log
Rating: PG
Dated: Last week?
Summary: Saeki, Ohtori and Coyote at the park.
Ohtori fidgeted slightly and eyed the clock. Yuuta was still in classes, and when he was alone he was ill at ease and more than a bit twitchy. What if it happened again? Right about now he would even be happy to see the caretaker back, or one of those troublesome nurses. But he was alone until Saeki came for him. Coyote was on his leash and ready to go to the park, tugging at the strap and whining as Ohtori reassured him they would be going soon. He hoped.
The Brit had to wonder when he became such a worrisome boy, and when he also became so desperate for other people to be around. He'd survived the surgery, so odds were a million to one that something bad could happen. He groaned, knowing his luck.
Bloody traffic! Apparently every single person in Dublin felt the need to be on the road when he had a date to keep with Ohtori, making him pull into the driveway minutes after the appointed time. His music was turned down, car turned off, and key removed and pocketed as he hopped out of his Crossfire and nearly ran up the path to the front door. A quick knock came seconds later as he cracked the door open to peek in, hoping Ohtori wasn't mad at his being late or fell asleep while waiting. "Choutarou? Sorry I'm late, luv. Traffic is not the most pleasant thing to be a part of today."
Blinking up at the Australian, he smiled slightly and slowly rose from his kneeling position in front of Coyote. He didn't even try to hide the slightly relieved look, it was pointless around Saeki. "It's okay, it took me a while to get Coyote to hold still long enough to leash him to go...thanks for taking me to the park." He'd been cooped up so long he was worried his legs might grow roots. "But we're ready whenever you are. I even made brownies." He wandered to the table and scooped up the decorative tin with a smile.
Ohtori definitely had a way of winning him over with baked goods even to the point of distracting him away from asking about what had the Brit worrying enough that Saeki saw a flash of relief shine in brown eyes. "Perfect. I have two cups of hot chocolate waiting in the car for us." Brownies, cocoa, and time with Choutarou. That was sounding like a nice afternoon to him.
Nice enough that it had the Aussie known for taking care of his items and acting a bit pretentious to offer driving them to a nearby park, thus having a dog in his precious car as he held the front door open for Ohtori and pup to pass by. "As long as Coyote promises not to scratch the leather, I thought we'd drive over to the park I passed on the way here."
"Sounds lovely." He smiled and lead Coyote out, following saeki to the car. "He'll sit in my lap, so no worries." Sitting in the car and settling in, he smiled brightly at Saeki. "Thanks again." Patting his lap and waiting as the husky jumped into his lap, settling in quickly and laying down. "Leather safe."
He waited for Saeki to get in too. This would be great, some time out and he could relax about being alone for a while. "So there's a park near here?"
"A few minutes down the road with a couple twists and turns after that." He grinned in his vagueness as he snuck a peek at the leather in question and decided the dog could still stay in his good book for the time being before reversing the car and heading on down the road. "Won't be too long for either of you to sit around, so no worries there. I'll get us to the park soon and we can get out and just meander around until we're chilled or tired. Deal?" He had figured Ohtori was going crazy with being on light duty in everything he normally did in his daily routine and would want to get out of the house and even his own backyard for the craved fresh air he knew he started to want after lying in Kajimoto's bed all that time while he was suffering from what had to be a mutated and mild form of SARS.
Smiling back, he held his dog in place. Waiting out the ride eagerly. He wanted to just get away from his house for a little while, before he went completely mad. "Sounds like the perfect deal...I just need to get some exercise." Being forced to lay around all day and only go up and down stairs by himself only once a day, and no heavy lifting. It was hell. He patted his husky absently, ignoring the drool on his wrist.
Several minutes later--though it probably should have taken longer if Saeki didn't like to drive fast and his car wasn't made for speed--they pulled into the dirt parking lot along one side of the sprawling green park that was starting to show signs of autumn with leaves changing. With the key popped out of the ignition, Saeki gave a glance at his companions and nearly cringed when he saw Coyote slobbering all over Ohtori and hoped his interior was fairing slightly better. "You get yourself and the furry one out, and I'll grab the cocoa." Which he did a moment later with the cups stacked on top of each other in one hand while the other shut the door and waited for Ohtori to close his so he could lock up behind them. "We can walk until we find a bench to rest at and enjoy our treats if you like." He really didn't have any plans outside what had already been accomplished in getting the Brit and the pup and bringing them to the park. Anything else after that was just go with the flow.
The moment the car stopped, he smiled again and opened the door. He whistled and tapped his puppy's back gently. "Out boy." The puppy hopped out and sat, waiting beside the car while Ohtori got out and straightened, stretching his back carefully, watching his healing chest, he grinned over the car at Saeki and looked around the park. "That sounds good." He petted Coyote and started to look for someplace nearby with a bench. The cocoa and brownies tempting him, along with the knowledge that he had a tug rope in his pants pocket.
"Is he trained enough to let him run free a bit?" Saeki questioned a couple minutes later when they had made their way to a bench, parking himself down to work at opening each drink he had been carrying. "I know I'm risking a glare or possibly a hit to the arm, but I don't want you pushing yourself now that you've escaped the prison your home is surely feeling like." In high school, when Ohtori was in the hospital and finally released, he remembered the stubborn Brit wanting to swim again and trying to please everyone by doing everything he normally could, but this time, even if it was just walking around with a growing and strong puppy on a leash, Saeki didn't want his friend to injure himself by enjoying too much of a good thing. "But right now, there are brownies calling out to me and I'd for you to sit and enjoy with me." He sent his carefree and charming smile Ohtori's way to soften the worry he had just given.
"He is..." Ohtori smiled and kneeled and unhooked the collar from the leash and shooed the pup off. "Go on," he sat down across from Saeki and looked at him with a frown. "I can't move fast enough to hit you, so you'll have to settle for a glare." He was joking for the most part. "I know you're worried, to be honest I am still scared to death myself." He shifted and accepted an opened cocoa, using it to warm his hands. "He'll be okay a while, and I'd hate to hold him back..." meaning he would accept the request, but not before pulling the rope toy from his pocket and throwing it for the dog to chase.
"Not too sure I like your choice of phrasing, luv." He frowned at the mentioning of death, even if it was a common saying, but in a situation where his friend was close to death and could very well be again at any time if he didn't take care of himself wasn't something Saeki wanted to think about, especially there in the park that was supposed to be a break from the worrying and the meds and the rules everyone was putting on the Brit. Although, hadn't be just put a couple rules out there with not wanting Ohtori to push himself too much? Damn him, some things were truly difficult to escape from even for an hour or two. "You know worrying all the time isn't going to do much good either. You'll put extra effort into everything and eventually wear yourself down."
"I didn't mean it literally, you know." He reached over and prodded Saeki in the chest, grinning a bit. "You should know by now I'm not going to just let it go down without a fight." Even if this was a lot worse than it had been in high school. Saeki didn't need to know any of that. Ever. "I know...that's why they gave me these pills. When I get all worked up and stressed I take one and it helps a little." And hopefully he'll be able to get off of them very soon.
"Oi, watch the poking, mate. You've a bit of power behind that." He rubbed at where he had been prodded but gave a small smile, letting Ohtori know the message was received and understood. There was no point in the whole lot of them worrying when Ohtori knew his body and how to take care of it and even when to properly worry enough for them all, since his friend was damn near a professional worrier. "I know you're a stubborn one, but you should also know you can always give me a ring when you need someone, even if just to hear a voice on the phone while home alone." He couldn't possibly know what Ohtori was going through, but Saeki guessed that after what happened while left alone and knowing it could happen again and maybe not be as lucky with being found in time, it had to be nerve wracking and even if just his voice could lessen that fear, he'd gladly talk all night long if needed.
Smiling and nodding, "I've still got it." He smiled brightly and opened the tin of brownies for them, glancing occasionally to make sure Coyote stayed close. He didn't want his boy running off on him, he was more accustomed to the back yard and this park was new to him. "Thank you...I might have to take you up on that." He'd been nearly paralyzed with fear when Saeki had been late, so he was definitely likely to call. He just couldn't shake the odd feeling it could happen again. Yuuta was there a good deal of the time, so he was alright most of the time.
