Labels shonen-ai; denial, and lots of it; breaking up; OOC; subtle symbolism; drabble; oneshot; pg
[beforehand]
Inspired by RedLotus's "Cup of Coffee." This uses very, very simple adjectives and phrases; it's also rather fast-paced [from august to winter in less than a day].
--
August
--
Seto Kaiba is waiting.
He holds a cup in his hands.
It is warm – not hot, because the first thing he had done was order a coffee.
It is black.
Kaiba adds a tablespoon of creamer. His coffee mixes auburn. It looks like Jounouchi's eyes.
The clock behind the counter reads one thirty-five.
Jounouchi is five minutes late.
Kaiba adds another tablespoon of creamer. His coffee mixes amber. It looks like Jounouchi's hair.
A bell in the background chirps whenever a potential customer enters.
It rings.
Jounouchi stumbles in, leaves catching through his bangs.
He is laughing, and it mixes with the chattering inside. He sounds like bells.
Windblown, he falls like a leaf. He lands upon the seat across Kaiba; he smiles.
"Yeah?" he says.
Kaiba's mouth feels dry; he watches another tablespoon of creamer makes its way to his coffee.
Jounouchi leans forward a little; the heater wafts through his locks. He smells like cinnamon and green things.
"I don't love you."
He looks up. Jounouchi is staring at him in confusion. His mouth looks soft.
Kaiba takes another breath. "I don't love you."
Jounouchi opens his mouth - then closes it as if nothing he said would change the matter. His lips look chapped.
"Oh."
They let background noise drip in.
They drown.
Jounouchi stands up. The chair is pushed back; it scrapes over the tiles.
Kaiba says nothing. Jounouchi forces a smile.
It is not warm.
He leaves.
The bell in the background rattles against the door.
Kaiba pours the entire creamer into his coffee.
The clock behind the counter reads one fifty-five. He needs to get back to his office.
It's beginning to snow, so a few people start to exit and open their umbrellas.
He looks down at his coffee.
It is white.
Kaiba caps it, and throws it into the trash on his way out.
fin.
[afterward]
Finished July 6th, 2004.
Written and modified in 30 minutes.
312 words.
"Snow is man's tears" is from CLAMP's Shirahime-syo: Snow Goddess Tales. "Green things" is from Sara Ryan's Empress of the World. Kaiba is strange and doing strange things. Jounouchi is obviously upset but not necessarily confused.
There are a few elements used in this short, short piece. Find them, name them, and I will congratulate you on paying attention.
endlog[11:12 pm]