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The fitting room’s corridor was far too narrow, leading to the space being overpopulated under any circumstance.
Friends discussing clothing choices, friends running out of cabins to find other sizes after discussing clothing choices, whiny men acting like hostage victims, frustrated mothers urging their children out to see how the damned pants fit— the overall noise and agitation bored him to death, and even transferred the agitation onto him. But he could only grunt, frown and endure.
Only on very particular occasions was shopping actually nice, and usually not when Mona had to find the perfect piece of clothing because she was forced to go to an event.
Scara rearranged the bags between his legs before leaning back against the wall, crossed arms and brooding look on. He let his head hit the wall as well so his gaze naturally drifted up towards the ceiling. The white lights blinding him were added to his 'minor inconveniences list' which was only one lady bumping her clothes into Durin away from making him snarl.
"Could you please not put your dress in people's faces ? Thank you," he said as he pushed the fabric away and the woman apologized. Durin apologized too, but didn't move an inch from his spot.
The teen had abandoned long before him and had sat down directly on the ground, either doodling away in his pocket sized sketchbook or playing with his hoodie's strings and spacing out. Problem was, again, that the shop was crowded. And people couldn't be careful.
For some unknown reason, the kid had thought it a good idea to accompany them, but if it was to keep Scara company, he should've at least thought twice or thrice about it. From the grumbles coming out of the cabin, not even Mona took pleasure in this trip.
At least Durin got time to practice his fabric shadowing and depth perception…
His head was close to Scara’s hand, and he couldn't help but put his whole palm on Durin's head, give it a good ruffle. One, to annoy him, but also to check if he was alright. The teen seemed to get that, as he glanced up briefly and knocked his shoulder into Scara’s thigh playfully.
Then the curtain slammed open, brusquely revealing a frustrated Mona with a white— very flowy—shirt paired with her usual pair of jeans, the pair she’d wanted to try on discarded to the side.
His first thought was that it would look elegant with the black trumpet skirt they'd bought, then he clicked his tongue.
The sounds that had come out of the cabin had made her battle rather obvious, but seeing the frown on her face and her disheveled hair was still an amusing sight. He couldn't help the grin, although he tried diluting it with a frown.
"Someone looks like they lost a mighty fight."
“Ha. Ha." she deadpanned. "Did I put on weight or did they change their usual jean sizes ?” she asked, putting a fist to her waist.
He straightened up and leaned away from the wall, dropping his grin, “your own still fit, don't they ?” then he changed the subject and jerked his head to the shirt, “the top looks good.”
She glanced back at the mirror before turning around completely to face it, expression easing up.
“I do like the material…” she said pensively, flipping her palms up to readjust the cuffs.
Durin hadn't paid much attention, until he looked up too. Scara glanced at him and the boy nodded back, “it looks nice.”
It did look nice. Mona looked beautiful but she already knew that — also he’d prefer biting his tongue right now.
Instead, he grabbed the bags from between his legs, hooked them on his wrists, and put his hands in his pockets in the same motion, ready to leave.
“So are we extending our suffering or can we go and pay for this already.”
Mona was mid curtain pull as she sighed, “I don't think I’ll find anything better anyway,” then the curtain swooshed.
However, not even a few seconds later, a hand appeared from behind the curtain, holding the top for him to take as the other hand protected Mona’s privacy.
He clicked his tongue again when her head peaked out as well, her eyes all big and round although her curled up lips betrayed her devious plans. “It was very kind of you to offer waiting in line for me as I put myself back together.”
His ‘we’ hadn't been specific enough it seemed. Scara rolled his eyes yet still walked closer, grabbing the top with his free hand.
Mona didn't let go though. She puckered her lips while maintaining eye contact.
He raised an eyebrow, “you're pushing it.”
And she straightened up, acting offended, “how ungrateful ! I’m thanking you.”
He hummed, unconvinced, but still gave her the kiss.
“Alright go,” she shooed him away and pulled on the curtain to hide.
His eye didn't even have the energy to twitch at that. “I feel like I’m about to wait next to the line.”
Her head popped out again, “you better not !” Then back in like the turtle she was. If he’d stuck his tongue out, only Durin could be his witness.
