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“It’s so hot.”
“I know.”
“I’m melting.”
“You’ll live.”
“Minoruuu.” Nozue groaned, sunglasses sliding down the bridge of his nose as his head fell forward. He was well aware that hot weather was something they could not avoid when they decided to spend their vacation in a tropical country. Nozue had no complaints about the destination Togawa picked out for them; somewhere not too far from Japan was his only non-negotiable. He even allowed Togawa to book and pay for their business class plane tickets — “it’s my first trip out of my homeland with my amazing boyfriend; this is the one occasion where it’s okay to splurge” was his argument, and admittedly Nozue couldn’t argue with that logic — but now that he was actually under the scorching sun, he wished that he had put a little more thought into it.
They had just finished checking into their accommodation, a five-star resort with good food and a great view that Nozue picked out and insisted on paying. Togawa’s jaw practically clattered onto the floor when they first entered the room, a mix of fear and wary excitement evident in his expressive, adorable eyes. Nozue intentionally kept the type of suite he booked a secret so as not to worry Togawa; thankfully, his boyfriend was easily convinced about the cost when he saw the fancy, hopefully sturdy queen-sized bed and huge bathtub they would definitely be using later.
“We’re almost there,” Togawa reassured, lightly squeezing Nozue’s hand as they weaved through the crowd of fellow tourists. After opening their suitcases and getting changed, they made their way to the one place they had travelled for: the beach. The estimated five-minute walk to get there was drawn out to a twenty-minute stroll. It was hard not to get distracted by the countless stalls selling local delicacies and souvenirs they passed by, Togawa snapping a photo of everything he found particularly interesting, while Nozue stopped every few meters to try some free food samples (and discreetly rest under the shade) that were being handed out.
Once they had had enough of the crowded shopping area, they resumed their journey to their destination. On the way there, Togawa bought them some alcoholic drinks — “it’s for anti-aging,” he reasoned — a piña colada for himself and a mango margarita for Nozue, which they took small sips of until they reached the beach.
It was Nozue’s turn to be shocked, his breath hitching when he finally had an unobstructed view of the clear, blue ocean. Gentle waves licked against the beautiful white sand, which stretched out as far as the eye could see, the smell of salt water making Nozue’s shoulders sag with relaxation. All thoughts of the seemingly unbearable heat were quickly forgotten, and Nozue took a few seconds to enjoy the soft ocean breeze before they settled down under the shade of some nearby coconut trees.
“Have you seen my sunscreen? I can’t find it.” Nozue asked as he rummaged through the contents of his bag. “I could’ve sworn that I packed it.”
“What does it look like?” Togawa inquired, digging two small holes in the sand to put their beverages in.
“It’s a gold plastic bottle with a bear logo on it.”
“Oh, I think I saw it in your bathroom before we left.”
“Damn it.” Nozue scratched his head. Of all the things he had forgotten to bring to a beach trip abroad, it just had to be sunscreen.
“I brought some too, just give me a second,” Togawa said, taking out a blanket from his bag and unfurling it across the sand. After the fabric was properly smoothed out, they kicked off their sandals and sat down, Nozue continuing to look through his belongings while Togawa looked through his.
“Here,” Togawa announced as he retrieved a blue plastic bottle from his bag.
“Thanks,” Nozue sighed with relief, holding out his hand to receive the container. Unexpectedly, Togawa pushed down Nozue’s outstretched arm, shuffling over to sit in front of Nozue. “Let me put it on you.”
“There are people around.” Nozue recoiled, watching with wide eyes as Togawa squeezed a generous amount of sunscreen onto his palm.
“Is anyone looking at us?” Togawa raised a brow, resting his product-filled hand on one knee. Nozue scanned their surroundings. Just like Togawa said, no one was paying attention to them.
“No.”
“Everyone else is too busy enjoying themselves. I don’t think they would notice us, or care.” Togawa reasoned, handsome face fixing Nozue with an expectant look. Nozue felt his resolve crumble in real time; Togawa knew how weak Nozue was to the sad puppy look. Begrudgingly, he thrust out his arm.
“Fine, you’ve convinced me.” Nozue sighed, which made his boyfriend’s face light up adorably. He was still a little worried about people judging them, but at the very least they were in a place where no one knew them.
“I’ll put some on your face first.” Togawa pushed Nozue’s sunglasses up his head, scooping up a small amount of sunscreen with the fingers of his other hand before slowly spreading it all over his face.
