REFLUX

              For what feels like the first time in a long time, Milk is lost. He is starstruck. His breathing is more laughter than even exhales, tiny giggles betraying his face when he covers his mouth with his hands. Kane looks so happy, so proud that it fans the fire in Milk’s heart.

              The presents pile up higher and higher, until Kane disappears behind the stack he has created. Milk cranes over it, leaning on his toes to peek over glittery paper and hand-pulled ribbons, hands delicately moving the sparkly boxes away so he can bask in the glow of Kane’s smile. That was gift enough, the gentle flush of Kane’s cheeks and the liberally sequined shine of his eyes. How did he get so lucky?

                                          But—

                                  “T-this is all for me?”

              Journals, feathers, books… like the secret, embarrassing wishlist kept in his heart was being read in open candlelight. Milk can hardly keep up with what Kane rattles off, cradling one of the boxes against his chest, spreading glitter heavy against his threadbare shirt as he glances down at the paper the hides the beginning of the gifts. Just how much time went into this? He fidgets at the bows to hide the blush that creeps over his cheeks, to hide the flustered smile, so different than he knows or is used to. How much planning..?

              No one has ever given him attention so lavish, so… sparkly. Kane is truly one of a kind, counting ways of loving on his fingertips as he goes. 

              Clothes? The list tugs Milk’s attention back. Pretty clothes? Secret clothes? Clothes that fit? Candies, brushes, a pretty new bow… all of this is overwhelming, but the final tome-strike that sends static through his spine is the easy spoken words that tumble from Kane’s lips: 

                                          I’ll pretend to be your retainer! 

                 It nearly floors him, the very idea almost sending the box flying from his hands in shock. Lord Milk? Retainer Kane? N-No! That was nearly blasphemous! 

He probably won’t be doing this again for a long time. Might as well bask in the feeling, right? He lets Milk pick through his presents (and get coated in glitter while he does so.) His weight is leaned on one leg, a hand resting on his hip idly while he watches and takes it all in. Not even Rin gets this excited about presents. Maybe it’s because they’re nothing new for either of them? They grew up rich and privileged, so Kane’s lost the little spark in his gut he used to feel when he opened up something for the first time. 

There’s a different spark, this one stuck in his heart and infinitely warmer, as he watches Milk clutch the bow like it’s made of glass and subsequently, almost launches it across the room at his words.

 “Don’t take it so seriously; it’s mostly just for fun. Maybe it’ll be interesting to be the one getting the orders instead of giving them! Honestly, this is actually a selfish type of gift.”

 So open! The grin returns, bigger than ever; he nabs a ribbon from the top of the pile and winds it around his neck, tying it in a pointed little bow-tie. Next, he bows, low and graceful.