Not that it was a surprise to Tamaki-- taking history into account, sharing a space with him had always been somewhat of a struggle, and despite his best efforts to grow up and improve some of his messier lifestyle choices, there was always something to bicker about. Whether it was a single food wrapper laid around, dirty clothes on the couch, his diet that consisted of nothing but pudding for a while now, or not making his bed... Sougo was on top of it all and ready to give him a gentle scolding.
If only that were the hard part, though. Sure, Tamaki could appreciate it if Sougo would get off his back every so often, but at the end of the day, he'd take all of that over not being with him another minute-- The issue was something far worse, something that could disrupt their sense of normalcy (as normal as things could be in Lunatia, to begin with), something that if Tamaki were to bring to the surface... it might change their promise to always be MEZZO" no matter what for good.
In the time he had spent by himself, Tamaki had a lot of time to think. About home, about Sougo, about family, about Sougo, about being an idol, about Sougo... needless to say, Sougo came up a lot in his mind. Thoughts about him just snuck their way into his mind in the most sudden of ways: if he wasn't overdoing it with work, if he ate properly, if he missed him, if he still had that gentle smile, the same crinkle in his eye when he'd smile at him, the same change of pitch in his voice when he'd call his name-- you know, just the normal things you'd think about when someone you've been with it pretty much every day for a while is suddenly gone. However, there would be times where it would be unbearable, and Tamaki always found himself at a loss on how to deal with them properly.
Until now, his mooncycle had been manageable. All he needed to do was hole up in his room for a few days, deal with it, and when it passed, then he was good to go. With Sougo around it was a whole other game. Tamaki might not be the brightest candle, but he grasps the concepts of mooncycles enough to know that Sougo has one too, just like does everyone else does in this place. As for which one it was and how that affected him in return, well... that was uncharted territory. They've been lucky until now, just seeking privacy in those moments and trying to ride it out without bumping into each other (that was the magic of MEZZO", complementing each other so well), but the same couldn't be said in present time. There was... a certain sense of dread lingering-- danger, even, an inexplicab-- okay, alright, Tamaki was horny and it was far too risky to feel air become so thick with each one of his senses detecting that Sougo, wherever he may be in the house, was dealing with the same type of problem.
There were two solutions to this problem: - Approach Sougo (no) -Go for a run and hope it'll cool him off ( Still sucks, but the better option here )
And with that, Tamaki runs. He's been running, metaphorically and physically for hours now to no end in the hope of clearing his mind, but as sunrise came, he has no choice but to come to terms with his frustrations and turn on his heel to head back home. If he can make a quick run for the shower and then lock himself up in his room away from Sougo, all that would be left was to play the waiting game until it was safe to face him again.
Or so he had hoped.
Upon opening the door, the object of his-- dreams? nightmares? dreams? fantasies? desires? was laying right on their couch, most likely passed out from overworking. In a way, it'd be endearing to think that Sougo was also riddled with what to do with his own thoughts of Tamaki (wishful thinking), but all of that is nothing but a light whisper in the back of Tamaki's mind, while the thumping in his heart hammered through his entire body. This was bad, the last thing he wanted was to run into Sougo sleeping like some ethereal beauty, and while he could just sneak past and just make a beeline for his room, his feet led him to his partner.
Cute. Pretty. Handsome. Unfair. It is, so unfair how much Sougo drove him insane right now. Extremely unfortunate how he can't help himself from hovering over him and staring intently at his face, the shadow cast by lashes, the curve of his nose, his lips, his lips, his lips, his lips, his lips.... hm. Well, there should be no harm to try and kiss him if he's sleeping, right? For one, he wouldn't know, and second point... they must both be low on Chroma, given the circumstances, so technically, this is a favor he's doing to the both of them.
It's for all the same reasons, really - their rooms in the dorm back home had been beside each other since the day they moved in, and they've shared enough hotel rooms by now to know how they fare in the same room as well. If Sougo hadn't been offered his own room with a door he can shut and lock, he would have needed more time to consider taking up Tamaki's offer to move in together. But the choice was only natural, and in no time at all, every day felt so much brighter. In so many ways, Tamaki was like a light that always seemed to appear when things were at their most bleak.
