a rose by any other name (2/4)
Title: a rose by any other name (2/4)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 545
Pairing(s): Nino/Everybody (implied), Ohmiya
Summary: A series of ficlets on Nino and nicknames - now, Aiba!
Notes: I fucking love these two
(also on ao3)
“Aiba-chan, get over here.”
Aiba blinks blearily at his phone. “Nino, it’s eight in the morning.”
“Your point?”
For somebody who was so bad at waking up, Nino was a remarkably early riser. Aiba attempts to process his words. “You want me to, come over? Nino, it’s New Years.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I have the new Halo game, so get your ass over here so I can kick it.”
Aiba blinks as he absorbs these words, feeling a slow warmth spread over him as he translated Nino’s words into what he actually meant. After two decades, it only took a few seconds.
Aiba had told his band members about how his parents were going on a cruise on New Years, how his brother was too far away - and his nephew too young - to visit. Every one of them had extended an offer for Aiba to join them for New Years, welcoming him into their families without a hint of hesitation.
Everybody but Nino.
Aiba had refused, insisting with a grin that he would enjoy a quiet New Year’s, for once. It was a lie, of course, and everybody knew it. Aiba wasn't as reliant on human company as people seemed to assume he was, but he did like being with people, and nobody wants be alone on New Year’s.
It was just that- would’ve been one thing if it was Arashi alone, but the thought of going for dinner with Sho and his strictly formal family, or Jun and the crowd that he was always around at New Year’s, or even Ohno and his mother and sister’s habitual quiet, made the shy, awkward fourteen-year-old inside of him cringe. The members understood this with the knowledge of eighteen years, and had left him alone with nothing more than worried glances and a promise that there would be a place for him, if he changed his mind.
Nino, on the other hand, had evidently predicted Aiba’s reaction, and planned this New Year’s ambush in the sharp, cunning way that he does.
“Aren’t you eating with your mom and sister?” he asks, though he can guess at the answer.
He can almost hear Nino rolling his eyes. “Kaa-chan’s over in Kyoto with nee-chan and her boyfriend, at some hot springs or something. Apparently they didn't bother to get a ticket for me, something about a national idol paying for his own trips, or something. I’m not going to waste gaming money on a bath.”
He refused it for me, Aiba thinks, with the clarity of knowing Nino since they were children, and grins harder into the phone.
He must take a little too long, because Nino makes an impatient sound at the other end of the phone.
“Time’s a-wasting, Aibaka, get over here before I die of boredom. And bring some food- my fridge is currently a beer storage unit.”
Aiba giggles as Nino began to hum the jeopardy theme, feeling light and giddy.
“Alright, alright, Nino, I’m coming. What do you want me to bring, gyoza?”
(The next day, when the two of them woke up to the other members banging on the doors, drinks and tupperwares of homemade ozoni in hand, Aiba couldn't help the grateful tears that fell over the helpless grin on his face)