Comfort Objects
Title: Comfort Objects
Type: Oneshot (wc=2364)
Pairings: Ohmiya, and hints Sakuraiba (I guess I can't write one without the other)
Rating: PG (for a couple curse words, and potential homosexual relationships)
Genre: Really Fluffy Fluff...you know...the fluffy kind....without plot that makes sense...you'll know when you get there. ^^;
Summary: Tomfoolery abounds as Arashi prepares for bed after a long day on tour. And of course, Aiba during bedtime wouldn't be Aiba, without his stuffed dog, Puni-chan. What happens when a few members feel that it's time for Aiba to grow up, and get rid of Puni-chan? (This takes place in an unspecified timeline, it could be yesterday, or a few months after their debut, it's up to you, you could even put it in the SAAC au if you like XD)
Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter, and I don't own Arashi. The characters in this fic do not represent Arashi in anything more then in name, physical appearance, and band relations. If you choose to make assumptions as to my fic characters behaving 'in character' or otherwise, don't blame me for the let down. Should this fic cease being funny, or fluffy at any time, or makes you uncomfortable in anyway please stop torturing yourself, and find a better use for your time. Furthermore, if this disclaimer is found to be full of sarcasm, then I apologize, because it really isn't. I'm just trying to avoid future crucifixion for misunderstandings that may develop in my headers. Should misunderstandings crop up in the process of reading this fic, please let me know right away, as opposed to days/weeks after the post, so I can protect others who may come to the same miss-conclusions. I’m sorry for the dictionary sized disclaimer, but again, I’ve come to believe it necessary, even for PG Ohmiya fluff.
Note: I would like to dedicate this fic to litany_sh, sadface, (whom I've renamed happyface for personal reasons) ohmeeyuh, i_am_zan, chaitanyadevana, cupcake4mafia, 034c0r0n0430, laurachan2 ( your fic is next, I swear) and everyone else who has supported me, now and/or ever. You know why this is dedicated to you, and I'd like to thank you once more. I seriously love you guys, and would churn out Arashi fluff like a cotton candy machine if I could, just for you.
It was late evening when members of Arashi were getting ready for bed after a long day on tour. Aiba, humming happily, and dressed in his night wear of maroon boxers, pulled a large stuffed dog from one of his many travel bags, and jumped into his futon, in the middle of the row of five.
“Where’s Oh-chan?” Asked Nino walking into the room lost in his gameboy, but missing his arm rest.
“Still in the bath with Sho-chan. Isn’t that right, Puni-chan?”
Jun, lounging in his own futon against the wall peeked out from behind a Harry Potter book, and laughed. “Aren’t you a little old to still sleep with that thing?”
“Aren’t you a little old to believe in magic?” Aiba returned, nodding at Jun’s book.
“I’m reading an enjoyable piece of fictional literature. Besides, Aiba-kun….you’re the one who believes in magic.”
Aiba had to pause for a long moment to think of a come back, because sometimes… he did believe in magic.
So Jun continued in the silence. “Anyway, I’m not dependant on this book to the point where I can’t sleep without it.”
“Yeah, Aiba, its about time you grew up.” Said Nino, who was tucking his well worn Gameboy into the pocket of his carry on bag. “You shouldn’t have to drag that everywhere.”
“I am a grown up. Puni-chan just soothes me.” Aiba gave the stuffed dog several loving pats. “Like…like warm chocolate chip cookies…don’t you Puni-chan. ”
Nino and Jun looked at each other. With a nod, they both began approaching Aiba, who had started whispering sweet things to his Puni-chan.
By the time he realized he was being surrounded it was too late.
“NO! Hehehe…L-et me…haha… go!” Wheezed Aiba as Jun put him into a head lock with one arm and began tickling the Aiba’s sides with the other.
Nino was ready. As soon as tickling began, he waited for Aiba to display signs of weakness, and the instant Aiba’s grip slackened, Puni-chan found himself in the hands of Nino.
Nino couldn’t help but notice that the dog was in severe disrepair. Stuffing was poking out several torn seams, and there were large patches of missing hair, as well as multicolored stains Nino would rather not know the origin of.
“B-back…give…P-puuuniiii…baaaack…” Struggled Aiba, from Jun’s lap, weak from the sudden vicious tickle attack.
“Just for tonight, Aiba. You really should try to sleep without it.” Jun pushed Aiba off his lap and onto the futon. A bad move, as Aiba was instantly on his feet, to take a wild dive at Nino, to rescue his Puni-chan. Of course a flailing Aiba is easily avoidable, and Nino tossed the dog above Aiba, to a ready Jun.
“Please give him back!” Aiba’s voice broke, as he was near tears, loosing the game of keep away, despite his height. “He’s old. He might break.”
“Stuffed animals can’t break.” Nino wiggled the dog just out of reach, before chucking it back to Jun.
“They can rip and tear, but not break. This is for your own good Aiba. We’re trying to help you.” Said Jun as the stuffed dog was lobbed back to Nino at Aiba‘s approach.
