[Kenta cannot imagine a world where he would want to do anything but give the absolute best to Haruichi Kominato. Or where anyone would, really, but it's extremely important to him personally.
It's part of why he's still consistently touched with just a little feeling of delight and surprise every day when he comes home. He's not surprised that Haruichi's there (except on days when he is--one of the challenges of living with a professional athlete is how much time they spend away from home, but Haruichi's been known to catch early flights seemingly just for the chance to surprise Kenta) but rather that somehow, their life is still exactly the way he left it when he went to work that morning.
He was worried at first that he'd never be able to give Haruichi something like this, the best kind of life as they both saw it. When Haruichi entered the draft and got picked up by the Hawks, there was never a question of whether they'd move together, only a question of how it'd look when they got there. Kenta worried it would be a life of dodging photographers or of Haruichi, at least, having to answer horrible questions. Instead, they ended up with the opposite, thanks in no small part to Kenta's intent search for a place that just felt right. A quiet house on a quiet street in Jonan-ku with privacy to spare and a parking space out front.
A parking space Kenta really only needs about two thirds of, but he's still grateful it lets him have his car, even when Haruichi teases him about it. He unfolds himself out of the car now, stretching as he bumps the door closed with his hip, and starts toward the house. It's only when he's nearly up the steps that he notices the item sitting outside.
He's halfway through the note before he thinks to move out of line of sight from the windows on either side of the door. It's probably already too late, but he's got to do what he can. He can't cook and there's no way Haruichi would let him off with ordering takeout if he lost. Carefully, Kenta drops down and opens the door, then shoves his briefcase in while he stays behind the door. If Haruichi's waiting on a sound, that's all he's going to get for now, though Kenta wouldn't be surprised if he could hear his heartbeat, too. It's pretty loud in his own ears. Haruichi calling him his husband hasn't stopped having that effect yet, and he hopes it never does.]
[ married life with kenta is not what haruichi would ever call boring. because it's not. sure, it's not the wild life that a few of his teammates have, cashing in on their popularity to hook up with girls, but it's exactly the kind of life that haruichi kominato has wanted. he's always been a sentimental kind of person, who treasures people in his life with everything he has, who envisioned himself easily in a situation like this when he was younger, a house with a white picket fence and kissing a still sleeping kenta before he tiptoes out of the door to catch a very, very early morning flight.
sure, it's not what he pictured when he first met maezono kenta, either, but life has a way of surprising you sometimes.
the life that they live is picture perfect: in all actuality from playing baseball to getting to curl up in bed with kenta bone tired and happy when he's been playing his hardest, there's not a thing he'd change.. it's rare that he gets to be home for long stretches of time, but with a brief break between season end and tournament time, haruichi's got a day off, and he's already done his prerequisite bat-swinging and other practices (because no day off is really a day off) before he starts considering what to make for dinner. and that's when this idea comes up.
haruichi is, after all, a kominato. marriage or not, kominatos are a mischievous breed, every one of them, and it's not like his playful side's ever really been that hidden. it shakes up the quiet just a little, and he knows, because he's haruichi, that starting the letter like that might have bought him a second or two of time. so sure enough, as zono ducks down, a nerf dart whizzes over where his face might have been just five seconds later, dropping into the grass a few feet away harmlessly.
if he looks up in time, he might catch a flash of pink hair before haruichi's grinning to himself and disappearing around the front hallway door, armed with his almost full clip of nerf darts, listening for the door opening. like he's going to fall for that! who do you think he is, eijun?
even so, he exaggerates his voice a little, unable to keep the smile off his face as he calls into the hallway. ] I guess my husband's home from work.
[ yeah, as if he's going to step around the piece of the wall that juts out near the genkan first. if kominatos are also all very mischievous, they're even more competitive, and he so doesn't want to cook tonight.
[Kenta knew what he was getting into, marrying the younger brother of the scariest devil Seido'd ever known, but he prefers Haruichi's brand of mischief over his brother's by a mile. This is something he can look forward to coming home to, though he never saw this exact thing coming. He's not complaining! He just knows he's going to have to work twice as hard to win; Haruichi's small, fast, and has very good aim.
Very good aim, if the trajectory of that dart was to be believed. He was aiming for his head!? Clearly this means war. Kenta loosens his tie from where he's tucked behind the door and tries to figure out his next move. The briefcase trick failed, which seems like a pretty obvious outcome at this point but he had to try something. The problem now is if he goes into the genkan, he's pretty much just going to get shot. What if...
Kenta's a big guy and stealth is just not in his toolkit but one thing he can do is move when he has to. He stands from his crouch and reaches out--yes, he can reach it from here. One hand holds his gun, the other grips the porch railing, and he toes his shoes off so he can get closer to it without the hard soles of his office shoes giving him away. Once he's there, it's one big jump to get down and onto the grass without much sound to give him away, then he's sprinting for the back door. The socks will probably be a total loss but he'll find way better cover if he can come in from the kitchen!]
