Belonging

Chapter Eight (new)

Jayce Ramirez
Xay's apartment, Atlanta, GA
7:16 AM

—

Jayce woke up before the alarm. He always did. 

For a moment he didn't move.

The room was unfamiliar--- softer light, different ceiling, a faint hum from somewhere near the window. It took half a second for memory to settle into place. 

Xavier.

Jayce's arm was still around him. 

Warm and steady.

He let himself stay like that for a minute longer than necessary.

Xavier was asleep on his side, one hand tucked under his pillow, breathing slow and even. His hair was slightly flattened on one side. Less put together than he ever looked at the hospital.

Jayce liked this version better. Unstructured, unaware. 

He shifted slightly, careful not to wake him. His hand flattened against Xavier's stomach, feeling the rise and fall. 

Last night hadn't felt rushed. It had felt right. A little fast, maybe, but clarity had never frightened him. 

He'd known what he wanted the moment Xavier hadn't pulled away in that moment. 

And he wasn't someone who circled things he wanted. 

Stella stirred at the foot of the bed. Jayce glance down. The cat's eyes were half-open, watching him. 

He held her gaze. 

"I'm not replacing you," he murmured quietly. 

Stella blinked once. Unconvinced. 

Xavier shifted then, inhaling deeper before slowly waking. It took him a second to register where he was, or moreso who was behind him. Then he relaxed.

"Morning," Xavier mumbled. 

Jayce's chest tightened in a way he didn't expect. "Morning."

Xavier turned slightly in his arms, eyes still heavy with sleep. 

"You're staring."

"Probably."

Xavier huffed softly, "Creepy."

"You stayed."

It came out before Jayce filtered it. Xavier blinked at him. "You asked."

"I know."

But that wasn't what he meant. 

He meant you didn't change your mind. He meant you didn't push me away in the dark. Xavier shifted closer instead, pressing his forehead briefly against Jayce's chest. 

The contact was small, but it felt enormous.

Jayce let his hand slide slowly up Xavier's back, deliberate, memorizing. 

"You always this affectionate in the morning?" Xavier asked.

"No."

A beat. 

"Just with you."

Xavier rolled his eyes faintly but didn't move away.  

After a while, he sat up. "I need coffee before I'm human."

Jayce watched him leave the room, watched the way he stretched, the way he scratched absently at Stella's chin as he passed. 

Domestic. Natural. Jayce liked being here.