"The land of embarrassment and breakfast." -Julian Barnes
Mal was the definition of cool. He was laid back, dark and mysterious, a smooth talking musician full to the brim with immeasurable amounts of charm. He was the one people spoke of when they were defining the word confidence, his picture literally next to it in the dictionary. Looking to be more self assured? Just act like the Herald, and you'll be everything you dreamed of being. And even countless lovely ladies faint just by the sight of him. In conclusion; he was that cool. He was the hot shot every man prided himself on becoming, he was the lead in every romance movie, he was- he was an idiot.
Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes.
He had been prepping for this day for two weeks now, and all he could do was stand awkwardly outside with a wilting bouquet for fifteen goddamn minutes. It was their first official date alone. No massive group dates, not making googly eyes behind the third wheel's back. Just the two of them together.
Alone.
Dear Lord he didn't want to mess this up at least not mess it more since he was already late. Or rather too early to say anything.
Was he sweating? He hoped not, better check his appearance.
Mal ran his free hand over his velvet jacket once more smothering the non-existent wrinkles. He could do this. All he had to do was knock. It wasn't that hard, anyone could do it, even Speedy could do it; and that guy's an asshole.
An asshole who bagged a prince.
Swallowing down a whine threatening to leak, the teen lifted his hand to knock before quickly retracting his knuckles just millimeters away.
He can't do this. No. No way. He'll just apologize until the sun implodes on itself like the dying star that it is and call out sick. Yeah that's it. He'll do that-
Woosh.
The door opened and a tow headed imp casually smiled welcoming him in.
Fuck.
He was so screwed, he couldn't call out with Jericho right in front of him. No way would he break that boy's angelic soul because he couldn't pull his shit together.
Biting the inner flesh of his gums he willed himself to remain composed.
Don't look like you're about to piss yourself. Don't look like you're about to piss yourself!
The Herald gave a falsely confident smirk as his shaky voice exposed him.
"H-hey Joey!"
Joey eyed him up and down with those devious little gems of his, before shooting Mal a confused face still laced with one of those signature grins.
'It's nice of you to dress up for me. But I thought we were just watching a movie together?' The younger boy signed.
"Uh I guess?" Mal stuttered his cheeks flushed, "Here."
Nearly throwing the fading bundle of flowers at Jericho the Herald took another gander at his ensemble. He did look entirely overdressed for the occasion; pressed slacks, a tucked in button-down, newly bought antique jacket that he thrifted the Holy Hell out of, and even a navy blue tie the same color schemes as his uniform. Compared to Joey's oversized granny-printed sweater, washed out jeans with paint splatters, and mismatched socks he really did give the impression that this was going to be a formal evening rather than them just bumming it on the couch eating chips and ice cream.
Joey cradled the bouquet of daisies against his chest as he leant forward standing on his toes to peck Mal's chin. He still couldn't reach his lips unless the Herald bent down. But Mal was head over heels for Jericho's little bobble of missed kisses.
'Thank you, these are beautiful!'
Almost as beautiful as you Mal wanted to say, but the words were caught in his throat and instead he muttered, "No problem, heh glad you like 'em."
So much for Mr. Look-up-confidence-in-the-dictionary.
Joey snickered silently, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes as he pulled gently on Mal's cuff leading him to the sofa and dropping a remote onto the trumpet player's lap.
'Pick out a movie first, okay?' Joey signed with his left hand while he dashed around the legs of a table piled high with snacks.
Nodding Mal flipped through the channel selections never really taking his eyes away from his surroundings.
Jericho's room really was something else; dozen of paintings and art projects in various stages of completion lay haphazardly around, musical instruments were crowded to one side near an overflowing bookshelf full of CD's, records, and lined musician paper practically bursting out, a bed in the furthest corner could be seen covered with a ridiculous amount of stuffed animals. Even the golden headed teen's closet was jam-packed. A half kitchen to the other side where Joey was filling up a vase, was full of partial pottery and an overabundance of freshly grown herbs. Despite all the rooms in the tower being the same size, Jericho had a knack for making everything he touched feel immensely small.
Maybe it was because he was small himself? Like an adorable pocket sized parcel of happiness.
Yeah Jericho was happiness.
