Gift fic for romapi
Title: Breakin’ Up is Hard to Do
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Yamapi/Ryo, others hinted
Warnings: None
Summary: Ryo and Yamapi had broken up, or so they think.
Notes: For romapi, despite the title and subject matter this is meant to be a happy fic. I hope you enjoy it! Hugs to my beta.
What Yamapi first noticed when he woke up that morning was that he had a massive headache. He wanted nothing more than to bury his head under the pillow and not rise from the bed until very, very late in the day, but amid the incessant throbbing he somehow managed to remember that he had dance lessons today.
Groaning, he rolled over to his side and silently promised to get up in five minutes; he just needed five more minutes... until his hand bumped into something. Something warm and soft next to him. He lifted his eyelids a crack and glimpsed the peacefully sleeping face of one Nishikido Ryo.
Ryo?
Now wait a second, Yamapi thought.
He opened his eyes wider, the remaining fog of sleep lifting from his mind. It really was Ryo next to him, so close he could count the birthmarks on his face. His hair was mussed and one smooth, tanned shoulder peeked from beneath the covers.
This was not an unfamiliar sight for Yamapi. He had seen the fresh face from this proximity many times before, had run his fingers all over the bronzed skin, had planted lazy kisses on it as he progressed down, down, down, and had heard Ryo’s satisfied moans when he reached that part of him that yearned for the touch of Yamapi’s hands and mouth. But that had been a while ago.
Then Ryo began to stir and his eyelids fluttered open. He blinked a few times and when his eyes focused on Yamapi, he smiled; such a natural, unaffected smile that Yamapi couldn’t help returning it.
“Good morning,” he told Ryo.
“Morning,” Ryo answered. He stretched a little and pulled his upper body from beneath the covers, revealing more of that tempting, sun-kissed skin. Yamapi gulped.
He waited a bit before asking the nagging question. “Ryo?”
“Hm?”
“Why are you in my bed?”
Ryo’s smile vanished. He took in his surroundings as if seeing them for the first time. “Oh,” he mumbled vaguely, his eyebrows creasing as he tried to recall what had happened. “Last night I... I went drinking with the Eito guys, and then I remember taking a taxi to go home-”
He trailed off and looked away, avoiding Yamapi’s eyes. Yamapi had also gone out with a different set of friends and gotten sufficiently drunk, but he was definitely sure there had been no one in his bed when he tucked in for the night. He had slept like a log, which probably explained why he hadn’t noticed Ryo coming in. It didn’t even bother him that Ryo still had a key to his apartment, because he was busy being relieved that they had both been too wasted to have a chance to do anything in bed. Besides sleeping. Literally.
Ryo started to get up but, apparently seized by a sudden sense of propriety, he covered his lower body with one layer of the blankets before rising from the bed. “I should be getting back, um, home.” He winced at the irony in his repeated use of the word.
He bent over to pick up his clothes, and the blanket he was holding around his waist slipped a bit. In a normal situation Yamapi would’ve made a quip about the crack of Ryo’s skinny butt, but since this wasn’t a normal situation, he averted his gaze and didn’t say a thing.
Ryo was walking to the direction of the bathroom when he paused and glanced at Yamapi. “Er- Pi, would you mind if I...”
“Your towel and toothbrush are still in the bottom drawer,” replied Yamapi.
Ryo nodded curtly. “Thanks.”
As he disappeared to the bathroom, Yamapi lay his head back down on the pillow and heaved a long sigh. Things shouldn’t have been this awkward.
If only he and Ryo hadn’t broken up.
“Do that again, Ryo-kun!” Tegoshi’s high-pitched squeal filled the room.
Yamapi threw a covert glance at the couch where Ryo was sitting with Tegoshi and teaching him a song on the electric guitar. They had been at it for more than half an hour and Tegoshi oddly still couldn’t master all the chords. Yamapi had never known him to be this slow of a learner.
It had been a few days since the morning Yamapi found Ryo in his bed, and they both pointedly avoided talking about the unfortunate incident. They avoided talking to each other at all, actually.
