Just be yourself
Title: Just be yourself
Pairing: Suezu
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Nino broke up with his boyfriend, and when he tries to get to know something new, Jun appears.
"I think that is all," Nino mumbled as he closed the last box and fell to the bed. Aiba looked down on him with a worried expression as he sat down beside him and ruffled his hair.
"Are you okay?"
"Sure, sure… It didn't work out. No big deal," Nino mumbled and turned to his side when Aiba hummed and continued to pet his hair. His fingers stroke through his strands, and the pads of his fingertips massaged his head a little bit. It was a very comforting feeling, but it managed to make the hollow in his chest just worse. He rolled up, and his fingers clenched in his shirt as he sniffled softly, the fight against his tears lost as he buried his head in the sheets.
At least the scent of his latest lover was long done. Aiba had done quick work with changing the sheets, airing out the room and putting everything in the washing machine while ensuring nothing in this room would remind Nino of his cheating ex of a boyfriend. Nino was thankful for that, he truly was. But right now, the scent of his lover would for sure be comforting, or at least he liked to tell himself so. The truth was it was doubtful. It would have felt more painful for sure, but right now, lying to himself was nice in a way.
"There, there," Aiba said and continued to play with his hair as he let Nino cry it all out. It was painful. He loved the other. Sure he had realised that their relationship had turned rather sour over the last weeks, but Nino had been sure that they would be able to rekindle. He just had to play fewer video games, try to be more outgoing and enjoy the stuff the others liked. It was just hard to be the only one who had to change. It was hard to hide some things about himself from his lover while still being happy and hopeful that he would get used to it with time. Or be brave enough to be more open again.
Nino turned back to his back after a while with a deep sigh. His eyes were itching from the bitter tears, but his heartfelt slightly lighter now, at least. Aiba watched him with a sad smile and cleaned Nino's cheeks rather abruptly with the palms of his hands, bringing a faint smile to Nino's lips. He knew he had the best friend and couldn't complain, never would even. Aiba had come over without him needing to utter a word when he had called him earlier. Somehow Aiba had just known that Nino had found out about his ex cheating on him. Luckily he had not said anything wrong as well or told Nino that he had known it beforehand.
Nino knew that Aiba had not trusted his ex fully. After all, he had been jealous whenever Nino and Aiba met, which was stupid. They were childhood friends, and Nino would never be able to start a relationship with Aiba. Neither the other way around.
"Feeling better?"
"A little. I'll live," Nino murmured and sat up when Aiba jumped to his feet. He watched Aiba rummage through his wardrobe to make sure that Nino had not missed any piece of clothing of his ex, and Nino couldn't even joke about wishing that Aiba was gay. He wrinkled his nose since he never understood any jealousy from his former lovers because of Aiba. It was easy and hard for him to explain who Aiba was for him. Because he was just that. Aiba Masaki, and that somehow explained everything for him.
"Of course, you'll live," Aiba snorted. "I just wished…"
"What?" Nino asked with a frown, and Aiba shook his head as he turned around and waved his 'Niji' in front of him.
"Ready to let him out of hiding again?" he asked instead.
Nino blushed as he took the stuffed toy he had hidden in the corner of his wardrobe and hugged the penguin close to his body. It was his favourite that he had gotten from his grandfather when he had come out as gay. His parents hadn't taken it well at first, so he had run to his grandfather in tears, fearful of being met with disgust and not understanding by him as well. But the older man had just taken him in and let him cry the whole night without turning him away or saying anything meaningless in the end. He had just sat there and made sure that Nino knew he was not alone. The next day he had gone out and brought him that stuffed toy. Nino was not sure if it had been on purpose, but it was a blue penguin with a yellow bow tie around the neck and a rainbow flag sewed on his side. Nino had always liked penguins because he thought they looked funny, and somehow for him, this toy was the acceptance of his grandfather in person, even if the old man was not there anymore.
