Work Text:
Even while he is asleep, Ibara knows this nap is his best one in his entire life living on this earth.
For one, he actually gets to sleep. God, he doesn't ever want to recall how many times his well deserved rest had been interrupted by some bastard calling or texting him late at night, whether it be for work or to annoy the absolute shit out of him.
If he wasn't being bothered at night, he was being bothered in the morning. Well, understandable as work hours are usually during the daytime, but for someone who gets absolutely bombarded with work even at night, he just wishes he could grab the nearest pen on his desk and stab it in his throat. Maybe then he'll get his "well deserved" rest he desperately wants.
Even when his body decided to give up on him, it's not as if he was any more relaxed while unconscious. ES is a noisy place, and he could hear every single word from outside the office. Even something as faint as footsteps was all it could take for Ibara to wake up.
Not only that, the office is probably one of these most uncomfortable places to pass out in. The office chair is soft enough for his standards but Ibara would wake up feeling as if someone had put a boulder on his neck and shoulders.
The desk? God, he doesn't even want to remember the feeling of sleeping on a cold, rock hard surface of one. He'd more often than not find himself smacking face first onto the office desk scattered with unfinished work, the faint yet dreadful smell of printed paper all up in his nose as his head further buried itself into it, trying to find the slightest bit of comfort on a place solely made for work.
He doesn't even want to get started with his glasses getting in the way. It's a miracle they haven't shattered or snapped in half somehow.
He would do anything to be able to have just a tiny sliver of peace in his life. Even if it was just for one day, heck, maybe a literal hour will be enough for him.
It seems like he didn't need to do anything at all, fortunately, as he's currently deep asleep with no disturbances present. God forbid this sleep ever ends, his resting soul must've pleaded.
It isn't just any regular nap though, he wouldn't be praising it this much if it is. Well, yeah he might be relieved to see that he managed to sleep for more than 30 minutes without hearing the dreaded ring of his phone, but nothing could ever compare to the current feeling of euphoria he is currently undergoing right now.
His relaxed body is laying on what he feels to be a soft couch, his breaths are steady and his muscles show no signs of tension. His head rests peacefully on a soft and warm cushion of sorts, almost as if that pillow was made solely for his comfort.
The room he is sleeping in is dead silent, not a single breath could reach him. Is he in the office? Is he in his dorm? Is he actually being held captive in someone's basement and his "peaceful" nap is all because he got drugged or something?
Whatever it is, Ibara doesn't seem to care. Fuck, why the hell would he? He's asleep like a corpse, his brain physically can't do that right now.
All his body and soul could think about is how he never wants this peaceful nap to end. He's on cloud nine, and he doesn't want to leave.
Shit, was he dead? Is that why he is peacefully drifting off like a baby?
Well, it wouldn't be surprising if he was. Overworking is a common cause of death, after all.
Ibara could feel his eyebrows furrow as his mind suddenly wonders off to such topic. Goddamn, could it not? He knows that work is hell but, he didn't want to die just yet.
A light brush of what seems to be a hand makes contact with Ibara's forehead, the soft skin of someone's fingers stroking it gently. The mere action causes his mind to awaken back to reality.
Thank God he wasn't dead.
Actually no, fuck God, he didn't want to wake up just yet. That would mean he'd have to return to his desk of hell, or maybe to Eden's practice room.
What was next on his schedule again?
Fuck, that nap was so good he forgot about his own job for a split second.
"...Ah... Sorry Saegusa-senpai, did I... wake you up?" A sweet and gentle voice makes it way into Ibara's ears. It is the first noise he's heard ever since his deep slumber.
He didn't hate it, in fact, it made him want to sleep more. It was a sweet and caring sound; complete and total music to his ears.
If the person were to speak any longer, Ibara might've fallen asleep again right there and then.
Ibara blinks for a bit, trying to readjust his blurry vision, but even after going as far as to furiously rub his eyes, he realizes that the figure staring right at him is still unrecognizable.
"Ah right, glasses." The figure reaches out onto the coffee table right in front of them as Ibara is given back a rectangular case.
Ibara, still in a daze, opens up his glasses case before noticing some light blue strands of hair on the figure above him.
Only then did it click to him the identity of this guy. God, the things sleep depravation does to a person.
"...Shino-shi?" Ibara yawns as he cleans the lens of his glasses before slotting them on. Instantly, the world becomes much clearer, and he could now clearly see Hajime's face.
Hajime scratches his cheek, a light red delicately painting both of his cheeks, "Ehehe... Yep, it's me. How was your nap?" He gives Ibara as bashful smile before proceeding to run his soft fingers into the magenta strands.
"It was... great..." Ibara closes his eyes as his brain proceeds to focus on Hajime's touch. God, he's close to falling asleep again. His current position feels so relaxing, he doesn't even want to do anything but lay down for the day.
Hajime giggles, "...Is... Is that so?" His eyes darts to the side, "...I'm glad it was..."
Ibara only nods as he decides to relish in the softness of this pillow his head is resting on. Fuck, it's so fucking soft like a marshmallow. He doubts he'll ever find his own bed as comfortable as whatever he's currently laying on ever again.
A long, slightly awkward yet also comfortable, silence ensues between the two before Hajime lets out a slightly embarrassed giggle.
"...Saegusa-senpai, could you uh..." Hajime scratches his neck before meeting eyes with the half asleep Ibara, "Is it alright if you get up for a bit? My thighs are a bit numb..."
