Chapter Text
The first time Suo kisses Sakura is after their first date, just in front of the boy’s front door.
It’s a goodnight kiss, and Suo is nothing but a gentleman. He keeps the connection chaste and polite, for more than a few reasons. Elated as he is that Sakura allowed him this date and enjoyed it, he wants to ease him into this. He’s still flustered by people expressing any sort of care or admiration, he’s a bit worried Sakura might die if he does too much too soon.
Even still, he can’t deny that he has the urge to reach out. He wants to curl his arms around him, hold him close, hold him dear.
He doesn’t, but he wants.
Then, he draws back.
Then, Sakura follows. Reconnects. Surges forwards and Suo melts into a puddle on the floor. He’s overwhelmed by the sudden, overwhelming realisation that Sakura wants him.
The kiss is over in a moment. Whatever boldness the boy had suddenly gained seems to wither, he seems to recollect himself. He steps back, face glowing red, the back of his hand pressed against his lips. He stares, and then he looks away. He can see his pupil contract when he’s no longer looking at Suo. It makes his heart stutter.
He looks like he wants to apologise. Suo must look particularly delighted, because he thinks better of it.
So sweet, he thinks.
Suo bids him goodnight. Sakura returns the sentiment. When the door shuts behind him, it’s quiet and soft. Reassuring, in a way, that the action had no anger behind it. Suo must have done well.
He trusts in that thought.
Sighing, he has half a mind to be embarrassed by the way his heart pounds and thuds in his chest, like it’s trying to burst from his ribcage. But, here and now, the only one to witness this lack of control of his emotions is himself, so he allows himself the moment of giddy satisfaction.
—
“Here you are, Nire-kun,” Suo hands his friend a serviette, brows drawn up in quiet amusement at the sight. “You really should clean yourself up.”
They’re in the park today, enjoying their day off. Their usual assortment with some more of their classmates, Anzai and his particular group playing fetch with one of their dogs. Kiryu is by the vending machines right now, chatting away with a couple girls as they all peer down at their screens, probably all looking at the same game.
Nirei had been the one to decide they all get some ice cream. He also, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to be fast enough to avoid the dessert melting all over his hands.
“Can’t believe you’re a messier eater than Sakura-kun.” Tsugeura laughs.
Nirei flushes, wiping his hands with the serviette, trying not to let his ice cream fall from the cone. “It’s not my fault it’s so hot out today!”
“But it is your fault for suggesting we hang out at a park when it’s boiling.” Sakura growls. He’s lounged back completely in his chair, head hanging back and facing the sky. He’d had the foresight to get his ice cream in a cup, at least.
Suo smiles. “You think it’s boiling, and yet you’re the one still wearing a hoodie. You should broaden your horizons when it comes to fashion, y’know.”
From here, Suo can see the boy’s ears going red. It’s rather cute, how his ears burn just as brightly as his cheeks when he’s flustered. “I don’t need to broaden my horizons, I do just fine!”
“I think you just don’t know how to put together outfits. Well, not on your own, at least.”
With a growl, Sakura straightens. His teeth are gritted, eyes narrowed as he glares at Suo. “You wanna go?”
Innocent and sweet, Suo tilts his head, in a way he knows pisses Sakura off. “Go where? Are you taking me someplace special? How forward of you.”
The ensuing reactions are varied. Tsugeura takes a pause from his own conversation to laugh. Nirei looks like he’s getting ready to placate Sakura. A valid instinct, considering all the other times he’s had to bodily hold their grade captain back from swinging his fists at any number of people.
Sakura himself goes red.
He knows the other boy experiences emotions in a way that is all-encompassing. It consumes him. Those emotions, Suo knows — everyone knows, really — used to be an overwhelming surge of negativity. A fear of everything, of connections, of rejection, of acceptance.
Now, though, what runs through his veins is something sweeter. Lighter.
Suo can’t help it when he smiles. What’s truly adorable is the way Sakura can see what’s so different about this expression, because he swipes his cup up and gets to his feet. He looks so mad and Suo knows better. “I’m going to get another ice cream!”
“I’ll go with you,” Suo says, with no ill-intent.
Sakura scowls. He bows his head so Suo can’t look at him, turning and stomping off towards the stand. “Whatever! Do what you want!”
“I was going to, but thank you for the permission.”
When they return, Suo lets Sakura order first, naturally. Then he asks for a cup himself. Coated in chocolate and sprinkles. Sakura looks surprised for a second, so he decides to enlighten him. “It’s for Nire-kun. His one is still melting, after all.”