Yamapi continued to watch as Ryo reached out and held Tegoshi’s fingers, guiding them to the right position. Lately Tegoshi seemed to be cozying up to Ryo, although Yamapi wasn’t sure why. Ryo indulged Tegoshi unsuspectingly, but to Yamapi something in Tegoshi’s manner was unusual. The guy was an expert in sticking himself to the other members like glue in the name of fan service, yet his behavior around Ryo of late appeared excessive and suggested an ulterior motive.
When Tegoshi messed up his chords again, he let out a half-laugh, half-groan and put his head on Ryo’s shoulder.
Definitely excessive, Yamapi thought.
Koyama who was sitting next to him asked, “Is there something wrong?”
Yamapi turned to him. “Huh? What?”
“You look like something’s bothering you. Did you eat enough before you got here?” Koyama raised his open bento box affably. “Want some of mine?”
Yamapi waved his hand and assured Koyama he was fine. But after a while it was starting to get tiring to hear Tegoshi say ‘Ryo-kun this’ and ‘Ryo-kun that’. Getting to his feet, Yamapi announced loudly that he had another job scheduled for the afternoon and had to leave.
As Yamapi walked out he heard Tegoshi pipe up, “Bye-bye, Yamashita-kun!” Was Yamapi just being prejudiced or did Tegoshi sound pleased that he was leaving?
Yamapi was prepared to enjoy his first free Saturday in weeks, a stack of video games, DVDs, books and numerous boxes of takeout already lined up so he wouldn’t need to leave the apartment all day, when the doorbell rang. He sank a little into his couch like people in mangas do, then dragged himself reluctantly to open the door and meet his guest: Ryo.
Yamapi said the first thing that came to mind, “What are you doing here?”
Ryo raised an eyebrow. “That’s very welcoming, Pi.”
Yamapi bit his lower lip. “Sorry, I didn’t mean-”
“Never mind, I’m just here to get something. Do you remember if I left any papers here? Music sheets?”
Yamapi couldn’t remember any, but he let Ryo in to search for himself. As Ryo rummaged in his bookshelf, Yamapi asked, “So you’re preparing new solo songs?”
“They’re just some random bits and pieces that I wrote. Tegoshi wanted to see them but I couldn’t find them at home or at the jimusho.”
If this were a manga Yamapi’s surroundings would’ve turned dark in accordance with his mood. Tegoshi wanted that, huh? Fine.
“Go look anywhere you want,” Yamapi said. “I’m gonna catch up on my movies.”
Ryo glanced up, looking puzzled at hearing Yamapi’s less-than-friendly tone. Yamapi ignored him and went back to the sofa to start watching the latest One Piece movie. Ryo could search in every nook and cranny for all he cared, but he wasn’t going to help him.
Three hours, one movie, two servings of yakisoba and several levels of Final Fantasy later, Ryo came up to Yamapi and flopped down on the couch next to him, his face resigned.
“You’ve given up?” Yamapi grinned at him. “You haven’t even looked in my dogs’ cages.”
“Shut up,” Ryo muttered.
Yamapi handed him a box of yakisoba, which Ryo silently accepted. They sat together like that for a while, Yamapi playing the game and Ryo eating next to him, occasionally offering unsolicited suggestions and laughing at him when he made a blunder. It was just like the old days.
After finishing his food, Ryo cocked his head as if listening to something. “Is it raining?” He went to the window and, pushing back the curtains, saw heavy rain pounding the glass in sheets. “Darn. Can I borrow an umbrella?”
Yamapi saved his game and turned it off. “Didn’t you bring your car?”
“No, it’s being serviced. I took the train here.”
“Well, even with an umbrella you’d still be drenched if you walk to the station.”
“I can call a cab.” Ryo closed the curtains and walked back to the sofa but didn’t sit down again. His eyes were cast downward. “Anyway, thanks for the meal.”
Yamapi rose from his seat. “Don’t,” he blurted out. “You’ll catch a cold out there. Just stay here until it stops raining.”
