Work it Out - KiriKami

1 ~ I Love You

image cred: avesmonster

Denki's love for his boyfriend, Eijirou, is an all-consuming blaze. He adores everything about him—the way Eijirou effortlessly blends strength with kindness, his protective nature that always makes Denki feel secure. Despite this overwhelming love, Denki struggles to express it, especially in public. The idea of declaring his love or holding Eijirou's hand in front of others fills him with anxiety, even though he has no trouble being affectionate in private.

In private, Denki revels in their intimate moments: kissing Eijirou, cuddling, holding hands, and exchanging loving glances. But in public, the very thought of these actions causes him to freeze. He can't pinpoint why, but he knows it's a barrier he needs to overcome.

Eijirou understands Denki's discomfort with public displays of affection and respects his boundaries. He longs to hold Denki close and kiss him without worrying about others' opinions, but he prioritizes Denki's comfort above his own desires.

One evening, while the Bakusquad is hanging out in the dorm's common area discussing training, Denki decides to face his fear.

"I don't know, I just feel like I need to do better," Eijirou sighed. "I can't hold Unbreakable for very long."

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "You're not going to be perfect overnight. Stop being a little piss baby and just practice. You'll get there."

Eijirou chuckled, appreciating Katsuki's tough-love encouragement. "Thanks, bro. I'll work on it."

Denki took a deep breath, then inched closer to Eijirou, taking his hand in his own. "I think you're already doing amazing, Eiji," he said, leaning in to kiss Eijirou's cheek. Eijirou's face lit up with a radiant smile.

"Thank you, Denki," Eijirou replied, his happiness palpable as he looked at their intertwined hands. He chose to keep the moment low-key, understanding that such gestures were monumental for Denki.

As the conversation continued, Denki's hand began to tremble. Eijirou noticed not just the hand but the whole body shaking. He gently released Denki's hand, recognizing the anxiety triggered by PDA. Yet Denki, resolute, took Eijirou's hand again, clutching it tightly against his chest. Eijirou responded with a reassuring squeeze, wanting Denki to feel safe amidst his discomfort. They continued to converse, everyone oblivious to Denki's internal struggle.

After ten minutes, Eijirou looked back at Denki. His trembling had intensified, his lip bitten, eyes fixed on the floor, yet he refused to let go of Eijirou's hand. Understanding the limit, Eijirou addressed his friends.

"I'm getting pretty tired; I think I'm gonna head upstairs."

Denki's head shot up. "I'll come with you!" Then, realizing he'd shouted, he stammered, "I-I'm tired too."

Eijirou smiled warmly. "Let's go upstairs together then."

They bid goodnight and headed to Eijirou's room. All the way up, Denki clung to Eijirou's hand with a vice-like grip. It stressed him out but also made him feel secure. In Eijirou's room, Eijirou enveloped Denki in a bear hug. "I'm so proud of you, Denki. I know how hard that was," he murmured into Denki's hair.

Denki hugged back tightly, burying his face in Eijirou's shirt. Eijirou noticed his shoulder growing damp and pulled back, cupping Denki's tear-streaked face. "You know you didn't have to do that, right?"

Denki nodded, wiping his eyes. "I-I know. I wanted to. I want to kiss you and not care what anybody thinks. I-I... I, uh..." He struggled to speak the words 'I love you', still not ready.

Eijirou smiled, understanding the unspoken words. "We'll work up to it, okay?" He gently wiped a tear from Denki's face.

Denki nodded. "Okay."