Some things he'd expected, like Tamaki consistently leaving his belongings around and forgetting to turn off the lights when he left the room. Sougo has just come to accept that those are integral parts of Tamaki's personality, and as long as he's putting effort in to be considerate, he doesn't need to be scolded every time he leaves his dirty socks crumpled by the front door. But at the same time, the unexpected creeps in far too often - this world is vastly different from home, and that's never more clear than when the moon cycles come into play.
The full Iris cycle isn't that difficult to navigate around, given that he and Tamaki understand their respective circumstances and just stay in their rooms as much as possible. But right now, with the slim crescent of Iris in the sky more than enough to keep him cautiously closed away in his room until the moon has passed, it's nothing short of maddening to know that Tamaki is undoubtedly experiencing his own effects in the next room over.
The more there is on Sougo's mind, the easier it is to fall deeply into work. It's almost laughably easy to waste away the hours of Iris' hold through music, carefully crafted melodies and arpeggios drowning out the sense of want thrumming steadily in the back of his mind. The hours pass quickly as his focus becomes more intense, and before long, the morning light filtering in through his window snaps Sougo out of his stupor. Ah... What time is it? When was the last time he stood up, much less actually ate something? How does he keep doing this?!
Well, there's no time like the present, is there? Forcing down a yawn, Sougo saves his work before blearily dragging himself to the kitchen, stretching as he walks to turn on the coffee pot. Tamaki is never awake this early, so it's the most opportune time to make a cup of coffee and get something to eat. The room really does feel so empty without Tamaki here... but rather than dwell on the person he's been trying so hard to get his mind off of, Sougo reclines on the couch, briefly closing his eyes. The beeping of the coffee pot will surely wake him up when it's finished, so resting here for a few minutes won't hurt...
Really, he should have known better.
Even from behind closed eyelids, the room seems slightly darker than expected when Sougo comes to, like clouds have moved in... But blearily opening his eyes makes it abundantly clear that the shadow cast over him is quite literal. The colour of the hair that falls around his face and brushes his cheeks makes it clear that the person hovering over him is Tamaki, eyes closed and leaning in almost uncomfortably close, and--
...Leaning in? Over him? Tamaki? The last dregs of sleep instantly dissipate into nothing, and unable to process exactly what's happening, all Sougo can do is look up at him with wide eyes as his breath is swiftly stolen from his lungs.
Tamaki Yotsuba, age 18, is unmistakably leaning in to kiss him, and as much as this spells danger, it's honestly one of the sweetest things that Sougo's ever seen.]
[ Tamaki Yotsuba, age 18, was indeed leaning in to kiss Sougo. However, that didn't mean that it would happen any time soon, if ever. All that effort to hype himself up and justify his need to see just how warm and soft Sougo would feel against his mouth crumbles at his fingertips with the realization that it really was just that easy to accomplish. Too easy, actually-- and if life experience had taught him anything, it's that anything easy always comes at a price.
Would that price be worth it? Absolutely. This was a once in a lifetime chance handed to him upon the gods of the moon or whatever they are and he was not about to waste it. His body was NOT receiving the messages his brain tried to send him, though, and it reduced Tamaki's entire being into this pathetic, frozen lump of meat with dramatically puckered lips and eyes sealed shut, merely inches away from Sougo.
This was impossible. Or-- maybe it wasn't? No, it definitely was. Unless...
Alright, time to run the math in his head. Sougo was sleeping anyway, so there was no need to rush into this like some mindless teenager. He is an adult that makes adult decisions now, and he is going to treat this in an adult-like way. As adults do. Just an adult hovering over his friend-partner-cru--no--roomate that he is very much trying to kiss. ]
Mmnngh...
[ The honest, morally correct thing would be not to do it. It removes the embarrassment of having to explain why he would kiss Sougo in the first place, and it's also polite not to do things to those who are sleeping. Or at least that's what Sougo would tell him: Something something, "Tamaki-kun, you have to ask for people's permission before invading their personal space!" yadda yadda... On the other hand, the moons are overlapping and there are thousands of other ways he could justify himself if he were to do it. All the right loopholes are laid before him-- So why won't his body move!? ]
Uugh... forget it...
