The Cat and the Crow

Not Until I've Left

A few hours later, after they'd eaten ramen that Tetsuro had made, they'd settled on the sofa to watch a movie. Except, Tetsuro's energy had finally run out, and he was asleep, using Kei as his body pillow. His head rested against Kei's chest, right over his heart, and his arms were wrapped loosely around Kei's waist. Moving wasn't an option, not that Kei wanted to move, anyway. Instead, he turned the movie off, and softly ran his fingers through his love's hair.

Kei was about to drift off to sleep himself, when his phone lit up. Reaching over with his free hand, he picked it up and tapped the notification.

[THINK YOU GUYS COULD SPARE A LITTLE TIME TO HANG WITH US?]

[This is supposed to be their day, Bokuto. By themselves.]

[I KNOW THAT, BUT...]

[It's okay. But Tetsu's asleep right now]

[REALLY? WHY?]

[Bokuto...]

[He's been awake since before sunrise. It finally caught up to him]

[We won't bother you, then]

[It's okay. When he wakes up, I'll ask him]

[You really don't have to. Bokuto is just bored]

[I AM NOT!]

[Then why intrude on their day together?]

[CUZ IT'LL BE A WHILE BEFORE WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN]

[... he has a point]

[I'll ask him when he wakes up, okay?]

[THANKS, TSUKI!]

[No problem. Ttyl]

[ttyl]

He had just put his phone down when Tetsuro moved, slowly looking up at him and smiling a sleepy smile.

"What did they want?" he asked as he snuggled back down in Kei's arms.

"Bokuto wants to know if they could come over and hang out."

"Why? He knows this is our day..."

"Because it'll be a while before we see each other again," Kei said gently, using Bokuto's words. "We'll all be training non-stop until Nationals, and there aren't any camps scheduled for the rest of the year. None of us can really afford to take any more time away."

"The Voice of Reason speaketh," came the quiet reply. Kei heard the sadness in it, and felt it in his heart.

"Afternoon edition," he retorted, sifting his fingers through Tetsuro's hair again. "Akaashi and I agree he has a point, but I told them I'd ask you first."

He was quiet for long enough that Kei began to wonder if he'd fallen asleep again. But then, Tetsuro moved so that he was face to face with him.

"Are you okay with them coming over?"

Kei shrugged. "I don't mind. But maybe just for dinner, or something," he said. "What about you?"

"Just for dinner," Tetsuro agreed.

"Then that means I have to give you your gifts before they get here."

"Gifts?"

"Yeah. Duh. Happy birthday and all that," Kei said snarkily. He grinned.

"You didn't have to, you know. Your being here is the best birthday present ever."

"I wanted to," Kei said quietly, leaning in to kiss him. "Come on. Or do you want to sleep a little longer?"