Work Text:
Goro blinked at his screen. It was rather late—who was texting him at eleven at night?
11/18 11:49pm
Ren <3: Goro~ you up?
Me: Yes.
Ren <3: wanna go to the pumpkin patch together tmr?
Me: What makes you spontaneously want to go?
Ren <3: it's a secret. but the best of the best pumpkins is calling me!!
Me: Very well.
Ren <3: sooo...that a yes?
Me: I believe we both have exams creeping up—and I must refine my college entrance application.
Ren <3: but it's only November??
Me: I like to be prepared.
Ren <3: aww, pleaseeeee? For me?
Me: Of course I will. Send me the details.
Ren <3: thank you!! ❤
Me: Anything.
Ren <3: ❤ okay, get some sleep! good night~
Me: Good night. Sleep well.
After a good few minutes of rereading Ren's messages, Goro finally put the phone down. He covered his eyes with the back of his hand, blowing out a breath.
What did I get myself into?
No matter. Goro promised his boyfriend something—he'd be damned if he backed out. Although they'd been in a relationship for some time, they'd mainly been hanging out in Leblanc or studying together. When they went out, it was usually to Penguin Sniper or Jazz Jin. It was the first time they went somewhere different.
He got up from his couch, charging his phone. He got ready for bed with a determined mindset. He was going to make the trip an unforgettable experience for Ren. With that, he fell into a dreamless sleep.
Goro woke up to his alarm blaring under his pillow, which was definitely not the one time he'd caught Ren's angelic laugh on camera.
Goro washed up and picked out a decently warm outfit, a gut feeling telling him they'd be out for a while. He got dressed quickly and ate his breakfast of delicious pancakes and coffee. After he got ready, he glanced at his reflection in the body mirror in his room. His hair was a bit messy, so he straightened it out meticulously with his brush, tugging on gloves after.
Shit. He checked the time, pocketing his phone, wallet and keys before rushing out the door. Making his way to the station, he spotted Ren standing near the Promenade, most likely waiting for him.
"Ren," he called once within earshot, raising an arm up to wave.
Ren turned to him, an easy grin lighting up his beautiful features. "Goro! How was your morning so far?"
Goro walked closer, a tiny smile involuntarily forming on his lips. "It was fine. You?"
Ren reached out to lace their hands, his body heat radiating through the glove. "Amazing, now that I got to see you," he winked, glasses flashing in the morning sun.
Goro flushed light pink, looking away with a small huff. "Must you, this early in the day?"
Ren laughed cheerfully, a sound awfully similar to Goro's alarm and ringtone. Yet the crappy audio could never truly capture how alluring he sounded in real life.
"Come, let's get going! I can picture the pumpkin in my head, calling to me!" Ren insisted, pulling on the brunet's hand and yanking him towards the trains.
"Wh—slow down," Goro chided in fond exasperation, scowling. Despite his words, he allowed himself to be dragged around by the other boy.
Ren had an iron grip on his hand the entire trip there, occasionally chattering about what they'd do at the pumpkin patch. His eyes lit up as he listed off different ideas, way too ambitious for a second-year with the attention span of a squirrel.
"We're here," Goro announced flatly, being the one to pull his boyfriend this time. They exited the platform without much complication, thankfully, and set out to find the farm.
"Uhm....oh! I see it! Hurry, Goro, there're tons of people already!" Ren shouted, releasing the hand and breaking off into a sprint.
"What—Ren!" Goro groaned, but began running after him. He hated how some pedestrians eyed them with judgement. But who wouldn't? Two almost adults were running after each other like fools, one laughing his head off.
It doesn't matter. As long as Ren's happy. Other people can die.
Goro finally caught up to his rival, blowing out an annoyed breath. "Are you mental?"
Ren turned to grin at him unabashedly, his delighted expression washing away any traces of irritation from Goro like a gentle breeze. "We're here!"
Goro pinched the bridge of his nose. "I suppose."
"See? The crowd's all the way back there," Ren pointed to a huge stream of people walking their way. "Good thing we went ahead, right?"
Goro glared at the clump of humans, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "I presume you're correct. Shall we continue, lest your percipient brain has any other clever ideas."
Ren laughed again, reaching over to tuck a strand of Goro's hair behind his ear. "I love that about you. You're so...mean." His hand lingered near the other's face for a second longer than truly necessary before dropping.
Goro's cheeks burned, his brain momentarily malfunctioning. He admired how blunt Ren was, how easily he gave his affection like another smile—effortless, instinctive, beautiful, warm.
"Brainless," he muttered, snatching up Ren's hand with his own. "Make this quick, before the humans come over."
Ren smiled at him fondly, before nodding. He led them to the front of the pumpkin patch, an overly dramatic arch indicating the entrance.
Ren handled all the interactions in buying tickets for hayrides and such, Goro standing next to him with his usual resting bitch face. He glanced around at the place, scanning the area.
It was rather mediocre. Around the size of seven acres, the farm housed about five different stations. Near the entrance was a petting zoo with a few animals, all looking old and lethargic. A little further in to the right had a large plastic playground that'd definitely seen better days, overrun by squabbling, annoying children. To the left of it had concession stands selling apple cider, caramel apples and popcorn. All the way back—beside the pumpkin patch—were the hayrides, both desolate of people.
This place looks like shit. But...at least Ren's happy. And there's not a lot of people, even though it's around 10 o'clock.