Saeki dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "You know I always have it on me. And don't you dare start dialling and then change your mind thinking I'm busy and you're bothering me. Call when you have the urge, all right?" He knew his friend well enough to know Ohtori would worry over something like that and knew he would have to drill that point home several times before it started to stick. His phone was quickly tucked back in the pocket to free his hands for brownie time, and jumping right in with a large bite to the one he plucked up, savouring the rich flood of chocolate that attacked his senses. "I hate to say it, but I think you'll always be able to win me over with your baking, luv."
"Alright alright...you win." He wasn't about to argue with Saeki when the Australian seemed to know him a little too well, still. "I'll call you if I start getting edgy and the pills don't work right off." He hoped they did though, he hated the idea of being a burden on anyone. And since the surgery, he has had been dealing with that emotion a lot. But he had to smile as Saeki enjoyed the brownie. "I'll seriously have to give Ryou some of my recipes then. Then they can't get on your case for your weight either..."
Saeki froze in mid-bite at the thought of Ryou in the kitchen. "Um, I think giving him some lessons with the recipes would be an idea as well." He laughed a little, recalling past attempts Ryou had made at cooking and baking and how an 'oh Sae~' always seemed to follow in order to get him to taste test. He had to admit that Ryou was getting better when it was more of just heating something up and even baking from scratch was improving, but his stomach could only take so much abuse in his life time. "If you can get him to bake brownies and cheesecake half as well as you do, I will spoil you absolutely rotten. Name anything and I'll get it or do it for you."
"I could do that as well, but uhm-" With Yuuta around his place and him not wanting to let go of his friend, and knowing about the problems, he shook his head. "When I'm getting a bit better and can go out, I'll take over your kitchen and give him a crash course, okay?" He grinned and raised a brow at the promise, "I'll be holding it to you."
"Why my kitchen? I have three nosy roommates and not that I don't trust your skills, but I'd be roped into taste testing everything that came out of the oven." And that was a very scary thought since he had a hard time turning his fellow Aussie down for anything. He hated lying to Ryou, especially when he knew the imp had worked hard on something made especially for him only to have Saeki finding a compliment so he didn't have to admit that taste buds were dying or Ryou may have confused measuring units or ingredients. Of course, Saeki couldn't do much better in the kitchen but knew he failed at cooking and tried to avoid doing it at all cost. He shook off the thoughts of that day spent in a kitchen as he sipped on his cocoa. "I think it best to leave you two to it, and if you succeed, I'll be expecting you to hold me to it."
"Because Yuuta is staying with me most of the time and your boyfriend and him just...don't get on really well." He smiled faintly and looked away a moment, feeling it awkward. He picked out a brownie for himself and took a slow bite. It was a pretty new recipe that had some white chocolate chunks buried inside like a present. "So, I think we can at least get him on no-bake cheesecakes and basic brownies in no time."
Saeki nearly choked on his hot chocolate and quickly set it down, learning then and there not to drink any liquids while talking with Ohtori about friends again. "Darlin', Ryou is not my boyfriend. We may have tried that steady dating thing once or twice in the past, but it's not really for us." No, the last time they officially started dating was right before he graduated from Prince Academy and for a while it looked like it was on track to possibly working until Ryou announced he was going to travel wherever the wind took him and broke up with Saeki before going. "Ryou's not my boyfriend, and just to save any further hazards from happening, I'm still very much single." Of course that also didn't mean he was celibate and god, that was bringing back memories of the birthday celebrating he did with Bane which really didn't need to surface right then. "Ryou has his own apartment and a nice kitchen that doesn't see as much action as it deserves." He quickly pointed out to keep his mind from wandering to heart aches and beds he shouldn't have been in.
"Ah- sorry I just sort of assumed. Please forgive me..." He was blushing, that had been a dumb assumption really. It was just like high school all over again. Oh god...:Ah- I haven't been to his place in a while, now that I think of it. We'll just have to see if he's up for it."
"Don't stress over it, you aren't the first to assume that. I get that one from time to time same with the 'why aren't you two together?' but usually it's the wondering how the relationship we do have works." And people thought he was nosy. But it didn't matter, he just gave his usual answer that it worked for them and it didn't matter whether others understood it or not. "But, he's always up to learning new things as long as it's not like school or an order from his mum, so if you wanted to get out of the house and bake with a friend, I think he'll be up for it."
"Alright..." Not that Ohtori was the sort to stress, oh no...of course not. He smiled and took another slow sip of his cocoa, contemplating relationships, brownie recipes, and the cardboard ring that surrounds hot drink cups. Eventually he looked up and smiled brightly, "I'll give him a call pretty soon so he can start learning some treats and things like that." Besides, if anything ever did happen to Ohtori he would want Saeki to still get his cheesecake fix.
Saeki beamed at Ohtori but not for agreeing to not stress over it since he figured the Brit would anyway, but for agreeing to teach Ryou how to bake. Although, it wasn't just that reason since Ryou had improved somewhat over the years, but just to see Ohtori getting out and socializing instead of staying indoors all day and being alone with his thoughts and fears. "I think you'll both have a lot of fun with that." He knew he could potentially if he got to sample all the batches that turned out well enough to share.
"Yeah- but you can't blame me if you get pudgy around the edges, okay?" Though Saeki probably could somehow pull it off, making Ohtori smiled inward at the idea. It might be a bad idea, but he wanted to get out a little bit and start getting a fairly normal life back together- and where was Coyote? Turning quickly, he blinked at the barking dog and frowned. He'd treed another squirrel. "Coyote. Heel." He waited for the pup to return to his side with a sigh, "kids these days..."
"Some might say I could stand to gain a few more pounds." Saeki didn't think so, well, perhaps a couple more to get back to the weight he was at before the summer, but that didn't mean his friends felt the same way. He was just skinny damn it! He was a picky eater but still enjoyed chocolate and cakes and just worked out a lot to balance it all out and wasn't like he was starving himself. "And I'll be sure to send them your way with their praise or complaints for making me pudgy." He stuck his tongue out at Ohtori before reaching for another brownie.
He followed Ohtori's gaze to the dog at the tree and was impressed with how well trained the puppy already was to return so easily. "You two seem to have a good relationship though. He can be a little trouble maker but comes right back to you when you call." It was nice seeing Ohtori happy which made Saeki glad he suggested taking the trip to the park.
"Oh joy- a killer army of enraged girls from campus." There was no denying Saeki was a victim of many a longing gaze, and most likely knew it. He grinned a bit, "I'll have to teach him to attack more than chickens and squirrels if you plan on doing that." He leaned over and petted the pup, pulling a treat out of his jacket pocket for him.
"Well- he was really young when we were in the states, so I had to be a little firmer than I like to train him for his safety. And he knows he's safe with me..." A slight quirk lit his smile up, "and he also knows I keep his treats in my pocket and he has to hurry to get one."
Saeki laughed--something Ohtori was getting good at making him do--at Coyote waiting for his cookie and the mental picture of the Brit trying to beat everyone off with his spatula. "I'll send the rabid enraged ones to an enemy then, luv." He remembered his first year of high school that saw him having a small group of girls attending his swim and tennis matches and swooning over him in the halls and all but physically attack any person who received his attention, especially a date. While he didn't know if he had admirers like that now at university, he wouldn't risk having Ohtori deal with that either.
He took another swig of his cocoa to wash down the brownie he nearly inhaled and eyed his friend. "Whenever you get tired or chilled we can head back you know."
"I can deal with the insane ones, but I don't want anything rabid near Coyote." He scratched his soft ears and released him to go play again, smiling fondly after the dog. He'd remembered the fan girls, luckily for him, his were of a generally quieter and more solitary nature. He still blamed the swimsuits- or lack thereof.
Leaning back and inhaling the cooling air, he shook his head. "I'm fine, I'm enjoying the fresh air and some sunlight."
Saeki nodded and eyed the container of brownies, wondering if he should really go for a third. "All right. Just wanted to let you know you won't be killing my fun or spoiling the day if you want to head back." He was glad to get Ohtori out of the house and even if it was only for ten minutes, it still would have been better than the Brit sitting around all day indoors. "We can also walk around if you want to move a little or keep an eye on the wandering one there."
