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[1]
The match is over, and the adrenaline is still humming through the locker room halls. He's made it. He's officially part of the Bastard München main team. But then, his gaze naturally drifts to the boy next to him.
He's walking just a little behind Kaiser as they return to the locker room. Up close, Kaiser is even more good-looking. His hair is long and unkempt, tangling around his face in a way that should look sloppy, but somehow only makes him look more ethereal. His eyes are sharp with the red eyeliner, but the gentle blue of his irises softens it, making him look less intimidating. He looks like an angel that's been through a storm and didn't mind the rain. Even with the dirt on his clothes and grass on his hair, he is the prettiest thing Ness has ever seen.
Ness keeps glancing over, his fingers twitching at his sides. He wants to say something. He wants to be noticed. He wants to reach out and ask Kaiser to be his friend.
Inside the locker room, the atmosphere is loud. The other players are shouting, celebrating their spot on the main Bastard München team. Ness ignores them. He heads straight for his locker, his fingers fumbling slightly with the latch. He reaches into his bag and pulls out a small, crinkled bag.
He didn't bring his good sweets today, like the expensive milk candy or the imported chocolates. All he has is a handful of lemon hard candies, the kind sold in bulk at the corner shop for a few cents. They're cheap, shaped like tiny, bumpy spheres, but they're one of his favorite. The flavor is bright and a little artificial, sweet at first before the sourness slowly seeps in, making his tongue tingle just enough to keep things interesting. It lingers too, that light lemony aftertaste that stays at the back of his mouth.
"Um... hey, Kaiser. Here, for the win," Ness says, holding them out. His voice is a little higher than usual. "You were amazing out there. Do you want some?"
Kaiser turns his head over, a towel draped over his shoulder. He looks down at Ness's palm, then back up at him. The blond looks surprised at the unexpected gift. Then he reaches out, his fingers brushing Ness's palm as he takes one.
"Thanks." Kaiser unwraps the candy and pops it into his mouth. He hums softly, rolling it against his cheek while Ness watches with wide, hopeful eyes. Kaiser gives him a glance, then nods, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's pretty good."
It's just a casual comment, but it makes something warm bloom in Ness's chest. He beams, the earlier nervousness slipping away immediately.
"I like them too," he says, a little too pleased.
[2]
Kaiser isn't sure why he agreed to come along. Usually, his time off is spent anywhere but a crowded convenience store, but Ness had been complaining for three days straight about his "emergency stash" running low. Since Kaiser wanted to track down those new truffle-flavored chips he'd seen in an ad, he figured he might as well tag along.
Now he's watching Ness tossing bag after bag of sweets into the basket. Sour belts, hard candies, chocolate-covered nuts – it's a sugar-coated mountain. It finally makes sense why the idiot always has something to press into his palm at any given moments. Ness is basically a walking candy shop at this point.
"You're going to rot your teeth before the season ends, Ness," Kaiser says, though he finally spots his chips and tosses two bags on top of Ness's hoard.
"I brush regularly, Kaiser! Besides, sugar is brain fuel," Ness chirps. He pays for the mountain of sweets, and the second they step outside, he tears open a bright green bag. He pulls out a long, translucent worm, neon orange and blue, and it flops limply between his fingers before he pops it into his mouth.
Kaiser wrinkles his nose, a look of pure disgust crossing his face. "Are you serious? You're actually eating something shaped like a maggot?"
Ness swallows and laughs, reaching into the bag again. "It's not a maggot, it's a gummy worm! And they're great. Here, try one."
He holds out a bright green and hot pink worm, dangling it right in front of Kaiser's face. Kaiser stares at it, then at Ness's expectant eyes. He hesitates, feeling a bit ridiculous for being intimidated by a piece of gelatin, before finally reaching out to take it.
He doesn't eat it all at once. He bites down on the middle and pulls, watching the gummy stretch and thin out before it finally snaps. The texture is… interesting. It's chewy and stretchy, like giving his jaw a bit of a workout.
The taste is mid, though. It's just a generic mix of sour apple and cherry, mostly tart citric acid and sugar. But the process of eating it is actually kind of fun.
"Well?" Ness asks, tilting his head.
Kaiser chews slowly, trying to maintain his dignity while his jaw works through the rubbery candy. "The taste is mediocre at best," he says, though he doesn't spit it out. "But the texture's alright, I guess."
The way Ness beams at that is almost blinding. Before Kaiser can even react, Ness is already dumping a handful into his hand. "Take them! I have plenty!"
