JunMa One Shot: Adopting a Cat
Title: Adopting a Cat
Pairing: JunMa
Rating: PG-13
Note: Happy Birthday alexxasick aka Sickie! I know you don't have time to read much but its a short one (but weird one) and didnt know what else to do for your Bday <3
When Jun let an old acquaintance crash at his place for the night, he hadn’t quite realized that he’d essentially adopted a cat.
He hadn’t even meant to talk to Ikuta Toma at the bus stop. The guy was spacing out with a huge bleeding gash on his forehead. Thinking about it now, even if Jun knew him, that beaten up face could only cause him unnecessary trouble. Calling out to him was a mistake, almost instinctive as his uncertainty and curiosity took over. He was eerily illuminated by the lamp post he was leaning against and if not for the red streak from his forehead now drying on his cheek, Jun would think that Toma was a ghost, pale and otherworldly.
Recognizing him as a high school acquaintance was another shock, Jun blames that too for his moment of weakness. In the foggy landscape of his memory, Jun remembers Ikuta Toma as a bubbly, popular kouhai. He was always smiling and being good naturedly roughed about by the seniors on the soccer club. Jun himself played baseball so never interacted with him personally. But they went to each other’s games and Toma bought Jun a popsicle once as part of losing a bet with some guys in the baseball team.
Toma had called him ‘Matsumoto-senpai” while handing him the popsicle with a smile as bright as the sun melting the sticky sweet orange flavored treat onto his fingers. That image sticks out sharply amidst the haze of his memories; the heat burning against his nape and Toma’s smile pushing the prickles down his spine.
Toma hasn’t really smiled since his arrival. He doesn’t look unhappy per say but he interacts with Jun in small gestures and few words, sometimes Jun isn’t sure if Toma can see him despite looking right at him. Jun has never seen Toma do anything other than, cook, clean or watch TV. But Jun is aware that Toma must have a life and that he leaves the house. Not only are the groceries being replaced but Toma wears what must be his own clothes since Jun hasn’t given lent him any of his stuff since the first day. Certain things have cropped up around the house that Jun doesn’t instantly realize aren’t his. But upon closer inspection, they’re unmistakably Toma’s things. There’s two sci-fi novels, a toothbrush and hand cream that he never remembers buying. Interesting enough, he also finds a second bottle of the perfume he uses in his bathroom, half used. He wonders if Toma’s always used that one or if he liked how Jun smelled and bought it.
Two weeks pass and still the only things they talk about is Jun’s day and what Toma saw on TV. Often they watch said TV together, the only time Jun can ever hear Toma laugh. Toma hasn’t forbidden him to ask him about his life but Jun finds that he can’t. After a while, he realizes that he doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to face the reality of Toma outside this house that makes Toma’s reality inside it temporary. He doesn’t like thinking about Toma not being there.
Jun thinks about Toma at random parts of his day, during boring meetings and long commutes to factories in the countryside. It occurs to him that Toma must have a job, or rich parents because he keeps replacing soap, toothpaste and cleaning supplies. Jun wonders what Toma likes to do, imagining him playing soccer during the day, laughing and joshing about with his teammates.
Jun buys a soccer ball.
Toma startles when Jun hands him the soccer ball in lieu of his usual ‘Tadaima~’ His shocked expression soon recovers into something unbridled and happy as he clutches at it. ‘Thank you senpai.” He says with a blush and this time Jun startles because he didn’t think Toma remembered. But Toma remembers him and is smiling at him and Jun feels like he’s floating, light and free.
Toma’s smiled at Jun once before, since his arrival, the very first night after Jun had cleaned up his wound and given him a fresh set of clothing. Toma had clutched the t-shirt, boxers and sweatpants gratefully, running his thumb across the soft worn out fabric and smiled at him shyly. Even though Toma’s personal clothes started appearing after that, Jun has not seen his first set since
Jun realized that Toma liked it when Jun gave him gifts. When Toma curled into his side that night while watching TV, his hair soft under Jun’s fingertips, Jun couldn’t help but think how very much like a cat Toma was. Maybe it wasn’t that Toma liked the gifts, maybe Toma just liked the affection underlying the gift. Jun understands suddenly why it’s so hard to imagine life without Toma. He’s hit with the reality of his own loneliness and the little ways that Toma moved into that dark space, spreading comfort and light with every affectionate gesture.
