Work Text:
The merciless sun of late may shone brightly above his head in midday, grazing his already irritated nerves and frying his brain to the point he did not know the sweat that kept rolling down his forehead is from the heat or his own anxiety.
Silently- or maybe under his breath, he’s not in the right-mind to care- he curses himself for deciding to walk the distance. He couldn’t do anything else but walk, yet he keeps cursing himself because that keeps his mind off the inevitable he’s about to face. Maybe that’s the reason he curses himself, because instead of walking faster to reach somewhere with an AC in it, or at least a shadow to shelter him from the searing heat, he keeps strolling through these unfamiliar streets, if only to stall meeting his doom for as long as possible.
He can’t help but idly shuffle through those memories of when he didn’t know yet, of his boyfriend’s decision that, it may not be an exaggeration to say, changed everything. for the better or the worst, he has yet to decide. He can’t help but think how happy he was back then, how life had been perfect. too perfect, maybe that was a foreshadow of how soon and how tragic it will all come to an end.
Upon his search, he stumbled upon that memory. The beginning of his end. He pretends that he stumbled upon it, he knows that, but it’s so pathetic to admit even to himself that he’s been thinking it ever since Kanata told him, over and over and over like if he thinks about it hard enough and long enough, the words that came out of Kanata’s mouth would change.
That day began as it always would. Allen woke up, got dressed, ate a quick breakfast, and went on his way to class where then he would see him, Yatonokami Kanata, in all his tired, sleepy, grumpy glory leaning on the table and wearing without exaggeration the cutest pout on his lips that could simply make him melt on spot. And just like any other morning, upon his bright gaze meeting Allen’s, his eyebrows knit together in what seems to be a displeased frown and what the redhead has learned to be an expectation, a demand he’s willing to abide by- making his boyfriend feel better, although Kanata can never admit to it.
Then, after greeting him and getting a simple grunt in return, he sat behind him and talked Kanata’s ears off about anything and everything until the teacher arrived and their class began. and so his day had passed without the knowledge of the nearing doom awaiting him, just in the corridor of the same class on the third floor, painted in the warm colors of the setting sun around the time he and Kanata met to spend their quality time together.
And quality time they spent indeed, from talking of hip-hop and unwritten lyrics, to rapping and dissing each other, to bringing up newfound artists they like, to scolding each other about grades and planning study dates, to going on about their next movie date, to soft touches and playing with each other’s fingers and stealing kisses to playful banter to-
it had been awhile after the room became void of their conversations and filled with silence, when Allen noticed something’s off about Kanata and the way his kisses, although as willing and desperate as his own, tasted of hesitation. It made something anxious bubble at the bottom of his heart, as if his mind already knew the words that were about to fall from those lips he desired so much.
Kanata looked far from pleased when he moved away from their kiss, and the arms he had wrapped around his neck tightened to pull him back in for another, back arching against the wall Allen had pressed him against during the playful fight that followed their banter. and he looked so much more beautiful than moments ago, when his hair had been in the right order and his lips weren’t so swollen and red from Allen’s affection, and his high cheeks hadn’t been highlighted with the softest shade of pink.
His heart fluttered so, so painfully, that his eyebrows furrowed and he had to bite down on his lip just to keep himself from whining. He wanted to die right there. Kanata is just too much for his heart. How had he ever been so foolish to think he can handle him? and how could Kanata be so awfully cruel, to accept his confession all those months ago and let him drown in his love like this?
He felt another demanding tug on his neck, and this time, he did comply, but instead of allowing their lips to meet, he buried his face in Kanata’s neck. Immediately, he was surrounded by the cool and sweet scent of soap and something floral. it washed away all the pain and anxiety in his chest.
Kanata’s fingers impatiently tugged on the short strands of red close to his nape, along with wiggling around to try and free himself from Allen’s arms but to no avail, it only resulted in him being pressed closer to the redhead’s chest.
“the fuck are you doing…?” he gave up after a, surprisingly, short while, instead settling for gently combing his fingers through his hair and soothing the storm that ran wild in that head of Allen’s.
