[After long hours of practicing at Kagami's place, Uenoyama had managed to make them. It. The gift. Finally. He's not sure if he'll ever be able to make them by himself without burning something, but this will do for now! He was worried he's going to be late, too, but as luck would have it, their last batch turned out great! A Christmas miracle.
He had to keep the box with them hidden until morning, but that wasn't too hard.
When Mafuyu wakes up in their room at the Inn, there is a very neat red box on the bedside cabinet, filled to the brim with snowflake-looking sugar cookies, with one card on it and one letter. One is self-painted (an attempt at drawing mistletoe), with mainly "Merry Christmas" and cheezy stuff between "I'm so lucky that I met you" and "I want to spend more Xmases with you" written in it.
The other one is- the start of a song. The musical sheets, looking like they are made from old parchment, were neatly folded and placed into the letter. There is only a brief explanation that goes with it, "You let me compose your song for you; perhaps you could finish composing mine". He'll help, of course, if Mafuyu asks but... he thinks he won't need much help. And with how stubborn his boyfriend can get, he's sure he'll ace it.]
[It's a morning like any other, dark and cold enough that Mafuyu would really rather not wake up, if given the choice. It's nice and cozy here under the bedsheets, but Kedama stirring at his feet is enough to make him blearily open his eyes. Cold...
Dazed by sleepiness, the fact that it's Christmas morning doesn't set in for several long seconds. But once it finally does, he quickly sits up and moves to reach under the bed for Uenoyama's present he'd hidden away... only for the red box to catch his eye first. Ah... So Uenoyama had gotten to it first. How is he supposed to do anything but smile as he imagines his boyfriend sneaking over in the middle of the night to put this here?
It takes some work, but eventually, Mafuyu manages to clumsily reach over the lump of a person beside him and set his own blue box on the opposite nightstand. They should open their presents together, right? But once he's done so, he doesn't waste any time snuggling up to Uenoyama at his side, intertwining their limbs together like he won't stand for even an inch of space between them.]
Mmmn... [He's just going to nuzzle his face into that head of dark hair, thanks.] You're warm.
[Hey, he worked hard on it and he was excited, maybe too excited, to give the gift! He did fall back asleep fast because he couldn't fall asleep at first. But all the shuffling in the bed from Mafuyu and then him curling up against his back and breath in his hair rouses him up from his sleep. Just enough for him to shift and turn around, keep the covers over both of them because it's chilly in the room, and wrap both of his hands around Mafuyu.]
Mmm... [not very articulate in the morning, Mafuyu will have to get used to that. His eyes are still closed even though he's awake. Depending on what Mafuyu does, he'll either go back to sleep (if he chooses to snuggle in closer and go quiet) or start to properly wake up (if he continues talking).]
...smell nice... [-Mafuyu's hair, and Mafuyu in general. He gets their legs entangled again because he knows by now how cold Mafuyu's feet get. He's never met a person that chills down in winter so much, but he has nothing against warming him up because that involves copious amounts of cuddling and kisses.]
[Honestly, given the way that they can both fall asleep practically anywhere, it's no surprise that they're both bad at waking up. Their first meeting only happened because Mafuyu had been asleep in Uenoyama's usual napping spot, and they'd fallen asleep on each other multiple times after that.
But when those warm arms wrap around him and pull him close, every thought of waking up vanishes into nothing, replaced with arms wrapping around him in turn. Just as always, Mafuyu's head easily finds its way to Uenoyama's shoulder, and he nuzzles in close to breathe him in... until a white ball of fur bounds up from the foot of the bed and stubbornly tries to push his way between them.]
Tama, stoooop...
[A sleepy drawl, punctuated by Mafuyu trying to scoot in even closer.]
[If you ask Uenoyama, there's no better place to sleep at than on Mafuyu's shoulder. Or holding Mafuyu (which is a recent discovery that he does NOT want to relinquish any time soon). It makes sleeping in on Sundays such a blessing, Ue loves waking up to Mafuyu's messy hair and Tama nudging on their backs-
-or jumping at their faces.
He was about to sink into another round of blissful napping with Mafuyu snuggled up against him when a ball of fur invades both his nose and mouth. There's a groan and a sneeze, and Uenoyama wriggling his nose and muttering under his breath.]
This has to stop... [Uenoyama's voice is muffled because of all the fur he's trying to push down.] Third time this week... ugh...
[He peers at Tama, displeased, but can't really muster the strength (or will his heart) to be angry at the puppy. It's just so damn cute... Kedama is lucky.]
[So much for dozing off again. They really should get up, since it's a special day and they have presents for each other, but at the same time... Mafuyu could easily spend all day like this, limbs loosely tangled with Uenoyama's as they snuggle together to soak in each other's warmth.
But with the sound of Uenoyama's gentle breathing swiftly replaced by excited puppy panting, he only wants to hold on that much tighter. Kedama getting in between them is inexcusable! Not that he's actually going to sit up and put him on the floor or something, instead choosing to stubbornly hold Uenoyama as closely as he can.]
He's jealous.
