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Kaiser had always thought Ness's face was too soft for his own good.
Big, purple eyes that looked like they could cry at the smallest thing. Round cheeks made him look babyish no matter how serious he tried to be. And that smile, wide and oddly shaped like a turtle's grin. It never quite reached his eyes, but it was always there, polite and sweet, even when he was upset.
But Ness did have a good-looking face, Kaiser would admit that much. What ruined it, at least to him, was the hair. It was the part that bothered Kaiser most.
Ness's bangs had grown too long, sweeping down far enough to cover his eyes whenever he looked down. It made him look withdrawn, almost gloomy. Sometimes Kaiser caught himself trying to tilt his head just to get a proper look at his face, only to see a curtain of soft brown hair with purple-tinted ends falling right back into place.
Kaiser often found himself staring, not out of admiration, but out of a perverse desire to take a pair of scissors to the offending fringe himself. It was a problem that needed fixing.
So one afternoon, while Ness was sorting through some notes on the bed, Kaiser decided to take the matter into his own hands.
"Alexis. Sit," he said, pointing to the chair in front of him.
Ness looked up, confused but obedient, and moved over to sit while Kaiser rummaged through his drawer for a comb, some gel, and whatever else he could find.
"What are you doing?" Ness asked.
"Improving you," Kaiser said simply.
Ness gave a small unsure laugh, but he still complied. He didn't argue when Kaiser stepped behind him and ran a hand through his hair. It was soft and fluffed out in every direction. Kaiser clicked his tongue under his breath and started working.
He combed the long bangs aside, coaxing them into place. The curl fell naturally once he stopped fighting it, and with a bit of gel, it finally settled the way it should have from the start. He brushed the hair away from Ness's eyes, making sure the fringe no longer covered his face.
When Kaiser was done, he stepped back to take a look. Ness's forehead and the thick, dark line of his eyebrows were now completely visible, adding a touch of masculinity to his features. The large, purple eyes truly stood out, now clear and unobstructed. They were, Kaiser admitted, absolutely captivating.
It was a simple change, but it made a difference. Ness looked brighter, more alive somehow.
"Much better," Kaiser said at last, nodding in approval. "Now you finally look like someone worth looking at."
Ness chuckled. "Is that's your way of saying I'm handsome?"
Kaiser scoffed, setting the comb aside. "Take it however you want." He didn't deny it.
He stepped back to admire his handiwork again. It felt like a waste for only him to see it. Everyone should know what a miracle he'd just performed.
"Get dressed," he said suddenly.
"Huh?"
"We're going out," Kaiser announced, already heading toward the wardrobe. "No point fixing you up if no one gets to see it."
Ness tilted his head, amused. "You mean you're taking me out?"
Kaiser ignored that and pulled open the wardrobe doors. Inside was a collection that never failed to make him roll his eyes. Dull warm colors everywhere: beige, brown, faded cream, dusty rose. Shelves filled with oversized shirts, soft sweaters, loose cardigans, and flannel that looked like they belonged to someone's dad. There were knit vests, wide-legged pants, and an absurd number of clothes that looked like they'd been washed too many times but were still lovingly kept.
He muttered under his breath, "Why do I date someone with the fashion sense of a grandpa anyway?"
Ness protested from behind him. "Hey, it's comfortable."
"Comfortable doesn't mean good," Kaiser shot back, though he wasn't about to strip away Ness's whole image. That soft, gentle look was part of what made Ness… well, Ness. It just needed a bit of direction.
After a few minutes of rummaging and some silent judgment, Kaiser finally pulled out a thin beige sweater shirt and a pair of dark pants. He held them up, assessing the combination, then reached for one of his own jackets. It was a light denim one, pretty stylish like every other clothes he owned, but the pale color still managed to keep that easygoing, soft look Ness seemed genetically attached to.
He turned around and handed the clothes to him. "Put these on."
Ness looked at the jacket, then at Kaiser. "Isn't this yours?"
"Just wear it," Kaiser said, crossing his arms. "You'll look better with it."
