Work Text:
It was a warm, busy evening at Starr Park. Despite the late hour, the guests didn't seem to decrease in number whatsoever. The main square was impossible to get through, or so thought Meeple.
Meeple stood slightly on the side of the pavement, observing the crowd. They let out an exasperated sigh, knowing they have to get through the ocean of strangers in order to get back to the arcade.
Not even taking 3 steps forward, they bumped into no one other than the spawn of Satan himself.
-"Didn't expect you there, bowling ball."- of course the first words that left Chester's mouth were pure mockery.
-"haha. Peak of comedy, aren't you-"
Meeple was cut off by someone, stranger this time, bumping into them again.
-"you know what? Whatever, let's just move these insults elsewhere! I can't stand this!"
-"for the first time in my life and I mean it, I find myself agreeing with you."- Chester managed to say before he barely managed to dodge someone carelessly walking by while talking on their phone.
A couple more people like this and Chester might as well lose Meeple in the crowd, that's how bad it was. He wouldn't miss that abnormally round head anywhere. He could sense that sassy attitude of theirs within a mile.
So without thinking once, let alone twice, he grabbed onto Meeple's "wrist" and started pulling them through the crowd.
Meeple was pretty much flabbergasted by how suddenly and surely Chester started to just pull them behind himself.
-"hey-EY! What do you think you're doing, bastard?!"
-"helping you out of the crowd, of course."
Chester then yanked them closer by the wrist as he noticed they weren't keeping up.
Meeple stumbled but quickly regained composure.
-"Fuck you goddamn it! I almost tripped and fell over!"
-"What's with all the cursing today? Huh? Lost a game with an 8 year old again?"
Meeple frowned in annoyance at the tease, barely refraining from snapping back at him, the only factor holding them back being the crowd of people.
After Chester had managed to get them both through the most crowded part of the main square, he yanked Meeple closer again to make them catch up the distance between them. Then he hooked an arm around their shoulders, making a little suggestion.
-"Let's go to the candy shop. Mandy probably misses me already."
-"First of all, Mandy wouldn't notice if you were gone for 3 weeks, second, why the hell would I come with you?"
-"To keep me company of course. I know you're dying to spend time with me."
-"Tch. Very much."
Meeple found it impossible to keep out the sarcasm. They weren't entirely against the idea of doing something, maybe finally socialize, but... This guy made playing 2+ player games by yourself heaven. Just the sound of his voice made their stomach turn.
-"C'mon, I promise I won't be as infuriating as last time."
-"Yeah, sure, of course, you'll be MORE infuriating at least!"
Chester then took his hand off their shoulder and crossed his arms. It was time to pull out the forbidden move.
-"I'll get you something sweet. On the house."
Meeple stopped in their tracks. They had such a massive sweet tooth it was not funny just how easily they could be convinced with a sweet treat.
-"..."
They avoided looking up at him for a second before muttering out:
-"Can I get a bag of ice candy this time?"
-"Not like you ever get anything else."
-"Hmpf."
So Chester made his way towards his oh so beloved working environment that was the candy shop. Meeple followed right after him.
They went inside, the door opening and closing with a cute little ding.
There was still a lot of people, mostly obnoxious kids trying to convince their parents to buy them more and more ridiculous sweets. The scent of melted candy, powdered cocoa and vanilla extract made the air a sickening mixture, horrendous enough to make you faint. Going Past everyone, it was now Meeple pulling Chester behind themself, as he continued holding onto their wrist.
They quickly found the aisle their beloved type of candy was situated in and momentarily got ahold of the first blue pack of candy they saw.
-"you get more and more excited every time you come here, you know?"
-"that- that's OBVIOUSLY not true?! You're literally making it up!" - Meeple said having to swallow beforehand, as the mere idea of putting this mint-flavored delight into their mouth was making them practically drool.-"whatever you say, sugar addict."
Meeple held off another insult they were about to call the jester in response.
Mandy on the other hand observed them from a distance, only half paying attention to the customer she was taking the change from. "He's so crushing on that nerd it's painful to watch. Too bad his specific ...flirting technique doesn't seem to be working." She thought. Then she took a moment to shake her head to herself "Chester is such a loser he fails in pulling an even bigger loser."
