Title: moments of affection
Rating: T
Fandom: Lamento
Relationship: Konoe/Rai
Wordcount: 1200
Short summary: 5 times Rai does something quietly nice and 1 time he is open about his feelings for Konoe.
1.
Passing nights outside certainly roughs up one's physical state, but it's not like Konoe and Rai have a choice with villages sparse and paths between rarely traveled. Tonight a large tree serves as their rest spot of choice. Rai takes out a whetstone to polish his blade, leaving Konoe to decide how to pass the time before sleep. Leaning back against the tree, he notices how ragged his tail looks. They’ve only been on the road a few days, but grooming it should help…
Except because of its crookedness or Konoe's lack of range, Konoe can see but can’t reach this troublesome spot on his tail, and…
"Sit still."
Rai sounds irritated, so although Konoe huffs, he obeys Rai nonetheless. Really, he could have figured out how to reach that troublesome spot eventually. But fine, Rai can reach it better. Having Rai groom that spot does feel good, although the purrs Konoe emits when Rai scratches said spot are embarrassing…
“There. Now you look as pretty as you should.”
Konoe blinks. His tail looks nice now, but, wait, did Rai say he was pretty? He can't ask, though, because Rai has already turned his attention back to his sword. Alas.
2.
Returning to Ransen after a week of travel is like entering another world. It doesn't help that their arrival synchronizes with the start of the spring festival. Going from seeing no other Ribika to seeing no space between Ribika is a hard adjustment, and Konoe finds his head swiveling as he tries to orient himself. Bardo's inn should be over…?
"Your hand."
"Yes?"
Konoe is surprised when Rai grabs his hand. Rai isn't a tactile type except when he's in a certain mood, and that's unlikely happening out here…
“You’ll get lost.” Rai states.
Konoe's ears and nose twitch. "I…”
But words die on his lips. What can he argue? Konoe wants to counter the insinuation that he’d still get lost even after so many visits to Ransen, but, on the other hand, he is feeling overwhelmed…
Rai smirks, as if he’s right because Konoe is bad with words. But only for a moment. He tugs on Konoe's hand lightly. "Come on, let's go. Before he rents out our room."
Rai's hold on Konoe's hand is less like one would keep hold of a lost child and more like one would engage in with a lover. Wait, is that why…?
3.
"One bag."
"Understood."
Early in the morning, the markets aren't too crowded and the sellers aren't too aggressive, which is why Konoe looks on in confusion as Rai uses his own share of their recent bounty money, money that he is generally stingy with, to buy a bag of kuims. A whole bag! Without any coercion! There must be at least twenty inside…
“You miss having these.”
Rai states this like an obvious answer to a question Konoe was about to ask.
“But you don’t eat these.”
It doesn't mean Konoe understands Rai's action. Is Rai…giving him a present?
"They're fine." Rai takes one out and brings it to his mouth. Konoe watches, feeling a mix of surprise and disappointment. It wasn't a present?
"Or in exchange I can eat something else." Rai smirks. "What will you offer?"
Rai's gaze deliberately sweeps up and down Konoe's body. Konoe can't help but blush deeply.
"You…!"
Konoe’s complaints die when the bag of kuims is thrown at him. He catches it reflexively before registering the weight in his left hand.
Rai laughs. "Just joking." He turns around and starts walking away, leaving Konoe to wonder what this moment was all about.
4.
For their next bounty they’re fighting a creature who tried to devour a local farm's harvest. As this is a typical job for them, Rai and Konoe have their plan of attack. Except the difficulty of their target makes Konoe use his Sanga powers for the first time in a while.
Exhausted, Konoe would sink down to his knees but instead he's swept up by them.
“If I don’t carry you, you’ll get yourself injured and that will delay our departure.”
Rai doesn't want to linger here, despite the free lodging, for some reason Konoe doesn't understand yet.
“But…”
Do they need to rush? And does he need to be carried like this? Konoe admits that it's nice to not be on his own feet, but with one arm under his knees and the other under his back, cradled to Rai's chest like a baby…
With Konoe's current size, this is rather…
"But what about on your back instead?" That is another, less embarrassing way to be carried.
Rai laughs. "I already got you. Let's get back to our room already."
Konoe hides his face as they pass by strangers. It’s so red, because Rai just had to be so…
5.
There is something wrong with this bed.
Konoe can't figure out a good sleeping position, even though he is tired. Even though sleeping in a bed is a luxury compared to camping out in the wild. Is the mattress too soft? Are the blankets too itchy? Is the pillow…
“The pillow is no good.”
Rai pulls Konoe into an embrace. Now Konoe's head rests against his chest. It is more comfortable than the pillow, but…
“It’s too hot.”
Konoe's body feels flushed. He feels like he's going to sweat through his clothes.
“Then strip.”
“What?”
"Or if you're experiencing heat, then we can mate."
Konoe blinks in confusion. There's no way he's in heat; it's well past the season. Rai must mean…
"Mate as in mmmph—"
Rai's kiss prevents any more words. It's not even a forceful one, just a simple press of lips.
"Go to sleep, Konoe."
Rai slides his right hand under Konoe's shirt and rubs circles on Konoe's back. Konoe expects his shirt to come off next but nothing like that happens. Rai's hand simply caresses Konoe rhythmically, sending Konoe to sleep…
Only the next morning does Konoe find out that they also forewent blankets on top.
+1
They run into Asato out in the northern woods by happenstance while chasing another bounty. It's a pleasant surprise for Konoe at least, since it doesn't hurt to have another fighter when tracking a beast among all these trees.
After the fight, Konoe notices a cut on his arm. Asato moves towards him, but…
"Ah!"
Konoe finds himself snatched into Rai's embrace before Asato can reach him. Which makes Konoe look up at Rai in confusion.
“He was going to lick you.”
Konoe's gaze swings to Asato. Asato frowns. “I wasn’t…”
“And he can’t." Arms tighten around Konoe. "Because you’re mine.”
Konoe freezes, shocked by those words. He has never heard Rai be so direct. Now that he thinks back, lately Rai has been…
"I'll just… go." Asato, sensing the mood, slips away a moment later.
Konoe squirms in Rai's arms. "You didn't have to…" Chase Asato away like that?
"I did." Rai sighs as he loosens his embrace. "I need you."
"I… need you too." Konoe feels his entire body flush. But when Rai has been showing Konoe love, Konoe can at least say something back…
And initiate the ensuing kiss, expressing all his love for Rai in return…