Admit It [Part 2]
Pairing: Sakumiya
Kind: One-shot
Genre: AU Historical
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Plot = mine. Arashi = not mine.
Summary: Aiba has been duped by a psychic, and as his best friend, it’s up to Sho to expose the psychic as a fraud. Set in the 18th-19th century.
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Sho was reading his daily newspaper when his butler tapped on the doorframe to his study.
“Master Sakurai, a Mr. Ninomiya is here to see you. Would you like to receive him?”
Sho’s eyebrows knitted in confusion. What was Nino doing at his manor? “Show him in.”
Nino came in shortly after, eyes darting everywhere, clearly taking in Sho’s wealth and possessions with an appraising eye. He stopped to stand a good distance away from where Sho sat, and despite his current position, seemed to still have an air of arrogance.
“What a surprise, Mr. Ninomiya. What can I do for you?”
“I thought I told you to call me Nino.” Nino said, a little sulky.
“So you did. Nino.”
“You want me to come to this ball, right?”
“Yes. Don’t try to get out of it.”
“I wasn’t going to.” Nino snapped. “But I don’t have any clothes that would be acceptable at a ball. I need you to take me shopping.”
Shopping? Sho sat with his mouth open in shock.
“I think it’s only fair that you pay, too.” Nino added.
“Excuse me?!”
“You’re the one making me go, so you should be the one to foot the bill, thank you very much.”
Sho was about to retort when his thoughts paused him. It was true. It wasn’t right to make Nino pay for an outfit for an event Sho was forcing him to attend.
Sho closed his mouth with a sigh. “Very well. Shopping it is.”
A few hours later, Sho paced the floor, ready to get the day over with. Nino had led Sho all over town, as Sho soon found Nino was very picky and fickle with clothing. Having had enough, Sho had forced Nino to go to the only tailor Sho trusted, and he was impeccable. Unfortunately, having an impeccable tailor also meant long hours creating a suit to perfection - long hours that led to endless bickering between him and Nino. It didn’t help that Nino kept making suggestive remarks while standing around half naked - or at least they seemed suggestive to Sho. He shook his head - he couldn’t be sure if Nino was purposefully being suggestive, or if Sho just had a dirty mind. Either way, it bothered him.
It bothered him that Nino seemed to have such a pull - a charisma, if you will. Sho would be so irate with the smaller man, and yet always found himself engaging in a battle of words over and over. He didn’t understand it, but if he was honest with himself, he sort of enjoyed it. Aiba rarely went against what Sho said - in fact, most people didn’t. To find someone so exasperating was, well, exasperating, but at the same time, it challenged Sho. And Sho loved a challenge.
Finally, Nino emerged in a finished suit. Sho couldn’t help but notice how well the suit fit Nino’s slim build, making him look lithe and athletic. The color of the tie complemented the suit’s color perfectly, and even Nino’s earring seemed to fit with the ensemble. Nino cocked his head to the side jauntily and put a hand on his hip. “Dashing, aren’t I? I bet you’re thinking how you’d love to ravish me right now.”
Sho’s face turned a deep red. No, he hadn’t been thinking that, but now he was, and it made him uncomfortable. He’d never liked a man before. He looked away.
“Please. You’re my enemy.”
“Mmm. Tension. I can feel it flowing off you, Sakurai-san.”
Suddenly Sho felt Nino’s touch on his arm, and he turned to find Nino next to him, grinning wickedly. The touch was beginning to burn, and Sho was noticing how chocolate brown Nino’s eyes were.
“You need to lighten up.”
Sho stiffened at that comment, his reverie broken, and glared at the smaller man. “You’ve got your suit, I’ve paid; it’s time to go.” With that, Sho left the tailor’s workshop, and returned home, leaving Nino to his own devices. It took all his strength not to turn around to see if Nino was following him.
He wasn’t.