[The very definition of "let me play too!". Of course, Kedama only continues to wag his tail as he's nudged away, even though Mafuyu's doing a pretty pathetic job of it. Pulling his arms back might help, but why would he do that?]
You can't have him. [Another sleepy grumble.] Uenoyama-kun is mine.
[But it's a holiday day, right? They are allowed to indulge a little in everything. Sleeping WAS one of those things until Kedama decided it was time to not sleep anymore. And then it turned into a contest of who will cuddle up closer to him, both of which are making it hard to breathe- one because of all the fur, the other from how hard Mafuyu's holding onto him. At least it will be sweet death.]
He's- jealous? [Uenoyama huffs, now properly awake from all the tossing around and squeezing and happy "PLAY!" yips from Kedama.]
I think you are, and of your own puppy too, [there's a teasing tone in Uenoyama's voice, his fingers finding Mafuyu's sides to poke at them.] No sleeping- if I'm not sleeping, neither are you! [And yet he's still holding him close and protectively, as they get very wet kisses from Kedama before the pup starts tugging at their covers.]
[Listen. He isn't actually jealous of Kedama, but can anyone blame him for being slightly miffed that his sleepy morning cuddling was interrupted? Mafuyu still looks awfully sleepy (even more than usual, that is), but that little poke to his side manages to get a brow furrow and a tiny frown out of him. That's the closest he's getting to pouting!]
Nngh....
[Fine, fine. No sleeping. Finally, he pulls an arm free to stop Kedama from yanking the covers down, and eventually musters up the motivation to pull himself into a sitting position beside Uenoyama. Not going back to sleep doesn't necessarily mean getting out of bed. Once they're both up, they can trade presents right here under the warmth of the sheets.]
[No, Uenoyama can't. But Mafuyu can't blame him either for teasing him about it because Mafuyu would do the same. He gets a peck on the nose before he sits up though, and Uenoyama follows. He picks up Kedama and puts him where the covers have moved so he can pull them up even more and keep them around Mafuyu.]
It is... I don't think they warm up the rooms until later...
[He rubs his eyes with the palms of his hand and his eyes finally fall on the box on his own end of the bed. His cheeks go pink and he turns to Mafuyu, tugging him towards him and pressing a firm, warm kiss to his cheek.]
[Okay, so maybe he actually is pouting just the slightest bit, but it's long gone by the time that Uenoyama sits up beside him. More covers are wonderful, but Mafuyu is careful to ensure that they're both under them equally, yawning all the while. If only they had a kotatsu for these cold mornings...
But being pulled in like this might be enough. Oh, that little blush is so charming... how is he supposed to do anything but smile and revel in the warmth of that sweet kiss?]
Merry Christmas. But you beat me to it.
[Uenoyama was the first to put his present out, after all. But it's a good thing that he managed to make his own a surprise too!]
[The little pout is cute, Uenoyama can see it from the corner of his eye. Mafuyu is always cute, regardless of anything- when he's just sitting and not doing anything, spacing out or idly plucking at guitar. And especially now, trying to bundle up in a bunch of blankets because it's cold.]
Merry Christmas. And I didn't, [he huffs a laugh,] it's still within the same day.
[It doesn't really matter when it's given, really, not to him. He's seriously so happy about it, Mafuyu didn't have to get him anything. Their current situation is not... good, for lack of a better word. He reaches out to get the box that's for him and nods, bumping Mafuyu's shoulder playfully.]
[Even in a place like this, there isn't a chance that he wouldn't get a present for Uenoyama. Sure, he may not have been able to get anything extravagant, but if it's the thought that counts, then he put a lot of thought into it.]
Okay.
[Reaching out, he takes the red present in his hands, turning it around with wide eyes.
The present he wrapped is lighter than the one Uenoyama is giving him, he realizes... but that makes sense, considering that the main object in his own box is a warm, well-made scarf in blues and cool greys. Aside from that, there are two other pieces of paper: one of sheet music, rather plain in comparison to their usual songs with only simple chords. But after turning to the next sheet, a page of lyrics in Mafuyu's handwriting, it makes sense that the melody is only a baseline for how the song should go. The core of all of this are the lyrics - a song in Mafuyu's usual style, but this time about them. About Uenoyama. It's a love song through and through, written in a way that it should hold more meaning to the one it's meant for than anyone else.
Is it a little embarrassing? Yes. But after working on it for nearly two weeks straight, it's finally just the way he wants it.]
[Uenoyama eagerly and carefully opens the present and stares at it for a good minute. A scarf. In colors he usually wears. When he touches it, he can tell it's good quality, soft and warm and he wonders if it was Mafuyu who made it.
He gingerly pulls it out, and then wraps it a few times around his neck, leaving only his eyes and hair visible. Can you tell he won't stop wearing it? Only summer will find this scarf neatly packed up between Uenoyama's other clothes.
Then the papers catch his attention and, still looking a bit ridiculous with the scarf he reaches for them, eyes darting around it and going wide in surprise. Just how much on the same wavelength are they!?]
