title: poem

summary: Murasaki realizes that Birthday gives the most horrible advice (but it works out anyway).

a/n: dedicated to rainshards; thanks for ruining me

A loud thunk! echoes throughout the cafe.

The head of lavender hair shakes as the owner huffs angrily into his crossed arms.

A certain eccentric blond notices his friend's distress and sits next to him on a bar stool.

"Why the long face, Murasaki?" he inquires.

The lavender-haired man, Murasaki, shakes his head again and sighs, "Nothing, Birthday."

The blond, Birthday, laughs, effectively startling the other man. "Don't lie to me man." His mouth shifts into a tight line and all traces of mirth is gone from his face. His suddenly serious expression leaves Murasaki a bit uncomfortable.

"Seriously, why so glum, chum?" Such a childish question shouldn't make Murasaki spill out whatever his plaguing his mind. But it does, anyway.

Murasaki sighs again, mustering all of his strength and sucking in his pride, before asking, "How would you seduce someone, Birthday?"

The blond just stares at the man through his sunglasses, his mouth open and his dumbstruck expression unwavering. Murasaki can see Birthday's eyes blink slowly, once, twice, registering the odd question.

"Wait, what?" he splutters.

"You heard what I said," Murasaki mutters darkly.

"Hmph, you shouldn't ask this buffoon such an intimate question," Ratio interrupts, seating himself right next to Birthday.

"What? Who you callin' a buffoon?" the blond exclaims, offended. He looks back to Murasaki. "And I can totally help you. Don't listen to Ratio-chan, he's being a jerk," he continues, ignoring Ratio's tch of annoyance.

Murasaki's face brightens a little, "Really?"

Birthday smirks, "Yeah, man. But ladies are unique creatures, so I can't assure you positive results."

The lavender-haired man blushes faintly. He murmurs something, embarrassed.

Ratio's interest is piqued now. "What was that, Murasaki?"

Murasaki exhales loudly, his heart pounding erratically and he hopes desperately that no one can hear. "I am not trying to seduce a woman," he repeats, reaching to get a glass with swirling orange liquid in it and brings it to his lips.

Birthday stares at the man blankly, before his face splits into a shit-eating grin. "So, it's Nice then, huh?"

Murasaki promptly chokes on his drink, setting the glass down on the bar counter so that it doesn't break and raises a fist to his chest to allow the liquid to go down the correct pipe.

"W-What makes you s-say that?" he stutters once he recovers.

"Well, considering that reaction to Nice's name and the fact that you are blushing," Ratio states matter-of-factly.

Once again, Murasaki's face has betrayed him.

"Yeah, it's for Nice," he affirms, his blush getting redder in intensity.

"You totally got the hots for him man - oof!" Birthday shouts in pain, rubbing his chest from where Ratio elbowed him. The doctor glares at him, as if saying 'be nice.'

The blond seems to get the message and slaps Murasaki on the shoulder.

"Alright, Operation: Get Nice to Notice Murasaki is a go."

Murasaki deadpans at the blond's words, already regretting coming to him for help. Ratio, doesn't seem to mind, however, already used to Birthday's spontaneous actions.

"This is kinda hard though. What does Nice even like? Does he like anything?" Birthday scratches his chin, completely amiss as to what to do. He snaps his fingers. "You should write anonymous sexual innuendos to him. But, like, make sure that it's your distinct writing style so that he has an idea that it's you," Birthday finishes, a self-satisfied smirk plastered on his face.

"Maybe you should write him poetry," the doctor butts in.

Murasaki ponders the choices given to him and settles to a decision.

"Thanks, Ratio."

Birthday splutters, "Wha - ?! What about my idea? Murasaki get back here!" He turns to glare accusingly at Ratio.

"There was no way he was going to even consider that barbaric advice," Ratio scoffs.

Birthday pouts. "You're so mean."

The next day, Murasaki enters the cafe with jitters in his stomach, an anxiety that he has never felt before in his life.

In his pocket, he fingers a piece of paper; a card to be specific.

He makes a mental note to keep his face as neutral as possible as he sits in his usual seat and sets the card down on the table next to him, directly in front of Nice's seat.

