foulplayed | INBOX

There's truth in Balthus's ruminating as he watches Yuri crack open the beers. These days he only gets to let his rougher edges show in the comfort of their own home; there's too much at stake here, too many people whose attention he needs to curate in a particular way, but at home? His shoulder loosen, his smile comes easy, and he's as close to himself as he can be.

He feels Balthus's warmth before the wrap of his arms pull him in, and he chuckles low as he lets himself lean back against the press of his chest. It's like something shifts into place in that intimate little moment: sure, he's mostly naked and being held in his lover's arms, but it's at times like this that Yuri feels like he really, truly belongs.

Perhaps it's that 'home' feeling Balthus is pondering. Perhaps this is all he really needs to know that he's going to be alright.

"Mm ... well, who could say no to that, huh?"

Yuri shifts just enough to press a kiss to Balthus's jaw, Synchrony already stirring through their bodies as their bond thums with warmth between them. He's careful (and perhaps even a smidge reluctant) when he finally peels himself away, setting both of the plates and cutlery by Balthus's chair before reaching to take a swig of his beer. He shands with one hip cocked, his free hand stroking along the back of the chair as he flashes Balthus a playful little grin:

"Have a seat, hot stuff."

"Now there's a sight to stop a man dead in his tracks. You in nothing but that apron and a beer in your hand."

...So he's a man of discerning tastes. Regardless, Balthus doesn't waste any time before doing as Yuri suggests, heading over and settling into the chair with his knees slightly spread and the seat pushed back far enough from the table that there's room for someone slender to squirm in between the two, though the fit will be unmistakably cozy if they try.

At least Yuri seems to be feeling a little better, from earlier. Either he's not dwelling anymore on all that talk about salvation, or he's doing what he always does and putting it all away in a little box to deal with later, and keeping himself focused on the here and now like the little switchblade he is.

He should make it up to Yuri somehow, Balthus reflects. He's not even really sure what "it" is, but hey. It's always nice to have an excuse to pamper Yuri a little; he just takes so damn nicely to it when it happens.

"C'mon, I can see the goosebumps standing up on your skin already, baby. C'mon and snuggle already."

Oh, it's absolutely packaged away in the box with the rest of his life-long trauma, which is where the lingering bad feelings of most of his outbursts end up after the fact. Having Balthus smiling, a little turned on, and ready to pamper him over dinner is far better than the alternative, which has Yuri's smile taking on a hint of self-satisfaction as he moves over and eases himself onto the other man's lap.

"Better?"

Yuri lifts a hand to cup Balthus's cheek in a tender little gesture, then catches his lips in a soft kiss before settling himself in properly. The Ruby-enhanced warmth of him is immediately welcome: Yuri hadn't been cold, exactly, but he was beginning to feel the chill, and he sighs contentedly as he leans back against his chest.

"Mm. When you're right, you're right," he concedes, suppressing a little shiver of relief as his body begins to warm where it's pressed up against Balthus.

"Y'know, if someone had told told me a year ago that you'd be such a cuddler, I'd have bet cold, hard cash that I was being lied to."

He chuckles lightly.

"I guess that'd have made quite a hole in my pocket, wouldn't it?"

"What, you would've thought the only kind of contact I liked was hitting people?" Balthus teases, humming low in his throat at the feeling of Yuri's body shivering against his own where they're pressed so snugly together. It's going to be a neat trick, trying to eat and balance him in his lap at the same time, but they'll manage.

It's not every day he gets his dessert and his dinner at the same time, besides.

Still, after that moment of humor, he grows a little more solemn and thoughtful. "Wasn't a whole lot of hugging going on in my house, growing up. Then I was on the run, really only finding comfort where I paid for it — when I could afford to pay for it, that is. Never really got much of it until I wound up in Abyss, and Hapi started using me as a featherbed all the time."

He ducks his head, pressing a kiss against the side of Yuri's neck. "It doesn't bother you, does it? That holding you makes me happy?"

Yuri shakes his head, his eyes briefly clouded with something pensive as he tilts his head for the little kiss.

“Nah, it doesn’t bother me. I’d go so far as to say I actually kinda like it,” he teases, determined not to let more of his own baggage spoil the warm, contented feeling that’s settled between the two of them. His hands come to rest over Balthus’s where they’re holding him around his middle:

“It’s just taken a bit of getting used to. Old habits and all that … sometimes it feels like I’m doing something wrong if you’re happy to stop at holding me, y’know?”

Yuri snorts just the once, then shakes his head. This must just be what happens when you spend years measuring your value against how much people want to fuck you.

“But this is nice. Different. You’re gonna make me learn all sorts of new ways to make a guy happy,” he finishes, an amused smile on his lips as he swallows another mouthful of his beer.

"Aww. That's kind of cute, actually," he chuckles under his breath, continuing to nose affectionately against Yuri. "You thinkin' you're not good at seducing me just 'cause I want to cuddle you instead. Like you really don't know what you do to me."

It's nice, having his hands trapped beneath the gentle press of Yuri's smaller ones. Sooner or later he's going to have to move them and figure out how to eat, lest this nice dinner Yuri prepared for them wind up going to waste, but it can wait another minute at least.

"There isn't a man alive who could resist you when you try, gorgeous, believe me. I daresay if you really wanted me to bend you over this table right now, you'd get your wish, and I'd be completely at your mercy. But the question is, do you really want me to? I mean really."

Yuri twists just enough to give Balthus a good-naturedly raised eyebrow.

"Give me a little credit, pal — it's more complicated than that. It's more like ... something that just kinda happens in the back of my mind, whether I want it to or not. Pretty sure it's not me really thinking you're not into all this," he chuckles, gesturing towards the apron just barely concealing the rest of his body.

There's a comfortable beat of silence.

"... But. It's a really good casserole," he finishes, pulling Balthus's plate towards them and pressing a fork into his hand with a mischievous smirk.

"And watching you eat something I've made's almost as good as getting bent over the table."

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