Pairings: Okita/Saito, no fandom attached Rating: M Prompt: Shinsenvember 4 – Pigs and Pork Summary: Eating pork is healthy–or something like that. [AO3]
(This is a repost of a short story I wrote in 2017, but accidentally deleted. The characterizations of Saito and Okita are based off of a fandom I’m no longer a part of, so just consider them original.)
.*To Your Health*.
It was the perfect summer evening to smoke.
The outer shoji had been slid aside and Saito sat dead center before the open doors, staring thoughtfully into the garden speckled by firefly gold. Cricket song filled the air, joined by the intermittent baritone croaking of frogs perched about the central pond–and then, distant groaning of floorboards from the inner hallway growing ever louder.
Uncommon, the tiny smile that pulled at the corners of Saito’s mouth on hearing those particular footsteps, and with that, he exhaled a plume of white smoke.
The kiseru pipe was held between his pointer finger and thumb just before the tip, with the rest of the long thin shaft supported by his upward-facing palm. He lowered his hand and waited for the very much desired company to arrive outside his door.
“Saito-san,” a muffled voice called out from the other side.
“Come.”
Pivoting on his knees, Saito turned as Okita entered looking incredibly pleased with himself. In his clutches were a small plate and pair of chopsticks, which he held steadily as he slid the shoji shut again with his foot. “I have something for you, Hajime!”
“Oh?” His curiosity piqued, Saito watched as Okita neared with the dish; from this angle, he couldn’t tell what it held but if it was some form of sustenance, then he was sure it would delight his palate. Okita shared similar tastes with him when it came to food, and sometimes he would visit in the evening with a delicious helping of daifuku or manju.
“Mm.” Okita made no move to sit when his bare feet came to a halt before Saito. “Did you hear what Matsumoto-sensei said today about the state of our health?”
Saito cocked his head and pursed his lips. “The decidedly miserable state of our health, you mean?”
Okita’s eyes closed momentarily and his grin widened. “Well, yes, that too.” There was an innocence about him when his lashes parted again, something Saito had always found droll; he was the formidable captain of the first squad, after all, and the one who posed the greatest personal challenge when sparring. “I was referring more to the suggested solution, though.”