[ Kojiro's almost finished cooking dinner by the time Kaoru's assuming himself into the apartment. As he does, and as Kaoru does. There's a sharp sizzling from the kitchen, and an absolutely mouthwatering aroma has permeated the entire house. And of course he's made enough to feed them both, because hardly a day goes by that Kaoru doesn't wander into either Sia la Luce or Kojiro's apartment expecting food, and Kojiro never disappoints.
There's also a full glass of sauvignon blanc on the table, ready and waiting for Kaoru to dive in. ]
Paella's almost ready, bread's on the table with your wine, cannoli for dessert.
But-- [ Kojiro's really good at multitasking; they can have this conversation while he's cooking, if Kaoru insists. ] That text didn't sound like a request.
[Kaoru moves to the table and takes up his glass before making his way into the kitchen and leaning back against the wall as he watches Kojiro work. He'll never admit it, but it's one of his favorite parts of the day.]
Is there any reason you shouldn't move in with me?
[ There's no reason they shouldn't live together. None whatsoever. But that doesn't mean Kojiro wouldn't appreciate some-- artifice. Isn't it almost like a proposal, after all? Not that expects Kaoru to take a knee and give him a ring, but a conversation about this would have been the ideal way to go about it.
But dinner's done, so Kojiro kills the burner, but he takes a few minutes to lean against the counter, arms crossed and jaw tight. ]
Isn't this some kinda major life-altering decision that we should have a conversation about before you just go throwing your weight around?
Technically it is a question. You can say no if you want.
[It wouldn't even change anything in the relationship. What would change it would be them moving in together.
Kaoru takes a drink of his wine and pushes off the wall.]
And I'm not throwing my weight around. I'm not you. I'm simply stating the next logical step. We feel the same so it's logical to live together before taking the next step.
[The next step in Kaoru's world being letting others know that this is a thing that's happening at all.]
'Kojiro, would you like to move in together?' That's a question. 'Live with me,' is a demand. Don't get it twisted, princess.
[ Kojiro's flustered. More flustered than Kaoru has seen him in a while, and that's saying something considering how on-edge he'd been during Kaoru's injury and recovery. But Kaoru knows him, and he's smart enough to work out that it's the content of this conversation that's got Kojiro worked up, rather than the method of delivery.
Because really, what did Kojiro expect? This is exactly how Kaoru would ask him to move in together, question or no.
Kojiro sighs, and goes about plating the food before he snaps again. ]
So how would we do this? [ He mumbles through the garnishing. ] Would I move in with you? You wanna come here? Should we find a new place?
[At the term 'princess' Kaoru almost visibly twitches. This isn't how he expected this to go - although he should have. He knows that Kojiro's actions aren't because of his not wanting to live together (honestly, he'll probably kick himself later for not being the first one to bring it up), it's the fact that he feels blindsided by it. Something Kaoru finds ridiculous.]
I would think that you would move into my place. It's far too complicated to uninstall and reinstall Carla somewhere else.
[And it goes without saying that Kojiro would refuse to let Kaoru install her in his place. And Kaoru won't go anywhere without her.]
We could sublet your apartment if you like; or you could keep it for times when you need to keep an eye on the restaurant.
[Or when their fights are large enough that separate apartments are required.]
[ It won't. They're both always sleeping in one place or the other lately. Realistically, it would just mean Kojiro moving all of his clothing over there instead of just a portion of it.
Carla again, though. Kojiro's jaw tightens, but he can't bring himself to snap. He always knew he'd have to relent eventually. As much as he hates playing second string to some goddamn code, it's the reality of loving Kaoru. Just something he has to swallow, just like Kaoru has to swallow his occasional dimwittedness, ever may he tear Kojiro down about it.
Food's plated, immaculate presentation and all, but he doesn't take it out to the table yet. Instead, he snags a couple fingers under Kaoru's obi, yanks him closer and steps forward to meet him halfway, then dips down to steal a kiss. ]
Do you love me? [ Kojiro asks when he leans away again. ] Like really? Enough that you're not gonna go feral having me around all the time?
