Sousuke did this all the time. Itās beginning to infuriate Rin: just about every day they step outside and meet here, Sousuke forgets his matches or his lighter. Rin can only guess why the manās pockets are always empty besides a cigarette pack: perhaps he gets into fights every morning and the matches fall right out in the motions. Those scars of his - not to mention the leering in his eyes - do ask for trouble. Maybe he asks for it, Rin doesnāt know. All he does know, however, is that heād like Sousuke to stop.
Their meeting spot seemed to always be behind the school, near the tennis field. They would stand under a tree, one of them arriving later than the other habitually. The cigarettes would only be brandished once both men were accounted for, then, like all days previous, Sousuke would turn his head with a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips and ask
The first few times were innocent: āYeahā¦ā Rin would reach into his coat pocket and Sousuke steps toward him and brings up his hands to block the wind. Snap. Fire. Smoke. Chat lightly. Leave.
Today thereās decisive hesitation against Sousukeās question: āDo you have a lighter?ā Rin looked at him with a certain intensity that the average person would squirm under. Sousuke didnāt bat an eyelash, simply kept staring solemnly, waiting patiently for a yes or no.
"You do this every fucking day, you know that?" Rinās brows furrowed, his fingers curled tightly into fists, waiting for Sousuke to say something stupid like āI forgot them at home, silly me!ā But he didnāt. Instead he kept standing there, solid, as if he were built there; a stone monument. But then to Rinās surprise, the man was invading his space, a closeness that met the boundary of two cigarettes. Sousuke unbuttoned Rinās coat, opening one side and reaching in. Rin wanted to react, shove him off and leave but he found himself captivated, curious as to what the man would do next. A small matchebox hung between his index and thumb. A smirk met Sousukeās lips and before Rin could find his voice to protest, the man snatched a little red-tipped stick and strikes it. He tossed back the remains which failed to return to Rinās hands. The cigarette is lit and he breathed on the end of it. Angrily, Rin picked up the little box and returned it to his inner pocket, buttoning himself back up.
"It should be illegal the amount of times youāve asked me to light your damn cigarette." Sousuke glanced at him, still smirking. He took a puff and released it into the cold air.
"I would," he flicks the ashes into the wind "but youāre a dependable source."
"What the fuckās that meant to mean?"
Sousuke turned again, stepping toward Rin who stood still and expected the worst. The man crept closer into that same distance and puffed smoke from his nostrils. āEvery day,ā he licks his lips āWe meet here on our own tuition. I ask for a lighter, you light me up with a match. Every day you have a matchbox handy. Youāre dependable.ā
"That doesnāt explain why you donāt bring your own box." Rin protested, jaw clenched tightly. Sousuke chuckled and puffed another, eyeing the other man coldly.
"Do you not listen to things people tell you, Rin?" Sousuke raised an eyebrow, smiling, blowing smoke out the corner of his mouth "Cigarettes are expensive enough, ya? Youāre my go-to for a chance to feed my damned craving. Saves money this way."
"Is that all I am to you, then? A provider? Iām not some drugstore waiting to give you free shit."
Sousuke laughed and stood up straight, towering a good maybe five inches above Rin. āSo I take it youāre blind, too?ā The other man had confusion written all over his face. āHave you not noticed I get here after you? Have you not noticed I arrive with only smokes and you, matches? You hardly ever come here to smoke.ā
Rin found himself speechless. Anything heāll say now will be held against him: itās all true. Sometimes heāll ask Sousuke for a smoke but Rin never has a pack on his person. He was blindā¦
tangentwithtanner
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