Fic for meggiebaby81, part 1/2
Title: This isn't Mills & Boon
Recipient: meggiebaby81
Pairing/Characters: Oshitari/Gakuto, Hiyoshi/Gakuto, Atobe/Hiyoshi, Oshitari/Gakuto/Hiyoshi
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: The characters don't belong to me and I make no money from this.
Summary: Atobe thought a summer break would be a nice way to relax, instead he's in for a headache.
Notes: Huge thanks to my beta who went above and beyond <3 Hope this ticks your boxes meggiebaby81!
Act One
Oshitari Yuushi had never known anyone who could be quite so pointedly loud about being bored as Mukahi Gakuto. For almost fifteen minutes the redhead had been sighing and huffing and flipping back and forth on a sun-lounger by Atobe's pool not ten metres from where Yuushi himself lay reading. Yuushi was practically counting down the seconds until Gakuto rose to stalk across the poolside, when a sudden creaking of Gakuto's lounger indicated it had happened.
"Yuushi," Gakuto said, coming to a halt directly in the line of Yuushi's sun.
Yuushi didn't look up from his book as he responded, "Gakuto?"
"I'm bored," Gakuto told him. It wasn't surprising since only Atobe and Hiyoshi had arrived at Atobe's summer residence aside from themselves, and both of them were still asleep so far as Yuushi knew.
Yuushi turned a page of his book, his eyes remaining on his text; he refused to be drawn. "Oh?"
Gakuto stamped his foot in frustration, and Yuushi suspected only Gakuto's bare feet saved him from a swift kick to the end of his lounger. The whine was strong in Gakuto's voice as he demanded, "So do something about it!"
"And what, precisely, would you have me do, Gakuto?" Yuushi enquired, closing his book around his bookmark.
Gakuto's short-tempered frown gave way to a wicked smirk now he had Yuushi's attention. "I have a few ideas."
"Oh?" Yuushi set his book on the table beside him, careful not to knock his Indian Summer cocktail, and reached up to raise his sunglasses so he could look at Gakuto directly. There was no need to wear them in Gakuto's impromptu shade anyway. "And what would those be?"
"Well," Gakuto all but purred, moving forward to crawl onto Yuushi's lounger. "For starters, I thought we could make extra sure that Atobe didn't skimp and buy cheap loungers."
Yuushi rolled his eyes inwardly at the corniness - he expected much better from Gakuto - but outwardly he said nothing, merely lifting his hands to pillow his head as he watched Gakuto's advance without comment.
Gakuto wasn't the least put off by Yuushi's silence, making his way up Yuushi's body until he was straddling his waist. His face was mere inches from Yuushi's own, his eyes bright with promise. Confidently, he asserted, "I think we're onto a winner here."
"Oh do you now?" Yuushi was doing his best to look bored, not making any effort to touch Gakuto.
"I really think I do." Gakuto squirmed pointedly, making Yuushi exhale sharply. Gakuto smiled all the more wickedly at his victory.
There was something about a lapful of eager redhead that Yuushi found irresistible, especially when Gakuto had that expression on his face. His voice was laden with appreciation as he murmured, "You're an insatiable brat."
"You're no better," Gakuto accused, grinding his hips down pointedly and loving the way Yuushi's lashes fluttered uncontrollably. "You can't get enough of me."
"Modesty is so becoming on you," Yuushi observed dryly, linking his fingers in order to prevent himself giving in and attempting to touch Gakuto.
"There's no need for modesty," Gakuto shot back, leaning down low so he was right in Yuushi's face; their lips were practically touching and his breath was hot and moist against Yuushi's mouth. "Especially when I know I'm right!"
It was only then that Yuushi realised how close he'd been to giving in, unwittingly leaning up more and more in order to chase Gakuto's retreating mouth. He collapsed back against the lounger in annoyance, knowing he's been had on this occasion. "Little bastard."
Gakuto laughed, delighted, "You're being awfully easy today, Yuushi."
Yuushi rolled his eyes. He knew he could quite easily turn the tables if he allowed himself use of his hands; he could seize and restrain Gakuto with complete ease, but where would be the fun in that? Instead he sneered a little, "You've hardly won anything yet, Gakuto. I haven't even touched you."
Gakuto's expression froze in surprise for a moment and then he frowned, clearly realising Yuushi was right. It was hardly an infrequent occurrence so Yuushi wasn't terribly sympathetic, and something of that challenging superiority must have shown in Yuushi's expression.
"Shut up," Gakuto whispered, leaning down in Yuushi's face again.
"Make me," Yuushi dared, eyes gleaming.
"Please do," Atobe interrupted, sounding put upon to such a degree as only Atobe could. "What are you doing, Hiyoshi?"
Ordinarily, Atobe arriving would not have been enough to throw cold water on either Gakuto or Yuushi, but ordinarily there wasn't someone else present. They both glanced up, startled to see Hiyoshi stationed midway between themselves and Atobe, leaning against and half hidden by one of the posts that bordered the short set of steps down from the veranda. Atobe himself was only just emerging from the mansion behind Hiyoshi, a drink in one hand and a lavender towel draped over his arm as he carried his mobile in the other. Hiyoshi looked less than his usual collected self, coming closer to the proverbial deer caught in the headlights.
"I was just about to come back in and find you," Hiyoshi muttered, turning toward Atobe. He was so flushed with embarrassment that it went right up to his ears, clearly visible to Gakuto and Yuushi. It seemed as though Hiyoshi were so uncomfortable that he couldn't look at the pair of them; Yuushi rather suspected it came of having been caught peeping.
"Well you hardly need to leave now," said Atobe, rolling his eyes. He seemed not to have seen what Yuushi had, and was simply unsurprised that Hiyoshi had chosen to retreat rather than either confront Gakuto and Yuushi or ignore them. "Get off, Mukahi."
Gakuto leaned back, pointedly not removing himself from Yuushi's lap. He even slid his hands down over Yuushi's shoulders to his chest in an over-the-top suggestive gesture that was ostensibly to support himself. He was exuding petulance from every pore, "I was trying to."
"Him," Atobe clarified, not batting an eyelash as he passed Hiyoshi - who seemed to have turned a shade just shy of lobster - and padded along his poolside. "Get off him."
"Don't worry, Gakuto," Yuushi put in, unable to resist the opportunity to bait his partner despite his own frustration. "It makes no difference to me."
If looks could have killed, Yuushi knew without question that he'd have been dead in that moment. Gakuto shoved off him moodily, his bony limbs digging into Yuushi uncomfortably and even outright painfully in the case of the foot that struck his stomach. He chose to be grateful that Gakuto hadn't aimed at his crotch.
"It truly is a wonder that you ever get any," Atobe observed as he laid his towel out on the lounger beside Yuushi's own. Gakuto's stormy exit was far too par of the course to merit any particular attention.
"I'm simply that irresistible," Yuushi countered, reaching up to tug his sunglasses back over his eyes since his makeshift sun block was gone.
Atobe snorted inelegantly, not deigning to give Yuushi's comment any more attention than that. Already he was distracted issuing orders, "Hiyoshi, come here."
Yuushi glanced over to see Hiyoshi still loitering at the edge of the veranda, his back turned as he'd clearly just watched Gakuto leave. At Atobe's call, the younger boy headed over.
Yuushi rolled his eyes and reached for his book; he wasn't interested in seeing Hiyoshi fawn over and suck up to Atobe if he could help it. In the background he heard Atobe saying something about help with applying sunscreen.
**
Sometimes Gakuto just didn't get Yuushi. This was the only conclusion he could reach as he tugged on the tee he'd seized from his lounger when he ran: he just didn't get Yuushi. They played games, sure, the pair of them were always bantering, but sometimes Yuushi didn't seem to realise he was embarrassing Gakuto in front of their team-mates and friends. Yuushi was hardly the only one with pride - their whole team had pride, aside from maybe Jiroh, but it was only Gakuto and maybe Shishido who really got the barbed end of Yuushi's tongue with such frequency. Yuushi would never dare humiliate Atobe, for instance, and he wasn't dating Atobe (or whatever it was that Yuushi and Gakuto were doing).
Glancing back over his shoulder toward the poolside, Gakuto was ashamed to realise he wanted Yuushi to come after him. Yuushi never would, of course, but Gakuto wanted him to and that made him feel even more pathetic. He kicked the kitchen cupboard in frustration, and then hopped around at the resultant explosion of pain in his big toe. "Shit!"
The icing on the cake was looking up to see one of Atobe's servants regarding him with that calm emotionlessness in which the servants seemed to trademark. Gakuto could feel his face heating to the tips of his ears - he probably looked as red as Hiyoshi had. "What?"
The servant was irritatingly, even less perturbed by Gakuto's short temper than Yuushi, "Can I get you something, Mukahi-san?"
Gakuto was about to snap when he thought better of it and pursed his lips. "A strawberry milkshake," he said after a moment, still nursing his wounded toe as he claimed a seat on one of the kitchen stools. "Please."
The servant bowed and Gakuto turned his gaze away, feeling uncomfortable about watching the man fetch for him when the bloody drink was only in the fridge. Gakuto still felt that odd little pang of guilt on occasion when it came to getting Atobe's servants to do stuff for him. He knew they were paid, but it made him feel awkward. He was never sure where the lines were - like whether he should ask the man's name since he sure as hell didn't have a clue what it was.
He wished Yuushi had come after him, Yuushi always knew how to deal with the servants, and he never looked as though he felt guilty afterwards. Gakuto did suppose, though, that the reason for that might have more to do with Yuushi being able to bullshit just like Gakuto himself, and less to do with Yuushi actually feeling more comfortable.