"Goro~" Ren called sweetly, snapping the boy out of his thoughts. "Once you're done debating on whether you're constipated or not, let's go to the petting zoo!"
Goro turned to smile at him cloyingly, flashing his teeth like daggers. "My apologies, I was actually planning on murdering you and required a decent location to store your dead carcass. Please, proceed."
Ren grinned widely, amusement glittering in his eyes. "Oh, excellent! Don't mind if I do then!" He spun on his heel and yanked Goro with him to the pens, causing the other boy to stumble and utter a few colorful words.
After cursing to his heart's content, Goro followed him with a tiny smile, unable to hide his own enjoyment.
Ren impulsively bought two servings of animal feed, the little moldy, green squares filling up a red plastic cup. He handed one to Goro, beaming excitedly. "Look! We can feed the animals."
"Hooray," Goro said dryly, a sarcastic smile on his lips. "As if you don't have an animal in your attic that you constantly feed."
"Morgana is my cat, not a stray," Ren objected with a fake hurt gasp, pouting slightly. "So mean."
"What are you, five?" Goro shot back, resisting the urge to pull his plush bottom lip. He wanted to kiss the pout away, and was subsequently frightened by his thoughts.
Ren opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by the obnoxious squawking of a stupid bird. They both glanced towards the direction.
A large crow was perched on top of one of the trusses on the ceiling of the barn. It was rather fat, screeching at the top of its lungs. The sound was piercing, sharp and high and never stopping. Did the stupid thing even need to breathe?
"I want to shoot it," Goro immediately decided without thinking.
"No! Goro, bad," Ren scolded as if he were a toddler. "Come on, maybe petting the sheep will cheer you up."
"I'll be bright and cheery when the crow's dead," the brunet deadpanned.
"Gorooooo, let's gooooo." Ren seemed very proud of his rhyming, so Goro allowed him to enjoy it.
He rolled his eyes, following his boyfriend to the sheep pens. Around six of them were lumbering around, chewing cud or stuff from the feeding troughs. Their white fur was slightly grimy from all the dirt in the pen.
"Pitiful creatures," Goro stated flatly, tugging his gloves on a bit tighter.
"Come on, don't be like that!" Ren walked a bit closer to him, until their shoulders were literally breathing on each other. He was so, so close...just a bit more to the right...
He reached out to stroke a tiny sheep with a gentle hand, melting at the quiet bleat the lamb produced. "Aww, isn't she cute?" he cooed, turning to Goro with sparkling eyes.
You're way cuter—
"Not really," Goro said shortly, but sighed all the same. He tipped his plastic cup over slightly on the ground, allowing a few squares of treats to fall.
The lamb uttered a few high-pitched noises, diving down to eat the food in excitement.
"It's gross when it eats," he commented in the same tone, observing the lamb with too-wide eyes. He resisted the urge to pet the white cotton's head.
Ren smiled at him tenderly, affection softening the usually sharp and cunning edge to his silver eyes. He took Goro's hand, ungloving it and guiding the fingers through the downy wool.
Goro flushed light pink at the sweet gesture, the familiar tingly feeling returning to his heart. It always spiked his body when Ren did something like this.
"It's...not as nice as your hair," Goro blurted out as he combed through the fleece.
"What?" Ren gaped at him, his hand frozen in the middle of feeding the lamb.
In one quick movement, the lamb craned its head and bit down on the treat, taking a bite of Ren's hand along with it.
"Ah—shit!"
"I'm going to kill it," Goro muttered under his breath as he shoved the sheep away with the heel of his palm. He seized Ren's hand, inspecting the bite. It was barely noticeable—just a spot of white on one of his nails.
"It doesn't hurt too bad," Ren assured him with a casual grin. "She's still a baby, after all. Just nicked my nail."
"Wash your hands. We're done with this," Goro asserted firmly, leaving no room for argument. He placed his hand on the small of Ren's back and began guiding him over to the bathrooms.
"Aww, but we still have some treats," Ren protested, twisting around to plead with his doe eyes.
Goro took their cups and dumped them on the ground in the pen, tossing the plastic in a bin five feet away with the same accuracy as his bullseyes in darts. "Now we don't."
Ren sighed dramatically, but allowed himself to be pushed over to the sink. He dramatically pumped the soap five times and conjured up an overflowing white froth, splashing everywhere.
Goro rolled his eyes, washing his own hands like a normal person. "Must you be so dramatic?"
"That's rich coming from you," Ren quipped back cheekily, wiping his hands on his jacket.
Goro narrowed his eyes, taking a few paper towels. "Watch your mouth, Amamiya."
Ren smirked at him, tilting his head to the side innocently. "Watch your face, Akechi. Any more beautiful and I'll have to kiss you right here, in front of everyone."
Goro's mouth dropped, his face flaming. He threw his paper towels in the trash more forcefully than necessary, storming over to him. Rolling his eyes, he acted pure impulse as he gripped Ren's chin. He pulled him down and—
pressed his slightly chapped lips against the taller's soft ones, hard enough to bruise as he shaped and reshaped his mouth. But Ren wasn't willing to give in so easily, kissing him back with just as much vigor. Goro brought up his other hand to cup Ren's face while Ren pulled him closer by the waist simultaneously.
Ren's lips were so sweet, plush and absolutely—
Breathe. Breathe. Now!
Goro pulled away with a small gasp, his gaze lowering to the ground as he tried to steady his breathing. After a few more gulps of air, he had the courage to look up.
Ren's cheeks were bright red, his lips slightly swollen and a few strands of hair were especially out of place in the curly mess.
