Work Text:
My dear, happy birthday
Rushing out of the studio and straight to the common, Shiki does not seem to find the person he was looking for, but the two guys he does find there apparently know the answer.
‘We’re not gonna be that harsh on you cuz we know it’s not his birthday yet,’ Rikka is the first one to talk.
‘However, do you have any special surprises? Since by now we assume you already have a guess of where he is,’ Tsubasa is the one speaking now, ‘but! If you don’t have anything good prepared, then you better let him sleep.’
‘Come on, is this some kind of role play game in which I gotta bring some kind of offering to win the right to see Dai?’
‘That’s a pretty nice way to describe it, and in fact, you’re correct,’ Rikka replies.
‘It’s only fair, don’t you think? After all you didn’t even try to make a bit lighter his work agenda for today,’ Tsubasa mentions, ‘Poor Dai-chan, he was the first one to be out today and the last one to come back.’
The blond dramatically mentions as Rikka nods pretending to clear a tear from his face, both look at Shiki who is just rolling his eyes; it’s so annoying how these two can come up as a team to ‘protect’ Dai from his lack of delicacy, and how they call him: ‘being the most nonchalantly boyfriend in the entire world.’
Which of course, it is not true.
‘I don’t control our agendas anymore; do you remember that?’ Shiki asks them, he is exhausted from this conversation.
‘You don’t? Then, why do you have the more convenient agenda of all of us?’ Tsubasa questions him.
‘Rikka, can you control your golden retriever before he gets too out of place with his questions?’
Shiki asks the pink haired man who giggles a bit with the new nickname given by Shiki to Tsubasa.
‘Hey, hey, I'd rather be called ‘honey’ than a golden retriever, you know?’ the youngest in the room complains, ‘besides, I do know that Fumi-chan handles our agendas, but still… we’ve been working more than usual while you stay here all day! It’s not fair!’
‘Honey… Do you remember what else I do besides being SolidS leader, producer, and songwriter?’
‘So, us overworking was for you to finish your other works?’ Rikka wonders and Shiki nods, ‘please, say something that makes really worth the fact that we have been overworked.’
‘I… I have my day off for his birthday and I also ordered the cake for tomorrow’s party and I’ll pay for anything you wanna cook.’
‘Even the most expensive meat? Remember that’s Dai-chan’s favorite,’ Tsubasa says with a grin, having to their disposition Shiki’s wallet is a real blessing.
‘Yes, even for the most expensive meat,’ Shiki replies.
‘What do you say Rikka? Are we ready to let him go with our cute little Dai-chan?’ Tsubasa wonders and leans his head on Rikka’s shoulder.
‘Hmmmm… I still have my doubts… What about Dai’s birthday present?’
Shiki stays silent for a while, he did not buy a gift, instead he has planned a special schedule for Dai’s birthday, but he is not sure if the ‘police on how to be an ideal boyfriend’ will see this as something good.
‘I…’
‘You didn’t get him a gift?’ Rikka asks his voice showing how ready he is to fight him about the lack of the present.
‘I have plans, ok?’ Shiki states, his voice showing how he is getting tired of this game.
‘Are those plans that Dai-chan would like?’ Tsubasa questions him with a smirk on his face, maybe Shiki is getting better at his role as Dai’s couple.
‘I hope so, he has mentioned those places in recent conversations.’
‘HE HAS LISTENED FOR ONCE!’ Rikka and Tsubasa exclaim together while they hold each other's hands.
‘Would you mind not screaming? I mean if he is in his bedroom it is probably that he is… damn…’
‘It’s ok, even if he is sleeping, Dai will be happy to see you, and he most likely wants to be right next to you as soon as his day starts,’ Rikka tells him.
‘So yeah, go ahead, as soon as he ate, he went to his room,’ Tsubasa says, ‘he is a heavy sleeper, so good luck with waking him up.’
‘I know, I know,’ Shiki grunts as he starts his way towards Dai’s room.
Although he knows he has all the freedom to ignore them, Shiki has come to also appreciate what Tsubasa and Rikka do. His first year being Dai’s boyfriend he was not good at noticing when he made a mistake, or the stuff that Dai used to mention so he could understand that those would be things he wanted to do along with him. If it wouldn’t be for Rikka and Tsubasa working on making him understand those little moments and the way Dai would act when angry, their relationship wouldn’t have lasted so long. Shiki takes a deep breath; at the end, he knows he pulls up with those two crazy demands because he knows they just want to help.
