[ As Kougami takes a drink, Gino tries to keep his eyes firmly pinned on a spot that wasn't the other man's throat. Or his chest. Or back. Or really any part of him. Especially not now that there's water running down his skin, making him swallow reflexively as he bites the inside of his cheek. Giving himself away now won't do any good.
Well honestly, giving himself away at all won't help. It doesn't change anything, except for his feelings. ]
If that's what you'd like. [ Gino tilts his head down as a sign of obedience as much as it's a motion to hide his face. Kougami's smile and current state of undress is doing things to his chest. ] Then I will gladly accept.
[He contemplates pushing Gino's chin up, forcing him to look at him properly, but that's just his own selfishness talking. He won't push at Gino's boundaries like that.
He does it figuratively, though, with careful words:]
But what about you? [Unable to keep his hands to himself any more, Shinya reaches out to clap Gino on the back.] I told you before: you should consider your own wants.
[ Even from his lowered sight, he glances up and sees a strange expression flicker across Kougami's face. It lasts only briefly, disappearing as soon as the other man speaks up. Not wanting to be impolite, Gino looks fully back up, face schooled into something more appropriate. ]
I would– [ The clap on the shoulder cuts him off for a second, throwing his train of thought off. Kougami's palm is warm, even through his shirt. He swallows hard and tries not to inhale too sharply at the way his mind fills in the blanks. How his imagination supplies the thought of those hands set on bare skin, or in places less appropriate for public. ] I'd enjoy it as well.
[ Sparring or otherwise. His cheeks might be a little pink; he's never been great at hiding. ]
[Shinya smiles again, a little more broadly this time. Getting Gino to admit he wants anything is no easy feat; he can't help but think this is something to celebrate.]
Then let's go.
[There's something crackling in the air between them, a storm ready to crash down over their heads, but Shinya is unafraid. He's looking forward to it, even, his long strides almost a swagger as he leads the way to the wrestling mats. This is what the entire morning had been building up to - or rather, not just the morning, but all those prior weeks and months of averted eyes and building tensions.
Shinya doesn't remember how this had all started. It had been so subtle, so slow, that the pieces had only clicked into place this morning. But now that the truth is staring at him in the place - Gino wants him, Gino can do so much better than the path he's determined to chain himself to - Shinya refuses to ignore it. Not just for Gino's sake, but his own as well. To ignore this would be to go against his own principles, and that Shinya can't ever do.
It takes less than a minute for them to arrive at their destination, and less than a second for Shinya to drop into a ready stance, half-crouched and arms raised, ready to guard. The message is clear: he's waiting for Gino to make the first move.]
[ Getting him to admit to anything is certainly a feat. It can be like pulling teeth on the best of days.
Good thing that Kougami is persistent enough. And that Gino has difficulty resisting the other man, contrary to what people would think. Even if he didn't have to serve his beck and call, he's sure he'd end up by his side somehow. Kou has that kind of magnetism.
(It's what he'd fallen for, to begin with).
Shrugging his overcoat off, he rolls up his sleeves, following Kou's broader back to the mats. He tries not to pay attention to the fluid shift of the man's muscles, of his shoulder blades as he swings his arms. Tries being the key word. Because he thinks about dragging his fingers down that back, fingernails leaving marks.
Blinking, he shakes it away, sliding into a stance across from Kougami. If it's a first move he wants, it's a first move he gets. Gino's fist comes at him like a hook, going for the side. ]
[As he watches Gino prepare, Shinya reminds himself to be careful. Harming Gino is the last thing he wants to do, and besides, restraint is just another part of control.
Control that he doesn't have, with his habit of holding on until the bitter end and then some.
Gino comes at him, and all thoughts of holding back disappear (but not entirely; at the back of his mind is a constant chant of don't hurt him don't hurt him). Shinya brings his arm down in a powerful forearm block, trying to knock Gino's hand away. At the same time, he takes a step forward, throwing his weight into a jab aimed right at Gino's sternum.]
[ Restraint seems to be the one thing he's really good at. Besides memorizing every little factoid without any trouble. When it comes to his emotions, he's not very good at hiding. But he'll hold it in for as long as he needs to.
It probably would be healthier to let it out every once and again.
