[PoT]:: Jackal/Marui Yours Alone.
Title: Yours Alone.
Pairing: Jackal/Marui.
Rating/Contains/Word count: R/Sexual situations/ 3,385
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis, nor do I make profit from it.
Summary: In which Jackal is repaid.
Notes: Please let me know your thoughts/constructive crit/comments.
Happy holidays everlind!!
It had started out innocently enough, with Marui leaning against an arcade game, jerking a thumb over his shoulder, and saying to the snot nosed, curly haired brat "Jackal will pay of course." Jackal had feigned outrage, but frankly three bowls of ramen weren't outside of his allowance, and he could just pick up a couple extra chores so he'd have enough money to pick up the new video game he wanted. That was, at least until the snot nosed brat ate four bowls of pork ramen in rapid succession, and Bunta had encouraged it.
"Did you see that little bastard eat?" Marui leaned over the table, mouth open in a wide, easy grin. "I'm going to keep my eye on him. He'll be back. I can tell."
"I thought you were a genius." Jackal picked dejectedly at his own ramen, which had survived the flurry of food shoveling.
"I am so much of a genius, I can tell that brat's going to be back. He wants Sanada bad." The words were punctuated by chopsticks waving in the air.
"You want Sanada." Jackal grabbed his bowl out of the way before Marui could steal the last bit of pork from the broth.
"Yeah, but I know damn well I won't get anywhere." Marui snorted, instead stealing noodles. "That brat is the only one who can upset them. Did you see the way Sanada was watching him?" A loud, noisy slurp, broth spraying across the table. "He'll be back. He might even get somewhere."
The brat, did in fact come back. He however, didn't get anywhere with any of the so dubbed 'big three'. Jackal frowned, more at the curious drop in his stomach at seeing the brat swing at Marui, than the fact the brat had enough gall to swing at the one person who went out to him. He didn't question it too much though. Marui was one of the first people who had spoken to him, unbothered by his darker skin, bald-by-choice-head or his serious temperament. Jackal didn't mind that Marui was a bit softer than the others, a bit louder, and considered himself a genius despite his test grades saying otherwise. If any of them were geniuses, it was Yagani--Or Yagyuu. Perhaps Niou, in the mad-scientist type of genius.
It was always small things at first. Jackal would pay for soda, coffee, candy, the occasional comic. He didn't mind too much. It gave him a chance to hang out more often with Marui. One day after practice they had gone to the corner store, picked up a whole bunch of food that was clearly against the food guidelines Yagani had set up for them, and holed up on a bluff that overlooked most of the city. It was quiet, and comfortable. It was also the first time Jackal felt that he might want to kiss someone that wasn't directly related to him. Not that he wanted to kiss any of his family that way. He was, however interested in sugar sweet, chocolate flavored kisses. And that worried him.
***********
The break between school terms flew by. Jackal's time spent mainly doing housework and things for his parents. His little cash stash had grown by leaps and bounds. The weekend before classes started, his cell phone rang. It was Marui, who had already had a bunch of sugar.
"Come over!" There was riotous laughter in the background and some worrying thumps.
"What?" Jackal had to press the phone close to his head, plug his other ear.
"Come over, there's ice cream, and cake, and candy, and get your hand out of there you little turd!" Marui yelled at someone on the other end. "Just get over here okay?" Breathless, and either laughing or fuming, Jackal couldn't tell, Marui hung up on him.
Jackal looked at his blank phone, confused, but willing to change and head out. Once he was dressed, his phone buzzed again. He flipped it open to see a text message with Marui's address and directions on it. Jackal let his parents know where he was going and followed the directions on his phone.
Marui was in the front yard, chasing around two younger boys. One of the three had used the hose, Jackal assumed it was Marui in an attempt to corral the two boys into behaving. There was shrieking laughter, and a lot of cursing on Marui's part, which was gleefully repeated by the two younger redheads.
"Jackal!" Marui beamed up at him. "Can you give me a hand?" He grunted, but didn't show any pain when one of the younger boys kicked him hard in the kneecap.