"Alright. I'll keep that in mind...and just go ahead and have another it won't kill you." He saw that look, Coyote had the same face when they saw Yuuta's chickens, a longing to attack but the understanding it wasn't the best plan to act on those longings. "And a short walk should be fine, I'm sure he'll jut tag after us."
A small grin spread over his lips when he had been caught pining over the brownies. "Might not kill me, but it will definitely put me on the path of that pudginess." Even still, a slightly smaller piece was scooped up and declared his last one as he rose to his feet to prepare for a little walk around the area of the park they sat in. "I think we can head up this path for a few minutes and then turn around and come back."
"Maybe I want some visitors to come by." A smile as he called Coyote back over to his side, leaning over to tie his shoe and pet the happily wagging husky. "Lead the way whenever you are ready, then." He stood, still being careful and tightened his jacket just a bit more. A short walk would be really nice, and it might be enough to help him sleep better tonight.
He waited until everyone seemed ready and headed down the path he had spotted, walking in silence as he took in the time hanging out with a friend and the scenery around them. Leaves were just starting to change from green to red, orange, and yellow and had the Aussie making note to return in the next day or so with his camera. "I regret not bringing my camera with me. The scenery and even you and Coyote would make for some great shots of Autumn." He had his digital camera in the car but didn't want to rush back to grab it, though his cell phone had camera capabilities on it and pulled it from his pocket. "This will have to do for now." He grinned and snapped a photo of Ohtori walking beside him and then another of the puppy sniffing at some fallen leaves.
"It's a lovely park, and we couldn't have asked for a nicer day to do this..." Blushing at the flash, he covered his face a bit too slowly. "Ah- cheap shot..." He hated having his picture taken, he always seemed to have some dorky expression on, or in more than one cases was doing something embarrassing like playing tea-party with his cousins.
"I promise to only mail it to a few people." He teased, having no intentions of sending that picture to anyone, though the one of Coyote was sort of cute and would be waiting in Ohtori's email when he got home after a few buttons were punched on his phone. "But it is a nice park. I haven't actually been here before or at least on this side." He had a feeling it was a large piece of land and even if it was the same park he had been to a few weeks earlier with Bane and Keisuke, the part they were in now certainly didn't look familiar.
"Okay- but if it winds up being some internet fad like the Numa guy, I will not speak to you again..." For at least a week. He patted Coyote's head lovingly and shrugged at Saeki. "It's a really nice park. If you ever come visit me in England I'll have to take you on a tour."
"Nah, luv. That's only if I had my digital camera with me and set it to video mode." A playful grin appeared as he teased his friend a little more as he tucked the phone back into his pocket. Crouching down after that act, Saeki let Coyote get another sniff of his hand reminding him he didn't mean harm before ruffling the pup's head affectionately. "Since you already know my secret that I don't mind dogs all that much, I figure I better stop ignoring the little one before I'm shunned forever by him."
He blushed and looked down into his scarf, smiling faintly. "I'd want half of the money made from the video." He watched Saeki playing with Coyote a bit and handed him a small treat for Coyote. "I think you might want to before he gets mad- besides, he's more familiar with Yuuta and still getting fully used to everyone else." And he did not like Ohtori's temporary care taker.
"Then half the money you'll get." Saeki agreed with a nod as he took the treat to dangle before excited puppy eyes. He teased Coyote with the treat a little more, having the dog sit back on his back paws to reach up for the cookie before giving it over with some praise for being a good dog and pretty puppy and stood up to continue talking with his human companion for the afternoon. "I think that's typical in young animals and even toddlers. He'll either grow out of it or you'll have one ripper of a guard dog."
"Then you might have a deal, let me arrange an agent." He winked and swatted Saeki's arm playfully. The very idea of him in an adult vidoe was ridiculous at best, so there was no harm in joking a little bit. Even as he watched fondly as the Australian played with his companion, who pawed for his snack. He shouldn't really let him learn to beg like that, but there would be no serious harm done. "He's definitely attached to me, but still likes his siblings fine. His worst enemies are Yuuta's chickens." He chased and scattered those into the winds.
"Call me when you have everything arranged." He laughed when the light swat to his arm came, enjoying their playful banter and seeing Ohtori having a little fun to go with the fresh air. At the mentioning of chickens, Saeki wasn't about to admit to had only seen the delicious meal once when he was little and on some school field trip, but otherwise, it was only grilled, boneless, skinless chicken breasts on a plate for him. "I think I prefer my chicken cooked, but at the same time, if Coyote goes on a mission to destroy all his enemies, I may go hungry."
"I'll see to it, you can pick the set of course." He smiled and tossed Coyote's rope to chase again, giving Saeki a break from licked fingers and a waggiing dog playing double dutch with his legs. He also hated the chickens, well, the live ones anyway. Especially since it seemed the entire group of birds found it fun to chase him, batting with their wings and squawking up a storm. "He just chases them around for now. It'll take him a long time to destroy the entire race."
"It's a done deal." At least, in hypothetical playing around. Saeki had no intentions of actually making a video of Ohtori, unless the Brit wanted to, and even then it wasn't about to be 'accidentally leaked' onto the internet. He watched Coyote run off after his toy, roll around when he got it and start shaking it back and forth and generally being a happy puppy out frolicking. "I guess I'll let him give my dinner some exercise then if he enjoys himself as much as he does with that toy of his."
"Great." Joke over. He smiled and sighed, watching the leaves falling and generally just enjoying being out of the hospital or his own home. He hadn't realized how much being locked away like that affected his mood. The taller of the pair watched his dog playing and laughed quietly. "I'm not sure whether he can't catch them yet, or if he knows it wouldn't be a good thing to do. But I haven't seen him shake them like that yet."
"One of Bane's dogs used to go for my shoe when he was a pup and shake it around like that." Saeki silently mourned the shoes that had seen their end by little puppy teeth indents throughout or drowning in drool. "I think it's encoded into a dog's brain to shake their capture like that. Though, Coyote's not much bigger than a chicken right now." Even if he did catch up to the birds, he didn't think the meeting would end well for the furry one and could almost see a retreat in the making.
He glanced around the area they were walking in, noting the distance they had travelled already and decided it was time to turn back around, knowing Ohtori would say it was fine to go on a little more even though it would probably be pushing too much for so soon out of the hospital. "I think it's time we start walking back toward the car. I know you're feeling better but I don't think you're up for a marathon walk around the park just yet." Forget the part where Saeki didn't know the area and they'd probably end up lost in the bloody thing, ending up on the wrong side of the park and having to find their way back to his car.
Ohtori had to laugh at the idea of Saeki seeing one of his shes being gnawed, and he could almost guess which of the dogs he had met being the assailant. "I think the chicken would win. He's a gentlemen's gentleman. Bottom sniffing and scratching notwithstanding."
The Brit looked around and nodded slightly. He did want to keep going, just maybe to see where the trail ended, but it was too risky still and he knew Saeki was just looking out for him in his own ways. "You're probably right." He turned and whistled for Coyote to snatch his toy and come back.
Saeki waited for the dog to return to their side before linking his arm with Ohtori's as they started walking back. "So tell me where you would take me if I came to visit you at home? Of course, the shopping district had better be on the list." He stated with a grin though everyone that knew him already knew how much he loved shopping. But a visit to Ohtori's neck of the woods sounded like a nice trip and something to consider when his friend was feeling better. "Though I don't think I'll be getting a tour of your home while your parents are around."
"Hm- shopping of course, we have an amazing mall in London. I'll definitely take you to see Trafalgar Square, and the Tower..." He thought a while, "the Crown Jewels and the changing of the guard. Oh! A double Decker bus, of course." He grinned, "I'll make you a regular tourist first. We can even go across the Channel if you want." Yeah, he wasn't excited about having a guest, and certainly was not gesturing animatedly with his free arm. "No, but they should be going on their business trips and vacations pretty soon."
It seemed he had hit the jackpot with that topic and grinned just as brightly as Ohtori with the list of things to do kept going. "All things that sound absolutely brilliant, especially if you're my tour guide and not some stuffy old sheila that drones on and on." He wouldn't tell his friend that he had been to London a few times before in the past, but that was more when he was younger and tagging along on the rare trips his father took the whole family along with him. He didn't see too much of the city then, and anything he had would have been through a child's eyes and not necessarily seen the same way now. "Christmas break might be a bit tight thanks to my sister's wedding, but I think we can figure something out so I can at least visit for a few days." There was no way he was bursting that bubble and ruining the excitement Ohtori exuded.
