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Assistant: Title: Cat 'n Mouse
        Author: kittypuppy13 kittypuppy13 
        Chapter: 8/11 
        Summary: Lev asked if he could come over and Yaku... Yaku didn't say no.Everything spiraled from there.
        Contents: Chapter 8: Meet the Haibas
    

    


      
        
          To preface, I absolutely do NOT speak Russian to any extent 😭😭 You'll have to forgive me if you can actually understand because I used Google Translate.The intimacy in this chapter is by far my favorite and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have. :))
            
            (See the end of the chapter for  more notes.)
            
      
  

  
  
    
    The Haiba family meeting happens a week later and it’s interesting, to say the least.“Hi!! You must be the libero we’ve heard so much about!” Lev’s mother, a very tall, very pretty woman exclaims in slightly accented Japanese. Eyes identical to Lev’s peer at him warmly while pale hair similar to her daughter's cascades down her shoulders.She encases him in a hug immediately and he flushes, unaccustomed to physical touch outside his brothers and Lev.“Mama, you’re making him nervous.”Nataliya, if Yaku can remember correctly (foreign names weren’t his forte), pulls back and waves her son off. “Oh hush, he’s fine. Isn’t that right?”It seems he can’t say no to any Haiba not just Lev as he nods.Nataliya smiles wide and looks at her son with a triumphant expression.Lev rolls his eyes but a smile plays on his lips.Haiba Alisa is the next to observe him with a cool demor and sharp eyes. She was only two years older than Yaku but even so, Yaku felt himself sweat.“Onee-Chan,” Lev scolds, and Alisa finally cracks, a smile spreading out.“Levochka, you never let me have any fun,” she teases before turning back to Yaku. “It’s nice to meet you.”Yaku nods back, bowing slightly.Lev’s father is the only one gone, he notes with a curious flick of his eyes, and Nataliya seems to be where Lev gets his perception skills because she hones in on it immediately.“Minato is still at work, but don’t worry. He’ll be home soon.”He flushes, dipping his head and Lev scolds his mom once again. He tenses when he feels an arm wrap around his waist but no one bats an eye as Nataliya and Lev go back and forth, arguing about Yaku’s wellbeing.After a while, he’s herded out of the foyer—yes, Lev has one because apparently he isn’t hurting for money—and into the living room. Lev takes the spot next to him, as close as he normally would but in front of his family makes Yaku a little self-conscious. He tries to subtly shoo the boy away but Lev ignores the signs and leans in closer instead, wrapping an arm around his waist again.“Lev,” he hisses as he tries to pull himself from his grip. “Not around your family.”Lev adorns a genuinely confused expression. “But why? We’re not doing anything wrong.”He gapes.Lev stares back confused and begrudgingly, he forces himself to calm down. He was just—unused to affection in public too. Touch-starved, they call it. He longs for it but at the same time, he feels it was weird touching in front of others.Still, this family seems to see nothing wrong with it so he slowly relaxes.Lev’s hand tightens on his stomach and the boy shoots him a blinding smile.Nataliya and Alisa don’t make things any better, though, as they coo and Alisa snaps a few pictures with her phone. Eventually, they settle on the couch perpendicular to theirs and he straightens because he knows the interrogation is about to begin.“So, Yaku-Kun,” Nataliya states.“Mama,” Lev warns but she waves him off.“Hush, Levochka. This is the first person you’ve ever brought home. I’m allowed my questions.”He also sends Lev a look because he gets it from a parent’s standpoint, and Lev looks away with a grumble but no further complaints.“You’re a third-year, I hear?”“Yes, that’s true.” He momentarily fidgets, wondering if the third-year-first-year age gap would be difficult but Nataliya smiles in answer.“You know, I met Minato in high school, too. My school in Russia was doing an exchange program for a semester. He was my whirlwind romance that I never thought I’d see again. Yet here I am, thirty years later with two wonderful kids and a successful career under my belt.”He doesn’t know what to say to that so he merely nods while Lev asks, “You met before?”  There’s a connotation like there’s more to the story than he was told and Nataliya smiles in understanding.“Yes. It was only briefly and when I left, I thought of him often but never imagined we’d meet up again.” Nataliya turns to him to explain. “When I was a model, I was very good and had a lot of jobs. I traveled everywhere and when I was in Japan, I ran into Lev’s father again. As it turned out, fate would have her way because he was supposed to go to Russia soon for his company where he’d be staying for a few months. It was near my place of residence. Amazing, really.”He’s a little surprised considering he’s never heard of fateful stories like that outside of fiction.“We decided to rekindle old flames and we’ve been together ever since.”“That’s amazing,” he finds himself stating and he means it.Nataliya flushes, looking pleased while the arm around his waist tightens. “Yaku-San and I already have our own going on,” Lev states proudly and Yaku smacks him on instinct as a flush crawls up his neck.Lev whines but doesn’t complain much and Nataliya lets out a fond laugh.“I can see that.”He flushes hotly and avoids eye contact. It was good that Lev didn’t have to hide. Kind of surprising for the things he hears about Russia but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.“What do you want to do after high school?” Nataliya asks and he feels himself clam up. Just slightly and it isn’t until Lev squeezes his waist that he relaxes.“Um… I’m… hoping to go pro in volleyball.”Nataliya’s eyes widen and even Alisa glances up from where she was momentarily distracted by her phone.He flushes and avoids their gazes.“Really? That sounds hard.”“It is, Mama. You already know all this too,” Lev states with an edge to his voice that has Nataliya raise her hands in surrender.“You’re right, you’re right. That doesn’t mean that I can’t try and get to know him better if he’s to become family.”Now, it’s both of their turn to flush. “We’ve only been together a few months,” Yaku tries to state but Nataliya waves him off.“Us Haibas do things differently. You’re it for him otherwise he wouldn’t have introduced you.”He glances at Lev who avoids his gaze. He looks away and shrugs it off. It wasn’t anything Lev hadn’t said before.Still, it was awkward to talk about right off the bat.Nataliya sighs and nods. “Okay, no future talk for another year or so. I get it.”He knows better than to argue so he lets it drop.Minato comes home sometime later, looking exhausted and worn out until his eyes land on Yaku. They light up and introductions are exchanged. He seems pleasant enough. Kind of quiet but happy.  In love,  Yaku thinks as he watches his interaction with his wife.It’s only then, at dinner, that he gets to hear the first words of Russian.“Можешь передать мне эту тарелку?” Nataliya asks and Lev grabs a plate to his left to pass it to her.  Can you pass me that plate?  He momentarily forgot that Lev could speak Russian and his eyes widen as Lev speaks back fluently.“Можем ли мы поесть?”  Can we eat?  Nataliya eyes her son with a fond smile. “Подожди, пока вернется твой отец.”  Wait until your father returns.  Lev sighs with a pout but he can’t help but stare.Dear gods.He… he was going to have to use that later. Ask Lev to use that later.Lev notices his staring after a while, brow dipping into a furrow.He flushes, looking away. He feels Lev’s stare for a moment longer before it disappears as Minato enters.Nataliya starts to slip after that and Yaku can tell she’s used to mostly speaking Russian at home. She’ll ask him a question and he’ll stare, dumbfounded seeing as he doesn’t understand and she’ll flush before she repeats it in Japanese.It makes him think about things. If he really did stay with Lev, he would have to learn Russian eventually, wouldn’t he? It would only be right. If Lev didn’t know Japanese, he’d want him to learn.He rolls the thought around in his head for the rest of the night. Nataliya and Alisa make things fun as they’re a chatty bunch. Minato is more reserved, staring at his wife with a fondness from years of love and marriage that Yaku hopes to experience. He pauses as Lev walks him to the door, turning to the tall middle blocker.Lev dips down and kisses him. He melts, accepting the affection. Lev murmurs something he doesn’t understand against his cheek next and it sends a reminder through him.