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Looking out the window of their condo was the dark blue sky of New York City.
The sun started descending and the colors of the sky were changing with it. The lamps by their bedsides, the door being open and light coming in from the living room, had made their shared bedroom bright.
Eiji sat with one leg propped up in his green sofa chair, looking out the massive window that took up a whole wall. When he first saw it, he was in awe. An entire view looking out into the skyscrapers and nearby buildings. He wore a light red knitted sweater. Watching the rows of buildings in the distance with some lights on and others off, he finished talking about something silly Shorter did a while ago.
Ash sat across and slouched slightly in his chair that was identical to Eijis; his grey and blue jacket covering his chin the way he sat. He listened to the other talk about what, to him, sounded like nothing in particular.
Eiji turned back to look at Ash as he finished the story. Ash gave a nod and hummed showing he was listening but didn’t have anything to add. The story itself was kinda funny. Ah well, funny to anyone that wasn’t Shorter. Here’s what happened:
Eiji met Shorter at his restaurant in Chinatown. He wanted to show more of his side of New York to the Japanese boy.
Eiji had arrived and stayed in for a friendly chat. Shorter's older sister, Nadia, was making steamed bao buns. She held the dough in her hand, filled it with the chosen stuffing, and pinched the curves of the dough to create the seal. She’d pile the unsteamed buns until there were about 8 and was able to put them in the bamboo steamer.
Shorter was practically hovering over her, talking about how he was going to take them all. Nadia, who thought he was exaggerating, side-eyed him every time he said something like that.
The buns had been fully cooked and she removed the top. Shorter sprung up from next to her, eyes glimmering trying to reach for one. As Shorter was closing in, reaching for one, Nadia bumped his side to push him away. He got caught off guard and his glasses fell crooked on his nose.
“They’re hot, and not for you.”
“What?! I don’t get any? Why not!”
“You’re too impatient…” She said, furrowing her brows and lightly shaking her head. “And you haven’t been here lately to help out, it’s been very busy, so you get nothing.” She turned away from him.
Then sure enough, when the bao buns were cooled enough, she brought the steamer to the table Eiji sat and placed it in the center, Eiji eyes following her and then Shorter who was coming up behind her. She pulled the only other chair at the table, and sat across from Eiji. Opening the lid of the bamboo steamer, “Here Eiji, for you. Eat.”
Shorter hovered his hand over it trying to grab one but Nadia hit his hand, swatting it away.
An “ouch!” came from Shorter when he held his hand.
“For me? Thank you!” Eiji gladly took one, it was warm and smelled delicious. Nadia ate one as well and either sat in silence or made small talk. Every time Shorter tried to snatch one, she’d hit his shoulder.
Eventually, Eiji started talking about a new photography exhibit he’d like to showcase for his work. There was one bao bun left and Nadia was too busy listening to Eiji, she didn’t notice Shorter trying to sneakily grab one and succeeded.
“Haha!” he spun and raised his hands in the air, one with a bun and the other a fist. Feeling like he triumphed over a great evil.
“Shorter…” he heard a whisper.
He practically gobbled up the bun and slowly turned around.
Nadia abruptly pushed on Shorter's face with her hand and he fell to the floor.
Shorter exaggerated his wails of pain.
“I didn’t even hit you that hard.”
“But it hurts more because you hit me! And look! I bet there’s a mark!”
“No there isn’t,” (there was) “Get up.”
And then, he slowly rose, using his arms as a weight to push him up.
“He looked like a…” pointing a finger in the air trying to find the word. Then, facing the room with the knuckle of his index finger to his lips, “ちょっとまって... Zo- Zom…” Hesitating, trying to remember the word. Tapping his fingers as he thinks. The blonde raised an eyebrow and guessed, “Zombie?”
Eiji perked up、 “はい! そう そう” leaning in, “Yes, Zombie.” but his face was once again confused. Mumbling something in Japanese to himself. Looking away, lost in thought and looking back at Ash with his eyes, “Not vampire?” shaking his head, he wasn’t sure if he had the right word.
