Title: In this broken world (part 1 - incomplete)
Rating: PG-13
Groups/Pairings: Aiba Masaki/Ninomiya Kazunari
Word Count: 1,461 for now
Summary: On his last day in this world, Aiba decides to spend his time with the person he loves the most.
Warnings: Slash, world ending, angst
Notes: I couldn't finish this fic in time, so I'm sending this first part to the exchange (but the plan is to make it into an one-shot). I will finish it when I find some time, it's a promise. The title is from the song "Kowarete iku Kono Sekai de" by Pierrot.
The world’s gonna end tomorrow.
Nino woke up as someone patted his shoulder lightly. He opened his eyes with difficulty due the sleepiness and saw the familiar face right above him.
“Hey, wake up!” Aiba said a bit too loud for Nino’s taste.
The groggy man looked to the clock on the night table and groaned.
“It’s still 5 in the morning.”
“The sun’s rising already.” Aiba replied with conviction.
“Do we need to start our last day this early?” Nino rolled on the bed hiding his face on the pillow.
“Of course! I told you I wanted to spend as much time as possible with you.” The sincere and direct confession caused tickles on Nino’s heart.
Aiba came to his apartment the day before saying he wanted to live his last day on Earth with Nino. Usually people would prefer to spend it with their families, but Aiba thought differently.
”Why don’t you go back home to see your family?”
“I spent the past few weeks with them so it’s fine.” Aiba’s logic didn’t sound that fine to Nino, but he kept listening to the older man. “I’ll probably feel too sad if I stay with them, so I would like to be here with you.”
Aiba’s logic was weird indeed, but it wasn’t anything new for Nino. His whole life he tried to comprehend how that incredibly positive and unique mind worked and he didn’t really think he would figure it out now that the world was ending.
Nino suggested calling to the rest of Arashi to make one last great meeting with all of them, but Aiba refused that. According to him, it was also too sad.
“So, it isn’t sad being with me?” The younger man asked coming back from a quick shower to wake up completely.
“Exactly! I don’t want anything but your company today.” Aiba approached the smaller body and held the towel on Nino’s head, starting to dry his hair. “Am I bothering you?”
“...Nope.” Nino said softly looking down to the floor with a sheepish smile tugging up his lips.
---
They prepared breakfast and remembered the many times they had meals together. Aiba mentioned the delicious dinner Nino’s mother made every time he went to their house; Nino commented about the old ramen shop near the agency’s building, where he used to share a bowl of salt ramen with Aiba after the dance lessons.
“What do you want to do today?” Nino asked as watched the older man finish his miso soup.
“I don’t know. To be honest, I didn’t plan anything special.” Aiba licked the corner of his lips and stacked the dishes. When he was about to get up to put them in the sink, Nino pulled him back into his seat and gave him a kiss on the mouth.
Nino’s moves were desperate and wanton. His hands grabbed Aiba’s clothes strongly, as if he depended on it to survive.
“I’m scared.” Nino cried against Aiba’s lips. “I’m so scared, Masaki...”
Aiba hugged the younger man tightly and petted his soft hair.
“I’m scared too.” Aiba said weakly. “I’m fucking scared. But we’re here together. We have each other.” His voice shook as he felt Nino’s tears wet his shirt on the shoulder. “Let’s make this last day the best of our lives, okay?”
Aiba pushed Nino’s body lightly and looked directly into his glassy eyes. He wiped the tears away from his face and smiled tenderly.
It was frightening to know the world would end in a few hours. It was frightening to know everything, including yourself, would disappear completely.
It wasn’t usual for Nino to get honest about his feelings and whine like that; he must have been suffering because of that critical situation. And remembering the nice moments he had with Aiba made things worst. It was too painful to imagine they wouldn’t be able to live more memorable times together.
And Aiba could understand him. Aiba saw and felt how much Nino was scared and needed him there for support and comfort.
“You’re not alone.”
