Started: 10/03/2014

Finished 10/05/2014

Mood Music: Sweet Talk by The Killers

Notations:

MIDOSAKA MONDAY.

Enjoy?

Repletum

Chapter 02: Patience

In which Midousuji learns that winning could be losing and vice versa

"Silence is one of the great arts of conversation" - Cicero

Midousuji wondered how one individual could talk so much. They had only met up about five minutes ago and Sakamichi had already told him the entirety of his week. It was strange that Sakamichi was so adamant about telling him everything, and anything that crossed his mind, having to speak loudly so the sound of his voice could reach the towering individual next to him, the words spilling from his mouth like a waterfall.

It was wasted effort because he rarely paid full attention to everything that Sakamichi said. He often spoke about anime and friends and the weather and animals, and everything. It was annoying and incessant, but Midousuji found that he didn't mind so much.

It was strange.

They were in an awkward place, Sakamichi and him.

Midousuji had come to realize that he did not dislike the boy, as annoying as he was, but he certainly did not remotely like him. There was were not friends, but Midousuji had caved to the seemingly unstoppable boulder that Sakamichi was pushing on him, that giant rock called friendship, and even if Midousuji wanted to, he could not stop the small destructive force that was the climber on a mission. Midousuji was finding out that when motivated, Sakamichi could be as stubborn as hell. It was a quality that he liked, that he sort of admired, but at the same, concerning gross things like friendship, he hated. In the end, he found it easier to accept certain lines to be crossed, only because those lines were still a safe distance away from the inner workings of heart, and soul. It was easier, anyway, to see the true Sakamichi at this distance, and if need be, twist the boy to his bidding.

Which is why he found himself in the Kyoto Park, in a little, picturesque cafe, sitting across from said boy.

And he was talking. Again.

Was there a way to shut him up?

More importantly, could he get Sakamichi to do it on his own volition?

Midousuji grinned suddenly, pushing his food to the side.

It was a challenge. Sakamichi was the enemy. Victory was certain. Midousuji gripped the edge of his chair, his nails digging into the the black metal of the stool he sat on. His let his face relax, mouth drop a little and tongue flopping out in his usual manner. Sakamichi instantly noticed the change in his face, but decidedly ignored it, opting to continue, just was enthusiastically his current vein of conversation.

He really had to dig, really had to annoy the boy in order to make him stop talking. Uninterest was very offensive and he wanted to channel that on his face.

Sakamichi didn't seem to care. It was obnoxious how things that would drive most people insane could roll of off the climber's shoulders with such ease. Sometimes, he wanted to test the limits of the boy's seemingly endless patience.

He clenched his teeth, staring the boy, wide eyed. Sakamichi merely fixed his glasses, hesitant for only half a second.

There was a glow in his eye, as if he was enjoying Midousuji's monstrous expressions.

This plan wasn't playing out the way he wanted, so he leaned back, and crossed his arms, pointedly looking away. It was an expression that he saw people do when they were annoyed. When he was annoyed, he cut people down to their actual size.

He stared out the window, only registering every other word.

It was like the static of the radio, like the whirl of the fan in his room, the constant click of his bicycling gears. almost… comforting.

"-then Imaizumi-kun said that maybe I should try to strategize myself from now on."

Midousuji snorted, "Don't listen to Weakazumi. He's a pathetic racer."

Sakamichi shook his head, "No! Imaizumi-kun is very good, at least, I think. I mean, he is a lot better then me. Its was my goal to be able to race with someone as cool as Imaizumi-kun."

Midousuji felt a nasty knot in the middle of his chest at the real admiration in his voice, a tone that he usually praised Midousuji's cycling in. He didn't like being on the same level as that weak one in anything.

He would always be above.

"No, He's weak," He said, through clenched teeth, "Didn't you tell me you almost beat him on your gross little bike. And you weren't even cycling yet. You knew nothing about anything and you still almost beat him. That's weak, Sakamichi."

He didn't look at the boy, continuing on to make sure that Sakamichi understood how stupid it would be listen to that standard average wannabe racer, "You not the kind of racer that uses their head in a race, anyways. To make you strategize like he says would just slow you down. Only an idiot would suggest that."

He expected for Sakamichi to try and defend the loser, but instead he was beaming, "Midousuji-kun! you listened… I mean You listened to that story." He looked guilty for a moment, "I mean! Of course you did! I don't mean to say you don't listen to me." He looked down at his hands, "I feel like I annoy you sometimes… but I like talking to you."

Midousuji sneered, but it was forced, "I don't listen. You do talk to much."

Sakamichi crinkled his eyes, "Midousuji-kun! I know, I know! Sorry! I know talk too much! But it's only because I only get to see you so rarely! I want to make most of our time." Sakamichi was always too honest and too vulnerable, and Midousuji often, very often wondered why he risked himself being around a person such as him, who thrived on twist indiviuals like this to their true hideous self. Sakamichi sighed and flicked his straw, "but I guess we don't have to talk, if you don't want to hear me talking. I'm happy just hanging out with you. So, I'll… I'll stop now."

