A/N: This is an X-rated chapter.
Chapter Twenty-one: Moda Operandi
After he hung up the call and took a much-needed shower, Nagisa stared down into his duffle bag packed with a severely limited amount of clothing. What was he supposed to wear to meet an ex-boss with a new business venture? The context begged professional wear, but he was only going to go a coffee shop and he didn't particularly want to stand out (which ruled out skirts for the moment). After a temporary struggle, he settled for a long oatmeal cable-knit sweater over distressed jeans, his black ankle boots, and a dark burgundy scarf, topped off with a dark grey wool coat in a simple silhouette. He needed to show Amakata that he hadn't lost his touch, after all.
Right as he finished getting dressed, he received a text from Makoto with the address and directions to the building from Lambeth via public transportation. Rather impressed by the attorney's attention to detail (like the fact that Nagisa only used public transport), he sent a quick thank you with a promise to be on his way right as he left the apartment.
He hopped on the bus stop a few blocks away from the complex and snagged a window seat, staring out at the wet rubble ground as it passed beneath him, the upcoming meeting now at the forefront of his mind. Makoto and Rei were coworkers – it wouldn't be outrageous to assume he'd run in to his boyfriend while he was at work. The blond's cheeks reddened slightly as he considered the serious side of Rei which he'd only glimpsed before at the coffee shop as he worked on case files before the crossword. Would Nagisa interrupt his focus if he came by to say hello? He so desperately wanted to be close to him again but was hesitant to do anything that might pester him. He felt as though they were only one misstep, one more harsh word away from irreparable damage. Never before had he wanted so badly to prevent that.
These were the thoughts that occupied him until he reached his stop in front of one of the few non-skyscrapers in the area – an unassuming pale building done tastefully with Georgian-style accents. Nagisa went inside and took the lift to the fifth floor, which housed Rei and Makoto's firm. The décor was nothing short of classy and studious, with plush Turkish rugs and a 20th century oil portrait of a man hanging behind the receptionist's desk. A few clients sat comfortably in leather chairs off to the side and flipped through various magazines – including, Nagisa realized, Elite, reminding him that he'd have to tell Makoto about his job complications.
Nagisa sighed quietly as he tore his eyes away from the traitorous issues and approached the focused reception typing away at his computer. Nervous, he tucked his stray locks behind his ear, hoping that he hadn't messed himself up, and wishing he'd worn something a titch less casual. He was presenting himself to all of Rei's coworkers, he realized a bit too late.
"How can I help you?" the receptionist queried, shifting his eyes away from the computer, his full attention now on Nagisa.
"Oh, um, I have an appointment with Makoto Tachibana," he quipped in response as he chased his comparative thoughts away. Just because this young man was cleanly-dressed and professional didn't mean Nagisa was any less so in Rei's eyes. Probably.
"I'm so sorry," the receptionist apologized as he checked his computer again, "but Mr. Tachibana has been called away to an emergency meeting. He's not scheduled to be back for another 45 minutes." The man glanced up apologetically as the blond froze. His meeting with Ms. Amakata wouldn't be for a long while – he wasn't worried about missing it – but he didn't particularly fancy waiting here, surrounded by the cause of his own lawsuit, for the better part of an hour. "I can reschedule you for another day, if you'd like," the receptionist offered at the blond's hesitation.
"Oh, well, I can wait, but let me check my calendar," he replied half-heartedly, pulling out his phone as his brain rapidly tried to work out a solution.
"… and make sure to call me if anything changes." A door off to the right opened, and the familiar voice interrupted the blond's thought process. A moment later, out stepped Rei and a pair of clients. Surprise registered on his face for just a moment as his clients left, but a second later he composed himself with a mask of neutrality. He was wearing the suit they picked out together, the blond realized. Light grey wool, a blue pinstriped shirt with a white contrast collar, and a navy tie and pocket square. The modern combination was nothing short of dashing on the older man, and the writer found himself dazzled.
"Sir?" the receptionist prompted, glancing between the lovers. "Your calendar?" Snapped out of distraction, Nagisa colored rose and peeked back down at his phone, unbearably conscious of Rei's blue eyes sweeping over his body. Did he look okay?
"Mr. Tachibana told me to have him wait in my office," Rei cut in, striding to the desk. The receptionist glanced up, taken aback by the declaration that was no doubt slightly unorthodox, but decided not to question it.
"Of course, Mr. Ryuugazaki," he replied graciously. The brunet sent Nagisa a prompting glance, holding the door open for him, and he hurried over to follow.
"Thanks," the writer murmured as the door shut and he fell into step behind his boyfriend. A few curious glances peeked through open doors down the hall, but for the most part it seemed like everyone was too focused on their own work to notice who appeared to be another client. Even so, Nagisa fidgeted shyly, wondering how he looked in their eyes, standing at Rei's side.
At the end of the row of offices, one last dark wooden door was propped open, revealing a surprisingly light space with large, curtained windows for privacy. On either side of the door were two mahogany bookcases, filled with all sorts of legal books and folders. Though décor was sparse, the blond noticed that on the old-fashioned desk, beside the modern computer and stainless-steel water bottle, was a simple glass picture frame, and in it, a selfie they had taken in passing on one of their dates. He made a beeline for it as soon as it caught his eye.
It wasn't a particularly flattering photo of either of them, but it was one of the few that Rei had taken himself (after a good amount of begging on Nagisa's part). The brunet had, for once, been grinning sincerely in the picture only to have his face squished by a surprise kiss on the cheek from Nagisa, a highly focused expression painted on his face. He recalled taking a myriad of better photos that day, too – simple ones that showed off the backdrop of the attorney's beloved bridge much better. He lifted it from its spot on the desk, face aglow with happiness, and turned to ask his boyfriend about it only to find him looking away with bashfulness as he closed the door behind him.
"It was my phone background," he explained shyly, "but I couldn't unlock my phone just to look at it during work, so I printed it out." His cheeks a deep cherry red, he kept his gaze anywhere but Nagisa and strode over to his desk to needlessly straighten out his already perfect stack of files.
"How long was it your phone background?" the blond asked teasingly. They'd taken that picture in October, and by now January was almost over. Considering the timing, he must have kept it throughout their first fight, unless he set it later – but that didn't make sense considering they had much nicer pictures following that day.
"Since we took it," the attorney confessed with a sigh, having realized that he'd never hear the end of it. The writer peered at the photo, tucked safely away in the polished glass that reflected his bare face. His expression struck even him as odd – nostalgic and happy certainly but fading like the sun setting behind a cloud. Why did he look like that, he wondered, when he was so pleased to see that little traces of him were rooted everywhere in Rei's life?
