To Release, From Isegrim-chan ♥
Title: The Present
Author: isegrim_chan
Recipient: release
Series: Tokyo Babylon
Characters/Pairing: Seishiro/Subaru
Rating: PG
Author Notes/Warnings: I hope you like it. J
beta’d by dragon_gypsy at past0rl_insanty
Subaru sat on the couch, wrapped in a thick, way-too-warm blanket and sipping a way-too-hot beverage that tasted only faintly like chocolate. Hokuto was checking on him every five minutes and he really didn’t have the courage to tell her that he was not fine at all.
Half an hour ago he returned from a job at the other end of the city, utterly bruised and depressed. Hokuto had literally dragged him to the “warmest place” in the small apartment and nursed him like she always did.
Only, he wasn’t so happy about it.
He still felt cold, inside and out (although the blanket was warm enough). But that wasn’t the reason. And while he watched the clock he knew that it wasn’t the job either. It was something else… and he just couldn’t figure out what.
“I made cookies. Aren’t I a sweet and caring sister?” Hokuto sat down next to his cuddled form and grinned sheepishly. “Don’t be so depressed.” She gave him a gentle, one-armed hug.
Although he would’ve liked to, he didn’t lean in. The boy took another sip and sighed.
“What is it?”
“... Nothing.” Subaru flashed her the best smile he could muster, hoping it would be enough.
Her eyebrows stayed knitted but she didn’t ask further. “Seishiro-san called me earlier and told me he’d arrive a little bit later. His practice is filled with patients today. So I have more time to make cookies.” She smiled that winning smile of hers. “Any wishes? I have chocolates in the oven. Wanna have blueberry cookies?”
“That would be great.”
“By the way, do you have a present for Seishiro-san?”
“A present?”
“It’s Christmas! Couples give presents to each other,” she said, shooting him an accusing look.
“Errr… I don’t.”
Hokuto stared at him. Blankly.
“You really work too much. At least this time of the year shouldn’t contain that much work for you.” She glared at a spot on the other side of the room.
“Can’t be helped, I guess,” he said apologetically.
“You’re too sweet.” She pecked him.
“But the present…”
“Aw, I’m sure he’ll excuse it. After all, it’s Seishiro-san.” She winked playfully in his direction and danced gracefully to the oven.
Would he really? Subaru grabbed his blanket and cuddled deeper into the fabric.
~~~~~~~~~~
“I have to apologize for my delay,” Seishiro chimed politely while Hokuto took his jacket.
“Don’t mention it.” The girl waved her free hand enthusiastically. “We’re happy you’re here.”
“So am I. I always enjoy your hospitality.”
“Glad to hear that. I made tons of cookies just for you. Subaru is over there.” She pointed in the vague direction of the couch. Subaru didn’t miss that special undertone in her voice.
He peeped over the backrest. Seishiro-san was standing in the doorway, stepping out of his shoes. He really wanted the older male to sit next to him, but on the other hand... it would be an awkward situation. Seishiro turned around, still smiling, and Subaru’s head slumped down again.
“Hello, Subaru.” Seishiro gave him a gentle smile.
Subaru just smiled nervously in return as he felt the cushion dip under an added weight--a movement that affected his body.
“Here.” A present was shoved in his lap. And Seishiro-san was still smiling.
“I’m…erm… sorry. I don’t have a present… for you…” he said, cheeks uncomfortably hot.
Seishiro just smiled. “You’re here, that’s enough.”
Suddenly, the warmth spread through his whole body, warming even those parts that had persistently refused to let go of the coldness earlier. He couldn’t help but smile happily. “But…” It didn’t help. “I’m so, so sorry. I really should’ve…”
“Really, it’s okay.”
Subaru shot him a side-ways glance, wanting to say more, but Seishiro was faster.
“I think that the presence of loved ones is the most precious thing on earth.”
The boy still was not completely convinced but at the look of seriousness in Seishiro-san’s eyes, he reluctantly decided to leave it be.
He was just about to open the present on his lap when Hokuto placed a monstrous plate with a giant mountain of very crusty looking cookies before them.
“Okay, here’s the first load of ‘Hokuto’s Special Christmas Cookies’! Don’t be shy, I have more than enough.” She sat down in the chair next to her brother and smiled happily while she watched him unwrap the present.
Seishiro ate a cookie in silence; Subaru could hear the crunching noises and Hokuto jumped to get him a small plate for the crumbs.
And he realized that the other male had been right. Having the people you love most around you was indeed a better feeling than anything else.
