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Wandering through the aisles of a cute, plant and knickknacks corner store was not a place one would expect to find two hunting dogs after work.
Still dressed in their uniforms, capes swaying together, fingers interlocked as they moved about the store.
What exactly were Jouno and Tecchou doing here you ask?
A conversation earlier in the week, about getting a pet.
Though both were for the idea when Tecchou suggested it, their sometimes crazy work schedules would be cruel on almost any pet (not to mention so would their actual capability to take care of an animal at all). Jouno has considered on multiple occasions buying Tecchou an ant farm, but he decided that was certain self sabotage as Tecchou would probably spend more time with the ants than him.
So, they settled on buying a plant or two, and now here they were, the sky purple and golden as the sun set, casting patterns on the tiled floor of the store.
"I like this one!" Tecchou lifted to point with their joined hands, before guiding them, or rather, practically dragging Jouno over to where the rubber plants were.
The one Tecchou picked up to examine further was about a foot high, in a pretty, turquoise glazed pot with all sorts of patterns on it. "This one's mine."
Jouno smiled to himself at his boyfriend's excitement. This was more about Tecchou than it was him. After all he couldn't see the plants they'd buy, so he was sure he'd be fine with anything.
The same moment the lady who ran the shop emerged from a side room. "Ah, a rubber plant I see! And you have good taste in pots too my dear!"
Tecchou smiled. "Do you think this will survive if I buy it?"
The woman simply laughed in response as if it were a joke, but Jouno smirked as he knew Tecchou was being 100% serious.
The next moment she turned to Jouno. "And you my dear? Surely you don't want to leave without your own?"
Jouno smiled again. "Ah, I'm not so worried. I won't be able to see it anyways."
"Oh no matter!" The shopkeeper beamed, "Seeing it isn't the only thing that makes owning a plant so wonderful!"
She was certainly energetic for her age, the two men turned to each other in a laugh as she disappeared into the next room, beckoning them to follow.
They waited as she returned with a couple options in hand.
"Here love! Give these a feel!"
Jouno let go of Tecchou's hand and carefully reached out until he felt waxy leaves. "Huh." he said out loud. It felt so different from normal trees and bushes he'd usually encounter on the job.
Tecchou then reached over gently to guide his arm to the other plant. This one had smooth, velvety leaves. "So soft..." Jouno said quietly.
Tecchou looked at the shopkeeper, she smiled at him with a knowing look.
"This waxy one here will bloom if it's happy enough in your place, so you'll be able to smell it too!" she tapped the hoya plant's pot.
"And this one's leaves are lovely I know! One of my favourites" she said as she looked to the other pot.
"I'll take both" Jouno smiled after a few moments of contemplation.
They found the perfect spot for their new plants. The window sill of their kitchen had enough room for all three, and the two of them spent enough time around the kitchen/dining table that they would be in view/reach/smelling distance throughout the day.
And if Tecchou caught Jouno running his thumb over the velvety leaves of his plant that weekend, he didn't announce himself. He simply smiled fondly at his boyfriend from the couch and admired the way the golden evening sun illuminated strands of his hair through the window, and how Jouno smiled a little to himself, off in his own little world.