Title: Somewhere In Between
Rating: M
Pairing: Noiz/Aoba
WARNING: THIS STORY DEPICTS MALE/MALE RELATIONSHIPS.

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ATTENTION

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Sagta, username 'junjoupureheart' on Tumblr, will be illustrating this fic! To see her wonderful drawings, please find this story on Archive Of Our Own under the author 'realmspinner'. Thanks!

CHAPTER 06

Hopeful pink eyes were staring him down.

Noiz regarded Clear with mild interest as he sipped at the alcoholic beverage that, once again, had gotten him a dirty look from the distrusting Koujaku. Clear, for whatever reason, seemed to be very excited about this game of Twenty-one Questions and was leaning forward in anticipation. After Aoba left, the white-haired bartender had sauntered right over and prompted Noiz for a question of his own.

Noiz wondered just how much Clear knew about Aoba. He pondered about weaseling some information Aoba probably would decline to provide himself. Then again, it was always so entertaining to coax it out of Aoba.

"How long have you known Aoba?" Noiz decided to go with. With a hum, Clear looked to the ceiling as if to recall.

"Has it been a year now? Something like that," Clear answered, shaking his hand back and forth. "I've worked here for years, so I met Aoba when he started. He wasn't very thrilled about working here."

Noiz raised an eyebrow.

"Then why did he get a job here?" Noiz asked.

"Nu uh!" Clear exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at his face. "You can't ask two questions in a row. It's my turn!"

Noiz shot him a look, but Clear looked unperturbed, flashing him a smile.

"Shoot," Noiz sighed, turning his gaze to his drink.

"What's your favorite food?"

Noiz raised a brow. Favorite color, favorite food... was this guy really going to stick with grade school questions?

"Pizza, I guess," Noiz answered. He turned in his seat to look out at the crowd, eyes stopping on the dancing figure of Aoba. "So why did he get this job?"

"Well, he needed the money, I guess. The economy is pretty mean," Clear pouted as if it were a great injustice. Noiz snorted at the understatement. "He couldn't find a job, so Koujaku got him one here."

Noiz frowned. There it was again, the fact Aoba needed money. He stared as the man moved around the pole, swaying with the beat, smile on his face. He had a small crowd around him, dancing and talking and offering a few bills here and there, which Aoba would bend down to pick up with a wink or a simple grin.

"Aoba is the perfect combination of sexy and cute, ne?" Clear suddenly asked. Noiz trailed his eyes back up Aoba's body until they landed on his face. Someone a couple seats down the bar held an empty glass up in the air and Clear excused himself as the words brewed in Noiz's mind.

"... I'd agree with that," Noiz muttered to himself, taking another sip of his drink. He took notice of two men leaning on the platform when Aoba stopped dancing to focus on them. One of the men yelled something up at Aoba, grinning as he twirled a finger in the air. Aoba looked a little sheepish, but nodded. He placed a hand high on the pole and suddenly lifted himself up, wrapping a leg around the silver bar and jutting his upper half out. Almost lying horizontally in the air, he swung his body around the pole over and over, slipping farther and farther down with every spin until he was skillfully lying on the ground and looking at the two guys upside down. The two men wooped and hollered for him, as did other guests around the area, and Aoba laughed as he stood back up. He collected his tip for the move and went back to dancing, answering things the two men were saying to him now and then.

'Stop trying. He's not going home with you,' Noiz thought, convinced the two men were flirting up a storm. When nothing but air was being sucked through his straw, Noiz set the glass down on the bar and checked his cell phone for the time. Rather than the clock, however, he was greeted with a new text notification. His phone had been on vibrate, but with the loud music of the club, he guessed he didn't notice it going off.

A few clicks later, and he was staring at another invitation from the Junkyard Boys. No apology for the last time, of course, but an invitation none-the-less.

Noiz's thumb twitched.

