Day 23: Men's Showers, Evening Shift

[forgot_it_all]

His nurse had babbled like usual all the way to the showers, asking if he wanted a haircut (no), if he'd made friends (yes), and if the young man he'd been sitting with was one of them (definitely yes). It was annoying to play the cheerful patient role, but it made sure she didn't ask too many really invasive questions. Ritsuka had to remind

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[totallytheseme]

Hikaru had mixed feelings about bathing in public. He knew that some commoners went to bath houses regularly, that their apartments were too small to have more than a sleeping area and a toilet and MAYBE a tiny kitchenette, and that they had to look elsewhere for a place to keep clean, but he had never run into that problem. The bathroom that he and Kaoru shared was bigger than some houses, with a marble tub that could easily double as a small swimming pool. He had bathed with his brother on several occasions, but...other people? No, that was an entirely new experience, and one that he wasn't sure he welcomed.

He folded his clothes and took his towel, unsure what to really do. Eventually, he settled on taking a showerhead well away from the others (though he did want to talk to Ritsuka at some point), angling himself a little more modestly so that he faced the wall, and focused on getting clean.

[the_clown_king]

Tamaki was actually looking forward to a shower. He didn't mind public bathing too much - though he hated that all the soaps were generic. And maybe he'd feel better after a nice hot shower. They did do wonders to clear the head, after all!

He noticed Hikaru-or-Kaoru already there, and no one else that was on his list of People To Talk To. he wanted to talk to Ed, of course, but until the other boy showed up....

"I really am sorry," he said, approaching his friend, a towel wrapped around his waist. It didn't matter which twin it was, just that he apologized. They both deserved it, after all. "I wanted to say it in person. I know I acted like a jerk, and I'm sorry."

[totallytheseme]

Hikaru had changed costumes around Tamaki enough that he felt decently comfortable around him. Of course, being in boxers was pretty different to bathing in the buff, but his other interactions with people had been been while wearing clothes, so this was a little easier. He acknowledged the King's arrival with a nod and continued focusing on soaping up. The shampoo wasn't the nice stuff he was used to, which was a little off-putting, but it smelled okay. Kind of fruity.

Tamaki's apology took him by surprise. Feeling suddenly and inexplicably guilty, Hikaru looked away and scrubbed his chest for a minute or two before answering, "You don't have to apologize." It came out as a mutter, meaning that the young Lord wouldn't be able to rely on the difference in the twins' voices to tell them apart. It was bad enough that the water had plastered his bangs to his forehead.

[the_clown_king]

"Yes, I do."

He wasn't sure which twin he was talking to, but it didn't matter. Impulsively, and to emphasize his words, he reached out and hugged his friend, tightly. Ignoring that the twin was naked and Tamaki was only wearing a towel. It was one of the twins, after all. The rest of the Host Club, they were like family.

"I do," he repeated. He knew that he did. He'd been a jerk, and he'd messed up, and he felt badly.

[hangenki]

Kaoru had arrived in time to hear his brother tell Tamaki he didn't need to apologise. He was about to agree until Tamaki hugged his naked brother. Sure they'd shown of their bodies during Physical Examinations. But...not the WHOLE of their bodies. It was weird to shower in front of people, and it hurt a little to have his brother go through such violation. So they'd just have to make light of the situation. Showering and being naked was normal, and it wasn't like they had anything to be ashamed of. Besides, it was only other boys like themselves, not old men or screaming girls

[totallytheseme]

Oddly enough, the first think that Hikaru could think of when Tamaki HUGGED him was how Renge-chan would react. He was sure that she was probably crying "MOE!" triumphantly somewhere, even through the weird different demension thing. That girl had a freaking moe RADAR.

"Oi, Milord! GET OFF." The slippery Host tried to squirm out of the King's vice-like grip, but it wasn't until Kaoru came along and pulled him away that he actually got free. "Kaoru..."

Sighing, Hikaru nodded. "Yeah, we really do need to apologize. We've been asses. Sorry." It was as heartfelt an apology as his ego could let him make. Tamaki should have been proud, really.

Host-like, the older of the twins bent back his brother and murmured, "I am sorry, Kaoru. It is shameful, for all these eyes to be on you when I know that you only belong to me." But then he grinned and let go. "But they're probably just jealous of our Hitachiin charm."

[the_clown_king]

"Hmph," Tamaki said, tipping back his head and waving his hand. "It was perfectly innocent. Besides, I think I prefer blonds..." Interesting, that, now that he thought of it...

"We've all been...well, not ourselves," he said, running a hand through his hair. "But I am sorry. For everything..." And then he flushed some and looked away, glad for his own towel.

"Really, there's no need for such immaturity!" he muttered, but in a way he felt better. He felt like things were alright between them, and that was the important thing. They were the Host Club! They were practically family.

"Besides..." he teased, "I didn't see anything worth being jealous of..."

