drowning in uncharted waters
(Link to AO3)
Pairing: Togame Jo/Endo Yamato Summary: Endo had always believed that it didn’t matter who became the focus of his fleeting obsessions, after all, they’re mere fragments of the real thing. But something about the Shishitoren’s deputy leader tickled his curiosity. His color is not at all similar to Takiishi’s or Sakura’s, not a speck on his body even shared the similar hue. However, when he looks at him, it felt like staring back at a reflection of himself. He couldn’t wait to look further.
“Well, if it isn’t a familiar face.”
Togame looks up at the familiar voice and finds himself staring eye to eye with the guy who initiated the attack on Furin last time. Though he did remember how strong he was when it comes to fighting, Togame never really bothered to know his name. With a brief nod, he acknowledges his presence and says nothing more.
He’s been waiting for Choji for around half an hour now outside of Furin’s gates. Apparently, Umemiya called for an afternoon snack between the leaders of the groups around Makochi. Knowing Umemiya, he’s probably forging some peace pact and teambuilding activities between all the groups to ensure that Furin and the town can enjoy peace much longer. Strictly for leaders, he apparently said, so he had no choice but to stay outside.
Ah. Is that why this guy is here? Togame did hear these troublemakers came as a pair, and there was an unfamiliar guy earlier with bright red hair.
Endo, for his part, feels a bit slighted. The last thing he expected was to be ignored. Wasn’t this guy flattered he still remembered him despite that mediocre performance in their last encounter?
“So, your group is friendly now with Bofurin, huh? Didn’t you come to help Sakura last time?” Endo continues, letting pass the fact that he was ignored. It’s not the first time someone he addressed didn’t give him the time of the day. And well, all those cases now acknowledge him, don’t they? This shouldn’t be any different. “Shishitoren’s deputy, Togame Jo. Isn’t it?”
Togame scratches the tip of his nose, feeling a bit uneasy from the attention. If not to fight, Togame doesn’t really care about interacting with strangers. This guy is practically one. And a persistent one, at that.
“You know it really surprised me that Shishitoren showed up that night.” Even being ignored does not faze Endo one bit. “It got me thinking, how come such a group who devotes themselves to power end up being support for another? Then the answer came to me that very same night. It’s because of Sakura, isn’t it. That guy’s a natural charmer. You’re the same as me, aren’t you? Drawn to him? So much so that you’d drag the whole of Shishitoren to impress the guy.”
Endo smiles in satisfaction as he finally sees Togame’s expression falter a bit.
“Sakura’s my friend. I helped him because that’s what friends do. Not everything is about impressing somebody.”
“It is, actually. I know how people’s minds work. Hey, I’ve got a great idea. You’re bored out here, right? Why don’t we finish what we started that time? Same stage and everything.”
Togame doesn’t really care. He came to Furin that night to back up Sakura. It was his first time working with Hiiragi then, so naturally, they didn’t quite get each other’s tempo yet, resulting to Endo being able to push them back. He finds no reason to prove that he can win over him, it’ll just be a waste of his time.
“No, thank you,” he answers curtly.
It just so happens that Endo is not the type to give up after one rejection.
“Aww, no way you were satisfied with that performance of yours?” Endo sits next to him uninvited and hooks an arm around Togame’s shoulder. “I heard you’re a monster. That was barely anything, if I say so myself.”
Togame regards him coldly, staring daggers at his unwelcome arm. Up this close, he could smell the whiff of some perfume on his body. It makes Togame’s nose itch.
“Kame-chan!”
Perfect timing. Togame swiftly extricates himself from Endo, waving at Choji’s direction. He’s followed behind by Umemiya, Nakamura, and the other guy that must be Endo’s accomplice.
“Yo, Togame. Endo.” Umemiya raises a hand to greet them. “Sorry for making you wait. Though, it seems you two are getting friendly already.”
“You can say that.” Endo says with a knowing smile, taking his spot next to Takiishi. “But our time was cut short. There’s still so much to know about each other, right, Togame?”
“Really? Then why don’t we exchange numbers? We can keep contact that way, yeah?” Choji excitedly suggests, not even giving Togame a chance to answer. Togame doesn’t miss the victorious smile Endo throws his way.
