Work Text:
The two had never kissed in their time of being in a relationship.
In fact, the most intimate thing they have ever done was hold hands. Truly, it was never thought of, desired often nor strong enough of a feeling for either of them to presumably initiate it.
So why does Arupek’s heart beat so loud looking at Tuxam's face? So loud,it might be a contestant in a band selection for drummers.
Surely, he could have been sick, after eating so much ramen and getting into the waters just a bit too early in the morning to try catching fish or just to relax— however, the thing is, Arupek didn't feel feverish. No runny nose, no tiredness or of the sorts that could indicate him being remotely sick. He was quite healthy as well. Especially becoming the seeker often while playing with the kids of the kingdom, which also meant he definitely was not lying around doing nothing. He couldn't explain it. He really couldn't. There has to be something on Tuxam's face for this emotional fiasco of his. Arupek drew upon himself restless nights, toiling in bed. He was worried and utterly confused at the notion of the situation.
So he did what any other person would do—and went to Chaco to hopefully understand the situation. They were very good friends! Surely, Chaco would help him.
Taking the time to plan a trip and inform PEKKLE about his departure.
He had travelled to Pochacco Kingdom
—----------------------------------------------------
“Hmm, now where's Chaco…?”, mumbling to himself while he strolled around the city with his gaze looking and searching for any sign of the dual-toned haired man or even his skateboard however, that was to no avail; still he wasn't giving up despite the journey was slowly giving a creeping appetite and leg strain.
By some magic, his eyes glanced at a Banana ice cream shop. Gleefully, he went to get it. He was hungry after all, the trip took a lot out of him and best of all is to be able to retaste a delicacy of the Pochacco Kingdom!
.
.
After getting the wonderful banana-induced dessert, he took a seat near the Parkour Training Grounds. There were many, if not, countless people doing all sorts of tricks on their skateboards—he had heard of Chaco mentioning some skateboarding tricks like the flip,the ollie and some other stuff which Arupek struggled to recall during their travel to Tuxedo Sam's kingdom. Tuxedo Sam's Kingdom—the first time he met Tuxam and a myriad of rule books that embraced the stand ; to which, when he did, took most of them since his defense, free things are undeniably great and for the fact that you can get copious amounts of it was too enticing to pass up the opportunity at the given time.
Now looking back on it, it did seem like an overkill. However! He has totally changed in mannerisms! At least, that's what Arupek hoped. To be better than yesterday—or any previous day, month or year. He'll try hard, hard enough to fly in the skies with PEKKLE. No matter how impossible it seems — he'll try. If he can't, he'll find another method to fly with PEKKLE!
“Maybe a glider? No, maybe a hugeee hot air balloon!”, he spoke to himself in a very thoughtful way, then quickly shook his head.
“I'll get there—yea, I will! PEKKLE, just wait until I gain the courage to face my dreams, conquer my power an’ soar above the clouds with ya ~!”
“Seems like you are keeping your resolve straight ,Aru..”, a very distinct and familiar voice spoke that startled Arupek quite a bit. Gripping his dessert due to the sudden jumpscare, he whipped his head looking at the guy who made him flinch.
“..Ehh…C-Chaco?! Whatcha doin’ here?”
“I saw a certain someone walking down the road looking around and stopping for ice cream — I mistook them for a criminal running around and indulging in the kingdom’s delicacy “, Chaco joked.
Arupek looked at Chaco with almost a fake offense, he replied with the tone that matched it, ”Chaco! I was searching for ya! Not stealing!”
He received some laughter from the man, causing his face to further pout. Chaco, managing to calm the bubbling feeling of laughter in him—after calming down,he looked at Arupek and asked him for his reason to come all the way to Pochacco's Kingdom.
“ ‘cus I wanted to ask ya’ about a very serious question that is about Tuxam!”
.
.
.
.
