TITLE: Something Like Curry, Something Like Fairy Floss

PAIRING: Waltember (Walter/September)

CHARACTERS: Walter Bishop, September/Observer

GENRE: light, fluff

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: 
September is curious about the concept of love and decides to ask a trusted source regarding the matter.

CHALLENGE: WalterxSeptember for FaustAutumn

WORD COUNT: 1548

WARNINGS: Mention of lesbian sex? And wjobssessed said I need to add this: "do not eat or drink while reading this!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: *hangs head ashamed* I really like this pairing, even though I wasn't sure at first!

DISCLAIMER: Obvious this isn't mine.

September watched his strange friend licking off his fingers, cleaning off the thick grease of the barbequed ribs. Walter quite enjoyed food, so he knew if he was to lure the man out of his son's hold, he could usually do it with promises and offers of victuals. At this moment they were at a small barbeque restaurant that September had been interested in trying; the absolutely rare steak had been good but the "hell-fire" sauce was not as spicy as he'd hoped. The man in the next booth over claimed it made him sweat and his eyes water, but this apparently was a misleading review—the flavour had been merely delicate on September's own palate.

Walter had been excited to order boysenberry pie (which he'd eaten first) and a side plate of "maple glazed-white peppered-slow flame grilled" beef ribs. They'd both finished their meal and were letting the food settle. Fingers still greasy, Walter was gulping down his fourth iced tea and chewing on the ice. September wondered what it was like to be the brilliant scientist, always hungry for flavour and information.

September cleared his throat. "I don't understand the concept of love."

"Does anyone?" Walter grumbled, emptying the last of the ice into his mouth.

"You have a more heightened comprehension of the matter, though. I sadly do not."

"It's like spicy food. Like your jah-lap-en-noes."

It took September a moment to process what Walter had said. "You meant jalapenos?"

He nodded. "Yes. Like those."

"I believe I do not taste a pepper in the same way you do. From my understanding, I cannot taste flavour as strongly as you might."

"Oh. Well, love is a very spicy thing." Walter looked at him curiously. "What's your favourite food?"

September hardly had to think about that. "Fugu sashimi and the strongest wasabi available. Perhaps some fried octopus on the side."

"Ew. But love is like that. It tastes like the best and strongest flavour ever." Walter slowly drew wet lines on the tabletop with his straw. "Love…tastes like a chili-cheese burger. With extra mustard. Well, at least to me!"

"So you indeed find it very pleasurable?"

"Absolutely!" Walter added. "Now, the love you might feel for a friend or family member is quite different."

"How?"

"It tastes sweet, like candy. It isn't overpowering." Walter held his empty glass up in a toast. "My love for Peter is like a root beer float. With extra ice cream."

"I can't taste sugar," September admitted, a bit sadly.

"And you have no family, I'm sure," the scientist added sympathetically.

"No." September thought a moment more. "The action of holding hands—is that pleasurable?"

"Very. Even if it's with someone you don't care for much," Walter said, nodding fervently. "Sometimes in St. Claire's Carlos would hold my hand as we walked to breakfast. It's an action that brings much comfort."

"And the pressing of the labia between two people?"

Walter shrugged, studying the lines he'd made on the table. "Oh, I don't know much about the nature of lesbians. I can ask my assistant, though. She might know."

"I was referring to the lips," September specified.

"Oh. Oh! Kissing!" Walter said looking up, his cheeks a little pink.

"Yes."

Walter cocked his head. "What?"

"I was asking about kissing. Is it a satisfying action?" September reminded.

A large grin passed across Walter's mouth. "Oh, very! Especially when she is a large breasted woman! Makes you dizzy!"

September tilted his head, trying to imagine this. "The mammary glands effect kissing?"

Walter looked as though he were contemplating this then corrected himself. "Well, not if it's between two men, I suppose."

"So it isn't important for the partner to have that aspect of anatomy?" September clarified.

"Not really I suppose. Unless you like having something to grab at." Walter held his hands out in front of him, acting as though he was squeezing two large objects, a devilish smile on his face. "Would you like to go to the park? I'd like to get some walking in before I have to return to the laboratory."

