The Sanders Sides

22 - Flashy Makeup

The morning sun peeked through the blinds, casting a warm glow across the rumpled sheets. Patton stirred, a soft groan escaping his lips as he stretched languidly. He blinked his eyes open, the world coming into focus slowly, like a blurry watercolor painting.

And then he saw Roman.

Roman was sprawled beside him, one arm thrown possessively across Patton's waist. His face, usually animated and expressive, was peaceful in slumber, his dark eyelashes resting gently against his cheek. A strand of his hair tickled Patton's nose, sending a shiver down his spine.

Patton couldn't help but smile. The previous night, filled with laughter, bad movies, and the unspoken comfort of Roman's presence, played through his mind like a sweet dream. He felt a warmth bloom in his chest, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time – a feeling of safety, of belonging.

He shifted slightly, careful not to disturb Roman's sleep. But the movement must have been enough because Roman's eyes fluttered open, a slow, sleepy smile gracing his lips.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other, lost in the silent language that had bloomed between them. Then, the realization of their situation seemed to hit Roman all at once. He scrambled back slightly, his cheeks flushing a faint pink.

"Uh, good morning," he stammered, his voice rough with sleep. "Did I, uh, did I fall asleep on you?"

Patton chuckled, the sound soft and melodic. "Maybe a little," he admitted, his voice thick with sleep. "But it's okay. It was... comfortable."

His voice trailed off, and he looked at Roman with those big, doe-eyed puppy eyes that Roman found entirely too adorable for his own good. In that moment, Roman felt his heart skip a beat.

"Comfortable, huh?" Roman repeated, his voice a husky whisper. He cleared his throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "Well, that's good. Because, uh, I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable or anything."

The flustered look on Roman's face, so utterly out of character for his usual flamboyant self, only made Patton's smile wider.

"You're not making me uncomfortable, Roman," Patton said, his voice sincere. "In fact, it's kind of nice. Waking up like this, with you..."

He trailed off again, leaving the sentence unfinished, but the unspoken sentiment hung heavy in the air. Roman could feel the heat rising to his own cheeks. He was a goner, absolutely smitten by the sleep-tousled Patton gazing at him with those heart-melting puppy eyes.

"Maybe," Roman mumbled, his voice barely audible, "we could... make it a habit?"

The hopeful glint in Patton's eyes was his answer. Patton stretched again, a feline grace in his movements, and snuggled closer to Roman, his head resting comfortably on Roman's shoulder.

Roman didn't resist. He wrapped his arm around Patton again, the warmth of Patton's body a welcome sensation against his own. In that quiet embrace, bathed in the golden light of the morning sun, Roman knew, with a certainty that scared him and excited him all at once, that he was falling for Patton. And maybe, just maybe, the feeling was mutual.

They lay there for a while, lost in the comfortable silence, the unspoken promise of something new, something exciting, hanging between them. The world outside could wait. Right now, all that mattered was the warmth of the shared embrace, the soft sound of each other's breathing, and the quiet contentment that filled the room. In the tangled sheets and the sleepy vulnerability of the morning after, they had found a connection that transcended friendship, a connection that promised something more, something special. And as Roman drifted back to sleep, the soft sound of Patton's contented sigh a lullaby in his ears, he knew that waking up like this, with Patton by his side, was a feeling he wouldn't mind getting used to.