As a note, I play Global server so I still haven't read translations for anything past World 7, and I've only read Adonis's regular story, so apologies if some of the characterization here is incorrect. There are some headcanons about how Adonis joining the team would have been, so bear with them please! I can laugh about those inconsistencies later when I drop all my currency for Adonis's outfit when it releases. (Or I can hope, haha...)

Have my attempt at a fun little window into the Alk and Adonis dynamic! If you have any comments or requests, including ideas for future Alk/Adonis interactions, please drop a comment below. You can also feel free to tag me on the World Flipper Discord, though I'll only accept friend requests and DMs from people I've talked to at least once. (And if you hate Adonis or this ship and can't stand reading it, still feel free to comment telling me anything you might be interested in reading instead. No promises to write it, I just want to get an idea of the fanbase here.)

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Slinky Crepes

"You think someone is watching you?" Stella said, blinking at Alk through big bites of her crepe. "Do you think it could be someone we know?"

"I dunno," Nimbus chimed in, his brows raised high into his floof. "We just made a huge mess when we ran through the last few worlds we were in. Plus we're not exactly behaved around here. Anyone could be holding a grudge. Didn't you get caught with Light after beating up those guards, recently?"

Alk's cheeks pinked, a spike of heat making him raise his voice. "W-well! Finn sorted that out, anyway. And it worked fine. Just…"

"Just?" Light echoed, bunny ears twitching and looking equally as ruffled.

"Just uh… at least I'm not alone?" Alk said, laughing and scratching his neck. "I mean. It's not the first time we've been followed. Those other times turned out mostly okay. And when it wasn't, we were there to protect each other."

"So what you're saying is you think you need a bodyguard," Light concluded. "Or someone to watch you in case you're alone. I know there's the risk of monsters, especially since we tend to go places where danger lurks around every corner."

"That's true. I guess I'm asking you guys if you have any idea who it could be," Alk said, taking a big bite to finish off his own crepe. This crepe was savory — a bit of cheese, some veggies, a splash of oil and garlic. In case… maybe vampires were following him. But Alk just really liked these, anyway. Eggy, the garlic and lighter tang balanced just right, even without any extra dip.

Stella hummed through her own sweet one made with fruits and chocolate, glancing at the cafeteria windows. "Hmm…" She smiled. "Maybe invite them for dessert? And we can ask what they want."

"You're gonna ask some slinky creep to join us just like that?" Nimbus gaped, then shut his jaws. "You know what. We've invited enough creeps by now. I'm not surprised."

"Be nice," Alk admonished. "We don't know if they're friend or foe. Maybe they're just shy."

"Maybe they're hungry," Stella added, looking unbearably pleased by her dessert. "It's yummy, Alk."

"Thank you." Determined, Alk pushed up from his chair, glancing over the mostly cleaned-off table. No matter. He could make more anytime. "I'll go outside and invite them."

"I'll keep watch from a distance," Light offered. "In case anything goes wrong, I can call the others."

"Good idea."

With that settled, Alk hurried past the tables and exited the big doors of Starview Village's dining hall. At this hour, Alk suspected any number of their companions would be coming to and fro — his gut told him that whoever was tailing him must at least be someone welcome here, if not a little dangerous.

But after those daemons attacked us through those other World Flippers, it can't hurt to have some extra eyes. Besides the hidden extra eyes acting sus, that was. Those eyes could do with coming out in the open, thank you kindly.

Once outside, Alk roared out into the cool, fresh breeze. "Heyyy! Idk who you are, but we wanna invite you for crepes! I'll make them! Fresh and yummy, my friends said so!"

A few people turned to stare, Kaleidoscope scholars Liam and Trista glancing up from a shared book to chuckle. Otherwise, the sky was blue and the street was peaceful.

Alk found his face heating anyway.

"We have sweet ones! And savory! I like them with garlic sauce!" Alk cried. "Please just eat some creeps —"

The knight Yuwel's eyes went big as he tugged along a case of luggage. "Creeps? Is Light in trouble?"

"No, um! Not creeps! Crepes, eating crepes!" Alk said, waving Yuwel off. "Ahahaha, no worries, just creeps! I mean creps, crap! Crepes!"

It was okay. Alk didn't need to turn around and see Light's expression to know there were crickets chirping. I'm really not meant to be funny… or talk too much. "Haha…"

After a moment feeling like a cherry tomato, Alk slumped and hurried to one end of the street before turning and slumping again.

This day was way too peaceful for this. The World Flipper was fine; Alk could see the rainbow glow of the giant marble, the platform to the flippers clean and looking normal. No daemons. No sign of unwanted guests.

Alk really ought to ignore that burning sensation lingering in the back of—!

Alk whipped around and promptly smacked into absolutely nothing.

This isn't fair at all.

Alk laughed, sighing. "Maybe I'll ask the guild the next time we're in Palpebra… but I really don't like this."

"No need to say a word." Fingers brushed the small of Alk's back, and he jumped, his screaming overpowering the familiar honeyed voice.

As Alk doubled over, hand at his hilt, heartbeat paced quicker than he was able to run, he stared below at inky black boots. The golden tip of a violet tie peeked out past Alk's brown bangs, along with more fingers that slipped underneath his chin, pulling him up.

"U-uwah, what are you —"

"Alk!" Light crashed out from the main hall, a loud pair of footsteps behind him. "Don't you dare touch him, fiend!"

"Wait!" Alk's sword swung, catching Nimbus's claws against the metal.

"Frick!" Nimbus pulled his paw back, but he didn't seem to be hurt. "Wait. Oh. Oops. I know this one."

Light hovered to a stop, his frown staying as he watched them. "Ah… so we do."

This whole time, Adonis's fingers never left Alk's chin. The sardonic swordsman was as gentle and subtle as ever, rubbing right above Alk's jugular with the touch of a lover. Alk's sword was still hanging from his hand, outstretched towards Nimbus, but he quickly put it down.

"Sorry, Nimbus…" Alk apologized. "I um. I had to stop you from hurting him."

"Could you maybe say that when you're not being felt up in front of our eyes?" Nimbus said, looking away. "Sheesh. Seriously."

"Umu… Yes, it may be for the best to give you privacy," Light said. "I didn't realize you needed alone time."

"It — we're not —" Alk stammered, his chin being tilted towards that face… beautiful, a dark, enveloping aura with deep magenta-amethyst eyes. Adonis looked so smug. He always did, and it made so many things boil within Alk — except he couldn't help his smile. "I guess… it has been forever. Ah. Uh. You're really close, again…"

"I knew not to get my hopes up," Adonis sighed, trailing his hand down Alk's chest and sending an electric tingle through his body. Static sizzled from those slim fingers as they escaped. "As soon as I reach out, I'm already attacked and pushed away. I guess those creepy crepes were false bait to hurt me, too."

"You uh —" Alk reddened. "You heard all that?"

"Every cruel word," Adonis retorted.

"I mean, you were kind of yelling," Nimbus offered.

"You were trying to call out to him, no?" Light said.

"People lack both brain cells and dignity," Adonis continued, shaking his head. "Not that I'm surprised."

"H-hey!" Alk puffed his cheeks. Nevermind that they were still strawberries. "You know, it isn't so hard to say you want to have lunch with us. It's not very nice to keep dancing around the subject. For someone who talks about dignity, you're really unsure with your words."

Adonis's gaze flashed dangerously, and he leaned in. "Well maybe I don't want to have lunch with us."

"Ahh, he's definitely telling us to get lost," Light mused. "Okay, alright. Nimbus, let's go."

"You got it," Nimbus said. "You're on your own, Alk."

"Guys, we're really not like that!" Alk sheathed his sword, giving his hands something to do other than embarrassingly flail around. For having adorable animal faces, his friends sure did a fantastic job of looking absolutely over the roof with this.

