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“No,” Sae says when he feels Ryusei’s piercing gaze on him. He doesn’t need to look up from the book he’s currently reading in their living room to know that his boyfriend pouts the moment he says it.
“Sae-chan!” Ryusei whines and plops down on the couch next to him and instantly snuggles close. He lets his head rest on Sae’s shoulder and sighs dramatically loudly. “You don’t even know what I was about to say!” His boyfriend huffs like a child and pokes Sae into the sides.
Sae almost shrieks. “Because,” he begins and slaps Ryusei’s hand away from him, “I know that only stupid ideas come out of that mouth of yours,” Sae looks up from his book finally and meets his boyfriend’s gaze after all. Ryusei grins.
“Aww, Sae, baby,” he coos and Sae can’t help but roll his eyes. Ryusei proceeds to press a warm kiss against Sae’s cheeks and in one moment of pure unawareness, Ryusei pulls the book out of Sae’s hands. “Pay attention to me at least!” he says and throws the book on their tea table. “You haven’t spent time with me in forever!”
“Do you always have to be so dramatic?” Sae wants to hiss out but his fond tone gives him away easily. He guides Ryusei’s head into his lap and runs a loving hand through his boyfriend’s hair. Ryusei sighs contentedly and closes his eyes when Sae scratches his scalp just the way Ryusei loves it the most. He continues to do so for a while longer— they sit there, in the silence of their cozy living room, with just the clock ticking away in the background. At some point, Sae closes his eyes, too, hands merely playing with Ryusei’s pink tips now.
“Honeybun,” his boyfriend breaks their comfortable silence. “Oh, my sweet beloved,”
“Shut it,” Sae tells him and places a gentle hand over Ryusei’s mouth. He doesn’t budge even after his boyfriend licks the palm of his hand— he may have been startled and a little disgusted the first time but now, after this has already happened a few dozen times, Sae couldn't care less. “And the answer is still no,” Sae smiles slightly to himself when Ryusei attempts to whine again, sounds being muffled by Sae’s hand, however.
His boyfriend grumbles something inaudible and Sae’s smile widens. It may have taken some time, but now that he’s fully warmed up to Ryusei and his whirlwind personality— and to the fact that human touch can, in fact, feel absolutely warm and nice— he has no problem teasing Ryusei a little every once in a while. He’s the victim of Ryusei’s pranks all the time, so this is him evening things out.
He’s found to enjoy himself in the presence of his boyfriend. It’s like he can finally be his true self that he had to hide and suppress for years and for around half of his life. With Ryusei, Sae is finally able to enjoy things again and is finally able to relax again. With Ryusei, Sae could finally overcome his starvation for touch, too. He still doesn’t ask for a hug or a kiss— instead, those things just happen with Ryusei.
Sae is sure of it when he says that his boyfriend is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to him. Sae may have accomplished a lot of soccer achievements already and grows closer to his dream of becoming the best midfielder at a slow but steady pace, but soccer doesn’t fulfill him anymore as much as it used to when he was younger. He knows that soccer turned into a nightmare at some point but despite that, Sae could never hate or give it up.
Maybe he would’ve broken sooner or later, but with Ryusei in his life, there’s finally something to fill his heart to the brim again. With his boyfriend, Sae never feels hollow or empty. With his boyfriend, Sae never feels alone either. There’s always the pleasant presence of Ryusei next to him and nowadays, only thinking about his boyfriend makes Sae want to kiss him senseless, to spoil him rotten with breakfast in bed, or to hug him so tightly and never let go again.
“Alright, fine,” Sae giggles after Ryusei begins to kiss his hand up and down. From his knuckles to his wrist, from the back of it to the palm and back— over and over again. It tickles. “What’s so important that you even robbed me of my book?”
Almost instantly, Ryusei’s shit-eating grin is back being plastered across his face (which looks really, really kissable right now). “I’m glad I finally have your attention!” Sae wants to point out that his boyfriend has received his sole attention for the past minutes but he decides to just shake his head playfully. “Okay!” Ryusei sits up and makes himself comfortable in Sae’s lap again. “So, tomorrow is Halloween, right?”
