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Kazuki watches half-heartedly as Miri plays with her dolls. Another partly successful day for the books as he sinks into the couch. He listens for the shower to shut off— unfortunately, Rei didn’t have it so easy during their last mission. Kazuki is still reeling over the accident, he thought Rei wouldn’t make it out alive. There’s only been one other time Kazuki thought he would lose Rei. Shivering Kazuki leans back against the couch. Miri hums softly to her dolls as she plays. She asked many questions when they picked her up from Kyu’s. Kazuki forgot how vigilant children can be, and she noticed instantly that Rei wasn’t at his side. He tried desperately for her to come with him so they could get home. She stomped her tiny feet until she was red in the face.
Miri wouldn’t take no for an answer. She threw a tantrum in Kyu’s when Rei wasn’t the one picking her up. Lately, Miri has been attached to the hip with Rei. Kazuki admits now that he was running low on patience with Miri. He should have talked to her and not at her. In the moment all he cared about was getting Rei and Miri home safely. Miri hasn’t spoken a word to him since they’ve arrived home. Her tiny hand wrapped around Rei’s pinky as they rode the elevator up. Kazuki’s arm rested around Rei’s weakened body.
Kazuki prays to whoever is listening never to hear Rei’s painful wheezing again. The wheezing repeats loudly in his head as he waits. Miri poked and podded in as they impatiently waited for the slow lift to usher them up. Rei wouldn’t budge while Kazuki shook his head. Miri nearly knocked Rei to the ground when they arrived home. Kazuki didn’t mean to raise his voice at the young girl. The glare he received from Rei didn’t help either. They left him alone in the hallway as Rei stumbled to the bathroom and Miri to the living room.
Kazuki drapes his arm over his eyes as he leans against the back of the sofa. His nerves stung too high. His chest aches as he waits for Rei to finish. He needs to check Rei’s wounds, he knows Rei can do it, but Kazuki needs to see. His left foot Tomorrow is Saturday Miri doesn’t have daycare, and Rei and he do not have missions for two weeks. Miri and Rei requested pancakes in the morning as long as Kazuki could sleep an extra thirty minutes or even an hour. The water finally shuts off in the downstairs bathroom. Jumping to his feet, Kazuki cautiously moves to the door. Listening, he hears Rei’s soft grunts behind the door. Blood rushing in his ears, his knuckles gently tap against the door.
“Rei, c’mon let me in, it’s me,” Kazuki lightly says, straining his hearing.
“I got it, I’m almost done,” Rei mutters close to the door.
Kazuki leans his forehead against the door, sighing as he listens to Rei behind the door.
“Rei, I’ll break down the door if you don’t open it. Let. Me. In,” Kazuki repeats.
Rei huffs on the other side of the door as he unlocks the door. Kazuki's fingers shake as he pushes the door open, sliding in, and locking it behind them. Miri already saw too much on their way up this evening, she doesn’t need to see Rei in this state.
Turning, Kazuki finds Rei slumped against the sink, clutching his side.
“It’s a flesh wound, I d-don’t need you to take care of me,” Rei coughs, hunching over holding tightly at his side.
“Why don’t you shut up and sit down, I’ve stitched you up enough times. This time we have a five-year-old in the house, we need to be careful. She isn’t going to enjoy that you can’t pick her up,” Kazuki pushes away from the door, crouching down while opening the side sink cabinet.
Rei doesn’t respond, but Kazuki knows he won this battle. Smiling triumphally to himself, Kazuki pulls the first aid kit out placing it on the sink.
Glancing over, Kazuki gazes over Rei’s body. Kazuki has been living with Rei for over a year now. He has seen Rei shirtless multiple times— he shouldn’t be eyeing his best friend like a piece of candy. He’s in his mid-twenties for fuck sake, he shouldn’t be oogling his best friend. Rei is his best friend— nothing more, nothing less. Homies are allowed to check out their friends. Hell, Rei has told Kazuki countless times he looks hot in a suit. Okay, he hasn’t said those words exactly. But along the lines, Rei has told Kazuki he’s attractive.
You stupid idiot, patch him up and leave before you get a hard-on you can’t explain! Kazuki shakes his head, popping open the first aid kit.
Fumbling around in the kit, Kazuki pulls out the gauze, a sterilized needle, and thread, gloves. They have done this many of times, cleaning each other up, suturing, and surviving together. His fingers shake, but his mind is clear. Adrenaline pumps through his veins with anxiety mingling underneath.
