Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Goro's jaw scorched. The spring breeze did nothing to soothe the heat. In fact, it made the burn even more noticeable, as everything else on his body was cool. Ren's touch still affected him after around two years, much to Goro's dismay.

Who the hell does this brat think he is? Handling me around like a doll, talking and leaning into me as if—as if—as—oh what the hell.

Goro thought that after winter, he'd have no more regrets. Was he going to regret this? Giving up on Ren?

The fuck? I'm not giving up on Ren...

A voice that sounded awfully similar to Loki's rang in his mind. Really? Then why would you separate from your rival? I thought he was the one. The one that I would die for, just so he could live without lives. Just so we could live without lies.

Goro shook his head, unwilling to argue with himself. Ren was confounding. He was so kind to him, but he was kind to everyone. Especially Sumire. However...Goro racked his brain for any signs of attraction between the two younger ones.

Ren hadn't shown any interest towards Sumire in a romantic level yet, nothing more than the unspoken, unlimited kindness he gave everyone. And Sumire honestly hadn't pushed herself towards Ren anymore after she almost killed herself battling him.

But Goro wasn't an expert on the subject of...romance. Perhaps he simply hadn't noticed the signs.

Fine. Goro glanced at the Thieves as they walked in front of him, chattering and discussing their next move. His gaze tunneled down to Ren and Sumire, who just so happened to be speaking with his Ren.

Goro tied up his hair in a half-up bun, brushing the other strands behind him. He was determined to spend the rest of the trip carefully observing the two. There was nothing that could convince him otherwise. It was time for him to really, fully shed his disgusting carefulness, his reluctance, his hesitancy. He was going to get the story straight. Or perhaps gay, if Ren swung the other way 'round. Hopefully, for Goro's sake, he did.

Unfortunately, Goro had no fucking idea which way Ren swung. He'd been stuck in an infinite loop of wanting to observe him and forcing himself to look away. He couldn't be too obvious, yet his heart desired to reach out for him.

The group spent some more time visiting random gift shops and snack stands, having such little attention spans that they couldn't wait an hour in line. The only attractions they visited were ones with wait times under thirty minutes.

However, Haru had insisted that one roller coaster in particular had to be ridden. Before Goro even knew what was happening, they were in line for the Amazicoaster, one of the most famous rides in Destinyland.

"The 360° loop is so fun!" Haru gushed as she pulled Makoto closer in the crowd.

Goro glanced up at the structure, shrugging. He's surely experienced worse than some theme park ride for children. There wasn't anything that made his stomach flip quite like defeating a nasty Shadow. Ren hugging him came at a close second, or perhaps it was the other way around.

Speaking of the boy, he was unnecessarily close to Goro as he leaned over the railing to check out the ride as well. "I hope you haven't forgotten about our competition," Ren brought up casually, as if he didn't throw a tantrum half an hour ago.

Goro had the feeling he was talking about more than just today's challenge, but he chose to ignore it. "I haven't," he answered cautiously, placing his forearms on the cold, hard metal. He wanted to take a step back, put some distance between them so their shoulders weren't breathing on each other. But Ryuji was behind him, and although he didn't like himself very much, he would not partake in that kind of self-harm.

Ren seemed to read his mind, inching towards him so their elbows were touching. He didn't acknowledge their proximity, still staring at the current cart racing towards the crest of the ride. "...Good."

Goro prayed more than ever for the stagnant line to get a fucking move on. It did not. He had no choice but to endure it, with Ren standing not an inch away to the right. He resulted to concentrating on breathing evenly, since that took up so much brainpower. Concealing his expression, using his old calming methods to level his face, make it formal and collected. Slowing down his heartbeat to a bored, normal rate.

Seconds, minutes, hours could have passed. It was unusual that a line could last this long without moving, even in such a popular ride as this one. But Goro didn't have much experience in theme parks, so he didn't think too much about it. Not that he could think with Ren right next to him.

The raven-haired yawned after a while, eventually leaning his head on Goro's shoulder as they gazed at the Amazicoaster together. His hand, dangling on the railing, reached out to lace their fingers together.

Goro dared not to even breathe. Ren smelled like lattes and caramel and coffee, comforting and warm. He was nodding off sleepily, his fluffy hair tickling Goro's cheek. He found that he didn't mind too much. After all, it was a familiar position.

Whenever Goro visited Leblanc at night, studying by the counter and sipping coffee, Ren would always sit next to him without another word. Read a book, study, play a game on his phone—he'd do anything. Their nights always ended with Ren leaning on Goro, almost asleep. After fighting with himself for fifteen minutes, Goro would carry him upstairs and tuck him in bed. Goro was able to hide his feelings for the younger boy that way, quietly reprimanding himself when Ren was sleeping soundly. It got so frequent that Ren changed into his sleeping clothes before Goro even arrived. Goro grew to love nighttime because of that exact reason. It was a solace he'd been lucky enough to indulge in every night.

He wondered how many of those nights he had left.

But Goro shoved his thoughts aside. There was no point in brooding over his meaningless thoughts. Yet there was nothing else to physically or mentally do. The Thieves were surprisingly silent for once. Goro couldn't turn around and check what they were doing, since it would disturb Ren and that was out of question. His traitorous thumb brushed over Ren's for a second too long without permission. His heart dropped.

Instantly, Ren shifted his head to prop his chin on Goro's shoulder. Goro's mouth suddenly turned dry, his head frozen on his head. The heavy gaze on his face was just too much, as if Ren was scrutinizing him under the microscope, flaying his layers apart.

After a too long silence, Goro tentatively turned his head to the side to glance at him. Ren's lips curled up into a soft smile, equal parts melancholic and content. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Goro could feel Ren's breath on his neck, the sole reason causing it to heat up. Ren took a deep breath, and he braced himself for whatever was coming next.

Goro certainly had not braced for the people around them to start shifting. People began shouting animatedly, a wave of people in front of them unexpectedly rushing forward.

After a second's hesitation, Ren pulled away from Goro. "What's going on?" he cleared his throat, twisting his face away from Goro's gaze.

"The line's moving," Goro said flatly, stretching his sore arms. They'd been in the same position for far too long, even though it was entirely his choice.

"Then come on."

Goro desperately wanted to see if Ren's light tone matched his face, but the people behind them began getting all agitated, pushing themselves in his way.

Apparently, through the near-incoherent conversations around him, some dumbasses held up the line and they'd finally moved. It certainly explained why everyone was so frantic to barrel forward, but that meant Goro's vision consisted of random human skin and clothes, along with the tops of heads. Voices piled up on each other, gaining in volume and filling Goro's ears with deafening noise.

