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“Dino,” Gladiolus snaps.
“Hmm?” Dino blinks and shakes his head. “Sorry, did you say something?”
Gladiolus huffs. “Stop staring.”
“Can’t help it.” Dino leans forward and licks his lips. “It’s very distracting.”
Gladiolus crosses his arms over his chest, blocking Dino’s view of his tattoo.
Dino sighs exaggeratedly and looks up at Gladiolus’ face. “Spoilsport.”
“You said you wanted to learn how to fight.” Gladiolus uncrosses his arms and rubs at his face with a hand.
“I do.” Dino leans forward and wraps his arms around Gladiolus’ waist. “But you never said anything about going shirtless.”
“Because no one else stares,” Gladiolus mutters as he leans against Dino. “You can do that at home.”
“I can.” Dino sighs and pulls away from the hug. “Alright. I’ll pay attention this time. Promise.” He grins at Gladiolus.
“Uh huh.” Gladiolus rolls his eyes. “I’ll just go put a shirt on.”
Dino pouts. “If I have to get all gross and sweaty the least you can do is let me enjoy it.”
Gladiolus’ cheeks turn a little pinker. “Dino.”
Dino holds up his hands in apology. “Okay, okay. I’ll behave.”
Gladiolus gives Dino a disbelieving look. “Please. I don’t want to end up hitting you by accident.”
“Okay.” Dino waves a hand. “I’m listening.”
Really, it was Dino’s fault. He frowns down at the bloody handkerchief in his hand and looks up at Gladiolus.
“I thought you’d pull your punches,” he mumbles.
“I did.” Gladiolus strokes Dino’s hair. “I said I’m sorry.”
“Fighting sucks.” Dino gingerly touches his nose and winces. “I’m never doing it again.”
“You were supposed to dodge.” Gladiolus slides down the wall and sits next to Dino. “I told you to dodge.”
“I was distracted.” Dino leans against Gladiolus’ arm. “I swear it keeps looking at me.”
Gladiolus snorts and pats Dino’s knee. “It’s not looking at you.”
“It feels like it is.” Dino moves to nuzzle against Gladiolus’ shoulder and stops. Winces. “Like one of those creepy paintings in a haunted house.”
“So you were having a staring competition?” Gladiolus puts his arm around Dino’s waist and cuddles against him.
“Exactly.” Dino nods and regrets it when his nose starts leaking blood again. “But the bird won.”
“Well it doesn’t need to blink.” Gladiolus pats Dino’s knee with his other hand. “It’s got you at a disadvantage.”
“Stupid bird.” Dino lowers the handkerchief and frowns at it. “I can’t believe you broke my nose.”
“We’ll match.” Gladiolus leans over and kisses Dino’s hair.
“I don’t wanna match.” Dino pouts and immediately winces. “I liked being the pretty one.”
“Are you saying I’m not pretty?” Gladiolus gently nudges Dino with his arm.
“Yes.” Dino nudges back. “Definitely.” He wriggles around and strokes Gladiolus’ stubble-rough cheek. “You’re too handsome to be pretty.”
“I’m glad you think so.” Gladiolus leans forward and kisses Dino’s cheek.
Someone very pointedly clears their throat. Gladiolus leaps backwards and upright at the same time. It makes Dino feel a little dizzy. That and the blood loss.
“I heard you needed a medic.”
Dino twists around. There’s a medic and a grouchy man glaring at Gladiolus.
“I. Um. Yeah.” Gladiolus rubs at the back of his head and points to Dino. “I broke his nose.”
The man raises an eyebrow and Gladiolus looks away. Dino leans forward. He can’t make Gladiolus turn that shade of pink with just a raised eyebrow.
The man sighs and turns away. “I was hoping someone had knocked you on your ass. Maybe next time.” He leaves the room without a goodbye.
Dino snorts. And then feels like crying because broken noses are incredibly painful and his boyfriend sucks.
“Let’s have a look.” The medic kneels down and gently moves Dino’s hand away from his face.
“Am I dying?” Dino whines. “I feel like I’m dying.”
The medic pats Dino’s hand. “No. You’ll live to see another day.”
“See?” Gladiolus comes and crouches next to Dino. “I told you you’d be fine.”
“You, on the other hand.” The medic pokes Gladiolus’ knee. “You’re in trouble.”
“Why am I in trouble?” Gladiolus frowns.
“Unauthorised use of the training rooms.” She grins at Gladiolus. “Which means no Crownsguard freebie.”
Gladiolus sighs and hangs his head. “Fine. I’ll deal with it.”
“Alright.” The medic turns back to Dino and smiles. “This might hurt.”
Dino’s about to protest what and why and does it have to but he doesn’t get a chance. The medic does something awful to his nose that makes Dino whimper.
Gladiolus squeezes Dino’s hand. “There there,” he says, completely unhelpfully.
“Why,” Dino mumbles, but neither of them pay him any attention.
“Let’s see.” The medic pokes Dino’s nose a few more times. He almost wants to bite her finger off. Except she’d probably punch him in the face and break his nose again.
Life is unfair.
“Alright.” The medic pulls a few pieces of gauze and tape out of her bag. “Since you broke it, you can fix it.” She pokes Gladiolus’ knee and stands up. “Don’t worry.” She winks at Dino. “Gladio can kiss it better in a couple of weeks.”
“Weeks?” Dino groans. This can’t get any worse. He’s going to die.
The medic snickers as she leaves. Dino turns to Gladiolus and looks as sad as possible.
“Don’t pout.” Gladiolus picks up the gauze and sighs. “And don’t move.”
“She was kidding, right? About the kissing?” Dino clutches at one of Gladiolus’ hands. “Please tell me she was kidding.”
Gladiolus squeezes Dino’s hand. “She wasn’t. Now close your eyes.”
“But if I’d known what was at stake I wouldn’t have ogled!”
“Well, now you know for next time.” Gladiolus untangles his fingers from Dino’s.
“What do you mean next time?” Dino narrows his eyes.
“Close your eyes, Dino.” Gladiolus pats Dino’s knee. “You don’t want me to mess up and ruin your pretty nose, do you?”
Dino closes his eyes and huffs. This is the worst day of his entire life.
Something soft brushes against Dino’s lips. He leans forward and then jerks backwards. “Ow-”
“I told you not to move.” Gladiolus strokes Dino’s cheek. “I guess I won’t try again.”
“I’ll be good.” Dino closes his eyes. “Still as a statue.”
It’s very hard not to move when Gladiolus kisses him. Dino wants to throw his arms around Gladiolus’ neck and kiss him until neither one of them can breathe. But he also likes being able to breathe. He whines softly and Gladiolus pulls away.
“I really am sorry about your nose, Dino.” Gladiolus kisses Dino’s forehead.
“Well, you know what they say.” Dino opens one eye and watches Gladiolus lean closer with gauze in hand. “You break it, you bought it.”
Gladiolus snorts and shakes his head. “We’re already dating.”
“But now you’re stuck with me.” Dino closes his eye again. “It’s the rule.”
“Alright.” Gladiolus kisses him again. “Then I’m stuck with you. Me and my creepy bird.”
Dino makes a face. And whines when it makes his nose hurt more. This is the worst day.