“Kanata…is something wrong?” he asked against Kanata’s warm skin, lips gently brushing each word against his neck, and he felt how it made him shiver in his arms.
“huh? What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know…you seem…off today.” he tilted his head, just a little, if only to get a glimpse of Kanata’s expression. He seemed annoyed, but not irritated, and it was at that moment he became certain of his doubts.
“nothing’s wrong. You’re imagining things.” But he could not quite meet him in the eyes, and Kanata always met people in the eye, unless he was hiding something that he did not want to be found out.
Back then, it had made him so nervous and worried, and he brought his head up from Kanata’s shoulder to catch his eyes, even though his frown was an indication of his own nervousness. Not only was he worried about himself, but more so for Kanata. Millions of thoughts began going through his head. Had something happened? at home? With Nayuta? With a stranger? Or had he gotten in trouble with the school? Was he sick? did he want to break-up or-
He had lifted a hand from where he held to Kanata’s waist, and up to his chin to make him look at him. he refused, until, Allen called out to him ever so gently, and he witnessed right before him how Kanata’s defense lowered.
“please…tell me what’s wrong?” an up-turn of his brows, a sad frown to his lips, a widening of his eyes and that was all it took for Kanata to let up, as if the reddening of his cheeks and a sigh was not enough of an indication of that, he murmured in a soft voice:
“it’s not like that…”
“then what’s it like?” and it was in those next, life changing moments, where those cursed words fell from his lips in that soothing voice he loved so much-
“Allen…I think…I mean, I talked about it with Nayuta, and- they just keep pestering me about it so much and it’s becoming so fucking annoying- so, I think,
it’s time you meet my parents.”
Allen is sure some part of him died the moment he heard those words.
He’s sure, because, all he could remember from those blurry moments after, was Kanata’s worried expression that while at the same time made him feel guilty also looked so adorable and meant so much to him that if he wasn’t trapped in that hurricane of thoughts that even in this moment as he walks towards the address Kanata has given him, threatened to devour him, he would’ve cooed and swoon for. He remembers some gestures and words of reassurance, because they were rare coming from Kanata, and so very important.
‘Allen, pull yourself together for fuck’s sake. It’ll be fine. They’re just two dorks and want to see who I’m dating, okay? it’s not gonna be the end of the world!’
As suddenly as Kanata had dumped that bomb on him, the weekend which was destined to change his fate for better or worse approached like eternity. As time agonizingly passed, Kanata tried his best to comfort him in his own way, but being close to Kanata somehow made him even more stressed. It was like walking on egg-shells, and every few minutes he would shiver from the feeling of someone watching him…
His friends, of course, were quick to pick up on his distress. And, of course, he did not hesitate to tell them that he was about to meet Kanata’s adoptive parents- he had expected them to gasp, to be petrified as he is, for Hajun to call his butler and order him to arrange his funeral for he was sure they knew as well as he did that Allen would not make it through- but of course, they did none of that. instead, they congratulated him, and Hajun, as brutally honest as always, told him he is sure to fuck things up if he kept being a drama queen and make a big deal out of nothing.
‘it’s not the end of the world.’, he said, just like Kanata had.
If they had known, they wouldn’t have said all the things they did then, they wouldn’t have cheered for him, only if they knew…
But they didn’t, because Kanata had strictly forbid him of telling a single soul the truth about his adoptive parents. And Allen may be many things, and there are many things he also isn’t, but if he is anything, he is a man of his words.
If they only knew that Kanata’s adoptive parents were actually the school’s board chairman Kuzuryuu and principal Shingu, they would’ve understood that his worries and reactions were far from exaggerated and actually incredibly suitable for the situation he was stuck in.
‘I haven’t told them who I’m dating yet…I didn’t even want to tell them I’m seeing someone, so…you don’t have to worry.’ That’s what Kanata told him when he also told him about his adoptive fathers.