Kaiser looks down at the pile of colorful gummy worms in his palm. He scoffs, but then he pops another one into his mouth.
[3]
Ness sits at the edge of the bed, hands resting on his knees, then fidgeting, then clasping together, then pulling apart again like he cannot quite decide what to do with them. The sound of running water comes from behind the closed bathroom door, steady and soft, but it only makes everything worse. Kaiser is in there.
Kaiser accepted his confession, and now they're officially dating. And in a few minutes, Kaiser is going to walk out of that bathroom, and they will have sex.
Ness wipes his sweaty palms on his pants, but they're clammy again a second later. This is his first time, and the nerves are starting to override the excitement. He's never done this before. What if he's too clumsy? What if he accidentally hurts Kaiser, or worse, what if he's just completely boring?
Most importantly, what if his breath smells like the onion bagel he had for lunch? He has already brushed his teeth, but still, better be safe than sorry.
He fumbles through his pockets, his fingers brushing past the small square packets of condoms and the tube of lube he'd bought earlier with trembling hands. Finally, he finds what he's looking for: a crinkled pack of chewing gum.
He pops a piece into his mouth and chews. The mint flavor spreads across his tongue almost immediately, cool and refreshing, and it helps a little. His thoughts don't stop completely, but they slow down just enough for him to breathe again. Okay. This is fine. At least my breath will be fine. He just hopes Kaiser likes mint. It's better than onions, at least.
The bathroom door suddenly clicks open, and Ness nearly jumps out of his skin. His head snaps up so quickly it nearly hurts, and whatever thought he had left disappears the second he sees Kaiser stepping out.
His hair is slightly damp, the long blond strands clinging faintly to his neck and shoulders, and he is wearing a silk robe that hangs just loose enough to show a hint of skin underneath. Kaiser is breathtaking, like a dream Ness isn't supposed to have. Ness feels like he's going to explode right then and there.
Kaiser walks over like this is nothing, like he doesn't notice the effect he has, and his gaze drops to Ness's hands, to the things he's still clutching.
"What's that for?" he asks, nodding slightly toward them.
Ness blinks, then looks down, suddenly aware that he's still holding everything. The condoms, the lube, and the chewing gum. Ah. Ness swallows hard, the minty saliva cooling his throat. "Oh, um... just gum. I wanted my breath to be fresh. For the kissing."
He's already half-standing, looking for a trash can to spit it out so they can get started, but Kaiser catches his wrist. The blond looks at the pack for a second, then tilts his head.
"Wait." Kaiser sits down on the bed right next to Ness, bringing the scent of expensive soap and damp skin with him. "Give me one."
Ness blinks, surprised, but quickly shakes a piece out for him. Kaiser pops it into his mouth and leans back slightly, his shoulder brushing against Ness's.
"Relax, Lexi," Kaiser says, noticing the way the midfielder is practically vibrating with nerves. "We don't have to rush. Let's just finish the gum first."
Ness nods, trying to take a deep breath. He's supposed to be calming down, but having Kaiser sitting this close, looking this good, is a test of endurance he isn't sure he can pass. The mint can't really cool him down when everything else about this situation is making him feel very, very warm.
[4]
Kaiser leans back in the chair, his eyes fixed on the glowing monitor. On the screen, the recording of the match plays in a loop as he watches every movement on the field with careful attention. His own plays, his positioning, the timing of his shots, all of it runs through his head as he picks apart what could have been better, what could be cleaner, what could be perfected.
There are a few moments he pauses on, rewinds, and watches again. A step too slow. A pass that could have been sharper. A gap in movement that he could exploit better next time. And then there is Yoichi.
Kaiser clicks his tongue as the footage shifts to the forward. The guy isn't bad. He can admit that much. But that's exactly the problem. Someone like that, someone who keeps pushing forward like he has something to prove, someone who tries to take the spotlight on a team that already has its ace, is nothing but a nuisance. No one gets to take the spotlight from him, especially not someone on the same team.
It's annoying. Everything about the Blue Lock facility is annoying, but that sprout-headed fucker is the most irritating part of it. Kaiser's jaw tightens, and the sudden pressure causes the lollipop in his mouth to shatter with a crack.
"Tch." Kaiser grunts in annoyance, pulling the white plastic stick from his lips and flicking it toward the bin. He chews the remaining shards of candy down and swallows, then reaches into his pocket to find another one.