Sho’s irritation only got worse as the day turned to night. Despite being out of Nino’s presence, he was still on Sho’s mind. The man was infuriating, especially for someone so small, and yet oddly entrancing. Sho punched his pillow a few times, trying to get comfortable, but sleep eluded him. Brown eyes and sarcastic remarks haunted his thoughts. “It will all be over soon,” he told himself.
But it didn’t stop Sho from remembering the burning feeling of Nino’s touch for the next few days.
--------------------------------------
Nino was ignoring him.
Sho had taken his carriage to pick up Aiba and Nino to escort them to the Governor’s Ball, and while Aiba greeted him warmly, Nino barely gave him a nod.
Was he mad that he had left him so abruptly at the tailor’s? Was he nervous because today was the day he would be proven a fraud? It was unnerving, how silent the snarky man was being. Since Nino wouldn’t look at him, he openly stared at Nino. His collarbones were peeking out from under his shirt, unwilling to fit the tie properly around his neck until the exact moment of the ball. His hair was disheveled in a purposeful way, and his eyelashes were so long and…
Sho didn’t know which annoyed him more - that he wished Nino would try to cloud his judgment, or that it was clouding without any attempt on his behalf at all.
Sho chastised himself. Nino was the enemy, nothing more.
When they arrived at the Ball, Aiba leapt out of the carriage with fervor, but Nino stayed back.
“Aren’t you coming?” Sho asked.
For the first time that day, Nino looked at him, straight in the eyes. “I don’t know how to tie a tie.”
Once Sho composed himself after the shock of that statement, he immediately went over to Nino and began fixing the tie. He smiled at the humor of it - who doesn’t know how to tie a tie? - and tried to hide it, but failed. It was only when he was halfway through when he realized Nino had never actually asked for help.
“You can stop smiling, you jerk. I’ve never worn a tie before.” Nino said it without any real bite to his voice, so Sho knew he wasn’t mad at him. “You know, you look different when you smile.”
Sho had just finished tightening the tie when the comment sunk in. He looked at Nino, hands still hovering on the tie, and realized how close they were. He quickly removed his hands and got out of the carriage, grasping just how close he had been to doing something unthinkable in public.
Yes, the man was absolutely maddening.
Sho strode purposefully into the ball, leaving Aiba and Nino to rush to catch up. He found a good corner where he could assess the ladies present, and settled in. Nino joined him soon after, but Aiba was already dancing with some girl who had obviously just been introduced to society. Aiba was clearly happy where he was, and Sho left him to it.
“Let me know when you see her.”
Nino made no response. Sho looked over at the smaller man, and saw his eyes scanning, a serious expression on his face.
Suddenly, Nino left his spot next to Sho and was speaking with a young woman. She was pretty, Sho supposed, but didn’t seem particularly interesting to him. Is this supposed to be the girl he married?
Stop it, Sho! Sho yelled mentally at himself. Nino is a fraud. It doesn’t matter who he talks to. It’s not who I am supposed to marry.
But then Nino led her to the dance floor, and the pair began swirling and twirling around other couples, looking perfectly comfortable. At first, Sho simply watched, noting the smooth way Nino led his partner, the elegant picture he created on the ballroom floor, but after the 5th dance, each with a different girl, Sho couldn’t believe it. Nino wasn’t searching for his bride - he was having fun, dancing! Sho’s temper burned hotly, searing red across his vision. Nino knew he was fake, and was throwing it in Sho’s face!
Nino was still dancing with girl #5 when Sho swept in a pulled him away by the arm. Nino sputtered protests as the girl stood alone on the floor, dumbfounded, but Sho didn’t care. This was going to get resolved, now.
He pulled Nino all the way to an empty room and practically threw him inside. Nino rubbed his wrist, looking like a wounded animal, as Sho marched up to him, pacing in front of him as he yelled.
“What do you think you’re doing? You’re dancing? DANCING? While I realize this is a ball, you are supposed to be finding my future wife, not dancing with the lot of them! Stop toying with me, Nino! I swear I‘ve never met someone so convoluted! I --“
“Aiba.” Nino said abruptly.
“Aiba?”
