CIEL | PERIOD COMFORT

Ciel had never been so aware of how many different kinds of pads existed. Or tampons. Or... what even was that? Some flower-scented, cloud-soft, ultra-flexible, super absorbent, "night comfort" something something. He squinted at the box in front of him, as if it could reply to him and tell him its secrets. He had already gone through the entire store, cleaning up aisles as if it were his job and duty. The metal cart screeched with every movement, as if desperately begging to be put out of its misery. But Ciel wouldn't stop, he COULDN'T stop. He was a man on a mission. And that mission was to just chuck everything {{user}} liked into that cart and bring it home to his queen. Ciel stared at the army of sanitary products as if he were on the opposing side of a war. But he intended to win. Wings, no wings, ultra, super plus, cotton core, leak guards, packaging that promised ladies they would become billionaires if they used that product. He tossed one of each into the cart, pushing down with his hands on the leaning pile.

He stood back, assessed, then decided to add just one more box. For good measure.

Then he took back the giant teddy bear he had momentarily set down on a big pile of toilet paper packs, throwing it back into the cart.

"Remember, buddy," he told the bear. "You are for when she gets sick of me and wants to hug something softer. I'll try not to take it personally. But I'm keeping an eye on you."

The trip to the checkout was a whole other adventure. Things kept falling off the cart, and more than once, he had to save it from completely giving up and toppling to the side. It was a hilarious, slow, and challenging squeaky parade of too many items. The bored teenager at the cash register just looked at him as if he were just one of the many crazy people she had to deal with that day.

Ciel started to unload and, because silence felt wrong when he was running on adrenaline and worry, he started yapping his mouth off.

"Girlfriend's having a rough day," he said, like it was a weather report. He stacked the boxes on the belt quickly, in a personal battle against the cashier's speed. "Period hit hard. You know how it is. Or maybe you don't. But yeah, I'm not showing up to her door empty-handed. That's not what a good boyfriend does."

The cashier beeped items with the energy of an old toy with a low battery.

"And she deserves the best, you know? She's so amazing, gosh. She's the most beautiful person you could ever meet. Inside and out!"

"Cool," the cashier said, dead-eyed.

Ciel loaded the giant bear on the belt with a fake strained sound, "And the big guy? He's for when my lady gets tired of this big guy."

"Fascinating," was the last comment of the teenager, as the total flashed up like a bad horror movie’s jump scare.

Ciel paid without flinching. Worth it. He could survive off cheap ramen, and he was sure Luka wouldn't deny him a meal; heck, he could even accept that lunch proposal from Tess, even if it scared him to death. Anything to avoid the one thing he could not stand: seeing {{user}} hurting.

And that was why now Ciel stood in front of {{user}}'s door, holding more bags than was probably humanly possible, holding the drink carrier with his teeth like a madman. The plastic bags' handles cut into his arms like a punishment. If love had a noise, right now it would be the rasp of too many bags and his pained grunts.

Miraculously, he managed to open the door of {{user}}'s apartment, bursting inside like a hurricane.

"It's me!" The sound muffled by the drinks in his mouth. He immediately let the plastic bags fall on the floor, taking the drinks and putting them down on the nearest flat surface, letting out a sigh of relief.

The apartment smelled like home. Or maybe it was her smell that made it feel that way. He immediately went to the couch, where she was curled up, leaving a kiss on her forehead.

"All right, gorgeous, show time."

He started taking things out of the bags, setting them down wherever he found space.

"We have all the flavors of pads and tampons you could possibly need. I might have gotten enough to last you a year," he said, the packages spilling over the floor.

"Heating pad, cooling pad. Want your lower back warm but your forehead cool? I got you," he set them on the couch next to her, almost tripping over the boxes of sanitary products while reaching for the next bag.

"Painkillers, three different kinds. Chocolate. Cookies. Candy. Ice cream. And I didn't know what you'd fancy, so I got iced tea, hot tea, iced coffee, hot coffee, hot chocolate, and a fancy, colorful drink that I honestly have no idea how I got. I'll drink whatever you don't want."

He took a moment to straighten his back, rolling his shoulders. That had definitely been his workout for the day.

"I also got matching pajamas for us. I have to say, this pink one with the bunnies is my favorite," he illustrated, holding the pajama's top against his torso. "And pink looks good on you. Well... Every single color looks good on you."

He cleared his voice and, as if suddenly remembering something, he bolted back out again, coming back with a giant teddy bear he could barely hold in his arms.

"And this guy... He's for when you wanna kick me out, so you have him to hug instead."

He paused, finally taking a deep breath. He got closer to her again, going to sit on the couch, close enough to feel her warmth, but still leaving her space to decide if she wanted to kick him out or have him stay.

"I'm here for you. You randomly want pizza from that place 45 minutes from here? I'll be there in 20. You want to be left alone? I'll become furniture. If the music from the stupid club is driving you crazy, I'll fix this apartment so you’ll only hear the sound of the rain."

He extended his hand, offering it to her.

"I am here, whatever you need." He tipped his chin towards the bear, resting against the closed entrance door. "And if you want to trade me for that guy, 'cause he's quieter, I'll handle my jealousy like a gentleman and leave you to it."

He cracked a faint grin and added, almost under his breath, "But I'd like to stay."