fic for digitalized_ (part 1)
Gift fic for: digitalized_
From: tatoeba
Title: Bitter Trials and Blessings in Disguise (Part 1)
Rating: PG for boykissing
Pairing: Ryo/Shige with appearances by other JE boys
Warnings: AU, 12737 words
Summary: The boss of a small company, Kato Shigeaki loves his structure. But when the new transfer turns out to be Nishikido Ryo, Shige’s old, obnoxious neighbor, Shige’s entire life starts to tilt on its axis.
Notes: Thank you to P for all of the help and encouragement and the beta. And to digitalized_, I really hope you enjoy this fic! :D
Kato Shigeaki lives his life on a schedule. He has to, or he’s pretty sure he’d go insane. He wakes up at the same time every morning: 6:30 AM, without fail, and by 7:30, he is out the door, neatly dressed in a dark suit and tie, briefcase in hand, eager to take on the world. He arrives at work at 8:00 AM on the dot, and greets his secretary, and best friend, Koyama Keiichiro with a grin.
“Good morning,” he says, brightly, grabs the coffee the Koyama hands to him, and after a quick sip, asks, “What’s on the agenda for today?”
Koyama scutters after him and says, “A-Actually, before that, there’s something here to see you.”
Shige furrows his brows. “Who? We don’t have any meetings signed up for today,” he says but then shrugs and adds, “Never mind that, I have some time now, so send them up to my office.”
“He-He’s already there-” Koyama starts but it falls on deaf ears as Shige reaches his own office door where his name is written across a thin gold plaque upon the front, and eases the knob open.
He comes to a teetering stop when he finds someone sitting at his desk, his feet propped up upon the oak finish, hands behind his head as he swivels the chair around to face Shige with a wide and unforgettable grin.
Shige nearly drops his coffee. He definitely does go wide-eyed and a little slack-jawed, and the man at his desk smirks.
“Shige!” Nishikido Ryo says with exaggerated cheerfulness. “Imagine how surprised I was when I found outyou were the boss of the Tokyo office.”
“W-What’re you doing here?” Shige finally manages to spit out, old, long-forgotten memories creeping up through the back of his mind.
Ryo slides his feet off the desk and stands in one swift, nonchalant motion, and strolls over to where Shige is still standing transfixed in the doorway. Ryo’s smirk widens as he replies, “I’m the new transfer, remember?”
And with this one statement, Shige instantly feels his normal, perfectly structured world slowly begin to wobble on its axis.
~*~
Once Shige gets Ryo out of his office, he calls Koyama to bring him more coffee. Lots more. He’s going to need it. Then he phones up Murakami in the Osaka branch of the small advertising company he supervises and is put on hold for nearly twenty minutes, listening to loud, obnoxious music that gives him a headache. After this call, he’ll have to ask Koyama for some pain meds too, he thinks.
“Why wasn’t I informed about the new transfer?” Shige demands the second the line finally connects.
Murakami laughs. “We told you!” he insists. “A few weeks ago, during that meeting, with the heads of the branches.”
Shige very vaguely remembers such a thing. “Why didn’t you tell me it was him you were transferring?” Shige asks instead.
“Ryo-chan?” Murakami questions. “Actually we were going to send Yasuda, but changed at the last minute. Ryo wanted the job instead, nearly begged for it.”
“You should’ve said no,” Shige mumbles.
“Is there a problem?” Murakami asks.
“No, no,” Shige says dully, even though there is. A huge, huge problem. “Everything’s fine. Thanks for your time.”
He hangs up and leans back against his chair with a huge sigh. Of all the people to join his team, just when everything was going smooth and pristinely, it had to be Ryo - Ryo, who had many years ago, made Shige’s life nothing but hell.
~*~
“This is our newest team member,” Shige announces during that morning’s staff meeting. He’s had four coffees already and still feels like ramming his head against the nearest wall. “Nishikido Ryo. He transferred from the Osaka branch.”
Ryo grins at everyone and just lifts a hand in acknowledgement. Shige sighs and continues, “He’ll be joining Yamashita with the slogan work, so Yamashita please show him the ropes.”
Yamashita, or Yamapi as he’s colloquially called, gives Shige a thumbs up and then smiles at Ryo, who nods at him slowly and then frowns up at Shige. Shige doesn’t notice as he says, “We have an extremely important client this time and I need all of you to be spending as much time as possible on this project. That means no more unwarranted smoke breaks, Akanishi,” and the man with long way hair beside Yamapi groans in complaint, “or no extended lunches either, Masuda,” which makes the young man beside Koyama frown sadly, but Shige has known him for so many years that he is unaffected. “This project will be due in a month, and Koyama has the information that you all need.” He nods at Koyama who immediately starts passing around sheets of paper. “Get started as soon as possible. If you have questions, come find me.”
Shige stands and the meeting adjourns. He heads back to his office while the others slowly file out after him, reading through their instructions as they return to their cubicles. Shige collapses in his chair and pulls up his own work, ready to start. He’s already been thrown off his usual schedule with the unsolicited appearance of Ryo and the last thing he needs is to be distracted anymore.
Of course, this is when a knock on the door sounds and opens before Shige even responds, and who else should walk in but the very man he was just thinking about.
“What do you want?” Shige asks testily, not even bothering to look at him.
Ryo shuts the door behind him and leans against it, arms across his chest. “Wow, Shige,” he says with feigned hurt. “We haven’t seen each other in years and this is the greeting I get?”
Now Shige feels slightly guilty. But only slightly. He looks up and sighs. “You’re right,” he admits finally. “I’m sorry.”
Ryo grins. It’s the same, Shige notices, toothy and a little devious, lighting up his eyes with both brightness and mischievousness. “How’ve you been?” Ryo asks casually, walking up to the desk and plopping himself gracefully into one of the chairs in front of it. “It’s been, what? Seven years?”
“That sounds about right,” Shige replies, and despite all of the time, he still remembers the day he moved from Osaka to Tokyo like it happened only yesterday.
“And now you’re the boss,” Ryo says, sounding amazed. “Somehow it’s not surprising.”
Shige frowns. “What does that mean?”
“Just that you’ve always been very ambitious.”
Shige rolls his eyes. “What have you been doing all this time?”
Ryo shrugs. “You know. Random odd end jobs here and there. Nothing special.”
Shige smirks. “Somehow that’s not surprising.”
“Why is that?” Ryo demands.
“Just that you’ve never been very decisive about anything,” Shige replies. “You never knew what you wanted to do after high school.”
Ryo laughs. “It’s true,” he admits. “But I guess I finally found where I want to be.”
He says it while staring right at Shige, and it’s been so long that Shige has forgotten the strength in Ryo’s dark gaze, feels his breath catch in his throat as he finds he can’t look away. Only when Ryo slowly smirks does Shige look away, feigning a cough behind his hand.
Gathering his composure, Shige says, “You’re not making a good impression here, you know. Go and do some work.”
“Speaking of that,” Ryo says as he stands. “Why aren’t you giving me the grand tour of this place?”
“Because I am your boss and I can pawn those jobs off on someone else,” Shige answers with a grin. “So get lost. I’ve got stuff to do.”
Ryo mutters something Shige doesn’t catch but heads for the door all the same. He pauses once he opens it and looks back at Shige over his shoulder to say, “It’s good seeing you again, Shige,” before he walks out and leaves Shige wondering what exactly that means.
~*~
“So how exactly do you know him again?” Koyama asks three days later.
Shige takes a bite of his lunch and replies, “We were neighbors growing up. Back when I lived in Osaka.”
“I didn’t even know you lived in Osaka!” Koyama exclaims, pouting.
Shige shrugs. “It was a long time ago. I came here when I started university and I’ve been here ever since. Even my parents moved here. I don’t have family there anymore. I tend to forget about it.”
“So you and Nishikido-kun. You’re friends?”
Shige lets out a loud laugh. “No way,” he says. “He was - is - the bane of my existence.”
