The power’s out! On a cold day like today this is the absolute last thing you needed. But, despite how beautiful that ice on the wires is, it does not make for a friendly day filled with warmth and electronics! But, there should be trucks coming out soon to fix the issues, how do you cope with the slowly creeping chill? Are you the type to snuggle up with someone you care about and huddle down to keep warm? Or are you the type to get the heck out until it’s warm enough to once more inhabit your dwelling?
Nick had gone shopping. It was the holidays and he had discovered the absolute perfect hat. And the perfect shirt...and red suspenders...plus a pair of plaid pants that just about made him weep with laughter. He had been thrilled to find that Arias wasn’t home when he went over, and so making himself comfortable on the couch, he waited for the brunette to arrive.
Sure maybe it wasn’t the nicest things he had ever done...but he thought it might be at least a little amusing to see Arias’ reaction...plus he missed him. A lot.
Honestly though, he was really just hoping that the message on his hat would be read and that he would get a nice kiss.
Purple eyes glanced to the wrapped box on the couch next to him. If his own hat didn’t get himself a kiss...Arias’ new hat would at least score him one...so either way Nick ended up ahead of the game.
Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:50 am
Free time wasn’t something Arias had a lot of, particularly during this time of year; he had spent most of his day running errand and trying to stay on top of it so when he came home he was already trying to set his mind on the next task.
When he opened the door and slid in, he didn’t even immediately realize that someone was there; working down his mental checklist, he had stepped inside and moved to the kitchen to set some bags down.
When something finally made him raise his eyes, he jumped when they landed on Nick. The surprise was immediate, a mixture of happiness and agitation. The agitation slipped away almost immediately once he had time to register that it was Nick, not some intruder or something he needed to be upset with.
“Nick,” he greeted, smile drawing on his face. “You surprised me, I didn’t know you were coming over. But,” he glanced at the outfit, and the box next to him. “I’m going to guess that’s the point. I would have hurried home sooner from my errands if I had known! I hope you haven’t been waiting long!”
He hastened to set his bags down so he could join Nick on the couch; when he got close to the male, he leaned in for a kiss.
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Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2017 12:06 pm
Grinning, Nick leaned up, taking the offered kiss and tugging Arias into his lap, arms looping around him at once. “Of course it was meant to be a surprise. I didn’t mean to startle you...I just missed you. There was a strange sound outside, a kind of groaning coming from the wind and then a loud cracking sound. And then the lights flickered and died.
Pausing, Nick looked around, glad that the apartment had been quite warm before this new and interesting turn of events, though now he wondered how long that warmth would last, and hastily he handed Arais his box. “Well…this will help you a lot now, it was supposed to be a joke but…” He shrugged. “Happy first gift of Christmas, love. I’m the luckiest guy in the world to have you beside me, and I hope you know that.”
He fell quiet, thinking. It had been easy, for the past few weeks at least, to not stray…his biggest temptation had gone utterly MIA again, and perhaps that was for the best. He didn’t need Ashanite…he wanted him. But he didn’t need him. He needed the brunette who was in his lap right now, and with a little grin, Nick buried his face in Arias’s hair. “I love you. It’s going to get cold in here soon, I bet.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 3:03 pm
Arias paused for a second and glanced towards the window, as if it would have more answers than he did. “It’s a good thing I got home when I did,” he mused as he accepted the box from Nick. He returned his attention to Nick and, though the room was dark, he could still make out enough to know he was looking into his eyes. “You’re a sweetheart, thank you for saying such kind things. But I have to ask—does any room actually get cold while you’re in it?”
It was warm, for now, but Arias wasn’t going to waste an opportunity to stay close to Nick. He smiled and ran his fingers over the box he’d been given. “I can open it now?” he asked, clearly eager but not wanting to ruin any surprise if he was supposed to be patient. “I should go get some candles or something before it gets too dark, but I want to open it now. I’ve got my phone here…”
His voice trailed off for a few seconds as he fished through his pockets for his phone; as soon as he found it, light illuminated the room. He smiled again, hesitating on opening the present as if he intended to give Nick one last chance to protest.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 7:33 pm
“Oh ho, so you’re finally admitting that I’m the hottest person to ever exist, hm?” Nick grinned and pressed closer to Arias, taking a moment to plant a kiss on his neck. “Of course you can open it now. If I had wanted you to wait, I wouldn’t have brought it and it would have still been living with the rest of the things I got you…this is a right now gift, not a wait until Christmas gift. It’s nothing amazing…but I like it, and I hope you do too…though…”
Honestly, he wasn’t sure at all what Arias’s reaction to the hat would be…he didn’t regret buying it though…at the very least it would get him another kiss, even if he got a few groans and eye rolls from the brunette in the process.
