Chapter Text
“Take me somewhere that reminds you of me”
That’s what Toshi had told David the last time they’d been out together. Toshi had cocked his head innocently while flashing that infamous smile that makes Dave want to melt.
Now David knows what he wants to do.
...
David pulls up to the old art deco apartment building Toshi is staying in. He puts his car in park and honks the horn a couple of times, and waits only a minute before he sees an unmistakable figure slide out of the building’s large front doors.
The sun is setting, and as Toshi approaches the car, David soaks it all in.
Toshi is dressed casually (as previously instructed). The hero now wears slightly distressed blue jeans that hug his legs. A soft cotton tee shirt hides under a light grey windbreaker. The look is tied together with bright red kicks. Toshi’s hair is slicked back as usual, and David can’t help but admire the hero in front of him--even if it’s obvious.
…
David drives up up and up, into the hills of Los Angeles. Toshi doesn’t question him, he seems too excited to find out which location David has chosen based off of his embarrassing request. They finally reach their destination.
“So where have you taken me, David?” Toshi grins real wide at David as the two young men make their way up the long walkway to the Griffith Observatory. “Tell me everything!” Toshi’s smile sets into one of comfort.
The large domed building commands a presence that can’t be ignored. It sits high up in the hills, closer to the sky than everything else. And once you get inside? The stars are mysterious and beautiful. Just like Toshi.
But David doesn’t think he can tell Toshi that quite yet. Instead he ducks his head to hide the blush he knows has taken over his entire face, and he lets out a much more tame spiel, “Well the Griffith is a museum that shows us the stars and space. Your dreams and aspirations are so big, I thought, well he is reaching for the stars, so…” David stops talking. Somehow he has still embarrassed himself.
David glances up towards Toshi and swears he can see red settle over well-defined cheeks. Toshi coughs lightly as he averts his eyes from David’s stare before he mumbles with false confidence, “Well let’s take a look at this place then!”
...
They are inside the museum, walking through the hallways lined with beautiful old tile and the secrets of the stars. Whenever David stops to look at an installation--whether it be on the rotation of the planets, or the moon’s influence on the tides, or any kind of eclipse-- he can feel the sneaking heat that falls upon him as Toshi settles in right next to him. First Toshi is close enough for David to simply sense it. Eventually though, as the pair make their way through grand narrow halls, David swears he feels Toshi move closer, and closer to where David can feel the heat radiating off the hero’s body.
This isn’t abnormal. David thinks to himself. He kissed me on the beach. He must like me, right?
However much Toshi may like me though… we’re in a public place. This is the hottest up-and-coming hero of Japan. He is important. He should be seen with someone important.
Almost as if he could read David’s thoughts, Toshi nudges David in the side with his elbow and smiles directly at David.
“You know, this place isn’t half bad.” Toshi starts in a half-hushed tone. “Is there any other sort of grand attraction here I should be seeing?”
David isn’t quite sure if Toshi could tell David was starting to spiral, or if he was just getting bored. Either way, David knows in that moment just what to suggest.
“Actually, there is another room we haven't’ seen yet.”
…
It’s nice to sit in the dark and just relax. Dave is seated to the immediate right of Toshi, who is sitting up straight and looking around the theater-like room in wonder.
“I’m guessing you’ve never visited a planetarium before?” David asks him.
“No, never... “ Toshi replies breathily.
David can only smile warmly in response before the lights dim even more--a signal that the show is about to start.
The first thing David senses, aside from the rustling bodies in the room, and the excitement continuing to radiate off Toshi, is sound. Classical music--violins--echo around the dark room, immediately setting a mood of awe for the audience to soak in. As the music continues, and imagery of deep space appears on-screen, David glances to his left to sneak yet another look at Toshi.
The lights from the screen reflect off of the young hero’s face and somehow illuminate it. Like the light exists to highlight him and him alone. David is smitten. He knows this. How could he not be falling for this lovable hunk, who blushes at gentle compliments and gets giddy at the prospect of watching educational movies about planets? David dares to continue watching Toshi instead of the film; he notes the excited gleam in his eyes, the way he sits up straight at attention, at the fervor which he grips the seat rests on either sides of him.
David looks back at toward the screen, satisfied for now, and still smiling like a lovestruck teenager. He wrings his hands together in his lap and tries to focus back in on the film. He is listening to a narrator with a deep voice discuss all that exists beyond our galaxy, and it calms him. He relaxes, lets his shoulders rest, and his hands. The daring side of David sets his arms closer to the arm rest. His hand is there if Toshi wants to notice it. David is definitely a lovestruck teenager.
Turning planets, gas giants, swirling storms, and many moons are discussed, and David loves it all. The narrator is just now talking about planet Pluto when David feels warmth cover his hand. David smiles to himself and dares not to look left and shatter this fragile dream. He opens his hand and accepts the warmth there; he entwines his fingers together in Toshi’s own. As interesting as Pluto is, it doesn’t really compare to focusing on the hand in his, the feeling in his chest, and the unbreakable smile on his face.
…
They’re walking back to the car, arms swinging, hands brushing together but never quite catching on. David still feels the smile on his own face, but a quick glance towards Yagi shows he isn’t the only one.
The crunching of loose asphalt comes to a halt as Toshi stops at the edge of the parking lot to look over the city one more time. David stops too. From this height, the night lights of Los Angeles twinkle like the night sky they just spent an evening admiring.
“It’s beautiful.” Toshi says simply. He turns to David.
“All of this--tonight I mean--was incredible. I...thank you David.” says Toshi softly.
“Yeah, of course.” David says back, just as softly.
They stand there for a moment in a comfortable silence before Toshi speaks again.
“David… I really enjoy spending time with you. I hope you feel the same way. I’d like to continue to see you… at least as long as I’m still here in America.”
David’s heart squeezes tight, but not in a bad way. “I feel the same way, Toshi. I’d love keep spending time with you.” he replies back as confidently as he can muster.
With that, Toshi looks to David, and his eyes are still piercing blue despite the darkness from the night sky that envelops them. David wants to say something else, anything else to prolong this moment, but he doesn’t have too. Toshi gently takes David’s hand, the same hand he held not too long ago. Then for the second time this week, Toshi leans over towards David. He pauses this time, and hold David’s eyes for a couple of seconds before leaning in all the way, and pressing his lips softly to David’s own.
David feels himself gravitate closer to Toshi, feels his free arm reach up to cup Toshi’s face gently. Despite his sharp features, Toshi’s face is soft and warm. David feels himself smile into the kiss, which in turn causes Toshi to react the same--a smile pressed on David’s lips. Toshi breaks the kiss, but only for a moment, because before David’s brain can react, he feels the warmth back on his lips. Toshi has caught David’s upper lip this time, and David feels like gravity has been turned off. David lets go of Toshi’s hand and slides his own hand up to grab onto Toshi’s strong bicep instead. That should ground him.
...
As the two drive down the winding hill that leads to the Observatory, their voices are quiet, but it’s fine because no words are needed to be said. All the feelings David is currently experiencing are being expressed in the open, by the ongoing rumbling of the car engine, by the excited chatter and subdued but strong beats of music being carried through the warm night air. The sounds of lively Los Angeles are speaking for David where he can’t find words. The words that express his feelings for the man who reminds him of stars.