Paint, Film, and Stuffed Animals
Title: Paint, Film, and Stuffed Animals
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Aiba/Ohno, Jun/Sho, Touma/Nino
Genre: Romance, AU
Chapter: eleven/final
Disclaimer: I guess Johnny’s technically owns Arashi, huh? Not me.
Summary: Aiba becomes interested in Ohno, a recently popular artist, but it’s difficult to get a boyfriend when you have a kid…Everyone seems to think you’re straight.
Chapter one
Chapter two
Chapter three
Chapter four
Chapter five
Chapter six
Chapter seven
Chapter eight
Chapter nine
Chapter ten
Jun kept his promise and was on the scene in mere moments, and of course Sho was with him. The pair burst into the house together despite the policeman trying to stop them and immediately interrupted the interrogation that had already started.
After a few quick words, they reached an agreement between the policeman, Aiba, and Jun, which was that Ohno and Koharu would be taken to Jun’s car to wait until they could leave. As expected, the manager accompanied them, and Sho stayed behind to support his friend while he recalled what details he could of the attack the night before.
Aiba, clad in only his usual white dress shirt, since he’d given his sweater to Ohno not even two minutes earlier, did what needed to be done, leaving a statement and showing where he had been held overnight and where he had found Ohno, and he was relieved to find that his kidnapper had already been detained and taken somewhere else when they finally got to that part.
Nino and Touma came by the time Aiba and the chief inspector had made it back to the entryway, getting the search done with as quickly as possible. Touma’s car was stopped behind Jun’s own hulking one, which was parked mostly on the manicured lawn, a bush crushed in the wake of the vehicles.
The two of them ran to Jun’s car first, hysterical. Together they rushed Koharu, Nino patting her head while Touma pulled her into a half-hug, and then Ohno similarly, both gushing that they were so worried when they’d heard, and then still simultaneously, ran into the house to do the same to Aiba. Of course they were stopped by an officer before they had completely made it to him, but Touma flashed his own detective badge once and then began shooting off questions of his own while Nino snuck past them to embrace his long-time friend, who gratefully accepted the affection.
Somewhere along the way Kame and Yamapi heard about the situation as well, but they were much more useful when they showed up, since it turned out that Yamapi happened to be a prosecuting lawyer. Although at their last meeting he had been spouting criticism of Aiba’s and Ohno’s private lives, now he was over protective and flustered, throwing around his title before he had even approached the appropriate group.
Thankfully Jun had quickly returned to the scene and interrupted the disorder that had unfolded, insisting that Aiba needed to go to a hospital with the others as soon as possible. Yamapi asked a few questions of his own before the photographer could be pulled away, promising that he would do as much as he could, and with his head spinning, Aiba found himself in the backseat of Jun’s SUV, Koharu in the middle next to Ohno. Her tears had dried and she looked exhausted. The artist was in a similar state, shivering in the oversized sweater and trying to look calm despite the fact that his boyfriend knew he wasn’t.
Because of that, Aiba wouldn’t let them be separated when they reached the hospital, even if it would be faster. He would go with Koharu and Ohno together or he wouldn’t go at all.
But Jun ended up doing most of the talking anyway (and it took very little convincing of the hospital staff once the situation was explained), and the father simply held Koharu in one arm while the other grasped tightly onto his boyfriend’s hand. Even though people in the waiting room were staring at them, Aiba ignored their looks and concentrated mostly on Ohno’s evident introversion.
They were led to an empty room, and the group sat down on the starched bed as they were, the photographer with his daughter in his lap, tightly holding hands with the artist while Jun, Sho, and Nino paced around the room at varying speeds and with overlapping conversation. The most prominent words were Nino’s promises for annihilating the man that did this to his best friends and Jun’s threats of legal repercussions, which were too filled with jargon to understand.
When the doctor came in they all fell silent, and after a deep sigh, he asked for a moment alone with the trio of patients.
Although they only moved their hovering to a few feet on the other side of the wall, the group did as asked and the room was silent except for the muffled voices in the hallway.
The doctor examined Koharu first without even being asked. Besides being upset, there were no other signs of injuries, and his eventual diagnosis was that she would probably be okay after a long rest, assuming there weren’t any physiological repercussions. If there were, they would be visible rather quickly.
Before he could move on to the next person, Ohno motioning to Aiba while the father was prepared to be stubborn about the artist being treated first, Jun ducked his head in with a sober look, motioning for Aiba’s attention.
Kissing Koharu on the head first, the photographer did the same to Ohno without any shame, apologizing and promising that he’d be back in just a second.
Jun pulled him into the hallway and held up his phone. “Touma called. He said they found a gun.” Although he had wanted to follow his friends to the hospital, the detective had stayed behind to participate in the search, becoming a part of it despite not being assigned to so he could keep everyone as informed as possible. It appeared to be lucky that he had, if information like that was coming to the surface.
Taking a deep breath, Aiba swallowed. If there was something like that there, the kidnapper must have been just as serious (and insane) as he seemed during the time that he was being captive. It was frightening to think that they had been in that much danger…but at least they had escaped in one piece.
“Where?”
“In the bedroom you were being kept in. Bottom draw of the bureau.”
In retrospect, it was a good thing that Aiba had been impatient for escape and took the first opportunity presented to him instead of making his little girl continue her search.
“It’s pretty obvious why it was there. Yamapi said just the possession of it alone, which is illegal, will cost him at the very minimum fifteen years in prison.”
The photographer nodded, feeling relieved that the chances of the kidnapper being caught were so high, unlike last time when he had gotten away with his crime.
“If we can prove any sort of motive, it’ll be longer than that.”
“Kind of scary, though, to think that he was prepared to kill you,” Nino threw in over Aiba’s shoulder and Jun winced, turning around to glare at the smaller man, as if asking for a little subtly.
“More likely it was only in the case that Ohno wouldn’t cooperate. But that scenario is over with now, so let’s forget about it, at least until tomorrow,” Jun sighed, rubbing his hand over his eyes, and then suddenly looked up at Aiba.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to tell Ohno,” he added in a whisper. “He seems sort of…”
“I’ll tell him when he’s ready,” Aiba replied to cut off Jun’s hypothesis. No one was really aware of what had actually transpired at the house and the position he had saved the artist from, and they probably wouldn’t until the police report was farther along and Ohno was made to testify in court against the stalker. But Aiba knew what happened and he wasn’t going to let his boyfriend suffer alone. “Jun, I have a favor to ask,” came out suddenly.
