Work Text:
Tori put his phone back inside his pocket as he clicked his tongue. “Not this again.” He murmured under his breath. He shook his head and took back the controller, though as soon as he resumed the game, Sora paused it again.
“Hey,” The blond boy tilted his head, noticing the way Tori’s face changed. “Everything okay?”
With a long sigh, Tori let a small sound. “It’s just Yuzuru again.”
“What does he want?”
“For me to go back to our room since it’s getting late.” Tori huffed.
“It’s not that late, but I guess he’s worried.” Sora tried to lighten the mood. “Is he always like this?”
“Yes and no.” Tori replied, looking at the console’s screen instead of the other boy’s face. “He takes care of me because he’s my butler and all, but he’s been more insistent lately because I haven’t been getting enough sleep these days.” He admitted.
“But that’s good, isn’t it? I mean, wanting you to get proper rest.”
“Yes, yes.” Tori sighed, letting his body fall backwards on Sora’s bed. “But that’s not what I’m complaining about.”
Lying next to Tori with his body facing him, Sora gave his friend a curious and slightly concerned look. “Then what is it?”
Both boys were talking almost in whispers so they didn’t bother the other people in the room – Madara, who was peacefully sleeping, Subaru, who had his earphones on and was looking through his phone, and Wataru, who pretended to be asleep but was closely listening to their conversation.
After inhaling and exhaling, Tori began to speak, his eyes fixed on the room’s ceiling. “I’ve been giving Yuzuru several days off lately so he can focus on himself and do the things he likes. While he’s still my butler, I’m not a kid and can survive without him. And he’s doing anything but focusing on himself.”
“I get why you would be frustrated about it.” Sora spoke when Tori paused.
“I’m happy that we got in the same room, I really am.” Tori continued after a brief chuckle. “But it sort of makes it worse, you know? When I tell him to do something else because at the end of the day, he’s coming back to our room. And I’m there, making him remember he’s my butler.”
“Have you told him any of this?” Sora asked.
“… No.” Tori closed his eyes, covering them with the back of his hand. “I’ve told Yuzuru I want him to have his own life away from me, yes. We’ve had that conversation plenty of times, but he doesn’t listen.”
Sora remained silent for a moment. He couldn’t relate to Tori’s situation, but he knew about his friend’s upbringing and how that shaped his relationship with Yuzuru. “Friends worry about each other. Maybe he’s talking to you as a friend, rather than a butler? Or…” The boy’s voice lowered. “You know.”
“I don’t know, actually.” Tori said, but in reality, he didn’t want to know.
What was Yuzuru to him? They hadn’t labelled anything yet. Did their exchanges of sweet, loving words and tender kisses mean they were a couple? And to what extent was that influenced by them being a master and his servant?
Sora was Tori’s friend, so he eventually ended up finding out about the situation between them. Though since Tori and Yuzuru being together was what everyone was used to, them being a little bit closer than usual was something no one found strange or worthy of any suspicion.
Besides, Yuzuru and Tori weren’t the only ones; no one questioned when Shu often switched places with Ritsu to sleep in the same room as Mika – or the other way around, Mika switching with Mao so he could keep Ritsu in company at night.
There were also instances of Rinne sneaking in Niki’s room when Hiro and Hinata were outside. Or Hiyori dragging Jun to his room when Rinne and Kanata weren’t there. The room distribution was definitely more beneficial for some couples more than others, but in the end, they all managed.
Slowly, Tori’s body turned around so he was facing the wall. “Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.” Sora kindly answered.
“I’m scared that he still sees me as the spoiled brat that I used to be. You may remember as well that I wasn’t the kindest person not so long ago and it’s not something I’m proud of. Yuzuru says he likes me, but I find that hard to believe. He had to deal with the worst part of me, I made his job complicated, I was mean and ungrateful.” Tori’s voice was almost a whisper, as if voicing those thoughts was something he wanted to avoid saying out loud.
“But you’re not that person anymore!” Sora tried to sound comforting. “I’m sure he sees that too.”
“I’m not, that’s true. And yet, the thought of Yuzuru feeling like being by my side is a bother and forcing himself to be affectionate because of his job as my butler is a thought that keeps coming to my mind.” It even keeps it up at night sometimes, the words echoed in Tori’s mind. “So I thought that maybe, if he spent more time away from me, he would figure out what he exactly feels. He deserves someone better than me.”
