“I can practically hear you thinking too hard,” he muttered as he chased every kiss with one of his own. “You’re supposed to let go of overthinking when you’re drunk.” Enzo supposed he couldn’t fully blame Kosei for any wariness he might’ve felt. It wasn’t like he’d made it easier when they were younger. And in hindsight, there was a part of him that wished he hadn’t shrugged Kosei off the way he had. But he’d spent a long time convincing himself that depending on anyone else was a fault, and that he hadn’t needed anyone. Didn’t need the weakness that came along with it. A large part of Enzo still believed it.[break][break]

But right then, he felt the bittersweet nostalgia that came with this. The flare that seemed to exist after years of separation and resentment for everything that had gone wrong. How could he not want to indulge in that? Letting go came easier for him–he could explain it away later, and for now, he could allow himself to want. The sound of his name on the other’s tongue rumbled through him as much as the firm click of the lock did. “Kos,” he said again, curving into the familiar touch. Rough hands, warm hands, as he stumbled backward at the push. A third repetition of his name, no more than a breath.[break][break]

He let himself tip backward, thumping against the bed with its soft blanketing and downy pillows. A low, throaty laugh escaped his throat as he grinning up at Kosei with droopy, hungry eyes. Eager hands slipped up and hooked around Kosei’s neck as soon as he’d drawn close enough, dragging him closer still. His arms draped further, fingers twisting into the shirt fabric around his shoulder blades.[break][break]

“Tesoro.” His words fell in a hush as his eyes studied Kosei from up close. The dialect allowed him to murmur the things he wanted to say, but still felt too wary of. Too exposed, even now. “Sento la tua mancanza.” Closing the gap between them again, there was too much tenderness in the press of his mouth. Soft in the way it drifted to the corner of the other’s mouth, then along his jaw to the hollow below his ear. Maybe in the morning, he’d claim it was only a persuasive means of getting what he wanted out of him. But the softness there was almost too plain. Like the words he’d spoken moments prior had been in the common language–[break][break]

Darling. I miss you so.


[break][break]
Kosei Kiryu | xoxo

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Violet eyes narrowed slightly as Kosei very blatantly used his height to his advantage. Not that it was a significant difference, but it was just enough to give him the tiniest edge. Enzo surveyed him coolly, chin tilting up just a hair as if in a show of snideness rather than looking directly up at him. Hands still in his pockets, he shrugged again and lifted a brow as he stepped closer. “You might,” he practically purred through the coyness of his voice. Like he was just itching to say– “Why don’t you try it and find out?”[break][break]

Okay, so he couldn’t help the dare, couldn’t bite his tongue on it. If only because he knew that it would wiggle its way under Kosei’s skin and irritate him further. There was a slight pout to his lips as he continued, head tilting so that the dual-tone of his hair draped over a shoulder. “Tough pup like you, I’m sure you could manage in no time.”[break][break]

At that point, he couldn’t hold the expression any longer and it twisted smugly at the annoyed exhalations of the younger man’s words. “No no, don’t spare me–what were you gonna say, Kos?” He poked Kosei square in the chest with a finger, “it’s killing you to not follow orders immediately, huh puppy? You gonna whine like a tied hound too?”[break][break]

Enzo laughed, raucous as he twisted sideways and flopped against the bed he’d chosen, arms splayed. Hair haloing around his head. “We-” he began, lifting one hand into the air to dip and rise as if it were following an imaginary air current, “are going to go out, have some actual fun, and maybe hit up the hot springs while we’re at it. Vacation in the vacation spot, obviously.”[break][break]

It was a little astounding that he had to spell it out for him.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | m: vacation time | ~10 yrs ago[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]

A hum pulled from the back of his throat. The hunger that mirrored Kosei’s was reflected in his own expression. Hands on him caused a shiver to zip along his spine. Everything that existed between them was tangled, at best. It was only natural that this was just as jumbled together–frantic movement and shaky breath. But he could sense the way that Kosei unwound too. The way he relinquished that carefully held control. There was something familiar and comforting in knowing he could still provoke that in him.[break][break]

He almost laughed at the dumbfounded look that fluttered across Kosei’s face, the momentary lapse in his memory. He didn’t hold it against him or anything. And really, Enzo figured that this was the moment where it all halted in place. Kosei would have a moment of clarity and come back to himself. Pull away in a flurry of grumbles and say that he was going to bed to sleep off whatever strange mood he’d fallen into. There was more relief than there should’ve been when that wasn’t what happened. Maybe that should’ve knocked some sense into him, but it wasn’t on his mind.[break][break]

No more than a distant, faraway thought.[break][break]

Enzo pulled himself up and stepped back, though not too far out of distance. He’d insist it was the alcohol, but the softness he was given made something inside of him twist up and ache. He should have bitten down on the feeling, stamped it out until only the chaos of giving into this was left. But that wasn’t how he was responding–the force he responded with was equally as gentle. Eyes heavy-lidded and a smile curling at the corners of his mouth. His fingers drifted down the front of his chest, snagging them in the hem of the other’s shirt. “Alrighty, then.”[break][break]

Slowly, he stepped backward and tugged Kosei along with him–leading him to the opposite end of the room where his own was situated. It was all a little tilted and spinny, trying to keep his balance as he was. A low laugh followed, and the door was barely shut behind them before he was tilting up to kiss him again as he continued to stumble back. “Kos.” Still slow and soft, but tinged with a thread of the desperation from before. He wasn’t desperate. He wasn’t, until he was.


