Title: You Gotta Earn It
Summary: Takao makes Shin-chan fight for what he wants.
Warnings: (Sexy) Cross-dressing?
Notes: Happy birthday Takao! I wish I could have made a graphic to post on tumblr as well but alas...working life is not letting me off. Hope you guys will enjoy this fic on our precious boy's birthday!
Midorima Shintarou drums his taped fingers on the rear car, patience running thin because Takao is supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago and he has strict principles about punctuality. What's the point of leaving early when he's just going to wait after that? He's seriously contemplating leaving Takao behind and going home by himself (not with the rear car of course), until the offender shows up, strolling towards him without a hint of remorse.
The moment Takao is within earshot, Midorima brusquely says, "What took you so long?"
"Relax Shin-chan," Takao replies flippantly. "I was just catching up with my middle school friend. We were in the basketball club in middle school together. He made it into the first-string you know?"
Honestly, Midorima didn't give two hoots about that. Their match was over, they won by a landslide (it was only the qualifiers after all), and it was time to head back. They were supposed to get their rear car together after the game since Midorima disliked having to bump shoulders with the crowds pouring out of Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, but when Takao spotted his middle school friend and told Midorima he would catch up, the latter didn't know they'd be taking so long.
"That's good to know," Midorima says sarcastically. "Can we go?"
"Yeah, sure," Takao sighs, wondering what's gotten Midorima's panties in a bunch and throws his fist up for an obligatory round of janken.
However, the wilful ace ignores the invitation for a game and hops into the rear car, huffing defiantly.
"You're pedalling," he says with finality. "That's for making me wait."
Takao gapes at Midorima's bratty logic. What a thing to say to someone who declined the team's invitation for dinner just so he can cart his princess back home! But what Midorima lacked, Takao had an abundance of, case in point, patience. So he squares his shoulders and dumps his sports bag into the back before swinging his leg over the bicycle seat, grumbling under his breath.
He loves Shin-chan, but Takao's starting to think he's going to need a support group for dating a member of the Generation of Miracles.
Takao hums a tune to himself as he bends over and picks the basketballs off the floor. He tries to carry more than three at a time just to see if he could do it. The answer is no, because his arms are not long enough. Even though the qualifying matches are almost completed, he and Midorima still diligently stay for extra practice. It's more like Midorima stays for extra practice while Takao accompanies him so they can spend more quality time and go home together. Usually, he throws in a few minutes of dribbling exercises.
Takao's dutifully picking up the basketballs and depositing them into the cage where they belong, lest the captain calls them out on being irresponsible seniors and gives him an earful, since Midorima seemed to get away with everything.
The work is half done when Takao looks over to his partner, who's standing by the benches with a towel draped across his broad shoulders, cell phone in one hand and a bottle in another. He looks pretty adorable squinting at his phone and frowning at it. Takao presumes it's the ongoing chat he has with the rest of the Generation of Miracles.
Apparently, it was started by Kuroko, who created a group chat and added each player under the reason that they should keep in contact with each other. That they did, because Midorima's been more attentive to his phone lately. From the peeks Takao gets with his Hawk Eyes, it's mostly about Kuroko being lowkey savage, Kise showcasing his talent for spelling errors, Aomine sending memes, Akashi being Akashi, Murasakibara with his occasional replies, and Midorima being disappointed in himself for associating with these people. It's entertaining.
And now, Midorima was typing something with his free hand.
Hey, he's typing. Which means he's replying. Which also means he's free and shirking his responsibilities while Takao is here, cleaning up for him.
"Shin-chan, why am I picking up all the basketballs when you're the one who shot them?" he questions pointedly.
"I'm busy," Midorima replies absentmindedly, fingers flying over the keypad.
"Entertaining Aomine's latest memes hardly counts as busy."
Midorima looks up and notices Takao's raised brows before surveying the court and determining that the work is almost complete.
"You're almost done. Just help me with the rest," he states and continues typing his long message.
"What am I, your servant?"
"Yes," Midorima answers without missing a beat.
