Chapter Text
They’re almost there: One flight down, and one bus ride to go. Late-afternoon light flickers between buildings, tinting Paris bright gold and burning through the charter bus windows. Sae closes his eyes, absentmindedly watching the sunspot patterns dance across his eyelids. Sleep still lingers at the edges of his mind. Ideally, he’d be able to finish the nap he started before they arrive at their hotel, but something tells him that’s not going to happen.
Traveling for a game always gets the team excited, and this is no exception. This weekend marks an annual banquet and a series of friendly games between international youth teams. Clubs from Germany, Italy, England, and more will be in attendance. It’s meant to foster connection and healthy competition before the official start of the season, but while Sae is more focused on the matches, the rest of the team seems excited just to be on the road. Excited and loud.
The cabin is filled with chatter about the banquet tomorrow, the PXG match the following day, and where they’ll celebrate after they win. It’s childish, really. They should be more focused on the critique they received during their last practice. Y’know, something that’s actually productive instead of worrying about what club might accept their fake IDs, or what girls will show up at the match.
With a grumble, Sae folds his arms and zips his Re Al-branded jacket up to his chin. His nose scrunches as he tries to get comfortable, dull pain shooting up his neck from how he’d slept on the plane. He stretches and rolls his shoulders, but it’s no use. Damn it. That better be gone by the time he has to step onto the field.
The weight of someone dropping into the neighboring seat jostles him. He doesn’t open his eyes, but his shoulders creep to his ears and his brows start to pinch—he doesn’t need to look to know who it is.
“Alright, so,” Bunny starts as Sae blinks his eyes open, “I checked the hours for that cafe we love–”
“You love–”
“We love,” Bunny corrects him, unfazed. “And we should have some time to walk over there tomorrow morning, since we don’t have to be dressed for the banquet until 7 PM or whatever. Plenty of time to sleep in and get some pastries.”
Sae shakes his head. On their last trip to Paris, Bunny had spotted the little hole-in-the-wall pastry shop after he’d insisted on tagging along for Sae’s run. The window was filled with an assortment of sweets: neatly iced eclairs, macarons with patterned shells, dipped croissants, and, to Sae’s annoyance and Bunny’s delight, cream puffs that resembled small, white rabbits.
Of course, Bunny couldn’t pass up the opportunity, and Sae’s morning run turned into a walk after that. Bunny insisted he try a bite, causing a scene on the sidewalk as he wrestled the pastry closer to Sae’s face. All he succeeded in was dabbing some of the cream on Sae’s nose and chin. Unfortunately, Bunny was right—it tasted delicious.
“I wonder if I can get them to make some with my scar,” Bunny muses.
“You know they’re just generic rabbits,” Sae says. “They don’t owe you credit just because people call you Bunny.”
“Whatever,” Bunny dismisses the notion with a wave. “So, you’re down to go tomorrow?”
“I think you should probably be more focused on the match than getting a stupid cream puff. Besides, I don’t have time. I was going to review more of the PXG footage tomorrow.”
Bunny rolls his eyes. "You know this is just a friendly match, right? Besides, we beat them both times we played them last season."
Sae shakes his head. Bunny's not wrong. The last time they faced PXG, they managed to pull out a win with relatively little struggle. Still, facing a team on their home turf does have its disadvantages—
"You're thinking about it too much, I can tell," Bunny says, wrapping his arm around Sae's shoulders and squeezing. “You do know there’s more to life than just football, right?”
“Tch, for half-baked slackers like you, maybe,” Sae says, shrugging out of his touch and looking out the window.
“Oh, loosen up, Sae.” Bunny playfully pinches Sae’s thigh, grinning when he jolts and swats his hand away. “Honestly, it’s kind of sad—you spend every second of every day trying so hard, and you still can’t be as good as a so-called slacker like me.”
Sae glares, and Bunny smiles so wide his eyes crease.
“Might as well just,” Bunny quickly pinches his thigh again, “come with me and enjoy the stupid cream puff.”
Sae bats at Bunny’s hand with more force this time and fixes him with a scowl. “Fine,” he says, folding his arms only once he’s sure Bunny won’t attack again. “But if we lose this match, I blame you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bunny grins. “When we win this match, I’ll take the credit.”
The bus slows as it finally nears the hotel entrance, and their teammates start to stand, preemptively pulling bags from the overhead racks.
Sae shakes his head, shifting in his seat and waiting for Bunny to move. “You’re so annoying,” he huffs, still scowling.
“And you’re so cute when you’re angry,” Bunny teases before finally standing to pull Sae’s bag down before reaching for his own.
“Will you two just kiss already?” One of their teammates calls out from a few seats back.
Sae’s cheeks heat from more than just the afternoon sun, and he adjusts his jacket collar around his chin, hoping no one will notice.
**********
By the time the team has checked into their rooms, the sun has fully set, and the sky is dark. Sticking to the same rooming assignments they have back at the dorm means Sae is paired with Bunny once again. Which would be fine—annoying, but fine—if it weren’t for one thing…
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Sae’s lip curls in disgust as he stares at the king bed taking up a good amount of the hotel room.
Bunny drops his duffel and starfishes face-first on the large mattress with a sigh. “What’s the problem? It’s comfy as shit—”
“The problem is there’s only one— and don’t get on the bed with your travel clothes,” Sae grumbles. “Idiot.”
“Coach mentioned that one of the rooms was going to be a king instead of two queens. The hotel is fully booked—”
“I know, I just didn’t think we’d be the ones to get it.”
“Awh, c’mon. It’s just a few nights.” Bunny rolls onto his back, props himself up on his elbows, and gives Sae a teasing smile. “What? Can’t handle sharing a bed for a few nights?”
Heat crawls up Sae’s neck and burns the tips of his ears. “No.” He stubbornly meets Bunny’s smirk with a scowl. “I can.”
Truthfully, Sae is used to sharing his space. He and Rin shared a room up until he left for Spain, and it wasn’t out of the ordinary for Rin to start in his own bed, only to then crawl under Sae’s duvet and fall asleep beside him. But that was Rin. That was different. Besides, he’d do anything for his baby brother, including waking up to his pillowcase damp with drool more often than not. Bunny, on the other hand…
“So what’s the problem?” Bunny prods. His eyes are narrowed, and his lips are spread in a suspicious grin.
Sae scowls and tries to think of an excuse. It’s not that he isn’t used to the physical contact. Bunny’s boundaries are nearly non-existent when it comes to Sae—he’s constantly falling asleep on his shoulder on long bus rides, or squishing him into the corner of the couch when they watch movies—draping an arm around Sae’s shoulders when they’re walking side by side, or waking him up from a nap by blanketing him with his full body weight. Bunny is like a Great Dane that thinks he’s a lap dog, and Sae’s is the only lap he seems to want to curl up in. Which would be cute, except, well…it’s Bunny.