"It's only natural for them to assume you share such filthy desires, anyway," Adonis said, but his self-satisfied grin quickly faded. "I show up after a long absence, yet… our first meeting has you scrambling to claim which you believe I can provide."

"You never change, do you," Alk said, exhaling a little. It was easier to resist Adonis's charms when Alk remembered the type of untrusting person the swordsman was. Even though Alk believed there was someone good in there, underneath all that coldness.

"At least you don't deny your greed anymore. That's progress," Adonis chimed, suddenly hooking his arm around Alk and giving him a rough tug. "Now come on. I'm borrowing you, and your companions seem to enjoy spectat— oh, there they go, finally."

Alk felt his tummy flop when he looked back, only to see two tails disappear into the front hall again. The few people on the street had moved along, but Alk still got stares. Of course he would. Everyone could totally see how ruffled Alk was… not that he wasn't always kind of easy.

I can't help that I'm still not used to getting so much attention. Alk licked his lips, laughing a bit. Not that I actually remember what type of attention I'm used to getting, but…

"Make me a crepe," Adonis murmured, whispering into Alk's ear. But before Alk could react to the arm around his shoulders, Adonis was slinking off ahead of him as if nothing happened.

"I knew you wanted to try them!" Alk cheered, hurrying to catch up while his insides tried to make sense of the thrill. "I can make them however you like. Stella especially loves the sweet ones, but Light prefers the savory ones because he thinks they taste more battle-ready. I think it's pretty exciting, since food can be battle-ready and still make people happy."

No response from Adonis, who hid his face with that long, tied, shadowy hair, moving ahead purposefully.

Alk took that as an invitation to speed up, which only made Adonis pick up the pace, which made Alk put on a burst of speed, and then they were racing up the stairs towards the World Flipper.

"Adonis!" Alk called out, breath escaping in hot puffs. "Where are we going?"

"I'm leaving," Adonis said, running two steps at a time, not turning back.

"Wait! What about crepes?" Alk protested, mustering all he had. He drew his sword and summoned a burst of flame, using it to propel himself forward. "Meteor Break!"

With a cry, Alk launched high into the air, slamming down in front of Adonis, the power of a volcano exploding outwards on the pavement.

"Castaway's Cry!" Adonis flashed his own blade, the hilt's tentacles glaring at Alk with seeping intensity while thunder crackled all around the swordsman. The purple beneath Adonis's dark hair glowed a bright pink with the strength of his electricity.

Reactions sparked and fizzled all along the platform, small explosions that lit the World Flipper's stage with smoky fireworks. As the breeze blew, the commotion died down. Alk and Adonis panted hard, staring straight at each other.

"Got… you," Alk said. "Nowhere to hide, this time."

"Oh… Alk, you do have something you want from me," Adonis said with a teasing sigh. He slowly stepped forward. "Alright, then… But only because I can use you, too."

"What, you're saying I'm just as tempting, or something?" Alk challenged, holding his ground.

"You are. Sadly enough… You, too, have some hold on that manipulative power," Adonis said, stopping right at Alk's blade and giving the hot metal a kiss. "Mmmwah."

"E-eh?" Alk felt his pulse jump even more, despite it already going ham at mach speed.

"Tastes like torture. You've been busy, slicing apart your foes," Adonis hummed against the steel. His tongue poked out, testing it, retracting. "You're ruthless, but… I don't taste much death, here. Not human death, at least."

"W-well, of course not," Alk said, not sure how to feel about Adonis making out with his weapon. He pulled it back, sheathing it quickly. A lump tingled in his throat. "I wouldn't just go around killing people. I want to protect them. And help them. Killing doesn't solve anything, if you're looking for change."

Adonis rose, genuine interest finally sparking in his gaze. "You're cliche," Adonis quipped, tipping his head with a frown. "That sweetness is only surface, to fit the mold you think you've been thrown into. A hero? You don't know your past. You don't even know your future. You're just grasping for the small empathetic joy you think you get from being selfless."

