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Kazuha and Scaramouche had been dating since the first year of college and now they were in their third year. Scaramouche had always come off as a mysterious person - reserved but not shy, bold but not in a way that overshadowed his peers. Despite his darker aesthetics, calling him “emo” felt surface-level. Scaramouche had plenty of love to give but he handed it out sparingly. So when he started dating Kazuha, he was able to show his more intimate side. Sure, that took months of trust but the time was worth it.
Kazuha always encouraged Scaramouche to never be afraid to express his emotions. The main reason why the latter had the reputation for being “emotionless” was due to his fear of invalidation. Scaramouche believed that he would be judged for his thoughts and opinions so he rarely shared them. That led to times when he wouldn’t stand up for himself or allow himself to be dragged into business he had no interest in being part of. So when they started dating, Kazuha would make sure Scaramouche knew that he wouldn’t be offended by his feelings or his choices.
Not long after that, Scaramouche slowly became comfortable enough with him to share more of his interest - his hobbies, music tastes, and even some of his trauma. Scaramouche would also develop into being sassier as his confidence grew but he didn’t mind that either. However, out of everything, Kazuha found one of his interests to be the most memorable - his love for stuffed toys.
It started as only carrying some plush charms in the bags he took to class. Before any exam or presentation, he would subtly reach into his bag and squeeze the toy for minutes as if it was some sort of good luck charm. Kazuha probably wouldn’t have taken notice the first few times but since they were both graphic design majors, he was able to witness the occurrence more than frequently. Now, he knew when to anticipate it.
When coming in contact with any stuffed toys, Scaramouche could not mask his interest. All he needed was to catch a glimpse of one being sold and his eyes were on them until they left the area. Kazuha found it to be cute and if the toy wasn’t expensive, he would buy it.
For example, there was a time when they were shopping for home furnishings for their first apartment. It all started typically until Scaramouche reached an aisle with a large teddy bear - just over half his size. Even when they walked past it, Kazuha knew his boyfriend’s mind was elsewhere.
So before they checked out, Kazuha took a separate cart just for the bear and wheeled it to the register. The way Scaramouche’s eyes sparkled at that moment before using his hand to cover his smile would always be a distinct memory.
“Thank you… I guess,” Scaramouche said after they exited the store, wheeling out the massive toy while his lover handled the dozens of other bought items.
“You’re welcome,” Kazuha said softly, deciding not to tease him. “I guess we’ll have to find a way to fit this in our room.”
“What makes you think it will go in our room?”
Kazuha did not respond and let his boyfriend’s actions speak for himself, as he tried to fit the toy in the front passenger’s seat with him as they drove home.
In the end, the teddy bear miraculously appeared at the edge of the bed.
As months went by, the collection in their apartment grew. Scaramouche didn’t have a distinct preference. He could have an interest in animals and in a few weeks, it would be pretty little dolls. Eventually, a single table wasn’t enough and Kazuha would buy multi-layered shelves to hold them all. He never complained though since he noticed how happier Scaramouche would get being surrounded by his plushies.
Scaramouche did struggle with his mental health - especially with his depression. He never elaborated but he did imply he had unhealthy coping methods in the past. Now, all he needed was to hold one of his squishy trinkets and his mood would shift. There were times Kazuha simply had to refuse since they weren’t exactly well off. But Scaramouche understood - he wasn’t picky.
Kazuha never found out why stuffed toys were his coping mechanism. But did he care either way? No. As long as his boyfriend kept smiling, there was no need to question him.
“Which one is it tonight, love?” Kazuha asked as he slipped under the covers, watching his boyfriend enter the room while holding something in his arms.
“Don’t judge,” Scaramouche mumbled once he revealed the purple feline he held close to his chest.
“Do I ever?” Kazuha simply told him, lifting the blanket for him to enter.
Despite how snappy he was, Scaramouche would never deny himself from being in his boyfriend’s arms by the end of the day. For some reason, he felt more cuddly than usual today - and more appreciative. So when he assumed Kazuha was asleep, he whispered:
“Thank you…”
Kazuha smirked. “You’re welcome.”
“Uh I- whatever…”
“Good night, baby.”
Scaramouche sighed, snuggling impossibly closer. “Good night.”