[MasuGaku] [Oneshot] Tender Love

As Budo slowly emerges from the heavy haze of sleep, he notices at once that he feels unusually cold.

He opens his eyes and jerks forward, ignoring the feeling of nausea that occurs when he sits up too fast. Clutching the heets tightly, he does a quick survey of the room.

A cool, dim light filters through the half open window shade and bathes the room in a gray hue; it must still be early morning. The dresser drawer is slightly agape, his and Shin’s laundry still entangled on the floor where they forgot to finish putting it away yesterday. But his boyfriend of three years is nowhere to be found.

“S-Shin?”

Budo calls out, meekly at first, a rising fear of loneliness beginning to build up in his chest.

“Shin?”

He calls again, louder this time, not caring that he probably sounds childish. Anxious beads of sweat begin to form on his forehead. Wasn’t Shin just here? Where could he possibly have gone?

Finally, the door creaks open, and a pair of concerned green eyes peer in from the crack.

“Budo? What’s the matter?”

The door opens more, and Shin peeks his head around the corner.

Budo heaves a sigh of relief.

“It’s nothing. Just tell me before you leave next time, okay?”

“Oh, did you miss me?~”

Shin quips playfully before finally stepping fully into the room, both hands behind his back as if he’s hiding something.

Budo cranes his neck in an attempt to see.

“What you got there, Shin?”

“Close your eyes~”

He frowns, but does as he’s told. Having been the subject of many of Shin’s ‘surprises’ over the years, Budo knew him well enough to know they weren’t always pleasant ones.

“Please don’t draw anything on my face this time.”

Shin only giggles, which does little to quell his concern.

“Okay, hold out both hands!”

Budo braces himself for the worst.

“And....open them!”

His eyes are immediately met with the largest, and most scrumptious looking piece of chocolate cake he has ever seen. A decorative candle burns in its center, accompanied by a small cup of hot cocoa and marshmallows that Shin has taken the time to carefully cut into little heart shapes.

“Happy birthday, darling!”

Budo can hardly contain his excitement; he was so caught up in Shin’s absence that he failed to remember the date.

“Chocolate cake for breakfast? Are you really okay with spoiling me this much?”

Shin prepares a large bite for his boyfriend and spoons it into his mouth. “Say ‘aaah!’”

“Mmf!”

Budo’s eyes light up instantly upon the first bite.

“Delicious!”

That’s all it takes for Budo to disregard his early morning sweets intake, and he begins to shovel it into his mouth with ravenous ambition. As he does so, Shin settles on the side of the bed, watching Budo with a satisfied smile.

“That was incredible, Shin!”

Budo beams as soon as he’s finished.

“What sort of spell did you put on it to make it taste so good?”

“No spell,” - Shin leans forward and wipes a piece of chocolate off of Budo’s chin with his thumb - “Just a lot of love!”

Budo sets the plate on the nightstand and leans forward to capture his boyfriend in a tight hug.

“I don’t deserve you, you know?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Budo.”

Shin starts to say, but Budo grabs his chin and pulls him in for a kiss before he can finish. Shin can still taste the chocolate on his lips.

“So, is there more cake? Can I have more?”

Budo says instantly upon pulling away, looking akin to an excited puppy.

Shin stifles a laugh.

“There’s plenty more. But you have to wait awhile, or you’ll get sick.”

He pouts, but doesn’t argue.

“So, what would you like to do today?”

Budo blinks.

 “What do you mean?”

“It’s your birthday, obviously!”

Shin shoots him a pointed look.

“We both have the day off, so I want to make it as memorable as possible for you. I’ll take you anywhere you like. It looks like it might rain today, so most outdoor options are out... but we can go to the aquarium, the mall, that one bakery you love, anywhere! You name it, and we’ll go.”

Budo only stares at him, expression unchanging.

“W-why are you looking at me like that?” - Shin furrows his brow, quickly growing flustered.

In a slow and rather awkward movement, Budo wraps his arms around his boyfriend’s waist, pulling him towards with some difficulty until he is facing Shin in his lap.

Shin is still wearing his pajamas, decreasing the space between them and allowing Budo to feel the softness of his skin underneath the thin fabric.

“I want you to stay with me like this today.”

Budo tries to act calm and cool, but he can’t hide the grin that spreads across his face.

A blush rises to Shin’s cheeks, and he averts Budo’s gaze. - “What are you talking about? We can’t just waste your whole birthday lying around in bed!”

Budo buries his face in the crook of his boyfriend’s neck. “I missed you earlier, you know,” he whispers against his neck, and Shin shivers.

“I was only gone for a couple hours, and I was just in the kitchen!” - Shin whines, and Budo revels in how cute he is when he’s embarrassed.

“It’s hard to sleep without you,” - Budo admits, drawing back a little to peck at Shin’s cheeks and nose. - “You should have brought me with you.”

“I was preparing your cake,” - A smile finally cracks Shin’s lips, and his hands find their way into Budo’s tousled bed hair, “And besides, you’re not very good at waking up in the morning.”

“Just bring some blankets into the kitchen, I would have been content.”

Shin just rolls his eyes, and Budo presses their foreheads together, pushing a lock of hair his boyfriend’s ear and allowing their eyes to lock for a moment. They’re so close that Budo can see himself in Shin’s sharp violet eyes and feel Shin even breaths on his face.

“I love you. I don’t want anything but you for my birthday this year. Is that fine?”

The bridge of Shin’s nose connects with Budo’s before his lips capture his own, clumsily, at first, until Budo deepens the kiss and traces Shin’s cheekbone with his thumb. Shin’s lips are full; soft, and kissing him feels every bit as magical as the first time he did it.

Just a few years ago, Budo never would have thought it was possible to feel this complete. The tender way Shin looks at Budo is enough to make his heart melt; and he’s still in total awe that someone so breathtakingly wonderful can be called his own.

“Best birthday ever!”

Budo remarks, and Shin sighs in contentment, nuzzling against his shoulder in response. After a long pause, he makes eye contact with Shin and licks his  lips.

“I can only think of one thing that would make it even better~”

“Wai-” - Shin gasps.

“More cake!”