[One-shot] Late-night Calls
Genre: Fluffy, humour
Pairings: Matsumiya BFF
Rating: G
Possible Spoilers: If you already know that Nino’s a BIG fan of Takeuchi Yuko, seen the “steamy” pre-series black-and-white Natsuniji trailer, then there’s nothing new here.
Disclaimer: Can’t claim credit for the boys, their fame and what nots, just this insane brain of mine.
Summary: Nino wonders why he doesn't take his own advice on late-night calls and their youngest member. Comments are love.
Word count: 1,949 words
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Nino practically groaned out loud when the faint pounding drumbeats of their latest single’s chorus pierced the silent night. Blindly reaching out to his bedside table to grope for his handphone, he frowned at the flashing screen when he saw that it was 3:46am. Seeing the name, he rolled over onto his back and flipped the cover, grouching into the mouthpiece.
“You know, there was a reason why I shared, what more with video evidence, the fact that I should never pick up your late-night calls.”
“So why did you?” came the cheerful reply on the other end.
“Do you really want me to hang up on you that much?”
“Hey, hey,” came the slightly chided voice on the youngest member. “Just thought you might want one.”
“A rare, peaceful night of rest when I finally get a night off from filming? Well, you’re not doing very well on that right now are you?”
“The drama tee for Natsuniji, I mean.”
Whatever sleepiness that was still clouding his mind disappeared in a flash as he froze mid-yawn.
“Is this your way of rubbing it in that you’ve the lead role in the prime Monday-night drama slot with oh… only my favourite actress since like forever?” Nino’s voice took on a terse note, whatever lingering drowsiness falling away at a speed that signaled he was not likely to get back to slumber any time soon after this call was over.
“I take that as a ‘yes’ then?”
“And it couldn’t wait for the day to break for you to call?” Nino’s heart had indeed leapt a little in anticipation of a closer connection to Takeuchi-san, but he knew it would not do well for Jun to take it as a sign that nocturnal disturbances were welcomed.
“’M’ right?” The silence that followed prompted Nino to wonder if Jun had forgotten that they were in the midst of a conversation. But the doubt was rapidly displaced when the nasal voice dropped an octave in a conspiratorial whisper, “Size-wise aside, I’ll keep it between us too…” he snorted in a manner that was utterly unbecoming of the idol image that the masses had of him, “…the fact that it perfectly matches the DoM in you grinning to yourself now that you’re one step closer to her right?”
Narrowing his eyes, Nino’s mouth opened to deliver a scathing remark, but the dial tone that met his ear left him fuming and no opportunity to send a sharp retort… even as he tried to stop the involuntary curve of his lips from growing wider.
With sleep refusing to provide the refuge before he was due to resume filming in three hours, Nino mused the options available to him.
At the next VS Arashi filming, giving a little more attention to the female stylist who he knew had a mild crush on him was well worth it when Matsujun was “fashionably” attired with a bright blue headband.
---
The next time the call came, Nino was fifteen minutes away from getting out of the transport that would drop him off outside his apartment after filming had been done for the day. With higher management strictly enforcing the rule that none of the five were allowed to drive themselves anywhere, Nino had been silently grateful that he could just rest while travelling back and forth from work. It had been a long, tiring day in Kyoto filming kendo-training scenes for Ohoku, and he had only finished shortly after 2:00am. The last thing he needed was to make any detours to go for late night drinks even though he had seen none of the other members for close to a week.
“Jun-kun,” Nino tried to forestall any proposition the equally busy drama star might have had. “It’s 2:30. Don’t you have filming of your drama too? Tomorrow’s my rare off-day. I’m fifteen minutes from a soft, fluffy bed that’s just calling my name-”
“That’s just fantastic! I’m just twenty minutes from your place if you’ll just swing by to pick me up and let me crash for the night?” Jun rushed through his words which had the slightest hint of a plea, and Nino heaved a quiet sigh.
“Jun…”
“Come on Nino. Yuko-chan and I just finished filming the first promotional trailer and I’ve got a reporting time of 5:00am afterwards. Home’s just too far right now.”
As much as Nino sympathized with his bandmate, and would probably have agreed to the request on the basis of said argument, there was no denying the little Devil whispering into his ear about how he might possibly score an “accidental” meeting with his boyhood female idol.
Giving a sigh that he hoped did not sound too practised, Nino had Jun hold onto the line as he redirected the driver to Jun’s location. As they drew nearer to the destination, Nino could not help the increasing palpitations that seemed to drive away his tiredness. When Jun finally came into view, Nino’s eyes darted around the near darkness, surprised at the quietness and lack of post-filming activity. When Jun opened the door to make his way into the transport, Nino cleared his voice noisily, trying not to be too conspicuous as he threw a laconic gaze at the obviously tired man.
“So where’s-”
“She’s done for the day. Was leaving when I was talking to you,” Jun said with a wide yawn.
“You said you were just finished when you called.”
“Yeah.”
A niggling suspicion nagged at Nino as he bit thoughtfully on his lower left lip. Staring at the softly curling waves of the younger actor’s bent head as he seemed intent on searching his bag for something, Nino gave voice to his thoughts.
