Chapter Text
Tanjirou stirred when Inosuke started to shuffle around incessantly. And he woke completely with a start and shoved Inosuke’s hips away where he was wriggling against him.
The other boy snorted and lifted his head, looking over his shoulder blearily. “The hell, Monjiro?” he mumbled, rolling over and burying his face in his neck again, “Can’t smell you.”
Tanjirou groaned and bit his lip when Inosuke shoved a thigh between his legs, and then he seemed to change his mind and threw that same leg over his hip. He mumbled something about being comfy, and then he started snoring again, and Tanjirou bit back a whimper at the thick wafting of his scent, and quite frankly mild arousal. Because really, it was early, he was too tired to keep his body in check, and he had a clingy, purring omega in his arms, perfectly flush against him without an inch of breathing room.
“Oh...thank goodness.”
Tanjirou looked over his shoulder, blushing.
“You still have your clothes on.” Zenitsu seemed genuinely relieved.
Tanjirou gasped in offense, “What... Did you really think we- Inosuke just...he needed cuddles.”
“Yeah but you were very loudly discussing very different cuddles last night. So forgive me for getting nervous with all that weird shuffling and grunting I heard all through the night.” Zenitsu crossed his arms.
“I am not having this conversation.” Tanjirou huffed, and Inosuke seemed to agree, clutching onto him tighter and honestly squeezing the breath out of him. And then-
Tanjirou went absolutely still, eyes wide, stomach dipping and other things stirring with warmth when he felt it. Inosuke was lazily mouthing at his neck, down to his collarbone. He wasn’t awake, deeply snoring and purring. He was just...doing it in his sleep.
“Shit.” Tanjirou breathed.
“Hmm?” Zenitsu wondered.
Tanjirou whined and gently tried to scoot away from Inosuke, but he just grumbled and pulled him right back. And then Tanjirou slapped a hand over his mouth when Inosuke went to lick over his scent gland.
“Z-Zenitsu.”
“Yeah?”
Tanjirou shakily turned his head, “Can you give us some privacy?”
Zenitsu stared, and then he stood, “Gross. But still, about damn time.” he grunted as he gathered his kimono and left.
Tanjirou didn’t have time to be relieved, Inosuke was rather insistent now, snuffling and wriggling, instinct taken over in his sleep as he dragged his pelvis against Tanjirou’s.
“Inosuke!” Tanjirou yelped, pushing away and scrambling back.
Inosuke sat up, swaying dizzily and turning red-rimmed eyes his way, “Huh? What’s goin’ on?”
“Y-you were- you just-!” Tanjirou pointed, unable to say exactly what he was doing, grinding against him and kissing his neck and he didn’t want to think about that.
“Huh?” Inosuke prompted, “Spit it out, damnit.” he mumbled, “I wanna go back to bed.”
“You...I think we need to talk.” Tanjirou said.
Inosuke snorted, “You can think and talk, let me sleep.” he sighed as he lay back down, squirming before he reached out to tap around for Tanjirou on the empty side of the futon. “Get back here. Need ya.”
In more ways than one, Tanjirou suspected. Also it was kind of cute how he admitted it.
“Are you gonna kiss my neck again?” Tanjirou wondered.
Inosuke lifted his head, “Eh? I didn’t do that.”
“Yes you did! In your sleep you were kissing my neck and you even licked it! Look, feel, it’s wet.” Tanjirou shuffled back over and grabbed Inosuke’s hand despite his loud protest and pressed it to his neck.
“I don’t feel shit, let go of my hand.” Inosuke growled.
Tanjirou scoffed and dropped it, “Well you did.”
Inosuke looked up at him with a frown, almost a pout, “I don’t remember doin’ it. No proof.” he rolled onto his back and crossed his arms, thighs rubbing together slightly under the blanket.
Tanjirou actually laughed a little at that, and then he softened, “It actually felt nice.” he murmured, and Inosuke blinked over at him. “I wouldn’t mind if you did it again.”