Ren was washed away with the horde, walking at a similar speed to keep up. He was much farther than Goro, only the top of his fluffy hair able to be seen. He was chasing after Futaba, most likely trying to make sure she was alright. But there was also a hint of blue, meaning Yusuke was with them.

This is ridiculous, Goro snapped at himself as he increased his pace. He side-stepped a couple and barely managed to avoid a family of four holding onto each other by the backpacks. Since when was I the one who chased him?

But the panic welled up and swelled up his throat as everyone began pushing and shoving, regardless of who they were with. For a second, he lost sight of Ren's black hair, and with that, his sanity.

Fuck it.

He stuck out his elbows, forcing his way through the thick mass until he grabbed Ren's wrist, yanking him back.

Ren whipped around with wide silver eyes, briefly stunned before he recognized who stopped him.

Goro's fingers tightened around his wrist as he racked his brain for words. In a heartbeat, he found which mask he wanted to wear for this interaction. "You more or less disappeared in the crowd because of your rather short status," he dismissed tersely, willing his hands to relax.

A small frown formed on Ren's face as he flipped their hands to tug Goro forward. "I'm above average and literally two centimeters shorter than you," he corrected firmly.

Goro pretended not to hear him, a small grunt leaving his lips as someone bumped into him from behind. He drew his hand away and reclaimed Ren's just to actually weave their fingers together, clinging onto Ren like a parasite.

Ren didn't even turn around this time, trusting that his rival would stay behind him and watch his back. Holding onto Goro just as tightly, they shoved past the waves of people that resembled Shadows, mindless and surging forward.

There were too many people, not enough space. Even though he was also above average height, he felt strangely small again. As if all the adults around him were trying to pry him open, find something to poke at and discuss about the famous Detective Prince, top of his class. Every inch of Goro's skin felt invaded, compressed against the bodies of humans and squished down by the noise and commotion.

Workers were equally panicked, if not more so since their jobs and lives were on the line. Chaotic screaming and yelling filled the air, digging and stabbing into Goro's skull. He brought his right hand up to cup Ren's alongside his left, fear slicing at his heart every time someone slammed into them. Somewhere, in an unconscious level, he was terrified of losing Ren again.

At last, they'd managed to reach near the front of the line just as order finally fucking returned after two business days. Goro released Ren's hand once he felt the other boy wasn't going to fade away outside of his line of sight.

"Head count," Ren immediately said with clear authority, as if regrouping after a particularly vicious battle. He found Ryuji and Ann quickly, both of them being blondes among the dark-haired crowd.

Goro stood on his toes, scanning the tops of heads to find Haru's fluffy hair. After finding Haru, spying Makoto was effortless, as they were always attached at the hip. Yusuke was a little farther back, although searching for him was also on the uncomplicated side, as his frame and conspicuous blue hair separated him from the mass. Sumire had taken out her hair and was flourishing her ribbon in the air, the bright red catching his attention.

"Where's Futaba?" Ren raised his voice so the others could hear, repeating his question when the people around them drowned his voice out.

Yusuke waved at him, before disappearing for a  second as he crouched. A second later, Futaba appeared on his back. "Guys! Wait for us!" she hollered, attracting the attention of those around her.

Goro sighed in equal parts relief and weariness. Thankfully, Ren handled all the social interaction, informing the workers that the rest of their party had been stranded behind them. Goro merely stood off to the side and offered support by glowering at anyone who tried to cut in line or object.

By some miracle, they were able to regroup rather quickly, mostly due to their skills from two years ago. Goro held their place up front for them while Ren checked on every member as if it were another Safe Room in a palace or Mementos.

"How many in your party?" a worker asked Goro, since he was standing farther away from the rest of the group.

By the time Goro turned towards her, a well-rehearsed polite smile was on his lips. "We have nine, thank you."

The worker was momentarily dazzled, tucking her hair hurriedly behind her ears. "Ah—um, okay! Thank you! Please follow me!" she rushed out, guiding him towards one of the four lines.

Goro blinked at the unexpected response, shrugging to himself. It wasn't the first time this had happened. More times than not, it was beneficial, so he wasn't complaining. After making sure the Thieves were actually behind him, he followed the worker to their line.

"Is it okay if you guys are split up?" she asked nervously, addressing the whole group. "It's not often we have such a big party..."

Goro mentally sighed to himself as he noted the worried expressions on the younger Thieves. But without protest, he fashioned his countenance into a pleasant one, smiling charmingly. He racked his brain for the worker's name, having barely glanced at the tag on her uniform.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but is it alright if we stick together? We can wait for the next one," he cajoled smoothly. "I'd be very grateful, Rin."

Ren whipped his head towards him, as if he heard his own name. Which, to be fair, did indeed sound an awful like 'Rin'. His mouth taunted into a thin line, strained as he noticed the specific tone and smile Goro used. His eyes turned sharper when he realized what effect it had on the teenager.

Rin blushed darkly, tugging on her blond hair. "Um—okay! Sure, I'll—I'll let the other guests on first, if—if—if that's okay?" She straightened her uniform with shaky hands, making Goro almost feel bad for the poor girl.

He flashed a winning grin at her. "That sounds fantastic. Thank you so much."

Once she left, Goro blew out a breath, his face relaxing back to its resting, flat expression. He rolled his eyes at himself, feeling a certain kind of disgust he was quite familiar with. For all he knew, the result of his performance was not worth the repulsiveness that followed.

"Thanks, Akechi," Futaba grinned at him mischievously. "Your noble sacrifice has been documented and honored."

Ryuji tried to cover his laugh with a cough, taking a few steps back to avoid getting smacked. "I never wanna see that again."

Goro pinched the bridge of his nose. "We have that in common," he remarked dryly. Something heavy settled on the side of his face—a gaze. He had half an idea who it was.

 Using his peripheral vision, he glanced at where he believed Ren stood. He was right, as he often was when Ren was involved.

The other boy was glaring daggers at the wall next to his face, constantly shifting his gaze around Goro. He was pouting majorly, for some unfathomable reason.

Goro didn't have too much time to ponder about it, since another worker ushered them forward. Goro stepped to the side, allowing the other Thieves to board first. He waited for Ren to walk next to him, since he was about to get to the bottom of why the other was pouting.

"Okay! Follow me, everyone," the worker directed loudly, cutting Ren off from him. He split everyone off into pairs, escorting them towards their gates.

Yet they had an uneven number in their group. Ren was sectioned off with Sumire, while Goro was directed into a different gate, at the very back. A young woman followed him, his apparent partner for the ride.

"Wait—one second!" Ren turned back to glance at Goro, eyes wide. Alarm and desperation flashed across his face as the roller coaster pulled up to the stop, the previous party getting off.

