Retail Therapy

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 12th December 2024
Series: Bronze and Blue Entwined

Characters: K'mai, I'serin
Description: K'mai surprised I'serin with a shopping trip.
Location: Printer Hall
Date: month 1, day 28 of Turn 12

K'mai

I'serin

This time K'mai had double and triple checked their plans, and it was a restday so I'serin should really have no excuses. He'd told I'serin to clear the day but hadn't said exactly what they were doing.

}:Hello, Aluneth,:{ Sebeth said politely to the lead bronze. }:Mine says to meet us in the Weyrbowl. Yours does not need to bring anything except . . .:{ He was _not_ going to repeat what his rider had said. }:Except for himself.:{

Aluneth flicked a wing along his back as he relayed the message to his rider. }: He will protest, being seen with yours, but I will give him a valid reason. :{ A few moments later, Aluneth and I'serin were floating towards Sebeth and K'mai. Even at a distance, it was clear the I'serin's Weyrleader mask was firmly in place. He looked dressed for a mission of importance, not an afternoon escaping.

K'mai bit his lip to stifle a laugh, but it escaped anyway. }:Mine says for yours to be at ease. He has A Plan.:{ Sebeth conveyed the capital letters he felt in his rider's mindvoice. }:If you would please, follow but do not show him where we are going.:{

Aluneth rumbled darkly but instructed his rider to extend trust to K'mai. **If he reveals me...** I'serin thought with panic rising.

}: He will not, :{ Aluneth stated flatly.

Sebeth gave an image to Aluneth as the dragons gained height over the Weyr. In a few short moments they came out over the Printer Hall. K'mai grinned, wondering what I'serin was thinking as they spiraled down to land.

**Printer Hall?** I'serin queried of Aluneth but the bronze had no answer. As much as I'serin loved books -- adored them, honestly -- he was puzzled as to why K'mai had brought him here. Aluneth followed Sebeth towards landing. "We have business here?" I'serin called over to K'mai as the dragons settled. The worry about being discovered still sat close in his chest.

"We do!" K'mai slid down Sebeth's shoulder. "I'm taking my hard-working Weyrleader out for a much needed break. So we're going shopping." Much as he wanted to take I'serin's hand, or loop their arms together as he would with other friends and lovers, he kept a little distance between them.

I'serin was initially suspicious of this idea but then reminded himself that this was K'mai, someone he had known for nearly all of his life, and someone who had practically no guile to him whatsoever. He relaxed his stance a bit and nodded. "A bit of 'retail therapy' as I believe they call it?" He did have a recently added bookshelf to his office that was mostly empty. Surely he could find one or two things to add to his collection today.

"Exactly!" K'mai pulled off his jacket and helmet and stashed them in the already stuffed bag attached to Sebeth's riding straps. The main focus of today was shopping for books, but they did have the whole day and K'mai had come prepared for other kinds of fun later. "Come on, I'll show you my favorite section." Grinning, he led the way inside.

I'serin suddenly wondered if Printer Hall had books about sex. Because surely _that_ was K'mai's favorite section.

But he allowed himself to be led inside. He focused his mind on the present, on the smell of ink and paper wafting through the corridors, the anticipation of spending time with beloved books. On impulse, he unhooked his Weyrleader's knots and tucked them into his jacket pocket. He wanted to be here as I'serin, not his rank.

K'mai cast him a curious glance. Trying to hide? Or taking off the weight of responsibility? He made straight for the Weyr Romance section at the very back and skimmed the shelves until he found the title he was looking for. "This one is good. I read it last month. Well, parts of it anyway, and Cendara summarized the rest for me." The cover showed a shirtless man standing next to a bronze dragon.

Before I'serin could ask who Cendara was, he looked at the cover of the book. A feeling of mortified dread washed over him. Even though he looked nothing like the man in the picture (what bronzerider would agree to keep his hair _that_ long?!), he still felt a punch of recognition, but that awful type that either insidiously whispered or blatantly yelled that everyone knew his secret and he just had not realized it yet.

K'mai was still admiring the cover. "It's about an angsty bronzerider who transfers in and meets this male greenrider and they _hate_ each other on sight. And then they have the most delicious angry sex and eventually they're horrified to realize they have _feelings_. It's got a very swoony romantic ending."

I'serin gave the room a furtive, panicked scan. "K'mai," he whispered sharply, "what is your intent with this?"

"Sharing my interest in literature?" His smile was all false innocence but there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone. Teasing was fun but he didn't want to make I'serin mad or have him think he was a bad friend. "But I think history is more to your taste, hmm?" The desperate look on I'serin's face was answer enough.

K'mai's first instinct was to touch him to reassure him, but of course he couldn't do that. "This way." He wove through the shelves, checking the helpful signs as he went. "Ah, here we are." He gestured theatrically. History was a far safer subject to peruse. I'serin immediately relaxed.

He'd have to apologize to K'mai later, he thought. He should not panic or lean into his fears. He should know better by now.

Still, it was hard. Even when it came to something as familiar as books.

I'serin's fingers touched spines and bindings, began roving over each title, drifting. "I should not have...reacted so," he said softly, letting the books ground him further.

"I shouldn't have teased so much in public when I know you're worried." K'mai physically ached with the need to reach out. He pulled a random book off the shelf to give his hands something to do.

Across the aisle, I'serin let out a long-suffering, soft sigh. Why was everyone else so free with being themselves, while he always felt tied in knots over himself? "You...challenge me. In ways that I am...unfamiliar with. But it is not entirely unwelcomed. Most of the time," he finally said. He stopped drifting through books to pause for a few silent heartbeats. "Be patient with me. Please," he requested in a small voice.

K'mai gripped the book tighter. "I'm not the most patient person. But for you, I'll try." He put the book back and then turned to take one off the shelf close to I'serin. "I want you to be happy. So . . ." He smiled, trying to banish the serious mood. "Let me buy you a book." He was rewarded with a sharp huff of laughter from I'serin.

"I will accept that deal only if you allow me to buy you one in return," the bronzerider said. He closed his eyes and rubbed his brow but there was a very small smile on his face. K'mai had said "for you", wanted him to be happy. Something about that scared and elated I'serin, like some wild adventure unfurling gossamer wings within him.

I'serin tried very hard not to think too much on that.

"Deal." K'mai took a small step back to keep himself from temptation. Having him so close and not being able to touch him was like strange kind of game, part torture and part challenge. "Although that means going back to the naugty book section."

I'serin let out another soft huff of laughter as he hung his head. Of course it meant going back there. He inhaled, reminded himself that he faced far more dangerous things besides books with sex in them, and then looked at K'mai. "I expected no less," he remarked with that small smile still in place. Without looking away, his fingers plucked a book off the shelf next to him and he handed it to the bluerider. "This one."

The bluerider took it from him, letting their fingers brush just a little. "The things we suffer for friendship."

"For friendship indeed," I'serin replied.

Which was obviously a lie.

Last updated on the December 16th 2024

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Retail Therapy