(A/N: Whew. A lot of things have been happening right now at the manga especially with the TR leaks circulating recently online. But one thing is for sure, I will not abandon this multi chaptered Doramitsu fic. What started out on a whim will now turn into a full-fledged five-chapter story. I will still update and finish this although intermittently as I'm also trying to finish my other WIP fics and other one-shot requests. Nevertheless, Doramitsu will always have a special place in my heart so I'll always put effort in the chapters that I will create for them. I hope you enjoy this new chapter as much as I did when writing this).
His eyes swept away at the sleek style and modernity of the house in front of him. The structure was composed of creamy white walls and glass panels that Draken swore was probably worth more than the interior of his own shop at the city.
A low whistle slipped past from his lips as Draken studied the beautiful abode in front of him. He knew that their customer was a bit well-off considering from the regal design of his calling card alone, but he didn't realize that he was this loaded and upscale.
He took a deep breath and steadied himself. No used to ogle at a simple yet magnificent house when he should be doing what he should do here. And that was purely business and nothing else. Draken finally approached the doorstep and ring the doorbell.
He waited for a few seconds.
That turned into a few minutes which made him frown.
He tried to ring the doorbell again impatiently.
He heard some shuffling and grumbling from the other side.
"Damn it. Why did it have to be now when Luna and Mana is currently at school, and someone is pestering me again already..." His voice was deep yet husky and scratchy at the same time.
Draken didn't know whether to scowl or completely ignore the unknown male's remarks. In the end, he tried to keep his cool intact and went for a neutral, professional look on his face as he reminded himself that he's here to collect the full payment of their services for their customer's bike.
"Do you need something? You've been ringing the doorbell thrice now so I'm hoping that this is a matter of life-or-death situation." Mitsuya's gravelly voice and sunken appearance greeted his line of sight upon opening the door and stared dully at him.
Whatever words that he should've said that instant died on his throat as Draken took in the young man's appearance before him.
The man was a complete mess. His clothes were crumpled like a piece of paper while his silver locks were in complete disarray that was beyond the definition of a bedhead. He had a shadow already that's about to form into a faint stubble on his face. And his frame was frail and wiry. Jesus Christ. Has this man even stepped outside his house to breathe in some fresh air or to walk around the neighborhood?
Nevertheless, even if his eyes were pale and lacked an ounce of emotion, he found out that it was still striking and tantalizing to look at due to its prismatic shade of violet that's akin to a fresh bouquet of lavender flowers in a field. Draken tried not to make himself an idiot in front of him as he forced himself to speak up.
Draken showed him the bill containing the remaining balance for their services. "Not really. You're Mitsuya Takashi right? This is regarding your bike that you brought to our repair shop the other week. It's already repaired but you haven't picked it up yet and paid the remaining balance for our services. Tried to contact you on the given number on your calling card but no one's answering. So might as well drop here for a quick visit and chat about it." Draken inwardly congratulated himself for not stammering through his words and kept a straight face even though he was beginning to feel unnerve by the man's lackadaisical yet judging gaze on him.
"Couldn't you just have drop me some voicemail message or some email about this? You took your time to pester me in my household today just for this." Mitsuya replied coldly.
Any thin thread of patience snapped out of Draken's entire being upon hearing his words and he narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists to the side. "If it actually works then I wouldn't be here in the first place, isn't it? Look buddy, I'm just doing my job and business here, nothing personal. I just want you to pay the remaining balance for our services and get your bike at the shop. But if you don't want to do so then fine. Just tell me and I would call for the tow truck to get it to the junkyard." He shot back.
His words seemed to snapped Mitsuya out of his frosty demeanor and his eyes widened briefly before he looked away with an expression Draken couldn't decipher.
"Fine. Just wait here for a sec as I'll get my money to pay you."
Draken only nodded in silence as he watched Mitsuya headed back inside his house to get his money.
"Jesus Christ. What a loaded day today isn't it." Draken mumbled to himself as a deep sigh escaped his lips.
Mitsuya finally went back and handed him some bills. "Here. Just keep the change as I don't have an exact amount for the remaining balance." He muttered hoarsely.
"...Right. Do you want to get your bike at the shop, or have it delivered on your doorstep?" Draken asked.
"No. I'll just get them on your shop tomorrow morning. I just have some important things to do right now..."
"Okay got it. Our shop opens at 9 in the morning so just drop by there to get it." Draken bowed before he eventually left him, fighting the urge to turn back as he could feel the other's gaze following him and almost burned his back due to the intensity of it.
The grating sounds of the roller shutter reverberated against the sidewalk early in the morning after Inupi rolled it upwards, an indication that their motor shop was finally opened on that day.
Faint lights from the rays of the sun came filtering in slowly inside the windows as he also opened the blinds. He was about to make some coffee for himself when he noticed someone leaning against the side of their shop outside.
He furrowed his brows as a bewildered expression crossed his features. Was the man there waiting ages ago upon opening of their shop?
Inupi thought he looked vaguely familiar, but he cannot pinpoint onto where and when exactly he had seen the young man since he can only see his profile from his point of view. He took a deep breath as he went towards his spot and went outside to call his attention.
"Hey. Excuse me? Can I help you? I just noticed that you're sort of standing there at the side of the shop for quite some time now." Inupi began as he called for his attention.
"Yes. I came here to pick up my bike since someone drop by at my house yesterday and informed me that the needed repairs for it is done and collected the remaining balance for the services." The young man said in in a deep yet dry voice that reminded Inupi of smooth yet gravelly lands going into the mountains.