Now Koyama laughs. “Oh please. He can’t be that bad,” he says, and peers through the blinds on the window the overlooks the workroom from Shige’s office. Ryo is currently working with Yamapi and taking bites out of a sandwich at the same time. “He’s been doing a good job since he started.”
“Oh, he works fine,” Shige agrees. “That’s not the problem. It’s just him, personally, that I cannot stand.”
“What happened?”
“You don’t even want to know,” Shige replies, shuddering just from the thought of it. He takes another bite of his meal, sucks thoughtfully on his fork as he, too, watches Ryo from between the blinds. He’s changed, Shige realizes, taller and well-defined, muscles straining under his shirt, lines of his face much more pronounced. And yet when he laughs and talks he’s still the same. The same Ryo who used to steal his gym clothes and put honey in his shampoo and blamed Shige for the time he drove over his mother’s gardenias.
Shige groans as the memories start filling his mind. He looks away, down at his lunch, and frowns. Ryo was like the part of an old life he’d long since forgotten - bad memories of fights and tears and constantly losing. And now that, suddenly, with not so much as a warning, Ryo is back in it, Shige just isn’t sure what to think.
~*~
Two weeks pass and Ryo has become friends with nearly everyone in the office. He and Yamapi and Akanishi are nearly tied together at all times, while Tegoshi just about fawns over his mere existence. He’s even befriended Matsumoto and Ninomiya from the Public Relations group who usually tend to keep to themselves, and, to top it all off, he’s done some really good work.
Shige doesn’t know what this annoys him so much. Surly, he just peers through the blinds on occasion to watch Ryo interact with the others so amiably. He almost wishes Ryo would’ve bombed just so he could make a half-ass excuse and send him packing back to Osaka. Of course, deep down, he knew that wouldn’t happen. Ryo has always been the center of attention. He’s got a sharp tongue that gets him in trouble, but it also keeps everyone else on their toes, such as making Koyama and Masuda work extra hard not to get on his bad side. Shige also knows he can be a softie underneath it all, even though it took him nearly four years to figure that out. Back then, Ryo was rather vicious, and Shige was young and naïve and just believed everything Ryo said or did.
He knows better now, which is why he won’t put up with Ryo’s crap. Like today, when Ryo strolls into Shige’s office as if he’s the boss, and declares, “I’m eating lunch in here.”
Shige raises a brow. “Says who?”
“Says me,” Ryo answers, and sits down on a chair opposite Shige, props his feet up on the table, his shoes effectively wrinkling some very important documents.
Shige scowls and shoves his feet off. “Get out,” he says angrily. “I’m working.”
“Take a break,” Ryo replies easily. “It’s lunchtime!”
Shige considers the pencil in his hand, wonders if he could throw it with enough precision and strength to jab Ryo in the head. Instead he mutters, “I hate my life,” under his breath.
“What was that?” Ryo questions around a mouthful of instant ramen.
“Nothing,” Shige answers monotonously and with a sigh pulls out his own lunch. He knows it’s easier to give in than to resist - Ryo has always been good at persuading Shige to do things he doesn’t want.
But Ryo grins at him happily from where he’s sitting and Shige almost thinks it’s kind of nice, almost, and then Ryo swings his feet back up onto the desk with a thump and sends Shige’s lunch flying onto the floor.
“Oops,” he says around another mouthful, but doesn’t bother to help clean up.
Shige clenches his fists tight at his side and tries to convince himself it’s not good to murder his employees.
~*~
Shige remembers when he first met Ryo. He was eleven and had moved into the house next door with his parents and his dog. He’d been helping them move in and had lost balance of a particularly heavy box, and sent tons of books and his mother’s favorite vase to the driveway. From the house beside him, sitting upon the porch, were a few boys around his own age who all laughed and pointed and didn’t bother to come over and help.
Shige remembers being embarrassed and angry and later really unhappy to learn that one of those boys - the one who had laughed the longest and loudest - was his next door neighbor. His mother gushed over him and told him to take care of Shige since he was kind of shy and had trouble making friends. Ryo, then, had grinned deviously and promised he would, but Shige knew that gleam in his eyes meant no good.
Today, Shige still sees that look in Ryo’s eyes. It tends to greet him every morning along with a cup of coffee and the workings of a migraine. Shige’s not sure what to make of it so he tries to ignore Ryo as best as possible. Of course, it’s pretty impossible when Ryo’s doing his best to annoy Shige as much as possible. He lingers around Shige’s office when he comes to drop off reports, joins him during lunch nearly everyday without invitation and chatters on about how the Osaka branch is so much better, and has just about won over everyone in the company so that Shige’s futile attempts to complain about him fall on deaf ears.
To top it off, he’s more or less the perfect employee. He does his work on time and does it well and, admittedly, his ability to get along with everyone proves useful. The only thing he does that annoys Shige is treat Shige like his best friend. Which they are most definitely not. Word travels fast in a small company such as this and Shige already knows Ryo’s close with Yamapi and Akanishi, knows they’ve gone partying and drinking, even sees him and Akanishi taking smoke breaks out back. He’s already got his own friends, so Shige doesn’t get why Ryo insists on annoying him all the time by doing stupid things like forcing his way into eating with him or sending him stupid emails on company time with various nuances of That tie you’re wearing today is hideous and You should cut your hair and I think the copy machine is broken. You should get someone to look at that.
Shige’s reaching his limit. It’s one thing for Ryo to act like they’re best friends off the clock, but it’s another to act like it while at work, where the rest of the company watches with beady, curious eyes and whisper behind his back. It’s really not long before Shige comes into work one day, thankfully earlier than everyone - especially Ryo - and manages to hide in his office with his coffee, and have Tegoshi come in an hour later to turn in a proposal and question quite bluntly, “Since when have you and Ryo-tan been dating?”
Shige just about chokes on his coffee, half from Tegoshi’s choice of a nickname and half from the question itself. “We’re not dating,” he exclaims.
Tegoshi looks confused. “Oh,” he says. “Because it looks like you are.”
“Well we’re not,” Shige insists. “You can even ask Ryo.”
“I will,” Tegoshi says brightly. “And you spilt some coffee on your tie.”
Shige glares at him. “Tegoshi,” he says in a stern voice.
Tegoshi nods at him politely. “Sorry, Kato-san,” he says quietly. “Excuse me.” And he leaves just as swiftly as he came.
Shige slinks back against his chair and glares instead at his computer screen. He wonders what Ryo’s telling people, if he has been telling them anything about their . . . admittedly strange relationship. Shige still isn’t sure what they are, but dating is possibly the last thing they will ever be. And if this is the kind of gossip mulling about his company, he had to put a stop to it. And fast.
He doesn’t get a chance until that evening, when most of the members have already clocked out and gone home. Shige stays behind to catch up on some paperwork and doesn’t realize anyone’s left behind until he heads out to get himself some more coffee.
He finds Ryo at his desk, a desk light illuminating his small little square and typing furiously away on his keyboard. He jumps when Shige approaches him but then gives Shige a tired smile. “Yo,” he says easily and continues to type.
“What’re you still doing here?” Shige asks.
“Finishing up the final proposal on this project,” he says and yawns. “I’m almost done.”
“That’s not due for another week,” Shige says, a little surprised and a little impressed.
Ryo smirks. “I know,” he answers. “I like being on top of things.”
Shige just hums in response and goes over to the coffee machine. He glances back at Ryo and sighs, and makes two cups, adds sugar and cream just the way he remembers Ryo likes it from years before. He returns to Ryo’s side and hands him the cup. “Here,” he says.
Now Ryo looks surprised, but he gratefully takes the proffered cup and downs nearly half of it in one go. “Thanks,” he says while Shige just nods around his own cup and then, without a word, returns to his office.
