That's okay, [ he says, firm but gentle. ] Whatever happens or doesn't happen, what matters is that you're safe and you're recovering. Even if it takes a long time. [ he smooths a hand down his back, then nudges him forward so he can start washing himself, too, matter-of-fact and almost impatient with his own cleanliness.
once he's done, he climbs out of the tub and wraps a towel around himself, letting josh finish rinsing his hair and body as he gathers a couple more towels up. ]
.. I've only had one since Noah was born, and trust me, it was enough for both of us. [ between grief and stress, he'd thankfully been spared them for the most part, but last month had been.. rough. he'd gone back on suppressants afterward, for what little good they may do in a body charged by a cosmic force.
he shakes out the towel, holding it up so he can wrap it around the other man when he rises. ]
You may have to next time it rolls around, [ he admits, a little embarrassed as he drapes the second towel over josh's head, drying his hair. ] I spent it with Evan and Idie, and they almost couldn't handle it. [ and they're both alphas. well-established, comfortable with each other and omegas in heat, and more importantly, it wasn't the first time quentin's ever spent a heat with one or both of them.
he pushes the towel down around josh's neck. ] Anyway, it's a problem for later. [ hopefully not for a while longer. ] Let me find your clothes. I-- They're in a.. box.
[ he gives him a look that's a combination of embarrassed and unhappy, but squares his shoulders a moment later and ushers him back out into their bedroom, following behind after he lets the water out of the tub.
he pulls on the first thing he finds, which is an oversized t-shirt, then goes to the closet, finding the box he wants immediately. this.. isn't the first time he's opened it to pull something of josh's out, although at least it's been a while since he sat on the floor and fucking cried on it.
he pulls out some clothes for him that'll be comfortable to rest and sleep in, bringing them back to the bed and offering them out. ] Sorry, it's just.. it was too hard to see it all every day.
[ his sleep clothes have always been a jersery and pajama pants. the pajama pants had been upgraded from a scratchy cotton mess to something silken and soft at quentin's request. ]
It would've been harder coming into find everything all... like... dusty.
[ .. god. yeah, he can imagine. waking up after being gone for so long, longer than he's ever been gone before, to a room that looks like it was forgotten, to a life where people have just.. moved on. ]
That was never going to happen. Even if I hadn't moved in, I think I would have still spent time here sometimes.
Don't call me sweet, [ he complains into the kiss, hands coming up to gently cup the sides of josh's neck, thumbs stroking his jaw.
when they part, he's scowling. ] Dumbass. I wasn't going to-- I couldn't. Even if I wanted to, I didn't know how. [ he pushes their brows together. ] I don't just.. fall in love easily.
[ to be honest, he hadn't liked him much at first, at least in part out of sheer spite. after all, josh is easy to like, he's beautiful, his powers make him invaluable, and if not for him, krakoa wouldn't really exist. slowly, though, quentin had started seeing.. more of him, more of who he was beneath elixir.
there had been days even near the end when he'd still wanted to bully him out of sheer frustration, but that had just been quentin's personality, really. ]
It's never going to happen again, [ he agrees, firm, even grim. he doesn't even want to think about josh being gone that long, coming back to meet his grown son, a partner that's more phoenix than quentin quire, that doesn't know how to be what he needs anymore. ] .. What's that saying? I guess we should "count our blessings." In a few months, Noah won't even know you were ever gone.
[ no. but he still missed those moments. his blank eyes cut to the crib, considering all the little wonders he'd never know. from the first time he kicked to the first attempts at words.
Hey. [ he strokes his thumb over josh's jaw again, following his glance to the crib. ] Lucky for you, your boyfriend's a telepath. I'll give you everything you missed. I know it's not the same as being there yourself, but..