Is this-
[-"about me!?" he wants to ask, but the question just gets stuck in his throat. It surely is, right? A song... that Mafuyu wrote just for him... He can feel the back of his eyes burn with intensity and even if he swore he'd watch Mafuyu's reaction to the gift he got him, he can't take his eyes from the lyrics.]
[Eyes trained on Uenoyama, all Mafuyu can do is hold the box in his lap tight. So much for unwrapping their presents at the same time. A reaction like this is too special to miss, especially when Uenoyama is staring down at it so carefully.]
Because it's cold at work. I found the warmest one I could. It suits you.
[So no, he didn't make it, but he spent a while picking it out nevertheless. And it looks like it was worth it! Mafuyu reaches forward with a grin to pull the scarf down just a little, freeing Uenoyama's face enough for him to at least breathe through his nose. Cute.
But his heart's still racing, rapidly picking up speed as sharp eyes finally glance over the lyrics. It's not like Mafuyu to be this... nervous, he realizes. Embarrassed? A little shy? He can't quite tell. Maybe he's feeling it so strongly because it's related to music, or simply because it's Uenoyama and he's put his whole heart on display in these lyrics. Probably both. It's hard to say, but whatever the case, there's no doubting that his cheeks are a little flushed as he looks on with what can almost be called timidity.]
[Uenoyama's face sinks back behind the scarf even when Mafuyu pulls it down to see his face. The lyrics... those lyrics are about him. Mafuyu spent time thinking about him and trying to find the words to make a song about him, a regular guy from some high school, stuck here in the middle of nowhere. He seriously feels like crying and giving his best not to grip too hard onto the paper otherwise he'll rip it.
Slowly, his forehead leans on Mafuyu's shoulder and there's a mumbled, a bit teary 'thank you', muffled by the clothes and blankets and scarf. He will forever treasure not just the song, but the paper it's written on. Yes, he's a romantic sentimentalist sometimes but he can't help it.
He keeps his head there for a while and then says quietly-]
Can you open yours?
[-because they are on the same wavelength. The melody he started writing... together they can compose a song. Uenoyama's heart is thudding so loudly he can barely hear himself. But he does lift his head a little to look at Mafuyu as he looks at his gift.]
[To Mafuyu, Uenoyama is the furthest thing from an ordinary guy. Maybe he's always felt that way, ever since the day Uenoyama played that first chord that rang out between them.
And really, he's content to just sit here for a moment, leaning in close and basking in the warmth of Uenoyama against him. The hand not woven in dark hair fingers the ribbon of the box, fiddling with it almost idly before Uenoyama peeks out.
And then, with nothing more than a nod, he does. Taking the cards off reveals that the box is filled with... cookies? Homemade, by the looks of it, which means... Uenoyama must have made them! Mafuyu may not know the struggle he went through to do so, but he's always said that he can't cook and wanted to try to make something they could share, so seeing them is enough to make Mafuyu smile. ...And open the box to try one, of course. They may be in bed, but he doesn't care.]
Mm. They're great.
[And all the more special because they're made by Uenoyama! Putting the rest of the cookie in his mouth frees up his hands, so he opens up the card next. Cute. Maybe he should have given a card like this instead of writing "Merry Christmas" on his sheet music.]
[The letter has him curious, however. He's already been given a card, so what's inside?
Getting the back of the envelope open allows a peek at the contents, and... Mafuyu freezes. Even folded in such a way that he can't see much without opening the envelope properly, it's obvious that this is sheet music, and he hurriedly looks over to its author with that expression Uenoyama knows all too well by now.]
You... wrote this... for me?
[It's different this time. Different from the first song he composed for Mafuyu. That song, while inexpressibly dear to him, is filled with memories from the past. And this one is all for him.
Mafuyu may not actually be crying, but as he takes the parchment from the envelope and unfolds it properly, he's clearly holding back tears in that oh-so-familiar way. How do these notes go? What do they sound like when played by Uenoyama's fingers? How long did he spend writing and rewriting this, not knowing that Mafuyu was quietly doing the same thing for him in return? It's just too perfect.
It's hasty, he knows, but without a word of warning, Mafuyu scrambles out of bed and returns a few seconds later with Uenoyama's guitar and a pick in hand. The words he wants aren't reaching his lips, but as he crawls back under the covers and hands Uenoyama his guitar, the gist of what he's trying to say finally makes itself heard.]
Can you... play it?
["I want to hear. Will you play it for me? Will you let me hear it the way it's meant to sound?"]
[Kagami helped Uenoyama make those so they should taste pretty good. No strange or off-notes, just nice, crunchy sugar cookies with a bit of icing on top. And sprinkles. Because it's Christmas and it needs to be colorful. There's a happy blush on Uenoyama's face when Mafuyu just stuffs the entire thing in his mouth. It sends a warm, tingling feeling through his chest and then the rest of his body. He does reach out get few crumbs from the corner of his lips.]
Messy eater, [he chuckles fondly.
And then watches with rapt attention as Mafuyu peers into the envelope. He knows Mafuyu recognized what it is before he even unfolded the music sheet- the expression on his face is very telling and there's a tug on his heart as if he's stumbling over some rocks, when he asks if that's for him.]
