Chapter Text
In a way, he felt stupid. He was completely delusional. There’s no reason he should feel the way he does about a man who clearly doesn’t feel the same. It’s so obvious he doesn’t feel the same. The man Soshiro craves so badly is in love with another. It’s obvious. Kafka joined the force for her, they had planned to be a powerful duo together. They’re childhood friends, she means everything to him.
But Soshiro can’t bring himself to be jealous of his captain. He loves her, just not the same way as Kafka does. Soshiro loves his captain in a way of respect and admiration. She saw something in him no one else did, she gave him his spot as vice captain and trusts him.
How could he ever feel jealous, or be mad, at her? She’s amazing, powerful, strong, beautiful. Of course Kafka liked her, no, loved her.
Kafka loves her.
Soshiro doesn’t want to be jealous. But he can’t help but want to be on the receiving side of that affection.
At the end of the day, he doesn’t do anything about his feelings. After all, he feels idiotic for not only liking a guy with a very clear love interest, but for also holding onto a crush like a teenager would. God, Soshiro could go for a drink right now.
:::
The main hall of the Third Division erupts into chatter as officer after officer enter from the main entrance. The unit just defeated two honju class kaiju and a butt ton of yoju. Despite the effort the crew put into the mission, everyone sure does have a lot of energy. The platoon leaders lead the charge to the room they always celebrate in. Drinks and food await them there as a reward for saving the civilians.
Of course, a good chunk of the newbies are under age, they don’t get alcohol, but the others get to drink to their hearts content. The older, legal, members love this celebration time. The fact they can drink beer to their hearts content without having to pay? Score!
Usually, Captain Ashiro will only drink a beer or two, she usually has paper work to fill out after the celebration comes to its end. Vice Captain Hoshina is the same, he doesn’t really care for drinking too much anyway. In a way, he doesn’t like the feeling of not being in control of his body or forgetting things from going blackout. So he, too, sticks to just a few drinks. That doesn’t mean they can’t have their fun though.
With everyone slowly filling into the room, Hoshina holds back to watch where Kafka goes. And just as figured, his teenaged children drag him to the same table as always.
Perfect.
That table is near Hoshina’s seat. But also near Ashiro’s.
That’s not an issue, it’s fine.
Captain Ashiro, almost in a rush, takes her seat directly across from Kafka.
Hoshina could praise the very ground Ashiro walks on.
That left the seat on Kafka’s right completely open. Hoshina can’t help but smile a bit more at that fact. He doesn’t pass up this chance and takes the seat, giving Kafka a cheeky, but congratulatory, grin as he does so.
“Vice Captain!” Kafka smiles back, that pretty and toothy smile that Hoshina can’t help but admire. “Great work out there as always!”
He hums gratefully, “Same to you. Manage to reach two percent yet?” Hoshina teases.
Kafka sulks at that. And man, that face is so cute. Hoshina fights the urge to caress the guys back lovingly.
Across from Kafka, Ashiro clears her throat. “Indeed a very good job today, Ka-,” She pauses for a split second, “Officer Hibino.”
It seems Ashiro keeps slipping up with that, huh? It kind of makes Hoshina feel good, he says Kafka’s first name all the time. But she doesn’t. Does she feel like she can’t show that intimacy? Don’t they both love each other though? Hoshina decides to not think about it, he shouldn’t dwell on such nonsense.
She probably just gets embarrassed saying it. Showing to everyone that she cares so much about him. She is sort of the shy type when it comes to that sort of thing.
Kafka can only smile even brighter somehow, “Thanks Mi- uh, Captain!”
Both of them slip up, how cute. They’re so meant for each other.
Hoshina tunes the rest of what they say to each other out, deciding he should start digging into his freshly served plate of food. He was even served a beer without having to ask. Good, he needs it. It’s not like he doesn’t want to hear Kafka speak. He just doesn’t want to hear the bubbly way he speaks to Ashiro. That part does make him jealous.
Kafka doesn’t speak like that to him.
Why not? Is Hoshina not important to Kafka too?
Then again, Kafka doesn’t speak bubbly like that to his teenagers that won’t leave him alone. They’re definitely important to him, he’s practically their father after all. They took him in and made him their dad without him having to lift a finger.
That means that tone of voice is for her and her alone. Great.
