Theme:Â fluffy/angst? mild angst? not rlly fluff?
Note: im… sorryÂ
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Mitsuri had invited Obanai, Giyuu, and a couple others to a karaoke center as a sort of group party at the end of summer right before school started again. Obanai had only attended because Sanemi was going. Had he known that Giyuu was going to be there, he would’ve declined immediately. He didn’t know how long he would last. Nevertheless, he didn’t leave, gaze locked on Giyuu as the others went on singing. Giyuu was hovering by Shinobu, quiet and avoiding Obanai.
For the most part, they did avoid each other, making a point to not speak to one another. But as the night droned on, Obanai started feeling drowsy. At some point, he must’ve fallen asleep because next thing he knew, Giyuu was shaking him awake. Momentarily, Obanai’s mind transported him to the past; Giyuu nudging him, pressing a kiss to his forehead as he murmured a tender “good morning”. But then he remembered where he was and realized they were alone. He jolted up, the blood rushing to his head making him falter for a second.
“Where the fuck is everyone?” he asked, yawning.
Giyuu looked hesitant. “They left a while ago. You were asleep and you looked tired, so I offered to wake you in a bit. The others had to leave earlier and Tsutako is out so I could stay for longer today.”
“Oh.” Obanai paused, searching Giyuu’s expression. Why would Giyuu offer to stay? Did he have something to say? He sincerely doubted Giyuu had simply wanted to watch over him. Not after initiating the break up. “Thanks.”
Giyuu raised a shoulder, averting his eyes. “Were you tired? Or bored?” he asked. He was horrible at pretending he wasn’t trying to avoid a topic. Obanai went along with it anyway, too wary to say anything about it.
“Both,” Obanai conceded. “Singing’s not really my thing. Only came because Shinazugawa did.”
“Ah. Right.” Giyuu bit his lip, glancing at him imploringly. “Uhm. It’s been a while.”
Obanai snorted, swinging his legs off the seat and grabbing his bag. “A while,” he agreed. A couple months of ghosting each other, more like. They had broken up before summer, then Obanai had basically fucked up his health, cue the follow up of summer break. At least during the school year, when he was stuck in the hospital for weeks on end, he had homework to pore over, distracting him. But the break had not only introduced days of nothing to do but also more time to sink into a miserable existence with plans he and Giyuu had planned before but would never do now. If not for Sanemi’s forceful care, Obanai would’ve probably been back at the hospital.
Giyuu shifted uncomfortably in the silence that followed. “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“Yeah? What made you think otherwise?” Obanai asked, though it was obvious. Who didn’t know about Obanai’s problems? It seemed like the whole school had found out somehow—rumors, no doubt, had spread despite Obanai not being particularly popular—so it would’ve been a surprise if Giyuu hadn’t know.
“Some talk or other,” hummed Giyuu, looking anywhere but at Obanai. He paused, finally shifting his gaze on him. “I was… worried. I heard from Shinazugawa.”
“Oh.” Obanai let out a breath. “Right.”
He shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course Sanemi would’ve kept Giyuu updated. Sanemi had probably worried second most about Giyuu and Obanai’s break up, right after Obanai. That is, unless, Giyuu had cared. Which was doubtful. He looked fine, right? Still as beautiful as ev—no. Never mind that.
Obanai stood, holding the strap of his bag tightly. “We should go before this place closes.”
Giyuu nodded, murmuring assent. “It is getting late.”
For a moment, neither moved, gazing awkwardly at each other. In a split second where their eyes met, Obanai froze. He felt that maybe, just maybe, Giyuu would apologize. Ask him back out. Hold him, kiss him—fuck, he was being delusional. But, oh, shit, he wanted it so badly. He needed it.
But then Giyuu looked away, breaking the eye contact, clearing his throat. “Shall we?” he said quietly, motioning towards the door.
The blunt rejection shattered Obanai’s hope into pieces and he nodded sullenly, averting his eyes and staring at his feet as they walked, unable to look at Giyuu again. He waited for Giyuu to open the door and—promptly tripped.
He yelped as his foot caught on something that had been discarded near the door, his arms flailing wildly, trying to seek support. Giyuu instantly stepped in, grabbing him by the waist and pulling him back up, clutching his hand.
“Shit, Obanai,” he said, almost amused. “Watch where you’re going.”
Obanai rolled his eyes, cheeks heating up—most definitely not from the way Giyuu was cradling him, their body heat lacing together at their proximity.
“I’m fine. Let me go,” Obanai said, squirming.
“Oh. Sorry,” Giyuu said quickly, releasing his hold on Obanai but not yet letting go of his hand. In fact, his fingers interlaced with Obanai’s like they used to do… before. “Let’s go.”
Obanai made a quick decision not to pull away, reveling in the almost unfamiliar warmth encasing his hand. God, how he’d missed this.
He and Giyuu made their way out of the karaoke center hand in hand, their bags swung over a shoulder. The night air hit Obanai and he breathed it in, a little relieved to make it out. It had been getting quite warm inside.
“You going home now?” Obanai asked, glancing at Giyuu. It was taking everything in him not to break free and run off. He had arrived with Sanemi but since Sanemi had left possibly quite a while ago, he would probably just take a bus to the nearest stop to his house. He noticed, however, Giyuu’s sister’s car parked across the street. She must be with her husband if she was lending him her car.
Giyuu nodded. “You came with… Shinazugawa, right? I saw you two entering together,” he murmured, turning his head. Through the black tufts of his hair, Obanai noticed a pink tint to his cheeks and, presuming it wasn’t from the cold, realized that Giyuu must’ve been watching him earlier.
