hey everyone! there are some text conversations in this chapter that look much better in the ao3 version, so I'd recommend heading over there to read it if you want the full effect. it's linked in my profile (though my username there is also SetsuntaMew)

anyway, beyond that...I hope you enjoy! I've been kicking a lot of butt at nanowrimo this year and I would love some comments on this to inspire me even more~

Hakuryuu spends the next 15 minutes composing a text to Alibaba. He wants to convey the necessary information without sounding too serious - which Judal likes to remind him he is via text - and also to apologize for taking so long to get back to him. Those sound like the proper things to include.

Hello, Alibaba. This is Hakuryuu. Apologies for the late message; work has been busy. I hope you're still doing well.

That looks good. Short and simple; he's less likely to mess up when it's so few words.

His phone buzzes not long after he hits send, but that's not very surprising. He supposes Alibaba was always better at quick conversation.

Hakuryuu: Hello, Alibaba. This is Hakuryuu. Apologies for the late message; work has been busy. I hope you're still doing well.
Alibaba: Yeah! I was worried you lost my # lol
Hakuryuu: I'm sorry.
Alibaba: nbd, you've got a job to worry about. What r u up to tonight?

Hakuryuu glances at the time, confirming that it's still mid-afternoon. Depending on Judal's mood, they could be done by dinner time or open extra late, especially if he wants to try to make up for last night's purchases at the Walmart. He really needs to talk to Judal about keeping regular store hours; the store has some dissatisfied reviews on yelp because of the inconsistent ones they keep now.

Hakuryuu: I'm working.
Alibaba: Boo, how late?
Hakuryuu: I'm not sure yet. It depends on how busy we are.
Alibaba: If you can dip early we should do dinner!
Alibaba: Aladdin says hi

He's never asked to leave early before, and he's not sure he wants to try just to see Alibaba and potentially Aladdin. He knows the goal here is to reach out more, but he's still not sure.

Hakuryuu: Give Aladdin my greetings, too. Did he like the lamp you bought?
Alibaba: He called it tacky :( but also that it looks good in the apartment, so that's a win
Hakuryuu: That's good.
Alibaba: Yeah! Lemme know if u can hang

Hakuryuu sets his phone down to consider his options. He still thinks he'd rather stay here until closing and then have a quiet night in, but then he's just keeping his usual routine. He should ask Judal for his opinion.

He slips his phone into his pocket and leaves the office, hoping he'll be able to reply soon. Alibaba knows that he's at work, but it's still rude to keep someone waiting. When Hakuryuu steps out of the office, however, he remembers why he had started texting Alibaba in the first place- the door chime had called an unwilling Judal away to go help customers. They're still there: a man and woman are slowly touching everything in the front room. Judal has a bland smiled plastered on his face for their sake, but one of his eyebrows is twitching. Hakuryuu can tell he's unhappy.

Maybe he should go wait in the office and sort out his own problems.

Judal catches his eye and makes a show of rolling his eyes at the current customers. Hakuryuu would chide him for being unprofessional, but they're too engrossed in the tacky wooden trinkets that they're looking over to notice. That almost makes it acceptable behavior.

Judal pads across the room and leans against the counter. "Do you need something?" he asks quietly, trying not to draw attention to their conversation.

"I had a personal question, but it's not important," Hakuryuu replies, one hand on the phone in his pocket. He shouldn't leave Judal to deal with problem customers; he'll probably keep making faces at them. At least this has helped him make up his mind anyway.

"Oohhh, I love your personal questions," Judal says, grinning. "Don't keep it from me."

"It's really not anything important," he insists, and Judal pouts. He's fairly sure Judal thinks it's some kind of personal question related to the two of them, not just about his inability to handle a social life. "I'm just going to go back-"

Judal grabs his hand and squeezes it. "Don't leave me with these morons," he hisses under his breath, subtly jerking his head towards them.

"Judal-"

He holds up a hand to stop Hakuryuu and turns around. Judal is all smiles again, just in time for the woman to wave him over with a question. It's almost art, how he can change gears so quickly and smoothly, and Hakuryuu finds himself drawn to watching it. He sits behind the counter while Judal helps them pick a few things out, taking the discarded options away from them before they can end up scattered around the store.

