[Zephyr]

Zephyr groaned. Flying on a full stomach was never a good idea, and Slythe had made sure to do as many spins and loops as he possibly could before landing. He felt exceptionally nauseous, but with Kiel sitting in front of him it wasn't a good idea to release just yet. Now that they were finally on the ground, though, Zephyr slid off silently before helping Kiel down and hitting Slythe on the side. “I'm sorry we took so long, but you don't have to take it out on me like that,” the man said telepathically with a scowl to which the only response was an angry snort before the viridis beast teleported away.

Derry chattered atop Zephyr's head about shinies and Shane and play times, play times! but the man ignored her, focusing more intently on Kiel (as well as his slowly subsiding nausea). “That was... some dinner.” Zephyr said in reference to the chicken they'd just eaten with the boy's family as he looked at the sun that was already beginning to rise. Time zones were weird things. “You don't need to come in today if you don't want to...” Zephyr spoke gruffly, his voice trailing off as he looked away. He didn't really want to leave, but the store was opening in an hour or two and Zephyr had an obligation of sorts to be there. Kind've. Sort've. Maybe. Or maybe the man was just scared shirtless of his feelings for Kiel and part of him was trying to run away while the other part ran full speed ahead.

Well, actually, being shirtless wouldn't be so bad. After all the man had spent more hours in a shirt today than he had in months. Stupid pieces of fabric. Derina continued to chatter as she began to coax herself asleep in Zephyr's hair while the bloke just stood there. He wasn't really sure what he was expected to do, or even what he wanted to do. The next move was Kiel's

• Piper's Boutique · DaFont · Mutsie · Aethereality · Kevin sorbo •

[Kiel]

While he ate, Kiel found it so easy to just, like, forget the whole thing. Like, Zeph had come for him, you know, so he should be totally buzzing, and he kinda was, but the quieter it got the more he started fretting. Zeph hadn't actually said he loved him, you know? That could mean anything, right? Like, he'd come to get him, but maybe he just needed his shop assistant, you know?

So he lapsed into unusual silence. Even the ride home, and even Slythe's totally awesome loop-the-loops, couldn't break him out of it, so when Zeph got off and waited for Kiel to slide into his grasp, Kiel was still subdued. Shane was, too, like she'd sensed his mood and was being infected by it. She was clinging to his neck as a monkey for the ride home, but the second his feet hit the deck she was off him and changing, then pressing to his calf in her 'kin form to comfort him.

Slythe was gone before Kiel could quit leaning on the mustard and lime lizard, so he staggered a bit, automatically grabbing for Zeph's arm to regain his balance.

“Like, yeah, my mom's an awesome cook, you know?” He didn't think Zeph was complimenting the meal, though, more like... not really sure what to say. But he'd take it as a compliment anyway, 'cause otherwise he'd have to be all "rawr, you take that back" and Zeph would turn him into window dressing or something.

“You don't need to come in today if you don't want to...”

“Oh. Well, like, I am kinda tired, you know...? Home's upside down, hehehe.” Slapping a hand to the back of his head and ruffling his hair, he looked away. Like, he knew Zeph wasn't the type to get all clingy and stuff, but was it so hard for the dude to give him a sign or something here? Kiel was feeling incredibly vulnerable right now, and there was a part of him that kinda wanted the dude to just, like, latch on and swear he'd never let go, you know?

But this was Zeph, so like, no chance of that, right? “And, like, I guess one more day won't hurt at Marty's, it's not like I have a job to go back to there anyway, you know? Like, this is the second time I ditched him without a word, so he's gonna be pretty censored, right?” His dad would have killed him if he knew how bad his work ethic was, but he'd had extenuating circumstances both times. “But, like, you don't need me, right?” Looking directly at the guy's eyes, like he could search out the truth if he just looked hard enough, Kiel remembered to elaborate belatedly, “At the store, I mean, so I guess it's okay if I take the day off. Hahahahaha, you could too, you know? Like, it's a long trip even with Slythe doing all the work, and, like, you know?”