"Yeah, and I like helping people as I am now. And I'm glad to keep doing it, even if it means being a little selfish," Alk shot back. "Besides. People like you are always challenging me to face myself more and more."

Ever since Alk woke up in Starview, life never stopped giving him something to think about. Something to reconsider. Something to make him wonder who he wanted to be, not just who he used to be. Beyond that, too, Alk ached to discover people as a whole, as individuals, as himself.

Everybody gave him something to think about, showed him a different type of person in this world. Every one of them, Alk couldn't help being fascinated with, at least a little.

He walked out of every interaction carrying something new with him.

"It's not always a smooth, easy ride," Alk said. "I have moments of doubt too. I'm not a cookie-cut definition of a hero. I'm just Alk, a guy trying to do his best."

"And yet… you look stricken by the idea of not knowing yourself as good as everyone else does," Adonis pointed out. "That's why you cling to my words. You're putting your own fragmented worldview to the test."

"And so are you. Everyone does it at least a little," Alk supplied, his smile snaking back onto his face. "That's why you showed up, right? To see if things have changed."

Adonis went quiet. His usual bravado seemed to waver, the flush on his cheeks appearing softer. No matter how hard Adonis tried to appear he didn't care, Alk saw through it every time.

But he had to admit Adonis was becoming a tad bit more open regardless.

"My heart led me astray," Adonis confessed, voice quiet. "I said I would travel the worlds with you. But as soon as an opportunity came to go back to Palpebra, I was drawn back to the Kaleidoscope… running, again."

"You only stayed with us for a few days…" Alk said, remembering the ache of disappointment when Adonis's lodgings were found empty. "I really thought I would have to barge in and find you, when you left. I even got a whole team of Kaleidoscope experts to help search the deeper levels. But… you weren't there."

"You showed me how to access the World Flipper… but the Kaleidoscope also hops between worlds, only predictably. I needed to be unpredictable," Adonis explained. "I needed to be alone, where I could think. I couldn't let you Meteor Break me into submission."

"Oh…" Alk glanced away, down the bridge towards the rest of the town. "I just was sad that you didn't give us more of a chance. But people come and go, here. We're thankful for any help we get, but we understand it can be dangerous. I didn't want to force you to come back if you really wanted to leave."

"I wanted to leave today."

"You said make me a crepe! All seductively too! Tell me that wasn't on purpose!"

Adonis made a thoughtful noise, considering it. "Maybe it was. I could use one to-go, anyway… It'd save me a trip to the market, and I really don't want to be talking to anyone else right now."

Alk's fingers twitched with his lip. Adonis was definitely the most infuriating person Alk had ever met, even worse than the evil witch Belsidia, who was actually pretty sweet. At least she had some character development that didn't end up with her believing every living being was destined to scavenge at the bottom of the barrel.

And Adonis? Well.

Alk knew he wasn't all bad, but he really wished Adonis wouldn't act like he was. But I guess I get it. He can't trust anyone, but he still wants to, in small ways.

Without another word to stave the swarming questions and emotions in Alk's mind, he grabbed Adonis's hand. "Then come get some to-go. But if you want me to make you something, you're going to have to let me have your company," Alk said, immediately tugging Adonis down the stairs. "It's only fair. Equivalent exchange and all that, right?"

"I suppose if there's no other way," Adonis conceded, not only clinging to Alk's hand, but meeting him step for step, leaning on his shoulder.

"A-ah, too close, seriously…"

"It's so we can have more privacy," Adonis murmured with that same breathless tone that made Alk's spine tingle. "There are some things not meant for curious ears."

"A-ah, really…? Have some stories to tell?" Alk did his best to look casual for the passerby, but he was sure he appeared much too serious, his cheeks burning hotter than before. Damn, wasn't he glad Nimbus and Light already left.