Which is kind of what's happening here. He knows deep down he can't really hurt Kougami. Physically, anyway. The other man is too well trained for that. Not to mention that he's bigger, stronger. His hand is knocked away easily, and Gino doesn't quite step back enough to miss the jab aimed for his chest.
It knocks him away with a sharp inhale. He manages to recover with a pivot step, using the momentum to snap a kick out towards Kougami's side. ]
[In hand-to-hand combat, strategical thinking is every bit as important as strength and speed. In the moment that Gino is knocked away, Shinya's thoughts are already racing ahead, trying to anticipate his next course of action. Gino has momentum on his side, so -
When Gino's kick comes at him, Shinya is already prepared. A quick step had taken him to a more advantageous position, and his hands dart out to grab Gino by the foot. Muscles straining, he lets out a low grunt of effort, trying to use Gino's own momentum against him to slam him to the ground.]
[ Strategy has always been Kougami's strong point. Always.
Gino has a sharp mind. He can react quickly in situations, but thinking ahead and outside of the box isn't something he does well. Too many years bound by laws. By unspoken and spoken rules. All the duties that bind him to his future. It makes breaking those things more difficult than usual.
Which is why it's surprising when he twists to grab the man's wrist, pulling him backwards with him. This might not end well. ]
[Gino has always been more conservative than he is. Shinya had expected him to play things safe, maybe go tumbling to the floor and scramble to regain his footing, something along those lines.
What he doesn't expect is Gino's hand shooting out to close around his wrist, dragging him down with the full weight of his own body. Shinya's stance is sturdy, solid, but when there's so much force yanking him forward...
He ends up landing on Gino, but even now, Shinya is focused on the fight. This is just another move to deal with, after all; their bout isn't over yet. He scrambles to pin Gino's hand over his head, still grinning in that same near-feral way. His pulse bounds loudly in his ears. This is good. This is the heady rush of blood and the thrill of adrenaline, this is instinct and excitement, a perfect mix of strategical thinking and pure action and reaction.
He never feels quite so alive as when he's fighting like this.]
It doesn't come much from calculation. From looking ahead or reading Shinya's moves. No, it comes more from the fact that he's a survivor. He'll scrape and claw his way to keep going. On some level, it's a fear. That he'll be seen as more of a failure. As the son who gave up on it all.
But he's not going to. He's going to hold onto what he has until it's forcibly pulled from him. Almost like how Kougami yanks his wrist out of his grip, a nearly unhinged looking smile pulling the corners of his mouth up, up. Gino can feel his heart against his ribcage, the thump thump rhythm of his pulse loud and clear. Briefly, he panics and struggles under Shinya's weight– can he tell that the beating isn't just from the adrenaline?
Maybe, maybe not, because his hand is being pinned above his head. The other one is free to move, to twist and try to shove Kougami off of him. It's a rather ineffective motion, the other man has always been heavier than him. Shifting his hips, he slides lower, the muscles in his shoulder pulling taut. There's a better angle here, to try and escape.
Gino moves his hand, heel of it coming up to hit against the bottom of Shinya's jaw. He can't be trapped like this. It's making his head spin and his stomach flip. ]
[Pinned as he is, there simply isn't enough force in Gino's push to dissuade Shinya. Although he has little choice but to tip his head back, that's it; Shinya makes no other allowances. His grip on Gino's hand is as relentless as ever. What's more, he can feel Gino trying to get free.
Shinya lets out a quiet grunt, pitching his whole weight downward as Gino twists under him. Then Gino shifts, his hips bucking, and Shinya is suddenly very aware of just how close they are.
He remembers their conversation earlier that morning - less the exact words and more the feeling of want and the undercurrent of tension - and knows they've tread into dangerous territory. He looks down at Gino (Gino, with his tousled sweat-dampened hair and narrowed eyes), and suddenly, it's hard to breathe.]
[ There won't ever really be enough force. Gino doesn't have the same strength. HIs fighting style relies more on quick bursts and speed. Up against someone who can keep pace with him and who has enough power to back it– he doesn't have a chance.
Then again, when has he ever had a chance when Kougami is involved?