“Will you teach me Russian?” he blurts before he can help it.To say Lev’s shocked is an understatement. He gapes and Yaku feels his face flush hotly.“I mean—you don’t have—”“Of course, I’ll teach you Russian, Yaku-San!” Lev rushes, excitement filling his voice. “But can I ask why the sudden motivation?”He flushes, looking away. It’s a bit embarrassing because he knows how much Lev will swoon. Still, he forces himself to respond. “I—We—If we’re going to be together, wouldn’t it be better if I learned? It’s your—it’s your family’s native language. Alongside Japanese, of course, but that’s my language. I just thought—wouldn’t it be better if I knew?”True to his thoughts, the boy lights up, looking happy and excited. He pulls Yaku into a fierce hug, kissing the top of his head. “It makes me so happy that you care about that stuff.”“Why wouldn’t I?”Lev shrugs, pulling back with a smile. “I might not have had a relationship before you but anytime a girl would confess to me, I’d as if they were willing to learn my language in return. Not a single one of them seemed really interested, so it never went anywhere.”He swallows thickly, a sting of jealousy hitting him before he knows it. “Well, I’m not like the others.”Something in Lev’s gaze softens and his hand comes up to caress Yaku’s cheek. “No. You’re really not.”He flushes and he wants to turn away from that piercing gaze but he finds himself nuzzling Lev’s hand instead.“I should get home,” he says after a while of basking in Lev’s presence.Lev’s hand drops and he nods. “Thank you for coming over.”“Of course. You come to my house often enough. It’s fair I return the favor.”Lev smiles, leaning in again to place another kiss on his mouth before pulling back. “Want me to walk you to the station?”Yaku immediately scowls, scoffing. He lightly kicks Lev’s shin. “What am I? A damsel in distress?” He turns on his heel and slides his shoes on.“Have a good night, Yaku-San.”Yaku pauses from where he’s opening the door. He doesn’t turn around because if he does, he might stay and he has to get home to Fuyuki and Sota. “You too, Lev.” *   *   * A laugh bubbles up his throat and he bites his lip hard to stifle it. He struggles, pushing himself away from Lev’s hold but it’s iron tight and he doesn’t move.“Lev,” he hisses quietly into the silence of his room. The moonlight shining in through the window is the only light that illuminates the growing sleepy smile on the younger boy’s face.Lev hides as he presses his face into the crook of Yaku’s neck, arms wrapped tightly around his waist. Yaku was being completely squished as he scrolled aimlessly on his phone, content and waiting for sleep to take him when Lev decided to squeeze his sides. Now the device lies dark in his hand as his other combs through Lev’s hair and tightens.The boy groans softly and he tugs experimentally, reveling in the way Lev’s head follows with his pull.“Stop,” he murmurs, suppressing a smile when Lev’s fingers flex. “You’re supposed to be asleep.”“You are too,” is murmured to his cheek as the boy leans down and skims his lips there.He sighs, wrapping his arms around Lev’s neck, and unlocks his phone. “I’m  trying.  You’re the one being a little sh@t.”Lev mumbles something as he buries his face in the crook of his neck again. Arms tighten around him and he plays with Lev’s hair quietly, going back to watching what he previously was.Lev doesn’t do anything else for a while, breathing softly as his arms go lax. Yaku thinks the boy’s fallen asleep when teeth suddenly find his neck.He gasps and moans, fingers tightening to jerk Lev away. Smug eyes twinkle in the moonlight as he glares. “What in the—”“Thought you liked it when I bite, Yaku-San,” the boy murmurs, pulling free and hiding his face again. Teeth return not a moment later, lighter this time and he can’t help the jolt of arousal sent through him. He doesn’t complain as Lev suckles softly, smoothing the sting with his tongue and placing a kiss.“If you leave a mark, I’ll kill you,” he mutters, tilting his head to give more access.Lev smiles against him, hands tightening against his hips as his legs fall open. The boy settles there and he hikes his legs to rest against Lev’s lower back. It was comfortable, this position—Lev’s weight pressing him down, comforting and loving, while he wrapped around the boy like a koala.Teeth sink in again, sending a jolt of pain that he hisses at but doesn’t protest again as his thoughts drift. Lev doesn’t press, though, much to his disappointment and he’s too tired to ask for anything. (But if Lev wanted to do all the work, he’d be up for it.) He goes back to his phone and Lev turns his head to watch with him.“Can I start teaching you Russian tomorrow?”He glances down at the boy and tilts his head. “Of course.”Lev’s smile is sleepy and his eyes fall shut. “Thanks, Yaku-San.”“Go to sleep.”“You too.”He rolls his eyes. Boyfriends. So pushy. *   *   * Learning Russian is hard. Of course it is, it’s  Russian,  but still, he didn’t expect the difficulties when he started. On top of studying a whole new alphabet, the tones, and pronunciation were what was really getting him. So basically the entire language. Lev, for his part, is a good teacher. He’s tentative and patient, making Yaku wonder exactly who of the two of them has the six-year-old to deal with. He also speaks it more often than he ever has. He’ll ask things in Russian before repeating them in Japanese which is really helpful.It’s when the kids get roped in that he thinks Lev finally realizes the weight of his decision and what it entails, but he’s pleasantly surprised. “What are you doing,” Sota asks from the doorway of the kitchen as he and Lev sit at the dining room table. It was the weekend, and there was a lag in their games, so they decided to do more studying than they usually would. There were papers and a Japanese-to-Russian textbook Lev bought for him spread out in front of them.They look over at the boy and Lev smiles.“I’m teaching Yaku-San Russian.”Sota’s eyes widen with wonder. “Really?!”“Yep.”“Can you teach me?!”Lev lights up. A reaction that he didn’t think would happen as he looked  excited at the prospect of teaching the child one of his native languages. “Of course! But I’m warning you, if you start, you can’t quit halfway through.”Sota’s face takes on a determined expression as he nods and straightens. “Us Yaku men don’t give up!” he states before his gaze softens as he looks at Yaku. “Right?”A fond smile finds its way onto his face and he nods. “That’s right.”So, Sota joins them at the table. Fuyuki walks in an hour or so later, wondering where everyone is and not one to be left out, he reluctantly joins too and Yaku thinks Lev’s going to pass away.And that’s how Yaku Morisuke and Family started to learn Russian. *   *   * A month passes by in a flash. He thinks his language skills are improving but he knows he has a long way to go. The kids are doing great too. He has to admit, reluctantly, Sota was catching on faster than either he or Fuyuki, and Lev was absolutely ecstatic.With December approaching, so does something else.“Christmas is coming up,” he murmurs, spinning the ball in his hand. It was late at night in the gym—their last game was almost a week ago and they  won.  They were going to nationals! His ankle which he hurt during the Fukurodani game was still sore but relatively healed, so he was trying to prepare himself for the upcoming tournament. Both of them were.Lev looks up from across the court, a smile crosses his face. “I know! What are you doing for it?”He tosses the ball into the air and jumps. It soars across the court and Lev  digs  it. Not perfectly but it’s up in the air. He stifles a smile at Lev’s excited expression. “Nothing,” he replies. “I was… I was hoping we could do something, actually.” His face flushes as he grabs another ball. It would be their first Christmas together—they should celebrate, should they not? He had already been thinking about it now that volleyball was done for a month or so. There are kinks he would need to work out with the kids and all. He’d probably try to spend the day-day with them after they got out of school and the night with Lev.His hope, however, dies with the look Lev shoots him.