“I won’t go to a costume party if that’s what you were going to ask—”
“Apapapa—” Ryusei talks over him and is quick to shush Sae with a finger against his lips. His boyfriend grins, “Let me finish talking, will you!” Sae merely rolls his eyes but still urges Ryusei to go on with a nod. “Perfect,” his boyfriend laughs, and yeah— Ryusei’s laugh is definitely the most beautiful thing he’s ever heard. Sae wants to record it and listen to it until eternity because he knows he’d never grow tired of it. Despite his wild demeanor, Ryusei is so gentle and loving, it makes Sae’s heart ache every time he thinks about it.
“I couldn’t forget the thing you told me last year, you know, that you’ve never gone trick or treating when you were younger?” Right, Sae did tell him that last year and he still remembers the utterly shocked and flabbergasted expression on Ryusei’s face. “So, I’ve been thinking,” his boyfriend continues and shifts back and forth in Sae’s lap, “that we should catch up on that!”
Ryusei wiggles his eyebrows and shoots Sae an expectant look. Though he doesn’t really know how to process this information, Sae is aware that he needs to answer with something. So he raises one of his eyebrows and snakes his arms around Ryusei’s abdomen, pulling him closer to feel the pleasant warmth radiating off of his boyfriend against him. “Really?” Sae asks and Ryusei grins eagerly.
“Yes ♪~” he singsongs and sticks his tongue out. It’s a habit and something he does every time Ryusei is hooked on something. Sae smiles up at him slightly and hums. “Well, okay,” he gives in because he wants to see where this conversation is going— though he’ll make sure to quickly put a stop to it when it goes into the wrong direction. (And that, ladies, gentlemen, and everything in between, is a big, fat lie. Sae has never been able to resist his boyfriend even if he doesn’t want to admit it. He can’t say he hates it either because that would just be another lie.)
“Enlighten me then,” Sae goes on. “How do you plan on catching up on this… cruel loss,” He doesn’t want to say anything but he already has a slight hunch— though he isn’t sure if that makes it any better, to be honest.
“Glad you asked,” Ryusei smiles and kisses Sae on the lips. “I got us costumes,” his boyfriend mumbles against his lips, and before Sae can break the kiss and ask what the fuck he means by that, Ryusei licks into his mouth and deepens the kiss. Sae can’t help but relax into it and melt against his boyfriend who just always tastes so good.
“Now that I have you wrapped around my finger,” Ryusei begins and pecks Sae on the lips once more, “I can continue to explain. What can I say!” Ryusei drifts off, however, “I’m mischievous like that,”
“For the love of god, please just stop talking,”
“Nooo,” his boyfriend whines and throws Sae the best pair of puppy eyes he’s got, “You love my voice though,”
“Get to the point already, Ryu,” Sae chuckles and his boyfriend huffs, yet grumbles a small ‘fine’ either way.
“As I already said, I got us costumes,” Ryusei starts again, and Sae hums suspiciously. “And I want to go trick or treating with you tomorrow,”
Yup, there it is. The apparent, glorious idea.
“Isn’t that a thing only kids do?” Sae asks warily and lets Ryusei draw soothing circles with his thumb on his hip. “I don’t even understand why you think you need to have gone trick or treating at least once in your life,” he says. “I know plenty of people who didn’t do that,”
“Sure, babycakes,” Ryusei counters, “because you know that many people personally. And besides! It’s because that’s like…a core memory you’re missing, a whole ‘nother hole in your childhood, I tell you!” And Sae bites his lips at that. He knows he didn’t have what others would call an ideal childhood. He was always busy practicing soccer and went abroad, too. Sae doesn’t know a lot about what it means to have a happy childhood…he was happy, or at least that’s what he thinks, but he can’t really decipher whether or not he had a great childhood. So the moment Ryusei got to know that, got to know that Sae apparently missed out on a lot of “cool stuff” and “core memories”, his boyfriend made it his personal mission to make him catch up on a lot of things.