Ness didn't argue further. He took the clothes and started changing. Kaiser watched for a moment before turning to grab something for himself.
He pulled out a black printed T-shirt and a plain jacket. Simple, clean, and much more toned down than what he usually wore. Normally, he'd go for something that demanded attention, something that said look at me. But today wasn't about him. He wanted people to look at Ness, to see what he'd made out of him.
He couldn't wait to see the way heads would turn. That soft, unassuming boy with the goofy smile and bright eyes – his Ness – finally getting the attention he deserved. Or, well, the attention Kaiser decided he deserved.
When they were both ready, Kaiser gave Ness a final once-over. The outfit fit better than expected; the beige sweater fell neatly against his frame, and the denim jacket added just the right touch of charm. Ness stood there adjusting the sleeve, looking a little flustered but undeniably good.
Satisfied, Kaiser stepped closer, fingers brushing through Ness's hair as he fixed a stray curl that had fallen out of place. "There," he hummed. "Looks good."
He didn't mean just the hair.
They left the apartment not long after. The weather was perfect. The breeze was nice and comfortable, and the sun was bright but not hot. It would've been a waste to stay inside, especially with the spectacle Kaiser had just put together.
It was a little past lunch, and Kaiser decided they'd take a stroll through the nearby park before finding somewhere for dinner later. Ness seemed happy enough with the idea, humming lightly beside him as they headed out.
The park wasn't crowded, but it was lively. Couples strolled hand in hand, kids ran past with ice cream cones, and somewhere nearby, a guitarist was playing a tune that didn't quite match the rhythm of his own singing.
Ness walked beside him, relaxed, chattering about whatever came to mind: a funny post he'd seen online, a random thought about clouds, or how Theo had accidentally microwaved metal. Ness did most of the talking, occasionally laughing when Kaiser threw in a dry comment.
Every now and then, Kaiser caught stray glances from passersby. Some were subtle, quick looks that flicked away the moment he noticed; others lingered, eyes drawn by habit to his face. Kaiser was used to that. He'd always known he was good-looking. It wasn't arrogance if it was just fact.
But this time, the attention wasn't all on him. He noticed the way people's eyes trailed after Ness too. A few curious peeks, a couple of double takes, even a pair of girls who outright stared as they passed. It was amusing to watch, the way Ness's soft look drew people in now that his hair no longer hid half his face.
They eventually stopped by a bench near the lake. Ness was happily eating the strawberry ice cream he'd just bought, the sun catching in his freshly styled hair. Kaiser leaned back, eating his own chocolate one while watching the people who still occasionally turned their heads as they passed. The attention didn't bother him; in fact, it pleased him.
Because despite all those eyes on Ness, Ness didn't seem to notice any of it. His gaze stayed fixed on Kaiser, bright and easy, as if there wasn't anyone else in the world worth looking at.
Kaiser's lips curved up slightly. "Enjoying your ice cream, grandpa?"
Ness looked up, smiling, a dab of strawberry ice cream on his lip. "It's good. Want some?"
Kaiser shook his head, taking another bite from his own cone. "No. You have it. You'll need the energy to keep up with me later."
He didn't say what for. Ness just laughed, and Kaiser simply sat there, peering at his boyfriend's stupidly cute face. Such a good, loyal little puppy.
They stayed on the bench for a while longer after finishing their ice cream, letting the lazy afternoon drift by. The sunlight shimmered across the lake, and the breeze carried the faint scent of grass and sugar from a nearby vendor. It was the kind of peaceful moment Kaiser didn't usually care for, but with Ness sitting beside him, smiling at nothing in particular, it wasn't so bad.
"Come on, time to move," Kaiser said finally, standing up. They went back to walking, following the grassy path.
Ness was in the middle of a rant about the city's lack of good chocolate ice cream when a football suddenly rolled toward them from the open field nearby. It stopped right at Kaiser's feet.
"Hey! Can you kick that back, please?" Someone shouted.
Kaiser's gaze followed the voice. Across the stretch of grass was a group of high school boys playing a casual football game. He gave the ball a sharp, practiced tap with the side of his foot, sending it flying cleanly back to them.