He manages to get most of his work done, even though now half of his mind is on Ryo in the other room. Their conversation just now was, well, normal, and Shige didn’t feel the itch to strangle him as he so often does. But, of course, when he really thinks about it, it’s not like every memory of Ryo he has is bad. Just most of them. There are a few, simple moments where they hung out at each other’s houses, played video games or watched movies with Ryo’s older brothers, or that time when Ryo took care of Shige when he was sick because his parents were at work late, or when Shige helped Ryo pass his senior math class. They were rare instances between their usual mocking and bickering, but they happened all the same, and Shige almost wishes they would happen more often.
Shige sighs as he stretches his arms over his head and leans back against his chair. He figures he’s done for the night, as his mind is already wandering to weird places, and once again, Ryo can be blamed for distracting him. As he begins to pack up, Ryo walks into his office and Shige thinks he’s going to have to start locking after him if this keeps up.
But Ryo is grinning with tired accomplishment so Shige doesn’t have it in him to berate him, especially when Ryo hands him the final proposal with a flourish and says, “I am awesome.”
Shige rolls his eyes, but despite himself, his lips twitch in amusement. It is just so Ryo. “We’ll see about that after I read through it,” he says, and sets the proposal onto his desk.
“Are you heading home?” Ryo asks behind a yawn, stretching, and Shige’s eyes involuntarily linger on where his shirt, that has long since come untucked, rides up his stomach and shows off a stripe of tan skin.
Shige looks away quickly and nods. “Yeah,” he replies. “You should, too. You look like shit.”
“Thanks, Shige,” Ryo says sarcastically. “You don’t look all that hot yourself.”
“That’s why I’m glad it’s the weekend,” Shige says, putting the last of his things into his briefcase and leading the way out of his office. He locks the door after him and somehow finds himself waiting as Ryo rushes to gather his belongings.
“Actually that reminds me,” Ryo says as they leave together, chilly night air and Tokyo’s bright lights greeting them outside. “Are you busy tomorrow night? We need to go for drinks or something. Catch up.”
Shige eyes Ryo warily. “You’re kidding, right?” he questions. “Catch up on what?”
Ryo stares at him. “Do you get stupid when you work late?” he asks and Shige opens his mouth indignantly but Ryo continues before he can retort. “Catch up on the past seven years, genius,” he says, and Shige’s heart skips a little in his chest at the very familiar and long forgotten nickname. Ryo grins and slings an arm around Shige’s shoulder so suddenly Shige stumbles a little as he walks. “It’s been way too long. We have a lot to talk about.”
Shige furrows his brow and shoves Ryo’s arm off him. “I don’t see what we have to talk about,” he says, a little annoyed, and not noticing Ryo’s surprised look. “We’ve never been friends, Ryo.”
“What’s your point?” Ryo questions.
“My point is that you can’t keep acting like you’ve been acting since you got here!” Shige snaps. “You might do your job well but you’re not exactly being the most professional person, especially when you’re with me. I’m your boss, you know. And you can’t just come strolling into my office whenever you feel like without knocking or to eat lunch and annoy me.”
Ryo’s eyes widen, his jaw sets. He stops walking and Shige does too, both of them staring darkly at the other in the middle of the sidewalk. “What are you saying, Shige?” Ryo asks.
“I’m saying if you want to keep this job you better start staying in your place. There are just some things I won’t tolerate in my office and, despite any history we may have - which really isn’t much at all, when you think about it - you have to respect that. Respect me. Because here, I am the one in charge,” Shige replies with an authoritativeness he rarely shows. He gets along well with just about everyone in the office and most of them are already good workers that don’t need to be scolded. Shige doesn’t have to be consistently stern or commanding, which he quite likes about his job, but with Ryo, he knows he has to be, or Ryo will continue being, well. Ryo.
Ryo stares at Shige for a few silent moments afterward and it rather unnerves Shige a bit, the rational side of him sweeping in to worry if he was perhaps a little too harsh. But then Ryo nods, and smiles, and Shige knows Ryo, has known him for years, and knows when his smiles are fake, notices how it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and something knots in the pit of his stomach from the look Ryo gives him right now. “Okay,” Ryo says, and his voice sounds hollow. “I get it.” And surprising Shige, he gives him a low bow, before straightening back up to add, “Sorry, Kato-san, but it won’t happen again.”
Shige’s eyes are huge because this is not entirely what he wanted. But as he opens his mouth to tell Ryo off, Ryo says, “Have a good night,” and turns on his heel to walk away.
Shige is rooted to the spot for awhile longer, until Ryo has disappeared from view. Then he follows, heading home, wondering the entire way back why doing what he’s sure is the appropriate thing makes him feel so horrible.
~*~
Shige forgets his conversation with Ryo by the time he gets to work on Monday. So it comes as a strange surprise when half the day goes by and he realizes he hasn’t received any weird emails from Ryo or had Ryo walking into his office as if he was the boss. It is kind of unsettling, and Shige isn’t sure what to do about it.
“Did something happen?” Koyama asks when he joins Shige for lunch and Shige tries not to creeper-stare out of the window blinds.
“No, nothing,” he says quickly, turning back to his lunch and pretending to eat. “What makes you say that?”
Koyama just stares at him knowingly and doesn’t reply. Shige looks away because Koyama has an uncanny ability to make him cave with one look. He really doesn’t want to talk about it because it’s stupid. This is what he asked for and so this is what he received. He should be happy, really, because once again his life is back on schedule, no more annoying distractions.
Except as the week carries on, he starts to get more and more agitated by Ryo’s lack of . . . Ryo-ness. Shige doesn’t even know what it is that’s bothering him, if he’s quite honest, just that now it doesn’t feel right anymore, like something is missing.
The only time Ryo ever talks to him now is when he comes into the office - always knocking now - to drop something off or let Shige know about a project, and then it’s always with polite speech and bows that leaves Shige baffled. He almost wants to talk to Ryo about it, tell him that this is not exactly what he meant, but then he would just be eating his words, and Shige can’t stand that.
Instead he just goes about his own business, trying to push the uneasiness out of his head. It’s a surprisingly difficult feat, especially when Koyama inputs his unhelpful opinions that clearly Shige misses Ryo, and that’s why he feels so weird. Shige won’t believe it, because it’s not true, goddammit. He’s lived years without Ryo in his life, peaceful, quiet, simple years, and he isn’t going to just miss him because he’s suddenly back in it and now gone within a few days. It’s ridiculous.
But when Shige leaves work on Thursday, he’s surprised to find Ryo waiting outside his office, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“There you are,” he says, and Shige’s heart flutters in his chest at the sight of him - it feels like it’s been forever since he’s really seen Ryo.
“What?” Shige asks but Ryo suddenly grabs his arm and starts dragging him out of the building. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going out,” Ryo says easily, and after a pause, he adds, “And you can’t make some stupid excuse because technically we’re off the clock and therefore, you’re no longer my boss right now.”
Shige opens his mouth to protest but he closes it shut after realizing Ryo’s right. And, if he’s honest, he can’t stop the butterflies in his stomach - he’s glad Ryo’s dragging him out, wherever he’s taking him. Right now, Shige thinks he’ll follow Ryo anywhere. “Where’re you taking me?” he asks.
“We’re just getting something to eat. That okay?” Ryo looks back at Shige over his shoulder and Shige feels a little lost when he meets those eyes.
He nods. “Y-Yeah, fine.”
Ryo’s bright smile surprises Shige - he’s forgotten how it feels to be on the receiving end of Ryo’s genuine smiles - and says, “Good.”
It’s a pretty small, homey kind of restaurant that Ryo takes him to. They pull of their suit jackets, drape them over backs of their chairs, and Shige watches as Ryo pulls off his tie and unbuttons the top of his shirt. He looks away quickly, down at his menu before Ryo notices him staring.
“Have you been here before?” Ryo asks and when he shakes his head he says, “Pi recommended it, said it has really good food.”