“I don’t know,” Ash shrugged. “I wasn’t there.”
Turning his head to face him completely, “What is the difference?” Eiji voiced his question slowly, curious.
Ash heard the boy's words and considered what kind of answer he should give. Japan must have a zombie and vampire equivalent. Or maybe Eiji didn’t know the English word for the monsters, maybe. He himself doesn’t one hundred percent understand the difference but from the little movies he’s seen, he can make a good guess.
Ash sat properly in his chair and tilted his head, “Well, a Zombie is someone who is dead but they’re walking. Dead bodies that move, usually they’re slow…” waving his hand to try and sound convincing,
“A Vampire is a half-alive, half-dead, blood thirsty creature. Their heart doesn’t beat, they don’t breathe- all that. Usually in stories, they’re very strong, don’t like the sun, don’t like certain foods, and sleep during the day, and stuff.” He tilts his head left and right at the different traits he’s pointing out. He looks back to Eiji to see if he understood.
The raven haired boy raises his head slowly in understanding, “Ahhhh…” giving a little nod. Eyes drifting but dropped his head and made eye contact when he said, “So that’s Ash.” Teasing him.
Ash is very strong; Shorter once told him he couldn’t pick up a car with his bare hands, so they placed a bet and Ash lifted the whole back of his vehicle. He sleeps during the day a lot; but he always goes to bed late at night. On top of that, when it gets too hot in the summer, or too sunny during the day, he threatens to shoot the sun with his gun (as a joke, hopefully). In summary, he fits most of the criteria in order to be classified as a vampire.
The blonde dropped his shoulders and scowled, leaning back. Eiji giggled a little and Ash couldn’t bring himself to be fake mad. Trying to hide the side of his lips curling up, he dug his mouth into the hood of his jacket, hiding it. He looked to the side unconvinced,
“I’m not a vampire.” Feeding into the scene, pretending not to smile but gave up on trying to hold it in, “I’ve…” looking for the right words, or any words that’ll help him, “Left the house today… I did. Yea. I left…” Eiji laughed a little more at his denial. Ash rolls his eyes with a ‘tsk’ as his gaze returns back to the man in front of him with a small but sweet smile forming on his lips.
Eiji relaxed a bit. The younger pouted like he usually does when Eiji makes fun of him. Eyes glassy, while a bit of laughter was still there, Eiji grabbed his drink from off the table. The table was white, grey marble, and circular, placed in between their two chairs.
He took a sip, looking at Ash, he hummed. He lives for the days he gets to exchange banter like this with him. Even if it’s not the most hilarious thing in the world. It’s nice that they now get to have days like this. He swallowed his sip, looking down to the table, and that's when he saw it.
Not knowing what to do and acting quickly, Eiji curled into his chair and sat up guarding himself, “Ash!” He raised his voice. Almost tossing the drink when putting it back down on the table. Retreating into the chair, he pointed at it for a second before returning his hand to himself as if it threatened to jump out and bite.
The man definitely wasn’t scared, no, not at all, he was just- uhh, he was creeped out. Yeah, that’s it. You can tell because his brows were furrowed and lips were pressed into a fine line.
Ash abruptly sat up in his chair, weary. Watching the other get startled by something, concern in his voice, “What’s wrong?” He called, looking around and then at the table, ready to act. Looking for something but not really finding anything? Skimming the area with his eyes to find whatever it was, fast. Ash joined in slight concern with the other. When nothing shows up, he gives a questioning look.
Still looking at it, making sure it never leaves his sight, Eiji looks directly at the source. Focusing on it completely. How did it get in here? In this weather? In this condo? HOW? He holds onto the arms of the chair with both his legs propped up on the cushion. Ash looks at the table and can’t see anything. Figuring the drinks must be hiding it in a blind spot he moves his drink out of the way. Picking it up and putting it down right next to the other, that is when he saw it too.
