Val nodded weakly, breath rushing out of him in a soft sigh as Padlock hugged him close. It felt so good to be held like this, so safe, and Padlock was okay and… and maybe he was okay too. He relaxed slowly over the next few minutes, going limp in Padlock's arms as his tears came to a slow stop and his breathing started to come smoothly again. He still clutched at Padlock like his life depended on it, but at least he wasn't full on sobbing anymore.
He even managed to peek out of Padlock's shoulder, glancing up at the villain's face with more than a little hesitance. What if he was angry and he was just waiting for Val to stop being a mess so he could yell at him? Or worse, what if he was disgusted and he was only holding Val like this so he wouldn't have to worry about getting kicked out? The thought had his eyes all teary again and he had to rebury his face, clinging to Padlock a little tighter despite his worries.
"I… I am though, I shouldn't… I shouldn't've woken you, it was s-selfish and… and now I'm… I'm… acting like a c-child and it's… it's not okay and you're… you're probably s-so upset and…" He shook his head, pressing closer to Padlock. "… and I'm really really sorry."
Solo had to keep himself breathing steady, not too attentively, but he did have to remind himself a few times to stay as calm as he was. He had quitted his own miniscule shaking as he felt Phantom sort of relax in his arms, but didn’t loosen his grip.
When Phantom looked up to him, Padlock let out the most diminutive melancholic smile he could muster, just letting the man know that he was completely okay. But when the reaction held more tears and additional shaking, he quickly reverted back to his more serious demeanor.
“Val, you don’t have to be sorry,” he said, almost choking out a stiffled laugh. “Please. I’m not upset, I promise you. I’m just glad you’re okay. I’m not upset.”
With that, he slowly started tapping on Phantom’s back with his fingers. He had read somewhere in some kind of half-scratched off magazine advertising some sort of a neurosience hoax medication, and the side passage had said something along the lines of ‘rhythm helps focus.’ It was a stretch, but Padlock saw the logic to it. It was like a metronome, to keep the mind elsewhere, and keep it tethered there so it didn’t wander. It was a tactic he had used many times himself, to the point where he barely noticed doing it anymore. His fingers would randomly tap on his leg, countertops, railings, if he was ever having trouble thinking. And for some reason, it always helped him. He guessed it was time to test the theory if it would for other people as well.
Val flinched away from the tapping for a few seconds, but once he realized that Padlock was just sort of tapping him he leaned into it. Any touch was good right now, even if it was a little strange.
He wrapped both arms around Padlock's neck to pull him close and once he resettled, face pressed firmly into the crook of his neck, he realized that the rhythm of it was actually kind of soothing in a weird way. It kept him from getting all distracted because whenever his attention slid away from Padlock, it was drawn in by the tapping again, and he could actually think for a few minutes without losing track of everything.
"Then you should be." His voice was steadier now, though it was still small and timid. He didn't sound quite so close to tears. "I'm… I'm being stupid and needy and… and bad, I shouldn't be yelling for you in the middle of the night. That must be just… just so annoying, you've got every right to be mad at me."
A wave of relief washed over Padlock as he held Phantom and the man finally calmed. It was as if the anvil that had been wrapping itself around his heart finally unraveled, and his stomach no longer churned with that paranoid nausea.
“Ph— Val, look at me,” he began, upon hearing the man’s words. He tugged back and slipped one of his hands beneath Phantom’s chin, lifting it up slightly so he could meet his eyes. He gave a shy smile, tilting his head to the side. “I’m not upset with you. And I don’t have the right to be. You called because you needed help. And you barely even yelled— you basically choked out my name through a series of couch cushions. I wasn’t sleeping anyway, it’s not like you woke me up. You needed my help, and I gave you my help, on my own terms. I’m not upset with you. For this, I could never be. You don’t need to apologize.”
He paused for a moment, dipping his head so he was eye-level.
“Val, you’re not being stupid either. You got stuck in a flipping couch. Now, I haven’t met many people who have done that, but I’d say this reaction is completely valid. You don’t have to feel bad.”
Pad kept his voice as steady as he could, his own breathing much more calm by now. Now, he wasn’t the best in the ‘social’ aspect of life and how to deal with people, but he had heard kind words from his father while he had been here, so he carried those with him.