He checked the toy over and cleaned its head before placing it right beside his pillow. It was its place usually but somehow… Nino had always been slightly ashamed for having it by his bed, even now when he was almost in his 30s.
Aiba chuckled when Nino glared at him and ruffled his hair. "This is what I mean."
"What are you talking about, stupid?"
"I wished you would stop hiding who you are. It won't go well if you do that. If they can't accept you as you, it will be miserable."
"How would you know?"
"I know your grandfather would never have wanted you to hide your self," Aiba said and smiled. "And one thing I am sure of: If you date someone and feel as if you have to hide your stuffed toy that means so much to you, it's not the right person."
Nino bit his lower lip as he stared at Aiba and thought this over. He had always told himself that he would feel secure enough when their relationship grew. He always did the same. But somehow, it never came true. Maybe, just maybe, Aiba was right in this aspect.
"Come on now. Let me take you to dinner. Drinks are on me so that you can forget your sorrow."
"I have the inkling that you should not support me getting drunk on this," Nino said with a frown but allowed Aiba to pull him up and drag him along. Drinking away his heartache didn't sound too bad.
-
"What does such a cute man do here all alone?"
Nino blinked as he heard the voice close to his ear and looked up in surprise. A slight blush decorated his cheeks as he suddenly faced to face with intense brown eyes and he felt hypnotised right away. It was hard to look away, and he bit his lower lip when the other licked his lips and then lifted one of his intense eyebrows.
"Seems like I got stood up," Nino answered after a moment, swearing at himself for how weak his voice sounded to his own eyes, but the way a smirk stretched the lips of the other, it didn't matter. Maybe he was lucky for once, and he sounded huskier than out of breath and stupid. The way Aiba usually did when he flirted.
"Such a shame."
Nino shrugged a bit uncomfortable, watching how the other pulled the barstool away beside him from the bar and sat down in one movement. He crossed his legs and put his elbow on the bar, resting his chin there. His eyes not even once straying from Nino's face, who forgot how to breathe. It was seldom that people flirted with him. God, how did one react? And how was it that such a beautiful man would find him interesting enough to come over?
His eyes glanced around uncomfortably for a moment, wanting to know if there was a group of others laughing at his reaction right now, but his eyes were back on the other when the man touched his chin, forcing him to focus on him. "But lucky for me, I suppose."
"Huh?"
"Your side profile is beautiful to look at. I couldn't once take my eyes away, but this close… It's even better. Care for a drink?"
Nino stared at his glass, wanting to deny and tell him that he still had a drink, but he knew it mainly consisted of melted ice because he was too stingy to pay for another drink to mull his bad luck over. In fact, he had been close to calling the bartender around to pay and leave when the other came.
As it was, the other man didn't even wait for an answer, apparently taking his lack of denying as permission as he ordered another highball for him. Nino was glad as the intense stare was not on his face for a second and took it to breathe in deeply as he tried hard to calm down his nerves. Soon enough, the glass in front of him was replaced, and Jun took his in-between his fingers, and wow, couldn't Nino take his eyes away as he looked at the graceful, slim and long fingers. He always had a fixation on fingers, hating his since they were so small and thick that he would never feel entirely comfortable for it.
"I'm Jun."
"Nino," he croaked, clearing his throat. "I mean, people call me Nino."
The smile on the other's face was brilliant, and Nino couldn't help to copy it when Jun lifted his glass to touch the rim of Nino's glass slightly. "On my good luck to find such a cutie on a boring night like that," he said, his voice smooth, sending shivers over Nino's back as he allowed his fingers to close around the glass and nodded.
He didn't know what to say, so he just agreed a bit helplessly, suddenly not feeling as miserable about being stood up anymore. This seemed to be the way better outcome - and to be honest, it felt good to be the one of the receiving end of someone so blatantly flirting with him.