Takao waits for him to realize what he said and perhaps tell him that he misheard or is joking, but it seems that Midorima believed Takao is indeed his personal servant.
"Seriously?" Takao asks ludicrously and shakes his head at Shin-chan's blatant exploitation of his kindness and overall presence.
When Midorima doesn't pay him any heed, he exclaims, "I'm not your servant!" and throws the basketball at him. "And that was a rhetorical question!"
The green-haired giant dodges the basketball in time and glares at Takao, "What!"
"You're mean," Takao says simply, jabbing an accusing finger in his direction. "Very mean."
Midorima doesn't seem to think that he's doing anything wrong so Takao decides to teach him a thing or two about not taking other people's (specifically your boyfriend's) kindness for granted.
"From today onwards, you are hereby stripped of the privilege of hanging out with me," Takao announces with a fake-judge voice. "Also means you are denied of my company, until you know how to appreciate my presence!"
"Takao seriously?"
"I'm not kidding Shin-chan," he challenges, then says in a sing-song voice. If you want my company, you're going to have to earn it."
True to his word, Takao avoids Midorima like the plague and the shooting guard doesn't last 3 days until he's fed up with Takao ignoring him with a flick of his head, nose pointed up. It's so weird having to do everything by himself and Takao's absence was like the lack of a fireplace on a cold winter's night. Lack of a blanket too. And a cup of cocoa while we're at it.
So yes, Takao's presence is an essential part of his everyday life, a privilege that he seemed to have abused. Maybe he had been a little too straightforward about the servant issue, but it's not like he meant it. He was just not thinking properly. Surely Takao knew that right?
Even if he did, he was still dedicated to meting out his punishment and Midorima was starting to experience withdrawal symptoms from the lack of Takao. Every brush of the fingers when Takao turned to pass the class notes along was like a spark of electricity that died the moment it ignited. Every eye contact during practice lit a fire in his belly. And every lunch break without him was lonely, oh so lonely.
Deciding that this cannot go on (he doesn't want to keep jerking off to thoughts about the point guard after all), Midorima turns to the people he thought he could rely on. It's a school night when he opens up the chat group and types out his message.
Group Chat: when we're not trying to one up each other
Midorima: How do you get someone to hang out with you?
Aomine: you want someone to hang out with you? that's new.
Kise: midorimacchi! u're making new frends?!
Midorima: It's not a new friend*. It's Takao.
Kuroko: Why do you need Takao-kun to hang out with you when he already does it against his better judgment?
Kise: #roasted
Aomine: sick burn delivered by tetsu at 8:33 pm
Midorima: You know I really didn't want to come to you guys for help but because you're the cause of all this, you have to help me.
Midorima: Without all the sass.
Kise: whhhaaatt? what did we even do?
Aomine: cause of all of what?
Murasakibara: mido-chin, I think you mean the rest, I'm all the way in akita.
Murasakibara: how can I cause you problems?
Kuroko: Midorima-kun, maybe you should tell us what the problem is, so we can help you solve your relationship woes again.
Midorima: damn you kuroko
Midorima: And all of you are involved, because it was this chat that got me into trouble.
Akashi: Now everyone, let Midorima tell us his problem. What happened with Takao?
Midorima: …
Midorima: I called Takao my servant.
Aomine: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Kise: omggg midorimacchi! that's so mean!
Murasakibara: uh oh
Akashi: Isn't he?
Kise: omg akashicchi
Akashi: I'm kidding.
Aomine: omg
Kuroko: Midorima-kun, you have a talent.
Midorima: Are you all quite finished?
Aomine: yes
Aomine: no wait
Aomine: HAHAHAHHAHAA
Kuroko: I don't see how this is our fault?
Midorima: …Remember we were talking in this chat 3 days ago?
Midorima: And Aomine was flooding us with frog memes?
Aomine: oh yeah, that was good.
Midorima: I was too busy reading through the messages when Takao asked me "what am I, your servant?" and I replied "yes".
Aomine: good lord
Akashi: Sounds like it was a rhetorical question.
Midorima: I didn't know it was a rhetorical question!
Midorima: And you all distracted me!
Midorima: Take responsibility!