"Of course."

September placed two twenty dollar bills on the table as they got up from their seats, handing Walter an additional napkin to clean his fingers off once more—Walter merely put it in his shirt's breast pocket. They exited the restaurant and strolled over to the park across the street.

Spring had been kind to the city. Small, butterscotch yellow flowers had bloomed in the flowerbeds that surrounded the park's walkways and the local Turdus migratorius hopped in the lush grass, hunting for earthworms. The clear sky had small clouds and the air didn't seem to be too cold. Walter pointed to a man pushing a vending cart and eagerly exclaimed, "Candy!"

September followed after his friend, who was eagerly pointing to a paper stick with a small amount of periwinkle fairy floss spun around it. "One, please. Blue."

September handed the man a few single dollar bills and they continued on their walk about the park before settling on a bench, side by side to watch other humans wandering by. He took his hat off and placed it in his lap then looked over at his friend.

"Is it good?"

Walter's lips were sticky with sugar. "Absolutely."

A male and female passed them, holding hands and leaning their heads together to kiss. September watched them inquisitively.

How did they know when to pull away for air?

Did it always make both partners smile afterwards?

Why did their mouths open at the union?

"Observe, chemistry in action," Walter commented, watching the couple as well as he licked flattened puffs of blue fairy floss off his thumb.

"I would like to try that," September admitted boldly, curiosity having gotten the better of him.

His companion paused in the cleaning of his digits. "Try what?"

"Kissing."

Walter shrugged. "You can do whatever you want."

So September followed the steps of kissing he had learned from black and white films.

First, one takes the other's face in one's hands.

Gently, not wanting to hurt or startle the man beside him, September pulled the napkin out of Walter's shirt pocket and carefully arranged it on the scientist's corduroy trousers, then plucked the fairy floss from Walter's hands, laying the sticky spun sugar on the scientist's trousers. His hands cupped Walter's warm skin, feeling the slight prickle of stubble against his palms.

Second, one inhales or ensures there is sufficient oxygen in the lungs.

September took a breath, though it was fairly shallow. The amount of oxygen in this atmosphere was still more than necessary for him.

Third, one purses the lips.

September pushed his lips out so slightly that it was hardly noticeable.

Fourth, one brings the other's face close enough that neither participant is beyond their axis of balance when the pursuer is leaning in as well.

September once again had to be delicate in his method—it simply wouldn't do to injure his friend.

Fifth, close eyes.

While it was simply not in his nature to close his eyes, especially in such a public setting which left him entirely vulnerable, he knew that the proper order of things must be done in order to experience the action fully.

Sixth, one presses their lips to their partner's.

September leaned the rest of the way in, his mouth meeting Walter's. Walter was quiet and seemed to be receptive, understand the experiment being had. Walter leaned in further and tilted his head slightly, which suddenly made it much easier to move without bumping their faces together. September had to admit the sudden feeling of warm lips against his was welcome and was somewhat excited to feel Walter's lips parting open for him.

Though the excitement was quickly replaced with shock as something attempted entering his mouth and his eyes flew open. Walter's eyes were closed and once September identified said object as the scientist's tongue, he allowed his eyes to close slowly again. He was hit with the realisation that this was why some humans kissed with an open mouth and as Walter's tongue stroked slowly along his own, he wondered if this was an act of transferring food or for trust between the partners, after all one could easily be bitten at this point.

Walter retracted his tongue and lips for a moment and September believed that the kiss was over, but it seemed his friend was simply shifting into a more comfortable position and they resumed. September found he liked sharing the breath of someone else. It was damp, warm, and low in oxygen, reminding him of a dark place he once knew. Walter's mouth was somewhat sticky and September realised it was the sugar he'd been eating earlier.

He found his hands drifting from the scientist's face to the back of his skull, fingers twining gently in the soft, graying curls. And as…enjoyable as it was, September remembered that Walter needed oxygen more than him, so he finally forced himself to pull away from his friend, though Walter seemed content resting their heads together as the man caught his breath.

"I wanted to see if love tasted the way you said it did," the Observer confessed quietly.

"Spicy love or sugary love?"

September brought their lips together again.

Both.