"Say, Rei," he murmured, his voice sounding distant to himself. He couldn't stop the words that followed. "When will you kiss me again?" His sister's warning of distance came back to him briefly, but his personality couldn't warrant it for much longer. They hadn't been intimate since December. They hadn't even kissed in three weeks. Sure, Rei had said he still loved him, he had shown him that he still loved him, but Nagisa wanted to feel it with every fiber of his being.
Behind him, he heard the gentle click of a lock on the door. For some reason, the sound made his heart leap into his throat. He kept his eyes on the picture in front of him as he felt the attorney's gaze sweep over him.
"I can kiss you now, if you'd like," Rei offered tentatively. The blond didn't hear his footsteps on the carpet, but a moment later he felt the heat from his body barely brushing Nagisa's back. The red frames of his glasses appeared in the reflective glass of the photo frame.
"I want you to want to kiss me," he admitted petulantly, placing the picture back in its original spot with care. A kiss wouldn't mean what he needed it to if there was no heart in it, if he was just making Rei do everything he wanted like some sort of servant. The brunet took a fraction of a step closer, effectively pressing their bodies against one another, and nuzzled his face in the crook of Nagisa's neck. He felt even his ears flush hotly at the forgotten contact.
"I do want to kiss you," his lover confessed, one hand carefully stroking his hips through his cable-knit sweater. He hadn't anticipated this response. "It occurs to me that I need to be more vocal of my thoughts around you," he continued to whisper in the blond's ear. "Yesterday, I wanted to hold you throughout the whole surgery, I wanted to yell at your sisters about the way they spoke to you, and I wanted to bring you home with me and make love to you all night long." The blond felt his eyebrows shoot up at the passionate confession, and the roar of his heartbeat almost drowned out Rei's words entirely. "Of course, I understand that none of those things would have been the appropriate course of action at the time," he added, both of his arms having wrapped themselves around Nagisa's midsection, "but it didn't stop me from wanting them. From wanting you." The younger man put his hands over Rei's and gently removed them so that he could turn around to face him.
Their lips touched softly, like it was their first, and in many ways, it was. What had occurred between them had changed their relationship, and although they weren't sure how yet, it was clear that it had left a significant impact on them. They would need to change together if they wanted to keep this love, and Nagisa finally felt ready in a way that he hadn't been for any other man – and he could sense as much in their gentle kiss that Rei felt the same.
As sweet as it started, the blond needed something deeper, and his boyfriend was all too ready to oblige. Their kisses shortened but came harder and faster as they gasped for breath in what little time they could separate themselves for. Nagisa was so forceful that his boyfriend stumbled back into the chair at his desk, but he didn't seem to mind as he pulled the smaller man into his lap. His hands stroked the attorney's face as their mouths relaxed against one another's, each one allowing their kisses to grow deep and heady. The blond's hips rolled against Rei's, the older man's hands encouraging him to rub harder with his strong grip.
A ring from the phone on the desk startled them out of their intense make-out, and they both had the sense to recall where they were. They stared at one another as the shrill tone sounded again. His face redder than Nagisa had ever seen before, Rei hit a button on the panel.
"Yes?" he answered, his breathing slightly labored. The receptionist spoke back.
"I know you're in with a client," he began apologetically as the blond grinned wryly. He tucked his head into the crook of Rei's neck, too embarrassed to even look at the phone. "I've just had a call from your next appointment saying that they'll be arriving about ten minutes early. Does that work with your schedule?" he proceeded. He could feel Rei's heartbeat where their chests were pressed together and knew his was racing just as quickly.
"That's fine, it doesn't interfere with my other… business," he finished lamely, jumping as his lover bit delicately into his neck. The nip wasn't hard enough to leave a mark, the blond justified to himself, and if it did, the currently disheveled collar of his shirt would cover it.
"All right, I'll make sure to let them know," the receptionist replied, hanging up the phone after what felt like much too long of a conversation. Nagisa tried to think of something – anything – to say to Rei but couldn't make his mouth work. When neither one could find any words after a few minutes, labored breathing the only sound in the room, the attorney finally made a bold proposition.
"We have 20 minutes still," he informed his lover in an authoritative voice that was merely an attempt to cover up his shyness. Rosy eyes blown wide, the blond glanced up to ensure he was understanding Rei properly. His dark blue eyes kept darting between Nagisa and the wall as though he wanted to look at his boyfriend but was too embarrassed about the situation to let his gaze linger for long.
The blond slid out of his lap, evidently to the attorney's dismay, but positioned himself on his knees in front of his chair. The disappointed look quickly changed to shock as his glasses began to blend in with the redness of his face.
"Here?" he muttered, more as if he were asking himself than Nagisa. Despite a conflicted look on his face, his hands traveled up to his pants, pushing them down just far enough to expose his half-hard cock. The younger man supposed he could blame himself for that – it wasn't as though it was easy to resist the grinding of one's lover on their lap.
Nagisa placed a kiss at the tip as he wrapped his hands snugly at the base. A few good strokes were all Rei needed for his erection to spring up fully enough for his lover to wrap his lips, no longer chapped from the cold but shining and plump, around the shaft. The brunet inhaled a sharp breath between his teeth with the introduction of Nagisa's warm mouth.
Nearly a month apart had made Rei physically sensitive. His fingers had carefully threaded themselves through the writer's downy blond locks, but a few swirls of his tongue around the head was the only thing that caused his grip to tighten. Nagisa responded eagerly to his boyfriend's show of desperation by pushing his mouth all the way to the base, until Rei's cock teased at the very back of his throat. He pulled back only once he found it to breathe, coughing as he did so. It had been a long time since he'd deep-throated anyone, and he certainly hadn't done so to Rei yet.
"Are you all right?" the attorney asked with concern in his husky voice. His hands traveled down to stroke Nagisa's cheek.
"Never better, it's just been a while is all," the blond responded as he leaned into the gentle touch. "Just do what feels right and don't worry about me – I know my limits," he assured, guiding Rei's grip back to his hair as he hungrily took the full length of his dick into his mouth again. The brunet was hesitant at first, but quickly adjusted to the hard and deep pace Nagisa set for himself. He pushed his lover's head against his cock and shamelessly thrust his hips into his eager mouth, the lewd slapping of skin against skin as noisy and wet as it would have been if they'd fucked bareback on the desk.
"Nagisa – I'm…" Rei warned in a strained tone to little avail. The blond pushed his face to the base of his boyfriend's dick as he spoke, leaving him ready to burst in his throat. With a powerful jerk, he came as he pulled away, lining the back of Nagisa's throat to the tip of his tongue with his warm white seed. Obligingly, he swallowed, but as soon as his boyfriend pulled out, he sputtered a cough. "Are you all right?" Rei asked as he rushed to fix his clothes. The blond nodded, but his boyfriend handed him his water bottle nonetheless.
