fic for phrenk (4/4)

[nino-mod.livejournal.com]

For: phrenk
From: jade_lil

Part 3


Chapter 4


An hour later, Nino found Ohno-san standing in front of the door of the room they were supposed to be sharing, staring at nothing. For a second there, he wondered what was wrong, why the other man was standing there when he could have just let himself in when he realized that Ohno-san didn’t have a key.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” he said, bowing his head low in apology before quickly whipping out the key to unlock the door. Ohno-san simply waved a hand at him and stood aside as he pushed the door open. “Please go on in, I’m sorry. Have you been waiting here all this time? I’m really, really sorry –“

“It’s okay, Ninomiya-san, I swear. I haven’t been here for long, don’t worry,” Ohno-san mumbled, then gestured for him to go in first. Nino did, vaguely watching Ohno-san from the corners of his eyes.

“Your bed is that one,” he said, pointing at the opposite bed before flopping himself down at the edge of the other one even though he was pretty sure the bed arrangement was obvious. Ohno-san’s workbag was on top of the other one, while Nino’s handheld games were on the other. “I did the courtesy of putting your stuffs in the dresser; I hope you don’t mind,”

“Thank you,” Ohno-san mumbled, patting the blue and yellow bedcover before he sat himself down on it. This close, Nino could see something marring the edges of the other man’s mouth that he wasn’t able to before.

“Are you okay?”

Ohno-san turned then and gave him a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I was hoping I would be,” Ohno-san said, “when I took on this job, this trip. I just. I’m not sure anymore,”

Nino frowned. He was not sure what Ohno-san was saying, what Nino was being told but it was obvious that it had something to do with how clearly unhappy the other man looked right now. Without knowing he did it, he found himself seated opposite Ohno-san, their knees almost touching.

“I – I probably won’t understand it but if you need to talk to anyone, about anything, at all,  just to you know, listen, I’m here,” he proposed, softly. Nino wasn’t sure what he’s doing, what he was saying but he figured it was the least he could do. Ohno-san sure looked like he could use the company, and well, Nino was not exactly aversed to this. He had been looking forward to spending his free-time with Ohno-san afterall.

Ohno-san’s gaze was glassy when he turned it back to Nino’s face, like he was staring at Nino but wasn’t actually seeing him. It was worrying as much as it was confusing.

“Have you ever found yourself wanting something so badly and not have it even though you did everything you could, every possible thing there is to get it, Ninomiya-san?” Ohno asked so suddenly that Nino was left speechless for a long moment to process the question before his brain was able to come up with a proper, coherent answer.

“A couple of times, yes,” he answered, wondering whether the question was deliberate, intentional, if he’d been asked about it because Ohno was well aware about Nino’s girly crush over the man himself.

“It’s hard, right?” Ohno said, without meeting Nino’s eyes. “It’s difficult, especially when you’re just about ready to give everything up to have it but couldn’t because it’s too late. You’re too late,”

“Ohno-san?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m telling you this, Ninomiya-san,” Ohno said, looking so very sad. It took Nino a while to realize that Ohno had stood up, had bowed his head to excuse himself until the other man was at the door and letting himself out without another word.


+

An hour before the supposed dinner, someone knocked on the door. Nino was currently trying out a new tie (it’s a blue and red one, a gift from George-san) and was scowling at his reflection on the mirror at how incompetent he was because he couldn’t even get it right. He’d also ditched the anti-nausea patch in favor of downing the prescription pills, two of them instead, mentally kicking himself  in the head for not finding the balls to call or message Aiba to come over and help him with it, while worrying unnecessarily about his dinner trying to escape his mouth the moment the nausea kicked in. He couldn’t, and it wasn’t just because he was pissed at Aiba for being such a terrible cockblocker when he’d never been one for as long as Nino had known him but also for something else. Nino still couldn’t pinpoint what it was; he’d already given up trying to figure it out, at least for now, knowing that he would have plenty of time to do so when they finished this job.

Another knock, louder and more insistent than the one that came before it took his attention from his own scowling reflection on the mirror.

“Just a sec,” he grunted, wondering whether that was Ohno knocking and checking his reflection on the dresser mirror once again before tugging the tie off of his neck completely and throwing it on the bed, thinking he’d have to probably ditch the tie too at this point.

Opening the door, he honestly expected it was Ohno. The man’s clothes were still here, after all, and with the planned dinner not even an hour from now, he supposed Ohno came back to shower and get dressed.

When he opened the door, however, it wasn’t Ohno.

It was Aiba.

