flameinthedarkness

Idia looks so nice when he smiles.

Cater feels his face flushing a little again, bashfulness seeping in. "As long as you're having a good time, you're not going to ruin a thing for me."

He pauses, just finding himself looking at his classmate, his friend--no, his date, before clearing his throat, jumping out of the game station. "So! Shooting game?"

He doesn't take Idia's hand directly this time, just offering his forward to give him the choice.

"Way to put pressure on me then." Idia fires back... but that smile still in place to show it's meant as a joke.

Getting off that game, Idia glances down as the motion of that hand movement catches his attention. Oh yeah, they, ah... they really have been doing this all day, haven't they? A moment of nerves spiking up again in him, before reminding himself he had liked it so... reaching out for that hand of Cater's once more. "Yeah, yeah, that."

...ehh, considering he's just raised this concern... should he... hnnng... "Ah... about the, ah... DDR later on, um... I... kinda done that in the past too..." Idia knows Cater said he was going to show off on that, and with what Idia had just asked, yeah, he's worried that might be something Cater wants as a 'his' thing, not something Idia can do. "Well, I mean, I'm good for like one song, then ready to sit down." Glancing away off to the side as he admits this all.

Feeling a small spike of giddiness when Idia willingly takes his hand again, Cater starts walking them toward the shooting games. When Idia brings up his experience with the dancing game, he seems as excited as ever. "Really? Awesome! You'll definitely have to pick the song we do together, then."

He nudges Idia playfully with his hip, giving him a sly look. "Idia Shroud has rhythm--who woulda thought?"

Of course, he means it as a joke, as well--and besides, real dancing isn't at all like this kind of dancing, so it totally makes sense that his sense of coordination with gaming would help him out. Definitely takes a lot of energy to go at it for multiple songs, that's for sure.

As they reach the machine they were looking for and drop hands to fill the coin slots, Cater does pause as he picks up his toy gun to tell him, "Seriously, though--no pressure. Not for anything."

"Ehhh," Idia lets out a groan, mostly played up at this point with how the, ah, date is going. "Jamil knows... unfortunately... caught me dancing once. It was so embarrassing..." Idia never made that mistake again! Always had senors set up to make sure no one came across his concert time ever again! Though the suggestion of that song, "We can pick together." That's better than putting it all on him.

Having been distracted with that gun and the foot pedal that was part of the ducking system for the shooting game, Idia looks up from them as Cater speaks. "Oh... um. Yeah, sure." Then realizes that comes across rather passive and correct himself. "I will, promise." Then before this all got too heavy, "You better be a good shot." Turning to that countdown for the game.

"Pfft!" Yeah, Cater's definitely okay with bringing back the easygoing ribbing as he sets himself up. "I'm more than just a pretty face, you know. The Dark Mirror picked me for a reason!"

Still, he's glad that they're on a team instead of against one another. It would take a lot of losing for him to start getting tired of playing, but Cater's definitely more into the co-op spirit...you know, so long as he isn't letting anyone down. As the game takes them into the first level, Cater's definitely holding his own. Even if he's never going to really be able to reach Idia's expertise, he's pulling his weight well enough to keep them going through the story, pushing back the enemies and keeping himself adequately loaded.

"I know, I know." Idia answers back with a bit of a grin, though not able to think of any smart ass comments to add to that, so just leaving it as a reaffirmation that Cater was right about that.

And they make a pretty good dent in the game, getting decently far through it on those first tokens. Cater's a good teammate, he can certainly hold his own and Idia doesn't feel like he's being held back by him. Eventually the game will just reach a level that they won't be able to fight against, too many enemies, not enough time to reload or get cover from attacks, but hey! They made the high scores list! "Go on, put in some names."

Cater's torn between cheering and groaning when they finally die, whining as he leans over to shake Idia lightly by the shoulder. "Aw, maaaaan! That was so good--I don't think I've ever made a high score list!"

With Idia having so graciously offered Cater the power to put in names, without hesitation he inputs deez and nutz.

He's getting shaken. Why is he getting shaken?! Idia so caught off guard with the sudden contact and the shake to follow that it takes him a moment to realize this was Cater celebrating their score, needing a moment to process it... then smiling at Cater's reaction.