After hearing Arupek's most elaborate explanation of his feelings being a persistent mess. Chaco could derive an idea of a solution. Perhaps the blue haired man needed a push for initiation—
“Well,it only happens when you see them, right?”
The other nodded his vigorously, making his hat tilt by a bit. “Yea!’
Chaco closed his eyes only for the gray orbs to be unveiled once more with understanding.
“So? Whatcha think about?”, Arupek questioned.
“Aru, are you…thinking of kissing Tuxam?”, he said with gentleness, trying to pry the space where Arupek would be in understanding his own sentiments. Speaking of the man, who was rather baffled at Chaco 's answer but promptly shifted his expression to contemplate,opened his mouth to close it again. Perhaps…he truly had not completely thought much about this. Once more, Arupek opened his mouth only to shut it again. He couldn't form any words out of his mouth despite them boiling in his throat.
“Aru—Look, if you are struggling to comprehend it, you can just try speaking about something normal..”, Chaco replied, looking at how befuddled the other was.
“Yea—well! It's ok, Chaco!”
“H-huh?”, replied a very confused Chaco. For his eyes meet a pair of very sparkly yellow eyes.
“I'll tell Tuxam that I wanna kiss them and I’ll kiss them!”, a positive response from Arupek after the entire turmoil for days.
The dual-toned haired man blinked twice in surprise and then brought up a fist to somewhat muddle his laugh. He chuckled softly and also received his Ice cream he had ordered earlier before he had even acknowledged himself to Arupek.
Noticing the ice cream, Arupek was about to say something regarding it. Something along the lines of,
“Chaco,I didn't know you got ice cream too!”
However, he sadly was interrupted by the other man.
“I was wondering where your energy was…”
“Hey-!!”
“I wasn't aware of this being the reason you were all cooped up.”
“C-Chaco!”, Arupek was unable to deal with his friend’s teasing.
“Honestly, I'm surprised a Bumpkin like you is going to learn about such a thing.”
“Hey Chaco!! I ain't that dumb! Also, who are ya’ callin’ a Bumpkin?!”
—----------------------------------------------------
A month had passed. It was time,
Time for the monthly meetup with Tuxam of course!
Being a Fragaria came with many responsibilities which constrained the individual to the duties allotted by the lord or the self. Perhaps even both. This was the only time the two had decided to meet up and have a set of three days for themselves before they would part ways until the next time. If Arupek wanted to overcome this feeling of his, he would do his best! He even got books for this, all with surprisingly sophisticated titles:
Romance and etiquette
Love: language of the heart
Guide to confrontation
Unconstraint to yearning
And many others akin to it.
He dedicated himself to it. Reading every book twice or thrice per week. For a distinguished gentleman like Tuxam, it was a must that he does it correctly. He did not wish to make it improper—he felt his feelings needed to be executed by a manner that was just him. No one else but Arupek, AHIRONOPEKKLE’s Fragaria and Tuxam's current partner. A dedicated partner. He will make it happen with consent. He won't force Tuxam— never ever will he.
Making sure he got a bunch of cute gifts and things that felt memorable for the other before he got up with full confidence in going through and going all the way to Tuxedosam’s kingdom.
.
.
Meanwhile, in Tuxedosam's kingdom
“Hey! Pikero! Help me with this!”, Tuxam declared as they were looking for a perfect gentlemanly outfit, meal plan and activities they could enjoy with Arupek.
“I have no interest in your romantic musings, as for, I am ,in fact, losing precious time when I could be in my lab and observing my lord.”, the green-haired individual had no interest in this. At least not in a way to comment on it.
“Just—help me this once!”, they exclaimed, being nothing more than completely stressed out for the meeting.
“Hm, will you provide me with an analysis of your emotions in return?”
Their teal eyes widened a fraction before narrowing to seemingly scrutinizing the other.
“No way, Pikero! I am far too busy!”
“So am I, good penguin.”