“You said, ‘Stop toying with me.’ Don’t you mean Aiba? Stop toying with Aiba? He’s the one you’re worried about after all.” As Nino said his, he stepped closer, so close that just a twitch of Sho’s hand and he would touch him. Despite the yelling Sho was doing, Nino seemed composed.
“T-That’s what I said.”
“No it isn’t. What’s really wrong, Sakurai-san? Are you jealous? Were you jealous of the girls I was dancing with?”
“Oh, please! Just admit you’re a fraud so I can go back to living my life!”
“You did it again. Don’t you mean you want Aiba to go back living his life?” With that, Nino’s hand snaked around Sho’s wrist, holding loosely yet firmly. “After all, you could be done with me at any time.”
“I-I…” Sho sputtered.
“I admit it. I’m no psychic. I’m just good at reading people.” Nino said, a small smile on his face. Sho thought he should feel glee at hearing those words, but somehow, he didn’t. Instead, he sat down, making Nino release his wrist. “You’re a fraud, too, Sakurai-san.”
“I am not!”
“Yes, you are. You like me. You want me. But you won’t admit it.” Nino was bending over him now, his palms on the armrests, his face coming closer, his eyes unreadable. Sho shivered.
Sho pressed his back against the chair, trapped. “You’re crazy. You lied to my friend, you lied to me - why on earth would I -“
Sho got to say no more, because Nino’s lips had quickly descended and captured his own. Sho was amazed at how forceful Nino was with the kiss, as he soon found Nino’s tongue in his mouth, exploring. Sho tried to do nothing, he tried to refute the fact that a man of science would never dally with the likes of a fraudulent psychic, but he was overrun with his emotions. He soon found himself returning Nino’s advances, lost in the feelings he had been suppressing.
Nino eventually pulled away, but slowly, and Sho’s head leaned forward trying to get those lips back on his. But Nino simply smiled, a true smile, and Sho smiled in response. It was then that he realized Nino was actually sitting in his lap - when did that happen?
“Admit it. You like me.” Sho could tell Nino was enjoying this.
Sho turned his head away, in mock refusal, but then Nino did something with his hand in a very particular place and Sho squeaked. “Admit it.”
“Fine! Fine! I like you! Goodness.” Sho said quickly. “This is a public place, you know. You better get off of me before someone walks in.”
As if on cue, Aiba came bounding through the door. “YAY! Sho-chan found his wife!”
Sho instantly jumped up, and then said in a shocked voice, “What!?”
“You see, Sho, I actually was right all along. Dark hair, dark eyes - someone who would battle your will. Temptation and all that. That would be me.” Nino said, smugly.
“But you said...”
“No, I never said it was a girl, Sakurai. You assumed. You now must tell everyone you know of my great skills!”
Sho stood, stunned. “So you described yourself? How did you know that I would like you back?”
“I didn’t. But I was willing to take the risk once Aiba introduced you.”
Aiba hugged Sho cheerfully. “When I met Nino, he was yearning for you something awful. That’s why I decided to play matchmaker!”
“WHAT?!” This time, it was Nino who was shocked.
“Oh come on, Nino. Anyone with eyes could see how you looked at Sho. Every time we went to market and passed by your tent, your eyes never left him.”
Nino crossed his arms, embarrassed.
“Once I got to know Nino and see what a good person he is, I thought I should introduce the both of you. But I know how pigheaded Sho can be, so I thought it would be best if you both didn’t know. I figured if it worked out, then everyone would be happy! If not, then Nino would get over his crush.”
Sho looked at Nino, realizing that all those weeks of feeling like someone was watching him at the market was actually a result of Nino watching him. He was amazed at Aiba’s observation skills, as it had seemed like he severely lacked them before.
As if Aiba knew what Sho was thinking, he said proudly, “I’m the greatest genius ever! This is my most successful experiment to date!” He continued congratulating himself as he walked back to the ball, with Nino and Sho simply staring at their friend. The lock on the door made a loud click as it settled into place.