Ness slipped a handful into his jacket earlier that morning. Kaiser has developed a bit of a habit lately; he likes the way the stick rests between his teeth, almost like a cigarette without the actual filth of smoking. It gives him something to bite down on when he feels like snapping.
The door behind him opens, and he already knows who it is before the voice follows.
"Micha."
Kaiser doesn't turn, his eyes still on the screen as Ness steps inside and walks closer, his presence easy to recognize even without looking.
"You're still watching the record?" Ness says, his tone light but carrying a hint of concern. "It's pretty late already. We should head to bed."
Kaiser rolls his eyes at that, unimpressed, and pulls the lollipop from his mouth even though he has barely had it for a minute. Without bothering to respond properly, he reaches out and presses the stick into Ness's mouth instead.
"Shut up," Kaiser says flatly.
Ness stuns, his eyes widening, and a faint flush creeps up his neck as he tastes the lingering warmth of Kaiser's mouth on the sugar. It only takes him a second to recover, though. He's used to this.
"You really should rest," Ness continues anyway. "We have another match tomorrow. Your stats won't stay perfect if you're exhausted."
Kaiser sighs, leaning back in his chair. Ness has been getting a little too bold lately, thinking his "concern" justifies talking back. It's annoying, and maybe the puppy needs a reminder of who's actually in charge between them.
"Fine, fine. Shut up, I'm coming," Kaiser snaps.
He stands up, and as he passes Ness, he reaches out and buries a hand in those purple-tipped strands. It's not a caress, and he follows it with a rough tug that pulls Ness's head back just enough to earn a sharp yelp from him.
"Ouch! Micha—"
"Move," Kaiser says, letting go and heading for the door without looking back.
Behind him, Ness pouts, rubbing the sore spot on his scalp while carefully keeping the lollipop tucked against his cheek. "Don't take it out on me," he mutters under his breath, though he still turns to the console. The screen goes dark a second later with a soft click, the room falling quiet as he shuts everything down. The sound of quick footsteps follows immediately behind Kaiser where he belongs.
[5]
Ever since everything fell apart after the Neo Egoist League, Kaiser has shut himself off completely, only stepping out when he absolutely has to for practice, and even then he barely speaks, barely looks at anyone, like the rest of the world no longer matters. The rest of the time, he stays locked inside, replaying match recordings over and over again like he's trying to tear himself apart frame by frame.
Ness has tried knocking, tried talking, tried just sitting outside the door for a while in case Kaiser might come out on his own, but none of it has worked. The distance is obvious, and it stings more than Ness wants to admit. But what worries Ness more isn't the silence, it's the self-neglect.
Kaiser has always been a bit picky, that much Ness already knows, but this is different. For the past few days, he has been living off nothing but Coke, chicken nuggets, and whatever sweets he can get his hands on, mostly KitKats, leaving proper meals untouched or ignored completely. It isn't enough at all for someone like him. He's living on sugar and caffeine, fueling his self-hatred with junk food while his muscles lose their edge.
Ness decides he's done waiting for permission to care. He doesn't care if Kaiser is cold, or if he's being ignored (it hurts, of course, but that isn't important right now), or even what they are to each other right now – boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, or some situationship. He just knows he isn't going to watch Kaiser rot.
"Stop it, Micha. You're killing yourself," Ness says, his voice firmer than it's ever been. He reaches down and snatches the bottle of Coke right out of Kaiser's hand.
Kaiser reacts instantly, jumping up and trying to grab it back. "Fuck you, Ness! It's none of your business," he hisses, his voice sharp and defensive.
Ness doesn't flinch. He doesn't retreat. If Kaiser wants to treat him like a dog, then he'll have to deal with a dog that bites.
"I'm not listening to you anymore," Ness replies calmly, and before Kaiser can reach him, he throws the bottle toward the corner of the room. It hits the ground harder than he intended, the plastic cracking open as the soda spills across the floor and makes a big mess, but Ness doesn't spare it a second glance. He'll deal with it later. Right now, he has a bigger disaster to handle. "You need to eat real food. Not just junk and chocolate."
Kaiser's glare is pure venom. As if to spite him, he reaches for a KitKat bar on the floor, tearing the red wrapper open with his teeth and taking a jagged bite. "You don't get to tell me what to do. We're nothing now, Ness."
The words hurt, but Ness refuses to react to them. Instead, he reaches out, snatches the chocolate from Kaiser's hand, and throws it into the same mess of spilled coke before Kaiser can stop him. Then he moves in, sliding his arms under Kaiser's and pulling him up, ignoring the immediate resistance.
