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If someone asked Ruka what he thought of Kiji Mitsuba, he would probably reply something along the line of
«He’s annoying, his makeup is terrible and I’m far more beautiful than him.»
which is a big fat lie and Ruka knows this better than anyone but in his defense, falling in love with his best rival wasn’t in his life agenda.
The thing is, even if they are always bickering, Kiji’s always here for him, from helping saving his broken nail at the last Nanba staff party to coming to his flat at two in the morning with cookie dough ice cream after his bad break up with Mr. Cheater2000 (Ruka refuses to acknowledge this asshole by any other name). That’s annoying in a way because they are supposed to be rivals and rivals shouldn’t help each other like that, well, it’s mostly Kiji who help him not that Ruka would or wouldn’t do the same but that pheasant always have his life 100% together anyway. Kiji’s like that, perfect hair, perfect makeup, perfect outfit, perfect life. Even his celibacy seems like a simple choice of independence and not the result of say, having to dump your cheater of a boyfriend and realising you’re in love with an unattainable man.
Ruka’s life has been a mess this past few months and he clearly needs to stop thinking about Kiji and sleep instead or his skin will be worse than his love life in the morning.
***
He’s got a huge button next to his nose when he wakes up. It hurts and it’s really visible. He spends twenty minutes just trying to hide it with his best cream concealer. He tries to salvage his whole appearance with a nice outfit, but nothing seems to go together and he ends up with no time to eat before meeting with Kiji for their monthly-shopping-spree-together-because-nobody-else-has-decent-tastes-in-this-prison.
He gets to the meeting point barely on time and of course, Kiji’s already here. He looks fabulous in tight trousers and Ruka thanks whoever’s up there for the long coat he’s also wearing because he wouldn’t have survived one day of shopping with Kiji’s perfect ass in his line of sight.
The cursed button doesn’t go unnoticed as Kiji immediately teases him about it while they are walking to a beauty shop. Well «tease» isn’t exactly the best word, more like he goes full mom friend with him.
«Please tell me you aren’t neglecting your beauty sleep because you still think of that asshole !»
No, I don’t. It’s actually because I can’t stop dreaming about kissing your perfect lips. Knowing you, your lipstick probably tastes like raspberry or violet or some shit like that, Ruka thinks. He can’t really reply that though, and without any other excuses, he opts for an awkward silence that Kiji interpret as «Yes but I’m too ashamed to admit it.»
«Oh no sweetheart ! He doesn’t deserve you ruining your pretty skin for him ! Actually, he never deserved you at all ! I’m sorry to say that darling, but you are terrible when it comes to dating. You really need to find someone as beautiful inside as they are outside. A pretty face may be important, but it’s not enough.»
I already found someone like that, but it’s you and there’s no way you’ll ever love me back, his inner thoughts supplies. Again, it’s not helpful and Ruka can only reply by attacking in a totally uncalled for way.
«What would you know about that anyway, you’re single !»
«I’d rather be single if I can’t be with the perfect man.» Kiji replies visibly vexed before turning his attention to the make-up displayed in the shop they just enter.
Ruka goes his own way to check some waterproof mascara and start wondering about Kiji’s perfect man. It’s probably someone handsome and manly, but with a caring heart deep down, someone serious who would balance well Kiji’s flamboyant personality. Is this someone real or just an idea ? Ruka doesn’t know what’s worse between knowing Kiji loves someone else and being the opposite of what he wants, a small effeminate guy who keeps bothering him. Ruka doesn’t often put himself down because he IS fabulous, but these past months have been rough to his self-esteem.
He ends up buying a mint eyeshadow with gold flakes in it that would be nice for some makeup experimentations. He usually buys much more, but he isn’t in the mood for it. Kiji side-eyes him when he goes to check out. He himself got a whole bunch of products in his arms, vibrant lipsticks, flashy eyeshadows, a golden mascara and some moisturizing creams. Ruka tries to see if Kiji’s legendary BB cream is among the lot, he really wants to know the secret of his perfect skin. It doesn’t seem to be the case.
They walk quietly to the next store. Ruka wonders if Kiji’s still mad about his earlier celibacy reference. He quickly finds he’s wrong when they barely enter a fancy fashion shop and Kiji’s already pushing several articles of clothing in his arms, claiming they would suit his pretty face. He’s probably still trying to cheer him up, but Ruka simply feels more flustered now. It doesn’t help that he’s starting to be really hungry, having missed his lunch.
Kiji was right, the clothes are nice and suit him well. He hates to admit it, but the man is good with fashion and also seems to know his style well. Every time he goes out of the dressing room to show how it fits to Kiji who insisted to see everything, he gets drowned in compliments.
«I knew it would suit you ! It was made for you ! This top really compliments your pretty eyes. You have such great legs, you should show them more. You look so beautiful, anybody should feel lucky to go out with you !»
At least, now Ruka knows that Kiji finds him pretty. A beauty obsessed like him would have straight out tell him if he was ugly. It’s probably only for the aesthetic, though, just like the way he sees those inmates of him. When Ruka thinks of Kiji, it’s in a «I don’t know if I want to be him or if I want to marry him.» way, but when Kiji thinks of him, it’s probably the «He would look good as a statue in my living room, pretty but silent.» way.
He stays for Kiji’s own clothes fitting. It’s crazy how everything fit him so well. Ruka simply replies with a small «it suit you.» every time Kiji gets out of his dressing room in a new outfit. He must look like some prideful and vain asshole who refuse to admit someone looks better than him, but deep down, he really feels like a shy schoolgirl trying to hide a huge crush. It’s mortifying.
They go out of the store holding several bags in each hand. Ruka is really hungry now, but it’s not even four and he doesn’t want Kiji to know he’s also lost control on his meals. The other is currently dragging him by his arm toward another store, oblivious to his inner turmoil.
