serious (wolf at the door remix) [arashi rps]
Title: Serious (Wolf at the Door Remix)
Rating: R
Length: ~2,700 words
Pairing: Ohno/Aiba
Notes: Written for jentfic_remix; A remix of Serious by ferinough. Lots of love to rhythmia, still_ciircee and fluttering for looking this over! ♥
By the way, I am finally, finally, finally on summer hols, so you can expect much more updating and fic posting from me soon.
"'Morning, Leader," Aiba says, still sleepy as he slides into the van, next to Ohno. Ohno smiles, and because it's Aiba, he doesn't mind that Ohno doesn't say anything, doesn't take out his earbuds to try to make conversation. Instead, he lets Aiba leans against his shoulder, enjoying the early morning city rolling past the darkened windows of the van and Aiba's hot puffs of breath against his shoulder as he naps on the way to the studio.
Jun is talking to the staff and Nino and Sho are still on their way when they arrive, so they both slide wordlessly onto the couch in the green room, practically on the same cushion, but not quite. Filming doesn't quite start for another two hours, and Ohno can still feel himself sliding in and out of wakefulness. Aiba must feel the same, because he just grunts and pulls out his DS, boneless against the cushions a few feet from Ohno.
Jun is in and out and looking grumpy and brisk in that self-satisfied way he had when he had Details to take care of. After a few minutes, Ohno hears Aiba click his DS shut and they amicably sit side by side and watch Jun grill the staff for information about the day's guests, his new corner, and how whoever wrote the cue cards last time had really, really terrible writing and could they please get someone on that, because there are some idiots here who have problems reading kanji in the first place, honestly.
"Jun-chan looks so tired," Aiba whispers into Ohno's ear, "I think he's going to fall over if someone pokes him." Ohno 's laugh makes his nose scrunch up, because he's had the experience of trying to visit Jun in his hotel room on tour and nearly tripping over a giant Matsumoto-lump sprawled out across the floor.
"What are you two idiots whispering about?" Jun asks, distractedly stirring his coffee.
"Nothing," Aiba says innocently, "I like your pants today, Jun-chan - they're really tight," he adds, making Jun almost spill his coffee.
Nino and Sho shuffle in around the point where Jun is threatening to hit Aiba and Aiba can't stop giggling because he's now eye-level with Jun's giant skull-shaped belt buckle and he claims that it's smiling at him. Nino makes a beeline for Ohno's lap, shifting and fussing until he's settled, a warm, comfortable weight on Ohno's thighs.
"Jun," Sho says pleadingly. He looks like he's had about three hours of sleep. "Jun, don't kill Aiba. It's still too early." He goes and sits on the arm of the couch, patting Aiba's hair gently.
Aiba leans his head into Sho's hand and smiles smugly, eyes half-slit with pleasure. "Jun-chan loves me."
"Jun-chan is going to smother you with a pillow," Jun mutters, but he only gives Aiba's shin a half-hearted kick and slumps down onto the couch between Aiba and Ohno, nursing his coffee.
"Aiba-san?" Ohno has no idea how their staff manage to look so professional and perky and put-together at any ungodly hour of the morning or night, or what they must make of the five scruffy men slumped over the green room couch in varying states of wakefulness. "You're needed for a second, if you could come with me."
The couch feels somehow emptier once Aiba is gone and Sho drifts off to decide their meal orders for the day. Nino has pulled out his cards, shuffling and re-shuffling and Ohno lets his mind drift. They're filming in the studio this morning, and then going on location in the afternoon, so it will probably be too late to go fishing by the time they're done for the day.
It's such a nice day, too, Ohno thinks a little bit sadly, but it was all right. He doesn't mind that much.
Aiba is grinning ear-to-ear when he enters the room again, bounding back onto the couch and nearly elbowing Nino in the ribs in the process. "Lions," he informs them cheerfully, "Giraffes!"
"They told us we were going to Tama Zoo yesterday, idiot," Nino says, not bothering to look away from his cards.
