Box

Oncie knew Greed-Ler's schedule down to the minute.

His meeting got out at 9.

It took about about 12 minutes to talk to the Board just to be cordial and 'keep up appearances.'

3 minutes to pick up his coffee from the secretary that attended with him.

It took 1 minute to yell at her for not putting in 3 creams and 4 sugars.

6 from second floor to the eleventh, because he liked to walk up the final set of stairs, and to this day not even Oncie ever fathomed why—maybe he liked the exercise?

So for the past half an hour, Oncie was sitting on the bed, tiny box cupped in his hands as he went over the script in his head. Give Greed-Ler the box, dive under the bed, perhaps the closet, no, that'd be cornering himself, that wouldn't do. Maybe he should stand by the door…? Or, worst-case-scenario, the window.

The digital clock by the bed clicked 9:22 just as the door swung open and Greed-Ler strutted in; tie already hanging off his neck and hat tucked under one arm. "Mhn, hey babe," he mumbled around the cup at his lips. "Ya' been sitting on the bed all day or what-hey what's with the deer in the headlights eyes? What?" He set down his cup just as he moved to unbutton his coat and fully tug off his tie completely.

"I—I—Uhm, s'good day, I…" he gaped like a fish for only a moment more before flinging his body off the bed and thrusting out his hand, the little black box sitting in his palm. "For you!"

Greed-Ler's eyes slid slowly down to it, then back up to his doppelganger. "...?"

"J-just take it, please?"

It was the pleading look that did it. Though Oncie would never know, Greed-Ler had a hard time denying the kid anything when he pulled a face like that.

"Oh…kay." He took the small cube. Oncie wondered if Greed-Ler would recognize that it was real velvet, probably, maybe not, though. God, would he think it cheap? Stupid?

Greed-Ler held the box in his gloved hands for a moment. He flicked his eyes to Oncie. "….Oh, I have to open it?" God those teeth when he grinned like that, all teasing as Hell and side-smile.

"Y-yes." It came out a whimper, and that finally seemed to do it for his other half.

"…Alright, alright, okay, don't look at me like that for Chrisssake's, I—oh." Greed-Ler stared into the little box.

Silence.

And then Oncie couldn't take it anymore. "Oh please, okay, look if you're going to punish me just please get it over with and do it now, please, I can't take it, I've been waiting all day—mnph!" Lips with sharp teeth behind them smashed against his and pressed forcefully, not to hurt, but to be loud and make a damn statement. It was so Greed-Ler and so familiar to the younger that Oncie couldn't help but automatically kiss back, eyes fluttering closed. With his influence the kiss turned sweeter but just as firm and enthusiastic, and Oncie swore he could feel Greed-Ler smile against his lips.

Greed-Ler pulled back with an audible pop and grinned—not sneered—actually grinned down at him. "Thanks, babe. It's pretty as fuck, look it you, getting me shit and stuff." He 'tsked' happily and pulled the bright ring out of it's box, tossing the velvet box carelessly over his shoulder in the direction of the trash can.

"R-really? You like it?" Oncie was already picking up the fact he was still alive for such a sappy action. "I was thinking it matched your eyes—" He started excitedly.

"Sure as fuck does—"

"And you could wear it over your gloves and then it would blend and…" He trailed off when he saw Greed-Ler looking at him with that 'fuck no' expression. The same one he got when Oncie made the mistake of suggesting they install a Hummingfish tank in the lobby. Oncie's face fell. "…No? You don't want to wear it on your…?" His heart dropped to his feet. Oh, god, he was so happy Greed-Ler liked it... but of course the guy wouldn't want to wear it, of course not, no, Oncie was all wrong, he'd screwed up, spent all the money he'd saved for a trinket that would get tossed in the desk drawer-

"Gonna wear this shit under my gloves, of course, so I can feel it right there, sounds sappy as fuck but you know what? It'll be our little secret, just me and you sweetheart." Greed-Ler commented lightly as he stripped off his left glove and put on his left ring finger ohwait—

"I…."

Oncie's visions blurred as he lunged forward and caught his older counterpart of guard, wrapping him in a tight hug, burying against Greed-Ler's soft coat, ignoring the sudden squawk of slight exasperation.

"T-thank you…"

"…you're welcome." Arms came slowly up to hug him back, along with a tentative, "For…what exactly?"

"Being you."