Without replying, he exited the text message and saw that it was going on 10:20pm. He wondered if Cookie was doing okay. This was the longest time he'd been away from the house since he bought the bunny. He'd definitely left enough food and water, though, so he figured she should be alright.

"Am I interrupting?"

Clear was back in front of him, casting curious glances at the phone in Noiz's hand. Noiz hesitated briefly before shoving it back in his pocket.

"Nah. What's your next question? Can you get me another one of these, though?" Noiz asked, sliding the empty glass closer to Clear.

"Sure!" Clear responded, quickly doing so. He raised his voice to be heard over the music as he made Noiz's drink. "I already asked the question! I didn't get an answer!"

Noiz blinked, trying to recall.

"... that was seriously a question for this game?" Noiz asked, realizing he was talking about when he called Aoba the perfect combination of sexy and cute.

"Why not?" Clear asked, walking back over with the drink. Noiz caught Koujaku curiously looking at them from the corner of his eye, but when he noticed Noiz's gaze, he quickly looked away.

Uncertain of how he should answer, Noiz shrugged.

"I guess I can see that," Noiz answered, sliding his fingers around the glass but leaving it where it lie. He squared his shoulders and looked straight into Clear's eyes. "Alright. If someone offered you five-thousand dollars to sleep with them for a night, would you do it?"

Clear didn't even bat an eyelash at the question.

"Five-thousand is a lot of money!" Clear admonished, suddenly looking excited. "I could decorate my room in the ocean theme I've always wanted! Sure, I'd do it!"

"Clear!" Koujaku suddenly interjected. By the look on his face, Noiz guessed he heard the exchange. Clear looked at him, confused, and Noiz just smirked.

"He's just being honest," Noiz remarked, taking a sip of his drink and taking amusement from Koujaku's glare.

"Don't let this guy fill your head with weird ideas," Koujaku said. Clear's confusion was replaced with understanding.

"Oh, don't worry, Koujaku! It was just a question, I don't think he was actually offering!" Clear said quickly. He turned back to Noiz. "You wouldn't, because you like Aoba, right?"

Koujaku threw a murderous look Noiz's way, even as Clear continued to cheerfully smile. Noiz wasn't sure what was funnier; the invisible daggers shooting him down or Clear's flippant nature.

"Aoba is definitely interesting," Noiz answered. He turned away from them, missing their reactions to the answer, though he had a good idea of what they were. His eyes found Aoba once again, and then he got out his phone again. 10:30pm. He was pretty sure Aoba's next break would be at eleven.

"I can't believe he still shows his face here. Fucking creep," a girl suddenly walked up to the bar next to Noiz with a man in tow. She slid into a seat and flagged Clear down. "Can I get a Bloody Mary, please?"

The man who'd followed her stood behind her because there were no other stools open.

"Which one?" The man asked, looking out into the crowd with his eyebrows furrowed. She leaned against his arm and pointed.

"The table in the middle; shaved head, green shirt. My brother has a restraining order on his ass," she commented distastefully. The guy wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Well just stick around me. I'll kick his ass if he even comes close," he threatened, to which the girl cooed and hugged him.

Noiz was not concerned with the interaction.

He was concerned about the fact the guy they were pointing at was the one who'd convinced Aoba into swinging down the pole earlier. And who still had his eyes on Aoba, along with his buddy sitting at his side.

Noiz set his drink down, not caring about it still being half-full, and stood up. He weaved his way through the crowd until he was looking up at Aoba. Aoba saw him approach and sent him a quick eyebrow raise, but continued to dance.

"So do you take requests?" Noiz shouted up to him, shoving his hands in his pockets. He'd normally appreciate the loud music and the thrumming beats coming through the club's speakers, but then again he was used to sitting at the bar alone. The music was just a hindrance when talking to others.

"What kind of request?" Aoba asked, dubious.

"One where you ride the pole," Noiz answered with a completely straight face. At Aoba's embarrassed glare, however, he smirked and shrugged. "Just following Clear's advice."

"Just go back over to the bar, will you?" Aoba exasperated, shooing Noiz away.

