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If, for some odd reason, Midorima had opted for a career change, becoming an astronaut would be at the very bottom of the list. Falling in love with Takao Kazunari was like scoring a one hell of a ride to space, and he would really rather not go through that in reality. Just once was enough. What started off as fleeting thoughts became shy glances when he thought the other wasn't paying attention, to suddenly giving full reins of his shots to Takao.
Midorima hadn't felt this intensely before, if ever, and if he were to find a comparable magnitude of his feelings, the Sun would no longer be a source of warmth. Rather, it would be well on its way to becoming a supernova, his feelings bursting from the seams.
Loving Takao was like floating in waves of uncertainty without the Earth's pull to anchor him back down- and before Midorima knew it, he was long out of his depth. It was scary, feeling this way. Dealing with something so out of his comfort zone makes him feel so inadequate, and he's helpless to the unceasing insecurities his mind now inhabits.
He was brought out of his stupor when a smaller hand rested on top of his. Right, Takao had agreed to watch the meteor shower with him tonight.
"What's going on inside that pretty head of yours, Shin-chan?" The sight of Takao's soft pout, along with the tilt of his head like a confused puppy underneath the gaze of the heavens does wonders in Midorima's cold, cold heart.
"You see, uhm. It is that, uh..." Midorima sputters, drawing out an adorable little giggle from Takao. A feeling of warmth sweeps through him, a seemingly increasing occurrence since he had begun dating the point guard. Is this what having butterflies in your stomach feels like? Midorima ponders, Get ahold of yourself, Shintaro.
"If you're not ready to tell me now then I understand," Takao smiles assuredly. "But, I'd really appreciate it if you do, anyways. We're boyfriends now, remember? Your problem is mine, also."
"What a childish phrase," Midorima crosses his arms. "I prefer the term soulmates."
"As expected of my Shin-chan!" Takao tussles about for a moment, ignoring Midorima's confused glance to make room for his rightful place; beside Midorima. The raven haired boy rests his head against Midorima's frame and lets out a sigh. Content, at last. "Seriously, though. What's wrong?'
Like the tears of the sky tearing the night asunder, it took all of Midorima's willpower to stop his thoughts from pouring out until he could no longer stop their descent.
Takao, mortals like us are powerless in the hands of fate.
Takao, you are far above me, don't you know?
Takao, what am I to do if we are destined to part?
Takao, I... am scared.
"The meteor shower is starting," is what Midorima says instead, pointedly turning a blind eye to Takao's deflating posture and apparent disappointment.
It was divine, truly. Midorima hadn't thought he'd be fortunate enough to watch a meteor shower, let alone one that can be visibly seen from Tokyo. Knowing that this was a once in a lifetime occurrence, he was certain that he wanted to share this special event with none other than his lover.
While the sight was indeed heavenly, Midorima's eyes were more drawn to the childlike wonder that adorned Takao's face. A bright meteor skims by closer than the rest, and he takes in the scene of a hundred shades of blue and yellow dance across Takao's features.
"It's... a bit of a heavyweight, really," Midorima suddenly says, turning away from the scrutiny of silver bespangled eyes when he averts his gaze to his. "Are you sure you are acquiescent on hearing it?"
"Why, of course! I know you get all stiff and iffy when it comes to words, so I'm really glad you're trying your best with communicating your feelings to me," as if they weren't already close enough, Takao was practically draped over Midorima's chest now that he sat between his lanky legs. Midorima could only plead to whatever higher up above that Takao didn't notice the spike of pace in his heartbeat when he snuggled closer. "I appreciate your efforts more than you know."
"That's precisely the problem, Takao," he wraps his arms around Takao's face and rests his chin against head. Midorima recalled Takao's strong approval when it comes to skinship. He hoped this was adequate enough to make him stay.
"You're just- too good. I wouldn't blame fate if it were to take you away from me. Hell, I wouldn't even blame you if you left out of your own validation. You deserve someone far better than I, someone who can cherish you fully. Furthermore-"
"For someone with straight A's, you can be so clueless sometimes, Shin-chan."