When they reach the fifth store to visit on their shopping spree, they’ve already bought enough to replace any normal person’s wardrobe. Kiji has been pretty adamant for him to treat himself, probably a way of trying to cheer him up. Despite how Ruka tried to avoid the love subject, he also managed to redirect the conversation on it, trying to give him advice on which type of guy he should choose.
«If that person neither share nor appreciate your interests, it’s probably the wrong guy darling. You deserve so much more than someone who thinks of you as just a pretty face they can show off and use for sex.»
Ruka listen absent-mindedly while looking at some shirts on a rack. They’re all ugly and he only wants one thing right now, which is something to eat.
Kiji is still talking when they go out of the store without any new bag. He is saying something along the line of «Clearly, if the guy I’m going out with knows nothing about makeup, I would be so mortified. He needs to have style !» not that Ruka is really listening since by now, he just really wants to eat something, anything as long as it’s edible. He is starting to feel really weird and to see little black dots in the corner of his vision. He decides to ask Kiji for a little time out in their shopping session, but he doesn’t even have time to open his mouth that he royally faceplants on the floor before losing consciousness altogether, his body probably trying to run away from the shame he will eventually feel.
***
When he wakes up, he is lying on a bench, his head resting on Kiji’s lap who’s looking at him as if he was holding his newborn baby. It’s weird. He feels really weak, but try to stand up anyway, a decision he immediately regrets. The whole world tilts around him and Kiji catch him before he can fall again.
«Are you alright ?» He asks. Clearly Ruka isn’t and he knows that. His face shows a frown of concern.
«I need to eat something I think...» finally mumbles Ruka.
Kiji makes him wait for a bit while he’s going to buy a bunch of snacks at the nearest convenience store. Ruka starts to remember his awkward fall earlier and reach for his pocket mirror in his purse. His worst fear his confirm when he noticed the bump and the forming bruise on his forehead, how ugly and embarrassing. This afternoon was a mess and at this point, his empty stomach is the only thing that stops him of overthinking over it and fall into a pit of despair.
Kiji comes back holding two strawberry milkshakes and a bag of various sugary treats, probably really bad for his diet, but the look he gets when he starts to complain about it is enough to shut him up. Clearly, if he fainted for not eating enough, this won’t hurt.
They are slowly drinking their milkshakes when Kiji gives up on silence. His voice comes out really soft as if he is trying to not hurt Ruka.
«Sweetheart tell me, what the hell is happening for you to be such a mess ? You usually hold up better than that. I can’t help if you don’t tell me.»
Ruka is too tired to think of a decent reply and keeps drinking his milkshake. He can’t even look at Kiji who sigh before asking
«Is it about your ex ?»
Ruka shakes his head, the fucker can go to hell for all he knows, he doesn’t care one bit.
«Is it a love problem ?»
Ruka freezes. Oh... oh no... It’s too late, Kiji noticed.
«Did you got rejected ?! Who would dare to reject you ?!»
Ruka shakes his head once again, Kiji looks ready to commit murder and he doesn’t really want him to kill some poor innocent guy.
«Oh... Then what is it ?» Kiji asks him with a confused look.
Ruka can’t resist those golden eyes anymore and tries to hide behind his milkshake when he mutters
«I’m in love...»
Oh dear, that sounds so cheesy and ridiculous... He can feel his hears growing warmer and warmer.
«Oh my... and you think they don’t like you back ? Are you stupid Ruka ? Have you seen yourself ? Who would not love you back ?»
«Then... do you like me back ?»
Sometimes, Ruka wished he had more brain-to-mouth filters. He doesn’t know how he feels right now, a weird mix of tiredness, embarrassment and regrets, lots of regrets. His face feels really, really hot and clearly the milkshake isn’t enough to hide him, but that doesn’t stop him from trying anyway. In front of him, Kiji looks at him as if he was growing another head. His mouth is slightly ajar and his left hand slowly opens and lets his milkshake fall on the floor and spilled everywhere. He doesn’t even spare it a look.
«You... like... me ?» He asks really slowly. His voice sounds weird and he keeps blinking his eyes.
«Yes so ?» Says Ruka because at this point there is no going back and if he’s going to go down, at least he will do it proudly, well not like he still has a lot of pride left but it doesn’t matter.
«I... You... And you thought ???... Fuck it.» Kiji seems to pass by a dozen of different emotions before grabbing Ruka’s milkshake out of his hands to put it aside. He then grabs Ruka himself, who is barely registering what’s happening. The next thing he knows is that Kiji’s lipstick actually tastes like blackberries and a hint of vanilla mixed with the aftertaste of the strawberry milkshake. It’s divine and he really don’t want it to stop. He can feel his hands caressing his cheeks. Kiji is a really good kisser. Kiji is also on top of him, kissing him passionately on a public bench, which is kinda hot, but also very real and not one of his fantasy.
Kiji must sense his confusion because he stops kissing him, his lips staying a few millimeters to Ruka’s.
«Ruka Gojou, you’re an idiot, but I love you. I can’t believe you thought I didn’t like you back. You’re witty. You’re the only person I know who really gets me when I complain about what colors of eyeshadow I should use. You have a style only you can pull off but that is to die for. I know I often throw shades at you, but I really like what you do with your eyeliner. Anyway, goes out with me.»
Scratch everything he thought today, Ruka is awesome and can totally get the man of his dream even if he’s perfect in perfection which he’ll never say. He can’t believe he uses to go out with losers like his ex.
***
If someone asked Samon Gokuu what he thought of Kiji Mitsuba, he would probably reply something along the line of
«There’s only one thing more annoying than Kiji and it’s Kiji and Ruka joining forces by going out together.»