More Than Just Friends (TanthaiJapan Oneshot)

More Than Just Friends

This is the first TanthaiJapan oneshot I ever wrote, so please forgive me if they're a bit out of character! I have plenty more TanthaiJapan fics on AO3 (Ink_Filled_Dreams) if you want to read them sooner, I'll eventually repost all of them here, but if you're feeling impatient feel free to check me out over there :)

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How had Japan ended up in this situation? Sitting on the carpet, his bag of chips spilt all over the floor next to him, and one of his juniors sitting in his lap, their lips mere inches apart. Again.

Many things had happened, all leading up to this. He had asked Tanthai over for a study date and snacks, just as friends, because that was what they were. Friends. Friends that occasionally got a little close to one another, but it wasn't that weird, right? Some people were just like that. Just because Tanthai got a bit touchy at times didn't mean they were abnormal or dating or anything. They were just friends.

Maybe it was a bit strange that Tanthai would grab his hand and cling to him like Velcro, or that he watched Japan intently whenever he spoke, but Japan tried to convince himself that Tanthai was just like that. Even though he never acted that way around anyone else.

And just because Tanthai had eagerly said yes, his entire face lighting up, and just because Japan thought that he looked pretty when he smiled didn't mean anything was going on between them. It was normal.

Their study date had started off normal as well. They went over the subjects Tanthai struggled with, and then the subjects Japan struggled with. Then they took a break, sharing the chips and cookies they had brought. They ended up talking about the funny thing Junior had done the day before, sitting next to one another on the floor, their books and notes scattered around them, forgotten for a little while. Japan wondered, only briefly, if it was weird that he felt so comfortable talking to Tanthai.

When Tanthai had set his hand on Japan's knee, it made Japan's face feel unnaturally warm. And whenever Tanthai laughed, Japan found himself laughing as well, transfixed by the way Tanthai's eyes sparkled when he smiled. Tanthai seemed equally entranced, his gaze locking with Japan's as he spoke.

It was getting harder to convince himself that his feelings were normal.

"P'J, do you want me to get you some water?" Tanthai had asked eventually, eyeing the bag of chips Japan held. "Those are pretty salty, so I figured you're getting thirsty. Not to mention your face is pretty flushed. Do you need me to turn the heat down?" If Japan hadn't known better, he would've sworn Tanthai batted his eyelashes at him.

Swallowing down the urge to snuggle up closer to the younger boy, Japan shook his head, dropping Tanthai's gaze before he did something embarrassing. "I'm not thirsty. And why are you offering to get me water? This is my house, I should be the one asking you."

Tanthai smiled, resting his cheek on Japan's shoulder. "I like taking care of you, P'J," he said softly, his hand - which had previously been resting quite innocently on Japan's knee - beginning to move up in down, petting Japan's leg as if it were a cat.

Just thinking about cats made Japan's heart jump, and the skin on the back of his hand prickle at the memory of Tanthai's lips. Okay, maybe there really was something weird about their relationship, because normal friends didn't do that. But Japan didn't mind it much. Not at all, actually. He kind of liked the way Tanthai smiled at him, as if they were sharing some kind of secret that only they knew, and he liked how nice Tanthai's hands felt.

"Stop doing that," he said, pushing Tanthai's hand away, because his head won out over his heart, and Japan had a reputation to keep up. "When you're with me, you don't need to keep up your appearance."