drabble batch #002: idioms
title: drabble batch #002: idioms
pairing: various
rating: pg-13 (maybe a bit higher)
summary: drabbles inspired by idioms found while flicking through a penguin pocket dictionary of english idioms.
notes: for some i strayed from meaning and went with theme and some are more like ficlets than drabbles. they’re idioms so expect things to be punny (just joking, i’m not cheese like that)


to set one’s mind on
to be absolutely determined on a course of action

it’s all in the mind
nishikato

He can’t remember who told him but Shige remembers something about the patients on the floor above being crazier than the one below. He asks one of the nurses if it’s true and she confirms it.

“It’s the easiest way to organise shifts.”

Shige wonders why he even wanted to come and talk to the clinically insane but then his thesis title is screaming in the back of his mind and he continues to follow and prays that none of the patients were crazy enough to attack him.

“We’re heading to the ward on the top floor.”

Shige cringes, mentally screams for help for he is to meet the craziest of the lot.

“That’s where Nishikido Ryo is situated.”

“What for?” Shige asks.

“Severe satyriasis tendencies.”

Shige has heard about it somewhat but doesn’t think it could be that bad. It’s just being a little hornier than the average man, right?

“He has the ward all to himself because you just can’t put him in the same room as other people. We did try, even tied him down to just to get him used to the presence of others but it simply aroused him. He says he likes the bondage.”

“Uh huh.”

The nurse wishes him luck and pushes him into the room, closes the door behind him and Shige gulps as the door locks.

“Hello there,” Shige hears and turns to the man sitting on the bed. “You must be…?”

“Kato Shigeaki,” Shige says shakily. “It’s nice to meet you Nishikido-san.”

“Hmm,” he gets up to inspect Shige. “Call me Ryo.”

And later Shige does when Ryo kisses him, touches him and pushes him against the wall, pressing between his legs just so.

to nail one’s colours to the mast
to make absolutely clear what one’s views are in a very forthright manner

captain and cook
massupi

When out at sea, one can not rely on one’s own skills alone.

The sound of the sea crashing and swashing is everywhere and in the morning when there’s an incredible pounding in his head that intensifies with the rocking of the ship, Captain Yamashita wakes and regrets the night before. He would throw up but it would only be a regurgitation of red wine that would most likely stain the wooden floor.

“Captain?” there’s a knock on his door.

“What?” he barks, massaging his temples to ease the pain.

“I brought breakfast.”

Yamashita commands to come in and carefully, the cook places a tray of simple food on a table.

“Thank you, Masuda,” Yamashita bows a little shyly for rudeness.

“No problem, Captain.”

Masuda leaves but Yamashita still thinks of him and his smile.

And the smiley face he’s arranged his food in.

weak as a kitten
feeble, very weak

drunk and senseless
koyapi

At the best of times, Koyama was a happy drunk.

Yamapi found this to be so one night when they went karaoke and he couldn’t understand the words for the laughing. For the last three songs he could get why there was giggling but Koyama had keyed in a ballad for goodness’ sakes but then he noticed the beer cans and bottles that had accumulated at Koyama’s vicinity.

Happy drunk Koyama was fun to be around. He would tell embarrassing stories that would have Shige and Tegoshi blush seven shades of red, raise the tension and cheer everyone up, bringing laughs and smiles as he spoke randomly.

However, there were times when Koyama was a depressed drunk and all his insecurities and worries would surface. Things about their popularity, Shige’s awkwardness, Tegoshi’s late night escapades, life after Johnny’s and the like.

Yamapi found this to be so one night walking Koyama home. He latched onto him, half-sobbing uncertainties of the future in his ear and Yamapi struggled to keep him standing after twenty minutes. He slung Koyama on his back, surprised by the lightness and trudged onwards.

“Don’t leave,” he mumbled but Yamapi dismissed it, thinking it to be some kind of sleep talking.

“Okay,” he said in reply, hiking him up. “Okay, just sleep now.”

