Kotatsu Cuddles
Jan. 13th, 2020 08:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nyanderenekoWord Count: 1,316
Summary: On the hunt for her missing partner one evening, Nova stumbles upon Saruhiko asleep in one of the most unassuming places she could think of.
Author’s Note: Just a short self indulgent fic that’s been on my list for a while. I can’t help envisioning what it would be like to lay under the kotatsu with my f/os during the fall and winter months, it just seems so convenient and cozy and the perfect setting for snuggles ;w; I really wish I could enjoy that kind of thing with them irl, but alas. I suppose being able to write about it is one of the next best things! Also I couldn’t resist the idea after remembering what happened in canon when Akiyama and Benzai rescued a junk kotatsu from the side of the road heilsfjelsjfes
It was one of the most endearing sights she’d ever laid eyes on. So peaceful, so serene. As still and quiet as a painting. Peering through the gap in the door, she couldn’t decide if it would be a better idea to leave him alone or join him. She’d observed him in similar positions plenty of times before. Usually when they were curled up together, drifting in and out of consciousness in an attempt to recuperate some of the energy that their routine duties constantly drained from them. In the process of tracking him down this evening, having no inkling of where he could have disappeared to and failing to get in contact with him, this certainly wasn’t one of the places she’d planned on investigating.
By sheer coincidence she’d caught sight of a noteworthy feature through the door’s narrow crack, recognized just enough of the scene to piece together that his form was the one currently curled up on the floor. Tucked under a thick comforter like a toddler taking a nap, he appeared to be quite enjoying this rare opportunity for rest. No one else seemed to be around, which was a surprise, considering this wasn’t even his room. Everything about the scenario was unusual for him, really, but that only made it that much more significant to her. Perhaps it would be best to give him space and avoid bothering him, lest any disturbance she was likely to cause ended up ruining the rare calm he’d managed to find for himself at the moment.
Akiyama and Benzai had once regaled her with the tale of how Fushimi had so benevolently helped them transport and repair a junk kotatsu a few years back. Or, more precisely, he got roped into it because he happened to be with them at the time. On their way back to HQ after a successful assignment, they’d retrieved it from the side of the road out of impulse, as if the temptation of comfort the piece of furniture exuded was sentient and undeniable. The piece she was looking at now must have been the rumored one they’d refurbished, drug out again as a yearly tradition, which was common at this time of year. It’d seemed like such a silly anecdote to her at first, but also enlightening, considering what it revealed about Fushimi’s questionable character.
Deep down, he really wasn’t that bad. None of her fellow officers needed her to tell them that, and he’d grown quite amicable over the course of their relationship. They softened each other, gave each other a place and person to be vulnerable with, a reliable wellspring of understanding and support that reminded them it was safe to let their guard down, at least a little bit. Perhaps that was part of what had inspired him to allow himself to indulge in this minor luxury, seizing the opportunity to utilize what the setting had to offer.
She concluded that the room’s actual tenants must have taken a temporary leave in order to fulfill a task, or perhaps retrieve something. Nova wondered if Fushimi had made his move to infiltrate the space of his own accord, or if he’d been coaxed into it and summarily lost any real desire to fight back. It wasn’t like they were asking him to do anything unpleasant, after all…that much was obvious, considering the state she’d found him in. If she was going to stand here and keep staring, there wasn’t really any point in dawdling or trying to talk herself out of it, either. Carefully nudging the door open, she slipped inside and stepped over to him as quietly as she could manage.
She brushed some hair out of his face and removed his glasses as she sat down next to him; he must have drifted off before he even noticed he was doing so. Placing them safely out of the way on the tabletop, she gave his hair a few more strokes, combing her fingers through the soft, ruffled strands almost reverently. She never got tired of seeing him like this, so untroubled and relaxed. Now that he had someone to nag him about his less than acceptable sleeping habits, he’d been getting more rest than before, and she hoped that extra downtime gave both his body and mind some much needed relief from the weight of his responsibilities.
Switching sides so she could face him, she double checked with both her eyes and ears to ensure there was no immediate threat of being interrupted. She wondered if crawling in beside him would be enough to disturb him from his sensitive slumber. It was kind of hit or miss with him, depending on just how tired and deep in the clutches of unconsciousness he happened to be. But she’d made it this far, and abandoning him now would have felt like a waste. Lifting the blanket and shimmying into the empty space beneath, she realized that occupying any of the other empty sides would have solved most of the problems she was worrying about. She couldn’t have been as close to him if she’d taken any of the easier options, though, and the reward was worth more than the risk to her.
