And They Were Roommates

Lyutsirov
He left a singular flower on the table after standing in front of the garbage can in the kitchen for a while, debating why he had even brought it with him. It was a lily, one of the 'leftover' ones from the shop, tho, there was no such thing as leftovers. He felt restless now that he was there, an impulse decision he'd made and now wondered why.

Well, there was a simple reason behind it, but why had he decided to bring it FOR HIM, was what had Lyon so annoyed with himself. He was the one who had been insisting on setting his roommate up with others, let him 'have some fun' and 'mess around', but there was a charm to the much nicer and hardworking guy who lived with him. The small gestures the redhead had not been expecting were now tugging at his heartstrings and he hated it.

Fingers tapped on the dinner table, next to the flower as mismatched eyes looked at the kitchen clock.

Daniel would be home soon.

He has mentioned about going out again, having a drink, it was pretty much the weekend after all, and what better time to spend a friday night than decompressing at a local pub ? But he was second guessing himself now. Lyon stared at the door, then the flower still on the table and stepped away from it, pacing around in the living room.

Dan would be there soon.

Lyon rolled his eyes, kicking one of the chairs to the side in frustration, before stepping into his room, attempting to slam the door closed but it just bounced off and remained open anyway. He stared at it, defeated. The redhead sighed, and started changing from the dirt stained clothes he'd been wearing, waiting for the sound of the door opening and for his roommate to get home.

Arkraiden
Daniel took a while staring at the door. He wasn't even standing right outside of their apartment yet, but the entrance of the building itself. It didn't seem as though there were much others passing by, so he thought to take a moment longer contemplating.

A pack of timbits wasn't much, but he thought it'd be something at the very least. A little bit of a peace offering of sorts? Why would he even need that? It wasn't like they had a fight previously, just... Things felt a bit off recently. Then again, Dan wasn't really sure how things like this were supposed to go in the first place.

It was Lyon's suggestion. He was the one offering, pushing even for a while. But now it just felt like... There was something wrong that he couldn't quite get. Did he do something? It didn't seem like much, but ceasing to drag him along after all the talk before started to feel a bit...

He shook his head and finally decided to enter the building. It will be fine, he can just talk to him if he's around. It wasn't like the other really cared that much, did he? Clearly, Lyon's had others. He's just been playing the nice roommate for him. It was something anyone could be bound to do for someone eventually. At least, Daniel would like to believe so.

Another moment of hesitation as he stood right at the door of their apartment. Holding the doorknob, he wondered if his roommate was already there. Like just... Right there on the other side... Whatever happens.
He went in and locked the door behind him just in case. Setting a few things down, he moved to their table to leave the timbits for later.

It was then when he took notice of the lily.
A few blinks past, Daniel carefully picked up the flower to look at it closer. It was a real one. It seemed pretty.
Did Lyon left this here?

"Lyon? ...Mister Kitty?"
Daniel called out, looking towards their rooms after putting the flower back on the table, making himself gulp down a sudden nervousness as he noticed the door was open.

Ah.

Lyutsirov
-"You're here"- Lyon spoke, stopping what he was doing, then quickly sliding the clean shirt fully down his torso, before his attitude changed again. -"They finally let you out, huh ? No one else keepin' you busy, Little Mouse ?"- The redhead asked stepping out of the room and leaning against the doorframe, eyebrows raised, staring at Daniel.

Mismatched eyes glanced over to the flower still on the table, as he decided to not wait too patiently for a reply before walking over to it and reach out to grab it again. He wanted to squish it in his hand, pull the petals off in frustration, and hand over what remained, but instead, he simply held it tight, fingers pressing on one of the petals. Lyon turned to look at Daniel, offering the flower to him.

-"Take it"- The redhead said, more as a command than offering a gift. -"It's yours"- He added, in an attempt to correct his tone from seconds ago.
-"Bet none of your pick ups from the pub have given ya one before"- Lyon grinned, somewhat proudly. Of course they hadn't, why would they ? Otherwise that'd mean they're interested in more than just 'having a night of fun' and the thought, the consideration of it made the redhead's blood boil. -"Have they ?"- He asked, trying to tiptoe around the topic to get the answers he wanted.
It was almost as if he was looking for an excuse to blow things out of proportion, an excuse to lash out, but there was none at the moment. None, and it was getting increasingly annoying.

