#sugaaka

“You’re insatiable.”

“Says the one who destroyed an entire town.”

Sugawara swatted him on the stomach, but he didn’t say anything as he rose up onto his toes so he could settle his chin onto Akaashi’s shoulder. “So mean,” he whispered, “That was three thousand years ago.”

“Two hundred. Remember off the coast of China?”

“... Shush.”

He laughed, spun around, and slipped his hands down, tracing along Sugawara’s cool arms to curl their fingers together. Like this, in their carefully crafted human forms, one could almost never believe that either were anything but - that Sugawara was a kraken, gargantuan and a beautiful blood red, one that could wreck havoc with the force of his great tentacles that created tsunamis and had destroyed countless cities and dragged down numerous ships, or Akaashi, a thunderbird buried beneath featherless skin and bones that weren’t hollow.

But it was there in the electricity that snapped off his fingers and the fire in his eyes and the way thunderstorms brought all sorts of life to him, and in the feathers he left scattered in their bedroom when some slipped through the cracks of the glamour. Or with Sugawara, and how he didn’t look quite human when he swam, too fast, too graceful, and how his eyes sometimes went black, not just the iris, but a deep, all-consuming black that swallowed even the whites of his eyes, and the sharp teeth that poked out when he tore into a fresh kill.

Akaashi grinned. Leaned in and kissed Sugawara’s nose. “You’re positively dangerous,” he whispered.

Sugawara blew a puff of air at Akaashi. “As if you aren’t either? Last time you transformed, you brought a cyclone here and took down three planes, and overturned a cruise liner.”

“In my defense, it was well overdue. Would you rather me go to some deserted place in the middle of nowhere next time?”

Sugawara licked his lips. “Maybe. Though we did eat well for weeks.”

Akaashi wrinkled his nose. “Frozen meat isn’t the same.”

“Yes, but it was convenient.”

“Fair enough.”

Sugawara grinned, pressed a kiss to his lips, and Akaashi chased after him, leaning in to bury his face into Sugawara’s silver hair. Like that, he could smell the salt water scent that clung to him, among a thousand others, ones that came from depths he could never explore, ones that clung to Sugawara relentlessly. Sugawara had said much the same to him, that Akaashi smelled of ozone and lightning, of fire and the cleanest air ever.

How ironic, a creature of the deep sea and a creature of the air together.

Sugawara must have shared a similar thought, because he pulled back with a laugh as he threaded their hands together as he stepped back. It took a twitch of his hands to start pulling Akaashi in a circle, grinning and giggling as they spun in the wide-open space of their living room.

Akaashi moved, helpless to the way Sugawara’s smile seemed to illuminate the room, to the way it left his knees going weak and the thunderbird within crying out, desperately to take to the skies and release a storm like no other, one just for Sugawara. He’d had enough practice of controlling it to stifle it, but that didn’t stop the feathers from sprouting, filling his hair and trailing down his neck, his spine, appearing on his arms, and Sugawara only laughed harder as he stilled their movements, stepped in close.

He pulled a hand away, trailed it up Akaashi’s arm, and he shuddered at the touch, at the gentleness and the way Sugawara’s fingers curled around the base of the feathers, then slipped further up to burrow into his hair. His golden eyes glittered, bright, happy, and he stretched up as Akaashi dipped down. Their mouths brushed, just barely, lips whispering together as they leaned close, held there for a moment. “I love it when you almost transform,” he whispered, “It’s so…”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” he said.

Sugawara huffed, glared at him the best he could with the nonexistent distance between them. “At least your transformation is beautiful! I’m just some giant kraken with a million fucking tentacles.”

“You’re certainly terrifying,” Akaashi said softly as he raised Sugawara’s arm, pointedly eyed the discolored patches of skin that had appeared, a different texture and feel to them as he pressed his fingers to them, relishing in the red, in the way Sugawara’s eyes fluttered. “You’re terrifying, and I’m drawn to you endlessly, my dear. The most beautiful kraken I’ve ever seen - such a stark red, but with those silver stripes that cross your body, the ones so unlike any other-”

Sugawara groaned, butted his head into Akaashi’s chest, silver stripes appearing along his skin, crimson patches slipping in between them. His blushes were always endearing, what, with how his beautiful coloration showed through, how his eyes flashed black and those sharp teeth poked out, made the most beautiful grins. Akaashi cupped Sugawara’s cheeks, nudged him back enough so that he could see Sugawara’s face. His human form had a blush too, pink filling his cheeks, silver stripes mixing in with it, and it left Akaashi grinning as he thumbed the two different types of skin, relishing in the texture change, in the way those pitch black eyes cracked open and peeked at him. “You asshole,” Sugawara whispered.