“Hey,” said Aiba. Nino felt his pulse skip at the sight of him, annoyed at himself for obviously missing his best friend’s stupid face now that he’d seen him despite the fact that he’s pissed. He was not sure why there was that slightly painful tug in his chest at the almost but not quite smile gracing the corners of Aiba’s mouth, either. “I thought I’d help you with your tie and your anti-nausea patch that’s why I’m here,” Aiba added, looking and sounding sheepish Nino felt like hitting him.

Nino gave himself a full minute to appreciate his bestfriend’s features – the beautifully defined jawline, the slight arch of his brows, the shape of his lips, the crinkle at the corners of his eyes, and the almost unrecognizable laughlines lining the sides of his lips and eyes. Nino noted the fact that Aiba had styled his hair in a seemingly different way this time, brushing half on one side and leaving it there.

Gorgeous, his brain supplied absently and damn it if the insane urge to run his fingers through Aiba’s hair right then and there wasn’t enough to confuse the fuck out of him, then the way his heart was currently trying to beat its way out of his chest surely would. He didn’t realize he was reaching over until he almost did, thankfully catching himself midway before his fingertips were able to touch the nearest part of Aiba he could put his hands on.

“Aiba-shi –“

Aiba smiled then, soft and apologetic, and the rush of affection that washed over Nino then was too strong and admittedly too sudden he almost tripped on his own two feet in his struggle to reach Aiba as quickly as his legs would allow him, ignoring that tiny voice in his head screaming at him, asking him what the fuck he think he’s doing until he had his arms around Aiba’s waist, belatedly realizing how much he missed the warmth of Aiba’s embrace the second Aiba  folded his arms around him in return.

“Nino, I’m sorry –“

“You bastard,” he gritted, seizing the front of Aiba’s suit jacket trying hard not to cry or laugh or both. He was too damn emotional he didn’t know what was causing it, found himself with his face mashed against the fabric of Aiba’s suit as he felt Aiba’s arms wound around him from behind.

“I know, I know,” Aiba breathed into his hair, voice tender and apologetic. Nino basked at the feel of it, at the feel of Aiba’s arms wound tightly around him, soaking it in for a few lingering minutes before he was pushing him away.

“I hate you so much, I hope you know that,” he told Aiba, jabbing an angry and shaking finger against Aiba’s chest. He was still pissed but he couldn’t deny the fact that seeing Aiba here, now, after the few hours he spent worrying about him, about how he would approach the other man the next time he saw him seemed insignificant now.

He was relieved and equal-parts glad to find that Aiba still couldn’t stand the thought that they were fighting even though they were really not.

“I know,” Aiba agreed, nodding his head and tugging him back in. “I was wrong and I’m sorry,” Aiba admitted, softly, into his hair. Nino said nothing; he just went willingly into Aiba’s arms, only half-worrying about Ohno finding them like this as he breathed Aiba’s familiar scent in.


+

The dinner, as expected, was even more fabulous than the previous one they had the night before. The dining room was decorated with disco lights - something Nino still couldn’t believe Jun was able to pull through in such a short time - the tables for two were arranged in a way that every single one was pushed against the wall, leaving the very middle empty for very obvious reasons.

They were standing side by side, he and Aiba, each holding a glass of champagne and watching Jun try to charm the pants off everyone around him as he marched to the front and called Miho-san’s name. The old lady looked adorably surprised for a second before Sho went to her, took her hand in his and led her to the front at the same time Jun gestured for the band to start playing. The happy birthday tune soon began playing and everyone started singing along to it. Even from the distance, the joy on Miho-san’s face was so clear, so obvious that it was striking as it was heartwarming. Nino couldn’t help but feel more than a little proud of himself for coming up with the idea. 

Next to him, Aiba murmured something about them not preparing a gift for Miho-san and reminding himself to get her one once they docked.

Maru and Toma were currently downing the contents of their glasses. Ohno and Shihori, Nino realized belatedly, were nowhere in sight.

He frowned, unable to keep himself from wondering, worrying, where the two might be. For one, he was worried that whoever was harassing Shihori had somehow found his way to her again since the rest of them were busy at the moment, and then there was Ohno too. The last time they talked, Ohno-san hinted about something Nino couldn’t exactly place but he knew it had something to do with someone he loved dearly. An ex, perhaps? A girl or a guy, he wasn’t entirely sure.

He didn’t know he was worrying himself silly until he realized he was fidgeting, Aiba grabbing the mostly-empty champagne glass out of his hand before he spilled the rest all over himself.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Aiba asked, looking and sounding worried. Nino stared at him for what seemed like a full minute before he decided he couldn’t just stay here and worry himself sick when he could actually do something.

