filetofish | PSLS BECAUSE GAY

[You basically have the credits dude you just gotta pass your tests.]

Nope. Nuh-uh. No way. You're not getting off the hook this time.

[Crow is definitely past the point where he needs a diploma to succeed in life. But it's not actually about that, is it? It's just symbolic. And it'd make Rean happy, so...

He sighs, shoving a bite of food in his mouth.]

Fine, whatever. Just don't try to make me play classmates with your kids.

[look if you officially graduate it WILL make Rean happy.]

Okay. It's not like it should be that tough for you. But it'll be good for you to be on a schedule.

[And where Rean can keep an eye on him.]

I guess for the duration you can be my teaching assistant.

Sure, Mom.

[THE THINGS I DO FOR LOVE--]

You weren't calling me mom last night.

[Excuse him he just choked on a starberry. He's dead for real now.]

[He's pretty pleased with that comeback actually, so he looks smug when he reaches over to pay Crow on the back.]

[What a jerk! Crow coughs for a few moments, recovering from the reaction, but he can't just let Rean win so easily. He has no perfect quip though, so he just reaches over and tries to yank him into a headlock.]

You little--

[He ducks under the headlock, grabbing Crow's shirt and dragging him in. Sure, Crow can headlock him from this position, but now he's in Crow's face and kissing him sweetly.]

[That's cheating. Rean's whole existence is cheating. But Crow doesn't have it in him to fight something he wants that much, so he gives. Kisses > winning.

The truth is, despite all the mess and the doubts and the friction, Rean has Crow wrapped around his little finger. When he's thinking straight, he can't resist him. Not really. Even the pointless-feeling embarrassment of finishing school seems acceptable, if it'll make Rean happy. If it means being close to him. He just wishes there was a way to make up for all the time where he was pretending that's not what he wants.

Still, he's the type to show affection by being a jackass so while Rean is kissing him his hands are sneakily taking a cold wet piece of fruit off of his plate and going to drop it down the back of Rean's pants.]

[He yelps and then bites Crow, leaning back and jumping up to fish fruit off his ass and toss it in the trash.]

Don't waste food you jerk!

[Being bitten is worth it, tbh. He's just going to laugh hysterically like the asshole he is.]

Too late!

[Sighing in exasperation.]

Why do I love you?

Because I'm handsome and incredibly charming. Of course.

Gaius is handsome and incredibly charming. You're a pain in the butt.

Hey, hey! That's an unfair comparison!

[ANYONE would lose to Gaius. Even Aidios herself.]

You picked me, so I must be pretty great.

Hm.

[He sits down on the edge of the bed again.]

It's true, you do have your good points. And I love all of them. So this time stick around, okay?

...I was planning on it.

[Goddess why is Rean such a problem? It's hard to be annoying when he's reminded why they're here in an inn nowhere near home, and how close he came, yet again, to never seeing Rean again.]

Just making sure.

[He might be making sure a lot, from now on. He was terrified, for a week, that he'd never find Crow again. Of course he's too stubborn to accept defeat but it was still a scary thought he had to chase away by chasing Crow harder. He reaches out, gently tucking Crow's bangs back behind his ears.]

I really do love you so much.

[That sincerity is embarrassing, but also precious. It makes Crow flush, so much more comfortable with rough-housing than with tender gestures. It's... Rean-like, though, that honesty. It's part of why Crow fell for him, and it's why his lop-sided smile is so warm when he reaches up to ruffle Rean's hair.]

Yeah. I'll do my best to spoil you instead of scare you, from now on.

Mm. Okay, I'll hold you to that.

I want to keep you closer. So close you can't think of running again, even if you wanted to. It's not that I don't believe you, or trust you, but when I think about going back to normal it's hard not to be scared I'll make the same mistakes and miss it when you need me.

[Crow huffs, lightly. Honestly, this softie...]

Rean. You didn't make any mistakes. I'm just an asshole.

Yeah, you definitely should have talked to me. But it's not like I didn't notice sometime was wrong. I should have pressed you more about it in the first place. It's not like just one or the other of us can be solely to blame if we're going to share everything.

Maybe. But I might have just gotten mad if you did push.

[Probably, actually. But it also would have worked, ultimately. He sighs, playing with Rean's hair and watching his face.]

But I'm glad you're stubborn, anyway.

I'd rather fight than leave you feeling like you're struggling alone.

[He can deal with getting yelled at if he thinks he's got a good reason and isn't just being intrusive.]

After all, we're in this together.

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