youraffection | [IC] Inbox @ recolle

That's right.

[ Yu tucks his head against Yosuke's, sighing and letting his eyes slip shut. He could stay here all night, warm in Yosuke's arms.

Unfortunately for him, just having warm arms around him and feeling safe and contented is making him remember in a real hurry how exhausted he really is. It slams into him from head to toe, a bone deep tiredness that makes him want to pass out right there on the playground.

Instead he'll sigh again, pressing a kiss to Yosuke's hair. ]

What time is it? [ His voice is a sleepy mumble. It's got to be nearing 3:30 by now, right? Or later...? ]

[ He can almost feel the shift in fatigue in Yu's form. The rumble in Yu's chest as he speaks is louder than his voice, but Yosuke can hear him as well as he can feel him.

He shifts, pulling his cell phone out of his back pocket and holds it up behind Yu's shoulder so he can read the screen. ]

Oh...shit, it's 3:47. Um...what time are we meeting everyone?

Two o'clock, [ he says promptly, in the same sleepy mumble. Ten hours from now... ten hours from now they have to meet everyone... ]

We should probably get some rest.

[ He sounds reluctant to leave, though... if he goes home now he'll probably just wake Souji, and he doesn't want to disturb his brother who surely only got to sleep a short while ago, given they all got back at 2 AM.

... but if he's honest with himself, he also doesn't want to leave Yosuke ... ]

[ He's just happy it's not, at like, six in the morning or they would be royally screwed. Yosuke sighs and pulls back, his own embrace loosening until his hands kind of hang out on Yu's waist. ]

Yeah...

[ Does this mean this is...over? He doesn't want it to be over. Does that make him desperate? Needy? ]

So...

[ Yosuke looks down. Is it obvious he's not into the idea of everything stopping now? Will reality after this be more difficult? ]

...

[ Wait a second. ]

...M-My house isn't too far from here...um--I mean, there's a bus that runs on the hour and then it's like a 20 minute ride...

[ Ah, Yosuke stepped back... Yu watches him, tired and concerned, but his hands rest on Yosuke's upper arms, a gentle grip that's the sign of how little he wants to break away. He's quiet while Yosuke hems and haws and tries to think of a way out, mostly because he's also furiously trying to think of a way to keep this night from ending. He doesn't want it to be over.

If only he knew Yosuke were thinking the exact same thing. He might never recover from how flustered he'd get.

Just as he's about to gently, if regretfully, suggest that they need to go, Yosuke throws them both a lifeline. Yu lifts his eyebrows, blinks twice, and then, with a huff, leans in to openly nuzzle his boyfriend, nose to nose, foreheads touching. He's so exhausted the inhibitions that would normally keep him from being so openly affectionate have completely dissolved. ]

Well, what are we waiting for, then?

[ God. Yu is too cute.

Yosuke's stomach flips at the nuzzle. If Yu is going to keep doing stuff like this, Yosuke isn't sure how long he'll be able to take this before he just turns into a pile of goo. Kisses and nuzzles...who would have thought it'd make him go weak at the knees? Yosuke laughs a little airily and nods. ]

Let's go.

[ He just invited Yu over to his place. After they agreed to date.

Oh my god.

Yosuke steps back fully now, missing Yu's warmth, but he doesn't want to miss the bus. He motions for Yu to come with him and exit the park. Unlocking his phone, he pulls up his transit app. ]

Looks like there's a stop on the other end of the park, and...the bus will come at 4:03 AM. D'you have your card?

[ To be honest, the scandalousness of this whole plan hasn't quite hit Yu yet. He's just picturing a soft warm bed and falling asleep in his boyfriend's arms. It'll probably hit him when it's time to go to sleep - and they're going to sleep together - just a few hours after they agreed to start dating--

Well, that's something for him to realize and silently flip out about once they get there.

Yu will follow along, hands in his pockets as he turns his head to watch Yosuke. ]

Yeah. I still have my wallet on me, after all. [ A beat, and he huffs a laugh. ] 4 AM. So we'll be back at your place around 4:30?

[ He'll reach out and take Yosuke's free hand, casual as you please. ]

[ He shouldn't be surprised, but he is, when Yu grabs his hand. Yosuke pauses, catching Yu's gaze before it drops to their joined hands. After a moment, he offers a squeeze as he ducks his head. Why is this still embarrassing after they've kissed?

God, they've kissed

Ahhhhhh. ]

Y-Yeah. It's the 240 so it'll stop about five minutes from my street.