It makes sense that Aiba is excited, though, because no one had thought that the staff would be interested in the Animal Communication segment that he proposed. Ohno thinks it's a pretty good idea, or at least it will be, if Aiba's leading it.
"I never should have lent you that Dr. Doolittle DVD," Sho sighs. "How does everyone feel about curry for lunch?"
*
It's almost noon by the time they board the bus, so they eat on board. Everyone is finally waking up a little, but things are still pretty quiet, they always are. Nino only picks at his lunch before picking up his DS, leaning against Ohno's side as he eats his curry rice.
Aiba, Sho and Jun were across from them on the other bench seat, Aiba sitting practically in a complacent Sho's lap while he helped Matsujun practice running through his new drama script.
"I'd never leave," Jun read seriously, his voice thrumming with intensity. "Even if the stars move farther apart with time, my heart won't move away from yours, not ever."
"Uwah," Aiba says happily. "When Matusjun says it, my heart just floats."
"Stop being an idiot and read your lines properly," Jun grumbles, but he looks pleased.
"Take me now!" Aiba screeches, and flings himself at Jun, trapping Jun underneath him on the bench seat. There's a brief scuffle before Jun shoves off Aiba off him and makes a reluctant Sho read the girl's part instead.
Aiba pouts, but he's all smiles when he slides onto the seat next to Ohno. "Are you going to finish that?" he asks longingly, looking pointedly at Ohno's lunch.
"He had better," Jun warns, watching Ohno with that half-stern, half-smooshy look he seems to reserve just for him. "Don't you steal his lunch."
"I wasn't trying to!" Aiba protests, but his earnest pouts in Ohno's direction say it all.
Ohno covertly hands over an extra set of chopsticks and they grin at each other before digging in.
*
"The grey wolf communicates primarily through howling, which can either be for communal reasons or a declaration of territory," Aiba reads off the cue cards. He nudges Jun, who looks unhappy at being dragged into the wolf pit for this segment. "Do you think that a wolf will respond if we howl to Love So Sweet?"
"He is so special," Nino mutters into Ohno's shoulder, from where they’re standing outside the enclosure.
"I don't think so," Jun says, in a tone that Ohno knows meant I will seriously kill you if you make me do that on camera.
"Really? I think it will." Aiba faces the nearest wolf. "Let's try it!" He takes a deep breath and starts howling. "WOOOOO-OH, WOOOO-OH."
The wolf eyes Aiba with disdain.
"You're supposed to howl yeaaa-ah, yeah yeah," Aiba says encouragingly to it, crouching on the ground.
"Can't we just leave?" Jun asks desperately.
"Try growling at it," Ohno calls, because it looks like the wolf is trying to ignore Aiba now.
Aiba leans forward and gives a spectacular growl, and -
It all happens too quickly for Ohno to absorb it all, but the wolf snarls and Aiba yells and Jun yanks Aiba back out of the enclosure as the handlers rush in. Then there are staff crowding all around, scolding and soothing and Ohno forgets about the cameras, because Aiba is shaking and white-faced, and his arm is bleeding.
"I'm fine, it's just a scratch," Aiba says, and he's visibly shivering, but he smiles bravely. "I don't think your idea worked, Leader," he adds once Ohno gets close enough to kneel down next to him and check if he's okay.
"You are so stupid," Nino says, slapping Aiba on the shoulder. There's no venom in his tone, though, and Ohno's known Nino long enough to be able to hear the fear and relief and anger that underneath the words. Jun is off talking with the program staff in very low, precise tones. He looks positively murderous and so Ohno sticks close to Aiba while the staff cleans and bandages Aiba's arm.
Sho helps dig supplies out of the first-aid kit, grim-faced. "Masaki, you need to be more careful."
"Sorry." Aiba looks genuinely guilty and a bit embarrassed. He's never really liked people fussing over him, Ohno knows, and he's probably worried that he's disrupted filming because of his stunt.
"It was my fault," Ohno finds himself saying. "I told him to try growling at the wolf."
"He was stupid enough to think it was a good idea," Nino points out.
"No, no." Aiba grabs Ohno's hand, holding him close. "It wasn't your fault at all."
