Friday

Disclaimers: 'Clover' belongs to CLAMP.

Summary: Ran and Gingetsu at two in the morning.

Radishface

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[ 2:00 AM ]

"You're still awake?" Ran asked, peering up at the figure through dark bangs. "I'd think you'd have gone to sleep by now."

"I couldn't." He sat down, chains, medals, military honorables hanging off his coat like dog collars. There was but one light on, and a tray of tea on the coffee table, the silver handle of the teapot gleaming a bit, the cup empty. A headset lay next to the tray, music still slightly audible from where they were sitting.

"I suppose that this brand tea has too much caffeine in it." Ran bit his lip apologetically, raising an eyebrow at the lone tray before them. "But it's never really made a difference before."

"It hasn't."

"I suppose you could pick up some breakfast tea next time?" Ran stood up and picked the tray up by the gold-lined handles, balancing the weight carefully. "We're almost out. And some cream for the coffee, too. Kazuhiko likes it that way, and you never know when he's liable to stop by."

"I'll do that." He said, watching Ran's form disappear into the kitchen. He turned his eyes to rest on the light by the side of the couch, mentally willing it to switch off. Nothing happened.

Ran returned with two cups and two saucers and one teapot now, slippers barely making a sound across the tiled floor. Setting it on the coffee table, he sat down next to Gingetsu and peered into his face intently.

"I made two." He said hesitantly. "I could carry it back into your room, if you'd like... if you have more paperwork to do."

"No."

It was quiet in the room, pleasantly quiet, and Ran stared out the window on the opposite side of the room, at the lights that were still blinking on and off downtown, and at the lights that never went off, and a faint wistful expression came onto his face, not manifesting fully. Gingetsu felt the remains of something break inside him and he looked at his hands, at his wrist.

A hand rested on his shoulder, and he looked back up into blue eyes, eyebrows just barely raised.

"You could take this off, you know." An faint smile appeared on Ran's face as he tugged gently at the lapels of his coat. "It must be uncomfortable."

"It might be." He said, suddenly not knowing what else to say, throat strangely dry.

"Why don't you let me help you?"

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