The manager nodded with eager eyes, ready to do whatever was needed.
“Ohno and I might be here for a while. Do you mind taking Koharu to your house to rest? It seems like she’s fine. Just needs some sleep.”
“Of course. She probably needs something to eat, too,” the younger man replied immediately, then followed Aiba back into the hospital room, where the artist’s wrists were being examined.
Slowly picking Koharu up, the father cradled her against his chest for a second, rocking back and forth slowly, before whispering to her that she needed a nap and that Jun was going to take care of her for a little while.
Although she argued immediately, her eyes were already droopy and after another ten seconds of Aiba’s gentle motions, her breathing had become even and she was easily transferred into Jun’s hold. They talked for a second, the manager promising that he would talk with the others and leave Aiba and Ohno with a little peace, at least until tomorrow when everything would explode as the details of the crime surfaced. With a word of thanks, the father placed one last kiss on his daughter’s head, trusting that he had left her in safe hands to be taken care of while he analyzed Ohno’s current state and made sure the older man was on his way to recovery too.
The artist watched them silently as his friend walked towards the exit with the little girl, and then turned his attention to Aiba when they were left alone with the doctor. Without any explanation, the photographer sat down next to his boyfriend and wrapped his arm around loosely around his waist.
After he was finished with Ohno’s wrists, which had a thin burn but no scrapes, Aiba slowly convinced the artist to take off the sweater to see the damage to his chest and back. The smaller man began trembling again when the doctor touched the area around the scratches on his shoulder blades, and Aiba leaned forward to whisper that it would be okay as he pressed their foreheads together.
Ohno gave him a smile that said yeah, I know, but it was forced. After a few more minutes, the doctor mumbled that a nurse would be in to treat the scrapes as soon as the examination was finished, and then turned to Aiba.
When he saw the cut on his palm, which had been haphazardly wrapped by part of the guard’s shirt, ripped off after taking care of the man upstairs and locking him an adjacent room, the doctor nodded and retreated into the hallway himself. A second later a nurse came in with a smile, explaining that she was going to treat Ohno, and made light talk that neither of her patients responded to until the doctor came back, some ten minutes later, with a rolling tray of tools. He sat next to the nurse, who had completed her job of rubbing salve on Ohno’s wrists and upper back before covering the areas with a light bandage, but never left, ceaselessly chatting about the recent weather.
Aiba was glad she stayed, though, because it took the pressure of conversation off of him, and made him forget about their situation, just a little bit.
After his palm was stitched closed, painfully (but Aiba insisted on getting it done as fast as it could be), his wrists and hands covered in patches and white gauze, it was growing dark outside and Aiba knew it was time for them to face whatever horrors had grown inside of them and go home. But whatever problems had been created, the photographer was sure they could be worked out if the both of them were together.
They passed the final inspection, and the doctor excused them to leave, exiting the room and chiding the nurse for wasting time in here, and so she smiled one more time and bid the pair a good night.
Finally they were alone again, after what seemed like eons, and without waiting, Aiba gently pulled his boyfriend into his arms, whispering a thanks for his safety.
“Masaki…” the artist let out in a whispered gasp, holding onto the back of the younger man’s thin top, pressing his head against his collar. “Please, tonight-“ he started, and his boyfriend’s grip tightened when he felt the smaller frame begin shaking again.
“Let’s go home,” said Aiba in return, gently, and pulled Ohno off the bed, wrapping his arm around the artist’s waist as they went.
Near the entrance, Nino and Touma were waiting for them, the detective apparently returned from the crime scene, and the gamer almost asleep against his boyfriend’s shoulder as they rested on an uncomfortable set of plastic chairs. But when they saw Aiba and Ohno, they both shot up and silently checked the pair’s condition to see if they had been properly treated. They didn’t offer any additional details about what had happened while they had been separated, though, only led the way to Touma’s car.
And although it seemed like Nino wasn’t quite prepared to leave them alone at the photographer’s apartment, he remained silent and gave them both an awkward hug before allowing them to exit the car.
When they got back inside, it seemed like it had been ages since either of them had been there. Everything was the same as it always was, except for the futons that had been left out this morning and a few of Koharu’s stuffed animals that had been abandoned on the floor in front of the couch.
But Aiba didn’t even turn on the lights. The home was set in a soft blue glow because of the window in the living room and somehow that seemed to suit their mood. Ohno was clinging to his arm, and after they had stood in the doorway for a few minutes, the artist slowly slid closer, pulling Aiba’s body to him in an embrace.
It was obvious what he wanted-needed.
Finally, Aiba hugged him back gently and then slid off his shoes, slowly leading Ohno to the wrinkled futons.
He pulled the older man down onto the covers with him, taking both of his hands in his own bandaged ones and bringing them slowly to his lips in a gentle kiss. The fingers came to life and slid over his cheeks before their foreheads were pressed together, and Ohno’s eyes were shining with unshed tears.
“It’ll be okay,” the father whispered, running his hands through his lover’s hair and gently pressing his mouth to Ohno’s tenderly. “I’m here. I’m fine,” he assured the artist as he felt him begin shaking again under his touch.
“Masaki-“ came the barely audible voice, but he didn’t say any more as Aiba slowly began lifting the edge of the sweater and softly touching the skin on his hips.
Although he removed the clothing without much problem, Ohno had basically collapsed against his shoulder, trying to keep his body under control and repress the immediate images of his kidnapper’s dirty touches and bearing eyes. Even though the caresses felt soft and tender and right, they were ghosting over the small injuries from earlier and when that happened all he could remember was the nails digging into his skin and teeth tearing at his abdomen.
“I love you, Satoshi. I love you so much,” Aiba whispered into his ear and Ohno’s breath caught. He clung on tighter and buried his head into the warm neck, filling his senses with the smell of Aiba, and tried to forcibly relax the taunt muscles of his stomach and back.
It wasn’t until all of his clothes were gone and Masaki was inside of him, filling him with pleasure and want, that Ohno finally rid himself of the plaguing thoughts of his kidnapper, erasing the touches that were lingering on his skin from that morning.
“Please,” he begged, although there were no words to follow the request, and he whimpered quietly as Aiba sped up a bit, consciously moving to bring Ohno as much gratification as possible.
Once he came, tension and worry drained out of him like water from a broken dam and the artist limply collapsed onto the futon, falling asleep almost instantaneously.
