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 Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:30 pm
“Hey… I love you.” He murmured. “I know we say that a lot but, some nights it just needs said… more.” He offered and gave a wistful smile, and then he was scurrying to find things for Jace to wear. He ended up stealing a shirt from the clean laundry pile from Callan, and a pair of baggy sleep pants he might have gotten after the last sleep over they had… just in case. A grey, rather oversized shirt, and pants he thought should at least be close to fitting. He folded them up and hurried up the stairs. “Jace! Dinner is warming and I brought clothes!! How are you feeling?”
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 10:52 am
Callan blinked at Holden, because he was used to sentimental bursts, but he couldn’t help but worry, regardless.
...And then, even from the kitchen, he heard Holden’s voice--so happy, and excited--and he smiled.
“Feeling wet,” Jace said, just as he turned off the shower. His hand and knees didn’t look as bad as he’d worried they’d been, and he’d been careful enough that they felt a little prickly now but weren’t hurting. He ran his good hand through his hair once more, admiring how soft it felt with Holden’s shampoo, liking how much the smell reminded him of Holden.
Maybe it was creepy that he was thinking about getting a bottle for himself. But, like. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if sometimes his pillow smelled like Holden’s shampoo, right? And if he was having a bad night, he could just pretend--
Pretend what? Jace, you are still not wearing clothes and you are thinking about Holden again. Please focus! No wonder your mother has to worry about you all the time.
“Better though,” he answered. “A lot better, I’m ready to get out. I’ll be dried off in a second, if you want to just throw the clothes in here.”
He was toweling himself off quickly, because now that Holden had mentioned food his stomach was roaring. He was still hidden behind the shower curtain, so decency wasn’t much of a concern--even if he did briefly worry that Holden might judge him for the waves of steam rolling around the room.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:49 pm
“I am not throwing! They might land in a puddle, I’m going to open the door a crack and hand them in, respectfully.” He wondered if Jace knew that Meme, he wasn’t sure if he wanted him to or not. He cracked the door open, just enough because he didn’t want to let all the steam out and slid an arm in, peering in just enough to see the counter to set them on. “There, I’ll brush your hair again after you eat if you want! You can raid my hair ties too! Callan says he can bring the food up once it’s properly warm so don’t rush okay? I mean unless you’re hungry but I can sneak you a snack, I have a little apricot treat you should try before or after dinner.” He was rambling, and then realized he’d held the door too long. “Ah! Sorry I’m letting the warm air out! I’ll be across the hall! Sorrysorry!”
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 7:00 pm
Jace did not know the meme, but it didn’t really matter, because he was standing there in his towel, peering from around the shower curtain, and feeling a strange anxiety at the sight of Holden’s arm. And then, it was gone.
He didn’t mind the heat rolling out; his head was swimming and he felt overheated anyway, so it was probably good that it was gone. He was just glad he made it out of the shower before the weather turned.
He was encouraged by the promise of food, and someone brushing his hair. He didn’t want to keep Holden waiting, so he quickly dried off and slipped into the pajamas Holden had picked out.
Ultimately, it wasn’t as bad as he expected, and the clothes were surprisingly comfortable. He didn't feel completely ridiculous in them, so after he toweled off his hair--a little aggressively, but whatever--he meandered back to Holden, holding his clothes, neatly folded, to his chest. “Hey,” he said, seeming relieved when he found him. Why? He had no idea, he knew where Holden was going to be waiting for him, he’d told him where he’d be. “Sorry, my hair’s still a little wet. The pajamas are comfortable, thank you. Can I borrow a blanket? It’s a lot colder out here than I expected.”
It had nothing to do with Callan turning the air down as cold as it would go, with the explicit purpose of giving Holden optimal cuddling excuse.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 7:15 pm
“Hey” Holden replied, though he was sure that if ‘little hearts’ could be heard in a voice, they must have been audible just then. Sort of like watching Nelson and Xander talk but he was trying to not be pushy about his affections. “I don’t mind a little damp, and yeah come sit down! It is sorta chilly, maybe it’s the storm.” Holden mused. He had not caught his brother tampering with the Air Conditioning. “Here…” He scooted back as far as he could on the bed and lofted one of his larger downy blankets up. “ Come sit, I’ll make a blanket tent and brush hair and we can both be warmer!” Perfect idea right? Nothing could go wrong… “And I’m pretty sure the food will be done any second, so it’s the perfect excuse to get comfortable.” He teased.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:05 pm
Jace made no attempt to decline the offer or insist on any modesty; he immediately followed Holden to the bed and made himself comfortable, tucking himself under one of the blankets and pulling it close.
