Faded Embers

19

Sean's POV:

I'm so annoyed with Miles right now; I offer to help out while he's recovering and then I get Atlas up my ass about taking on too much. Honestly, I'm stressed, but it's not a big deal! I can deal with a little bit of stress and I don't need Atlas lecturing me and telling me I need more sleep.

I'll get sleep once Miles is back at work and everything is back to normal!

But, alas, Miles decided to join Atlas and get in my business about my schedule. He called me when I was at the Midtown Garden talking with the cooks and the manager, Rita, about what they need for the next week and ordered me to go home.

Of course, I tried to argue, but Miles was firm and said I could either leave myself or he'd call Rita himself and order her to send me home. That would be more embarrassing, so I groaned and hung up after promising to go home.

Home being Atlas' place because that has become more of my home in the past few weeks. I stay there a lot of the time and Calin stays at Miles' and my place. However, it would be awkward to just say to Calin and Atlas: "hey, since we're never at our designated apartments anyway do you want to just move into my place and I'll move into yours?"

Especially since our relationships are both pretty young. However, I've never felt more connected to another person than I do with Atlas.

At least he should be at home since he doesn't work until two so I can rant to him about Miles. He probably agrees with Miles and will be happy that Miles sent me home, but he's a great listener and I know he'll listen to me even if he's not on my side.

I have a key to Atlas' apartment that's actually Calin's (we switched about five days ago because of where we were staying) so I shove the door open as soon as I arrive. I'm so tired and annoyed; I really just want to shove my face into a pillow and scream until I pass out.

Am I just not good enough to take over? I was trying to help but Miles doesn't want me to... why am I not good enough?

The apartment is completely dark when I walk inside, making me pause in my tracks. All of the lights are off and there's blankets put up over the window shades so it's even darker.

"Atlas?" I call.

"Come to the living room!" I hear Atlas call and I obey, though I'm walking slowly.

He knows I hate jump scares and my response is to punch when someone jumps out at me, so I hope Atlas doesn't try to scare me.

The living room is rearranged and there's a bunch of blankets set up into a fort. The only light in the apartment is coming from inside of it, so I kneel down and see Atlas sitting inside on a mattress with a bunch of blankets. His laptop is set up and he has water, juice pouches, and a big bowl of popcorn. There's also a few boxes of candy and my boyfriend is grinning ear to ear.

"What is this?" I ask, even though this setting is familiar to me.

Miles always built me a fort and we would watch movies when I was overly stressed and needed a safe place to cool down. However, those forts were never as grand and as put together as the one Atlas made, so I assume he got the idea from Miles and then put his own little spin on it.

"You need a safe place to relax," Atlas says, holding his arms out to me. "I'm taking the day off and you're going to take some time to relax."

I groan. "When did you call Miles?"

"It was actually a whole ass visit."

I huff as I sit down in the little cave. I notice that Atlas is only wearing his underwear and a muscle tank, so I take off my jeans so I'm more comfortable.

"I'm going to go grab you a more comfortable shirt," Atlas says, kissing my lips briefly before he vanishes.

I don't really have much choice except laying down and taking a bit of a break. I'll probably fall asleep, but I'm sure Atlas will be happy if I get some rest. Besides, he's getting a day off, so he should be happy.

Atlas returns with one of his shirts that has the Jurassic Park logo on it and throws it at me. Once he's settled back down, he pulls me into his side and kisses my forehead.

We lay down on our stomachs, our sides touching.

"What do you want to watch first?" Atlas asks, clicking on the Netflix icon. "Or we can just take a nap. Whatever you want."

"What if I want this to be a sex nest."

Atlas' face goes red. "Miles would be mad because you're not relaxing."

I laugh at how loyal he is to my mentor and look down at my shirt. "How about a Jurassic Park marathon? Who cares that the second and third movies were literal trash?"

Atlas chuckles in agreement. "Fair point," he says, clicking on the first movie. "When we have sex for the first time we'll be on an actual bed and not on a mattress in your sex nest."

"Fine. We can fuck in our sex nest after our first time," I say as the theme song blasts on the screen. "Now shut up, I'm ready to watch some white men get killed by dinosaurs."

"Sean, we're both white men."

"You'd be the first to die," I tell Atlas. "You'd try to pet a velociraptor."

Atlas grins. "Or they'd obey me and help me to corner you so I can make you finally take a nap."

"You can't control Calin and he's way more rowdy than a velociraptor."

Atlas winces and nods. "That is a fair point," he agrees, shifting to his side and pulling me into his arms. "Cuddle me. I'm feeling Sean deprived."

I laugh and close my eyes as he holds me against his chest. "We've literally cuddled every night."

"Not enough. I'm an addict." He kisses my neck and I shiver. "You have goosebumps."

"You're breathing on my neck."

Atlas shrugs and I turn my gaze back to the movie as he gently rubs my stomach with his hand. He's being really comforting and I absolutely love how sweet and gentle he's being right now. As much as I'm hurt over being sent home, I love being held against my boyfriend. He's become a beacon of hope for me and I can see us lasting for a long time.

Hopefully for the rest of our lives, and maybe if we get married he won't leave me at the altar.

I just want him to find a job at a college that he's going to enjoy because even though he says he doesn't mind working at the pub office, he misses being a professor. Thankfully, a lot of his past students liked him and NYU is a good college that gets recognition, so as long as the bitch director doesn't accuse him of being a predator or something, he should be able to get another job.

My eyes get heavy and I feel myself falling asleep. The last thing that I remember is Atlas kissing my neck ande thinking about him staying with me in New York.

Hopefully he finds a job here.