"I have many stories. One being that the outside world is just as greedy and cruel to a wanderer with a curse as the Kaleidoscope ever was," Adonis said. "I thought I was happy, staking it out on my own, besting the monsters of the deep. Yet each time I left, something would taint my experience… I was brought low, and I wondered how someone like you continued to lift yourself up around fickle selfishness while staying in the open."

"Trusting some people really isn't so bad," Alk said, focusing on Adonis's words rather than the way he spoke them into Alk's ear. "I've found out that most people aren't really out to get you, if you take the time to know them first. I'd rather trust until trust is lost than to never trust anyone."

"You must not trust me anymore, since I didn't stay when I said I would," Adonis added, pausing with Alk at the doors. Distantly, his gaze seeked out the blue waves of the ocean. "I hurt your hopeful heart, didn't I?"

"A little." Alk supposed he shouldn't be okay with Adonis hanging all over him, either, but right now everything was still sizzling so much he wasn't sure what he wanted to do. "Was there a reason you left? Did we do something wrong?"

"I told you already. My heart led me astray."

"You're being confusing."

"Are we eating fresh crepes or not?"

Annoying… Alk opened the door, Adonis slipping behind Alk as to not be seen immediately — which was a tiny bit cute, despite Alk wanting nothing more than to shove Adonis ahead of him and force him to stop tiptoeing. Isn't he usually super confident anyway?

"Alk!" Stella called from the kitchen. "Is Adonis with you?"

Alk felt his shadow shrinking, but a second later, arms were around Alk's shoulders again, the swordsman's lithe form pressing against Alk's back.

"Hello, Stella," Adonis called smoothly. "Have you been taking care of Alk lately?"

"Yes. We all take turns taking care of Alk," Stella said, perfectly calmly.

"Wait, I'm not a child!" Alk protested.

"Today I'm helping Alk with dishes," Stella continued, "since Light and Nimbus had to go and said you weren't coming for a while."

"Good," Adonis said, sliding off of Alk. "We'd like the kitchen to ourselves today. Lock the doors, too."

Eh… eh?

"Why do you need the doors locked?" Stella asked. "Is someone else following you?"

"No, it's so no one does," Adonis answered.

"So it's like in those novels where two people have to tell secrets to each other in the dark?" Stella said, blinking. "You both are red from tumbling in battle, just like the books say."

"What kind of books have you been reading?" Alk whined, hiding his blush in his hands, feeling a lot more shy than usual. "It was Meryll writing fanfictions again, wasn't it?"

"You mustn't mean those distasteful ones smearing your good name in the gutter," Adonis said, curling his lip.

"Oh, have you read them too?" Stella said, stepping out from the kitchen. "I thought it was interesting seeing how imaginative her descriptions got of how everyone pairs up in terms of fighting style."

"U-um…" Alk watched awkwardly as Adonis passed Stella.

"I couldn't stomach reading such out-of-character comedy," Adonis replied, finding Alk's apron hanging on the rack. "Gives me a reason to leave, honestly, if people are going to be writing that garbage where I can see it."

Before Alk could mouth anything to Stella to spare her feelings, she turned back to Adonis. "Then maybe you should use a blindfold, too, in case someone passes by. I've read that using a blindfold leads to surrender, so maybe it'll help you."

"Do you have any blindfolds here?" Adonis said.

"Yes, actually. Do you want it?"

Alk blanched. "H-hey, you're not actually going to wear it, are you…"

"It leads to surrender, Alk. She said so," Adonis responded, Stella procuring the suspiciously professional-looking blindfold in a matter of seconds. Adonis paused innocently. "Or are you saying this is another example of why I shouldn't trust your friends?"

I'm having second thoughts about these crepes. Alk steeled himself then joined Adonis in the kitchen, taking his apron from him. "I'm not advanced enough to cook with a blindfold on, I'll say right now."

Adonis seemed the happiest all day, twirling the blindfold on his finger as Stella told them goodbye and locked the doors.