“I’m serious, please don’t leave, it’ll be the end for me if you go.”

Yamapi felt the arms clench tighter around him, warmth and a slight dampness on his shoulder where Koyama rested his head. It was enough for Yamapi to realise that he was depended on.

“Okay,” he repeats. “Okay.”

without turning a hair
without showing any emotion or surprise

the same before and after
tegopi

Tegoshi had said it several times, each time his feelings escalating further and further towards that thing people called love and no matter how many times he expressed it, Yamashita wouldn’t even flinch.

It was frustrating to say the least because he was tired of things staying the same. Tegoshi was all about the change. He changed, the things around him changed, and then he’d change to change the things around him, but between him and Yamashita, there was no variation whatsoever.

“I love you but I’ll stop now,” he declared one day out of the blue. “Because it makes no difference and I can’t take it anymore.”

Yamashita just kept the same look on his face and Tegoshi became increasingly self-conscious of his being there and quickly turned to leave.

Then something stirred inside Yamashita that made him follow.

penny wise pound foolish
by trying to save a little, one can lose a large sum

pride of loss
tegomasu

Masuda didn’t think that he had to say it.

He thought that his feelings were obvious enough through the things that he did but it turned out that they were all completely missed by Tegoshi. It wasn’t like he never said it. If Tegoshi said it then he’d say it back but he could never initiate it because it was kind of embarrassing and Masuda didn’t like the feeling.

“Massu never says he loves me.”

He always thought his actions spoke for him because when it came to Tegoshi, Masuda was almost always next to speechlessness.

to play cupid
to play the matchmaker

arrows don’t shoot straight
shigepi/koyato

Koyama liked to think that he was quick on the uptake.

Shige would tell him that he was sorely mistaken.

Yamapi would be at the sidelines and wait because he was cool like that.

Koyama liked to think that he would do anything for his friends.

Shige would tell him that it wasn’t necessary.

Yamapi would be thankful.

Koyama liked to think Shige would be happier with Yamapi.

Shige would tell him that he loved them the same.

Yamapi would be sure that he had Koyama’s blessings.

Koyama liked to think that letting go wasn’t as hard as some people made out.

Shige would tell him that it wasn’t like it was goodbye.

Yamapi would be there to grant Koyama’s wish of making Shige happy.

rome was not built in a day
nothing of value has ever been achieved without a great deal of effort

unintentional seduction
nishikato

It was definitely the glasses.

Ryo knew that some people had fetishes and kinks and glasses were a popular choice for the normal that didn’t cross over to the weird fetish world of liking toe sucking.

But anyway.

Ryo didn’t think that he was the kind of person who would be affected by such a thing. Two pieces of glass held together with a frame of plastic and metal. To think that had upped Shige’s attractiveness in such a short span of time. Ridiculous.

It wouldn’t be much of a problem if Shige didn’t insist on studying all the time. If he didn’t study so much then he wouldn’t have to wear the glasses and then Ryo wouldn’t always have the desire to jump him every time he had a book in his hands.

However.

Ryo had self control unlike what most people would think about him. He knew not to. Shige wouldn’t have liked it at that moment and that would get Ryo nowhere.

But it was just so damn hard.

to read between the lines
to draw conclusions about the writer’s feelings from the manner and tone of the work and not from his actual words

black and white
ryotego

Love letters weren’t uncommon in school.

Ryo got the most because he had the ability to appeal to different types of girls (and boys). He could be the bad boy every good girl wanted or he could be the cute toyboy the senior girls liked, and if it was required he was sure he could do the reliable student.

He got letters here and there and he never really took much notice of it because he thought relationships were troublesome but he got a letter that made him think twice. It wasn’t a declaration of undying love written in multicoloured ink or a note that threatened bad misfortune if he ever got together with someone written in blood. It was short and simple, sweet and sincere.

