[FIC] "Deceit," NiouYuki, PG-13
yup, this was my bday gift to yuki. everyone else (including konomi-sensei YEAH!) is doing an excellent job with the SanaYuki, i won't be tainting the sweetness ;) i still want to comment left and right, though, so...nobody go away, okay?
Deceit
by MorphailEffect
Sometimes he came to visit Yukimura in the hospital alone. He never told anyone, but it was just one of the many things he did that no one else needed to know about.
What he did was bring Yukimura's notes over, then proceed to stay longer than planned, doing impressions and generally amusing the other boy, bringing his busy mind to pleasant things. It was a fulfilling pastime for the trickster.
Also, sometimes, he was here instead of practice. But it never seemed like a big deal.
"Don't worry...if Sanada gives you trouble, tell him I made you stick around. He'll call here to confirm, but I can deal with him."
Niou smirked. "You just can't beat diplomacy, huh?"
Yukimura smiled at Niou, and Niou imagined he never smiled like that at anyone else, not even anyone in his team.
"Words get where punches won't. I've been trying to tell Sanada that, but he isn't the easiest person to convince..."
It also seemed he spoke more around Niou, than around anyone else -- it made Niou forget it was a sin to feel so special. He couldn't help but feel special in front of those eyes, which hid so much intelligence behind so much warmth.
"Like those oranges," Yukimura said, gesturing with a nod to the fruit Niou was peeling. "I just mentioned to one of the nurses that I liked oranges, especially...and she brought me some from her parents' shop. Would she have brought me anything at all if I'd, say, bullied her?"
"How would you know? Seems she likes you."
"Heh, like a little brother," Yukimura answered cheerfully. "She said so herself."
"...Well, you have that effect on people," Niou stated blandly. It was a matter of fact. "You make 'em want to give you oranges, and stuff..."
Yukimura smoothed the blankets over his lap. "She also said she could tell that my team is a team of winners. Everyone looks tough and smart. Like they aren't middle schoolers."
Niou looked up. "Really? Even the nasty kid with the curly hair?"
A chuckle. "No exceptions. I made her guess who among the team was the smartest. She said the boy with closed eyes."
"They all say that." Niou snorted. "Yanagi has the look."
Yukimura nodded. "I set her straight, though."
"Eh?"
"I told her the truth."
Niou looked away, embarrased already. Yukimura tended to be liberal with praise, and it was useless to change the subject while he was going on about it. Yukimura would only tease him for being bashful.
" 'The truth is, it's the boy with the ponytail, and the mole on his chin. He has the highest IQ in our year level in school.' "
Niou made a face.
"That test was a fluke...I only took it once..."
"That once was enough. You've proven it accurate, lots of times."
He'd finished peeling the orange. He reached out to hand one slice to Yukimura. The gesture was in every way innocent...
But Yukimura's fingers touched his, ever so lightly, as he reached out to receive.
Niou fought the burning in his chest, feeling like no one else was worthy of a smile like that.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
This is a boring world.
I don't know how you can stand to be here.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
As the end of visiting hours approached, they ran out of things to say. It happened every time, that silence which bordered on uncomfortable. It was strange, and silly in a way, because they had known each other since they were first years, and could always talk about anything...
Today, Yukimura had something new to break the silence with.
"I'm scared. And it shows, doesn't it?"
It didn't. But that wasn't what his friend needed to hear.
"You don't have to be scared. We're here for you."
Yukimura avoided his gaze. "I know...I know you all try not to leave me alone. But you won't be with me when they take me in for surgery, will you?"
There was nothing to say to that. Niou only had an inkling of how serious Yukimura's illness really was, but he imagined it was pretty bad, for him -- the captain, their leader, brave Seiichi -- to be afraid...
"I want you to know something. You can keep a secret, can't you...?"
Niou nodded without hesitation. All his wariness lay beneath the surface.
"I think about one person...and I feel better." Yukimura's hands played with the blankets, clenching and unclenching nervously. "I used to look forward to seeing this person everyday. Now I don't see him as much as I want, even if he comes to visit me as often as he can...and I get scared. His absence makes me scared." Still avoiding Niou's eyes. "It makes me weak. And if anyone else knew..."
Niou swallowed. His heart had started to beat again, loud and slow.
"What? Afraid we'll disown you?" Niou let out a light chuckle. Everything was fine. "That won't happen."
But Yukimura didn't even smile. He looked up at Niou with those eyes, piercing through his disguises. Utterly serious, utterly in control.
