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“Oh, and since it’s a date we can hold hands!” Epel whispers to himself as he packs various goodies into the woven picnic basket. His cheeks burn slightly pink as his thoughts wander to this afternoon’s events. He and Deuce were meant to go on their first date today and Epel planned a picnic along with some apple carving. Full of nervous jitters, he finishes packing and leaves his dorm room behind, wishing his morning classes would hurry up and get themselves over with.
“Not so fast.”
Epel stops short, his heart dropping to his stomach. He turns around just in time to see Vil striding towards him from across the dorm’s lounge. The third year stops in front of Epel with a frown and narrowed eyes. Then he reaches out a hand and begins smoothing Epel’s hair. “You should have spent more time on your hair this morning.” Vil chastises. “First date impressions are important, you know?”
“Whatever.” Epel mutters and Vil takes his hands away, sighing.
“I still think you should have poisoned him.” Vil adds. “If he didn’t survive, then he truly isn’t worth your time.”
“No?” Epel responds. “Why would I do that?”
Vil shrugs. “That’s how I confessed to Rook.”
Epel fights the urge to roll his eyes and continues on his way to his first class. Soon, the annoyance of seeing Vil first thing in the morning dissipates and the nervousness returns. Will Deuce think the date is lame? He seemed excited when Epel first proposed the idea but what if that excitement vanished and he no longer wants to even see Epel?
Maybe he should have poisoned him like Vil said…
Epel shakes his head and slaps his cheeks twice. What was he thinking? He must really be nervous if he was agreeing with Vil. “Everything will be fine.” he tells himself. “Don’t stress. Deuce is just as excited for this date as you are.”
...
“--And so we’re having a picnic later today in the forest and he’s going to teach me how to carve apples!” Deuce explains to Ace, Yuu, and Grim at the lunch table. The buzz of the cafeteria wraps around them and Yuu and Ace exchange a look.
“That uh…” Yuu begins, uncertain of how to phrase it.
“It sounds like a date.” Ace interrupts and Deuce spits up the water he just started drinking.
“D-date!?” he stutters, his face flushed red. “It’s not a date! Why would he ask me on a date?”
“If it’s not a date, stop saying that word.”
“Shut up, Ace!”
“Are you sure?” Yuu asks, attempting to cut off the argument before it starts.
“Yeah, I mean,” Deuce scratches his cheek sheepishly, “Epel is so pretty, he could do a lot better than me.” He looks crestfallen and Ace laughs.
“Are you kidding me?” he says. “Epel’s always watching you like he wants to suck your--HEY!”
Grim snickers through a mouthful of food as Yuu stomps down on Ace’s foot as hard as they can.
“Don’t worry about that.” they continue to Deuce. “Just focus on having fun today. I’m sure Epel will want you to enjoy yourself no matter what.” Epel’s face flashed through Deuce’s mind and he can’t fight back the smile that spreads across his face.
“Yeah.” he mumbles, his mind now focused on this afternoon.
...
Epel meets Deuce on the edge of the forest after classes, nervously picking at the splinters on the handle of the picnic basket. Deuce waves, looking as calm as ever, and Epel is momentarily jealous that he can be that way on a first date. Hasn’t the guy ever heard of first date jitters?
“Sorry, did I keep you waiting long?” he asks and Epel shakes his head a bit too vigorously.
“No.” he says and Deuce sighs in relief, a relaxed smile overtaking his handsome face. Epel’s cheeks turn pink and he quickly turns on his heels so Deuce can’t see. “L-let’s go!” The two set off into the forest, at first awkwardly silent. Epel searches his head for a good conversation topic, giving Deuce a side glance.
Deuce’s eyes remain on the path ahead of him. They glitter in the afternoon light as it filters through the trees. The breeze ruffles his hair slightly and Epel finds himself staring for a bit longer than he’d like to admit.
Then his foot hits an overgrown tree root.