Akaashi kissed him, quick and soft, and slid his hands down to Sugawara’s. “Want to go to the balcony? Watch the city from here?”

Sugawara snorted. “You’re so obsessed with watching them, especially at night.”

Akaashi shrugged, helpless, as he tugged gently on Sugawara’s hand, let him out onto the balcony. “What can I say? I got a little obsessed after I watched you destroy it, and they only came back and rebuilt it - three times.”

“Two of those were your fault,” Sugawara protested, but he didn’t fight it when Akaashi settled down into one of the chairs and tugged Sugawara down on top of him. His skin was cool, delightfully so, and Akaashi settled his chin onto Sugawara’s shoulder and pressed close, their hands tangling together on Sugawara’s lap as their eyes drifted out to the city and the ocean beyond them.

“Actually,” Akaashi said after a moment, “One of those was the both of us.”

“Ah yeah, the great fight of ‘74 - we did quite a bit of damage.”

“All along the coast.”

“They’ve come back quite well despite everything.”

Akaashi shook his head, pressed a kiss into Sugawara’s neck. “Koushi,” he whispered, “You’re a demon.”

“The best demon you ever got your claws on. And what does that make you then, Mister I-have-six-wings?”

“An angel?”

Sugawara twisted on his lap, face catching the light from their home, and it made those sharp teeth gleam as he leaned close, cool fingers slipping along Akaashi’s cheeks, rising, tangling into his hair and tugging gently on his curls and feathers. “The most beautiful angel ever,” he whispered, against Akaashi’s lips, “An angel of destruction. Gods, you have no idea how beautiful you looked that day, flying right in front of the sun, ethereal, almost unreal with your black wings, with all that gold. Positively enchanting. I couldn’t help but stare - I even let you take my prey! But how could I not? You were simply divine.”

Akaashi snorted, shook his head. “That’s ridiculous.”

Sugawara smacked the side of his head, huffed against his lips, and pulled back, just a little. Pulled out the necklace that lay beneath his shirt, the pearls glistening in the dark. “Would I have given you one of my pearls if it was?” Akaashi bit his lip. Glanced away and shrugged, the pearl under his shirt warming with his cheeks.

Sugawara purred, a sound like the rumbling of the waves as they crashed against the shore, and he leaned back in, curling his body around Akaashi, as sinuous as the tentacles that his true form had. “What can I say? You’re my mate, after all. A mate against all odds, but my mate nevertheless.”

Akaashi snorted. “You really ought to have picked a nice kraken.”

Sugawara snorted, jabbed Akaashi in the side. “Yes, but instead I chose a handsome man who sheds a shit-ton of feathers around our bedroom.”

“At least we can make our own pillows?”

Koushi beamed and leaned forward, kissing Keiji on the tip of their nose as he ruffled their hair. “Morning Keiji. What pronouns are we using today?”

Keiji sucked on their teeth for a minute before their eyes flicked up and they smiled shyly. “She today.”

“Well,” Koushi murmured as he leaned even closer, “I’m honored to have a pretty, brilliant girlfriend today.”

Keiji made a happy sound in the back of her throat and leaned in, pressed close to Koushi’s chest. He beamed and wrapped his arms tight around her, squeezing as he pressed soft kisses all over her head while slender arms settled loosely around his hips. “You’re warm…” Keiji mumbled.

Koushi pulled back, smiling as he tugged on short, dark curls. “I try hard.” Keiji grunted, tugged him back in and nuzzled closer, breaths already slowing. “Don’t fall asleep again,” Koushi chided softly as he prodded Keiji’s cheek, but he didn’t push her off, didn’t pry himself away. It was too good to resist.

Quiet footsteps drew his gaze, and he smiled as Tooru walked out, scratching at their bare chest as they yawned. Their eyes brightened and they crept over, pressing a chaste kiss to the back of Keiji’s head before their arms wound around Keiji and Koushi, enveloping them both in a warm, secure embrace. “Morning cuties,” they sang.

Koushi snorted. “Too kind, I swear.”

Tooru winked at him before they glanced to Keiji and poked her cheek. “What pronouns today, Kei-chan?”

