bakerstreet | the blanket burrito meme (gen or shipping).

[Puppy-like or not, it's not as if Aoba has ever disliked puppies, and Clear is quite a specimen, too. There's a special relief to lying down together - no, a comfort, but so intense it feels like relief - and right this moment, nothing in the whole world could ruin Aoba's bliss. Even Clear's embarrassing turn of phrase (then again, what isn't embarrassing by Aoba-standards?) doesn't bother him. Instead, he considers their options. He'll be happy either way; he thinks Clear might prefer big spoon, just so he can see him. Still, Clear was watching and holding him for who-knows-how-long, during his nap. Obviously that makes it okay for Aoba to selfishly claim that same privilege for himself.]

I'll take big spoon, to start. [Not that he'd be anything but happy either way, but this feels like a satisfying form of petty revenge for Clear's not-quite-transgressions.] If it doesn't work, we can switch.

[For now, though? Pressing up against Clear's back and throwing an arm around him sounds really, really good. And if they won't quite fit together properly because Aoba is too short by comparison, well... he'll figure out an alternative position for his leg to get it out of the way.]

[ Despite what certain CGs would have you believe, there’s actually very little height difference between the two of them—and at the moment at least, Clear imagines he doesn’t really care which spoon he is, because either way it’ll still involve snuggling close to the person he adores most in the whole wide world.

So he chirps a happy ‘alright!’ and shuffles himself more, rolling up on his side so that he faces outwards from the bed while simultaneously moving back from the edge, tucking one hand under the pillow near his chin. Once he’s settled and balance, he looks expectantly back over his shoulder—because damn right he wants to watch as much of the process of Aoba cuddling up to him as he can! ]

[Hey, two inches can be a lot, especially if you take different builds into account! It's not exactly a disaster, though.

Aoba waits for Clear to assume little spoon position, amused to take in his behavior as if it's some kind of show. It sort of is, at that. Aoba still isn't used to having this kind of happiness, and more often than not, it doesn't seem real - in the best possible way.

Once Clear has settled, Aoba moves - though, unfortunately for Clear, it's not much of a spectacle. Aoba simply flops down with a sound of satisfaction that, after all the napping he's done, is as absurd as it is lazy - and then comes the good stuff. With Clear right there on the bed with him, Aoba shifts forward as much as he can (and there honestly isn't much room, with his tiny bed), little by little molding his body against Clear's as much as humanly (or even android-ly) possible. The arm he's more or less lying on is frustratingly in the way, and he settles for putting it against Clear's back, with his hand resting on Clear's shoulder. His free arm, he wraps shamelessly and without hesitation around Clear's waist.

It's not a bad start, and he hums in satisfaction. His lower arm's still in the way a bit, though, so Aoba stretches a little so that he's leaning into Clear instead of being strictly parallel.]

[ Huh cuz my resources say it’s a difference of a centimeter only…well no matter. That one re:connect CG is still ridiculous and it’s spoonin’ time.

And joke’s on you, it’s a perfectly adorable show. The contented sigh is probably what really makes it because of how cute it is (sorry Handsome, can’t call it anything but cute when it’s cute), but then again the arm slung over his middle is what really adds the intimacy to the act of spooning…oh who are we kidding, Clear loves it all.

So maybe big spoon would afford the better view, but you know what? Aoba may worry about forcing anything Clear doesn’t want, but Clear himself just thrills to any normal, everyday show of Aoba returning his affections. Not to say that Clear ever doubts them, mind you, but because…after everything they went through to get to this point, “normal” is everything Clear dreams of.

As for that arm around his waist, once Clear is sure enough that Aoba is still, he layers his own arm against Aoba’s, resting his hand atop the other’s and threading his fingers down and through, chuckling happily at that satisfied hum. ]

Comfortable?

[Yeaaaah, the wikia messed up bad... and/or someone made a mess of things, converting centimeters to feet and inches and back again a bunch of times, rounding off a little too much. The art book says 175cm for Aoba, anyway. The wikia even shows that same page in the images, just ignores the information on it for some reason...

Totally ridiculous regardless, for sure.

It's kind of funny, really... Even before everything started to hit the fan, Aoba wanted little more than for things to stay as they were. He'd made enough progress, in his own way, and he was content as he was. Now, though? He's been through hell - they both have - and he hasn't just survived, he's actually come out better for it all. This is a happiness he never even dared to imagine... and now it's all his.

Closing his eyes - not for napping, just for relaxing - he smiles as Clear's hand takes his own.]

