Screamland part 3

The day came when Kedamono knew the order for all the furniture was in, and he was super excited.

He even bought Popee extra cooking appliances and some other things—-some new outfits and other cute accessories for his hair.

He never shared a place with someone before, it made him feel like he had something…

Special.

Popee was stepping up, cleaning and cooking, helping out more and even helping with some of the maintenance stuff. It made Kedamono happy and feel safe too, and less burdened by all the physical responsibility of income and rent.

He was still saving money, too.

For a house.

He closed his eyes, as he shook up a drink at the bar, (his second job), picturing both of them in a new, clean, big house, happy and thriving.

He started picturing weird things too.

Like Popee in a pretty apron, making him fried chicken….delicious, sweet, spicy fried chicken…. And Popee with a pretty smile…and the pretty chicken.

It made him almost spill the drink, making his boss yell at him a little.

He remade the drink in a nervous flurry, giving it to the slightly bemused customer.

“Daydreaming?” The customer asked, her smile turning a bit wry as she sipped her drink.

Kedamono frowned. “Unfortunately. Sorry about that.”

“Must be about some beautiful little thing. Am I right?”

“Yeah…” Kedamono grinned, thinking about the chicken again, but then shook his head vigorously. “Well… not a thing. A person.”

“Ah. A lady. She’s lucky.”

Kedamono laughed. “A person.”

The customer gasped. “A man?”

“My best friend. We live together.”

“Hmm. More than that, me thinks.” And with that, the unnamed customer left a twenty on the counter and went to another table. “Go ahead and use that to get your ‘best friend’ something nice!”

‘Oh! A fifteen dollar tip! Amazing!’ Kedamono thought happily.

With his shift almost over, he thought of a way to get Popee out of their room while he set it up with the new furniture.

He decided to give Popee a fake to do list, and then hopefully that would work.

When he got home, Popee was there, hugging him like always.

“Welcome home! I made pot roast.”

Kedamono smiled, hugging him back, “Thank you. I appreciate that. I’m really hungry.”

“I found the recipe in my head. I made it up.”

Kedamono laughed. “You are cute.”

Popee looked surprised by Kedamono’s inflection and the completely relaxed way he just openly flirted with him, but pretended to be unaware of it.

“I am the cutest in the world! Don’t forget.”

Kedamono nodded, rolling his eyes. “Okay.”

“So… why don’t ya eat?!” Popee said as he started getting the trash together.

“Popee, I actually have a favor to ask. I’ll take out the trash.”

Popee sighed. “What?”

“Eh, just, I need you to go to a few places for me. I got a list. Is that okay?”

Popee nodded. “Sure.”

“Did you eat today? Drink water?”

Popee looked at him in an annoyed way. “You’re not my dad.”

“Thank goodness…”

“Eh, what was that?”

“I mean… I know. So, I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. That you ate dinner.”

Popee sighed in a resigned way, and smiled, “Yes, Keda. I ate dinner. And drank lots and lots of beer.”

Kedamono’s eyes widened. “What?!”

“I’m kidding. It was water.”

“You’re not twenty one yet!”

“I’ll be twenty soon enough!”

Popee started serving Kedamono a bowl of stew as he was talking, handing him the steamy bowl, and a bottle of water.

“True. Anyway, my bar isn’t that nice.”

Popee growled, “I wanna visit you there.”

“You can. You just can’t drink.”

Kedamono watched as Popee put a long kimono over his head and other lighter clothes. The kimono was bright red and blue.

“That’s boring. Anyway, Keda, gimme that list. I’m ready to go.”

“You look nice,” Kedamono said, a spoon in his mouth. He got up and got the to do list on the kitchen counter, handing it to Popee.

“Thank you. I know.”

“Arrogant, much?”

“Shower, much?”

Kedamono frowned. “I do!”

“Deorderant doesn’t count!”

Kedamono put on the radio(they didn’t have a TV yet), and said, “I’ll see you later, Popee!” It was Kokomo by The Beach Boys.

Popee heard the song playing and stopped right before getting to the door, the beat hitting his heart with a pulsing nostalgia. It made him think of Kedamono in the early days of the circus.

“Ohh! That song!” Popee dropped his bags and wallet. “Dance! Dance Keda!”

“I’m eating though!”

“Plllease!”

“Nooo.”

Popee managed to place his head underneath Kedamono’s arm, picking him up slightly, making them both tilt over and fall.

“Ah, you okay?” Popee asked.

Kedamono laughed, getting up, taking Popee’s hand. Clumsily they both got up, dancing in a haphazard and wild way, with Popee spinning them both around.

“This song sounds like Kedamono!” Popee laughed.

“It’s Kokomo!”

“Oh!”

Suddenly, Popee twirls and spins into Kedamono’s arms.

“Dip me.”

“Huh?”

“Keda, dip me!”

Kedamono understood and acquiesced, placing one hand underneath Popee’s upper back and neck and the other in his hand, dipping him as low as possible. Their height difference between them was a bit glaring, about one feet in between—-but, they managed to pull it off.

“You are good at dancing! Almost too good…” Popee teased and then sighed in a deep breath. “Okay. I’m off! Ta-ta for now!”

Kedamono felt dizzy. “Ah. Yeah. Bye!”

Popee waved goodbye, grabbing his bags again.

“Oh, don’t forget to get your wallet!” Kedamono said.

“Oh, thanks!” Popee said, winking directly at him as he got the wallet.

Kedamono saw the door close, and he felt like he was ready to explode.

That wink!

What was that?!, Kedamono thought, his cheeks warm.