Jackal braced himself as he opened the gate. The two younger boys stopped fighting, looking up at him, with the same expressions predators have when sizing up prey. Reaching out, he snagged one of the boys, swinging him up, over his shoulder, letting the kid dangle against his back. There was a moment of stunned silence, before more giggles. Small arms locked around his waist as the kid held onto him from behind. Jackal was startled when the other boy wrapped around his leg, holding on tightly. Jackal shrugged at Marui, who stood there, mouth open staring at him. Carefully, and more than a little awkwardly, Jackal managed to walk into the house, without dropping or stepping on, either of the boys.
"Our parents are visiting some friends. Since it's hot, they wanted to play in the water. I didn't want to take them to the pool." Marui explained, following after Jackal. "I knew you'd come help me. You're always so good for that."
"And ice---" Jackal was cut off. Marui's hand, hot and damp clamped over his mouth.
"Don’t." Marui shook his head. "One's asleep. The other will join him soon, and then I'll get you some seaweed."
Jackal arched an eyebrow, at that. They managed to untangle both younger boys from him. Marui beckoned him into the kitchen, where the redhead scooped into two large bowls a huge amount of ice cream.
"If they have any more sugar, I won't get any peace." Marui made quick work of his own ice cream, and had started to sneak bites from Jackal's. "I'm actually looking forward to going back to school." A heavy sigh, "I had to buy new uniforms. I grew a couple of centimeters."
Jackal pushed his bowl closer to Marui. The ice cream had become plain tasting when he realized that Marui was wearing only low slung athletic shorts. He had a hard time keeping his attention off of the pale skin, and the fact that he wanted to reach out and touch just to see what it would look like to have his hand against something that pale.
"I have to go pick up my new uniforms in a little while."
Marui nodded. "You got taller." Another scrutinizing look, "And buffer. Jerk." Marui came around the counter, side by side with Jackal. "Maybe we should play doubles. We'd be good at it." They had fooled around on the courts over the break and had played some street games with success.
"Doesn't Yagani figure that out?" Jackal was finding it harder to concentrate. Especially at the brush of Marui's arm against his own.
"I'll bully him into it. Niou's talking about getting Yagyuu to play with him." Marui pulled a face, "Though I don't think he's talking all the time about tennis." He laughed. "Hey, can you stay and watch a movie? I've been stuck with these two demons that I haven't had a chance to really hang out with you."
Jackal glanced at the clock, and tried to remember when the tailor closed. "Yeah. Yeah, I can."
******
School and practices had taken up most of their time. Jackal would come home from school dead tired, simply going through the motions for his chores at home. Kirihara had wormed his way onto the regulars, and Yukimura's illness spurred all of them to play and practice as hard as they could. The mantra that Sanada barked at them during practice was one that they all kept close. Do not lose. Win for Yukimura. Win for the pride of Rikkai.
He had woken up with a start, lifting his head from his text book. His television was playing some sort of infomercial, and it was pitch black outside. Jackal wiped his mouth, and wiped at the page of the book with a tissue. Closing it apologetically, he fell into bed.
The alarm jerked him awake. It was early, and the last dream was still in his mind. Marui, for some reason was naked, sprawled out on his bed, the words "Jackal will do it for me" echoing in his mind. Jackal groaned, realizing that his sheets, shorts and body were sticky and cold. Highly embarrassed and frustrated, he stripped his bed and threw the sheets into the wash before anyone else woke up. He got into the shower while the sheets were washing, and with the water pounding onto him thought about when he stopped wondering what sugary kisses would feel like, and when he started thinking about a pale redhead in that way.
He had to change his sheets two other times that week, the second time after he and Bunta had been pressed up against each other on the train, and the third after Niou had replaced Sanada's training tape with a porno. They still hadn't managed to do enough damage control for Kirihara--who was walking through the school shell shocked, and avoiding girls like the plague.
"Yo!" The familiar sound of a bubble popping accompanied by the faint scent of apple alerted him to Marui's presence. "Let's get ramen." Marui collided with him. "Coming brat? Jackal's paying."
"Fuck yeah." Kirihara called from behind them.
"Watch your mouth Kirihara-kun." Yagyuu brushed past them.
"You coming, Yagyuu?" Marui called as the other boy continued to walk.
"Not yet, but he will be." Niou snickered, draping himself over the other side of Jackal. "Don't feed him too much ramen, he's getting fat." Niou noisily kissed Jackal's cheek and loped off after Yagyuu.
"I'm not fat!" Marui yelled at the retreating boys. "Right?" He poked at his stomach, looking up at Jackal.
