[UshiTen: Just another rainy day in Paris]

Part 26

He observed him, always on the look-out, always expecting for him to collapse, and finally shed those tears that were meant to fall.

But Wakatoshi-kun was a miracle indeed, his physical strength compensating for a lot of things. So he kept on going.

Satori was biding his time, impatient for a good time to present itself, so that he could have his intervention. but time flew by, days started disappearing from the calendar, just like they often would once one grew to be into ones middle age, and one night, after multiple attempts to fall asleep, Satori just poked into Wakatoshi's ribs, making sure that he woke up with a grunt.

- What is it?

- I wanna talk.

- Tomorrow.

- No.

Ushijima had been truly ready to go back to sleep; sleep meant emptiness and forgetfulness. He liked sleep now, he slept more than he normally would. But that calm refusal now piqued his interest, and he grumpily turned around, and mumbled:

- Are you OK?

- No.

This second "no" was a little shaky, and he, alert now, immediately got up and flicked the lights.

Tendō had a bad conscious when he saw the worry all over the beautiful face, but – ultimately – he hadn't lied.

They stared at each other for a tense moment, and then he said:

- I miss you.

Wakatoshi had to think about this. It was clear that Satori did not mean it literally; they were together all the time now. He slowly approached the bed, sitting down on the edge, still sleepy, feeling somehow exhausted.

- Satori, I...

A fine fingertip was pressed against his lips and he shut up and waited now. Satori kneeled in the bed too, coming closer to him and cuddling into his side again, hugging his shoulders awkwardly.

- I can't sleep. I worry for you so much! I want to help you get over this, and I don't know how. Tell me. Please. We used to talk more. Before. I miss you.

Ushijima twisted his upper body a little, so that he could wrap his arm around the thin waist. He had to console his lover while he himself was wondering how to console him.

- I love you. The only thing I need is you. You are helping, just by being here. I wouldn't have made it without you, Satori. You know it.

- You... - Tendō took a deep breath so that his voice wouldn't crack. – You are so tired. So strung-out. You closed yourself to me. Please, let me in again. I love you too.

Wakatoshi thought back. For a while now, Satori had made no new videos for his channel. They hadn't even started dealing with bank accounts yet, checking what might be in his mother's name too. Now that rent didn't have to be paid, money had to be paid in taxes. He had to deal with so much that his brain was buzzing, and he felt himself frozen, unable to begin anywhere.

Yet, he had to.

He knew what Satori was asking of him. His own heavy feeling was bouncing off his loved on too, and he had to get a grip. It was time.

- Tomorrow is Wednesday. Let's take out the trash. And on Thursday... I'd like to...

Satori looked up, a little confused. Wakatoshi's face had blushed a pretty pink.

- Yes, my beautiful? – he asked quietly, cupping his cheek with his pale hand.

- I'd like to take you out on a date. On Thursday. Do you think... it will be OK? – he mumbled shyly.