God, he was thinking about the servants way too much. This was meant to be their vacation. There would be tennis, but also relaxing, luxury and unfettered time with the team before they all returned for their final year and final victory. It would be especially sweet now the Seigaku team which defeated them in middle school was reunited.
"Here you are, Mukahi-san," said the servant, setting Gakuto's drink on the countertop beside him. Gakuto made a mental note to ask Atobe about the dude's name, or maybe suggest that they should be made to wear name tags so he could keep track.
"Thanks," he muttered, finally releasing his toe in order to take the glass in hand. As he took his first sip, he heard the door to the veranda opening and couldn't quite keep himself from looking up hopefully. Unfortunately, it was just Hiyoshi and Gakuto's heart sunk from his throat to his stomach. "Oh," he said. "Hi."
Hiyoshi was frowning as he closed the door behind him, "Hey."
Gakuto scowled, not wishing to deal with Hiyoshi's mood when he was quite happy to wallow in his own. He turned away and sipped his milkshake instead.
"Why'd you let him do that?" Hiyoshi asked, a subtle curiosity imbuing his tone - so subtle that it went right over Gakuto's pretty little head.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Gakuto retorted, hunching his shoulders a little. So someone had noticed, and it had to be that mouthy little brat Hiyoshi of all people; as if Gakuto didn't put up with enough when he had to partner him for doubles.
"Don't talk crap." Hiyoshi's blunt words hit Gakuto like a slap in the face, entirely overriding the message that Hiyoshi was trying to get across as he continued, "You shouldn't let him."
"Fuck off," Gakuto shot back, twisting round to glare at Hiyoshi. His eyes were bright with his anger, but also with a film of tears that he was trying not to give in to. He was above something as stupid as tears just because Yuushi was a jerk and Hiyoshi was clueless. "It's none of your business so just fuck off. You don't know shit about us, you're just a bloody second year."
Hiyoshi's mouth thinned to a line. "Fine. Suit yourself, Mukahi-senpai," he spat the honorific, as if he was trying to stress how little Gakuto deserved any respect; it was a perception that was all in Gakuto's head, but it was enough to make him feel even smaller and more pathetic than he had been.
Gakuto didn't make any effort to call Hiyoshi back as he left, staring miserably into his milkshake instead. Stupid Yuushi. Stupid Hiyoshi. Stupid break.
**
"It's just a crush," Atobe murmured, managing to startle Yuushi as the latter watched Hiyoshi departing the poolside for the kitchen; the same exit that Gakuto had taken.
"Excuse me?" Yuushi asked, reaching for his cocktail. He'd actually thought that Atobe had fallen asleep following the whole performance with making Hiyoshi put sunscreen on him - and it had been a performance since Atobe seemed intent on unsettling Hiyoshi with positively filthy sounds as Hiyoshi applied the lotion. When Hiyoshi had gotten up, Atobe had been reclining with his eyes closed and, to all appearances, every intention of sleeping.
"Hiyoshi," Atobe explained, as if it effectively explained anything at all. He still had his eyes closed.
Yuushi was not used to feeling entirely befuddled in conversations and took a sip of his cocktail as he attempted to work out what Atobe thought he was going on about. Hiyoshi having a crush, clearly, but… "On Gakuto?"
"It'll pass," Atobe told him. "I think he's fancied almost everyone on the team at some point."
"You make him sound like some sort of desperate school girl," Yuushi observed with amusement, slightly relieved to realise he wasn't as lost as he'd first thought: Hiyoshi had been peeping at them.
"Doesn't say much for your taste if Mukahi's a desperate option," Atobe remarked, tone careless as it had been all conversation. Yuushi had caught up now though, and he knew that Atobe never did anything carelessly.
"I didn't say that," Yuushi said, glancing back toward the mansion. Gakuto was far from an option out of desperation - it made Yuushi smug with pride that Gakuto was so crazy about him.
Atobe made a noncommittal noise that still managed to convey doubt.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yuushi took the bait, his gaze finally moving back to his captain. He had no doubt that Atobe had a point he was going to make and he wanted him to get it over with so that Yuushi could give the new problem of Hiyoshi the attention it deserved.
"Nothing," Atobe said, maddeningly. "I'm not going to lower myself to idle gossip and speculation."
Yuushi rolled his eyes, draining the remainder of his drink and setting the glass back down. He wasn't going to chase through hoops for Atobe this time. "There's a first time for everything."
Atobe snorted indelicately, but said nothing.
Yuushi frowned and rose from his lounger, deciding he felt too restless to continue reading or lazing right away. He'd go and find out where Gakuto had gotten to, he decided, and it had nothing to do with wondering where Hiyoshi might have gone.
**
Gakuto didn't look up when the door to the veranda opened again, but it was only because he stopped himself. He busied himself staring moodily into his half consumed milkshake instead.
"Gakuto?" Yuushi's voice was so quiet that Gakuto was half inclined to believe he'd imagined it. He was so convinced that he'd only feel more foolish when he looked up to find merely an empty space that he still didn't let himself turn around, hunching lower in his seat instead. It was only when Yuushi cleared his throat and said Gakuto's name again, louder, that Gakuto turned and saw his partner standing in the doorway removing his sunglasses.
"Yuushi?" Gakuto acknowledged, straightening up immediately because he wasn't about to let Yuushi know how sorry for himself he'd been feeling. He covered himself with a smirk. "Couldn't hold out?"
Yuushi chuckled, setting his sunglasses on the side and closing the gap between them. It was a little strange to Gakuto, still, to see Yuushi without his glasses, but he liked it. Of course, then Yuushi had to ruin the moment by saying, "I'm not the one waiting, pining, just inside the door."
Gakuto's expression immediately hardened and he raised his chin defiantly, trying not to let any hurt show in his eyes. "As if. I was having my milkshake."
Something flickered in Yuushi's eyes, and Gakuto couldn't read it. It was one of those moments that had bothered him so much three years ago, when every single occurrence of this confused communication reminded him why he and Yuushi had been unable to win together as doubles partners the way Shishido and Ootori had learnt to.
"Where's Hiyoshi?" Yuushi asked, glancing around as though the other boy might be about to leap from a cupboard.
Gakuto scowled, remembering quickly his irritation and hurt at the way Hiyoshi had spoken to him. "How should I know?"
Yuushi's gaze returned to Gakuto abruptly. "Did something happen?"
"He's just an asshole," Gakuto muttered, not looking Yuushi in the eye since then it would have been even more obvious that he was lying. He could hardly explain to Yuushi what the problem was - that Hiyoshi had noticed Yuushi being a total jerk to Gakuto.
Yuushi surprised Gakuto then, taking Gakuto's chin in his hand and forcing him, gently, to turn his face to Yuushi. Gakuto almost fought it, suspicious as he looked at Yuushi, but then Yuushi's other hand cupped Gakuto's cheek and Yuushi's lips brushed Gakuto's and Gakuto forgot why he'd been in a bad mood at all.
It was, for them, an uncharacteristically slow kiss. Yuushi was entirely in control and Gakuto had been too taken by surprise to make any attempt at a coup. He felt off kilter and almost dizzy; all the things that he usually only experienced in the midst of a heated make out session, and even then only rarely did he become so unfocused on getting to the sex as to feel as he did now. It was altogether strange for Gakuto to experience a kiss that made such warm heat in his belly as well as his groin.
"Oh, shit!"
And perhaps that was why the interruption, when it came, was quite so unwelcome. Who knew what had been about to follow? And why the hell did Hiyoshi need to come back right then anyway?
**
Even as he had reached his room, furious with himself and Gakuto both, Wakashi had known he wouldn't stay there. He'd looked longingly at his nightstand and the mystery novel he was halfway through, and then he stepped back on his heel and turned away again. He remembered Gakuto's expression too clearly; Wakashi knew he'd hurt Gakuto and he couldn't ignore it, no matter if he'd only retaliated for Gakuto being such a little bitch.
Perhaps, he thought, he'd head back outside and work through some kata until he'd given vent to his own frustration. He wasn't sure he was ready to actually speak to Gakuto without making the situation worse; he simply couldn't understand why Gakuto let Oshitari do it - let Oshitari treat him like some sort of a toy - merely the thought made Wakashi's blood boil.
Angry as he was, Wakashi still heard the muffled little moan when he reached the foot of the stairs. He didn't have the slightest doubt over what it would turn out to be when he looked either, and yet some deranged little masochist within himself made him look through the kitchen doorway anyway.
It was Gakuto, of course, because no one else made those sounds. With Oshitari, of course, because no one else could make Gakuto make those sounds. More than that, it was Gakuto with flushed cheeks, and a horribly blissful expression considering his hurt not ten minutes before, and a very smug Oshitari.
Before he could stop himself, Wakashi had diverted into the kitchen rather than taking the long way round that he'd initially intended, loudly exclaiming as he went, "Oh, shit!"
When they parted and glared at him this time, he didn't feel like he'd been caught peeping and he didn't blush. Wakashi held his ground, staring at Oshitari and only wishing his gaze could convey the words that he couldn't say out loud.
"Can I help you?" Oshitari enquired after a moment of silent stand off, arrogance oozing from every pore.
Gakuto clearly didn't notice the edge to Oshitari's tone, but Wakashi did and he felt his firm footing falter. Meeting Oshitari's gaze as he was, Wakashi felt a sudden certainty that Oshitari knew about everything, about how Wakashi detested him and admired him all at once, and about how Wakashi wanted Gakuto. Wakashi just couldn't imagine how Oshitari could have found it out.
"I-" Wakashi began and faltered as Gakuto's hostility sharpened. Gakuto could hardly have made it more plain that he wished for Wakashi to leave as soon as possible.