Toma smiles at him the next day again as he pours them juice and kisses Jun’s forehead when Jun says, “Ohayo~~” It should feel strange, Jun should feel the need to talk this through, to step back and understand whats happening between them but he doesn’t.
He eats his eggs instead.
Days turn to weeks to months and Jun’s stopped counting how long Toma’s been in his house or what he does although judging by the little swatches of fabric and sequins and sowing things that have accumulated in the various dressers and corners of the house he’s guessing Toma designs costumes. Sometimes he imagines that Toma’s hiding from the yakuza and the dangerous men who’d made that gash on his forehead would come back and threaten them, demand to drag Toma away. Jun thinks he’s ready to fight them, he’s been taking sparring classes at his gym for years. He thinks that Toma was lean but muscular and could hold his own end if push came to shove...not that Jun’s been looking or anything.
He picks up a little flyer that has the dates for a dance performance tucked between Toma’s sketchbook.
“Are you in this?”
Toma looks a little surprised, like he didn’t expect Jun to care. ‘No. But my clothes are. You want to come?”
It was Jun’s turn to be surprised, “Can I?”
This time when Toma smiled, Jun thought of hot days, school uniforms and sticky popsicles, “Yeah, I’d like that.”
When Toma kissed him that night curling up next to him and they forgot to watch TV, choosing instead to engage in light touches and roaming fingers over heated skin, Jun figured he didn’t really know why Toma was here in his life. He didn't know why Toma had looked so lost the first night he’d come here or how long Toma wanted to stay.
When Toma had whispered ‘senpai~’ breathily into his ear as they rocked together, Jun figured he didn’t really need to know.
He was ready to fight regardless.
Note: Publishing a one-shot after some time, would love to hear what you think. Toma is actually a lot like Nino here whoopsie but I wanted to write JunMa for Sickie <3
Pairing: JunMa
Rating: PG-13
Note: Happy Birthday alexxasick aka Sickie! I know you don't have time to read much but its a short one (but weird one) and didnt know what else to do for your Bday <3
When Jun let an old acquaintance crash at his place for the night, he hadn’t quite realized that he’d essentially adopted a cat.
He hadn’t even meant to talk to Ikuta Toma at the bus stop. The guy was spacing out with a huge bleeding gash on his forehead. Thinking about it now, even if Jun knew him, that beaten up face could only cause him unnecessary trouble. Calling out to him was a mistake, almost instinctive as his uncertainty and curiosity took over. He was eerily illuminated by the lamp post he was leaning against and if not for the red streak from his forehead now drying on his cheek, Jun would think that Toma was a ghost, pale and otherworldly.
Recognizing him as a high school acquaintance was another shock, Jun blames that too for his moment of weakness. In the foggy landscape of his memory, Jun remembers Ikuta Toma as a bubbly, popular kouhai. He was always smiling and being good naturedly roughed about by the seniors on the soccer club. Jun himself played baseball so never interacted with him personally. But they went to each other’s games and Toma bought Jun a popsicle once as part of losing a bet with some guys in the baseball team.
Toma had called him ‘Matsumoto-senpai” while handing him the popsicle with a smile as bright as the sun melting the sticky sweet orange flavored treat onto his fingers. That image sticks out sharply amidst the haze of his memories; the heat burning against his nape and Toma’s smile pushing the prickles down his spine.
Toma hasn’t really smiled since his arrival. He doesn’t look unhappy per say but he interacts with Jun in small gestures and few words, sometimes Jun isn’t sure if Toma can see him despite looking right at him. Jun has never seen Toma do anything other than, cook, clean or watch TV. But Jun is aware that Toma must have a life and that he leaves the house. Not only are the groceries being replaced but Toma wears what must be his own clothes since Jun hasn’t given lent him any of his stuff since the first day. Certain things have cropped up around the house that Jun doesn’t instantly realize aren’t his. But upon closer inspection, they’re unmistakably Toma’s things. There’s two sci-fi novels, a toothbrush and hand cream that he never remembers buying. Interesting enough, he also finds a second bottle of the perfume he uses in his bathroom, half used. He wonders if Toma’s always used that one or if he liked how Jun smelled and bought it.