"I'm fine," he responded hoarsely, gratefully taking a sip. When he handed it back, the brunet looked properly chagrined.
"I can't believe we did that here," he continued. Nagisa certainly could. He'd gone to great lengths to please other partners (and enjoyed it, too), but it was a testament to Rei's character that he wouldn't ever think to suggest such a thing unless the blond was wholeheartedly willing and eager.
"It's okay, no one will know," Nagisa soothed as he pushed himself back up to his feet, his lover following soon after. As he reached over to Rei's collar to adjust it, the attorney brushed down his messy blond hair. Just then, the writer's phone vibrated loudly in his bag, the sudden sound causing them both to jump back from one another, and then proceed to offer sheepish grins at their mistake. "It's Makoto," Nagisa read from the screen. "He says he's here." Rei looked sorry to see him go but pressed a quick and passionate kiss to his lips.
"Meet me at my apartment tonight at six," he implored, his hand wrapped around his boyfriend's forearm. The blond's creamy cheeks colored a pretty red as his lips brushed against his ear. He stepped away, composing himself to make it look like nothing untoward had happened while his blond beau continued to appear every bit as flustered as he felt. A moment later, there was a knock at the door and Makoto stepped inside.
"I thought you might be here," he commented lightly, punctuating his statement with a handsome smile. "May I show you to my office?"
"Yes, of course," he replied, trying to wipe the dazed look off his face. He had the sense to wave goodbye to Rei, acknowledging his proposition and allowing the happiness of the thought to push away his nerves about both of his upcoming meetings.
Makoto led him to a small conference room, rather than an office, down the hall with a collection of files already laid out on the large oak table. Nagisa drew out a plush chair and took a seat, the brunet man joining him soon after.
"How is your father?" he began conversationally as he slipped on a set of glasses and sorted through a select few documents. The blond was surprised to find there was real concern in Makoto's voice and smiled gratefully.
"Better than they thought he'd be," he responded, his relief evident despite the looming question of cancer. "They aren't sure if the tumor is malignant, but we should find out tomorrow." The attorney nodded thoughtfully.
"I'm glad you could meet me, considering the circumstances. I do not mean to rush you," he admitted kindly, "but I wanted to file the suit as soon as possible to lessen your burden." Nagisa murmured his thanks and received a nod of acknowledgment. "Thankfully, we have ample evidence and plenty of time to gather more. I filed the charges yesterday but getting a court date will take at least a month." The younger man shrugged – he hadn't expected the process to be fast by any means, and he would likely have a new place by then. "When we do get a date, you should expect to testify, though. Getting time off from your next job will be important," he advised. The words sent a stab through the blond's gut. His job. He'd forgotten to tell Rei about the contract infractions.
"Um, Makoto, about that," he interrupted nervously as the attorney refocused his attention fully on Nagisa. "So, I talked with my sister last night, and she's an officer so she knows about this stuff, I guess, and um, well, we realized that I was fired without a two weeks' notice or severance pay or pay for my last article," he rambled, embarrassed to admit he hadn't demanded what he was owed. With each offense listed by the blond, his attorney's eyebrows rose a bit higher until at last they took a dive and formed a considerably indignant look that he'd never seen on the easygoing man.
"That is unacceptable," he declared in his lilted voice, leaning back in his chair. Nagisa was encouraged.
"My sister wants me to file a suit and I wondered if you could represent me," he suggested. He backpedaled rather quickly when he realized how monumental the favor was. "I mean, I still can't pay," he amended, "and I know Elite is a huge organization, so if you don't want to do it, then a suggestion for someone else is fine…"
"No, I'll do it," he replied insistently. His green eyes shone with determined ambition at the thought, and Nagisa was reminded that he'd taken on a huge fishing company – and won – only a week or two ago. "To be honest, I had planned to prepare you for questions you may be asked in relation to the housing case," he admitted, "but those can be saved for later. This is more important. Tell me everything you remember about the incidents leading up to your termination."
Nagisa regaled him with every detail that he could remember, starting with Brooke Westwood's first post-release meeting where she demanded he recruit Satsuki Momoi to the troubles with his housing and father that led to his tardiness the day he was fired. Makoto asked no questions but took notes on a few details that the blond hadn't even thought were critical to the story but that he'd included nonetheless. When he finished, the lawyer considered briefly the circumstances before dissecting the days apart, minute by minute.
"You said that Ms. Westwood scolded you once before for being late?" he checked with a frown.
"Yes," Nagisa replied. "I went for my lunch break to meet Rei. He wasn't there, but Satsuki – his sister-in-law – was, so I asked her if she would model, and she said no. That's why I was late getting back."
"Do you remember what she said?" He clicked his pen and put it to paper, and the blond's curiosity was piqued.
"Not exactly – something about how we shouldn't be late if we're professionals."
"Nothing about a warning for you in particular?" he pressed.
"No, though I did feel rather like an example. It almost felt like she had a vendetta against me. I couldn't have been more than ten minutes late after a failure to recruit a model, which she told me to do and which wasn't anywhere near my job description. That's always left up to photographers or the secretaries for the media relations department," he huffed. His time as a secretary hadn't been for naught – as a personal assistant to Ms. Amakata, he'd often oversee these points of contact from the magazine. From time to time, he'd approve them on her behalf.
"A vendetta," Makoto repeated. He flipped through his rapidly-filling notes. "You said it felt like she was watching you during that first meeting. Did she say anything that gave you that impression?"
"Yes," Nagisa replied before he had the chance the think about it. "She was introducing herself and she looked at all of us, but at me the longest. She said, 'I can certainly see why sales have been tanking'." At the time, he hadn't been able to place why he thought her gaze was lingering and had thought he was imagining it, but in a moment of clarity, he recalled the smallest of details. "I think she was looking at my skirt, and I was wearing a bit of makeup as well."
"Do you think anyone else noticed?" Makoto pressed, tapping his pen against the pad.
"It's possible," Nagisa acknowledged, "but I'd probably have to ask my coworkers."
"Ask them and see if they'll check if others saw or heard something suspicious. If there are grounds for it, we may be able to press charges for discrimination in this case as well."
"Discrimination?" The blond recoiled at the thought. "Can you even discriminate against someone – and I mean legally – for their clothing?"