Namely, find Shihori and Ohno-san and make sure they’re okay.

“Gotta pee,” he lied through his teeth, “I’ll be back in a few to taste that damn cake so save half a slice for me, yeah?” he said, not giving his bestfriend any chance to stop him, as he started walking towards the dining room door .


+


He rounded the corner towards the end of the hall where Shihori and Aiba’s room was, clutching the key to his own room, muttering to himself. As expected, the hallways were mostly empty since everyone was presently gathered upstairs, celebrating Miho-san’s birthday.

“ – stop, Shi-chan, just stop!” a familiar voice prompted him to stop walking, raising his head high enough to witness Ohno-san backing Shihori to the wall and kissing her.


+


Nino knew he should go, or at least politely avert his eyes and leave them be, only he found that he couldn’t. Instead, he stayed there, practically glued on the spot he was standing on as he watched in a sort-of detached way as Ohno-san held Shihori’s face in between his hands while he kissed her.

It was probably just for a few seconds, Nino wasn’t at all sure, but it was over too quickly. Nino realized Shihori had her face turned to the side, obviously avoiding Ohno-san’s lips from catching hers again. She was, Nino noted dazedly, biting her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood as Ohno-san’s thumb stroked her jaw tenderly.

“Let me go,” Shihori said, wriggling out of Ohno-san’s grasp. Nino realized Ohno-san had one of his hands on her waist on a light but careful grip. “Satoshi, I said let me go-”

“No, Shi-chan,” he heard Ohno-san say through the noise of his own blood pounding through his ears, “not until I’m certain you are going to listen to what I have to say-”

“What else is there to say anyway?” she countered, “it’s over. We’re over. Done. You only need to sign the papers to make it official –“

“Why do you keep on insisting I sign them? I already told you, I’m not going to,” Ohno-san cut in, mouth slashed into a straight, stubborn line. Nino felt more than hear the misery on Ohno-san’s voice and he couldn’t help but remember the way he looked the first and last time they talked.

“We’ve already agreed about this, didn’t we?”

“No, we didn’t; you did,” Ohno-san said, “I respected your decision, I allowed you to leave because I thought you only needed the time to think, the space to breathe but this. I don’t want any of this. You want to punish me, fine. You want to think things over, fine. I’m not going to force you to do what you don’t want to but you can’t ask me to let you go just like that because I can’t, Shi-chan. I can’t. I know it’s my fault, I hurt you, I know that, but all I ask is for you to give me another chance, another chance to prove to you that I’m not going to fuck up again. To try it one more time, with me, just like what we promised each other,”

“Satoshi –“

Then, like every single fight he had in his body had been outright drained out of him, Ohno-san leaned in, resting his forehead against Shihori’s shoulder, his hands on Shihori’s nape and waist visibly shaking.

“I promised you that day that I’m going to love you, cherish you for the rest of my life, Shi-chan,” Ohno-san said, his voice tinged with so much misery Nino felt like weeping. “and I know I haven’t done my part well, hadn’t been the best husband a wonderful wife like you deserve but if you would just give me another chance, I’ll make it up to you. I swear, but just - not this, Shi-chan; anything but this. You can ask me for anything, anything at all but I’m not going to sign those divorce papers, Shi-chan,” Ohno-san murmured, “Please don’t make me sign them,” Ohno-san muttered in a trembling voice that made something in Nino’s chest ache, a soft, almost unrecognizable whimpery-sound escaped the back of his throat at the same time a pair of hands shot out from behind him to cover his eyes.

“There you are. I was looking everywhere for you,” then the familiar sound of Aiba’s voice ring through all the confusing chaos he’d witnessed against his will, his back hitting the front of Aiba’s chest as he was tugged off and away from the heartbreaking sight that was Ohno and Shihori.

Aiba let him go once he was sure they were at a respectable distance from where Ohno and Shihori were, Nino opening his eyes to the sight of his bestfriend’s soft and equally knowing smile. “Aiba-chan –“

“Miho-san told me to look for you,” Aiba said, thumb swiping his cheek. He didn’t realize he was crying, didn’t even know what he’s shedding his tears for. “She said you promised her a dance, so, shall we go?“



It was obviously a lie, one that Nino could tell even with his eyes closed but he guessed for now, it was best not to question it; he just nodded his head and let Aiba guide him forward, away from Ohno-san and Shihori feeling like the  biggest dumbass ever for not realizing things sooner.


