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For someone who wasn’t used to any kind of contact with others due to his origins, Mudano adapted quickly to Kyouya invading his personal space way too much. Giving it back is a pending matter, but he doesn’t mind his clingy friend as long as he doesn’t affect anyone’s efficiency.
Such an easy approval might be what encouraged Kyouya to cling to him especially. Once again, not a complaint. He understands he’s a caring person who doesn’t hold back when expressing it, so he lets the man be. Besides, it feels nice. Even now, with both of them flushed from that slight warmth alcohol brings to the body, Mudano wouldn’t pull away from their hug.
They’re in the middle of a great time. Their elders didn’t provide any further explanation besides reuniting for the sake of fun. They brought many alcohol bottles to relax even more. Although drinking a couple of cups doesn’t do much to Mudano, its effects are visible in Kyouya after a while. He wouldn’t say his resistance is weaker, he’s just reckless, gulping it as if it were water. Mudano wonders whether he’d be the same if he tried it sometime, but that part of him that keeps him from letting his guard down stops him. He’d be over if ever ambushed in such a state. As soon as Mudano feels his head a little lighter, he’s done.
That’s the case now. Before sitting on the sofa, Mudano drank his last bit of sake and left the cup on the table, while Kyouya monopolized the bottle after realizing it was almost empty. Mudano wanted to scold him with a glare, but it didn’t work since his friend just poured all the liquid straight into his mouth on their way to taking a sit. He abandoned the bottle on the floor beside them, then grasped to Mudano’s shoulders, and that’s how they’ve been until this moment.
Kyouya’s hair and breath tickle his neck, a little distraction abstracting him from the party’s murmur around them. Mudano has a feeling he should be annoyed, but that’s far from the truth. Dealing with completely drunk people, however, would be a real problem.
“Danocchi.” He hears it very close by. Ah, Kyouya is in a middle ground preceding intoxication. Chugging sake must’ve done this. “I love you so much, y’know?”
Oh, so this is one of those days.
“Yes, I know.”
“Hm, something’s telling me you don’t.”
An eyebrow arches. Kyouya getting cornier when he drinks is the usual, but doubting Mudano is novelty.
“What part?”
“I think you don’t get it.”
“What am I supposedly not getting?”
“That I love you so much.” He hugs him tighter.
“That’s clear as water.”
“Don’t think so. You don’t get me, Danocchi.” He raises his head. When Mudano turns to look at him very closely, since none of them pulls away, he finds the awaited expression: pouty lips and pink, puffy cheeks that match his voice perfectly. “I love you so, so much.”
“You show it, I know.”
“No! It’s just that I love you very much.”
“You’re just repeating yourself, Kyouya.” Mudano crosses his arms. He’s becoming exasperated. Celebrating he had skipped dealing with drunk people might have been precipitated. “Explaining me what you say I don’t understand would be more efficient.”
“How…?” It’s as if he’s melting until his head rests on his shoulder. Barely two seconds later, inspiration strikes Kyouya and he lifts it again. “Ah! I love you so much, I always want to hug you.”
“You’re always hugging me, yes.”
“Not as much or as tight as I’d like! Maybe that’s why you don’t get it. Let yourself be loved more, Danocchi.” Kyouya shifts until he’s on his knees, still pressed against Mudano’s side as his arms wrap around him.
“I still don’t know why you insist I don’t understand.”
“Because it’s not that simple! I wish I’d never have to let go of you, y’know?”
“I can tell.”
“Agh!” Kyouya shakes his head slowly. “No. Let’s see, I love you so much, I want to rub your back.”
“You sometimes do.”
“And I also wish I could do it more often! Bet you didn’t suspect it.” Mudano just watches him. That’s something he’s never pondered, why would he? He doesn’t think it’d change anything. “See? That’s why you don’t get it.”
“I think you dwell on unnecessary things.”
“No, no. I’d usually agree, Danocchi, but I have to debunk this time. You’ll take back those words when you get it. Not only do I want to rub your back, but you in general.”
“You sometimes do it while adding tattoos. Is it unconscious?”
That only makes Kyouya glare at him and huff. The observation irritated him more than expected, or rather, he didn’t think it would. Must be the alcohol.
“That’s because I feel like doing it since I love you very much.”
“I see. That’s still within what I already know about your esteem for me. Be more straightforward.”
Kyouya pulls away briefly. He doesn’t let go, his hands just slide down to his elbows. He seems determined.
“I love you so much that I want to give you massages.” His fingers gently, methodically press down wherever they land. It makes Mudano shut his eyes for a second.
“That isn’t out of the ordinary.”
“Wanna play with your hair, too.” With his left hand, Kyouya brushes Mudano’s hair away from his ear, freeing the section that’s usually trapped there. “I like your hairdo, but you have a special charm like this.”
“That’s more unusual, but not surprising coming from you.”
“Ah…” Kyouya sighs heavily with his head down. “That’s what I get for being so affectionate, isn’t it? Nothing’s odd now. Fine, fine. I’ll show you.”
Sounds promising. It better not be another waste of time, this conversation has gone on too long considering how trivial it is. Kyouya doesn’t need to reaffirm how much he loves him, it’s pretty noticeable.
