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Chewing on a chunk in the porridge, he tilted his head a bit. A bar would a good place for them to work. And it wasn't that hard to learn to mix drinks. He'd learned a bit about from watching Porsche and from working for the main family. But it was always an easy way to make money as well as gather information.
Perfect for them really.
Swallowing, Pete nodded his approval. "Have you thought of a name or theme for it?"
Perfect for them really.
Swallowing, Pete nodded his approval. "Have you thought of a name or theme for it?"
"Mm, I was thinking of trying some of the aesthetics of that place Porsche used to work at. It seems to have a little meaning for all of us." Nothing too fancy, but a place where they could relax or work. His expression sobered a little and he looked at the bowl instead of Pete.
"Do you still wanna be a part of all that?" All that. They'd be starting from scratch with no power, no influence, few contacts, less money.
"Do you still wanna be a part of all that?" All that. They'd be starting from scratch with no power, no influence, few contacts, less money.
Pete smiled at him and then reached out to rest his hands over Vegas'. Leaning down a little, he tried to have their eyes meet. Not easy but he sure tried anyway.
"I want to be part of your world. I'm your husband now so I go with you. Even if that means helping you run a bar in some weird fantasy Japan."
"I want to be part of your world. I'm your husband now so I go with you. Even if that means helping you run a bar in some weird fantasy Japan."
"I dunno if I wanna be a part of it," he admitted quietly. It's a weird feeling, too. But with Gun dead and a situation that finds him as something other than a rival to Kinn... How was he supposed to define himself without all that? But he could also be free without all that. Way, way in the back of his mind, he knew better than to think he could escape it all. He loved the thrill of danger too much and, in truth, craved power and recognition. At least without their previous dynamics, he and Kinn could carve out some sort of equal partnership...
He gave those hands a squeeze. "We have a choice here. We have a choice to find out who we want to be just like I had a choice when I picked you over the main family. What if we figure all that out together? You and I? Tay and Kinn can do their own thing and can still be friends and family but we can figure out what works for us."
Pete winced a little as he moved but he ignored the pain to sit up more and move to cup his husband's face instead and kiss his lips lightly. "Let's start with this bar. We'll make it something with like the place Porsche used to work but we can make it ours. Something special for us."
Pete winced a little as he moved but he ignored the pain to sit up more and move to cup his husband's face instead and kiss his lips lightly. "Let's start with this bar. We'll make it something with like the place Porsche used to work but we can make it ours. Something special for us."
Once Pete's lips left his Vegas looked up. He didn't lift his head at all, just his eyes giving a sort of pathetic effect. But he nodded. He liked the idea of figuring things out with Pete, of forging a path ahead with his husband. That still felt so strange and thrilling. Husband.
"You took my name. Lemme name the bar after you."
"You took my name. Lemme name the bar after you."
That wasn't at all what he was expecting. Name the bar after him? Him of all people? He was the one always in the background. The one people forgot about. Well, unless they were Vegas or Tankhun for some reason. Would the bar even get recognition if they used his name?
...No. He needed to not think like that. Because that wasn't the way Vegas looked at him at all. He never had.
"You want to name it after me?"
...No. He needed to not think like that. Because that wasn't the way Vegas looked at him at all. He never had.
"You want to name it after me?"
"Yeah," he murmured. A smile started to bloom on his face and he nodded, more decided on it. As long as Pete was okay with it, that's what he'd call it. "That'll remind me that it's important." And everyone would know Pete's importance to Vegas. However they see him, they'd at least know that he was special to Vegas. His most important person.
"As long as you're alright with it."
"As long as you're alright with it."
His gaze softened and warmed so much. Vegas was one of the cheesiest men around and no one even fucking understood how much. Only him. Smiling, he rubbed his thumbs over those sharp cheeks and finally nodded.
"Okay. You can use my name to name it. We'll run it together and it'll have my name on it."
"Okay. You can use my name to name it. We'll run it together and it'll have my name on it."
If the world really knew how cheesy Vegas was he'd never be taken seriously. How Pete does it is a mystery for the ages.