+


To be honest, Nino didn’t expect Aiba to bring him back to the ongoing party upstairs; it was probably obvious that he looked obviously incapable of pretending he was fine when there were a million and things running through his head at the moment.

“Nino, give me the key,” he vaguely registered Aiba’s voice speaking to him again until he realized Aiba was snapping his fingers in front of his face, trying to get his attention. “The key, Nino,”

He blinked, held his hand out, palm spread where the key to his and Ohno-san’s room was resting. Aiba took it without a word, used it to unlock the door without missing a beat. Then he was leading Nino inside in the same hurried movement, Nino going along with it willingly.

The moment the locked turned, Nino felt as though something inside him clicked, too.

“You knew,” he exclaimed under his breath, raising his head high enough to look at Aiba, who was staring back at him seemingly more than a little worried, probably a little terrified. The anger within Nino grew. “You fucking knew and you didn’t tell me,” he seethed. He was probably being unfair, directing his anger towards someone who didn’t deserve it but he’s beyond caring now.

He was up on Aiba’s space before Aiba could blink, backing Aiba against the nearest wall. “All those fucking hints, Aiba-chan!” He half-yelled, angry at himself and at Aiba for making him look like a fool, “you couldn’t have told me he and Shi-chan –“

“I tried!” Aiba yelled back, his arms seizing Nino’s and turning them around till Nino was the one who was backed against the wall this time. “I did try, for fuck’s sake, but you didn’t want to listen!”

“You could have just told me straight to my face!”

“And you would have listened if I did?!”

“God damn it –“ he cursed, all ready to spit the words right at Aiba’s face when Aiba hissed something under his breath, grabbed him by his shoulders roughly enough to startle him, eyes wide in panic the second Aiba’s mouth descended to catch his own for a bruising kiss.


+

Nino couldn’t breathe.

He was gripping the front of Aiba’s suit jacket tightly as if his life depended on it, eyes wide open as Aiba’s mouth pressed insistently against his own. The kiss, as Nino supposed it should be, was hurried, obviously done to shut Nino up but it honestly didn’t feel like it. It probably was during the first few seconds, but now, as Nino’s fingers loosened their vice-like grip from Aiba’s suit-front absently, his eyes falling close without volition. The kiss turned out rather unexpectedly tender.

Aiba’s mouth moved against his in a way that left him breathless and giddy. Then he felt more than hear Aiba’s soft exhalation of breath against his face the second Aiba pulled away to allow the air back into their lungs; their foreheads pressed tightly together.

For a moment there, neither of them spoke. Nino realized he was still clinging tightly against Aiba’s suit-front, breathing hard, blinking rapidly into the soft fabric of Aiba’s suit, and wondering what in hell just happened.

“W-What – what was that about?” he murmured, though it was evident in the way Aiba was gasping too that whatever just happened, he wasn’t the only one who was affected by it.

Then, as if on cue, Aiba pulled away as if he’d been burned and Nino felt more than heard the panic on his bestfriend’s voice as he completely backed away.

“Fuck, N-Nino, I –“ Aiba sputtered, scrambling backwards he was almost by the door when he stopped. Nino was still too shocked and too dazed to stop him.After which, he realized his fingers were on his lips, touching them.

“I’m just – I should go,” Aiba said, hurriedly turning around and opening the door to let himself out quickly. When it closed behind him, Nino stared at it; blinking stupidly at it and going ‘bugger bugger’ under his breath.

A few minutes have passed that actually felt like hours when there was another knock on the door. Nino didn’t know he could move so fast when he wanted to, even if it was done unconsciously, crossing the short distance to the door the way he did, chest heaving hard as he yanked it open expecting to see his bestfriend.

It wasn’t Aiba though; it was Shihori. “Ninomiya-san, can I come in?” she asked in that soft tone of hers. Nino wondered whether shutting the door to her face would be better but talked himself out of it before he was able to. They’re adults, he reminded himself blithely as he pulled the door wide open to let her in, better act like one, he told himself as he closed the door behind her.

He found her standing near the bed reserved for Ohno, staring at Ohno’s bag. Nino wondered if he should ask her to sit down or just shove Ohno’s bag into her hands and chase her out. He couldn’t, though, despite the fact that he was pissed at her for watching him make a special fool out of himself by flirting with her husband.

Shihori did a quarter turn to face him before she flopped herself on the edge of Ohno’s bed. Nino remained standing where he was, crossing his arms tightly over his chest.

“About earlier, Ninomiya-san –“ she said, then paused. Nino watched her fingers fidget on the hem of her dress before his gaze wandered onto her face – to the smudges of red around her lips to the trail of black staining her cheeks. Nino could feel his anger slowly dissipate at the sight of her.

