[Fic] Marigold
Summary: Set after Daffodil.
Characters: Naoto, Naoki, Kenchi
Rating: T
A/N: In case you're confused, this story takes place during the period of VBA2 and gearing up for 3JSB.
Weeks passed.
Still, Naoto refused to stay in the same vicinity alone with Tetsuya, despite the latter’s attempts to speak with him alone. His tendency to tug Naoki along with him did not go unnoticed, but it could also be attributed to meetings with Hiro regarding his plans for Sandaime J Soul Brothers and the upcoming Vocal Battle Audition 2 (VBA2).
===
Kenchi knew that Naoki was always one of the earliest to arrive at work, so it was no surprise to see him alone in the pantry. In fact, he had planned for it, sacrificing another hour of sleep.
“It takes time for wounds to heal,” said Naoki after a moment of awkward silence. Shrugging, Kenchi passed him a sandwich.
“No shit,” he snorted, unwrapping his sandwich. Mmm, tuna mayo. “Everyone can see that Naoto was badly hurt. And Tetsuya…”
“Kenchi-san, I think you shouldn’t bait Tetsuya-san anymore, and both of you should properly apologise to Naoto-san,” Naoki interrupted softly. “Your childish games have made him lose sleep and appetite and this isn’t good for anyone at all.”
“You’re really observant, aren’t you, Naoki?” said Kenchi with a wan smile. "I wouldn't peg you as someone who would know about me and Tetsuya-"
“That’s because I care about the future of Exile and Sandaime J Soul Brothers.” Naoki tossed the empty wrapper into the dustbin before searching the cupboards for more food. “And Tetsuya-san was my senpai in Rag Pound. He bitched a lot to Akira-san about you. Kenchi-san, will you and Tetsuya-san get together?”
“Who knows. Only time will tell. He needs to sort out his feelings. What about you? Do you love Naoto-san?”
“Feel free to try that on me, Kenchi-san.” Came Naoki's unimpressed reply. "The last I checked, we're platonic."
“Oh no, I’m going to try this.” Closing the distance, he yanked Naoki’s collar down and fused their lips together.
===
Naoto noticed the cut on Naoki’s lower lip when he slipped into the meeting room. The taller man was reading a stack of papers and muttering inaudibly to himself.
“What happened to your lip?” Eyes widening, he traced the cut, jerking back when he heard a slight hiss of pain.
“I bit Kenchi-san. He tried to kiss me,” Naoki lisped.
“What?”
“He wanted to prove a point.” Gingerly, Naoki touched his lip, only for his hand to be slapped away by an unamused Naoto.
“Stay there. I’m going to dig out the first aid kit. And don’t move.”
===
“They look promising,” said Naoto, flipping through the new Sandaime J Soul Brothers performers’ profiles that Hiro had passed them earlier.
“Yes. For instance, Gun-chan- I mean, Iwata Takanori, is still a university undergraduate, but he has lots of potential. I’m glad he passed the audition.” Naoki smiled fondly at Iwata’s file, wincing a little at the dull throb on his lower lip. Naoto had been none-too-gentle with the iodine swabs, but the look of concentration as he dabbed the wound was almost refreshing - Naoki missed his easy smile and boisterous laughter and teasing.
One step at a time.
“You know him?” Naoto asked, almost too casually, Naoki noted, if not for the slight tightening of his grip.
He couldn’t resist teasing the older man. “Naoto-san, you sound jealous.”
“Well, barring his terrible hairstyle, he’s very good-looking. Almost like a puppy.” Ignoring Naoki’s snort, Naoto traced the straight edges of the documents. “Why the nickname though?”
“Yes he is. The amount of stares Gun-chan gets from girls whenever we have krump practice is enviable.” Chuckling at Naoto’s droll stare, Naoki explained the origins of his junior’s nickname.
===
The doorbell rang.
“You’ve been coming over to my house a little too frequently,” Naoto mused, helping Naoki with the groceries. “Trying to make sure I don’t accidentally kill myself?”
“Naoto-san, I won’t put it past you to do that, but I said I’ll be there to help you, and I keep my promises.”
“Promises can be broken, Naoki-kun.” He never knew Naoki could be this stubborn. It was disconcerting, to say the least, yet it fit Naoki.
“Then why make them in the first place if you’re not going to keep your word?” The taller man calmly shot back, rearranging the dairy products in the refrigerator while Naoto busied himself with the vegetables and the meat.
“The world isn’t as black and white as you think, Naoki,” he countered, whirling around, almost slamming the refrigerator door behind him. Thankfully without taking any of Naoki’s fingers with him.
“I know. The world is in various shades of grey. I didn’t study literature simply because I have a way with words.” Encouraged by Naoto’s snort of disbelief, he continued. “But it doesn’t mean everything is bleak. Even if you pride yourself on being realistic, there are things that you must have faith, the strength and the will to carry on. Didn’t Hiro-san teach us that?”
“Naoki-kun…”
“Forgive my impudence, but I will not let you go down the road of self-destruction.”
“You’re saying that because of your responsibility as a co-leader-”
“I’m saying that because I care. Even if you don’t. Go and shower, please.”
“Are you going to carry me into the bathroom again?” Naoto challenged. He dared himself to invade the taller man's personal space, leaning in, palms pressed on the countertop on either side of him, hoping to intimidate him into backing out.
Unperturbed, probably due to his height advantage, Naoki merely sniffed and surveyed him.
“You’re just filthy and sweaty, not drunk or incapacitated. Also, you’re heavier than you look. You can bathe yourself.” Naoki’s incredulous look forced a laugh out of Naoto and followed him all the way to the bathroom.