“Hey.” Bunny’s voice pulls Sae out of his head. “Could you hand me my phone? It’s right there— on the mini fridge.”
“Why can’t you get up and get it yourself?” Sae asks haughtily despite already swiping the phone and stepping closer. “Besides, I said no travel clothes on the bed, get up—”
With a mischievous smirk, Bunny grabs Sae’s wrist and yanks him onto the bed before he has a chance to protest.
Sae’s shock quickly morphs into annoyance. “What the—?”
“Hey, no travel clothes on the bed,” Bunny mocks.
Lying face-to-face, Sae meets Bunny’s obnoxious smile with a stern glare before carelessly dropping his phone between them and rolling onto his back.
“See,” Bunny says as he swipes open a message on his phone, “there’s plenty of room for both of us. I don’t see a problem.”
“Whatever,” Sae mumbles, focus fixed on the ceiling. He can feel heat from Bunny’s body, hear his soft, even breathing, and smell the musk of his skin. It all makes Sae’s cheeks burn, and somehow, that feels like a bigger problem than the size of the mattress.
This has been happening more and more lately—settling too close, touches lingering longer than necessary, eye contact overloaded with things left unsaid. Moments that Sae doesn’t quite know how to read, tension he doesn’t know how to diagnose, let alone dispel. All Sae knows is that Bunny is safest and most tolerable when he’s at least an arm’s length away.
“Once we’re done unpacking, wanna grab some dinner? The hotel restaurant looks good. Or we can order room service and just stay in for the night—”
“Whatever,” Sae breathes. “I don’t care.”
“Room service it is,” Bunny chirps, lightly slapping Sae’s chest as he hops to his feet. “See? This is fun already.”
Bunny tugs his hoodie over his head, the t-shirt underneath almost coming off with it. It bunches by his shoulder blades, revealing the curve of his spine, the defined cut of his hips, and the dimples on his lower back.
Sae swallows and looks back at the ceiling. “Just stay on your side tonight.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep my hands to myself,” Bunny lilts over his shoulder as he fixes his shirt. “As long as you promise to do the same.”
Sae snorts and meets Bunny’s eyes. “Trust me, that won’t be an issue.”
They hold eye contact like it’s a competition, as if winning a staring contest would crown them as ruler of their sad, little, shared domain. It looks like Bunny wants to say something, but he doesn’t. Instead, he rolls his eyes, mutters something about having dibs on the shower first, and disappears into the bathroom.
It’s a small victory.
**********
“Alright, which movie should we put on?” Bunny asks, remote in hand. Freshly showered and full from dinner, he’s reclined against the headboard in a pair of loose, grey sweatpants and a Re Al t-shirt.
Sitting at the small desk, Sae picks at the last of his food. “There aren’t any matches on?”
“I don’t want to watch a game,” Bunny groans. “All we’ve been doing is watching football lately.”
“We are here to play football,” Sae chides, collecting their dishes on the room service cart and pushing it into the hall. “This isn’t a vacation. You know that, right?”
“You’ve gotta be the biggest buzzkill I’ve ever met,” Bunny grumbles as he continues to flick through the movie options. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Sae doesn’t respond. He locks the door before returning to the desk and plopping back into the chair. He slumps down and curls his knees to his chest like he’s trying to get comfortable. The hem of his loose shorts rides high, revealing the smooth, pale skin on the back of his thighs. Bunny can see the definition of his strong hamstrings pressed against the swell of his calves as he draws his legs closer, and his eyes linger.
If Bunny is being honest, Sae is much more than just ‘cute’. He’s so damn nice to look at—long lashes, smooth skin, those heavy-lidded teal eyes, and that sharp jawline—and the added bad attitude only makes him that much more attractive. At least, according to Bunny.
“You know you can sit in the bed, right?” Bunny’s question is met with an icy stare. “I’m just saying. You don’t look all that comfortable.”
Bunny swears he can see the wheels turning in Sae’s head as his focus flicks from the TV to the empty spot beside him, weighing his options carefully. When their eyes meet, Bunny smiles and pats the duvet like he’s trying to cajole a shy stray onto the bed. Sae’s brows pinch in annoyance, and he stubbornly looks back at the television.
“Fine,” Bunny breathes. “Suit yourself.”
He finally settles on some recently released thriller, pressing play and turning off the bedside lamp. The room plunges into momentary darkness before the movie begins.
It doesn’t take long for Sae to start fidgeting in the stiff desk chair. Bunny watches him out of the corner of his eye. It’s endearing how determined he is to make it work despite how uncomfortable he looks.
If they were back in their dorm, they’d be side by side on the small couch in their living room, and Bunny would be finding some excuse to lean against him. It happens every time. They’ll start the movie a respectable distance apart, only for Bunny to be leaning against Sae’s shoulder or stretching his legs across his lap by the time the credits roll.
At first, Bunny just did it to get under Sae’s skin. It proved all too easy to have him scowling and huffing the closer Bunny got. Watching Sae get worked up was almost more fun than watching the movie itself. But eventually, Sae would settle. He’d get the groaning and squirming out of his system and relax just enough to look somewhat comfortable with Bunny beside him. Sometimes, Bunny wonders if Sae might even enjoy it just as much as he does.
Because, for all his teasing, Bunny does enjoy it. Sae is like the stray cat nobody wants to adopt from the shelter—and why would they? He’s mean, aloof, cold; best left alone if you don’t want to get scratched. Nobody on the team really wants to make the effort, but Bunny is up to the task. Besides, the meaner the cat, the more satisfying it is when you finally coax them into your lap.
After a few more minutes of trying to make the desk chair work, Sae gives up. Bunny watches as he quietly crawls under the duvet and reclines against the pillows beside him.
“Well, look who finally decided to join us—”
“Shut up,” Sae grumbles.
Bunny smiles, but doesn’t push his luck.
They watch the movie in silence, and Bunny sneaks sidelong glances at Sae as if waiting for him to leave again. Shit, he looks good. His bangs brush his forehead, and his brows pinch as he pushes and prods at a spot on his shoulder. Absentmindedly, he worries his bottom lip between his teeth, like even now, in the comfort of a king bed at a five-star hotel, he can’t relax.
Sae catches him looking and scowls. “What?” Sae snaps.
Bunny laughs. “I didn’t say anything.”
“I just slept weird on the plane, that’s all,” Sae mumbles, swiping his phone open with one hand as he continues to poke at his sore shoulder with the other.