Only last week, Ryusei convinced Sae to watch a famous kids' show that Sae had previously never even heard of— it was weird but quite amusing, if Sae’s being honest. Ryusei even made popcorn for them and commented on a lot of things which made the whole thing even more bearable.
“Come on,” Ryusei cups Sae’s cheeks lovingly and makes him look at him. “Pumpkin, munchkin,” Ryusei starts listing off a few of the pet names he has for his boyfriend and Sae can’t stop himself from flushing. “My beloved honeybun, my sweet, little mochi—”
“—Cut it out, Ryu—”
“—My precious baby and sugarplum!” Ryusei grins and suddenly starts to prep Sae’s face with hundreds of kisses. Sae squeezes his eyes shut because if he looks at his boyfriend’s eyes which are full of adoration and affection, he knows he’ll melt into a complete puddle right on their couch. Sae’s heart beats loudly in his chest and he wonders if Ryusei is able to hear it. At every place where his boyfriend kissed him, little fireworks erupt on his skin, making it tingle in the best and nicest way possible.
Sae has no idea how Ryusei can carry so much love around with him, how he’s so easy to give all his love away, and how he’s still not run out of it. Ryusei didn’t have the best childhood either and had some awful things happen to him, too; that much Sae knows. But despite that, his boyfriend is still the most caring person in the whole world. He gives the best advice and always knows what to say to get someone to calm down and make them feel safe again.
Sae wishes he could give Ryusei the same sometimes, to just shower him in love and compliments just like he knows Ryusei deserves. However, his boyfriend reassures him often enough that there’s no need. That Sae should go at his own pace because Ryusei knows exactly how hard it is for him to express his emotions and feelings properly, and because Ryusei knows how much he means to Sae anyway. Even with a lack of words, Sae shows his love in actions or little gestures— everyone shows love differently.
“Alright,” Sae gives in with a muffled voice since Ryusei is still cupping his cheeks and still pressing dozens of kisses all over him in between listing every possible pet name he’s ever used. “Fine,” Sae says and opens his eyes to find his boyfriend’s gaze already on him. “Don’t make me regret it, you demon,”
“Yes!” Ryusei cheers and grins from ear to ear before storming off immediately after. Seconds later, he comes back with a werewolf and a little red riding hood costume and holds them up proudly, his eyes shining brightly.
“I told you to not make me regret it,” Sae tells him and Ryusei waves him off.
“Hey! You haven’t even tried it on yet!” his boyfriend counters and oh god, just what has Sae gotten himself into?
He’s gotten himself into his new personal hell. Yup, that’s exactly what this is.
“You look so stunning,” Ryusei grins at him for the nth time that evening. The sun set an hour ago and the temperature from the relatively warm fall day is sinking rapidly. Sae shivers in his spot and watches his boyfriend lock the door to their little house after rolling his eyes. “Sexy even,” Ryusei adds. “I will eat you up later— ohh, I can’t wait!”
Sae slaps his arm and hisses out incomprehensible cuss words. His cheeks flush in a deep red and if Ryusei dares to make a “your cheeks are the same color as your costume” joke now, Sae swears he’s gonna kill him.
“Little red ridding hood got an attitude,” his boyfriend snickers and interlocks their gloved hands, pulling Sae along. “Can’t say I don’t like it,” Ryusei winks and Sae groans.
“You’re unbelievable,” he tells him. “If you keep being like that, I’ll turn around and go home,” Sae throws his boyfriend a stern look at which Ryusei can only pout.
“No way,” he grumbles, “you won’t be able to escape from me in that cute dress and awfully pretty stockings, you know? They’ll stay on later, by the way,” and really, Sae doesn’t need a further explanation as he attempts to turn around again. “Nu-uh!” Ryusei exclaims, “No take backsies! We’re at the first house already anyway!”
Sae sighs and straightens his dress and hood. He doesn’t say anything but Ryusei is already pulling him towards the doorstep and before Sae can stop him once and for all, his boyfriend has already rung the bell.
