Work Text:
Miyadate's hair was silver again. As he took compliments from the excited members, bright, glossy strands were catching light in an almost unreal, fairytale-worthy way.
It was Abe Ryohei's favorite hair color on him, it suited him so well, enhancing the fine features of Date's already beautiful face. Needless to say, Abe too was excited, so excited he couldn't remember any word that would be worthy of a compliment for their Date-sama.
So when it was his turn to say something to the newly-silver Date, he could only mutter a generic: "It looks really great."
Paltry words after Meguro had almost written a poem for Date on the spot, after Sakuma had compared him to all the hottest silver-haired anime characters, after Koji had almost wept at the sight of Date, when all of the members had generously used adjectives like royal, beautiful and sexy - Date's favorites - to compliment him.
Abe felt like a failure. He couldn't wait to be alone with this thoughts, to think deeply about all the words he could have used and maybe try to memorize some for tomorrow when he would try again.
But they had a Sore Suno taping, which meant a lot of work that day, and that meant he would have to forget all about it, assume the variety show ace mask for a long time and think about his shortcomings as a guy - Abe Ryohei, who was in love with his member - Date, much later.
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"Great work," Date said to him, as Abe was picking up his stuff, the grueling day's work over. "You aced the quiz segment. I really like how you can think on your feet like that."
Abe nodded, chuckled, a dangerous blush was creeping up his neck threatening to redden his cheeks at the praise. "You too, your jokes were really funny."
Date nodded once. Then he did that thing where it looks like he's about to say something else but he doesn't.
Maybe the tiredness of his brain after a long day of work was making him a little bit mentally unstable but Abe suddenly felt brave. "You know," he said, smiling a bit mischievously, "Silver Date is my favorite."
"Really?" Date's face brightened, he smiled widely. Then, after a moment he added, "I'm sorry. I actually do know that." He kept smiling at Abe.
Abe felt like flirting a little now. "It was hard to focus when I first saw it, so glossy and pretty, the hair stylist really did a great job, you look like a prince."
Date's hand flew to his face as if in shock. But his eyes were smiling. "Thank you," he said softly after a moment. He was blushing a little.
Abe had made Date shy by calling him a prince? What a score! "The silver really matches with your beautiful face," his mouth rattled off without his approval.
"Oh," Date said, his glossy black eyes upon Abe's as if suddenly and irretrievably trying to capture Abe inside their beautiful domain, which must be full of royal, sexy, beautiful things.
Abe nodded, mesmerized. What had he been saying? How beautiful Date was? That was no good, he thought, next Date could find out about the crush, the liking for years, the pathetic pining from afar, about the secret poetry notebook.
Abe cleared his throat almost violently. "That's why you're the Snow Man visual," he said, with a big idol-like smile and a small nod, as if he was stating a scientific fact.
Date stopped staring at him, he looked down, chuckled. "Right, thanks. Well, anyway, I must go. See you tomorrow!" He waved.
The moment was over, and Date was walking away so quickly Abe didn't even have the time to admire the back of his silver head.
Wait, Abe wanted to say, it's not a joke, I really do think you're the most beautiful member, with or without the silver hair, I love you.
But as he watched Date, silver Date, his favorite, disappear from his line of sight, Abe kept his tongue.