Until he sees those names. "...I don't know you." Turning and walking away.

...he's actually fine, just playing up the part. But come on, man! Really?!

"Awwww, come on! Whatdya mean? You totally know boffa!" He can't keep a straight face as he all but bounces along behind Idia, fully looping himself around one of his arms to keep him from getting too far. Forgot he was dating a total clown, did he? Never again will Cater receive the power of naming a two player high score. "What're you feeling, next? Plenty of choices, all of them fun!"

And yet again Idia is caught off guard by that grab, glancing down to Cater as he did, unable to keep up that act of stomping off as Cater grinned at him. It's almost edging along the lines of Cay-Cay but... different. A different type of joy. One that feels a lot more real, now that Idia has gotten a glimpse under that mask. "Boffa what?" Ok, he'll let you have that one, if you really wanna delve that low, Cater. You really going to take such an easy target?

Let's see, "How about we see if there's anything good even in those crane games? No point planning to do them if nothing worth getting."

Naaaah, Cater leaves it. The punchline's already been used, after all. Grinning like an absolute madman, he nods at the suggestion, keeping a casual, stumbling gait by Idia's side. "Good call! We can make a lineup of which prizes to shoot for, if there's anything in particular we like."

It sounds like a good plan--especially if dancing is going to tire Idia out, they could hit that up last, on the way out the door, and reward themselves with lunch. Unfortunately, as they're about to turn into the section of the arcade that boasts the different types of prize-winning games, Cater spots a familiar face coming from the opposite direction.

It's no one important, really. Just someone in one of his classes who's a real chatterbox. If Cater was on his own, he'd just stop him to say hello and maybe talk his ear off until he pulled out an excuse to get away. But if he sees the two of them together...yeah, he's going to tell everyone that he saw Cater Diamond hanging off the arm of Idia Shroud, the two giggling like buffoons.

"Shoot--"

He can deal with rumors like that, whatever, but Idia? He'll probably hide in his room for the rest of the year. Like, all the time. So, not really giving Idia much warning, he yanks him to the side, ducking them into an open photo booth.

Yup, good plan! Though there would be the factor on taking it on the bus, then into their dorms, then their rooms, but that was a later issue. And depended on what was there. Something too big would be a hassle, unless they could arrange for it to be shipped to the school. But who knows if that's an option and even what is available here.

Idia's running through those options in his head, not really paying attention as he glances at games as they pass them, making mental notes of them. Until Cater speaks, head starting to turn back to him to ask what is wrong before he is tugged along. No resistance at all. He's easily moved by Cater, eyes closing at the sudden movement and a pitched up 'eh!' getting out of Idia from it all. He stumbles at the sudden stop too, feeling walls at his back and side and opening his eyes to find... a photo booth?

"W-w-what's going on?!"

Because he moved them both into the first hidden space he saw without taking much care, Cater's all but pinning Idia against the wall as he looks over his shoulder toward the curtain, trying to discern whether the student he'd seen is passing them by or went a different direction--even lingering.

"I saw this huge gossip king just ahead of us," he finally explains. "He'd make a huge deal about seeing us together--spread it around school like wildfire. Sorry about..."

He looks back toward Idia again as he starts to apologize for manhandling him without any warning, just to realize how close their faces are. Well, their whole bodies, really. All of a sudden, Cater forgets what he was saying.

What he do? What he do?! Idia can't even bring his hands up as he normally would in front of his chest, Cater's too close to do that, they trapped more around his stomach as Idia squeezes one hand tightly with the other, his brain still catching up to what is going on. Somewhere he will register that Cater had done something nice for him, had tried to save them both from being school gossip.

But it's all overwhelmed by how close Cater is to him. Like super close. Sure they had sat next to each other before, but this was... different. Very different.

It's such a trope! Idia's mind screaming at him of all the manga and anime scenes he had seen like this before. What they always led to. And for his brain to calm the fuck down! It's not like that! Real life didn't work like that! Squeezing his eyes closed again and trying real hard to ignore that blush that was spreading over it, ignoring his face heating up and no doubt his hair changing along with it.

"I-I-It's ok..." He manages to get out as a whisper. Gods, don't look at him while he's like this, Cater!

