his hand from Rantaro’s grip. “Come on, I need to run it under some water.”

Rantaro looked on with fondness as Kurochi moved to the kitchen sink, turning on the faucet. After a moment, he joined him there, wrapping his arms snugly around Kurochi’s waist. Kurochi sank back against his chest. With their height difference, Rantaro enjoyed how Kurochi fit against him, the desperate urge to protect and treasure him welling up in every inch of his being. He curled in around him, resting his chin on the top of Kurochi’s head.

The vibrations of Kurochi’s laughter resonated in Rantaro’s chest. His heart felt like it would burst from the affection he held for the boy in his arms.

“I love you,” Rantaro whispered with such fervence that it surprised himself.

Kurochi rested his free hand on Rantaro’s forearm, resting the back of his head against Rantaro’s chest. It tilted to the side, just like an invitation for Rantaro to put his lips there. He took it, too, pressing an open-mouthed kiss against Kurochi’s neck. A fluttery sigh elicited in response; Rantaro chuckled, and earned something closer to a moan that time.

“I love you, too.” Kurochi followed his lead in a whisper.

They remained like that for a couple minutes, going no further, with Rantaro switching to nuzzling into the crook of Kurochi’s neck. After the time had passed though, Kurochi lifted his head from its previous position. It signalled Rantaro to immediately lift his face away, always attentive to Kurochi’s changing comfort levels with intimacy.

He still seemed peaceful however, content, when he spoke after that. “Could you taste the food I made for me?” he asked. “Tell me how it is.”

Kurochi couldn’t taste after all, that was Rantaro’s job. Ironically, though, Kurochi was a much better cook than Rantaro himself was, despite that. All the practice he’d had sure did pay off. He was glad to help him, since Kurochi would never be able to test the seasoning on his own..

Although he was reluctant to back away, he withdrew his arms from around Kurochi, and stepped back to leave him at the sink on his own.

“Of course, no problem. I bet it’s fantastic as usual, though.”

Rantaro might have leaned forward, or might’ve not, but it was Kurochi who closed the distance. He rose onto his tip toes, not even noticing the slight strain from their difference in height, only the pillowy warmth against his mouth as their lips met and Kurochi kissed him.

Sparks of surprise, of love, of lust burst between them--Kurochi didn’t know what emotions belonged to who anymore, and he didn’t care to untangle them right now. The moment lasted a brief eternity, decades between them mere seconds to he world.

And they parted, and the leaping sparks died down. The turbulant rush of emotions settled, and their emotions started to separate.

Up from Kurochi own feelings, stirring sharp and anxious in his chest, came shock and embarrassment toward his own behavior. He hadn’t even asked if Rantaro wanted a kiss, merely took it; he let himself get horribly carried away on the things he’d felt.

He opened his mouth to apologize. Before any sounds came out though, Rantaro cut him off with gentle, firm hands cupping his cheeks. The words died at his lips.

Seeing the surprise in his face, Rantaro hesitated.

“Is it fine... if I kiss you?” he asked, baffling Kurochi, considering he hadn’t asked before kissing him.

“Yeah. I mean, I kissed you first,” he said, laughing awkwardly. “Yes, it’s ok.”

Rantaro chuckled, running his thumbs along his cheekbones.