Chapter Text
Nathaniel nervously looked around, eyeing all the eye-catching stores that surrounded him. He started to fidget with the cuff of his typical grey blazer, regretting even coming to the mall. But then he remembered why he even made the effort to go to such a crowded and overwhelming place at all: the day before, Marc had invited him to go to the mall with him, in hopes of picking a new outfit for the upcoming school year.
He looked down at his phone and saw Marc's last sent message:
I'll see you soon. :)
He quickly typed in a new message:
hey I'm here where are you
He nervously glanced around, looking for a sight of his black-haired boyfriend. He was excited to see Marc, of course, but didn't typically go to the mall that often. This partially new environment made him a bit nervous, but to say that it was just the mall chaos that made him nervous would be wrong. He was anxious to see Marc in person. What would he be wearing? His makeup? Would he try a new hairstyle? What would he say to him? His heart beat rapidly at the numerous possibilities.
He suddenly felt his phone buzz with a notification and his heart jumped. He quickly opened his phone to read a new message:
Turn around!
With both panic and excitement, he hastily turned around and searched for his lover.
Marc watched from afar with a sweet smile as Nathaniel looked around excitedly. At that moment, he thought he really looked adorable. He adored that boy.
Soon enough, they made eye contact and went towards each other.
"…Hi! I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." Marc said, with a hint of nervousness.
"O-oh. No, of course not. I didn't wait long at all." Nathaniel said calmly, but he was far from calm.
In just a few seconds, he took all of Marc in. His lustrous hair was in its typical style, but for some reason, it shone more than usual. He sported a new outfit today: a maroon sweater that was slightly oversized, black-washed wide-leg jeans, and a brown crossbody satchel. The satchel featured a variety of colorful pins, a detail that highlighted Marc's colorful nature. He also wore his signature boots, whose slight platform gave him a bit of a height boost. Nathaniel had to look up just a tad to get the full effect of his face, but he saw that he didn't have his usual lightning bolt, but rather a darker look, with maroon eyeshadow to match his sweater and a slightly darker lipstick shade. He looked absolutely stunning. His makeup complemented his glowing emerald eyes, and oh, his eyes… Nathaniel loved his eyes and the delicate, but full lashes that covered them.
"Is…something wrong? Don't tell me, there's something on my face, isn't there… Agh, the time I took to do my makeup…"
Upon hearing his lover's disappointed voice, Nathaniel quickly realized he was staring. He hastily looked to the floor, feeling his face heat up a bit, and reassured him.
"Oh! No, no… Sorry, I was just…zoning out."
"Oh, um, are you feeling alright? I'm sorry, I know I called you out here for our date and you aren't particularly comfortable with the mall… I-I'm sorry, we can go home if you want–"
Out of nervousness, Marc started rambling, worried he'd done something he'd regret.
Nathaniel quickly looked back up to see Marc fumbling with his hands, all of a sudden feeling insecure. He swallowed his embarrassment quickly for the sake of his newly found boyfriend.
"No! Stop, it's okay. I want to…be here with you. I lied, I wasn't zoning out."
"Oh, so… What were you looking at…?" Marc asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"…You, obviously." Nathaniel turned away, embarrassed. "You look…really good. Sorry I worried you."
Instantly, Marc's face turned a light shade of pink at the compliment. "You're f-fine…Thank you, Nath." He smiled.
"Of course… Now, um, care to lead the way? You know I don't come here often."
Marc brightened up immediately. "Yeah! Follow me, I think I know a place you'll like."
Marc held out his hand behind him, and Nathaniel gingerly took it. He felt his hand getting warmer with Marc's and worried that he was being too awkward or weird. But Marc paid no mind and quickly swept him away to a store of his choice.
♪ ('θ｀)ノ
As Marc browsed the wares of a store seemingly for stylish young people like himself, Nathaniel observed the mannequins struck in dynamic poses, likely to appeal to the youth. One caught his eye.
'This sort of pose could work for Mightillustrator…' He thought to himself.
Upon further inspection, he thought the outfit on said mannequin was tacky, but kept the pose in mind. He then turned to look through the mannequins and racks of clothes to see his boyfriend happily browsing, and noticed a growing stack of clothes folded over his arm. He thought to watch him some more, but soon turned to a different section of the store.
He quickly found himself in a section full of accessories, from stylish glasses to fake piercings; it was all there. He took a moment to look through the racks, even though the items didn't interest him all that much. He gently shuffled through a pile of pins, taking a quick look at the various designs. They were all a variety of colors, some with text, others with characters. He saw quite a few pins that depicted either Ladybug or Chat Noir. He enjoyed turning over a pin and discovering a funny phrase or silly picture.
