likethelight | IC Contact @ Deer Country

[ His eyes drift to his shirt, wrinkled from having been slept in, and clearly oversized on Allen. ]

You should have said something.

[ Maybe then, he wouldn't have bought him so many sweaters and shirts over the span of a few months, thinking he didn't have enough. ]

I could have set some aside for you.

[ Well, he does love and appreciate the sweaters he got him because they are gifts that make him think of him (and it's true, he had Very Few clothes because that's just how he's used to living). They definitely aren't going to go to waste or sit unused: they're what he can wear outside of the house.

But Allen smiles, with that ever so subtle cheeky quirk of the lips, and pats his chest lightly. ]

It's more fun this way.

[ You are very odd, you know that. He looks at him, clearly trying to find common ground with that statement when Kizu returns the two frolicking omens from the great outdoors and dashes right past them into the kitchen, reminding him of their plans. ]

I'll go find the recipe book.

[ And off he goes in search of it not minding at all how much noise is coming from the kitchen with Kizu doing her best to spin the golden bauble around and around. ]

[ Takes one to know one. ☆ And Allen isn't odd, he's delightful.

He's momentarily distracted by the crashing reappearance of Kizu and Tim as well, blinking for a moment at them, before laughing rather helplessly in response and shrugging his shoulders to Shouto. He composes himself quickly though, with a brightened smile. ]

I'll start the noodles. ♥ [ He follows, methodically beginning to pull out what he needs for soba out of memorized habit. Equally naturally is how steps around the two omens as he does so while admonishing them very gently to not knock anything over...

Timcanpy, however, is having a blast if the mechanical squeaky giggles are anything to go by. And he whips his tail back and forth in a way that might be teasing Kizu to try and catch it. ]

[ He returns a few minutes later with his nose in a book with thick pages, at least he got a quality one in the swindling, now if only he knew what they meant by sifting flour. Turning the pages back to the front, he skims through the table of contents searching for a chapter on a practical application when the mechanical titters render his attention to the pair of omens playing on the floor.

Standing in the middle of the kitchen with a forgotten pastry book in hand, Shouto stares at the pair, trying to remember the last time she played like that with anyone? She looks at him mid-turn, catching his eyes with the same dual-colored irises. Her thoughts brush against his conveying a sense of mischief before snatching Tim's tail with her paw, and tumbling to the corner of the room with him in a mock attack.

Shouto smiles, viewing them in a new light as the two run off to the living room, Kizu running at full stride with no restraints. ]

Are you happy?

[ The question is directed at Allen, yet his attention remains on the entrance to the kitchen, catching the sound of something fragile hitting the ground in a splintering crash. ]

Edited 2023-03-03 21:29 (UTC)

Hmm?

[ It's a distracted hum as Allen finishes tying an apron on (plain black, as no one was around to force ruffles on him this time)) while surveying the ingredients he's collected. Mentally ticking off each in his head as points to each in turn (flour, oil, rice vinegar, salt, soy sauce...) and thinking Shouto's question directed to Kizu or both omens. Before he realizes they've left—and apparently knocked something over as he jumps a little at the crash from the living room. ]

Eh?! [ What if that was the frames!! He's about to run and see what broke (and chastise the two!!! gently but firmly!!), but also stops as he glances between Shouto and the door, around the room to see they're the only two that were there when he said that, and realizes oh, you meant... ]

Who, me?

[ They scamper past the door, opposite the crash, and head toward the bedroom. ]

Yes.

[ Tim is probably going to get in his socks as use them as kitty armor--or make himself into a more appealing ball to be tussled with. RIP his socks...

But tipping his head slightly to the side at that, Allen smiles softly before he steps closer, priorities re-arranging. He'd take his arm if his hands weren't full with the book, so he touches the the small dip in his back instead in a warm and familiar manner. ]

Are you?

[ Leopard armor.

The soft touch at his back draws his eyes away from the open doorway to stare back at him, contemplating the question for a moment. ]

I think I am.

[ He smiles. ]

I think we both are.

[ Him and Kizu. One and the same. A reflection of his inner world given physical form. ]

[ Both? For a moment he doesn't follow, wondering if he means Allen but then he wouldn't be asking. No, with how he had been looking towards the door like that despite Kizu and Tim already left... You mean Kizu, don't you. She's playing with a kind of carefree joy he hasn't seen in a long time, not since she had first become a cub. Maybe never, since she isn't his and he doesn't notice the same degree of nuance.

Allen's smile softens at that, and he takes a moment to reflect inward on the small little fist of warmth that blossoms in his chest. Tim has always been there no matter his form, feeling like a small ball of sunshine in his heart warding off the dark. The only difference now is it's actually a tangible thing.

And he's happy too. For a companion and an existence beyond his own lonely and fated one with Allen.