He masked his surprise when the man finally faced him and a memory clicked inside his head. This was the young, urbane man who was wearing tailored clothes and asked for their services in fixing his bike. Compared to his appearance before to which he appeared right now there was a stark difference: Although he doesn't look that thin perse, he could surmise that he had lost a weight judging from his wiry frame on his clothes that hung limply on his body. There was a noticeable shadow of a stubble on his face, and he looked utterly pale like it was the first time that the sunlight had touch his ivory skin. He could see that he was freshly bath judging from the slight dampness of his hair, but it didn't hide the fact that the bags under his eyes were still noticeable from his lack of sleep and his orchid eyes looked dull and droopy compared to the last time that he had seen it as luminous, vibrant and a tad bit expressive.
"Oh. So, you've met Draken at your doorstep then?" Inupi managed to ask as he ushered him inside the shop to which the other followed in silence.
"Is that his name?" Mitsuya asked and Inupi blinked at him a few times. Was this guy for real? Didn't he even managed to ask or verify if it's the right person talking to him yesterday?
"I mean you've met him yesterday so surely you've gotten his name by then." Inupi replied calmly as he prepared some coffee from the coffee maker.
"It must've slipped my mind since I was too busy and all... I do remember that he was a tall, muscular guy with a tattoo on the side of his head and blond hair that was braided, and he was wearing some overalls." Mitsuya recounted as if his earlier question was a normal thing to ask.
"Yeah. That's him." Inupi muttered as he placed some cup of freshly brewed coffee on his table. "Coffee for you. If you want too of course. I'll just get the keys of your bike from the office." He left him and Mitsuya observed languidly on the interior of the shop.
It looked like your usual, normal motor and repair shop in the city. He reached for the cup and absentmindedly took a sip, not even realizing that it was piping hot when another familiar figure came into view just as exactly, he coughed and placed the cup down shakily on the table.
"Inupi! Have you—."
"Fuck! It's too hot!" Mitsuya was still cursing under his breath, still not noticing Draken who stopped midway and was blinking a few times at him.
"Of course, it is. It's coffee." Draken remarked drily upon getting over his slight surprise at the young man's appearance inside their shop.
Mitsuya's mind blanked out for a few seconds as he heard the familiar, deep, baritone voice of his and he could only stare at him mutely and studied him from head to toe. Draken was not wearing his usual orange overalls uniform in the repair shop. But instead, he was wearing a simple white shirt and khaki shorts that hugged and accentuated his lean form and muscular figure. It looked like he was still getting ready because they just opened early this morning and judging from the wisps of his slightly damp hair from the bath that was clinging at the side of his face since his blond locks wasn't braided this time and his long hair simply cascaded on his back like a waterfall.
He couldn't tear his gaze away from his appearance as it roamed in silent appreciation on his pleasant form that was a feast to the eyes. But when their eyes met, his mouth ran dry, and his heart sped up erratically inside his chest. Pitch black eyes clashed against his amethyst orbs. His charcoal irises always held a certain intensity whenever he gazed up at him. Mitsuya felt like a small specimen under a microscope as Draken's gaze bored right through his soul as if he was sizing him up right into his innermost core. Mitsuya didn't like where his thoughts were going, and he didn't want to appear like a complete moron in front of him, so he tried to strive for casualness and disinterest.
"Yeah, I could see that. I just didn't realize that it would be damn too hot." Mitsuya inwardly congratulated himself for keeping his voice cool while still locking his intent gaze on him.
"Coffees are always too hot to handle if you didn't realize it. Or are you more of an iced coffee person?" Draken proceeded to walked towards the coffee maker located at the side of shop and started to make his own coffee.
"I'm actually more of a tea person I supposed." Mitsuya replied wryly.
Draken was about to respond when Inupi's voice rang out from the background that caught both of their attention.
"I see you two have met again this lovely morning. Also, here's the key to your bike. It's located in the back of the shop. You can take it for a spin now." Inupi threw the keys to Mitsuya to which the other caught it perfectly with his right hand.
"Uh, thanks." Mitsuya mumbled before he took a final, careful sip of the coffee and stood up.
"Wait. You're not finishing that?" Draken pointed at his cup of coffee which was still half full.
"Uhm, no. Sorry but I still have things that I need to work on. And thank you again for your services..." His gaze lingered a bit more on Draken's form before it settled on Inupi's form, and he took a bow and proceeded to leave the shop.
"Okay. Thank you as well for picking up our shop to get a repair on your bike." Inupi answered casually before his gaze settled on Draken who was still staring at the spot where Mitsuya had left ages ago.
There was an undecipherable look on Draken's face that made Inupi's brow arched in curiosity.
"Hey you okay?"
"Yeah. Why?" Draken asked as his eyes remained glued on that spot.
"You have this constipated look on your face. Makes you look dumb sometimes." Inupi remarked bluntly as he munched on his toast.
"What're you talking about?" Draken grumbled. "Just eat your damn breakfast and get back to work." He added as he finally tore his gaze away from that spot and carefully sipped on his freshly brewed coffee.
"Aye, aye captain." Inupi replied nonchalantly.
Meanwhile, Mitsuya ignored the disappointed feeling that's festering within himself as he put on his helmet and rode on his bike.
He wanted to say something else.
He wanted to apologize for being an ass yesterday.
But why did he hold back earlier?
Mitsuya was known for many things but being indecisive was not one of them.
So, why was it different with Draken this time? It's like he's dancing to a tune that he's not familiar with and his presence alone kept him on his toes.
Mitsuya tried to clear his head and focus on the road that his bike was venturing on. He shouldn't think of that man any longer since for sure he wouldn't see him again anyways.
He didn't realize on how sorely wrong he was.