Ahh, how nice. The more deliberate little boop earns something that definitely sounds much more like a tiny laugh than that first one pulled from him.
"Honestly, I feel like that made it... easier? Like it took some of the pressure off." No expectations of Doing it Right or Making it Elegant were going to survive that bit of clumsiness, and really, they were better off for it. He reaches his hand up to rest at the back of Kai's head, threading his fingers into his hair while he admires the color at the other's cheeks. What a charming look on him... "If... if you feel like doing it again, at any time, I'd like that."
A successful smooch deserves whatever follow ups feel right, after all.
"Ha, yeah." Kai had certainly been trying to make it nice, but now that it was after the fact he could appreciate that fumble more. Really, it was just one more thing they'd stumbled into together that had turned out Quite Good Actually.
This right here with Shinji's fingers in his hair was a Very Good result that Kai would have normally been content with. Now, though, there was the new promise of something just as nice just tantalizingly within reach. He wanted to see that very soft face one more time and chase after all the wild beating of his heart.
Playfully giving their noses another rub, Kai nodded. "...I do. I wanna do it again."
Right now in fact, now that he had the idea that angles were the answer. Kai tenderly brushed Shinji's cheek, better tilting his head this time as he moved back in to press a soft kiss of his own against the other boy's lips.
Shinji would be lying if he were to say that he hadn't been at least kind of expecting this outcome, so the encore kiss doesn't come as too much of a surprise. The rush of pleasant, fluttery feelings it brings with it is something he's not quite so braced for, though, and it prompts one (1) small noise of surprise from Shinji. Even without the tension preceding everything, the touch sends the same flurry of emotions running through his heart, and he appreciatively curls his fingers into Kai's hair.
After a moment that feels longer than it probably is, Shinji carefully pulls back again, that same blush continuing to warm up under Kai's touch and a fond smile playing on his lips.
A smoother experience meant it was easier for him to take it all in. That softness was just as enjoyable this time around. The warmth sweeping him up entirely from the inside out. How endearing that sound of surprise was. How everything felt so easy and relaxed, yet at the same time everything was giddy and wild and Kai felt like he was going to have an out-of-body experience any second now. Good thing Shinji had such an anchoring grip on him. (One that had coaxed an extremely pleased hum out of him, at that.)
"Real good," Kai murmured his agreement, admiring that soft expression he'd been looking forward to with one of his own. It brightened as Kai shone a smile at him. "Gonna say that one's definitely staying on the table, so... I'm down for whenever too."
What an overall pleasant outcome, Shinji would never have expected all of this to happen so suddenly. Giving himself a moment to sit and actually comb through this whole exchange, the excitement in his smile mellows out into something deeper. A more raw sort of affection.
Ah. He's truly, incredibly lucky. This affection that he'd let himself get wrapped up in has turned out better than he could have ever anticipated, and that's really by virtue of how sincere and good Kai is. Something this amazing... he'd never imagine himself in this position.
"Yeah?" Of course it would be, it's no surprise to hear it. "That's good," he adds, and feeling more comfortable with the idea already, he closes the distance between them once again for a more brief reprise - just a faintly shy peck! But one that feels right to sort of... balance everything out, in a way. "I'll remember that."
Despite having two whole smooches under their belts now, it was that quick peck that made Kai blink in flustered surprise. Ah, this was one more piece of Shinji (unleashed), huh. Good. Kai's expression warmed right back up in the face of all that affection, a fond laugh on his breath.
"Good." He grinned. "Not that I'd mind reminding you."
Watch out, he's a loose cannon now with these smooches!
Gosh, though, somewhere between that warm fondness being shone at him and the promise of More, it feels like there's simply too much for him to conceivably believe he had any hand in. Is this even allowed? For him to be this happy? For someone else to look at him with so much care and affection? The closest brush he'd ever had with it before was so fleeting, and unquestioningly reciprocating it so easily was... well.
This is so far beyond him, and yet, here they are.
"Me neither," he murmurs softly, breaking away from all of this face-to-face time and tucking himself away against Kai's neck. Give him... give him just a moment to recover from all of this.
