Title: Reciprocated Warmth
Words: 609
Summary: In which Ryoma is cold and Tezuka shares his jersey with him. :3


It's cold, the skies are darkening, the clouds are getting heavier, and Ryoma forgot his tennis jersey at home. He shivers when slivers of cold wind spiral their way around his neck and down his body. Tennis practice is over and his cheeks are still flushed. His hair, however, drips trails of liquid cold down his neck and his body temperature is cooling rather quickly.

He frowns, rubbing his towel through his hair. The thick material is damp, heavy with droplets of water. He can't change into his school uniform though, because Horio spilled his can of Ponta all over it. He scowls darkly at the thought, because Ryoma isn't exactly happy with walking home when the temperature will only continue to decline as the minutes tick by. He shoves the towel hastily into his tennis bag, uncaring that his hair is still not dry. If he doesn't hurry up then he'll regret walking home and not calling his idiot father to pick him up. Ryoma has never been very fond of the cold or having Nanjiroh pick him up.

Ryoma zips up his bag and pushes off the bench. He's the only one left and Oishi probably locked the door from the outside already. With a disgruntled expression on his face, Ryoma trudges towards the entrance and pushes the door open harshly.

It doesn't swing open smoothly but hits something; he hears a grunt of pain. Ryoma blinks in surprise. "Buchou," he says, mildly surprised that Tezuka was still there. He didn't see Tezuka at all today at practice; Oishi had been supervising.

Tezuka rubs his chest gingerly. "Echizen." He eyes as the water dripping onto Ryoma's shoulder leaves the polyester an opaque white. Tezuka doesn't have to look to know that there is a large wet patch trailing down his back, but he can see that all Ryoma is wearing is the tennis shirt with nothing else beneath.

"Wait for me," says Tezuka with a frown, and so Ryoma does, watching curiously as Tezuka goes to his locker to retrieve his bag. He doesn't bother changing out of his uniform or taking a shower since he'd only been discussing a few things with Ryuuzaki that day. Tezuka is back by Ryoma's side and ushers him out so that he can lock the clubroom door behind him.

When they make it pass the school gates they're greeted by a chilly breeze. Ryoma shudders violently, not at all prepared for just how icy the wet shirt feels.

"It's cold," he mumbles unhappily, rubbing his arms to get rid of the tiny little goose bumps.

"You should have brought your jersey." Tezuka doesn't mean to sound reproachful, but the sulk on Ryoma's face is answer enough.

"Che." Ryoma doesn't say anything else and speeds up his gait. He's cold and shivering and Tezuka rebuking him is the last thing he wants.

"Ryoma," he calls out. Ryoma doesn't reply. Tezuka's frown deepens when he realizes Ryoma is ignoring him. With a sigh he unzips his jersey and lengthens his stride. Within moments he's right behind Ryoma and then in another second he wraps his arms around the shorter boy. Ryoma starts with surprise and tilts his head back to look up at Tezuka. Tezuka smiles and zips his jersey just enough so that Ryoma would be comfortable. Ryoma reaches out his hands to grip onto the warm arms draped across his shoulders.

Slowly the corners of his lips curl up into a satisfied smirk. He snuggles backwards, adjusting his pace to match with Tezuka's. "It's not cold anymore."

Tezuka gives him a disapproving stare. "You still should have brought your jersey."