-Levi POV-
"Seriously, you couldn't even wait until we reached my place?" Haruka said, glaring at me, but his face is red as he's embarrassed.
I smirked, leaning in closer again, my breath ghosting over his skin. "I've been holding back for hours now. I would love to fuck you here and now if possible."
His breath hitched, and before he could fire back a response, I kissed him again.
It wasn't soft, and it wasn't slow.
I pressed him back against the seat, my hand sliding to his jaw as I took what I had been craving all night. His lips parted for me easily, and he didn't hesitate to kiss me back again, matching my urgency with his own.
The taste of him. Warm, intoxicating, familiar, was enough to make my restraint slip, but I forced myself to keep it in check. My fingers curled into the fabric of his jacket as I tilted my head, deepening the kiss just enough to leave him breathless.
Haruka sighed against my lips, his hands gripping lightly at my sleeves.
That was almost enough to make me forget where we were.
Almost.
I pulled away first, exhaling softly as I pressed my forehead against his for a moment. The only sound between us was our uneven breathing, the faint hum of the car's engine in the background.
Haruka blinked at me, his lips still slightly parted, still catching his breath. Then he clicked his tongue and looked away, face flushed.
"...Idiot."
I let out a quiet chuckle, shifting back into my seat properly before starting the car. "You didn't stop me."
He scoffed but didn't argue.
The city lights flickered past the windshield as we drove into the quiet night, the tension between us still thick in the air. I kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting comfortably on the gear shift, occasionally flicking my gaze toward him.
Haruka didn't say much after that. But the way he glanced at me through the corner of his eye?
That said enough.
And I wasn't done with him yet.
It had been a few minutes since the kiss. He hadn't brought it up.
Not that I expected him to.
"You're quiet." I said, breaking the silence.
He exhaled lightly, finally, shifting his gaze towards me. "I could say the same about you. You've barely spoken since we left."
I smirked. "Didn't realise you wanted me to talk more."
"I didn't say that."
"Then what? Still embarrassed?"
His lips pressed into a thin line, but the faintest hint of pink dusted his ears. "No."
I huffed a quiet chuckle. "Right. Sure."
The car slowed slightly as I took a turn, the neon glow of passing street signs illuminating the dashboard. Haruka watched me for a second longer before sighing, leaning his head against the window.
"I still don't get why you came tonight." He muttered.
I didn't respond immediately. I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, considering my words.
"You invited me."
I gave him a sideways glance. "Would you rather I hadn't?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked ahead, watching the road stretch before us.
"No," he admitted quietly. "I just didn't expect you would actually come."
I smirked. "And yet, you still asked."
Haruka scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Forget I said anything."
"Tch. Too late."
The conversation lapsed into another brief silence, but this time, it wasn't uncomfortable. The tension from earlier had softened into something quieter, something settled.
After a while, Haruka stretched slightly, his fingers grazing the edge of his sleeve. "How much longer?"
"Not long," I said, glancing at the clock. "Few more minutes."
He hummed in acknowledgement but didn't say anything else. I could tell he was tired. His body had relaxed slightly, his usual sharp presence dulled just enough for me to notice.
I didn't say it out loud, but… he looked good like this. Unguarded.
Before I could think too much about it, I reached towards the console, adjusting the car's settings.
"Seat heater is on," I muttered. "In case you feel cold."
Haruka blinked, clearly caught off guard, before glancing at the control panel. "...You didn't have to do that."
"I know."
He didn't respond, but I saw the way his fingers lightly curled against his sleeve. A quiet acceptance.
The rest of the drive passed like that. Soft words, unspoken thoughts, and a warmth that lingered between us, even as the night stretched on.
//SKIP//
The soft hum of the engine faded as I shifted the car into park. The parking lot was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the pavement. For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then Haruka unbuckled his seatbelt, his fingers lingering on the strap before he turned to me.
"You're not coming?" His voice was casual, but his eyes, steady and searching, told a different story.
