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Sebek set out a few sticks of lipstick on his vanity.
He'd been wanting to try wearing lipstick for a while - his liege looked so elegant with his dark lipstick, and his mother's smile was even prettier when lined in soft rouge.
He didn't really have a good idea of what would look good on him though. If he was at home, he could have easily asked his sister or mother to lend him a few. It seemed egregiously wasteful to buy a stick only to find out it wouldn't suit him.
His liege, upon hearing about his quest, most generously gave him a stick of glossy black, and Master Lilia gave him a bright green.
"To match your hair," he had said, giggling.
He's honoured that his teacher and liege indulged this inconsequential undertaking of his!
Even some of the humans he was acquainted with helped him: Epel was more than happy to dump a truly ridiculous collection into his arms, though most of them did suit a fairer complexion than Sebek had. He appreciates the effort nevertheless! He could always pass them off to Master Lilia or Silver.
He uncaps the first one - his liege's dark black. It stares back at him dauntingly.
He's helped others wear lipstick plenty of times. It's not like he doesn't know how to do it. It's not even the sanctity of his liege's lipstick giving him pause.
It's some strange and unreasonable festering in his gut warning him it might be a bad idea. Which is ridiculous! Plenty of men wear lipstick! So it can't be that.
Sebek stares at the reflection in the mirror, the round ears and slitted pupils, the features neither fae nor human, uniquely hideous and incongruous -
"The lipsticks going to dry out like that, Sebek."
Sebek does not jump, because it is beneath a retainer of his station to be spacey and unaware of their surroundings. There is a bodily reaction though, he will admit that much, because a good retainer also admits to their faults so that they amend them readily!
Silver just tilts his head.
"I am aware, Silver! I am simply deliberating!"
Already Sebek is wondering why he invited Silver along. It's not like Silver is anymore versed in make-up products than he is. It's only recently he even started wearing lip balm.
But Silver has always pushed him, and that's exactly why he needs him.
Sebek pushes the tip against the side of his bottom lip. It's cool, slightly sticky, and he lightly draws it across to the other side.
A faint sheen of black coats his lips. He passes over his lip again, darkening the shade.
"What do we think, Silver?"
He turns around to face the boy sitting on his bed. Silver hums appreciatively. Again, he's hardly the best person to ask, but he refuses to bother Master Lilia or his liege with such inane questions.
"It looks nice, Sebek." His voice is his usual tone, but there's a happy lilt to it, speaking to the authenticity of his statement.
Sebek beams. "Why, of course! It is my liege's colour, after all!"
"I think anything would look nice on you."
There is a light blush creeping onto his face at those words. "You - don't say such nonsense!"
Silver ignores him. "It's a little dark though. I think a brighter colour would suit you better."
Sebek turns back to his vanity. It's true that it contrasts with his hair, and he doesn't really know how he feels about the look.
After thoroughly examining himself, he is forced to agree with Silver. It seems as though black is a shade only those like his liege can pull off.
He carefully dabs the lipstick away with remover and turns to Master Lilia's green.
It's a shocking colour, bright and matte. It reminds him of the neon blue the housewarden of Ignihyde wears in its saturation, but slightly more minty like his hair.
He applies it much the same way, rubbing his lips together before turning to Silver again.
"Is this bright enough for you?"
Silver tilts his head. "Perhaps too bright. It's very distracting. But you look very pretty all the same."
"I do not need compliments, Silver!" Sebek huffs and turns back to the mirror. Though he agrees that the colour is too bright for everyday wear, he does like the way it looks. It matches nicely with his hair, yet contrasting with the gold undertone in his eyes. For certain occasions, then.
He wipes this off delicately too.
He moves through some of the darker shades Epel gave him, though they all meet Silver's disapproval one way or another.
It's always one was a touch too dark, too saturated, not the right tone, washed out his skin - his words were always delicate, always followed up with a compliment of some sort. Never empty words of flattery, but like he saw beauty in his appearance no matter what he looked like.
It made something uncomfortable creep up his spine every time he turned back to the mirror but could still see Silver's gaze on him in its reflection.
He sighs, capping off the last lipstick. "That's all of them, then. And we still haven't found something satisfactory."
Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea in the first place.
"If I may, can I suggest one?"
Sebek turns to Silver with badly veiled apprehension on his face.
"Really?"
Silver nods, holding up his little circle container of balm. "Can we try this?"
It's a bright, youthful pink. It looks lovely on Silver's lips, giving it a faint pink sheen, but it's balm. That's not going to show up on his darker skin in any real way.
"Silver," Sebek starts slowly. "You are aware you have a much lighter skin tone than I, yes? That is not going to show up on me at all."
"Oh," Silver says, drooping slightly before he perks back up. "Well, I still think the colour would look nice. Can we buy a lipstick this shade to try it?"
Sebek begins to scoff, a retort on his tongue about how there's seriously no way such a shade would look good on him, perhaps calling it quits altogether, but Silver interrupts him.
"We wouldn't want to leave this mission unfinished and have nothing to show for it when Master Lilia and Prince Malleus ask, right?"
"Of course not!!!!! We will go to the store post-haste!!!!!!!"
Silver smiles victoriously.
--
"Hi there, my little imps!" Sam greets them as they walk in. "Looking for anything in particular?"
For some reason, Sebek's request sticks in his throat. He blinks at Sam, rooted in place and acutely aware of the silence in the air.
Silver speaks in his stead. "We're looking for the lipstick section."
"Aisles nearest the back at the left."
"Thank you," Silver says, gently tugging Sebek's jacket.
He doesn't know why he froze up like that. He's one of Prince Malleus' retainers, student of the brilliant Master Lilia; he's used to having eyes on him all the time and people scrutinising what he does.
He's used to brushing it all off. After all, he knows everything he does is faultless, and the only people he really needs to answer to is his liege and his teacher himself. And Sam really doesn't care what the students buy.
So why did he feel like he was doing something wrong for a moment?
Silver gently draws them to a stop in front of the brightly lit displays, looking at him with concern. He knows exactly what Silver is going to say. It's not often that he spaces out like this.
And because Silver knows he knows exactly what he wants to say, he shelves it to be discussed at a later time.
They browse the selection. Silvers taken him to the same brand that he uses, apparently recommended to him by Vil, and they talk quietly as they swatch shades on Sebek's skin. They find some of the pinker shades Silver wanted, settling on a slightly glossy baby pink.
Silver sets the little box in his palm, and the dread starts to seep in again. But he is his liege's retainer, more than capable of buying his own things!
They walk quietly to the front counter, but Sebek's heart drops when he realises who's loitering nearby.
"Hey, Sebek! Oh, and Silver too. Hey." A card soldier waves at them, a heart painted on one eye.
Ace's eyes track down to the box in his hand, and his eyes widen, a grin blooming on his face.
"Getting a gift for Silver or something?" He teases.
He's one of his few human acquaintances he didn't inform of his undertaking, and for very good reason.
Sebek tenses, fingers clenching around the small box. A flush of embarrassment creeps up his neck; Ace interprets his redness in entirely the wrong way.
"Hey, it's okay to buy a gift for someone -"
"It's for me."
"- even Deucey bought me nail - huh?"
"It's for me," Sebek reiterates.
Ace looks at him with faint shock. "Oh, cool. Wouldn't have thought pink would be your colour."
Deuce walks up to him, energy drink in hand. "What are we talking about?"
Ace elbows him. "Get this, Sebek didn't yell for once! I was stunned."
Deuce turns to Sebek. "Sorry if he insulted you."
"Why do you think I insulted him!?"
"See you around!" Deuce says, waving before he drags Ace out of the shop.
Sebek watches the two of them walk out of the store. He doesn't know why he feels so on guard. His chest feels all coiled up. Ace usually fills him with feelings of irritation, but this is different. He knows the name for it, but he doesn't even want to acknowledge it.
"Are you okay, Sebek?"
"I am fine!"
Silver gives him that look again, that he doesn't really believe him, concern in his soft eyes, utterly misplaced and unnecessary.
"Let's just get this over with," he murmurs, and Silver, blissfully, doesn't speak further.
--
Sebek and Silver re-enter his room with a lot less vigour than they left it.