All Nozue could do was sit still as he indulged his boyfriend, letting an all-too-eager Togawa rub cream all over his sweaty and overheated body. He appreciated the pressure Togawa applied as he rubbed the sunscreen on his arms, the light massage making Nozue groan in satisfaction. When Togawa got to his thighs, he didn’t miss the way his boyfriend’s fingers reached past the hem of his shorts. For a second, he wondered if the action was unintentional, but the mischievous glint in the other man’s eyes told him his speculation was very, very wrong.
“I’ve always wanted to experience putting sunscreen on you,” Togawa admitted, squeezing a line of cream down both of Nozue’s shins before spreading it.
“I’m not surprised.” Nozue hummed. Togawa was not shy about admitting the strange, almost borderline pathetic fantasies his brain cooked up when they weren’t together yet. Maybe Nozue should find it weird, but Togawa was too cute, and he appreciated his boyfriend’s honesty.
When the last of the sunscreen is finally applied onto Nozue’s skin, he caps the bottle and places it down, “All done.”
“Thanks.” Nozue inspected his body. The slight white cast on his skin was surprisingly uniform, with not a single area left uncovered. He didn’t think applying sunscreen was something someone could be good at, but if it were, of course Togawa would be one of the people who had the skill.
Taking a sip of his beverage, Nozue watched as Togawa stood up, groaning as he stretched his arms above his head. Despite the drink in his mouth, he could’ve sworn he felt drool drip from his lips when Togawa began to pull his shirt over his head. His boyfriend’s torso was something he’d seen hundreds of times, but it still never failed to make his brain short-circuit. It was a view that rivaled even the award-winning beach they were at; smooth pale skin dotted with moles, toned abs, a trail of hair that led down to his-
“Your turn.”
Nozue blinked as Togawa plopped down in front of him. “Hm?”
“It’s your turn to put sunscreen on me,” Togawa said plainly, looking at him with the same anticipation a dog would have when their owner got ready to toss a ball. Nozue was still a little nervous about being judged by any onlookers, but he’d already applied sunscreen on Togawa in public; he might as well just commit.
Putting down his drink, he retrieved the bottle of sunscreen, his other hand holding Togawa’s forearm and tugging. “Come closer.”
“Thank you.” Togawa beamed, wasting no time in shuffling his crossed legs forward until their knees were touching. He combed his fingers through Togawa’s unstyled bangs, pushing them up to expose his forehead. Once they no longer fell in front of his eyes, he squeezed some cream onto his palm, slid his fingers against the liquid, and smeared it across Togawa’s face.
“Stop smiling.” Nozue poked the other man’s nose, leaving behind a blob of sunscreen on the tip. Ever the obedient boyfriend, Togawa’s wide grin abated, but the corners of his lips remained upturned, providing a small window for his teeth that his mouth just couldn’t seem to conceal when he grinned.
When Nozue deemed Togawa’s face properly covered, he moved on to the rest of his body. He tried to appear as casual as possible as he worked, pretending like he wasn’t affected by the firm muscle under his boyfriend’s skin as he rubbed his hand up and down his forearms. Squeezing more onto his palm, he was about to move on to the next area until he realized that the next part for him to slather was Togawa’s torso.
“I’m not putting sunscreen on your chest.” Nozue declared, redirecting his hands toward Togawa’s legs, which were just as sexy but more bearable.
Togawa frowned at the missed opportunity, but didn’t protest, taking the bottle himself and squeezing out just enough to rub on his own chest. As much as Nozue wanted to see his boyfriend’s abs covered in cream, he couldn't take any more overheating, and zeroed in on the area he was working on.
“You’re blushing.” Togawa unhelpfully pointed out, pausing his application of sunscreen on his own pecs — not that Nozue was paying attention to that — to take a good look at Nozue’s face.
“It’s because of the weather.” Nozue swallowed, ignoring the wave of warmth that suddenly flooded over him at the observation.
He refused to look at Togawa’s face, but just from the tone of his voice, Nozue knew his boyfriend didn’t believe him. “Right.”
Nozue finished the sunscreen application without much of a fuss (he did get a little distracted by the moles on Togawa’s back, but that’s besides the point), capping the bottle and placing it beside their pile of things, Togawa putting his empty drink container next to it. “Let’s go for a swim, Sanae.”
