Tatsumayo fic: Locks (Between My Fingertips)
General audiences, fluff, mentions of Christianity (Tatsumi)
~1.3k words
Summary:
"Would you like me to dry your hair?" Tatsumi suddenly offers. He himself is surprised at the words.
"N-no, I am capable of doing it myself-! I don’t want to get my filth on you!"
Tatsumi lets out another awkward chuckle, his brow wrinkling. "Mayoi-san, I want to." He truly does, he realizes. Mayoi's hair is very silky and smooth, it's evident that he takes good care of it.
"I, um..." Mayoi fidgets with more fervor now. "I g-guess you may..."
--
Tatsumi stops by Mayoi's dorm to try to ease him into interacting with him.
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Tatsumi had always found Mayoi to be a gorgeous person, even when he had merely caught slight glimpses of his face. But as he got the opportunity to interact with him more, he started to notice less obvious things, such as the way his cheekbones flush a wonderfully rosy pink as he denies a compliment he thinks he doesn't deserve and the way his face lights up around his juniors.
It was endearing, really. Tatsumi had grown up being taught that every living being was fearfully and wonderfully made, and Mayoi's unfortunate inferiority complex was a chance to spread this teaching. However, it was proving difficult to get him to believe it despite the constant flow of reassurances made towards him. Mayoi remains skittish, even now.
Mayoi refuses to accept compliments and sees himself as an unholy creature. Tatsumi wants to fix this, which means that he must devote time to spend with him. Not that he minds at all. Part of him is desperate to be around Mayoi, for reasons he can't quite place.
The perfect situation has arisen, though, after the members of ALKALOID were moved to separate dorms: Mayoi's roommate, Tomoya Mashiro was out for some event that Ra*bits was performing at. This allows Tatsumi to interact with Mayoi outside of practice while not disturbing his peers (though Mayoi has mentioned a lack of interaction with his roommate, it seems to Tatsumi that the both of them are too awkward to try to work things out.)
The only problem is that Mayoi did not know that Tatsumi plans to visit. This becomes evident when he knocks on the door, earning a high-pitched yelp of surprise from inside the dorm. Tatsumi lets out a concerned laugh, then speaks. "Mayoi-san? It's just me, Tatsumi," he reassures softly, yet with enough volume to be heard. "May I come in?"
After several drawn-out seconds of fumbling on the inside, a very disheveled-looking Mayoi peeks through the crack of the door with wide, questioning eyes. His long, damp hair was hastily tied in a messy bun. The little locks of hair dripped water on his dark grey v-neck, indicating that Tatsumi had most likely walked in while Mayoi was drying off. Mayoi's sputtering draws Tatsumi out of his train of thought. "T-Tatsumi-san! I am so sorry for appearing so indecent, I-"
"No need to worry about it, you are not indecent." Tatsumi offers him a warm smile.
Mayoi opens the door, then takes a few hesitant steps back to allow Tatsumi to enter the dorm after removing his shoes. He mumbles a few incoherent things before looking back at Tatsumi, then shrinks away from the eye contact he had accidentally made.
"Would you like me to dry your hair?" Tatsumi suddenly offers. He himself is surprised at the words.
"N-no, I am capable of doing it myself-! I don’t want to get my filth on you!"
Tatsumi lets out another awkward chuckle, his brow wrinkling. "Mayoi-san, I want to." He truly does, he realizes. Mayoi's hair is very silky and smooth, it's evident that he takes good care of it.
"I, um..." Mayoi fidgets with more fervor now. "I g-guess you may..."
Tatsumi smiles, placing his hand on the small of Mayoi's back, and guides him to his bed. Mayoi's bed was made neatly, and the red and gold embroidered blanket draped smoothly over the mattress. "I know where the hair dryer is kept, please sit down." Mayoi offers him a hesitant nod before watching tatsumi walk off.
All the Seishou Hall dorms were structured similarly, and Tatsumi assumed that the hairdryer in this dorm would have been stored in the same place as it was in his own dorm that he shared with Koga Ogami. He was correct, fortunately. He pulls the hair dryer out of the drawer, the cord neatly coiled about the handle.
