Darkness

Sleepover

Scott and Avi spent more and more time together. When Scott had to go to the studio to work he sometimes took Avi with him and the bearded man sat on one of the comfy couches until it was time to leave again but he still stayed at home a lot. He got more confident using his cane and after a couple of times walking next to Scott with as little contact as possible Avi went to the park by himself. Not often, but sometimes, and he enjoyed the warmth of the sun on his skin while the birds chirped and the leaves of the trees moved in the light summer breeze. His shoulder healed nicely and soon he said his goodbyes to Kathy, his physical therapist, after she gave him a big hug at the end of their last session. Scott took him out for dinner that day to celebrate. 

When they left the restaurant shortly after ten pm Avi held tighter onto his friend's arm. Even though it was summer in LA it was surprisingly cold without the sun and he had left his jacket at home, thinking he wouldn't need it today. 

Scott noticed the tighter grip immediately, it was the basses first response to anything new that happened and affected him, and he put his free hand on Avi's. His hoodie was resting over his shoulder. "Are you cold?"

"Just a little..."Avi mumbled and wrapped his arm around his midsection. He was, yes, but he didn't want to admit it since Scott had told him to put on a jacket before they left. 

The blonde man chuckled softly. "Here, you can have my hoodie. Probably a loose fit but it should keep you warm." He waited for Avi to let go, scrunched up the hoodie and pulled it over the bearded man's head down to his waist once his arms went through the sleeves. The baritone couldn't help but smile when he saw only Avi's fingertips peeking out. He took his hand, guided it back to his biceps and started walking again. 

Avi smiled. "Thank you. Feels nice. Are we having a sleepover today? It's Friday.." He didn't want to sound needy but he really liked staying with Scott, he liked when they cuddled and kissed. And now, after a couple of weeks had passed, he didn't feel like he was tied to Caleb anymore. The other man didn't really cross his mind anymore and Avi had figured out how much fun it was to spend time with Scott. He felt safe with him, just like he had felt with Caleb in the beginning. 

"Of course! Fridays are my favorite days. Your place? Mine?" Scott unlocked his jeep and opened the door for Avi. 

He climbed in and buckled, shut the door and waited for his friend to get in as well. Then he began to speak. "I'd like to go to your place but I still struggle to get around, and you have this open layout and the staircase, I really don't want to fall." 

"Then we drive to yours. Don't worry, Avi. I like your apartment a lot."

"Why?" He turned to face his friend. 

"Cause its your place. You decorated it and it feels homey and comfortable and it also smells of you." Scott reached over and squeezed his hand lightly. "Okay?"

Avriel nodded. "Okay." He turned his head back towards the road and sighed before he closed his eyes. "Wait, is the smell a positive thing or-"

"Definitely. Smells good."

Once at Avi's place they got ready for bed rather quickly. Avi needed a couple more minutes than Scott, he was brushing his hair and dabbed some moisturizer on his skin before he came to the bedroom wearing only a pair of pajama pants. 

The baritone looked up from his phone and smiled softly. "No shirt today?"

Avriel shook his head but then stopped. "Do you want me to wear one? I can-"

"No! No worries, just do what's most comfortable for you." He held up the blanket so Avi could get comfortable next to him. 

The man made his way over to the bed after he had turned off the lights, slid under the covers and felt for Scott. Once he touched his friend's warm shirt he moved closer and settled against his side. His arm slid over Scott's tummy and his hand rested on his side. "Would you kiss me again?" he asked shyly and buried his nose in the dark red shirt under his cheek. 

"Of course" the baritone replied softly, waited for Avi to sit up and look at him before their lips met. It wasn't a long kiss but their lips moved gingerly, Scott was cupping Avi's cheek until he pulled back and smiled softly and laid back down, placing his head back on his shoulder, tucking his forehead against his neck under his jaw. He couldn't help but smile and rubbed Avi's bare back in slow circles. "I love you" Scott whispered. "So much."

Avi's heart fluttered when he heard his friend say those words. He forgot how good they made him feel, how loved and taken care of, how safe he felt when he heard them. He felt Scott's warm hand resting on his lower back and squeezed his side lightly. "I love you too. You mean the world to me."

They spent the rest of the evening in bed until they fell asleep. Scott was rubbing Avi's back, moving his fingertips up and down his spine, brushing his thumb over the soft skin while the bass hummed and soon fell asleep. His lips were parted slightly, the wild curls neatly tucked behind his ear and Scott couldn't help but take a quick picture of the sleeping man on his chest. He put his phone back on Avi's nightstand and closed his eyes, then drifted off rather quickly and slept through the night.