The mix-up

The Mix-up

AN: While playing RFF I stumbled on Lute who told Raguna of how he and Erik met... so, it brough the idea out!

It was fall, and boy did the scenery strike out. He loved fall for many things, mainly, the leaves. They were the easiest to sketch, and the best to paint. Trampoli was a nice area, he had to admit, different than the places he had been to… he thought numerously of settling down here, but he was still too young to think of it… perhaps in a few years when he'd reach twenty he'd reconsider.

The lake was slightly rippling and the leaves were washing over one another- he needed to line this carefully… with a sharpened pencil, he thickened the perimeter- slowly and carefully-

"Hey there!"

Clip! Chip went the pencil, and smudge went the sketch. With a slight groan, he fumbled for an eraser. Suddenly, next to him came a very cheerful face: a wide smile, crinkling eyes and dark brown hair. He noted that the man had lots of dirt on his clothes and wore thick gloves… he didn't recognize him.

"Nice painting," the man commented.

The man gave him a sharp look, observing him thoroughly, scanning his face and hands with a growing smile. The man's dark eyes were boring into his and Lute felt his face flame… what was going on?

"Uh, thanks. Are you new here, d-did you just move in?" Lute said, trying to avoid the awkwardness- especially the way the man was looking at him.

"Hm?" he said cheerfully. "Yes I did, a few days actually. I've settled in a farm down by the South District. Erik."

"W-what?" who was he calling Erik?

"Me- I'm Erik… I'd love to know your name," he added with a smoother voice.

Lute looked at the man warily before extending his own hand. "Lute."

Erik had a firm grip on his hand, taking his time in shaking it as he bore his eyes into Lute's- was the guy caressing his hand? Lute removed his hand from Erik's grip and looked away for a distraction.

"So… you're a painter?" Erik said after a while, trying to catch his eye.

"Yeah… peddler on the side."

The man nodded thoughtfully before scanning him from head to toe. Gazing at his hair and coloured cheeks. Lute felt very awkward and wished the man would make a move to leave.

"You're paintings- they're as lovely as their painter, you know," Erik said quietly.

Lute felt his insides freeze- was that guy hitting on him? Was he… gay? He didn't seem like the type… but people came in all sorts, he guessed.

"Um-"

"And you're eyes," Erik said, slightly stepping forward, his hand reaching for Lute's. "Wine coloured gems…"

"Hey- now just w-wait a sec-"

Erik took his fumbling as a sign to continue- his smile widened and his face came closer to his, his hand tightly holding Lute's trembling one.

"I've never seen a lady with hair as-"

LADY? Erik was currently stroking his cheek with his finger. He could feel the man's breathe on his face and never had he felt this uncomfortable.

"Uh… dude?" he said flatly. "I'm a guy."

Erik's eyes were as wide as platters, and his face immediately went bright red. Before he knew it, the man was dashing away- so far he was nothing but a tiny dot in the distance, leaving behind dust and leaves fluttering in his wake. Lute crossed his arms with a huff.

"Ok, now that's just rude…"

What was wrong with that man- was it that hard to see he was every inch masculine?