Togame tries hard to mask his irritation as the exchange of numbers ensue. Endo’s sudden interest in him has quite gotten on his nerves. But in fact, Togame has an inkling of what really bothered him about this whole exchange – Endo suggesting that they were the same. Sure, he did have a period when he mercilessly kicked out the weaker members of Shishitoren, but at the time, it was for Shishitoren’s sake. From the little he knows of this Endo, it seems that everything he does is for his entertainment alone. It's quite pathetic.
“I’ll get in touch.” Endo tells Togame before they part ways.
“You really don’t have to take the trouble.” Togame responds with a thin smile. He couldn’t outwardly reject Endo after all, since it was Choji’s idea to keep in contact and everything.
“Then we’ll go ahead now! Bye!” Choji bids farewell for the two of them as Togame walks ahead, wanting to create distance between him and Endo as soon as possible.
Endo’s eyes follow Togame with interest until his figure disappears at the end of the street. He had always believed that it didn’t matter who became the focus of his fleeting obsessions, after all, they’re mere fragments of the real thing. But something about the Shishitoren’s deputy leader tickled his curiosity. His color is not at all similar to Takiishi’s or Sakura’s, not a speck on his body even shared the similar hue.
However, when he looks at him, it felt like staring back at a reflection of himself. He couldn’t wait to look further.
No thanks to Choji, Endo bombarded Togame’s phone with messages for three days before he finally gave in and accepted his challenge for a rematch. Ori would have been the perfect stage for it, but he didn’t want Shishitoren to get involved in any way, so he let Endo decide where to fight. Finally, he sends him a location: Shenkan shipyard. Fri. 4 pm.
Togame recognizes the area: a notorious gang used to base there until they got all pummeled down by Bofurin. Considering that Endo has access to that place, he must have had a hand as well on that incident. Just how devilish this guy can be? Despite the de facto peace treaty between them and their group, Togame would hate to concern Shishitoren with his antics. It’ll be good to settle the matter between who’s stronger between the two of them sooner than later.
He arrives at the designated place and time and finds Endo already waiting, sitting leisurely on the raised platform.
“I could have seen you a mile away! You really love that jacket of yours, don’t you?” Endo laughs as he greets Togame. He has always thought these gang uniforms are so silly.
“I take pride of being a part of Shishitoren. I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Well, duh. I don’t wanna understand either. I’m fine enough hanging around wherever Takiishi goes.” Endo sticks his tongue out and makes a fart sound. “I don’t do group sentimentalities and other gross shit like that.”
Togame only glares at him.
“Not much of a talker are ya.” Endo takes his time stepping down from the platform, his steps reverberating through the steel steps, down the cold concrete, until he is mere meters away from Togame.
Togame widens his stance, crouching in preparation. He usually prefers taking things slow, but something tells him prolonging his contact with this guy won’t do him any good. “Why don’t we just get this over with?”
“Fine by me.” Endo cracks his knuckles, a crazed smile lining his lips. Endo let Sakura win last time so that he may not lose the flames he witnessed in those pair of unique eyes. But because of that, a part of him naturally felt unsatiated. He’s been dying to fight to his heart’s desire without restraints. If he destroys this man right now in front of him to the point of ruin, there’s nothing to lose. Endo can go all out as much as he wanted. He plans to do as such.
For a moment, there is only silence as the two sides sized up one another.
Then Togame makes the first move, going for a hard tackle. Endo is caught in surprise; he didn’t expect Togame could move this fast. It seems his initial judgment of him is correct – he still has a lot of strength to show. Endo is pushed a step back, but he manages to hold himself upright.
Seeing that Endo didn’t fall, Togame swiftly changes gears and goes for an exchange of blows. Endo parries with him, their exchange forceful yet precise. Togame goes for another tackle. This time, Endo is prepared, countering with a knee. Togame, however, blocks it easily, as if he already knew it was coming, and simultaneously sneaks in a quick hook from the right, hitting Endo squarely on his face.
Endo staggers this time, blood staining the side of his mouth.
