Kiyoteru was silent until they reached his front door. He shoved a key into the lock, turning it with ease, and took of his shoes before entering. Allan was led inside, and offered a pair of slippers.
He grasped them like you would a radioactive sample, lightly and with the tips of his fingers. Did he have to exchange his shoes for these? That thought went on hold when his eyes fully absorbed his surroundings.
The apartment was totally naked. Nothing on the walls, no magazines scattered over the coffee table, not even anything held by magnets on the tiny fridge. Either he's not done moving in yet, or this guy has no personal life, Allan thought, uncomfortably. What kind of a home is this?
Back in the United States, his home had been decorated and vibrant. Oliver's finger paintings littered the house, fashion magazines lay strewn over the bed when Annabel was home, and Allan's cooking cast a spicy fragrance over all the furniture. This dude's house smelled like... Allan took a discrete sniff. Disinfectant.
Once they'd gotten settled in and past general introductions, the conversation flowed more easily. Kiyoteru, after downing a few glasses of soda, shared with Allan things he'd never thought to say to others. They'd just met, but both were desperate for a friend, someone, ANYONE, to talk to.
Each curled up in their respective part of the couch, smothered in the blankets set up for Allan to sleep with, and told stories. But sleep crept up on them like a thief, lowering their eyelids until they'd both nodded off.
The minute Leon skipped into the room, she plastered on her face the most caring smile known to man. "Darling!" she said, and threw her arms around him in a warm embrace. He released himself from her grip and mirrored her expression, leaning against a marvelously crafted cherry wood chair.
"Hiya, 'Bell," Leon's blue-eyed gaze slid all over the house. "Where's Ollie?" He pursed his lips slightly, and put a hand on his hip.
She gave him a playful, teasing look, making sure to show off the dimples in her cheeks. "I dunno, but definitely not under the cute little table with the porcelain vase on it…" Annabel allowed herself a dark smirk when he practically flew over there, taking their baby and lifting him up high, Oliver giggling all the while.
Yes, she had him wrapped around her finger. Leon, the hottest breakout actor, barely 19 and too pretty for his own good, was much too easy to deceive. She'd let him butter himself up with Oliver, and when the time was right, she'd strike. Annabel needed to be sure that he kept the money flowing from his pocket to hers.
The morning came, and Allan hadn't had any time to think or ask questions. Kiyoteru was late, running around the cramped apartment in those slippers and rushing to get everything ready. Allan simply watched, perched backwards on the couch and resting his chin on the back edge. Even though he didn't want to be impertinent, he had some questions that needed answering, and they simmered below his skin, waiting for when they could be uttered. But he couldn't resist asking one, at least, and he did so when Kiyoteru instructed him to stay put and out of trouble while he was at work.
"Hey, those flowers, the ones that'd been on my table at the cafe, what were they? They were awfully pretty."
Kiyoteru, a bit puzzled by his sudden question, pursed his lips. "...Alstroemerias," he finally answered, and, still hurrying, went to prepare his uniform for work. Allan grinned privately to himself.
Huh. Alstromerias. The flower of friendship.
+ I'll be making the chapters a bit shorter, hopefully that way I can update faster.
+ Thanks for putting up up with me and holding out this far :)
+ Much love for my wonderful reviewers, both regular and casual alike!