Fiercely Fiercely
Title: Fiercely Fiercely
Author: Phantom_Kaito
Rating: G/K
Disclaimer: No own, no sue
Warnings: Um, I'm experimenting in first-person present tense. That should be scary enough to warrant a warning
Notes: Takes place in the same universe as Gently Gently which means you should read that first. Also Gently Gently is solely the fault of Ytak and Yutaya.
“Come in, come in.” I invite. “Don't worry, I have no intention of giving you a big brother speech.”
You visibly calm down. It's not just because our co-workers have been cornering you for three days, ever since word got out. Naturally those situations made you uncomfortable, you hate confrontation, even if you're capable of handling it.
Their opinions don't really matter that much to you. While they covet the same person we do, they're only looking at her face, or worse, other parts of her body. Of the numerous people that have courted her, only you or I cared about her for her. Others saw a beautiful woman, but we saw something so much more. We respect each other in this, which is why whatever I'm going to say to you now means more than what everyone else says put together. As it would be if our situations were reversed.
I reach over and pulled a picture to where you would see it. “I idolized my father when I was younger; I thought nothing he said could ever be wrong. When I was a small boy he told me the only way to get anywhere in this world was to be strong and take what I wanted. I'm sorry to say that it probably won't surprise you at all to know I was a bully.”
You stutter and protest, but I know all too well that I've kept some... behavior patterns... I'd rather not admit to.
“Fortunately for me, I got a wake up call in elementary school. There was this girl I liked, but I'm sure you remember what it like at that age. To avoid teasing, I teased her instead. I never thought she or her friends ( all of whom were weak by my father's definition) could do anything about it. You can imagine my surprise when the person I viewed as the weakest kid in school took me down easily.”
You smile in good humor, but it's strained. Perhaps because of my former bully status and the attitudes I took back then, but I have a feeling that wasn't it.
“That day I learned that everyone has a strength in them, just different kinds. It also taught me that the kind of strength I had been looking for wouldn't make me any friends. I guess I saw something in that boy I wanted to be, a protector.”
I shake my head. “Here I go mentally wandering. You're probably wondering where I'm going with all this. I've been reviewing my behavior and I realized, I haven't changed as much as I thought. There's still too much of the bully in my behavior. I try to control people and make them see things my way. I pull rank and flash my promotions around, making sure everyone knows it. In short, I can still be a pretty big jerk.” I'm not used to being this frank with myself, much less others. And especially not with my rival.
You seem pretty nervous about the way this conversation is going. You're not used to seeing anything from me but supreme self-confidence. The idea of me being humble is scaring you, which I'm sorry to say pleases me. As long as I've known you I've always seemed the superior to outsiders, and maybe even to you. But you scare me. You see things I don't, understand things I don't. You tend to be a better person than I am.
Really it's no wonder she chose you.
“I guess what I'm saying is, I think Sato made the right choice, and I plan on supporting that.”
You blush slightly. “It's just a date,” you explain.
“A date that many men having been trying to get since before you knew her. Sato was waiting for someone and I'm glad she found that person. Take care of her, Takagi.”
You laugh quietly. “Somehow I think she'll be the one taking care of me,” you admit. “Thanks Shiratori.”
I smile in return. “Don't mention it. Just...be gentle with her.”
You smirk. It's just a small twist to your lips, barely noticeable, but I don't think I've ever seen you smirk before. “Gentle I can do. I mean, can you really see me being fierce.”
“I already have.” I say softly. “When you broke my ribs.”
The color drains from your face as finally, finally, you recognize me. As the story I told earlier takes on a whole new light as suddenly you find yourself cast in the role of the friend protecting the girl. You look so scared. I wonder if it's anything like the panic reaction I had the first time I saw you. I recognized you immediately, you know. After all how could I forget the person who left two perfect handprints on my ribs.
I also did a little digging and discovered some very interesting reports regarding a gang case early in your career. Completely ludicrous, except of course, to someone who already knew you weren't normal.
Still, Fireballs?
And yet, I can't bring myself to even be scared of you, much less hate you. You're kind, humble and protective, the quintessential hero. You're what I wanted to be since I woke up in the hospital and realized the bully's path wasn't for me.
You leave the room visibly shaking, but I feel no remorse. I needed to remind you that you can't hide what you are forever. If you ever want it to work you have to tell her the truth.
My fierce heart was my undoing.
I can only hope your gentle heart won't be yours.
~~~~
And here I was thinking that was a oneshot universe. Sadly in the middle of mowing the lawn I wondered how it would effect the universe if Shiratori was the bully Takagi accidently beat up in primary school.