Speaking of which, he turned back towards the boy and saw him already up and patiently waiting by the wall.
Scara signaled with his head that they should get going.
They walked through the store in silence until they reached the line — atrociously long line. The amount of people who didn't have anything better to do on a Saturday afternoon was astounding.
Durin didn't seem to be any more pleased by their trip, seeing as if he wasn't sitting or leaning on walls, he used Scara as support and yawned against his shoulder.
For the first few moments, as the line didn't move, he’d leaned his forehead on Scara’s shoulder and let a tired whine out.
The kid was almost his height now, he'd noticed.
When the line finally moved, he used the momentum to sneak his arm around Durin’s shoulders and bring him closer to his chest. Durin didn't protest.
He could comfortably put his cheek on his head now too.
A thought popped in his mind and he couldn't help the light huff, “there’s a chance you’ll be taller than me in a few.” He glanced at Durin, words teasing, “think there's a chance you’ll stop being as clingy ?”
Durin actually seemed to think about it, lips turning a bit downwards, “I hope I won't. At least the taller part.” He walked forward as people moved and Scara loosened his hold. Durin leaned back in right after.
“I could stop being clingy but you don't seem too against it, though,” he added. To which Scara tsked.
“Why ?”
“Uh…Why which part ?”
“The being taller part. I won't even entertain the other one,” he grumbled.
“I mean, wouldn't it be weird ? This is more comfortable,” he glanced up at Scara with absolutely no shame in his gaze.
Scara, in return, pulled on a strand of Durin's hair.
“Ow—”
“You, absolute. Slime.” He emphasized every word before pushing a groaning Durin forward. They were almost reaching the end and he couldn't be more relieved.
He also finally saw Mona approach from the corner of his eye. He heard her chuckle as well.
“Is he bullying you again ?” Naturally, they were teaming up.
When Durin nodded, she scoffed and shifted her eyes to him. Scolding him with her gaze.
They stared at one another for a moment, moment in which Scara realized that both of his hands were taken and that none of Mona’s were. Moment where he’d accepted his fate, only gritting his teeth as he felt the incoming pinch at his waist. A silent ‘urgh’ escaped him.
But soon after he groaned “don't fucking pinch me when I waited in line for you,” and let go of Durin. The traitor didn't need his warmth and Scara needed both hands around these animals.
Now that he'd freed himself, Mona seemed to realize the danger she'd found herself in and took a cautious step back, proud smile never leaving her face.
Because she had a plan, and he smelled trouble coming from her haughty and articulated tone— let alone the way her eyebrows creased so she could weaponize those round cheeks of hers.
"Thank you for being so, so sweet Kuni. Listening to my every whim like the good—”
“Uh huh—” Shut up.
“—boyfriend you are.”
Right in front of the cashier. “Hello…?”
Scara rolled his eyes. “Hello.” He put the article down, pointed at Mona and said, “she's paying,” before walking away. Absolutely done with this.
A few moments later, the sounds of rapidly approaching footsteps and abused paper bags warned him to prepare for the angry, little fists boxing his kidneys out.
“Woah, Mona slow down—” Durin's voice was lost to the distance.
“You thought I couldn't pay for myself ? Hah.” Mona had caught up to him and he slowed down his pace, huffing a laugh. “Well guess what, I’m an independent lady with a better salary than yours now.” And she added through gritted teeth, "that wasn't humiliating at all."
She looked very smug and annoyed as she kept eye contact with him, carrying her little bag she'd paid for herself. Scara's face unconsciously softened. So he also softened his tone to say "I'm so proud of you, doll," then he leaned in to kiss her and moved to tug slightly on the paper bag, like the romantic lover he was. Mona then reciprocated on instinct, letting go to put her hand on his chest instead.
This created the perfect moment to pull away and whisper between them suavely, “seems like this independent lady can make dinner and wash the dishes tonight then.”
Mona’s starry gaze dropped to a pout in seconds, but right before she could whine she took in a sharp breath and turned back to the poor Durin who’d seen it all.
“Durin. We’re having takeout tonight.”
“No—”
“Oh, sure ! What about that place near your friend's apartment ?” he said with an innocent tilt of the head.
But the words weirded Scara out more than the betrayal, he frowned. "That's so specific."