"Glad we're in agreement." And Ah, there he went. Kai let out a little puff, already moving a bit to accommodate this change in plans. This part was tried and true. There were his arms, wrapping him up all safe and secure. There was a little nuzzle against his hair, a more familiar smooch following its wake.
This was just fine. This was very good. This was everything that Kai believed Shinji truly deserved, and he was going to do his damned best to make sure he got it. If he was getting so much warmth and tenderness shining his way, Kai figured he had to be doing something right.
Take all the time you needed, Shinji. Kai certainly wasn't going anywhere.
What a nice and familiar position to be in. Perfect for letting out some of the pressure that's building up in his chest! He nuzzles in a little closer at the feeling of that smooch being planted, giving a short, content sigh as he does.
This... is so ideal. He could just stay here forever.
That's definitely not feasible as a 'forever' plan, but it does make him think. "Do you..." surely, after those smooches being dished out, what's on his mind isn't something that's too much... Surely. "Do you want to just share this room?"
With how often they end up in the same room anyway, it would only make sense, right? And how often did either of them actually take advantage of their closed-door policy? It feels like a safe offer to throw out there, at any rate.
As much as this maybe shouldn't have been a surprise, it sort of was. Sure, maybe Shinji hadn't been spending a whole ton of time in his own room lately, but it had always felt like having the choice was a good thing. Of course maybe that was just because he was convinced that at some point, Shinji was going to want a break from him.
Though it wasn't like sharing a room meant all the other rooms just vanished. Breathers were still entirely possible.
"I mean... I guess we already do, huh?" Even if up until now it was still just His room. That was part of the difference though. Up until now they'd just been working with what was convenient with what they had available. This house was a choice they were making, to stay. To be together.
Really, at this point, it feels more like making the distinction than making any sort of big change. Everything so far has just been steady steps forward - getting together, finding a bigger space to live, getting just a little more intimate... the route their relationship has taken has been perhaps not quite straightforward, but the progress has been steady and present. With change already being made by the move into this new house, why not take it a step further? Why not put that label on what is essentially already there? And give them both the extra assurance that neither of them has to spend a night lonely if they don't want that.
"I'd really like that," he says with a small exhale. To make it their room. How splendid.
The whole adventure of tip-toing into a relationship had been an exercise in discovering that everything was just already there. Kai appreciated how seamless that made things feel. There was no chance to really feel apprehensive about a change if it was already something he was so comfortable with.
Their house. Their room. Who knew a plural would be so comforting.
Kai smiled gently into his hair. "Welcome to your room then."
It's true, they were probably both better off for taking a roundabout way into it. Easing in to these things before putting a name to them sure did make the process of actually naming them far less agonizing.
Not that he'd felt much, if any, apprehension about sharing the space with Kai in a while now, but there's something profoundly comforting in the idea that this is a space for the both of them. This isn't just Kai's Room, A Space Where Shinji's Allowed, but some place with both of their names attached, where they'll surely spend many more warm moments like this one together. No one's intruding by any definition of the word. It's just... theirs.
"Yeah..." yeah! Kai can't see it, but Shinji's pretty sure the smile on his face has taken on a slightly goofy edge, but, if it can't be seen, that's totally fine. "You, too."
Actually, that was a tragedy. At least he didn't know he was missing it. There would be plenty of opportunities to see said goofy smile in the future at least.
"Mmm. S'good to be here." With him, like this. "I never really thought something like this would be so... nice." Of course, he also never thought about even the bare minimums of a relationship until recently. What a wild and wacky turn his life had taken.
Yeah, there will likely be plenty of other chances. Don't worry, Kai.
He nods a little against Kai's neck - it is good, and he never would have imagined how good it could be. "Yeah," he agrees softly, fondly, as he pulls away a bit. "Being with you is really comfortable. I never thought... it would be this nice, but it feels really easy with you."
Kai took that bit of space to nestle a bit more against the pillow, keeping his fond look trained on Shinji. "Sounds pretty ideal," he said, chuckling softly. "No wonder dating seems like such a big deal. Mystery solved."
