glub | ( 🍓🧀 )

[ well now i just want to know what he was going to say even though tobari doesn't

anyway he'll just comment on it himself: ] Hypocrite. Is your self-control that bad?

[ he'll accept the bathrobe but he's going to put on pajama pants in five seconds and call it a night. i've decided it's the cat pajamas because it would genuinely bring him joy even if it's understated... one day rafayel will be forced to share living space with an actual feline

for now it's just his extremely cat-like boyfriend getting into bed after hanging the bathrobe again and waiting for rafayel to also get at least half-dressed. once he is, he will just silently hold his arms open obligingly. get over here, you ~~secret assassin~~ big baby ]

[ the cat pajama pants is sooooo cute...

even if rafayel has beef with cats, he can admit it does look cute on his boyfriend, so sins temporarily forgiven. even if he's definitely bought tobari other patterns too, including fish? actually, he wears the fish tonight to make his stance KNOWN!!!

which he's slipping into once he's in the actual bedroom. as for the top, he just puts the pajama top on, unbuttoned. ] And you said my self-control is bad? You really can't get enough, huh? [ says rafayel as he crawls into bed and is already pushing tobari's arms aside so he can be the one to hug him tightly first. ]

[ tobari chooses the cats over the fish about 80% of the time. he will wear the fish when the cats are already in the laundry hamper. i'm so sorry rafayel. he's loyal in all ways but this

when the tight hug comes, tobari doesn't actively comment on it. rather he'll just let the momentum carry them both down to the bed, falling back against the pillows and letting his own arms encircle rafayel to hug him back. despite how equally adoring the physical touch is, he's going to keep being rude, ]

I think your wishful thinking is getting really out of hand.

[ even though tobari is the one who'll catch the comforter to pull it up over them both, peppering brief, fleeting kisses against the side of rafayel's face in an overly sweet gesture. what is the truth ]

[ insert instagram videos of "how you can tell your bf/gf are losing interest in you"

he likes being on top (gen). he is already rubbing his head against tobari's cheek, then his neck, and he only stops when he feels tobari pull up the comforter. ... and now he's kissing him all over his face? really... what is the truth. ]

Oooor, your desperation is getting louder? [ he does eventually lean in to give him a brief, very chaste kiss on the lips, before he does shift his body from on top of tobari to slipping a little to the side, only his upper body remaining on him. he lets his weight rest against him, as he gives a soft hum of satisfaction. ]

[ OVER PAJAMAS rafayel you are so dramatic but so funny

tobari's about to quip back with something still rude, but he's very easily made to shut up when the kiss comes instead. he'll tilt his head just enough to let their mouths slot against each other more easily, sighing faintly when rafayel does pull away. it's easy enough for them to get comfy against each other... and tobari will just let his fingers run through rafayel's hair, his other hand resting between his shoulder blades as he settles in ]

... if you still have a hard time sleeping, just wake me up. [ just to say it, just in case. another kiss pressed to rafayel's hair before tobari himself nestles in slightly ] I'll stay with you.

[ he probably sends those kinds of videos all the time... or those ones that are like "questions to not ask your significant other" and the first one is completely out of pocket like "if it was discovered that you and your partner are actually long-lost half-siblings, would you stay together and would you tell anyone?"

thankfully, there's no self-created drama for tonight. instead, he's already closing his eyes, just letting his cheek rest against tobari's skin, and feeling along his chest where his heartbeat is nestled. ] I know. I know that, but... do you mean it? Always? No matter what?

[ unromantically: ]

Can you imagine what a pain it'd be to move out when I can't always tell what's yours or mine anymore? Not to mention, you'd keep Suzune in the breakup. I'm not into on-again, off-again relationships but I don't think we'd do well apart anymore so we might as well just stay together instead of inevitably getting back together anyway.

[ he just huffs out a breath, disbelieving at the question... but he'll actually answer seriously afterward, ]

Yes, Raf. Always.

I'm yours forever.

[ even if you send him insane videos he clicks on every time that destroy his algorithm ]

[ HELLO???

while tobari... technically, very technically, makes it out of this precarious situation he's put himself in by the skin of his teeth, rafayel is not going to forget this. mild threat on the backburner aside, he does fall silent at tobari's words. his chest feels tighter now, and it takes him a second to actually swallow down. he breathes in quietly for a moment, before he nods. he keeps his face presses down so tobari can't see his face. ]

Don't change your mind.

[ please, but that words dies out on his tongue, and he doesn't quite get it out. ]

[ he's choked up for exactly two seconds before he also adds: ]

I think a breakup would humble you, though.

[ tobari tilts his head faintly at the rollercoaster of emotion but he'll also move his hand from raf's back to guide his chin up for exactly one more kiss ]

If you give yourself a nightmare about us breaking up when I just said we shouldn't, it's not my fault.