Kuroko: What else did he say?
Midorima: He said "From today onwards, you are hereby stripped of the privilege of hanging out with me. Also means you are denied of my company, until you know how to appreciate my presence!"
Aomine: HAHAHAHHA THIS IS GREAT
Midorima: Can someone remove Aomine from this chat.
Kuroko: No.
Kise: looks like u got urself in a pinch~
Murasakibara: just give him some sweets. works all the time.
Midorima: He is not you, Murasakibara.
Kuroko: Congratulations Midorima-kun, you have outdone yourself this time.
Midorima: Why did I ever think this was a good idea.
Akashi: From what he said, he just wants his presence to be appreciated no?
Midorima: I suppose…
Akashi: Why not be his servant for a change?
Midorima: omg
Kuroko: That is a terrible idea, Akashi-kun.
Aomine: fuck no it's great! DO IT.
Kise: u could go for the butler look midorimacchi! i have costumes u can borrow ;)
Murasakibara: nah, mido-chin is too tsun for this idea to work.
Midorima: I am deleting myself from this chat and none of you are going to add me back.
Midorima Shintarou has left the conversation.
Midorima Shintarou has been added to the conversation.
Midorima: God damn you all.
Kuroko: Look, what Akashi-kun said the first time is right.
Kuroko: Takao-kun just wants his presence to be appreciated.
Kuroko: So show him that you do.
Midorima: How do you do that?
Kuroko: omg
Aomine: the usual shit you know. chocolates and flowers.
Midorima: He's not Momoi.
Aomine: well damn fuck if I know! idk what he likes!
Kise: that's it! what does takaocchi like?
Murasakibara: yeah, just do the stuff he likes.
Midorima frowns. Takao likes it when he peppers kisses down the back of his neck, because that's where he's the most sensitive. But he doesn't think they're referring to such things. And there's no way he's going to divulge such private information.
Akashi: Can I make some suggestions?
Midorima: Can you not.
Akashi: #rude
Akashi: #horsebackriding #kyotosightseeing #t10coursemeal #museumvisits #suitshopping #minigolf #mansionhunting
Midorima: …
Midorima: Thank you for your input.
Akashi: You're welcome.
Murasakibara: does taka-chin like sweets? there's a new shop opening in tokyo soon~
Midorima: For the last time Murasakibara, he doesn't like sweets the way you're obsessed with it.
Murasakibara: booooo
Kuroko: Ask him what he wants.
Kise: just do everything that he asks! like a butler ;)
Midorima: Why are we back to the servant idea.
Aomine: BDSM
Midorima: You're all useless.
To be fair, they weren't completely useless. Akashi did highlight the point that Takao just wanted to be appreciated and Aomine started the ball rolling on what Takao likes, even though all their ideas were still shit.
With a severe lack of ideas and overall experience in this sort of thing, Midorima was at a loss of what to do. Until his phone vibrates and a private message arrives from Kuroko several minutes after he decided to ignore his friends.
Private Chat: Kuroko Tetsuya
Kuroko: Just show him that you care.
Kuroko: Small acts of kindness and affection. You don't have to be extravagant to tell someone you care about them.
Kuroko: It's the little moments that count.
Midorima blinks at his phone in surprise. Kuroko could be a shady troll, but he was still full of good advice and sometimes, intentions. Somehow, his messages made him feel a little better and more confident that he could end the silent treatment from his infuriating partner. He was glad they were conversing through digital media, he didn't want to sound too grateful after all.
Midorima: I'll keep that in mind.
Midorima: …Thanks.
Kuroko: I expect hourly updates on the progress of fixing your stupid mistake.
Kuroko: Live-tweeting is fine.
Midorima: Goodnight.
Kuroko's advice turns out to be manageable, because small steps aren't too hard even for a tsundere like Midorima. He finally starts trying to earn back Takao's presence during practice.
It all began when he pissed the captain off and was made to run an indefinite number of laps until the captain was satisfied. Not one to challenge authority despite being not understanding what exactly he did wrong, Midorima sucked it up and started jogging.
