(no subject)
Title: Bear With Me
Disclaimer: (n) A statement disclaiming something, especially responsibility
Rating: PG
Pairing: Okada Junichi/Ninomiya Kazunari
Word Count: ~1200
Notes: Written for a the prompt Nino accompanying Okada to give out home-made wood carved bears back in a February anonymeme. Also, I really wanted to call this Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, but couldn't justify the non-connection, so you get a ridiculous pun instead. l-lol
Nino could have been surprised when Okada Junichi showed up on the proverbial doorstep of his apartment in Meguro (seeing as he didn't actually have a doorstep). He could have been surprised that Okada chose to show up on said proverbial doorstep at the ungodly hour of five in the morning, looking as awake as if he'd gotten a full night's sleep. He could have been surprised by the rucksack, bulging at its seams, its contents thunking softly every time Okada shifted.
He could have been, but it was Okada.
Nino, still rubbing sleep from his eyes with one hand, keeping himself from stumbling into the genkan with the other, stepped back and let Okada in. "Somethin' happen?"
Though he'd never given Okada his address (he'd never even given Okada his phone number), Nino didn't bother to ask how Okada had come by it. He was willing to bet that Inocchi (or Inocchi via Taichi) was involved in the procuring. Nino made a mental note to kill Inocchi later.
"I have bears," Okada said.
Nino allowed a long silence, during which he stared at Okada, to reign. Then he turned towards the kitchen and walked away, leaving Okada to take off his shoes and close the door. He heard footsteps behind him not long after. He didn't let his concentration waver from putting on water to boil. "Coffee?"
"Sure."
"Sit down."
The chair squeaked against the floor as Nino poured the necessary measure of coffee grounds into the filter and pulled out two mugs. For a moment the only sound was of ceramic clinking. Nino turned around and leaned on the counter.
"You have bears."
Okada nodded. "To give to children."
"You give bears to children," Nino repeated flatly.
Okada fiddled with a zipper of his rucksack, opened the thing carefully, then reached and pulled out a small wooden carving. He placed it on the table where Nino could see. "Sort of. I leave them on park benches and hope someone takes them. They're usually gone by the next morning, so I figure it's working."
His explanation had the patient, practiced air of something well-rehearsed. Nino had a feeling that Okada had been made to explain himself several times already and he resisted the urge to smack his forehead. He just had to remember that this was Okada he was dealing with. Okada's crazy was different from other people's crazy.
The kettle spluttered and began to whistle behind him.
"So...?" Nino prompted, turning around to deal with making coffee. "Sugar or milk?"
"Just a little milk," Okada said. Nino heard wood thunking against more wood against the floor and turned his head to see Okada putting his rucksack down. Okada looked back up at him when it was safely settled. "So I want you to come."
"Aren't you supposed to be afraid of your juniors?"
"I'm afraid of Yamashita," Okada mumbled. "He has fans."
"You're lucky it's too early for me to be offended by that," Nino said. He poured extra milk and let his hand slip with the sugar spoon, dumping a spiteful teaspoon into Okada's mug.
He set the overly-doctored coffee in front of Okada and sat down, taking a sip of his own, perfectly done coffee. If Okada noticed something was wrong, he didn't say anything. They sat in silence and Nino was nearly done with his drink when Okada spoke again.
"Are you coming?"
"You woke me up at five in the morning on my first day off in almost two months," Nino griped, setting his mug down. He heaved a sigh. "I might as well. But frequent breaks will be taken when I so desire, and all meals, snacks, and drinks will all be provided by money that is not mine, and I do not mean to make them cheap for you. If this is disagreeable I will hold your bears hostage."
"When did you become Ken?" Okada shook his head in mocking dispair. "You're doing the actual buying."
Nino smiled. Caffeine was a magical thing indeed.
------
Several hours later, Nino was not looking upon the project quite as kindly as he had been just before they'd set out. They hadn't left his apartment until almost six-thirty, because Nino had demanded that he be allowed to shower. From his apartment it was a slow, thirty minute walk to the area Okada had picked to begin his bears-for-all campaign. They had gotten breakfast at a quiet cafe, devoid of anybody but the owners, and another fortifying coffee.
