(no subject)
Title: Paint my world (with dark black charcoal)
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Rating: Pg
Summary: when a man who has never seen colour before and a man whose life has been nothing but colour itself meet one day because of an untied shoelace, this is their love story.AU
a/n: Another AU piece. It’s been saved on my hard drive for months, and I really wanted to finish it before I start on a contest fic on another pairing. I know that some things aren’t properly elaborated on but I’m pretty satisfied with this.
0.
He leaves a trail of fresh light everywhere he goes; slashes of bright happy colour that soaks everyone who comes into contact with him. One day, he meets someone who can’t see the colour he leaves behind; only, perhaps, brighter shades of greys and whites. But maybe, just maybe, they’ll find that there is a little bit more to the true colour of life.
1.
He lives very well; a few commissions keep him running throughout the year. Ohno spends his days in his studio, hidden away in a tiny nook in a tiny town, away from the big city. Once in a while, he’ll venture out for inspiration; or to visit the bread shop down the road. Most of the time, he paints, big beautiful pictures filled with bright cheery colours. It is, perhaps, a rather large contrast when it comes to him, but he does it all the same.
Ohno has, in his lifetime, acquired a few friends who come to visit everyone in a while. Ohno doesn’t know it (or if he does, he shows no indication at all) but every one of his friends has been in love with him at some point of time and some still are. They hide it well though; it’s like that with Ohno; you can’t help but fall, hard.
Ohno likes making things, he likes painting them to match his moods and touching them up just till their perfect. He likes the way he can change something dark and dull and turn it into something that makes one smile. All in all, Ohno is happy, contented and full intends to live the way he does till he dies.
2.
Nino has never known colour. He kept this to himself though, since he was a little boy and couldn’t understand the concept of colour pencils and crayons. Nino hates colour, he hates anything that isn’t originally black and white because it’s a reminder; a bitter reminder of the stark darkness of his life.
He decorates his house in white (that itself was a problem seeing that he couldn’t really tell what was white or not) and shades of gray and black; at least then people who came over would see what it’s like. (Not that anyone actually came over at all)
Nino pretends not to mind; he can’t be missing that much. Somehow though, deep inside, the boy who couldn’t tell the colour of the sun still wants to experience the magic everyone seems to know of. He wishes he could tell blue from green and purple from orange, but he can’t, he can’t and he hates it.
3.
Nino hates going back to him hometown. It’s hot and dusty and the shops don’t sell batteries. But he goes back anyway, or his mother will give him hell for it. There is a house next to his parent’s house. It used to be old and run down and full of stray cats but Nino realises something. The house is still old, but not so run down anymore. It looks well furnished, clean and somehow cheerful. Nino decides that he hates it.
He stays in his room, ignoring everyone and coming out only to eat. He spends his time playing games and trying to decide how to tell his parents that they shouldn’t ever expect him to produce grandchildren.
4.
One day, Ohno runs out of yellow paint. He needs the yellow paint, because Aiba likes yellow and he’s pretty sure ducks are yellow and he’s knows that Aiba likes ducks. He eats his breakfast slowly, making floating pictures in his cornflakes. Then he pulls on his shoes and his coat and trudges out of his studio and out his front door.
It’s been quite some time, Ohno realises, almost three weeks since he’s been outside. It’s a lovely day, the sun shines happily behind the clouds and the wind tugs lightly at loose strands of his hair. Ohno smiles, he supposes today will be a good day.
5.
Nino wakes up on the floor, on the wrong side of his too-small bed. He scowls through breakfast and closes himself in his room, only to realise that his DS is out of batteries. He swears, in a way his mother would be appalled at, had she heard him, when he also realises that he’s used up the last ones last week.
His mother makes him go buy the batteries himself, because he needs the exercise and fresh air. Nino huffs, and tells her that all he has to do is stand by a window to get the damn fresh air, but goes anyway, making sure to slam the door just hard enough for his displeasure to get across, but not hard enough to incur his mother’s wrath.
6.
Ohno walks slowly down to the convenience store, the one that has everything and anything. He takes his time, enjoying the exercise and the crunch of the road under his comfy brown sneakers (his birthday present from Jun five years ago)
He sniffs as wafts of fresh bread travel to his nose from the bakery nearby, and smiles to himself, idly wondering if there is such a thing as yellow bread. He stops to retie his shoe lace, bending over all the way. He doesn’t take into consideration that he’s in the middle of the walkway, very conveniently blocking anyone who is walking and very conveniently there for anyone who isn’t paying attention to trip over.