"Can we do that again?" was the first thing out of his mouth.
Goro held his head in his hand, closing his eyes. "I thought the purpose of our trip was for you to find a pumpkin, not give us both asthma."
"I'm willing to have asthma if it means I can keep kissing you," Ren answered matter-of-factly, a hint of mischief glinting in his eyes. He lifted Goro's head with a finger on his chin and planted a small kiss on his cheek, Ren's arms tightening around the other's waist.
"Enough, you sap." Goro's hands shook slightly as he halfheartedly shoved Ren away. "Come on. We're getting out of this shed. It's revolting."
Goro slipped his gloves on sweaty palms before snatching up Ren's wrist. He pulled the black-haired boy away from the bathroom, brushing a few unruly strands of hair from his eyes.
"Gorooo, I'm hungry," Ren commented, leaning his head on the other's shoulder as they walked out of the petting zoo area.
Goro wondered how that was comfortable—with every step, his head went flying.
"That's not my problem," he deadpanned, but steered them to the direction of the concession stands. He heard Ren's delighted little cheer and felt his heart absolutely melt. Fuck.
Ren bounced on his toes when they neared the booths, shaking Goro's shoulders in excitement. "Ooh! There's caramel apples and cider and popcorn and donuts and—"
"I assume this isn't the first time you've encountered these foods," Goro smiled sardonically at his boyfriend, a little edge to his voice. It wasn't meant to be offending—he never truly wanted to hurt Ren, after all. He just knew Ren could take it.
Ren always took Goro's severe, withering remarks and fired back, not as harsh but equally powerful. Instead of attacking to lower defenses, Ren liked to play with his opponent, breaking his walls down brick by brick. Ren was cunning, mischievous, charming—everything anyone could ever want. He used it all to capture Goro in his web, compelling him to always return to his side.
"Sometimes I wonder why I like you, knowing you're a complete asshole," Ren sighed fondly, cupping Goro's face in his hands. "Oh, you're adorable when you're crabby."
"Fuck you," Goro shot back, hating how much the words made his stomach flutter and twist in the best way possible. He whipped his head away, crossing his arms. Ren was good at this. Way too good.
"My point still stands," Ren laughed lightly, before squeezing his hand. "Anyway, what do you wanna eat?"
Goro rolled his eyes, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "Anything's fine by me."
It wasn't like there was anything extravagant about the stands. There were around seven total, all in similar colors of red, orange, yellow, brown, and tan. Assorted snacks were piled at the front, arranged to appear somewhat appetizing. Middle-aged people were selling the caramel apples and popcorn, looking as if they'd rather eat mud than interact with teenagers.
"Then...how about we get two?" Ren suggested enthusiastically, beaming at him. He tapped a finger against his chin, cocking his head as he thought. "We could get caramel apples from that one—" he pointed to the booth closest to them that had items the size of large grapefruits covered in all kinds of toppings, "—then popcorn from over there." He then gestured to the largest stand that surprisingly had a few people milling out in front.
"Alright," Goro shrugged, lacing his fingers with Ren's.
He once again let himself get dragged to each stand, plastering a polite smile on his face whenever someone glanced at him. He requested a plain glaze for the caramel apple, while Ren ordered a chocolate glaze, cookie crumbles, crushed pretzels, chopped almonds, and rainbow sprinkles on his. It looked colossal compared to Goro's thinly covered Granny Smith. Ren also requested pumpkin spice popcorn, while Goro specifically wanted plain. No salt. No butter. Just pure popped corn.
"You're a monster," Ren teased as he nudged the other's bag. He settled down on a wooden bench, effortlessly evading the upside-down pumpkin pie that had splattered over the left side of the seat.
"I don't take criticism from someone who orders like a child," Goro replied smoothly, sitting down next to him as he took a bite of his apple. It was still too sweet, despite the lack of toppings.
With half of the bench unavailable, the two were compressed together, nearly sitting on top of the other. Goro's shoulders and thigh were squeezed against Ren's, sending bolts of electricity down his spine.
He glanced at Ren, who was happily munching on his sugar rush. He bit back a smile at how adorable and innocent his boyfriend seemed, all cheerful and energetic. Ren wasn't usually so...outwardly outgoing. He seemed so different from the times when he was in public, quiet and reserved, with a sharp edge in his eyes hardened by the world.
This Ren...he was a bit wilder. Freer, in a chaotic, unapologetic way. Unrestrained, unabashed. It looked good on him.
He's always like this around me...I suppose it's strange now that we're out in the open. Am...I really the reason Ren's so confident?
"Ren," Goro spoke up suddenly, casually. He turned to his right, then almost got jump scared. The proximity of the two was greatly overestimated—Goro didn't realize Ren's face was so close.
Ren swallowed his mouthful of popcorn, clearing his throat before answering. A smudge of chocolate was smeared on his cheek, right next to his lips. "Yeah?"
"Wait—you've got a little—here." Goro's lips quirked up in a tiny smile as he reached over and wiped it away with his thumb. He reflexively brought it to his lips. The chocolate was sweet, but not more so than the caramel.
Ren's gaze trailed from his thumb to his lips, staring for a second too long before he snapped himself out of it. "Um! You wanna try a bite?" he tried to ask flirtily, although his flustered state gave him away. He twisted the stick so that a perfect bite with equal amounts of toppings was inching its way towards Goro.