Shige knows he’s talking about Yamapi because he’s heard Akanishi call him that (the only one who does) and for some unfathomable reason feels just a bit irked that Ryo’s already become good enough friends with him to do it, too. It’s a stupid thing to be annoyed at, he knows, but he must have a frown on his face because then Ryo asks, “Is something wrong?”
Shige quickly shakes his head, giving Ryo one of his perfected fake smiles. “Sorry,” he says. “I’m fine. And no, I haven’t been here before.”
“Great,” Ryo says, looking pleased. “We can try it out together.”
His words make Shige’s heart strangely warm, and the look he gives Shige feels so familiar; he remembers it from when they were younger, those times when Ryo would make Shige listen to songs he was making on the guitar, his fingers stiff and the music a little off key because he’d only just started, but Shige would always say it was good, would clap, and grin, and Ryo would look like he does now, pleased, with just a hint of embarrassment in the corners of his eyes.
At first Shige was a little apprehensive, but as the night goes along, as they look over the menu together and place their order and as drinks come and fill his veins, Shige starts to let himself go and just enjoy it. He doesn’t go out very often, just the usual dinner or drinks with Koyama or Massu. Shige just usually spends his weekends at home, just resting, and it’s been a simple life he’s led until now. Now, he’s laughing with Ryo like he hasn’t in what feels like years, laughing and shouting and stealing food off Ryo’s plate, teasing, grinning, sharing stories of the past seven years, doing things he doesn’t ever do.
It’s refreshing, it’s fun, it’s so Ryo, to make him feel like this, Shige thinks. Ryo could always illicit a reaction from him, whether good or bad, he just knew which buttons to push. And it hasn’t changed in all these years; Shige’s almost glad. Ryo is the same Ryo he knew all those years ago, just older, taller, with a more chiseled face. But the intense eyes and the sweet yet devious smile are the same.
“You haven’t changed at all,” Shige tells him as their night starts to wind down.
Ryo laughs. “I could say the same about you,” he replies. “Still as boring as ever. Do you do anything but go to work?”
Shige glares at him. “Yes! I do loads of stuff, I’ll have you know.”
Ryo smirks perceptively. “Oh, really?” he questions. “Like what?”
Shige opens his mouth to answer but after a few seconds shuts it with a snap. “Fine,” he says, annoyed. “I really don’t do anything but work.”
Ryo laughs, his head tilted back, and it’s a beautiful, rich sound that hits Shige right in the heart. “I knew it,” he says. “You definitely haven’t changed.”
Shige flushes with both embarrassment and anger, but then Ryo smiles, and his eyes seem to glitter as he adds, “I’m glad you haven’t.”
Shige finds himself smiling, his heart warm in his chest, and he replies before thinking about it, “I’m glad you haven’t either,” and, when Ryo grins and Shige stops to think about it, he realizes it’s the truth.
The rest of the evening is spent amiably and by the time they leave, Shige’s feeling more exhilarated than he has in a long time. They’re both a little more than tipsy when they leave, so when Ryo suggest Shige just spend the night t his place, since it’s closer, Shige readily agrees.
“Watch out for the boxes, I haven’t had time to unpack completely yet,” Ryo says when they arrive and Shige nods.
“Looks like you haven’t unpacked at all,” Shige remarks, looking around the apartment.
Ryo laughs. “That’s pretty true,” he says. “You can have the couch. I’ll get you a pillow and blanket.”
Shige nods again, flopping down upon the couch, feeling quite tired already and when Ryo returns with the items, Shige makes himself comfortable. “Thanks,” he says, with a smile, but Ryo stares at him for a few moments, his eyes dark, before he finally nods, turns around.
“Good night,” he says andheads to his bedroom, leaving Shige blinking after him confused. He stares at Ryo’s closed door for awhile after before lying down and getting comfortable. And the second his head hits the pillow, he’s asleep.
~*~
Shige jumps awake by a sudden smack to his leg, eyes wide as he looks around until finding an amused Ryo in front of him.
“Wake up, sunshine,” he says with a grin. “We have to go work.”
Shige groans and falls back against the couch. He has a bit of a headache and his back is full of kinks. “It’s that early already?”
Ryo smirks. “I didn’t realize you were such a bad morning person.”
“I’m usually not,” Shige mumbles into the pillow. “I’m just out of my element. Drinking does this to me.”
“Get up,” Ryo says. “You’re the boss. You can’t be late.”
Shige grumbles something but does as he’s told, nearly falling off the couch in the process. “Ugh,” he says. “I need to get back to my apartment.”
“I’ll take you,” Ryo offers, and when Shige finally really looks at him, realizes he’s already dressed and is swirling his car keys around his finger. “Let’s go.”
“Fine,” Shige mutters. “But we need to stop for coffee on the way.”
They get to work later than usual, walking through the doors together, and Shige can feel the eyes on them. Ryo grins at him and heads off to his desk, while Shige rushes to his own office, avoiding Koyama’s amused gaze, as he locks himself inside.
For the rest of the morning, Shige tries not to think about his night with Ryo. He focuses on his work as much as he can, but he can’t help but want to go see Ryo again, talk to him about random things, just hang out like the did. And realizing this scares him a little, because he didn’t expect this to happen, remembers only the bad things from the past.
Halfway through the day Shige gets an email from Ryo that has him hesitating and a little excited. He stares at it in his inbox for nearly three minutes before finally clicking on it to read.
Last night was fun, it says. Are you free tonight?
Shige finds himself smiling as he beings his answer. Surprisingly, it was fun, he writes, and then pauses, thinks about Ryo’s question. Half of him wants to go out again, but the other half is wary, uncertain. He ponders for a moment before he adds, And, no, I’m not.
Before he can change his mind, he hits send, and it’s not even a minute later before he gets another message.
Why was it surprising? I’m always fun. And why the fuck not?
Shige laughs as he answers, Actually, I’ve always found you incredibly boring. He stares at the last question and wonders what he can say, thinking for a second before typing the first excuse he can come up with. Because I’m having dinner with Koyama.
Shige stares at his screen waiting impatiently for Ryo’s response. When it comes, he thinks he should be a little worried by his excitement.
You hang out with him a lot, is all it says.
Shige frowns and sends back: He is my best friend
Ryo’s response takes a lot longer to come this time, just a single line: I thought I was your best friend. :(
Shige makes a face, wonders what Ryo’s getting at. They’ve never been anything remotely close to best friends. Neighbors, yes; acquaintances, yes; friends, maybe, but best friends? Never. He quickly sends back: . . . Since when?
Okay, fine, Ryo says, So we’re not. But come on, I’m cooler than Koyama. Therefore, you should hang out with me tonight.
Shige shakes his head with amusement. This is so like Ryo, he thinks as he types up his response. You are unbelievable. And you’ve just wasted fifteen minutes of my time. I’m done talking to you.
He really does turn back to his work when Ryo sends another message: Aww, you’re no fun at all. Since you’re busy tonight, you’d better keep all of tomorrow open.
Shige raises a brow, curious despite himself. He sends back a simple, Why?
Because I’m kidnapping you, Ryo says. I need help cleaning up my apartment. You saw what it looked like.
Even though this is not what he was expecting, Shige finds himself a little excited, finds that he actually wouldn’t mind helping Ryo out with finally moving in. Although he feels this way, he replies with, And what makes you think I’d want to spend my day off doing that?
Because you’re life is boring and I’m offering you a day of fun, Ryo answers and Shige laughs. Come by around eleven, I’ll make lunch.
Shige contemplates this for awhile, but in the end, he knows he really does want to go. He types up, Fine. I’ll see you then, and sends it off before he can change his mind.
Then he quickly sends Koyama an email begging to go out for dinner tonight, because he wouldn’t put it past Ryo to ask Koyama just to make sure Shige was telling the truth about their plans. Thankfully, Koyama sends back an affirmative, complete with grinning smiley faces, and Shige breathes a sigh of relief. He thinks he’ll need a chat with his best friend, anyway, seeing as how suddenly everything in his life had taken such a strange turn.
