#koi.jpeg

it's been a while now since you've started living with toast, and it's at that point where the walls slowly start disappearing as you both become comfortable with each other in your most vulnerable states. you no longer try to look your best inside the house, and no longer does he. domesticity in its budding stages.

it planted its roots firmly when toast approaches you one morning. you're reading a book, and toast cuddles up beside you, looking at what you're reading. you wrap one arm around him and smile. he still smells like sleep, and his glasses slide down his nose as he tries not to nod off to finish his leftover dreams. 

he looks at you. "can i ask you a favor for something?" he looks sheepish, shy and soft in the morning light, long fingers fidgeting with his braid. "of course, babe. what is it?" he clears his throat. "my roots…" he points to the top of his head, lowering his head so you can see it better. "i kind of need to touch up my roots and um." toast's face is a lightly flushed pink now. "i was wondering if you could do it for me? i could order us some takeout so we won't miss breakfast." 

sure enough, you look and see that his blond roots are showing. you touch them gently and think, princes often cannot hide the fact that they are princes; a crown of gold always shows itself no matter how much you keep it hidden. you look down at him and he is fidgeting with his braid quicker now, interlocking the strands between his fingers more frantically. "please?" he pleads, voice still low and raspy from sleep, but there is a certain hesitancy to it as he can't meet your gaze. he's never asked someone to do this for him before. your chest swells in affection and you nod, kissing his golden crown goodbye. "of course, baby." you get up, book forgotten, and tug his hand. "let's go."

you go to the bathroom, and you see that all of the things you need are already laid out on the bathroom counter. "i-i was about to um. do it myself but i…" he takes a deep breath. "i thought that i wanted you to do it instead." you lean upwards to kiss his cheek and lead him to sit down on the closed toilet seat. "it's fine, baby. thank you for trusting me to do this for you." he exhales a soft laugh and sits.

you mix the dye and the developer, and you ease into relaxed conversation. toast pulls out his phone. "so. what do you want for breakfast?" you think about it for a moment before shrugging. "i don't know, man. as long as i can have a large iced coffee, i think i'm good with anything." toast chuckles at that. "okay, okay. let me pick something for us then."

a few moments later, you hand an old bath towel to him. "wrap this around your shoulders?" he nods and takes the towel as you start to section off his hair into four parts. you put on gloves and step closer to him to apply the pink dye, and his hand reaches up to touch your hips. you lean into it.

"when we first met, have you ever thought we'd end up here?" you ask with a smile. toast hums, genuinely contemplating the question. "well, when i first saw you, i definitely thought you looked… pretty." he puts down his phone. "i didn't want to make any moves on you at first. i was sure you'd want someone funny like xyx, or maybe someone responsible like quest, or maybe someone sweet like biglady." he bites his lip. "not this big fumbling mess," he adds softly. 

"there was the whole bloombot thing and the buyout, too. i didn't have much expectation for us getting together with those in the way." 

"yeah. that happened, huh?" you were done with one section now. you set the lock of hair aside and move on to the next section. "are you and bloombot okay now, though?" toast nods. "yeah. they told me they were working on something new, so there's that." you genuinely get excited at the news and you can't help but break out in a smile. "oh, wow. i'm looking forward to it." you chuckle. "tell me when bloombot's gonna announce it to the server, i wanna see how june reacts." the two of you laugh now, sound echoing slightly throughout the bathroom. 

you let a few moments pass, still working on his hair. "but you're glad? that we ended up here anyway, i mean?" he nods slowly, careful not to ruin your work. "yes. i'm so glad. i'm so fucking happy with you, you know." his blush has returned now, and you fondly notice that his face is nearing the same shade of his hair. "you make me feel… me. but better. does that make sense?"

"i think so, but i think it wouldn't hurt if you explained it to me." you make sure he hears the smile in your voice. "my ego's stomach is growling. it calls to be fed." toast scoffs in reply, but he pauses to think of the words to say.

"oh god, this is going to sound cheesy but," he's reaches over to his phone, but doesn't turn it on. he just needed something to hold and turn around in his hands. "i feel like ever since i got with you, i could be myself freely. it's like i don't care about what other people think of me anymore because i know you're there for me no matter what. i don't feel like shit going to work anymore because i know i'll find you here when i come home. i don't want to stay up late playing as often now because i know you're there, waiting for me to come to bed with you. you make me feel better and you make me want to be better. does that… make sense?"

you're stunned. you hadn't expected him to say all of those things, and suddenly it hits you. this guy who you met in an obscure server because you read a story to escape from your shitty life is here now, telling you all the ways you make him feel loved while you’re touching up his roots. your heart spills over in affection, and you try to come up with a joke while you finish up the next section of his hair. if i don't joke about this i might end up kneeling and proposing to this guy. god.

"that's an awful lot of words to tell me you love me, babe."

"well you-!" he stammers. "you were the one who wanted an explanation!"

you laugh. "yes, yes. consider my ego fed."

the rest of the time you were dying his hair went on in a comfortable silence, with toast occasionally updating you about your food delivery. the doorbell rings just as you put a plastic wrap over his hair. "just in time."

the warm morning light illuminates the entire house, and you can't help but stare at him while you eat breakfast together. what he told you in the bathroom made you want to hold him, keep him with you forever. you can only wish this morning would stretch on a bit longer, with the two of you in pajamas, loving each other as if it's the easiest thing in the world. my prince.

an alarm rings out from toast's phone. "oh, i think it's time to rinse. do you think you can put away the stuff we used while i go to the bathroom?" you nod, and he leans into you for a kiss. he tastes like sugary coffee. "okay. love you."

"love you too."

as you throw away the takeout boxes and clean the dining table, you can't shake off a smile. he loves you, you fucking idiot. he loves you so much that he's him, but better. who the fuck says that? he loves you. holy shit.

toast comes out of the bathroom and lowers his head to show you the top of his head. "looks better?" he asks. you touch his hair, but not to see if you've missed any spots. the crown may be gone but a prince is still a prince.

bonus: