Work Text:
Lighter let out a long, painful, exhale as he contemplated his current situation. With only two weeks before Valentine’s Day, he’d been sent on an errand so that he could get the girls’ – specifically Lucy’s – gifts to their significant others. And for the first very, he would also need to find something suitable for his boyfriend. Lighter’d never been one for relationships, at least of the romantic kind, so it was all brand new to him. He didn’t simply want it to be pleasant, he wanted it to be perfect.
However, what could he possibly get for Wise that would undoubtedly please him? It was not the first time he’d crossed the gates of the supermarket – and certainly not the last – with that question in mind. With Lucy having drilled the importance of the first gift, he couldn’t help but feel like it was an unsurmountable task, to which nothing could compare. He could hardly remember when he’d last been so nervous.
However, if he didn’t find it soon, he would quickly find himself lost in the sea of people who came in late for Valentine’s Day shopping. And while Lighter wasn’t against discussing with random people on the street, he wasn’t too keen on being interrupted in that important mission. He looked at the gift baskets and the chocolates, the price of which made him balk. How Lucy could spend so many Dennies for Valentine’s chocolate, when the only thing that made it different from ordinary chocolate was the price, he would never know.
At first, he’d thought that maybe he could copy her, though not to the same length, but she was adamant that the first gift was very important. The first gift Lucy received was actually her helmet, something she still wears to this day. It didn’t make much sense to him, especially when Wise preferred a simplistic lifestyle, but her argument remained as steadfast as ever. Chocolates are easy, any dumb fool can do that. You’ve got to show him that you really care for him.
At this point, after passing by the several shops for what felt like the thirtieth time, Lighter was ready to call it quits for the day. Frustration wouldn’t lead him anywhere, and he knew that by tomorrow, with a fresher head on his shoulders, he’d be able to make some headway. Exhaling, he looked around, surprised to find himself in a corner of the supermarket he’d not noticed before. Several articles of clothing of various sizes were hung about, with one key similarity: all of them were made out of prime leather.
Lighter’s bags, which he’d held before with a firm hand, nearly slipped from his grip. He was keenly aware of the interest Wise had in his biker gear – in far more ways than one – but this right here felt like a golden opportunity.
- -
“Come on take it off.”
“Come off it, Lighter. It’s warm.”
“Yup. And too big for you.”
Wise chuckled, sitting on the bed, the large biker coat hanging on his shoulders like a cape. The Proxy smiled dreamily at the biker, who’d begun to crawl towards him. Rough hands cupped Wise’s flushed cheeks, and Lighter felt the urge to give him everything he’d ever had, just so that he could stay in his presence for a while longer. If Wise wished for it, he would gladly tear his ribs apart and hand him his beating heart.
“You know, having it around me feels… Nice.”
“Can I kiss you?” Lighter asked after a moment, his voice nearly lost in the echo of his own thoughts.
Wise sighed, his soft fingers coming to caress the back of Lighter’s hands, electrifying the nerves wherever the tips wandered. In this singular world, Lighter awaited his approval, not even fearing the possibility of an eternity before he was answered.
“Of course, Lighter.”
- -
“Sir?”
The pleasant daydream was broken by the voice of a retailer, and Lighter shook himself out of the pleasant memory. There stood a woman, one who barely reached his chest, but looked straight out of a punk band: spiked hair with green highlights, dark eyeliner, and even darker-colored clothing that flowed into a sumptuous symphony that would have made any lover of the genre fall to their knees in front of the retailer.
“You okay?”
Glancing around at the leather coats, Lighter smiled.
“Yes.”
Walking up to one of the aisles, he eyed critically each coat, becoming giddier as the leather was obviously of incredible quality. Grabbing one of the sleeves, he asked the retailer:
“Do you have any coat for smaller build? Preferably suited for motorcycle rides?”
The retailer’s eyes gleamed knowingly, and she nodded:
“Of course.”
A knowing smile stretched the corners of her lips, and she couldn’t help but ask him conspiringly:
“Buying a coat for your own little sweetheart?”
The grin was contagious, as Lighter found himself making one of his own, acquiescing. The woman gave him a once-over, and shifted her head ever so slightly, inviting him to follow her through the various clothes.
