sorry for the kind of short chapter, but I promise it's still cute :D NaNoWriMo starts today, but don't worry; I'll be including chapters for this in my word count for it so updates won't stop XD I'll just also be writing a lot of other stuff, and hopefully getting the beginning going for another chaptered fic. eventually. I promise you'll be seeing a lot more juhaku from me in the future~
Hakuryuu carries the desk chair and the rest of the office supplies in before he opens the next morning. Last night's conversation is still fresh in his mind, but he really does want to construct the chair today; he wants a more comfortable seat while he works. Regardless of what Judal said, he is still required to work here, and he'll make it as nice as possible. Everything else they talked about is still a bit much to think on.
Judal wanders in fashionably late, carrying his bag of fruit snacks. "I'm gonna store these here or I'll just lose them. Did you know that gummies can expire?"
"Of course they do," Hakuryuu says, trying his best not to sound condescending.
"Yeah, I'm a dumbass," Judal agrees, laughing at himself as he heads into the back. He pops back out with a single serving bag of the fruit snacks; apparently he's pretending it's a healthy meal. "Anyway, aren't you gonna use your new chair?"
"I was waiting for you to get here," he explains. "I have to put it together, and I didn't want to leave the store unattended for however long it takes me."
"You're so responsible," Judal tells him, ripping open the packet of fruit snacks. "I guess I can let you go construct it."
"Thank you," Hakuryuu says, leaving Judal to sit at the counter as he goes into the back. He's never put furniture together before, so he'll need to read the instructions and plan every step out just to be safe. It doesn't look impossibly hard as long as he puts the pieces together in order, which really goes without saying. He's glad he found a toolbox a few weeks ago, though. He carefully lays out all the pieces and gets to work.
Unsurprisingly, Judal comes in to pester him after a bit. He perches on the desk to watch Hakuryuu, slurping loudly at some sort of horribly sweet fruit drink. Hakuryuu won't turn down the company, even if he's making annoying noises.
"Where did you get those tools?" Judal asks eventually.
"Hm?"
"I don't buy...handyman stuff like that."
He looks up from his project to see that Judal looks honestly confused. "I found a toolbox stuffed in the back of the closet awhile ago. I've used it to fix a few things since."
"Shit, I must have gotten that years ago," Judal decides, shaking his head. "I'm glad you're so resourceful. And good at finding crap."
"No, I just know how to look for things. And follow instructions," Hakuryuu explains, gesturing with the screwdriver he's holding. Judal chuckles but doesn't comment further, seemingly content with watching Hakuryuu work. He's realized by now that Judal has some sort of sense for when people enter the store, so it's not like he'll miss anything.
He twists another piece together, proud of his success so far. Something has been on his mind since their shopping trip last night though, so he pauses to ask Judal about it. "I have a question about your shopping habits."
Judal cocks his head to the side. "Yeah? Hit me with it, I'm all ears."
"I'm surprised you don't just teleport your choices home without paying for them. No offense, but your respect for rules is fairly loose," Hakuryuu says, glancing up to gauge Judal's expression.
He bursts into laughter. "I'm not laughing at you," he assures Hakuryuu. "You just- you're so judgmental but you dress it up with politeness until it almost sounds reasonable."
"That's not-"
"No, you're fucking rude," Judal says, grinning. "But it's okay. Me and my loose morals still like you."
Leave it to Judal to make a perfectly innocent question sound inappropriate. Hakuryuu's cheeks feel hot, so he busies himself with the chair to avoid talking. So much for making conversation.
"Do you really think the greedy assholes in charge of places like Walmart and shit don't have their own magical staff to prevent that sort of thing? Everyone's looking out for themselves and magic is everywhere; it's not so unknown that you can get away with murder with it," Judal says, leaning so far off the desk that he should have fallen by now, all so that he can eye Hakuryuu up properly. "I mean, you can. It just ain't easy."
"Oh."
"You're right, though. I used to be a thieving brat, here and there, until the only places without protections in place were other little businesses like mine, and I'm not that much of an asshole," Judal finishes, shifting out of Hakuryuu's personal space some but still watching him intently.
