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The street was silent, no one ever was out this late to begin with even on the busiest holidays. But that's what made the nights better, the utter silence and peace was perfect.
The wind was cold and blew past the two, Minato tilted his head down while Ryoji audibly let out a dramatic shiver.
"Quite a cold night to sneak out, huh?" Ryoji spoke, his usual smile not on his face despite trying to be playful. Minato could only nod in response, the worry starting to eat his heart whole.
Something was wrong with Ryoji. He was so, so sad, and Minato couldn't figure out why. He knew it wasn't his fault, Ryoji was fine with his silence and his subtle affection. But something was bothering him, and Minato was going to grab whatever it was by the scruff of the neck and beat its ass.
Once the two made it to the small park, Minato quickly climbed up the small stairs and slid into the small tunnel on his stomach. He placed his bag down with his chin on it, Ryoji placed his scarf in a bundle and rested his chin on it.
God, he looked so sad. If he were a dog his tail would be between his legs and his ears down. His eyebrows slightly knitted together and his eyes looking down unfocused out the tunnel window.
I wish I could find words to help you
Minato stared at Ryoji in thought, as if he heard his sentence, Ryoji looked up with a soft smile.
"It's okay, I feel better just being with you Mina" Ryoji spoke gently, reaching a hand over and holding Minato's hand.
Do you want to talk about it?
Minato's eyes always gave away his thoughts to Ryoji, the brunettes smile faded as he sighed softly.
"I feel… out of place, I can't explain it. I love being with you, I love holding you and kissing you.. but I understand you more than myself, and I don't know why. You're the only thing in my thoughts, but the more I think about it, I don't think I know who I am.. like I've just been with you this whole time.. it's strange right? I cannot wrap my mind around it.."
Minato didn't know what to say. He was feeling things, but it was definitely not confusion or pity. The way Ryoji lit up his life, the way Ryoji understood him better than anyone ever could, the feelings he got that felt nostalgic and suffocating.
I feel it too.
"It.. it makes me want to cry.. like I'm hurting you somehow, just being with you." Ryoji's voice was a whisper, speaking his thoughts to himself quietly.
Minato leaned over his backpack, and gently kissed Ryoji's nose. Ryoji sat up with wide eyes,
"Why did you-"
Minato kissed his beauty mark, watching the way Ryoji's eyes lit up as he continued to place gentle pecks around his face. Ryoji accepted his fate, enjoying the feeling of Minato's gentle lips against his skin. The feeling was liberating, grounding him back to the boy he loved dearly.
Each kiss made his heart leap, his body instinctively melting against Minato's soft hands on his cheeks as he pressed their foreheads together.
"You're.. Ryoji. Kind, dumb, lovable Ryoji.. with kind eyes.. and a big heart, you just.. aren't sure what to do with it," Minato spoke softly, swiping his thumb against Ryoji's cheek. "But there's nothing wrong with that.."
Ryoji bit his lip, closing his eyes as he tried to steady his breathing. All the utterly consuming sadness had washed over into a more tender, overwhelming feeling. He wanted to cry, but not because he was upset, it was because he loved a blue haired boy who was gently cradling his face inside a playground tunnel.
"I… thank you, Mina.. I really needed that.." Ryoji finally, for the first time of the night, smiled warmly at Minato. The swell in Minato's heart began to show on his face, Ryoji loved it when he made that face. No one else would've noticed the slight shift of detail in his expression, except for Ryoji; he could only describe Minato's expression as love struck, relieved, happy.
"..a smile looks better on you." Minato spoke after a long moment of them staring, making Ryoji laugh.
"That's my line!"
The two lovers fell back into their usual flow, laying head to head as Ryoji talked and Minato listened. It was nonsense, as normally what Ryoji would discuss with him. Just anything to talk and see Minato listen so passionately, or maybe it was the adrenaline of his selectively mute lover vocally telling him exactly what he needed to hear.
It didn't matter to Ryoji, he was happy now. The Anxiety tucked away in a box and handed it to Minato, who punched, kicked, and shot that damned thing. Neither couldn't be happier.
They could be warmer though..
"Okay, sneaking out time is over! It's way too cold!" Ryoji tried to sit up, slamming his head on the roof of the tunnel with a grunt. He pouted, before he heard Minato burst out laughing, not just a small giggle but a full blown laugh.
"You're-- god you're so stupid sometimes!" He spoke through laughter while gathering his bag. Ryoji couldn't help but smile wide at his smaller lover.
Maybe being a bit of an idiot has its perks.
The walk home was filled with whispers of various topics and giggles. The temperature dipped to nearly freezing, Minato trembling with each gust of wind that went by. Ryoji swiftly held Minato's trembling fingers between his own hands. Their icy fingers weren't giving off much warmth, but the sentiment and warm feeling in their chests was satisfying enough.