[Zephyr]

Maybe leaving things up to Kiel wasn't a good idea. The kid was essentially saying the exact opposite of what Zephyr was silently wanting him to. Part of Zephyr wanted to smack the boy and make him actually stop talking for once. After all, the more words the boy said the less they all seemed to mean.

“I... could go in with you and.... make sure everything's alright,” Zephyr said, making up a completely mundane reason to stay. The man didn't even squirm under the boy's attempt at a penetrating stare, but his mind was secretly spinning. He wasn't sure what he wanted, he just knew he didn't want to leave just yet.

Zephyr yawned slightly and stretched his arms. “I could... go in late today...” Zephyr let his voice trailed off as he resisted the urge to reach out and tough the kid without an invitation. He'd liked when Kiel had needed to hold onto him when Slythe had disappeared, but that had faded all too quickly even though Zephyr wasn't really sure when the pair had let go.

• Piper's Boutique · DaFont · Mutsie · Aethereality · Kevin sorbo •

[Kiel]

Kiel's hat almost fell off with the extent his head tipped sideways so he could stare at Zeph like a curious bird. Like, not even curious, but almost decapitated.

It kinda almost sounded like the dude was pushing for an invite, but that didn't make sense. If he wanted to come in, he could just come in, you know? It had never stopped him before, and something in Kiel somehow wanted the big hairball to be all manly and insistent and juggernautish. Just, like, to give some kind of sign that he was as into Kiel as Kiel was into him.

But, like, then he realised that kind of thinking made Kiel sound way girly, and that kind of freaked him out a little bit. Since when did Kiel let people boss him around? (Like, forever, man, but he was going to ignore that part.)

“You totally could. Like, you're the boss, you know, you could totally take the day off and make me go into work instead.” He was being deliberately obtuse, and his head tipped the other way as he continued to stare at the guy. And then two seconds later ditched any hope of Zeph taking the initiative.

“You're an idiot, man, for sers!” Throwing himself at the bigger man, kinda like he had during their reunion, he clung to the dude's freakishly over-muscled shoulders with one hand and slapped Zeph's other shoulder with his free hand. “So like... now what?”

[Zephyr]

Zephyr didn't want to leave, he was pretty sure of that now. He was feeling generally insecure, especially after having been grilled by Kiel's parents like a criminal or something and then flying here on the back of an angry thunder storm. He didn't have Spirit with him, either, which added to the discomfort. The man had learned long ago that Spirit couldn't handle flying on Slythe, and also that the bird just couldn't keep up with the dragon even if he tried. Slythe only used this as a method to mock the owl, of course, and so Zephyr had started to leave his companion home when he went out on long trips.

Kiel was being awfully slow on the uptake though, which was weird seeing as Zephyr was usually the slow one. Not that he was slow, mind you, he just didn't usually catch on. Zephyr was, after all, the quintessential embodiment of a warrior, and he behaved accordingly. His mind didn't typically delve into things beyond the practical or the tactical, but it had been doing that a bit more so here lately, especially right now.

The man was about to give up and start the walk back to his store, assuming that Kiel didn't want him to stay any longer, when the boy lunged at him. “I'm not an idiot,” Zephyr stated with a growl and a glare as he lifted a hand behind Kiel's back and smacked him upside the head. The hand didn't move after the light strike, though, and pulled the boy's head in for a deep kiss. Zephyr's arms held onto Kiel tightly for a moment before pulling away.

“Don't you ever disappear like that again,” he ordered solidly, concern tweaking at his voice ever so slightly.

• Piper's Boutique · DaFont · Mutsie · Aethereality · Kevin sorbo •

[Kiel]

“Are toomph!” That kiss kinda took him by surprise, especially when it followed so quickly on the heels of a head-swat, but was also kind of expected since that had been his aim in hopping up there in the first place. More than that, what took him really by surprise was the way Zeph said that, telling him not to disappear again like they'd been separated forever and not just a week, like it meant something to the big guy. It was the most emotional Kiel had ever seen his boss/boyfriend, and probably the most emotional he'd ever get, and somehow that made everything all better.

