[closed for 1foxgiven] Don't Bring Around a Cloud (to Rain on My Parade)

[azuhi]

To say that Asahi is looking forward to his date with Kita is a severe understatement. It's not as if they have anything particularly special planned, beyond a walk through the local public gardens and lunch in the park, but that's more than enough for Asahi to enjoy the time spent with a man he is really growing to cherish.

And then he wakes up on Saturday morning, excited for their plans, only to look out the window and be met with dark grey skies. An alert on his phone clues Asahi in to a monsoon warning for later that afternoon, and he fidgets with it as he crafts a text to Kita:

It looks like we might need to change our plans...

Comments

[1foxgiven]

There's something so appealing at seeing this. Asahi softly disheveled from the rain, a tendril curling against his cheek. Reaching up, Kita brushes it back.

"Oh - No - I just wanted to be ready."

[azuhi]

Asahi feels himself warming up inside at the tenderness of Kita's touch, his voice, the look on his face. It's a good feeling, after being out in the rain.

"Thank you," he says seriously, his voice low and deep. A little husky. Kita brings that out in him.

"I'm happy to be here. I was worried I wouldn't get to see you."

[1foxgiven]

The low tone thrums. Winding into Kita's head, down his spine.

"And here you are."

And if that isn't a cue for a kiss, nothing is!

[azuhi]

Asahi's breathing quickens, and he shyly tucks some loose hair behind his ear. He smiles at Kita, but makes no moves towards a kiss or anything else. He just relishes in the warmth of acceptance and belonging, the way Kita makes him feel entirely wanted.

"I hope it's not too much of an intrusion. Since you weren't expecting to have me over.."

Because the last thing Asahi wants is to push Kita too far, too fast. To be too much of an invasive presence.

[1foxgiven]

...It would have been nice to get a kiss, but Kita feels the moment pass. Oh well. They're both still fumbling. Trying to figure out the shape of whatever this will become. It's fine.

He leads the way to the living room.

"Not at all. I have a few things we can try!"

A "Few" is five board games and two puzzles, arranged on a kotatsu. Candles glow around the room. Gold chasing back the gray chaos outside.

[azuhi]

Asahi follows Kita into his place, and blinks as the light changes when they enter the living room. The candlelight glow is warm and beckoning, and Asahi gasps at the soft shadows cast over everything.

His gaze lands on the pile of games and puzzles, and he smiles. "Oh! I haven't done a puzzle in a long time. Can I look at the ones you have?"

[1foxgiven]

"Of course."

Moving the games away, Kita presents their options.

"I've finished this one of London before. The other is new - It's a map of Middle Earth."

[azuhi]

"Middle Earth?" Asahi repeats, kneeling in front of the kotatsu to get a closer look at the puzzle box. "Do you like fantasy, Shinsuke? I've only seen the movies, but they were really good."

[1foxgiven]

"They were, weren't they?

A quick smile flicks and Kita begins unpacking the box.

Decision made.

"Tolkien's my favorite. He puts so much thought into the details, like you could walk right into one of the Hobbit holes. I know it isn't real. But the feeling of it..."

He begins sorting out the edge pieces.

[azuhi]

Asahi listens as Kita describes what he loves about the genre. He helps with the sorting, too, though the gentle passion in Kita's voice is much more intriguing and draws his attention like a moth to a flame. It's a good thing sorting out edges pieces doesn't require too much focus.

"Maybe I should make time to read those books after all," he says softly, with a little laughter in his voice. "You've convinced me."

[1foxgiven]

"Have I?"

That actually gets Kita to look up. Eyebrows high.

He wasn't trying to convert anyone. Only explain. There's a glimmer of joy from it, though. That Asahi would offer. Sound genuinely interested. Just because Kita likes them so much.

He likes this boy.

So, so much.

"Well - I could lend them to you? Unless you like audiobooks. They're good for long runs."

Very, very long runs!

He certainly doesn't expect Asahi to get through the trilogy in one night. Or even one. Not until the end of the year, if we're honest.

[azuhi]

Asahi feels a bit sheepish, under the surprised and hopeful look Kita is giving him. But he truly means it, so he nods.

"I've never really listened to an audiobook before. But maybe I could give it a try? I usually listen to shorter things..." He trails off, shyly rubbing his neck. "Actually, I really like guided meditations. But the way you describe his writing, I think it would be nice to listen to it."

[1foxgiven]

"Meditative... That's a good word. There's a lot of battles, but also a lot of time just traveling through Middle Earth."

You take every step with the party. Each field and road building into a journey. Pieces of a puzzle, if you will. Becoming a whole.

"Do you see any corners yet?"

[azuhi]

He nods along, excited at the thought. Beyond poetry collections, Asahi had never considered listening to any audiobooks. In hindsight, it seems like something he should have considered a lot sooner.

