Luka’s shift started at four pm and ended at midnight. Reno graciously allowed him to use his office space, and always tried to time his arrival home from the studio with Luka’s ‘lunch’ break so they could share dinner. Twice a week, Reno left after dinner to go to his dance classes, and on Fridays, he missed their mornings together for photoshoots and other modeling events.
By the time Luka’s shift was over, Reno was already dozing off in bed, and it made Luka achesodeeply that they had lost their evenings together. Reno always rolled over, sleep-fuzzy and sweet, to kiss Luka senseless and press him down into the bed until he couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore. But it wasn’t enough.
He’d tasted the absolute freedom of having Reno all to himself, and he already missed it.
He knew he’d asked Reno for his independence and his ability to continue working, but the hours were making him insane. Maybe he could find a similar job here. But Luka had noidea how that even worked. If he could find employment on his own in England, would he qualify for a work visa? He scrubbed his face with his hands and didn’t have the energy to look it up. Another call was coming in for a client; he’d have to figure it out later.
Reno popped in to bring him dinner around seven, and Luka clocked out for a break, then slipped dramatically out of the plush, pink gaming chair and onto the floor. He watched it spin slowly away from him, the Sanrio character on it turning its back on him as Reno looked on in amusement.
“That bad?”
Luka peered up at Reno, who looked so precious in his frilly apron with his hair tied back high on his head, holding a bowl full of whatever he’d made for Luka. Even this exhausted, even this frustrated with work, Luka felt like the luckiest man in the world.
“I just miss you all the time," Luka admitted, stretching out on the ground with a groan. “I’m tired of working.”
“You really don’t have to.” Reno sat on the ground with him and waited for Luka to prop himself up before handing him the bowl. It was full of some kind of salad with baked chicken, and Luka was never quite comfortable with the constant reminder that Reno’s work restricted his diet so much. “If you quit, I’d take care of you.”
“I know," Luka sighed, stabbing lettuce with a fork. “Give me some time, I’m sure I’ll eventually snap and let you.”
“I wish you wouldn’t drive yourself to that point.”
“I’m stubborn.”
“Clearly.” Reno smiled at him. “I’ll be late at the studio this weekend, it's my turn to record guitar for our single release then work on the mixing. It’ll just be me and the sound booth guys, so don’t be surprised if Arnaud texts you. He’s been looking for an excuse to get out and play with you.”
“Huh?” Luka still felt shocked whenever one of Reno’s friends, especially the band, took interest in him. It even surprised him the first time the ladies from the neighborhood flanked him on one of his runs, demanding to know if he was the reason Reno had been so happy lately. “I didn’t know he had my number.”
“I gave it to him last week, forgive me.”
“I do," Luka said. “Just surprised.” He reached out to Reno and pulled him closer so he could plant a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “Make sure you eat too, okay?”
“Un, itoshii hito?1.” Reno kissed him back with a sigh before he got off the ground and left, hopefully to make himself a salad too.
As soon as he left, Luka pulled out his phone and opened the Translate app. It took him a few times, playing with the spelling before he finally got a result that made sense.
“Devoted person.” Luka hummed, tabbed away from Translate, and searched online instead, finding a forum for non-native speakers.
A pet name, typically used by women towards their parter meaning, 'beloved person.' ??? (itoshii) means: lovely, dear, or beloved. ? (hito) means: person, or human.
“Oh.” Luka scrambled to remember the first time Reno had called him that and reeled at where he found the memory. It had been at the end of their video call, when Reno had just come home after his European tour. That night, Luka had decided to see him in London.
Luka yelled from his spot on the floor, “You’re a crazy person, you know?!”
He heard Reno call from the living room, “What?”
Luka pushed off the ground and went into the living room. “I said you’re a crazy person. A complete sap. A ridiculous romantic.”
“Figured it out, did you?” Reno’s shit-eating grin was only interrupted by him taking an overly large bite of his food. “I’m shocked you didn’t come for me sooner.”
“You—” Luka watched Reno take another bite, looking absolutely self-satisfied like the gremlin he was. “I don’t have time right now to dissect all the ways in which you are clinically insane.”
“Mhm.” Reno swallowed. “You love it.”
Luka walked away from him, listening to his cackling all the way back to the Sanrio chair and his tedious job.
Unknown Number
Lukaaaaaa~ Chéri, do you want to come to the club tonight?