Patting the dude's cheek, barely aware he was still wrapped around the bigger 'Vari, Kiel tilted his head ever so slightly again to stare down at the dude. He almost laughed, "hahahahahaha, I'm taller than you", like he always did when his head was higher than Zeph's, but it was like there was a gravity to the situation just then that shut him down. In the space of a heartbeat, several comebacks ran through his head, like "Well, don't you make me" or "Learn to speak up" or something, but in the end all he said was “Okay” like it was the most serious thing he'd ever said.

It was totally, like, the quintessential romantic cliche, but Kiel could give a damn just then.

Rrrrrrr.

Shane was scratching at the front door like she wanted in, and when Kiel glanced her way he was pretty sure he caught the curtain next door twitching, so, “Like, okay, so we should totally go inside, man. I'm starving, and like, you're staying. Like, right?” If the dude said he was leaving now, Kiel was going to skewer him. It'd be the first time he'd ever actually unsheathed his katana, but it'd totally be the best unvirgining of a weapon ever. “'Cause if you are, you're totally helping me make dinner, okay?” And with that, he gave the hairball the best kiss ever with a lazy view to hopping down at some point and heading inside.

[Zephyr]

Zephyr smirked momentarily at the boy's response. Whenever Kiel spoke less than usual it meant much more, and there was a lot to that two syllable agreement that Zephyr picked up on despite his vaguely oscitant state. He had been up for far too long now and was definitely feeling how tired he had become.

“We just ate,” Zephyr said, raising an eyebrow at the perpetually hungry 'Vari. Zephyr greedily accepted Kiel's kiss, silently wanting more. “It's morning now,” the blacksmith finished. He'd talked to much tonight and his throat was getting a bit soar from it.

Seeing as Kiel was still hanging on to Zephyr as if for dear life, Zephyr closed his arms a bit tighter and kissed Kiel again. As they kissed Zephyr began to walk towards the door to Kiel's home, fully agreeing that they should head inside. Thankfully Derina was still dozing in his hair so that she did not disturb the moment, and hopefully Shane would soon follow suit.

• Piper's Boutique · DaFont · Mutsie · Aethereality · Kevin sorbo •

[Kiel]

Kiel groaned at Zeph's correction. “I'm upside down,” he repeated by way of explanation for getting his times wrong, but mostly he just wasn't paying attention to the time of day. He was too busy fawning over Zeph, you know?

His half-hearted attempt to get down didn't get him anywhere, though, and he was kinda glad. Maybe it was girly, but he didn't want the dude to let go of him, you know? Like maybe if they stopped clinging to each other, they'd be ripped apart, only this time Kiel didn't think Zeph would come for him.

“Maybe just a snack...” he mumbled as his hands clutched at Zeph's shoulders and neck and threaded through the guy's girly hair, pausing just long enough to wave vaguely in his landlady's direction. “Watch out for the - ” Smooch. “ - tree, man. Where's my key - ” Smooch.

He had to hop down when they reached the door, though, no two ways about it. He couldn't pat down his pockets and backpack in search of his key while he was wrapped around Zeph.

He was almost tempted to tell the dude to just kick the door in, but common sense - or maybe his 'Vari sense of greed and his mom's "don't waste money!" - won out and he reluctantly untangled himself. Shane rubbed her face against his pants leg as he searched his pockets for his door key, staring up at Zeph like if he took his eyes off the dude he'd just disappear, then glancing higher to check Derry was still napping up there before his gaze switched right back to Zeph's.

Dude, wait 'til he told Phenny that their near-miss had actually hel-

Crap.

His triumph as he held the key aloft swiftly faded into guilt and discomfort. Zeph had come for him, so maybe he wasn't mad any more, but they'd never actually settled that whole thing, you know?

