He wasn't the crafty one, that was Sei, which was why when he'd had this idea, well, seen it online anyway, he'd wanted to try and imitate it only to surprise him, which had led to a rather baffling phone call with Tio.
"Can I come do a craft project at yours?"
"I'm sorry, a what?" He sounded more amused than anything else, because it was more the request of a small child than anything else and Mizuki could almost hear the mocking he'd receive if he'd genuinely gotten into arts and crafts, the phrase 'midlife crisis' already echoing in his ears.
"A craft project, I want to make something for Sei for our anniversary next week but I can't do it here."
"Oh right, you should have said that to begin with. But yeah, sure thing, wanna come over a couple evenings and say we're having a game night or something?"
"That'd be perfect, you've got Tuesday and Thursday off right?" He looked around absently for the timetable of the bar staff but his search was fruitless and he was pretty certain that after a good three years getting those two days off, he wouldn't suddenly be scheduled in for either of the,.
"Mm-hm, I don't have anything planned so just come over whenever."
"You're the best."
"I know, but I gotta go, Kin's back."
For a second he was confused, but then he remembered that his boyfriend had moved in with him recently, something about his rent having gone up and it being the logical choice, hearing a door close and the sound of words in the background even as he knew his time on the phone was up. "Alright, bye."
"Bye."
Excuse sorted out for a couple of evenings, he needed to buy supplies, heading into a stationary and craft store he'd never entered before and finding a store assistant so helpful he'd found everything he needed in less than an hour and was headed to Tio's earlier than he'd expected.
The bags were fairly heavy, packed with all the stuff he'd need, glitter glue as well as actual glue, stickers, adhesive gems and flowers, stencils, coloured card in various colours, ribbons and shiny string, but most importantly, the heavy, ring-bound scrapbook with thick white pages. He'd already left another bag with Tio the day before, loaded with bottles of wine as well as a few of Sei's favourite fruit juices, the fancy sparkling ones that came in corked bottles like actual alcohol, his friend just accepting them silently and knowing he'd get an explanation the next day.
"So, what's this craft project, and am I allowed to help?"
"I'm making him a scrapbook, and… I don't know if you can help. I mean, I guess you could assist me, but I want to do it myself, if that makes sense?"
"Hm, so I just do what I'm told," Mizuki shrugged, looking a little bothered by the idea but Tio just nodded, handing over a beer and sitting opposite him at the table, regarding all the supplies he'd brought and finally noticing the stack of photographs neatly placed at his left. "So, like is the theme your first year of marriage, or the whole relationship?"
"Just the first year, it's our paper anniversary and I saw the idea online, it seemed good."
"Your, paper anniversary?" He sounded infinitely baffled, but that made sense, after all Mizuki hadn't known what the hell it meant until he'd googled it and found it the type of strange tradition that Sei would just adore, and from that moment the idea had solidified in his mind.
"Mm, so 25 years is silver, then 50 is gold, and 60 is diamond. There are others in between obviously but I didn't memorise them all, I think it's a traditional thing but I'm not sure what country it's from."
"Oh, that's kinda sweet, so you give gifts around that theme?"
"Yep, so, paper equals a scrapbook. But you know I'm about as creative as a teaspoon, so we might be here a while."
"It's cool," he didn't bother trying to reassure him that he was actually a very imaginative mind, they'd known each other long enough to be fine pointing out each other's flaws, and being bad at crafts wasn't the worst fault to have. "So you gunna start with the front page?"
"I already know what I'm doing, I want this picture," he neatly slid it out of the stack, Tio noticing the coloured tabs stuck to them for easier identification, taking it carefully and frowning as he saw what it was. It was a nice picture he supposed, taken on their wedding day, but it was not what he'd expected him to choose, for a start neither of them were awake, and secondly they both looked exhausted, Sei's head flopped onto Mizuki's shoulder, legs draped over his and his hair tousled where he'd shifted in sleep.
"Um, why?"
"He hates this photograph, but after we had our first big argument and I stormed out, I came back and he was looking at the wedding album, at this photo. He told me he really hated it and I said I liked it, then he got angry again and threatened to tear it up but he never did." He'd stopped drinking his beer then, inclining his head to the side because if Mizuki thought that settled the issue for him he was very wrong, if anything he'd made it more logical to use any photo but that one.
"That's not really a good explanation."
"I know, I know, I just, I like the others, the posed ones we took, they're really nice. But this, it's just so nice, we both look terrible and exhausted and we're so tired we couldn't even stay awake, but it's…"
"Real."
"Yeah, I guess so, and I know he doesn't hate it as much as he said he does because we left the wedding album on the coffee table for a while and it was always opened to that page. It's just special, and that's really gay and soppy."
He looked embarrassed now but Tio could hardly say he'd never gotten infatuated and gross, just light heartedly teasing him so he'd feel better, "gay? You? Never."
"Very funny, now help me cut a heart out of this weird corrugated stuff."