Tatsumi finds Mayoi still perched on the bed, perking up upon seeing Tatsumi. After plugging the cord into the outlet, he kneels on the bed behind Mayoi and unclips his bun, allowing the damp hair to cascade down his back. Tatsumi then turns the dryer on warm so that he won't burn Mayoi's scalp or ears.
Mayoi relaxes into the warm air, letting out an audible sigh of euphoria. Tatsumi gently threads his fingers through his hair, which causes a slight jolt from Mayoi accompanied by a soft whimper. "Relax, Mayoi-san, you know I don't intend to harm you."
"S-sorry."
After Mayoi's body relaxes again, Tatsumi resumes gently combing out his hair with his fingers, separating out thin layers to dry it more efficiently.
Tatsumi turns the hair dryer off after gently finishing the roots. He notices the sleek deep gray ribbon on the nightstand, prompting him to ask about it.
“I assume you would braid your hair to protect it from breaking, yes?”
“Yes, and to keep it out of my face,” Mayoi replies softly. “Is there a reason you asked?” He looks back at Tatsumi, still visibly nervous. The angle accentuates the mole under his lower lip. Tatsumi wonders how Mayoi might react to it being touched. He flushes as he realizes that he ought not to be having these kinds of thoughts.
“Well, I was curious,” Tatsumi chuckles, reaching for the ribbon. “Would you allow me to try it?”
“I think it’s fine if you do…” The hesitation in Mayoi’s voice is subtle, but Tatsumi doesn’t comment on it. He figures that Mayoi is still adjusting to the sensation of being touched. This will be good for him.
Tatsumi begins to detangle Mayoi’s hair, and now that it’s dry, he can feel just how soft and healthy it is. He separates it into 3 sections and then begins to intertwine them through his fingers. Mayoi’s eyes flutter shut as he does so, seemingly finding comfort in the sensation. Tatsumi can’t stop the smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth upon noticing this.
Tatsumi then finishes the braid, which is loose but still neat. He secures it with the ribbon tied in a little bow, then pats Mayoi’s shoulders to signal that he’s done.
Mayoi turns to face him. “T-thank you, Tatsumi-san.” Mayoi’s slender fingers trace the braid, letting it fall over his right shoulder. His eyes sparkle slightly with a sense of flusteredness.
“It’s no problem, I enjoyed spending time with you.” Tatsumi rises to his feet. “Well, it’s getting late, so I ought to let you rest.” He begins to walk away.
But Mayoi grabs his hand. He pulls Tatsumi a little closer, then suddenly presses a hasty and brief peck to his lips. Upon realizing what he’s done, Mayoi nearly trips as he shuffles backward, letting out some incoherent apologies that Tatsumi isn’t processing due to his shock.
“I’m sorry! You must hate me, this goes against your religion, doesn’t it?! Aah, I’m such a horrid, filthy bug!”
“I-It’s quite alright…I’m not upset,” Tatsumi stammers. He doesn’t know what to do. He’d grown up being taught that such an act would be a sin, but he didn’t feel upset. In fact, Tatsumi quite liked it.
But this didn’t mean Mayoi was any less distraught. He takes his hands, his thumbs gently gliding over the back of them. Mayoi gives him a wide-eyed stare. “I’m not angry,” he reassures. “Listen to me, okay?” Tatsumi’s tone is soft and comforting. “While I need some time to process, I’m not outright rejecting you. I do not think God would want his followers to reject anyone because they are different.”
“Okay,” Mayoi replies breathily. He’s no longer trembling, which gladdens Tatsumi.
“And I would love to do this again. I find comfort in taking care of you.”
Mayoi blushes more than he already was. Tatsumi loves seeing this, the color brilliantly compliments Mayoi’s eye color. It makes him look delicate.
“I’ll see you tomorrow at practice.” An impulsive kiss is pressed to Mayoi’s forehead, which causes another bout of sputtering to erupt behind Tatsumi as he departs with a smile.