"...I trust you, Masaharu."
Niou couldn't free himself. Thankfully, someone knocked, breaking the spell. The door opened wide without any real hurry.
"Excuse me," a mechanically sweet voice intruding, "but I'm afraid visiting hours are over."
Niou nodded and stood to leave. But before anything else, he reached out tentatively and laid his palm against Yukimura's cheek.
Yukimura closed his eyes, but did not pull away. And, if Niou perceived correctly, even leaned against that touch.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I need to know who that person is.
What do you expect?
Someone with my mind...what do you think I should do with it?
In a way, I already know...but I need to hear it from you.
I don't know how you make me feel this way. It's driving me insane.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Niou had left the room like an obedient young man.
But he was back in that room late that night, when the lights were out and everyone else had gone.
There were ways to get in and out of that hospital: Niou had taken their time exploring them. Now was as good a time as any to apply what he'd learned.
There were also ways to get in and out of the room Yukimura Seiichi was staying in, without making a sound.
He leaned over the bed carefully. Planted his hands and knees on either side of the boy on the bed. Gently he turned the sleeping face towards him.
Niou's eyes, grown used to the darkness, bathed in perfection.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
You're making it much too easy for me to guess what's in your head.
You want me to sit down and be quiet.
You expect me to be like everyone else.
You believe I'll be too 'bashful' to want to find out for myself.
I'll break down everything you think.
Everyone needs to be proven wrong, once in a while.
I don't have to feel it.
It just has to happen.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
They had probably given Yukimura something to help him sleep. Otherwise he would have woken up when Niou parted his lips with a feather-light slide of his thumb.
Niou waited for a second, listening for a change to Yukimura's breathing pattern. There was none.
Satisfied, he leaned down and touched their lips together.
Yukimura's lips were soft beneath the curious taste of medicine. Niou explored the newness with his tongue, growing less cautious by the moment.
Most of the thrill came from the thought that Yukimura could wake up at any time, and kill him. Or someone could open the door...
The trickster didn't mind. His night revolved around waiting for a single reaction.
Yes. There.
Yukimura's lips were moving against his. He was mostly still asleep, it must have been sheer impulse. Yukimura's hands twitched restlessly on top of the blankets.
Not caring now, Niou pushed his tongue in. Yukimura stiffened and moaned. Niou broke off for a second. Covered Yukimura's eyes with one hand.
As automatically as before, Yukimura reached up and touched his fingertips to the back of Niou's hand. But made no move to try and remove it.
It was only his body asking what was going on.
"Ssh," Niou murmured. Yukimura's hand drifted back down to his side, reluctant but steady.
Niou kissed him again.
Yukimura kissed back, at first hesitantly, then hungrily, his hands running up and down Niou's back, fingers twining and getting tangled in his wild hair.
When Niou took his hand from Yukimura's eyes, he saw the other boy's eyes were still shut. His breathing had become loud, labored, and Niou imagined he could see the deep flush on his pale cheeks...
Still unconscious. Those drugs were pretty powerful. Would come in useful later if he knew what they were, Niou supposed...but right now he meant to take full advantage.
He dipped his head. He was about to start nuzzling the other boy's neck, when he felt his head pulled close, gently, and he felt a smooth, fevered cheek press lightly against his.
Close to his ear, those luscious lips whispered "Genichirou..."
And suddenly Niou's hands refused to move. His breath refused to leave his throat.
But I thought --
Niou forced himself to think clearly. Then he said, in a low, ragged whisper "Seiichi. I'm here. Don't be scared."
As far as he could tell, he got the voice down right. It wasn't like Sanada had ever whispered in Niou's presence. Would Yukimura notice?
The perfect lips curved into an delicate smile. Yukimura breathed a tiny relieved sigh. And so did Niou. His impression had passed.
He moved carefully so as to lay himself down on the bed, beside Yukimura. He had to be slow, or he would be breaking Yukimura's embrace; he felt that once and for all, that would wake Yukimura, and end everything.
Once comfortable, he drew Yukimura to him. He had no idea how Sanada would hold Yukimura in bed, but he imagined it wouldn't be close -- yes, Yukimura's forehead touching his chin, the boy's contented breathing brushing against his neck and under his collar: this would be close enough.
Yukimura eased himself into sleep again in Niou's arms, light and warm as Niou had always imagined he would be.
Niou didn't have to leave right away. He could lie here for a moment, softly stroking his friend's hair, wearing that bitter and admiring smile Yukimura couldn't see.
I can keep my own secrets. You almost had me fooled.
Deceit
by MorphailEffect
Sometimes he came to visit Yukimura in the hospital alone. He never told anyone, but it was just one of the many things he did that no one else needed to know about.
What he did was bring Yukimura's notes over, then proceed to stay longer than planned, doing impressions and generally amusing the other boy, bringing his busy mind to pleasant things. It was a fulfilling pastime for the trickster.
Also, sometimes, he was here instead of practice. But it never seemed like a big deal.
"Don't worry...if Sanada gives you trouble, tell him I made you stick around. He'll call here to confirm, but I can deal with him."
Niou smirked. "You just can't beat diplomacy, huh?"
Yukimura smiled at Niou, and Niou imagined he never smiled like that at anyone else, not even anyone in his team.
"Words get where punches won't. I've been trying to tell Sanada that, but he isn't the easiest person to convince..."
It also seemed he spoke more around Niou, than around anyone else -- it made Niou forget it was a sin to feel so special. He couldn't help but feel special in front of those eyes, which hid so much intelligence behind so much warmth.
"Like those oranges," Yukimura said, gesturing with a nod to the fruit Niou was peeling. "I just mentioned to one of the nurses that I liked oranges, especially...and she brought me some from her parents' shop. Would she have brought me anything at all if I'd, say, bullied her?"
"How would you know? Seems she likes you."
"Heh, like a little brother," Yukimura answered cheerfully. "She said so herself."
"...Well, you have that effect on people," Niou stated blandly. It was a matter of fact. "You make 'em want to give you oranges, and stuff..."
Yukimura smoothed the blankets over his lap. "She also said she could tell that my team is a team of winners. Everyone looks tough and smart. Like they aren't middle schoolers."
Niou looked up. "Really? Even the nasty kid with the curly hair?"
A chuckle. "No exceptions. I made her guess who among the team was the smartest. She said the boy with closed eyes."
"They all say that." Niou snorted. "Yanagi has the look."
Yukimura nodded. "I set her straight, though."
"Eh?"
"I told her the truth."
Niou looked away, embarrased already. Yukimura tended to be liberal with praise, and it was useless to change the subject while he was going on about it. Yukimura would only tease him for being bashful.
" 'The truth is, it's the boy with the ponytail, and the mole on his chin. He has the highest IQ in our year level in school.' "
Niou made a face.
"That test was a fluke...I only took it once..."
"That once was enough. You've proven it accurate, lots of times."
He'd finished peeling the orange. He reached out to hand one slice to Yukimura. The gesture was in every way innocent...
But Yukimura's fingers touched his, ever so lightly, as he reached out to receive.
Niou fought the burning in his chest, feeling like no one else was worthy of a smile like that.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
This is a boring world.
I don't know how you can stand to be here.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
As the end of visiting hours approached, they ran out of things to say. It happened every time, that silence which bordered on uncomfortable. It was strange, and silly in a way, because they had known each other since they were first years, and could always talk about anything...
Today, Yukimura had something new to break the silence with.
"I'm scared. And it shows, doesn't it?"
It didn't. But that wasn't what his friend needed to hear.
"You don't have to be scared. We're here for you."
Yukimura avoided his gaze. "I know...I know you all try not to leave me alone. But you won't be with me when they take me in for surgery, will you?"
There was nothing to say to that. Niou only had an inkling of how serious Yukimura's illness really was, but he imagined it was pretty bad, for him -- the captain, their leader, brave Seiichi -- to be afraid...
"I want you to know something. You can keep a secret, can't you...?"
Niou nodded without hesitation. All his wariness lay beneath the surface.
"I think about one person...and I feel better." Yukimura's hands played with the blankets, clenching and unclenching nervously. "I used to look forward to seeing this person everyday. Now I don't see him as much as I want, even if he comes to visit me as often as he can...and I get scared. His absence makes me scared." Still avoiding Niou's eyes. "It makes me weak. And if anyone else knew..."
Niou swallowed. His heart had started to beat again, loud and slow.
"What? Afraid we'll disown you?" Niou let out a light chuckle. Everything was fine. "That won't happen."
But Yukimura didn't even smile. He looked up at Niou with those eyes, piercing through his disguises. Utterly serious, utterly in control.
"...I trust you, Masaharu."
Niou couldn't free himself. Thankfully, someone knocked, breaking the spell. The door opened wide without any real hurry.