His thighs were a bit numb?
Ibara slowly gets up, stretching his limbs as the realization suddenly slaps him on the face like some sort of wake up call.
His eyes quickly dart onto Hajime's lap, and back onto Hajime himself. Ibara could feel his cheeks heating up as the realization that he just slept soundly on someone's lap and found it comfortable further sinks itself into his brain.
God, Ibara wishes he could just grab that cactus plant on the coffee table and shove it violently up his own ass.
Even better, a gun.
Shit, he would've just pulled the trigger right there and then if he could.
Ibara is tongue tied to hell. The Vice President of Cosmic Productions himself is absolutely speechless. He's made back up plans for back up plans for carefully crafted strategies made to combat even the most unplausable of situations, but nothing, nothing could ever prepare him for something like this.
"Saegusa-senpai?" Hajime's shoulders tense up as he sees Ibara all silent. He sure hopes he didn't make him mad or anything, "I'm... I'm sorry I-"
"It's fine," Ibara barely manages to keep his calm, trying his absolute hardest to stabilize his voice. He pushes up his glasses before taking a deep breath, "I'm just... a bit dazed from sleeping, I guess."
"Ah, is that so? You can sleep more if you wa-"
"There is no need." Those words escape Ibara's mouth a tad bit too quickly, "I have replenished my energy fully. I have a lot of work waiting for me. I don't need more sleep than this." He coughs out lie after lie.
Well, he is ready to take on the rest of the day, but God will he miss the feeling of Hajime's soft lap.
Was that creepy? Ibara doesn't even want to think about it. He can't deny that Hajime is calming to be around with.
"Eh? I know that you're quite busy but..." Hajime trails off as he massages strands of his hair in between his fingers, "...I think that some tea and biscuits would be a nice start to the rest of your day, don't you think?" He looks Ibara dead in the eye with an innocent, almost maiden-like gaze.
Ibara almost fell to his knees. He thought his heart was going to jump out of his chest.
He isn't even sure whether he's currently being lured into a trap or not.
Well, whatever it is, Ibara couldn't refuse at all.
The manipulative snake himself somehow got all frozen and flustered by a small, innocent rabbit. Oh how the tables have turned.
"Right, it would be quite nice." Ibara pushes his glasses as he breaks off eye contact, "I haven't had the luxury to enjoy a nice cup of tea, and it would be rude to refuse such kind offer."
Hajime's eyes light up as he clasps his hands together before standing up, "I hope I'm not disturbing your schedule too much!" He gives Ibara a smile that makes the vice president's heart skip a beat or two.
He's already slept too long, might as well enjoy Hajime's company a bit longer.
Shit, he thought he got the situation all in control, but it seems like he couldn't be any farther from the truth. For someone who's an expert at manipulating other people for his own benefit, he sure is losing miserably at his own game.
Ibara sits down onto the couch once again as he stares at Hajime, busy preparing him tea using the water dispenser and kettle in the office.
"Any preference?" Hajime's innocent beam of an expression meets Ibara once again.
Ibara lets out a shaky, defeated sigh as he massages his forehead, "Any is fine. Just please don't make it too sweet."
Hajime hums a sound of affirmation as he picks out a tea bag from one of the containers.
As he watches Hajime happily prepare the biscuits, Ibara couldn't help but internally scream. In an instant, he's all wrapped up around Hajime's finger.
How the hell did that happen?
His innocent smile, his adorable little movements, that light red blush that compliments his cool toned features, his gentle and sweet voice, his stature that Ibara would liken to that of a rabbit, his soft lap.
Fuck, he somehow got poisoned by some harmless little rabbit.
Maybe the worst part about this is how seemingly carefree Hajime is throughout the entire thing, only focusing on nothing but making some decent tasting snacks for the vice president himself. Well, he could see Hajime trembling a bit, likely from nerves, but that's besides the point.
He can't believe his brain went this haywire for some guy he accidentally fell asleep on.
Was it the sleep depravation?
Hajime walks over to Ibara, serving him some plain biscuits with dark chocolate icing and classic green tea, "...I hope you enjoy." He slightly bows towards Ibara who didn't say anything, as per usual.
...Well, from the outside, he seems to be completely normal and poised.
His inner thoughts, however, are at war with each other.
A part of Ibara wants to believe that this incident is merely a moment of weakness, a moment of vulnerability that just so happened to strike him when he least expected it. Another part just wants to get him on his knees and admit that he was just an idiot who got carried away too easily.
He reaches out to the biscuit and takes the first bite; slightly salty and sweet, decent enough for his taste. The tea is nice and calming, sweet but not too sweet, just enough to enhance its flavors.
Hell, Hajime's touch alone might've just been enough to sweeten this tea, Ibara admits to himself.
Well played, Shino Hajime, well fucking played.
He got the manipulative bastard of the idol industry in this erratic state by doing nothing but give him a nice pillow to sleep on.
Not that Ibara entirely minded.
This weird, lingering feeling starting to blossom in his stomach didn't feel bad at all.
He knows that it'll go away soon. He's simply flustered from the previous events that he didn't expect, that's all.
Ibara chuckles to himself as he sips the tea, already halfway through the plate of biscuits he was served.
Yeah, it's just that, he simply got caught off guard. It's not as if he's going to develop feelings for some guy just because he got a good nap and some delicious snacks...
...Right?