Some part of him didn’t want to see Wraith after his mother walked in on them making out the other night, but it was something he simply had to bury deep in the back of his mind. To erase the memory, he showered and aggressively dried himself before throwing on a set of clothing, also prepared by Lavina just like before. Another skirt paired with a cropped hoodie and a headband, which had tassels attached to each side. Throwing a small bag over his shoulder, he rushed out of the house where Wraith was waiting. Something had been bothering him for the longest time, and since he had Wraith for the day, he could finally satiate his need.

“A phone?” Wraith questioned as they walked around the city.

“Yes! Do you know how inconvenient it is that we have to meet up all the time to talk? If you have a phone, it doesn’t matter if you’re busy or I’m busy, you can still just text or call me.”

“I mean I wouldn’t mind but you’d be basically my only contact.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t know, just kinda defeats the purpose of a phone. I can just visit you more often–”

“No! We’re getting you a phone!”

Just as soon as the statement had left did he drag Wraith into a mobile store. He refused to let Wraith buy a phone that was red or black, begrudgingly letting him get a coral one with a flowered case. The flowers weren’t what he expected, but upon asking Wraith only responded with a simple they’re nice.

  Afterwards, they made their way to Wraith’s planned destination, which was unexpectedly a zoo, especially since he was unarguably more excited to be there than Wraith was. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been, likely when he was still in grade school and only once or twice. As such, he took the opportunity to snap as many pictures of the variety of animals as possible. In truth, Wraith just brought him here to see his excitement, knowing full well that the inner photographer would get the best of him. Though what Wraith didn’t expect was for Izumi to ask for pictures of them together on several occasions, and in some cases, he took pictures of Wraith in secret. After all the drama going on in his life, it was refreshing to take time off and focus on his relationship with Izumi. Lavina and himself never went on dates, so it was a new experience for him. Even something as small as holding hands was new, but for once, he didn’t try to hide his emotions. If he wanted to maintain his relationship, it was better for him to be open, especially now. He didn’t want to make it seem like he wasn’t enjoying himself when that was far from the case. It was the happiest he’d been in awhile, save for Izumi accepting his confession. Just watching the one who stole his heart smile and laugh with a vibrant light was enough for him. And for a fleeting moment he thought to himself, maybe he felt something deeper for Izumi. The devotion he felt towards making him happy and satisfied was heavy in his chest. Wraith knew he felt more for him than he ever did with Lavina, and that spoke volumes in itself. If he believed he once loved Lavina, then maybe he…

“Oh-oh-! Wraith we have to feed the birds come on pleaseeee!!!” A tug on his jacket interrupted his dangerous thoughts and he tried to brush them away, focusing on the present moment.

Glancing between the large aviary and his ecstatic boyfriend, he grimaced. “If you want to but I honestly would rather not.”

“Well, I want to, so can we?”

Sighing, Wraith tried to force a smile. “Sure.”

The zookeepers had offered small cups of nectar to those who entered, and while Wraith rejected the cup, Izumi happily accepted. Some of the others were trying with no luck to get birds to land on the arm, but Izumi seemed to have no trouble at all as almost instantly did a bird perch itself on his shoulder, then another his hand.

In a delicate yet exuberant turn, he faced Wraith and grinned, “Quick take a picture! I wanna send it to my mom, she’d love to try something like this!”

Still bearing a weird frown, Wraith unwillingly listened, keeping his eyes locked on the birds that seemed to never stop chirping. After the shutter of the camera, his patience snapped and he shooed the birds away, grabbing Izumi by the wrist and rushing out of the aviary.

“H-hey! What’s with you?” He tried to shake off Wraith’s hand, but his grasp didn’t break until after they had already left. “Wraith!”

“I hate birds. They’re just so—they’re dickheads! I can’t stand them all they ever do is talk trash on everyone and they only suck up to people to get stuff out of them and it’s always the pretty ones.”

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“What are you even saying? Do you know how irrational you sound right now?”

“Ok, maybe I should’ve started off with this. I can hear animals.”

“Like, talk?”

“Yes. Like you hear me talking or anyone else.”

Izumi looked a bit skeptical at first. “If you could why didn’t you or anyone else ever mention that? And why did you bring me to a zoo in the first place?”

“It just never came up it’s not really important and I just thought you’d like it. It never really bothers me because it’s just like people talking in a crowd or something. I can read minds so I don’t know just kinda thought you’d figure too..? It’s basically just that.”

“Then…what were they saying that got you so irritated?”

“Ugh,” Wraith groaned, already trying to forget. “Being all flirty with you and just bad mouthing me saying you could do better or something.” Realizing how his explanation didn’t really help, he shamefully looks away, holding his hair in his hand.

