Work Text:
Shouta set the stage as best he could for a successful outcome today. He and Hizashi planned to go on a road trip for vacation in two days and if Hizashi did not get his grading in let’s say it was going to get ugly. Principal Nezu requested everything be submitted earlier this week since the students were eager to know their standings before leaving on break. The task was boring and frustrating at times. Frustrating because while the essays should be a coherent summary of what the teachers were trying to instill in their young charges, often, they were anything but. Some students were outstanding and Shouta enjoyed some of the interpretations he read. Other times, well, he felt without giving points for at least the effort there was no way certain students would pass. If they had no promise of gaining skill in quirk use, Shouta showed no mercy.
Shouta logically knew it must be done so settled in with his coffee in a comfortable spot in the apartment. With a little filtered light, an open window to keep him awake, he hunkered down and completed his grading task, submitting it earlier this week. He minimized distractions and just buckled down and bore it. The students were eagerly awaiting their grades and it was his responsibility to provide them in a timely fashion. He had calculated that for each paper he reviewed 20 minutes of attention would be required. That times 20 students would complete the job in 7 or 8 hours tops. Having completed this duty he was ready for some rest and time away with his partner.
Hizashi on the other hand could settle in for no more than a half hour at a time. Optimally that is, since even during that time Hizashi was tapping his marker, fidgeting in his seat, getting up and down to get water, get a snack, open the window, close the window, feed the cat who’d already been fed, turn on music, turn off music, dust the shelves, paint his fingernails, anything not to finish up promptly. Granted he needed to look at content as well as punctuation, spelling, etc being the English professor and all, but with a half hour between papers even between each page at times, Shouta was in for a very long day of Zashi wrangling. Shouta sighed, tired already thinking about the day ahead. Everything was due tomorrow.
So, as much as waking early irked him, Shouta rose at the crack of dawn and tried to stack the odds in their favor. He set up a low table near the window, cushions all around for Hizashi to settle on. He set up the papers to be graded, pencils, red marker, folder for completed papers and laptop open to the appropriate page for submission at the ready.
Shouta got breakfast ready, simple toast, tea herbal blend with supposed calming effects and some cut up fruit easy to grab while working. He had some sticks of incense burning to induce a calm and productive atmosphere. Some Koto and Shakuhachi music was playing quietly in the background from Shouta’s ‘Relax’ playlist. Lunch of simple cold Soba and pickled vegetables was waiting in the refrigerator as well, nothing too spicy or messy. For dinner he planned a simple stir fry. Simple by choice as well as necessity since cooking was not in Shouta’s skill set. That was Hizashi’s territory which he would, without a doubt, try to exploit for a distraction. Shouta was well versed in his partner’s tactics and was having none of it. Shouta hoped that when Hizashi woke, the apartment would be conducive to a productive day. It was that, or he’d need to use his capture weapon to tie the hyperactive blonde to the kitchen chair with nothing but a bathroom break until done. “Hell if I won’t” Shouta thought to himself.
Hizashi woke per usual, asking “Shou where’s my mornin’ lovin’?”. Shouta would not be swayed no matter how tempted. Hizashi’s looked inviting, so inviting, thought Shouta, with his long shirtless form, sprawled out on the bed, the morning light accentuating his golden hair’s highlights. No matter how good that hair would feel as it passed through Shouta’s fingers, no matter now nice Hizashi’s fingers would feel threading through Shouta’s curls Shouta would not be distracted from his mission. It made no fucking sense. Those stupid pink socks Hizashi slept in, why did he find them so hot? Shouta touched the spots where those pink socks sometimes came to rest, remembering "that’s why". “God dammit” Shouta groaned, pulling up Hizashi, covering him in his robe and guiding him to the bathroom. Shouta grabbed the sweat pants, briefs and T shirt he had made at the ready for Hizashi to wear after his shower. ‘Appropriate' Shouta thought that the T shirt he pulled was the one with the sleepy panda proclaiming “just say no to doing things”.
Once Hizashi was situated in the bathroom, Shouta told him he had 10 minutes before breakfast. He even offered to comb and braid Hizashi’s hair while he ate. Hizashi enjoyed when Shouta performed some of these little personal care things for him, so it was a logical carrot before the stick. Singing could be heard from the shower, crescendo rising which typically indicated the end of the set. Shouta knocked on the door, “time’s up, breakfast is ready.”