"Yes, Sir!"
"Still hard at work then?" "Mm, we're nearly done. How was work?"
Mizuki deliberately didn't look up at the voice, partially because he was really focusing on the glitter glue he was using, and also because he didn't want to spoil the welcome home greeting the others were presumably giving each other, hearing the soft sound of a kiss and lip twitching contentedly.
"Pretty boring," he could almost hear the shrug in his voice, Mizuki just glad to hear he'd still been alright at work since they'd fired a lot of people lately, figuring it made sense they'd be quiet on a Tuesday, tone clearly addressing him a moment later. "So, a scrapbook, right?"
"Mm-hm, paper anniversary and all that," he spoke then, absently and without real focus because if he screwed up the glitter glue he'd ruin this whole page and it was Sei's favourite photo of them, he refused to risk it.
"Yeah, Tio told me, it's a good idea," he was pulling off his tie then, the restaurant where he waited tables had gotten rather fancier since it was renovated and his white shirt and black tie combination got constricting after too long, having a nosey glance at the progress before excusing himself to the kitchen. Less than three minutes later he was back, frowning in confusion and regarding both Mizuki and his boyfriend with baffled eyes, "why is our sink full of wine bottles?"
"Oh, um, soaking off the labels and putting on handmade ones instead. Because, you know…"
"Paper." Kin finished, nodding slowly before shrugging to say he didn't really know what was going on but didn't care either, Mizuki only really registering then how late it was and that he was certainly intruding now.
"I think… I'm gunna leave it here for now, I'm still okay to come on Thursday right?"
"Mm, of course. The bottles should be done soaking too so I'll take the labels off tomorrow."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's good. Go home before he thinks we've murdered you or something."
He just raised an eyebrow at that, because Sei would think nothing of the sort and was probably having a lovely evening lazing around in his underwear or doing a face mask or whatever other weird beauty thing he was into lately. They waved him off at the door, one last beer in his hand to drink on the fairly short walk back and the promise that the scrapbook would remain untouched until he returned.
Thursday came and went in an extremely long, almost whirlwind like crafting session that started at one in the afternoon and didn't end until nearly midnight, Mizuki having severely underestimated how long it would take to complete the scrapbook and make new labels for six wine-type bottles. They had a break for food, deciding to order in and splitting the cost between them, Mizuki insisting they eat far away from his project and wolfing his noodles in less than ten minutes, to Tio's amused horror, demanding they get back to it as soon as they could.
Kin had been drafted in the moment he got in from work and had agreed easily after Tio whispered something in his ear that the bartender pretended to have not noticed, deciding it was almost certainly better now to know. So he worked on writing the bottle labels, having the best handwriting of them all and being alarmingly good at pretty, curly writing, just doing as he was told and Tio being the one to decorate them afterwards.
Two mildly curious texts from Sei later and a short phone call in which he insisted they were in the middle of a zombie campaign and he'd be back really soon, they were done, twenty minutes left until midnight and the scrapbook having been dried with a hairdryer and much concerned hovering.
"Okay, thanks guys, you're lifesavers."
"Mm-hm, tell us what he thinks."
"And I'd like some credit," that was Tio, smiling a little shittily as Kin handed over the decorated bottles, loaded into a backpack he'd stash in the tattoo studio before he headed to his husband, not minding when the goodbyes were cut short by another phone call, just waving and heading off into the night with apologies and white lies on his lips.
Then the day dawned but Sei didn't, remaining curled up in his sheets and perfectly comfortable as Mizuki slipped out of bed and crept around the house like some kind of shit ninja, inadvertently banging into everything he saw and clanking the glass bottles together so much it was a miracle Sei hadn't woken up. But finally things were all set up and Tio was at the door with their breakfasts in a bag over his arm, trying to argue the extra cash that was thrust upon him but giving up when he heard movement from the bedroom beyond and Mizuki promptly, apologetically, shut the door in his face.
"Mizuki, what are you doing? It's like nine."
"It's almost eleven, you lazy shit."
"You're mean," he frowned then, looking suitably dishevelled in an oversized t-shirt of Mizuki's and little else, boxers hidden under the long material, hair in terrible disarray and eyes crusted up with sleep, taking in the large wicker basket on the dining table. "What are you doing?"
"Making breakfast, sit down," he pulled out a chair for him and wasn't sure he deserved the suspicious look he was given as Sei just obeyed, sinking into his chair and wiping his eyes grouchily, perking up when he removed the familiar boxes from the bag and set one in front of him. "Waffle with banana, caramel and chocolate, or, waffle with mixed berry and fruit compote?"
"The chocolate one," his eyes had lit up like streetlights and he licked his lips unconsciously as Mizuki put the correct boxes in their places, retreating into the kitchen momentarily to return with the pot of previously made coffee. He didn't question any of it, just accepted the mug of coffee a little exaggeratedly, inhaling it and seeming to liven up just with the scent of quality beans and vanilla. "This is very cute."