> on to part 2
From: tatoeba
Title: Bitter Trials and Blessings in Disguise (Part 1)
Rating: PG for boykissing
Pairing: Ryo/Shige with appearances by other JE boys
Warnings: AU, 12737 words
Summary: The boss of a small company, Kato Shigeaki loves his structure. But when the new transfer turns out to be Nishikido Ryo, Shige’s old, obnoxious neighbor, Shige’s entire life starts to tilt on its axis.
Notes: Thank you to P for all of the help and encouragement and the beta. And to digitalized_, I really hope you enjoy this fic! :D
Kato Shigeaki lives his life on a schedule. He has to, or he’s pretty sure he’d go insane. He wakes up at the same time every morning: 6:30 AM, without fail, and by 7:30, he is out the door, neatly dressed in a dark suit and tie, briefcase in hand, eager to take on the world. He arrives at work at 8:00 AM on the dot, and greets his secretary, and best friend, Koyama Keiichiro with a grin.
“Good morning,” he says, brightly, grabs the coffee the Koyama hands to him, and after a quick sip, asks, “What’s on the agenda for today?”
Koyama scutters after him and says, “A-Actually, before that, there’s something here to see you.”
Shige furrows his brows. “Who? We don’t have any meetings signed up for today,” he says but then shrugs and adds, “Never mind that, I have some time now, so send them up to my office.”
“He-He’s already there-” Koyama starts but it falls on deaf ears as Shige reaches his own office door where his name is written across a thin gold plaque upon the front, and eases the knob open.
He comes to a teetering stop when he finds someone sitting at his desk, his feet propped up upon the oak finish, hands behind his head as he swivels the chair around to face Shige with a wide and unforgettable grin.
Shige nearly drops his coffee. He definitely does go wide-eyed and a little slack-jawed, and the man at his desk smirks.
“Shige!” Nishikido Ryo says with exaggerated cheerfulness. “Imagine how surprised I was when I found outyou were the boss of the Tokyo office.”
“W-What’re you doing here?” Shige finally manages to spit out, old, long-forgotten memories creeping up through the back of his mind.
Ryo slides his feet off the desk and stands in one swift, nonchalant motion, and strolls over to where Shige is still standing transfixed in the doorway. Ryo’s smirk widens as he replies, “I’m the new transfer, remember?”
And with this one statement, Shige instantly feels his normal, perfectly structured world slowly begin to wobble on its axis.
~*~
Once Shige gets Ryo out of his office, he calls Koyama to bring him more coffee. Lots more. He’s going to need it. Then he phones up Murakami in the Osaka branch of the small advertising company he supervises and is put on hold for nearly twenty minutes, listening to loud, obnoxious music that gives him a headache. After this call, he’ll have to ask Koyama for some pain meds too, he thinks.
“Why wasn’t I informed about the new transfer?” Shige demands the second the line finally connects.
Murakami laughs. “We told you!” he insists. “A few weeks ago, during that meeting, with the heads of the branches.”
Shige very vaguely remembers such a thing. “Why didn’t you tell me it was him you were transferring?” Shige asks instead.
“Ryo-chan?” Murakami questions. “Actually we were going to send Yasuda, but changed at the last minute. Ryo wanted the job instead, nearly begged for it.”
“You should’ve said no,” Shige mumbles.
“Is there a problem?” Murakami asks.
“No, no,” Shige says dully, even though there is. A huge, huge problem. “Everything’s fine. Thanks for your time.”
He hangs up and leans back against his chair with a huge sigh. Of all the people to join his team, just when everything was going smooth and pristinely, it had to be Ryo - Ryo, who had many years ago, made Shige’s life nothing but hell.
~*~
“This is our newest team member,” Shige announces during that morning’s staff meeting. He’s had four coffees already and still feels like ramming his head against the nearest wall. “Nishikido Ryo. He transferred from the Osaka branch.”
Ryo grins at everyone and just lifts a hand in acknowledgement. Shige sighs and continues, “He’ll be joining Yamashita with the slogan work, so Yamashita please show him the ropes.”
Yamashita, or Yamapi as he’s colloquially called, gives Shige a thumbs up and then smiles at Ryo, who nods at him slowly and then frowns up at Shige. Shige doesn’t notice as he says, “We have an extremely important client this time and I need all of you to be spending as much time as possible on this project. That means no more unwarranted smoke breaks, Akanishi,” and the man with long way hair beside Yamapi groans in complaint, “or no extended lunches either, Masuda,” which makes the young man beside Koyama frown sadly, but Shige has known him for so many years that he is unaffected. “This project will be due in a month, and Koyama has the information that you all need.” He nods at Koyama who immediately starts passing around sheets of paper. “Get started as soon as possible. If you have questions, come find me.”
Shige stands and the meeting adjourns. He heads back to his office while the others slowly file out after him, reading through their instructions as they return to their cubicles. Shige collapses in his chair and pulls up his own work, ready to start. He’s already been thrown off his usual schedule with the unsolicited appearance of Ryo and the last thing he needs is to be distracted anymore.
Of course, this is when a knock on the door sounds and opens before Shige even responds, and who else should walk in but the very man he was just thinking about.
“What do you want?” Shige asks testily, not even bothering to look at him.
Ryo shuts the door behind him and leans against it, arms across his chest. “Wow, Shige,” he says with feigned hurt. “We haven’t seen each other in years and this is the greeting I get?”
Now Shige feels slightly guilty. But only slightly. He looks up and sighs. “You’re right,” he admits finally. “I’m sorry.”
Ryo grins. It’s the same, Shige notices, toothy and a little devious, lighting up his eyes with both brightness and mischievousness. “How’ve you been?” Ryo asks casually, walking up to the desk and plopping himself gracefully into one of the chairs in front of it. “It’s been, what? Seven years?”
“That sounds about right,” Shige replies, and despite all of the time, he still remembers the day he moved from Osaka to Tokyo like it happened only yesterday.
“And now you’re the boss,” Ryo says, sounding amazed. “Somehow it’s not surprising.”
Shige frowns. “What does that mean?”
“Just that you’ve always been very ambitious.”
Shige rolls his eyes. “What have you been doing all this time?”
Ryo shrugs. “You know. Random odd end jobs here and there. Nothing special.”
Shige smirks. “Somehow that’s not surprising.”
“Why is that?” Ryo demands.
“Just that you’ve never been very decisive about anything,” Shige replies. “You never knew what you wanted to do after high school.”
Ryo laughs. “It’s true,” he admits. “But I guess I finally found where I want to be.”
He says it while staring right at Shige, and it’s been so long that Shige has forgotten the strength in Ryo’s dark gaze, feels his breath catch in his throat as he finds he can’t look away. Only when Ryo slowly smirks does Shige look away, feigning a cough behind his hand.
Gathering his composure, Shige says, “You’re not making a good impression here, you know. Go and do some work.”
“Speaking of that,” Ryo says as he stands. “Why aren’t you giving me the grand tour of this place?”
“Because I am your boss and I can pawn those jobs off on someone else,” Shige answers with a grin. “So get lost. I’ve got stuff to do.”
Ryo mutters something Shige doesn’t catch but heads for the door all the same. He pauses once he opens it and looks back at Shige over his shoulder to say, “It’s good seeing you again, Shige,” before he walks out and leaves Shige wondering what exactly that means.
~*~
“So how exactly do you know him again?” Koyama asks three days later.
Shige takes a bite of his lunch and replies, “We were neighbors growing up. Back when I lived in Osaka.”
“I didn’t even know you lived in Osaka!” Koyama exclaims, pouting.
Shige shrugs. “It was a long time ago. I came here when I started university and I’ve been here ever since. Even my parents moved here. I don’t have family there anymore. I tend to forget about it.”
“So you and Nishikido-kun. You’re friends?”
Shige lets out a loud laugh. “No way,” he says. “He was - is - the bane of my existence.”