Nino sighed after the first sip of his drink, relaxing slightly with the alcohol in his veins. His eyes fell on Jun again. He looked good, confident and way out of Nino's league. Nino didn't know what the other expected from him, and his mind wandered back to what Aiba told him. He couldn't see them working out for a relationship. He would end up hiding his stuff again. But he was sure that Jun had not searched him out in a bar for a relationship but just for a quick hook-up, and even if Nino was not the type for that, Jun was interesting enough for him to go along with it.
Jun chuckled beside him, and he looked up again questioningly. "What is it?" he asked curiously.
"I wondered if you were even old enough or if I should hold back, but then seeing you down your drink, I was pretty sure."
Nino snorted and looked at him with a glint in his eyes. "I would like to let you know that I am born in the same year as the famous Famicon and Tokyo Disneyland," he said smugly, cursing his low tolerance on alcohol as he was sure that the other would look at him as if he was stupid.
But instead, Jun laughed and drank from his drink. Nino watched as his Adam's apple moved and licked his suddenly parched lips. "Then we are the same. What an honour," he said smoothly, and Nino felt hot all over as Jun downed the drink shortly after. "Wanna join me at my place?"
Nino stared at him for a second longer, his hands sweaty, and he was sure his face was red again as he finished his drink and put it down on the coaster. The sound seemed to reverberate through his fingers, and he nodded. "Yes," he agreed, his heart beating faster at the brilliant smile on the other one's face. Maybe they could meet for a coffee if he didn't mess tonight up.
-
"I can't believe these are all of your clothes," Jun snorted as he folded the last box to put it to the side where the rest of them already rested.
"Oh Jun Jun Jun. Not all people are in need to wear something else each day. We are not as materialistic as you are."
Jun looked at him with a lifted eyebrow, and Nino had the grace to look a bit embarrassed as Jun's eyes wandered over the mass of games and different consoles he had to spend most of the afternoon unpacking and put in the right places while checking them.
"Sure, whatever you say," Jun snorted.
Nino grinned as he put the last of his game figurines on the shelf above the console where he had sorted in his games and went over to Jun to peck his cheek. "At least it went fast this way," he reminded him.
"True that," Jun said as his arms closed around his hips, and Nino sighed happily as the hands closed on top of his. He felt instantly warmed all over and closed his eyes for a second to enjoy the feeling a little longer. He then squealed in surprise when he felt no floor under his feet anymore suddenly, and Jun threw him over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?!"
"I think we should christen the bedroom," Jun said, and Nino could hear the smirk in his voice as the other hit his bum and carried him over.
Nino snorted as he bounced on the bed suddenly and looked up into the smug face of the other. "It's not as if we never had sex here, my dear Jun-pon," he said. He moved in with Jun after all. They had not moved into a new apartment. Jun's rent was cheap, and the place big enough to accommodate them both, and it would have been a pain in the ass to move all of Jun's things. Because even if Nino had not that many clothes, Jun had a whole walk-in wardrobe.
"But then it was my bedroom, now it's ours," Jun said as he climbed on the bed, moving on top of him to kiss his lips.
"Horny," Nino teased.
"You're not complaining, though," Jun whispered as he bit slightly into his chin, earning a slight moan from Nino as the other put his arms around his shoulders.
"I suppose I'm not," Nino agreed, moving so that he could close his lips over Jun's mouth with a smile as the last thing he saw was Niji before Jun demanded all of his attention.
Nino's mind wandered back to the first night, and the moment all of his last nervousness flew out of the window. Niji was no longer beside his cushion. There was no space for it after all, but it now had its place on the cupboard across the bed, together with Star. Jun's teddy bear with the cute little rose and a purple scarf around its neck that Nino first was introduced to when he fell on it as Jun had thrown him onto bed similar as so many times afterwards.
There was no need to be ashamed of any part of him, Nino thought happily as Jun's elegant fingers unclothed him slowly because Jun liked him just as he was and was just as silly as Nino in too many aspects than Nino had thought possible.
