Unexpected Fate

Chapter 1

First time?"

Kao jumps at the sudden voice, in way too close of a proximity to his ear considering... well. His current location.

He whips his head around, turning from a wall of colorful and varyingly shaped phallic objects to a surprisingly Purple shade of hair and the handsome face that accompanies it. His eyes are big, sharp, sparkling with mirth, and eyebrows and full lips are turned up in an amused smile at Kao's expense. He's attractive, remarkably so, which doesn't help the embarrassment Kao feels from ogling sex toys dumbly for the past ten minutes in the slightest.

Kao places a hand over his chest, willing the rapid thumping of his heart to calm.

"Geez," he mumbles, "don't sneak up on a guy like that." His eyes flicker down to the navy blue polo shirt underneath the other man's charcoal-colored cardigan and wonders if he's an employee, his question finally sinking in. "Uh, sorry, first time what?"

"Buying a sex toy?" he clarifies, and Kao hates how he can feel his own cheeks warm at the notion being spoken out loud. He's thirty years old, for fuck's sake; he should be able to own up to it. "I work here, by the way," the now-confirmed employee adds, pulling his cardigan aside to reveal a nametag that reads UP. "Just so you don't think I'm some creep trying to hit on you."

He smiles at Kao and fuck, he's so cute. Kao likes to think he would have pounced on the opportunity when he was younger, maybe said something like what if I want you to hit on me? or, God forbid, something greasy like Which toy's your favorite, pretty boy?

As it stands, he's a little too old for that now.

"Was it that obvious?" Kao asks instead, smiling sheepishly.

UP hums. "Usually I leave people to it, but you look like you're either struggling or, in my experience working here, plotting to grab as many dildos as you can carry and make a run for it, so I thought I'd come check on you. Anything I can help you find?"

Kao chuckles nervously. "No, it's okay. I'm not trying to pilfer dildos, I'm just..." He trails off and sighs, running a hand through his hair. He'll never see this guy again, and there aren't many people in his life that he can comfortably vent his sexual frustration to. He has nothing to lose. "I just want something different."

"Different," UP repeats, a finger poking out from one of his large sleeves to poke at his lip in thought. "We just got some ovipositor dildos in—"

"Not that different," Kao says quickly, eyes wide, letting out another flustered laugh. "Just... new. Something that isn't, uh, my hand."

"You've never owned a sex toy?" UP asks. There's a glint in his eye—teasing, but not unkind. Still, it unnerves Kao. With the way UP stares at him, Kao worries that those dark eyes can see right through him, can see just how pathetic and lonely he is and exactly how long his dry spell has been.

"No," he grits out. "We've established that, I think."

"Right." UP giggles, and Kao wonders if the employee is being intentionally patronizing or if he's just imagining things. He steps in between Kao and the toys on display, bending over right in front of him to examine the bottom shelves. Kao can't help himself from checking him out, just a bit; the large cardigan doesn't leave much for him to ogle, but his dark jeans cling to thick thighs that Kao really wouldn't mind getting a handful of—

He forces his eyes up to the ceiling and swallows, mentally chastising himself and feeling a pang of guilt. Just because he's talking to you about masturbating doesn't give you a free pass to think about him that way, he tells himself. Even if he is one of the most attractive people to ever give you the time of day. He's just doing his job.