Murasaki withdraws his hand quickly, his anxiety eating away to paranoia.

'This is probably a bad idea,' he laments, trying to calm down and clears his throat, waiting for a certain brunet to arrive.

"Yo, Murasaki!"

The lavender-haired man turns to look at the one calling him. "What?"

Birthday sits across from him, a reluctant Ratio trailing behind.

"So, you made somethin' for Nice or what?"

"Let's just hope that it's something meaningful," Ratio adds once he sits down next to the blond.

"Aww, sexual innuedos are where it's at!" Birthday grins.

"No, they're not. And why would something as provocative as that gain Nice's attention, anyway?" the doctor retorts.

"Shh, he's coming!" Murasaki interrupts their banter, deciding to open a magazine and look as if it's the most interesting thing on the planet.

"Mornin' guys," Nice greets, strolling into the cafe lazily. He sits next to Murasaki and the lavender-haired man is sure that his heart is going to beat out of his chest when he sees the card laid neatly before him.

"Hmm? What's this?" Nice picks up the card, looking at it suspiciously. The russet raises an eyebrow when a strong scent wafts through the air. He places the card under his nose and sniffs.

"Heh, perfume? Really?" Birthday snickers and yells out an oww! when Ratio elbows his arm and Murasaki kicks his shin. "What the hell?"

Nice looks at Birthday, the blond sending an uncomfortable grin in return. He squints at him and redirects his attention back to the card. He opens the flap and is greeted with beautifully written script and scans over the content. His eyes widen in surprise.

Your eyes are your soul
Unyielding and infinite
A stormy ocean
And a tranquil sky
They hold an ancient knowledge
Wiser, far wiser behind their years
A beauty that
Only you are capable of.
- M

Nice's cheeks flush when he's done reading and closes the card. An awkward silence ensues.

Murasaki really hopes no one can hear the immense thumping of his heart.

"Sooo, what was it?" Birthday asks, deciding to break the ice. He shrugs his shoulders when Ratio throws a glare his way.

The occupants of the table divert their attention to Nice, anxiously waiting for a reply, a reaction, something. The stubborn blush remains on the brunet's cheeks and he crosses his arms over his chest, pouting.

"Is this some kind of joke?" he inquires, the question directed to no one in particular.

Birthday stills, Ratio's eyes widen, and Murasaki chokes a bit.

Before Nice can continue, Birthday quickly yelps, "Wait! What was in it?"

"A poem. A love one at that, considering the context," Nice answers stiffly. "Is this guy obsessed with me or something?"

Murasaki's choking intensifies and Ratio rushes over to him, patting his back gently.

"Alright, alright, let's not be hasty here. Maybe you should give him - err, them a chance. Maybe you'll like them?" Birthday speaks, trying, but failing, to change the brunet's mind.

Nice's eyes rise at the mishap Birthday slips. 'A guy, huh?'

He smirks, effectively surprising the others. "Alright, someone's trying to woo me? Let's see where this goes," he says, pocketing the card in his vest.

Ratio is rubbing Murasaki's back soothingly, trying to alleviate some of the pain.

"We can all agree that was a failure," Birthday says, taking a sip of orange soda.

They're all at the cafe again, hatching up a new plan to aid Murasaki's process of winning a certain brunet's heart. Nice seems to be out again, fortunately.

Murasaki's head is on the table and he groans, defeated.

Birthday tries to help. "Aww, c'mon, it was your first try. Next time will work for sure," he grins, hoping to cheer up the lavender-haired male.

"We'll have to use another approach," Ratio states, Birthday humming in agreement.

"I still think he should use sexual innuendos - "

Murasaki raises his head high enough to utter a single 'no', Ratio saying 'absolutely not' at the same time.

"You guys are no fun," the blond pouts. He chews his bottom lip and he snaps his fingers.

"A compromise then. Murasaki will use sexual innuendos - ," Murasaki groans in frustration, his forehead connecting with the hard oakwood again.

"Wait, hear me out. He'll use them in a poetic way. Eh, eh?" Birthday says, bumping his shoulder with Ratio.