“A spider?” Ash dropped his shoulders and gave Eiji an unbelieving look. A teeny tiny arachnid, has him retreating into his chair.
He laid his forearm on the table while putting a palm to his cheek with the other hand. Giving the other a slow blink. He can’t understand that this is what he’s afraid of. They’ve fought a mafia boss, a Chinese gang, stopped a deadly drug trafficking; have been shot, stabbed, and a spider is what makes him sweat. Seriously, an itsy bitsy spider? He didn’t know whether to tease Eiji about his arachnophobia or leave it be to crawl on him.
It wasn’t even a scary looking spider. Sure, it is the size of a quarter which is why he might be frightened. Spiders like these are usually uncommon? Sort of. Normally Ash would find long leg spiders in the corner of houses, alley ways, sometimes bushes, and such. However, it’s not unheard of for spiders to somehow find their way indoors. Especially during the winter season. When there’s no insects outside, so the spiders must go inside to find food.
In fact, Ash didn’t care for spiders. Sometimes he’d see them and leave them be. When they’re outside, they don’t annoy him at all, but even indoors he doesn’t bother. Spiders got rid of other insects like flies. Flies are annoying. As long as the spiders didn’t crawl on him, or cause him any inconvenience, he’d usually leave them be. This one however, was starting to pose a problem. It really wasn’t that big of a deal but Eiji was scared of the spider, so he’ll just get rid of it.
He didn’t think it made sense. Curious, “Why are you so afraid of a tiny bug?” He asks. The older man loses his focus on the spider and looks at Ash. “I’m not scared. I don’t like them. This one is just unlike what I've seen.” So he claims. To be fair, though his eyebrows are furrowed, and he still looks bothered, Eiji is calm when he says this. Almost convincing Ash.
“It’s okay to be afraid of spiders, it’s normal.” Ash raises his eyebrows to reassure.
Shaking his head, “But I’m not scared.”
“C’mon…”
“I’m not, I was caught by surprise and this one is strange looking.”
The blonde smiled, “Whatever you say.”
“Ash.” Eiji said defeated,
“Still, please remove it.”
Taking a deep breath, “Alright then, it's not a big deal, I’ll just get rid of it. Since you have oh so kindly asked.” He gets up from his chair, looking for something to hit it with. A shoe is what he has in mind but mostly anything works. No shoes to be seen and it’s a pretty much empty room. There’s two beds, a nightstand in between the beds, and a bookshelf that spreads along the opposite wall.
He could just grab a book…but then the book would get dirty. No point in doing that. The bottom of a shoe is dirty so he just settled on that logic. Ash goes into his closet and grabs a sandal. He returns to the table where Eiji stayed fixated on the spider.
The raven haired boy saw the other come back with a shoe and wasted no time, “Stop! Don’t kill it, Ash.” He said with a stern look on his face. The blonde raised his shoulders in response, “What? Why not?”
“We saw it, and now the spider needs to die? Grab a cup and paper.” He said pointing to the shoe then back at the spider.
Is he serious? Showing sympathy for a bug? It really doesn’t matter.
Furrowing his brows, “One moment you’re freaking out, and now you’re telling me not to kill it?” Ash raises his hand, grip on sandal, ready to smush the spider. “It’s just an insect.” Ash shrugged.
As the blonde's hand descended to kill it, Eiji interjected, “Ash!” He grabs his wrist. The older wrapped his fingers around it, not holding tight but firm to stop him. The sudden contact was surprising but Ash just looked unamused. He didn’t care that much anyway.
Ash huffed and backed down. He still held onto the sandal but his arms went limp next to him. Eiji was still grabbing onto his wrist. There’s a beat of silence when they look at each other. The raven haired boy loosened his grip. His touch feeling warm against Ash’s skin. Eiji looked at Ash with determination. He really doesn’t want this spider to die, huh? The blonde returned the look with consideration.
