In Another World

A Heated Exchange

Angel was already in his pajamas (an oversized t-shirt with some sporty-looking booty shorts) when Aki texted him on New Year's Eve. He practically jumped to grab his phone, sitting up and brushing some hair out of his face, as though Aki would see him through the test messages. He opened up his phone and was surprised to see that Aki's usually neat messaging was messier than normal.

♡Aki♡

Heyyey, angel. Celebratingg the end of the hyear but its

kinda lonley since the kids are out with there frends. Do

you wanna com over?

Sent at 10:23 PM

Angel stared at the text for a while, wondering if Aki was possibly drunk. His face flamed up as he remembered what happened a week ago when Aki was also drunk. Not only did Angel agree to dance because he was hoping that he would get to touch Aki a little, but he also found that Aki seemed to want to touch him. It made him burn from the inside when he remembered.

Angel had to pull away, though, because their bodies were so close to pressing together, and he was sure that not only was he getting hard, but he wouldn't be able to hold back if he didn't. His hands would have snaked around Aki's neck to pull him down and he would have kissed him right on that dance floor. Then Aki would have pushed him away and been disgusted by him and they would never say a word to each other again. The only thing worse than not being able to kiss Aki was not being able to ever speak with him again. He would hold his tongue forever if he had to.

Things were normal between them after the party, like nothing ever happened. Except for the hand-holding. On both of the days that Angel went over to Aki's for dinner, while he was having his smoke break and they were both standing on the balcony together, Aki placed his hand over Angel's, intertwining their fingers. Angel didn't say anything, for fear that Aki would stop or pull away. So he simply rubbed his thumb against Aki's hand, his face flushed from something other than the cold.

Angel texted that he was in his pajamas if that was fine by Aki. Aki agreed that it was fine and to just come over. Angel grabbed his apartment key and locked the door behind him, wearing only flip-flops. He knocked on the door and almost immediately Aki opened the door, his face flushed and his hair down from its topknot. Oh, he was drunk.

"Come in," Aki slurred, opening the door wide for him.

Angel did so, kicking off his shoes in the entryway. Aki began walking back down the hallway to his couch. Angel could see even from where he was at the beginning of the hall that Aki had drunk a whole wine bottle already, with another one open and ready. Based on how quiet it was in the apartment, the teens were out and about with friends.

Oh. Oh. This was the first time Aki and Angel would be completely alone together. Angel tried not to hype it up in his mind, instead focusing on plopping down on the couch next to Aki. He brought his legs up so his knees were resting under his chin as Aki poured him a glass of white wine. Angel was secretly glad it wasn't red.

Aki put on the New Year's Eve celebrations that were going on in Tokyo, sighing deeply. Angel could tell that something was bothering him. Maybe he was lonely without Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dumber? Angel suppressed the urge to snuggle up to Aki to try to make him feel better.

"What's up?" Angel asked, looking at the television, but not looking.

"Just... I don't know what I'm going to do when Power and Denji are all grown up and off to college. If they can even get into college. I'm still unsure about that. But when they're all grown up, what am I gonna do? I don't want this place to be quiet," Aki said with a sigh.