Wisdom Tooth

One of my wisdom tooth is being a bitch rn, so have this.

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Gintoki's tooth hurt. It had started a few days ago, and he had paid it no mind at the time, thinking it would pass. It didn't pass.

It is only but a dull ache, but still, the hours are flying by and the pain remains.

It doesn't get in the way of eating, though, and it doesn't hurt when he talks. It's just here.

Gintoki rubs at the tip of the tooth with his thumb, disappointed to not feel it move under his finger. It would have been so much easier to deal with.

He could have taken it out roughly, or seen a doctor, maybe, if the kids had learned about it and insisted Gintoki see someone.

Instead, it doesn't bulge, and Gintoki feels the shape of the tooth still half concealed under the gum. It's a wisdom tooth, Gintoki knows. He had two pulled out when he was younger, during the war. The camp doctor particularly efficient at the time, knowing what he was doing. How couldn't he? The camp was packed with young men, many not even over eighteen, in the prime age of youth. Some got their wisdom tooth removed one day, and came back under a shroud the next one.

Gintoki remembers each time he got a wisdom tooth removed. Idiotically wondering if losing one meant he was going to get wiser, or the contrary. He had nothing to prove it, but it probably was the contrary.

He'd thought he was done with those teeth, but it seemed he was wrong.

The pain was odd, almost unfamiliar. It wasn't too strong, almost forgettable, which consequently made it the only thing Gintoki could think about.

It made him itch to do something, rub the tooth itself or the sore spot on his jawline right underneath it. It made him want to bite his tongue and gnaw at the inside of his cheeks.

He remembers the last time he went to Yoshiwara and spotted Seita proudly showing him his freshly-fallen left canine. Gintoki had tried to convince him to ask for some money in exchange, just like they did in other countries, but the kid had refused and Gintoki had gotten a nasty punch from Tsukuyo in retaliation. Gintoki had left lamenting the loss of an easy and law-abiding income.

He regretted having met Shinpachi and Kagura with all their tooth already, he would have made one hell of a business, otherwise, he was sure of it. Kagura would have earnestly played along, too.

He has no memory of his own milk teeth, no recollection of some sort of pain or discomfort coming from it. He wonders if it has something to do with Shouyou. It has to, he knows it.

Still, unlike Seita, he has no memories of ever losing a tooth and displaying it happily for all eyes to see. He wonders if it is meant to be a happy moment, or if his idea of it is skewed.

If he thinks about it too much, he thinks he would have liked to have his own tiny box filled with his teeth. As weird as he was, Shouyou would have loved to keep it, Gintoki was sure of it. He really doesn't know what happened to his milk teeth.

Gintoki sighs, pulling his thumb out of his mouth. There was nothing to do. The tooth would come out at its own pace, and Gintoki would just have to be patient. He was not about to take meds for this, or worst, risk booking a dentist appointment. He'd learnt his lesson.

Stretching in his chair, Gintoki gets up, deciding to walk downstairs and see if he can bribe Otose into serving him something soft to drink.

The snack house is empty at this time of the day, drunkards still sleeping from their busy night, and salarymen still working in their offices. The door is open and Gintoki walks inside lazily, sitting in his usual spot, plopping his head on his right hand, rubbing at the sore spot on his jaw.

From the corner of the bar, Otose eyes him silently while wiping a glass. She looks him up and down, her face unchanging as she puts the glass away. She walks to the kitchen while Gintoki exchanges a few words with Tama.

Otose comes back a few seconds later, a glass filled with milk she slides towards Gintoki wordlessly.

Gintoki looks at her with wide eyes, raising his head from his hand. 'Why?' he asks.

Otose huffs. 'I've been around enough kids in my life to recognise your chewing.' she explains.

It makes sense, Gintoki's not very discreet when it comes to complaining about every minor ache he gets. Though it baffles him a little to see that Otose still puts him in the same category as a kid. He knows that it comes with age, and that he doesn't call her Baba just for the sake of it, but still. He's far from considering himself a child, or a teen. His actions, past and present, are not those of one, and he makes sure that the kids in his responsibilities are nowhere close to doing what he did at their age.

Still, despite the ache in his bones sometimes, and the unnatural silvery colour of his hair, Gintoki is not old.

The pain from his coming through wisdom tooth is proof enough. Gintoki is young. Whether he likes it or not, Gintoki is a healthy young man with life ahead of him, and an aching wisdom tooth coming through.

So just like a kid, Gintoki downs his glass of milk, and brazenly asks for a new one. Otose may well roll her eyes, but they both know she'll serve him anyway. She always yield when it comes to the kids.

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I'd like to say I have a reason for writing this, but huhh... One of my wisdom tooth is hurting me right now, and I readCitrus_Season's fic "Gunpowder" (on AO3) this morning, and the second chapter contains a scene where a character is examining someone else's tooth and somehow I had this urge to write about Gintoki... I can't help it, I always have to bring things back to Gintoki somehow.

Anyway, if you're still here I hope you enjoyed it, and don't hesitate to leave a comment, it's always nice!