To Nishikido-sempai,
I like you.
From Tegoshi Yuya

one’s heart bleeds for someone
to feel extremely sorry for someone

mainstream
shigemasu/news

Shige thinks that he probably notices Masuda’s situation because it’s similar to his own. Neither of them are really mainstream types of guys that attract girls in hordes unlike the others.

It seems to have been applied into their group circle as well.

The others click and can spark off long conversations of nothingness while he and Masuda just sit by and listen, nodding every so often.

Shige wishes he that he could be in with the group but he knows that it’s just not possible for him and Masuda. Their awkwardness has set in already and it’s too hard to change.

It feels like he and Masuda are simply tributaries to that main stream.

However, it's comforting to know that they’re all part of the same river.

swan-song
the last achievement of a writer, painter, musician, and so on

the last song of a duckling
tegoshige

They both know that they’ve grown up a little, gone somewhat astray from the path they were both originally on and despite being so close in age the circles they move in now are separate.

Tegoshi looks to him sometimes, sees the intelligence that brims and wishes that he too had some of that smartness and sensibility. Shige sometimes finds his gaze on him, with his freedom and confidence and he yearns for that self-belief in himself.

When their eyes meet it’s awkward because it looks like there’s a want for each other that’s not really there but it intensifies each and every time without them really knowing why.

Tegoshi looks at him and firmly decides to change, he wants to be smart and clever like Shige and he buckles down to study. Shige decides the same, he’ll be confident and brash, poking fun at his seniors without any reservations when he talks.

Now when they look at each other, the grown up paths that they’re on are a little bit closer.

too big for one’s boots
conceited, pleased with oneself

misinterpreting
ryopi

They knew that some people thought that they were up themselves but it really was not the case.

Yamapi turned to Ryo who was tapping a foot on the floor while listening to music. He thought that he looked like an adult, a sullen maturity settled on his face with a low melodious hum. This was Ryo’s upset look. Contrary to popular belief he didn’t always go around shooting his mouth off at everyone who got on his nerves.

“What are you looking at?” his eyes flicked up to meet Yamapi’s gaze.

“Nothing, just wondering how you were.”

“Oh,” Ryo replied, not answering the hinted question because he didn’t need to.

Yamapi knew him well.

there’s a time and place for everything
a good thing can be spoilt by bad timing or an unsuitable setting

airhostesses don’t like toilets
keiishikido

It was more than a little uncomfortable.

If it wasn’t the sink then it was the toilet roll digging into their sides and while there were hindrances, they weren’t going to stop Ryo. He sat Koyama down on the closed toilet lid, bent down in what little space they had and crashed their lips together. Koyama moaned wantonly and surprised Ryo with his lack of restraint as he deepened the kiss and fiddled with his belt.

Ryo raked spread fingers through Koyama’s hair, tugged his head back to expose his neck and trailed kisses down it continuing lower, unbuttoning shirt buttons when he got to them.

“Ahh, Ryo,” Koyama panted. “Ryo, Ryo- Stop.”

“What’s wrong?” Koyama noted the annoyed look in Ryo’s eyes.

“The seatbelt light is on.”

“So?”

“Excuse me, sir?” there was a knock on the door, followed by a muffled voice. “We’re going to experience some turbulence so I need you to return to your seat now.”

---

“Weren’t you adventurous today?” Ryo looked up and smiled as an airhostess walked through the aisle checking seatbelts, hushing his voice until she past. “Dragging me to the toilet.”

“I’m with you, I have to be. Remember that time at the cinema?” Koyama buckled his seatbelt.

“And the changing rooms.”

“And the ferris wheel.”

“Shame we couldn’t add plane to the list,” Ryo sighed and sunk in his seat.

“Don’t you feel cold? Here let’s put this blanket on,” Koyama said, stressing his words as he laid out the large material over them.

“What are you doing?” Ryo raised an eyebrow; it wasn’t like the air-conditioning was on.

Then he raised the other when he felt his zip being undone.