Title: Kisses
Wordcount: 1693
Summary: Ohtori is sunburnt. Shishido is a good senpai.
Disclaimer: The Prince of Tennis belongs to Konomi Takeshi. I'm just playing with his characters.
Author's Notes: So two things, really. First, I don't write like ever really but Silver Pair was an OTP of mine YEARS ago and I've recently fell in love with them again. I've had a bunch of ideas for them floating around in my head for a while now, so I wrote some down. Secondly, this is a short bit from a longer thing I started writing and gave up on. It's sort of cathartic, I guess. I had a really strange coming-of-age journey and finally came to the conclusion that I'm gray-A. I suppose I wanted to express how weird it felt or something, because I couldn't get this idea out of my head. So I made the Silver Pair suffer from my own youthful sexual confusion. I have no regrets. I hope it's enjoyable for everyone nonetheless. Unbeta'd.
Their team training camp is nearly over, and honestly, it can't come soon enough. Not that camp is ever uneventful, but there's been a heat wave on this entire week and everyone is worn, physically and emotionally. Today was particularly bad, and the entire team had opted to play in the pool during the middle of the day, rather than train more. It hadn't occurred to him then, but running around shirtless in this sun, with skin as pale as his, was asking for trouble.
And so he finds himself now, full from dinner and perfectly ready to crawl into bed. He would definitely do that, too, except his skin pulls tight and itchy across his chest and his back aches, hot and painful. So instead, he sits upright in the center of the bed, naked but for a pair of low slung old shorts, trying not to move. His eyes are trained on a book, but he's not really reading it. Mostly, he's thinking about Shishido splashing in the water, all warm tanned skin and lithe muscle.
He hasn't felt the same sharp jolt of arousal around Shishido since that childish forehead kiss, and it's left him befuddled. Is he asexual? Gay? Was it just that moment? Or is it Shishido himself? The confusion whirls around in his head, makes him dizzy and exhausted. It makes him uncomfortably conscious of Shishido, of his physical expressions of affection, of his own lack of response. He's got no benchmark to compare his confusing sexuality to, no one to look to for advice, and it leaves him with few options but to keep on. So, for the most part, he ignores it all.
Even if there's no sexual attraction there, he can still admire Shishido's aesthetics. He's grown up now, nearly eighteen. His body is still small, slender and sharp, but he's grown comfortable with himself, with the way his body moves and looks. It eases Shishido's insecurities, boosts his confidence until, cliché as it is, he glows. Ohtori can't say he's ever wanted to bend Shishido over a table and have his wicked way, but he definitely doesn't mind being allowed to stroke those defined muscles, to see the way Shishido shivers under his hand, and to bask in the pleasure Shishido feels.
As if summoned by Ohtori's thoughts, there's a knock and Shishido pokes his head through the open door. Their eyes meet briefly, and Ohtori smiles. Taking that for the invitation it is, Shishido pads across the room and flops onto the bed next to him. He's spread out on his back, one arm over his eyes, and feet still touching the floor. He's wearing a tank top that's definitely too big for Ohtori even, and a pair of baggy old shorts Ohtori has seen numerous times over the course of their friendship.
"What're you reading?" Ohtori blinks over the top of his book at Shishido, because, oh yeah, he was reading, wasn't he? But Shishido is nothing if not impatient, so before Ohtori can kick his brain into gear, Shishido has snatched the book from his hands and is holding it in the air above his head.
"Lord of the Rings? Again, Choutarou? I shoulda fucking guessed." But there's a smile in his voice and Ohtori knows Shishido means it in the nicest way possible.
"It's a good story," he says, huffing in faux indignation. He crosses his arms, planning on making a fuss, until his body reminds him of how burnt he is. He hisses slightly, carefully unfolding his arms and cursing himself for remembering neither sunscreen nor aloe. Shishido sits up and twists, casting a disapproving eye on him.
"You burnt yourself pretty good, huh? You got any aloe?" Ohtori shakes his head, smiling sheepishly.
"You'd think I'd have learned by now," Ohtori says with weak humor. Shishido hums, and hands the book back to Ohtori. He's on his feet and halfway to the door when he calls over his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Choutarou. Your senpai will take care of you."
Ohtori smiles to himself, carefully marking his place and setting the book aside. He unfolds his legs and leans forward, passing the time by flexing and extending his feet. When Shishido reappears, he closes the door behind him and Ohtori hears the lock click. He wonders if Mukahi was being nosy again. Then Shishido is waving the bottle of green gel in the air and trotting over to him.
"It's a good thing you have me around, Choutarou. I remembered how bad you burn."
"Mmhmm, I'm pretty much hopeless without you." It's a joke, really, but it makes both of them wince. Shishido is graduating this year. Shishido is graduating, and Ohtori isn't. Any reminder makes them both dread the ever approaching end.