Ryo lifted his gaze to meet Yamapi’s, his expression a mix between hopeful and uncertain. “Really?”
“Of course. I’ve got a shitload of movies here. It’s more fun to watch together.” Yamapi smiled encouragingly. It had been quite some time since he had felt this comfortable with Ryo, and he didn’t want it to end so soon.
Ryo shrugged in what he seemed to think was a nonchalant manner, but it was clear to Yamapi that he hadn’t really wanted to leave, not wholeheartedly. He settled down on the couch as Yamapi picked another movie to watch and grabbed some beer for them both.
They traded random comments throughout the movie but mostly watched in silence. Occasionally Yamapi stole quick glances at Ryo, admiring his side profile, his sharp cheekbones, the way his Adam’s apple moved up and down when he took a swig of his beer. Before Yamapi knew it the movie credits had started to roll, but when he turned to Ryo again the latter had his head leaning back on the sofa, fast asleep.
Yamapi chuckled. He gently took the beer bottle Ryo was still holding and put it on the table. Then he just sat there and watched Ryo’s sleeping face. He could do this all day. He had done this all day many times before, actually. Back when things were different.
What exactly went wrong?
With a slight hesitation he reached out and pushed Ryo’s bangs away from his forehead. Ryo did not stir. Feeling suddenly emboldened, Yamapi leaned closer and kissed him.
He didn’t know what he expected, but it certainly wasn’t Ryo’s lips moving against his and kissing him back. He pulled away and saw Ryo opening his eyes, a quiet, teasing smile on his face as he said, “Took you long enough.”
“Hey,” Yamapi said, “you’re the one who barged in here. Came to my bed, too, let’s not forget that.”
Ryo looked like he was going to hurl a biting comeback, but instead he grabbed Yamapi’s collar and pulled him in for another kiss. When they broke apart for breath, Yamapi asked, “What happened to us, Ryo?”
Ryo shook his head. “I don’t know, man.” He threw an accusatory glance at Yamapi. “Weren’t you the one who broke up with me?”
“You were the one who broke up with me. You were drunk that night, remember?”
“Well, so were you.”
Yamapi wanted to retort, but there was no denying the truth in Ryo’s words. They both kept silent for a while, Yamapi’s fingers tracing Ryo’s collar bone, until Yamapi spoke up, “I think we’d been together for so long that I forgot how it felt to want you.”
Ryo lifted his eyes, and Yamapi noticed they were shadowed with alarm. He quickly added, “But I still do. Want you.”
It had taken him some time to realize this. The fight that led to their breakup had been a culmination of many things: boredom, taking each other for granted, and the lack of willingness to do what it took to maintain a relationship. They had both been childish. Getting to be with someone needed an effort; staying with someone needed a struggle. The time they spent apart made Yamapi realize that, for Ryo, he was willing to do that.
Ryo’s expression softened. He wrapped his arms around Yamapi and rested his head on Yamapi’s shoulder. “Me too,” he said.
Smiling, Yamapi held Ryo closer and kissed his hair. Outside, the rain continued to pour, but the two people inside were comfortable in the warmth of each other’s embrace.
Tegoshi clapped his hands together in unreserved glee. “See, I told you guys it would work! Now they’re together again and all is as it should be.”
Koyama nodded approvingly. “As expected, Yamapi got jealous when you made a move on Ryo-chan. I have to say, you really did a great job, Tegoshi!”
While Tegoshi was still beaming with pride, Massu said, “I still don’t understand why Tegoshi got to be the one to seduce one of them. I’m sure I would’ve been just as capable of doing the task.”
Shige scoffed. “If it had been you, they would’ve found out immediately. Tegoshi was the right one for this.”
“Of course!” Tegoshi said. “My skills in the art of seduction are unrivaled. Shige knows this better than anyone else, I’m sure.” He winked at Shige, who promptly turned red in the face and looked away.
