Theo swung the massive shopping bag from Blush Strap onto his shoulder with the casual ease of someone who did this sort of thing every weekend, which he probably did. The Galleria's ambient lighting caught the gold lettering on the bag, making it shimmer as they walked past the ice rink and the palm trees and the endless rows of luxury storefronts. Kota was still recovering from watching Theo drop over fifteen hundred dollars on lingerie without blinking.
"You know what would look really good on you, darling?" Theo said, his eyes scanning the storefronts ahead.
"A suit. A proper, tailored suit. Especially for when you meet my father next Sunday. First impressions matter with him. He notices everything. The cut of a jacket. The quality of the fabric. The way a man carries himself in formalwear. If you walk in wearing your usual hoodie and cargo pants, he'll dismiss you before you even open your mouth."
Kota shoved his hands into the pockets of said cargo pants. "Yeah, sure. I guess I could use a suit. Never really had a reason to wear one before."
"Perfect! We'll find you something sharp. Something that makes you look like the handsome, capable young man you are." Theo's eyes lit up as they passed another storefront. This one was called The Curved Hem, and the window display featured a mannequin dressed in a dapper charcoal suit with a crisp red tie and a pocket square folded into an elaborate peak. The jacket was cut beautifully, the lapels sharp and elegant, and the whole ensemble screamed sophistication.
"That one," Theo said, pointing at the mannequin. "That color would look stunning on you. The charcoal with the red tie. Very classic. Very distinguished. My father would approve."
Kota looked at the mannequin, then at the pants. The trousers were cut dramatically, with a flared hip and a tapered leg designed to accommodate the exaggerated curves that every post-Vanishing body had. The seat of the pants was generously roomy, clearly meant to stretch over a massive, shelf-like ass without losing its shape. Kota gestured toward the display. "That suit is tailored to a more.... modern body type. See the pants? They're flared out at the hips. It wouldn't fit me right. It would bunch up in the back and look weird."
Theo's expression flickered with understanding, then apology. "Oh. Oh, darling, I didn't even notice. I'm so sorry. I'm so used to shopping for myself and my brothers, I just assumed—" He gestured vaguely at his own body, the dramatic curve of his hips. "I forgot you don't have to deal with any of that."
"Don't apologize," Kota said, shaking his head. "It's fine. It's actually why I buy overly baggy clothes. Or old clothes from like eighteen years ago, before the Vanishing changed everything. Pre-Vanishing pants fit me. They're straight cut. No flares. No extra room in the back. Modern stuff is all designed for bodies like yours."
Theo nodded slowly, his brow furrowing. "So in that case, you need a tailor. Someone who can work with your measurements specifically. Someone who understands pre-Vanishing proportions."
Kota started to thank him, assuming that meant they would need to find a different store. "Thanks, Theo, but I'm not sure this shop has a tailor on site. We might have to look somewhere else or come back another time."
Theo looked at him like he had just suggested they try to purchase the moon. "Darling, don't be silly. I'm not talking about a shop tailor. I'm talking about a special tailor. My family has a personal tailor who's been making our suits for three generations. He works out of a private studio downtown. He's done fittings for senators, CEOs, two foreign ambassadors, and my father's entire board of directors. He'll make you something perfect. Something that fits you exactly."
Kota blinked. "You have a personal tailor. For your family. Who's been working for you for three generations."
"Of course. Doesn't everyone?" Theo's expression was completely sincere, which only made it more absurd. "I'll call him this afternoon and set up an appointment. He can have something ready by Sunday if I ask nicely. And by ask nicely, I mean pay double his usual rate, which I'm absolutely willing to do."
Kota leaned down and kissed Theo softly, his hand cupping the side of his boyfriend's face. "Thank you. Really. You didn't have to do all this."
Theo blushed that pretty shade of pink, his eyes fluttering. "I'm glad to do it, darling. You deserve nice things. You deserve to walk into that meeting looking like you belong there. Because you do belong there. With me." He paused, his blush deepening. "Besides, I'm going to enjoy seeing you in a properly fitted suit. Very much. Possibly too much. We might be late to the actual meeting because I'll be too busy staring at you."
Sebastian had been standing slightly apart from them, watching the exchange with a strange, tight expression. His tweed blazer suddenly felt very shabby, and his Oxford education felt very far away. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "That's—that's very generous of you, Theodore. Your tailor sounds remarkable. I was wondering if, perhaps, I might be able to commission a suit as well? I haven't had a new one since I left Oxford, and my current selection is somewhat limited. I would be happy to pay for it myself, of course. You could dock the cost from my next month's salary, or the month after that, or however many months it would take to—"
Theo cut him off with a gentle shake of his head. "Sebastian, that's silly. Why would I ever do that to a friend?"
Sebastian's heart melted. Actually melted. He could feel it turning to liquid in his chest, warm and overwhelming. A friend. Theo had called him a friend. Not a colleague. Not an employee. Not the strange English teacher who had walked in on them having sex and somehow ended up shopping for lingerie. A friend. His eyes started to sting, and he had to look away quickly, blinking rapidly to keep the tears from spilling over.
"That's very—I don't know what to say," Sebastian managed, his voice coming out slightly strangled.
"Thank you, Theodore. Truly. I've never had anyone offer me something like that before. I'll do my best to be worthy of the suit. I'll wear it to every faculty meeting. I'll dry clean it regularly. I'll never spill tea on it. I'll—"
Kota reached over and patted Sebastian's back, the gesture firm and grounding. "Breathe, man. You're gonna pass out again."
Sebastian took a shaky breath and nodded. "Right. Breathing. Yes. I can do that. I've been doing it my whole life. I'm quite good at it, actually."
Kota's stomach suddenly let out a loud, insistent growl that echoed through the corridor. He pressed a hand to his abdomen, realizing he hadn't eaten anything since the previous night. Between the morning office sex, the shopping trip, and the changing booth marathon, he was running on empty.
"Alright," Kota announced, steering them away from the suit store. "I'm starving. Like, actually starving. It's time to eat. Now. Before I start chewing on the fake plants."