Title: Armor
Pairing: implied Tezuka/Fuji
Rating: G
tenipuri time prompt: resolve (40 minutes)
Warning: possible (but vague) spoilers
Disclaimer: Tezuka and Fuji own each other.
A/N: I'm not sure if I do well under time pressure... so reviews will be loved. And I think this is the first time I've written anything without a dialog. T.T
Tezuka carries his resolve like a knight bears his armor. His entire being is enveloped in this silent determination that drives him to play, to continue, to win. This resolve is the one that moves and will continue moving him toward greatness.
It gleams around him like a well-polished metal - imposing, intimidating, awe-inspiring. Everyone looks up at him, hoping to someday be able to wear armor just like his.
But like a suit of armor, Tezuka's resolve has dents and scratches. When his arm was injured, he almost quit tennis. But even with these slight flaws, he continued; he would not be hindered by mere dents. These dents and scratches are only indications that he fought, win or lose, till the very end. After all, he can't withdraw for his lord is Seigaku and his kingdom is tennis. He also knows that he has companions with whom to serve both kingdom and lord. These dents are liveries of honor.
Even the best armor, however, has slits, joints and holes to allow a knight to breathe, to see, to move. Tezuka's resolve does not fully mask him. When Inui offers a particularly potent concoction, he sweats a little. When Fuji teases, he coughs a little. When Seigaku wins, he smiles a little.
And though the knight is strong, he cannot wear his armor far too long. It is heavy and, to a tired body, it is a burden. At has to be taken off and stored in safety. During these moments, he is not Sir Tezuka but only Tezuka. He does not become vulnerable, but he becomes more human – less of a hero, more of a subject. At these times, Tezuka actually curves his lips, worrying less about court duels. He rests a little, discarding all thoughts of Seigaku and tennis.
In these instances, Fuji takes advantage. He takes Tezuka's hands to appreciate the calloused fingers of the hands that fight. He dresses the wounds of lost matches. He upholds Tezuka for all the triumphs. During these times, Fuji smiles brightly for he sees Tezuka blush and laugh and frown.
When rest is over for a knight, he wears his armor again, willing to fight anew. Fuji watches with a usual smile whenever Tezuka leads Seigaku with a fresh wave of determination. He even enjoys the times when Tezuka assigns everyone twenty laps. He does not worry at all that Tezuka seems so unreachable for though Tezuka is a hero, Tezuka is still human beneath the armor.
-End-