In a Stretch of a Moment | 1/1 | ToraxShou
Title: In a Stretch of a Moment
Chapter: 1/1 (oneshot)
Author: アキ
Fandom: Alice Nine
Disclaimer: I don't own the guys. Just the story. Ed Sheeran's lyrics and song are his.
Pairings: ToraxShou
Genre: fluff
Rating: PG
Warning: None
Beta: None
Summary: Have you ever known what it was like to come into such a sudden revelation-a revelation so big that it was scary and exciting at the same time? A revelation that you knew, you just knew, would turn your entire life upside down and change everything you had once known?
Comment: Short, almost drabble-ish, partly song-fic. Me trying to put into (my own) words of what happened during the live last night in Osaka [report here]. Written late at night. And Ed Sheeran's 'Lego House' playing in repeat. The purple, italic lyrics are quoted from that exact song. I do suggest you to listen to it, too, while reading ;)
In a Stretch of a Moment
Have you ever experienced that one special moment that shone so bright that it was nearly blinding; yet you could see clearer than ever?
Have you ever felt so out of breath, as if all oxygen had been sucked out from your atmosphere and it left you gasping for air; yet you had never felt more alive?
Have you ever known what it was like to come into such a sudden revelation-a revelation so big that it was scary and exciting at the same time? A revelation that you knew, you just knew, would turn your entire life upside down and change everything you had once known?
Shou knew that he was going through one of those moments right now, right here, on stage of all places in the world. He could feel his world turning so bright all of a sudden, as if someone was radiating a large spotlight right onto his face. Everything was turning white, pure white, and time seemed to slow down. His surrounding was becoming a blur, and all he could focus his gaze on was the person in front of him. Tora.
Odd how, in that bright, blinding light, Tora’s face was clear, seeping into his retinas and patterned into his brain.
And he was beautiful; sweaty, hair a funny mess, but oh, so beautiful. He was smiling so wide, so freely. His eyes were beaming, and Shou could not be blamed for recalling how mesmerizing those deep-gold irises were up-close, and how he had spent a lot of time wondering if they were real, not a pair of contact lenses, the first time he met him.
From his side of the stage, Tora was limping to the center where Shou was standing. It looked like it hurt-Shou knew it hurt, but that guy just wouldn’t stop being stubborn. He had insisted performing without a chair despite what everybody else said, despite what the doctor had told him. And now he was walking toward him.
But he was beautiful.
The way he dragged his injured leg across the distance, that wide smile unwavering on his face, it was a beautiful sight. It was telling Shou so many things; things that had always been there, perhaps, but had been overlooked… until now. It reminded him of those words that Tora had said, that, before tonight, had seemed like a joke.
Because, who on their right mind would easily believe that he, of all people, would be Tora’s choice? Wherever, whenever, and ever since they met for the first time, so Tora had told him. It was just too fancy to be true, like fairytales. After all, Shou had stopped taking fairytales seriously since he was six years old.
… until now.
His lungs heaved as he struggled to breathe. Everything was laid out in front of him like a carpet unfolding, showing its patterns. That Tora admired him, that Tora would go through everything for him, that Tora would always, always be there when he was in need; his heart was swelling with all those things that his long-time best friend had told him in the past.
My three words have two meanings,
There's one thing on my mind
It's all for you
Now he could see that even through the pain, Tora was reaching out for him, insistently, happily, as if he was a savior, a beacon that would guide him and help him. And he knew he would. He knew he would stretch his arms wide open, letting Tora see that he would be here to catch him just in case he felt like falling down. He knew he would never let him get hurt, not again, not anymore.
And if you're broke I'll mend you and keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on
He couldn’t do a lot, he knew. He was just as helpless, but the least that he could do was to try and wipe away that uncertainty he sometimes saw in those hazel eyes. Now that he knew just how much he was needed, he would give it all he had got. There was trust that shone from Tora’s eyes, hopes, bathing him with a strange warmth that he had never known before. His heart was throbbing inside his chest as he watched Tora struggling on forward on hind leg. And Shou knew, this time he would take him in and keep him safe.
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
“Why do you look so happy just to see me?” Shou wanted to ask. “Why me?”
But was there an answer to that kind of question? He knew that even if he asked, Tora would just say, “Because you’re you.” And then he wouldn’t know how to respond to that, speechless in his confusion, silenced, overwhelmed.
He hadn’t had the slightest idea of how to react, maybe because he had never received such a genuine, unconditional feeling from anyone before in his life. It was scary, really, and it was the exact reason why he had run away, over and over again, in the past. It had felt like someone was putting the burden of their entire life in his hands, and he hadn’t known if he had had the strength to carry it with him. Taking care of himself had been a hassle, let alone caring for someone else. He had been scared, intimidated. He hadn’t believed in himself… until now.
