It's been too long since I've properly ficced. Here ya go!
Ta-da! It's been a while, but I bring more Jackal/Marui fiction! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: PoT is Konomi's sandbox; I just like to play in it once in a while.
Warnings: AR, characters as children, general cuteness
A/N: Set in the same universe as Kakurenbo. Reading that fic isn't necessary for an understanding of this one, but it is recommended. Written both for 30_kisses theme #30: kiss and for coffeecakelove's first challenge: doctors.
Better Than Candy
by Solanum Dulcamara
Marui stood in the hall with six other boys from his class. His watchful eyes tracked other groups as they were marched from room to room by faculty members. School physicals - he had mixed emotions about them. They meant that classes would be suspended for the day, which was cool. They also meant that he would be poked and prodded by a bunch of grown-ups, which was lame. His group had already been to the room where they were weighed and measured. He was young, but he was a genius, and he didn't like the way the nurse's eyebrows had risen when he stepped on the scale. They'd also finished the eye exam and the hearing test. Marui passed both, of course - piece of cake for a genius. They were waiting outside of the actual nurse's office, where an actual doctor would be seeing them. All of the exams were starting to make him hungry. His classmates chattered excitedly; someone had heard they'd be getting shots at this station. Marui's round cheeks puffed out in a pout. He didn't like shots. He didn't like these boys who acted like they were so much tougher than Marui, even though they were way dumber than him. He wanted to be in Jackal's group, but their names were too far apart alphabetically. They should get married, then they could have the same last name and they'd always be in the same groups. He would finally get to see Jackal after this station, when the whole class met up to do the physical tests outside at the track. That's why they were all wearing their P.E. uniforms.
A group of girls from his class were led out of the office. Some of them were sniffling. One was actually crying. Marui was not going to be like those girls, no matter how much he hated shots. Their school nurse led them into the office that was divided in half by a curtain. She explained that the doctor was waiting behind the curtain and would be examining them one by one in alphabetical order. Then, they'd each come out to her to receive their vaccines. Marui knew 'vaccine' meant shot. He suddenly didn't like the school nurse, who he'd always thought looked really nice before then. Matsumoto was the only person before him. Watching his classmate's lanky frame disappear behind the curtain, Marui felt bumps rise up along his skin. He rubbed his foot along the back of his calf, trying to scratch away the prickly nervous feeling. The other boys weren't talking any more. He figured that they were all looking at the chair next to the nurse. At least, he hoped he wasn't the only one staring at that chair.
Much quicker than Marui wanted, the curtain parted and Matsumoto came out. Marui did not watch him go over to the nurse. He hurried toward the part in the curtain, no matter what would happen on the other side; it had to be better than a shot. The doctor was waiting for him with a smile. He was very old and reminded Marui of his grandfather. "If you would, please take off your shirt and climb onto the examining table," the doctor's voice was deep and gravely, like it had been used for way too long. Marui laid his shirt on the counter and with effort, climbed onto the table. He wasn't quite as tall as all the other boys in his class, but he'd get there. The poking and prodding that he hated so much began. The thing with the light to look in his eyes and ears and throat. The cold stetha-something to listen to his heart and his lungs. Gloved hands pinching his joints and jabbing him in the belly. The doctor kept humming in his old man voice. Marui didn't like it. He felt like the fruit in the grocery store that his mom always squeezed before she chose which one she wanted. Finally, it was over. The doctor stepped back and smiled again, "You are a very healthy boy." Marui beamed with pride - finally, someone at these tests understood him. "You can hop down and put your shirt back on. Then head on out to Nurse Yamada." He stumbled in his jump off of the examining table. Because of all of the pinching and poking, he'd completely forgotten about the shot. He put his shirt on slowly, taking extreme care to smooth out all of the wrinkles in the cotton. He knew that no matter how long he took, he'd still have to get the shot, but it somehow seemed better if he took his time and didn't rush out there. It didn't mean he was afraid. He wasn't a sissy or anything... not like those girls. He just didn't like shots.