With gentle eyes, his own need forgotten, Aiba looked over his lover once, smoothing away the messy hair to leave his forehead exposed, and kissed him there. When Ohno didn’t stir, he silently cleaned off the cum sticking to his skin with a tissue and then pulled over his blanket to cover the artist, relieved himself that everything had gone as well as it had, even if, at the beginning, he could see the frustration in his boyfriends eyes at the loss of control over his reactions.
And although he wanted to hold Satoshi right now, to comfort him through the night, there were things that needed to be done. Before they had even left the kidnapper’s house, Touma had suggested that Aiba record his version of the events, to create a statement for the police, and he intended to write what he could for Ohno too in order to save him some work and additional exposure to the situation, which they could no doubt avoid.
Of course the detective had probably meant that he do it in the morning after getting some rest, but Aiba wanted this to move as quickly as possible, to put it behind them. It was a relief to know that the man would probably be sent to prison, if only for possession of a gun, but he wanted to make sure there was no way for the bastard to harass his family ever again.
After turning off all the rest of the lights, Aiba called Jun, exchanging only a few quiet words, and then opened his laptop to begin slowly typing up an account of what had happened, starting from what time he had left work and the attack near the station.
There was a light knock on his door a few minutes later and Koharu was gently handed to him, still fast asleep. Aiba thanked Jun with a tired smile and received a reassuring pat on the shoulder in return.
As tenderly as he could, he laid the little girl next to Ohno, and she unconsciously adjusted herself against his chest, her tiny fists curling automatically as Aiba pulled the blanket up over her.
He made his way back to the computer and settled himself in front of it, prepared to stay there until the sun was rising.
+++
In the morning he woke up completely naked with Koharu snuggled against him, but Ohno couldn’t bring himself to become embarrassed. Rubbing his eyes and looking towards the window shining with sunlight, he slowly pushed himself out of bed to search for Aiba, who wasn’t with him.
Although he felt sore in all sorts of places, it seemed like his emotions had stabilized. He knew what he had to do, what would be coming up in the next weeks, months, maybe even years-reliving that situation over and over again via testifying and conversation-but he was okay with that. As long as the end results would be the protection of Aiba and Koharu, he was okay with that.
He found his lover in the kitchen, near the hallway leading to the entrance in the same clothes from yesterday, quietly talking on his cell phone.
They should probably get new ones, Ohno realized. Or at the very least change the numbers.
And he would have to find a new studio.
Now that he was assured that the photographer was still around, Ohno slunk back to the bedroom, bypassing his own clothes to instead pull out a pair of Aiba’s sweatpants and a clean shirt. He checked on Koharu again, who hadn’t stirred despite his movements, and then returned to the kitchen, realizing he was really hungry (which was a pleasure, because it meant he still had an appetite). Although he made more noise than usual on purpose, Aiba didn’t turn towards him, instead continuing to focus all his attention on the person he was talking to.
“They can talk to me first and then if they still have questions, they can talk to him,” he said sternly.
There was silence for a moment. Ohno reached for the coffee maker, already realizing what the conversation was about.
“I emailed it to you already…Yes, I understand that…No. Yamashita is the lawyer taking care of this case.” Without the other end of the conversation, he couldn’t tell what decision had been reached, but Ohno was surprised, in retrospect, that he had been able to sleep in as late as he had. The lack of reporters was pleasing, but he didn’t really think he could avoid the police today. Aiba must be trying to hold them off.
After a few more mumbled responses, he finally hung up and leisurely faced Ohno, not hesitating to slip behind him and wrap his arms around his waist before letting out a deep sigh.
They stayed that way without conversation, staring at the coffee as it dripped into the pot.
Finally, when the artist had to pull away to get two mugs, Aiba mumbled, “If you feel up to it, Jun asked you to call him.”
Yes. He should probably do that.
The coffee was poured first and they settled into the couch together, holding the steaming cups similarly between their hands and simply letting it warm them rather than drinking it.
And in the end, Ohno didn’t call Jun until after noon had passed, when Koharu had finally woken up and Aiba had left him to reassure her that everything was fine today and that they were safe and the bad men were gone.
Jun told him, very condensedly, what Aiba had been up to since yesterday, what the current situation with the culprit was, what was to be expected of him today and tomorrow, and what Jun had done personally to take care of the situation.
“You’re studio is being moved into the back of a truck right now. I hope that there was no need to--that this asshole’s going to be locked up for life--but I thought it was better safe than sorry.”
“Yeah.”
“If you want you can work there-it’s going to be in a storage lot-until you find something else. Or we can go look right away.”
“Not now. Not until this is taken care of.”
Jun paused, as if he wasn’t sure what to say to that.
“Ohno… Are you okay?”
When he didn’t promptly reply, Jun got flustered and continued, “I mean, if you don’t want to talk about it right now, it’s just, I was-I mean, you were just, yesterday… Oh God.” He stopped again, took a deep breath and repeated, “Are you okay?”
With a small smile at the adolescence he hadn’t seen from his friend in a while, Ohno calmly replied, “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Jun hesitated, but in the end he asked, “Did anything happen?” quietly, and it was obvious what he was implying, especially since the situation had been similar the first time the fanatic had cornered him. “Are you okay?”
“Nothing happened,” the artist assured him, recalling the events that had occurred inside the parlor room in a calculated way, as if he was still in school trying to decide if he had enough time take a nap before class started. “Just a few scratches.”
His manager took a breath of relief, obviously believing his tone of voice. “Thank God.”
In the pause in their conversation, Ohno heard Aiba gently reassuring Koharu she wasn’t in trouble as he asked her how she’d gotten into the art bag yesterday afternoon, the little girl sniffing and her voice shaking despite her father’s sweet demeanor.
“Is there anything else that I need to take care of?” Jun asked, not hearing the separate conversation in the background.
After thinking for a moment, the artist replied, “A new phone for me. And Aiba. With GPS.”
“Got it. Is your apartment okay?”
“I think so. But I’m more worried about Aiba’s, if that’s the case.”
They chatted for a few minutes about the possibility that the stalker had gotten his hands on more than just what Ohno knew he had (but he had had to follow Aiba to work, after all, the address of which was public knowledge, and he had only lashed out after their collaboration, so maybe he didn’t know anything else?) and the conclusion they had come to was that they would wait until the situation became clearer through legal action.
“Until then, stay with Aiba.”
“Mm.” Of course Ohno wasn’t considering anything else.