“Heh, I see now,” Endo wipes the blood away with the back of his hand as soon as he regains his balance, “If it’s you, I must go all out right from the start.”
“You should have done so from the beginning.”
“Then I won’t hold back anymore.”
With fighters of their caliber and strength, their exchange of fists and kicks dragged on almost without end. It became a test of endurance, in which neither of them was lacking either. Blood and sweat rained on the ground that they fought on, yet they remain on the battlefield, equally responding to each other’s hits.
At one point, Endo decides to give Togame a taste of his own medicine, crouching low and tackling him hard. It came unexpectedly as Togame is focused on blocking Endo’s punches. Togame loses his balance, falling to the ground hard with Endo on top of him. Togame’s breath gets knocked out of him. He was half-expecting for Endo to take advantage of this, but instead, the other guy remains crouched on top of him, his eyes wide with a peculiar expression as they stare at each other.
It takes a moment for Togame to recognize that look – it was thirst.
Endo licks his lips. With one hand, he pushes Togame’s left shoulder down, while the other snakes is way under Togame's shirt and up along his torso, his calloused palm leaving a trail of heat across his skin.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” Endo cranes his neck, his mouth curving up to a grin. “Such a shame you’re hiding this body underneath loose clothes, Togame. I would have noticed you sooner.”
Togame’s reaction is a mix of shock and reluctant acceptance. He remains still under Endo’s touch, unsure if it’s fatigue or something else making him compliant.
Endo seems to have sensed his thoughts as he echoes, “You can easily push me off if you don’t want this.”
Togame doesn’t speak, only defiantly stares back.
At that point, Endo realizes his instincts were right – Togame has a different type of flame in his eyes, and it’s not unlikeable either. It’s something only visible to those who look hard enough. And by gods, was he not lucky to have taken the chance?
It feels like another match has started, with both sides waiting for the perfect timing to attack.
In this instance, Togame makes the first move yet again.
He grabs the back of Endo’s neck and yanks him down with force, their mouths meeting in a frenzied kiss – in fact, he didn’t know if it couldn’t be said to be a kiss, it was a ravenous clash of pent-up frustrations and desire, like waves crashing into each other in a stormy sea. Gone are the concept of boundaries and space – there was only lips and mouth and teeth and tongue. They devoured each other until Togame was tasting blood, and even that did not stop Endo. It just made him hungrier, sucking Togame’s mouth harder, drinking him all in.
Togame didn’t have much experience in these kinds of things, he drives himself by instinct, but Endo makes up for all of that he lacks. His mouth and tongue moved in a way Togame didn’t know could be done, and it lights a fire from the pit of his stomach until it becomes a low growl within his throat. He grips harder at the back of Endo’s head, his fingers weaving into Endo’s hair, pulling him down as if to drown together with, until both of their jaws start aching.
Just as crashing waves cease until they only lap along the shore, Togame’s and Endo’s turbulent kisses slow into languid nibbles, their energy spent but desire still lingering.
Finally, Endo pulls himself away from Togame’s mouth and rests his head against the nook of his neck, catching his breath with a giddy smile on his face, inhaling the light scent of laundry soap emanating from Togame’s sweat-soaked clothes. Fuck, who knew this man would taste so good? “Damn, I’d really like to take you home right now.”
“Don’t press your luck.” Togame finally finds it in him to push Endo off. He still doesn't know what quite to feel. The matter of fact is that he reciprocated Endo's advances, initiated their kiss even. Maybe it's just a case of the body responding to its needs. There's no need to think too deeply about it.
To his surprise, Endo removes himself without complaint, laying down on the ground.
Endo props himself up so that he’s facing him, his raw knuckles supporting his bruising cheek. “There will be a rematch, of course.”
“Why do I have a feeling you will not take no for an answer?”
“I’m happy you already understand me at such a short time,” Endo grins, “Seems like we did have a fruitful conversation here.”
In the end, Endo couldn’t follow through with his plan. There wasn’t a clear winner or loser between their fight, what with Endo letting his instincts take over his mind. But that was fine, too. He found himself something fascinating yet again, and this time, the object of his fixation seems to be responding in kind.
If Togame’s hard to break, then there’s reason to keep coming back.