"Nice one!" One of the boys yelled.
Kaiser lingered for a moment, watching the game. They weren't bad, sloppy in form but spirited, all laughter and noise. Then he turned to Ness with a grin. "We should join them."
Ness chuckled. "You sure? We're pros. We'll just end up bullying them."
"Exactly," Kaiser said easily. "Think of it as a lesson in talent appreciation. Besides, I need to stretch my legs."
Ness shook his head but stepped forward anyway. He called out to the group, exchanged a few words Kaiser couldn't quite hear over the wind, then turned back and waved him over with a bright smile.
"Come here, Michael! They said it's fine!"
Kaiser grinned, already walking toward them. This was going to be enjoyable.
Of course, he wouldn't actually bully the kids. It wasn't like he was about to crush a bunch of high schoolers for bragging rights. He played light, testing passes, taking half-hearted runs, keeping things balanced enough to stay fun.
Ness, naturally, ended up on the opposite team. Even holding back, his passes were sharp and clean. The kids cheered whenever he scored, and Kaiser found himself watching more than competing.
Still, he wasn't going to let Ness have all the glory. Sometimes, when Ness's team was on the verge of winning, Kaiser would bark out a familiar command: "Alexis! Pass to me!"
It worked every single time. Years of training and teamwork had ingrained that instruction into Ness's reflexes. He'd instantly redirect the ball toward Kaiser's feet, only to realize the betrayal a second later.
"Micha—wait—!"
Too late. Kaiser had already turned on his heel, dribbled past one of the kids, and sent the ball cleanly into the goal.
Cheers erupted from his side. Groans came from Ness's. Ness just stood there, blushing furiously as his teammates complained in disbelief. "Sorry, sorry—instinct!" he laughed weakly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Kaiser flashed him a smug grin, pretending not to notice the pouty glare Ness shot his way. "Good pass," he said as he walked by.
After a few more rounds and some goals dictated entirely by Ness's involuntary loyalty, they let the kids continue on their own and stepped aside. The sky had softened into late-afternoon gold, and the field buzzed with laughter and the sound of running feet.
They weren't sweating much, certainly nothing compared to a real training session, but the light exercise left Ness looking delightfully ruffled. His face was flushed pink, and a faint sheen of sweat caught the sunlight on his skin. A few strands of hair had come loose, curling against his forehead.
Kaiser's eyes lingered on Ness. The neatness from earlier was gone, replaced by a soft, flushed clumsiness that somehow made him look even better. Charming, in a slightly undone way.
When Ness turned toward him and caught his eyes, Kaiser quickly looked away. No need to make it obvious. He reached out instead and gave Ness a light pat on the head, careful not to mess up the hair he'd so carefully styled earlier.
"I'll get us some water," Kaiser said casually. "Stay here."
"Oh. Thanks, Michael," Ness beamed.
The nearest stall was a short walk away, just far enough that by the time Kaiser returned with two bottles, he noticed a small crowd had gathered around the bench where he'd left Ness.
Kaiser slowed his pace. From a distance, he could already hear the laughter and chatter. A few boys and girls stood near Ness, some leaning closer, others giggling behind their hands. It didn't take a genius to tell what was going on.
When Kaiser got closer, he caught snippets of the conversation.
"Seriously, you have such nice eyes. Are you around here often?"
"What's your number? We should hang out sometime!"
"Do you have Instagram?"
Kaiser raised a brow. The way their eyes seemed glued to Ness's face said enough, they clearly thought he looked good. And honestly, Kaiser was pleased. It was his handiwork that got Ness this attention. Usually, no one would have bothered approaching him, not when that old bang used to hide half his expression and make him look withdrawn.
Ness spotted him then, his eyes lighting up instantly. "Michael!"
Kaiser hummed in reply and walked over, handing him one of the bottles. "Here. Don't spill it."
Ness smiled, a little sheepishly, and murmured a thank-you before turning back to the people still gathered around. They weren't leaving. One girl leaned forward again, grinning. "Come on, just your Line ID? You seem really nice!"