“Maybe I shouldn't have taken such a hot shower,” he said, apologetic--even if he was actually excited to have Holden play with his hair. He felt silly about it--he was an adult! He could brush his own hair!
...But Holden did it better, somehow, and Jace just opened and closed his hand like he was trying to test the damage. It was minimal, honestly, so he just left his open palm upright to let it breathe.
“I haven’t had a blanket tent in forever. I don’t think Xander throwing blankets on top of me counts. It’s like a blanket tent, but if it’s collapsed on top of you.” He turned to look at Holden, like he was only just now really seeing him. At least, for today. He was tired before, but Holden just looked so…
Nice.
“...I really owe you guys. Today feels like a weird dream. Maybe I’ll feel less crazy if I wake up over here, and you can remind me this wasn’t all just some weird dream.”
He shivered, his teeth were nearly chattering; instinctively, he moved a little closer to Holden.
Just a little, though.
He wasn’t even completely aware that he was doing it, but a little voice in the back of his head told him it was nice, anyway.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:38 pm
“A collapsed blanket fort, seems like the most… Xander thing ever.” Nelson admitted. He fished out the comb he had tucked away, and started brushing. Happy to be doing this again, so very happy. “I can’t even imagine, finding yourself in new clothes because something attacked you.” Truth, he’d been accosted by a cat that produced a Pen out of lord knew where. “And you don’t owe us, that implies a debt, but there isn’t one… Not for this. You’d do the same for me if things were reversed, or something clever at the very least. I… care, about you… a lot. So… deal with it. You are stuck with he option of Hot showers, brushed out hair, Callan’s amazing coffee, and … so many bird blush.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:29 am
Jace relaxed immediately and seemed to ease into Holden working at his hair. He sighed and closed his eyes, snuggling in under the blanket as he sat still.
“I know there’s not a debt, it’s just.” He smiled softly, an expression that was almost a complete rarity on his face, because Holden said he cared about him, and it felt like all the confusion and frustration of everything just melted away.
“I don’t know. Thank you. Sounds like a good place to be stuck. I’d do the same for you, but I’d probably have to smuggle you in through the window. Mom gets,” he shrugged. “Weird.”
It was just about the closest he’d ever gotten to criticizing her, but he stiffened and seemed to immediately regret it when there was a knock on the door.
He eased, only slightly, when Callan’s voice came from the other side: “Food, you want me to bring it in or do you want to come get it?”
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:36 am
“Votes? Want me to fetch it or are you ok with Callan bringing it in?” Holden offered. “And Like I said, you’d do something clever and I’d be deeply impressed! Even if your Mother might be… weird about it.” He really…really wanted to lean forward and up, just to press a kiss to Jace’s shoulder, but that would be so, presumptive.
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 10:51 am
Jace looked almost like a deer in headlights and just drew the blankets a little closer. “Oh, I don’t care, either way. Just cold. I probably look like a half drowned rat. It’s whatever, it’s fine,” he insisted, and probably meant it but was just flustered that he had to actually answer. Callan probably knew he was borrowing his shirt, but Jace still felt a bit silly that he didn’t fill it out like Callan did. He felt very small.
...But also very safe, next to Holden, and he sort of didn’t want him to move.
“He can come in. You’re warm, I don’t want you to move,” he finally decided, reaching up to rub at his face tiredly--like that would be a good excuse to hide the redness he’d bestowed upon himself.
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 1:54 pm
“You can bring it in!” Holden called “I’m just brushing his hair!” He added after a moments thought. Lord knows he didn’t want his Brother assuming they were cuddled under blankets for other reasons. That was not a talk he was prepared to have. At all … ever. “I hope you like it, I think it’s one of those meals that actually reheats well, and not everything does.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 3:25 pm
Callan had to bite back a smile when Holden said he was brushing Jace’s hair. He forced a calm expression when he pushed the door open.