[break][break]
Kosei Kiryu | xoxo

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Enzo, despite all of the excuses he wanted to make, was lost to this. He could explain it all away, and when Kosei wasn’t around, he really was good at compartmentalizing and pretending there was not some big, unaddressed thing rotting inside of him. Grown out of his range of control. But with him right there in front of him? Enzo couldn’t ignore the pull to indulge in something he’d been looking for and had failed to find anywhere else, except for right there right now. Dark hair, droopy eyes looking at him like he held some secret answer, and he only need speak the command to set everything back in order.[break][break]

No one ever looked at him quite the same as Kosei Kiryu did.[break][break]

There it was—that unspoken something that had existed between them as far back as he could recall. There it was, finally colliding like a head on car wreck. Nothing saccharine sweet or slow about it. Just the reckless crash of their mouths, clack of teeth. The harsh yank of a fist balled in his fabric forced tightened pressure from his shirt collar, though Enzo didn’t mind this. The chaos of it, frantic and needy, was almost a comfortable thing. Enzo, despite his carefulness moments before, didn’t really expect to find tenderness now.[break][break]

But that was familiar. To do otherwise would be to charge further into a foreign territory that they are only just crossing the borders of after years of dancing along the boundary line.[break][break]

At some point, the hand on Kosei’s face moved back into his hair, tightening somewhat as the other slid up to cup the side of his neck, thumb hovering over the fluttering of the other’s pulse point there. A bit thrilling, to feel the erratic jump of it, knowing that he was the one spurring it. The awkward angle of being pulled down eventually forced him around, pulling away just long enough to slip into his lap. Somewhat uncomfortable in the way his knees straddled him because the chair itself wasn’t all that large, but Enzo made do.[break][break]

It did prompt a little rational thought, though, sluggish and short lived. As he drew back, he didn’t skip out on the opportunity to nip Kosei’s lip—tugging it between his teeth in retreat before letting go. “We should probably not do this in here, pup,” he muttered, husky-voiced. His eyes darted away for a moment, over to the spare room where Miu slept, in reference.

[break][break]
Kosei Kiryu | xoxo

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This stupid fire wasn’t any good. Enzo dropped the stick, giving up on his efforts with a forlorn sigh. He scooched closer to Kosei, and then flopped back as well. He’d get sand all through his braids, but he didn’t care at that point. Just stared up at the rocky, makeshift ceiling of the onix.[break][break]

“You take shit way too seriously, pup,” he remarked, head falling to the side to study the other’s profile in the gloomy light. Granted, Enzo didn’t always help with that, liked to rile him up and goad him. Provoke him into conflicts for the fun of seeing what would happen—even more so when Kosei managed to prod Enzo’s irritation right back.[break][break]

And yeah, this situation was majorly annoying.[break][break]

But it wasn’t life or death, either. And Enzo had long learned to recognize the subtle signs of when Kosei was taking something to an unneeded level. He had his hands over his eyes, and Enzo poked at him. “Hey. Chill.” A brusque way of saying it’s not the end of the world. Enzo knew he was a dramatic sort of person, and he’d certainly been acting like it was the end of all things, but that’s just what it was—acting.[break][break]

If anything, he was grateful he didn’t have a set of militaristic parents to make him believe a misstep was an end all, be all. Damn. He tutted, hands lacing and resting on his chest. “I dunno, maybe. How many days we got left?” Enzo would do just about anything for some extra cash to squirrel away. Just sorta seemed like a shame to call it when they had already started.[break][break]

But then again…rain.

[break][break]

+ Kosei Kiryu | deserted island | 8 years ago!!