+++
Time passed. After a written testimony and a short interview with Touma, Ohno was left alone, only able to sit back and wait for a verdict. Any other details Aiba insisted on taking care of, both for the artist and Koharu, and even though Ohno felt like he was stable enough to do more, especially since he was the target of the whole thing, he let his boyfriend speak for both of them.
Honestly, he didn’t want to have anything to do with the stalker. He didn’t want to have to see him across the court room, or answer questions about him, or even listen to a statement from his attorney. And it certainly appeared Aiba knew what he was doing.
Instead, Ohno spent his time looking through magazines and online ads for a new studio and (maybe) apartment.
Aiba, of course, had suggested that he move in with them, which was tempting, especially now that he was staying over all the time, but somehow… It didn’t feel right. Not only was he still worried about the security of the location of the building, but how was going to share a room with both Aiba and Koharu? It would be impossible with the ever present urges to touch his boyfriend.
And of course Jun had told him not to worry about it, that he would start searching for something by himself, but Ohno didn’t like that either.
Plus, he didn’t have anything to do now that he wasn’t working. He’d been over to the trailer a few times, but it wasn’t exactly a cultivating artistic environment. No windows, only a construction light, not close to a coffee shop, not to mention that the few times he’d went, between Aiba and Jun, he’d been called about once every ten minutes and didn’t get much done.
And so he was searching. A public statement had been made about him taking a break after his big exhibit (which wasn’t necessarily unusual, since a lot of artists did this to recharge themselves and put time into something creative), and the trial was being kept as discreet as possible, which seemed to be working, since a article hadn’t arose yet about the whole thing. Besides, it wasn’t like he didn’t have enough money saved to support himself, Aiba and Koharu for the next twenty years. Thirty if they were frugal.
“Haru-chan? I don’t know what to pick. It’s hard,” he complained light-heartedly, tossing his magazine onto the couch next to him and looking over to where the little girl was doing her homework at the short table. She had missed school for a week, just as Aiba had missed work, but they were back in their usual habits by now, although Ohno was with her basically any moment that she wasn’t in the classroom. It seemed like they should both be getting fed up with the over protectiveness by this point, but they hadn’t.
“Can we get one that’s pink?”
Ohno tried not to hold back a smile at her request, and the assumption they would be moving together.
“How about a pool? Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“You can do that?” she asked reverently, suddenly turning to stare at him.
Ohno smiled at her mysteriously until she looked back to her paper, then mumbled under his breath, “Could be worth it.” Aiba might have a habit of skinny dipping that he didn’t know about yet.
“I’m home!”
The pair turned at the same time as the object of Ohno’s thoughts came through the front door, holding his shoulder bag in one hand while the other helped him balance as he took his shoes off.
By the time Aiba was situated and made it to the kitchen, Ohno was waiting for him with Koharu on his right. The photographer kissed him on the forehead first and then bent over to do the same to his daughter, something that had become habit with Ohno being there all the time, and then began to ask about their day as he deposited his bag on the couch and loosened his tie.
After some light talk, he made his way back to the kitchen and started collecting the ingredients for dinner, and when Koharu rushed off to finish her homework, he kissed Ohno once right on the lips, then said casually, “I heard from Yamapi today.”
“What is it? Was there a decision?” he asked in a lowered voice, unconsciously grabbing onto the bottom of Aiba’s shirt.
“Yeah. I’m not entirely sure what the verdict was, but they’re sending him to a mental institution. He could be there for life, unless he’s ‘cured’ of course…but Yamapi said he wouldn’t be considered for release for at least ten years, and if he was, we would be notified immediately. There would be a restraining order against him, and even after being released I guess he had to wear a tracking band or something.”
Ohno sighed. Although that all sounded very nice, the possibility that the guys could come back was still there. And Aiba’s expression told him he felt the same.
But there wasn’t much they could do about it. Although… he probably was insane, so if he could be cured of his obsession, maybe they would be okay.
“Does Jun know?”
“Mm. Yamapi said he talked to him about it already.”
Well, there was nothing else to be done.
+++
Several months later, Ohno had almost forgotten about what had happened.
It was just like after the first time he had been taken hostage. Every day that he didn’t see that face was a day that his conscious was lightened, that he believed that everything would be okay. And it was so much easier with Aiba and Koharu by his side.
Plus, he had finally reached his decision.
Aiba was lying on the couch, basking in the sun on a happy weekend morning, and Ohno was watching him with his magazine in hand. Koharu hadn’t woken up yet, tucked in her pink futon, but it wasn’t too late yet, so they let her continue to sleep and took it easy themselves.
Walking over to his boyfriend, Ohno knelt beside him on the floor, running his fingers through Aiba’s hair, then kissed him lightly on the cheek below his closed eyes. The photographer smiled automatically and reached for him, but before he could, the artist plopped the magazine across his face, open to the page he wanted him to look at.
“What’s this?” Aiba asked automatically, sitting up and laughing light heartedly, taking it off of his face and glancing at the page, which was full of pictures of apartments and information regarding amenities, rent, location, etc.
Ohno pointed at one in the left corner, which had a picture of a clean wooden floor lit up by a window in the background, as well as a list of selling points right next to it.
With a raised eyebrow, Aiba turned to Ohno, who had just moved to sit next to him on the couch, and asked again, “What?”
First he swallowed, then rested his head on Aiba’s shoulder, then offered in a small voice, “We could live there. Together. All three of us.”
He could feel Aiba’s breath catch, completely caught off guard.
“There are three bedrooms,” Ohno explained slowly. “One for Koharu… One for us… and I could use one for my studio.”
It took a second for that statement to sink in and when it did, Aiba fully turned to stare at his boyfriend, as if looking for confirmation.
If Ohno’s studio was part of their home, he would always be there. Koharu would always have someone waiting for her. No more fighting with Nino or leaving her in the care of the landlady… Aiba wouldn’t have to continue to leave work early on the days she needed to be picked up. And of course it would be paradise to spend every second of his free time with his boyfriend, like he’d been doing recently.
“It’s a little expensive,” Aiba replied while he eyed the page again, even though he was overflowing with a giddy feeling of delight.
“I’ll pay for it,” Ohno automatically responded, drawing the photographer’s attention once again. Aiba smirked, as if to say no you will not.
“We’ll have to look at it first,” he responded, leaning closer to the artist.
Ohno smiled back widely, and continued to do so as Aiba proceeded to kiss him senseless.
