mythological idiots

AFTER THE LADY scanned in his book, the price popped up on the little LED display, prompting a very brief, very momentary pang inside Tino’s chest–that was still quite a sum of money. Nevertheless, he forked over the proper amount with a courteous smile and waited patiently for his change. “There goes a good half of my wallet,” he chuckled. “But I’m sure I won’t have any regrets. I mean, I have been eyeing it a while. Guess it’s about time.” He was handed the change soon after, and once it was all wrapped up, Tino gave the cashier his sweetest thanks, took the package, and tugged Hiko out of the bookstore with him.

AH, HIKO. ALWAYS so reluctant when it came down to public displays of affection. Tino had known that a while, but he couldn’t exactly help it nor stop himself. His was an innate need to be physically close to the people he cared about, whether it be with kisses or hugs or simple hand-holding. “I was just nuzzling your cheek, that’s normal enough, right?” he grinned, tugging Hiko along as, arm in arm, they made their way to the counter. He set the book down before the cashier with a thud and took his wallet out. “You know? I’m happy you convinced me to get it.”

THE SMALL SMILE directed pointedly at Haruhiko lasted for just a bit longer before Tino finally succumbed to his chuckles. Removing his hand from the inside of his pocket, he pulled the other close to him and leaned down to press his cheeks against his, nuzzling and making little pleased noises of utter glee. “If you say so,” was all he said after, upon stopping and straightening up, emphasizing once more the somewhat dramatic difference in their sizes. Still, he kept his hand on Hiko’s elbow, choosing then to coil around it so they could stand arm in arm. “You’re absolutely sure you don’t want to get anything? Last call, then I’m paying for my book, and it’s off for dessert we go.”

SLOWLY, INCH BY inch–you could literally see the inches–Tino’s lips, initially pursed into a pout, began to widen just the slightest bit. Within seconds, or at least by the time Hiko was through talking, it had become a full-fledged Tiny Smile™. It was the sort of smile that was warm and fuzzy and super small but super sincere. His heart was fluttering to say the least, and like a teenager with a puppy crush, Tino stared down at the ground, one hand finding its way into the pocket of his pants while the other tightened its grip around the book, and kicked at nothing. 

“OK, I’ll get it, I’ll get it…” he said, unable to wipe the smile off. He pressed his lips together and said nothing for a brief moment, before eventually, brown eyes flickered up to the other’s. “You really liked the kiss?”

HE WAS QUIET for a few more seconds after the question before, finally, he straightened up and pouted briefly at his boyfriend. “It’s just…” he started to say, small remnants of his previous “whining fit” still causing his words to lilt a little. “We went in here for you, and you were so excited to get a book, and you even convinced me to get something for myself, and I was so happy that I kissed you, and I guess you didn’t like that because now you don’t want to buy anything at all, and it’s not like you, and now I feel bad. I’ll just put this book back, and I’ll leave empty-handed with you, and I won’t ever kiss you in bookstores and libraries and those little secondhand book stalls ever again.” 

WHILE HIKO REACTED and spoke, Tino had been dry sobbing the entire time, rubbing his face into his boyfriend’s sleeve and whining like a child lost in the middle of a supermarket for the very first time. He was reassuring enough with his words, but Tino still couldn’t help it; he’d been so excited to come in and buy something, and yet… now, he’d leave empty-handed? Was Hiko OK? Tino didn’t reply right away, his dry sobs softening by the second before finally coming to a stop. Without pulling his head up, he spoke, his voice muffled. “You sure…?”

WHOA. WAS THE kiss that bad that it erased all of Hiko’s enthusiasm to buy books? What was he even feeling now? He looked so… so blank. What did that expression mean? It was scary! “Aaaah!” Tino exclaimed all of a sudden, shutting his eyes and whining as he tugged Hiko closer and rubbed his face against his shoulder. “Don’t be like that! You love books! It’s my fault, isn’t it? I kissed you, and now you don’t want to buy anything! All because of my stupid, disgusting mouth!”

FOR REAL? HOW was that possible? Hiko always, always had something to get whenever the two of them were at a bookstore. The heck happened? “You serious?” said Tino, both eyebrows raised. “But just a while ago, you had all these books with you.” He’d taken his sweet time too, walking around and perusing the shelves. Was Hiko out of sorts? Was it Tino’s fault? This wasn’t normal behaviour for him at all! “Hey, c’mon–we gotta get you something, right?”

FUNNILY ENOUGH, HARUHIKO was right there, still standing in the same spot they’d been in minutes ago. He didn’t look like he was still deciding on what to get for himself, and he didn’t seem like he was thinking hard about his purchases either; if anything, Hiko looked absolutely blank. After a brief pause and some blinking, Tino approached the other and gave him a quick tap on the shoulder. “Yo. Have you… decided what you’re getting yet?” Was this still about that kiss earlier? Was he so shook that he couldn’t even function? 

