refroze | ❄ic inbox

[ the sheer act of being held so carefully is baffling to roman, the way kaeya's hand always meanders down just right to hold his waist or even now as he seems to be mulling over color. to be tied up is just another rigor he's learned to twist out of—picking handcuffs, sliding a razor through leather or rope, dislocating his thumb when need be. he's not afraid of it, but there is an intimacy to it when it's not for work. isn't there. ]

I like it all, really. But that's not an answer, so let me think.

[ the bite of metal or rope or the smooth glide of leather. he doesn't have a preference, but when kaeya says that he gives pause, tilting his head as if considering the deep red cuffs as well. ]

These aren't bad at all. Padding is good... I like the color. These are optimal, really. You sure you haven't done this before? I think this pair is perfect.

[ a small tingle climbs down his upper arms at the thought. as if he needs a bit of encouragement, roman steps closer, presses a kiss slowly to the curve of kaeya's mouth and slides his arms thusly around him. his voice is soft, private, just right off the cusp of that kiss. ]

You won't hurt me.

[ he sounds so sure, (but maybe that's because he's had to assure himself of the same thing so many times before, it's like reassurance for himself.) ]

[kaeya doesn't even realize where his hands are, how affectionately he handles roman. you'd think a man who keeps others at a distance wouldn't know how to handle being so affectionate, so gentle - but perhaps the freedom to be in such a relationship now betrays his longing for it, betrays the gentleness and kindness he can convey.]

I may not hurt you - but you never know what materials will.

[he chases after those lips for another kiss, never satisfied with just one. that trust in roman's voice gives him peace, though, because he never would hurt roman on purpose, not without a super good reason anyway. as much as kaeya likes to play 'what if' scenarios in his head, deep down, kaeya cares quite a bit.]

Anyway, I have an eye for aesthetics. And this dark red looks very good on you. [a cheeky little grin that says he'd wink if it didn't just look like blinking for him.] If it works for you, it works for me. Let's see what all the hype is about, shall we?

[ ~~oh the irony in that statement tbh.~~

roman knows that grin, has known is for quite a while now, it's impossible not to recognize. he pulls away, but just for practicality's sake, taking the basket and offering it for kaeya's selection with a flourish. they're in public after all not that roman has qualms about that, (he's sure kaeya's adventurous enough) but he'd like to save some of it.

weirdly enough. ]

Yeah, I think this should keep us busy for quite a while.

[ basket in hand, and sweeping kaeya's arm confidently in his he will pay for their wares ♥ i hope the person @ the register calls them boyfriends. in fact this is our thread so yes, the person at the register calls them boyfriends on the way out. ]

[when the sales associate describes them as boyfriends, kaeya looks back at them and smiles, pressing a sweet kiss to roman's head yet again before walking out the store.]

Boyfriends, hm? I suppose there's some merit to allowing others to assume as such about our relationship.

[he adjusts roman's hold on his arm so he can slide his hand down to hold roman's, fingers linked. it's definitely not the first time they've held hands, but after the boyfriends comment, kaeya feels a little pang of something in his chest. affection, a longing for something like this to last, a longing for that title to be true.]

For instance, I get head-kissing privileges. [a cheeky grin.]

[ their fingers slide together easily. roman honestly doesn't remember the last time he didn't hold hands with kaeya, first thing in the morning when roman realizes that the man has somehow convinced his way into another night at his apartment. granted, as if kaeya even needs to convince him... he'd have him stay over forever, really.

you're not my boyfriend, but you have head-kissing privileges, is not something roman will say. because god if the hand-holding and buying sex toys with the idea of not hurting someone in the process... isn't incriminating enough.

kaeya feels like boyfriend material.

he feels like a boyfriend, wrapped around him with his hair falling into roman's mouth all the time, with his drool on his pillow, with how they curl around one another in sleep and even in wakefulness. ]

You already have those privileges, [ holding their bag aloft shamelessly. ] In fact, you've got a lot of privileges.

[ his fingers squeeze kaeya's softly, their shoulders brushing. he leans upwards, takes his mouth with his and for a moment, just holds and lingers in the sensation of it. he could get so used to pretending kaeya is his boyfriend that he'd. probably fucking forget he was even pretending at all. ]

[kaeya grins even more cheekily, if that's even possible, when roman holds up their purchases shamelessly. he's definitely looking forward to trying all their new fun toys out. once again, kaeya can't believe he's actually having sex for fun regularly. how is he going to go back to have boring, perfunctory sex for information? roman has utterly ruined him in that regard.]

Hm- if I already have all those privileges, what does that make me, I wonder?

