Normal
Conrad didn’t appreciate the irony – Yozak was going to kill him. It hardly seemed fair. After all *he* was the normal one – unlike Gwendal, the compulsive knitter of mutant animals – unlike Wolfram, the lifetime member of the pink-lingerie-of-the-month club. Conrad had just been curious. He certainly hadn’t intended...
“Oi, Weller!” Yozak burst in, skirt rustling. He spotted the items Conrad was clutching guiltily. “Oh don’t wear those – one heel’s loose.” Yozak extracted a pair of red feather-covered shoes with three-inch heels from his travel bag. ... “Now these would be perfect.”
Admiring himself in the mirror, Conrad had to agree.
*****
He entered the shop with pure intentions - gift ideas for mother or a trinket for Greta. He wandered only the appropriate sections but found nothing... Until he took a wrong turn and saw them.
They shone like gold among straw, begging to be touched. Conrad's hands trembled slightly as he reached out and...
"Nice thought but they're not my size."
Yozak grinned and gave a little wave.
Irritated, Conrad plucked the high-heeled shoes off the shelf and read the tag.
"Pity. Fortunately, they're just right for me."
Conrad strode off to the cashier ignoring the laughter that followed him.
*****
He didn't mind the gold satin shoes – goodness knows he has enough pumps. The sequined slides were a touchy subject but they weren't his usual preference so he had let it pass. But this...
Yozak inhaled sharply and used his training to calm himself. He would have to play this right – plan it carefully... use his opponent's weaknesses.
He'd been fool enough to tell Conrad, offering to ride together to the exclusive shop. Conrad had made some excuse about duty.
Yozak should have known better.
He might have forgiven Conrad for the shoes, but the matching purse... that demanded payback.
*****
Conrad surrendered after three weeks of tacks in his boots and an unsheathed sword as his bed companion.
"I intended to wait until your birthday but I think you'd better have this now." He handed the colorful package to Yozak with a strained smile.
The coveted shoes and matching handbag lay in the wrapper, mocking Yozak for his jealousy. Torn between embarrassment and annoyance he offered an awkward "thank you".
Because Conrad *was* Conrad, he accepted with grace, even modeling the shoes at Yozak's insistence. He was still wearing them when Yuuri burst in.
"Hi!" he greeted cheerfully. "Nice shoes."
*****
Yuuri didn’t have long to admire Conrad’s shoes. The door slammed open and Wolfram strode in already shouting, “Wimp! Cheate… Are those from Ayame’s?”
He moved closer and examined Conrad’s shoes. “I didn’t know you shopped there. Did you see his new spring collection? I bought slippers that match my favorite nightgown perfectly.” He paused to glare over at Yuuri. “Not that the wimp even noticed, but…”
Yozak sniffled, choked with emotion as Conrad and Wolfram bonded.
Yuuri blinked and inched towards the door, determined not to think about anything in this room. Especially not his plain, unattractive black shoes.
END
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