Monday 1.6 - Waiting

[skyrat13.livejournal.com]

With his mood considerably less bleak than it had been an hour ago, Yohji meandered into the kitchen in hopes of social interaction. While his talk with Omi had surprisingly made him feel better, he didn't think it would necessarily stay that way if he continued to hide in his room with only his own thoughts and a battered photograph of Neu for company.

The kitchen, to his disappointment, was empty. Ken was probably still out getting the pizza, and the others were probably in their respective rooms. Oh well. He considered for a moment stepping outside for a cigarette, but then decided that was still too introspective an activity for his own good.

Yohji grabbed a beer and wandered down to the mission room to make an attempt at watching TV.

Comments

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi jumped slightly and scooted away from the trash can with a nervous smile. Come on, Tsukiyono, calm down. Cool it! Even Ken will know something is up at this rate. Right.

"That old stuff? I threw it away. Days ago." He tacked on, hoping that would help cover. "We should have gotten more at the grocery yesterday. I must have forgotten to add it to the list."

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Alright." Ken couldn't help but keep some of the disappointment out of his voice. He didn't question Omi about it, trusting him completely.

Before turning towards the stairs, he gave Omi an earnest look.

"So. Everything ok?" He asked quietly.

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi worked his jaw. He had not forgotten their talk that afternoon. "F-fine! Everything's fine, Ken-kun!" Subject change, subject change. Omi grabbed at mental straws, and naturally took hold of the first one he saw.

"It sounded like you and the others were having fun down there."

Oops.

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

Ken was about to respond with a sheepish grin when the implication of the statement caught up to him.

He put one bottle down on the counter and popped the cap on the second. Leaning against the fridge, he took a swig before answering.

"You were listening, then."

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Oh man, he failed so hard. Caught red-handed, and it was his own fault. He really should have thought that one through better, but being flustered made that difficult. Omi squirmed in place and flashed Ken a somewhat embarrassed smile. "Un... Well... You just sounded like you were all having so much fun... I didn't want to interrupt. I liked hearing everyone get along so well."

He looked at Ken more worriedly. "There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

"No. There isn't."

For some reason that he couldn't put his finger on, a tiny nagging itch of anger was starting to build behind his eyes.

Didn't want to interrupt? Like this wasn't his home too? Any other time he would have been a part of the fun (gently discouraging, perhaps, but still a part of it).

That wasn't the truth of it, Ken realized. He didn't stay upstairs to be polite. He stayed away because--

"You seem nervous, Omi." Quietly spoken and followed by another long pull on the beer. "What's wrong?"

[pichi.livejournal.com]

"Nothing is wrong!" Omi protested. "I just, really..." No, he wasn't going to say it. Wasn't going to go down and risk spoiling the mood.

"You said there was pizza downstairs right? I'm kind of hungry." What did it matter now? It wouldn't be the same even if Ken went back downstairs by himself.

He slipped over to Ken and pulled timidly at the door. "And thirsty." Water please. Or a can of soda.

[plotbunnytiff.livejournal.com]

Ken refused to move. The itching was starting to grow worse.

"Omi...something's up. Just talk to me. That's what friends are *for*, right?"

That came out a bit more forcefully than he intended. He pressed the heel of his hand against his eye. Shit.

[pichi.livejournal.com]

Omi ducked his head and winced. Why was Ken being so forceful about wanting him to talk all of the sudden? He'd never insisted he talk before. Omi had thought, in a strange and ironic way, that was part of why he felt like Ken was such a good friend. There was respect for the distance and privacy he needed. Omi left his head turned away, head bowed.

"I agree, Ken-kun... That is part of what they're there for... when you want to talk to someone."

Omi worked his jaw following that comment. It really hadn't come out like he'd wanted. "I mean..." Grip on the fridge door tightened.

"There's nothing that needs to be talked about, okay?!"