Work it Out - KiriKami

2 ~ It's Wrong

image cred: summer_granary

"Denki ... I love you."

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Denki was completely still. His crying stopped abruptly, and Eijirou remained frozen, unsure of what to do next.

The silence stretched on, thick and heavy.

Denki eventually shifted, pulling away from Eijirou's embrace. "Oh..."

Eijirou didn't try to pull him back, sensing that Denki needed space. "You don't have to say it back," he said softly.

Denki nodded, his gaze still averted. The silence returned, growing more oppressive with each passing second.

Eijirou's anxiety grew. "Can you at least say something?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

Denki shook his head, his eyes fixed on the floor.

Eijirou looked away, feeling a pang of frustration and sadness. "Oh... Okay..."

The silence dragged on.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Fifteen.

"Denki, please, say something," Eijirou pleaded, his voice breaking.

Denki remained motionless, his arms wrapped around himself, eyes downcast.

Eijirou felt paralyzed, consumed by regret for not addressing Denki's distress sooner. He wished he could have done more to comfort him. But for now, he needed to focus on keeping Denki grounded.

Seeing that Denki was lost in his own mind, Eijirou shifted his approach. He wrapped his arms around Denki once more and whispered, "Let's just lie down for a bit, alright?"Denki was stiff but allowed Eijirou to guide him onto the bed. He settled into Eijirou's embrace, seeking solace in his warmth.

Denki's thoughts swirled chaotically, but Eijirou's steady presence provided a sense of safety—a refuge from the storm in his mind.

After a long pause, Denki's voice emerged, barely above a whisper. "Eiji... I'm afraid."

Eijirou tensed at the unexpected words but tried to stay calm. "What are you afraid of?"

Denki clung to Eijirou's shirt, unable to answer.

"It's okay, Denki. You're safe here. You can tell me."

Eijirou regretted not pulling Denki back earlier, not breaking the silence sooner. He wished he could have done more to help Denki before he became so lost in his thoughts.

Denki's grip tightened, and he drew closer, finding some comfort in Eijirou's embrace. "He said it's wrong." his voice was still so soft and quiet.

"This is wrong. Two boys." Denki's voice cracked a bit before he hid his face in Eijirou's chest."What? I don't- ...Oh.."

He had often wondered why Denki, despite his openness about liking girls, struggled so much with even simple public gestures of affection with him. It wasn't about Eijirou himself—it was about his gender. If Denki were dating a girl, this wouldn't be an issue. Someone had deeply ingrained a sense of homophobia in Denki, so deeply that he had repressed the memories of it. This fear had become subconscious, manifesting as a reluctance to show affection towards another boy. The same Denki who could freely express desire for girls now found himself paralyzed when those feelings were directed at a boy.

"Denki, who told you it was wrong?" Eijirou asked gently.

Denki hesitated, searching his mind for an answer. "I... I don't remember," he finally said, his voice soft and distant. "But he said heroes can't love other boys." His voice was a touch clearer now, though still tinged with reserve.

The revelation hit hard. Someone had convinced Denki that being a hero and loving another boy were incompatible. To protect his image and avoid scrutiny, he had shut down all public displays of affection, hiding his true self from the world.

Eijirou's heart ached with anger and sadness. The thought of someone instilling such harmful beliefs in Denki was infuriating. But for now, he needed to focus on comforting Denki.

"Well, let's forget about him for now," Eijirou said softly. "If you can't remember him, he doesn't matter. What matters is that you're here with me."

Denki nodded, a trace of relief in his eyes. "Right..."

Eijirou kissed the top of Denki's head, his heart swelling with affection. "How do you feel now?"

Denki took a moment to reflect before responding with a faint smile. "Safe... Happy... Loved..."

Eijirou's heart melted. "You are so loved, Denki. So, so loved."

Denki looked up at him, exhaustion and vulnerability evident in his eyes. "Can I stay here tonight?"

Eijirou smiled warmly. "I wasn't going to let you sleep alone anyway. I love you too much to let you go."

Denki chuckled softly, closing his eyes. "Cheesy."

Eijirou laughed gently, relieved to see Denki's fear subsiding. "Get some sleep, Denki. We'll talk more in the morning."

Denki nodded, and sleep quickly claimed him. Eijirou followed soon after, holding Denki close.

Boy, did they have a lot to talk about.