"Sheila?" He shook his head and laughed, he really had developed a love for the quirky Australian's tongue in more than one way. "No, I'll play guide and-" he thought on it a bit., "it's apretty short trip over there by plane. We could even just go for a weekend and do some of it." He smiled and patted Coyote again, wondering if Yuuta would mind babysitting the cuter member of his family. "You'll have to remind me so I can send well wishes for her wedding."
"A weekend getaway sounds nice. Maybe after midterms?" That way, it wouldn't interfere with either of their studying and would give Ohtori a little extra time to heal before dragging them all over London to see as much as they could in their short time together. "The wedding is on New Year's Eve, so should be easy to keep track of for the dear groom," he grinned, knowing how terrible his friend was for remembering dates that didn't matter to him, though he had a feeling this particular date would fall into the category of not forgetting, "but I'll be sure to pass on your well wishes. From the adorable yet nervous British lad who came to visit this past summer."
Ohtori frowned thoughtfully before deciding he could make it work, he was certain his parents would be away and even if they weren't he could get by with a hotel and deal with them yelling at him for not popping in at least. "Yeah- it's a date." He thanked Saeki for agreeing to relay his message, but- "It's been longer than this past summer Saeki...I spent the last two with Aaron or mourning him." He smiled in spite of that fact, "and I wouldn't have been so nervous if your Mum hadn't jumped me out of the blue as that 'brilliant musician' from the graduation ceremony and caught me off guard."
"I recall you coming to visit for a couple days while Kura moped around my house this summer." He wasn't sure if his sister had ran into Ohtori in that time and maybe it was longer like was said, but either way, Rivalee still found his friend adorable though nervous and quiet around the family. Then again, if he wasn't used to the women he was related to, he'd probably panic when they pounced like they so often did as well. "Mum… you get used to her. She's just excitable and loves knowing and having the best of the best, and you, luv, qualified under that with your brilliant performance. Which, I'll have you know, had mum asking me later why I wasn't chosen to at least do a duet with you." He grinned, used to his mother's ways and while he used to find them annoying and her attention on him only when it was needed irritating, he knew he was luckier than some who had dragons for mothers.
"Oh yeah- I'm sorry. I completely zoned that out." He worried that maybe he could add memory loss to the list of problems, but shook his head and grinned. "She was very kind, she just surprised me is all."
"No worries, your reaction is about the same as everyone else's who meet her for the first time." Like poor An who still had to put up with the questions about when they were going to get married, ignoring the fact that her baby boy had only just turned nineteen a week earlier. When his car was in sight again, blue eyes glanced over to the pup to see how he was holding up and then back to Ohtori to see if exhaustion was kicking in with either. "Think we should return? I don't have to leave right away, but I don't want to tire you out with too much fresh air either."
He laughed, "most people stammer apologizes and trip on their own shoes when they meet her?" Well, that was a relief. He glanced at Coyote who had decided neither of them were that interesting and was heading to check out another squirrel. Ohtori was looking a bit pale, but still feeling fairly well. "We can stay longer if you want." Besides, Coyote was having a lot of fun that he didn't want to interrupt.
"More or less." Saeki smiled, knowing the tripping over his own feet was unique to Ohtori's case of meeting his mother, but the stammering and shifting from foot to foot and nearly cowering behind him were often results of the encounter. "We can find that bench again and just sit and chat some more until you're ready." He didn't have plans for the rest of the day and didn't mind spending it with Ohtori if the Brit wanted him around.
And further relief. He smiled slightly, really for such a nice woman Saeki's mother was definitely a force to be reckoned with, even talking him into playing for her at one point. "That sounds nice. I'm sorry- I'm just tired of staying in all of the time."
"And here I thought you just liked being seen in public with me." Actually, that wasn't such a bad a thought and prompted an idea to form for another small outing. "Not too sure what your diet consists of at the moment, but I could take you out for dinner later or we can bring something back to your house." Assuming Ohtori didn't have plans for later that evening and already had a dinner date.
"Well that too-" He smiled again, "it boosts my popularity with the ladies." Said the undeniably gay British lad. As long as he was careful on what he had, it should be fine. "I'd like that, actually. It'll be fun to go out." Not that he wasn't already decent in the kitchen, and Yuuta's dishes were excellent, but eating out was a different experience entirely.
"Well, you're good in the kitchen and I'm good with the ladies." He grinned, not at all ashamed of his popularity and charm or even his lack of cooking skills. "I may not be able to offer up home cooked meals but I can provide excellent company while taking you out to dine and get you the number of anyone you're checking out." His arrogance and ego were terrible things that left him exuding confidence but for the most part, it worked for him.
He almost commented another location Saeki was good in, but opted to smile doggedly instead and brush his bangs out of his face with a small smile. "I think I'll avoid getting any phone numbers for a while. I can't exactly- er...do anything for a while until everything is healed up." He was blushing once more, he'd lasted how many years celibate, and now just a couple of months felt like an eternity.
If he was any other person, Saeki felt like right then would have been the best time to say that not every relationship was about sex, but that didn't seem right coming from him since he hardly thought that himself thanks to believing sex was something that was fine between friends. "I'm sure there are safe ways even around those rules, luv." Ways his mind was already conjuring up but kept them to himself as he slid back down onto the bench they had first started the park adventure at.
"Nope. I can't get my heart rate up too high." He'd thought of a possible idea or two, but remembered he had a lot of people who would be very angry with him if he landed himself in the hospital over something as trivial as sex. "It's funny. I have almost all of the other problems the doctors said I would while recovering, but my stupid libido is just fine."
He tried. "You're a young man, they can't expect your libido to die that easily." Saeki figured it would take a coma for his own sex drive to finally calm down though while he was sick he preferred snuggling over anything else, so maybe getting sick was as extreme as things needed to be to get him to ease up on the sex for a while. Just another reason to avoid getting sick, he decided as he settled in the best he could on the wooden bench to watch Coyote play.
"I wish it would take a vacation until I was well enough to put it to some use." He was going nuts, seriously. But he also wasn't going to leave anything to chance, with his luck. "I wonder how big Coyote will get."
Saeki laughed at the speed of the subject change and went with it, knowing when to take a hint and let it drop. "Knowing the father, quite big." He continued to watch Coyote run around after a squirrel or blowing leaves, whatever caught his attention at the time before commenting again on the pup in question. "He's already getting to be a good size. Like I said, a good guard dog in the making." If nothing else, in appearance.
Watching the puppy run into a tree head on, he sighed and shook his head slowly. "Now if only we could work on him being a bit...less like his owner." He chuckled as Coyote shook his head and barked up the tree. "he'll be huge."
"I kind of like how his owner is." The part where Ohtori winds up in the hospital and worries him, however, Saeki could do without. He pulled out his phone again to check the time and stuffed it back in his pocket a moment later. "It's still early still, so we can sit here as long as you'd like and then we can do the dinner thing. Eat in or take home, your choice when the time comes."
"Thanks." He leaned on Saeki in a half hug and relaxed a moment. He was glad people still liked him, he'd been an awful lot of trouble lately, and his mood swings were worse than normal. It was good to know he had such great friends. "Do you think we could eat out? I haven't had a chance to do that in a while, and my place is sort of a mess right now."
"I think we can do that, though we may have to swing by your house to drop Coyote off while we dine." He didn't mind, that much, the dog riding in his car but leaving him in there while they went in somewhere to eat wasn't a top ten favourite idea of the day. "For now though, enjoy your freedom. You can even have a little nap right where you are if you are so inclined."
"That won't be a problem. It's about his bed time. Want to head to my place and start out the evening?" He was just excited to be going out for a bit.
"I don't see why not. You gather the pup and we can get moving." He stood, brushing at his pants for any debris that may have tried to cling to the fabric and waited for his passengers before heading back to the car, key already in hand and finger on the unlock button.
Ignoring the smart advice his doctor gave, he scooped the dog up and carried the pup into the car, ready to get going and have a good night.
