Communal Showers
By: ani
Disclaimer: It's CLAMP's universe, I'm only playing in it.
There was one simple reason he always volunteered to help put the gym equipment away.
And it's name was Doumeki Shizuka.
He never had to look to know Doumeki was watching him. No matter what they did, no matter which team they were on, he always felt those eyes. And with that stone face of his, Watanuki couldn't figure out why. Was he watching him so he could provoke him later? Or was he just being watchful? He hated to think he was being overprotective.
He wouldn't let himself think any further.
But today was even worse than usual.
They'd been swimming today.
Just seeing the girls swooning at the sight of a slim athletic guy like Doumeki was enough to make every guy in class jealous, insecure. But no matter what the girls did, they couldn't break his concentration.
The only time he didn't feel those eyes was when the coach had them racing. There were on different teams, going against each other. After the races, when they were let loose, Watanuki turned towards it, and sure enough there Doumeki sat on the edge of the pool. His own personal lifeguard.
He wanted to leave, fake a cramp so he could go to the nurse. But Doumeki'd fish him out and probably carry him there just to embarrass him more.
So he stayed in, pruning up just so Doumeki could only watch his head.
Now, here he was like always, standing just outside the showers. Watanuki knew the other guys just brushed it off, he wasn't the only one in class insecure about his body.
He was more afraid of that gaze.
Doumeki would watch his every move, just like he did during class. He didn't want to feel those amber orbs watching as he worked the shampoo through his hair, soaping up his body and scrubbing off the chlorine. Because he knew, even if that trim physique was accentuated by the soap bubbles, even if the shampoo was running down his neck and over those broad shoulders, covering an eye, he'd still be staring.
He could feel it in his bones.
So he just stood there, waiting and hoping Doumeki would hurry up. The way Doumeki watched him, Watanuki gave up believing he didn't know this, realize why.
Watanuki was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't realized Doumeki was standing right in front of him. Leaning in closer, he smirked when Watanuki still hadn't moved. "So what's got you so embarrassed?"
Watanuki jumped so hard he bumped into the wall. "Who-who said I'm embarrassed?" he sputtered as water dripped from Doumeki's bangs, landing on his nose.
The smirk got into his eyes, "Your face did." Doumeki couldn't hold back the chuckle as his whole face turned redder. Stepping back and getting an eyeful, he suddenly dead panned, "Get you mind out of the gutter and hurry up. If you cut lunch short again, I'll let them eat you."
Watanuki's jaw hitting the floor only got him a "Hnn," before he was turned and pushed into the showers.
It was all worth it.