[Fanfiction Dump]

measuring time · [Fanfiction Dump]

Since I am totally caught up in my own writing and fanfiction writing wasn't doing a thing for me, except providing a non-beneficial outlet, I have stopped.

I've been "sober" for about four(?) months now.
-shrugs-

Anyway, this is one collection of drabbles/etc. that I called: The Office Saga. As suggested, it describes the small details that happen in the everyday work hours/after hours of the Yami no Matsuei cast.

===
Title: A (Not so) Scientific Loss of Composure
Time: Friday at noon.
Location: Watari's ever-so combustible lab.
Characters: Watari, Tatsumi, 003.
Pairing(s): Implied Tatari.
===

Tatsumi exhaled heavily, watching with the vaguest curiosity as Watari carefully reset his skewed glasses.
"You were saying about composure?" His eyes were bright, and he gathered his hair back into it's band like shifting rays of sunshine.
Amid the chaotic disarray of the laboratory, Tatsumi smoothed his brown suit and fixed his loosened tie,
"Try not to do this again," His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument as he absently shifted a shattered beaker away with the toe of his shoe, "your salary may have to be cut severely in order to compensate for the damages."

003 hooted indignantly from her perch on the far window. Watari, however, never looked away,
"...Is tomorrow around noon a sufficient grace period?" The inquiry was off-handed, Tatsumi permitted him to assist him with his cuff links, his fingertips oddly smooth and warm.

Tatsumi considered, if only for a moment, expression relaxing just by the smallest of degrees,
"It sounds like a reasonable deal, I shall see you at noon tomorrow, then."

Watari beamed.

Tatsumi always knew a good bargain when he saw one.

===
Title: The Advantages of Dying Air Conditioners
Time: 3:00 pm, Saturday.
Location: The office of Idiot and Bon.
Characters: Hisoka, Tsuzuki, brief mentioning of Tatsumi.
Paring(s): Implications of Tsusoka.
===

Hisoka is fading, slowly and surely before the heat and humidity of a summer storm.

It rattles the windows ominously, and he finds it hard to work. The papers are sticking to his hands like a second skin, ink smearing and running like oil down his wrist.
"Did you try kicking it?" He suggests, his voice is weak and he inwardly cringes; he feels as though the office is becoming a gradually filling aquarium and he is slowly losing air. Sweat is beading just above his temples, and he fights the urge to roll up his sleeves.

It takes a moment for Tsuzuki to look up from the stalled air conditioner, but when he does, his eyelashes are matted and his bangs are plastered almost artistically to forehead. His smile is groggy, lazy.
"The last time I kicked, we had to replace it." He twists a red wire in his fingertips, he notices the wavering glare. He stifles a laugh, if not for the florid coloration of Hisoka's cheeks, but the manner in which he looks like a distempered cat.

There is short silence, before the wind picks up again.

Hisoka rolls his eyes, setting down his pen and turning to face him directly. He says nothing, so Tsuzuki takes the opportunity with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders,
"Maybe you could take off the over shirt?" He wipes his fingers idly on the leg of his pants, marking them with ashy dust and distilled water. There is something suggestive about this, and Hisoka scowls. It is too warm to get wound up,

"This isn't an over shirt, idiot." He shifts uncomfortably, awkwardly folding his arms over his chest. He taps his foot, after a moment, as though awaiting an alternative.

Tsuzuki's eyes lower temporarily as he turns his attention back to the air conditioner, prying the old filter free with a good deal of struggle. There is a vague sense of his frustration that seeps under his skin like a fire to a drying forest. He watches as he places the filter down besides him and cautiously studies him as he raises his head.

"Well, it's just me ~ I won't tell anyone if you suddenly decide to go half---"

---

From the break room, Tatsumi does not look up from his notes as screams errupt from the left-wing, followed by cries declaring abuse and "MEAN" and "'SOKA-CHAN!".

===
Title: Office Nazis
Time: 10:12 AM, Sunday
Location: The office of idiot and Bon.
Character(s): Tsuzuki, Hisoka, Terazuma, and Wakaba.
Pairing(s): It is rather general.
Summary: What Tsuzuki and Terazuma do to pass the time. >>;
===

He is under fire.

