Work Text:
Two boys, walking hand in hand down the promenade.
They are identical, closer than even twins in just appearance. One leads ahead with a slightly quicker gait, tugging and looking back. His smile is as full with sunshine as their hair is. The other does not quite have to be dragged along but there is a lazy go-along to him. It is easy for others to look upon them and smile. A pair of brothers, no doubt, having a friendly stroll. The hand-holding is peculiar for only a moment; they are young, so it's not strange to be so affectionate.
Shortly in their path is a small waterfront café with outdoor seating. The boy ahead points with a questioning glance and the other nods. A waitress directs them to a seat, thinking to herself how like her own brothers they remind her of. She smiles as she brings them their waters. "Are you twins? I've never seen identicals before."
The boys exchange a look. The grin of the closer one widens into a real smile he passes off by taking a drink. The other seems to scowl a bit. She looks between them again. Same blonde hair, down to the style; same blue eyes; faces just the same in their features. Perhaps it is a bizarre trick of genetics and they're not twins. "Sorry, just brothers? Cousins?"
"Kind of," the closer one says brightly. A thump occurs under the table and he grimaces, then smiles again. "You could say we're brothers."
Half-brothers? She laughs, embarrassed out of composure now. "You look so alike."
"We get that a lot."
After she is able to take their orders and escape, she sees the other leaning over to him, whispering something. Maybe this is a prank they're playing, some kind of reality stunt. For what? To make her think she is serving twins when she isn't? She serves them their drinks and later, at another table, sees the more smiley one steal the strawberry from the edge of the other's lemonade and suck on it while making eyes at him. Something is said, and he tips his head back with a clear laugh. The expression suits him, makes him into a very pretty boy, and the look on the other one's face says that he feels the same.
Then he reaches across the table, catches him lightly behind the neck, and kisses him. Full lip on lip, with a little turn and press so there's no mistaking it for anything else. She almost walks right into a chair before she can turn her gaze away, but not before seeing another table openly gawking at the display. What will the manager do if someone complains? Even if they are like that it's not any more indecent than many couples. Even if they were like that if they didn't look so identical, no one watching would know enough to have a problem with it.
It must be a stunt. But if there's a climax to the play, she does not see it. The two boys eat their meal normally, have a normal dessert, and pay in a normal way, so in the end there's no extra fuss. Life does not always give answers to its surrealities, but as they continue hand-in-hand down the promenade, she wishes she could make it provide one for this.