But then she noticed one crucial thing. After she was done handling the customer, she took a step to the side, leaning on the counter to take a better look.
Were they...holding hands? Meeple didn't have literal hands, but she was pretty sure whatever she was seeing right now was considered hand holding.
Chester's hand was wrapped securely around the thin neck of Meeple's pawn gauntlet. They kept talking about something, Mandy couldn't make out what exactly. Probably nothing important, taking a brief look at their body language. Meeple was occasionally stomping their foot in annoyance, While Chester kept casually poking them in random places.
Another classic scenario of them bickering and teasing each other, if not for the hand holding part. That was.. suspicious to say the least. Meeple usually avoided getting touched like wildfire.
-"Wow, just how oblivious can idiots in love be? Or maybe they're not oblivious to each other, but rather to the fact I know."
Mandy decided not to overthink it. And just get back to work.
Soon though the source of her mind boggle appeared right in front of her. Chester shook a small pack of blue candy in front of her face.
-"Take this off my pay, your highness! You wouldn't mind if I take...my friend there to the back room, would you?"- saying that he yanked Meeple closer again by the hand. They kept standing those 2 steps too far from him all the time.
-"I wouldn't. What are you even going to do there though?"
-"oh don't you worry about it..."
Chester already started walking away with Meeple adding only in a quiet tone:
-"just a bit of fun.."
And After that comment Mandy wasn't sure if she wanted to be updated on the situation anymore.
After getting Meeple to the further corners of the back rooms, Chester let that evil smirk back onto his face.
-"How does it feel?"
-"How does what feel?"
-"To hold my hand all the time."
Meeple instinctively took a step back.
-"hu-HUH? YOU WERE THE ONE HOLDING MY HAND!"- Their face flushed a deep purple instantly.
-"Tch tch tch. So serious all the time. Loosen up a little! You've got no one to keep up an appearance for here, Meepy..."
Chester circled around them before grabbing onto their shoulder piece.
-"Don't Tell me you didn't notice."
-"Of course I noticed! You thought I'd be brave enough to point it out?!"
-"So you're getting all shy on me? Don't pull an act Meeple. But that's not what I'm trying to ask here...did you like it or not?"
-"uh. Erm...I'm not telling you that!"- Meeple snarked back, only to regret it instantly.
Chester laughed.
-"God! You're so awkward it's starting to get pathetic!"
-"Shut up! Shut it already!!"
They tried to gently push Chester away only for him to get even closer and back them up against a wall. Meeple's breath hitched slightly as they found the new position quite unnerving. Chester wasted no time with fancy talk and straight up nuzzled his face against the side of theirs.
-"I'm being honest here. I like how responsive you are. Heck, I even LOVE it."
Meeple was absolutely sure this was just another attempt in making them embarrassed.
Standing over them in this weird position, Chester opened the pack of candy in his hands and popped one piece into his mouth.
-"Hey! That's mine!"
-"Awh, I bought it for you and you're not even willing to share with me? Such cruelty..."
Chester mocked. He knew he was the one who was about to be cruel in this exact moment though.
He ditched the bag of candy aside, grabbing onto Meeple's cheeks with both hands instead. Without a warning he leaned in and pressed his lips against theirs.
Meeple involuntarily flinched, more shocked than flustered by the action at first. They didn't push him away though. And maybe that was their biggest mistake.
Chester pushed that piece of candy into their mouth using his tongue, not to mention the fair share of saliva that went along it.
The sweet, minty flavor paired with the slippery coat of saliva made Meeple almost choke. Their cheeks burned, they didn't know what to do with their hands which were actively shaking. What the hell was going on? They had no idea. The worst part was they found themself enjoying this whole disgusting gesture.
Pulling back, Chester licked up their lower lip. Then quickly turning on his heel and making his way out of the room to prevent Meeple from seeing his equally flushed face.
-"See ya around!"
Meeple just stood there for a couple minutes, letting the piece of candy dissolve in their mouth. Debating on how to feel about whatever happened.
Chester on the other hand, walked out of the back room and went past the counter. What stopped him were Mandy's words.
-"you fucked up?"
-"I fucked up."
Then he resumed walking out of the shop, not even glancing back at his best friend.