Jace was just nodding to Holden and, despite the fact that he knew Callan, and had no reason be uncomfortable around him, he couldn't look up. Maybe it was because he felt like he’d take one look at him and know he was hiding something, or maybe he was just tired--either way, Jace made the excuse of rubbing at his face again so he didn’t have to look up.
“I appreciate it, thank you,” he said, and while Jace wasn’t looking, Callan just gave Holden a knowing smile as he handed the plate over, and two drinks. “Yeah, well you enjoy it. I made all of it, so if you can’t finish, I’m sure Holden can help. Gonna bulk up with me, right Holden?” he asked, but he was smiling softly, clearly teasing. “I’m looking forward to doing some exercises together.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, that. Thank you, again,” Jace said, and tried to sit up straight, to be properly respectful, but Callan had already turned and made his way to the door.
He raised a hand to the two of them. “Just be ready to work hard, both of you. I’ll get you both in shape, no one will want to mess with you when I’m done with you.”
Jace cast Holden a look, not quite sure what he had told Callan, and Callan was already at the door saying, “You two have a good night, get some rest,” and then he was gone. Jace’s words died on his lips, but it was probably better that way; he exhaled, looked at the food, and then picked up a fork and took a bite before he could let his manners stop him. Hopefully it was enough to make sure his stomach didn’t start rumbling too.
He was famished, and didn’t realize just how hungry he was until the first bite, and between that and the second he had to say, “This is extremely good. Does Callan have this recipe up on his channel?”
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 3:35 pm
“I think it’s going to be his next video actually!” He beamed “He’ll almost definitely write it down for you too though. I’m … sorry too I asked if Callan would train with both of us given what happened to you today. It wouldn’t be fair to just throw YOU under the bus after all. You apparently never know when random objects will bestow strange costumes on you? It’s a bit like…Lady of the Lake, watery tarts handing out cutlery.” He was rambling again as he brushed, enjoying Jace enjoying -this-.
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:45 pm
”No, no,” Jace insisted. “That’s fine. I’m glad you told him, I don’t even know what I would have said to ask. But I’m glad you’ll be there too. It’s not like your brother is weird or anything, I just don’t know what to talk about and I figured it’d be weird if I was just like, talking about you. I think that’s about the only thing we have in common. That, and I really, really, like this food. I’ll keep an eye out for it. I mean, I kind of want to sprinkle some hot sauce on it? But I think that’s just because my tongue doesn’t know how to work if it’s not burning.”
He scooped another large bite and ate it hungrily, finally feeling warm again. He’d tell himself it was the food, but mostly it was Holden.
“I picked up a stick, Holden. Like, I don’t even remember touching it. Just--be careful picking things up, okay? I don’t want you to get in any sort of trouble. I don’t even know what i’m supposed to do. And I don’t want you to get into any sort of trouble. I don’t know how I’m going to convince Xander not to touch any weird thing he finds,” he said, and sighed heavily. “...I love this food. I can’t believe leftovers taste so good. I don’t know if it’s just because I’m hungry and tired, but I think this is like. In the top three favorite recipes your brother makes.”
He leaned against him. “...Thank you, for all of this.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:54 pm
“I promise not to pick up any random sticks, I will stick to birds….and writing implements.” He could explain that later… right? Right. “And any time! It makes me happy to be able to do this for you, I like… being a safe place.” He said carefully, leaning back and savoring it. “And, you would want hot sauce on it! Your family hasn’t got blood in its veins it’s hot sauce! Thats the secret to all your powers admit it.” He teased. “At least you’re not as bad as Xander, sometimes I think he’d die if he got blood in his hat sauce system.” He laughed. “Oh… though that does make me want to try something for a recipe, I might have to run it by my brother.” He mused, curling a long strand of hair around his fingers as he idly thought about recipes to make - mostly because he thought Jace would enjoy. “Do you like Jalapeños? I mean, roasted ones? Something that brings that little bit of warmth to your mouth when you…” He waved his hand , distracted now, thinking about Jace’s mouth. Someday… maybe…
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