It was a big mystery! A huge mystery! He never had any real indication of what a good relationship should be like, but if the goal was for it to feel anything like this, then all that fuss really would be worth it.
Which also makes it kind of nice that the only real fuss, at least from Shinji's end, was all pretty self-imposed stuff. Once the admission had managed to break free of all of his defenses, it had been shockingly smooth sailing. That, he supposes, is probably not par for the course, if every example he's been shown in his life are to be believed. Yet another very lucky aspect of all of this, huh?
"It's been a really nice learning experience." Shinji moves his hand to rest at Kai's cheek. "So I'm glad I could help clear it up for you, too."
To think that he was somehow part of a positive learning experience was still something that almost wanted to set off some bleaker thoughts. It was really hard for them to get any traction with that simple touch at his cheek and those soft eyes looking his way, so negativity dodged this time. Things had been good for them. Giving Shinji positive experiences was what he wanted to do. So! Good.
"Heh, thanks. I'm glad I gave it a try." As soon as he said it, Kai paused with a more thoughtful look. "Though... guess I wouldn't say I'm tryin' anything anymore. I'm just in it now. With this, and you."
There had definitely been a part of Shinji that was bracing for something about this to fall apart sooner or later - that Kai might not be as invested in this as he was, and that Shinji putting forth too many expectations would be crushing. Or that he might just not feel it after a test run, and it would be in Shinji's best interests to not rule that possibility out. He's cautiously past the idea that Kai might simply get tired of him and leave him behind, but... it's a hard guard to drop completely. So, when he says that, that he's in it fully now, Shinji can't hide the surprise that flashes across his face.
"... I'm not going anywhere." That surprise melts into something more serious, yet still undeniably fond, as he finds some words to string together. "I want to be with you, so... you know I'm in this, too."
While Kai didn't know the depths of that surprise, he wouldn't have faulted Shinji if he'd known. In a way he probably did actually know at a deeper level. They both shared an aching kind of loneliness that just expected the outcome to be the same as it always was: alone again. Even with a steady stream of positivity, it was still easy to doubt.
"I know," he said, looking past the potential for doubt at what was right in front of him. "S'what this house is about, feels like. The kinda things we chose." Their house, their room, each other.
It was Kai's turn to draw his hand up, sliding it carefully over Shinji's. "Even if its not as easy as this all the time."
Of course, he knows he shouldn't expect things to be as consistently simple as they have been, but being able to keep those easy times in mind should make weathering those tough spots all the more worth it, he figures. Being surrounded by these things, decisions they've made together, people they care about, those will always be welcome reminders for potential rockier times.
Moreover, it's pretty tough to think about things turning out to be too difficult to cope with when his hand is sandwiched in so much warmth.
"Even when things get rough," he offers back, a nice and comfortable assurance, "I'll choose you every time."
Geez. What was he supposed to do? He'd already made the decision not to let doubt get the best of him today, so it seemed that only left 'flustered gladness' as an option. Kai partially pressed his face into the pillow as much as their hands would allow, growing redder all the while.
"I don't know when that's not going to surprise me," he mumbled.
How does it feel to be a priority? Wild, right? Based on that reaction, 'wild' seems like a pretty solid guess.
What a charming look for Kai, though. Perhaps easing off on the kinds of assurances and compliments that are only going to further that fluster is in order for now, but Shinji takes the moment to simply absorb this image for all it makes his own heart flutter.
"I'm not trying to overwhelm you, but... I hope you can get used to it."
He's not about to let Kai forget it, after all. Not having it be a shock every time would be just as nice as all of this fluster.
Kai muffled a snicker into the pillow. "Maybe. Getting overwhelmed isn't so bad."
As much as Kai felt a little bad that he seemed like he needed the reminders, there was also a part of him that kind of didn't want to get used to it. Not entirely, anyway. "But I kinda... don't want to end up taking it for granted."
Well, Kyoko sure made it seem like him overwhelming anyone with praises and reassurances had it's limits! But, if Kai's fine with it, Shinji will have to keep that in mind.
