#canonchurl

"Now, I know you said that you're happy with just dinner and a present that you know I already got you," James teased his partner with a glare of faux annoyance. "But I have one more surprise for you so if you would be so kind and turned around so I can tie this blindfold around your eyes."

They spun to the other way with the gracefulness of a drunkard trying out ballet. James laughed at them as he held on their arm to keep them from falling on their face. They reached out behind them to hold onto James' shirt because if it they were standing still, it felt like they might trip on their own feet or something.

Maybe those last two glasses of vodka weren't a good idea. Everything was contradicting itself. Their head felt heavy but their mind was floating. They felt hot even with the chilly evening air. It doesn't help that James was so close to their ear. The feeling of his breath and laughter tickled them.

"What's got you all giggly?" he whispered. They giggled even more instead of giving a proper answer. Giggling could be a good answer, they thought to themselves.

"No, giggling is not an answer. I guess it's fine to assume that this day has been good?"

"Uh huh! Very good.. So good! You did good," they tried reaching out with the other hand to give James a pat only to fail because along with whatever filtering the words coming out of their mind, they have also lost their sense of... something with directions and motor control?

Then, they felt James hold their hand and squeeze. It didn't feel like he was inside their head at the moment, nor would he do it without telling them so. The reminder of how well their husband knew them and how many years they've been together threw them in a cry-giggle fit. When James squeezed their hand twice, they mumbled something about happy tears. At least, they hoped that they said it out loud.

A moment later, James took back his hand and a green cloth came down in front of them.

"Do you trust me?" he asked. The sensation of his breath to their ear and neck caused them to shiver and sober for a bit. They could only nod in return, but it wasn't the reply James wanted.

"I'm going to have to hear you say it, precious."

"..yeah. I trust you, James. Always."

He kissed the top of their head and then proceeded to gently cover their eyes. Then, they were falling onto something soft. Soft land. They tried to reach out but someone was holding their hands. Someone was kissing down their neck and up to their jaw. It felt nice—felt so good. Gentle touches of lips to their skin but never to where they need him.

No matter how much they pull their hands or writhe, he kept on kissing. Sometimes going lower to their collarbone, higher and near their ear, but never their lips.

"..please.." someone said.

The kisses stopped.

"What is it?"

"Don't stop.. Keep going, please. More." the voice pleaded.

The kisses continued. Down to their chest. At the tip of their ear's helix. Sucking on the skin of their neck. But never on their lips.

"Not there.. You haven't..–" the voice whined.

"Where do you want me, love?"

"Want you.. to kiss me.."

"But I have been kissing you." The teasing was nearly bringing them to tears. It felt so good but it wasn't enough. He knew what they wanted. They knew what they wanted. They just needed to—

"My lips. You haven't.. Kiss me, please. I want you to kiss me properly. Please.."

A soft laughter tickled their ears. They felt his weight shift from where he hid at their side until a looming presence was over their body. Another pair of lips hovering over their own.

"Hey! I saw this painting and thought you'd like it! Because, you know, of the baking. Which you do. And this painting of a cat baking reminded me of you–" He bumped his head against the pillar and let the weight of the gift pull his hand back down to the side. "Ugh.. That's not it.."

Pathetically, he stared at his sneakers as if they'd magically give him the confidence he needed to just be honest and converse like a normal person. Or as normal as one could be, he thought.

Was giving gifts for no particular reason or occasion considered to be normal? Was their relationship even in the premise of "hey, I thought of you, so I got you this" kind of gift giving? But they were friends now, weren't they? Fuck, did he read into their interactions and inaccurately assumed that they were?

Thump!

Yes, they are friends. No doubt about that. They said it themself: that they were glad to have a friend like him. That's the very reason why he's putting more effort into having them notice and see him in a different light—to be someone who's more than a friend to them.

His eyes drifted to the painting in his hand. As adorable and hilarious as it was, there was no way that they were going to look at it and immediately think that it was a romantic gesture. None of his attempts were. If they didn't take the hint after receiving flowers everyday for a whole week, how would this one be any different?

"James?" His heart stilled for a moment before rampaging in his chest.

Not wanting them to see his face, he simply waved in greeting. He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or nervous to hear them walk closer until he could feel them standing next to him and their sandals came into view.

Neither of them spoke. He focused on the sounds of the footsteps and conversations of people passing by. It helped in distracting him and helping his heart slow back down to normal functioning.

And for a little bit, he could pretend that he was alone. As if the person who has created a home in his mind wasn't standing right next to him. As if the weight of their head that found his shoulder as a perfect resting place, wasn't there. As if he couldn't feel their pinkie linked with his own.

The softness of their skin reminded him of a conversation they had about sweaty hands and literal cold feet. And in his distracted state where he seemed to have forgotten the difference between reality and his mind, his hand moved away from their pinkie—only to come back and properly holding their hand. The action made him open his eyes as if it wasn't his hand.

And they still haven't pulled away..

If the sensation of his heart pounding in his chest didn't wake him up fully, he would've thought that his mind was playing tricks when he felt them brushing the back of his hand with their thumb. That and the sight of it was in clear view for his eyes to see.

He gently squeezed their hands as if it would help summoning any hidden courage inside him. And with them holding on tighter, it did.

James took a step back to face them properly this time. But their hands remained attached to each other.

"I was going to drop by the bakery today because I wanted to give you something," he said with a soft voice—he was afraid that anything louder would pop whatever bubble they were in.

Their gaze shifted downwards to where his other hand moved to hand them the covered painting and their eyes widened as if it was they didn't notice him holding it. Were they that focused on him that they didn't see it? The thought of the answer to that question made his face heat up.

They huffed in what he could only assume was amusement, if the grin on their face was anything to go by. Now, it was his turn to be surprised. Because when their free hand reached inside their tote bag and brought out a very familiar book cover.

It's both adorable and hot as fuck when David sees Angel's tattoos. Because in all the times he's seen them outside, they're wearing a jacket or cardigan. He walks in their shop for a lunch date and they're just there in a tank top, looking fine as fuck. Then they'd steal David's line in the pool audio: I know I'm pretty but the food'll get cold if you just keep staring.

Also, florist David makes total sense if you remember the audio they were fixing up the backyard of their house. But it's adorably funny that he sticks to the style he has in canon, leather jacket and everything.

Their first meeting would be the same as canon but the stalker allegation is slightly true. They're at a garden that works as a sightseeing area and selling plants. Angel sees that David analyzes every item before putting it in his cart, even asking the staff assigned to that area about the proper way of taking care of it. So they just sort of stand somewhere near while listening to their conversations like the weirdo that they are instead of asking him or a staff.

The place they live in have a balcony and they wanted to use the place for a mini garden. But they couldn't just pick a plant and put it there. Hence, their reason for going to that garden.

The frequency of David's visit to their house makes you think they're dating. Especially with how he moves there like he's been living with them. He uses the excuse of making sure the plants they got were alive and well.