"What was up with you at the store?"
Silver confronts him once they've divested themselves of their coats, gaze sharp. "You don't usually space out. Is something bothering you?"
"Nothing is bothering me, Silver!"
Sebek turns away pointedly, fussing far too much with the small box when he and Silver both know he could open it in an instant.
Silver squints at him. "I don't think it's nothing." He sighs. "You can talk to me, Sebek. You know I'm always with you."
The sun has already begun its descent down the sky, casting its orange-tinted rays through his ornate window. It bathes Silver gently, illuminating his shimmering irises, filled with nothing but simple determination and care and faith.
"I appreciate your concern, but it is simply none of your business!" Even if Sebek could articulate what was wrong with him, it's such a meaningless thing that it would surely waste everyone's time.
Silver frowns, setting a hand on his hip. "You asked for my help, so I do think it's at least a little my business."
"Exactly! So let's get this over with."
Sebek slides his nail underneath the sticky tab and the box pops open.
"Fine, but I'll put it on this time."
Sebek looks up at Silver, blinking.
"It was my suggestion after all, so let me." Silver extends his hand, not willing to let no be answer.
Sebek begrudgingly places the box in his hand.
Silver walks him to the vanity, standing behind him as he pulls forward the seat and sits down. He tries not to pull a face whilst looking in the mirror, lips twitching. It's not bad in the mornings, when he's focused on his pomade more than anything, that lightning bolt that refuses to flatten. One thing Sebek is glad for is his green, minty hair, a Zigvolt staple. He doesn't know how he'd be able to live with himself if he inherited his father's soft brown instead.
Silver places the empty box on the vanity, the click of the uncapping loud in the silence of his room.
Sebek swivels on the small chair, stomach swirling. It's just Silver. He did this in front of him not even an hour earlier. What's so different?
Silver falls to one knee in front of him, holding the lipstick in the air like a pen.
Sebek sighs, all the stress leaving him. Why did he expect Silver to be any good at this?
"At least hold my face or something, I don't need you scribbling over my lip." Silver was bound to do that with his distance, you can't put on someone's lipstick an arm away.
Silver drops to both knees, shuffling forward until his hips bump Sebek's knees. Sebek parts his legs naturally, letting Silver even further into his space.
Silver brings a hand up his cheek, hand still cold from the breeze outside.
"Your cheek is warm."
"Yours is just cold," Sebek retorts. Silver smiles.
This feels way too close. Silver is barely a breath away, single-mindedly focused on him. His warmth leeches into Silvers frame, a shiver travelling up his thigh where it presses against the slight bony portion of Silver's hip.
Before Sebek can break the air, Silver gets to work. He presses the tip to Sebek's lower lip gently, fingers grazing his cheek as he adjusts his grip. A slow, steady swipe across his lower lip. Sebek can feel the smear stick to his lip.
The one good thing about this arrangement is that Silver's not looking at him, instead focused on his work. It means Sebek doesn't have to squirm with someone looking at him with such close distance.
Silver's eyelashes flicker, moving onto his upper lip. His hair is iridescent, a rippling waterfall of shimmer.
Silver's beautiful. This is a fact that no one can deny. Sebek himself knows this fact, despite seeing all the sloppier sides of his partner. He's beautiful in that human way of his, gentle and strong, undeniably attractive.
Silver caps the lipstick, evidently done, but makes no move to get up. The sun has set in that short time, the beginnings of moonlight streaming into their small space.
Silver tilts Sebek's chin down, inspecting him, then to the left and then to the right. He gazes at him so intently Sebek wants to ask him if there's anything else on his face.
"I think it looks good. Take a look."
Silver uses his hand to pat his thigh, nudging it slightly to encourage Sebek to spin.
"How am I meant to spin with you here?" Sebek asks irritably. It's so strange how he relaxs every time Silver speaks.
"Oh," Silver says eloquently, standing up.
Sebek swivels to face his vanity. There's just enough light to be able to see clearly. His lips are tinted a gentle pink, youthful and sweet. It looks wholly strange with his sharp corners and spiked hair.
Silver bends to hover over his shoulder. "I think it looks nice. Keep this one, Sebek."
