Work Text:
"It's almost New Years."
Such words sounded foreign coming from Hiyori to Shin's ears. In the years they've known each other it has always been Shin who brings up observing the holidays first, usually followed by a ton of questions from Hiyori about how they should celebrate together. Like the lights they have strung up over the windows for Christmas. Hiyori being the first to mention New Years has Shin curious enough to lean over in his computer chair to try getting a better look at Hiyori's expression.
But he's staring right at Shin. Bad idea! Shouldn't have looked! It sends a shiver down Shin's spine whenever he catches Hiyori like this.
Hiyori must have wanted to see his reaction just as much as Shin wanted to see his expression. That's all. He doesn't have to get worked up and overthink it. Why wouldn't you want to see your friend's face when speaking to them? Trying not to make this impromptu staring contest weird, Shin rushes out a response, "Yeah. To think around this time next year we could even celebrate by going out to bars and drinking alcohol! Hehe, that could be fun."
There's a bit of a pause before Hiyori responds,"....Sure, we can do that. But that's a whooooole year away! Have you given thought to how you want to spend New Years this year?"
Hiyori never stops typing even when he glances at Shin from his side of the room - which is so sneaky and a surprise every time Shin notices - but he stops working on his current project to hear out a response. He must be taking this conversation pretty seriously. Nothing really comes to mind when Shin tries to think of anything he wanted to do to finish out the year with Hiyori, but he's certain that even if he did have something in mind it wouldn't compare with whatever Hiyori is leading up to.
"Plans? Not really. If there's something you want to suggest, I would love to hear it!"
Hiyori taps a button on his keyboard and one of the wall monitors on Shin's side of the room has a pop up open. He has to readjust his sitting position to see it properly -- wishing he could view the monitors without hurting his neck the way Hiyori does. Though that feels impossible unless he could somehow turn his neck all the way around freely. Reading out loud, Shin says, "Asu-naro company public charity ball?"
"We'll have to get you fitted for a suit, and it's an all night event so you'll need to prepare for that. But you'll come with me, right?" Hiyori's voice is gentle, but what he is asking for is pretty far out of Shin's comfort zone. Hiyori knows he prefers to stay at home. Hiyori knows crowds intimidate him. Hiyori knows he certainly doesn't have the stamina to be up all night let alone at a party. More pop ups open themselves on Shin's monitor showing images of sparkling wine glasses, grand ballrooms, and even food that looks way out of Shin's league.
"Wow, it's all so fancy! Wouldn't we need to make a donation? I know Asunaro is a massive company but I can't imagine all of this comes free to the public...." as he trails off Shin wraps himself tighter in the blanket he wears over his shoulders in winter.
Shin feels extra small when Hiyori stands up and looks down at him from his side of the room. He says, "You needn't worry your silly little head about such things, Shin, just agree and trust me that I'll take care of everything. All you have to do is what I tell you and I promise you can have a good time if you give this a try."
Hiyori couldn't know that Shin has had nightmares about scenarios just like this. Of being pulled into the center of a crowded room only for Hiyori to humiliate him with childish mirth. How he would justify his actions by telling Shin that he doesn't even know these people, so why should he care what they think? But there's dozens of eyes surrounding Shin and he can't escape them. When Hiyori's giggles subside Shin would beg him for help, but Hiyori is just another pair of eyes in the room....
"Shin! Hellooooooo!" suddenly in reality Hiyori is speaking next to Shin and it makes him jump. "You're so cruel, being silent when I simply asked you to trust your best friend. Haven't I done so much for you already?"
"Sorry, you're right!" after all, how many New Years have they spent together Shin's way of quietly watching the countdown from the comfort of home? Hiyori has extravagant taste so of course when he asks Shin to return the favor his idea of a celebration is a much bigger event. "I would love to go with you, Hiyori. Please take care of me."
Hiyori reaches a hand out to pat Shin's head, blocking his expression from view but Shin is sure he made his friend very happy with that response.
"Very good! There's a few things we have to work on to get you ready for this charity ball. Firstly," Hiyori holds his hand out invitingly to Shin, "I will have to teach you how to dance."
----
Shin takes Hiyori's hand just like they practiced throughout the week.
All he has to do is follow Hiyori's lead and the steps come easy. It helps that the dance they are doing is so slow. Shin doesn't have to expend a lot of energy to keep pace with Hiyori and occasionally Hiyori sweeps them over to one of the servers offering appetizers. Without breaking their stride Hiyori has given Shin a taste of the cheese plate and a fancy glass of something bubbly. The meat on a toothpick seemed a little dangerous especially while they were moving around the room, but when Hiyori fed it to Shin the high quality meat tasted like it could melt right in his mouth. It's such a different experience when he doesn't have to struggle with every bite.
