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An artist cannot exist in a vacuum, for art is always something that takes what exists and expounds on it. Or at least, that was Shu’s reasoning for inviting Nazuna out to the gallery with him after school.
It wasn’t a date, no, that would imply that the two of them had that type of “relationship”. Shu would always shake his head at the assumptions. What he had with ‘his Nito’ was far more artistic and precious.
Though to any outsider, it did look like a date.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Nito? You’ve been awfully quiet,” said Shu, stopping once he entered the next room. He waited for Nazuna to join him at his side, feeling more or less like he was dragging him through here.
It definitely looked like a date.
It looked like two high schoolers going somewhere together, alone, after school. Though, an art exhibition isn't something Nazuna would normally pick... He supposed he should spend a little time with his unitmate outside of school. And this was something that he liked. So, it was only fair, right?
Yet his mind could only race with what other people were probably thinking about them. Well, Nazuna was wearing a boy's uniform. Hopefully nobody would try to say he was Shu's girlfriend again like last time.
"...Mhm..." Nazuna hummed barely above a whisper. He looked at the piece they stood next to, a rather big canvas of a still life with oil paints. He cocked his head to look at it from more angles, slightly swaying on his feet.
There was simply just not much to say on the matter. It was really good, but what kind of conversation can come out of a pot with flowers in it? He looked up at Shu to see his reaction. Anything to get his mind off of the thought in the back of his head.
It was funny, the last time they were out, Shu had paid for his treat at the fruit parlor they went to and an old woman commented on how adorable the two of them were, and how it was hard to find chivalry within their generation. It was amusing to Shu, his Nito did look like a girl sometimes, didn't he...
But he couldn't help it. Nazuna was an androgynous beauty, very doll-like in nature. Such angelic qualities of him would naturally attract certain comments.
"These look like the flowers over by the school, don't they?" asked Shu, tilting his head curiously as he looked at the flower, and then at Nazuna. "They do match your eyes very well... Had we been at school, I would have plucked one from the bush and placed it in your hair. Ah, you would look simply stunning, like a fairy of the forest..."
"...Don't say such embarrassing things like that, Oshi-san."
Nazuna finally spoke up, though he was a bit grumpy, his voice was as light as ever even if he whispered. He let out a small sigh again as he squinted closer at the painting. Yeah, he supposed the red did match his eyes, but...
Did Shu have to always be so... yeah, embarrassing about it all of the time?!
Shu's eyes widened.
He knew Nazuna meant no harm by it, but...
"Nito! There's nothing to be embarrassed about! A beauty such as yourself shouldn't feel the need to hide yourself, the thought of you withering and shulking away makes my heart weep... Non, I will simply express my joy about your radiance as much as I see fit!" exclaimed Shu, giving Nazuna a bright smile. "You're the centerpiece of our Valkyrie, I simply must show you off... Though to say a flower would make you more beautiful is incorrect. Non, what I mean to say is that it would enhance that which is already there."
Shu leaned in closer to Nazuna.
"Such as... these sparkling ruby eyes of yours, and your plush, light lips, and the blush spreading across your cheeks! Oh, Nito, how lucky am I to be able to gaze upon your visage day after day!"
....
......
.......Jesus. This guy...!
Nazuna backed away from him, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to quickly get the blush on his cheeks to go away. He folded his arms as he glared up at him, damn it, why does he have to be so tall? Even though when Shu looks down at him, Nazuna gets butterflies in his stomach, that didn't matter!
He huffed as he turned on his heel and marched off to the next painting, deciding not to get irritated. It would only cause more attention to the people already looking, and it was just getting more and more embarrassing by the minute.
"Oshi-san, hurry up. Next painting."
"You're always so adorable when you get embarrassed," said Shu, standing up straighter again. "You have nothing to be embarrassed of! I wish I could capture you in an artwork and hang it here on the walls so everyone could bear witness to your beauty... But I fear it may be impossible to mimic."