Now that they were alone again, Sho sat down again and turned back to Nino, trying to ignore the blazing fact that they were locked in the room. Alone. “You’ve liked me all this time?”
Nino nodded.
“But I was rude to you. I called you a fraud. You still liked me?”
Nino finally looked at Sho. “You always looked so confident, and I loved the way you’d laugh and smile when talking to Aiba. I liked you even more after our first meeting. You were just as confident as you seemed. You were challenging. You didn’t back down. Do you remember when you first went into my tent?”
Sho tried to recall the exact moment, and remembered thinking how much he looked like a boy and not a man.
“You looked at me for maybe a second, and then you looked away. You quirked your lips, sighed, and just like that, dismissed me. I couldn’t believe it. I had been watching you for so long, and all too soon you were done with me. I couldn’t let your pompous ass get away that easily. At first, I just wanted to torment you a little because I was mad at your easy dismissal, but then I started realizing that I honestly liked you. We bickered and fought, and I enjoyed every minute of it. You’re smart and firm in what you believe, and I liked that. I decided to try my best.”
“And by try you mean seduce me.”
“Exactly.” Nino said with a sultry smirk.
Sho didn’t remember dismissing Nino so quickly, but he supposed it was very possible. “I’m sorry if I was horrible. I’m rather proud, but I’m working on that.”
“It’s okay, Sakurai-san. I like that about you.” Nino said while shoving Sho back down into the chair.
“Sho.” Sho said, noticing Nino’s questioning eyes. “Call me Sho.”
Nino grinned wide, settling himself back on top of Sho in such a way that made Sho shudder with pleasure. “Don’t mind if I do.”
“Now, about telling everyone about my profound skills…”
“We aren’t married, and can’t marry. We’re both men. So I’m afraid you didn’t really win.” Sho stated smugly, his hands on Nino’s waist.
“Oh that’s alright,” Nino said huskily in his ear, his hands deft on his unraveling tie. “I’ll settle for just getting you to express just how incredible my skills are… only to me.”
And afterwards, Sho had to admit it. Nino’s skills were quite amazing.
Kind: One-shot
Genre: AU Historical
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Plot = mine. Arashi = not mine.
Summary: Aiba has been duped by a psychic, and as his best friend, it’s up to Sho to expose the psychic as a fraud. Set in the 18th-19th century.
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Sho was reading his daily newspaper when his butler tapped on the doorframe to his study.
“Master Sakurai, a Mr. Ninomiya is here to see you. Would you like to receive him?”
Sho’s eyebrows knitted in confusion. What was Nino doing at his manor? “Show him in.”
Nino came in shortly after, eyes darting everywhere, clearly taking in Sho’s wealth and possessions with an appraising eye. He stopped to stand a good distance away from where Sho sat, and despite his current position, seemed to still have an air of arrogance.
“What a surprise, Mr. Ninomiya. What can I do for you?”
“I thought I told you to call me Nino.” Nino said, a little sulky.
“So you did. Nino.”
“You want me to come to this ball, right?”
“Yes. Don’t try to get out of it.”
“I wasn’t going to.” Nino snapped. “But I don’t have any clothes that would be acceptable at a ball. I need you to take me shopping.”
Shopping? Sho sat with his mouth open in shock.
“I think it’s only fair that you pay, too.” Nino added.
“Excuse me?!”
“You’re the one making me go, so you should be the one to foot the bill, thank you very much.”
Sho was about to retort when his thoughts paused him. It was true. It wasn’t right to make Nino pay for an outfit for an event Sho was forcing him to attend.
Sho closed his mouth with a sigh. “Very well. Shopping it is.”
A few hours later, Sho paced the floor, ready to get the day over with. Nino had led Sho all over town, as Sho soon found Nino was very picky and fickle with clothing. Having had enough, Sho had forced Nino to go to the only tailor Sho trusted, and he was impeccable. Unfortunately, having an impeccable tailor also meant long hours creating a suit to perfection - long hours that led to endless bickering between him and Nino. It didn’t help that Nino kept making suggestive remarks while standing around half naked - or at least they seemed suggestive to Sho. He shook his head - he couldn’t be sure if Nino was purposefully being suggestive, or if Sho just had a dirty mind. Either way, it bothered him.
