Darkness

Birthday

Scott was excited for his birthday. Not as excited as he had been the years before, because they had planned on taking it slow, but he was happy to be spending the day with his boyfriend and a couple of friends.

After a calm breakfast with Avi, which the man prepared by himself and it ended up being more than delicious, they returned to bed and dozed until it was ready to get going.

He couldn't believe his eyes when they arrived at his house and all of his friends were there, waiting for him to finally show up. "Are you for real?" he asked Avi while they were still in the car and covered his mouth with his hands. "A surprise party?"

"Yeah! Of course, why not? It's your birthday, Scott! You deserve a big party."

"That's amazing, thank you...but promise me to stay away-"

"From the staircase, yes. I'll stay close to Esther, in case you are looking for me. This is your day, okay? Not mine. I want you to have fun."

"I am having fun!"

Avi chuckled, patted his way to Scott's thigh and lightly squeezed it. "Happy Birthday."

The bearded man stayed true to his word and spent most of the afternoon and evening close to his sister on the couch, away from the open space and the improvised dance floor. When he decided to visit the bathroom and passed through the living room the loud music made him feel dizzy and since he already had a hard time keeping his balance he struggled even more when he felt a strong bass and couldn't focus anymore. It took one of his senses from him. People were bumping into him from all sides and Avi felt himself losing control over his body. His knees buckled.

Strong arms appeared out of nowhere and caught him before he slipped to the floor. The tall man gently turned him around and held him close to his chest and began to walk, forcing Avi to get back on his feet and support his own weight. One arm was resting around his waist, holding him in place, while the other arm moved up and a large hand brought his head closer against the stranger's chest to block out the music as much as possible with his eyes covered. It wasn't Scott, Scott smelled and felt differently, but his brain was too clouded to sort thoughts. The music got quieter and when he heard some door shutting he let out a shaky breath he had been holding in.

"Do you need to sit down?"

Kevin. Definitely Kevin. Now everything made sense. The height, the earthy smell, the warm hands. Kevin was known for his warm hands. Avi pulled himself out of his thoughts and slowly extended his arms to feel for something that would give away where he was. "Yeah" he just mumbled and felt Kevin guiding him backwards until he felt something on the back of his thighs.

"Just Scott's bed. Sit down. I'll get you some water."

"No, I just- I'm okay. I didn't know where I was and there was too much going on. I am okay. I just wanted to get something to eat.." He couldn't hold back a yawn and smacked his lips. "What time is it?"

"Close to midnight. Do you want some pizza?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind a slice or maybe two. I haven't had that much today."

"Alright, I'll be back in a second. Stay here, don't wander off."

Avi hummed and after his friend had left the room he slipped out of his shoes and laid down in Scott's bed. He liked Scott's bed more than his own because it was bigger, and softer, and it smelled better. Not like his boyfriend - maybe a little - but mostly like the fabric softener and Avi loved it more than he probably should. It just meant comfort.

Kevin brought him two slices of pizza drizzled with garlic oil, a glass of water and his sister which had been worried about the bearded man. She sat down next to him and then slipped her legs under the blanket and tucked a strand of Avi's hair back before he had the chance to accidentally eat it.

"You can't just wander off, Avi" the dark haired woman said. "I was worried!"

"I just wanted to go to the bathroom.."

"Still. I would've brought you across the room."

"I know. I am sorry. Is Scott still dancing?"

Esther smiled. "Yes, he is. He's having a great time. Kevin told him that you'd wait here for him and he seemed rather tired, I guess the others are slowly getting ready to leave and then you have some one on one time with your man. He makes you really happy, hm?"

"I love him" he simply said and took another bite of his pizza. "We've been through so much already and I know that I can trust you. He loves me and I love him, more than anyone else - please don't take it personal, it's just-"

The woman interrupted him. "It's different, I know."

"Yeah. We want to look at another house on Monday, Scott seemed to like the pictures a lot and I don't know, I have a good feeling about it. Maybe it'll be our home."

"That sounds great! I'm happy for you, really."

Avi smiled. "Thank you. My apartment is getting too small and...uhm...a new bed, you know? I'd like that." He took another bite, chewed and swallowed. Avi wanted a new bed. A big one, just like Scott's, and maybe he'd be comfortable being more intimate with Scott. The thought of doing more than just a kiss or a touch here and there was scary to him, but on the other hand he felt like he was pretty close to being ready. His free hand touched the silky bedsheet underneath the blanket and suddenly he couldn't keep his thoughts from wandering to a softly moaning Scott.