If my love is your love

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy knew this was special on so many levels and for so many reasons. He was determined to make it perfect. That included calling weeks ahead to ensure the menu that came to their table was completely vegetarian and safe for his species. There were a lot of things someone could do as a rockstar that others couldn't. The restaurant was jackets required but had several seating areas and he eventually settled on a warm room with huge windows.

That had been awhile back now. The day was here and Ziggy was a whirlwind as he prepared. He started with starry make up and added petals around one eye for a little more drama. It was finally time for the outfit he had been hiding from Minoru as a surprise for weeks. Everything was in order and he checked several times before finishing everything off with a glamorous pair of earrings and plunging necklace.

Then he was out the door and to the limo. It was tradition for the masculine to pick up the feminine for something like this but Ziggy didn't care about these traditions. He pulled up in the red limo with wrist corsage Ziggy had made for Minoru, on the suggestion of his father who said this was traditional for first important dates. With flowers in hand he clopped up to their place in his heavy heels and then rang for the apartment. He had to admit some nerves, oddly on behalf of the human more than himself.

Comments

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Now you're just being a tease." Ziggy laughs looking at the tapas. "No flirty lips on your finger tips or hand kisses after feeding me."

He has to flirt a little over this feeding thing from someone who hates the touch of damp lips. He has to stop the giggles he's holding in before he can actually take the bite.

"Do they know what to expect?" Ziggy asks after he's done chewing.

[itmeanstruth]

Until Ziggy started laughing about being teased, Minoru hadn't considered his koibito would accept the offered nibble by literally nibbling. By the time it dawned on him, though, Ziggy's lips were almost at his fingertips and now Minoru had to stop himself from losing whatever grip he had left in a fit of giggles.

Of course, he let go. The giggles won.

And they only continued as he revealed, "Isamu pulled the same prank on them that I did on him. The whole sleeping together thing. Papa did a spit-take over the table and Mama just about fainted."

He shook his head. Did anyone ever know what to expect when meeting Ziggy Stardust?

"I think they think they know. But they have no idea."

They knew a bit of the basics (Ziggy was a musician, his parents were an astronaut and a scientist, he came from a world that was pretty similar to theirs), as well as a few anecdotes of how the two met.

But Minoru had yet to reveal that his partner was half-alien. The concept of Minoru dating someone, anyone, was hard enough to fathom.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"We do sleep together." Ziggy leaned in and bumped their shoulders. "It's hot as hell when I get you into my bed to sleep with me."

Ziggy winked because saying anymore would not happen with how hard he was now laughing. He eventually gets it under control and finishes his glass of wine. "I'll have to make an outfit to meet them. Something beautiful and confusing."

[itmeanstruth]

The laughter was contagious.

It probably didn’t help that Minoru added, “You know how to turn on a fan.” Meaning it 100% literally, but knowing exactly how it sounded to the servers who’d stopped by to make sure everything was to their liking.

Eventually, Minoru got back to tasting at least a little of everything, listening to Ziggy plan the perfect ‘Meet the Parents’ ensemble. Not to be confused with the competition night ensemble - which would obviously need to pair well with the massive amount of purple Uchiwa fans Isamu would be distributing. (He really wasn’t kidding about that part. There were already boxes stacked in the living room.)

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy almost chokes on what he is eating when Minoru drops that fan line. "I turn on all the fans but only some of them I turn on in the privacy of my home."

Ziggy has to just stop and laugh for a moment at how utterly ridiculous this all sounded. Laughter under control he went back to picking at the food. "You mentioned you had a surprise for me?"

His mind came around to that again randomly.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru’s laughter faded into a bit of a blush as he took another bite of the absolutely delicious risotto. “Yeah... yeah, I do. But it’s for after dinner.”

It was why Minoru specifically invited Ziggy back over to his apartment, before the rock star could even offer up a night together at his townhouse.

“Not about to spoil it either.” He insisted playfully.

Well, not any more than he already had with the key and the little note attached. He honestly wouldn’t have to keep the secret for too much longer - Minoru, at least, was getting full. They’d probably be packing up a lot of this, and maybe even taking dessert to go.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Inviting me back home for a surprise." Ziggy winked at Minoru because the teasing was something they had always had, from the first time Ziggy relentlessly flirted with him.