[ there's no response to haruichi's call, which is good--he didn't really expect it to work, and he's delighted that it didn't. the challenge is the fun part, right? haruichi takes no mercy, though he does so lovingly, mostly because he knows kenta is up for the challenge. that's one of the things he's always liked about maezono, since they were first roommates back at seido and beyond that. he values hard work just as much as haruichi does, whether that was back on the field or at work now. from zono-senpai to zono-san to kenta, he's stayed in stride with haruichi even when their paths diverted when it came to baseball, and now, he continues to do it even with something as silly as a nerf tag game.
which, silly, but still so serious. again: kominatos.
haruichi waits in his spot patiently for sound but none comes. hm. carefully, he lifts his gun back up and pokes his head of the genkan, moving from left to right to see the briefcase still sitting in the doorway, but no zono to be found. not about to let his guard down, he waits a few more seconds and takes a careful step back towards the window, whirling and pointing his nerf gun in the right place, but all that's there are his shoes.
his shoes...? ]
--Ah! [ it takes him a second to realize he might in fact be in trouble, and haruichi whirls back around and hurries for the living room to get better coverage in case he's coming in through their kitchen. he left his back open for too long...! ]
[Kenta'd considered at least saying something back, but that wouldn't have done him any good and Haruichi would've figured out he was behind the door. It wouldn't be as much fun if they deliberately gave each other advantages. Then again, his husband is a professional athlete and Kenta, after a long four years at university that never saw his star rise, sits behind a desk.
Haruichi could throw him a bone.
Kenta almost thinks he might have when he's able to get in through the back door and into the kitchen without a single shot being fired at him. The kitchen's still not the best spot for cover but it gives him more to work with than coming straight in through the front. He peeks in through the window first but there's no pink head in the kitchen, so he slips in as fast as he can and ducks behind the table. He's pinned there if Haruichi comes in but the table and chairs give him some cover. He's too big to get a ton but it'll do for now.
If Haruichi were to come in right now, he'd see Kenta beaming, face a little pink from the run (he wasn't warmed up, ok!) but as happy as could be. This is the life.]
[ the silence is unsettling--not in a bad or uncomfortable way. on the contrary, it's kind of delightful, because this is the kind of goofy heart-pounding adrenaline fun that's sometimes hard to get at outside of work. haruichi loves baseball, arguably more than anything in this life (except, maybe, his big brother, but those two things go hand in hand) but it's really, really nice to just goof off with kenta every once in a while. being married's pretty great; haruichi can't think of a single complaint.
(especially with the quiet, the media leaving him alone about his personal life--his teammates make more than enough ruckus for sweet, shy haruichi kominato to flit under the radar in domestic bless.)
carefully, he stands up and takes a few steps towards the kitchen with his gun up, keeping it near his face and taking measured, slow steps to be as quiet as possible, tiptoeing in his socks. if he was hiding in the kitchen--well, haruichi could hide in one of the cabinets, because he's pretty small, but that doesn't exactly apply here. where in the kitchen provides good coverage?
haruichi's gun appears around the corner before he does, and there's a pshoo noise as the dart gets fired and bounces off the edge of the table. ]
[It's nice to be able to bring a little bit of that feeling up even at home. Kenta doesn't get to feel like that much anymore--there aren't a lot of heart pounding moments to be had in the human resources department of the regional distributions offices of Mizuno, really--but when he does it's almost always something to do with Haruichi. It seems appropriate to him. He can't really talk about his home life at work, but whenever others lament the tedium of married life, he just smiles to himself.
He's smiling now, too, and trying to listen. Haruichi's small enough that he can move quietly, especially in sock feet in the living room, so he's not expecting to hear much but maybe. In the meantime he gives his position away utterly, carefully turning the chairs on either side of the table so they're facing toward the entrance, making a kind of wall. It's a noisy thing to do but really, where else would he be?
He's just moving to turn the second chair when he sees a hand and hears the sound of a foam dart flying. As soon as he sees it bounce away, Kenta pops just the top of his head and his hand over the table, firing as well. It's an off shot, though, sailing past the wall and into the living room, probably landing near the TV.]
[ pshooo goes the dart--its not even really close to haruichi but he watches it go anyway, mouth ticking up in a bigger smile as he considers going to pick it up and reload his nerf gun. it's not like it'll take him that many shots to get him, probably, but, kenta is nothing if not full of surprises. always catching him off guard, whether it's cute things like wanting a smart car or baseball things like slamming a particularly great hit, even for his company team, or, apparently, nerf dart wars.
still, maybe he can give him a little bit of a break. his tone's light, maybe a little playful: ] What are you going to make for dinner, Kenta?
[ he pokes his head around the corner, and haruichi can't actually keep the smile off his face this time, his pink eyes practically twinkling with mischief as he fires off another shot and then ducks down low to enter the kitchen at large. he'll clamber up on the counter if he takes a shot at him--haruichi knows he's fast enough and small enough to get up there and not get hit. if it was a baseball he could get it into the tiny spot between the legs of the chairs, but seeing as how his gun sharpshooting isn't as great as his pinpoint hits, he needs to get a higher vantage point.
so, he fires one shot when he rounds the corner and then scurries to get up on the counter so zono'll just have to move out from the table if he wants to hit him at this angle. ]
[The fact that he's just giving Haruichi ammunition hasn't crossed Kenta's mind yet but that wouldn't be enough to stop him. You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs after all.
Maybe he can make omelettes for--NO! He's not giving up even though he's cornered and Haruichi has many advantages right now. Kenta can see his feet when he enters the kitchen (the nerf dart bounces off the wall above him so he's still in it) and then sees when they go up. It's not often Haruichi has the height advantage. That just seems unfair!
Not that there's anything Kenta can do about it. Or is there... Hmm. He bends sideways a little under the table and, yes, he should be able to fit there. With a bit of awkward maneuvering, Kenta's able to get himself halfway under one of the chairs he's using for cover. He can't see from there but he can guess sort of where Haruichi is, and he sticks his hand out to fire upward then pulls it back as quick as he can.]