His voice is a gentle murmur, and Sebek would think him soon to fall asleep if it weren't for the poise in his posture and his clear gaze burning into his through the mirrors reflection. He looks at him like he thinks he's beautiful.
"You think so?"
Sebek hates how weak his voice comes out, wishing he could stuff it back inside his mouth.
Silver hooks his foot in the swivel mechanism and turns Sebek towards him just slightly, enough to tuck a lock of Sebek's hair behind his round ear.
There's a soft smile on his face, eyes warm and fond. The moonlight sets him alight, the gentle pink of his curved lips.
"So pretty," Silver breathes, more to himself than Sebek, like the words slipped out without even realising. "You're so pretty."
"Really?" Sebek needs to stop talking. Now, actually, before he embarrasses himself further.
Silver hums. "I don't know why you'd doubt me. Surely you must have been complimented plenty."
Sebek scoffs, turning away. "As if anyone would find a half human faerie attractive at all."
Silver tilts his head. "Really? I do."
He cups Sebek's face, drawing it back to him, tracing marks onto his cheek. "I think the way your ears flush when you're embarrassed is cute, and your fangs are so pretty when you give that smug smile of yours. See - you're doing it right now."
"My ears do no such thing, Silver!"
Silver laughs, eyes fond, fond, fond. It hurts to think maybe he's telling him the truth.
"My features are such a mismatch though," Sebek admits. "Do they not look incongruous?"
Fangs but round ears, slitted pupils but no scales.
"They make you look like you, Sebek. And I think you're beautiful."
Sebek slumps in Silver's hold shamefully, leaning into his stolen warmth and affection.
"Is that what it was? That was what had you so strung up?"
"No," Sebek mumbles. "Yes, sort of. My mother and our liege both look so pretty, I wanted to look like that too. But lipstick only works if you're already pretty to begin with."
Silver hums, listening. He's kneeled on the floor again. "So obviously, you don't need me to tell you you're stunning right now."
Sebek huffs. "You need not exaggerate, Silver! My self esteem is truly not so low where it needs your extraneous words of flattery!"
"I'm not."
Silver drops his gaze to his lips, eyes shaded with his silvery lashes. Ever since he was a child, Sebek always thought those eyes were the most mesmerising shade, a shimmering purple aurora, except now there's a sheen of green reflected in them.
He draws his gaze back up. "I kind of want to kiss you right now."
Sebek's breath catches in his throat. "Silver!" He cries, scandalised.
Silver hums once again to show he's listening, but he's clearly doing anything other than that, thumbing Sebek's lower lip and rubbing the lipstick off in slow ministrations.
"What?" He says innocently. "I wasn't lying when I said the pink looked good."
He glances at his thumb, smeared lightly with glossy pink, and rubs it onto his own lip. Sebek makes a strange aborted squealing sound.
Silver raises an eyebrow. "So, can I?"
"Can you what?"
"Kiss you."
Sebek shuts his eyes. Great Seven, Silver was going to be the end of him.
"Yes," Sebek says anyway.
Sebek's never kissed anyone before, but he had an idea of what kissing Silver might be like. Not that he went out of his way to imagine this anyway, but he imagined it would be soft and gentle, like the caresses he gives the animals that flock to him.
He wasn't expecting to be pounced upon, almost falling off the backless chair. He fists his hands in the back of Silver's jumper to stop from falling, letting Silver shift his mouth as he pleased. His fingers sift through loose green strands, kissing him and insistently trying to nudge his lips apart.
They pull apart, Silver's pale skin only slightly flushed and a deep undercurrent of hunger in his eyes.
"Can I put my tongue inside?"
Sebek screeches. Squeals. A myriad of embarrassing and unretainer-like noises. Silver looks at him patiently. This was way, way too fast! Where was the dinner? The flowers? Things like this are 3rd date material at the very least! Goodness, what would his prince think!
Well, they did eat dinner with each other regularly when Master Lilia and Prince Malleus were too busy, and Silver was in the habit of handing him flowers when his critters had given him far too many. Did they really need a 3rd date if they've been together their whole lives? Prince Malleus would probably be elated; he would love to be invited to a wedding....