Murasaki raises his head again, pondering on the idea. He sits up straightly and takes out a piece of paper and a pen from his coat pocket.

"Uh," Birthday stares at Murasaki, amused. The lavender-haired man glares back in return. "What?"

The blond holds up his hands defensively. "Nothin'. But, you have paper and a pen with you? Really?"

"A prepared man is a well off man," Ratio adds sagely.

"Shut up, you nerd," Birthday jokes, kicking the blunet's chair.

Murasaki clicks the edge of the pen and sets it to his paper, an idea already forming. "Tell me when Nice comes in," and with that, gets to work.

Murasaki is sure that he's going to get into cardiac arrest if Nice doesn't like this one.

"Yo!" Nice shouts, walking into the cafe.

Just in time. Murasaki lets out a shaky breath, his heart pounding loudly in his ears.

He looks to see Birthday grinning and sending him a thumbs up. Ratio's attention is focused on the device on his lap, only there to see Nice's reaction (and because Birthday forced him to; he can't say no to that puppy face).

With every step Nice takes, Murasaki's heart thumps a bit harder. When he sits down, his heart is a beating mess.

The card is the first thing the brunet sees and he smiles.

"Let's see what M has in stored today," Nice says as he picks up the card and opens the flap.

While he's reading, Birthday is practically vibrating in his seat, with Ratio holding his shoulder to calm him down, and Murasaki is staring at his shoes, not knowing where else to look.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Guess what? My bed
Has room for two
- M

Unbeknownst to Nice, Murasaki watches his face, fascinated, as a lovely scarlet blossoms over his cheeks and slowly trails to the tips of his ears.
Murasaki may not show it, but he is aggressively fistpumping (in his mind, of course).

Nice is too immersed in the card to notice Murasaki's stare and Birthday's incessant giggling (Ratio, once again, calming down the blond who's going in hysterics).

"Hmph," Nice grunts. "Alright M, you got me this time." He smirks and pockets the card again. Murasaki can't help but wonder where the other one went.

"You got this in the bag man," Birthday exclaims, smacking Murasaki's back and sits across from him.

"I thought he would figure out by now," Ratio says, sitting next to the blond.

"Maybe he's got a plan," the blond grins. "Or maybe he's dense. I dunno when it comes to Nice."

"Yeah, well…" Murasaki trails off, not knowing what to say.

"No card today?" Ratio observes, staring at the empty spot next to Murasaki.

Murasaki shrugs. "Nice had a positive reaction yesterday…"

"Hey, Murasaki!"

The glasses-wearing man turns around to the source of the voice.

"What?"

Nice saunters to him confidently and stops right in front of Murasaki, the latter having to crane his neck, only to look into mischievous aquamarine eyes.

"Wanna know what this vest is made out of?" the brunet says, smirking.

Murasaki raises an inquisitive eyebrow.

Nice's hand travels to the top of his vest and pops the collar. "Boyfriend material."

Murasaki stares at the russet disbelievingly. His eyes widen once he digests the statement and his brain to mouth connection falters.

"W-What? W-Wait you k-know - ?" Murasaki stutters, oh so eloquently.

Nice scoffs. "Of course. What do you take me for, an idiot?"

He glares at Birthday's murmured 'yes.'

Murasaki is too busying dying out of embarrassment to notice.

His humility increase tenfold when Nice clasps his cheeks and promptly kisses him, his lips trailing over the tops of his cheeks, on his nose, and settles over his lips again.

Nice pulls away and wraps his arms around Murasaki's neck, rubbing his cheek on his head lovingly. Meanwhile, Murasaki is left a blubbering, blushing mess as he grips Nice's forearms.

He stares at Murasaki. "And M? Really? Out of all the aliases out there, you choose M?"

Murasaki lets out a muffled 'shut up.'

"GEEZ GUYS GET A ROOM!" Birthday cheers.

"Congratulations, Murasaki," Ratio adds, a small smile on his lips.

"SHUT UP!"

.

.

fin.

PLEASE IGNORE THAT STUPID POEM I MADE IT ON THE SPOT

woulda uploaded this sooner but was being kinda wonky...so yeah