[Fic] Turtle Cafe
Title: Turtle Café
Author: queen_kat-tun
Pairing: Akame
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff, Romance
Disclaimer: Akame are my favorite puppets. ^-^
Summary: Turtle Café is Kamenashi Kazuya’s baby. Akanishi Jin is a walking mess. One night, when Jin found himself wandering around, he found a cozy café and one look at the pretty male behind the counter, Jin knew his life would change. Hopefully, for the better.
Author’s Note: Unbeta-ed since I wanted to surprise Kay-chan (because she was requesting fluff from me). LOL! XD Sorry for the errors and yes, this is the final part. ^-^
~*~
Carte 5
The clock read 2 AM. From where he stood, Kazuya saw Maru and Koki yawn. The customers had poured in that day and they only got to close the café thirty minutes before the hands of the clock hit the numbers two and twelve. Kazuya looked around and saw Junno, who had his head rested on the table's surface, already snoring slightly.
"Those three are really incompetent fools." Tatsuya snorted as he wiped a part of the glass shelf clean.
Kazuya turned his head to his friend, smiled at the older male. "They're just tired." he said. "Tat-chan, why don't you and the others go home first? I'll close the shop."
Tatsuya raised a brow at the man. "You know that I can’t leave you all alone, right?"
"But admit it," Kazuya had a childish grin on his face. "You're tired as well. I could see it in your eyes so don't try to deny it."
He was tired indeed, Tatsuya thought to himself. He wasn't exactly feeling well too since it was raining all day. The bad weather must've gotten into him.
"No. We better finish up fast so we can close the shop and leave altogether." Tatsuya replied firmly, refused to agree with the younger male even though Kazuya's offer was quite tempting.
Kazuya was about to try to convince the other male again when not so gentle knocks on the café's glass door caught his attention.
"Here comes your knight in shining armor, princess." Tatsuya teased. The younger frowned at his friend's words before he turned to see who came.
"He isn't my knight. He doesn't even have a shining armor and I'm no princess." Kazuya replied, embarrassed. He slid his body out of the counter and went to walk towards the cafe's entrance.
"You like him, don't you?" the older of the two asked when Kazuya passed by him.
Kazuya's lips formed in a sweet smile. "Will you believe me if I say no?"
The smirk Tatsuya had on his face told Kazuya that the other won't buy his denial.
"Go get him then." Tatsuya cheered. "I know that he's been here just recently but he's a good guy. He likes you too. I just know it." he said before he made his way towards the other three, woke them up by smacking their heads and said they're leaving. The three groaned in utter displeasure.
Kazuya could only nod happily at his friend as he proceeded to open the door and allowed Jin inside.
"You're wet." Kazuya said, worried as he eyed the other male's figure.
Jin could only sigh when the warm air from the café's heater warmed him up. It was terribly cold outside as the rain never seemed to stop pouring down and the wind was as unforgiving.
"Come on," Kazuya held Jin's hand and tugged the other with him, pushed the older down on one of the chairs as Tatsuya put down a cup of warm, creamy chocolate for Jin to drink.
"Drink. It'll help warm you up." Jin heard Tatsuya say as Kazuya shuffled to the staff room to get a towel and whatever else he could find to help warm the other.
"Why did you come here anyway? And how'd you know we're still here? We usually get off by one." Tatsuya told the shivering male.
"I...hap-pened...to..uh, pass...by and...saw you guys...still...here..." Jin stuttered, tried to fight off the shivers.
He was filming for his drama earlier and when he was finally done, he decided to see if the café was still open. He was lucky, he thought, when he saw the lights inside the café were still on. Unfortunately though, the rain managed to get him wet as he got out of his car and walked his way to the café.
"I wonder what your reason might be..." Tatsuya said. "Don't tell me you're actually falling for Kame?"
Perceptive, Jin thought Tatsuya was. The older male seemed to observe more than what he should and came up with conclusions that are almost the truth.
Jin knew he liked Kame. But love?
He admits he likes being with the other for reasons so simple and not so simple. The days he had spent with Kazuya made him feel good and at ease. It was when he was with the other that Jin feels he's grounded to reality and accepted for what and who he was. Before he even knew it, Kazuya had taken a special place inside his heart which actually caught Jin unaware and truth be told, he wasn't bothered with it.