Vegas finally smiled, relieved that Pete was even remotely interested in this venture he decided to pursue without consulting anyone. He loved this man so much and he wanted the world, even this strange fantasy Japan, to know it. Even if it ended up just being a neighborhood bar and not some front for shady business, it was going to be theirs. Just another way for them to be partners.
He set the bowl in Pete's lap and reached up to cup his face with both hands. Vegas leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss to his husband's lip, then just smiled against them.
"I want to share everything with you, Pete."
Vegas finally smiled, relieved that Pete was even remotely interested in this venture he decided to pursue without consulting anyone. He loved this man so much and he wanted the world, even this strange fantasy Japan, to know it. Even if it ended up just being a neighborhood bar and not some front for shady business, it was going to be theirs. Just another way for them to be partners.
He set the bowl in Pete's lap and reached up to cup his face with both hands. Vegas leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss to his husband's lip, then just smiled against them.
"I want to share everything with you, Pete."
"I want to share my world with you."
The fact that they could meant everything to him. Here they could really try for a new life together. Eventually they'd have to go back but he fully believed that they'd figure it out there too. This was their life now and they'd figure it out. Together.
"I love you."
The fact that they could meant everything to him. Here they could really try for a new life together. Eventually they'd have to go back but he fully believed that they'd figure it out there too. This was their life now and they'd figure it out. Together.
"I love you."
"I love you more," he sassed. All this serious discussion needed some levity. He knew Pete had a big heart, at least as far as Vegas was concerned. And it was a heart full of love. Vegas would never claim in any seriousness to love any more than Pete did. They couldn't live without each other, that said enough about their love to him. Vegas was sure they could make it through anything as long as they had each other.
Pete let out a laugh. It was so stupid. But he loved hearing Vegas say it to him. Because it just fit in so well with the relationship they had together. "I love you most, asshole."
And just to make sure Vegas didn't take it up a notch, or at least try, he kissed him again.
And just to make sure Vegas didn't take it up a notch, or at least try, he kissed him again.
"Not right now. You ate though right?"
Because Vegas needed to take care of himself. Pete wasn't going to be happy if the man focused all the care on him but didn't do anything for himself as well. Especially not after he just got him well again.
Because Vegas needed to take care of himself. Pete wasn't going to be happy if the man focused all the care on him but didn't do anything for himself as well. Especially not after he just got him well again.
He glanced over to the tray where the second bowl sat then smiled warmly at Pete. "I brought some for myself, too." He wanted to make sure Pete had some food in him. Even if he went back to sleep after eating, it was important to Vegas that he saw to this need, at least.
"You just rest. I'll stay with you."
"You just rest. I'll stay with you."
"You eat then too." Finally sitting back, he relaxed against the pillows. This was so much easier than holding himself up at this point. But, as tired as he was, Pete refused to go back to sleep yet. He loved having these quiet times with Vegas. They were always so meaningful for them.
"We could have a bath together after you're done."
"We could have a bath together after you're done."
Once Pete was settled against the pillows, Vegas swapped out the bowl Pete ate from for the untouched one. It wasn't hot, but it wasn't so cold he couldn't eat it. Before he scooped up the first spoonful, he gave Pete a curious look.
"Alright," he agreed with a nod. He could help Pete get to the bath and a nice, hot soak would probably do them both some good for the lingering muscle aches. While he didn't rush, Vegas didn't take very long to eat. When he finished, he set the spoon in the empty bowl and put them aside. He got up from the bed and started to rummage through the clothes Pete bought for them.
"What do you want to wear?" That would be one nice thing about having a place of their own: not having to get dressed in the bathroom. Vegas might be a little too used to being able to walk around his space nude.
"Alright," he agreed with a nod. He could help Pete get to the bath and a nice, hot soak would probably do them both some good for the lingering muscle aches. While he didn't rush, Vegas didn't take very long to eat. When he finished, he set the spoon in the empty bowl and put them aside. He got up from the bed and started to rummage through the clothes Pete bought for them.
