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“My boy! Where’s my boy?!”
Faun shakes his head as he follows behind Krono, hand catching the door as it swings back towards them. The spirited manner in which Krono had slammed it open causing it to bounce back with just as much force. Luckily off of the spring door stop at the bottom of the wall rather than the wall itself.
Krono looks back long enough to offer a toothy smile and kick off his already untied shoes before continuing on with his mission to barge intrudingly through their friend’s house.
Allowing the door to close shut behind him with an audible click, Faun sighs and leans back against it. With practiced ease he uses the toe of his shoe to paw at the heel of the other enough to slip it off, repeating the motion again with the remaining one. Nudging them neatly beside the door, he waits and watches.
“Where, oh where is my boy?” Krono sing-songs as he pokes his head into the closest open room.
A pillow to the face is his reward.
Krono stumbles back with a muffled cry, nearly tripping over the rug in the hallway. His hand flings out to catch himself on the side jamb. He stays dramatically in place like that, back bent backwards and a leg sticking out for balance, for a good ten seconds. Long enough that Faun debates whether or not to snap a photo to send to their group chat.
The pillow is wrenched away from Krono’s face before Faun even makes an attempt to bother moving. Instead of a scowl or annoyance, there is only glee to be found in Krono’s expression. A clear contrast to narrowed eyes behind glasses.
Krono tosses the pillow over to Faun, who catches it and wraps his arms around it. Clutching it comfortably against his chest.
The taller man raises his arms high above his head. “My boy!”
Muman shoots a pleading look over to Faun just as Krono launches himself at him.
It’s a plea that Faun ignores in favor of laughing.
Faun finds himself having to smother his laughter into the pillow when Krono pulls Muman close by the waist with one hand, the other reaching up to completely muss up tawny hair. Muman sputters indignantly. Hands flailing to shove at the other man.
“Hey! Quit it! I just finished drying it out!”
A palm catches Krono’s cheek with a soft pap. A rough and amused chuckle leaves Krono.
It’s all for show, the three of them know. Muman is the strongest of their group.
Throwing Krono over his shoulder would be no problem for him if he actually wanted to do so, even with the height difference.
“There’s my boy,” Krono mumbles against his cheek.
An unspoken emotion laced in his tone that has round brown eyes widening another fraction.
Faun takes the moment to push away from the door. He walks up beside the duo, reaching a hand out towards the bottom of tied hair. His fingers run through silky strands, enjoying the feel.
“He’s right.” Faun says, meeting Muman’s raised eyebrow. “Nice and smooth. And smells like…” He leans in, bringing a lock of hair close to his face. “Strawberries?”
Muman frowns, looking away with a light flush on his cheeks. “That’s Mumei’s fault. She wanted someone to experiment some new beauty routine that one of her friends mentioned. Left everything here for me to use if I wanted to. And it would be a waste to throw them out so…” He shrugs. “Might as well.”
Faun hums in acknowledgment.
It’s a pleasant scent. One that surprisingly suits him.
Especially if he were wearing one of his usual outfits— patterned dress shirts and fuzzy vests or cardigans— instead of his current tank top. His usual go to after a post-workout shower.
This fits him just as well though. Defined muscles complimented by the lotion Faun can pick up now at this distance. A lighter lemony scent.
Faun lifts the hair in his hand closer to Krono, who curiously leans over to investigate. Muman rolls his eyes but doesn’t comment on the breach of his personal space.
“Did you just come home from the gym?” Faun asks Muman.
Krono’s chest rumbles with a pleased hum.
Muman answers, glancing at Krono for a moment before turning his attention back to Faun, “Like, half an hour ago, maybe? Yeah. Around one-ish. I wanted to drop back home to take a quick shower and a snack before hanging out with Iryk. Dude says he needs help fixing one of his sister’s keyboards that he accidentally dropped.” He flicks Krono’s nose, who obeys the wordless request and unfurls his hand from Muman’s waist, taking a step back. His easy grin still on his face. “I told him I couldn’t offer much help cause, well, tech. But he says he’s cool with just a casual hangout. Oh, right. That reminds me…”
He steps away and Faun watches the strands of hair slide off the tips of his fingers. It tickles enough to elicit a small chuckle out of him.