[ he lets himself be pulled down, curling with him almost cautiously, chest going tight again at how familiar it still is. it's just one more thing he's missed about josh, about being with josh.
he slides his arm over his waist, curling in close against him, blinking at the hopeful question. ]
.. Oh. [ a startled hitch of his breathing, and his palm slides up beneath josh's shirt, nails scratching gently at his back. ] That-- I'd like that. We both would. [ and they can get a sitter if they want to just.. do something as a couple. ]
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 12:30 am (UTC)once he's done, he climbs out of the tub and wraps a towel around himself, letting josh finish rinsing his hair and body as he gathers a couple more towels up. ]
.. I've only had one since Noah was born, and trust me, it was enough for both of us. [ between grief and stress, he'd thankfully been spared them for the most part, but last month had been.. rough. he'd gone back on suppressants afterward, for what little good they may do in a body charged by a cosmic force.
he shakes out the towel, holding it up so he can wrap it around the other man when he rises. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 12:39 am (UTC)I should be able to help manage it. [ he steps into the towel, drying himself off. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 12:55 am (UTC)he pushes the towel down around josh's neck. ] Anyway, it's a problem for later. [ hopefully not for a while longer. ] Let me find your clothes. I-- They're in a.. box.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:02 am (UTC)[ the stamina that'd require. yikes. he's about to say something else but
ah
right. ]
Yeah, okay.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:08 am (UTC)he pulls on the first thing he finds, which is an oversized t-shirt, then goes to the closet, finding the box he wants immediately. this.. isn't the first time he's opened it to pull something of josh's out, although at least it's been a while since he sat on the floor and fucking cried on it.
he pulls out some clothes for him that'll be comfortable to rest and sleep in, bringing them back to the bed and offering them out. ] Sorry, it's just.. it was too hard to see it all every day.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:12 am (UTC)[ his sleep clothes have always been a jersery and pajama pants. the pajama pants had been upgraded from a scratchy cotton mess to something silken and soft at quentin's request. ]
It would've been harder coming into find everything all... like... dusty.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:17 am (UTC)That was never going to happen. Even if I hadn't moved in, I think I would have still spent time here sometimes.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:22 am (UTC)That's sweet.
[ but. ]
It would've been okay. If you'd, like... moved on, y'know.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:25 am (UTC)when they part, he's scowling. ] Dumbass. I wasn't going to-- I couldn't. Even if I wanted to, I didn't know how. [ he pushes their brows together. ] I don't just.. fall in love easily.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:29 am (UTC)Its not gonna happen again, so... so we don't need to worry about it or anything. I'm just glad I didn't leave you waiting decades.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:52 am (UTC)there had been days even near the end when he'd still wanted to bully him out of sheer frustration, but that had just been quentin's personality, really. ]
It's never going to happen again, [ he agrees, firm, even grim. he doesn't even want to think about josh being gone that long, coming back to meet his grown son, a partner that's more phoenix than quentin quire, that doesn't know how to be what he needs anymore. ] .. What's that saying? I guess we should "count our blessings." In a few months, Noah won't even know you were ever gone.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 01:58 am (UTC)he shakes the thought aside. ]
Yeah. I'll make up for the time missed too.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 02:02 am (UTC)[ it's something. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 02:05 am (UTC)a pity quentin's stuck so close, feeling how giddy that term makes him. he can't hide it. ]
I'd like that.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 02:12 am (UTC).. I mean, we are, aren't we? At least. [ they have a child together. they're going to raise him together. that's kind of boyfriend status. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 02:15 am (UTC)[ he sinks back down against the mattress, reaching up to pull quentin down with him. ]
This mean I can finally take you out on a date? Like, a family date?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 02:27 am (UTC)he slides his arm over his waist, curling in close against him, blinking at the hopeful question. ]
.. Oh. [ a startled hitch of his breathing, and his palm slides up beneath josh's shirt, nails scratching gently at his back. ] That-- I'd like that. We both would. [ and they can get a sitter if they want to just.. do something as a couple. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-04-20 02:31 am (UTC)[ he lets out a contented sigh, his heavy eyelids sliding shut. ]
I'm the luckiest guy in the world.