Which is what Nino does.
7.
Nino, despite being taller than Ohno is the one that topples over and lands on his ass. Ohno blinks and finishes up with his shoe lace before turning round to find an angry Nino glaring at him, dented DS in hand.
You, he seethes, are going to pay.
8.
As it turns out, Ohno is much stronger than he looks, and Nino is possible even weaker than he appears.
9.
Nino sulkily agrees on monetary compensation and follows Ohno, who insists on getting his paint back home. Niño makes Ohno buys his batteries, the extra large pack too, for when his DS is fixed, or replaced.
Ohno walks slowly, still enjoying the nice day and having half-forgotten the small man trailing behind him, still clutching at his DS. He hums as he walks, painting pictures in his head and trying to imagine how Aiba’s duck’s will look like with the pretty yellow paint. (That Nino is holding hostage, just so Ohno won’t bolt)
10.
Nino scowls even harder when he realises that Ohno lives in the old house next to his. The stray cats are still there, peeing on the garden bed and lazing around on the wall that separates the two houses. Ohno invites him in, wearing his shoes into the kitchen to pour Nino a drink. Nino leaves his shoes neatly at the door and steps in, perching gingerly on a couch and looking around. The house is clean, a little dusty but with pretty and rather expensive furniture and several portraits hung around the place.
It needs a woman’s touch, Nino finds himself thinking, as he surveys the room, the tin of paint still dangling in his hands. Ohno bustles out, with a glass of orange juice and a chequebook (heaven knows what It was doing in the kitchen) and sits down next to Nino. So, he says, Can I have my paint now?
Nino hands it over, and waits patiently for Ohno to pry the lid open to check that the contents are intact. Ohno dips a finger in and rubs the paint all over his nice white couch. Nino squeaks, and asks Ohno what the hell he’s doing. Ohno shrugs smiles and tells him that he’s testing out the paint. Nino snorts, and tells him that there is a reason paper was invented. But moves to the side to let Ohno paint a tiny duck right where Nino’s left thigh was.
Somehow, they never quite get down to opening the cheque book.
11.
Nino practically moves in with Ohno. Ohno doesn’t notice for three whole weeks.
12.
It’s natural, almost as if Ohno’s taken Nino as a friend, as if it’s a matter of course for Nino to move in. Nino can’t understand it, perhaps even wants to see how far he can push till Ohno realises. Nino doesn’t think its physical attraction, even if Ohno is rather cute, but there’s something special about Ohno that Nino’s never seen before.
Ohno lets Nino sit next to him on the now yellow couch, knees brushing casually as he sketches. Nino talks, about random things and probably more than he has in his entire life. It’s comfortable, this unspoken relationship formed from nothing at all.
Sometimes, Nino thinks about the end, about when the inevitable time where this has to stop finally arrives. But then Ohno will come in, whistling softy the song Nino played on his guitar the other night and Nino will fall perhaps a little bit more.
13.
Ohno isn’t quite sure who exactly Nino is. But Nino is warmth, bashfulness and refreshing, all rolled into one. Ohno finds that he likes this mixture a whole lot. Nino also enjoys whining and grumbling, and talking too. Ohno lets the words enter his ear, and let them go right into the special part of his memory saved for Nino, without really processing it at all.
Nino is small, despite having a few centimetres on Ohno. He’s light too, light enough to fit comfortable on Ohno’s lap, even though they’re sitting on a couch just right for two people. But Ohno doesn’t mind, having Nino near him is nice. He’s finished all his commissions, in record time too and started several others as well. Ohno likes painting when Nino is near him; somehow the strokes seem lighter, freer and happier than they ever have before.
Ohno smiles into Nino’s hair and tugs a blanket over both of them. Every day, he decides, is a good day.
14.
One day, Nino mentions the gray paint that Ohno first painted the couch with. Ohno scratches his nose thoughtfully, it was yellow, he says, searching back in his Nino memories. Nino nods quickly, yeah, he says, yellow. He looks down at his hands and plays with the blanket on his lap; it’s a dark shade of gray. Ohno shifts a little and looks at Nino carefully. What’s wrong, he asks, and it’s more of a statement than a question.