I tilted my head slightly, smirking. "Why? You wanted me to?"
His lips parted slightly, but instead of answering, he cleared his throat and looked away. "Ahem. I'm just asking. I'm going up first, then."
He reached for the door handle, but before he could step out, I caught his wrist, my fingers wrapping loosely around his skin.
"I'm planning to stay a bit longer, actually." My voice was low, deliberate. "Well, only if you want me to, that is."
His hand tensed for a split second before he turned back, meeting my gaze again. There was a pause. Just long enough to make me wonder what he'd say next.
"...Suit yourself." He muttered, pulling his wrist free, but not before I felt the faintest hint of warmth linger against my palm.
I chuckled, shutting off the engine before stepping out of the car. "Tch. Thought so."
Haruka didn't wait for me, already heading towards the elevator. His posture was relaxed, but I caught the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides.
I followed.
The ride up was quiet, the soft hum of the elevator filling the space between us. He didn't glance at me, but his reflection in the steel doors gave him away, his lips pressed together, as if he were thinking of something but refusing to say it.
The doors slid open.
Haruka stepped out first, unlocking the door to his place with ease. The moment it swung open, a familiar scent greeted me, something clean, faintly warm, undeniably his.
He stepped inside, leaving the door open just enough for me to follow.
And of course, I did.
The door shut softly behind me, sealing us in the quiet warmth of Haruka's place. A half-red book left open on the coffee table, a faint scent of something sweet lingering in the air.
And then, of course, the real welcoming arrived.
The soft patter of paws against the hardwood was followed by a tiny, curious meow.
I glanced down just in time to see Ha-chan weaving between my legs. A second later, Lev joined, brushing against my shoe before flopping onto its back, stretching as if demanding attention.
I smirked. "Well, at least someone's happy to see me."
Haruka sighed, setting his card key down on the table. "Traitors."
I crouched, effortlessly scooping up both Lev and Ha-chan. They nuzzled into my palm, purring instantly.
"You say that, but you're the one who brought them in." I mused, rubbing behind Lev's ears.
Haruka crossed his arms, watching as his cats climbed all over me like I was their rightful owner. "I regret it sometimes."
I huffled a quiet chuckle, shifting to sit on the couch as Ha-chan curled up comfortably in my lap. Lev, on the other hand, perched on my shoulder, completely at ease.
"Tch. Face it, Haru-chan. They like me more than you."
Haruka rolled his eyes but didn't deny it. Instead, he made his way towards the kitchen. "You want anything to drink?"
"Water's fine. I had enough whiskey already."
He nodded and then continued walking towards the kitchen. I continued scratching behind Ha-chan's ears. The soft rhythmic purring filled the silence.
"I know I said this many times already, but you're really good with them." Haruka muttered as he set the glass on the table.
I glanced up at him, one brow raised. "Of course. I love cats, after all."
"I know." He said, leaning against the couch, beside me. His gaze flickered towards the babies before settling on me. "But it's not just that. They actually trust you."
I smirked, lifting the kitten from my lap and holding it up slightly. It blinked at me sleepily before stretching its tiny paws. "What can I say? I have that effect on people… and animals."
Haruka scoffed but didn't argue. Instead, he stood up and headed to the stairs.
"I'm taking a shower. Try not to steal my cats while I'm gone."
I smirked, watching him disappear after climbing the stairs to the second floor before looking back at the babies again.
"No promises."
The babies just purred, getting ready to fall asleep soundly.
20 minutes had passed, both Ha-chan and Lev were sleeping soundly on my lap. I leaned back slightly, stretching my arm along the back of the couch.
A moment later, Haruka came down, towel draped around his neck, damp strands of hair sticking to his skin. He was dressed casually now, in sweatpants and a loose shirt.
His gaze flickered towards me and the babies.
"Unbelievable." He sighed. "They really won't leave you alone."
I smirked. "Told you. They like me even more."
Haruka clicked his tongue but didn't argue, rubbing the towel against his hair before stepping towards the couch.
