#beautifulthief

“You’re looking for the impossible.” is what Momoi, ever practical and knowledgeable, says to him and Aomine stops listening right then. So much for Momoi helping him out.

His answer comes within a week of staying over at Kagami’s (who never invited him, but details, details) when he finally decides to answer one of Kise’s random, most probably annoying phone calls.

“Eh? Aominecchi doesn’t have a place to stay? You can stay with me!” Kise chirps, sounding quite happy and excited at the prospect of actually sharing living spaces with him, which is very different from all of Kagami’s grumbling and scowling. Now, he’s pretty sure it would be very taxing to be around Kise a lot given how Kise usually is but he’s desperate.

And besides, when Kise tells him how much (or rather how little) he has to pay for rent and how he practically doesn’t have to do any house chores, who is he to say no to such a sweet deal?

  2.

He should have said “no” but then Kise didn’t exactly fill him in on everything.

The apartment Kise lives in is very near his school and it’s more than comfortable. It’s located in one of those expensive condominium buildings and has four spacious bedrooms. He doesn’t have to share a bedroom with anyone and someone comes in three times a week to do all the cleaning.

Kise, however, never said anything about his roommates or their landlord.

His landlord greets him at the door when he comes in to start moving in and it’s someone Aomine never expects.

“Hello, Aomine-kun! It’s good to see you again.” Mibuchi Reo from Rakuzan greets him warmly, all pretty smiles and shiny sparkles that can rival Kise’s. Aomine almost flinches back from it. That is probably his cue to step away and run, never to come back, but he’s never been that good at taking cues like that. He’s deep into Mibuchi’s lecture on house rules (“--We’re going to have a meeting this Friday after you’ve settled in so we can talk kitchen duty--”) when it all sinks in.

“You’re my landlord.”

Mibuchi blinks at him and Aomine realizes he’s got those ridiculous kind of eyelashes too. What is it with these pretty people and sticking together? “Ryou-chan didn’t tell you?”

Aomine doesn’t get it. So apparently Mibuchi’s loaded (though maybe he could have gathered that given that he went to Rakuzan. It’s not exactly cheap to study there.), so why bother getting roommates at all?

“But I get so lonely here by myself.” Mibuchi sighs tragically as if all this space and luxury is such a tragedy to have. “And well, it’s always nice to have my own source of income. You just never know…”

Rich, crafty bastards.

  3.

Aomine meets the other roommate not that much later and he’s not surprised somehow that it’s Murasakibara’s team mate, the pretty one. There’s definitely something going on here and he doesn’t know if he wants in on it or not. Or if he already is and he’s got no way to escape. It’s actually a spine-tingling thought.

“It’s good to meet you, Aomine-kun.” Himuro Tatsuya smiles and then doesn’t stay long to chat, which is good because Aomine’s never really been good at chatting anyway.

Himuro pretty much leaves him alone to his own business unlike Mibuchi’s motherly hovering at times and Kise’s usual clingy perkiness. He’s not exactly his favorite room mate but he’s probably the closest to it.

  4.

Momoi finds it amusing when she finds out where he lives and who he’s living with. It’s expected but it still doesn’t make Aomine feel better about being faced with the truth of that prediction.

“At least I know you won’t starve and won’t end up living in your own filth.”

“Shut up.”

  5.

"Aomine-kun, I have a question." Aomine somehow has a feeling that he would regret this but he turns his head away from the game he's watching anyway. Behind him, Mibuchi is standing, delicate hands on his hips, looking serious as you please.

"Does this shirt make me look fat?" He holds up one of those hands, those well-manicured very deceitful hands, as a finger points up poignantly. "And don't lie. I can take it."

Beside him, he can feel that Himuro is listening and he hates the bastard right then because he has a feeling he's not going to be of any help. So much for thinking he's the least troublesome one of the bunch. Kise’s just been upgraded to his favorite room mate.

"Salmon is a good color on you, Reo-nee!" Kise pipes up suddenly, all glittering smiles and Aomine wants to kick him because God. No. That is not helping! Stupid Kise!

Reo-nee, Mibuchi, smiles back, all sweetness and light. "Oh, Ryou-chan, you're so sweet! But I'd really like to know what Aomine-kun thinks." And those eyes turn to him and Aomine doesn't wonder anymore why Mibuchi Reo has lived successfully under the Reign of the Red Emperor. Those eyes are dangerous and even Akashi would be wary of them.