Bunny can easily see Sae’s phone screen in the dark. He watches him scroll through player profiles and statistics from last season, pausing on Loki’s page and his goal count. It’s high—not higher than Bunny’s, but higher than Sae’s. And to a striker, scoring goals is everything. They all have expectations hanging over their heads, but lately, Sae practically slumps under the weight. Sometimes, Bunny feels like he’s the only one who notices.
“Alright, c’mere, Golden Boy,” Bunny says, resting his elbow on the stacked pillows and reaching to palm Sae’s clavicle. He squeezes the meat of his traps, pressing his fingertips into his shoulder blade.
Sae grimaces and tries to shrug out of his touch. “Ouch. What happened to keeping your hands to yourself?”
Bunny gives Sae’s shoulder another squeeze, softer this time, before repeating the movement closer to his neck. “We need Japan’s Treasure in tip-top shape for the match this weekend, right?”
Sae gives him a wary sidelong glance, his jaw clenched and his brows furrowed. “Thought these games don’t matter since they’re just friendlies,” Sae mocks.
“With that attitude, you’ll never be the best, Sae,” Bunny teases. “More importantly, though, I need my midfielder feeling one hundred percent for this weekend,” he grins, “somebody’s gotta pass me the ball so I can score.”
“You’re such an asshole,” Sae grits out. But despite his words, he doesn’t pull away again.
Bunny gently digs his thumb into the tense muscle running from the tip of his shoulder to the base of his neck and up behind his ear. “Yeah, yeah,” he says, “you’ll thank me later.”
Gently, Bunny kneads the meat of Sae’s shoulder. He follows the line of the tendons, pushing up the slope of his neck in firm, consistent strokes. With each pass, the tension starts to dissipate. Sae’s jaw slackens, his brow relaxes, and his eyelids droop. He puts his phone down, momentarily forgetting the numbers, the competition, the pressure of constantly trying to come in first.
Bunny smiles to himself. Fatigue always makes Sae just a little bit softer, dulling his sharp edges just enough to get close, at least for a little while. Surrender isn’t part of Sae’s skillset, and yet, here he is relaxed against the pillows, eyes shut, throat bared. It makes Bunny’s chest warm.
This has been happening more and more lately—staring until Sae catches him looking, finding excuses to touch him just to feel the brush of skin on skin. Despite trying to write it off or wish it away, Bunny recognizes this for what it is. He’s known for a little while now.
He’s had his fair share of hookups and flings, enough to know how it feels when he really wants someone. Maybe it’s just because Sae is seemingly unattainable and Bunny likes the chase. Or, maybe it’s something with a little more weight than that. Maybe, despite all the bickering and rivalry, they’re a good fit. Sometimes it feels like they’re the only ones that really understand each other. The thought almost makes Bunny laugh, and he knows if Sae heard it, he’d scoff. Regardless, that doesn’t make it any less true.
Sae doesn’t make it easy, though. He’s quiet and cagey. Seemingly uninterested in anything regarding sex or resembling romance. In the years they’ve been roommates, Bunny hasn’t heard so much as a whisper about Sae’s relationship track record. If he had to guess, it’s probably because there isn’t one. As their teammates would say, the poor guy needs to get laid.
“You can stop, y’know.” Sae’s voice is low and breathy.
“Huh?”
“It’s not like I’m actually injured,” Sae continues, eyes still closed. “I’m fine.”
“I know,” Bunny says, pushing under the neck of Sae’s shirt. He brushes his fingers over the bump of his spine and into the soft hair at the back of his neck, lightly scratching his scalp and rubbing his thumb over the sensitive spot behind his ear. “But it feels good, doesn’t it?”
Sae swallows and after a moment, lets out a quiet, affirming “hmph.”
“Well, there ya go.” Bunny smiles softly. “No reason to stop then.”
Sae doesn’t protest again. Eventually, his breathing slows, and he gradually slumps until he’s fully reclined against the pillows. Bunny continues rubbing his shoulder and pushing his fingers through his hair even after the movie ends. He lies beside him in the dark, lightly trailing his fingertips over the soft skin and listening to every quiet inhale.
Just make sure you keep your hands to yourself tonight. Sae’s words still linger between Bunny’s ears. He has a feeling that if Sae were honest with himself, he might’ve said something different.
Affectionately, he gives Sae’s scalp one last tender rub before pulling his hand away. He flicks off the television, blinks his eyelids closed, and focuses on the soft sound of Sae’s steady breathing and the warmth beside him under the sheet. Something tells him he’s going to sleep really well tonight.
**********
Sae blinks, trying to get his bearings as he squints at his surroundings. His vision is blurred, and his limbs feel heavy. Where is he? Through slitted eyes, he sees his nightstand and past that, an empty bed. His next inhale comes easier. He’s in his Re Al dorm room.
Hot breath soaks into his neck. There’s a familiar voice mumbling at the shell of his ear. If only he could make out the words over the pounding of his heart. The world spins, and it takes all of his energy to roll over. He’s met with red eyes, lilac hair, and a hungry smile. Before he can protest, Bunny’s lips are on his. It feels good. They press together, hips rolling in tandem. An overwhelming warmth begins to burn in Sae’s chest, spreading through his body with each heartbeat.
Anxiety pricks the back of his neck, but Bunny’s touch easily turns it to smoke, barely there and floating away in wisps. Any reservations Sae has are foggy, distorted in the distance like a mirage. With each touch, his hesitation melts until he can’t think of a single reason they shouldn’t be doing this.
Suddenly, he’s on his side, Bunny pressing against his back. Sae’s mouth hinges open with a moan as he feels hands tugging his shorts down to brush over his skin and push between his legs. Bunny slips inside with ease. His pace is slow and rhythmic, but hard and insistent. Eyes closed and body limp, Sae’s head jostles on the pillow.
“You feel so good, Sae.”
The words send goosebumps over his skin. Sae tries to answer, but can’t. There’s a soft buzz building in his ears. Bunny’s voice cuts through it. “Have you done this before?”
No. Sae opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. Whimpers lodge in his throat with every bump of Bunny’s hips. It feels so good—he didn’t think it would feel this good. But the buzz is louder now, like static or a faraway storm.
“Tell me what you want.”
You. He wants to reach behind him, to turn his head and find Bunny’s lips, to tangle fingers in his hair or pull him closer. He wants to drag Bunny’s hand past his navel to where he leaks against the sheets. But he can’t. His limbs lie lifeless on the mattress, heavy like they’re weighed down with sandbags, and he still can’t find his voice.
It doesn’t matter. Bunny knows what to do, and Sae lets him. Soon, his body starts to thrum and his breathing quickens. “Let go.” Bunny’s voice is barely audible. The buzzing in Sae’s ears is all around him now. It’s graduated to a roar, ebbing and flowing like waves. It sounds so close, so familiar.
