Work Text:
I wake up, alone and in a cold bed.
This is not an unusual occurrence for me. My partner tends to make the phrase ‘early riser’ feel insufficient, and keeps our apartment almost absurdly clean. A process which often involves ‘airing it out’. Even in March, which is moving into spring here in Tokyo, it’s closer to the average temperature of her home than mine, but it’s still not something I’m quite used to.
As I start to shake off the grip of sleep, the scent of brewing coffee hanging in the air, a pleasant realization washes over me. It’s Sunday. Which means my partner’s aggressive schedule is going to be full of activities that are comparatively leisurely, rather than her brutally efficient chore list of the weekdays, or the overly optimistic errands we perform on Saturdays. Sundays are largely social calls, some light cleaning, and her favorite hobby. Baking.
I stretch and start my morning routine. Slippers, then house coat, moving with ease in the dim light of the morning, and I do mean morning. Waking up around 7 a.m. has long been my ritual, which is fairly normal. For her however, I am sleeping in and “burning daylight”. A phrase which always makes me smile, because daybreak happens well after she gets up, much less me. Even the summer months struggle to have the sun appear at 5 a.m when she rises. There hasn’t been a single day I’ve known her that she’s risen even a minute later.
The instant I open the bedroom door, the light clink of kitchen equipment greets my ears, and that scent of coffee becomes almost overwhelming to my nose. Her voice drifts out to me from across the hall where she’s already working away, light and airy as always.
“Good morning!” She nearly sings, chipper as ever. I move my feet, plodding one after another into the kitchen, and drape myself over her like the world’s laziest cape.
“Guten Morgen Eishin Flash” I grumble out, hugging her around the shoulders and planting a kiss on one cheek. I feel her laugh and scoff almost at once.
“You still don’t have it right. Have you been practicing? More than just once every morning when you see me, I mean. You had better learn a proper good morning before we meet my parents. My father is very strict and mother will never let me hear the end of it if I haven’t at least taught you the basics of German!” She’s on a roll already and I’ve only just opened my eyes. I nod and hum my agreement in between each pause for breath, affirming what I already know as she lectures.
I feel an elbow impact my ribs ever so gently. “Are you listening? I know you know this, but you must take it seriously! If you don’t learn a proper greeting, my parents will be the least of your worries.”
“No one takes it as seriously as I do, meine liebe you must know this.” I try another one of the phrases she taught me and I can see the blush creep over her cheeks.
“You are such a…! Agh!” I see her raise her hands in mock frustration, still covered in flour. “You are the most infuriating… That wasn’t bad actually. Your accent is improving.” She turns her head to face me, those blue eyes locking onto mine. “Pour yourself a coffee and sit, breakfast is already laid out waiting for you.”
“Thank you Flash, you always have things in order, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.” Sure enough, breakfast is laid down on the dining table on the other side of the counter. I make a coffee quickly and get out of her way. When she’s baking I hate to slow her down even slightly, and being between her and the weighing scale is grounds for banishment from the kitchen entirely. I place the mug down next to a plate of cold cut meats, a couple of small buns (buttered already, of course), and a dollop of mustard.
Eishin Flash and I are both foreigners here in Tokyo. My background is a bit less European than hers, but our diets are remarkably alike. That was actually one of the first things we bonded over. Having something other than rice for breakfast is comforting, and god knows I didn’t eat this well when it was just me. I spread some of the mustard on a bun, top it with the meat and dig in. Divine. She baked the buns yesterday afternoon and they’re still soft, but more than that, they’re perfect. Her attention to detail is one of the many things I admire about her, but it makes her baking truly incredible.
“Falcon will be by with Bourbon this morning. They want some advice about her upcoming performance at this years fan festival.” I look up to meet her gaze. I know she expects me to be there and help out. When I was only her trainer, I had asked for Smart Falcon’s help a few times with Eishin’s own performances.