Well, that was a problem. Tuxam had no time to ask someone else and if anything, rummaging through an alternative was a time-consuming factor. Relenting, they asked,
“Hey! Pikero! What if you help me with two things and I will give you a letter about the emotional analysis?”
Pikero thought for a moment, his lips merged into a thin line before exhaling and nodding to the idea.
“This always happens.”, he sighs , opening his eyes, and continues,"What is it that you need from me this time,Tuxam?”
“Wonderful! Great!”, happily, they told Pikero to help with gifts and location.
—----------------------------------------------------
Seagulls yelling in the atmosphere, Arupek was here, truly back here.
Back here in this Kingdom. He couldn't hold his excitement in meeting Tuxam again. The kingdom had seemed rather not as closed off and more lively than prior meeting them—his yellow gaze fell on a distinctive small silhouette waiting for someone, he'd recognize it, and that poised look anywhere.
“Tuxam!”, Arupek exclaimed as he ran towards the gentlemanly man.
Tuxam had whipped their head around to look at the familiar face with a huge—no, a very bulky and enormous bag, clenched in the other's hand.
“Arupek! You're here!”, Tuxam smiled before shifting their weight to their right leg and continued , “But.. What is in the bag?”
“I gotcha a bunch of gifts!”, His eyes seemed to glimmer with radiance. The gentleman’s blue eyes widened.
“N-no way! That’s way too much!”, they tried their best to deny.
Arupek’s golden eyes shifted on the bag. He slowly held it a bit closer to his chest.
“Do you wanna change a gift? I can go and find more for ya’...”, he mumbled as though he was speaking to himself.
The glimmer in his golden only dimmed a fraction but to Tuxam, It left as though the world was falling apart. As though they had shot a shooting star. A radiant star that had fallen half way on its journey because it had no more light to burn.
“No! Wait, Arupek!”, they didn’t want their partner to feel like he couldn’t make them happy , in truth— Tuxam was grateful, they didn’t know how to accept it so they blurted out a quick and unrefined thought that had arrived first from their lips.
Making others unhappy is not the way of a gentleman!
The golden gaze lifted itself from the bag. The tilt of head swaying his fringes just a tad bit, he looked young, flawless and pretty as usual to Tuxam. He had always looked pretty and most don't always reflect their looks from their personality but—
Arupek does. That too entirely gracefully and all simply just him. Just Arupek being himself. The brightest sun in all of the horizon to Penguin. Truly so.
“A-ahem…! What I suppose to mean was that you bought so much stuff for me that I cannot possibly accept all of it!”
Arupek's mouth had his mouth shaped into an ‘O’ , before giggling, and his regular smile appeared with full force — including his eyes filled with adoration.
“ohh! So, the very gentlemanly Tuxam, was just surprised that they deserved everythin’~!”, the statement was so innocent and pure that it was clear Arupek believed that with his heart. It was also very much a tease. Tuxam's pale cheeks turned slightly crimson at the affection. Trying to regain a bit of their composure, they went with Arupek to their abode to keep the gifts.
.
.
.
.
After managing to keep the bag full of goodies, they had officially started their date.
Tuxam had it planned out.
Firstly, they will go to the café and then go shopping.
Those were the first primary objectives.
.
Ding~!
They stepped into a rather busy time, with it being lunch time. Tuxam had luckily reserved a seat for the both of them,with the ambience and music that played in the background,it felt…comfortable. Intimate even as their reserved seat was tucked into the back of the restaurant,in a corner near the window. Arupek made sure that Tuxam had been seated before he himself took his seat, still having his persistent bright smile that was provided naturally by the fact he was with his significant other.
They ended up getting their favourites. Arupek got a kabosu ramen with a kabosu and a lemon squash drink. On the other hand, Tuxam had ordered White fish meunière and a blue cream soda. Eating their meals with the comfort of the other, Arupek found his voice after a few bites of his citrus filled ramen.
“Owah! Tuxam, this is so good! Wanna try it?”, while speaking, he hurriedly ate another spoon.
