Chapter Text
It had only been three years since the incident that changed IV’s life for the worst–well, scratch that, maybe it was for his good. IV had been kicked out at 16 because he came out as trans, his parents didn’t like that one bit.
Anyway, now IV has a small apartment just out of London–that is way too overpriced in IV’s opinion–and a full time job at a small bakery in the more populated parts.
In this bakery, he keeps seeing this one furried but really tall guy–at least six feet. He seems on edge and always talks about himself in ‘we’ instead of I. It was odd but you usually see a bunch of odd people when you work at a bakery, but something was different about this tall man. Maybe it was because he was hot–like really attractive–or maybe it was the way he dressed, a black hood over his eyes, plain white T, dark jeans, and black converse.
It was early October, leaves falling, long sleeves, and stuff like that. IV set one singular goal for himself, to ask the tall fella what his name was. Though it was five in the morning and he hadn’t eaten anything since what? Maybe Monday? Whatever, that doesn’t matter. All he needed to do was get to work, ask that hot, tall, and always nervous looking guy what his name was in a non-creepy way, he hopes it turns out like that at least.
It was about six in the morning when he got to work. God, it was freezing out. ‘Maybe that fine man could warm me up- no IV! What are you thinking… You don’t even know this poor man!’ IV thought again and again as he restocked the bread, cleaned up the counters, tables, hell, even the floor. When he looked back up outside, it was gloomy, probably gonna rain soon.
It was about quarter past seven when he turned on the sign to flash ‘open’ in big bright LED lights in the front window. Business was surprisingly slow for a morning like this but he didn’t care that much. He was waiting for the tall and on edge man to arrive at about noon–like he always did.
It was almost eleven, yet he was starving. Maybe it was because he hadn’t eaten since Monday, or maybe he was just scared that when he asked for the guy’s name he’d get mad and yell at him. Whatever it was, it was fucking with him and he didn’t like it one single bit.
Then finally, the time came. The tall man basically tip-toed in fear into the slightly busy bakery. He waited in line while fidgeting with his fingers, shirt, hell even his hood in a way. The big, strong, fine looking man’s turn to talk to IV. He was excited to say the least.
“Hi. How… How are you?” The man put on a slight smile while talking that didn’t travel to his eyes. The smile didn’t matter anyway since IV could barely see it because of that stupid black hood. IV just wanted to rip it off him and look at his beautiful eyes.
“I'm well! How are you?” IV put on a big smile as he tried not to turn red just at the sight of this man, “Also, I wanted to know your name. N-not in a weird way! I-I… I really just wanna know your name since you come here a lot.”
“Oh! Our name is… uh, Vessel! D-do you have one too?” Vessel. Strange name but IV was in no place to judge since his name is literally a roman numeral. God, he was gonna be dreaming of his name for the next few weeks, maybe even months.
“Apologies! My name is IV! Call me Ivy if you’d like, I really don't mind!” IV was already as red as a tomato as Vessel blinked.
“Nice to meet you, Ivy!” Vessel softened his tone. ‘God, he was probably turning red too under that hood. Jesus, pull it together, Ivy!’, “Could we uh… have the lemon thumbprint cookies?”
“Yeah! Of course.” Ivy quickly leans over to open the glass door cabinet before looking up at Vessel, “How many would you like?”
“Oh uhm… We… we don't know.”
“Just for you?”
“Yes, Just for us.”
“Maybe two or three? I personally can’t stomach more than two.”
Vessel takes a few beats before responding with a soft, “We want two.”
“Need anything else, love?” ‘Love? Really…? That's so embarrassing in front of him too! Great.’ Ivy thought this to himself as Vessel was turning red as he turned in this way that it was just enough to see his eyes… Oh my God, he has two puffed up smaller eyes above and below his bigger eyes. Maybe Ivy forgot to take his meds or maybe he just came out of some dress up convention! Damn it, there's zero way to explain his six eyes. “D-do… Do you have six eyes?”
