Work Text:
The afternoon light hit the living room windows late this time of year, spilling through the already bare maple tree outside. Nanami looked up from his book to watch how the shadows from the branches striped over Gojo’s legs. He was lying with his head in Nanami’s lap while he read, drifting in and out of sleep as Nanami stroked his hair. He looked so peaceful like this. He looked like a painting.
Two beautiful blue eyes gazed up at him, awake for the moment and uncovered. “I told you that book would be boring. You’re staring at me instead of reading it.”
There was a time when that sort of teasing would have at least gotten Gojo scoffed at, or maybe ejected from the lap he was so generously being hosted in. But Nanami had softened on him over the years and he felt nothing but fondness for the fool in his lap now. The protests had mostly faded by now, save for times Gojo was deliberately bating him in public.
He hadn’t even protested moving in to Gojo’s massive estate, he knew how lonely it must have been after Megumi moved out. At first Nanami lamented the loss of his free time. But it was only a couple of months before he found himself relaxing only when Gojo was back home with him.
Those shocking blue eyes were still smiling up at him. “I thought you enjoyed distracting me.” Gojo’s smile only widened.
“Only when you need to get out of your own head. Or when I think of a really good joke.”
Nanami’s hand moved from petting his hair to flick his nose. But he wasn’t hiding the mirth on his face as he did. How could he end up so fond of this brat of a man? A little bit at a time, day by day. Until you fell so for him hard you couldn’t get up again, even if you wanted to.
“You’re going to miss me when I leave tomorrow.” Gojo told him, sitting up and stretching his arms above his head.
“Of course I will, I always do. Just like you miss me when I’m working and you’re not.” And the look he got in return was one of genuine shock.
“Nanamin! You’re not supposed to just admit it like that! You’re supposed to act like I’m being silly and then I get to poke and prod and remind you of all the times Shoko said you were working yourself to the bone while I was gone and-” He was cut off with a kiss.
“Never mind. I think I like this Nanamin better.” Gojo added as soon as they were apart again. “But I might need a little more convincing.”
With a hand on either side of his face Nanami lifted Gojo up to him, kissing him with all the passion he could manage. Gojo was still catching his breath when Nanami spoke softly.
“I love you.”
The shock was almost enough to take Gojo’s breath away again. This wasn’t something he had heard from Nanami before and he immediately sat up to look him right in the eyes.
“Say that again? I’m not sure I heard.”
“I love you, Gojo.”
The light hit behind Nanami bathing him in a warm golden glow.
“Now say ‘I want to bottom tonight.’” Gojo asked, knowing he was close to ruining the moment but unable to stop himself all the same.
“Don’t push your luck.”
But before Nanami could actually get mad at him he added. “I love you too, Kento. I tell you all the time, don’t I?”
“Yes, and I’m sorry it took me so long. I… wanted to be sure.”
“Sure you loved me?”
Nanami finally broke eye contact. “Sure you wouldn’t disappear because I said it.”
Old wounds; the kind that write their way into your heart. Gojo held him until the golden sunlight turned crimson and began to fade all together.