07—formal
What would it be like, having a formal game with Kai Toshiki? By 'formal', Gaillard meant playing purely for the sake of sportsmanship and following a formal arrangement, rather than expecting the other person's ambush. Now that times were peaceful again, it ought to be fine for Gaillard to call Kai out to assist each other in their training. For after all, aren't they recognized players on the same level?
Even with all his rationale, Gaillard remained unsure regarding navigating his interactions with Kai after returning to Earth. He went to Ren for advice, as Ren turned out to be one of Kai's oldest friends. They sat facing each other in Ren's office at the Foo Fighters headquarters, just like patient and shrink.
"Yes, you have to make it sound as formal as possible," Ren said. "Never make it sound like an invitation to socialize. That's his biggest turn-off."
"He is so unattractive as a person," Gaillard said, rolling his eyes. "Anyhow, I must thank you again for letting me use the Foo Fighters facilities."
"Why not," Ren said. "By the way, I have something for you. It suits the occasion."
He opened the bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out a long, black coat which he handed to Gaillard. It had a couple of gratuitous straps and buckles sewn onto it, yet it was overall subdued for Ren's fashion sense. But what was stranger was Ren insisting that Gaillard put it on right now.
Gaillard didn't mind, though. Ren was another man who appreciated looking good for everything and even if they had different tastes in clothes, Gaillard believed that their tastes were equally good.
However, things got even stranger after Gaillard had put on the coat. Upon arriving at the building for their appointed fight, Kai Toshiki did a double take upon setting his eyes on him. Gaillard involuntarily did a double take on his double take.
"That's my coat you're wearing," Kai claimed. "I knew Ren hid it away somewhere after the Asian Circuit."
"Kai Toshiki, are you insinuating that our friend is a thief?" Gaillard said, and added by force of habit, "I'm going to beat you to have you take that back. If you beat me, you can take this coat back."
"You're on," Kai said, without missing a beat.
Midway through their fight, Shinjou Tetsu came by to inform them that an extended thunderstorm was happening outside. With thunder in each other's eyes, they agreed to keep up their fight until their vision blurred. All right, so it was just Gaillard who was determined to do so, while Kai kept his eyes fixated on the coat.
When they had to finally leave because they needed to eat and sleep, the draft of the late night was already blowing strongly. Kai took a step outdoors, then stepped back in a second after. Gaillard spotted Kai's armful of gooseflesh and sighed. Damn this skin and bones man!
"All right," he conceded. "You may have the cold, since you get cold easily."
"I don't want it anymore." Kai predictably denied.
"If I could, I would make literal flames again to make everything hot. But obviously, that is past." Gaillard said.
He ignored Kai's protests as he took off his coat. When he moved behind to set it down firmly upon Kai's shoulders, he felt as if he was handling an uncanny mannequin. More uncanny was the gesture of Kai abruptly seizing Gaillard's wrists with both hands.
"You're cold yourself," Kai simply said.
An awkward pause, and then Gaillard said, "I think we can get Ren to lend us one of his coats."
"Do that, and don't return it to him," Kai suggested.
He was still keeping Gaillard close to him, since this was how body heat between two people was shared.
A/N: I'm so attracted to the idea of Ren being sorority sisters in spirit with Gaillard while simultaneously being Kai's troll wingman. And yay, a week's worth of drabbles are done! On to the completion of next week's quota!