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Title<\/b>: It’s All in the Delivery [Hokuto\/Taiga]
\nRating\/Warnings<\/b>: PG-13
\nSummary<\/b>: Juri likes making Taiga blush, and Hokuto can surely see the appeal.
\nAN<\/b>: So somehow it turns out I already have Baka6 pairings, who knew. Mostly I just wanted to write fic about Juri knowing all the dirtiest jokes from Koki, and how he’s never impressed with Shintarou ever. I really need them to be a real unit, okay, Johnny-san? They’re so good together! <\/p>\n
It’s All in the Delivery<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153So then the guy says, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcHow do you think I rang the doorbell?\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Juri finishes, wiggling his eyebrows. Kouchi and Jesse crack up, but Shintarou just frowns. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get it!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he protests. It only makes Kouchi and Jesse laugh harder, Juri joining in, and Shintarou\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s scowl intensifies. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Come on, explain it! How can he ring a doorbell with no arms?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Taiga squirms, cheeks bright pink, flustered as usual by Juri\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s off-color jokes. Juri has a million of them, thanks to his older brother no doubt, and it seems like lately he makes it a point to tell as many of them as he can until senpai or the staff tell him to knock it off. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Shounen Club practice today, though, the senpai and the staff both too busy to pay any attention to what Tanaka Juri is up to, of all people. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Taiga-kun gets it, riiiight?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Juri asks, leaning in to poke Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cheek, and Taiga bats it away. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Go ahead, tell our innocent little Shin-chan what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so funny about it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yeah, come on!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou whines.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pick on me,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga says, giving Juri\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shoulder a shove, but it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stop him at all. Juri launches right into the next dirty story, something about a shinto priest with a cat. Taiga tries not to listen and to focus on his stretching, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pretty much impossible, his cheeks getting redder by the second. <\/p>\n
When Hokuto strolls up, having been across the room getting their practice assignments, Taiga turns long-suffering eyes to him. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Make him stop,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga begs, using the big eyes and everything, but Hokuto just chuckles as he drops onto the floor next to Taiga to start stretching himself. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ugh, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re no help at all.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Hokuto only smiles serenely as he reaches for his toes; Taiga scowls and reaches to yank on Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wrists until he grunts in surrender. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But if he doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have any arms–\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou tries again, sending Jesse and Kouchi back into peals of laughter. <\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s forgotten during practice, all of them focused on their work because they have a whole song to themselves this filming. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nice to be grouped with others who want to work just as hard as he does, Taiga thinks to himself, nice to have a dynamic that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s serious and familiar. Jesse helps him run their lines a few times when Taiga comes in flat, and Kouchi asks if they can try that crossover at half-speed when they bang shoulders the third time. <\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s different, wanting to work up to other people\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s expectations rather than trying to improve on his own, wanting to support others. Taiga feels like it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a lot more effective in his case; he throws himself into it happily, determined not to get left behind. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What are you guys doing back there?!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou snaps, glaring over his shoulder when Taiga and Kouchi slam into each other yet again. Unimpressed, Juri puts his hands on his hips. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Worry about yourself, your freeze is for shit,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Juri informs him flatly. He turns to Taiga without waiting for a response. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Honestly, tell him to fuck off once in a while so he doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t forget we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not his Snow Prince Choir, you know?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Months ago, Shintarou would have started a fight over such an obvious dismissal, but now all he does is roll his eyes and mutter a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153yeah, yeah\u00e2\u20ac\u009d back. Taiga hides a smile by using the tail of his T-shirt to wipe the sweat off his face, because Juri was the only one who hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ever been intimidated by Shintarou\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bullying even way at the beginning. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not telling him that,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga informs Juri when he keeps watching him expectantly. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shy around them, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s long since passed, but Taiga has never quite understood the appeal of how the others bluster about cursing and sex. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just not his thing, and he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s self-confident enough these days to quit pretending that it is, for the most part. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just say it, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll feel good, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s therapeutic,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Juri coaxes. He sidles closer when Taiga still shakes his head. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153C\u00e2\u20ac\u2122mon, do it. You haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ever told him to go fuck himself, have you? Have you ever told anybody that? Do it, right now, I want to hear it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Geez,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga grumbles, knowing his cheeks are turning pink again, knowing it will only egg Juri on until he gets his way. The more Juri presses him, though, the more it just makes Taiga want to dig his heels in. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s totally unnecessary.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tell me to go fuck myself, right now. You can even do it in English! Jesse!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Juri hollers over. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How do you say go fuck yourself in English?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Go fuck yourself,<\/i>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Jesse calls back without looking, unclear whether he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s answering Juri\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s question or just telling him to actually fuck himself. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153See?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Juri grins at Taiga with a sharp-edged smile. It reminds Taiga uncomfortably of certain senpai and the way they teach younger juniors stuff they totally shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Go on, go on.