“Really? Yes, I would like to try too.”
Nodding in excitement,took a portion of his broth and additional ingredients on his spoon to feed Tuxam. The broth glistened, the sliced fish cake seemed almost alive from how it was reacting to the heat and the shrimp was falling apart with steam emitting from it. The fragrance of it was a stinging citrus smell which was expected since its main ingredient was kabosu. Tuxam parted their lips to taste the meal on the spoon. It was refreshing. Citrusy. Bright.
“It is amazing!”, a boyish smile spread across the blue haired knight. Tuxam's gaze drifted on their meal and decided to cut a portion for their partner as well,“Try this, Arupek.”
To eagerness, Arupek opened his mouth like a duck scouring for a meal. Tuxam chuckled and fed him the fish. His eyes lit up in childish happiness. For a while they had nothing to speak of. They peacefully enjoyed their meals for a while—until it started to pour heavily. The rain hit the glass they were sheltered by angrily.
“Huh-?”, Arupek mumbled with noodles and soup stuffed into his mouth, his gaze now on the rain stained glass.
Tap pat
.
This was not supposed to happen!
Tuxam was in full confidence that it would not rain today! If it would have, Pikero would have told them! He always has, what exception could have made him not tell this to Tuxam?
Tuxam deduced that it's probably how unwilling he was to help them today. Anyhow, the rain didn't seem like it was going to rest soon. Citizens that had been walking, playing and doing what they pleased outside—promptly ran inside. Suddenly, Arupek got up. It startled the other man quite a bit. Arupek started walking somewhere. Outside. He had opened the door of the café to go—Arupek had gone outside. In the rain. Tuxam had their mouth slightly open at absolute abruption. The teal-haired man softly jumped in the puddle, spun and did a heart with his arms for Tuxam with his wide and bright smile. A warm feeling seeped into Tuxam's heart even though the external environment was cold. Promptly having a sense of affection and comfort, their eyes widened at realisation of the consequences of what his actions might do to himself. Getting up from their seat, they went and paid for the meal
“Sir Tuxam, how was the—”, they did not bother listening and rather were solely focused on the fact that Arupek might get sick. Tuxam went out with their umbrella.
Click
Whoosh
And it opened into a Tuxdeosam umbrella. Arupek was fairly a bit further away and to the gentlemanly consciousness of Tuxam's, if they were late by a few minutes, the chances of Arupek getting down with an illness was more likely. They practically started to sprint towards their partner
“Arupek!”, slightly huffing due to the lack of running they do, tries to accommodate Arupek's height within the umbrella. Their hands held the umbrella right above Arupek's head. “You can get a fever! Why did you go out so suddenly!?”, the blue haired man's voice was tinged with heavy concern. Before replying, Arupek took the umbrella gently from Tuxam to accommodate both their heights underneath it. He opened his mouth slightly,then closed it—as though he didn't really think of how to frame the sentence.
“I saw yer mood bein’ watered down when the rain fell. I thought, ‘Why not try an’ make ya’ happy?’”
“I…I truly appreciate it…, but we need to get back home before you catch a cold!”
Arupek simply smiled with his hair clinging to his face. His jacket was drenched—in fact he was completely drenched from the rain. His hat had lost quite a bit of its shape.
—----------------------------------------------------
“A…Achoo!”
Arupek truly has a strong immunity,
because right after they reached Tuxam's room, the latter started sneezing. Hard. Tuxam was sitting on their bed, feeling feverish and snuffy. Arupek returned from using the bathroom wearing his baby blue night clothes with the hat in his hands. Placing the floppy hat on the bedside table he sat down on the floor, grasping Tuxam's pale palms, looking at their feverish face. They were given medication for it and Arupek brought the bag on the bed. That hefty bag which was full of gifts on the bed. A short press entailed that he wanted them to open the back eagerly. Their slender fingers swiftly untied the bag, opened it and— there were so many trinkets, books and even some jackets.