“Pfft–seriously? Kh–” Izumi struggled to hold in his laughter although he didn’t really fight it as it quickly burst out. “Hahahaha!! You got jealous of birds??”

“I wasn’t jealous!!” Steadily his ears started to burn in embarrassment. “They just pissed me off ok!!”

“Ahh so you got mad! At birds! Birds!” He repeats, driving the stupidity of it all further.

“Izumi I swear—! I will actually never take you to a zoo again!”

“Ok ok I’m kidding!! Just a bit.” Snickering, Izumi treaded closer. “We can leave then, alright?”

“That just makes it worse.”

Maybe Wraith was rubbing off on him, as he took the opportunity to tease him some more. “Then we go back in the aviary?”

“No! We’re leaving. I don’t care where at this point I just want to go before I crawl in myself.”

“Hehe.” Izumi chuckled, holding Wraith’s arm and leading him in the opposite direction. “Then we can kill some time at a park. I have another place I wanna go but that’s at night.”

Knowing he wouldn’t say where and also to prevent Izumi teasing him anymore, Wraith didn’t bother to ask, only following his lead.

  They sat against a tree by the lake, Izumi on top, playing with Wraith’s wavy locks. Children were tossing a ball back and forth nearby, but other than that, they were remotely alone. This could probably be pointed to the time, being a bit late in the afternoon, and at this point most families and friends had completed their activities. The couple, however, preferred it this way as it allowed them to give each other their full attention, divulging in the seclusion.

“Wraith, I’ve been meaning to ask you…so, you were with Lavina right? And now you’re with me. I forgot who said it, but I remember hearing something about you being a playboy. Is that…?”

“That’s one way to put it. I didn’t really flirt with people nonchalantly if that’s what you’re asking. I did kinda sleep around though.”

“With um…who…?”

“Spirits?”

He was trying to dance around the real meaning of his question, but since Wraith didn’t seem to understand, he had no choice but to be blunt. “I mean like…what gender…like….have you um…ever been with a guy before…?”

“Oh, yea. A few times. I don’t really have a preference if that’s what you’re asking. Guy, girl, both, neither, doesn’t really matter to me.”

Izumi wasn’t sure what response he expected, though that somehow matched the expectations he didn’t really have. “Well, then I can’t do the thing where I ask if you’d like me if I was a girl.” He joked.

“I think I’d prefer you as a guy anyways.” Wraith smiled, kissing Izumi’s palm. “A guy doing cute things is cuter than a girl doing cute things.”

Normally, Izumi would get flustered and pull away his hand, but he started to grow accustomed to Wraith’s behavior. Plus, they’re dating now. Things like this should be normal for him anyways.

“You know, Izumi, I could always shapeshift into a girl for you if you wanted…”

“No!” After that statement, Izumi tugged his hand back.

“I was just kidding.” Wraith sneered. “Hey, maybe you were curious how a–”

“Don’t even finish.”

“Alright, alright.”

Scowl fading, the longer they stared into each other’s eyes the more they felt a tight desire build, inevitably gravitating into a kiss. They believed themselves to have been lucky that the park was fairly empty, until that same group of children tittered by, ogling the pair.

“Ewwww!!” The kids shouted in disgust, interrupting the couple’s embrace. Wraith looked over and glared coldly, causing them to panic and run off. One of them scooped up the ball as they ran, when suddenly, it deflated in his arms. His friends stopped and berated him, blaming him for the loss of the ball as much as he tried to plead his case, swearing it wasn’t him.

Izumi pinched Wraith’s cheek and scolded, “You did that didn’t you?”

“Oww–fine yes I did.” He rubbed the sting with a pout. “Kids should be more respectful to their elders.”

“They’re just being kids Wraith.”

“Doesn’t really excuse their behavior. If one of them came and pulled your hair or spit on you or something would you say that?”

“That’s different. What they did was just something kids do all the time.” Feeling like he wasn’t getting through to him, he asked, “How much have you even interacted with a child?”

“Basically never I guess.”

Sighing, Izumi gave up on explaining after that. He felt a bit glad that neither Wraith nor himself could bear children, as from that, he believed that Wraith wouldn’t really be the best father. Then, he thought about it. I mean…he wouldn’t necessarily be THAT bad, just one of the clueless ones. I think most dads are like that so I guess he’d fit right in. Laughing at the image, Izumi rose, dragging Wraith with him.

“So, where to now?”

A wicked glee tainted Izumi’s expression, knowing his plan full well. “A love hotel.”