Ahh, I can't type
Title: It doesn’t stop time, but at least it eases the transition
Author: alphie
Paring: Juntoshi, Aimiya
Rating: PG
Genre: AU
Disclaimer: I don’t own these party people
Notes: Apparently people don’t answer prompts. :< So this is dedicated to sharksoul24, who wanted a New Year’s Eve kiss.
“Jun, go home.”
Jun looks up from his computer screen. He didn’t realize how far forward he’d been leaning to try and make out all the words in front of him. His back is going to be screaming tomorrow, he just knows it. If it can compete with this week-long headache he’s been trying to keep at bay.
Jun looks up at his supervisor. Sakurai is one of the youngest supervisors in the corporation. Jun knows he didn’t get to that position on family influence alone, because more often than not he and Sakurai can be found after hours (and select weekends) at the office making sure everything’s set for the next day, week, month even. He and Sakurai share the same rigid work ethic, so it’s surprising to hear that kind of order coming from him.
“Are you sure? We’ve got these evaluation reports that need to be proofed by the end of next week and if we don’t get them down now we’ll be-”
“Jun.” Sakurai stops him. He moves towards Jun, wiping the sleep from behind his glasses before placing a heavy hand on Jun’s shoulder. Jun removes his own glasses (computer glasses, but they obviously don’t seem to be working) and reclines into his seat, feeling the weight of Sakurai’s hand and the words they convey.
“Let’s leave those to the editing department to work on. That’s what they get paid to do. You need to get out of here. Enjoy your weekend for once.”
Jun chuckles as he gathers his things. Although he and Sakurai have an after-hours camaraderie going on, Sakurai is still his superior and he knows a thinly-veiled order when he hears it. As he rises and watches his computer shut down, he turns to Sakurai, who has already retreated to his office. He makes his way to Sakurai’s office and leans against the doorframe, smirking.
“And what about you? Got someone to spend this weekend with?”
Sakurai laughs without looking away from the glow of his computer screen. “I’m married to work, Jun. I can’t cheat on her now.”
Jun laughs. He gives Sakurai a compulsory wave even though Sakurai isn’t looking in his direction. As he walks away, he hears Sakurai calling out to him. “Jun!” Jun turns back, ready to go back to work.
Sakurai looks at him and smiles, tired but content.
“Have a Happy New Year.”
Jun turns his head and catches the clock. 10: 37PM, December 31st. He thanks Sakurai and returns the sentiment before walking out of the office.
~*~*~
As Jun walks out of the front of the building, he remembers a text his friend Aiba had sent him about an hour prior. Taking out his cell phone he takes another look (he had been so swamped when Aiba sent it, it’s almost a miracle he remembers it at all). Something about… counting down the new year at the Cen… Cen… what the hell, Jun thinks, trying to put the letters together in his head. Based on Aiba’s below-par spelling, he must have already been drunk when he sent that message. He figures out that Aiba meant Century Bar, a place he knows Aiba likes to frequent. Every bit of him is tired or sore and he knows he shouldn’t go. But having a drink with one of his friends seems like a better idea than spending New Year’s alone, because of him that’s how every night ends. So Jun turns and walks in the direction of the bar.
Century Bar is pretty packed by the time he gets there. The people there are definitely in a celebratory mood: some of them are even wearing those silly party hats and obnoxious glasses that say “2012” on them. Come on, Jun thinks, weren’t those supposed to be obsolete after 2009? He takes in the scene and is two steps away from turning around and going home when an arm pulls him in.
“JUN! Oh mah gaaaaaawd, you made it!” Aiba’s voice is clear but slurred and smells like alcohol and fried chicken. Jun tries to regain some composure as Aiba drags him to a circular booth in one corner of the bar. It’s kind of dark because the only lights are coming from the small hanging lights that are more for ambiance than functionality, but through the din Jun can make out two other people sitting: Nino, Aiba’s boyfriend, and someone Jun’s never seen before. Aiba shoves him into the booth so that he’s next to this new person before crawling onto the other side next to Nino.
Jun takes a few seconds to make himself comfortable. His damn back is starting to act up. He turns and looks at the man sitting next to him and has to scoot back a bit. He didn’t realize the other man had been looking at him. Was he looking at him all this time? Jun’s taken aback with how strong, yet soft, this other person’s gaze is.