Yes. The... first one I wrote, it's actually your melody that I just put into notes. This one is... different.
[A lot different. Both the intention and the way it's played and the feelings Uenoyama wants to express through it. He jumps in surprise when Mafuyu scampers off of the bed and brings him over the guitar.]
I- sure! It's not done yet, though. I wanted to... [he trails off a bit, his face feeling like thousand burning suns]... compose the rest of the melody with you.
[But he plays the notes he wrote- high tones and keys, nothing too dramatic, yet catchy, a light melody that after only a few repetitions, becomes very easy to hum.]
[To a musician, maybe music is the truest way to convey love. Even a simple melody can have enough sway to make those listening feel a certain way, so when deeper feelings are purposely woven into those notes, it's no wonder that love songs are so popular.
And this is a love song. Without any words, Mafuyu can tell from the first bar. It's a love song written in his image, buoyant and flowing without being either too saccharine or moody. And thanks to Uenoyama's playing, that's evident in every note. There's no sorrow here - just love, and Mafuyu's heart flips in on itself.]
La la, la la la~
[That sort of progression would work beautifully at this part, right? And then, with no warning at all, he begins to sing - a few stanzas from the lyrics penned on the sheet lying beside them, barely improvised to make them flow more nicely.]
[It's a really odd thing, really, how they end up syncing up so fast. Mafuyu follows him with his voice and song in a perfect tone, with words he just gifted him, and Uenoyama can feel his fingers tremble and almost drop the guitar pick as he plucks at the guitar strings.
He's not performing on some kind of big stage, in front of million people- and yet, he feels as if he's under million lights of thousand suns and it's so, so hard to breathe.
This is his song.
Uenoyama's song.
He loses the track of playing for a second, as if he blacked out for a moment, does his mental counting and picks up again from where he left, following the highs and lows of Mafuyu's voice. If all of this didn't overwhelm him the way it did, he'd probably be humming under his breath with Mafuyu.]
[Their bed in this small, chilly room can't be compared to a stage. But the chill he felt before is hardly noticeable when his cheeks are flushed like this, heart racing as it always does as he watches Uenoyama's long fingers dexterously fly over the frets and strings. Every chord thrums somewhere deep in his chest, resonating through his body like he's next to the powerful amps on stage... and he's certain doesn't need anything other than this - just Uenoyama Ritsuka himself, fondness clear in move he makes.
It's overwhelming. They're both overwhelmed, really. It's more than clear from both of their reactions, but all Mafuyu can do is continue singing softly, voice spilling over with emotion until he finally trails off to simply listen to Uenoyama play. The very moment that his fingers still, however, Mafuyu leans around the guitar to wrap slender arms around him in a tight, almost desperate hug.]
...Thank you.
[It's quiet, but he knows Uenoyama can hear him. There's so much he wants to say, but the words get stuck somewhere between his racing thoughts and the way he looks like he's holding back tears.]
Ueno-- [A tighter squeeze, voice even smaller.] Thank you... Ritsuka.
[Uenoyama didn't expect this to turn out the way it did, really. While he wished for a song just for him, he didn't expect to get it like this. In the bed, under the blankets, on a Christmas morning, after giving his own song to Mafuyu. That is about Mafuyu. Anyone else looking in would think it's creepy how perfectly timed this is. And yet, Uenoyama somehow doesn't. Maybe he will later, right now he's too high on excitement and happiness to care about a trivial thing like that.
He only has a split second to start and put away the guitar when Mafuyu wraps his hands around him. The hug is returned, equally tight, with Uenoyama's fingers clutching gently at Mafuyu's sleeping shirt. Being called by his first name makes tips of his ears burn as it is a brief reminder of a certain night a while ago. Mafuyu uses his first name so scarcely it is a precious thing when he does.]
Mmm. Thank you, too, [Uenoyama answers back quietly, speaking into Mafuyu's hair. Gods, he's so lucky to be able to have him and hold him like this.]
[Ah... So this is why people love Christmas. Rather than a normal morning on which they'd usually be going to school before winter break, he's swathed in blankets and snuggled up beside Uenoyama, safe and warm in his arms.
And even Mafuyu, who doesn't turn red nearly as often as his boyfriend, is undoubtedly more flushed than usual as he nuzzles his face in Uenoyama's scarf. Using his first name is one thing, but playing the songs they made for each other at once is overwhelming to the extent that he doesn't know what to do or say besides hold Uenoyama tight.
A realization reaches him before words - they haven't had a proper good morning kiss, so without any warning, Mafuyu leans up to sweetly brush their lips together.]
[Uenoyama properly leaves the guitar to the side, so he can pull Mafuyu in his arms more closely, without having an uncomfortable instrument between them. The flush from Ue's face had subsided but it is still pink-ish when Mafuyu presses a kiss to his lips, which he returns with a happy hum.
He could get used to this. He's getting used to this and he doesn't want anything to interfere with it, anything to put a stop to it. It's becoming very hard to imagine waking up in the morning and not having Mafuyu sleeping by his side, warm and curled up in his arms.
Uenoyama briefly breaks the kiss, the gives him another one before pulling back with a soft grumble.]
