Together (oneshot)
Title: Together
Pairing: Ohmiya
Rating: G
Genre: Romance, Angst (maybe???)
Length: ~2.300 words
Disclaimer: Though I wish otherwise, Arashi owns me not vice versa
Summary: After the publication of the infamous ‘Nino is a sexual powerhouse’ article, Ohno is at a loss how to comfort him.
A/N: Oh.My.God. I’m so nervous because this is the 1st time ever I’m posting a fanfic. Please note that English is not my native language, this piece is unbeta-ed and I am lightyears from being a professional writer. With that in mind, please tell me what you think about it.
Ohno sighed heavily as he folded the newspaper and laid it aside. He looked at the headline he had been reading and then suddenly reached out to turn it over.
He leaned forward to rest his head in his hands.
What should I do now? he asked himself and sighed again because he knew he didn’t have an answer. His glance wandered across the slightly messy living room he was currently in. He had meant to clean it up today (he wouldn’t want to be told he couldn’t be left alone) but after reading that particular interview he had rather lost all motivation for it.
There was only one thing that mattered right now. Nino.
True, he was used to living an exposed life, they all were. They had PR agents and managers and the company itself and all worked hard in granting the idols at least a little bit of privacy. But there was simply no way to stop the tabloids and their reporters to dig in the life of almost every celebrity. A scandalous family background? No way to hide that. A heartbreaking break-up? Be sure the papers published it before even their families knew. But normally they would at least have the decency to respect the love life of said celebrities. Okay, Ohno himself knew that the belief in this decency could backfire magnificiently, but still… It just wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair.
Ohno smiled bitterly while he reminiscened all the headlines he and his bandmates had made with scandolous stories over the past eleven years. He sighed again, bringing his thoughts back to the present. His gaze rested on the photoframe standing on a tiny table beside the couch. It showed him hugging a smiling Nino who hugged him back. He remembered clearly the day it had been taken. They had made a tiny trip on a day off, just the two of them. Nino had tried to grab his butt while the self-timer ticked and Ohno had tried to wriggle out of his hands’ reach. They both looked so carefree.
Ohno sighed once more. He was no good to deal with situations like this, he just never knew what to say to comfort the one in trouble. He was a good listener, he could listen hours at a time. But the instant an advice was needed he was just useless. This troubled him sometimes and sometimes it hurt a little bit to see someone else being asked for help. As much as he acknowledged his own helplessness, sometimes he couldn’t help feeling a little rejected by that. And at a day like this, he wished he just knew what to do and say. Instead of being completely clueless like right now.
Ohno reached for the photograph and traced the laughing and shining faces with one long finger.
„I’m so sorry, Nino,“ he whispered. He remebered how Nino had walked to him straight away the moment he heard about his, Ohno’s, scandal. He had hugged the older man tenderly and stroked his back while whispering in his ears that he’d be there for him, no matter what would happen, and that together they’d get through this.
„And now I don’t know how to help you,“ Ohno added sadly. He knew that Nino would laugh at it the moment he was confronted with the interview. He would shrug it off and maybe make a snarky remark before pretending nothing had happened in the first place. But Ohno also knew that inside Nino wouldn’t be laughing or be able to forget it. Nino just was the type to keep his problems to himself and breed on them until he found a solution. And while everyone might think he was okay, Ohno knew how much it would throw Nino off-balance.
But really, what should he do about it? Even if his name wasn’t mentioned explicitely, it was quite obvious to whom the woman was referring. And what she had told the media was just so private- regardless whether it was true or not. Either way, it would disturb anyone to read about themselves like that. That she couldn’t know what she was talking about was something Ohno knew. But the majority would assume she was talking out of personal experience. And the way she had done it - it was just too embarassing to read it. Her choice of words (not to mention the extent of details) was disgusting, nothing less.
Even if it had been about a complete stranger, Ohno would have been embarassed while reading or hearing it. But this was Nino and Ohno couldn’t stand knowing that he was in distress. He wished that he could at least be with him right now but Nino was away for a re-shot for ‘Gantz’ and wouldn’t return until the next day. Had he been with him, Ohno wouldn’t have left his side, not even for a second. Even if he hadn’t had anything to say, he could have held his hand, he could have listened to him relieve his worries.
Being on set also meant that Ohno couldn’t just call Nino. He could of course ask an assitant to deliver a message or have him tell Nino to call him back but what good would that be? Nino wouldn’t have the time anyway and there was no need to let anyone else into it. The only way of communication Ohno had was emailing. Nino might have received lots and lots of messages due to that interview and he might ignore them for the most part - but he would also always read Ohno’s.
But what could he write? Dear Nino, don’t think about that some stupid attention-seeking lunatic just told the whole nation about your sexual preferences and stamina. Could be worse, ne? At least she didn’t include a picture (haha). Yours sincerely, Satoshi. If he wrote that, Nino would at least stop being mad at that woman and be mad beyond description at him. Ohno sighed once again. That really was no option…
Dear Nino, I love you anyway, so don’t let it bother you, ne? No, that wouldn’t help either. There was no way this couldn’t bother Nino and all the love in the world couldn’t change that.
Damn it, why couldn’t it be the other way around? Nino always knew how to advice people, how to soothe them and point them the right way.
Dear Nino, I don’t know if you read- No, no, no, of course he had read that.