“She…” Keiji managed sleepily as she slowly slipped an arm from around Koushi’s waist to blindly seek out Tooru’s hand and grasp it.

The two standing grinned, turned to one another. “Keiji needs more coffee I think.”

“Kou-chan, I think you’re right. But you know what’s needed first?” Koushi snorted, but he leaned up on his tiptoes and kissed Tooru, lingering and lingering until his legs trembled, calves ready to give out. They grinned and chased after him instead, peppering sweet kisses all over his face, coaxing out quiet, happy sounds. “My handsome man,” they cooed, smirking as Koushi flushed and looked away.

“Hush,” Koushi grumbled.”

“Never! I have to tell my wonderful partners how amazing they are! My beautiful, strong Kei-chan, so sweet and tough! And my dashing Kou-chan, so pretty and smart! Wonderful, the both of you!”

Koushi groaned, cheeks and ears hot, and buried his face into Tooru’s shoulder as they laughed, loud and bright, hard enough that it shook them all and left Keiji grumbling. Koushi nudged Tooru off after a moment, but they leaned in for one more kiss before they grabbed Keiji’s cup and leaned close, whispering kisses across her skin too.

“Want some more?”

“What kind of question is that?”

Tooru chuckled. “Three coffees coming right up!”

Koushi snorted again and shifted his hands to cup Keiji’s face, tugging her attention away. She blinked up at him, eyes slowly clearly, and he smiled, swept his fingers along her soft cheeks. “Want me to make breakfast?”

She perked up, smiling faintly as her hand squeezed his hip. “Pancakes?”

Koushi winked. “I can do that.”

Keiji smiled and released him, and he leaned down, kissed her forehead, and spun away. He rummaged through the cupboards and pulled out ingredients as Keiji and Tooru settled at the table, Keiji with her head down while Tooru stroked her hair and chattered. “I’m really glad we all go the day off together for once. It’s gonna be awesome! The planetarium is super cool, I promise you’ll both love it! Oh, and the flowers are blooming too, so we could buy lunch somewhere and take it to a park and eat there maybe? Hajime was telling me about this one place with great deals…”

Koushi hummed as he whisked all the ingredients together, listening with half an ear to the plans they’d been talking about for at least two weeks now. “It definitely sounds good. I was beyond ready to spend a day with you.”

“I’m glad you’re excited too! We all really needed the break.”

Keiji made a soft wheezing sound, a quiet laugh as they opened their eyes. “Too true… I love the kids, but sometimes I’m tempted to quit.”

“At least these ones don’t throw up on you?”

Koushi watched, amused, as Keiji raised her head and stared at Tooru for a long moment before she sighed quietly, let her head thump back onto the table. “You’re right I guess…”

“It’s okay Keiji,” Tooru murmured as he ruffled her hair. “I know it’s hard, but you’re the best.”

“They’re right Keiji!” Koushi chimed in as he ladled some of the batter onto the warm pan. “You’re great with the kids. I’ve seen how much they adore you.”

Keiji made a soft, pleased sound and buried her face into her arms. Tooru winked at Koushi, and he blew a kiss back before he turned, flipped the first of the pancakes, moved them, and started a second set. Tooru started to bustle around, singing quietly as they grabbed the syrup and butter, set the table, and poured themself a glass of milk.

Soon, Koushi finished and brought the plate over, trailing his fingers across Keiji’s back as he passed. She perked up instantly and stole the first pancakes with a grin before Koushi had a chance to even pull his hand from the plate. He and Tooru exchanged a grin and a laugh as they waited for her to load up her plate before they reached in and grabbed some of their own. Koushi swiped the syrup before Tooru could, giggling to himself as he poured a good amount before relinquishing it to Tooru, who stuck their tongue out at him.

“So kind, Mr. Refreshing.”

“So good, Koushi,” Keiji moaned quietly, eyes closed in what may have been pure rapture as she chewed slowly. “Cook these every morning,” she whispered as her eyes cracked open, a tiny smile blooming.

Koushi shook his head with a laugh. “Can do Keiji, though you’ll get tired of them real quick.”

Keiji scoffed as she jerked her chin up and pointedly took another bite. “You wish.”

Koushi grinned. “Maybe. They take a while to make, but they’re delicious, and it’s so tempting to eat them while I’m cooking.”

“Naturally,” Keiji hummed, “I would too.”