Author: isegrim_chan
Recipient: release
Series: Tokyo Babylon
Characters/Pairing: Seishiro/Subaru
Rating: PG
Author Notes/Warnings: I hope you like it. J
beta’d by dragon_gypsy at past0rl_insanty
Subaru sat on the couch, wrapped in a thick, way-too-warm blanket and sipping a way-too-hot beverage that tasted only faintly like chocolate. Hokuto was checking on him every five minutes and he really didn’t have the courage to tell her that he was not fine at all.
Half an hour ago he returned from a job at the other end of the city, utterly bruised and depressed. Hokuto had literally dragged him to the “warmest place” in the small apartment and nursed him like she always did.
Only, he wasn’t so happy about it.
He still felt cold, inside and out (although the blanket was warm enough). But that wasn’t the reason. And while he watched the clock he knew that it wasn’t the job either. It was something else… and he just couldn’t figure out what.
“I made cookies. Aren’t I a sweet and caring sister?” Hokuto sat down next to his cuddled form and grinned sheepishly. “Don’t be so depressed.” She gave him a gentle, one-armed hug.
Although he would’ve liked to, he didn’t lean in. The boy took another sip and sighed.
“What is it?”
“... Nothing.” Subaru flashed her the best smile he could muster, hoping it would be enough.
Her eyebrows stayed knitted but she didn’t ask further. “Seishiro-san called me earlier and told me he’d arrive a little bit later. His practice is filled with patients today. So I have more time to make cookies.” She smiled that winning smile of hers. “Any wishes? I have chocolates in the oven. Wanna have blueberry cookies?”
“That would be great.”
“By the way, do you have a present for Seishiro-san?”
“A present?”
“It’s Christmas! Couples give presents to each other,” she said, shooting him an accusing look.
“Errr… I don’t.”
Hokuto stared at him. Blankly.
“You really work too much. At least this time of the year shouldn’t contain that much work for you.” She glared at a spot on the other side of the room.
“Can’t be helped, I guess,” he said apologetically.
“You’re too sweet.” She pecked him.
“But the present…”
“Aw, I’m sure he’ll excuse it. After all, it’s Seishiro-san.” She winked playfully in his direction and danced gracefully to the oven.
Would he really? Subaru grabbed his blanket and cuddled deeper into the fabric.
~~~~~~~~~~
“I have to apologize for my delay,” Seishiro chimed politely while Hokuto took his jacket.
“Don’t mention it.” The girl waved her free hand enthusiastically. “We’re happy you’re here.”
“So am I. I always enjoy your hospitality.”
“Glad to hear that. I made tons of cookies just for you. Subaru is over there.” She pointed in the vague direction of the couch. Subaru didn’t miss that special undertone in her voice.
He peeped over the backrest. Seishiro-san was standing in the doorway, stepping out of his shoes. He really wanted the older male to sit next to him, but on the other hand... it would be an awkward situation. Seishiro turned around, still smiling, and Subaru’s head slumped down again.
“Hello, Subaru.” Seishiro gave him a gentle smile.
Subaru just smiled nervously in return as he felt the cushion dip under an added weight--a movement that affected his body.
“Here.” A present was shoved in his lap. And Seishiro-san was still smiling.
“I’m…erm… sorry. I don’t have a present… for you…” he said, cheeks uncomfortably hot.
Seishiro just smiled. “You’re here, that’s enough.”
Suddenly, the warmth spread through his whole body, warming even those parts that had persistently refused to let go of the coldness earlier. He couldn’t help but smile happily. “But…” It didn’t help. “I’m so, so sorry. I really should’ve…”
“Really, it’s okay.”
Subaru shot him a side-ways glance, wanting to say more, but Seishiro was faster.
“I think that the presence of loved ones is the most precious thing on earth.”
The boy still was not completely convinced but at the look of seriousness in Seishiro-san’s eyes, he reluctantly decided to leave it be.
He was just about to open the present on his lap when Hokuto placed a monstrous plate with a giant mountain of very crusty looking cookies before them.
“Okay, here’s the first load of ‘Hokuto’s Special Christmas Cookies’! Don’t be shy, I have more than enough.” She sat down in the chair next to her brother and smiled happily while she watched him unwrap the present.
Seishiro ate a cookie in silence; Subaru could hear the crunching noises and Hokuto jumped to get him a small plate for the crumbs.
And he realized that the other male had been right. Having the people you love most around you was indeed a better feeling than anything else.