"Jin."
"Ji~hhnn"
"Yo."
Three sleepy voices echoed inside the café and Jin would've laughed if he could when he saw Junno, Koki and Maru trying to force themselves awake. The trio looked like zombies.
"Tat-chan, let's go home~" Koki managed to say.
"Please..." Maru tried to steady his gait.
"Please, Uepi~" Junno pleaded.
Tatsuya could only roll his eyes. He hated being these three's babysitter.
"Jin, there's hot water if you want to take a shower. You actually really should since you're drenched. Come with me." Kazuya's voice echoed as he pulled Jin to him.
"Hey lovebirds," Tatsuya called out, which made the two turn to him in sync. A smile formed on Tatsuya's lips then and grinned when he saw the two's hands, their fingers interlaced. Aren't these guys' fast? "Don’t break your pinkies.” He chuckled. “Anyway, we better get going. These three doesn't look well. I'll lock the door from the inside so don't worry about it. And Kame,"
"Yes, Tat-chan?"
"Go take good care of your husband. I still hate working on Sundays so I don't want him getting sick now." Tatsuya teased, his eyes dancing in mischief as he watched Kazuya open and close his mouth. The younger male was as red as a tomato.
Kazuya would've retorted with something witty and deny that Jin was his husband. He and Jin aren't even a couple! If only they were...No! They can't be! Ugh! The term husband sounds really bad as is. Definitely gayer than gay.
"Thank you, Tat-chan." Jin's voice came. It actually interrupted Kazuya from voicing out his thoughts. "We'll be okay here and I'll watch over Kazu-chan. Take care on your way home."
"We will." Tatsuya affirmed before he and the other three bid them goodbye, went out the door and left Jin and Kazuya together inside.
Ignoring the earlier tirade, Kazuya turned to Jin again. "You don't feel sick or anything, do you?"
The older male shook his head gently. "I don't. But I'd really appreciate the warm shower though before we head home."
"Right." Kazuya nodded and guided Jin towards the café's private bathroom. "All the essentials are there so take your time cleaning yourself up. But don't take too long, okay? I don't want you to get sick..."
The last words Kazuya had whispered warmed Jin's heart. He likes Kazuya indeed.
"Don't worry, cutie." he said, "I won't take too long." Jin ruffled Kazuya's hair in an affectionate manner before he stepped inside the bathroom, closed the door behind him.
The sound of water calmed Kazuya's giddy heart.
---
"I'm afraid we're stuck here." Kazuya informed Jin when the older had finished his bath.
"Hmm?" Jin mumbled as he dried his hair. He was lucky to have left some of his clothes in the café. The shirt he has now was the same shirt he wore the day he received his uniform. The pants he was wearing now was the one he left last Sunday. He had brought it in case he managed to dirty his dress pants the first time he worked in the café.
"The rain...it won't stop and it's pouring real hard. Tat-chan called and told me that the traffic is heavy and that it'd be better if we stay here instead."
Jin went back to the bathroom to hang the towel he'd used to dry himself. "It couldn't be that bad." he said once he was out, his eyes roamed around the staff room.
The staff room has a single bed, two fluffy pillows, and a blanket. There was a cabinet and a floor-length mirror in the right most corner of the room and two chairs, a table, a phone and a laptop on the left.
"What do you mean by it couldn't be that bad?" Kazuya asked. "The weather is actually terrible if you must know."
Jin managed to chuckle. "I mean staying in here isn't that bad. The room is fully furnished anyway."
"Ah...I see." the younger male nodded." Kazuya moved to sit on the edge of the bed, faced Jin. "How are we supposed to sleep then?"
"The chairs aren't an option so I'd take the floor." Jin said, walked towards the door of the room and went out.
Kazuya frowned, followed Jin out only to see the other locking the door and pulling the blinds down to cover the inside of the café from the outside world. He then watched Jin walk some more before the older male finally reached the switch and turned the lights off. Kazuya waited for the other to get back inside the staff room and when Jin finally walked in, the fluttering movements in Kazuya's heart seemed to drive him crazy.
Jin looked good; really, really good that it's almost illegal and yes, Kazuya knew that what he felt for Jin is no longer a simple crush anymore.
