Crescent Meadows

Chapter Three: He Likes Cute Things

Týr heads into work, his brothers words ringing in his ears. It's not shocking, the notion that Kaoru isn't nice. In fact, when he was being nice to Týr, it sort of weirded him out. "Good morning, Týr!" Týr looks over and sees Yao smiling at him while sweeping the sidewalk. "Good morning, Yao…" Týr mumbles and Yao leans on his broom. "I heard you and Kaoru aren't actually friends." The teen stiffens up, so Kaoru did tell him. "…No, not really…" Yao smiles sadly. "That's too bad; I thought Kaoru had finally taken an interest in someone…"

Týr frown, feeling slightly guilty for some reason. "I'm sure he'll find someone who catches his interest eventually…There has to be someone out there amusing enough to." He says and Yao smiles at him. "My little Kaoru likes cute things far more that something that does a bunch of stuff. This is why his room is full of stuffed animals rather than video games…"

Týr looks at him wide eyes and Yao twitches. "Oh…you…didn't go to his room last night, did you?" The small teen shakes his head no. "Ah…then don't mention the stuffed animals to Kaoru, please. I'd rather not have to wake up to an explosion in my room…again." Yao says and Týr nods. "Ok." He waves goodbye to Yao and heads into the building, seeing a bunch of children sitting motionless and watching Kaoru play piano and Meilin singing. Týr looks at them curiously; there is a feeling to the moment that reminds him of those annoying shoujo manga that Peter reads. It's like a couple sharing a song, although he's pretty sure they aren't dating.

However, looking at them like this, in such a strangely romantic setting, is making Týr feel uneasy. His chest feels like its tightening. Maybe it's a different reaction to shock, since the idea of Kaoru being in any sort of romantic scenario is just weird. He decides that's what it is and watches silently as they continue and Meilin smiles over at Kaoru. Nothing weird there. But as soon as Kaoru actually smiles back, Týr finds himself moving forward, accidentally stepping on a kids hand. "WWAAAAHHHH!" The little boy cries and Týr looks down surprised. "O-oh…I'm sorry…"

He kneels down and takes the boy's hand, examining it. "I-it hurts!" The little boy cries and Týr frowns. He allows the boy to craw into his lap, which reminds him of a way his brother would cheer him up when he was younger and got hurt. He takes the boy's hand in his and kisses it. "Pain, pain, go away." Týr says quietly, hoping Kaoru doesn't hear him. The little boy stares at him blushing and wide-eyed. "All better?" Týr asks and the boy smiles, nodding. "Uhuh!" "So, if you hurt me…do I get a kiss too?" Kaoru asks from behind and Týr glares. "N-no. If I hurt you all you'll get is whatever Meilin decides to do to help you." Týr mumbles before getting up and heading into the kitchen with Lien. "Oh, good morning Týr." Lien says before handing him an apron.

"Good morning Lien…" Týr mumbles and puts on the apron before Kaoru comes in. "Lien, the kids want to know what you're making for breakfast." Kaoru says and Lien glares at him. "What do we always make for breakfast, Kaoru? Don't ask questions you know the answers to." Lien says and Kaoru shrugs. "I really love these conversations we have, Lien." The girl rolls her eyes. "Someone has to…" She looks from Kaoru back to Týr. "I need you to grab the stuff from the freezer."

Týr nods and goes to the freezer, followed by Kaoru. "Go away…" "Don't get your panties in a bunch, I'm here because Lien told me to come and make sure you didn't hurt yourself." Kaoru says and Týr looks at him confused. "How would I hurt myself?" The brunette shrugs. "Heck if I know. All I know is Lien gets very protective of those she cares about. So be grateful…or…something…" Kaoru says and Týr blushes a little. "So she treats those she likes as if they are kids…?" "Pretty much."

Týr sighs and turns away from him to grab the frozen waffles and sausages. This daycare prides itself on its homemade meals, but that's only for lunch. Kids are pretty picky about their breakfast, after all. He stands on his tiptoes and reaches for the waffles. Once he grabs them he looses his footing and falls over, quickly caught by an amused Kaoru. "Well look at this, you needed me after all." Týr looks up at him with flushed puffed out cheeks. "I did not." Kaoru raises a brow, noticing Týr's foot stuck under the shelf. "Oh yeah? So I suppose I can just let you go right now and you'll-" Týr quickly abandons the food and wraps his arms around Kaoru's neck. "Don't you dare."

