Catch

Warnings: Spoilers for all of the manga.
Notes: Yes, obligatory shower sex. I made some minor corrections to chapter one. Nothing to write home about, though (the beta in me was annoyed with some mistakes I missed). I haven't received any reviews from you AFF folk yet. I hope that's because you are too shy as of yet, but please feel free to let me know what you think. I'm a big girl, I can take criticism. (4/23/07 Updates: The most significant change to this chapter can be found in Goh's reflections towards the end, though it affects this unedited version very little. I also made some grammatical and form corrections that've been bothering me).
Disclaimer: I cannot be held responsible for Goh. He’s all over the place. Yellow is owned by Makoto Tateno; I’m just borrowing it so I can make myself feel better about the plotholes...


Shower

Taki leaned under the shower head and let the hot water beat down on his hair and neck. He sighed into the warm stream, rubbing lightly at the marks Goh had left on his chest and hips. Some of them were from last night and some were from earlier on the couch. He was sure there was more than one mark on his back, but he couldn’t reach to touch any of them to tell if they were sore.

They’d almost had another go of it, but Taki was determined to put his foot down on the subject so they could actually move forward in their day. Goh of course attempted to persuade Taki by trying to keep him held down, but he was still somewhat groggy with release and the early hour and forgot that Taki was not one of his former lovers who could be coerced into acquiescence with force. Taki had very easily reminded the other man of this by flipping him over and onto the floor between the couch and table.

He’d then sent the grumbling Goh to shower first while he cleaned up after breakfast and put their clothes with the rest of the laundry. When Goh was done Taki had sent him off to run errands in an effort to remove temptation from the other man while he took his own shower. He wasn’t sure he could go for another round anyway. All counted they’d had sex five times already in the last twenty-four hours. Once on the plane yesterday, three times when they got home last night and again on the couch this morning.

It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the sex, or that he didn’t have the stamina to endure hours of lovemaking; countless women could tell you about Taki’s legendary stamina. It was just that he still wasn’t used to doing it this way. He was determined to give and take in their lovemaking equally with the other man, but fell short in actual experience with homosexual love, not to mention the lingering difficulties associated with it because of the past. Right now, though, Taki did not want to drag up those memories. The morning was going fairly well and he didn’t want to ruin it by bringing any unwanted emotions into it. Goh was probably still moping about being tossed off the couch and he didn’t want to add concern for himself onto that.

And he knew Goh would notice a change in his mood, however subtle. The other man was still the more attentive of the two of them when it came to each others’ needs and feelings, even if he still pursued his own desires relentlessly. Goh tried to be gentle with him in bed, for example, but after so many times in a day anyone would get sore. He knew Goh knew his limits, but he wasn’t sure other parts of Goh would allow the knowledge of those limits to dictate his boundaries. He wasn’t sure if parts of himself would allow that knowledge to dictate his own boundaries, either. He wanted to give to Goh as much as he could, even if giving was relegated to allowing himself to be taken as much as Goh wanted.

Taki sighed again. This “love” thing was pretty complicated. That was something else he now remembered. He’d noted that Goh hadn’t said “I love you,” once during their session this morning, though he’d pushed it to the back of his mind at the time to focus on the pleasure of the moment. Goh seemed really focused on the act and he hadn’t wanted to ruin the mood for either of them by becoming concerned about it. He guessed that he had just become so used to hearing it during sex that not hearing it had made him realize, even to a small degree, that he was taking Goh’s confessions for granted, when he hardly returned them at all. In fact, he could count the number of times he had sort of said the words to his lover on one hand. He hadn’t actually ever come out and said “I love you,” specifically yet, now that he thought about it. He was sure Goh had taken note of this fact as well and was suddenly struck with worry that it might be causing the other man any pain. Great, one more thing to feel guilty about this morning. First it was getting up first, then it was tossing his lover off the couch, and now it was the fact that he still couldn’t just come out and say these simple words.

