Fireside
When the phone rings and buzzes from the night stand, it was loud enough to make the owner of it try to hide in under the covers.
The room was large with marble floors, fur rug, a king sized bed with silk sheets and a glass door leading to the balcony. Other than that the room looked almost barren at first glace. No real life to it other than the one curled up in the dark red blanket as a cold winter breeze blew in with the scent of cigarette smoke.
The one on the bed opened his eyes slowly when his phone just continues to buzz away, almost shaking itself off the nightstand. He reached out slowly to pick it up and turn it off before he scrolled through the notifications. The young man felt a sting in his chest at the number of missed calls and the messages there up all the way to the latest one this morning.
Are you ok?
When do you need me to come get you?
Tanjiro?
Has he hurt you?
Please pick up the phone when you can...
Tanjiro slowly pulled his phone to his chest while squeezing his eyes shut to fight back his tears. He could feel the pain in his shoulders as he curled up under the blankets and buried his face into his arms. A shaky sigh leaves him before he sits up slowly when another breeze sneaks in and chills through his bones. He sobbed softly as his back gives a crack the moment he gets a new notification.
He sniffed and looked back down. It had been...a few months since Kyojuro had found out about the debt Tanjiro's family was in. A few months since he saw him through their home security system with...with Muzan. A few months since the two had argued and almost lost their marriage over it...
Now Tanjiro had this situation to deal with.
He looked around slowly for his clothing that had been scattered on the floor when he had come in to Muzan Kibutsuji's apartment. He managed to find his t-shirt and the sweat pants he somehow managed to not ruin. He didn't bother grabbing his underwear since it had been Muzan who bought it for him.
"Leaving so soon, Tanjiro?"
He froze when he had finished putting the shirt on. His whole body was starting to shake when he sees this man-this horrible, cruel, handsome, and seductive man-walked in completely naked. Muzan walked past him to put out the cigarette on the ash tray before he turned back to him to puff a large cloud of smoke in his face.
It took everything in Tanjiro not to scrunch his face up in disgust before he turned away.
"Aw don't be like that, Tanjiro...you can at least take a shower before you return to your darling husband. How is he by the way?"
Tanjiro's jaw tensed as he glared up at the older man while not saying a single word to him. All that got him was a soft chuckle before his hair was carefully brushed back from his face. He could feel the other's tobacco scent breath against his cheek and then his ear as he slid his hand down to fix the younger man's shirt collar. A small button popped at the top.
"Now now, I was merely asking after he tried to break my jaw last time we met," Muzan laughed quietly, "Now then...Just a while longer to pay off the debt and then add the damage done to my person and hmmm...yes another year..."
His lip trembled slightly, "...Yes sir.."
Muzan chuckled before kissing Tanjiro's cheek. Then he took a peak down his back to look at his handiwork; bitemarks and bruises all along his shoulders. He made a very pleased hum before he stepped back and bowed mockingly as he presented Tanjiro the door.
"I will see you on Christmas Eve morning, Tanjiro. Wish Rengoku-sama Happy Holidays for me."
Tanjiro almost stopped to turn and smack him. He wanted to tell him to never bring up his loving, forgiving and warm husband again...instead he blinked back tears and made his way out.
He pretended he couldn't hear Muzan's laugh when he exited the condo and started to make his way to the elevator while taking his phone out to finally reply.
Please come get me now, Kyojuro
...
By the time he reached the ground floor, Tanjiro saw the familiar, old blue car of his husband sitting outside the glass doors of the complex.
He tried to smile as he rushed from the elevator and into the safety of the car where the heat was on. Kyojuro was dressed in his casual white shirt with a cardigan and black slacks on. When he sees Tanjiro he barely smiles as he held his arms out to him.
It was no secret that he hated this arrangement. He hated that there was no way out of it for a while. He hated how much pain Tanjiro was in over it because he knows he would never do this. The fact that this...this whole situation almost destroyed what they have was what really made Rengoku angrier. It was almost like that man had know about the security cameras and done it on purpose.
The moment Tanjiro hugs him around his waist and sniffs though he draws him out of his thoughts.
"Shhhhh..." Kyojuro kissed the birthmark on his forehead, "Hey..hey hey...don't cry Tanjiro, it's ok..I have you...I have you...we're going home my heart.."
Tanjiro hiccupped as he wiped at his eyes weakly, "I-it's not...not fair..."
Those warm, fiery, and kind eyes sadden before a kiss is pressed to Tanjiro's forehead, "Hey now...it's okay now we're going home...let's go home Anata..."
Tanjiro sniffed before he looked up at him.
Truly he was blessed to have someone who loved him enough to put up with the mistakes of owing Kibutsuji money.
...
As soon as the two arrived back to their cozy home, Tanjiro started to slowly come undone.
Stepping into the familiar warm house, where the couch was covered in the warm wool blankets made by Kyojuro's mother, the pictures of their families sitting the the mantle over the open fireplace...it was breaking him. How close he once was to losing all of this if they hadn't sat down to talk.
The couch had been replaced. It had to be to try and erase what had happened there the night Kyojuro had found out.
Tanjiro sniffed as he limped to go sit by the warm fire that crackled softly. Even after sitting in the warm car he still could feel the chill from winter in his bones as the marks upon his shoulders started to make themselves known. It made him cringe as his breathing grows shaky. The urge to scrap the marks off with his nails and get rid of them. They shouldn't be there at all right now at least not from that man.
As if on cue a first aid kit is placed down next to him as Kyojuro sits down on the chair behind him.
Strong, warm arms wrap around Tanjiro and rock him gently as a kiss is pressed to his head.
Tanjiro turned around in his arms as the heat from the fire touches him to the core, "I'm sorry..."
"None of this is your fault, Tanjiro..." Kyojuro gently pulled him closer as he pressed his forehead to his as he rubbed his back, "None of it. You didn't ask to take all of this one..."
Tanjiro sniffed softly as he bowed his head, "You shouldn't have had to deal with this mess...It's my mess..."
"You're my husband," Kyojuro interjected, "Whatever your burdens are I will share in them any way I can, Tanjiro..." he moved his hand down to gently hold his hand, "I love you.."
The heat coming from the hearth and the warmth from Kyojuro's arms almost drives the cold completely out of him when he hears those words. He closed his eyes slowly and moved to rest his cheek on his shoulder with a weak smile.
"I love you too..."
The fire crackles more when Kyojuro reached behind him and threw another log on to the flames. The first aid kit was forgotten as Tanjiro slowly closed his eyes and basked in this moment.
For now he could just forget that cold presence that lingered over him even when he was home safe and warm. That he and Kyojuro were like before this all came to light.
For a small moment he could forget Muzan existed.