"And vice versa?" Goro countered, raising an eyebrow at him. He took it as a challenge—was Ren implying he couldn’t stand the sugar?
Ren beamed at him as he nodded serenely. "Sure."
Goro was slightly taken aback at how pure the sweetness in Ren was. He sounded so...happy at the prospect of sharing something with Goro, at the idea of being intimate with him.
Fuck. I'm so foolishly in love with him, it's turning me stupid.
"Oh! I have an idea!" Ren exclaimed, leaning forward.
Goro had nowhere to back up, the armrest digging into his back. He had a close-up view of Ren's long eyelashes, framed by those stupid glasses that he doubted the dark-haired boy really needed.
"Please, share with the class," he beseeched sarcastically, carefully balancing his lunch so he wouldn't tip over his popcorn.
"We feed each other! At the same time! Doesn't that scream romance to you?" Ren cooed playfully, switching his popcorn to one hand and using the other to brush Goro's hair away from his face.
"If you drop that, I'm not buying you another." Goro cocked his head towards the dangerously sliding popcorn, despite buying Ren whatever he wanted. Which wasn't really much, considering that the black-haired boy insisted he never needed anything. Goro always bought him something anyway. He had the money from being an ace detective, after all—why not spoil his boyfriend?
"Stop avoiding the question," Ren ordered sternly, smirking as wide as his face would let him. He changed tactics, widening his large eyes and putting on an adorable pout. "Come on, Goro, please?"
Damn it! He knows what he's doing to me. This little...
"Foul play," Goro gritted through his teeth, trying so desperately to stay strong. He looked anywhere but at Ren, yet his rival was so, so smart.
Ren darted his head around, maintaining eye contact with the detective. "It'll be so nice, you know, to do something with you as boyfriends—"
"We've been boyfriends for about four months now," Goro pointed out calmly, his voice strained. He sighed deeply, shaking his head at himself. He'd already lost the battle the second Ren opened his mouth.
Ren grinned widely, hearing the note of defeat in the other's words. "Alright! Thanks, sweetheart."
Goro's face flamed at the nickname, his heart leaping out of his throat. His insides fizzled up and popped out of existence, his whole body feeling like overcooked, limp noodles. "I—uh—"
"Here comes the airplane~" Ren sang unabashedly, not even sparing a second for his poor rival to process everything. He simply brought the perfect bite to Goro's lips, smiling like the fool he was.
Cheeks growing dark pink, Goro lifted his own caramel apple in front of Ren's mouth. He managed to gather the courage needed to study the other's eyes, the silvery irises a shade lighter in the sun. Ren was beautiful, as always.
"Fine. Bring it," Goro said sharply, opening his mouth
He glanced at Ren, waiting for him to nod once. He then took a small bite out of the monstrosity of an apple, praying it wasn't too sweet. It was. The apple flavor wasn't even noticeable, a mix of sweetness and saltiness coating his tongue. It...actually tasted pretty good, despite the pretzels nearly choking him.
I prefer Ren's lips, Goro's brain supplied helpfully.
"So plain," Ren complained teasingly, looking unfairly composed. He licked his lips, cleaning away any stray caramel. "Basic, Goro. I'm disappointed."
"Excellent. I'm happy you're so impressed," Goro bit back sardonically, rolling his eyes. He took a bite of his plain caramel apple, coincidentally the same place where Ren'd nibbled on. It was sweeter than before.
"Oh! Let's go to the hayrides now!" Ren decided, shaking Goro's shoulders again.
They had just finished eating and were walking around the farm, slowly exploring while also bantering, as usual. Ren had wanted to revisit the petting zoo, but Goro adamantly refused.
"Sounds boring," Goro said bluntly. His eyes darted to the tractor and wagon, both rusty and worn out. The blue paint on the wagon was peeling off, wood green and mossy. "Besides, it seems ready to collapse any second."
Ren sighed dramatically, his head flopping on the other's shoulder in disappointment. "Would it kill you to have fun for once?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to get a pumpkin?" Goro responded exasperatedly, closing his eyes.
Goro. Be strong. Don't you dare relent—don't you! Ren's got you around his little damn finger, but resist! Resist him, you idiot!
"But...but Goro," Ren insisted desperately, tugging on the other's hand. He brought back his stupidly effective puppy eyes, pressing a light kiss against Goro's hair. "It'll be really quick, promise! Only twenty minutes. And plus, we can scout out the area for the best pumpkins."
Goro blew out a breath, opening his eyes and checking the time on his phone. Oh, splendid. It was 1 pm. He really needed to work on his college application...and he still had a few mystery novels he hadn't read yet...
"Please? For me?" Ren begged, his bright eyes too alluring to be in this world.
Sparkles shone off his glasses, his expression a captivating mix of eagerness and breathtaking exhilaration. Absolutely fucking gorgeous, and it wasn't just his body or face. Amamiya Ren was overwhelmingly brilliant, from his witty remarks, humor, intelligence and deftness to his unrestrained, unabashed true self that spread smiles wherever he went.
Goro was so lucky to have him in his life. He was so grateful he stumbled into the retro café, thanking the gods everyday Ren just so happened to be working a shift—
Not two minutes later, Goro was sitting on top of itchy, rough hay that most likely served as the mattress for some animal lounging around the petting zoo. To his right was an ecstatic Ren, poking his head around to observe the farm and pumpkin patch. Their hands were laced together, Ren's thumb stroking his.
Goro pinched the bridge of his nose. I'm such a weak man.