"I'm glad you're getting so many ideas, Alk," Adonis cooed, reaching out to adjust the apron's string as Alk tied it. He traced his cool fingertips up Alk's spine, which for some reason, Alk let him do. Surrender, huh…

"You're really touchy-feely today," Alk muttered, swiftly moving aside to find the eggs. He brought out the hand mixer, cleaned thanks to Stella's hard work. "Fun fact, um… I got these from Mia's treasure hunts. She found a bunch of kitchen tools in a chest, and I've made all sorts of good things fast with them."

"You must be popular to be getting so many gifts," Adonis mused, leaning on the counter, resting his head on his hand. The blindfold swung gently, tentacle-like as it wiggled about. "Maybe they're trying to buy your attention."

"I'd give it unconditionally if I could… but friends exchange gifts sometimes. It's generosity, not indebting people," Alk said.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm not so one-note either that I don't understand what you're trying to get at." Adonis clicked his heel on the side of the cabinet as he watched Alk wash his hands and prepare the batter. Adonis sighed. "I'm not here to argue perspectives. I know you're the type of person to even believe in someone like me, who isolates himself."

"I've heard of something like that," Alk offered with a smile. "I think it's called being tsundere. Or… psychologically, maybe something like avoidant attachment?"

Adonis's eyes widened in interest. "Hmm? You're already playing at teasing me?"

"Being completely forward, haha. I don't remember if we showed you the library yet, but there's plenty in there talking about it," Alk said. "I um. I might have read a lot about that, when I was trying to figure out why you left so suddenly, and what I could maybe do next time to communicate better. Well, this time too."

"You're too sweet for your own good," Adonis said, stalking over. He slipped the blindfold around Alk's neck, ignoring his squeak of protest. "It really makes me want to gag you and teach you a lesson. It would be so easy, now that we have the whole room to ourselves. Your friends practically handed you over to me. I could do anything. And it would be too late to save you, after the fact."

"See, shifting the focus of the conversation to avoid talking about your feelings," Alk pointed out, trying to pretend that Adonis's hands moving closer and closer to his mouth didn't faze him. Blindfold. Gag. Whatever that was Adonis was trying to use on Alk, he wasn't giving it a single drop of sweat.

"Well, you said friends give each other gifts. And you also said I'm your friend," Adonis said. "What kind of gift are you hoping to get from me, Alk?"

Personal space. Alk felt a teasing press of fabric right below his lip, but right before he could say anything, Adonis covered Alk's mouth with it.

"Shh," Adonis hushed, leaning around Alk so that he was smirking close to his face. Adonis held the blindfold there gently, as if teasing him. "Let me guess. You want me to stay with you, this time? Instead of going off on my own, leaving you cruelly, without a word. You want to keep me and have me trust you enough for me to confide my past and be open to the future."

Oh. Alk gripped the hand mixer tightly, thinking he might drop it on the floor otherwise. Adonis wasn't just mocking Alk, this time. It was obvious in the way he trembled — the fingers pressing over Alk's lips were not only delicate, they were afraid, too. This is hard for him, but he's still trying.

"Or do you hate me, Alk? I bet you still can't stand my attitude…" Adonis frowned, his eyes shining intensely. "Maybe you're just like everyone else who dared try to get close to me, offering too many things just to take them all away?"

"Mmmh." Alk attempted to talk, but Adonis muffled it, stepping between Alk and the counter. Knocked from Alk's grip, the hand mixer clattered on the countertop, thankfully staying dormant as it slid out of reach.

"I'd rather just take what I want and pay you back later." Pinned by Alk, Adonis was even closer, trapping Alk there with those tentative fingers and playing softly with the ends of Alk's hair.

That, with the fingertips teasing Alk's lips…

"Mmh!" Alk grabbed Adonis's wrist, stopping him, and tugged the blindfold off his mouth so it rested on his neck.

"A-ah… I knew it."

"Mmm — I'm not, ahah… I'm not trying to take anything away," Alk insisted, keeping Adonis's wrist before he could retract it.