"It doesn't matter, anyways." Jun is back, looking much calmer at having been able to direct his rage at someone. "Aiba is okay, no one is going into the enclosures anymore and we're almost done for the day anyways."
"I'm sorry," Aiba murmurs again, and Jun tsks and pats him roughly on the head.
"There's no need to apologize."
"That's right," Sho says comfortingly. "You're all right, and that's all that matters to us."
Aiba nods, head ducked to hide watery eyes and Ohno squeezes his hand again before letting go, his pinky finger curled tightly around Aiba's thumb.
*
Despite all of the ruckus Aiba's attempt to commune with the wolves caused, they finish filming ahead of schedule, and the sun is only just going down by the time they pile back into the van.
They're all tired, worn out and silent as the road slides past like a dark grey ribbon, slick with evening rain, but it's Aiba who suggests that they all go for drinks and no one says no.
Ohno sits with Aiba and Nino, because Sho is engrossed talking to the show's new cameraman and Jun was getting just drunk enough to start being bossy.
The bar is warm and dimly lit and it makes Ohno feel dozy. He can feel Nino's thigh warm against his under the table, and hear the shuffle of Nino's trump cards, Aiba's giggles.
"- an experiment," Ohno drifts into wakefulness enough to hear Aiba propose, and he opens his eyes just wide enough to see Aiba pointing dramatically at the bar. "How many drinks does it take until Matsujun looks like a woman to you?"
"In that sweater? Water would probably do it." Nino taps his deck against the table to get the cards straightened out together and okay, he has a point, besides being flowy and lavender and having suspicious-looking ruffles around each button, the fuschia-sequined skull surrounded by flowers on the back does nothing to redeem it.
But that isn't the point, and Aiba says so, ordering them another round, so Ohno accepts the drink with little fuss. Aiba lives to try and make everything fun, and Ohno doesn't really mind going along with him, because it usually is fun. He downs the first glass with some difficulty, because Nino is laughing at the way Aiba is seriously concentrating on Jun with every sip.
"I can see boobs!" Aiba announces triumphantly, after his third drink, slamming his drink down on the table.
Ohno thinks it's a sign of how long their staff have been with them that no one even pays attention to that pronouncement.
Things only go downhill from there, because Aiba is so thrilled with his success that he demands Ohno try it on Sho. Nino slides his cards back into his pocket and gives Ohno a smile and solemn handshake before sliding out past him. Nino always leaves early, never really gets smashed like the rest of them. He's also absurdly good at slipping out before getting stuck with the tab.
Aiba is a pretty good drinking buddy, though - especially once they get to the stage where sense doesn't matter and everything is funny. Before long, they're both giggling into the side of the table and Ohno is only vaguely aware of Sho patting him goodbye on the back and warning Aiba to call a taxi.
"Hey," Aiba says, his voice thick and warm, and he's smiling lopsidedly when Ohno turns his head sideways on the table to look at him, his eyelashes curving down towards his cheeks. It's not really a question, but Ohno responds without thinking, brushing his hand against Aiba's thigh under the table. Aiba's eyes are full of heat and he puts his own hand over Ohno's. They should probably, Ohno thinks, go somewhere else.
Aiba drives, because he can and Ohno can't, and because he's tipsy enough to be giggly, but not enough to trip or cry or get overly emotional, and that's good enough for Ohno. He realizes that they probably should call a taxi, but Aiba is a remarkably steady driver, and neither of them really think about it.
"Maybe you'll turn into a wolfman," Ohno says, as they wait at a red light, because he doesn't know how to say we were so worried about you, and this is better, this makes Aiba laugh.
"Maybe I will!" Aiba agrees, sounding actually intrigued by the idea. He launches into an explanation of wolf grooming and social bonding habits, and Ohno half-listens, watching the sleepy colour of the passing city flash past him. He likes the raw, scratchy sound of Aiba's late-night voice, the way he draws his syllables out.
It's easy between them, Ohno knows, and things just slide together without reason or need for thought. Aiba just reaches out and Ohno accepts it. It's always been like that. He wanders around in the hallway, waiting while Aiba fumbles with his keys and unlocks his apartment door and then they both shuffle into the darkened hallway silently.