Glancing around, Nick pulled the blanket down off of the back of the couch and draped it over Arias and himself. “At least we’ll stay cozier this way…the power can’t be out forever…right? If it’s more than an hour you can just come stay with me tonight, yeah? Regardless…I want to spend tonight with you, if that’s okay.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:20 pm
“I didn’t say hottest person to ever exist,” Arias clarified, but he smiled and kissed Nick’s cheek all the same. “But I’ve never denied that you are incredibly attractive. I’d love to spend the night with you, though. I mean, I hope the power comes back on, because I had a few things I really wanted to finish baking, but whether it’s here or there, I’ll be happy.”
He snuggled close to Nick and was very mindful to stay under the blanket, but he had been patient enough and now he wanted to know just what it was that Nick had picked out for him. He maneuvered the flashlight on his phone so he could open the box and actually see what it was. “But I hope you’ll forgive me, I have a present for you but it isn’t wrapped yet. And I was really hoping I could convince you to come to Christmas dinner with my family and I, and that you could open it then. I mean, if that’s okay. If it isn’t, we can do something quiet and private, just you and me, but. I mean,” he smiled. “I like having you around, and my family does too. You’re part of the family, so we want you there.”
He finally lifted the box, peering inside to see what present Nick had picked out for him. When it registered a second later, he laughed and reached to brush his fingers over the fabric. “Oh, are you trying to tell me something?” he asked before tugging the hat on. “Did you want us to match, or just have twice as many excuses to kiss?”
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:26 pm
“All of the above, of course.” Nick grinned, pleased that Arias seemed to at least be amused with his gift, even if Nick knew it was in no way, shape or form even remotely Arias’ style. It was still fun. “I thought it was cute, and I thought we could look cute together while wearing them...so I got it for us. It does a great job at keeping your head warm too, so of course that’s a plus.” He leaned closer, planting a kiss on his neck this time, grinning at the thought of spending the night together. “You know...if the power doesn’t come back on anytime soon...you and I might have to strip off our clothes and zip ourselves into a sleeping bag in order to keep warm.”
He paused, thinking the plan over, then winked. “Though…I suppose that doesn’t even sound so bad. It would be kind of like...roughing it...only we’d be in a house. Yeah it might get really cold but...I’m sure we’d at least survive the night, don’t you think?”
It took a while for the other words to register with Nick, and when they did, he grinned happily. “You’re inviting me to Christmas dinner again? Seriously? I’d love to go. And don’t worry, I have a real present for you, this was just something stupid that I thought you’d like...and even if you didn’t, I seriously just got it so I’d have a viable excuse to kiss you two dozen times in the span of a heartbeat...not that I need one but…” He shrugged, this time kissing the brunette’s ear. “Put it on, lover.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:28 pm
“Oh, jeez,” Arias muttered before he could catch himself; red splashed across his face, and he had to shake himself and try not to laugh. He was trying to get better with being more physical and being open about being more physical with Nick, but it didn’t mean that he wasn’t still surprised when something like that slipped out of Nick’s mouth.
He had to tug the hat on just to hide how red his ears were. But, a smile never left his face and he leaned closer to Nick. “You don’t have to get me anything, Nick. I mean, I’m flattered that you did, but I don’t need much to be happy.”
And while things were a bit unorthodox between them, and while it wasn’t quite the relationship he’d expected to find himself in, he was still happy, like this.
“But I like the hat, it’s very warm. And if we get too chilly, I do have a generator,” he said with a small smile. “We can go downstairs to the kitchen and turn on some ovens to stay warm. Or we can stay up here and snuggle, but I’ll be honest—if it gets too cold? The idea of taking my clothes off seems terrifying. I’ll never be able to get out from under the covers if I’m not wearing anything.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:31 pm
Nick grinned, shaking his head. “I know I didn’t have to get you something. Just like you didn't have to get me something...but I’m sure we both got one another something for the same reason...to see the look of excitement and joy on each other’s faces, right? I mean, that’s why I wanted to get you something, at least…”
He was glad to see the hat snugly on his boyfriend’s head and leaned in for a perfectly legal kiss, feeling that everything had been worth it. Everything was worth it to this point. “I’m so thankful to be able to spend another holiday with you, love…” He was glad that he still hadn’t done anything stupid...and the fact that there had been no word from Ashanite in months...well...made him a little sad, though that was fading. “You’ll spend New Years with me too, right Arias? I mean, I’m sure that the answer is yes...but this year’s been a little weird...and I know it’s my fault.” Nick reached up, brushing the back of his hand along Arias’ cheek. “...But I want to start the New Year off right and...I’m going to do the best I can to not be a total ******** again. I’ll try to keep my...uh…”
Glancing away, Nick looked rather embarrassed and shrugged. “I don’t want to be that horrible boyfriend who keeps cheating on you...I don’t want to make you cry…”
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:32 pm
Arias wore the same smile on his face, but it hardened just slightly, like he was steeling himself and bracing for some bad news.