"You're fine." Jackal reassured Marui. "Niou's just a dick."
They went to eat ramen, Kirihara once again, eating more than either of them. Once Kirihara left, they sat around, finishing up their own food. "You ever have thoughts about someone?" Jackal wasn't sure what possessed him to say it out loud.
"Like a crush?" Marui paused, noodles halfway to his mouth. "Kinda. There's attractive people, but god, Sanada would shit if we started dating someone." He smirked. "I think Niou and Yagyuu have it figured out. Fuck around with each other and no one will care."
There was a pause, Marui looking at him over the edge of the bowl as he shoved more noodles into his mouth. "You gotta crush on someone?"
"I don't know." He said with a shrug. "I think a lot about someone."
"Have you… you know." Marui made a gesture that Jackal flapped at and looked around hurriedly to make sure no one had seen it.
"We're not talking about this here."
"Well that's how you tell if you like someone. If you get off to it."
"I'd take sex tips from Niou before I did from you."
" Don't be a jerk, ass-face."
"Have you?"
"Yes." Marui turned nearly the same shade of red as his hair. "And it was good." A pause, "I'm not telling you who it is either."
Jackal took their bill to the counter and paid it. Marui trailed behind him, digging in his back pack. They were nearly to Marui's house when Marui stopped, hand around Jackal's wrist. Jackal paused, coming up short. Marui rose up on tip toes, hand braced on Jackal's shoulder. Full lips brushed against his, Jackal's heart pausing momentarily at the clumsy, wet kiss.
"Marui?" It was over as quick as it started, Marui releasing him, and brushing past, face bright red. He didn't stop when Jackal called after him again, the gate slamming closed behind him.
The next morning, he still hadn't gotten at text back from Marui, and he had to change his sheets. Again.
**********
They came in second at Nationals. Yukimura was devastated. Jackal had to retrieve Sanada from the bathroom so they could assemble with the other teams. He had literally hauled the larger boy out of the stall, shocked at how blotchy and snotty the usually stoic Sanada was. Jackal handed Sanada a cool cloth, patted his back awkwardly, and tried his best to reassure Sanada that no one blamed him for their loss. Despite his own howl of defeat and wounded pride that sat in his own chest. Sanada clapped him on the back, hard enough to jolt Jackal forward, and that was the last of the emotion from the other boy.
Kirihara was especially subdued, and even Niou managed to keep his comments to a bare minimum. Marui had bumped him when Jackal returned to the rest of the group, a few minutes after Sanada, so it didn't look like he had spent the last ten minutes convincing their vice-captain to come out of his bathroom hidey-hole.
"Let's get the kid ramen after this." Marui muttered, as they marched down with the other teams.
"On me?" The response was out of his mouth before he could stop it. Jackal didn't mind paying--the frustration of their loss to a freshman of all people stung more than it should.
"I've got this."
Marui reached back, squeezed his hand. Jackal felt his heart pound, once, twice.
In a way Jackal was glad Marui had mentioned Kirihara joining them. He hadn't seen Marui outside of school or practice very often. It didn't feel like the other boy was avoiding him, there was just a tension there before that hadn't been. Jackal unknowingly brushed his finger against his lower lip. If he tried hard enough he could remember the feel of Marui's mouth against his. He still liked it.
Kirihara didn't go with them. He waved goodbye, trailing wordlessly after Renji and Sanada. Yukimura had left as soon as the award ceremony was over, disappearing into the crowd. Marui grinned, Jackal feeling that familiar, tell-tale flip-flop in his stomach.
"I told you I'd get this. Let's go." Marui walked next to him. Their arms brushed, sending more shocks through Jackal. He clenched his jaw, trying to get a control of his own thoughts, and hopefully hormones. He figured Marui wouldn't appreciate half of the things that were running through his mind. At that moment he really hated that he couldn’t get the images from the training video-turned porno fiasco out of his mind.
They had their ramen, talked about school, upcoming project and the threat of high school looming in front of them. Jackal had decided to continue with Rikkai, and he was more than pleased to hear that Marui was going to as well.
"We'll have to continue with tennis. Yukimura has spread sheets on how he's going to take over the high school team." Marui shoved his bowl away from him. "I swear Renji's got plans as well."