Ness laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Ah, sorry. I don't really give my number to strangers," he said, polite as ever but clearly uncomfortable.
Another voice chimed in. "You have a girlfriend, then?"
That made Ness's eyes go wide. "No— I mean—"
Kaiser bit back a smirk, standing beside him now. The scene was almost funny. Ness was trying to stay courteous while fumbling through his answers, and the group – two girls and a dude now – just wouldn't quit. He could see why. Ness looked like the kind of person who didn't know how to say no. Too soft, too sweet, too… approachable.
But Kaiser knew better. Ness could be stubborn as hell when he wanted to be.
Kaiser noticed a few sneaked glances directed at him too. His expression stayed pretty neutral, but internally, he was smug. No matter how good Ness looked, Kaiser always stood out naturally.
Yet, despite his undeniable charm, none of them actually abandoned their pursuit of Ness to ask for his contact. They were interested in him, he could tell, but their main focus was Ness. And that, oddly enough, didn't please Kaiser at all.
He decided to cut in, keeping his tone light and teasing to hide his annoyance. "Hey, just curious," he said, tilting his head, "you've all been looking at me too. Why only ask for my… friend's number?"
The group chuckled, mistaking his tone for friendly banter. One of the girls grinned and said. "Well, you are really good-looking, actually… even more handsome than him." She glanced at Ness, who only gave a small shrug. "But you just look too good. Too attractive. Like, definitely taken already. So I didn't bother asking."
Another chimed in, "Yeah. Either that, or you break hearts for fun."
Kaiser blinked, not quite catching on at first. Ness, on the other hand, did. His lips twitched before breaking into a grin. "They're saying you look like a fuckboy, Michael." The group nodded in agreement.
A fuckboy, huh? Kaiser looked at his partner, then back at the small crowd of hopefuls still trying to get his boyfriend's number. If they thought he looked like one, then he might as well act like it. It was certainly an effective way to ruin their attempts.
He shifted closer and threw his arm around Ness's torso, pulling him into his embrace. Ness let out a surprised little 'oof' as he was tugged against Kaiser's side.
"You're absolutely right at one thing," Kaiser purred, his voice dripping with arrogance and loud enough for everyone to hear. "I am taken. And the boy you're trying to get the number of happens to be my boyfriend."
Before anyone could react, Kaiser tilted Ness's chin up with a finger and pressed a light, fleeting kiss against his lips. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to make the message clear. Mine.
Ness's face turned bright red, eyes wide in shock at the sudden PDA. The small crowd went silent for a moment before awkward laughs and muffled gasps followed.
Kaiser straightened with a satisfied grin, taking Ness's hand in his. "Sorry to disappoint," he drawled, before turning and dragging him away.
As they walked off, he caught a few groans and disappointed sighs behind them. That made him smirk. Served them right.
Beside him, Ness was still a little pink, though the embarrassment had shifted into amusement. "You're usually not one for public displays of ownership, Michael," he teased, glancing up at him. "What was that for?"
Kaiser pretended not to hear the question. He quickened his pace, tugging Ness along. "It's past the time I decided we should eat. We're going for dinner."
Ness chuckled, recognizing the deflection right away. He knew better than to press when Kaiser was being deliberately evasive; it would only end in a pointless argument Kaiser would drag out for fun. "Okay, okay," he said with a grin. "There's a nice little Italian place a few blocks down. You'll like it."
They walked side by side down the street, their hands still loosely linked. It wasn't even intentional at this point, just something that felt natural. The evening crowd had started to thicken, people walking on the pavements and moving in and out of cafés and shops. Every so often, Kaiser noticed a few glances thrown their way. Mostly toward him, but some lingered on Ness.
That was when his smile faded. Before, he'd found the attention amusing, because it was the proof that he'd done a good job making his boyfriend look appealing. But after that little scene earlier, he wasn't so entertained anymore.
The audacity of those average, ordinary-looking nobodies to keep eyeing his boyfriend – his – was beginning to grate on him. They didn't even look half as good as he did, yet they still had the nerve to stare.