Mhm... Very~

[He gives Clear's body a little squeeze before relaxing his arm again. He really is extremely comfortable, but he's also very much rested from his nap earlier, and while his body is content to chill out, his thoughts keep going.]

I guess it's weird to say this, but... I'm still so happy. It seems like it should have become normal by now, but I just can't get used to it.

[He doesn't want to get too used to it, but part of him also wants to be prepared for that to happen, since it's extremely likely it will. And he wouldn't love Clear any less if it did! He just wants to be prepared in case the exact nature of his feelings shifts away from this silly infatuation.

So far, though, he's still solidly in honeymoon mode, with no sign of it ever changing. Enjoying that dumb puppy love every bit as much as on day 1, he presses his face against the back of Clear's neck, wanting to reassure himself of Clear's presence in every way he can. Would his feelings be this intense if Clear hadn't been broken and out of Aoba's sight for so long? Aoba can't say for sure. All he knows is that the time they were apart left a serious scar on his heart, and he will never ever take Clear's presence for granted.]

[ Lmao well genuine thank you for the clarification, I never saw that image despite wondering if one like it existed. Wasn't looking in the right places....

Clear lets his head face forward again as they melt into place, smiling as Aoba speaks and nuzzles into the back of his neck. There's a lot of things that can be appreciated without sight, and the way Aoba feels and sounds right now is definitely on that list. ]

Why is that weird? [ he has to wonder. Time may go by but Clear is still so much younger and less experienced with the world. Aoba is still his go-to for answers, and he's not out of questions yet. ] You deserve to be happy.

[ 'After everything you've been through' is left unsaid, doubly so an additional 'because of me'. There's no hint of guilt in the tone of Clear's reply, though. He doesn't want to bring unhappy memories to mind, and besides, it's not like Aoba wouldn't deserve to be happy if all those things with Toue or Clear himself HADN'T happened. ]

I don't think deserving comes into it. Plenty of people deserve more or less than they get.

[For a deeply philosophical conversation, Aoba remains surprisingly relaxed. There are examples he could give, but the only ones that come to mind that Clear is sure to get are too painful and/or personal to list. Aoba opens his eyes, and sees little but the white fluff of Clear's hair, just barely at a safe distance.]

And I don't know... Maybe it's like I shouldn't need to say it? I hope by now you know how happy I am! But...

[A beat, and he places a gentle kiss on Clear's neck, his voice as soft and loving as his actions.]

I just selfishly like saying it, I guess.

[ …ah! This position is suddenly flawed! Aoba just kissed him and Clear didn’t get to see it coming!

Which…upon a second thought, admittedly made the surprise of it all the more pleasant, even if now Aoba similarly cannot witness the little look of bliss that warms Clear’s expression. He closes his eyes, letting his temporarily-useless sense of vision take a rest so that all his other senses will be emphasized, and gently tugs Aoba’s encircling arm higher up his chest.

Once it is in range, Clear presses a return kiss to Aoba’s protruding knuckles. Afterwards, he settles Aoba’s hand back in place over his chest, rather than his waist. He may not have a steady rhythm drumming away inside his metal ribcage, but there’s a strong warmth in there still. ]

Is it really selfish if hearing you say it makes me happy, too? [ And now he just can’t help it; he turns his head and peeks back from the corner of his eye as much as is possible, even if that only affords him a glimpse of blue. ]

I don’t think I could ever get tired of hearing you say that you’re happy. I want…for ‘happy’ to be your normal. Our normal.

[Awww, Clear kissed his fingers..! Aoba's heart soars, and when his hand is placed on Clear's chest afterwards, he lets his fingertips brush against Clear there as much as they can without breaking the rather one-sides hold Clear's hand has on his.]

I think... it already is.

[He's just having a hard time accepting that, for some reason. Well, maybe that's not so strange, after all... He's hurt so much for so long when Clear was broken, it's a little scary, thinking of something like that happening again. Maybe that's the only reason why he can't - doesn't dare - take this happiness for granted.

Still, if it keeps him in this silly puppy love phase a little longer, is that so bad? With Clear trying to peek at him over his shoulder, Aoba decides to make it a little easier for him, pushing himself up just enough that he can lean in and kiss Clear... somewhere in the general cheek/jaw area. Look, they just got comfortable; he doesn't want to ruin his own lazy moment! Not that it would be so terrible if he did...]

[ Okay but kissing the side of his jaw like that is still super cute and has Clear grinning all the wider, even if he’s also having second (third?) thoughts about this particular position again. It has its pros, it has its cons…

…but Aoba did say they had to find which position worked best, right? ]

Then, don’t ever stop telling me how happy you are, Aoba-san, [ Clear says, still peeking backwards. ] With happy as our normal, as long as you’re telling me that, then I know everything’s still alright.

