Chapter 6: The boyfriends

Atobe turned over in his bed. The sound of his cell phone ringing had woken him up in the middle of the night. Fumbling for the object causing such an annoying sound, Atobe finally found it lying on the little table next to his bed.

"Hello, Atobe-chan, did I wake you up?"

Atobe sighed, bringing a hand to rub his eyes. "Hello Oshitari, was there something you wanted?"

"Just thought I'd call and check up on you. Should I be worried? I saw you stay with Ootori after practice today for quite long and since you were inside the locker room you couldn't have been playing tennis either. So tell me, how is your part of the bet going?"

"Moving along quite well, thank you." Atobe answered somewhat amused. "You should start getting worried."

"Mmm…countered him yet?"

"Not yet." Atobe replied. "But I've still got time."

"A week." Oshitari added. "You waited until the very last week to score, didn't you? You wanted it to be as exciting as possible."

"Maybe." Atobe laughed. "But are you still saying that I can't do it?" the captain continued, his voice challenging.

"Atobe, have I ever said I don't believe in your capabilities?"

"Well you should know not to underestimate them…"

Oshitari gave a short laugh. "You're talking as if you were on top that time."

"So, are you just bored in your sappy little relationship or were you just looking to have phone sex with me?"

"Hardly, Gakuto keeps me busy."

"Well be prepared to lose him for a week after I win our bet."

"Aren't you sure of yourself?" Oshitari's mocking voice came from the other end.

"I'm also tired." Atobe hinted and Oshitari laughed.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Good night."

"Night." And with that Oshitari had hanged up.

Atobe shut his cell phone as well, placing it back onto the table.

He had been playing Mr. Romantic these past few weeks, slowly hinting towards something more. Now it was about time he speeded things up a bit again.

But it wouldn't have been any fun if he hadn't waited until the very last week with his part of the bet. Oshitari knew him too well. He was probably the only one who did. If Atobe had scored already it would've taken the fun out of tormenting Oshitari with how the bet was going.

Anyway, tomorrow he would start his next attack on Ootori.

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"Are you coming, Choutarou? Or are you staying with Atobe again?" Shishido asked as he had just finished changing from his regular's clothes into his school uniform. A small blush spread onto the junior's face, hearing his question.

"I…"

"I thought we could go and grab a burger. We haven't done that in a while." Shishido pointed out.

Ootori thought for a while what to answer. It was true he hadn't spent much time with his doubles partner, but then again the time in the locker room with Atobe was always so… Ootori blushed. He didn't know how his captain could make him feel so uneasy but so good at the same time.

"You can go." Atobe's voice came from behind and Ootori practically jumped. The Hyotei captain laid an arm to rest on Ootori's shoulder, turning him slightly to face him. "Have fun with your friend. I'll see you later instead?"

Shishido's eyebrow twitched at the way Atobe had just referred to him as a friend, dismissing all other way's Ootori could look upon him but as a friend.

"Sure! Do you…um, wanna come over?" Ootori asked shyly.

"I'd love to." Atobe replied, placing a quick kiss on the other boy's cheek before turning back to continue dressing.

Ootori blushed at how openly Atobe had kissed him when Shishido was still in the room.

Come to think of it that was actually the first time Atobe had kissed him in front of other people. Not that Atobe ever checked that there wasn't anyone else around when he kissed Ootori good night after a date. Most of the time they had spent together alone had come to be in the locker room after practice. Maybe Atobe just somehow knew that Ootori enjoyed being close there, where he didn't have to be afraid that someone else saw them.

But they couldn't keep hiding their relationship inside the locker room, could they? Atobe was not the type to hide. Ootori guessed the captain had only chosen to be a bit more discreet now because of him.

"So are you coming then?" Shishido's voice pulled him out of his thoughts and Ootori looked at his senpai by the door.

"A-ah, hai." he replied and hurried to grab his bag, shooting Atobe with one last look before disappearing outside.

Shishido didn't miss the smirk Atobe had on as the captain watched the younger boy stumble past Shishido. Shishido gave his captain a good long glare, before slamming the door shut and walked up next to Ootori.

"So how's it going with Atobe?" Shishido asked, as they started walking together. He observed the taller boy closely.

"Huh? Oh, fine." Ootori said, not really sure what to answer. Shishido had been so against the thought of them dating.