Aiba's hand winds around his and Ohno smiles into the darkness. Aiba pins him back against the door, kissing the tip of Ohno's nose like a joke, giggling. Ohno returns the kiss and then another, until they both forget how long they've been standing together, pressed up against the door. Ohno lets himself get lost in the soft noises Aiba makes, the tang of beer on his breath and the ways Aiba's mouth feels wet and warm against his.
Ohno has been over to Aiba's place enough to know where everything is, but it's fun to watch Aiba get all flustered and cute trying to prepare everything - to make sure that they have enough towels, that the condoms and lube are on hand, that the water in the shower is hot enough.
Things slow down even more in the shower, because they both like to take their time and it's so relaxing, so good to just stand leaning into each other under the hot spray, hands and mouths wandering. Ohno tightens his grip around Aiba's waist while Aiba kisses his collarbone. It's slow and gentle, it can only really be called affectionate, Aiba's hands tracing over his skin, the wet kisses and the way they wind together tightly, rock against each other. They both follow each other's lead, both get wrapped up too easily and they don't stop until the water starts running cold.
Aiba slings a towel over his head as Ohno climbs out of the shower and laughs as Ohno paws at it, trying to extract himself. He sounds so bright and cheerful that Ohno laughs too, and pulls Aiba closer for another kiss. His fingers fall onto the bandages on Aiba's arm and he strokes at them, feeling the wetness and texture almost thoughtfully as Aiba moans into his mouth. But the thought easily slides away, because with them it isn't about the day's mistakes or anything past and said.
It's the moment, Ohno thinks, and that's why they work. It's because he can slowly touch, taste and feel and let the seconds brush past like hours, be silent and Aiba understands, Aiba likes it like that, too - slow and warm and meaning everything. Neither of them laugh it off, neither of them pretend that it's anything except what it is.
There are very few places in the world, Ohno knows, that let you just accept things at face value and believe. Here, he can do that. Here, with Aiba, it's okay to let things be serious.
Rating: R
Length: ~2,700 words
Pairing: Ohno/Aiba
Notes: Written for jentfic_remix; A remix of Serious by ferinough. Lots of love to rhythmia, still_ciircee and fluttering for looking this over! ♥
By the way, I am finally, finally, finally on summer hols, so you can expect much more updating and fic posting from me soon.
"'Morning, Leader," Aiba says, still sleepy as he slides into the van, next to Ohno. Ohno smiles, and because it's Aiba, he doesn't mind that Ohno doesn't say anything, doesn't take out his earbuds to try to make conversation. Instead, he lets Aiba leans against his shoulder, enjoying the early morning city rolling past the darkened windows of the van and Aiba's hot puffs of breath against his shoulder as he naps on the way to the studio.
Jun is talking to the staff and Nino and Sho are still on their way when they arrive, so they both slide wordlessly onto the couch in the green room, practically on the same cushion, but not quite. Filming doesn't quite start for another two hours, and Ohno can still feel himself sliding in and out of wakefulness. Aiba must feel the same, because he just grunts and pulls out his DS, boneless against the cushions a few feet from Ohno.
Jun is in and out and looking grumpy and brisk in that self-satisfied way he had when he had Details to take care of. After a few minutes, Ohno hears Aiba click his DS shut and they amicably sit side by side and watch Jun grill the staff for information about the day's guests, his new corner, and how whoever wrote the cue cards last time had really, really terrible writing and could they please get someone on that, because there are some idiots here who have problems reading kanji in the first place, honestly.
"Jun-chan looks so tired," Aiba whispers into Ohno's ear, "I think he's going to fall over if someone pokes him." Ohno 's laugh makes his nose scrunch up, because he's had the experience of trying to visit Jun in his hotel room on tour and nearly tripping over a giant Matsumoto-lump sprawled out across the floor.
"What are you two idiots whispering about?" Jun asks, distractedly stirring his coffee.