"You?" Oshitari prompted, and drew Wakashi's gaze back to himself. Oshitari's condescending tone raised Wakashi's ire afresh and he remembered just what he thought of Oshitari and the way he behaved.
"I can't imagine you could ever help me," Wakashi retorted, sharply, forgetting he was talking to an upperclassman. He was only barely aware of Gakuto's eyes on him, round with surprise. "I'll get out of your way."
Oshitari seemed stunned, too, because Wakashi made his escape to the poolside without any caustic retort reaching his ears. He was trembling by the time he halted though, his heartbeat thudding loudly in his chest and resounding in his ears. He had actually just been downright rude to Oshitari Yuushi, he realised, and there was no way Oshitari was going to let him get away with it.
"What on earth is the matter now?" Atobe interrupted Wakashi's line of thought, positively aggravated.
"Nothing," Wakashi said automatically. Then he looked over at where Atobe was lounging and thought better of the statement. "Can we play?"
Atobe raised his sunglasses to pin Wakashi with a steely stare, "Now?"
Everything about Atobe's tone indicated the words left unsaid - that Wakashi was being especially stupid to want to play tennis right after Atobe had just coated himself in sun screen. Wakashi didn't care though, he needed to vent and he felt like fighting after the run-in with Oshitari. He was certain that standard kata would no longer cut it, so he nodded and confirmed, "Now, please."
Atobe sighed, dropped his glasses back over his eyes, sat up and swung his legs round to the side. Sliding his feet into his flip-flops, he didn't look at Wakashi as he stated, "I shall meet you on the courts in five minutes."
"Thank you." Wakashi really meant it too. He felt some sense of relief already at the prospect of a good, long, hard match that made him strain for every single point. He couldn't wait.
**
Keigo had a growing sense that the nice, relaxing break he'd envisaged for the team was, rapidly, about to deteriorate into a constant headache. He was almost looking forward to the arrival of everyone else just to try and provide a cover while he escaped; he usually enjoyed the initial quietude much more.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Keigo-sama?" asked Hayashi, one of the longest standing servants on the Atobe staff. He had been old and white haired even when Keigo himself was a small boy, but he'd always been a loyal and incredibly efficient employee. Secretly, Keigo was rather fond of him, in as far as one could ever be fond of servants.
"Some water down at the courts; Hiyoshi and I are to play," Keigo replied, pulling on his top and smoothing the material out.
"Very well, Keigo-sama," Hayashi replied, withdrawing from Keigo's suite and allowing Keigo to shuck off his swimming trunks in privacy. It wasn't that Keigo was bothered by an audience per se - he loved one - but he didn't feel the need to be vulgar in flaunting himself.
Left to his own devices, Keigo was strolling back towards the courts within the promised five minutes. He'd considered attempting to delay, but he could hardly discipline the team for being tardy if he started being so himself. This meant he had to face whatever attitude Hiyoshi had on him instead, though, and wouldn't that be a joy. The only saving grace to the present situation was that Keigo hadn't faced the necessity of passing through the kitchen once, so he needn't deal with Oshitari's accusing glare now the other boy had finally gotten a clue. As if it had been Keigo's fault Oshitari didn't notice until now, really.
"One set?" Hiyoshi asked from across the net when Keigo neared him. He was holding two rackets - his own and Keigo's - and some balls, dressed in the same shorts and t-shirt he'd been wearing beforehand. Keigo decided he couldn't blame Hiyoshi for wanting to avoid the house.
"One set," Keigo confirmed, accepting his racket. It always felt akin to coming home when he picked it up, the grip fitting comfortably in his hand. "We'll call our own courts."
Hiyoshi nodded, and almost looked his usual calm and collected self as he asked, "Rough or smooth?"
Keigo didn't speak right away, tilting his head to the side and surveying Hiyoshi carefully. He would've been lying to say he wasn't curious what had happened, and if he had to go through entertaining Hiyoshi he was going to find out why. As he stared and didn't speak, Hiyoshi's cool façade began to slip and he shifted restlessly.
"Captain?" Hiyoshi eventually prompted.
"Smooth," Keigo told him, as if he hadn't been delaying. He picked up a couple of balls from the ball basket and pushed them into his pocket, reflecting on how he might best crack Hiyoshi. He suspected he'd have to wait until after the match, when Hiyoshi became less focused and gave over to the exhaustion their match would've wrought.
Hiyoshi spun his racket, letting it fall. It landed with a clack on the Astroturf, and Keigo knew it had to be rough from the tiny slump of Hiyoshi's shoulders that immediately preceded the determined, thin lipped smirk that he flashed. "Yours."
Keigo returned the smirk, taking his place on the court and tossing the ball into the air to serve, "Hiyoshi-kun, be awed by my prowess."
**
"What in the hell was that about?" Gakuto asked barely a second after the kitchen door closed behind Hiyoshi. He couldn't believe Hiyoshi had just mouthed off for the second time in barely ten minutes, and now he was dragging Yuushi into his little snit!
"He's probably jealous," Yuushi observed, turning back to Gakuto and looking him up and down with an intensity that made Gakuto question how he had possibly managed not to puddle on the floor instantly.
"Probably," Gakuto agreed, sliding his hand up to Yuushi's shoulder and squeezing lightly in a disguised effort at bringing him closer still. "Remind me where we were?"
Yuushi's smile turned wicked as he leaned into Gakuto again. There was an air of victory to Yuushi in that moment which made no sense to Gakuto, but he'd much rather be pressed up against Yuushi than interrogating him like a nagging wife anyway. Their lips were barely a hair's breadth apart when they were interrupted, again.
"Why the fuck can't you people get a room? I mean, how lame is making out in the middle of your best friend's kitchen when he has about 50 spare rooms, Oshitari?" Shishido did have a way of making his presence felt.
"Shishido-san," Ootori sighed. He was resigned, amused and as unable to resist at least trying to keep Shishido in line as ever. Gakuto would have given up a long time ago in Ootori's shoes.
"When did you get here?" Gakuto asked, leaning back against the counter to look at them past Yuushi. He got his answer almost immediately as he saw Kabaji carry Jiroh past the kitchen doorway, followed a moment later by Taki with a huge duffel bag that he was dragging along the floor in favour of carrying it.
"Only just," Ootori said, when Shishido showed no sign of answering. His partner was more preoccupied with the contents of the fridge than the contents of the conversation.
"How about you leave again and come back in about ten minutes?" Yuushi suggested, sending a little thrill through Gakuto because usually it was him who had to make those sorts of suggestions.
"Told you to go find a room, lame ass," Shishido retorted, not looking up from the drinks. He, Gakuto noted, clearly had no intention of waiting for the nameless servants to turn up. In fact, by the way Shishido was rifling through the selection, Gakuto was fairly sure Atobe's staff would be horrified when they saw it again.
"I'm going to go and change," Yuushi interjected, kissing Gakuto's temple in an oddly affectionate gesture. It was so affectionate that Gakuto forgot to be mad at the fact that Yuushi was abandoning him. "So glad the rest of you made it," Yuushi added with undisguised sarcasm as he left the room.
"You want juice, Choutarou?" Shishido asked, actually bothering to look up when he addressed Ootori.
"Please, Shishido-san," Ootori replied, his cheeks just a little pink with embarrassment on Shishido's behalf. He smiled sheepishly at Gakuto. "I don't mind what type."
Shishido nodded, and resumed his rummaging through the fridge. It was fast becoming clear that he didn't think much of Atobe's choices as Gakuto heard the dull murmur of, "Grapefruit? Lame. Grape? Lame. Lime? Lame."
Ootori just rolled his eyes when Gakuto looked at him, eyes alight with amusement. When he spoke, however, it was not a question Gakuto was expecting to hear, "Is it Captain Atobe and Hiyoshi down at the courts?"
"Someone's down at the courts?" Gakuto echoed, feeling like an imbecile for parroting. "I didn't see Atobe go by." When he went quiet though, he realised he could hear the smack of the ball against a racket in the distance, "Oh."
"Shall we go down and watch?" Ootori suggested, looking between Gakuto and Shishido.
"I'm up for it," Shishido said, straightening up at last with some bottles of Minute Maid apple juice in his arms. Gakuto wasn't sure he wanted to know where Shishido had found them.
"So am I," Gakuto added, slipping down from his seat. He'd forgotten he was supposed to be angry with anyone.
**
Yuushi was just a little surprised when he returned only ten minutes later to find the kitchen already empty of its previous occupants. The only person left was Taki, and Yuushi didn't remember him being there to start with.
"They're down at the courts doing the fangirl thing since Atobe's playing," Taki told him, his tone dryly amused. "I imagine it's for him rather than Hiyoshi anyway."
"Ah," Yuushi acknowledged, taking in the way Taki was leaning lazily against the counter sipping some sort of murky looking juice. "Where are your pompoms then?"
"I'm attempting to locate them as we speak," Taki murmured, he voice muffled as he raised his glass to his lips.
Yuushi folded his arms across his chest, tickled, "You aren't a bit young to be searching for things at the bottom of a pint glass?"
"Ha bloody ha," Taki retorted, the derision in his gaze undermined by the way his glass projected from his face like a beak. "I was just finishing this off ready to go down."
"I'll walk with you then," Yuushi told him, reaching to help himself to a glass of water. Watching Taki had reminded him how little he'd drunk since getting up.
"I'm honoured," Taki assured him, draining his glass and setting it down beside the sink with a thud. "Don't keep me waiting."
Yuushi rolled his eyes and chose not to hurry himself; Yuushi didn't hurry himself for anybody. He could see Taki growing impatient from the corner of his eye as he drank, first crossing his arms and then pointedly tapping his foot.
