"It's not my turn." Aoba flips through a magazine on his Coil, flicking his fingertips over the screen and then shoving his hand down back under the kotatsu cover.
Koujaku, seated to Aoba's right, looks up at the window; even through the slats he can see the fog on the pane, condensing into wavy droplets that streak the glass. Outside, cold rain drips steadily from the eaves; it is well past fall and into the wet winter, which means less time on the street cutting hair and more time at home.
"You're trying to think of something you can do for me so you won't have to go do it."
Koujaku makes an apologetic smile. "That's not true."
"Liar," Aoba teases warmly, his grin broadening.
"Well," Koujaku says, leaning back on his hands. "It's...a little true."
Aoba snorts a small laugh, turning the page on his magazine again. "You're out of luck."
Koujaku inches one of his hands under the futon and slides it over to Aoba's knee, letting it rest there. "Really?"
Aoba pauses in reading, glancing over at Koujaku's face before dropping down to the futon that keeps the heater's warmth under the table. "Okay, Koujaku~" he purrs.
The screens on his Coil close as he lowers his arm, leaning forward on one palm across the corner of the table. His eyes, half-lidded, trace up the collar of Koujaku's shirt, the curve of his neck, the line of his jaw. His lips part slightly, and the hand that isn't bearing his weight slips up to cup Koujaku's cheek and pull him down for a kiss.
Lazy, but intense, Aoba leads, gently enticing Koujaku to lean forward. He doesn't rush, plucking at Koujaku's lips with soft pecks; when the kiss deepens it's because Aoba invites him closer. Koujaku responds instantly, lustily, feeling Aoba's hand slip around to the back of his neck. He hums softly, a faint grunt against Aoba's cheek as their mouths open against each other. His mouth tastes of tea, bitter and warm.
"Koujaku..."
"Yes?"
"Do you know what I want.... right now?" His hazel eyes look down at Koujaku's mouth, his neck, his chest.
Koujaku smiles softly, placing a smooch at the corner of Aoba's mouth. He loves it when Aoba talks like that, husky and close. "What?"
"Not to have to get out from under this blanket for any reason."
Koujaku laughs and Aoba laughs with him. "You're cruel, Aoba."
"No worse than you asking me to get out from under this table when it's not my turn!"
"I got it, I got it--" Koujaku scoots back away from the table, careful to leave the futon touching the ground so that all the warm air stays under the table. He picks up the thermos and steps down into the slippers at the edge of the room. They're thin, but they're the only protection between his bare feet and the cold floor, but they'll do. He really should wear socks.
He fills the electric kettle and turns it on, shivering slightly. "Hey, Aoba."
"Hnn?"
"When are they coming over?"
"Mink and Clear?" There's a pause as Aoba thinks out loud. "Ah, Clear said they would be over after Mink is finished at work, so.... six o'clock?"
Koujaku frowns, putting the thermos on the counter and looking at his Coil. "It's nearly four, isn't it?"
A cry of alarm comes from the general direction of the kotatsu. Fearing Aoba's burned himself on the heating element, Koujaku whirls, rushing back to the main room and nearly runs into Aoba jamming his feet into his slippers. "This is bad, I haven't even done the shopping yet!"
"Aoba--"
Aoba looks up at Koujaku, distress in his face. "I don't have time--"
Koujaku kisses him hard, and for a moment, Aoba forgets the crush of time urging him to get to the meat counter before all the good cuts are gone or the hourly sales expired. He seems to remember halfway through, whining into the kiss. "Koujaku--"
Koujaku releases him, letting him stumble into the genkan, watching as he puts his shoes on and winds a scarf around his neck. "Be careful."
"It's just up the street!"
"Those old ladies can be vicious about sales," Koujaku says as he ambles toward the apartment door, and he's only half joking. The electric kettle screeches, demanding attention, but it waits as Koujaku leans forward and steals a kiss.
Aoba's worried expression melts away and he beams at Koujaku, tightening his scarf around his neck; without long hair, he needs the scarf even more to ward off the chill. He picks up the umbrella leaning against the wall and then turns back to look at Koujaku, a determined look on his face.
"I'm going!"
"Come back safely," Koujaku replies. Even though Aoba yelps at the cold and closes the door as fast as he can, some of the cold air gets in, swirling around Koujaku's bare ankles. He turns back to quiet the kettle, not seeming to mind at all.
Have you guys seen Goldtectonic’s uniform redesigns?? Because if you haven’t, you’re missing out on something great.
I wanted to have some fun with the look, so I stuck Team Bra in them.
IMPORTANT 2020 EDIT: I want to state that I no longer read or watch Attack on Titan/SnK. I found plot and setting developments too disturbing and insensitive to continue reading, watching, or supporting the series. After consideration, I am choosing to leave my artwork on my now-mostly-inactive-blog, as the SnK fandom on tumblr was an incredible part of my online and fandom convention experience for many years! I strongly encourage any readers who may be seeing this to think critically about the media they consume, and the intent of the creator. Thank you for your understanding.
