Changes

Title: Changes
Pairing: Ohmiya
Prompt: no. 026: Change
Written For: Emina-chan/Neen’s bday ;]
Word Count: 2081
Rating: PG
Summary: It’s been a long time since Nino last saw Ohno
Note: This took me a while and it ‘s a bit late even though I wanted to get it up for Nino’s bday >< Ah well XD It also doesn’t make much sense, I realized. Like… what was Ohno and Nino’s relationship before? o: I might end up having to write a prequel hehe we’ll see how things go! Anyway, enjoy and happy bday neeners!

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Every year it was the same for Nino’s birthday and he did not believe that this year, the year of his 28th birthday, would be any different. All his friends told him that he was forever 17, turning 17 over and over again on the 17th of July and each time he would laugh, but in reality it bothered him. He wondered whether something was wrong with him, because he didn’t age. Year to year, nothing changed much, not even the way he celebrated his birthday. Normally, he was alone.

The night of the 16th, Nino expected nothing different, but instead of just sitting at home when the clock turned midnight, he decided to actually go out. He’d gotten his pay check just a week ago and earlier in the day had decided that he’d treat himself to dinner for he had to work on the actual day of his birth (though he didn’t really mind). In his fridge was a cake he bought from the nearby bakery and a one-pack of his beer to down while he was up all night playing games- he had the whole thing planned. Though he knew he would feel like the ultimate piece of crap for work, he figured it would be more fun than just sleeping around his house all day.

Clad in a plaid purple flannel, jeans, and nice new Adidas, Nino found himself walking along the streets of Shinjuku for at least a nice place to spend his paycheck. The night was warm and made him sticky beneath his clothes, but he paid no mind for it was clear and calm. People loitered in the streets, smoking, selling porn and illegal magazines along with cheap manga and personalized items. Shinjuku wasn’t as dark as some places, but there was no doubt that it could get pretty messy. Nino turned the other way.

Heading along another street, Nino came across a restaurant he’d never entered before. A simple Chinese restaurant, so it seemed. It didn’t look to be too extremely overpriced so he shrugged and pushed open the door, a bell clanging as he entered.

Hands shoved in his pockets, shoulders hunched inward, Nino was ushered by a pretty waitress to the only empty table in the whole restaurant and had a menu placed in front of him. He flashed a bright smile at the girl who blushed and scuttled away nervously. Nino chuckled, sitting back in his chair and skimming the menu over. It had been a while since he’d been out to a restaurant for something other than a drinking party with colleagues.

After ordering a simple gyoza dish with a soup and fried rice, Nino pulled out his phone and started to play one of his aps. Boring, he thought, so boring. He grimaced, wondering why he had to come and sit in a packed restaurant all by himself. It’s not like he had anyone to talk to while he waited for his food, and he presumed that it might be a while due to the amount of customers.

Sighing, Nino sat back, deciding to people watch in his spare time. Normally, he was against it because people weren’t really his thing, but today was an exception and he wanted to entertain himself as much as he could. There was a couple over there playing footsie under the table while the guy was obviously checking the girl at the other table out… and oh they were exchanging numbers via wifi. Nino laughed through his nose, grinning into his hands. That poor girl… she didn’t know a thing.

Just as he was about to shift his eyes from that table to another, his vision was blocked by a figure in the restaurant’s attire. Slightly annoyed, Nino looked up only to find himself staring into the brown eyes of a familiar, smiling round face. Nino blanched, surprised as the sleepy-eyed male sat down across from him, leaning back in the chair much the same way Nino was.

Cocking his head to the side, smiling, he said in a mumbling voice, “Kazunari Ninomiya-san. It’s been a long time.” For a few seconds, Nino just stared. It had been so long since he’d seen Satoshi Ohno. Four years to be exact, and he only looked younger. Confused, Nino tried to compose his face into one of mocking expressionlessness.

“What brings you here?” He asked instead of replying to Ohno’s original statement. Frankly, it was what he was more concerned about. Including the fact that he was wearing the restaurant’s attire. The last time Nino had met up with his old colleague, he had been working only part time at a gas station and living in a nasty little hotel. For that reason, most of their nights had been spent in Nino’s small but clean condo.

Ohno’s answer made Nino wince. He’d been expecting it, but still… “I work here,” he answered. “Actually, it’s my restaurant.” Ohno grinned sheepishly and then stood as gracefully as he always had, his artist fingers resting gently on the table to help himself up. “It’s on the house tonight, and if you’re free I would appreciate it if you waited for maybe an hour after you finish eating. I’d like to talk to you more.” Despite the nostalgia of Ohno’s soft and comforting voice it was different somehow. Ohno had to be at least thirty right now, if Nino was turning 28… yes he was thirty now and almost 31. Four years was a long time to wait to see someone you used to spend so much time with.

Nino got his meal and ate it in silence. Unable to finish the large amount he’d ordered, he packaged up the leftovers. The check never came, because Ohno had said it was on the house. Nino waited for an hour after he finished and Ohno came out from the back, dressed in clothes that Nino remembered all too well. His style, at least, hadn’t changed much. Aside from him owning the restaurant, only his hair and weight seemed to have changed. He was skinnier with dirty blonde, nearly brown hair sticking up in much the same way it always had.

