Smoking cats - shinsero

No Secrets Left

The next morning was quiet. The early light crept through the window, casting long shadows on the walls of Shinsou's apartment. Shinsou woke first, still curled up against the other, who was fast asleep beside him. It was peaceful, the way Sero's chest rose and fell rhythmically under his cheek. Tipi was perched near their feet, watching them lazily.

He felt calm. There were no immediate thoughts rushing to the forefront of his mind, just the steady warmth of Sero's presence. It was a rare thing for him to wake up like this, without the lingering weight of his past hanging over his head. But being with Sero... it was like a quiet escape from the storm that usually raged inside him.

He sighed softly, shifting just enough to pull away without waking the other. As he sat up, he stretched his arms, his fingers brushing over the scars on his sides, his chest. The memories were there, but they didn't hurt as much. Not like they used to.

Shinsou glanced down at the other boy, his hand instinctively reaching out to brush a strand of hair out of his face. He looked so peaceful when he slept, his usual sarcastic grin replaced by a soft, serene expression. His heart swelled with affection, but then something else came with it - a faint sense of dread.

Shinsou still hadn't told Sero everything.

He'd shown his scars, let the boy in deeper than anyone else, but the real weight of his past still sat heavy on his chest. The suicide attempts. The long nights alone, wondering why he was still alive. He hadn't shared any of that, and while part of him wanted to, the other part - the part that always pushed people away - was terrified.

But the Sero stirred, blinking his eyes open slowly, his lips curving into a sleepy smile when he saw Shinsou watching him.

"Morning," the boy murmured, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Morning," Shinsou replied softly, his fingers still resting lightly on Sero's hair.

The boy stretched lazily, his body relaxed as he pulled Shinsou back down beside him, their foreheads nearly touching as they lay on their sides.
"You okay? You've got that look on your face."

Shinsou hesitated. He knew what Sero meant. That faraway look he got whenever his thoughts turned darker. It was something he could never quite hide, no matter how hard he tried.

"I'm fine," he muttered, but even as he said it, he could see the doubt in the other boy's eyes.

Sero didn't push, but he didn't back off either.
"You know, you don't have to tell me everything. But I'm not gonna run away if you do."

Shinsou swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. There it was again - that openness Sero always gave him, without strings attached. It was terrifying and comforting at the same time. He wasn't used to this, to someone being so patient, so willing to let him take his time.

But Shinsou didn't want to take time anymore. Not with Sero.

"There's more," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The other didn't speak, just nodded, his eyes full of quiet understanding.

His heart pounded in his chest as he forced himself to continue.
"I told you about the scars, but... I didn't tell you how I got them. Or why."

He felt the other's grip tighten slightly around his hand, but the boy stayed silent, letting him talk at his own pace.

"I was 3 when I lost my parents," he began, his voice steady, though each word felt like a weight lifted from him.
"They died in a car accident, or so I've been told. I didn't have anyone after that. No family, no friends. It felt like... like I wasn't supposed to be here anymore."

He could feel Sero's fingers rubbing gentle circles on the back of his hand, the touch grounding him as he spoke.

"I tried to kill myself when I was 11," he continued, his voice cracking slightly.
"But... I survived. Obviously." He let out a bitter laugh.
"The scars... they're from before and after. I just didn't know how else to handle the pain."

Sero's eyes softened, and he pulled Shinsou closer, not saying anything but offering comfort in the way he held him.

"Well, you know the foster care story and all, and Tipi. But that wasn't my only attempt, and as you can see, I failed at them too. But even after Tipi, I still don't know why I survived. Why I'm still here."

Sero let out a slow breath, his hand still tracing gentle patterns along Shinsou's skin.
"You're here because you're meant to be here, Hitoshi. You don't need to know the reason right now. You just... are."

He swallowed hard, his eyes burning, but he didn't let the tears fall. The boy's words hit him deeply, in a way he hadn't expected.

"I don't want to lose you," Sero whispered suddenly, his voice tight with emotion.
"I get it if you don't want to talk about this stuff, but I need you to know that you matter. To me. And please tell me if you start feeling like that again."

Shinsou's breath caught in his throat, the vulnerability in the boy's voice catching him off guard. It wasn't the typical comforting lines he'd heard before. It was real, raw, and it shook something loose inside him.

"I'm not going anywhere," Shinsou whispered back, his hand cupping the other's cheek.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I'm here. With you."

Sero's eyes flickered with something deep, something vulnerable, and without thinking, he leaned in and pressed his lips to Shinsou's in a slow, deliberate kiss. It was tender, filled with a quiet promise that neither of them had to speak aloud.

When they pulled away, their foreheads rested against each other's, breaths mingling in the stillness of the room. Shinsou could feel the warmth between them, not just from their bodies but from the connection they'd built over time.

———

I'm sorry if it felt like they've had this convo before, idek anymore.

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