𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He grinned at the warning look he was given, quirking an eyebrow as if to say 'I was indeed going to check'-- a silent admission, nothing more, nothing else, although... he could be just weaponizing his charm against the other. Who is to say?! If it was the latter option, though, it was with the best of the intentions. He just wanted to capture his interest... in the same way the angel has done, effortlessly!
            At Tom's next response, however, his eyes lit up in a way that would rival a Christmas tree themselves! "Really?" he smiled, his hand reaching out for the angel's, on instinct, holding it tight-- as if to convince himself this was truly happening! "Of course I still want to! I'd be crazy if I said otherwise! ...You make me the happiest being in this universe, you know that?!"
            
            
            // TYSMMM, ILYYY, YOU'RE THE BEST !!!! <33333

   thomas wanted to share these moments with this funny demon,  both of them discovering things for themselves and also sharing it happily.  thomas watched a lot of people give each other flowers throughout his time looking over them,  either for good reasons or for bad,  and he thought it was quite sweet.  he spent so long feeling intensely jealous of the people he looked after,  and perhaps that's why looking at these flowers made him smile so widely.  he still did find time to send jon a lighthearted look of warning at the way he seemed as though he was going to actually check,  and the angel shook his head with amusement.  "spending christmas with you,  i think.  if you still wanted to."  
            
              /   ILYY DWW theyre perfect so now take time and get RECOVERING!!!  <333 

// I DID IT !!!! technically, I answered the AU one (<33333) and dropped something new for Eva (<33333), but...
            I was missing bodyguard! Tom and Eva SOOOO MUCH already THAT I HAD TO TRY. they aren't my best, but-- ILYYYY. TYSMMM, sorry for the delay <\33333

@RED-EMPTION // MY FRIEEEND. I can't stop watching it— even if I don't like the female protagonist very much (I'll keep the reasons why spoiler free) but the story is soooo good (I like witchy, supernatural stuff, what can I say) that I can totally ignore the bad bits HAAHHAHA

  /   i'm intrigued...... 

   "*me*?  bad influence?  you're crazy."  when they were in this state,  private and close together,  tom could honestly say that he just felt like a ball of pure joy and brightness.  he had a positivity that was rather unlike him,  a calmness and vulnerability.  it was all in their silly little smiles,  those  *kisses*  (  god,  he was in love!!  )  and it was worth it for the way jon looked at him.  "that's just how much i love you.  and whatever you're imagining,  it's like ten times more than that.  and then infinity more than  *that*."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "A bad influence recognizes another," he retorted playfully, biting his bottom lip. He pressed a few kisses on Tom's neck and cheek, then leaned back slightly to look at him. "You make me melt more than our ice cream..." he joked, brushing his fingers through his hair, gently.

   "*so*  hot."   he exaggerated to really reiterate what he'd originally said,  because jon should know that he found everything about him to be very attractive.  especially his sense of humour!  and,  as soon as he gave up on their little joke,  tom followed quickly,  and reciprocated that hug just as tightly.  "you're a bad influence."  

   "i certainly don't,"  he laughed at the idea,  cupping jon's face properly for the first time with a more gentle touch than the one that followed his suspicions earlier,  holding him for a few moments before leaning in to kiss his lips again.  a shorter kiss this time,  a lingering peck full of fond emotions that he was holding onto and the dam just wouldn't stop flooding.  "you just inspire this sort of talk out of me.  i've never talked like this a day in my life,  i swear!  it's  *your*  fault."  he teased him with bright eyes,  letting himself believe for a moment that they were in some harmless fairy tale.  like it was no big deal that they were hiding away,  their laughs echoing against the walls and feeling so much more louder just to their ears.  this could be a story like that,  it  *felt*  like that,  and thomas was sure to see a part of jon in every face he'd ever see again.  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "You have a talent for poetry, too, darling," he whispered to him, sending him a private, light-hearted and completely smitten, kind of smile. He thought there was no 'return' to the way they were before, because they had that kind of *impact* in each other's lives that did change them, forever. It was crazy to think that a person you've just met could have that kind of power, but it was undeniable fact that they had. He had never fallen instantly in love with someone before, either, and in other circumstances, he would never see the person again because his duty was to follow the Queen and warrant her safety... he had never met someone who had turned his world upside down with a mere look of their eyes, though, so for Tom... it was all worth it. Every sacrifice... if love wasn't good enough reason, well— then society was composed of a bunch of hypocritical people, for they kept saying love justified it all, and was the *only* reason why life was worth living!