Taki sighed a third time as he began to rinse the shampoo out of his hair. He hadn’t locked the door. Someone who didn’t know Goh might think this was a dumb move, but Taki knew that if Goh was determined to get in it wouldn’t stop him. In fact, if Goh wasn’t determined to get in, but found the door locked, he would become determined rather quickly. That’s just the way he was and Taki was well aware of it, so he left the door unlocked and instead tried to shower as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately he hadn’t taken into account how tired he was and he lingered under the pleasant water. It wasn’t until he felt a second set of hands on his body that he realized he wasn’t alone in the bathroom anymore. His breath hitched.

“You sure sigh a lot, lover,” Goh remarked from behind him, rubbing his hands into Taki’s shoulders.

“Goh?! Wha-” Taki tried to pull his thoughts together and focus on just how he could have missed the other man coming in.

“Let me wash your back,” Goh cut him off as he gently rubbed a spot over Taki’s shoulder blade that he acknowledged now was sore with a quick intake of breath.

When Goh softly kissed the spot Taki shuddered. “You’re supposed to be doing the laundry,” he said as he tried to focus elsewhere than the pain and surprising pleasure at Goh’s now gentle ministrations of soap to his back.

“It’s in the machine,” Goh replied, uninterrupted from his self-appointed task.

“How long have you been in here?” Taki tried to control his voice and breathing, not chancing a glance over his shoulder.

“A few minutes.” Goh continued to lather Taki’s back, rubbing harder in places to work a light massage into the act as well.

Taki noted the quietness in his lover’s voice and the subdued nature of his actions. He was either playing the kicked puppy routine, or something was up. He had stood in the room for several minutes before deciding to join Taki in the shower. A playful Goh would probably have not wasted any time instituting a plan, so he was leaning towards the worry that something was wrong.

“Are you sore,” he asked, searching for the cause with the most recent conflict between them.

“Isn’t that my line,” Goh joked, but it came off more concerned than amused. His arms dropped from Taki’s back and wrapped around his chest, resting one hand low on his abdomen.

“Stop,” Taki complained as he leaned back into Goh’s touch.

“You left the door unlocked,” Goh’s soft reply seemed more like an argument for some debate raging in his own mind rather than a justification for Taki.

“I can’t. Not again,” Taki reiterated, a pained expression over his face as he leaned his head back on Goh’s shoulder.

“I know. Don’t worry,” was all that Goh said in response. He tightened his hold.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Taki offered after a moment. He wasn’t sure though if he was apologizing for getting up first or the couch thing, but figured it was fine either way.

“S’ok... I’m... Me too...” Goh stuttered. He leaned his forehead onto Taki’s shoulder and closed his eyes. “Can I... hold you?” He whispered. “I’ll just...”

So Goh was feeling guilty as well, it seemed. Taki relaxed into his lover’s touch with his fourth sigh of the shower. Goh readjusted his hold slightly in response and they leaned their heads into the water silently, touching cheeks in wordless understanding.

They were both aroused. This surprised Taki, since Goh had barely touched him erotically at all. He’d only lightly massaged his back and acted comparatively meekly. Something about the tentativeness of Goh’s touch, though, had affected Taki. Not only did he feel real affection for the other man right now, but a burning desire to hold him and share something physical to show him these emotions he usually suppressed with his cold exterior.

He could feel the head of Goh’s length brushing against one of his ass cheeks. He wanted to do something about it, but he didn’t think he could and be able to walk straight for the rest of the day, so he settled for bringing one of his hands up to touch the side of Goh’s face.

Goh took in a breath and pulled his lower body away slightly. Taki smiled at the unusually shy behavior. It was as if the other man was afraid of upsetting Taki again by admitting he was turned on right now. If anything, Taki thought, it would offend him if Goh wasn’t. As an encouragement Taki leaned back to meet Goh’s retreat, but made sure he shifted slightly so when they touched it was further away from the center of his behind to express his interest, but not his willingness for full out penetration.