He was on his third round when he was joined by a familiar presence. Looking to his side, he's surprised to find Takao running beside him when he was supposedly ignoring him.
"Don't look at me like that," Takao says, avoiding his gaze. "I pissed the captain off too."
A likely story, Midorima thinks but does not say. Secretly glad, he continues with the laps as Takao runs alongside him.
They ran for what seemed like a hundred rounds until a first year comes to tell them they could stop. When Midorima does stop, his legs are shaking and Takao was no different. Except Takao was panting much harder and sporting a nasty blister on the skin above his heel.
"Takao, you got a blister."
The point guard looks down at his foot and sure enough, there's an angry, red blister where his sock was supposed to cover.
"Ah shit, it's these socks," he breathes heavily as he tries to catch his breath. "They keep slipping down. Don't worry about it."
Midorima frowns at it but it's not like he can do anything to will the blister away. What he could do though, was take small steps. So he strides off in the opposite direction, missing the pout Takao makes. Midorima returns with a bottle of sports drink and his favourite oshiruko in a matter of minutes, relieved that Takao was still resting on the benches.
He holds the bottle by its cap and taps it once against Takao's burning cheek, startling him a little.
"It's isotonic," he states lamely.
Takao gazes at him for a while and Midorima catches the glint in his eyes as the raven-haired boy accepts the drink with a "Thanks." He finds a sense of satisfaction swelling in his heart and Midorima admits, small acts of kindness feel pretty good.
When they're heading off after practice, Midorima drags Takao with him out of the court against the latter's protest.
"Where are you taking me?" he questions. "You're not off the hook yet you know."
"Can you just follow me?" Midorima requests, albeit impatiently. "Please?"
Takao stills when the magic word is uttered and allows Midorima to lead him to where their rear car was left for the last 3 days apparently.
"Oh hell no," Takao starts vehemently. "I am not pedalling the rear car!"
"I'm not asking you to."
"And here I thought you were—wait, what?"
"I said, I'm not asking you to pedal," he replies simply and unlocks the padlock on the rear car.
When Takao remains silent, seemingly robbed of his voice because of this miraculous act, Midorima continues, "I figured…since you suck at janken so much and always have to pedal, I'd return the favour. Now get on before I change my mind."
Small steps Midorima, don't make it into miniscule steps.
"Heh, if you insist," Takao smirks and climbs aboard.
When Midorima starts to pedal, it's a little slower than Takao's usual pace. Perhaps it's because of the laps they ran today. Takao smiles at the gestures, because he was honestly losing hope when his tsundere hadn't done anything for 3 days. It's not like he wanted to do this if he had a choice, but a guy's gotta learn.
He's off to a good start, Takao thinks. For now, he enjoys the view of Midorima's broad back rising as he pedals. He wonders if Midorima has ever admired his back when he pedalled before. He certainly hopes so.
Midorima's on a roll when he makes Takao smile to himself in the locker room because of an affectionate gesture. He didn't forget about Takao's blister, which was covered in a Band-Aid for the whole day, and that isn't going to make it heal any faster. So, he deliberately headed to the conbini near his house to buy some cream to treat his blister, leaving the bottle in Takao's locker after practice. He would have done this even without the whole ignoring thing Takao was pulling, but he would have just given it to him personally. Takao was slightly appeased, Midorima knew that, but he was still obstinate about not going too easy on him.
Midorima watches from a discreet position as Takao opens his locker door and raises his eyebrows at the small bottle sitting at the foot of his locker. He picks it up carefully and studies the label, mouth forming an 'o' when he realizes it's cream for blisters. He spots the note the bottle came with and sees that it says 'For your blister' in impeccably neat penmanship. It's not signed or anything, but Takao knows it's from Shin-chan and he smiles like a silly schoolgirl.
Midorima doesn't need to stay to know that this round goes to him.
That night, he receives a message from Takao.
Private Chat: Takao Kazunari
Takao: Keep it up and you're looking at yourself with a reward ;)
Midorima can't help but break into a smile when he reads that.
Midorima: I certainly hope so.
Takao: ;)
Midorima: Does this mean I've earned it back?
