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The day hadn’t started out quite as expected, Duro texting him about some family emergency that required a last minute change of plans to the date night they were going to have. Auctus would never admit it out loud but he was truly enjoying himself, babysitting Duro’s niece and spending the day at the fair, riding carousels and stuffing their bellies with junk food, instead of the art exhibition and the nice restaurant he’d planned for them.
Throwing an arm around Duro’s neck he pulled his boyfriend into his side and pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek.
“You’re cute,” he mumbled into the soft 5 o’clock shadow, feeling Duro’s dimple deepen as he grinned.
“And here I thought I was hot,” Duro retorted and bumped his shoulder into Auctus’ side.
Auctus shook his head and lowered his voice. “I’ll tell you all about how hot you are when we drop the pumpkin back at her dads’.”
There was no way Amira had overheard their conversation, walking a good five steps ahead of them, but somehow kids have a sixth sense for knowing when they’re being talked about. As if on cue, Amira chose that moment to turn around.
“Look!” She exclaimed with an excitement that seemed to run in the family, “Duro can I have that?”
Auctus followed the line of her pointing finger towards a purple colored stuffed animal. He wasn’t quite sure what it was supposed to be, a kitten perhaps, or a lemur. Whatever it was, Auctus could tell by the expression on the girl’s face that they wouldn’t leave the compound without the little fella.
His eyes went over the game booth the plushie dangled from and his mind was made up before Duro could even answer her.
“Hold my ice cream?” he asked, pushing his half eaten cone into Duro’s hand and slipping his arm off his shoulders so he could roll up his sleeves.
“How much if we want to play for that one?” he asked the person at the stand, a short guy with a scruffy beard and bulging muscles that threatened to pop the sleeves of his t-shirt. His hand already reaching for his wallet, Auctus only half listened as the guy explained the machine to him. There really wasn’t much to it, just hitting the punching bag hard and fast, and maybe letting his muscles play a little for show. He wasn’t one of those guys but he knew Duro would appreciate it.
Beside him, Amira excitedly clapped her hands. “Thank you uncle Auctus,” she exclaimed, nearly making Auctus’ heart skip a beat. He’d met the girl one time before, when had he been promoted to uncle?
Looking down at her he was met with a bright smile. His eyes didn’t well up, not exactly, but the adoration on that little face did stir something deep inside him.
“Of course, sweety,” he said, not knowing how else to react to the sentiment.
“Go, get it, stud,” Duro piped up behind him, blissfully unaware of Auctus’ emotional quandary. His hands patted Auctus’ biceps before he leaned in closer to Auctus’ ear. “Impress me.”
Auctus shook his head clear, his cheeks growing hot when he caught sight of the booth guy grinning at them suggestively.
Rolling his shoulders he stepped away from Duro and closer to the punching bag.
“Ready?” The guy asked and pushed a button at Auctus’ nod.
“Fuck,” he cursed when he felt his fist collide at a wrong angle and the numbers on the screen flashed an angry yellow, signalling his impact had not been enough.
“That’s a bad word, uncle Auctus,” Amira admonished him and Auctus’ almost slipped up again when he realized what he’d just said. He wasn’t used to being around kids.
“Baba makes Papa put a coin in the swear jar every time he says it.”
“Which makes up their entire vacation fund,” Duro added with a smirk.
Auctus sighed. “I’m sorry,” he offered. “It just slipped out.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Duro shrugged, “just try again.”
Auctus rolled his shoulders back and got in position. He’d never really been into boxing but he did pride himself in his skills and strength. This shouldn’t be too hard. Focusing on the display on the machine, Auctus readied himself to punch again.
“Sh…oot,” he hissed when the numbers again blinked yellow. “What’s wrong with this thing?”
The short guy laughed. “Maybe there’s something wrong with your arms,” he goaded, his words scratching Auctus’ pride even though his accompanying grin looked jovial.
“Here, let me try,” Duro offered, holding both Auctus’ and his own cone of ice cream out to him. Auctus huffed but refrained from arguing in front of Amira. They both knew he was the stronger one in this relationship though, and he threw Duro a look that he hoped told him so without having to use words.
Stepping aside, Auctus let Duro get in position. He couldn’t quite suppress his smile as Duro shook out his arms and hands and made a big show of stretching and popping his fingers.
Next to him, Amira was starting to look a little hopeless, but Duro winked at her and gave her a thumbs up.
“One,” Duro began to count.
“Two,” jumping up and down, he brought his hands up in a fighting stance.
“Three!” He punched forward with remarkable speed and Auctus’ almost crushed the cones between his fingers when the number on the screen flashed red and the whole machine played a tinny sounding tune.
“Yay!” Amira shouted joyfully and did a little jump. Duro turned around with a grin so broad it nearly split his face.
“Yep,” he said, clearly trying but failing to keep a casual tone, “Something’s definitely broken with this thing.”
Auctus grumbled, hoping his cheeks weren’t burning telltale pink. Turning away he watched the guy reaching up to free the big eyed, purple lemur-kitten from its dangling spot at the roof of the booth, then handing it to a bright eyed Amira.
“Don’t fret it, stud.” Duro’s arm wrapped around Auctus’ neck and he let his chin rest on Auctus’ shoulder, watching Amira survey her new toy. “I still like you even if you’re weaker than me.”
Auctus huffed, snatching the remainder of his ice cream from Duro’s hand before he playfully elbowed him in the ribs.
“I was just holding back so you could have your big moment,” he muttered, making Duro laugh out loud.
“Sure thing,” Duro hummed and kissed his cheek, “that's totally what you did.”