"Imagine your OTP always taking the same bus home after work. The relationship sparks when one day, Person A works up the courage to sit next to that stranger who keeps catching their eye and start talking to them." prompt taken from tumblr user imagineyourotp

The Boy at the Back of the Bus

Quattro X Shark, some kind of AU where they're older and not like duelists or something I dunno really ^^" and I feel like I don't even follow the prompt all that much, but whatever, it was just to give me some inspiration. Sorry that this is totally OOC. I own nothing.

xxx

Every day it was always the same routine. Reginald, or "Shark" to everyone who knew him, would leave work promptly at 5 PM, make the 3 minute stroll to the bus stop, and wait for the 5:10 bus, which usually came more or less on time. He'd board, pay the fare, and then try to find a seat as far away from the other bus goers as possible.

And every day, he saw him.

Shark wasn't sure exactly when he'd first seen him, but ever since that day he couldn't get that face out of his mind. The young man, maybe a year or so older than Shark, was always sitting at the back of the bus, apparently minding his own business, either looking out the window or staring at his phone. Shark used the other's distractions to mask the fact that he would spend his ride constantly sneaking glances over his shoulder to look at the exotic man. He had dark reddish brown hair that spiked in all directions, and bright blond bangs that outlined his sharp face. Marring his soft skin, a cross-shaped scar ran over the man's right eye and down onto his cheek. The man had pink eyes and a slight grin always in place on his oh-so-kissable looking lips. In all, he was gorgeous. And that's even without one of his greatest assets. When the man exits the bus every day, three stops before Shark's, Shark is always provided with a perfect view of the stranger's great ass as he walked down the bus's aisle.

But, sadly, Shark was way too out of his league to talk to the beautiful man, and he knew it. All his life, Shark had regarded himself as a confident man. He was never afraid of what other people might be saying about him, and he honestly never cared. Back in high school, he was teased mercilessly for coming out as gay. But Shark was strong through all of it and never let the harsh words damage his pride. Yet, for some reason completely unknown to Shark, just the thought of talking to the handsome man made his palms get sweaty and his tongue tied into knots.

Thus Shark was resigned to admiring the man from afar. Every day after work he'd try to drink in the image of the stranger. The way that his hair fell around his milky skin, the curve of his lips when his little grin would lift into a broader smirk, the occasional moments when he'd be gazing out the window and he'd suddenly blink rapidly a couple times, lift his head, and smil satisfyingly, looking to all the world like he just solved some great mystery and a light bulb should just appear over his pretty little head. On weekends and holidays, or the rare days when Shark had to work late, and he didn't get to look at the man, he still never left Shark's thoughts. In fact, the days Shark couldn't look at the other, he thought about him that much more. He was honestly starting to get concerned with his apparent obsession over a man he'd never said a single word to.

"Come on Shark, what's wrong with you?" he asked himself one late afternoon, as he stared into the mirror. It was just about time for Shark to leave work, which meant it was almost time to see that man. (Shark had often tried to think up some clever nickname to call him, but nothing seemed to be worthy enough for the Adonis-like man.) Shark splashed some water onto his face, sighed, and left the bathroom to finish up the remainder of the work day. When the digital clock on his computer switched from '4:59' to '5:00', Shark immediately stood up and grabbed his things. He left the office building he worked in, and walked to the bus stop, just like any other day. But, something felt different that time. Maybe it was because summer was finally around the corner, and the warm breeze was so refreshing on his face, that Shark just couldn't help but smile at the sky. "Maybe…" Shark whispered himself, trailing off as the bus pulled up to the curb. Shrugging, Shark got onto the bus and paid the fare. As he began down the aisle to find a seat, he realized the bus was empty with the exception an old woman at the front and the gorgeous man in his usual seat at the back. Gulping, Shark decided that he had to do something. The ridiculous crush he had was getting out of control, and this was a perfect opportunity to get some privacy with the guy. Hands slightly shaking as he walked down the bus, Shark tried to relax by taking deep breaths, though it had little effect. He made his way to the very back of the bus, and sat down on a seat, leaving only one empty spot between him and the man.

The man turned his head away from his phone slightly, looking at Shark out of the corner of his eye. He quirked an eyebrow, but quickly returned to what he'd been doing, seemingly uninterested.

