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It wasn’t often Kaoru woke up before Kojiro. With the exception of a rare lazy day, Kaoru would wake up to the quiet sounds of music from the kitchen, even quieter singing, and a once annoying, now welcoming clanging of pots and pans as Kojiro cooked breakfast. If Kaoru was truly lucky, he wouldn’t wake up until he felt a dip in the bed, soft lips and calloused hands on his body, and when he opened his eyes, a warm smile from his husband would be the first thing he saw. Some variation of “good morning, princess” would be spoken, Kaoru would muster the energy to roll his eyes but smile as he pressed a kiss to Kojiro’s lips.
Today was an exception. Kaoru woke up to the sound of rustling and Kaoru blinked as he woke up, eyes trying to adjust to the darkness of their bedroom. “Koji?” Kaoru yawned as he shifted his gaze to his husband, who appeared to still be asleep. Contrary to his personality, Kojiro was a quiet and peaceful sleeper. He slept much like his physique- like a rock- and usually had a vice-like grip on Kaoru. Today was different. Kojiro’s fists gripped the sheets, and as Kojiro’s features came into focus, Kaoru noticed his furrowed brow and the frown on his face. “Kojiro.” Kojiro started to shift, and he pushed the sheets off his body. Kaoru couldn’t decipher any of the mumbles that fell from his lips, but he could recognize the tone of his voice. Panic. “Kaoru,” Kojiro gasped. The first word Kaoru understood clearly. Kojiro was having a bad dream… about him?
“Kojiro.” Kaoru reached out but hesitated. Nightmares were relatively common for Kaoru, even before his last beef with Adam, and they had become more frequent since. They had finally started to die down, but Kaoru knew how to handle them. He didn’t want to be touched when he was still trapped in those dreams, and he needed space when he first woke up. Kaoru would come to Kojiro when he was ready for comfort, and Kojiro would hold him, whisper sweet nothings into his hair, hands rubbing circles into his back. Kaoru wouldn’t want to talk about it at first, but later that day, he would confide in Kojiro about what had plagued his dreams. usually over a glass of wine (or two. or three.) Kaoru knew how to handle his own nightmares. But Kojiro’s? This was uncharted territory, and Kaoru was scared.
Kojiro seemed to sense Kaoru’s hesitation and made the decision for him. Kojiro’s arms reached out, a little frantic, until he felt Kaoru under him. With a faint “oof”, Kaoru let himself be pulled into Kojiro’s arms, and Kojiro woke with a gasp.
“Kojiro?” Kaoru asked, voice quiet.
“Kaoru,” Kojiro whispered, voice wavering as he buried his face in Kaoru’s chest. Kaoru combed his fingers through tangled green hair, and the way Kojiro leaned into his hand would normally lead to some teasing remarks from Kaoru. He was too worried to tease him now, and Kaoru pressed a kiss to the top of Kojiro’s head. The room was silent, except for the shaky breaths that left Kojiro’s lips.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Kaoru asked after a minute, and Kojiro’s grip on Kaoru’s waist tightened. “We don't have to.”
“Not yet.” Kojiro pressed himself closer to Kaoru until they were one; it was as if the two bodies had molded into one. Kojiro had always been the clingier half of the couple, always needing to touch Kaoru. But this was different from the usual flirty touches, the casual contact Kojiro initiated. This was desperation. As if Kaoru would disappear if Kojiro wasn’t touching him. What felt like hours but was merely minutes passed, and Kojiro heaved a sigh and sat up.
“Where are you going?” Kaoru asked, startled from the sudden movement and being jostled from his spot against Kojiro.
“I don't think I'll be able to sleep again tonight. Might as well get up.” Kaoru frowned and as Kojiro started to stand, Kaoru had a moment of brilliance and laid across Kojiro’s lap. “Wh- what are you doing, Kaoru?”
“You’re staying in bed.” Kaoru looked up at Kojiro and did his best to glare at his husband, but the soft huff of laughter told him his glare was not effective. Give him a break, it was ridiculously early.
“Is that so, princess?”
“Yes, you imbecile. You’re going to stay in bed,” Kaoru said as he sat up. He pressed his hand to Kojiro’s chest and pushed lightly. “I'm going to get up,” Kaoru paused when he saw a glimpse of panic in ruby eyes, “and I'll be right back.” This was unfamiliar territory for Kaoru, but he had a plan, damn it. Kaoru was going to comfort his husband.
“Why do I have to stay in bed?” Kojiro whined and Kaoru leaned down to press a kiss to Kojiro’s forehead, cheeks, then lips.
“If I was in your place right now, you’d be up and doing your best to comfort me. Let me do the same for you.” Kaoru whispered and Kojiro let out a shaky breath as he leaned back into the pillows.
“Don’t take too long.” Kojiro said and Kaoru smiled.
“Needy gorilla,” Kaoru teased, his voice gentle, and Kojiro smiled in return.
“Four eyed douche.” Kaoru lightly swatted Kojiro’s chest before he went to the kitchen. Maybe some tea would help. Kaoru may not know his way around a kitchen like Kojiro did, but he could make a great cup of tea.