Goh was the one who sighed now and Taki responded to it by turning his head and kissing the other man as close to his lips as he could reach from this position. Goh, now somewhat understanding Taki’s message, moved one of his hands to Taki’s hip as they looked each other in the eye.

“Just not...” Taki started, but Goh nodded understanding, so he didn’t bother to continue.

Goh then pulled his other arm back and slowly began to stroke his own hard member, resting his forehead back down on Taki’s shoulder. Well, Taki mused, apologies didn’t stop Goh’s libido any. He was nobly attempting to give Taki space, however selfishly he was going about it. Taki couldn’t say he minded, though. Since Goh’s light massage and soft ministrations earlier in the shower, he had become considerably aroused himself.

The side of Goh’s penis was brushing against Taki’s hip and it was more than he could take. He turned to face his lover, offering, “No. Let me,” and taking Goh’s hips in his own hands.

Goh seemed a bit startled by this. He could see Taki’s erection now, though, so it wasn’t that Taki was angry with him for wanting to pleasure himself. He stepped back as Taki pursued until his own back met the opposite wall of the shower. Not sure how to respond to Taki’s sudden aggressiveness he simply stood with his arms at his sides, waiting for the other man’s next move.

Taki wasted no time and pushed himself against his lover. At the same time he leaned forward and took Goh’s lips with his own. Goh melted into the kiss and brought his arms up and around Taki’s shoulders, threading his fingers through the other man’s hair. Their erections touched and when Taki added just a little more pressure both men shuddered.

He then took one of his hands off of Goh’s hip and moved it between their bodies, taking both lengths into it and squeezing, albeit timidly. This was the first time he had ever attempted something like this. He’d touched Goh’s penis already during sex, but never aggressively and never for this particular purpose. Whenever he had in the past it was usually only briefly to let the other man know he was interested, or to reciprocate some form of touch, or to guide Goh where he wanted him. It never lasted long because Goh usually became even more aroused as a result and took aggressive control. Right now though, Goh was moaning into Taki’s mouth and pulling him even closer.

Taki wasn’t sure quite what to do. He knew how this worked, he was a man after all, but he wasn’t completely confident in this new ground he was treading on. He decided on a slow, almost languid pace, rubbing his palm up and down the surface on the side of both of their members. Goh’s hips bucked a little on every downward stroke and Taki felt them both grow harder against his hand. He decided to try something a little bolder and took his thumb up to the top of Goh’s length, rubbing it over the weeping tip teasingly.

Goh’s reaction to this was immediate. His arms flew down to Taki’s hips and grabbed them, tightly. He then used the leverage that gave him and ground back against Taki. Both men groaned.

Taki was nearly breathless. Pleasing his lover in such a basic and primal way was incredibly arousing. The fact that he even found the strength to do so, considering his usual deference to the other man, as well as his own natural aversions, not to mention his physical fatigue this morning, made the whole situation almost unbearable in the sweetest possible way.

Now that Goh was holding Taki in place and the wall was holding Goh in place, Taki could devote both of his hands to his task. He enveloped both of their erections and pumped them with longer, rougher strokes this time, meeting Goh’s continued thrusts up into him.

Goh’s head knocked back into the wall and he closed his eyes, jaw slightly agape. Taki found the site enthralling and took the opportunity to watch his lover’s ecstasy. Goh was panting and if the water wasn’t obstructing the sound, he could have heard the man whimpering as well. Taki was on the verge of crying out himself, and as his movements intensified Goh’s thrusts also did. Taki was almost being lifted on each stroke now. It was overwhelming and he didn’t know if he could coordinate his hand movements anymore.

The moment his hands began to lose their cohesion Goh took over completely and turned them both, thrusting Taki into the adjacent shower wall. He added one of his own hands over Taki’s and continued their movements.