Takao: :X
Midorima: What does that mean?
Takao: :X
Midorima: Takao seriously?
Takao: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Midorima knows he's this close to being forgiven, he just needs to push Takao a little more. He's done the little acts of kindness and affection that Kuroko advised. But he hasn't done the most fundamental thing of all.
Apologize.
He doesn't want to waste time luring Takao to have a moment alone so he simply resorts to pushing Takao up the stairs and onto the school roof where they usually have their lunch.
"This is cheating," Takao protests. "Just 'cause I talked to you online doesn't mean this is over."
"Just go up."
"Why are we going up to the roof?" Takao chatters. "Trying to get me alone right? Shin-chan you're so thirsty."
"I don't even want to know what that means."
They fall through the door and onto the school roof with much difficulty when Takao's struggling. Takao stumbles a little and whips around, but Midorima holds him by the shoulders and stares him down and his voice dies in his throat.
Takao seriously thinks Midorima is about to devour him or something, judging from that intense look in his clear, green eyes and after a few moments of tense silence, Midorima finally breaks it.
"It's quiet right?"
Takao takes a moment to notice and he hears nothing but the soft breeze of wind.
"Yeah."
"This is what it sounds like when I've been here for the last few days."
"You were here for the last few days?" Takao asks with slight disbelief.
"Where do you think I eat my lunch?"
"In class?"
Midorima tries not to look hurt. Of course Takao wouldn't know, he always headed off to the school's cafeteria with some of their classmates as part of his stupid punishment.
"Well no, I was here."
Takao scrunches his nose at Midorima, trying to figure out what exactly he was getting at.
"What are you trying to say?"
The shooting guard sighs and answers, "I like it when you're with me. It's too quiet without you and it makes me feel weird and uneasy."
He averts his gaze when Takao looks up at him expectantly, urging him to continue.
"I didn't mean to say you're my servant. It's just that you're always here with me, always helping me no matter how trivial the matter that I took it for granted."
There, he said it.
"And?"
"And I'm sorry."
Now he said it.
"Fine, forgiven and forgotten," Takao says. "Now you know how important I am."
"I don't need your stupid lesson to know that," Midorima retorts.
"Hey it's not stupid," Takao defends. "It's effective."
"Hmph. I can't believe you put me through that."
"Oh yeah? I can't believe I put myself through that," Takao complains. "I almost died without my daily dose of Shin-chan."
Before Midorima can respond, Takao interrupts, "But! No pain, no gain."
"I feel like I suffered more than I gained."
"Oh, you will gain so much more, trust me."
"Um…what does that mean?"
"You'll see."
Going over to each other's houses during competition period was rare, but Midorima and Takao made time to study amidst their training-filled schedules. Midorima was working on his chemistry homework in Takao's room while the other boy was in the bathroom.
Come to think of it, he seemed to be taking a rather long time in there. Midorima's considering checking up on him when Takao opens the bathroom door and peeks his head out.
"Hey Shin-chan," he calls, looking ridiculous with his head popping out through the crack.
"What?"
"Remember I said that if you keep it up, you'd be looking at yourself with a reward?"
"Yeah? And?"
With only a wicked smile gracing his features, Takao opens the door and the sight that greets Midorima sends the blood rushing south.
"Where…did you get that?"
"Online," Takao answers simply and swishes, fucking swishes his hips to the side so that Midorima's eyes zero in on them, catching the black lace that clung to his skin teasingly under his white uniform.
Midorima gulps when his eyes travel down Takao's legs, relishing in the sight of a long strip of black suspenders peeking out from under the hem of his shirt, lining his thighs until they met with black lace and the rest of Takao's toned legs were covered in nothing but sheer stockings.
Takao was in a fucking garter and it was robbing him of coherent thought.
Just when he thought he couldn't get any more playful, Takao lifts the hem of his shirt to reveal the black panties he was wearing and Midorima could see that he was really enjoying this.
"You like it?" he teases.
Midorima has to swallow to find his voice again and boy, was it the hoarsest voice that ever escaped his lips.