HE MUST’VE STOOD there for one whole minute more before finally breathing out a short, decided sigh and clutching the book closer against him. With a nod to himself, he turned on his heel and moved to find his boyfriend yet again. He was slow in this, though, part of him mostly distracted by the book and by how simultaneously nervous and giddy he was about making such a huge purchase. It wasn’t some small magazine nor a thin pocketbook. This was a big, elegant hardcover, with “special” pages, full illustrations and a timeless text he could recite and read over and over and never get tired of. It was a pretty big deal.

Vaguely, at the back of his mind, he wondered if Hiko was still where he’d left him.

AS MUCH AS he wanted to see, Tino had to resist the urge to look back and check on Hiko–such a “second thought” type action would ruin the extremely smooth exit he’d just made (always with the theatrics, huh, Kiritani?) and mess up the mood. No, he was just going to keep walking, up until he finally wound up right back where he started, staring at the big hardcover displayed cover first upon the shelf. Though his heart still fluttered from the memory of such a sweet, sweet kiss, seeing the book there almost completely pulled him back down to reality. Hiko had already told him to buy it, and a huge part of him was set on doing just that–he’d been eyeing the thing for, what, two, three months now?–but still. It was a pretty big decision, a huge purchase. Gingerly, he picked it out and turned it around and stared at that price sticker.

“Mmmmmm,” he hummed quietly.

STANDING THERE, KISSING his boyfriend between two bookshelves in a quiet corner of a modest, sparsely-populated bookstore was probably one of the warmest, softest feelings and experiences he’d had in a while. The pads of his fingers barely touched the smooth skin of Hiko’s chin, but it did its job to keep his face up while Tino leaned down. Hands and fingers curled against his shirt, and he felt just as weak as the other, his hear bursting with icky romantic stirrings. There was thrill in the “what if” of getting caught, but that wasn’t the main chunk of it. In fact, that thrill barely registered. Tino was so caught up in the kiss itself–in the feel of his lover’s soft, warm lips against his, in the way both their hearts pounded together as he tenderly pressed him against the bookshelf–that it barely even mattered.

But of course, all good things had to come to an end. He let go eventually, giving the other a small smile as he ran a finger through his silky dark locks. “Come find me once you’ve decided what to get for yourself, OK?” said Tino, after which, he moved to take his leave.

It might not have registered in Tino’s mind all that much, but the good majority of Hiko’s was very much caught up in the “what if” of being caught. His heart was pounding, his stomach churning with nerves, his legs might have even trembled a little. And in a strange way he kind of .... enjoyed it? It was a rush of excitement and fear and god it was thrilling. What if they were caught, what would happen if they were? These questions swirled around in his mind as he melted into the kiss. Which was also very nice. Though it might have been a soft and sweet kiss, Hiko was so worked up with the nerves of it all that he felt like it was one of their more hot and heavy ones. By the time Tino pulled back, Hiko’s gaze was hazy, his cheeks a bright and painfully obvious red. He didn’t even register what Tino said, still trying to come to his senses. 

HE LIKED IT. If he didn’t, he’d have said it right away. Tino knew his boyfriend, and he knew that if he wasn’t into something, he’d say it. That biting of the lip, coupled with the turning away? He could tell. He could easily tell. 

Looking up to see if anyone was passing by, Tino side-stepped a bit and, noticing a customer slowly saunter past, pretended to be interested in a book right beside where Hiko stood. When she disappeared, he moved back in one swift motion, body right in front of the other’s, trapping him against the bookshelf yet again. “I’ll have another, OK?” Without even bothering to hear his answer, he turned Hiko’s face towards him–very gently–and leaned in to press yet another soft kiss. Longer this time, and lingering.

THERE WAS SOMETHING weirdly cute and satisfying about what they’d just done (brief as it had been). Kissing in a bookstore was a little nerdy, a little adorable, and it definitely fit Hiko’s aesthetic, right? But, of course, with Hiko being Hiko, he wouldn’t ever admit to that being so–least of all out loud. “What’s wrong? There aren’t a lot of people around,” Tino whispered back, his mouth shrinking into a tiny smile. “Tell me you didn’t like that.” As if to tease, he moved in just a tad yet again, this close to kissing his boyfriend another time, but quickly pulled back before their lips could even touch. Tino wasn’t going to lie. He wanted another go at that. It was sort of… sweet and warm.

CHOICES, HUH? WELL. From the sound of it, Hiko wasn’t giving him much of one, going so far as to say that their date would be ruined, seeing as he’d have to buy it for Tino and would then be unable to buy any for himself. The taller of the two could only very affectionately roll his eyes. “OK, fine. I’ll buy it. What was I expecting you to tell me anyway?” He gave Hiko a little smile, thankful enough for his “advice,” harsh as it seemed (buy it, or else our date will be ruined). “Before I leave to get it, though…” Tino stepped closer then, simultaneously leaning down and bringing up a hand to lift his boyfriend’s chin up just a bit. Brown eyes fluttered closed as he moved to erase the gap between them, lips pressing very softly, very sweetly against Haruhiko’s.