Nothing, Nino says sullenly, glaring at the blanket. As reality comes crashing back at him, he sighs and wonders why he had to fall in love with a painter.
15.
For Nino’s birthday, Ohno paints a beautiful water colour of Nino and his guitar. Nino loves it, and carries it about with him for a good four days till it becomes too troublesome. But Ohno sees the tiny downturn of the lips, a trace of wistfulness in Nino eyes when he looks at the painting. And Ohno frowns, because he realises that he’s sad too, just because Nino is.
16.
For Ohno’s birthday, Nino gives him a song. The music sheet is black and white, five sheets of them on the sleek back piano in Ohno’s house. The keys move up and down as Nino sings, refusing to look at Ohno. When he stops, somehow sweating like a fountain, Ohno smiles and asks what the title is. Nino purses his lips and glances at the piano, black and white staring back at him. Rainbow, he answers, it’s called rainbow, because Oh-chan is just like one. (He doesn’t add that he’s never seen a rainbow in his life)
Ohno smiles even wider, but still so gentle, so loving and Nino feels himself fall so hard that he knows there’s no turning back.
17.
Ohno finds out entirely by accident. Nino tells him that he’s wearing white shoes when he’s actually wearing pale yellow. Then he mistake the grey bowls for dark brown and asks Ohno if he’s going to change the couch covers (even though Ohno did that last week). Ohno ponders the possible reason for Nino’s colour confusion and finally realises that’s just it; Nino mixes them up because he simply doesn’t know them.
Ohno doesn’t need to ponder to know why Nino doesn’t want him to know. Instead, he ponders over the fact that he really, truly doesn’t care.
18.
Nino clams up when Ohno asks him. But Ohno takes him by the shoulders and tugs him close. I don’t care, he says, right into Nino’s ear, firm and clear. I don’t care if you’ll never see any of my paintings in anything other than black and white. I don’t care if you never see me in anything other than that either. I don’t care Nino, because I don’t love the way you see things, I love you
Nino cries that day, in Ohno’s arms. He cries for the first time since he was five years old and hiding under his covers all alone. Except this time, he’s not alone, Ohno is there, strong and warm and there to protect him.
19.
Ohno takes up charcoal painting. He gets charcoal all over the house and on all the cushion covers. But Nino just laughs and hugs Ohno tighter, because Ohno is Ohno and Ohno loves Nino the way Nino loves it back.
For the first time in twenty six years, Nino finds that he wouldn’t have his life any other way.
20.
Ohno’s friends come to pick up their paintings and to visit him. Aiba is bright and probably dressed in equally bright colours. Jun is tall and slim and very familiar (although half of Japan probably recognises Matsumoto Jun). Sho is serious and wears nothing but a neatly ironed suit the entire time he’s there.
Ohno smiles when they’re around. He tells Nino that he went to school with them, a long time ago. Nino puts his arms around Ohno’s waist, slightly possessive, till Ohno chuckles and takes Nino’s left hand in his. He doesn’t say anything else, but it’s enough.
21.
Aiba likes his ducks. He tells this to Nino thirty seven times in the duration of his three day visit. He also tells Nino that he’s happy for them. It’s the first time he’s loved anyone back, you know. Aiba whispers one day. Back? Nino asks, Aiba just smiles, eyes’ showing just a hint of longing before it’s gone and he’s reminding Nino of his great love for his cute, fluffy yellow ducks.
22.
Jun is a lot like Nino. And a lot like Nino, he clearly likes Ohno a whole lot. And it’s with Jun that Nino feels the tiniest bit insecure, because Jun is perfect and knows how to appreciate Ohno’s art to it’s fullest. One night, they sit together while Ohno and Aiba are experimenting with Sho’s pinstripe suit under Sho’s nervous supervision. I’d never thought I would lose to someone like you, Jun says. Ohno-kun is special you know, I hope you’re serious though, because I will personally rip you into shreds if you dare break his heart. Nino nods, almost adding an offended reply. But, as he watches Jun swirl his wine and imagines the lonely nights he used to have too, Nino bites his tongue. After all, it’s a form of approval after all, even though it’s different from Aiba’s.
23.