[ damn, he was close. still, haruichi's got an almost full clip and a height advantage (what a rarity that is), but that doesn't mean that zono's shot doesn't send him scrambling to duck down, making himself as small as possible to get under the cabinets near the sink. it's not the most graceful plan, but haruichi positions himself in a way that he should at least still be able to get out.
the remark, which is frankly a little cheesy, makes him smile anyway, awfully affectionate at his nerdy husband even as he seeks to totally annihilate him in this very serious nerf war. that's what happens when you date a kominato, after all. ]
Cute. [ he replies, and then very, very quietly, pushes himself out from his hiding place. ] Pie does sound delicious.
[ he fires another shot, this one on purpose, directly hitting into the wood of the chair above zono's head. it's to serve as a distraction as he nimbly comes down from the counter and steps soundlessly around where he can't see, doing his best to stay in his blind spot (and keeping his gun cocked.)
if he's able to get around, haruichi drops down on the other side of the table, and gives his very best imitation of his older brother's never ending smile. ] I'm glad you've given it some thought, though.
[This is what happens when you date a Kominato. Kenta thought his days of considering hiding under tables to escape were over when Ryo-san left Seido but not even Ryosuke had managed to actually get him under a table. Point to the younger brother, to be sure.
He grumps softly when Haruichi calls his reply cute even though he himself knows how dumb it was, then starts trying to track his movements. That gets interrupted by the sound of a dart letting go then hitting the chair above him. Haruichi must be high again, to hit up there... Kenta's tempted to rise up a little to get a line of sight over the table but that seems like certain death. On the other hand, he's already trapped and pretty much at Haruichi's mercy, so if his reflexes are just a little better he might stand a chance.
Kenta starts to move forward, focused entirely on possible attacks from above and on not getting legitimately stuck under a kitchen chair. As such, he has no idea Haruichi's gotten that close until he speaks, drawing a startled yelp and reflexive shot from Kenta. His dart bounces off the underside of the table, though; he doesn't stand a chance.]
[ haruichi's smile doesn't move off of his face even when zono gets to fire a shot off--it hits the bottom of the table and not haruichi, and he puts his hand on the rim of it as he squats back down. this was a good game, one they should play more often.
(it's admittedly the best kind of game because haruichi won but. he's a professional baseball player, he's supposed to be a little competitive.)
said smile does change a little from a ryousuke kominato brand to a more genuine one, a little brighter as he picks his gun up and hits kenta from short distance with one of the nerf darts, so it bounces harmlessly off his forehead. boink! he will take his victory with a smile.
haruichi tips into the small space easily to kiss his cheek, then rocks back on his heels. ] Good game.
[If Kenta wasn't distracted by the dart--his own dart, of which he is deeply ashamed--bouncing back at him, he might've noticed that switch a little sooner, but even if he did it's not like he could have done anything about it. He's trapped in a chair leg prison of his own making and he can only accept it with dignity when Hariuchi's dart pokes harmlessly at his forehead. At least Haruichi's smiling, so even if Kenta's sulking like a kid he can still appreciate that not all is really lost. Not even the sulk can stick around after Haruichi takes the first of his spoils as a kiss on Kenta's cheek.
He sets his gun down and looks back to see just how firmly he's trapped himself, but it's not that bad.]
You too. ... If I just stay under here, does that mean we can order takeout instead?
[It's not that he's a bad cook or even that he dislikes cooking, but the idea of admitting total defeat and curling up with Haruichi while waiting for the doorbell has its appeal too. Either way, though, the first step is scooting backward and trying not to be too embarrassed by the scrape of the chair his legs are tangled in as he does so.]
[ haruichi laughs, a tinkling thing as he settles back and watches kenta try to work his way out of his chair prison. he's absolutely no help, considering all he does is watch, but it's cute and hey, he got himself into this mess. he can work himself out too.
as for his question, though, he hums, a thoughtful little noise. watching kenta make him dinner for victory sounds nice, but he has been gone all day, and haruichi's been alone on one of his offseason days. ] Would we be eating under here, too?
[ his teasing's affectionate, though, and he effortlessly pulls himself out from underneath the table (benefit of being tiny) and now, finally, comes across to offer zono his hand. ] We can do it tomorrow.
[ "you're definitely not getting out of it, though" is in his tone, though he can convey it with a smile. ]
[Kenta's very aware that this awkward escape has an audience but it's hardly the least dignified thing Haruichi's ever seen him do. It may be in the top five, though.
The look he shoots Haruichi when he finally gets enough space to roll off his stomach is more sulky than actually hurt. Kenta's reply is more of a mutter than a retort, too. He knows how he looks right now.] This made perfect sense at the time, you know. It's not that I like being under the table.
[The fluid motion of his husband standing up and coming around to him to help him up banishes the sulk easily, but Kenta's not completely resigned. Haruichi may be smaller and quicker than he is, but there are advantages to being Kenta's size, too.
Such as being able to take Haruichi's wrist in his hand and hold him in place while Kenta stands up, then leans down for at the very least a welcome home hug. The war is over. ... And maybe he can still get out of cooking. But he mostly just wants a consolation hug.]
