Smoking cats - shinsero

Closer, Without Words

The evening sun filtered softly through the thin curtains in Shinsou's apartment, casting a golden light over the room. It had become a sort of habit for them now - spending their free time together after classes, either at Shinsou's place or somewhere quiet on campus. Today, the silence between them was comfortable, a gentle hum of peace after a long day.

Shinsou sat on the edge of the bed, his legs stretched out in front of him, while Sero lay on his back beside him, staring at the ceiling. Tipi was curled up in a ball at the foot of the bed, her soft purring filling the small space. Sero turned his head to glance at his boyfriend, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"You ever think it's kinda crazy how fast this happened?" He asked, his voice barely above a murmur, like he didn't want to disturb the quietness of the moment.

Shinsou looked down at him, eyebrows raised slightly.
"What do you mean?"

The boy shifted onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow.
"Us. It feels like... I don't know. Like I've known you forever, but it's only been a few weeks since we started hanging out like this."

Shinsou hummed thoughtfully, glancing down at his hands. He hadn't really thought about it that way, but now that Sero mentioned it, he supposed it did feel kind of surreal. There was a closeness between them that seemed to have blossomed effortlessly, even though they were both still figuring things out.

"I guess," he replied quietly.
"It doesn't feel rushed, though. It feels... right."

Sero's smile widened at that, and he reached out, his fingers brushing against Shinsou's hand. The touch was light, tentative at first, but then the boy shifted his hand so their fingers intertwined, a soft squeeze of reassurance passing between them.

"I like that we're taking it slow," Sero admitted, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of the other's hand.
"But I also like... being close to you. Physically, I mean."

Shinsou's heart stuttered for a moment, his eyes flicking to the other's face. He could feel the weight of those words, the deeper meaning beneath them. It wasn't just about touch - it was about trust, about being vulnerable in a way that neither of them had been with anyone else before.

He shifted on his bed, turning slightly so that he was facing Sero. Their hands remained linked between them, a quiet tether. For a moment, neither of them spoke, but the air between them grew heavier, charged with something unspoken.

Without thinking too much about it, Shinsou reached down to the hem of his shirt, tugging it over his head in one fluid motion. He tossed it aside, feeling the cool air brush over his skin. He didn't flinch this time - didn't try to hide the scars that crisscrossed his arms, chest, and sides. It had taken time for him to feel comfortable like this, but with Sero, it was different. He didn't feel judged or pitied. He just felt... seen.

Sero's eyes softened as they roamed over the boy's form, his gaze lingering on the scars, but not in a way that made the other feel uncomfortable. Sero didn't ask questions or make a big deal out of it - he just reached out, his fingers brushing against one of the scars on Shinsou's chest, the touch so gentle it sent a shiver down his spine.

"You're beautiful," Sero murmured, his voice low and sincere, his dark eyes locking onto the other boy's.

Shinsou's breath hitched at the compliment, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond. He wasn't used to hearing things like that, wasn't used to be looked at with such tenderness. But with Sero, the words didn't feel empty or superficial. They felt real.

He leaned down, closing the small distance between them, and pressed his lips to Sero's. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if they were both testing the waters. But then Sero's hand found its way to the back of the other's neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.

He shifted, lying down beside the black haired boy as they kissed, their bodies pressed close. His skin was warm against the other's, their breaths mingling as the kiss grew more intense, more urgent. There was a heat between them, but it wasn't rushed - it was slow, deliberate, like they were savoring every second.

Sero's hand wandered over Shinsou's bare back, tracing the lines of his spine, while Shinsou's fingers tangled in Sero's hair, pulling him even closer. It felt like everything else melted away - the worries, the fears, the past. In that moment, it was just them, lost in each other.

Sero broke the kiss first, his forehead resting against the other's as they both caught their breath. His eyes fluttered open, and he smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair out of Shinsou's face.

"You okay?" The boy asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shinsou nodded, his heart still racing in his chest.
"Yeah," he whispered back.
"I'm okay."

The black haired boy's smile widened, and he kissed Shinsou's forehead, the gesture so tender that it made his chest ache in the best way. They stayed like that for a while, their bodies close, their breathing in sync. There was no rush to go any further - no pressure to take things beyond what they were comfortable with. It was enough just to be like this, holding each other, feeling the warmth of the other's skin.

Eventually, Shinsou rested his head on the other boy's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Sero's arms wrapped around him, holding him close, and the boy felt a sense of peace settle over him. For once, he didn't feel like he had to keep his guard up. He didn't have to hide or pretend to be something he wasn't.

With Sero, he could just be himself.

———

I'm sorry if it feels like I'm romanticizing self-harm, I'm really not trying to, and I'm sorry if it came out that way.

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