"We're filing against them for unlawful termination, primarily. If she thought your dress was inappropriate but did not send you warnings through human resources, then that is also a reason why you can sue. However," he continued, his tone shifting to a more guarded stance, "if another coworker has heard something more explicit, shall we say, then yes, we have grounds to file discrimination charges – especially if your boss knew you are LGBT, which is a protected class in the U.K. It'll be just the same as your landlord. We just need the evidence." Nagisa gave a sharp nod to the comment, steeling himself at the idea of covertly getting information out of his former colleagues. Sensing the rise in his nerves, the attorney softened and sent him another soothing smile.
"If you think someone knows something, put them into contact with me," he finished, setting aside his notepad. "We should spend the rest of our time going over the other case in order to prepare you."
For their remaining hour, they did just that, Makoto occasionally instructing Nagisa's uncertain and self-deprecating responses to his hard-ball questions. As lovely a man as he was, he was clearly a gifted actor and didn't slack in his coaching. While the blond was grateful, it was more exhausting than he'd imagined, and by the end of it all, he was well looking forward to leaving, even though he'd just be heading to another meeting.
Once they wrapped up, Nagisa immediately left to wait for Amakata at the coffee shop. He'd hoped to run into Rei one last time – to what end, he wasn't sure – but the door to his office was firmly shut in the universal sign for "I'm busy". Nagisa had to wait until the evening, it seemed. And just as well – it sounded like he'd have some prepping to do beforehand.
Such thoughts kept him occupied as he pushed his way through the busy streets to the familiar café. He eagerly hopped into the warm brick storefront, stepping immediately into line and placing an order for his regular. He checked his phone as he waited, noting that he was almost an hour early, when a buzz alerted him to a text – a blurry photo of himself standing in line.
From: Momo Miko
nagiiii is that u
His blond head whipped up from the message and searched the busy shop for his friend. After a moment, he found him frantically waving in a corner, sitting with another redheaded man that was much more muscular, slightly taller, and oozed confidence and curiosity. Nagisa didn't even have to ask to know that this was Momo's infamous older brother.
"Nagisa, come sit with us!" the younger Mikoshiba called, disturbing the peace of the café (much like he often did with Rei). As the blond approached, he took a moment to evaluate the brother. Though he looked like a hipster in an outfit composed of jeans, a flannel, and a thick vest, he was clearly the kind of man that only dressed like that because it was cool. And though he hated to admit it, the look was roguishly handsome and paired well with his crooked smile. With a jolt, he realized that Momo's brother used to be exactly his type – though since meeting Rei, his tastes had shifted markedly.
"This must be the brother you're always on about!" the blond began as he pulled out a seat beside them. Despite the attitude he oozed, the older man was polite when he stuck out his hand for Nagisa to shake.
"Seijuro Mikoshiba," he introduced himself casually. "Thanks for lookin' out for this kid all the time."
"It's my pleasure," he replied, albeit a bit awkwardly. Momo knew that the blond had been dismissed, but maybe his brother didn't get the memo. The younger redhead's cheer slipped from his face, confirming his supposition.
"I was just telling Sei about how much I missed having you around," he confessed, but it was clear by his tone that it wasn't all they had been discussing.
"Yeah, I miss you too," Nagisa admitted. The uncertainty of his future crept back into his mind, and he grew subdued. Seijuro poked Momo in the ribs to prompt him to continue. The younger redhead recoiled, but with distinct discomfort, pressed on.
"People are still… talking about it, I guess. To tell you the truth, the other day while I was getting a press release together to announce the change in editors, I heard Ms. Westwood on the phone." He grimaced and, with his next words, Nagisa at last understood why the typically exuberant assistant was having such trouble with the topic: "I heard her call you a faggot and say some other… nasty things."
It wasn't as though Nagisa was particularly surprised that someone had called him that; it was the kind of taunt that followed him often in his small-town school. But that it could follow him to his career? To a professional publication? It was unthinkable. And poor Momo, who had been a city boy all his life and had only just entered the working world… What a sad, harsh awakening it was for the redheaded boy. At least Nagisa had grown up with a hardened heart.
"I didn't know what to do about it," the younger man continued, his gold eyes blown wide like a kicked puppy, "so I was just asking Sei." He wrapped his fingers around his cup of coffee and looked away, shame filling his gaze. "It made me feel really uncomfortable," he admitted, though he didn't include the reason why. Momo had never spoken about his sexual orientation or any similar matters in the short time he'd been interning for the magazine. Nobody had ever pressed him on the issue, though the blond felt a sorry sort of nostalgia, sensing that Momo was asking himself the same questions that Nagisa did when he was in university.
"All I could come up with was HR or some good ol' investigative journalism," Seijuro chipped in, distracting Nagisa from his thoughts. "But that might just be me sniffin' around for a good story." For a moment, the blond was taken aback by the idea, but somewhere in the back of his mind the cogs started turning.
"Momo," he began automatically, still thinking of how he could make things work, "would you be willing to tell that to a lawyer?" Makoto would likely need to speak with his coworkers anyways – he'd implied as much at their meeting.
"Like T.V.-crime-show style?" he clarified, taken aback at the idea. The elder Mikoshiba leaned in, a wicked grin forming on his face. It seemed like he'd already picked up the angle.
"Something like that," Nagisa replied. "There were some issues with my severance pay," he described evasively. Before he could even think whether he should say more, Seijuro put his hand up to stop him.
"I should tell you right now that I'm a freelance investigative journalist thirsty for any blood in the water," he joked. "I might want to follow up on this before any other reporters get a whiff of it."
Nagisa knew from his time with Rei that court filings were more often than not public domain – sometimes with redactions, sometimes not. If Momo's brother was going to look for the story, he'd probably find it. But he was also aware that what he said to the press could make or break his case if he wasn't careful. Besides, as a columnist he was a journalist himself (albeit in an incredibly different industry).
"Off the record – I'll have to ask my lawyer if I'm allowed to say any more," he quipped in response. One of Seijuro's brows arched. Nagisa had confirmed that he was seeking legal action and had more importantly hinted at cooperation.
"I get it," Seijuro replied. The blond had no doubt that he'd keep sniffing around. Whatever he turned up might even prove useful.
"Oh shoot," Momo interjected after looking at his phone. "I have to get going or Westwood'll be pissed." He grimaced. "If I screw up one more time, it'll be me on the chopping block." Nagisa inferred that this had been the topic of conversation between the brothers before he showed up. Seijuro sent his little brother a sympathetic glance and ruffled his hair.
"Keep your chin up, kid," he encouraged. "You, too, blondie." The three of them shared wry grins, and the brothers left to hurry back to their respective workplaces. Nagisa texted Makoto's contact information to Momo and vice versa, filling in the details of the conversation to his attorney.