But he knew that wasn’t true. Kanata’s words were, obviously. What wasn’t true, though, was the idea that they didn’t know it’s him. Allen may be naïve, but he isn’t the idiot everyone often assumes him to be. He’s attentive, and he knows- he’s seen the looks on their faces when they look his way sometimes, how their gazes linger a second too suspiciously long before looking away, to continue their game of pretend. He’s got the place of the cameras in school memorized, he knows they watch him through them, looking for evidence of the undeniable- and he finds it odd how they always text Kanata when the two of them are together. he knows that they know, and they know that he knows that they know.
Yet, perhaps for Kanata’s sake, or Allen’s sanity, they keep pretending, and when he gets there, he’s sure that they keep pretending to be surprised, like they didn’t know all along. Allen can’t make up his mind if it’s for the better or the worst.
If Allen fucks this up, if he leaves a bad impression on them…he’s not the brightest, or the most hard-working, or the most organized student. his grades aren’t worth mentioning, he hasn’t joined any clubs since his first year and has yet to succeed in making his own official, and he already doesn’t have the best reputation amongst students. Not being the most popular but being Anne and Hajun’s friend has even made rumors go around in hushed whispers about him being somewhat of a delinquent…
If they don’t like him, if they deem him unworthy to be Kanata’s boyfriend…that could change everything for him. they would forbid Kanata from ever seeing or talking to him again, they wouldn’t even want them to be in the same school anymore! with his reputation, how hard would it be for principal Shingu to expel him? to get expelled from a school like this…no other school would ever want him. maybe he’ll be unable to attend any school at all, or worse, go to one of those schools for problematic kids! Then he’ll really turn out to be a delinquent! What if he starts smoking there? What if joins a gang and dies in a gang fight?! He’ll never be able to see Kanata again, his dreams of becoming a hip-hop artist would go up in smokes…he’ll turn out to be exactly what his parents told him will become of him back when he ran away…and his ashes that will be sent to them will be the proof of that-
‘you weren’t worth it.’
A sudden ring rips through the screen, which displayed Allen’s badass future self, shot, bleeding under some bridge in the arms of his loyal nakama, whom stood by his side through ups and downs, listening through his grief to fading whispers of how love kills and yet still his dying wish remains the selfish desire to see Kanata one last time as the light in his eyes dims.
With the next blink, Allen finds himself just as lost as he first began walking down these streets, and the sun was still too high to show him any mercy. With baited breath, and his head a bit dizzy, he pulled out his phone from his pocket and looked at the notification he just received. It was a text from Kanata:
‘where are you?’
Allen had to take a moment to catch his breath, and he swiped his phone open to look at the map again. it was then that, to his terror, he realized he’s actually passed his destination by quite a remarkable distance. And now he’s going to be late.
‘it’s over. It’s so over.’ And yet still, he wasted no time turning on his heels to start running.
***
By the time he reached the beautiful traditional house on a secluded corner of the street with its high trees looming over him from the garden beyond the walls, Allen had been only fifteen minutes late, which wouldn’t have been that bad if the sun wasn’t so unkind and he wasn’t drenched in sweat after his run.
‘At least the bouquet isn’t ruined.’, he thought while looking at the mingling petals of purple and blue surrounded with white gypsophila, wrapped in a darker shade of blue that was suggested by the florist he visited that morning. He had clutched it tightly to his chest like his last hope, afraid the wind would carry its sweet scent away and leave none for his boyfriend to enjoy.
He tried to make himself look at least half-decent, wiping sweat off his forehead and pulling the button-up shirt in deep red away from his skin so he could breathe, and also allow it to dry out a bit, while waiting for Kanata to see his text that he’s here and come open the door for him.
Soon after the booming of rushed steps reached his ears, the door opened to reveal a sight that made him forget all about heat or his pending doom, like a wave washing over to bring him under, where not even the sound of his own thoughts could reach.
Kanata stood there, framed like a painting in the door under vines of overgrown ivies in an oversized black shirt that loosely hanged from his shoulders for dear life, which Allen distantly remembered to be his own. Although his face was twisted in all ways possible to convey his displeasure and maybe anger, his beauty remained ever so consistent that all senses left him.