Now Koyama laughs. “Oh please. He can’t be that bad,” he says, and peers through the blinds on the window the overlooks the workroom from Shige’s office. Ryo is currently working with Yamapi and taking bites out of a sandwich at the same time. “He’s been doing a good job since he started.”
“Oh, he works fine,” Shige agrees. “That’s not the problem. It’s just him, personally, that I cannot stand.”
“What happened?”
“You don’t even want to know,” Shige replies, shuddering just from the thought of it. He takes another bite of his meal, sucks thoughtfully on his fork as he, too, watches Ryo from between the blinds. He’s changed, Shige realizes, taller and well-defined, muscles straining under his shirt, lines of his face much more pronounced. And yet when he laughs and talks he’s still the same. The same Ryo who used to steal his gym clothes and put honey in his shampoo and blamed Shige for the time he drove over his mother’s gardenias.
Shige groans as the memories start filling his mind. He looks away, down at his lunch, and frowns. Ryo was like the part of an old life he’d long since forgotten - bad memories of fights and tears and constantly losing. And now that, suddenly, with not so much as a warning, Ryo is back in it, Shige just isn’t sure what to think.
~*~
Two weeks pass and Ryo has become friends with nearly everyone in the office. He and Yamapi and Akanishi are nearly tied together at all times, while Tegoshi just about fawns over his mere existence. He’s even befriended Matsumoto and Ninomiya from the Public Relations group who usually tend to keep to themselves, and, to top it all off, he’s done some really good work.
Shige doesn’t know what this annoys him so much. Surly, he just peers through the blinds on occasion to watch Ryo interact with the others so amiably. He almost wishes Ryo would’ve bombed just so he could make a half-ass excuse and send him packing back to Osaka. Of course, deep down, he knew that wouldn’t happen. Ryo has always been the center of attention. He’s got a sharp tongue that gets him in trouble, but it also keeps everyone else on their toes, such as making Koyama and Masuda work extra hard not to get on his bad side. Shige also knows he can be a softie underneath it all, even though it took him nearly four years to figure that out. Back then, Ryo was rather vicious, and Shige was young and naïve and just believed everything Ryo said or did.
He knows better now, which is why he won’t put up with Ryo’s crap. Like today, when Ryo strolls into Shige’s office as if he’s the boss, and declares, “I’m eating lunch in here.”
Shige raises a brow. “Says who?”
“Says me,” Ryo answers, and sits down on a chair opposite Shige, props his feet up on the table, his shoes effectively wrinkling some very important documents.
Shige scowls and shoves his feet off. “Get out,” he says angrily. “I’m working.”
“Take a break,” Ryo replies easily. “It’s lunchtime!”
Shige considers the pencil in his hand, wonders if he could throw it with enough precision and strength to jab Ryo in the head. Instead he mutters, “I hate my life,” under his breath.
“What was that?” Ryo questions around a mouthful of instant ramen.
“Nothing,” Shige answers monotonously and with a sigh pulls out his own lunch. He knows it’s easier to give in than to resist - Ryo has always been good at persuading Shige to do things he doesn’t want.
But Ryo grins at him happily from where he’s sitting and Shige almost thinks it’s kind of nice, almost, and then Ryo swings his feet back up onto the desk with a thump and sends Shige’s lunch flying onto the floor.
“Oops,” he says around another mouthful, but doesn’t bother to help clean up.
Shige clenches his fists tight at his side and tries to convince himself it’s not good to murder his employees.
~*~
Shige remembers when he first met Ryo. He was eleven and had moved into the house next door with his parents and his dog. He’d been helping them move in and had lost balance of a particularly heavy box, and sent tons of books and his mother’s favorite vase to the driveway. From the house beside him, sitting upon the porch, were a few boys around his own age who all laughed and pointed and didn’t bother to come over and help.
Shige remembers being embarrassed and angry and later really unhappy to learn that one of those boys - the one who had laughed the longest and loudest - was his next door neighbor. His mother gushed over him and told him to take care of Shige since he was kind of shy and had trouble making friends. Ryo, then, had grinned deviously and promised he would, but Shige knew that gleam in his eyes meant no good.
Today, Shige still sees that look in Ryo’s eyes. It tends to greet him every morning along with a cup of coffee and the workings of a migraine. Shige’s not sure what to make of it so he tries to ignore Ryo as best as possible. Of course, it’s pretty impossible when Ryo’s doing his best to annoy Shige as much as possible. He lingers around Shige’s office when he comes to drop off reports, joins him during lunch nearly everyday without invitation and chatters on about how the Osaka branch is so much better, and has just about won over everyone in the company so that Shige’s futile attempts to complain about him fall on deaf ears.
To top it off, he’s more or less the perfect employee. He does his work on time and does it well and, admittedly, his ability to get along with everyone proves useful. The only thing he does that annoys Shige is treat Shige like his best friend. Which they are most definitely not. Word travels fast in a small company such as this and Shige already knows Ryo’s close with Yamapi and Akanishi, knows they’ve gone partying and drinking, even sees him and Akanishi taking smoke breaks out back. He’s already got his own friends, so Shige doesn’t get why Ryo insists on annoying him all the time by doing stupid things like forcing his way into eating with him or sending him stupid emails on company time with various nuances of That tie you’re wearing today is hideous and You should cut your hair and I think the copy machine is broken. You should get someone to look at that.
Shige’s reaching his limit. It’s one thing for Ryo to act like they’re best friends off the clock, but it’s another to act like it while at work, where the rest of the company watches with beady, curious eyes and whisper behind his back. It’s really not long before Shige comes into work one day, thankfully earlier than everyone - especially Ryo - and manages to hide in his office with his coffee, and have Tegoshi come in an hour later to turn in a proposal and question quite bluntly, “Since when have you and Ryo-tan been dating?”
Shige just about chokes on his coffee, half from Tegoshi’s choice of a nickname and half from the question itself. “We’re not dating,” he exclaims.
Tegoshi looks confused. “Oh,” he says. “Because it looks like you are.”
“Well we’re not,” Shige insists. “You can even ask Ryo.”
“I will,” Tegoshi says brightly. “And you spilt some coffee on your tie.”
Shige glares at him. “Tegoshi,” he says in a stern voice.
Tegoshi nods at him politely. “Sorry, Kato-san,” he says quietly. “Excuse me.” And he leaves just as swiftly as he came.
Shige slinks back against his chair and glares instead at his computer screen. He wonders what Ryo’s telling people, if he has been telling them anything about their . . . admittedly strange relationship. Shige still isn’t sure what they are, but dating is possibly the last thing they will ever be. And if this is the kind of gossip mulling about his company, he had to put a stop to it. And fast.
He doesn’t get a chance until that evening, when most of the members have already clocked out and gone home. Shige stays behind to catch up on some paperwork and doesn’t realize anyone’s left behind until he heads out to get himself some more coffee.
He finds Ryo at his desk, a desk light illuminating his small little square and typing furiously away on his keyboard. He jumps when Shige approaches him but then gives Shige a tired smile. “Yo,” he says easily and continues to type.
“What’re you still doing here?” Shige asks.
“Finishing up the final proposal on this project,” he says and yawns. “I’m almost done.”
“That’s not due for another week,” Shige says, a little surprised and a little impressed.
Ryo smirks. “I know,” he answers. “I like being on top of things.”
Shige just hums in response and goes over to the coffee machine. He glances back at Ryo and sighs, and makes two cups, adds sugar and cream just the way he remembers Ryo likes it from years before. He returns to Ryo’s side and hands him the cup. “Here,” he says.
Now Ryo looks surprised, but he gratefully takes the proffered cup and downs nearly half of it in one go. “Thanks,” he says while Shige just nods around his own cup and then, without a word, returns to his office.
