The following morning, Wraith doesn’t show up, which Izumi somewhat expected. However, he imagines that by the end of the day Wraith will be at his doorstep, since he still needs to repay him for helping with the interview with Fuhiro’s ex-sponsor. To pass the time, Izumi decides to spend the day with Fuhiro again. After playing in the arcade, they go out to eat for a second time, spending the remainder of their time talking.

“Mannn, I remember that! I wasn’t there, but I watched footage of it, it was so close! You were really in the lead that time,” Izumi comments on a past tourney.

“Yea...even top players choke sometimes. He started to catch up and the crowd really got to me, that’s why I prefer to have headphones in, it can be really nerve racking.”

“I would imagine! I feel kind of bad for you pros because of that, it’s really a lot of pressure, especially if you have a fanbase.”

“Lucky me, I never really had many fans haha.” Although Fuhiro laughs, Izumi can tell that he was quite disappointed.

“Well, consider me a fan! Even if you don’t play anymore. You really were- and still are- an amazing player.”

Flattered, Fuhiro feels a short quiver in his chest. “Thank you… it means a lot to hear that.”

“Of course!” Izumi beams.

“I guess, to some degree, I’m glad to have stopped playing competitively, since I never got paid for winning tournaments unless it was out of the country, which I rarely went out. And… I got to meet you.”

Izumi is somewhat surprised that Fuhiro became attached to him that quickly, but thinks about the possibility of it being rooted at his vulnerability currently, since he likely just wants someone to latch onto for emotional reassurance.

“Aww don’t say that, you’ll make me blush.” Izumi bashfully puts his hand on the side of his neck. He changes the subject, returning to the topic of games, this time outside of the one that Fuhiro used to play professionally. Eventually, they leave the restaurant, continuing their conversation as they walk around town, only parting ways when the sun began to set.

  Izumi flopped onto his bed and sighed in exhaustion. Nearly immediately, his peaceful bubble burst as a shadow took form in his room. Not lifting his head from the bed, Izumi groaned. Wraith pulled out the desk chair and sat down, leaning forward with his arms on his lap. He scratches his head, clearly finding difficulty in speaking.

“Look I-...ugh…” Wraith sighs heavily and somewhat murmurs, “I’m...sorry.”

Izumi skyrockets from the bed in disbelief. “You’re what?!!”

“I’m sorry! Ok?!” Wraith shouts, originally avoiding eye contact. “Just, ugh I don’t know even know what to say. For some reason I got ticked off, and I know I said I wouldn’t hurt anyone but just something got to me, and really I wasn’t thinking straight.” Apologizing was very visibly out of Wraith’s element, making Izumi wonder when was the last time he apologized for anything, so he considers himself lucky.

“I can’t really say it’s fine, but at the least you healed him. Honestly, Eiji tried telling me not to trust you and all that.”

Wraith disliked the ache in his chest that he felt at the thought of Izumi retracting from him. With every step forward, he always made a step or two back, now realizing that his old habits of solving his problems with violence won’t help him now.

“I...won’t do it again. I promise.”

Unexpectedly, there’s genuine remorse in Wraith’s voice, Izumi nearly shocked to the point of being agape.

“At the least, I accept your apology. But you have to apologize to Eiji too.”

Wraith momentarily winces in reluctance. “Fine.”

“Good.” Izumi smiles, making Wraith finally understand how a smile can be annoying, but at the same time he’s glad that Izumi didn’t ask for anything more. Taking off his red robe and draping it across the desk chair, he finally relaxes, a feeling of relief washing over him as the tension leaves his body.

“Did you talk to that guy today?”

“Fuhiro? Yea, I’m making pretty good progress with him I think.”

“You think you’ll be alright? As in I don’t have to babysit you. Could always call me if something happens.”

“That’s fine with me, why though? Are you leaving?”

“I’ve put off specter stuff for a while now since I’ve been bothering you so much. I’ll probably let you off for some time.”