Slowly, Sae cracks his eyes open. Instead of an empty bed and the familiar walls of his room, he’s met with packed stands of strangers dressed in Re Al white and teal. Bunny doesn’t seem to notice, pace unfaltering as he fucks into him. A few of his teammates stare, laughing. Some boo, while others cheer and clap. Sae’s eyes widen, and suddenly he can’t breathe. His heart plummets into his stomach as the crowd’s roar swallows him whole.
With a gasp, Sae jolts, eyes opening wide as he’s ripped from his dream. Quick pants chase each other past his lips, soaking into the already damp pillow. The harsh patter of heavy rain replaces the noise of the crowd, pounding against the hotel window in thick sheets.
Sae sucks in a deep breath, and his head falls back to the pillow. Fuck. It was a dream. Just a dream. But the relief is short-lived as Sae remembers where he is and who is lying beside him.
Bunny’s warm, even exhales ghost against his nape, and his arm hangs heavy over the dip of his waist. Under the covers, his knee lightly brushes the bare skin on the back of Sae’s thigh, but it’s still enough to have goosebumps climbing his arms and heat gathering between his legs.
Sae swallows and tries to ignore the shameful morning wood growing in his boxer briefs. Fuck. He closes his eyes, stuck somewhere between horrible embarrassment and gnawing arousal. Part of him wants to press back against Bunny, feel his weight and warmth against him fully, and the other part of him wants to run as far as he can and pretend this never happened.
Bunny groans in his sleep, and his nose brushes the fine hairs at the back of Sae’s neck. Sae goes rigid, his face heats, and his blood rushes south. Maybe if he weren’t half-hard, he’d wake Bunny up with a light slap and reprimand him for not keeping to his side of the bed, but not like this. He’s already mortified enough.
Carefully, he slides out from under Bunny’s arm and makes his way to the bathroom. Bunny doesn’t move, and he’ll take that as a sign he’s still sleeping. Sae quietly shuts and locks the door before puffing out a sigh and looking down at his tented shorts. Fuck. Fuck. He rubs a palm over his face and tries to focus on anything but Bunny. Doesn’t work, though—stupid rabbit.
With a shaky inhale, Sae turns on the shower and shucks his clothes, ignoring the small, damp spot on his boxer briefs. He steps into the shower, closes his eyes, and ducks his head under the stream of cool water, letting it soak into his hair. It’s just cold enough to send goosebumps over his skin and make him suck in a sharp inhale. But when he straightens up again, his mind is right back to the dream.
Back to Bunny’s lips at his ear and his hand down his shorts. Back to the sound of his name on his tongue, the press of his hips, and the feeling of skin on skin.
Back to the humiliation of everyone seeing.
Despite the overwhelming shame, Sae's half-hard cock twitches with interest, and he silently curses himself. He tries to ignore it, tries to think of other things, tries to wait it out, but he loses the battle with himself. With a groan, Sae leans a forearm against the shower wall and guiltily hides his face in the crook of his elbow as he slowly takes himself in his fist.
Typically, he only touches himself when it seems beneficial—if he needs to fall asleep or relieve stress—it's always more clinical than it is lustful. A means to an end.
Not this time, though.
This time, Sae has to bite his lip to keep from moaning as he conjures Bunny. His tongue pushing into his mouth, his hand sliding between his legs. Fuck. Sae swirls a thumb over his leaking tip before starting to pump faster. It’s all too easy to remember the feeling of his exhales soaking into his skin and the heat that gathered between them under the sheet. For the second time this morning, Sae imagines what it would be like to press flush to his chest, to feel his hips against his for real this time.
Fuck, he’s not going to last. He can feel that familiar tingle starting to build, coiling tightly in his gut. He fucks into his fist, chasing the pleasure and seeing Bunny with every breath. His hands, his mouth, his hard cock sliding against his ass without the unwanted layer of clothing in between.
Sae's typically composed and calculated strokes grow frantic and messy. Inhibition gives way to instinct, and his pace quickens until his hips snap in jerky, uncoordinated thrusts, his throat tightens around a soft whine, and the tension snaps. His orgasm rockets through his veins, making his brows pinch, his pulse hiccup, and his knees shake as he spills over his fist. He has to bite his tongue to keep from saying Bunny's name.
Out of breath, Sae gives himself a few last, lazy strokes before putting his hand under the water and opening his eyes. He stays there for a moment, forearm still anchored to the wet tile wall while he waits for his heart rate to slow.
Sae spends the rest of his shower trying to gain back some semblance of control and talk himself out of his attraction to Bunny. Stupid, shitty rabbit. It didn't feel that good, anyway. Besides, it's Bunny—he's insufferable. I can't stand him. It only half-works, and by the time he finally turns off the water, his skin is pruney and his head aches.
He goes through his skincare routine, puts on a t-shirt and a fresh pair of shorts, and emerges from the bathroom. He hopes Bunny is still asleep but summons a practiced, unbothered expression just in case. And good thing he did.
Bunny is lying on his back, looking up at him with slitted eyes and messy hair. “Morning sunshine,” he says through a yawn. “You’re up early.”
There’s that feeling again—torn between wanting to get closer and sprint in the opposite direction. Each urge is so strong, Sae is afraid it might actually rip him in two.
Instead of responding, Sae silently discards his pajamas in his duffel and quickly laces up a pair of sneakers.
“What are you doing?” Bunny asks, voice thick with sleep.
“Going for a run,” Sae snips.
“But it’s raining.” Bunny squints and blinks around the room, confused. “And…didn’t you just shower—?”
“I’ll be back later,” Sae interjects, swiping his headphones from his bag and one of the hotel keycards from the desk.
He doesn’t look back, but he can feel Bunny’s eyes on him as he steps out the door and into the hall. Silently, he curses himself as he briskly walks to the elevator, knees still shaky.
**********
“You almost ready, Golden Boy?” Bunny calls out from where he lounges in one of their hotel room armchairs. “I think the banquet starts in like ten minutes—”
“Yes,” Sae calls back, his voice muffled by the closed bathroom door. “Just a second.”
Bunny taps the arm of the chair and puffs out a tired sigh. For once, he’s dressed and ready before Sae is. Fitted, black slacks hug his thick thighs, and a matching suit jacket is discarded on the bed. Absentmindedly, he adjusts the sleeves of his crisp, white button-down and toys with the skinny, black tie lying against his chest. He cranes his neck to catch a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror, brushing a few strands of hair out of his face as the bathroom door opens.
“Finally,” Bunny quips, grabbing his suit coat and getting to his feet. “You ready?”
Sae looks good. His matching maroon suit skims his frame like it’s tailor-made, from his strong thighs to his tapered waist. His bangs are well-styled, and his skin looks smooth and dewy.
