Title: routine (around you)
Rating: G
Fandom: Shingakkou
Relationship: Cecil Coward/Michael Levi
Wordcount: 600
Short summary: A day in Michael’s Seminary life, which also revolves around Cecil.
He yawns, he blinks.
5 years at the seminary is enough time for Michael’s body to know when to wake up as well as the best reason to wake up.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Michael.”
Because the morning’s rays cause Cecil to glow in a way so beautiful it must be seen. And to be able to see this every morning at the seminary…
“You’re in a good mood, Michael.”
Michael smiles. Of course he is, especially when Cecil smiles back so warmly. To think he could have lost this smile forever… He swears never to forget his blessings again.
His pen has stopped. He’s distracted.
Michael should be paying better attention to the lecture. Even without the drive to please his father as a top student, he still wants to honor his father by attending the seminary properly. And because in front of him, Cecil is diligently taking notes.
It is that sight of Cecil, sitting up straight, head still, soft brown hair falling straight to his neck… Cecil looks like the model student. But for Michael, Cecil is his beloved. So even the slightest movement catches Michael’s eye.
And Michael takes note of that better than anything else.
Silverware clatters against dishes. Glasses repeatedly bang on wooden tables. It’s incredibly noisy, yet in the middle of that, Cecil’s soft voice still catches in Michael’s ears.
“Is it good? You finished fast.”
“I was hungry!”
Lunch time couldn’t come soon enough today, especially since he couldn’t concentrate on lectures...
Cecil laughs. “Still growing then.”
“Yep!”
“How much taller are you going to become…”
Michael grins. He wants to gain at least 5 centimeters. It would mean their height difference would grow. But that’s not bad at all, to have that beautiful face tilt upwards…
“Much taller…” he murmurs quietly.
“Are you going to play football?”
“No, I think I’ll go to the lake.”
The afternoon’s sunny and everyone else is outdoors. As much as Michael enjoys football, he’s spent so much of the day around people. He’s craving some quiet, as well as…
“Do you want to come, Cecil?”
“Hmm?”
“We could do some fishing?”
Cecil bites his lip. Yes, it’s a little cold out, but the lake isn’t frozen. And this isn’t a code for another activity.
“Alright.”
Michael knows the rules. But it doesn’t mean he won’t enjoy time alone with Cecil. He’ll never give that up.
“Checkmate.”
“Crap!”
Michael had won the previous two times they had played chess, so he was aiming for his first 3-win streak. But tonight is not his night, no matter how much he delays. Cecil knows too, his mirth apparent in his beautiful green eyes…
“Your move?”
“I’ll get to it!”
Michael’s cheeks heat up, but his fluster comes not just from the chess situation. He might have been staring at Cecil’s face for too long. He’s sure Cecil has caught on, considering how the smile is widening…
“Soon?”
“Argh!”
Michael makes a move and loses, but… He still smiles.
He yawns once more.
Another full day at the Seminary with Cecil has been completed. Now they have tucked themselves in for sleep, unfortunately in separate beds, but at least they are next to each other. At least Michael can reach out with his hand and grasp Cecil’s, under the cover of darkness when no one else is looking. But not for too long or it tempts Michael to do much more. When he can’t here…
“Good night, Michael.”
In his dreams, though, Cecil smiles and comes closer…
“Good night, Cecil.”
Michael closes his eyes and falls into sweet sleep…