“You KNEW,” Nino stared incredulously as Jun finally raised his eyes to meet the older man’s wide-eyed gaze. “You KNEW I’d come if you dropped her name.”
Jun only threw him a feigned look of innocence, and hid his eyes under his hat for the remaining journey to the older man’s home.
When Nino offered to make a quick supper of instant ramen for both of them, a somewhat wary Jun protested since both were too tired. It was a protest that he realized he should have been more persistent about when the sharp tang of habenero hit the back of his throat.
---
I really should just listen to my own advice, was the vague thought that flashed across Nino’s mind when he saw the name that glowed on his screen in the darkness of the night.
Throwing a slightly resentful look at the device in his hand, Nino rubbed his sleep-addled eyes and drew in a deep breath before picking up the line.
“Look Jun. No matter how many times you try to egg me on this time about Yuko-chan, you’re not-”
“I-I’m sorry, but this is Takeuchi Yuko-san?” The gently feminine voice on the other line sounded confused.
Nino felt his heart skip a beat as he jack-knifed off his lying position. “You’re not… You’re not Jun-kun.”
She sounded almost shy and uncertain as she tried to explain the situation. “Matsumoto-san… The cast went for drinks and… he got a little drunk… and your number was most recent in his called list history…”
“Yuko-ch… ah, Takeuchi-san,” Nino intoned redundantly and he mentally smacked himself at how imbecilic he must have sounded. Quickly gathering his wits before he came across as totally moronic, Nino hastily pulled on whatever clothes were at hand, grabbing his wallet even as he obtained directions to Jun’s - and Yuko-chan’s - location.
It was barely half an hour later when he finally made his way past the entrance of the bar which Yuko-chan had given him directions to. He heaved a sigh of relief to see the familiar silhouette of the female actress waiting outside a door along a less-travelled section of the bar, but that was still visible from the entrance. Making his way quickly but discreetly over to her, she opened the door slightly and quietly pointed to the younger idol safely ensconced within, sprawled haphazardly facing inwards on a couch and in all likelihood, passed out.
“I figured it would have been better for us to wait for your arrival here,” Takeuchi-san whispered, even as Nino’s worry over his younger bandmate made itself known through the slight frown that wrinkled his forehead.
Fearing that their voices might wake Jun up, Nino closed the door slightly, leaving it still somewhat ajar and turned to Takeuchi-san, bowing deeply.
“Thank you. Thank you so much for waiting with him,” Nino gushed in a hushed tone. “I’m so sorry that he had caused you such inconvenience-”
“No no. Not at all,” she waved his profuse thanks aside, before offering him a smile of her own. “Jun-kun’s really lucky.” When Nino’s surprise-filled orbs met her own, her gentle smile widened in further explanation, “To have such kind members that look out for one another, Ninomiya-san.”
“Nino.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I mean… you can call me Nino… Takeuchi-sempai.” Now that his worry over Jun had waned, his nervousness at finally coming face-to-face to Yuko-chan had returned in full force.
“You certainly are not what I expected,” the matured actress said after a pause as her smile turned a little cheeky. Uncertain how to react to her words, Nino couldn’t decide if he wanted to hit or hug Jun when he registered Takeuchi-san’s next words. “And to think Jun-kun was saying how you’re normally a ladykiller… except when you’re around someone you really respect.”
“Oh. What did he-” Nino started, not really sure if he really wanted to know how much Jun had divulged to his favourite actress.
“Hmmm… Nothing that’ll hurt your reputation... much.” She concluded mysteriously, yet with a touch of mirth that quirked her lips. Glancing at her watch, she suddenly seemed to realize how late it was.
“I’m sorry, but I really have to trouble you with taking care of Matsumoto-san from here.” It was now her turn to offer a bow. While still pondering her words, Nino could only offer a weak smile of his own, watching as she made her way out to the main street.
With his mind still struggling to catch up to the surreal experience he just had, Nino pushed the door wider to enter and occupy a seat beside his still slumbering member. Quietly musing over what impression Yuko-chan had of him, he nearly jumped out of his skin when Jun sat up without warning to throw him a withering glare.
“You… weren’t drunk?” Nino’s voice gradually grew in volume and incredulity.
“Was that all you could say to her? ‘Call me Nino’? Man… and to think I was singing your praises the whole night…” Jun grumbled to himself, as he pulled himself into a more comfortable position, straightening himself as he did so.
“You were faking?”
“And you’re worse for it, how?”
Nino couldn’t in all honesty find the words to refute the argument, and could only lean back again on the couch, an unwilling grin plastering itself to his mien a few moments later.
“So?” Nino felt a nudge accompanying the unspoken question. When no answer was forthcoming, Jun huffed loudly before asking, “So… What’s on your mind?”
Turning his head to throw Jun a smile, Nino could only lean his weight to rest more comfortably on the other’s shoulder. “I was thinking…”
“Hmmm…”
“That new hat you were looking at the other day, how much is it?”
Nino couldn’t hold back the laugh that bubbled up when an excited Jun practically hugged him to death. On hindsight, Nino had to admit that taking late-night calls from the youngest wasn’t all bad.
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Author’s Notes: Started on this late June, early July… then sat on my HD for close to a month. Hopefully can find the time to work on Thunderstorms and Tempest when the term is over, but I offer this for the time being?