Hakuryuu eventually gets up and starts putting things away while Judal keeps trying to help them. But every time they seem to be done, one of them decides to linger a little longer over some baubles or they find new ways to inspect a bookshelf. It's truly impressive, though incredibly tiring.

The weight of his phone feels heavy in his pocket as he cleans up the mess the customers have left behind, and Hakuryuu resists his rising urge to panic. This is why he doesn't have friends; it's so much stress to maintain the proper level of communication and it always leaves him feeling like a failure. He hates this growing, sinking feeling in his guts.

Judal manages to corral them to the register while Hakuryuu picks up the final remains of their shopping experience, though he watches Judal out of the corner of his eye. He rings them up briskly and gives them the iciest 'have a nice day' Hakuryuu has ever heard from him. Judal collapses into the chair behind the counter with a sigh after they are finally gone.

Hakuryuu joins him at the counter when he's done cleaning and Judal gives him a long-suffering look. "They wouldn't leave," he whines, before dropping his head on the counter with a thunk.

"Were they here that entire time?" Hakuryuu asks, concerned.

"Yes," Judal groans. "And they only spent twenty bucks. How do you wander around a store for almost an hour and then buy basically fucking nothing?"

Hakuryuu pats his head comfortingly. "I'm surprised you didn't charge them more."

"I did. They barely got anything." He pauses, considering. "And I bet if I'd tried to charge more it woulda been another discussion over the price, so I gave up."

"I'm sorry," Hakuryuu tells him, still stroking his hair. Judal eventually melts from the attention, his shoulders loosening until he looks relaxed again; he's obviously in a much better mood now.

"You're a hero," Judal says into the counter, his words muffled by the wood and his more relaxed position.

Hakuryuu smiles down at him. "You seemed stressed."

"I was! Thank you," he says, gently batting Hakuryuu's hand away so he can sit up again. "But seriously, fuck those guys. I hate people like that. I shoulda known they were going to be assholes, since they interrupted my joy…"

This makes Hakuryuu laugh. "I've realized that you don't like a lot of people."

"Yeah, yeah, we've already gone over this. I hate everyone, but I'm a great actor," Judal says, grinning. "And don't think I forgot about your personal question," he coos, grin widening.

Hakuryuu sighs, feeling silly and stupid and like he might disappoint Judal all at once. "Like I said, it's not that serious."

"I don't care. I wanna know! The more you avoid it, the more I want it," he whines, pawing at Hakuryuu like a spoilt cat at dinner time.

"It's just about a social obligation I may or may not want to attend," Hakuryuu explains, hoping that's clear enough. "Alibaba invited me over for dinner."

"Your setup made it sound like you had some sort of fancy event or shit like that," Judal tells him, chuckling. "But instead maybe I should worry that Alibaba's trying to make a move on your fine ass."

Hakuryuu rolls his eyes. "We're friends from high school, and he wants to catch up. Why are you always like this?"

"I just gotta watch my territory," Judal tells him, reaching for Hakuryuu. "Now come over here so I can slap your ass."

He moves further out of Judal's reach in retaliation, trying to keep the overly proud look off his face. Judal whines and flops forward again, but he doesn't actually seem hurt, just annoyed. "I'm asking for your opinion seriously, and you've just made it about being handsy."

"Nooooo," he whines, but eventually he withers under Hakuryuu's gaze. "Well, maybe a little. What are you worried about? If you wanna go, go. If not, don't. We can order a pizza and watch a movie if you wanna stay in."

Judal's offer sounds so much more tempting than a potentially awkward dinner with Alibaba and Aladdin, but he has to at least explain his worries. "I'm not sure if I want to go."

"You probs don't then," Judal interrupts.

"I wasn't done."

"Sorry."

"Like I was saying, I'm just not sure if I'm debating it so much because I really don't want to go or because I don't like to change my routine," Hakuryuu elaborates.

Judal looks thoughtful for a moment, tapping his fingers against the counter while he considers his answer. "I dunno. Why'd you text him? I didn't think you were gonna."

