Work Text:
Ink splattered onto your non digital canvas as the blackness consumed the sheets instantaneously. The contents were covered, as if making you forget this idea at all. Any trace of line art or sketches were replaced with a black void, soon dripping onto the wooden floor. Thankfully it was away from the rug you had set earlier, but that didn’t help make the situation feel any better.
You looked almost longingly at the piece you’re working on. Were working on. Devastated but not quite infuriated. What was supposed to be a colorful piece now turned into an abyss. A vacuum emptier than a blank, white canvas that it originally started with. You get quite drawn into your work like a senior in a bingo game contest where you had completely forgotten about the culprit that decided to change it up a bit. Speaking of which, you glared at the one responsible for this. Her tail was wagging, the very tail that knocked the black paint over, and her now black paws moved slightly up, panting with that goofy smile plastered onto her face. As if she had done nothing wrong, she added some prints on your shirt the same as she did on your art piece, absolutely devoid of your shock and unaware of how upsetting this can be to a person. An artist at that.
“Are you okay? I heard some…noise.”
You didn’t even hear the door open as what was supposed to be your favorite pastime became more or less a cleanup chore. In return, your tired boyfriend standing at the door was unable to react in time, seeing your pale, white eyes and face surrounded by the mess created from none other than Sayuri-san herself, the borzoi that you agreed to watch over.
“Hyaa! Hyaa!” Sayuri-san ran over to him in excitement, and again, neither of you had time to react.
“Ah! Uramichi, move out of the way!” you soon remembered.
But it was too late.
Sayuri-san had nearly knocked the ex-gymnast over, ruining his gray and rather boring plain t-shirt and sweatpants with the ink she covered her legs in. Normally Uramichi would struggle to put her down, but for once he let the dog lick his face (by all means not willingly) as he stood there accepting his fate. Perhaps because when he saw the look on your face, he felt he had no right to be as distressed as you are. But it turned out to be the other way around. She was only adding more paw prints in this room, and what was supposed to anger you had turned into amusement. Watching this moment felt like it came straight out of a comedy movie. The lack of emotions on Uramichi’s face, except maybe annoyance, as his dead eyes stared into space, and the disaster you still had to clean up made you burst into laughter instead.
Uramichi’s face was still on hold, but his expression changed when he saw your mood switch to enjoyment. He still managed to be blunt as always though. “See, this is why I wanted to say no.”
After you finished laughing hysterically, you wiped your tears and cleared your throat. “I know, but man, what a memorable Sunday afternoon,” you told him, amused now more than before.
“If by memorable you mean a disaster…then fine by me I guess, but what about your painting?” Uramichi shifted his attention to the art piece you had previously immersed yourself in. It was until Sayuri-san’s creation did you realize how focused you were, and that should’ve put you in a not-so-great of moods, but that feeling quickly dissipated.
“Eh, I’ll make a new one. It’s not like it’s for my job anyway,” you said.
The job in which you were referring to was none other than being part of the production designer team for Together with Maman. You’re an art director, which also means sometimes working with the unbearable Amon in direction. And by sometimes, you mean all the time. But that’s a story for another day.
Uramichi walked over to what was now Sayuri-san’s work, wiping her drool off his face with the sleeve of his messy shirt. “That’s a shame though. I’m sorry, I should’ve kept a close eye on her.”
Uramichi did feel rather remorseful when it was actually more your fault than his. He looked at the ruined canvas in regret.
“Babe, it’s alright, really!” you reassured him. “In fact…”
You put your hand up to your chin as if pretending to be in deep thought. You stood there wearing your colorfully stained overalls and long sleeve shirt underneath. He thought of it cute; the sight of your outfit as you pondered for whatever wishful reason.
Looking over to Sayuri-san, still wagging her tail, you noticed she had been holding one of your paintbrushes this whole time. The look in her eyes saying that she was proud of what she did.
“Well, aren't you cute,” you told the borzoi. For a dog she seemed like she could make happy expressions similar to a human’s, such as smiling wider. “I guess this belongs to you now. I’ll let Iketeru take this piece home if he wants.”
Uramichi couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear about this.”
Looking back from Sayuri-san to Uramichi, you couldn’t help but notice something else. “Hey, can you look over here real quick?” you politely asked him.
“What?” Uramichi turned to you.
“Pffft ahahahaha!” You burst into another fit of laughter.
Uramichi then became worried. “What?!”
“Your face is what,” you didn’t hold back chortling away some more.
Is this what I think it is?
Quickly pulling out his phone he opened up the camera app and switched it to the front facing side. Looking down on his reflection of displeasure, he found out what you were laughing at him for. Nearly the entire half of the right side of his face was covered in black paint. It wasn’t even that funny.
