Bokuto pulled Akaashi closer as he felt him move a bit, trying to keep his warmth. Akaashi whined at him before latching back onto him. This was a first.

He opened his eyes and the very first thing he saw was Bokuto sleeping. It was very dark but his features were outline with the bit of light peeping through a crack in the door. He eased his hair off of his face and rubbed the dirt from his cheek. Bokuto sighed softly.

Akaashi admired him for a moment before hesitantly putting himself on Bokuto's chest. Bokuto moved his arm over Akaashi and pulled him closer. "Don't wiggle... shhhh..."

Akaashi wrapped his arm around Bokuto's upper waist and put his head down on Bokuto's bicep. It was heaven.

Bokuto was warm and he was sweet. Akaashi had never cuddled another man before like this and he was currently loving it.

Some time later Bokutk started moving a bit more and managed to sit up slightly. Akaashi had fallen asleep just before he woke up which meant Bokuto could see him. Truthfully he had already seen Akaashi asleep and that was when he snuck out of his room as the sun rose. He had felt awful for it but he didn't feel like he needed to be there.

Akaashi stirred and Bokuto hummed, covering him up.

Akaashi's eyes opened a bit and Bokuto smiled. "Well good morning."

Akaashi sat up and clung to Bokuto.

"Oh you're so sleepy..."

Akaashi nodded before huffing.

"Can we use our words to ask what we want?"

Akaashi whined. "Wanna lay down."

Bokuto laid down and Akaashi laid on his chest. "Better?"

"Mhmm."

"Are you hungry yet?"

"Nooo. Shut up..."

Bokuto laughed quietly. He rubbed Akaashi's back and Akaashi shivered. "Oh what's going on?" Akaashi huffed. "Your back hurt?"

"Mhmm."

"I'll see if I can fix it in a little bit."

"Mm..."

Bokuto turned slightly and ran his fingers through Akaashi's hair. "Wanna go lay somewhere warmer?"

"Warmer?" Akaashi questioned softly.

"Yep. The area I work at has a really hot fire. I'll put you in there while I clean up." Akaashi nodded and latched onto Bokuto. Bokuto yawned and hefted him up with a blanket wrapped around him. Akaashi clung to his shoulders tighter. "Oh, oh careful."

Akaashi hummed. Bokuto slipped on his shoes and carried him to the little shop he used for his work. Akaashi was set away from the fire where he slept for a few more minutes. He woke up again at the sound of cleaning and Bokuto noticed. "Hey, hey, hey."

Akaashi stared at him before huffing.

Bokuto wrapped his arms around Akaashi and held him close. "You feeling okay?"

"My body hurts..."

Bokuto hummed. "Do you want me to see what I can do? Or will that make things uncomfortable?"

Akaashi pointed out. "I have a balm for my skin when things like this happen. I'm just worried that I'll have to climb the tree."

"How about a guard carrying you to your room? I'll climb up and you can let me in."

Akaashi nodded. Bokuto carried him to the garden. The guard eyed him, wary.

"He fell asleep in my home and he needs to go back to bed. Can you please take him there?"

"Of course." The guard walked away with Akaashi in his arms. Bokuto ran towards the other end of the garden and got to Akaashi's balcony, staying out of view.

Akaashi unlocked the window and handed Bokuto the jar of balm. He started to get undressed and Bokuto looked away hurriedly. "Oh Jesus!"

Akaashi looked up, confused. "What?"

"I did not expect you to undress."

"How else am I supposed to put the balm on?" Akaashi put his shirt on his bed and sat down. He reached under the bed and pulled out a box full of jars. He gave Bokuto one of them and closed his eyes. "Please don't judge."

"Of course not." Bokuto opened the jar and scooped just a bit of the substance out. It felt like Vaseline but smelled even better. He rubbed it against Akaashi's back and smiled as Akaashi relaxed under his touch. Bokuto tried his best to be gentle over the large bruises across Akaashi's back. Akaashi didn't react much, just closing his eyes and taking deep breaths. "You okay there man?"

"Mhmm... just tired."

"Tired?"

"Being like this all the time is exhausting."

"What do you mean?" Bokuto questioned, going to his shoulders. Akaashi at least had a little mass here.

"I'm always bruised or sick. I think it's my father trying to get me to stay weak so that when he dies I-" Akaashi paused. "I'm getting a suitor. A male suitor. Most of which are strong and can easily kill me. What the Hell?!"

Bokuto's eyes widened. "Woah."

Akaashi turned around, fuming. "He's been doing this for years to weaken me! So he can have my suitor kill me!"

Bokuto pulled his hands away from Akaashi. "I thought you knew that."

"It was a halfway thought. I didn't want to think it was true."

Bokuto nodded. He tried to stay calm, quickly realizing he was being tangled in a life or death situation. "What would you like me to do to help you?"

