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For most of Spencer’s life, he pretended not to notice the way people looked at his teeth. As a child, it didn’t bother him all that much. Teeth were simply teeth, and the average child had gaps, wobbly teeth close to falling out, or a cavity or two. Sure, children would be cruel sometimes, but he knew how to handle them with ease. Comments and teasing rarely got under his skin, though that didn’t mean they didn’t stick there, finding themselves a place in the back of his mind.
School photos, however, were hell itself.
He practically would rather dig himself in a ditch than take them.
His mother would dress him in the nicest clothes she could find and slick his hair back carefully, trying to give him a pristine appearance. Instead, Spencer always thought he looked like a complete nerd. Worst of all, he had to master the art of smiling with his lips closed. Later in life, he even adapted to eating with his hand covering his mouth and angling his face away whenever someone pulled out a camera, always avoidant when it came to taking selfies with anyone.
Did he like doing this? No, but it felt… comfortable.
Almost, right. In a weird, but strangely “Spencer” kind of way.
Stepping out of the shower, Spencer reached for one of the pink towels hanging on the rack, drying himself off before wrapping it around his lower half. He wasted no time shaking the water from his hair, still feeling damp and icky all over. Sliding on his bunny slippers, the ones Diego absolutely didn’t have to buy for him but did anyway out of sheer excitement, which Spencer found himself unable to say no to, he approached the bathroom door, ready to leave.
But he couldn’t, could he?
He caught a glimpse of himself in the bathroom mirror, one he couldn’t ignore no matter how badly he wanted to…
God, he really had a cruel way of punishing himself, huh?
Walking up to the bathroom mirror, he stood there for a moment, taking in his reflection. Even though he was near-sighted, which only made things even worse without the glasses he wasn’t wearing right now, he could still tell he looked terrible. Spencer had never really doubted his appearance, maybe a few times during his senior year, but never to this degree.
Slowly opening his mouth, Spencer caught sight of the top row of his teeth, jutting out like a sore thumb.
“…Fuck,” he muttered pathetically.
Was he… ugly?
No, that couldn’t be it. Spencer knew that even if he wasn’t the most attractive guy, he certainly wasn’t ugly. And yet, the thoughts didn’t slow down; if anything, they circled tighter in his mind, clouding everything in sight.
"Cariño, are you almost done in there?"
Spencer turned his head to see Diego peeking in, his eyes heavy with sleep, the kind that told Spencer he had probably just woken up from a nap. Spencer hurriedly wiped at his eyes with one hand while the other kept his towel from slipping. Not that Diego would mind.
“Yeah, sorry. I know you must’ve missed me, right?” Spencer said, self-deprecatingly; the joke didn’t quite land as it would’ve if he were in a better mood.
“Yeah,” Diego quietly stirs. “I did. Más de lo que sabes.”
Diego moved away from the doorframe, stepping closer to Spencer until he leaned into his shoulder, resting there as if Spencer were just a pillow to him. Diego was just so… Diego sometimes. It honestly felt as if he wasn’t real; not in Spencer’s best dreams did he think to get himself a boyfriend like this.
“You’re getting yourself wet,” Spencer murmured.
“Doesn’t matter,” Diego sleepily replied. “You’re warm.”
Spencer could tell within a matter of seconds that Diego had no intentions of moving whatsoever anytime soon. Spencer exhaled slowly, one hand still loosely holding the towel in place while the other seemed to hover uncertainly over Diego’s back, eventually resting itself there.
“You’re really gonna fall asleep standing up?” Spencer asks smugly.
“No,” Diego simply said. “You looked like you needed this. Estás bien. What’s wrong, Spencer?"
Spencer deflects, his muscles slightly tensing. “…Nothing.”
Diego lifted his head, making sure his eyes met Spencer’s. Geez, with a face as cute as that, Spencer didn’t want to lie to him. But something as silly as thinking about his overbite shouldn’t matter.
“Spencer, let me in.”
"What?"
“Tell me what’s making you feel sad,” Diego said gently. “I know you by now, and you’re not exactly good at hiding how you feel.”
“I don’t think you’d get it,” Spencer uttered shamefully, glancing away toward the mirror.
Diego didn’t let him look away, not from this. He quietly took Spencer’s chin, gently turning his face back toward him. “Try me.”
Spencer took a deep breath, letting himself subside underneath his boyfriend’s gaze. “My overbite… do you think it’s ugly?”
When he said that any sleepiness Diego had been clinging to was gone, it was as if Diego's eyes widened, fully open and aware of the words spewing out of Spencer’s mouth.
“No,” Diego said firmly. “If anything, your overbite was the most beautiful thing I saw when we met.”
“It was?"