Arupek had scoured a whole set of penguin themed Keychains, plushies and even duo merch of Tuxdeosam and PEKKLE.
“This is truly amazing…”, they muttered in awe and happiness, hugging the plushies as though it meant the entire world. Arupek took out one of the jackets he brought, it was much more casual and away from Tuxam's usual style to the point that in fact, it was more of his own style. Ripping off the tag, he draped it over Tuxam’s faintly shivering figure.
“It fits ya’, Tuxam!” , Tuxam only replied with a smile and both of them just sat on the bed for a while.
“Tuxam..”
“Hm?”, the blue haired man tilted their head, looking at their partner's face.
“Can I kiss ya’?”, he asked with the most innocent and simplest expression on his face. They, on the other hand, were red. Flustered entirely and undeniably. Their blue eyes had widened at the other's words, All tuxam could reply was,“Eh?!”.
“I read that cha’ gotta get consent from people before ya’ kiss em!”, he huffed his chest like he was extremely proud of himself and what he said. They just looked at him and then down at the floor. “If ya’ don't wanna, it's alright!”, he replied to his tomato Tuxam.
“...Arupek,we can kiss…”, even if in their eyes determination was found, their voice was inherently feeble that it might be considered audio from a broken radio. So soft and feeble that Arupek, in his glorious obliviousness did not realise it and ended up looking dumbfounded. They cleared their throat to clarify.
“.. I do consent to the kiss—”, saying that Arupek leaned closer. “—but there is an enormous chance that you might get sick because of me!”
So that's why he seemed so hesitant.
“Ahh…silly Tuxam! I don't care if I get yer cold or not! ... I just wanna kiss ya'! The books I read said that you gotta have consent an’ be open about this sorta stuff!”
A smile broke from Tuxam's expression that they started laughing . Instinctively and for what it was worth, Arupek's lips pressed against Tuxam's; and for that fraction of a second, the world had fallen into stasis. The kiss was incredibly inexperienced. Noses were bumping with each other, their lips were off point, and they couldn't help but laugh nervously a little at how foreign it felt. Arupek pulled away for a moment to peck his partner's flushed face. All over. Their eyes squeezed closed at the affectionate attack. On their nose, forehead,ears,cheeks and approximately 99% of their face was kissed, the remaining 1% was their lips—not their eyeballs though! The thought of it was highly morbid and very unsettling. Then, he kissed them back on the lips for a little longer period of time, to savour it a bit more. Arupek pulled away giddily and was grinning with flushed cheeks. They slowly opened their bleary eyes to see their significant other's face, which matched the reddish hue on theirs.
“Owah..that was so awkward!”, he said as he pulled his sleeping hat down onto his head and plopped on the bed. Tuxam laughed beside him and also laid down on the bed. Instinctively, Arupek turned on to his side and practically cuddled Tuxam to shield them from the cold.
The next day however, Tuxam felt completely fine and on the contrary, we now had a sneezing Arupek. Tuxam helped him write a letter to PEKKLE about the extended time he'd have to spend in Tuxedosam's kingdom. During this, Tuxam also wrote a letter to a certain someone who did not help him properly.
In Kerokerokeroppi kingdom
The green clad man had a letter in his hands as he was sitting in his own experiment hub. The letter was decorated professionally with the wax seal of the Tuxdeosam Kingdom emblem. The letter read:
“Dear Pikero,
I hope that this letter finds you well and I must say that you did help me quite a bit. However, you certainly did fail to inform me about the upcoming rain. The rain was quite violent and dampened the amazing sun rays. To answer your question, my experience was better than I expected. Arupek and I had a kiss—to reiterate, I adore him very much.
Sincere regards,
Tuxam
(Tuxedosam’s kingdom)
Well, sadly for Pikero, that wasn't enough information for his use, and all he could do now was continue observing his lord instead of wasting time.