“What’s the rush?” Sae asks, sliding a silver watch onto his wrist. “The event is here, it’s not like we even have to leave the hotel.” He secures the clasp and looks up, finding Bunny’s eyes. “What?”
Bunny blinks. Had he been staring? Oops. “You look good,” Bunny says with a smile.
Sae rolls his eyes. “Well, you still need some work,” he nods at Bunny’s loose tie. “My little brother could tie a tie better than that before he turned five.”
“It’s fine, c’mon—”
“No, impressions matter—”
“Having to dress up and perform like some dancing monkey for all these people makes me want to die,” Bunny huffs.
“Then choose a different career path,” Sae grumbles. He steps in front of Bunny and reaches for his tie.
Bunny pretends to pout, but gives up quickly. He stares down at Sae. This close, his teal eyes look even brighter contrasted with the dark suit, and when he blinks, his long lashes fan across his cheeks. Bunny can smell the sweetness of his cologne and feel the heat of his hands against his chest even through the fabric.
They hadn’t spent much time together today. Sae had returned from his run shivering and drenched, and after his second shower of the day, there was no way Bunny was going to be able to convince him to head back out into the rain, even if it meant getting those delicious cream puffs. Bunny could have gone on his own, but it wouldn’t be the same. Half the fun is forcing Sae along, anyway. Maybe they’ll have time to go tomorrow. He silently hopes they will.
“How’s the shoulder feeling?” Bunny asks. “Any better since last night?”
Sae flushes. “It’s fine.”
Bunny waits for him to continue, but he doesn’t.
“Did you sleep okay?”
Sae falters, hands pausing and shoulders tensing. He recovers quickly, though. “Would have slept better in my own bed.”
Bunny chuffs. “I don’t know, you seemed like you were out cold.”
“How would you know?”
“You snore a little,” Bunny teases, “and you were saying something in your sleep. I couldn’t tell what, though.”
Sae freezes, but doesn’t look at him.
“Having any good dreams?” Bunny pushes just because he can tell Sae wants him to drop it.
Sae snorts. “More like a nightmare.” He tightens the knot a bit, finally done. “There. Better.”
He adjusts the tie so it lies flat and straight down the center of Bunny’s chest, and meets his eyes. Sae’s pupils dilate before his gaze falls to the plush of Bunny’s lips. His focus lingers there for a moment, and his Adam’s apple bobs.
“You should really grow up and learn how to tie a tie properly,” Sae snips suddenly, taking a step back. “It’s embarrassing.”
Bunny grins, taking the bait. “Why would I do that when I have you to do it for me?” He cocks his head. “It’s kind of funny—you’re like my little assistant on the field and off.”
Sae scowls, and Bunny knows he’s won.
“You’re so annoying,” Sae growls.
Bunny drapes an arm around his shoulders and leads him out the door and into the hallway.
“I know. I can’t help it,” he lilts. “You’re just so cute when you’re angry.”
“Will you stop saying that—”
“No can do,” Bunny quips as he pushes the elevator button. “Besides, it’s true.”
Sae looks up at him. The glare he’s forcing isn’t very intimidating considering the pink that dusts the bridge of his nose.
“See, there it is.” Bunny’s voice comes out a bit softer than he’d meant it to.
Before he can say anything else, the elevator dings and the doors slide open with a whoosh.
“Hey, boys.” Dressed in a suit, Luna is leaning against the back of the elevator. He smiles, and his focus flicks from Bunny to Sae, landing on the arm around his shoulders.
Sae immediately slips out from under Bunny’s arm and side-steps away. Bunny swallows and wets his lips. Why does it feel like they’ve been caught doing something they shouldn’t?
“Well, get in,” Luna says with the jerk of his chin. “We’re all going to the same place, right?”
Bunny offers a tight-lipped smile and steps into the elevator, Sae following at his heels.
“What are you doing here?” Sae asks without looking at Luna.
“It’s good to see you, too, Sae,” Luna says as the elevator doors close. “I’m just here to show my support and see how the next generation is playing before my season officially starts.”
Sae hums in acknowledgment, but Bunny stays quiet.
“On that note, you two ready for the match?” Luna asks. “I know they’re just friendlies, but you start to take it easy in friendly games, and you’ll lose your edge. Then, before you know it, teams like Japan will be beating you.” He looks at Sae as he continues. “That’d just be embarrassing, huh?”
Sae stares straight ahead, his expression stoic. “Agreed.”
“But that shouldn’t be a problem for you guys, right?” Luna starts again, draping one arm around Sae’s shoulders and the other around Bunny’s. “Given how close you two are.”
It feels like an accusation.
“What?” Bunny asks, brow quirked.
“It’s just nice to see chemistry between your star striker and midfielder,” Luna says innocently. “That sort of thing will win you games.”
The elevator doors slide open, and they’re greeted with a crowded event hall. Players and coaches all dressed in suits mingle at the bar and find their respective seats at one of the many round tables dotting the floor.
“You two have fun.” Luna squeezes them one last time before pushing past them and into the crowd.
Bunny sneaks a sidelong glance at Sae. To anyone else, he might seem unfazed, bored even. His expression is calm, but Bunny can see the subtle clench of his jaw and knows otherwise.
“C’mon,” Bunny says, placing a hand on Sae’s lower back. “Wanna go find our seats?”
Sae stiffens and steps out of his touch, but when he looks at Bunny, there’s the tiniest flicker of softness in his eyes—like he’s grateful even if he can’t say it. Bunny offers a small, lop-sided smile before they start moving through the crowd. The room is dotted with round tables, all covered with white linens and adorned with arrangements of fresh flowers in the center. It doesn’t take long for them to find their seats.
“What took you guys so long?” Asks one of their teammates.
“Yeah, you’re the last ones to arrive,” says another.
“Doesn’t seem like we missed anything,” Sae says as he takes his seat.
Bunny’s eye catches something at each place setting. Sitting on the folded cloth napkin is a pair of funny-looking earbuds accompanied by a small note.
Help us test this prototype so we can help you connect with the world — Mikage Corporations.
“Translators,” Sae says, seeing Bunny’s confused expression.
“Huh,” Bunny pops in the earbuds and smiles, cheekily. “There goes my excuse for not talking to anyone.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t think anyone is dying to talk to you,” Sae mumbles.
“Speak for yourself, Mr. Anti-Social Butterfly,” Bunny teases. “Unlike you, I am approachable. People love talking to me.”
Sae quirks an eyebrow, skeptical.
“You don’t count,” Bunny says, scrunching his nose and sticking out his tongue.
Sae chuffs. “So childish.”
Casually, Bunny scans the sea of familiar faces—players, coaches, sponsors, and reporters they’ve seen at least a time or two before. Lorenzo stands a head higher than almost all of the other Ubers players near the bar, and little Charles Chevalier is talking excitedly to Loki at a nearby table. The FC Barcha table is situated across the event hall (to the relief of both the Re Al and the Barcha players), and Manshine City’s Chris Prince is taking off his suit jacket and rolling up his sleeves already.