They’d run out of hot water, but neither noticed. They were both frantically trying to find release. Goh found it first, but Taki was right behind him and they came on each other with shuddering breaths. Taki leaned heavily against the wall and Goh nearly collapsed against him in return. Both men were panting heavily and, as if their touching chests weren't enough contact, Goh focused on petting at Taki's hips and sides and Taki wrapped his arms loosely around Goh's shoulders, their foreheads touching and eyes shut.

Goh was the first to become aware of the lack of hot water. He didn’t want to expose either of them to it, so he edged them as far from the now chilly stream as possible. Unfortunately, though, because they needed to rinse themselves off before getting out, he grabbed the soap again and very quickly soaped down both of their fronts, then turned to rinse himself off before helping Taki do the same. Then he turned the water off and moved to get some towels for both of them.

Goh hadn’t said a word through all of this. Not since their round of lovemaking had begun. Taki was still leaning against the shower wall, sated and weak with release. He looked after Goh’s retreating form with a mixture of longing and love. When Goh turned back with the towels they smiled at each other. He helped the other man out of the shower and into one of the towels.

They stood in the bathroom and dried themselves off, more relaxed than either had felt since waking up this morning. Taki wanted to pester Goh about the laundry and the shopping he sent the man out to do, but didn’t want to break the calm silence that had fallen between them. It was nice, as their shared silences often were, and he wasn’t willing to be the one who gave it up this time.

Fortunately for him he didn’t have to be as Goh, who was now half dressed, turned and said, “Here,” offering Taki an extra clean shirt he obviously had brought with him when he came to the bathroom earlier.

Taki had to wonder if Goh’s plan in bringing the shirt was his initial justification for coming in, or if it was simply a peace offering and his decision to join the man in the shower secondary. He ultimately figured it didn’t matter either way. Goh was Goh, after all, and Taki would take him regardless of his motivations. He took the shirt with a nod of thanks and put it on. It was a simple white tee-shirt that fit him snugly. He wondered how much tighter it hung on Goh, who was slightly broader shouldered, but cut the line of thought off as it distracted from what he should be thinking about.

Around now, though, Taki realized he hadn’t had a cigarette since getting up this morning. He had been so consumed with making breakfast that he neglected to get his fix, and unless Goh'd had one some time between his own shower and joining Taki in his, which wasn’t likely given the amount of time he would have had to do so, hadn’t smoked either yet. He decided that would be the next order of business, though of course Goh was ahead of him yet again and already had his pack in hand and was pulling two sticks out for them both.

“You brought that in the bathroom, hm,” Taki inquired accusingly.

Goh smiled somewhat guiltily, knowing what Taki meant by it. Bringing cigarettes into a relatively poorly ventilated bathroom wasn’t the best of ideas, unless of course, one planned on doing things that would require smoking them immediately afterwards. “Uh, yeah,” and another pleased smile was his only defense. He lit both cigarettes and they smoked in silence as they made their way out of the bathroom and down the hall to their rooms.

“I guess I’ll do the shopping then. Don’t forget about the laundry, though,” Taki reminded as they separated to their own rooms to finish dressing.

“Yeah, yeah,” Goh waved off dismissively.

“I’m surprised you had time to get it in the machine and back up here so quickly. I figured Kanji would have stopped you again,” Taki remarked as he opened the door to his room.

“I can be quick and quiet when I want to be,” Goh defended, opening his own.

“I noticed,” Taki said with a smile and disappeared through the doorway.

Goh gaped for a moment, but withheld the urge to run into the other man’s room and confront him on the tease. Smiling, he sighed, then settled for entering his room finally and making himself presentable for the day. He couldn’t help but think about what just happened in the shower, though.