   "i have no idea how i can convince myself to be the same person i was before i met you."  his eyes closed at the kiss to his forehead,  falling headfirst into every affectionate touch and letting himself be engulfed by it.  he was swimming in the warmth of a man he barely knew,  yet he felt so comforted by it—  he wanted to know everything about him,  and would ask for more details in their letters,  he imagined.  he'd never fallen so fast for someone before,  but perhaps the fact that their time was under constraints factored into how he was behaving.  in any other case,  he might play a little hard to get.  but this was forbidden,  he couldn't afford to pretend to push him away because this man may truly do just that.  for their own safety.  but thomas didn't want safety.  "i will.  i'll spend hours staring at the moon just to see your reflection amongst the stars."  

  tom didn't need jon to brush it off and be all humble about it,  because it was true whether he admitted it or not!  there was a reason he solidified his place in the number one spot at liverpool so quickly and got called up by england,  he was  incredible.  he knew when to take charge of his box,  he knew when to claim and when to head to his line.  and,  listen,  he was also the most attractive of the goalkeepers and that also worked in his favour.  "pfft.  whatever."  he couldn't help his little chuckle as he,  obviously,  would deny that claim too.  but he wasn't gonna go out on a limb and say he was a bad midfielder—  god,  he'd been  *there*.  he knew he'd improved,  but not that much!  "totally better when we win,  though.  not just the result itself,  but it means i get to pamper you a bit.  hense the wine."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Please," he blushed. His boyfriend is too kind! He is far from even making it to the top 15 between the twenty first choice keepers, in his opinion... just definitely better than Everton's keeper (ha!) so position 19th was already good enough for him (the rivalry speaks loud here!)
            "It means a lot to me... coming from the best midfielder in the Premier League," he said, winking charmingly at his boyfriend— who was bound to, just like him, protest the compliment inwardly, he knew him all too well... he meant it, though! No one battled in the midfield the way Tom did, his little lion... he loves him, a lot. "I love you, too, darling," he voiced out his thoughts, pressing a kiss to his hand. "It's a pleasure playing against you, always, no matter the result."

  "that's cute.  i'm proud of you,  too.  no one else i'd rather go up against than the best goalkeeper in the premier league."  he said earnestly,  because it didn't take a genius to know that.  although,  tom would make a further argument and say he was the best in the  *world*.  that was also true!  "yeah.  i know it's worth it.  i love you.  and i love playing against you,  win or lose."  

   thomas didn't even need all the extra stuff,  he just needed the artist himself.  the art and all of that other romantic stuff was adorable,  it made the model emotional in a number of ways because jon's feelings were so clear to him,  but he just needed to be sat beside the artist for those emotions to be clear as day.  this is what real love felt like,  and as he shifted to sit back the way he had been for the photo,  he would concede the fact that he wouldn't be able to get rid of the look of adoration in his eyes.  that would have to stay.  "don't rush it,  though."  he warned lightheartedly,  knowing that the pace might speed up a bit but he didn't want to actually jeopardise the painting itself!  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            If he was 'awful', then so was Jon! He was crazy about every little detail about this man... everything about him inspired *art*: he had to photograph him, paint him, write poems for him... well, he hadn't reached the last bit yet, but merely due how difficult it was for him to write anything! It would sound like rhymes made by a thirteen years old who was just experiencing his first 'crush'. Only the poems, though, for the feelings were much more deeper than those defined as merely a 'crush'. "If you did that— I would probably even forget how to hold a brush for a moment," he chuckled, then nodded his head to him. "All— all right. I'm just gonna— I'm going back over... *there*." he stuttered. What an idiot!
            He didn't need the extra motivation to finish it quicker, but you bet he would, now!

   he watched the way jon fumbled with his words,  and it was so utterly endearing to the point where he just watched and admired the way the feelings washed over his artist.  his beautiful artist who had the prettiest voice—  with a million other details that made it difficult for thomas to think about anything else.  anything that wasn't his face,  his hair,  his eyes,  his hands   etc...  he was awful.  "it's not silly.  it's—  it's charming.  it makes me want to kiss you right now,  if only we wouldn't end up getting distracted from what we're supposed to be doing here.  so.  you wanna get back to it?"  

   "today we'll make history in baking a cake that stays very much in tact,  you can tell everyone about how good you are and pretend the last incident didn't happen.  i won't snitch."  he sent his partner a teasing look as if to mischievously admit that he might snitch to someone at some point,  but it was a silent gesture so jon could ignore that part!  he was trying to sound charming.  once jon put the baking paper in,  tom poured the mixture into the two round trays and gestured for the goalkeeper to put them into the oven as he put the bowl with the washing up.  "we can take a break until it's finished.  i reckon we should make the buttercream after it comes out so it has time to cool." 

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "You sure about that? Given my history?" he added in a joking tone, laughing at that. He appreciated the sweetness of his words, though, and kissed his temple in a way of saying 'thank you'. "Got it, babe," he nodded, doing as he was instructed to... ha! It turns out they're a great baking duo. Or better saying it, *a great duo*. Full stop. Everything they did together, they did well, for they helped each other in the process... learned from each other. Goodness, he loves him! ...Has he told him that already today? Thrice. But he was bound to say it again, at any point, it's inevitable!