And they all came back at once, hitting him with the force of a bulldozer when he saw the other’s expression morph into concern upon taking in his breathless state. He could only hope that his clumsy, sheepish smile could redeem him.
“hi…?”
“what the fuck happened to you?! were you running?!” Kanata was immediately on him, touching his face with his always too cold hands, pushing his hair back from his face and holding his cheeks so their eyes could meet, which was honestly too adorable not to smile.
I already feel better…
“sorry, I got a little lost…and I didn’t want to be late…”
“you’re a fucking dumbass…” he sounds annoyed, maybe even beyond it, but fingers never stop running through his hair. His shoulders tried to relax, but the sudden ache that ran up his neck made him think twice. He didn’t realize how tense he was up to this point.
“c’mon in.” he clicked his tongue in what seemed to be annoyance, but the worried frown remained and the wrinkles on his forehead made him seem older than he actually is, way older than Allen. Perhaps he is, in a sense.
“Kanata…I’m okay, really. It’s just a little hot outside- uh, also if you give me some water, that’ll be really great.” His fingers easily slipped between Kanata’s own, and it made him feel warm for an entirely different reason when he squeezed back. Allen can never get tired from how small Kanata’s hand is compared to his, and how it fit perfectly in his own fills him with determination.
“it’s fine. Let’s just get in already…are you still nervous?” Allen chuckles lightly. Kanata is so cute when he’s worried.
“what do you think?” Kanata groaned at his response.
“you look seconds away from a heart attack.” The light-hearted laugh from his chest made Allen feel better already.
As he took him through the small garden, Allen could not help but be fascinated by the homey atmosphere of the minka Kanata claims to have grown-up in, ever since the two took them in. He remembered the other’s words said in hushed whispers one night when Anne wasn’t in their room and they laid idly together on Allen’s bed, his reasons for living in the dorm instead with his fathers.
“it’s not that I don’t like that place, or that I don’t feel at home there…it’s just…” Kanata had fallen silent back then, as he allowed himself to be pampered by Allen’s caresses. Maybe somewhere else, too. Deep in a memory from so long ago that he could no longer recall the faces of those present in it. “I don’t want to feel in-debt to them anymore than I do now…I don’t think I ever accepted that I’m more than a rescue case to them. They never treated me in a way to make me think that, though. The world I came from…even after all these years, I think I still can’t move on from it…” not once did he look him in the eyes as he muttered those words through a bitter smile.
He told him he and Nayuta didn’t want to be known as sons of the principal like those privileged kids that thought could do anything and get away with it, and that’s why they want to keep it a secret from everyone, and why Kanata asked him to be his confidant.
His heart shrank painfully in his chest at the thought, even after all this time that small child within Kanata, so cruelly bruised and abused by the one person meant to protect him, still found it difficult to believe one could love him without any strings attached. maybe he was imagining it, or maybe Kanata was the one who couldn’t realize it, but after all these years of being cared for from his fathers, Kanata still waited with tensed shoulders and baited breath for the stab of their knives to hit his back one day.
It made his chest burn hot with shame. shame of not being there for that child, even though there was no possible way for them to have known each other back then.
Unexpectedly, the first person to greet him at the door was neither of his fathers, nor even Nayuta, but a large, heavy orange cat that lazily lounged on the porch, bathing in sunlight. Upon sensing their arrival, it opened its eyes wide and meowed, somewhat alarmed by a stranger’s presence.
what are they feeding this cat?! Was the first thought he had.
As if reading his thoughts, Kanata clicked his tongue and climbed the porch, petting its head, yet large blue eyes never leave him. “that old man should really stop feeding you so much food, Chibi…seriously.”
Chibi?!
“his name…is Chibi…?” Kanata glares at him, making him swallow the snicker that threatened to slip.
