[Fic] The Silence of Midnight (5/5) - END (Prince of Tennis)
Title: The Silence of Midnight (5/5)
Rating: Gen
Characters: Tezuka Kunimitsu, Fuji Syuusuke.
Summary: Tezuka goes to the police station to identify his attackers.
At last, the end is in sight. Dedicated to lonelymaiden for listening to me rant about writer's block. Also dedicated to Tezuka Kunimitsu. Self-betaed.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4. All fics in "The Silence of Midnight" are in reverse chronological order here.
Tanaka-san was waiting when Tezuka arrived at the police station. "Tezuka-san," the constable said, rising, offering a hand. "You look much better now. I'm glad to see your injuries are recovering so well."
"Thank you," Tezuka said, not wishing to be impolite, but feeling distinctly nervous. Perhaps Tanaka-san picked up on this, because a cup of hot tea was placed before him. Tezuka looked up to see a kind smile.
"We all get nervous when we face our fears, Tezuka-san."
Tezuka was sure Tanaka meant well, yet the choice of words made him square his shoulders and sit straighter. I do not fear those boys, he thought, perhaps just a little rebelliously. He refused to allow himself even the mention of it. "It's been a long day," he said instead, keeping his voice level.
Nevertheless, Tezuka's fingers sought out the warmth of the hot cup of tea, and he sipped, closing his eyes a moment. All he had to do was make sure these were the same boys who had attacked him. He wouldn't have to speak with them. Tezuka's fingers tightened around the cup a little, but told himself it was merely because he did not wish to break anything. Certainly not because there was a tremor to his fingertips that gave him concern and felt as if the cup would slip from his grasp.
Slowly, he placed the cup down on the table, pleased that its descent was steady, and then stood. "Please." They would do it now, before he lost his nerve.
Tanaka-san led the way down the hall. Three doors from the end, he stopped and gestured towards a door with a glass panel for a window. Two middle-aged women stood nearby, otherwise dissimilar faces set in eerily identical grimaces, watching Tezuka. Ignoring the women, Tezuka stood in front of the door and looked inside.
A group of teenaged boys sat ranged around the smallish room, some looking scared, others posturing and sneering at the police officer accompanying them. One of them merely sat quietly and looked bored. Perhaps he sensed Tezuka's presence, for his gaze flicked up, and his eyes met Tezuka's through the glass.
Tezuka took a breath, managing to keep himself from backing up. It was the one the others had called Taku-chan.
"You're going to get all your savings from the ATM, and you're going to help us out, because you have money and we don't. Right, Tezuka-san?
As if Taku-chan knew exactly what Tezuka was thinking, the youth smirked at Tezuka, and his mouth opened. The rest of the boys turned towards the window, and suddenly Tezuka was back in the alley, surrounded.
"... guess what, Tezuka-san, I'm sure if we cut that suit off you're going to be just like us underneath ... "
Tezuka dropped his eyes. He knew Taku-chan would be smirking in the room. Biting his lip, Tezuka tried to account for all the faces, but he knew they were all there. Turning to Tanaka-san, Tezuka opened his mouth, when he heard a light tapping on glass.
He'd expected to see Taku-chan when he turned, but he did not expect to see Taku-chan's face pressed up against the glass with an expression of arrogance that Tezuka could not find the words to describe. It wasn't arrogance that spoke of an awareness of the recognition due an Atobe. Rather, this was arrogance laced with a cold uncaring indifference that turned Tezuka's blood cold. Even through the glass, steely gray eyes bored into Tezuka's own brown ones, and Tezuka remembered the last time those eyes had been so close.
"Hold him."
Stepping away, managing not to lose his composure (though Tezuka knew it had been close), Tezuka nodded to Tanaka-san.
"Well, that's that, then," Tanaka-san said, and led him back to the constable's office. The women's eyes followed them down the hall, and Tezuka felt immensely uneasy. He could feel their gazes burning through his back with every step he took. Tezuka was stiffly quiet, even quieter than usual, as he followed Tanaka-san down the hall.
***
The cup of tea on Tanaka's table was still warm.
" ... pressing charges?"
Tezuka blinked, and looked up at Tanaka-san again. "I'm terribly sorry, could you please say that again?"
Obligingly, Tanaka-san repeated his words. "I said, will you be pressing charges, Tezuka-san?"