“Yea, that’s alright.” Although a bit disappointed, since he came to enjoy Wraith’s company, he understands, and he’s somewhat glad to have a break from his teasing for once. Wraith gets up and gestures to Izumi for him to scoot over, which he does, allowing Wraith to sit on the bed with him. All that can be heard is the sound of crickets from outside the window, albeit closed. Izumi twiddles his thumbs, his eyes drifting towards the window. Now that he thinks about it, Wraith always smokes outside, even though Izumi never told him that he couldn’t smoke in the house. So he does have some common courtesy… he thinks to himself.

“I don’t smoke inside because no one smokes in your house, so it’s obvious you wouldn’t want me to do so.”

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Izumi jumps in surprise, his ears nearly turning red. “D-don’t read my mind like that!”

“I usually don’t do that unless people say my name first, but honestly...sheesh.” Wraith sighs, holding his head in his hand. “I don’t know what’s up with me today. It just bothered me for some reason, I wanted to talk to you and I wasn’t sure what to say.”

His mouth drops open in surprise. “Really, are you alright?”

Wraith turns away. “Don’t ask me that.” Izumi can only recall one other time that Wraith got embarrassed, even if it was slight, compared to Izumi’s long track record, the thought causing him to chuckle. Now, Wraith wholly grasps what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a tease. Some part of him wants to pinch Izumi in retaliation, but he decides not to. Instead, he laughs with him. Maybe he is his medium…

  Wraith leans against the wall, finally looking back at Izumi, he warmly grins, giving rise to Izumi’s sheepish behavior from his staring.

“You know, I thought about forgiving your debt to me, since I went back on my word the other day.”

“And now..?”

“I leave it up to you. You can repay me if you want to, but if you don’t, that’s fine too.”

Pausing, Izumi thinks to himself for a moment.

“I...want to repay you. I think you biting the bullet and apologizing for the first time in your life was good enough in that regard.”

Wraith ignores Izumi’s snarky remark. “Then, did you have something in mind as a replacement for my original proposition?”

Pausing, Izumi thought long and hard, racking his brain for something that Wraith would want, meticulously combing through each of their interactions for any possible hint. Soon enough, it hit him. When they kissed in the park and when Wraith had his blood for the first time, there was a clear fiery sensation in his eyes that wanted more. If Izumi was wrong, he was in for another mocking session, but it was a risk he was willing to take. As long as he didn’t have to do anything in that maid outfit.

His heart in his throat, he ultimately spoke up. “You can...do whatever you want…”

A bit surprised, Wraith tries to clarify, trying to verify that Izumi knows what he’s proposing. “As in…?”

“Yes, I know!” He quickly shrieks in return. “Exactly what you think I mean!”

“Are you sure? I feel like that’s worse than what I said honestly.”

“Not to me it isn’t, you have no idea how much I hate wearing that outfit, I only do it because the job pays well, so doing it essentially for free?” Izumi vehemently shakes his head.

“Alright, alright. That’s fine with me, but I honestly feel bad, so I’ll tell you at the least I won’t take it to the full extent, nor will you have to do anything for me in terms of that. That’s good with you I imagine?”