He had gone in there with a clean shirt for Taki, to replace the one that'd gotten messed earlier on the couch, with every intention of startling his lover by making a crack about their underwear tumbling in the machine together. Then, having flustered the man, walking away laughing. Okay, so maybe he didn’t plan to leave right after that. He hadn’t really planned farther ahead than an excuse to walk in on Taki in the shower. He’d moved stealthily, he thought, and was about to open his mouth, but at that moment Taki had sighed. It was a tired sigh, but he felt something else in it as well. Something sad. It made him sad to hear it and then he began to think about the morning.

He’d been very pushy and Taki’d put up with it like he always did. He even allowed the couch sex. He’d just felt he needed something from Taki at that moment. Sitting quietly on the couch together seemed awkward. As if something was different about what had used to be a normal routine for them. Sure, they ate breakfast silently all the time before they were lovers, and even then afterwards on their trip, but he couldn’t help but feel like something was off this morning. Maybe he was overreacting, but he’d felt a sudden distance between them.

He hadn’t awoken to the best of situations, after all. It was the same dream again, but he suppressed any train of thought leading to details of it at the moment. He’d had this dream a number of times now, though, and when Taki wasn’t there to vent it off with some lovemaking this time he’d been very frustrated and determined to be sated by his lover whatever it took, wherever he had gone off to. If he had been downstairs at Roost he was focused enough to just do the man on the floor of the cafe. He’d been amazed he’d had enough restraint not to attack Taki straight away. Just seeing him in the living room, laying out breakfast for them, seemed to have eased some of his discomfort.

However, after their initial morning banter the usual silence had been very unsettling. He quickly used coffee as an excuse to get out of there. When he’d come back the renewed silence was unbearable and he became desperate. Luckily for him Taki had given in easily.

He hadn’t said anything much during the sex. It didn’t seem appropriate to speak. This was urgent sex and, while he restrained any real desperate actions, he let his body express his need to his lover. He admitted now that he was indeed very clingy, but he’d found over the years that this was the best way to take his mind off of his anxieties. He’d been careful to make the penetration itself gentle, but he’d bore down on Taki’s hips and back a little bruisingly. He was sure there was at least one bite mark on the man’s shoulder and Taki probably couldn’t reach it himself to take care of it.

All of this had raced through his mind in the bathroom and hearing his lover sigh had made him concerned. Taki was unhappy about something and it probably had to do with him. He worried that Taki was really angry about the couch thing. Not only when he flipped him to the floor, but maybe their round of lovemaking before. He’d gotten up first, obviously to avoid morning sex, and probably because three rounds last night were a lot for him and he didn’t know how to say no about another one. They were both pretty prideful men, and Taki would have either had to flatly refuse sex, ruining both of their moods this morning with a fight, or allow the sex and be unhappy about it. So, now Goh was struck with guilt over making Taki do something he may not have been completely willing to do. If that was the case, he thought, he had to make amends.

The planned comment abandoned, Goh was halfway undressed when he even realized what he was doing. He didn’t stop himself though and before he knew it he was opening the far side of the shower curtain and moving up behind his lover.

He saw the slightly bruised mark from his bite straight away and had gone for it early on. It seemed to be bothering Taki and he made sure to apologize for it with a massage. Taki looked uncomfortable with him being there and despite his genuine conciliatory behavior, he found himself nevertheless aroused. It was difficult to restrain himself from turning the touch into something more playful, but he managed.

When Taki referenced the incident on the couch he sounded sad again, and Goh was struck with a strange sort of fear. His selfishness was being thrown at him and he wasn’t sure if he could take being scolded by his lover right now. He’d desperately grabbed at Taki, which he immediately realized was going to be taken the wrong way. Taki didn’t respond violently, though he was clear about not wanting sex again. Goh understood that, but his mind was reeling. He remembered the door having been unlocked when he came in and was feeling mixed signals in that and Taki’s current behavior.

Then Taki apologized and he was taken aback. He didn’t really understand why Taki thought he owed one, though he considered maybe this was his lover’s way of making things right between them and ending this wordless argument. He’d been overwhelmed at the offer and his need for physical contact overcame him. He knew he couldn’t have sex, but he needed Taki to accept him.