“You go on ahead,” Nozue replied, wiping the sticky residue left behind by the cream on his shorts. “Let me finish my drink first.”
The way Togawa deflated at his response almost made Nozue choke out a laugh. Togawa pouted, “Will you be alright on your own?”
“Yes, Minoru.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, yes, now go, shoo.” Nozue nudged him with his foot until he stood up and set foot out of the blanket. “I’ll follow in a bit. Promise.”
Even from far away, Nozue could see Togawa pouting. The expression remained on his face the whole time he walked away from the shore, although it quickly melted as soon as he was knee-deep in the ocean.
The sunlight reflected beautifully on the water, casting a light shimmer over the sea. Togawa wasn’t swimming just yet, instead bending down and submerging his head before bending back up and whipping his hair behind him. Nozue chuckled at the display. Togawa made it way too easy for him to draw dog comparisons, especially when he began dipping his head in the water as if searching for something, before proceeding to get down on all fours and start paddling around. They probably should’ve packed some goggles; Nozue made a mental note to bring some the next time they had a trip like this, and for once he could indulge Togawa by letting him drag Nozue to a sports equipment store (Maybe they should get a ball too while they were at it.)
Too caught up in a daze, he didn’t realize Togawa was trying to get his attention until he heard the faint call of his name in the distance. He was much smaller than he was moments before, the water now up to his waist as he waved at Nozue enthusiastically. Unable to suppress the growing grin on his face, Nozue waved back.
When his manga margarita was finally finished, he put away the container in his bag and retrieved his phone. From what he could tell, Togawa had somehow managed to join a group of fellow tourists in a game of water frisbee. Their peals of distant laughter made Nozue’s heart ache with fondness. Their joy was infectious, and seeing Togawa have a good time made Nozue incredibly happy.
He took some photos, way more than he probably should, but this was a fun occasion that would make for a wonderful memory to look back on (Plus, Togawa looked really nice splashing around shirtless; it would be a waste not to document it.)
Once he was finally satisfied with his collection, he tucked his phone back into his bag, removed his sunglasses, and jogged to the water. Togawa spotted him immediately, quickly informing his frisbee pals that he was quitting the game, before subjecting Nozue to the full force of his beaming smile.
“You’re still wearing your shirt.” Togawa pointed out, wading closer until the water reached just below his knees. His cheeks and shoulders were now dusted with a rosy pink, his dark, rumpled hair and black beach shorts strewn with flecks of sand. The urge to run back and retrieve his phone to take a couple hundred photos of his straight-out-of-a-gravure-magazine boyfriend in this state was very strong at that moment — this must be what Togawa felt like whenever Nozue did, well, anything — but Nozue was stronger and resisted.
“I wasn’t planning on taking it off,” Nozue answered, tugging absentmindedly at the hem of his shirt. He wasn’t one for revealing too much skin in public — even the shorts he was wearing felt like he was skirting out of his comfort zone — but the setting and weather called for appropriate attire, so he settled with a sleeveless white t-shirt. It wasn't as form-fitting as a tank top, but still exposed enough skin so that his arms didn’t overheat.
“Oh,” Togawa said in a tone lacking way more enthusiasm than Nozue would’ve liked.
Nozue snorted. “Don’t look so disappointed.”
“I actually have a gift for you.” Togawa announced, getting a hold of Nozue’s wrist with one hand and holding up the other, which was closed into a tight fist, “Give me your hand quick. It might escape.”
“Minoru, no,” Nozue laughed nervously, frantically trying to step away and wrench his arm out of the other man’s tight grip. Nozue did not like where this was going. Anything small that could potentially crawl up his body, he immediately disliked. This is why Togawa handled all the bug-catching at home, and why Nozue needed to get away from Togawa now.
Smiling gleefully, Togawa held his fist uncomfortably close to Nozue’s face. “Sanae, hurry.”
“Minoru, what is it?!” Nozue yelped, leaning his body as far away as he could from the offending offering.
“Just give me your hand-”
“Agh! Mi- Togawa, stop!”
“Take it!”
“No, no, no, no-” Nozue winced as Togawa placed his fist over his open palm, already preparing to fling it away as soon as his boyfriend opened his hand and revealed…
“It’s a shell.”
Nozue’s arms went limp. “You little-”
For the most part, Nozue had lived a pretty sedentary life, preferring to lounge around and relax instead of doing demanding physical activity. Despite that, he knew how to play dirty.