"When do you get off?" Noiz asked, not budging.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Defensive."

"... one AM," Aoba answered.

Noiz nodded, casting a glance out at the crowd before venturing back to the bar. For the next two-and-a-half hours, Noiz entertained himself by chatting with Clear, watching Aoba, playing games on his cell phone, and drinking. At about the sixth glass of alcohol, he became aware of his tipsy state and ordered water with a basket of chicken fingers. He felt no urge to get drunk tonight.

Clear's shift ended at one as well, and so at twelve-fifty, Clear was cleaning his area and untying his apron. Aoba has disappeared into the back rooms, likely to change out of his outfit.

"I'll be heading out soon. Night, Kou," Noiz said with a pointed look.

"Don't give me a nickname," Koujaku seethed.

"I'm gonna leave my outfit here so it can be washed," Aoba said, walking up. He glanced between Koujaku and Noiz with a slight frown.

"No problem. I'll see you tomorrow, Aoba, be safe," Koujaku replied. Aoba looked up at Noiz, noticing he was standing.

"You're leaving too?" Aoba asked.

"Yeah," Noiz answered shortly. Aoba threw him a look and walked around him. Noiz soon followed. It wasn't until they both walked outside the club that Aoba turned back to him with narrowed eyes.

"I hope you aren't thinking of following me home," Aoba accused. Noiz quietly 'hmphed'.

"I have to go this way, anyway," Noiz said, pointing in the opposite direction Aoba's body was turned toward. Noiz quickly scanned the area, but saw nothing.

"Give Cookie a pat for me, then," Aoba said with a short wave. He turned and began walking down the sidewalk.

"You'll be coming to see her sometime anyway!" Noiz said. Aoba didn't turn around, but lazily waved his hand in the air to show he heard and possibly to show he disregarded the fact completely.

'Cheeky,' Noiz thought, turning to walk home.

From the corner of his eye, he caught two figures walking out of a small convenience store on the other side of the street. One proper glance determined their identities. A couple seconds of watching them.. their path, their gazes.. determined they were likely following Aoba.

He turned back around.

"Oi, Aoba!" Noiz spoke loudly, his voice echoing between the buildings around them. The two men, about to cross the street, stopped in their tracks to look his way, but Noiz purposefully acted like he didn't even notice them.

Ahead of him, Aoba had stopped and looked back. Noiz casually started walking his way.

"What?" Aoba asked. When he received no immediate answer, he scowled, and started walking back as well. It seemed more polite than just standing there waiting for Noiz to catch up to him. When the blond was only a few feet away, he asked again. "What?"

"You're pretty popular, huh?" Noiz asked, keeping his voice low. Aoba's scowl deepened.

"Wha-"

"Across the street. You have a couple of stalkers," Noiz continued. Aoba furrowed his brows and, to Noiz's surprise, didn't whip his head to look, but rather subtly shifted his eyes.

"... you're sure they're following me?" Aoba asked.

"One of them already has a restraining order against him," Noiz answered. Aoba sighed.

"I'm not even going to ask how you know that, but.." Aoba said, finally deciding to make the fact he knew they were there known.

… by not-so-subtly lifting his arm and flipping them off.

The two men seemed agitated by the sudden attention and quickly left the scene, walking away from the pair until they were out of sight.

"... I feel like you've had this happen before," Noiz said, and Aoba chuckled dryly.

"Because I have," Aoba responded. "Thanks for the warning, though."

"Figured I'd play my role as Prince Charming and save a damsel in distress," Noiz shrugged. Aoba straightened his shoulders.

"Whoa, whoa, damsel? I can take care of myself," Aoba retorted, narrowing his eyes.

"That's what they always say," Noiz said with a sigh that further ruffled Aoba's feathers.

"Well I'm telling the truth," Aoba said, crossing his arms. Noiz looked vaguely intrigued.

"Show me a punch, then," Noiz provoked.

"You want me to hit you!?"

