[Fic] Azure (3/?)
Characters: Naoto, Naoki, Makidai
Pairing: Hmm.
Rating: G
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
=========================
A truck horn blared as said vehicle rumbled overhead.
Seated on a cardboard sheet, Naoto leaned his head against the wall of the underpass and closed his eyes.
=========================
It was only a matter of time before his colleagues noticed.
“Are you by any chance scared of cats?” Makidai had scooped up the kitten that had escaped from its pen and was looking amusedly at his employee.
Crouching on top of a nearby step ladder, Naoto gave the store manager a weak grin.
“I just don’t feel comfortable around them, that’s all. I’m sure that I’ll get used to them after a while.”
=========================
A brilliant blue sky, fluffy white clouds drifting along with the wind.
He shut his eyes and raised his face towards the sun, enjoying the breeze gliding across his skin.
When he opened his eyes, metal bars marred the clear blue.
Naoto jerked awake, a sheen of cold sweat covering his face and a silent scream on his lips.
=========================
“Naoto-san, are you having trouble sleeping?” Naoki had dropped by the shop for a tube of hairball paste, and was looking intently at Naoto’s face.
“What? No, why?”
“You look tired, and your eye circles are getting darker.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Must be the weather; it’s getting a little chilly as of late. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
=========================
Thanks to a combination of his first pay check and the thrift shop, Naoto now had a blanket to keep himself warm. Huddled under the thinning cloth, he heard footsteps approaching.
It’s probably just another passerby.
The footsteps stopped.
“Naoto-san?”
Naoto peeked out from his blanket cocoon, only to see a familiar face staring at him in mild horror.
“Erm… Fancy meeting you here?”
=========================
“Naoto-san, when was the last time you had a proper meal?” Naoki watched, aghast, as Naoto inhaled his bowl of noodles.
“I had rice balls earlier...”
“From the convenience store, no doubt.”
“Hey, they’re cheap and good. There’re so many flavours to choose from! Thanks for the meal, by the way. It’ll be my treat next month.”
“Get a roof over your head before you talk about giving others treats, will you? How long have you been living in that underpass anyway?”
“Erm… Ever since… I got here?” Naoto’s sheepish grin was met with Naoki’s appalled stare.
“What’s with that face? Look, I’m fine. I have food, income, lodging-“
“That isn’t lodging.”
“Rental is ridiculously expensive.”
“Maybe if you’d stop buying birdseed, you’d have more money to spend on yourself. Besides, I could give you a discount.”
“Ever the good Samaritan, aren’t you?”
“I’m being serious here. I live alone, and I’ve got a spare room. It needs a bit of tidying up, but you can stay there if you want. I can’t just let you continue staying… there. It’s unsanitary, and most definitely unsafe-”
“Unsafe? I have nothing to attract muggers. Nothing.”
“That is beside the point. How about this. You help me out with the household chores and I’ll let you stay for free. Do we have an agreement?”
“… Keep that cat of yours away from my room, and we have a deal.”
A relieved grin spread across Naoki’s face as he nodded.
“Brilliant. You move in tonight.”
Pairing: Hmm.
Rating: G
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
=========================
A truck horn blared as said vehicle rumbled overhead.
Seated on a cardboard sheet, Naoto leaned his head against the wall of the underpass and closed his eyes.
=========================
It was only a matter of time before his colleagues noticed.
“Are you by any chance scared of cats?” Makidai had scooped up the kitten that had escaped from its pen and was looking amusedly at his employee.
Crouching on top of a nearby step ladder, Naoto gave the store manager a weak grin.
“I just don’t feel comfortable around them, that’s all. I’m sure that I’ll get used to them after a while.”
=========================
A brilliant blue sky, fluffy white clouds drifting along with the wind.
He shut his eyes and raised his face towards the sun, enjoying the breeze gliding across his skin.
When he opened his eyes, metal bars marred the clear blue.
Naoto jerked awake, a sheen of cold sweat covering his face and a silent scream on his lips.
=========================
“Naoto-san, are you having trouble sleeping?” Naoki had dropped by the shop for a tube of hairball paste, and was looking intently at Naoto’s face.
“What? No, why?”
“You look tired, and your eye circles are getting darker.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Must be the weather; it’s getting a little chilly as of late. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
=========================
Thanks to a combination of his first pay check and the thrift shop, Naoto now had a blanket to keep himself warm. Huddled under the thinning cloth, he heard footsteps approaching.
It’s probably just another passerby.
The footsteps stopped.
“Naoto-san?”
Naoto peeked out from his blanket cocoon, only to see a familiar face staring at him in mild horror.
“Erm… Fancy meeting you here?”
=========================
“Naoto-san, when was the last time you had a proper meal?” Naoki watched, aghast, as Naoto inhaled his bowl of noodles.
“I had rice balls earlier...”
“From the convenience store, no doubt.”
“Hey, they’re cheap and good. There’re so many flavours to choose from! Thanks for the meal, by the way. It’ll be my treat next month.”
“Get a roof over your head before you talk about giving others treats, will you? How long have you been living in that underpass anyway?”
“Erm… Ever since… I got here?” Naoto’s sheepish grin was met with Naoki’s appalled stare.
“What’s with that face? Look, I’m fine. I have food, income, lodging-“
“That isn’t lodging.”
“Rental is ridiculously expensive.”
“Maybe if you’d stop buying birdseed, you’d have more money to spend on yourself. Besides, I could give you a discount.”
“Ever the good Samaritan, aren’t you?”
“I’m being serious here. I live alone, and I’ve got a spare room. It needs a bit of tidying up, but you can stay there if you want. I can’t just let you continue staying… there. It’s unsanitary, and most definitely unsafe-”
“Unsafe? I have nothing to attract muggers. Nothing.”
“That is beside the point. How about this. You help me out with the household chores and I’ll let you stay for free. Do we have an agreement?”
“… Keep that cat of yours away from my room, and we have a deal.”
A relieved grin spread across Naoki’s face as he nodded.
“Brilliant. You move in tonight.”