“if you dare make fun of him, I’ll seriously kill you, got it?” Allen could only nod his head, but then looked down again at Chibi to say hello and just seeing Kanata next to him is enough to make him cackle.
“the fuck are you laughing at?!”
“no- no it’s just-“ you seem so small next to him- I don’t know who’s the real chibi- “he looks so cute-“ he says at last. After all, Allen doesn’t have a death wish.
All that remains of his cackles is a smile on his lips, and finally after saying hello to Chibi, Kanata leads him inside and he is relieved by the cool air that greets him. It does wonders on his burning skin, and it’s like he can finally breathe.
“here, drink.” He hadn’t even noticed Kanata leaving him to get water, but he is thankful and drinks it all in one breath.
He was about to ask him the whereabouts of others, already feeling the beginning of his nervousness building back up in the pit of his stomach, but he is interrupted by a series of tiny, protesting meows from somewhere behind him and Kanata’s immediately off, alarmed.
“Ouji-sama!! What are you doing, wandering ‘round? Don’t you know it’s dangerous to go on your own without your mother?” and Allen felt, at that moment, the agonizing pain of his soul trying to leave his body.
Kanata…
He couldn’t tear away his eyes from the scenery before him. there, in Kanata’s palms, was a tiny black cat that could barely move around, maybe about a week old. He meowed relentlessly at the scolding his owner shot at him, and resisted with all his tiny might to escape Kanata’s petting.
The gentleness in Kanata’s movements, how he held the kitten to his chest and the softness in his gaze as he searched around for the mother cat, standing in his shirt that had finally slipped off his shoulder and the relentless rays of sun crawling their way inside to shine on locks of lavender to create a halo around his head…
Kanata has always been beautiful, even before that day when Allen crossed paths with him in the record store near school, holding one of his favorite albums. But this…this Kanata right here, his beauty was of different nature, came in contrast with his sharp, cold charms that do not hesitate to destroy whoever comes his way.
‘saying you love me…isn’t it too soon for using such a shallow word?’
“oh? Kanata, is our guest here already?”
It felt like suddenly, the ground beneath his feet disappeared, and he was falling. Or was it his heart that sank to his feet? His head is spinning around too much to decide. Is it too late to run now? His neck turns agonizingly slow towards where heavy footsteps come seemingly booming through the hallway, and their looming shadows near like death.
No, he can’t run now. He needs to do this. but maybe, just maybe, he can get a moment to pull himself together and-
It is as if time has stopped, somehow. Their eyes meet, and he’s deafened by the loud roaring of thunders and raging sandstorm approaching. He finds himself alone there, a flame hanging on by a thread to remain lit. For a moment, a thought occurs: why am I here? fear whispered alluringly, and it is by the mercy of moonlight that his will does not die against the upcoming storm.
Just like how when he’s deep in the writing flow, only Kanata’s voice can pull him back to the real world: “I would’ve brought him in already, if you would’ve been responsible adults and looked after Oujo-sama’s kittens.” He says, bringing up the black kitten whom can only meow defiantly.
“ah, Ouji-sama~ escaping his room again. he’s a little rascal, sure reminds me of someone, right, Haruomi?” chairman Kuzuryuu looks at the man beside him, but Allen knows not a single breath he takes is unsupervised.
“yeah. if you don’t lock the door, they’ll run away in a blink.” He hears a tsk beside him.
“ah, I feel you, especially when they grow up…one moment they’re so tiny they can’t even reach the counter to steal your food, and next thing you know they’re all grown up and saying they want to leave home~” and it is then which he dares to turn his head, not enough to let the elders out of his sight. The tips of Kanata’s ears are painted a soft red.
“shut up, you two. Don’t try to get away with your irresponsibility by blaming the cat.” Watching Kanata’s interaction with pr-…his fathers, outside of school was making his mind blow honestly, and for some reason he can’t quite point out, he’s intimidated by the cozy atmosphere that is currently surrounding chairman Kuzuryuu and principal Shingu. He is so used to their overwhelming presence at school, in their formal attire that made it everyone’s business who they are, backs always straight, heads always held high, seemingly looking down even though Allen is almost their height. But here, in T-shirts and sweatpants, they seemed smaller...yet no less dangerous.