“The only thing that can help me is Puni-chan!” Aiba sunk to his knees in the middle of the room, and the waterworks began. At sight of a crushed Aiba, Jun’s resolve shattered and had his arm around the heaving shoulders at once.
“Aiba, really, it’s for your own good.” Said Nino, who was now playing catch with Puni-chan by himself, by bouncing him off the wall. “I mean…what if something bad happens to him? Then what would you do?”
This was very much the wrong thing to say.
As he clutched Jun’s lavender undershirt, Aiba half said, half sobbed something rather incoherent.
Guessing at Aiba’s words, Jun tried to console him. “Nino doesn’t mean something bad will happen to Puni-chan, just that you should be prepar--”
Rrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiipp.
There was a horrible, earth shattering silence in which the three men in the room stared at a recently beheaded stuffed animal in Nino‘s hands.
Bits of stuffing floated from the severed head to the wooden floor.
“…I can fix that.”
“YOU KILLED PUNI-CHAN!” Aiba screeched, and this time, when he reached out for the stuffed dog, it was retuned without contest.
“No, I told you that I can fix it.”
Just then, Sho and Ohno returned from the bath, chattering merrily. Merriment that evaporated as the two beheld the somber state of the shared bedroom. Sho dropped the pile of clothes in his hands, when he saw the state of both Aiba, and Aiba’s stuffed dog.
“Who killed Puni-chan?”
Nino rolled his eyes. “Not you too. He wasn’t killed, as he wasn’t alive in the first place. Just sew the head back on and it will be good as new.”
As the mourning tears slid down Aiba’s cheeks, the devastated man could only gape at the fact that Nino thought a needle and thread could make Puni-chan as good as new.
“Can I see him? How did he rip in the first place?” Inquired Ohno, as he examined the animal’s wound, like a veterinarian would a real dog.
“It was Nino.” Came Jun, pointing in the direction of the stuffed animal slayer. “He thought taking the dog away would help Aiba grow up. I tried to stop him.”
“Thanks MatsuJun. You’re a real friend.” Nino looked back to Ohno and immediately regretted it. Disappointment he could handle from anyone, except Ohno. Irate, Nino slipped into his futon, as the rest of Arashi concentrated on Aiba.
“I think I can sew this back on. You can hide the seam with a bandana or something. Its not as bad as it looks, see?” Ohno fit the two pieces of dog together, experimentally.
“Re-(hiccup)-really?”
Nino scowled into his covers. Wasn’t that exactly what he had proposed a second ago?
“Yeah, but…it’ll have to wait for tomorrow, when I can ask for access to the costume repair stuff.” Ohno set both pieces of Puni-chan on the floor, near his things.
Aiba who seemed to have been almost done crying, began again. “B-but have to have Puni-chan! I can’t (hiccup) sle-ep alone! (sniff)”
“There are four of us here for you, you aren’t sleeping alone, Baby.” Sho pulled Aiba into a hug, and rubbed comforting circles into his back.
“N-no. I have to (hiccup) b-be holding something….” Aiba sobbed into Sho’s shoulder.
“Um…could you try a pillow?” Ohno held out a spare from the closet.
“But…it’s not the same…”
Nino rolled over, fuming. ‘This is so stupid. It’s just a stuffed dog. Why are they making such a big deal? Aiba needs to grow up anyway.’
“Just try it for tonight, and tomorrow Puni-chan will be all patched up, okay?” Jun had grabbed the pillow from Ohno, and tucked it into Aiba’s futon, in the middle of the room.
‘Traitor, ’ Nino thought, crossing his arms invisibly under the covers. ‘He’s the one who started the whole thing, and now he’s acting all innocent.’
“O-okay.” Aiba gave one last big sniff, before he wiped his streaming nose, and situated himself in the futon, clutching the spare pillow.
Sho picked up his fallen clothes, and walked to the light switch. “Alright, everyone we’ve got a big day tomorrow, so I’m going to turn the lights out now.”
“Kay.” Jun shuffled back to his futon, staying above the covers, to keep cool.
“Mm.” Ohno tossed his clothes to his pile of bags, minding the stuffed dog, before curling up in the other end futon, next to Nino’s.
“Aiba? Nino?”
“It’s okay…go ahead.” Aiba’s voice was hoarse from crying.
“What is this, role call? Just turn off the damn lights.” Only the top of Nino’s head was visible, from under the covers.
“Don’t get snappy at me just because you…” Sho realized Aiba was still listening, “Never mind, we’ll talk about this tomorrow.” The lights flickered off, and Sho settled between Aiba and Jun.
Nino really wanted to throw off the blankets, and continue their discussion now, but decided, only slightly resentful, that maybe he should just let it go.
He pulled down the covers, just enough so he could peek at Ohno, but the older man’s back was turned.
With a silent sigh, Nino rolled over onto his stomach and waited for sleep.
After almost ten minutes in which Nino was no closer to dream land, he shifted positions again, this time looking at Aiba, who also had his back turned.
This almost annoyed Nino, as if he had been isolated on either side on purpose. But soon he realized why Aiba was turned so.