You continued on to wheeze now, however. “Pleeaaasse, you look like you have a black eye ahahaha!”
He could have gotten mad at you or simply grunted, but he took this chance to make a fool out of you next.
“Well, I don’t remember you walking in here cosplayed as Tony Stark,” he shot back.
You stopped your laughing at this and froze at the look of amusement on his face. This was followed by a palpable gasp. “Wait. No.”
This time it was your turn to scramble for your phone. Looking at the camera you shouted, “Dammit!”
The ink on your hands made its way to draw facial hair on your chin, almost like a goatee. You forgot you had put your palm there earlier.
“Now we all look like we’re covered in soot.”
“Y’know Iketeru is coming to pick her up in 20 minutes, right?” Uramichi reminded you.
“Crap! It’s that time already? Why didn’t you let me know sooner!” You almost smacked your hand onto your head to show exasperation but realizing more paint would spread onto your face, you caught your reflex in time, slowly putting that arm back down.
“I did say in the evening,” Uramichi retorted unenthusiastically.
“Still!”
“I’d help you get washed up and changed but…” he looked around the mess in your apartment. “Tell me this isn’t permanent.”
“Uhhh this paint does tend to get hard to remove once its bonded to a surface like this, but there’s still time,” you explained.
Uramichi sighed, “I’ll go get some towels.”
____
Iketeru’s arrival happened in what felt like 5 minutes, adding to the fact that he was earlier than the promised pick-up time. You did your best to wash off the ink from Sayuri-san as to not break your trust with the owner, but all hope was thin when the wet cloth you were using still stained the top of her paws. She also still wouldn’t let go of the paintbrush from earlier as you desperately tried to prevent her from making her look like a dalmatian any further.
Meanwhile, Uramichi swept the floors, using one of your chemical paint removers to get rid of every inch. You two were quiet, clearly focused on getting rid of the stains and unable to break the silence. You couldn’t help but look over to him, trying his best to clean up the mess you caused; his focused state like he would normally be in during his workouts replaced his irritation from earlier. He doesn’t blame you one bit, however, and even went out of his way to help. The realization when he first opened the door and showed more worry and concern about you and what you were working on rather than even mentioning the mess he witnessed warmed your heart. You smiled softly at him for helping you this far.
The doorbell rang and it instantly pulled you out of your loving daze.
You both gave each other a look before getting up to face the door. Upon opening it, you were met with a familiar and friendly face.
“Hey, Iketeru, how was your trip?”
“[y/n]-san, taidama,” Iketeru greeted you. “The trip was great! Thank you for watching Sayruri-san for me. How was she?” He smiled and seemed rather impatient to see his sweet companion.
“Uhhh, well.”
Before you could answer, Iketeru’s tall, lean figure caught the eye of his beloved canine as she immediately bolted from your work room to the front door. She greeted him with her front paws and they both reunited like he was away on a month-long business trip.
“There she is! My good girl! Who’s my good girl? You are! Did you miss me? I sure missed you!” Iketeru excitedly cooed and praised her, unbeknownst to previous events.
Uramichi arrived from just behind her, standing next to you in his usual, quiet manner. You were ready to explain the stains when Iketeru noticed the three of you covered in the same stuff. It practically reeked.
“Oh, did you guys clean the fireplace chimney or something?” he innocently asked.
“You’re serious,” Uramichi said.
“Iketeru, this is an apartment complex,” you reminded him.
“Oh, right.”
“Wow, he was serious.”
You lightly smacked Uramichi’s arm to prevent any further comments as he stood there by you, astonished. Just as Kumatani would in this situation.
“If only I had that luxury,” you chuckled before explaining to him about the paint disaster.
“Oh, I’m sorry she caused so much trouble, normally she’s much more well behaved than this,” Iketeru apologized after hearing the story.
“No, it’s fine, it was actually pretty funny. Also, I think you’ll want to take home with you her masterpiece,” you said as you handed him the canvas of what was once your piece.
Iketeru gasped, his eyes widened at Sayuri-san’s creation. Too mesmerized for words.
“Sayuri-san made this?”
“You could say that” you smiled. “She’s a better artist than I’ll ever be.”
When you said that, Uramichi felt somewhat perturbed. Like there was a dejected touch to those words you just uttered, only your tone was cheerful like always.
After chatting for a bit more, you handed over Sayuri-san’s collar and leash, as well as any other items she needed for her stay.
“Thanks again for watching her!” Iketeru said once more.
“Anytime!” you waved back, meaning your words.