[it's a dangerous question, he knows that as much as roman likely does. but what better way than to prepare himself for eventual heartbreak than to ruin his chances prematurely? just like with diluc!

though... he won't go as extreme as he did with diluc... he kind of just wants to get a feel for the situation. if roman wants to keep things strictly friends with benefits, kaeya is fine with that. more than happy with that. but on the off chance that he wants something more...

well, kaeya won't complain about that either.]

[ that catches him just a little off guard. he knew what road this conversation was meandering down, and inwardly, he doesn't actually know the answer to that question. roman, however, can feel it, the uncertainty on both of them, where they're searching for the word. it's terrifying actually, and roman lets the words leave him. ]

Boyfriend material, maybe.

[ he doesn't move away. instead, presses closer, hopes that maybe he gets it, the combination of words that aren't quite there, but the body language demanding he knows just how much he likes him.

likes him.

likes him so much, he's not taking kaeya anywhere but his own apartment. he's got clothing there, a toothbrush there, hair product, enough hair ties that roman finds himself piling them on his own wrist when kaeya leaves them behind. he slides his arm around his waist, keeps them presses close like a pair of cats with tails curled together. ]

Boyfriend material, huh? You know, I was known as the top candidate for grandson-in-law back in Mondstadt.

[he happily holds roman close, their sync a constant, warm presence, one that he's grown (perhaps concerningly) used to during his time here.

he doesn't consider himself 'boyfriend material' or 'grandson-in-law material,' in all honestly. he presents himself as such, of course, but no one would want a liar as their partner for life. he doesn't think roman would want that, either. so what they have is comfortable for them both, he likes to think. they can express how much they like each other with none of the commitment! it's a win/win situation.

and even if kaeya's a little lonely, it's totally his own fault.]

Ah, the elderly did so enjoy introducing me to their grandsons and granddaughters.

Man, my mom would love you. You're a sweet-talker.

[ kaeya's suave, a little slutty-looking from time to time, but his manners are impeccable, really, and roman is sure he wouldn't be the sort to put his foot in his mouth. he can't let that sentiment linger for too long.

he's going to give himself ideas. he can't give himself ideas. it's not fair to kaeya, mostly. ]

I mean, like, I don't blame them for trying to set you up.

[ he maybe clings just a little more, a sting of brief desire, envy, brief possessiveness but with the warmest curl of adoration. the feelings tumble outwards, a spilt glass. ]

Guess I'm pretty lucky, huh?

And I'd love to meet your mother - thank her for producing you.

[he laughs, eye full of fondness for roman, the feeling reverberating in his sync. he hardly ever allows his own emotions to leak into his sync, but he'll allow this one. besides, it's not as if roman doesn't know.]

I think I'm the lucky one. But we can agree to disagree on that matter.

[kaeya has never felt so understood by another person, after all. roman does so much for him, and he isn't sure roman is even aware of all that he does for kaeya. he wants to wrap him up in blankets and curl around him and never let go. a treasure of a man ought to be treasured, after all!]

Edited (more words) 2022-03-04 15:53 (UTC)

We could both be lucky, you know. It happens. Not often but... it does.

[ lewd as their trip may have been, roman feels oddly closer for it, leaning his head softly against kaeya's shoulder as they walk. they ought to probably be walking to one of their homes at this rate, but roman certainly doesn't care if they take a few blocks of detour. the simple act, the quality time, it feels good and frankly it's... all he wants. he'd say even more than sex, but he wouldn't believe himself.

just spending the time with kaeya outshines any thorough fucking he could give or get, their fingers laced, their steps in sync. roman thinks briefly about buying a house, he thinks about the way kaeya might look waking up with him in the mornings, not just after deciding to spend the night, but maybe after decided to spend more than that. some indefinite amount of time that this place allows him.

kaeya may get forehead kissing privileges, but that means roman can stop them mid-step and turn to lean himself upwards and demand a kiss on the mouth on the side of the walkway, out of the way of most pedestrians. it's impulse, meaning, nothing with tongue, just basking in the mutual heat of them both. when he releases, he just... laughs a bit. maybe embarrassed for himself, at his sudden need to just.

kiss this stupid man.

stupid. ]

First thing my mom'd ask is if I'd started dating a pirate or something. Sorry.

[kaeya considers himself luckier: roman is hella good in bed, attractive, and also the kindest person kaeya has ever encountered. kind without being naive - kind despite the hardships he's faced. and with them being in this strange new world together, there's nothing kaeya can offer him that benefits roman other than manna which any gembonded can provide. so it isn't like roman is with him for his connections or anything. he's with kaeya... purely because kaeya is fun to be around.

roman likes kaeya... for his personality. shocking, truly.

he laughs when roman tiptoes up for a kiss on the sidewalk, and he obliges. it's so pure, chaste. just something innocent, which they so rarely are.]

Hmm, maybe I am a pirate. [laughs, continues their journey home. perhaps with a few unplanned detours.] At least, perhaps I'm related to one.

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