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The first time Tenn has the time to see—and really just take the time to look—the backs of both Gaku and Ryuu, it’s when they first sing Valiant in front of an audience. As center, he’s usually, as the name entails, front and center of the stage. While he’s never once thought of Gaku and Ryuu as any less important to Trigger compared to himself, he’s well aware that he’s the focal point.
Gaku and Ryuu’s backs, as strong and reliable as he knows them to be, from when they once held him when he hurt his ankle, from when they once supported him when he finally tore away from Kujo’s, from when they had held him as he lost control of his tears that one time. He swallows down the emotions that come welling up in his throat; it’s only the opening song of a concert that’s supposed to last 90 minutes, and he cannot falter right now.
He has to perform, now, and so he puts everything into hitting each note, each dance step, as perfectly as he has trained himself to. He thanks the fans and smiles at every corner of the full theatre that had come to see them. There’s always a part of him that will belong to the fans, that’s dedicated to nothing but seeing them smile and laugh, determined to ensure they never have to shed tears again. It’s no longer all of him, as Gaku and Ryuu have managed to teach him throughout the years. He could be Kujo Tenn, the flawless center of Trigger on stage, but he could also just be Tenn when it’s the three of them, somewhere private and quiet.
He keeps it to himself throughout the afterparty and all the way until they make it home. Tenn hears the door close behind Gaku and immediately slumps forward, burying his face into Ryuu’s back, winding his arms around Ryuu’s waist.
“Tenn?” Ryuu asks, immediately twisting around to look at him, concern in his voice. “Are you okay?”
“What’s wrong?” Gaku’s voice comes, calm and comforting in its timbre. Tenn feels Gaku’s arms wrap themselves around both himself and Ryuu, feels Ryuu’s warm hand cover his own. Gaku’s chin rests on Tenn’s head, and any other time Tenn would have shrugged him off, but Gaku has always been perceptive to his wants and needs. Being wrapped up between the two of them like this is exactly what he needs right now. “Tired?”
Tenn shakes his head, burying deeper into the space between Ryuu’s shoulder blades. He feels Ryuu turn around, lets it happen when Gaku’s hold on him releases to make way for Ryuu sliding an arm under the back of his knees and upper back to pick him up.
He’s deposited gently onto the couch, a warm hand on the back of his head softly stroking through his hair. “Tenn,” Gaku says, letting Tenn nuzzle into his neck. There’s the sound of Ryuu doing something in the kitchen. Knowing him, he’s probably making hot chocolate for all three of them. “Did something happen?” There’s a tremble in his voice, like he’s afraid.
“No,” Tenn replies softly when he realises that he’s scaring the both of them with the way he’s acting. “No, I just—” He pauses. “Something dawned on me during the concert and I’ve been thinking about it since.”
“What is it?” Ryuu asks, back with a tray of hot chocolate. Tenn places a soft, grateful kiss to Gaku’s collarbone before he squirms around in order to accept the mug that Ryuu hands him. Gaku’s expression softens, one hand still wrapped around Tenn to keep him close even as the other takes his own mug from the oldest.
Tenn takes a sip of hot chocolate, letting its warmth spread through him. Ryuu folds himself into Tenn’s other side, receiving his own kiss on the cheek, and smiles at him. “During the concert,” He starts. “When I saw the two of you from behind, I realised that I’ve never really seen that image before.”
Gaku tilts his head inquisitively. “You had to have seen it during rehearsals.”
It takes all of Tenn’s willpower not to bristle; he knows Gaku’s not doing it to be insensitive, he’s asking because he truly doesn’t understand.
“It’s not the same,” Tenn shakes his head. “Or at least, the feeling wasn’t. It’s different seeing it in a practice room. Something about all the fans cheering and knowing that if—if anything were to happen to me, the both of you would be there to cover for me without a second thought. You’re both—precious, and—” He stops talking here, partly because it’s embarrassing and partly because if he continues he might actually cry and that’s the furthest thing from what he wants.
Ryuu reaches out to take the half empty mug from Tenn’s hands, placing it on the coffee table. Tenn blinks up at him, a little confused, when Ryuu leans down, eyes like molten gold, to kiss him.
Tenn shudders, eyes closing as he’s suddenly gripped with an unbearable need to be near the both of them. One hand grips Ryuu’s shirt while the other searches desperately behind him for Gaku. He feels his leader intertwine their fingers, a soft brush of lips against his knuckles, and lets the both of them crowd him into each other. He’s pressed up against them, warm and safe, and he can shed everything that’s not just Tenn.
“You’re precious, too,” Ryuu tells him when they part. He’s so close, their foreheads still touching. “You’re our one and only center.”
“Irreplaceable,” Gaku emphasizes with a kiss to the back of his neck.
Tenn can’t help but grumble a little. “I’m supposed to be praising the both of you.”
Ryuu laughs lightly, pulling away so that Gaku can steal his own kiss from Tenn. It makes him melt even further, boneless in his lovers’ arms. “We should wash up,” He says, despite himself. “We’re all gross and sticky.”
“A little longer,” Gaku sounds entirely unwilling to move.
“Just a bit more,” Ryuu adds.
Tenn sighs fondly, settling down for an extended cuddling session. Both of them were too affectionate, he thinks, but as he watches Ryuu play with his hand, feels Gaku’s fingers trail lightly up his arm, he finds he doesn’t mind it that much.
Or at all, in fact.