Umbrella Thief
Day 4 Prompt: Lost/Found SFW “It’s not here? Oh hell” Daichi looked about the restaurant helplessly. It was a new umbrella too, one of the prettiest he’d owned- bright yellow with daisy prints on it. He sighed in some defeat, thanked the waiter and left. It was his own fault really, he’d only just remembered that he’d forgotten it here the next day. He’d had dinner at The Grizzly Cove the night before, a simple meal for one- roast beef, a side of potatoes, the usual. He came here often enough, he didn’t live far from the place and he liked to eat out now and then just to treat himself. The worst part of this? It was raining on and off for the past week and he really did need an umbrella. Daichi looked up at the cloudy sky and sighed yet again, deciding he ought to buy a new one right away before he headed home. Who would steal a goddamn umbrella.. He kicked at the pavement, grumbling like a child who’d just had his ice cream knocked out of his hand. Just as he rounded a corner, he saw a store that had a sale on umbrellas- Perfect. This time he’d get some boring monocolor umbrella, he thought to himself, a big frown on his face. He needed time to mourn his daisies, he couldn’t set about trying to find a replacement right away. Wouldn’t feel right. As he made his way through the store- it was evening time, and the clouds looked about ready to burst any second. But just as he found himself by the bin of umbrellas- he saw that it was empty, the sign with the big Pooh bear on it winking at him in a cheeky way, cruel almost, with his own yellow umbrella and rain-boots on. The man wasn’t having the greatest day so far. And to make matters worse, just as he stepped outside the store- Heavy. Pouring. Rain. Sawamura Daichi turned the collar of his jacket up and zipped it up to his neck. Sticking his hands in the pockets, he grumbled some more and walked along the pavement under the awning till he got to the bus stop. What a downpour it was- sending most pedestrians scurrying inside shops or under awnings. Except for the ones with their umbrellas. Of course. Well, he’d just have to buy one soon- maybe order one online. He stepped onto the bus that had arrived- it would just be 2 stops till home. As he paid his fare and settled down in a seat next to the window, he saw him. A man with sharp, messy black hair, a black coat, facing away from him as he walked out of a café on the opposite side of the road. The rain didn’t seem to faze him, reaching behind him to take out his umbrella. A yellow umbrella. A yellow umbrella with daisies on it. Daichi’s eyes bugged out of his sockets when he saw it open- the man walking down the street and away from him, with HIS umbrella. “O I – HE Y hey-“, he began practically yelling at the man, the thief, through the glass like he could hear him. The passengers on the bus frowned, but he didn’t care- that was HIS GODDAMN UMBRELLA. He stood up from his seat, his eyes fixed on his umbrella floating in the air as he made his way to the doors of the bus. It was carrying him away from it- his umbrella, his precious daisies- He couldn’t see it anymore- the man was getting into a cab just as Daichi was stumbling to the doors and demanding to be let out. And just like that, he missed his chance. His umbrella was gone again. Stolen by this.. this- Goddammit.
He was willing to put it out of his mind- after about a week of tossing and turning in bed plotting revenge. He might have even had a dream about the thief- his profile and a nasty smile on his face as he floats away with his umbrella like Mary Poppins. But today was going to be a good day, Little Women was finally out in theatres. Well, just the one cinema that was screening it. And that suited him just fine. He was sitting in the movie hall with a big tub of popcorn for himself. There were hardly 50 people in here with him, scattered all over the hall- the row two rows down from him was full, but the rest of the hall was mostly empty. He settled back in his seat as the movie started up. Daichi’s eyes wandered to that row several times- to the seat directly in his line of sight. He wasn’t quite sure why. The fellow had wild looking hair, sticking up every which way, made it look funny against the screen- and he kept leaning to his left to.. o h O h.. Oh for fuck’s sake, it was a public.. theatre.. He didn’t have to be chewing this girl’s ear off right in the middle of the park scene. It was distracting as hell. Daichi could just make out the smile on his face in the dark. That smile. Something very, strangely familiar about it. It had him feeling uneasy, shifting in his seat and trying to look back at the screen. And that’s when he saw it- the man shifted closer to his date, revealing by his knee.. an unmistakeably bright, yellow umbrella. Daichi’s neck nearly snapped, the way it shot forward to peer at it in the dark. Daisies. He could make out the pattern- white daisies all over it though it was folded closed. It was him, the man in black, the thief the- Oh his blood was boiling. The gall of him to come to his special movie night and taunt him with his long, lost umbrella. With his date too, poor thing probably had no idea of his criminal past. Oh he was going to get it now, he was going to snatch it right up from his hands. He would wait for the movie to end, and walk right up to him and ask him what the hell. But, fate have it, the credits began to roll and everyone seemed to be in a rush to get outside. This man with his annoyingly tall body and his very long legs- he was rushing out first, his date under his arm and pulling out HIS umbrella. No NO NO NO Daichi runs now, leaping down the steps, his muscles straining as he reaches the lobby of the theatre to find that they were gone. His umbrella, lost again. Taken by him.
