Slow and Steady

Wins the Race

Everything was slow in the moment. Much like everything about their relationship. Slow and tender and just sweet enough. They were seemingly miracles to each other.

Matthew was the first to listen and understand to Lovino. While Lovino was the first to really see all sides of Matthew. Both were first to appreciate one another. It started with an almost therapeutic friendship and kept growing until one fateful day. Neither of two regret that day.

Even now, after years, they show each other appreciation and love all the same. A single kiss meant just as much as any words did. They created worlds of paragraphs with a tender kiss. Made maps as their hands went anywhere possible as if not to forget any piece of each other. Studied each separate piece to appreciate the whole.

Matthew found himself learning every day. He felt compelled to study what he would discover. While Lovino moped around about how the simple blemish was awful. Matthew would worship it. Worship Lovino so he would understand how much he meant to Matthew.

"You're beautiful." He'd say every morning as he'd watch Lovino finally wake up. And Lovi would simply smile tiredly and laugh.

"Liar." He'd respond jokingly.

"Why an I liar for saying that your absolutely stunning?"

"Because I don't want to get used to hearing you say that." They would smile at each other.

Then the moment would be ruined by some random person or thing either flying into the room or knocking on the front door. Matthew could laugh right now at the memories. From Kuma bursting into the room for breakfast to Al bursting in because he burned his tongue on soup.

Though now wasn't the time for that. He was simply too busy studying Lovino's lips. Despite all the nasty things spewed out from those lips, he found they were sweet. Sweet in the black licorice type of way. Not for everyone but just right for few. Matthew was lucky enough to be one of the few to love such a bittersweet taste.

Though the taste made its way through movement. Each small movement from his lips to tongue was like peeling off layers. Lovi would be shy at first, unsure. Matthew was careful with this. His carefulness let Lovi relax. Lovi was bittersweet in his response. Showing both appreciation but also a fierceness. Matthew would match him all the same.

Soon enough they parted and stopped right there and stared.

Until Lovino's smile twitched into a smirk.

"Explain to me again how we met." Lovino teased.

"Oh my god!" Matthew giggled at the memory of both of them drunk and ranting about everything single thing possible. "That's the worst thing to bring up right now, you know that?"

"What makes it the worst?"

"I..." He tried to find a reason but failed to. His logic was flawed. "I don't know!" He giggled again.

"Wow, I'm disappointed."

"Why?"

"I seemed to have failed as your teacher of pessimism."

"Oh c'mon." Matt giggled for what seemed like the hundredth time that night.

"Now that I think about it, you've been giggling an awful lot today." Lovino raised a brow. "What are you hiding?"

"What? I can't be genuinely happy?"

"Explain this concept. You see, happy is not my forte."

"Well, Mr. SmartAss, it's easy." Matt leaned closer pushing himself up off the couch and closer to Lovi. "I get this warm bubbly feeling around you."

"Are you sure you're not drunk?"

"I'm starting to think you are."

"I may or may not be." Lovino gave a wicked smirk.

"I guess we'll have to test that."

"How?"

"Easy." Matt slid his hand up Lovi's cheek. It stayed for a moment as he kept his gaze straight on Lovi. Then, he moved it further up far into the other's hair. Until he found a certain strand. Lovi's eyes went wide and it was Matt's turn to wickedly smirk. "I'll just get it out of you nice and slowly."