Tezuka thought of Taku-chan's face, pressed to the window, and of steel gray, smirking at him, daring him to speak out.
He nodded. "Aa."
Tanaka-san looked at Tezuka, and then nodded, too. "Well then, here's the paperwork I need you to fill. Please sign here, and circle this box, and down here I need you to write your name ..."
Tanaka-san went through the paperwork with Tezuka, who signed where he was told to sign, and filled out the rest of the forms mechanically. He didn't hear very much of everything else Tanaka-san said. Everytime he blinked or closed his eyes to rest, he thought of Taku-chan's cold, steely gray eyes.
***
Fuji was waiting at the station again, and Tezuka paused as he approached the other. This wasn't healthy for Fuji, and although the other meant well, Tezuka suspected it wasn't healthy for Tezuka, either. Something had to be done. "Fuji," he said, instead of walking towards his apartment as they normally did.
Fuji looked at him curiously. "Mmm?"
It had to stop here. "Your sister misses you."
Tilting his head, Fuji actually paused, opening his eyes to look at Tezuka. It had been years since they'd known each other, and Tezuka was used to Fuji's open eyes, now. They didn't chill him. Taku-chan's eyes did, but Fuji's didn't.
The thought of Taku-chan's eyes made Tezuka shiver involuntarily. Fuji caught it; Tezuka could tell by the way Fuji's eyes narrowed. "Is anything wrong, Tezuka?"
Shaking his head, Tezuka said, "Go home, Fuji."
"Maa ne," was all Fuji said in response. Tezuka sensed Fuji was waiting for something else, but Tezuka didn't offer any more.
After a few moments, Fuji shifted his feet, hesitating, and then nodded as if they had just finished a conversation, even though no words had been said. The tensai raised the bento in his left hand, offering it to Tezuka. "Taka-san sends his regards, buchou."
"I'm not buchou anymore."
Fuji merely smiled that closed-eyed smile at him, and Tezuka felt grateful for the momentary irritation. The tensai's smile was warm and friendly as he picked up the duffel bag. "Nee-san will be mad at me again soon, I'm sure," Fuji said matter-of-factly. "I make so much noise, she says."
"Hn," Tezuka said, frowning at Fuji. How dare Fuji say Tezuka would ask for Fuji to be back again? He was not weak, and he certainly didn't need a babysitter.
As if Fuji sensed Tezuka's thoughts, the other smiled. "Ne, Tezuka?"
"Hn?"
"Thanks for the extended sleepover. It was fun. Just like those days at the training camp, ne?"
Not waiting for Tezuka to reply, Fuji waved and was gone through the turnstiles again. After he silently watched his friend's light brown hair disappear up the stairs, Tezuka turned, briefcase in one hand, bento in the other, and headed back to his apartment.
***
It was a very long, quiet walk home.
No one smiled at him as he laid out his futon, nor teased him as he set the electric kettle to boil. The low bubbling of the hot water was the only other sound in the room as Tezuka opened the bento box to see Taka-san's latest creations.
There was more than enough sushi for two, and Tezuka knew the leftovers would go bad the next morning if he left it. In the end, he ate more than his fair share and put the rest in his refridgerator for breakfast. Maybe sending Fuji home had been a bad idea, he thought, but he would never admit this to anyone.
As he brushed his teeth, Tezuka recanted, feeling utterly miserable, but refusing to admit he was. No, sending Fuji home had been a good idea. He had gotten far too used to the other's presence. The apartment felt hollow without another person's presence now, and Tezuka hated how used he had become to the sound of someone else padding around his apartment. He knew it wasn't Fuji he missed, but the human presence. If it had been Oishi, or Kawamura, or, heaven forbid, Inui--it would have been welcome.
Perhaps he should look into a pet. Oishi kept goldfish. Tezuka wondered if he should ask Oishi about keeping fish, but there was something about the warmth of a fellow mammal that fish lacked. Fish were for fishing, he thought, feeling a little ashamed of it. His best friend kept goldfish, had done so for years, but Tezuka still couldn't think of them as anything but food on a plate.
The green tea soothed his stomach, but he still felt uncomfortably full when he finally lay down on the futon. Feeling vaguely nauseous, Tezuka closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep. Tomorrow was a working day.
