flameinthedarkness

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."

...oh yeah, back to reality, can't hide forever, can he? Not that he really is, just lying on the bench like a fool. Ssiiiigghhh, Idia letting out one more huff behind his hands... before forcing himself to rock upwards into a sitting position, a few deep breaths as he runs his hand through his hair, shaking that pink away.

Fuck... just... fuck, rubbing a palm over his face as he pushes that blush away. What the hell was all of that, brain wanting to pull it apart and examine everything which happened... but distracted as Cater starts rambling, eyes shifting to the side to gaze at him as he spoke. Well, more vomited those words out at this point. What had happened had... well... been a thing. Not a bad thing, Idia has to admit to himself. Surprised, sure. Really tropey but... not bad. Confusing though. Something to unpack later. But for right now...

Idia reaching a hand out to gently place on Cater's head, a light brush of his fingers over his hair. "It's fine, chill. I highly doubt you organized that all. And if so, it was a fucking stupid plan." Just the situation getting away from them, panicking and... well... yeah.

"It's fine, really." Idia continued, fingers gently combing over his hair before realizing he was doing that, wondering if Cater might see that as him babying him or something and not like it, Idia moving to pull his hand back.

So much for being way too smooth. The Cater that sits here now can barely string together a well-thought sentence. But the hand in his hair is soothing, patronizing as it might be in a different situation, so when Idia removes it he instinctively reaches up to capture it, bringing it down and holding on with both hands.

What am I doing?

Either way, he doesn't let go. He keeps it caged between his palms, taking another deep breath.

"I just wish...if it had been somewhere else, we wouldn't have had to stop like that."

Idia freezes for a moment as Cater takes his hand... then relaxes, shifting his grip just enough so he can curl the tip of a finger or two against Cater's fingers. He's not sure what to do in this situation, has no clue at all, it's not like he's even been remotely close to being in a situation like this before.

Instead... he's just typical Idia, saying what comes to his mind and not realizing how it might not fit. "You're concern out of this all was not getting to make out longer?" The tone to it dry, but in a way Cater should be used to this being part of Idia's humor, his 'wtf is wrong with you' tone.

"Seriously, what you hoping for? Dry humping me or something? Sudden find someone who wants to use the photobooth and, hey! Two guys making out there. WTF." A little much but... he's hoping he gets a laugh from Cater at this, that will help break him out of this all by being super ridiculous.

It does work...at least, at first. He chuckles a slight "heh" when Idia asks about his concern, and even from his position Idia will be able to see his mouth curl up into a bit of a smile...but then the rest of the joking wipes it away again. He goes quiet, frowning hard as he looks at their joined hands.

It's not an angry frown so much as a thoughtful one. He's upset, kind of, but not really at Idia or even himself.

"Nothing," he says in a murmur. "I just really like you."

Ah.

Idia still for a moment, before moving to lean back against the bench, mindful not to shift his hand too much from Cater's grasp, but just... needing a moment to breath. And think. Mumbling out, "A lot has happened today..."

He's not sure what he's thinking. Needs time to process it, try and fit it into his world, but... "All I know is... I've liked today. Like, really liked today. More than I think I have ever liked a day. Even with all the down bits like me having a mental break down and us making a run for it. I'm... happy." A soft but dark 'heh' added to that. "Not used to being happy..." Idia admits.

Then a few more moments to think over what Cater said specifically, how it would slot into... well, everything. And finding that... "I like you too. Like... even agreeing to this date... I, ah, wasn't sure what the hell to think about it. It's all new to me. Didn't want to think too hard how it would go, just... see what would happen. But... during it..." Gods, it's so hard to work out his own thoughts on this. And this isn't even taking into account trying to work out his emotions on this all yet. That would be a fall down in bed and scream into a pillow thing to come later.

"I... really like doing this all with you. I really like spending the time with you, and... I, ah," Those nerves starting to spark up again, despite the fact he's already said it but... saying it again, like this... it's tough, a hand coming up to his face, needing something to hide behind. "I, ah... really like you..."

And now they're two idiots sitting on a bench, holding hands, not looking at each other.

Somehow, this is the last thing that he could've possibly expected. Not just the length of the response that Idia gives him but what he finally says after the whole explanation. He likes him, too.

