No words were spoken as they thrusted a box of chocolate to one another. With raised eyebrows and parted lips, they stared at the gifts, then raised their heads, meeting each other’s gaze, in sync, like always. Kotetsu fidgeted with his hat, Barnaby with his glasses. Kotetsu sucked in a breath as he reached for Barnaby’s free hand. Their fingers intertwining gave Kotetsu the strength to lean. Barnaby must have felt the same, as they met in the middle. Though instead of their lips, their foreheads collided.
It made a good front cover to Sternbild City Weekly, to their surprise.
Roses were beautiful. Lined with thorns to protect themselves, yet still so fragile when their defenses were breached. To be pricked, snipped, trimmed for beauty, for viewing… Nathan understood that quite well. It was a necessary evil.
So when Antonio stood at their doorstep with a bouquet of the most vibrant pink roses they’d ever seen, they felt their heart swell, both in joy and fear. To feel this vulnerable again, it wasn’t something they expected so soon, especially after quite literally reliving their nightmares. Though, Antonio’s strong arms wrapped around their waist brought them back to a softer reality.
Karina expected this, but still, seeing the mountain of gifts at Ryan’s desk made her sigh wearily. Clothes, sweets, letters. She recognized some of the brands, gaudy and expensive. She couldn’t say they didn’t suit him. Her hastily wrapped, homemade chocolates would likely be tossed aside, so it wasn’t worth even placing them down. Before she could think of what to do with them, they were yanked out of her hand.
“Hey–!”
“Oh, man, you made me these?” Ryan unceremoniously ripped off its wrapping and shoved one into his mouth, humming contently.
She almost hoped he would choke on it.