Tsuzuki ducks expertly, rolling his paperwork into a perfect ball. It is a grenade, it is a bomb, it is a beautiful thing as he throws it; he watches it as it soars in the perfectly guided arc he sees so often in movies. In the hall, Terazuma skitters off to the right.
"Bastard!" Tsuzuki barks, Terazuma sneers. Tsuzuki takes this as the perfect opportunity and hurls another in his direction. Hisoka rolls his eyes as his idiotic partner howls in victory as it clips one of Terazuma's pointed ears.

"ASSHOLE!" Is the predictable bellow, the sound of numerous "weapons" whiz past Hisoka's head in response. Tsuzuki is growling low in throat as cocky laughter spills past Terazuma's lips, Hisoka does not need to look up from his book to know he has been "hit".

The sudden crumpling of several sheets of his own paperwork is enough to direct his attention, though.
"GO BACK TO YOUR DOG HOUSE!"

Hisoka pins his partner quickly with a glare to rival Tatsumi's, but the throw has already occurred. Terazuma has failed to notice as he fires a misdirected and rather delayed paper ball.

Both freeze, completely horrified, as it strikes the back of Hisoka's head.

Tsuzuki impulsively apologizes and Terazuma backs off a pace, but Hisoka is already on his feet.

From the hallway, Wakaba pauses as she sees Hisoka threateningly point his index finger in Terazuma's direction and roar,
"GET AWAY FROM MY OFFICE! I'LL TOUCH YOU! YOU THROW ONE MORE DAMN PAPER BALL AND I WILL TOUCH YOU. DO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING?"

By now, Terazuma has stumbled backwards into the wall and Tsuzuki is cowering behind his desk, knowing he's next. Wakaba decides it is best for her partner to run while he still has the chance and signals him away, he gladly following her lead as Hisoka rounds on his own partner, leaning over the small space between their desks, "AND YOU! THAT WAS MY PAPERWORK, YOU IDIOT! MY PAPERWORK! I AM NEVER LENDING YOU MY MONEY EVER AGAIN!"

However, Terazuma and Wakaba have already progressed too far down the hall to hear the end of it. She is certain it will turn out just fine in a few moments, that is, unless, Tsuzuki has failed to pick up a decent air conditioner this morning. Hisoka was rather upset about that...

But, she turns to Terazuma with a winning smile, curious as he shakes his head,
"At least I don't work with an office Nazi."

Wakaba nervously giggles. It's a little late, but the retort too great to let pass.

measuring time

Continued:

===
Title: You Owe Me One
Time: 3:40 PM, Sunday
Location: Idiot and Bon's office.
Characters: Hisoka, Tsuzuki.
Pairing(s): The same ol' same ol'.
===

There is a coolness just beyond his fingertips as he slowly awakens.
In the oppressive humidity, he had been lulled into sleep with a guiding hand; the faint scratching of Hisoka's pen, the unrelenting heat of a summer weather wave.

He can remember as he was drifting, Hisoka's limp hair clinging to his cheeks in such a way it almost framed his eyes, the harsh trill of imagined cicadas, each and every liquid sigh that was hot and unbearable upon the nape of his neck.

However, he does not recall Hisoka slipping from the office amid the scorching sun of high noon. He does not recall his almost fond (fond was not a word for Hisoka to use. Accustomed was appropriate in such delicate situations as these) fingers mimicking the brushing back of his bangs, nor does he remember the odd quirk of his lips (not a smile, no, but getting there) as he somehow slumped over even further in his sleepy protest. (The touch of a hand, no matter how familiar, was often unwelcome in such weather.)

Now, though, he lets his eyes focus as he straightens his back; his bones creak in a definite form of complaint and he supposes that he is "getting old", as Hisoka tends to point out when he is particularly sentimental. (He should not be bent in such a dramatic manner over his desk, he has often said. If not because he was drooling on his paperwork, but stretching his arms out of his "boundaries". Hisoka likes his personal space just a little too much, really.)

It takes him a moment to register that Hisoka is absent and he can feel a creeping anxiety as he turns to look over his shoulder...just in case he was coming back. He knows and knows often to expect these things, but today was slightly different. Hisoka does not do well in such high temperatures. Despite himself, his imagination runs with a thousand possibilities of what could occur. (He is partner, but Hisoka would probably hit him for worrying like this.)

"It's a good thing my hands are full, then."

Tsuzuki nearly topples out of his chair from whipping around much too fast. He beams, and much to his relief, Hisoka does not sound particularly exasperated as he steps in (as opposed to earlier this morning, that is). He shuts the door behind him with the nudge of his foot and Tsuzuki realizes for the first time as he turns to face him, that he holds two iced coffees in his hands. He hasn't the chance to even open his mouth before Hisoka grumbles, "You owe me one."

