Cute, Cozy, Queer Stories

Part 34: Revere & Lumi Continued

It was hard to picture shy, quiet Lumi on stage performing with the Bad Hatters. The rock-metal group had five members, and Revere knew all of them in some form. They were all different versions of wild, weird and loud.

When Revere saw Lumi on stage with the Bad Hatters, they understood.

Between a singer in a bright gold crop-top, a guitarist in knee-high red boots, a keyboardist in a pink dress stained with fake blood-spatter, and a drummer with a foot-tall blue mohawk, the new bassist almost blended with the black stage. They wore all black, with a long sweater that looked more like a cloak obscuring their shape. Under the raised hood, they wore a white, plastic mask with sunglasses taped to it.

Revere got the feeling that Lumi, despite performing for a crowd, didn't like the attention very much.

After the show, Revere managed to catch Lumi alone at the bar. Revere wanted to know what was hidden under that shy exterior even more than ever. Three drinks later, with Ellis thankfully distracting the rest of the band and letting Revere spend time with Lumi, they hadn't crept underneath the shyness much, but it was enough. Lumi was a fellow enby, they were smart, modest, artistic, and seemed to have a kind heart. They were bewitchingly adorable.

Drinks after the show turned into a maybe-date at another show. That turned into definitely-a-date at a park. At a moonlight movie projected onto the side of a building, Revere kissed Lumi for the first time, their lips soft and tasting like steel. It was the slow, patient, intoxicating courtship Revere thought they'd only have in innocent youth. As the weeks went on, Revere felt the dangerous precipice of love. They couldn't help but swandive, even if Lumi seemed to hold back.

Sun rays slipped through the black curtains and spilled onto Revere's bed. Turning onto their back with a yawn, Revere turned again and slipped their arm around Lumi, nuzzling against their back. Lumi's tangle of long braids smelled of citrus and green tea. Hugging their warm body close, Revere kissed the back of their neck. "Good morning, beautiful."

Lumi slipped their fingers through Revere's.

"What are we doing today?" Revere murmured, eyes closed and nose resting against Lumi's neck.

"Hm... Coffee?" Lumi said sleepily.

"Good."

"And... bagels?"

"Better." Revere waited, but Lumi's slow, deep breathing resumed. "What else?"

"Mm. A bloody mary." They didn't sound happy about it.

"So it's a brunch kind of day?"

Lumi grunted and hesitated. For a moment, Revere thought that was all they'd say. "It's a I-have-to-see-my-mom-later kind of day."

"Ooh." Revere's eyes opened. Lumi had never mentioned anything about their family before. "Not looking forward to it?"

"No."

"You should bring me along." Revere was only half-joking. "I'm buckets of fun."

Lumi chuckled as they turned to face them. Their blue-gray eyes scanned Revere's face for a moment. "Do you want to come?"

Revere blinked, surprised. "Yeah, I'd love to." They didn't really expect Lumi to ever introduce them to their family.

"Okay. I'm meeting her for lunch." Lumi's gaze drifted.

Revere watched them. They looked like they immediately regretted the offer. The momentary surge of hope in Revere's heart faded. They wished Lumi would tell them what they were thinking. Being with them often felt like coaxing open a lock, trying to find the right words, the right touch, the right key.