Koyama rolled his eyes. “Guys, not in here, please.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” Massu asked, clueless. The others didn’t answer him, but Massu was sure he’d get to the bottom of this sooner or later.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Yamapi/Ryo, others hinted
Warnings: None
Summary: Ryo and Yamapi had broken up, or so they think.
Notes: For romapi, despite the title and subject matter this is meant to be a happy fic. I hope you enjoy it! Hugs to my beta.
What Yamapi first noticed when he woke up that morning was that he had a massive headache. He wanted nothing more than to bury his head under the pillow and not rise from the bed until very, very late in the day, but amid the incessant throbbing he somehow managed to remember that he had dance lessons today.
Groaning, he rolled over to his side and silently promised to get up in five minutes; he just needed five more minutes... until his hand bumped into something. Something warm and soft next to him. He lifted his eyelids a crack and glimpsed the peacefully sleeping face of one Nishikido Ryo.
Ryo?
Now wait a second, Yamapi thought.
He opened his eyes wider, the remaining fog of sleep lifting from his mind. It really was Ryo next to him, so close he could count the birthmarks on his face. His hair was mussed and one smooth, tanned shoulder peeked from beneath the covers.
This was not an unfamiliar sight for Yamapi. He had seen the fresh face from this proximity many times before, had run his fingers all over the bronzed skin, had planted lazy kisses on it as he progressed down, down, down, and had heard Ryo’s satisfied moans when he reached that part of him that yearned for the touch of Yamapi’s hands and mouth. But that had been a while ago.
Then Ryo began to stir and his eyelids fluttered open. He blinked a few times and when his eyes focused on Yamapi, he smiled; such a natural, unaffected smile that Yamapi couldn’t help returning it.
“Good morning,” he told Ryo.
“Morning,” Ryo answered. He stretched a little and pulled his upper body from beneath the covers, revealing more of that tempting, sun-kissed skin. Yamapi gulped.
He waited a bit before asking the nagging question. “Ryo?”
“Hm?”
“Why are you in my bed?”
Ryo’s smile vanished. He took in his surroundings as if seeing them for the first time. “Oh,” he mumbled vaguely, his eyebrows creasing as he tried to recall what had happened. “Last night I... I went drinking with the Eito guys, and then I remember taking a taxi to go home-”
He trailed off and looked away, avoiding Yamapi’s eyes. Yamapi had also gone out with a different set of friends and gotten sufficiently drunk, but he was definitely sure there had been no one in his bed when he tucked in for the night. He had slept like a log, which probably explained why he hadn’t noticed Ryo coming in. It didn’t even bother him that Ryo still had a key to his apartment, because he was busy being relieved that they had both been too wasted to have a chance to do anything in bed. Besides sleeping. Literally.
Ryo started to get up but, apparently seized by a sudden sense of propriety, he covered his lower body with one layer of the blankets before rising from the bed. “I should be getting back, um, home.” He winced at the irony in his repeated use of the word.
He bent over to pick up his clothes, and the blanket he was holding around his waist slipped a bit. In a normal situation Yamapi would’ve made a quip about the crack of Ryo’s skinny butt, but since this wasn’t a normal situation, he averted his gaze and didn’t say a thing.
Ryo was walking to the direction of the bathroom when he paused and glanced at Yamapi. “Er- Pi, would you mind if I...”
“Your towel and toothbrush are still in the bottom drawer,” replied Yamapi.
Ryo nodded curtly. “Thanks.”
As he disappeared to the bathroom, Yamapi lay his head back down on the pillow and heaved a long sigh. Things shouldn’t have been this awkward.
If only he and Ryo hadn’t broken up.
“Do that again, Ryo-kun!” Tegoshi’s high-pitched squeal filled the room.
Yamapi threw a covert glance at the couch where Ryo was sitting with Tegoshi and teaching him a song on the electric guitar. They had been at it for more than half an hour and Tegoshi oddly still couldn’t master all the chords. Yamapi had never known him to be this slow of a learner.
It had been a few days since the morning Yamapi found Ryo in his bed, and they both pointedly avoided talking about the unfortunate incident. They avoided talking to each other at all, actually.
