POV Midorima
Takao and I are the last to leave and we catch a bus to the stop closest to my house. Takao is considerate that way, but I suspect that perhaps he is embarrassed by his housing situation. I want him to stay the night, but I don't know how to ask. It has been over a month since we've been 'together' and I am beginning to crave that intimacy again. We haven't been celibate by choice, but by situation and timing. We stand near the front door at a place I know cannot be spied upon from anyone inside the house. I reached for him, but he turns away. I am stunned. He turns back and holds out a small green velvet box.
"Happy birthday, Shin-chan," he says, not noticing that momentary confusion. I take the box and pull open the lid. A flash of red catches my eye and then a twinkle of silver.
"Oha Asa says that a birthstone given as a present on the day of your birth will increase your daily ranking one level all year," he says. Takao is perfect, but I don't know how to say that either. He knows my idiosyncrasies better than anyone and caters to my foolish whims so naturally.
"You don't like it, do you?" His smile falls.
"This is the most thoughtful gift I have ever received," I say quickly, realizing that no one can always correctly guess what is behind my silences, not even him.
"Ok," he says, but he doesn't believe me.
I slip the pendant, a teardrop-shaped stone in a modest setting, out of the box and over my head. The chain is thick and long enough that I don't have to fight with the clasp. It falls to my breastbone and it looks good against my black shirt. I can't take my hand off of it.
"Will it disturb you if I act out of character for a moment?" I ask.
"It might have, but since you warned me, no," he smirks.
"This is the most precious gift I've ever been given," my voice is unsteady as I say it. "With this I feel like I have no need of other lucky items. I have of course, noted this particular item on Oha Asa many times, but this is the first time it has ever matter to me. You couldn't have picked something more perfect."
"I'm glad, Shin-chan," he says and he puts his hand over mine which is still clutching at the pendant. "Are you done being romantic and sappy now?"
"I believe the moment has passed, yes."
"I guess this is goodnight then," he says, but does not move.
"I want to tell you something, but I don't know how."
"Open your mouth and say words," he teases, but he understands how little experience I have with expressing myself with anything but contempt and sarcasm.
"I don't know the vocabulary."
"Ah," he nods as if this is what he suspected. "Then instead of telling me, show me. I'm sure I will understand you then."
"That's likely, you often understand what I mean even when I don't." It is a challenge and I am stubborn, so I try to predict how he would handle this situation. He is patient and watches me with expectant eyes.
I have been accused of slow pacing, but anyone who plays with me understands the explosive power that slumbers behind my muscles. When I decide to move, I use my entire bulk to back him up into the shadows off the front entrance. He squeaks as the air bursts from his lungs. I have surprised him and that feels exciting. Before he can recover, my left hand is on his throat. I doesn't seem like an intimate gesture; I'm sure to anyone who might see it, it looks like I am about to choke him, but it is the complete trust that I won't hurt him that makes it so incredibly sexy. I only wish my fingers were bare. I caress his Adam's apple and when he purrs I tilt his head back and his lips part. His hands are on my back and they ghost downward until his fingers invade my pants. His touch is chilled in comparison to how hot I feel.
"If you wanted me to stay over," he says as his nails dig into my cheeks, "all you had to do is ask."
"Stay with me," I say, it is not a request; it is another demand.
"Are your parents home?"
"Of course they are. Is that a problem?"
"If you want to have sex it is."
"Why do you insist on saying such unnecessary things?"
"I don't know," he sighs.
"What about your place? Are your parents home?"
"No," he hesitates, "but Yukina is and she wants you to do her nails. She'll give us no privacy."
"Love hotel? Do you have any cash? All I have is a bank card."
"I'm broke," he gestures to my present. "But, I'll still stay over, we'll just have to behave. I won't disrespect your family like that," he says with an almost desperate edge in his voice.
"That's a granted. You will stay no matter what, but I will have you tonight."
"How about center court in the gym?" he asks and takes the keys from his pocket.
"No, definitely, no such a thing, I'd never be able to walk in their without thinking of that." I've destroyed one of his fantasies, I can tell by the way he deflates. "Maybe right before we graduate, but not before," I compromise. His eyes glint in the dark.
"Trust me," he says and uses his own extraordinary speed to dance around me and into the street. He beckons me with one hand and then jogs away. He doesn't look back. With such long legs, I catch up to him in seconds and he slows to a fast trot as we turn the corner down at the end of the street. He is fast, but to conserve stamina, he slows again to a walk. I stay behind him in the narrow alley. These streets, just a quick walk from mine, are still busy at this time of night. Takao's hoddie hangs off one shoulder, I automatically want to straighten it, but the bluish street lights illuminate his bare neck and shoulder where the sleeveless tank he wears below fails to cover. He is stunningly, achingly beautiful.
"That park has a court and drug dealers," Takao tells me. We skirt the entrance, passing rundown apartment buildings, love hotels, and Ramen shops. Takao waves back to an old man who calls out to him by name, but doesn't stop to converse.
"That's one of the restaurants my mom works in," he points to a Maji Burger on the corner. There is a fleet of street racers parked in front. "Do you want to go in and meet her?
"Not yet."
A woman calls out offering sex.
"No thanks honey," he responds and takes my hand, leading me into a secondary park entrance. She cackles and wishes us luck.
"This destination isn't outdoors, is it?"
"Not technically," he smirks, "Trust me."
My head is swimming of thoughts of his skin and how it will taste tonight, but my anxiety isn't completely quiet either. His fingers are caught loosely in my left hand as he is careful not to squeeze the taped digits. There is a public library ahead of us as we exit the park. Takao leads through the parking lot and around the back of the building. At four stories, it is easily the tallest structure in the area. He stands, unsure below the fire escape, but then smiles.
"You're going to have to work for it a little," he teases as he jumps and catches the lowest rung of the ladder. He shimmies up, using only his arms until he is far enough up to catch a foot on the rungs. I don't even have to stretch to reach, but I wait until he is up far enough that I will not crowd him and then I follow. He passes the first balcony and continues to climb to the third floor. I am looking up, so I see him disappear over the balcony. His head pops over the side and watches me climb.
"When I was little, I'd hide in the library if it was open or out by the dumpster when I needed to get away for a while," he said. "Once I was tall enough to get up the ladder, I found this place and it was my escape at night if I needed it. It's technically outside, ok, but it's sheltered and unless the rain is coming in at a wicked angle, it's dry too."
"Escape what?" I ask, throwing my feet over the side of the balcony and standing next to him. His hands land on my chest and he looks up at me.
"My father's drinking." He says it so nonchalantly as if everyone's father drinks.
"Did he – does he – hurt you?" I ask.
"He's a lazy drunk, all I have to do to avoid him is leave," he shrugs.
"Don't let him hurt you," I order.
"I won't, don't get all…melancholy on me. I thought you wanted to have sex?"