Ryoji frankly, didn't mind the cold. It felt enduring, more human to feel the goosebumps on his skin and the blood rushing up to his cheeks. Minato seemed to absolutely hate the cold. He didn't like summer, either. He preferred the spring, maybe it was the nice colors or just the not too cold not too hot weather he enjoyed. But winter, in his opinion, sucked.
Halfway through the walk, Ryoji wrapped his scarf around Minato which helped significantly for his trembling body. Junpei always said 'you only get so cold cause you're so small!' To which Minato smacked him upside the head for saying.
The smell of Ryoji with every breath made his heart squeeze, even though Ryoji was right next to him and holding his hand, it felt like he was even closer this way.
After some climbing and quiet giggling, the two made it to Minato's window. Minato climbed in and quickly turned back to face Ryoji.
"I'll head back to my dorm, I'll see you tomorrow okay?" Ryoji smiled as he placed a gentle kiss on Minato's forehead, pulling away to find the boy pouting.
"Ehh? What is it?" Ryoji tilted his head slightly in confusion. Minato reached for his sleeve and tugged him slightly towards him.
Stay.
"Stay the night? Mitsuru almost blew my head off last time! Do you really want to take that chance?"
Minato's pout didn't falter, and neither did his gaze. He tugged Ryoji's sleeve again towards him. Who can say no to a face like that?
"Okay okay fine.. I'll hide under the covers then, but I need to borrow some clothes!" Ryoji climbed in quietly, tip-toeing to the closet as Minato looked through his shirts and pajama pants. Ryoji sighed contentedly at how warm his room was, everything smelling like jasmine and lavender. It was a very nice combination for such a lovely person, Ryoji thought to himself.
Minato handed Ryoji one of his black band shirts with dark blue sweatpants.
"Ohh Mina dressing me up, wanna take my clothes off and dress me up like a doll too?" Ryoji was swiftly smacked on the side of his head, covering his mouth to stifle the laugh.
"Joke! It was a joke!" He whispered frantically as Minato grumbled with a red face.
Minato took off his jacket as he went to find another shirt. Ryoji unbuttoned his shirt slowly as he watched Minato, a suddenly devious thought coming to his mind. He was never very good on impulse control.
As soon as Minato's uniform button up came off, Ryoji swiftly placed his cold hands on his waist. Minato squeaked and smacked Ryoji across the face with the shirt in hand, losing his grip as the shirt flinging across the room right into the lamp and knocking it against the wall with a loud thud following a crash on the floor.
The boys stared at the lamp with their mouths agape, footsteps immediately from the room over getting louder as they began making their way to Minato's room. Minato quickly sped over to put a shirt on, putting a finger to his lips to tell Ryoji to be quiet, who had his mouth covered with both hands to stifle his laughter.
"Nii-San? Is everything okay? I heard something break.." Ken spoke tiredly from the door. Minato shushed Ryoji silently as he opened the door to peek his head out with a nod. He could hear soft shuffling of clothes on the other side of his room.
"You aren't hurt?" Minato shook his head, suddenly feeling warmth against his back.
"Ken-kun! Hello-" Minato put a hand on Ryoji's face and shoved him back, his face was bright red as he looked back at Ken who had an all too knowing expression.
"..well that explains that." he spoke as he chuckled. "I won't tell Mitsuru-senpai, but at least try to be quieter." He said directly to Ryoji.
"Yes sir.." Ryoji replied reluctantly, like a dog who got caught in the trash. Ken waved bye to the boys as he returned to his room. Minato quietly shut the door and turned with a death glare to his taller boyfriend.
"Sorry sorry! I wanted to say hi to Ken-" Minato pointed to the bed, disciplining him with no words. Ryoji playfully frowned as he moved closest to the wall.
Minato quietly moved the shattered lamp into a pile, too lazy to clean it up right now, then sliding basketball shorts on and moving into bed with Ryoji.
"I'm taping you to the closet next time." Minato spoke calmly, the scowl still on his face.
"I'm so-rry.. please forgive me!" He pulled Minato close by the waist and wrapped his arms around him. Minato sighed as he wrapped himself around Ryoji, his own form of forgiveness.
"Thank you for tonight.. it meant a lot" Ryoji whispered softly, feeling Minato tangle their legs together while rubbing Ryoji's back. The warmth from one another consuming them.
Minato fell asleep first, which was to be expected; giving Ryoji time to quietly admire his lover, gently petting his hair before cuddling close to him. He was content, happy. Maybe tomorrow they can stargaze again.
Just with thicker jackets this time.