Smoking cats - shinsero

Fractures and Bonds

The next morning, Sero woke up with a dull ache behind his eyes and the hazy remnants of the LSD trip still clinging to him. The world felt heavy, the reality settling in like a thick fog, as his mind replayed the events of the night before.

He didn't remember how long he had stayed on the roof after Shinsou found him, or how Shinsou had coaxed him back inside. The details were blurry, but the one thing he remembered vividly was Shinsou - his voice, the warmth of his hands, the quiet strength of his presence. Even in his own downward spiral, the boy had stayed with him.

He blinked, rubbing his temples. The regret weighed heavier than the lingering high.

The other was sitting across from him, silent and watchful, Tipi curled up on his lap. The quiet between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it was thick with the unspoken words neither of them had found a way to say.

"You should've gone home," Sero mumbled, breaking the silence.

The boy didn't look up, his hand still absently stroking Tipi's fur.
"I wasn't going to leave you like that."

He didn't know how the cat had gotten here, but that wasn't important right now.

His heart twisted. He wanted to say something - thank you, sorry, anything - but the words felt stuck in his throat. All he could do was stare at Shinsou, feeling the weight of everything they had been through settling on his shoulders.

"I screwed up," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shinsou's eyes flickered up to meet his, but he didn't say anything, waiting for Sero to continue.

"I've been... hiding things. From everyone. From you." His voice cracked, and he swallowed hard, trying to keep himself together.
"I didn't mean to drag you into my mess."

Shinsou set Tipi aside and shifted closer, his gaze steady and unflinching.
"You didn't drag me into anything. I'm here because I want to be."

He looked down at his hands, his fingers trembling slightly.
"I thought I had it under control. But... I don't. And last night, with the LSD... I just didn't know what else to do."

Shinsou's expression softened, his voice gentle.
"I get it. It feels like it's too much sometimes, doesn't it?"

He nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat.
"Yeah. I'm just... tired."

Shinsou's hand reached out, resting on Sero's.
"You don't have to keep running away from it. Or from me."

Sero looked up, meeting the other's gaze. The vulnerability in those violet eyes cut deep, but instead of making him feel more exposed, it made him feel seen. Like maybe, just maybe, Shinsou understood.

"Why are you so good to me?" He asked, his voice breaking with a mixture of disbelief and emotion.

The boy gave a small, sad smile.
"Maybe because I know what it's like to feel lost. And because you're worth it."

The words hit Sero harder than he expected. He had never though of himself as worth anything - at least not in the way Shinsou seemed to think. But hearing it from him, someone who had fought through his own darkness, made it feel real in a way that nothing else ever had.

Sero's breath hitched, and before he could stop himself, he leaned forward, closing the gap between them. His lips brushed against Shinsou's softly at first, almost hesitant, as if he wasn't sure he deserved this moment.

But Shinsou didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned in, his hand slipping to the back of Sero's neck, deepening the kiss with a tenderness that made the boy's heart ache. It wasn't just about desire - it was something more, something raw and unspoken, a connection that went beyond the physical.

Sero kissed him back with everything he had, pouring all the unsaid words, all the fear and the hope and the need into that single, intimate moment. The world around them seemed to fall away, leaving only the warmth of Shinsou's touch and the steady beat of their hearts in the quiet space between them.

When they finally broke apart, their foreheads resting against each other's, both of them breathing heavily, but there was no awkwardness, no need for explanations. It was just them, together, holding onto the fragile connection they had built.

"Thank you," Sero whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

The other pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, his voice low but steady.
"You don't have to thank me."

For a moment, they stayed like that, their foreheads touching, their breaths mingling in the quiet room. Sero could feel the weight of everything he had been carrying start to lift, just a little, with Shinsou there beside him.

But even in the comfort of that moment, he knew that this wasn't the end of his struggle. The darkness was still there, lurking just beneath the surface. But now, with Shinsou by his side, it didn't feel as overwhelming as it had before.

———

A few hours later, after Shinsou had finally convinced the other boy to rest, he found himself lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Shinsou had left to grab some things from his apartment, promising to come back later that night.

His thoughts drifted as he stared at the ceiling, the events of the last few days playing over in his mind. He had almost lost control, almost pushed himself too far. And now, with Shinsou so close, he realized just how much he had to lose.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a message from Kaminari.

Kaminari - Bro, where've you been? Everyone's worried about you.

He sighed, typing out a quick reply.

Sero - Sorry, man. Just needed some space. I'll be back soon.

He set the phone down and closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath. The temptation to slip back into the haze was still there, lurking at the edges of his mind. But now, with Shinsou in his life, there was something else - something stronger pulling him back.

It wasn't going to be easy, and Sero knew that. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like he wasn't alone in the fight.

And that, more than anything, gave him hope.

———

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