Shu unfolded his hands from behind his back.
"Personally, I feel I may spend my entire life trying to create something as wonderful as you are already, I understand now why all the great masters had muses. For that's where the most divine inspiration comes from, trying to record that which exists, yet is too perfect for human hands to craft."
He was just going to keep going, wasn't he? Shu hadn't even moved from his spot. Nazuna was going to leave him behind at this rate, wasn't he?
He turned back around with a sigh, even his nose red with blush now. Just because Shu thought all of this about Nazuna, did he really have to say it out loud?
Though... honestly. Shu made him feel like he was better than all of the paintings here. More beautiful than what even the best artist's could produce. His eyes softened as he went up to Shu, and grabbed his hand in his.
He pulled him slightly, and without a word, tried to urge him onto the next painting... With a small smile on his lips.
Nazuna's hand was soft. A bit warm, and definitely smaller than his own.
And the most important thing about it was that it was in his hand right now. Shu's words trailed off until he was quite speechless, cheeks flushed a deep red.
Nazuna was holding hands with him. He knew that Nazuna just wanted to drag him along, but... He'd always avoided this kind of contact with Nazuna because of certain comments he'd make. Sometimes Nazuna would accuse him of staring too much at him, or get all huffy when people assumed they were dating.
But maybe, for right now, Shu could indulge in it a little. He closed his own grip, fingers pressing against Nazuna's as he hoped that he could just hold on for a little bit longer, just to feel what it felt like. He did secretly enjoy it when people assumed they were dating, it made his chest swell with pride that people thought he was worthy to date such an angelic creature as Nazuna.
"Nito..." Shu said softly, rubbing his thumb on the back of Nazuna's hand as he caught up to him. If he didn't acknowledge the hand then perhaps Nazuna wouldn't pull away.
It was rather ironic, honestly. Nazuna had been so worried and worked up about what other people would think of them together, that when he did something with Shu that actual couples do, his brain didn't compute it.
He had just grabbed his hand to pull him along. Nothing more than that at the end of the day. But it meant everything to Shu, even if Nazuna didn't realize it yet.
He brought them over to the next painting before stopping, blinking a few times as he felt Shu's thumb gently caressing him. Nazuna would be lying if he said it didn't feel extremely nice. He closed his eyes, for just a moment, eyelashes delicately laying on top of each other before opening them once more.
"...?" He looked at him when Shu said his name, with a rather confused look on his face before trailing down to their hands together.
"Your hands are so big, Oshi-san," he commented out loud, letting go, only to grab Shu's hand again. He pressed the palms of them together, fingers on top of each other as Nazuna saw how much bigger he was than his own.
"...See? Hmph... I wish my hands were bigger, like yours. And that I was taller..."
Shu wished this moment would never end, the second Nazuna’s hand left his own he felt a yearning so intense he needed him back. But… they were still touching.
“Your hands are small and adorable, just like you,” said Shu. His hands looked almost comical next to Nazuna’s, pressed up against them.
“I wish my hands were dainty and delicate, these ones don’t have the same artistic merit. Well, they do say the grass is always greener…”
Shu slotted his fingers between Nazuna’s and closed his hand, holding it for a second as he looked, gaze finally meeting Nazuna’s.
"Don't be like that, Oshi-san... Your hands are fine. You make beautiful costumes that —..."
He trailed off as he watched Shu's hand interlock with Nazuna's. It was as if he short circuited, staring at Shu blankly, before realizing.
They... They were... holding hands. Yeah. Yeah, they were holding hands. Nazuna felt his mouth go dry as his cheeks heated up, his fingers still straight before slowly lowering them.
It fits perfectly, like the missing piece of a puzzle. Nazuna felt his heart beating into his ears before slowly letting his arm fall... letting go of his hand.
"...Let's keep looking, then. And... maybe food afterwards...?"
“Yeah… Right.”
Shu’s hand felt more empty than it ever had before in his life. He wished he could just grab Nazuna again. Hold his hand, hold him close, wrap his arms around him until he and Nazuna could become one.
