Work Text:
Aoba Seragaki, age 28, a Taurus and blood type A. Previously a resident of the East Area of the Old District in Midorijima, Japan. Now living in a vague approximation of what was best described as "far away", he'd found home in the shape of a remote cabin twenty minutes walking from the nearest town.
Never had he imagined that he'd be checking apples for bruises and blemishes, diligently examining the expiration dates off packages, or clipping coupons. Nor could he have predicted that the person putting some caramel hard candies into their shared shopping basket was Mink.
Mink, who Aoba only knew was blood type O from seeing his donor card. Mink who through grit teeth reluctantly gave Aoba the day and month of his birth, and now received a pie every year for such occasion.
"I thought we agreed no junk food," Aoba frowned at he placed another apple back on the rack.
"We did," coming up to his side, Mink too began examining the apples. Carefully he lifted a few before putting one in Aoba's palm for approval. "You're sad about it, so they're for you."
Aoba had been sad about it, even if it had been his idea. They weren't strapped for cash, and neither went hungry, but the softness of domestic cabin life and a remote job left Aoba cushioned. A status that was now beginning to reflect on himself physically. Proof he was not doing enough, or so he saw it.
Receiving a second apple before inspecting the first, Aoba checked them both over before tossing them into a disposable bag, tying off the end. Joining the other groceries in the basket, Aoba reached for Mink's hand.
"I was sad," he sighed, leading them both away to go grab a carton of eggs. "But just because I'm sad about something doesn't mean I should get special treatment."
Noticing the cartons on the middle rack were damaged or dented, Aoba sighed as he tiptoed to reach one from higher up. Only there was no need, one of Mink's firm arms lowering the eggs in offering to Aoba with a gentle touch.
"Tell me," golden eyes watched as Aoba turned each egg inspecting for cracks. "If I were sad we had no apples, what would you do?"
"Well, we didn't have apples, so I put it on our list." Missing the point, Aoba closed the carton and in the basket it went. Side stepping to the milk cooler he began to look over all the visible dates in each row.
"So am I receiving special treatment?" Pressing forwards, Mink extended one hand in offering, satisfied when Aoba handed over his desired milk jug.
"No, it's just apples." He missed Mink sighing, the sound of a sticky cooler door breaking suction cutting between them. "Plain yogurt?"
Nodding in agreement, Mink watched Aoba go through the usual rhythm of their grocery routine. At no point did Mink suspect Aoba of regretting his choice in moving away from home. Even if here, far away from Midorijima, was far simpler of a way of living. Not one had Aoba shown regret or remorse for this new way of life, yet he felt there was a new unbalance.
Aoba learned a new language, or attempted anyways, and smoothed out a system with Mr.Haga to handle sales remotely online. Calling customers from his new living room was basically the same as calling from inside the shop. Rumor was that Clear took up the old delivery part of the job, taking residence up on Aoba's room at Tae's when not returning to his house.
Mink overheard the calls, and occasionally joined in, when Aoba would call her. It was evident that she missed him from how she'd scold him through the screen, though Mink would never admit to how much he'd come to like Tae over the years.
Doing a final count over of the basket, Aoba led the two of them to the registers, placing every item on the belt with confidence until he reached the bottom. Staring back up was the hard candies, or well, they were in the basket until Mink placed them with the others.
"It's okay."
Unsure of the true conversation they were having, Aoba quickly bagged up their groceries after paying the cashier.
Passing the milk jug to Aoba, Mink grabbed the paper bags, knowing they'd need to make the trip home on foot without his bike and it would be easier for them to trade.
Gravel under boot, the walk was mostly comfortable silence. Mink fixed his gaze to Aoba, who often walked a few steps ahead, taking time to just admire him silently. How the sun hit his hair, how Aoba still insisted on carrying Ren in his old sling bag instead of getting something more practical, how he would purposely veer left and right to kick stones and crunch leaves.
And Aoba didn't think he deserved a small bag of candies, as if eating the twenty pieces of caramel would distort him into some unrecognizable entity in body and soul.
Nearly stepping on Aoba, Mink snapped out of his daydreaming.
"You okay? You've been a little spacey since we left the store." While there was concern in Aoba's eyes, he kept his voice light.
Nodding, Mink wished his hands were empty, wanting nothing more than to squeeze Aoba's fingers. To give some reassurance without speaking.