Moments later, an elderly woman opens the door. “Good evening, Hanako-san!” Ryusei happily greets and the bell at his collar jingles slightly. Despite living here for a few months already, Sae isn’t very familiar with the neighbors yet. He’s not the outgoing type nor is he eager to act like a social butterfly— in complete contrast to his extroverted boyfriend.
The old lady smiles gently up to him. “Oh, Shidou-kun,” she laughs. “I see you’ve dressed up occasionally and— oh!” then her eyes meet Sae’s and brighten. “You must be Itoshi-kun, right? Shidou has told me quite a bit about you already,” The old lady, Hanako, giggles and grabs the candy bowl that sits on a small wooden stool near the door. “Here you go, here you go,” she says and urges them to open their bags. “I can’t give you too much since all the other neighborhood kids will be coming later, too. You’re the first ones who pass by!”
“That’s alright. Right, sweet pea?” Ryusei asks and turns towards Sae to grin at him. “This is all about the experience anyway,”
“Right…”
“You should come over and say hello more often,” Hanako-san says and caresses Sae’s hand carefully. “My, Shidou-kun didn’t lie, look how handsome you are!”
“Tha—Thank you,” Sae flushes and pulls his hand back quickly. He may not be the best at making new acquaintances and friends but one thing is for sure: with the help of his boyfriend and his loose mouth and urge to talk about anything and anyone— which obviously also includes Sae himself— Sae may come out knowing much more about his neighbors than he bargained for.
The three of them say their goodbyes and the door to the old house next to theirs falls shut. “So?” Ryusei asks and takes Sae’s hand into his. “How was it?” Sae squeezes it and hums.
“Just fine,” he says. “Does this count as filling the hole in my childhood?”
“Boo,” his boyfriend twirls him around, making Sae’s red dress spin all prettily. “That was only just the beginning,” he goes on and drags Sae to the next house. “We have a whole neighborhood to go through first!”
The night sky shimmers above them as Ryusei and he ring the bell of every single door they come across, asking for candy and sweets at every house. The moon illuminates the otherwise dark night and makes the silent surroundings feel extra special. Sae shivers a little when a cold October breeze ruffles through his hair and makes his thin costume flutter in the wind.
Ryusei smiles lovingly. Their bags were filling at a slow pace but that isn’t something he cares about. Even when Sae isn’t showing it actively, Ryusei knows his boyfriend enjoys himself; at least quite a little. His eyes carry the softness that’s usually only reserved for the privacy of their own home. His green eyes shimmer so beautifully in the moonlight, like shiny emeralds, and Ryusei thinks that he could stare into them forever.
“Why are you staring?” Sae asks and flicks his boyfriend’s fake werewolf ears.
“You look so tasty in that outfit,” Ryusei grins after wetting his lips. “Let me eat you,” he says, “we need to get fully into character, Sae-chan!”
Sae winces and pushes his boyfriend away from him. Ryusei comes back like a fly, however, and attaches himself to his boyfriend's arm, throwing him puppy eyes. “Eat the candy instead,” Sae tells him and doesn't even spare him a glance. “There's plenty of it here,” he waves his own bag back and forth in the air.
Ryusei merely huffs. “So mean,” he wipes away a fake tear before pulling Sae to the next house. “My babycakes hates me,”
“Oh, for the love of god,” Sae actually laughs and squeezes his boyfriend's hand. Ryusei squeezes back.
These are tiny gestures that only Sae and Ryusei know what they truly mean and hold. Only they are aware of the endless and undying love it implies, the trust and the adoration. Only they know about the affection and reassurance.
Lingering touches, the shimmer in each other’s eyes. Loud and frantic heartbeats when the other laughs despite hearing the sound every day, and butterflies in their stomach when the other utters a soft ‘I love you’ against their lips. Ryusei will never get tired of Sae’s smiles that are only reserved for him and he knows Sae likes all the pet names Ryusei has for him and he also knows that Sae appreciates his presence— appreciates the unfiltered and honest treatment Ryusei gives him.