"Will it be alright if I use the blanket as a mat?" Jin asked suddenly as he plopped himself on the bed, sat beside Kazuya. It was comfortable and Jin wished he could lie on it instead.
"The bed could fit us." Kazuya said instead, unable to hold his thoughts. "I mean..we..uh,..cuddle-no! I mean share! Yes, share the bed!" he stuttered, the blush on his cheeks had spread all over his face. What was he thinking?!
"Cuddle?" Jin chuckled. "You're really cute, Kazu~" he sang, much to Kazuya's embarrassment.
It was when Kazuya pouted that Jin felt his heart skip a beat.
Kazuya looked adorable and pretty and innocent but those dark brown eyes were promising something more. Kazuya's hair framed the younger's face softly and the pout was tempting him. Jin knew that himself but couldn't afford to take his eyes off of that pink, pouty lips.
Jin thought that no one was around except for him and Kazuya and he would be a hypocrite if he didn't admit that he wanted a taste of Kazuya's lips...of Kazuya himself.
"-in! Jin!" Kazuya called out as Jin's face closed the distance between them. He could smell Jin due to the proximity of their bodies and he could almost feel their lips brushing. One wrong move or word and it'll all be over but Jin looked so beautiful that Kazuya could not find it in himself to refuse, to resist. He wanted Jin.
"Jin..."
The soft whisper of his name was all Jin needed to hear before he claimed Kazuya's lips in a loving kiss. It was his lips against Kazuya's; the skin just touching the other's. He closed his eyes to savor the feel of Kazuya's soft lips against his own.
Kazuya's eyes grew wide as realization dawned upon him. Jin was kissing him.
Knowing it was probably wrong, Kazuya immediately wanted to pull away but the moment he felt Jin's tongue licked his lips, traced the contours of his lips gently with his tongue. Kazuya lost all the will to pull apart.
It was crazy but it felt perfect, weird but it also felt as if his life depended on it. His hands, once limp on his sides, moved to Jin's chest and curled his fingers on the fabric of Jin's shirt before Kazuya closed his eyes to bask in that heart-warming feeling.
It was his first kiss and Kazuya was just glad that it was with Jin.
Jin knew Kazuya would taste sweet, but never this sweet. The other was sweeter than sugar and honey combined. He thought that the lips he'd kissed before Kazuya's were the softest he'd ever had. Apparently he was wrong, so wrong because Kazuya's lips were definitely the softest and sweetest.
That night, they slept together and the warmth of their embrace kept them from shivering.
Let tomorrow take care of itself.
---
Jin had worked for the café for six consecutive Sundays now. He had gone to work during Friday and Saturday evenings too when he's got some free time to spare.
Working at Turtle café had given him wonderful memories and all were remarkable, especially his and Kazuya's stolen kisses. For some reason, Kazuya's lips became addicting to him. His lips must have had the same effect on Kazuya since the other didn't refuse his kisses. They both were aware of the fact that they’re playing the game dangerously.
---
It was hard for him to not give his trust to the people who managed the café. They have treated him as equal; a person who was worth to be a friend because he was Jin and not the idol he was.
The people working at the café made him feel important. Koki and Nakamaru bonded with him when he introduced the two to some American music which the duo practiced with their rapping and beat boxing skills. Junno really warmed up to him when he gave the cheery male games that still had the tag under new releases. Tat-chan was overly giddy when he gave the man a membership card he could use to one of Japan's top boxing centers.
"You really know how to bribe your way to get them to befriend you, huh?" Jin heard Kazuya say as they both watched Junno, Koki and Maru attend to their customers from behind the counter.
Jin turned his head towards Kazuya and grinned. "It made them shut up and stop teasing us so it's well worth the effort ne, Kazu? We've beaten Koki in his game." he cheerfully added.
Kazuya shrugged, smiled at Jin. "I guess we did..."
Now Kazuya doesn't know why he felt disappointed at what he had heard. It was all a game after all. A game started by Koki where he and Jin played house. It was just a half and a month since he'd known Jin; he couldn't exactly have feelings for the man other than friendship, right? Or could he?
"Kazu-chan," Jin started. "Have you fallen in love?" he asked which took Kazuya aback.
"H-huh?"