"I'd be more worried about Renji's plans than Yukimura's."
"That," Marui said, pointing his chopsticks at Jackal, "Is your first mistake."
Once they were finished, Marui in fact did pay. Jackal walked with him home, stopping just outside the gate.
"You know.." Marui said, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "You don't have to. I just kind of said that for bullshit reasons."
"Don’t have to what?" Jackal asked.
"Pay. It's fun to see your reaction. You're normally quiet. And serious. I like seeing you get flustered." Marui continued, one hand on the gate, looking at the ground. "And sometimes it makes you smile. I like that best."
"I like doing it." Jackal said.
"What? Spending your money? I know how hard you work for that. You even babysat those monsters." Marui jerked his thumb toward the house.
It was Jackal's turn to look at the ground. "If it means I get to hang out with you, I really don't mind."
Marui held the gate open for him. "They're at a friend's house. Want to come up? We can play the new video game I picked up the other day."
Jackal followed the other boy, into the house, up the stairs, and into Marui's room. It was cluttered and thoroughly lived in. Marui plopped onto a cushion on the floor, reached behind him, pulled another off the bed. Jackal sat next to him. The game console was turned on, the opening menu playing on a constant loop. The game controllers sat on the floor forgotten.
Marui's hand fisted in Jackal's shirt, mouth smeared against Jackal's jaw. Marui moved closer, Jackal tipped the other boy's chin up, mouth closing over Marui's. Hands snuck gropes, kisses wandered. Jackal somehow ended up on top of Marui, Marui's legs hooked over his waist. His hands under Marui's shirt, inching it up, fascinated by the difference in their skin tones. Marui's hand was at the back of his neck, pulling him down for another kiss.
"Bunta…" Jackal shivered, the scrape of Marui's teeth over his collar bone too much.
Marui grinned up at him, hair messy, falling into his face. "You know, you could consider this me paying you back." Marui's voice was rough and breathy.
"That's prostitution." Jackal said, rolled his eyes, a low sound coming from the back of his throat when Marui's hand slid between them, pressing over the front of Jackal's jeans.
"Not if I want it too." Marui admitted. Jackal looked, really looked at the other boy, who was nearly as bright as his hair.
They ended up tangled on Marui's floor, touching and teasing, Jackal found out exactly where Marui was ticklish, and the spot that made the other boy writhe, holding back sounds of pleasure. They pulled away reluctantly when the thunderous sounds of feet alerted them to Marui's younger brother's return to the house.
******************
Heat rose off the courts in shimmery waves. There was the occasional breeze, but even that was scorching hot. Most of the team had taken refuge in what little shade they could find. Sanada and Renji were leaning against the side of the bleachers, Yukimura between them. Jackal couldn’t quite hear what they were talking about, but from the looks of it, they were debating on ending practice. Kirihara and Niou had disappeared as soon as Sanada called a break.
Jackal had taken refuge under a tree, the trunk rough and sturdy against his back. Marui was next to him, close enough to touch--their legs sticky with sweat. Kirihara tore out of the clubroom shrieking and tearing full tilt toward the rest of the team. Next to him, Marui groaned. "How can that little shit move?"
The source of Kirihara's apparent panic was Niou, also emerging from the clubroom. In his hand was a hose, turned full blast. He proceeded to chase after Kirihara who only ended up getting soaked . With a wicked grin the hose was turned to Marui and Jackal. Neither moved, welcoming the icy cold blast, plastering their uniforms to their bodies.
Practice was ended soon after the hose was turned on Yukimura, Sanada and Renji. Though, it wasn't officially ended so much as the others got up and made their way to the clubroom before Sanada exploded. Jackal paused long enough to haul Kirihara to his feet, and help the younger boy back to the clubroom.
"Can we go to the arcade?" Kirihara fumbled with his clothes. Most of them had wrinkled skin from staying under the icy cold blast of the shower for far too long.
"Sure." Marui spoke up. "Jackal's paying."
They went to the arcade, Kirihara got settled at one of the games. Marui tugged on Jackal's sleeve, jerked his head toward the hallway marked 'toilets'.
"You know, we could have waited until we got back to my place." Jackal grunted as Marui shoved him against the wall of the stall, lock sliding into place. "He's going to realize we're gone."