Val whined quietly as Padlock tipped his chin up, clutching at his shoulders like he was worried he'd leave. Those worried pretty much evaporated when Padlock smiled at him because he'd never seen him smile like that before, all shy and soft and completely sincere. He stopped pushing against Padlock's grip, looking up at him with wide, nervous eyes that got more and more relieved as he spoke. It was a little hard to believe, but Padlock had never really been one to lie and he didn't look mad. And anyways, Valentine wanted to believe him.
"Okay." He tipped forward, pressing his forehead against Padlock's lightly. "Okay, you promise you're not lying? 'Cause I really do get it if you're mad at me, it's… it okay. I know I'm kind of annoying and stuff and I've…" He laughed weakly, eyes flicking down so he wouldn't have to see Padlock's expression. "I've kind of been clinging to you for the past twenty minutes and that's a long time to have to comfort someone. Especially when that someone is me." He knew how needy he was, especially when he got upset. He'd cling to Padlock for hours if he was allowed, just curl up against his chest and bask in the feeling of being held. Of being cared for.
"That's probably not really how you thought you'd be spending your night, even if you weren't sleeping. And… and why weren't you sleeping, is something wrong?"
“I swear to you I’m not lying,” he said, putting a hand up defensively. “And you aren’t annoying. Like I said, everything you’re doing is completely valid. And I’ll stand here holding you until you understand that. I don’t care how long it takes or how long it has taken, just let me help you without you feeling bad about it.”
With that, he slipped his hand back to where it previously had been, interlacing his fingers behind Phantom’s back.
With the man’s next question, Padlock shook his head, unable to keep himself from stifling a laugh once more. It was so abnormal that someone cared that much about him, so he almost found it funny.
“No, no, everything’s totally fine,” he said, voice genuine. “It’s just that I took a ‘nap’ earlier today so I was having trouble sleeping. Everything else was very nice. Your bed is very.. comfortable.”
Pad said the last line a little embarrassed, taking his hand and rubbing the back of his neck while he adverted his gaze. Now that he thought about it, he could go on and on about how amazing everything was. The clothes were light and nice, the bed was warm and smelled like Phantom, the windows were open just enough that a colder breeze blew in, and the moon made it light but not too light…
He shook his head, slipping his arm back.
“You don’t need to worry about me right now,” he murmured, blue eyes dancing across Val’s face as he smiled. “And stop apologizing for what I’m having to do. If I’m being honest here.. I’ve wanted to hold you this close for a while now.”
Valentine gave him a suspicious look but it didn't take him long to nod, leaning into Pad with a soft smile. "Alright. You… you should probably be prepared to hold me for a while then, 'cause I don't think I'm gonna be really steady on my feet for a while." Even now that he was mostly calm, the thought of letting go of Padlock sent a little spike of panic through him. It was irrational, he knew that much, but the though that maybe, just maybe, Padlock might really die if he let go had him clutching at his shirt to pull him in closer.
He managed a weak laugh, glancing up at Padlock. "Of course it's comfortable. If I've gotta sleep in it every night, I'm gonna invest in something nice." There was something sweet about how embarrassed Padlock got about admitting this kind of stuff. Val would tease him about it if he were in a better mood but for now he just hummed, nosing at Pad's jaw while he spoke and trying not to flush as he processed.
It was a useless pursuit, of course. His whole face was red as Padlock smiled and him and said something about wanting him close and it was really all he could do to not kiss him right now because he looked so good, all blue eyes and softness. The lamp was behind him so he looked like he was glowing.
"Oh." He realized he hadn't been talking for a while so he nodded, tightening his grip a bit. "I… I like it, when you hold me. And… and I think I've been wanting this too, for a while, and also… um… maybe more?" He bit his lip, glancing up at Padlock. They were so close, if Pad just leaned down a little they could… "If that's alright?"
Now, Padlock was extremely bright. His mind worked in ways that many people couldn’t even try to comprehend. he was slow to things, but that’s because he took the time to take everything into full account. It took him weeks to finish puzzles, but he finished them. It took him weeks to unlock box puzzles,but he unlocked them.
It took time to plan out the overthrowing and ilfiltrating of the government, but he was getting there.
However, when it came to something like this, he was absolutely and utterly ill-prepared. He had no clue what to do in anything social-wise, and he was extremely dull when it came to cues, body language, or the like.
“More what?” he asked, genuinely confused as he glanced down to Phantom. “I’ll hold you as long as you need me too, if that’s what you’re asking.”