Goro shook his head at him. "It's fine, Ren," he answered in a monotone, his body perfectly controlled. He showed no outer emotion, simply standing and existing in the guiding arrows on the ground. His heart squeezed in his chest. Fucking dumbass heart. He'd rip it out later.

Honestly, why is Ren so agitated? This is how it's supposed to be. It's fate. The gods certainly arranged everything rather well, I must admit. There is no reason their plan should go awry now.

He didn't meet Ren's eyes as he climbed into the farthest seat. In his mind, this ride was already the worst one. He didn't need to see Sumire and Ren's action in the seat right in front of him.

Will Sumire hold onto Ren's arm? Will Ren comfort her, tell her everything's okay? Will—

"Fuck it."

Goro's head snapped up when he heard Ren's unabashed declaration.

Ren leaped up from his seat, brushing himself off. In one swift move, he grabbed the top of his backrest and jumped into Goro's row, sliding into the restraints next to his effortlessly.

"Hey," he greeted Goro with a casual grin, bringing his shoulder harness down.

Well. There is one reason why the gods' plan would go awry.

Goro stared at him astoundingly, his heart and brain synchronizing as they froze up for a second. Something fuzzy and unknown and fucking warm bubbled up in his chest, melting away a portion of the darkness that lingered over. He put a hand over his heart, gripping the white fabric and willing it to cease being so...tingly.

But as Ren beamed at him with all the brightness in the world, Goro's grip fell as slack as his jaw.

"Sir—please, you aren't allowed to do that," the employee protested tiredly, obviously underpaid and overwhelmed. He walked over to them hurriedly, forcing out a pleasant expression.

Ren didn't even blink, hand shooting out to grab Goro's. "But Goro's my boyfriend," he pointed out, shamelessly lying. "He's here for emotional support—without him, it'd be a very ugly day for all of us."

It was as if Ren was trying to give the poor boy beside him a heart attack. It wasn't the first time Ren held his hand—not even close—but to hear the word 'boyfriend' and his own name fall out of Ren's lips in the same sentence was a bit too much for the ace detective and his fried brain.

"Listen, I get that, but it's dangerous and against the rules to climb over seats," the worker sighed deeply, already halfway losing the battle. He seemed ready to give up, already debating in his head if it was worth wasting his energy on.

Ren didn't falter at all, leaning over to press his cheek against Goro's. "I'm sorry, I just panicked without him," he explained without a hint of genuine regret.

Goro supposed he had to act as well, since a boy plastering himself on another wasn't very convincing if the receiver wasn't as enthusiastic. He half-considered the idea of revealing the truth and simply letting things happen the way they were supposed to, but he was afraid Ren would truly murder him if he said anything unsatisfactory. He would rather eat mud than admit it, but he couldn't live with himself if he'd ever managed to truly anger Ren, since 9 times out of 10, it was just a guise for hurt.

And he would die than hurt Ren.

So Goro burned his pride to cinders as he gently placed his hand on top of Ren's, flipping it over and entwining their fingers together. He stared down at their hands, unable to make eye contact with either person.

"See? Everything's good now that I've got Goro," Ren claimed assuredly.

A finger tilted Goro's chin up, and in an instant something soft briefly pressed against his cheek before pulling away just as fast. Holy fucking shit.

Ren had kissed his cheek, grinning and all casual like he'd done it for the millionth time.

Goro might as well have died. He couldn't even move his limbs, suddenly going back in time and being frozen under a Diamond Dust. He practically combusted on the spot, his brain shattering into a million shards of glass. His nerves were more than on fire—the flames had billowed and risen to burn off his skin as well, crawling under his clothes and reaching every single inch of his body.

The worker merely sighed, shaking his head. He gave up on trying to lecture them, walking off to apologize to the stranger who Goro was originally supposed to sit with. He led her to the seat next to Sumire's, allowing the red-haired to explain about the two homosexuals behind them.

Ren turned to Goro mischievously, an audacious grin on his face. He must've seen how incredibly flustered Goro was, since he pounced on the weakness eagerly. The fingers laced together burned a bit hotter.

"You excited, sweetheart?" he teased playfully, gripping the restraints with his other hand.

Goro cleared his throat, praying the light breeze would quickly cool his face and heart. He forced himself to answer clearly, refusing to let Ren have the satisfaction of knowing he impacted him so greatly.

"I'm certainly expecting a substantial amount, considering how Haru-san praised it," Goro said curtly, glowering pointedly at Ren for the nickname. He attempted to pull his hand away before realizing Ren's grip was rock solid.

Ren leaned over to tuck Goro's hair behind an ear, a part of his bangs that had escaped his half-bun. "You could just admit you're excited, you know."

Goro's breath was taken away, and that was because the ride started, not for some other silly reason like Ren actually brushing his hair and holding his hand and being so close to him, not to mention choosing to leave Sumire for him—

Focus, Goro.

Not that there was anything to focus on. The ride itself was more or less tame, with the drops and curves eliciting a raised eyebrow or two from the boy. The wind was pretty nice as well, chilly enough to finally cool his damn body down. Nevertheless, the theme of this particular roller coaster grinded on Goro's scorched nerves. It was stupid. No family could ever save any civilians, especially since half of them were children. Absolute bullshit, but it was Destinyland, so he supposed everything made sense there.

On the other hand, Ren was having the time of his life. Every drop and dip, he laughed and cheered with the majority of the riders. It was a sight worth suffering for, in Goro's opinion.

"Loop's coming up!" Ren yelled out, turning his head to grin toothily at the other boy.

Goro's heart sped up in anticipation, unconsciously clinging onto Ren's hand harder. His other nails dug into the restraints on his shoulders, sinking into the material. The loop didn't look too big from ground level, but it was approaching  fast. He had no desire to disclose it, but he wasn't mentally prepared for that shit yet.

Less than a second later, his body was pressed against the seat, the g-forces sandwiching him against the restraints and rest of the roller coaster. It nearly wrenched his hand from Ren's, but the other boy's nails clung onto Goro's. Bolts of electric pain shot up his arm, unexpected and sharp.  

It wrenched a "Fuck!" out of Goro's gritted teeth as they dove back down and continued zooming about.

Goro nearly forgot about their actual competition before Ren turned to him with a smug smirk, raising an eyebrow. Not that a lot of his face could be seen through that mop of black, but the rest of his expression was a given, since he wouldn't ever pass up a chance to gloat about his 'victory'.

The older didn't give any outward reaction except the small eye roll, blowing out a breath as they slowed to a stop. He lolled his head to the left to narrow his eyes moodily at Ren.

"Oh, will you look at that?" Ren asked innocently, a positively elated smirk on his face. It was a familiar expression, one he donned every time he won one of their abundant competitions. "It appears to me that you let out a little scream, Goro!"