  A bit relieved, Izumi sighs and nods, some tension leaving his chest. Although he was the one who proposed it in the first place, he wasn’t sure if he was mentally prepared to go the full length with Wraith. His nerves, however, quickly return the moment Wraith pulled him closer, Izumi now sitting on top of Wraith with his knees on the bed and his hands on Wraith’s chest. Feeling a bit guilty, he decides to start off easy. With a hand wrapped around Izumi’s back and the other on his cheek, Wraith softly kisses him, yet his delicate nature surprises Izumi more. His lips are much less aggressive and carnivorous compared to before; rather, a romantic affection can be felt through them, but Izumi isn’t sure which he preferred more. The two sides of Wraith are too alluring, both dancing with his heart, mouth, and emotions in a way that he’s never felt before, with Izumi beginning to discern the dangerous line that he’s beginning to tread, considering that Wraith fulfils the roles of both a passionate lover and a romantic one with ease, and who knows if there’s more to come. A shiver runs up Izumi’s spine as Wraith’s hand sneaks under his shirt, making bare contact with his back. Progressively, Wraith’s kiss becomes more fervent, making it harder for Izumi to catch his breath in between. His warm hand delicately traces his spine, the wave in Izumi’s frame swaying in tune. Giving into temptation, Izumi is the first to keel and crave more; desperately, he attempts to intertwine his tongue with Wraith’s, who delightfully accepts the invitation. Quickly he’s reminded about the piercing in his mouth, which Izumi came to enjoy as the cold metallic ball pressed against him. Izumi’s grip on Wraith’s chest tightens, gasping for air when their lips part, and saliva streams down both their mouths. Using his thumb to wipe the corner of Izumi’s mouth, Wraith gives Izumi little time to recover before he kisses him once more. Becoming more galvanized, Izumi moves to remove Wraith’s teal dress shirt, who clasps his hand to a halt. This time, when Wraith speaks, his voice is much lower and more tantalizing compared to his usual manner, “Don’t, I said you don’t have to take care of me, remember? Tonight, I’ll take care of you.” He gives him a peck before turning Izumi around, his back now against Wraith’s broad chest. In the midst of kissing his neck, his hands maneuver across Izumi’s body, with one hand fondling his chest and the other unfastening Izumi’s shorts, his breath becoming more and more rapid while Wraith takes hold of his hardened shaft, caressing both areas with care. Wraith’s warm breath graces Izumi’s now inflamed ears and he playfully licks him, softly biting to tease. Within himself, Izumi feels something akin to a jolt, like something tethering him to Wraith’s essence. Distracted with Wraith’s movements, Wraith takes the opportunity to bite Izumi’s neck, consuming the honey-like blood. His teeth part, directing his attention once more to Izumi. Wraith’s pace quickens, occasionally stroking the tip with his fingers, Izumi’s heart rate matching the speed in turn. A soft moan escapes Izumi’s lips, unable to contain the burning sensation in his body any longer, releasing it into Wraith’s sultry hands. Izumi’s breathing finally begins to slow as Wraith closes the wound on his neck with his saliva. It doesn’t take him long to realize the fact that he ejaculated into Wraith’s hand, and he immediately tries to turn and apologize, still trying to catch his breath.

“Hah… I’m sorry, I should’ve warned you, l-let me get you something to wipe it off.”

“No need.” Wraith licks his hand, although trying to savor every last bit of the moment. Unexpectedly, Izumi suppresses his precarious arousal from the act. “I can say for certain that you paid off your debt and then some.” His seductive smile is incredibly tempting. Izumi, registering that they’re still conjoined, panics and fumbles to straighten out his clothing as he gets up from the bed. Wraith, as per usual, doesn’t seem too shaken in comparison. “Hopefully you don’t have to have so much alone time now, my little four years.”

Even after all that, Izumi is amazed that Wraith can still manage to tease him, but he tries to brush it off by ignoring him, learning that it’s the best way to deal with his persistent taunting. However, his strategy doesn’t last very long.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to…?”

“Unlike someone, I can contain myself pretty well.”

Izumi picks up a pillow from the bed and hurls it at Wraith in complete and utter shame. “T-then go! The longer you stay the more embarrassed I get!”

“So you admit to it?”

“Ahh!!! Just leave!!!” He cries out, chucking another pillow.

“Alright, alright.” Wraith playfully grins, ruffling Izumi’s hair. “Have a good night princess. I’ll see you next time you call, probably.” This time, Wraith phases through the wall to leave Izumi’s room. Izumi falls onto the bed, hugging his blanket in an effort to recover from the events of the night, his mind racing in circles as he recalls every moment with fumbled and confused emotions.