“So, you know Mama’s from Russia right? Well, that’s the one thing she wouldn’t budge on when she moved here. We have to celebrate Christmas their way.”Which means he probably won’t get to see Lev. He cools his expression, keeping it blank as he tosses another ball.“I see.”Lev receives it  again,  which, is surprising, but he doesn’t comment.“But because Christmas is more about family than lovers, Mama wants you to come over.”He lights up a moment before the realization hits. “I can’t. I have—”“Sota and Fuyuki,” Lev finishes. He walks over, dipping under the net looking anxious. It makes his stomach sink. “Mama… Mama knows a little. Not everything because I wouldn’t do that to you but she knows enough that you’re a package deal and she wants all of you to come over. She wants to meet them.”He places the ball he previously grabbed back into the pin as he stares up at the boy dumbfounded.“I—really?”Lev looks sheepish now as he flushes slightly. He dips his head in a nod.And Yaku… Yaku doesn’t know what to think. This was an unprecedented turn of events. He understands that Nataliya doesn’t  really  know but she knows enough. The fact that she still wants him there is surprising. He’s speechless.“You don’t have to,” Lev rushes when he fails to respond. “Mama was just—”“Lev. Shut up.”And Lev does.“I… Of course we’ll come.” Emotion wells within him and he feels his eyes sting as he looks away. “Thank you.”“You don’t have to thank me, Yaku-San. You’re always welcome at my place and… my family is kind of excited to meet your brothers.” Lev flushes when Yaku looks at him. “I kind of get overly excited and don’t shut up about them sometimes.”A smile twitches at Yaku’s lips and he lets it spread. “Is that so?”Lev whines, “Don’t make fun of me.”“I’m not.”“Are too. I can see it in your eyes.”“Maybe you need glasses because I don’t know what you mean.”“Yaku-San!”“Back to receives, Lev. We have nationals.”“Yes!” *   *   * Lev talks him into spending Christmas Eve with them too. He must admit, he put up a little fuss. Winter break was in a few days so it would be redundant to skip class two days before. Lev always skips, apparently, the only time Nataliya allows it and she eventually manages to coerce Yaku into agreement.So here they are, walking up the sidewalk to Lev’s mansion—excuse him,  house  with Sota’s hand in one of his and Lev’s in his other.“I’m so excited!” the boy shouts, bouncing up and down as they walk. He’s bundled up to the nigh because their breath could be seen when they exhaled and the last thing Yaku needed was one of his children getting sick.Lev smiles over at the boy, carrying an armful of gifts on the other side.“Me too. It’s going to be fun.”Fuyuki walks behind them piled high with the rest of the presents and he feels a brief pang of sympathy. He drops Lev’s hand to hold his own out to which the middle schooler evades and glares at his awaiting hand.He sighs and relaces his with Lev’s at the sight, turning back.“Your house is so big!” Sota exclaims and Lev smothers a smile. “Tadaima!”  Lev calls as they enter. Sota and Fuyuki look around with wide eyes as they toe off their shoes. “Okaeri,”  Nataliya’s voice rings through the big house. Hurried footsteps are heard a moment before the lithe woman bursts into the foyer.Both Sota and Fuyuki inhale sharply and Yaku smothers a smile because the woman  is beautiful. Just like Lev, but in a more feminine way. She smiles wide and excitedly. “You must be Fuyuki and Sota,” she exclaims, leaning over and holding out her arms for a hug. She drops them when Sota takes a step back to hide behind Yaku. “Oh, you’re a shy one, huh,” she coos, and Sota flushes.“Mama, leave them alone,” Lev scolds and Nataliya just waves him off.“You, however, get to give me a hug.”Yaku flushes as he allows himself to be pulled into an unfamiliar embrace. Thankfully, it doesn’t last long as she seems to have picked up that he isn’t much of an affectionate person.“Come on, come on,” She ushers. “Everyone’s in the living room.”Yaku hesitates at the ‘everyone’, but Lev eases his worries quickly.“It’s just Onee-Chan and Papa.”Sota’s hand in his tightens and he had a feeling that if Fuyuki’s arms weren’t full, he’d be pushing Lev away to clasp the other one.“Here,” Lev states, taking the packages from Fuyuki and adding them to his small pile. “I’ll go put these up.”Yaku glances around the room when they enter, relaxing when Alisa smiles at him from the couch while Minato seems to be occupied messing with the fireplace. A giant Christmas tree, bigger than the one they put up in the middle of Tokyo is in the center of the room. It’s decorated beautifully too. Everything is, really. The Haibas really do go all out for Christmas, it seems.“Glad you could make it,” Alisa states, and Yaku nods.Sota clings harder, tugging at his belt loop. “Are all of Lev-Nii’s family so pretty?” he whispers and Yaku stifles a laugh.“Yep.”“Wow.” The boy seems dazed.He gets it.Sota wasn’t as quiet as he thought, causing Alisa to smile brightly. “Thank you,” she coos, sliding to the edge of her seat. “What’s your name?” Yaku guides Sota forward even as the boy dips behind his legs once more.“Sota,” he chastises and reluctantly, Sota slides half his body out.“This is my little brother, Sota, and my other, Fuyuki.”Fuyuki bows despite his nerves and Sota shortly follows after a moment’s hesitation.Alisa smiles and Nataliya aws from across the room. “Mama loves kids,” Lev whispers to him as he returns. Arms fall over his shoulders and he leans back into the touch. “She, um, has issues with pregnancy. She wanted more kids, but she only got two in the years she’s been trying. We’re a miracle, according to her.”A pang of sympathy runs through him as he slides his gaze to Nataliya. “Yeah, I didn’t know until I was older either, and used to beg her for a baby brother all the time.” Lev winces and Yaku places a hand on his arm. His fingers slide down and he laces theirs together.“She knew you were just a kid.”“But that doesn’t take away from what I begged for.” Lev blows out a breath of air. “At least she gets to see these. Alisa is the only hope for her to have grandkids now that I’ve met you.”His heart skips a beat at the implications.Lev pulls him to the couch and he watches the exchange between the kids and the older woman. It’s going rather well since neither of them is aware of his departure. Nataliya has made her way over and is squatted down in front of Sota, smiling and talking.Fuyuki’s hands rest on the boy’s shoulders to show his support.It’s when Nataliya says something in Russian that Sota lights up.“Ты милый, мышонок.”  You’re cute, little mouse.  It might have already been a month but he’s still relatively new. He can, however, pick up the word ‘cute’. “What’s that mean?! What’s that mean?! I only know ‘milyy’!” Sota shouts, bouncing on the b@lls of his feet.Nataliya, for her part, looks extremely surprised. She glances at Lev who flushes.“Вы вокруг них говорите по-русски?”  Do you speak Russian around them?  Nope, still sounds like gibberish to him. But one day.“На самом деле я учу их русскому языку,”  I’m actually teaching them,  Lev replies smoothly and Sota starts bouncing on the b@lls of his feet faster. All his shyness disappears in the face of curiosity, it seems. Nataliya’s eyes widen. “Действительно?”  Really?  Lev flushes hard and nods. “Яку-сан попросил меня научить их.”  Yaku-San asked me to teach them.  Nataliya’s eyes glance over to them and Yaku has a feeling he’s being talked about and flushes.“What did you tell her?” he hisses as she smiles brightly at him.“N—Nothing. I swear, Yaku-San,” Lev rushes.His eyes narrow at the younger boy before they soften and turn back to the older woman.