Chapter Text
It rained quite often in Sumeru.
Of course, given that most of it was a rainforest, the nation of dendro often received storms. It wasn’t uncommon. Most people just dismissed it as a minor inconvenience. Nothing to worry about.
For the rainforest dwellers, that is.
Sethos stood under the canvas tarp of a stall that had closed upon seeing the approaching storm, his hand outstretched to let the soft droplets of cool rain slide down his fingers, pooling into a small puddle in his palm. He enjoyed the way it felt. After all, the desert rarely gave him an experience such as this, and there wasn’t an oasis in the desert that could match the pleasant feel of a forest rainstorm.
That didn’t change matters for him, though. Sethos still needed to return home to the hot, dry desert he called home. Sure, it was a dilemma, but what could he do about the weather? Might as well enjoy it while it lasts, no?
Sethos stepped away from the dry haven beneath the tarp and began to walk down the road, feet creating soft splashes in the puddles that were forming between the thin cracks of stone. The market slowly emptied while he walked as everyone rushed to get indoors. Tilting his head up, he let the soft spray of rain touch his face, staring into the clouds. It was rather peaceful, truly.
“What are you doing? You look stupid.”
Sethos turned to find Shiro on the other side of the street, arms folded across his chest and his head angled slightly downwards so that his hat kept the rain off his face.
“Oh hey there, Hat Guy! Long time no see!” Sethos raised a hand in greeting. “Quite the cold welcome from you, don’t ya think?”
Shiro huffed at that. “I was only joking. And don’t call me Hat Guy. Address me by my name or not at all.”
“Yeah sure, I can do that,” Sethos replied, with no such intention of doing so. “What brings you out here?”
“I could ask the same of you.”
Sethos gave him a sly grin. “I was here on some errands, but it seems my time here in the city has been cut short. I’m off to head back to the desert now.”
“Hm.” Shiro unfolded his arms, pushing his hat up ever so slightly, his stormy blue eyes meeting Sethos’s bright green ones. “You’re heading off…in the rain? You don’t even have an umbrella on you.”
“It hardly ever rains in the desert,” Sethos stated, pointing a finger up at the sky. “Even when it does, it’s barely anything. This is a luxury for me.”
“Explains why you’re practically bathing in it.” Shiro smirked. “Though I think it might be advisable to seek shelter for the foreseeable future.”
“And why is that?” Sethos raised an eyebrow at Shiro as lightning split the sky and the rain proceeded to fall down even harder. “...Ah.”
“That would be why.”
“Well if I’ll be needing shelter, I suppose I’ll seek shelter under–” Sethos moved to stand next to Shiro and leaned down so he was under the cover of his hat, looking up only to find Shiro glaring at him with fierce intensity. “What?”
“The audacity to even suggest using my hat as an umbrella.” Shiro rolled his eyes. “You’re quite the interesting one.”
“Do you have any other ideas, wise guy?”
Shiro huffed. “First it’s Hat Guy, then it’s wise guy. You’re such an idiot.”
“Oh, you wound me.” Sethos smirked. “And here I thought we were finally starting to have something between us.”
“I do have an idea, though. Follow me.” Shiro ignored Sethos’s words, turning on his heel and beginning to drift down the road, Sethos following close behind.
The rain lashed violently at the two as they made their way through the rainforest. Sethos found it rather impressive how Shiro could easily navigate through the barrage of plants and creepers even as the wind howled, threatening to rip his hat off his head and fling it to the sky like a glorified frisbee. The walk went on for hours like that until finally Shiro stopped at the base of a tall, tall tree.
“Give me your hand,” he said, offering one of his own to Sethos.
“My my, this really is my special day.” Sethos flashed Shiro a self-satisfied grin.
“Hmph. Don’t get used to it,” Shiro mumbled, turning his head so that his hat hid his face from Sethos’s view. “Hold on tight.”
“Hold onto wh—AUGH!” Sethos yelped as Shiro took flight, hoisting the two of them into the air at a speed that was far beyond comfortable. Against his better judgement, Sethos wrapped his free arm around Shiro’s waist, clinging tightly and praying that the ride would be over soon. Leaves and twigs poked softly at his arms, but Sethos paid them no mind as he focused on not falling.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Sethos felt his legs come into contact with the feeling of rough bark. Opening his eyes and daring to glance down, Sethos saw a dizzying drop to the bright forest canopy just beyond the safety of the biggest tree branch he had ever seen.
“If you’d prefer not to fall off through any means other than an accident, I’d suggest you let go of me.”
“Oh! R-right.” Sethos quickly pulled his arm away from Shiro’s waist, though lingered before slowly pulling his hand away too. Craning his neck up, Sethos inspected the storm beyond the umbrella of leaves provided by the tree, watching as the thick grey clouds trundled by. He put his hands behind him, leaning back and closing his eyes, simply just listening to the soft jingling of Shiro’s hat as he sat next to him.
