Club 31
This is a birthday fic for tacuma811. As usual, I'm very late. I just managed to write a paragraph or two in a day, which is the reason of my lateness.
Anyway, Belated Happy Birthday Ann! (Btw I always thought that we're still in the year of 2008 ^^;)
Title: Club 31
Pairing: Perfect Pair
Genre: General
Rating: PG (nothing except some drinking scenes)
Word Count: 2000+, 2500-
Disclaimer: Konomi-sensei owns the characters.
Summary: Tezuka took a liking to a bar.
Warnings: Un-betaed, slightly AU.
It was quiet, almost too quiet. One could mistake it as a cozy bookstore if not known better. It didn't know how to sing a popular tone, nor spill out the same old lyrics. It could just hum out a light tone of chill out, or occasionally, some hazy nu jazz, making you calm and fuzzy at the same time. It lacked the usual glisten, superseded by its own faint deliciousness, fine and exquisite, waiting for the right ones to slowly uncover the hidden allure.
It lived isolated in a land of tranquility, detached from the busy and hectic main streets; unconcerned about its surroundings. It stood proudly, using its own way to present its unique charm, luring anyone who's searching for difference.
It represented an exceptional attitude, a new sense of delicacy. It's "Club 31".
*****
When people in this ever busy Tokyo wanted to find a place to drown themselves to the dazzling night life, by releasing their mind, chattering and roaring within the realm of rackety music, the name "Club 31" would certainly never cross their mind. For everyone knew that, "Club 31" wasn't a place for clamoring. It was a wonder that after a long and stressful day, people would still want to stick into a teeming place.
The main streets were bursting at the seams, celebrating and extolling the greatest time of the day. Sparkling lights of LED and neon gracing the night streets with gold, orange, red and blue, deceiving the eyes of earthling with their iridescent illusion. The poignant scent of cologne and perfume was carrying among with the strong smell of nicotine, making the already sultry atmosphere suffocating even more. All the restaurants and bars were packed; making no space to be left for any walk-in. Chattering noise filled the air, together with the frantic sound of servers preparing for this rushing time in a helter-skelter. People were gathering at every corner of the streets, waiting for their turn to enjoy their late happy hour.
People kept flowing into the streets, making it almost impossible to pass. But no one seemed to mind a bit, for them just liked the feeling of crowded, of being surrounded by the warmth of other bodies.
Everyone was trying to find a spot to stop, to spend their night in this land of tumult.
Everyone but him.
*****
Struggling to walk through the packed street, Tezuka Kunimitsu tried his best to avoid all the people in his way, no wanted to get involved in any kind of commotions. Deep voice of "Sorry" and "Excuse me" could be heard once in every minute or so. He walked as fast as the crowd allowed him to, slowly made his way out of the street, while calming his growing impatience with his remaining tolerance. He could felt the stares the people at the sides gave him. Some with admire, some with jealousy, others with pure lust. He knew he was good looking: a head of messy yet neatly arranged brown locks; a delicate nose; stylish oval shaped rimless glasses (it's odd enough since he never intended to own anything up-to-date, so it must be a mere coincidence that his glasses were labeled as "stylish"), beneath them were a pair of intense hazel orbs, cool yet fierce, silently watching and observing; his sharp aura of respect and dignity could almost compared with the nobles, making him attractive, but untouchable at the same time.
Untouchable, yes. That's why Tezuka could care less about all the stares he received. Although the people around him were silently watching him like a hawk, they couldn't do more than just watch. Yes, this was all they could do to that handsome young man.
Muttering a final "Excuse me", Tezuka finally got rid of the teeming street. He left all the stares and clamors behind, proceeded to walk ahead. Until he reached the only land of tranquility.
Club 31.
***** CLUB 31 *****
A low squeaking sound coming from the old fashioned wooden door indicated there was a new customer. A smart dressed server turned his head to the said door, watching with a slight smile as the customer calmly made his way towards the farthest corner of the bar. Saeki, the aforementioned young server, proceeded to walk towards the said corner as well.