+++
To the Epilogue (NC17)
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Aiba/Ohno, Jun/Sho, Touma/Nino
Genre: Romance, AU
Chapter: eleven/final
Disclaimer: I guess Johnny’s technically owns Arashi, huh? Not me.
Summary: Aiba becomes interested in Ohno, a recently popular artist, but it’s difficult to get a boyfriend when you have a kid…Everyone seems to think you’re straight.
Chapter one
Chapter two
Chapter three
Chapter four
Chapter five
Chapter six
Chapter seven
Chapter eight
Chapter nine
Chapter ten
Jun kept his promise and was on the scene in mere moments, and of course Sho was with him. The pair burst into the house together despite the policeman trying to stop them and immediately interrupted the interrogation that had already started.
After a few quick words, they reached an agreement between the policeman, Aiba, and Jun, which was that Ohno and Koharu would be taken to Jun’s car to wait until they could leave. As expected, the manager accompanied them, and Sho stayed behind to support his friend while he recalled what details he could of the attack the night before.
Aiba, clad in only his usual white dress shirt, since he’d given his sweater to Ohno not even two minutes earlier, did what needed to be done, leaving a statement and showing where he had been held overnight and where he had found Ohno, and he was relieved to find that his kidnapper had already been detained and taken somewhere else when they finally got to that part.
Nino and Touma came by the time Aiba and the chief inspector had made it back to the entryway, getting the search done with as quickly as possible. Touma’s car was stopped behind Jun’s own hulking one, which was parked mostly on the manicured lawn, a bush crushed in the wake of the vehicles.
The two of them ran to Jun’s car first, hysterical. Together they rushed Koharu, Nino patting her head while Touma pulled her into a half-hug, and then Ohno similarly, both gushing that they were so worried when they’d heard, and then still simultaneously, ran into the house to do the same to Aiba. Of course they were stopped by an officer before they had completely made it to him, but Touma flashed his own detective badge once and then began shooting off questions of his own while Nino snuck past them to embrace his long-time friend, who gratefully accepted the affection.
Somewhere along the way Kame and Yamapi heard about the situation as well, but they were much more useful when they showed up, since it turned out that Yamapi happened to be a prosecuting lawyer. Although at their last meeting he had been spouting criticism of Aiba’s and Ohno’s private lives, now he was over protective and flustered, throwing around his title before he had even approached the appropriate group.
Thankfully Jun had quickly returned to the scene and interrupted the disorder that had unfolded, insisting that Aiba needed to go to a hospital with the others as soon as possible. Yamapi asked a few questions of his own before the photographer could be pulled away, promising that he would do as much as he could, and with his head spinning, Aiba found himself in the backseat of Jun’s SUV, Koharu in the middle next to Ohno. Her tears had dried and she looked exhausted. The artist was in a similar state, shivering in the oversized sweater and trying to look calm despite the fact that his boyfriend knew he wasn’t.
Because of that, Aiba wouldn’t let them be separated when they reached the hospital, even if it would be faster. He would go with Koharu and Ohno together or he wouldn’t go at all.
But Jun ended up doing most of the talking anyway (and it took very little convincing of the hospital staff once the situation was explained), and the father simply held Koharu in one arm while the other grasped tightly onto his boyfriend’s hand. Even though people in the waiting room were staring at them, Aiba ignored their looks and concentrated mostly on Ohno’s evident introversion.
They were led to an empty room, and the group sat down on the starched bed as they were, the photographer with his daughter in his lap, tightly holding hands with the artist while Jun, Sho, and Nino paced around the room at varying speeds and with overlapping conversation. The most prominent words were Nino’s promises for annihilating the man that did this to his best friends and Jun’s threats of legal repercussions, which were too filled with jargon to understand.
When the doctor came in they all fell silent, and after a deep sigh, he asked for a moment alone with the trio of patients.
Although they only moved their hovering to a few feet on the other side of the wall, the group did as asked and the room was silent except for the muffled voices in the hallway.
The doctor examined Koharu first without even being asked. Besides being upset, there were no other signs of injuries, and his eventual diagnosis was that she would probably be okay after a long rest, assuming there weren’t any physiological repercussions. If there were, they would be visible rather quickly.
Before he could move on to the next person, Ohno motioning to Aiba while the father was prepared to be stubborn about the artist being treated first, Jun ducked his head in with a sober look, motioning for Aiba’s attention.
Kissing Koharu on the head first, the photographer did the same to Ohno without any shame, apologizing and promising that he’d be back in just a second.
Jun pulled him into the hallway and held up his phone. “Touma called. He said they found a gun.” Although he had wanted to follow his friends to the hospital, the detective had stayed behind to participate in the search, becoming a part of it despite not being assigned to so he could keep everyone as informed as possible. It appeared to be lucky that he had, if information like that was coming to the surface.
Taking a deep breath, Aiba swallowed. If there was something like that there, the kidnapper must have been just as serious (and insane) as he seemed during the time that he was being captive. It was frightening to think that they had been in that much danger…but at least they had escaped in one piece.
“Where?”
“In the bedroom you were being kept in. Bottom draw of the bureau.”
In retrospect, it was a good thing that Aiba had been impatient for escape and took the first opportunity presented to him instead of making his little girl continue her search.
“It’s pretty obvious why it was there. Yamapi said just the possession of it alone, which is illegal, will cost him at the very minimum fifteen years in prison.”
The photographer nodded, feeling relieved that the chances of the kidnapper being caught were so high, unlike last time when he had gotten away with his crime.
“If we can prove any sort of motive, it’ll be longer than that.”
“Kind of scary, though, to think that he was prepared to kill you,” Nino threw in over Aiba’s shoulder and Jun winced, turning around to glare at the smaller man, as if asking for a little subtly.
“More likely it was only in the case that Ohno wouldn’t cooperate. But that scenario is over with now, so let’s forget about it, at least until tomorrow,” Jun sighed, rubbing his hand over his eyes, and then suddenly looked up at Aiba.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to tell Ohno,” he added in a whisper. “He seems sort of…”
“I’ll tell him when he’s ready,” Aiba replied to cut off Jun’s hypothesis. No one was really aware of what had actually transpired at the house and the position he had saved the artist from, and they probably wouldn’t until the police report was farther along and Ohno was made to testify in court against the stalker. But Aiba knew what happened and he wasn’t going to let his boyfriend suffer alone. “Jun, I have a favor to ask,” came out suddenly.