[ And he doesn’t say that in a worrisome way. He’s not insecure, he’s not in need of that as a form of constant reassurance. It’s nothing more than the fact that it really does make him happy to hear.

…and it’s cute.

But…. ]

However, Aoba-san…if you’re going to keep kissing me by surprise, I don’t think this position is going to work. If you keep that up too much, I’m only going to want to turn around!

[By coincidence and/or luck, Aoba doesn't take Clear's words as a need for reassurance. On the contrary: the wish to hear Aoba is happy makes sense, in a Clear sort of way. Even two humans can't read each others' minds, and with Aoba and Clear in particular, there's always been a need for good communication. Aoba has to keep that in mind - so the reminder is welcome, really.

But not as welcome as the chance to tease the hell out of Clear.]

Oh, really~? [Clear is going to want to turn around if Aoba keeps kissing him, huh? Well then, let's see how long he lasts! Moving impulsively and without much finesse, Aoba plants a kiss halfway across Clear's ear.] That would be a shame~!

[Not that Aoba really cares, but it's fun to provoke Clear a little. Another kiss soon follows, and another; on Clear's neck, his cheek, his hair...]

[ Let it be known that because Aoba suddenly got so playful about it, Clear made an honest attempt at staying in place, just holding Aoba’s hand in place at his chest and laughing for the delightful surprise of his boyfriend being silly. It made his heart-feelings feel swollen with joy, backlit by only the faintest subconscious comparison to how things had been when they’d first met.

(Was this really the same Aoba that had roundhouse kicked him for going hadaka apron, or the same one that had kicked him in the back in front of Heibon?)

But Clear hadn’t been giving a hollow warning and it didn’t take more than maybe half a dozen kisses like that before he couldn’t stand not reciprocating. ]

Aoba-saaan! [ is his good-humored warning, before squirming away just enough to make room to roll over and wrap an arm right back around the other man, pulling him in tight.

That silliness may be worth continuing in a moment, but to start, Clear just catches that teasing mouth with his own, giving Aoba something to really be occupied by. ]

[It's too easy to tease Clear, really, and that's why it's not always in good taste: a comparison to kicking puppies comes to mind. But, however fortunate things have turned out, Aoba's taste has never been exclusively good - so yes, he can definitely be silly. Apart from anything else, he doesn't have another outlet for this overload of happiness he's feeling!]

W-Wai-...

[Half-successfully trying to resist the urge to burst out laughing, he's about to offer some weak protest for the sake of it when Clear turns around, but he barely manages to get a single syllable out, weakly and between gasps for air, when it's already too late. Clear kisses him, and Aoba is surprised at the audacity of the move, briefly freezing in shock while that single syllable dies as a muffled grunt against Clear's lips.

With that, Aoba's thoughts of protesting vanish, too. His whole body feels like it's melting in Clear's arms, and he gives in to the sensation, every muscle relaxing... except for his lips and tongue, anyway. Those alone are kept functional, and he slowly starts kissing Clear back. Suddenly, his cheeks feel like they're burning up. That sure took a turn for the sexy... but Aoba is not complaining.

Fine, Clear. You win this round.]

[ Payback is a sweet, sweet thing, like the taste of Aoba’s kiss. Feeling triumphant, Clear holds the kiss while Aoba absorbs his surprise and forms a proper reaction. That said reaction ends up being returning the kiss, well…that’s not an opportunity Clear can just let pass by.

No, it deserves indulging. With a sound in his throat that starts out vaguely like a laugh before fading into a hum, Clear moves his hand to Aoba’s cheek in gentle support as he works that kiss for a while. He doesn’t get too deeply hungry about it, but his lips are often parted in their movements, his tongue making gentle brushes of Aoba’s own as they pass the same bit of breath back and forth.

And then he backs off enough to break it. Clear finishes with a press of closed lips and a distinct muah~!, turning the thorough kissing into a playful smooch.

Clear doesn’t pull very far away, though. Aoba will just have to feel, more than see, that Clear’s lips are smiling against the corner of his own mouth, the android gently nuzzling one of his flushed cheeks. ]

I warned you, Aoba-san….

Edited 2017-02-01 00:46 (UTC)

[It's easy to get lost in that kiss, enjoying that lazy pleasure while it lasts and lasts and lasts. For the longest time, Aoba doesn't think of anything. It's just him and Clear and that kiss, and somehow it feels like a perfect crystallization of their feelings, this particular happiness. Eventually, though, he's starting to feel a little more than that, the very beginnings of arousal trickling down his spine -

right when Clear ends the kiss that stupid ~~cute~~, playful way, and Aoba tastes nothing but defeat. When did he ever become so absurdly weak?]