It leaves Shin wishing that Hiyori would allow him to have a photo of them together like this. Instead Shin has to satisfy himself by watching them dance together through one of the many full length mirrors in the room. Committing the good times they spend together to memory. The Hiyori in the mirror smirks at him, also staring directly into the reflective surface, and Shin quickly buries his head into the shoulder of his Hiyori.
But Hiyori refuses to allow Shin to hide. Maneuvering Shin into a spin as part of their dance, it makes Shin notice how over the course of the night more people have entered the ballroom. Worries creep their way back into his mind. He keeps accidentally locking eyes with on-lookers. Hiyori's dance steps are engraved in his mind so he doesn't mess up when his mind clouds up, but the joy he had been feeling up til now is quickly being replaced with anxiety.
This feeling continues to overwhelm him in waves, until Hiyori leans close to his ear to quietly ask, "Is that a giiiiirlfriend you have out there?"
"Bwah! What, no!" Hiyori's grip doesn't allow Shin to break their dance with the way Shin gets startled by the accusation. He forces himself to slip into a mask after stumbling once. A tight smile is all he can manage while resetting his feet to the correct step in their dance.
"Oh, excuse me, I meant boyfriend of course! You got a significant other staring at us, huh, Shin?" Hiyori dips Shin low, orientating Shin's view of the crowd upside down for a moment before pulling them close once more.
"What are you saying? I came here with you, Hiyori," Shin returns the grip Hiyori has on him in kind. Hiyori isn't trying to hurt him, so Shin's weak muscles are able to cling to Hiyori as much as Hiyori clings to him. He would like to think it's an equal grip anyway. Step, step, step, just the way Hiyori taught him.
"Then stop focusing on them, you're with me," he hisses.
Shin's throat feels tight, but he maintains eye contact with Hiyori with a great deal of effort. Hiyori promised that if he followed what he was told to do he could enjoy himself. Hiyori is so smart he can practically read his mind these days, of course he would know what was bothering him and disrupt the thought process. So what if it comes across a little possessive? He wants to go back to being happy that he is here with Hiyori.
No one else matters as long as he can have a good time with the person who means the most to him tonight.
But in the next moment the sound of a familiar ringtone has Shin's heart sinking. It must be Hiyori's work phone. It could be a premature end to their night if something has come up and there's nothing Shin could do to stop Hiyori from leaving him. It's not even midnight yet! After all this dancing they got so close!
Even Hiyori looks surprised that he would be interrupted tonight of all nights. Staring down at the ringing phone in his hands for a little longer than he would normally allow it to ring before answering, "Hello, hello! A little busy right now!"
Without giving Shin a chance to wonder what he's supposed to do now, Hiyori gives his shoulder a push to direct him towards the balcony seating area. No one seems to be out there right now, not with the party in full swing and the winter air being a little chilly out there anyway. But Hiyori keeps poking Shin in the back for him to move out there, so he doesn't really have a choice.
The hopes Shin had that Hiyori was directing them both somewhere more private for his phonecall are crushed when Hiyori speaks to the caller again, "What do you mean 'running out of battery'! I know how much charge there is...."
Hiyori trails off with a side eye towards Shin. But clearly the message was received as Hiyori goes back to listening to the voice on the phone with an occasional frustrated "I know that" response. He stops at the threshold between the ballroom and the balcony and gestures for Shin to go on. Hiyori would get scary if Shin interrupted his call to complain about the cold, or even to suggest that if Hiyori really wants to leave him somewhere he can find him later then why not at a dining table where it's comfortable? Shin wouldn't go out of his way to talk to anyone or have any reason to wander around all by himself.
"Fine, fine," Hiyori ends the call before shoving his phone back into his pocket like he'd rather throw it on the ground and break it.
"What are we doing out here?" Shin manages to ask that much when he is sure his complaints will go unheard.
"Asunaro decided to celebrate the New Year with a fireworks display this year, Shin. I want us to have great seating for that. You're tired from all that dancing anyway, right? Just sit here and wait for me," he replies while wrapping his scarf around Shin's neck. Doing the bare minimum to acknowledge the chill he's leaving Shin in for a good half an hour before midnight strikes.
"Do you know how long you'll be gone?" Shin grips the scarf as if holding on to it can make him warmer. With all the physical activity earlier there is a decent amount of heat trapped under the layers of the fancy suit Hiyori bought for Shin, but he's still sensitive to the chill.