“Don’t say that! People can change, you’ve changed.” Sora slightly shook his shoulder. “I don’t really know what to say, I’ve never been in your situation… but if it helps.” Sora murmured, his voice full of kindness and honesty. “I think you’re pretty cool. And I’m glad we’re friends.”
Tori’s bottom lip trembled, truly touched by Sora’s words. He turned around again, a warm grin on his face as he spoke. “It does help. Thank you.”
Tori’s phone buzzed again. Yuzuru, he thought. He was typing his answer when suddenly, someone else towered over him, and next thing he knew, he was dragged over Wataru’s shoulder. “Time to go back to your room, princess.”
Yuzuru didn’t want to be too insistent. Tori did take his training and work seriously, but there were instances in which he was too careless; not on purpose, of course, he just wasn’t paying attention to the time or ended up being too entertained by something. Like that moment.
The fact that they were put in the same room was incredibly advantageous for Yuzuru. Not only it made his task to take care of Tori easier, but contrary to what some people thought, the boy was pleasant to have around. White it was true Tori did act like a spoiled brat for quite a long time, he wasn’t like that anymore.
And outside of his job, Yuzuru liked Tori as a person. Though Tori didn’t seem to be aware of that, or at least, that was the impression he gave. Every single time the topic of how Yuzuru being Tori’s butler affected their relationship was brought to conversation, Tori immediately talked about something else.
Not only Tori seemed bothered when that was brought up, he looked sad or even ashamed. Probably both. And Yuzuru, who had known how to handle Tori since he was a young kid, didn’t know how to approach it anymore without hurting him. Which was the last thing he wanted.
Young master, it’s getting late, where are you? Yuzuru messaged him.
Still in Sora’s room, I’ll be back soon.
You said the same thing last time and ended up falling asleep alongside him.
Almost twenty minutes later, Tori replied: I won’t this time, I prodfdsassasd
Yuzuru’s brows raised at the keysmash, followed by a gentle laugh. Either Tori fell asleep again or he accidentally dropped his phone, he could perfectly picture it.
Not even five minutes later, he heard a couple of voices getting closer before someone knocked on the room’s door. The last thing he was expecting was finding Wataru carrying Tori on his shoulder – the younger one was whining while kicking his feet.
“Long hair!” Tori complained. “Put me down already!”
Ignoring his protests, Wataru directed his attention to an equally shocked and amused Yuzuru. “I heard you were requesting him, so I brought him here.”
“You didn’t have to carry me like this!”
“I absolutely did.” Wataru spoke as he carefully left Tori on the floor. “Do you always conveniently forget Sora’s room also happens to be mine? You both always make too much noise.” Of course that was an excuse to drag him back to Yuzuru, but some things were better left unspoken.
“Akehoshi and Mikejima said they were fine with me being there.” Tori crossed his arms, a small pout on his face.
“So am I, but not this late at night when I need to sleep.” He patted Tori’s head. “And so do you, princess.”
“Whatever.” Tori sighed, knowing arguing was pointless.
“I apologize for the trouble.” Yuzuru spoke as he gently pulled Tori towards the inside of the room.
“No trouble at all. The princess and Sora are a duo which is fun to watch.” He laughed before gracefully turning around and walking back to his room. “By the way, your dear young master seemed a bit mad because of your messages, and I’m inclined to believe you have some issues to resolve. Now, I wish a good night to both of you.”
“Snitch.” Tori muttered under his breath, his narrowed eyes on Wataru’s back as he walked away.
The moment the door was shut behind them, Yuzuru was quick to ask, “Young master, are you mad at me?”
“No.” Tori replied, and that wasn’t exactly a lie.
“Then why are you giving me the cold shoulder lately?” Yuzuru’s voice carried concern. “I believe I haven’t done anything to deserve your indifference, and you keep insisting that I spend time away from y–“
“Why do you always end up doing something for me even in your days off?” Tori cut him off, assuming he had to face the situation.
Yuzuru blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“I give you days off for you to do something else!” Tori explained, his voice raising a little. “Something that doesn’t involve me!”
“Young master–”
“No, no, listen.” Tori’s tone was more desperate than anything. “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me. I know dealing with me in the past must have been anything but easy, and that working for me got in the way of you making friends and letting you discover your hobbies.” He admitted, silently praying so Yuzuru didn’t notice his slightly watery eyes. “I’m not asking you to resign or anything, but I do want you to have your own life outside of being my butler.”