Mh, need to brush my teeth. [He is not going to torture Mafuyu with his morning breath.]
[There. Much better. With the guitar propped up against the side of the bed, Mafuyu is glad to be pulled in, their bodies fitting flush together. On any normal day, he'd be happy to fall asleep again just like this... But his heart stubbornly won't slow down, so gentle kisses and cuddling close will have to do.]
Mnn...
[Listen, they both need to brush their teeth, but he wasn't planning on making out or anything... Not now, anyway.]
[Uenoyama has nothing against the kisses! Or the cuddling. Or the way Mafuyu's almost sitting in his lap with how flush he's pressed against his side. With a grumble (a loving grumble), he shifts back a bit so he can pull Mafuyu in his lap completely, letting his legs rest on each side of Uenoyama's waist, facing him, while his hands are wrapped around his waist.]
An entire day in bed...? I mean, not against it, but we'll need food...
[That is hardly a complaint because he's pressing bunch of kisses on Mafuyu's cheek, then jaw, then corner of his mouth.]
[If they're supposed to be at least trying to get up, pulling him into this position only makes things worse. But Mafuyu is plenty happy with it, shifting to wrap his arms more comfortably around Uenoyama's neck. At the very least, they're both fairly upright now, so it's not like he's about to lie down and pass out... but this is Mafuyu. He has no trouble falling asleep sitting up.]
Mmm, then... We can get up to make something together. And then crawl back in bed until the heat comes on.
[Gently, he turns his head enough for their lips to brush. Sure, they can make warm pancakes or eggs... but it's easier to follow Uenoyama's lead and leave fleeting kisses along his skin. They're going to have to make the decision to get up together before anything else.]
[Well, Uenoyama is weak-willed when it comes to Mafuyu and indulging him. Or maybe he's just selfish and wants to spend as much time with him as he can. He's honestly stopped paying attention to it, he can't tell that apart anymore. All he cares about is that warm breath against his skin and hands wrapped around him. The most comforting feeling in the world.]
Then... something fast. Like egg sandwiches?
[That's the fastest thing he can think of, aside from slapping marmalade on bread. He's not sure they have marmalade so egg sandwiches sound good. He is distracted, again, by the fleeting kisses. Mafuyu is not making it easy when it comes to bringing a definitive decision.]
Eggs and toast. [Basically the same thing, but separating them makes it sound even easier.] Nobody can yell at us for eating in bed.
[And as much as he doesn't want to get up, the easiest way to make them move is...]
...Tama. Let's go.
[The problem is that he's going to have to take Kedama outside, which he can wholeheartedly say he'd rather not do. Even though Kedama perks up and excitedly crawls out from under the covers upon hearing his name, Mafuyu isn't actually getting off of Uenoyama the way he should.]
...I can do the toast. [As in, he can make it. Put slices of bread in the toaster and that's it. Eggs... he'll entrust them to Mafuyu.] And that's true, [he huffs against Mafuyu's neck and very, VERY reluctantly lets his boyfriend leave with the pup.
Or so he thought he'll leave. There's a pair of raised eyebrows from him and he places a long, long kiss on Mafuyu's lips.]
Always. But I'll come with to help you.
[Not fair to let Mafuyu do everything in the kitchen. He can't cook, yes, but he can clean the dishes from cooking.]
We'll eat and come right back in bed. Or we'll bring food here, whichever you want. [Since he already mentioned that no one can stop them from eating in bed. Breakfast in bed- now there's a thought for a future surprise.]
[If this keeps up, then it's going to take them hours to get out of bed... which, to be perfectly honest, he would be just fine with.
But once their lips part and Kedama bounds up far too excitedly, Mafuyu finally crawls off and sits on the side of the bed like he's about to get up... and then reaches over to pull the blankets over himself.]
Mm. We can stay warm like this.
[Kind of. They should probably put on their jackets first, but this is sure to get Uenoyama up with him.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
December 25th; 🎶🥰
He had to keep the box with them hidden until morning, but that wasn't too hard.
When Mafuyu wakes up in their room at the Inn, there is a very neat red box on the bedside cabinet, filled to the brim with snowflake-looking sugar cookies, with one card on it and one letter. One is self-painted (an attempt at drawing mistletoe), with mainly "Merry Christmas" and cheezy stuff between "I'm so lucky that I met you" and "I want to spend more Xmases with you" written in it.
The other one is- the start of a song. The musical sheets, looking like they are made from old parchment, were neatly folded and placed into the letter. There is only a brief explanation that goes with it, "You let me compose your song for you; perhaps you could finish composing mine". He'll help, of course, if Mafuyu asks but... he thinks he won't need much help. And with how stubborn his boyfriend can get, he's sure he'll ace it.]
Barrels in entirely too late
Dazed by sleepiness, the fact that it's Christmas morning doesn't set in for several long seconds. But once it finally does, he quickly sits up and moves to reach under the bed for Uenoyama's present he'd hidden away... only for the red box to catch his eye first. Ah... So Uenoyama had gotten to it first. How is he supposed to do anything but smile as he imagines his boyfriend sneaking over in the middle of the night to put this here?
