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Laying on the bed in the backroom, he stared at his phone and the text he had sent to Alexandre. He’d asked if they wanted to come over for the new year and maybe spend the night. Everything had been going as well as it could be as his ankle healed, he’d gotten a set of crutches to hobble around the store with but most customers had been understanding with things. A few of them had even offered to bring him food or coffee, it was nice but he really had wanted Alexandre to come over again. The holidays had been busy he assumed and he had tried not to message them even though he now had their number.

At least something good had come out of tripping on one of those rabbit holes, he could reach out to them if he really needed them. The problem was that he didn't want to push too hard and change the setup of the arrangement they had, even if he wanted more than what had been agreed on. He'd tried others, but it didn't help, if anything it made him feel worse about everything. About how he was risking getting them sick from his actions even if he was getting tested frequently. Maybe he would stop... if he could convince them to let there be more than just the arrangement.

Shaking his head, he got up from the bed and washed his face in the sink so he could start shaving while waiting to see if they responded. His phone propped up with the message box open on the ledge beneath the mirror as he made quick work of things.

Pulling on a change of clothing, he called back out to Alexandre before maneuvering out into the shop. Parking himself on the stool behind the counter he waved to the other. "Oh espresso, thank god. It smells amazing." Leaning over the counter he reached out for one of the cups.

"I hope the drive was safe, I got snowed in here the other night and couldn't make it home. I hope it's all been cleared." Looking the other over, they'd chosen a coat this time much like the first time. They always dressed well, like a little doll, and he quite liked it. He wanted to ask more, see how they'd been but everything swirled in his chest as he tried to think of how to take things.

Smiling as he accepted the cup and sipped at it, he thought about how it was more about the company than the espresso. "I like it as much as the next person even if I am a bit more strict with how I like it made." Looking out the window towards the snow, he shivered a bit at the mention of rabbit holes. "Better but I still can't quite put all my weight on it yet. At least if I roll onto it while sleeping I don't jerk awake anymore." That had been the real turning point in things, it meant he could at least sleep a full night again.

"Oh... more of those things you spoke of. Luckily I was here, I got a little fridge delivered after the holiday since I have been cooped up here a bit so I barely even noticed getting shut in. I tried the door and saw the whole stairwell packed with snow and just went back to bed." He'd managed a shower in the small little corner one that was in the bathroom here. It wasn't really meant for showing people, more like a place to fill cleaning buckets and other things but it worked in a pinch and he could still shave daily if he got stuck here.

That last bit both hurt and made him feel trapped for a moment. It took him far longer to respond than he had wanted to as he looked at them. He knew his face probably had betrayed him at the moment, that hope that maybe they were starting to feel the same way as he had. Sitting up and sipping more of the espresso he waved his hand dismissively for a moment as he tried to recover. "I didn't want to bother you in case you had holiday plans with your family." He wanted to say more but he was nervous and that feeling in his chest made it hard to progress more than that. They hadn't wanted strings and he kept trying to loop thin little wisps around them to get them to stay.

"I do..." It was a bit quiet as he tried to keep his face casual, something they probably barely heard as he drank more from the cup.

"Are you going to come over here or do I have to get up on my crutches?" Picking one up and starting to lean on it as he got up, a smile back on his face as he tried to save face.

"I hope so, you have to paint rabbits next year and I'd like to see them without spraining my ankle again." Leaning into them a bit, he smiled a bit more at the idea they wanted him to still be around in some way next year. It gave him time to try figuring out how to change their mind.

"I hope you had a good Christmas, I know I had a good Christmas Eve even if the rabbits got me." Was it too much though... bringing that up? He'd missed them this time though and hadn't even tried finding another person to burn through for a night with how his ankle was.

"You do look good on top anyway, I won't mind it too much." Teasing a bit more as he switched the side that the crutch was on so he could use them a bit more to help keep things balanced. He could touch his foot to the ground now but still not really walk just yet, almost there though and he knew things would go back to normal. He liked the extra attention he got while being hurt though, it felt less like an arrangement and maybe a bit like something more.