It concurrently made Goro's blood boil and his heart skip a beat. In both vexation and adoration, but who said he couldn't multitask?

"I was surprised because you all but tore my fucking hand in half," Goro clarified tartly, raising their entwined hands. He divorced their hands to display the back of his palms. Right under his knuckles were crescent shaped marks, an angry pink and red painted across pale skin. On a particularly red scratch, it seemed as though Ren almost broke through one too many layers of skin and drew blood.

Ren's eyes widened when he saw the wounds, his smug smile fading away. He opened his mouth hurriedly, eyebrows knitting in worry, but wasn't able to speak.

The pair were ushered out of their seats by the workers, who presumably hadn't recovered from the mob mishap.

Goro climbed out first, since the exit was on his side. He brushed invisible dust off his shirt, retying his windbreaker around his waist. After patting stray hairs down from his hair and ensuring the strands framed his face properly, he realized Ren wasn't by his side.

He glanced back to see the other boy still standing there, his face completely crumpled. He was still standing at the unloading platform, staring at the ground hollowly.

Confusion was a reasonable first reaction, but worry and an odd kind of anxiety struck Goro the hardest. Or was it fear? It all mixed into an intangible mess as he walked, then jogged back to Ren.

"Ren. Ren?" Goro prompted evenly, attempting to remain calm. He waved a hand in front of the raven-haired's face. "What is the matter?"

Ren pulled himself together after a second, looking up and around. Avoiding Goro's direct gaze, he snatched up the other's hand and dragged him past the exit corridor.

"Hey—! Would it kill you to utilize your words?" Goro demanded as he nearly tripped from the force of the action. He stumbled upright and followed Ren into a little corner just a few feet away from the exit, near the gift shop. "Ren—"

Ren stared at the ground again, spontaneously interested in a rock. He dropped his hand, letting it linger in the air for a second before pulling back again. "Goro...I'm so fucking sorry," he said quietly, his voice controlled. Too controlled. Too calm.

Goro blinked, pausing to fully process the unforeseen words. "...what? For what? The hand?" he asked in disbelief, still taken aback by the apology.

The younger boy nodded quickly, his hands balled up in fists in his pockets. He was slouching again, hair covering his face.

Shaking his head in incredulity, Goro folded his arms over his chest firmly. "It's fine, Ren. It's not a big deal, it really isn't anything, and it doesn't hurt at all," he elaborated, trying to gentle down his voice.

Why is Ren so upset? Is he upset because he thinks he hurt me? But...but that's unreasonable. After everything...after everything that I've done to him...why does he still treat me this way? Like I'm something actually worth caring for?

Ren crossed his arms to match the brunet's stance, shaking his head back. He finally glanced up, eyes exceptionally silvery with a glossy sheen. The horror and rawness in those irises took Goro's breath away. "I...I still hurt you, Goro. I swore a fucking year ago that I wouldn't ever hurt you."

Goro restrained his scoff, hating how small Ren looked, hating how he was the problem, the root that caused all of this shit. Ren shouldn't ever have to worry because of him. The self-hatred on his shoulders was crushing enough to flatten a fucking palace. The only reason why he didn't shatter was for Ren. No, it was because of Ren that he hadn't fractured yet.

"Ren. I've...fuck, I've done more shit to you than you could possibly do to me. If anything, I  have to apologize for everything," he rushed out regretfully, jabbing a finger at his own chest. He dug his nail in, sinking past the cotton and into his flesh.

Ren looked away dismissively. "That's different. You already did, and I forgave you long ago," he countered without missing a beat. He rubbed at his eyes furiously, his knuckles white.

Goro rolled his eyes, not even hesitating to wrap his arms around Ren's shoulders. He sank into the warmth, heart racing at his own daring. "Yeah? Well this isn't anything drastic. And I forgive you too, understood? So quit whining and raise your chin up again."

A stagnant silence followed his words, but Ren's vise-like arms tightly hugged Goro's waist. "I'm sorry for overreacting," he finally spoke up again, hushed and soft. "I just hate the thought of ever hurting you."

Goro sighed, pressing Ren's head against his shoulder. He ran his fingers through the fluffy, velvety black locks. "Ridiculous. Sentimental. I'm not hurt at all. I'm fine, we're both fine," he answered just as quietly. The tranquility that settled over them like a blanket was a thinly veiled glass, one that made him speak quietly so as to not break it.

Ren didn't answer again, simply letting out a breath. He seemed to melt into the embrace as well, digging his face into Goro's shoulder snugly.

They stayed in that position for longer than they probably should've, considering they were in a highly populated area with a plentiful amount of judgy people. Neither boy could bring himself to let go, Ren's fingers digging into Goro's back and Goro's into Ren's shoulders.

After counting to 60 and back down to 0, Goro determined he was prepared to speak again. He cleared his throat roughly, tapping Ren's scalp with a finger. "It would be wise for us to congregate with the others to inform them that we're not lost or anything," he speculated, his head full of cotton. Ren's chest pressed against his, mouth on his shirt—bleeding heat into his shoulder—and the overall presence of him being so close? Goro was honestly impressed by his own self-restraint and the fact that he hadn't allowed his emotions to take control of him. He would cease to exist if he said something about his raging homosexual feelings towards his rival.

A heavy second later, Ren reluctantly untangled himself, his left hand seeking Goro's right. "Actually, my phone vibrated while we were hugging," he recalled with a sheepish smile. The sparks were slowly but surely returning to his eyes, the corners of his lips lifting with that familiar playfulness.

Goro didn't even utter the sarcastic remark his mind made up about having it on silent. "Open it, then," he prompted coolly, as if he hadn't spent the past five minutes clinging onto his reason for existence and dreaming about kissing those precious lips.

Ren tapped into his messages, leaning against Goro comfortably. "Ah! Oh damn—that's a lot of voicemails."

The first one was from Makoto, around a minute long.

"Hey everyone. Haru and I are leaving now since we don't need to stay until midnight. I personally don't care and Haru has been here more times than we could probably imagine. We're just saying goodbye," Makoto explained, with squealing kids in the background.

"Yep! What Mako-chan said. I hope you all have a good time!" Haru chimed in, resulting to the end of it.

The next voicemail was from Futaba, which was followed by a barrage of emojis.

"Guys! My game had a surprise update with a ton of cool new features!! I'm going home to play it 'cause there are wayyyyyy too many people here and it's getting a tad bit suffocating. See ya later—"

Yusuke's voice cut in before she could finish her last word. "I'll accompany her to make sure she isn't lost on the way home. I'm sure we all know how frequently that can happen."

"Oh shut it, Inari!"

The voicemail cut off abruptly.

