Before long, they arrived at a drug store. They went in. Thankfully, there weren’t too many people there. Al still felt a bit out of his comfort zone though. He didn’t know which way to go.

“You seem like you’ve never been in a drug store before,” Yui casually observed. “Come to think of it, how did you do your shopping while living in the desert?”

“Meredith went shopping for me,” Al said, as he started walking down an aisle. He bit his lip in embarrassment. He expected Yui to call him dumb or wimpy for not being brave enough to go out and do his own shopping.

“Your sister drives all the way out to the desert to deliver to you?” Yui asked. His dainty fingertips picked up a bottle of black nail polish. The paint on his own nails was starting to chip. “Forgot to bring my nail polish,” he mumbled to himself, before he resumed his conversation with Al. “She must be a really good person.”

“She is,” Al responded to Yui. He was surprised by the lack of judgement in the boy’s voice. “She’s often been… Well, for the past five years, she’s been my only friend. I haven’t gone out, and no one else came to check up on me.” He looped around to the next aisle and found the deodorant section.

“Five years?” Yui exclaimed, “You’ve been a hermit in the desert for five years?!” He was so loud that the few other customers in the store glanced over.

“Yeah,” Al said with a frown, as he picked out a deodorant brand that he trusted.

“Damn,” Yui said, as he ruffled his own hair. “Being out here must be a real shock to your system... I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay,” Al lied. “It’s not good to stay cooped up forever. I’d been out of commission even before I shut myself off from society.”

“What does that mean?” Yui looked at him curiously. “Have you been out of work?”

“Well, no,” Al said, as he got up and continued walking down the aisle, until he found the razors. “I’ve had jobs. Didn’t keep them long. Never really worked out. It’s kinda hard when you’re awful with people and technology.”

Yui tilted his mouth in concern. He didn’t know what to say.

“Let’s just say, I’ve been unwell,” Al admitted. His periwinkle eyes squinted at the razor he picked up as if it was cutting into his flesh. “Some shit happened ten years ago. It messed me up good.”

“Oh,” Yui frowned, then he bolted up as if he realized something important. His eyes widened as he looked at Al. “You mean your powers started then?”

Al scoffed. “My hyper-empathy? Hell no! I’ve been a freak since the day I was born.”

“I don’t think you’re a freak,” Yui said. He folded his hands together. He looked like a child waiting to be scolded by his mother.

“Well, apparently my parents, teachers, employers, and just about everyone else I’ve met disagree with you.”

Yui walked up to Al and patted him on the shoulder. Al recoiled slightly from reflex, before he let Yui’s hand rest there.

“There’s nothing wrong with being sensitive,” Yui said.

“Sensitive? I feel like I’m broken,” Al admitted. His shoulders relaxed under the gentle hand. “I was finally getting better at functioning in society, and then…” His voice cracked. He was looking down at the floor, with his long, black wavy hair falling over his face. “Something happened, and I got worse than ever. I spent five years trying to fix myself, but I gave up. And after a decade, I don’t think there’s any hope.”

“Of course there’s hope,” Yui said. “It just takes time and effort.” He rubbed Al’s back in a circular motion. 

Al felt himself soften with the motion. “Thanks,” he breathed. He continued looking around the store and found a soft-bristled toothbrush for his sensitive gums. After picking up everything he needed, the men went to the check-out counter. Al paid for his things. Yui only bought nail polish. Al had forgotten Yui had picked it up, since it was invisible under the long sleeve of Al’s black coat that Yui was still wearing.

“Mind if I use that?” Al asked, quietly, after Yui had grabbed his small plastic bag off the counter.

“You wear nail polish too?” Yui asked with wide eyes and a surprised smile. “Wait…” He looked Al up and down, taking in the appearance of his plain yet fully black clothing. “Are you goth?!” His smile got even bigger, if that was possible.

Al looked to the side and played with his beard. “I… like to think so,” he said, timidly. “But I don’t like wearing showy things, because I don’t want to get stared at. So I prefer admiring goth outfits from afar.”

“Aww, you’re blushing!” Yui noted, as if intent on making Al more embarrassed. “Just you wait! I’ll get you to embrace your inner goth in no time!” He patted Al hard on the shoulder as if he had been his best friend for a while rather than some guy he just met the other day.

Al winced at the gesture, as though Yui hit him hard enough to hurt him. These small acts of physical intimacy were a bit much for Al. “Mind not being so… touchy?” He asked. He rubbed his big shoulder, as though it were so very delicate.

“Sorry,” Yui smiled, but his eyebrows were furrowed apologetically, as he rubbed the back of his undercut. He had a tendency to touch his head or play with his hair when nervous or embarrassed. 

“S’okay,” Al said, as he straightened himself up to walk out the door. He hoped Yui couldn’t see it behind his hair, but he was smiling. It felt surprisingly good for someone to treat him like a friend.

“Crap!” Yui yelled, when he looked at his phone once they were back outside.

“What?”

“It’s almost two! I’m gonna be late for my appointment!” Yui whined. He gave Al a determined glance. “Can you run?”

“Course I can run,” Al furrowed his brows as though offended.

“Race ya to the house!” Yui took off like lightning, and Al followed after. His long legs came in handy again.