‘But ‘more’ in what sense? he asked himself internally, cocking his head in the slightest. He could hold on as long as the man needed, but he didn’t know if that’s what he had meant. Wait…
His face grew a light shade of red and he adverted his eyes, heart beating faster now even though the nerves of the previous situation had faded away.
“Wait, you didn’t mean—,” he began, then cut himself off, looking extremely flustered. “What?”
"Well… I do want you to hold me for longer, but that's not… um…" He was red too, stumbling over his words a bit. Normally he was good at this, he'd always kind of known when to smile and when to look away and all the pretty little words to say to get whichever guy or girl he'd set his sights on to do what he wanted. Tonight was different though.
Tonight he was all off balanced and nervous and… and Padlock was different too. Because with Padlock, things were longer. Less like a one night stand and more like an actual relationship, which was good and bad. As wonderful as it would be to get into an honest to god long term romantic relationship with someone, he had about as much experience with the concept as Pad did, which was to say none at all.
It left him feeling even more off than normal, and then Padlock wouldn't meet his eyes and he was looking away and Val was left with the sinking feeling that he might've fucked up with the one guy he'd actually wanted to try with.
"We don't have to!" he added hurriedly, words rushing out of him. His grip on Pad was too tight, probably, but he couldn't bear to feel him pull away just yet. "Really! I'm… I'm more than happy with just being friends and maybe occasionally getting cuddles, that's… that's way more than I ever thought I'd get and I'm so fucking happy with it, you've got no idea! Just forget I even said anything, alright? It was dumb."
(Ah, sorry! I was out all night yesterday)
“Phantom,” he asked softly, all of his nerves melting away as he moved a hand up, setting it gently on the side of his face. He curled in his fingers, making the man look up at him again. He gave another one of those smiles, shaking his head and trying not to laugh. “Shut up.”
He let his hand rest again on the back of Val’s shoulder, after he knew the man would continue to meet his eyes.
“While I’d be happy to oblige,” he began, still unable to cease his diminutive laughter, “you just woke up. You just had a nightmare, and you seem extremely emotional— no offense. Now, this isn’t me just acting like I’m a bad boy you randomly picked up from the drive-in movies, but I don’t want you to do anything you’re gonna regret in the morning.”
He held up one of his fingers, as if to hush any contradictory words Phantom presented before he continued.
“If, in the morning, if you still feel this way— then you tell me. But it’s the middle of the night, you’re tired, I’m tired, and I wan’t to make sure you’re telling the truth. Not just to me, but to yourself as well.
“In addition— I don’t care if you say ‘oh, Padlock, I’ve been feeling this way forever,’” the man carried on, mockingly making his voice higher to impersonate Val, saying his own name all drawled out. “It’s impulsive. And, hell, I’m extremely impulsive. But this is going to be the one time I’m not, because good god, there’s nothing I want more then to have you telling the truth right now.”
(it's fine, I hope you had a good time!)
Val went easily as Padlock tilted up his chin, mouth falling shut when he was hushed. He was nervous—how could he not be nervous—but then Padlock way laying out the sweetest rejection he'd ever heard in his life, even if he was laughing through it, and he had to admit that he was raising some pretty good points.
He took a few minutes to think about what he wanted to say and eventually he just laughed and let his forehead thump against Padlock's shoulder.
"I don't sound like that!" There was a distinct whine in his voice and when he looked up to meet Padlock's eyes he was pouting. "And I have been feeling like this for a long time, so don't make fun of me! But… besides that, I guess I can accept your terms since you're being such a gentleman about it." He traced little patterns into the back of Padlock's neck, still half clinging onto his shirt.
"I really am telling the truth, though! I promise, I'm still gonna feel the same way in the morning even if I am gonna be a little less clingy. And! Um… speaking of mornings, it's… it's pretty late, we should go to bed." His grip didn't loosen as he spoke. "Would it be alright if…" he flushed a bit, voice going soft. Almost pleading. "… if we shared my bed tonight? It wouldn't be… y'know, more, just… I really don't wanna be alone right now. And you're good at making me feel better."
“I was actually just about to propose that idea,” Padlock murmured, much more casually than he thought he could. But— now that he had seen Phantom’s true colors, he felt much more comfortable. He trusted him, probably a little too much for his liking.