After everyone had piled in, around seven of them or so, the driver started the engine. The tour guide stood up from the hay, clipping a mini microphone on her black hoodie. She looked fairly young, most likely a college student working part-time.
Giving everyone a smile that looked too tired to be genuine, she began with a small introduction of herself.
"Aren't you excited?" Ren nudged his shoulder with a wide grin.
"Not at all," Goro whispered back, rolling his eyes. The bumps on the ride shaking them like a rocking chair, back and forth, back and forth.
He was tightly pressed against Ren and the wooden board preventing him from falling out of the wagon. Ren had another person to his side, but obviously the person had taken a liking to him and scooted over to give them space. Either that or the glasses weren't doing much to diminish his intimidation.
Goro scoffed once again at the thought of anyone actually being scared of Ren. Sure, on the outside, he was quiet and had an air of dark intelligence, but inside? He was practically a romantic, silly, playful little brat who clung onto Goro like a leech.
"Ah! Over here, where we took the gnarly, broken down soil and nourished it until it was ready to grow p—" the tour guide was interrupted by hideous cackling, high-pitched and piercing. It happened every two seconds, in the same rhythm. The worst part was, Goro recognized the noise.
"It's that crow again," Ren realized, pointing to something black in the sky.
Goro tilted his head up lethargically, eyes half-lidded. The large fat bird was circling around the wagon. He was surprised the thing could even lift itself a few inches off the ground.
"Haha, ignore him," the guide chattered. "He's always cawing around here, asking for spare food. Anyways, our pumpkins are both organic, grown with the Mega Fertilizer, the best one in town! They're a huge assistant to our mission and purpose. After all, our owners took this crumbling barn and built it into a splendid utopia where everyone is equal and work together in harmony to harness—"
Goro zoned out the rest of the speech, closing his eyes again. The whole thing was boring and a waste of time. The stupid crow's cawing became background noise, the steady beat relaxing his mind. Even the prickly straw underneath him felt a bit less harsh.
Maybe he could just relax for a second. Just a second. Besides, Ren's here. Ren wouldn't let anything happen to them. He trusted Ren. They were rivals, after all...
"Goro. Psst. Gorooo," a soft voice called. "Wake up."
I don't want to. It's so warm. So cozy. A blanket? No. I don't like blankets. Wait. I don't like warmth. What?
"Gorooo," the voice continued, followed by a light bop on his nose. "Wake uppp. Your sleep schedule's gonna be so messed up~"
Who the hell...? What? Is that...
Goro's eyes shot open, maroon irises darting around and brain trying to process everything. He saw—through blurred, tilted vision—a pair of stunning silver irises, endearingly messy black hair, a calming smile—oh. It's Ren.
Immediately realizing he was safe, he switched to analyzing himself. He was currently in the wagon from before, his vision sideways. No one was with them, and he couldn't hear anyone else besides Ren. There was warmth on the right side of his head and across his back, ending at his waist on the left side. How particular—oh.
For the second time in less than five seconds, Goro faced a pleasant, albeit somewhat embarrassing surprise. His head had somehow ended up on Ren's shoulder, his body nearly on top of the other boy's. Ren had an arm around his waist, hugging him close.
So that was the warmth...
"Ahem," Goro cleared his throat, lifting his head to straighten his world. He gently detached himself from Ren, instead taking his hand. "Thank you for waking me up."
Ren grinned at him widely, tugging on a piece of hair sheepishly. "Uhm...about that..."
Goro blinked, a fearful suspicion creeping up on him. "Pardon?"
"I...might've let you sleep for around twenty more minutes," Ren admitted meekly, rubbing the nape of his neck. "But! You looked like you needed it, Goro. Really."
His boyfriend looked like he wanted to beg to differ, from the way his eyebrows were raised and mouth was set. "Right. Well."
Ren smiled at him adoringly, reaching out to brush the hair away from his face. "But you're so adorable when you're sleeping," he cooed, pressing a light kiss against the silky locks.
Goro's stomach fluttered at the sweet gesture, his body turning warm again. He squeezed Ren's hand, unsure on how to repay the affection. "Ah. Are you...ready to choose your pumpkin now?"
Ren's soft eyes sparked up again, a confident smirk on his lips. "Oh! Yes. I memorized the patch that had the best pumpkins. Let's go now!"
Goro simply nodded, not wanting to open his mouth and possibly embarrass himself even further.
Ren leaped out of the wagon, landing on his feet with ease. He grinned up at Goro, motioning for him to quickly follow. "Come on! Let's go! The sooner we have the pumpkin, the sooner you get to be a nerd."
Goro made a face at him, rolling his eyes. He jumped down beside him, brushing invisible dust from his shoulders. "Let us go."
They set off without another word, in a comfortable silence. Ren was in the lead, pulling his lover along by the hand, often tripping Goro on accident in his excitement.
"Um...it should be around this area!" Ren finally announced as he pointed to the patch in front of him.
It was approximately three acres, a long strip of land off to the side. The field had tightly-grown pumpkins in a column, all looking identical.
"Wonderful," Goro said blankly. "Go on and choose your pumpkin, then."
Ren didn't need to be told twice. He immediately crouched down to inspect the first squash, picking it up and tilting it around. The pumpkin was around the size of a medium sized pumpkin, similar to the size of a salad bowl and perfectly round.
"It appear to be just fine—"
"Nope," Ren interrupted firmly, setting it back down. "See there? There's a small bump right next to the stem."
