serenade of.

“i see — you’re a man of many talents, lucas drake. i didn’t think you were being mean, i just — sometimes it’s hard to tell,” he says genuinely, feeling bashful while he ruffles hairs on the back of his neck. “sorry,” he says finally and decisively. seconds seem to tick slower as he sees lucas close his eyes. gosh dang it, why didn’t he think about things ahead of time? what is he going to do? he sighs quietly, gaze flickering down to the other’s lips briefly — they seemed all too familiar. and after a beat gus is leaning in, pressing his own lips gently upon theirs. 

“well –– i’d hope you weren’t just trying to offend me,” he blinks, suddenly frowning when the other suggests they’d do him wrongly. as they laugh he smirks, enjoying the fact that he’d proven himself to be funny, but in a way that was less try-hard. the smirk softens into a fond smile as they seal their pinky promise. “good. i’m happy you weren’t just trying to make me feel good.” he breaks from the other, moving his hand back to his side. his face reddens a little bit as the other brings up the second half of their arrangement –– it’s a good thing, since he nearly forgot. “oh! okay, erm –– close your eyes.”

“it’s okay –– you don’t need to apologize.. i can accept some constructive critique, but i do want you to know that not only am i an ice cream sundae, but i am a sundae with whipped cream and several cherries.” that’s how gus imagined himself as ice cream. he wasn’t saying he was perfect or anything –– just that he’d have lots of cherries. “okay, but you know how seriously i take pinky promises––” with that he wraps his pinky around the other’s eyebrows tugging together slightly.

though he knows it’s lame, and though he could see how unamused the other was, he couldn’t help but grin to himself anyway. “tough crowd,” he says with a simple shrug. “was it worth half the ticket, though, is the real question?” he crosses his arms over his chest, looking at the other with a raised brow. “now –– if you say no to that, then i’ll be sad. so you might as well just lie to me if that’s the case.”

           his eyebrows peak when he sees the other approach, and it isn’t long before he’s smiling widely. “beckett!” he exclaims, a hand moving up to press gently upon his own face. but his hand falls to his sides, features hardening a little at what they say. “uh –– no. sorry, friend.” he says simply, crossing his arms over his chest. “it’s a package deal. plus –– i can’t just charge people for jokes. that’s like –– illegal, or something. i’m not a properly licensed vendor for joke-telling. but –– just give me a few years. i’m working on it.” he glances at the ticket, then at the other, laughing a little bit. “but –– it doesn’t have to be on the lips, silly. in fact –– most of the people i’ve kissed today’s been on the cheek. isn’t that a weird turn of events? kinda happy about it, though –– the idea of a kissing booth seems sort of ... weird to me?”

he gasps as the other crosses his line of sight, suddenly grinning while he looks to the other. “–arizona!” he exclaims, rising to the tip of his toes and back down in a second out of sheer excitement. “oh –– geez, nice!” he says, pushing their ticket aside with the others, and he’s pleasantly surprised with the kiss on his cheek –– he even blushes a little bit. “aw, how nice of you,” he says, rubbing one of his elbows with its opposite hand. if he’s a little pink the face, it’s even more obvious now, “––! hey! n–no ... i’m just trying to make people smile. and ... you know, if i happen to see another knight along the way, more power to us, i guess.”

he’s already laughing to himself –– lips pursed but air still sputtering out as he tries to suppress his giggles. “because ––” he starts, tongue poking from between two neat sets of teeth “–– that don’t meet the ... koala-fications.” and with that he’s laughing loudly, a single fist pounding on the counter top he now rests his head on. but he cuts that little act of overselling his joke short –– standing up straight again to look at the other, grinning widely. “how was that?”