“And, if— or when, rather— you do feel that way in the morning, you tell me, and we’ll talk. If not, I’ll act like it was a dream,” he continued. “And it could be as if it never happened. Although, I’m not really counting on that. No pressure.”
He kept his stupid smile on his face, unable to wipe it off. In truth, it did feel like a dream he was having. If only his hands didn’t ache, he’d be completely convinced. Happily, that wasn’t the case, and he was actually very grateful he was moderately in pain. It meant this was real.
He gave Phantom another quick hug, then took one of his hands, figuring the man wouldn’t want him to let go just yet. Pad led him back to the room, his own eyes gazing tiredly over the messed up blankets, half on the floor due to him stumbling around and out the door. He slowly made his way over, sitting on the side of it and waiting for Phantom to take his pick of which side he wanted— if it even mattered.
Valentine laughed quietly, nodding. "I'm not feeling any, don't worry. I… um… I'm really happy that you're here with me." He abandoned the offered hand in favor of wrapping his arms around one of Padlock's, still desperate for the stability that the other man had in spades.
He smiled when Pad plopped down on the side of the bed, a little amused. "Hey, hey, who said we were done cuddling?" His grip was weak as he wrapped his arms around Padlock and tugged him down onto the bed so they could curl up together. "I'm still all shaky, I need someone who's nice and steady to hold me together for a while." That same pleading note was still in his voice as he curled up against Pad's chest. It was comfortable, he could curl up small against his chest, bury his face in Pad's neck with a happy little hum. Normally he liked having lots of blankets but Pad was more than warm enough, and he'd be even warmer once he had his arms around Val. "You can do that, can't you? Hold me, just for a little while?
Solo gave a smile, letting himself be flopped down onto the bed. In truth he was relieved, gleeful that he could keep Phantom close.
He couldn’t remember the last time he actually talked to someone, let alone held them in his arms. He was always convinced he didn’t need anyone, didn’t ever need someone with him or someone to hold— or to hold him. Now that he had it, it felt like he wanted it— needed it, almost— all along. He hadn’t understood the draw to it, always seeing some government file on who was with who, who was doing who, and never understood the draw of relationships. In politics, it just seemed they got in the way and caused trouble. In his own household… it seemed they did the same thing. What was the draw? It all seemed useles to him.
Until he found this. Until he saw Phantom the first time, did he actually begin to understand that yearning. It was odd, and he hated it at first, but Padlock was nothing but impulsive and got what he wanted, so he didn’t even think twice.
“Yeah,” he said, chuckling. “I’ll hold you. For as long as you need me too, Val.”
Valentine seemed pretty gleeful too, wrapping his arms around Pad's neck with the brightest smile. Lying in bed with someone like this had never been so exciting and sure, it was a little scary too, but he'd always loved the rush he got. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen when they did something more, how he'd feel. If just cuddling made his stomach feel like it was full of butterflies, he'd probably explode once they kissed. Maybe even feel those fireworks people loved to talk about in romance novels.
Even hearing Padlock say his name had him all bubbly and excited, which was probably ridiculous but also made him excited about what was going to happen. "Careful, Pads." He tangled their legs together, enjoying the closeness, and god, he was already head over heels for this guy. He'd get his heart broken if he wasn't careful and he couldn't even force himself to slow down. Not when Padlock seemed all too happy to let him get attached. "A guy could take advantage of an offer like that, especially when a sweet guy like you is the one making it. I might just latch on and never let you go."
Now, Padlock wasn’t normally one to be very cuddly. He had never really understood the draw of it. But, like before, this was different. Very much so, considering he found that he wanted to stay right here, just like this, for as long as he possibly could.
“And I’d be fine with that,” he replied, shaking his head as he closed his eyes, burying his face into the pillow. “I don’t have to be careful at all, if this is what you want. And, plus, since when have I been careful? I jumped out of a window this evening. I jumped off a ladder after that. You really overestimate how much I think things through. I call myself smart but in all honesty, it’s just impulse. And the fact that I wanted to look all dramatic and cool.”
He paused for a moment, ducking his head down so his voice was muffled. He let out a long sigh, tensing up as he felt the ache from his shoulders appear again, and then relaxing once more.
“Now, shut up,” he said teasingly, his voice still stifled by the pillow. “Go to sleep so I can talk to you in the morning.”
He let out one last sigh before curling up around Phantom, and then he was out like a light.