"Fall in love." Jin repeated. "Have you felt it?"
Kazuya shook his head gently. "No. I'm not looking for love. I want it to find me." he answered the other male. "Have you?"
"Me?" Jin looked at the other and shrugged. "I don't know." he admitted. "I was in a relationship a few months ago. She was the only woman who lasted for more than three months. We were actually exclusively dating. In my world, relationships are bound to fail, in one way or another."
"What was it like to be with her then?" Kazuya wanted to know. He peered at the man seated next to him.
Jin frowned a little, a result of him trying to recall the past months which seemed so distant now. "We were good. She was a girlfriend material."
"Then what happened?"
"We broke up." Jin told Kazuya. "She said she wanted security from our relationship and had told me that offering her my name was the exact way to give her that." Jin paused, recalled how her ex-girlfriend looked when she said those words. "I wasn't ready to settle down yet and when I was, I found out that she's in a relationship with a renowned music composer." he ended with a chuckle which sounded bitter to Kazuya's ears.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Kazuya pressed his lips together, shifted his gaze down the floor. "I'm sorry I asked." Jin must've loved the woman for him to still be bitter about it.
"Don't be. Our break-up was a mutual decision." Jin tried to coax Kazuya out of his guilt.
"How does it feel like to fall in love?" Kazuya asked, curious.
"Love?" Jin said. "If that's what I felt for her then I'd have to say that love is unexplainable. For me, I felt extremes of emotions when I heard that she had found someone else. But I'm not really sure. Maybe, you just know that you're in love, no explanations needed." the older male finished his sentence.
Does love include the feeling of being happy whenever you're near me? Kazuya wanted to ask the other but knew he shouldn't. Jin was just a temporary addition to his family.
"Jin...?"
"Hmm?"
"For how long are you going to work here?"
"Trying to get rid of me now for being sappy? I'm hurt, Kazu-chan." Jin clenched at his heart jokingly, pouted at Kazuya who rolled his eyes in return.
"No. Seriously, you have a job and being an idol is quite...demanding."
"Well, you have a point." Jin nodded. "Actually, my schedule's full after next week and I won't be able to drop by here at the café because of that. So, I'm afraid this would be my last day here." he regrettably admitted.
Kazuya felt his heart sank. He would no longer spend time with Jin. He would no longer see Jin smile and looking clueless of what he should do.
"I guess that can't be helped then..." he muttered under his breath, tried to hide the disappointment he felt.
"Oh, but I promise to visit whenever I'm free. I really enjoyed my stay here." Jin grinned. His grin immediately turned into a frown when he saw the younger male looked so down. "Hey, anything wrong?"
In a matter of seconds, Kazuya was bright and cheerful again. "Nothing. I'm just tired I guess."
"If that's the case," Jin ruffled Kazuya's hair. "You better take a rest inside the staff room. We'll take charge of the café while you're taking a nap." he smiled at the younger male.
"Nah, I'm fine." the other returned the smile.
"Are you sure?" Jin asked. Kazuya nodded, flicked the tip of Jin's nose which made the older of the two laugh. "I need to use the bathroom. Take charge, okay?" Jin excused himself when Kazuya gave him a nod.
The chime which hung above the café's door rang and Kazuya slid behind the cashier, watched the woman approach the place where he was.
The woman looked sophisticated in Kazuya's eyes. Her face was small. Her almond-shaped eyes were prettified with curled, long lashes; her hair was done in stylish waves. The woman was slim and tall and her skin was fair. She wore a subtle make-up, a gloss and a rosy blush on her cheeks. She was very elegant looking, Kazuya thought to himself.
"Good evening! Is there anything I could do for you, ma'am?" he asked politely, his smile never left his lips.
"Actually, there is." she answered, smiled sweetly at Kazuya. "Can you give me one Nudge? Oh, and can you please make it 2 ounces of vodka? Thank you."
"Will do, ma'am. Your name, please?"
Kazuya wrote down the name on the plastic cup before he had accepted the payment for the coffee. The woman walked outside, said that her drink be delivered there.
"Customer?" Kazuya heard Jin’s voice.
"Yeah. You missed her. She's pretty." Kazuya grinned at the man as he started mixing the ingredients.
~*~
Carte 5-B