"I see," he says. It makes sense, now that Judal's put it like that. He feels uneducated about the world, again, but that's okay. It's been getting better, and he knows he can keep learning.
"Don't look so worried," Judal says, bopping him on the head fondly.
Hakuryuu frowns at him. "I'm not worried."
"Guess it's just your face then," Judal teases, finally jumping off the desk properly. "I'm gonna leave you to this."
"Alright," he agrees, smiling when Judal ruffles his hair on the way out. He'll have to put it back up in a bun, but it was worth it.
When he's done, Hakuryuu sits in his new desk chair triumphantly. It's comfortable, but he can still easily sit at the desk: perfect. It's a good improvement. He'll clean up, do the rest of today's paperwork, and then show Judal his accomplishment.
He finds Judal at the tail end of a transaction, selling an absolutely hideous vase to someone who looks ecstatic about their purchase. There's no accounting for taste, he supposes. Judal barely acknowledges his entrance, but Hakuryuu can see his smile soften from plasticky polite shopkeeper into something more honest. That's sweet.
Judal shoots him a cheeky grin when the customer leaves. "Taking a break?"
Hakuryuu shakes his head. "I'm done. I just wanted to let you know."
His expression brightens. "Ooooh, aren't you fancy! I wanna see!" Judal pushes his way back to the office and practically flings himself into the chair. Hakuryuu cringes, but apparently it's sturdy enough to survive Judal's enthusiasm. That's a good sign. He spins in it experimentally, rolling across the floor happily, before spinning it around to face Hakuryuu again.
"I like it," Judal says. "I mean, I like the comfy one more, but it's very you. It fits."
"Now you can sit in the other chair when you come to keep me company, instead of on the desk," Hakuryuu tells him, but he has the feeling Judal won't take his suggestion.
Predictably, Judal cackles. "Now where's the fun in that?"
"Well-"
"Trick question! I like sitting on the desk. Puts me right at kissing level," Judal interrupts, smiling brightly. Hakuryuu's arguments die in his mouth; he wasn't expecting that answer. Judal pushes himself forward - still in the new chair, of course - until he's right in front of Hakuryuu.
"I still think that it's very unprofessional," Hakuryuu insists.
Judal grins widely. "Sitting on the desk?"
"No, kissing at work- I mean, sitting on the desk is unprofessional too, but I don't think I can stop you," he answers, trying to keep himself composed. Judal gets under his skin in a way that should annoy him, but somehow, it's endearing instead. He's not sure he'll ever understand it.
"It's my store," Judal whines, trying to pull Hakuryuu into his lap. "I can do what I want!"
Hakuryuu stands firmly. "There has to be a weight limit on that chair. I don't want to break it immediately."
He blows a raspberry. "I think you just hate my joy."
"I do not!"
Judal's pout turns into a knowing smile, and there's a dusting of pink on his cheeks. "I see you do care," he says proudly. "But this is a serious design flaw in the chair."
Hakuryuu offers him a hand up and Judal takes it, letting Hakuryuu pull him so close it makes his breath hitch. "The chair is there for me to work, you know. You told me to figure out what I like to do, and one of those things is to get work done in a reasonable amount of time."
"Tease," Judal says softly, angling himself closer.
"No part of that is teasing," he points out, shifting his hand to rest on Judal's lower back. He purrs happily, like he always seems to when Hakuryuu's touches him, and presses a kiss to Hakuryuu's cheek.
"If you say so," Judal says, before frowning. "I hate customers."
Hakuryuu releases him, much to his disappointment. "Then why do you own a business?"
"'Cause apparently being beautiful and powerful doesn't pay the bills," he whines, straightening his clothes and hair before heading out front.
Hakuryuu watches him go, forcing himself not to dwell on the longing he feels. He has other things to do besides get hung up on Judal, as tempting as it sounds. He's not sure he likes this side effect to their improved relationship.
He busies himself cleaning up the desk, and finds Alibaba's phone number tucked in between some scrap paper. Maybe he should text him and get his mind off Judal for a little. He's never been good at maintaining friendships, but Alibaba seems to think they're still friends despite falling out of communication for years. Hopefully they'll get along better now.