Arkraiden
"Yeah uh, sorry I didn't come home sooner. Just made sure everything was done before I had to go." Daniel shrugged as he answered, motioning over to the timbits. "If you feel like it." He offered with a little smile and then just stared back at Lyon as he spoke more. "There weren't anything else." He answered firmly, eventually, crossing his arms as he watched him go pick up the flower.

Flinching a bit after the somewhat unexpected tone, Daniel took a moment to recover before quickly yet carefully grabbing the lily while muttering a soft thanks. His gaze lingered on it more as he seemed to gingerly feel out the petals. So it was him. A bit cutesy of a gift perhaps coming from the roommate he found to be rough and edgy on most occasions- but it was a welcomed present nonetheless. He loved lilies.

"Huh?" He blurted out, caught off guard with the comment. Never given- he was concerned about one of those one night stands people giving him gifts? Why?
"No, no one has tried anything like that. I don't really... Get anything out of those afterwards. Are you supposed to? Am I just unlucky in that department?" Daniel tried to joke, chuckling at his own delivery because it probably sucked. Hahh. He didn't like this tension he was feeling in the air.

Lyutsirov
The questions that came after from Dan only showed how inexperienced his roommate was with the whole business, but how unaware the other seemed of Lyon's intentions annoyed him. Could the smaller male not read the room ? The ginger's fingers curled up into a fist. He knew he hadn't been clear enough, he knew he'd have to speak, to say something about it, but opening up and admitting any feelings to someone was something he struggled with. Why couldn't things just be easier ? Lyon felt like gripping Daniel's shoulders, like yelling 'Why can't you read my mind ?!' and shaking him to get an answer out of him, but that would do nothing. Nothing at all.

-"I don't..."- He started after a deep breath, containing the anger and frustration he felt bubbling up. -"I don't like you seeing those people anymore..."-
But, it was your idea. Lyon reminded himself and cursed in his head.
-"It's dangerous and stupid, and, infuriating!"- The taller male barked, trying to excuse his own words, come up with an explanation.

He took a step closer and gestured at the flower. -"Don't! Don't accept gifts from strangers, but you know that, yeah ?"- Strangers that were not him.

Listening to the impulse yelling at the back of his head, Lyon's hands landed on Daniel's shoulders, holding them tightly, as mismatched eyes met the other's own.
-"I wanna be the one giving them to you!"- He blurted out, growing silent after those words, but holding Daniel's gaze with an intense glare, as he worked on figuring how to say the words that now found themselves stuck in his throat.

One of the hands that had been gripping at the smaller male's shoulder moved absentmindedly to rest on his neck, and slide up to his cheek. The gesture was contrastingly gentle compared to everything Lyon had done up to that point.

-"I don't want you seeing anyone else anymore, Little Mouse"- He spoke after a bit, closing his eyes tightly and sighing.
-"This is fucking hard"-

Arkraiden
Daniel couldn't help taking a step back when it was becoming clearer how irritated Lyon was right now. Especially when he noticed the fist. It confused him, but verbally questioning it all right in that moment felt like a bad move. Didn't change how almost immediate he wanted to retort back at Lyon for describing the hook ups as dangerous and more. He knew that, but it also wasn't any extreme danger to cause such... Worry? Why was Lyon worried? Just because Dan was smaller and weaker, was that it? He furrowed his brows at the thought, making more of an upset expression back, but still trying to hold back.

"I...was joking. Sorry." was the most he could admit in reaction to the other telling him not to accept things from strangers. It was common sense. Just that clearly Lyon wasn't fond of the jokes in the moment. Daniel felt himself holding the flower closer to his chest, protectively in a way with how he brought up his other hand as if to shield it somewhat. Threatening. This whole situation felt too threatening, yet it also didn't really... Seem to be directed completely at him.
He was merely the only other person Lyon could shout at.