“Don’t you remember?” Diego tilted his head slightly, studying him like the answer should’ve already been obvious. “I could’ve sworn I messed up and told you that.” He recalled.
Spencer lets himself think, really think.
As the rollercoaster climbed upward, Spencer wasn’t all that phased. He’d been on plenty of rides as a child, especially with his sisters. He was used to the turns, spins, and even the drops of these damn machines. At this point, nothing could truly impress him, except maybe reading a good book during the ride.
But undoubtedly, he didn’t have time for that.
Each flag, he’d already seen them and deliberately kept them in mind. He needed to win this challenge not only to prove himself but to…
Just as he was in the middle of a thought, he glanced over without any purpose at his teammate beside him. Diego was shaking like a leaf, clearly jittery and practically on the verge of tears. In a weird, unforeseen way Spencer felt himself somewhat soften before seeing this as the perfect opportunity to gain an ally.
“First ride?” Spencer asks.
“…Yeah,” Diego replied nervously, his voice noticeably unsteady. “We don’t really have a lot of these back home.” He swallowed hard, glancing down at the tracks before quickly looking away again. “If it’s possible… can I hang onto you?"
Hook, line, and sinker.
“Uh… sure,” Spencer awkwardly murmured, holding his arm out.
Without much thought or rather, without many words, Diego slipped his hand into Spencer’s. Spencer knew something as simple as this should’ve been easy, but that didn’t help the fact that his cheeks were burning and his mind wasn’t nearly as focused as it needed to be.
“You know, it’s probably not a good sign you look like you’re attending your own funeral right now.” Spencer deflects, humorously.
“I’ll say. Esto da miedo.” Diego utters, his grip tightening instinctively the higher they climb.
Spencer, unbeknownst to himself, snorted at Diego’s fear. Not in a cruel or malicious way, just because the ride didn’t exactly have the steepest drop imaginable. When his laughter subsided, Spencer found himself properly looking at Diego for the first time. But Spencer didn’t find Diego to be looking at the tracks anymore; instead, he was staring directly at Spencer. Specifically his mouth.
“What? Something in my teeth?" Spencer asks.
“No, it’s not that, it’s…” Diego hesitated awkwardly before smiling a little. “You have a nice smile.”
"Huh?"
Diego looked embarrassed now but kept going anyway. “Your overbite,” he admitted sheepishly. “It’s cute.”
Cute. No one had ever called his overbite that before, nor dared to describe it as anything other than weird, crooked, or even…
Before Spencer could finish the thought, the rollercoaster dropped. Diego immediately let out a terrified yell, practically latching himself onto Spencer as the ride plunged downward at full speed, nearly crushing him in the process.
“I guess I kinda remember it,” Spencer concluded. “I must’ve forgotten because the ride dropped right after you said it.”
“Well,” Diego started softly, “I meant it, Spence.”
Spencer sighed, “I know you did and still do.
“Then why do you look like you’re about to argue with me about it?” Diego asked softly.
“Because it’s weird.”
“It’s not weird.”
“It is to me,” Spencer admitted quietly. “People don’t usually compliment stuff like that.”
Diego hummed thoughtfully. “True. Then again, some people also have bad taste.”
Spencer let out a snort, his heart skipping a beat. Diego was really… something. Truly. God, he’d never let this hunk be taken away from him, not while he’s still here, breathing.
“You know kids would say the dumbest of things,” Spencer said, self-deprecating once more. “Like rabbit-teeth, buck-teeth. Just plain idiotic.”
“You’re the cutest rabbit I know,” Diego cooed, sweetly.
"Diego!"
Diego couldn’t help himself; he leaned into Spencer again, this time pressing soft, attentive kisses along his neck. Spencer obliged, biting his lip to keep the whimpers in with his cheeks already reddening. It didn’t help at all that his towel was beginning to loosen, his hands finding their way around Diego as he held onto him.
Though unexpectedly, Diego stopped, leaning far enough away from Spencer to look him in the eyes.
“Sorry.” Diego smiled. “Can I do something?”
Spencer eyed him suspiciously. “That depends entirely on what it is.”
Diego never really gave a solid answer or explanation either. Instead, he lifted one hand to Spencer’s face, his thumb brushing lightly near the corner of his mouth. Then carefully, he lowered himself to meet Spencer’s lips. At first, Spencer thought he was just going to kiss him normally; anyone would expect that. But no. Diego pressed a tiny, loving kiss right against the front of his overbite.
“There,” Diego whispered simply. “Now they’ve been kissed too.”
He was so gentle. So… genuine. Spencer didn’t even know what to say; what could he say? His face burned so hot he thought he might actually catch on fire.
“…You’re insane,” he muttered weakly. “Really insane.”
“Nah,” Diego kindly replied. “I’m just in love.”