“You have an interest in Russian?”Quickly deducing what they were speaking about, he flushes in embarrassment. Why did Lev have to rat him out before he even knew a full sentence?“I—Uh, well, yes. I mean, I’m not very good and it, and I’ve only just started, but it’s Lev’s first language just like Japanese. I figured it would be beneficial to learn it,” he rushes out and Nataliya’s eyes melt.She turns to Lev the next moment and sternly states, “Если ты не выйдешь замуж за этого мальчика, от тебя откажутся.”  If you don’t marry this boy, you’ll be disowned.  Lev flushes hotly. “M—Mama!”“I’m serious,” she states, switching back to Japanese. “You’re teaching the children too?”Lev nods and she finally turns back to Sota.“Насколько ты понимаешь?”  How much do you understand?  Sota bounces up and down but a confused expression crosses his face.Nataliya just smiles softly and repeats it in Japanese. “How much do you understand?”“Not a lot,” Sota replies, “But I’m learning! Da—Nii-Chan,” he quickly correctly when Fuyuki knees in him the back, “knows more than both me and Fuu-Nii but we’ll get there!”Nataliya look delighted. “Ну, не волнуйтесь. Я помогу тебе учиться. I’ll teach you too.”  Well, don’t worry. I’ll help you learn.  “Really?! How?”“Nothing works better than exposure.”“Mama,” Lev warns. “Don’t overwhelm them.”Nataliya simply waves him off. “It’s the best way,” she states. “You know this better than anyone.”“I know but that doesn’t mean I overwhelm them.”“Им лучше учиться здесь.”  They’re better off learning here.  Lev looks like he wants to protest but it dies the next second as Nataliya focuses her attention back on the boys.“So, what words do you know?”And that’s how Sota and Fuyuki get spirited away by the very beautiful Russian to the kitchen to talk languages.He’s one step away from following when Lev suddenly leans in.“Let’s go to my room.”He startles at the word before his eyes narrow. “I’m  not  leaving them unsupervised.”“They’re not. Look! Mama has it.”He follows Lev’s line of sight to the doorway where Nataliya is seen pulling a child’s stool from somewhere and offering it to Sota so he can stand on it and reach whatever is on the counter.He’s still not leaving his children alone, though. They  just  got there. It would be rude.“C’mon, Yaku-San. You’re going to be spending the night anyway. Let’s drop off the luggage.”He turns to the other, denial ready on his tongue but it dies when he sees the look Lev’s sending his way. He feels himself hesitate a moment before he resolidifies himself.“Besides, Mama  likes  watching kids.”Sota’s giggles ring throughout the house as Nataliya’s voice is heard asking, “Who wants to make cookies?”“Me! Me!” Sota exclaims are heard.He doesn’t need to see Fuyuki to know the boy merely shrugged at the question.Nataliya turns to Sota and he can see her expression for a brief moment, the wide smile and sparkling green eyes. It can only be described as pure joy and it makes a knot form in his throat.Lev seems to realize he’s caving so he places the final nail in the coffin.“Mama! We’ll be back. You don’t mind—”“Go, shoo,” the older woman mutters, poking her head out of the kitchen long enough to wave her hand. “We’re making  cookies.” “Cookies!”She turns back immediately, and Lev’s hand falls to his.“See?” Lev whispers. “Let’s go.”He doesn’t reply and Lev takes that for consent as he starts to tug him out of the living room.“Gross,” Alisa states as they pass her and Yaku wants the floor to eat him whole.“Shut it,” Lev hisses back. “We’re just dropping off the luggage.”“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” Minato barks out a laugh before he covers it with a cough, clearing his throat. “Alisa,” he chides but amusement shines in his eyes.Alisa simply continues to smile while Yaku’s face feels as if it’s going to melt away.Lev scowls, rolling his eyes as he pulls him the rest of the way.“You’re subtle,” he can’t help but snip, embarrassment making him lash out slightly. “We’re really  are dropping the luggage off, no?” Lev quips back and he gives the boy a look. The room they stop at first is the guest room where they drop everything off but Lev hesitates in the doorway.“Do you wanna stay with me?”He raises a brow and the boy flushes.“I mean, there’s only one bed here—”“Your house is huge. I’m sure there’s another.”“Fine, I want you to stay with me. Like how I stay with you.”Yaku must admit, he’s pleased hearing it. “Your parents won’t mind?” he asks tentatively and it’s Lev’s turn to give him a look. “Fine, but we might have to wait until Sota goes to sleep.”Lev smiles and nods so he grabs his bag and Lev leads him to his bedroom.It’s the first time Yaku’s been inside. It’s not like he’s been over often as is but when he is, he’s kept to the living room and dining room with the rest of the family.His first impression when he enters is  Lev.  It’s big, for one, like the rest of the house and Lev himself. The bed was pushed into the corner with a sky-blue bedspread. The walls are filled with posters and decorations that express Lev’s current fixations. Most notable is the volleyball decor. What really catches his eye is the photos.“Did you take these?” he asks as he walks over to the nearest hanging picture. It’s a classic landscape, one that he recognizes as Shibuya at night.“Uh,” Lev states nervously. “Kind of? I mean, cameras interest me?”Yaku glances over because why didn’t he know that simple detail?Lev flushes further. “I, like, don’t want to be a photographer or anything and I’m certainly not talented enough, but… I like the idea of capturing something for eternity. It’s… part of the reason I want to be a model.”“You egoist,” he immediately replies with a smirk.Lev flushes further but he does straighten. “I’m attractive, so what?”“Says the guy who just stated that he wanted to be captured for all eternity.”Lev flushes further and he rubs the back of his neck with a hand. “What? I want to go down in history just like I want to be ace.”Yaku stared for a moment because Lev was adorable sometimes. “Well, only one of those things is viable, so I’d stick to it.”“Yaku-San!” Lev squawks and he smothers a smile. He resumes his snooping, pilfering through Lev’s things while the boy vibrates with energy behind him.“Interesting,” he states when he comes across Lev’s stuffed animal collection. “Should’ve expected this honestly.”“You seriously can’t tell me they’re not cute,” Lev states as he grabs a cat from the pile.He eyes it and he doesn’t comment because it  is cute but he doesn’t want Lev to win.Lev smiles victoriously anyway and he turns away with a roll of his eyes.He’s glancing over the bookshelf when Lev’s presence behind him heats his body. As if summoned, anticipation flows through him as he waits for Lev’s touch. When it never comes, he glances back with a raised brow.“Can I help you?”Lev adorns a pinched expression. “Yaku-Sannn,” he whines.“Yesss?” he draws out because he’s not stopping anything.“Can I touch you?”“Since when have you asked?” “Yaku-San.”  “Always.”Immediately, arms wrap around his waist as he’s hauled back into a chest. Lev nuzzles the side of his head and he closes his eyes, sighing at the feeling.His hands come up to clasp the ones holding his stomach possessively as he leans all of his weight onto Lev.The first year eventually starts to pull them toward the bed and Yaku can’t find a reason to complain as he lets himself be led.Lev sits down first and Yaku follows, sliding onto the boy’s lap immediately and straddling his thighs. Lev’s hands come up to clasp his hips but he doesn’t move Yaku around as he stares up, dazed.“You’re so pretty, Yaku-San,” Lev murmurs and Yaku flushes hotly. He says that a lot, doesn’t he? Maybe one day Yaku will believe it.“S-shut up.”Lev leans in and he doesn’t evade as soft lips touch his. He melts into the kiss, sighing as he wraps his arms around the boy’s neck. Softly, leisurely, they kiss while he plays with the strands of hair at Lev’s nap. Hands hold his hips, neither pulling or pushing but they do flex every now and then, showing the restraint Lev is demonstrating. He can feel Lev’s growing erection as well, pressing into his thigh but he doesn’t press against it no matter how much he yearns to. He was quite content to keep things slow. Besides, not like they could get up to anything with Lev’s entire family down the hallway.Lev’s hands eventually slide their way up from his hips to his sides and a laugh bubbles up his throat at the contact. He pulls away, gasping.