He Makes Me Quiet

Chapter 10

They had decided to both accept their offers from the University of Virginia. Dorian would be doing a dual track masters/doctoral program in ecology and biology while Gansey got his Masters in History, securing his promised place on the teaching staff of his old prep school. Dorian had complete faith in Gansey's ability to be a wonderful teacher. He was excellent around kids, extremely patient, and could explain anything to anyone.

So, the summer after they had separately graduated from their own undergraduate programs, they were moving in together in Alexandria, not too far from Lexington or from D.C. and Dorian could tell that Gansey was feeling closer to home than he had since their gap year together.

They had picked up their keys that morning from the rental office and now they were walking up to their new front door. Dorian inserted the key in the lock and turned, but before he could open it, Gansey swept him up bridal style and opened it himself. Gansey carried Dorian into the apartment as he laughed and swatted at Gansey's arm.

"I have to carry you over the threshold of our first place together, it's the rules," he informed the smaller man stoically, and Dorian only laughed harder.

"That's for newlyweds, you dork."

"I'll do it then, too," he shrugged as he set his boyfriend down.

Dorian grinned and stood up on his toes to kiss Gansey. "You are a romantic fool, Richard Gansey."

"You love it," he grinned.

"Yeah, I do."

•••

Learning to live together had been rough, at first.

Dorian had his own version of what his family called "organized chaos" that Gansey found whimsical and beautiful, but also constantly confusing. Dorian regularly found him looking at stacks of colourful clutter like it was a Rubik's cube.

Gansey, of course, had his strange insomnia-fueled hobbies piled in various corners and scattered across tables when Dorian woke up in the mornings. And even he could admit his habit of procrastinating on washing the dishes was annoying.

But they set up rules and soon settled into an easy pattern.

Dorian had lab time two afternoons a week, class another two afternoons a week, tutored other students two mornings a week, and spent most of his mornings, Fridays, and weekends, working on his dissertation— or, at least, the notes to begin it.

Gansey took his own teaching assistant job on top of his classes and research time, much of which was spent in the library.

When they did get a chance to see each other, it was usually late and they were both too tired to actually enjoy each other's company.

"I miss you," Dorian whispered to him one night, wrapped in his arms.

"I'm right here, Jack," he whispered back.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in days."

"I know."

"So I miss you."

"I miss you, too," he agreed. "What are you doing on Friday?"

"Office hours until noon, meeting Ally in the research library after."

"Done by dinner?"

"Should be. Why?"

"We're going out," he declared.

Dorian turned in his arms to face him, one eyebrow raised. "Out? You know we don't have any cash. Rent is due."

"Don't need cash," he shook his head. "Wear something comfortable and warm."