That’s fine. They go way back after all. A childhood promise, childhood friends, swearing to fight side by side.
Hoshina mentally slaps himself across the face. He has to stop thinking about it. He needs to just let this silly elementary crush go.
Kafka loves Ashiro.
Hohina suddenly gets bumped by an elbow, snapping him out of his ‘just eat and think’ mindset. “You okay, Vice Captain?”
That look of concern on that man’s face.
God Hoshina wants him.
He’s in too deep for this shit. Let this crush go? How can he when the man he wants so damn bad looks at him like that.
“Aww, worried ‘bout little ole me?” The fox eyed can’t help but grin all cat-like.
Kafka snorts, “Of course. You were stabbing your fork into your food like you were trying to rekill it.”
“Ah.” Oh shit. So he wasn’t eating after all. “I was just thinking, is all.”
At that, Kafka leans a bit into Hoshina’s left shoulder, a serious look on his face.
“Is it because of Kaiju No. 8’s appearance?” The man sweats.
Why so serious? “Yeah.” He agrees even though he totally forgot about that important aspect. No. 8 appeared on the battlefield, not for long but it was there. Hoshina swears he’ll kill that damn bastard. He has his theories, but he chooses not to think about it only because one involves Kafka himself. “It really appears at the most random times, huh?”
Kafka sweats a bit more, leaning back to sit up straight. Though before he can speak, “No. 8 is so weird.” Shinomiya responds, “Maybe it’s always stalking us or something.”
Hoshina hums, looking at his food again, just missing the look of relief Kafka sent Shinomiya.
“Oh well, that doesn’t matter!” Furuhashi suddenly grabs his drink and shoves it in the air, “A toast to us for success!”
The cheers spread like wildfire. Everyone grabs their drinks and toasts, Hoshina accidentally joins a bit late. After the cheer ends, everyone downs a sip.
Hoshina decides to just down his entire beer in one go.
He’s off tomorrow, it’s fine if he lets loose for once. He’s roughly eighty percent sure Ashiro can handle the paperwork tonight until his next work day. Hoshina needs his mind off things. Off of Kafka. Off of the man who’s radiant heat he can feel since they’re sat so close.
He furrows his brows, his inner turmoil killing him. He signals one of the staff for another. Once he gets that, he downs it without a second thought.
He needs to get drunk. Stat.
::
As always, Kafka’s attention gets dragged all over the place. Reno and Kikoru keep his attention the most, talking about different things that happened during battle. Iharu joins in every now and then to poke fun at Reno, to keep their rivalry going strong.
Every now and then Mina will perk up and add some too. Small, simple compliments leave her lips along with some helpful tips and encouragement. Stuff anyone can expect a captain to tell her subordinates.
“Dude, no way.” Haruchi shakes his head, “There’s no way No. 8 helped us.”
Kafka swallows hard, he knows best to leave this sort of thing to his two secret keepers.
“I agree, why the hell would a diakaju help us?” Kikoru speaks with a sassy tone, ending his words with a scoff. “You’re crazy, Furuhashi.”
“Well… maybe…” He sighs, “But it just seemed like he was helping!? He killed that one yoju in front of four soldiers and then vanished!”
Kafka recalls that moment, he had to transform briefly while fighting. He could sense more yoju underground that were about to sneak attack and kill the rear fighters. He couldn’t just let them die knowing he could stop it.
Kikoru elbows him hard in the side, he winces like an abused child. She moves into his personal space like she always does, leaning on him in order to speak low but not a whisper. “Idiot.”
“Sorry, sorry…” Kafka says with dejection. “But…”
“Put more faith in me, ugh.”
“Sorry…”
She huffs once more before joining Reno in his conversation with Aoi and Haruchi. Who knows what they’re talking about now, topics tend to jump from thing to thing with this rowdy bunch. Even Akari and Hakua have joined the conversation, figures.
That leaves Mina and Hoshina to talk to. When Kafka looks over to Mina, he sees her already looking at him. He raises a brow, noticing that she looks almost, concerned.
She slightly nudges her head to her left twice.
A signal.
Kafka looks over to his right at Hoshina, he didn’t expect much. Though normally Hoshina is loud, chatty or teasing someone for something. He’s been really quiet now that Kafka thinks about it.