"Oshitari-" Taki began, right when Yuushi reached the bottom of the glass and set it down beside Taki's own.
"Yes?" Yuushi prodded when Taki didn't continue, daring him to say anything about Yuushi's behaviour.
"You're an ass," Taki told him bluntly. "Come on."
"I'm a lame ass to hear Shishido tell it," Yuushi responded as they left the kitchen.
"Shishido doesn't know any other words than lame," Taki shot back, oddly caustic.
Yuushi glanced at him knowingly, "When did you pair last play?"
Taki, to his credit, didn't dodge the question, "This morning."
"I see." Yuushi didn't really try to keep the amusement from his tone.
"Shut up," Taki told him as they headed rapidly down the path to the courts, the gravel crunching beneath their trainers. "Hey, there's Gakuto. They look pretty engrossed."
Following Taki's line of sight, Yuushi soon saw he was right. Gakuto was up against the court fence along with Ootori and Shishido, and all three were so absorbed in the match that they didn't bother to look up as Yuushi and Taki approached.
"Who's winning?" Taki called as they moved closer.
"Atobe."
Yuushi wasn't entirely sure who had said it, even standing as close as he was. He suspected it had been all of them. Smirking briefly as Taki rolled his eyes, Yuushi moved to stand beside Gakuto, "By how much?"
On the court in front of them, Hiyoshi was positively drenched in sweat. That wasn't particularly unusual. It was the look in Hiyoshi's eyes - a renewed and fierce determination that lacked Hiyoshi's characteristic smugness of play - and the fact that Atobe also seemed to be breaking a sweat that drew attention.
"5-1. Hiyoshi's leading this game, though," Gakuto replied, and there was a slight amount of awe in his voice which irritated Yuushi.
"That's so unusual?" Yuushi asked, the implication of his tone that it was hardly unusual at all - after all, Hiyoshi had to lead the games sometimes or he'd never have won any of them.
At that moment, however, Yuushi's question was answered by the two boys on the court: It was Atobe's service game that he was losing.
**
"You're improving," Atobe conceded as he and Wakashi walked into the shower block adjoining the courts. He said it generously, as though he hadn't just pulled back his win in the space of four service aces. "It was a good game."
Wakashi was too tired to even roll his eyes properly in reply. They were both hot and sweaty, their bangs matted to their foreheads and their shirts limp against their backs. Atobe had already requested his servant bring some clothes for them both once they were done in the showers, and Wakashi wanted nothing more than to feel the water on his skin and let his mind wander to the glimpses of Gakuto's expression he'd had towards the end of the match - before he'd tanked.
Then Atobe had to go and ruin the moment with no warning, taking advantage of Wakashi's tiredness to ask, "Are you going to tell me what happened before the match?"
To anyone else, Wakashi imagined he must have looked comical in that moment as he froze in place and found himself swiftly left behind by Atobe when the older boy continued like he'd said nothing of significance. Frowning, Wakashi determined to say nothing and picked up his pace again. He wasn't going to be got that easily.
"It was Gakuto, I'd guess," Atobe continued, gripping the edges of his t-shirt and pulling it up over his head.
Wakashi froze, again, with his hands fisted within his own top. He hadn't even gotten as far as beginning to lift it up.
Atobe dropped his top on the floor, reaching down to tug his trainers from his feet, "And Oshitari, too, yes?"
"What?!" Wakashi managed to squeak, at such a pitch that he wished he hadn't.
"You're rather obvious," Atobe told him, finally actually looking as him. Wakashi wasn't sure, though, that having Atobe stare at him whilst Atobe was pulling his shorts down was any better than Atobe avoiding looking at him whilst talking about Wakashi's crush.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Wakashi objected, cringing at the way it managed to sound even weaker out loud than it had in his head.
Atobe levelled a look at him then which was nothing short of disappointed. It made Wakashi want to curl up and die on the spot, but manfully he resisted and raised his chin defiantly. Atobe pursed his lips, then shrugged elegantly and turned away, "Well, it's no wonder if you're going to be a pussy about it."
"What?!" Wakashi entirely failed to keep his indignation in check, watching Atobe walk into the showers with his mouth agape.
"I said it's no wonder Gakuto hasn't looked twice at you if you're going to be such a pussy about it," Atobe said before turning on the shower. The embellishments didn't escape Wakashi.
"You bastard," Wakashi retorted, stalking after Atobe with a total lack of heed for their respective states of dress or the shower. He backed Atobe up against the wall, furious. "You have no fucking clue what you're talking about."
"I know Oshitari Yuushi doesn't even register you," Atobe told him, not the least cowed for being cornered whilst wet and naked. "That's how much of a non-threat you are to him."
"Shut up!" Wakashi shouted, all his anger from before their match resurfacing in a heady rush.
"Make me," Atobe baited him, blinking as water from the shower caught on his lashes. "Pussy."
Not knowing where it came from, Wakashi seized Atobe's face between his hands and crushed their mouths together. It was wet, messy and a little painful if he were totally honest - their teeth bumped. And yet, for all Wakashi's total lack of finesse, Atobe's arms came around him, his fists gripping Wakashi's top tight as he began to tug it up and over Wakashi's head. It was then that Wakashi knew he was lost.
**
It was an easy matter for Keigo to reverse their positions, pressing Hiyoshi firmly against the cold tile as he dropped the younger boy's sopping top to the floor and reached for the ties on his shorts. Had he been asked earlier, Keigo would not have been lying when he'd denied any intention of this happening, but that would've been earlier. Now he'd fought his way through a match that was far more demanding than he'd expected, now he was facing a high and an adrenaline surge that he simply hadn't factored into the equation: right now, fucking Hiyoshi bowlegged seemed like a fantastic idea, and maybe Hiyoshi would even learn something to take away from the experience.
Meeting Hiyoshi's gaze as he undid the knot on his shorts, Keigo half expected him to speak up and stop what was happening. Hiyoshi didn't say anything though, just stared at him with a slightly glazed expression and then pulled Keigo in to kiss again. He was getting better at it, too.
What Keigo didn't expect, once he'd let Hiyoshi's shorts drop, was for Hiyoshi to turn them round again so his back hit the slick wall once more. His protests were cut off by the sight of Hiyoshi sinking to his knees in front of him - this, Keigo supposed, he could accommodate.
**
"What the fuck's taking them so long?" Gakuto complained, unable to explain why he was so irked even to himself. They were all still stood near the courts having been discussing the match and its abrupt ending.
"Why'd you care?" Yuushi asked, tone mild. He had taken a seat on a wall edging one of the flowerbeds and Gakuto had been resisting crawling into his lap for almost as long; he hated that he didn't know how Yuushi would receive it.
"I don't," Gakuto objected, crossly. When he saw Yuushi exchanging a look with Taki he added, crossly, "Shut up."
"Perhaps we should go and check on them?" Ootori suggested, clearly attempting to divert a fight.
"In the shower?" Yuushi queried, his tone full of such meaning that Ootori blushed.
"Don't be a pervert," Shishido snapped, glaring balefully at Yuushi though he didn't move from where he was leaning against the court fence.
"Me?" Yuushi said in mock-innocence. "It was your boyfriend who was suggesting spying on the captain in the shower."
Ootori was a pretty shade of red and Gakuto would have felt sorry for him if it hadn't been so funny. Taki was laughing, too, but for once Shishido was good and respected Ootori's pleading look by not rising to the bait, "Don't be lame, Oshitari."
"There," said Taki. "You've been told."
"Shaking in my shoes," Yuushi agreed.
"Shut up," Shishido all but growled.
"Let's go check on them," Ootori interrupted, before Shishido's efforts to resist a fight unravelled entirely.
"I'll come," Gakuto volunteered, finding that his curiosity ultimately overruled his entertainment at the fight brewing. It was unlike Atobe not to have emerged in order to brag right away.
Shishido just shrugged when Ootori looked at him, straightening from his post against the fence, "Sure."
"A group outing to the shower block?" Taki asked, looking highly amused. "You bunch of girls."
Gakuto flipped him the bird as they moved away. He rather suspected that Shishido would be doing the same, and only Ootori's manners would keep him from doing it as well.
"You whip his ass again today, Shishido?" Gakuto asked, just loud enough for Taki to hear.
"Shishido-san beat him 6-0," Ootori told Gakuto proudly. Shishido himself was simply smirking, and Gakuto couldn't help but join in; he could just imagine Taki fuming behind them at the way his 'girls' comment had backfired.
When the three of them reached the shower block though, the sound of a strangled moan wiped the smirks and smiles away. Ootori turned rather red while Shishido's eyes went wide. Gakuto hated to think how he looked.
"Was that…?" he asked, not able to say it and not liking the uneasy feeling that bubbled in his stomach.
"Maybe we should just go back to the house to wait?" Ootori suggested, stopping and not taking a step nearer.
"I don't think we'll be very welcome somehow," Shishido agreed, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking awkward. Gakuto didn't blame him - it wasn’t in their nature to run.
Gakuto didn't turn away; he stepped forward to look inside. The sound of Ootori and Shishido retreating was dull in his ears as he peered through the slight gloom inside compared with the bright sun outdoors. He found himself edging in further, Hiyoshi's name on the tip of his tongue when he spotted them at last.
Hiyoshi had his back to Gakuto, but he was naked and on his knees before Atobe. Atobe looked as though he was heaven, his hands in Hiyoshi's hair like he was anchoring him in place. It was really the last thing Gakuto had expected: Hiyoshi sucking Atobe off.
As Gakuto tried to back pedal, he crashed into something and the next thing he knew he'd knocked someone's racket from the bench with a loud clatter and both Atobe and Hiyoshi were staring right at him.
