A favorite painting

"I'm not getting out of bed," Takumi declared and luxuriated with a stretch in Akira's bed.

It was early on a Sunday and he was still on his mini break.

More importantly, he was too fucked to do anything much other than lying contentedly underneath the warmth of the covers. He wouldn't mind if Akira took advantage of the situation further throughout the day.

Akira placed a cup of coffee on the bedstand for him. His smile was, by Akira's standards, all too pleased with himself.

He said wryly, "Unfortunately, I need to review something for work."

Takumi offered playfully, "Just be efficient about it?"

"I intend to," Akira vowed and kissed him, with a restrained headiness that promised of more to come. Takumi wanted to pull him down and carry on.

But he stopped himself. Years of being friends with Akira did instill some sense of responsibility in him.

They knew to separate their lips before it got to a point of no return.

"If you don't come back here soon, I'm going to invade your study," Takumi warned.

"I'm going to come back and invade YOU," Akira returned the warning evenly.

Takumi's breath hitched. His body actually wretched with need.

"Idiot," he whispered and they gave each other another fierce, too short a kiss.

When Akira left the bedroom, he sat up and drank the coffee.

He checked his phone and there was a flurry of messages. Which he had ignored completely the day before because he was in no state or mind for any proper conversation.

He opened Keigo's message.

'Kissed and made up?' – Keigo.

Takumi groaned inwardly but he owed the insufferable man a favor. If nothing else, for encouraging his drunken confession leading to that phone call and a conclusion which was more than he could ever hope for.

The ruthless teasing was inevitable. He typed on his phone, 'Thanks. I'm buying you dinner.'

'Bring your man. I'm curious. I'll pick somewhere extravagant.' – Keigo.

'Fine. Be nice to him.' – Takumi warned.

He could hear Keigo's laughter with the response. 'So protective already? Don't worry, I won't bite. See you.'

Sometimes Takumi wondered why they were still friends.

He scrolled through the other messages.

Nishioka asked if he was recovering and Takumi felt remorse for the trouble he caused the agency's head lately. He dialed the number.

"Hello!" he greeted when Nishioka picked up.

"Are you…alright?" Nishioka asked hesitantly, which was unlike him.

"Yeah," he answered. "I've sorted myself out."

"Do you need more time off?"

"Not if I want to keep my job," Takumi answered cheerfully. "I'll come by your office on Tuesday."

"Thank fuck god," Nishioka blurted.

"Do you…miss me?" Takumi teased.

"Only because you make me money," Nishioka shot back, even if a little half-heartedly.

Takumi listened as he blazed through a summary of offers, schedules and miscellaneous work obligations.

"We can discuss details on Tuesday." Nishioka paused before adding, "You'll need to thank the producers. Turns out, they never really wanted to replace you, so it was just an empty threat."

Takumi agreed. "I'll apologize to them and the staff. Don't worry."

"Good."

Ogita didn't pick up his call so Takumi left a voicemail. He fully expects the high-strung man to call and scream at him later.

There was a perfunctory message from his brother too, reminding him to turn up at a company event the following weekend.

Takumi mused how Daisuke would react if he found out about his relationship with Akira.

"I ended the conversation. Very politely." Akira summarized his response to the potential marriage proposal when Takumi had asked.

Well, Takumi thought possessively, all heiresses and heirs could forget about Akira from now on.

The other messages were from various acquaintances which he ignored.

Lying in bed, he decided to change his screensaver and flicked through photos on his phone.

It turned into browsing through old photos of him and Akira instead. There weren't many. They were never in the habit of taking pictures.

The graduation one made him smile.

Then he came upon a photo which he treasured above all else.

One that he looked at time and time again, when he was alone. Sometimes it enveloped with nostalgia. Somedays it made him sad with yearning.

He could now stare at the man in person all he wanted. The knowledge still made Takumi's brain swirl.

But this photo would always remain special.

He hadn't realized how much time had passed because Akira entered the bedroom.

"Are you done with work?" Takumi was hopeful.

"For now." Akira sat next to him on the edge of the bed. "What are you staring at?"

Takumi blushed slightly but admitted, "You."

Akira raised an eyebrow and leaned over. Surprise flickered in his eyes although his expression remained neutral.

"This is from..?"

Takumi chuckled. "After your exams. When you got drunk instead of me."

"Sorry, I couldn't help it," he added sheepishly.

Akira shook his head. "Not much of a photo."

"It's my favorite painting," Takumi confessed in a tiny voice.

Akira's eyes widened slightly. He opened his mouth as if to speak and then closed it again.

It was rare for him to be so affected. Takumi was surprised.

"Back then, I didn't know what else to ask," Akira finally said.

"You're the only one who's ever asked me," Takumi whispered.

"You're the only one who's ever worth asking." Akira made it sound like it was the most important thing in the world.

Takumi's breath was stolen. "Akira-"

He didn't get to finish the sentence because Akira pulled him close and kissed him.

"I'm not getting out of bed," Takumi murmured between kisses, repeating what he said earlier.

Akira chuckled huskily.

"I wasn't going to let you."