Skull's been avoiding him like the plague, running out of rooms and sharply walking back the way he came at his sight. That is, if Colonnello catches sight of him at all by the time he leaves the mansion again whenever he visits.

It's hilarious thinking of the reasoning behind it, whether it's just embarrassment, or he thinks Colonnello will kiss him again on sight or something. Has he been avoiding Lal too because of what he said? He chuckles thinking he might just be.

Colonnello leaves him to it, doesn't want to make him uncomfortable if the guy doesn't want to see him right now. He doesn't really mind anyway, doesn't really care to corner him and confront him about it, or tease him about it or anything.

Ha, yeah, no, that was a lie. He definitely cares to tease him about it, if only just a little, couldn't possibly pass up the opportunity to do so, and so he follows the faint sound of music to the garage. That, plus the fact that if it's really all about how Colonnello might kiss him again, he does think it's funny on one hand, but on the other wonders if he should take offense at how much efforts Skull's putting so it won't happen again. Seeing Skull face to face will let him know on which side he feels like letting the coin fall, and then he'll be on his merry way again.

Skull sits on a low stool, tinkering with his bike, his back to him, tapping his foot and bopping his head at the rhythm of the music. He doesn't acknowledge him, whether he's ignoring him or isn't aware of his presence, and Colonnello clears his throat, leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed on his chest.

"Busy," Skull says, not turning back. "If nothing's burning and no one's dying, come back later."

Colonnello hums.

Skull whips his head above his shoulder, whatever tool he had in his hands clattering on the floor. He winces at his sight, recoiling, almost falling from his stool, and for a moment seems about to make a run for it without looking back. He tenses instead, forcefully making himself stay still.

There's a frantic look in his eyes as he's clearly not sure if it's the right thing to do, but then slowly, reluctantly, he shifts to sit sideways on the stool, never straying his eyes away from him. He opens his mouth, maybe to give him one of his usual greetings or another, but thinks better of it, closing it.

He says nothing, just keeps looking at him.

Oh?

Colonnello purses his lips to hide his amused smile a little.

Is it Skull's afraid he'll kiss him again if he so much as says anything?

Colonnello wouldn't.

Or would he?

"Hey," Colonnello eventually greets him first when it's clear Skull has made a vow of silence. He walks to him, Skull's inhaling sharply, though he doesn't hear it because of the music, but knows it by the movement of his chest. He crouches in front of him, maybe closer than necessary, resting his arms on his knees. "You're not scared of me now, are you?"

Skull blinks. Then an odd look flickers across his face, and he purses his lips, looking somewhat cross, but it's gone in the next moment. "I'm not."

This when Colonnello's supposed to say something along the lines of "Oh, found your tongue again?", but he just stares at him, tilting his head a bit. It makes Skull shift, skittish and unsettled, holding onto the edge of his stool.

He has a nice voice. Still on the higher side, but softer and smooth, almost lilting.

"That's good, because I can promise you I don't just randomly kiss people at a moment notice or anything."

Skull had yet to blush, but he blushes then, Colonnello smirking at him, though he doesn't look away. He barely even lets himself blink, really, like Colonnello will jump on him the moment he loses sight of him.

It's hilarious he very clearly thinks it's a possibility.

It's very cute too, and honestly kind of tempts him to actually jump on him, just to see how he would react to that.

"I didn't ask."

Colonnello hums, dropping his eyes to Skull's lips as he bites his lip. He stops as soon as Colonnello looks down, though. "I guess, but someone's been avoiding me lately, so I thought it was necessary to clear things up."

Skull huffs. "What do you even care?"

"Don't you know being avoided for no good reasons hurts one's feelings?" Skull gaps, looking disbelieving and outraged, and Colonnello holds his gaze, daring him to say it, to say something about how he has a very good reason to avoid him actually, thank you very much. He doesn't, biting his lip, and he looks away then for the first time, scowling. Colonnello grins, chuckling. "Anyway."

He leans his hands on Skull's knees, splaying his fingers over his thighs as he secures his grip on them. Skull snaps his eyes to his knees, his legs jolting, but then they tense and hold still. Colonnello leans forwards, balancing on his tiptoes and Skull's knees, and Skull snaps his eyes to his only when he's close enough to breathe on his lips, wide-eyed.

Colonnello holds still right there, inches apart, just to see Skull going through all kind of panics through the minute expressions on his face and the look in his eyes. He has no intention to kiss him again.

Or has he?

He leans forwards again the slightest bit, angling his head like he would do if he was going for a kiss. Skull surprisingly doesn't pull back, though it might just be the shock again keeping him still.

Colonnello finally closes the distance between them, kissing his cheek. Skull's breath stutters, hitches, and Colonnello lingers his lips against cold skin longer than necessary.

He pulls back, facing him again, grins at Skull's red face, and almost pulls back entirely when he thinks better of it. "You have a nice voice, by the way."

It snaps Skull out of the moment immediately, a defensive look taking over his face, and he wonders if it's a sensitive subject for him or something. "That's how I always talk," he says, giving him away himself showing he heard exactly what Colonnello didn't say. Colonnello gives him a pointed, unimpressed look, and he bites the inside of his cheek, a smile pulling at his lips even as he keeps on scowling. "Mind your own business."

Colonnello snorts. "You actually say thank you when you're given compliments, Lackey." He stands, and Skull tracks the movement of his hands as they leave his knees. "Anyway," he says again, "I just wanted to say hi. Nothing's burning and no one's dying, so you keep having fun with whatever you were doing."

He feels Skull's eyes on his back as he leaves the garage.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Any and all review are appreciated.

Thank you for reading!

- Hope