Finding You

Selm

      I didn't remember how or when we fell asleep, but I woke up to his arms around my waist and our legs tangled together under the covers. I wanted to turn around to look at Aku-no, but I was scared that I'd wake him up. He should rest. I thought about the night prior. I thought it was necessary that I apologized, but I couldn't think of a reason to. I needed to say I was sorry, but I didn't have a follow up.
        I moved my hand down to grip his, intertwining our fingers. I didn't love him, no, but I didn't want Grayson to rip us apart. Was he angry that I was meeting with Grayson more than him, or was he mad that I wasn't a treat for him? No, I shouldn't think like that. I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes and quietly groaning. Nobody had ever mind-fucked me this much before. Aku was still sound asleep. He must've been a deep sleeper. I scooted off the bed, wishing him a happy dream, and walked to the bathroom to make sure that I looked alright. I didn't charge my phone the night prior, so it sat almost completely dead on the chair by the bedroom door. My hair was a mess and smelled like the bar. He should've told me. After glancing back into the bedroom to be sure he was still asleep, I made the executive decision to shower. Afterall, I needed to smell good for our date.

       "You're up early. We don't have anywhere to be for a while," Aku said, shutting the bathroom door behind him. It was noon; was that early for him?
"I thought I locked that," I laughed, washing the shampoo out of my hair. I moved hair out of my face, glancing at the door when it opened. The shower was more than spacious, yet he chose to stand as close to me as possible. Asshole.
       "Move over!" Aku laughed, pushing me away from the water to wet his hair and body. I ran my fingers along his abs, glancing up at him as he put shampoo all over his scalp. I wanted him. I smiled, biting my bottom lip and brushing my hair with my free hand. I moved my fingers from his stomach to his hips and squeezed the skin lightly.
       "I still need some conditioner," I smiled. He didn't seem angry at me. Today would be fine. I reached around him to grab the bottle of conditioner, gripping a hand around his waist to stabilize myself. He jokingly elbowed my shoulder when I stood back up. "Your soaps smell good," I hummed, lathering the conditioner over my long hair. "Anyway," I said, poking his side. "Where are we going first?" He laughed, washing his hair,
       "Bold this morning, aren't you?" Was he mad? "It's a surprise! Wait and see." No, he wasn't. I had to stop worrying. We joked around in the shower for a while longer before I kissed him and left, smiling and wrapping a towel around my waist. I'd taken after him in being a tease. I realized that I didn't have any good clothes to wear, so I stole a pair of his boxers and waited for him on the couch, letting my hair dry. After getting bored of waiting, I decided to snoop around at his assorted nicknacks and decorations.
       He didn't have a single picture of himself, friends, or family; the only pictures on the wall were a variety of art pieces and photographs. His house looked photo-ready, and like one you'd find in a high end house catalog. I wondered if he was just putting on a mask to get with me. It wouldn't be the first time, and I could never be too cautious. I promised Soliel that I would take care of myself after the inevitable crash and burn of my previous relationship. She wasn't worth crying over for that long, especially after I realized that hooking up was pretty easy in the center of the city.
       "Look at you," he said, walking out of his bedroom wearing a pair of sweatpants. I set down the candle I was staring mindlessly at, turning it so the label was facing out and was left how I found it. He dried his hair with a towel slightly before slinging it on the back of an armchair.
       "I don't have clothes for our date... All I have is my work clothes." He leaned on the kitchen island, tracing the marble design like he did on the first night we met.
        "Just take one of my hoodies and a pair of sweats," he smirked, peering up at me. I played with a loose thread in the waistband of my boxers, grinning like an idiot. I'd be wearing only his clothes.
       "I mean alright," I said, walking over to Aku-no and leaning on the countertop next to him. He laughed, making my heart skip a beat. "Where are your hoodies?" I asked, interlocking our pinkies. He pushed himself off of the island, leading me to his room and into his closet. It, too, was massive. Massive, but empty. Could use another person's wardrobe to fill it up. It was a shame he lived alone.
       I picked out a gray hoodie with red flower embroidery along with black sweatpants to match my trusty battered combat boots. Aku still looked good in a t-shirt and a thick coat. My phone was, yet again, left at his house to charge. As he pulled out of the driveway, Aku-no asked,
       "Do you purposefully leave your phone dead so you don't have to pick up his calls?" I rested my knees on the dashboard, playing with the embroidery on my sleeves.
       "Not necessarily," I said, swinging my feet. "It's just... pretty convenient when I don't have to talk to him." I could tell he bit his tongue, shutting down the subject of Grayson in favor of our day together.
      "Well. How do you feel about the beach? I've heard it's awfully pretty this time of year. Not particularly busy, either." I sat up in my seat, surprised and happy.
       "I used to go all the time with my dad! I haven't gone in so long... Are we going to the beach? Are you taking me to the beach?" Aku-no laughed, adjusting his grip on the wheel to rest his hand on my thigh. He liked my legs.
       "I am. And then after, we're going to see a movie since you said you never had the chance to see too many. That's all I'll give away." I bounced my legs and bit my bottom lip. I was beyond excited.
        You're already spoiling me!" I smiled, tucking hair behind my ear. He rubbed my leg,
       "Have you never been on a date before me? I thought these were pretty normal date activities!"
The beach was just how I remembered it. The waves, freezing cold because of the cold November air, gently folding over themselves as they made their way upshore. The sand was smooth, but I knew that even now people would come out of the city to mess it up; people like us would come down to jostle up the terrain if only slightly. I missed the salt filled air and the baron land that only appeared at dusk and dawn.   Everything was calm, like it was sitting patiently and waiting for a storm.
        Aku-no parked his car and laughed, still eyeing me as I looked out the window. I hadn't had the energy to get a taxi down to the beach since I moved out of my dad's house. It was nice to rewrite the previous history attached to the beach with someone new. I was glad Aku was the one to take me.
      He held my hand as we walked along the waves barefoot, having left our shoes in the car. I smiled the entire time we talked and collected shells. We stood in the water for a minute before getting overwhelmed with the freezing temperature, and Aku held me close when I inevitably lost my balance to keep me from falling. He was sweet, attentive, and genuine. I could feel my guard gradually being let down around him the more we exchanged sweet nothings and random thoughts or stories from our childhood. I ranted about my roommates, kicking the water and laughing. Aku then told me of times his friends pissed him off while swinging our hands back and forth.
        By the time we got back into the car, Aku noticed we had lost track of time at the beach and had to borderline speed back into the city in order to make it in time for our movie. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, holding me tight until we got into the theater. Aku-no smirked,
       "Your face and cheeks are so red. Is it that cold out there?" He cupped my cheek in his hand. His face was equally as flushed.
        "Can't you tell?" The lights dimmed. We had gotten there on time. "I might just leave my jacket on the whole time." Aku grinned, his hand moving to my neck as he stared at my lips. I grabbed his chin, squishing his cheeks and making him look even more adorable than he typically did. "Later. I'm watching a movie." His cold hand slipped off of my neck, falling delicately into my lap.
        "So cruel, Kai."