"I appreciate a man who can keep secrets." Ziggy is very curious but he could also see that the picking at food was slowing down. The Anthean had learned to read humans who had an appetite far smaller than his own for most things, including food.

"You can take me to your surprise whenever you're ready."

[itmeanstruth]

Indeed, Ziggy Stardust had far more secrets than most of the world could ever imagine. But tonight was for letting him relax and let loose, at least from Minoru’s perspective, it was.

“So much for the whole saving room for dessert part. For me, anyway.” He shook his head, and took a long sip of wine. Unlike Ziggy, Minoru was still on the first glass. “Do you want anything else?”

If Ziggy was still hungry, Minoru didn’t mind enjoying both his company and the ambiance of the restaurant. The wait staff also would be more than happy to box up the leftovers and the pre-ordered desserts for them, of course. If either of them wanted to indulge in something later, it would be close at hand.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"We can take it back to your place and I can feed you dessert in bed." He meant it to sound dirty but he's imagining laying together in bed feeding each other dessert while watching TV or something that is far more like two girls having a sleepover than lovers.

Ziggy could eat longer but he's happy enough to leave whenever Minoru wants. To that idea, he has the waiter pack up most of the food though he does have them leave a few things for the moment.

[itmeanstruth]

It wouldn't be exactly like Ziggy envisioned (for one, their only TV was in the living room, not in either of the twins' bedrooms), but that probably wouldn't be too far off the mark.

Minoru, though, shook his head playfully. "If you think, for a second, whatever they made is sweeter than you... then it's the wine talking. Definitely."

That, could have been the wine talking too. At least a little.

The other patrons around them would be filling the gossip magazines for weeks with the romantic nuggets they overheard.

Once everything was packed up - and the wait staff was more than happy to carry the extra parcels out to the limousine - Minoru stood and offered his hand to Ziggy.

"Shall we, then?"

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy giggles at the compliment and stroked both of Minoru's cheeks. The wine is definitely talking. "You're the sugar that makes me sweet."

The flirting was something he wasn't going to stop, ever. Ziggy stood and offered his hand to Minoru. "Take me home, sweetheart."

The words were overly sugared and playful because he saw the people looking. If they were going to say anything he was going to make sure that it was over the top.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru walked Ziggy out of the restaurant on his arm. Thankfully, the frenzy from before had some time to dissipate. Of course, there were still a few fans hanging out among the paparazzi, hoping to get a glimpse of the rock star as he left. Cue the usual flash bulbs, attention grabbing gestures and pleas for a wink and a smile.

(Months from now, someone’s eventually going to match these up with the skyscraper climbing photos for an even better story. But that was neither here not there.)

Minoru was too busy thinking about the surprise he had waiting back at the apartment. And when they finally got back there, he led the Anthean up the stairs and nearly giggled as he opened the door.

The lights were off, which immediately pulled attention down to the battery-powered tea candles lining a path on the floor. Everything was mostly quiet, save for the tiniest of squeaks from Isamu’s door across the hall. (He was watching, curious to see the reaction, but attempting to be very discreet about it.)

The path made a red carpet outline straight to Minoru’s room.

“Hang on.” He made a quick dash to the fridge to stuff the bags of leftovers inside, wherever they would fit, and then rushed back, hopeful it didn’t mess up the ambiance too much. “Want me to sweep you off your feet?”

He’d carried Ziggy before, so there was no doubt in his mind that he could, but only if the Anthean wanted to.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy was polite and signed a few autographs on his way out but he didn't let it hinder them as much as when they entered.

(Ziggy will adore the chaos that it causes in the media frenzy even if the event itself will make him nervous.)

Ziggy can't help getting caught up in the giggling as they enter the apartment. He's well aware of Isamu but ignores it to pay attention to Minoru.

"What is all of this?" Ziggy asks when Minoru returns from the fridge. "I think you already did that when we met, you foxy boy."

Ziggy laughed and wrapped his arms around Minoru's neck when he was picked up. He's curious where this is all going. Of course, he could open his mind and figure it out but he held his abilities back to enjoy the surprise.