"What do you want to wear?" That would be one nice thing about having a place of their own: not having to get dressed in the bathroom. Vegas might be a little too used to being able to walk around his space nude.
"Just one of the yukata is fine. I bought us a few." It would be easier to just get wrapped up in that to go from here to the bath and back again. No need for anything fancy or complicated. Besides, the thought of putting pants on sounded awful.
"They're in the boxes on the second shelf. You already found yours based on what you're wearing. Mine are the boxes to the right of yours."
"They're in the boxes on the second shelf. You already found yours based on what you're wearing. Mine are the boxes to the right of yours."
Pete did a good job picking out clothes for Vegas. He'll have to remember to thank him for that at some point. For now, he's sifting through the boxes. It shouldn't matter which one he chooses because they're just heading to the bath, but Vegas still wants his man to look nice. Which meant something dark. Pete always looked good in dark colors.
He fished out the first dark robe he found and shook it open for Pete's approval. Vegas probably wasn't wearing his own correctly (hey, he did his best all on his own and it's staying shut... enough!) but he'll try to help Pete get dressed. Moving back to the bed, he folded the yukata over one arm and offered the other to help Pete get up.
He fished out the first dark robe he found and shook it open for Pete's approval. Vegas probably wasn't wearing his own correctly (hey, he did his best all on his own and it's staying shut... enough!) but he'll try to help Pete get dressed. Moving back to the bed, he folded the yukata over one arm and offered the other to help Pete get up.
Nodding his approval, Pete smiled at him then shifted to try to help with getting him up. Of course in the end Vegas still had to help him get dressed and then get up to head for the bath. But he was grateful to feel the strength in those arms again, leaning his head against his husband with a smile.
"I'm glad you like the pattern I picked for you. I thought you'd enjoy it."
"I'm glad you like the pattern I picked for you. I thought you'd enjoy it."
"I knew you'd find something I'd like," he replied with a slight smile.
Vegas hooked his arms under Pete's to help support his weight while being able to lift him from the bed. It was nice to be able to have enough strength to do this. Vegas was sure he'd lost a lot of it (and muscle tone) in the time he was laid up. He'll have to fix that, but there's plenty of time. Right now, his focus is on Pete.
"Can you stand?"
Vegas hooked his arms under Pete's to help support his weight while being able to lift him from the bed. It was nice to be able to have enough strength to do this. Vegas was sure he'd lost a lot of it (and muscle tone) in the time he was laid up. He'll have to fix that, but there's plenty of time. Right now, his focus is on Pete.
"Can you stand?"
"I guess we're about to find out how fucked out my legs are."
Pete laughed softly because it wasn't like he was actually upset about it. Of course he quickly found out that standing on his own was not going to be an option. His legs were very unsteady. Walking all the way to the bath house by himself? That was never going to happen. He gave another laugh and looked up at his husband.
"Good thing you're here, right?"
Pete laughed softly because it wasn't like he was actually upset about it. Of course he quickly found out that standing on his own was not going to be an option. His legs were very unsteady. Walking all the way to the bath house by himself? That was never going to happen. He gave another laugh and looked up at his husband.
"Good thing you're here, right?"
Vegas can't help the swell of pride in his chest. It's been hours since they last fucked and Pete still couldn't walk straight. He might be preening just a little as he helps Pete to sit back on the bed. At least that way he can get his husband's arms in the sleeves of the yukata and that's a good start to getting him covered up for their trek to the bathhouse. Once the robe was draped around Pete, Vegas guides his arms to his shoulders to support Pete's weight once he pulled him back to his feet. It's a sloppy job getting the obi around Pete's waist and tied, but it's good enough to keep him decent.
"Want me to carry you?"
"Want me to carry you?"
Was he really properly dressed? Not at all. But he didn't have to be. They were just going to the bath so he only needed to be dressed up enough to manage that. Still, he offer caused him to blink in surprise at him. Tilting his head a bit, he considered it. He really did.
"I won't be too heavy? You just got better..."
"I won't be too heavy? You just got better..."
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