irl things

[fluorite]

[ because sometimes things happen and you can't help it

there's untagged nsfw please beware and DON'T LOOK AT ME ]

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sometime right before 2.5

[fluorite]

[ "Then I guess I'll see you later."

That's the last thing Fai said to Yael online, and he part of him was afraid that Yael wouldn't actually follow through on texting him. But he did just fifteen minutes later, and here Yuui is, standing right outside the coffee shop a few doors down from his apartment building. He could've given Yael his full address, but safety first and all that. It gives Yael the chance to dip if he decides he can't do this too.

He fiddles with the sleeves of his jumper, so nervous that he feels painfully restricted in an outfit he wears just fine every day, as he looks out for anyone that might look similar to Yael. ]

[weaseled]

[A coffee shop... It shouldn't surprise him that Fai would rather meet publicly than invite him to his place — safety first, or whatever — but it does make him a touch apprehensive about the meeting to come.

Regardless, he pushes through that apprehension to step into the coffee shop and take a look around. His injury has healed to the point that he can get around with a cane rather than a pair of crutches, and if that doesn't give him away, his bulky frame surely will. Dressed in a nondescript black v neck and grey jeans, Yael tucks his sunglasses into the neck of his shirt and looks for Fai, and when he finds him...

...Well. That's certainly him, but the digital world hardly does the man justice. Yael is calm and composed on the surface, but his nerves are alight just beneath his skin as he makes his way over to Fai's table and sits down across from him.]

Sorry to keep you waiting. Traffic.

[fluorite]

[ He recognizes Yael in an instant. Even before he walked in the door, Yuui could tell it was him. His breath hitches, and he tries to keep his cool even as Yael sits right in front of him. He's handsome, especially in real life, and it makes his heart beat wildly in his chest.

Smiling, he gives Yael a shrug. ]

There's always traffic, isn't there? [ He really isn't bothered, is what he means. ] Are you hungry? This place has good sandwiches, so I thought we could grab something to eat before heading to my place.

[ That's where they can talk about the more personal things, he figures. ]

[weaseled]

[...Ah, so Fai does intend to take him home. That makes something prickle beneath Yael's skin, but blessedly, it isn't anxiety. The fluttering in his stomach makes it impossible to think about eating, but Yael dully nods anyway, reaching for one of the paper menus stacked along the side of the table.]

Mm. Not feeling that much like eating, but I'll take your recommendation.

[Just. Don't mind the way he steals glances at your pretty face when he's sure you won't catch him, Fai.]

[fluorite]

[ He leans forward on the table, feeling like less of a nervous wreck now that he’s had Yael in his presence for more than ten seconds. It’s easier to steal glances when he’s closer, right? ]

They have a delicious grilled cheese here. I think they use three cheese. Or, you could have a pastry. Either way, you need to eat.

[ Maybe if Yael has something in his stomach, he’ll feel a bit better. That’s his logic. ]

[weaseled]

[Seeing Fai lighten up does wonders for his nerves, as it turns out, but Yael is still on guard. He's always been slow to warm up, but Fai knows this about him. He trusts he won't be put off by his current disposition, considering he called him out here because of it.

It's thin, but Yael smiles, lightly swatting Fai's head with the menu.]

Alright, mom. If you insist, I'll try it.

[fluorite]

Hehe. Good boy.

[ He catches that menu, giving Yael a little thwack too before he stands up to make his way over to the counter and place an order. As he leaves, he briefly puts a hand on Yael’s shoulder.

It takes Yuui a few minutes to return, but when he does, it’s with a glass of water and a coffee in both hands. He sets the water down in front of Yael. ]

It’s a little late, but I could use a little pick me up.

text; girl idk when this takes place

[fluorite]

[ Well, he has time to wait, so he pulls off his headset and sends a text. ]

sheza
hector said there was an incident at fine wine, told me he got angry and threw a glass and smashed a few bottles

do you know anything about this?

[weaseled]

He seriously told you that?

[He's going to kill that man.]

He's full of shit. That's all you need to know.

[fluorite]

will you tell me what happened?

[weaseled]

I threw the bottles. I damaged the shelf. That lying bastard didn't do a damn thing.

[fluorite]

[ Maybe Yael expects to be scolded, but the response he gets instead is: ]

are you alright?

[weaseled]

[Yuui is always managing to throw him for a loop. He should be scolding him.]

Fine as fine can be.

Aren't you mad?

sometime during 3/3.5

[fluorite]

[ Yuui had already planned to go check in on Yael, simply because the lack of any messages at all was concerning. But he hung out in Fragment for a little while just to see if he might end up catching Yael logging on just by chance, but his status never switched from offline.

And then he came across Fandaniel.

It explained everything, all of it clicking into place even as his own heart sunk in despair. Those feelings linger even after he logs off, but he does his best not to wallow in it, not when Yael is most certainly struggling. It’s easy enough for Yuui to quickly set aside his feelings and focus on what he needs to do—turning his feelings outward has always been the easiest for him.

So, Yuui does just that and gets to work before eventually making his way over to the military base, a place he had been clearly hesitant to visit their entire relationship, solely out of the fear he might be asked about his background. But checking in goes smoothly enough and before long he’s being escorted to Yael’s housing, his escort knocking loud and crisp on the front door.