Vessel stood still for a bit. Hell, the whole world sat still. Vessel looked around the bakery before Vessel ran behind the counter and pushed Ivy into the back room, “please don’t tell anyone…”
The baker who made everything looked at them then had a smug smile on her face then pretended she didn’t see anything. Ivy felt tiny under Vessel. ‘Oh please don’t get turned on now.’ Ivy thought this again and again but it didn’t work very well and he turned out to be hard as a rock. Vessel slowly let down his hood as Ivy looked up at him in slight fear. Ivy was absolutely freaking out. A man with six eyes, he had to be dreaming.
“Our… Our eyes hurt.” Vessel let out a soft sniffle. His eyes were getting puffier and redder which probably wasn’t a good sign… Right there, Vessel leaned down and just started sobbing into Ivy’s shoulder. “We are sorry, Ivy,” Vessel apologised through sniffs and sobs again and again, "Our eyes burn.” Ivy was still freaked out but he felt really bad.
“No, no… It’s okay!” Ivy pets his dirty blond matted hair. Sure, it was pretty disgusting, but this guy was probably really depressed. There's nothing he could do about his matted hair and flaking skin.
At least five minutes had gone by at this point and he was still sobbing a bit. Vessel half hugged Ivy and patted his shoulder.
“When does your shift end?” Vessel was still sniffling but at least he was looking at him. ‘Damn it. Damn it! Why is he so sexy with those grayish blue eyes!’, “We want to take you to a movie or dinner. N-not a date or anything! Friendly!” Vessel slowly turned red and started fidgeting.
“My shift ends at four, and I’d love to hang out with you, but I don’t want you to get even more hurt because of me.”
“No, no! We promise we’ll be okay! Don’t worry!” Vessel leans down and gives him a real hug as Ivy blushes until he’s a tomato. A few beats roll by as Vessel hugs him before he lets go and looks down at Ivy, “C-can we stay here until your shift ends?”
“Yeah! Of course, Vessel!”
Two hours had rolled by. By then it was already half past two o’clock and Vessel was doing unpaid labor for Ivy to impress him or at least that's what Ivy thinks.
“Vess, I-I mean Vessel! You don't have to clean the tables and counters, it’s okay!” Ivy told Vessel again and again but he wasn’t having it. It just made Vessel work harder.
“No, no! We want to do this, Ivy!” Vessel discreetly loved it when Ivy called him Vess, he really hopes Ivy calls him that during their date–no, hang out Ivy called it.
“Fine. Just don't overwork yourself, okay?” Ivy softly replied with tons of worry.
It was about a minute before four o’clock and Ivy was impatiently tapping his food next to the door. The second it turned four Ivy took Vessel’s hand and pulled him out the small bakery then locked the door before he realised he was holding Vessel’s hand.
“Sorry! I’m so sorry, Vessel! I didn’t mean to hold your hand!” Ivy kept telling Vessel he didn’t mean it while blushing like an absolute madman.
“I… It’s alright!” Vessel was blushing too as they walked into the bakery’s parking lot. As they approached, a used looking 2012 mini Cooper S Countryman Base in an oxford green type of colour that couldn’t be more than eight-thousand slowly became bigger. On the back it had some stickers and small scratches and dents from use. Ivy took his side and unlocked the car before Vessel got in. Sure, it was small for the giant that Ivy kinda became friends with, but over all it was comfy. Ivy then turned on the car and started playing this metal music which had more screaming than actual words, Vessel didn’t–he really couldn’t anyway–complain about the music though.
“So uh… Where do you live, Vess? I-I mean Vessel! Sorry!” Ivy stumbled on his words like crazy.
“Uh… 409 Eden Ave. It’s okay if you call us Vess, I really don’t mind, Ivy!” Vessel reassured Ivy softly.
“Al-alright!” Ivy felt unsure but he started driving with the music blasting in the background. They didn’t talk or anything throughout the small drive.
“I-is this your house…?” Ivy questioned. It was a big dark gothic manor that looked like it had seen better days. This manor had overgrown vines over it and old beautiful designs, this beautiful building had poison ivy slowly growing with the vines too.
“Yeah… W-we know it’s big.”