[Kaoru returns the kiss before offering Kojiro's question a flat frown. Does the other man think so little of him to believe this offer hasn't been thought about before hand? That Kaoru hasn't run every possible scenario through his mind (and through Carla's algorithm) over a hundred times before offering it? Kaoru isn't Kojiro, he's not the sort to offer things on a whim.]
Of course I do, you idiot.
[Of course, he knows how little that sounds in the sincere department when he's calling Kojiro an idiot in the same breath as he's telling him that he loves him. The thing is that Kojiro is his idiot.]
I haven't tried to kill you yet and we practically live together already.
[Not one to let Kojiro to get the last word - or kiss - in, Kaoru pulls Kojiro by the shirt front and kisses him back.]
Besides, I'm sure you can duck enough to stay alive.
[ Still not hearing anything like I want to live with you, Kojiro, but at the end of the day, he doesn't really expect to. The fact that Kaoru's even expressing this much should be more than enough to convey that fact, and Kojiro can play that entire snappy conversation out in his head without saying a damn thing. It'd be nice to hear; just sometimes, some day. But Kojiro's always the one to bend like that, not Kaoru.
Granted, Kojiro usually uses sincerity and flattery as a weapon anyway, but details.
But no harm, no foul. Kojiro lands another kiss to Kaoru's forehead before he disengages, and snags their plates to lay them out at the table. It's always a nice presentation, even for casual dinners like this. Kojiro puts care and effort into everything he does, and dinner is no exception. He even pulls Kaoru’s chair out for him. ]
[Kaoru doesn't even comment on the presentation or the fact that Kojiro pulled out his chair for him when he sits down. It's all appreciated, but there's no way that he's going to acknowledge that fact. Instead, he waits for the other man to sit down before taking his napkin and laying it in his lap before asking the inevitable question.]
Well? Are you going to live with me?
[It's not flowers or sky writing. If Kojiro wanted that he should have fallen for someone else. This is Kaoru and Kaoru is practical and quickly cuts to the chase with things. It's why his barbs are so stinging when they fight.]
[ Kojiro sighs as he drops into his own seat across from Kaoru. He doesn't dig into his own food. Not just yet. Kaoru can practically see the cogs turning in his head -- or getting stuck and refusing to turn, as it were -- and it's hard to find an appetite past that kind of internal upheaval.
But he does take a long sip of his wine.
It's not like he needs some kind of grand overture. Somehow, after everything that's happened, after everything they've been to each other, it feels like it should be more involved than this. Maybe because nothing has ever come easy for them. But-- ]
Yeah, I'll live with you.
[ No point overcomplicating things that don't need to be hard, no matter what Kaoru's reasoning is for it. ]
We can figure out what to do with my place later, I guess.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
beefyspaghetti) wrote2021-05-08 06:09 pm
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That's mean
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[He was waiting for that.]
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Well?
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[ Kojiro's almost finished cooking dinner by the time Kaoru's assuming himself into the apartment. As he does, and as Kaoru does. There's a sharp sizzling from the kitchen, and an absolutely mouthwatering aroma has permeated the entire house. And of course he's made enough to feed them both, because hardly a day goes by that Kaoru doesn't wander into either Sia la Luce or Kojiro's apartment expecting food, and Kojiro never disappoints.
There's also a full glass of sauvignon blanc on the table, ready and waiting for Kaoru to dive in. ]
Paella's almost ready, bread's on the table with your wine, cannoli for dessert.
But-- [ Kojiro's really good at multitasking; they can have this conversation while he's cooking, if Kaoru insists. ] That text didn't sound like a request.
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[Kaoru moves to the table and takes up his glass before making his way into the kitchen and leaning back against the wall as he watches Kojiro work. He'll never admit it, but it's one of his favorite parts of the day.]
Is there any reason you shouldn't move in with me?
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[ There's no reason they shouldn't live together. None whatsoever. But that doesn't mean Kojiro wouldn't appreciate some-- artifice. Isn't it almost like a proposal, after all? Not that expects Kaoru to take a knee and give him a ring, but a conversation about this would have been the ideal way to go about it.
