smokingmirror | Fanfic: The Thought (1/1) (Reply)

Title: The Thought
Author: Avarice
Rating: G
Pairing: PG
Spoilers: -
Summary: It's the thought that counts. Really.
Word Count: 1169
Date First Posted: 07-05-2003
Date Revised: 26-05-2011
Beta: Tink.
Awards: -
Notes: Fox is an idiot.
Feedback: always welcome, as is constructive criticism.
Also Archived At: LJ

Collin's dream of being in a Matrix-style fight with a leather-clad Keanu lookalike which ended with devastatingly hot sex was interrupted by very real noises and grunts coming from the kitchen.

"Ow... shit! Motherfucker..."

The blond opened one eye, irritated. It had been a good dream. And if he was going to wake up horny and unsatisfied, he might as well be in bed with his boyfriend to work it off. Except that the mattress next to him was empty and felt cold.

Collin abhorred waking up alone in bed, especially when it appeared to have been that way for some time. Pulling a shirt and some pants on, he squinted at the sunlight and shuffled out of his bedroom. He trailed the wisp of smoke emanating from the kitchen, coincidentally, also the origin of the cursing and clanging.

Not surprisingly, Fox was the one making the noise, as well as the mess. The kitchen was in a bad way; plates, dirty utensils, spills down the cupboards and over the kitchen bench... Fox was in the centre of this, as dirty as his surroundings, shoulders hunched and tense. He nursed his hand underneath the sink, obviously from a burn.

Collin stared for a moment, before walking over to the sink and taking Fox's hands unexpectedly. Fox jumped, startled, as Collin washed the reddened skin gently. "What are you making?" he asked in a calm voice.

"Uh, breakfast?" Fox said, ducking his head, before focusing on the bench once again.

"What is that?" the blond inclined his head towards the yellowy viscous mix bubbling dangerously, and leaking out of an appliance.

"Waffles."

"You haven't made waffles, you've made a mess."

"Yeah, well..."

Collin waited for the retort, but Fox's sentence just trailed off. He was vaguely disturbed by the fact that he had not met Fox's eyes yet. Collin looked up at Fox directly, but Fox turned his head away towards the bench again. His paranoia hitched up a notch.

"Look at me," he said. Collin meant it as a question, but his worry gave his tone bluntness. Fox didn't comply. Collin reached a wet hand up and touched Fox's chin. His jaw ground. "Look at me, please?" Collin asked.

He sighed and reluctantly let Collin turn his head. The reason why he hesitated soon became apparent. At first glance, Fox looked all right, but upon closer inspection something seemed to be a little bit awry. His right cheekbone was a bit red and puffy, spoiling the smooth, thin line of Fox's face. One eye didn't seem to be open the full way, either. Hard to tell with his dark skin, but it seemed to be a little darker again around the socket.

"Jesus Christ, Fox, how the fuck did you get a black eye?!"

"It's nothing. My own fault."

"How did you get it?" Collin asked again, softer and with sincere concern.

Fox sighed dejectedly. "I wanted to make you waffles for breakfast, like I did once before. The guys next door said I could borrow the waffle iron any time I wanted, but I forgot to get it last night. And I got up and everyone was still asleep. I didn't want to wake anyone so... I may have picked their lock."

"You broke into their dorm to steal a waffle iron?"

"Borrow a waffle iron," Fox corrected. "Anyway, I guess I wasn't too stealthy because I woke Jase up. He thought I was a burglar and..." Fox finished the story by pointing to his shiner. Collin snorted in disbelief. "He did apologise," Fox added sadly.

Collin flicked the waffle iron off at the wall and turned Fox away from the bench. He ran his thumb over the purpling edge of the bruise, wincing in sympathetic pain when Fox did. Opening the freezer and taking out the ancient plastic bag of peas, he placed them carefully against the side of his boyfriend's face. "Hold it up with your burnt hand. Two birds with one stone," Collin said, and led him out of the kitchen.

With the same attentive care, he sat Fox on the sofa. "I'm going to finish breakfast," Collin stated.

"But--"

"If you move your ass, I'll blacken the other eye."

Fox clammed up and settled himself miserably on the sofa. Collin returned to the kitchen to survey the damage. The waffles that had been made were a little crispy, but would be edible enough. He turned the waffle iron back on and let the dripping mess finish cooking. Meanwhile, he got two glasses and filled them with orange juice and did some general cleaning in the kitchen.

The waffle in the iron turned a nice golden brown. He pried it out of the appliance with a knife and got it onto one of the plates. One of the crunchier ones went on the other plate. After a moment's scrutiny, he opened the freezer and got some plain vanilla ice cream, scooping out a generous amount for each waffle. The final touch was a dusting of powdered sugar he found in the cupboard. Collin licked the sugar off his fingers and nodded in satisfaction.

Placing the plates and glasses on a tray along with some silverware, he walked back out to the sofa where Fox sat. Collin put the tray down on the sofa between them and handed the golden waffle to Fox. Fox gingerly took the frozen peas away from his face. The cold had closed his eye up a little, but it would numb the pain and make him feel better.

They ate mostly in silence, just enjoying the meal. It was only when the plates were stacked neatly on the floor and the tray was gone from between them that they properly spoke again.

Collin began. "As your best friend, I'd like to make a suggestion. Next time you think about stealing from our neighbours, wake me first."

"Yeah yeah, so you can punch me and save me the trouble?" Fox answered wryly.

"No, not at all. I don't want you going in without backup," Collin scooted over and wrapped his arms tightly around Fox's chest. "We're a team. You need me to watch your back."

Fox shifted so he was more comfortable, pulling Collin closer. "I need you a lot," he paused significantly and brushed a lock of blond and blue hair away from Collin's eyes before continuing. "Hm. If it hadn't been for you, I would have been caught for punching Ronald McDonald that time."

Collin nuzzled underneath his jaw. "He had it coming, but yes, yes you would have."

Fox gently touched the side of Collin's face. "My partner in crime, eh?"

Collin shifted, turning and throwing his right leg over Fox's to straddle his lap. "Always," he confirmed, putting his arms around his boyfriend's neck. Fox grinned, splaying hands over Collin's hips, fingers dipping inside the elastic of the drawstring pants he wore.

"In that case, I feel like perpetrating more illegal acts." He nibbled on Collin's bottom lip. "Wanna get behind me?"

"Did you say 'perpetrating' or 'penetrating'?"

Fox paused. "There's a difference?"

"Fucktard," Collin responded, pressing their mouths together firmly.

That was the last they spoke again for quite some time.