{ Prompt: Scorpions } -sent by aquariuscladingold
"You can't be serious."
It had been a waste of breath, that phrase, voiced in the most exasperated of tones. Of course when an idea struck his mind, he was going through it until the end, no matter how silly or --in this case-- dangerous it was.
"I think they might like them--"
"Them? Are you taking several home--?" Dégel eyed the vicious looking emperor scorpions having a feast of live crickets in their respective tanks.
"One for each of us, of course!"
"Kardia, I wouldn't object if it was only for you, but your siblings are barely over twelve years old-- No, I won't allow for this. Let's go." He made a grab for his friend's arm but caught air only, Kardia having deftly avoided his hand.
The Greek grinned as if mocking him. "C'mon, this is the last shop and we haven't found a single present. This might be our last chance and if I am to walk out of here with my hands empty, I'll blame you for eternity."
"Oh the woe of bearing a Scorpio's grudge until the day I die. Now, let us go. We'll find something for your siblings birthdays on our way home. Other than live scorpions, that is." He added hastily as Kardia's lips had every intention of smirking widely.
The consequent window shopping had been uneventful as well, shops and comerce slowly becoming scarce and far in between as they neared the residential area of the city. Dégel tried to ignore the snide glances he was getting from Kardia, their frequency increasing with each step they took.
Finally, they were before their last hope, a small and stuffy accesory shop, and their hands had yet to be ladden with shopping bags. Dégel could feel azure eyes boring into the back of his head as he feigned to be interested in a hand-knitted bonnet.
It was almost comical for Kardia to see his friend stalling for the innevitable. Out of the consideration he had for Dégel only, did he let him do so. But it was time to go for the kill.
Yet before he could open his mouth to make a dramatic intake of breath, he found it covered by fabric. Dégel, having seen through his intentions, wasted no time to haphazardly wrap a scarf around his neck and face.
His eyes held a triumphant gleam while Kardia's spoke of confusion.
"We've found a gift, at least." Slim fingers accomodated the red scarf around his neck. The air went stale in his lungs as their skin brushed. "It will be a cold winter. You'll need it."
"I love cold winters," Kardia said when he found his voice again, boldly leaning towards Dégel's face. As expected, the other did not even blink. At least, not until--
"Ah! You fiend!"
"That was a good jump you did there!"
"Kardia, I swear--"
"I quote you, 'Other than live scorpions'! And are these alive? Nope!" He waved the small crystallized scorpion keychains in front of Dégel, his eyes now the ones that held the triumphant spark. "Don't tell me you're grossed out by them."
"... I won't be getting you a birthday present anymore."
"What?!"
