permission | nanami kento 𑣲⋆｡˚
fluff central. couple not ‘together, together’ yet. au of some kind.
kento nanami always asked first.
when he asked where you wanted to go for your third date, you answered: anywhere with dancehall and good-ass jamaican food.
though not necessarily specific, it left the man on a hunt for almost two days to find the perfect spot to take you, and as soon as did, he booked the reservation.
you heard a knock on your office door at work, and you were quickly met with his gaze as you swung the door open. with his hands clasped behind his back, a comforting exhale left his nose the moment he saw you. his lips rested in a natural line, though his eyes behind his glasses remained soft and neutral.
“picked a spot?” you asked innocently, eyes meeting his gaze above you.
his lips curved into a smile as he rested his forearm on the doorway. forever the gentleman, he stayed outside of your office, suede dress shoes just at the entry.
the kento nanami you knew—the one you knew since starting this job last year—just never realized how sexy he looked unintentionally, just simply towering over you.
“is it okay if i pick you up tonight?”
you shrugged slowly, a chuckle escaping your lips.
“i suppose that’s okay, mr. nanami.”
“i should add that it’s within walking distance of your place,” he stated, arm still rested against the doorway. “if you will allow me, i’d love to walk with you there—and back.”
you twisted back and forth, face scrunched up as if you were truly in deep thought and not screaming internally in excitement. you were completely fine with the offer, but you just wanted to tease the always delighted blonde. you halted your twist and answered:
“i’ll allow.”
“wonderful. i’ll be at your place at 7.”
and at 6:57, mr. kento nanami stood outside of your brownstone, manhattan apartment right above the fenced stairway.
“hello again.” he bowed once you opened the door. as he straightened back up, his eyes met your curls pinned up in a high bun, lifting all of the features he was drawn to since your first day.
“hello kento,” you spoke, voice warm with excitement.
“you look beau-” kento blurted before pausing. he took a calculated gulp in hopes of finding the words he was never used to losing. “your hair,” he stammered. “it’s lovely.”
your eyes then met his fingers outwardly stretch, exposing his full palm. he quickly placed it back in his pant pocket. you bit your lip and met his hazel eyes once again.
“thank you, kento.”
“do you have everything you need?” he looked up at the two clouds wanting to introduce themselves. “i brought an umbrella just in case it rains on the way back.”
“i have everything here.” you showed off your shoulder bag.
you hurriedly exited the brownstone, turning to lock the door, and walked towards kento and the stairs. you slipped your fingers into his as you both walked down.
“is this alright?” he asked beside you.
you reached the end of the stairs and both of your gazes dropped to where both of your hands joined.
“holding your hand?” you asked.
“yes.”
“well, i did grab yours, ken.” you looked up at him eyes scrunched trying to understand the man before you.
“i know,” he responded. his eyes trailed up your arm met your eyes. “i would still rather ask.”
you’ve watched the man negotiate corporate mergers with little to no preparation, but here he was, third date and all, asking if it were okay for you to grab his hands.
“you’re a bit strange, kento,” you said, shaking your head and smiling at him.
mouth curved in a full smile, kento responded: “only a bit?”
“the strangest, actually.”
you both shared a laugh and fell into step beside one another.
the date blurred into a night of warm music, shared plates of oxtail, rices and peas, plantains, and laughter that came from jokes only you two understood. he watched you dance in the middle of the crowd when a song you loved came on, joined when you wanted him to dance—even if you found him slightly stiff, found the quiet corners when you wanted to chat, and made another date simply effortless and easy.
but of course, like always, he asked before he did anything.
when he wanted to pull your chair closer so he could hear you over the music, he asked first.
when a slower song blared through the speakers, he mouthed the words, “would like you to dance,” from his seat to you, who was already on the dance floor.
and when he guided you to the door through the crowd, he turned back and held your hand, pulling you closer to him. he gave you a smile before asking, “still okay?”
walking along the manhattan street, side by side, you were still on a rejuvenated high from the dancehall lounge. you were skipping alongside him at first, lost in bliss of the music that echoed in your mind. spinning as though the world was lighter, you raised your arms towards the night sky.
“you had fun?” kento teasingly asked, admiring your world from up close.
“meh,” you answered, watching your feet attempt to walk across the lines separating blocks of the pavement.
“meh?” he questioned, playfully placing his hand on his chest.
your grin widened.