"For the love of Loki, it doesn't have to be perfect," Goro sighed wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Fine, then! Carry this while I look for a better one," Ren ordered, gathering it up in both arms. He stared at him expectantly, tilting his head down at the gourd.
Goro rolled his eyes, briskly extending his hands out. He almost dropped the orange thing by accident, hoisting it up higher. "Well, this is ideal," he noted sarcastically.
Ren simply shot him an unfairly charming smile, blowing him a kiss. "I'm glad you think so, sweetheart. You'll be doing that a lot."
Again with the nicknames. Seriously, Goro's heart was going to explode one day or another.
His demon of a boyfriend didn't wait for a reply, already bouncing to the next pumpkin and scrutinizing the rind.
Goro's arms grew tired after the first hour. Ren'd gone through around ten squashes or so, always deeming the current one better than the last.
Goro began carrying the pumpkin under his arm, alternating between left and right. The pumpkins weren't too heavy, but he'd been hauling them for around two hours. His arms ached, his back was sore, and his legs were just a bit tingly—not in a good way.
He glanced over at his boyfriend. Ren was hopping around from one vegetable to another, face lighting up each time he found one he particularly liked. He occasionally called Goro over to switch pumpkins, dropping another one in his arms to replace the previous.
Goro was tired as fuck...but he was actually content. He was gratified by being able to spend time with Ren, be by his side. Goro found he didn't mind carrying the weight of it all. Anything to make Ren happy.
"Goro! I think I found the one!" Ren nearly screamed as he waved his arm to get the other's attention.
Goro shook his head in fond annoyance, dropping his current squash on the ground without a second thought. "Exceptional job. I think Germany heard you, but you might want to try harder to reach Alaska."
Despite his sardonic remarks, he stalked over to where Ren was beaming like he'd just won the lottery.
"Look!"
Goro looked. The pumpkin was a deep orange, with a curly tan stem shaped in a spiral. There were no scratches on the rind and it was perfect in dimensions, round to no fault. It was bigger than the past vegetables, appearing much heavier as well.
"It's not bad," Goro admitted quietly, giving him a tiny smile. "Nice."
Ren glowed from the praise, standing up a little taller. "Thanks." He fixed his glasses sheepishly, leaning down to pick up the gourd. A small grunt escaped his bitten lips as he awkwardly hugged it, the width bulky and hard to fit properly.
Goro swiftly brought his sore arms around the left side of the pumpkin, lifting it up to lighten up the load. It was around a good 35 pounds. Suddenly the walk back to the farm seemed a lot more than two acres.
"Whew! I can tell this is going to be such a good one," Ren beamed at him fondly from the side, holding onto the pumpkin himself. His energetic joy made any signs of fatigue instantly fade from Goro's body.
Together, they carried the final pumpkin across the field and back to the farm. It was a bit arduous to lug an unwieldy shape while also keeping it between two bodies, but the lovers made do. Ren occasionally teased him about being a workaholic while Goro shot back with equally sharp comments about his lack of self-preservation.
Goro's muscles were throbbing by the time they set down the squash on the checkout counter, but he didn't say a word. He blew out a breath, stretching his arms and legs. They were definitely going to be sore tomorrow.
While Ren handled all the social interaction as usual, Goro slid his glove up to check the time on his wristwatch. It was roughly 4:12 pm, which meant that he'd been carrying around 20 pounds of gourds for three hours. Wonderful.
He waited as the cashier inspected the pumpkin, tapping a few things in the register and marveling about how perfect it was. Ren looked especially proud, before realizing something that made his mouth drop open like a fish.
"What is it?" Goro asked flatly, raising an eyebrow.
Without warning, Ren surged forward to bind him in an incredibly tight hug.
Goro stumbled back from the force, speechless with a certain kind of surprised elation. He could smell Ren's shampoo, the citrusy mess of curls right next to his face. "Wh—excuse me?"
"Thank you for carrying all the pumpkins for me!" Ren answered cheerfully, squeezing the older boy in his arms. "It must've been horrible. I'm sorry for making you—"
"You're ridiculous," Goro interrupted staunchly, shaking his head. "It was fine." He pulled away with a bit of struggle, a light smile on his lips. Not a second later, he wrapped an arm around Ren's shoulders, ignoring the blush that overtook his cheeks. He thanked the gods that he was only a centimeter or two shorter.
Ren grinned at him gently, reaching out to hug Goro's waist with his arm. "You're amazing."
Goro flushed darkly, looking away and ignoring the cashier's knowing smirk.
Eventually, they paid and got a wagon to drag the pumpkin around so they wouldn't have to carry it to Leblanc. As they headed to the station, Goro turned to Ren with mild curiosity.
"Why did you want a pumpkin in the beginning?"
Ren flashed him a mysterious smirk, leaning over to press a chaste kiss on his rival's head. "You'll know soon enough."
The kiss...again...I need to convey my emotions better. Ren's so certain about every move he makes—I can't let myself fall behind. I need to show him how...how much he means to me as well.
Goro shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the matters at hand. He followed Ren out of the train, every so often switching with him to pull the wagon. Most of the time, Ren insisted that he'd already overworked his muscles and stole the pumpkin away from him.
Goro opened the door leading into Leblanc, holding it for Ren. It was nearly dark outside, the sun setting much faster in the colder months.
"Thanks." Ren yanked the wagon inside, pulling it to a stop in front of the counter. He stretched his arms across his chest, raising his eyebrows. "That certainly took a while."
