Work Text:
If Albatross is being honest with himself, he hasn't taken his eyes off Chuuya since the first time he saw him.
The blond boy doesn't understand why , but something about the tiny, angry redhead keeps pulling him back , and he can't bring himself to run away from it. It's like gravity itself is keeping him at bay, stopping him from running away.
And, somehow, it still took him so much to actually notice that those feelings weren't just camaraderie. Albatross feels so utterly stupid for not being able to understand his own heart until now.
Watching from the corner of his eyes as the redhead sips his beer, feeling his own heart beating so fast he might as well die right now. Alcohol bubbling inside his system as he drinks down his last sips from his own bottle.
He had enough of Doc teasing him about this, how dare him? Teasing Albatross on something like this he himself didn't notice until now!
But now he can't stop staring , admiring how Chuuya's cheeks are red, how his usual frowned eyebrows are actually relaxed for once, how his lips are wet from his drink, the way he tucks his fair behind his ear, completely unaware of Albatross' little breakdown right beside him.
The older boy sighs, defeated as he gets up from the couch and goes behind the bar’s counter, passing by their other friends playing snooker, even going as far as stopping for a bit to watch, green eyes following the balls rolling around the table from behind his sunglasses.
“Aren't you joining us tonight, Albatross?” Lippmann smiles sweetly at the teenager, making his move and sending three balls down the hole effortlessly, his perfectly combed hair not even moving a millimeter. “Or are you going to play babysitter for our little Chuuchuu today?”
Babysitter?
It takes a few seconds to register that Albatross himself seems to be way sober than Chuuya right now. At that, Doc crackles from the other side from the table.
“Little Chuuya only looks sober enough because he's staying still, his face is so red~” the raven haired man laughs, his skinny hand covering his mouth. “He doesn't want to go around hugging us again.”
Oh, Albatross remembers that, actually.
At the time, he couldn't understand why he felt so warm inside when the redhead flopped on top of him, hugging his neck like a little koala. He just laughed and hugged him back, hugs are nice, it's simply normal that he got happy with it, right?
As Albatross notices now, the way his chest was beating fast because of something completely different, he just didn't pay it any mind at the time.
“You got me.” He laughs, picking another bottle of beer from inside the fridge. “Chuuya is all under the weather, I'm worried he's going to cry or something like that, that's all.”
“If you say so~” Doc comments as Albatross goes back to the couch, being met with a sulking Chuuya staring at him, his booze forgotten on the coffee table as he crosses his arms.
“Took you long enough…” Chuuya mumbles, finally picking the can again and taking
his last sips from it before turning it into a little sphere with his ability, throwing it at the blond boy as he sits down next to the redhead again. “Go away, I don't want to see you.”
“Oh, is our little Chuuchuu angry that my attention wasn't on him?” Albatross jokes as he opens his bottle, but Chuuya only grunts instead of answering. “Oh my god, you are jealous, aren't you, Chuuya?”
“No I am not!” Chuuya crosses his arms, practically snarling. A bit more and he could be kicking his feet like a little kid. Oh boy, he really is drunk, isn't he?
“You are behaving so badly today, Chuuya-san~” Albatross says, chugging his entire drink.
Well, I guess this is my chance.
Without thinking too deeply, Albatross picks the grumpy redhead up on his arms as he gets up, making Chuuya scream and kick against him like a little chihuahua. “Guys! Chuuya is done for the night, I'm taking him home!”
“I'm not! Let me go!” Chuuya continues to thrash against the older boy's chest, but all the people present can notice how he's not using that much force. Lippmann laughs softly, waving goodbye as Albatross leaves the Old World rather fast.
Albatross doesn't pay attention to Chuuya punching his chest, running towards his bike, it's probably— no, it's definitely —the alcohol’s fault, but the blond boy can't keep his feelings to himself anymore. He puts Chuuya on the motorcycle’s seat, still holding his waist to prevent him from falling while struggling against himself.
“You fuckass! What do you think you are doing—!”
“I like you.”
Chuuya's eyes widen, the words stopping midway, right on his throat. It's like he can't breathe , choking in his own saliva. His mouth still open, staring at that pair of sunglasses, his reflection staring back at him.
“... What?” He asks back, practically whispering.
“I'm sorry I just took you out here with me, but… I think I just noticed that I like you, Chuuya.” Albatross can feel his own cheeks red now. His throat is dry like a desert.
The silence stretches out, the street belongs to them right now Not even an occasional car is passing by. The breeze whistles occasionally, weaving through the tall buildings.
“I— it isn't like I hope you will like me back, or— fuck, that was a bad idea, I mean, you don't need to answer me—”
Chuuya doesn't say anything, only taking the boy's glasses from his face with a fast movement of his hand, holding it against his chest.
“Say it again.” He commands, his entire face so red it goes down his neck.
“I— what?!”
“SAY IT AGAIN, I CAN'T —Hhmpf!” Albatross' hand covers his mouth, eyes frantic as he stares back at the Old World’s lights.
“Don't scream, damnit! Ok, ok! I will say it again, but not here!”
.
.
.
†
.
.
.
And that's how they both end up by the shore, both sitting down on the sand as Chuuya rests his head on the older boy's shoulder.
“So… You like me?” He asks, listening to the comfortable sound of the water coming back and dragging itself back into the sea each time.
“I do.” Albatross sighs, pinching his nose bridge to release stress. “It's a bit stupid, right? Sorry, I'm not really waiting for you to like me back. But I noticed it, and I just… I needed to tell you. Iit felt like I was going to explode .”
Wow, who could have guessed that his night could end with him declaring his love by the seaside after just a couple drinks, Albatross feels pathetic.
“I like you too.” Chuuya mumbles, shoving his head in his hands.
Wait, scratch that.
He likes me too?
“Say that again.”
“Yeah, no way in hell.”
“Chuuya!” The blond boy tries to take his hands out of his face, their struggling making both fall into the sand, Albatross almost crushing the shorter boy with his torso.
Both stare back at each other, Chuuya's azure eyes shining with the moonlight, his heart in his throat from how fast it's beating. He almost doesn't mind the sand on his hair and gloves.
“Say I can kiss you.” The blond whispers, his fingers digging into the sand as he slowly leans down, his face coming closer and closer to the redhead's.
“Don't be a pussy, kiss me already.” Chuuya snarls back, though halfheartedly.
And just like that their lips meet. It's harsh , both boys’ lips are dry from the seaside wind. It hurts but it feels so good at the same time with the way their lips feel like pieces of a puzzle finally clicking in together.
It sends waves of warmth down their bodies, feeling like being home as they kiss like this. Teeth clash occasionally, they are both a little clumsy, but it feels good all the same.
Albatross slowly slips his right hand under Chuuya's nape, fingers interlacing into red locks as he guides the boy up, kissing his breath out of him. He nips at his bottom lip. It's intoxicating how Chuuya still manages to taste so sweet even though he was drinking beer.
If he could, Albatross would live this moment again and again until he dies.
It may not be perfect—the sand is so fucking annoying, Chuuya isn't a great kisser, and the euphoria makes Albatross be even worse at it than him— but it feels like heaven all the same.
He never wants to move away, and, if possible, he won't.
He will gladly die in Chuuya's arms, if necessary.