It takes some work, but eventually, Mafuyu manages to clumsily reach over the lump of a person beside him and set his own blue box on the opposite nightstand. They should open their presents together, right? But once he's done so, he doesn't waste any time snuggling up to Uenoyama at his side, intertwining their limbs together like he won't stand for even an inch of space between them.]
Mmmn... [He's just going to nuzzle his face into that head of dark hair, thanks.] You're warm.
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Mmm... [not very articulate in the morning, Mafuyu will have to get used to that. His eyes are still closed even though he's awake. Depending on what Mafuyu does, he'll either go back to sleep (if he chooses to snuggle in closer and go quiet) or start to properly wake up (if he continues talking).]
...smell nice... [-Mafuyu's hair, and Mafuyu in general. He gets their legs entangled again because he knows by now how cold Mafuyu's feet get. He's never met a person that chills down in winter so much, but he has nothing against warming him up because that involves copious amounts of cuddling and kisses.]
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But when those warm arms wrap around him and pull him close, every thought of waking up vanishes into nothing, replaced with arms wrapping around him in turn. Just as always, Mafuyu's head easily finds its way to Uenoyama's shoulder, and he nuzzles in close to breathe him in... until a white ball of fur bounds up from the foot of the bed and stubbornly tries to push his way between them.]
Tama, stoooop...
[A sleepy drawl, punctuated by Mafuyu trying to scoot in even closer.]
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-or jumping at their faces.
He was about to sink into another round of blissful napping with Mafuyu snuggled up against him when a ball of fur invades both his nose and mouth. There's a groan and a sneeze, and Uenoyama wriggling his nose and muttering under his breath.]
This has to stop... [Uenoyama's voice is muffled because of all the fur he's trying to push down.] Third time this week... ugh...
[He peers at Tama, displeased, but can't really muster the strength (or will his heart) to be angry at the puppy. It's just so damn cute... Kedama is lucky.]
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But with the sound of Uenoyama's gentle breathing swiftly replaced by excited puppy panting, he only wants to hold on that much tighter. Kedama getting in between them is inexcusable! Not that he's actually going to sit up and put him on the floor or something, instead choosing to stubbornly hold Uenoyama as closely as he can.]
He's jealous.
[The very definition of "let me play too!". Of course, Kedama only continues to wag his tail as he's nudged away, even though Mafuyu's doing a pretty pathetic job of it. Pulling his arms back might help, but why would he do that?]
You can't have him. [Another sleepy grumble.] Uenoyama-kun is mine.
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He's- jealous? [Uenoyama huffs, now properly awake from all the tossing around and squeezing and happy "PLAY!" yips from Kedama.]
I think you are, and of your own puppy too, [there's a teasing tone in Uenoyama's voice, his fingers finding Mafuyu's sides to poke at them.] No sleeping- if I'm not sleeping, neither are you! [And yet he's still holding him close and protectively, as they get very wet kisses from Kedama before the pup starts tugging at their covers.]
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Nngh....
[Fine, fine. No sleeping. Finally, he pulls an arm free to stop Kedama from yanking the covers down, and eventually musters up the motivation to pull himself into a sitting position beside Uenoyama. Not going back to sleep doesn't necessarily mean getting out of bed. Once they're both up, they can trade presents right here under the warmth of the sheets.]
Cold.
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It is... I don't think they warm up the rooms until later...
[He rubs his eyes with the palms of his hand and his eyes finally fall on the box on his own end of the bed. His cheeks go pink and he turns to Mafuyu, tugging him towards him and pressing a firm, warm kiss to his cheek.]
Thanks.
[For the gift.]
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But being pulled in like this might be enough. Oh, that little blush is so charming... how is he supposed to do anything but smile and revel in the warmth of that sweet kiss?]
Merry Christmas. But you beat me to it.
[Uenoyama was the first to put his present out, after all. But it's a good thing that he managed to make his own a surprise too!]
Should we open them together?
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Merry Christmas. And I didn't, [he huffs a laugh,] it's still within the same day.
[It doesn't really matter when it's given, really, not to him. He's seriously so happy about it, Mafuyu didn't have to get him anything. Their current situation is not... good, for lack of a better word. He reaches out to get the box that's for him and nods, bumping Mafuyu's shoulder playfully.]
I'm down for it. [He's just too curious.]
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Okay.
[Reaching out, he takes the red present in his hands, turning it around with wide eyes.
The present he wrapped is lighter than the one Uenoyama is giving him, he realizes... but that makes sense, considering that the main object in his own box is a warm, well-made scarf in blues and cool greys. Aside from that, there are two other pieces of paper: one of sheet music, rather plain in comparison to their usual songs with only simple chords. But after turning to the next sheet, a page of lyrics in Mafuyu's handwriting, it makes sense that the melody is only a baseline for how the song should go. The core of all of this are the lyrics - a song in Mafuyu's usual style, but this time about them. About Uenoyama. It's a love song through and through, written in a way that it should hold more meaning to the one it's meant for than anyone else.
