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Vasily and Ogata had made it to the eastern parts of Hokkaido, nearing the beach shores of Kushiro. Despite being early August, the sky was a dark gray, strong winds leaving them grasping their jackets closed. The salty sea air burned their eyes as they walked, their tongues sticking out to wet their dried lips.
While Hokkaido was never known for rainstorms, one was clearly brewing as the clouds swirled in a deepening gray. A deep lull of thunder echoed above them, causing both men to stop in their tracks, turning to look at each other.
‘We should find shelter.’ Vasily signed, glancing up at the sky.
Ogata huffed, running a hand through his hair. “We passed by a fisherman’s lodge awhile ago.”
‘Should we turn back?’
Ogata nodded, it was better than looking for any unknown shelter up ahead.
They both shrugged off their rifles, making sure to properly cover them to protect them from any rain, Ogata using his cloak and Vasily using spare cloth from his bag. As Ogata was finishing, Vasily tapped him gently on the shoulder. ‘Do you think you’ll be able to make it with your hip?’
Ogata could only scoff, of course not.
They’d already been walking for hours with minimal breaks, planning to make camp before nightfall. Ogata knew he was nearing his limit. The prospect of turning back in a rush to avoid some rain hardly sounded like it’d help. But he’d deal with it. His injury was only his problem to handle.
“I’ll be fine.” He decided to ignore Vasily’s pout.
Rain started to drizzle as the two began walking back in the direction they came, Vasily starting only a few feet in front of Ogata. However, as they traveled, the distance between the two became increasingly more obvious, Vasily slowing down just to ensure Ogata would keep up.
The rain only came down harder, crackles of lightning and rolls of thunder across the sky. Vasily finally stopped, turning around until Ogata caught up, who stared at the man with a raised eyebrow when he didn’t resume walking.
Vasily placed his hands onto Ogata’s shoulders, which he immediately shrugged off, glaring at the taller man. He noticed Vasily’s expression twist with worry as he signed firmly. ‘We’re going to get caught in the storm. Let me carry you.’
Ogata laughed, unsure if he was feeling amusement or annoyance. “I said I was fine.”
He didn’t wait for Vasily to respond, instead brushing past him, attempting to make a show by walking faster, ignoring the pain shooting up his legs. He only made it a few feet when he noticed the lack of the other’s footsteps behind him.
Looking over his shoulder, Vasily hadn’t moved an inch. His brows were furrowed, mouth curled into a frown. His fists were clearly clenched at his sides.
“What.”
‘You’re limping.’ Vasily signed, finally walking to meet him. Ogata averted his gaze, wanting to look anywhere but Vasily. He only looked back when he felt hands gently touch his left arm, carefully pulling his hand from his cane handle, before both his hands were grasped, moving with Vasily’s own to sign. ‘Let me help.’
Ogata scowled at their intertwined hands, but he made no attempt to pull himself away. He squeezed the hands holding his, refusing to meet Vasily’s eyes. He knew the other man was right. The rain was only getting worse, and he was only slowing them down.
He let his eyes wander back up to meet Vasily’s blue ones, seeing the man’s usually rough features loosened with a gentle, all too caring look. Ogata let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding, tightening his grip on the others hands probably more than he should’ve. “Alright,” He mumbled, “before we get drenched.”
Vasily readily obliged, letting go of the man’s hands. Ogata picked up his cane while an arm was hooked behind his knees and another snaked around his back, carefully scooping him up in a bridal carry. Ogata wrapped his arms around the man's shoulders, head buried between the crook of Vasily’s neck.
Vasily started running the rest of the way to the lodge.
—-
By the time they had spotted the lodge, the rain was beating onto their backs.
Vasily practically kicked the door open, scrambling into the building. The place was empty, absent of any light besides the dull gray pouring from the windows. The lingering smell of smoke from the fire pit indicated the place had been abandoned earlier that day. Only the muted sound of rain against the roof filled the room, leaving the two relieved it was just them.
Vasily gently put Ogata down, keeping a hand on his shoulder until the other leaned against the wall for support. Vasily kicked off his muddied boots, Ogata undoing his gaiters before kicking his shoes off as well. They both shrugged off their bags and rifles, leaning them against the wall.
They then focused on their clothing, throwing off their drenched jackets that fell to the floor to a loud thump. Thankfully, both of their pants seemed to have remained relatively dry, but their shirts were a different story. While Vasily’s shirt remained only damp, Ogata, who had been wearing far thinner layers than the Russian’s uniform, had his shirt almost soaked through.
Ogata sighed, reaching his hands out to brush back the wet hair that clung to Vasily’s face. “There should be a fire pit in the middle. Go start it.”
Vasily hummed, reaching his own hand out to brush back wet strands that clung to Ogata’s face, only for more to fall in their place. Vasily chuckled at the other for swatting his hand away, a disgruntled groan leaving Ogata’s throat.
‘Is your hip better?’ He signed, still far too close to Ogata.
“I’m fine.” Ogata huffed, despite trying to act annoyed, his tone betrayed him, coming off far more gentle than his usual bark. “Just go start the fire.”
Vasily simply gave him a small smile, satisfied with the response. He turned to grab their bags and rifles, slinging them over his shoulder. He then picked up their discarded jackets, hauling them further into the building.