Yamapi continued to watch as Ryo reached out and held Tegoshi’s fingers, guiding them to the right position. Lately Tegoshi seemed to be cozying up to Ryo, although Yamapi wasn’t sure why. Ryo indulged Tegoshi unsuspectingly, but to Yamapi something in Tegoshi’s manner was unusual. The guy was an expert in sticking himself to the other members like glue in the name of fan service, yet his behavior around Ryo of late appeared excessive and suggested an ulterior motive.
When Tegoshi messed up his chords again, he let out a half-laugh, half-groan and put his head on Ryo’s shoulder.
Definitely excessive, Yamapi thought.
Koyama who was sitting next to him asked, “Is there something wrong?”
Yamapi turned to him. “Huh? What?”
“You look like something’s bothering you. Did you eat enough before you got here?” Koyama raised his open bento box affably. “Want some of mine?”
Yamapi waved his hand and assured Koyama he was fine. But after a while it was starting to get tiring to hear Tegoshi say ‘Ryo-kun this’ and ‘Ryo-kun that’. Getting to his feet, Yamapi announced loudly that he had another job scheduled for the afternoon and had to leave.
As Yamapi walked out he heard Tegoshi pipe up, “Bye-bye, Yamashita-kun!” Was Yamapi just being prejudiced or did Tegoshi sound pleased that he was leaving?
Yamapi was prepared to enjoy his first free Saturday in weeks, a stack of video games, DVDs, books and numerous boxes of takeout already lined up so he wouldn’t need to leave the apartment all day, when the doorbell rang. He sank a little into his couch like people in mangas do, then dragged himself reluctantly to open the door and meet his guest: Ryo.
Yamapi said the first thing that came to mind, “What are you doing here?”
Ryo raised an eyebrow. “That’s very welcoming, Pi.”
Yamapi bit his lower lip. “Sorry, I didn’t mean-”
“Never mind, I’m just here to get something. Do you remember if I left any papers here? Music sheets?”
Yamapi couldn’t remember any, but he let Ryo in to search for himself. As Ryo rummaged in his bookshelf, Yamapi asked, “So you’re preparing new solo songs?”
“They’re just some random bits and pieces that I wrote. Tegoshi wanted to see them but I couldn’t find them at home or at the jimusho.”
If this were a manga Yamapi’s surroundings would’ve turned dark in accordance with his mood. Tegoshi wanted that, huh? Fine.
“Go look anywhere you want,” Yamapi said. “I’m gonna catch up on my movies.”
Ryo glanced up, looking puzzled at hearing Yamapi’s less-than-friendly tone. Yamapi ignored him and went back to the sofa to start watching the latest One Piece movie. Ryo could search in every nook and cranny for all he cared, but he wasn’t going to help him.
Three hours, one movie, two servings of yakisoba and several levels of Final Fantasy later, Ryo came up to Yamapi and flopped down on the couch next to him, his face resigned.
“You’ve given up?” Yamapi grinned at him. “You haven’t even looked in my dogs’ cages.”
“Shut up,” Ryo muttered.
Yamapi handed him a box of yakisoba, which Ryo silently accepted. They sat together like that for a while, Yamapi playing the game and Ryo eating next to him, occasionally offering unsolicited suggestions and laughing at him when he made a blunder. It was just like the old days.
After finishing his food, Ryo cocked his head as if listening to something. “Is it raining?” He went to the window and, pushing back the curtains, saw heavy rain pounding the glass in sheets. “Darn. Can I borrow an umbrella?”
Yamapi saved his game and turned it off. “Didn’t you bring your car?”
“No, it’s being serviced. I took the train here.”
“Well, even with an umbrella you’d still be drenched if you walk to the station.”
“I can call a cab.” Ryo closed the curtains and walked back to the sofa but didn’t sit down again. His eyes were cast downward. “Anyway, thanks for the meal.”
Yamapi rose from his seat. “Don’t,” he blurted out. “You’ll catch a cold out there. Just stay here until it stops raining.”
