Smoking cats - shinsero

A Moment of Quiet

It had been a few days since the double date with Kirishima and Mina, and things between Sero and Shinsou had fallen into a steady rhythm. School was a blur of training sessions and classes, but they always made time for each other in between, whether it was eating lunch together or sneaking a few quiet moments in Shinsou's apartment after hours. Since that day at the cafe, there had been a new level of comfort between them - like the subtle shift of something settling into place.

For now, though, they were both taking a break from all of that. It was the weekend, and Shinsou's kitchen was in desperate need of restocking. Tipi had made it clear by meowing persistently at her empty food bowl that they were out of her favorite treats. Shinsou didn't mind errands like this. He enjoyed the normalcy of grocery shopping - something grounding in a life that was often filled with chaos.

Sero had offered to come along, and Shinsou was grateful for the company. The two of them made their way to the store, hand in hand as they strolled through the streets. The air was crisp, and Shinsou pulled his hoodie tighter against the autumn chill.
"Anything else we need besides cat food?" Sero asked, glancing over at him.

The boy thought for a moment.
"Probably some stuff for dinner. Maybe something to snack on, too."

Sero grinned.
"I'll pick out the snacks. You always go for the healthy stuff."

"Someone's got to keep you alive," he teased back, giving Sero a playful nudge with his shoulder.
"If it were up to you, we'd be living on chips and candy."

"Not true," the black haired boy argued, though his tone was light.
"I eat real food... sometimes."

When they reached the store, it wasn't too crowded, which was a relief. Shinsou grabbed a cart and they started down the first aisle, chatting easily about the week that had passed. Sero reached for a bag of chips, tossing it into the cart with a grin, while Shinsou rolled his eyes but didn't argue. They had an unspoken agreement when it came to food - Sero would get his snacks, and Shinsou would make sure there was something with actual nutrients in the cart too.

But as they turned the corner into the produce section, Sero's casual demeanor shifted. His eyes darted to a figure near the apples, and his heart stopped in his chest.

His mother.

She looked almost the same as he remembered - still carrying herself with that same rigid posture, her hair pulled back in a neat bun. She was reaching for a bag of apples, completely unaware of her son standing just a few feet away. He froze, the familiar wave of anxiety crashing over him like a tidal wave. His breath hitched in his throat, and for a moment, he was back in that place - back in the fights, the accusations, the hurtful words that still echoed in his mind.

Shinsou was busy examining the vegetables a little farther down the aisle, not noticing the sudden shift in Sero's mood. But Sero couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in his chest. His hands clenched around the cart handle, knuckles turning white.

Don't panic. Just walk away.

He forced himself to turn away, pushing the cart toward the next aisle without saying a word. His heart pounded in his chest as they continued shopping, but his mind was elsewhere - fixated on the image of his mother, the memories of everything that had happened between them swirling around like a storm he couldn't escape.

Shinsou noticed the shift in his mood soon enough.
"You okay?" He asked casually, though there was a hint of concern in his voice.

"Yeah," the boy replied, though it was a little to quick.
"I'm fine. Just... tired, I guess."

The purple haired boy didn't push, but he didn't seem entirely convinced either. Sero knew he'd have to explain later, but right now, he couldn't. He wasn't ready to dredge all that up, not in the middle of a grocery store. So he kept quiet, hoping the feeling would pass.

But the rest of the trip felt off. He couldn't relax, his mind still spinning, and Shinsou picked up on it. By the time they paid for the groceries and made their way back to the apartment, the tension between them was palpable.

When they got inside, Sero helped put the stuff away in silence. The other watched him carefully, his usual sharp eyes catching every little detail - the way Sero's hands shook slightly as he set the bags down, the way he avoided eye contact. Finally, when everything was put away, Shinsou crossed his arms and leaned against the counter.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on, or are we going to keep pretending nothing's wrong?"

Sero sighed, leaning against the counter across from him. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration building.
"I saw my mom," he admitted, his voice quieter than usual.
"In the store."

The other's expression softened. He knew about the boy's past - about how things had fallen apart with his family, about the fights that had driven him out of his home. Sero had opened up about it before, and while it was something that still haunted him, he hadn't expected to come face-to-face with his mother like this.

"You didn't say anything," Shinsou said, though there was no accusation in his voice. Just understanding.

He shrugged trying to act like it didn't bother him as much as it did.
"I didn't know how. I just... panicked."

The purple haired boy pushed off the counter and walked over to him, placing a hand on the boy's arm.
"You don't have to pretend like it's nothing. I get it."

Sero's shoulders slumped, and for the first time since they'd left the store, he let himself feel the weight of it all.
"I didn't think I'd ever see her again, you know? After everything that happened... I thought I was done with that part of my life."

Shinsou's grip tightened slightly, a silent gesture of comfort.
"It's okay to feel like that. It's not easy, seeing someone who hurt you."

He swallowed hard, his throat tight.
"I just... I thought I'd be fine. But seeing her... it brought everything back. The fights, the things she said to me... it's like it's all happening again."

Shinsou pulled him into a hug then, his arms wrapping around the boy in a way that felt both comforting and protective. The black haired boy leaned into him, his face pressed against Shinsou's shoulder, the tension in his body slowly easing.

"Come on," he murmured, pulling back just enough to look Sero in the eye.
"Let's go sit down. You look like you need a break."

They moved to the couch, Tipi already curled up in one of her favorite spots by the armrest. Shinsou grabbed the remote and put on one of those terrible B-list movies they always made fun of. It was something about aliens and bad CGI effects, but Sero wasn't really paying attention.

Instead, he focused on the feeling of his boyfriend's arm around his shoulders, the warmth of his body pressed against his side. They sat there like that for a while, not talking much, just watching the ridiculous movie and letting the tension slowly dissolve.

"Is this supposed to be scary or funny?" The dark eyed boy asked after a particularly terrible jump scare, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"I'm not sure the director even knows," Shinsou replied dryly, making the other chuckle.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to lift the weight off Sero's chest, even if just a little. And as the night went on, with Shinsou's arm still wrapped around him and the sound of Tipi's soft purring filling the room, he felt a little more at peace.

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