Sho comes to him on the day they’re supposed to leave. Sho looks at Nino carefully, almost as is judging his ability to handle Ohno. Take care of him for me Ninomiya-san Sho says softly, watching Ohno paint on Jun’s shiny black car while Aiba distracts Jun with a sock puppet. I mean, he stops and corrects himself, take care of Satoshi, Ninomiya-kun, I hope you will be happy together.
Nino nods, trying to ignore the longing that Sho tries (and fails) to hide. He prays a little prayer for Sho. He prays that Sho will find someone who loves him as much as he loves Ohno.
24.
Nino never gets another DS. They buy a Wii instead, and Ohno is introduced to the world of virtual bowling. Nino hangs up Ohno’s charcoal paintings properly (taking off the ones taped up messily) and changes the curtains. It’s not exactly a woman’s touch, but Nino figures that it’ll do.
25.
Ohno changes the couch cover to black. He sneaks out when Nino is sleeping and paints a piano on it with white paint. It’s significantly more uncomfortable with the paint on it, but Nino insists on sitting on it whenever he’s in the room.
Ohno pats himself on the back and settles in, right next to Nino and picks up his Wii controller to resume loosing at Mario to Nino. Perhaps, every day from now on will be a good day.
26.
Nino still can’t see colour. He still can’t tell between Ohno’s grey and blue socks and still ends up buying the brown soba instead of the green one. But he figures that it’s alright, Ohno has enough colour for both of them with enough left over after that to fill the whole neighbourhood. He sighs contentedly, picks up his wii control and levels up casually.
Next to him, Ohno is working on a baby lion, Aiba’s latest request.
It’s really kind of perfect. Nino thinks aloud.
It is, isn’t it? Ohno says suddenly in reply. Nino smiles and moves just a little closer to Ohno, till their knees are pressed together. It is, he says back softly.
And it’s true, there really is more to colour than just the ones you can see.
fin
ASDFGHJKL;
IT'S BEEN SO LONG.
or at least a few weeks since I last wrote fic.
But I'm back home early from school today so I though that I should finish this one up.
I 'm not sure I've properly expanded on Nino's colour blindness, but my brain is kinda dead now. If anyone has any ideas, do share them with me and I'll amend it a little.
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Rating: Pg
Summary: when a man who has never seen colour before and a man whose life has been nothing but colour itself meet one day because of an untied shoelace, this is their love story.AU
a/n: Another AU piece. It’s been saved on my hard drive for months, and I really wanted to finish it before I start on a contest fic on another pairing. I know that some things aren’t properly elaborated on but I’m pretty satisfied with this.
0.
He leaves a trail of fresh light everywhere he goes; slashes of bright happy colour that soaks everyone who comes into contact with him. One day, he meets someone who can’t see the colour he leaves behind; only, perhaps, brighter shades of greys and whites. But maybe, just maybe, they’ll find that there is a little bit more to the true colour of life.
1.
He lives very well; a few commissions keep him running throughout the year. Ohno spends his days in his studio, hidden away in a tiny nook in a tiny town, away from the big city. Once in a while, he’ll venture out for inspiration; or to visit the bread shop down the road. Most of the time, he paints, big beautiful pictures filled with bright cheery colours. It is, perhaps, a rather large contrast when it comes to him, but he does it all the same.
Ohno has, in his lifetime, acquired a few friends who come to visit everyone in a while. Ohno doesn’t know it (or if he does, he shows no indication at all) but every one of his friends has been in love with him at some point of time and some still are. They hide it well though; it’s like that with Ohno; you can’t help but fall, hard.
Ohno likes making things, he likes painting them to match his moods and touching them up just till their perfect. He likes the way he can change something dark and dull and turn it into something that makes one smile. All in all, Ohno is happy, contented and full intends to live the way he does till he dies.
2.
Nino has never known colour. He kept this to himself though, since he was a little boy and couldn’t understand the concept of colour pencils and crayons. Nino hates colour, he hates anything that isn’t originally black and white because it’s a reminder; a bitter reminder of the stark darkness of his life.
He decorates his house in white (that itself was a problem seeing that he couldn’t really tell what was white or not) and shades of gray and black; at least then people who came over would see what it’s like. (Not that anyone actually came over at all)
Nino pretends not to mind; he can’t be missing that much. Somehow though, deep inside, the boy who couldn’t tell the colour of the sun still wants to experience the magic everyone seems to know of. He wishes he could tell blue from green and purple from orange, but he can’t, he can’t and he hates it.
