|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri May 22, 2020 3:56 pm
As December stepped inside, Nataniel raised a hand in offering, with the expectation that he would take it, and perhaps they would both get up and leave. There was no further reason for him to be sitting sequestered alone on the bathroom floor... But the other boy sank down, wrapping his arms around Nat's shoulders, and Nataniel decided he wasn't offended by that turn of events.
He slipped an arm around December's back, fingers bunching in the thin fabric of his shirt and leaned to lay his forehead against the younger man's shoulder. There was still a lot to learn and attempt to understand about each other, but...
This was nice.
He inhaled a shaky breath and gave a clipped nod at the other's question. "We can." Though he wasn't completely sure how beneficial it would be... A part of him wondered if it wasn't simply safer to not.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 24, 2020 8:41 pm
The embrace lingered probably longer than needed, but December felt like he needed it. It was reassuring, and comfortable, and calmed him to the point that when he did finally pull away, he smiled a little.
When he stood, he stretched nice and long, before offering Nathaniel his hand to help him up.
"Can we maybe... Just lie down together and talk for a while? Just getting to know one another more. I think that'll help a lot."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 10:06 am
Nataniel didn't mind being held, and it was so tempting to pretend that was all he needed, that he could be happy with just arms around him or fingers petting him. He loved fingers petting him... But as nice as it would be for that to be enough, it wasn't. He held anyone close to him to the same high standards he held himself to. Anything less was an insult. It didn't seem lucrative to commit that much time or effort into a friendship- a relationship of any variety- that wasn't of substantial benefit to him. If they couldn't meet those expectations... Well, he was not offended by some people being temporary.
Most people were temporary.
He wasn't willing to apologize for accepting nothing less than what was best for him. Nataniel didn't pretend he wasn't selfish. He eyed December over the rim of his glasses, dark eyes scanning up mocha legs as the younger man stretched. It still struck him resoundingly that it might be better for them to not lay down together.
He reached for December's offered hand and pulled himself to stand. "I would just like to sleep," he murmured as he moved from the room. Maybe December was accustomed to his own rampant emotions, but Nataniel was not. He was not just in a better mood immediately after the fighting was done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2020 8:28 pm
”We can do that.” December kept his words soft and short, unwilling to break this fragile piece between them. This certainly wasn’t the time for small jokes or his well-known to be annoying laughter.
Even he could see that as they returned to the bedroom together.
And honestly, he felt himself growing tired too.
Crying, yelling, struggling to understand this man before him. All of it was exhausting, especially on top of being awake for so long thanks to his job.
A nap would be good for them both. And maybe, once they woke up, they could talk.
“... Could I hold you for a while? I... I still want to be close..”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:11 pm
Nataniel slid down onto his bed, letting his dark lashes fall shut as he inhaled a steadying breath. He still wasn't accustomed to dealing with people on a regular basis. Gabriel may live with him, but his roommate had his own outside life and his own room such that Nat may not even see him every day. Of curse he could listen to his professors lecture. He could perform the routine engagements of shopping or accepting his delivery orders.
That was not the same as having December around. It wasn't the same as having someone in his home or in his bed with more frequency than anyone else prior.
Nataniel wasn't accustomed to this. Certainly not with the abruptness with which it had occurred.
His lashes slipped open to observe the other boy as he moved closer to him. He did like to be held. He liked the comfort of proximity. But they were barely friends, if the night was any evidence to go by. And Nataniel didn't want to like someone just because they had hands to hold him with. "I am unsure if that's wise," he admitted quietly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:23 pm
There wasn't a need for a why, and December truly did not want to keep pressing when the peace between them still somewhat fragile.
"... That's not a no... Is this another case of you telling me to do what I want? Cuz... If it is, I'm going to. Just tell me outright whether you want me to or not." That was plenty enough. A simple desire for a clear answer. Good idea or not and wanted or not were two completely different things.
"I want to.... But if you say no, I won't."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 1:12 pm
Dark eyes lazily observed the boy across from him. He could assume that December wanted the comfort and reassurance as much as Nataniel did himself, but that didn't serve as an answer to what was best for Nat. It was unwise of him to be looking for camaraderie from a source that wouldn't reliably give it. He didn't often look for this from other people, and December clearly brought drama.
"I am unsure," he repeated, lashes dipping closed again as he settled himself more comfortably against his pillow, head turned toward the ceiling, and fingers laced over his abdomen. "But I am open to being convinced."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 7:00 pm
For the most brief of moments, as soon as Nataniel closed his eyes, December frowned.
Why couldn’t it be a yes or no? Didn’t they talk about being clear with one another? It made him uncertain of what to do, which action to take that would be the right one?
How was someone even supposed to convince someone else of being held? It made no sense...
But what else could he do but try to figure it out on his own? It still felt as if he’d be scolded for asking ‘how?’, or receive the same response of ‘I am unsure.’
After a moment of thinking, and finally concluding that he would simply accept what a happened next, December crawled into bed beside him, taking Nataniel’s hand in his own, and simply curling up, squeezing the hand against his chest.
“I’ll start with this then....” he whispered, taking that same hand and pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. “This is...” He paused, feeling like using the word ‘enough’ would be asking for another argument again. “I’m happy with this, if you are. Let me know if you like this, so I can keep doing what you like... I do like it too.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:49 pm
He didn't need to be watching December to know that the other crawled onto the bed next to him, near enough to touch. The mattress dipped with December's movements, and the soft scuff and ripple of the sheets was warning enough, but there also came the faint scent of mild soap, the slightest tickle of the ends of December's hair as he slid in close, a brush of heat from warm breath.
Nataniel released a quiet exhale through his nose as the other boy's fingers slipped over his and tugged so that December's lips could touch to his knuckles. Nat didn't need to look in order to act.
With lashes still shut, his unfurled his fingers from beneath December, slipping his own in between the other's slim digits to thread their fingers together. He shifted his weight, tipping just to the side enough to be nearer, while not full-on pressing to the body already so close to his. He leaned to let his forehead rest against December's, feeling the heat from his breath skate across his neck.
Nat didn't think he would've possessed the wherewithal to refuse if December had tried to do more. It wasn't always a simple process to deny something you wanted, even if it seemed the more intelligent option... But this didn't seem 'too far.' It was acceptable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 8:27 pm
Words weren’t needed for December to feel accepted at this point. He just knew.
And that was all he needed to smile and let the tension in his own body slip away.
It was comfortable, warm, and safe... And after all of that, he was happy.
Yes, with Nataniel, he was happy, and as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to gently fall asleep, he promised himself that he would do anything he could to return this feeling to Nataniel.
They would be happy, and he would keep trying and learning more about the man with him to ensure it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