Shark, on the other hand, was a mess. He was sweating and filling with regret as he stared forward, hands clenched so tight that his knuckles were pure white. He felt like he was suffocating. It was actually frightening to the usually cool man at how terrified he was of another person. He just wanted to disappear forever and forget this ever-

Shark was cut off from his spiral into despair by the most wonderful voice he'd ever heard. "Are you alright?" the man next to him asked. He'd put his phone away somewhere, and now was scanning over Shark, a slightly concerned look on his face.

Shark's mouth fell open slightly as he just stared at the man. Once he'd remembered how to breathe again and function somewhat like a normal human being, he nodded twice, very slowly. Shark closed his eyes for a second, and tried to swallow all of his fears. He knew he was being irrational, and he had nothing to be scared of. If this guy wasn't interested in him, it wasn't the end of the world or anything. Feeling slightly better, Shark coughed and said, "Uh, yeah, I'm alright, sorry."

The other raised his brows. "What are you sorry for?" he asked with a hint of a laugh in his deep voice.

Shark thought for a moment but honestly didn't have an answer. "I..." he started, but decided to stop before he said something else stupid.

"You know, I figured that when you finally decided to talk to me, you'd, well, talk," the man laughed lightly. He smiled crookedly at Shark. The upwards curve of his lips made his scarred cheek scrunch up a bit, emphasizing the unique feature in an adorable way.

Shark's face was bright red as he stammered, "I d-don't know w-what you're talking about!"

The man pouted and said, "You must have really underestimated me if you think that I didn't see you always looking at me. You were so obvious!" he chuckled good-naturedly, though there was a slight glint to his eye.

Shark's head bowed low. "Then I'm sorry for that. I meant no harm in it, I just… I don't know." The good feeling he'd had while waiting for the bus was now a distant memory as Shark continued to dig himself further and further into a ditch.

But the man just wore a confused expression as he said, "I'm not asking for an apology." His face shifted into the small grin that Shark had memorized, though it was now accompanied by something new: a small blush peppering the pale flesh. "I'm honestly flattered that someone as cute as you would take notice of me. I've thought about talking to you before, but I figured I should wait for you to build up the courage on your own," the other said with a slight shrug before he winked.

Shark was dumbfounded. There was no way that the man who'd been occupying all of his thoughts was suddenly talking to him and calling him cute! He just stared at the man beside him, with no clue as to what he was supposed to say.

After a few moments of silence, the other said, "Quattro."

Shark's brows furrowed. "I'm sorry, what?" he asked in total confusion.

The other chortled. "Quattro, that's my name." He stuck out a hand to Shark.

Blushing again, Shark shook the offered hand and mumbled, "uhh I'm Shark."

Quattro's eyes lit up. "Shark? Now that's a name!"

"Well it's a nickname, but no one ever uses my real name," Shark explained. He realized that he was still shaking hands with Quattro. He snapped his hand back to his chest and held it with his other one. He glanced at the ground for a moment before looking back at Quattro.

"Well, what is your real name then?" Quattro asked slyly. He was clearly enjoying Shark's blatant embarrassment and overall discomfort.

But on this matter, Shark was unmoving. "I can't tell you that. I really don't like my name so I prefer if people just call me Shark," he said with a voice that hinted at some of his usual confidence that had all but left him the moment he'd gotten onto the bus that day.

"I'll get it out of you some time," Quattro announced confidently as he stood up.

Shark glanced around and suddenly realized that they were at Quattro's stop. But before the other man could leave, Shark blurted out, "Maybe we could go out some time?"

With sparkling eyes, Quattro said, "I'd love to." He took a few steps down the aisle before pausing to call over his shoulder. "Oh, and by the way, Shark. Don't think I didn't know that you always stare at my ass when I leave." And with that, he got off the bus, an exaggerated sway in his hips as he walked.

Once Quattro had exited the bus, a still-blushing Shark dove over to the seat the other normally occupied so that he could look out the window and watch him walk down a street. As the bus pulled away, Quattro stopped walking to glance over his shoulder and smile at Shark. He blew a kiss and then continued on his way home.

Shark was overjoyed. He couldn't control the goofy grin that plastered itself to his face for the rest of the day.

Shark just couldn't wait for the next day, when the 5:10 bus would pull up, more or less on time, and he'd have the opportunity to sit in the seat next to the window seat, and get to talk to the man who'd taken over all of his thoughts. And maybe it was because summer was finally here, or because there was a warm breeze to refresh the night, or the promise that Quattro would someday learn his real name, but Shark had a good feeling.

xxx

A/N: hope you enjoyed it! as always I appreciate all reviews/critiques. thanks for reading