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Michael watched Adam step onto the escalator. He glanced over the glass, at the people becoming smaller underneath him, and turned around.
“So, why are we here again?”
“There's a specific store I want to go to.” He made sure Adam was still following him while he walked forward.
It was particularly busy this weekend, everywhere he looked there were people running around. They bustled through him with their arms full of bags and boxes. He saw Adam dodging around them, and extending his hand out. Michael grabbed it and pulled him out of the crowd.
Adam groaned. “This is why I hate malls. Are we close?”
“It should be around this corner.”
He took the lead this time, hurriedly marching in the direction Michael had told him. He trailed behind the human as a pop song played quietly in the background. Adam stopped in the middle of the walkway.
“Alright. Where are we going?” He asked.
Michael pointed at the jewelry store to the left. “There.”
“...why?”
“You’ll see.” Michael stared at him for a few seconds before Adam rolled his eyes and let him take over.
Now in control of the body, he entered the store. Display cases set on top of dark wooden tables were arranged in the middle of the store and against the walls, full of shining metal accessories. There were rings, earrings, necklaces, and about fifty other things that Michael didn’t understand the purpose for. They all looked like chunks of gems glued to other precious minerals.
He strode confidently up to the person behind the counter.
“I’m here to pick up my order.”
The saleswomen looked up at him from a computer. “Name?”
“Michael Milligan.” He felt Adam stop fidgeting. Michael took out the ID and slid it across the desk.
She glanced at it for a few seconds before pushing it back. “I’ll be right back.” She said before getting up and going through a door. Adam turned to him.
“...Michael Milligan?”
“They needed a last name. It came to mind.”
Adam smiled at him. “I like it.”
“Good.”
The saleswoman returned, with a small rectangular black box. She handed it to Michael.
“Thank you.” He carefully held it and left the store. Adam followed him. He found an empty bench next to a potted plant and sat down.
“You gonna tell me what this is now?”
Michael placed it on the bench. “I want you to open it.” He waited for Adam to take over.
Adam hesitantly peered at the velvet box before giving in and taking Michael’s place. He picked it up and shook it a couple times. He watched him inspect every edge of it, obviously taking his time. He slowly slid the lid off and stared at what was inside.
He tried to detect Adam’s emotions. Michael had no idea what that facial expression meant.
“It is a necklace. Gifting jewelry is a human tradition that shows romantic commitment, if I’m not mistaken. Do you not like it?”
He touched the silver chain, and picked it up by the small key-shaped pendant.
“The website asked for initials to be inscribed on it.” Michael said, uncomfortably unsure of what Adam thought. “I got one that was small because of your aversion to noticeable accessories. You can easily wear it in public without anyone seeing it, if that is what you want to do.”
Adam looked at it for a few more seconds before putting it on. He held the key between his fingers, running them along the engraved A + M. He finally spoke.
“I love it, Mike.” When Adam turned to face him, he had a warm smile that took up his entire face, one that he couldn't help smiling back to.
“I’m glad.”
He felt it one more time before standing up, and pulling Michael with him by the hand. “C’mon, let's go walk around some more.”
Michael tilted his head. “I thought you didn’t like malls.”
“I’m in a good mood.”
The mall had quieted down while they were speaking, enough so that they could easily traverse the various walkways and look inside stores without any issues. Adam kept glancing down at his chest and smiling. The only thing that seemed interesting to Michael was a store with bright purple accents, and other colorful items in the store's windows. He tugged on Adam’s hand so he’d stop walking.
“You want to go to Claire’s? Isn’t that like, for little girls?” He caught a glimpse of Michael’s face and cleared his throat. “I mean, if you want to, we can…”
Michael nodded. “I don’t understand why you humans must categorize everything, then keep people who don’t fit into that category from doing something. For a race who strives on originality and creativity, you limit yourselves considerably.”
“Uh-huh.”
He held the door open for Adam, much to the cashier's surprise. She stared at the door for a few seconds before shaking her head and greeting him.
“Do you need help with anything?” She said as she gave the entrance one more suspicious look.
“No. We- uh…I’m,” He corrected, “just looking around.”
Michael stood in the middle of the store, taking in all the glittery neons and mismatched patterns. He gravitated towards the display carousel with the earrings. Adam followed him.
“Earrings? I don’t know how I feel about getting our ears pierced.” Adam whispered.
He thoroughly examined every product on the shelf. “I’m aware. That is why I am looking through the clip-ons. They can be easily removed, and do not require creating a hole in your body.” Michael compared two pairs, then put both of them back. “You should find some that you like too.”
Adam crossed his arms. “I don’t think there’ll be anything I like here.”
“Maybe there will be. You won’t know until you look.”
“This stuff isn’t really to my taste.” He said under his breath, noncommittally eyeing the carousel.
Michael held up a pair of earrings that looked like silver vines, adorned with diamond-like leaves. “These are suitable.” He spun the shelf again, and took another off the hook it was on. “And these.” The shiny moon and stars jingled. “Have you found any?”
He shrugged. “Can’t you just like…magic stuff into existence? Why do we go out and buy stuff?”
“Because this is unpredictable. It is enjoyable to be able to look at things that you would not imagine yourself.”
“Sure. There, I got one. Now can we go?” Adam showed Michael the simple silver chain earrings.
“Yes.” He dropped both of the ones he was holding into Adam’s hands, then waited at the counter for him.
The cashier started scanning the earrings. “Thirty-three dollars and fifty-seven cents.”
Adam pulled a couple dollar bills out of his wallet and collected his change. Michael grabbed his hand and pulled him to the side before he could walk out the door.
“You should try them on.”
He sighed. “Fine.” He unenthusiastically walked to the mirror in the corner of the store and tore open the cardboard holding the jewelry. Adam put both of them on his ears, eyes closed. He tentatively looked into the mirror.
Michael watched his face change from afraid to surprised to self-conscious, then finally to a hesitant delight. Adam stared at himself with chain earrings and a key necklace. He turned his head to the side to check out other angles.
“It's different.” He said in a way that Michael assumed wasn’t negative.
“That is why I wanted to try it. We’ve looked the same for an uncountable amount of years, even when we got out. Not that it wasn’t pleasant. I’m quite fond of how we looked then.” Michael moved forward so they were side-by-side. “But we have the freedom to do whatever we want now. We can do something new.”
He swung his arm around Michael’s shoulder. “I like how we look now.”
“I agree.”