Several months after they had been dating, AJ started to find little gifts from Kevin around his apartment. Sometimes cleverly hidden like under the kitchen sink or in a pair of AJ's shoes, sometimes set out in plain sight like on the bed or on the top shelf in the refrigerator. When AJ found a new pair of sunglasses in his medicine cabinet and a new corduroy jacket slung over the back of one of his couches, AJ decided he should get something for Kevin.
It wasn't that he didn't know Kevin's taste, because he did. He didn't know what he was looking for as fingered over the merchandise at yet another clothing store, and as he smoothed down the front of black silk shirt, he thought that yes, Kevin would like this. But would it be good enough after all that Kevin has given him?
He went home empty handed and the next morning he found a white-gold plated cigarette case tucked into the pocket of his favorite pants.
"Kevin, what is this?" AJ asked later, dropping the cigarette case in Kevin's lap. Kevin put down the newspaper he as reading, picked the case up and examined it like he'd never seen it before.
"It's a cigarette case," Kevin said. He opened it up and found that AJ had put his latest pack of cigarettes in it.
"I know what it is, I mean why did you give it to me?" He sat down next to Kevin and took the case back. "You hate that I smoke."
Kevin put his arm around AJ and kissed his neck. "I do hate it, but I can't stop you from doing it," he said.
AJ closed his eyes and ran his fingers along a small hole torn in his jeans. "You keep giving me things," AJ said.
"I like giving you things."
"I'm starting to feel ungrateful," AJ said. He slipped the cigarette case into his pocket and left the room, not looking back -- not even for the slight cough Kevin made as he went back to reading his newspaper.
For the next two days, AJ didn't find any presents from Kevin. On the third day, AJ decided what he was going to get for Kevin.
AJ cornered Kevin in the kitchen the next morning and pressed a key into his hand. "I want you to move in with me."
Kevin looked at the key, looked at AJ, and smiled. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. You practically live here anyway."
Kevin took out his key chain and carefully slipped the new key in with the others. "I'm still keeping my place," he said. "But I'll bring all the stuff I need over this weekend, okay?"
AJ grinned and tilted his head up to kiss Kevin. The kiss was sweet and small until AJ pressed himself against Kevin. Kevin's mouth opened and AJ slid his tongue across Kevin's teeth. Kevin bit down on AJ's bottom lip and the warm sensation in AJ's stomach turned explosive, spreading to the rest of his body. AJ broke the kiss and wrapped his arms around Kevin's waist.
"I'm sorry," AJ said against Kevin's shoulder.
"For what?" Kevin pressed his hand firmly against AJ's back and rubbed in small circles.
"For being silly about the things you gave me," he said.
"Don't worry about it," Kevin said. He kissed AJ again, lightly licking at the corners of his mouth.
"I won't," AJ said. "I've got you, everything else is just a bonus."
written as an improv with the words: merchandise, torn, explosive
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