“Stop it,” he laughs breathlessly.Lev smiles, pressing their lips together again as he repeats the actions. “Lev!”He jerks back with a louder laugh, hands clamping down on top of the younger male’s.Lev stops and grabs his waist before he can go too far, pulling the boy back on top of him. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop. Don’t go.”He swallows thickly and listens, relaxing back. He’s still smiling when he leans down and places another kiss on Lev’s lips. “You’re such a kid.”“Says the guy kissing said kid.” Yaku’s retort dies on his tongue as Lev kisses him harder, forcing his way into Yaku’s mouth. He opens eagerly, sighing against the feeling of the warm tongue against his. It’s not a heated kiss. Not quite. It’s more relaxed and serene and he finds himself quite enjoying the feeling of just… being. With Lev.Eventually, Lev’s mouth forces itself from his and it trials its way down his neck like it tends to do often.“No marks,” he demands. “I mean it. I’m not spending Christmas with your family with your hickies everywhere.”Lev smiles against his collarbone. “I don’t know what you mean.” As if to emphasize his point, he sucks the skin there softly and Yaku lets out a breathless moan.“Lev.”“Mmm,” the boy hums as he continues to place light kisses. When the boy suddenly sucks hard, his hand threads through Lev’s gray locks before he pulls the boy away.“Okay, you’re done,” he states as he holds the spot he knows Lev left a mark on.Lev smiles up at him mischievously with hints of mirth in his eyes and Yaku can’t even find it in himself to be mad. He’ll just use another bandaid.“You’re a little sh@t, you know that?” His fingers tighten and he yanks Lev’s head back further. If the pupil dilation in those viridian eyes is anything to go by, he’d say Lev liked the action. He smothers a smirk as he dips his head and bites the skin of the other’s neck in retaliation.Lev hisses and he smiles as he soothes the area with his tongue before placing a soft kiss there.He takes charge now, placing kisses and sucking marks. He knows how to hide them, of course, as he pulls Lev’s shirt down to place them in an area that would be covered. Fingers thread through his hair and memories of other times where those hands were curling through his strands, pulling and pushing as his throat is clogged with something hot and heavy flood his mind.A pang of arousal zings through him, flaring when Lev tugs hard.He melts, letting Lev tug him away bonelessly with a gasp.“Who’s the little sh@t now?” Lev smirks and he’s simmering in too much arousal to care about the snarkiness.Lev’s eyes darken as they take in his expression, all traces of teasing and humor leaving. He lets Yaku’s hair go to slide that hand around to Yaku’s chin, grasping it between his thumb and forefinger before he brings Yaku back to his lips.This kiss is needier. Sloppier. He slides forward, letting himself be controlled in a way he’s only ever let Lev do to him in the privacy of his own bedroom and they groan in unison when their erections brush together.His hips delve down to follow the process but Lev’s hands stop him.“Don’t start anything you can’t finish, Yaku-San,” the boy demands as he breaks their kiss.Yaku groans, hiding his face in Lev’s neck. “This is your fault. You just  had to take me to your room.”Lev’s hands sliding up and down his sides sends rivets of pleasure through him, teasing him because he knows they can’t do anything. Not right now, at least.“I just wanted to be intimate.”He scoffs as he pulls back. Lev looks up at him so innocently that he thinks the first year might actually mean intimate in a, well, platonic intimate way rather than sexual intimate. Too sexual, at least. He knew that Lev would probably hang all over him around his family, but he wanted to respect Yaku’s boundaries and offered his room instead.He feels himself flush as he looks away. “You’re an idiot.”Lev smiles dopily. All crooked and stupid. It makes his heart clench and pound.He can’t resist leaning down and kissing Lev again. The boy smiles against his mouth and he feels himself smiling back.“I love you,” Lev states suddenly, whispering the words against his lips. It makes his throat knot momentarily before he clears it away.“I love you  more.”  He smiles wide as Lev squawks. There’s a rush of either serotonin or dopamine that flows through his body suddenly as Lev grabs him around the waist and rolls them over.“You certainly do not!”He laughs, loud and happy as Lev settles his weight on him. His eyes twinkle as he stares up at the boy smiling down at him. “Do too.”Lev adorns an affronted expression. “Absolutely not!”“Prove it.”He delves into giggles again when Lev’s hands clasp his waist and squeeze, prompting a squeal from him.“That’s cheating!” he gasps as he tries to get away from the feeling but Lev’s weight keeps him pinned to the bed.“It’s strategy,” the boy replies smoothly, smiling and laughing lightly himself. “Admit you’re wrong.”“Nope!” He delves into laughter again and they get so lost in their own world that they don’t hear the knock at the door at first. Too busy arguing and giggling. Lev swoops down to steal a kiss every now and then and it makes him melt every time.“Oi!” The door is thrown open, slamming against the wall and Lev jumps back from where he was lying on Yaku, falling to the floor in the process and Yaku glances up with wide, startled eyes. Their faces are flushed from the exertion of multiple factors but the joy in their eyes is hard to miss.Alisa can’t stifle a smile as she stares down at them, amused and impish. “Onee-Chan,” Lev scolds as he picks himself up off the floor, “You ever heard of knocking?!”“I did knock, you dolt. You’re the one too lost in la-la land to even realize.”Yaku’s flush switches from one of joy and happiness to embarrassment in seconds.“What do you want?” Lev states in an annoyed voice as he sits on the bed in front of Yaku, blocking him mostly from view. A notion that doesn’t pass him or Alisa if the teasing twinkle in her eye is anything to go by.“Dinner’s ready, Idiot. Listen when Mama calls otherwise it’ll be her who comes for you next and I don’t think Yaku-Kun here would want that.”He flushes further as he sits up, straightening his clothes that are in disarray while Lev stands.“Yeah, yeah. Just get out.”“Gladly.” Alisa leaves with a sway of her hips and Lev turns to him, rolling his eyes.“Gods, she’s annoying.”“She’s your sister.”“Exactly. Her existence is annoying.” Yet, despite the words, a fondness shines in Lev’s eyes. He reaches a hand out for Yaku to take. “Let’s go eat.”He clears his throat and takes the proffered hand, fingers sliding together.Nataliya’s eyes sparkle as they enter. Sota and Fuyuki were already settled at the table with the former bouncing in his seat in excitement.“D—Nii-Chan!” Sota calls as soon as he sees Yaku. “Look what we made!” He points to a plate on the table of food that holds sugar cookies of all types. Decorations range from professional precision to childish coloring. It makes him smile.“They’re cute, Sota,” he states as Lev leads him to his chair. He brushes a few strands of hair off the child’s forehead. “You two did great,” he states, glancing at Fuyuki who flushes under the praise.“They did, didn’t they?” Nataliya states, smiling. “Yes. Thank you for watching them.”Nataliya just waves him off. “Any time.” And he has a feeling she means it. “Glad to see you enjoyed yourself too.”He flushes but he’s in such a good mood that he doesn’t get too embarrassed.“Mama,” Lev chides again.“I did,” he admits with a smile.Nataliya’s eyes widen slightly for a moment before she smiles wide and proud. “That’s good.”“We learned words, too!” Sota exclaims, drawing Yaku’s attention back to him.He raises a brow. “Is that so?”“Yes! I learned p—p—pechen'ye. That’s cookie!”Yaku smiles as the child stumbles over the foreign word. Nataliya’s eyes light up. “They’re very smart,” she tells him with a hint of surprise coloring her voice. He’s not offended though. He knew his brothers were smart just like he was. It was in the genes, it seemed. “They pick up things very quickly.”