“I bet his shirt will be off by the end of the night,” one of their teammates says, following Bunny’s gaze.
Bunny snorts as he takes a seat beside Sae. “Probably.”
“Get a load of these two,” says another one of their teammates, gesturing toward where Michael Kaiser is seated. He’s sporting a bright blue suit, and his favorite midfielder, Alexis Ness, is standing at his side like the knight to a king or a loyal guard dog. Affectionately, Ness fixes a stray strand of Kaiser’s hair, blushing when Kaiser says something indiscernible from this far away. “Think those two have made it official yet?”
A few of the boys snicker.
“Stop, they’re just friends—”
“Yeah, right, just look at them.”
“Hey,” Bunny starts, “Luna says chemistry is what makes for a winning duo, so,” he shrugs, “maybe they’re doing something right.”
Some of the team laughs, and some murmur in agreement.
Bunny sneaks a look at Sae. He’s quietly staring at the table, arms crossed and eyes vacant, like he couldn’t care less about the topic of conversation. But Bunny sees the way Sae subtly picks at the fabric of his suit sleeve, and the bob of his Adam’s apple, and he knows better.
Discreetly, Bunny reaches under the table and lightly pinches the meat of Sae’s hip. It’s playful and gentle, and this time Sae doesn’t flinch. Instead, he shoots Bunny a glare.
Fuck. The scrunch of his nose, the line of his lips, the narrowed teal eyes. He’s too cute. Bunny pinches Sae again, but this time it turns into more of a light rub against Sae’s outer thigh. He leans closer and drops his voice. “You’re so cu—”
“Don’t say it,” Sae cuts him off quietly, focus flicking to their teammates as if to make sure they aren’t paying attention.
Bunny gives his leg a weak slap under the table. “As long as you know I’m thinkin’ it.”
**********
Sae yawns. He’s ready for the banquet to be over. Dinner came and went, there are no more speeches scheduled, and now Sae is stuck listening to the team revisit their favorite topic these days: girls.
"Are you still seeing that blonde chick?"
"Will she come to the next home game?"
"Does she have a friend?"
"You guys fucked yet?"
Sae has to keep himself from sighing. It's boring. The only time he spends with the entire team off the field is reviewing game footage or attending events like this one. Without a game to watch, he has nothing to focus on and no excuse to stay quiet other than the obvious: he just doesn't fit in with the rest of them.
It's nothing to get upset about. It's just the truth. While most of his teammates seem happy with this level of success, Sae isn't. He has bigger dreams than they do—loftier goals than simply making the national team and dating a model. But it's moments like this when he's faced with how little life experience he really has. Dedicating his life to football is all that's ever mattered, but it has come at a cost. He’d be lying if he said it doesn’t sting a little.
"What about you, Bunny?" One of the boys chirps. "What happened to that chick you were talking to?"
"Yeah, wait, wasn't she here in Paris? Shit, are you going to see her after the game?"
Sae sneaks a sidelong glance at Bunny. It’s not the first time he’s heard mentions of Bunny’s dating life (if one could call it that), but it’s not something he brings up on his own. Not that Sae cares, anyway.
"I wouldn't say we were 'talking'," Bunny says from where he sits beside Sae. "But, guess we'll see what happens."
A few of the boys laugh, egging him on with things like 'You gotta hit her up,' and 'At least one of us has to get some this weekend'. Bunny's lips are spread in a smile, but years as his roommate have made it easy for Sae to see through it. Though he'd never admit it, Bunny is lonely. A little sad. It's comforting in a way—maybe Bunny doesn't fit in as well as he pretends to, and maybe Sae's not as alone here as it seems.
The boys continue to throw questions at Bunny, but he swiftly changes the subject.
"Ugh," he heaves a sudden sigh and dramatically slumps against Sae. "Will you carry me back to the room?"
Sae rolls his eyes. "No.” He tries to shrug out of Bunny's touch. "And get off me."
Bunny ignores him, leaning his head on Sae’s shoulder. His hair tickles Sae’s neck, and he can smell his skin through the floral hotel shampoo. He’s almost as close now as he was this morning. Sae desperately tries not to think about it.
"Pleaseee," Bunny pleads, pushing out his lower lip in a pout as he looks up at Sae.
A few of their teammates laugh, and Sae tries not to think about how it sounds like the same laughter directed at Kaiser and Ness at the start of the meal.
“Looks like Bunny is more interested in taking Sae home than any girl,” one of the boys jeers.
“I mean, it’s about time Sae got laid,” another says under his breath.
Sae pretends not to hear it, but Bunny sits up straight, and this time his smile has a nasty edge to it.
"What about you, Sae?" One of the boys asks. "Out of the hordes of girls that buy your merch and scream your name at every match, how have you not gotten with a single one, yet?"
"Why would I want a relationship? They're just distractions," Sae answers firmly.
"Sure," the boy says with a laugh, "but you don't have to date them. I mean…" He waggles his eyebrows suggestively. "Take a page out of Bunny's book."
"Hey—" Bunny starts.
"Not interested," Sae says.
The boy looks like he has more follow-up questions, but luckily for Sae, another one of their teammates cuts him off.
"Oh, leave him alone, you're just jealous you can't get any."
The table erupts with laughter as the boys tease and talk over each other. Amidst the commotion, Sae stands, leaves the earbuds by his plate, and takes the opportunity to go. He slips through the crowd until he finds the bathroom and ducks inside.
Black hexagon tile covers the floor, matching the black countertops and stall dividers. Ornate sconces frame the mirrors, bathing the small space with low, warm light. The two stalls are empty, and Sae puffs out a sigh of relief when he realizes he’s alone. For a bathroom, it’s surprisingly peaceful. That is, until he hears the door swing open and looks up to see Bunny behind him in the mirror.
“What?” Sae asks.
Bunny fixes his hair in the mirror as he speaks. “Just wanted to make sure you weren’t heading back to the room without me.”
Sae’s shoulders tense. “Why?”
“You’re the only one with a key,” Bunny says, “I left mine in the room, remember?”
“Get another from the front desk, then.”
“Eh,” Bunny shrugs and looks at Sae again, “I’d rather just stick with you.”
A soft, repetitive buzz coming from Bunny’s pocket cuts over the low music. Sae watches Bunny pull out his phone and thumb open a text message.
"Is that the girl?" Sae regrets asking the moment the question leaves his mouth.
"Huh?" Bunny's brow quirks, and he lets out a light, surprised chuckle.
“Nothing,” Sae grumbles. He straightens his suit jacket and turns to leave, but Bunny stops him before he can reach the door.