Dated: Last week?
Summary: Saeki, Ohtori and Coyote at the park.
Ohtori fidgeted slightly and eyed the clock. Yuuta was still in classes, and when he was alone he was ill at ease and more than a bit twitchy. What if it happened again? Right about now he would even be happy to see the caretaker back, or one of those troublesome nurses. But he was alone until Saeki came for him. Coyote was on his leash and ready to go to the park, tugging at the strap and whining as Ohtori reassured him they would be going soon. He hoped.
The Brit had to wonder when he became such a worrisome boy, and when he also became so desperate for other people to be around. He'd survived the surgery, so odds were a million to one that something bad could happen. He groaned, knowing his luck.
Bloody traffic! Apparently every single person in Dublin felt the need to be on the road when he had a date to keep with Ohtori, making him pull into the driveway minutes after the appointed time. His music was turned down, car turned off, and key removed and pocketed as he hopped out of his Crossfire and nearly ran up the path to the front door. A quick knock came seconds later as he cracked the door open to peek in, hoping Ohtori wasn't mad at his being late or fell asleep while waiting. "Choutarou? Sorry I'm late, luv. Traffic is not the most pleasant thing to be a part of today."
Blinking up at the Australian, he smiled slightly and slowly rose from his kneeling position in front of Coyote. He didn't even try to hide the slightly relieved look, it was pointless around Saeki. "It's okay, it took me a while to get Coyote to hold still long enough to leash him to go...thanks for taking me to the park." He'd been cooped up so long he was worried his legs might grow roots. "But we're ready whenever you are. I even made brownies." He wandered to the table and scooped up the decorative tin with a smile.
Ohtori definitely had a way of winning him over with baked goods even to the point of distracting him away from asking about what had the Brit worrying enough that Saeki saw a flash of relief shine in brown eyes. "Perfect. I have two cups of hot chocolate waiting in the car for us." Brownies, cocoa, and time with Choutarou. That was sounding like a nice afternoon to him.
Nice enough that it had the Aussie known for taking care of his items and acting a bit pretentious to offer driving them to a nearby park, thus having a dog in his precious car as he held the front door open for Ohtori and pup to pass by. "As long as Coyote promises not to scratch the leather, I thought we'd drive over to the park I passed on the way here."
"Sounds lovely." He smiled and lead Coyote out, following saeki to the car. "He'll sit in my lap, so no worries." Sitting in the car and settling in, he smiled brightly at Saeki. "Thanks again." Patting his lap and waiting as the husky jumped into his lap, settling in quickly and laying down. "Leather safe."
He waited for Saeki to get in too. This would be great, some time out and he could relax about being alone for a while. "So there's a park near here?"
"A few minutes down the road with a couple twists and turns after that." He grinned in his vagueness as he snuck a peek at the leather in question and decided the dog could still stay in his good book for the time being before reversing the car and heading on down the road. "Won't be too long for either of you to sit around, so no worries there. I'll get us to the park soon and we can get out and just meander around until we're chilled or tired. Deal?" He had figured Ohtori was going crazy with being on light duty in everything he normally did in his daily routine and would want to get out of the house and even his own backyard for the craved fresh air he knew he started to want after lying in Kajimoto's bed all that time while he was suffering from what had to be a mutated and mild form of SARS.
Smiling back, he held his dog in place. Waiting out the ride eagerly. He wanted to just get away from his house for a little while, before he went completely mad. "Sounds like the perfect deal...I just need to get some exercise." Being forced to lay around all day and only go up and down stairs by himself only once a day, and no heavy lifting. It was hell. He patted his husky absently, ignoring the drool on his wrist.
Several minutes later--though it probably should have taken longer if Saeki didn't like to drive fast and his car wasn't made for speed--they pulled into the dirt parking lot along one side of the sprawling green park that was starting to show signs of autumn with leaves changing. With the key popped out of the ignition, Saeki gave a glance at his companions and nearly cringed when he saw Coyote slobbering all over Ohtori and hoped his interior was fairing slightly better. "You get yourself and the furry one out, and I'll grab the cocoa." Which he did a moment later with the cups stacked on top of each other in one hand while the other shut the door and waited for Ohtori to close his so he could lock up behind them. "We can walk until we find a bench to rest at and enjoy our treats if you like." He really didn't have any plans outside what had already been accomplished in getting the Brit and the pup and bringing them to the park. Anything else after that was just go with the flow.
The moment the car stopped, he smiled again and opened the door. He whistled and tapped his puppy's back gently. "Out boy." The puppy hopped out and sat, waiting beside the car while Ohtori got out and straightened, stretching his back carefully, watching his healing chest, he grinned over the car at Saeki and looked around the park. "That sounds good." He petted Coyote and started to look for someplace nearby with a bench. The cocoa and brownies tempting him, along with the knowledge that he had a tug rope in his pants pocket.
"Is he trained enough to let him run free a bit?" Saeki questioned a couple minutes later when they had made their way to a bench, parking himself down to work at opening each drink he had been carrying. "I know I'm risking a glare or possibly a hit to the arm, but I don't want you pushing yourself now that you've escaped the prison your home is surely feeling like." In high school, when Ohtori was in the hospital and finally released, he remembered the stubborn Brit wanting to swim again and trying to please everyone by doing everything he normally could, but this time, even if it was just walking around with a growing and strong puppy on a leash, Saeki didn't want his friend to injure himself by enjoying too much of a good thing. "But right now, there are brownies calling out to me and I'd for you to sit and enjoy with me." He sent his carefree and charming smile Ohtori's way to soften the worry he had just given.
"He is..." Ohtori smiled and kneeled and unhooked the collar from the leash and shooed the pup off. "Go on," he sat down across from Saeki and looked at him with a frown. "I can't move fast enough to hit you, so you'll have to settle for a glare." He was joking for the most part. "I know you're worried, to be honest I am still scared to death myself." He shifted and accepted an opened cocoa, using it to warm his hands. "He'll be okay a while, and I'd hate to hold him back..." meaning he would accept the request, but not before pulling the rope toy from his pocket and throwing it for the dog to chase.
"Not too sure I like your choice of phrasing, luv." He frowned at the mentioning of death, even if it was a common saying, but in a situation where his friend was close to death and could very well be again at any time if he didn't take care of himself wasn't something Saeki wanted to think about, especially there in the park that was supposed to be a break from the worrying and the meds and the rules everyone was putting on the Brit. Although, hadn't be just put a couple rules out there with not wanting Ohtori to push himself too much? Damn him, some things were truly difficult to escape from even for an hour or two. "You know worrying all the time isn't going to do much good either. You'll put extra effort into everything and eventually wear yourself down."
"I didn't mean it literally, you know." He reached over and prodded Saeki in the chest, grinning a bit. "You should know by now I'm not going to just let it go down without a fight." Even if this was a lot worse than it had been in high school. Saeki didn't need to know any of that. Ever. "I know...that's why they gave me these pills. When I get all worked up and stressed I take one and it helps a little." And hopefully he'll be able to get off of them very soon.
"Oi, watch the poking, mate. You've a bit of power behind that." He rubbed at where he had been prodded but gave a small smile, letting Ohtori know the message was received and understood. There was no point in the whole lot of them worrying when Ohtori knew his body and how to take care of it and even when to properly worry enough for them all, since his friend was damn near a professional worrier. "I know you're a stubborn one, but you should also know you can always give me a ring when you need someone, even if just to hear a voice on the phone while home alone." He couldn't possibly know what Ohtori was going through, but Saeki guessed that after what happened while left alone and knowing it could happen again and maybe not be as lucky with being found in time, it had to be nerve wracking and even if just his voice could lessen that fear, he'd gladly talk all night long if needed.
Smiling and nodding, "I've still got it." He smiled brightly and opened the tin of brownies for them, glancing occasionally to make sure Coyote stayed close. He didn't want his boy running off on him, he was more accustomed to the back yard and this park was new to him. "Thank you...I might have to take you up on that." He'd been nearly paralyzed with fear when Saeki had been late, so he was definitely likely to call. He just couldn't shake the odd feeling it could happen again. Yuuta was there a good deal of the time, so he was alright most of the time.