“What’s taking you so long? You’re never this hesitant,” Rei questions, leaning back for Kazuki.
Swallowing, Kazuki suddenly feels like a parched man. A man who hasn’t had a tall glass of water in days. His throat aches as he watches Rei’s abdominal muscles move. The bullet was a through and through, Rei’s definitely feeling it. Glancing up, Kazuki watches Rei’s throat bob as he swallows. His teeth clench as he white knuckles the sink. His breathing shallows as he breathes through his nose.
I’m going to hell, I’m going to hell, I’m going to hell
“I know you’re against pain medication, but Rei, please I’m begging. Take the fucking pain meds, I can’t stand seeing you in pain,” Kazuki snaps the gloves on.
Rei’s silence passes slowly, while wetness trickles down his face, his neck. A single droplet slides down his neck, pooling in his collarbones. Gulping, Kazuki reaches for the pain medication, popping the top open. After Miri moved in with them Kazuki and Rei stocked up on any children's medication they thought they would need. Miri’s nasty cold left Rei and him both traumatized. Rei holds out his hand waiting for Kazuki to drop the pills into his hand.
“You packed the wound, right?” Kazuki asks while putting the pills back into the first aid kit.
Rei grunts while swallowing the pills dry, leaning heavily against the sink. Kazuki kneels between Rei’s legs before his thoughts register. Blowing his bangs out of his eyes, Kazuki cups Rei’s hips turning him to face him. Gently patting Rei’s hip, Kazuki starts undressing the bedraggled bandages.
“Kazuki…” Rei huffs heavily.
Kazuki looks up, freezing when his gaze meets icy blue eyes staring intently. His heart slams in his chest, his hands sweating in the gloves as he grips Rei’s slim waist. His tongue is thick in his mouth as he understands where he sits on his knees. Steadying his breathing, Kazuki flashes his signature smile.
“I’ll be done quick, then we can go to bed. All of us, in my bed. Miri requested we all sleep together and I think it would be best for us,” Kazuki rushes.
Rei’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink, sucking in his bottom lip between his teeth. Turning his gaze, Rei looks away staring at the tiled wall. Kazuki quickly works through the gauze and suturing both bullet wounds. Kazuki works on autopilot, working in silence as he shifts uncomfortably. His knees are too old for kneeling on tiled flooring. He is too old to be this hot and bothered between Rei’s knees.
They are friends.
They are best friends.
They are coworkers.
Rei has been Kazuki’s rock since they moved in together. Not once has Rei asked questions about his past life. Listening quietly to Kazuki’s endless ranting about missions, grocery runs, and mundane life. The blonde shouldn’t be dreaming about his best friend naked. He’s a sinner. He’s been sinning most of his life. The inferno in him sings as his thoughts dance and tangle with the devil. He’s not religious, but he believes he’s dancing with the devil. His cock stirs in his pants as he thinks about Rei’s hard muscles under his working hands. He thinks about how he’s positioned between Rei’s legs, his fingers tangling in his head. Soft groans spill from Rei’s candy-red lips as Kazuki works him–
“Rei papa, Kauzki papa?” Miri’s shrill voice fills the stifling bathroom.
“In a second, Miri!” Kazuki calls back, mentally kicking himself.
Suturing his best friend’s wound is not sexy. He shouldn’t be popping a hard-on over his best friend. It’s been too long, it’s a dry spell— that’s it! He hadn’t been out since the mission before Miri came home with them. He needs to get out, he needs fresh air. He needs to stop thinking about his best friend under him, over him, in him.
Wrapping the wound, Kazuki pats Rei’s thigh mentally cursing himself. He knew Rei’s thighs were toned, but soft.
Squishy.
They would make stunning earmuffs—
Stumbling to his feet, Kazuki turns his body to hide his tenting pants. Stripping off the gloves, tossing them into the waste bin. He quickly washes his hands in the sink, scrubbing under his nails, washing away his thoughts.
You dirty sinner, The worshipper whispers in his ear.
“Kazuki,” Rei tries again.
“Don’t rush getting yourself together, I’ll keep Miri preoccupied!” Kazuki calls over his shoulder, hastily unlocking the bathroom door. Slipping through the crack, Kazuki reaches for Miri. Scooping her up, he carries her to the kitchen.
“Is Rei papa okay?” Miri asks softly. Her big brown eyes watering as Kazuki bounces her on her hip. Swallowing his ungrateful thoughts, he plasters on his biggest smile.
