As we sat at the bar, it was an early afternoon. There wasn't any particular event going on tonight, but we would be open generally. I'd be playing music to accompany the festivities, but I wouldn't be in drag. It would be a lot more casual. In about an hour, Tata would have to go begin to get in drag in order for the bar to open at 6pm. He'd be playing hostess as usual, going from table to table to chat and make sure people were doing okay, and also greeting new arrivals and saying good-bye formally to those who were leaving. 

Io was already there, playing around with some whiskey we'd gotten in. It was pretty expensive, so he wondered what we'd do with it to justify the price. Tata insisted that we just serve it straight or on the rocks, and people would appreciate it for what it was. It was imported, it was a rare and authentic brand. If we explained where it was from, that was enough. But, Io was arguing lightly that our clientele didn't care about such things. They cared about price, and this was on the high side from a brand they wouldn't know. It was a conundrum. 

My mind was elsewhere. Thinking about what had happened this morning.

I'd just woken up, and Tata had been in a playful mood. I'd needed to pee really bad, but he was so playful that I didn't want to get up. He'd climbed on top of me, half laying there but propped up on his arms. Smiling down at me so lovingly, his hair all messy which was so unusual. My hands were immediately in it, feeling that he'd probably sweated a little in the night under the covers. In a while, I began to smell that, too. I loved it so much. 

"What are you doing?" he'd asked, so gentle. Gazing at me like he wanted nothing else in the world.

"Staring at your eyes and touching your hair," I'd answered honestly, probably as if I were in a trance. His eyes were a whole universe. His irises were like detailed planets, like terra-scaping of mountains and hills. A rich brown, so many facets. A diamond doesn't even come close. 

"You like my hair?"

"I love your hair."

"Hmm." He'd seemed thoughtful. He'd paused. "I was thinking about changing it again. Growing it out a little. What do you think?"

He'd grown out his hair a bit during the pandemic. It hadn't mattered that he maintain it as much. I was mostly the only one seeing it, unless we went to the bar. Even then, it was only friends. Did he really want to grow it out again? But, ah. Thinking about him back then. His hair wasn't the only thing he'd grown.

I'd just agreed with him this morning, that longer hair would look good. He'd been so satisfied with that. I only wanted to make him happy. 

Now at the bar, my chin was resting in my hand as we sat together. Staring at him as he spoke animatedly and worriedly with Io about the new whiskey. We'd bought a case of it, and I did think that we'd all drink it if the patrons wouldn't, but that wasn't the main thing I was thinking about.

"Oh, I thought they'd like it," Tata was saying. He sounded a bit dejected. "I knew it would be a little more expensive, but I thought... You really think we need to do something special with it? It's already a limited time... We won't be getting any more of it, even if they do like it. Can we say it will only be for a limited time? Will that get them to buy it even if it is a little more expensive? Oh no..."

"Maybe saying it's for a limited time could be good. We can also say we have less of it than we do. Maybe I can say, 'we only have three bottles left, you should try it now if you're going to try it.'"

"Oh, I don't want to lie to them. That's so not us. I think we-"

I just blurted it out. Too in my thoughts that I'd had all day. "Tata, I miss when you were fat."

There was a sudden pause. I seemed to come out of my trance like a bird waking up. Quick movements, realizing. An immediate blush. 

Io burst into an explosion of laughter, not even attempting to cover it up. "What?!" he laughed so hard. I couldn't help but smile, but cringe at the same time. I really should have said that in private, but now...

"Excuse me, what?!" Tata was thankfully laughing, too. Maybe more with Io, but even so.

I just rolled into it. No going back now. "I miss when you were fat. During the pandemic. You had a cute little belly." I leaned into him, smiling like I was hopelessly in love, and really I was. No denying it.

Io picked up the whiskey in question, this opened bottle. He inspected it, making a big show. "How much of this did we drink? What's the proof?" He just laughed even worse, putting it back on the bar. "Really, what are you talking about, Yuki?"

Tata leaned towards him. "I really have no idea what he's talking about. I've never been fat a day in my life."

"Yes, you have," I reiterated. "During the pandemic. You couldn't dance or exercise as much as you usually do, so you got chubby. It was adorable, and I miss your tiny double chin and your belly."

Tata let out a groan, but he was smiling right after. "Io, you know that's not true. I've never been fat. Right? You saw me during the pandemic."

"Hmm, now that I think about it." Io scratched his head, making Tata groan again. 

He laid his upper body theatrically on the bar, then got back up. "I swear I don't know what you're talking about, Yuki." He was so adorable.

"Yuuuki, am I fat? Yuuuki, my t-shirts are too tight. Yuuuki..." Teasing him. Io was snickering.

"Yuuuki," Tata repeated after me, so typically. It only made me giggle more. "Ah-ah, Ioooo..."

Io's fist was at his mouth, trying to stop himself from laughing. Tata was his boss, after all. And mine, come to think of it. But, he was so cute to tease. 

"I miss your cute little belly. I was thinking about that this morning. It's all gone away." Leaning my chin on my hand again like a boy with a schoolyard crush. Staring at him so lovingly. 

This made Tata blush so hard. I'd totally won him over. He held his cheeks, trying to look annoyed, but he couldn't help but smile. I couldn't help what came next. My finger went to his stomach, poking there. I made a cute little noise, and ah my reward.

"Yuuuki!" Just like Flowercoat, batting at my shoulder with his hand. I just burst into laughter and Io was already laughing at us. 

"Ow! Owwww," I teased, holding my arm, looking so offended. "I just said I love you and you hit meee."

He let out such a groan, collapsing onto the bar again into his arms, wiggling there. But, all three of us were in such stitches of laughter. Losing it. It had been my goal, really, other than feeling nostalgic and thinking about him. He'd been so worried about the whiskey. I really didn't think there was much to worry about. My plan was to keep requesting the whiskey into my microphone all night to remind people to order it. And if I liked it, people would order it. They'd naturally be curious and worry that it would all go away. It would work out. No need to cause a fuss.

Now, for the big win. I straightened up and dove at him, and he didn't see me coming. Both of my hands went on either side of his stomach and squeezed. He let out the biggest squeal, causing Io to absolutely lose it. He doubled over, holding his side in his laughter. Tata's arms went around me to get me to stop, but I just grabbed him, too. Holding him close, as he laughed so hard into my ear, feeling his joy with my whole body as I grinned so hard that my cheeks hurt.