And then he felt frightened yet confusingly flattered with the bigger guy's actions and all the words he was able to get out.
He tried to keep eye contact, as if that was the most he could do to continue standing against Lyon and not just back out when he wanted to genuinely understand better what was wrong this whole time. He wanted to be the one gifting... Doesn't want others being with him...
Daniel could feel his face heating up a bit from it all finally sinking in while Lyon gently held his cheek now.
No, really? Was Lyon actually jealous or, no way.
...how else was he supposed to think about this though?

His expression softened greatly as he found himself at a lost for words. He gulped down the weird feeling in his throat and carefully held the hand Lyon had at his cheek.
"You... Want me? I, I've been... I thought that since you were used to all that stuff that I was just... Another guy to you- or something. I'm sorry, I, I wanted... I didn't think that you'd actually want me-" He stopped himself, considering his further words as he leaned more into the other's touch. "...do you love me?"
He didn't like that he was bracing for more yelling, but he could get that it sounded like a stupid question. He wouldn't blame him on this one.

Lyutsirov
Lyon was aware how lucky he was the one on the receiving end of his fit was so patient, so measured, because otherwise, it would've turned into an exchange of yelling and screaming, insults and retorts. Something more along the lines of what he was used to, but instead, the ginger's hands remained where they were. His fiery and volatile temper starting to settle down when he noticed the other's expression soften.

His fingers flinched slightly at the touch, more ready for the other to recoil due to his demeanor and way he'd spoken than for Dan to just, receive it ? It was that easy, wasn't it ? All he had to do was say it, instead of tiptoeing around how he felt.
-"I don't want anyone else to..."- He bit his tongue, taking a deep breath, and correcting his statement. -"I want you!"- Lyon spat out. -"I do, I want you!"- He repeated.

Once more, his words came to a halt at the question. Just about ready to answer out of impulse, but the word held a weight to it. His second hand moved to hold the other side of Daniel's face, squishy both cheeks as he looked at him in the eyes, frowning, staring at him before letting go and taking a step back.
Why did he had to make it so hard to himself ?

-"It infuriates me to know you have been with others, because I want to be the one to see your stupid half drunk smiles!"- He stated, looking down and away momentarily as if rearranging the words in his head. -"I want you, Little Mouse, I want you"- He repeated.

Arkraiden
Daniel's face became quite flushed with the answer. He opened his mouth as if to try responding a little more before he got squished. A few blinks were done, but he looked at Lyon with expectant eyes, slight concern, and care. He seemed to lean in a bit more after Lyon had let go, wanting more of that touch now.

It took him a bit before deciding to give him a small smile that already started to grow a bit wider as he tried to hold back a chuckle about the half drunk smiles. Oh he definitely seemed to be serious about this whole ordeal. Found the soft spot in the tough guy. His own heart felt like it was beating to fast in his chest as Lyon repeated his words and it kept sinking in harder.

It was strangely endearing and lifted some sort of weight off his chest. All this time that he had thought to go to somewhere else, to someone else, just because he didn't think the other would've been fine with it, hell, greatly preferred it... It all felt so stupidly unnecessary now. But, it's out now. Felt rude to turn a blind eye to all of this now.

Daniel lifted his hand to gently caress Lyon's cheek as he smiled warmly. "I... I want you too, Mister Kitty. I've been wanting you for... A good while now, actually. Just..." He briefly looked away, disappointed at himself. "...just fooled myself into thinking you didn't."
"But-" The hand moved to firmly hold onto Lyon's arm, the other wanting to do the same, but wasn't willing to damage the flower that has now become more precious than before. He looked back at Lyon, keeping eye contact as firmly as his grip as he said "I want to be around you more. I... I want to be with you, Lyon. To have fun with, hang out, more..."
...so much more. It felt awkward to even attempt to say it. He may had just said the word a minute ago, but it meant so much...
He didn't want it to be too good yet. Lest it be untrue.

Lyutsirov
Lyon watched carefully as Dan's hand moved closer to his face, blinking when it made contact, half expecting another sort of reaction from the one he got, so it took the ginger a second or two to realize that had not been the case. It was touch, but it was gentle. He blinked again.
For a good while ?
Probably for a similar amount of time he had been so frustrated at himself without wanting to admit what he suspected was happening.