When Kaoru came upstairs a while later, Kojiro had propped the pillows up against the headboard and he was seated up against them. The lamp on Kojiro’s bedside table had been turned on, casting the room in a warm glow.
“Well I don’t hear any alarms going off, so you must not have messed up my kitchen too bad.” Kojiro said in greeting and Kaoru rolled his eyes.
“I try to be a good husband and look what I get. attitude.” Kaoru said. “The disrespect.”
“Thank you, Kaoru.” Kojiro murmured as Kaoru handed him his mug, and Kaoru set his own mug on the bedside table before getting into bed himself. Kaoru grabbed his mug and curled into Kojiro’s side. Kojiro draped his arm across Kaoru’s shoulders, and Kaoru turned to press his cheek against Kojiro’s shoulder.
The two of them basked in comfortable silence, drinking their tea, and Kaoru’s hand making itself at home in Kojiro’s hair, thumb rubbing against the nape of his neck.
“It was about that race.” Kojiro’s sudden words startled Kaoru, and he turned to look at Kojiro, but he didn’t say anything. “You had just been hit, just hit the ground. Except it was worse. I took too long to get to you, we couldn’t get you to the hospital in time. You…” Kojiro trailed off and Kaoru’s heart ached.
“Koji…” Kaoru set his mug down and moved to pull Kojiro closer to him. “I'm here, and I'm okay. I'm fine.” Kaoru tried to soothe Kojiro, and Kojiro’s grip only tightened.
“I was so scared I had lost you. I haven’t dreamed about this in weeks-“
“This isn’t the first time?” Kaoru asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn't want to remind you about it. I've never woken you up before, and I was fine by the time you woke up. It didn’t seem worth mentioning.”
“You’re an idiot, you know that?” Kojiro opened his mouth to defend himself and Kaoru put his hand over it, ignoring the muffled ‘hey!’ Kojiro gave him. “No, listen to me!” Kaoru took a deep breath. “I'm not great when it comes to emotions. You’re more than aware of that by now. But you are my husband, and I care about you. I love you.” Kaoru slowly removed his hand from Kojiro’s lips and repositioned so he was cradling the side of his face instead. “If you're having nightmares, especially ones where I'm involved, I want to know. I may not know how best to comfort you, that’s one thing you’ve always beat me at, but I want to help you. Like you help me.”
“I'm sorry for not telling you before.” Kojiro said after a minute. “I promise, if it happens again, I'll tell you. It doesn’t happen a lot,” Kojiro admitted. “But it always scares me. I really could’ve lost you, Kaoru. You could’ve ended up so much worse than you did. And I know it’s not my fault, it’s his, but… part of me still blames myself for it. For not protecting you.”
“The only way you could’ve protected me would have been by stopping me, and you know how stubborn I am.” Kaoru said and Kojiro laughed before he let his eyes close, leaned into Kaoru’s hand.
“Kaoru?”
“Yes, Kojiro?”
“Thank you.” Kaoru smiled as he let himself relax, and he threw a leg on top of Kojiro’s.
“You’re welcome.” Kaoru said as he cuddled into his husband’s arms, and Kojiro finally melted back into bed, the tea and embrace from Kaoru slowly lulling him back to sleep. Kaoru stayed awake for a little while longer, and only when he’s sure Kojiro’s asleep does he speak again.
“I still have those nightmares too. It’s not the dying that scared me. It was the leaving you part that terrified me.” Kaoru pressed one final kiss to Kojiro’s lips before he let himself succumb to sleep.
Like usual, a few hours later, Kaoru woke up to a dip in the bed and the familiar feeling of soft lips on his face. When Kaoru opened his eyes, he was surprised but delighted to see Kojiro still in his pajamas.
“Good morning, princess.” Kaoru hummed in response and leaned up to press a kiss to Kojiro’s lips.
“Oaf.” Kaoru responded and Kojiro laughed quietly as he sat beside Kaoru.
“Well this oaf made your favorite breakfast today, if you’re interested.” Kojiro peppered Kaoru’s cheek in kisses, and Kaoru could feel his cheeks heat up, as well as the smirk from his husband when he noticed. “Then we can come back to bed. Ichiko has Luce covered today, and your robot girlfriend seemed happy to tell me you had a clear schedule today.”
“You know her name is Carla.” Kaoru snapped, but there was no heat behind his words. A lazy day with Kojiro sounded heavenly right now. Kojiro kissed Kaoru’s shoulder before he stood, and Kaoru lifted his arms and his brow expectantly.
“Someone’s spoiled today.” Kojiro said but knelt down to lift Kaoru anyways, carrying the pink haired man bridal style.
“And whose fault is it that I’m spoiled?” Kaoru rested his head on Kojiro’s shoulder. “You love it anyways.”
“Sure do, Pinky.” Kojiro held Kaoru as he walked to the kitchen, and Kaoru closed his eyes, a smile on his lips. “Wouldn’t dream of having it any other way.”