Characters: Naoto, Naoki, Kenchi
Rating: T
A/N: In case you're confused, this story takes place during the period of VBA2 and gearing up for 3JSB.
Weeks passed.
Still, Naoto refused to stay in the same vicinity alone with Tetsuya, despite the latter’s attempts to speak with him alone. His tendency to tug Naoki along with him did not go unnoticed, but it could also be attributed to meetings with Hiro regarding his plans for Sandaime J Soul Brothers and the upcoming Vocal Battle Audition 2 (VBA2).
===
Kenchi knew that Naoki was always one of the earliest to arrive at work, so it was no surprise to see him alone in the pantry. In fact, he had planned for it, sacrificing another hour of sleep.
“It takes time for wounds to heal,” said Naoki after a moment of awkward silence. Shrugging, Kenchi passed him a sandwich.
“No shit,” he snorted, unwrapping his sandwich. Mmm, tuna mayo. “Everyone can see that Naoto was badly hurt. And Tetsuya…”
“Kenchi-san, I think you shouldn’t bait Tetsuya-san anymore, and both of you should properly apologise to Naoto-san,” Naoki interrupted softly. “Your childish games have made him lose sleep and appetite and this isn’t good for anyone at all.”
“You’re really observant, aren’t you, Naoki?” said Kenchi with a wan smile. "I wouldn't peg you as someone who would know about me and Tetsuya-"
“That’s because I care about the future of Exile and Sandaime J Soul Brothers.” Naoki tossed the empty wrapper into the dustbin before searching the cupboards for more food. “And Tetsuya-san was my senpai in Rag Pound. He bitched a lot to Akira-san about you. Kenchi-san, will you and Tetsuya-san get together?”
“Who knows. Only time will tell. He needs to sort out his feelings. What about you? Do you love Naoto-san?”
“Feel free to try that on me, Kenchi-san.” Came Naoki's unimpressed reply. "The last I checked, we're platonic."
“Oh no, I’m going to try this.” Closing the distance, he yanked Naoki’s collar down and fused their lips together.
===
Naoto noticed the cut on Naoki’s lower lip when he slipped into the meeting room. The taller man was reading a stack of papers and muttering inaudibly to himself.
“What happened to your lip?” Eyes widening, he traced the cut, jerking back when he heard a slight hiss of pain.
“I bit Kenchi-san. He tried to kiss me,” Naoki lisped.
“What?”
“He wanted to prove a point.” Gingerly, Naoki touched his lip, only for his hand to be slapped away by an unamused Naoto.
“Stay there. I’m going to dig out the first aid kit. And don’t move.”
===
“They look promising,” said Naoto, flipping through the new Sandaime J Soul Brothers performers’ profiles that Hiro had passed them earlier.
“Yes. For instance, Gun-chan- I mean, Iwata Takanori, is still a university undergraduate, but he has lots of potential. I’m glad he passed the audition.” Naoki smiled fondly at Iwata’s file, wincing a little at the dull throb on his lower lip. Naoto had been none-too-gentle with the iodine swabs, but the look of concentration as he dabbed the wound was almost refreshing - Naoki missed his easy smile and boisterous laughter and teasing.
One step at a time.
“You know him?” Naoto asked, almost too casually, Naoki noted, if not for the slight tightening of his grip.
He couldn’t resist teasing the older man. “Naoto-san, you sound jealous.”
“Well, barring his terrible hairstyle, he’s very good-looking. Almost like a puppy.” Ignoring Naoki’s snort, Naoto traced the straight edges of the documents. “Why the nickname though?”
“Yes he is. The amount of stares Gun-chan gets from girls whenever we have krump practice is enviable.” Chuckling at Naoto’s droll stare, Naoki explained the origins of his junior’s nickname.
===
The doorbell rang.
“You’ve been coming over to my house a little too frequently,” Naoto mused, helping Naoki with the groceries. “Trying to make sure I don’t accidentally kill myself?”
“Naoto-san, I won’t put it past you to do that, but I said I’ll be there to help you, and I keep my promises.”
“Promises can be broken, Naoki-kun.” He never knew Naoki could be this stubborn. It was disconcerting, to say the least, yet it fit Naoki.
“Then why make them in the first place if you’re not going to keep your word?” The taller man calmly shot back, rearranging the dairy products in the refrigerator while Naoto busied himself with the vegetables and the meat.
“The world isn’t as black and white as you think, Naoki,” he countered, whirling around, almost slamming the refrigerator door behind him. Thankfully without taking any of Naoki’s fingers with him.
“I know. The world is in various shades of grey. I didn’t study literature simply because I have a way with words.” Encouraged by Naoto’s snort of disbelief, he continued. “But it doesn’t mean everything is bleak. Even if you pride yourself on being realistic, there are things that you must have faith, the strength and the will to carry on. Didn’t Hiro-san teach us that?”
“Naoki-kun…”
“Forgive my impudence, but I will not let you go down the road of self-destruction.”
“You’re saying that because of your responsibility as a co-leader-”
“I’m saying that because I care. Even if you don’t. Go and shower, please.”
“Are you going to carry me into the bathroom again?” Naoto challenged. He dared himself to invade the taller man's personal space, leaning in, palms pressed on the countertop on either side of him, hoping to intimidate him into backing out.
Unperturbed, probably due to his height advantage, Naoki merely sniffed and surveyed him.
“You’re just filthy and sweaty, not drunk or incapacitated. Also, you’re heavier than you look. You can bathe yourself.” Naoki’s incredulous look forced a laugh out of Naoto and followed him all the way to the bathroom.