He didn’t even give Togawa time to process what was happening, shoving as much water as he could at the other man and soaking him completely.
Shaking his head, Togawa wiped his eyes, mouth hanging open as he attempted to push aside the wet hair sticking to his forehead and cheeks. The sight that made Nozue double over in laughter; he well and truly looked like a sopping wet dog. He did feel a little bad when he imagined Togawa’s hypothetical sad doggie ears drooping, but that’s what he got for messing with him.
His amusement quickly faded when Togawa straightened up, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous edge as he took a step forward.
Nozue gulped, staggering backwards. “Minoru, we can talk about thi-”
Before he could run, a wave of salty water splashed over him. Fortunately, he had shut his eyes before the brunt of the attack hit him, managing to retaliate quickly by pushing water in Togawa’s direction. Over the barrage of ocean water, he could make out Togawa’s laughter, his tone bright and lively as he heedlessly swiped at the waves, the corners of his eyes crinkling with unbridled joy. And suddenly, Nozue was laughing too, his face splitting into a wide grin as they continued drenching each other.
Too distracted by their game, Nozue didn’t notice the shallow sand pit under the waves until it was too late, the uneven surface making him lose his balance.
“Sanae!” He heard Togawa exclaim as he fell. The water was not that deep, so he managed to resurface quickly, blinking rapidly as he brushed aside the hair in front of his eyes. Togawa was leaning over him, face twisted in concern as he looked over his boyfriend. “Are you alright?”
“Ouch,” Nozue whimpered as pitifully as he could, raising an arm. “Help me up.”
Togawa grabbed his wrist, preparing to hoist him up, only for Nozue to pull him into the water.
Nozue had to clutch his stomach with how hard he was laughing. The other man, now on all fours, was coughing as he emerged from the sea, his wet hair plastered to his eyes and a piece of seaweed somehow ending up on top of his head.
“Water went up my nose,” Togawa sniffed, pinching his nose before swiping his bangs to the side.
“I am so sorry.” Nozue giggled as he crawled closer, plucking the stray piece of seaweed from his head and tossing it away.
“It’s okay,” Togawa answered airily, no sign of irritation or anger at Nozue’s earlier stunt.
“Are you having fun?” Nozue asked, unable to resist taking hold of Togawa’s hand under the water.
“Mhm.” Togawa nodded, rubbing his thumb against the back of Nozue’s hand. “I get to travel abroad with the love of my life. How can I not have fun?”
“Just making sure.” Nozue leaned back on his arms, the waves lapping gently at his clothed back as he wiggled his legs, watching a cloud of sand form at the movement. “It’s better to ask than assume.”
Togawa turned to face him, tone serious. “If I ever say I’m not having fun spending time with you, I give you full permission to slap the sense back into me.”
Nozue frowned. “I am not doing that. Ever.”
“Fine.”
Nozue huffed, sparing his boyfriend a sideways glance, and was met with intense brown eyes, sun-kissed skin, and a devotion so palpable Nozue could drown in it.
He didn’t know how long they stared at each other, nor did he care. Togawa was by his side; that’s all that mattered in the moment. With his boyfriend looking at him so sweetly, he easily gave in to the urge to lean in for a quick, salty kiss.
Togawa kissed back, as he always did, but gawked after Nozue pulled away. “I thought there were too many people around.”
Feeling bold, Nozue slid his hand down Togawa’s back, the water letting his fingers slip easily past the elastic waistband of Togawa’s shorts. “Someone told me that no one is paying attention to us.”
Togawa took a shuddering breath, gaze flickering down to Nozue’s lips before returning to his eyes. “Well, in that case.”
With the current state Togawa was in, Nozue was half-expecting to get pulled out of the water and dragged to their hotel; instead, strong arms found their way under his back and legs, and lifted him upward.
“Oy! Minoru! What are you doing?!” Nozue yelped, hands automatically wrapping around Togawa’s neck as he was carried.
“I thought no one was paying attention to us,” Togawa said out loud as he waded toward the deeper area of the beach.
Nozue sputtered, face overheating for probably the hundredth time that day. “We- Th-They are now!”
“So?”
“Minoru!”
Despite having grown out of his old, restrictive mindset, there were still times Nozue didn’t understand why Togawa insisted they continue their anti-aging. But in that moment, under the vast blue sky, covered in sand and seaweed, playing like little children thousands of kilometers away from home, Togawa’s philosophy had never been clearer.