Ogata was left to undo his shirt, peeling the wet fabric that stuck to his skin. He then turned his attention to fixing his hair, slicking it back as best as he could with his fingers. Once satisfied with the makeshift styling, he grabbed his cane, turning to join Vasily in the room.
The fire was already crackling, Vasily now laying out their jackets and his own shirt to dry by the fire. He perked up when he noticed Ogata, who handed him his shirt to be laid down as well. Vasily motioned towards the other side of the pit, pointing at a small cushion beside their bags and rifles. ‘Go sit down’.
Ogata went and practically collapsed onto the floor, a sigh of relief as he could finally rest his hip properly. He set his cane down beside him, before grabbing his rifle, unwrapping it to inspect it for any damage, doing the same with Vasily’s.
As he looked over the barrel of the rifle, he heard the soft footfall of Vasily walking around the space, hearing him walk behind him and shuffling for something in his bag.
Ogata then felt soft fabric be placed over his bare shoulders, Vasily now sitting beside him. He set the rifle down, pulling the material around his chest, noting that it was Vasily’s blanket. Ogata hummed softly, wrapping it properly around himself. He glanced at Vasily, who had a small smile on his lips.
Ogata felt warmth spread to his cheeks, and he was sure his face was turning red. He hated how such a simple gesture affected him like this.
Ogata leaned himself against the other’s side, resting his head onto Vasily’s shoulder in an attempt to hide his blushing face. Vasily relaxed beside him, placing his arm around Ogata’s back and leaning against him as well, planting a kiss on top of his head before resting his cheek against it. The two sat quietly for a moment, listening to the crackling of fire paired with the patter of rain outside.
A boom of thunder sounded outside, causing the two to flinch, Ogata shifting to sit up from leaning against Vasily. “We’ll probably have to sleep here tonight.”
‘Would that be so bad?’ Vasily signed, bringing a hand up to Ogata’s cheek, rubbing his thumb against the old sutures.
“I suppose not..” Ogata mumbled, subconsciously leaning into the palm on his cheek. He didn’t miss Vasily’s eyes staring at his lips before quickly looking back at him. He mimicked the action, a silent sign of mutual want. The gap between them closed.
The kiss was featherlight, nothing more but a brush of lips. Vasily tilted his head, leaving a kiss at the corner of Ogata’s lips, before trailing up his jaw.
Ogata wrapped his arms loosely over Vasily’s shoulders, the blanket falling from his form as he moved. He gently fell back against the floor, with Vasily settling himself beside Ogata’s right hip, leaning down to kiss the man again. Ogata craned his head back as gentle kisses were planted down his neck. A kiss was pressed to Ogata’s Adam’s apple, then to his chin, before the two locked eyes once again.
Vasily pressed a palm to Ogata’s chest so he could feel him sign. ‘You okay?’
While Ogata’s face was his usual neutral expression, there was the slight parting of his lips, a furrow to his brows that was noticeable to Vasily.
Ogata turned his head to the side, looking away from the other. He pressed his own hand to Vasily’s chest, signing against it. ‘Thank you.’
“For earlier.” He finished vocally, noting Vasily’s momentary confusion.
He never expressed gratitude like this often, preferring to show it with gifts or other gestures. He hated the aspect of vulnerability, but this time it felt right. It was just them, trapped in a small lodge for however long the storm outside would last.
Ogata risked looking back, immediately regretting it upon seeing Vasily have such a soft, kind expression. Far too gentle for the scars that wrecked his cheeks. Only Vasily could pull them off, he supposed.
“I don’t need your help,” Ogata continued, attempting to distract himself from staring at the man. “But it is.. appreciated. When you do.”
Vasily chuckled, and Ogata refused to look at what expression the man had along with it. He instead focused on the hands that began signing.
‘And I appreciate it when you let me.’
Ogata hated how his insides felt like they were swirling around his gut. He swore he was going to be sick, but no nausea overcame him.
“You’re a pain to deal with.” He hated how annoyingly fast his heart felt, yet he loved it all the same. He started biting at his lip to stop a growing smile.
‘I’m not.’ It was a retortion, but no bitterness was present in Vasily’s movement.
“You are, actually,” Despite the words, Ogata’s tone had no bite to it. He couldn’t help the smile now. “Especially when you’re clingy.”
‘Only because it works on you.’ It was Vasily’s time to hold back a smile.
“It doesn’t.” it does.
‘Of course.’ Vasily signed with a hum, leaning down to kiss Ogata once more. It was lingering, but not obscene. They parted, Vasily shifting to lay beside Ogata, throwing an arm over his chest. Ogata turned over, moving himself close to the man.
‘Time for bed?’ Vasily signed against Ogata’s back, kissing the top of his head as he curled up between his arms.
Ogata mumbled something that came out incoherent, burying his face into the crook of Vasily’s neck. He instead pressed a sign into the man’s chest. ‘Yes.’
Ogata felt Vasily shift slowly, clearly trying not to disturb him with too much movement, before the blanket he’d discarded earlier was awkwardly pulled over them. He heard the shuffling of Vasily’s bag, it being used as his makeshift pillow, while Ogata was content using Vasily’s shoulder as his own.
The two laid there, comfortable under the warmth of the shared blanket and dwindling fire, sharing chaste kisses and communicating with their shared silent language, sleepingly pressing words into the other's chest and back. With the raging storm outside, the two soon quietly fell asleep.