Amakata arrived shortly after he finished writing to Makoto and made a beeline to her ex-employee with her much-needed 3pm coffee (black, two shots espresso, and a pinch of sugar, Nagisa recalled fondly). She was dressed in over-the-knee leather boots, a camel cape, and a trendy broad-brimmed burgundy hat. She looked nothing like she had the day they ran into each other at the pub. His old boss was once again impeccably put together, like that night had never happened. It was almost ironic that it would be the very thing they were to discuss.
"Nagisa, darling, how are you?" she asked as she gracefully slid into a chair next to him.
"Fired, evicted, and involved with more than attorney this time," he quipped. Amakata laughed. "And in complete disbelief that you took me seriously, let alone remembered that night at the bar."
"I always remember your ideas," she stated. "Besides, I wrote it down. I always do that, too." Without waiting for him to so much as sigh, she opened her laptop and showed off spreadsheets and documents that he couldn't even begin to make sense of. "Anyhow, I'm starting my own magazine, as I should certainly hope you remember from this morning. I talked with Goro, and he said he'd do our advertising, but that aside I'm going to use my savings to invest in –"
"Wait, wait, wait," Nagisa interrupted. "Your savings? Don't you need those?"
"For what, retirement?" Amakata retorted, arching her beautifully threaded brow. "I don't think I'm nearly that old. Besides, I'll be a busybody all my life. I'm not leaving the industry now. Not while I'm at my best." The blond felt a pang in his heart at her determination. He should be looking for that bright future too, eagerly seeking his peak under his beloved editor's guidance, but he just couldn't picture that future… Not with the way things were.
"Ms. Amakata, I'm really honored that you asked me to join you," he prefaced. "But it's just… My dad's in the hospital and we're short 2,000 pounds for his surgery fees, I got kicked out of my old place, and I don't have an income right now. I can't take a risk like that," he responded miserably. Amakata's pretty grin faded into a serious line.
"Things are that bad, huh?" She'd said as much when he first appealed to her for a paid position. Nagisa could feel tears welling in his eyes from the memory of the past coming to haunt his present situation. The older woman placed her soft hands on his and squeezed them gently. "I understand. The start-up part will be what's hard. I'd love to hear your branding ideas, but if you feel like you're not in a position to do that, then it's fine."
"Thanks," he sniffled, managing to hold the tears back. "I still need a job, though, and the editor that replaced you probably won't write me a recommendation." Amakata laughed wryly.
"Of course they didn't. Don't worry, I can at least do that much for you. But once I get ahold of investors for this new magazine, I can guarantee you an income. So just don't get too comfortable wherever you go next. I'm keeping that spot open for you." Warmth diffused through Nagisa's body as she loosened her grip and gave his hands a comfortable pat.
"I'd be happy to look over stuff when I have time," he offered, "I just can't make it my main work."
"I understand. I wish you luck with whatever comes next."
For a while, they chatted about little things – who and what would be on the runway at fashion week, what jobs Nagisa was aiming for, and a little bit about Rei. Nagisa couldn't be long, though. He had to check on his father. He knew Emi had been in with him earlier during her long break. She had both the early and late shifts that day, so she would have just left for work as Nagisa left the coffee shop to catch the bus.
He arrived at the hospital to find his father considerably less groggy than he had been the previous day, but still not quite in top-notch condition. Whatever pain medication they'd given him had taken its toll. The room was brightened, however, by an elegant bouquet and small bowl of oranges. His father sat up a little at his entrance.
"How are you feeling, Dad?" Nagisa asked, hurrying to his father's side. He gave a sleepy smile.
"A little more awake than yesterday. There's not too much pain, thanks to this old thing," he remarked, tipping his head to indicate the I.V.
"Did Emi bring those?" Nagisa inquired as he slipped out of his coat and scarf. He picked up an orange and started peeling it. To his surprise, his father shook his head.
"Maki did. She stopped by this morning before Emi got here." The blond's shock must have been evident on his face; his father frowned in response.
"I hope you two haven't quarreled," he responded. Chagrined, Nagisa got the feeling that his father had overheard their argument the day before, despite his best efforts to shield him from it. He focused on the fruit in his hands.
"Not particularly," he automatically lied, like any child before a stern parent. He felt, rather than saw, the creases on Ken's face deepen. His work on the peel faltered. "Well… maybe a little," he finally confessed.
"You're siblings," the old man sighed, "so I can't tell you not to bicker. But I wish you'd bicker a little bit less like children and a little bit more like adults. Children shouldn't suffer for their parents' mistakes."
"But…" he protested, only to be cut off by a sharp gaze. His father hadn't pulled out the military look in a long while.
"I wasn't a perfect father, Nagisa. Your mother and stepfather aren't perfect parents, either. You should love your family, but don't idealize them. Rather, try to understand them." The boy began to dislike the note of finality in his father's voice as he recalled that the test results would come tomorrow. He couldn't bring himself to voice his concern.
The sweet orange was finally freed of its peel. As he pulled a few of the wedges out, sticky juice dripped onto his hands. He plopped a slice in his mouth so he wouldn't have to speak and offered the other half of to his father. It was a little tart, rare for the end of the season, but he found he liked it better that way.
When they finished their shared orange, Nagisa changed the topic.
"What were you and Rei talking about yesterday?" he asked nosily. He was restless when it came to the topic of his boyfriend. The attorney's whispers echoed in his mind. 'Meet me at my apartment tonight at six,' he'd said, his breath hot against the blond's ear. He glanced at the clock. It was past four; visiting hours would be over at five.
"Nothing to concern you with, dear," his father replied, back to a lighter and almost playful tone. It did nothing, however, to soothe Nagisa's nerves. Rei was his boyfriend. Of course he was concerned with it! Since when had his boyfriend and father been so close? Never mind the fact that he was rather pleased with the idea. He must have been making a face, because his father laughed at him. The nerve!
"I don't even get a hint?" he protested, the older man's hoarse chuckle still sounding throughout the room.
"It was a conversation between men, in confidence," Ken insisted.
"I'm a man, too, don't forget," Nagisa retorted with a pout. The general shook his head, still grinning.
"You know what I meant," he chastised. Nagisa certainly knew, but that wouldn't stop him from sticking his nose in where it most assuredly belonged. But it seemed like his father's lips were sealed tight on the topic. Oh well, he thought. He could just pester Rei on the topic later.
Pleased to see his father in high spirits, although apprehensive of his test results, Nagisa left the hospital right on time. The sun had already started to set, and his father was getting sleepy thanks to his pain medication. He caught another double decker heading to Hyde Park and decided he'd walk from there. He needed to burn off his spare energy.