“It reminds me of the first time I ever got my poor boyfriend his helmet. He was so timid back then, you wouldn’t know that nowadays, but he’s really into motorcycles, now. I never got him to appreciate the finer music in life though.”
Unconsciously, Lighter cast a glance at her ring finger, not nearly as surprised as she should, when he noticed a golden band.
“It was your first Valentine’s gift?”
She chuckled, her eyes burning with happiness and nostalgia:
“He got me chocolate the first time. Then, he brought me to that concert I knew he hated, but he made sure we got the best seats- oh, there we are.”
“I would have thought that just chocolates was a big no-no.”
“Depends on who you ask, but personally? Intent is all that matters. He could have gotten the most horrendous attire ever, if I knew that he tried to give me something to please me in any way, then I wouldn’t mind too much.”
“Even chocolate?” Lighter asked, noticing the protective headwear and leather-padded suits that lined up the wall.
“Who doesn’t like chocolate?”
Lighter chuckled as the clerk went on a discourse regarding stupid significant others, and the crime of disliking chocolate; it took him little time to find what he was looking for, and to be honest, it was probably even better than what he’d envisioned. It was a small leather jacket, just Wise’s size, and it also had these cute little golden spikes that reminded him so much of his own. Lighter couldn’t have been any happier, and the retailer may have noticed it, if for the bright smile that stretched her lips:
“Well, looks like you got what you wanted, then. Follow me.” She headed towards the register and Lighter wondered idly how much of a faux-pas it’d be if he were to drop the vest on the way back, at least so that Wise may go on a quick bike trip with him through the desert.
He was so lost in thought that when he bought the article of clothing, the retailer had to run after him because he’d left the bags for the other members of the Sons of Calydon in the walkway. It was a tad embarrassing, and for the rest of the day, he tried his best to resist the temptation to literally go to his boyfriend’s shop and give him his gift. It was so perfect, especially when Wise had asked him so many times to go on bike trips with him.
He forced himself to concentrate and only when he saw the familiar truck did he let out a soft exhale. Placing Lucy’s orders on the table, the girls came in like rabid piranhas, tearing at the bags to get what they needed – Lucy being the most defensive about what was in hers, however, the red cheeks were a dead giveaway. Nobody really cared, least of all Caesar who was completely engrossed in her hamburger.
“So, what did you get for him?”
He looked up at Lucy, who was accompanied by an overeager Burnice – though if the latter was ever in a different state, he would like to know. He scratched at his neck, finding himself slightly defensive:
“Something good. So please don’t go play kitten on my bags, your Highness.”
“Oh please, Lighter!” Burnice begged, brimming with curiosity. “You already know what we intend to give to each other, you could at least give us a clue-”
His hand unconsciously tensed on his bag, something the lackadaisical girl must have noticed because she came to his aid:
“He’s gonna tell us later, Burnice. Not to mention, it’s Wise’s present. It’d be a bit weird if the packaging got a bit damaged when it’s supposed only to be opened by the person, don’t you think?”
“But, Piper…”
The aforementioned girl yawned, stretched her arms, and then turned her attention to the two girls in front of Lighter. Her expression was surprisingly serious.
“It’s Lighter’s first love. Give it time.”
At this point, Lighter was halfway between running away while Burnice and Lucy’s attention was on Piper, or getting on his knees and bowing in thanks. While the girls were very lovely, Lighter’s personal life, more specifically his emotions, were things that he preferred to lock away when he hung out with them. Things were different when it came to Wise, and all things related to him. His relationship was new, and so fragile he feared it’d break if he did something wrong.
A nod from Piper was as good a message as any, and so, he slowly departed, taking with him the bag containing the coat. The cold winds coming from the Hollow’s direction brought his thoughts to a standstill, and he contemplated the landscapes, with its countless meanders and roads. He could imagine himself and Wise, riding across the desert at high speed until they lost their breaths and sense of time.
Lighter closed his eyelids, the image of Wise’s smile carved in his memories. Tension bled from his shoulders, and he slowly headed to his room, his heart warm at the thought of his boyfriend. He was definitely going back to New Eridu tomorrow.