Part 2
Recipient: meggiebaby81
Pairing/Characters: Oshitari/Gakuto, Hiyoshi/Gakuto, Atobe/Hiyoshi, Oshitari/Gakuto/Hiyoshi
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: The characters don't belong to me and I make no money from this.
Summary: Atobe thought a summer break would be a nice way to relax, instead he's in for a headache.
Notes: Huge thanks to my beta who went above and beyond <3 Hope this ticks your boxes meggiebaby81!
Act One
Oshitari Yuushi had never known anyone who could be quite so pointedly loud about being bored as Mukahi Gakuto. For almost fifteen minutes the redhead had been sighing and huffing and flipping back and forth on a sun-lounger by Atobe's pool not ten metres from where Yuushi himself lay reading. Yuushi was practically counting down the seconds until Gakuto rose to stalk across the poolside, when a sudden creaking of Gakuto's lounger indicated it had happened.
"Yuushi," Gakuto said, coming to a halt directly in the line of Yuushi's sun.
Yuushi didn't look up from his book as he responded, "Gakuto?"
"I'm bored," Gakuto told him. It wasn't surprising since only Atobe and Hiyoshi had arrived at Atobe's summer residence aside from themselves, and both of them were still asleep so far as Yuushi knew.
Yuushi turned a page of his book, his eyes remaining on his text; he refused to be drawn. "Oh?"
Gakuto stamped his foot in frustration, and Yuushi suspected only Gakuto's bare feet saved him from a swift kick to the end of his lounger. The whine was strong in Gakuto's voice as he demanded, "So do something about it!"
"And what, precisely, would you have me do, Gakuto?" Yuushi enquired, closing his book around his bookmark.
Gakuto's short-tempered frown gave way to a wicked smirk now he had Yuushi's attention. "I have a few ideas."
"Oh?" Yuushi set his book on the table beside him, careful not to knock his Indian Summer cocktail, and reached up to raise his sunglasses so he could look at Gakuto directly. There was no need to wear them in Gakuto's impromptu shade anyway. "And what would those be?"
"Well," Gakuto all but purred, moving forward to crawl onto Yuushi's lounger. "For starters, I thought we could make extra sure that Atobe didn't skimp and buy cheap loungers."
Yuushi rolled his eyes inwardly at the corniness - he expected much better from Gakuto - but outwardly he said nothing, merely lifting his hands to pillow his head as he watched Gakuto's advance without comment.
Gakuto wasn't the least put off by Yuushi's silence, making his way up Yuushi's body until he was straddling his waist. His face was mere inches from Yuushi's own, his eyes bright with promise. Confidently, he asserted, "I think we're onto a winner here."
"Oh do you now?" Yuushi was doing his best to look bored, not making any effort to touch Gakuto.
"I really think I do." Gakuto squirmed pointedly, making Yuushi exhale sharply. Gakuto smiled all the more wickedly at his victory.
There was something about a lapful of eager redhead that Yuushi found irresistible, especially when Gakuto had that expression on his face. His voice was laden with appreciation as he murmured, "You're an insatiable brat."
"You're no better," Gakuto accused, grinding his hips down pointedly and loving the way Yuushi's lashes fluttered uncontrollably. "You can't get enough of me."
"Modesty is so becoming on you," Yuushi observed dryly, linking his fingers in order to prevent himself giving in and attempting to touch Gakuto.
"There's no need for modesty," Gakuto shot back, leaning down low so he was right in Yuushi's face; their lips were practically touching and his breath was hot and moist against Yuushi's mouth. "Especially when I know I'm right!"
It was only then that Yuushi realised how close he'd been to giving in, unwittingly leaning up more and more in order to chase Gakuto's retreating mouth. He collapsed back against the lounger in annoyance, knowing he's been had on this occasion. "Little bastard."
Gakuto laughed, delighted, "You're being awfully easy today, Yuushi."
Yuushi rolled his eyes. He knew he could quite easily turn the tables if he allowed himself use of his hands; he could seize and restrain Gakuto with complete ease, but where would be the fun in that? Instead he sneered a little, "You've hardly won anything yet, Gakuto. I haven't even touched you."
Gakuto's expression froze in surprise for a moment and then he frowned, clearly realising Yuushi was right. It was hardly an infrequent occurrence so Yuushi wasn't terribly sympathetic, and something of that challenging superiority must have shown in Yuushi's expression.
"Shut up," Gakuto whispered, leaning down in Yuushi's face again.
"Make me," Yuushi dared, eyes gleaming.
"Please do," Atobe interrupted, sounding put upon to such a degree as only Atobe could. "What are you doing, Hiyoshi?"
Ordinarily, Atobe arriving would not have been enough to throw cold water on either Gakuto or Yuushi, but ordinarily there wasn't someone else present. They both glanced up, startled to see Hiyoshi stationed midway between themselves and Atobe, leaning against and half hidden by one of the posts that bordered the short set of steps down from the veranda. Atobe himself was only just emerging from the mansion behind Hiyoshi, a drink in one hand and a lavender towel draped over his arm as he carried his mobile in the other. Hiyoshi looked less than his usual collected self, coming closer to the proverbial deer caught in the headlights.
"I was just about to come back in and find you," Hiyoshi muttered, turning toward Atobe. He was so flushed with embarrassment that it went right up to his ears, clearly visible to Gakuto and Yuushi. It seemed as though Hiyoshi were so uncomfortable that he couldn't look at the pair of them; Yuushi rather suspected it came of having been caught peeping.
"Well you hardly need to leave now," said Atobe, rolling his eyes. He seemed not to have seen what Yuushi had, and was simply unsurprised that Hiyoshi had chosen to retreat rather than either confront Gakuto and Yuushi or ignore them. "Get off, Mukahi."
Gakuto leaned back, pointedly not removing himself from Yuushi's lap. He even slid his hands down over Yuushi's shoulders to his chest in an over-the-top suggestive gesture that was ostensibly to support himself. He was exuding petulance from every pore, "I was trying to."
"Him," Atobe clarified, not batting an eyelash as he passed Hiyoshi - who seemed to have turned a shade just shy of lobster - and padded along his poolside. "Get off him."
"Don't worry, Gakuto," Yuushi put in, unable to resist the opportunity to bait his partner despite his own frustration. "It makes no difference to me."
If looks could have killed, Yuushi knew without question that he'd have been dead in that moment. Gakuto shoved off him moodily, his bony limbs digging into Yuushi uncomfortably and even outright painfully in the case of the foot that struck his stomach. He chose to be grateful that Gakuto hadn't aimed at his crotch.
"It truly is a wonder that you ever get any," Atobe observed as he laid his towel out on the lounger beside Yuushi's own. Gakuto's stormy exit was far too par of the course to merit any particular attention.
"I'm simply that irresistible," Yuushi countered, reaching up to tug his sunglasses back over his eyes since his makeshift sun block was gone.
Atobe snorted inelegantly, not deigning to give Yuushi's comment any more attention than that. Already he was distracted issuing orders, "Hiyoshi, come here."
Yuushi glanced over to see Hiyoshi still loitering at the edge of the veranda, his back turned as he'd clearly just watched Gakuto leave. At Atobe's call, the younger boy headed over.
Yuushi rolled his eyes and reached for his book; he wasn't interested in seeing Hiyoshi fawn over and suck up to Atobe if he could help it. In the background he heard Atobe saying something about help with applying sunscreen.
**
Sometimes Gakuto just didn't get Yuushi. This was the only conclusion he could reach as he tugged on the tee he'd seized from his lounger when he ran: he just didn't get Yuushi. They played games, sure, the pair of them were always bantering, but sometimes Yuushi didn't seem to realise he was embarrassing Gakuto in front of their team-mates and friends. Yuushi was hardly the only one with pride - their whole team had pride, aside from maybe Jiroh, but it was only Gakuto and maybe Shishido who really got the barbed end of Yuushi's tongue with such frequency. Yuushi would never dare humiliate Atobe, for instance, and he wasn't dating Atobe (or whatever it was that Yuushi and Gakuto were doing).
Glancing back over his shoulder toward the poolside, Gakuto was ashamed to realise he wanted Yuushi to come after him. Yuushi never would, of course, but Gakuto wanted him to and that made him feel even more pathetic. He kicked the kitchen cupboard in frustration, and then hopped around at the resultant explosion of pain in his big toe. "Shit!"
The icing on the cake was looking up to see one of Atobe's servants regarding him with that calm emotionlessness in which the servants seemed to trademark. Gakuto could feel his face heating to the tips of his ears - he probably looked as red as Hiyoshi had. "What?"
The servant was irritatingly, even less perturbed by Gakuto's short temper than Yuushi, "Can I get you something, Mukahi-san?"
Gakuto was about to snap when he thought better of it and pursed his lips. "A strawberry milkshake," he said after a moment, still nursing his wounded toe as he claimed a seat on one of the kitchen stools. "Please."
The servant bowed and Gakuto turned his gaze away, feeling uncomfortable about watching the man fetch for him when the bloody drink was only in the fridge. Gakuto still felt that odd little pang of guilt on occasion when it came to getting Atobe's servants to do stuff for him. He knew they were paid, but it made him feel awkward. He was never sure where the lines were - like whether he should ask the man's name since he sure as hell didn't have a clue what it was.
He wished Yuushi had come after him, Yuushi always knew how to deal with the servants, and he never looked as though he felt guilty afterwards. Gakuto did suppose, though, that the reason for that might have more to do with Yuushi being able to bullshit just like Gakuto himself, and less to do with Yuushi actually feeling more comfortable.