What had he been thinking, having that morning on his mind while he was with his father? He'd spent the entire second half of their time together keeping thoughts of their raunchy business at bay. He hadn't gotten off, so naturally he was frustrated, but his father in the hospital should have sobered him up immediately.
Nagisa shoved his hands in his pockets, his fingers coming into contact with the warmed metal of the key – Rei had given him a spare set while he'd stayed during the snowstorm. He hadn't used them since their fight. His heart leapt to his throat when he recalled that he could've been going to his home rather than just his boyfriend's apartment. The hurried walk through the park only made it pound harder against his chest. His ribs shuddered with every chilly breath.
At last, he made it to the enclosed garden just off Moscow Street. As he fumbled with the keys, he wondered what Rei was doing right now. He'd invited him over, but would careless comments cause them to rehash the entire fight in the first place? Were they over it? It hadn't seemed like that was Rei's intention in having him over.
Perhaps it would be the opposite. The attorney might spend the night comforting him, reminding his delicate heart that he was loved. The day's "excitement" could have been too much for him to handle. It was possible nothing particularly untoward would be on the menu.
He inserted the key to the front door with a smooth click, but he couldn't make himself turn it. His face burned as his emotions conflicted against the clamoring of his needs. Confusion, shame, and even a bit of lingering irritation at the memories of Rei's anger swirled through his heart, pounding with exercise, through the frustratingly hot knot in his stomach that was both anxiety and arousal. Thankfully, the decision was made for him. The front door swung in, revealing the attorney likely fresh home from work.
Rei wore his shirt with the top buttons undone to reveal his collarbone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbow. His well-fitted trousers clung perfectly to his narrow hips. The blond couldn't make himself look at his face – his gaze was permanently fixed on the dark skin peeping through his clothes.
"Nagisa, you're early," Rei commented, startling the younger man from his reverie. "Come in." He stepped aside, and Nagisa crossed the threshold. He felt like he couldn't do anything else. The attorney's navy gaze had him pinned where he stood. "I just got home from shopping. I was making dinner," he explained, waiting for Nagisa to reply. The blond opened his lips but made no sound. "… Aren't you going to say anything?" Rei wondered, his tone dominated by awkward concern.
"I'm worried if I do, it'll be the wrong thing…" Nagisa admitted, battering down his conflicting emotions. He leaned against the closed door, his eyes still downcast.
"So you're leaving it up to me," Rei surmised. Nagisa grinned wryly when he realized he recognized the sound of the brunet's eyebrow shooting up over the rim of his glasses.
"It's your house, not mine," the blond quipped, followed by a deep grimace. He so should not have brought that up. "Sorry – I didn't mean it like that – it's just – ugh, this is exactly what I meant."
"Don't be sorry. I love your smart mouth," the brunet replied. Nagisa felt his warm hand along his cheek, drifting down to his chin and urging him to look up. His head moved, but his eyes remained downcast. "Won't you look at me?" Rei asked sweetly. He couldn't make himself do it.
"It should be your turn," Nagisa replied. "I'm always in your way, doing whatever I want. I'm never considerate. I'm childish. So you should say what you need to say tonight. Do it your way," he insisted. He realized he was being vague, but a moment's reflection couldn't tell him whether he was talking about reconciliation or something else entirely.
The attorney was ever full of surprises, however. His grip on Nagisa's chin tightened. His cheek brushed Nagisa's as he leaned to whisper in his ear.
"You don't want me to do what I want tonight," he asserted in a voice that made him absolutely sure he was ready for Rei to do whatever he wanted tonight. The blond was now certain what they were discussing. Nagisa acquiesced to the lawyer's earlier request and turned his pleading rose-gold eyes onto his boyfriend's face.
He wasn't wearing his glasses, exposing the blond to the full brunt of his serious dark blue gaze. His knees went weak, but his lips parted as Rei withdrew his hands. He didn't have to wait long, though – the attorney's hands returned to his shoulders to slip his coat off.
"Turn around," he ordered. Why did it feel like he was being stripped bare? Rei's caressed his arms as the thick wool fell away. God, why was his touch so painfully gentle? The attorney hung it with care beside his suit jacket. Nagisa tried to face him, but Rei pressed him back against the wall with all his strength. Whatever prayer he'd uttered had been granted; this was happening here.
Rei's lips latched onto the nape of his neck while his hands roughly roamed where they so pleased. Nagisa was helpless against them; his arms were shoved against the wall to support his weight.
The attorney's quick fingers undid the button and zipper of the blond's jeans and shoved his underwear away from his hips. His unusual insistence was arousing. Coupled with the fact that Nagisa hadn't been properly serviced this afternoon, he was already hard. He groaned in frustration, only to be interrupted by the presence of Rei's other hand snaking around to silence him. They slipped through his open lips with little resistance and stroked his tongue. He only removed them only once they were fully soaked.
Rei gave a slight prod at the smaller man's entrance, but the blond flinched. It really had been a while. But that didn't mean he wanted his boyfriend to withdraw his hand entirely. Now his moans faded into simpering whines. He sent a lewd glance back at Rei, only to find his boyfriend distracted; from his trouser pockets, he pulled out a condom and a packet of lubricant.
"D-did you plan this?" Nagisa tried to tease, taken aback at the idea that his goody-two-shoes man would want to mess around by the front door.
A crack sounded before the pain registered; the blonde let out an involuntary moan as a deep sting spread over his exposed backside. Over his shoulder he met his boyfriend's stare, dominant but reserved; Nagisa knew he wouldn't keep going if he said something, but he wasn't about to. Rei had spanked him, and he had enjoyed it.
When it was clear the blond was waiting for more, the attorney rolled his shoulders back and relaxed a bit. His sharp collarbone shone with sweat under the backlit yellow lighting of the kitchen. He tenderly massaged the spot that he'd struck, but his voice still held the tone of control.
"We're doing things my way tonight?" he confirmed. Nagisa nodded. Quick as lightning, Rei slapped his ass again. The younger man yelped. "Then tonight, I'm not to be teased," he ordered. The stinging sensation blossomed into warmth. His mouth watered. Again, he nodded. The attorney's hand returned to stroking him softly, and against his back the blond felt the weight of his lover's body. "Are you ready for me, then?" His breath tickled Nagisa's ear and his fingers returned to playing with his entrance.
"Yes," he replied emphatically. The attorney messily coated him with the lukewarm gel from the packet and shoved his first finger in to the knuckle. He sucked in a breath between his teeth; what was normally a quick pinch lasted longer after a month without sex. Another slap on his backside distracted him from the pain and he released his breath with a noisy moan. He pushed his hips back desperately, trying to force Rei's finger onto his prostate.