“Yeah!”Fuyuki flushes harder under the woman’s praise.He smiles, proud and wide. “Thank you.” *   *   * “Are you sure you don’t mind?” he whispers to Fuyuki for the umpteenth time, making the preteen look as if he were about to have an aneurysm.“Nii-Chan. I said it was fine. The bed’s not big enough anyway. Sota would kick one of us to the floor in the middle of the night and I really don’t want that to be me.”The boy’s proclamation eases some of his guilt at leaving the two of them in the guest room while he took up Lev’s bed. He offers a small, relieved smile.“Thanks.”Fuyuki rolls his eyes. “Don’t thank me.” He glances at the sleeping Sota beside him before waving a hand at Yaku. “Go, go before he wakes up and makes you stay.”Yaku sighs softly but listens. “I’ll get you in the morning.”“You always do.” The door shuts with a soft click and he crosses the hall to Lev’s room. Lev dries his hair with a towel as he sits on his bed only in his sleep pants with the only light illuminating the space coming from Lev’s bedside lamp. It makes Yaku’s mouth dry the moment he sees the warm glow lighting Lev’s skin in a way because Lev is just—“Is that my shirt?”Lev’s voice startles him and he glances down at the dress of a clothing item he has on. He shrugs.“What’s it look like?”Lev’s eyes darken immediately and he flushes. He hardly gets the opportunity to wear Lev’s, but this was Lev’s house. With Lev’s bedroom and dresser. He was able to take a bath first, meaning he was left alone while Lev took his and he took it upon himself to pilfer the dresser in the corner of the room.The towel in Lev’s hands drops to the floor as he reaches out to motion him forward.Yaku goes and slides into Lev’s lap. Giant hands grip his waist, squeezing slightly and trailing to the end of his shirt. Anticipation builds at the action.“You like it?” he asks, a teasing lilt to his voice.Lev swallows thickly and looks up at him from under his lashes. “More than you know.”He smiles as he leans down to place a kiss on Lev’s lips. He gasps when Lev’s hands trail to his ass, squeezing and pulling him flush against the other. Lev takes the opportunity to slip his tongue inside and Yaku groans at the ministrations. Lev tilts his head, angling to get a better kiss and Yaku lets out a soft noise as it makes Lev’s tongue delve deeper. He loves kissing Lev. There was just something about it that made him feel as if he were cherished and wanted at the same time. They’d gotten better at it too over the course of the months they’d been together.He can feel Lev’s growing erection press against his own and he wants to grind down on it but he prevents himself.“We can’t,” he states, breaking the kiss. Lev isn’t deterred as he kisses across his jaw. “Can’t what?” he feigns innocence. The breath against his skin makes goosebumps rise. He shudders, getting momentarily lost in the sensation before he shakes himself free of the stupor.“You know what,” he states yet makes no move to push Lev away. He lets the other do as he pleases, kissing down his jaw and to the column of his neck.Lev scoots back, dragging Yaku with him before carefully rolling them over. He settles between Yaku’s legs with ease, brushing their erections together again with the action and drawing a gasp from Yaku.“Lev,” he breathes. A warning or a prayer, he’s not sure. It makes Lev more eager, though, as the boy shifts, leaning on a forearm while his other trails down Yaku’s chest.Lev stares at him with that dark gaze that sends heat all throughout his body. The longer it continues, though, the more nervous he gets.“What?” he snaps lightly, a flush running up his neck.Lev swallows and he dumbly shakes his head. “N—Nothing, you’re just—amazing.” His hand slides down to Yaku’s thigh where shirt meets skin and his fingers slide under. His eyes close when that hand slides up and he realizes Yaku isn’t wearing anything but underwear. “You’re killing me.”“I haven’t done anything.”“You know what you did.” And hedoes. “You need to wear my shirt more often.”He feels a smirk flash across his features momentarily before he reaches up and pulls Lev down to him. “And what if I don’t?”“I’ll die,” Lev states seriously before he takes Yaku’s lips with his own.Yaku laughs breathlessly for a moment before the heat comes back to him as Lev shifts again. He presses all his weight on Yaku like he knows Yaku likes, making Yaku not know where he ended and Lev began. It felt more intimate than Lev being inside him sometimes.He lets himself get carried away with Lev grinding down on him so slowly and sensually that he forgets where he is for a moment. It’s only when there’s a dull murmur from outside Lev’s door that he pushes the other away.“We can’t,” he states again, breathless and wanting.“We can, though,” Lev murmurs against his ear, tongue sliding out to take the lobe into his mouth. It sends sparks throughout his body and he gets distracted again for another moment.“Your family’s home,” he hisses, pushing on Lev’s chest slightly.“We can be quiet.”He swallows thickly. He’s not so sure about that honestly. Arousal courses through him as Lev reaches up to pinch one of his nipples, earning another soft gasp from him.“C’mon, Yaku-San, let’s do it. I’ll make you feel so good,” Lev purrs, voice deep and pleading. He closes his eyes and breathes quietly through his nose as images flash through his mind of Lev doing just that. Memories slide by one by one of Lev pleasuring him, taking him to new heights and he almost caves. Almost.“Lev—”“You remember, don't you? How good I can make you feel? Please, Yaku-San. I’ll make it  so good for you.” Lev grinds against him as if to enunciate his point, slowly thrusting his hips in a way that makes him imagine what it would feel like if Lev really were inside.Gods, he knew this day would come. The one where Lev learned how to ask and he knew from then on that he was completely and thoroughly f@ck@d.Lev’s fingers delve into his underwear, clasping his bare ass now as they slide into the crevice and brush against his entrance.“You don’t want it?”That f@ck@ng tone. That needy, wanting tone that sends all of his protests flying out the window. “F—F@ck@ng, fine,” he hisses. “You better make it good.”Lev pulls back with a smug smile as he pushes to his knees. Yaku glares up at him, flushed and aching as the boy promptly flips him over. He lands on his hands and knees, a bit stunned by the fast action but he quickly relaxes as Lev’s body folds over him.They’ve never done it in this position before. He’s always been on his back where he can see Lev or sometimes he’ll be on top. Never this, though. He wonders what it’ll feel like.“If you want to make noise, you can use the pillows,” Lev breathes into his ear while hands explore his waist, leaving fire in their wake. “As security.”Yaku wants to snap back that if Lev’s so scared that he can’t keep quiet, why are they doing this in the first place but it gets lost on his tongue as Lev leans back on his knees again, grinding his erection against him.He moans at the feeling of the clothed shaft brushing against his sensitive skin and he feels his breath hitch when there’s a scuffling before the clicking of a bottle being open. Lev’s gotten good at stretching him. He picks up on things fast and he knows he can trust the other to be thorough. He stops breathing when Lev tugs his underwear off and brushes those warm, slick fingers against his entrance. One slips one inside and he relaxes at the familiar feeling, falling to push his face into the soft pillows below him. He keeps himself quiet as Lev works him, opening and stretching all the while soft kisses are placed along his spine. He’s still wearing Lev’s shirt, though, and when he goes to tug it off, the other stops him.“I want to do you in it.”His face heats as he glances back to Lev who said that with such a serious tone that it makes him pause and process if he heard right.