III
Digging his way through the busy mob on the sidewalk, Kouyou managed not to spill his takeaway coffee when he finally reached the steps to the justice center in a stumble. Pulling the folders he was carrying closer to his chest he made it up the stairway in no time before he pushed one of the huge glass doors open and headed inside, suddenly stopping mid-track and making another lawyer bump into him.
He ignored the curse the businessman threw after him and headed towards another figure with quick steps.
"Aki!"
The blonde man in used jeans and a tight shirt under the black leather jacket turned around and flashed a smile, putting the motorcycle helmet onto a bench next to him in the foyer, holding his arms open for the taller one to literally jump into his chest and give him a tight hug.
"What's up, pretty?"
Gods, the soft baritone was music to Kouyou's ears. Snuggling up to an odd looking stranger in the middle of the foyer may looked kind of off, but he really didn't mind.
"Let's go up to my office."
The fourteenth floor was far more empty than the foyer had been and Akira stood in front of the huge window front that framed the grey skyline of Tokyo just perfectly before he let himself fall into one of the black leather armchairs.
"Nice office, man...", he huffed and flashed a grin, "I knew you'd be that alpha kind of guy~"
Kouyou took a seat in the office chair behind his desk and leaned back while sipping at his coffee. He loved the raw accent Akira spoke in and suddenly felt a little snobby with his clear Japanese and his attitude.
"Anyways.", the blonde interrupted his thoughts, "Did you call the police?"
Sighing, Kouyou turned his head to look out of the window while Akira made himself busy with lighting a cigarette.
"No."
"...why not?"
"He brought my wallet back, yesterday night."
"What?!"
"It laid on my doorsill this morning, only the cash was missing.", he resumed and closed his eyes. He thought of the small note that had been in the inside.
See you 'round, pretty.
"So he knows where you live."
"My ID was in the wallet, so that's not a big deal."
"I guess he's stealing all of the stuff in your flat right now."
"Then so be it."
Seeing the other's mouth gape open, Kouyou chuckled.
"Don't worry, the apartment has an alert system."
"You damn snob.", Akira snorted and finally seemed to relax a little, seeing his friend being well and healthy, even if robbed.
The brunette now lit himself a cigarette, too before walking over to the group of chairs and letting himself fall down onto the one next to his friend to share an ashtray.
"How about you? Everything fine?"
"I'm moving to Tokyo soon."
"Woh.. really?"
Smiling at his friend, Akira nodded and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, kind of lucky circumstances. I found a job and.. yeah, I wanted to get out of Kanagawa as you left. You know, the guys are gone too and my family mocked me about being the only one left and... yeah..."
"Are you trying to tell me you missed me?", Kouyou mocked and grinned but before he knew it he was pushed deep into his seat as the other leaned over him and stopped right before him, their faces so close that the brunette could feel warm breath against his lips.
"More than you could be ever aware of...", the blonde whispered before closing the gap between them in a short, tender kiss.
And Kouyou melted.
The cigarette from between his fingers fell to the tiled ground and rolled under the low couch table in the middle of the group of chairs as he grabbed a fistful of Akira's hair in the back of his neck and pulled him closer again, snapping for the elder's lips with his own pair.
Parting for air, both of them held their eyes closed for a second, before Kouyou spoke up.
"How long?"
The other's face nestled to his shoulder, still having his knee digging into the seat while his other foot was placed safely to the ground to keep his body up and over Kouyou's fragile form, he whispered back.
"..how long what?"
"How long did you want to do this?", the brunette asked and caressed his fingers along the soft skin of Akira's neck.
"Ever since we moved together."
"Why didn't you..?"
"Because I knew you'd have to leave some day. And I promised myself to hold back until you were gone and stood on your own two feet."
"What if I don't?"
"You do. And you know that."
A pair of lips molded their soft bow against the side of his neck and made Kouyou shiver.
"I'm sorry I rejected you so long..."
Kouyou swallowed and clawed his fingers into the elder's shoulders to get a hold and somehow a little control over the situation. "I missed you...", he whispered, his voice shaky and his eyes filling with tears.
"It's alright now, I'm here with you..."
