Knock, knock~

"Hmm~"

...

Takuto slowly opened the door to their bathroom—oh. He didn't know what he expected, since he was aware his friend was getting ready to take a bath—Ranmaru stared back at him innocently... before going back to unbuttoning his shirt as if he was alone. The look reminded Takuto to relax as well, so he did, patiently watching the pile of work clothes on the floor grow. Eventually though, he couldn't help but look up...

...

Putting aside the full basket he entered with, Takuto walked over to Ranmaru who was standing on the high, slippery edge of the bathtub, gently took both of his hands and guided him back down onto the floor. "You worry too much..." That's what Ranmaru's expression was saying... he looked very pretty without his glasses...

...

"What's that?" Ranmaru was staring at the basket Takuto brought in, it was filled with rather extravagant things: fluffy towels, lotions, milk, colorful flowers?

"Um..." He lightly squeezed the other's hands, Takuto didn't really think he'd even be able to explain. So, before Ranmaru could give him that coy smile, he gently turned him around, away from the basket, and instead took his hair in his hands.

For some reason, despite being told every time, Ranmaru never bothered to tie up his hair before a bath, so Takuto just decided to do it himself.

...

...making sure to catch every single golden strand, taking his time to appreciate how soft it felt, and neatly wrapping it a large, loose bun.

Simply enjoying the feeling, Ranmaru didn't bring up the basket again, but he wore that knowing smile the entire time. When he opened his eyes, and looked into one of the several large mirrors, he raised an eyebrow a bit, at the frilly blue tie Takuto used to secure his hair... but he still gave his friend a grin of thanks all the same.

...

...

With enough space to fit five more of him if needed, Ranmaru sat in the middle of the bath, head resting on his knees.

...and he watched with the fondest expression as Takuto gently poured milk into the water. It flowed and bloomed throughout like clouds until the entire bath became an opaque white. And once that was finished, he moved onto the flowers, full fluffy ones with pale colored petals. Takuto carefully placed each one, letting them float away into the water, as if he were arranging an intricate art piece. There were even a few dried fruits in there as well, all making for a quite lavish and abundant looking bath.

...

It didn't need to take nearly as long, or be so particular, but there was something about that particular moment in time that they both adored... it was just a flower, but for some reason the act of placing it into the water filled Takuto with a sense of... warmth? As if he was fulfilling the one thing he was meant to do in life. And he could tell Ranmaru felt the same, when each flower was placed, his heart would flutter, and it was written all over his face. ...He never even looked at them, he just smiled at Takuto the entire time, and Takuto stared into the water, the other's loving expression being a little too much for him to bear.

...

It was pretty, how they twirled in the water aimlessly, how they bumped and kissed his skin in the most tender way... the way Takuto always wished he could.

Eventually, the last pale flower was placed, and it drifted away like all the others... and for some reason, Takuto's open hand never felt emptier.... it just went limp, as if it'd lost its purpose...

...

It was only when he felt his friend's hand fill that empty space, did Takuto finally look up. And Ranmaru's smile was even more comforting...

...

They didn't really... want that exact moment to end, so eventually, they relaxed... Ranmaru hugging his knees and Takuto resting on the edge of the bath... their hands loosely together, hanging on by fingers alone, the touch was all that mattered... and time must have slipped away...

...

...

...

"You were worried about me, weren't you?" Ranmaru's voice was no different from the flowers floating in milk...

Takuto simply opened his eyes, staring somberly down at their linked hands. He didn't reply, but Ranmaru already knew the answer.

"I'm fine." Ranmaru whispered sweetly, as if comforting him, poking his cheek gently as if willing him to perk up. "We're ok..."

This time, Takuto looked up at him, and suddenly Ranmaru felt like he was made of glass... and it was his turn to sigh and stare down into the milky white water.

...

For a while, instead, Ranmaru simply gazed out of the large window next to the bath, the bright cloudy sky matched the water... most likely to hide if his reassuring smile began to fade a little.

...

...

"Promise me that..." That he wouldn't stress himself over Ranmaru, day and night, as if trying to literally erase anything that could upset him? Well, maybe he used to but... Takuto deserved a little more credit than that. "Just listen?"

Now he had Takuto's full attention... his eyes were soft, but also droopy like they always were... how cute...

"I just feel I may have... overextended myself..." He watched the flowers and oranges drift past. "Like, I'm trying so hard to do so much that I just end up..." He looked around in thought, as if calculating in his head. He then murmured to himself in French. "...combing the giraffe?" He simply hoped Takuto could understand the phrase. "And despite knowing this... I can't stop? It just feels like I don't know how to relax anymore."

That was pretty obvious to Takuto...

For a while now, Ranmaru had been giving subtle and also not so subtle hints that he'd like Takuto to stop working and relax, but for more than just for an hour or two... this time, on a more permanent basis... while in the meantime, he would take up the role.

They talked about it a few times... They were partners, Takuto would explain. Ranmaru was by his side almost 24/7, which meant whenever Takuto worked, Ranmaru did as well... for the most part. There were times where Takuto recognized he was taking on an unreasonable workload and he refused to pass that to Ranmaru, but otherwise, Ranmaru was always involved, always helping him in any way he could.

But despite this, Ranmaru always seemed to think there was something to be repaid. "Let me do this for you," he would say, and while the sweetness in his voice was almost enough to make him give in every time... it was also the very reason he said no.

However,... unfortunately, Takuto had let his guard down and slipped into one of his workaholic episodes, followed by a very emotional case of burnout... from which Ranmaru was so kind enough let him fully recover from and almost forget about entirely... before he announced he was putting his foot down, and Takuto was, apparently, no longer allowed to work.