"Let go—"
"No."
Ness's voice stays calm, but there's no room for argument in it. He drags Kaiser with him toward the kitchen, ignoring the way Kaiser struggles and fights back. Nails dig into his arms, leaving stinging red scratches and rising bruises, and Ness hisses quietly under his breath from the pain, but he doesn't let go. He refuses to. He's stronger than he looks, fueled by a desperate, stubborn need to help the idiot in his arms.
He drags Kaiser into the small kitchen area and practically slams him down into a chair. When Kaiser tries to bolt, Ness shoves him back down, leaning over him and pinning him with a stare that refuses to waver.
"Eat," Ness commands, his voice low and unwavering. He pulls the bag of food he bought earlier to in front of Kaiser. "I won't let you leave until you finish."
Kaiser looks like he wants to wrap his hands around Ness's throat. The blond glares at him, irritation burning bright in his eyes, the kind that used to make Ness back down without question. But this time, Ness holds his ground, returning the stare without hesitation, his expression just as stubborn. After a few tense minutes, Kaiser realizes Ness isn't going to waver.
Finally, Kaiser lets out an annoyed scoff. He looks away, but he reaches for the food and begins to unpack it, eating in a hostile, heavy silence as if Ness has suddenly become invisible.
Ness lets out a sigh of relief and sinks into the chair next to him. Kaiser won't look at him, and he won't speak to him, but that's fine. As long as Kaiser is eating, as long as he stops hurting himself, Ness can handle being a ghost.
[6]
Kaiser doesn't have anything worth remembering in Germany. Bastard München was never meant to be anything more than a stepping stone, and now that he's reached Re Al, the club he'd been aiming for all along, there's no reason to look back. It's a relief, because he can finally leave everything behind, the expectations, the failures, the things he would rather not think about, and especially the one person who refuses to let go no matter how many times Kaiser has made it clear that there's nothing left to hold on to.
Ness has been nothing but a pain in the ass lately, and Kaiser still doesn't understand it. Everything has already fallen apart, the illusion is gone, and there's nothing left of whatever they used to have. He isn't some untouchable emperor, and Ness isn't some loyal knight standing by his side. He's just a piece of shit who can barely be called human, and he's long since given up on himself. He wants Ness to do the same, but the idiot won't take the hint.
It's better this way. He'll just leave the dumb dog behind.
Kaiser glances at the midfielder, who insisted on trailing him all the way to the airport. They won't see each other again after this. It's over, so there's no point dragging this out longer than it needs to be.
The thought lingers for a moment before Kaiser pushes it aside, his attention dragged back to the present by the sound of Ness's voice.
"…Did you check your carry-on?" Ness asks, glancing over at him. "You didn't forget anything important, right?"
Kaiser sighs, already tired of the conversation, but he answers anyway because it's faster than dealing with Ness refusing to let it go.
"I didn't forget anything."
"And your passport?"
"I have it."
"And your ticket?"
"I have it."
Ness nods after each answer, still checking over everything like he expects something to go wrong at any second. It's exhausting. When his flight is finally called for check-in, Kaiser lets out a breath of relief. He grabs the handle of his suitcase and turns to walk away, but a hand suddenly clamps around his wrist.
"Wait, Micha," Ness calls out as he fumbles through his pocket and shoves a handful of wrapped nougat candies into Kaiser's palm. "Here. In case you get hungry on the plane. It's high in nutrients."
Kaiser immediately flicks his hand, sending the candies scattering across the polished airport floor like discarded trash. "The plane has food. I don't want anything from you," he says, his voice flat.
Ness doesn't flinch. He doesn't even look hurt. Instead, he looks displeased and unapproved, as if Kaiser is just a child being particularly difficult. He gazes the scattered candies for a second before reaching into his other pocket, pulling out an even larger handful of nougat, and pressing them firmly into Kaiser's palm. He closes Kaiser's fingers over them, holding his hand shut so he can't throw them away again.
"No," Ness says, staring directly into Kaiser's eyes with a frightening amount of resolve. "You will take them on the plane."
Kaiser holds the stare for a few seconds, searching for the old submissive puppy and finding only this new, immovable wall. He scoffs and looks away, but he doesn't throw them down this time. There's no point arguing with someone this stubborn.
Seeing that Kaiser isn't fighting back, Ness nods and stuffs a few more bars into Kaiser's jacket pockets for good measure. "Be safe. And take care of yourself, Micha," he says with a small smile.