[hangenki]

The gentleman preferred blonds, did he? Well, it merely showed lack of taste on his part. Kaoru happened to think his brother was beautiful. So there.
"Well, our Lord is probably better suited to an airhead, so it makes sense. Wouldn't you agree, Hikaru?"

Kaoru slowly walked around Tamaki, arms folded. "Nothing to be jealous of? Milord, alone we're double what most men are. And, if you ask me, you sound a little cocky. I just hope, for the sake of your honour, that you have good reason for it."

He looked over Tamaki's shoulder, to his brother, and nodded.
Suddenly, Hitachiin hands were grabbing Tamaki's towel and pulling it away.
"TADAA!" he cheered in unison.

[totallytheseme]

Hikaru nodded. He knew where this was going.

"Oh, definitely. Opposites don't always attract, you know." He and Kaoru had begun circling Tamaki, mischievous grins on their faces. This was going to be good. "Yeah, Milord. Can you back it up? It's not terribly sportsman-like for you to keep making claims and then hide behind that towel. Maybe we ought to relieve you of it!"

"Tadaa!" Both twins lashed out in perfect unison, a well-oiled prankster machine. The towel gave easily--Tamaki hadn't tied it on very securely--and fluttered helplessly to the ground.

"See? Doesn't look like the Suou have much to be proud of."

[the_clown_king]

"Airheads!" Tamaki humphed once more. "How very rude of you. Really, you're just jealous that I'm so very much loved and adored...."

But then he was de-towled. Dramatically and very, very prominently. And while it was all very well and fine to be naked with other teenage boys, it wasn't well and fine to be so in such a...a...pointed light.

"AYIE!" Tamaki's hands immediately went to cover himself, and he flushed. "I...I have nothing to be ashamed of!" he sputtered, bright red and shaking some. Did they have to do that? Really!

At least Ed wasn't around....

[hangenki]

"If you're not ashamed, then why are you hiding it?" Kaoru asked, innocently, poking Tamaki in the ribs. He took his own towel off, casually. Hikaru was naked, so....it was ok for him to be too. It actually wasn't that bad. He really wasn't ashamed of his body and they were all in the same boat (or shower, even).

"Want us to wash those hard to reach places?" he asked, picking up a sponge.

He couldn't believe he was keeping such a straight face. He wasn't even letting his eyes wander down, just to, you know, see. Tamaki didn't seem so confident about it now, anyway.

[totallytheseme]

Hikaru couldn't help it. It was just too funny. He fell back onto his twin (who was having a much easier time controlling himself), laughing his head off.

"Hahaha, yeah, we scrub your back, you scrub ours'?"

...Oooh, there was an idea. He let himself calm down a bit first so that he wouldn't ruin the effect, and looked toward the entrance. Thankfully, Tamaki was facing the other way.

Pretending to have seen someone, Hikaru craned his neck and waved his arms before shouting, "Oi! Ed! C'mon over and join the party!"

[the_clown_king]

"I...it's...I!" Tamaki flailed, waving his arms and then realizing he'd removed his hands. They weren't...actually going to stare, were they? Why would they even want to? He cleared his throat and was about to chide when he flushed a brilliant scarlet, whirling around and gaping at...

An empty doorway.

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!?!" he demanded, turning again, panic and shame spread across his cheeks in a bright and very telltale spread of red.

[the_clown_king]

Of course, it was moments later that Ed did appear in the shower. And Adel as well. Tamaki retrieved his towel and flushed once more, before mumbling an excuse and dashing off.

(Moving down)

[hangenki]

Kaoru couldn't contain the laughter anymore, once his brother shouted out to Ed. He held his sides and laughed, leaning against his brother in an attempt to stay standing.

And then of course Ed DID come into the showers and... Tamaki ran straight to him. Kaoru had almost shouted cowards but... it had actually seemed like a pretty brave thing to do. Kaoru would have expected Tamaki to hide.

"We didn't even get to towel whip him. Now who are we gonna tease?" he sighed, looking to his brother. They couldn't really tease each other. And the 'Which one is Hikaru' game might not be appropriate in the shower.

[totallytheseme]

It was only the twins' combined force of will that kept them upright. Hikaru was laughing so hard tears were streaming down his face, mingling with the shower's jets.

But then Tamaki saw the REAL Ed and it put a damper on all their fun. It was pretty interesting to see the precise shade of red that the King was turning. It was almost as vivid as the blush he'd sported when he first learned Haruhi's true gender. Kaoru was right, though. It was boring without anyone to tease. They could go over and chat with Ritsuka and the other dark-haired boy with him--Hikaru was pretty fond of the kid--but Ritsuka was definitely a "pure" type, so he was pretty much off-limits.

"Hmm...I wonder. The short boy with black hair over there is named Ritsuka...he's a nice kid. Pure, though. Wanna go over and say hello?"

Who knew? Maybe the other boy with Ritsuka would be good teasing material.