And Taki did. He allowed it like he allowed so many other things that Goh now became aware he was taking for granted. Every burning and often unfounded jealousy was apologized for in one way or another, even though it wasn't Taki's fault women were shameless in their attractions to him. He brushed off every coercive advance Goh made at all hours of the day and all places public and private. Even when he would punch or toss Goh it was more playful than punishing; like a sweet banter game that they both enjoyed playing. It confirmed their bond, even if it did leave him sore from time to time, but hey, Goh had a habit of leaving Taki sore from time to time, too, right? Probably more so, so it was really Taki who was giving in their relationship. And now he was giving even more. Instead of being angry about being disrupted in the shower he was understanding, compassionate and more than a little conciliatory for things he deserved an apology for as much or more than he owed one for.

Sometimes Goh wondered how he deserved Taki at all. How'd he manage to catch such a perfect guy? He was gorgeous, calm, understanding even if he wasn't receptive to emotional subtlety like Goh was, and utterly giving. And what was he for Taki in return? Impulsive, possessive, demanding and utterly selfish. This train of thought wasn't helping him any, though. It only made him feel even more insecure, and his whole purpose for pursuing Taki's attentions this morning had been to relieve just this feeling.

Goh took a deep breath to dispel the discomfort, finished with his grooming and dressing and made his way out of his room. Taki emerged from his own room at that time as well and they exchanged a relaxed look. Goh had to wonder if Taki just happened to finish dressing at the same time, or if he planned it this way, but ultimately decided it didn’t matter. He did look weary though, and Goh couldn’t help but be a little worried.

“Tired?”

“Yeah, a little,” Taki admitted with a yawn.

“You should have stayed in bed with your lover this morning,” Goh teased.

“Hm. Or maybe I shouldn’t have let my lover have his way on the couch this morning,” Taki countered.

The teasing comment stung a little, but Goh had schooled his features and just laughed it off.

“I guess we should go downstairs,” Taki continued. “We both need coffee and Tsunuga’s probably in now and we need to say hello to everyone.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Goh conceded. He wasn’t, or at least didn’t feel he was, in any position to argue with the other man about staying upstairs for the rest of the day. He’d resigned himself to having to let Taki drag him downstairs.

Taki must have noted the resignation in his lover’s voice because he put his arm across the other man’s back as they walked down the hall. He wouldn’t hold the touch all the way down the stairs, but he was doing his best to show his understanding. Goh got the message, as he was indeed the more receptive of the two of them, and he took the opportunity to reciprocate the touch by wrapping an arm around Taki’s waist. As he looked sidelong at the other man, he briefly grappled with the potential of using this leverage to thrust Taki against a wall and test his limits again, but one impatient breath from Taki was enough to break that train of thought completely.

“What?” He argued defensively, but there was more than a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Don’t play innocent,” was Taki’s exasperated reply. “Seriously, you’re an animal.”

“It’s your fault,” Goh teased further.

“How is it my fault?”

“For making me want you all the time, of course.”

“I can’t believe you,” Taki laughed.

“Really. Every time you touch me I just want to do you again.”

“Ah, well in that case,” Taki said as he began to remove his arm.

“Aw, don’t be like that, Taki,” Goh whined, grabbing at the other man tighter.

Taki chuckled now, and he stopped and turned into the other man. Goh, startled because he thought he was about to get smacked, released his hold, but Taki only leaned forward and took Goh’s cheek gently in his hand. He followed up the touch by leaning in farther and giving the other man a light kiss, into which Goh melted unhesitatingly.

When Taki finally broke away he asserted, “All right. Let’s go,” and turned back to continue down the hall.

Goh just stood there for a moment, watching Taki’s retreat. When the other man called after him with a, “Come on,” he hurried to catch up and they finally made it downstairs.