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Go fuck yourself,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga mutters quickly, flustered and wanting to go back to work. Juri claps his hands in delight but lets up, shuffling back to his start position just as Shintarou turns around to tell him to get his shit together. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Your mom,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Juri says easily, not hurrying up his saunter even a little bit. Taiga turns away from their comfortable bickering to see Hokuto watching him with the same small smile as before. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga asks, feeling even more self-conscious than when Juri was hollering swears at him. Hokuto shakes his head and goes back to focusing on his dancing. Taiga sticks his tongue out at him and tries to focus himself. <\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hardly early by the time they finish up and change back into street clothes, but it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t stop them from going out for food with a bunch of the other guys, heady with practice adrenaline and teenage freedom, thoughts of school tomorrow morning far away. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Are you sure you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re old enough to come out with the big kids?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Nakajima teases Shintarou. Fuma snickers at Nakajima\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shoulder. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Your mom is totally going to ground you again,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto warns, eyes glued to his phone. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Shut up,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou orders, then scowls when his phone rings in his hand, like just the mention of his mother\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name has somehow summoned her. He shoves the phone in his pocket, which does little to muffle the thrum of its vibration. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pick on Jesse for once instead of just me!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jesse looks old enough to be out past dinnertime, though,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Kouchi points out, ever helpful. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153He gets carded less than Yasui-kun.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153HEY!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d comes a protest from near the back of the group. <\/p>\n
They end up in the back corner of a family restaurant, wedged in side-by-side tables and having to climb over each other to get refills from the drink bar. The waiter gets fed up with them pressing the button for his attention pretty quickly, and leaves them alone as much as possible after dropping off their food. They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re still a bit stage-high and more than once Shintarou gleefully hollers something that makes Taiga cringe a little as he glances at the other customers, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not the most embarrassing group of co-workers he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ever been out with, not by a long shot. <\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nice, actually, Taiga thinks when Kouchi shoves his plate of fries over for Taiga to share, and when Jesse refills Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s melon soda for him without asking. Feeling like he belongs and that the others want him here, lately Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been realizing how important that is to him. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s that about? You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re making a weird face,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Kouchi asks, poking Taiga in the cheek and startling him out of his thoughts. Taiga shakes his head and says it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nothing, chuckling at himself for being a great big girl. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just food after work, after all, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not that big a deal. <\/p>\n
Eventually his phone buzzes with a mail from his own mother, and unlike Shintarou, whose phone has been vibrating the table at regular intervals entirely ignored, Taiga takes his mother seriously when she reminds him what time it is and what time his butt needs to be in the house. He doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to leave right this second to make it, but Taiga finishes his soda anyway, tired from the long day. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m heading out,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he says, standing up and stretching, waving off the others when they groan and call him a weenie. Juri calls him a mama\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s boy, and Taiga reaches down to flick him squarely between the eyes, the others cackling at Juri\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s yelp. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll walk with you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto says, surprising Taiga a little when he stands as well, but really Taiga is glad for the company. <\/p>\n
There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a comfortable silence between them for the first block or so, both of them adjusting hats and scarves and jamming their hands deep in their pockets. The wind stings Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cheeks where his scarf isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t covering everything, makes him shiver despite his layers. Hokuto doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem bothered by it, strolling along steadily, not tripping over the sidewalk while he tries to fuss with his scarf like Taiga. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153School tomorrow?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto asks to make conversation. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yeah,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga sighs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153My mom\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been on me about my grades. She says they won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care whose kid I am when I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m applying to work at the McDonald\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s because I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t graduated high school.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Hokuto laughs and it makes Taiga smile too, behind his scarf. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You would look cute in the uniform, though.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Shut up,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga says, side-eyeing him. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d come and buy fries from you every day,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto promises solemnly, grin returning when Taiga tells him to shut up again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Like you aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t good-looking enough to just keep doing what we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not like the president cares whether you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve graduated high school or not.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto laughs a little darkly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Honestly I think he prefers it when we aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that smart.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s plenty of good-looking guys,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga murmurs as they reach the station, both of them digging in their bags for their train passes. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Not so many like you,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto says. Taiga has no idea what to say to that as they head down the stairs to the platform, so he says nothing, hoping that Hokuto thinks his cheeks are pink from the wind. He fights the urge to squirm when Hokuto stops to look him over squarely. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I mean, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pretty obvious why you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re popular.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I wonder,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga murmurs, feeling shy under Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s direct gaze. His heart starts to speed a little, Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dark eyes and knowing smile not helping at all. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is totally the reason Juri picks on you so much,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto informs him. <\/p>\n