After a bit of shuffling through the pins, he stumbled upon one that caught his eye. It was of a colorful lightning bolt, similar to the logo that Marc had on his usual red jacket.
'Must be the same brand.' He thought.
He smiled at the symbol that reminded him of his lovely boyfriend and thought of buying it for him. He turned to see where Marc was and found that he was going into the fitting rooms, presumably to try on his stack of clothes. Nathaniel took that as a sign to go purchase the pin as a secret surprise for his love. As he made his way to the cashier, he thought of how Marc might react to the gift. He smiled at the thought, and the image of the pin laid onto Marc's bag was quite pleasing.
He kept taking steps to the cashier, when suddenly he was kicked out of his thoughts by a striking sight. As he passed by the last of the accessories section, he saw all the store's hair clips and accessories colorfully laid out onto a display rack. One set of clips struck a chord within him. They were simple, but colorful snap pins with circular rainbow charms attached to the end. The second he saw them, he could instantly picture Marc, with the pins in his hair and a bright smile on his face. His heart rang at the thought. But he quickly dismissed the idea and hustled to the cashier, embarrassed at thinking such a thought. He quickly made his purchase and stuffed the bag the cashier had handed him into his bag, hiding it to keep as a fun surprise later.
Soon, Marc emerged from the fitting room with his pile of clothes, looking defeated. He promptly left them with the attendant and walked over to Nathaniel.
"No luck?" Nathaniel questioned with a light smile.
"Nope.." Marc sighed. "But it's okay, I still know one more place." He said, his grin returning to his face.
"Lets go, then?"
"Let's."
Marc quickly headed out to the next store, Nathaniel following closely behind. Nathaniel silently wished Marc would take his hand again, but also dismissed that thought as soon as it came.
...
After some more shopping around, Marc finally came over to Nathaniel, who had given up on shopping and resorted to waiting on a bench in the store.
"You gave up?" Marc chuckled.
"Finding something is harder than I thought it would be... You make it look easy since you're so well versed in style and fashion stuff." Nathaniel said, looking at what Marc brought with him.
"Well lucky for you, I did find something for you. It's okay if you don't like it, but if you don't mind, would you try it on?"
"Well, I don't see why not, I trust your judgement," Nathaniel said as he got up from the bench to make his way to the fitting rooms.
The two reached the fitting rooms and grabbed stalls across from each other. Marc handed Nathaniel a small bundle of clothes to try, and then went into his own stall.
...
"Um, I'm ready for the first outfit you gave me…" Nathaniel called out.
"Okay, I'm out, come on out and let me see it."
Nathaniel slowly walked out and let Marc observe the outfit's details.
"Mmm. That's not it. I don't know, this one doesn't feel like you. Do you like it?" Marc questioned.
"Uh well, It's not my favorite..?"
"Okay, no problem. Go and try the other set I picked for you."
Nathaniel quickly headed back into the stall.
...
"Nath! Do you want to see this outfit I found? You could tell me if it looks good to you...?" Marc called out from his stall.
"O-oh. Yeah, sure." Nathaniel hurried out of his stall, curious about the new outfit.
Marc stepped out in a simple, but quite colorful ensemble. That's to be expected, though. Nathaniel watched as Marc spun around, waving his arms and legs around to test the outfit.
"I don't know...I like it, but it's missing something. Not to mention that my hair keeps getting in my face for some reason..."
Nathaniel froze. The hair clips. They go perfectly with this outfit!
'No, no...I can't. What if he thinks I'm weird for buying him something so...girly?'
"Maybe I need to buy some hair pins to complement this look. What do you think?"
"Oh, haha… maybe… I um, think it looks amazing, you should get it." Nathaniel half-mumbled, absentminded.
Marc didn't notice his boyfriend's dazed state and blushed a little at that comment before heading back into the stall. "W-well, if you say so..."
Next, it was Nathaniel's turn again to display an outfit.
"Come out!" Marc called, but Nathaniel was a bit nervous. He eventually came out, looking a little embarrassed.
"Ooh, it's perfect! I love it. Do you love it? It looks great on you." Marc burst excitedly.
Nathaniel's new outfit consisted of a striped pale green long-sleeve shirt with a wider cut that showed off his collarbone, and a pair of dark wash jeans with a slight flare. The outfit accentuated his legs, making him look just a bit taller, while also showcasing his slim yet firm build.
Nathaniel liked the outfit quite a bit, but it still made him a bit nervous because it was outside of his comfort zone. But on top of that, he couldn't stop thinking of the clips and what Marc would look like wearing them. He would look adorable, but the thought of Marc not liking the gift made him hesitant.