“okay, i lied. the night was perfect.”
you could feel a bit of raindrops dot your face and shoulders. as you still danced, you caught kento glancing up, letting the rain hit his face as he moved beside you. though late, the city still buzzed around you, headlights reflecting in small puddles of water along the curb.
still grooving to the beat only in your head, you stepped toward the edge of the street.
before you could complete it, a warm hand settled against your waist. your cheeks warmed and breath hitched as kento pulled you away from the curb. your back brushed against his chest for only a second before he guided you to the inside of the sidewalk.
you both continued walking for a moment.
“my apologies,” he finally spoke, breaking the silence.
“for what?”
“for grabbing you like that without asking,” he stated, slight irritation in his tone. “i shouldn’t have had you walking near the street, anyway.”
you stared at him for a moment, remembering you were dealing with the strangest man you ever met, but also the most endearing.
“i was about to walk into traffic. when were you gonna ask me?” you teased.
he shrugged and kept on walking.
“kento.”
“yes?”
“you know you don’t have to ask me all the time.”
he stopped walking and faced you. you noticing him stop, you stopped too and met his towering gaze. his glasses had a few drops painted on them, while his strands of blonde had fallen across his forehead.
for a moment, he only looked at you.
“ask you what?”
“you know…to touch me.”
“well, it wouldn’t be fair to me—or you—to just do what i feel like. especially you,” he replied, biting his lip and furrowing his brows.
his gaze dropped briefly.
“its too bold.”
despite the cold droplets steadily beginning to soak your shirt, a shutter far from the rain spread through your chest.
“well you’re very bold when you insist on leading during our meetings,” you said. “or when you barge into the higher-ups office and tell them they would be making a mistake by laying me off.”
his eyes widened at the last line. you saw as his lips begin to mouth “how did—” before cutting him off.
“never mind that! from what you’ve told me—shown me, you’re very protective of those you care about. that’s bold.”
he had a quick and complete answer for almost anything said to him. but with you, you could see the corner of his eyes scrunch and the adjusting of his fingers whenever he was in a deep conversation with you—like he couldn’t just place you.
he looked down at the puddle below him, his hazel eyes on the reflection of the part that painted you. he met your gaze again.
“well,” he began. “i suppose i’m the boldest when i know i know i’m making the right decisions.”
“well after three dates, i would hope you know whether or not i’m the right decision.”
the rain intensified around you both, splashing onto the pavement.
a small frown painted his face.
“your hair is getting wet.”
you blinked, eyes stinging from the drops.
“okay, yours is too.”
“but i love yours.”
before you could even respond, he reached for your hand and jogged past two further brownstones before reaching your stairway.
as he brought you up the stairs and to your door, he placed his hands above your head—not covering you from all the rain but most.
you stayed facing him instead of turning and unlocking your door for shelter.
“you have to get inside,” kento asserted.
“am i the right decision?”
“pardon?” his brows furrowed, face inching towards you to make sure he heard you correctly.
“you said, you’re the boldest when you know you’re making the right decision,” you retorted. you swallowed hard as you felt your voice began to shake. “so i stand here, before i have to look at you again tomorrow, and i ask you again: am i-”
before you could even finish, kento hands were on your waist, no longer caring how and if the drops land on you. the words he had been attempting to piece together in his head had disappeared as he pulled you even closer and kissed you.
his hands around your waist tightened, but somehow still softened around you, making your shoulders and knees feel almost like putty. your hands managed to find a place around his neck and shoulders.
as your lips separated, he gently placed his forehead against yours, taking deep exhales as the rain continued to bounce off each others shoulders.
“i knew the answer from the moment i saw you,” he breathed. “it’s why i had the courage to talk to you in the first place.”
you could only grin, feeling your stomach flutter.
he gave you a quick peck before he placed his hands above you again, still trying to shield you from the rain.
“well i do have another question for you…”
“go for it.”
“would you like to come in?”
“i would love to.”
when you were unlocking the door, another question popped in your head.
“didn’t you bring an umbrella?”
you turned your head teasingly and watched as his ears changed from his natural hue to pink.
“i left it at the lounge,” he admitted, voice soft. “when i realized, i was too ashamed of myself for risking you having to walk all the way back with me because of my mistake.”
you only smiled at him before darting your eyes back to door.
“i know, i know: i’m the strangest.”
you chuckled and reached for his hand above you, and led him into your home for the first time.
