Innocent Criminal

Chapter 14

Haru was awake when Kane returned with dinner food for him. Fully intending to grab the apple he was mildly surprised when Kane grabbed both the apple and oat bar off the try first. 'Eat at a few spoons of the food.' He simply stated.

Haru looked down at the miserable excuse for human fuel on the trey. It was some sort of red sauce pasta this time, and just the sight of it made his stomach churn. It wasn't that Haru was particularly against food, just that he was used to it being limited and his stomach had grown small enough that he no longer felt the need to eat full meals. That fact coupled with the uncertainty that came with the cafeteria food here. The unknowing of what he was going to put in his mouth, what the texture would feel like, if the taste would be too much or too little. He didn't like even thinking about eating with all the anxiety and uncertainty that came with it. So he'd resolved to stick with the foods he was comfortable with. An apple and oat bar.

But for right now, he felt too mentally exhausted and absent to really feel that suffocating anxiety around it. He simply looked up at Kanes expecting eyes, and the only simple thought he could really understand was that if he disobeyed Kane the consequences were a mystery. One he didn't want to find out. So somewhat reluctantly, and with a trembling hand, Haru reached out to the fork and brought a few peices of pasta to is mouth.

It was as unpleasant as he's guessed. The mushy slightly gelatinous texture he found gross and gag worthy. The disgust sent shivers around his body and he had to fight not to physically throw it back up. 'If it is that unpleasant to eat you do not to force yourself.' Kane exclaimed after seeing Haru's face contorted in disgust. 'Try to eat the bread instead. Perhaps next time you'd like some soup instead'

Haru couldn't really process the gentleness his roommate was showing him. He'd tried, In his foggy mind, to make sense of it but he couldn't find a reason for deserving Kanes kindness. He was sure when he was of a more solid mental state he'd be embarrassed, mortified even bc this undeserving affection. But for that moment he let his mind remain in its hollow fog and simply accepted Kanes warmth. After managing to finish the bread roll he was given the apple and oat bar back thankfully.

That night Kane took a book he'd previously got from commissary. It was a simple contemporary novel he'd found a little interesting at first glance. In a last ditch attempt to try engage his cell mate he climbed to the bottom bunk and sat at the far end of the bed, getting comfortable -careful not to touch Haru - before reading the book aloud from the start.

Haru was confused at first. Before Kane had come to his bed he'd had been suffering this sofficating anxiety silently. It felt like an elephant was sitting in his chest. It hurt but he was used to these random bouts of anxiety and resolved to try wait it out. but then Kane began to read, his voice low and soft, and Haru felt the pressure lift ever so slightly.

He wasn't really thinking before he acted next. It was an impulsive thought and he didn't want to think about anything but doing it, so he did. Slowly wriggling his body down to the side of the bed Kane was sitting against the back wall, Haru lifted the older man's arm from his lap before laying his head down and bringing the previously moved arm back over him. Haru noticed Kane had really muscular thighs that made it all the more comfortable pillow. It was warm. Haru decided he liked it.

Kane had paused reading when Haru approached, practically holding his breath as Haru got comfortable on his lap, scared any wrong move would shatter the delicate trust Haru was showing him. Once settled, Kane ever so slowly reached over for the blanket and dragged in over his cell mates nimble body before he resumed reading. Heart strangely ponding in his chest.

While reading Haru had been intently staring at Kanes face, who was trying to pretend no to notice. Haru was simply analysing the details of the man; the arch of his nose, the depth of his eye sockets, his jaw line and cheek bones and the stubble that was beginning to form. He suddenly wanted to touch it, feel it.

So, he did.

He acted with little thought reaching up to Kanes face and lightly tracing his fingers across the stubble. Kane was trying extremely hard not to laugh as he continued to read, but soon Haru realised he didn't like the feel on the stubble he began to explore the smooth skin and contours of Kanes face instead. To him it was very intriguing. Kane let out a suppressed chuckle as the light fingertips - though the skin was bumpy with scars - tickled his skin. He found it somewhat innocent and adorable. But when he laughed Harus fingers paused for a moment, resuming only when Kane continued to read.

Harus fingers then trailed down, past the stubbles jaw and settled in his neck. He could feel the vibrations of Kanes voice there. Satisfied, the hand remained on the feel of soft vibrations that fit perfectly to the soft yet deep voice. It was soothing to Haru, he found comfort and a wave of calm that he hadn't felt for as long as he could remember. Perhaps he'd never felt it before In his life.

At some point during the night Kanes hand had found it was into Haurs curls, and Haru for the first time completely and utterly relaxed into his cell mates hold and the sound of his voice. When Harus hand fell from Kanes neck he paused and looked down to see the young man sleeping.