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With a long sigh Rider pours himself another cup of water. He was overthinking this entire lunch date with Emperor. He hated being in public with him because of being noticed but sometimes he just had to trudge through it.
Though the lunch date was completely platonic, or maybe it wasn’t? Rider still had a thing for Emperor but would never tell a single soul or let it slip from his mouth. While he was sure the other was just playing with his heart. Despite everything Emperor would still playfully flirt with him.
This lunch date was planned way too fast after they’d finished training together for the day. Rider rejected at first but after some convincing he followed along.
They’re now both sitting at a café eating together, Rider tries to not make too much eye contact with Emperor as just sitting across from him was embarrassing enough.
“I heard you got a trophy in Clam Blitz recently, didn’t think you were into that.”
Emperor tries to start some small talk so the awkward silence would end between them and it cuts Rider’s spacing out completely. “How do you know that? I didn’t tell anyone about that.”
“Pacer told me, she heard through your teammates.”
“Oh… huh.”
Rider scratches the side of his face, he’s a bit hesitant to respond. It feels like Emperor knows almost everything about him because his team can’t keep their mouths shut half the time. But if he were to scold them about it he’d feel bad. So he would have to deal with it.
Instead of giving Emperor a response which he was probably fishing for he chose to just go back to eating his food.
“Can I have that.” Emperor points to the lemon on Rider’s plate.
“Have it, I’m not going to use it.”
Emperor pinches it off of his plate and squeezes the lemon on his salmon before getting back to eating. Rider just stared at his food while taking sips of his water. He really did not want to be in public with the king right now. Every so often when people walked past them he’d catch glances towards them, it always had him worried. He didn’t want to be here with Emperor.
But to make Emperor happy he stayed. Despite everything about hating being with him, he wanted to be closer with him hoping this would change Emperor’s feelings towards him even if it was minor. Rider just preferred it just to be the two of them and nobody else. Even though this isn’t the first time he’s been forced to do this.
“Rider, you're awfully quiet. Am I just uninteresting? Or do you genuinely have nothing to talk about? Tell me about the games you play or whatever, I’m willing to listen.”
“It doesn’t matter, I just don’t want to talk, you can’t force me to talk. We talked while we were training, did we not?” Rider responds, turning away from Emperor as his ears downturn.
“We’re out eating, that is what people do when they eat. I don’t like the attitude you’re giving me.”
Rider grumbles to himself after being scolded by Emperor. He hated whenever this happened. He’s not a kid anymore and detested when Emperor would treat him like one, as if he was any older. He’s so stupid he thought to himself.
As stupid as he thought Emperor was, he still couldn’t deny himself that he’d fallen for the other. He’s head over heels for him for sure and he knew some others would have noticed too. Even if he tried to be subtle.
Awkward silence was all that was between them now as Rider had finished the last bit of bacon on his plate as Emperor had been giving him a glance which meant he wanted him to hurry up. But before they could get up and leave, Emperor bumps his leg against Rider's, receiving a gasp from him as his face fills with flush.
“Can we just get up and go?” Rider mumbled.
“Of course,” Emperor responds.
Emperor had decided he would stay at Rider’s tonight not that they had pre planned this or anything, he just didn’t bother wanting to swap trains and he’d wanted to stay with the other. He basically invited himself over to Rider’s but the green inkling didn’t take much issue to it.
They mostly ignored each other during the train ride, Rider was too fixated on looking at the city from the windows and Emperor was way more interested in his phone.
But since it was just them on the carriage Emperor had decided he would bump his foot against Rider’s.
He wants a reaction.
“Quit doing that!”
“Doing what?”
“Touching me with your foot I can feel it asshole!”
Emperor cackles to himself as he wraps his arm around Rider and leans into him. “Does it really bother you that much? It was an accident after all.”
Rider huffs, his face is covered in flush and it’s so noticeable he looks away from the king. He just hopes to god he doesn’t notice but he’s a little hurt as he was so close to him. He could have kissed him. But alas he didn’t believe Emperor one bit.
“ Outer Inkopolis ” The train comes to a halt, this was Emperor and Rider’s stop.
Emperor got off the chair and allowed Rider to go in front of him so he would be able to follow behind him.
They’d gotten off the train and tapped their train cards on. Finally they were free and were finally off to go home. However this wouldn’t mean the silence between them would stop. Rider missed his chance earlier and he’s still quite frustrated by it. Maybe he perhaps could try tonight? He thought about it, though he thinks the move is a bit too fast for now he’d rather take it slow, hell he hadn’t even confessed to Emperor.
He hates admitting to himself but all this stuff he does with Emperor is to try to get closer to him. He wants Emperor to maybe like him back. But he’s worried he might lead him on, or maybe they’re better as just friends.
As they continued walking, Emperor noticed Rider was spaced out completely, he didn’t even think for a moment other than to grab Rider into an alleyway by the back of his shirt and pushed him against a wall.