The taller man chuckled.
-"I sure as hell acted like I didn't"- Lyon pointed out, aware that his own attitude made things harder than they had to be. His hands moved back to cup Daniel's face in between them. -"But it was frustrating to pretend not to"-

The corner of his lips curled up slightly at the words that came next. Imagine, wanting to spend time with him. He couldn't help but chuckle again.
-"It's funny because you feel so different"- There was a moment of pause as he felt the need to clarify. -"Good, different"-

His hands gently squished the other's cheeks again. Soft. Daniel was soft, honest, gentle, and so many other things that contrasted with his day-to-day. Lyon took a breath in.
-"Me too, Little Mouse"- He leaned down, forehead pressed against the smaller male's, and mismatched eyes focused on Daniel's own, trailing lower as one of his hands slid down to the other's neck instead and Lyon leaned down even more.

He didn't thought, nor did he ask before he pressed his lips against Dan's. Firm, perhaps a tad forceful, letting his frustration through. His hand holding firmly onto the other's shoulder now.
It took a couple seconds before the taller male pulled away.
-"Let's do more of that then"- He grinned. -"And more of this too"-

Arkraiden
Daniel hummed for a short while, almost sounding like a low squeek as his cheeks got cupped again. Pretend not to- he started wondering how long had Lyon felt like this, but it also seemed like the little actions could speak for themselves in this moment. He leaned more to one of his hands, wanting to savor the hold.

"...different... From- from others?" There was the conflicted feeling again. They were just talking about it all, it can't be much, especially when he clarified it was a "good" different.  He decided to just quiet down and enjoy the touch, his own hand moving from Lyon's arm to the shoulder.
Dan moved his other hand more to his side, still trying to be aware of the flower. Such a delicate little thing, but the actions he wanted to take could likely crush it...

A little gasp escaped him as he was soon pulled into a kiss. He closed his eyes, leaned more into it and tried to keep himself steady from the suddenness of it.
Daniel was left quietly gasping as the other pulled away. And then he chuckled lightly with amusement.

"I would love to do that more. I'll try not to be so breathless next time." He laughed at himself. Thinking about it for a while, he gave a grin back. "...we don't have to wait for next time." He quickly moved his arms to go over Lyon's shoulders as he went in for another kiss, wanting to show his own frustration a little better. Couldn't help start trying to pull the taller male down even if he didn't had the actual strength to do so.
Though, the drag was mostly done with the arms rather than his hands. Still found a way to try keeping the lily safe.

Daniel kept like that as much as he could before pulling away. He didn't seem to be gasping as hard as before, but he was laughing quietly and smiling wide. "I definitely love doing that more." The shorter male declared before leaning completely against the other.

Lyutsirov
Lyon grinned, quick with his words and responses as usual.
-"Oh, I will give you more reasons to be breathless, don't you worry"- He teased, confident in that promise, giving himself and Daniel something to look forward to. There was a blink, as the redhead wondered if he had seen the expression on the smaller smaller male change properly. A grin ?

Next thing he knew he was pulled in towards Daniel, lips, once again, pressed against each other's. Lyon leaned in closer, letting the other take the lead for now, give into what he wanted, eyes slowly closing to savour the kiss further, as the corners of his lips curled up feeling the other not wanting to let go.

The taller male nodded in agreement, opening his eyes to focus on Daniel's own once the kiss ended. He joined the other with a chuckle, still leaning down to keep his face close to the other's. Mismatched gaze glancing down every few seconds, obviously considering going for more, getting carried away, but he chuckles against instead.
-"You can put the flower on the table"- Lyon pointed out, aware Daniel had yet to let go of it. -"I will get ya more"- Eyes flickered back down as he closed the barely existing distance between them again, this time making the kiss rather brief in comparison to the first two. -"A lot more"-

There was a pause, and, for a moment, Lyon dropped the teasing grin and confident look, both hands moving back to cup Dan's face in between them.
-"I'm trying to not get carried away"- He admitted, eyes glancing away for a moment as he felt a slight warmth on his face, with a more bashful expression than he had likely shown before, before his brow furrowed again, and he looked back at the face he held in his hands. -"I'm trying to do things better... what is better for you, Little Mouse ? Tell me"-

Arkraiden
"Mmm, I just wanted to treasure having this one a little longer. Moments like these become...so special." Daniel responded to the suggestion as he glanced at the flower in his grasp, even deciding to feel out the petals a little more. The smile on his face remained ever warm with the offer, no, promise on giving him more flowers.
The quick kiss given left him a bit wanting for more, but also gratefully taking it as a sign to being able to do such actions more himself. Not everything had to be a whole experience, but small shows of affection were definitely welcomed. "I can't wait for all of them, hehe~" He hummed with glee.