Hiyori stops midway through shutting the double doors of the balcony to consider his answer. It's so dark outside without the doors being open, and so bright behind where Hiyori stands on the inside. "I have an obligation that suddenly came up, so until I get that resolved I cannot play with you. I'll do my best to make it back in time. I'm sure you can imagine how I get when there's something that I want!"
Shin's face heats up, spreading from his cheeks to his ears. All of his friend's selfish, pushy, and impatient desires laser focused on wanting to spend more time with him elicits a powerful feeling inside Shin. He doesn't feel the slightest bit cold with the warmth in his chest from imagining Hiyori tearing through a crowd of guests to get back to him. It would be embarrassing to see Hiyori harass anyone for his sake, so now being alone on the balcony is a relief. He doesn't have to know what Hiyori is up to when he can't see it; he only has to know that Hiyori would do anything to be with him.
"Ehehe. Okay, I'll stay here-- Hey!" Shin was about to comment on his trust in Hiyori when he was interrupted by the flash of a camera. Does he just keep that thing on him at all times?!
"Byeee!" Hiyori giggles at Shin's offense before shutting the doors completely to go do whatever it is he has to do.
Now he's alone out here.
At least the skies are clear tonight. Even if there aren't many stars to see with all the city lights shining, it'll be perfect for the fireworks.
He sees a bench that would be perfect for him and Hiyori to sit on while watching the night sky together in front of him, so he sits down. His fingers absentmindedly play with the tassles of the scarf before he remembers he has his phone on him. It's barely been a minute since Hiyori left, but he can still browse the internet to pass time. There's also a few games on his phone but he only gets as far as opening the app and seeing the main screen load in before closing his game again. He's just not in the mood for that right now. How long does Hiyori have until midnight again?
Time passes agonizingly slow.
He's only snapped out of a bored phone browsing trance when someone sits next to him. Shin thought for sure he would see the light from the party if anyone opened the balcony doors, so how did this person get here? He jumps and squeaks, "Ah!!"
"Oh, did I scare you?"
It's just Hiyori.
"Sheesh! I thought you weren't going to make it back in time," he pouts to hide his embarrassment from being so jumpy over nothing. He must have been more focused on his phone than he thought to not notice the light or Hiyori approach, that's all.
".....Sorry about that," when Hiyori speaks Shin notices that there isn't a lot of energy behind it. Shin wasn't going to ask about his job anyway, but he does sympathize with how tired Hiyori seems now that he's back. He always admired how Hiyori seemed like he could just keep going and going endlessly compared to Shin's horrendous stamina, but it's also a relief to see this side of Hiyori too.
When Hiyori leans his arm over the backrest of the bench, Shin takes it as an invitation to sit closer. They end up with Shin leaning his head on Hiyori's shoulder while Hiyori lays his head on top of Shin's. "Do you want your scarf back?" Shin asks before they get too comfortable in this position.
"How about we share it?" slowly Hiyori loosens the scarf from around Shin's neck and the two of them readjust so they can both be wrapped up in it while leaning on each other as they were. It's so comfortable that Shin is about ready to doze off before he hears a countdown chant beginning from the inside.
"Oh! Here comes the fireworks, Hiyori!" Shin calls out in case Hiyori was as close to sleeping as he was. He feels Hiyori shift to look up at the sky with him, but he doesn't speak up.
3.....
2....
1....
"Happy New Year, Shin," Hiyori quietly says right before the first firework explodes in the sky and he moves just enough to give Shin a light kiss on the lips.
"Uh! Ah!" Shin wasn't expecting that, but he does remember a conversation with Hiyori before about the tradition of having a first kiss of the new year right at midnight. If Hiyori planned for the night to end like this, no wonder he got so worked up when their night was interrupted! "H-happy New Year!"
He expected Hiyori to tease him about his reaction, but the man goes back to leaning on Shin. The fireworks continue to go off for a few more minutes, which gives them something to watch together in an enjoyable silence. It's a very pretty display of lights. Shin's favorites are the ones that seem to rain sparkles after exploding rather than the bigger booms.
When the last of the fireworks shoot off and they are back to sitting together in the dark, Shin says, "Hiyori, thanks for bringing me out tonight. I had a really good time."
However there is no response from Hiyori. And Shin notices that he stopped holding up his own weight, being supported now only by the bench and how much he's been leaning on Shin. He must have fallen asleep during the show.
Shin can't exactly get up now that he has Hiyori's weight on him, but that's fine. Past experience informs Shin that Hiyori falling asleep outside of his own bed usually ends up in a quick nap that has him back to his usual self in no time. So he decides to allow himself to rest next to Hiyori, trusting that they won't end up sleeping outside all night and getting sick.