[ shino is so close, close enough to make his breath hitch before he swallows thickly. he's going to kill him, he thinks. shino is going to kill him. yamagi is going to die and it will be all shino's fault because he keeps doing this.

yamagi. needs a minute. he needs to remember how to form a coherent sentence and make words before he can speak. his heart is beating so fast he wouldn't be surprised if shino could somehow hear it, could read his mind and know just how much yamagi wants this, wants him, wants wants wants. instead, he breathes in and turns his head to look at shino, summoning all the courage he can muster just to meet his gaze, hyperaware of shino's smile so close to his ear. it would be so easy to just tilt his head and bridge the gap between them. ]

Sh... Shino.

[ he has to give in and avert his gaze when he continues, red to the tips of his ears. ]

What is this? Do you... do you even realize what you're...

[ crap. he's tripping over broken syllables, and... he can't bring himself to finish that thought. instead, he starts over, his voice cracking. ]

Never mind. I'd... Good. That sounds good. Yeah, I'd like that a lot.

[ not perfect, but it's something. he doesn't realize it, but his thumb is rubbing circles over the back of shino's palm, the repetitive motion soothing him. it's like he's tethered to reality by shino's hand alone. he's too good for him. yamagi doesn't deserve shino's kindness, not when it leads to him thinking about more, but he's selfish enough to drink it in and accept it regardless. ]

Please.

[ yamagi squeezes his hand, a silent plea to go ahead and get moving. ]