"Hey Tezuka, you come early tonight!” Saeki said casually while the customer settled himself comfortably in one of the crimson colored armchair. The armchairs had a darker shade of crimson than normal. They looked slightly worn out, but still elegant nonetheless. "Hn. Works finished rather quickly today." Tezuka answered with a curt nod, showing that he acknowledged the other man. Normally, Tezuka wasn't a person who's willing to tell about his well beings. But when he was with someone particular, he would let himself relax and talk a bit more. Saeki Koujiro happened to be one of those, for he had known Tezuka for almost a decade. They were classmates, after all.
Saeki flashed the other man a bright smile. "Same?" He knew there was no point to ask, yet he did it nonetheless. The bright smile turned to a knowing one as Tezuka nodded his head as confirmation. Then, he proceeded to walk off and get the order done.
*****
Tezuka liked this place. It's very unusual for him to take a liking to a bar, even if this was an exceptional one. He imagined how his colleagues will react upon knowing the always stoic and solemn Tezuka Kunimitsu had a daily routine of visiting the bar after work every night. He was sure Fuji will definitely want to capture this amusing scene with his precious camera, if that will ever happen.
Taking a sip from the green colored martini which had set innocently in front of him, Tezuka leaned back against the headrest, slowly enjoying the refreshing taste of the drink in his mouth. He thought about the first encounter between himself and this Cactus Jack. He had eyed the drink suspiciously and very tempted to decline when Fuji recommended him such a drink. But the blue eye man insisted, told that he should at least try once, and he sure will like it. Which he did in the end. Though the martini was the fruity kind, he didn't feel sweet when savoring the greenish liquid in his mouth. Instead, he could feel a perfect balance of sweet and sour caressing his taste buds. Not to mention the drink was safe enough, which didn't capable of making him gets careless. Tezuka fell in love with it right after he finished his very first shot.
Thinking about his first shot of Cactus Jack brought back his muse about Fuji. If Tezuka himself was good looking, then Fuji must been simply gorgeous: soft honey colored locks falling ad lib onto his cute face, shinning with full force even under the slightest stream of light; stunning azure orbs glittering in both confidence and enigmatic, as if seeing through whatever got unnoticed by mortal's eyes; gentle smile always graced his angelic feature, giving an additional splendor to his intrinsic beauty; delicious looking creamy pale skin covering his delicate petite form, demonstrating a very example of a perfect form of hermaphrodite.
Tezuka had first met Fuji on the exact same day he fist visit this bar. He faintly wondered if not because Saeki insisted that Tezuka should come visit, would he ever find this land of tranquility on his own.
...Most likely not.
*****
"Tezuka, here! Meet my childhood friend and copartner, Fuji Syusuke!"
He remembered being dragged by Saeki, and found himself facing his friend's childhood friend and copartner of "Club 31" (Yes, Saeki wasn't a server. He just loved socializing too much). He had discourteously kept staring at the blue eye man, as if being trapped by some kind of black magic cast by the man in front of him, unable to look away.
"Nice to meet you, Tezuka! I'm Fuji Syusuke."
Only by the delighted soothing voice of the other man, Tezuka could be able to break the magic. Not believed in his own voice. He just managed a simple "Tezuka Kunimitsu", and accepted the out stretched hand for a handshake with all of his conscious.
*****
Tezuka smiled in his heart. He knew better that he wasn't just merely liked this place. Even more, he loved this place.
Because this place was so much liked its blue eye owner.
He went back his attention to the old fashioned wooded door, which remained silent most of the night. He sighed a little, emptying the Cactus Jack in one long sip, vaguely wondered how many Cactus Jack will he have to consume more before Fuji come.
After all, this was his fifth shot of Cactus Jack of the night already.
He closed his eyes, imagining how could he tell the other man what was on his mind lately. He had anticipated the scene in his head for so many times. But the absorbed alcohol and his tiredness had starting to take a toll on him. Maybe he shouldn't stay up to this late, he still had works tomorrow.