He is quick to accept the drink as Hisoka hands it to him, relishing the feeling of coolness that spreads instantly through his fingertips,
"Sankyuu ~ "

Hisoka's eyes do not glance in his direction as he takes his seat across from him, shrugging his shoulders absently in response,
"Don't get used to it." There is a pleasant flush along his cheekbones which brightens as Tsuzuki ruffles his hair, it does not come as a surprise when Hisoka shoves away his hand (if a little hesitantly), "This only because you somehow managed to miraculously get the air conditioning working without electrocuting yourself."

Tsuzuki just grins knowingly as he takes a sip of his coffee, discovering it is just to his taste,
"You're welcome."

And though he cannot see the expression on Hisoka's face, as he has already settled back into his work, he knows he is just slightly embarrassed by his own gesture of gratitude in the way he fumbles, for just a brief a moment, with his pen.

===
Title: Medicated Conversation
Time: 5:32 PM, Monday
Location: Watari's Laboratory.
Characters: Watari, Hisoka, 003.
Pairing(s): N/A.
Summary: Often times, it is difficult to start conversation.
===

The Venetian blinds are staggered, and Hisoka's eyes cannot seem to adjust themselves to the din.
Watari's laboratory smells of ash and ammonia, of age and machines. The mechanics whirr faithfully in background, vials clinking rhythmically as Watari's fingers pass over them; their liquid swirling restlessly.

"I'm sure it's here," He mutters absently. He squints to read labels, all faded and yellowed from years before Hisoka had ever arrived at the Ministry. (He is just another grain in the hourglass that is the Meifu; he feels miniscule and insubstantial when he thinks of how many have gone and went, shifting like the ghosts they are, their existence losing color with the dust showered from the unrelenting hand of time.)

However, 003 hoots lulling from her position on his knee and he becomes distracted; he can feel the pause as Watari stops to listen.

She is small, fragile, and warm as he gathers her carefully into his palm, faintly anxious as he strokes the smooth feathers of her bust with the back of his thumb. (He can feel the tiny heart beating through her brittle ribs, frantic and dizzying.) Watari is smiling (softly and distantly, hopefully) and it is audible as he speaks, "She's missed you, Bon."

Hisoka makes a noncommittal sound, sighing around the weight of his weariness and the height of his fatigue.
Watari knows he has been busy; it has been only through Tsuzuki's frequent visits (purposeful or not) that he has heard much else. (Worries, he hears and most often. He has so much he wishes to say, but so little is ever said.)

He is almost reluctant to let him go as he finally discovers the aspirin behind another failed concoction, giving him two (which he takes and almost gladly) as he hands him 003, and uttering a small word of gratitude before heading out the door.

Watari makes sure to hide the aspirin again as soon as he is sure he is gone.

===
Title: Vous avez beau yaourt.
Time: 2:41 PM, Tuesday
Location: The office of frequented aspirin and noise.
Characters: Tsuzuki, Hisoka.
Pairing(s): You decide after the translation. -snickers-
Summary: When complimenting your partner, do it in your native tongue. I'm sure they'd be somewhat impressed you cared enough, anyway. At least, I would. Haha.
===

"Vous avez beau yaourt."

Hisoka did not look up at first, but as he did, his fingers stilled upon the book's pages. He peered up from under his lashes, a quick spark of comprehension flashing briefly as Tsuzuki paused. He watched him as he raised a fine brow, noting the small French dictionary Tsuzuki held in his palms. (He was currently holding on tightly to battered thing, he must have found it around the time of the previous explosion - pages browned and torn.)

"Yaourt?" Was the slow query, to which Tsuzuki answered with a faint nod. (He relaxed just slightly. He was in no danger of being harmed.)

Hisoka's bony fingers curved under his chin, for a moment almost contemplative, before reaching across the small gap between their desks to pluck the French dictionary from his trembling hands. (His fingertips were warm and almost smooth, pale against his. Resting almost accidentally, the faint glance he gave him almost enough to cause him to impulsively hold them there.)

There was silence, before Hisoka placed the tiny dictionary down upon his own desk,
"C'est une bonne chose je t'aime, idiot." Was the murmur. Tsuzuki's expression morphed to one of confusion,
"What?"