"You don't say," Goro rolled his eyes dramatically, the corners of his lips turning up despite trying to appear irritated. He checked the time again. It was around 4:30 pm—enough time for him to head back to Kichijōji in time to cram in a bit of studying. He was physically exhausted, but he wanted to push his mental state to work.
He nodded at Ren, lifting up a hand to wave. "Well, I—"
"Wait," Ren blurted out quickly, smoothly side-stepping the wagon and rushing over to the other. "Before you go..."
He smiled softly at Goro, clasping their hands together and planting a mild kiss on his lips. "Thanks for bearing with me again. I know I can be a bit annoying," he laughed sheepishly. "Actually, I might be more than just a bit."
Goro frowned slightly, shaking his head fiercely. "What the hell are you talking about?" He demanded hotly. "There's no 'bearing with you' and you are certainly not annoying. I'm fine being with you because we're in a relationship, and partners are engaged with each other."
He then faltered, uncertain. He knew that what he just said was too heartless and professional...but what should he say?
What would Ren want? What would make him happy? I want him to smile because of me, to laugh because of me, to relax because of me, to trust me...
If I want him to trust me...then I should be honest. As much as I despise...
Goro took a deep breath, chasing away the deprecating thoughts in his mind. "I meant...I didn't mind being with you. Or carrying all the stupid pumpkins. I...actually enjoyed our time together...I like seeing you happy."
There. He said it. Now, if only a meteorite could strike him down—
Ren's whole face slowly morphed from his usual pale shade to cherry red, reaching the tips of his ears. He covered his mouth with a hand, although his eyes were still gleaming with overwhelming euphoria. He threw his arms around the other boy, staggering a bit from eagerness.
Goro was prepared this time, hugging his shoulders with an equal amount of force. They tilted around slightly, trying to regain their balance.
"Goro!"
"Yes, Ren?"
"Goro!"
"I'm right here." Goro took a deep breath, feeling his lungs constrict from how tightly Ren was clutching him.
"I—I really, really like you!" Ren breathed out, his arms loosening slightly to give them both some breathing room. "And—and I'm happy when I'm with you. Always. Anytime. As long as you're with me and I'm with you, I'm happy. I'm so happy, Goro!"
Goro's cheeks flared at the confession, his senses completely overwhelmed. Every thought, every sight, every feeling, every scent, was Ren, Ren, Ren, Ren.
"I...admire you as well," he choked out, carefully detaching himself from the other boy. A smile split his face in half, his heart burning in his chest from how full it felt.
Ren laughed cheerfully, squeezing Goro's hands. "I'm glad."
Goro feared that if he didn't leave the room, he'd act without thinking of the consequences. He couldn't control himself for very long—he was going to lose his tight grasp on his feelings and they'd spill over.
"Um. I have some paperwork I must finish..." he trailed off, understanding he sounded like an asshole.
Ren cocked his head playfully, pressing a reassuring kiss on his boyfriend's cheek. "No worries. Good luck!"
Ren always understood him. He probably knew Goro needed to gather himself, regain authority.
Goro brushed his thumb over Ren's knuckles gratefully, casting him a smile. "Thank you. I'll be seeing you." With that, he slipped out of the café, desperately trying to cool his flaming face and heart.
Goro closed his laptop slowly, rubbing his eyes. His arms screamed in protest at all the movement, but he ignored the soreness as he slid the device into his bag. He zipped it up and slung it over his shoulder, wincing slightly at the ache.
He'd taken a few extra hours after school to study in the library, having slacked off the day before. His body had lingering traces of what happened yesterday, hands barely able to support themselves as he typed up his essays.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out with a sigh.
Oh. Nevermind.
11/19 6:58 pm
Ren: Goro~
Me: Yes?
Ren: can you come over to leblanc
Me: I suppose. When do you need me to arrive?
Ren: anytime's fine. right now?
Me: I was on the verge of heading home.
Ren: really what were you doing
Me: Studying.
Ren: :(
Ren: nerd
Ren: Goro's a nerdddddddd hahahahaha
Ren: you should have glasses instead so you can push em up and say erm actually
Me: Maybe you're just stupid—have you ever considered the possibility?
Ren: maybe YOU'RE just mean
Me: Open the door.
Ren: what
Me: Stop wasting time typing. I said open the door.
Ren: WAIT HOW ARE YOU SO FAST
Me: You might not believe it, but you are incredibly slow at typing.
Ren: hey that's not true :(
Me: Yes, it is.
Ren: meanie :(
Me: Will you open the damn door?
Ren: oh right coming.
Goro sighed deeply, pocketing his phone in his coat jacket. He was in love with an idiot, therefore making him an idiot as well. He hoped it wasn't some complex.
The door in front of him whipped open, and there was Ren, wearing the classic green apron and looking unreasonably attractive. "Goro! You're here!" he shouted with an elated smile. He then reached over to give the brunet a quick kiss on the cheek before darting back inside.
"What in the world," Goro said blankly, raising an eyebrow to cover his blush. He walked inside, a strange, unfamiliar scent wafting in the air. It smelled like spices and...pumpkin? Were they making pumpkin curry or something? But Sakura-san wasn't anywhere to be seen...
"Sorry! I was just checking on something," Ren explained, emerging from the kitchen. He nimbly undid his apron, taking it off as he spoke. "Take a seat in the booth. I'll be right with you, promise."
