#(refusing to look up as if the fabric of Piers’ hoodie is the perfect place to hide) totally the perfect place to hide ; ;

[lovelyleons]

DUDE

Sighhh

[fonulyn]

(I’m sorry for hijacking your post but nnnhhh)

The night sky is so bright it feels like the stars might just fall right out of it. It’s surprisingly chilly, Piers thinks as he runs his fingers through his hair, still wet from the shower he’d taken, dripping onto his shoulders. He feels too restless to go back inside though, like he’s vibrating with the excess energy, and he shoves his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, hunches his shoulders against the wind and walks aimlessly forward.

A small group of his friends and coworkers are standing around smoking, and they beckon him to come closer but he only waves at them a little, his destination elsewhere. 

There’s a small playground next to the motel, empty at this hour of the night, except for the sole figure sitting on the bench staring at the swing set. "What did the swing ever do to you?” he asks as he takes a seat next to Leon. 

The answer is an amused huff, and Leon shakes his head slightly. “Shouldn’t you be catching up on sleep? We’ve got an early morning tomorrow.”

“I could tell you the same thing,“ Piers replies without a pause. “Last I checked you were coming with us. Or did you just want a free night at this luxurious place courtesy of the BSAA?“ He nods towards the shabby motel as he speaks even though Leon isn’t looking straight at him, and as Leon snorts out another soft laugh he counts it as a success. 

There’s a pause, during which Piers thinks Leon won’t say anything, but then Leon surprises him by speaking up. His voice is silent, barely audible in the still air around them. “I don’t sleep well before... before.”

There’s vulnerability in him that makes Piers’ heart ache. It makes him want to take on the entire world so that Leon doesn’t need to. At the same time it feels like a some kind of victory, knowing that Leon trusts him enough to say this out loud. This thing, whatever it is, between them is so new and fragile, tentative at best, and time and time again Piers is floored by the realization that Leon wants to put in the effort as badly as he does. 

“Me neither,“ he says, tilting his head to look at Leon. He considers for a moment, collects his courage, but then decides that he could as well offer. “Wanna come keep me company? I scored a single room.” 

Leon turns to him, eyes slightly widened, as if he doesn’t believe what he hears.

Immediately Piers backtracks, “I mean, you obviously don’t need to. And I don’t know what kind of a luxury suite they get the consulting agents, you--”

“Stop talking,” Leon says, his voice amused, but at the same time unbearably tender. He turns, shifts a little closer, and leans to press his forehead against Piers’ shoulder. “I didn’t even go see the room,“ he admits, refusing to look up, as if the fabric of Piers’ hoodie is the perfect place to hide, “I couldn’t.“

Piers tries very hard to stay still, barely dares to breathe. His heart is thrumming in his chest, filling with such intense warmth it feels way too much, way too soon, and he doesn’t say anything out loud. He hides the love in his heart, where it’s safe. For now. 

"I think the bed in my room could fit two people,” he says instead, careful to keep it light.

As an answer, Leon shifts a little closer still, presses his face into Piers’ neck, and takes a deep breath. The moment is gone as soon as it started, and he’s pulling back. The lines around his eyes seem a little less severe, though, his shoulders relaxing minutely. “Show me the way,” he says, a hint of a smile curving his mouth. 

Latest then, Piers knows he’s helplessly in love. There’s no going back for him. He feeds the flickering flame within his heart, keeps it to himself for now, and only nudges Leon’s shoulder with his own. “Let’s go, old man.”

Leon’s laughter is equal parts surprised and relieved. 

Sighhh