[One-shot] Contemplate the Rubber Duck
Contemplate the Rubber Duck
MA/THEY - Yara/Yamaryo (mentions of Butoukan and other THEY peoples)
1104 words, PG
Yamamoto's been chasing after Yara for years.
So I wrote this over a year ago but I always meant to make it more. But due to recent happenings and stuff... well, it's now kind of dated. I poked it around a bit and all, but still. (I have hit over 100 wips and figured I should work on really trying to get rid of some.)
Yamamoto knew that he'd been titled as a (major) fanboy. An adoring puppy trailing after its favorite owner with eternal high hopes.
He was also well aware that he (really) deserved that title.
~
It had always been Yara, really. He couldn't remember the first moment - he must have been watching Musical Academy do something - but suddenly Yara Tomoyuki had appeared in his life, impossibly unobtainable and unbeatable.
Then Butoukan happened.
Yamamoto had been elated to be selected out of all the Juniors who'd 'auditioned' for Takki, proud of the fact that his skills set him apart enough to be noticed. He'd been so nervous, wanting to continue to impress Takki, despite the fact that everyone knew that Senga was Takki's soft spot in this strange unit he'd formed.
(Yamamoto wasn't sure what to think about actually being in a group with Senga. He supposed he would have been more comfortable with Tamamori, but Tamamori's dance was like an octopus. But again, they had Bun-chan and Yamamoto supposed that if they could have an alien, an octopus wouldn't have been so far out.)
Senga's antics annoyed Yamamoto at first. He was so shameless about kissing up to Yara and before the introductions were over, Yamamoto had resisted the urge to brain him exactly five times over, the sixth one being narrowly prevented by Tsukada's pants slipping down six inches.
The seventh time actually happened but Yamamoto innocently apologized for tripping over his shoelaces.
The way Yara squinted at him, his lips stuck right on the line between a smile and a frown, Yamamoto was sure that his little excuse hadn't been passed off so easily, but Yara didn't say anything and the dance practice continued. But he could feel the man’s eyes on him, watching him through the mirror as the day continued.
He wasn't sure when he decided to challenge Yara's skills. It might have been right when he stood up to introduce himself as part of Butoukan for the first time, the three seconds of focus causing the words to come tumbling out, sounding surprisingly clear despite the fact that he wasn't quite sure what he was saying in the first place.
Most were surprised that he had the audacity to say it.
Yamamoto was surprised because he actually meant it.
(Yara, for what it was worth, didn't even bat an eye. He smiled and Yamamoto's stomach did a special little Tsuka-flip.)
Working so closely with Yara had changed things. Yamamoto wasn't used to feeling like he was constantly having to catch up and never quite managing it when Yara was concerned. He was hardly consoled by the knowledge that the other three struggled with it as well. Not even Bun-chan's lack of backflipping would console him.
“I should be better than this!” he indignantly told the dressing room mirror as they got hair and makeup ready.
Yara passed by, lightly knocking him over the head. “And why aren't you?”
But it was okay because Yara stayed late that day with him, running through the routine again and again until Ryouta could have done it blindfolded (and almost did) and Yara was smiling in satisfaction.
“Good work, kid,” he said, ruffling Yamamoto’s hair.
(Three days later, he and Yara got matching necklaces along with Tatsumi. Yamamoto was consoled by the fact that Yara thought he was a cute little brother and Senga was a Sweaty Gorilla.)
The transition to THEY Budou was a strange one. He was happy to be working with Eda, Hayashi, and Takahashi. Yara was often with them, but it turned out less stressful because the others were more willing to cover Yamamoto's ass rather than just point and laugh.
But Yamamoto ended up missing Butoukan's emphasis on individuality. Not that THEY weren't unique, but it felt like Yara scolded him more when he didn't do the move exactly right and in sync with the others, which was hard with how precise Takahashi turned out to be.
“I am doing it right!” Yamamoto insisted hotly, stamping his foot in annoyance after what felt like the fifteenth reprimand of the hour.