“C’mon,” Bunny starts, leaning his shoulder against the wall and standing between Sae and his exit.
Sae glowers up at him and rolls his eyes. "The girl you're talking to or whatever. From Paris."
Bunny puffs out a surprised laugh and pockets his phone. "Since when do you want to talk about girls?"
"Never mind," Sae rolls his eyes and tries to push past Bunny to the door, "forget I said anything."
"No, no, wait." Bunny grabs his shoulder, holding him in place. "Jeez,” he chuffs and gestures toward his phone. "It was just my manager." He smiles and rubs the back of his head. "Honestly, I haven't talked to that girl since the last time we were in France."
Sae folds his arms and fixes Bunny with one of his infamous deadpan stares. He looks bored, inconvenienced, as if he wasn't the one who asked about this in the first place.
"Why?" Bunny asks with a taunting grin.
Sae shrugs, trying to walk away again. "I was just asking."
Bunny steps into his path. "I thought you weren't interested in all that—"
"I'm not."
That's not entirely true. At almost seventeen, he's watched enough porn to know what he's missing. It's not that he doesn't want to get laid; he's just never sought out the opportunity. Even when he has their dorm room to himself and his hand sneaks past his waistband, he's not thinking about any of the girls in the stands or in the videos on his phone. No, his mind usually wanders somewhere else—
"Really?" Bunny asks, stepping closer.
Definitely not to the plush of Bunny's bottom lip, the slope of his neck, and the hint of muscle under his t-shirt. He doesn't picture what's underneath, either, but if he did, it would be easy—Sae has seen it countless times. Bunny's broad, scarred chest, the cut of his abs, and the trail of hair under his belly button. He's seen where it leads, too—
"'Cause you look pretty interested to me," Bunny says, smiling and all too smug.
Sae blinks the unwanted thought away before steeling his expression. "You must be even dumber than you look." His voice betrays him with a waver. “I couldn’t be less interested.”
Bunny narrows his eyes, studying Sae’s face. His focus flits from his eyes down to his lips and back up again.
Sae swallows. This isn't the first time he's caught Bunny looking at him like this. Like he's holding back from doing something he knows he shouldn't.
Slowly, Bunny’s lips spread in a smile, like he’s just made up his mind. He turns to the main bathroom door, calmly twists the lock, and faces Sae again.
“You sure?”
Bunny's voice is soft and low, and he stares at Sae with a mixture of fondness, frustration, and hunger.
It's the same way he looked at Sae that time in the showers after all their teammates had left, and it was just the two of them under the warm water. Or that night on the couch, in the soft glow of the television, leaning against each other even after the movie ended. And it's the same look Bunny wore last year, when he stood in the doorway saying goodbye before winter break, lingering like he didn't want to go.
Truthfully, Sae hadn't wanted him to go, either.
Sae’s pulse pounds in his ears, and he settles on the only safe thing to say.
“I really can’t stand you,” he breathes.
Bunny smiles again before surging forward and catching Sae's lips in a rough kiss.
Shock shoots up Sae's spine. Blood rushes in his ears like the roar of a full stadium, and his heart slams against his ribcage as if seeking escape. Sae's mind races. They shouldn't be doing this. Someone’s going to walk in. Fuck, he has no idea what he's even doing. But all of the racing thoughts fade to silence, lost to the adrenaline and the press of Bunny's lips, and before Sae's better judgment can kick in, his eyes flutter to a close, and he returns the pressure.
Bunny immediately takes the lead, and Sae lets him. He crowds Sae against the wall, one hand moving to cup his jaw and the other firmly gripping his waist. Every touch is firm and confident, like he's been waiting to do this for a while now.
An audible sigh catches in Sae's throat as Bunny licks at the seam of his lips, gently urging his mouth open to deepen the kiss. Their noses bump, their tongues meet, and Sae melts.
Tentatively, he brings his hands to Bunny's hips, bumping over his belt and where his button-down bunches, tucked into his pants. He tentatively tugs at the hem of his shirt, and it must be the right move because Bunny leans into the touch, clumsily helping Sae until his fingertips meet warm skin. The contact draws a sigh from Bunny’s lips, and he presses forward until the front of their thighs meet and their hips bump.
With a gentle nudge, Bunny slots their legs together and slowly grinds against him. He's hot and hard in his fitted slacks and, shit, Sae is too. He cants his hips, body moving on instinct alone, following Bunny's lead and blindly chasing the pleasure.
Then, Bunny pushes a hand between them to cup Sae through his pants. They both groan.
"Ahh, Bunny, we should stop—" Sae breathes, breaking the kiss to pant against Bunny's mouth. The words are desperate and wavering, and he doesn't recognize his own voice.
Bunny says something, but it gets lost in the haze between Sae's ears. Every touch sends sparks flying behind his eyes and his stomach flipping like an Olympic gymnast going for gold. Fuck, this feels good—he didn't think it would feel this good.
With the quickness of a seasoned professional, Bunny undoes Sae’s belt and fly. If that weren’t enough, his lips find Sae’s neck, and his touch ghosts over the sensitive skin beneath his navel, threatening to push lower.
Blood rushes in Sae’s ears, his breathing comes faster, and rabbitlike panic ratchets through his bones. He's stuck again, caught somewhere between apprehension and anticipation, between pushing Bunny's touch away and pulling his hand past his waistband. As if he can sense it, Bunny hovers there, fingertips brushing Sae's stomach and teeth grazing his neck.
This feels so good. They should stop. Fuck. Without thinking, Sae grabs Bunny's wrist, but before he can spur Bunny either way, there's a knock at the door.
They both freeze.
"Hello? Anybody in there?" The familiar muffled voice is punctuated by another knock.
It's a sobering sound. Sae's blood runs cold, and his eyes blow wide. Bunny curses under his breath. They rip away from each other, and the air fills with the rustle of clothing and the metallic clank of their belts being refastened. Shakily, Sae retucks his shirt and walks to the sink without meeting Bunny’s eyes.
He sucks in a deep breath, trying to summon that casual, careless expression he’s usually so good at. He flicks on the faucet, catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and nearly cringes. So much for looking casual. He's sure he's never looked less put-together in his life. A deep, ruddy red has settled over his cheeks, his eyes are glassy, and his bangs are mussed. There's a dull welt forming on his neck, and his lips look swollen and bitten pink.
"Fuck," Sae curses under his breath, pushing a hand through his hair and straightening his tie. He swallows thickly—the taste of Bunny still lingers on his tongue, and shame spreads through his veins.
Behind him, he hears the door swing open.
“Hey, sorry about that—” Bunny cuts off suddenly.
“Bunny?”
Fuck. It’s Luna.
