• part time lover

“This isn’t supposed to be happening,” Kaveh says, chest heaving. “You go against everything I stand for.”

Al-Haitham scoffs. “Oh, get over yourself, it’s a school club.”

“Fuck you too,” Kaveh hisses, and then he kisses him.

• dog days, dog days

Gorou sighs, resigned. “That Hina-san?” he says. “It’s me. She’s me.”

Itto laughs his stupid laugh. “Okay,” he says, chortling.

“I’m not joking,” Gorou says.

Itto laughs again. But then he meets Gorou’s eyes, and abruptly stops laughing. “Gods,” he says. “You’re serious?”

• andante, andante

The white-haired boy is completely expressionless when he speaks. “Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?” Tighnari blinks. “Who are you, again?” he asks.

• forest prince, desert prince

Prince Cyno is waiting for him at the entrance. Wordlessly, he takes Tighnari’s hand and kisses it stiffly, dutifully. He is strikingly handsome, but his expression is sharp and severe. Disinclined to laughter, to joy.

“Your Highness,” he says, and does not smile.

“Your Highness,” Tighnari says, and despairs.