Ryo lifted his gaze to meet Yamapi’s, his expression a mix between hopeful and uncertain. “Really?”
“Of course. I’ve got a shitload of movies here. It’s more fun to watch together.” Yamapi smiled encouragingly. It had been quite some time since he had felt this comfortable with Ryo, and he didn’t want it to end so soon.
Ryo shrugged in what he seemed to think was a nonchalant manner, but it was clear to Yamapi that he hadn’t really wanted to leave, not wholeheartedly. He settled down on the couch as Yamapi picked another movie to watch and grabbed some beer for them both.
They traded random comments throughout the movie but mostly watched in silence. Occasionally Yamapi stole quick glances at Ryo, admiring his side profile, his sharp cheekbones, the way his Adam’s apple moved up and down when he took a swig of his beer. Before Yamapi knew it the movie credits had started to roll, but when he turned to Ryo again the latter had his head leaning back on the sofa, fast asleep.
Yamapi chuckled. He gently took the beer bottle Ryo was still holding and put it on the table. Then he just sat there and watched Ryo’s sleeping face. He could do this all day. He had done this all day many times before, actually. Back when things were different.
What exactly went wrong?
With a slight hesitation he reached out and pushed Ryo’s bangs away from his forehead. Ryo did not stir. Feeling suddenly emboldened, Yamapi leaned closer and kissed him.
He didn’t know what he expected, but it certainly wasn’t Ryo’s lips moving against his and kissing him back. He pulled away and saw Ryo opening his eyes, a quiet, teasing smile on his face as he said, “Took you long enough.”
“Hey,” Yamapi said, “you’re the one who barged in here. Came to my bed, too, let’s not forget that.”
Ryo looked like he was going to hurl a biting comeback, but instead he grabbed Yamapi’s collar and pulled him in for another kiss. When they broke apart for breath, Yamapi asked, “What happened to us, Ryo?”
Ryo shook his head. “I don’t know, man.” He threw an accusatory glance at Yamapi. “Weren’t you the one who broke up with me?”
“You were the one who broke up with me. You were drunk that night, remember?”
“Well, so were you.”
Yamapi wanted to retort, but there was no denying the truth in Ryo’s words. They both kept silent for a while, Yamapi’s fingers tracing Ryo’s collar bone, until Yamapi spoke up, “I think we’d been together for so long that I forgot how it felt to want you.”
Ryo lifted his eyes, and Yamapi noticed they were shadowed with alarm. He quickly added, “But I still do. Want you.”
It had taken him some time to realize this. The fight that led to their breakup had been a culmination of many things: boredom, taking each other for granted, and the lack of willingness to do what it took to maintain a relationship. They had both been childish. Getting to be with someone needed an effort; staying with someone needed a struggle. The time they spent apart made Yamapi realize that, for Ryo, he was willing to do that.
Ryo’s expression softened. He wrapped his arms around Yamapi and rested his head on Yamapi’s shoulder. “Me too,” he said.
Smiling, Yamapi held Ryo closer and kissed his hair. Outside, the rain continued to pour, but the two people inside were comfortable in the warmth of each other’s embrace.
Tegoshi clapped his hands together in unreserved glee. “See, I told you guys it would work! Now they’re together again and all is as it should be.”
Koyama nodded approvingly. “As expected, Yamapi got jealous when you made a move on Ryo-chan. I have to say, you really did a great job, Tegoshi!”
While Tegoshi was still beaming with pride, Massu said, “I still don’t understand why Tegoshi got to be the one to seduce one of them. I’m sure I would’ve been just as capable of doing the task.”
Shige scoffed. “If it had been you, they would’ve found out immediately. Tegoshi was the right one for this.”
“Of course!” Tegoshi said. “My skills in the art of seduction are unrivaled. Shige knows this better than anyone else, I’m sure.” He winked at Shige, who promptly turned red in the face and looked away.
Koyama rolled his eyes. “Guys, not in here, please.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” Massu asked, clueless. The others didn’t answer him, but Massu was sure he’d get to the bottom of this sooner or later.