SOUR GRAPES
Chapter Six
"Bikky? What on Earth are you doing up so late?" Ryo shuffled sleepily into the kitchen of his apartment- dressed in his most faded, yet comfortable pyjamas and extra thick socks on his feet, for the floors were very cold at this time of year. The windows were frosted with crystals and if it weren't for some type of heating, you'd very likely freeze to death in your own home. A disturbing possibility, but convenient nonetheless. The young chocolate skinned boy blinked- ruffling his blonde hair and yawing widely, exposing his sharp Dee-chomping teeth. In front of him on the worn kitchen table was a glossy catalog. Not even one plugging sports equipment or video games…but jewelry? Bikky was too tired to even make an attempt to hide it.
"What's all this about then? Getting a gift for someone?"
"Maybe…" the boy replied a little warily. "Why?" Ryo worked out the cricks in his neck and yawned as well. His ice-skating bruise mapping a broad expanse of his back had not faded, making it difficult to sleep and move properly.
"No reason. I was just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat, don'cha know?" The man laughed quietly.
"Yes, I suppose you're right…Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"That's ok." Bikky rubbed his eyes and went to the sink to get a glass of water. "Carol." he said, slumping down his chair again.
"Hnn? What does Carol have to do with anything?"
"No. I meant that I'm getting something for Carol. I just…don't know what yet."
"Ahh," Ryo smiled knowingly, "The elusive gift. Do you have any ideas? What's the occasion?"
"Mmm…wait…" Bikky mumbled, "I'll remember in a second. Oh, right. She got the lead in the school play, and I wanted to get her…y'know, something small to say congrats. And besides from the knowledge that I know she likes all things shiny and sparkly- I'm treading water." Ryo pulled the catalog towards him and skimmed through it.
"Do you have enough money? I could lend you some if you wanted."
Bikky stretched his arms. "Nah. I have some saved."
"I see…so you've been planning this for a long time?" Ryo chewed his lip to prevent an even wider smile surfacing.
"WHAT? NO…I umm." Bikky felt himself go crimson.
"Don't be embarrassed. I think it's cute!" Unlike that cave man Dee…mumble mutter
"RYO! Cute wasn't what I was going for." Ryo attempted not to snicker at his adoptive miniature grouch as he patted its blonde head.
"Well, it's no good loosing sleep over if you can't decide now. Go to bed. I'm working the early shift tomorrow, so after that we could go and look for something together if you want." Bikky glomped the man as he got up from his chair.
"Thank-you so much, Ryo! Really! Really, really! Really, really real-"
"Alright," Ryo cut across him, "I think you've made your point. Go on, get to bed. Scoot!" Roughly folding the catalog into a square, Ryo handed it to Bikky and ushered him down the hallway into his room. Bikky was asleep even before his head grazed the pillow. Pulling the covers over him and switching off the light, Ryo left to clean up the mess Bikky had made in the kitchen before drifting off to sleep himself.
Isn't it funny, he thought wearily, how much Bikky has grown up in a scant few years? Though I'll still be calling him cute when he gets married to Carol and has kids…hehehe.
"What do you mean, no? Why the hell not?" Dee and Ryo sat together in their squad car after a hard morning's work. Two criminals bagged and close to one metric ton of paperwork completed.
"Look, I'd like to- but I promised Bikky I'd take him shopping."
Dee snorted humorously. "Shopping?"
"Grow up, you dolt. It's not for himself. " Ryo opened the glove compartment to retrieve his wallet and glasses. They were hard to find among the bag of squashy toffee, spilt bag of M&M's and discarded foil and wrappers from numerous chocolate bars. Dee never was a morning person, and needed his caffeine and sugar fix avaliable at all times. His Ryo fix however…well, that was a little more difficult to obtain.
"Then who for? I always thought that the little snot was too selfish to even consider anyone else but his own person."
"You know, if you two weren't always trying to kill each other, you might discover that you'd get along."
"Yeah…sure." Dee rolled his eyes.
Ryo found the items he had been searching for, wiped some sugary goo off them with a tissue, and turned around to reach for his coat on the back seat. Just as he settled back in the front and made to open the door, Dee laid a hand on his arm. "You'll think about it, then?" Ryo paused then smiled awkwardly.
"Hmm." he murmered, sliding out of the car. "Thanks for the lift Dee, see you tomorrow." He shut door firmly and began walking to the shopping center where he was meeting Bikky.
"Mean spirited, sexy beast." Dee muttered as he pulled away and out into the busy weekend traffic, back towards the station. "Not even a kiss goodbye." He licked his lips and continued cursing quietly. He'd have to wait to get his fix another time.
Ryo, meanwhile was struggling to find is way through the shining maze of floors, escalators, lifts and shops that was the shopping center. Everywhere he looked were people walking quickly in every direction imaginable. Had Ryo not known that to walk on walls and ceilings were impossible- he'd have sworn that there'd be people scurrying along those as well. He glanced sideways at a young lady who was seemingly carrying twelve bags of purchases at once. Was that even humanely possible? Really? She made it look easy- not even breaking a slight sweat. Natural instincts of self-preservation began to kick in deep within Ryo's bodily system. He had to find Bikky, get the gift then flee to the sanctuary of open air. With a tangible sense of helplessness in this huge place, Ryo wandered like a blind man to the appointed meeting place. Sure enough- there was Bikky, looking like a cornered cat against a gaudy sales poster on the exterior wall of a department store.
"Shall we?"
"Yes." Bikky replied, taking out his wallet and feeling inexplicably queazy. "But if I die beneath a sales table, trampled underfoot- don't give me an open coffin funeral."
a/n:
Phe looks at the floor, ashamed Wahh! I feel so guilty! All of these nice people have been reviewing, and I've written barely anything! clunks head on desk I'm sorry. I'm on term break now, so maybe I'll get lots posted to half make up for it.
HOWEVER, I haven't been entirely lazy. I now have a potential career in professional writing, seeing as I CONQUERED my local youth short story competion!! Winning that maybe has poked me in the gut (metaphorically, don't be alarmed), and inspired me to keep practicing my horrific literary skills, which strangely enough, others seem to enjoy.
And finally…I felt the need to really thank everyone who has been coaxing this story along (ashamedly plot-less as it is…). You people are brilliant.
Tyger- my darling beloved person. Glomps
Itsame
The Random Queen
kheal-chan
Kitty in the Box
AngelDragon
sacrilege
a person
Linastar
Daftsage
Devil666sc
Happy Utena-Loving Yuki
Chris-Redfield26
Saku-chan (heeheehee…my Kizu buddy )
heart of flame
Rikki-the-Fox
Puppy- Hey, opinions speak volumes. I'll be legally adult next year- mwahahaha! (shifty eyes)
Sorry if I forgot anyone! Don't take it personally- I'm already half asleep, so it's just a mistake.
Ryo: "Thank-you for coming to read Phe's fic-let. She appreciates it."
Dee: Sobs
Ryo: "Uhh…what are you crying about?"
Dee: "Your…your…" Points to Ryo's pants
Ryo: "Huh? My pants?…I've still got them, what's the problem?"
Dee: "THAT'S THE ENTIRE PROBLEM!!" Breaks down further into tears of wretchedness
Ryo: One eye twitching "Of all the people in the world…I get stuck with the sensitive pervert…" Goes away to iron shirts
Dee: "Hopefully this pants error will be corrected in further chapters…It BETTER, dammit!" Shakes fist