Dear Nino, look at the bright side. What bright side?
Ohno nearly tossed his mobile away in frustration. He considered calling Jun or Sho, they were much better at this than he was. He was halfway in dialing a number when his look flickered across the photo again. He stopped and let his phone sink. If he went that way, he could just as well ask the two to send Nino an email themselves - it would lead to the same result. Though, he might just get some inspiration… But, no, somehow it felt like cheating. What he wanted to give Nino was his support and not the one of his friends (even if was nevertheless happy to know they were there).
Maybe you’re doing it all wrong, Ohno pondered. Now think. When has Nino ever said that you really helped him? And what have you done that time? Ohno’s mind stayed blank. It wasn’t that he had never helped Nino before - but never before had he had to deal with something so serious. And never before did he only have his sms-service to transport his feelings.
Okay, once more. What would you write if this was a normal mail? Ohno asked himself. The answer flew into his mind immediately.
Dear Kazu, I miss you so much~! I can’t wait for tomorrow when I have you finally back©! It’s so silent without you here… and no, the apartment does not look like a bomb exploded in it. Hmm, okay, maybe the last sentence didn’t quite match the atmosphere. But the beginning wasn’t bad. Ohno typed it in and then went back to thinking.
How should he mention this stupid interview? Should he tell him that it wasn’t worth bothering? Or would badmouthing be the better option? Somehow both didn’t feel right to Ohno.
What would Nino write? Ohno bit his lip. Hmm… He would probably tell me that he’d be by my side and if I wanted him to, he’d come immediately. And if anyone tried to upset his Oh-chan further, they’d have him to deal with. Ohno smiled to himself. Dear, dear Nino…
But this wasn’t him and it wouldn’t be getting him anywhere to write his mail like that.
Let’s try it the other way around. What would make Nino smile? Ohno didn’t need to think long to come up with the answer: He, games, his guitar, he, a look at his savings, he, melon bread for breakfast, hamburger for dinner and lunch, he…
Okay. Ohno had no idea about games, he could hardly hold a guitar the right way up, he didn’t really bother about saving money (at least not near to the extent Nino did) and as for food… he wasn’t famous for eating almost everything for nothing. But he liked bread…
Suddenly Ohno had an idea. He wasn’t too sure about it, but he couldn’t come up with anything else. He put his phone aside and got up. He walked quickly over to the kitchen and opened various drawers to get out everything he needed. With a determined expression he went to weigh and meassure the ingredients, kneaded and finally put the dough into shape. It took him a while until he was satisfied and stuffed it into the oven. Impatiently he waited for the kitchen timer to indicate that an hour had passed. When it eventually did, he took the finished bread out to cool down. It had a nice light-brown colour and was almost perfectly heart-shaped. Ohno rushed back to the living room to fetch his phone. Once back he took a photo of his self-made bread and started typing the text he had formed inside his head the past hour.
Dear Kazu, I can’t wait for tomorrow, I miss you so much~! I know you’re troubled right now and I wish I knew what to say to make you smile again… I know that you know that you can call me anytime if you need me. Even though it’s not much I can do except listening to you, if there’s anything I can do to make you feel better, I will. Love, Satoshi ©
PS: You were right, of course; the whole place looks like a bomb just exploded. So come home as fast as possible to look after me.
He didn’t read it a second time but just hit Send.
=================
Tired not only from today’s work Nino sat down during a short break. While the lighting assistant discussed something with the director he was able to enjoy a five minutes peace. He drank some water and rubbed his burning eyes. Today he felt like a hundred-years-old. He reached for his phone and flicked it open in order to check his mailbox. Smiling bitterly he saw that it was literally overflowing with messages. He scrolled through them without sparing most of them a second glance, he intended to delete the majority right away without bothering to read them anyway.
He halted suddenly. Oh-chan: 16:42 µNo subject
He blinked and then opened it quickly. For the first time that day he could feel a real smile curl up his lips. He looked for a long time at the picture of a heart-shaped bread before he started reading the message. He felt a warmth spreading through his aching body and a familiar longing started tearing at his heart. He quickly typed an answer and hit Send. He finished just in time before he was called back. Nino put his phone back into his bag and walked over to where he was needed, feeling a little lighter than five minutes before.
====================
The moment his phone indicated an incoming message Ohno literally threw himself at it. He let out a relieved sigh when he saw it was from Nino.
Kazu: 18:12 Re: No subject
Impatiently he opened the message and started reading it feverishly.
My dear Oh-chan©! Really, I can’t leave you alone~. Expect me home around 5 pm. I can’t wait to see you, too!!
PS: That bread looks so delicious! I’m waiting to see whether you’ll save me something ‘till tomorrow. ^^;
PPS: Right now I’m okay but I might call you tonight. It could be really late though and maybe I’m too tired then… But I’m so happy to have you by my side, in general and now especially. And just so you know, for me it’s not not much what you do for me. You’re my anchor, Satoshi~. I feel like I’d lose my sanity without you… Sou, ja ne!
Ohno let out the breath he had been holding. Apparently he had done something right. He typed a short Call me anytime, no matter how late, ne? Love you and sent that too. Then he allowed himself to sit down and relax.
This wasn’t over, he knew that. But still, the feeling to have been able to help Nino at least a tiny little bit was enough to give him the strength to face anything that they might have to face yet. After all, they were in this together.