“If you were conscious enough to cook in the mornings.”

Keiji only gave him a baleful stare before she turned back to her pancakes. Koushi glanced to Tooru, shit-eating smiles tugging at their mouths. Koushi’s arm darted forward and he stole a bite of Keiji’s pancakes as she squeaked in protest, lunged after him as he laughed, shaking as he shoved the bite into his mouth and chewed. Keiji stilled in her pursuit, lips pursed in a pout. “Koushi…”

She leaned closer, lower lip pushing out further. “Koushi…”

He smirked and pecked her on the lips. Keiji’s nose crinkled a little, but before she could complain he cut off a piece of his stack of pancakes and held it out. Those beautiful gray eyes brightened and she opened her mouth, let him feed her with a grin.

“So cute,” Tooru sighed, and Keiji and Koushi turned, both smiling as Koushi cut off another piece, stuck it in Tooru’s direction. Tooru gasped, clutched their chest and fluttered their eyes at him, lips wobbling. “Koushi… my love! Such a gift! I don’t deserve the honor! I-”

“Fine, I’ll eat it my-”

Tooru’s hand shot out and caught Koushi by the wrist, held him there. “Rude, Kou-chan,” they grumbled. Koushi just blew them a kiss. Tooru gave an over-exaggerated seductive wink and leaned forward, took the pancakes from Koushi’s fork with a delighted hum. Koushi settled back and started to eat again, glancing between his partners with a grin. I love you both so much.

They finished breakfast quickly, and Keiji washed while Tooru dried as Koushi slipped back to the bedroom for a quick shower. By the time he emerged, dress and hair dry, Keiji and Tooru had sprawled back on their bed and tangled up together, Keiji’s long, slender legs stretched out, one hooked over Tooru’s waist. They paused in the middle of their slow kisses and delicate touches, blinking at him as they both smiled. “What a prince,” Tooru tease.

Keiji hummed in agreement as she pressed her head into Tooru’s neck, twisted to keep her eyes on Koushi. “Very handsome indeed.”

Koushi focused fixing the collar of his shirt, a pathetic attempt to hide his painfully obvious blush as he shook his head. “Hush, the both of you.” They laughed instead, loud and bright, and Koushi found himself drawn in, grinning as he moved closer and held his hands out. “C’mon you two, let’s get going.”

Keiji groaned, but she rolled over, rose, wiggled as she pulled her high-waisted shorts up a little higher and made sure her blouse was tucked in properly. Tooru slung themself over Koushi’s back, hugging him tight as they kissed along the shell of his ear. “Do you have a sports bra to bring?”

Koushi twisted his head away, a muffled noise escaping from the back of his throat. Keiji was on him in an instant, holding his hand as she cupped his cheek.

“Koushi.”

Her voice was stern, no room for arguments, and Koushi heaved a dramatic sigh, rolled his eyes, and disentangled himself from his partners. He dug through their drawers for a minute before he found one and tossed it to Keiji, who caught it and stuck it in her purse with a smile. “Thank you.”

  Sugawara had beenwaiting here for forty-five minutes. He had gotten here early, just so he couldattempt to lay claim to a good seat. These doctors were very efficient and wereable to get patients in and out perfectly in their designated slots of theirtime. Sugawara had mostly been idling on his phone and gazing out the window;trying to avoid the eye contact of the truly sick patients: the wailing kidwith a black eye, the sneezy old lady, and the old man who kept shouting about hisgout.

  Too muchinformation, Mister. Sugawara thinks to himself.

  Rumour had it thoughthat there was a new nurse in town and had joined the clinic.

  Sugawara was aflorist and he could confirm such a person did exist as many of his clients hadalso been this nurse’s clients.    According to a woman whose brother hadrecently been diagonosed with terminal cancer; something Sugawara learned inbetween this lady’s sobs, the new nurse was very attractive. So attractive thatthe woman partially cheered up when telling her tear stained story. She likenedthe man to an angel. Sugawara

  Apparently, thenurse had a name – one particularly chatty old lady who had been getting amixed bouquet for her grandson who had been into the clinic recently over abroken leg. Sugawara still thinks she should have purchased the more thematicallypleasing carnations for her ailing, adult grandson with the broken leg she haddescribed in very graphic detail.

  Most importantly,anecdote aside, the nurse’s name was Akaashi Keiji.