That time at the cafe had been the highlight of the day so far.
Nino had no idea there were so many bloody parks in Meguro, and Okada had apparently charted a course to go to every single one. At each park, Nino found himself presented with two or three carved bears and shoved in the line of sight of the kids with them. Okada proceeded to disappear behind a magical tree or ninja curtain or something, and Nino was left to try and make friends with small children in a few minutes so he could rid himself of the carvings. For a while, Nino took his revenge by making Okada stop at every convenience store they passed and buying something at each one. That tactic just made Okada spend more time at each park and Nino gave up after the fourth round.
"How many of these do you have?" Nino whined, brushing dirt from his jeans after the eighth successful venture. His watch told him it was nearly 12.
Okada looked into his rucksack. "A dozen more, maybe?"
If they were only now down to a dozen, Nino decided he didn't want to know how many they'd given out. He rolled his shoulders and winced when they popped. "What, did you save them all for a day when I could go?"
Okada shouldered the bag and pulled his hat down, but not before Nino caught the sheepish, almost embarrassed face he made. Like he'd been found out. Nino blinked rapidly for a moment.
"I haven't had a chance to go out in a while," Okada said. He sounded vaguely apologetic.
Nino guessed that it meant on any other day there would have been fewer to give away. Okada really had been found out, and warmth spread from the pit of Nino's stomach, through his body, all the way to his finger-tips. He grumbled and forced his face into an exaggerated frown. "You are buying me the most expensive lunch I can think of."
Okada nodded, looking sheepish still.
Nino sighed, biting back a laugh. He moved to Okada's side and purposefully brushed their shoulders. "Where to now?"
Okada pressed a warm coffee can to Nino's chest. Nino hadn't even seen him purchase it. He wrapped his hand around it automatically, and in doing so wrapped his hand around Okada's. For that moment, they just stood there, looking at each other. Okada leaned in. Nino leaned in. Lips brushed in the quickest, most fleeting kiss Nino could ever remember.
Okada pulled away, wiggled his hand out from under Nino's, and started off. Nino rolled his eyes and began to trudge after him. He held the coffee can to his chest far longer than he should have.
Disclaimer: (n) A statement disclaiming something, especially responsibility
Rating: PG
Pairing: Okada Junichi/Ninomiya Kazunari
Word Count: ~1200
Notes: Written for a the prompt Nino accompanying Okada to give out home-made wood carved bears back in a February anonymeme. Also, I really wanted to call this Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, but couldn't justify the non-connection, so you get a ridiculous pun instead. l-lol
Nino could have been surprised when Okada Junichi showed up on the proverbial doorstep of his apartment in Meguro (seeing as he didn't actually have a doorstep). He could have been surprised that Okada chose to show up on said proverbial doorstep at the ungodly hour of five in the morning, looking as awake as if he'd gotten a full night's sleep. He could have been surprised by the rucksack, bulging at its seams, its contents thunking softly every time Okada shifted.
He could have been, but it was Okada.
Nino, still rubbing sleep from his eyes with one hand, keeping himself from stumbling into the genkan with the other, stepped back and let Okada in. "Somethin' happen?"
Though he'd never given Okada his address (he'd never even given Okada his phone number), Nino didn't bother to ask how Okada had come by it. He was willing to bet that Inocchi (or Inocchi via Taichi) was involved in the procuring. Nino made a mental note to kill Inocchi later.
"I have bears," Okada said.
Nino allowed a long silence, during which he stared at Okada, to reign. Then he turned towards the kitchen and walked away, leaving Okada to take off his shoes and close the door. He heard footsteps behind him not long after. He didn't let his concentration waver from putting on water to boil. "Coffee?"
"Sure."
"Sit down."
The chair squeaked against the floor as Nino poured the necessary measure of coffee grounds into the filter and pulled out two mugs. For a moment the only sound was of ceramic clinking. Nino turned around and leaned on the counter.
"You have bears."
Okada nodded. "To give to children."
"You give bears to children," Nino repeated flatly.
Okada fiddled with a zipper of his rucksack, opened the thing carefully, then reached and pulled out a small wooden carving. He placed it on the table where Nino could see. "Sort of. I leave them on park benches and hope someone takes them. They're usually gone by the next morning, so I figure it's working."