Is that my nightmare, or yours?

[ hmph.

not him ending the night pouting... but, being given a kiss does alleviate some of his desire to be a pain in the ass. ]

[ not this... and after tobari spent the past hour trying to get rafayel to relax

he refuses to lose at the last second even though he doesn't take back anything he said. so he just sighs and presses another kiss to the corner of his mouth ]

I assumed it was one more thing we both shared?

[ barely holds back the urge to call him an idiot ]

Of course I don't ever want to lose you. If I don't say it enough, that's on me. I thought it was a given.

[ the fact that tobari is holding himself together for rafayel's peace is so funny...

actually, he's a little surprised... that tobari doesn't call him an idiot? huh, a mystery. but, it's one that he doesn't dwell on for very long. instead, he focuses on the feeling of his lips and his steady heartbeat. he ends up not pulling away from the kiss, or from tobari's arms. perhaps, indicating he's not actually too upset by all of this.

when tobari speaks, he suddenly presses lips against tobari's a little more roughly. he kisses him several times, before pulling away. ] Instead of that, couldn't you say something different? More than not losing me... I'd rather hear how much you want me.

[ love him... ]

[ tobari, internally: were we not going to sleep

there's a brief noise of surprise from him, short and cut off, before he just lets himself meet rafayel for the series of kisses that follow. when he hears the request, he blinks slowly once, twice, before letting his lips press against rafayel's just once more. this time when he pulls away, it's barely any space at all—words murmured against rafayel's mouth so they might be felt just as much as they're heard ]

I do want you.

[ plainly said, without all his usual posturing and bluster about how rafayel is also a pain in the ass (he is) (tobari still loves him) ]

More than anything or anyone I've ever wanted before—I can't think of a moment where I don't want you. [ another kiss pressed to raf's cheek, the following sentences said even as tobari kisses a trail to his ear ] When you lose yourself for hours painting, or get excited over a new cake flavor, or try to sneak Suzune a new gift when you think I'm not looking, or when you're lost in thought over something you're not ready to tell me. Every part of you. Every piece.

[ when he does make it to the shell of raf's ear, he pauses—but only very briefly. he doesn't put this string of words together often, preferring to show it in action rather than statement, but if rafayel's in a mood where he'd rather have it said... ]

I really do love you, you know.

[ their kisses always leave him a little dizzy, and if he's not careful, he feels like he can be consumed. to be honest, before tobari, he always had the distinct perception that love and pain went hand-in-hand. if someone had ever asked him to produce a metaphor about it— he'd easily compare love to a spice. an inextinguishable burning that remains on the tip of ones tongue. a feeling that was both painful, but also... incredibly addictive.

but, since being with tobari, he gets the impression that maybe love didn't always have to feel that way. like now.

when he hears tobari's confession, he feels a deeper sense of longing despite, tobari being here with him, he wants to be even closer. rafayel stares at tobari with a certain intensity, and despite the way his gaze sticks to him, it also feels like he's searching for something. whether it be his next words, or the lingering promise his words and actions seem to carry. he feels his lips against his ear, and he lets out a soft sigh.

he pulls himself up a bit. ]

I'm the same. I've never thought about bonding with anyone else. I want you to believe that. [ ... ] It sounds dramatic, but... [ he reaches over to grab hold of tobari's hand, he presses it against where his heart is. ] Because of you, my heart can't return to the peace it once knew. And because of you, my heart is beating like this. Can you feel it? [ his own way of saying, he feels the same.

enough to apparently lose sleep over it. ]

[ tobari lets rafayel guide his hand as he pleases—but also he can’t help but huff out a breath of a laugh. ]

And you’ve never been known to be dramatic a day in your life.

[ teasing, even as he lets his palm lay flat against raf’s chest as if it’ll let him get any closer to holding that heart in his hand. there’s something a bit covetous about it and even tobari can’t help but want to answer that craving feeling of his lover being entirely promised to him. maybe it’s because his default as a person is to expect nothing, and so to be given rafayel is… well, truly everything.

so his expression softens, all his fondness made obvious before he leans up to catch rafayel’s mouth in another kiss. ]

I should take care of you and your heart then, shouldn’t I? If you want to prove it to me some more, I won’t turn you away.

[ if rafayel has gotten worked up to this extent… they were so good in the shower and for what. to trip at the finish line i guess. ]

Rude. [ but it's also not a lie. he can admit to be a of theatrics on occasion, and so he does end up smiling. it felt like tobari was privy to a side of him that he's shown so few... or in some cases, that he hasn't displayed at all. that he keeps reserved and protected for just one special person.

the sensation of tobari's palm on his chest, and the way he feels his own chest rises and falls feels incredibly intimate. when he slots their mouths together in another kiss, rafayel can't help but to lean into it. as soon as tobari is done talking, he releases his hold on his hand and instead grabs the back of his neck. ]

Why are you tempting me? Are you actually a siren sent to seduce me...?