Midousuji was smiling, wildly, widely, showing off his straight perfect teeth as victory flushed through him, filling him with evil glee until that last sentence. That ending words made his smile shirk just a tad, his fingers twitching under the table, not quite understanding the sudden flutter of his heart. He pushed it away, somewhere deep in his mind where he kept the rest of his useless thoughts and refocused on his triumphant win. Victory always tasted sweet on his long tongue.

Sakamichi watched his smile with a tilt of his head, and after a bit, smiled back, just as broadly, in that way that only he could manage.

He started eating, focusing on his food for once, finally in silence when the buzzing began.

It was slight, quiet, like approaching swarm of bees, distantly but most certainly there. It took a while for Midosuji to realize that the buzzing was not physical, that it was in his head. He was starting to get annoyed, very very annoyed. The buzzing was in his head, getting louder by the second.

He wanted to blame Sakamichi, who was now eating his neglected food with vigor, but the boy probably wasn't at fault.

His annoyance was growing, making him shift uncomfortably. There was something wrong with the world right now and it was making the wispsy hairs on his neck stand on end. What was it? What was making him so on edge?

He backtracked for a couple of moments, dark eyes scanning the cafe with a expert glance, making sure no one was staring at him.

The off feeling was getting worse, and his hands were gripping his knees. The buzzing was on him now, loud in his ears, and he wanted to stab himself for feeling so weird. Why was he feeling this way? what was this?

"Midousuji-kun, do you want to try some of my dessert?"

The voice pierced through the sound, hushing everything, like that moment when the loud forest acknowledges the presence of a predator in their midst. Silence.

What.

He narrowed his eyes at Sakamichi who was pushing his plate closer to him, offering it to Midousuji, eager to share.

So it was his fault. Midousuji knew it.

"No." he replied roughly, "Sharing is gross."

Sakamichi laughed, the sound of it making Midousuji's chest tighten, his lungs feeling like they shrunk. "Haha, I actually thought you would say that, midousuji-kun. Actually-" he stopped as he caught Midousuji intense gaze, closing his mouth promptly, looking sorry.

He went back to his food, eating contently.

The buzzing returned with a vengeance, the static in his mind a raging sound.

He now knew what the problem was. He had won the battle with Sakamichi, but he was losing the war. Miserably. And the worst of it, as Midousuji powered play, categorized, and controlled this relationship, no this acquaintanceship, Sakamichi was winning without even trying. He probably had no idea of the significance of his victory.

It was gross, and stupid.

He grabbed Sakamichi's wrist, his fingers overlapping over each other, reminding him how small the climber was. He looked up at him expression surprised but not alarmed, "Yes? Midousuji-kun?"

"Talk."

The defeat was painful, but it was better than the suffocating silence. He had silence in every other part of his life, because he like the comfort of the quiet, enjoyed reading the pained faces of people when he shut them up.

But with Sakamichi, he wanted to hear, wanted to fully surround himself in the annoying sound of his voice. His words were never sharp, never hurtful. He always spoke with foolish naivety, always believe the best of everyone and in every situation. It was stupid and foolish and would probably hurt him in the long run, but right now, Midousuji craved it, wanted it. When Sakamichi talked it reminded him of someone else he knew, someone in his not too distant past, whose smile had also always been genuine and whose words were always soothing and filling.

Sakamichi could not replace that place in him, and Midousuji would never let him, but for right now, he didn't want to emptiness, he wanted to be filled.

Sakamichi looked sheepishly at him, his face splitting in a pleased smile, "Ah? Are you sure? I know, you don't like me talking so much. Haha, I know I can get pretty annoying sometimes, even if-"

Even this, even his gross never ending apologies were so full of something. Hidden and rich.

"Yes." he croaked out, because he was trying not to let the fluttering bat in his chest crawl its way out of his mouth, "Talk."

Sakamichi, always eager to please, started off, talking about how happy he was that Midosuji was his friend.

He watched him,with slitted eyes, trying to fit the puzzle that was Sakamichi together.

He still did not like Sakamichi, still was not his friend, and that was something he would fight for until his dying day. They would remain in this in between place. He was fine with that. It was fine, the way things were.

Sakamichi suddenly called his name, hesitantly, " Midousuji-kun, Um…"

Midousuji looked down at him, and the boy motioned to the hand still wrapped around his small delicate wrist. "I don't mind at all! Midousuji-kun, but you're squeezing me kind of tight."

Midousuji reacted violently, pulling his hand away from the hold wildly, almost flinging his arm back in the process. It would have shot across the shop if it wasn't attached to his shoulder. "Gross!"

Onoda gave him a weird look, and then giggled.

"Anyways, Midousuji-kun. I think that next time I come we should visit-"

His hand burned, and his face was felt hot, but the sound of Onoda's voice was lulling. The rolling intonations, how his voice pitched and dropped, like the water sloshing in the bathtub, pleasant warm tingles traveling up his spine, something… filling

And, without knowing it, Midousuji let Onoda Sakamichi cross another line, just a little closer to his heart.

Direct Expert from a MidoSaka Fic I'm working on, which is why it feels… eh random. It didn't fit in the flow of the chapter so I took it out.

Chapter 03: Sight

In which Midousuji worships the grossest things possible

Mood Music: Can't take my eyes off of you~ Cary Brothers