His explanation had the patient, practiced air of something well-rehearsed. Nino had a feeling that Okada had been made to explain himself several times already and he resisted the urge to smack his forehead. He just had to remember that this was Okada he was dealing with. Okada's crazy was different from other people's crazy.
The kettle spluttered and began to whistle behind him.
"So...?" Nino prompted, turning around to deal with making coffee. "Sugar or milk?"
"Just a little milk," Okada said. Nino heard wood thunking against more wood against the floor and turned his head to see Okada putting his rucksack down. Okada looked back up at him when it was safely settled. "So I want you to come."
"Aren't you supposed to be afraid of your juniors?"
"I'm afraid of Yamashita," Okada mumbled. "He has fans."
"You're lucky it's too early for me to be offended by that," Nino said. He poured extra milk and let his hand slip with the sugar spoon, dumping a spiteful teaspoon into Okada's mug.
He set the overly-doctored coffee in front of Okada and sat down, taking a sip of his own, perfectly done coffee. If Okada noticed something was wrong, he didn't say anything. They sat in silence and Nino was nearly done with his drink when Okada spoke again.
"Are you coming?"
"You woke me up at five in the morning on my first day off in almost two months," Nino griped, setting his mug down. He heaved a sigh. "I might as well. But frequent breaks will be taken when I so desire, and all meals, snacks, and drinks will all be provided by money that is not mine, and I do not mean to make them cheap for you. If this is disagreeable I will hold your bears hostage."
"When did you become Ken?" Okada shook his head in mocking dispair. "You're doing the actual buying."
Nino smiled. Caffeine was a magical thing indeed.
------
Several hours later, Nino was not looking upon the project quite as kindly as he had been just before they'd set out. They hadn't left his apartment until almost six-thirty, because Nino had demanded that he be allowed to shower. From his apartment it was a slow, thirty minute walk to the area Okada had picked to begin his bears-for-all campaign. They had gotten breakfast at a quiet cafe, devoid of anybody but the owners, and another fortifying coffee.
That time at the cafe had been the highlight of the day so far.
Nino had no idea there were so many bloody parks in Meguro, and Okada had apparently charted a course to go to every single one. At each park, Nino found himself presented with two or three carved bears and shoved in the line of sight of the kids with them. Okada proceeded to disappear behind a magical tree or ninja curtain or something, and Nino was left to try and make friends with small children in a few minutes so he could rid himself of the carvings. For a while, Nino took his revenge by making Okada stop at every convenience store they passed and buying something at each one. That tactic just made Okada spend more time at each park and Nino gave up after the fourth round.
"How many of these do you have?" Nino whined, brushing dirt from his jeans after the eighth successful venture. His watch told him it was nearly 12.
Okada looked into his rucksack. "A dozen more, maybe?"
If they were only now down to a dozen, Nino decided he didn't want to know how many they'd given out. He rolled his shoulders and winced when they popped. "What, did you save them all for a day when I could go?"
Okada shouldered the bag and pulled his hat down, but not before Nino caught the sheepish, almost embarrassed face he made. Like he'd been found out. Nino blinked rapidly for a moment.
"I haven't had a chance to go out in a while," Okada said. He sounded vaguely apologetic.
Nino guessed that it meant on any other day there would have been fewer to give away. Okada really had been found out, and warmth spread from the pit of Nino's stomach, through his body, all the way to his finger-tips. He grumbled and forced his face into an exaggerated frown. "You are buying me the most expensive lunch I can think of."
Okada nodded, looking sheepish still.
Nino sighed, biting back a laugh. He moved to Okada's side and purposefully brushed their shoulders. "Where to now?"
Okada pressed a warm coffee can to Nino's chest. Nino hadn't even seen him purchase it. He wrapped his hand around it automatically, and in doing so wrapped his hand around Okada's. For that moment, they just stood there, looking at each other. Okada leaned in. Nino leaned in. Lips brushed in the quickest, most fleeting kiss Nino could ever remember.
Okada pulled away, wiggled his hand out from under Nino's, and started off. Nino rolled his eyes and began to trudge after him. He held the coffee can to his chest far longer than he should have.