'totally mutual'
Jacob's POV
"There you are boys," my mom chirps
as I close the front door behind Troye. "I was beginning to think Jacob lost his way."
"Haven't been gone that long mom," I say, acting serious but my involuntary smile ruins that image.
"You two off to bed?" she asks, aiming her question to me but her gaze is locked on our intertwined hands, my thumb smoothing over Troye's skin lightly as I know it keeps him grounded and reassured that I am I am looking out for him.
"Yeah," I say, tugging Troye gently along. "Goodnight mom."
"Goodnight Jakey, goodnight Troye."
After Troye returns a sweet "goodnight" back we head upstairs, our now sock clad, feet padding softly on the carpet.
"So," I say leaning over to Troye's ear. "Our deal?" he shakes his head and smiles widely, emitting an endearing giggle and kissing me on the cheek as a yes.
My bedroom door creaks as I open it. "Welcome," I say as Troye walks in, I remember then that he has not stepped foot in here yet.
He lets go of my hand and proceeds to walk around. I lean against the closed door frame as I observe his careful movements, his hands trailing gently over every surface and object as he goes.
His hands fall to a snow globe I got ages ago when I went to Canada with my mom. I keep silent as he tries to figure out what it is. I smile broadly as his face brightens with realisation. He turns it upside down to cause the white "snow" inside to fall over the town inside. He runs his fingers over the globe and puts it back.
I shake my head to get bring myself back to earth, Troye is mesmerising.
"Oh, uh and don't worry about sleeping clothes Tro. You can use mine," I trail over to my closet and get a sweater and pair of sweatpants, handing it over to him.
"The guest bedroom is just down the hallway, Jake," he giggles.
"So?"
He shakes his head but takes the clothes in defeat. "Thanks J."
"You know where the bathroom is," I say as I strip quickly and then tugging on a pair of my own sweatpants.
"I can just change in here yeah? It's just you."
"Sure," I say as nonchalantly as possible. "My back is turned," I tell him, he chuckles.
"I don't care, I have the feeling it won't be long until you see everything anyway," his cheeks flush instantly after his sentence. I smile incredulously but it soon turns into a smirk, he's not wrong.
"Well I don't mind the sound of that," he rolls his eyes. I hear him tug on the sweatpants but then a long pause before pulling the shirt over his head.
"You good, T?" I ask.
"Fine," he says quickly. "I'm just trying to figure out which way this shirt goes, I can't feel the label on the collar."
"It probably doesn't have one, let me help you Tro it's alright," I say as I take the shirt from his hands, trying not to look at his naked torso.
I hate that frustrated look on his face.
"Hey now, stop looking so upset with yourself,"
"Sorry but it's just really annoying when simple things become close to impossible."
I sigh sadly as I caress his cheek, pressing a kiss to his forehead where his skin creases when he frowns.
"Hey," I try.
"No Jake, I just-"
I seal his lips with a kiss, his surprise is clear, but he melts into it and his tense shoulders become slack. He wraps his arms around my neck and I bend down a bit more to lean my forehead against his.
"It's alright, you're fine." I rub my nose against his, causing him to giggle. There's that smile I love so much.
We pull back and I place the shirt over his head, stroking his soft hair and leaving my hand on one of his cheek, he leans into it and shuts his eyes momentarily.
"Enough of this," I say softly. He nods, not enough to reassure me but it will do for now. "Let's go to bed, yeah?"
"Yeah," he presses his face against me; placing a kiss in the middle of my bare chest. Neither of us really seems to be making a move to go to bed though. Troye sighs, but it comes across as content as he wraps his arms around my torso. I tighten my embrace as well.
"Is it stupid to still hope that I may one day be able to get just one more short glimpse of the world again?" he asks, my heart falls and I clench my eyes shut at the grave tone he uses.
"I wouldn't say so, I hope for the exact same thing for you," I tell him, we begin to sway side to side within our embrace. "I wish I could show you the world again," I whisper. "That's not stupid to hope for at all."
I then sit down on my bed and help Troye under the covers as well. I make sure the boy is comfortable in my arms, snuggled tightly against my side, and only then do I feel a whisper of a smile press against my chest where Troye's face is.
"What you smiling about, baby?" I ask, my own smile starting to bloom as well.
"Nothing," Troye says with a giggle. "I just like this whole cuddling thing a lot."
"Me too."
...
I wake up to Troye still sound asleep on my chest. I watch him for a few minutes, his eye lashes resting on his cheeks, his plump lips slightly parted and his skin looking even softer than usual. I wonder if he is actually an angel.
Moments later I manoeuvre around the bed until I get up without disturbing Troye, replacing myself with a pillow in his arms. I don't miss the way Troye's face scrunches up in confusion and slight annoyance.
"Morning," I say brightly to my mom in the kitchen, yet not too loudly as I don't want my voice to travel and wake the serene, sleeping angel upstairs.
"Morning, my boy," she says with a knowing smirk that I roll my eyes at as I lean against a counter, crossing my arms while she chops up fruit.
"And that look?" I ask, I know that smirk and it's meaning from a mile away.
"Oh nothing, just find it so adorable how close you are Troye are, you were never the touchy, feely kind as a child." I smile and look to the floor.
"Shut up," she laughs.
"What happened exactly, last night I mean."
"Nothing much," I say as I stand up right again and get a glass of water at the sink.
"Nothing much," my mom mimics, making her voice ridiculously low. "I was sure some lovey dovey things were going on but huh, sometimes a mother's instinct can be faulty," she says. I crack, proving that her instincts are never wrong.
"Just a few cuddles because, well, he was cold you see," I explain, acting innocent while her grin grows even wider. "And some kisses here and there."
"On the lips?" she says, acting like it is scandalous.
"On the lips," I clarify. "And then maybe some admissions of feelings."
"Mutual, I hope" she says.
"Totally mutual," a new voice pipes in. I swivel my head around to see Troye leaning against the archway of the room. I smile as my mother squeals excitedly.
"Oh this is just the cutest thing! I think I may just be in a romance film," I join Troye at his side, resting my hand on his lower back reasurringly while he chuckles at my mom's excitement.