[itmeanstruth]

Try as he might to be discreet, in the back of his mind, Isamu knew that the Anthean could sense his presence, even if Minoru didn’t know he was there. Still, he couldn’t help himself, and smiled softly as he watched Minoru carry his date along the path.

Ziggy looked like he was having a great time. And his brother had finally shed those nerves.

The door to his bedroom was already open, and Minoru followed the lights through it. But from there, the path turned to the right, away from the bed and into the bathroom, where even more candles lit up the space.

The bathrooms in their apartment weren’t all that large or glamorous. But try as he might, Minoru tried to decorate his like a fancy spa. There were tea candles everywhere, a couple trays of bathing products and cosmetics from Japan (he asked his mother for recommendations and ordered accordingly), even a little Japanese sign on the counter listing massage services cleverly priced out in numbers of hugs. On the side of the tub stood a painting of him lined with ribbon and a large bow (clearly a gift) that Hunter had made while Minoru was seeking out date suggestions in the plaza.

“Wasn’t sure what I could give you,” he admitted, a bit nervously, to the rock star who could probably buy (or make) anything he ever wanted. “It’s… well… the gift of relaxation, time to let your hair down, indulge in that feminine side without cameras and critics saying what you should or shouldn’t do…”

He really hoped Ziggy liked it. And that it wasn’t too girly. Or conversely, that it was girly enough.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Whether on his feet or still in Minoru's arms, Ziggy turns to him and nuzzles thier cheeks together. "You don't have to get me anything. You're enough without anything else."

Then he giggled quietly. :that doesn't mean I don't love and appreciate gifts."

He could feel the nerves flare when Minoru starts worrying over the gift, though Ziggy isn't sure what is causing it. Leanijgbin he presses thier faces together; forehead to the tip of the nose.

"I'd kiss you now if you wouldn't run away grossed out." Even this close where thier faces are probably blurred, the mischief is clear when the Anthean's eyes turn up to look in Minoru's. "Of course, I can kiss you without our lips ever touching."

[itmeanstruth]

If he hadn’t already put him down, that mischievous look was certainly the cue to do so. Minoru’s face didn’t know whether to grin with happiness, sigh with relief or curl up at the thought of being kissed. It would take Anthean empathy to read THAT expression and not burst out laughing.

“Then, you like it?” He apparently decided on excitement.

And then promptly tucked his chin. (As though Ziggy wasn’t tall enough to smooch the top of his head without the assistance.)

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy's smile grew so much is scrunched up his eyes and that reminded him of something to do in a moment.

"It's from you." That was more important to the Anthean than anything else. "I haven't had many Japanese cosmetics so I'm going to have to do both of us to practice."

He took the kiss on the forehead and then stepped away, digging in his bag and laughing. "That isn't what I meant. I mean I can kiss your lips without touching them."

He proceeds to remove his contacts since they are now indoors and away from prying eyes. He had kissed Mick from across country so surely that would be easier with the person next to him and would be without the wetness that Minoru hated so much. Though, maybe he just hated kissing in general, wet or not? Ziggy wouldn't push but it was an offer he couldn't pass up.

[itmeanstruth]

“It’s more bath products than cosmetics…” Minoru scratched his head sheepishly.

One of the trays next to the tub had a selection of Tabi No Yado bath salt sachets. There were four different kinds, each with their own scent and color, meant to represent a different Japanese onsen. (None from Minoru’s family’s little town, but his mother still vouched for the milky mixed pack.)

On another, there was an exfoliating towel and a bar of Cow brand soap. Both were common items Minoru was used to seeing back home. The soap was milk-based, hence the cow theme, and smelled like roses. Unlike a lot of bar soaps, it doesn’t dry out skin, so he was hoping it wouldn’t be too harsh.

Alongside it was a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner from Shu Uemura that Minoru had never heard of, but his mother gushed about. She even insisted on sending him a set for his gift - which, when Isamu revealed the usual asking price, Minoru was immediately falling-over-backwards grateful for. (Clearly, their parents wanted to help Minoru impress his first girlfriend.)