Any pleasure Sae had been feeling evaporates like smoke as reality sets in. It’s his dream all over again. There's an uncomfortable twist in his gut. Regret, excitement, embarrassment, and undeniable hunger swirl together in a confusing concoction. It's dizzying, like being knocked off-balance by a defender mid-stride.
“Everything alright in here?” Luna continues, stepping into the bathroom far enough to meet Sae’s eyes in the mirror.
“Of course.” The cheeriness in Bunny’s voice is forced. “The door must have been stuck or something.”
“Really?” Luna says, skeptical.
Sae dries his hands and looks away, but can feel Luna’s eyes on him as he heads for the door.
“Excuse me,” Sae says, trying to step around Luna.
Instead of moving, Luna simply stares down at him. His eyes flick from Sae’s wrinkled shirt to Bunny’s loosened tie. The corner of his lip starts to tug with a smile.
“When I said have fun, this isn’t exactly what I meant,” Luna says through a mean grin.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sae deadpans. “Move.”
Finally, Luna steps aside and holds the door open for them. “Have a good night,” he says. “See you two tomorrow at the match.”
Sae wants to die. He keeps his head down as he quickly makes his way through the crowd. Luckily, nobody seems to be paying attention, but still, he can’t help but feel like everyone knows.
Fuck, Luna definitely knows. There's no way he couldn’t know, right? Sae nearly groans. He’s never cared much what people think of him, but that’s because he’s usually steadfast and sure about all of his life choices. So what if a random reporter thinks he’s rude? He knows he is. But this, right now, feels different. If he can’t face himself in the mirror after what happened, how is he supposed to face anyone else who finds out?
“Hey,” Bunny says, trying to catch up to him. “Sae.”
Sae ignores him, instead summoning the elevator. The lift dings and the elevator doors whoosh open, but a hand on Sae’s shoulder stops him from entering.
“Sae,” Bunny says, forcing him to face him, “just hang on a second.”
Sae folds his arms and meets Bunny’s eyes. This would all be so much easier if they could both pretend this hadn’t happened.
“You okay?” Bunny pants.
The question pricks Sae’s pride and stokes his insecurities. It’s not hard to read between the lines. You okay? I can tell you’ve never done this before so—
“Of course,” Sae snaps, defensive. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
When it comes to experience, Bunny is way out of his league, and it shows. It makes Sae feel lost, like he's in uncharted territory, bobbing in open water and drowning. It's not a feeling he's used to, and he desperately wants the comfort of control back.
Bunny searches his expression, skeptical. “Really?”
Sae sucks on his teeth, determined to remain emotionless.
“Do you want me to come up with you?” Bunny asks as the elevator doors close at Sae’s back.
The question hangs heavy in the air between them. Sae’s stuck, stretched thin between shame and surrender, between yes and no. He’s usually so sure of himself, but now, what he wants feels like the one thing he isn’t supposed to.
“You gotta tell me what you want,” Bunny says, forcing a smile and shaking his head.
Sae swallows, but before he can think up a response, they’re interrupted.
“Bunny! Sae!” Lorenzo waves one of his long, gangly arms and smiles widely, gold teeth glinting.
Quickly, Sae presses the elevator button again. The doors open with a soft whir, and this time, Sae steps in before Bunny can stop him.
“Hey,” Bunny palms the elevator door to keep it open. “C’mon, man, we gotta talk about this.”
Sae fixes Bunny with a deadpan stare. “Talk about what, Bunny?”
Bunny blinks at him, shocked.
“Let go,” Sae says, pressing the button. “You’re holding up the lift.”
Bunny lingers. He's got that look on his face again, like he's stuck in indecision, just like Sae. But it quickly fades, and his eyes crease in a forced smile. Then, he steps away and lets the elevator doors shut.
**********
It’s late, and dark, and Sae is already in bed when Bunny finally comes back to the room. He keeps his eyes shut, listening to Bunny lock the door and toe off his shoes. There’s the rustle of fabric as he sheds his suit coat and grabs a pair of pajamas from his duffel before quietly heading to the bathroom and closing the door with a click.
Sae pulls the blanket up to his chin and huffs. He tries to get comfortable, nuzzling his pillow and forcing his mind to clear. No thoughts. Not the game tomorrow or his personal statistics. Not the mark on his neck or the taste of Bunny on his tongue. Not Bunny at all. Not his hands, or his stupid smile, or the way he cocks his head when he thinks he's right. Sae groans. It's not working. He rolls over.
It gets even harder to focus when the shower flicks on, followed by the subtle sound of clothing falling to the tiled floor. Is Bunny thinking about the same things? Is he sliding a hand between his legs and pretending it's Sae with every stroke? The thought makes Sae's stomach jolt with lust or shame; he can't tell. Maybe both. He rolls over again.
The dull clatter of a bottle bouncing on the shower floor interrupts Sae's thoughts. He can hear Bunny cursing quietly. The clumsy idiot probably dropped it on his toe. The image brings momentary spiteful joy, but it fades quickly. What if Bunny isn't thinking about Sae? Maybe he's not touching himself at all. Maybe he's already forgotten about their moment in the bathroom and is thinking about what he's going to text that girl once he gets in bed. But that’s what Sae wanted, right? For them both to forget any of this ever happened?
Sae twists under the covers, turning over again. There’s no winning.
Eventually, Bunny crawls into bed without a word. Sae feels the mattress dip and the duvet tug as he gets comfortable. They lie awake, back to back and silent save for their breathing. Sae hates that he wishes Bunny would roll over and press his nose to his spine and circle an arm around his waist, or reach under the neck of his t-shirt to rub his shoulder again like last night.
But the touches never come. Sae reminds himself that he should be happy about that, but it doesn’t stick. So, he lies awake, trying to summon sleep and banish any thoughts of Bunny. Beside him, Bunny starts to snore softly like he’s bragging about being the first one to fall asleep. It just makes Sae more annoyed.
But after a few minutes, Bunny rolls over. The light snoring pauses for just a moment as he adjusts on the pillow, only to start up again almost immediately.
Just keep your hands to yourself, tonight. Sae silently curses his own stupid rule. If he were honest with himself, he would have said something different.
Against his better judgment, he scoots closer until he can feel Bunny’s body heat under the sheet. It doesn’t take long for Bunny to unconsciously sling an arm over Sae’s hip and press his temple against his nape as if Sae’s just another one of the many hotel pillows.
His slow, deep breaths soak into Sae’s skin, making his stomach flip. This is fine—for now. If they wake up still tangled together come morning, he’ll just blame Bunny anyway. And maybe this is enough to get Bunny out of his system. Maybe, if he really puts his mind to it, Sae won’t feel this way about him come sunrise. Deep down, he knows there’s not a chance.
Stupid rabbit.