Chapter Text
Serizawa was fumlbing through his drawers searching for some chopsticks in his small kitchen while his boyfriend and boss Reigen Arataka was already seated on the sofa with their take-out meals and some bottles of beer in front of him. This has become their Friday evening tradition since they had become a couple over a year ago. Reigen visited him after work bringing some food along with him. To them it was the most important and exciting day of the week. On the other days both of them were busy with work or in Serizawa’s case with school, group projects, learning groups and work so it was a big urge for them to catch up on each other on the weekends and spend as much time together as possible watching some old horror movies, playing against each other on Serizawa’s consoles or just chatting.
Reigen has already begun to chew on a Takoyaki as he muffled: “Come Seri, sit down!” while patting the place on his right side. Serizawa did as he was told and sat down next to him. He started slurping down his Ramen in a really fast manner – he hadn’t even realized how hungry he must have been all day until he started eating. He was so busy with school and his learning groups afterwards that he had only managed to shower and put on some new clothes before Reigen was ringing the bell.
He was happy now- sitting there with this great meal and his boyfriend by his side made him smile. But then something crossed his mind. Something he had been trying to push away for many weeks but now it came lurking out of the shadows and now rolling him over leaving him with a feeling of loneliness and resentment. In fact Reigen has never stayed over. He always ate with him and they both stayed up until the sun almost was up again but when it came to sleeping at Serizwa’s flat he always left faster than Serizawa could have objected.
He started thinking more about it, getting pulled into more dark thoughts by every second. They didn’t even really get closer before. The most body contact they had were the short kisses at the end of their friday evenings, casual back pats or sometimes holding hands. In the same manner he hadn’t realized how hungry he was before he hadn’t realized how much he was craving to touch Reigen more, to get closer to him and spend more time with him. He started to feel his face getting warm at the track his thoughts were taking him now. He was never good at figuring out what he needed or wanted leaving him sometimes overwhelmed by sudden needs. He also wasn’t good at articulating what he felt.
Reigen had finished his box now and is looking at Serizawa – his face still covered by a light red tone. “Is everything alright with you, Seri?” he asked. His head was tilted and he looked a bit worried. The way he sat there with dark-brown eyes opened wide framed by his blonde hair reminded Serizawa of a puppy. Serizawa sighed. He needed to somehow get rid of what was bothering him. Otherwise he would cause Reigen to worry about him. He put the box on the table while taking a big breath. The eyes of the men met and Serizawa could see how Reigen had raised his eyebrows waiting patiently for him to speak. Being patient with him was one of the qualities he loved about his boyfriend. “It’s just… that you never stayed over…. And I… want to get closer to you.” Serizawa was astonished by how bold he just blurted this out. After this emotional high followed a low caused by fear. What will Reigen say? Did I ruin our tradition?
“Ah.” Answered Reigen while falling back into his seat. Serizawa couldn’t even look at him and started staring at the ground while bright red flushed his cheeks. After an seemingly endless pause Reigen spoke again. “I thought I should take it really slow with you. After being a shut-in for so many years you would surely need to get used to touch and never experienced a realationship. We never talked about that I guess.” He sighed. “You shouldn’t think I wouldn’t want the same thing. I just waited for you to catch up on this. On us.” He added with emphasis. “I didn’t want to scare you off or something like that.” His gaze became soft as Serizawa looked at him again. His heart was pounding fast in his chest. Reigen had his head low and his gaze on his hands the whole time he was speaking. Suddenly he stiffened. “Alright.” He exclaimed as if to cheer himself on. Slowly he reached his right hand out to Serizawa as if to touch a shy animal. He then rested his hand on Serizawa’s cheekbones whom in reaction closed his eyes. “I will stay with you tonight, Seri.” He said with an incredibly soft voice that sent a warm feeling through Serizawa’s limbs and bones. Carefully Reigen stroked over his stubble causing a scratch sound to echo through the living room while Serizawa was sinking into the touch. He felt Reigen’s soft and warm fingers caressing his chin and cheekbones, gently touches on his skin. A big smile covered his face and made his lately worn-out facial features go soft. It felt as if the stress from all the things he was trying to achieve at the moment and the whole pressure he had put on himself to become a better person melted away. This was where he belonged and he saw that clearly now.