For the lovely Liza via the Drabble Game Challenge (Preppy Serpent, "Oh. Are we dating now? Would have been nice if you'd asked.")
Also for the Bingo Challenge (word: chuckle) and the Color Symbolism Challenge (yellow: happiness) on the Riverdale Fanfiction Challenge forum. Come join us! Link in profile!
"Why do you look so pissed off, Preppy?" Joaquin snorts, his brows raising.
Kevin takes a deep breath, but it does nothing to calm his nerves. His hands tremble, and he wrings them together, unsure of what else to do with them. "Where were you?" he manages to ask, his voice barely above a whisper.
Joaquin studies him for a moment. It seems strange that Kevin should feel so annoyed by that gaze now. Only days ago, he loved the way Joaquin would his eyes over his body, the suggestive smile that would curl the corners of his lips.
The Serpent reaches out, ruffling Kevin's hair with a chuckle. "Relax. I had some work to do," his says vaguely, but Kevin catches the way his eyes flicker to his tattoo. "It's not like it was that important anyway. Binge watching America's Next Top Model and eating pizza…"
"It's not about that! I just wanted a quiet night in with my boyfriend," Kevin says helplessly, fixing his hair back.
He feels tears prick his eyes, and he hates it. He doesn't want to be that emotional little boy he once was, the little boy who can only convey his feelings with tears. Kevin has to be stronger now. It just comes with the territory of being with someone like Joaquin.
"Boyfriend? Oh."
Only when he hears Joaquin echo it does Kevin realize he'd let the word slip. "I just meant-"
"Are we dating now? Would have been nice if you'd asked," Joaquin says, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I thought this was just some stupid night in. I didn't realize it was a date."
"I didn't think to clarify."
He's never had to clarify before. But, then again, he's never actually been on a date before. All those closeted boys he's lead somewhere private had known exactly what to expect.
But maybe Joaquin has never had this problem. Maybe the other boy has actually had relationships and not just meaningless hook ups with boys who could never love him.
"I've never had a boyfriend. I just assumed," Kevin mumbles, his cheeks burning. "I'm an idiot."
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You're a cute idiot, at least," Joaquin offers with a grin.
Kevin doesn't respond. He feels so stupid now. "Maybe you should go."
"Or I could stay. You could ask."
"Ask what?"
Joaquin rolls his eyes, another chuckle escaping his lips. He gently taps his finger to Kevin's temple. "Come on, Preppy. Use that pretty mind of yours," he teases.
Would have been nice if you'd asked.
Kevin's eyes widen. He realizes that he really is an idiot sometimes. "Will you, um… Will you be my boyfriend?" he asks.
Joaquin leans in, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Yes."
A giddy feeling flutters through Kevin's body. His lips tug into a small smile at the answer. So this is what happiness feels like, what having an official boyfriend feels like? Kevin laughs softly. He wants to feel this way forever.
"The pizza is cold. I'll reheat it," Kevin offers.
Joaquin grimaces. "Never reheat pizza," he says firmly before throwing himself onto the couch. "It's a sin, and I don't think I could ever forgive you."
Kevin rolls his eyes and offers Joaquin a mock salute. "Whatever you say, dear," he laughs before disappearing into the kitchen and preparing the plates.
As he curls up beside Joaquin on the couch, head resting on his boyfriend's shoulder, he can't stop smiling. He's spent years hoping for this. He's fooled around with closeted boys and straight boys, always praying that one would want something more.
And now he has it, and he has never been happier.