Whistle! fic: only the game
Title: only the game
Author: lifelink
Fandom: Whistle!
Rating: G
Words: 614
Dynamics: Shigeki->Tatsuya/Shou
Summary: Soccer, summer days, and the way they look at each other across the field. Shigeki watches them run.
Really, Shigeki doesn't know how the two of them can be so oblivious.
Or, rather, he does, because Tatsuya is still caught up in all his father issues (which ultimately boil down to soccer) and Shou will always be caught up in soccer (which also ultimately boils down to soccer). But, man, it's just so obvious.
See, look there, they're all playing a practice game out on the field, way in the distance and Shigeki is sitting on the bench because his arm still aches (and maybe that is all the excuse he really needs). From here he can see everything.
He can see the way Tatsuya's hair is plastered hot to his face, dripping off even though this is nothing important (because he was always concerned about the little things) and the way Shou is daring now, legs twisting dangerously even when points don't matter (because nothing is little to him).
But that's not it.
That's not what he's concerned about, because that's just them (and Shigeki doesn't like to concern himself with impossible ideas and things he will never be). It's what comes after that's the key: The way Shou stops being awkward and Tatsuya isn't able to look away. The way Shou is there, right where he needs to be, whenever Tatsuya needs to make a pass. Like they've known each other all their lives and know just what they need.
So, like this, when soccer is their whole world, he doesn't get how they haven't realized what that makes them to each other.
(But Shigeki's not immune to this either. He's seen the way Tatsuya looks at him sometimes, when he thinks he's being discreet and failing, failing, failing. The same way he used to back then and the same way he looks at Shou now. And Shigeki can ignore it, because he's gotten good at running away by now, but he can't be what Tatsuya wants, he couldn't deal with that.
[And he's already broken enough hearts to build a soccer team].
So it's better like this, them on the field, him in the shade. And he's sure he doesn't want to be anywhere else.
Really, he's sure.)
And now the game is over and Shou is grinning at Tatsuya like he won a soccer game and Tatsuya is smiling like he saved the world. Both are really just happy about the same thing, in the end.
So, when they break in different directions, Shigeki calls Shou over to his bench and explains love. (Which is really, like all good things, just a lot like soccer.)
'If ya kick that ball at him and he kicks it back,' Shige begins with all the certainty in the world, 'then, you're soccer married. 'S a real thing, Puppy.'
And in the end, he's not sure Shou believes him, because who would. But he's at least blushing, so maybe something go through because Shou's the one for action and Tatsuya is too cautious to seek out good things for himself.
He gets up then, grinning at Shou and doesn't have to look back to know that that little puppy is running with a soccer ball towards an inevitably grumpy boy. This may not accomplish anything at all for now, but at least it's a start and that's all that Shigeki can give them.
But right now he can't stay and it's the weekend so he has a train to catch, then another, then a bus to get to where he needs to be.
And maybe when he gets there he'll be able to stand on the field well himself.
It's hard to play soccer with only two people, after all.
Author: lifelink
Fandom: Whistle!
Rating: G
Words: 614
Dynamics: Shigeki->Tatsuya/Shou
Summary: Soccer, summer days, and the way they look at each other across the field. Shigeki watches them run.
Really, Shigeki doesn't know how the two of them can be so oblivious.
Or, rather, he does, because Tatsuya is still caught up in all his father issues (which ultimately boil down to soccer) and Shou will always be caught up in soccer (which also ultimately boils down to soccer). But, man, it's just so obvious.
See, look there, they're all playing a practice game out on the field, way in the distance and Shigeki is sitting on the bench because his arm still aches (and maybe that is all the excuse he really needs). From here he can see everything.
He can see the way Tatsuya's hair is plastered hot to his face, dripping off even though this is nothing important (because he was always concerned about the little things) and the way Shou is daring now, legs twisting dangerously even when points don't matter (because nothing is little to him).
But that's not it.
That's not what he's concerned about, because that's just them (and Shigeki doesn't like to concern himself with impossible ideas and things he will never be). It's what comes after that's the key: The way Shou stops being awkward and Tatsuya isn't able to look away. The way Shou is there, right where he needs to be, whenever Tatsuya needs to make a pass. Like they've known each other all their lives and know just what they need.
So, like this, when soccer is their whole world, he doesn't get how they haven't realized what that makes them to each other.
(But Shigeki's not immune to this either. He's seen the way Tatsuya looks at him sometimes, when he thinks he's being discreet and failing, failing, failing. The same way he used to back then and the same way he looks at Shou now. And Shigeki can ignore it, because he's gotten good at running away by now, but he can't be what Tatsuya wants, he couldn't deal with that.
[And he's already broken enough hearts to build a soccer team].
So it's better like this, them on the field, him in the shade. And he's sure he doesn't want to be anywhere else.
Really, he's sure.)
And now the game is over and Shou is grinning at Tatsuya like he won a soccer game and Tatsuya is smiling like he saved the world. Both are really just happy about the same thing, in the end.
So, when they break in different directions, Shigeki calls Shou over to his bench and explains love. (Which is really, like all good things, just a lot like soccer.)
'If ya kick that ball at him and he kicks it back,' Shige begins with all the certainty in the world, 'then, you're soccer married. 'S a real thing, Puppy.'
And in the end, he's not sure Shou believes him, because who would. But he's at least blushing, so maybe something go through because Shou's the one for action and Tatsuya is too cautious to seek out good things for himself.
He gets up then, grinning at Shou and doesn't have to look back to know that that little puppy is running with a soccer ball towards an inevitably grumpy boy. This may not accomplish anything at all for now, but at least it's a start and that's all that Shigeki can give them.
But right now he can't stay and it's the weekend so he has a train to catch, then another, then a bus to get to where he needs to be.
And maybe when he gets there he'll be able to stand on the field well himself.
It's hard to play soccer with only two people, after all.