(It's still Suezu-Day… I mean, it's not perfect or even logical, but I hope you enjoyed it)
Pairing: Suezu
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Nino broke up with his boyfriend, and when he tries to get to know something new, Jun appears.
"I think that is all," Nino mumbled as he closed the last box and fell to the bed. Aiba looked down on him with a worried expression as he sat down beside him and ruffled his hair.
"Are you okay?"
"Sure, sure… It didn't work out. No big deal," Nino mumbled and turned to his side when Aiba hummed and continued to pet his hair. His fingers stroke through his strands, and the pads of his fingertips massaged his head a little bit. It was a very comforting feeling, but it managed to make the hollow in his chest just worse. He rolled up, and his fingers clenched in his shirt as he sniffled softly, the fight against his tears lost as he buried his head in the sheets.
At least the scent of his latest lover was long done. Aiba had done quick work with changing the sheets, airing out the room and putting everything in the washing machine while ensuring nothing in this room would remind Nino of his cheating ex of a boyfriend. Nino was thankful for that, he truly was. But right now, the scent of his lover would for sure be comforting, or at least he liked to tell himself so. The truth was it was doubtful. It would have felt more painful for sure, but right now, lying to himself was nice in a way.
"There, there," Aiba said and continued to play with his hair as he let Nino cry it all out. It was painful. He loved the other. Sure he had realised that their relationship had turned rather sour over the last weeks, but Nino had been sure that they would be able to rekindle. He just had to play fewer video games, try to be more outgoing and enjoy the stuff the others liked. It was just hard to be the only one who had to change. It was hard to hide some things about himself from his lover while still being happy and hopeful that he would get used to it with time. Or be brave enough to be more open again.
Nino turned back to his back after a while with a deep sigh. His eyes were itching from the bitter tears, but his heartfelt slightly lighter now, at least. Aiba watched him with a sad smile and cleaned Nino's cheeks rather abruptly with the palms of his hands, bringing a faint smile to Nino's lips. He knew he had the best friend and couldn't complain, never would even. Aiba had come over without him needing to utter a word when he had called him earlier. Somehow Aiba had just known that Nino had found out about his ex cheating on him. Luckily he had not said anything wrong as well or told Nino that he had known it beforehand.
Nino knew that Aiba had not trusted his ex fully. After all, he had been jealous whenever Nino and Aiba met, which was stupid. They were childhood friends, and Nino would never be able to start a relationship with Aiba. Neither the other way around.
"Feeling better?"
"A little. I'll live," Nino murmured and sat up when Aiba jumped to his feet. He watched Aiba rummage through his wardrobe to make sure that Nino had not missed any piece of clothing of his ex, and Nino couldn't even joke about wishing that Aiba was gay. He wrinkled his nose since he never understood any jealousy from his former lovers because of Aiba. It was easy and hard for him to explain who Aiba was for him. Because he was just that. Aiba Masaki, and that somehow explained everything for him.
"Of course, you'll live," Aiba snorted. "I just wished…"
"What?" Nino asked with a frown, and Aiba shook his head as he turned around and waved his 'Niji' in front of him.
"Ready to let him out of hiding again?" he asked instead.
Nino blushed as he took the stuffed toy he had hidden in the corner of his wardrobe and hugged the penguin close to his body. It was his favourite that he had gotten from his grandfather when he had come out as gay. His parents hadn't taken it well at first, so he had run to his grandfather in tears, fearful of being met with disgust and not understanding by him as well. But the older man had just taken him in and let him cry the whole night without turning him away or saying anything meaningless in the end. He had just sat there and made sure that Nino knew he was not alone. The next day he had gone out and brought him that stuffed toy. Nino was not sure if it had been on purpose, but it was a blue penguin with a yellow bow tie around the neck and a rainbow flag sewed on his side. Nino had always liked penguins because he thought they looked funny, and somehow for him, this toy was the acceptance of his grandfather in person, even if the old man was not there anymore.