“You really are terrible at being sneaky.” Well, she shouldn’t be surprised. With one dark blue eye squinting in her direction, she shrugged and snuggled up against him properly, since any reason for employing stealth had become obsolete. “Even with something as simple as infiltrating a room. It’s even less excusable for you. Aren’t cats supposed to be masters of stealth?”
“I feel like you and everyone else always forget that I’m not just a cat,” Nova defended indignantly, wrapping the blanket tighter around the two of them. “I wasn’t even born like this. I didn’t have any of these characteristics until I was like at least five, and yeah, I know I’ve technically lived my whole life this way, but--”
“Shh, it’s alright, I’m just kidding,” Fushimi soothed, nestling her against his chest. “You know I’m kidding, I just couldn’t help myself. You make it so easy. But I don’t want to fight about it, I’m too tired. Although I’m glad you found me and decided to join in.”
“What made you want to come in here and lay under this thing, anyway? It’s not like you to be so forward when it comes to stuff like this. Unless you were dragged into it, but even then--”
“A little bit of both,” he answered through a yawn. “But it’s still so quiet in here with them gone. I want to try to get back to sleep before they get back and make it impossible.”
“As if they aren’t just going to pass out like you did after laying under this thing for five minutes,” she laughed. “That’s just what it does to people, it seems.”
“If that’s really how it works, you should be asleep too, then” he pointed out, absently petting her hair.
“Fine, I guess you’re right. And I didn’t originally intend on waking you up in the first place…”
“I’m glad you did,” he confessed. “Because now I know you’re here, which automatically makes everything better.”
He imprinted her forehead with a warm kiss before she ducked down and buried her face in his chest, unsure if the sensation was a result of his skin or her own. It was hard to tell if the heat enveloping the rest of her body came from the mechanism she was laying under, or the arms that embraced her. It didn’t really matter, not being able to parse where one heat source ended and the other began. The important thing was that she was here beside him, that they could lay together like this, and just enjoy the simple pleasure of each other’s company.
Summary: On the hunt for her missing partner one evening, Nova stumbles upon Saruhiko asleep in one of the most unassuming places she could think of.
Author’s Note: Just a short self indulgent fic that’s been on my list for a while. I can’t help envisioning what it would be like to lay under the kotatsu with my f/os during the fall and winter months, it just seems so convenient and cozy and the perfect setting for snuggles ;w; I really wish I could enjoy that kind of thing with them irl, but alas. I suppose being able to write about it is one of the next best things! Also I couldn’t resist the idea after remembering what happened in canon when Akiyama and Benzai rescued a junk kotatsu from the side of the road heilsfjelsjfes
__________
It was one of the most endearing sights she’d ever laid eyes on. So peaceful, so serene. As still and quiet as a painting. Peering through the gap in the door, she couldn’t decide if it would be a better idea to leave him alone or join him. She’d observed him in similar positions plenty of times before. Usually when they were curled up together, drifting in and out of consciousness in an attempt to recuperate some of the energy that their routine duties constantly drained from them. In the process of tracking him down this evening, having no inkling of where he could have disappeared to and failing to get in contact with him, this certainly wasn’t one of the places she’d planned on investigating.
By sheer coincidence she’d caught sight of a noteworthy feature through the door’s narrow crack, recognized just enough of the scene to piece together that his form was the one currently curled up on the floor. Tucked under a thick comforter like a toddler taking a nap, he appeared to be quite enjoying this rare opportunity for rest. No one else seemed to be around, which was a surprise, considering this wasn’t even his room. Everything about the scenario was unusual for him, really, but that only made it that much more significant to her. Perhaps it would be best to give him space and avoid bothering him, lest any disturbance she was likely to cause ended up ruining the rare calm he’d managed to find for himself at the moment.
Akiyama and Benzai had once regaled her with the tale of how Fushimi had so benevolently helped them transport and repair a junk kotatsu a few years back. Or, more precisely, he got roped into it because he happened to be with them at the time. On their way back to HQ after a successful assignment, they’d retrieved it from the side of the road out of impulse, as if the temptation of comfort the piece of furniture exuded was sentient and undeniable. The piece she was looking at now must have been the rumored one they’d refurbished, drug out again as a yearly tradition, which was common at this time of year. It’d seemed like such a silly anecdote to her at first, but also enlightening, considering what it revealed about Fushimi’s questionable character.