His sleep was uneasy, haunted by a cold gaze through glass.
ETA: - end -
Rating: Gen
Characters: Tezuka Kunimitsu, Fuji Syuusuke.
Summary: Tezuka goes to the police station to identify his attackers.
At last, the end is in sight. Dedicated to lonelymaiden for listening to me rant about writer's block. Also dedicated to Tezuka Kunimitsu. Self-betaed.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4. All fics in "The Silence of Midnight" are in reverse chronological order here.
Tanaka-san was waiting when Tezuka arrived at the police station. "Tezuka-san," the constable said, rising, offering a hand. "You look much better now. I'm glad to see your injuries are recovering so well."
"Thank you," Tezuka said, not wishing to be impolite, but feeling distinctly nervous. Perhaps Tanaka-san picked up on this, because a cup of hot tea was placed before him. Tezuka looked up to see a kind smile.
"We all get nervous when we face our fears, Tezuka-san."
Tezuka was sure Tanaka meant well, yet the choice of words made him square his shoulders and sit straighter. I do not fear those boys, he thought, perhaps just a little rebelliously. He refused to allow himself even the mention of it. "It's been a long day," he said instead, keeping his voice level.
Nevertheless, Tezuka's fingers sought out the warmth of the hot cup of tea, and he sipped, closing his eyes a moment. All he had to do was make sure these were the same boys who had attacked him. He wouldn't have to speak with them. Tezuka's fingers tightened around the cup a little, but told himself it was merely because he did not wish to break anything. Certainly not because there was a tremor to his fingertips that gave him concern and felt as if the cup would slip from his grasp.
Slowly, he placed the cup down on the table, pleased that its descent was steady, and then stood. "Please." They would do it now, before he lost his nerve.
Tanaka-san led the way down the hall. Three doors from the end, he stopped and gestured towards a door with a glass panel for a window. Two middle-aged women stood nearby, otherwise dissimilar faces set in eerily identical grimaces, watching Tezuka. Ignoring the women, Tezuka stood in front of the door and looked inside.
A group of teenaged boys sat ranged around the smallish room, some looking scared, others posturing and sneering at the police officer accompanying them. One of them merely sat quietly and looked bored. Perhaps he sensed Tezuka's presence, for his gaze flicked up, and his eyes met Tezuka's through the glass.
Tezuka took a breath, managing to keep himself from backing up. It was the one the others had called Taku-chan.
"You're going to get all your savings from the ATM, and you're going to help us out, because you have money and we don't. Right, Tezuka-san?
As if Taku-chan knew exactly what Tezuka was thinking, the youth smirked at Tezuka, and his mouth opened. The rest of the boys turned towards the window, and suddenly Tezuka was back in the alley, surrounded.
"... guess what, Tezuka-san, I'm sure if we cut that suit off you're going to be just like us underneath ... "
Tezuka dropped his eyes. He knew Taku-chan would be smirking in the room. Biting his lip, Tezuka tried to account for all the faces, but he knew they were all there. Turning to Tanaka-san, Tezuka opened his mouth, when he heard a light tapping on glass.
He'd expected to see Taku-chan when he turned, but he did not expect to see Taku-chan's face pressed up against the glass with an expression of arrogance that Tezuka could not find the words to describe. It wasn't arrogance that spoke of an awareness of the recognition due an Atobe. Rather, this was arrogance laced with a cold uncaring indifference that turned Tezuka's blood cold. Even through the glass, steely gray eyes bored into Tezuka's own brown ones, and Tezuka remembered the last time those eyes had been so close.
"Hold him."
Stepping away, managing not to lose his composure (though Tezuka knew it had been close), Tezuka nodded to Tanaka-san.
"Well, that's that, then," Tanaka-san said, and led him back to the constable's office. The women's eyes followed them down the hall, and Tezuka felt immensely uneasy. He could feel their gazes burning through his back with every step he took. Tezuka was stiffly quiet, even quieter than usual, as he followed Tanaka-san down the hall.
***
The cup of tea on Tanaka's table was still warm.
" ... pressing charges?"
Tezuka blinked, and looked up at Tanaka-san again. "I'm terribly sorry, could you please say that again?"
Obligingly, Tanaka-san repeated his words. "I said, will you be pressing charges, Tezuka-san?"
