Love is like Tennis

Summary:

Tezuka lost a bet to Sanada in a tennis match. Now, he had to pay up.
Shounen-ai, Sanada-Tezuka, one-shot.

"Game and match, Sanada, 7-6!" the referee called out.

The two players approached the net and shook hands. "Nice game."

For the first time, Tezuka Kunimitsu was shaken by losing a match. As he left the court, he held himself tightly, walking with calm measured steps to the locker room. A calm that he did not feel. In a moment of discomfort, he had let his guard down. Now, he had to pay the price. "Tezuka, if you lose this match, you just have to do it once. It's a win-win. I'll leave you alone, either way."

He had spent longer than he intended, collecting his gear, packing and repacking his bag. Sanada was all ready packed, leaning nonchalant against the door frame, watching with unreadable expression in his dark gaze.

"Let's go. I pay off my debt promptly." He blushed slightly, glad that his voice did not shake ... much. "Your place or mine?"

"Mine." Sanada turned around and led the way.

Sanada's house was full of straight lines. That was the first impression he had before he was pressed against the wall, Sanada towering over him. He gasped as Sanada's fingers tangled in his hair, tilting his head backward. Sanada kissed him, hard, demanding and forceful. His first impulse was to push Sanada back for this invasion. Instead, he suppressed it. He held himself still and waited for Sanada to end it. It felt like a lifetime before Sanada pulled back and released him.

"You're supposed to kiss back." Sanada's voice was deep, soft, slightly teasing.

"Aa. Sorry. I'll try." He felt warm and uncomfortable. Knew that he was blushing furiously and couldn't help it.

"Do you even know how?" Sanada was amused when he saw Tezuka turned even redder and started staring at his shoes. He had felt Tezuka tensed, then fought against his instinct, to allow the liberties Sanada was taking with him. So ... Tezuka was serious about fulfilling his part of the bargain. "Your first time?" A slight nod was his only response.

Sanada backed off to give Tezuka some space. He set his tennis bag beside his closet. Tezuka seemed to lose a little of his panicked look. "We could do this another time. I'm not in a hurry to collect." From the corner of his eye, he watched warring expressions flitted across Tezuka's face. Inwardly, he was disappointed. Not surprised, but still, he couldn't help hoping that he was wrong. Tezuka was straighter than a ruler. There was no doubt about it. No way he could win against biology.

"N .. no. Let me ... uh ..."

Sanada held out his right hand, testing Tezuka's resolve. Tezuka steeled himself before walking towards him. Tezuka's left hand tentatively slipped into his right. He did not stop. He stepped into Sanada's personal space, pressed himself against Sanada's solidity and tilted his head back. It was almost too painful for Sanada to witness. Like watching a rabbit forcing himself to walk into the lion's den. Gently, he bent down to seal the kiss. Slow sensuous lick to the lower lip till Tezuka parted his lips. Tongue took the invitation to explore palate. Slow and steady. Tip slipped down to brush against Tezuka's. Felt him tried to respond in kind, clumsy and stiff.

Sanada wrapped his left hand around Tezuka's waist. Tezuka tensed, then relaxed again. He pulled Tezuka closer while bending forward, forcing him slightly off-balanced. Tezuka compensated by wrapping an arm around his shoulders to steady himself. He broke their kiss to trail light kisses along Tezuka's jaw line. Step by step, he told himself. Tezuka tilted his head to accommodate him. He moved on to lick the shell of Tezuka's ear. Tezuka's breath hitched. Another tense moment before Tezuka relaxed again.

Next, he slipped his hand under Tezuka's shirt to stroke the dip of his spine. Like lightning, Tezuka pushed against him, stumbling back till he tripped over the sofa. He stayed frozen for a moment, dazed look in his eyes, breath heaving unevenly, trying to hold back a panic attack. "S ... Sorry. Sorry. I ... sorry. I..."

"... can't do it." Sanada finished for him. He made no move towards Tezuka. Left him there on the sofa till he calmed down. Watching the man he had been attracted to this entire time try to regain his composure. That was when he decided. "Tezuka," he said gently. When he had Tezuka's attention, he looked deep into the muddled eyes. "Go home."

"What?"

"Go home. You don't have to do this. I release you from the bet. It was a stupid thing anyway." He said gruffly.

"But ..."

"You're not ready. You'll never be. Forget it ever happened." It was one-sided after all, always had been. That was all the answer he was going to get. He just can't fight biology.

"But ... I gave my word. I never go back on my word."

"Tezuka. Go home. Right now. Before I lose control. Before you lose whatever respect we still have for each other." Before I damage you irrevocably. Before you hurt me more than I could take.

"Sorry," Tezuka mumbled at his shoes.

"Look, I like you. I care about what happens to you. So, trust me on this. If this goes any further today ... you will get hurt."

The confession was like a splash of cold water. Tezuka snapped out of his anxiety, his pride stung. Honour questioned. His stubbornness came forth. "Sex is like tennis, right? If you would be patient with me, I'll learn and practice. With some training, I'll be ready."

"Damned it!" Sanada snapped. "Don't tempt me. Just go."

"Sorry. I ... see you tomorrow." Sanada growled in frustration as the door closed. Sex is not like tennis. Not to him.

The next day, Tezuka followed Sanada home again. It was hard to say no when Tezuka got stubborn. It began a month of lessons. Excruciatingly slow steps. Kiss, touch, caress, embrace, respond. Sometimes, Tezuka would panic and barricade himself in the bathroom, dying of mortification. Sometimes, Sanada would abruptly bundled Tezuka out the door. Sometimes, they would spend the night cuddled together. Training. Tennis training during the day. Another kind of training during the night. Sometimes, it's good to be wrong.

Eventually, Tezuka got over his inhibitions. Taught his body to respond to certain cues. Taught himself things that would make Sanada groan, and sigh, and growl, and even smile. It took a long time to pay off a bet. Exactly one month after they first kissed.

As they went on for the second month, Tezuka moved out of his apartment into Sanada's. They kept separate bedrooms, though both were rarely occupied at the same time. Sometimes, Tezuka wondered, who had actually paid whom for that bet. He still blushed shyly when a pretty girl flirted with him. If asked, he could honestly say he liked girls. But, he had learned to love Sanada Genichirou. That was all that truly mattered.

Love is like tennis. It's not easy. It doesn't come naturally. It requires patience and understanding. It needs time and trust. It takes a lot of hard work, repetitive practice, and carefully planned training, but he could learn. He could learn it well.