[ bashful is such an interesting look for reki. not that kojiro hasn't seen it on him before, but it's such an elusive state, hidden behind sunshine and storm clouds. but an important distinction for this is that kojiro leaves space for his vulnerability. he lets reki curl against him, watches with a small smile while reki's hands play over his arm, and pointedly refuses to comment on the adorably flustered way reki stumbles over his words.
reki's got his hand already. he's running his thumb over kojiro's palm throughout the demand, so this is either metaphorical or stalling for time. regardless, kojiro's smile is nothing short of total serenity, patience incarnate when he lifts his hand along with his brow. ]
[ the problem here is that reki's actively throwing himself into a situation with no plan. voluntarily, because if he thinks too hard about this, that box is going to rot in the bottom of that drawer for the rest of their natural lives. kind of kills the point that way. ]
Don't get ahead of yourself.
[ good, then. if this hand is his, he can set himself upright and balance everything on his knee while he creaks open that box. the rings inside are simple: plain, silvery bands inlaid with a circle of vividly pigmented bloodstone, but there are more personal touches tucked away inside. reki doesn't even bother flashing them before he carefully slides one on to kojiro's finger. they'll get there. ]
I'll get you a better one someday. But these ones can take a fucking beating, right? It's the same metal I welded into your trucks so they don't crack anymore. Just gotta make sure to take it off next time you wanna drop some mouthy moron at a show or this thing is going straight through their skull.
[ no question, no qualm, not a beat missed before kojiro's reached up to cradle reki's cheek and pulled him into another kiss. it's all tenderness, sweetness, languid pulls through a soft smile. because the ring feels so right on his hand. not that kojiro's ever been averse to commitment, but it hasn't felt like this before. like he wants to. like it's the way things are supposed to be, and this ring is resting exactly where it's meant to, simply by virtue of the fact that reki put it there.
there's no rushing through these kisses. no desperation. just quiet gratitude soaked into every corner of them, and a love that can't be quantified with rings or words or promises. but when kojiro's satisfied that he's conveyed his point, he takes the other ring from the box, and carefully works it onto reki's finger. that's when he finally stops to admire them; holds his hand out next to reki's, and stops to really look at them.
the differences are so stark when their hands are beside each other like this. kojiro's hand is so much larger, darker. but these red-and-green stones are the perfect bridge for that gap, tying up all the contrasts and linking them inexorably. kojiro has to swallow hard past a lump that's suddenly rising in his throat, right before he links their hands together and grips reki tight. ]
They're perfect. You're perfect. Thank you.
[ And, just to be clear: ]
I promise I won't brain anyone with it, even if they deserve it.
[ it's not a surprising answer when kojiro's been threatening to wife him since the break, but reki's ears still burn when they pick up the words and seeing the bands in place hits a lot harder than he thought it would. nothing he's ever done has felt meaningful; there's a considerable weight to the image of their fingers intertwined, brightness and pride and security and a whole host of emotions he can't even name yet.
now isn't the time anyway. he doesn't think he's ever seen kojiro smile like this before and it sinks right into that internal mire where everything else goes to be discounted and dismissed, purifying the waters and soothing that rotten ache of anxiety. he likes them. kojiro likes them. all that hard work paid off. reki's grinning so hard that his face hurts. ]
You don't gotta promise that. It's just a warning. Brain whoever the fuck you want.
[ he still has that other hand to run softly-sweeping touches over kojiro's cheek and trace the line of his jaw. it's all that he can do when kojiro looks so handsomely content, when his heart is so full of all these imperative feelings that he suddenly can't get enough of him. not much room to maneuver when reki's breathing him in like he's the last gasp of air in a vacuum, but he works it out. ]
[ there's nothing else for kojiro now, no way he could ever dredge up this depth of emotion for anyone but reki. somewhere along the way, this boy seized a complete monopoly on his heart, and kojiro hasn't known peace since. it's a cool breeze on a sweltering day, but also every single soul-searing fire in hell; salve and sanctuary, lust and fixation. kojiro's hooked, and he never ever wants to be free of it.
but that's too easy to dismiss, and kojiro can't leave room for that with reki. so the sweeping hands on his jaw only serve to beckon him, to catch reki's lips in tender pulls and careful passes of his tongue. and every push is steeped in the sweetest, warmest affirmations kojiro can manage, low and rumbling against reki's lips: ]
no subject
reki's got his hand already. he's running his thumb over kojiro's palm throughout the demand, so this is either metaphorical or stalling for time. regardless, kojiro's smile is nothing short of total serenity, patience incarnate when he lifts his hand along with his brow. ]
It's yours, babe.
