Momo runs his hands through his hair again. It’s become something of a nervous tick, smoothing his hair behind his ears to keep it out of his face. He looks at his watch and then back to the empty seat beside him at the bar. He put a menu on it, in order to save it for a guest that he only half believes is going to show up at all, and the black characters of food items on the white background are watching him panic. He wonders if he shouldn’t cut his hair short again, style it back the way he had in high school, or straight up like he did in junior high. No, that was ridiculous, and this whole panic was ridiculous. He takes a gulp of the beer in front of him, hoping the cold drink will calm him.
The izakaya around him is fairly empty, only a few groups of people, some locals, a few business people after their work day, fill some of the tables, and despite his prudent menu placement, Momo is alone at the bar and it’s like to stay that way. The bartender is a friendly older man, eager to refill his beer when Momo gestures towards it, and happy to slide him another menu to order from.
Momo is halfway to a panic attack and wondering if he should have worn a tie when Kaidou comes in, looking much the same as he looked the last time Momo had seen him (in high school): frustrated and stupidly handsome.
He walks up to the bar without looking at Momo, and gestures to the bar tender. The bartender’s friendly demeanor seems to set him aback because, after barking an instruction, he takes a step back and bows in apology. Momo wants to laugh at how quickly Kaidou was made to back down, but he holds it back until the bartender gestures towards him.
Kaidou looks, and looks confused. He glances back to the bartender as if the man would have the answers to his questions and when he looks back at Momo, Momo can’t hold back his laughter any longer.
He laughs loud, and the comprehension dawns on Kaidou’s face.
“Momoshiro?” He asks, and it’s the first time Momo can really hear his voice, deeper than it was in high school, and he looks as if he’s grown into it now, tall and broad shouldered.
“Kaidou-san.” He says, his voice still breathy from laughter and he hopes the sarcasm in the title comes across. “Sit down. You’re late, you know!”
Kaidou steps closer, and Momo just snatches the menu off the bar stool before he sits on top of it. Momo hears him murmur something about missing a train and he laughs again.
The bartender brings them a second glass of beer and Momo slides it over to Kaidou. “I wasn’t sure you were going to show up.” He says.
Kaidou shrugs. “I said I would.”
“I said I would.” Momo mocks in his deepest fake-voice, and finishes it with a laugh. “People don’t do stuff they say they’re gonna do all the time, you know. You wouldn’t be the first guy to stand someone up!”
Oh. Momo seems to realize what he said at the same moment that Kaidou does, because Kaidou’s face goes blank. “I mean, people blow off friends all the time.”
Yes, friends, he clarifies, wait. Shit! “I mean, it wouldn’t have been a big deal if you didn’t show up.”
This time Kaidou laughs, and Momo wants to bury himself in his pint glass. “I wouldn’t stand you up.” He says, and Momo looks up, eyebrows raised.
“Really?” He asks, too hopeful.
Kaidou shrugs and takes a drink of his beer, but when he sets the glass down he’s badly hiding a smile. “I was looking forward to this.” He says.
Momo rolls his eyes. “Okay, don’t be a jerk.”
Kaidou takes a smaller drink and looks back at Momo. “I like the long hair.”
FILL: team Miyuki Kazuya/Miyuki Kazuya, Rated G
674 words
Momo runs his hands through his hair again. It’s become something of a nervous tick, smoothing his hair behind his ears to keep it out of his face. He looks at his watch and then back to the empty seat beside him at the bar. He put a menu on it, in order to save it for a guest that he only half believes is going to show up at all, and the black characters of food items on the white background are watching him panic. He wonders if he shouldn’t cut his hair short again, style it back the way he had in high school, or straight up like he did in junior high. No, that was ridiculous, and this whole panic was ridiculous. He takes a gulp of the beer in front of him, hoping the cold drink will calm him.
The izakaya around him is fairly empty, only a few groups of people, some locals, a few business people after their work day, fill some of the tables, and despite his prudent menu placement, Momo is alone at the bar and it’s like to stay that way. The bartender is a friendly older man, eager to refill his beer when Momo gestures towards it, and happy to slide him another menu to order from.
Momo is halfway to a panic attack and wondering if he should have worn a tie when Kaidou comes in, looking much the same as he looked the last time Momo had seen him (in high school): frustrated and stupidly handsome.
He walks up to the bar without looking at Momo, and gestures to the bar tender. The bartender’s friendly demeanor seems to set him aback because, after barking an instruction, he takes a step back and bows in apology. Momo wants to laugh at how quickly Kaidou was made to back down, but he holds it back until the bartender gestures towards him.
Kaidou looks, and looks confused. He glances back to the bartender as if the man would have the answers to his questions and when he looks back at Momo, Momo can’t hold back his laughter any longer.
He laughs loud, and the comprehension dawns on Kaidou’s face.
“Momoshiro?” He asks, and it’s the first time Momo can really hear his voice, deeper than it was in high school, and he looks as if he’s grown into it now, tall and broad shouldered.
“Kaidou-san.” He says, his voice still breathy from laughter and he hopes the sarcasm in the title comes across. “Sit down. You’re late, you know!”
Kaidou steps closer, and Momo just snatches the menu off the bar stool before he sits on top of it. Momo hears him murmur something about missing a train and he laughs again.
The bartender brings them a second glass of beer and Momo slides it over to Kaidou. “I wasn’t sure you were going to show up.” He says.
Kaidou shrugs. “I said I would.”
“I said I would.” Momo mocks in his deepest fake-voice, and finishes it with a laugh. “People don’t do stuff they say they’re gonna do all the time, you know. You wouldn’t be the first guy to stand someone up!”
Oh. Momo seems to realize what he said at the same moment that Kaidou does, because Kaidou’s face goes blank. “I mean, people blow off friends all the time.”
Yes, friends, he clarifies, wait. Shit! “I mean, it wouldn’t have been a big deal if you didn’t show up.”
This time Kaidou laughs, and Momo wants to bury himself in his pint glass. “I wouldn’t stand you up.” He says, and Momo looks up, eyebrows raised.
“Really?” He asks, too hopeful.
Kaidou shrugs and takes a drink of his beer, but when he sets the glass down he’s badly hiding a smile. “I was looking forward to this.” He says.
Momo rolls his eyes. “Okay, don’t be a jerk.”
Kaidou takes a smaller drink and looks back at Momo. “I like the long hair.”