God, he was thinking about the servants way too much. This was meant to be their vacation. There would be tennis, but also relaxing, luxury and unfettered time with the team before they all returned for their final year and final victory. It would be especially sweet now the Seigaku team which defeated them in middle school was reunited.
"Here you are, Mukahi-san," said the servant, setting Gakuto's drink on the countertop beside him. Gakuto made a mental note to ask Atobe about the dude's name, or maybe suggest that they should be made to wear name tags so he could keep track.
"Thanks," he muttered, finally releasing his toe in order to take the glass in hand. As he took his first sip, he heard the door to the veranda opening and couldn't quite keep himself from looking up hopefully. Unfortunately, it was just Hiyoshi and Gakuto's heart sunk from his throat to his stomach. "Oh," he said. "Hi."
Hiyoshi was frowning as he closed the door behind him, "Hey."
Gakuto scowled, not wishing to deal with Hiyoshi's mood when he was quite happy to wallow in his own. He turned away and sipped his milkshake instead.
"Why'd you let him do that?" Hiyoshi asked, a subtle curiosity imbuing his tone - so subtle that it went right over Gakuto's pretty little head.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Gakuto retorted, hunching his shoulders a little. So someone had noticed, and it had to be that mouthy little brat Hiyoshi of all people; as if Gakuto didn't put up with enough when he had to partner him for doubles.
"Don't talk crap." Hiyoshi's blunt words hit Gakuto like a slap in the face, entirely overriding the message that Hiyoshi was trying to get across as he continued, "You shouldn't let him."
"Fuck off," Gakuto shot back, twisting round to glare at Hiyoshi. His eyes were bright with his anger, but also with a film of tears that he was trying not to give in to. He was above something as stupid as tears just because Yuushi was a jerk and Hiyoshi was clueless. "It's none of your business so just fuck off. You don't know shit about us, you're just a bloody second year."
Hiyoshi's mouth thinned to a line. "Fine. Suit yourself, Mukahi-senpai," he spat the honorific, as if he was trying to stress how little Gakuto deserved any respect; it was a perception that was all in Gakuto's head, but it was enough to make him feel even smaller and more pathetic than he had been.
Gakuto didn't make any effort to call Hiyoshi back as he left, staring miserably into his milkshake instead. Stupid Yuushi. Stupid Hiyoshi. Stupid break.
**
"It's just a crush," Atobe murmured, managing to startle Yuushi as the latter watched Hiyoshi departing the poolside for the kitchen; the same exit that Gakuto had taken.
"Excuse me?" Yuushi asked, reaching for his cocktail. He'd actually thought that Atobe had fallen asleep following the whole performance with making Hiyoshi put sunscreen on him - and it had been a performance since Atobe seemed intent on unsettling Hiyoshi with positively filthy sounds as Hiyoshi applied the lotion. When Hiyoshi had gotten up, Atobe had been reclining with his eyes closed and, to all appearances, every intention of sleeping.
"Hiyoshi," Atobe explained, as if it effectively explained anything at all. He still had his eyes closed.
Yuushi was not used to feeling entirely befuddled in conversations and took a sip of his cocktail as he attempted to work out what Atobe thought he was going on about. Hiyoshi having a crush, clearly, but… "On Gakuto?"
"It'll pass," Atobe told him. "I think he's fancied almost everyone on the team at some point."
"You make him sound like some sort of desperate school girl," Yuushi observed with amusement, slightly relieved to realise he wasn't as lost as he'd first thought: Hiyoshi had been peeping at them.
"Doesn't say much for your taste if Mukahi's a desperate option," Atobe remarked, tone careless as it had been all conversation. Yuushi had caught up now though, and he knew that Atobe never did anything carelessly.
"I didn't say that," Yuushi said, glancing back toward the mansion. Gakuto was far from an option out of desperation - it made Yuushi smug with pride that Gakuto was so crazy about him.
Atobe made a noncommittal noise that still managed to convey doubt.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yuushi took the bait, his gaze finally moving back to his captain. He had no doubt that Atobe had a point he was going to make and he wanted him to get it over with so that Yuushi could give the new problem of Hiyoshi the attention it deserved.
"Nothing," Atobe said, maddeningly. "I'm not going to lower myself to idle gossip and speculation."
Yuushi rolled his eyes, draining the remainder of his drink and setting the glass back down. He wasn't going to chase through hoops for Atobe this time. "There's a first time for everything."
Atobe snorted indelicately, but said nothing.
Yuushi frowned and rose from his lounger, deciding he felt too restless to continue reading or lazing right away. He'd go and find out where Gakuto had gotten to, he decided, and it had nothing to do with wondering where Hiyoshi might have gone.
**
Gakuto didn't look up when the door to the veranda opened again, but it was only because he stopped himself. He busied himself staring moodily into his half consumed milkshake instead.
"Gakuto?" Yuushi's voice was so quiet that Gakuto was half inclined to believe he'd imagined it. He was so convinced that he'd only feel more foolish when he looked up to find merely an empty space that he still didn't let himself turn around, hunching lower in his seat instead. It was only when Yuushi cleared his throat and said Gakuto's name again, louder, that Gakuto turned and saw his partner standing in the doorway removing his sunglasses.
"Yuushi?" Gakuto acknowledged, straightening up immediately because he wasn't about to let Yuushi know how sorry for himself he'd been feeling. He covered himself with a smirk. "Couldn't hold out?"
Yuushi chuckled, setting his sunglasses on the side and closing the gap between them. It was a little strange to Gakuto, still, to see Yuushi without his glasses, but he liked it. Of course, then Yuushi had to ruin the moment by saying, "I'm not the one waiting, pining, just inside the door."
Gakuto's expression immediately hardened and he raised his chin defiantly, trying not to let any hurt show in his eyes. "As if. I was having my milkshake."
Something flickered in Yuushi's eyes, and Gakuto couldn't read it. It was one of those moments that had bothered him so much three years ago, when every single occurrence of this confused communication reminded him why he and Yuushi had been unable to win together as doubles partners the way Shishido and Ootori had learnt to.
"Where's Hiyoshi?" Yuushi asked, glancing around as though the other boy might be about to leap from a cupboard.
Gakuto scowled, remembering quickly his irritation and hurt at the way Hiyoshi had spoken to him. "How should I know?"
Yuushi's gaze returned to Gakuto abruptly. "Did something happen?"
"He's just an asshole," Gakuto muttered, not looking Yuushi in the eye since then it would have been even more obvious that he was lying. He could hardly explain to Yuushi what the problem was - that Hiyoshi had noticed Yuushi being a total jerk to Gakuto.
Yuushi surprised Gakuto then, taking Gakuto's chin in his hand and forcing him, gently, to turn his face to Yuushi. Gakuto almost fought it, suspicious as he looked at Yuushi, but then Yuushi's other hand cupped Gakuto's cheek and Yuushi's lips brushed Gakuto's and Gakuto forgot why he'd been in a bad mood at all.
It was, for them, an uncharacteristically slow kiss. Yuushi was entirely in control and Gakuto had been too taken by surprise to make any attempt at a coup. He felt off kilter and almost dizzy; all the things that he usually only experienced in the midst of a heated make out session, and even then only rarely did he become so unfocused on getting to the sex as to feel as he did now. It was altogether strange for Gakuto to experience a kiss that made such warm heat in his belly as well as his groin.
"Oh, shit!"
And perhaps that was why the interruption, when it came, was quite so unwelcome. Who knew what had been about to follow? And why the hell did Hiyoshi need to come back right then anyway?
**
Even as he had reached his room, furious with himself and Gakuto both, Wakashi had known he wouldn't stay there. He'd looked longingly at his nightstand and the mystery novel he was halfway through, and then he stepped back on his heel and turned away again. He remembered Gakuto's expression too clearly; Wakashi knew he'd hurt Gakuto and he couldn't ignore it, no matter if he'd only retaliated for Gakuto being such a little bitch.
Perhaps, he thought, he'd head back outside and work through some kata until he'd given vent to his own frustration. He wasn't sure he was ready to actually speak to Gakuto without making the situation worse; he simply couldn't understand why Gakuto let Oshitari do it - let Oshitari treat him like some sort of a toy - merely the thought made Wakashi's blood boil.
Angry as he was, Wakashi still heard the muffled little moan when he reached the foot of the stairs. He didn't have the slightest doubt over what it would turn out to be when he looked either, and yet some deranged little masochist within himself made him look through the kitchen doorway anyway.
It was Gakuto, of course, because no one else made those sounds. With Oshitari, of course, because no one else could make Gakuto make those sounds. More than that, it was Gakuto with flushed cheeks, and a horribly blissful expression considering his hurt not ten minutes before, and a very smug Oshitari.
Before he could stop himself, Wakashi had diverted into the kitchen rather than taking the long way round that he'd initially intended, loudly exclaiming as he went, "Oh, shit!"
When they parted and glared at him this time, he didn't feel like he'd been caught peeping and he didn't blush. Wakashi held his ground, staring at Oshitari and only wishing his gaze could convey the words that he couldn't say out loud.
"Can I help you?" Oshitari enquired after a moment of silent stand off, arrogance oozing from every pore.
Gakuto clearly didn't notice the edge to Oshitari's tone, but Wakashi did and he felt his firm footing falter. Meeting Oshitari's gaze as he was, Wakashi felt a sudden certainty that Oshitari knew about everything, about how Wakashi detested him and admired him all at once, and about how Wakashi wanted Gakuto. Wakashi just couldn't imagine how Oshitari could have found it out.
"I-" Wakashi began and faltered as Gakuto's hostility sharpened. Gakuto could hardly have made it more plain that he wished for Wakashi to leave as soon as possible.