"...I'm sorry."
"Wha- no! You were supposed to say 'Shut up, Bakao!'" Takao's voice drops an octave or two to mimic Midorima's tone of voice. If Kise was here to witness the scene, he would shed tears at his flawless copy.
"But in all honesty, how long have you felt like this?" Leaving the comforting warmth of Midorima's chest, Takao turns around to find an unlikely sight of a meek Midorima. Now that the two were face to face, Midorima finds himself drowning in the Oceanus Procellarum that are Takao's eyes.
"Ever since we started dating," Midorima admits sheepishly.
"Oh, Shin-chan... I'm sorry I made you feel this way," he takes the Miracle in his embrace, and although it was clear that Takao was the smaller of the two, Midorima had never felt so small and protected in the arms of his lover. "If I really was too good, as you would say, then I wouldn't have let these thoughts occur to you at all.
I developed feelings for you because you're you, Shin-chan. All of you, even your social awkwardness, your lucky items, and your daily shooting to whatever your lucky number for the day is- I'd take all of it because it's who you are. Furthermore-" Midorima squints his eyes as the point guard copies his peculiar way of speech again. "You excel at many things I don't! That makes us both half of a whole. We complete each other!"
"Congratulations, you know basic math," Midorima replies dryly, yet his eyes were anything but. Midorima refuses to let his tears fall, lest he wants to bear with this humiliation for the rest of his life. How lame was he, losing control of his emotions right after proclaiming his insecurities onto his partner?
"Oh, you love me," Takao snorts, leaning in to press a kiss onto both of Midorima's eyelids. As Takao reenacts the meteor shower on his face with kisses for an alternative, Midorima finds that these fatuous thoughts of his dissolve one by one. When Takao pulls back, his thumbs wipe at the tears that were still perched onto Midorima's unfairly long eyelashes. "You can cry if you want to, baby."
Stuffing his face against the nape of Takao's neck, Midorima shakes his head. That was enough emotional vulnerability for the year for the giant Miracle, it seems. Takao giggles at the feeling of his green hair tickle against his skin. "I'll let you off for now, only because I have yet to finish half of my spiel... hey, don't get grumpy on me! You love it when I shower you with love, admit it! Hehe, as I was saying...
I find it quite ironic that someone with such a strong belief in fate and does everything as he humanly could to appeal to it would say that being loved is something he doesn't deserve. Even moreso, knowing that that someone is Shin-chan, who is the most earnest person I know and works tirelessly everyday, nonstop, just to ensure that he is the best that he can be. Someone like that deserves only good things for them, no? So please don't ever think you're not worth it. Fate wouldn't have brought us together, otherwise.
But despite all of that, if... even then, we really were destined to go our separate ways," Takao's tone droops and shows a trace of melodrama, idly watching as the stars dance by, the falling ones run far. "I think... I would fight fate itself to prevent that. I can hardly imagine a future without you," Takao admits, getting teary eyed himself. "It's a good thing we have a whole meteor shower to wish for, yeah? Do you think if we overlap the same wish over and over again, we'd be together forever?"
This brings out a round of laughter out of Midorima, and it is Takao who watches this time, entranced.
Wiping a tear out of his eye, Midorima lovingly stares at his partner. "Thank you, Kazunari..."
Takao could only gape dumbly at him.
"What?" comes Midorima's flustered reply.
"N-nothing! It's just, t-that was the first time you called me by my given name..."
"Ah, if that makes you uncomfortable then I can s-"
"Don't you dare! From here on out, you have to call me Kazunari!"
"Whatever you say... Kazunari."
Takao flashes a cheeky smile at that before diving right back in Midorima's embrace.
"I love you, Shintaro."
"And I, you, Kazunari."
With a chaste kiss pressed against Takao's lips, the lovers watch as the trails of light trickle down to zero as they move onward to their journey throughout the universe. As bad as Midorima was at being apparent with his emotions verbally nor with his actions, he wishes that that kiss was able to convey the weight of his feelings he was yet too scared to say aloud.
I love you. So much so, that I, too, would fight destiny for you.