"...Nath? I can buy it for you if you're…too shy." Marc said softly, bringing a hand to his back. He simply thought Nathaniel was having a more difficult time adjusting to the new style.
"O-OH! Yeah, um, that'd be great. I actually have to go to the restroom, so I'll meet you out there okay...!" Nathaniel sputtered, turning back into the stall.
"Oh..! Okay, I'll be here then." Marc said, confused, as he watched his boyfriend fumble with his items and head out of the fitting rooms in haste.
...
Nathaniel came to a stop once he felt he was far enough away from the store he and Marc were in, so there wasn't any chance Marc would see him. He quickly snapped out of his focused state and began to feel embarrassed for leaving his lover confused and forcing him to pay, even if he didn't intend to.
'Well, it's too late to go back now…' He thought as he searched for the store that contained the clips he wanted. Even though he didn't know the mall well, he was able to trace his steps back to the store.
He quickly searched for and found the pins he was looking for and held them in his hand, starting to have doubts. He felt embarrassed but quickly shook it off and went to pay for them.
"Back so soon?" The cashier laughed with a smile.
"Haha…yeah..." Nathaniel responded with an awkward laugh.
The cashier put the clips into the same kind of bag as the pin he purchased earlier. He stuffed it into his own bag and took off to find Marc again, his face still tinged with red as he completed his secret mission.
He found Marc standing outside the store they had previously been in, holding a mirror to his face.
"M-Marc! Hey, um, sorry I took off like that… I can pay you back for paying for me, it was probably expensive." He blurted, slightly out of breath from running.
"Oh… No worries, Nath! It's okay, I don't mind paying for you at all. After all, I was the one who offered. Plus, I don't mind if it means I get to see you in this super cute outfit." He smiled.
"Oh, well, if you say so…" Nathaniel responded, still feeling a little guilty, so Marc’s comment flew over his head.
"…Nath?" Marc said quietly as he lifted Nathaniel's chin with a gentle touch of his hand. "Are you…okay?" He continued, as he moved his hand to the side of Nathaniel's cheek, running over it with his thumb.
Nathaniel's eyes widened as they met Marc's, and he blushed at the gesture. He looked away nervously.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. I'm just…tired."
Marc let his hand fall to his side and sighed. With a soft smile, he said quietly, "Alright."
He understood that Nathaniel was hiding something, but knew he wasn't ready to talk about it. He decided he should try to make him feel more comfortable, hoping that he'd open up to him if something was genuinely wrong. After all, their relationship was still relatively new, and they hadn't yet reached the stage where they could tell what the other was thinking. So he concluded that the best option was to ensure Nathaniel wasn't uncomfortable.
"Well, since you're tired, I know a spot right outside this mall, a small garden where we can sit and relax. ...O-only If that's okay with you, of course." Marc said, with a hint of concern.
"Um, yeah. That actually sounds great." Nathaniel responded, now with a smile. He started to feel his worry lifting.
"Let's go, then." Marc smiled, slipped his hand over Nathaniel's, and began gently pulling him in the direction of the garden.
Nathaniel smiled softly at Marc's hand intertwined with his. He squeezed it ever so slightly for a bit of comfort.
...
As they reached the garden, Marc surveyed the area for a good place to sit, still holding Nathaniel's hand gently. They walked over to a shady spot on the grass and sat down. They sat close together, their legs pressed against each other. Nathaniel finally started to feel a sense of calm wash over him as he subconsciously laid his head onto Marc's shoulder. They peacefully stayed like that for some time.
"Nath...I understand if you don't want to tell me, but what's...really wrong? I can tell you're not acting yourself." Marc asked softly, starting to gently caress Nathaniel’s head.
That woke Nathaniel out of his peaceful state instantly. He shot up, his face starting to burn from embarrassment and shame.
"I-I, um, really, it's nothing, Marc. I need to… Uh, go to the bathroom...!" Nathaniel burst as he got up from the grass and moved to run away from the situation.
But then, suddenly, his foot got caught by a small rock in the grass. All at once, he felt himself fall backward flat onto his back. Ouch!
Marc instantly got up and scrambled over to him. "A-are you okay? How'd you fall? Does your head hurt??"
"Im...okay..." Nathaniel mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. He slowly got back onto his feet, still thinking to ‘go to the bathroom’.
"Hey, um, wait! You dropped this...wait, isn't this..."
Nathaniel froze. He whipped around to see Marc looking inside a small paper bag.
'THE CLIPS!'
Nathaniel felt his face starting to burn. He was about to accept defeat until Marc pulled a lightning bolt-shaped pin out of the bag.
'phew...'
"Hey, this is super cool! And this is that brand that I like! Where...where did you get this?" Marc said excitedly.