Ash thought he looked so silly trying to protect this spider from him. He stared at him, deciding what to do. His eyes were so pretty in this moment. They were always pretty, Eiji is a good looking man, but here, in this moment, the sun hit his face so perfectly. It made his dark brown eyes light up to a brighter color. His hair is so straight. When they first met, his hair was wavy. Dark and silky, it was the thin and cold air of nyc keeping it from curling properly.
If he washed his hair properly, would the curls come back? Ash wondered what that would look like. The curls and his hair being wet-
Ash let himself get temporarily distracted. They stared at each other in silence. As if there was communication beyond words; and the way they were looking at each other, made Eiji’s point. Ash could let this go, seeing how determined Eiji looks to let the spider live
Still-
“I’m gonna kill the spider.” He said flatly.
“Do not!” Eiji let go of Ash’s wrist, raised his shoulders, and letting them go, balling his hands into fists.
“I will.” He replies, pulling his arm with the sandal backward.
Waving his hand in front of blonde's view, “There’s no point to kill it!” Raising his voice.
“Hmm it’s just-“ Ash lightly swats the boy’s hand away, “I feel this strange mood to squash a bug.” Ok- now he’s intentionally trying to bother Eiji, “Oh look!” He perked up and gestured toward the spider, “Here’s one now. Perfect timing.” He raised the sandal.
“だめだ!” The raven haired boy abruptly stood in his chair, towering over the other.
Ash very confused by what the hell was that, “What?” He lowered his spider-killing weapon, completely forgetting about it.
“アッシュは蜘蛛を殺しません.” He said loud and firm.
“What the fuck are you saying?!” Ash said so confused.
Eiji pointed at him、 “もしアッシュが蜘蛛を殺したら、私は怒るだろう。” Talking really fast、 maybe in an attempt to intimidate him; or sound like he’s giving an ultimatum.
“English!” The blonde waved the sandal in a circle motion.
“いいえ！” He shook his head once.
“English!” Ash tensed in growing frustration, furrowing his brows.
Shaking his head for every-time he said no, “いいえ！いいえ！いいえ！”
“Fine!” The younger giving in and dropping his arms to his side in a fast motion.
“Fine!” The older retorted instantly sitting back into his chair. Crossing his arms and turning his head to match the other.
Ash scoffs and there’s a beat of silence between them. The blonde crossed his arms, tossed his head to the side, and pouted. To be honest, Ash didn’t really care whether the spider lived or died. He just wanted to tease Eiji but he just had to pull out the Japanese.
He should really learn more Japanese. The hell was he saying anyway? Talking really fast in Japanese almost sounds like a séance or being possessed. Ash wasn’t sure how to feel, he had little knowledge of the language and Eiji had a tone.
However, in this silence there was a burst of laughter. The raven haired boy started laughing. The blonde looked to him, mood gone, and looked a bit surprised. He thought this was funny. His laugh was contagious though, Ash smiling and giggled to himself a little. The entire prior conversation, gone from his mind. Eiji looked so sweet when he smiled and full of joy when he laughed.
The spider on the table started abruptly crawling towards Eiji, instantly reacting, he jumped and shouted, guarding himself and retreating back into the chair. The sudden change in expression made Ash burst and laugh out loud. The older pouted nervously, once again pointing at the spider and retracting his hand back as it got closer. The younger still laughing.
It got to the edge of the table on Eiji's side and the blonde gently shook his head with a smile, “I’ll go get a cup and paper.” He placed a hand on the others shoulder before walking away. On his way out of the room, Ash threw the sandal back into the closet, messily.
The spider kept going back and forth, almost as if it were taunting him. The raven haired boy got up from his chair and stood behind it. Keeping an eye on it. Who knows what would happen if he looked away. What if it disappeared and jumped onto his face?! Unlikely, but still, he was very focused on it.
The younger went into the living room and searched for what he needed. Glancing quickly in every direction, found everything, and went for it. He returned to the bedroom with a torn piece of an old newspaper; headline showing in bold, “New York Mafia Boss Found Dead: Child and Dangerous Drug Trafficking Apprehended.”
