Chapter Text
Crossing off the list a bag of soil he just loaded onto the cart, Boston glances further into the alley at which end Sand is deep in an animated conversation with the green depot worker. They had been going at it for quite a while now, turning what he thought would be an enjoyable late morning with one of his boyfriends into a one man mission.
Sand had asked the guy one question. One! And not even about something complicated, just if they had—and if so, where—some kind of fertilizer Sand is after for one of his clients. Apparently it isn't something a casual plant-enjoyer would know about because the guy's eyes lit up like Christmas lights, and off they went chatting about stuff Boston has half an idea of.
It didn't take him long to figure out it won't be a short encounter so a couple minutes into it he gently tugged the list from Sand's unresisting hand—earning himself a warm, grateful smile that made his heart flip in his chest—and went on a hunt. He might have not known what some of the items were for or how they looked but he could at least read (internet was a great help too). Now, over twenty minutes later, everything from the supply section is in their cart aside from that one fertilizer. And he is soon to sport a twitching eye.
It's not that he minds—much—being left to fend for himself, they were here mostly because of Sand's business and it was what he was talking about with that worker the last time Boston heard them. He also loves seeing Sand so delighted but less and less so when the source of his joyous smiles is some unnecessarily tall sharp-jawed hunk that shares his passion, keeping up with him with ease.
Boston observes them with his gut twisting unpleasantly. His hand tightens around the cart's handle when, right after Sand said something, the clerk looks at his boyfriend in such adoration he feels like blushing himself. The following answer got Sand smiling so brilliantly that Boston has enough.
He steers the cart towards them, deciding at the last second to not hit the pest with it as it could get Sand to focus on him even more. Still, he does manoeuvre it in a way that the annoyance will be blocked from his Sand at least physically.
"Saand," Boston calls out seconds before, getting those big eyes snap instantly to him.
The apology that appears in them once Sand spots the almost full cart melts off some of the alarm that took root in his heart.
Conversation interrupted successfully, Boston trails his palm over Sand's waist. At the same time as his arm wraps itself securely around him, he passes the list to Sand, and throws a superior look the workers way. Who doesn't even have a decency to see it, considering his gaze is stuck to their middles. Boston will satisfy himself with the image of his downturned mouth. A small win is still a win.
He brings his attention back to Sand when he rubs their heads together from the side, muttering sorry to him. Feeling a little bit like a child wanting the approval of their parent but still needing to one up the worker at least in some way, Boston nudges the cart Sand's way, showing off his findings. Warmth spreads all over his limbs at his nods of approval.
"You even took the brands I usually use."
Preening, Boston tugs Sand closer to himself.
"I remembered them from home."
Once he had seen the packages that is but the still lingering near worker didn't need to know that. Not when Sand's lips stretch into something soft and sweet, meant only for him.
"Are you done here?" he asks innocently.
Loathe as he is to shift Sand's focus back to the fertilizers, he has to somehow get rid of the other guy—that he has to admit, still makes him feel oddly— since he won't go away on his own. Sand's minute confusion, as if he forgot what he was interrupted from, is equally adorable as it's reassuring. If he didn't turn towards the worker with apologies flowing from his pretty lips seconds later, Boston would have leaned in to claim them. Opportunity missed, he opts to just listen to their parting words while pressed to Sand's side.
Then the worker has an audacity to offer his help in case Sand will further need it before walking away to actually do his job somewhere else. Scowling, Boston steers oblivious to his peril Sand the other way. Once they reach the second destination of their shopping time—the greenhouse—he subtly prompts Sand into talking about the plants and seeds he is lingering around. Puts into the second cart a flower that he gushed the longest about, resigning himself to Ray's hypocritical mockery once he finds their new roommate. They weren't supposed to get anything for Sand himself but this is an emergency in Boston's mind. Also he would like to see Ray not buying it when he would know it will put happy sparkles in Sand's eyes, and grant him grateful kisses in public, quickly given in moments no one was looking their way (Boston hopes the threat seen them on the cameras).
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As if the universe is having a laugh at him, they meet the guy again now manning the cash register. Boston squints suspiciously once he spots his coworker hovering nearby. Have they changed just so he could ring Sand's purchases?
Gritting his teeth at this and the besotted look he won't wipe off his face, Boston clings to Sand's arm once they're done packing their stuff and he is paying for his clients things. (When Boston was using his card to get Sand's present, the worker didn't even spare him a glance, cozying up to Sand by asking if he will need help packing. Only the thought of Sand's unhappy expression saved that big head from getting itself acquainted with the quite heavy pot clutched in his hands.)
"Next time we should choose something for Ray's office," he muses a touch louder than it's necessary, "so he will be reminded of us all the time."