Surprisingly, Kafka finds the man with four empty glasses, of what was previously, beer. The scene raises his eyebrows completely, Kafka has never seen Hoshina drink that much no matter what. He looks back to Mina for confirmation that he isn’t seeing things.
Mina only nods, crossing her arms over her chest. She doesn’t speak, not wanting to interrupt the mood of the celebration, but her gaze is all Kafka needs to know. She’s telling him to keep an eye on him.
About an hour into the celebration and most people are either still chatting, have already left, or are drunk. Kafka himself wishes he could be that final one, he quite likes alcohol. Not that he’s limiting himself or anything, but ever since becoming a kaiju, it’s a bit harder for him to actually get drunk. Must be some kind of thing to do with his intense healing ability.
Kikoru had long since left Kafka’s side, she decided to go talk with Hakua and Akari. That left room for Reno to take her seat. These kids sure like to be right next to him. Kafka truly doesn’t mind though, he actually likes that the kids involve him in things.
Sometimes they involve him in too much but oh well.
Besides the teenagers still around, Mina had already left. She stated she had paperwork to do before she got too tired and took her leave. However, Hoshina still hasn’t said much, nor left.
The amount of empty glasses keeps piling up. It was four when Kafka first noticed the behavior. But now?
Twelve empty glasses.
Kafka’s surprised Hoshina hasn’t already started upchucking.
Hoshina’s head is on the table, resting on an arm that isn’t occupied with a mug. In all honesty, Kafka is getting really worried. He’s already tried to say something, but Hoshina would only turn him down.
”I’m fineeee~ aha!” He said with a few hiccups. “Goooood… beeeeer!”
After that, Hoshina refused to say anything besides to the staff to get him more. As much as they’d like to cut him off, he’s kind of their boss.
Finally having had enough though, the older man decides to cut him off himself. He grabs the half full glass in Hoshina’s right hand and moves it. That sure makes Hoshina sit up, not straight, but at least enough to give a half glare half look of confusion.
“I think you’ve had a bit too much, Vice Captain.”
“Eh?” He can barely keep his head up, “Nuh uh.”
“Yah huh. No more.” Kafka huffs, a good stern look on his face. He seriously is concerned. He has no idea what Hoshina could possibly be thinking. Is it about No. 8? If so, Kafka’s so fucked.
Hoshina lets out a loud whine, those in ear shot go silent in awe. “Kaffffkaaa! I wannaaa drink more!”
“Oh dear.” Haruchi can be heard muttering in the back.
“Anyone have water?” Aoi speaks up next, looking around at neighboring tables. In a few seconds, someone is passing a bottle of water around.
Before Kafka can grab it and forcefully have Hoshina chug it, said man falls right into his chest, head just barely staying put on Kafka’s shoulder. The older sighs with a small laugh, is this really happening? He’s so close.
Kafka can hear his heart beat with his kaiju-enhanced hearing.
“I think I’mma just take him to his room.” Kafka says to Reno directly, “Mind seeing just what he’s been drinking exactly?”
“Of course, Sir.” The teen nods curtly, “Think he’s been drugged or something?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, it’s just weird he drank so much.”
“Understood, I’ll find out.” Though just before Kafka can begin to get himself and Hoshina up, “Good night, Sir.”
The man smiles, roughing up the kid's hair a bit before taking Hoshina fully into his grasp. “Night Reno. Tell them all G’night for me.” Reno nods in acknowledgement before watching Kafka get Hoshina up, arm slug around his neck and then start the, probably, long trek to Hoshina’s room.
The room Kafka has never actually been too now that he ponders.
And Hoshina isn’t even lucid enough to ask. Kafka sighs, taking more of the Vice Captain’s weight onto him as they walk down the hall.
“Guess I’m takin’ ya to your office.” At least Kafka knows where that’s at.
::
When Hoshina opens his eyes, the first thing he realizes is that he is no longer at a table. The second is that he’s walking. The third, he’s very very very, close to Kafka’s chest.
“Huh?” He mumbles, “Wha?”
“Vice Captain,” Kafka slows down a bit, “you okay?” There’s that ever so cute concerned look again.
Hoshina doesn’t answer right away, taking a bit too long to process those words. “Mhm.”
All he hears is the man holding him sigh. “You’re really worrying me.”
“Eh?” He hiccups, “Why?”