I think Sato's going to be nosing in on one too.
Author: Phantom_Kaito
Rating: G/K
Disclaimer: No own, no sue
Warnings: Um, I'm experimenting in first-person present tense. That should be scary enough to warrant a warning
Notes: Takes place in the same universe as Gently Gently which means you should read that first. Also Gently Gently is solely the fault of Ytak and Yutaya.
“Come in, come in.” I invite. “Don't worry, I have no intention of giving you a big brother speech.”
You visibly calm down. It's not just because our co-workers have been cornering you for three days, ever since word got out. Naturally those situations made you uncomfortable, you hate confrontation, even if you're capable of handling it.
Their opinions don't really matter that much to you. While they covet the same person we do, they're only looking at her face, or worse, other parts of her body. Of the numerous people that have courted her, only you or I cared about her for her. Others saw a beautiful woman, but we saw something so much more. We respect each other in this, which is why whatever I'm going to say to you now means more than what everyone else says put together. As it would be if our situations were reversed.
I reach over and pulled a picture to where you would see it. “I idolized my father when I was younger; I thought nothing he said could ever be wrong. When I was a small boy he told me the only way to get anywhere in this world was to be strong and take what I wanted. I'm sorry to say that it probably won't surprise you at all to know I was a bully.”
You stutter and protest, but I know all too well that I've kept some... behavior patterns... I'd rather not admit to.
“Fortunately for me, I got a wake up call in elementary school. There was this girl I liked, but I'm sure you remember what it like at that age. To avoid teasing, I teased her instead. I never thought she or her friends ( all of whom were weak by my father's definition) could do anything about it. You can imagine my surprise when the person I viewed as the weakest kid in school took me down easily.”
You smile in good humor, but it's strained. Perhaps because of my former bully status and the attitudes I took back then, but I have a feeling that wasn't it.
“That day I learned that everyone has a strength in them, just different kinds. It also taught me that the kind of strength I had been looking for wouldn't make me any friends. I guess I saw something in that boy I wanted to be, a protector.”
I shake my head. “Here I go mentally wandering. You're probably wondering where I'm going with all this. I've been reviewing my behavior and I realized, I haven't changed as much as I thought. There's still too much of the bully in my behavior. I try to control people and make them see things my way. I pull rank and flash my promotions around, making sure everyone knows it. In short, I can still be a pretty big jerk.” I'm not used to being this frank with myself, much less others. And especially not with my rival.
You seem pretty nervous about the way this conversation is going. You're not used to seeing anything from me but supreme self-confidence. The idea of me being humble is scaring you, which I'm sorry to say pleases me. As long as I've known you I've always seemed the superior to outsiders, and maybe even to you. But you scare me. You see things I don't, understand things I don't. You tend to be a better person than I am.
Really it's no wonder she chose you.
“I guess what I'm saying is, I think Sato made the right choice, and I plan on supporting that.”
You blush slightly. “It's just a date,” you explain.
“A date that many men having been trying to get since before you knew her. Sato was waiting for someone and I'm glad she found that person. Take care of her, Takagi.”
You laugh quietly. “Somehow I think she'll be the one taking care of me,” you admit. “Thanks Shiratori.”
I smile in return. “Don't mention it. Just...be gentle with her.”
You smirk. It's just a small twist to your lips, barely noticeable, but I don't think I've ever seen you smirk before. “Gentle I can do. I mean, can you really see me being fierce.”
“I already have.” I say softly. “When you broke my ribs.”
The color drains from your face as finally, finally, you recognize me. As the story I told earlier takes on a whole new light as suddenly you find yourself cast in the role of the friend protecting the girl. You look so scared. I wonder if it's anything like the panic reaction I had the first time I saw you. I recognized you immediately, you know. After all how could I forget the person who left two perfect handprints on my ribs.
I also did a little digging and discovered some very interesting reports regarding a gang case early in your career. Completely ludicrous, except of course, to someone who already knew you weren't normal.
Still, Fireballs?
And yet, I can't bring myself to even be scared of you, much less hate you. You're kind, humble and protective, the quintessential hero. You're what I wanted to be since I woke up in the hospital and realized the bully's path wasn't for me.
You leave the room visibly shaking, but I feel no remorse. I needed to remind you that you can't hide what you are forever. If you ever want it to work you have to tell her the truth.
My fierce heart was my undoing.
I can only hope your gentle heart won't be yours.
~~~~
And here I was thinking that was a oneshot universe. Sadly in the middle of mowing the lawn I wondered how it would effect the universe if Shiratori was the bully Takagi accidently beat up in primary school.
I think Sato's going to be nosing in on one too.