Your Sugar Yes Please

“It’s like a cloud.”

Laughter echoes off into the distance, colorful lights slung across the dark sky they are sitting beneath. Stuffed toys hang from a nearby stall, the stall owner calling out to the people scattered across the carnival with loud, cheerful shouts. Faraway on a tree branch, a crow watches everything with curious eyes.

“A cloud?” River raises a brow, hiding a smile. “Why do you think it’s a cloud?”

“Well, it looks just like a piece of cloud.” Aphrah answers honestly.

The witch boy holds the stick further away, nodding his head towards the fluff of pink cotton candy at its end. “It’s like a cloud… except it’s pink? And not in the sky.”

River hums in agreement, glancing back down at the sugary treat he had just bought for his boyfriend. “Mhm, you’re right. Why not try tasting it, though?”

Aphrah’s face flickers with puzzlement, looking at the blond in surprise. “But… why would I want to taste a cloud?”

River smiles gently, nudging the boy with his elbow. “Trust me on this. Try tasting it.”

Both of them drive their attention back to the treat at hand, and Aphrah reaches ahead, careful fingers digging into the candy as if he’s afraid the material will dissipate into vapours. The tuft of pink remains intact in his hands, River’s eyes following the movement of how Aphrah places the piece in his mouth. His brows remain creased slightly in concentration, lips pressing together in a line.

Onyx eyes glitter in the darkness of the night, and River feels his heart flutter as Aphrah turns to him quickly.

“It disappeared,” the witch boy breathes in awe, eyes wide and shining. “It tasted so sweet and then it disappeared in my mouth!”

River chuckles, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Yeah, it does that.”

Aphrah beams up gleefully at him, and River feels heat slithering up his neck, coloring the tips of ears red. His hand clamps down on his traitorous heart where warmth blooms rapidly across his chest. Thankfully Aphrah doesn’t sense the internal crisis the blond is going through, and simply focuses his attention in biting off chunk after chunk of cotton candy.

“Is this some kind of sorcery?” He wonders aloud, chewing around the softness in his mouth.

. . .

Chopsticks clatter down on the floor, a loud apology coming just after. But the shokudo is bustling with people and ringing with loud chatter so every minute sound is all drowned out. There’s a hum in the air, a constant buzz that rings in the place but everyone seemed used to it. Except for a certain witch boy.

Aphrah retreats the fallen chopsticks, shifting almost uncomfortably because of the heavy noise around him.

“Uh, sorry,” River murmurs from beside him, legs dangling off the stool. He scratches his ear. “I didn’t know the place was gonna be so busy today.”

“It’s alright!” Aphrah says immediately, then recoils. River watches a faint blush dust Aphrah’s cheeks as he gingerly thumbs the wooden chopsticks in his hands. “I, uh, always like spending time with you. Even if it is a little loud in here.”

A smile touches River’s face, bluebell eyes growing warm before he reaches out with his chopsticks. The wooden sticks expertly squeeze down on a roll of sushi on his plate, and he holds it out with a flirtatious grin.

“Say ahh.”

Aphrah’s gaze flickers from the sushi held out towards him, then to his boyfriend who’s leaned in a little closer. The ends of his lips quirk upwards, and he closes his eyes, lips parting.

“Ahhh!”

The chef behind the counter glances their way with a kind smile, but River completely ignores him, plopping the sushi in Aphrah’s mouth unwaveringly. Aphrah clamps his mouth shut, face lighting up like a Christmas light. River makes sure to watch closely as Aphrah tastes the food in his mouth, relishing in the new tangy flavour by cupping his cheeks.

“Itsh sho good!”

“I know, right?” River flashes a grin, then blinks because Aphrah is facing him again and opening his mouth wide for another.

Warmth cradles the blond’s face, and yet he reaches for a new roll again. This time slightly dipping it in one of the green sauces displayed before them. He warns gently. “Uh, careful though. This one maybe a little spicy.”

Aphrah clamps down on the sushi, chewing away thoughtfully. And that’s when his eyes widen, tongue rolling out of his mouth in utmost shock.