Goro's curiosity grew as he walked over to the furthest booth from the door. He set his bag down on the seat next to him, busying himself with adjusting it properly. He nudged it until it was perfectly laid on the leather, folding the straps inwards.
Ren walked over, placing a few items on the table. He took the seat opposite of Goro, emitting excited energy with how wide he was smiling and how glittery his sparkling eyes were. "Hey."
"Hello." Goro glanced up. In front of him, on top of the weathered table, was a large covered dish around the size of a cornbread pan and two plates with forks.
Ren looked especially proud, fixing his glasses. He separated the plates and forks, setting them on either side of the dish container neatly.
Goro opened his mouth to ask a question, but before he could, Ren took off the ceramic lid. A cloud of steam rose, fogging up his glasses and momentarily blinding them both.
Underneath the lid was a pumpkin pie, deep orange and very sweet-smelling with a beautiful crust. It was smooth and looked perfect, the pastry golden brown and custard delicate.
Goro's mouth dropped to a slightly ajar level as the delicious aroma intensified. He fixed his face after a split second, eyes flickering from the dessert to Ren. "Did you...bake this?"
Ren grinned sheepishly, playing with his wavy fringe. "Yep. I hope it looks okay."
Goro shook his head, tugging his gloves on a bit tighter. He offered him a sincere smile. "It looks exceptionally well, Ren. As if a professional had baked it."
Ren positively lit up at the praise, straightening his posture and brushing his hair from his deep silver eyes. Then he quickly cut a slice with a fork, placed it on a plate and scooted it across the table to Goro. "I wanted to make it for you," he elaborated modestly. "It's why I invited you to go pumpkin picking together. I thought it'd be really nice, and it was."
Goro was both physically and emotionally choked up, tears smarting in his eyes. He sucked in a sharp breath, clearing his throat in a feeble attempt to rid it of the heavy lump. No one had done something so kind for him, and from someone he loved? It was too much.
Ren's so amazing. God, I love him so damn much. Holy shit. I love him. He's just so...
Goro blinked rapidly, trying to push back the wetness that had seeped through. "Apologies, I have fall allergies," he said hurriedly, pinching the corners of his eyes.
Ren, being the observant little shit he was, obviously saw through the lies. But being the courteous boyfriend he was, he let Goro keep his dignity, staying silent. He cut himself a slice as well, placing the lid back on the dish.
"Well, I'm glad you like how it looks," Ren answered softly as he gave him a warm smile. He sliced off a bite with his fork and raised it up for a cheers.
Goro tried to quickly recover from his daze, tapping his own piece with the other's. He took a bite of the pie, having forgotten about his aching arms. The sweetness actually wasn't overwhelming, the pumpkin flavor cutting past a few of the spices. There were hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, wrapped up in the warm custard. It was fucking exquisite, just like Ren's love.
Ren was smiling a bit at the taste, nodding to himself. But he peeked over the table at Goro first. To see his reaction, eager and a bit worried. Worried, wanting his boyfriend to approve. Wanting his boyfriend to love what he gave.
That's it. Holy fuck. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Goro snapped. He threw his self-control out the window. He calmly got up, walked over to Ren, grabbed the back of his neck, and leaned down to smash their lips together.
Despite his very tranquil actions, it wasn't a very placid kiss. It was emphatic and firm, making Ren freeze beneath him in shock. Goro bit down lightly on Ren's bottom lip, causing him to gasp. Goro took the advantage and slipped his tongue in the other's mouth, sighing at the taste. Ren's mouth was even sweeter than the dessert, as if all the honey or caramel of whatever was inside Ren's very essence was out for the taking. It was addicting, leaving Goro wanting more, more, more. And he did. He kissed him until they were both breathless, struggling.
Goro leaned down even further, practically pining Ren against the cushion. He steadied himself with a knee on the seat and a forearm right next to Ren's face, not bothering to stop kissing him. Ren fought back with as much forcefulness—but Goro wasn't about to let him take control. Goro wanted, no, needed to convey all the damn love he had for the other boy, needed Ren to know how fucking much he meant to Goro.
Eventually, they had to part for air. Goro looked down with satisfaction as Ren looked up with glazed eyes, swollen lips, and messy hair. Goro smirked a bit, leaning down again to gently trace his lips around Ren's jaw. "I like having two desserts at once."
Ren just about combusted into flames at the spot, his face a vibrant scarlet. His face twitched slightly as the ends of Goro's hair tickled his cheeks.
Goro laughed quietly, faint and mellow. He'd let down all his masks, shattered his self-restraints into a million tiny pieces. He planted a peaceful kiss on Ren's forehead, brushing his hair away from his face. "The pie was very good. I liked it a lot. I also appreciated you inviting me to spend time. You're so sweet, Ren, and I will find a way to give back, somehow."
Ren, still collecting his bearings after Goro'd tossed them out along with his self-control, shook his head. He covered his face with a hand in embarrassment. "N-next time," he cleared his throat, tugging on his bangs. "Next time, we could maybe bake together? I read somewhere that...that it was fun for couples."
Goro smiled tenderly, nodding. "I promise we will." Then his lips curled up into an unfairly attractive smirk. "But as of right now, I want to finish the rest of my dessert."
Then he proceeded to lean down and capture Ren's lips in a bruising kiss again. After all, Ren's mask was off as well. His eyes were shining with all the happiness in their little world, in a tiny café that contained two boys with enormous love for each other.
Goro's heart was so full, so content to the point of overflowing and spilling into the boy underneath him. He was...so happy. He was so happy with Ren.