Yara reached out, smacking Yamamoto's ass. “I thought you were serious about wanting to surpass me.”
Nobody made any comments about how useless Yamamoto was for the rest of the day.
(Yamamoto was, admittedly, befuddled for hours afterward, thoughts filled with everything from determination to win and the more frenzied Yara touched my butt . He was pretty sure it was a good thing nobody could hear his thoughts and his self-respect severely plummeted after that.)
In the end, Yara wass Yara and Yamamoto knew he still had a lifetime before he beat him at dancing. But all the little moments added up and they were what Yamamoto found himself loving.
Like when Yara called him 'Ryouta' or when Yara's eyes crinkled with a smile when Yamamoto used 'Yaracchi'.
The time that Yara blew him a kiss during curtain calls or when Yara took him shopping and bought him ice cream, or calling him cute, or introducing him to his street-dancing group as 'my cute little brother'.
(Or maybe it was just Yara himself.)
It's been a few years and Yamamoto's grown up and changed. His hair is no longer a strange mess of brown, instead it's normally sleek and commonly blond. He's gotten a little taller (than Yara) and has muscles instead of looking like a stick. Butoukan resurfaces every now and then and THEY is really busy. Yamamoto's actually had to speak in character and his group gets handed off to Takki and Tsubasa for periods of time.
He doesn't bother hiding the fact that he gets jealous when ABC-Z dances with Yara all the time, but he knows it's okay in the end. Because whenever there's a lull of activity, Yara's always there, watching THEY rehearse.
Watching him.
It makes him straighten his shoulders and hold his head up higher. Dance is still his one true passion and he pours himself into it.
He wonders if dance is what makes him chase after Yara. The eternal challenge to push himself and reach the top, to prove to Yara that he can make it. It's maddening at times, but Yamamoto's sometimes considered a masochist and ends up enjoying every moment of torment, turning his failures into a springboard of desperation to keep up with Yara.
It's all worth it in the end, because Yara looks straight into his eyes and smiles.
(Yamamoto decides that he chases after Yara for no other reason than he's Yara and some things are just meant to be the way they are.)
MA/THEY - Yara/Yamaryo (mentions of Butoukan and other THEY peoples)
1104 words, PG
Yamamoto's been chasing after Yara for years.
So I wrote this over a year ago but I always meant to make it more. But due to recent happenings and stuff... well, it's now kind of dated. I poked it around a bit and all, but still. (I have hit over 100 wips and figured I should work on really trying to get rid of some.)
Yamamoto knew that he'd been titled as a (major) fanboy. An adoring puppy trailing after its favorite owner with eternal high hopes.
He was also well aware that he (really) deserved that title.
~
It had always been Yara, really. He couldn't remember the first moment - he must have been watching Musical Academy do something - but suddenly Yara Tomoyuki had appeared in his life, impossibly unobtainable and unbeatable.
Then Butoukan happened.
Yamamoto had been elated to be selected out of all the Juniors who'd 'auditioned' for Takki, proud of the fact that his skills set him apart enough to be noticed. He'd been so nervous, wanting to continue to impress Takki, despite the fact that everyone knew that Senga was Takki's soft spot in this strange unit he'd formed.
(Yamamoto wasn't sure what to think about actually being in a group with Senga. He supposed he would have been more comfortable with Tamamori, but Tamamori's dance was like an octopus. But again, they had Bun-chan and Yamamoto supposed that if they could have an alien, an octopus wouldn't have been so far out.)
Senga's antics annoyed Yamamoto at first. He was so shameless about kissing up to Yara and before the introductions were over, Yamamoto had resisted the urge to brain him exactly five times over, the sixth one being narrowly prevented by Tsukada's pants slipping down six inches.
The seventh time actually happened but Yamamoto innocently apologized for tripping over his shoelaces.
The way Yara squinted at him, his lips stuck right on the line between a smile and a frown, Yamamoto was sure that his little excuse hadn't been passed off so easily, but Yara didn't say anything and the dance practice continued. But he could feel the man’s eyes on him, watching him through the mirror as the day continued.