Sebek's brows furrowed, bringing a hand to his chin. "It should be fine, right? I mean..."
"Sebek," says Silver patiently. "What on earth are you on about?"
"I have decided!" Sebek announces loudly, causing Silver to wince.
"Decided on what...?"
"You may!"
"May what, Sebek?"
"Don't make me say it!"
Silver adopts a carefully blank expression, meaning that yes, he very much is going to get Sebek to say it now that he brought it up.
Sebek groans. How does Silver have the ability to say such shameless things like it's second nature? "That thing. With tongue. You may. But -"
Silver surges forward, only stopped by the little 'but" at the end. "But?"
"Only a little."
Silver presses a chaste kiss to his lips, smiling softly. "Of course."
Silver kisses slower this time, which is also bad for his health, because this time he's fully aware all those embarrassing whimpering noises are coming from him. A warm tongue prods at his lip, Silver's breath gentle.
Sebek hesitantly parts his lips, and true to his word, his tongue only darts in far enough to brush his inner lip, scratching the point of a fang. It feels strange.
Silver pulls back. "You can do it to me too, if you want."
"I shall!"
Silver smiles, pulling them back together, lips gently bumping.
Sebek does the same as Silver, copying his earlier movements. Contrary to the rest of his body, Silver's mouth is scalding, his lips even softer now that he can taste them. He can see why people might like doing this, suddenly overcome with the urge to gently pull on his lower lip with his teeth.
He pulls back, the two of them breathing each others air softly.
"How was that?" Silver asks softly, thumb back to stroking his lower lip.
"Not bad," Sebek admits. Actually, how is Silver managing this so naturally? He knows for a fact Silver hasn't kissed anyone else either.
"I hate to admit it, but you are much too masterful at this! Where did you learn?"
Silver laughs softly. "Let's just say you and I read very different books."
"Recommend them to me post-haste! I will not allow you to surpass me for long!"
Silver looks away. "I'll... ask Father. They were his books."
Master Lilia's! Surely, they must contain invaluable knowledge.
"Anyway," Silver says, shaking his head. "It's getting late. We should go to bed."
Sebek looks out the window and processes what the moonlight actually means.
"Of course!! It would not do for Prince Malleus' retainers to get anything less than 7 hours of sleep!"
"I think I get more than that," Silver remarks dryly, getting up slowly. "Remember to wipe your lipstick off, and reapply it tomorrow. I want to show Prince Malleus and Father."
Sebek presses a hand to his lip, only just remembering what set this all off. "I doubt I'll have much to rub off after your display, Silver!"
Somehow that's what gets Silver to blush, looking away.
"Goodnight, Sebek."
"Goodnight, Silver! Wake up on time, and don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Silver shakes his head again, barely able to hide his smile.
--------
Silver makes his way to the door, hand resting on the brass doorknob when Sebek calls for him.
"Wait, Silver!"
Silver turns around, curious.
Sebek looks at him, green-gold eyes warm and honest, the warm colour of his blush complimenting the residue of his lipstick wonderfully. The rest of it is stuck to his own lips, and he feels wonderfully possessive.
Sebek's so pretty, it's impossible to think there could be a moment he could doubt that. Pretty green hair and pretty eyes and pretty mouth, despite how loud it could be. He's lost count of the amount of times he mumbled to his critters about how wonderful Sebek is, just as much as he can annoy him sometimes. He'll never let Sebek doubt himself again, he's sure of it.
"Does this make me your boyfriend?" A brief pause, and then followed up by: "It would be shameful if you kissed me and then refused to take responsibility!"
Silver can't help, he snorts. Sebek's blush only deepens. "This is serious, Silver!!"
Silver stifles his laughter, waving. "No, no, I'm not laughing at you Sebek -"
Sebek crosses his arms, evidently not filled with faith.
"- but yes, I'd like to be your boyfriend."
"Good!"
The two of them stare at each other, both waiting for something.
Silver supposes he'll be the one to provide that.
"Well, goodnight again, boyfriend."
"Get out!!"
Silver's sure his laughter will be heard all the way down the hall.