[ Not even daring to open his eyes once, Tamaki finally gives in to the little angel on his shoulder and leans away from Sougo's face, resting his forehead on the curve of the smaller man's shoulder. ]
[One second quickly turns into two, then three and four and more than Sougo's consciously able to count with Tamaki still hovering above him and making that endearingly awkward expression. It's really quite sweet that Tamaki's so invested in this that his entire face is scrunched up, and all at once, Sougo's lingering drowsiness is washed away by the wave of affection that suddenly floods his heart.
It's hopelessly easy to justify leaning in, reservations dampened by the excitement thrumming dully through his veins... But just as his eyes flutter closed and he angles his chin up the slightest bit, the lips he'd anticipated to close over his own begin to mumble, and it takes everything in him to not heave an audible sigh.
Tamaki Yotsuba, age 18, officially has far more restraint than he does, and Sougo isn't entirely sure how to cope with that knowledge.
He doesn't have long to think about it, however, as Tamaki leans into the crook of his neck just as he opens his eyes.]
Tamaki-kun...?
[He starts gently, almost sleepily, voice just above a whisper given that he has an idea of how Tamaki will likely react if startled. Raising thin fingers, he gingerly touches the back of his partner's head, affectionately carding his fingertips through soft hair before resting his palm against Tamaki's scalp.]
[ It may not have been the most perfect of outcomes, but Tamaki was starting to feel grateful for even having the opportunity to be so close to Sougo. It's so warm and comforting that he can't help himself from nuzzling in the slightest, telling himself that it was alright to indulge, if only for a few seconds, before giving up for good and locking himself in his room for the remainder of the mooncycle.
That time extends with each passing second gone without a reaction from his partner-- there's no harm in lingering a while more if Sougo just kept sleeping, is there? By that logic, of course, a kiss shouldn't have been a problem either, but Tamaki promptly tucks that thought into the back of his mind, and just as he is ready to talk himself into moving away from that comfortable, welcoming, warm, perfect sensation...
...Sougo "wakes up", and it's enough to send Tamaki's alarms blaring with the realization that he might have bitten off way, way more than he could chew. A shame, really. If it were any other type of situation, he would take advantage of Sougo's half-asleep moment of weakness and make sure that he wouldn't let this moment of affection go unnoticed. Tamaki's simply not that lucky, though. Destiny always has a way of punishing him for his stupid, stupid decisions, but this? this was just too cruel.
Still, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do to cover his ass: drop his weight on Sougo nonchalantly, and pretend that he too, was asleep on the couch. ]
[Of every possible reaction, Sougo somehow didn't expect that Tamaki would resort to completely flopping down on him, pressing him further into the couch and making him elicit only a soft noise in response. Sure, they may still be learning exactly how the other works, but Sougo was nearly positive that Tamaki would startle and scramble off to his room in response to this, desperately denying that it ever happened.]
...You're heavy.
[Or so he says, but even as his eyes narrow, Sougo makes no move to change their position or push Tamaki off of him. Instead, he only sighs and allows his free arm to circle around Tamaki's back, the familiar warmth of chroma beginning to make itself known.]
Good evening, Tsunashi-san. I hope you're doing well.
Right now? No, I'm not. Is there something you needed?
[After working with each other so many times, one would think that Sougo would be used to messaging Ryuu, but he still tenses up every time they have a private conversation. Is he being too formal? Should he say "good work" even though he isn't sure if Ryuu was working prior to this? Does it seem rude to not use exclamation points in response to such a friendly and genial message? Is it dismissive to ask if Ryuu needs something instead of explicitly offering his assistance?!]