“Oy, Oh-chan, stop staring.” Jun’s snapped out of his daze as he watches Nino flick his index finger at the man’s round cheek (baby-like, Jun concludes in his head). The other man snaps out of it as well before he turns and fixes his gaze at his drink on the table.
“Sorry about that,” Nino calls out above the other man’s slumped shoulder. “Ohno’s kinda like that.”
Jun nods. Those overwhelming eyes are still locked in his memory. He tries to shake it off and instead makes eye contact with Nino. “Surprised to see you here.” He knows places like this aren’t Nino’s scene. Nino, who’s got an armful of drunk Aiba flailing next to him, laughs as he takes a sip of his own drink (probably just tea, Jun thinks).
“I’ve got to take care of this idiot over here.” Nino motions his head towards Aiba, who responds by blowing a raspberry on Nino’s cheek. Nino bops him on the head, but laughs as well. He turns back to poke at the person between himself and Jun.
“This is Ohno, my co-worker. Ohno, say hi.”
Ohno turns to look at Jun. His gaze is softer now as he reaches a slim hand out.
“Hi,” he says, but his eyes say a lot more. Jun is once again captivated as he grasps the offered hand. “I’m Ohno Satoshi.”
“Matsumoto Jun,” Jun replies. He faintly hears Aiba talking about getting everyone more drinks and dragging Nino along with him. “You work with Nino?”
Ohno nods. “He said I should get out more and meet people. Especially for new year’s eve. But I thought I’d be fine by myself. I tried to say so, but Nino bribed me with free alcohol so here I am.”
Jun chortled. If anything, that free alcohol was coming from Aiba’s wallet. As if he said some magic word, two pitchers of beer and three steins appear on their table. Aiba is beaming.
“Come on, you guys! We need to party! End of the year party!” He takes a swig of his beer, his other hand on Nino’s waist, who seems to finally be in the spirit of things as he takes Aiba’s mug and takes a gulp of his own. Aiba pulls Nino towards the crowd, leaving Jun and Ohno alone again.
Jun takes the mug and faces Ohno. “Cheers,” he says, clinking his mug with Ohno’s and taking a delicious gulp. Yes, he thinks as he feels it making its way through his body. This is just what he needed. He watches as Ohno does the same and smiles and the content look on the other man’s face. Ohno looks back at him and smiles. Almost as if he can read Jun’s mind, Ohno says:
“This is just what I needed.”
By the time they’re done with their first mug and making their way through their second, the two have stayed seated but have gotten close enough that their thighs are touching. He’s spent all this time talking and learning about Ohno, who apparently works as the head of Accounting at his and Nino’s workplace. He also has a passion for art, but apparently doesn’t want to make it a career. When Jun asks him why he doesn’t just quit and become an artist, Ohno leans in closer, as if he’s telling Jun a secret.
“If I did art for a job, then I wouldn’t appreciate it as much as I do now. The feeling I get when I can just relax and paint after a long week is the best.” The last part is almost a whisper, and Jun suddenly imagines what it would be like to be next to Ohno, spending a lazy weekend at home doing nothing but enjoying the things that work can’t provide. His arm has somehow made its way around Ohno’s shoulders and the other man is leaning into Jun’s embrace. It should be embarrassing: Jun can feel the heat from the other man and knows it’s not just the alcohol making him flushed. But it’s not. Jun hasn’t felt this content in a long time.
Suddenly, he hears cheering from different corners of the bar. He looks towards one of the TVs hanging from the ceiling: the feed from New York shows the lit New Year’s Eve ball as it slowly makes its way down. The crowd counts down.
“10! 9!”
Jun looks towards Ohno. Ohno’s eyes sparkle as he watches the ball drop, almost mirroring the glitter of the ball. He looks back at Jun.
“6! 5!”
He can feel himself gravitating towards the other man. Ohno’s whole face is glowing as his eyes begin to close, ready and waiting.
The last few seconds of 2011 last an eternity before Jun kisses him, an explosion that rivals the roar of the crowd and the fireworks that are no doubt going off around them.
A/N: I feel bad that I rushed the ending. But I lost the ability to type properly. :< SO MUCH BACKSPACE.