Hisoka scowled, though his eyes avoided his with purpose, there was something nervous about the way he returned to his reading, fumbling momentarily and uncharacteristically with the thin page,
"I said you're an idiot." An edge of something he couldn't quite identify crept into his voice.

He too, was quiet in his sudden need to study. He thought and threw phrases, 'Tell me~' was one, '...I'm sorry', was the next. However, he decided to just act upon his habitual whine, glossing his own doubt in a coat of falsified despair,
"But, you do!"

Hisoka seemed to take his time to register the admittance, and Tsuzuki thought he heard him almost snicker, almost. (He doesn't quite trust his senses around him. They have been known to falter and falter dangerously in their eagerness.)

This time, he was able to calmly turn the page of his book as his tension was seemingly slowly soothed,
"If you insist," he mused, "but the word you're looking for is 'yeux'."

---
A/N:

Anyway, as Tsuzuki was saying:
"You have beautiful yogurt."
To which, Hisoka echoes:
"Yogurt?"
And Tsuzuki nods.
Hisoka's correction translates to this:
"Eyes."

You have to figure out what ELSE Hisoka says, though. :3

measuring time

Continued:

===
Title: Hot and Cold
Time: 12:30 PM, Wednesday.
Location: The break room.
Characters: Tatsumi and Tsuzuki. (I've decided to list the prime characters in this piece, only.)
Pairing: N/A...or is it?
Summary: Another observation of time, really.
===

There was a hesitant edge to his smile as Tatsumi nudged a warm cup of tea into his hands,
"You've come upon a change in schedule, I see."

It didn't fade as he seated himself just across the break room table, calmly pouring his black. He feigned a sense of inquisitiveness as Tsuzuki peered into his cup, as if it were a looking glass, the lulling hum of the air conditioner giving his voice an added tone of thoughtfulness,
"He's tired," it was then that Tatsumi made a note of the heavy nature of his hair (smoothed against his jaw in the peak of this humidity) and was about to inquire before he continued, "He's been working a lot. He didn't want to go out anywhere to eat, today."

Tatsumi habitually pushed his glasses up, not paying much mind as Tsuzuki grimaced slightly as he took a sip of his tea,
"As have we all," He did not touch his own tea. His count on sugar had been incorrect and had been replaced by another. (Four, as in opposition to six. Time had certainly changed the hands of company; like gradual healing, the shifting of personalities, and smiles he'd chanced once behind the clever use of a book.) "have you checked in on him?"

Tsuzuki said nothing at first, but he lowered his eyes and absently shook the missing sugar packets to release the clumping sweetness. He tore them open and poured them in messily as Tatsumi half-sighed at the most predictable result. (Even without empathy, Tatsumi could have easily tracked the man by the tornado of disorganization he left in his wake.) The steady clink of a spoon against glass followed, merged with the faint whisper of his exasperation and Tsuzuki's low voice,
"I always do."

Mentally, Tatsumi cringed. He noted the odd falter of his grin and cleared his throat after a moment of awkward silence,
"Watari mentioned earlier that he had sweets left over, though I'm sure he's neglected to tell me that they're at their date of expiration."

Tsuzuki had perked up almost immediately upon hearing this and his eyes were upon him again as Tatsumi extracted a small box from a previously unnoticed bag by his foot. However, it was then he also noticed the familiar style of the design, the familiar packaging, and gushed,
"Cinnabons!"

Tsuzuki gladly helped himself as Tatsumi placed it down, the actual package having graced the table top for no more than seconds. Tatsumi half-watched as Tsuzuki quickly devoured the treat, his aim from hand to mouth still remarkably atrocious. Tatsumi had poised himself to make use of the ever visited handkerchief, but to his surprise, Tsuzuki had come to realize the crumbs already at the corner of his mouth as he finished.

He placed it back in his breast pocket as Tsuzuki made crude use of the back of his hand. The quiet prevailed as Tsuzuki's features wore a look that was almost curious as he realized the strange curve that had pulled at Tatsumi's lips.

(He had finally started to care for himself.)

He opened his mouth as if to speak, but another voice interjected which caused whatever it was he was to say to be forgotten as they turned to look,
"There you are."

Hisoka appeared in the doorway, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a half-finished case file under his arm. The whine was inevitable,
"Why don't you take a break? You're going to get over-heated! Stay in the air-conditioning."