[ and true to his word, ryuu will be waiting at the entrance to the square where people are already bustling about. it's cold, but the darkening air seems to be alive with light. baubles, ribbons, tall spires, illuminated ads come to life with technology that still seemed so new back home. all around, there are decorations and displays going up, promising a happy firialia - what he supposes would be christmas on earth.
it's familiar enough to be at ease here. he's layered up warmly, maybe more than necessary; not even his years in tokyo completely eased the salt and sun from his body. but he seems in good spirits when he spots sougo approaching, tucking his phone away and stepping up to greet him. ]
Good evening, Sougo-kun. Thanks for agreeing to meet me.
[Always the type to be five minutes early if he can help it, Sougo tried to hit the balance between looking presentable and not spending too long getting ready. Fixing his hair in the mirror proved fruitless, given that the wind has whipped it about on his journey, but he managed to throw on a nice, fluffy cardigan and cashmere scarf that are serving him well in this chilly weather.
Much to his disdain, Ryuu's already waiting when he arrives, but it's impossible to feel anything but pleasantly amused upon seeing him wrapped up in all those layers. Even so far from home, he's a man of Okinawa through and through, isn't he?]
Tsunashi-san! [Smile tender, Sougo takes a hand from his pocket to offer a polite wave as he approaches.] It's my pleasure. You haven't been waiting long, have you?
[The classic date line. But it's appropriate here!]
[ As long as Sougo wasn't insisting on finding out what Tamaki meant... he'll deem this a nice save. The possibility of running back to his room and hoping it'll just fade from Sougo's memory did run through his head, and frankly, it would've been the better option here for him, but his urges kept him glued to him more and more as Sougo holds him further, pliant to each gesture of affection presented to him. Echoing Sougo's sigh, he just nestles further, stirring a little into that hold, and throwing in a yawn just for the sake of maintaining his act. ]
I ran all night, too tired to go to my room...
[ Would that even be convincing? Tamaki really digs through his brain for any other white lies he could use, but maybe throwing in a little bit of truth could sell his argument better. ]
[Go figure... If it wasn't obvious before, Tamaki's clearly grasping for straws here. How does being light change anything when he's the one being pressed into the couch? Honestly, it's a little frustrating that Tamaki isn't being honest, but Sougo wouldn't dare resist leaning further into this warm embrace.]
...Is that all?
[The moment the words leave his mouth, Sougo swallows thickly, fingers curling into Tamaki's shirt. It's not like he's never kissed anyone before - far from it, but the problem here is wholly Tamaki, innocently encroaching on that last boundary keeping them from completely falling into each other.]
Tamaki-kun.
[Even shifting to bring Tamaki's face out of his shoulder as he speaks takes too long, and while he's positive that his cheeks have begun to flush faintly with colour, it's all Sougo can do to desperately hope that he's able to maintain some semblance of a composed expression. Now that they're face to face, there's no turning back.]
Your eyes may have been closed, but mine were open.
[ His voice may have cracked, and his palms may be sweaty, but god if Tamaki wasn't fully set on seeing this act to the end, already almost savouring the sweet sweet taste of victory. He absolutely has this in the bag! Lucky for him, he's even hidden away from Sougo, so he can proudly sport a smug look...
...that is swiftly wiped away from his face the moment Sougo worms away from him, confessing that he had consciously witnessed everything up until this moment. ]
Ah.
[ Oh no. ]
Ah!!!
[ Oh. No. In a matter of seconds, all the blood in Tamaki's body rushes over to his head and anything thought that could be considered even remotely coherent vanishes from his mind to make room for nothing but utter horror. There is no turning back now that they're face to face, that much is true, but god if Tamaki wasn't going to die trying.
Wriggling his shoulders, he does his best to try and escape the couch, grasping at straws to save himself. ]
T-- I don't know what you're talking about!! I wasn't trying to do anything to you!! Anyway!! I-!!
["Wasn't trying to do anything" to him? Does Tamaki really expect him to believe that? Sougo's brows furrow reflexively, and he swiftly brings his hand down from Tamaki's hair to curl thin fingers into the collar of his shirt.]
Tamaki-kun!
[This sort of reaction wasn't difficult to see coming, and without thinking twice, Sougo shifts both of his arms to hold Tamaki more firmly. The way he's wriggling makes it evident that he isn't actually making much of an effort to escape, but it's just as clear that Sougo isn't buying his flimsy excuse to get up.]