Once he gets to Dai’s room, he notices that lights are off, they were right, Dai was too tired to stay awake until midnight. However, he is more than sure that he does not want to miss, for another year, the chance of being by Dai’s side since the first minute of the young man’s birthday. Carefully, he opens the door and finds Dai peacefully sleeping, there is no doubt that his schedule as completely packed. He walks slowly until being able to sit right next to Dai’s bed, and once in front of him, Shiki caresses his hair, brushing some hair strands out of the way to fully contemplate his lover’s face.
And just in time, he looks at the clock Dai keeps on his nightstand already marking midnight, April 22nd.
‘Happy birthday, sweetheart,’ Shiki whispers and hears as Dai sighs in his sleep, ‘are you having a nice dream?’
The older says with a smirk, but as soon as he sees how Dai continues to furrow his brows his expression immediately changes.
‘A nightmare? Eh??? Are you dreaming of a possible scenario in which I can ruin your birthday?’ Shiki murmurs, ‘Tsubasa and Rikka are giving you a lot of wrong ideas, don’t listen to them!’
Shiki continues to speak, were they really getting that much into Dai’s mind, or could it be true that Dai, on his own, thinks that Shiki would ruin his birthday? Getting way too much into those negative thoughts, Shiki does not realize that Dai has already opened his eyes and is looking at him with a tender smile.
‘You should already know that it doesn’t matter what they say, I like the relationship we have,’ Dai whispers with a tender smile on his face.
‘Since when are you awake?’
‘Who knows…’ the younger replies with a playful expression, ‘it’s the first time you’re actually the first one to wish me a happy birthday.’
Dai mentions, his cheeks are blushed and his eyes are brightly so much they look like two precious jewels.
‘So, you do keep count of these kinds of events?’ Shiki asks, a bit hurt to know that after so many years together it’s the first time he says it first.
‘I do, but I also know that that doesn’t determine how much you mean to me,’ Dai replies and moves so Shiki can get under the blankets too, ‘I’ve always known you are a busy person, and I know you have told me so many times to be more selfish about you, but…’
‘But?’ Shiki wonders.
‘I guess I like the busy Shiki, the one that usually is lost in his thoughts as he keeps creating incredible music,’ Dai says with a soft expression, ‘I don’t wanna be the one taking you away from your passion, I wanna be the one who supports you… that being with a cup of coffee or just putting a blanket on you when you fall asleep… anything I can do for you.’
‘Sounds a bit unfair, don’t you think?’ Shiki expresses, his voice lower than usual.
‘Why?’
Dai responds with another question and Shiki lets out a heavy sigh, he gets to place himself on Dai’s chest and looks him straight into his eyes.
‘Don’t you see you are the only one giving and not receiving?’
‘Who says I’m not receiving anything? I have your support as well, I have someone who says the right words at the right time and someone who gave me the chance to find another path in my life,’ Dai says, ‘I don’t know where I would be if you wouldn’t have offered me this chance so many years ago.’
Shiki lies his head on Dai’s chest, he hears to the beat of his heart and sighs once again.
‘You’re really the one for me,’ Shiki whispers, ‘but, I want to make things better this year.’
‘Is that so?’
‘Yes, that’s why,’ Shiki stops and pulls himself up to look Dai into his eyes, ‘we’re going out on your birthday, I have planned a whole day for the two of us.’
‘A whole day out? Are you sure?’ Dai questions him while raising one eyebrow.
‘Is it so hard to believe that I can spend a whole day out?’
‘Well… I guess not, but… did you already plan everything? like … well, I mean… it’s a bit weird…’
Shiki stares at Dai, he understands why this could be weird, most of the times, he can clear a day to spend with Dai, but they usually end up in the dorm just talking or listening to new music.
‘Now, I’m a bit hesitant if I have good ideas or not… so I’m gonna ruin the surprise factor,’ Shiki states and sits down, ‘I have planned to start early, I already asked permission to use the company car.’
‘’You even did that on time,’ Dai exclaims and also sits down.
‘You’re in fact spending too much time with Tsubasa and Rikka,’ Shiki comments, rolling his eyes, ‘but yes, I did have time for that.’
Shiki then continues explaining the agenda, driving early to the area of Shinagawa so they can have breakfast in one of the cafeterias near the aquarium; then they will head to the Aquarium. Shiki has made sure of studying the whole schedule of the different activities they can enjoy at the place, especially to the dolphins show, and after completing the whole route in the aquarium; they would move to Odaiba where they will have lunch at a place close to the beach, so they will later enjoy some time near the shore until the sunset to later come back to the dorms and have the traditional party.
‘Now I feel like everything sounds like an awful idea cuz I don’t see any happiness on your face, you just have a poker face and I don’t know how to feel about it.’