Valentine huffed quietly but before he could say anything Padlock was shushing him and then Padlock was asleep and there wasn't anything for him to do except bury his face in his chest and drift off too. He slept peacefully this time, a soft smile on his face until the sun came shining in through the curtains and he woke again.
He fought it for a few minutes, burying his face in Padlock's chest a little more firmly, pulling the blankets up over his face, but it was too late. Not even the feeling of a body next to his could lull him back to sleep, so he grumbled and pushed the blankets down again and looked up at Padlock to see if he was awake too. He was starting to squirm a little, impatient to wake up and talk about last night.
About more. Because he wanted it, he wanted to kiss and touch and be with Padlock, actually honestly be with him, but they couldn't talk about it until Padlock was up. Would it be rude to wake him up? He probably didn't get a whole lot of sleep on his own but Valentine was itching to talk now that he'd thought about it and knowing his luck, Pad was going to stay asleep for ages.
He was shifting all over by now, moving his legs and readjusting his arms and rolling over and curling back against Padlock's front again because it really was nice there. He fit up against his chest just right, it would've been perfectly lovely if he weren't so damn antsy.
Solomon had achieved yet another dreamless sleep, and good lord, he was so extremely happy to actually be in a bed. His cot was comfortable, sure, but by now, he would have already been up and to his computer, hunched over and following whatever he could.
Work.
He was on the cusp of sleep and waking, but that one word sent him over the edge. He had work to do. It was probably early morning, he was probably in his cot, in that stupid dark and cold maintenance room. He’d get up, have an energy drink, and rewire everything from the previous night of running through it to escape.
Wait. No. He wasn’t at his hideout.
There was somebody next to him. He usually didn’t bring people back… he actually never brought people back.
Suddenly, the previous night came washing back in little waves that he could pick up like puzzle pieces and put together, finally retrieving the whole picture. He was here, in Phantom’s house, and he needed to talk to him desperately.
He fluttered open his eyes, watching with a smile as the man fidgeted around.
“Morning, Phantom,” he said humorously, pushing himself up so he was sitting, while running his fingers through his hair. He winced slightly as the wrap shifted, biting his lip to hide the discomfort. “I take it you slept wonderfully trapped in my loving embrace?”
His words nearly dripped with sarcasm, him wagging his head tauntingly.
Valentine lit up as Padlock spoke, tossing his arms around his neck with a grin just as bright as the sun shining through their windows. After he'd shifted himself into Padlock's lap, legs hitched around his waist and arms tossed around his neck, he gave an enthusiastic nod. "Oh yeah! Best sleep I've had in ages, it turns out a good cuddle really is the cure to sleepless nights. Who knew."
He was almost vibrating with excitement because Padlock was a) awake and b) still here which meant he could c) admit his feelings without being too worried. Padlock would've dipped the second he dozed off last night if he was uncomfortable with anything, if he didn't feel safe. But he was here and that was as big a blessing as Val could ask for. "But! That's not what we've gotta talk about, we've gotta talk about last night. 'cause I still really like you. And…" he flushed a little, biting his lip, but he didn't let his nerves get in the way of saying what he wanted. "… and I still wanna kiss you and… well… well maybe we should take it a little slow, but I still want more."
His instinct was to twitch and he was already reaching down to fiddle with the hem of his shorts but he forced himself to keep eye contact, desperate to get Padlock's reaction. "So?" There was a strange rush of adrenaline and excitement running through his veins but he liked it. And anyways, he was sure Pad was going to accept him.
Mostly.
Hopefully.
Padlock had to keep himself from shaking his head.
Is this what he wanted?
Yes.
Would he love to just… whisk the man away, off his feet like they said in movies?
Absolutely.
But… was it smart?
Absolutely… not.
Phantom— or Valentine, rather— had no clue who Padlock really was. He didn’t even know his real name. He didn’t know that Padlock had run away when he was ten, began his research at fourteen, faked his death at eighteen, and sat under the city by himself, hiding his identity since then. He didn’t know his backstory, or anything he was about. It made Pad wonder— how could Phantom like him this much if he knew relatively nothing? In fact, Padlock wasn’t sure if there was anyone in the entire world that knew of a living breathing individual going by Solomon Moss. And, until he got full confirmation that Phantom wasn’t working with the cops, he’d keep it that way. The second the law knew his real self… he was in trouble.