Akaashi stared at the wall, thinking. "Teach me to fight."

"What?"

"I would like you to teach me to fight." Akaashi looked up. "Please."

Bokuto took a deep breath. "Okay. I can do that. Can I finish up?"

"Please." Akaashi turned back around and put his head in his hands. No crying. No anything.

Bokuto rubbed his shoulders still. He'd have to be careful coming here from now on. Akaashi would have to eat more too. "Hey, I've got to tell you some things if you want me to help you."

Akaashi hummed back.

"You need to eat more. And start working out on your own."

"Of course."

Bokuto went to his arms and realized his biceps weren't very toned. He had such a small amount of muscle over all that it was concerning. Bokuto just kept going though until he got to Akaashi's chest. Akaashi had him sit on the bed and sat in his lap. Bokuto stared up at him, holding him around his waist. "Are you aware of how bossy you are?"

"I am."

Bokuto laughed. "Yeah?"

"Do you have a problem with it?" Akaashi whispered.

Bokuto blushed. "Absolutely not."

Akaashi laughed. He held Bokuto's face in his hands. He played with his face, trying not to laugh.

"What?"

"Your face is so squishy." Bokuto laughed. Akaashi pressed their foreheads together. "Quit laughing at me!"

"And what if I keep laughing? Huh? What are you gonna do Mr. Prince?"

Akaashi started to giggle.

"Oh how rude now you're laughing at me!"

Akaashi started laughing louder. "I can't help it!"

The door opened and Akaashi looked up, startled. Amaya gasped. "Keiji!"

Akaashi giggled. "Hi Amaya."

Bokuto sheepishly smiled at Amaya. "Hello..."

Amaya closed the door. "Please don't tell me you guys are making out or something?"

Akaashi shook his head. "No, no! He's helping me out!"

"With what?"

Bokuto held up the jar he'd been given. "His back was sore."

"Oh my God! Stop!"

Akaashi deadpanned. "Because of father."

"Oh."

Bokuto let go of Akaashi and Akaashi stared at him. Both of them knew that they didn't want to let go but it had happened and now they felt awful. Akaashi turned to Amaya. "Did you need something?"

"I wanted to know if you want to eat breakfast with us."

"Oh. Um... maybe."

Bokuto looked between them. "I can leave if you want."

"No, no it's okay. Eat with us," Amaya insisted. "You don't have to leave."

"Oh but your dad..."

"Only eats with us once a month. Come on. Keiji get dressed."

Akaashi scrambled to his wardrobe. Amaya left and Bokuto put his boots back on. Akaashi looked down. "Don't wear those. Here." Akaashi tossed him a pair of socks. "I don't even wear shoes. My mother is pretty much the only one who does."

Bokuto put on the socks and Akaashi put on a pair of pants and a new shirt. Bokuto laughed.

"What?"

"It's on backwards."

Akaashi groaned. "Kotarou!"

Bokuto helped him turn it around.

"At this rate they'll say that we're having sex."

"Huh?!"

"I'm gay!" He tossed on a light coat. "Come on!"

Bokuto followed him down the hall. "But my hair- my hands-"

Akaashi huffed. He got Bokuto into a bathroom and Bokuto rinsed off the dirt from his hands. Akaashi handed him the soap. "Clean them. There's gel for hair in my room. Stay here."

He walked off and Bokuto washed his hands. Akaashi came back and gently spiked Bokuto's hair before washing his own hand. Bokuto's heart fluttered and sort of ached. Akaashi was so kind and clean. Why couldn't he be like that?

Akaashi grabbed his hand and led him to the dining hall. His mother greeted Bokuto, glad to see him. She hugged him and kissed his cheek, making him blush. Bokuto sat down and Amaya stood up. "Sit in my seat."

"Oh no, it's okay."

Amaya shook her head. "No, no. Akaashi and you can now sit together."

Bokuto moved over. Akaashi smiled at him and held his hand under the table, squeezing lightly. "Relax. My family is kind."

Bokuto nodded. He looked down the table at the girls, who excitedly waved at him. "Keiji brought his friend!"

Bokuto waved. Akaashi's mother chuckled. "Girls relax. If you want him over more often what do you do?"

"We ask!" Sara declared.

"Good job love. Go ahead."

"Mr. Bokuto can you come over more?"

"What do you say?" Akaashi's mother added.

"Please!" Sara fluttered her lashes and Bokuto laughed.

"I'll see what I can do Princess."

Sara giggled and looked to her sisters. "He's nice!"

Akaashi rubbed the back of Bokuto's hand with his thumb, just watching as he talked to the little ones. He was so kind and so loving to them. His mother eyed him staring at Bokuto and tried not to let her smile drop. She knew of the news to come later that week. She knew that these little interactions were only to be held in private. It was awful what her husband did.