For a while, the two sat in silence, their breaths mingling as one with the wind. Sethos’s eyes remained closed, enjoying the sensation of being there with Shiro and of the storm that persisted. Even as he heard the sounds of the wind and rain fade away, he kept his eyes shut, allowing himself to soak in the moment.
“Hey.”
Sethos didn’t respond to Shiro’s voice other than a small smile.
“I said hey. What else must I do to get your attention?” Shiro lightly shoved Sethos in the shoulder. “Open your eyes.”
“Hm?” Sethos sat up, his eyelids slowly sliding open, allowing the world to come into focus. “What is it? Oh…oh wow.”
Beyond the trees was the most beautiful view Sethos had ever seen. The clouds had parted and danced across the sky like flower petals caught in the breeze. The sun was sinking below the horizon in a dazzling display of color, its warm rays stretching across the sea of leaves beneath the tree Sethos and Shiro rested on.
Sethos’s breath caught in his throat. “It’s gorgeous.”
Shiro nodded. “I figured you’d enjoy something like this. You seemed the type.”
“Oh? I seemed the type? Do you think about me often?”
“Wh– No! Of course not!”
Sethos burst into laughter. “I don’t mean that in a bad way, Shiro! It’s sweet, really! I do enjoy this a lot!”
Shiro turned away. “Shut up before I push you off the tree.”
“Good luck with that one.” Sethos scooted closer until he was right next to Shiro. “Unless you work up the courage to do that, you’re stuck with me.”
“Hmph.”
Sethos leaned into Shiro, who tensed up at his touch.
“What? Is something wrong?” Sethos asked, looking up at Shiro’s face.
Shiro sighed, and all of the tension left his body. “It’s nothing.”
Sethos shifted away from him. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable. I mean it. If I’m bothering you, just say the word.”
Shiro smiled softly at that; a rare expression coming from him. “You’re always bothering me.”
“Hah! Sure I am!” Sethos chuckled, warmth spreading through him. “I know you enjoy my company, though.”
“Don’t delude yourself.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.”
Sethos leaned back into him, enjoying the grandeur of the sunset. “This is nice, though. Thank you Shiro.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Sethos reached out an arm, flicking Shiro’s hat. “Still wanna get a closer look at this, though. I find it quite intriguing.”
Shiro groaned and muttered something about arrogant desert-dwellers under his breath. “You approached me about the hat when we first met, and you’re approaching me about it now. What gives?”
“I told you, I find it intriguing. It’s a rather pretty hat, too. You never let anyone in Sumeru get close enough to you to get a good look.”
“But you’re close enough to me now.”
“But I’m close enough to you now, exactly.”
Shiro scoffed at that. “You’re not talking about the hat, are you?”
Sethos raised his hands. “You’ve caught me. I’m not.”
Shiro sighed. “This isn’t fair. I shouldn’t…I’m not supposed to…”
“Not supposed to what?”
“It’s nothing, forget about it.”
Sethos put his arm around Shiro’s shoulders, hugging him tightly. “If you say so.” He smiled. “Although, it’s hard to forget anything when I get to spend this moment here with you.”
Shiro turned to face him, staring into his eyes. “You’re that incredibly hellbent on getting close to me.” It wasn’t a question.
Sethos shrugged. “What can I say? I’m one determined individual.”
Shiro reached out carefully then, brushing the soft, curly hairs out of Sethos’s face and tucking them behind his ears. The silence between them grew and expanded beneath the setting sun. Sethos could feel his face growing warm in the places where Shiro’s soft touch had made contact. It was a wonderful feeling.
“I don’t understand why you’d want to know me in this way. Don’t you know that’s only asking for trouble?” Shiro asked the question sternly, but the coldness didn’t reach his eyes at all.
“I’ve dealt with plenty of trouble. What’s a little more? I don’t mind trouble, especially not if it’s you.”
The two stared at each other in silence. Nothing needed to be said at that moment. It was just them, sharing a tender moment high in a tree in Sumeru. Everything else seemed small and trivial below them.
Shiro slowly slid his hand from Sethos’s hair to cup the side of his face, gazing into his eyes. His face was a contemplative mask, refusing to betray the warring emotions beneath.
“Shiro? Wha–?” Sethos began.
“Shut up.” Shiro tilted Sethos’s head up as he leaned in, bringing their lips together.
It was short, sweet, and brief, yet Sethos found himself longing for more when Shiro finally pulled away.
“Please never bring this up to anyone. I have a reputation to maintain.” Shiro turned to gaze at the sky.
“A reputation?” Sethos burst out laughing. “All of this, and you’re worried about your reputation?”
Shiro silenced Sethos’s bright laughter with another kiss. “You never shut up, do you?”
Sethos smiled as the last traces of the rainstorm dripped from the leaves and sprinkled across their faces. “You know I don’t.”