He could feel the doctor looking at him and hurried through the curtain. He didn't want to get in trouble. Murasaki walked past him into the curtained area, and he was left staring at the rest of his classmates and Nurse Yamada, who smiled kindly. He didn't like her in that moment, deciding that anyone who could smile before they gave you a shot was a liar and not a nice person at all. But he couldn't let his classmates think he was afraid. He gritted his teeth and lifted his chin before heading over to the chair.
"My. My. Such a severe face," Nurse Yamada's voice was gentle. More lies. Putting a needle in someone's arm was not gentle. "You can close your eyes if you'd like."
Close his eyes? Was she crazy? Then all the other boys would think he was afraid. They were looking at him, he could tell even though he wasn't looking at them. He had to show them that he was just as tough as they were, and he was smarter. "No, thanks. I'll keep them open." That didn't mean he was going to watch, though.
"As you wish." She rubbed some cold smelly stuff on his arm with a cotton swab. "Just a little pinch, now."
He held his breath. It hurt! He kept holding his breath. He was afraid that if he let it out, he'd cry. But he wasn't going to cry.
"There. Finished. Oh! You're all red," she placed a Band-Aid on his arm. It was sore.
He got up and went to stand by Matsumoto. His eyes were burning a little bit and felt a little wet, and his throat kind of ached in the back, but that didn't mean that he was going to cry. Why did they have to give these shots in front of everybody else?
Even though it was so fast for him to end up in the chair, it took forever for the rest of his group to finish. One by one, they lined up behind him at the wall by the door. Marui just wanted to meet Jackal out on the field, so they could have lunch together before all of the running and stretching and stuff.
Their supervisor, a library aide, led them out of the room once they'd all finished the exams. The seven boys walked in a line behind her. Marui wasn't really big on running, but he wished he could run outside at that moment. They were walking way too slow, and it was taking way too long.
Jackal's group was already there waiting when Marui finally made it outside. He hurried over.
"Marui... your eyes are all red. Are you okay?" Jackal frowned and leaned close to get a better look.
"I... it's nothing. Just... the shot... hurt a little bit. It's not like I cried or anything!" Marui clutched his bento close protectively.
Jackal nodded. "Shots aren't very nice. Does it hurt?"
"A little..." Marui reluctantly admitted, flopping onto the ground in a spot that he deemed appropriate.
His best friend sat next to him, leaned over, and pressed his lips to the Band-Aid on Marui's arm. "That's what my mom does when I have an owie."
"Oh," Marui put his bento on the grass in front of him. "Does yours hurt?"
"Not really anymore. It did before..." he stopped when he saw Marui's frown. "I got my shot first, it was a long time ago."
"Nobody was there to kiss it for you."
"No, but that's okay 'cause you're here now."
Jackal's logic made perfect sense to Marui, and he was appeased. He opened his bento, setting out the separate trays so he could reach them all. "Physicals at school stink because at the doctor's office you get a lollipop if you're good. They don't have any here."
"That's true. But when you go to the doctor's office, you're sick, so you don't want candy."
"I always want candy," Marui said with all the authority a first-grader can muster.
"I have mango in my lunch, if you want some," Jackal held out a tray as offering.
Marui took a slice of the sweet fruit. "Almost as good as candy, but better 'cause it's yours." They ate hungrily - physical exams could really work up an appetite. "Oh yeah!" Marui said around a mouthful of rice, "Jyakkaru, we have to get married."
Jackal paused thoughtfully, a small frown creasing his forehead. "I thought that boys were supposed to marry girls."
"Girls are lame. I'd way rather marry you."
After another thoughtful minute, Jackal nodded. "That sounds good to me. You're better than any girl. We'll get married."
Pact made, they shared a smile of deep understanding and even deeper friendship.
"Can I have more of your-" Before he could finish the question, Jackal's tray was held towards him. He took another bite of the bright orange fruit. Sharing Jackal's mango was definitely better than candy.