Kaiser doesn't say anything. He doesn't say thank you, and he doesn't say goodbye. He just turns and walks into the boarding area, the weight of the sugar in his hand and pockets feeling heavier than his actual luggage.
[7]
Ness hums a soft, random melody under his breath as he unpacks his suitcase, hanging his clothes one by one into the wardrobe like he plans to stay longer than he actually said he would. He's already claimed half the space, and he can feel Kaiser's eyes burning into the back of his head.
"Why are you even in Spain?" Kaiser grumbles from the bed.
"I wanted to visit you, obviously. We haven't seen each other in so long. I missed you," Ness answers easily, turning his head just enough to flash him a bright, almost blinding smile before going back to sorting through his luggage like the question had an obvious answer from the start.
Kaiser clicks his tongue. "Whatever. There's a hotel right down the street. You didn't need to stay here in my apartment. And definitely not in my room. There's a sofa in the living room."
"You haven't kicked me out yet, though," Ness chirps, entirely unbothered. He continues his task, hiding a small smirk when Kaiser just scoffs instead of arguing. Kaiser feels different now, less like the feral, self-destructive creature he used to be a year ago, and more like a grumpy cat that still hisses but no longer claws at every attempt to get close.
Getting to this point hasn't been easy. When Kaiser first left for Re Al, he was a wall of ice, ignoring every text and every call before eventually blocking Ness entirely. But Ness is nothing if not persistent, so he kept going anyway, sending greeting messages every morning and night to a blocked number just in case. He even managed to get Sae Itoshi's contact through Lorenzo and pestered the midfielder into relaying messages. Surprisingly, Sae, who usually couldn't care less about other people's drama, eventually agreed just to get Ness to stop calling him.
His teammates gave him concerned looks, and even Noa had a private talk with him about "moving on," but Ness wouldn't budge. He knew Kaiser. He knew that under all that self-hatred, Kaiser was still the same boy he fell in love with, someone worth reaching for.
In the end, Kaiser gave in to the constant effort. They started talking again, slowly at first, stiff and distant, but over time the edge wore down, and now Kaiser no longer shuts him out completely. Sometimes he even complains about things in Spain while Ness listens patiently. They're finding their way back, little by little.
Once the last of his shirts is hung up, Ness reaches into his bag and pulls out a pack of marshmallows from his stash of sweets, along with some milk he bought on the way here, before walking over to the bed. He grabs Kaiser's hand without hesitation and gently tugs him up. "Come on, let's make some marshmallow hot chocolate. The weather's been getting chilly lately. I assume you have some cocoa powder?"
"You're so annoying," Kaiser groans. He lets himself be hauled off the bed, his feet dragging slightly, but he doesn't pull his hand away.
In the kitchen, Kaiser immediately claims a chair at the table and crosses his arms, looking defiant. "I'm not helping. You want it, you make it."
"Sure. I'll make for both of us then." Ness shrugs. He's spent years spoiling Kaiser, and he isn't about to stop now. "Where do you keep the cocoa?"
Kaiser exhales through his nose, sounding like this is the most troublesome situation he's ever been in, even though he still answers. "…Right-most cupboard. Top shelf."
"Okay. Give me a few minutes," Ness beams, then turns to the stove, humming that same melody again. Kaiser is still grumbling under his breath, but he doesn't leave.
It's a good day.
[8]
Kaiser is driving back to his apartment from the airport, his expression already sour as the speakers blast yet another cheesy love song that he definitely didn't choose. To make matters worse, there's a persistent out-of-tune singing voice coming from the passenger seat, ruining the melody even further.
"Can you shut up?" Kaiser groans, shooting a glance at the purple-haired idiot next to him.
"No! Hehe," Ness laughs, completely unbothered as he continues his off-key singing without missing a beat, swaying slightly to the rhythm like he's performing for an audience instead of annoying the hell out of the driver.
Kaiser lets out a long, dramatic sigh and turns his attention back to the road. He's officially given up.
After Sae moved on to another club to expand his skills, a spot in the midfield opened up, and while the reserve players Re Al had weren't bad, none of them really fit well with Kaiser's style. The team started looking elsewhere, scouting players who could keep up with him, and of course, Ness was one of the names that came up. Kaiser wasn't surprised when he got picked. While Ness's talent isn't one-of-a-kind in a club as big as Re Al, his synergy with Kaiser is.