At the soft grunt, Gino pauses, feeling his face flush when he realizes he's half-hard. As inconspicuously as possible, he shrinks into himself, nervously licking his lips. ]
[Gino's nervousness is plain on his face. Shinya understands. Sympathizes. He's nervous too, a strange mix of elation and adrenaline and tension surging through his veins. They're teetering on the edge of a precipice, and he doesn't know what lies at the bottom, only what lies behind them: weeks and months and years of building frustrations, cumulating in this moment. It's not pleasant, exactly, but it's not bad either. It's familiar territory, safe and secure. He can understand the appeal of that.
Even now, he can still guide them back from the brink. It would only take a second - he only has to climb off Gino and offer his hand, helping him up as well.
But he's never been one to turn tail and hide.
He's never been one to force his attentions on someone when they're unwanted, either.
Carefully, Shinya loosens his grip on Gino's hand, and looks down at him, calm and utterly focused, in a way different from his intensity a moment before. He's made his decision. It's time for Gino to make his.]
You remember what we've discussed this morning, [he says, quiet.] You know my feelings on the matter. I don't like asking you the same thing again and again, but...
If you really don't want this, then I won't ask you again. Or if you need more time to consider, I can drop this until you're ready. [He's starting to ramble, isn't he? But he want Gino to know all his options.] Just -
[ For a moment, Shinya seems to hesitate. Not in the same way that Gino's done in the past so many times. No, instead, he looks like he's deciding. Considering.
The grip around his wrist goes slack and Ginoza's met with a familiar intensity. Shinya's figured it out. Figured him out– this shouldn't be surprising. In a way it isn't, but the knowledge is enough to make him feel winded. Swallowing, he glances away, moving his arm to a more comfortable position.
Or rather, it gets about halfway there before he pauses, fingers hovering mere centimeters away from touching Kougami. He wants this, has wanted this, for so long. It breaks all duty, all of the things he's supposed to be and what he's going to do. Heirs don't mess around with other heirs. With Shinya's standing, if they were caught it'd be a disaster.
Except his heart feels like it wants to beat out of his chest, the sound of it is so loud in his ears. Slowly, Gino turns his head back to look up at his friend, emotion clear as day on his face. The distance between his fingers and the peek of Kougami's collarbone closes, tips tracing the line of it. ]
This...this is what I've wanted. [ His words are hushed, as though he's saying them more to himself than answering a question. ]
[There's one tense moment where Gino does nothing except look at him, then glance away. Shinya barely breathes.
Then Gino meets his eyes again. A light touch ghosts over his collarbone, gentle and intimate, and Shinya knows what the answer is going to be before Gino speaks. His lips curl up into a small, fond smile. It's a big step for both of them, but more than that, it's a big step for Gino.]
Then let's not keep hesitating.
[Words and actions. There is an appropriate time for each. Right now, he lets instinct take over, fingers curling more tightly around Gino's wrists again as he leans in, eyes closing. His lips press against Gino's, a little clumsy from inexperience, but sweet and genuine all the same.]
[ Confirmation is on Kougami's face before the words even come out. Gino feels his pulse leap and it makes him a little dizzy with the knowledge. That Shinya wants this. Wants him.
Is willing to make the first move and more. He can't even vocalise how he feels, so he doesn't. Instead, he arches into the soft kiss, telling his friend exactly what he needs to know. Their lips fit together easily, even in the inexperience from both ends. Gino lets out a quiet note of appreciation– this feels right. And more freeing than he thinks he's ever been. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Well honestly, giving himself away at all won't help. It doesn't change anything, except for his feelings. ]
If that's what you'd like. [ Gino tilts his head down as a sign of obedience as much as it's a motion to hide his face. Kougami's smile and current state of undress is doing things to his chest. ] Then I will gladly accept.
no subject
He does it figuratively, though, with careful words:]
But what about you? [Unable to keep his hands to himself any more, Shinya reaches out to clap Gino on the back.] I told you before: you should consider your own wants.
no subject
I would– [ The clap on the shoulder cuts him off for a second, throwing his train of thought off. Kougami's palm is warm, even through his shirt. He swallows hard and tries not to inhale too sharply at the way his mind fills in the blanks. How his imagination supplies the thought of those hands set on bare skin, or in places less appropriate for public. ] I'd enjoy it as well.