He checked the toy over and cleaned its head before placing it right beside his pillow. It was its place usually but somehow… Nino had always been slightly ashamed for having it by his bed, even now when he was almost in his 30s.
Aiba chuckled when Nino glared at him and ruffled his hair. "This is what I mean."
"What are you talking about, stupid?"
"I wished you would stop hiding who you are. It won't go well if you do that. If they can't accept you as you, it will be miserable."
"How would you know?"
"I know your grandfather would never have wanted you to hide your self," Aiba said and smiled. "And one thing I am sure of: If you date someone and feel as if you have to hide your stuffed toy that means so much to you, it's not the right person."
Nino bit his lower lip as he stared at Aiba and thought this over. He had always told himself that he would feel secure enough when their relationship grew. He always did the same. But somehow, it never came true. Maybe, just maybe, Aiba was right in this aspect.
"Come on now. Let me take you to dinner. Drinks are on me so that you can forget your sorrow."
"I have the inkling that you should not support me getting drunk on this," Nino said with a frown but allowed Aiba to pull him up and drag him along. Drinking away his heartache didn't sound too bad.
-
"What does such a cute man do here all alone?"
Nino blinked as he heard the voice close to his ear and looked up in surprise. A slight blush decorated his cheeks as he suddenly faced to face with intense brown eyes and he felt hypnotised right away. It was hard to look away, and he bit his lower lip when the other licked his lips and then lifted one of his intense eyebrows.
"Seems like I got stood up," Nino answered after a moment, swearing at himself for how weak his voice sounded to his own eyes, but the way a smirk stretched the lips of the other, it didn't matter. Maybe he was lucky for once, and he sounded huskier than out of breath and stupid. The way Aiba usually did when he flirted.
"Such a shame."
Nino shrugged a bit uncomfortable, watching how the other pulled the barstool away beside him from the bar and sat down in one movement. He crossed his legs and put his elbow on the bar, resting his chin there. His eyes not even once straying from Nino's face, who forgot how to breathe. It was seldom that people flirted with him. God, how did one react? And how was it that such a beautiful man would find him interesting enough to come over?
His eyes glanced around uncomfortably for a moment, wanting to know if there was a group of others laughing at his reaction right now, but his eyes were back on the other when the man touched his chin, forcing him to focus on him. "But lucky for me, I suppose."
"Huh?"
"Your side profile is beautiful to look at. I couldn't once take my eyes away, but this close… It's even better. Care for a drink?"
Nino stared at his glass, wanting to deny and tell him that he still had a drink, but he knew it mainly consisted of melted ice because he was too stingy to pay for another drink to mull his bad luck over. In fact, he had been close to calling the bartender around to pay and leave when the other came.
As it was, the other man didn't even wait for an answer, apparently taking his lack of denying as permission as he ordered another highball for him. Nino was glad as the intense stare was not on his face for a second and took it to breathe in deeply as he tried hard to calm down his nerves. Soon enough, the glass in front of him was replaced, and Jun took his in-between his fingers, and wow, couldn't Nino take his eyes away as he looked at the graceful, slim and long fingers. He always had a fixation on fingers, hating his since they were so small and thick that he would never feel entirely comfortable for it.
"I'm Jun."
"Nino," he croaked, clearing his throat. "I mean, people call me Nino."
The smile on the other's face was brilliant, and Nino couldn't help to copy it when Jun lifted his glass to touch the rim of Nino's glass slightly. "On my good luck to find such a cutie on a boring night like that," he said, his voice smooth, sending shivers over Nino's back as he allowed his fingers to close around the glass and nodded.
He didn't know what to say, so he just agreed a bit helplessly, suddenly not feeling as miserable about being stood up anymore. This seemed to be the way better outcome - and to be honest, it felt good to be the one of the receiving end of someone so blatantly flirting with him.