Tatsumi was reminded almost vaguely of himself as Hisoka frowned, not truly exasperated he knew as he glanced briefly his way,
"Because there's work to be done and I can take care of myself," he signaled impatiently with his free hand, eyes not nearly as hard as they once had been, "hurry up, you idiot."

Tsuzuki's cast a pitiful look at Tatsumi who looked upon him as Hisoka did.
"Kurosaki is correct, I was going to send you back to work when he stepped in."

He made a show of his extreme reluctance as he rose, groaning dramatically as he shuffled over to where Hisoka stood. As they began off down the hall, Tsuzuki called out a quick 'Thank you' for the sweets. However, Tatsumi barely listened as Tsuzuki smiled brilliantly just before they turned the corner, his words to Hisoka much too quiet to hear over the white noise of the air-conditioner and the lull of office sounds.

It was a long moment before Tatsumi turned back to his tea, now pleasantly cool.

---
A/N: askjgfks. They were so difficult.

===
Title: After You (Walk with me)
Time: 9:49 PM, Thrusday.
Location: Watari's lab.
Characters: Watari, mainly.
Pairing: Glasses squared. :3
===

In after hour stillness, Watari sweeps up broken beakers; the acrid smell of ammonia clinging like a second skin. (He has failed and failed, but there are a few successes. Tsuzuki's true smile, being one of them.)

003 is sleeping in his breast pocket, and most lights are flickering and dying off, almost bowing to the impending nightfall as employees pack up. (He can catch bits of conversation on these quiet days. Terazuma's harsh tongue. Wakaba's lulling voice. Bon's falsely irritated tone. Tatsumi's secretive groans. Tsuzuki's innocent lies: 'I'll be fine.')

He never does quite succeed in capturing his own words in the silence, though. He just smiles at familiar faces passing and neglects to speak at all.

However, he always loves the rare days where, if he can stall long enough, he will be granted the fleeting sensation of Tatsumi's hand upon his shoulder, and his words close and warm against the sensitive skin of his ear,
"Walk with me."

And Watari knows he can laugh, following, the glittering mess waiting like fireflies for the light of the morning.

(...warm fingers on his shoulder are smoothing his lab coat.
"It can wait."
His glasses reflect the first shimmer of silver light, Watari grins coyly.
"It'll build up..."
Tatsumi's hand slides down to tug at his elbow,
"So will your debt, knowing your clumsiness in the dark. It can wait, Yutaka."
Watari sighs, dramatically,
"You drive a hard bargain, Seiichirou." The struggle to suppress a wide grin is challenging. Tatsumi knows him, and thus, knows this.
"It's part of being a secretary. Come along.")

Rhea-sama

:'DDD

Awesome m'dear.

Hisoka ranting and raging had me laughing out loud. I think I have tears in my eyes XD

Poor Soaka D: Humidity is so gross and disgusting.

(And I looooved the soooo s-u-b-t-l-e Tatarinessx x3)

measuring time

(:'DDD
Awesome m'dear.
Hisoka ranting and raging had me laughing out loud. I think I have tears in my eyes XD
Poor Soka D: Humidity is so gross and disgusting.
(And I looooved the soooo s-u-b-t-l-e Tatarinessx x3) )

Aww, thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed them. <3
I figured they needed on last sharing before I let them fall completely to the wayside, and I am glad I decided as such. Very Happy

Rhea-sama

Eek <33 And there's a second post right after I post mine :'DD

Very nice ^^ I love drabble-esque things. And for some reason I was struck over the head with the inspiration hammer and I simply HAD to do a Terazuma-centric piece like, just now XD I am blaming you for it--evne though he's a lot of fun to write (Pooor Kaba and Zuma. They don't get enough love *sadface*)

measuring time

(Eek <33 And there's a second post right after I post mine :'DD

Very nice ^^ I love drabble-esque things. And for some reason I was struck over the head with the inspiration hammer and I simply HAD to do a Terazuma-centric piece like, just now XD I am blaming you for it--evne though he's a lot of fun to write (Pooor Kaba and Zuma. They don't get enough love *sadface*) )

Quite. I was quite prolific when I did write fanfiction, you see. Hahaha.

And thank you very much, and I am glad that my elder works have inspired you to write as such! They really are such deprived characters.

Veleda

These are all great, but oh my god, the French one is just perfect. Beautiful yogurt indeed.

measuring time

(These are all great, but oh my god, the French one is just perfect. Beautiful yogurt indeed.)

You flatter me, madam.
However, thank you so. I am glad you enjoyed them as much. <3