"You?" Oshitari prompted, and drew Wakashi's gaze back to himself. Oshitari's condescending tone raised Wakashi's ire afresh and he remembered just what he thought of Oshitari and the way he behaved.
"I can't imagine you could ever help me," Wakashi retorted, sharply, forgetting he was talking to an upperclassman. He was only barely aware of Gakuto's eyes on him, round with surprise. "I'll get out of your way."
Oshitari seemed stunned, too, because Wakashi made his escape to the poolside without any caustic retort reaching his ears. He was trembling by the time he halted though, his heartbeat thudding loudly in his chest and resounding in his ears. He had actually just been downright rude to Oshitari Yuushi, he realised, and there was no way Oshitari was going to let him get away with it.
"What on earth is the matter now?" Atobe interrupted Wakashi's line of thought, positively aggravated.
"Nothing," Wakashi said automatically. Then he looked over at where Atobe was lounging and thought better of the statement. "Can we play?"
Atobe raised his sunglasses to pin Wakashi with a steely stare, "Now?"
Everything about Atobe's tone indicated the words left unsaid - that Wakashi was being especially stupid to want to play tennis right after Atobe had just coated himself in sun screen. Wakashi didn't care though, he needed to vent and he felt like fighting after the run-in with Oshitari. He was certain that standard kata would no longer cut it, so he nodded and confirmed, "Now, please."
Atobe sighed, dropped his glasses back over his eyes, sat up and swung his legs round to the side. Sliding his feet into his flip-flops, he didn't look at Wakashi as he stated, "I shall meet you on the courts in five minutes."
"Thank you." Wakashi really meant it too. He felt some sense of relief already at the prospect of a good, long, hard match that made him strain for every single point. He couldn't wait.
**
Keigo had a growing sense that the nice, relaxing break he'd envisaged for the team was, rapidly, about to deteriorate into a constant headache. He was almost looking forward to the arrival of everyone else just to try and provide a cover while he escaped; he usually enjoyed the initial quietude much more.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Keigo-sama?" asked Hayashi, one of the longest standing servants on the Atobe staff. He had been old and white haired even when Keigo himself was a small boy, but he'd always been a loyal and incredibly efficient employee. Secretly, Keigo was rather fond of him, in as far as one could ever be fond of servants.
"Some water down at the courts; Hiyoshi and I are to play," Keigo replied, pulling on his top and smoothing the material out.
"Very well, Keigo-sama," Hayashi replied, withdrawing from Keigo's suite and allowing Keigo to shuck off his swimming trunks in privacy. It wasn't that Keigo was bothered by an audience per se - he loved one - but he didn't feel the need to be vulgar in flaunting himself.
Left to his own devices, Keigo was strolling back towards the courts within the promised five minutes. He'd considered attempting to delay, but he could hardly discipline the team for being tardy if he started being so himself. This meant he had to face whatever attitude Hiyoshi had on him instead, though, and wouldn't that be a joy. The only saving grace to the present situation was that Keigo hadn't faced the necessity of passing through the kitchen once, so he needn't deal with Oshitari's accusing glare now the other boy had finally gotten a clue. As if it had been Keigo's fault Oshitari didn't notice until now, really.
"One set?" Hiyoshi asked from across the net when Keigo neared him. He was holding two rackets - his own and Keigo's - and some balls, dressed in the same shorts and t-shirt he'd been wearing beforehand. Keigo decided he couldn't blame Hiyoshi for wanting to avoid the house.
"One set," Keigo confirmed, accepting his racket. It always felt akin to coming home when he picked it up, the grip fitting comfortably in his hand. "We'll call our own courts."
Hiyoshi nodded, and almost looked his usual calm and collected self as he asked, "Rough or smooth?"
Keigo didn't speak right away, tilting his head to the side and surveying Hiyoshi carefully. He would've been lying to say he wasn't curious what had happened, and if he had to go through entertaining Hiyoshi he was going to find out why. As he stared and didn't speak, Hiyoshi's cool façade began to slip and he shifted restlessly.
"Captain?" Hiyoshi eventually prompted.
"Smooth," Keigo told him, as if he hadn't been delaying. He picked up a couple of balls from the ball basket and pushed them into his pocket, reflecting on how he might best crack Hiyoshi. He suspected he'd have to wait until after the match, when Hiyoshi became less focused and gave over to the exhaustion their match would've wrought.
Hiyoshi spun his racket, letting it fall. It landed with a clack on the Astroturf, and Keigo knew it had to be rough from the tiny slump of Hiyoshi's shoulders that immediately preceded the determined, thin lipped smirk that he flashed. "Yours."
Keigo returned the smirk, taking his place on the court and tossing the ball into the air to serve, "Hiyoshi-kun, be awed by my prowess."
**
"What in the hell was that about?" Gakuto asked barely a second after the kitchen door closed behind Hiyoshi. He couldn't believe Hiyoshi had just mouthed off for the second time in barely ten minutes, and now he was dragging Yuushi into his little snit!
"He's probably jealous," Yuushi observed, turning back to Gakuto and looking him up and down with an intensity that made Gakuto question how he had possibly managed not to puddle on the floor instantly.
"Probably," Gakuto agreed, sliding his hand up to Yuushi's shoulder and squeezing lightly in a disguised effort at bringing him closer still. "Remind me where we were?"
Yuushi's smile turned wicked as he leaned into Gakuto again. There was an air of victory to Yuushi in that moment which made no sense to Gakuto, but he'd much rather be pressed up against Yuushi than interrogating him like a nagging wife anyway. Their lips were barely a hair's breadth apart when they were interrupted, again.
"Why the fuck can't you people get a room? I mean, how lame is making out in the middle of your best friend's kitchen when he has about 50 spare rooms, Oshitari?" Shishido did have a way of making his presence felt.
"Shishido-san," Ootori sighed. He was resigned, amused and as unable to resist at least trying to keep Shishido in line as ever. Gakuto would have given up a long time ago in Ootori's shoes.
"When did you get here?" Gakuto asked, leaning back against the counter to look at them past Yuushi. He got his answer almost immediately as he saw Kabaji carry Jiroh past the kitchen doorway, followed a moment later by Taki with a huge duffel bag that he was dragging along the floor in favour of carrying it.
"Only just," Ootori said, when Shishido showed no sign of answering. His partner was more preoccupied with the contents of the fridge than the contents of the conversation.
"How about you leave again and come back in about ten minutes?" Yuushi suggested, sending a little thrill through Gakuto because usually it was him who had to make those sorts of suggestions.
"Told you to go find a room, lame ass," Shishido retorted, not looking up from the drinks. He, Gakuto noted, clearly had no intention of waiting for the nameless servants to turn up. In fact, by the way Shishido was rifling through the selection, Gakuto was fairly sure Atobe's staff would be horrified when they saw it again.
"I'm going to go and change," Yuushi interjected, kissing Gakuto's temple in an oddly affectionate gesture. It was so affectionate that Gakuto forgot to be mad at the fact that Yuushi was abandoning him. "So glad the rest of you made it," Yuushi added with undisguised sarcasm as he left the room.
"You want juice, Choutarou?" Shishido asked, actually bothering to look up when he addressed Ootori.
"Please, Shishido-san," Ootori replied, his cheeks just a little pink with embarrassment on Shishido's behalf. He smiled sheepishly at Gakuto. "I don't mind what type."
Shishido nodded, and resumed his rummaging through the fridge. It was fast becoming clear that he didn't think much of Atobe's choices as Gakuto heard the dull murmur of, "Grapefruit? Lame. Grape? Lame. Lime? Lame."
Ootori just rolled his eyes when Gakuto looked at him, eyes alight with amusement. When he spoke, however, it was not a question Gakuto was expecting to hear, "Is it Captain Atobe and Hiyoshi down at the courts?"
"Someone's down at the courts?" Gakuto echoed, feeling like an imbecile for parroting. "I didn't see Atobe go by." When he went quiet though, he realised he could hear the smack of the ball against a racket in the distance, "Oh."
"Shall we go down and watch?" Ootori suggested, looking between Gakuto and Shishido.
"I'm up for it," Shishido said, straightening up at last with some bottles of Minute Maid apple juice in his arms. Gakuto wasn't sure he wanted to know where Shishido had found them.
"So am I," Gakuto added, slipping down from his seat. He'd forgotten he was supposed to be angry with anyone.
**
Yuushi was just a little surprised when he returned only ten minutes later to find the kitchen already empty of its previous occupants. The only person left was Taki, and Yuushi didn't remember him being there to start with.
"They're down at the courts doing the fangirl thing since Atobe's playing," Taki told him, his tone dryly amused. "I imagine it's for him rather than Hiyoshi anyway."
"Ah," Yuushi acknowledged, taking in the way Taki was leaning lazily against the counter sipping some sort of murky looking juice. "Where are your pompoms then?"
"I'm attempting to locate them as we speak," Taki murmured, he voice muffled as he raised his glass to his lips.
Yuushi folded his arms across his chest, tickled, "You aren't a bit young to be searching for things at the bottom of a pint glass?"
"Ha bloody ha," Taki retorted, the derision in his gaze undermined by the way his glass projected from his face like a beak. "I was just finishing this off ready to go down."
"I'll walk with you then," Yuushi told him, reaching to help himself to a glass of water. Watching Taki had reminded him how little he'd drunk since getting up.
"I'm honoured," Taki assured him, draining his glass and setting it down beside the sink with a thud. "Don't keep me waiting."
Yuushi rolled his eyes and chose not to hurry himself; Yuushi didn't hurry himself for anybody. He could see Taki growing impatient from the corner of his eye as he drank, first crossing his arms and then pointedly tapping his foot.