Roost was quiet. It was before the lunch rush, but after breakfast so there were no customers. They also noted immediately that Kanji was not there as no one was making a racket. Tsunuga was behind the counter, drying glasses when the two men walked in the door.

He greeted them with a friendly smile and said, “There you are. Kanji said you were back. I was wondering when we’d see you today.”

“Hey, Tsunuga,” Taki greeted in return. They walked up to the counter and sat down.

“What’ll you have?”

“Just coffee. We already ate,” Goh replied.

“Coming up,” Tsunuga said as he turned to the task. “So, how was your trip?”

“Good,” Taki answered succinctly.

“That’s good. Mimi’ll be upset that she missed you. She’s taking a long weekend with her friends,” Tsunuga continued with his small talk. This was a casual game. Business had to be worked up to. Right now he was telling them it was fine to speak freely.

“Ah. Where’d Kanji go?” Taki picked up on the hint and inquired. The boy knew about their work, but he had a tendency to be very loud, so his absence was preferred when talking business.

“I sent him on an errand. He should be back soon,” Tsunuga answered as he placed the cups down on the counter for the two men. Goh quickly drank his down while Taki took his time and sipped his own slowly.

“So, you boys ready to get back to work, then?” Tsunuga tested.

“Mn,” Taki affirmed. It seemed Taki was going to do most of the talking. Goh apparently wanted as little to do with business this morning as possible.

“Good. There’s a backlog of cases. Hatozaki’s been breathing down my neck wanting to know when you were coming back,” Tsunuga laughed. “I’ll give him a call and have him bring the files over right away.”

“All right,” Taki assented.

The usual computer method of assigning them cases would reinitiate once they got going, but because of their absence it seemed that Hatozaki was holding on to the details personally. None of them wanted to be directly connected with each other in regard to their work, so they had to put the process in motion as early as possible. Taki understood this, which was why he had insisted they take care of it right away when they got back.

They sat for a few more minutes, drinking their coffee in relative silence. Goh seemed anxious to get out of there, though, and Taki knew why. If Kanji wasn’t around they could slip away without having to be held up by the youth. Kanji wasn’t a bad kid, but there was only so much of him Goh could endure and he had apparently been thoroughly accosted already this morning.

Taki finally obliged Goh’s desire to leave and they stood to depart. Of course, this was precisely the time that Kanji decided to return.

“Hey! You guys are here!” The youth shouted joyously.

“Good morning, Kanji,” Taki replied. He’d have to take the brunt of this, so Goh didn’t get annoyed.

“Hey, isn’t that one of Goh’s shirts, Taki?” Kanji inquired.

“Oh, I made him make a mess in his last clean one. He won’t shut up about it,” Goh joked.

“Goh!”

Before a fight could break out in the middle of his business, Tsunuga interjected. “Ah, Kanji. I need you to get some boxes for me out of the back.”

“Okay! I guess I’ll see you guys later then!” Kanji called back as his employer herded him out the back entrance.

“Yeah, bye Kanji, Tsunuga,” Goh replied as he followed his irritated lover to the front door.

“What’s wrong with you; saying something like that in public,” Taki tried to argue as they exited.

Goh grinned. “Oh, come on. First of all, it was just Tsunuga and Kanji. They know about us and they’re cool. And secondly, it got us out of there really fast, didn’t it?”

Taki sighed. It was true, but he wished his lover would use more appropriate means, or at least ones that didn’t embarrass him.

Taki didn’t want to discuss it further, so he changed the subject. “Fine. You go finish the laundry. I’m going to the store.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit,” Goh said as he restrained himself from trying for a goodbye kiss. He’d definitely get punched for it right now.

Instead, Goh simply waved Taki off and the two men parted ways. Goh paused to look after the retreating form and smiled. A strange morning, but not an awful one, he decided.


Originally published: 10/06/06
Updated: 4/23/07
5721 words