"We're off to a great start," Goro commented sardonically, leaning over Ren to glance at the group chat. He rested his chin on the other boy's shoulder, slumping down slightly.

"Hush," Ren ordered teasingly. "We've still got one more to work through. You can do it, Goro! I believe in you."

"Don't even think about patronizing me," Goro warned venomously. He reached over and tapped into the next voicemail.

"It's Ann! We're bailing out to check that new dessert place that just opened up! Oh, and the mall right next to it just reopened its clothes store!"

"We're getting dragged along too." Ryuji groaned loudly in the phone, causing a bit of muffled static. "Kill me..."

A small smack rang through the device, stifled by a third person's cheery voice. "I'll send you all the address in case you wanna go there yourself!" Sumire piped up over the sound of the older two squabbling. "Anyways, bye bye!!"

Goro raised an eyebrow as he took a step back. "I suppose we're the only ones left in the park," he concluded flatly.

Shoving his phone back in his pockets, Ren grinned up at him impishly. "That means we can stay till midnight," he pointed out excitedly. "We should totally explore the entire place!"

Goro snapped his fingers in mock realization. "Yes, I agree. We might as well sleep here, too. We should spend the rest of the night searching for the cleanest bathroom," he suggested, laying the sarcasm thick in his tone.

A quiet laugh escaped the other boy, light and carefree. "Come on, Goro! Let's go to the gift shops," he beseeched dramatically, grabbing Goro's hand and dragging him away from their little corner.

Goro sighed just as theatrically back, but obeyed the younger. He followed Ren's wandering to a random store on the edge of Pixel Pier.

There weren't that many people, since most families with small children had already returned home. The ambience was pretty calm, with soft glowing lights and a colorful interior. Plushies, toys, dolls and whatnot were piled up in bins and shirts were on white, blank mannequins along the walls. Hoodies and hats seemed popular, as there were only a few left on the shelves.

"Goro! We should totally get matching shirts!" Ren proclaimed far too cheerfully, pointing to a shirt featuring Michael and Marissa Mouse hugging.

Goro blinked at him, feeling the stares of more than one person. "Excuse me? Who are you?" he asked dryly, fiddling with the sleeves of his windbreaker tied around his waist.

Ren laughed lightly, completely unbothered by the jab. "I have your social security number, full legal name, blood type, credit history, employment history, address, and a screenshot of your ID as well as your passport," he announced in a much lower voice. "Why don't I ask you who I am?"

I should've expected that.

"Fuck off," Goro rolled his eyes with a sigh. He walked off to a random section in the corner of the store, away from a certain pair of prying eyes that felt like they were piercing into his soul. Flaying him open, teasing, smug, untroubled. He had no idea why he was attracted to such an idiot.

As he was scanning different plushies, one particular creature stood out from the rest. There were only three of the ugly orange things left, with its large ears and spiky teeth. The large doe irises reminded him of Ren, inquiring and deep.

Ah. I remember. Sew, the destructive alien. It's from that one movie about family and shit, Lily and Sew.

Goro picked the stuffed alien up. It fit his arms perfectly, around the size of a cat. It looked pretty fierce, but he recalled that the creature was actually a big softie. At least, he hoped it was, since the last time he saw the movie was in second grade.

Acting on his last brain cell, he impulsively bought the plushie not a second later. He scouted out his rival in the tiny shop, finding him leaned over a basket of dolls.

"Who are you holding?" Goro approached the younger, keeping Sew behind his back.

Ren whipped around, momentarily startled before a delighted smile spread across his face. "Hm? Oh, no one. I just thought he looked a little familiar." He held up a doll of a blue-haired boy sitting on top of the full moon. The boy's expression was apathetic, his hair covering up an eye.

Goro shrugged, taking a deep breath. If he was going to do this, he was going to do it right.

"Ahm..." he glanced away, pursing his lips as he tried to come up with some eloquent words. "I...got this for you." He held the alien out in the space between them, prompting Ren to grab it.

Of course, the gushing sentimental mess beamed like he just got awarded best human award or some shit. "What? Aww, really? For me?" he gasped excitedly, taking the plushie carefully, as if it were some prized possession.

"...yes. For you." Goro couldn't stop the gentle smile from spreading across his own face, not that he tried. He knew a lost battle when he saw one.

Ren's grin nearly split his face in two. "Thank you! Thank you, Goro! He's so cute!" He exclaimed, surging forward to pounce on the other boy. His arms wrapped around Goro, keeping the plushie safe between their chests. "Why'd you choose him for me?"

Golden bliss seemed to flow from Ren to Goro, warming them both in the process. Goro felt his gratitude, his elation, his pleased surprise through the way he held onto Goro like he was the only person on Earth. No, like he was the only person on Earth he'd ever want.

"He...reminded me of you," Goro finally whispered, unable to raise his voice. "He may look scary and intimidating to some, but he's a big sap and has an extensive heart."

Wait—holy shit! What the fuck am I saying? Shit shit shit shit shit—it sounds like I'm head over heels for him! Which I admittedly am, but Ren fucking Amamiya cannot have any knowledge about this crush. It's destructive enough that he already has a grasp of how much I rely on him...

"He's also fairly cute, in a hideous way," Goro's stupid mouth provided. He realized that the sentence was even more dangerous than his previous ones.

And obviously, Ren sprang on that like a cat to catnip. "Awww~! Are you calling me cute?" he flirted, pulling back to fake swoon.

Goro's ears burned uncomfortably under his hair, spreading the heat down to his face and neck. "Don't smile at me like that," he snapped petulantly. He took a good few steps back, creating a cautious space between them. "Focus on the hideous section."

"That still doesn't deny the 'cute' part~" Ren simpered cockily, running a hand through his fluffy hair.

Holy shit, Goro's heart couldn't take it anymore. The asinine myocardium was pumping blood overtime—if he so much as looked at Ren's beautiful face in that moment, he'd surely faint on the sidewalk.

Goro began walking away, marching off to nowhere.

"Go~ro! Where're you going?" Ren sang out, jogging over to him obnoxiously. "I thought we were having a good debate?"

Goro sighed deeply into his palm, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why the hell did I decide to stay with you?"

The brat wasn't bothered at all, ignoring Goro and clutching his plushie close to his heart with an arm. He stole Goro's hand and dragged him away, to the opposite direction of where he was originally walking. "We're walking here," he asserted, nudging his head towards the other path. "It's getting late and we need a snack."

Goro raised an eyebrow, but allowed himself to be lugged around like another one of those plushies. "Who is 'we'?"

He wasn't about to state any more words before they arrived at a new stand. It was themed just like the Amazicoaster, with greens and whites. It was called Zack Zack Cookie Yum Yums, with the baby covered in his ice powers painted on the side.

