Mind the gaping plot holes, just step around them.
Warnings: Shounen Ai, OOCness, pointlessness
"Come on Darling!" Chocolate literally drug him along.
He yelled back, "Whatever you do Gateau, don't you dare pervert my little brother!" Warning issued he was promptly hauled away to...wherever they were going.
Gateau blew a large bubble with his gum, turning to show Marron only to find him facing the other way. As he desperately tried to get the boy's attention, the bubble popped, right into Marron's hair.
"Gateau, what--" he turned, slowly touching his fingers to his hair, starring as they came back pink and sticky.
"Geez Marron, I'm sorry," he sounded sincerely so. If it had been Carrot or even Chocolate he wouldn't have minded much, probably even laughed, but this was worse. Gateau knew, by way of talk-a-lot-when-I-drink Carrot, Marron secretly treasured his hair, sort of a last link to the departed Apricot.
Marron's lip trembled slightly as he looked at his fingers. Closing his eyes, he opened them a portrait of calm.
"Its okay. I suppose it was time I cut it anyway, right? I'll be inside." It hurt so much to see him walk away like that.
~*~
As Gateau entered the modest house where they were spending their hard-earned vacation he heard an unfamiliar sound emanating from the far bedroom. Cracking the door minutely, he took in the strange scene before him. Marron was kneeling next to the bed, arms crossed under his head on the mattress muffling the sound. The wad of gum blared at Gateau from the figure of his friend, even more so than the shining pair of scissors he held in his hand.
Quietly he stepped inside the room. Leaning over, Gateau touched the distraught mage's shoulder. It was strange to see Marron cry, he was always so stoic, perhaps the eerie calm they accepted as his personality wasn't it at all. Marron looked up, seeing Gateau he wiped roughly at his teary eyes looking for the world like a lost little boy.
"Look, I'm really sorry. Please don't cry. I'll...I'll make it right. Promise." Silently trying to reclaim his dignity, Marron handed over the scissors. "No, we won't be needing these," he laid them aside. Turning Marron's head, he ran his fingers through the black mass of hair. The huge piece of gum was just above Marron's shoulder, to cut it out would leave little of this treasure.
"How?"
"Well, um, remember when Chocolate got gum in Tira's hair when we were little?"
"Yes. Tira cried, she used to cry alot," an almost smile.
"Yeah, but Apricot--"
"Mother," a whisper.
Gateau regretted dredging up the subject and hurriedly went on. "She put Tira in the bath and took it out real slow."
"It took a long time."
"Yeah, but the water kept the gum so it would come out." Determined now that they had a feasible plan, he hopped up.
There was a sound of running water in the distance. Marron sat on the floor, memories of his mother comforting a small Tira rushing through his mind. Apricot had been so kind to the girls, in his mind she was almost perfect. Onion had loved her with all his heart, now she was gone. Frequently his father reminded Marron how much he resembled his mother, telling him not to change. There was little choice.
The gleaming scissors sat threateningly on the dresser where Gateau had placed them. The last resort, ultimately the only end this could come to. Standing, Marron stared into the mirror. There was no way...
"Come on Marron," Gateau grabbed him, pushing toward the bathroom and surprising him badly by trying to undo his robes.
"Gateau!"
"Oh, sorry, sorry. Just get in the water and I can get the gum out."
"What?" His look was one of almost terror.
Gateau adopted what closely resembled the mother-knows-best glare, "Would you rather cut it?"
Debating a moment, Marron began to shyly undo his collar. Gateau turned away to prove to Marron, and himself, that he could be a perfect gentleman even while that gorgeous, oh-so-beautiful thing undressed...right...behind...him...NO! He would not look, he would not look. A splash of water released him from the internal debate as he gave in and turned.
Marron sat in the tub with his knees drawn up and his arms clasp around them. His jet hair floated to the surface, swaying like living tendrils. The paleness of his skin was even more evident with a larger amount exposed. His eyes were averted and an unusual faint blush covered his cheeks. Taking all of this in, Gateau was once again struck by the beauty that was his friend. How he'd love to---but now was not the time. Settling himself on the floor, Gateau started to work on the mess he'd made.
Needless to say, Marron was not happy. Being a shy person by nature, this was verging on torture. Never before would he have ever considered placing himself willingly in this situation, especially with the person considered. Gateau's pursuit of him had been no secret, subtleness being a word lost to the muscle man, probably replaced by "Look at me!" It wasn't that he didn't trust Gateau exactly, no it wasn't that at all. The brawny hunter had always been there to protect him in any time of need, waiting until afterwards to strut and flex. Some might have considered the public displays forceful, but past the obvious attempts and an occasional long stare he had never ventured. No, Marron trusted Gateau. The person who he didn't trust was himself.
As Gateau pulled apart his hair strand by strand, Marron really had a chance to examine his inner self. Did he care for Gateau? That was simple, a long ago admittance he had made. Yes he did.
A slight pull on his hair brought an involuntary "Ow."
"Sorry...about all of this," Gateau fingers worked soft and quick.
Marron remained facing forward, "You can stop apologizing, I forgive you."
Gateau shoved his face directly in front of Marron's, "Really?"
"Yes, really."
"That's great!" He sounded relieved and went back to his tedious task with a new gusto.
Marron smiled. Gateau really was sweet. He might hide it very well behind muscles and empty words, but when you got down to it he had a heart of gold. Sure Gateau liked him, but was it just a fascination, wanting exactly what he couldn't have? Maybe it was. The exaggerated come ons screamed yes, but there were other things. The soft touch of a hand, a secret smile, the looks that lasted just a little too long. Each day Marron found himself watching for those looks and yearning for the touch. He knew he should not.
~*~
"All done," seemingly proud, Gateau displayed the removed substance then walked from the room.
Suddenly the small bathroom seemed very empty. Climbing from the cooling tub, a shiver ran over Marron and produced goosebumps. He quickly dried off with a fluffy towel, catching a reflected glimpse of his gum-free but tangled hair. It would be a chore to brush. Not one to delay the inevitable, he slipped his robes back on and walked to his room. That is where he found Gateau sitting.
Gesturing with the brush, Gateau positioned Marron on the bed in front of him and began. Brushing was easy compared to the gum removal, however, keeping his mind off of the fact that he was behind Marron...on the bed... Hurriedly, he pushed all those awful ideas, awfully wonderful , awfully tempting ideas...out of his head!
Enjoying the comforting strokes of the brush, Marron let his, considerably less hentai, mind wander. This was nice. Why didn't it happen more often? Gateau didn't seem to mind much, judging by the contented humming he didn't mind at all. So why was this pleasure denied. Abruptly Marron came to a decision that he had not been able to reach during his wakeful hours of debated. He wanted this, he wanted Gateau, he would have both.
~*~
"There," Gateau laid the brush aside, giving into the temptation to run a hand over his work.
Marron stood, walking to the dresser he viewed the reflection with satisfaction. Picking up the hateful scissors, he dropped them resolutely in the trash.
"Thank you," he spoke softly as he came to stand next to Gateau. Leaning down he placed a chaste kiss on the man's cheek before leaving him wide-eyed and quite stunned. Only two thoughts formed in Gateau's bliss fogged mind. He was in love with Marron Glace, and he wanted some gum.
~finis~