“Well, for starters,” Kafka looks him up and down with a side-eye, “look at you. This is the drunkest I’ve ever seen you.”
“Ah.” Coming to the conclusion that he is indeed very drunk doesn’t make him happy, because now he’s thinking again. “Beer.”
“Yeah. You drank too much of it.”
“Nuh uh.”
Kafka snorts, shaking his head lightly before turning a corner, Hoshina’s Vice Captain’s office is in his sights. “I don’t know where your room is, so I’m bringing you here.”
Hoshina looks forward, a bit of relief flashes over him at seeing the familiar door. “Sleep.”
“Yeah. You will drink some water,” The man demands, “and then sleep.”
Like a pouty child, Hoshina whines in protest.
“No protesting.” Kafka wants to laugh so bad, but now isn’t the time. The care of the vice captain comes first. He finally gets to the door and pushes it open with his foot. With the door open enough, he saunters inside with Hoshina in tow. “Desk or couch?”
Something in Hoshina snaps the moment the door closes behind them. He pushes Kafka away and out of his arms. In the moment where Kafka is caught off guard, Hoshina uses all of his might to push the other man back first into the newly closed door.
“Vice Captain?”
“Kafka.” He steps close, his knees tremble a bit, not really able to keep his footing. “Why da ya, make me feel,” A hiccup, “like this?” He steps just a bit closer, letting his forehead fall onto Kafka’s right shoulder. “It’s annoyin’.”
He’s not really sure what to do at the moment, he just knows to grab him but the hips to steady him. “What do you mean? I think the alcohol is talking.” Seeing the abrupt switch up, this probably isn’t a good sign.
“No.” Hoshina is nearly panting due to his heavy breathing. “I don’t like it.” He buries himself into the crook of Kafka’s neck, grabbing his shirt to stay upright. “Ya make me get, all, jelly, over my Capt’n.”
Now that shocks Kafka, Hoshina can psychically feel his reaction. “What are you talking about? Let’s sit you down-”
“No!” He raises his head, curse the height difference, “I can’t help but want ya.” He squints his eyes in anger. “Yer too, close to her.”
Kafka wants to speak, he opens his mouth to respond but no words come out. Hoshina saves him the trouble anyway.
“I mean.” Hoshina sighs, hunching over a bit to put his forehead where Kafka’s heart is. “I get it, she’s, yer’s. But, still.”
“What?” Kafka doesn’t want to be rough with a drunk guy, but he grabs Hoshina by the shoulders, pushing him back enough for the two to make eye contact. “Slow down. Okay?”
“Mhm. ‘Kay.” He agrees, attention already drawn to the beautiful green of Kafka’s eyes.
“What do you mean that “she’s mine”?”
“Eh?” Hoshina chuckles. “Dummy. She likes ya, and you like her.”
That’s all it takes for Kafka to actually start laughing finally. He lets his head fall back onto the door as his laughter dies out. “You really think that?”
Hoshina narrows his brows, head slowly tilting to the side with confusion. “Mhm.”
“Ha, that’s funny.” The older smiles, “So, you’re jealous? Of me or her?” He has a feeling where this is going.
“Ugh, her!” He complains, “Ya like her! It’s, annoyin’!!”
“Is that so?” To think Kafka is the one doing the teasing now, usually it’s the other way around. “So you like me? What are you, a teen?” He chuckles, no real bite to his words. A small blush adorns his face, a blush that Hoshina can’t process the meaning behind.
“Ehh? ‘Course I do!” Hoshina pushes forward, truly crowding Kafka to the door and giving him no exits. Even when drunk, Hoshina is still pretty strong. “But ya will, neva, like me! It’s,” He forms a thin line with his lips, “I don’ know.”
Kafka hums with contentment, slowly bringing one of his hands up to Hoshina’s cheek. With his thumb, he lightly swipes away some food crumbs from the other’s top lip.
The vice captain staggers for a moment, processing Kafka’s expression, his movements, his actions. “Huh?”
“You know,” Kafka has the gall to smirk, “I thought you were smart enough to realize I wasn’t interested in her.” Not like that, anyway.
Hoshina can feel his brain doing loops, can feel his heart trying to break its way out of his ribcage. “What’s that mean?”
“Vice Captain,” Kafka leans in enough to put his forehead to Hoshina’s, “I don’t like Mina like that.”