Thankfully, Ren once again dealt with the social interaction, buying two cookies for them each. He handed one to Goro easily, despite balancing them both and Sew in his other arm.

Goro nodded at him appreciatively. "Thank you."

Ren smirked at him, satisfied with his idea. "When we were walking here earlier to get in line, I saw the stand," he explained cheerfully. "I thought, 'wouldn't it be great to eat some cookies with Goro here?'"

A dark blush took over Goro's neck, his heart racing at the implications. It sounded platonic enough with Ren's sweet timbre, but wasn't it the thought that counted? Did Ren think about Goro that much? Was it simply a coincidence?

Goro took a bite of the cookie to distract himself, unwilling to indulge in any more of those hazardous thoughts. Surprisingly, the sugary snack was good. The gooey, warm chocolate chip cookie was oddly comforting, especially since all his social energy was right about gone. The edges were crispy while the center was still pillowy and fluffy. It couldn't hold a candle to one of Ren's baked goods, but it still tugged a decent-sized smile from a tired Goro.

Ren turned to him with a grin, a spot of chocolate on his cheek. He opened his mouth to say something, but froze when he noticed Goro's expression. His smile softened as his mouth closed again, content on just observing the other boy.

Goro folded up the wrapper neatly, making sure his fingers didn't touch any crumbs. "Was the episode back there simply because of your hunger?" he inquired astutely, eyes flicking to Ren's gentle lips in the middle of his sentence. He shook his head, strictly forcing his stare back to the pools of silver.

The blush that overtook Ren's face confirmed his theory. "It'd—it'd been a while since we ate, okay?" he defended steadfastly. He stubbornly polished off his dessert, nearly eating the wrapper as well.

A tiny smirk toyed on Goro's lips. "Of course you were hungry," he reasoned sagaciously. "I've been through an abundant amount of your dramatic incidents in the Metaverse without any yakisoba buns or drinks. I almost cried with relief when you began bringing curry to the palace and Mementos."

Ren pouted a bit, puffing his cheeks out and turning away from Goro. "Meanie." It was his turn to march off somewhere, squeezing Sew in his arms.

Cute. God, he's so adorable it's fucking illegal. And I know a thing or two about illegal shit. Fuck. I wanna squish his cheeks—he looks so much like a baby chipmunk—

OKAY, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, GORO—

Despite of himself, he pursued his rival and reached out to fiddle with the short hairs on the back of Ren's neck. "It's not a bad aspect," he found himself saying. "It's actually kind of cute."

Oh. Oh fuck his big mouth. Fuck him. Fuck—

Now Goro was really dying. Or at least he wished he was. He swiftly walked over to the nearest trash bin, tossing his wrapper in and hoping the five seconds would somehow miraculously erase the blush on his face and calm his heart. Spoilers : it didn't. The universe was a fucking traitor.

Footsteps thudded behind him, giving him approximately 1.5 seconds to prepare himself. He took a deep breath, steeling his shoulders. Hopefully, he didn't fuck up too badly.

Ren grabbed his shoulder, whipping the older boy around, determinedly and vividly. His jaw was clenched tightly, lips worn from being bitten.

Goro's breath hitched as he took a step back. Ren was too close, far too close for his sanity. Normally, Goro would have no problem with Ren being close to him—he even lived for those fleeting, intimate moments. But Ren's gaze was blazing, his hand hot on Goro's shoulder, his face mere inches away, the thick, electric tension in the air—all of that fucked with Goro's rationality.

"What did you mean by that?" he demanded urgently, his fingers gripping the shirt's poor fabric. His expression was new, unreadable. Completely unstable, with something akin to...hope, desperation, and a severe curiosity in his deep eyes. His eyes always revealed his emotions, perhaps another reason why he wore those damn glasses. They were truly windows to his soul, one Goro wished would always stay open for him.

I'm a fucking selfish, absurd and senseless bastard who doesn't deserve him.

Goro wanted to run. Wanted to wrench Ren's hands off of him and run away from his feelings like he always did. But this time, Ren wasn't asleep in his bed, another day in Leblanc. This time, he couldn't hide behind the night and scurry away again. This time, there was no reality to sacrifice himself for. He couldn't escape.

"I—I don't know what—"

"Cut the bullshit," Ren interrupted firmly, shaking his head before Goro could even finish. "Don't dish it out if you can't take it."

Goro narrowed his eyes, but he knew Ren was right. But could he really take it? And take what, exactly?

What...what the fuck is Ren talking about? Does he think this is another game? Another competition? But...that doesn't explain how vivid he is. How affected he is. So what is it?

"What are you implying?" Goro was suffocating under his thoughts, under Ren's burning hand, under his piercing eyes. Mindlessly, he backed away from the other boy, the hand falling away as Goro crossed his arms.

Ren didn't flicker for a second before he finally turned his head away to stare at the pinkish purple sky above them. He squeezed the plushie in his arm, Sew's arms protruding up from the force. His lips thinned into a straight line as he hesitated, as if warring in his mind.

But as the seconds passed, Ren deflated and shut his eyes. He turned away from Goro, a hand reaching up to rub at his face. "Nothing, Goro. I meant nothing."

Fuck. Ah. I  fucked up. Shit. Fuck No, no no no no no no no no that's not Ren, Ren doesn't give up! What have I done. What the fuck's wrong with me. No no no....I'm sorry.

"Wait—wait. Please, tell me what you meant—please," Goro blurted out, panic seizing him in its fist, crushing his body. Because in that moment, Goro cursed himself for forgetting what was most important.

Ren. He's more important than Goro's stupid conflicted feelings, more important than anything Goro could possibly come up with. He was willing to lose a stupid game, lose a million stupid games. He was willing to burn his pride into ashes, beg, plead—as long as he'd be able to see Ren smile again. He could not lose Ren again, no matter what. It was non-negotiable, out of question. There was no 'Goro' without 'Ren.'

Ren didn't say anything, merely shaking his head. He began walking off, his pace alarmingly fast. "It's nothing," he answered quietly, evenly.

Fuck—

In two quick steps, Goro closed the distance between them. It was his turn to grab the other's shoulders, turning him around. "I'm—I'm sorry, Ren. Listen—just tell me what you meant. You're the most important fucking person to me and...and I can't live if I ever made you feel any shitty thing," he admitted softly, a hint of despair in his voice.

A dark laugh escaped out of Ren as he ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, yeah." He blew out a breath, crossing his arms tightly. "I'll tell you—but it's a...lot. Like, it's a lot," he warned bitterly.

Goro shrugged, just relieved that Ren was actually going to tell him. "I can take it." He mirrored the other's stance, breathing in and out deeply himself.