Krono perks up at the sound. Wrapping an arm around Faun’s shoulder he gives a friendly shake that earns him another laugh.
There’s an attempt from both their parts to guide the other into the kitchen, following after Muman, that results in them nearly bumping into the dining table.
They pull away from one another when they slip into the kitchen. Watching Muman place a medium sized watermelon on a wooden cutting board.
Muman grabs one of his knives from their stand and cuts into the fruit with a satisfying crack.
Faun feels his mouth water at the way it almost finishes splitting open the rest of the way on it’s own. It’s an extra sweet one, he can tell.
Beside him Krono is already making to grab Muman’s arm.
“Muman. Bro. The light of my life and my savior when I forget to take notes during class.”
Faun doesn’t bother mentioning that the reason Krono doesn’t take notes during his lectures is because he’s too busy either texting one of them or sleeping. The man manages to pass his classes with near perfect grades somehow, anyways.
With or without their offered notes.
Muman rolls his eyes but the corners of his mouth twitch upwards. “I’m not that cruel. I wasn’t gonna prep it without giving you two some first.”
“I love you,” Faun says with complete conviction.
“What he said,” Krono agrees with an enthusiastic nod, eyes trained on the way Muman cuts half of the watermelon in half once more. Then cutting that into triangle-shaped slices.
Muman shakes his head with a laugh.
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.”
He’s careful with the way he picks up two slices of the fruit, keeping his fingers on the rind as he holds them out.
Neither Faun nor Krono afford the same level of care. Both eagerly reaching out for the treat.
Faun’s hand brushes against Muman’s as he does. Small smile a silent apology that Muman waves away, unnecessary.
The moment Faun bites gently into the fruit, sweet juice coats the entirety of his mouth. Contentment filling his chest as he swallows it down.
He doesn’t realize he had closed his eyes in joy until they flutter open. Greeted by the sight of Muman looking at the both of them with a fondness Faun wishes deep down was reserved only for them.
Faun quickly washes down that thought with more mouthfuls of the fruit.
He looks over at Krono. Exasperated endearment in the way he huffs when he notices the line of juice dribbling down the corner of his mouth.
Muman is already grabbing a couple of wet wipes but Faun beats him to it, a finger startling Krono when it rubs away at the mess that’s already sticking to pale skin.
Faun looks down at his finger, the impulse to lick it clean brushed away when Muman takes Faun’s hand in his own. He pries his fingers to splay out against his palm. Then wipes them clean, one by one.
Pointless given the fact that Muman hands him another slice of watermelon immediately after. Tossing the dirty wipe and remaining rind he takes from him into the trash bin.
Faun thanks him, already digging into the watermelon.
Muman moves towards Krono, who had been patiently waiting for him; watching the two with a crooked grin.
He waggles his eyebrows at Muman. Tilting his head to allow Muman access to his mouth.
The hands that grab and clean Krono’s face are rough. Krono protests loudly at the way he’s manhandled.
He’s completely juice-free when Muman lets him go, though. And seems placated when Muman gives him another slice as well.
Faun finishes off the fruit. He looks down at the watermelon rind in his hands. A fingernail presses into the white of it and it easily gives under the pressure. Soft like his boys.
Soft like his heart.
He tosses it into the trash bin.
Muman returns to his cutting board, picking up the knife to cut into the rest of the watermelon. This time into smaller chunks. Slicing under the red flesh of the watermelon where it meets white with precision. There’s a damp towel surrounding the cutting board that catches the running juice so it doesn’t stain the counter top.
