"dai, dai, dai, do you know how hard it is to think up a gift for someone that can steal what they want?"
there mercutio is, a curl to his lip once he found the boy. he makes no reply to how he had heard of the news, what with the mini 'celebration' that takes place on the same date. but rather than give daisuke a chance to comment, or explain a tad, he scoops up the boy into a hug.
yes, that's all that someone really needed when you can take everything else.
berserker laughs, thinking what would happen at best if he were to lift the shorter boy up to have his feet dangle off the ground, but refrained for now. that's something he'd save for the other half, if only to witness his reaction. it takes a moment longer before he then pushes a box of pocky against the young thief's face, for the two-in-one special.
' m-mercutio-san ! ' the other's name escapes him in a combination of excited bliss and horror . but of course mercutio would have heard of his birthday and just as promptly sought him out . readily as he would have called the berserker welcome company , the impromptu appearance ( and undeniable , downright damning words ... ) still makes him feel caught and teased .
' i haven't --- i mean , i wouldn't steal something for myself on my birthday ... ! '
an awkward defense of the occasion , just as much as it could have served as an awkward confession to his permanent sin . even the world's most playful chides and scolds could still bring him shame , at least all the way up until mercutio brings him instead suddenly into his arms .
any gasp ends up muffled ; rather than try to ( hopelessly , no doubt , ) push and shove the other away , he weakly flails and struggles as he feels his cheeks ignite and his back split . dark's wings burst into view and awkwardly flutter , struggling for balance amidst the sound of the other's laughter --- he's so embarrassed that he could die , he thinks , but if was mercutio's gift then it was still a precious one , that that he didn't have the heart , even bearing his curses , to refuse .
had the berserker really spent any sort of time deciding on something to give only to end up giving him a hug ? he wouldn't question it ; couldn't , really , for as long as his senses were thrown completely out of control and there was still even more for him to receive . at first he jolts --- feathers puff and his hair raises in alarmed hackles , fearing for only the absolute worst .
was this it ? mercutio's true plot and ploy , his double-sided happy birthday wish ? to first hug then transform him , all in order to blow up his , his other self's more wretched and unpleasant mien ?
only ... despite its vague , resembling shape , that's not what the utterly harmless box of pocky was . it slides squarely from his face into the catch of his palms without any sort of half-expected burst , the niwa's heart fluttering as fast and aching as if it too were right in his very hands . for just an instant , in his terror , he forgets his manners --- and then he finally manages it out .
' the --- um , thank you ... ' please don't go just yet . ' but mercutio-san , you don't --- you don't want to share ? '