"Nothing," Aiba says innocently, "I like your pants today, Jun-chan - they're really tight," he adds, making Jun almost spill his coffee.
Nino and Sho shuffle in around the point where Jun is threatening to hit Aiba and Aiba can't stop giggling because he's now eye-level with Jun's giant skull-shaped belt buckle and he claims that it's smiling at him. Nino makes a beeline for Ohno's lap, shifting and fussing until he's settled, a warm, comfortable weight on Ohno's thighs.
"Jun," Sho says pleadingly. He looks like he's had about three hours of sleep. "Jun, don't kill Aiba. It's still too early." He goes and sits on the arm of the couch, patting Aiba's hair gently.
Aiba leans his head into Sho's hand and smiles smugly, eyes half-slit with pleasure. "Jun-chan loves me."
"Jun-chan is going to smother you with a pillow," Jun mutters, but he only gives Aiba's shin a half-hearted kick and slumps down onto the couch between Aiba and Ohno, nursing his coffee.
"Aiba-san?" Ohno has no idea how their staff manage to look so professional and perky and put-together at any ungodly hour of the morning or night, or what they must make of the five scruffy men slumped over the green room couch in varying states of wakefulness. "You're needed for a second, if you could come with me."
The couch feels somehow emptier once Aiba is gone and Sho drifts off to decide their meal orders for the day. Nino has pulled out his cards, shuffling and re-shuffling and Ohno lets his mind drift. They're filming in the studio this morning, and then going on location in the afternoon, so it will probably be too late to go fishing by the time they're done for the day.
It's such a nice day, too, Ohno thinks a little bit sadly, but it was all right. He doesn't mind that much.
Aiba is grinning ear-to-ear when he enters the room again, bounding back onto the couch and nearly elbowing Nino in the ribs in the process. "Lions," he informs them cheerfully, "Giraffes!"
"They told us we were going to Tama Zoo yesterday, idiot," Nino says, not bothering to look away from his cards.
It makes sense that Aiba is excited, though, because no one had thought that the staff would be interested in the Animal Communication segment that he proposed. Ohno thinks it's a pretty good idea, or at least it will be, if Aiba's leading it.
"I never should have lent you that Dr. Doolittle DVD," Sho sighs. "How does everyone feel about curry for lunch?"
*
It's almost noon by the time they board the bus, so they eat on board. Everyone is finally waking up a little, but things are still pretty quiet, they always are. Nino only picks at his lunch before picking up his DS, leaning against Ohno's side as he eats his curry rice.
Aiba, Sho and Jun were across from them on the other bench seat, Aiba sitting practically in a complacent Sho's lap while he helped Matsujun practice running through his new drama script.
"I'd never leave," Jun read seriously, his voice thrumming with intensity. "Even if the stars move farther apart with time, my heart won't move away from yours, not ever."
"Uwah," Aiba says happily. "When Matusjun says it, my heart just floats."
"Stop being an idiot and read your lines properly," Jun grumbles, but he looks pleased.
"Take me now!" Aiba screeches, and flings himself at Jun, trapping Jun underneath him on the bench seat. There's a brief scuffle before Jun shoves off Aiba off him and makes a reluctant Sho read the girl's part instead.
Aiba pouts, but he's all smiles when he slides onto the seat next to Ohno. "Are you going to finish that?" he asks longingly, looking pointedly at Ohno's lunch.
"He had better," Jun warns, watching Ohno with that half-stern, half-smooshy look he seems to reserve just for him. "Don't you steal his lunch."
"I wasn't trying to!" Aiba protests, but his earnest pouts in Ohno's direction say it all.
Ohno covertly hands over an extra set of chopsticks and they grin at each other before digging in.
*
"The grey wolf communicates primarily through howling, which can either be for communal reasons or a declaration of territory," Aiba reads off the cue cards. He nudges Jun, who looks unhappy at being dragged into the wolf pit for this segment. "Do you think that a wolf will respond if we howl to Love So Sweet?"
"He is so special," Nino mutters into Ohno's shoulder, from where they’re standing outside the enclosure.
"I don't think so," Jun says, in a tone that Ohno knows meant I will seriously kill you if you make me do that on camera.
