Absence of Peace

Part 5

Nick waited that full hour before Irene came out from the back all ready to go home and sleep, but seeing Nick waiting energized her.

"Hey you ready?"

Irene nodded her head and put on her backpack but Nick grabbed it and placed it on his back instead. She turns her head because she didn't want Nick to see her blushing.

He saw it. He thought it was very adorable.

They walked down the street standing very close, their hands brushing against each other but never holding hands. They make small conversations, mostly her telling what happens at work and he gives small anecdotes about his life. Never having a dull moment, looking at each other with a fondness that people around them envy. It didn't take long for them to reach Nick's apartment. 

Nick has a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment. His apartment only had the basics, a couch, a bed, a small tv, and a small table. Not much on the walls. Bare, but that didn't bother Irene. All that she cared about was the man living in the small apartment.

Nick opens the door for Irene, she walks through, he stares at her ass when she walks past. He quickly looks away when her head start to turn.

She saw him.

"Sorry for the mess. I should've cleaned up more since I invited you over."

He felt embarrassed and started to turn red. She shook her head.

He looks too cute.

He started to rub the back of his head, but when he started to do that, his shirt rode up to reveal his toned abs. She looked away.

"No it's totally fine."

He saw her looking. He smirked.

"Wanna watch a movie? I know that you're tired from work."

"That would be great."

They both shared a smile and headed toward the couch.

"Hey, can I take a shower? I feel all grimy from work."

The thought of her naked in the shower had Nick slapping himself.

I'm such a perv.

"Yeah, I'll get you some of my clothes."

Nick had an anterior motive, he loves it when she wears his clothes. She looks so adorable when she is drowning in his sweatshirt and having to tie his pants to the tightest setting. Plus he's very possessive so her wearing his clothes, smelling like his cologne, makes a large part of his brain very happy. 

She nodded her head and they both went into his room. He gave her the biggest sweatshirt he has, a pair of his old gym shorts, and a pair of his smallest boxers.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

He waits for the shower to turn on before he goes psycho with cleaning. He grabs all of his dishes into the sink, takes the clothes that are out and shove them in his laundry baskets, wipes off the counter, cleans the coffee table, and prepares popcorn and drinks for the movie. He also grabs the fluffiest blanket that he owns because he knows that that is what Irene loves.

I am so whipped.

Irene hops out of the shower and dries off. She grabs the boxers and sweatshirt to put on. She checks in the mirror to see if her nipples are on display, but the shirt was baggy and thick enough to not have that problem. The gym shorts were sliding down the hips, cause she has no ass, so she decides to skip that. She reaches into her bag and found her toiletry bag that she always has on her in case of situations like this, she does her thing.

***

Nick was waiting on the couch for her. He heard the water stop and so he knew that she'll be out soon. 

"Did you clean up?"

He snaps his head toward her and his eye widened past the point of no return. 

Her hair was slicked back and wet, her upper body lost in his sweatshirt, and her legs going on for days in his boxer.

Goddamn

"Uh yeah, I thought I should clean up a bit."

He gives her a smile. She returns the smile. 

"What movie do you want to watch?"

She walks and sits on the couch.

"Anything but horror, I want to sleep at night."

He slides her over to him and smiles down at her.

"How about Pulp Fiction?"

"Yeah that's fine but in all honesty I'm probably gonna fall asleep so wake me up when the movie ends and I'll go home."

"No problem."

Nick already knew that he wouldn't wake her up. 

They sat down to watch the movie, he held her and she snuggled into him. His arms were around her, her head in his neck, and her legs on his lap. Both were calm and so relaxed that they both fell asleep on each other.

***

Sunlight hits Nick's face that he woke up. He opened his eyes to find Irene snuggled into his chest while they were on the couch. He turned his head, his tv is still on, and Irene still had an hour and a half before work started. Nick knew he has to wake her up but he didn't have the heart to do it. She looks so relaxed and happy that he didn't want to mess with that. He knew that she has had a rough time at work and all that has happened with Andre and Xavier, so a good night of sleep is what she needed. And the fact that he was the one who helped with this made him feel warm inside.

"Having fun staring at me?"

Irene cracked her eyes open to see Nick looking at her. He turned red and looked away. She smiled softly at him. He brought his hand up to her face and his thumb started to brush up against her cheek. She closed her eyes and nuzzled her face more into his chest. They stayed like that for a while until Irene had to go to work.

"You get ready for work and I'll make breakfast."

"You are a godsend."

She lingers with getting off of him but he was making it difficult as well, he had wrapped his arms around her waist and wouldn't let go. Finally she pushed off of him and went to the bathroom. He got up and started to make toast and eggs.

***

They ate together and both walked out the door. Irene heading off to work and Nick going to meet up with Xavier.

"Thank you so much for breakfast and letting me sleep over."

"Anytime."

Both smiled and hugged.

Not wanting to let go.