More importantly, though, is the implication that these assurances are worth that much. Shinji understands to a degree - he'd hate to think that he was taking Kai's kindness and affection for granted. The very thought that anyone would take advantage of that settles very uncomfortably on him, so he's been doing his best to make sure that he himself wouldn't fall into that trap. Turning that perspective around is... tough, but he can maybe understand where Kai's coming from with it.
"I think... I get that." He sinks further into the pillow, tilting his head a little as if that's going to somehow get him a better look at Kai's face. "I don't want being with you to not feel special, or significant."
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"Honestly, I feel like that made it... easier? Like it took some of the pressure off." No expectations of Doing it Right or Making it Elegant were going to survive that bit of clumsiness, and really, they were better off for it. He reaches his hand up to rest at the back of Kai's head, threading his fingers into his hair while he admires the color at the other's cheeks. What a charming look on him... "If... if you feel like doing it again, at any time, I'd like that."
A successful smooch deserves whatever follow ups feel right, after all.
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This right here with Shinji's fingers in his hair was a Very Good result that Kai would have normally been content with. Now, though, there was the new promise of something just as nice just tantalizingly within reach. He wanted to see that very soft face one more time and chase after all the wild beating of his heart.
Playfully giving their noses another rub, Kai nodded. "...I do. I wanna do it again."
Right now in fact, now that he had the idea that angles were the answer. Kai tenderly brushed Shinji's cheek, better tilting his head this time as he moved back in to press a soft kiss of his own against the other boy's lips.
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After a moment that feels longer than it probably is, Shinji carefully pulls back again, that same blush continuing to warm up under Kai's touch and a fond smile playing on his lips.
"Mmh, yeah. Definitely nice."
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"Real good," Kai murmured his agreement, admiring that soft expression he'd been looking forward to with one of his own. It brightened as Kai shone a smile at him. "Gonna say that one's definitely staying on the table, so... I'm down for whenever too."
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Ah. He's truly, incredibly lucky. This affection that he'd let himself get wrapped up in has turned out better than he could have ever anticipated, and that's really by virtue of how sincere and good Kai is. Something this amazing... he'd never imagine himself in this position.
"Yeah?" Of course it would be, it's no surprise to hear it. "That's good," he adds, and feeling more comfortable with the idea already, he closes the distance between them once again for a more brief reprise - just a faintly shy peck! But one that feels right to sort of... balance everything out, in a way. "I'll remember that."
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"Good." He grinned. "Not that I'd mind reminding you."
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Gosh, though, somewhere between that warm fondness being shone at him and the promise of More, it feels like there's simply too much for him to conceivably believe he had any hand in. Is this even allowed? For him to be this happy? For someone else to look at him with so much care and affection? The closest brush he'd ever had with it before was so fleeting, and unquestioningly reciprocating it so easily was... well.
This is so far beyond him, and yet, here they are.
"Me neither," he murmurs softly, breaking away from all of this face-to-face time and tucking himself away against Kai's neck. Give him... give him just a moment to recover from all of this.
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This was just fine. This was very good. This was everything that Kai believed Shinji truly deserved, and he was going to do his damned best to make sure he got it. If he was getting so much warmth and tenderness shining his way, Kai figured he had to be doing something right.
Take all the time you needed, Shinji. Kai certainly wasn't going anywhere.
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This... is so ideal. He could just stay here forever.
That's definitely not feasible as a 'forever' plan, but it does make him think. "Do you..." surely, after those smooches being dished out, what's on his mind isn't something that's too much... Surely. "Do you want to just share this room?"
With how often they end up in the same room anyway, it would only make sense, right? And how often did either of them actually take advantage of their closed-door policy? It feels like a safe offer to throw out there, at any rate.
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Though it wasn't like sharing a room meant all the other rooms just vanished. Breathers were still entirely possible.
"I mean... I guess we already do, huh?" Even if up until now it was still just His room. That was part of the difference though. Up until now they'd just been working with what was convenient with what they had available. This house was a choice they were making, to stay. To be together.
"We can make this one ours, yeah." Theirs.
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"I'd really like that," he says with a small exhale. To make it their room. How splendid.