He leans in to nuzzle gently at the side of Shouto's face, smiling against his ear in such a very relaxed and content manner. ]

Me too.

[ The pair of them exist in this place of blood and bone. His first real companion. One he treasured above all others. Even her form held a significance he would never be able to part from her. He wasn't made for passing ties. He put down too many roots. He and Kizu. It took her a long time to warm up to Tim. Watching them play in a manner he'd ever only seen when Kizu wasn't fully present, it struck him just how much she had changed.

How much he had too.

He shifts the book to one hand and wraps an arm around Allen's waist in a loose manner, smiling kindly into the familiar movement, beckoned forward by the affection gesture. He brushes a kiss to his neck, soft as a breeze, a glimmer of love in his eyes. ]

I'm glad.

[ Heh—

There's a small and lighthearted laugh from Allen in response to that, to how his arm slips around him, and he follows it as invitation to press close with a carefree sort of merriness. Bringing both hands up, one resting along his arm and the other threading through Shouto's hair as he bends to kiss his neck.

His breath catches lightly at that, it always does, before he covers it up with a shivery kind of laugh and presses his cheek in response to Shouto's. Runs a hand through his hair lovingly. ]

Should we see what they broke?

Edited 2023-03-04 03:57 (UTC)

No. It doesn't matter.

[ He takes up his palm, lifting it up to press a kiss to the cross etched over the carapace armor. Distracted by the breathy laugh, he looks up from his hand, grey and teal steady on him. ]

Can I kiss you?

[ Normally it would matter a lot to Allen! But it also became entirely unimportant the moment he realized who and what Shouto was asking. Likely he'll forget about it entirely until they go into the living room later and he sees whatever they broke...

But his expression flickers when Shouto lifts up his left hand to kiss the bluish-white crystal embedded into the back of it, a complex series of emotions that soften his features into something gentle and unguarded, and he shivers again faintly. Touched. It doesn't matter if it's the first or the hundredth time, gestures like that always hit him especially hard in a very quiet way.

They're meaningful. And he smiles softly at the question, eyes hooding in a warm look. He touches the side of Shouto's cheek lightly. ]

You can always kiss me.

Edited 2023-03-04 04:34 (UTC)

[ Even so, he'll always ask out of a sense of responsibility. He takes a step back to set the book down on the counter, turning to face him with a quiet look about him, and brushes his hair back behind his ear. ]

It grew longer.

[ He notes more to himself than Allen as he trails a thumb down his jaw, catching his gaze. In the bedroom another series of crashes rock the foundation, and Shouto ignores them in favor of kissing him soundly. ]

[ Something about the way he just looks quietly at him like that and remarks on his hair, long and loose still...

Allen's eyes soften, not quite understanding even as it feels like a part of him instinctively does, and steps closer. Leans his cheek against his hand as he brushes a strand back. ]

You're taller. [ They both are, but they're in a period where Allen has to catch back up again. He'd normally wrinkle his nose about it and huff a bit, but right now he only has a feeling of serenity about it. It's time passing.

This time when there's a crash (but not the sound of anything breaking at least!) he doesn't fret and instead laughs, understanding more what it means, and pulls Shouto close even as he bends to kiss him, lips still curved into a joyous smile when they meet. He leans forward into it, to let himself be soundly kissed and give himself back just as soundly, and pour all of the feeling that's filled his chest to overflowing into it.

Happiness. Usually so rare and fleeting.

Sweetly and in absolutely no hurry, his hands settling lightly at Shouto's hips to encourage him to stay. ]

Edited 2023-03-04 05:14 (UTC)

[ Taller and a little more aware of the world. Aware of himself. What he likes. What he wants.

The kiss is filled with none of the high intensity of their first, yet it feels just as vivid in a wholly intimate manner. No ice forms, no blistering heat. Only the warmth of his mouth. A touch of lips, unhurried and intent. ]

So are you.

[ He says against his mouth. Somewhere along the way, they started meeting on the same road. Taking the same path. For now, it's enough to walk beside him. ]

[ It seems like such an obvious kind of analogy, doesn't it? You go through life as someone on a path, and meet those who walk it with you. It's how probably most people would visualize it. Certainly anyone who knows Allen, who talks literally of paths such as that often as it is something codified into his very name and the one vow he's been able to keep his whole life, would think it the same for him.

It's not. The analogy for his life is someone who goes through life on a path, yes. A trail blazed only by the footsteps you leave behind, with dark to one side and light to the other. But the people he meets are along the way. They're to either side, brilliant and important or doomed and compelling, but never on it with him. He's always alone. It's always just him and Tim -- or just him.

Everyone he meets he parts with, usually sooner than later. So feeling that, yes, someone is there at his side on it...

That might be the thing he's most amazed by and grateful for.