“Are you here to explain?” he asked. She tilted her head in answer. “You don’t have to, you know?”

She shook her head. “I should,” she said, smiling a little. For a moment there, Nino realized he didn’t need her explanation, nor her apologies so long as he was certain she was happy. And she looked like she was, despite the fact that she was trying to inconspicuously hide it.

Nino remembered the way Ohno had kissed her, touched her as if she was the most precious thing in his world and couldn’t avoid thinking, remembering the way he, too, had felt the same when Aiba kissed him.

“It’s about Sato – Ohno-san and I,” she said, red creeping her cheeks it was adorable. Nino’s heart went out to her and he swore the embarrassment his little crush over Shihori’s husband seemed like a distant memory now.

“What, are you going to apologize for making fun of me in silence because I was planning on stealing your husband from you?” he said, grinning. Shihori looked up, mouth agape and ended up blushing furiously red the moment their eyes meet. She probably wasn’t expecting anyone, especially him for that matter, to know her and Ohno’s supposedly little secret.

“You knew,” she breathed, and it sounded like a statement rather than a question. Nino hummed, walking towards her and sitting himself next to her without missing a beat. “I’m sorry,” she added, softly, when he finally sat down next to her.

“Not until earlier,” he told her, watching her face carefully, “and please don’t be. It’s not your fault your husband is eye-candy,” he teased, only half-joking.

She looked away, mouth curling into a half-smile. “We were supposed to get a divorce,” she said, and for a second there she looked and sounded sad. Nino couldn’t help it, he was reaching over to take her hand in his, letting her know he was there to listen.

“I thought he was okay with it, that we’d go through with it once he was ready but then a week ago, I found him in the office, talking with Joushima-san,” she said. He didn’t dare speak and just let her continue. “I didn’t know what happened but he was hired at the same time I was called into the office,”

“Did Joushima-san know about you two?”

She shook her head. “I don’t suppose he did. I never told anyone I am married, not that it mattered anyway, and I hadn’t exactly changed my name to his so it was easier. Plus, no one bothered to ask,”

“I knew I should have asked you when I had the chance,” he teased her, “it’s just that it always seemed to slip my mind when I’m talking to you,” he said. She giggled in return and he gave her hand one last squeeze before he let go. “Why do want to get a divorce anyway?” he asked, honestly curious.

She shrugged. “I thought we didn’t love each other as much as we did before,” she said, “especially him,” she added, “I mean, I thought it wasn’t there anymore, that we were better off without each other,” she mumbled, shaking her head and looking slightly annoyed with herself. “I was so stupid,”

He smiled at that, couldn’t not, because obviously, she realized she was wrong. Whatever made her doubt her husband’s feelings for her had obviously been slowly erased and Ohno’s earlier confession probably helped her realize it, too.

“So in a way, it seemed that my little crush over that fisherman-slash-dancer husband of yours helped you realize that you’re disgustingly in love with each other still and that getting a divorce is plain stupid, is that it?” he said. Shihori giggled and lightly aimed a swat against his arm as if she couldn’t help herself.

“In a way, yes,” she said, a smile dimpling her cheeks. Nino chuckled.

“Then I should probably get paid for it, seriously,” he joked. “I mean, forget the secondhand embarrassment I suffered because of all this, I honestly think I should be compensated for bringing you guys back together,” he said, expecting her to laugh at him, the way she always did when he teased her, but what he didn’t expect were her arms going around his neck so suddenly and her lips pressing a sound kiss to his cheek.

“I’ll talk to him about it, I promise,” she said, then, without warning, she turned, her lips so close to his ear, she said, “I got my man back, Ninomiya-san,” she whispered, sounding happy and equal-parts grateful. “don’t you think it’s high time you get yours too?” in that conspiratorial tone of hers that warmed him to his toes before she let him go. He frowned at her, but she merely gave him a wink and a mysterious smile to match it, leaving Nino gaping at her as she pulled away. She stood up before Nino could even ask her what she meant, watched her make her way out of the room as quietly as she had entered it.

I got my man back, Ninomiya-san. Don’t you think it’s high time you get yours too?

The realization, when it finally hit him was shocking and equal-parts aggravating he found himself staggering on his feet on his attempt to get to the door as fast as his wobbly legs would allow him, heart beating unusually fast inside his chest and his bestfriend’s name dangling at the tips of his tongue.


+


The after-dinner ballroom party was, as expected, still ongoing when Nino made it back up there. The dining hall-converted dance floor was filled with boomers, dancing and obviously having the time of their lives. Nino’s gaze went past them, past the people gathered at the center to find his bestfriend’s familiar figure among the crowd but no luck.

