Chapter Text
The buzz of the bar is loud enough to drown out all thoughts that persist in Doppo’s mind whilst the caramelised drink in his hand swirls slowly and clockwise. It’s a waste of good liquor. It had been raining bullets for the past hour so many visitors of the red light district took shelter here until the storm subsided.
Frankly, these were the longest hours of his life.
“Something on your mind, Doppo-kun?”
And it’s even longer with Hifumi stuck by him drinking expensive drinks and smooth-talking the bartender for whatever reason other than because he’s a social little shit. Doppo only side eyes him.
“What makes you say that?” Sarcastically speaking.
“You’ve been swirling your drink for a while now and it’s barely empty from when you first poured it. Look, the ice is melting.”
“I’m just tired of thinking when this rain will end.” Doppo raises his glass up to the tip of his mouth, but he doesn’t drink yet. Only after a sigh that fogs part of the glass does he slowly tip his glass down his throat.
“I know what you mean,” Hifumi leans a hand on the bar counter. “But look on the bright side.” He leans forward slightly.
“We haven’t seen each other in weeks!”
Doppo turns his head to him. The glass thunks on the table. “…true.”
“And I’d like to look at you a little longer.”
Hifumi pours a bottle of red wine on his glass, lifting it in a gesture for Doppo to do the same. They both clink their glasses, grinning at each other.
“What was that for?” Doppo asks.
“To this chance of a lifetime occasion?”
Doppo chuckles under his breath. “Sure. I’ll drink to that.”
They idly chat over their day earlier in the morning before the rain brewed. Doppo had been visiting a customer in the red light district for a face to face interview while Hifumi had been sauntering around with some familiar faces from the club. They picked some peanuts and later discussed what they would eat for dinner next week.
“I mean, I can eat whatever. I don’t care.” Doppo shrugs it off.
“Come on, don’t be like that. You must want something.”
“I like anything you make, trust me, I’ll want it.”
Hifumi hummed to himself and stared down at his glass. In it’s faint reflection he can see the people in the background dancing to the pop music blaring from the speakers. It makes him slightly melancholic of the club, even if he’s been gone for a short while. They’ll miss him, his coworkers and customers, but being away from all that bustle is a nice perspective.
“When was the last time we went dancing?”
“Huh?” Doppo turned to Hifumi’s sheepish, blushed expression. “You mean the disco club?”
“Yeah, I miss when we did that.”
“What?” Doppo snickers. “Disco?”
“Spend time together.”
Doppo pauses on the peanut he was picking. “We still do that.”
“I mean—“ Hifumi chuckles, sitting upright. “I miss the days where we hung out together for whatever reason. Just us. Before Doctor Jakurai, no work or dumb bosses… just— you and me.”
Doppo flicks open the peanut in his fingers, biting into the insides slowly. “What’s with you? Acting all sentimental.”
“It’s not an act. Well— maybe it is,” Hifumi rubs his face, groaning. “it’s just such a weird feeling when you realise how many things have changed between us.”
Doppo grins. “It’s not weird. We just… grow up, I guess.”
Hifumi hums again, this time he doesn’t speak and keeps on drinking until the bottle goes empty. Doppo has had five glasses of whiskey and that’s him being generous since he has to get back to the office later. The music vibrated their seats and the air conditioning grew colder. The peanut shells piled up into small hills.
Eventually, after an hour and a half of endless rain the atmosphere had calmed into tranquility. And the tens of people were walking out into the streets again. Doppo and Hifumi stand just outside the entrance. Taking in a fresh whiff of air after rain.
“My boss is totally gonna kill me when I return.” He groans.
Hifumi chuckles sympathetically in response. “I’m afraid the ladies back at the club will be just as worried too.”
“Don’t try to compare a troll to a bunch of fairies will you?” Doppo looks up to a peering sun-spotted sky. “You know?”
“Hm?”
“I really don’t wanna go to work today.”
Maybe it was nothing, but for a moment Hifumi’s eyes glittered at Doppo’s slouched figure. He didn’t even realise what kind of smile he had on his face right now. Like for a second, time had gone backwards. Doppo with shorter hair, eyes full of aimless ambition and a cry of joy that told a much happier story.
“Then don’t.” Hifumi sighs.
“…what?” Doppo turns to him. And for a second that same guy Hifumi saw earlier disappeared.
“We can hang out together. Just for today, how abo—“
“I was joking, idiot.” Doppo frowns. “I have to head back anyways.”
“Oh,” Hifumi replied despondently. “Alright then!”
Doppo hums. “Well. See you when I see you.”
Such a tacky, boring goodbye. Hifumi fiddles loosely on the buttons of his jacket, just before lifting his arm up to wave him away. “Mhm.”
But just as Hifumi takes a step back to do so, Doppo comes forward to ruffle his hair. As if to cheer him up. And it worked, painfully so.
“Don’t look so sad.” He says. Smiling, his eyes wrinkle and his grin plastered so brilliantly.
Hifumi holds onto Doppo’s hands that are stuck to his hair. “I’m not, swear on it.”
“Good,” Doppo smiles again. “I’ll see you later, mkay?”
“Mkay,” Hifumi laughs. “Goodbye, Doppo-kun.”