flameinthedarkness

"Yeah," Cater agrees without hesitation, stringing his new charm into his phone as well, admiring how the blue is striking against the red and white. "We get it."

And it feels like they're the only two people in the whole world right now, anyway, so who cares about what anyone else thinks. Cater looks up from his phone to Idia again.

"So, what d'ya think? Anything else you wanna try and fit in to the day before we catch a shuttle?"

Hmmm, did he? Idia thinking as he put his phone back away... finding that charm getting caught on his pocket in doing so but, you know what, having the little cat hanging out is kind of cute. He can deal with it.

"I would like to get Ortho something. I... feel kinda bad about this all. He always tried to get me to go out with him and first time I do... it's not with him." He feels like a bad big brother... "But I donno what..." Ortho likes board games, and puzzles, but that would mean hunting down a place to find something and that might risk them missing the bus. Maybe a gacha? But was there anything here that he would like? Like really like, not just like because Idia gave him one?

Hmmm, "C-could you help me with an idea, later on. I'd like something small now but... I'd like to plan a day for him out too." Maybe some sort of scavenger hunt around the town. He'd like that.

Come to think of it, Ortho is always so encouraging, trying to get Idia out of his shell. It makes sense he'd want to see Idia go into town, and that he would've been there by his side if it hadn't been for Cater making it a date. Ortho's such a curious kid, to boot...he'd probably love the chance to see so many people out and about doing things that doesn't involve schooling.

"Yeah! Of course! I'd love to help!" If he had a little brother, he'd want to make the trip unforgettable. "We'll brainstorm, and I'll do some more digging to see what I can find that he might enjoy."

In the meantime...

"I should pick something out for him, too. As a thanks for letting me steal you away."

"T-Thanks..." Idia would make it up to Ortho, somehow, and Cater really was good for this too. He knew a lot about stuff going on, and... getting to make something with him... ehhh, gods, what even was this day? It's so... chaotic. A good chaotic but... so much. Idia letting out a sigh, before, "How about some cute gachas? So we don't miss the bus." It would be no good if they can't get back, and the machines are right here.

Idia will give some tips and suggestions of what Ortho likes, knowing he would like anything they got him, and to work with what was here. In the end Idia went with a generic cute one, but didn't bother to check what he got, wanting to make it be a surprise for Ortho. And a second one for him, so they both got one each to share together.

Nodding in agreement, Cater sets back along the gacha line. Thinking that the blind box idea is cute, he adds a second one to the pool for both of them, saying, "now you can both try your luck together twice! Make sure to send pics of your prizes!"

With that, though, also not knowing exactly what kind of things Ortho might like, he pulls from a few more machines--after all, anything that doesn't work he can give away elsewhere. Finally, he finds something from a gachapon of puzzle miniatures and offers it over. "I don't know if Ortho has anywhere he can hang a keychain...but it's cute, right?"

Idia's brows go up in surprise as Cater hands over two items, not expecting that, "A-ah, you didn't have to... already done more than enough today for me..." And still was, clearly, Idia looking down to those two capsules before carefully pocketing them with his own two.

Watching on as Cater keeps going, a shake of his head at this all. WTF... but... in the nicest way, Idia's expression soften as he watch Cater take his time to try and find the right item for Ortho. Idia's glad too, if whatever this is they had was going to work then Cater had to be good to Ortho. They were a pair after all. Wherever Idia went, Ortho followed. He smiles a little as Cater speaks, "I'm sure I can make him something to hang them off him if he wants, or a space to hang them up in our room." He can see his brother wanting either of those.

With all that settled, all that's left is to head over to the shuttle stop nearby and wait. It's hardly anywhere close to curfew, but it's an odd enough hour close to dinner that there aren't many people waiting waiting along with them. Cater sighs as he stands, rocking on his heels as he cradles Riddle's gift in one arm. It's a good thing all those gacha prizes are small enough that they fit in his pockets.

"It's kinda weird," he remarks idly as they wait. "My hand feels so empty right now."