Shishido changes the subject with one firm, no nonsense hand. Aloe vera on his fingers, Shishido quickly smears the comforting gel across the burn on Ohtori's chest. It's different, unusual. Ohtori typically does the touching, while remaining largely untouched. But this, it's okay. Nice even, because the aloe feels good and Shishido doesn't linger and make Ohtori uncomfortable.
"Your back is worse, right?" Shishido mutters, preoccupied with getting more aloe to actually leave the bottle. After Ohtori's quiet sound of agreement, Shishido nods once. "Lay on your stomach, then. I'll get it."
Ohtori does as he's told, carefully settling his weight on his chest. He rests his cheek on the pillow of his folded arms, and waits. The bed rocks gently as Shishido shifts around, and Ohtori finds himself closing his eyes. The chill of aloe on his back makes him shiver, until Shishido places his palm gently against his ribs. It stays there, fingers sliding up and down slowly, while his other hand carefully slicks aloe over the deep red burn high on Ohtori's back.
It feels good. Shishido's hands are affectionate, gently possessive, but practical and purposeful. The touching is simple and sweet, not lusty, and Ohtori likes it. He wants Shishido to stay like this forever, pouring his feelings into Ohtori's skin through the palms of his hands. He's startled when he feels Shishido's weight shift, when hot breath puffs against the back of his neck. The hand on his side doesn't stop sliding against his ribs.
"Can I?" Shishido murmurs, low and thick. Ohtori swallows heavily, uncertain but trusting his partner, and nods once.
Shishido's lips descend onto Ohtori's skin, light and gentle, mindful of the sunburn. His lips are soft, velvety and lightly damp. They press fleetingly down his spine, even with the bottom of his shoulder blades, and back up. Then they venture outwards, across his shoulders, left then right. Ohtori presses down his nerves, because he's not sure how he feels. He doesn't feel the snap of arousal but at the same time, he wants to give Shishido this. Whatever it is Shishido wants.
Shishido's weight settles on the bed beside him, his stomach pressed against Ohtori's side, levered up on one elbow. His fingers tickle down Ohtori's spine, from just below his shoulder blades to the waistband of his shorts, and back up.
"Choutarou," Shishido says lowly. Ohtori cracks his eyes open, chewing on the inside of his bottom lip. Mostly, Shishido looks amused. But the corners of his eyes are pinched and there's an edge of frustration in his jaw. Ohtori doesn't mean to be a tease, doesn't even realize most times, but he can tell Shishido feels it. He's just opening his mouth to apologize when Shishido lifts his fingers from Ohtori's back and, with a wide grin, flicks the tip of his nose.
Ohtori splutters, wide eyed and shocked. His startled expression drapes a change over Shishido's features. His hand settles against Ohtori's jaw and his grin softens into a simple curve of the lips. His eyes move slowly over Ohtori's face, warm and sweet and totally head over heels. It hits Ohtori like a knee in the gut. Shishido's in love with him.
There's a slow, hot unfolding, low in his belly. While the physical affection has done nothing for Ohtori, this look in Shishido's eyes and his subsequent realization is doing plenty. And here, now very suddenly, Ohtori wants Shishido. He's scared, though, confused because he doesn't understand why or how and it plucks at him distractingly.
The feeling is fading as quickly as it arrived, and Shishido has schooled his features into something less, well, lame. So, frantically, with all his considerable determination, Ohtori takes a hold of that slow heat in his belly and acts on it. He pushes himself up on one arm, reaching for Shishido with the other, and carefully leans in for a kiss.
Shishido makes this totally ridiculous squawking sound, but his lips are warm and welcoming. His hand, still cradling Ohtori's jaw, shifts to guide Ohtori's face, lining them up just so. Ohtori's never kissed anyone before, is grasping at a feeling which is quickly fading away, and is busy worrying about what will happen when he A) fails at kissing or B) stops wanting to be kissing. He's an absolute mess of emotions, but Shishido's lips are gentle and persistent, and when Shishido makes this soft, happy sound, Ohtori decides maybe it doesn't matter.
He's still scared and confused. Doesn't understand these short bursts of arousal and the how or why of them. But, he knows Shishido is happy. He knows that when he pulls away, Shishido will let him, blamelessly. He knows that if he hooks his arm around Shishido and pulls him close, Shishido will stay curled up with him until it's lights out and he has to go back to his own room. He knows that when Shishido leaves, he'll ruffle Ohtori's hair, place a kiss on the crown of his head, squeeze his fingers. He knows that Shishido will stop to murmur goodnight, all warm and rough and perfect before he slips out the door. He knows he'll lay there, giddy and dumb, until he finally manages to drift to sleep.
And for the things he doesn't know, well, he and Google have a date when he gets back home.
Hope you enjoyed it!