"Just shut up and kiss me." Marui's hands were insistent as they tugged Jackal down.
Pairing: Jackal/Marui.
Rating/Contains/Word count: R/Sexual situations/ 3,385
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis, nor do I make profit from it.
Summary: In which Jackal is repaid.
Notes: Please let me know your thoughts/constructive crit/comments.
Happy holidays everlind!!
It had started out innocently enough, with Marui leaning against an arcade game, jerking a thumb over his shoulder, and saying to the snot nosed, curly haired brat "Jackal will pay of course." Jackal had feigned outrage, but frankly three bowls of ramen weren't outside of his allowance, and he could just pick up a couple extra chores so he'd have enough money to pick up the new video game he wanted. That was, at least until the snot nosed brat ate four bowls of pork ramen in rapid succession, and Bunta had encouraged it.
"Did you see that little bastard eat?" Marui leaned over the table, mouth open in a wide, easy grin. "I'm going to keep my eye on him. He'll be back. I can tell."
"I thought you were a genius." Jackal picked dejectedly at his own ramen, which had survived the flurry of food shoveling.
"I am so much of a genius, I can tell that brat's going to be back. He wants Sanada bad." The words were punctuated by chopsticks waving in the air.
"You want Sanada." Jackal grabbed his bowl out of the way before Marui could steal the last bit of pork from the broth.
"Yeah, but I know damn well I won't get anywhere." Marui snorted, instead stealing noodles. "That brat is the only one who can upset them. Did you see the way Sanada was watching him?" A loud, noisy slurp, broth spraying across the table. "He'll be back. He might even get somewhere."
The brat, did in fact come back. He however, didn't get anywhere with any of the so dubbed 'big three'. Jackal frowned, more at the curious drop in his stomach at seeing the brat swing at Marui, than the fact the brat had enough gall to swing at the one person who went out to him. He didn't question it too much though. Marui was one of the first people who had spoken to him, unbothered by his darker skin, bald-by-choice-head or his serious temperament. Jackal didn't mind that Marui was a bit softer than the others, a bit louder, and considered himself a genius despite his test grades saying otherwise. If any of them were geniuses, it was Yagani--Or Yagyuu. Perhaps Niou, in the mad-scientist type of genius.
It was always small things at first. Jackal would pay for soda, coffee, candy, the occasional comic. He didn't mind too much. It gave him a chance to hang out more often with Marui. One day after practice they had gone to the corner store, picked up a whole bunch of food that was clearly against the food guidelines Yagani had set up for them, and holed up on a bluff that overlooked most of the city. It was quiet, and comfortable. It was also the first time Jackal felt that he might want to kiss someone that wasn't directly related to him. Not that he wanted to kiss any of his family that way. He was, however interested in sugar sweet, chocolate flavored kisses. And that worried him.
***********
The break between school terms flew by. Jackal's time spent mainly doing housework and things for his parents. His little cash stash had grown by leaps and bounds. The weekend before classes started, his cell phone rang. It was Marui, who had already had a bunch of sugar.
"Come over!" There was riotous laughter in the background and some worrying thumps.
"What?" Jackal had to press the phone close to his head, plug his other ear.
"Come over, there's ice cream, and cake, and candy, and get your hand out of there you little turd!" Marui yelled at someone on the other end. "Just get over here okay?" Breathless, and either laughing or fuming, Jackal couldn't tell, Marui hung up on him.
Jackal looked at his blank phone, confused, but willing to change and head out. Once he was dressed, his phone buzzed again. He flipped it open to see a text message with Marui's address and directions on it. Jackal let his parents know where he was going and followed the directions on his phone.
Marui was in the front yard, chasing around two younger boys. One of the three had used the hose, Jackal assumed it was Marui in an attempt to corral the two boys into behaving. There was shrieking laughter, and a lot of cursing on Marui's part, which was gleefully repeated by the two younger redheads.
"Jackal!" Marui beamed up at him. "Can you give me a hand?" He grunted, but didn't show any pain when one of the younger boys kicked him hard in the kneecap.