The last tray had some lotion (perfect for massaging) as well as some face mask sheets, cleansing cream and the like. So, some of it was kind of like cosmetics. Minoru was really no expert on this kind of stuff. He barely knew his way around a hairbrush.

“Wait… you can kiss without touching?” He looked up quizzically. Forget about the bath for a moment. “Like, telepathically?”

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy had been paying more attention to Minoru than the gifts so that was probably his fault. Though, now he is taking a closer look. "This is why it smells like flowers in here."

He had assumed it was the candles or something else but now he knew it was the soap.

The answers to those questions take a moment for a response because the Anthean was taking out his contacts. That accomplished he turned to his partner with a smile. "I've tickled you without doing it."

Well really that was the empathy projecting his own experience of being tickled by Minoru, but the premise was the same. "Kissing, sex, physical contact is just a series of sensations. It's easier if I've experienced kissing the person but I can convince your mind that I'm touching you and fill in with how other people have perceived my lips on theirs."

This is all very hypothetical to the singer because he had only ever done this sort of thing with people he had physically touched. How to accomplish that with someone who had never kissed him, or at the very least never kissed him and truly liked it, would be a challenge.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru had to think for a moment, but then he remembered - the album release party. He had been tickled telepathically. That was before…

No. That wasn’t a pleasant sensation at all. Or a pleasant memory.

He shied away, eyes falling to the bathroom floor and its array of tea candles. “On second thought… I don’t… um… think I want to feel what someone else is supposed to feel on top of what I… um… have felt…”

He didn’t want to feel disgust at the thought of anything associated with Ziggy, but he couldn’t help it or hide it. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he got.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Hey." Ziggy came closer and tucked his hand under Minoru's chin to tilt it up. "No messing up this ambiance you took so much time making."

Ziggy pulled him into a hug, close but more platonic maybe than usual. "It was only an offer. I want to give you everything I can, that you would want. I have to ask, especially all the alien things that are beyond what humans know."

He strokes some of the wild hair at Minoru's temple and shook his head. "You can say no, you can say no to everything, but I'm still going to offer things I think about in case there is something more I can give you of myself."

[itmeanstruth]

It was probably a given that most relationships didn’t have the option of telepathic make-outs on the table, so that was a fair point.

He still froze a little as Ziggy lifted his chin. But everything softened when his koibito stared into his eyes and pulled him into a gentle, almost protective embrace. He leaned in, soon wrapping his arms gently around the Anthean.

“No… at least to that…” he nodded, leaning against Ziggy’s chest. “If I wouldn’t want it on my body, I don’t want it in my mind.”

Consider that a very good ground rule to go by, and a boundary well-established.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"Ok." Ziggy hugged him a little tighter, warmer as Minoru's emotions settled. "So... I shouldn't make you think you're covered in Jell-o either?"

He's teasing to lighten the mood. "What did you have planned here for the rest of the evening?"

[itmeanstruth]

“EeeeYuck, no!” Minoru cringed, but then laughed. Only Ziggy could tease something so over the top.

And Ziggy got another, tighter hug in return.

“I really just thought you might like a spa night. A chance to indulge the Lady Stardust side and just be a, well… a girlfriend.” He blushed through the softer smile. “I gotta admit, I don’t know what half this stuff is for, so I’m kinda hoping you do.”

Soaps and salts aside, when it came to the face masks and the creams, Minoru was definitely out of his league. And out of his comfort zone for sure. But he wanted Ziggy to feel special, to feel accepted and cared about.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I'm always your girlfriend." He nuzzled his nose into Minoru's cheek where he would have kissed anyone else. "I suppose the bath salts are out of the questions unless we bath in our undergarments."

Which Ziggy totally would for Minoru's comfort but he suspected baths were still a private thing for his partner. The other items, Ziggy paused and then smiles while stroking Minoru's back.

"Is my boyfriend going to let me do his nails and skin?" The humor and good nature spilling back into his personality after the slight bump in the conversation. "Face and hands only, unless you want me to do your neck and back too."

When Ziggy thought about being a girlfriend it involved a lot of doing things together and to each other. Mutual care always made the Anthean the happiest, better than being pampered alone.