Chapter Text
Caesar’s current location: weaving in and out of the apartment’s several rooms, collecting his protective winter gear as he goes.
Joseph’s current location: exactly 5cm behind Caesar at all times. Arms hang emphatically in despair as he complains. Gravity appears especially powerful today.
“Caaaeeeeeeee, come on. Just stay here,,,,,”
Caesar weaves at Expert++ Level, cleaning up his lunch as he goes. Dishes go in the sink. Pick phone off the coffee table. At each stop, he turns the exact degrees required to artfully dodge Joseph’s predatory grab. A loud huff signifies the end of Jojo’s trailing. He leans next to the open bathroom door while Caesar adjusts his hair.
“I’m the only one who can cover a closing shift.”
“Manager’s there, ain’t she? Make her do it!”
“Two people called in sick.”
“And you can be the third!” Joseph concluded his compelling argument with exuberant jazz hands.
The only indication that Caesar was listening is the side eye he flashes before marching into the bedroom. He pauses in front of the full-body mirror to button up his cardigan. He remains unmoved when 97 kilograms of sulky man-puppy envelop him from behind, except for the slight knee bend he’s adopted to stabilize himself. The hairs at the crown of his head sway when Joseph speaks.
“Oh come on, who’s gonna go shopping on Christmas Eve anyway? It’s always too busy!”
“And that makes perfect sense,” Caesar murmurs blandly. He adjusts his sleeves and exits the bedroom. Jolted from the sudden absence of support, Joseph catches his own weight and contorts his face into the poutiest frown of the day. He slows to a stop by the living room’s sofa, watching Caesar near the closed entrance to their apartment. Now bundled in a large wool coat, Caesar applies a third scarf to his winter armour.
Alas, the battle was lost. Jojo flops backward onto the sofa in a grand gesture of defeat. The sofa’s back panel blocks all but his swaying legs from sight. Calves swinging from the sofa’s edge, Jojo pitches his voice into a crackly falsetto.
“How heartless! Leaving this fair maiden alone on today of all days. When will my husband return from the war? I’ve lost count of the days I’ve been abandoned, cold, unloved, forgotten like so many, uh,”
“I’ll be back in eight hours. Maybe nine. Eat without me.” Caesar pulls his wall of scarves up to the bridge of his nose. A drawn-out “boooo” drifts from the sofa.
There is a moment of quiet for once, save for the rustle of keys. Joseph hears the sound of the door opening and raises his arm in a lazy wave. “Knock em dead, babe.”
A muffled snort of acknowledgement is all he hears before the telltale click of the deadbolt lock.
Joseph breathes in the silence for a bit. He ponders.
“Maybe I’ll get takeout from that noodle place he likes so much.”