The first he saw was Jun and Sho, standing side by side in a dimly-lighted corner and sipping on their drinks. He was about to step forward when a slightly cold hand closed around his elbow, tugging him back before he was able to walk off.

“Kazu-kun, are you alright?” it was Miho-san. She looked at sounded worried as she stepped up to him, pressing her palm against his cheek.

“Miho-san, have you seen Aiba-chan?” he asked her, tugging her aside as gently as he could manage it. He probably sounded as hurried as he felt though it was kinda difficult; with the way he was gazing past her shoulders to check the crowd behind her for any sign of Aiba, he knew she could tell he was not okay. “I’ve been looking around for him but I couldn’t find him,” he explained.

He wasn’t sure what was particularly good at what he said but nevertheless, it made Miho-san smile. Before he realized it, she was folding her arms around him, tugging him into one of the warmest embrace he had ever received in his life.

“Near the back, he’s drinking with Toma-kun and Maru-kun,” she whispered, squeezing him tight; “go, Kazu-kun, go.”

“Thank you,” he pressed a kiss into her forehead, smiling gratefully. “I’ll see you later, yeah?”

“Yes, now go.”

+

He found Aiba near the back, just as Miho-san told him. He wasn’t drinking with Toma or Maru though, but dancing with someone Nino didn’t recognize. Nino was sure Aiba saw him as soon as he arrived but looked like he was busy pretending he didn’t, as he wormed his arms around his partner’s waist. Nino felt his annoyance increased tenfolds at the sight.

“Aiba-chan, can I talk to you for a minute?” he said, vaguely seeing Toma dragging Maru away one-handedly. Aiba continued to act like he hadn’t heard a thing.

“Aiba Masaki, are you deaf?” he half-yelled, vaguely aware that he was attracting attention to himself but he didn’t care. Damn it but Aiba should have expected this after what he did earlier. He really should have. “I said I need a minute, so if you could be a darling and tell the lovely lady you’d have to leave for a bit and that you’ll be back to dance with her later because I swear to god if you’re not here in two seconds I’m going to throw myself off the ship and I don’t care if you have to jump off to follow me,” he said, turning around and marching away, half-hoping Aiba would follow and half-expecting he would be disappointed as he stalked his way towards the nearest exit.


+


He didn’t even need to walk very far, opting on leaning back against the hallway’s wall leading to their rooms knowing that the chances of anyone walking past them at this hour was the slightest since everyone was still at the dining hall. Nino spied Aiba rounding the corner, tie loosened, hair no longer perfectly styled as it was the first time Nino saw it but Nino couldn’t deny the fact that Aiba still looked as gorgeous as ever. Nino found it difficult to look away, wondering how on earth he only realized this now, how in hell he didn’t see any of this before.

Or maybe he did, maybe he’d always known it, this affection he had for Aiba that somehow always seemed to be more than what was supposed to be. He’d known it, of course, of course, only he didn’t think acting on it was the right way to go then. They were best friends after all, and despite Nino’s admittedly countless faults as a person, messing up his relationship with a friend, most of all his best friend, wasn’t one of them.

But what happened earlier completely changed Nino’s perspective about the whole thing; the kiss Aiba gave him earlier, the way he’d been acting around Nino lately too had only cemented the fact that both of them had been trying to keep their feet from crossing that forbidden line for years, at least until today.

Aiba looked uneasy as he walked the rest of the way towards him, stopping when he was a few feet away from Nino, copying Nino’s stance when he was close enough to do so by leaning back against the wall next to Nino. For a few minutes, no one talked; the air between them felt heavy and Nino found it hard to breathe through it.

“Kazu, I –“

“Don’t you dare tell me you’re sorry because I swear to my grandmother’s grave that the moment I hear you say it, I’m going to punch you so hard until you take it back,” he cut in, not bothering raising his head lest he would lose his admittedly tiny courage he was able to gather on his way here once he saw the uncertainty marring his bestfriend’s forehead.

“I wasn’t going to,” Aiba said, voice low, soft; Nino felt like closing his eyes and crossing the short distance separating them, that insane urge to press himself against his best friend’s side to borrow the familiar warmth of Aiba’s body was too strong he could barely resist it but he held himself.

“What were you going to say then?” he countered, tasting something awful beneath his tongue at the silence that followed after.

“I don’t know, really,” Aiba mumbled. “an apology for doing something I shouldn’t have done maybe?”

“I’ll accept that apology,” he said, bravely; “but only if you tell me you didn’t mean it.”