“Oh.”
“Mhm.”
“You sure?” He can’t help but feel so many emotions at once. He’ll probably forget all of this by morning anyway. That thought hurts him.
“Positive.”
“‘Kay. ‘Kay.” Hoshina inhales, “Okay.” And exhales.
“You’re too drunk to pick up what I’m putting down, huh?” Kafka teases, letting their noses touch for a brief moment before picking his head back up. “Let's get you some water.”
Hoshina’s brain is mush. All he knows is that Kafka is touching his face, or was touching his face, and that Kafka is tending to him.
What’d Kafka say about Ashiro again?
Ah hell, Hoshina doesn’t remember it already. He lets himself be back up into his couch, Kafka gently sits him down as he scurries off to grab some water. Once back, water in Hoshina’s hands, Kafka sits down next to him, encouraging the man to drink. He listens, chugging it in one big gulp.
“Not beer.”
“Nice observation, Vice Captain.” Hoshina’s heart pounds at the man’s amused, but soft, facial expression. That look could almost be mistaken for love.
Hoshina just can’t understand, can’t wrap his head around anything. All he knows is that Kafka is very close.
“Am I?”
Oh, he voiced that. Hoshina looks at the empty cup in his hands as if it personally wronged him. “No. Stay.”
“Okay.”
Hoshina is too out of it to even realize Kafka is soothingly tracing circles on his back.
“Yer eyes are, pretty.” He meant to say that when he was staring into them moments ago, better later than never.
“That’s random.” Kafka smiles as he breathlessly chuckles.
Hoshina doesn’t know what he’s doing, all he knows is that he hates the cup in his hands and he wants Kafka closer. So he drops the cup onto the floor and in one swift motion, he straddles Kafka’s lap.
It throws the man off, definitely wasn’t expecting that move. It’s not unwelcomed, but Kafka is not about to take advantage of a drunk man. It’s the main reason he hasn’t just kissed him yet. He wants to, very badly. He’s liked this man for a good while now. How could he not when Hoshina does nothing but tease, flirt and encourage him? Plus there’s the underlying fact of does Hoshina actually mean his words.
Kafka always just figured Hoshina was way out of his league. His self doubt is too much for him to even think of this situation being probable. But now Hoshina is in his lap, serving himself up on a silver platter.
Hoshina stares unmoving. He doesn’t know why he does what he does next, he just does it on impulse. He grabs Kafka’s face and gives him a very fast peck to the corner of his lips.
The older swallows hard. “You really make this hard.”
“What? Yer di-”
“No.” Kafka groans with a sigh, “You’re drunk. I’m not doing anything further than this.”
“I’ll forget.”
“That’s kinda your fault, Vice Captain.” The man looks at him pensively. Hoshina takes in that look, that look of solemn, but a bit sad, concern.
Hoshina doesn’t know what to do next. He wants, wants and wants. Should he take? Would Kafka let him? Said man decides for him. Kafka pats his back lightly before lifting the guy and setting up back onto the couch.
“I’mma grab a trash can and a blanket, okay? Stay put.”
“Ah.” Hoshina slumps back against the couch. “Yer warm.”
Kafka holds himself back from responding, quickly grabbing the two things he scanned the room for and came back to the drunk. Setting the can next to the couch, Kafka tells Hoshina to lay down, he then covers him with the blanket.
“Hm? G’night.” Hoshina is already dozing off. The thought lingers in mind that Kafka isn’t staying with him, but his eyelids are closing too fast for him to think about it further.
The man smiles, gently rubbing the other’s face with one hand. “Good night, sleep on your side, okay?”
“‘Kay.” Before he knows it, Hoshina drifts right to sleep.
When Hoshina wakes up and stretches, he very quickly finds that he is not in bed. He also finds that he’s in his office. One more thing he quickly finds out is that his head hurts like a bitch.
“Son of a-” He groans. At least no light can come in thanks to the blinds.
What the hell happened?
He drags a hand down his face, opting to lay on his back. He has some very vague memories of Kafka cutting him off, Kafka practically carrying him, and Kafka saying “I wasn’t interested in” with a cut off. Of course his memory decides to cut that off!
Hoshina groans once more before slowly getting up. Right now his priority is getting pain meds and some ice cold water.