"...You look fine." His voice sounds like it's coming from miles away but he thinks he sounds fine. Not sarcastic, not harsh, though a part of him feels that it's still not enough.

And that terrifying tenseness that he only really gets from dealing with Satsuki on PMS settles on his shoulders and limbs when Mibuchi stares at him and only stares at him in utter stillness. You can hear a fucking pin drop despite the cheering from the large TV.

"Fine?" The word is bland and it sounds worse coming from Mibuchi's lips and said in Mibuchi's usually more musical tones. "Just fine?”

“Uh…”

Yes, he’s doomed.

  6.

"...Senpai?"

Nijimura Shuuzo, former captain of the ever-victorious Teiko Middle School Basketball Team and prodigal senpai, takes a moment to stare back at Aomine when he answers the door.

"Aomine?"

It takes a few seconds more of staring between the two of them, both probably startled at the unexpected meeting and flashbacking to that most memorable dekopin, before Aomine decides to break the ice.

"Hey."

No one said he's good at it. Nijimura's not known for his savvy at small talk either so it shouldn't be a surprise when what comes out of his mouth is not a nice, pleasant "How are you?"

"Is Tatsuya home?" Straight, direct to the point. That's Nijimura standing there all right. But--

Tatsuya?

"Who--"

"Ah, Shuu. You're early." The unmistakable voice of Himuro comes up behind him and Aomine takes a moment to remember that Himuro's first name is--

"--SHUU??"

Nijimura gives Aomine an unimpressed look while Aomine's brain tries so hard to catch up and he resists the urge to flinch back instinctively at that look. That look is equivalent to his old captain’s dekopins, piercing and painful. "You're still as loud as ever." He gives no care at all to Aomine's gaping and focuses all of his attention to Himuro who's still there, smiling at him oh so pleasantly. For some reason, that smile makes Aomine want to gag and reel back at the same time. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah." Himuro confirms with a nod before he turns to Aomine. "I'll be a bit late. Tell Mibuchi-san and Ryouta that I'm out with Shuu." Then that smile kicks up a notch in a way that says Himuro finds this situation very amusing. "Or Nijimura-san, if you're more comfortable with that."

"S-senpai..." Aomine manages to say and could only nod as Himuro walks past him and takes Nijimura Shuuzo, one of Teiko's own and finest, by the arm and leaves.

The hallway is quiet after Himuro and Nijimura take their leave and Aomine still stares, his mind reeling.

"...What the fuck was that?!"

  7.

"Did you know about Himuro and Nijimura-senpai?"

"Of course I did." Mibuchi says as he stirs something in a bowl. Aomine's tried to sneak a taste but Mibuchi's as sharp and fast as ever. His hand sort of hurts now. "They met in the States."

"Oh." Aomine manages because what else is he supposed to say? That it felt like seeing Dad cheating on Mom because yeah, that's not weird at all.

"Sei-chan will be fine."

"...Huh?"

Aomine finds himself staring for the nth time that day but this time at Mibuchi who is smiling but looking far too pleased with himself. Again, he gets that feeling that he's at the verge of something here but before he's able to connect the dots, Mibuchi's smile becomes more cheerfulness and light rather than its former state of contented glee.

"And you'll take care of Ryou-chan, won't you, Aomine-kun?"

"...Huh?"

"You're so cute." Mibuchi titters and Aomine leans back a little because somehow he can sense that he's reaching to pinch his cheek. Instead, Mibuchi holds out a spoon with some of his delicious-smelling batter. "Here, have a treat."

He knows he's missing something but he'll let it slide for now. You can say what you want about Mibuchi but he's great at making sweet stuff that Aomine actually likes and that takes talent. So he'll take the spoon and focus on that for now.

  8.

Aomine arrives home one Friday evening to the sight of what must be a slumber party. Mibuchi, Kise and Himuro are all camped out in the living room in actual pajamas (except for Himuro who is in a tshirt instead of a pajama top because Himuro apparently does what he wants) with a pile of junk food and a drama's playing on the large TV. He's just about to try and make his escape when someone calls out,

"Dai-chan! You're here!"

He freezes because there's no escaping now so a moment later, he sighs, shoulders hunching and he turns.