“anyways, dads, this is the guy I told you about, you already know him. Allen, these are my dads.” Allen takes this as his opportunity to show respect, and bows as deep as it’s appropriate in this situation.
“Hello, chairman Kuzuryuu, principal Shingu. Thank you for having me today…”
“ah, so we finally meet the lucky boy who got through to our dear Kanata, huh? I’ve heard about you…Sugasano, was it?” chairman Kuzuryuu said, but the look in his eyes told Allen that he knew exactly who he is.
Let’s keep playing this game of pretend, then.
“ah, yes…”
“you’ve got quite the reputation. I can see how you ended up with Kanata.” His heart might’ve stopped right then and there, had it not been for the apron hanging around his neck, written on it in bold letters: kiss the chef, to make him less intimidating.
“Oi! what’s that supposed to mean-“
“Haruomi~ don’t tease the kids now. Look, he even brought him flowers, isn’t that nice?” that did not sound like a compliment in the slightest, more like a mockery than anything, even though his smile is supposed to look friendly…
But mentioning the flowers, Allen finally noticed the long forgotten bouquet in his hands, and his own tight grip around the stems which had crumpled the paper around it in his panicked state. slowly as he could, to not bring attention to it, he unwrapped his fists around it and offered it to Kanata, which then the red hue that began to take form on his cheeks washed away some of his nervousness.
“you didn’t have to, really…”
“well then, Allen-kun, why don’t you come inside while Kanata goes looking for a vase? Haruomi has been up all morning cooking our lunch~” Allen’s senses sharpened as soon as those words left the blonde man’s mouth. That was not an invitation. That was a threat. They had set their trap, and was waiting for Allen to walk straight to it the moment Kanata turned his head.
Kanata clicked his tongue beside him, but he knew what this meant, that he is going to comply and leave him here. alone.
With his dads.
He has to find a way out of this. and he needs to do it immediately-
“h- how about I come with you, Kanata?” he could only beg the lord that he did not appear as desperate as he feels right now. Before Kanata can answer, though, the principal interrupted him.
“good idea. lunch will be ready in half an hour. why don’t you show him around the house? You can introduce him to the cats too.” Allen had to try and keep himself from throwing his fist in the air in triumph.
With another bow, he followed Kanata behind a hallway to the back of the house where he made sure was out of sight and the sound of footsteps where far away, before allowing himself to let out a sigh of relief. Now that he had skillfully, masterfully, brilliantly managed to slip away from their first trap was when he noticed how hot his body is, and the back of his neck is in cold sweat.
“you looked two seconds away from shitting your pants.”
“I did not look like I was two seconds away from shitting my pants, thank you very much.” but with how he forgot about Kanata beside him and his sudden comment made him nearly jump out of his skin, this phrase may be appropriate to use at the moment. His boyfriend merely smirked with amusement, and he was awfully aware that it has something to do with the heat in his face.
“you should’ve seen your face, you looked like you were facing death or something. Chisei actually used a lot of his self-control there to not laugh, so if you don’t get your shit together by lunch, he’ll make you cry.”
“I’m not gonna cry!” his whisper shout made the tiny kitten in Kanata’s hands let out a cry, as if agreeing with his owner that yes, he was going to cry and Allen knows that he’s going to cry because if that was the chainman showing mercy then he would not survive whatever he had coming his way-
The hand that covered his face was tugged away, and while Kanata still wore that amused expression, there was a gleam in his eyes that wasn’t there before.
“you were nervous, but…you still looked them in the eye.” Allen lifted an eyebrow at the statement, not paying attention to how the hand that was brought down from his face is now held in Kanata’s.