Well. That was a thought. At least it meant that Obanai was possibly not the only one suffering.
“Yeah. I’ll take a bus, I guess,” Obanai hummed, preparing for his hand to be released. Instead, Giyuu tightened his hold, insistent now.
“No,” he said, almost firmly. “I’m- I have Tsutako’s car, I can drive you home. I know where your house is.”
As if he had to tell him. The countless nights spent at each other’s houses were enough indication that either of them could drive to one another’s house with their eyes closed.
“Please, let me give you a ride,” Giyuu pleaded. It wasn’t about politeness, or whatever Obanai was trying to convince himself this was. Not when Giyuu’s eyes were so full of emotion that shouldn’t accompany an offer to drive someone home.
Shit.
“Fine,” Obanai mumbled, caving. “Fine, but only this once. I don’t know if I brought enough change anyway.”
Giyuu, apparently satisfied, finally let go of Obanai’s hands and rummaged through his bag for his key. They crossed the street and entered the car. For a moment, they simply sat there, an awkward silence filling the close quarters. Then Giyuu started the car and they focused on the road ahead of them, letting the quiet engulf their unease. For a couple minutes, they said nothing. But then Giyuu ruined the mild tranquillity, making Obanai tense in his seat.
“I’ve missed you, Obanai,” he said, without looking over at him. He sounded genuine, almost hurt. But for what? He had broken things off. It wasn’t fair. He wasn’t allowed to… to feel like this.
“It’s your own fault,” Obanai all but snapped, an unknown fury rising in him. Giyuu had no right to come up and say he missed him, holding his hand and gazing at him with those wonderful oasis eyes. He had no right. “You did this to yourself, Giyuu.”
“I know. And I’m sorry,” Giyuu mumbled, eyes poised on the road. He turned a street, maneuvering around a precariously parked car before continuing. “I wasn’t… I felt like shit then, and I know that isn’t any excuse to have made you feel worse but… but I mean that I didn’t break things off because I stopped liking you. I just needed… space.”
Obanai scoffed, glaring out the window. “Oh, what? So I’m too clingy now? You couldn’t have just told me that you needed room because I’m all over you and don’t care?” he asked, the words coming out harshly. It didn’t matter. That’s what Giyuu deserved, right? After all but leaving him in the dark—ignoring calls and texts until Obanai ignored Giyuu’s in turn.
Giyuu glanced at him briefly, looking uncertain. “No! It wasn’t about… about you. I don’t know, I just didn’t want to juggle our relationship on top of everything and I was afraid you’d end up with a half-assed boyfriend. I wasn’t… I wasn’t thinking right, okay? I’m sorry,” he said, his grip in the steering wheel tightening.
Obanai said nothing, watching as Giyuu pulled over in front of his house, stopping the car. Then Giyuu paused, supporting an arm against Obanai’s seat and leaning closer. He looked insistent, desperate. His voice rivaled his expression, an unsaid plead tucked beneath the words.
“Obanai… I’ve missed you. I love you. I’m sorry I fucked up, but I swear I’ll… I’ll do better,” Giyuu mumbled.
Obanai turned to look at him, tracking the familiar face. Even in the darkness of the night, he could make out each feature. Or perhaps it was constructed from the hundreds of memories he’d had with Giyuu, cupping his face in his hands, trailing kisses down his nose. He could sculpt him from memory, from his plush lips to his arched eyebrows—the dark couldn’t hinder his sight. He’d perfected his memory of Giyuu in the months of agonizing and dreaming about him after their break up as well. Fuck, did he hate himself for it. He wished, almost, that Giyuu was a stranger. Then it wouldn’t hurt so much. To be so close, to be so far away.
At some point, either of them must’ve moved forward. They were inches away, Giyuu’s fingers grazing Obanai’s cheek, brushing stray hair to the side. Giyuu’s eyes flicked down and it took Obanai only a second to place the look.
“I- Giyuu,” he whispered, feeling Giyuu’s breath against his face. They were closer, so close. Only a stumble, a single movement forward and they would- would kiss. “Giyuu, I can’t… I’m…”
“Please,” Giyuu said, the words almost palpable, scratching gently on Obanai as they accompanied the heat of breath. “Please, Obanai, I love you.”
Obanai met his eyes, leaning forward. Slowly—oh, so slowly. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” he gasped, though he didn’t move.
A crease wrinkled Giyuu’s forehead and a small frown tugged at his lips. “Obanai…” he mumbled. His lips were only a breath away, so close, just- just a little more and—
Obanai jerked away, eyes wide and panicky. “I can’t. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he stuttered, turning and fumbling with the door, swinging it open. He grabbed his bag and stepped out. “Shit. I’m- I can’t-“
He glanced back at Giyuu. One look at the hurt expression written on his face had him almost keeling on the spot, ready to hurtle back into the car and kiss the sorrowful look away. But he moved back, stumbling.
“I’m sorry,” he said again, both hands curled tightly around the strap of his bag. He offered one last look before turning and fleeing, unable to stay any longer. When he reached his house, he looked back, realizing he’d forgotten to close the door. He found the car exactly as it had been, the passenger side’s door wide open and the silhouette of Giyuu frozen in his seat.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, unlocking his door and stepping inside.Â
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« Word count: 1987 »
ok so i promise. i promise they’re going to get back together. give me one last part.
anyway this was genuinely super fun :3 suddenly exes to lovers is such a nice trope to write (it also gave me a big motivation boost YES)
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