Work Text:
More than a few people had been bugging Simon to get a haircut.
Athena, Aura, Bucky, Phoenix…even Edgeworth; all of them had – on separate occasions – suggested (either subtly or not-so-subtly, depending on the person) that he chop off most of his hair now that he had been out of prison for over a year.
Each time they were met with a stern “no” and a hardened glare which usually stopped the conversation…at least in the short term.
They didn’t quite understand his stance; Simon’s hair was wild and often tangled easily and he didn’t really do much with it other than just throw it into his big ponytail. Wouldn’t it be easier to deal with, they had all said, if he just got rid of most of it?
Again, he just responded with a simple yet definitive “no.”
He was so sure that he did not want to cut his hair…at least until he started seeing Nahyuta Sahdmadhi. Simon wasn’t one to feel overt jealousy, but when he would run his fingers through Nahyuta’s silky lilac strands, he became somewhat envious; Nahyuta’s hair was beautiful and smooth and despite its length, never really seemed to fall into knots or tangle all too much. He knew that no one was insinuating Nahyuta get a haircut.
Once in a while, he would actually braid Nahyuta’s hair; it took him a little bit to actually get the hang of it as it had been a long time since he had done anyone else’s hair, but once he did, he found the task enjoyable and calming in its own way. Often they would sit in the bedroom and just talk; sometimes the conversations would be about work, other times about friends and family. Very rarely did either one of them discuss their tragic pasts, not because they did not trust one another, but more because they themselves didn’t wish to bring up those horrible events.
One day, though, as Simon was getting ready to braid Nahyuta’s hair, he found himself thinking. His hands were running freely through the monk’s locks, the softness practically caressing his roughened and calloused skin.
“Do you think I should cut my hair?”
The question came out almost automatically, as he continued to brush Nahyuta’s with nothing but his fingers. Not that it needed brushing. It rarely ever seemed necessary, with how carefully Nahyuta took care of it.
Without moving from his spot in front of Simon and with his eyes closed, Nahyuta answered: “Why do you ask?”
Simon shrugged. “I’m just wondering if it has become too…much. Compared to yours, anyway.”
Nahyuta couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why would you make that comparison? Our genetics lead us to have radically different hair types. Not to mention the fact that I actually do things with mine once in a while.”
Simon sighed. “Forget I asked.”
The dismissive tone immediately told Nahyuta that there was something else at play here other than just Simon wanting to “tame” his hair. So, he actually turned to look at his boyfriend with an expression of worry characterizing his angelic face. “Is everything alright?”
Simon hadn’t let go of Nahyuta’s hair, and stared down at his hands with fingers interlocking with lavender strands. “I don’t know. Athena keeps bothering me about cutting it, and Aura says that if I do maybe I’ll look younger again. Even Edgeworth-dono has started making hints that it would be more of a ‘professional’ look.”
“Do you want to cut it?”
“Not particularly, no.”
“Then why ask me?”
Simon shrugged again, not really having an answer. Nahyuta could tell that there was still something deeper that was troubling the other man, and again shifted so that he was fully facing him. The movement finally caused his hair to slip from Simon’s hands, though Nahyuta caught them with his own. He leaned down to place himself within Simon’s line of sight, to force the other to look at him.
“Simon.” As soon as Nahyuta said his name, Simon’s eyes focused on him, which prompted the monk to lean in to gently kiss his lips. It was comforting and soft, as Nahyuta always was, and Simon practically melted into it. When they broke apart, Nahyuta was still leaning in close. “What’s wrong? There’s more to this than just a haircut, isn’t there?”
It took more than a few seconds of silence passing before Simon finally answered. “They want me to cut it…as if that could bring me back to how I was before I went to prison.” He paused…bringing this up was not something he had planned, but now that it was out there, he felt compelled to continue. “But…that person is gone. If I cut it I would be reminded of him too much. I don’t…want that. I can’t just go back to being him.”
Nahyuta listened, and as soon as Simon finished his explanation, he was moving his hands into the samurai’s hair, to remove the band that held it in its ponytail. It fell around his shoulders and almost fluffed up so that it appeared large and wild. Despite its almost feral nature, Nahyuta still had his hands in it, smiling softly as he felt it.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever said this, but…I personally do love your hair like this.” Simon seemed surprised, not expecting something like that. “It is soft and…poofy, and I like to feel it against my face when we are lying in bed together and you’re already asleep.” The monk laughed a little. “Granted, sometimes it smothers me with how thick it is, but I find it breathtaking. It’s dark and beautiful and can’t be tamed…it suits you – as you are now – quite well.”
Simon felt a blush creep up onto his cheeks. Normally people would describe his hair as unruly, and never with such a positive inflection. He savored the feeling of Nahyuta’s hands in it, and couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “Thank you, Nahyuta.”
Again, Nahyuta planted a soft kiss on his lips. “Besides,” he said, “this type of hairstyle is much more appropriate for a samurai of the courtroom, wouldn’t you think?”
Simon chuckled, and brought his arms around Nahyuta’s slender waist to pull him into his lap.
He was right, after all.