The attorney was feeling stingy, however, and refused to oblige his boyfriend with what he so desperately needed. His other hand tightened its grip on the blond's creamy ass while a second finger made its way inside. He couldn't relieve himself of the burning sensation by touching himself; his arms on the wall were all that was holding him steady.
Tepid lubricant dripped onto his backside and around the brunet's fingers. Finally, the two already present began to stretch him while the third scooped the gel into his hole. Nagisa had no sooner relaxed, used to this feeling, when Rei began thrusting his hand rapidly.
"Oh Christ, yes," he groaned as his boyfriend furiously fingerfucked him by the door. The brunet knew exactly where to brush against to maximize Nagisa's pleasure. Precum wept from the head of his erect dick and dripped onto the floor. He was sure if anything touched him further, he'd cum right then and there.
Rei removed his fingers as quick as he'd shoved them in. Already the blond's body was throbbing with need. He felt rather than saw the head of his boyfriend's penis press against his entrance, but it went no further. Nagisa groaned, endlessly frustrated by what he assumed was Rei's simultaneous need for permission and lusty torture. He'd have to take it into his own hands. Biting his lower lip, he pushed his ass back against his boyfriend's dick.
The younger man exhaled from between his teeth as he felt himself expand to accommodate his lover's size. He used the wall to help him gradually slide back and forth, slowly getting used to the sensation of fullness. He had no sooner fully relaxed around Rei than his boyfriend began wildly thrusting as though he couldn't hold back his need any longer. It was a testament to his sharp skills of observation that he knew the exact moment to start plowing the blonde hard against the wall.
"Oh God," Nagisa moaned desperately between breaths. His nails scratched the fine wallpaper as he struggled to find purchase. From thrust to thrust, the younger man felt his boyfriend's zipper scrape against his asshole. He hadn't even bothered to take them off. The brunet's hands wrapped around his torso; one tugged mercilessly at his nipples while the other finally palmed his hard dick.
"You're mine, body and soul," Rei declared huskily, pumping Nagisa's cock as his own continued to pound his ass. The blond could only whimper in reply; the forceful attentions his boyfriend was making had him entirely captivated. "I love how you fit in the palm of my hand," he continued, sloppily jerking him off. The writer couldn't muster the will to respond. "And how I fit perfectly inside you." His thumb pressed against the head of his member.
"Please," begged the blond, "keep going, I'm so close!" Rei's grip tightened. He stroked his lover's cock in time with his thrusts. Before he knew it, Nagisa's vision went white as the attorney milked his orgasm. The sticky cum splattered against his pale stomach, exposed under his sweater.
"You must have been eager for me, coming so fast tonight," Rei teased him. His pace slowed but continued to hit him hard and rhythmically.
"It's because… Earlier today, you…" he panted, hips slowly going numb from the pleasure.
"Oh?" he prompted. "Are you implying I started some sort of unsavory activity while I was at work?" Nagisa's face flushed red with embarrassment, irritation, and lustful heat at the memory.
"You… encouraged… it," he griped between breaths. Rei ceased toying with his nipples to slap his ass again. The writer groaned in frustration.
"By the time I'm done with you tonight, you won't even remember your name, let alone your smart attitude," the attorney promised. Nagisa was about to respond that the brunet had just said he loved that, when his hands replaced themselves at the blond's hips, nails digging into his skin. Without pause, Rei launched into his previous pace, fast and hot and unyielding. His lover's complaint was lost in noisy moans.
Nagisa was at the mercy of wanton pleasure. His spent dick began to stir with the wild, relentless stimulation in his ass as it slapped against Rei's hips. But even the sumptuous blond had his breaking point; his palms, sweaty from the endless heat, were slipping. His knees shook with his own weight. His lovers hands were all that kept him remotely steady.
"Rei, I…" he panted, wet with sweat and his cum, "I'm…" He felt his lover relinquish his grip only slightly and began to slip down the wall. He couldn't let it end like this, but he was in no position to make the rules.
"Hold on," the attorney replied, somewhat back to his senses. He pulled out of Nagisa, who whined at the loss as he sank to his knees on the cool floor. "Should've taken off your sweater," he commented, chagrined at his own conduct. He peeled it away from the blond's soaked skin, his hands once more tender and loving. The shock of cold air gave him some relief, though he was rather impressed that Rei had managed to keep his cool while still fully dressed.
The attorney bent down at his side and kissed him hard, guiding Nagisa's arms around his neck. The blond hummed into the kiss, curious about his love's intentions, and tightened his grip. The older man wrapped his arms around the blond's waist and hoisted him into the air. When the writer gasped, Rei pulled away just far enough for their lips to still brush.
"Hold on to me tight," he ordered, pushing Nagisa's back against the wall this time. He maneuvered his strong arms under his thighs, effectively shoving them spread-eagle and exposing his gaping hole once more to the numbing pleasure of his throbbing cock.
Rei was slower but deeper with his position, both allowing Nagisa's exhausted body to recover while still feeling the throes of his boyfriend's need. His small, pale hands roamed around his lover's exposed neck, trailed down his collarbone, and undid the remaining buttons on his white shirt. His teeth languidly latched onto his skin, leaving dark red hickeys where they could. The lawyer grunted, thrusting harder and deliberately.
"I'm so close, Nagisa," he murmured hoarsely. The blond flexed his hole around Rei's thick member.
"Cum inside me," he demanded desperately, eager to be filled by his lover's hot seed. He buried his face into the crook of his boyfriend's face as with a final powerful push, he rode his orgasm into the blond.
"Christ, you're so perfect," Rei groaned. Exhausted, he slipped out of Nagisa, taking care to set him down gently. They leaned against the wall together, gathering their breath and their thoughts both. The blond had the wherewithal to remember that his boyfriend had used a condom and, consequently, he did not have cum running down his thighs. And thanks to Rei's endless attentions, he was now again at half-mast, so to speak. He kissed the underside of the older man's chin insistently and sent him a lewd glance.
"You used a rubber," Nagisa protested, stroking his boyfriend's sweaty shirt. Rei breathed deeply – whether it was a sigh of exasperation or continued arousal, the writer couldn't tell.
"Don't tell me you mean you want to go again," he murmured as Nagisa's lips reached his Adam's apple. His voice vibrated pleasantly against his kiss.
"I can't hardly stand," he responded evasively. "So take me to bed. Make me forget everything," he begged. Rei obliged; a moment later, the blond found himself swept up in his arms bridal-style. Nagisa's hand slipped down to his chest to toy with his dark nipples.
"I did say that," the attorney responded with a chuckle. "I suppose I have no choice but take responsibility."