The thought was something that often kept Tori up at night. If the circumstances had been different, and Yuzuru wasn’t his butler, would they have ended up together? Would have they even met in the first place? There was no way of knowing.
“As I have told you several times before. You know I don’t find working for you exasperating, and that when I decide to be with you on my days off because I genuinely like your company.” And I like you, Yuzuru thought but didn’t say out loud. “There’s something else, isn’t it.” Tori’s eyes didn’t meet his. “Tell me. Young m–”
“Why do you like me?” Tori let out, tears already gathering in his eyes.
“I–” Disconcerted, Yuzuru wasn’t sure whether he should try to comfort Tori or not. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t understand how you can stay by my side and say you’re happy when I had been incredibly mean and inconsiderate to you and many other people in the past!” Tori sobbed repeatedly. “I know I’ve changed, but what if a part of you still sees me as that person? How can you like me when you’ve dealt with how horrible of a person I was?” He dried the tears rolling down his cheeks with his sleeve. “I thought that if you spent some time on your own, you would find out you’re better off without me. You deserve better than the foolish spoiled child I’ve been.”
Yuzuru’s eyes were wide during Tori’s whole speech. So it was that, he thought. He figures Tori would eventually deal with the consequences of his past actions, and he had been patiently waiting for his young master to bring that up to him. But to think Tori had been suffering like that alone, thinking of himself unworthy of the love he professed for him.
Slowly, his hand reached for Tori, gently cupping his face, drying the tears with his thumb while looking at him with gentle eyes. Even when seeing him like that was truly painful for Yuzuru, he remained as composed as he was able to, helping Tori calm down.
“Young master.” Yuzuru’s spoke in a calm and tender voice. “You were never horrible, at least not to me. I do admit you didn’t have the best attitude, but what matters is who you are now. You’ve grown, you’ve changed. You own your own mistakes and learn from them. You’ve matured, and I’m immensely proud of you. You know that, right?”
Tori nodded weakly, struggling to manage his quiet sobs. Yuzuru’s free hand moved to the boy’s hair, tenderly stroking his hair while letting him cry for as long and as much as he needed to. He was indeed proud od him, of how far he had become. The young master of the Himemiya household. His young master.
“During these years, I spend time away from you many, many days. Sometimes weeks, even. And believe me when I say that when I chose to be around you the days I’m not working, it’s because I want to. You’re my master and I work for you, yes, but believe me when I say: I like you as a person, Tori. You’re more than my young master for me.”
“Yuzuru…” Tori whined between sobs.
“When I look at you, I see person you’ve become.” Yuzuru’s hand on Tori’s head softly pushed the boy towards his chest, hugging him tightly. “And I love you for who you are Tori.” The moment he heard his name, Tori began crying harder, wrapping his arms around him and tightly holding onto him. They stayed like that until Tori let everything out, and he felt like a weight had been thrown off his chest.
Slowly moving away, Tori looked up to meet Yuzuru’s gaze. His eyes, still a little wet and red, were not anxious anymore, and there was no tension left in his body. “Thank you.” He said lowly. “For reassuring me. And for everything, really.” He smiled a little. “I’m such a crybaby, huh.”
“You’ve been keeping that in for a while, haven’t you? You needed to let it out.” Getting more affectionate, Yuzuru briefly kissed Tori’s forehead. “Next time, remember we can talk things over before you start to think ill of yourself. Okay?”
“Okay.” Tori nodded. Yuzuru barely had time to see the little sly smile on Toru’s face before he stood on his tiptoes to give him a short kiss on the lips. Yuzuru’s puzzled look caused Tori to giggle. “A thank you kiss.”
After some seconds of silence, Yuzuru suddenly grabbed Tori’s face with both hands and kissed him. Tori whimpered from the surprise, Yuzuru’s intensity taking him off guard for a moment, but his arms moved around his neck almost instantly.
When they pulled back, Yuzuru’s lips smiled against Tori’s. “Next time you think I do not like you, I’ll do this.” He kissed Tori again, for longer this time. “To remind you how much I do.”
“I think I need a reminder now.” Tori teased.
Yuzuru had to laugh. “What am I going to do with you?”