A few hours later, they’re both finally on their way back home. Their bags are well filled— not completely full, but that’s fine, neither of them is a heavy candy eater. The clear night sky has gotten a few clouds that hide the bright moon behind them every once in a while. They’re lucky at the moment though, the moonlight illuminates the empty streets of their neighborhood, making this last walk feel especially nice.
A few kids run past them and yell “cool costumes!” at them and Ryusei doesn’t even get the chance to compliment them back with how fast they disappear into the surrounding darkness. He sighs and tightens the grip he has on Sae’s hand. Their intertwined hands swing back and forth between them and a cold breeze ruffles through their hair. The bell on Ryusei’s collar jingles lightly and Sae’s red dress flows all prettily.
“Hey, Ryu,” Sae starts and directs his boyfriend’s attention to him. Ryusei gazes at him with that smiling look on his face and Sae’s cheeks flush, palms immediately getting sweaty despite him feeling quite cold. “Thanks for today,” he tells Ryusei and throws him a smile, too. “Didn’t think I’d enjoy it so much. But I did,”
Ryusei gasps and instantly throws his arm around Sae’s shoulders to pull him close against him. “Oh, pumpkin!” he grins from ear to ear and Sae’s heart fills with love again. Ryusei may feel fulfilled now since his plan of letting Sae catch up on lost childhood memories worked, but Sae feels just as fulfilled. He never says anything but he loves to make his boyfriend happy; no matter how. Sometimes he gets out of his comfort zone and tries to put his emotions and feelings into words but sometimes, just small reassurances and ‘thank you’s are enough, too.
“I’m so glad,” Ryusei grabs his other hand and twirls Sae once before pulling him fully against his chest this time. Sae yelps in surprise— Ryusei always twirls him around in the privacy of their living room when his boyfriend demands another slow dance, but when he does it so suddenly, much less in public, Sae isn’t prepared for it.
He widens his eyes and stares up at the shimmering eyes of his boyfriend. “Did you really enjoy yourself?” Ryusei asks and this time, not the obnoxious smile makes its way to his face, but the small, earnest one.
“I don’t lie, Ryu,” Sae replies and pecks his boyfriend’s warm lip.
Ryusei hums and snakes his arms around Sae’s waist. They’re standing in the middle of the sidewalk, maybe a block away from their house, under the dim street lamp and sparkly night sky. The cold around them long forgotten with how close their bodies are pressed against each other, they share another slow kiss.
Their breaths fog in the cool autumn air. “That’s good then,” Ryusei mumbles against Sae’s lips before closing the distance once again. They can never get enough of each other— can never get enough of the other’s touch and taste. At the moment, as they’re standing in the empty and dark neighborhood, they feel as if they’re the only ones left on earth.
I wouldn’t mind it, both think as their cold cheeks redden and their heartbeats pick up again from sharing another loving gaze, I could stand here forever.
“Let’s go home then, it’s getting late,” Ryusei says and slides his hand into Sae’s, squeezing it tightly before pulling his boyfriend along. When they lock eyes once more, Ryusei grins at his boyfriend and presses a kiss on his soft, red cheek. “My darling boyfriend,” he laughs. “Next year we will go again!”
Sae wants to roll his eyes playfully again, wants to tease his boyfriend with a ‘what makes you say that?’ but decides against it last minute. Something about this current mood between them feels so domestic and loving— Sae doesn’t want to break it with a joke. He wants to feel the warmth radiating off of his boyfriend, wants to see his happy smile instead of a cute pout, wants to keep hearing him laugh instead of huff dramatically.
A smile creeps on Sae’s face. “Sure,” he then says before burying his face into his white scarf. “Let’s go trick or treating next year again,” Ryusei hums a happy melody as he leads them home. His arm stays wrapped around Sae’s slender waist. His boyfriend always fills the silence between them so easily and, Sae thinks, he definitely needs to kiss his boyfriend again once the door to their home falls shut.
He loves Ryusei so damn much, his heart swells uncontrollably at the mere thought of it. And maybe, he wonders, maybe the dress he’s currently wearing will come in handy after all. Ryusei will have to be the judge of that, however.