"It…it looks good on you," he manages weakly, face heating up like a kotatsu in winter.
Takao beams proudly at that, as if he got the reaction he wanted and saunters over to Midorima, who was still sitting cross-legged at the table, homework utterly forgotten. Midorima can't help but stare at Takao's legs covered in lace and sheer fabric, even when he straddles him, bending his knees on each side and settling himself comfortably in his lap.
Takao needs to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing, because Midorima looking down at his garter, eyes filled with so much awe and hunger like the hormonal teenage boy he is, was possibly the most adorable and amusing thing to him now. His partner looks so fascinated and Takao knows he just wants touch it, but he doesn't make a move. Midorima sits stock still, seemingly frozen in surprise and wonderment.
Takao decides to help.
"Don't be shy, Shin-chan," he coaxes teasingly. "You can touch me."
It was all the approval Midorima needed to rest his hands nervously on Takao's knees, shiver running down his spine when his skin makes contact with the fabric. He continues looking down at Takao's legs and his hands as they travel up his partner's thighs tantalizingly slowly, as if he wanted to memorize exactly how his fingers felt when he first stroked Takao's legs in a damn stocking.
His fingers meet Takao's hip and he leans in closer to run his palms over the curve of his ass, heart missing a beat when he realizes the panties doesn't even cover half his ass. He gives them a squeeze before sliding his hands into Takao's uniform and up his strong back, hunger burning in the pit of his stomach when Takao releases a sigh.
When Midorima slides his hands to Takao's chest, deliberately passing a taped thumb over his nipple, Takao holds his wrists in place and murmurs, "Take this off."
Midorima complies and removes his hands from under Takao's uniform, working his deft fingers over the buttons and removing it, throwing it carelessly to the side. Takao was now in nothing but a black garter, with red cheeks and dilated pupils to show how much he was enjoying this. Midorima thinks the head of his cock peeking out from the black panties was much better indication.
Takao scoots into Midorima's lap and rocks his hips against his groin, burying his fingers into Midorima's hair when the friction creates bursts of ecstasy.
"Shin-chan…" he purrs. "You're so hard."
"You're one to talk," Midorima retorts, voice low and deep.
Takao stops and instead, wastes no time in unbuckling Midorima's belt and unzipping his fly. When he palms him through his underwear, it lures a moan from his lips and Takao catches it in his mouth when he kisses him urgently.
"Can we take this to the bed?" Midorima asks headily when they break the kiss to catch their breaths.
"Of course," Takao replies and wraps his legs around his lover's waist.
Midorima doesn't even break a sweat when he supports Takao by his ass and heaves the both of them off the floor. When he reaches the bed and settles Takao on the sheets, Takao playfully scoots away to rest against his pillows, spreading his legs to give Shin-chan a show.
"Don't make a guy wait," he tells him, and that was all it took to strip away the last shreds of Midorima's restraints.
Group Chat: when we're not trying to one up each other
Kise: midorimacchi! kasamatsu-senpai heard from miyaji-san who heard from his brother that u and takaocchi made up!
Kise: details!
Kuroko: Wow Midorima-kun, this is how you repay me?
Murasakibara: congrats mido-chin
Kise: did u try the butler thing?
Aomine: did you screw up?
Midorima: No I did not, Aomine. But thank you for your vote of confidence.
Aomine: u know I got u fam
Kise: so did u try the butler thing?
Murasakibara: the snacks thing?
Midorima: No.
Kise: why not!
Midorima: Because all your ideas suck.
Kise: so mean!
Aomine: yeah, we listened to ur love problems uknow
Midorima: …
Midorima: Fine. Thank you.
Aomine: so did you try it?
Midorima: What?
Aomine: bdsm
Midorima: For god's sake, no.
Aomine: did you at least get laid
Aomine: oi
Kise: ah. he stopped replying.
Aomine: dammit midorima. i know you saw my message.
Midorima: Seen 9:21PM
Akashi: omg
End
Notes: That…was very fun to write. Especially Aomine? Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed it! It was kinda different from my usual style, with the messaging format and cross-dressing scene, so let me know what you think!