“y –– yes!” he exclaims with a wide grin, “–but only if you’re finished. i’m sure it’s great, but i don’t wanna judge unfinished work.”

gus is laughing at the other, shaking his head. of course this would end up happening, but he’s not one to question the stars. he takes the other’s ticket with a grin, setting it down amongst a pile of similar scraps. “okay –– well then first a joke,” he starts, face resting on his palm, his elbow hitched up on the counter top. “why is it that koalas aren’t considered actual bears?” 

there’s a sign above his head reading ‘kiss a knight’ in sloppy red paint. he’s donning all too realistic middle ages knight armor, including a breast plate, chain mail, the whole sh’bang. but he seems less than dedicated to his little bit, instead –– he’s more interested in his comedy routine. “for a ticket you get a joke and a kiss,” gus starts, flashing the other a grin. “for two tickets you buy yourself a kiss and my silence. though, you are a true sight for sore eyes, so i wouldn’t mind if you stayed to chat a while.” he laughs, offering them a quick wink. 

“ergh ––...sorry,” he murmurs, trying his best not to move. “how’s it lookin’?” 

“of course it’s gonna be fun! just ... give it some time, don’t give up on it just yet. i’m sure the later it gets the funner it’ll be –– plus, you can’t expect the fun to just show up! you have to make the fun happen!” 

               well ––! how could he help himself! the inside of the jacket was so nice, so warm. plus – plus there was a cat inside there. how much more incredible could it get? but he understands it might’ve been uncomfortable for the other, he understands it might’ve been awkward for those around the pair, and so he isn’t hesitant to get it done, humming contentedly as he pets the creature. and while gus seems to be excited to the point of no return, he does take the time to properly listen to the other. “and ... did you? get coffee, i mean. because if you didn’t i can get you some ––” he persists, even standing up in his seat a little bit. “and –– do you plan on taking the li’l guy home? you can’t just introduce rando here to your nice and warm jacket without knowing a proper home to take ‘im to.” 

there wasn’t anyone else gus could go to with this baggage. there wasn’t a person in the world who knows him like his gavin. he moves from his position upside down, finally sitting up, eyebrows set in a straight line, frustrations with himself – with the world – it all was apparent on his features. but he’s taking the other’s words to heart, feeling his throat tighten as they speak. “it’s hard, he murmurs in solidarity. “and –– i’m not just sad sometimes. i’m –– ... i’m sad so much about this. i can’t stop feeling sad, crush. it’s like i’m drowning in it ––” he stops himself, choking up a little bit as he speaks. “i just –– i just want it to stop. i want to feel nice about her. i want to love her memory as much as i loved her but –– but it’s hard.”

what’s happening! why is everything going on?! he’s lifting his head as the other gently presses fingers upon his face, suddenly reminded of being in the doctor’s office when they demanded to gaze inside his nostrils. it’s the exact sort of thing, the silent demanding of investigation. but it isn’t too long before the other signs some things –– gus has been practicing ( and he can read the other’s lips pretty well ) so he’s able to gather some things. ‘bleeding,’ ‘head forward and pinch,’ and then ‘get you some ice.’ he blinks at the other as he walks away, and it’s only when he feels the blood drip onto his lips –– upper first, lesser second, that he’s stunned, a hand quick to touch just above his mouth. “agh ––!” he exclaims, looking at his bloodied fingertips. suddenly it all makes sense. he does what he gathered that he was told, leaning his head forward to pinch on his nose. in an effort to relax himself while the other is away, he hums, “once upon a time not long ago, i was a hoe,” he sings, “and i’m admittin’ it ♪!” 

           gus was happy that beck seemed to relax! everything was so good! the two of them were together, there was a cat, gus had a smoothie! how could life be any better? he hums contentedly as he lets his hand sit in the jacket, feeling warmth replace the cold from his smoothie. when he hears the other start speaking to him, he stares blankly at them, blinking. it’s only when he gets nudged that he offers a real response. he giggles, opposite arm moving to protect the space that was nudged. “hey!” he exclaims in a whisper, grinning at the other. “okay – okay. i’ll do it. look, it’s happening.” the fur is soft and the creature inside doesn’t seem very surprised by it. gus is very happy. “i’m very happy,” he says, finally pulling his arm back. “beckett ––” he starts, eyebrows tugging together. “why do you have this cat in here? and – and whose cat is this?”