He wasn't sure when he decided to challenge Yara's skills. It might have been right when he stood up to introduce himself as part of Butoukan for the first time, the three seconds of focus causing the words to come tumbling out, sounding surprisingly clear despite the fact that he wasn't quite sure what he was saying in the first place.
Most were surprised that he had the audacity to say it.
Yamamoto was surprised because he actually meant it.
(Yara, for what it was worth, didn't even bat an eye. He smiled and Yamamoto's stomach did a special little Tsuka-flip.)
Working so closely with Yara had changed things. Yamamoto wasn't used to feeling like he was constantly having to catch up and never quite managing it when Yara was concerned. He was hardly consoled by the knowledge that the other three struggled with it as well. Not even Bun-chan's lack of backflipping would console him.
“I should be better than this!” he indignantly told the dressing room mirror as they got hair and makeup ready.
Yara passed by, lightly knocking him over the head. “And why aren't you?”
But it was okay because Yara stayed late that day with him, running through the routine again and again until Ryouta could have done it blindfolded (and almost did) and Yara was smiling in satisfaction.
“Good work, kid,” he said, ruffling Yamamoto’s hair.
(Three days later, he and Yara got matching necklaces along with Tatsumi. Yamamoto was consoled by the fact that Yara thought he was a cute little brother and Senga was a Sweaty Gorilla.)
The transition to THEY Budou was a strange one. He was happy to be working with Eda, Hayashi, and Takahashi. Yara was often with them, but it turned out less stressful because the others were more willing to cover Yamamoto's ass rather than just point and laugh.
But Yamamoto ended up missing Butoukan's emphasis on individuality. Not that THEY weren't unique, but it felt like Yara scolded him more when he didn't do the move exactly right and in sync with the others, which was hard with how precise Takahashi turned out to be.
“I am doing it right!” Yamamoto insisted hotly, stamping his foot in annoyance after what felt like the fifteenth reprimand of the hour.
Yara reached out, smacking Yamamoto's ass. “I thought you were serious about wanting to surpass me.”
Nobody made any comments about how useless Yamamoto was for the rest of the day.
(Yamamoto was, admittedly, befuddled for hours afterward, thoughts filled with everything from determination to win and the more frenzied Yara touched my butt . He was pretty sure it was a good thing nobody could hear his thoughts and his self-respect severely plummeted after that.)
In the end, Yara wass Yara and Yamamoto knew he still had a lifetime before he beat him at dancing. But all the little moments added up and they were what Yamamoto found himself loving.
Like when Yara called him 'Ryouta' or when Yara's eyes crinkled with a smile when Yamamoto used 'Yaracchi'.
The time that Yara blew him a kiss during curtain calls or when Yara took him shopping and bought him ice cream, or calling him cute, or introducing him to his street-dancing group as 'my cute little brother'.
(Or maybe it was just Yara himself.)
It's been a few years and Yamamoto's grown up and changed. His hair is no longer a strange mess of brown, instead it's normally sleek and commonly blond. He's gotten a little taller (than Yara) and has muscles instead of looking like a stick. Butoukan resurfaces every now and then and THEY is really busy. Yamamoto's actually had to speak in character and his group gets handed off to Takki and Tsubasa for periods of time.
He doesn't bother hiding the fact that he gets jealous when ABC-Z dances with Yara all the time, but he knows it's okay in the end. Because whenever there's a lull of activity, Yara's always there, watching THEY rehearse.
Watching him.
It makes him straighten his shoulders and hold his head up higher. Dance is still his one true passion and he pours himself into it.
He wonders if dance is what makes him chase after Yara. The eternal challenge to push himself and reach the top, to prove to Yara that he can make it. It's maddening at times, but Yamamoto's sometimes considered a masochist and ends up enjoying every moment of torment, turning his failures into a springboard of desperation to keep up with Yara.
It's all worth it in the end, because Yara looks straight into his eyes and smiles.
(Yamamoto decides that he chases after Yara for no other reason than he's Yara and some things are just meant to be the way they are.)