3.
Nino hates going back to him hometown. It’s hot and dusty and the shops don’t sell batteries. But he goes back anyway, or his mother will give him hell for it. There is a house next to his parent’s house. It used to be old and run down and full of stray cats but Nino realises something. The house is still old, but not so run down anymore. It looks well furnished, clean and somehow cheerful. Nino decides that he hates it.
He stays in his room, ignoring everyone and coming out only to eat. He spends his time playing games and trying to decide how to tell his parents that they shouldn’t ever expect him to produce grandchildren.
4.
One day, Ohno runs out of yellow paint. He needs the yellow paint, because Aiba likes yellow and he’s pretty sure ducks are yellow and he’s knows that Aiba likes ducks. He eats his breakfast slowly, making floating pictures in his cornflakes. Then he pulls on his shoes and his coat and trudges out of his studio and out his front door.
It’s been quite some time, Ohno realises, almost three weeks since he’s been outside. It’s a lovely day, the sun shines happily behind the clouds and the wind tugs lightly at loose strands of his hair. Ohno smiles, he supposes today will be a good day.
5.
Nino wakes up on the floor, on the wrong side of his too-small bed. He scowls through breakfast and closes himself in his room, only to realise that his DS is out of batteries. He swears, in a way his mother would be appalled at, had she heard him, when he also realises that he’s used up the last ones last week.
His mother makes him go buy the batteries himself, because he needs the exercise and fresh air. Nino huffs, and tells her that all he has to do is stand by a window to get the damn fresh air, but goes anyway, making sure to slam the door just hard enough for his displeasure to get across, but not hard enough to incur his mother’s wrath.
6.
Ohno walks slowly down to the convenience store, the one that has everything and anything. He takes his time, enjoying the exercise and the crunch of the road under his comfy brown sneakers (his birthday present from Jun five years ago)
He sniffs as wafts of fresh bread travel to his nose from the bakery nearby, and smiles to himself, idly wondering if there is such a thing as yellow bread. He stops to retie his shoe lace, bending over all the way. He doesn’t take into consideration that he’s in the middle of the walkway, very conveniently blocking anyone who is walking and very conveniently there for anyone who isn’t paying attention to trip over.
Which is what Nino does.
7.
Nino, despite being taller than Ohno is the one that topples over and lands on his ass. Ohno blinks and finishes up with his shoe lace before turning round to find an angry Nino glaring at him, dented DS in hand.
You, he seethes, are going to pay.
8.
As it turns out, Ohno is much stronger than he looks, and Nino is possible even weaker than he appears.
9.
Nino sulkily agrees on monetary compensation and follows Ohno, who insists on getting his paint back home. Niño makes Ohno buys his batteries, the extra large pack too, for when his DS is fixed, or replaced.
Ohno walks slowly, still enjoying the nice day and having half-forgotten the small man trailing behind him, still clutching at his DS. He hums as he walks, painting pictures in his head and trying to imagine how Aiba’s duck’s will look like with the pretty yellow paint. (That Nino is holding hostage, just so Ohno won’t bolt)
10.
Nino scowls even harder when he realises that Ohno lives in the old house next to his. The stray cats are still there, peeing on the garden bed and lazing around on the wall that separates the two houses. Ohno invites him in, wearing his shoes into the kitchen to pour Nino a drink. Nino leaves his shoes neatly at the door and steps in, perching gingerly on a couch and looking around. The house is clean, a little dusty but with pretty and rather expensive furniture and several portraits hung around the place.
It needs a woman’s touch, Nino finds himself thinking, as he surveys the room, the tin of paint still dangling in his hands. Ohno bustles out, with a glass of orange juice and a chequebook (heaven knows what It was doing in the kitchen) and sits down next to Nino. So, he says, Can I have my paint now?
Nino hands it over, and waits patiently for Ohno to pry the lid open to check that the contents are intact. Ohno dips a finger in and rubs the paint all over his nice white couch. Nino squeaks, and asks Ohno what the hell he’s doing. Ohno shrugs smiles and tells him that he’s testing out the paint. Nino snorts, and tells him that there is a reason paper was invented. But moves to the side to let Ohno paint a tiny duck right where Nino’s left thigh was.