Muttering distractedly, "I think the photos on his desk are doing a good job of that but sure." Sand stuffs the change into his spare wallet, missing the appearance of a tiny frown tugging at the cashier's lips.
Boston can feel a self-satisfied smile blooming on his own face. He nails the point home with one last comment when they are still within hearing distance.
"I should print him the ones from a Valentine's Day. Can't decide which kisses though. Us kissing him? The threeway one?"
Something belonging to the next client slips from the workers hands, crashing onto the floor. Boston fakes a surprise at this, inwardly bathing in the glee that is singing in his soul, then blinks innocently at the look Sand throws him. He follows his blushing boyfriend to the exit, pushing one of the carts before him, and vowing to himself to make sure Sand always has company shopping here. Even after informing the guy Sand is taken by two men, he didn't trust him not to try to steal him from them with his probably impressive gardening skills and way too expansive knowledge.
Something catches the front of his cart, halting his progress through the parking lot, and Boston jerks to a stop. Looking up, he meets Sand's searching gaze.
"What was that?"
"What was what?"
"Ton," Sand says with warning notes in his voice, not letting him avoid this conversation. "First you almost crashed into the man, then this sudden quest—" a new light enters Sand's eyes, and Boston scowls before he even says anything, "Were you jealous?"
"No."
Sand lets go of the cart, sidestepping it to come closer towards him with a teasing smile on his lips and happy creases all over his face. It would be a joy to see him like this, but not when it's at his expense. Boston scowls some more.
"He was hot, I guess." Sand comments cheekily then a little bit of confusion clouds his voice, "But I thought you don't care about things like that."
"I don't."
"Then what—"
"He was awfully nice to you," Boston finally bits out.
"Oh come on. The man was just doing his job."
Digging his nails into the cart's handle, Boston mulls over how much he is willing to bare his soul and then reminds himself this is Sand he is talking to. Still, he can't help the way anger—at the guy and his own shortcomings—bleeds into his voice when he snaps back.
"He wanted to have babies with your brain."
Sand's incredulous laughter dies down when he hears the following words that escaped his lips before he could stop them.
"And he made you happy."
Calloused fingers gently touch his cheek, he presses his head into them, at the same time letting Sand tilt it so that he will have no choice than to face him. He may not be able to hide from Sand's eyes but he doesn't have to stare back, opting instead to focus on his lips.
"And should strangers make me sad?" Sand inquiries carefully while stroking his other cheek.
Not that they are less dangerous, asking questions like that.
Boston sighs, knowing he backed himself into a corner.
"He made you happy in a way I—we can't."
Sand delicately purses his mouth, cooing softly. To make matters worse Boston can feel a blush forming on his neck and traveling up.
"Is this why you grilled me so much about plants and their care today?" Sand keeps on talking without waiting for an anwer, "You got me to dig deep into things I haven't thought about in a while, you know? It was fun. And useful as I get to hone my memory."
His eyes jump up to Sand's whose lit up as if to say There you are. The gentleness radiating from him soothes some of Boston's nerves. He lifts his hand to wrap his palm around Sand's wrist. While he does so, Sand brings his face closer to his but instead of kissing him like he expected, he just bumps their noses together. Leaning back, he scrunches his eyes in mirth at whatever expression he must have made.
"I'm happy when you two let me ramble about plants and actually listen—when you don't get lost ogling me that is—" he laughs while Boston feels like he has forgotten to breathe, "When you allow me to keep all those greenery at home. Go shopping with me. Help with hauling things. Hardly complain about any of it, not even that I may dirty the cars. Sure, talking to somebody that shares my passion is nice but having people who do all that I said just because I am important to them is even more precious. Don't you agree?"
Boston follows Sand's glance to the camera hanging around his neck. He blinks at the device, then at Sand. Feeling like an utter fool yet blissfully happy at the same time, he brings up his free hand to wrap it around Sand's nape, and tugs him down for a kiss. There are warm palms still covering his cheeks. Boston turns his head to press his lips to one of them when they separate sometime later. His gaze locked onto Sand's face, adorned with that radiant smile that he could feel while they were kissing.
A honk of a car in the distance makes them jump slightly. Sand's eyes widen, the hand that Boston is not holding falling against his side.
"Did we just make out in the middle of a parking lot?"
"Yep."
"In broad daylight?"
"Yep."
At Sand's dismayed look, Boston quickly leans in to steal another kiss.
"Ray will be jealous," he whispers into the burning ear, bursting into laughter upon hearing Sand's groan.
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"I have to find a different store now. I'm not sure I will be able to look Leo in the eyes after your babies comment."
"You already know his name?"
"Don't you start again."