Is it a little embarrassing? Yes. But after working on it for nearly two weeks straight, it's finally just the way he wants it.]
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He gingerly pulls it out, and then wraps it a few times around his neck, leaving only his eyes and hair visible. Can you tell he won't stop wearing it? Only summer will find this scarf neatly packed up between Uenoyama's other clothes.
Then the papers catch his attention and, still looking a bit ridiculous with the scarf he reaches for them, eyes darting around it and going wide in surprise. Just how much on the same wavelength are they!?]
Is this-
[-"about me!?" he wants to ask, but the question just gets stuck in his throat. It surely is, right? A song... that Mafuyu wrote just for him... He can feel the back of his eyes burn with intensity and even if he swore he'd watch Mafuyu's reaction to the gift he got him, he can't take his eyes from the lyrics.]
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Because it's cold at work. I found the warmest one I could. It suits you.
[So no, he didn't make it, but he spent a while picking it out nevertheless. And it looks like it was worth it! Mafuyu reaches forward with a grin to pull the scarf down just a little, freeing Uenoyama's face enough for him to at least breathe through his nose. Cute.
But his heart's still racing, rapidly picking up speed as sharp eyes finally glance over the lyrics. It's not like Mafuyu to be this... nervous, he realizes. Embarrassed? A little shy? He can't quite tell. Maybe he's feeling it so strongly because it's related to music, or simply because it's Uenoyama and he's put his whole heart on display in these lyrics. Probably both. It's hard to say, but whatever the case, there's no doubting that his cheeks are a little flushed as he looks on with what can almost be called timidity.]
Mm. I wanted... to write about you.
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Slowly, his forehead leans on Mafuyu's shoulder and there's a mumbled, a bit teary 'thank you', muffled by the clothes and blankets and scarf. He will forever treasure not just the song, but the paper it's written on. Yes, he's a romantic sentimentalist sometimes but he can't help it.
He keeps his head there for a while and then says quietly-]
Can you open yours?
[-because they are on the same wavelength. The melody he started writing... together they can compose a song. Uenoyama's heart is thudding so loudly he can barely hear himself. But he does lift his head a little to look at Mafuyu as he looks at his gift.]
1/2
And really, he's content to just sit here for a moment, leaning in close and basking in the warmth of Uenoyama against him. The hand not woven in dark hair fingers the ribbon of the box, fiddling with it almost idly before Uenoyama peeks out.
And then, with nothing more than a nod, he does. Taking the cards off reveals that the box is filled with... cookies? Homemade, by the looks of it, which means... Uenoyama must have made them! Mafuyu may not know the struggle he went through to do so, but he's always said that he can't cook and wanted to try to make something they could share, so seeing them is enough to make Mafuyu smile. ...And open the box to try one, of course. They may be in bed, but he doesn't care.]
Mm. They're great.
[And all the more special because they're made by Uenoyama! Putting the rest of the cookie in his mouth frees up his hands, so he opens up the card next. Cute. Maybe he should have given a card like this instead of writing "Merry Christmas" on his sheet music.]
Thank you.
2/2
Getting the back of the envelope open allows a peek at the contents, and... Mafuyu freezes. Even folded in such a way that he can't see much without opening the envelope properly, it's obvious that this is sheet music, and he hurriedly looks over to its author with that expression Uenoyama knows all too well by now.]
You... wrote this... for me?
[It's different this time. Different from the first song he composed for Mafuyu. That song, while inexpressibly dear to him, is filled with memories from the past. And this one is all for him.
Mafuyu may not actually be crying, but as he takes the parchment from the envelope and unfolds it properly, he's clearly holding back tears in that oh-so-familiar way. How do these notes go? What do they sound like when played by Uenoyama's fingers? How long did he spend writing and rewriting this, not knowing that Mafuyu was quietly doing the same thing for him in return? It's just too perfect.
It's hasty, he knows, but without a word of warning, Mafuyu scrambles out of bed and returns a few seconds later with Uenoyama's guitar and a pick in hand. The words he wants aren't reaching his lips, but as he crawls back under the covers and hands Uenoyama his guitar, the gist of what he's trying to say finally makes itself heard.]
Can you... play it?
["I want to hear. Will you play it for me? Will you let me hear it the way it's meant to sound?"]
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Messy eater, [he chuckles fondly.
And then watches with rapt attention as Mafuyu peers into the envelope. He knows Mafuyu recognized what it is before he even unfolded the music sheet- the expression on his face is very telling and there's a tug on his heart as if he's stumbling over some rocks, when he asks if that's for him.]
Yes. The... first one I wrote, it's actually your melody that I just put into notes. This one is... different.
[A lot different. Both the intention and the way it's played and the feelings Uenoyama wants to express through it. He jumps in surprise when Mafuyu scampers off of the bed and brings him over the guitar.]
I- sure! It's not done yet, though. I wanted to... [he trails off a bit, his face feeling like thousand burning suns]... compose the rest of the melody with you.
[But he plays the notes he wrote- high tones and keys, nothing too dramatic, yet catchy, a light melody that after only a few repetitions, becomes very easy to hum.]