The beginning of Ren's speech was still perfectly calm, controlled. But as the gates slammed open, more and more burst out rapidly like a broken dam. "This is exactly what the fuck's going on," Ren seethed severely, attempting to keep his face neutral. "You—you're so fucking sweet, and every shot I take to flirt with you, you don't get it. You're so fucking dense. And you're always here. Always here with me, even when it should bother you. You're always my rival, with that tiny fucking smile." Ren broke off with a sharp laugh, humorless and wild.

He jabbed a finger against Goro's chest, glaring at him fiercely. "That one smile. You're the most beautiful person I've ever met in my entire life. You think I don't see it? The one where your lips curl up just slightly, and your eyes crinkle a bit. Yeah, it probably kills you to hear that, right? You always say that you don't smile 'cause it gives you wrinkles. Augh—I hate how cute you are!" Ren changed topics again with another anguished exhale. "You're so fucking unfair. You drop all these loving comments then push me away for God knows what reason! Implying that I should get together with Sumire—I don't love Sumire, I love you, you absolute shithead asshole!"

Every word, every insult, Ren stepped closer and closer until his face was inches away from Goro's. He pressed the older up against the railing on the pier, forcing him to take it.

And take it Goro did. Mouth slack, wine eyes growing wider by the second, comically so, and eyebrows stretched so high they nearly disappeared in his bangs. His back was aching from being compressed against the hard metal, his forearms pressed against it as he leaned away from Ren and into the water.

But Ren can't love me. He's supposed to be with Sumire, someone sweet like her, innocent like her, pure like her. Untainted, hands clean of the red that stains mine.

"I want you, Goro," Ren finished stormily. "No one else but you. Get that inside your goddamn fucking skull."

As if Ren could read his mind.

Goro's breathing turned ragged, heavy and just as unstable as his heart. Speaking of that execrable organ, his heart twisted uncomfortably in his chest. But it wasn't just one flip. The stupid thing kept contorting and turning until Goro needed Ren's heartbeat to steady his own shaky one.

Goro's arm shot out by itself, looping around Ren's waist as his other one swept across the boy's shoulder. He switched their positions in one swift move, pining Ren against the railing as he buried his face in that comforting shoulder. He never wanted to let go again. Never again. Never.

Ren didn't protest, didn't say a word. He simply cupped Goro's head with a hand. Silence was his forte, after all.

While he was wrapped up in Ren's warmth, Goro compelled himself to think. He needed to plan out everything he wanted and would say to his light, his rival, his soul.

How sorry he was for everything. How much he felt for Ren. How he wanted to stay like this forever, stay with him forever. How if he could, he'd go back in time. Make sure he met Ren a few years earlier. Stayed rivals with him, good friends, even. How he wanted to earn the right to deserve Ren. How he would make sure Ren was never hurt again. How he'd protect Ren with his life again.

But as the seconds flew by, he couldn't find the courage to speak. His throat was closed up, as if its business hours had already passed. He took a deep breath, zoning in on the steady beat of Ren's heart, pressed against his. The rhythmic thumping calmed him, giving him a pace to set himself upon.

Slowly, he reminded himself. Word by word. I can do this. I have to. Ren deserves to know it all.

"Ren...listen to me," he almost pleaded, voice unstable and raspy. "I'm...sorry. I'm sorry for every trouble I've caused, every ounce of pain I've made you suffer through. But...even despite all that, I still can't bear to separate from you, as selfish as it is. I love you. I want to..." Goro trailed off, squeezing his eyes shut.

He'd promised himself that he'd burn his pride to ashes, right? It shouldn't be this hard. At the very end of the day, this was Ren. The one person who understood him, the one person who could keep up with him and even defeat him at times. They bickered together, they teased each other, they got annoyed at each other. But throughout it all, Goro was still Goro and Ren was still Ren. The string of fate between them was still vibrantly red. They were still two sides of the same exact coin.

"I want to stay with you forever," Goro whispered quietly, as if admitting something immoral and terrible. He was glad his eyes were shut, so he wouldn't have to see Ren's reaction. "If I could, I'd reverse the clock. I would meet you a few years earlier, and we'd continue to be rivals without all the other shit. I don't deserve you at all, Ren. And you don't deserve someone like me. But...I want to try. You're the only reason why I wake up each day. I'll protect you with my life. I'll do anything for you. So please. Stay."

It killed Goro inside. The words, his actions—it split his body open and cut his throat out. He shouldn't be saying this. He shouldn't be holding Ren, telling him something so buried deep and intimate.

Run, run, run, run. Run before he has a chance to be disgusted by you.

No—fuck. Shut up.

"I want you, Goro. No one else but you."

Goro pulled back and glanced at Ren's face, trying to silence his mind. He needed to ensure Ren wasn't truly horrified by him, that it was all in his mind.

The eyes that met his were glistening with tears, the bottom lip that was just a centimeter lower than his was trembling like an autumn leaf in the middle of a hurricane.

Shit. Goro fucked up, didn't he? He just had to ruin—

"Fuck you, Goro." Ren shoved Sew in between their chests, reclaiming his spot in Goro's arms. He pressed their foreheads together, radiating heat. "I fucking flirted with you for nearly two years and now you finally tell me you love me back? I'm gonna kill you." His forehead was as hot as Goro thought his cheeks were.

Goro shrugged, his heart about to explode in an eruption of fireworks and sparks. "If you wanted to, I wouldn't oppose it. You deserve to, after all." He was careful to keep his voice level, casual. As if he wasn't just pouring his entire heart out for the boy in front of him.

Ren sighed deeply, smiling at him and pressing a kiss against Goro's cheek. "You idiot." Goro's face flamed. It was already the second time Ren'd kissed him, but he was far from being used to it.

But I should be. I can't allow myself to be bested by Ren, can I? It's my turn to fluster him.

Goro acted accordingly, grabbing Ren's face and kissing his cheek. Except due to his lack of experience, his aim was a bit off and landed closer to the corner of Ren's mouth. Eh. Goro didn't think it was too far off.

But his other half was quite surprised, jaw dropping open. He hesitated for two beats, staring at Goro's mouth, before gripping his shirt in a clenched fist. "Can I kiss you? Please," he blurted out quickly, leaning in closer.

Goro's jaw dropped at the forwardness of the request, but he couldn't really be surprised. Ren wasn't the type of person to beat around the bush. He paused, his eyes flicking down to Ren's lips. He wondered, for the nth time, how they would feel against his.

He nodded slowly, his arms tightening around Ren. "Okay."

Ren smiled softly, reaching over to cup Goro's cheek. His hand was warm, like the rest of his body, and just slightly calloused against Goro's soft skin. "Okay."