"Really?"

Ootori nodded. "He's been very kind." the junior added carefully, glancing Shishido's expression before continuing. "I don't think he's all that bad."

"Uh-huh, I see…" Shishido only muttered. There was something really off here. The way Atobe had acted back in the locker room. Usually Atobe would've made sure Ootori stayed with the captain, but to let the younger boy go away with him instead?

Atobe must really trust his own abilities in scoring with Ootori if he let go of another chance to make Ootori used to being close to him. Still Atobe wouldn't be Atobe if he didn't have something behind this action as well…

Shishido stopped in his tracks, making Ootori also stop and look over his shoulder at the third year.

"Shishido-san? What's wrong?" Ootori's worried voice brought him back to reality.

"Nothing. Let's go to the other burger place instead." Shishido said, turning around and starting to walk towards another direction.

"Okay." Ootori's voice came from behind him and the junior hurried up to his side.

Shishido gazed the boy next to him from the corner of his eye.

When Atobe took it slow it only meant he was waiting for the right moment to strike. Instead of getting Ootori used to another round of smooching in the locker room, Atobe had decided to take it slow. Some guys reacted to that by coming onto Atobe themselves, but Ootori wasn't the type to do that. Atobe would obviously be the one to do all of the chasing in their relationship, but the captain could always make Ootori miss him for a while before coming onto him.

Rumor has it that Atobe had never before been turned down when coming onto a guy. Atobe had always gotten what he had wanted and right now the captain was probably building up the last things he needed for him to be able to strike without the risk of being turned down.

Shishido gritted his teeth together. Ootori didn't stand a chance.

They got to the hamburger place and sat down by a table with their meals.

After eating in silence for a long time, Ootori suddenly placed everything he had in his hands down on his tray and fixed his gaze onto his doubles partner.

"Shishido-san." he started and Shishido lifted his head to meet his gaze. "I know you've been against me dating Atobe from the beginning and I know you warned me from going near him, but I just…He is really not a bad person."

Shishido let down everything he had in his hands as well. "I know. I believe I told you so too." he said as calmly as he could. Would he have to lie to Ootori one more time?

"I know, but you just seem…I get the feeling that you have something against it." Ootori continued.

"I'm just…worried." Shishido assured. "Like I said, Atobe's dated before and you haven't."

"I know. But Shishido-san, he's been really nice. He hasn't done anything I wouldn't have wanted him to." the younger boy practically blushed again saying that.

'Of course he hasn't. He plays nice so that you'll trust him.' Shishido thought.

"I, um, agreed to go on a date with him, because I wanted to see for myself what he was all about."

'Yeah, and by the time you were reading everything he was putting up for you to read and through that making you trust him even more than before, he was collecting even more information on you.' Shishido thought.

"Well, I'm happy for you then." Shishido said and Ootori couldn't press back the smile rising onto his face. Shishido had accepted his relationship with Atobe. He had been so worried to talk about it with his doubles partner.

"Thank you, Shishido-san."

Shishido studied the smiling face in front of him. How could anyone have the heart to do something like this to Ootori? The boy was truly happy.

If he told Ootori the truth now, he could spear his kouhai from a lot of pain. But how could he? If he told Ootori then Atobe would tell Ootori about their past relationship. Or more like one-night stand.

Shishido sighed, bringing the drink up to his mouth.

So instead he should tell Ootori everything. Ootori was dating a guy and couldn't blame Shishido for falling for a guy. Shishido had been afraid the junior would freak out in the beginning when he had paired up with him. That's why he hadn't said anything.

But on the other hand he had hell to pay if he stuck his nose where it didn't belong. Atobe would come after him next. Shishido also guessed the captain could work his way through every single mess and obstacle and still score with Ootori.

Atobe always won. Not even Oshitari could beat the captain, although the tensai very rarely was serious when he tried to. It was even more of a game to Oshitari and the boy didn't really care who won just as long as he had a good time.

"You're awfully quiet today." Ootori suddenly said and Shishido put down his drink that he had already finished anyway.

"Tired from practice, I guess." Shishido managed to laugh it off and earned a small smile from Ootori.

But if Atobe would take it slow for a little while then maybe he still had time to think of something, some way to save Ootori.