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Kosei was pliable under the touch at his jaw, though Enzo wasn’t forceful in it. Kosei could have easily tugged free of it if he’d wanted to, yet he did not. The rigidity that Enzo typically associated with him had faded, and Enzo reminded himself that it was the alcohol, not him. A pertinent reminder. But one that felt easy to ignore, even when only somewhat drunk. When was the last time they’d shared space like this, or allowed it to diminish? He couldn’t recall.[break][break]

What do you want from me, Enzo?[break][break]

He took the bottle back, downed one last long pull before setting it to the side. One last padded defense against rational behavior. ‘I miss you,’ he wanted to say, and didn’t. ‘It hasn’t felt right since you left.’ He could understand, to some degree, that it was for the betterment of Miu. Logically, he could understand it. But he had always been a selfish creature too, and detested the idea that had meant leaving him behind too. Messy or not.[break][break]

So what, indeed. Enzo tilted forward, leaning closer though not quite enough to close the distance there entirely. His hand shifted, palm flat against his cheek and fingers tangling in loose strands of hair. His own expression, droopy eyed and slumped, mirrored Kosei’s. There was something almost defeated in the slouch of his shoulders. The sense of this was a long time coming.[break][break]

He swallowed, but his throat still felt dry. The word, when spoken, came out raspy. Strained from containing the bulk of things he could stay, though he’d claim it was no more than a combination of the drinking and the chain smoking. “You.”[break][break]

Something he’d regret in the morning for having admitted even that much out loud. Weakness. But he’d always had this weakness, spoken or not. Right there like the tender spots between his ribs. “Just that. Humor me, mio cucciolo?” It wouldn’t matter tomorrow, under the cool light of sobriety. But there’d be time then to tell himself that he’d only been saying words he hadn’t meant.

[break][break]
Kosei Kiryu | xoxo

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“Didn’t think about it, ‘cos I don’t care,” he trilled back, eyes closed as he continued to enjoy the pulse of cool air on his skin. Really, he was just saying what everyone felt, anyway. He glanced back over his shoulder, winking. “Next time we can ride double on a corviknight rental.” He snorted at his own joke.[break][break]

It was unsurprising to him that Kosei would immediately seek to be perfunctory and quick with their work. It was so sanctimonious and exhaustive. Enzo argued with him on the matter because he wasn’t sure when Kosei would get it through his thick skull that it would turn out just fine if they weren’t timing it down to the exact second.[break][break]

What irritated Enzo more, though, was the mentality Kosei seemed to hold to that because Enzo didn’t abide by this meticulous idea of scheduling it meant he was lazy. Enzo was not lazy. He was actually quite good at getting jobs done. But that also didn’t mean it would be at the expense of his personal time. He’d put in the work, ergo he deserved an easy prelude to the next task.[break][break]

There was benefit in that–something that sadly the little hound dog failed to understand. “Oh, it’s very funny, Kos.” He stood then and turned back toward his younger partner. “The job will get done. Tomorrow.”[break][break]

Enzo met his threat with raised eyebrows and a nonplussed look. His hands slipped into his pants pockets and he shrugged, “It’s funny you think I care. Have at it, though.” It was an easy bluff to call, and really, even if Kosei went through with it, he wouldn’t find them. In his jacket pockets, see.[break][break]

“It’s not the end of the world if we take care of it later, though. You do realize that, hm?”
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | m: vacation time | ~10 yrs ago[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]

“Of course you don’t,” Enzo replied sarcastically before biting at the air with an audible click of his teeth. Kosei, per usual, deluding himself into believing certain things did not exist where they did. Though, Enzo was just as guilty over ignoring certain tensions between them whenever they bubbled to the surface. Old and long-standing.[break][break]

Maybe he was just too tired now to do so. Mio cucciolo was a nickname he’d not used in years. Not since before, when things were still alright. An affection, even—granted only to his former companion. Addressing something that existed without truly putting more words to it. Funny, the way it felt natural following in the wake so much exhaustive disdain.[break][break]

He should be smug to have received the answer he suspected. He should hold it above the other’s head with one of his typical I told you so’s. The words hollowed him out, though. A raw sort of ache following that addled his head. Like he’d been drinking on an empty stomach all this time. If Kosei had clung to his stubborn belief that he was different now, maybe Enzo would be better equipped to deal with the bittersweet edge to the feeling that had risen up.[break][break]

But to have it confirmed only dug the sharp end of Kosei’s departure in further. If that was the sorry truth, even now, then what had the point ever truly been? The liquored film over his mind peeled away the anger he would normally have chosen to act with. He would have liked to act in accordance with that feeling of hurt and betrayal—yanked the bottle back and hurled it at the wall so that it shattered. As fractured as he himself often felt and refused to acknowledge; a distinct severance between his own duality in personas.[break][break]

Instead, he sighed and let his barbed words fall away. He offered the bottle back.[break][break]

But before Kosei could lift it, Enzo’s hand slid down to his jaw again.
Now, though, it was a more careful gesture. His thumb pressing flat against his bottom lip as his hand tucked under his chin to tilt it upward again. Another sigh, heavier and almost a bit defeated before he spoke. “See? You can lie to yourself, but you cannot lie to me, twin moon.”[break][break]

And if he sounded a bit melancholic, perhaps it was because he was. Pyrrhic victory.
[break][break]
Kosei Kiryu | xoxo

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