“well…yeah? I mean, I am nervous, because…you know, meeting the parents is kinda a big deal, and meeting the dad is even scarier and you have two of them- but, I didn’t want a coward to be their first impression of me…as your boyfriend, at least.” It only made sense in Allen’s mind. He’s not here to chitchat, he’s here to be put to test, to prove himself worthy of standing by Kanata’s side, to protect him and to support him through ups and downs. How is he supposed to do that, if he can’t even meet his fathers’ eyes?
A huff of laughter, followed by a press of lips against his own were the only answers he received from Kanata in response, and all thread of thoughts he made was out the window immediately.
“you’re cute.”
Wha-
Allen didn’t even get the chance to question Kanata about what he said before he turned on his heels and made his way down the hallway, his back to the redhead.
***
“I didn’t know you had so many cats…” as Kanata took him for a tour around the house, on their way Allen had seen multiple cats, in different sizes and with different fur colors, all approaching Kanata and rubbing themselves at his feet to greet him. it was honestly adorable to watch his boyfriend like this, watching those soft lips of his stretch to form such gentle smile for his little friends made Allen’s heart throb.
“these old men have a habit of feeding every stray cat they see, so now a lot of them come and go whenever they like.” Kanata said as he played with Ouji-sama, who apparently belongs to the litter Oujo-sama, the black mama cat that lounged in the towel filled box, had given birth to.
I can see that…but he kept that thought to himself.
“I think she likes you.” Oujo-sama did not look like she liked him in the slightest. He tried to stay as far away from her and her kittens as possible, as to not disturb the mother’s peace, but not even for a moment did she look away, while her kittens cried as they played with Kanata.
“you think so…?” even though the malevolent look in her yellow eyes didn’t disappear…
“trust me, she’s a vicious one. and she doesn’t like strangers.” Allen couldn’t help but smile. not because it was revealed to him that somehow, he is accepted in the mother cat’s presence, but because how proud Kanata looked when he said it. His kindness included the tired mama as well, and she purred and melt under the palm that soothed her fur. “if she didn’t like you, she would’ve ripped your face off by now.”
“that’s…great to know, I guess.” Although he did not make any attempts to come closer.
He heard a huff of laughter coming from Kanata, and at first he thought it’s because how Hime, a purely white kitten belonging to the mother’s cat litter, tried to climb his leg. “kinda like my dads.”
“huh?”
“they like you, y’know.”
Huh?!
“r- really?” that was…unexpected to hear. And Kanata must know this, too.
“yeah. don’t mind Chisei’s behavior that much, he’s always like that. if he really didn’t like you, he wouldn’t let you off the hook that easily. And Haruomi didn’t say anything either. Give it some time, you’ll get to know them better.” And for the first time ever since last week when Kanata invited him to meet his parents, Allen felt the calmest, like a pressure has been lifted off of his chest, and he couldn’t stop smiling.
While Kanata looked up as he heard him come close, Oujo-sama did not look as alarmed, not even when he sits down beside the boy to lean his head against his. Maybe she really did like him, after all.
He smells so nice…his eyes drift shut with a sigh as Kanata silently grants him permission to bathe in the gentle warmth coming from his body, and the sunlight streaming through the screen which fills the small room with a golden glow. in silence, he allows himself to be embraced by the other’s unspoken affection.
It’s warm…he could feel tension leaving his shoulders, breathing becoming even, heavier. He really wished he could fall asleep right here, by Kanata’s side, in his warmth.
“you’re not gonna fall asleep, are you?” but his voice is so soft, caring. it tickles his brain in just the right way to send him off.
“just a few minutes…you’re so warm…” and it was silent again.
“I really wanted your dads to like me.” he felt Kanata become startled beside him when he broke the silence, and chuckled amusedly, even after Kanata pinched his arm.
“yeah?”
“hm. didn’t want them to think I’m not good enough for you.” he feels Kanata pull away from him, but stops when he hears Allen’s (pathetic) whine, or maybe he had planned to move just enough for bright eyes to see his face all along.
‘after all these years we cared for you, provided for you, fed you, kept a roof over your head,’
“where did that come from, all of a sudden?” Allen could only laugh in response, lazily opening his eyes to see Kanata’s expression, head laid on his shoulder now.