Hopping almost onto the Herald's lap Joey plopped himself onto the cushions, his thighs brushing up against Mal's sent shivers down the taller hero's spine.
Definitely his happiness for sure.
'Did you find a movie yet?'
Shit, he was supposed to pick one out.
Distracted, he had lost track of how much time had elapsed, and instead opted out by saying, "How about we just watch something…"
Think of something Malcolm. Think. Think. Think.
The leader gazed back to Joey's questioning stare, and turned his eyes down to avoid the other's intense eyes. As Mal's sight wandered he landed back on Jericho's socks; the kid never managed to find a matching set, always deciding to wear whatever he could grab time it was mismatched Disney themed socks. One was Snow White with poisonous apples and deers sewed to the top of his heels, the other The Little Mermaid with a pattern of mini Flounders decorating his right foot. Snow White. The Little Mermaid. Disney.
"... something Disney Princess-y?"
Good save. Nailed it.
Tilting his crown of curls slightly Joey gave an ear to ear grin as he agreed wholeheartedly.
'Perfect! Are we doing a Disney Princess Marathon then?'
Mal cleared his throat as he straightened the creases from his shirt.
"Of course!"
Scrolling through the movies they found the classics and started with Snow White, the first Disney princess. Joey dimmed the lights as he snuggled back up to Mal, buried by blankets and bags of chips and candy.
Mal filtered through some of the sugary, heart stopping snacks and pulled a bag of skittles.
"Where did you get all this food?"
'Stole it from Kid Flash.'
Raising an amused eyebrow the Herald snorted, "Why?"
Chewing through a mountain of Hershey's Kisses Joey nonchalantly answered.
'Called me short.'
"Ah."
'I'm not short. Just vertically challenged.'
"Right, totally."
Jokingly Jericho hit him with a fallen pillow, his scrunched face feigning agitation barely hiding the rising corners of his lips. He then puffed a sigh and hunkered into Mal's shoulder for the duration of the movie.
Mal felt himself relaxing, easing away from the stark contrast of his rigid mood prior and settling into the endless cuddles from a hyped up Joey. The awkwardness was evaporating like rain in the Arizona sun.
As the movie progressed the two boys munched away through the various junk foods knowing full well that their stomachs would regret this in the morning. By the second movie the Herald began sneaking glances at Jericho throughout each scene, lovingly observing the way the other would would become so entranced by the film, watching those green jewels dilate dramatically when a twist in the plot appeared, and how those pouty cheeks of his would flush a brilliant hue of pink at every kiss moment. He was utterly captivating to him. Joey was captivating. Everything about him was breathtaking.
Mal found himself twirling Jericho's loose curls in his fingers as the latter rested his head against his beating heart. The sound of hushed breathing barely audible through the movie's soundtrack.
"Hey… Joey?"
A tiny perk from a shuffled head was his response.
"I kinda wanna admit that I was really-" the scene of Cinderella dancing with the prince started, "-really nervous about us doing this dating thing."
Jericho lifted himself up to meet the older boy, a look of concern began to glimmer in those bright emeralds of his.
Backtracking Mal's speech picked up, "Not that I don't like you or anything! I absolutely do! It's just I lose my cool around you because you're so special to me, and-" The Herald groaned his hands drifting off of Joey to cup his own flaming face"-God am I screwing it up right now?"
Soft skin felt like burning coal against his as light fingers entwined with his freeing his face to meet Jericho's kind smile.
'You're special to me too.'
Choking a laugh Mal felt the tension slip away.
"You know that you're great at tripping a guy up?"
'It helps take down the baddies too.' Joey signed.
"Pfft -snrk-" Bubbling laughter echoed through the room uncontained.
"Did you just say 'baddies'?" Mal guffawed trying to steady both Jericho and the chips from falling off the couch.
'What?! I learned it from the girls! That and what simps are. Are you a simp Mal?!' Joey leaned all the way onto his torso, his eyes glowing with pensive, humorous indignation, the snacks tumbling to the floor was ignored as the teens locked eye contact.
"Only for you!" Barked Mal and Joey jolted back shocked.
A moment of silence lasting a mere millisecond flickered by only to disintegrate by a raucous voice and smiles of unbridled mirth.
Both boys hunched over in their laughter unaware of the rolling credits. They were just two teens on a first date feeling the good vibes only.