“No, hold on, wait a second.” Taichi put down his cup of coffee on a low table next to his chair and held up a hand to Richard. “I’m not understanding at all.”
Richard paused in the act of pulling a protesting Seri over from the opposite side of the couch and arranged an unconvincing innocent expression on his face. “I was just… a little down last night, that’s all.” Then, turning back to Seri, “Seri, don’t sit so far away!”
Seri, whose borrowed sweater was starting to cover less and less skin as Richard tried to pull him over, gave up his struggles and settled down in Richard’s lap, letting him wrap his arms around his middle. Sorry Taichi, looks like you’ll have to put up with a little PDA…
Taichi, who didn’t seem the least bit bothered by Richard’s affections, said, “That part I understand. You looked terrible. It’s the next part where you lose me.”
Richard settled his chin on Seri’s shoulder. “Well, I… got a promotion.”
Taichi repeated, “You got a promotion.”
Richard nodded.
“A promotion with better pay.”
“Better pay and better opportunity to grow, too,” Seri added. He wished he could take a picture of Richard's current expression, which reminded Seri of a child bracing himself for a stern lecture.
“Right. So that’s why you turn up at my bar, not answering your phone and looking like you don’t have a friend in the world.”
Richard nodded cheerily. “That’s right! Now you’re all caught up!”
Seri put his hand over one of Richard’s. “Sorry Taichi, that was sort of my fault. I think I didn’t explain things so well the first time.”
Taichi nodded. “Let me guess. You won’t be working directly under Seri any more. And you thought that was Seri’s way of breaking up with you. Is that about right?”
Richard buried his head into Seri’s neck and squeezed him tighter. “I…might have considered that.” Seri could feel Richard’s face heat up. Is Richard actually blushing? Damn, I need a camera.
“Richard, you idiot!”
Seri looked up in surprise as Taichi burst into laughter. Richard mumbled sullenly into Seri’s neck.
“Richard, I haven’t known Seri very long, but even I know he wouldn’t do that to you! He did everything to track you down last night, didn’t he? I’ll bet he put all your worries at ease, right? And didn’t I just walk in this morning to Seri letting you harass him to your heart’s content? You two have a great relationship, you don’t need to be so scared of losing it!”
Richard finally looked up and kissed Seri’s blushing cheek. “I give up, I give up! You win. I suppose I might have gotten a little carried away…”
Taichi nodded. “So? What are you going to do? Take the promotion?”
Richard whined and put his head back into Seri’s neck. “Taichi, can’t you just let me enjoy breakfast with my favorite two people?”
Seri patted Richard’s knee. “You know Richard, there’s another benefit to that promotion. All this time we’ve been keeping our relationship secret, since bosses can get into a lot of trouble for dating their employees. But if you worked in a different department, I don’t see how there’d be any problem with us making our relationship public.”
Richard gasped. “Seri! Do you mean it?!”
“I mean, of course I support whichever choice you make…”
Taichi laughed as Richard stood up and whirled Seri around the living room. “There, see? There was nothing to be afraid of.”
Richard set Seri down on the floor. “This calls for breakfast!” he declared.
Seri managed to walk in a relatively straight line as he followed Richard and Taichi into the kitchen.
--
Seri poured more coffee, then returned to the table to set down cups in front of Richard and Taichi. “Taichi, thanks again for breakfast.”
“Consider it my apology for barging in on you this morning. Actually, Seri, if you feel uncomfortable with me having a key to Richard’s apartment…”
Richard’s chair squeaked as he stood up and began to rummage in a nearby drawer.
Seri shook his head vigorously. “No, no, not at all! You’re Richard’s oldest friend, of course you’d have a key.”
“Seri?” Richard spoke in an uncertain tone.
Seri turned around to see Richard extending his hand to offer him something. Seri reached out automatically to take it; most of his attention was taken up by the fact that Richard appeared to be blushing.
“Actually, Seri, I just had a copy of my apartment key made for you, too. If you wanted it, of course…”
Seri looked down at the key in his hand. His chest felt like it might burst with happiness. Smiling, he got up and walked past Richard to dig into the pocket of the coat he’d thrown on a counter the night before. He found his wallet, then removed the spare key that he himself had just made and returned to Richard. He held it out to him.
“I’ll accept yours, if you’ll accept mine?”
Tears sprung up in the corners of Richard’s eyes, and Seri felt his own eyes begin to water.
“Seri! Yes, of course!”
Taichi laughed and applauded in the background as Richard scooped Seri up in an embrace.
“My Seri…” Richard sighed, then gave Seri a gentle and lingering kiss.
Click.
They both looked over to see Taichi holding up his phone for a picture. “Oh, uh, sorry, don’t let me ruin the moment…”
Click.
“Sorry, that was a cute expression too. I’m done now…” Taichi set the phone back down on the table.
Seri met Richard’s gaze, then said, “No way Richard, don’t you even think about it!”
Richard dropped him a wink before turning back to Taichi.
“Taichi, I had a few more ideas for a photoshoot. Would you be our photographer for a little while longer?”
Taichi nodded and stood up. “Sorry Seri, I just can’t say no to him. Lead the way, Richard.”
“Wonderful! Let’s head to the living room. I was thinking we could do a few with a little less clothing…”
Seri, once again laughing and struggling in Richard’s arms, thought he’d never felt more at home.
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