“it’s not sudden…I mean…it’s not that far from mind, is it? I’m not the brightest in school…or have the best reputation-”
‘you ungrateful child.’
“and I do?”
“that’s-“
‘you weren’t worth our love.’
“stop right there.” And he couldn’t defy when Kanata used that tone on him, nor could the voices in his head. The smaller boy turned his body a bit more, not enough to let Allen’s head fall from his shoulder, but enough to face him. “believe it or not, I get it, how it feels to want to be accepted by people close to your partner. But that doesn’t mean we should allow them to talk shit or even think shit about us. We chose each other, right? So it shouldn’t matter what they think. I already decided if you’re worth it or not. That’s what the old man told me.”
Allen gently lifts his head, enough to directly look in those irises of purple and blue, wide awake now from how his heart raced relentlessly from Kanata’s words.
“so I better not hear craps like that come out of your mouth. Got it?” and it would’ve been really effective, had it not been for the blush spreading across his cheeks and stealing his gaze away, or maybe it was just that that made those words forever burn in his memory.
“Kanata…”
“shut up, okay?” he clicked his tongue, the red on his face burning even brighter. “it’s all your fault, making me say things like this. if you ever tell anyone about this, I’ll-“
Kanata let out a noise in protest, when lips against his stole the words right off of them, but he wasn’t that annoyed about it. his lips, soft as ever, pushing against his own made Allen’s will to keep his hands to himself melt. That was, until, a soft meow made Kanata pull away.
Oujo-sama, wide eyed and still wrapped around her resting children, seemed to look at them in awe. A bubble of laughter raised from Kanata’s chest that caught him off guard.
“not in front of the kids, I guess.” But Allen couldn’t keep himself from stealing another kiss, and another, and another, until Kanata pulled on his hair to kiss him properly if he was choosing to be a shameless bastard. and so he did, hands finally daring to wrap around the other’s middle to pull him onto his lap.
“ngh…” as usual to when their kisses become a bit too heated, the loveliest of noises begin to spill from Kanata’s lips, and he couldn’t keep himself from slipping a hand under his shirt as he pulled a lip between his teeth to make him sing for him even more, relishing in how his sensitive back arched to his touch. “we should get going…or my old mans’ are gonna be on us.” He pulled away in an instance, covered his mouth with a hand, uttering words from his heaving chest and Allen watched with desire how his blush travelled towards his neck when he began pressing kisses to the palm of his hand instead.
“…have I told you how much I love you before?”
“saying stuff like this again…what did I tell you about using shallow words?”
“do they feel shallow to you when I say them?” and Kanata fell silent. The hand he held on his mouth moved to cup his cheek instead, thumb caressing him upon Allen nuzzling into his palm.
“…you’re insufferable.”
“you’re irresistible.” And he never felt more proud of himself than when he made Kanata let out soft laughs in huffs. “does that make us even?” his forehead got flicked in response.
Rising from their place only meant one thing, that Allen will have to walk into the dragons’ den once more, to claim their treasure through proving himself of its worth, and anxiety began to once again soar through his veins.
“can you at least hold my hand?” he had laughed at him, called him a baby, even as his hand did not hesitate to squeeze his in reassurance as he took him along the bright hallways. his sharp strength ran through him enough to be able to hold his head, and intimate words spoken in a state of vulnerability rang as softly as his voice had been as his fathers, along with Nayuta, began to appear in the bright corridor where the smell of something delicious waft through the air:
‘We chose each other, right? So it shouldn’t matter what they think. I already decided if you’re worth it or not.’
But their eyes, turning and searching, looking for the sound of approaching footsteps whispered something else. show us what you got, and he was stuck among thunders and a sandstorm again.
This time though, his anxiety, from the warmth he held in his hand, morphed into something else. electric, burning, brave, determined.
Just you wait, he thought. Allen will prove to them his worth for the treasure he’s found, that cold day in October at the record store, and show them just what it means to be worth of Kanata’s trust.