Kaoru smirks a little. "Why not? Can't catch your footing…? Or would is that you'd rather just stay here in my ar-?" "M-my foot is stuck, smart ass. You already know that though, don't you?" Týr asks annoyed. "I might." Kaoru says, his eyes trailing to the stuck foot. "Hm…it's twisted in there so I can't sit you down. Figures a boy clumsy enough to burn a pop tart in a microwave would get himself into this kind of predicament while simply reaching up for some waffles." Týr glares up at him. "You're not funny. You could have offered me help when you saw me reaching…" "But then how would I get to hold you?" Kaoru teases and Týr frowns. "Shut up and help me."

The brunette leads Týr over to the shelves and leans down, one arm holding Týr up still while the other frees his foot. Týr lets out a sigh of relief and sits down, gathering the boxes he dropped. "So…does your foot hurt?" Kaoru asks and Týr shrugs. "A little…but it's not like I can't walk…" He mumbles and stands up. "Would you like a kiss to make it better? You know, 'pain, pain, go away'?" Kaoru teases and Týr blushes, throwing one of the boxes of frozen sausage at him. "You're not funny." He says and walks away. "I'm hilarious." Kaoru says, getting a huff of annoyance from Týr as they leave the freezer.

At recess:

Týr sits on the swing, all the children surrounding him. "Ok! You have to count to one hundred before looking for us!" A little boy says. "No! A hundred twice!" A little girl says, earning a huff from the boy. "That's two hundred, stupid!" "You're stupid!" She yells and Týr sighs, closing his eyes. "ONE…" He says and hears a collective gasp before all the children run off. Instead of speaking loud enough for them all to hear, he opts for counting in his head. After a few minutes he hears Meilin singing off in the distance as she does some chore, most likely sweeping, and his mind wanders to the idea of her dating Kaoru. They wouldn't be a bad looking couple, really. Still, he can't help but find himself wishing desperately that they aren't. Caught up in his thoughts, Týr completely forgets about the game.

He's also unaware of a certain brunette coming outside. "Kao-chan…Týr has been counting for a super long time…I think he's asleep." A little girl whispers and Kaoru looks at the platinum blonde amused. "Oh my, I'll wake him up for you." Kaoru says, the mischievous look in his eyes going missed by the little girl. "Thank you." She whispers and Kaoru walks over to Týr. The smaller teen is now frowning, still thinking of the possible couple, when a weight lands on both his shoulders. He wonders for a split second on who it could be, until he notices the scent. True to his name, Kaoru has a nice fragrance. It sounds weird, but it's true. It's not like Týr memorized his scent…it's just…really unique. "Kaoru I know it's you." Týr says, keeping his eyes closed.

"Why are you blushing, Týr? Because it's me?" Kaoru asks in his normal monotone voice, but of course Týr can detect the sarcasm. "No, because I know you- never mind. What do you want?" "I don't want anything, but there's quite a few children waiting on you." The brunette says and Týr's eyes snap open. "Oops…" He gets up and quickly leaves Kaoru's grasp to look around for the kids.

During lunch:

Lien helps Týr bring the children their food before dismissing him to have lunch as well. He grabs his food, a simple bowl of curry rather than any of the other extravagant things Lien makes, and sits down in the back room for staff. "Curry again, you're so boring." Kaoru says, sitting down next to him, and Týr sighs heavily. "Why do you turn up everywhere?" He mumbles to himself as he looks at Kaoru's food questioningly. "We work in the same small little daycare, Týr. Of course I'm constantly seeing you." Týr looks from the food to Kaoru annoyed. "Lien and Yao both said you slack off and hang out on the roof. I have yet to see that today." The brunette looks over at him blankly. "There's something down here that amuses me now."

Týr rolls his eyes. He's down here to be with Meilin more. Stupid Meilin…er…Kaoru. "What on earth are you eating?" Týr asks, eying Kaoru as he eats his food. "Well…these are wonton noodles, Hong Kong style." Kaoru says, pointing to his bowl of soup. "And that…is sweetheart cake." He says, pointing to a strange looking pastry. "…Sweetheart cake?" Týr asks and Kaoru nods, breaking off a piece and handing it to him. "That's right legend is a poor couple had to use all their money on the husband's father when he became sick, and once they ran out of money the wife sold herself into slavery. Distraught the man made this and sold it, he eventually made enough to get her back." Kaoru explains and Týr looks at him questioningly. "…He was so distraught he made a pastry? What?"