"Excuse me," a mechanically sweet voice intruding, "but I'm afraid visiting hours are over."
Niou nodded and stood to leave. But before anything else, he reached out tentatively and laid his palm against Yukimura's cheek.
Yukimura closed his eyes, but did not pull away. And, if Niou perceived correctly, even leaned against that touch.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I need to know who that person is.
What do you expect?
Someone with my mind...what do you think I should do with it?
In a way, I already know...but I need to hear it from you.
I don't know how you make me feel this way. It's driving me insane.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Niou had left the room like an obedient young man.
But he was back in that room late that night, when the lights were out and everyone else had gone.
There were ways to get in and out of that hospital: Niou had taken their time exploring them. Now was as good a time as any to apply what he'd learned.
There were also ways to get in and out of the room Yukimura Seiichi was staying in, without making a sound.
He leaned over the bed carefully. Planted his hands and knees on either side of the boy on the bed. Gently he turned the sleeping face towards him.
Niou's eyes, grown used to the darkness, bathed in perfection.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
You're making it much too easy for me to guess what's in your head.
You want me to sit down and be quiet.
You expect me to be like everyone else.
You believe I'll be too 'bashful' to want to find out for myself.
I'll break down everything you think.
Everyone needs to be proven wrong, once in a while.
I don't have to feel it.
It just has to happen.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
They had probably given Yukimura something to help him sleep. Otherwise he would have woken up when Niou parted his lips with a feather-light slide of his thumb.
Niou waited for a second, listening for a change to Yukimura's breathing pattern. There was none.
Satisfied, he leaned down and touched their lips together.
Yukimura's lips were soft beneath the curious taste of medicine. Niou explored the newness with his tongue, growing less cautious by the moment.
Most of the thrill came from the thought that Yukimura could wake up at any time, and kill him. Or someone could open the door...
The trickster didn't mind. His night revolved around waiting for a single reaction.
Yes. There.
Yukimura's lips were moving against his. He was mostly still asleep, it must have been sheer impulse. Yukimura's hands twitched restlessly on top of the blankets.
Not caring now, Niou pushed his tongue in. Yukimura stiffened and moaned. Niou broke off for a second. Covered Yukimura's eyes with one hand.
As automatically as before, Yukimura reached up and touched his fingertips to the back of Niou's hand. But made no move to try and remove it.
It was only his body asking what was going on.
"Ssh," Niou murmured. Yukimura's hand drifted back down to his side, reluctant but steady.
Niou kissed him again.
Yukimura kissed back, at first hesitantly, then hungrily, his hands running up and down Niou's back, fingers twining and getting tangled in his wild hair.
When Niou took his hand from Yukimura's eyes, he saw the other boy's eyes were still shut. His breathing had become loud, labored, and Niou imagined he could see the deep flush on his pale cheeks...
Still unconscious. Those drugs were pretty powerful. Would come in useful later if he knew what they were, Niou supposed...but right now he meant to take full advantage.
He dipped his head. He was about to start nuzzling the other boy's neck, when he felt his head pulled close, gently, and he felt a smooth, fevered cheek press lightly against his.
Close to his ear, those luscious lips whispered "Genichirou..."
And suddenly Niou's hands refused to move. His breath refused to leave his throat.
But I thought --
Niou forced himself to think clearly. Then he said, in a low, ragged whisper "Seiichi. I'm here. Don't be scared."
As far as he could tell, he got the voice down right. It wasn't like Sanada had ever whispered in Niou's presence. Would Yukimura notice?
The perfect lips curved into an delicate smile. Yukimura breathed a tiny relieved sigh. And so did Niou. His impression had passed.
He moved carefully so as to lay himself down on the bed, beside Yukimura. He had to be slow, or he would be breaking Yukimura's embrace; he felt that once and for all, that would wake Yukimura, and end everything.
Once comfortable, he drew Yukimura to him. He had no idea how Sanada would hold Yukimura in bed, but he imagined it wouldn't be close -- yes, Yukimura's forehead touching his chin, the boy's contented breathing brushing against his neck and under his collar: this would be close enough.
Yukimura eased himself into sleep again in Niou's arms, light and warm as Niou had always imagined he would be.
Niou didn't have to leave right away. He could lie here for a moment, softly stroking his friend's hair, wearing that bitter and admiring smile Yukimura couldn't see.
I can keep my own secrets. You almost had me fooled.