...

If it were anyone else... there would have been an argument... That's not true, anyone else would have been shut down before they could utter another word. But here... Ranmaru spoke not with his usual soothing tone, but carefully and seriously explaining why it would be best for both of them... Takuto was the one never spoke a word in response, literally biting his tongue to make sure none of his contentious thoughts escaped... Ranmaru's proposal was reasonable, he even assured Takuto he'd be free to reenter his career at a later date but... it was his tone, the way he spoke as if he were diffusing a bomb that ultimately made Takuto concede.

While of course he objected to the thought of leaving his important work behind, it was this exact scenario that Takuto dreaded the most... hence the way he so somberly stared into the bathtub.

...

"That doesn't mean I regret this;" Ranmaru added quickly, before Takuto could start overthinking. "I love my work... I love being busy..." The way he lit up at the words made it impossible to be skeptical. "I just... need to figure things out you know, like order my priorities and find more efficient ways to do things..."

Takuto gave Ranmaru a look, one that said "prioritizing and efficiency is one of the things I'm best at."

"I know, I know. I guess I've just been... trying to be more like you. Not in your workaholic aspects, I say as I realize the irony of the situation..." He looked away, brushing his wet hair behind his ear. "but... you know, everyone always says to do your best, but you... you really do your best. You truly do everything in your power to make sure things get done right, and that everyone is ok... that's what I want to be like..."

Takuto didn't reply... the way he saw it, Ranmaru spoke of no trait he didn't already possess... if anything, Takuto admired the way Ranmaru did do the best he could for others, while also knowing when to stop, before giving up too much of himself.

...

Suddenly Ranmaru's eyes narrowed, he kept smiling, even though he was clearly being filled with more and more melancholy and guilt...

"You really loved your work didn't you?"

"I love you more."

Takuto stated without a second of hesitation, more like it was just a fact and not a romantic declaration. Regardless, it made the doubt previously settling into Ranmaru fade away, replaced with pure comfort.

...

"Then... is it ok if I ask you to keep doing these things for me? Just for a little while longer?"

He phrased it as if he somehow regretted actually asking anything of Takuto. He probably did...

It took a bit to realize it but...

Once, Ranmaru suddenly returned from work unusually early. To not upset him, Takuto decided it would be best to at least pretend to be taking the nap Ranmaru asked him to take before he left.

Ranmaru let his overstuffed belongings thud onto the floor, as if he just couldn't bear to hold onto them any longer. And on his face... was a tired frown. Though his body was tired, a rarity in and of itself, his mind was clearly still racing, as he quickly scanned around for something so important, it was apparently worth suddenly coming home for.

So important, yet clearly forgotten once he turned and laid his eyes on an apparently sleeping Takuto... sitting, arms and legs folded up on their sofa, with a variety of books and papers in front of him... but nonetheless "sleeping". Either way, his eyes lit up, in disbelief... and the entire atmosphere in the room, everything changed, Ranmaru now filled with so much energy he was positively radiating. Clearly convinced, he continued along with his work with newfound purpose.

...

Maybe the last thing he needed was a bit of guilt, but after seeing that, Takuto couldn't help but finally concede, leave all of their work up to his partner, while he stayed home, indulged in large amounts of food, composed sonatas, sharpened his new swords, or even simply did... nothing, being the leisurely, carefree, well-behaved homemaker Ranmaru wanted him to be.

This newfound motivation to be a provider came not from a sense of pride, or because he truly thought he owed Takuto anything... but simply because he wanted there to be one point in their lives where Takuto could finally just... be. Free from any schedule or obligation or even expectation... even free from Ranmaru himself.

The only thing Ranmaru needed from him was an encouraging kiss to start his day.

And when he thought about it... Takuto couldn't remember a single moment in his life like that...

...

Takuto looked up at Ranmaru, who had been patiently waiting for an answer, letting him have time with his thoughts. In the meantime, he stared at the floating fruits in the bath, probably debating on whether or not to eat one... Eventually he looked up and added, "I know it's a little selfish, but..."

...

Takuto lifted Ranmaru's hand and pressed an extraordinary long, tender kiss onto his fingers, as if he were cherishing the very fact that he existed to hold at all... as usual, Ranmaru understood everything it meant.

---

---

They wondered how much time had passed, the flowers laid flat, completely oversaturated with water by now...

Ranmaru closed his eyes and leaned over until his head rested on their clasped hands on the edge of the bath. He sighed, settling in more and more as Takuto gently rubbed his thumb up and down his knee.

...

Takuto slipped his hand down his knee until it dipped into the water...

"Hm!"

Ranmaru jolted up, quickly clinging to the other's arm, he looked completely caught off guard.

...

"Do you wanna... get in first?"

...His flustered face, while cute, did cause him to hesitate a bit... but with newfound motivation... Takuto leaned forward, brushing their noses together.

He still wouldn't let him tire himself like this... He understood more than anyone, the way it was sometimes impossible to get work out of mind completely, and even if it was out of mind, it still lingered in the body like a weight.

"Just let me do this for you."

After a moment, Ranmaru's eyes softened, a fragility in them that he's been keeping hidden, before resting his pink face back onto their clasped hands, and letting his knees drift apart a bit.

...

"Think about something nice." Takuto whispered with his most comforting voice.

Ranmaru smiled, pressing his blushing face closer and closer into their squeezed hands, as if there could be no thought nicer than the moment they were having right now, that moment there was more than enough.

...

"Did you think of something?"

"Mmm."

"Will you tell me?"

"...hmmm... you'll get mad~"

"I sure will."

"Heehee..!"