“Shit!” he shrieks as his body pitches forward. However, before he can hit the ground, Deuce shoots forward, wrapping both arms around Epel’s small frame. He pulls Epel into his chest, steadying him while also causing his heart to nearly leap out of his throat.
“You ok?” Deuce asks. Epel barely hears him as he relishes in the feeling of Deuce’s arms around his body.
“Huh?” he blinks. “Oh! Yeah, yeah, thanks for catching me.”
Deuce nods once and releases Epel, coughing as he fails to hide his own flushed cheeks. “Good.” he says, averting his eyes awkwardly. “Um.”
“Maybe we should hold hands.” Epel says before his confidence can leave him. “You know, just to be safe.”
A few expressions cross Deuce’s face before he responds. First is wide-eyed astonishment, then a breathtakingly happy smile, until finally his cheeks burn red with embarrassment. “Yeah.” he agrees. “Just to be safe.”
The silence is now comfortable as they continue hand-in-hand, Epel beaming with pride and joy, while Deuce looks about two seconds away from having a heart attack. He’s squeezing Epel’s hand just a bit too tightly, but Epel doesn’t mind. He finds it a little cute.
Eventually, they reach the clearing and Epel lays out the picnic blanket. “I packed sandwiches and pastries.” he explains, taking a seat on the faded blanket. He withdraws the food as Deuce sits next to him. Then he takes out two perfectly red apples and two knives. “Do you want to eat first or carve apples?”
“Um,” Deuce smiles a bit sheepishly. “Can we carve the apples first? I know how much you love to carve, so I want to learn as much about it as I can.”
That, my dear readers, was the moment Cupid’s arrow pierced little Epel’s heart.
“O-of course!” he shouts. Clumsily he fumbles for the knives, passing one to Deuce. “Here, I’ll let you pick your apple.”
Deuce chooses the smaller one and Epel begins his instructions on apple carving. He can tell Deuce is following along as best he can, but the poor Heartslabyul boy struggles to even position his knife correctly. “This is a lot harder than I thought it would be.” he mutters under his breath, his eyebrows knit together in frustration. Epel sets his own knife and apple down and scoots a bit closer. His smaller hands gently place themselves on Deuce’s and he begins to adjust Deuce’s grip.
“You should hold your knife like this.” Epel explains, his eyes focused on the apple. “It makes the carving easier. See?” He guides Deuce’s hands in a simple shaving motion to peel off the rest of the apple’s skin, unaware that Deuce has gone silent and stiff beside him. They peel the rest of the skin off and Epel smiles. “There you go--.” He moves his head up to face Deuce, only to find him a mere few inches away. The next words die in Epel’s throat as their gazes meet.
Kiss him.
Epel let’s his eyes flicker down to Deuce’s slightly parted lips. In response, Deuce glances to Epel’s lips too. Their eyes meet again and Epel swallows hard. He leans in slowly, giving Deuce time to push him away. Instead, Deuce begins to lean in as well. Epel can hear his heartbeat ringing in his ears. He’s so close he can feel Deuce’s breath, see his eyelashes fluttering. This is it! It’s really happening, Epel’s actually going to kiss him! He’d dreamed of this moment for so long and now it’s going to be--.
“Oh, Monsieur Cherry Apple~!”
Deuce and Epel freeze at the familiar voice. Their eyes shift to the clearing entrance where Rook strides in, a carefree and oblivious smile on his face. “I have a message from my dear Vil that--Oh.”
Rook stops mid sentence at the sight before him. Epel and Deuce sit hand in hand, their faces pressed close together (Deuce’s lips are still frozen in a puckered position). Rook places a hand over his lips and looks away. “Am I interrupting something?”
Epel shoots up and lunges at Rook. “Seriously?” he shrieks and Rook laughs delightfully. Deuce watches with mild amusement as Epel chases Rook around the clearing, shouting words he dared not to repeat in front of Riddle. He places his fingers tenderly against his lips and smiles. What an almost perfect almost first kiss.