Nagisa awoke tangled in his boyfriend's white sheets, but with the chrome comforter securely tugged over his prone body. Beside him he heard the beat of fingers against keys and in the background, the pitter-patter of a downpour against window panes. He stirred slightly and made a sleepy squeak, trying to burrow further in the covers to protect himself from the oncoming morning chill.
The sound of the computer keys stopped temporarily. The small tuft of blond hair that was still visible was greeted by a warm hand. Eventually, Nagisa's face was coaxed out.
"Did I wake you?" Rei asked, his face filled with affection. He was illuminated more by the screen of his laptop than the light outside; not only was it cloudy, but the curtains were mostly drawn, too.
"'S fine," Nagisa replied, scooching his body closer to the warmth of his boyfriend. He made a spot for his head on Rei's thigh, behind his computer. "I thought you had work today," he mumbled around a yawn.
"I took a sick day, but I'll still work from home. How are you feeling?"
"Sleepy," the blond replied. He had no sense at all of what time it must be, but considering how late they'd stayed up pleasuring one another, he imagined he'd slept in a little too much. He guessed his assessment would change as soon as he moved further than an inch. The blond could already feel the tightness of his muscles from repeatedly wild bouts of sex, compounded by a night spent in a chilled room.
All things considered, it didn't take terribly long for Nagisa to stir himself fully awake. Rei was typing too much. He should have been keeping his hand stroking the downy blond head in his lap. Too used to his lover to resist for long, the older man snapped the laptop shut and set it aside.
"Yes?" Rei prompted, an eyebrow arched over the rim of his red glasses. The blond forced his pained body upright and moved to straddle his boyfriend. He made sure to take the covers with him. The attorney steadied him at the hips.
"Last night was wild," Nagisa said, wrapping his arms around Rei's neck. The room was enough proof of the fact; decorative pillows were scattered around the floor, the attorney's wrinkled remnants of his suit piled on top of them. A few spent condoms were littered on the ground – it took more coaxing than he'd thought to get Rei to do him raw.
"You better not be asking me to go again," Rei warned. "I don't have the stamina of a teenager." The blond laughed wryly.
"I do have limits, even though I started it," he joked. The brunet kissed his neck. "I'm just curious what set you off. I thought we were gonna talk, then you go and pull lube and condoms out of nowhere," he exaggerated. Rei sighed in exasperation against the spot he'd just kissed.
"You're right that you started it," he griped, stroking Nagisa's sore back. "And I thought we might talk too, and then maybe after…" He blushed and the blond giggled. "I don't know. I remembered fighting, but after what we did that afternoon, I couldn't make myself bring it up."
"We were on the same page then," Nagisa laughed. "Wild messy make-up sex was just what we needed, right?" Rei shot him a cocky grin reminiscent of his dominant attitude that night.
"I rather enjoyed making you eat your words. Call me bad at sex after that, and I'd be hard pressed to teach you another lesson," the older man proclaimed. Nagisa flushed deeply at this new side to his dorky lawyer's personality.
"About that, Rei, I know I can't take it back, but I really didn't mean it," he replied apologetically. The brunet waved him off.
"I know. It's in the past. We said all that we said, and what's done is done. I probably shouldn't have mentioned it, but it's better to let you know I forgive you," he explained. Nagisa smiled at his lover, once again bright as the sun. They kissed softly.
"I'm glad you brought it up. I guess while we're on the topic, I should add that for you, I'll be a slut any time, any place," he flirted. Most of the sexual tension in his words had dissipated; they were both physically exhausted and now their argument felt much behind them.
"I surmised as much yesterday," Rei retorted, clearly embarrassed at his boyfriend's bold words. Now that was the nerd the blond had fallen for. "But we need to stop flirting. I think I still have some of your clothes around. Get dressed – we have to clean up the mess we left." Nagisa let out an entirely different type of groan as his boyfriend gently pushed him off and left the bed. He turned up the thermostat, dressed himself, and immediately switched his focus to the room.
Nagisa noticed that Rei had already left him painkillers and water on the bedside table, as was just like him to do. With a soft smile and the easy feeling that everything would be fine, he too prepared for the rest of the day to come.
While the attorney was busy in the bedroom, the blond went down to the entrance to pick up his clothes. He pulled his phone out from the pocket of his coat – the battery had died in the course of the night – and plugged it in by the kitchen. The least he could do was make breakfast for his boyfriend as thanks for everything else he'd done.
He had just finished setting some eggs to boil and putting bread in the toaster when his newly revived phone began to ring. He checked the screen and almost dropped the eggs on the floor. Hospital flashed across the screen as he hurried to pick up.
"Hello? Nagisa Hazuki speaking!" he practically shouted into the receiver.
"Mr. Hazuki? This is Dr. Bingham speaking. I have the test results for your father." The blond's heart throbbed against his chest. He shut his eyes tight. The blood roared in his ears. When a set of soft fingers touched him, he jumped a mile high. Rei had come down from his room. The concern in his gaze told him that he'd guessed what call it was Nagisa was receiving.
"They're back?" the blond asked uselessly. Oh God, he prayed, please don't let this be happening.
"Yes. We have good news and unexpectedly good news. The good news is that the test results are negative, and your father does not have cancer." Nagisa released a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. He leaned back weakly against Rei's chest.
"Thank God," he sighed into the receiver. "But wait – if that's the regular good news… What's the unexpected part?" he asked.
"This is a little bit complicated," the doctor began, "but your father sustained a back injury while deployed in the 2000s that left him paralyzed from the waist down, according to my charts. It looks like his spine was broken, but, well our X-rays have improved immensely since then… We think it was actually just a crack and severe bruising. The shock of the incident and the growing hemangioma that hemorrhaged – the reason for his emergency surgery – probably hid the fact that it was bruising and a crack. It'll be hard to fully explain without the images in front of you, but the gist of it is that we think he can actually regain limited function in his lower body."
Nagisa just about dropped the phone. That wasn't anywhere near what he'd expected to hear. The rest of the call was just about a blur; the doctor wanted him to come in tomorrow afternoon, they could go over the images, he would explain in detail… But the technical hardly mattered. His father might recover. He could live an independent life.
His emotions overwhelmed him. Relief. Unbridled joy. Confusion. The tide of his feelings barreled over him like nothing he'd felt before. He didn't even realize when the call had ended. He didn't even hear Rei's voice asking him if everything was all right. For a moment, Nagisa leaned all of his weight against his lover's chest, his ear pressed against the beat of his heart, and felt peace.
A/N: This chapter's name came from the phrase "modus operandi", more commonly referred to as "M.O." in crime shows. Moda is Latin and Spanish for fashion, so I have created a glorified pun for you all.