[ haruichi just smiles at zono's muttered reply, tilting his head to the side innocently. yes, sweetheart, it says, of course i understand that. it's beyond funny to watch him, though haruichi is plenty polite and does not A) say the patronizing thing out loud or B) laugh at him, as perhaps any of his former batchmates might have done. it's cute funny, anyway, as kenta always has been.
he holds still when he pulls him up with no problem, and a fond little smile tugs at his mouth when kenta leans down for a hug. haruichi's just fine meeting him there: he stands up on his tippytoes and lifts his arms to come around kenta's neck, relishing in the warm little feeling that always rushes around his chest when they get together. he's warm and solid and a presence that haruichi got used to in their years together, whether that was at first base or by his side in the kitchen or curled up with him in bed.
so not only does he get his consolation hug, but haruichi lets go after a moment to splay his small fingers across his cheeks and pull him down a little further for a kiss, a quick little peck. ]
Welcome home. [ he says, a little mischievous but mostly sincere. ]
[It's a critical difference between Haruichi and some of the others in his year. He always knew they basically respected him but Haruichi went further and actually treated him with respect, even in moments like this when Kenta knew he wasn't exactly at his most respectable. It made an already outstanding person stand out even more; sometimes Kenta still can't believe Haruichi picked somebody like him.
He gives Haruichi a little squeeze before he lets go, enjoying the feeling of how he just fits in the circle of Kenta's arms, and he smiles into the kiss. It's quick but familiar, a settling back in after the unexpected way he got greeted. ]
You could've just started with that, you know. [There's no animosity in it at all, though. Instead Kenta just follows up with a kiss to Haruichi's bangs, then he leans on the counter, arms crossed thoughtfully.]
Where'd you even come up with this, anyway? Hopefully you didn't just decide you wanted to shoot me.
[ yeah, he could've just started with that, but then it would have been just like any other day, wouldn't it? haruichi's expression stays tinted with that little bit of mischief, though he does duck his head a little into the familiar kiss to his bangs. even years and years later, it's sometimes still a little strange not to have his childhood security blanket; for what it's worth, kenta had known him with both and liked him both ways.
their relationship is a long lasting one. maybe in other circumstances, in a different place or a different life, they'd be cooed over for being high school sweethearts. the private life suits haruichi just fine, though--he savors it when he's on the road. ]
Mm, they were on sale at the store when I went to pick up a new set of sheets. [ he shrugs his shoulders, then smiles up at him when he leans on the counter, not so ready just to pull away from him all the way yet. ] Maybe the off-season's getting to me.
[ his gaze flicks up to the top of kenta's forehead and back down, like he's sizing him up. that exercise did make him hungry... ] ...You know, I could be convinced to find a good excuse for takeout.
[ There's no such thing as just like any other day with Haruichi around, at least not in Kenta's opinion. That doesn't mean there are a lot of days like this one, though. Haruichi really outdid himself.
Kenta nods and smiles a little as Haruichi explains just how he came to be fully armed. New sheets... it's little things like that, the trappings of complete domesticity, that get his heart fluttering. This time is no exception, either, but the way Haruichi looks up at him after that certainly doesn't stop that flutter. He unfolds his arms and lets them settle on Haruichi's shoulders instead. ]
Well... cooking takes longer, and then there's dishes, plus that means having to go out to go shopping tomorrow. Takeout means eating sooner, maybe having leftovers for breakfast, no cleanup.
[ He's thinking about a couple of other reasons that mostly have to do with the aforementioned new sheets, but it's too embarrassing to say that out loud. The red around his ears might give him away a little, though. ]
[ haruichi tilts his head to the side as kenta starts counting off all the different reasons that they should get takeout. now, naturally, he believes in punishment when punishment is due--as a kominato, it's practically in his blood to be competitive--but he also believes in enjoying every minute of off season time they have together.
after all, once the season comes around, there will be weeks at a time where he doesn't get to see kenta at all. where skype calls have to fill in a void he's not really used to having--one he hasn't experienced since the third years graduated back at seido--and it sucks. they have to use all the time they have.
if haruichi's competitive, he's just as devious, though his innocent tone belies that. ] And-- [ he adds, his gaze scanning over zono's face, out to his red ears, and back ] I think we have new sheets to break in.
[ haruichi tangles his fingers together lightly behind his head where his arms are still resting, then brings them in to cup his cheeks, calloused palms against sharper cheekbones. (he doesn't quite have to stand on his toes, but he definitely has to reach.) ] Right?
[ It's when he sees Haruichi's attention flick to his ears that Kenta knows he's probably gotten out of cooking duty, at least for tonight. He's glad but not because he doesn't want to cook, or particularly because he wants to do... other things (even though he really does). He'd just rather spend time doing something where he can give Haruichi his full attention just like he was doing when they were in the middle of their nerf gunfight. Cooking would've been a distraction. He's fine with a punishment deferred. Maybe he'll make breakfast tomorrow instead. Kenta can do toast and coffee.
When Haruichi's hands come to rest on his face, chances are he'll be able to feel the way Kenta's cheeks warm both from the touch and the implication. He lets his finger play with the ends of Haruichi's hair as he does his very best to maintain a relaxed appearance, but, well. Your husband is a weak man, Haruichi. ]
Mmm, riiight. [ Kenta lets himself slide just a little down the front of the cabinet, mostly to put himself on a more even height with Haruichi. ] Should we order now or later? Just how hungry are you?
