hatesthefood

"... so I'm seeing that as good news, and what's next is me sleeping for more than three hours at a time, so... you don't need to stay with me anymore."

No, Ken. That didn't sound stilted or rushed at all. He sighed and gnawed on the leftover pizza crust, more than a little flustered that his well thought out spiel didn't go so well.

"... unless you wanted to."

Mamoru raised an eyebrow at him. "Just so I'm clear. You insisted I stop working so I could come over here, so you could tell me you didn't want me over here?"

He wasn't upset, he was just clarifying.

Ken sighed and leaned back, letting his head roll back.

"I mean, you don't have to stay with me at night anymore."

"Maybe. But I will."

Mamoru sat across from him, watching calmly.

"You might as well bring some things over, then. Clothes and stuff."

Really, it all sounded better in his head.

"Are you asking me to move in?"

He'd just have to bang his head later. He took a moment to clear his throat and lick his dry lips.

".. yeah. I am."

"Alright."

Mamoru shook his head, chuckling softly. "You could just ask."

Ken blinked at him for a moment, then reached up to rub at the bridge of his nose, smiling a little.

"You know, I actually planned on doing just that but it seems like my grand plan failed."

Mamoru laughed softly, shaking his head and watching him.

"You may have over thought it."

"Maybe so. I have a bad habit of doing that."

He let the smile grow a little more, the sound of Mamoru chuckling at him soothing the sudden rush of nerves he'd felt.

Mamoru watched him, then nodded.

"I'll stay as long as you need me."

".... I meant move in for good, Mamoru. I want you here with me."

The smile faded away, leaving his expression far too serious for the normally cheerful Ken.

Mamoru paused, looking at him quietly.

"Ken. Really?" They'd broken up for a reason, after all.

He stared back, then sighed and stood, shoving a hand through his hair as he started to pace.

".... I miss you. You being here so much lately showed me just how much."

Mamoru stayed seated, folding his fingers under his chin. Oh, yeah, he had the Mamoru Takatori pose down pat.

"Your emotions are running pretty high, Ken. Don't rush into a decision based on how you feel now."

"It isn't how I feel now. I never stopped feeling this way."

He paused and looked back at Mamoru but seeing him mirror Persia made him sigh and look away again.

"... I've been wanting to ask you this for a few days now but I couldn't. I honestly didn't think I'd be able to ask tonight."

"Why?" Mamoru wasn't moving, barely breathing. He was waiting for Ken's response.

"... I thought you'd say no. I guess I still think you will."

Ken had stopped his pacing now, head tipped down as he tried to steel his expression into something calm and blank. He couldn't let Mamoru see him with his face so open. Not when he said no.

"The only thing good about this city is having you around. Well, Umi and my friends, too, but I know that I couldn't be around you back home. Well, now that's not an issue since I'm stuck here and there's no one I'd rather be with."

Mamoru watched him closely. He knew Ken too well not to see that he was hiding behind a wall.

"I mean why, Ken. Why do you want me to stay?"

He still wasn't looking at Mamoru, but he knew he was being watched.

"Because I love you."

He knew it wouldn't be enough for the other man, but at least he was being honest.

Mamoru bit his lip, looking up to him, and then he nodded.

"I'm keeping my apartment. At least until things are more stable. But I'll stay here."

He finally dared a glance at the other man, any other arguements he had dying before he could utter them.

"... really?"

"Yes."

A slow smile bloomed across Ken's face.

"... wow. That's great. I really thought you'd say no."

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