Somehow, they never quite get down to opening the cheque book.
11.
Nino practically moves in with Ohno. Ohno doesn’t notice for three whole weeks.
12.
It’s natural, almost as if Ohno’s taken Nino as a friend, as if it’s a matter of course for Nino to move in. Nino can’t understand it, perhaps even wants to see how far he can push till Ohno realises. Nino doesn’t think its physical attraction, even if Ohno is rather cute, but there’s something special about Ohno that Nino’s never seen before.
Ohno lets Nino sit next to him on the now yellow couch, knees brushing casually as he sketches. Nino talks, about random things and probably more than he has in his entire life. It’s comfortable, this unspoken relationship formed from nothing at all.
Sometimes, Nino thinks about the end, about when the inevitable time where this has to stop finally arrives. But then Ohno will come in, whistling softy the song Nino played on his guitar the other night and Nino will fall perhaps a little bit more.
13.
Ohno isn’t quite sure who exactly Nino is. But Nino is warmth, bashfulness and refreshing, all rolled into one. Ohno finds that he likes this mixture a whole lot. Nino also enjoys whining and grumbling, and talking too. Ohno lets the words enter his ear, and let them go right into the special part of his memory saved for Nino, without really processing it at all.
Nino is small, despite having a few centimetres on Ohno. He’s light too, light enough to fit comfortable on Ohno’s lap, even though they’re sitting on a couch just right for two people. But Ohno doesn’t mind, having Nino near him is nice. He’s finished all his commissions, in record time too and started several others as well. Ohno likes painting when Nino is near him; somehow the strokes seem lighter, freer and happier than they ever have before.
Ohno smiles into Nino’s hair and tugs a blanket over both of them. Every day, he decides, is a good day.
14.
One day, Nino mentions the gray paint that Ohno first painted the couch with. Ohno scratches his nose thoughtfully, it was yellow, he says, searching back in his Nino memories. Nino nods quickly, yeah, he says, yellow. He looks down at his hands and plays with the blanket on his lap; it’s a dark shade of gray. Ohno shifts a little and looks at Nino carefully. What’s wrong, he asks, and it’s more of a statement than a question.
Nothing, Nino says sullenly, glaring at the blanket. As reality comes crashing back at him, he sighs and wonders why he had to fall in love with a painter.
15.
For Nino’s birthday, Ohno paints a beautiful water colour of Nino and his guitar. Nino loves it, and carries it about with him for a good four days till it becomes too troublesome. But Ohno sees the tiny downturn of the lips, a trace of wistfulness in Nino eyes when he looks at the painting. And Ohno frowns, because he realises that he’s sad too, just because Nino is.
16.
For Ohno’s birthday, Nino gives him a song. The music sheet is black and white, five sheets of them on the sleek back piano in Ohno’s house. The keys move up and down as Nino sings, refusing to look at Ohno. When he stops, somehow sweating like a fountain, Ohno smiles and asks what the title is. Nino purses his lips and glances at the piano, black and white staring back at him. Rainbow, he answers, it’s called rainbow, because Oh-chan is just like one. (He doesn’t add that he’s never seen a rainbow in his life)
Ohno smiles even wider, but still so gentle, so loving and Nino feels himself fall so hard that he knows there’s no turning back.
17.
Ohno finds out entirely by accident. Nino tells him that he’s wearing white shoes when he’s actually wearing pale yellow. Then he mistake the grey bowls for dark brown and asks Ohno if he’s going to change the couch covers (even though Ohno did that last week). Ohno ponders the possible reason for Nino’s colour confusion and finally realises that’s just it; Nino mixes them up because he simply doesn’t know them.
Ohno doesn’t need to ponder to know why Nino doesn’t want him to know. Instead, he ponders over the fact that he really, truly doesn’t care.
18.
Nino clams up when Ohno asks him. But Ohno takes him by the shoulders and tugs him close. I don’t care, he says, right into Nino’s ear, firm and clear. I don’t care if you’ll never see any of my paintings in anything other than black and white. I don’t care if you never see me in anything other than that either. I don’t care Nino, because I don’t love the way you see things, I love you
Nino cries that day, in Ohno’s arms. He cries for the first time since he was five years old and hiding under his covers all alone. Except this time, he’s not alone, Ohno is there, strong and warm and there to protect him.