[ Please humor him, he's doing his very best to make that sound flirty. ]
[ haruichi takes a second to just appreciate zono's attempt at being flirtatious, and though it doesn't inspire him to leap on him and shout take me i'm yours or anything like that, but it does create a familiar flush of warmth and affection in his chest. his spouse is really the cutest, from what he said to the way his cheeks warmed under his hands, and though haruichi never would have expected this the first day he met zono, he's glad that it happened.
he thumbs his cheeks and tamps down what feels like a manic grin oncoming into a quirk of his lips instead, subtle as he lets him slide down closer to his height. it lets haruichi get off his tippytoes, and he tilts his head to the side and humors him.
life would be boring if he didn't humor him, after all. (and he's just so cute, how could he not? haruichi's still just as into his husband as he was the day they first started dating, for so many reasons.) ]
Pretty hungry. [ and his response is a little wry, because he can't entirely stop himself from reacting. he can play along though, and haruichi thumbs his cheeks again, more comfortable now that he's flat footed, tilting his head in naturally as if asking for a kiss. ] Though maybe not for delivery.
[ Kenta would have no idea what to do if Haruichi jumped on him like that. He knows he's not smooth; he only had to watch people who legitimately were, like Haruichi's brother or even, though he was loathe to admit it, Miyuki, and he knew what smoothness looked like. That being said, he knows he doesn't have to be smooth. Haruichi loves him for exactly who he is, weak attempts at flirtation and all.
For his part, Kenta knows when Haruichi's doing his best to be A Proper Kominato and not smile when he really wants to, and he can see it on his face right now. It's gratifying but not nearly as gratifying as Haruichi's actual reply. It occurs to Kenta as Haruichi speaks and especially as he leans in that he never did get to give his husband a kiss hello. Seems almost criminal.
Time to remedy that. His kiss isn't tentative but it is pretty gentle; this isn't, "I haven't seen you in ten days and I can't stop thinking about the face you made when you hit that home run in Sapporo," or anything for all that it is a welcome home. Still, even if it's not scorching passion, the way Kenta's hands settle on the back of Haruichi's neck should make it obvious he's not exactly in a hurry to pull away, either. ]
[ a kiss hello is something required, after all! haruichi would have to agree. he settles comfortably in the routine of it all, the well known, familiar feeling that never gets old--even years later, there's still just a little spark somewhere in him at kenta's tenderness, the warmth of his mouth on his. his face is just a little scratchy, but haruichi doesn't mind.
he hums, dropping his hands from kenta's face to curl one in the front of his shirt instead, the other moving to his hip and finding his belt loop. it's easy and natural, though haruichi's hands do tend to wander in these situations more often than not, but he holds his time and his patience as he just focuses on the kiss, eventually nibbling lightly at his lower lip to get him to open up a little.
there are fresh new sheets that need to be broken in, and haruichi has a laundry list of ways he'd like to do so, but this--making out in the kitchen, with the sunlight coming in through the windows of their little home, the quiet place they've made for themselves with the yard and the little car in the driveway--this isn't so bad, either. it's a long moment before he's ready to move on. ]
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cardmarket2015-09-20 04:22 pm
zono san :3c
( ""i won't just buy you a rose; i will buy the flower shop, and you will never be lonely." )
this is so cute gdi
It's part of why he's still consistently touched with just a little feeling of delight and surprise every day when he comes home. He's not surprised that Haruichi's there (except on days when he is--one of the challenges of living with a professional athlete is how much time they spend away from home, but Haruichi's been known to catch early flights seemingly just for the chance to surprise Kenta) but rather that somehow, their life is still exactly the way he left it when he went to work that morning.
He was worried at first that he'd never be able to give Haruichi something like this, the best kind of life as they both saw it. When Haruichi entered the draft and got picked up by the Hawks, there was never a question of whether they'd move together, only a question of how it'd look when they got there. Kenta worried it would be a life of dodging photographers or of Haruichi, at least, having to answer horrible questions. Instead, they ended up with the opposite, thanks in no small part to Kenta's intent search for a place that just felt right. A quiet house on a quiet street in Jonan-ku with privacy to spare and a parking space out front.
A parking space Kenta really only needs about two thirds of, but he's still grateful it lets him have his car, even when Haruichi teases him about it. He unfolds himself out of the car now, stretching as he bumps the door closed with his hip, and starts toward the house. It's only when he's nearly up the steps that he notices the item sitting outside.
He's halfway through the note before he thinks to move out of line of sight from the windows on either side of the door. It's probably already too late, but he's got to do what he can. He can't cook and there's no way Haruichi would let him off with ordering takeout if he lost. Carefully, Kenta drops down and opens the door, then shoves his briefcase in while he stays behind the door. If Haruichi's waiting on a sound, that's all he's going to get for now, though Kenta wouldn't be surprised if he could hear his heartbeat, too. It's pretty loud in his own ears. Haruichi calling him his husband hasn't stopped having that effect yet, and he hopes it never does.]
always happy to provide :3c
sure, it's not what he pictured when he first met maezono kenta, either, but life has a way of surprising you sometimes.
the life that they live is picture perfect: in all actuality from playing baseball to getting to curl up in bed with kenta bone tired and happy when he's been playing his hardest, there's not a thing he'd change.. it's rare that he gets to be home for long stretches of time, but with a brief break between season end and tournament time, haruichi's got a day off, and he's already done his prerequisite bat-swinging and other practices (because no day off is really a day off) before he starts considering what to make for dinner. and that's when this idea comes up.
haruichi is, after all, a kominato. marriage or not, kominatos are a mischievous breed, every one of them, and it's not like his playful side's ever really been that hidden. it shakes up the quiet just a little, and he knows, because he's haruichi, that starting the letter like that might have bought him a second or two of time. so sure enough, as zono ducks down, a nerf dart whizzes over where his face might have been just five seconds later, dropping into the grass a few feet away harmlessly.
if he looks up in time, he might catch a flash of pink hair before haruichi's grinning to himself and disappearing around the front hallway door, armed with his almost full clip of nerf darts, listening for the door opening. like he's going to fall for that! who do you think he is, eijun?
even so, he exaggerates his voice a little, unable to keep the smile off his face as he calls into the hallway. ] I guess my husband's home from work.