It's... strange. To be going back. Idia's sure it'll be even stranger once they finally get to the gates of the school, but this feels very... well, he's not sure. This all feels so strangely dream-like. And Idia's given up trying to predict how he's going to feel about this all, this day keeps getting turned on its head and throwing Idia off that... he can't even start to guess what is going to happen or how he's going to feel about it anymore.

And even if he could try and figure it out, Cater's less than subtle comment gets a smile from Idia as he reaches out to take his hand. "You're going to be such a pain if you're always this demanding." As if it's a bad thing. And to really reassure it's a joke, Idia moving so their fingers are linked.

"Ha! If I'm a pain you're a glutton for punishment," he teases right back, grinning in a sort of triumph when Idia's fingers wiggle into the spaces between his own. "But really, though, I also mean...I'd usually just be on my phone right now. There've been a lot of times today where I'd usually be checking Magicam, but I honestly haven't even thought about it."

Huh, "...oh, yeah, I guess... me too? Like, not Magicam but... anything?" Idia had really only used his phone to take photos while they were in the cafe. Huh, though... and it is Cater, "Ah, do you want, um... another photo? Before we head back?" Idia asks but it's in a tone where he's clearly not sure of what he's offering. He knows it makes Cater happy, but... he's not too sure on it, still. But being around Cater is making him wonder if it's so bad after all. A lot of things today have been like that...

With the suggestion, Cater beams. "I'd love another photo!" He hopes by this point it goes without saying that he won't post it anywhere--just keep it as a way to commemorate the weirdest and maybe most fun day he's ever had.

Not wanting to let go of Idia's hand, he puts down the pastry box so he can use that hand to take out his camera. This time, the selfie stick comes out--it's obvious that he's way too used to taking photos on the fly, the way he manages to set it up one-handed.

"Say 'nyaaaaa'~"

Right before he presses the shutter, Cater leans in and plants a kiss on Idia's cheek, hoping to capture whatever expression it motivates in his newly-dubbed boyfriend.

Sigh. Ok, no, he can do this. He can do this! Even as Cater brings out that selfie stick and... ehhh, Idia is so out of his element, wanting to hide in his hood, throw a hand up over his face to try and cover himself in some way. And he considers it, really does. But if it's just for them, and Cater has been a total brat all of today, in mostly a good way, then... Idia can try and get even, right?

So a Cater says that word and taking it as a count down to this all, Idia pushes past his nerves, planning to try and catch Cater off guard by turning at the last second to kiss his cheek. Only to find that Cater had the same idea!? Well, Cater certainly gets that shock from Idia he was hoping for, but not face on like he was expecting, instead in profile as their lips brush against each other for that photo before Idia leans back.

"WTF! I was supposed to catch you out with that! Not you do the same!"

Cater's fingers are faster than his brain, and he captures that moment before fully processing that Idia had turned his head and they both surprised each other with a kiss at the last second. "--pffft! OMG!"

Bursting out into merry laughter, he looks at the photo. It's both terrible and cute at the same time, slightly motion blurred due to how fast Idia leaned away, but their lips together and eyes full of gentle confusion.

"Idia! That's so cute! Hey, do it again, I'll act surprised!"

It's partially a joke and partially serious--after all, the fact that Idia was going to take some kind of initiative at all in that regard is kind of amazing, and a shock of butterflies burst in his stomach.

"No! No! No! That's all you're getting!" OMG! Idia's free hand coming up to tug at his hoodie, pulling it as far as he can over his face to try and cover it, leaning away from Cater more... but not letting go of his hand either.

"Why did you do that?!" It clearly being all Cater's fault.

"Awww, come on!"

He can't help but laugh--he doesn't mean it badly, of course, and even as Idia hides himself he still doesn't let go of Cater's hand, which tells him that he isn't too mortified.

"I just wanted a picture of you all pink and cute, but this is even better!"

"NO!" Stop it, Cater! He can't tug that hood any further! It's not his normal, deeper one! Stupid dressing up. He never is again. Never ever.

"OMG stop! You're horrible!" Idia is never suggesting photos again. Ever.

Cater somehow manages to whine even as he's still got laughter in his voice, all but leaning full bodily into Idia's side. "Don't be like that! Come on, how can you be mad at a face like this?"