[ The bus stop by the park is lit by a single streetlight overhead. Yosuke pointedly stops our of the immediate light. Darkness feels safer. He glances at his phone. ]

We've still got five minutes.

[ To be honest, he might not be this bold if he were less tired. It's probably a good thing. Once he's awake and a bit more conscious of his actions again, he'll be able to remember that all of this was okay, and Yosuke seems to like it, and he can keep doing it.

He can kiss Yosuke whenever he wants, now.

Speaking of that, actually...

Once they hit the bus stop Yu will let go of Yosuke's hand in order to stretch both his arms over his head. As he does so, he'll yawn hugely, his whole face scrunching up with it. But once he relaxes again, he'll give Yosuke a certain Look, smirking a little. ]

Five minutes, huh... I can think of a few things we can do with that time.

[ There's definitely reason that Yosuke didn't stand directly in the light, and...this may be part of it. Okay, so maybe he doesn't want to see people holding hands, but just in case...

Yosuke looks up from his phone, brows raising slightly. ]

...Oh yeah?

[ This is something they're going to do a lot, huh?

Yosuke shoves his phone into his pocket without even turning the screen off, totally not caring, and turns to face Yu properly. He's a little closer as well. ]

I'm, uh, open to suggestion...

[ Yu only smiles in that mysterious way he sometimes gets, taking a step closer to his friend. He's got that intense look back on his face, and for a moment it seems like he's about to lean in...

... and then he puts out his palm and plops his other first into it with middle and pointer fingers extended. ]

We could play rock-paper-scissors. What do you think?

[ 100% innocence, this face. ]

[ Oh my god. ]

Oh my god.

[ Yu is ridiculous. Yosuke, while is amused in some small fashion, blushes in embarrassment of his a little less innocent assumptions and shoves Yu away from him by the shoulder. ]

You're such a dork.

[ Rocks away with the shove, and then steps in close and tangles the fingers of one hand with one of Yosuke's, standing close enough that their sides are nearly pressed together. In a warm murmur: ]

Hm, I thought the thrill of battle could help keep us awake, but if you'd rather find another way to spend our time...

[ Damn the way his heart skips a beat as Yu finds his hand and lessens the space between them considerably. Yosuke huffs, eyeing the other boy suspiciously. ]

Nuh-uh, no, you're going to turn whatever I say into something weird.

... you make that sound like a challenge ...

[ Murmured thoughtfully. ]

Why, what else were you thinking of saying?

This feels like a trap.

[ Banter is enough to keep them awake, isn't it? Yosuke sighs and looks away down the street. ]

We probably shouldn't anyway...

[ Simple as you please, Yu leans in to peck Yosuke's cheek. Short, simple, and sweet. ]

We'll have plenty of time for that kind of thing later.

[ Gives Yosuke's hand a squeeze. ]

[ For all their banter, he wasn't actually expecting that. It's cute and Yosuke gives a little jump in surprise before touching his cheek with the opposite hand. ]

You--

[ He turns to look at Yu. He...he considers.

Yosuke drops his hand, sucks in a breath, and leans in--

Aaaaand the bus rolls up. Yosuke doubles backwards, trying to put some reasonable distance between Yu and himself and likewise extracts his hand from Yu's.

Awkward.

He swallows, fumbling for his wallet as he steps into the light from the street lamp so the bus knows to stop. ]

[ Ah.

Robbed of a kiss at the last second...

To be honest, Yu had been content (and a little pleasantly surprised) to let the kiss happen, if Yosuke wanted it to, simply smiling a little--

--but then the bus had rolled up and Yosuke jumped like he'd been shocked. Yu doesn't react much, as is his way; just kinda stands there blinking, his expression blank. Well, he thinks, maybe he'd've done the same if he'd been the one to notice first that the bus was coming. Though he can't help but consider that his reasons for backing away would probably be very different from Yosuke's, if he's honest with himself...

Still. Yu won't say anything, just pull out his own wallet. The bus spots them and rolls to a stop, an Yu will ascend, swiping his card before moving to a seat somewhere towards the middle of the bus. Of course it's utterly deserted except for them. He'll wait till Yosuke takes a seat beside him, then nudge his best friend's shoulder, a faint smile showing that he's not upset. ]

What now? We could play "I Spy" to pass the time.