[ there's a roll of his eyes at that, if only because, ] If my goal from the start was to seduce you, I think I could've done a better job of it.

[ what is this, amateur hour? it's more like if rafayel's awake again, then tobari is too. still, he'll stay close, one hand still keeping track of the tempo of raf's heartbeat while his fingertips on his free hand trail along the loose fabric of his open pajama shirt. just idly toying with the idea of keeping it on or taking it off. ]

We can try to go straight to sleep if you think you can manage it, or I can tire you out if you don't. Pick your poison, Raf.

Would you? Maybe your target was more charming than you anticipated? Maybe they also had an otherworldly allure and you couldn't help but be dumbfounded? [ he says as he lets the pajama shirt slide off one of his shoulders, he looks at the bare skin exposed before looking back at tobari.

that said, it takes a second before he's letting go of him and pulling his shirt back up. ] I can't have you thinking I always fall asleep after doing it. So I'll let you off the hook this time.

[ help

this reasoning for giving up makes him laugh outright ]

If you aren't that satisfied after, I don't think I'd be doing my job.

[ but he'll also let it go, even if all this means is that he's wrapping his arms around raf again to pull him back down to actually get back into a comfy enough position to sleep. ]

Come on, charming headache of mine. The sun'll be up before you get any rest at this rate.

[ STOP!!! he has his PRIDE to uphold!!!!

he's about to argue that there's a distinct difference between being content and being completely pushed to their limits, but he doesn't end up clarifying. instead, he curls in closer, also letting his hand rest on tobari's body. ]

You too. Close your eyes. I'll be watching you.

[ mumbles under his breath 'not how it works' but he doesn't want to actually bicker anymore... and honestly now that he's closing his eyes he can't help but yawn. it's about his bedtime real now...

but he'll still curl in closer to rafayel by default anyway.

give me the timeskip to assassin times, bijou. even though it's probably funny when the next morning there's a report of a fire at some rich person's summer vacation home after there was an accusation of human trafficking wow noooo wild how that happened. more people just keep dying or having their second or third spare mansions destroyed what a weird conicidence ]

[ maybe for once, he isn't plagued with the the continuation of the same dream. the sensation of drowning, which is both ironic, and an oddly fitting retribution against a sea god who had failed to truly liberate his people. when he returns to sleep, he actually isn't sure what dreams his mind conjures up against him, but when he wakes... he gets the feeling it wasn't a bad one.

...

days like that continue on. at least, until the nightmares inevitably return as they always do.

maybe it's finally the night before the big event he's asked tobari to follow him to. between that moment and now, the news has been littered with talks of mysterious deaths and/or the increasing arson cases cropping up in the city. apparently, they seem to strike only those in high society attached to the most unsavory rumors. rafayel could care less what happens to them, if anything, he's more surprised by the occasional overlap in his own goals. the fires make for the perfect opening. who doesn't like rumors of the rich getting their just desserts, and so he takes the mysterious fire-starters as a sign of divine will. ... or, well, there's probably a thought they both have.

an inkling of something they both seem keen on ignoring. rafayel understands tobari has his secrets and so does he. it's why he doesn't press him, but at the same time, he does wonder if the day he tells him is coming sooner than later.

that said, right now they're in the town he's lived in before arriving in linkon city. they're in an older apartment that rafayel said he used to live in. compared to the home that sits nestled on a private island in whitesand bay, this place feels a little less polished, and a bit more conservative. rafayel has mostly been busy sorting through old artworks. if tobari notices, they're very similar in style to rafayel's, but a little different somehow.

still, he's been oddly quiet since they've started cleaning this place up. he only breaks this silence to tilt his head in his direction. ] Sorry this place was just collecting dust. I should have thought about that before suggesting to stay here for the duration of our trip.

[ the ironic thing is that while tobari understands why murder is an answer for some people, it's not something he personally encourages. if it means risking the whole operation if they let one person go—fine, he'll be the one to pull the trigger. but when a series of other mysterious deaths pop up alongside the fires, sometimes the other guys ask 'tobari, have you considered doing something more straightforward like that?' but—in the end, he lacks conviction. he's naive and soft-hearted enough to not want more blood on his hands if he can help it, or on the hands of anyone associated with him.

he wonders if the person (or persons?) running the other side of things sleeps okay at night.

there won't be any acts of arson while tobari is gone, but that's fine. what's a week's gap? the apartment is hilariously probably more tobari's speed than rafayel's private home, and he's in the middle of pausing in his own work to generally spruce up and clear out the dust to tie his hair up into a ponytail so it's fully out of his face when rafayel breaks the silence. he glances over and shakes his head ]

S'fine. [ it seems like it holds memories for raf... ] Though you'll have to tell me more about it.

[ he can't deny he's curious ]

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