(One-shot) Conversation
Laughter echoes in the air, the kind of laughter that makes Jin’s insides twist uncomfortably. He knows that laugh, so well that he can hear clearly through the fake, hollow tone of Kazuya’s voice and the brightness of his smile, beautiful and starry yet so full of nothing. Jin may not know Kazuya well enough anymore to tell what his favorite color is, the first thing he does when he gets home, the food he eats when he’s sick. Sometimes, Jin wonders if he ever really knew, or all that he did know was just what he assumed was true.
Nevertheless, Jin knows well enough that Kazuya is not happy, that his smile isn’t genuine, and the only real emotion he has ever shown is when he’s singing.
Darkening clouds cross their path, blocking out the rays of sun and casting a large shadow over the entire city. The wind picks up with whispering sounds, touching gentle fingers of a breeze throughout their group. Jin shoots a glance at Kazuya through his heavily tinted sunglasses before muttering a “bye” and walking off.
It’s going to rain soon. That’s the lone thought running through Kazuya’s mind as he automatically nods and laughs along with Koki, his gaze absently flickering elsewhere.
When Jin begins to walk away, a gust of wind suddenly sends the rest of them reeling backward. Kazuya braces himself, tightening his hold slightly on his bags as he watches Jin’s receding back.
A droplet of rain lands on his head, causing him to turn his head towards the gray sky. As soon as he does so, another droplet lands on his lips, cold and bland-tasting as he gently licks his lips clean. He holds out his hands, letting the droplets fall onto his outstretched palms. One lands in a perfect circle on the golden ring on his pinky, a tiny miracle before another drop splatters onto it, ruining the moment as the rain trickles like blood down Kazuya’s ring.
He brushes his finger against the cool wetness before pulling his cap down further and walking off in the same direction Jin just did a few minutes ago.
It is raining. Jin peers out the window, watching the raindrops splatter in random patterns across the glass, obscuring a clear image of the outside world. Everything outside seems to be in shades in gray, dull and lifeless as the rain pounds on the roof. Sighing silently, Jin places his elbows in the narrow, blanch white windowsill, lowering his head to rest his chin in the cup of his hands.
Kazuya twiddles his thumbs absently, his gaze landing briefly on the window and rain pouring outside before he gets up, entirely clueless of what to do. He has the absurd notion of playing baseball in the rain, the dust turning to mud under his feet and his entire body drenched. Instead, he strolls out the door and down to the lobby; ignoring the look the receptionist gives him when he passes. Outside, the humidity of the rain and warm summer night closes in on him, enfolding itself around his body. The rain almost immediately soaks him through, but he could care less. With wet fingers, Kazuya combs through his hair, tying it up into a half-ponytail.
He doesn’t realize where he is headed until his feet bring him to a stop directly in front of a familiar tall building, gray and shadowed by the rain clouds overhead. On a small patch of grass outside, one that Kazuya subconsciously tells himself is directly underneath Jin’s window, he lies down onto the grass, letting the itchy feeling of the blades and the drenching rain absorb him until he feels as if he were a part of nature, that he could just lie there, unmoving, forever.
Jin blinks out of his daze, tracing with his fingertip the hypnotizing path of a droplet down the glass of his window. Rubbing his eyes, he stands up, about to pull the blinds down against the window when a figure lying down on the grass below his window catches his eye.
Upon closer inspection, Jin is startled when the realization dawns onto him that the figure is none other than Kazuya. He hesitates, his thoughts freezing for a split second before he turns around and walks out the door.
It takes a moment for Kazuya to register another presence approaching, but he doesn’t dare turn his head. He closes his eyes to calm his senses Jin lies down on the grass beside him. Kazuya can just make out the wet fringes of Jin’s bangs through his peripheral vision, and he feels his entire self tense when Jin wordlessly wraps an arm around his shoulder.
But Jin doesn’t let go, and it takes a minute for Kazuya to relax in the subtle hold. Jin tightens his arm ever so slightly, causing a smile to spread slowly across Kazuya’s features.
Seeing this, Jin smiles back, propping himself up on one arm and touching his finger softly against Kazuya’s lips and the first genuine smile he’s seen in a while. “I miss you,” he whispers below the loud pattering of the rain, his breath cascading gently onto Kazuya’s face. “And this smile.”
Kazuya blinks up at him from underneath dripping wet fringes of hair. “I’m cold,” he answers. Concern flashes through Jin’s eyes as he pushes himself up off the grass. He holds out his palm, facing upward, to test the rain.
“It’s going to let up soon,” he says, lowering his hand to offer it to Kazuya. The younger man smirks a little, his eyes glinting as he tugs sharply on Jin’s hand, making the other trip and tumble back onto the wet grass.
“Oops,” Kazuya manages in between bursts of laughter as Jin wiggles his fingers and tickles him mercilessly. “Jin,” he gasps, “Stop it!”
When the older one ignores him, grinning cheekily, Kazuya reaches over and attacks his collarbone, causing him to shriek and leap up, crossing his arms in defense. Kazuya doubles over in laughter, holding his side helplessly. Smiling widely and covered in patches of mud, Jin comes around and wraps his arms around Kazuya’s waist from behind, resting his chin on the younger man’s shoulder and entwining their fingers together.
Kazuya tilts his head up towards the sky curiously when he feels the sun on his face, along with the sprinkled leftovers of rain. Clear fractions of colored light are streaked across the sky, and Kazuya draws in an admiring breath. “Look at the rainbow, Jin. It’s beautiful.”
Jin doesn’t even spare a glance at the sky, his eyes focused on Kazuya instead. “You are,” he murmurs quietly in the other’s ear. “You are.”
"I had a pocket full of dreams, but I gave them all to you...
Don't ever change the way you are." ~The Conversation, Motion City Soundtrack