When it didn’t come, it relaxed into something more natural again.
“I know,” he said, even if sometimes he didn’t. He might not have understood why Nick did what he did, but he understood that Nick was trying to be better, for him, and that he was making as much of an effort as he could manage. Arias hadn’t hit his breaking point yet, so as long as they were both trying, maybe something good could still come of this.
Which was ideal, because Arias couldn’t really imagine not having Nick in his life at this point.
“Every year in Destiny City is weird, but I hope next year’s a little less, at least. But I’d love to end this year, and start next one with you.” He exchanged another kiss, planting this on Nick’s other cheek. “But I admit, I would appreciate not having to compete for your attention, so less cheating is pretty ideal for me. But. I know you’re used to living your lifestyle the way you do, and it means a lot to me that you’re trying to change that to make, you know, us work. And I just…want to make sure that I’m doing as much for you as you are for me. I mean, I don’t have any hidden boyfriends to ditch for you, but,” he shrugged. “If I did, I would.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:33 pm
Nick shook his head, giving a little laugh. “Isn’t that the truth. But…it’s because of this city that we met each other so…I suppose I can’t be to mad at it.” Even though it caused a heap of issues…he couldn’t be mad.
The room was starting to get quite cold though, and with a slight shiver, the blonde moved closer to Arias, wrapping the blanket more snugly around the both of them. “I think it might be time to go put on some socks, love. Like, extra socks. Or perhaps we should just give up and head over to my place. I don’t want us to freeze to death. It’s supposed to dip into the single digits tonight, or so says the weather app on my phone…so I think it might be best to go someplace with heat.”
He was quiet for a moment, nuzzling against Arias. “That means…a lot to me, honey. I…I don’t want to cheat on you…I wish I could just stop feeling things for other people…and It’s…” Nick rubbed the back of his head. “It’s so easy to say that I’ll stop, but then when I’m with them…I don’t know. It’s like my self control vanishes…I wish I could explain it better…should I go to like a sex addict place or something…?”
The words felt…strange and he shook his head again. “Warm. Warm first. Then we’ll talk about this. I love you, and I want us to be warm…but I love you more than life.” He was an utter, stuttering mess and he wasn’t even sure what was going on half the time anymore.
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:37 pm
There was something that probably wasn’t comical about Nick suggesting he should go to some ‘sex addict’ place, but Arias was glad that he could turn his head and hide his smile in the darkness. It wasn’t the idea of it, it was just that Nick had said it, like maybe he was finally acknowledging that maybe Arias wasn’t the only one with an unnatural libido.
They were just on very opposite ends of the spectrum.
Arias gave Nick a good hug before he pushed himself up and reached out a hand to tug Nick to his feet as well. “Don’t stress about it,” he soothed. “I’m not worried right now. I told you the last time we talked about it that I was going to try and be more open minded about whatever you needed to do. And,” he shrugged, “You’re here with me for the holidays, and when I need you. As long as I’m you priority, and not any of your, you know, friends, we can work things out. Just don’t ditch me or choose them over me, all right?”
There wasn’t really any question about it, though; Arias knew what he wanted and he had set his standards. A while ago, he might have been more meek or hesitant, but some time in the past year, Arias decided that wasn’t really working out for him. He pulled Nick to his feet, gave him one more good kiss on the lips, and then moved away. “I’m going to pack a bag, I’ll just spend the night at your place? And then I can head back over here tomorrow morning if it doesn’t snow too much. Otherwise, maybe I’ll just stay closed.”
He wouldn’t mind a day off—or, maybe, an excuse to take Nick somewhere a little warmer.
One of these days he wanted to take him to his Wonder—he just wasn’t sure if his ancestor was ready for it. Or if Nick was ready for him.