The next time their gazes meet, the intensity coming from Kyouya’s overwhelms him. If his cheeks were already hot from the booze, adding the other’s palm cupping the tattooed one sets them ablaze. His thumb even caresses the pair of stripes there.
“When I say I love you very much, I mean it’s so much that I want to kiss you.”
Mudano’s eyes open slightly wider. “Do you mean…?”
Before he could finish, Kyouya leans in and pecks the opposite cheek. It’s brief, yet bold. He doesn’t lean back that much after, so Mudano gives him a sideways look.
That’s… more peculiar, but it still could be expected from someone as effusive as his friend. Kyouya made him think it was something else for a moment. His body’s still ready for that, actually, as if it longs for it. It’s strange.
“Won’t you say anything? As demanding as ever, Danocchi.” Ah. He prolonged the silence without noticing. “Whatever, I’m so glad to please you.” He’s still near his face, enough to feel his breath against his skin. “I love you so much that kissing your cheek isn’t enough.”
There it is again, that sense of alertness he doesn’t know how to describe. It’s not the same one he’s used to, it’s not as tense. On the contrary, it’s like he wishes for it, an expectation he yearns to see fulfilled.
Kyouya’s lips entertain themselves through is jawline, and just when Mudano remembers they’re in the middle of a party, something wet runs down his neck.
“Kyouya.” He pushes him away on pure instinct. Now it’s Mudano who takes him by his shoulders. “You’re drunk.”
“So what? It should make me more sincere, right?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Get a goddamn room, won’t you?”
Mudano only becomes aware of how hard his heart is pounding when it skips a beat.
“Massu!” It’s the most excited Kyouya has sounded in a while. “You get me!” Mudano’s grip on him has weakened, so he seizes the opportunity to press against him again, almost like when this started. “Why don’t you get it, Danocchi? I thought I’d taught you well.”
“Get what, idiot?”
“Kyouya says I don’t understand how much he loves me. He’s been like this with you too?”
“I thought you were less of a blockhead, Mudano. If Kyouya’d gotten like that with me, he’d be history by now.”
“Rude, Massu,” Kyouya whines and hugs Mudano closer.
“Seriously, get a room.” He clicks his tongue.
“Hm, yes. I should.”
“Eh?!” Kyouya jolts, basically, looking at him with his eyes wide open and more flushed than ever.
“The idea is that nobody notices, you airheads.” Masumi prefers to blend in with the crowd again.
“Let’s go, Kyouya.” Mudano gets up and, before the redhead has a chance to do the same, he carries him up.
“S-seriously?” Even though he’s in shock, Kyouya holds onto him in no time.
“Yes.”
“Oh.” He sounds shy.
Mudano glances at him before walking. Despite Kyouya’s lips curve into a slight smile, their tremble and his gaze fixed in nothing in particular betray his nervousness. Is this the same guy who licked his neck two minutes ago?
Fortunately, he knows this hideaway well enough to find the rooms with any trouble. There are bunks in each one, perfect for the two of them. Of course, since Kyouya is the most affected, Mudano lays him on the bottom bed.
“I think you should sleep.”
“You brought me here for that?” What’s with that pout now?
“That’s better than letting your intoxication get worse.”
“Hm… Only if you let me cuddle you.” Kyouya reaches out his arms to Mudano, inviting him with a grin.
“Is that another thing you want to do because you love me so much?”
“That’s right.”
“I see.”
“So?” Kyouya gestures with his fingers for Mudano to join him.
He ponders it. This might be a lost battle before it even begins, given how stubborn he’s being. Mudano doesn’t feel like hearing Kyouya’s complaints if he climbs to the top bunk. Alcohol will probably make him fall asleep in the long run, however, that would be a big waste of rest. The mattress is too small for two men their size, but it shouldn’t be an issue if the plan is cuddling. Actually, it doesn’t sound bad.
“Okay.”
“You’re the best, Danocchi!” Kyouya celebrates as he moves to the side.
Right after he lies on his left side, Kyouya hovers an arm and a leg over him. They’re so close. It isn’t uncomfortable, not even with the shared corporal heat enveloping him more than he’s used to.
“Good night, Danocchi.” He closes his eyes.
“Rest well.”
“I will.”
Mudano watches him. He’s yet to get sleepy, so he’s just making sure the other falls asleep without his drunkenness playing a dirty trick on him. He doubts Kyouya drank enough to puke, but it’d be disastrous for both of them if he did. Once he slumbers away, he’ll follow suit.
“Ah, I almost forgot!” Kyouya opening his eyes catches him off-guard. If he noticed Mudano was watching him, he doesn’t show it. “I was missing a kiss.”
And just when he wasn’t expecting it anymore, Kyouya kisses him so quickly that Mudano can’t react before it’s over. His friend chuckles.
“You must get it now. I can sleep peacefully.” Just like that, he closes his eyes again, much happier this time.
He was right. Mudano didn’t understand the depth of his feelings. To be fair, he didn’t choose the most accurate words. He wasn’t lying, instead, he was just falling short. His frustration makes sense now.
A conversation like this is better in sobriety, but Mudano became aware of something, too. His own anticipation and the pleasant feeling he gets when receiving all kinds of affection from him would never show with anyone else. Even welcoming a kiss on the mouth means this is more than just being used to Kyouya’s personality. He loves him just as much, too.