Taiga blinks. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What is?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He swallows a startled noise when Hokuto grabs him by the wrist and drags him further down the platform, around to the other side of a large vending machine. There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hardly anybody else on the platform, all of them nearer the stairs and none of them paying any attention to the two of them, and now the vending machine is blocking the view of anybody else who happens to come down.<\/p>\n
Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s heart is positively skipping now, as Hokuto leans in closer. Taiga backs up half a step, but the vending machine keeps him from going any further. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re so cute when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re flustered,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto explains. He lifts a hand to graze Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cheek with the backs of his fingers. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You blush at everything, and it makes you look so shy and innocent. It makes me want to say all kinds of stuff to you too, to see how dark I can make it. Because you aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that innocent, right? No more than the rest of us.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Taiga opens his mouth but before he gets a sound out, Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mouth is already covering his. His lips are are little cold at first but warm quickly, coaxing but gentle, and before Taiga really knows what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going on he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kissing Hokuto back, eyes fluttering shut. Even though his shoulders are against the vending machine, Taiga brings hands up to clutch at the front of Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s jacket, tugging a little. Hokuto gives a soft hum that makes Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s blood heat and steps even more into Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s space, close enough to block the wind. <\/p>\n
Hokuto was right, Taiga isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that innocent, and he knows what Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s asking with the tease of his tongue across Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lower lip. Not uninterested himself, Taiga opens his mouth under Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s with a soft sigh of surrender, pressing closer against Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s chest and enjoying the heat building between them, the winter cold forgotten. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s honestly even forgotten where they are, not protesting when Hokuto tugs the zipper of his coat down and slips hands inside to brush along Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sides.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There you are!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou hollers right next to them, scaring Taiga nearly to death and making them spring apart. Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s heart is in his throat, but Shintarou doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem to notice or feel at all awkward about what he just interrupted. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Going home too?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto asks, faking composure more easily than Taiga can possibly put himself back together. <\/p>\n
Shintarou nods, pulling an annoyed face. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153My mom gave up calling me and started calling the other guys instead. She promised them cookies to gang up on me, geez…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou trails off, finally seeming to notice Taiga trying and failing to do up his coat zipper with fumbling fingers. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he exclaims in sudden revelation. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153About that,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto says, face sheepish. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Would you mind not saying anything for a bit?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He sneaks a look at Taiga. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We only just…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What? Oh, whatever,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou waves a hand dismissively. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, I mean, I get it!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Get…what?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto asks, puzzled. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153How the guy rang the doorbell!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou exclaims, grinning. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I get it!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Taiga gives up on his coat with a faint wail of distress, trying to cover his burning cheeks with his hands instead. Hokuto laughs out loud, eyes scrunching up with the force of it before he can collect himself to help Taiga out. His fingers are working a lot better than Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, and he zips Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s coat up on the first try. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be so tormentable,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto says, then sneaks a quick brush of his lips over Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cheek that makes Taiga squawk. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153At least, not for anybody but me.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Quit it,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Taiga complains, but he kind of means don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s self-satisfied expression says that he isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fooled. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay, but the one about the cat, though…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou pipes up, but fortunately just then the train arrives and saves them from having to explain anything else to him via demonstration. <\/p>\n
Two weeks later, Taiga is reaching lazily for his toes and not having any trouble ignoring Juri\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s joke about the emperor with the three jealous concubines. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s much more preoccupied with thoughts of Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s clever fingers skimming his sides, Hokuto\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gloss-soft lips against Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s throat. The light flush on his cheeks has absolutely nothing to do with the punchline about the cucumber. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153These aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even funny, are they?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Shintarou snaps in exasperation. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You guys just make these things up so that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll look like a moron, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t you?!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Jesse and Kouchi laugh so hard they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re sprawled in a heap on top of each other, clutching their stomachs, and Juri has tears gathering in the corner of his eyes. Even Taiga grins a little, before a familiar touch running up the bumps of his spine makes his eyes flutter shut and his breath catch. <\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You should tell them the one about the cute junior and the prop closet fifteen minutes ago,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Hokuto murmurs in Taiga\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ear, then laughs when Taiga blushes all for him.<\/p>\n