   "and what a beautiful assistant i've scored myself here."  that smile!  it was his weakness,  truly,  to see that grin in absolutely any capacity.  even if it was during a liverpool game,  tom could pretend he'd take the shirt off and just look at the gorgeous smile on his perfect boyfriend's face.  "aw,  c'mon,  you won't do anything wrong.  we're having fun!  no big deal.  now,  i already measured out the baking paper so you just stick it into the trays and we'll sorta...  half and half the mixture.  yeah?"  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            Maybe, in another universe, they both liked living dangerously... who knows, maybe even going to amusement parks together, riding an actual roller coaster that seemed like a metaphor to their own lives, that individually went up and down, but when they were together... it was always up they went! In this universe, though, they aren't allowed to live dangerously... actually, right here, the risk was huge— it was too much at stake, and he could never risk what was the most precious to him: *them*. "Ha! You son of a..." he threw his hands up; at least for this round, he would concede without a witty comeback. What he really wanted to 'shut him up' with a passionate kiss, but you know...

   they were both too obvious if they'd just stand there talking and looking at each other—  his mum kept making fun of him for his whole expression changing if jon was texting him or,  simply,  he was just mentioning his partner in passing.  "you prick."  he laughed incredulously at that bantering,  because it was just so typical and they had to play up the rivalry thing a bit.  "i would say that your job is just standing around but,  with how dogshit your liverpool defenders are,  i reckon it's actually quite a difficult job."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            He grinned... and then looked away. Sadly, he had to. For Tom is right, even a smile could be dangerous, unfortunately! So, when he looked back at the love of his life, he forced himself to do so with a look of a 'rival' that had just been teased. Something that mixed amusement and pride, as if he were about to tease him in return... which he did, just for the sake of appearances. "Not just today, right? Your job is *always* easier than mine. Just a little bit, though," and when he smiled back to him, he hoped he knew he was just saying it because of their teammates around them, and definitely not something he meant. No position was 'easier' in football, all of them had its challenges and were all of *vital* importance. Midfielders literally made the game, without them, the ball would never get to the strikers... but also, without them, all the defending area was completely exposed. If anything, being a midfielder could be one of the most difficult positions!

  "yeah,  loads."  he said without giving any other details,  because obviously he had never seen a case like that before!  still,  though,  he enjoyed teasing his partner for that one singular incident.  "i do not,  you're full of it.  further proof of your biases,  babe,  you're crazy.  but i love you anyway."  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "How could you possibly know that?! Have you seen self-imploding cakes before? Aside from my own, of course," he defended himself quickly, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Pfff— my opinion might be biased, but not because you're wearing my clothes, darling. That's where you got it wrong— you wear them far better than me, though, just for the record!"

  "i saw the damage afterwards,  baby.  that was not the sight of a self-imploding cake."  the kiss to his knuckles made his heart skip a beat,  no matter how many times he received it!  even as he was trying to tease his partner for his cake nightmare,  his brain was entirely focused on his gorgeous partner.  "biased opinion.  i'm wearing  *your*  clothes."  

  the grin on tom's face reflected jon's right back at him,  and the similarities between this and a rom-com felt ever-increasing!  this love was genuine and thrilling,  comfortable and perfect,  and thomas watched every movement the actor made with a newfound dedication.  as friends,  of course his eyes had been drawn to the naturally gifted man  (  everyone else could relate,  he was certain!  )  but this love added a whole new level.  he stood in the kitchen and thought about his options,  narrowing his eyes as if looking through the cupboards and imagining their options.  "hmmm...  whiskey?  how d'you feel about that?"  

( @RED-EMPTION )
            
            "Maybe," he agreed with a silly-in-love grin, because that was definitely what he was. A silly in love. With a perfect angel on Earth. A crazy little angel, who was into doing some stunts, only to make him panic a little as he watched him, just hoping he would come back to him safely. He followed after him easily, not even caring as to where he was being led to— as long as he was with him, he really didn't mind! They were at his hotel room, though... the safest place they could ever be (even better than that, only if they were at their own places— he planned on inviting Tom to his home, one day!) He smiled once they walked in the kitchen, and sat down near the kitchen counter. "I've got whiskey, beer and wine, so it's absolutely your choice, love. If you'd like something different, we've got room service to deliver it for us."

   he laughed at the joke greeting,  leaning forward into their fleeting but perfect kiss and resting his hands on jon's shoulders.  the way he closed the door with his foot felt like something out of a rom-com,  and tom granted him with another kiss after he did so.  "maybe even more than three?"  the stunt man wondered aloud as if it was the craziest suggestion ever,  taking off his jacket and handing it to the actor.  "thank you."  he beamed with gratitude,  waiting for jon to put them up before leading him further into the hotel.