“Um, like. D-don't get mad again, okay, but I need. Like, I have to tell. I mean, like, about that whole thing with - you need to know, okay, it wasn't, we didn't actually, you know.” Keyring hooked onto his middle finger, Kiel made a joining gesture with his hands meant to indicate a kiss, glancing between his hands and Zeph's face. “I'd never, I mean, like, I wouldn't, okay? 'cause, like, I looeriike you too much to do that, okay?” He looked away, then back, then away again, hoping he hadn't just set off another eruption. It probably would have been better to just forget the whole thing, you know, but he wanted Zeph to like Phenny or at least tolerate her - 'cause, like, you know, he didn't seem to like many people at all so maybe tolerance was the best he could hope for - even if it was a long-shot.

Besides, the second he'd realised they hadn't actually settled anything, that near-kiss had started burning metaphorical holes in his metaphorical pockets all over again.

“I just, like, I just needed you to know that,” he mumbled finally, bashfully looking away again.

[Zephyr]

All Zephyr wanted right now was to be with Kiel. The man was feeling highly possessive after the whole ordeal of the past few days and at this point he just wanted to prove to his boyfriend, and himself, that they still cared for each other. Yet somehow Kiel kept trying to talk. Every time the boy opened his mouth to speak he received a soft scowl from the larger man.

When Kiel pulled away Zephyr reluctantly allowed him his freedom. Zephyr was sorely tempted to just force the door in, but he didn't feel like repairing later so he impatiently let the kid search pocket after pocket for his house key.

Then Kiel started speaking again. Zephyr grimaced as he heard that the first valid statement out of his lover's mouth was "don't get mad." Things never ended well when prefixed by that phrase.

Zephyr's grimace deepened to a scowl as Kiel continued speaking and the blacksmith realized he was once again talking about the damned nymph wench. Damned nymph censored wenchs. Zephyr's scowl deepend into a slight glare until Kiel was almost finished, where it lightened to essentially a hard stare.

Zephyr stood there for a moment, watching Kiel squirm before he bent down a bit and gently took hold of the kid's face. Zephyr slowly turned Kiel so that the book was looking up directly into Zephyr's dark orange eyes. “Okay,” Zephyr said, unwittingly mimicking Kiel's earlier response. No sooner had the words left Zephyr's lips than did the man kiss Kiel hungrilly, pressing his lips into the boy enough to potentially push him backwards into the door.

And yet somehow Derry was still sleeping.

• Piper's Boutique · DaFont · Mutsie · Aethereality · Kevin sorbo •

[Kiel]

Despite the gentleness in Zephyr's grip, Kiel couldn't help but flinch when he was forced to look up at the dude. Like, he wasn't afraid of being smacked, although if he'd had the sense he was born with or was any less awed by the older 'Vari maybe he would have been. He was just scared that Zeph was about to tell him he had to choose between him and Phenny, or worse, that it was over between them despite everything they'd been through the past few days. Kiel kinda wanted to reach up and cover the dude's mouth so he couldn't get the words out, except he couldn't get his hands to work, you know?

Besides, there was something in those fiery eyes, like maybe everything would be okay...

“Okay.”

Kiel's sigh of relief shot through his whole body and he started to grin, started to say "Xanth, dude, don't scare me like that!" Except, like, he didn't get the chance, 'cause Zeph's mouth was suddenly on his and he was somehow leaning against the door he was supposed to be opening, and the keyring wrapped around his middle finger was digging into his palm as he grabbed onto Zeph's biceps for dear life.

He was dimly aware of Shane getting bored with them taking so long to get inside and doing that whole melting-through-shadows thing, probably to get inside out of the rising sun. A tiny, vague part of him worried that their kiss was going to turf Derry out of her hairy perch too, and that his landlady was probably getting an eyeful, but, like, it totally served her right for being up this early and peeking at the neighbours anyway, you know?

And then, since he kinda figured where this was going, he finally let go of Zeph with one hand to fumble with the key at the door, trying to get the damned thing open so he could fawn over the dude in, like, relative peace.

Fade to Black