Now, Ness is officially a teammate again, and instead of finding his own place like a normal person would, he insisted they live together. Kaiser still isn't entirely sure what possessed him to agree to it in the first place, because now, instead of occasional visits, he has to deal with Ness all the time.
It probably won't be that bad, though.
He's gotten used to living alone in Spain, but there were times when he found himself thinking about how easy things used to be when Ness was around, how everything had just worked without him needing to think about it. He wouldn't go so far as to say he was lonely, because he wasn't, but he did find himself missing the way Ness ruffled his hair or the feeling of a steady hand on his back as he fell asleep.
And when Ness visited, even if Kaiser acted annoyed the entire time, there had always been a part of him that expected it, that was already waiting.
"Micha." Ness's voice breaks through his thoughts, followed by a hand sliding onto his thigh. "I'm kinda hungry. Do you have anything to snack on? Candy, maybe?"
"First of all, I'm driving. Take your hand off my thigh, Lexi," Kaiser replies, his tone flat as he shoots him a brief look before returning his eyes to the road. This dumb puppy is going to get them into an accident one day if he keeps this up. "And second, where's your usual stash of candy?"
Ness obliges and pulls his hand back. "I ate most of it on the plane. There's still some left, but it's at the bottom of my suitcase," he admits, sounding mildly regretful.
Kaiser rolls his eyes and reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small tin of candied fruit. He'd never admit it out loud, but he's definitely picked up Ness's habit of keeping sweets on hand (his choice is definitely healthier than the pure sugar Ness prefers though). He tosses the tin at Ness's chest before putting his hand back on the wheel. "I only have these."
Ness catches it and stares at it for a second before making a face. "I wouldn't really call this candy."
"That's all you're getting. Eat it or leave it," Kaiser replies flatly. He's clearly gotten too soft if this idiot already has the audacity to critique his snacks. "It literally has 'candied' in the name, so stop complaining."
"Okay, okay. You're so bossy," Ness mutters, jutting his lips out in a half-hearted complaint as he opens the lid anyway. He pops a piece of dried blueberry into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully before reaching for another. Just like that, he goes right back to singing along to the love song, just as off-key as before.
Kaiser clicks his tongue in annoyance, but this time he doesn't tell him to stop. He just keeps driving, the noise filling the car as they finally head back home together.
☆☆☆
[Extra]
"What do you think about this one?" Ness asks as he holds out a sample of alcohol chocolate toward Kaiser. "It's an Italian dark chocolate with a hint of cherry liqueur."
Kaiser takes a bite, chewing slowly as he considers it. After a moment, he shakes his head. "It's good, but not for a wedding. We're giving them out to guests, and there'll be kids there, you know."
Ness hums thoughtfully at that and sets it aside without argument, already reaching for the next option. They move through a few more samples together, pausing, tasting, and occasionally exchanging short comments, until they finally settle on a chocolate candy with a firm, slightly bitter dark shell that gives way to a smooth, incredibly sweet ganache center.
"This one is perfect," Ness beams, his eyes crinkling as he sets the sample down. He leans in right after, nuzzling his face affectionately against Kaiser's shoulder. Kaiser doesn't outwardly reciprocate, but he subtly shifts his weight, leaning closer so Ness can reach him more easily, and Ness giggles when he catches on to the silent permission. "It reminds me of us, actually. A lot of hardship at the start, but with all this sweetness waiting at the end."
"You're so cheesy," Kaiser lets out a soft huff, reaching up to give Ness's hair a rough, playful ruffle. Ness lets out a happy yelp, but his expression softens when Kaiser speaks again, his voice quieter than before. "To be honest … I still don't understand why you stayed through all of that. I wouldn't have done that for myself if it were me."
Ness immediately takes Kaiser's hand into his own and gives it a light squeeze. "Because I saw the version of you that you couldn't see yet," he says, gentle yet firm. "And more importantly, I love you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life."
"Ahem."
A cough suddenly pulls them out of their private bubble. The sales clerk stands nearby with a polite, professional smile, though the faint secondhand embarrassment is written all over his face from the blatant PDA. "So… I assume we're settling on this filled chocolates for the order?"
"Yes, please! We'll take this one," Ness says, fumbling slightly as he straightens up, though he doesn't let go of Kaiser's hand.
Kaiser averts his eyes, mumbling something about Ness being an "idiot" under his breath. The tips of his ears flush faintly pink, and he bites the inside of his cheek to keep the small, genuine smile from fully showing.