"I thought it would be a good idea to reach out. But now I'm not sure," he says. Hakuryuu can't stop thinking of the image of him and Judal, curled up in his far too messy but somehow still cozy apartment, watching whatever strange movie Judal has picked. It just sounds nice and comfortable in ways no other friendship ever has.

"Then tell him you've gotta work. You can blame me, since everyone hates their boss or whatever," Judal says.

"But it's not your fault."

"Yeah, but it's a convenient excuse."

"Well, I wasn't going to lie," Hakuryuu says, frowning.

Judal raises an eyebrow. "What, were you gonna tell him you weren't coming to dinner because it sounded terrible and upset you?"

"Maybe not in those exact words," Hakuryuu tries to say, only to be interrupted by Judal chuckling.

"Oh, you're precious. Don't ever say that to someone, unless you're trying to be a giant tool," he explains. Hakuryuu stares back at him, thinking this over, and Judal's laughter turns a shade incredulous. "Seriously, you'd really tell someone that?"

"I like to be honest."

"I see someone never learned the art of subtle white lies," Judal says, but he doesn't seem like he's trying to make him feel like an idiot. Hakuryuu isn't sure how Judal manages to not make him feel horrible when he makes a social faux pas, but it's impressive and helpful. "But don't worry. Lemme ghost write your texts, and I'll free you from hanging out with Alibooba."

Hakuryuu laughs. "That's a rather fitting nickname."

"Just 'cause I only met him the once doesn't mean I can't tell what a boob he is," Judal says, gesturing with one of his many bedazzled pens. "He just had the face. And the attitude. And the oblivious enthusiasm."

"And you call me judgmental," Hakuryuu says, shaking his head. He can't disagree with it, though; Judal has summed up Alibaba almost perfectly.

"It takes one to know one, or whatever. We're both dicks. It's part of why I get along with you so well," Judal tells him. "Now gimme your phone so I can help you."

Hakuryuu hesitates before handing his phone to Judal. "Just be polite. I want to read over what you're going to send first."

Judal sighs dramatically. "It's like you don't trust me at all."

"You literally just said that you're a judgmental asshole," he points out. "Of course I want to make sure you're not making it worse. Also, your spelling is terrible."

"Tell me how you really feel, Hakuryuu. Just don't hold back or anything," Judal says sarcastically, before scrolling through the text conversation. "Aw, you almost sound like a little robot trying to imitate the humans. You're so serious!"

"I was trying to be casual," Hakuryuu tells him, frowning.

"I bet you were," Judal agrees. They lapse into silence punctuated by the quiet sounds of his cell phone keyboard as Judal composes a reply, face twisted into one of serious concentration. Hakuryuu is touched that he's actually giving it some thought.

Judal thrusts the phone back at Hakuryuu. "What do you think?"

Sorry, found out I can't go. Work's keeping me too late let's try again later?

He frowns again. Judal tried but it's just so obviously not what he texts like that Hakuryuu will need to fix it. "Thank you. I just need to change it a little."

"That's fine. I got you started," Judal says, unconcerned.

Hakuryuu: Sorry, but I found out that I can't go because work is keeping me too late. Let's try again another time.
Alibaba: Cool cause now I can do something else!
Alibaba: This hot girl gave me her # so I've got a date
Hakuryuu: That sounds nice. I hope you have a good time.

Hakuryuu stares at his phone. He's pretty sure this also counts as being rude; maybe Judal is judging his social skills too harshly. Or maybe Alibaba doesn't realize he's rude. Either is pretty possible. But at least the conversation is now over with minimal stress. He sets his phone on the counter and Judal immediately snatches it up to look at his conversation. Apparently personal boundaries mean nothing to Judal, but he guesses that's nothing new.

"Oh man, you got turned down right back for a date? That's priceless," Judal chuckles, setting the phone down. It vibrates and Hakuryuu takes it before Judal can get into it.