"Oshitari-" Taki began, right when Yuushi reached the bottom of the glass and set it down beside Taki's own.
"Yes?" Yuushi prodded when Taki didn't continue, daring him to say anything about Yuushi's behaviour.
"You're an ass," Taki told him bluntly. "Come on."
"I'm a lame ass to hear Shishido tell it," Yuushi responded as they left the kitchen.
"Shishido doesn't know any other words than lame," Taki shot back, oddly caustic.
Yuushi glanced at him knowingly, "When did you pair last play?"
Taki, to his credit, didn't dodge the question, "This morning."
"I see." Yuushi didn't really try to keep the amusement from his tone.
"Shut up," Taki told him as they headed rapidly down the path to the courts, the gravel crunching beneath their trainers. "Hey, there's Gakuto. They look pretty engrossed."
Following Taki's line of sight, Yuushi soon saw he was right. Gakuto was up against the court fence along with Ootori and Shishido, and all three were so absorbed in the match that they didn't bother to look up as Yuushi and Taki approached.
"Who's winning?" Taki called as they moved closer.
"Atobe."
Yuushi wasn't entirely sure who had said it, even standing as close as he was. He suspected it had been all of them. Smirking briefly as Taki rolled his eyes, Yuushi moved to stand beside Gakuto, "By how much?"
On the court in front of them, Hiyoshi was positively drenched in sweat. That wasn't particularly unusual. It was the look in Hiyoshi's eyes - a renewed and fierce determination that lacked Hiyoshi's characteristic smugness of play - and the fact that Atobe also seemed to be breaking a sweat that drew attention.
"5-1. Hiyoshi's leading this game, though," Gakuto replied, and there was a slight amount of awe in his voice which irritated Yuushi.
"That's so unusual?" Yuushi asked, the implication of his tone that it was hardly unusual at all - after all, Hiyoshi had to lead the games sometimes or he'd never have won any of them.
At that moment, however, Yuushi's question was answered by the two boys on the court: It was Atobe's service game that he was losing.
**
"You're improving," Atobe conceded as he and Wakashi walked into the shower block adjoining the courts. He said it generously, as though he hadn't just pulled back his win in the space of four service aces. "It was a good game."
Wakashi was too tired to even roll his eyes properly in reply. They were both hot and sweaty, their bangs matted to their foreheads and their shirts limp against their backs. Atobe had already requested his servant bring some clothes for them both once they were done in the showers, and Wakashi wanted nothing more than to feel the water on his skin and let his mind wander to the glimpses of Gakuto's expression he'd had towards the end of the match - before he'd tanked.
Then Atobe had to go and ruin the moment with no warning, taking advantage of Wakashi's tiredness to ask, "Are you going to tell me what happened before the match?"
To anyone else, Wakashi imagined he must have looked comical in that moment as he froze in place and found himself swiftly left behind by Atobe when the older boy continued like he'd said nothing of significance. Frowning, Wakashi determined to say nothing and picked up his pace again. He wasn't going to be got that easily.
"It was Gakuto, I'd guess," Atobe continued, gripping the edges of his t-shirt and pulling it up over his head.
Wakashi froze, again, with his hands fisted within his own top. He hadn't even gotten as far as beginning to lift it up.
Atobe dropped his top on the floor, reaching down to tug his trainers from his feet, "And Oshitari, too, yes?"
"What?!" Wakashi managed to squeak, at such a pitch that he wished he hadn't.
"You're rather obvious," Atobe told him, finally actually looking as him. Wakashi wasn't sure, though, that having Atobe stare at him whilst Atobe was pulling his shorts down was any better than Atobe avoiding looking at him whilst talking about Wakashi's crush.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Wakashi objected, cringing at the way it managed to sound even weaker out loud than it had in his head.
Atobe levelled a look at him then which was nothing short of disappointed. It made Wakashi want to curl up and die on the spot, but manfully he resisted and raised his chin defiantly. Atobe pursed his lips, then shrugged elegantly and turned away, "Well, it's no wonder if you're going to be a pussy about it."
"What?!" Wakashi entirely failed to keep his indignation in check, watching Atobe walk into the showers with his mouth agape.
"I said it's no wonder Gakuto hasn't looked twice at you if you're going to be such a pussy about it," Atobe said before turning on the shower. The embellishments didn't escape Wakashi.
"You bastard," Wakashi retorted, stalking after Atobe with a total lack of heed for their respective states of dress or the shower. He backed Atobe up against the wall, furious. "You have no fucking clue what you're talking about."
"I know Oshitari Yuushi doesn't even register you," Atobe told him, not the least cowed for being cornered whilst wet and naked. "That's how much of a non-threat you are to him."
"Shut up!" Wakashi shouted, all his anger from before their match resurfacing in a heady rush.
"Make me," Atobe baited him, blinking as water from the shower caught on his lashes. "Pussy."
Not knowing where it came from, Wakashi seized Atobe's face between his hands and crushed their mouths together. It was wet, messy and a little painful if he were totally honest - their teeth bumped. And yet, for all Wakashi's total lack of finesse, Atobe's arms came around him, his fists gripping Wakashi's top tight as he began to tug it up and over Wakashi's head. It was then that Wakashi knew he was lost.
**
It was an easy matter for Keigo to reverse their positions, pressing Hiyoshi firmly against the cold tile as he dropped the younger boy's sopping top to the floor and reached for the ties on his shorts. Had he been asked earlier, Keigo would not have been lying when he'd denied any intention of this happening, but that would've been earlier. Now he'd fought his way through a match that was far more demanding than he'd expected, now he was facing a high and an adrenaline surge that he simply hadn't factored into the equation: right now, fucking Hiyoshi bowlegged seemed like a fantastic idea, and maybe Hiyoshi would even learn something to take away from the experience.
Meeting Hiyoshi's gaze as he undid the knot on his shorts, Keigo half expected him to speak up and stop what was happening. Hiyoshi didn't say anything though, just stared at him with a slightly glazed expression and then pulled Keigo in to kiss again. He was getting better at it, too.
What Keigo didn't expect, once he'd let Hiyoshi's shorts drop, was for Hiyoshi to turn them round again so his back hit the slick wall once more. His protests were cut off by the sight of Hiyoshi sinking to his knees in front of him - this, Keigo supposed, he could accommodate.
**
"What the fuck's taking them so long?" Gakuto complained, unable to explain why he was so irked even to himself. They were all still stood near the courts having been discussing the match and its abrupt ending.
"Why'd you care?" Yuushi asked, tone mild. He had taken a seat on a wall edging one of the flowerbeds and Gakuto had been resisting crawling into his lap for almost as long; he hated that he didn't know how Yuushi would receive it.
"I don't," Gakuto objected, crossly. When he saw Yuushi exchanging a look with Taki he added, crossly, "Shut up."
"Perhaps we should go and check on them?" Ootori suggested, clearly attempting to divert a fight.
"In the shower?" Yuushi queried, his tone full of such meaning that Ootori blushed.
"Don't be a pervert," Shishido snapped, glaring balefully at Yuushi though he didn't move from where he was leaning against the court fence.
"Me?" Yuushi said in mock-innocence. "It was your boyfriend who was suggesting spying on the captain in the shower."
Ootori was a pretty shade of red and Gakuto would have felt sorry for him if it hadn't been so funny. Taki was laughing, too, but for once Shishido was good and respected Ootori's pleading look by not rising to the bait, "Don't be lame, Oshitari."
"There," said Taki. "You've been told."
"Shaking in my shoes," Yuushi agreed.
"Shut up," Shishido all but growled.
"Let's go check on them," Ootori interrupted, before Shishido's efforts to resist a fight unravelled entirely.
"I'll come," Gakuto volunteered, finding that his curiosity ultimately overruled his entertainment at the fight brewing. It was unlike Atobe not to have emerged in order to brag right away.
Shishido just shrugged when Ootori looked at him, straightening from his post against the fence, "Sure."
"A group outing to the shower block?" Taki asked, looking highly amused. "You bunch of girls."
Gakuto flipped him the bird as they moved away. He rather suspected that Shishido would be doing the same, and only Ootori's manners would keep him from doing it as well.
"You whip his ass again today, Shishido?" Gakuto asked, just loud enough for Taki to hear.
"Shishido-san beat him 6-0," Ootori told Gakuto proudly. Shishido himself was simply smirking, and Gakuto couldn't help but join in; he could just imagine Taki fuming behind them at the way his 'girls' comment had backfired.
When the three of them reached the shower block though, the sound of a strangled moan wiped the smirks and smiles away. Ootori turned rather red while Shishido's eyes went wide. Gakuto hated to think how he looked.
"Was that…?" he asked, not able to say it and not liking the uneasy feeling that bubbled in his stomach.
"Maybe we should just go back to the house to wait?" Ootori suggested, stopping and not taking a step nearer.
"I don't think we'll be very welcome somehow," Shishido agreed, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking awkward. Gakuto didn't blame him - it wasn’t in their nature to run.
Gakuto didn't turn away; he stepped forward to look inside. The sound of Ootori and Shishido retreating was dull in his ears as he peered through the slight gloom inside compared with the bright sun outdoors. He found himself edging in further, Hiyoshi's name on the tip of his tongue when he spotted them at last.
Hiyoshi had his back to Gakuto, but he was naked and on his knees before Atobe. Atobe looked as though he was heaven, his hands in Hiyoshi's hair like he was anchoring him in place. It was really the last thing Gakuto had expected: Hiyoshi sucking Atobe off.
As Gakuto tried to back pedal, he crashed into something and the next thing he knew he'd knocked someone's racket from the bench with a loud clatter and both Atobe and Hiyoshi were staring right at him.
Part 2