“Hot!” The corners of his eyes water, hands fanning his tongue. “S-so hot!”

“Here!” River holds out a can of soda, and Aphrah gulps it down in one breath.

The witch boy’s tense shoulders slump back, a relieved sigh escaping his lips as he leans his elbows on the cool marble counter.

River pats his back apologetically.

“Yeah, maybe the wasabi wasn’t a good choice.” . . .

River realizes that Limbo Town doesn’t quite deal in the variety of foods they have here on the surface world. And his suspicions are confirmed when Aphrah stares incredulously at the cup in his hand.

“What’s this?” The witch boy inquires, sitting crossed legged on the blond’s couch while snow falls silently outside.

It’s freezing even when there’s a heater inside the room, but Aphrah sits in nothing but a pair of his boyfriend’s old pajamas. His brows are knitted together as he stares down curiously at the cup clenched between his hands. Steam rises up from the hot liquid inside, and River casually plops down on the other side of the couch with his own cup as well.

A smirk curling his lips, River cocks his head to the side. “Why don’t you drink it and find out?”

For the first time, Aphrah looks somewhat hesitant. River doesn’t blame him because the drink is hot and Aphrah had never been one to like too much heat anyway.

The witch boy seems to contemplate before he grimaces, and softly blows at the tufts of curling steam.

“Don’t burn your tongue,” River advises hurriedly.

But Aphrah is already pressing his lips against the rim of the cup, taking in a small sip. He isn’t aware of the way River is staring at him, awaiting any kind of response. However, the blond acts nonchalant when Aphrah shifts swiftly, fingers tight around the creamy white cup in his hands.

“It’s… amazing.” Aphrah murmurs in sheer awe and amazement, eyes shining like a pair of stars.

He looks like a kitten. River’s mind whispers unhelpfully, and the blond answers the thought with a curse. “You like it?”

Aphrah dips his head into a quick nod, sipping the hot beverage once more. “Yes! Um, is this what they call coffee?”

“Nah.” River snorts, leaning sideways until he’s shoulder to shoulder with Aphrah. “It’s called hot chocolate… with a hint of my own secret ingredient~”

He smirks proudly when Aphrah blinks, eyes round with curiosity as he turns towards the other boy. “Secret ingredient?”

“Yep,” The blond responds nonchalantly, cupping a hand around his mouth secretively. Aphrah catches on to the motion, teetering even closer, and River breathes against the witch boy’s ear.

River murmurs breathily, and Aphrah shivers because of the warm breath ghosting over his blue skin.

“Crushed almonds.”

. . .

“Guess what I got us?”

Aphrah raises his brows, slurping away on a bright red slushie while River waves two strips of paper in the air.

“Coupons to an all you can eat buffet!”

“Buffet?” Aphrah echoes, lips pulling away from the straw with an audible pop.

“It’s like a ticket to good food,” River answers, adjusting the straw of his own electric blue slushie. He takes a sip, then sighs out into the warm spring air. “Thought you’d like it.”

Silence answers him inreturn, so he turns to his boyfriend who is currently staring at his face. Aphrah parts his lips, brows furrowed in concentration. “Your tongue.”

“My tongue?” River cocks a brow.

“Your tongue… it’s blue.”

It takes a second for the comment to sink in before the blond laughs. “Yeah, of course it’ll be blue. Yours is probably red by now too.”

“It is?!” Aphrah looks alarmed, touching his lips. River grins in affirmation, holding out his cellphone in front camera mode for the raven haired boy to see. Aphrah sticks out his tongue, eyes widening in surprise because his mouth looks like he had just finished drinking blood. “It really is red!”

“The slushie does that,” River shrugs, pocketing away his phone.

An idea strikes him then, blue eyes suddenly glittering with mischief as he bumps hips with his boyfriend. His left arm drapes around Aphrah’s shoulders, obsidian black eyes peeking up at him innocently in response.

“Y’know,” River grins cheekily, right hand already reaching upwards to cup the other boy’s face.

“I actually know a pretty fun way we can turn our tongues purple too~”