This is dangerous. Sirens are going off inside of him, telling him to back off--not just because he's set up an uncomfortable situation that's way beyond where the two of them are in their "first date" experimental status but because of what it could lead to. His emotions are messy underneath his carefree surface. He doesn't want something when he knows it's just going to end.

But that's the thing. He wants it. He wants Idia even if it's a bad idea to want him. Cater can't miss the way that Idia's flushed--they're pressed too close together, and the pink flooding his hair lights up the space around him in an even more romantic lighting than its natural blue.

All he can hear is his heart beating in his ears. He gulps down a knot in his throat. Step back, he tells himself, but his feet and hands stay firmly planted where they are, and he can't look away. But if he goes for it, really takes a risk and misreads the energy that's stacking up like a falling block puzzle...

It'll be game over, right?

"Tell me not to kiss you right now," he finds himself saying, voice a whisper.

He's not moving. Cater's not moving! Idia still so aware of the other teen's arms either side of him, his body just too close but not fully against him. Very very conscious of that lack of space between them, his own breath still hitched and a bit fast from this all happening so fast, a shake to his hands. Just what is going on? Why wasn't he moving? Was he... was he...? No no, not possible. It doesn't happen irl! And even if it did... how does Idia handle this?! Why would it happen to him?!

Idia's breath does start to even back out the longer they stay that way, some of that tension leaving his body, not feeling at risk at all. Confused? Yes. But not panicked. Eventually peeking his eyes open to confirm what he felt, that Cater was still there, staring at him, that gaze only making more of that pink stain his hair. And any questioning on just what is happening, if Cater was as aware as he was at this all, of what to do, is answered with that.

And that... Idia letting out a short, breathy, but shaky laugh, his own voice soft as he answers. "That's not fair. That's too smooth." It's totally a line right out of a romance manga or something. No fair, Cater, no fair.

Cater blinks when Idia answers him--and it isn't the rejection he was expecting. He isn't shoving him away and telling him to fuck off, or asking what his problem is, or...

"Pfft!" The tension breaks a little bit, the somewhat intense look on Cater's face cracking into a slight, gentle smile. In that moment, he forgets all the things he's scared about. Idia is such a goof. A goof that he's realizing more and more as this day goes on that he's absolutely attracted to.

Idia didn't tell him not to do it, and so Cater leans in, pressing his lips to Idia's smartass mouth.

He... he doesn't know what to think or... if to even think. It would be so easy to overthink this all, to stress out about screwing this up, if they should even be doing this or... so many other things. But... he's not. Not right in this moment. Not questioning if this is smart or a good idea. Because he knows one thing from how the date had gone so far, from their time hanging out, both irl and online;

That he wanted this.

Ducking his head down just enough to match their heights better, a bit hesitant as Cater's lips touched his, a jolt of worry going through him. And quickly forgotten with that kiss. That was so much nicer than he imagined. Seen plenty of it via media, had wondered about it, then dismissed it as not something for him. Not going to happen. But it was.

Idia reaches a hand out, catching the front of Cater's coat with his fingertips, holding it and pulling on it, as if Cater's going to step back and away from him after this, not wanting to lose it just yet.

Even as he initiates the kiss, there’s a part of him expecting—maybe even hoping that Idia will pull away from him. Will tell him to stop. It would be the excuse he needs to hide away, back in the familiar reassurance of his loneliness.

Just him and himself.

But Idia meets him the rest of the way and he forgets about his apprehension in that moment. It isn’t his first kiss but it feels new just the same—he’s never cared about it like this before, wanted it so badly. When he feels Idia’s fingers pulling him in by his coat his own hands move away from the wall of the photo booth. One finds the drawstring of his hoodie, fingers tangling in it as the other tentatively reaches for Idia’s face, cupping his cheek.

Maybe Idia will panic about this later. Or even once the kiss ends. He's not sure. No clue how he'll react. But he's also not thinking about that right now. Or thinking about anything right now. Fingers tightening against Cater's coat as he moved in closer to Idia, other hand moving up to touch the wrist of Cater's hand that held him, head tilting just enough to keep that kiss going. Nothing planned about this, no trying to figure out what is happening or how to do it. Just reacting.