Leaning in a bit closer he nipped at their ear a bit. "Glad you had fun, I already finished my drink so you can go close up shop. You can take a look at more than my ankle." They really were so cute and easy to get worked up. He just wished for more and as he slid back carefully, he started making his way to the backroom to lay down and get his socks and shoes off so they could take a look at things. It didn't bother him as much anymore, it wasn't even on his list of worst breaks or injuries. If it had been a break he would have tried figuring out the medical system over here but he'd been lucky.

Half flopping on the bed, he went to work on pulling his socks and shoes off. Rotating his ankle a bit, it still ached but he had full range back without too much discomfort. He'd been used to it from all the running and jogging on less-than-ideal paths back home. Going for a walk through the forest was nice and all but he'd managed to roll and hurt his ankle here and there because of it. In a city like this though it was a rarity until the rabbit holes. This had been the first time someone had actually made sure he was okay after the fact.

Rubbing his face as he thought more about things, he couldn't get over how many times they'd helped him. They kept coming back over and over, brought him things, and hinted at wanting him to be around in the future. It hurt because he couldn't tell what they wanted, and didn't know much about them. He'd gotten snippets and figured out things between the lines they had spoken. They didn't want any strings attached but they were doing more for him than anyone would in the same situation. Laying back on the bed, he took deep breaths as he tried to figure things out.

If they knew would they run? Would he be able to see them again? Everything swirled as he heard them shuffling around his shop. The new year was going to start in a few hours and he wanted to start it off without running from things. It almost made him laugh with how he'd run from one type of commitment only to wide up wanting one with someone who didn't want commitment either. Sighing, he sat back up and wrangled those thoughts and feelings as best he could. It would kill him if Alexandre left to never return so he'd keep to the terms and try to feel things out over the coming year. He'd have to be careful and approach things with caution to not spook the other. That's what he wanted, right? That angel of a man to be around more often but then what?

Biting the inside of his cheek, he shook the thoughts away one more time as he looked up and waited for them to get back here.

Looking up at them, he rolled his ankle around and showed them. "It's alright, mostly just putting all my weight on it still so maybe a week more at most. Not the first time it's happened and probably not the last either, at least it's something I know a lot about dealing with." Reaching up, he brushed his fingers over some of the faded marks on their neck. He had gotten them pretty good the last time even with them handling most of the work.

"Now what kind of plans do you have for this coming new year?" Sitting up a bit more, he adjusted his ankle a bit more so he wasn't leaning his weight on it. He knew what he wanted but he was curious if he could get any more slivers about them to come out. Whatever little bits and pieces to learn more about them.

"Oh, how come? It happened often back home when I would take walks through the woods or mountains. Not really the best ground to walk on." It had been something he'd done often to avoid his responsibilities and family.

Wrapping an arm around their back now that they were settled, he really wondered how much younger they were than him if they were still working on their degree. But the rest checked out against the slivers of info he knew, a bit sad nothing else new had come from it but it was still nice to hear something personal from them. Though it was a bit hard when they asked the same in return, he swallowed nervously as he tried to think of something other than what he really wanted to say. With them this close and whispering in his ear, it was torture.

"I plan on seeing how far I get along with things in this country. Maybe see what other things are going on in this city in those off-seasons you mentioned without the magic. You still have to show me your paintings at some point too and maybe help me avoid some of the more dangerous things that lurk here." Just a little push, a little more if he could get them to keep coming back to him.

He laughed just a little as they wrinkled their face at his walking habits. The laugh died in his throat as they ghosted their lips over his, that mix of feelings coming back as he looked into their eyes. He couldn't tell anymore, where the lines were being drawn and if they were honestly feeling the same way. All he could do at first was nod as he felt his heart quickening, watching that angelic face he couldn't get out of his mind anymore.

"I look forward to it, my petit ange. I'll make sure it's worth your time." Leaning back into them after they had moved away a bit, it was killing him not knowing and now they were calling him by a pet name. He didn't want them to go away, didn't want to push anymore and ruin things but he couldn't stop the words from coming out. Such quiet words as he leaned in with a softer kiss, one that was far different than the ones that led to the marks on the other's skin. Tangling fingers in their hair but not to pull and lead, just to feel it in his hand. "In the new year... I want you to visit more often."