[ is that metaphorical? who knows. ]
no subject
Don't get ahead of yourself.
[ good, then. if this hand is his, he can set himself upright and balance everything on his knee while he creaks open that box. the rings inside are simple: plain, silvery bands inlaid with a circle of vividly pigmented bloodstone, but there are more personal touches tucked away inside. reki doesn't even bother flashing them before he carefully slides one on to kojiro's finger. they'll get there. ]
I'll get you a better one someday. But these ones can take a fucking beating, right? It's the same metal I welded into your trucks so they don't crack anymore. Just gotta make sure to take it off next time you wanna drop some mouthy moron at a show or this thing is going straight through their skull.
[ speaking of getting ahead of yourself ]
If you... wanna wear it.
no subject
[ no question, no qualm, not a beat missed before kojiro's reached up to cradle reki's cheek and pulled him into another kiss. it's all tenderness, sweetness, languid pulls through a soft smile. because the ring feels so right on his hand. not that kojiro's ever been averse to commitment, but it hasn't felt like this before. like he wants to. like it's the way things are supposed to be, and this ring is resting exactly where it's meant to, simply by virtue of the fact that reki put it there.
there's no rushing through these kisses. no desperation. just quiet gratitude soaked into every corner of them, and a love that can't be quantified with rings or words or promises. but when kojiro's satisfied that he's conveyed his point, he takes the other ring from the box, and carefully works it onto reki's finger. that's when he finally stops to admire them; holds his hand out next to reki's, and stops to really look at them.
the differences are so stark when their hands are beside each other like this. kojiro's hand is so much larger, darker. but these red-and-green stones are the perfect bridge for that gap, tying up all the contrasts and linking them inexorably. kojiro has to swallow hard past a lump that's suddenly rising in his throat, right before he links their hands together and grips reki tight. ]
They're perfect. You're perfect. Thank you.
[ And, just to be clear: ]
I promise I won't brain anyone with it, even if they deserve it.
no subject
now isn't the time anyway. he doesn't think he's ever seen kojiro smile like this before and it sinks right into that internal mire where everything else goes to be discounted and dismissed, purifying the waters and soothing that rotten ache of anxiety. he likes them. kojiro likes them. all that hard work paid off. reki's grinning so hard that his face hurts. ]
You don't gotta promise that. It's just a warning. Brain whoever the fuck you want.
[ he still has that other hand to run softly-sweeping touches over kojiro's cheek and trace the line of his jaw. it's all that he can do when kojiro looks so handsomely content, when his heart is so full of all these imperative feelings that he suddenly can't get enough of him. not much room to maneuver when reki's breathing him in like he's the last gasp of air in a vacuum, but he works it out. ]
Just... stay with me, okay?
no subject
[ there's nothing else for kojiro now, no way he could ever dredge up this depth of emotion for anyone but reki. somewhere along the way, this boy seized a complete monopoly on his heart, and kojiro hasn't known peace since. it's a cool breeze on a sweltering day, but also every single soul-searing fire in hell; salve and sanctuary, lust and fixation. kojiro's hooked, and he never ever wants to be free of it.
but that's too easy to dismiss, and kojiro can't leave room for that with reki. so the sweeping hands on his jaw only serve to beckon him, to catch reki's lips in tender pulls and careful passes of his tongue. and every push is steeped in the sweetest, warmest affirmations kojiro can manage, low and rumbling against reki's lips: ]
You got me, babe. I'm here. I'm all yours.