“Wh-what are you doing you bast-“
Emperor silences the other by placing his hand over his mouth.
“You seem awfully jumpy by such minor behavioral changes in me,” Emperor removes his hand from Rider’s mouth. “Do you have something to tell me?”
Rider’s pupils are as wide as plates. He can feel Emperor boring holes into him as he stares down at him.
“It’s nothing, I promise, I-I just,” Rider stumbles his words as his ears downturn.
Emperor grabs Rider’s chin and lifts his head up towards him. “Don’t face away from me, dear.”
As quick as a shot from a charger straight through his heart he dropped his weapon bag from his hand while the other had leaned forward and locked lips with him. Rider was as stiff as board now as he didn’t know what to do. He kissed back even if it was with inexperience, he’d still like to satisfy the other. Emperor stuck his tongue into Rider’s mouth which caused him to wince, he could taste the lemon on his tongue.
Nevertheless this would end quickly as Emperor pulled away from him. “Don’t be so secretive about it next time.”
Rider pants as he tries to regain his posture, he’s still so stiff in shock. He doesn’t even know how to respond. He can’t even think of a response either.
Suddenly he grabs the collar of the yellow inkling's jacket and pulls him down for another kiss. He didn’t even think for a second nor did he care, he wanted to start this kiss before the other could even think about control.
Emperor reacts by grabbing Rider’s shirt and pulling him up ever so slightly (Rider was heavier after all) and basically forcing his entire body weight onto him, pressing him against the wall completely.
They break.
“I love y-you-“ Rider lets it slip out as he stares back at the king, he removes his arms from the man’s jacket and grabs onto his arms, in return Emperor lets him go allowing him to get back on his feet.
It wouldn’t be long till Emperor kissed Rider again, for a response to such a confession it was almost crazy. He just couldn’t get enough.
They both couldn’t get enough.
It was blatantly obvious when Emperor started kneeing Rider in the crotch which in response Rider pulled away to the best ability even if he was trapped behind between the yellow inkling and the wall.
“I wasn’t done yet-“
“I-I said it, I admitted it,” Rider interrupted. “ I don’t want to c-cut this short, but I’d prefer to continue this when we get back to my place.”
Emperor stiffened for a second. “I’m sorry, let’s get going.”
He bends over and grabs Rider’s weapon bag and hands it over to him. He gets ready to leave, making sure that Rider is still by his side.
The walk back to Rider’s place would be silent and awkward. They would not speak a word of this to each other on the way there.
Once they had gotten to Rider’s place they’d both settled down a bit, trying to forget what had taken place just a few hours back.
The lounging room was dimly lit as they’d started watching a movie together. They haven’t had any small talk aside from Emperor asking if he could borrow Rider’s clothes since he didn’t bring his own.
Though, to break the awkward silence Emperor spoke. “I’m sorry about what happened, I’m not sure what got into me.”
Emperor now lays his head on Rider’s shoulder, just trying to get some sort of touch and with that he puts his hand on Rider’s thigh.
“It’s fine. It’s not like I need to keep it a secret anyway. I’d have to tell you eventually.”
Emperor grabs Rider’s shoulders and makes him face towards him. Soft spoken, he leans into him. “I’m glad you could tell me, fortunately, I already knew.”
Rider’s pupils dilate. Of course Emperor knew especially with what had happened on the way home, it was so blatantly obvious.
“Don’t be embarrassed, I definitely feel the same way Rider…” Emperor pauses. “Mostly.”
Rider stiffened at what the other had said especially at the ‘mostly’. He was worried Emperor would accidentally lead him on. “Please don’t put it like that.”
The king looks into Rider’s eyes he leans in. “I’m not lying, I’m being completely honest.” He whispered.
Emperor grabs Rider’s face and pulls him into a kiss, every time they’d kiss now it’d always felt right to Rider. The green inkling isn’t reluctant to kiss back, he pushes Emperor onto the couch, he’s on top of him now, though he pulls back. Staring down at him, looming over him. He could see the flush on Emperor’s face, this is the most embarrassed he’d seen him since he lost to Goggles.
“Emperor… I love you.” Rider wants to dig that deep into Emperor’s skull. He wants him to know. He wants him to remember it.
“I love you too, Rider.” It’s whispered as Emperor wraps his arms around Rider’s neck.
“I’m glad you feel the same.”
“Of course, dear.”
It ends when Rider pulls away from Emperor and covers his face, he’s way too embarrassed to continue this conversation. However he felt fresh… He needed this out of his system. His thinking is interrupted by Emperor.
“I think we should head to bed.”
“Yeah, of c-course.”
Rider would spend the next few days contemplating another date with Emperor, perhaps they’ll finally become official. They’re both just unsure at the moment. But Rider would like to change that.