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Rinne had expected to open the door to the scent of Niki's cooking, the warmth of his kitchen. Relative quiet. So when four interlopers greeted him at his doorstep he was understandably shaken.
They shouldered past him unceremoniously. Rinne took in a sharp breath before walking inside.
Niki was cooking, of course. It was Saturday. Well, he cooked every day. But on Saturdays they stayed at Niki's apartment, where the food was just for them. It was such a familiar scene that Rinne almost teased him.
“Had everyone over last night?” Rinne pried.
Niki didn't turn around. “Hi, Niki~! I'm glad you're doing okay! I took some money out of your wallet without asking, but it's okay - I invested it in some mutual funds. The pachinko parlor! Oh no! Looks like it's all gone!” Niki shouted. His frantic stirring resulted in a loud toll as his spatula met metal. “Kyahaha.”
Niki was okay. Relatively. No thanks to Rinne, but that didn't matter right now.
“Mmhmm. Did you have fun?”
“I did have fun! Why?” Niki spun with the force and fervor of a hurricane, pointing that aforementioned spatula at Rinne like it was the sushi knife he held in the other hand. Steam and sweat had plastered his hair to his neck and forehead in a way that managed, somehow, to emphasize his wild aesthetic. His eyes blazed with challenge.
He was absolutely feral.
“Are you jealous?” Niki jeered.
“Nah. We got a lotta bottles sitting around.”
“Ehh? That's not a problem. They're not gonna drink alcohol because it's right in front of them. They're good kids. Unlike you.”
Rinne had every intention to let Niki maintain his advantage, but it would’ve been sacrilegious to misplay this hand. “Yeah. I'm a bad man. But I thought you liked that.”
Niki flushed through his glare. It was an unfortunate thing when he meant to be hostile. “You don’t know me!” Niki huffed. When Rinne made no effort to rile him up further, Niki continued, blinking furiously. “You! Stop! I'm mad at you.”
Rinne shrugged, a little surprised that he'd been so forthcoming. “Alright, alright, I'll get outta your hair. Can I take the couch?”
“Don't bother asking if you're just gonna do it anyway.” And just like that, his fire had diffused. He returned to his cooking.
Rinne plopped onto the couch and sprawled out like he normally did. He wouldn't be able to feel comfortable while Niki was upset, but he could at least try. It was almost like any other Saturday, after all. Niki was cooking. Rinne should be…doing something important on his laptop. His laptop which lay beside him on the end table. Rinne did not reach for it.
Shit. The hangover headache intensified so he massaged the bridge of his nose. He shouldn’t have flirted. That had disrupted Niki’s momentum and shifted the power dynamic. Rinne wanted nothing more than to hold Niki tight, but felt even more sure now that Niki wouldn’t appreciate him for it. Niki wanted to be mad. And needed to feel in control.
Rinne wasn’t sure what to do next, so he absently pulled out his phone. After a couple of failed attempts to make it through an article, he found himself occupied with his DMs.
what the hell rinne
(image attached)
this dog looks like ibara
lol yeah
but seriously
get your shit together
i've never seen him like that
working on it
don't you have DF rehearsals
so?
what did you even say to him
keep your =EYE= out of my business
go fuck yourself
I will after you get off my ass
thanks little man
You're welcome!
What for?
looking out for niki
Of course. He’s a good friend. He'd do the same for me
(image attached)
look at this fuckass dog
haha! it reminds me of you >.<
:’( why are you so mean to your big bro
Sorry, that was Aira
The dog is very fuckass
(image attached)
who does this dog remind you of
???????
I have a lot of respect for our deputy director
haha
yeah
Are you both doing okay?
got a killer headache
Niki’s fuming
i’ll talk to him when he sweats it out of his system
Good luck
thanks. youre my second favorite brother <3
xD
u 2
We noticed you got back to our room really late last night. Is everything alright?
(image attached)
That doesn’t answer my question
niki’s upset with me
Aww
Do you need food? I had Jun make some quiche this morning.
nah we’re good on food
don’t try to palm off jun’s shitty cooking on me
i don’t want it either
:(
That dog is very ugly
haha
you bet
(image attached)
Look at her!!!
sweet haircut
bloody mary’s got drip
thanks for getting everyone together
don’t have to ask to know niki appreciated it
me too
(image attached)
lol
cmon merumeru dont leave me on read </3
Thirty minutes had passed and Niki still hadn’t budged. Rinne had no idea how long Niki had been cooking before he arrived, but he was growing concerned that Niki would suddenly faint from exhaustion.
“Niki.”
No response.
“Niki.”
“I’m busy,” Niki croaked. He was tired. Not mad.
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh? I didn’t catch that.”
“You’re determined to make this harder than it needs to be?”
Niki turned to face him. He wore a stupid smirk.
Rinne smiled too, but this time he kept the teasing to himself.
“I’m listening,” Niki said.
“Why don’t you come over here? You need a break.”
Niki looked like he was about to protest, then thought otherwise. “Okay. But I only just finished the fifth course.”
“Fifth!? Who’s gonna eat all of your stress cooking?”
“Me. None for you.”
“Yeah, I deserve that.”
Rinne sat upright to make enough space on the couch for the two of them to face each other and have a serious discussion. But Niki shrinked into the space right beside him and placed his head in Rinne’s lap.
“I’m listening,” Niki repeated.
Rinne placed his hand gently on Niki’s shoulder.
“You’re everything,” Niki mumbled. “And it’s like the whole world falls apart when you stop loving me.”
“I’ll never st-”
“Sometimes I wonder what you’re doing with a person like me. You’re everything. When Rinne speaks, the world listens. And you always have something important to say. You fight for the things you believe in.”
“That’s why I’ll keep fighting for you. Because I believe in you,” Rinne said.
Niki curled up into a tighter ball. “Why.”
“Because, for some reason, you won’t do it yourself.”
“I’m thirsty.”
Rinne handed him his glass of water. Niki didn’t move, opting to sip awkwardly at an angle.
“Hungry?” Rinne asked.
“No. I taste tested. A lot.”
Rinne took the glass back from him. “I believe in you because you’re one of the most talented people I know. Not a lot of idols are able to maintain a steady job apart from their idol work. And I know you aren’t even trying half as hard as the rest of them.”
Niki only groaned in reply.
“And you’re the kindest person I know.”
“Unlike you.”
“Yeah. I’m a bad man,” Rinne said drily. “I shouldn’t have shouted at you last night. I had a shitty meeting and got drunk and took it out on you. I’m sorry.”
Niki rolled over to face him.
“You’re not stupid. Your proposal isn’t stupid. I didn’t even look through it.”
An exasperated expression spread across Niki’s face. “You didn’t look? I hate you.”
“Love you too.” Rinne grinned. “Are we good?”
“No!”
“What? I’m getting sick of being a punching bag. Not my style.”
“You didn’t bring me anything back from the parlor this time. You owe me.”
“Let’s get your ass outside. You’ve been cooped up here too long.”
“I’m tired,” Niki whined.
Rinne eased Niki off his lap, then stood up, stretching his arms way above his head.
“Piggyback or I’m dragging you.”
HiMERU was about to reply when he noticed someone looking over his shoulder. He is sure that you’ve handled things appropriately.
The dog bears a resemblance to our Deputy Director. If this was your intention, HiMERU is not amused.