Lovebirds
A sequel of @izadreamer fic, Unbirthday. Two years later, Shun receives another unbirthday present.
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April 2nd was Firmamentshipping anniversary, and for once I decided to try to write instead of doodle, just for a change :) expect tons of fluff
For those who don’t remember or never heard about: Firmamentshipping is Shun/teenager!Haruto, a ship born in two different AUs and before any clue of Arc-V putting past ygo characters
"Happy birthday-that-I-made-up-for-you, birdhead! Don't think that I forgot this day! :P Love, Haruto~."
That was written in a note next to the present.
It’d been two years ago today when Haruto had chosen this date for Shun’s birthday. Back then, Reiji Akaba's tournament had just begun, in the Battle Royale phases, and Shun had been forced to participate if he’d wanted to have any chance to face Academia and save his sister. The last thing he’d wanted was having to stand the jests from a strange Xyz fellow.
In the end, the present wasn't so bad. Despite the conflicts between dimensions, Shun read a bit of the book he got whenever he could. It was a moment of peace in the middle of the chaos that Maiami City had become. And Haruto was no longer an embarassing partner, and became a trustworthy and skilled friend - and later he would become his lover, once everything ended.
During those years, the conflict took another level, becoming a real war, that only came to an end with the merge of the dimensions, and the balance finally restored in this new world. Since then, Heartland returned to its former glory, same as the other cities.
A lot of things occurred over this period, and that was why it brought an odd - but good - feeling to see a gift again, carefully wrapped, on his table. However, the biggest difference was that this time, it was in a moment of his life where his biggest concern was who Ruri was going out with. Shun let himself laugh, antecipating the used joke.
"Is this another guide on birds, Haruto?" He asked aloud, expecting that the other boy was hidden out-of-sight as he usually was, but there was no answer. "Haruto?"
Nothing. Perhaps he was still hidden somewhere in the apartment. It would be really surprising if Haruto actually wanted to lose that moment. Shrugging, Shun opened the gift.
And he saw that coming, but still got surprised with it.
"THE MEGA EXTENSIVE GOLDEN GUIDE ON BIRDS - DELUXE EDITION" was written in gold on a white cover, decorated by feathery drawings on the edges. Shun stared at it, in disbelief with the good quality. He even dared to think it could be a real guide, despite the overstatement. He looked at the side, which repeated the name, but in the back the joke was highlighted.
"Birds. How are they? Where do they live? What do they eat? This complete and limited guide offers to you all the informations, images and curiosities of the most varied species of birds from the four dimensions, from Harpie Girl to Revolution Falcon."
"Look at all these birds!" - HeartNews.
"Indispensable for any bird enthusiastic." - THE CITY.
"Just like the single volume The Extensive Premium Guide on Cats, it offers a complete and professional catalog. Essential for any biologist and bird fans." - Academia Magazine.
"..." - Reiji Akaba.
Shun couldn't hold back the laugh at the quotes - he didn't even try to. And the more he observed the book, the more "details" he found: "Author: Your boyfriend. Publisher: Your sister and her date. Images: Our bird and eggplant friends."
"You're ridiculous, Haruto!"
Even with all the good work on the cover, because of the last experience, this time he knew the present was more than that. He opened the book, noticing that the cover was the real one - did they REALLY make a guide?? -, and flipped the blank first page, finding the dedication.
"For the falcon who reminded me that I wasn't alone, who gave me strength when I wanted to give up, who gave me hope when I only saw despair, who I loved when he let himself love."
In the same page, there was a second note.
"Jokes on cover aside, I hope you like the present! I did it with all my love and care for you, the greatest bird lover of the new dimension! :D
Happy unbirthday! Love you~
PS: The present is kinda uncompleted yet, actually... What about you help me to complete it!?"
For a moment, Shun lingered on the page, rereading the dedication over and over mindlessly, feeling the heat to rise his cheeks. Haruto never hid his feelings for him, on the contrary, he always made sure to show it off to the world, but he did that with actions. For him, it was easier to kiss his lover in the middle of the final of a dueling tournament than make a verbal and intimate dedication like that page. The fact that he had written those lines made that gift even more special.
And when he decided to turn the page, he felt his face warm up even more..
Instead of a bird catalog that the cover had promised, the book was in truth a photo album, with all the moments they spent together inside it. Most of them were unpretentious selfies taken in their homes, but there was also pictures of their trips and of their friends. Some of them had funny captions that treated the people as cataloged birds, such as "birds in their natural habitat" or "this bird's diet is made of caramels and chocolates" and "this bird's chirps sounds like 'egao'".
After some pages of pictures and internal jokes, he understood what his boyfriend had meant in his note. The rest of the book was still blank.
Even after all that time Shun had spent reading the album, Haruto still hadn't appeared to surprise him somehow. If there was something that disappointed Shun, it was that. He wanted so badly to take him in his arms, just hold him, laugh together about the present and the ridiculous jokes, and thank him for all the smiles...
Then he decided to call, just to know where the other boy was and find him. As he dialed, he rehearsed the words in his head, not wanting to show that he had already seen the album. His eyes contemplated a certain photo of Haruto grimacing at the camera and a distracted Shun with a piece of cotton candy stuck to his mouth.
'Oi, Haruto, where are you? I have to talk to you, in person... no no, too obvious... tsk...'
Purrrrrrrrrrrrp.
Purrrrrrrrrrrrp.
There was a cellphone vibrating loud in the kitchen.
"Shit--!" And a whisper as loud as the vibrating sound coming from the same place.
"Haruto!?"
There he was, coming out from behind the countertops, turning off the call and giving some last commands before putting his phone in his pocket. Though the signs of pride and satisfaction lingered on in his face, the embarrassment of being caught by a single slip prevailed.
"Surprise...! I guess? Haha..." He scratched his neck, tittering. "I tried to get you off guard, you know... but how am I supposed to do that when you were right in front of me?"
"Well, you did surprise me, but that was a terrible hiding place." Shun chuckled, soon doing what he wanted. He hugged Haruto close to him, and kissed his face several times, the last one longer and warmer in his lips. "Thanks, Haruto..."
Haruto giggled, nuzzling on his partner's shoulder, his fingers caressing neck and shoulder.
"At least I could record your reaction there...!"
"You wouldn't waste that chance for anything, would you?"
More giggles, but before he could answer anything--
CLICK
Shun was pointing his camera to themselves, a smug smile on his face.
"You asked help to complete the album."
"Aahh!!! Dammit, Shun!!!" Haruto tried to grab the phone, but Shun only needed to raise his arm to take it out of his reach. The shorter snorted, still trying to reach the device. "I hate you!"
"I love you too, Haruto." And kissed him again, wrapping him with the free arm, making him give up of trying to steal the phone.
Soon, both were giggling between their kisses, nestling on the couch, the book right next to them. The pictures of the day still needed to be printed and glued, and even though they agreed on keeping the joke alive in that book - it was too much effort for it to be thrown away, according to Haruto -, they've decided a second name, simpler and more meaningful to the album, handwritten in the first blank page.
Lovebirds.
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"Haruto..." Shun whispered in his ear, pecking and nibbling it, his arms snuggling closer. It was late at night, the only lights came from the television and from Heartland streets, and the sleepiness was taking over them.
"Hm?" His eyes were on the program, but all his attention was on his lover's caresses.
"Who is Ruri's date?"
Haruto snorted. "That was a joke too."
It was better that Shun didn't learn about that yet.