Chapter Text
Clay woke up to the feeling of soft fingers brushing against his face. They traced out his eyes, nose, cheekbones, the touch so light and gentle it made his skin tingle. He was lying slightly on his side, his arms clenched tightly around the waist of the person next to him. He felt so warm, both literally and figuratively, his entire being full of fuzzy happiness.
“Hi.” He heard a quiet whisper from right beside him. The voice making him almost tremble with how perfect it sounded, still slightly raspy after hours of sleep. “I think we might have slept for longer than we intended to.”
“Is that so?” He whispered back, keeping his eyes closed. He didn't want this moment to end, for the atmosphere to change. “What time is it then?”
“It’s 9 in the morning.”
“Really?” He said, surprised. They have both slept through the evening, the entire night, and a bit of the morning. He didn’t think he was that tired, but then again, he couldn’t remember the last time he felt so well-rested.
"Mhmm..." He heard George hum in confirmation. He let his eyes flutter open, seeing George stare at him, mere inches between their faces. Clay has never seen George's eyes from this close by, the brown orbs sparkling in the morning light. He looked so pretty. His eyes wandered across George's features, noting every small freckle, the arch of his brows, the curve of his lips. He let himself drown in being able to admire the view before him.
"You still look a little sunburned." He observed, this time allowing himself to stroke the flushed skin. "I guess it's another day of just us staying in."
"Good." Commented George, nuzzling into him. It's funny how bold both of them have become over the last couple of days. If one were to think about it, not even a week had passed since George flew to Florida. Somehow they went from George not even knowing what he looks like to them cuddling and sleeping in one bed. And it wasn't a one-time thing either if Clay had anything to say about it. It didn't feel like it was too fast, though, it felt long overdue.
They knew each other for so long now. They both learned to depend on one another, to trust, to be there for each other. Every free second spent on the call, filming a video, editing, making a thumbnail, or just talking. It was crazy how much they managed to tie their lives together.
He closed his eyes again to immerse himself in the feeling of having George so close. There is no way he would ever be able to live without this again. He felt so at peace as if everything was slowly clicking into its right place. If there was a way to stay like this for all of eternity he would take it without a moment of hesitation.
Unfortunately, a time came when some of his human needs started to let themselves known, urging him to get up and start the day. He peeled himself off George with great disinclination, lingering with his touch up to the moment he had to break it off completely.
"What do you want for breakfast?" He asked George, getting back from the bathroom, having taken his clothes with him and having already changed into them. The brunette was now sitting on the bed, his feet on the floor.
"Can we make the avocado toasts? I've never had one."
"Really?" He said, surprised. " For sure we can. Are you coming with me to the kitchen, or do you want to get dressed first?"
"I'll get dressed first." Replied Goerge getting up.
"Okay then." He said. "See you in 10 minutes."
---
Clay didn't think that George would be this... clingy. The other lured him onto the couch right after breakfast to sit on his lap and cuddle some more. It wasn't by any means unwelcomed, just surprising. He never perceived George as a very touchy person, so this was a completely new side of him he got to experience. To say he was happy about it, though, would be an understatement. He absolutely loved how George would just take what he needed from him, not being shy about it.
Thinking about it, George had no one he could hug back in England. Clay knew that the other man's family was not inclined to physical displays of affection and the brunette had no close friends who lived nearby. He tightened his hold a little more. It would make sense for George to crave touch after being deprived of it for so long. He promised himself to make sure George would get as much affection as he wanted from then on.
He felt more than heard George mumble something into his chest.
"I didn't catch that, baby." The last word slipping from his lips before he could even think it through. It didn't seem like George had anything against it though, he didn't stiffen or pulled away, so Clay was probably in the clear. He was pretty big on the pet names, the sole idea of calling George affectionate names making his heart skip a beat. Hopefully, George will have nothing against it because Clay didn't think he could stop them from leaving his mouth now that the first one was out.
"Is it bad that I'm already dreading having to leave?" George asked him quietly.
"Is it bad that I don't want you to leave?" He asked back, placing a small kiss on top of George's head.
“I feel like I don’t even remember what it’s like not having you close.” Said George. “I know it’s not healthy, that I need to be able to exist without you, but I can’t imagine going back to how things were. “ Clay could feel him sighing into his chest. "I didn't lie when I said this is the happiest I've ever felt. "
Clay felt a pang going straight through his heart as if someone had stuck a knife in it. It was painful, but also so, so sweet. It made him want to hold onto George until he no longer had any strength left in his arms. He wanted to give him everything he was, all he had to offer. He had no words for now, though, made speechless, not knowing how to communicate something that would get across half as much meaning as what George kept giving him.
"But..." Whispered George. "I know this can be so much more, and I can't wait for it to be."
There were so many promises in that statement. It was clear that they were both walking alongside the same path, waiting for things to develop, to blossom. It took time, but they were already more than half-way there, so close to the point of change. Clay couldn't wait either, for his feelings to settle down, to become even stronger, even more overwhelming. There was no questioning if they would, no uncertainty. It was clear as the day what they will become to one another, what their relationship was transforming into.
He pulled Geroge even closer to himself, breathing in the smell of the shampoo in his hair. Never before did he imagine that the other would fit so well in his arms, that they will be exactly what the other needed. He couldn't imagine any other person in the place of George, everything they shared before their first meeting creating too strong of a bond to ever be replicated.
"I can't either. It'll be so much." He said, smiling to himself.
"Did you... did you expect this?" Asked him George. Many emotions were stirring inside of Clay. It was hard to make sense of what he thought and what he didn't think would happen, what he hoped would happen. Did he know that this emotion, that was so overwhelming him now, was what he had felt for George a week ago? No. No, they had joked about it, teased each other, circled around the subject, but no. He didn't know. Was he surprised or shocked that this feeling had come up so soon after they saw each other in real life? Also no.
"I guess... I didn't let myself. I was so afraid it would be one-sided that I blocked it out. But then I saw you and ... we clicked."
"We did, didn't we? I knew there was something, but I didn't think I would act on it. But then our eyes met, and somehow, it became so easy to be brave. I had never experienced that before."
That was true. Both of them had identified as mostly straight their entire lives, so it was surprising how they just let themselves go. There was no questioning whether it was something they both wanted, no need for an explanation. They just slowly fell into this, not afraid of rejection or ruining what they had.
“I didn’t expect you to. To be so honest, to say those things you felt so bluntly to me. "
"Yea, it's just... The way you looked at me, you know? The way you continue to look at me. It feels like I already know everything I need to."
"Do you?" Clay asked him, tugging slightly at George's hair to make him lean away and look him in the eyes. Their eyes met, something hot and blazing sparkling in the brown irises. The heart in his chest was pounding so loudly. "Do you know everything?" He whispered.
The brown eyes stared at him with a tender look in them.
"I think I know enough. " George whispered back.