Tezuka thought of Taku-chan's face, pressed to the window, and of steel gray, smirking at him, daring him to speak out.
He nodded. "Aa."
Tanaka-san looked at Tezuka, and then nodded, too. "Well then, here's the paperwork I need you to fill. Please sign here, and circle this box, and down here I need you to write your name ..."
Tanaka-san went through the paperwork with Tezuka, who signed where he was told to sign, and filled out the rest of the forms mechanically. He didn't hear very much of everything else Tanaka-san said. Everytime he blinked or closed his eyes to rest, he thought of Taku-chan's cold, steely gray eyes.
***
Fuji was waiting at the station again, and Tezuka paused as he approached the other. This wasn't healthy for Fuji, and although the other meant well, Tezuka suspected it wasn't healthy for Tezuka, either. Something had to be done. "Fuji," he said, instead of walking towards his apartment as they normally did.
Fuji looked at him curiously. "Mmm?"
It had to stop here. "Your sister misses you."
Tilting his head, Fuji actually paused, opening his eyes to look at Tezuka. It had been years since they'd known each other, and Tezuka was used to Fuji's open eyes, now. They didn't chill him. Taku-chan's eyes did, but Fuji's didn't.
The thought of Taku-chan's eyes made Tezuka shiver involuntarily. Fuji caught it; Tezuka could tell by the way Fuji's eyes narrowed. "Is anything wrong, Tezuka?"
Shaking his head, Tezuka said, "Go home, Fuji."
"Maa ne," was all Fuji said in response. Tezuka sensed Fuji was waiting for something else, but Tezuka didn't offer any more.
After a few moments, Fuji shifted his feet, hesitating, and then nodded as if they had just finished a conversation, even though no words had been said. The tensai raised the bento in his left hand, offering it to Tezuka. "Taka-san sends his regards, buchou."
"I'm not buchou anymore."
Fuji merely smiled that closed-eyed smile at him, and Tezuka felt grateful for the momentary irritation. The tensai's smile was warm and friendly as he picked up the duffel bag. "Nee-san will be mad at me again soon, I'm sure," Fuji said matter-of-factly. "I make so much noise, she says."
"Hn," Tezuka said, frowning at Fuji. How dare Fuji say Tezuka would ask for Fuji to be back again? He was not weak, and he certainly didn't need a babysitter.
As if Fuji sensed Tezuka's thoughts, the other smiled. "Ne, Tezuka?"
"Hn?"
"Thanks for the extended sleepover. It was fun. Just like those days at the training camp, ne?"
Not waiting for Tezuka to reply, Fuji waved and was gone through the turnstiles again. After he silently watched his friend's light brown hair disappear up the stairs, Tezuka turned, briefcase in one hand, bento in the other, and headed back to his apartment.
***
It was a very long, quiet walk home.
No one smiled at him as he laid out his futon, nor teased him as he set the electric kettle to boil. The low bubbling of the hot water was the only other sound in the room as Tezuka opened the bento box to see Taka-san's latest creations.
There was more than enough sushi for two, and Tezuka knew the leftovers would go bad the next morning if he left it. In the end, he ate more than his fair share and put the rest in his refridgerator for breakfast. Maybe sending Fuji home had been a bad idea, he thought, but he would never admit this to anyone.
As he brushed his teeth, Tezuka recanted, feeling utterly miserable, but refusing to admit he was. No, sending Fuji home had been a good idea. He had gotten far too used to the other's presence. The apartment felt hollow without another person's presence now, and Tezuka hated how used he had become to the sound of someone else padding around his apartment. He knew it wasn't Fuji he missed, but the human presence. If it had been Oishi, or Kawamura, or, heaven forbid, Inui--it would have been welcome.
Perhaps he should look into a pet. Oishi kept goldfish. Tezuka wondered if he should ask Oishi about keeping fish, but there was something about the warmth of a fellow mammal that fish lacked. Fish were for fishing, he thought, feeling a little ashamed of it. His best friend kept goldfish, had done so for years, but Tezuka still couldn't think of them as anything but food on a plate.
The green tea soothed his stomach, but he still felt uncomfortably full when he finally lay down on the futon. Feeling vaguely nauseous, Tezuka closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep. Tomorrow was a working day.
His sleep was uneasy, haunted by a cold gaze through glass.
ETA: - end -