Saeki dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "You know I always have it on me. And don't you dare start dialling and then change your mind thinking I'm busy and you're bothering me. Call when you have the urge, all right?" He knew his friend well enough to know Ohtori would worry over something like that and knew he would have to drill that point home several times before it started to stick. His phone was quickly tucked back in the pocket to free his hands for brownie time, and jumping right in with a large bite to the one he plucked up, savouring the rich flood of chocolate that attacked his senses. "I hate to say it, but I think you'll always be able to win me over with your baking, luv."
"Alright alright...you win." He wasn't about to argue with Saeki when the Australian seemed to know him a little too well, still. "I'll call you if I start getting edgy and the pills don't work right off." He hoped they did though, he hated the idea of being a burden on anyone. And since the surgery, he has had been dealing with that emotion a lot. But he had to smile as Saeki enjoyed the brownie. "I'll seriously have to give Ryou some of my recipes then. Then they can't get on your case for your weight either..."
Saeki froze in mid-bite at the thought of Ryou in the kitchen. "Um, I think giving him some lessons with the recipes would be an idea as well." He laughed a little, recalling past attempts Ryou had made at cooking and baking and how an 'oh Sae~' always seemed to follow in order to get him to taste test. He had to admit that Ryou was getting better when it was more of just heating something up and even baking from scratch was improving, but his stomach could only take so much abuse in his life time. "If you can get him to bake brownies and cheesecake half as well as you do, I will spoil you absolutely rotten. Name anything and I'll get it or do it for you."
"I could do that as well, but uhm-" With Yuuta around his place and him not wanting to let go of his friend, and knowing about the problems, he shook his head. "When I'm getting a bit better and can go out, I'll take over your kitchen and give him a crash course, okay?" He grinned and raised a brow at the promise, "I'll be holding it to you."
"Why my kitchen? I have three nosy roommates and not that I don't trust your skills, but I'd be roped into taste testing everything that came out of the oven." And that was a very scary thought since he had a hard time turning his fellow Aussie down for anything. He hated lying to Ryou, especially when he knew the imp had worked hard on something made especially for him only to have Saeki finding a compliment so he didn't have to admit that taste buds were dying or Ryou may have confused measuring units or ingredients. Of course, Saeki couldn't do much better in the kitchen but knew he failed at cooking and tried to avoid doing it at all cost. He shook off the thoughts of that day spent in a kitchen as he sipped on his cocoa. "I think it best to leave you two to it, and if you succeed, I'll be expecting you to hold me to it."
"Because Yuuta is staying with me most of the time and your boyfriend and him just...don't get on really well." He smiled faintly and looked away a moment, feeling it awkward. He picked out a brownie for himself and took a slow bite. It was a pretty new recipe that had some white chocolate chunks buried inside like a present. "So, I think we can at least get him on no-bake cheesecakes and basic brownies in no time."
Saeki nearly choked on his hot chocolate and quickly set it down, learning then and there not to drink any liquids while talking with Ohtori about friends again. "Darlin', Ryou is not my boyfriend. We may have tried that steady dating thing once or twice in the past, but it's not really for us." No, the last time they officially started dating was right before he graduated from Prince Academy and for a while it looked like it was on track to possibly working until Ryou announced he was going to travel wherever the wind took him and broke up with Saeki before going. "Ryou's not my boyfriend, and just to save any further hazards from happening, I'm still very much single." Of course that also didn't mean he was celibate and god, that was bringing back memories of the birthday celebrating he did with Bane which really didn't need to surface right then. "Ryou has his own apartment and a nice kitchen that doesn't see as much action as it deserves." He quickly pointed out to keep his mind from wandering to heart aches and beds he shouldn't have been in.
"Ah- sorry I just sort of assumed. Please forgive me..." He was blushing, that had been a dumb assumption really. It was just like high school all over again. Oh god...:Ah- I haven't been to his place in a while, now that I think of it. We'll just have to see if he's up for it."
"Don't stress over it, you aren't the first to assume that. I get that one from time to time same with the 'why aren't you two together?' but usually it's the wondering how the relationship we do have works." And people thought he was nosy. But it didn't matter, he just gave his usual answer that it worked for them and it didn't matter whether others understood it or not. "But, he's always up to learning new things as long as it's not like school or an order from his mum, so if you wanted to get out of the house and bake with a friend, I think he'll be up for it."
"Alright..." Not that Ohtori was the sort to stress, oh no...of course not. He smiled and took another slow sip of his cocoa, contemplating relationships, brownie recipes, and the cardboard ring that surrounds hot drink cups. Eventually he looked up and smiled brightly, "I'll give him a call pretty soon so he can start learning some treats and things like that." Besides, if anything ever did happen to Ohtori he would want Saeki to still get his cheesecake fix.
Saeki beamed at Ohtori but not for agreeing to not stress over it since he figured the Brit would anyway, but for agreeing to teach Ryou how to bake. Although, it wasn't just that reason since Ryou had improved somewhat over the years, but just to see Ohtori getting out and socializing instead of staying indoors all day and being alone with his thoughts and fears. "I think you'll both have a lot of fun with that." He knew he could potentially if he got to sample all the batches that turned out well enough to share.
"Yeah- but you can't blame me if you get pudgy around the edges, okay?" Though Saeki probably could somehow pull it off, making Ohtori smiled inward at the idea. It might be a bad idea, but he wanted to get out a little bit and start getting a fairly normal life back together- and where was Coyote? Turning quickly, he blinked at the barking dog and frowned. He'd treed another squirrel. "Coyote. Heel." He waited for the pup to return to his side with a sigh, "kids these days..."
"Some might say I could stand to gain a few more pounds." Saeki didn't think so, well, perhaps a couple more to get back to the weight he was at before the summer, but that didn't mean his friends felt the same way. He was just skinny damn it! He was a picky eater but still enjoyed chocolate and cakes and just worked out a lot to balance it all out and wasn't like he was starving himself. "And I'll be sure to send them your way with their praise or complaints for making me pudgy." He stuck his tongue out at Ohtori before reaching for another brownie.
He followed Ohtori's gaze to the dog at the tree and was impressed with how well trained the puppy already was to return so easily. "You two seem to have a good relationship though. He can be a little trouble maker but comes right back to you when you call." It was nice seeing Ohtori happy which made Saeki glad he suggested taking the trip to the park.
"Oh joy- a killer army of enraged girls from campus." There was no denying Saeki was a victim of many a longing gaze, and most likely knew it. He grinned a bit, "I'll have to teach him to attack more than chickens and squirrels if you plan on doing that." He leaned over and petted the pup, pulling a treat out of his jacket pocket for him.
"Well- he was really young when we were in the states, so I had to be a little firmer than I like to train him for his safety. And he knows he's safe with me..." A slight quirk lit his smile up, "and he also knows I keep his treats in my pocket and he has to hurry to get one."
Saeki laughed--something Ohtori was getting good at making him do--at Coyote waiting for his cookie and the mental picture of the Brit trying to beat everyone off with his spatula. "I'll send the rabid enraged ones to an enemy then, luv." He remembered his first year of high school that saw him having a small group of girls attending his swim and tennis matches and swooning over him in the halls and all but physically attack any person who received his attention, especially a date. While he didn't know if he had admirers like that now at university, he wouldn't risk having Ohtori deal with that either.
He took another swig of his cocoa to wash down the brownie he nearly inhaled and eyed his friend. "Whenever you get tired or chilled we can head back you know."
"I can deal with the insane ones, but I don't want anything rabid near Coyote." He scratched his soft ears and released him to go play again, smiling fondly after the dog. He'd remembered the fan girls, luckily for him, his were of a generally quieter and more solitary nature. He still blamed the swimsuits- or lack thereof.
Leaning back and inhaling the cooling air, he shook his head. "I'm fine, I'm enjoying the fresh air and some sunlight."
Saeki nodded and eyed the container of brownies, wondering if he should really go for a third. "All right. Just wanted to let you know you won't be killing my fun or spoiling the day if you want to head back." He was glad to get Ohtori out of the house and even if it was only for ten minutes, it still would have been better than the Brit sitting around all day indoors. "We can also walk around if you want to move a little or keep an eye on the wandering one there."