He bends his body to try and sneak a peek into where Idia's hiding in his hood, giving him his best kittenish smile.

"Easily." Idia snaps back instinctively... then lets out a sigh, regretting it as soon as he said it. That was harsher than Idia had meant it to be. "...sorry." Another huff of a sigh before Idia stops mucking around with this all, not trying to hide any more.

But also now has Cater leaning into him. Which is another problem. "Um... you, ah, going to stay there?"

It is harsh, so even though Idia follows it up with an apology he still flinches in surprise, teasing expression falling into something a bit more awkward. "No, no, I'm sorry. Too far, huh?"

When his position is pointed out, Cater steps off. His phone stashed away once again, he rubs the back of his neck. "I won't do something like that again without your permission."

"No, no, it's just..." Idia's head dropping as Cater steps back, grip going loose against Cater's hand as he tries to pull his hand back. To try and hide again. This was such a waste of Cater's time. Why was he even bothering with Idia? He's such a failure at everything.

"Sorry... sorry... totally wasted your time today..." This was just his true colors after all, right? He's an asshole. Idia knows this. He knows he doesn't know how to talk to other people. The fact Cater has tolerated him this long... of course Idia would ruin it all.

This was all such a mistake.

The extreme reaction to his own apology isn't something Cater was expecting, so he's a little flabbergasted when Idia speaks. He catches fast to his hand before he can take it away. "What are you talking about? Hey, look at me for a sec."

Smile absolutely wiped off his face now, he waits patiently for Idia to at least look in his direction before speaking again. "You didn't waste any of my time. You could tell me right now that you changed your mind about me, and I'd still be happy we had today."

This is a mistake. This is a mistake. This is a mistake. This is a mistake. This is a mistake.

What the fuck is he doing here?! None of this meant anything! It's one thing making distractions for himself, but to drag someone else into it?! What the fuck is wrong with him?! Idia shouldn't be dragging Cater down with him! Cater should find someone else to do this all with. There was plenty who would. It's pointless anyways. Nothing could come from this.

And he doesn't get it. At all. Of all the people Cater could spend his time with, "Why you even bothering with someone like me? All I do is treat people like crap." Whether Idia realizes he is or not. A lot of the time he doesn't even realize he is until he's told he has.

"If that was true, I wouldn't," he responds, reaching for Idia's other hand to try and make his classmate face him. "Sure, sometimes you're a bit caustic, but they say actions speak louder than words for a reason."

He knows that well enough. He can give platitudes up and down while meaning exactly none of it. Talk someone up and want nothing to do with them. At the end of the day, that's probably worse and he knows it. Cater would rather lead someone on out of convenience than tell them like it is and make his day-to-day more difficult.

"You do plenty of nice things for people you think deserve it."

Idia doesn't fight it this time as Cater takes his hands, just passive to this all, head down, not moving. Those are all nice things coming from Cater, but right now none of them are sticking, just sliding off Idia, he fighting back the need to break down...

Get yourself together.

Stop it.

Idia letting out a slow breath as he composes himself, yet... it feels like a mask has slipped down over him again, a bit too calm now compared to moments ago. Putting on one that allowed him to get through this.

"I'm fine. I'm ok." This voice reflecting that stillness to him now. And Cater had called it right in the past, just how hollow those words were... but served a purpose.

Another moment to breath before, "Sorry. For what I said and... all of this."

Cater waits, shaking his head when Idia finally seems to gather himself. "I get it, really."

But...he realizes that Idia probably wouldn't believe that. Sure, he knows that Cater wears a mask, that he's not the big social butterfly everyone thinks, but that's a far cry from relating to the kind of self-deprecating mood swings Idia's shown himself prone to.

"Sometimes I can't stand myself."

It's an almost abrupt admission. Cater hadn't intended to share this part of himself today--or ever, with anyone. Even saying it, he feels a shock of tension course through his body. He takes a breath, looking down as well before looking up again through his lashes and the locks of hair that have fallen across his face.

"So...if you aren't fine, that's fine. You don't have to be."

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