He grabs a nearby food container, using the back of the knife to scoop the watermelon into it. Snapping the lid on when it’s full to the brim.
There’s a few stray chunks still on the board that hadn’t fit in the container. Faun is quick to grab one.
Muman opens his mouth, likely to tell him that there was still plenty of slices left for him to take it he wanted, and Faun takes the opportunity to slip the fruit into his mouth.
There is no surprise in Muman’s expression. Only resignation as he chews slowly.
“It’s good,” he says after swallowing it down, tongue poking out to catch whatever was left on his lips.
Faun thinks watermelon chapstick or lip gloss would be perfect for him. He pulls out one of the wet wipes and cleans his hands.
“Yep!” Krono agrees. He steps behind Faun, resting his chin on his shoulder. Faun responds by leaning his cheek against his head. “By the way, when do you need to go?”
“In another five minutes or so,” Muman says, looking up at the clock hanging above the kitchen entrance.
A gag gift from Krono that had remained hanging there for years now.
“Cool. Cool. Can we—“
“Sure,” Muman says. Already anticipating Krono’s question. Predictable as it was.
Or perhaps it was simply that they knew each other than well after so much time spent together.
Faun prefers to believe in the second option.
“Just make sure to lock everything when you leave.” Muman crosses his arms, resting beneath his chest. He leans his hip against the counter, head tilted to the side as he regards them. The feathers of his earrings swaying slightly. “Although something tells me you’re planning on still being here by the time I get back.”
Faun doesn’t need to see Krono’s face to know the faux innocent expression he sports. He can feel the pull of his mouth against his shoulder anyways.
He answers for Krono. “We were planning to wait for you, yes. There are a couple of movies we’ve been meaning to watch with you for a while now, but with classes and all those exams lately, well, this weekend seemed calm enough to finally get to a few of them.”
“That’s fine with me,” Muman says. He grabs another chunk of watermelon, popping it into his mouth as he drops the cutting board and wet towel into the sink. To deal with later. “The hangout with Iryk should only last for an hour or two anyways. He has something going on with Hayko and San later, I think. Bar hopping, most likely.”
“Oooooh, yeah. Hayks mentioned something like that earlier this week.”
“And you refused his invitation?” Muman asks, confused.
Krono shrugs, the motion brushing against Faun’s back, sending a shiver down his spine. “Faun and I wanted to hang out with you. We were really banking on it being possible this week.”
There’s nothing but sincerity in his tone. It has Muman’s eyes softening.
Faun smiles. His own agreement to Krono’s words.
Muman sighs. “I’ll be back as soon as the other guys meet up at Iryk’s then.”
“Don’t forget to tell San to keep his ID on him,” Faun helpfully supplies.
“Mhm.” Muman is already pulling his phone out, shooting their friend a text.
Faun nuzzles closer to Krono. He’s really looking forward to movie night with his boys.
Krono tilts his face into his shoulder.
It’s comfortable for all of a second before Faun realizes Krono isn’t simply being restless. Now that he thinks about it, he doesn’t recall seeing Krono clean himself up after his second slice of watermelon.
“Krono,” Faun says, voice tight.
Krono, sensing danger, stiffens.
Muman huffs in amusement. He’s lucky enough that he won’t stay long enough to see the outcome of this.
It’s one they’ve gone through so many times before.
“You wouldn’t happen to be wiping your mouth on my shirt, would you?”
Muman is quick to swipe his container of watermelon off of the counter.
“Welp! Have fun you two! Don’t miss me too much.”
Faun pulls his attention from Krono long enough to wave as Muman rushes out of the kitchen.
And then Krono purposely shifts his head again.
Krono cackles as he leaps away from Faun, already running to try and lock himself in Muman’s room. Faun practically on his heels as he grasps onto the doorknob and twists it the other way to prevent the lock from working.
The wide grin on his face that Krono will later tell Muman about while munching on popcorn is a figment of his imagination. Faun would argue as much.