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It's late at night, and the Kamisato estate is quiet. Nobody is awake anymore - well, almost nobody.
Thoma walks through the moonlit garden, a gentle breeze ruffling his hair. The air is warm despite the time; a scent of spring everywhere around him that has him feeling light on his feet.
He knows for a fact that he's not the only one awake and his steps lead him towards the one room that still has a light shining through its window.
Ayato has the terrible habit of staying up far too late in favour of finishing up paperwork. It's not healthy and Thoma keeps reminding him to sleep early, to no avail.
Tonight though, it comes in handy.
Thoma slides the shoji door open, the sound far too loud in the quiet of the night even though he tries to be gentle. Violet eyes are on him immediately - elegant brows furrowed in a frown but it's gone the second Ayato realizes it's him.
His shoulders relax and Thoma watches him sit back, the paperwork momentarily forgotten.
"Thoma," Ayato says quietly. His face remains somewhat impassive but Thoma knows how to read his lord and he sees the pleasant surprise in his expression. He smiles. "It's late. What are you doing here? Should you not be asleep?
"I could ask you the same," Thoma answers cheekily. " My lord ," he adds, like an afterthought. This kind of behavior and tone would be unforgivable if they were in public if others were to witness it - but it's just the two of them.
Just Ayato and Thoma.
Thoma comes closer. He gently takes the pen from Ayato's hand in favour of intertwining their fingers instead; his own hand is slightly larger, slightly warmer than Ayato's.
His other hand comes up to cup Ayato's cheek.
"You look tired," Thoma observes with worry, tracing the dark circles under his lord's eye with his thumb. His heart flutters when Ayato leans into the contact with a sigh.
"I am tired," comes the quiet confession and it makes Thoma's chest feel tight. Sometimes he wishes he could take part of Ayato's work and do it himself, to lessen the burden his lord carries every day. He's already doing everything he can to do so but in moments like this, it still doesn't seem good enough.
Thoma leans in to press a soft kiss to Ayato's lips.
"Allow me to steal you away from these papers," Thoma whispers into the space between them when they part. "At least for tonight. I have something to show you."
He tugs at their joined hands and stands, pulling Ayato along with him, out of the stuffy room and into the quiet, moonlit spring night. Along the path made of grey pebbles and lined with flowers and trees, past the pond that Lady Ayaka keeps her beloved koi fish in.
Ayato walks closer than usual, drawn to Thoma's warmth. The hand in Thoma's hand is warmer than the night around them.
Their path leads them towards the far end of the garden and this is where Thoma stops: in front of a tree.
A sakura tree, to be exact, outlined with silver light from the full moon. Along the branches, tiny buds are growing and a handful of them have already opened. It's a sight full of tranquility and peace.
"I noticed the buds earlier this week," Thoma says into the silence. His voice is low; his fingers tighten around Ayato's hand. "The first cherry blossoms of this year. I really wanted you to see them."
"They're beautiful," Ayato answers just as quietly. He presses closer into Thoma's side and then looks up with a smile.
Thoma wants to preserve this moment and keep it forever. Ayato looks beautiful, bathed in silvery moonlight, he looks relaxed and happy and Thoma can't help but kiss him again, longer this time but just as gentle.
When they part, Thoma brings up their hands to press another kiss to Ayato's knuckles.
A small gesture that brings a blush to his lord's cheeks, the same delicate colour as that of the sakura blossoms.