He manages to get most of his work done, even though now half of his mind is on Ryo in the other room. Their conversation just now was, well, normal, and Shige didn’t feel the itch to strangle him as he so often does. But, of course, when he really thinks about it, it’s not like every memory of Ryo he has is bad. Just most of them. There are a few, simple moments where they hung out at each other’s houses, played video games or watched movies with Ryo’s older brothers, or that time when Ryo took care of Shige when he was sick because his parents were at work late, or when Shige helped Ryo pass his senior math class. They were rare instances between their usual mocking and bickering, but they happened all the same, and Shige almost wishes they would happen more often.
Shige sighs as he stretches his arms over his head and leans back against his chair. He figures he’s done for the night, as his mind is already wandering to weird places, and once again, Ryo can be blamed for distracting him. As he begins to pack up, Ryo walks into his office and Shige thinks he’s going to have to start locking after him if this keeps up.
But Ryo is grinning with tired accomplishment so Shige doesn’t have it in him to berate him, especially when Ryo hands him the final proposal with a flourish and says, “I am awesome.”
Shige rolls his eyes, but despite himself, his lips twitch in amusement. It is just so Ryo. “We’ll see about that after I read through it,” he says, and sets the proposal onto his desk.
“Are you heading home?” Ryo asks behind a yawn, stretching, and Shige’s eyes involuntarily linger on where his shirt, that has long since come untucked, rides up his stomach and shows off a stripe of tan skin.
Shige looks away quickly and nods. “Yeah,” he replies. “You should, too. You look like shit.”
“Thanks, Shige,” Ryo says sarcastically. “You don’t look all that hot yourself.”
“That’s why I’m glad it’s the weekend,” Shige says, putting the last of his things into his briefcase and leading the way out of his office. He locks the door after him and somehow finds himself waiting as Ryo rushes to gather his belongings.
“Actually that reminds me,” Ryo says as they leave together, chilly night air and Tokyo’s bright lights greeting them outside. “Are you busy tomorrow night? We need to go for drinks or something. Catch up.”
Shige eyes Ryo warily. “You’re kidding, right?” he questions. “Catch up on what?”
Ryo stares at him. “Do you get stupid when you work late?” he asks and Shige opens his mouth indignantly but Ryo continues before he can retort. “Catch up on the past seven years, genius,” he says, and Shige’s heart skips a little in his chest at the very familiar and long forgotten nickname. Ryo grins and slings an arm around Shige’s shoulder so suddenly Shige stumbles a little as he walks. “It’s been way too long. We have a lot to talk about.”
Shige furrows his brow and shoves Ryo’s arm off him. “I don’t see what we have to talk about,” he says, a little annoyed, and not noticing Ryo’s surprised look. “We’ve never been friends, Ryo.”
“What’s your point?” Ryo questions.
“My point is that you can’t keep acting like you’ve been acting since you got here!” Shige snaps. “You might do your job well but you’re not exactly being the most professional person, especially when you’re with me. I’m your boss, you know. And you can’t just come strolling into my office whenever you feel like without knocking or to eat lunch and annoy me.”
Ryo’s eyes widen, his jaw sets. He stops walking and Shige does too, both of them staring darkly at the other in the middle of the sidewalk. “What are you saying, Shige?” Ryo asks.
“I’m saying if you want to keep this job you better start staying in your place. There are just some things I won’t tolerate in my office and, despite any history we may have - which really isn’t much at all, when you think about it - you have to respect that. Respect me. Because here, I am the one in charge,” Shige replies with an authoritativeness he rarely shows. He gets along well with just about everyone in the office and most of them are already good workers that don’t need to be scolded. Shige doesn’t have to be consistently stern or commanding, which he quite likes about his job, but with Ryo, he knows he has to be, or Ryo will continue being, well. Ryo.
Ryo stares at Shige for a few silent moments afterward and it rather unnerves Shige a bit, the rational side of him sweeping in to worry if he was perhaps a little too harsh. But then Ryo nods, and smiles, and Shige knows Ryo, has known him for years, and knows when his smiles are fake, notices how it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and something knots in the pit of his stomach from the look Ryo gives him right now. “Okay,” Ryo says, and his voice sounds hollow. “I get it.” And surprising Shige, he gives him a low bow, before straightening back up to add, “Sorry, Kato-san, but it won’t happen again.”
Shige’s eyes are huge because this is not entirely what he wanted. But as he opens his mouth to tell Ryo off, Ryo says, “Have a good night,” and turns on his heel to walk away.
Shige is rooted to the spot for awhile longer, until Ryo has disappeared from view. Then he follows, heading home, wondering the entire way back why doing what he’s sure is the appropriate thing makes him feel so horrible.
~*~
Shige forgets his conversation with Ryo by the time he gets to work on Monday. So it comes as a strange surprise when half the day goes by and he realizes he hasn’t received any weird emails from Ryo or had Ryo walking into his office as if he was the boss. It is kind of unsettling, and Shige isn’t sure what to do about it.
“Did something happen?” Koyama asks when he joins Shige for lunch and Shige tries not to creeper-stare out of the window blinds.
“No, nothing,” he says quickly, turning back to his lunch and pretending to eat. “What makes you say that?”
Koyama just stares at him knowingly and doesn’t reply. Shige looks away because Koyama has an uncanny ability to make him cave with one look. He really doesn’t want to talk about it because it’s stupid. This is what he asked for and so this is what he received. He should be happy, really, because once again his life is back on schedule, no more annoying distractions.
Except as the week carries on, he starts to get more and more agitated by Ryo’s lack of . . . Ryo-ness. Shige doesn’t even know what it is that’s bothering him, if he’s quite honest, just that now it doesn’t feel right anymore, like something is missing.
The only time Ryo ever talks to him now is when he comes into the office - always knocking now - to drop something off or let Shige know about a project, and then it’s always with polite speech and bows that leaves Shige baffled. He almost wants to talk to Ryo about it, tell him that this is not exactly what he meant, but then he would just be eating his words, and Shige can’t stand that.
Instead he just goes about his own business, trying to push the uneasiness out of his head. It’s a surprisingly difficult feat, especially when Koyama inputs his unhelpful opinions that clearly Shige misses Ryo, and that’s why he feels so weird. Shige won’t believe it, because it’s not true, goddammit. He’s lived years without Ryo in his life, peaceful, quiet, simple years, and he isn’t going to just miss him because he’s suddenly back in it and now gone within a few days. It’s ridiculous.
But when Shige leaves work on Thursday, he’s surprised to find Ryo waiting outside his office, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“There you are,” he says, and Shige’s heart flutters in his chest at the sight of him - it feels like it’s been forever since he’s really seen Ryo.
“What?” Shige asks but Ryo suddenly grabs his arm and starts dragging him out of the building. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going out,” Ryo says easily, and after a pause, he adds, “And you can’t make some stupid excuse because technically we’re off the clock and therefore, you’re no longer my boss right now.”
Shige opens his mouth to protest but he closes it shut after realizing Ryo’s right. And, if he’s honest, he can’t stop the butterflies in his stomach - he’s glad Ryo’s dragging him out, wherever he’s taking him. Right now, Shige thinks he’ll follow Ryo anywhere. “Where’re you taking me?” he asks.
“We’re just getting something to eat. That okay?” Ryo looks back at Shige over his shoulder and Shige feels a little lost when he meets those eyes.
He nods. “Y-Yeah, fine.”
Ryo’s bright smile surprises Shige - he’s forgotten how it feels to be on the receiving end of Ryo’s genuine smiles - and says, “Good.”
It’s a pretty small, homey kind of restaurant that Ryo takes him to. They pull of their suit jackets, drape them over backs of their chairs, and Shige watches as Ryo pulls off his tie and unbuttons the top of his shirt. He looks away quickly, down at his menu before Ryo notices him staring.
“Have you been here before?” Ryo asks and when he shakes his head he says, “Pi recommended it, said it has really good food.”