Nino sighed after the first sip of his drink, relaxing slightly with the alcohol in his veins. His eyes fell on Jun again. He looked good, confident and way out of Nino's league. Nino didn't know what the other expected from him, and his mind wandered back to what Aiba told him. He couldn't see them working out for a relationship. He would end up hiding his stuff again. But he was sure that Jun had not searched him out in a bar for a relationship but just for a quick hook-up, and even if Nino was not the type for that, Jun was interesting enough for him to go along with it.
Jun chuckled beside him, and he looked up again questioningly. "What is it?" he asked curiously.
"I wondered if you were even old enough or if I should hold back, but then seeing you down your drink, I was pretty sure."
Nino snorted and looked at him with a glint in his eyes. "I would like to let you know that I am born in the same year as the famous Famicon and Tokyo Disneyland," he said smugly, cursing his low tolerance on alcohol as he was sure that the other would look at him as if he was stupid.
But instead, Jun laughed and drank from his drink. Nino watched as his Adam's apple moved and licked his suddenly parched lips. "Then we are the same. What an honour," he said smoothly, and Nino felt hot all over as Jun downed the drink shortly after. "Wanna join me at my place?"
Nino stared at him for a second longer, his hands sweaty, and he was sure his face was red again as he finished his drink and put it down on the coaster. The sound seemed to reverberate through his fingers, and he nodded. "Yes," he agreed, his heart beating faster at the brilliant smile on the other one's face. Maybe they could meet for a coffee if he didn't mess tonight up.
-
"I can't believe these are all of your clothes," Jun snorted as he folded the last box to put it to the side where the rest of them already rested.
"Oh Jun Jun Jun. Not all people are in need to wear something else each day. We are not as materialistic as you are."
Jun looked at him with a lifted eyebrow, and Nino had the grace to look a bit embarrassed as Jun's eyes wandered over the mass of games and different consoles he had to spend most of the afternoon unpacking and put in the right places while checking them.
"Sure, whatever you say," Jun snorted.
Nino grinned as he put the last of his game figurines on the shelf above the console where he had sorted in his games and went over to Jun to peck his cheek. "At least it went fast this way," he reminded him.
"True that," Jun said as his arms closed around his hips, and Nino sighed happily as the hands closed on top of his. He felt instantly warmed all over and closed his eyes for a second to enjoy the feeling a little longer. He then squealed in surprise when he felt no floor under his feet anymore suddenly, and Jun threw him over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?!"
"I think we should christen the bedroom," Jun said, and Nino could hear the smirk in his voice as the other hit his bum and carried him over.
Nino snorted as he bounced on the bed suddenly and looked up into the smug face of the other. "It's not as if we never had sex here, my dear Jun-pon," he said. He moved in with Jun after all. They had not moved into a new apartment. Jun's rent was cheap, and the place big enough to accommodate them both, and it would have been a pain in the ass to move all of Jun's things. Because even if Nino had not that many clothes, Jun had a whole walk-in wardrobe.
"But then it was my bedroom, now it's ours," Jun said as he climbed on the bed, moving on top of him to kiss his lips.
"Horny," Nino teased.
"You're not complaining, though," Jun whispered as he bit slightly into his chin, earning a slight moan from Nino as the other put his arms around his shoulders.
"I suppose I'm not," Nino agreed, moving so that he could close his lips over Jun's mouth with a smile as the last thing he saw was Niji before Jun demanded all of his attention.
Nino's mind wandered back to the first night, and the moment all of his last nervousness flew out of the window. Niji was no longer beside his cushion. There was no space for it after all, but it now had its place on the cupboard across the bed, together with Star. Jun's teddy bear with the cute little rose and a purple scarf around its neck that Nino first was introduced to when he fell on it as Jun had thrown him onto bed similar as so many times afterwards.
There was no need to be ashamed of any part of him, Nino thought happily as Jun's elegant fingers unclothed him slowly because Jun liked him just as he was and was just as silly as Nino in too many aspects than Nino had thought possible.
(It's still Suezu-Day… I mean, it's not perfect or even logical, but I hope you enjoyed it)