"Alright. I'll keep that in mind...and just go ahead and have another it won't kill you." He saw that look, Coyote had the same face when they saw Yuuta's chickens, a longing to attack but the understanding it wasn't the best plan to act on those longings. "And a short walk should be fine, I'm sure he'll jut tag after us."
A small grin spread over his lips when he had been caught pining over the brownies. "Might not kill me, but it will definitely put me on the path of that pudginess." Even still, a slightly smaller piece was scooped up and declared his last one as he rose to his feet to prepare for a little walk around the area of the park they sat in. "I think we can head up this path for a few minutes and then turn around and come back."
"Maybe I want some visitors to come by." A smile as he called Coyote back over to his side, leaning over to tie his shoe and pet the happily wagging husky. "Lead the way whenever you are ready, then." He stood, still being careful and tightened his jacket just a bit more. A short walk would be really nice, and it might be enough to help him sleep better tonight.
He waited until everyone seemed ready and headed down the path he had spotted, walking in silence as he took in the time hanging out with a friend and the scenery around them. Leaves were just starting to change from green to red, orange, and yellow and had the Aussie making note to return in the next day or so with his camera. "I regret not bringing my camera with me. The scenery and even you and Coyote would make for some great shots of Autumn." He had his digital camera in the car but didn't want to rush back to grab it, though his cell phone had camera capabilities on it and pulled it from his pocket. "This will have to do for now." He grinned and snapped a photo of Ohtori walking beside him and then another of the puppy sniffing at some fallen leaves.
"It's a lovely park, and we couldn't have asked for a nicer day to do this..." Blushing at the flash, he covered his face a bit too slowly. "Ah- cheap shot..." He hated having his picture taken, he always seemed to have some dorky expression on, or in more than one cases was doing something embarrassing like playing tea-party with his cousins.
"I promise to only mail it to a few people." He teased, having no intentions of sending that picture to anyone, though the one of Coyote was sort of cute and would be waiting in Ohtori's email when he got home after a few buttons were punched on his phone. "But it is a nice park. I haven't actually been here before or at least on this side." He had a feeling it was a large piece of land and even if it was the same park he had been to a few weeks earlier with Bane and Keisuke, the part they were in now certainly didn't look familiar.
"Okay- but if it winds up being some internet fad like the Numa guy, I will not speak to you again..." For at least a week. He patted Coyote's head lovingly and shrugged at Saeki. "It's a really nice park. If you ever come visit me in England I'll have to take you on a tour."
"Nah, luv. That's only if I had my digital camera with me and set it to video mode." A playful grin appeared as he teased his friend a little more as he tucked the phone back into his pocket. Crouching down after that act, Saeki let Coyote get another sniff of his hand reminding him he didn't mean harm before ruffling the pup's head affectionately. "Since you already know my secret that I don't mind dogs all that much, I figure I better stop ignoring the little one before I'm shunned forever by him."
He blushed and looked down into his scarf, smiling faintly. "I'd want half of the money made from the video." He watched Saeki playing with Coyote a bit and handed him a small treat for Coyote. "I think you might want to before he gets mad- besides, he's more familiar with Yuuta and still getting fully used to everyone else." And he did not like Ohtori's temporary care taker.
"Then half the money you'll get." Saeki agreed with a nod as he took the treat to dangle before excited puppy eyes. He teased Coyote with the treat a little more, having the dog sit back on his back paws to reach up for the cookie before giving it over with some praise for being a good dog and pretty puppy and stood up to continue talking with his human companion for the afternoon. "I think that's typical in young animals and even toddlers. He'll either grow out of it or you'll have one ripper of a guard dog."
"Then you might have a deal, let me arrange an agent." He winked and swatted Saeki's arm playfully. The very idea of him in an adult vidoe was ridiculous at best, so there was no harm in joking a little bit. Even as he watched fondly as the Australian played with his companion, who pawed for his snack. He shouldn't really let him learn to beg like that, but there would be no serious harm done. "He's definitely attached to me, but still likes his siblings fine. His worst enemies are Yuuta's chickens." He chased and scattered those into the winds.
"Call me when you have everything arranged." He laughed when the light swat to his arm came, enjoying their playful banter and seeing Ohtori having a little fun to go with the fresh air. At the mentioning of chickens, Saeki wasn't about to admit to had only seen the delicious meal once when he was little and on some school field trip, but otherwise, it was only grilled, boneless, skinless chicken breasts on a plate for him. "I think I prefer my chicken cooked, but at the same time, if Coyote goes on a mission to destroy all his enemies, I may go hungry."
"I'll see to it, you can pick the set of course." He smiled and tossed Coyote's rope to chase again, giving Saeki a break from licked fingers and a waggiing dog playing double dutch with his legs. He also hated the chickens, well, the live ones anyway. Especially since it seemed the entire group of birds found it fun to chase him, batting with their wings and squawking up a storm. "He just chases them around for now. It'll take him a long time to destroy the entire race."
"It's a done deal." At least, in hypothetical playing around. Saeki had no intentions of actually making a video of Ohtori, unless the Brit wanted to, and even then it wasn't about to be 'accidentally leaked' onto the internet. He watched Coyote run off after his toy, roll around when he got it and start shaking it back and forth and generally being a happy puppy out frolicking. "I guess I'll let him give my dinner some exercise then if he enjoys himself as much as he does with that toy of his."
"Great." Joke over. He smiled and sighed, watching the leaves falling and generally just enjoying being out of the hospital or his own home. He hadn't realized how much being locked away like that affected his mood. The taller of the pair watched his dog playing and laughed quietly. "I'm not sure whether he can't catch them yet, or if he knows it wouldn't be a good thing to do. But I haven't seen him shake them like that yet."
"One of Bane's dogs used to go for my shoe when he was a pup and shake it around like that." Saeki silently mourned the shoes that had seen their end by little puppy teeth indents throughout or drowning in drool. "I think it's encoded into a dog's brain to shake their capture like that. Though, Coyote's not much bigger than a chicken right now." Even if he did catch up to the birds, he didn't think the meeting would end well for the furry one and could almost see a retreat in the making.
He glanced around the area they were walking in, noting the distance they had travelled already and decided it was time to turn back around, knowing Ohtori would say it was fine to go on a little more even though it would probably be pushing too much for so soon out of the hospital. "I think it's time we start walking back toward the car. I know you're feeling better but I don't think you're up for a marathon walk around the park just yet." Forget the part where Saeki didn't know the area and they'd probably end up lost in the bloody thing, ending up on the wrong side of the park and having to find their way back to his car.
Ohtori had to laugh at the idea of Saeki seeing one of his shes being gnawed, and he could almost guess which of the dogs he had met being the assailant. "I think the chicken would win. He's a gentlemen's gentleman. Bottom sniffing and scratching notwithstanding."
The Brit looked around and nodded slightly. He did want to keep going, just maybe to see where the trail ended, but it was too risky still and he knew Saeki was just looking out for him in his own ways. "You're probably right." He turned and whistled for Coyote to snatch his toy and come back.
Saeki waited for the dog to return to their side before linking his arm with Ohtori's as they started walking back. "So tell me where you would take me if I came to visit you at home? Of course, the shopping district had better be on the list." He stated with a grin though everyone that knew him already knew how much he loved shopping. But a visit to Ohtori's neck of the woods sounded like a nice trip and something to consider when his friend was feeling better. "Though I don't think I'll be getting a tour of your home while your parents are around."
"Hm- shopping of course, we have an amazing mall in London. I'll definitely take you to see Trafalgar Square, and the Tower..." He thought a while, "the Crown Jewels and the changing of the guard. Oh! A double Decker bus, of course." He grinned, "I'll make you a regular tourist first. We can even go across the Channel if you want." Yeah, he wasn't excited about having a guest, and certainly was not gesturing animatedly with his free arm. "No, but they should be going on their business trips and vacations pretty soon."
It seemed he had hit the jackpot with that topic and grinned just as brightly as Ohtori with the list of things to do kept going. "All things that sound absolutely brilliant, especially if you're my tour guide and not some stuffy old sheila that drones on and on." He wouldn't tell his friend that he had been to London a few times before in the past, but that was more when he was younger and tagging along on the rare trips his father took the whole family along with him. He didn't see too much of the city then, and anything he had would have been through a child's eyes and not necessarily seen the same way now. "Christmas break might be a bit tight thanks to my sister's wedding, but I think we can figure something out so I can at least visit for a few days." There was no way he was bursting that bubble and ruining the excitement Ohtori exuded.