It bothered him that Nino seemed to have such a pull - a charisma, if you will. Sho would be so irate with the smaller man, and yet always found himself engaging in a battle of words over and over. He didn’t understand it, but if he was honest with himself, he sort of enjoyed it. Aiba rarely went against what Sho said - in fact, most people didn’t. To find someone so exasperating was, well, exasperating, but at the same time, it challenged Sho. And Sho loved a challenge.
Finally, Nino emerged in a finished suit. Sho couldn’t help but notice how well the suit fit Nino’s slim build, making him look lithe and athletic. The color of the tie complemented the suit’s color perfectly, and even Nino’s earring seemed to fit with the ensemble. Nino cocked his head to the side jauntily and put a hand on his hip. “Dashing, aren’t I? I bet you’re thinking how you’d love to ravish me right now.”
Sho’s face turned a deep red. No, he hadn’t been thinking that, but now he was, and it made him uncomfortable. He’d never liked a man before. He looked away.
“Please. You’re my enemy.”
“Mmm. Tension. I can feel it flowing off you, Sakurai-san.”
Suddenly Sho felt Nino’s touch on his arm, and he turned to find Nino next to him, grinning wickedly. The touch was beginning to burn, and Sho was noticing how chocolate brown Nino’s eyes were.
“You need to lighten up.”
Sho stiffened at that comment, his reverie broken, and glared at the smaller man. “You’ve got your suit, I’ve paid; it’s time to go.” With that, Sho left the tailor’s workshop, and returned home, leaving Nino to his own devices. It took all his strength not to turn around to see if Nino was following him.
He wasn’t.
Sho’s irritation only got worse as the day turned to night. Despite being out of Nino’s presence, he was still on Sho’s mind. The man was infuriating, especially for someone so small, and yet oddly entrancing. Sho punched his pillow a few times, trying to get comfortable, but sleep eluded him. Brown eyes and sarcastic remarks haunted his thoughts. “It will all be over soon,” he told himself.
But it didn’t stop Sho from remembering the burning feeling of Nino’s touch for the next few days.
--------------------------------------
Nino was ignoring him.
Sho had taken his carriage to pick up Aiba and Nino to escort them to the Governor’s Ball, and while Aiba greeted him warmly, Nino barely gave him a nod.
Was he mad that he had left him so abruptly at the tailor’s? Was he nervous because today was the day he would be proven a fraud? It was unnerving, how silent the snarky man was being. Since Nino wouldn’t look at him, he openly stared at Nino. His collarbones were peeking out from under his shirt, unwilling to fit the tie properly around his neck until the exact moment of the ball. His hair was disheveled in a purposeful way, and his eyelashes were so long and…
Sho didn’t know which annoyed him more - that he wished Nino would try to cloud his judgment, or that it was clouding without any attempt on his behalf at all.
Sho chastised himself. Nino was the enemy, nothing more.
When they arrived at the Ball, Aiba leapt out of the carriage with fervor, but Nino stayed back.
“Aren’t you coming?” Sho asked.
For the first time that day, Nino looked at him, straight in the eyes. “I don’t know how to tie a tie.”
Once Sho composed himself after the shock of that statement, he immediately went over to Nino and began fixing the tie. He smiled at the humor of it - who doesn’t know how to tie a tie? - and tried to hide it, but failed. It was only when he was halfway through when he realized Nino had never actually asked for help.
“You can stop smiling, you jerk. I’ve never worn a tie before.” Nino said it without any real bite to his voice, so Sho knew he wasn’t mad at him. “You know, you look different when you smile.”
Sho had just finished tightening the tie when the comment sunk in. He looked at Nino, hands still hovering on the tie, and realized how close they were. He quickly removed his hands and got out of the carriage, grasping just how close he had been to doing something unthinkable in public.