"Dai-chaaaaan~"

He ignores the teasing, toothy grins on thankfully facemask-free faces and focuses on the original greeter.

"Yo."

Momoi is in the middle of the pretty boy harem pile and looking right at home in her soft pink pajamas and braided hair.

"Dai-chan, come join us! Mibuchi-san's made cookies, Ki-chan brought ice cream and Himuro-san is telling me what to do about that stalker I told you about!"

Aomine's eyebrow ticks. "That freak's still followin' you around?"

Momoi waves her hand like she's got it covered. "Himuro-san told me what I should do." Then she sighs, smiling blissfully as she looks around her, at her beautiful boys and all the sparkle and spice that come with them. "I wish I lived here too."

"You should, Momocchi!"

"We can make room!"

"Yeah, I think you'd be safer if you stayed here with us."

"No. No! No way!" And not for the first time, Aomine regrets giving into Kise's puppy dog eyes and the promise of dirt cheap rent.

  9.

Aomine's not usually a light sleeper but for some reason that night, he wakes up when he hears his bedroom door open. Squinting against the sliver of light that comes in from the hallway, he tries to make out who it is standing there.

"...Kise?"

The person by the door jumps, tense, but then seems to relax and Kise speaks up guiltily,

"I'm sorry for waking you, Aominecchi."

Aomine sighs as he lies on his side, awake now. It's rare to find Kise standing by his door in the middle of the night so there must be a good reason for it.

"Yeah. What's up?"

Kise seems to hesitate before he continues, "I can't sleep."

Silence. The seconds trickle on, the silence between them not exactly awkward but not exactly comfortable either. Aomine lets out another sigh and wonders why he's not just telling Kise to go away so he can try and go back to sleep.

"C'mere."

"What?" It's kind of hard to see but somehow he can make out the widening of Kise's eyes and the surprised look on his face.

"I said come here." He says again. "And close the door behind you."

The door is closed quietly and it's not long before Kise's sitting at the edge of his bed, looking unsure about what he's doing there. Aomine's not sure either but he's there already. Contrary to how he acts, he actually sees Kise as one of the few people closest to him and he does care about him. You don't go around punching jerks for people you don't care about, right? Right. Well, punching jerks are easier than this, too. Aomine wracks his brain for anything good to say but in the end, he literally goes with his gut.

"...You hungry?"

Kise looks at him for a moment and shakes his head, smiling a little like he's amused that Aomine of course thinks about food first. "No."

"You sure? Aren't you on that diet thing again?"

"...Well, maybe a little."

Aomine watches Kise pick at his blanket absently before he makes a decision and decides to act on it before he can second guess himself. "Let's go."

Those eyes are wide again and it's kind of weird to see that bewildered expression on Kise's face. But as usual, he looks pretty doing it. "Where are we going?"

By then, Aomine's managed to get out of bed and is looking around for a clean pair of pants and the hoodie he wore the afternoon before. "To that 24-hour dimsum place down the street. They've got this really good pork and century egg congee thing. Maybe that's what you need right now. Something hot and comforting in your stomach."

After he's gotten his hoodie on, he looks up to find Kise still staring at him, looking at him like he's never seen him before. It's 2 in the morning and somehow, that's reason enough for him not to feel awkward under that stare.

"Are you coming or what?"

The question seems to make Kise snap out of it and make him move. "Yeah. Okay." He stands up and starts making his way out the door. "I'll see you in a minute in the living room."

Twenty minutes later, they're sitting in the 24-hour dimsum place and Aomine's started on his third serving of pork and shrimp dumplings. Across him, Kise is blowing carefully at a spoonful of hot, savory congee before putting the spoon by his lips to start eating. He lets out a happy little hum.

Aomine smirks, "Good, right? What'd I tell ya?"

Kise looks up at him and finally, finally smiles, that dorky, happy smile that Aomine prefers to see. "Yeah. Just what I needed."

Sometimes, living in that apartment isn't so bad, especially when it's easy enough to make its inhabitants happy if you know how.

  10.

Aomine opens the door to find himself subjected to a bright grin the likes of which usually blind him enough while inside this very apartment.

“Hey, it’s Aominecchi! Is Kise home?”

He closes the door in Takao Kazunari’s face and turns around to go back to sleep.