"Sheila?" He shook his head and laughed, he really had developed a love for the quirky Australian's tongue in more than one way. "No, I'll play guide and-" he thought on it a bit., "it's apretty short trip over there by plane. We could even just go for a weekend and do some of it." He smiled and patted Coyote again, wondering if Yuuta would mind babysitting the cuter member of his family. "You'll have to remind me so I can send well wishes for her wedding."
"A weekend getaway sounds nice. Maybe after midterms?" That way, it wouldn't interfere with either of their studying and would give Ohtori a little extra time to heal before dragging them all over London to see as much as they could in their short time together. "The wedding is on New Year's Eve, so should be easy to keep track of for the dear groom," he grinned, knowing how terrible his friend was for remembering dates that didn't matter to him, though he had a feeling this particular date would fall into the category of not forgetting, "but I'll be sure to pass on your well wishes. From the adorable yet nervous British lad who came to visit this past summer."
Ohtori frowned thoughtfully before deciding he could make it work, he was certain his parents would be away and even if they weren't he could get by with a hotel and deal with them yelling at him for not popping in at least. "Yeah- it's a date." He thanked Saeki for agreeing to relay his message, but- "It's been longer than this past summer Saeki...I spent the last two with Aaron or mourning him." He smiled in spite of that fact, "and I wouldn't have been so nervous if your Mum hadn't jumped me out of the blue as that 'brilliant musician' from the graduation ceremony and caught me off guard."
"I recall you coming to visit for a couple days while Kura moped around my house this summer." He wasn't sure if his sister had ran into Ohtori in that time and maybe it was longer like was said, but either way, Rivalee still found his friend adorable though nervous and quiet around the family. Then again, if he wasn't used to the women he was related to, he'd probably panic when they pounced like they so often did as well. "Mum… you get used to her. She's just excitable and loves knowing and having the best of the best, and you, luv, qualified under that with your brilliant performance. Which, I'll have you know, had mum asking me later why I wasn't chosen to at least do a duet with you." He grinned, used to his mother's ways and while he used to find them annoying and her attention on him only when it was needed irritating, he knew he was luckier than some who had dragons for mothers.
"Oh yeah- I'm sorry. I completely zoned that out." He worried that maybe he could add memory loss to the list of problems, but shook his head and grinned. "She was very kind, she just surprised me is all."
"No worries, your reaction is about the same as everyone else's who meet her for the first time." Like poor An who still had to put up with the questions about when they were going to get married, ignoring the fact that her baby boy had only just turned nineteen a week earlier. When his car was in sight again, blue eyes glanced over to the pup to see how he was holding up and then back to Ohtori to see if exhaustion was kicking in with either. "Think we should return? I don't have to leave right away, but I don't want to tire you out with too much fresh air either."
He laughed, "most people stammer apologizes and trip on their own shoes when they meet her?" Well, that was a relief. He glanced at Coyote who had decided neither of them were that interesting and was heading to check out another squirrel. Ohtori was looking a bit pale, but still feeling fairly well. "We can stay longer if you want." Besides, Coyote was having a lot of fun that he didn't want to interrupt.
"More or less." Saeki smiled, knowing the tripping over his own feet was unique to Ohtori's case of meeting his mother, but the stammering and shifting from foot to foot and nearly cowering behind him were often results of the encounter. "We can find that bench again and just sit and chat some more until you're ready." He didn't have plans for the rest of the day and didn't mind spending it with Ohtori if the Brit wanted him around.
And further relief. He smiled slightly, really for such a nice woman Saeki's mother was definitely a force to be reckoned with, even talking him into playing for her at one point. "That sounds nice. I'm sorry- I'm just tired of staying in all of the time."
"And here I thought you just liked being seen in public with me." Actually, that wasn't such a bad a thought and prompted an idea to form for another small outing. "Not too sure what your diet consists of at the moment, but I could take you out for dinner later or we can bring something back to your house." Assuming Ohtori didn't have plans for later that evening and already had a dinner date.
"Well that too-" He smiled again, "it boosts my popularity with the ladies." Said the undeniably gay British lad. As long as he was careful on what he had, it should be fine. "I'd like that, actually. It'll be fun to go out." Not that he wasn't already decent in the kitchen, and Yuuta's dishes were excellent, but eating out was a different experience entirely.
"Well, you're good in the kitchen and I'm good with the ladies." He grinned, not at all ashamed of his popularity and charm or even his lack of cooking skills. "I may not be able to offer up home cooked meals but I can provide excellent company while taking you out to dine and get you the number of anyone you're checking out." His arrogance and ego were terrible things that left him exuding confidence but for the most part, it worked for him.
He almost commented another location Saeki was good in, but opted to smile doggedly instead and brush his bangs out of his face with a small smile. "I think I'll avoid getting any phone numbers for a while. I can't exactly- er...do anything for a while until everything is healed up." He was blushing once more, he'd lasted how many years celibate, and now just a couple of months felt like an eternity.
If he was any other person, Saeki felt like right then would have been the best time to say that not every relationship was about sex, but that didn't seem right coming from him since he hardly thought that himself thanks to believing sex was something that was fine between friends. "I'm sure there are safe ways even around those rules, luv." Ways his mind was already conjuring up but kept them to himself as he slid back down onto the bench they had first started the park adventure at.
"Nope. I can't get my heart rate up too high." He'd thought of a possible idea or two, but remembered he had a lot of people who would be very angry with him if he landed himself in the hospital over something as trivial as sex. "It's funny. I have almost all of the other problems the doctors said I would while recovering, but my stupid libido is just fine."
He tried. "You're a young man, they can't expect your libido to die that easily." Saeki figured it would take a coma for his own sex drive to finally calm down though while he was sick he preferred snuggling over anything else, so maybe getting sick was as extreme as things needed to be to get him to ease up on the sex for a while. Just another reason to avoid getting sick, he decided as he settled in the best he could on the wooden bench to watch Coyote play.
"I wish it would take a vacation until I was well enough to put it to some use." He was going nuts, seriously. But he also wasn't going to leave anything to chance, with his luck. "I wonder how big Coyote will get."
Saeki laughed at the speed of the subject change and went with it, knowing when to take a hint and let it drop. "Knowing the father, quite big." He continued to watch Coyote run around after a squirrel or blowing leaves, whatever caught his attention at the time before commenting again on the pup in question. "He's already getting to be a good size. Like I said, a good guard dog in the making." If nothing else, in appearance.
Watching the puppy run into a tree head on, he sighed and shook his head slowly. "Now if only we could work on him being a bit...less like his owner." He chuckled as Coyote shook his head and barked up the tree. "he'll be huge."
"I kind of like how his owner is." The part where Ohtori winds up in the hospital and worries him, however, Saeki could do without. He pulled out his phone again to check the time and stuffed it back in his pocket a moment later. "It's still early still, so we can sit here as long as you'd like and then we can do the dinner thing. Eat in or take home, your choice when the time comes."
"Thanks." He leaned on Saeki in a half hug and relaxed a moment. He was glad people still liked him, he'd been an awful lot of trouble lately, and his mood swings were worse than normal. It was good to know he had such great friends. "Do you think we could eat out? I haven't had a chance to do that in a while, and my place is sort of a mess right now."
"I think we can do that, though we may have to swing by your house to drop Coyote off while we dine." He didn't mind, that much, the dog riding in his car but leaving him in there while they went in somewhere to eat wasn't a top ten favourite idea of the day. "For now though, enjoy your freedom. You can even have a little nap right where you are if you are so inclined."
"That won't be a problem. It's about his bed time. Want to head to my place and start out the evening?" He was just excited to be going out for a bit.
"I don't see why not. You gather the pup and we can get moving." He stood, brushing at his pants for any debris that may have tried to cling to the fabric and waited for his passengers before heading back to the car, key already in hand and finger on the unlock button.
Ignoring the smart advice his doctor gave, he scooped the dog up and carried the pup into the car, ready to get going and have a good night.