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And this is a love song. Without any words, Mafuyu can tell from the first bar. It's a love song written in his image, buoyant and flowing without being either too saccharine or moody. And thanks to Uenoyama's playing, that's evident in every note. There's no sorrow here - just love, and Mafuyu's heart flips in on itself.]
La la, la la la~
[That sort of progression would work beautifully at this part, right? And then, with no warning at all, he begins to sing - a few stanzas from the lyrics penned on the sheet lying beside them, barely improvised to make them flow more nicely.]
Ahhh, beneath your summer sky~
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He's not performing on some kind of big stage, in front of million people- and yet, he feels as if he's under million lights of thousand suns and it's so, so hard to breathe.
This is his song.
Uenoyama's song.
He loses the track of playing for a second, as if he blacked out for a moment, does his mental counting and picks up again from where he left, following the highs and lows of Mafuyu's voice. If all of this didn't overwhelm him the way it did, he'd probably be humming under his breath with Mafuyu.]
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It's overwhelming. They're both overwhelmed, really. It's more than clear from both of their reactions, but all Mafuyu can do is continue singing softly, voice spilling over with emotion until he finally trails off to simply listen to Uenoyama play. The very moment that his fingers still, however, Mafuyu leans around the guitar to wrap slender arms around him in a tight, almost desperate hug.]
...Thank you.
[It's quiet, but he knows Uenoyama can hear him. There's so much he wants to say, but the words get stuck somewhere between his racing thoughts and the way he looks like he's holding back tears.]
Ueno-- [A tighter squeeze, voice even smaller.] Thank you... Ritsuka.
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He only has a split second to start and put away the guitar when Mafuyu wraps his hands around him. The hug is returned, equally tight, with Uenoyama's fingers clutching gently at Mafuyu's sleeping shirt. Being called by his first name makes tips of his ears burn as it is a brief reminder of a certain night a while ago. Mafuyu uses his first name so scarcely it is a precious thing when he does.]
Mmm. Thank you, too, [Uenoyama answers back quietly, speaking into Mafuyu's hair. Gods, he's so lucky to be able to have him and hold him like this.]
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And even Mafuyu, who doesn't turn red nearly as often as his boyfriend, is undoubtedly more flushed than usual as he nuzzles his face in Uenoyama's scarf. Using his first name is one thing, but playing the songs they made for each other at once is overwhelming to the extent that he doesn't know what to do or say besides hold Uenoyama tight.
A realization reaches him before words - they haven't had a proper good morning kiss, so without any warning, Mafuyu leans up to sweetly brush their lips together.]
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He could get used to this. He's getting used to this and he doesn't want anything to interfere with it, anything to put a stop to it. It's becoming very hard to imagine waking up in the morning and not having Mafuyu sleeping by his side, warm and curled up in his arms.
Uenoyama briefly breaks the kiss, the gives him another one before pulling back with a soft grumble.]
Mh, need to brush my teeth. [He is not going to torture Mafuyu with his morning breath.]
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Mnn...
[Listen, they both need to brush their teeth, but he wasn't planning on making out or anything... Not now, anyway.]
...Don't wanna get up.
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An entire day in bed...? I mean, not against it, but we'll need food...
[That is hardly a complaint because he's pressing bunch of kisses on Mafuyu's cheek, then jaw, then corner of his mouth.]
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Mmm, then... We can get up to make something together. And then crawl back in bed until the heat comes on.
[Gently, he turns his head enough for their lips to brush. Sure, they can make warm pancakes or eggs... but it's easier to follow Uenoyama's lead and leave fleeting kisses along his skin. They're going to have to make the decision to get up together before anything else.]
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Then... something fast. Like egg sandwiches?
[That's the fastest thing he can think of, aside from slapping marmalade on bread. He's not sure they have marmalade so egg sandwiches sound good. He is distracted, again, by the fleeting kisses. Mafuyu is not making it easy when it comes to bringing a definitive decision.]
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[And as much as he doesn't want to get up, the easiest way to make them move is...]
...Tama. Let's go.
[The problem is that he's going to have to take Kedama outside, which he can wholeheartedly say he'd rather not do. Even though Kedama perks up and excitedly crawls out from under the covers upon hearing his name, Mafuyu isn't actually getting off of Uenoyama the way he should.]
Will you warm me up when I get back?
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Or so he thought he'll leave. There's a pair of raised eyebrows from him and he places a long, long kiss on Mafuyu's lips.]
Always. But I'll come with to help you.
[Not fair to let Mafuyu do everything in the kitchen. He can't cook, yes, but he can clean the dishes from cooking.]
We'll eat and come right back in bed. Or we'll bring food here, whichever you want. [Since he already mentioned that no one can stop them from eating in bed. Breakfast in bed- now there's a thought for a future surprise.]
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But once their lips part and Kedama bounds up far too excitedly, Mafuyu finally crawls off and sits on the side of the bed like he's about to get up... and then reaches over to pull the blankets over himself.]
Mm. We can stay warm like this.
[Kind of. They should probably put on their jackets first, but this is sure to get Uenoyama up with him.]
Let's go.