[ yeah, as if he's going to step around the piece of the wall that juts out near the genkan first. if kominatos are also all very mischievous, they're even more competitive, and he so doesn't want to cook tonight.
honey, welcome home! ]
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Very good aim, if the trajectory of that dart was to be believed. He was aiming for his head!? Clearly this means war. Kenta loosens his tie from where he's tucked behind the door and tries to figure out his next move. The briefcase trick failed, which seems like a pretty obvious outcome at this point but he had to try something. The problem now is if he goes into the genkan, he's pretty much just going to get shot. What if...
Kenta's a big guy and stealth is just not in his toolkit but one thing he can do is move when he has to. He stands from his crouch and reaches out--yes, he can reach it from here. One hand holds his gun, the other grips the porch railing, and he toes his shoes off so he can get closer to it without the hard soles of his office shoes giving him away. Once he's there, it's one big jump to get down and onto the grass without much sound to give him away, then he's sprinting for the back door. The socks will probably be a total loss but he'll find way better cover if he can come in from the kitchen!]
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which, silly, but still so serious. again: kominatos.
haruichi waits in his spot patiently for sound but none comes. hm. carefully, he lifts his gun back up and pokes his head of the genkan, moving from left to right to see the briefcase still sitting in the doorway, but no zono to be found. not about to let his guard down, he waits a few more seconds and takes a careful step back towards the window, whirling and pointing his nerf gun in the right place, but all that's there are his shoes.
his shoes...? ]
--Ah! [ it takes him a second to realize he might in fact be in trouble, and haruichi whirls back around and hurries for the living room to get better coverage in case he's coming in through their kitchen. he left his back open for too long...! ]
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Haruichi could throw him a bone.
Kenta almost thinks he might have when he's able to get in through the back door and into the kitchen without a single shot being fired at him. The kitchen's still not the best spot for cover but it gives him more to work with than coming straight in through the front. He peeks in through the window first but there's no pink head in the kitchen, so he slips in as fast as he can and ducks behind the table. He's pinned there if Haruichi comes in but the table and chairs give him some cover. He's too big to get a ton but it'll do for now.
If Haruichi were to come in right now, he'd see Kenta beaming, face a little pink from the run (he wasn't warmed up, ok!) but as happy as could be. This is the life.]
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(especially with the quiet, the media leaving him alone about his personal life--his teammates make more than enough ruckus for sweet, shy haruichi kominato to flit under the radar in domestic bless.)
carefully, he stands up and takes a few steps towards the kitchen with his gun up, keeping it near his face and taking measured, slow steps to be as quiet as possible, tiptoeing in his socks. if he was hiding in the kitchen--well, haruichi could hide in one of the cabinets, because he's pretty small, but that doesn't exactly apply here. where in the kitchen provides good coverage?
haruichi's gun appears around the corner before he does, and there's a pshoo noise as the dart gets fired and bounces off the edge of the table. ]
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He's smiling now, too, and trying to listen. Haruichi's small enough that he can move quietly, especially in sock feet in the living room, so he's not expecting to hear much but maybe. In the meantime he gives his position away utterly, carefully turning the chairs on either side of the table so they're facing toward the entrance, making a kind of wall. It's a noisy thing to do but really, where else would he be?
He's just moving to turn the second chair when he sees a hand and hears the sound of a foam dart flying. As soon as he sees it bounce away, Kenta pops just the top of his head and his hand over the table, firing as well. It's an off shot, though, sailing past the wall and into the living room, probably landing near the TV.]
i got tired of having no icons
still, maybe he can give him a little bit of a break. his tone's light, maybe a little playful: ] What are you going to make for dinner, Kenta?
[ he pokes his head around the corner, and haruichi can't actually keep the smile off his face this time, his pink eyes practically twinkling with mischief as he fires off another shot and then ducks down low to enter the kitchen at large. he'll clamber up on the counter if he takes a shot at him--haruichi knows he's fast enough and small enough to get up there and not get hit. if it was a baseball he could get it into the tiny spot between the legs of the chairs, but seeing as how his gun sharpshooting isn't as great as his pinpoint hits, he needs to get a higher vantage point.
so, he fires one shot when he rounds the corner and then scurries to get up on the counter so zono'll just have to move out from the table if he wants to hit him at this angle. ]
what a cute
Maybe he can make omelettes for--NO! He's not giving up even though he's cornered and Haruichi has many advantages right now. Kenta can see his feet when he enters the kitchen (the nerf dart bounces off the wall above him so he's still in it) and then sees when they go up. It's not often Haruichi has the height advantage. That just seems unfair!
Not that there's anything Kenta can do about it. Or is there... Hmm. He bends sideways a little under the table and, yes, he should be able to fit there. With a bit of awkward maneuvering, Kenta's able to get himself halfway under one of the chairs he's using for cover. He can't see from there but he can guess sort of where Haruichi is, and he sticks his hand out to fire upward then pulls it back as quick as he can.]
Humble pie!