Again. Daichi gives it another week- no, two- his eyes peeled for the man with HIS umbrella every time he walks down the street. Was it destiny then? That he should get his umbrella back? That he should slap his wrist and pry apart the fingers of the sinewy hand that clutched at its yellow handle. Goddammit.
This time, it was out of his mind. He’d been looking at new umbrellas online. Peonies, carnations, and yes, even daisies again. The tab was open on his browser all week, the check-out button waiting to be clicked. But somehow he couldn’t do it. He needed more time. And that was okay, he thought. He’d managed to stay clear of the rain for a while now, it wasn’t an urgent need. He was going to a little concert today, something he’d seen advertised on home-made posters on his street. A small event no doubt, happening at a sponsor’s home. Seating and tickets would be sold as you arrive- and Daichi fancied a nice cello performance, drinking punch in paper cups.. He liked this sort of thing, quiet, pretty music, and a good way to unwind after a busy week at work. Of course, when he arrived and bought his ticket, he sat right at the back with his cup of punch and waited for the room to fill. It was a small enough room to be full, maybe 30 people at best. The musicians began their performance- two cellists and one violinist. He smiled as he closed his eyes, letting the notes hit him softly as they came. He sipped his punch as he listened. When he opened his eyes, he saw him. The man, clear as day, sitting two rows down from his, whispering animatedly to the person on his left. Daichi blinked his eyes several times, watching his hair, the way it fell over his face, his strong jawline- yep, it was the same guy. And sure enough, right there by his knee, his beloved yellow daisied umbrella. This was it, this was his chance, heaven ordained. Daichi was not about to let go of it, standing up mid-concert, fuelled by the punch and making his way to his row. “Excuse me- sorry- excuse me- sorry”, whispered through the air as the man, clearly vexed, made his way to the centre of the row. His back was bent painfully so he could look this fucker right in the face- “H ey- that’s my umbrella” No answer. His head was turned away from him, his stupid, soft hair flopping as he nodded to the man he was so deeply engaged in conversation with. “O I I’m talking to you-“ Thankfully, the other guy alerted him to his presence, though Daichi could’ve sworn he was ignoring him on purpose. His face when he turned around, looked even more deadly, the thief looked up at him, his sharp gold eyes narrowing and brows knitting in confusion. “Th is-“, Daichi aggressively pointed at his precious article, “Is m y umbrella” The fellow tilted his head at him, like a damn puppy. “O h? Is it? It’s a great umbrella!” All of this whispered back and forth between them while 25 other people frowned at them- Daichi was suddenly very conscious of himself, shaking his head and jerking his thumb behind him for the guy to follow. He watched him being all sweet to the man, giving him a reassuring smile and pat on his thigh. He could’ve sworn that hand lingered. With a distinctly sour taste in his mouth, Daichi led the way outside, and stood underneath the awning overlooking the street, pouring just outside of it. His arms were crossed across his broad chest as he stared down, uh- up at this jackass. “What’s the big idea huh- you stole that umbrella right out of The Grizzly Cove- that’s M Y umbrella bub”, This was no time for civility. No way. Sawamura Daichi might’ve even glared at him. But it didn’t seem to faze him in the least- the man put a hand up to the back of his neck, giving the sweetest, sheepish grin. Was that a blush..? “I’m so sorry! I just really needed an umbrella and had been putting it off for a while, so I uh- took it I guess- pretty thing-“ “Yes I know it’s pretty-“, he shot back at him. Clearly, at a loss for words and staring at his feet angrily. Well, that was that, the man held the umbrella out to its true owner with a smile. A genuine smile it seemed like, one of repentance. Good. He ought to repent. Daichi took it from him, happily curling his fingers around the familiar handle- he smiled down at it, then looked up to see several people exiting from behind him. He’d missed the end of the concert. Oh well, he wasn’t bothered. He was reunited with his umbrella, and it was looking up to be a great day. Daichi nodded at the man, thinking it better to not tell him just how many times he’s bumped into him since the past month. What was there to say really- it was some kind of mad coincidence. “Didn’t think I’d.. find you- IT- again..”, he mumbled at him. “Oh I had no idea somebody was looking for it!”, he said with another warm smile and looked out into the street. “You uh- leaving?” “Yep yeah- cheers then-“, Daichi nodded at him softly and stepped out from under the awning, the pouring rain that did not touch him, that made a perfect arc around him, owing to his pretty yellow umbrella. Life was good again. He took a few steps ahead, and then stopped. . .
.
A slow turn around revealed to his eyes, a very awkward looking ex-umbrella thief, standing just shy of the curtain of rain and watching him with- an uncomfortable grimace. “Right, get in-“ “Thank you..” “Do I drop you to a bus-stop? Car?” “I was thinking a bite to eat actually, The Grizzly Cove?” Daichi looked up at him, and he figured, he ought to huff, grumble, give him the ugliest look he could muster. But instead, he smiles and looks away. “The name’s Kuroo- your humble umbrella thief-“ “Sawamura- and you’re buying..”