Nathaniel decided it was fine for Marc to know about this surprise and sat back down next to his lover. He took the pin from Marc and looked at it for a second. He then handed it back to Marc, holding Marc's free hand with his own.
"I...I got it for you. A gift." He said quietly.
Marc's face brightened. "You did?! Thank you, Nath! ...Thank you." Marc held the pin to his heart, smiling. He then pinned it onto his bag with his other pins. "I'll cherish it forever." He said sweetly, a warm look in his eyes.
"Oh, so..." Sensing that Nathaniel was feeling calm again, Marc thought he'd figured it out. "This was what you were worried about...? You know, I'd love any gift you give me." Marc said, still feeling giddy about his boyfriend's gift.
"Oh! Um...Yeah. Sorry, I just, wasn't sure..." Nathaniel mumbled, aware that that pin was only one part of the problem. He felt bad for lying to his precious lover. He decided it was time to swallow his pride.
"Oh, Nath-"
“…No. That's not it. I did get you that as a surprise, but... um, I have...s-something else. Promise you won’t laugh?" Nathaniel said nervously.
Marc's eyes widened in curiosity. "Of course I won't. I promise."
Nathaniel reached into his bag and pulled out a familiar paper bag. He gingerly held it out towards Marc. Marc received it excitedly and opened it. Then, he pulled out the clips with a bright smile.
"Oh, Nath, I love them! These are so cute! Ooh, and they will go perfectly with that new outfit I just bought!" He exclaimed, overflowing with joy at these new gifts from his favorite person in the whole world.
And Nathaniel suddenly felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
"You don't think they are too...um, girly? Or cute?"
"Of course not! ...And I like cute.." Marc mumbled, understanding how Nathaniel's idea of gender norms was sometimes vastly different from his own. He'd have to correct that stigma later, but for now, he would just enjoy their time together.
Nath let out a heavy sigh, one that sounded like he'd been holding it in for a long time. "Oh good..."
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, Marc had his hands in his own. They looked deep into each other's eyes for a loving moment. Their gaze towards each other did all the talking for them, and eventually, the storm of anxiousness that had been floating around all throughout their date cleared.
"Nath, would you...can you put them on me?" Marc said, placing the pins in his boyfriend's hand.
"W-what? I...Im not good at doing hair." Nathaniel stammered.
"Please?" Marc said with a teasing grin. "I don't mind."
"...Fine..." Nathaniel blushed a bit, but accepted the challenge.
He unsnapped the pins, reached over to his boyfriend's hair. He paused for a moment, remembering the image he once imagined. Following that mental image, he gently snapped the pins into place on both sides of his hair, pushing the hair back a little bit from the front of his face, revealing more of his eyes and cheeks. Nathaniel slowly sat back down, admiring his work. It wasn't the best, as he was inexperienced, but it got the job done. The hair out of his face made Marc's beautiful eyes stand out just that much more.
"You're... you're beautiful, Marc." Nathaniel murmured, staring in awe at his black-haired love.
Marc warmed up at the comment, but also at the close proximity of Nathaniel's face to his own. Nathaniel hadn't even noticed how close he was getting because in his eyes, he was simply observing Marc's intricate and beautiful features. An artist thing, I suppose.
Although Nathaniel was oblivious to the thoughts of his now nervous boyfriend, Marc fought back the urge to lean in and kiss him, worried that he would be going too far and would make Nathaniel uncomfortable. But as Nathaniel kept getting closer...and closer...and closer...
'Oh, screw it.'
Marc lifted his hands to both of Nathaniel's cheeks and pressed his lips onto his lover's. It was gentle and sweet, yet still hesitant, as Marc worried, in the back of his mind, that he had just destroyed everything they were building. Nathaniel made a slight noise of shock, and his eyes widened at the new feeling. But soon enough, he melted into the sensation and pressed back with equal passion. They kept at it a little bit longer, getting more comfortable with each other with every second, before gently pulling away, their faces still close together.
Marc was the first to wake up from their mutual love-struck daze. "I-Im sorry! I don't know what came over me... I’m sorry if I—made you uncomfortable—I promise I won't do it aga..." He trailed off as he looked at Nathaniel, who was in a daze, staring off into space with a comfortable smile on his pleasantly flushed face. At that sight, Marc sighed and smiled, relieved he hadn't ruined anything at all.
"Well… It seems that we're done here. Wanna head home? We can walk together..?" Marc offered as he stood up from the grass and collected his bag. He held out his hand to the content Nathaniel.
"Yeah…I’d like that…" Nathaniel murmured as he took Marc's hand and got up.
Then the two walked off and away from the garden and the mall, with new outfits bought, cute pins in hair, and obviously, hand-in-hand.