Ohno offered a lazy smile when he noticed Nino still sitting and waiting for him, eyes brightening as if nothing had changed in four years. Nino stood and the two left together, walking in the warm night. “Is it okay for you to leave your restaurant?” Nino asked out of pure curiosity, hands shoved in his pockets, leftovers hanging from his wrist.

Ohno nodded, offering no more explanation than that and continued to lead Nino to a car, one Nino did not recognize. When he knew Ohno, the man hadn’t even tried to drive. “You’ll come over tonight, right?” Nino hesitated, a protest on the tip of his tongue. But he had never been able to resist those droopy, puppy-dog like eyes and he wasn’t able to now, either. With a sigh, thinking of his games laid out on the ground, the cold beer in his fridge, Nino climbed into the passenger side of the car.

“Since when could you drive?” He asked with an uninterested tone, though he was very interested. What had happened since the last time they’d met?

“Since three years ago,” Ohno replied, sending a sideways glance towards Nino as he started up the car. “Do you still have your little blue car?” Nino nodded and stared out the window. Was Ohno the only one who had changed? He looked different, held himself different, though it wasn’t really noticeable, and had a completely different job. Nino, on the other hand, was living in the same place, had the same things, liked the same things, and hadn’t been in a relationship since then. Had Ohno?

The ride to Ohno’s apartment was a quiet one. Nino mentioned once that he needed to go to work in the morning but Ohno merely remained silent, a knowing smile on those thin lips of his. He knew if he asked, Nino would stay over and call in sick for work. He knew it as though four years hadn’t passed and that bothered Nino, too.

Once they reached the complex Nino was reluctant to leave the car. He almost wanted to ask Ohno to bring him home, or at least to the station. With a look at his cell, he realized that in a few minutes, it would be too late to do so. Reluctantly, he gave up seeing as Ohno wouldn’t let him anyway.

Silently still, he followed Ohno up to his apartment. The complex was big, fancier than any place the two had ever been together seeing as they were both just starting life out of college then. Nino couldn’t help but look around in awe, sure to keep any expression from showing on his face, though.

“You live here now?” He asked nonchalantly.

“For a year now,” Ohno answered as they stepped in the elevator. “I like it here, it’s nice and I have a room I can use for all my artwork.”

Nino smiled. So he still did his artwork. “That’s good,” he whispered, leaning back against the mirrored wall of the elevator. Ohno’s room was on the tenth floor, the top. Which would have to mean he had the largest room in the whole complex. Well, that would make sense, Nino thought, he manages a restaurant now.

Ohno unlocked his room, letting Nino in. Without looking around, Nino threw off his shoes and ambled into the room that held a couch, falling onto it and throwing his arm over his shoulder. Ohno picked up the leftovers that slid to the floor and brought it to the fridge in the connecting room. Peeking through an opening under his arm, Nino wondered since when Ohno had been so responsible. He closed his eyes as he felt Ohno sink into the couch beside him.

“Nothing’s changed, huh Nino,” he mumbled in that melodic voice of his. Nino glared at him from under his arm.

“Is that some sort of joke?” Ohno only shrugged, lips turning into a small grin, eyes crinkling happily at the edges. He leaned over Nino and pressed his lips gently to Nino’s barely visible ones. Heat flooded through Nino’s chest at the touch and Ohno leaned away, head turned to the opposite side. Nino had no idea what had gone on since they had seen each other last. He had no idea if anything about Ohno had changed other than his appearance, but he knew that Ohno’s lips felt the same. And the way Ohno made him feel was the same too.

Slowly, he sat up, looping his arms around Ohno’s neck, like he used to. Ohno didn’t turn to look at him, but Nino smirked at the smile tugging at his lips. Nino nuzzled his ear, breathing gently into it and Ohno turned around, pressing him gently into the couch.

“I’m not teasing,” Ohno whispered, looking at Nino through his eyelashes. “I’m only glad you’re not that different since the last time I saw you.” Nino cocked his head, arms still around Ohno’s neck, and leaned up to kiss him again, letting his tongue flick against those soft lips, loving the sharp intake of breath from Ohno as he did so.

“You’re one to talk, Manager-san.” Even if it was mere coincidence, Nino was happy to be back in Ohno’s arms. Everything felt normal, comfortable, and warm. He could easily lose himself in that voice, those eyes, and Ohno’s musky smell of paint and resin. That, he realized as he buried his face into Ohno’s neck, hadn’t changed at all.

Ohno glanced at his watch quickly and then turned his head so it bumped gently against Nino’s. “Happy birthday, Nino,” he whispered with a pleased sigh as Nino pressed his lips to the warm skin of his neck. “Happy birthday.” Tears blurred at the edge of Nino’s vision. It had been four years since he’d been with someone else for his birthday. He hadn’t wanted to spend it with anyone else. He didn’t know why, what had happened, what had brought them together again, but he was glad to be able to spend it with Ohno again after all that time. Even if he was going to have to skip work in the morning, he realized with a gleeful giggle as Ohno’s hot hand snaked up his flannel to press flat against his chest.

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