In Another World

Ramen for Two

Angel picked up the menu, scanning it for all of five seconds before deciding on the biggest bowl of pork bone ramen that they had available. He had "forgotten" to eat earlier, so he was really hungry. He put down the menu, looking up at Aki, who was still scanning over the menu. Angel's stomach fluttered, and he wanted to swear at himself. He had to have more control than this.

"What did you do this week?" Angel asked, his tone sounding bored despite himself.

"Oh, I just looked into a cheater," Aki said, not taking his eyes off the menu. "He's cheating, I just need a little bit more evidence so that I have it on lockdown."

"Hm... cheaters always amaze me. How can you have energy for multiple relationships?" Angel asked, scratching at the table.

Aki's eyes flickered up to Angel. "You're lazy, aren't you?"

Angel shrugged. "I guess so."

Angel didn't think he was that lazy. He knew that it was the depression that was sapping all of his energy away, and his lack of nutrition. However, he wasn't about to come out and be like, "I'm mentally ill!" especially not to a man that he wanted to think positively of him. Even if he would never be able to flirt with or date Aki, it would still be nice if he didn't think of Angel as pathetic.

Aki sighed. "You really ought to work on that."

"Working on something is only fun when I'm drawing a hot guy with his dick out," Angel complained.

Aki's ears turned red. "Can- can we not talk about that when we're out in public?"

Angel felt the mischief turning one side of his mouth upwards. "What? You don't like that I'm willing to broadcast in public that I love to draw guys taking it up the ass?"

Aki's whole face blossomed into a bright red color. "Angel," Aki hissed. "Stop."

Angel felt his heart jump out of his chest, and a sudden shyness took over. Aki had called him by his first name, something he hadn't been expecting at all. He felt his face burning and he ducked his head, allowing his hair to flow over his face to hide it. Angel could give it, but damn it, he could not take it.

If Aki noticed how shy Angel became, he didn't say anything, probably due to the waitress coming over. Aki ordered his food, and Angel managed to get out what he wanted as well. He was trying not to let Aki see his embarrassed face as much as possible, so he kept his head bowed down as he spoke. He couldn't believe how lame he was, getting so flustered about using first names. He wasn't sure he had the balls to come out and call him Aki, not yet at least.

"I have a question for you," Aki said.

"Y- yeah, fine, whatever," Angel mumbled.

"Why do you hate being touched?" Aki asked.

"Oh, uh..." Angel was a little bit surprised by this question. "Well... I just haven't been touched in a long time by anyone, so it makes me uncomfortable."

Aki's eyebrows drew together. "Not by friends or family?"

"Don't have any," Angel replied.

"Not anyone?" Aki asked incredulously.

"Nope," Angel replied.

Angel was not comfortable with this line of talking. Aki probably was going to think he was a loser for not having any friends or family, which was understandable. What kind of person goes through life with no connections? Angel was that sort of person. Since that event, nobody had pushed as hard as Aki to become close to him, and he had been okay with that. He didn't need anyone. He made money, he ate, he crapped, and he lived. What more could anyone ask of a human?