“Nino –“

“So, tell me,” he cut in, knowing he was being unfair but to hell with it. Aiba couldn’t just expect him to forget it, or to shut up about it either. “If you didn’t mean it, just say so and I won’t ask you again. We’ll leave this behind us, forget it ever happened,”

“You want me to be honest with you?” Aiba asked a moment later.

“Obviously,”

“I love you,” Aiba said, voice just loud enough for Nino to hear.

“Of course you do,” he countered, not giving himself enough reason to hope that this was going into the direction he was hoping it would, and scared it might be the case afterall. Having his heart broken twice in a day had to be the worst thing ever, especially when he knew the second one would hurt a thousand times worse than the first.

But to be honest, he wasn’t even that much upset about his failed attempt with Ohno, not after he learned the truth about him and Shi-chan but this? His bestfriend kissing him and telling him he did it just to shut him up would kill him, he just knew it.

“We wouldn’t be friends, let alone best friends if you didn’t,” he followed, steeling his resolve enough to raise his head to look at Aiba. “It’s kind of a given, don’t you think?”

“Shall I rephrase it for you, then?” Aiba said, sounding and looking weary. “I’m in love with you,” Aiba admitted, “and I have been for a while now,” he added. Nino blinked and blinked, feeling a little disoriented as he stared at his bestfriend’s unsmiling face.

“Y-You’re kidding.”

“You know I’m not, Nino,” Aiba said, “you told me to be honest, so I’m being honest. Please don’t make me lie to you by taking it back because I can’t – I won’t, I’m sorry.”

It took him a long while to come up with a proper answer, but even then it still felt and sounded ridiculous even in his own ear when he said it.

“But I thought you were straight!”

The corner of Aiba’s mouth twitched. “I thought so too,” he said, “until you came along and fucked everything up.”

“What?”

Somehow, it made perfect sense for Aiba to cross the tiny distance between them then, for Aiba to pull him into his bestfriend’s arms as if it was the most natural thing. Somehow, Nino found himself leaning further into that familiar warmth without even realizing it.

“I was straight, I swear to god I was, at least up until seven years ago when you sashayed your way into Joushima-san’s office like a common jerk,” Aiba explained joking and Nino could hear the smile on his voice even without seeing his face, Aiba’s lips pressed into the side of his temple the way he’d done so many times before. Only this time, everything about the gesture felt different, and Nino could feel the effect of it down to the marrow of his bones. “Then you smiled at me the first time and I swear it felt like something had hit me with a sledgehammer; you only had to smile that one smile of yours and it was as if you had me signed up for a lifelong deal even without saying anything.”

“I – “ he stuttered, fingers clutching the front of Aiba’s suit, wondering how in hell he didn’t see it. “why didn’t you say anything, then? If that was the case, don’t you think I have a right to know?”

“You wouldn’t have believed me,” Aiba said, softly enough that the sound of his voice almost got lost in between the noises Nino’s heart was making inside his chest. “I told you just now and you still wouldn’t believe me, what more if I did it back then? I’m sure it wouldn’t have boded well. I’d have lost you immediately and that’s – that’s the thing I can’t stand. Just the thought of it, just the thought of losing you because of my selfishness scares me, Nino, so I didn’t. It’s better to keep this a secret than to tell you and then lose you in the end instead.”

God, if that didn’t make him feel like a million dollar, Nino didn’t’ know what else would. He felt like hugging the shit out of his best friend now, maybe catch him off guard with a kiss the same way Aiba did to him but he didn’t think he had enough courage to do it. At least not yet. “Is that why you hate Ohno-san?”

“I told you I don’t hate him,” Aiba said, “I just. I was jealous,” Aiba admitted, sounding pained. Nino couldn’t help it, he giggled, digging his nose into the front of Aiba’s chest. “Of course, laugh at my pain why don’t you?”

“You’re stupid,” he said, voice muffled by the fact that he still had his face mashed against the fabric of his bestfriend’s suit. “I mean, seriously, I never stand a chance, what with the fact that he was head over heels with Shi-chan. Also, didn’t you know that he’s married to her?” he asked, frowning.  “I thought you did,”

“What?”

“They’re married but were supposed to get a divorce, only Ohno-san didn’t want to. Said the reason why he joined the company was to convince her not to go through with it.”

“I seriously didn’t know that,” Aiba said, sounding shocked, maybe a little surprised. “I swear I didn’t know that there’s more to what I saw the night before, to what they obviously didn’t want us to know,” Aiba explained, tugging him back when he tried to pull away. He wasn’t sure why every single familiar gesture now felt so different when they weren’t so before. “but after I saw him and Shi-chan last night –“

“You should have told me, you know?”