The newspaper was probably the one from earlier, lying somewhere on the couch. In his other hand was a cylinder shaped glass cup that got wider towards the rim.
Eiji took a step back as Ash approached the table.
The spider began crawling all around the table. The blonde followed the spider and hovered the cup ontop of it. When he knew he wasn’t going to accidentally crush it, he lowered it and trapped the spider inside. It stopped in its tracks for a moment before it started crawling again. Ash let go of the cup and turned to Eiji, “See? Nothing to be frightened about.” Eiji smiled in response.
Continuing, his fingers gripped onto the bottom on the cup that laid upward. Positioning the paper at the bottom of the cup, getting ready to lift it. Once he’s got a good angle, he lifts the cup and steadily slips the paper in. Careful not to push it to the end of the cup or let it escape. Having no means to avoid it, the spider gave in and made it onto the paper. Resting when the paper stopped moving underneath it.
Eiji had his hands on top of the chair and watched as Ash captured the spider. Still holding onto the bottom of the cup and fingers pinching the end of the paper, “Can ya help me carry it outside?” The blonde asked, gesturing his head to the door.
The raven haired boy looking at him and nodded, “yes.” Ash lifted up the cup and paper, already heading for the door while Eiji quickly grabbed his camera and let it hang over his shoulders as he followed suit. The older opened the door of the bedroom and they walked to the front door of their condo.
Ash stopped in front of it and moved to the side so Eiji could pass through and open the door for the both of them. Once they were both outside they stopped at the door. It was a long hallway with many other rooms of people who were staying here.
It was empty.
“Where do we even put the spider?” The younger asked the other. Eiji looked to left, to the right, then to the left again. Thinking about where to put the spider. They could let it out in the hallway but, “Outside. Let’s go outside.”
Ash gave a confused look, “Outside?… Like we go downstairs and let it out onto the street outside?”
“Yes.” Eiji replied.
The blonde shrugged his shoulders and agreed, “Okay then, let’s go outside.”
Eiji led the way to the elevators, Ash steadily holding the cup and paper. The elevator comes quick after they press the button and enter, going all the way down to the first floor. There was silence as they were waiting.
The blonde eyed the other and saw he brought the camera. He didn’t bring it up though. To break the silence, Ash lifted the cup from off the paper and slowly nudged it in Eiji's direction. Eiji moved back towards the wall, not amused by his jokes.
“Careful, Ash will drop it.” He said, giving Ash a look. A look that said, drop it and I’ll drop you. It was greatly exaggerated. A look to express seriousness, but it quickly faded away. In the meantime, the spider hadn’t moved at all. It stayed still, accepting what’s to come.
He faintly smiled and put the cup back where it was, continuing to cage the insect. The trip down the elevator wasn’t long, it dinged soon after, and they stepped out of the elevator together. The lobby was busy, unlike the hallway they were just in. People entering the super market to buy groceries, people coming in and out of the building, and others minding their own business.
Eiji led the way to the entrance of the building. Ash had placed an entire palm under the rim of the cup to better hold the paper in place. The raven haired boy nodded good evening to the receptionists nearby. The automatic doors opened for them, Ash asked where they should leave the bug and Eiji replied on a tree branch somewhere. Their street didn’t have any trees planted on the side walk so Ash suggested a spot.
Sure there were nearer places with trees to let go of a spider, but they ended up walking a few blocks down to Central Park. Eiji loved the idea and directed Ash to nice places he wanted to set down the spider. It was getting darker outside very quickly, the sky steadily going from light blue to orange. The two walked for a few minutes before they stopped and finally decided to let it down.
“Here!” The photographer gave a wide smile. Getting a head start to the tree he chose. The blonde followed, walking, and met Eiji at the drop off spot. “ここに, ここに, here, here.” the older mumbled, pointing at the ground.