Disclaimer: PoT is Konomi's sandbox; I just like to play in it once in a while.
Warnings: AR, characters as children, general cuteness
A/N: Set in the same universe as Kakurenbo. Reading that fic isn't necessary for an understanding of this one, but it is recommended. Written both for 30_kisses theme #30: kiss and for coffeecakelove's first challenge: doctors.
Better Than Candy
by Solanum Dulcamara
Marui stood in the hall with six other boys from his class. His watchful eyes tracked other groups as they were marched from room to room by faculty members. School physicals - he had mixed emotions about them. They meant that classes would be suspended for the day, which was cool. They also meant that he would be poked and prodded by a bunch of grown-ups, which was lame. His group had already been to the room where they were weighed and measured. He was young, but he was a genius, and he didn't like the way the nurse's eyebrows had risen when he stepped on the scale. They'd also finished the eye exam and the hearing test. Marui passed both, of course - piece of cake for a genius. They were waiting outside of the actual nurse's office, where an actual doctor would be seeing them. All of the exams were starting to make him hungry. His classmates chattered excitedly; someone had heard they'd be getting shots at this station. Marui's round cheeks puffed out in a pout. He didn't like shots. He didn't like these boys who acted like they were so much tougher than Marui, even though they were way dumber than him. He wanted to be in Jackal's group, but their names were too far apart alphabetically. They should get married, then they could have the same last name and they'd always be in the same groups. He would finally get to see Jackal after this station, when the whole class met up to do the physical tests outside at the track. That's why they were all wearing their P.E. uniforms.
A group of girls from his class were led out of the office. Some of them were sniffling. One was actually crying. Marui was not going to be like those girls, no matter how much he hated shots. Their school nurse led them into the office that was divided in half by a curtain. She explained that the doctor was waiting behind the curtain and would be examining them one by one in alphabetical order. Then, they'd each come out to her to receive their vaccines. Marui knew 'vaccine' meant shot. He suddenly didn't like the school nurse, who he'd always thought looked really nice before then. Matsumoto was the only person before him. Watching his classmate's lanky frame disappear behind the curtain, Marui felt bumps rise up along his skin. He rubbed his foot along the back of his calf, trying to scratch away the prickly nervous feeling. The other boys weren't talking any more. He figured that they were all looking at the chair next to the nurse. At least, he hoped he wasn't the only one staring at that chair.
Much quicker than Marui wanted, the curtain parted and Matsumoto came out. Marui did not watch him go over to the nurse. He hurried toward the part in the curtain, no matter what would happen on the other side; it had to be better than a shot. The doctor was waiting for him with a smile. He was very old and reminded Marui of his grandfather. "If you would, please take off your shirt and climb onto the examining table," the doctor's voice was deep and gravely, like it had been used for way too long. Marui laid his shirt on the counter and with effort, climbed onto the table. He wasn't quite as tall as all the other boys in his class, but he'd get there. The poking and prodding that he hated so much began. The thing with the light to look in his eyes and ears and throat. The cold stetha-something to listen to his heart and his lungs. Gloved hands pinching his joints and jabbing him in the belly. The doctor kept humming in his old man voice. Marui didn't like it. He felt like the fruit in the grocery store that his mom always squeezed before she chose which one she wanted. Finally, it was over. The doctor stepped back and smiled again, "You are a very healthy boy." Marui beamed with pride - finally, someone at these tests understood him. "You can hop down and put your shirt back on. Then head on out to Nurse Yamada." He stumbled in his jump off of the examining table. Because of all of the pinching and poking, he'd completely forgotten about the shot. He put his shirt on slowly, taking extreme care to smooth out all of the wrinkles in the cotton. He knew that no matter how long he took, he'd still have to get the shot, but it somehow seemed better if he took his time and didn't rush out there. It didn't mean he was afraid. He wasn't a sissy or anything... not like those girls. He just didn't like shots.
