Work Text:
On a sweltering summer afternoon, Rick found himself yearning for something sweet to uplift his spirits. The relentless heat and his growing thirst had left him feeling a bit weary, but he couldn't help but smile as he strolled down the quiet street, dressed in his favorite shirt and light bell-bottom pants. Despite the English weather's toll on him, Rick felt an unusual radiance today.
As he walked, the wind carried the heavy summer heat, tousling his hair and adding to his fatigue. Shielding his eyes from the sun's relentless rays with his left hand, Rick pressed down his wind-blown bangs and made his way toward the next street corner. In the distance, he spotted a candy shop, and without hesitation, he quickened his pace and headed straight inside.
Pushing open the glass door, Rick was immediately greeted by a vibrant display of candy jars and the comforting, syrupy sweetness of summer. It had been a while since he last visited a candy shop—he wasn't usually one for sweets. But Syd liked them, so lately, Rick had started carrying a few candies with him.
The shop was newly opened, with playful, whimsical decor that still looked fresh. Rick imagined how much the kids would love it, and he smiled to himself at the thought.
"Hi, what can I get for you?" a familiar voice called from behind the counter.
It was Syd. Rick instantly recognized his best friend, the person he loved most, even in the silly yet adorable work uniform. There was still a hint of hair gel in Syd's hair, though his hairstyle was already a complete mess—perhaps from unruly kids or a rebellious curl.
"Good afternoon, Syd," Rick greeted with a smile.
"‘Good afternoon,’ huh? That sounds like a new candy flavor... Wait a sec!" Syd replied, catching Rick off guard but quickly making him chuckle.
"If you have it," Rick said with a shrug.
"Of course we have it!" Syd exclaimed, darting between jars of colorful sweets like a restless cat. Rick leaned against the counter, watching Syd's hands move with a blur of black hair, feeling a sense of warmth and amusement.
"Hey, what are you up to?" Rick asked, tilting his head with an unmistakable smile.
"I'm customizing a special candy just for you!" Syd popped up from behind the counter, his eyes shining. "How about Rick's Secret?"
"Come on..." Rick chuckled softly, his smile growing even sweeter as he stared into Syd's round eyes.
"Alright... how about cherry flavor?" Syd pulled out a tin of soft red candies, cradling it like a secret. He plucked out a single round piece that gleamed like a real cherry and held it up for Rick to see.
For a moment, Rick forgot about the candy, too entranced by Syd’s greyish-blue eyes. They stood out amidst the sea of colorful sweets, captivating him.
“Looks good,” Rick said absentmindedly, his voice low and slightly hoarse as he swallowed reflexively.
Without hesitation, he leaned slightly toward Syd, dipped his head, and caught the candy by its stem between his lips. Slowly, he drew it into his mouth with a flick of his tongue and bit down, the candy crunching softly between his teeth.
Rick’s sudden yet fluid movement caught Syd off guard. Through the skin of his palm, Syd could feel the warmth and softness of Rick’s lips, leaving him momentarily dazed.
“This ‘Rick's secret’ tastes pretty good, I like it, really,” Rick teased with a mischievous grin, while Syd was still recovering from the sudden burst of sweetness.
In truth, Rick felt even more anxious and giddy beneath the surface, his heart racing with the sweetness of the moment.
After all the summers they had spent together, those fleeting, clumsy flirtations had always felt too small to remember and too innocent to mean anything.
But ever since Rick began to realize he had been in love with the shy, nervous boy standing in front of him, eyes flicking everywhere but his. He hadn’t been able to ignore the sparks that now made his cheeks burn.