       Right when the lights came back on, I gave him a kiss on the cheek, standing up with my empty bucket of popcorn.
       "That's all for now."
        "You're making me wait?" Aku-no pouted jokingly, getting up and leading me out of the theater.
         "I feel like if I didn't make you wait, you'd go overboard." He shoved his hands in his pockets after we left the theater, elbowing me gently until I hooked my arm into his.
      "You're not inherently wrong. You'll give me a real kiss after our date, though, right?" I hummed, pressing the crosswalk signal. I waited until we crossed the street to answer.
       "I might," I answered. "I'll think about it." Aku-no led me down throughout the city, window shopping with me and even buying me a choker I fell in love with before walking me to dinner. He brought me to an open bar which wasn't even packed like it normally is by my neighborhood.
       "You told me that you don't really like fancy places, so," Aku-no said, thanking the waiter for the menus. "I hope this is alright. The food here is so good, trust me." 
       I felt my heart race; I was in love..? He grinned when he saw my camera taking a photo of him, immediately posing before smacking my hands playfully with his menu.
        "Hey!" I laughed, "I'm just taking a picture to remember tonight." I took another off-guard picture, "You look real nice. Tonight has been so fun, Aku." He beamed, leaning over the table to my menu and pointing out what he usually ordered and what he thought I'd like. I listened to him, ordering the burger and onion rings that he recommended. Aku got fettuccine alfredo and ordered a salad for us both. I was eating well.
       We ate, we left, and we went back to Aku's house. We couldn't wait until we got into the bedroom before we were all over each other. Typically, I hated being rushed because of Grayson's pace, but Aku-no proved to be yet another exception to that. He was too good to be true. Aku's touch was always cold against my skin, and the way he whispered in my ear never failed to give me goosebumps.

Ayoooooooooooo gay shit!!!!!!!! Eeeeeeeewweww!!!