Jealousy - M Kiran

Kiran was used to putting up with people gawking at you. Since high school it was the usual, even if you were trying to avoid attention.

To be fair, Kiran knows why they stare. Hell, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t find it hard to pry his eyes off you at times himself.

Still…you’re so much more than that. Regardless of how you look or how you act, the fact remains that you’re all that’s left of his heart. When everything else is stripped away, you’re still there. You’re a part of him, for better or worse. His anchor, his reason.

Sometimes, on particularly sad nights, he dares to hope he’s the same thing for you.

So, all that is to say, jealousy is not a foreign concept to him. He usually brushes it off like he does everything else, but something about this time…

“C’mon, not even your number?” The guy croons, narrowing his eyes as he takes a step closer to you.

You had asked Kiran to come along with you to the grocery store; your mom had been tired after her night shift and left a list, so you decided to go for her. It’s the usual for you two, anyways. You’re roommates, so you usually hit the store together regardless.

Kiran left for five seconds the check out the bakery, damn his sweet tooth, and comes back to this. Some random asshole looming next to you in the fucking soup isle of all things. Who actually does shit like this? Hits on people while they’re grocery shopping?

It’s weird as hell.

You give the guy an unimpressed look; it’s sharp, per usual. Even when you’re scared, even when you’re nervous, your eyes always somehow cut to the bone.

“Maybe not right now?” You say dryly.

The weirdo sighs, reaching for your arm. Your eyes widen and you take a step back, bumping into your shopping cart.

Kiran takes several long steps to get to you, grabbing the guy by the bicep and yanking him back. He nearly trips as he goes, almost crashing into Kiran, before turning around with wide eyes.

“What the actual fuck are you doing?” There’s a slight growl to Kiran’s voice, “Did you wake up and think it’d be wise to harass people in the grocery store?”

“I-“ The guy is frozen, staring at Kiran with an alarmed look, “I wasn’t-“

“You were.” Kiran’s lip twitches in disgust, “Maybe get the fuck away from us while you still can, yeah?”

It doesn’t take the man anymore prompting. He’s out of the isle in seconds, turning the corner and disappearing who knows where. Kiran sighs, turning back to you.

“Can you start wearing a bag over your head when we go out?” He raises an eyebrow, a grin playing on his lips, “I mean…’cause this shit is getting old.”

You grab the tomato soup your mom wanted, tossing the cans in the buggy with enough carelessness that they rattle on impact. Then you close the space between you and Kiran, your steps brisk.

You lean in, and for a moment Kiran thinks he’s going to pass out. Then you press a brief kiss to his cheek.

That’s new. You’ve…never done that before.

You pull away, giving him a gentle smile, “Why should I? I don’t have to worry with you around.”

He prays desperately that his blush isn’t visible.

“I…yeah.” Kiran clears his throat, “You also could have laid that guy flat.”

You huff out a laugh, your eyes crinkling in amusement, “Again…I don’t have to bother with that when I have you around.”

And you’re right, is the thing. Kiran would never let some asshole bother you if he could help it.

“You’ve always kept me safe, after all.” Your eyes go soft as you turn back to the cart, “Even if I don’t need you to.”

Something warm curls up in his chest, and it feels like his whole heart has turned to goo. He stays at your side as you finish up shopping, your shoulders and arms occasionally brushing.

Once you load Kiran’s tiny car up with bags in the backseat and you’re on the way home, you hand brushes his leg and squeezes. He meets you there, lacing your fingers together, relishing your touch.

He glanced over at you, finding you looking down at your lap with a small smile as you hold hands. He feels a rush that leaves him dizzy as he finally realizes that, yeah, maybe he means as much to you as you mean to him.