[ Sparring or otherwise. His cheeks might be a little pink; he's never been great at hiding. ]
no subject
Then let's go.
[There's something crackling in the air between them, a storm ready to crash down over their heads, but Shinya is unafraid. He's looking forward to it, even, his long strides almost a swagger as he leads the way to the wrestling mats. This is what the entire morning had been building up to - or rather, not just the morning, but all those prior weeks and months of averted eyes and building tensions.
Shinya doesn't remember how this had all started. It had been so subtle, so slow, that the pieces had only clicked into place this morning. But now that the truth is staring at him in the place - Gino wants him, Gino can do so much better than the path he's determined to chain himself to - Shinya refuses to ignore it. Not just for Gino's sake, but his own as well. To ignore this would be to go against his own principles, and that Shinya can't ever do.
It takes less than a minute for them to arrive at their destination, and less than a second for Shinya to drop into a ready stance, half-crouched and arms raised, ready to guard. The message is clear: he's waiting for Gino to make the first move.]
no subject
Good thing that Kougami is persistent enough. And that Gino has difficulty resisting the other man, contrary to what people would think. Even if he didn't have to serve his beck and call, he's sure he'd end up by his side somehow. Kou has that kind of magnetism.
(It's what he'd fallen for, to begin with).
Shrugging his overcoat off, he rolls up his sleeves, following Kou's broader back to the mats. He tries not to pay attention to the fluid shift of the man's muscles, of his shoulder blades as he swings his arms. Tries being the key word. Because he thinks about dragging his fingers down that back, fingernails leaving marks.
Blinking, he shakes it away, sliding into a stance across from Kougami. If it's a first move he wants, it's a first move he gets. Gino's fist comes at him like a hook, going for the side. ]
no subject
Control that he doesn't have, with his habit of holding on until the bitter end and then some.
Gino comes at him, and all thoughts of holding back disappear (but not entirely; at the back of his mind is a constant chant of don't hurt him don't hurt him). Shinya brings his arm down in a powerful forearm block, trying to knock Gino's hand away. At the same time, he takes a step forward, throwing his weight into a jab aimed right at Gino's sternum.]
no subject
It probably would be healthier to let it out every once and again.
Which is kind of what's happening here. He knows deep down he can't really hurt Kougami. Physically, anyway. The other man is too well trained for that. Not to mention that he's bigger, stronger. His hand is knocked away easily, and Gino doesn't quite step back enough to miss the jab aimed for his chest.
It knocks him away with a sharp inhale. He manages to recover with a pivot step, using the momentum to snap a kick out towards Kougami's side. ]
no subject
When Gino's kick comes at him, Shinya is already prepared. A quick step had taken him to a more advantageous position, and his hands dart out to grab Gino by the foot. Muscles straining, he lets out a low grunt of effort, trying to use Gino's own momentum against him to slam him to the ground.]
no subject
Gino has a sharp mind. He can react quickly in situations, but thinking ahead and outside of the box isn't something he does well. Too many years bound by laws. By unspoken and spoken rules. All the duties that bind him to his future. It makes breaking those things more difficult than usual.
Which is why it's surprising when he twists to grab the man's wrist, pulling him backwards with him. This might not end well. ]
no subject
What he doesn't expect is Gino's hand shooting out to close around his wrist, dragging him down with the full weight of his own body. Shinya's stance is sturdy, solid, but when there's so much force yanking him forward...
He ends up landing on Gino, but even now, Shinya is focused on the fight. This is just another move to deal with, after all; their bout isn't over yet. He scrambles to pin Gino's hand over his head, still grinning in that same near-feral way. His pulse bounds loudly in his ears. This is good. This is the heady rush of blood and the thrill of adrenaline, this is instinct and excitement, a perfect mix of strategical thinking and pure action and reaction.
He never feels quite so alive as when he's fighting like this.]
tags this to Selena Gomez's "Good for You"
It doesn't come much from calculation. From looking ahead or reading Shinya's moves. No, it comes more from the fact that he's a survivor. He'll scrape and claw his way to keep going. On some level, it's a fear. That he'll be seen as more of a failure. As the son who gave up on it all.