[Wait, that. That could also mean. DAMMIT.]
no u
the remark, which is frankly a little cheesy, makes him smile anyway, awfully affectionate at his nerdy husband even as he seeks to totally annihilate him in this very serious nerf war. that's what happens when you date a kominato, after all. ]
Cute. [ he replies, and then very, very quietly, pushes himself out from his hiding place. ] Pie does sound delicious.
[ he fires another shot, this one on purpose, directly hitting into the wood of the chair above zono's head. it's to serve as a distraction as he nimbly comes down from the counter and steps soundlessly around where he can't see, doing his best to stay in his blind spot (and keeping his gun cocked.)
if he's able to get around, haruichi drops down on the other side of the table, and gives his very best imitation of his older brother's never ending smile. ] I'm glad you've given it some thought, though.
[ surprise! hope you've got a good quick draw. ]
NO Uxinfinity
He grumps softly when Haruichi calls his reply cute even though he himself knows how dumb it was, then starts trying to track his movements. That gets interrupted by the sound of a dart letting go then hitting the chair above him. Haruichi must be high again, to hit up there... Kenta's tempted to rise up a little to get a line of sight over the table but that seems like certain death. On the other hand, he's already trapped and pretty much at Haruichi's mercy, so if his reflexes are just a little better he might stand a chance.
Kenta starts to move forward, focused entirely on possible attacks from above and on not getting legitimately stuck under a kitchen chair. As such, he has no idea Haruichi's gotten that close until he speaks, drawing a startled yelp and reflexive shot from Kenta. His dart bounces off the underside of the table, though; he doesn't stand a chance.]
damn i'm defeated <3
(it's admittedly the best kind of game because haruichi won but. he's a professional baseball player, he's supposed to be a little competitive.)
said smile does change a little from a ryousuke kominato brand to a more genuine one, a little brighter as he picks his gun up and hits kenta from short distance with one of the nerf darts, so it bounces harmlessly off his forehead. boink! he will take his victory with a smile.
haruichi tips into the small space easily to kiss his cheek, then rocks back on his heels. ] Good game.
\o/
He sets his gun down and looks back to see just how firmly he's trapped himself, but it's not that bad.]
You too. ... If I just stay under here, does that mean we can order takeout instead?
[It's not that he's a bad cook or even that he dislikes cooking, but the idea of admitting total defeat and curling up with Haruichi while waiting for the doorbell has its appeal too. Either way, though, the first step is scooting backward and trying not to be too embarrassed by the scrape of the chair his legs are tangled in as he does so.]
tag bombs to take back victory
as for his question, though, he hums, a thoughtful little noise. watching kenta make him dinner for victory sounds nice, but he has been gone all day, and haruichi's been alone on one of his offseason days. ] Would we be eating under here, too?
[ his teasing's affectionate, though, and he effortlessly pulls himself out from underneath the table (benefit of being tiny) and now, finally, comes across to offer zono his hand. ] We can do it tomorrow.
[ "you're definitely not getting out of it, though" is in his tone, though he can convey it with a smile. ]
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The look he shoots Haruichi when he finally gets enough space to roll off his stomach is more sulky than actually hurt. Kenta's reply is more of a mutter than a retort, too. He knows how he looks right now.] This made perfect sense at the time, you know. It's not that I like being under the table.
[The fluid motion of his husband standing up and coming around to him to help him up banishes the sulk easily, but Kenta's not completely resigned. Haruichi may be smaller and quicker than he is, but there are advantages to being Kenta's size, too.
Such as being able to take Haruichi's wrist in his hand and hold him in place while Kenta stands up, then leans down for at the very least a welcome home hug. The war is over. ... And maybe he can still get out of cooking. But he mostly just wants a consolation hug.]
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he holds still when he pulls him up with no problem, and a fond little smile tugs at his mouth when kenta leans down for a hug. haruichi's just fine meeting him there: he stands up on his tippytoes and lifts his arms to come around kenta's neck, relishing in the warm little feeling that always rushes around his chest when they get together. he's warm and solid and a presence that haruichi got used to in their years together, whether that was at first base or by his side in the kitchen or curled up with him in bed.
so not only does he get his consolation hug, but haruichi lets go after a moment to splay his small fingers across his cheeks and pull him down a little further for a kiss, a quick little peck. ]
Welcome home. [ he says, a little mischievous but mostly sincere. ]
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[It's a critical difference between Haruichi and some of the others in his year. He always knew they basically respected him but Haruichi went further and actually treated him with respect, even in moments like this when Kenta knew he wasn't exactly at his most respectable. It made an already outstanding person stand out even more; sometimes Kenta still can't believe Haruichi picked somebody like him.
He gives Haruichi a little squeeze before he lets go, enjoying the feeling of how he just fits in the circle of Kenta's arms, and he smiles into the kiss. It's quick but familiar, a settling back in after the unexpected way he got greeted. ]
You could've just started with that, you know. [There's no animosity in it at all, though. Instead Kenta just follows up with a kiss to Haruichi's bangs, then he leans on the counter, arms crossed thoughtfully.]
Where'd you even come up with this, anyway? Hopefully you didn't just decide you wanted to shoot me.
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their relationship is a long lasting one. maybe in other circumstances, in a different place or a different life, they'd be cooed over for being high school sweethearts. the private life suits haruichi just fine, though--he savors it when he's on the road. ]
Mm, they were on sale at the store when I went to pick up a new set of sheets. [ he shrugs his shoulders, then smiles up at him when he leans on the counter, not so ready just to pull away from him all the way yet. ] Maybe the off-season's getting to me.