Alibaba: Yeah, all these girls have been checking me out lately
Alibaba: I think they're finally gonna like me!
Hakuryuu: You sound really desperate.
Alibaba: No this time they're all talking to me! It's not desperate!
Hakuryuu: If you say so.

Judal comes around to stare over his shoulder, breathing lightly against his neck as he does. It's distracting, and not because it's annoying. Hakuryuu angles the phone so Judal can see it better, since he knows by now that he can't prevent him from prying.

"What a loser," Judal says, laughing. "You were right to call him desperate."

"Here I thought I wasn't supposed to say what I think."

"I mean, it's still rude. But he sounds like one of those guys that whines about girls never liking him," Judal points out. "And that's just so laaaame and booooring."

"You're not wrong. He spent all of high school desperate to get a girlfriend, but I thought he might have grown out of it since. I guess I was wrong," Hakuryuu says, putting his phone away. That's enough dealing with Alibaba for now. He can enjoy his evening without guilt, too, since he apparently had something better come along anyway. Just like always.

Judal kisses his cheek quickly before bouncing away. "I'm so good at people," he declares proudly.

"I wouldn't go that far."

"Asshole."

"See, you're proving my point," Hakuryuu says, and Judal snickers. He can usually tell when Judal is teasing, and ever since their discussion in Walmart he's been trying to pay better attention. It doesn't come naturally to him, but he wants to make it work. He hopes it'll get easier with time. Things with Judal just seem to fall into place, so he's pretty confident.

Judal gives him an easy smile. "Yeah, whatever. I'm good at reading people. I don't have to actually be nice to them to do that."

"I've noticed."

He sticks his tongue out. "Don't you have paperwork or something to do instead of making fun of me? You're so cruel, Hakuryuu," Judal says congenially, resting an elbow on the counter to rest his head and watch him better.

Hakuryuu smiles back. "I suppose I can get some work done. Try not to kill your customers while I'm gone."

"No promises!"

x･x･x

Judal drags him up the stairs after they close, so quickly that Hakuryuu is can barely feel them underneath him, and he's pretty sure they're flying. With Judal, that's entirely possible. Hakuryuu does a quick clean up of the living room floor - just so they won't trip trying to get to the couch - while Judal gets into more comfortable clothes. He comes back in soft looking harem pants and a faded t-shirt from his relatives' restaurant, which is far too endearing to Hakuryuu than it has any right to be.

"Pizza still good with you?" Judal asks once he's settled on the couch. Hakuryuu glances over and nods.

"Yes, since you seem so set on it," he says, throwing away the small pile of Chinese takeout containers that he found in shoved into a corner. Maybe if he just puts trash cans in strategic places in Judal's apartment, some of his garbage will actually make it into them.

Judal sticks his tongue out. "Who doesn't love pizza?"

"People who are lactose intolerant."

"That's not what I- You're so literal sometimes," he says, laughing. "And I bet some of them love it and just suffer through the pain. I'd do it if I was."

Hakuryuu hides his smile, tying off the garbage bag and taking it to the kitchen. He'll take it downstairs when he leaves, since he parked next to the trash. For now, he gets them water and joins Judal on the couch.

"Oooh, hydration. Thanks," Judal says gratefully, reaching for his cup. He hands it back to Hakuryuu after taking a drink and returns to poking his phone. "I'm just getting my usual toppings."

"Can you please just get the pineapple on half?" Hakuryuu asks, cringing. He's usually open to most food, but this is one he's not a fan of.

Judal whines. "But I like it."

"Then let me get some vegetables on it," Hakuryuu says, not so much trying to compromise as he is trying to save himself from picking pineapple off his slices of pizza.

"Ew! Why are you so mean to me?"

"I'm not mean. I just don't like pineapple on pizza. I don't try to criticize your food choices," he points out.

"Yes you do! You told me I should eat a vegetable," Judal shoots back triumphantly.

"But I didn't force anything on you."

Judal wilts somewhat. "I guess. Whatever. You win this time, Hakuryuu, but you owe me one!"

"I feel like I owe you enough already," he says, causing Judal to laugh. He places the order without any other disagreements and turns to Hakuryuu expectantly. "Yes?"