But he's not going to. He's going to hold onto what he has until it's forcibly pulled from him. Almost like how Kougami yanks his wrist out of his grip, a nearly unhinged looking smile pulling the corners of his mouth up, up. Gino can feel his heart against his ribcage, the thump thump rhythm of his pulse loud and clear. Briefly, he panics and struggles under Shinya's weight– can he tell that the beating isn't just from the adrenaline?
Maybe, maybe not, because his hand is being pinned above his head. The other one is free to move, to twist and try to shove Kougami off of him. It's a rather ineffective motion, the other man has always been heavier than him. Shifting his hips, he slides lower, the muscles in his shoulder pulling taut. There's a better angle here, to try and escape.
Gino moves his hand, heel of it coming up to hit against the bottom of Shinya's jaw. He can't be trapped like this. It's making his head spin and his stomach flip. ]
whispers gaaaaaaaaaay
Shinya lets out a quiet grunt, pitching his whole weight downward as Gino twists under him. Then Gino shifts, his hips bucking, and Shinya is suddenly very aware of just how close they are.
He remembers their conversation earlier that morning - less the exact words and more the feeling of want and the undercurrent of tension - and knows they've tread into dangerous territory. He looks down at Gino (Gino, with his tousled sweat-dampened hair and narrowed eyes), and suddenly, it's hard to breathe.]
Gino...
how is this surprising in the least
Then again, when has he ever had a chance when Kougami is involved?
At the soft grunt, Gino pauses, feeling his face flush when he realizes he's half-hard. As inconspicuously as possible, he shrinks into himself, nervously licking his lips. ]
Shinya?
no subject
Even now, he can still guide them back from the brink. It would only take a second - he only has to climb off Gino and offer his hand, helping him up as well.
But he's never been one to turn tail and hide.
He's never been one to force his attentions on someone when they're unwanted, either.
Carefully, Shinya loosens his grip on Gino's hand, and looks down at him, calm and utterly focused, in a way different from his intensity a moment before. He's made his decision. It's time for Gino to make his.]
You remember what we've discussed this morning, [he says, quiet.] You know my feelings on the matter. I don't like asking you the same thing again and again, but...
If you really don't want this, then I won't ask you again. Or if you need more time to consider, I can drop this until you're ready. [He's starting to ramble, isn't he? But he want Gino to know all his options.] Just -
Be honest with me.
no subject
The grip around his wrist goes slack and Ginoza's met with a familiar intensity. Shinya's figured it out. Figured him out– this shouldn't be surprising. In a way it isn't, but the knowledge is enough to make him feel winded. Swallowing, he glances away, moving his arm to a more comfortable position.
Or rather, it gets about halfway there before he pauses, fingers hovering mere centimeters away from touching Kougami. He wants this, has wanted this, for so long. It breaks all duty, all of the things he's supposed to be and what he's going to do. Heirs don't mess around with other heirs. With Shinya's standing, if they were caught it'd be a disaster.
Except his heart feels like it wants to beat out of his chest, the sound of it is so loud in his ears. Slowly, Gino turns his head back to look up at his friend, emotion clear as day on his face. The distance between his fingers and the peek of Kougami's collarbone closes, tips tracing the line of it. ]
This...this is what I've wanted. [ His words are hushed, as though he's saying them more to himself than answering a question. ]
no subject
Then Gino meets his eyes again. A light touch ghosts over his collarbone, gentle and intimate, and Shinya knows what the answer is going to be before Gino speaks. His lips curl up into a small, fond smile. It's a big step for both of them, but more than that, it's a big step for Gino.]
Then let's not keep hesitating.
[Words and actions. There is an appropriate time for each. Right now, he lets instinct take over, fingers curling more tightly around Gino's wrists again as he leans in, eyes closing. His lips press against Gino's, a little clumsy from inexperience, but sweet and genuine all the same.]
no subject
Is willing to make the first move and more. He can't even vocalise how he feels, so he doesn't. Instead, he arches into the soft kiss, telling his friend exactly what he needs to know. Their lips fit together easily, even in the inexperience from both ends. Gino lets out a quiet note of appreciation– this feels right. And more freeing than he thinks he's ever been. ]