What could describe this feeling? Freeing, light, even if there could be so many things that could bother him- but it didn't feel like they mattered in this moment. Dan couldn't look away even if the other hadn't held his face in place. The way Lyon felt so... Genuine, softer than before yet still determined in a way... He didn't want to say anything wrong that could ruin the moment. Though, it took him longer to find what to say with how he wanted to just... Admire Lyon for a few more seconds.

"... Thank you, Lyon. Thank you for this, all of it, haha." He started off, wanting to reassure him first. "I appreciate you trying. I'm... Glad that we've talked this out, as well. I guess- I'd want more communication? More just... Talking things out, okay? If something's upsetting you, I would want to know. I've... Haha, I wasn't sure if I was ever going to be able to talk to you about this for some reason." Daniel looked away as much as he could, regretting ever feeling like it wasn't possible, but he sighed and shook his head slightly at the thoughts.
"I just...want to feel good with you, Mister Kitty. Even- even if it's not through more physical things- that's-" He found himself laughing at the obvious way those words could be taken, but tried to stop it to speak further. "You know- I want to be with you, knowing that you're okay, could actually be... Happy with me..." He held one of the taller male's hands once more, fingers gently resting against his.
Daniel closed his eyes for a few moments, considering his next words.

"I don't expect you to do things perfectly- no one does. But, you trying already... Means a lot to me. I'll help you as you need it. You deserve that at least." He looked back into Lyon's eyes with a loving warmth and smiling as if there was nothing that could wear it down in the moment.

Lyutsirov
Cheesy. The words that came out of the other were rather cheesy, but wasn't that the norm ? This whole endeavor had turned out better than he had come to expect, no arguments, no yelling, no snapping at each other... And the smile on Daniel's face made it hard for the redhead to not want to trust. This was good, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Lyon blinked.
-"Right..."- There was a slight frown on the redhead's face when the other thanked him, shaking it off quickly to listen to whatever else he was going to say before jumping to conclusions as he normally would. Patience, that was one thing he could work on. -"I can try that"- The taller male nodded, glancing down at the floor. Those were words he had heard before from the only family he ever cared about. 'If something's upsetting you, I would want to know'.

Lyon nodded again, chuckling to himself. -"Well, 'cause I sure ain't easy to talk to, and I mean talk, talk"- He admitted. The words that came next were quickly blurted out without much of a second thought. -"I can be happy with you!"- He spoke up, pressing his lips together right after the words were spoken, taken aback by the look the smaller male was giving him, the smile, and the patience and understanding.
This was good, and that was alright too.

The taller male reached and pulled Daniel in close, head resting on the other's shoulder as he spoke.
-"I love your smile, Little Mouse"-

Arkraiden
"Hmph- I guess, but there's still a bit on my end for at least not trying sooner." Dan shrugged at the comment on not being easy to talk to.  There was some charm to their previous talks- wouldn't have grown onto him otherwise. The way that Lyon quickly reacted to him mentioning about actually being happy with him caught Daniel off guard, yet added some delight in his heart. No hesitation, huh?

He shouldn't worry then. No need to worry much with all that's been said...at least not right now.
Daniel took slow breaths while trying to get his mind to focus on the present. It was okay here and now. It was... Safe. The pull back close thankfully helped snapping him out of the intrusive thoughts train. Lyon resting his head made him decide on doing the same, arms back to wrapping themselves around the taller male, though they went below Lyon's arms rather than over like before. Nice and close...
...his smile, huh?

"... I love your hugs, Mister Kitty~ It feels so warm and safe..." He hummed softly, leaning into it all the more.

It all turned out okay in the end. He can be grateful for that.