The manager nodded with eager eyes, ready to do whatever was needed.
“Ohno and I might be here for a while. Do you mind taking Koharu to your house to rest? It seems like she’s fine. Just needs some sleep.”
“Of course. She probably needs something to eat, too,” the younger man replied immediately, then followed Aiba back into the hospital room, where the artist’s wrists were being examined.
Slowly picking Koharu up, the father cradled her against his chest for a second, rocking back and forth slowly, before whispering to her that she needed a nap and that Jun was going to take care of her for a little while.
Although she argued immediately, her eyes were already droopy and after another ten seconds of Aiba’s gentle motions, her breathing had become even and she was easily transferred into Jun’s hold. They talked for a second, the manager promising that he would talk with the others and leave Aiba and Ohno with a little peace, at least until tomorrow when everything would explode as the details of the crime surfaced. With a word of thanks, the father placed one last kiss on his daughter’s head, trusting that he had left her in safe hands to be taken care of while he analyzed Ohno’s current state and made sure the older man was on his way to recovery too.
The artist watched them silently as his friend walked towards the exit with the little girl, and then turned his attention to Aiba when they were left alone with the doctor. Without any explanation, the photographer sat down next to his boyfriend and wrapped his arm around loosely around his waist.
After he was finished with Ohno’s wrists, which had a thin burn but no scrapes, Aiba slowly convinced the artist to take off the sweater to see the damage to his chest and back. The smaller man began trembling again when the doctor touched the area around the scratches on his shoulder blades, and Aiba leaned forward to whisper that it would be okay as he pressed their foreheads together.
Ohno gave him a smile that said yeah, I know, but it was forced. After a few more minutes, the doctor mumbled that a nurse would be in to treat the scrapes as soon as the examination was finished, and then turned to Aiba.
When he saw the cut on his palm, which had been haphazardly wrapped by part of the guard’s shirt, ripped off after taking care of the man upstairs and locking him an adjacent room, the doctor nodded and retreated into the hallway himself. A second later a nurse came in with a smile, explaining that she was going to treat Ohno, and made light talk that neither of her patients responded to until the doctor came back, some ten minutes later, with a rolling tray of tools. He sat next to the nurse, who had completed her job of rubbing salve on Ohno’s wrists and upper back before covering the areas with a light bandage, but never left, ceaselessly chatting about the recent weather.
Aiba was glad she stayed, though, because it took the pressure of conversation off of him, and made him forget about their situation, just a little bit.
After his palm was stitched closed, painfully (but Aiba insisted on getting it done as fast as it could be), his wrists and hands covered in patches and white gauze, it was growing dark outside and Aiba knew it was time for them to face whatever horrors had grown inside of them and go home. But whatever problems had been created, the photographer was sure they could be worked out if the both of them were together.
They passed the final inspection, and the doctor excused them to leave, exiting the room and chiding the nurse for wasting time in here, and so she smiled one more time and bid the pair a good night.
Finally they were alone again, after what seemed like eons, and without waiting, Aiba gently pulled his boyfriend into his arms, whispering a thanks for his safety.
“Masaki…” the artist let out in a whispered gasp, holding onto the back of the younger man’s thin top, pressing his head against his collar. “Please, tonight-“ he started, and his boyfriend’s grip tightened when he felt the smaller frame begin shaking again.
“Let’s go home,” said Aiba in return, gently, and pulled Ohno off the bed, wrapping his arm around the artist’s waist as they went.
Near the entrance, Nino and Touma were waiting for them, the detective apparently returned from the crime scene, and the gamer almost asleep against his boyfriend’s shoulder as they rested on an uncomfortable set of plastic chairs. But when they saw Aiba and Ohno, they both shot up and silently checked the pair’s condition to see if they had been properly treated. They didn’t offer any additional details about what had happened while they had been separated, though, only led the way to Touma’s car.
And although it seemed like Nino wasn’t quite prepared to leave them alone at the photographer’s apartment, he remained silent and gave them both an awkward hug before allowing them to exit the car.
When they got back inside, it seemed like it had been ages since either of them had been there. Everything was the same as it always was, except for the futons that had been left out this morning and a few of Koharu’s stuffed animals that had been abandoned on the floor in front of the couch.
But Aiba didn’t even turn on the lights. The home was set in a soft blue glow because of the window in the living room and somehow that seemed to suit their mood. Ohno was clinging to his arm, and after they had stood in the doorway for a few minutes, the artist slowly slid closer, pulling Aiba’s body to him in an embrace.
It was obvious what he wanted-needed.
Finally, Aiba hugged him back gently and then slid off his shoes, slowly leading Ohno to the wrinkled futons.
He pulled the older man down onto the covers with him, taking both of his hands in his own bandaged ones and bringing them slowly to his lips in a gentle kiss. The fingers came to life and slid over his cheeks before their foreheads were pressed together, and Ohno’s eyes were shining with unshed tears.
“It’ll be okay,” the father whispered, running his hands through his lover’s hair and gently pressing his mouth to Ohno’s tenderly. “I’m here. I’m fine,” he assured the artist as he felt him begin shaking again under his touch.
“Masaki-“ came the barely audible voice, but he didn’t say any more as Aiba slowly began lifting the edge of the sweater and softly touching the skin on his hips.
Although he removed the clothing without much problem, Ohno had basically collapsed against his shoulder, trying to keep his body under control and repress the immediate images of his kidnapper’s dirty touches and bearing eyes. Even though the caresses felt soft and tender and right, they were ghosting over the small injuries from earlier and when that happened all he could remember was the nails digging into his skin and teeth tearing at his abdomen.
“I love you, Satoshi. I love you so much,” Aiba whispered into his ear and Ohno’s breath caught. He clung on tighter and buried his head into the warm neck, filling his senses with the smell of Aiba, and tried to forcibly relax the taunt muscles of his stomach and back.
It wasn’t until all of his clothes were gone and Masaki was inside of him, filling him with pleasure and want, that Ohno finally rid himself of the plaguing thoughts of his kidnapper, erasing the touches that were lingering on his skin from that morning.
“Please,” he begged, although there were no words to follow the request, and he whimpered quietly as Aiba sped up a bit, consciously moving to bring Ohno as much gratification as possible.
Once he came, tension and worry drained out of him like water from a broken dam and the artist limply collapsed onto the futon, falling asleep almost instantaneously.