"I dunno, I somehow expected you to have the movie set up while I was ordering," Judal admits, trailing off. "What do you wanna watch?"

"See, that's why I didn't start anything. We have to pick something out together," Hakuryuu says, leaning in to watch Judal scroll through movie options on his phone. Picking one comes easier this time; they can agree on action flicks easily. Judal seems partial to superhero movies, so they find the newest one Netflix has to offer.

Hakuryuu watches Judal fight with his TV to get it set up. This is why he doesn't buy into the idea of having a TV that can connect to the internet among other things; it's far too complicated and runs too much of a risk. He doesn't need anyone spying on him in his home. Judal swears at it once more and it finally connects properly, and he flops back on the couch with the remote.

"I want my pizza," Judal complains as the movie starts, curling up against Hakuryuu as he does. Hakuryuu pulls him closer to comfort him, even if he's being ridiculously demanding.

"It'll get here eventually," Hakuryuu reminds him. "Be quiet. I'd like to watch the movie, you know."

"Fine," Judal concedes, resting his head on Hakuryuu's shoulder. He does actually stay mostly quiet while they watch the movie, only occasionally leaning up to whisper commentary in Hakuryuu's ear. He's seen it before and has opinions.

They both jump when the doorbell rings, and Judal scrambles to go answer it. It's always a treat to see him be a graceless mess instead of the perfectly put together persona he displays in the shop, and Hakuryuu finds himself smiling fondly as he gets the pizza.

"Ta-da!" Judal says, setting the pizza and a small box of breadsticks on the coffee table in front of them. "I bring you: dinner!"

"But did you bring plates?"

Judal freezes before pouting. "No, 'cause we can just eat like the heathens we are, jeez. I bet you're gonna want napkins next."

"They'd be nice, yes," Hakuryuu says, before getting up to head to the kitchen. "But I can get them myself."

"Thanks!" Judal calls out. Hakuryuu finds him back on the couch and looking up at him expectantly. "Now serve me. It's uh, part of our contract. You gotta bring me my pizza slices."

"Really?"

"Really!"

"You are such a brat sometimes," Hakuryuu says, but he does it anyway. Something about Judal makes him fun to spoil.

Judal grins and takes his pizza and breadsticks with glee. They start the movie back up, and this time Judal runs commentary with the addition of gestures, using a breadstick and then his pizza crusts to make his points.

Hakuryuu eventually takes the crusts from him. "You know, I'm trying to watch this."

He glances back. "Yeah, I know. I just wanted to help!"

"By talking over it?" he teases, setting aside their plates and assorted trash. He'll clean them up after the movie. For now, he wraps an arm around Judal to pull him closer, and Judal cuddles right into him. It's very cute.

"Yes!"

Hakuryuu shakes his head. "Come on, let me have this. I'll discuss it with you you afterwards, I promise."

Judal whines into his ear and then nips at it softly, but stops complaining. Hakuryuu is going to take that as a win. The rest of the movie passes much more quietly, with Judal barely saying anything. He's seemingly content to stay quiet if it means he gets to be snuggled up with Hakuryuu, which is far too sweet.

As the credits roll, Judal tries to pull Hakuryuu closer. "You should stay. I haven't trashed the other room yet," he says.

"I should go home. That futon is uncomfortable," he responds, but he doesn't try to disentangle from Judal yet. He'll get to it eventually; there's still a little bit of movie to go.

"You're no fun," Judal whines, pouting. "Are you sure?"

It's only the thought of the futon that lets him answer, "Yes."

Judal drops the subject with surprising ease, going quiet to enjoy his last few snuggles before the movie ends. When it's over, Judal glances up. "Want me to walk you home?"

Hakuryuu shakes his head. "I don't want to leave the car behind. I'm going to go take your trash out now."

"Awww, come on, it's sat this long. At least snuggle a little more!"

Hakuryuu shakes his head again. If he stays any longer, he really won't want to leave. He grabs the trash bag, determined to stick with his decision.

Judal insists on at least stealing one last quick kiss, and he stands at the top of the stairs, watching until Hakuryuu has left the alley and disappears from sight.