Aiba squeezed him in answer. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

He chuckled. “Aiba-chan, I’m not in love with the man,” he said, fingering the collar of Aiba’s dress shirt before purposely letting his hand work its way to Aiba’s jaw and keeping it there. “To be honest, I don’t even like him that much, but I just thought that since you went through all the trouble to think that I would, eventually, I told myself why not give it a try? At least Matsumoto won’t be the only happy guy in the group.”

“Right,” Aiba said, “remind me not to involve myself in your future affairs from now on, then.”

He smiled at that, couldn’t not, feeling warm at the fact that this, right here, was the one thing he’d been waiting for. He didn’t know it was even possible to feel this happy, but it turned out he didn’t have to wonder anymore. He only needed to make sure he and Aiba wanted the same thing and that they were willing to jump over that line they both unconsciously agreed they wouldn’t cross and that was that.

“Sure,” he agreed, forming a loose fist against the hem of Aiba’s suit as he pushed himself up and pressed himself closer to nuzzle his best friend’s chin. “Though, if you ask me, I’d say, why won’t you become my future affair instead?” he asked, giggling at how ridiculously cheesy that came out. Aiba stiffened against him in answer and Nino realized he doubted himself again.

Hiding his face into the crook of Aiba’s neck, he sighed, worming his arms around Aiba’s waist.

“But it’s okay if you don’t want to,” he said, “I’ll completely understand it if you think we shouldn’t – I mean –“

“I – Nino, are you serious?”

“I’m in love with you, too.” he said instead, pushing his face further into Aiba’s neck, clinging to that familiar warmth that was Aiba’s body, and knowing that this, right here, was where he knew he’d always wanted to be. “so, yes, of course, I’m serious,”

“Oh god,” Aiba exclaimed, in wonder and in glee Nino didn’t know anymore; he couldn’t, he hadn’t the chance to ponder over it when there were fingers grasping his chin and then there was Aiba’s mouth claiming his for a kiss that was both fierce and tender he was gasping for breath trying to kiss Aiba back, clinging unto Aiba’s arms desperately.


+


At three o’clock next day, Nino and his four boomers, along with the rest of FOREVER YOUNG and their clients, docked off of the cruise ship with minimal fuzz. Everyone seemed happy despite the obvious fact that they were all still trying to get their balance back now that they were on solid ground again.

He was in the middle of dropping Rika-san and Miho-san’s bags when Jun approached him.

“Client meeting the day after tomorrow, so we expect you to be in the office the day before,” Jun told him. He nodded and went  back to check out the ladies’ other bags when he realized Jun hadn’t left. In fact, he was staring at Nino thoughtfully.

“What?”

“You look – different,” Jun said.

“Different how?”

“You seem – happy,” Jun said. “I don’t know, it’s – kind of weird,”

He grinned. “Stop psychoanalyzing me, you creep,” he told Jun though he knew he was smiling like a lunatic. Well, it wasn’t like he couldn’t help it, really. “Seriously, go away.”

“Oh my god, what happened to you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he countered, smile still in place. “Leave me alone already.”

“You look so happy it’s actually kinda scary,” Jun commented, though it didn’t escape Nino that Jun was grinning too.

“Well, apparently, multiple orgasms can do that to you,” he said, “so go try it. I’m sure Sho-chan would be very much willing to accommodate you.”

“I hope you know that I hate you so much right now, god.” Jun mumbled, red-faced, before he turned completely around.

Nino grinned. “Don’t worry, the feeling is mutual, Matsumoto.”


+


“I see that you look so much happier now than the first time I met you,” Miho-san told him as he was handing her other stuff over. Behind him, he met Aiba’s gaze and felt himself shiver at the memory of Aiba’s mouth on him the night before, of his own tracing Aiba’s body tirelessly.

He blushed, tried his best to hide it behind one of her bags but was obviously failing. He froze when he remembered something she said to him the day before, then shaking his head when he realized everyone must have known he and Aiba had this thing going on for what seemed like forever but neither of them noticed it.

“You think so?”

“I know so,” she smiled and gave his arm a squeeze which he reciprocated with a smacking kiss to her cheek. He stepped away, nodding at Aiba who was also helping his charges with their bags wondering where he would end up spending the night later. He grinned, knowing that it didn’t matter where it would be so long as he was with Aiba.

He turned to her and hitched her and Rika-san’s bags up his shoulders. “Shall we go, ladies?”


-End-