Frozen: First Snow

He watched the silver plated clock on the wall as the second-hand passed the 10 for the second time that evening.

It's already 10…he thought as he stood, scraping against the wooden floors. His plate clinked gently against the porridge bowl earlier from his breakfast, and he placed his hands gently on both sides of the counter with a sunken sigh.

Where the hell is that guy?

Walking over to his work jacket, he grabbed his blue phone scrolling through.

-No Missed calls-

Creaking the black leather couch as he laid out , he grabbed the remote off the glass coffee table littered with Kise's magazine covers. Kise's smiling face gleamed up at Aomine, and he scowled turning his gaze to the flat screen television.

After the third day of Kise's absence, he felt dull ache creeping inside of him. Every day he missed him more, but felt the pain less like a wound scabbing over. He leaned his head back on the arm of the couch and flicked through the channels ambiguously.

"Kise Ryouta ladies and gentlemen. He's going to model for Calvin Klein jeans soon. Ryouta-San tell me what has been the most exciting thing about this new job?"

Aomine stopped immediately and leaned up a bit seeing Kise's face on the television.

"I'm just really happy to have landed this deal", Kise replied with a dazzling smile. He wore the new shirt they bought on their last shopping trip together in Ginza months ago. "Calvin Klein is a talented designer. His clothes suit my taste and I love the edge to his look. It's really like a dream."

"I love you Kise!"

"I love you too!" Kise turned to the girl in the crowd, glowing and winking to the camera.

Aomine smirked watching his lover play to the lively fans. Even though he knew it was prerecorded, he still felt strange watching Kise pretend.

" Well as you can see, you're very popular with the ladies," the interviewer noted laughing mechanically.

Kise laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his blonde hair. "Yea I suppose so."

"So is there anyone special now in your life? You're almost 24, planning on settling down soon?"

Aomine placed his knuckle against his chin watching Kise smile delicately and lower his microphone. Sometimes his face could be so unexpectedly serene looking. Was it practiced or authentic? Kise's normal unreliable silliness never got air time.

Kise grinned picking up the microphone to his lips turning back to the announcer. " I don't have anyone special...right now I'm just focusing on wo-"

Aomine turned the television off and sighed deeply. The derisive smile on his face as the remote slipped out of his hand made him feel a little less pathetic.

I know he can't tell the world about us…

He turned to his side as his eyes watered a bit and curled into a ball on the undersized couch.

But still…

He shut his eyes to the pain as the hole etched in his heart seared.

Why does it still…hurt so much.