So, they like each other. Really like each other. Like-like each other, one might say.

He gulps, feeling a tremor starting in one of his legs as nervous energy threatens to overtake him. God, what is this mood? It feels like he should be saying something like Kyaaa~! Idia-kun has a crush on me~! except that would just be some bullshit he'd say if he didn't care. If he wanted to turn it all into some big joke. After all of this...he can't even remotely stomach the idea. He'd hate himself more than he already does.

Cater clears his throat. "So," he finally manages, "maybe we could...keep dating? Would that be okay with you?"

"I mean... we'll have to find a new spot to go to. Donno if I can face going to that arcade again, ah, after that..." He kinda stands out after all... but that's a round about way of saying, "Yeah, ah, yeah, I'd like to... as long as you're still having fun with, ah, with me..."

Give him a moment.

To settle in.

Then, "OMG... does that mean we're boyfriends?" What? Just... what?

When he really goes out and puts it in those terms, Cater can't help the awkward laugh that escapes him. He looks up at Idia, still halfway hiding but sheepish now, a sparkle of excitement in his eyes. "I guess it does, huh? Relationship status: it's complicated? JK."

Okay, Seven, he's breaking out in a big, happy grin even if he's still somewhere stuck between mortified at the arcade debacle and jittery with the fear of all the baggage that comes with attachments.

Him. A boyfriend. Idia Shroud, his boyfriend!?

"...please don't ask me for photos for magicam... yet, at least..." Idia's not sure he can take that quite yet.

This is all so sudden... but it's nice to see Cater smile like that, Idia finding himself smiling a little bit back at him.

"So... think you can stomach ramen still? Or too much after... that?"

"Are you kidding? I always have the stomach for ramen: the l33test of all foods." Squeezing Idia's hand, he hoists himself to his feet with a more energetic breath, making to pull Idia up as well. "You're going to love this place. Aside from being able to make it crazy spicy for me, they're also super small and have this little tucked away table."

Yeah, he's feeling a bit more like himself. Maybe for now, he doesn't have to worry about tomorrow or the next day. He can just...live in the moment. With Idia.

"And since you're paying, I can definitely return the favor by holding off on pics."

It doesn't take much for Idia to be pulled up, though he does move to aid in that as Cater tugs on his hand, letting out a 'pfftt' at that, "You're so lame." But it's said with a smile as he listens to the description of the place. "No photo booth to make out in?" Because it's still mortifying enough that the only way to cope with it is to laugh about it.

"Yeah, I am, so go wild. And, well, I don't mind if it's food photos just... yeah, not yet with, ah, with me..." Would he ever feel comfortable with photos of himself? Ehh... Idia's not sure, but... well, he'll see. He'll have to see how he feels about all of this still, so no promises for the future when he's still trying to wrap his head around the present.

Walking hand-in-hand feels even stranger, now, but Cater finds himself starting to grin like a drunkard as it all settles in. Wow. What a day. What a date--and it isn't even over yet. "Already reminiscing, are you?"

Is he ever going to stop blushing? He's not sure, but...it's nice. He feels warm, he feels like he's walking on air. His body stays all but glued to Idia's side as he directs them toward the restaurant in question. It's clearly a family-run business, a blink-and-you-miss it kind of building with no fanfare.

Also, it smells amazing inside. The cook greets them from behind the main counter and tells them to pick any table. Cater snags a menu for them to share, just in case, but he definitely knows what he's ordering as he takes the two of them to the table in question.

"Prepare to have the best thing you've ever tasted." A pause before adding, "Aside from me, of course."

"Pfft, shut up."

Oh. Oh, this is cool. Like, not some big place but totally a hidden local thing. That makes it kind of cooler, and more unexpected, Idia quiet as Cater got them sorted, and given the chance takes the seat the feels the most 'back to the wall' he can of the options. Once seated Idia tries not to fiddle too much, linking his fingers together over and over, not at full nerves but a low scale of them. Or he had been until Cater spoke.