And it's so hard to say it but I've been here before
It’s weird that the sight of Tora limping toward him could give him so much confidence. But whatever the reason may be, he knew now that he wouldn’t falter. His arms were stretched forward, certain; his eyes would not leave Tora’s, not wanting to miss one second of that brilliantly glowing face.
Tora was willing to go through the pain just to reach him.
He must have meant more than he had credited himself.
Closer now, Tora was approaching closer. Shou smiled-one sincere, deep-from-the-heart smile that felt funny yet comfortable on his face.
And I'll surrender up my heart
And swap it for yours
“Trust me,” Shou would like to say out loud. “Trust me,” and when Tora came to him, he would not run away, not anymore. He wouldn’t let that smile fade away from that beautiful face.
It was like watching a life-long quandary coming to an end. One massive, unprecedented emotion bloomed in his chest, like sunlight bursting through the clouds, like water pushing against a crevice. There was no going back from this point, but Shou knew he didn’t need to. The most important thing in his life was right in front of him now, and all he had to do was accept it and soon he would be complete.
He had been insufficient, had felt self-conscious of his insufficiency, but right now he was sure.
He could hear Tora’s gentle laughter in his ears when the guitarist finally closed their distance. It felt soothing in his mind, easing away the remaining doubts that had lingered. Everything he had been afraid of before melted here right next to Tora’s vivid, warm happiness.
In a sense of relief that surged through his entire body, Shou embraced his bandmate, best friend, brother, partner in crime, confidant-and all those other names he could call Tora with-tightly in his arms. His chest felt light and warm when he found that this felt so right. There was nothing, really, he should be afraid of. He knew now that he wouldn’t fail Tora, not anymore.
“Good job,” he whispered in Tora’s ear, away from the microphone, away from the world. Privately. A whispered praise just for both of them; for Tora’s neverending trust in him, and for his success in opening up his arms…. opening up his heart.
A kiss on Tora’s temple, and the hall was drowned in a sea of screams. But then all that Shou could hear was the hurried rhythm of his now newly beating heart.
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
- THE END -
A/N: Someone help me because I think I'm getting overdosed with ToraxShou. Why are you guys so real! *goes twiddling my thumbs on a corner*
Fanfic list here.
Chapter: 1/1 (oneshot)
Author: アキ
Fandom: Alice Nine
Disclaimer: I don't own the guys. Just the story. Ed Sheeran's lyrics and song are his.
Pairings: ToraxShou
Genre: fluff
Rating: PG
Warning: None
Beta: None
Summary: Have you ever known what it was like to come into such a sudden revelation-a revelation so big that it was scary and exciting at the same time? A revelation that you knew, you just knew, would turn your entire life upside down and change everything you had once known?
Comment: Short, almost drabble-ish, partly song-fic. Me trying to put into (my own) words of what happened during the live last night in Osaka [report here]. Written late at night. And Ed Sheeran's 'Lego House' playing in repeat. The purple, italic lyrics are quoted from that exact song. I do suggest you to listen to it, too, while reading ;)
In a Stretch of a Moment
Have you ever experienced that one special moment that shone so bright that it was nearly blinding; yet you could see clearer than ever?
Have you ever felt so out of breath, as if all oxygen had been sucked out from your atmosphere and it left you gasping for air; yet you had never felt more alive?
Have you ever known what it was like to come into such a sudden revelation-a revelation so big that it was scary and exciting at the same time? A revelation that you knew, you just knew, would turn your entire life upside down and change everything you had once known?
Shou knew that he was going through one of those moments right now, right here, on stage of all places in the world. He could feel his world turning so bright all of a sudden, as if someone was radiating a large spotlight right onto his face. Everything was turning white, pure white, and time seemed to slow down. His surrounding was becoming a blur, and all he could focus his gaze on was the person in front of him. Tora.
Odd how, in that bright, blinding light, Tora’s face was clear, seeping into his retinas and patterned into his brain.
And he was beautiful; sweaty, hair a funny mess, but oh, so beautiful. He was smiling so wide, so freely. His eyes were beaming, and Shou could not be blamed for recalling how mesmerizing those deep-gold irises were up-close, and how he had spent a lot of time wondering if they were real, not a pair of contact lenses, the first time he met him.
From his side of the stage, Tora was limping to the center where Shou was standing. It looked like it hurt-Shou knew it hurt, but that guy just wouldn’t stop being stubborn. He had insisted performing without a chair despite what everybody else said, despite what the doctor had told him. And now he was walking toward him.