Cater sighs softly into Idia's mouth as the kiss continues, their bodies acting on instinct and brains in sleep mode. That hand on his wrist feels stabilizing, Idia's thin fingers so distinct against his skin. For someone who can't stand the taste of sweetness, he doesn't mind this--it's soft and warm and he doesn't feel the need to push for anything further. It's not like going through motions, something he'd do at a party just because it's a thing to do.

Gentle kiss rolls into gentle kiss and Cater doesn't have it in his mind to go anywhere, has forgotten exactly where they are. It's the most relaxed he can remember feeling in ages, so it's hard not to want to chase that feeling...

...when a voice clears through a speaker hidden in the photo booth that neither of them had taken the time to scope out before things got heated. The employee sounds positively tired.

"Hey, kids, if you're not going to take any photos I'm going to have to ask you to clear out before I call security."

Any chance to lose himself in that...

Get fully shattered by that interruption. Jettisoning Idia out of that blissful fogginess that was clouding his mind as he threw himself backwards from Cater, or as much as the space would allow him, which isn't enough. Hands coming up to cover his face as he turns into the corner, muffled cries behind his hands at being discovered, that hair still pink but for a very different reason now.

OMFG! NNNOOOOO! Just NOOOO! GODS this is so embarrassing!

He needs to get out of here, getting out to Cater in a panicked tone, "Let's go! Let's go!" Anywhere! Anywhere but here! A hand dropping from his face to grab at Cater's sleeve, tugging it to urge him to move, Idia's face bright red at being discovered.

This is it. This is how he dies. Cater would've shrieked if Idia's panicked reaction didn't give him the clarity he needs to take control of the situation. Not that it's much control, mind you, but enough that as Idia grabs his sleeve Cater assents wordlessly, looping their arms together and hauling ass out of the booth.

And out of the arcade, no looking back.

His feet are ahead of his brain, speed walking them through the mingling teenagers and down the road, keeping at that adrenaline-fueled pace up until they reach an area that's quiet. There's not much here but some less popular, niche stores. It's about as private as they can probably get outside of a bathroom stall--which they're definitely not going to go make out in.

Not--not that they're going to just suddenly start kissing again. Agh!

Finding an empty bench, Cater flops into it, face a vibrant red. What does he even say to follow up everything that just happened?

"Fuck."

It's a start.

Since the ground isn't just opening up to swallow him up as they rush out, Idia's free hand is still covering his face, thumb trying to tug the edge of his hood further on his face to hide it, but since it's not his normal hoodie he can't hide in it as easily as normal. He's greatly regretting not having it now. Or a mask. Or anything to help cover his face and hair.

That was so embarrassing! The kiss still not really registering to Idia, too caught up in being seen and knowing someone had been watching them.

He can never go back to this arcade ever again.

He's blindly trailing alongside Cater, so glad he was there to stop Idia from just racing out and getting lost while in a panic. Once at that bench he sits and just collapses to the side, or as much as the bench would allow, both hands trying to hold his hoodie edges over his face, hands covering what couldn't be hidden behind fabric. His face is so hot, his hair so pink. He hates how much it shows on him.

Cater finally speaking just gets a wail of a whine back at first, Idia still trying to remain 'hidden' as much as possible, some time passing... before... "OMG..." Whispered out.

Cater takes a deep breath, but it does absolutely nothing to stop the incessant pounding of his heart as the adrenaline of being caught wears off and the shakes set in. All of that blissful lack of thought is getting bowled over by the many, many ideas of just how badly this could go wrong.

"OMFG," he agrees, leaning forward over his knees as he covers his own face. But they can't just leave it at that. They can't. They've absolutely and irrevocably gone past the point of just scrapping this whole date thing and pretending it never happened and going back to just being gaming buddies and classmates.

Even now, even though he's freaking out, Cater still wants to chase the feeling of Idia's lips on its own. His brain is stumbling over itself, a hamster wheel of panic being cut in with the occasional image of Idia's blushing face. Him saying that was too smooth.

Criminy. He has to say something, doesn't he? Otherwise they're both just going to expire here.

It feels like it's been an hour when he finally manages, in a small voice, "...I'm sorry. N-Not about kissing you. I'm not sorry that we kissed. Just, you know, doing it there. I really got ahead of myself. I didn't think about where we were at all."

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