#clothes fitting

I was asked about a role reversal where John gets to fit Harold for a suit but I think that's a little out of John's zone. He's very good at being fitted but entrusted with Harold's measurements? Goodness. What Harold does need, and John could very well provide, is a riding jacket. Something thick and warm to keep him from catching cold out on the road. I think that could be quite a bit of fun. (I know I sent you that response and then did this but if you prefer I can do it over, I just fell in love with this idea.) They take a car to the cycle shop. John loves his bike, but it's damned cold for being so late in the year and Harold's hip complains in the chill, his limp growing worse. John chose the shop, small and out of the way but well known for their quality. Harold approves. The shopkeeper is a nice young lady that shows them to the apparel and walks around Harold with her lips pursed studying. "You know, I think this here," she says, gesturing to a particular area on the wall, "would fit best. Any kind of custom order are doable, but it would take several days, maybe a week to come in." With Harold focused on the proffered selection, the woman bumps John with her elbow and grins, mouthing 'cute' and raising her eyebrow knowingly. John doesn't blush but it's a near thing. The shopkeep has an exellent eye. The jackets do fit, for the most part, but John finds himself looking for something in particular. He has Harold try on the fourth jacket only stroke his hands over the sleeves and frown. "This is too bulky." He murmurs, palming Harold's shoulders and tugging at the excess, "You don't want to look frumpy." Harold is handling the touching extremely well, only preening a little. "I'm afraid this is beyond my area of expertise." He says when John asks what he thinks. "It's very similar to a suit jacket." John protests, smoothing the leather down Harold's shoulders on the sixth coat, "You want something fitted, smooth. Not going to flap in the wind and make you look silly." He follows down Harold's arms, slipping two fingers into the cuff to test the fit. "Something softer is nice, but still tough enough to handle weather." He strokes his fingertips down the sides, bare pressure just to test the feel. "You want a collar that keeps out the wind but doesn't make you choke." Zipping up the front, he tests the collar with two fingers again, not bothering to hide the fact he likes touching Harold's throat with his fingertips. "How does it feel?" He asks softly, leaning down to breathe it against his ear. "Good." Harold manages breathlessly. "I think this color looks nice." John whispers, plainly teasing as he strokes his open palms down Harolds waist, "Very warm." "John, I-" "I see you found a good fit?" The shop girl is standing behind John, arms crossed over her chest, hip cocked. She seems amused by their display rather than upset. "The chocolate color /is/ good on you." she whispers to Harold, moving past them to greet a new customer. "John, that was too close!" Harold hisses when they're alone again. John smiles and helps him out of the jacket. "I think it was just right." he winks and Harold groans. John pays, on prinicpal, and Harold can't stop touching the jacket on the drive home.  There's Numbers and business and covers to maintain and they don't have much time alone for a while. When they do, it's warmed up some but John insists Harold try the jacket out anyway. "I want to drive a route and it'll be a while, you'll wish you had it when the wind starts wearing on you." It's a good thing he gives in as night falls and the wind cools and he can cuddle into John's shoulders, warm in his comfortable new coat.