Shu couldn’t help blushing as he looked at painting after painting, seemingly the theme of this room being lovers. He felt as if fate was speaking to him, no longer in riddles but directly.
He reached out, then hesitated.
Itsuki Shu should never hesitate.
He grabbed Nazuna’s hand again, for no reason other than he wanted to.
Nazuna had been cursing at himself underneath his breath. Why? Why did he let go? He didn't want to, not at all, but he had. Why did he do that?
Because he was shy, and he didn't want to cause any unneeded attention to them. Shu didn't even answer his proposal for dinner. A subtle ask to a date... Nazuna was such an idiot! Even just thinking about it was making his cheeks heat up!
He was so lost in thought that it almost scared him when Shu grabbed his hand once more. He looked up at him, his eyes wide, lips slightly parted as he almost tripped.
...He didn't say anything. Instead, Nazuna just looked away, red as a beet. And held Shu's hand back.
“There’s a new restaurant I’ve been wanting to try, they have some european style cuisine if you’re interested,” said Shu as if Nazuna had a choice on the matter. Whenever they went out, Shu liked to take control of everything and make sure it went well.
And then he felt it, Nazuna holding his hand back. He couldn’t hold back his smile, squeezing Nazuna’s hand tighter. Once, then twice.
So… this was okay between them. Shu felt like his heart was still trying to beat out of his chest, but then calmed just a little.
Nazuna knew that nothing could be done about where Shu wanted to go, so he just gave in, instead. Hopefully this time he could at least pick out his own food and not have Shu order for him... He held back tighter.
He's never held someone's hand in this fashion before. His earlier worries of people thinking they were a couple didn't feel like it mattered anymore. He just liked holding his hand, and there was nothing more than that.
"Whenever you want, Oshi-san."
“Whenever? Oh, how about I whisk you away now, my darling doll,” said Shu, rubbing his thumb affectionately against his hand.
“I feel truly inspired by you, you’re the perfect muse anyone could ever ask for. Of course, you’re my muse and I would never dream of sharing you. I think I would rather pass away. Oh to think, my Nito being exploited for other artistic endeavors…”
Nevermind.
Nazuna reeled back a hand and slapped Shu on the arm, not very hard, but his point still stood. And then he did it again, and again.
"Stwop talkin' like dat!" Nazuna slurred out, drawing more attention to them than Shu did. Slap slap slap.
Sooo... So embarrassing. But he never let go of his hand, no, he didn't dare to.
“Ah! Nito!” exclaimed Shu. They were in public right now and Nazuna was acting so childish. He held onto Nazuna’s hand tighter.
“Your barrage of attacks against me are seriously troublesome,” said Shu, shaking his head. “To think, such a beautiful being as yourself is capable of such violence… It’s unfit for you, Nito, you are far too sweet.”
"Something sweet can still have a bite to it," Nazuna said, under his breath, huffing. He pulled them along, though quickly stopped pouting.
...When was the last time Nazuna smiled this much to himself? He couldn't tell. But he felt like he was on cloud nine over just a simple hand holding session. It was so childish, but it meant a lot to him.
“Hm? Does that mean I get a taste too!?” teased Shu, stopping where he stood.
The implications caught up to him immediately after, realizing he just asked Nazuna for a taste of… him.
A kiss.
But Shu couldn’t back down, no, if that’s how his heart felt towards Nazuna, then that’s where it would lead to.
He often forgot to think around Nazuna, saying anything and everything that came to mind. He just loved him so much… Being with Nazuna was easy. He could unapologetically be himself, and that felt nice.
Nazuna looked up at Shu, feeling as if steam could come out of his ears if it could.
That was enough for today, wasn't it? Nazuna balled his fist, and socked Shu hard right in the arm.
It seemed that hand holding was as far as they would go for today, and that was okay. They had the rest of their school life to get to experience more...
That's what they both thought, at least.