“What is there to ask?” Padlock murmured, smirking. Despite his teasing and relaxed manor, there was guilt about the whole thing tugging at his gut. Still, “I let you know my answer last night. Were you too out of it to remember, or do you just want to hear my confession again?”
Val didn't know why he was suddenly so on edge. Why he found himself waiting with bated breath to get Padlock's answer. It probably had something to do with the fact that he'd never really wanted something like this, or maybe with the fact that he'd never wanted some one like Padlock. Either way he was edgier than normal, fidgeting and fidgeting until Padlock gave him that teasing smirk and the smile split his face like the sun breaking through a storm.
Not a yes, exactly, but close enough. Closer than he ever imagined he'd get.
So he laughed, tangled a hand in Padlock's hair, and tried not to look absolutely delighted as he spoke. "You know me, always hungry for affirmation. You'll say it again, won't you?" He bit his lip to dull his smile a bit, glancing up at Pad through his lashes. The light hit him just right like this, lit up the side of his face all gold as he gave Padlock his best puppy dog eyes. He looked almost ethereal, blurred at the edges the way he always was in the mornings with his hair in a cloud around his head. "Just one more time? Just for me?" Begging, practically, and he couldn't even bring himself to feel ashamed because Padlock made it so easy.
Padlock had to keep himself from smiling and jumping around like an idiot, hit breath caught in his throat as he traced Phantom’s featured with his eyes. He was so happy. But so nervous. So scared. If not for the bigger issues, the smaller ones as well.
Maybe— just maybe— it was hard to believe, but Padlock… had never been in a relationship before. Hell, he had never even kissed anybody, let alone gone further. He didn’t know what he was doing, whatsoever. He just knew what he felt… even if what he felt was the most confusing thing in the world. On one hand, he was telling himself to go for it, because whatever consequence it brought him, he could handle. He had handled so much worse. On the other hand… what if he couldn’t handle it. What if he not only had to face a cold and empty prison cell, and a figurative guillotine, but also had to get his heart all broken in the mix? He hated it. Everything about the whole situation made his stomach churn with both guilt and those stupid, stupid butterflies. God, he despised those butterflies.
But, as he looked at Phantom— at Valentine— he only saw a person. Not a guy trying to foil his plans. Not the man who had been keeping him from doing what he wanted for the past four years. Not the man who had almost choked him out the other day, then tackled him right after. No, this was just a person, and one whom Padlock couldn’t seem to just forget about.
So maybe all those factors cancelled out the others.
“Fine,” he said, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly. “I agree. I also like you, idiot, and I would also like more.”
Before he continued, he held up a hand defensively.
“However… I need to know you’re absolutely positive. Just a simple promise.”
Valentine pouted, playing with the short hairs in the back at Padlock's head. "C'mon, you don't need to be so rude about it." He gave Pad's hair a soft tug. "But yeah. I promise, I'm really gone on you and that's not gonna change any time soon. I'm as positive as a person can be," he set a hand on his heart with a solemn nod, "you've got the Valentine guarantee on that one."
"Now." He grinned, settled in close so his chest was flush with Padlock's and their faces were only a few centimetres apart. "I do believe you promised me more, and I think kissing is an excellent place to start. Unless you've got any more objections, of course." His voice was all easy breezy but his heart was beating so fast it felt like it was buzzing and he was slowly starting to flush again, pink creeping across his cheeks and down his chest. He'd always blushed all over.
It seemed to be a running theme that Padlock feel everything exciting again. He'd kissed dozens of people and it never even registered as a blip but then Padlock walked in with his stupid blue eyes and his stupid smirk and Val felt like he was on fire or something, which had no right to be as exhilarating as it was.
And god did he feel exhilarated right now. He was still riding the rush of having Padlock here, in his house, in his bed, and now they were going to add kissing to the mix and it was too much in the best of ways. He was that fun mix of nervous and excited, so worried about messing up and then so excited that he even had the chance to mess it up. His eyes traced over every piece of Padlock and he was almost overwhelmed by it because he could touch now. He could hold him close and peck him on the cheek and that was okay. Better than okay, that might be welcome, which made him stupid happy.
"And… y'know, not to pressure you, but I'm kind of hoping that you don't have any objections. 'cause I really wanna kiss you, like you've got no idea. Or… well, maybe you've got some idea, but I've been pining after you for fucking ever—like at least a year—and I'm the tiniest bit tired of waiting."