But dinner's done, so Kojiro kills the burner, but he takes a few minutes to lean against the counter, arms crossed and jaw tight. ]
Isn't this some kinda major life-altering decision that we should have a conversation about before you just go throwing your weight around?
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[It wouldn't even change anything in the relationship. What would change it would be them moving in together.
Kaoru takes a drink of his wine and pushes off the wall.]
And I'm not throwing my weight around. I'm not you. I'm simply stating the next logical step. We feel the same so it's logical to live together before taking the next step.
[The next step in Kaoru's world being letting others know that this is a thing that's happening at all.]
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[ Kojiro's flustered. More flustered than Kaoru has seen him in a while, and that's saying something considering how on-edge he'd been during Kaoru's injury and recovery. But Kaoru knows him, and he's smart enough to work out that it's the content of this conversation that's got Kojiro worked up, rather than the method of delivery.
Because really, what did Kojiro expect? This is exactly how Kaoru would ask him to move in together, question or no.
Kojiro sighs, and goes about plating the food before he snaps again. ]
So how would we do this? [ He mumbles through the garnishing. ] Would I move in with you? You wanna come here? Should we find a new place?
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I would think that you would move into my place. It's far too complicated to uninstall and reinstall Carla somewhere else.
[And it goes without saying that Kojiro would refuse to let Kaoru install her in his place. And Kaoru won't go anywhere without her.]
We could sublet your apartment if you like; or you could keep it for times when you need to keep an eye on the restaurant.
[Or when their fights are large enough that separate apartments are required.]
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[ It won't. They're both always sleeping in one place or the other lately. Realistically, it would just mean Kojiro moving all of his clothing over there instead of just a portion of it.
Carla again, though. Kojiro's jaw tightens, but he can't bring himself to snap. He always knew he'd have to relent eventually. As much as he hates playing second string to some goddamn code, it's the reality of loving Kaoru. Just something he has to swallow, just like Kaoru has to swallow his occasional dimwittedness, ever may he tear Kojiro down about it.
Food's plated, immaculate presentation and all, but he doesn't take it out to the table yet. Instead, he snags a couple fingers under Kaoru's obi, yanks him closer and steps forward to meet him halfway, then dips down to steal a kiss. ]
Do you love me? [ Kojiro asks when he leans away again. ] Like really? Enough that you're not gonna go feral having me around all the time?
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Of course I do, you idiot.
[Of course, he knows how little that sounds in the sincere department when he's calling Kojiro an idiot in the same breath as he's telling him that he loves him. The thing is that Kojiro is his idiot.]
I haven't tried to kill you yet and we practically live together already.
[Not one to let Kojiro to get the last word - or kiss - in, Kaoru pulls Kojiro by the shirt front and kisses him back.]
Besides, I'm sure you can duck enough to stay alive.
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[ Still not hearing anything like I want to live with you, Kojiro, but at the end of the day, he doesn't really expect to. The fact that Kaoru's even expressing this much should be more than enough to convey that fact, and Kojiro can play that entire snappy conversation out in his head without saying a damn thing. It'd be nice to hear; just sometimes, some day. But Kojiro's always the one to bend like that, not Kaoru.
Granted, Kojiro usually uses sincerity and flattery as a weapon anyway, but details.
But no harm, no foul. Kojiro lands another kiss to Kaoru's forehead before he disengages, and snags their plates to lay them out at the table. It's always a nice presentation, even for casual dinners like this. Kojiro puts care and effort into everything he does, and dinner is no exception. He even pulls Kaoru’s chair out for him. ]
Come on. Come eat.
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Well? Are you going to live with me?
[It's not flowers or sky writing. If Kojiro wanted that he should have fallen for someone else. This is Kaoru and Kaoru is practical and quickly cuts to the chase with things. It's why his barbs are so stinging when they fight.]
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But he does take a long sip of his wine.
It's not like he needs some kind of grand overture. Somehow, after everything that's happened, after everything they've been to each other, it feels like it should be more involved than this. Maybe because nothing has ever come easy for them. But-- ]
Yeah, I'll live with you.
[ No point overcomplicating things that don't need to be hard, no matter what Kaoru's reasoning is for it. ]
We can figure out what to do with my place later, I guess.
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