There's a faint chuckle at the observation, lips curving against Shouto's in a small sort of smile before he slides his mouth against his in another soft, slow kiss. Taking his time and doing it with a quiet sort of mindfulness like he had before when touching his lips in the other room, like committing every detail and feeling of intimacy to memory.

One hand skims up from his hip, trailing along his side and up his chest in an equally unhurried, inquisitive but slightly shy manner. ]

Tim's bigger too. [ Said, smiling, against his mouth too.

A little bigger. From grapefruit to small melon. ]

[ He leans forward to indulge them both, lifting Allen's chin with the pad of his thumb, meeting him halfway. As the seconds tick by, he grows warm, reflecting the burgeoning feelings with the power to leave him utterly devasted or completely euphoric, and to someone who's spent most of his life numb to the world, he'd choose this every time. It was better to feel something than nothing at all. That's where he and his brother agree.

It's worth it.

Hearing Tim's mechanical squeaking caught Kizu's attention as much as Allen's muffled laughter always catches his. He kisses his moon-kissed hair. His lids, one after the other. His nose. Mouth. Neck. Collar. Slow and indulgent. ]

He eats more than you.

[ The sweet attention to each part of him makes his throat tighten with emotion at first, always so chronically starved for affection that he has been his entire life that it hits so hard sometimes to receive it, and he tips his face to lean ever so slightly up into it when he feels Shouto kiss his eyes and nose. Like a flower following the sun. Appreciating the gentle and delicate sentiment and the lulling warmth coming off him.

He exhales quietly (a little shakily) when his mouth skims down along his jaw though. And he runs his other hand up his back to slowly trace along his spine when he kisses his neck, instinctively leaning back to give him more room. Nuzzling lightly at his ear as he does so to speak into it, voice too low and soft to really be a complaint. ]

Not that mu— [ ! ] O-oh...

[ It's a soft and breathy sound that escapes unbidden when he finds his collar, breath hitching, and he grips tighter at his clothes for a moment. Presses closer though. ]

[ The sound breaks the lull he found himself in, lost in the trail of kisses. He stills. Eyes shifting to the hand gripping him with more strength than it had a second ago, and he draws back, extracting himself gently to better look at him, unaware of the problem. ]

Is something wrong?

Edited 2023-03-04 08:38 (UTC)

[ Grips a little tighter when he pulls back. ]

No...? [ He sounds a little distracted, eyes flickering for a moment across Shouto's face before focusing finally. He hesitates then, pressing his lips together and flushing lightly in trying to figure out how to actually respond. Or how he even wants to. Oh. ]

No, it's nothing like that. [ He reaffirms with more certainty, hands loosening to not be gripping at his pajamas quite so tightly. Hesitates again, eyes flickering to Shouto's shoulder like he's too shy to look at him directly and becoming a bit fidgety. How does he explain when his own brain wants to skitter away from it but he doesn't want to make him feel discouraged--

He plays with the collar of his shirt, stalling in trying to wrestle with his own feelings on the matter more than even explaining them. ]

Could you... keep doing that?

Edited 2023-03-04 09:09 (UTC)

[ His eyes stray to the hand that tightens its grip on him casting doubt on his answer when he struggles to look at him. Should he let go? He wants to let go the longer the seconds tick by afraid he overstepped.

Then, the question. Hesitant, just like the rest of him. It leaves him staring, not quite comprehending what he's asking for. ]

Kissing you?

[ His tone holds a need to understand. A green light to proceed. ]

[ Oh-- seeing Shouto's own uncertainty and understanding it better now, Allen's expression softens and he reaches to squeeze his hand before leaning in kiss his cheek sweetly. Please don't doubt yourself.

It makes his own response come much more easily this time. ]

Yes.

Edited 2023-03-04 09:59 (UTC)

[ It's in his nature to hold on too tightly to those he loves. He once clung to someone knowing his presence caused them stress. Selfish in his desires, and not wanting to be alone, he clung to them nonetheless until they broke. That same fear holds him back still, afraid of his own impulses. Second guessing. Doubting himself at the first sign of stress. He holds back constantly, smothering his need for connection. Internalizing it. Finding other outlets like remodeling a broken-down shack into a home, taking care of a pair of koi, checking on a few stray cats.

He blinks, glancing down at the top of his head. The sweet kiss pressed to his cheek curbs any lingering doubt. A green light. That sound then, not stress, but something else. His muscles relax, no longer so tense. ]

Okay.

[ He breathes out, lingering in his hold a few seconds longer. He turns those words in his head, examining them.

Keep doing that.
Kissing him.

He holds his face between his hands, nudging him up to look at him. Confirm with his own eyes. When he finds no doubt in the stormy sea, he lets himself lean forward. He captures his mouth, tentatively at first, giving him a chance to draw back before exploring further. ]

Edited 2023-03-04 17:43 (UTC)

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