By the time they reached the restaurant, Kaiser was in no mood to tolerate anyone else's wandering eyes. The place was cozy, softly lit, and thankfully not crowded. A waitress greeted them with a polite smile and guided them to an empty table near the window, handing them menus.
Kaiser was about to thank her when he noticed it: the way her gaze lingered on Ness a moment too long before she turned to leave after taking their order.
Yeah. Kaiser decided he didn't like this at all.
Kaiser didn't look away from Ness even after the waitress left. His chin rested on one hand, eyes fixed on the man across from him.
At first, Ness didn't think too much of it. He read the menu while attempting small talk. "The pasta here's supposed to be really good," he said, glancing up with a smile. "You want to share something or—"
"Mhm," Kaiser hummed absently, clearly not paying any attention.
Ness looked at him with a raised brow, then tried again. "They've got tiramisu too. You like that, right?"
"Yeah."
Another half-hearted answer. Ness frowned a little. He set the menu down. "Michael, what's wrong? You've been staring at me for a while now. And not in the good way."
Kaiser didn't respond right away. His eyes trailed down Ness's face, slow and deliberate, before he finally said, "You look like complete garbage."
Ness blinked, startled, and immediately fumbled to check himself. He ran a hand quickly through his styled hair, then smoothed down the borrowed denim jacket. He checked his sleeve. "What? Did I mess up my hair? Is there ice cream on my face again?"
"No," Kaiser clipped out. "You simply look bad."
Ness looked completely confused. He looked down at the sweater Kaiser had picked out. "But you picked this out for me. You even said it was perfect."
Kaiser ignored that, gaze sliding away. "Doesn't matter. I've decided this version of you isn't for public viewing. You look too terrible. I'm the only one who can tolerate it."
Ness stared at him for a long moment, completely at a loss. It didn't make any sense. If anything, he knew he didn't look terrible right now. He wasn't blind, he knew he'd caught plenty of approving stares on the way here.
He opened his mouth to argue, but then caught the expression on Kaiser's face. It wasn't real anger or disgust. It was that same pouty, sulking look Kaiser got whenever someone touched his special-edition energy drink or paid too much attention to another person. The look of pure, spoiled possessiveness, fueled by unwanted competition over something he considered his.
Ness hid a small, knowing smile behind the menu. Oh. So that's what this was about.
Kaiser wasn't annoyed because he looked bad. Kaiser was annoyed because everyone else thought he looked good.
Kaiser was just jealous. And Ness had to admit, it was kind of cute.
Ness nodded, pretending to understand whatever Kaiser was trying to say. He let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Well, if you think this look is that bad, then I guess I shouldn't make you suffer through it. I won't wear it again, promise."
Kaiser opened his mouth to protest but stopped halfway. Anything he said would either sound like he was contradicting himself or force him to admit what he actually meant. His lips pressed into a thin line instead, the frown on his face deepening.
Ness almost laughed at how fast Kaiser went from smug to sulking again. He couldn't help it; the whole thing was too amusing. "I'm kidding," he said finally. "Besides, this look is your creation, remember? You picked everything. And honestly, I wouldn't bother putting in this much effort for anyone else but you."
That made Kaiser's eyes flick toward him again, his frown faltering just slightly.
"So," Ness continued with a small smile, "if you want to be the only one who gets to see me like this, I don't mind. It's your work anyway. You can decide when I wear it, or don't. I'm yours to use however you want."
For a second, Kaiser's face stayed unreadable. Then, slowly, the corner of his mouth twitched upward. The irritation melted into something smug and satisfied, the kind of expression that said Ness had answered exactly the way he should.
"Good," Kaiser murmured with a pleased hum. "You really do know your place."
"Do I, now?" Ness raised a brow, grinning.
"Mm." Kaiser tilted his chin up, arrogant as ever. "And since you've been such a good boy today, I'll pay for dinner. Consider it a treat for my favorite little lover."
Ness gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Thank you, my emperor!" But he couldn't hold back the happy laugh that followed. Watching Kaiser's usual cockiness return, he felt warmth settle quietly in his chest. No matter how many people stared, his attention belonged only here.