He took out his wallet, ready to put the bill on the table and called an end for the night.
*****
"Leaving already?" The all too familiar soothing voice was enough for Tezuka to tell who this intruder was. He looked up, meeting gaze with the man he had been waiting for the whole night. "You're not going to decline my treat, are you?" An exotic smile could be seen on Fuji's beautiful feature. His eyes were closed, yet Tezuka could still catch a flash of playfulness in the other's magnetic orbs. A whispery "Fuji" was all he could managed at the moment, for he was still half wandering in his own realm of dreams and fantasies.
Flashing a brilliant smile, Fuji sat himself comfortably in another armchair next to the one Tezuka was occupying. "I am quite surprise. You usually wouldn't stay until this late." He eyed the abnormally bashful looking bespectacled man silently, waiting for Tezuka to say something while keeping his soft smile firmly in place all the while. He knew Tezuka was a man with few words. But somehow, he had managed to make the stoic man opening up to him more than often, and he secretly felt proud of it. Fuji waited patiently; he hoped Tezuka will tell him what happened.
It's been precisely five minutes, yet nothing came out from the bespectacled man's mouth. Fuji sighed inwardly. Maybe there was no such luck for him this time.
Fuji stood up and proceeded to walk off. But a grip on his wrist had stopped him from going. He looked at the warm hand on his wrist, then to Tezuka. A confused expression was evident on his face. "Tezuka?" He felt extremely conscious all of a sudden. He dimly wondered if he was actually the one being bashful instead.
Tezuka kept his gaze at their united hands; he felt he could almost reach the sky. He secretly wondered, if he keeps holding on, he will finally be able to have a taste of simple delight, something he always yearned for even when he was just seven.
"Don't go." All the anticipation he depended on before was proved to be totally useless, for that was all Tezuka could managed when he gazed into those beautiful blue sky in front of him. He wasn't intended to make it sound liked an order; it just came out that way somehow. He cursed his own authoritative deep voice, though he was secretly glad that he didn't sound too pleading at the same time.
*****
Fog of silence was covering the two men, preventing all the needless sound from coming between. Not wanted to break the invisible hood of fog, Tezuka held his breath, hand kept gripping on the other man. He started to sweat despite the fact that he was currently under a roof with 20 degree Celsius. He was sure his own hand must been too damp to feel comfortable, yet he hoped Fuji wouldn't let go just because of this.
For a second Fuji looked stunned, the confused look he wore not long ago was completely ripped off. He blinked a few times, sky blue sparkling with light and shade, before closing them completely. He lowered his head, hiding his pale face with those honey silk locks. Looked very much like a child who just done something wrong and being caught by his parents.
*****
Tezuka darkly wondered should he let go, for he thought that Fuji looked very much like him to let go. Surely he won't feel too painful if he was willing to let go just now. But when Fuji finally raised his head and locked his gaze with his own, he instantly felt grateful that he didn't let go. Glittering drops of heaven's rain were slowly descending from the bright blue sky, making two shinning paths all the way down to earth. They danced with joy, spoke of longing, and smiled with love.
"What took you so long?"
*****
Crushing his body to Fuji's into a tight hug. Tezuka savored the other man's unique scent of fragrance, which strangely resembled the green glass of Cactus Jack. He smiled slightly, so that's why he loved Cactus Jack so much in the first place.
"Syusuke." It sounded a bit strange coming from his own mouth. Though he was sure he will get used to it, if not immediately.
"Hn, Kunimitsu?"
"...Why 31?" He couldn't help asking at the moment, he had contemplated about this for quite some time already.
"Because...you are 31."
Tezuka didn't know the meaning of this. But nothing seemed to matter now, as Fuji was kissing him sweetly, while smiling into the kiss."
*END*
A/N: I wonder is there anyone know the meaning of Tezuka is 31. Not because he looks like 31, of course ^^;.
By the way, in case you're wondering. Cactus Jack does exist and it's not invented by Fuji. You may find the info (such as abv and ingredients) of this drink HERE.
**Posted to: tezukafuji