"Really? I think it will." Aiba faces the nearest wolf. "Let's try it!" He takes a deep breath and starts howling. "WOOOOO-OH, WOOOO-OH."
The wolf eyes Aiba with disdain.
"You're supposed to howl yeaaa-ah, yeah yeah," Aiba says encouragingly to it, crouching on the ground.
"Can't we just leave?" Jun asks desperately.
"Try growling at it," Ohno calls, because it looks like the wolf is trying to ignore Aiba now.
Aiba leans forward and gives a spectacular growl, and -
It all happens too quickly for Ohno to absorb it all, but the wolf snarls and Aiba yells and Jun yanks Aiba back out of the enclosure as the handlers rush in. Then there are staff crowding all around, scolding and soothing and Ohno forgets about the cameras, because Aiba is shaking and white-faced, and his arm is bleeding.
"I'm fine, it's just a scratch," Aiba says, and he's visibly shivering, but he smiles bravely. "I don't think your idea worked, Leader," he adds once Ohno gets close enough to kneel down next to him and check if he's okay.
"You are so stupid," Nino says, slapping Aiba on the shoulder. There's no venom in his tone, though, and Ohno's known Nino long enough to be able to hear the fear and relief and anger that underneath the words. Jun is off talking with the program staff in very low, precise tones. He looks positively murderous and so Ohno sticks close to Aiba while the staff cleans and bandages Aiba's arm.
Sho helps dig supplies out of the first-aid kit, grim-faced. "Masaki, you need to be more careful."
"Sorry." Aiba looks genuinely guilty and a bit embarrassed. He's never really liked people fussing over him, Ohno knows, and he's probably worried that he's disrupted filming because of his stunt.
"It was my fault," Ohno finds himself saying. "I told him to try growling at the wolf."
"He was stupid enough to think it was a good idea," Nino points out.
"No, no." Aiba grabs Ohno's hand, holding him close. "It wasn't your fault at all."
"It doesn't matter, anyways." Jun is back, looking much calmer at having been able to direct his rage at someone. "Aiba is okay, no one is going into the enclosures anymore and we're almost done for the day anyways."
"I'm sorry," Aiba murmurs again, and Jun tsks and pats him roughly on the head.
"There's no need to apologize."
"That's right," Sho says comfortingly. "You're all right, and that's all that matters to us."
Aiba nods, head ducked to hide watery eyes and Ohno squeezes his hand again before letting go, his pinky finger curled tightly around Aiba's thumb.
*
Despite all of the ruckus Aiba's attempt to commune with the wolves caused, they finish filming ahead of schedule, and the sun is only just going down by the time they pile back into the van.
They're all tired, worn out and silent as the road slides past like a dark grey ribbon, slick with evening rain, but it's Aiba who suggests that they all go for drinks and no one says no.
Ohno sits with Aiba and Nino, because Sho is engrossed talking to the show's new cameraman and Jun was getting just drunk enough to start being bossy.
The bar is warm and dimly lit and it makes Ohno feel dozy. He can feel Nino's thigh warm against his under the table, and hear the shuffle of Nino's trump cards, Aiba's giggles.
"- an experiment," Ohno drifts into wakefulness enough to hear Aiba propose, and he opens his eyes just wide enough to see Aiba pointing dramatically at the bar. "How many drinks does it take until Matsujun looks like a woman to you?"
"In that sweater? Water would probably do it." Nino taps his deck against the table to get the cards straightened out together and okay, he has a point, besides being flowy and lavender and having suspicious-looking ruffles around each button, the fuschia-sequined skull surrounded by flowers on the back does nothing to redeem it.
But that isn't the point, and Aiba says so, ordering them another round, so Ohno accepts the drink with little fuss. Aiba lives to try and make everything fun, and Ohno doesn't really mind going along with him, because it usually is fun. He downs the first glass with some difficulty, because Nino is laughing at the way Aiba is seriously concentrating on Jun with every sip.
"I can see boobs!" Aiba announces triumphantly, after his third drink, slamming his drink down on the table.
