Smoking cats - shinsero

Late-Night Confessions

The next morning, Shinsou woke up to the soft sound of rain pattering against the window and the faint scent of coffee drifting from the kitchen. For a moment, he blinked in confusion, wondering why his apartment felt so... full.

Then he remembered.

Sero was still here.

He sat up, running a hand through his messy, purple hair as he glanced around the room. Tipi was curled up in the corner, her usual spot, while Sero was standing in the kitchen, pouring coffee into two mugs.

"Morning," he said with a grin, catching Shinsou's eye as he set the mugs on the table.
"Hope you don't mind, I made coffee."

Shinsou smiled, feeling the warmth of something unspoken settle in his chest.
"Nah, that's fine."

They sat down together, sipping their coffee in the soft morning light. Outside, the rain continued its steady rhythm, and for once, Shinsou didn't feel like he needed to fill the silence with words. Just being here, in the quiet company of Sero, felt... enough.

After a while, Sero set his mug down and leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"You know, I've been thinking about what you said. About Tipi making you happier."

Shinsou glanced at him, feeling a pang of curiosity.
"Yeah?"

Sero nodded, his gaze distant for a moment before he looked back at the other.
"I get it now. Having someone - or something - around to keep you grounded... it helps." He paused, his voice dropping a little.
"I haven't really had that in a while. But... you've kind of given me that."

The boy felt his heart skip a beat, the weight of Sero's words sinking in. He hadn't expected that - hadn't expected to mean that much to Sero. But now, hearing it, something in him softened. Something that had been locked away for too long.

"You're not alone anymore," Shinsou said quietly, echoing the words he'd spoken once before. This time, though, they felt deeper. More true.

Sero's eyes softened, and for a long moment, they just sat there, the space between them charged with something warm and unspoken. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, his hand reaching across the table to brush against Shinsou's.

Shinsou didn't pull away.

Their fingers intertwined, the touch gentle and tentative, but enough to send a surge of warmth through his chest. He looked up to Sero, meeting his gaze, and in that moment, something clicked between them. Something that had been building for weeks, unspoken but always there.

"I like this," Sero said softly, his thumb brushing over the back of the other boy's hand.
"Being with you."

Shinsou's throat tightened, but he managed a small, genuine smile.
"Me too."

And for the first time in a long time, Shinsou felt like he wasn't alone. Like he didn't have to be alone anymore.

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