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The harsh sound of footsteps thudded down the hall and Hachisuka felt his traitorous heart, against his will, begin pounding along with it in his ears.
These were the intricacies of being human.
The door slammed open slightly too fast, and Hachisuka tried not to look too startled as Buzen strode into the room, the easygoing grin always at home on his face a sharp contrast to the way Hachisuka felt like a string pulled too taut.
“Hey, Hachisuka!” Buzen said a little too loudly, before Hachisuka even had a chance to open his mouth, “Urashima said you were looking for me! What’s up? Can I help you with anything? You name it!”
And that, Hachisuka thought with a resigned fondness, was Buzen Gou - always a few steps ahead of him, but he wanted nothing more than to try and keep up.
“Please, sit.” Hachisuka said, voice strained as he tried to keep his tone even, “Let me pour you some tea.”
“Hah, don’t sweat it!” Buzen sat across from him, legs askew, and Hachisuka suddenly felt hyper-conscious of his own perfect posture. He couldn’t even reach for the teapot before Buzen had snatched it off the table, pouring himself a cup and leaning over to do the same for Hachisuka.
“Please, let me.” Hachisuka gently worked Buzen’s hands off the teapot, trying not to think about how warm they were, and poured his own cup, “You are my guest, after all.”
Buzen’s eyes narrowed, and Hachisuka knew he sounded stiff - but he was, after all, a genuine Kotetsu, and nothing less than his perfect hospitality would suit such an occasion. He had no frame of reference for these kinds of things except fleeting impressions of his human owners, too treasured to have truly lived alongside them, tiny glimpses of life that he now had to piece together.
“So, what’s up?” Buzen prodded, and Hachisuka took a deep breath.
“It has been some time since you have manifested in the citadel,” He began steadily, trying to sound natural but aware the words were coming out stilted, Buzen’s brow drawing together into the beginnings of a frown, “and I have found myself enjoying your company as of late.”
“Well, I like spending time with you too!” Buzen interrupted, and Hachisuka held up one hand.
“Please, let me finish.” Hachisuka couldn’t help but smile, trying to direct his gaze down to the table rather than let that vulnerable fondness show in his eyes, but it was hard to look away when Buzen smiled back at him like that, “You’re always one step ahead of me.” Buzen shrugged, but obediently held his tongue as Hachisuka continued, voice steady despite how off-balance he felt, “I had hoped you would...do me the honour of allowing me to court you.”
It was a weight off his shoulders, to finally give his thoughts a voice - but as Buzen remained uncharacteristically silent, still in a way he never was, Hachisuka felt that trepidation return.
“Buzen?”
“Ah, Hachisuka Kotetsu,” Buzen’s brilliant grin was a relief, like the first glimpse of sun after seemingly endless rain, “I love you too.”
Hachisuka felt like he was choking on air, a burning flush spreading high across his cheekbones.
“I - you-” He stumbled over the words, struggling to keep up - Buzen always rushed into things, but this was a pace far beyond what Hachisuka had expected, “Isn’t it a bit soon for that kind of-”
“Why wait?” Another shrug, seemingly as relaxed as ever, and Hachisuka wondered if he imagined the faint stain of flustered pink that appeared on Buzen’s own face. Buzen reached across the table for Hachisuka’s hand, meeting no resistance as he brought it closer to him, brushing a delicate kiss across the knuckles, “I think I’m the one who should be honoured, though.”
“Hm.” Hachisuka felt relieved at the chance to find his footing, falling into a familiar dynamic, “Perhaps.”
The laugh that escaped Buzen was genuine as he leaned further over the small table, Hachisuka’s hand still trapped in his warm, comforting hold. His other hand came up to brush Hachisuka’s long hair away from the side of his face, Buzen’s fingers barely ghosting against the skin.
“I’d welcome the chance to cherish you,” and Hachisuka suddenly wondered where this side of Buzen had come from, “but not ‘cause you’re a Kotetsu. Just because you’re Hachisuka.”
He didn’t have time to really understand the words, because Buzen leaned further down and kissed him, delicate and chaste and so fleeting that he almost thought he imagined it, and even as Buzen sat back across from him Hachisuka felt oddly, fondly lost, like he was simultaneously overwhelmed but wanted so much more.
“Don’t worry about it,” Buzen said, probably correctly reading his expression, “I know you don’t like things to move that fast.” He winked, impossibly charming, and Hachisuka felt that burning feeling return to his cheeks. He cleared his throat, hands returning to their vice grip around his teacup, and fumbled for something to say.
“Well, I’m glad we understand each other.”
Buzen sighed, frustrated and fond, and his hand closed around Hachisuka’s tense wrist again, separating it from its hold on the cup to tangle their fingers together.
“Relax.” He said firmly, and Hachisuka let the tension seep out of his shoulders again.
They settled back into their familiar conversations, Buzen’s rapid words filling the air as Hachisuka sipped delicately at his tea - the same as so many days past, but with a new feeling heavy in the air, and Buzen’s hand joined with his on the table.