Eros part 29

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

Nino led his friend to a small a café about two streets away. It was a select little place, all shiny chrome and black glass. It wasn’t the sort of place that Nino would go to by choice, it was too expensive, but Jun had taken him there a few times and he knew that they would get some privacy and he had Jun’s bank card in his pocket. Aiba hummed looking impressed while Nino tried to act like he knew what he was doing as he eyed up the male host who appeared to be looking at them down the line of his overly large nose.

“A table for two please”

“I see” The host said rolling the words, flicking through the large black book that was situated in front of him, “smoking or non-smoking?”

“Smoking” Nino answered, he might be quitting soon but there no way that he was going to be able to get through this conversation without a cigarette. The host gave a hum that Nino was tempted to compare to an out of tune piano as he nodded his head swiping two menus from the side and motioning to a waiter.
“Smoking…” He said and the waiter gave a nod taking the menus as he flashed them a friendly smile as he inclined his head, motioning them in to the restaurant. As it wasn’t a regular dinner time so there were quite a few empty tables but they were led to the back,  near a wall length window which housed midnight black velvet curtains that were held back by silver trimmings. The medium sized glass table was polished to a gleam and Nino caught his reflection almost groaning when he saw how pasty his face looked. He took a breath and sat down taking the black menu studying it closely while Aiba took the seat opposite him taking his menu.

“Wow, Nino, this place is expensive…” Aiba whistled after the waiter had left and Nino looked up giving a small hesitant smile.

“Yeah, but at least no-one we know will bother us…Though it does look like we’re on a date…” Nino muttered looking at the candle that had been lit before the waiter had vanished. He bit his lip realising what he had said but not before he had said it. He was still unsure how his friend was going to react. Aiba though wasn’t paying attention too busy looking around with a happy go lucky smile on his face as he replied

“Well…I never put out on a first date, though…Looking at all this I might be persuaded to change my mind…” He said giving a broad wink and Nino’s mouth fell open a flush starting somewhere on his chest and rising to his cheeks faster than ever. “So…You’re gay?”

“Yes…” Nino answered slowly, wondering why he was more scared now than he had been when he was telling his parents and Jun’s parents.

“And you’re dating the boss man?” Aiba murmured sipping at the water that was placed on table and Nino nodded playing with the edge of the menu before scratching at the gold letters until he had almost picked off the ‘U’. “Wow…How long? Did you get together while I was on holiday…?”

“No…We’ve been together a lot longer than that…” Nino sighed taking his cigarettes out and offering Aiba one as he settled back into the chair and allowing the smoke to tarnish his lungs and settle his nerves. He was sweaty from his bout of ‘punishment’ earlier and he was dreaming longingly of hot baths and then a repeat performance involving rope and whipped cream with all of his belonging piled into Jun’s spare bedroom so they could be sorted out at a later date.

“How long…?” Aiba asked his head tilting to one side looking like an inquisitive child or again a puppy and Nino chewed his lips studying his friends face before giving him an honest answer

“7 years…”

“Blimey…That’s…That’s longer than me and…Wow…”

“Aren’t you freaked out?” Nino asked slowly trying to keep up with the conversation. Whatever he had pictured was going to happen or be said when he finally told his friend hadn’t happened and now he was completely playing it by ear.

“Huh?”

“We did that male naked bonding thing…”

“Oh that...Hmm…I’m not worried…It’s not like you’re admitting that you’re a rapist or a child killer or something…But…I guess that it’s a pretty big deal for you…That’s why you didn’t tell me…”

“To be honest we’ve only just started telling our families…” Nino muttered his voice trailing off as the waiter came and asked them what they wanted. Nino answered with what he normally did when he came here, wafu steak made from Kobe beef. It was the only thing that he could pronounce properly and could be sure of what he was getting. After whistling about the prices for a few minutes Aiba ordered the same thing along with a weird side order of fried chicken. The waiter nodded giving them both another smile before taking their menus and walking away.

“So is this the real reason that you’re leaving…Did someone find out and are blackmailing you?”