Yuui braces himself to fight against Yael trying to turn him away, his fingers tightening on the strap of the bag they had thoroughly inspected at the entrance. ]

[weaseled]

[The knock startles Yael out of a dreamless sleep, but to call it sleep at all is overly generous. Yael has spent the last week wound up tighter than a coiled spring, pressure compounding and compounding until that knock falls on his door and he's jostled loose, come undone.

The idea of talking to anyone right now nauseates him. He knows who stands on the other side of his door long before hauling himself out of bed and peering through the peephole. The fact that Yuui had overcome his reservations to come here means Yael can't afford to keep ignoring him. Unlocking the door, the deadbolt, and undoing the latch, the door moans on its hinges, slowly swinging open.

Yael doesn't say anything to Yuui. His bedraggled appearance speaks for itself— mussed up hair that hasn't been washed in days, deep dark circles beneath his eyes, wrinkles in every inch of clothing. They make eye contact only briefly, and then Yael steps aside to allow Yuui in. Invite him, though his welcome isn't a very warm one.]

[fluorite]

[ Yuui nods at the escort, who immediately takes his leave. Who can blame him, what with the state of Yael right now? But Yuui doesn't comment on the way he looks or the state his room might be in either. Instead, he takes his backpack to the nearest flat surface and sets it down with a hearty thunk.

Unzipping his backpack, he reveals three large thermoses. As he places each one on the table, he calls out into the quiet room: ]

Tomato soup. Spaghetti. Chamomile tea.

[weaseled]

[His room? Clean. It has no choice but to be, what with how little furniture he has, his space devoid of the charming trinkets and personal touches that make a house a home.

All that means is that there's plenty of space on the table for Yuui to set down those thermoses. Yael regards them all with indifference, gaze meandering from one to the next and then back to Yuui, lips set in a hard, unsmiling line.]

And for you?

[Don't make him eat alone. He's had more than enough of that for one lifetime.]

[fluorite]

[ Yuui simply smirks as he digs into his backpack and pulls out two sets of plates, bowls, and utensils. He knew Yael would be mad at Yuui for going through the trouble to cook and bring it over here, so he figured he would soften the blow by eating it with him.

Looks like he made a correct prediction. ]

Ta-dah! You can pack a lot of spaghetti into a thermos this big.

[ He pats it, the metal clunking against his hand. ]

[weaseled]

[Mad... Yeah. He should be mad, but Yael doesn't have it in him to feel much of anything right now. That includes hunger. He can go through the motions and eat a meal with Yuui purely for Yuui's sake, but that's not what he intended when he went through the trouble of preparing it for him.

Yael exhales, long and thin, and slides onto a chair. Hunched over his plate, he stares up at Yuui.]

Shame on you, Yuui.

4.0

[weaseled]

[The last place Yael expects to find Yuui after weeks apart is in his favorite hole-in-the-wall Mediterranean restaurant. It's such a shock that Yael walks through the door, sees Yuui in the corner, and walks back out.





But a minute later, he walks back in, finds his eyes aren't playing tricks on him, and wanders over to his booth. His footing feels uncertain, a tremor setting into his limbs, nerves singing. Normally, he'd slide into the booth across from Yuui and engage him, but— he's still raw, still anxious when he thinks back to that day. Yael manages to mask his shock, but only just.]

I didn't realize you liked the food here that much.

[fluorite]

[ Coming here was a mistake, wasn't it? His heart practically leaps up into his throat when he spots Yael, and he does his best not to immediately shrink back against the far corner of the wall.

A mix of relief, but mostly disappointment, settles in his chest when Yael walks out... only for his heart to pick up its pace once again when he comes back. It's almost like Yael is playing games with him at this point.

Fidgeting with the sleeves of one of the hoodies Yael left at his apartment that he now feels incredibly stupid for wearing out, he nods. ]

...I do.

[weaseled]

[He recognizes that hoodie as his and bites his lip. Yuui looks so cute in it. Yael can't even recall the occasion that he lent it to him because he was so distracted by how cute he looked in it, the sleeves dangling off the ends of his hands, all that extra fabric hiding a lean, svelte body beneath it.

Seeing him now, shrunken back in the booth like an animal that doesn't know whether to fight or to flee, breaks something in Yael. He draws in a breath and struggles not to let it shudder on the way out. Yael slips his hands into his pockets so Yuui can't see them restlessly pick at loose threads.]

Mind if I join you?

[fluorite]

[ He chances a brief glance up at Yael before his eyes settle back down on the table. It takes him a moment to respond, his throat catching and making words difficult. ]

I would like that.

[ A lot, actually. More than he could ever convey, though he wonders if the fact that he's at this restaurant at all might speak to his feelings.

His eyes suddenly sting again, and he reflexively wipes at them with that too-long sleeve. The dam holding back his tears finally broke, and there's no going back. They come all too easily these days. ]

[weaseled]

[Those tears never dried, huh? Yael considers taking Yuui up on the offer and settling in across from him, but the idea of trying to carry on through a meal while Yuui is in tears doesn't sit right with Yael.

He looks at Yuui, looks at whatever dishes or lack thereof occupy the table.]

Have you ordered yet?

[If not, Yael has other plans.]

[fluorite]

[ He shakes his head. ]

Just water. They haven't come back for my order yet.

[ It's in the middle of the day during the week, so they're not at maximum staffing capacity. ]

I can go find someone...

[ That's probably what Yael wants, right? To hurry up and get food. ]