It could have been a quiet evening, if it weren't for what Fai had just bought, Kurogane thought. Rather, knew, before Fai walked through the door, walking inside with his hands holding his prize in the air, it would not be.

Fai had been wanting to go out to the local Blockclusters. Fai was going to go buy fifteen video games of questionable status and ten movies, he'd warned Kurogane, if Kuro-papa didn't come with. At first, Kurogane wasn't too worried, except then, the idiot had waggled his credit card. Kurogane had to wonder secondly how the idiot had gotten his card in the first place. His first reaction was to snatch it from the blonde he lived with.

"Give that back!" Kurogane ordered and reached to snatch it back. But Fai, being Fai, pulled it away before Kurogane could take it back.

"Naughty naughty Kuro-slow." Fai chirped at him, a deviously toying grin on his face. And Kurogane growled at him, letting out a low grumble. "One."

"What was that, Kuro-quiet?"

"I said one; you can get any game or movie you want, but you're going to pay for it later."

Fai was, to say the least, ecstatically flinging his limber arms against the other, Kurogane wondering if a pry bar could keep Fai off, knowing the answer was no, before going for the fifteen minute walk to the nearby Blockclusters. It would have only taken ten, had not Fai been doing everything to cling onto Kurogane's arm and impede his walking. Once inside, Fai darted for the children's section. Not that that was much of a surprise, considering Family Night, he had Syaoran and Sakura come over and play or watch movies or games that never rose past PG-13 for mild language and or violence. Fai prattled for ten minutes, as he continually looked over the movies, before finding one. The Pebble and the Penguin. Fai picked it up, and held it up, inspecting the box, reading it over before he smirked.

"Is that the one?" Kurogane asked.

"Yup." Fai looked like a kid in a candy shop as he held the movie.

"Fine. We'll get it. But no more until next month," Kurogane warned Fai, like he was telling a child to watch how much sugar they ate and to brush their teeth more to avoid cavities.

Fai just smiled, and walked up to the store's register where Masayoshi was. "One movie please." Fai spoke like a child, acted like some child as he sat the box down. Masayoshi looked at the box. "One moment please." Masayoshi goes into the back and after some small amount of shifting brings out the correct DVD and puts it inside the casing. "That will be $8.54 with tax."

Fai turned towards Kurogane , who had his card once more, and handed the boy the piece of plastic, and Masayoshi charged the purchase to the card. Kurogane glared at Fai, who was grinning like a moron. No change there.

Fai cooked dinner, simple and light, before making a big bowl of popcorn and sitting in front of the television. "Kuro-pipi, come watch the movie with me."

Kurogane grumble, slipping the DVD into the system, grabbed the remote, and flopped onto the couch, taking a handful of the buttery starchy movie snack food he'd recalled eating the Thursday before last. Last Thursday had been some kind of trail mix with Chex mix and M&M's and raisins and sliced apples with optional caramel sauce.

"So what's this about?" Kurogane grumbled handing the remote to Fai.

"Syaoran and Sakura."

"Don't lie."

"Then it's about us?"

Kurogane glared at Fai, "Is that some kind of joke?"

"Hardly, but it will be a while before Syaoran-kun manages to confess that he loves Sakura-chan. The kid's a blushing mess anytime someone says anything suggestive. And I did find the sweetest grumpiest, red-eyed friend I could ever have."

"I swear, you have got to be the most annoying blonde I know."

"Shush, Kuro; the movie's starting."

…

"Hn."

"What is it, Kuro-contemplative?"

"The brat's just getting bullied by Touya."

"So you agree this has some symbolism towards Syaoran-kun and Sakura-chan?

"Shut up, Fluorite; I'm trying to watch the movie." Kurogane retorted, and Fai giggled, popping in a handful of popcorn.

…

"Get off me moron."

"But Kuro-sama… you're my bestest friend in the whole wide world," Fai preened, clinging to Kurogane's arm. "And besides, cuddling is what lots of people do while watching movies."

"What are you … Fluorite, stop that!" Fai found a hand pushing his face away.

"Waah…Kuro-tan is so cruel." Fai let go and pretended to pout in a self-withdrawal, mimicking the fetal position, except his hands hid his face.

"Shut up, Fluorite. Didn't you want to watch the movie?"

Fai stretched back out and sat, with a slight arch in his back, leaning gently against Kurogane, who didn't protest the gesture…too much.

…

"Hn."

"Hm?"

"…Nothing."

"Whatever you say, Kuro-pon."

"I didn't say anything."

"Of course not, Kuro-ku." Fai smiles, but says nothing more.

…

"…Liar," muttered Kurogane.

"Ne? What was that, Kuro-pi?"

"That Hubie doesn't know a penguin named Waldo."

"Have you seen this movie before, Kuro-tan?"

"No, but there would have been no reason to have laughed at Rocko for wanting to fly, claiming everyone knows penguins can't fly, if he knew a Waldo who could? That's hypocritical."

"Kuro-wan… you really can be too perceptive, can't you? Just enjoy the movie, alright?"

"Hn."

…

It was at the point in the movie that Hubie was doing some Friendship singalong with Rocko being the obstinate, grumpy Rockhopper penguin he was. Hubie had gone through a whole chorus part, and Fai hadn't started singing, yet.

"You better not, Fluorite!" Kurogane said before Fai could start singing along with it.

"Eh? Kuro-ku~" Fai began, which happened to be bad timing as Fai was tossing in some popcorn at that moment. The piece of popcorn ended up jammed in the male's neck. Fai, in his defense, tried to get it out without making too much of a scene, but couldn't quite get it to go all the way, one way or the other. Soon, tears welled in his eyes as he tried a little longer, before making out the faintest sound of a plea for help, which came more like "hellffh…" and Kurogane turned towards the blonde, who had one hand to his throat.

"YOU IDIOT!" Kurogane exclaimed, and in the commotion, Fai just seemed to know to stand then, as Kurogane knocked the bowl of popcorn over to reach Fai, wrapping his muscular arms around the lithe man's torso, pressing his hands together in a fist as he performed the Heimlich maneuver on Fai, helping Fai free that stuck piece of popcorn. It took a little while for it to come out, but with Kurogane's assistance, Fai was able to breathe again.

He let out quiet gasps as he tried to recompose himself, letting his hand rest at his throat for a moment or two longer, before he smiled, turning towards Kurogane, relief and gratitude and thanks in his damp eyes.

"Kuro-hero…?"

"It's Kurogane!"

Fai just smiled, ignoring the retort, "Kuro-sweets… we're out of popcorn."

"Really?" Kurogane looks at the bowl now on the floor, "Ah, suppose we are."

"Do you want more, Kuro-munch?"

"Nah, but some coffee would be good."

"Right."

Fai got up, pausing the movie, as he went to brew some coffee. He then returned as the coffee pot started and pressed play.

"What about you?"

"I'll get a soda when Kuro-nom gets his Kuro coffee."

Kurogane mentally groaned as Fai made a pun with his name, crossing his arms as he sat further into the couch. Before Kurogane could get too comfortable, Fai nuzzled into his side, his voice quiet for once. "Thanks for saving me, Kuro-sama."

Kurogane gently wraps his arm around Fai's slim frame, grasping his shoulder, "You're welcome, stupid Fluorite."