“Right. How kind of you.”
“Well, I’m just a kind person.”
Sakura rolls his eyes.
With a soft laugh, Suo allows himself a moment of boldness. He takes a step closer, well into Sakura’s personal space, sidles up next to him. He can feel the heat radiating from Sakura’s body. Wants to reach out. Slip an arm around his waist. Cup his cheek. Maybe grab him by the legs and toss him over his shoulder, take him somewhere quieter where they can sit and Suo can have his full and shower Sakura in his affections.
It startles him, then, realising that it’s not outside the realm of possibility. Because Sakura is a sweet, kind, lovely boy who’s given him a chance to prove himself as a romantic partner.
Suo can’t help but grin. “You act so exasperated with me, Sakura-kun,” he says, teases. “Too shy to show just how much you like me?”
Like he’s been electrocuted, Sakura jolts. He whips his head around to stare at Suo, fast enough to briefly worry him about whiplash. “Wh— no! I’m not shy, that’s not— don’t be stupid!”
“Not shy,” Suo muses. He straightens up and slides his shoes on the ground, turning his body to face Sakura entirely. Grant him all of his attention. It also allows him to lean in closer, the other boy’s breath hot and shuddering against his skin. “So the idea of being affectionate in public doesn’t scare you?”
The scowl he gets in return, despite it all, is quite endearing. “No, it doesn’t scare me.”
Suo takes in the other boy. His hands are clutching the counter of the ice cream stall. His knuckles are white.
And yet he says, it doesn’t scare me.
Sakura’s not one to lie. He’s terribly, wonderfully honest. What he tends to do is push himself, challenge his limits, convince himself he can go further…
…and then he does.
Suo has no reason to doubt him. “I’m glad to hear that.”
He moves closer.
Sakura isn’t scared. However, it’s out of respect and a desire to pursue patience in this particular development that Suo holds himself back. He draws himself in closer, orbits Sakura like he’s a planet devoted to its shining sun, delights in the way Sakura flusters so easily under his gaze.
Melts, something going gooey and soft in his chest, when he sees the way Sakura’s pretty lashes flutter shut.
Suo redirects. Plants a kiss to the boy’s cheek, awfully close to the very corner of his lips.
“So pretty,” he murmurs, breathes into his flesh and bone. “You’re so pretty, Sakura-kun.”
A part of him had expected Sakura to jump back. Push and shove. Yell and deflect and throw numerous insults at him for daring to be so unabashedly smitten, so shameless. Suo knows better than anyone that he pushes it, has been since before he’d even confessed his feelings. This is still new. He’s learning how Sakura acts when faced with a fraction of his all consuming adoration.
So it’s only somewhat of a surprise, when instead of that, Sakura just bows his head. His ensuing breath is almost trembling. “You’re such an asshole.”
Suo’s lips curl into a sharp grin. “Because I think you’re pretty?”
He can’t quite see his face, now that it’s hidden behind a curtain of black and white hair. He knows the boy is scowling, though. “Because you’re so damn shameless.”
Ah, Suo thinks, appeased. So I do have a good read on him.
“Sakura-kun,” he calls, shoulders bouncing with soft laughter. “You’re the one who said it didn’t scare you. Is it so reprehensible that I want to compliment you?”
Without giving it a whole lot of thought, Suo brings his hand to Sakura’s chin. Tilts his head back up so he can look at those eyes, expressive and shining and always presenting his emotions on a platter. He doesn’t look uncomfortable. Doesn’t look disgusted. What he looks is flustered, a pretty pink painted across his cheeks, his nose, his ears.
Suo wants to hold him. Kiss him. Call him beautiful, gorgeous, anything and everything that would let him bloom under Suo’s care.
He wants Sakura.
Someone coughs to their right.
Sakura jumps, whipping his head around to look at the noise. Suo lingers, his eye searching, before he follows his captain’s lead. Turns towards the employee at the ice cream stand. A young woman who is definitely familiar with Furin, with the two of them, judging by the lack of annoyance over her face.
“Not to rain on your parade,” she says, sounding genuinely apologetic. “But your ice creams are done, and I do have other people to serve, unless you wanted something else?”
Suo smiles at her. He snakes his arm around Sakura’s waist, places his hand on his hip to secure him in place. “That’ll be all from us, we’re very sorry for holding up the line.”
She laughs a little, waving them off. “Ah, don’t worry about it, I get it. Young love, right? I’m happy for you guys!”