"You took the blindfold from me."

"No, it's… You're not even using it properly. Plus, I said I wouldn't be able to cook if you put it on me," Alk said. It just kept getting hotter, and suddenly he was very self-aware of how much he was sweating, being nervous on top of having almost full body contact with Adonis.

They were about the same height, almost the same width minus Adonis's slimmer form. Up close, Alk couldn't help but appreciate the androgynous appeal Adonis captured — smooth skin, strong expressions, multi-colored hair that felt slick, yet fluffy as they leaned in face to face.

Alk… no longer had the blindfold on to keep from feeling Adonis's breath on his lips. So close! Alk felt his tummy doing an acrobat's entire routine, the roaring crowd and all. And… where Alk's hips had Adonis pressed against the counter…

"Ah, ah! Um, a-actually," Alk stammered, glancing away. "Can we maybe talk about this after crepes?"

Adonis seemed in deep contemplation, and when Alk finally looked back at him, mesmerized was about the only word Alk could use to describe it.

"After crepes? You want an after?"

"Y-yeah…" Alk looked down at Adonis's wrist, feeling how the swordsman's trembling had lessened. "I never know how much you're just teasing to prove a point or how much is real self-indulgence, but… One of the things I learned was that I should just ask, if I want to communicate better."

Asking Adonis how he felt wasn't something Alk did enough of, the last time they saw each other. Alk thought he had an understanding of the lonesome Kaleidoscope trawler, thinking maybe Adonis would stay if he had something to gain and if he felt like Starview Village was accepting enough for him. That thought had been wrong.

It wasn't the whole picture, at least. And as soon as Alk continued with his explorations and social life, he quickly saw how Adonis retreated into being a simple spectator again. Even less than that, once he left.

To think Alk hadn't been inclusive enough to help Adonis feel seen here, after only a few days… It hurt so bad, Alk still had moments where he thought back to it. The best he could do at that point was to try to improve for the future.

Which included not just playing along with Adonis's cynicism, but finding out why it was there at all.

"Do you really want to stay here with me?" Alk asked. "Because I want you to give it another shot… even if we do end up being unable to stand each other, I still think you're great to have on the team. And. I would rather get to see you, then just wonder why you're watching me, while I can't do the same. That doesn't sound fair to me either."

"How long did you know I was following you?" Adonis asked, speaking so quietly Alk was sure it was deliberate how it made him instinctively lean closer to hear it.

"I dunno… it was a few days that I got the sense from time to time, but… not here at Starview until earlier today," Alk admitted. "You freaked me out bad. I think I was halfway to busting a full search in the middle of town, if Stella hadn't suggested I just invite you."

"You looked more like you were halfway to crying," Adonis hummed, his nose bumping Alk's. "Eeep! See… just like that."

"I wasn't!" Okay, maybe a little. Alk certainly squeaked the instant their noses touched. But pride wouldn't have him pull away and cry like a dripping cherry, no way. "You shouldn't tail people like that. Even me. It's not good."

"Sorry," Adonis pouted, the barest tilt of his head away from touching lips with Alk. He kept that distance, though, letting Alk try to decide what type of magnetic force they had. "I just… I didn't think you would want to see me as much as I wanted to see you. It was a cowardly thing to do, but I couldn't stand the thought of piling on more rejection."

"So you…"

"So I watched and waited," Adonis said, brushing his fingers on Alk's chin. "I chickened out a few times. Got envious, even… but it was par for the course. Coming back had to be a mistake, but leaving always felt more wrong."

"My crepes must be super delicious, then, to draw you out," Alk said, matching Adonis's gaze a bit more confidently. He pulled back then booped noses again, ignoring how it made his heart keep pounding fast. "So… stay, and we can have some yummy food and then talk about whatever for as long as you want. I need to ask about how your trip went. And… um… maybe later we can thank everyone for the privacy."