---
The two men stayed in silence as they cuddled on the couch. The TV was turned off - there wasn’t any program other than news about the world and they didn’t feel like watching movies - only the sound of their quiet breathing could be heard.
For any other person, that silence could be awkward. But it was simply perfect for them. They knew the exact time to speak, they knew what to speak and they knew the exact time to move from there. It was still too early to separate from each other’s warmth yet.
Aiba leaned his head towards Nino’s, nuzzling the short hair; it smelled like the cheap shampoo he always used. Even though it was cheap, it had a fresh and clean aroma that Aiba adored. He spread kisses on top of Nino’s head, then moved to its side, to his temple and finally reached Nino’s cheek. The younger man didn’t do any great reaction, but moved slightly to give better access for Aiba’s lips that continued travelling through his skin.
The kisses were gentle, not rushed at all, just touching Nino’s skin delicately as if Aiba marked his body with an invisible ink, claiming Nino slowly as his.
Then Nino’s arm came around Aiba’s head as he broke the silence.
“Do you remember the day we first met?” Nino asked softly, looking ahead.
“Of course I do.” Aiba replied against Nino’s nape. “I was sitting by myself in a corner of that huge practice room, then you came and sat beside me.” his lips caressed Nino’s jawline playfully.
“I wondered what that strange girl was doing in a talent agency for boys.” The slender man turned his face to his partner smirking jokingly.
“I was cute! And you liked me.” Aiba said defensively but was quickly silenced by Nino’s mouth. His movements weren’t desperate like before; they were soothing and caring. “...Otherwise, you wouldn’t be kissing me right now.” The last comment made Nino burst in laughter, throwing his head backwards.
Slowly, Aiba pushed him down against the couch, holding his thin wrists securely above his head.
“Do you remember when you started liking me more than a friend?” It was Aiba’s turn to ask. The question was unexpected and made Nino think for a while.
“It’s a hard question.” Nino pouted. The grip on his wrists got stronger.
“I won’t free you until you answer me.” The older man tried to sound dominant but couldn’t help the genuine smile forming on his lips.
“Oh Aiba-san, you’re scaring me!” Nino faked a whimper struggling exaggeratedly.
Both men laughed like children, playing and making out lazily on the couch.
Nino’s hands cupped Aiba’s face delicately as a rain of pecks poured on his red lips.
“Our first kiss.”
“What?”
“After our first kiss.” Nino explained. “I realized I liked you after our first kiss.”
The older man’s face flushed. He insisted it was an accident, but his partner always said it was their official first kiss.
***
Aiba could remember the exact moment of that kiss. They were about fifteen. At that time they were getting busy as Juniors with many dance performances and interviews.
It happened on their break during an interview.
Nino and Aiba became nice friends and were always together chatting, playing or teasing each other. That day they were doing a silly game to see how close they could approach each other’s faces.
Both sat on the floor facing each other, leaning their bodies forward, their noses almost touching. They were dangerously close enough to breathe the same air and smell the scent coming from the other body.
After a long minute Aiba felt a great urge to laugh and decided to back away. But at the same time someone pushed Nino’s back and then, the accident happened.
It was just a mere second, but the feeling of Nino’s soft lips against his owns was burnt in Aiba’s mind.
Quickly, Nino stood from the floor and looked for the person responsible for that “accident”. He ran after a few boys that were giggling, while Aiba simply continued sitting on the floor, staring dumbly to his friend.
***
Aiba loosened his grip on Nino’s wrists, making the younger man’s hands free to grab on him.
“What do you want to do today?” Nino asked again. Aiba looked back at him confused, still amazed with his own thoughts “If you don’t mind, I have an idea.”
“What is it?” Aiba blinked, slowly coming back to reality.
Nino pulled him off the couch and picked two gloves and a ball from the corner of the living room.
“Let’s play catch.” Nino smiled showing the items. Aiba mirrored that smile and nodded happily.