“I can’t wait to see them. I’m glad you and Falcon remained such good friends, even though you’re no longer roommates, you’re still like sisters.” I smile up at her from the rim of my coffee cup and I can see the pensive expression cross her face.
“Sisters? Hah. I wish she took after me more if that were the case! The only schedule she has is a rough start time for a concert. The rest of her life is like chaos! I have no idea how she manages it.” She continues kneading the dough, no doubt for more buns, or perhaps pretzel for her friends. “Then this afternoon I’ll be going for a few laps with Jordan. I would appr-”
“Appreciate my being there to hold the stopwatch and mediate with your rival when you start to lecture her?” I flick my eyes to her again and see her ears droop ever so slightly. “Of course. Jordan’s style naturally conflicts with yours, although it is good for a laugh. Seeing you get frustrated with her carefree nature was one of the highlights of your rivalry... For me at least. Her trainer always got a kick out of the stack of papers you made me carry. Schedules, statistics, records... so I guess we both had a good laugh at the other’s expense.” I’m reminiscing again as if this wasn’t a handful of months prior. I notice her staring at me, and I can’t help but smile broadly as I finish the last of my coffee.
I’m still a trainer at Tracen, although I’m on a short sabbatical. Eishin’s career is on a short pause for the same reason. After graduating to the Dream Trophy series, we decided to take a vacation and… Well. One thing led to another, which ended with us dating. The conversation I had to have with Tazuna when we returned was… uncomfortable to say the least. She had several conversations with Eishin and Falcon privately before she accepted this was a sudden decision between the two of us and not some sinister plan I’d hatched when I was hired and assigned to Flash. It was patiently explained to me that while this was technically allowed, and we are both consenting adults, and it was hardly without precedence, that she would be watching me. Closely. Often. Several times she’s made unannounced appearances at the team’s clubhouse. My office. The training courses. My apartment.
“What’s got you looking so pale?” Eishin’s brow furrows as she looks over at me, pausing from kneading the dough to place it in the bowl to proof. “Worried Tazuna is going to pop in today?” She says, an evil smirk crossing her face. “You know she texted me yesterday. Asking how things were. If you were being kind to me…”
I almost choke on the last bite of my breakfast. “D-Did she? Well no I was… certainly not worried about Tazuna. I mean. You told her I was, didn’t you?” I do a remarkable job of keeping panic out of my voice.
“I did. I can change that answer if you’re not ready in the next half an hour however…”
“Consider it done.” I bolt up from the table, placing my dishes in the sink, kissing her on the cheek and almost sprinting for the bathroom.
I hear her giggling as I move. I shower and do my daily business quickly, dressing in clothing which was conspicuously laid out for me already. I blush a bit at the idea of Eishin handling my clothing, but dismiss the thought, no doubt she did it to make the morning go as efficiently as possible. Still… It felt like a very domestic gesture. In hardly any time at all I’m dressed and moving back to the kitchen. I find it spotless, naturally, and Eishin already changed from house clothes into something more presentable.
“Mmm. Excellent. I wasn’t sure how that shirt would look on you, but I’m glad. Very professional.” She reaches up and adjusts the top button, her face contorting as if the offending article was actively insulting her. “There. Perfect.” She steps back, and blushes rather suddenly, realizing she initiated such an intimate gesture almost on instinct.
I step forward and embrace her. “Eishin… thank you. For everything. Truly. The bread, breakfast, the clothes, the way you seem to be the one who always keeps us on time. May I…?”
She nods sharply, and tilts her head back. I kiss her, chastely, and I can feel my own face burning nearly as hot as hers. We both jump suddenly as we hear a knock on the door, separating as if we were teenagers caught doing something bad.
“Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaash! Trainerrrrrrrrrrrr!!!” Smart Falcon’s voice is practically clear as a bell through the door. “I’m on time! Open up!!! There better be something left for breakfast for me and Bourbon!!!”
Eishin Flash smiles up at me, and I can’t help but return the gesture. I reach out to hold her hand, giving it a squeeze before she moves to answer the door.
I love Sundays.