The brunette rolls his eyes. "Just eat it." Týr examines it. "There's nothing weird in this like…" "If you say dog or cat, I will have to punch you." Kaoru says calmly and Týr nods, taking a bite. "Hm…it's good. But I didn't see Lien making this…sweetheart stuff." The brunette shrugs. "Of course not, I made it at home." Týr chokes a little on the bread and looks at him wearily. "You didn't…just put some weird curse on me or something, did you?" Kaoru looks at him confused. "What curse would a pastry give you?" Týr shrugs. "I don't know…it's called sweetheart cake…so…" Before he can finish his thought he's cut off by Kaoru laughing. Actually laughing. If he didn't hate the guy, he'd think it was kind of cute. A little.

"No, there's nothing like that attached to it." Kaoru says after calming down and Týr rolls his eyes, looking back down at the brunette's soup in disgust. "That stuff doesn't look right." He says and Kaoru looks at him. "You're lucky I don't get easily offended, Lien would have killed you by now." He grabs his chopsticks and holds them out to Týr. "Here, try some." Týr blushes. "I-I'll just use my spoon if I must try some, you ate off of those." Kaoru rolls his eyes. "Don't be such a girl. The taste of curry on your spoon will ruin the soup, so just try it." Týr sighs and takes the chopsticks, fumbling with them. "These…are stupid." He says and Kaoru takes them from his hands. "You only think that because you suck at using them."

Týr glares at him and goes to protest when Kaoru suddenly holds the chopsticks up to him, now full of noodles. "Here, try it." The smaller teen ignores the heat flooding his face and leans forward, eating the noodles before grabbing a napkin to wipe off the broth on his chin. "So?" Kaoru asks and Týr sighs. "They were both good." The brunette nods and cuts his sweetheart cake in half, handing part to Týr. "Here." Týr looks at him wearily. "Why are you being so kind?" Kaoru shrugs and goes back to eating. "I'm not being kind. Your expression is just cute when you try new things." Týr blushes and glares at him. "I'm not cute. Go share this crap with Meilin, she's far cuter."

Kaoru looks over to him confused. "What does Meilin have to do with anything?" "Well…you two are dating or something, aren't you? It would only make sense to eat with her and…" Týr stops, noticing the disgusted look on Kaoru's face. "That's gross, Týr. She's my cousin." The smaller teen feels a strange weight seem to lift off his chest. "Oh, I see-wait! You mean everyone working here is related but me?" Týr asks and Kaoru nods. "That's why Im Yong Soo is all over you. Meilin probably will be eventually as well, she's just watching from afar since you're shy." The brunette says, looking over to Týr and noticing the relieved look on his face. "…I'm sure she'll talk to you if you do something to acknowledge her existence." Kaoru mumbles.

Týr looks over at him confused. "Why do I care if she talks to me?" Kaoru looks at him curiously. "You don't? Ah, never mind then." His eyes trail down from Týr to the boy's food. "You going to eat or no?" Týr looks at his uneaten food surprised. "Oh, right."

After work:

Týr grabs his stuff and heads out, getting stopped by Yao. "You know…you say you aren't friends…yet you only really talk to eachother." The Chinese man points out and Týr blushes a little. "What's your point?" Yao shrugs. "No point, I just find it interesting." Tore pulls up and Týr looks over to Yao. "Well, I will see you tomorrow." Yao smiles at him. "I look forward to it." He looks from Týr to Tore and waves to the blonde, who waves back before driving away with a still red faced Týr. "I was wondering why Kaoru was so interested in making sweetheart cake last night…Týr is pretty cute, after all."

A/N: OH GOD! THE CHEESINESS! IT-! IT'S OVER NINE-!*shot* Yeah...I had no real ideas...so I threw in jealousy and fluff...because...those are fun. I don't remember if I said it already but Meilin is Taiwan and Lien is Vietnam. And OH! MY! GOD! I wanna try Sweetheart cake and wonton noodles. I'm, like, 97 percent sure that wonton noodles are actually eaten with spoons even in Hong Kong, but I thought the chopsticks thing was cuter, because let's face it; for most people chopsticks are IMPOSSIBLE to learn.*one of those people* Ah...yeah...I'M CATCHING UP ON STUFF! WOOOOOT!