"Right here," Noiz said, holding out his hand, palm facing Aoba. "As hard as you can."

"I'm not throwing a punch at you!" Aoba rebutted.

"It's not at me. It's at my hand."

Aoba did not appreciate the sarcasm.

"Same difference!"

"Though you're welcome to throw one at me, too," Noiz challenged, a glint in his eyes. "You'll find yourself flat on the ground, though."

Aoba's eyebrow twitched.

"Aren't you cocky," Aoba drawled, crossing his arms.

"You're the cocky one, saying you can hold your own. Prove it."

"... fine," Aoba agreed begrudgingly, though still unsure. He reared his arm back, staring at the pale open palm in front of him. He was hesitant to put all his power into the punch. Even though he figured Noiz had had much worse done to him, hurting Noiz was not something on the top of his list of things to accomplish. On the other hand, he didn't want to appear weak... because he really wasn't, and that mocking smirk on Noiz's face was pissing him off.

He swung his arm forward. With a smack, his knuckles hit Noiz's palm, pushing it back. Noiz, braced for the attack, closed his fingers around Aoba's fist, feeling a quiet burn flare up his hand. Aoba stood there for a second, recovering from exerting such force, before pulling his hand back and stretching out his fingers. Noiz put his own hand down.

"... not bad," Noiz commented. A sense of pride prickled in Aoba's chest. "...but not good either."

The sense of pride was immediately crushed, and Aoba grit his teeth. He really hated how cocky Noiz was. The need to prove him wrong was bubbling inside of him.

Without a word, Aoba stepped back and steadied himself. If a punch didn't impress the blond, then...!

Aoba gracefully and powerfully lifted his leg and flung a high-flying kick right at Noiz's face. Noiz barely had enough time to assess the situation and move his head back before Aoba's foot flew in front of his face, centimeters away from his nose. Noiz's bangs swayed from the quick movement.

The sense of pride came back two-fold upon seeing the expression of surprise on Noiz's face.

"I'm glad you can take care of yourself. That just may have knocked you out," Aoba bragged, grinning. He decided to leave it like that and turn around, re-initiating his journey home.

He was too far away to hear Noiz respond under his breath.

"… it wouldn't have knocked me out," Noiz muttered sulkily.

With birds happily chirping outside the open window and bellies full of cereal, Sei and Aoba were lounging on Sei's bed, watching videos on Sei's laptop. Snickering would turn to all-out laughing, and amusing comments would be thrown between them. Sei was already dressed and ready to go to the pet shop in about an hour, and Aoba had woken up surprisingly early feeling refreshed enough to climb out of bed. He was too lazy to change out of his boxers and t-shirt, however.

"Go get me a muffin," Sei said, giving Aoba's side a light push with his sock-covered foot. Aoba scowled.

"You just ate!" Aoba rebutted.

"I'm still hungry," Sei said with a pout. "Please?"

With a dramatic sigh, Aoba crawled off the bed and made his way to the kitchen. From where the muffins were placed on the counter, he could see Tae in the living room, hands busily knitting. Aoba hoped it wasn't another scarf. They had an entire collection in the closet, due to Tae's love for the needle and thread.

Right as Aoba stepped back into the bedroom, muffin in hand, a familiar ring tone filled the air. Sei, being closest to the nightstand the cell was sitting on, rolled across the bed and grabbed it.

"Hm? A blank entry?" Sei questioned, blinking at the unnamed number on the screen as the phone continued to ring. Aoba raised a brow, setting Sei's muffin on the bed and holding out his hand. It wasn't until the cell was in his palm that he realized what an unnamed number meant. The only number in his cellphone that wasn't labeled was Noiz's.

He hesitated to answer, but with Sei staring at him expectantly, he inwardly sighed and accepted the call.

You guys are wonderful, I appreciate the reviews, and for those who also follow this story on Tumblr or ArchiveOfOurOwn, I apologize that the chaps are taking longer to be posted on there.