|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:00 am
“It’s ok! I… I don’t think…” He stifled a sneeze as best he could which resulted in a small ‘Squeak’ sound and watering eyes. “It’s just… it’s COLD!” He said baffled. “I’m okay I promise, are you?” he added glancing up in concern, only to have to bite back a laugh at the almost murderous face that Jace was making trying to keep himself from sneezing. “M-maybe it's a marketing trick. A very clever one.” He fumbled for an explanation. “I can’t think of another reason we’d be, well…sneezing snowflakes.” He said baffled. “Maybe I can get us to-go boxes and we can walk it off?”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:09 am
"Yeah. I want to walk it off. Maybe it's just the air vent."
It didn't explain the snowflakes, but what was the point of coming in out of the cold if the cold was just going to show up in you?
Holden's squeaks were unfairly adorable, and Jace was a bit jealous that when Holden sneezed like that, he was just cute. Jace felt like an abomination and squinted harder to force the sneezes back.
If they were walking, at least they wouldn't have an audience to whatever strange affliction had come over them.
"...Is going out in the cold going to help? I should have brought my car, we could have gone and sat in there with the heat on. Wait, we didn't get your picture. We'll have to take it between--whatever this is."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:44 am
“We can come back for a photo - it’s an excuse for more tasty drinks at le-Lea—“ and he sneezed again and sighed, frustrated by his own sneezing. “I sound like a hamster.” He grumbled. “At least if we walk it off, then we can blame the weather? Sneezing inside and having it be snowflakes seems like we’re trying to cause a scene or something.” He blushed and then laughed. “Jace, I’m not going to be mad if you sneeze, if you don’t you might hurt yourself!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:50 am
Jace needed the permission to sneeze. As soon as it was given, he turned his head away and sneezed another flurry of snowflakes, this one more violent than before. He stood up almost instantly and grabbed his coat. "I do not like Winter, Holden. This is ridiculous."
His nose was red again and he reached up a hand to wipe at his eyes, getting rid of any trace of moisture in his eyes from holding back that sneeze for so long.
He went to the counter, got a to-go box and bag, and returned almost immediately, packing things up carefully so Holden could get ready. He was holding back another sneeze but seemed determined to get outside before he let this one out. He had the bag of sweets around his wrist and held his drink in that hand but held out his other hand for Holden, like he was going to help him up and guide him out of the store before they could embarrass themselves further. "Do not tell my brother about this. Or yours."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:00 am
“I won’t!” Promised golden and sneezed again, a flurry of snowflakes” He shuddered. “If he thinks I’m sick it will be one of his special regimen of food weeks and I already did that while I was recovering on our trip!” He bemoaned the very thought of another round of it, though he loved his Brother and how determined he was to be supportive and considerate. He took the offered hand though with a grateful smile and a gentle squeeze.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:20 am
With Holden's hand in his own, Jace tugged him out of the little café; there was a shared warmth between them and for that, he was grateful. "My house is closer. Walk back with me. I have good hot chocolate at home. And if that doesn't warm us up, I'll order takeout. Today is too cold. We can just watch a movie instead. And when it's over, I'll drive you back and drop you off at home."
There wasn't much room for question; Jace wasn't good at asking. If you asked, there was the chance of rejection, so instead he just insisted.
He needed to go back home and study. He needed to get back to working.
...But if Holden was there, he'd at least try to take it easy. Even if they were both still sneezing snowflakes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:30 am
“That sounds wonderful.” Holden said earnestly. He sneezed again and huffed impatiently before laughing suddenly. “Isn’t the song supposed to be walking in a winter wonderland? I think we just changed it to ‘sneezing up a winter wonderland.” “At least with you I get hot chocolate and warm hands!” He beamed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 10:46 am
Jace grumbled and tried to wriggle deeper into his coat. "I don't know how you can laugh about that, none of this is normal."
And yet, now that they were outside, the tingling in his nose wasn't so bad. There was a tickle still but it wasn't so obnoxious that he couldn't fight it off.
"My hands won't be warm for long so we have to hurry. Keep up. Or. Let me know if I'm going too fast. I can slow down for you."
Jace ran. A lot. And he powered walked. Also, a lot. The last thing he wanted to do was accidentally hurry Holden over some slippery path and have to take him home with a bruised tailbone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:04 am
“If you go too fast I’ll make you carry me!” Holden said cheerfully. “My legs are short but I’ll do my best!” He picked up his pace as best he could, short he might be but with his Brother being who he was there was some distinct practice in being sure footed. It was only sneezing that made him slide on a nasty bit of Ice and grip at Jace’s arm. “Eeeep!!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:12 am
The sneeze was expected, but Holden being swept off his feet was not; Jace planted his feet steadily and gripped Holden tightly to steady him. "--Careful!" he insisted, in a tone that sounded like he was about to scold Holden. Callous words never came, but a flurry of snowflakes in a sneeze did, forceful enough that he almost knocked himself off balance.
...Except, if he did, he might hurt Holden, or drag him down with him.
So, instead, Jace did everything in his power to steady himself--and wrapped an arm around Holden to make sure he had a chance to stabilize himself as well.
"--Seriously, I don't want you to fall. You could get hurt," he said, with the rare, honest concern that slipped into his voice. "If you do that again, I will carry you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:23 am
“M-maybe we could just walk like this. If you carried me we might both fall.” Holden said carefully. Not at all because he didn’t at all mind the arm around him. Really. “Would that be alright?” Holden asked cautiously- hoping the cold bite in the air was a good cover for his blush.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:43 am
Jace stilled for a moment, pausing and giving deep contemplation to the suggestion. "Oh," he said into the silence, and then nodded. "...We can do that."
He gave Holden a second to get comfortable and then began to walk, still carefully holding the sweets and his drink. "...But you should know that I wouldn't let you fall."
Even if he hit a patch of ice, Jace wouldn't have let Holden hit the ground--not if he'd taken the responsibility of keeping him safe.
...Besides. His mother and father both were at the office. It's not like he had to worry about anyone seeing them like this.
And, it was warm.
...And it felt nice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:58 am
“I know, but... I don’t want you hurt either! Not even if you’re being heroic!” He might have taken the opportunity to lean his head into Jace’s arm for a moment. “At least even with the silly snowflakes- I got my walk with you!” He added trying to find a bright spot to go with this particular nice point in the day. And then he sneezed again. “Gosh dang it!!” He flustered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:22 pm
Jace snorted. "I don't know if this counts as a walk if you have to lean on me to make sure we're not sliding around."
He wasn't complaining though, and it was easy to let his hand settle around Holden as he held him close.
To make sure he didn't fall, obviously, because Jace was stronger and better coordinated. Obviously.
"I won't get hurt. Besides, if I bust something, maybe I'd have a good excuse to stay in bed and rest--then none of you could criticize my posture, at least."
He turned his head to the side and sneezed once more, feeling a little better about it because with Holden tucked so close, he knew he couldn't see how silly Jace looked.
"You want pizza, or something else? ...I can pick the food and you can pick the movie?" he suggested, trying not to sound like he was actually excited about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:33 pm
“Pizza sounds wonderful!” Holden said cheerfully. “Hmmm wha frond of movie would you like? I’ll pick a title if you pick a genre!” “Also, don’t kid! We both know if you ended up hurt you’d have all your books and laptop in bed with you so you could keep studying! As thought that would be in the least restful!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