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Their house. Their room. Who knew a plural would be so comforting.
Kai smiled gently into his hair. "Welcome to your room then."
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Not that he'd felt much, if any, apprehension about sharing the space with Kai in a while now, but there's something profoundly comforting in the idea that this is a space for the both of them. This isn't just Kai's Room, A Space Where Shinji's Allowed, but some place with both of their names attached, where they'll surely spend many more warm moments like this one together. No one's intruding by any definition of the word. It's just... theirs.
"Yeah..." yeah! Kai can't see it, but Shinji's pretty sure the smile on his face has taken on a slightly goofy edge, but, if it can't be seen, that's totally fine. "You, too."
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"Mmm. S'good to be here." With him, like this. "I never really thought something like this would be so... nice." Of course, he also never thought about even the bare minimums of a relationship until recently. What a wild and wacky turn his life had taken.
"It really is though."
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He nods a little against Kai's neck - it is good, and he never would have imagined how good it could be. "Yeah," he agrees softly, fondly, as he pulls away a bit. "Being with you is really comfortable. I never thought... it would be this nice, but it feels really easy with you."
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Which also makes it kind of nice that the only real fuss, at least from Shinji's end, was all pretty self-imposed stuff. Once the admission had managed to break free of all of his defenses, it had been shockingly smooth sailing. That, he supposes, is probably not par for the course, if every example he's been shown in his life are to be believed. Yet another very lucky aspect of all of this, huh?
"It's been a really nice learning experience." Shinji moves his hand to rest at Kai's cheek. "So I'm glad I could help clear it up for you, too."
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"Heh, thanks. I'm glad I gave it a try." As soon as he said it, Kai paused with a more thoughtful look. "Though... guess I wouldn't say I'm tryin' anything anymore. I'm just in it now. With this, and you."
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There had definitely been a part of Shinji that was bracing for something about this to fall apart sooner or later - that Kai might not be as invested in this as he was, and that Shinji putting forth too many expectations would be crushing. Or that he might just not feel it after a test run, and it would be in Shinji's best interests to not rule that possibility out. He's cautiously past the idea that Kai might simply get tired of him and leave him behind, but... it's a hard guard to drop completely. So, when he says that, that he's in it fully now, Shinji can't hide the surprise that flashes across his face.
"... I'm not going anywhere." That surprise melts into something more serious, yet still undeniably fond, as he finds some words to string together. "I want to be with you, so... you know I'm in this, too."
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"I know," he said, looking past the potential for doubt at what was right in front of him. "S'what this house is about, feels like. The kinda things we chose." Their house, their room, each other.
It was Kai's turn to draw his hand up, sliding it carefully over Shinji's. "Even if its not as easy as this all the time."
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Moreover, it's pretty tough to think about things turning out to be too difficult to cope with when his hand is sandwiched in so much warmth.
"Even when things get rough," he offers back, a nice and comfortable assurance, "I'll choose you every time."
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"I don't know when that's not going to surprise me," he mumbled.
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What a charming look for Kai, though. Perhaps easing off on the kinds of assurances and compliments that are only going to further that fluster is in order for now, but Shinji takes the moment to simply absorb this image for all it makes his own heart flutter.
"I'm not trying to overwhelm you, but... I hope you can get used to it."
He's not about to let Kai forget it, after all. Not having it be a shock every time would be just as nice as all of this fluster.
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As much as Kai felt a little bad that he seemed like he needed the reminders, there was also a part of him that kind of didn't want to get used to it. Not entirely, anyway. "But I kinda... don't want to end up taking it for granted."
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More importantly, though, is the implication that these assurances are worth that much. Shinji understands to a degree - he'd hate to think that he was taking Kai's kindness and affection for granted. The very thought that anyone would take advantage of that settles very uncomfortably on him, so he's been doing his best to make sure that he himself wouldn't fall into that trap. Turning that perspective around is... tough, but he can maybe understand where Kai's coming from with it.
"I think... I get that." He sinks further into the pillow, tilting his head a little as if that's going to somehow get him a better look at Kai's face. "I don't want being with you to not feel special, or significant."
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