Dai reacts to the comment and cannot avoid giggling at the moment that Shiki keeps his look of fear and failure.
‘That’s it, I’m going to my studio to write probably ten songs about a broken heart and’
Dai stops him by holding Shiki’s wrist.
‘Sorry, sorry, I know I didn’t have the best reaction,’ the younger boy says and pulls Shiki closer to him, ‘I love the plan, that’s why I was so awestruck with the plan.’
‘Lier.’
‘I’m telling you the truth, you thought about places that I like, where I can be close to something I love,’ Dai states and closes his eyes to then give a soft kiss on Shiki’s neck, ‘walking around the shore sounds beautiful.’
‘You wanna do it?’ Shiki asks, his eyes showing excitement, ‘the whole plan?’
‘Maybe the part of waking up early is something we can skip, I mean we’re not gonna sleep a lot,’ Dai says with a smug smile.
‘So you wanna have a preview of the post-party time?’
‘I’d love to have more than just a preview,’ Dai says playfully and moving his hands under Shiki’s shirt.
‘Your wishes, my command.’
Not much is said after that, they both get too focused on showing their love in a more passionate way involving their bodies. Losing track of time, they don’t even know at what time they finally feel satisfied and fall asleep in each other’s arms.
°°*°*°**°*°*°*°*°*°*°*°*°*°*°**°*°*°*°*°
On Dai’s birthday, they did not wake up early, but everything else that has been planned and then proposed by Shiki to Dai has been accomplished. As the sun is setting, they walk together through the shore. Although it is still cold, Dai couldn’t resist the urge of taking off his shoes and enjoying the sensation of the water touching his skin.
‘I love seeing your happy face, but don’t overdo it, I wouldn’t like you getting sick,’ Shiki says while holding Dai’s shoes.
‘This is just fine, I used to train in colder water when I was in the swimming team,’ Dai replies with a big smile on his face, ‘Shiki…’
Dai calls the leader’s name and once they have locked their eyes, he continues.
‘Thank you, I really like everything we did today, it’s been a wonderful day.’
Seeing such an honest expression on Dai’s face and feeling like he has finally done it well all by himself; meaning, no delays, no lack of planning, and really thinking about stuff that Dai would like to do; Shiki cannot avoid the urge of walking towards Dai, the older man pulls him closer to him and kisses him.
For a split second, Dai just allows himself to go along with the action, that is until he remembers that they are out of the dorm and in a pretty public space. The younger pulls apart and looks around nervous that someone could have seen them.
‘Why so scared? You know that at this time of the year it is still weird for people to come to the beach, even more to get themselves into the water,’ Shiki smirks as he says the words.
‘I just… I just felt nervous cuz it felt too good… and… well you know,’ Dai replies, blushing and covering his face with one of his hands.
‘Why are you so cute?’
Shiki tells him as he keeps getting closer to Dai, the taller man tries to avoid it, but in the middle of all the movements, they trip and Shiki falls on top of Dai; their clothes getting immediately soggy and some light waves keeps hitting them while they stare at each other for a while. For a moment, Shiki believes that he didn’t keep his record clean and ended up blowing up Dai’s birthday, but when he listens to the younger laughing, he recovers his hopes.
‘Aren’t you mad?’ Shiki dares to ask.
‘I wouldn’t be laughing if I were mad, right?’ Dai replies, ‘but, I just think it’s funny that you were avoiding the water so hard to end up completely soggy.’
‘So you laugh about my tragedy?’ Shikis asks and Dai nods trying hard to contain his laughter, but being unable to, ‘I’ll dismiss it this time cuz I love the sound of your laughs, happy birthday, Dai.’
‘Thank you, Shiki.’
‘Guess it’s time to go back, and probably let’s try to avoid that those two can see us like this because I feel they will for sure blame me for this incident.’
‘Technically, it was your fault,’ Dai says with a tiny smirk showing on his face.
‘I’ll let it pass this time because it’s your birthday,’ Shiki states, ‘but just know that if those two ruin my mood on your birthday you won’t have the last special part if your day.’
‘Eh?? Would you be that bad with me on my birthday?’
‘I could never be,’ Shiki replies and takes a quick look, as he has said no one is around so he takes Dai’s hand and gives it a gentle kiss, ‘happy birthday, I hope to celebrate you more and more years, my dear.’
‘I hope so too, thank you, Shiki.’
And with the sun finally setting, they both walk quickly to the car before they get to freeze by the cold breeze that accompanies the arrival of the night. Heading quickly to the dorm and for another joyful party to keep celebrating Dai’s birthday.