  Sugawara had toadmit, that was a very pretty name and if the man was even half as attractiveas the lady with the brother who had cancer had described then, he wasdeserving of such a name that prettily rolled off of the tongue. Sugawara onlyhad vague ideas as to what it meant though as the kanji was so fickle for bothnames.

  ‘SugawaraKoushi-san? I am looking for Sugawara Koushi-san?’

  Sugawara looked upfrom the floor. He hadn’t even heard footsteps from up the hall where all thedoctor offices were. He mustn’t have been paying attention; he hadn’t evennoticed his own reverie, truth be told.

  He got up. ‘Ah yes,I am he.’ he said politely and he met the nurse’s eyes.

  And oh goodness,were they a very splendid pair of eyes: sleepy eyelids from long nightsoverworked and long eyelashes that framed dark green eyes that evoked images ofthe ancient forests untouched by man.

  Sugawara swallowedand he felt like a stalled car. He put his foot down, went onto his toes, andthen back onto the ball of his foot.

  ‘I’m Nurse AkaashiKeiji, it is a pleasure to meet you. You are the local florist, correct?’

  Holy hell! Sugawara thought to himself as his eyes dumbly widened.The angelic nurse was not a rumour! And, more importantly, he knew who Sugawarawas!

  ‘I have heardnothing but praises for your work. I hope to be your patron one day; forpleasurable purposes.’ Akaashi said and he bowed his head.

  Sugawara bowed hisas well.

  Akaashi came backup. He blinked owlishly. ‘Sir? Are you okay; your cheeks have become quiteflushed. We must make haste; Doctor Bokuto Koutarou will see you now.’

Well most people found it sweet, Akaashi mused as he took a sip of his tea that morning, but he’d come to know it better. It was a smile full of mischief and promises of sin.

Which he hoped was not the case that morning.

Another egg was added, with Sugawara winking at Akaashi as he whisked everything together, carefully adding in some milk and water as he stirred. “Are you going to guess what it is?”

A pause and a sip of tea later, Akaashi decided to play along.

“Is it a cake?” He’d managed to see the strawberries before Sugawara had slipped them into the fridge, trying to play it off as if he hadn’t run from one side of the kitchen to the other to hide them when Akaashi had sluggishly crept into the kitchen in search of his boyfriend.

“Not really. Try again” “Is it something I’m going to be able to eat in peace?” “Akaashi-San are you implying I would be s-” “Sugawara. I have to ask. Especially after the popcorn incident.”

The swat he receives from Sugawara was expected, but Akaashi can never resist teasing him, or bringing up past conversations to embarrass him. He figuratively has an entire book written already regarding their four months of dating and what makes Sugawara..well Sugawara.

When the pan comes out, at the same time that Sugawara begins to melt some butter, the reason for him looking so nice that morning dawns on him. They had only woken up with a thirty minute difference, but Sugawara’s hair was combed, his teeth brushed, the apron he’s wearing to cook has actually remained clean, and the socks are paired with the boxers to match. He planned the moment, like any other ‘surprise’ he doles out. He had probably practiced this a couple dozen times already to make sure it went smoothly.

Elegantly, and with a bit of flair, Sugawara poured a bit of batter into the pan once it was hot, twisting his wrist around to spread the thin layer evenly around. His hands work with ease, familiar with the tools, and of course, Akaashi notes how he turns to look at the time, mouthing the seconds to himself before flipping the crepe on the first try. The whole process takes less than three minutes, with Sugawara repeating the same steps for each crepe, his soft humming comfortably filling the space between them.

With a hand comfortably underneath his chin, Akaashi drinks in the moment, admiring the view until Sugawara slides a plate over with four crepes, perfectly folded, filled with the strawberries, and topped with whipped cream. His gaze is confident, expectant, with just a glimmer of nervousness, as he waits for Akaashi to take the first bite.

Akaashi makes him wait, letting the moment drag on as he savors the individual flavors, idly thinking about how much care and time Sugawara put into it. (And effort.) To impress him.

He swallows, licking some of the whipped cream off his lips, just for the benefit of Sugawara who can’t seem to keep his eyes off his mouth. It works, because he sees a twitch at the corner of his mouth. (Oh Sugawara, thinking something weird so early in the day.)

What is he supposed to say about the crepes?

What does Sugawara want him to say?

What does Koushi want to hear…

Akaashi leans in, enough to make Sugawara lean in as well, uncomfortably, across the counter.

The moment doesn’t call for words.