Yes, the man was absolutely maddening.
Sho strode purposefully into the ball, leaving Aiba and Nino to rush to catch up. He found a good corner where he could assess the ladies present, and settled in. Nino joined him soon after, but Aiba was already dancing with some girl who had obviously just been introduced to society. Aiba was clearly happy where he was, and Sho left him to it.
“Let me know when you see her.”
Nino made no response. Sho looked over at the smaller man, and saw his eyes scanning, a serious expression on his face.
Suddenly, Nino left his spot next to Sho and was speaking with a young woman. She was pretty, Sho supposed, but didn’t seem particularly interesting to him. Is this supposed to be the girl he married?
Stop it, Sho! Sho yelled mentally at himself. Nino is a fraud. It doesn’t matter who he talks to. It’s not who I am supposed to marry.
But then Nino led her to the dance floor, and the pair began swirling and twirling around other couples, looking perfectly comfortable. At first, Sho simply watched, noting the smooth way Nino led his partner, the elegant picture he created on the ballroom floor, but after the 5th dance, each with a different girl, Sho couldn’t believe it. Nino wasn’t searching for his bride - he was having fun, dancing! Sho’s temper burned hotly, searing red across his vision. Nino knew he was fake, and was throwing it in Sho’s face!
Nino was still dancing with girl #5 when Sho swept in a pulled him away by the arm. Nino sputtered protests as the girl stood alone on the floor, dumbfounded, but Sho didn’t care. This was going to get resolved, now.
He pulled Nino all the way to an empty room and practically threw him inside. Nino rubbed his wrist, looking like a wounded animal, as Sho marched up to him, pacing in front of him as he yelled.
“What do you think you’re doing? You’re dancing? DANCING? While I realize this is a ball, you are supposed to be finding my future wife, not dancing with the lot of them! Stop toying with me, Nino! I swear I‘ve never met someone so convoluted! I --“
“Aiba.” Nino said abruptly.
“Aiba?”
“You said, ‘Stop toying with me.’ Don’t you mean Aiba? Stop toying with Aiba? He’s the one you’re worried about after all.” As Nino said his, he stepped closer, so close that just a twitch of Sho’s hand and he would touch him. Despite the yelling Sho was doing, Nino seemed composed.
“T-That’s what I said.”
“No it isn’t. What’s really wrong, Sakurai-san? Are you jealous? Were you jealous of the girls I was dancing with?”
“Oh, please! Just admit you’re a fraud so I can go back to living my life!”
“You did it again. Don’t you mean you want Aiba to go back living his life?” With that, Nino’s hand snaked around Sho’s wrist, holding loosely yet firmly. “After all, you could be done with me at any time.”
“I-I…” Sho sputtered.
“I admit it. I’m no psychic. I’m just good at reading people.” Nino said, a small smile on his face. Sho thought he should feel glee at hearing those words, but somehow, he didn’t. Instead, he sat down, making Nino release his wrist. “You’re a fraud, too, Sakurai-san.”
“I am not!”
“Yes, you are. You like me. You want me. But you won’t admit it.” Nino was bending over him now, his palms on the armrests, his face coming closer, his eyes unreadable. Sho shivered.
Sho pressed his back against the chair, trapped. “You’re crazy. You lied to my friend, you lied to me - why on earth would I -“
Sho got to say no more, because Nino’s lips had quickly descended and captured his own. Sho was amazed at how forceful Nino was with the kiss, as he soon found Nino’s tongue in his mouth, exploring. Sho tried to do nothing, he tried to refute the fact that a man of science would never dally with the likes of a fraudulent psychic, but he was overrun with his emotions. He soon found himself returning Nino’s advances, lost in the feelings he had been suppressing.
Nino eventually pulled away, but slowly, and Sho’s head leaned forward trying to get those lips back on his. But Nino simply smiled, a true smile, and Sho smiled in response. It was then that he realized Nino was actually sitting in his lap - when did that happen?
“Admit it. You like me.” Sho could tell Nino was enjoying this.