19.
Ohno takes up charcoal painting. He gets charcoal all over the house and on all the cushion covers. But Nino just laughs and hugs Ohno tighter, because Ohno is Ohno and Ohno loves Nino the way Nino loves it back.
For the first time in twenty six years, Nino finds that he wouldn’t have his life any other way.
20.
Ohno’s friends come to pick up their paintings and to visit him. Aiba is bright and probably dressed in equally bright colours. Jun is tall and slim and very familiar (although half of Japan probably recognises Matsumoto Jun). Sho is serious and wears nothing but a neatly ironed suit the entire time he’s there.
Ohno smiles when they’re around. He tells Nino that he went to school with them, a long time ago. Nino puts his arms around Ohno’s waist, slightly possessive, till Ohno chuckles and takes Nino’s left hand in his. He doesn’t say anything else, but it’s enough.
21.
Aiba likes his ducks. He tells this to Nino thirty seven times in the duration of his three day visit. He also tells Nino that he’s happy for them. It’s the first time he’s loved anyone back, you know. Aiba whispers one day. Back? Nino asks, Aiba just smiles, eyes’ showing just a hint of longing before it’s gone and he’s reminding Nino of his great love for his cute, fluffy yellow ducks.
22.
Jun is a lot like Nino. And a lot like Nino, he clearly likes Ohno a whole lot. And it’s with Jun that Nino feels the tiniest bit insecure, because Jun is perfect and knows how to appreciate Ohno’s art to it’s fullest. One night, they sit together while Ohno and Aiba are experimenting with Sho’s pinstripe suit under Sho’s nervous supervision. I’d never thought I would lose to someone like you, Jun says. Ohno-kun is special you know, I hope you’re serious though, because I will personally rip you into shreds if you dare break his heart. Nino nods, almost adding an offended reply. But, as he watches Jun swirl his wine and imagines the lonely nights he used to have too, Nino bites his tongue. After all, it’s a form of approval after all, even though it’s different from Aiba’s.
23.
Sho comes to him on the day they’re supposed to leave. Sho looks at Nino carefully, almost as is judging his ability to handle Ohno. Take care of him for me Ninomiya-san Sho says softly, watching Ohno paint on Jun’s shiny black car while Aiba distracts Jun with a sock puppet. I mean, he stops and corrects himself, take care of Satoshi, Ninomiya-kun, I hope you will be happy together.
Nino nods, trying to ignore the longing that Sho tries (and fails) to hide. He prays a little prayer for Sho. He prays that Sho will find someone who loves him as much as he loves Ohno.
24.
Nino never gets another DS. They buy a Wii instead, and Ohno is introduced to the world of virtual bowling. Nino hangs up Ohno’s charcoal paintings properly (taking off the ones taped up messily) and changes the curtains. It’s not exactly a woman’s touch, but Nino figures that it’ll do.
25.
Ohno changes the couch cover to black. He sneaks out when Nino is sleeping and paints a piano on it with white paint. It’s significantly more uncomfortable with the paint on it, but Nino insists on sitting on it whenever he’s in the room.
Ohno pats himself on the back and settles in, right next to Nino and picks up his Wii controller to resume loosing at Mario to Nino. Perhaps, every day from now on will be a good day.
26.
Nino still can’t see colour. He still can’t tell between Ohno’s grey and blue socks and still ends up buying the brown soba instead of the green one. But he figures that it’s alright, Ohno has enough colour for both of them with enough left over after that to fill the whole neighbourhood. He sighs contentedly, picks up his wii control and levels up casually.
Next to him, Ohno is working on a baby lion, Aiba’s latest request.
It’s really kind of perfect. Nino thinks aloud.
It is, isn’t it? Ohno says suddenly in reply. Nino smiles and moves just a little closer to Ohno, till their knees are pressed together. It is, he says back softly.
And it’s true, there really is more to colour than just the ones you can see.
fin
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IT'S BEEN SO LONG.
or at least a few weeks since I last wrote fic.
But I'm back home early from school today so I though that I should finish this one up.
I 'm not sure I've properly expanded on Nino's colour blindness, but my brain is kinda dead now. If anyone has any ideas, do share them with me and I'll amend it a little.