"Well, I'm surprised you're still here, btw." He muttered, though his tone lacked any real complaint.
"Tch. As if you are. You're the one who let me in." I pointed out, watching as he settled onto the other end of the couch.
Haruka gave me a sideways glance, but instead of pressing further, he leaned back against the cushions, exhaling.
For a while, neither of us spoke. The air between us was steady, not tense but charged with something unspoken. The warmth of the apartment, the slow rhythm of Haruka's breathing, and the presence of the kittens curled between us, it was comfortable.
I tapped my fingers lightly against the armrest, my gaze shifting to Haruka. His eyes were closed, but I could tell he wasn't asleep. His body was too aware, too present.
I didn't say anything.
I just watched.
Minutes passed, though neither of us seemed to notice. Or maybe we did, but neither of us cared enough to say anything. The warmth of the house, the faint hum of the city beyond the window, the slow rhythm of Haruka's breathing
"You're not tired?" Haruka finally spoke.
I exhaled through my nose. "If I were, would I still be here?"
"That's not an answer."
"Tch. You're one to talk."
He hummed in acknowledgement, letting the silence settle again. The babies purred softly in their sleep.
"What about you? Are you tired?" I asked him.
"Hmm, I guess not really. Tomorrow's Sunday anyway." He replied, looking at the sleeping babies.
I smirked. "Right. Tomorrow's Sunday. So, how about we finish what we couldn't in the car earlier?"
He looked at me with a shocked face at first, and then his face turned red. Embarrassed.
"Well, I don't mind." He said, looking away.
Hah, seriously. He's too cute. I had been holding back for hours. I wasn't about to anymore.
Without a word, I moved, slipping the now-sleeping kitten from my lap onto the couch before standing. Haruka barely had time to react before I reached out, gripping his wrist just enough to make him look at me.
His breath hitched, but he didn't pull away.
"What…"
I didn't let him finish.
Pulling him up with me, I closed the distance between us in a single step, pressing my mouth against his. It was nothing like the kiss in the car. This one was deeper, heavier, unfinished business.
Haruka didn't resist.
If anything, he melted into it, his fingers curling against the front of my shirt, his body pressing against mine. The kiss turned desperate fast. His lips were warm and familiar, and the way he sighed against me only made me want more.
I barely registered how we moved. Only that, at some point, I had him against the bedroom door, hands braced on the other side of his waist.
"You're not stopping me this time." I muttered against his lips.
Haruka exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening against my collar. "I never stopped you to begin with."
I smirked, catching his lower lip between my teeth before pushing the door open.
And this time, I didn't hold back.
//THE NEXT MORNING//
The warmth of the morning lingered, the faint scent of coffee mixing with the sound of quiet movements in the kitchen. We just finished preparing breakfast together. Haruka sat across from me, stirring his coffee absentmindedly, the steam curling in lazy tendrils between us.
I reached for my phone, more out of habit than anything, but the second I glanced at the screen, my body tensed.
Several missed calls. From Lauren, that.
I frowned. She wasn't the type to call for nothing. Then I noticed the message.
'Levi, where the hell are you? Call me as soon as you see this.'
Something cold settled in my chest.
Haruka must have noticed the shift in my expression because he set his cup down, his gaze sharpening. "Something wrong?"
I didn't answer right away. Instead, I pressed the call button, lifting the phone to my ear.
The line barely rang twice before Lauren picked up.
"Levi, where the hell have you been?"
I leaned back slightly, trying to keep my tone light. "Tch. Relax. You rarely call me except for work. What, did you miss me or something?"
"Shut up, Levi. This isn't the time."
Something in her voice made my stomach drop.
"Lauren?" I said, my voice lower now, more serious.
She exhaled heavily on the other end before finally saying the words that made my blood run cold.
"It's Grandpa. He's in the emergency room right now."
The world around me blurred.
Haruka's voice was distant, almost drowned out by the sudden ringing in my ears.
All I knew was that nothing about this morning felt warm anymore.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!