"OMG... why are you like this?" But don't change, Cater, he's, well, he's discovering he really likes that. Gods... really likes him. He had said that, hadn't he? A touch of that pink returning to the ends of his hair before Idia gives a shake of his head. Focus! "Um, lets see..." It trailing off as he leans over to look at the menu. "I donno if I'll be able to eat a full bowl..."

Cater can't stop smiling and he knows it's so cringe. It's so nice to just...be himself. The slight flavor of Cay-Cay there without needing to be over-the-top. And that dark side of him, the bottomless pit where everything feels hopeless, it's like it doesn't even exist. Like he's finally crawled out of it.

"It keeps pretty well if you don't mind leftovers; anything you don't finish can be packed up. Or if you don't think you'll want it later, I'm an absolute glutton and can definitely polish it off." As Idia looks over the menu, Cater looks over Idia, chin perched in his hands. "I think they have mochi ice cream, too, if that sounds good as a chaser."

"Hmmm, maybe." He's not sure he wants to drag it all the way back, no matter how good it may be. Just be a pain to carry, but if Cater is offering to eat it for him, that would be handy. "Ah, I was thinking, ah, the miso one. You good with that, if I can't eat it all?" No question or making fun of Cater able to eat more than him. If he says he can, then that's cool.

As for the ice cream, "I'll see how I go afterwards." But a bit of a smile at the offer. Idia really is a snacker, he doesn't do meals.

"Works for me!"

With that under agreement, Cater waves over the staff, who comes around to take their order. Cater simply says he wants his usual, and then Idia gets a chance to put in his miso ramen. It'll be a nice, mild palette cleanser after his ultra-spicy special. It won't be too long of a wait, but until then...

Well, it's just them again, and now they don't have ordering to distract them, see Cater's just looking across the little table, feeling full of butterflies and nervous energy--but it isn't unwelcome at all.

"Oh, dang, I just realized we never got to the crane games."

Huh? "Oh yeah, we didn't... eh, well," A shrug to go with that, not like they can change it now. "Sucks but is what it is, I guess." Idia had only been considering it as something fun to add to the date, maybe to grab some stuff to remember this by, but didn't really care.

Or... didn't before, well... them confessing to each other, his gaze dropping down to the table, brows turning up more than normal, easy to assume he's upset about this with that expression...

But really he's trying to think of a solution to this, playing with his fingers again as stuck in thought. What has he seen during their time that might work instead... hm. Oh, "Hey, wasn't there a convenient store by the bus stop? They had gachas out the front. Maybe we can grab some of those to, ah, well..." Ehhh, no... this is a stupid idea, right? Or... was it? Since, well... since Cater had said that to him... Idia forcing himself on. "To... ah, I guess... a keepsake for, ah... all this?" Was that too lame?

Before Idia can doubt himself too much, Cater's disappointed realization switches to delight at the idea. "Hey, yeah! I like that!"

Without really thinking, he reaches across the table to take those fiddling hands in his own. He looks up at Idia from the messy tussle of his hair, wiggling his fingers between the other boy's as if to distract him from his overly active thoughts.

"I don't think I'll ever forget today...but I definitely want something more than just a picture to be able to remember it by."

Idia jolts in his seat as Cater's hands finds his, his nerves telling him to squeeze his fingers tighter, but that only results in him squeezing Cater's hands, which spikes his nerves again. Rinse and repeat. It's not a bad nerves... but it is still nerves.

"Ah... good, ah good, yeah, um... me either." That blush raising again as Idia's gaze stays on their hands. Their hands that are intermingled with each other. But feels nice. And- ehhhhh, too much. So too much! A sharp shake of his head to push those thoughts away. "Don't wanna run out of another place..." And maybe a little telling where his thoughts were going with that...

He raises an eyebrow at that statement, following Idia's gaze down to their hands. "There's no way I'm leaving until I've had my fill," Cater protests. "What do you think's gonna happen? I'll I've got my on my mind are some long, thick noodles slathered in spices."

Okay, so he can't help being a little bit teasing, slowly pulling one of those hands closer to him, like he's going to bring it to his lips as he watches Idia's face.

Ah...but he hears the owner moving around, which means their food is probably about to be brought over. He reluctantly lets Idia's hands go, leaning back in his chair and squeezing his own cheeks with a sigh.

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