With gentle eyes, his own need forgotten, Aiba looked over his lover once, smoothing away the messy hair to leave his forehead exposed, and kissed him there. When Ohno didn’t stir, he silently cleaned off the cum sticking to his skin with a tissue and then pulled over his blanket to cover the artist, relieved himself that everything had gone as well as it had, even if, at the beginning, he could see the frustration in his boyfriends eyes at the loss of control over his reactions.
And although he wanted to hold Satoshi right now, to comfort him through the night, there were things that needed to be done. Before they had even left the kidnapper’s house, Touma had suggested that Aiba record his version of the events, to create a statement for the police, and he intended to write what he could for Ohno too in order to save him some work and additional exposure to the situation, which they could no doubt avoid.
Of course the detective had probably meant that he do it in the morning after getting some rest, but Aiba wanted this to move as quickly as possible, to put it behind them. It was a relief to know that the man would probably be sent to prison, if only for possession of a gun, but he wanted to make sure there was no way for the bastard to harass his family ever again.
After turning off all the rest of the lights, Aiba called Jun, exchanging only a few quiet words, and then opened his laptop to begin slowly typing up an account of what had happened, starting from what time he had left work and the attack near the station.
There was a light knock on his door a few minutes later and Koharu was gently handed to him, still fast asleep. Aiba thanked Jun with a tired smile and received a reassuring pat on the shoulder in return.
As tenderly as he could, he laid the little girl next to Ohno, and she unconsciously adjusted herself against his chest, her tiny fists curling automatically as Aiba pulled the blanket up over her.
He made his way back to the computer and settled himself in front of it, prepared to stay there until the sun was rising.
+++
In the morning he woke up completely naked with Koharu snuggled against him, but Ohno couldn’t bring himself to become embarrassed. Rubbing his eyes and looking towards the window shining with sunlight, he slowly pushed himself out of bed to search for Aiba, who wasn’t with him.
Although he felt sore in all sorts of places, it seemed like his emotions had stabilized. He knew what he had to do, what would be coming up in the next weeks, months, maybe even years-reliving that situation over and over again via testifying and conversation-but he was okay with that. As long as the end results would be the protection of Aiba and Koharu, he was okay with that.
He found his lover in the kitchen, near the hallway leading to the entrance in the same clothes from yesterday, quietly talking on his cell phone.
They should probably get new ones, Ohno realized. Or at the very least change the numbers.
And he would have to find a new studio.
Now that he was assured that the photographer was still around, Ohno slunk back to the bedroom, bypassing his own clothes to instead pull out a pair of Aiba’s sweatpants and a clean shirt. He checked on Koharu again, who hadn’t stirred despite his movements, and then returned to the kitchen, realizing he was really hungry (which was a pleasure, because it meant he still had an appetite). Although he made more noise than usual on purpose, Aiba didn’t turn towards him, instead continuing to focus all his attention on the person he was talking to.
“They can talk to me first and then if they still have questions, they can talk to him,” he said sternly.
There was silence for a moment. Ohno reached for the coffee maker, already realizing what the conversation was about.
“I emailed it to you already…Yes, I understand that…No. Yamashita is the lawyer taking care of this case.” Without the other end of the conversation, he couldn’t tell what decision had been reached, but Ohno was surprised, in retrospect, that he had been able to sleep in as late as he had. The lack of reporters was pleasing, but he didn’t really think he could avoid the police today. Aiba must be trying to hold them off.
After a few more mumbled responses, he finally hung up and leisurely faced Ohno, not hesitating to slip behind him and wrap his arms around his waist before letting out a deep sigh.
They stayed that way without conversation, staring at the coffee as it dripped into the pot.
Finally, when the artist had to pull away to get two mugs, Aiba mumbled, “If you feel up to it, Jun asked you to call him.”
Yes. He should probably do that.
The coffee was poured first and they settled into the couch together, holding the steaming cups similarly between their hands and simply letting it warm them rather than drinking it.
And in the end, Ohno didn’t call Jun until after noon had passed, when Koharu had finally woken up and Aiba had left him to reassure her that everything was fine today and that they were safe and the bad men were gone.
Jun told him, very condensedly, what Aiba had been up to since yesterday, what the current situation with the culprit was, what was to be expected of him today and tomorrow, and what Jun had done personally to take care of the situation.
“You’re studio is being moved into the back of a truck right now. I hope that there was no need to--that this asshole’s going to be locked up for life--but I thought it was better safe than sorry.”
“Yeah.”
“If you want you can work there-it’s going to be in a storage lot-until you find something else. Or we can go look right away.”
“Not now. Not until this is taken care of.”
Jun paused, as if he wasn’t sure what to say to that.
“Ohno… Are you okay?”
When he didn’t promptly reply, Jun got flustered and continued, “I mean, if you don’t want to talk about it right now, it’s just, I was-I mean, you were just, yesterday… Oh God.” He stopped again, took a deep breath and repeated, “Are you okay?”
With a small smile at the adolescence he hadn’t seen from his friend in a while, Ohno calmly replied, “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Jun hesitated, but in the end he asked, “Did anything happen?” quietly, and it was obvious what he was implying, especially since the situation had been similar the first time the fanatic had cornered him. “Are you okay?”
“Nothing happened,” the artist assured him, recalling the events that had occurred inside the parlor room in a calculated way, as if he was still in school trying to decide if he had enough time take a nap before class started. “Just a few scratches.”
His manager took a breath of relief, obviously believing his tone of voice. “Thank God.”
In the pause in their conversation, Ohno heard Aiba gently reassuring Koharu she wasn’t in trouble as he asked her how she’d gotten into the art bag yesterday afternoon, the little girl sniffing and her voice shaking despite her father’s sweet demeanor.
“Is there anything else that I need to take care of?” Jun asked, not hearing the separate conversation in the background.
After thinking for a moment, the artist replied, “A new phone for me. And Aiba. With GPS.”
“Got it. Is your apartment okay?”
“I think so. But I’m more worried about Aiba’s, if that’s the case.”
They chatted for a few minutes about the possibility that the stalker had gotten his hands on more than just what Ohno knew he had (but he had had to follow Aiba to work, after all, the address of which was public knowledge, and he had only lashed out after their collaboration, so maybe he didn’t know anything else?) and the conclusion they had come to was that they would wait until the situation became clearer through legal action.
“Until then, stay with Aiba.”
“Mm.” Of course Ohno wasn’t considering anything else.
