Ficlet 2
Dye, Tezuka and Ryoma, G, ~ 700 words. It's crack and really random, far off from the original idea.
‘Momo-senpai.’ Ryoma looks hopeful from underneath his cap.
‘Wh’t a it?’ ‘First you swallow and then talk, moron.’ Kaidoh supplies.
Momo quickly does so, the lump almost sticking in his throat. Not everyone can eat two burgers at once, Ryoma thinks.
‘What did you say? What was that mamushi?’ And there they go again.
‘But...’Ryoma tries which is a lost battle.
‘What is it? What is it, Ochibi?’ Eiji seizes him in a bear hug.
‘That hurts!’ Ryoma utters under his breath. ‘Kikumaru-senpai.’
‘Mou, Ochibi is so ungrateful.’ Ryoma is already turning an unhealthy shade of blue.
Someone rescues him from Eiji by tickling the said senpai. He takes a sharp intake of breath. Fuji-senpais smiling at him from the nearest seat to his right.
‘Echizen-kun’ he says , his tone implying that he knows exactly what Ryoma was about to ask.
‘Thanks, Fuji-senpai.’ He will have to embarrass himself further.
‘Fuji. Fuji-senpai. Senpai.’ the other regulars acknowledge. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Oh, Eiji, Momo, Kaidoh, you are all here.’ He smiles. ‘I wanted to try the French fries from Mc Donald’s for once.’ Obviously a lie, Ryoma considers there is no trace of wasabi in here.
‘So what do you want to know?’ he addresses Ryoma.
Team with sadist or remain in the shadow, huh? Fine. Like I care who’ll tell me.
‘Does buchou have a favorite color?’ He almost wants to take it back when he sees blue eyes laughing at him knowingly.
‘Tezuka’s favorite color?’Fuji gives him a thoughtful glance for a moment.
‘Right, what is it?’
‘I know, I know.’ Eiji jumps in help.
A pierced looks shuts him instantly.
In that moment, Fuji puts a hand on his shoulder and drags him out of the place, bowing his own head as if to whisper the answers to all the questions in the world. Ryoma tries to yank away, to no avail. The other regulars stare in shock at the exit.
‘Let me go!’ Ryoma attempts to duck out of the grip.
‘Shh.'
Echizen-kun what do I get in return?’
Ryoma eyes him suspiciously. ‘I’m sure Oishi-senpai will tell me.’
Fuji seems to pause for a second. ‘Hmm, I’m sure he will. Then again, you need this information until tomorrow, right?’ 7 October,Tezuka buchou’s birthday.
‘Che, what do you want?’ Fuji broadly smiles at him. ‘That is what you have to do...’
**
At exactly 8 a.m. Ryoma stands in front of Tezuka’s house. He knocks faintly three times. He curses Fuji-senpai’s luck. Tezuka’s is the one who answers, of course. Neither of them says anything for a few minutes.
‘Happy birthday, buchou.’ Ryoma looks up avidly to see if Tezuka likes his gift, today he doesn’t wear his cap.
‘Your hair.’
Ryoma grins. ‘Do you like it?’
‘No, Echizen.’ Tezuka doesn’t elaborate why.
‘Isn’t lavender your color?’ Ryoma inquires not so sure of himself anymore.
‘Is it permanent?’ Tezuka wants to know, a brow rose. ‘Of course not. It’s just a stupid shampoo. It will go away after I wash it.’
Tezuka takes his hand and closes the door behind. In seconds they are past stairs, across Tezuka’s bedroom, in the bathroom. Tezuka puts his hand gently on the middle of his back, sending pleasant shivers through Ryoma, and bends him over the bath tub, hot water gushing over his head, rinsing the color away. Tezuka’s fingers are massaging his scalp and he almost gasps. Tezuka dries his hair with a towel, with the same carefulness he ties his shoe laces or brushes his teeth.
He invites Ryoma outside in the garden so that his hair will dry in the breeze. They take a seat near the pond.
They are close enough, but not touching. Tezuka’s hand brushes the wet locks out of his eyes. They look at each other. Ryoma’s gaze questioning and longing. They reach an argument. Ryoma leans his head on Tezuka’s lap. The long fingers run through his hair again. Ryoma suppresses a smile.
‘Do you like your gift?’ Ryoma locks his eyes with Tezuka’s.
Hazel dissolves in gold, and there is a smile in the depth of both.
‘Yes.’
Black-green hair feels softer to the touch. And Tezuka concludes that he likes Ryoma’s colors.