Shige knows he’s talking about Yamapi because he’s heard Akanishi call him that (the only one who does) and for some unfathomable reason feels just a bit irked that Ryo’s already become good enough friends with him to do it, too. It’s a stupid thing to be annoyed at, he knows, but he must have a frown on his face because then Ryo asks, “Is something wrong?”
Shige quickly shakes his head, giving Ryo one of his perfected fake smiles. “Sorry,” he says. “I’m fine. And no, I haven’t been here before.”
“Great,” Ryo says, looking pleased. “We can try it out together.”
His words make Shige’s heart strangely warm, and the look he gives Shige feels so familiar; he remembers it from when they were younger, those times when Ryo would make Shige listen to songs he was making on the guitar, his fingers stiff and the music a little off key because he’d only just started, but Shige would always say it was good, would clap, and grin, and Ryo would look like he does now, pleased, with just a hint of embarrassment in the corners of his eyes.
At first Shige was a little apprehensive, but as the night goes along, as they look over the menu together and place their order and as drinks come and fill his veins, Shige starts to let himself go and just enjoy it. He doesn’t go out very often, just the usual dinner or drinks with Koyama or Massu. Shige just usually spends his weekends at home, just resting, and it’s been a simple life he’s led until now. Now, he’s laughing with Ryo like he hasn’t in what feels like years, laughing and shouting and stealing food off Ryo’s plate, teasing, grinning, sharing stories of the past seven years, doing things he doesn’t ever do.
It’s refreshing, it’s fun, it’s so Ryo, to make him feel like this, Shige thinks. Ryo could always illicit a reaction from him, whether good or bad, he just knew which buttons to push. And it hasn’t changed in all these years; Shige’s almost glad. Ryo is the same Ryo he knew all those years ago, just older, taller, with a more chiseled face. But the intense eyes and the sweet yet devious smile are the same.
“You haven’t changed at all,” Shige tells him as their night starts to wind down.
Ryo laughs. “I could say the same about you,” he replies. “Still as boring as ever. Do you do anything but go to work?”
Shige glares at him. “Yes! I do loads of stuff, I’ll have you know.”
Ryo smirks perceptively. “Oh, really?” he questions. “Like what?”
Shige opens his mouth to answer but after a few seconds shuts it with a snap. “Fine,” he says, annoyed. “I really don’t do anything but work.”
Ryo laughs, his head tilted back, and it’s a beautiful, rich sound that hits Shige right in the heart. “I knew it,” he says. “You definitely haven’t changed.”
Shige flushes with both embarrassment and anger, but then Ryo smiles, and his eyes seem to glitter as he adds, “I’m glad you haven’t.”
Shige finds himself smiling, his heart warm in his chest, and he replies before thinking about it, “I’m glad you haven’t either,” and, when Ryo grins and Shige stops to think about it, he realizes it’s the truth.
The rest of the evening is spent amiably and by the time they leave, Shige’s feeling more exhilarated than he has in a long time. They’re both a little more than tipsy when they leave, so when Ryo suggest Shige just spend the night t his place, since it’s closer, Shige readily agrees.
“Watch out for the boxes, I haven’t had time to unpack completely yet,” Ryo says when they arrive and Shige nods.
“Looks like you haven’t unpacked at all,” Shige remarks, looking around the apartment.
Ryo laughs. “That’s pretty true,” he says. “You can have the couch. I’ll get you a pillow and blanket.”
Shige nods again, flopping down upon the couch, feeling quite tired already and when Ryo returns with the items, Shige makes himself comfortable. “Thanks,” he says, with a smile, but Ryo stares at him for a few moments, his eyes dark, before he finally nods, turns around.
“Good night,” he says andheads to his bedroom, leaving Shige blinking after him confused. He stares at Ryo’s closed door for awhile after before lying down and getting comfortable. And the second his head hits the pillow, he’s asleep.
~*~
Shige jumps awake by a sudden smack to his leg, eyes wide as he looks around until finding an amused Ryo in front of him.
“Wake up, sunshine,” he says with a grin. “We have to go work.”
Shige groans and falls back against the couch. He has a bit of a headache and his back is full of kinks. “It’s that early already?”
Ryo smirks. “I didn’t realize you were such a bad morning person.”
“I’m usually not,” Shige mumbles into the pillow. “I’m just out of my element. Drinking does this to me.”
“Get up,” Ryo says. “You’re the boss. You can’t be late.”
Shige grumbles something but does as he’s told, nearly falling off the couch in the process. “Ugh,” he says. “I need to get back to my apartment.”
“I’ll take you,” Ryo offers, and when Shige finally really looks at him, realizes he’s already dressed and is swirling his car keys around his finger. “Let’s go.”
“Fine,” Shige mutters. “But we need to stop for coffee on the way.”
They get to work later than usual, walking through the doors together, and Shige can feel the eyes on them. Ryo grins at him and heads off to his desk, while Shige rushes to his own office, avoiding Koyama’s amused gaze, as he locks himself inside.
For the rest of the morning, Shige tries not to think about his night with Ryo. He focuses on his work as much as he can, but he can’t help but want to go see Ryo again, talk to him about random things, just hang out like the did. And realizing this scares him a little, because he didn’t expect this to happen, remembers only the bad things from the past.
Halfway through the day Shige gets an email from Ryo that has him hesitating and a little excited. He stares at it in his inbox for nearly three minutes before finally clicking on it to read.
Last night was fun, it says. Are you free tonight?
Shige finds himself smiling as he beings his answer. Surprisingly, it was fun, he writes, and then pauses, thinks about Ryo’s question. Half of him wants to go out again, but the other half is wary, uncertain. He ponders for a moment before he adds, And, no, I’m not.
Before he can change his mind, he hits send, and it’s not even a minute later before he gets another message.
Why was it surprising? I’m always fun. And why the fuck not?
Shige laughs as he answers, Actually, I’ve always found you incredibly boring. He stares at the last question and wonders what he can say, thinking for a second before typing the first excuse he can come up with. Because I’m having dinner with Koyama.
Shige stares at his screen waiting impatiently for Ryo’s response. When it comes, he thinks he should be a little worried by his excitement.
You hang out with him a lot, is all it says.
Shige frowns and sends back: He is my best friend
Ryo’s response takes a lot longer to come this time, just a single line: I thought I was your best friend. :(
Shige makes a face, wonders what Ryo’s getting at. They’ve never been anything remotely close to best friends. Neighbors, yes; acquaintances, yes; friends, maybe, but best friends? Never. He quickly sends back: . . . Since when?
Okay, fine, Ryo says, So we’re not. But come on, I’m cooler than Koyama. Therefore, you should hang out with me tonight.
Shige shakes his head with amusement. This is so like Ryo, he thinks as he types up his response. You are unbelievable. And you’ve just wasted fifteen minutes of my time. I’m done talking to you.
He really does turn back to his work when Ryo sends another message: Aww, you’re no fun at all. Since you’re busy tonight, you’d better keep all of tomorrow open.
Shige raises a brow, curious despite himself. He sends back a simple, Why?
Because I’m kidnapping you, Ryo says. I need help cleaning up my apartment. You saw what it looked like.
Even though this is not what he was expecting, Shige finds himself a little excited, finds that he actually wouldn’t mind helping Ryo out with finally moving in. Although he feels this way, he replies with, And what makes you think I’d want to spend my day off doing that?
Because you’re life is boring and I’m offering you a day of fun, Ryo answers and Shige laughs. Come by around eleven, I’ll make lunch.
Shige contemplates this for awhile, but in the end, he knows he really does want to go. He types up, Fine. I’ll see you then, and sends it off before he can change his mind.
Then he quickly sends Koyama an email begging to go out for dinner tonight, because he wouldn’t put it past Ryo to ask Koyama just to make sure Shige was telling the truth about their plans. Thankfully, Koyama sends back an affirmative, complete with grinning smiley faces, and Shige breathes a sigh of relief. He thinks he’ll need a chat with his best friend, anyway, seeing as how suddenly everything in his life had taken such a strange turn.
> on to part 2