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"Spear me?" Atobe asked. The captain looked at the junior confused. "Spear me from what?"

"Atobe…" Ootori started. He had decided that it was time they talked this thing through that Ootori had been thinking about ever since Atobe kissed him in the locker room. "I'm not sure I could tell my family about us. That'd mean we'd have to pretend and hide. And besides, you also have a reputation to uphold."

Atobe just looked at the other boy. He had expected Ootori to break into wrong and angsty feelings about their relationship when Atobe had started the rounds in the locker room, but the boy had surprised him. Ootori seemed more happy than worried most of the time.

Of course they had been on a couple of dates before Atobe had decided to steal innocent kisses in said locker room.

Atobe moved closer, where they sat on Ootori's bed. "My personal life has nothing to do with me being a captain, even if I'm dating one of the guys from the team."

Ootori shifted position. "But there's so much that we would have to fight through. We would have to be discreet since my family can't know, and we couldn't let this affect practice or tennis in any way-"

"Choutarou, do you really wanna stop seeing me?"

Ootori shook his head. "No, but-"

"Then no buts." Atobe broke out into a smile. "I admit that not everyone will accept us, but how can we let that stop us?"

Ootori stayed silent.

"Listen, nothing is forever. Why don't we just try to live in the now and stop worrying?" Atobe's soothing voice came that trapped so many guys under the impression that he was a nice guy and wanted nothing more than partnership. "You don't have to tell your parents. They don't have to know, and that shouldn't have to stop us from being like this."

"A-ah…" Ootori finally spoke again. "I just wanted to get this said… I…actually don't feel as bad dating another guy as I somehow thought I would…Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean to offend…"

Atobe shot the boy a comforting smile. "I'm glad to hear that you're not. And I'm not offended." he replied before closing the distance between them by kissing Ootori.

Atobe noticed his words had calmed the younger boy down from his worries a bit and the older boy decided to ride the good mood feeling for a while, letting his arms wrap around Ootori's waist and pull him even closer.

Ootori let out a short whimper into his mouth, but Atobe soon felt how Ootori placed his arms around him as well.

Atobe's mouth moved down to kiss his neck and the next thing Ootori knew he found himself lying on his back on the bed. One of Atobe's hands was roaming down his chest and settling somewhere on his belt.

Before Ootori could say anything Atobe's lips had found his again and the kiss was like something Ootori had never felt before. He felt totally defenceless as Atobe's talented tongue stroke against his and explored other parts in his mouth as well.

It was the longest and hottest kiss they had shared and Ootori felt how his face had heated up when Atobe finally parted from him, face only inches above his.

"Atobe…" Ootori managed to breathe out and it was as if Atobe just then realized what he had been doing and the captain pulled apart.

Ootori had never seen the older boy lose control like that in his company. He guessed that what he had just seen had to be Atobe's more experienced side coming forth for the first time with him.

No matter how weird Ootori often felt over the fact that he was dating a guy, there was just something about Atobe that Ootori couldn't resist. It shocked the younger boy how willingly he had let Atobe touch him and do stuff to him and so fast.

Ootori had been a little awkward about it in the beginning but he was starting to feel as if he needed to have Atobe's overwhelming touches drive him closer to actually sleeping with the captain. The thought didn't bother him almost at all anymore. Sleeping with another guy. Because it was Atobe, and Ootori knew he had feelings for Atobe.

Said person had just gotten up and was now placing his tennis bag over his shoulder, in a gesture that he was going to start heading home.

"Will you come over tomorrow too?" Ootori then broke the silence and Atobe looked at him a little surprised. "I'd very much like that."

"Of course." Atobe then smiled and quickly bent down to seal lips with the younger boy. "I'll be here."

Ootori gave out a smile, as Atobe let himself out.

Whatever the obstacle was, they shouldn't just give up. At least now Ootori had given Atobe a chance to walk out on him, but the captain hadn't taken it. Atobe had more like defended what they had, so that had to mean Atobe really liked him too, right?

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A/N notes: sorry for making this chapter go forwards so slowly…but thank you so much for all the reviews and 'votes' for who you'd like to end up with Ootori. I still haven't decided so there's still time for you to tell me your opinion on that matter if you like. I probably won't make up my mind before the very chapter I actually pair him up then with either Atobe or Shishido.