Yes, yes, you warned me.

[He can't really stay mad, though. It's not Clear he's mad at in the first place - and "mad" isn't the right word, anyway. If it means they can be together like this, he doesn't mind feeling a little weak for wanting things to stay that way.

With a soft sigh, he nuzzles closer, himself.]

... I think this position is a little too distracting...

[But he's not suggesting they change it. Not yet, at least.]

[ That prompts another laugh from Clear, even as he's still brushing his lips along Aoba's face, whatever comfortable places that can still be reached with only a little movement. Oh, this is much better... though Aoba's reaction to it does leave one wondering. ]

Distracting...? Distracting from what...?

[ It's not like he was doing anything but napping, right? And now the only thing here is Clear, right...? ]

[That's exactly the problem, you stupid robutt!! Ugh. Be a little less adorable already.]

From getting rest.

[Half-mumbling into the bed, Aoba can at least hide his face a little. Not that he has anything much to hide, but it's the principle of the thing! His life is suffering.]

Sleeping's the last thing I wanna do.

[Admittedly he wasn't planning to sleep now, anyway - but this was a practice round for nighttime, right? He'll get way too distracted by sexy thoughts to ever sleep again.]

[ And guess who honestly forgot that this whole thing was a practice for a sleeping position? This robot, right here. Practicing cuddling in the same close space, sure, but…oh, right, sleep.

Count Aoba not the only one distracted by that nice bit of kissing.

So cue a puzzled slow-blink from Clear before he rewinds and puts two and two together, and laughs yet again afterwards. That is definitely not an apologetic laugh.

Aoba turning his face away exposes a bit more of him on the other side—meaning Clear can’t help but brush his lips along his boyfriend’s jawline, following it back to that sensitive spot under the corner where his pulse can be felt fluttering away.

Really, Aoba, this is not how you stop Clear from being sexycute. ]

Then what’s the first thing…?

[To be fair, the "sleeping practice" had been half a pretext - but only half of one! And now it feels like the wrong half...

Or is it frustratingly right? When Clear reaches that sensitive spot, Aoba breaks out in goosebumps all over. Augh, he can't take this anymore! With a huff, he looks at Clear again, and only the fact that Clear's not getting kicked off the bed is any indication of how affected Aoba really is.]

You know what, you... sex machine!

[Is there an award for best insults? Because this boy needs to be nominated.]

[ Hoo boy. Well now, that’s a perfectly valid, what, idiom? And one that gets the double whammy of being pretty literal when directed where it is, too.

But…that’s the thing, too. And speaking of halves, it’s one half over the other that gives Clear a jolt like he did just get kicked. He pulls his head back with a wide-eyed stare, honestly too bewildered to be anything else. Aoba’s huffing tone there is a more than familiar one, but did he really just…snap at Clear for being a machine? ]

Ah….

[ He looks to the side, as if an answer might be magically found in the corner of his vision somewhere, then returns his gaze to Aoba with another, almost theatrically deliberate blink.

And then…he actually succeeds in setting it aside. For one, he’s better at metaphors, and for two (and more importantly) he really can’t see Aoba hitting him with that word as a derogatory. At all. Which is why his reaction was confusion, rather than hurt.

So Clear laughs again, softer this time as he resolves that little ‘problem’ on his own and relaxes. Why, a little thought more, and he even has a retort. Brace yourself for this one, he might need a nomination on comebacks, himself. ]

I guess that’s what happens when you turn a robot on.

[It's only when he sees Clear's reaction that Aoba realizes what a poor choice of words that was. Of course he didn't mean it as an insult. He's never once thought of Clear as being in any way less for being a robot, and that's exactly why he used such a description lightly. Maybe they're different from each other in nature, but they still love each other. That's why such things don't matter.

Still, he can't expect Clear to feel the same way, especially when Clear is, in a manner of speaking, the odd one out. If Clear was more confused than hurt, Aoba sure hurt himself, guilt stabbing him like a knife the moment Clear looks away. Shit... What can he do to fix this?! He desperately tries to find an apology that explains his words without excusing them - but Clear beats him to it with that comeback, and Aoba doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.]

That's terrible! [he says, but laughs all the same, before throwing both an arm and a leg around Clear, trying to push him onto his back even if that will put them dangerously close to the edge of the bed. Aoba doesn't care. He buries his face in Clear's neck, desperate to hide it for a completely different reason, this time.]