Deep down, he really wasn’t that bad. None of her fellow officers needed her to tell them that, and he’d grown quite amicable over the course of their relationship. They softened each other, gave each other a place and person to be vulnerable with, a reliable wellspring of understanding and support that reminded them it was safe to let their guard down, at least a little bit. Perhaps that was part of what had inspired him to allow himself to indulge in this minor luxury, seizing the opportunity to utilize what the setting had to offer.
She concluded that the room’s actual tenants must have taken a temporary leave in order to fulfill a task, or perhaps retrieve something. Nova wondered if Fushimi had made his move to infiltrate the space of his own accord, or if he’d been coaxed into it and summarily lost any real desire to fight back. It wasn’t like they were asking him to do anything unpleasant, after all…that much was obvious, considering the state she’d found him in. If she was going to stand here and keep staring, there wasn’t really any point in dawdling or trying to talk herself out of it, either. Carefully nudging the door open, she slipped inside and stepped over to him as quietly as she could manage.
She brushed some hair out of his face and removed his glasses as she sat down next to him; he must have drifted off before he even noticed he was doing so. Placing them safely out of the way on the tabletop, she gave his hair a few more strokes, combing her fingers through the soft, ruffled strands almost reverently. She never got tired of seeing him like this, so untroubled and relaxed. Now that he had someone to nag him about his less than acceptable sleeping habits, he’d been getting more rest than before, and she hoped that extra downtime gave both his body and mind some much needed relief from the weight of his responsibilities.
Switching sides so she could face him, she double checked with both her eyes and ears to ensure there was no immediate threat of being interrupted. She wondered if crawling in beside him would be enough to disturb him from his sensitive slumber. It was kind of hit or miss with him, depending on just how tired and deep in the clutches of unconsciousness he happened to be. But she’d made it this far, and abandoning him now would have felt like a waste. Lifting the blanket and shimmying into the empty space beneath, she realized that occupying any of the other empty sides would have solved most of the problems she was worrying about. She couldn’t have been as close to him if she’d taken any of the easier options, though, and the reward was worth more than the risk to her.
“You really are terrible at being sneaky.” Well, she shouldn’t be surprised. With one dark blue eye squinting in her direction, she shrugged and snuggled up against him properly, since any reason for employing stealth had become obsolete. “Even with something as simple as infiltrating a room. It’s even less excusable for you. Aren’t cats supposed to be masters of stealth?”
“I feel like you and everyone else always forget that I’m not just a cat,” Nova defended indignantly, wrapping the blanket tighter around the two of them. “I wasn’t even born like this. I didn’t have any of these characteristics until I was like at least five, and yeah, I know I’ve technically lived my whole life this way, but--”
“Shh, it’s alright, I’m just kidding,” Fushimi soothed, nestling her against his chest. “You know I’m kidding, I just couldn’t help myself. You make it so easy. But I don’t want to fight about it, I’m too tired. Although I’m glad you found me and decided to join in.”
“What made you want to come in here and lay under this thing, anyway? It’s not like you to be so forward when it comes to stuff like this. Unless you were dragged into it, but even then--”
“A little bit of both,” he answered through a yawn. “But it’s still so quiet in here with them gone. I want to try to get back to sleep before they get back and make it impossible.”
“As if they aren’t just going to pass out like you did after laying under this thing for five minutes,” she laughed. “That’s just what it does to people, it seems.”
“If that’s really how it works, you should be asleep too, then” he pointed out, absently petting her hair.
“Fine, I guess you’re right. And I didn’t originally intend on waking you up in the first place…”
“I’m glad you did,” he confessed. “Because now I know you’re here, which automatically makes everything better.”
He imprinted her forehead with a warm kiss before she ducked down and buried her face in his chest, unsure if the sensation was a result of his skin or her own. It was hard to tell if the heat enveloping the rest of her body came from the mechanism she was laying under, or the arms that embraced her. It didn’t really matter, not being able to parse where one heat source ended and the other began. The important thing was that she was here beside him, that they could lay together like this, and just enjoy the simple pleasure of each other’s company.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-01-17 02:39 am (UTC)Secondly this was unbelievably adorable. I know I already said so on Line but I had to say it again ;__;