Ohno thinks it's a sign of how long their staff have been with them that no one even pays attention to that pronouncement.
Things only go downhill from there, because Aiba is so thrilled with his success that he demands Ohno try it on Sho. Nino slides his cards back into his pocket and gives Ohno a smile and solemn handshake before sliding out past him. Nino always leaves early, never really gets smashed like the rest of them. He's also absurdly good at slipping out before getting stuck with the tab.
Aiba is a pretty good drinking buddy, though - especially once they get to the stage where sense doesn't matter and everything is funny. Before long, they're both giggling into the side of the table and Ohno is only vaguely aware of Sho patting him goodbye on the back and warning Aiba to call a taxi.
"Hey," Aiba says, his voice thick and warm, and he's smiling lopsidedly when Ohno turns his head sideways on the table to look at him, his eyelashes curving down towards his cheeks. It's not really a question, but Ohno responds without thinking, brushing his hand against Aiba's thigh under the table. Aiba's eyes are full of heat and he puts his own hand over Ohno's. They should probably, Ohno thinks, go somewhere else.
Aiba drives, because he can and Ohno can't, and because he's tipsy enough to be giggly, but not enough to trip or cry or get overly emotional, and that's good enough for Ohno. He realizes that they probably should call a taxi, but Aiba is a remarkably steady driver, and neither of them really think about it.
"Maybe you'll turn into a wolfman," Ohno says, as they wait at a red light, because he doesn't know how to say we were so worried about you, and this is better, this makes Aiba laugh.
"Maybe I will!" Aiba agrees, sounding actually intrigued by the idea. He launches into an explanation of wolf grooming and social bonding habits, and Ohno half-listens, watching the sleepy colour of the passing city flash past him. He likes the raw, scratchy sound of Aiba's late-night voice, the way he draws his syllables out.
It's easy between them, Ohno knows, and things just slide together without reason or need for thought. Aiba just reaches out and Ohno accepts it. It's always been like that. He wanders around in the hallway, waiting while Aiba fumbles with his keys and unlocks his apartment door and then they both shuffle into the darkened hallway silently.
Aiba's hand winds around his and Ohno smiles into the darkness. Aiba pins him back against the door, kissing the tip of Ohno's nose like a joke, giggling. Ohno returns the kiss and then another, until they both forget how long they've been standing together, pressed up against the door. Ohno lets himself get lost in the soft noises Aiba makes, the tang of beer on his breath and the ways Aiba's mouth feels wet and warm against his.
Ohno has been over to Aiba's place enough to know where everything is, but it's fun to watch Aiba get all flustered and cute trying to prepare everything - to make sure that they have enough towels, that the condoms and lube are on hand, that the water in the shower is hot enough.
Things slow down even more in the shower, because they both like to take their time and it's so relaxing, so good to just stand leaning into each other under the hot spray, hands and mouths wandering. Ohno tightens his grip around Aiba's waist while Aiba kisses his collarbone. It's slow and gentle, it can only really be called affectionate, Aiba's hands tracing over his skin, the wet kisses and the way they wind together tightly, rock against each other. They both follow each other's lead, both get wrapped up too easily and they don't stop until the water starts running cold.
Aiba slings a towel over his head as Ohno climbs out of the shower and laughs as Ohno paws at it, trying to extract himself. He sounds so bright and cheerful that Ohno laughs too, and pulls Aiba closer for another kiss. His fingers fall onto the bandages on Aiba's arm and he strokes at them, feeling the wetness and texture almost thoughtfully as Aiba moans into his mouth. But the thought easily slides away, because with them it isn't about the day's mistakes or anything past and said.
It's the moment, Ohno thinks, and that's why they work. It's because he can slowly touch, taste and feel and let the seconds brush past like hours, be silent and Aiba understands, Aiba likes it like that, too - slow and warm and meaning everything. Neither of them laugh it off, neither of them pretend that it's anything except what it is.
There are very few places in the world, Ohno knows, that let you just accept things at face value and believe. Here, he can do that. Here, with Aiba, it's okay to let things be serious.