But he was beautiful.
The way he dragged his injured leg across the distance, that wide smile unwavering on his face, it was a beautiful sight. It was telling Shou so many things; things that had always been there, perhaps, but had been overlooked… until now. It reminded him of those words that Tora had said, that, before tonight, had seemed like a joke.
Because, who on their right mind would easily believe that he, of all people, would be Tora’s choice? Wherever, whenever, and ever since they met for the first time, so Tora had told him. It was just too fancy to be true, like fairytales. After all, Shou had stopped taking fairytales seriously since he was six years old.
… until now.
His lungs heaved as he struggled to breathe. Everything was laid out in front of him like a carpet unfolding, showing its patterns. That Tora admired him, that Tora would go through everything for him, that Tora would always, always be there when he was in need; his heart was swelling with all those things that his long-time best friend had told him in the past.
My three words have two meanings,
There's one thing on my mind
It's all for you
Now he could see that even through the pain, Tora was reaching out for him, insistently, happily, as if he was a savior, a beacon that would guide him and help him. And he knew he would. He knew he would stretch his arms wide open, letting Tora see that he would be here to catch him just in case he felt like falling down. He knew he would never let him get hurt, not again, not anymore.
And if you're broke I'll mend you and keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on
He couldn’t do a lot, he knew. He was just as helpless, but the least that he could do was to try and wipe away that uncertainty he sometimes saw in those hazel eyes. Now that he knew just how much he was needed, he would give it all he had got. There was trust that shone from Tora’s eyes, hopes, bathing him with a strange warmth that he had never known before. His heart was throbbing inside his chest as he watched Tora struggling on forward on hind leg. And Shou knew, this time he would take him in and keep him safe.
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
“Why do you look so happy just to see me?” Shou wanted to ask. “Why me?”
But was there an answer to that kind of question? He knew that even if he asked, Tora would just say, “Because you’re you.” And then he wouldn’t know how to respond to that, speechless in his confusion, silenced, overwhelmed.
He hadn’t had the slightest idea of how to react, maybe because he had never received such a genuine, unconditional feeling from anyone before in his life. It was scary, really, and it was the exact reason why he had run away, over and over again, in the past. It had felt like someone was putting the burden of their entire life in his hands, and he hadn’t known if he had had the strength to carry it with him. Taking care of himself had been a hassle, let alone caring for someone else. He had been scared, intimidated. He hadn’t believed in himself… until now.
And it's so hard to say it but I've been here before
It’s weird that the sight of Tora limping toward him could give him so much confidence. But whatever the reason may be, he knew now that he wouldn’t falter. His arms were stretched forward, certain; his eyes would not leave Tora’s, not wanting to miss one second of that brilliantly glowing face.
Tora was willing to go through the pain just to reach him.
He must have meant more than he had credited himself.
Closer now, Tora was approaching closer. Shou smiled-one sincere, deep-from-the-heart smile that felt funny yet comfortable on his face.
And I'll surrender up my heart
And swap it for yours
“Trust me,” Shou would like to say out loud. “Trust me,” and when Tora came to him, he would not run away, not anymore. He wouldn’t let that smile fade away from that beautiful face.
It was like watching a life-long quandary coming to an end. One massive, unprecedented emotion bloomed in his chest, like sunlight bursting through the clouds, like water pushing against a crevice. There was no going back from this point, but Shou knew he didn’t need to. The most important thing in his life was right in front of him now, and all he had to do was accept it and soon he would be complete.
He had been insufficient, had felt self-conscious of his insufficiency, but right now he was sure.
He could hear Tora’s gentle laughter in his ears when the guitarist finally closed their distance. It felt soothing in his mind, easing away the remaining doubts that had lingered. Everything he had been afraid of before melted here right next to Tora’s vivid, warm happiness.
In a sense of relief that surged through his entire body, Shou embraced his bandmate, best friend, brother, partner in crime, confidant-and all those other names he could call Tora with-tightly in his arms. His chest felt light and warm when he found that this felt so right. There was nothing, really, he should be afraid of. He knew now that he wouldn’t fail Tora, not anymore.
“Good job,” he whispered in Tora’s ear, away from the microphone, away from the world. Privately. A whispered praise just for both of them; for Tora’s neverending trust in him, and for his success in opening up his arms…. opening up his heart.
A kiss on Tora’s temple, and the hall was drowned in a sea of screams. But then all that Shou could hear was the hurried rhythm of his now newly beating heart.
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
- THE END -
A/N: Someone help me because I think I'm getting overdosed with ToraxShou. Why are you guys so real! *goes twiddling my thumbs on a corner*
Fanfic list here.