Goro's breath hitched as they drew closer, uncertain about keeping his eyes open or closing them. He shakily leaned forward, watching as Ren paused. Allowing him to take the first move.

Fuck. What did I ever do to deserve him?

Goro squeezed his eyes shut and leaned forward, banishing every single thought in his mind.

There was no need. The gentleness of Ren's lips, the way they slowly molded with Goro's, was enough to turn him into a stupid pile of mush. Perhaps it was the inexperience on both sides, but they were both too afraid to press against each other, simply touching lips.

Kissing Ren was even better than he'd imagined in his dreams. Partially because honestly, this was Ren, but partially because it was real. This wasn't another dream, one where Goro would wake up seconds later and scold himself for ever thinking of it. The warmth against his mouth was real. The warmth on his cheek was real. Ren was right here with him.

And he wants me. No one else but me.

Ren pulled back with another huge grin, his fingers trailing up to stroke through Goro's hair. "Hi," he breathed gingerly, his cheeks tinging pink.

Goro's face burned similarly, swallowing hard before he spoke. "Well. That just happened," he clarified, as if Ren wasn't the other participant of their kiss.

Ren smirked widely, quirking an eyebrow up. "Again?" he asked sweetly, kissing Goro's cheek lightly.

"Now you've crossed the line," Goro said sarcastically, but he was unable to keep the ginormous grin off his face.

Ren took that as the 'yes' it was and pressed their lips together. He had a bit more courage this time, kissing like he'd been waiting for this exact moment for a million lifetimes.

To say they were novices were an understatement. As they attempted to deepen the kiss, their teeth clashed awkwardly in the middle, sending a chill up Goro's spine. A small laugh escaped his lips, causing him to pull away gently.

Ren was already giggling next to him, eyes closed and content. "Whoops," he shrugged carefreely.

Goro rolled his eyes amusedly, simply cupping his hand around the back of Ren's head and kissing him again. It was addicting, kissing Ren. Once he knew the taste of his lips, the thrill and genuine bliss that coursed through his veins in the place of bitterness, he couldn't ever get enough.

Luckily, he made up for zero relationship experience with enthusiasm and sheer determination to get the boy under him as flustered as possible. He discovered exactly what made Ren's hand tremble, what caused him to pause slightly and bite his own lip. Of course, his rival learned rather quickly himself, from the way he kissed back with slowly gaining vigor.

It left them both breathless after they'd parted for air, giddy and up in the clouds.

Ren was laughing quietly, trying to catch his breath through his chuckles. His skin was a lovely shade of dark red, covering his entire face and down to his neck. He looked as though he didn't have a care in the world. Perhaps he truly didn't.

Goro had a bit more practice with his lungs from delivering speeches in the past. He wanted it to be over so fast, he'd chattered on as swiftly as possible. But he was breathless because of another reason, because of Ren. Naturally. Everything was because of Ren. One way or another, Ren always had a way of getting whatever he wanted from Goro. And the other boy was all too happy to please his rival.

Goro established something as he studied his other half and how positively brilliant he looked. How luminous he was, casting a soft glow that enveloped Goro, surrounding him with his warmth.

It's him. Ren's the person I want to spend the rest of my damn life with.

BONUS:

Zephyrs of cool wind blew over a new couple, chilling the raven-haired one. The two had indeed stayed until around midnight, along with a few other teenagers and older guests. The streetlights were on, spaced out evenly so (hopefully) no one would trip and fall on their face. But each building, each attraction in the park was dimly glowing with lights, still vivid and alive.

"Goroooooo." Ren squeezed their hands, squinting to look at the boy beside him. Goosebumps lined up and down his arm, several more forming as the drafts gusted over them yet again. "I'm cold."

Goro raised an eyebrow at him, redirecting him away from a fire hydrant. "Suck it up," he answered helpfully, his cheeks still bearing that pink tint. He didn't think they'd return back to their wan, pale shade as long as Ren was near him.

Ren pouted for a half a second, before a devious idea lit up his face. His lips twisted into a confident smirk, similar to the one he wore whenever he'd defeat a tough Shadow. "Oh, Goro, I just miss the warmth of your lips on mine...Ah, if only—"

"Oh God—shut up," Goro groaned flusteredly, already untying the windbreaker from his waist. He unfurled it and wrapped it around Ren's shoulders, helping him get his arms into the sleeves. The orange plushie got in their way slightly, but Goro made do.

Ren grinned at him, his vibrant eyes softening into a gentle silver hue instead of the bright, flashy mischief. "Thanks." He snuggled deeper into the jacket, lifting up the collar to his face. "It smells like you.'

God, he was so adorable in that jacket, the fabric swallowing him up despite the two of them being relatively the same size. He had to roll up his sleeves slightly, as they came out just over his fingertips. His chin rested comfortably on top of Sew's head, two sets of precious dark eyes.

Goro's heart leaped to his throat, an odd reaction to the chilly breeze. He attempted to squash it back down, shaking his head at himself. "Is it because that's my jacket, perchance?" he asked sardonically, his voice an octave higher.

"Goro..." Ren whined dramatically, swiveling his head to the side. Then he let out a loud shriek of excitement, whipping his head back to beam at Goro. "Look!"

Goro looked. Oh, no. Not another one of those.

A big black duck waddled over to him, wearing an orange sailor's suit and a matching hat. Declan Duck.

"We should get a picture with him!" Ren hinted plainly, nudging Goro with his elbow.

Goro sighed deeply, contemplating in his head. On one hand, his social battery was drained and he wanted nothing more but to go home. He was two seconds away from pulling a gun on everyone in the park, minus Ren. On the other hand, it'd make Ren extremely happy. Furthermore...he did in fact want a memory of this. It was their first...date, if you would call it that.

"Fine," he agreed quietly, turning to softly smile at Ren. "How can I ever say no to you?"

Ren simply beamed at him, ecstatic at finally getting what he wanted. He charged on ahead, waving at the duck and shouting his name.

Goro followed, as he always did. He was well aware that he was acting like a lovesick fool, but maybe he was one all along. Maybe he was just someone in love. Maybe he was just human.

"Goro~! What're you waiting for?" Ren waved a hand in front of his face, snapping him out of his trance. He grinned widely, pulling him over into a side-hug. "Cheese!"

Goro rolled his eyes extravagantly, but wrapped his arm around Ren. He gave the cameraman a mild grin, feeling Ren's head butt against his.

A black fluffy arm wrapped around his shoulder, Declan Duck towering over behind them. Sew was right in the middle of his dads, snug in Ren's arm.

A sly thought crossed the brunet's mind, and Goro leaned in to whisper to Ren. He was careful to keep his voice low, lips brushing over the shell of his ear. "I prefer Declan Duck anyway. Michael's far too overrated."