“And get more paint around the place?” Uramichi commented once again after shutting the door.
“Haha, yeah that dog really needs to learn some manners. I mean the way she jumps on people a lot,” you shook your head, still weak to the four-legged cuteness that was Sayru-san. “Whelp, time to hop in the shower. Don’t’ worry, I think I already told you, but the ink does wash off easily from the skin with some soap and water. Also, if you want to go in first, it’s fine by me. You’ll be staying over tonight anyway, right?”
Uramichi didn’t really respond, but only looked at you with that despondent look on his face when he was only being serious. Not the resting bitch face you were used to seeing when he leaves for work.
“Something wrong?” you asked him in concern.
Uramichi scratched the back of his head. “Listen, I’m no artist…at all. Like you’ve seen Kotori-san, right? It’s just something I saw in my dreams and had to draw because they asked me to. But for you, art is something as important to you as gymnastics was-is to me.”
You nodded once to try and understand where he was getting at.
“So, I know it doesn’t mean anything when it’s coming from me, but I really like your art. Even if I don’t get what’s going on in it. When you say negative stuff about your work, it reminds me of myself when I was being too hard on myself. I guess it just rubs off in the wrong way. Art is subjective, isn’t it? I think you should be more proud of something you’ve created from scratch, for better or for worse. You’re a wonderful artist,” he poured out his thoughts. And his heart.
You swallowed at the intensity of his words and the contrasting calmness in his voice, like he was mixing colors together. He tried being there for you no matter what medium you used. He’d love it regardless. Whether it was a concept sketch or a project for the kid’s show your partner starred in, or simply just a hobby you enjoyed doing, it was a part of you. And Uramichi was there to support you through and through.
“Even if I draw a stick figure?” you joked, attempting to make him role his eyes in success, the face of passion now dropped. But he admitted, “Yes, even a line.”
You chuckled at this and held his filthy hands with yours. “Thank you, Uramichi. So much. And I’ll try to do better, better at liking my own work. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I love you,” you said as you hugged him next.
Uramich refrained from jolting as he closed his arms in to hug you back, but your squirming face in his chest distracted him all the more.
“Are you, by chance, rubbing off the paint on my shirt?”
You looked up at him to breathe air, as if you were underwater. His chest was warm and cozy. “No?” you lied.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“Hey, your shirt is already a mess, why does it matter now if I add more paint on you?”
Uramichi furrowed his brows and pulled you away. Not far or forcefully but enough to set his boundaries.
You pouted. “Can I get a kiss now?”
“Go wash off your beard first and maybe you will.”
“Ahaha! Wow.”
As the night settled in with the rest of it used on scrubbing and mopping, you stepped out of the bathroom from a much needed shower. Drying your hair with your bathtowel you walked into the kitchen to grab a drink before deciding to sit down and watching some TV. You came across Uramichi already there wearing fresh new clothes that you had tidied for him earlier and a blank zombie-like stare at the screen. On it was some commercial for an adoption center for dogs. They do annual events hosted from rescues to breeders in some kind of outdoor area. You’ve had the pleasure to visit once and even were allowed to walk some dogs like with any other guests visiting there.
You remembered one in particular. Not only because he was a gigantic Great Pyrenees Mountain dog, but it was the softness in his eyes and personality that captured your heart. Unfortunately at the time, being a tranfer student at a university in Japan and all, you had neither the time, the room, or the money to adopt one. Oh, how you missed having a dog. Perhaps the reason you said yes to watching Sayuri-san was to ease that aching feeling of owning a pet again.
Sauntering over to Uramichi, you hopped over the couch and sat next to him. He bounced from the movement as you set your bottled drink down and attempted to snuggle up to him. His beer was still in hand until the commercial was over.
“Hey so I was thinking,” Uramichi started after he took a sip and set the can on your coffee table as well.
His tome was serious, and you could only assume this could be about something important. He seemed rather sheepish, but it could’ve been the sudden closeness you gave to him. Did you do something wrong? You swallowed hard, apprehensivelt waiting as you squeezed your towel.
“Yes?” you asked him, nudging the conversation to move further.
You stared at him vigourously and with concern. The knee laying on his thigh suddenly felt heavy for him. He was just as nervous.
He then opened his mouth.
“What if… we get a dog?” he suggested. His hand balled up on his face as he tried to hide his blush. He had seen you so happy for the last few days that he had apparently thought long and hard about it.
Magic words you thought you would never hear.
Your mouth opened as well, but only for it to have nothing come out. You blinked several times at the life long question more important to you than a proposal. And you could swear you heard bells and chimes ringing loud enough for Utano to pop out in rage.
Oh my god, he’s the one.