“Psst….Shooooo.” Came a ghostly whisper, from the man in the center futon. “The pillow isn’t working….”
“Well, what do you want me to do about it?” Replied the fatigued Sho, who only wanted peace, quiet, and enough sleep so the makeup artist wouldn’t complain about the dark circles under his eyes for once.
“Ummm….could you…..be my Puni-chan?”
There was a long silence punctured by Jun’s soft snores.
“…Okay. Come here.” Sighed Sho, before blankets rustled.
“Yay! Sho-chan is so warm! You remind me of Puni-chan.”
Sho wasn’t really sure how to take this, and it didn’t help that Aiba was now hugging him close from behind, so he decided it would just be best to stay quiet, and get to sleep as fast as possible.
Nino, who watched the whole exchange, was nowhere closer to sleep.
He knew there was only one thing that could help him get to sleep in this situation. Well, two things, but one was currently giving him the cold shoulder or had fallen asleep already.
So Nino waited, for the sounds of Aiba and Sho having fallen asleep, before propping himself in his elbows. He looked about, listening carefully, to make sure all of his band mates were sleeping.
The coast was clear.
Crawling silently on his elbows, Nino inched toward his luggage. Once there, he was immensely relieved to find that he had left a certain pocket unzipped. He slipped his hand into the bag, and felt down several layers of clothes until he felt a satin edge. With a small smile, he tugged the satin lining noiselessly from the bag, to reveal an old baby blanket.
The blanket was made of baby blue flannel, lined with a wide sunshine yellow satin edge. The blue print depicted baby pandas in various stages of play, and at one point in his life, Nino had named them all. But that was years ago, when he was thoroughly attached to his blanket. He wasn’t attached anymore, not like Aiba and that stuffed dog. He didn‘t need the blanket the way Aiba needed Puni-chan. Nino just took it with him on over night outings….out of habit. Yes, habit.
As Nino scuttled back to bed, he remembered his other, matching blanket. The two had come together, and had the exact same panda print, but had an opposite color scheme, yellow on the inside, and blue on the outside. He had lost it many years ago, but the fact that his set was no longer complete bothered Nino to this day….. as a collector of course. He didn’t need the other blanket, when he had this one. Not that he needed this one either.
Back under the futon, with his baby blanket tickling his nose with it’s calming essence of home, Nino finally felt sleep walking his way.
There was only one thing bothering him.
It felt like someone was watching him.
Impossible, as it sounded like everyone was still sleeping.
Nino forced one eye open to look about. He really wished he hadn’t, as he found Ohno looking at him, curiously.
What Ohno was doing awake at this hour, Nino would ponder later, because he realized with a start that Ohno had probably seen him with the baby blanket.
“Listen, Oh-chan….” Whispered Nino, hurriedly. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Ohno continued to watch Nino, blinking occasionally, as if to ask “Oh really?”
“Okay, so it is a baby blanket. But it’s not like I need it to go to sleep or anything.”
And Ohno looked at Nino some more, his eyes pondering “Is that the truth, Nino?”
“Fine! I do need it! It comforts me! I can’t help it! I shouldn’t have forced Aiba to give up Puni-chan, and I‘m sorry I ripped him, I would hate having the same thing done to me so….just stop looking at me with those eyes…”
Ohno smiled, and pulled out a small blanket from under his futon covers.
“I knew you were sorry...and....I have one too.” Whispered Ohno, as he held out the blanket. On close inspection, Nino could see with the moonlight from the window that it was sunshine yellow flannel, decorated with baby pandas, and lined in blue satin. “I've always had that blanket. I lost the other one that goes with it though….”
Nino grinned, and passed his own blanket to Ohno, who gasped. “…You have the other one! But….isn’t that weird?”
“Not at all. Because, sets like this….belong together.” Said Nino, still smiling as he took both blankets in his hands.
“…But you can’t take my blanket!….I…need it too…” Whimpered Ohno, with a heart wrenching pout, effective even in darkness.
“I’m not going to take it…here this is your end.”
“Eh?” Ohno’s blanket was returned, except, one corner had been tied to Nino’s blanket. “Why did you do that?”
“Didn't I just say that sets are made to be together?…It‘s their destiny.” Nino mumbled, tugging on his end of the blanket, to bring Ohno closer.
“Oh…”
“But if I had known you were awake, I wouldn’t have needed the blanket.” Nino breathed faintly, ready for sleep at last.
“I‘m sorry…” Ohno, with the end of the baby blanket still in his hand, held Nino’s, in the gap between the futons.
“You can’t tell the others about this, though.”
“Never.”
“And just because I need my blanket sometimes doesn’t mean I’m like Aiba.”
“Of course not.”
“I don’t think I’ll need it much longer anyway.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah….” Nino squeezed Ohno’s hand, and laced their fingers. “Because we make a perfect set too.”
“I like to think so. Destiny sounds nice.”
Nino chuckled softly, falling asleep soon after making the transition into Ohno’s futon, hands tangled together in matching baby blankets.