💕 fluff 💕

The apartment was quiet.

Not peaceful quiet — just the kind that came from two professional athletes being too exhausted to cause problems for once.

Sae sat at the kitchen counter, laptop open, reviewing match footage with his usual focus. Elbows straight. Back straight. Expression unreadable.

Behind him, Shidou lay sprawled on the couch like a discarded jacket.

One leg hung over the armrest. His head was upside-down, hair falling into his eyes as he stared at the ceiling.

"...You breathe too quietly," Shidou muttered.

Sae didn't look up. "That is not a real complaint."

"It is when you're being creepy about it."

"I'm sitting."

"Exactly."

Sae clicked his mouse, jaw tightening. "If you are bored, find something to do."

"I am doing something."

"What."

"Watching you."

Sae paused.

Then, slowly: "Stop."

Shidou grinned into the ceiling. "See? Reaction."

He rolled over and sat up, elbows on his knees, watching Sae like he was a puzzle he'd already solved but still enjoyed looking at.

"You've been like this all night," Shidou said. "Too quiet. Too focused. You get all sharp around the edges when you're thinking too hard."

Sae finally glanced at him. "And you get loud when you're avoiding thinking at all."

"Damn," Shidou laughed. "Direct hit."

He stood and padded into the kitchen, barefoot, leaning his hip against the counter right next to Sae's chair — too close, but not touching.

Sae noticed. Of course he did.

He always noticed.

"...Move," Sae said.

Shidou didn't. "You skipped dinner."

"I ate."

"You drank coffee."

"That counts."

"No it doesn't."

Sae sighed. "Why do you care."

Shidou tilted his head.

For once, he didn't answer immediately.

"...Habit," he said eventually. "Captain instincts or whatever."

Sae snorted. "You were never subtle."

"Yeah, well." Shidou reached out, stole Sae's apple from the counter, and took a bite. "You never were honest."

Sae's eyes flicked to the apple. "...That was mine."

"You weren't eating it."

"I was going to."

Shidou smiled, wide and unapologetic. "Too slow."

They stood there like that — bickering, orbiting, existing in that strange space between roommates and something else neither of them named.

Then Shidou leaned closer, resting his forearms on the counter, head near Sae's shoulder.

Not touching.

Hovering.

"You ever think about how weird this is?" Shidou asked quietly.

Sae didn't pull away. "Define 'this.'"

"Us." Shidou shrugged. "Living together. Training together. Sleeping in the same apartment like it's normal."

Sae closed his laptop.

That, alone, was telling.

"...It is normal," Sae said.

Shidou hummed. "For you maybe."

He straightened, turning to face Sae properly now.

"You trust me," Shidou said. Not a question.

Sae met his eyes. "I wouldn't live with you if I didn't."

Shidou's grin softened — just a little. "That's huge, you know."

"I trust very few people," Sae admitted. "You are... tolerable."

Shidou laughed. "God, you're awful at this."

"At what."

"Feelings."

Sae stood, pushing his chair back. "You are projecting."

"Am I?" Shidou stepped aside to let him pass — then followed him into the living room anyway.

Sae sat on the couch.

Shidou flopped down next to him.

Close enough that their shoulders touched.

Sae stiffened.

Shidou didn't move away.

"...You always tense up like you're about to bolt," Shidou murmured. "But you never do."

Sae stared straight ahead. "I don't see the issue."

"The issue is you don't run," Shidou said gently. "Even when I'm annoying. Even when I'm loud. Even when I mess with your routines."

Sae swallowed.

"...You stay," Shidou continued. "You let me stay."

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, Sae spoke — quieter than usual.

"...You're good at football," he said.

Shidou blinked. "...That's your response?"

"You asked for honesty."

Shidou chuckled, leaning back. "Man. Only you could make that sound intimate."

Sae rolled his eyes. "Don't read into it."

"Too late."

Another pause.

Shidou shifted, lying down with his head resting against Sae's thigh — casual, unannounced, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Sae froze completely.

"...Get up," he said, but his hand didn't move.

Shidou yawned. "Nah. You're warm."

"...You are impossible."

"Yet here I am."

Minutes passed.

Sae didn't push him away.

Didn't move.

Didn't tell him to leave.

Eventually, Shidou's voice softened, sleepy now.

"You don't have to say it," he murmured. "I know you don't like labels."

Sae stared at the far wall, face calm, heart annoyingly loud.

"...Say what," he asked.

"That you care."

Shidou closed his eyes.

"You already show it."

Sae exhaled.

Slow.

Controlled.

His hand hovered — then rested lightly in Shidou's hair, fingers barely touching.

Just for a second.

Just enough.

"...Don't get used to it," Sae muttered.

Shidou smiled, already half-asleep.

"Too late, roomie."

The apartment stayed quiet.

But this time,

it felt warm.

art credit: https://medibang.com/picture/mn2501172152285250019960169/