(no subject)

[minegishitoshiki]

Minegishi was in the greenhouse. They spent a lot of time there, even when they weren't practicing at using their powers. They felt more comfortable, somehow, being around plants rather than people. Not that they were particularly fond of the people they had surround themselves with.

Minegishi flipped a page int their book, only to glance up as they heard someone approaching. They were hardly surprised when they saw who their visitor was.

"What is it?" they asked. They should probably set their book aside, but they didn't particularly care to. And even if they did, their visitor wouldn't be able to see it anyway. With his eyes, anyway.

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[mp_multilocation]

Shimazaki frowned momentarily—it was a pout, really. He had gone out of his way to spend time with them and now he was getting chastised because the kid was doing what he liked doing best when he got antsy: antagonizing him.

“I guess we’ll talk later…over drinks?” Shimazaki then motioned to Shou. “Come here.”

[clawpatrol]

"I'll be busy later," Minegishi said, putting a stop to it before it could start.

Shou approached Shimazaki with warily.

[mp_multilocation]

Shimazaki unceremoniously grabbed Shou by the top of the head and in an instant they were in the boy’s room.

“Okay. Bedtime.”

[clawpatrol]

"Ow, ow, ow!" Shou said, slapping Shimazaki's hands. "Come on, quit it. I'm not a kid anymore!"

[mp_multilocation]

Shou’s hair was prickly to the touch, made even more so with the electric pinpricks of energy radiating off him. Shimazaki released him and gave the air a little sniff. There was the scent of spruce in the air—Shou probably just changed the hamster bedding.

“Right, right. You know, if you want my attention that badly there are less painful ways of getting it.”

[clawpatrol]

"I wasn't looking for attention." Shou jerked away and rubbed his tender head.

[mp_multilocation]

Why did everyone around him insist on being difficult?

…

Oh, who was he kidding. It was more fun that way. At least, coming from Shou, it was still kind of endearing.

“Don’t be like that. I really was going to commend you.”

[clawpatrol]

"What? Commend me?" Shou was clearly suspicious.

[mp_multilocation]

Shimazaki followed the soft sounds of squeaking to the hamster cage. Their silly little sounds were full of pep and vigor. Shou really took good care of them.

“Taking up recruitment duties? Of course. It’s a very mature task.” His voice lacked the patronizing edge it usually had. “I know you’ll take it seriously.”

[clawpatrol]

"Yeah, of course I will."

[mp_multilocation]

"Good boy."

Shimazaki released a sigh and turned back to him.

"Now, with that said, let's stop pretending."

[clawpatrol]

"Who's pretending?" Shou retorted challengingly.

[mp_multilocation]

It wasn't often Shimazaki elected to use pure telekinesis--he really did prefer to use his hands whenever possible, whether it was fighting or otherwise. But he didn't feel like moving at that moment to make his point. One of Shou's drawers snapped open and a tall bottle of Grand Yozakura scotch flew back into his hand.

"This makes number 3."

[clawpatrol]

Shou grit his teeth. "What, you're going to rat me out?"

[mp_multilocation]

“Seriously? You stole this from me, remember?” ‘Just because Hatori is too distracted and Shibata is too stupid to notice their beer going missing you get cocky? Stupid brat.’

Shimazaki swirled the bottle and sighed. It was definitely a little lighter than the last time he remembered holding it.

“Are you trying to show off to your friends at school or something?”

[clawpatrol]

"Who do I have to show off to?"

[mp_multilocation]

Shimazaki frowned.

“…Hold on.” He held up three fingers as he set the scotch on Shou’s dresser. He blinked away, and the seconds passed—one, two, three—and he was back with two tulip glasses in hand.

“If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”

[clawpatrol]

Shou raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you're going to drink with me?"

[mp_multilocation]

“If you’re going to steal the good stuff, you might as well learn how to appreciate it properly.”

Shimazaki extended a glass.

“One shot, and only one. No water. No ice. You’re not a child anymore, right?”

[clawpatrol]

"Yeah," Shou said, slowly and suspiciously. He took the glass and eyed it suspiciously. This was a trick, wasn't it?

Well, he wasn't about to get shown up!

Shou lifted the glass and downed it one go, his Adam's apple bobbing with every gulp.

"There," he croaked out. His throat was burning. He inhaled in a desperate attempt to soothe his aching throat and stifle the scream he wanted to let out at the same time.

[mp_multilocation]

Shimazaki choked on the first drop that slid down his tongue. “D-did you just…?”

[clawpatrol]

He couldn't hold it anymore.

Shou let out a few sputtering breaths that immediately escalated into a cacophony of coughing. Shou's back jerked as the burn of the liquid fire ripped through his esophagus with no sign of stopping.

[mp_multilocation]

Sighing, Shimazaki set his drink to the side--blinking out and in quickly, a glass of OJ in hand.

"You're fine, you're fine." He patted the boy's back. "Exhale all the way--yeah, just like that. Chase it with this. Not all at once, just sip until the burn's gone."

[clawpatrol]

For once, Shou was grateful for Shimazaki's ability to manifest anywhere. He slowly sipped on the glass of OJ, and gradually, he could taste something other than burning.

"Thanks," he said, trying to reign in his embarrassment. He hoped his cheeks weren't as red as his hair was.

[mp_multilocation]

Shimazaki took a seat beside him on the bed, his own glass in hand. "You know, this brand of scotch was the first gift your dad got me. We only shared it on special occasions...just finished it a few months ago. Now you're helping me break the new bottle in."

While he would have been quick to condescendingly suggest Shou should be honored, he didn't. He just stated the facts. He didn't even know how he felt about it, other than amusement at imagining how literally any of the other Upper Echelon would have reacted to the knowledge he let the 13-year-old at the bottle. Serizawa would probably try and beat him with his umbrella.

"How about this...let's just save the rest for when you're older."