Sho turned his head away, in mock refusal, but then Nino did something with his hand in a very particular place and Sho squeaked. “Admit it.”
“Fine! Fine! I like you! Goodness.” Sho said quickly. “This is a public place, you know. You better get off of me before someone walks in.”
As if on cue, Aiba came bounding through the door. “YAY! Sho-chan found his wife!”
Sho instantly jumped up, and then said in a shocked voice, “What!?”
“You see, Sho, I actually was right all along. Dark hair, dark eyes - someone who would battle your will. Temptation and all that. That would be me.” Nino said, smugly.
“But you said...”
“No, I never said it was a girl, Sakurai. You assumed. You now must tell everyone you know of my great skills!”
Sho stood, stunned. “So you described yourself? How did you know that I would like you back?”
“I didn’t. But I was willing to take the risk once Aiba introduced you.”
Aiba hugged Sho cheerfully. “When I met Nino, he was yearning for you something awful. That’s why I decided to play matchmaker!”
“WHAT?!” This time, it was Nino who was shocked.
“Oh come on, Nino. Anyone with eyes could see how you looked at Sho. Every time we went to market and passed by your tent, your eyes never left him.”
Nino crossed his arms, embarrassed.
“Once I got to know Nino and see what a good person he is, I thought I should introduce the both of you. But I know how pigheaded Sho can be, so I thought it would be best if you both didn’t know. I figured if it worked out, then everyone would be happy! If not, then Nino would get over his crush.”
Sho looked at Nino, realizing that all those weeks of feeling like someone was watching him at the market was actually a result of Nino watching him. He was amazed at Aiba’s observation skills, as it had seemed like he severely lacked them before.
As if Aiba knew what Sho was thinking, he said proudly, “I’m the greatest genius ever! This is my most successful experiment to date!” He continued congratulating himself as he walked back to the ball, with Nino and Sho simply staring at their friend. The lock on the door made a loud click as it settled into place.
Now that they were alone again, Sho sat down again and turned back to Nino, trying to ignore the blazing fact that they were locked in the room. Alone. “You’ve liked me all this time?”
Nino nodded.
“But I was rude to you. I called you a fraud. You still liked me?”
Nino finally looked at Sho. “You always looked so confident, and I loved the way you’d laugh and smile when talking to Aiba. I liked you even more after our first meeting. You were just as confident as you seemed. You were challenging. You didn’t back down. Do you remember when you first went into my tent?”
Sho tried to recall the exact moment, and remembered thinking how much he looked like a boy and not a man.
“You looked at me for maybe a second, and then you looked away. You quirked your lips, sighed, and just like that, dismissed me. I couldn’t believe it. I had been watching you for so long, and all too soon you were done with me. I couldn’t let your pompous ass get away that easily. At first, I just wanted to torment you a little because I was mad at your easy dismissal, but then I started realizing that I honestly liked you. We bickered and fought, and I enjoyed every minute of it. You’re smart and firm in what you believe, and I liked that. I decided to try my best.”
“And by try you mean seduce me.”
“Exactly.” Nino said with a sultry smirk.
Sho didn’t remember dismissing Nino so quickly, but he supposed it was very possible. “I’m sorry if I was horrible. I’m rather proud, but I’m working on that.”
“It’s okay, Sakurai-san. I like that about you.” Nino said while shoving Sho back down into the chair.
“Sho.” Sho said, noticing Nino’s questioning eyes. “Call me Sho.”
Nino grinned wide, settling himself back on top of Sho in such a way that made Sho shudder with pleasure. “Don’t mind if I do.”
“Now, about telling everyone about my profound skills…”
“We aren’t married, and can’t marry. We’re both men. So I’m afraid you didn’t really win.” Sho stated smugly, his hands on Nino’s waist.
“Oh that’s alright,” Nino said huskily in his ear, his hands deft on his unraveling tie. “I’ll settle for just getting you to express just how incredible my skills are… only to me.”
And afterwards, Sho had to admit it. Nino’s skills were quite amazing.