Adonis's eyes… were huge and deep, like there was another whole world in there to jump into. Alk noticed the silence, but more than that, the warmth, the way Adonis let Alk cling to his arm just as much as Adonis clung to Alk's everything else, was all so overwhelming. Alk knew Adonis hadn't used his powers, but even then he could feel lightning sizzling between them.

"I… really should finish cooking," Alk said, even his nose feeling hot pink. "You can help me, or watch, if you want. Um. A-ah?"

"It's real self-indulgence," Adonis murmured, and in a second, he had the blindfold over Alk's cheek.

Soft. Alk felt the fires wash through his body, cleansing flames as Alk's mind went blank.

It was the briefest peck of lips on fabric, so feathery that Alk might have heard it more than felt it.

Warm.

Exciting.

Confusing, very confusing —

Adonis? Slowly, more and more of a fluster crashed through Alk's calmness. Adonis had already let go of Alk, slipping back out from the space between him and the counter as if Alk had the firmness of pudding. Which wasn't entirely inaccurate.

All Alk saw was the back of Adonis's dark hair, the reserved curves of his body as he stalked away.

"A-adonis…?"

"So hungry for cheap attention that even the idea of a kiss has you unable to function?" Adonis said, his usual sardonic tone seeping through, save for the clipped edges of his breath. Still, not even a slight turn of his head, that gorgeous face hidden from view. "I should have expected you'd be unable to work after the slightest distraction. So selfishly greedy…"

"Says the one who likes when I chase Mr. Hard-to-get," Alk countered, not even bothering to hide his blush.

Silence, save for the swoosh of Adonis's outfit, the sway and click of his shoes.

"Where are you going?" Alk called.

"To sit down." Adonis stopped, glancing sideways at Alk so that he caught the reddish glow to his skin. "The crepes are supposed to be a gift, right? So surprise me."

"M-mmm, okay!" Alk looked down at the counter, the ingredients separated, the hand mixer tossed upside-down against the bowl. He listened to Adonis go find a seat as if in a hurry.

Alk's mind was still hazy, still distracted by warm and new thoughts that made him shift awkwardly on the spot.

What was he doing, again?

Crepes? Pour batter mix on the… skillet… and then when it's toasted and hot on one side…

Slip the spatula between…

"Nnnh…" Alk flinched as the sound came out, echoing in the empty kitchen. "Nnn… nnno! Oh, wait, no, it's not going to burn, that's just right! Yeah, haha…!"

"Fire element getting the best of you?" Adonis's voice cooed from the dining room.

Eep. He definitely heard me! "No, I uh… well, actually, yes," Alk returned. "But it should be fine. Thank you. Don't worry about coming back, it should only take a minute!"

"Smells good, at least."

"It'll be better when you get a taste," Alk promised, finding the stuffing he'd prepared earlier too. The blindfold still hung from his neck, but Alk just left it there.

"They say you fall in love at first taste, don't they?"

Love at first taste. Alk shivered, remembering that soft tease, sweeter than any dessert. He didn't remember his past, so he didn't know if he ever had an experience like this before, but… something about Adonis was getting to him.

He wasn't sure if it was a good thing. But it was certainly something.

And it feels like a good thing.

Alk could maybe stand to humor giving in a little to his guilty pleasures. Especially if Adonis stayed to enjoy them with him.

Alk finished a small set of wraps, his breath catching as they lined up perfectly on the plate. Even this felt a little bit extra special.

Breathing in the crisp, mingling scents of freshly made food, he smiled to himself. "It's time."

Win him over with a taste.

---

Seriously though I love them too much... They're addicting. Anyways, even small one-word comments are helpful to letting me know how much more I should write, so feel free to say anything. :3

As a note, I'm marking this finished though I'm still opening to adding another chapter later on if there's a demand. My next small projects in store include Bulletta/Love and Suizen/Inaho, though other than that I'll probably be working on my usual stuff, haha, but passionate impulse writes are just too delicious to turn down.