When Kita asks about the corner pieces, it does remind Asahi that there's a point to the task he's been absently doing. He pushes three corner pieces towards the center of the table.

"I haven't found the last one yet-- have you?"

And NOW I want to send them to Ren Faire halp.

[1foxgiven]

"Not yet, it's in here somewhere..."

Kita puts the corners into a bag. Keeps sorting through the edge pieces.

"He also wrote The Hobbit, if you want something shorter to try. But the movies are terrible. I really wouldn't recommend those."

Strong words, especially from Kita. It's the most dislike he's ever expressed about... anything?

At least around Asahi.

Perfect idea for the next thread!!

[azuhi]

It doesn't escape Asahi's notice that this is the first time he's heard such pointed criticism from Kita. He stares for a moment, then can't help but chuckle.

"You must really hate those movies, Shinsuke. I've never heard you say something like that."

The little pile of edge pieces is growing, and Asahi begins to spread them out so they can see what they're working with. Making sure they stay separated from the pieces that will make up the middle.

"How many pieces is this puzzle?"

All Kita's Tolkien opinions are DEF MINE

[1foxgiven]

"Mm? Oh. Well. They were so disappointing. The studio stretched one book into three movies, just to make more money. It doesn't make sense, the Battle of Five Armies - "

Kita has to take a breath.

All right. So. Maybe he gets a bit worked up about those films.

"Sorry. That would be a spoiler. I mean, about The Hobbit. Not for the puzzle, that's 1000 pieces."

Nod nod. That's what RP is for

[azuhi]

Asahi chuckles again. He's not laughing at Kita, truly, but it's so different seeing him in his element like this. Is it because they're in his home, that he feels so free to share his opinions? Maybe Asahi should come over more often, in that case.

"Thank you for not spoiling me. Though that does sound like a lot of padding for one book.. I'm sorry it wasn't very good."

He turns his attention again to the pile of puzzle pieces, this time a bit warily. "I've never worked on one this big before. Have you done it?"

[1foxgiven]

But I want to spoil you.

The thought makes Kita's cheeks flare. Quickly, he looks down. Busying himself with the sorting. That is not even what they were talking about. Will definitely stress Asahi out.

What was the question?

A beat late, his brain catches up.

"This one? No, but I've finished a 3000 piece. After the edges, it helps to look for patterns."

[azuhi]

If he notices the way that Kita seems flustered, even a bit distracted, before he answers him, Asahi doesn't comment. The scale of the puzzle is a little intimidating, but hearing that Kita's done one even larger just impresses him.

"Oh, wow! How many days did that one take? I can't imagine how overwhelming it must have been when you first started."

[1foxgiven]

"A few weeks. But I didn't dive straight into it. 250 pieces, 500, 1000... each level just gets a bit more challenging."

The assembling, the process, building to a whole - It's soothing.

Usually.

Less so when his hand brushes against Asahi's. Shooting sparks up Shinsuke's entire arm.

[azuhi]

Asahi considers this, and nods. Working up from something small. It's a lesson he's learned so many times in so many ways, but Asahi is still prone to getting lost in the big picture, and forgetting that it's a journey of little steps to get there.

He's lucky to have Kita, patient and gentle, to remind him.

And as the start to put the edge together, Asahi can feel it too. The tingles whenever their fingers touch. It worries him as much as it excites him. He's done some reading on demisexuality, since Kita's come out to him, but still feels like there's so much he doesn't know. He's always crushed on people so quickly, he's scared that he'll overwhelm Kita.

He has no way of knowing whether Kita feels this chemistry, too.

As lost in his thoughts as he is, Asahi doesn't know how to keep the conversation moving. Things fall quiet between them, which only serves to increase Asahi's nerve. He likes this man so much, but doesn't want to mess anything up...

[1foxgiven]

Slow is fine.

As long as there's progress.

Except Shinsuke feels things grinding to a halt. As if they're stuck. It's unclear where that happened. They've kissed, after all. Once. And almost-not-quite did again, when Asahi arrived.

Was that where... Hm.

The next time their hands brush, he keeps his in place. Lets the electricity run.

Hoping for a jump start.

[azuhi]

The next time their hands brush, Kita's stays there. Asahi feels the attraction swell, feels pure electricity running between their fingers. Wants, terribly. But is also scared that if he starts taking, he won't know how to stop.

He pulls his hand away.

"Kita-- S-Shinsuke," he stammers. "I'm sorry. I just- need this piece."

Asahi takes it, the offending puzzle piece, then retreats to his side of the edge.

[1foxgiven]

"Oh."

All right. Better not to press. They're supposed to be relaxing.

Shinsuke sinks back into the project.

Except nothing matches. He keeps picking at the same section. Sure it should fit, but it won't. Finally, he exhales. Looking up at Asahi.

"Is something wrong?"