[ his gaze flicks up to the top of kenta's forehead and back down, like he's sizing him up. that exercise did make him hungry... ] ...You know, I could be convinced to find a good excuse for takeout.
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[ There's no such thing as just like any other day with Haruichi around, at least not in Kenta's opinion. That doesn't mean there are a lot of days like this one, though. Haruichi really outdid himself.
Kenta nods and smiles a little as Haruichi explains just how he came to be fully armed. New sheets... it's little things like that, the trappings of complete domesticity, that get his heart fluttering. This time is no exception, either, but the way Haruichi looks up at him after that certainly doesn't stop that flutter. He unfolds his arms and lets them settle on Haruichi's shoulders instead. ]
Well... cooking takes longer, and then there's dishes, plus that means having to go out to go shopping tomorrow. Takeout means eating sooner, maybe having leftovers for breakfast, no cleanup.
[ He's thinking about a couple of other reasons that mostly have to do with the aforementioned new sheets, but it's too embarrassing to say that out loud. The red around his ears might give him away a little, though. ]
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after all, once the season comes around, there will be weeks at a time where he doesn't get to see kenta at all. where skype calls have to fill in a void he's not really used to having--one he hasn't experienced since the third years graduated back at seido--and it sucks. they have to use all the time they have.
if haruichi's competitive, he's just as devious, though his innocent tone belies that. ] And-- [ he adds, his gaze scanning over zono's face, out to his red ears, and back ] I think we have new sheets to break in.
[ haruichi tangles his fingers together lightly behind his head where his arms are still resting, then brings them in to cup his cheeks, calloused palms against sharper cheekbones. (he doesn't quite have to stand on his toes, but he definitely has to reach.) ] Right?
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[ It's when he sees Haruichi's attention flick to his ears that Kenta knows he's probably gotten out of cooking duty, at least for tonight. He's glad but not because he doesn't want to cook, or particularly because he wants to do... other things (even though he really does). He'd just rather spend time doing something where he can give Haruichi his full attention just like he was doing when they were in the middle of their nerf gunfight. Cooking would've been a distraction. He's fine with a punishment deferred. Maybe he'll make breakfast tomorrow instead. Kenta can do toast and coffee.
When Haruichi's hands come to rest on his face, chances are he'll be able to feel the way Kenta's cheeks warm both from the touch and the implication. He lets his finger play with the ends of Haruichi's hair as he does his very best to maintain a relaxed appearance, but, well. Your husband is a weak man, Haruichi. ]
Mmm, riiight. [ Kenta lets himself slide just a little down the front of the cabinet, mostly to put himself on a more even height with Haruichi. ] Should we order now or later? Just how hungry are you?
[ Please humor him, he's doing his very best to make that sound flirty. ]
i never got a notif for this tag ;A;
[ haruichi takes a second to just appreciate zono's attempt at being flirtatious, and though it doesn't inspire him to leap on him and shout take me i'm yours or anything like that, but it does create a familiar flush of warmth and affection in his chest. his spouse is really the cutest, from what he said to the way his cheeks warmed under his hands, and though haruichi never would have expected this the first day he met zono, he's glad that it happened.
he thumbs his cheeks and tamps down what feels like a manic grin oncoming into a quirk of his lips instead, subtle as he lets him slide down closer to his height. it lets haruichi get off his tippytoes, and he tilts his head to the side and humors him.
life would be boring if he didn't humor him, after all. (and he's just so cute, how could he not? haruichi's still just as into his husband as he was the day they first started dating, for so many reasons.) ]
Pretty hungry. [ and his response is a little wry, because he can't entirely stop himself from reacting. he can play along though, and haruichi thumbs his cheeks again, more comfortable now that he's flat footed, tilting his head in naturally as if asking for a kiss. ] Though maybe not for delivery.
no worries <3
[ Kenta would have no idea what to do if Haruichi jumped on him like that. He knows he's not smooth; he only had to watch people who legitimately were, like Haruichi's brother or even, though he was loathe to admit it, Miyuki, and he knew what smoothness looked like. That being said, he knows he doesn't have to be smooth. Haruichi loves him for exactly who he is, weak attempts at flirtation and all.
For his part, Kenta knows when Haruichi's doing his best to be A Proper Kominato and not smile when he really wants to, and he can see it on his face right now. It's gratifying but not nearly as gratifying as Haruichi's actual reply. It occurs to Kenta as Haruichi speaks and especially as he leans in that he never did get to give his husband a kiss hello. Seems almost criminal.
Time to remedy that. His kiss isn't tentative but it is pretty gentle; this isn't, "I haven't seen you in ten days and I can't stop thinking about the face you made when you hit that home run in Sapporo," or anything for all that it is a welcome home. Still, even if it's not scorching passion, the way Kenta's hands settle on the back of Haruichi's neck should make it obvious he's not exactly in a hurry to pull away, either. ]
<33
he hums, dropping his hands from kenta's face to curl one in the front of his shirt instead, the other moving to his hip and finding his belt loop. it's easy and natural, though haruichi's hands do tend to wander in these situations more often than not, but he holds his time and his patience as he just focuses on the kiss, eventually nibbling lightly at his lower lip to get him to open up a little.
there are fresh new sheets that need to be broken in, and haruichi has a laundry list of ways he'd like to do so, but this--making out in the kitchen, with the sunlight coming in through the windows of their little home, the quiet place they've made for themselves with the yard and the little car in the driveway--this isn't so bad, either. it's a long moment before he's ready to move on. ]
i heard you had a really bad day so :c