"Well if you're sure, like I was saying," rattling off about something he had missed along the way, Mink nodded along to feign that he'd been present the entire discussion. Thankfully Aoba's chatter carried them the rest of the way home, Mink insisting Aoba take the first bath while he unpacked their groceries.
---
The week passed and soon it was time to draw up another grocery list. Scribbling more practical things like 'sponges' and 'napkins', Mink passed the pen and pad to Aoba who began combing through their pantry.
Once finished, a firm period after 'strawberries' ending the list, Aoba tacked it to the fridge with a magnet. He'd go into town tomorrow, maybe ask Mink if he'd take his bike this time so he had excuse to wrap his arms around his waist.
"Sit with me when you're done?" Aoba called out as he exited the kitchen to make himself cozy on their love seat, Ren already having claimed half a cushion as his napping place.
While going into their pantry to find the cinnamon, Mink saw the corner of a crinkly bag. Upon closer inspection it was the candies he'd insisted on last week, completely unopened and tossed out from eye level.
Almost as if Aoba had seen them out on the counter and flipped them up here. As quiet as he could, Mink cut the corner of the bag, fishing one out.
"Ohh one for me?" Aoba perked seeing two mugs in Mink's hands as he came out of the kitchen. Wordlessly he passed Aoba what was 'his' mug. A thrift store find in the truest essence, covered in the most hideous drawings of cats Mink had ever laid eyes on. Therefore it was imperative Aoba needed to own it, for irony of course.
Aoba lifted his feet for Mink to sit, neither wanting to be the one to address that Ren somehow had the most space on the couch. Not that either minded, gave more excuse to cuddle up, really.
Mugs on the coffee table, Aoba leaned to reach past Mink and pull the crochet blanket folded over the back when Mink caught his wrist. Confused, Aoba glanced but before he could make eye contact, Mink had already leaned in for a kiss.
Too surprised to close his eyes and soak it in, Aoba gasped as Mink pushed his tongue into his mouth. Thrown off by a sudden burst of sweetness and the retreat of Mink's warmth, Aoba rolled his own tongue around his mouth before realizing that Mink had pushed a candy into his mouth.
"H-hwaht?" Confused, Aoba hated how badly he'd wanted a taste. Unwilling to spit it out, especially after all of Mink's efforts to have him enjoy it, Aoba stated dumbly as his mouth worked the candy over his tongue.
"You can be more selfish with the things you want," reaching for his coffee mug like they were simply talking about the weather, and not how Aoba was attentive to everyone's desires but his own, Mink blew the steam from his coffee before taking a test sip.
Letting his gaze fall to his lap, Aoba quietly enjoyed the treat as he took in Mink's words. Was it truly okay to be more selfish when he already felt as though he wasn't doing enough? Mink built the cabin he was living in, and all Aoba did was dust and wash dishes and sometimes hang laundry on their clothes line.
"You're over thinking," smooth voice catching his ears, Aoba tapped his heels to Mink's thigh. He was over thinking, all while still feeling undeserving.
"Well, if I'm getting a free pass to be more selfish," Aoba winced, the candy having hit his teeth while speaking. Carefully he tucked it into one cheek like a hamster. "Can we take your bike into town tomorrow?"
"That's practical, not selfish. Try again."
"Uhhh," scratching the back of his neck, Aoba really wasn't sure how to practice this. It's not like he could just ask Mink to cure his feelings of being a freeloader. "Can you ask me for more help around the house instead of doing everything yourself?"
"Hmmm." Well, that was a start. A good first step, really. "Alright. But if it's too much you say something. No bottling it up."
"And tomorrow will you help with my hair?"
"You don't remember?" Gently, Mink flicked one of his braids.
"It's just nicer when you do it," feeling movement on the couch, Aoba watched as Ren hopped off the cushion and padded down the hall to Aoba's room. Even with the free space, neither made move for it.
"Alright."
Smiling, Aoba tucked them both in with the blanket he'd fished out earlier, making himself comfortable against Mink's warm chest. Asking for anything was hard, but maybe this wasn't too scary.
The candy had slowly dissolved as they cuddled, though its sweetness remained. Be it artificial from the sugars, or genuine from Mink's concern, Aoba felt sated and loved in this little bubble they called home.