Jackal braced himself as he opened the gate. The two younger boys stopped fighting, looking up at him, with the same expressions predators have when sizing up prey. Reaching out, he snagged one of the boys, swinging him up, over his shoulder, letting the kid dangle against his back. There was a moment of stunned silence, before more giggles. Small arms locked around his waist as the kid held onto him from behind. Jackal was startled when the other boy wrapped around his leg, holding on tightly. Jackal shrugged at Marui, who stood there, mouth open staring at him. Carefully, and more than a little awkwardly, Jackal managed to walk into the house, without dropping or stepping on, either of the boys.
"Our parents are visiting some friends. Since it's hot, they wanted to play in the water. I didn't want to take them to the pool." Marui explained, following after Jackal. "I knew you'd come help me. You're always so good for that."
"And ice---" Jackal was cut off. Marui's hand, hot and damp clamped over his mouth.
"Don’t." Marui shook his head. "One's asleep. The other will join him soon, and then I'll get you some seaweed."
Jackal arched an eyebrow, at that. They managed to untangle both younger boys from him. Marui beckoned him into the kitchen, where the redhead scooped into two large bowls a huge amount of ice cream.
"If they have any more sugar, I won't get any peace." Marui made quick work of his own ice cream, and had started to sneak bites from Jackal's. "I'm actually looking forward to going back to school." A heavy sigh, "I had to buy new uniforms. I grew a couple of centimeters."
Jackal pushed his bowl closer to Marui. The ice cream had become plain tasting when he realized that Marui was wearing only low slung athletic shorts. He had a hard time keeping his attention off of the pale skin, and the fact that he wanted to reach out and touch just to see what it would look like to have his hand against something that pale.
"I have to go pick up my new uniforms in a little while."
Marui nodded. "You got taller." Another scrutinizing look, "And buffer. Jerk." Marui came around the counter, side by side with Jackal. "Maybe we should play doubles. We'd be good at it." They had fooled around on the courts over the break and had played some street games with success.
"Doesn't Yagani figure that out?" Jackal was finding it harder to concentrate. Especially at the brush of Marui's arm against his own.
"I'll bully him into it. Niou's talking about getting Yagyuu to play with him." Marui pulled a face, "Though I don't think he's talking all the time about tennis." He laughed. "Hey, can you stay and watch a movie? I've been stuck with these two demons that I haven't had a chance to really hang out with you."
Jackal glanced at the clock, and tried to remember when the tailor closed. "Yeah. Yeah, I can."
******
School and practices had taken up most of their time. Jackal would come home from school dead tired, simply going through the motions for his chores at home. Kirihara had wormed his way onto the regulars, and Yukimura's illness spurred all of them to play and practice as hard as they could. The mantra that Sanada barked at them during practice was one that they all kept close. Do not lose. Win for Yukimura. Win for the pride of Rikkai.
He had woken up with a start, lifting his head from his text book. His television was playing some sort of infomercial, and it was pitch black outside. Jackal wiped his mouth, and wiped at the page of the book with a tissue. Closing it apologetically, he fell into bed.
The alarm jerked him awake. It was early, and the last dream was still in his mind. Marui, for some reason was naked, sprawled out on his bed, the words "Jackal will do it for me" echoing in his mind. Jackal groaned, realizing that his sheets, shorts and body were sticky and cold. Highly embarrassed and frustrated, he stripped his bed and threw the sheets into the wash before anyone else woke up. He got into the shower while the sheets were washing, and with the water pounding onto him thought about when he stopped wondering what sugary kisses would feel like, and when he started thinking about a pale redhead in that way.
He had to change his sheets two other times that week, the second time after he and Bunta had been pressed up against each other on the train, and the third after Niou had replaced Sanada's training tape with a porno. They still hadn't managed to do enough damage control for Kirihara--who was walking through the school shell shocked, and avoiding girls like the plague.
"Yo!" The familiar sound of a bubble popping accompanied by the faint scent of apple alerted him to Marui's presence. "Let's get ramen." Marui collided with him. "Coming brat? Jackal's paying."
"Fuck yeah." Kirihara called from behind them.
"Watch your mouth Kirihara-kun." Yagyuu brushed past them.
"You coming, Yagyuu?" Marui called as the other boy continued to walk.
"Not yet, but he will be." Niou snickered, draping himself over the other side of Jackal. "Don't feed him too much ramen, he's getting fat." Niou noisily kissed Jackal's cheek and loped off after Yagyuu.
"I'm not fat!" Marui yelled at the retreating boys. "Right?" He poked at his stomach, looking up at Jackal.