“I—”“Please, Yaku-San. I want to see you all stretched out on me while you’re wearing my shirt.”And he doesn’t know what to say to that so he falls back to the bed, hiding his face in the pillow below him.Soon, he feels Lev’s fingers retreat and his body tenses in anticipation as he waits for that familiar presence. He feels the bed shift behind him and he shifts to accommodate the movement, making him press back slightly.A hand clasps his hip and he feels the blunt head press against him the next moment. Oh gods. It was happening. They were really going to do it. He severely hopes he can keep his voice in check, but a tiny sound slips out when he feels Lev press in slightly.“Remember. You have to be quiet, Yaku-San,” Lev chides, amusement lacing his voice.He opens his mouth to snap back a retort only for it to cut off into a moan the next second as Lev presses forward and the head pops in. He drops his head, legs spreading further to help the process, arching his back.Lev hisses above him as his other hand finds Yaku’s hip, clenching tight. He pushes in slowly and Yaku revels in the feeling of being spread in such a way. It’s always so… fulfilling this feeling of Lev inside him. It has a way of making all his worries and woes disappear even if it’s only for a little while.When they’re flush together, Lev seated all the way, he pauses. He’s not sure what the boy is waiting for but when the want curling in his stomach becomes too much, he presses back, seeking the feeling of Lev moving inside him.Lev’s hands tighten briefly before he slides out slowly until only the tip remains before he pushes back in with force.It punches a moan out of his throat that he quickly stifles by biting his lip. He reburies his face as Lev repeats the action slowly, sending rivets of pleasure down his spine. Lev was hitting  everything  like this. “Is this good?” Lev asks after a minute, panting quietly above him. His fingers flex and tug, pulling him back to meet his thrusts and hitting that sweet spot head on. He nods, pressing himself further back when Lev’s thrusts speed up. There’s a sound echoing around the room. A wet sound produced because Lev used too much lube alongside the sound of skin slapping on skin. He hope, prays really, that it’s only loud to his ears only and that no one outside can hear anything. The bed creaks as Lev shifts and he clenches down on a new angle. The thrusts turn erratic now as Lev pants above him, his own soft sounds tumbling from his lips. He presses further, Yaku shifting to accommodate and a moan of protest leaves his throat loudly when Lev fumbles, slipping out.“Sh@t. Sorry,” the boy hisses but he doesn’t really process it as he reaches under him to grasp the length between his thighs. It’s hot and throbbing, slippery too. A heavy weight in his hand as he guides it back without a second thought. The overwhelming need to get Lev back in overrides all of his other thoughts and complaints.Lev moans low in his throat as he pushes back in thanks to Yaku’s assistance, the two of them sighing when he pushes in.He drops his head again as Lev picks up where he left off, their tempo loud against the silence of the room. “F@ck,”  he moans but it’s muffled.“You feel so good,” Lev murmurs as he leans over, placing a hand by his head.He presses back, leaning his head against Lev’s shoulder as he pants. “F@ck, do that again,” he commands when Lev hits his spot. He’s been hitting it rather precisely, enough to let Yaku know that the boy is doing it on purpose.“Do what?” There it is, that mischievous voice.He growls that’s quickly cut off into a whine as Lev does it again. “You’re being a b@tch.” He pushes his hips back into Lev who groans in his ear.“Nah, I just know how you like it.” The confidence in those words makes him swallow thickly. He has to drop his head back down as he can’t help but moan again.Lev takes the opportunity to bite the nape of his neck. Hard and fast before he soothes the stinge with this tongue. He sucks there and Yaku can’t form a thought at the feeling. It makes him boneless. He falls further into the bed, Lev’s hands on his hips the only thing keeping him up while Lev has his way with him. Pliant and willing. That’s what he is. Whoever would’ve guessed?“Yaku-San, I’m close,” Lev warns, placing a kiss behind his ear.He can’t really think as he nods his head, tilting his hips further. He’s been close for a while now, but he was holding himself off for Lev.Lev pushes back to his knees again, grabbing his hips as he speeds his thrusts up even further. There’s an audible slapping now, one that Yaku’s sure can be heard but he doesn’t really process it as Lev’s hand slides through his hair the next moment. Those fingers lock around his dark blonde strands and tug. His head follows and he can’t stop the moan that leaves his mouth. “Shhh,” Lev hisses but he’s coming already. He tenses, eyes rolling back into his skull. He’s making noise. A lot, if the way Lev shoves his head forward by the grip in his hair to muffle his cries is anything to go by. He wraps his arms around the pillow as he lets the feeling wash over him. He’s never felt it this hard before. It felt amazing. Lev comes not too far behind him and he sighs at the warmth filling him. He feels the way Lev twitches with each spurt that empties inside him.Lev eventually pulls out, falling onto the bed beside him and he collapses, hips finally giving out. He curls into Lev’s side as they both try to catch their breath. Lev because of his exertion and Yaku because he was practically suffocated through it all.“Do you think anyone heard?” he asks as reality seeps back in, cringing slightly.Lev laughs, light and airily. “Nah, the walls are pretty thick here.”He wants to object but exhaustion eats him. “You better not be lying.”“I’m not.”Fingers thread through his hair as Lev massages his scalp.“You should sleep.” He hums, eyes already drooping as he comes down from the high of his climax.“I’ll wake you up in the morning. We can sleep in.”“‘Kay,” he murmurs, burring his face into Lev’s shoulders. He places a light kiss there. “Love you.”He can hear the smile in Lev’s voice as he replies, “Love you too. Now sleep.” *   *   * Morning comes sooner than he expects it. “Yaku-San,” Lev’s teasing voice fills his sleepy haze and he groans, rolling over to bury his face in the warm pillow under his head. “It’s time to get up.”“‘ck off,” he grumbles. “Five more minutes.” It’s odd, he realizes after a moment of awareness slowly seeping in. He’s usually never so tired in the morning. Always the first one up and always the one to get the others up.“It’s already nine, Yaku-San. Mama wants to do presents now. You’re lucky I held her off for that long.”He slowly processes the words, nuzzling into the hand that’s placed on his cheek before panic overtakes him.“Nine?!” he yells, jumping up to his knees. He’s never slept in so late before. He has to get the kids up and make bentos, but would they even have time for that? He can’t send them off to school without lunch, though, so he’ll have to make it work.“Yaku-San, Yaku-San,” Lev coos and it’s only when that broad chest is in front of him that he realizes exactly where he’s at. He relaxes immediately and leans into the arms that embrace him. “Sh@t,” he mutters. “Is Sota awake?” he asks, yawning. He wants nothing more than to crawl back into bed but it’s Christmas and he knows that’s off the table.“No, but Fuyuki is.”He nods sleepily as he buries his face in the crevice of Lev’s neck. He feels himself drifting off once again before Lev tugs him toward the edge of the bed.“C’mon. Presents.”Yaku whines but lets himself be pulled. Once he’s standing, he’s more awake. Lev helps him into shorts and he stumbles his way into the hallway. He doesn’t bother knocking on the guest room door as he slips inside.“I’ll get Sota. We’ll meet you in the living room,” he states and Lev nods, leaning down to steal a quick kiss before he’s off. He rubs his eyes as he walks over to the bed.“Sota,” he calls as he smooths the boy’s hair from his eyes. “Time to get up. It’s Christmas.”As if he said the magic words, the boy stirs and blinks up at Yaku blearily. “Chris’ma’?” he asks sleepily and Yaku nods. He picks him up and Sota immediately wraps his arms around Yaku’s neck. He takes them to the living room where everyone is waiting for them. “‘Bout time,” Fuyuki states with a smirk. “I thought you were never going to get up.”Yaku waves the boy off with his free hand.