“You know Rei papa, sweetheart. He’s strong as an ox! He’s getting dressed now, he needed help getting his sweatshirt on. Sometimes even grown-ups need help,” Kazuki winks, blowing a raspberry on her cheek.
“Come here, munchkin. Let’s go lay in, Kazuki Papa’s bed while he showers,” Rei walks up behind him.
Jumping in his skin, Kazuki blushes furiously. No one can hear his thoughts, no one can read his thoughts. Rei gently pulls Miri from his arms, his wet hair pulled back into a low bun. His cheeks are a cute rosy red most likely from his shower. Huffing quietly, Miri snuggles into his neck, a soft smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“Go shower, the bathroom is clean. Take some time for yourself,” Rei mutters, hugging Miri closer.
Kazuki watches as they climb the stairs, Miri’s pudgy, little fingers tangling in Rei’s wet hair. Smiling to himself, Kazuki makes a mental note to cut Rei’s hair this weekend. Slumping against the kitchen counter, Kazuki drops his head in his hands. These thoughts have been plaguing him since the funeral. Since burying Miri’s father Rei has been weighing on Kazuki’s mind. His hands, his voice, his body— Kazuki groans as his cock twitches in his pants.
“Kazuki,” Rei calls from the top of the stairs.
“Yes?” Kazuki squeaks, jumping.
A soft chuckle graces Kazuki’s ears, he strains his hearing. It could be a trick of his mind, he hasn’t heard Rei chuckle in weeks.
“Don’t be too long, Miri’s tired,” Rei calls, humor lacing his words.
“I won’t, I’ll be up soon,” Kazuki smiles.
Kazuki listens carefully for Rei’s soft footsteps padding away to his bedroom. Sighing, his shoulder slumps as he thinks about Miri and Rei snuggling into his sheets.
“Fuck,” Kazuki mutters, shaking his head.
***
Kazuki stares at the ceiling as Miri’s elbow jabs him in the ribs. Miri fell asleep as soon as Rei tucked her in. Rei struggled to keep his eyes open but waited for Kazuki to fall into bed. Freshly washed, changed, and calmed down from earlier. The blonde sighs quietly as he adjusts Miri’s elbow even though she’ll move it back.
“I can hear you thinking from here,” Rei softly says.
Kazuki freezes, but huffs as he turns his head. His room is dark, but the moon slips in from the curtains. Kazuki can’t see Rei’s face but he feels Rei’s gaze.
“I’m thinking about earlier,” Kazuki answers just as quietly.
Rei hums as he turns to his back, adjusting Miri as she flops to her back as well. After the first night of sleeping together, they invested in a larger bed. It didn’t matter though, Miri would force them closer as the night progressed.
“It was a clear mission, I got careless. But you were there,” Rei sighs, pulling the blanket closer around them.
You were there.
You were there.
“If you weren’t there Kazuki, I wouldn’t be here right now in bed with you and Miri. You acted quickly, you did what you were supposed to do. I’m glad I have you, I couldn’t imagine you coming home without me to Miri,” Rei finishes, yawning.
Kazuki is stunned speechless, it has been eons since he has heard Rei thank him. He gasps softly as Rei snorts. He has missed the young man’s companionship. They haven’t drifted apart but haven’t had late-night talks since Miri joined the picture. Rei’s little quirks have been masked since he doesn’t know how to act around a child. He’s just a child himself in most ways. Reminding him to pick up after himself, eat his vegetables, and pull his weight. Some days are easy, some days are hard. Every day they are improving.
“Don’t seem so shocked. Miri is in daycare and they have been working on manners. Well… we’ve been working on manners,” Rei huffs, shuffling in the sheets.
“Rei Papa… Kazuki Papa,” Miri whines in her sleep.
Holding his breath, Kazuki and Rei wait for her to settle. Kazuki moves his hand to brush Miri’s hair off her forehead. His fingers graze rough deft fingers. Rei’s fingers hesitantly caress Kazuki’s fingers. Kazuki counts to ten, as he eases forward tangling their fingers. His heart skips in his chest as Rei hums softly, his fingers tightening around Kazuki’s. Rei runs warmer than Kazuki, but tonight his touch isn’t scalding. It’s warm, it’s homey, it’s Rei.
“Thanks, Rei,” He whispers as sleep pulls him in.
“If only you weren’t such a crowd,” Kazuki hears, but he isn’t sure. He hasn’t slept in days plus he promised pancakes in the morning. He has no reason to be a crowd. Rei would never call him a crowd.
Unless.