Ash came toward Eiji and they switched places, the photographer taking a step back to watch the spider get dropped off. He held the camera that hung around his neck onto his chest. The blonde looked for a specific place to settle the bug on the tree, but all Eiji saw was beauty. Even in these small moments, he’s dazzled by Ash. He’s practically glowing in Eiji's eyes.
The sun is about to hide itself for the night and what’s left of it, shining down on the park excellently. Ash has a golden silhouette illuminated by the sun. The soft features of his face never stood out like this before. Time seemed to slow down at this moment, Eiji looked at the man in front of him and was enchanted.
Blonde hair falling down his face like honey, the button of his nose, the slight squint he does when he smiles, light refracting off his eyes in a way that puts jade to shame. Eiji could burn this image into his head, the picture a memory he’ll revisit for days to come.
Eiji saw Ash in the rightest way.
Ash raises his arms to release the insect and Eiji stands at his side, viewfinder camera to his eye. Immortalizing this moment.
The camera made a click sound when a picture was taken. The spider crawled off the paper and left the two. Eiji lowered his camera, “Go on, be free.” he wished, staring in the direction of where Ash let down the insect.
The blonde looked at the photographer with curiosity. He knew his picture got taken, Eiji likes to do that a lot. Document everything, demonstrating the good and the bad of New York City.
“Are you going to make me do that every time we find a spider at home?” The taller closing the distance between them and wraps his arm around Eiji's shoulder.
The older, still holding onto the camera, let one hand go. As he tried to reach for the hand that’s draped over him, brushing the back of it until he got a hold, “Well hopefully there won’t be any more spiders at home.” The two turn into another direction that takes them back to the condo, re-tracing their steps.
Exiting the main park area and approaching the crosswalk, the blonde questioned, “So are you going to show me the photo?” Ash liked the fact Eiji took photos, it was an impressive job to capture life moments into a picture.
Eiji was especially good at it too, took lots of photos of the city and he’s got a folder that’s flooded with Ash. Though he doesn’t see all of them or even most of them. Not because Eiji refused to show, but mainly because he didn't mind not seeing the pictures.
Straightening his posture, “Yea! I will print it this week.” He thinks Ash secretly loves being the muse just as much as he loves to take photos of him.
“Perfect,” the younger squeezed him a little. “Wanna watch a movie tonight?” leaning in a little closer.
“Yes,” he nodded, “what movie do you want to watch?” Looking to the other for his answer.
“Hmm…” the pretended to think out loud. “Spider man?”The blonde perked up, “How does that sound?” Grinning at the man he’s holding.
Eiji tilts his head unamused, “Ash.”
“What did I say!?” He exaggerated, “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a cosplayer.” Teasing the other.
“Ash is being silly” the photographer's shoulders go limp.
“What?! Me? Silly?” Pretending to sound offended. “We live in the very heart and soul of the spider verse, New York! He’s your friendly neighborhood spider man!” Weakly attempting to convince the older man that his movie choice has nothing to do with this evening's events.
“Hm,” Eiji genuinely considered. “Sounds good.” He knows Ash was trying to tease him but in the end, it felt like a good movie choice.
“Perfect.” Ash said with a smirk, feeling like a winner for no reason in particular.
Echoing the taller, “Perfect… すごい.”
In an attempt to echo him as well, “Suhgoy.” Ash repeated in his best attempted Japanese accent.
Eiji sounding out the syllables for Ash to copy,
“す”
“Su”
”ご”
“Go”
”い”
“I”
”すごい”
“Suegoie”
“すごい”
“Suigoy”
How his accent was terrible,
“Eh, could use work.” nervously raising his brows.
“Oh really? Suigoy, Suigoy, Suigoy. Suigoy, Suigoy-” Ash chanted in Eiji’s face to mess with him while pulling him in closer for the other to loudly hear his mispronunciation.
Eiji fake groaned, “Agh- Ash is doing this on purpose.” he giggled.
“-Suigoy, Suigoy, Suigoy, Suigoy, Suigoy. Heheh”