A Genius Thrown to the Wolves

Skipping a Beat Ch. 36

Kiyotaka found that the ability to hold on to a thought was getting increasingly harder. He was getting lost in the innocent pleasure of Machi gently playing with his ears and tail. He didn't like or trust new people but if she could scratch the itch behind his ears this perfectly, he might need to make an exception. Hisoka watched in amusement as Kiyotaka slowly relaxed into the touch of his fellow troupe member as she cooed and fawned over him. He was a tad bit jealous, but loved the new angle he could see Kiyotaka enjoying himself from. Though after watching for a minute he got board and decided to ask Machi for tips on properly petting a cat. He couldn't let himself be upstaged, now could he?

Hisoka was regretting having introduced Kiyotaka and Machi. After the kiss Kiyotaka and himself shared, he thought they would be able to take things to the next level. He was wrong. Frustratingly wrong. Every time he tried to initiate a kiss or even just mild 'fun time', it got shut down. That wasn't even the most annoying part though, the most annoying part was Kiyotaka making him believe whatever they ended up doing instead was his own idea, and he'd only realize after it was too late!

On the other side of things, Kiyotaka meeting Machi was a good thing because now all he wanted was to be close to Hisoka, and get him to pet his ears. While it was frustrating not being able to go further with the adorable kitten, currently laying in his lap softly purring after shutting him down yet again, it was also comforting. Before if Hisoka had made attempts like he had been Kiyotaka would be extremely mindful and on guard around him for a period of time. Now, though, he was still completely trusting of him enough to let himself fall asleep directly after an advance from him. That was huge process, while it disappointed Hisoka, he also didn't hate it because it meant he could hold and admire and relish in the presence of the one thing he's found he treasures. Other than himself of course, but that was only because he only had himself to rely on his whole life.

When Kiyotaka finally woke up though, Hisoka decided to ask about his avoidance. "Kitten." "Yes?" Kiyotaka asked, moving to sit across Hisoka's lap, burying his face in his neck and relaxing against him. "Why do you always avoid allowing our relationship to go to the next level" Kiyotaka was silent for a minute. "How am I supposed to know what the next level is? I've never been in a relationship, I have no idea how they work." "Well it can be whatever, but at this point I'd say the next level is kissing, maybe even more intimate touching if give the green light~" Hisoka said lightly scratching from the base of Kiyotaka's tail to the tip. He felt him squirm from the touch, but didn't move away from him. That was a positive sign. "Kissing and touching are next?" "mhm~ What do you say?" "I don't know." "You don't know?" Hisoka, surprisingly kindly, asked. "I think that's okay with me, you'll stop if I tell you to right?" "The second the word leaves your mouth~" "Then I give you the 'green light'" Kiyotaka said it repeating the term Hisoka had used earlier, the hint of confusion with it evident in the way he said it, causing Hisoka to chuckle in response and kiss him on the nose before enveloping him in a constrictive hug. "Thank you" Kiyotaka heard him say under his breath. He was confused by the remark, but decided to just enjoy the hug.

Kiyotaka should have seen this coming. He was stupid for saying yes. As soon as he woke up and made his way out of the bedroom, Hisoka had swooped him up and sat on the couch with Kiyotaka in his lap. That wasn't what he should've seen coming though, it was the fact that Hisoka had trapped him. He started kissing Kiyotaka, lightly at first, and as soon as he was allowed to catch his breath from the surprise he was pulled into another, way more aggressive, kiss. That also would have been fine, if it hadn't been going on for several minutes straight. When ever Hisoka pulled away, Kiyotaka had to take a breath, but before he could enough air so he could talk and tell Hisoka to quit it, Hisoka was already taking his breath away again. This went on for several minutes before Hisoka seemed to have his fill.

"What was that." Kiyotaka asked annoyed at how the situation played out, despite having actually enjoyed the kiss. "A kiss~ Why? Did you not like it?" Kiyotaka looked into Hisoka's eyes before rolling his own. "I enjoyed it, but what if I hadn't? I wouldn't've been able to tell you." "Maybe not, but It's not like I was holding you super tightly, it was totally something you could have gotten out of if you really wanted to." "I guess you're right" "Of course I am! Now~" Hisoka was about to go in for another kiss, only to be met with a finger pressed against his lips "That would be fine except you left breakfast in the oven, and I'm smelling that it's done." "So?" "So if I give you want you want, we'll be here for another 10 plus minutes and it'll be burnt by then." "Ugh, fine~" Hisoka said, not putting Kiyotaka down until they reached the kitchen and set him on the counter top across from the oven. Boy was he glad he did, because as soon as he turned around and set the hot pan down, he was giving a deep but quick kiss that melted his heart in ways he didn't know was possible. His Kitten had just willingly given him a kiss that he initiated by himself! It made Hisoka's day, watch out world because a happy Hisoka was a chaotic Hisoka.

Kiyotaka on the other hand was mildly surprised by the evident mood improvement, and wondered how a kiss could possibly have that effect on someone. He was even more confused because seeing Hisoka's unprecedented positive response, made his head feel light and his heart rate pick up drastically, he also found that he had a hard time sitting still. These were all signs of a medical emergency, but he didn't feel distressed in any way, so what was really going on with him? "Kiyo!" Hisoka's bubbly and breathy way of calling his name, snapped him out of his thoughts. "What?" He'd asked, tilting his head to the side, watching as Hisoka fan-girled over the cuteness but promptly answering the question, "You smiled!" "I thought I've smiled in front of you before? Why is this different?" "It just is! That smile was totally different from the other ones! It was wayyy cuter, and lighter, and it was just wonderful! It even made my heart skip a beat!" Hisoka started happily humming while finishing the rest of breakfast. Kiyotaka however was left confused,'How can a smile effect your heart?'

A/N: I got my first piece of fan art!!

Thank you so much to Adorably_Deranged 

I am not asking for more fan art, but if anyone else wants to, I would love to be able to just add an extra chapter when I finish this story of any and all fan art that people create!