[ The fact that he's accepting his feelings for Yu, a guy, after being unable to even acknowledge the thought a few weeks ago is a big thing. Being able to be comfortable with that in front of other people will take some work, even in the dark of 4 in the morning. But it's not about Yu--it's about himself. And he'll figure it out eventually.

Just over an hour into their relationship, though, he's very thankful Yu doesn't comment on it. He's calmed down a little after stepping onto the bus and taking his seat next to Yu. Luckily the bus driver doesn't give half a shit which high schoolers--well, one high schooler and his newly graduated friend--are doing.

Yosuke looks a little ashamed, but he nudges Yu's shoulder back and bumps their knees together as a way to show that he does want to be close. ]

Dude, it's dark outside, we can barely see anything.

[ Knowing that is really the core of the reason that Yu isn't upset. This thing between them is so new still, so raw, that he can understand Yosuke still struggling to come to terms with it. Frankly, he's kind of having a hard time believing it himself. What if he wakes up and finds out that no, Yosuke wasn't okay with it, that he really was just making stupid, baseless assumptions and he not only hasn't got a boyfriend, but has lost his best friend--?

They've got their own insecurities to deal with. And they will, slowly, one step at a time. There's no need to rush.

Yu will give a minute shake of his head - there's nothing to feel bad about - and simply lean a little against Yosuke's shoulder. Nothing perceptible as strange even if you were sitting across from them, which the bus driver isn't, but enough to show he's glad to be close, too. ]

Then you're not trying hard enough. Still, if you're not up to the challenge, we can try something else...

[ Guess they'll just have to see how the morning goes?

Yosuke offers a small, grateful smile. They don't need to say it, which is nice. Yosuke has always felt like he's got a pretty good understanding going on with Yu, but sometimes their understanding does seem to go beyond words.

Yosuke sighs, though good-naturedly. ]

Okay...I spy with my little eye something...black.

[ You know.

All the seats on the bus. ]

[ Any anxiety that built up in the past few minutes melts away when Yosuke smiles at him. Yu is more in love than he wants to admit with that smile. Surreptitiously, he'll reach out and curl his hand around Yosuke's, keeping their joined hands hidden on the seat between them. No one has to know. Undoubtedly the driver wouldn't care, but Yosuke would care, so it can be their little secret.

Yu doesn't even look around to spot something black. He's got eyes only for Yosuke, his expression almost absurdly fond. It's clear how lovestruck he is. ]

The floor?

[ To be fair, it is black.

And when it comes to his turn, Yu will also say he spies something black, which not only breaks the rules, but is a reference to the sky, which he can only sort of see. He is too preoccupied with staring at, leaning against, being with Yosuke to really care.

All in all, it's a very warm and peaceful 20 minute trip.

Eventually Yu will glance around, trying to make out the dim scenery. It's past 4... ]

Is this going to be our stop?

[ Yu is such a dork.

Yosuke is totally okay with holding hands where no one can see it--in a deserted bus with an uninterested driver? Perfect. He'll even indulge Yu's silly game, although it becomes increasingly obvious that Yu has little interest in the game itself. By the time that they roll down the street Yosuke knows is theirs, he's pink in the cheeks and unable to make actual eye contact with his new boyfriend anymore. ]

Y-Yeah--this is it!

[ He reaches across Yu to pull the cord, signaling their request for a stop. With the ding, Yosuke lets go of Yu's hand and takes a spot near the back door, waiting for Yu to accompany him. The driver pulls up to the stop and opens the door, waving off the kids without much of a word. Stepping down onto the sidewalk feels a little surreal, mostly because it's dark and he's tired, though street lamps dot the residential streets every here and there.

As soon as Yu is off the bus and he's certain that it's rounded the corner and out of sight, it's Yosuke who reaches for Yu's hand.

Because he can, dammit. ]

It's this way...

[ He tugs the other boy along, heading toward a corner and turning left. ]

[ It's a good thing they're here. Any longer and Yu might not have been able to resist sneaking a kiss, not with that look on his boyfriend's face. Shy and pleased - it's a pretty good look on him.

He'll stand without any protest, though he'll offer a quiet "thank you" to the driver before joining Yosuke on the street. The bus leaves them behind, and they're quite alone in the cool darkness of the night. Yu is about to open his mouth to speak when Yosuke takes his hand, and that shuts him up pretty effectively. Fit to burst, he just kind of lets Yosuke tug him along, not even trying to hide the fact that he's got a charmed little grin on his face.

Once they're nearing the house: ]

We'll be able to get in without waking anyone?

[ Curiously, a sincere question. ]

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