“Teens need their rest too,” Nataliya states, smiling warmly and Yaku’s thankful she’s so understanding.He immediately makes his way over to Lev’s side, falling into it. Maybe it’s the sleep haze still fogging his brain or it’s the fact that he’s simply comfortable, but he lets Lev pull him flush with ease. He curls up there with Sota in his lap as Nataliya and Minato go about distributing presents.Lev leans down suddenly and nuzzles the top of his head, making him lean back into the embrace, closing his eyes at the feeling.“For you,” Nataliya states, and Yaku’s eyes open in surprise. He straightens the best he can before the weight on his front prevents him from going any further. He stares at the box in Nataliya’s hand uncomprehendingly before it hits him. He flushes as he uses a hand to take it from her.“You didn’t have t—”“Hush now,” the woman cuts him off with twinkling eyes. “And this is for the little one.” Lev takes that one since all Yaku’s hands are taken up and he shifts Sota on his lap.“Sota, it’s present time,” he murmurs.Sota’s face scrunches like any child’s does when he’s being woke up in the morning before he buries his face further into Yaku’s neck. Eventually, he manages to pull the child from his neck who mumbles grumpily but lights up when Yaku places the box in his hands.“Thank Haiba-San,” he commands the boy, and Nataliya squawks. It sounds so much like Lev that Yaku turns to said boy with a confused look before Natailiya draws his attention.“Heavens, no. You can call me Nataliya or Auntie but none of that formal stuff.”Yaku flushes and nods and Nataliya looks appeased.Lev doesn’t remove his arm from around Yaku’s waist as he tears into his box and for some reason, Yaku is content with that. He’s beginning to open his own when Sota’s exclamation makes his heart drop to his stomach.“Daddy, Daddy! Look what I got!”Yaku looks up in horror as the boy turns to him, showing him the toy he got, and Lev tenses next to him.Abruptly, everything quiets and Yaku’s jaw clenches. Fuyuki hisses, “Sota,” but Yaku waves him off. It was… inevitable. He knew that when he gave the boy permission to call him that.Sota pales the next minute as he realizes what he did, hand coming up to cup his mouth. Tears well in his eyes and Yaku pulls him close.“It’s fine,” he soothes, avoiding the adults’s gazes. “‘Daddy?’” Nataliya asks, confused, and Yaku winces. He spares her a glance.“Y—Yeah, it’s a joke, you know,” he tries to play it off but knows he fails when Minato’s brows raise and Nataliya’s fall. He breathes out a silent breath. “Yeah, okay. I let him call me that sometimes.”“Yeah, so what,” Lev tries to cut in, shifting forward so Yaku is partially blocked from his parents’s view. “It’s just a joke.”Nataliya eyes them with a knowing look and neither Alisa nor Minato comment. She gives her son a look that clearly reads later, and like that, everyone goes back to their presents. Dread fills Yaku’s stomach, however along with another feeling that he quickly realizes is fear. He doesn’t want to get his brothers taken away from him. He’s done a splendid job of raising them and he couldn’t even fathom parting with them. He’s not delusional and knows what his parents are doing is child neglect and that’s enough to have them removed. Yaku’s eighteen, though. He wouldn’t be taken with them and he doesn’t have a job. He doesn’t know if he could get custody if he tried. He relies on their parents for financial support.Lev’s thumb rubbing circles on his hip helps him relax a fraction.“Mama won’t do anything,” the boy states the next second. “She’s not—she won’t take them away from you.”Maybe it’s the certainty in Lev’s tone or the fact that Yaku wants to believe the boy but he fully relaxes now. He even manages a smile or two when he opens his gifts from the Haiba family and his own. Sota doesn’t slip up again and Fuyuki sits closer as if to offer his silent support.The time does come, however, after the present exchange is done and everyone is content. Nataliya corners Yaku and Lev in the kitchen with the others in the living room still.“So…” she states with that calculating gaze that her son has perfected. Yaku swallows thickly and leans into Lev’s side for support. He was awake now and normally wouldn’t do it around Nataliya but he needed the comfort. “Yeah,” he manages to gravel out. “About that… Um…” He doesn’t know where to start.“Are your parents absent?” Ah, right for the throat. “Levochka has said some interesting things, but nothing too interpersonal.”Lev tenses next to him and his hand brushes Yaku’s back in a silent apology but he doesn’t need to do that. Yaku gets that. Lev was his boyfriend and seeing as he didn’t plan on breaking up with him anytime soon, this conversation was inevitable.“Yeah,” he states after a moment. “They are.”Nataliya’s eyes give nothing away as she stares at him. “But they give us money,” he states before she can make her damning decision. “We’re well off. I’m doing good, raising them. Splendid really, so you don’t need to report us.”The slight twitching of the woman’s fingers from where her hand rests on top of the bar is the only thing that signals she heard what Yaku said.“Morisuke, you can relax. I’m not—you clearly have things under control. I’m not going to report you. I just—I need to know more because you are only a teen. You still have a bright future ahead of you and—”Though the use of his given name makes him come up short for a moment, he quickly gathers his bearings to state, “I know.” It comes out rougher than he expected so he clears his throat and rolls his shoulders. “I know,” he repeats. “I—Before, I would’ve told you to screw off and that they’re my business.”Natliaya raises her brows at that but Yaku carries on before he can fumble for apologies.“But, ever since Lev managed to worm his way into my life, I… I’ve been thinking of the future. My future and I’m… I’m going to go pro. If I can,” he tacks on because he doesn’t want to presume it’s a sure deal. “I’m going to go to college and after that, we’ll see how the pro leagues fair, but I’m going to do it with my kids. They’re mine. I raised them and—Yeah, our parents are absent, but they have me. We’re doing good.”He falls into silence as he waits for Nataliya’s judgment.“They’re really doing good?”Yaku bristles momentarily as she directs the question at Lev but he rolls it off because it’s understandable and if anyone would know, it’s Lev.Lev’s head dips. “Yeah, he balances it well considering. I still think he should be able to be a teen more, but…” the boy trails off with a shrug. “We make it work.”Nataliya does raise a brow at that. “We?”Yaku flushes and Lev gloats. “Of course. Like you said, Mama, he’s it for me.”Nataliya’s stoic gaze eventually melts into a softer one and Yaku feels the tension leave his body. “Well, it seems you have it handled,” she states, tucking a string of light hair behind her ear. “I am but a stranger to you right now even if you are dating my son, but I hope that we can become family one day.” She pushes to stand. “That child doesn’t have to force himself if he doesn’t want you. If you’re his father, he should get to call you it, no?”And like that, Yaku wants to cry. He can only nod mutely though and Nataliya leaves with a reassuring smile.He collapses back into Lev the next second, breathing out a sigh of relief.“Told you Mama wasn’t like that.”“Shut up.”“You know she’s going to want you over more now.”And Yaku doesn’t hate that thought. Especially since his biggest secret is revealed. “Is that so?”“Yep,” Lev states, popping the ‘p.’ “She’s going to want to babysit too.”And Yaku doesn’t hate that thought either. He sighs and Lev nuzzles the side of his head. Maybe things were going to be alright, after all.
  
  

    
      
        
        
          Omg, so I love Lev's fam in case y'all can't tell. They're everything and I made his mother the way I think she'd be: Just like him but not as airheaded. Love that for her. She doesn't have a name in the manga so I gave her one of my own, I love her regardless. She is an icon.Hope you enjoyed :)'
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
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