"You're fine." Jackal reassured Marui. "Niou's just a dick."
They went to eat ramen, Kirihara once again, eating more than either of them. Once Kirihara left, they sat around, finishing up their own food. "You ever have thoughts about someone?" Jackal wasn't sure what possessed him to say it out loud.
"Like a crush?" Marui paused, noodles halfway to his mouth. "Kinda. There's attractive people, but god, Sanada would shit if we started dating someone." He smirked. "I think Niou and Yagyuu have it figured out. Fuck around with each other and no one will care."
There was a pause, Marui looking at him over the edge of the bowl as he shoved more noodles into his mouth. "You gotta crush on someone?"
"I don't know." He said with a shrug. "I think a lot about someone."
"Have you… you know." Marui made a gesture that Jackal flapped at and looked around hurriedly to make sure no one had seen it.
"We're not talking about this here."
"Well that's how you tell if you like someone. If you get off to it."
"I'd take sex tips from Niou before I did from you."
" Don't be a jerk, ass-face."
"Have you?"
"Yes." Marui turned nearly the same shade of red as his hair. "And it was good." A pause, "I'm not telling you who it is either."
Jackal took their bill to the counter and paid it. Marui trailed behind him, digging in his back pack. They were nearly to Marui's house when Marui stopped, hand around Jackal's wrist. Jackal paused, coming up short. Marui rose up on tip toes, hand braced on Jackal's shoulder. Full lips brushed against his, Jackal's heart pausing momentarily at the clumsy, wet kiss.
"Marui?" It was over as quick as it started, Marui releasing him, and brushing past, face bright red. He didn't stop when Jackal called after him again, the gate slamming closed behind him.
The next morning, he still hadn't gotten at text back from Marui, and he had to change his sheets. Again.
**********
They came in second at Nationals. Yukimura was devastated. Jackal had to retrieve Sanada from the bathroom so they could assemble with the other teams. He had literally hauled the larger boy out of the stall, shocked at how blotchy and snotty the usually stoic Sanada was. Jackal handed Sanada a cool cloth, patted his back awkwardly, and tried his best to reassure Sanada that no one blamed him for their loss. Despite his own howl of defeat and wounded pride that sat in his own chest. Sanada clapped him on the back, hard enough to jolt Jackal forward, and that was the last of the emotion from the other boy.
Kirihara was especially subdued, and even Niou managed to keep his comments to a bare minimum. Marui had bumped him when Jackal returned to the rest of the group, a few minutes after Sanada, so it didn't look like he had spent the last ten minutes convincing their vice-captain to come out of his bathroom hidey-hole.
"Let's get the kid ramen after this." Marui muttered, as they marched down with the other teams.
"On me?" The response was out of his mouth before he could stop it. Jackal didn't mind paying--the frustration of their loss to a freshman of all people stung more than it should.
"I've got this."
Marui reached back, squeezed his hand. Jackal felt his heart pound, once, twice.
In a way Jackal was glad Marui had mentioned Kirihara joining them. He hadn't seen Marui outside of school or practice very often. It didn't feel like the other boy was avoiding him, there was just a tension there before that hadn't been. Jackal unknowingly brushed his finger against his lower lip. If he tried hard enough he could remember the feel of Marui's mouth against his. He still liked it.
Kirihara didn't go with them. He waved goodbye, trailing wordlessly after Renji and Sanada. Yukimura had left as soon as the award ceremony was over, disappearing into the crowd. Marui grinned, Jackal feeling that familiar, tell-tale flip-flop in his stomach.
"I told you I'd get this. Let's go." Marui walked next to him. Their arms brushed, sending more shocks through Jackal. He clenched his jaw, trying to get a control of his own thoughts, and hopefully hormones. He figured Marui wouldn't appreciate half of the things that were running through his mind. At that moment he really hated that he couldn’t get the images from the training video-turned porno fiasco out of his mind.
They had their ramen, talked about school, upcoming project and the threat of high school looming in front of them. Jackal had decided to continue with Rikkai, and he was more than pleased to hear that Marui was going to as well.
"We'll have to continue with tennis. Yukimura has spread sheets on how he's going to take over the high school team." Marui shoved his bowl away from him. "I swear Renji's got plans as well."
"I'd be more worried about Renji's plans than Yukimura's."