Calm down! I'm not upset with you.
[If anything good has come from their history of countless disagreements and stupid misunderstandings, it's that Sougo has a decent idea of what Tamaki needs to hear in order to stop flailing - a direct, concise confirmation that he isn't going to be scolded. But seriously, does he really think trying to deny it now is going to get him anywhere? The triple moon cycle spells danger for both of them, and Sougo's positive that they can both feel the imminent threat looming over their heads.]
...Tamaki-kun. Look at me. [He breaks their silence almost hesitantly, struggling to maintain what's left of his composure in spite of the faint redness on his cheeks.] Can you look me in the eye and say you're being honest?
[ you can take the boy out of the sunshine but not the sunshine out of the boy, evidently. none the wiser, he beams. ]
Not at all! I just got here, myself. I didn't even peek inside too much.
[ not that the square really has an "inside", so to speak, but there seems to be plenty going on along all the streetsides, the shops all illuminated and a fleet of new outdoor vendors hawking food, drinks, decorations, gifts. nothing quite as kitschy as caihong, but still charming. it's nice. ]
Thank goodness. I would have hated to keep you waiting out in the cold.
[Leave it to Ryuu to even answer like they're in some kind of cliche romance drama, all warm and vibrant like the spirit of summer lives deep within his heart. Not that Sougo didn't know, but in this chilly weather, it's only more evident that all of the comments online are right: Ryuunosuke Tsunashi's smile is as bright as the sun.]
Really, I'm fine with anything. Did you have any plans in mind, or should we take a walk until we decide what sounds best?
[The reason they're suddenly meeting up isn't entirely evident, but in a way, Sougo's afraid that asking directly will shift this casual atmosphere. Of course, he's more than happy to simply spend time with Ryuu, but it feels like there's an unspoken discussion waiting in the wings.]
[He's running a late night at the office, still getting the whole thing off the ground, and he's kind of sick of being cooped up alone in something more suited to his father than himself. So he's just going to lock things up and head out. Thing is, he's pretty sure he saw Sougo still in one of the recording studios when he came back a few hours ago, and he doesn't want to lock the poor guy in. They're still getting access sorted out, too. Turns out starting a multimedia conglomerate is hard work and lots of paperwork. Who knew.
At any rate, he doesn't want to bust in on the guy in the middle of recording or composing or whatever he's up to, so a text is polite, right? He can wait out a response for a while. There's still work to do.]
[ he's not a formidable man to stand across from for no reason, though his expression is that of someone who couldn't be happier to stand right where he is. that's the power of familiarity at work, of fondness. the atmosphere is a big help, but then again, so is sougo. right now, he's considering his blessings counted -
here he is on a new planet, of all things, and still. he has this. ]
Sightseeing a bit sounds good, doesn't it? I didn't have anything too strict in mind, except maybe hot chocolate! If that sounds good to you, of course.
[ with a careful shuffle of his heel against the ground, he angles his body aside with a nod towards the busy streets ahead as an invitation to follow him in as he gets moving. ]
[In a way, composing music is like magic - magic that always makes the clock jump forward more than Sougo's expecting, on the off chance that he happens to look away from his work long enough to actually register the time. Tamaki's usually the one to come into his room and break his attention, but here in the agency's recording studio where there's no one to bother him, it's even easier to let the hours slip by. (He didn't fall asleep or something, did he?! It's entirely possible, given his track record of working late into the night...)
This time, he's snapped out of his stupor when his phone lights up with Gaku's text notification. Wow... It really is awfully late, isn't it? Only a few minutes from midnight, in fact.]
Ah... Yes, I am.
I'm sorry, I didn't realize how late it was getting. You haven't been waiting on me, have you?
[Thankfully, that probably isn't the case. Gaku may be kind, but he's also straightforward to the point that he never minces his words. If Sougo were the only thing keeping him from leaving, he likely would have gotten a text much sooner, and that alone is enough to quell a decent amount of his worries.]
I'm close to a stopping point, so it shouldn't take me more than a few minutes to wrap up and close everything down for the night. Are you getting ready to leave?
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