Work Text:
The bus ride to Calico Desert wasn’t long, but it was always still far too long for Grians liking. He tapped his foot impatiently on the floor, a carefully wrapped gift cradled in his hands. He stared absently out the window, watching rolling hills turn to fields turn to sand until finally, he had arrived.
Grian practically bounced out of the bus, just barely remembering to thank the driver as he exited. He was hit with a wave of heat that knocked the breath out of him for a second. Even just spring in the desert was no joke. He was quick to make his way down the sandy path towards the blessedly air-conditioned Oasis, already feeling himself starting to sweat.
The sign on the entrance said Closed. He pushed it open anyway, he knew he’d be welcome.
“Grian!” The man behind the counter grinned and stumbled out of his seat to run into Grian’s open arms.
“Taurtis!” Grian’s voice was muffled by his boyfriend's shoulder as he clung on tight to him. “Happy birthday!”
Taurtis gave him a tight squeeze before pulling back to smile at him. “I missed you.”
“I was here two weeks ago.” Grian rolled his eyes, yet his smile was fond. He had to admit he’d missed Taurtis too.
“Mm, too long ago.” Taurtis kissed the tip of his nose.
“This wouldn’t be a problem if you’d just move in with me, y’know,” Grian pointed out.
“And live up on that cold mountain? Nooo thank you, sir, I’m perfectly fine in my nice warm desert.”
“Well, I think you’re insane and stubborn, but have it your way, honey.” Grian leaned up to give Taurtis a quick kiss.
“You love me for it.”
“I love you in spite of it.”
“As if you’re one to talk!” Taurtis playfully smacked him on the arm. Grian laughed and stepped back a bit.
“I got you a present.” He changed the subject with all the grace of a ballerina with a broken leg.
Taurtis gasped and his face lit up as he swiftly forgot what the subject was even changed from. “What is it, what is it?”
“You’ll have to open it and see!” Grian stepped back to shove the wrapped present towards his boyfriend, a cheeky grin on his face.
“How did I not notice you were holding that?” Taurtis asked, taking the gift and already tearing at the red and blue wrapping paper. It was adorable, like he was an excited puppy.
“Too busy looking at my beautiful face?” Grian perched his chin on his hands and batted his eyelashes at Taurtis.
“That sounds about right.” Taurtis’s tone was casual, but the smirk on his lips showed that he knew Grian was blushing. While Grian was often overly self-aggrandising, anyone who knew him knew compliments embarrassed him even as he relished in them.
Taurtis’s eyes widened when he saw what Grian had gotten him.
“Yo, new headphones?!” He pulled the box out of the pile of torn paper on the counter with a grin. The headphones were almost identical in aesthetic to the ones he was already wearing but boasted a variety of features they didn’t have. He pulled the old scuffed pair off before he’d even gotten the new ones out of their box.
“Toggle-able noise-cancelling, ten-hour battery life, there’s a microphone attachment,” Grian listed off. “The blue and red bits on the sides can light up if you want.”
Grian ended up having to help Taurtis get the headphones out without breaking them. They were immediately jammed onto his head and adjusted to fit while Grian laughed.
“You need to charge them before you can use them, y’know!”
“I know! I just wanted to see how they feel.” Taurtis pouted. He was practically vibrating with excitement.
“And? Are they comfy?”
“Very. So much softer than the old ones.” He ducked down to kiss Grian with a smile. “Thank you, babe.”
“Those ratty old headphones of yours have been bothering me for years, they’re just as much a gift to my eyes as they are to you.” Grian laughed. Taurtis rolled his eyes and kissed Grian again, deeper than before.
“Y’know what’d be a really good birthday present?” Taurtis pulled back just enough to ask, and wiggled his eyebrows as he did.
“You make that joke every year,” Grian groaned. “Does it not get old to you?”
“Never. Bedroom?”
Grian sighed. “You’re unbelievable. Yeah, lead the way.”