Two weeks pass and still the only things they talk about is Jun’s day and what Toma saw on TV. Often they watch said TV together, the only time Jun can ever hear Toma laugh. Toma hasn’t forbidden him to ask him about his life but Jun finds that he can’t. After a while, he realizes that he doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to face the reality of Toma outside this house that makes Toma’s reality inside it temporary. He doesn’t like thinking about Toma not being there.
Jun thinks about Toma at random parts of his day, during boring meetings and long commutes to factories in the countryside. It occurs to him that Toma must have a job, or rich parents because he keeps replacing soap, toothpaste and cleaning supplies. Jun wonders what Toma likes to do, imagining him playing soccer during the day, laughing and joshing about with his teammates.
Jun buys a soccer ball.
Toma startles when Jun hands him the soccer ball in lieu of his usual ‘Tadaima~’ His shocked expression soon recovers into something unbridled and happy as he clutches at it. ‘Thank you senpai.” He says with a blush and this time Jun startles because he didn’t think Toma remembered. But Toma remembers him and is smiling at him and Jun feels like he’s floating, light and free.
Toma’s smiled at Jun once before, since his arrival, the very first night after Jun had cleaned up his wound and given him a fresh set of clothing. Toma had clutched the t-shirt, boxers and sweatpants gratefully, running his thumb across the soft worn out fabric and smiled at him shyly. Even though Toma’s personal clothes started appearing after that, Jun has not seen his first set since
Jun realized that Toma liked it when Jun gave him gifts. When Toma curled into his side that night while watching TV, his hair soft under Jun’s fingertips, Jun couldn’t help but think how very much like a cat Toma was. Maybe it wasn’t that Toma liked the gifts, maybe Toma just liked the affection underlying the gift. Jun understands suddenly why it’s so hard to imagine life without Toma. He’s hit with the reality of his own loneliness and the little ways that Toma moved into that dark space, spreading comfort and light with every affectionate gesture.
Toma smiles at him the next day again as he pours them juice and kisses Jun’s forehead when Jun says, “Ohayo~~” It should feel strange, Jun should feel the need to talk this through, to step back and understand whats happening between them but he doesn’t.
He eats his eggs instead.
Days turn to weeks to months and Jun’s stopped counting how long Toma’s been in his house or what he does although judging by the little swatches of fabric and sequins and sowing things that have accumulated in the various dressers and corners of the house he’s guessing Toma designs costumes. Sometimes he imagines that Toma’s hiding from the yakuza and the dangerous men who’d made that gash on his forehead would come back and threaten them, demand to drag Toma away. Jun thinks he’s ready to fight them, he’s been taking sparring classes at his gym for years. He thinks that Toma was lean but muscular and could hold his own end if push came to shove...not that Jun’s been looking or anything.
He picks up a little flyer that has the dates for a dance performance tucked between Toma’s sketchbook.
“Are you in this?”
Toma looks a little surprised, like he didn’t expect Jun to care. ‘No. But my clothes are. You want to come?”
It was Jun’s turn to be surprised, “Can I?”
This time when Toma smiled, Jun thought of hot days, school uniforms and sticky popsicles, “Yeah, I’d like that.”
When Toma kissed him that night curling up next to him and they forgot to watch TV, choosing instead to engage in light touches and roaming fingers over heated skin, Jun figured he didn’t really know why Toma was here in his life. He didn't know why Toma had looked so lost the first night he’d come here or how long Toma wanted to stay.
When Toma had whispered ‘senpai~’ breathily into his ear as they rocked together, Jun figured he didn’t really need to know.
He was ready to fight regardless.
Note: Publishing a one-shot after some time, would love to hear what you think. Toma is actually a lot like Nino here whoopsie but I wanted to write JunMa for Sickie <3