... I'm sorry. I said a stupid thing.

[ Aoba rolls Clear over (of course Clear accommodates the movement) and he meets the man’s laugh with another of his own, throwing his arms around Aoba and cuddling him tight to his chest. And well now, this is a nice position too, come to think of it. Two bodies fit together in a narrow space much better when arranged vertical than horizontal….

But Aoba tucked into his neck puts that apology very close to his ear. Clear turns his head to rest his cheek against Aoba’s hair (gently, always gently) and smooths one hand up and down the man’s back. ]

I forgive you, [ he says, though he was never truly offended. Even so, Aoba offers an apology so Clear naturally accepts it, and the feelings that go with it. ]

Saying it like that did surprise me, but…Aoba-san, you’re the one person in the world that’s believed in me more than any other. [ He nuzzles towards Aoba’s ear as best he can, speaking softly into it. ] As soon as I thought about it, I knew you wouldn’t say that kind of thing meaning to hurt me.

[Maybe it shouldn't make a difference, being forgiven - doing a bad thing is doing a bad thing, and forgiveness doesn't undo it - but Aoba feels overwhelming relief all the same. This is the one aspect of their occasional communication issues that he can't stand. Of course he'll work on understanding Clear, and on making himself understood - but accidentally hurting Clear? It's just too cruel! After everything Clear's been through, he deserves nothing but happiness.]

Of course not. I didn't mean it that way at all. [Sighing softly, he relaxes on top of Clear, flattening as if Clear stroking his back irons out his body.] It's just that... I never thought of your being a machine as a bad thing. Maybe it was a little strange at first, but... I knew something about you was different. So when I found out you were a robot, I just thought: "Ah, that's it. That's the part of Clear I was missing."

[All things considered, Aoba would probably be better off shutting up, but he has something to set right, and he's giving it his best try.]

Maybe it's complicated, being an android, but being a human is complicated, too. It's what you are, even if it's not who you are. And I think, if you weren't an android... if you hadn't been developed the way you were, we might never have met. We wouldn't have gone to Platinum Jail, we wouldn't have faced Toue...

[And so, so much more, but Aoba would honestly rather forget about the time Clear was broken, thank you very much. The bottom line is what's important.]

... you wouldn't have become my Clear. [Rather than possessive, it comes out as a very fragile thing. For better or worse, Aoba will never take Clear's presence for granted again.]

[ Whether Aoba opens his mouth to give a solid, thoughtful answer, or just to stick his foot in it, Clear listens. That’s always been what Aoba has done for him too, hasn’t it? When it’s really mattered, Aoba has listened to him. He’s answered his questions, listened to his thoughts, and let him express himself even as he fumbles to learn just who he really is.

Maybe they still run into snags like this one, and maybe they’ve run into larger and more serious snags overall than a “more normal” couple would have—but they’re both still trying, and neither one of them is about to give up on the other.

Clear’s surge in playfulness recedes as the tone in conversation shifts, but tenderness is still there to take its place. He feels Aoba physically relaxing and keeps his hand moving, and honestly enjoys the feeling of an Aoba-blanket. It’s a warm and reassuring weight…maybe Aoba could fall asleep like this?

But Aoba’s words softly find a target, Clear’s hand slowing a little as he absorbs them. His circuits go skittering at my Clear. It may not be possessively meant, but Clear still finds a reassuring sense of belonging in them. ]

I wonder. You were made to have a certain power in your voice, and I was made to hear that voice as ‘Master’. I may have gotten it “wrong” for what I was programmed for…but I got it right for everything else.

…Do you believe in the thing called ‘fate’, Aoba-san?

["Right for everything else", indeed. It's not that Aoba ever doubted Clear's feelings, but it still feels good to hear them. They feel the same way. When they hit snags like this, that simple fact works miracles in making Aoba stop sweating the small stuff (or even the big stuff, for that matter).

Clear's body may not be soft, but it's comfortable just for being there and being Clear, and Aoba doesn't think he ever wants to move from this position. No - maybe he just doesn't want this moment to end.]

I believe that there are things we can't be sure exist. We can't know for sure that they're real - but that doesn't mean they're not. Sometimes not knowing for sure is exactly what makes them so important.

But...

We were both made with a specific goal in mind, and we both managed to escape that destiny. So I think... our love is bigger than fate.

[They've found each other, and Aoba has never once doubted that Clear's love is real, even with his programming regarding Aoba's voice. Maybe, in this case if no other, the fact that they ended up like this makes the details of how it happened unimportant.]

the blanket burrito meme (gen or shipping).

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