"That," Marui said, pointing his chopsticks at Jackal, "Is your first mistake."
Once they were finished, Marui in fact did pay. Jackal walked with him home, stopping just outside the gate.
"You know.." Marui said, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "You don't have to. I just kind of said that for bullshit reasons."
"Don’t have to what?" Jackal asked.
"Pay. It's fun to see your reaction. You're normally quiet. And serious. I like seeing you get flustered." Marui continued, one hand on the gate, looking at the ground. "And sometimes it makes you smile. I like that best."
"I like doing it." Jackal said.
"What? Spending your money? I know how hard you work for that. You even babysat those monsters." Marui jerked his thumb toward the house.
It was Jackal's turn to look at the ground. "If it means I get to hang out with you, I really don't mind."
Marui held the gate open for him. "They're at a friend's house. Want to come up? We can play the new video game I picked up the other day."
Jackal followed the other boy, into the house, up the stairs, and into Marui's room. It was cluttered and thoroughly lived in. Marui plopped onto a cushion on the floor, reached behind him, pulled another off the bed. Jackal sat next to him. The game console was turned on, the opening menu playing on a constant loop. The game controllers sat on the floor forgotten.
Marui's hand fisted in Jackal's shirt, mouth smeared against Jackal's jaw. Marui moved closer, Jackal tipped the other boy's chin up, mouth closing over Marui's. Hands snuck gropes, kisses wandered. Jackal somehow ended up on top of Marui, Marui's legs hooked over his waist. His hands under Marui's shirt, inching it up, fascinated by the difference in their skin tones. Marui's hand was at the back of his neck, pulling him down for another kiss.
"Bunta…" Jackal shivered, the scrape of Marui's teeth over his collar bone too much.
Marui grinned up at him, hair messy, falling into his face. "You know, you could consider this me paying you back." Marui's voice was rough and breathy.
"That's prostitution." Jackal said, rolled his eyes, a low sound coming from the back of his throat when Marui's hand slid between them, pressing over the front of Jackal's jeans.
"Not if I want it too." Marui admitted. Jackal looked, really looked at the other boy, who was nearly as bright as his hair.
They ended up tangled on Marui's floor, touching and teasing, Jackal found out exactly where Marui was ticklish, and the spot that made the other boy writhe, holding back sounds of pleasure. They pulled away reluctantly when the thunderous sounds of feet alerted them to Marui's younger brother's return to the house.
******************
Heat rose off the courts in shimmery waves. There was the occasional breeze, but even that was scorching hot. Most of the team had taken refuge in what little shade they could find. Sanada and Renji were leaning against the side of the bleachers, Yukimura between them. Jackal couldn’t quite hear what they were talking about, but from the looks of it, they were debating on ending practice. Kirihara and Niou had disappeared as soon as Sanada called a break.
Jackal had taken refuge under a tree, the trunk rough and sturdy against his back. Marui was next to him, close enough to touch--their legs sticky with sweat. Kirihara tore out of the clubroom shrieking and tearing full tilt toward the rest of the team. Next to him, Marui groaned. "How can that little shit move?"
The source of Kirihara's apparent panic was Niou, also emerging from the clubroom. In his hand was a hose, turned full blast. He proceeded to chase after Kirihara who only ended up getting soaked . With a wicked grin the hose was turned to Marui and Jackal. Neither moved, welcoming the icy cold blast, plastering their uniforms to their bodies.
Practice was ended soon after the hose was turned on Yukimura, Sanada and Renji. Though, it wasn't officially ended so much as the others got up and made their way to the clubroom before Sanada exploded. Jackal paused long enough to haul Kirihara to his feet, and help the younger boy back to the clubroom.
"Can we go to the arcade?" Kirihara fumbled with his clothes. Most of them had wrinkled skin from staying under the icy cold blast of the shower for far too long.
"Sure." Marui spoke up. "Jackal's paying."
They went to the arcade, Kirihara got settled at one of the games. Marui tugged on Jackal's sleeve, jerked his head toward the hallway marked 'toilets'.
"You know, we could have waited until we got back to my place." Jackal grunted as Marui shoved him against the wall of the stall, lock sliding into place. "He's going to realize we're gone."
"Just shut up and kiss me." Marui's hands were insistent as they tugged Jackal down.