He could feel the doctor looking at him and hurried through the curtain. He didn't want to get in trouble. Murasaki walked past him into the curtained area, and he was left staring at the rest of his classmates and Nurse Yamada, who smiled kindly. He didn't like her in that moment, deciding that anyone who could smile before they gave you a shot was a liar and not a nice person at all. But he couldn't let his classmates think he was afraid. He gritted his teeth and lifted his chin before heading over to the chair.
"My. My. Such a severe face," Nurse Yamada's voice was gentle. More lies. Putting a needle in someone's arm was not gentle. "You can close your eyes if you'd like."
Close his eyes? Was she crazy? Then all the other boys would think he was afraid. They were looking at him, he could tell even though he wasn't looking at them. He had to show them that he was just as tough as they were, and he was smarter. "No, thanks. I'll keep them open." That didn't mean he was going to watch, though.
"As you wish." She rubbed some cold smelly stuff on his arm with a cotton swab. "Just a little pinch, now."
He held his breath. It hurt! He kept holding his breath. He was afraid that if he let it out, he'd cry. But he wasn't going to cry.
"There. Finished. Oh! You're all red," she placed a Band-Aid on his arm. It was sore.
He got up and went to stand by Matsumoto. His eyes were burning a little bit and felt a little wet, and his throat kind of ached in the back, but that didn't mean that he was going to cry. Why did they have to give these shots in front of everybody else?
Even though it was so fast for him to end up in the chair, it took forever for the rest of his group to finish. One by one, they lined up behind him at the wall by the door. Marui just wanted to meet Jackal out on the field, so they could have lunch together before all of the running and stretching and stuff.
Their supervisor, a library aide, led them out of the room once they'd all finished the exams. The seven boys walked in a line behind her. Marui wasn't really big on running, but he wished he could run outside at that moment. They were walking way too slow, and it was taking way too long.
Jackal's group was already there waiting when Marui finally made it outside. He hurried over.
"Marui... your eyes are all red. Are you okay?" Jackal frowned and leaned close to get a better look.
"I... it's nothing. Just... the shot... hurt a little bit. It's not like I cried or anything!" Marui clutched his bento close protectively.
Jackal nodded. "Shots aren't very nice. Does it hurt?"
"A little..." Marui reluctantly admitted, flopping onto the ground in a spot that he deemed appropriate.
His best friend sat next to him, leaned over, and pressed his lips to the Band-Aid on Marui's arm. "That's what my mom does when I have an owie."
"Oh," Marui put his bento on the grass in front of him. "Does yours hurt?"
"Not really anymore. It did before..." he stopped when he saw Marui's frown. "I got my shot first, it was a long time ago."
"Nobody was there to kiss it for you."
"No, but that's okay 'cause you're here now."
Jackal's logic made perfect sense to Marui, and he was appeased. He opened his bento, setting out the separate trays so he could reach them all. "Physicals at school stink because at the doctor's office you get a lollipop if you're good. They don't have any here."
"That's true. But when you go to the doctor's office, you're sick, so you don't want candy."
"I always want candy," Marui said with all the authority a first-grader can muster.
"I have mango in my lunch, if you want some," Jackal held out a tray as offering.
Marui took a slice of the sweet fruit. "Almost as good as candy, but better 'cause it's yours." They ate hungrily - physical exams could really work up an appetite. "Oh yeah!" Marui said around a mouthful of rice, "Jyakkaru, we have to get married."
Jackal paused thoughtfully, a small frown creasing his forehead. "I thought that boys were supposed to marry girls."
"Girls are lame. I'd way rather marry you."
After another thoughtful minute, Jackal nodded. "That sounds good to me. You're better than any girl. We'll get married."
Pact made, they shared a smile of deep understanding and even deeper friendship.
"Can I have more of your-" Before he could finish the question, Jackal's tray was held towards him. He took another bite of the bright orange fruit. Sharing Jackal's mango was definitely better than candy.