“What…? No, nothing like that” Nino denied quickly “though I’m positive that when people do find out they’ll have a few things to say…” He added on thoughtfully pushing his tongue into the inside of his cheek his free hand tapping out a beat on the table as he rolled his cigarette around in the ashtray trying to make the perfect dome on the nub.

“So, do you care about what people think?”

“No, and that’s not the reason I’m leaving either…The truth is I’m just bored doing the same thing, day in, day out…I’ve just started to feel…Empty…” Nino admitted in a fearful tone, as if saying it out loud would make it real. As soon as the word empty left him though, it was like the flood gates had opened and he couldn’t stop speaking telling his friend everything that had been happening so far surprised, but happy, when Aiba didn’t run away screaming.

“Hmm…I get ya’…” Aiba said with a great deal of enthusiasm and Nino blinked rapidly in amazement wondering if it was possible that his friend would have ever been the subject of depression. “…About two years ago Etsuko, she got really depressed…Normally she’s the most upbeat person in the world, but she got down and nothing I could do could cheer her up…”

“What happened?”

“…We almost broke up…She kept telling me that she loved me, but… She even went out and got the paperwork…” Aiba whispered his eyes becoming shadowed and his bottom lip trembling as he crushed the cigarette in the tray as the waiter came to them with their food and the bill before walking away again. Nino barely noticed the food his mind still processing what Aiba had said thinking about the lovely woman who seemed to be the last person he would associate with any kind of depression that wasn’t brought on by sheer frustration. 

“What did you do?”

“We went on holiday and we talked…At first I didn’t know what to do, I felt so helpless. I… I have to confess that understanding depression isn’t my strongest trait…” Aiba admitted with a small, guilty, smile. “I cry pretty easily…But I’ve never been the type to hold on to things until it becomes too much…Nino-chan is like that ne? You’re a brat and you tell jokes but…I don’t think that many people really know what you’re thinking…Me…If I’m angry, I’m angry, if I’m happy I’m happy…I live the emotion as it comes…Urgn…I’m not explaining this very well, ne…?” Aiba asked pulling at his hair his elbows resting on the table and Nino shook his head giving him a small smile

“No…You are…So what happened with Etsuko …?”

“She started writing…Poems and things…It helped her let out some of the stuff that was inside…And well we realised that we wanted a baby…”

“I don’t think that’s possible in my case…The poems or the baby…” Nino mused rubbing his chin, trying to picture himself or Jun with a child and failing. When he was in high school though he had been into the guitar and writing songs maybe that was something that he could look at again, he really did want to get better. “And she’s fine now?”

“She still has bad days but we work through them…” Aiba grinned picking up his chopsticks about to take some of the meat before stopping and giving Nino the most serious expression he had ever seen on his face. “Nino…Could you do one thing though…From someone that’s been on the other side…Talk to Matsumoto-san, even if its hard or you don’t think he wants to hear it, because if what I saw in the office is right, he cares about you…And if its bothering you then no matter if you think it’s stupid he wants to hear it…”

Nino flinched like he had been struck when the words washed over him and he scraped his tongue over his lips surprised at how dry they had become as he gave a small nod.

“I’ll try…”

TBC

A/N: I think Aiba’s wasted as a receptionist ne; he should have his own talk show…Next part is once again NC17…And I’ve almost finished my bedroom, just the finishing touches to go, so happy it’s going to be finished before my birthday next week ^.^

Comments

[gambitsfox.livejournal.com]

OMG it's your birthday coming up?! A new bedroom. Boy you are just having one exciting week after another now. Love this chapter....as usual Aiba is a confusing world of wisdom. You just never know what is going to come out of his mouth LOL. : )

[tempestade-13.livejournal.com]

Aiba is such a good friend. Nino should follow his advice.

I hope your bedroom is getting in the way you want. :)

[j-sei.livejournal.com]

Kuu~
I know Aiba will take the news easily ^^ But the story about her wife is so heartbreaking. Maybe Etsuko and Nino can have a share about their condition and maybe they can help each other with it ^^

[dorayaki-chan.livejournal.com]

Aaaaw that was an enlightening free therapy season ;)

[la29.livejournal.com]

Aiba is so nice :) a friend that everyone will need. I wish I have one like that.