Hopefully that was so, because Kai was certainly looking. He wasn't able to keep the concern out of his expression, but it was all stemming from the warmth in his eyes as he watched Shinji carefully. The affection that burned there was as bright as it ever was, a constant in this suddenly new and slight uncertain period that Kai himself had ushered in.
"Don't want you to get the idea I'd keep things from you." Because what was to stop that from whispering that everything else he said should be doubted to? "You're too important to me, Shinji."
That's... too much, Kai. Shinji was just getting comfortable with the idea that he can maybe look him in the eye, he drops that overwhelmingly warm sentiment down. He exhales slowly to stop himself from ducking back down in bashfulness.
He pulls away one of his hands, tightening his old with the other one to make up for it, as he reaches up to lightly pat Kai's cheek. "You're so important to me, too." He's too greedy to let go of him over something like this, as hazy as his feelings of it remain. "I love you, so... if this is just another part of you, I want... to be able to love it, too."
Surely, he can love the part of Kai that loves another person. He doesn't lose anything from it, and he's not going to reject that part of him on the slim chance that it will end up hurting him somewhere down the line.
One upping him once again, eh Shinji. Kai leaned into the touch before those pats could move away. Honestly, he still had no idea how he'd gotten so lucky. "I know that's too much to ask for," he said quietly, overwhelmed by how much that truly meant to him. It really was too much to ask for! Offering that at all was... a lot!
"I dunno how to make it easier but... I'll sure try."
What would make this easier? Shinji thinks on that for a moment, letting his hand linger there at Kai's cheek.
"Just... keep being patient with me." He's already doing that much, Shinji can't ask much more than what he's been doing all along, but the gentle reminder should make it easier for the both of them. "I'll keep doing the same for you."
That was something they both knew they could be, at least. It was a safe call to place that reminder there where they could both remember it.
Kai nodded slightly. "Thanks," he said with a hint of a smile. "That won't be hard though, being patient with you." With a little turn of his head, Kai pressed a quick kiss to that warm palm. "It's been worth it every time."
What a soft gesture... Those tender moments between them are the sorts of things Shinji doesn't want to let slip through his hands.
"For you, too."
If that's what it takes to keep cherishing this boy, that's what he'll do. Just... keep exercising as much patience as possible. Reminding himself how much it's worth it, even if it's not always easy.
"Hope so." It was a soft sigh. Kai stole another little kiss before he shifted a touch. It was just enough so he could lean in and gently bump his forehead to Shinji's.
"Love you." He paused, then went on softer, "Didn't think I could love you more than I did, but you keep provin' me wrong."
"I'm just doing what I can," he protests quietly, leaning in to that touch as the assurance it brings is extra needed in this moment. "Because I love you. I don't... I don't want to hurt you, or lose you, so I'm going to keep working hard."
He exhales a sigh quietly, giving that hand a brief squeeze. "You're worth that effort, Kai."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
"Don't want you to get the idea I'd keep things from you." Because what was to stop that from whispering that everything else he said should be doubted to? "You're too important to me, Shinji."
no subject
He pulls away one of his hands, tightening his old with the other one to make up for it, as he reaches up to lightly pat Kai's cheek. "You're so important to me, too." He's too greedy to let go of him over something like this, as hazy as his feelings of it remain. "I love you, so... if this is just another part of you, I want... to be able to love it, too."
Surely, he can love the part of Kai that loves another person. He doesn't lose anything from it, and he's not going to reject that part of him on the slim chance that it will end up hurting him somewhere down the line.
no subject
"I dunno how to make it easier but... I'll sure try."
no subject
"Just... keep being patient with me." He's already doing that much, Shinji can't ask much more than what he's been doing all along, but the gentle reminder should make it easier for the both of them. "I'll keep doing the same for you."
no subject
Kai nodded slightly. "Thanks," he said with a hint of a smile. "That won't be hard though, being patient with you." With a little turn of his head, Kai pressed a quick kiss to that warm palm. "It's been worth it every time."
no subject
"For you, too."
If that's what it takes to keep cherishing this boy, that's what he'll do. Just... keep exercising as much patience as possible. Reminding himself how much it's worth it, even if it's not always easy.
no subject
"Love you." He paused, then went on softer, "Didn't think I could love you more than I did, but you keep provin' me wrong."
no subject
"I'm just doing what I can," he protests quietly, leaning in to that touch as the assurance it brings is extra needed in this moment. "Because I love you. I don't... I don't want to hurt you, or lose you, so I'm going to keep working hard."
He exhales a sigh quietly, giving that hand a brief squeeze. "You're worth that effort, Kai."