“Don’t cha want to join me?” came the lilting, teasing tone from the shower. Shouta pinched the bridge of his nose and tugged at his growing problem murmuring “down boy.” It was going to be a long, long day. When Shouta didn’t answer Hizashi emerged, towel around his head, briefs, no sweats or shirt, ‘of course he wouldn’t’ thought Shouta. Hizashi made a move toward the kitchen chair and made a grab for Shouta’s hips when Shou came around to guide Hizashi to the work station in the living room. Shouta deftly avoided yet another grope, and was able to lasso Hizashi into his T-shirt.
“Babe?” Hizashi asked looking slightly put off at the deflected advance. When Shouta guided him to the table with computer, papers and breakfast, a pout and whine broke from Hizashi, finally realizing the betrayal.
“Shouuutaaa, can’t we have breakfast first, and I need to get the laundry going. Did you feed Mochi? I need to cut my nails. I think we’re out of your favorite coffee creamer. I’m supposed to call my parent’s today. Does the car need gas?” Hizashi rallied off his opening salvo.
Shouta once again sighed, pushed Hizashi down, popped a piece of fruit in his mouth to muffle the next excuse and got the comb going in Hizashi’s tangles as promised. “Chew” he commanded as he poured Hizashi’s tea, still warm, fortunately, or else the next whine was no doubt about to issue forth. When the braid was finished, Shouta grabbed a book and positioned himself on his own prepared cushion watchtower, cautiously, just out of Hizashi’s reach. The sweats, a sweater, extra pens, Advil, Tylenol, bottle of water, Hizashi’s favorite hair scrunchie, headband, fidget spinner, and stress ball all positioned at the ready in Shouta’s emergency bunker. Tissues, eyeglass cleaner, eye drops, lemon drops, cough drops something for all manner of dramas Hizashi could dream up were at the ready. They were going to get this done. Shouta would bet his hero license on it.
Hizashi to his credit, kept at it for a good two hours, which was an unexpected surprise for Shouta. A few ‘no’s’, a glare, and pointed finger were needed as Hizashi tried to slip off the cushions when he thought Shouta had drifted off. The scolding was followed by a kiss on a forehead fresh tea and some encouraging cheerleading “I know you can do it Zash” from Shouta. The heroic effort kept Hizashi in his seat except for a 10 minute stretch and bathroom break for the remainder of the morning. When Hizashi finally fell backward in a dramatization of an arrow shot through his heart, complete with death throes and declarations of “I’ll miss you my one true love” with a flutter of eyelashes Shouta relented for lunch outside on the patio.
Shouta gave Hizashi a neck massage since the blonde was tensing up a bit from the prolonged grading session. Shouta worked out the knots with his gifted thumbs, planted a few kisses on those same spots, maybe not the best idea, Shouta admitted as he resisted his follow-up inclinations.
“Ok, last slog till the ride off into the sunset cowboy” Shouta said as he pulled Hizashi up and carried him back toward the work station. The carry necessary as Hizashi proclaimed his legs were too numb from sitting to allow him to return to the work station.
“Hey Shou do you still have that fringe vest and chaps from Halloween? The ones you wore again that night in …” as Hizashi put his arms around Shouta’s neck and traced a finger on his chest twinkle in his eye.
“Yes, and nice try, sit, work” as Shouta took to his guard post adding with a smirk “and if you finish and if we are able to go on vacation, I’ll consider bringing them.”
“and the boots?” from Zashi. “Yes” Shouta added with an eye roll. “and the lasso?” from Hizashi still trying to distract.
“WORK” from Shouta grumpily, now getting distracted himself.
____________
Shouta woke to the smell of the Stir fry, realizing he had drifted off. “Oh, Shit, we’re done for” he thought when he saw the clock was now showing 6 pm. Glancing over at Hizashi’s table he noted the computer was gone, finished folder closed and apparently full and incense burned out.
“Dinner in 10 babe” he heard from the kitchen.
“Hmm” Shouta nodded looking at the finished grading and print out from the submission to Nezu.
He made a pit stop and noted the open suitcase packed on their bed and guffawed at the fringes poking over the top. Lasso and set of cowboy boots on the floor in front.
He sat down at the counter with Hizashi plating out their food.
“All done?” Shouta asked referring to the work task.
“Mmmm Hmmm” Hizashi hummed peeking over his glasses at Shouta with a smile.
“How’d you keep at it without me?” Shouta asked savoring the first bite. No doubt Hizashi embellished on Shouta’s meal plan.
“Just needed the right motivation, ‘cowboy’ ” Hizashi winked.
“Finish up dinner I’m hungry” Shouta added with a side smile and a head nod toward the bedroom.
“Oh are you now?” Hizashi teased as ran his fingers through Shouta’s hair briefly before taking Shouta’s hand and guiding him to the evening’s work station.