+++
Time passed. After a written testimony and a short interview with Touma, Ohno was left alone, only able to sit back and wait for a verdict. Any other details Aiba insisted on taking care of, both for the artist and Koharu, and even though Ohno felt like he was stable enough to do more, especially since he was the target of the whole thing, he let his boyfriend speak for both of them.
Honestly, he didn’t want to have anything to do with the stalker. He didn’t want to have to see him across the court room, or answer questions about him, or even listen to a statement from his attorney. And it certainly appeared Aiba knew what he was doing.
Instead, Ohno spent his time looking through magazines and online ads for a new studio and (maybe) apartment.
Aiba, of course, had suggested that he move in with them, which was tempting, especially now that he was staying over all the time, but somehow… It didn’t feel right. Not only was he still worried about the security of the location of the building, but how was going to share a room with both Aiba and Koharu? It would be impossible with the ever present urges to touch his boyfriend.
And of course Jun had told him not to worry about it, that he would start searching for something by himself, but Ohno didn’t like that either.
Plus, he didn’t have anything to do now that he wasn’t working. He’d been over to the trailer a few times, but it wasn’t exactly a cultivating artistic environment. No windows, only a construction light, not close to a coffee shop, not to mention that the few times he’d went, between Aiba and Jun, he’d been called about once every ten minutes and didn’t get much done.
And so he was searching. A public statement had been made about him taking a break after his big exhibit (which wasn’t necessarily unusual, since a lot of artists did this to recharge themselves and put time into something creative), and the trial was being kept as discreet as possible, which seemed to be working, since a article hadn’t arose yet about the whole thing. Besides, it wasn’t like he didn’t have enough money saved to support himself, Aiba and Koharu for the next twenty years. Thirty if they were frugal.
“Haru-chan? I don’t know what to pick. It’s hard,” he complained light-heartedly, tossing his magazine onto the couch next to him and looking over to where the little girl was doing her homework at the short table. She had missed school for a week, just as Aiba had missed work, but they were back in their usual habits by now, although Ohno was with her basically any moment that she wasn’t in the classroom. It seemed like they should both be getting fed up with the over protectiveness by this point, but they hadn’t.
“Can we get one that’s pink?”
Ohno tried not to hold back a smile at her request, and the assumption they would be moving together.
“How about a pool? Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“You can do that?” she asked reverently, suddenly turning to stare at him.
Ohno smiled at her mysteriously until she looked back to her paper, then mumbled under his breath, “Could be worth it.” Aiba might have a habit of skinny dipping that he didn’t know about yet.
“I’m home!”
The pair turned at the same time as the object of Ohno’s thoughts came through the front door, holding his shoulder bag in one hand while the other helped him balance as he took his shoes off.
By the time Aiba was situated and made it to the kitchen, Ohno was waiting for him with Koharu on his right. The photographer kissed him on the forehead first and then bent over to do the same to his daughter, something that had become habit with Ohno being there all the time, and then began to ask about their day as he deposited his bag on the couch and loosened his tie.
After some light talk, he made his way back to the kitchen and started collecting the ingredients for dinner, and when Koharu rushed off to finish her homework, he kissed Ohno once right on the lips, then said casually, “I heard from Yamapi today.”
“What is it? Was there a decision?” he asked in a lowered voice, unconsciously grabbing onto the bottom of Aiba’s shirt.
“Yeah. I’m not entirely sure what the verdict was, but they’re sending him to a mental institution. He could be there for life, unless he’s ‘cured’ of course…but Yamapi said he wouldn’t be considered for release for at least ten years, and if he was, we would be notified immediately. There would be a restraining order against him, and even after being released I guess he had to wear a tracking band or something.”
Ohno sighed. Although that all sounded very nice, the possibility that the guys could come back was still there. And Aiba’s expression told him he felt the same.
But there wasn’t much they could do about it. Although… he probably was insane, so if he could be cured of his obsession, maybe they would be okay.
“Does Jun know?”
“Mm. Yamapi said he talked to him about it already.”
Well, there was nothing else to be done.
+++
Several months later, Ohno had almost forgotten about what had happened.
It was just like after the first time he had been taken hostage. Every day that he didn’t see that face was a day that his conscious was lightened, that he believed that everything would be okay. And it was so much easier with Aiba and Koharu by his side.
Plus, he had finally reached his decision.
Aiba was lying on the couch, basking in the sun on a happy weekend morning, and Ohno was watching him with his magazine in hand. Koharu hadn’t woken up yet, tucked in her pink futon, but it wasn’t too late yet, so they let her continue to sleep and took it easy themselves.
Walking over to his boyfriend, Ohno knelt beside him on the floor, running his fingers through Aiba’s hair, then kissed him lightly on the cheek below his closed eyes. The photographer smiled automatically and reached for him, but before he could, the artist plopped the magazine across his face, open to the page he wanted him to look at.
“What’s this?” Aiba asked automatically, sitting up and laughing light heartedly, taking it off of his face and glancing at the page, which was full of pictures of apartments and information regarding amenities, rent, location, etc.
Ohno pointed at one in the left corner, which had a picture of a clean wooden floor lit up by a window in the background, as well as a list of selling points right next to it.
With a raised eyebrow, Aiba turned to Ohno, who had just moved to sit next to him on the couch, and asked again, “What?”
First he swallowed, then rested his head on Aiba’s shoulder, then offered in a small voice, “We could live there. Together. All three of us.”
He could feel Aiba’s breath catch, completely caught off guard.
“There are three bedrooms,” Ohno explained slowly. “One for Koharu… One for us… and I could use one for my studio.”
It took a second for that statement to sink in and when it did, Aiba fully turned to stare at his boyfriend, as if looking for confirmation.
If Ohno’s studio was part of their home, he would always be there. Koharu would always have someone waiting for her. No more fighting with Nino or leaving her in the care of the landlady… Aiba wouldn’t have to continue to leave work early on the days she needed to be picked up. And of course it would be paradise to spend every second of his free time with his boyfriend, like he’d been doing recently.
“It’s a little expensive,” Aiba replied while he eyed the page again, even though he was overflowing with a giddy feeling of delight.
“I’ll pay for it,” Ohno automatically responded, drawing the photographer’s attention once again. Aiba smirked, as if to say no you will not.
“We’ll have to look at it first,” he responded, leaning closer to the artist.
Ohno smiled back widely, and continued to do so as Aiba proceeded to kiss him senseless.
+++
To the Epilogue (NC17)