Inosuke stared, and then he huffed, “I already told you I don’t care about kissin’.” he said.
Tanjirou hummed and settled in beside him, pillowing his head on his hands, “Do you care about me?” he wondered.
Inosuke kept his gaze on the ceiling, brows furrowed, “What?”
“You…” Tanjirou began, clearing his throat, “Last night, you just assumed it would be you and me if someone helped you with your heat.” he said, and he wondered if he was imagining the way Inosuke’s cheeks started to deepen with color. They were already flushed due to his heat, but still.
“‘Cause...you’re one of those alphas.” Inosuke said, “Alphas and omegas go together. I said before.” he turned to him at that, rolling onto his side and keeping intense eye contact with Tanjirou. It felt like he was speaking his truth through his eyes, longing for Tanjirou to understand that maybe saying what he meant aloud wasn’t something he could do. At least that’s what it felt like.
“That’s the only reason?” Tanjirou prompted.
Inosuke was quiet for a moment, “Dunno.” he settled on.
“So if any alpha offered to...to mate you’d go for it?”
Inosuke turned his head, huffing petulantly, licking his lips in what Tanjirou would assume was a nervous gesture if he didn’t know better.
“Well?”
Inosuke snorted.
Tanjirou sighed and rolled onto his back. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t dejected at the answer.
“Nah.”
Tanjirou glanced at him, “What?”
“I don’t think I would.” Inosuke said, and then he snapped to attention, propping himself on his elbow, “I could if I wanted to!”
Tanjirou stared wide-eyed at him.
“But I don’t want to.” Inosuke said, “I don’t like other people like I like you.”
Tanjirou’s breath hitched.
“And...how do you like me?” he wondered.
“I just do.” Inosuke said with that manic grin of his. His eyes were a little glazed over again.
Tanjirou smiled at him in return, and then he cupped the back of his head, fingers twining in his dark hair, and pulled him down to press a kiss to lips parted in surprise. It was done before he even realized he was doing it.
Inosuke stared down at him when he frantically released him.
“Sorry! I’m sorry! That was...impulse.” Tanjirou said nervously.
“It was stupid.” Inosuke said.
Tanjirou laughed tentatively.
“Do it again.”
Well...he wasn’t laughing anymore.
“You sure?”
“The hell?! I know what I want, damnit.” Inosuke grabbed him by the collar of his kimono and pulled him up, “Stop second-guessing me.” he said as he kissed him again.
Tanjirou relaxed and pushed back a little. It was nothing if not chaste, just a push and a slide of lips until Inosuke grunted and parted his lips and then it was a little more wet. That drew noises out of both of them. And he felt like he was melting, rolling Inosuke over to push him down against the futon. Inosuke retaliated at that, competitive, and rolled them back over so he could straddle Tanjirou. That was good...very nice.
Tanjirou only pushed him back when he couldn’t breathe anymore, gasping softly and butting foreheads with Inosuke.
“I win.” Inosuke breathed.
“Wha…?” Tanjirou wondered dazedly.
“I get it now. Kissing is like fighting.” Inosuke said, “Except stupid and gross...but I like it, and I’m better than you.” he said with confidence.
Tanjirou barked a laugh, “Yeah...yeah you are, actually.” he said it even though he didn’t know if it was a fact. But Inosuke just left him breathless and feeling like he was on cloud nine, like Zenitsu always seemed to talk about. He wondered if that was enough, and if it was as nice for him.
Inosuke preened at that, smiling and chuckling in delight at Tanjirou admitting he was better.
“I guess I’ll get better if I practice.” Tanjirou said.
“Maybe.” Inosuke said.
“Inosuke.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m asking you to kiss me again. Help me practice.” Tanjirou explained.
Inosuke blinked, and then he grinned, “I get to teach you.” he murmured, rather delighted over the prospect. But when he leaned in to do just that he paused just before their lips touched, “Does this mean you’ll help with my heat? I’m probably better than you at mating too.”
"Inosuke!”