Sakura snatches up their two cups. He shakes off Suo’s arm as he whirls around, already going and stomping back over to their table. Suo’s the one who gets two spoons for them before he follows. When he returns to Sakura’s side, he tilts his body closer, whispers in his ear, “did you hear her? Young love.”
“Shut up.”
They return, and Sakura slams their cups on the table. Turns to Nirei and glares. “Suo got this for you. Should clean yourself up with those napkins.”
“Oh,” their friend blinks, then his eyes light up. “Oh! Thanks, Suo-san.”
“Not a problem,” he says. Places the cutlery down as well. “Here’s a spoon, by the way. Sakura-kun forgot them.”
Sakura huffs, keeping his head low. “You were distracting me!”
“Actually, I think it was someone else who had distracted you. What was it she said, again?”
“Suo!”
“Huh? What’d she say?” Tsugeura asks, wide-eyed as he peers over at them. “Come on, guys, don’t keep us in the dark!”
“Did someone say something rude?” Nirei guesses. His brows are furrowed. Poor boy looks worried at the possibility, it’s very sweet.
Kiryu, who must have returned when Sakura and Suo were gone, seems to be the quickest on the uptake. His eyes go wide, the smile growing over his face elated and pure. “Oh, no, it wasn’t rude, was it?”
“Not at all.” Suo affirms.
Again, Sakura growls. “Stop talking.”
“Hm. You sure you’re not shy, Sakura-kun?”
“That’s not it! Just! Sit down!” He shoots his hands out, waving them in the air. “Let’s talk about something else! Jeez!”
Suo can’t help but laugh. Not cruel, never towards Sakura, but he can’t help but be amused. His sweet boy has such, such a pure heart.
Kiryu doesn’t say anything, but he leaves Suo with a lingering look that tells him he knows what’s going on with them. Or, at the very least, a hunch. Suo doesn’t mind him knowing, so long as he doesn’t go blabbing, and he knows that he won’t.
They haven’t told anyone else that they’re— well. Not dating, per se. They haven’t quite settled their new dynamic, yet. Suo knows what his own end goal is; courting Sakura and having the boy fall so head over heels until they spiral and fall together into a tangle of limbs and lungs and bones and an embrace so tight and constricting that they become one.
Or, more simply, boyfriends.
Exclusive boyfriends.
But, Sakura isn’t quite ready for such a label, he knows. The boy was reluctant to call their first date what it was; a date. Suo doesn’t mind. He’s happy to take it at a pace Sakura is comfortable with, one he can ease into.
And if, when they come upon a fork in the road, if Sakura decides he doesn’t want this, if he sets off on an isolated path and tells Suo not to follow—
Well.
That’s just what he’ll do.
To an extent, of course. Whether or not he’s romantic with Sakura doesn’t matter. As long as the boy lets him remain by his side as a companion, a vice captain, he’ll be content. He thinks, first and foremost, that being Sakura’s friend will always be more important than being his boyfriend.
But anyway.
They haven’t told anyone about their recent development. Suo wants to let Sakura take the reins on that front. Open up to the rest of them once he’s comfortable enough to do so.
For now, Suo peers over at him from the corner of his eye. His bottom lip is jutted out into a pout, a pink flush dusted over his pale cheeks, his hair being tousled by the wind.
His heart swells. Soars. Sings.
He leans in close, puts a hand on Sakura’s chair to support himself. Brings his lips right to the boy’s ear and delights in the way tension gathers in his shoulders. Sweet boy.
“You really are so pretty, Sakura-kun.” He tells him, just because he can.
And Sakura—
Well, this time, Sakura jumps to his feet. Slaps one hand on the table while the other is shoved in Suo’s face. “That’s it! You and me, we’re fighting, right now! Get over here!”
Never one to bark and not bite, Sakura lunges. Tries to, at least, when Nirei surges and hooks his arms under his elbows, struggling to hold him back. Sakura could so easily escape his hold, and yet he doesn’t. He just accepts the contact and lets Nirei scold and yell at him for causing a scene, trying to calm him down.
On the other side of the table, Tsugeura starts laughing. “Woah! What’d you even say to him?” He asks, watching with no small amount of amusement. Suo is much the same, in that regard.
“Secret for just the two of you, huh?” Kiryu grins.
Suo meets Sakura’s eyes. Takes in electric silver and molten gold and feels himself melt in the face of the fire behind them.
“You’d be right,” he says, and doesn’t miss the way Sakura’s thrashing calms just slightly. He likes to think the realisation that Suo respects his boundaries tames a beast inside of him. “A private matter just for us, I’m afraid.”