"Mm, only the best for you babe," he kissed him then and damn was his morning breath bad, but then he hadn't brushed his teeth either so he didn't really care even as Sei pulled back with a light-hearted grimace. "Happy anniversary."
He froze then, hands stilling on the mug he'd picked back up and looking both pale and alarmed in the same second, "I'm sorry, what now?" "Happy anniversary?"
"Oh fuck," he announced this so loudly and suddenly that Mizuki was actually taken aback, blinking in surprise and raising an eyebrow as Sei lowered his mug loudly and gazed at him with panic in his expression. "It's today. Shit. Oh my God I completely forgot. Mizuki I am so sorry, oh God I feel awful how could I have forgotten?"
It was a little funny how freaked out he was, at least until his eyes filled with tears and he placed a hand over his mouth as if he was about to sob, then it rapidly became worrying instead and he reached out for his other hand, thumbing over his ring. "Whoa, hey, hey, relax, it's fine. Okay? I'm not mad or anything."
"But it's our first proper anniversary!"
"So? We've had ones before this and you never forgot, it just slipped your mind."
"No, it didn't! I ordered you something but I don't know if I got the day mixed up or what, I don't know, but I knew it was soon!" He seemed more annoyed to have gotten the day wrong than to have forgotten altogether, which Mizuki wasn't sure was logical, but he really didn't mind anyway, almost amused that it was Sei who had messed up for once instead of him.
"So give me it when it arrives, you know I like late presents. Now come on, eat your waffle or I will get upset." That was a lie, but Sei went back to it with only a little sniffle and no tears, sulking for about ten seconds, until Mizuki asked what he wanted to drink and pushed the basket of bottles over.
"Okay, so this is an awesome idea. But how are we meant to know what's in the bottles?"
There was a tense silence in which Sei just stole a bite of Mizuki's waffle and the bartender realised he'd made a mistake, "I mean, like wow, you've outdone yourself present-wise and I love it and you, but it's a little early to accidentally get drunk."
"Shit."
"Sei, close your eyes and put your hands out."
He looked suspicious then and he didn't entirely appreciate that, narrowing his eyes and regarding him silently for a second, "you're not gunna put your dick in my hand are you?"
"Why, on earth, would I do that?"
"Dunno, might be kinda funny," he looked amused even as Mizuki stared at him exasperatedly, considering that it would be a little funny even as he knew he wouldn't ever do that because it would be a significantly odd thing to do.
"No, I'm not gunna put my dick in your hand. Now come on, hands out, eyes shut." He obeyed, Mizuki placing the book in his hands and supporting it until Sei realised it was fairly heavy and had a good grip, releasing it. "Okay, open."
There followed a long silence in which Sei just stared at the cover silently, fingers coming to run across the neatest handwriting the bartender had managed to do, then he eased it open and Mizuki just watched nervously as he carefully flicked through, lingering on every page. But then he closed it again and the bartender had sat by his side, and he opened his mouth and whined.
"Mizukiii!" It wasn't a tone he adopted often, but he knew it was good even as his eyes got wet and he laughed damply, using the voice that meant it was too cute and he didn't know how to deal with it. His arms even flailed about a little bit in emotional overload, wiping away a tear and hand on the photo on the front cover, head coming to plop onto his shoulder and frowning, "I hate this photo."
"I know, that's why I used it."
He hit him then, very gently admittedly, cheeks wet and just lowering the book to the coffee table so he could hug him and sniffle happily into his shoulder, "you asshole, my gift's gunna look crap now."
"That was my intention."
"Remind me why I married you?"
"My money, I think? Or mutual desperation?" He joked as Sei wiped at his eyes, having shuffled almost into his lap, a pose alarmingly similar to that on the scrapbooks cover, glad he liked it even if he was having trouble expressing it in a normal fashion.
"That's the one," he just sat there for a little while, face in Mizuki's neck and the bartender remarking quietly to himself that this had gone a mixture of very well and not at all how he'd expected. But then he took a deep breath and moved back, smiling warm and broad, expression earnest and Mizuki feeling a little smug, "thank you, it's perfect. I feel like I need to do something to make up for the fact your present isn't here yet."
"That sounds a little prostitute-y."
"Well you can pay me if you want but I already have your money."
"Ah, such a sweet sentiment." This joking banter had always been something they'd done but apparently wasn't entirely normal, a fact he'd only learned recently when they'd been on a triple date with two other couples from Dry Juice, who had looked alarmed at the insults they'd thrown back and forth. But they were, of course, only joking and everything was said with affection, Sei rolling his eyes instead and pulling at his hoodie a little insistently.
"Shut up and kiss me."
"You certainly don't mince words." He laughed a little then, shuffling across his lap to perch in a more comfortable position and Mizuki's fingers already a little too high up on his inner thighs, whispering against his lips in the second before he kissed him and the bartender deciding this was definitely worth the shirt he'd ruined with glitter glue.
"Happy anniversary."
