Chapter Text
“New, wake up! Come onnnn wake up already please!”
Even deep in slumber, nothing could jolt New to his senses quite like Tay’s demanding voice. It was always loud and authoritative but only used for New, and for some reason that made New feel special. As if he was the only one who Tay would ever speak to like that. Granted, it always came across as slightly rude and obnoxious. But New was the only one that knew Tay used that tone when he was missing New, when he wanted New’s attention all to himself, when he was lonely or when he just needed to feel New’s presence near him at that time.
He carefully opened one eye, then the other. There, glaring down at him as he stood right next to the bed, was Tay, complete with bedhead, permanent scowl and bulging eyes. A fierce look unique to Tay that was only reserved for New.
Always just for New.
“Tay,” he rasped impatiently as he tried to find his voice so early in the morning, “just because you wake up extremely early doesn’t mean the rest of us do! Either go back to bed or let me sleep.” He mumbled as he pulled the covers up and snuggled back into them.
Tay rolled his eyes and nudged him with his knee.
“Come on, it’s 8 AM, let’s go eat! Or let’s watch TV. Or,” he thought carefully about something he knew would tempt New for sure, “let’s go for a jog!”
New sighed and pushed the covers off a little so that his head could peek out. “You?” He squinted his eyes. “Want to go for a jog? At 8 AM?” He threw Tay a skeptical look.
Tay’s eyes grew wider and he smiled a little too eagerly. “Yes! Of course! It’s very healthy and a great start to one’s day.” He responded solemnly.
New pretended to think deeply about this for a while before pulling the covers back over himself and snuggling into them quickly. “No thanks!” He responded abruptly. “I really need the extra sle—AHHHHHH TAYYYY NO! WHY???”
Suddenly New’s entire body was hit with a rush of cold as the covers were ripped off of him and he was left naked on the bed with just his boxers on.
“IT’S FREEZING TAY!” New hollered as he shot out of bed and attempted to retrieve the covers from Tay.
Tay’s hearty laugh filled the room and suddenly all New could hear was that laugh. It was SO Tay in every way. Whether Tay laughed or cried or got upset, he would express those emotions strongly. He even taught New how to express them as well. It happened gradually though, when Tay would hold him in his arms to let him know he would always support him. When New cried three years ago over his cat running away, when New was upset two years ago over his cousin’s cat passing away, and when New got mad at Tay just last week for leaving the bathroom door open. As he did a number two.
Tay finally became aware of New standing frozen in the middle of the room, staring at him with a goofy smile on his face. He walked slowly over to him, never breaking eye contact as his hands wrapped around the back of New’s neck and pulled him in for a gentle kiss. New smiled into the kiss, his hands reaching slowly for the covers so that he could go blissfully back to sleep.
Tay broke the kiss but hovered his mouth directly over New’s. “Go start a bath and let go of these covers or I will personally drag you back to bed, but you won’t be getting any sleep this time.” He whispered evenly, never breaking eye contact with the younger boy.
New’s mouth hung open slightly as he dropped the covers in a heartbeat, scowling while simultaneously power walking to the bathroom.
Tay eyed his ass from behind.
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“Another couple broke up over the weekend.” New sighed dramatically, breaking this terrible news to Tay as they ate breakfast in the kitchen of their shared condo.
“Who?” Tay asked uninterestedly, his fingers scrolling through Twitter on his iPad.
“Remember the ones we met at that retreat last year?”
“Mmmm. Ohh. Well. That’s sad.” Tay responded distractedly.
New rolled his eyes and got up to place his dishes in the sink. As he turned on the water and began to rinse them he felt firm arms wrap around his waist and place more dishes into the sink.
“Since you’re already doing them, would you be so kind?” Tay mumbled against New’s neck.
New’s ears started to turn red and he could feel a small blush start to form at the nape of his neck. Damn it! Two years into their “official” relationship and he still couldn’t stop blushing whenever his…………best friend would show him any kind of affection.
“What do I get in return?” New responded.
“What do you want?” Tay asked, kissing New’s shoulder, his second favorite body part of New’s. Or was it his third? He could never remember.
“I want to get another cat.” New mumbled in a tiny voice, hoping his cute act would assist in convincing Tay this time.
Tay smacked his lips and placed his forehead against the back of New’s shoulder in exasperation. “New we’ve been through this! I don’t like cats. Why do you keep asking for something you know I’m never going to agree to?”
“Because I just…….want one. I miss my old cat. It’s been three years since she ran away and I still feel like there’s a hole in my h—are you laughing?!” New could feel Tay’s body vibrate with the hum of his laughter.
“It’s not funny Tay! She……..we don’t even know why she ran! Or how she ran, really….”
“Maybe she got tired of listening to that awful, slow and depressing music you listen to.” Tay muttered under his breath as he headed over to the fridge.
“He’s not a bad artist! His music just isn’t for everyone!” New exclaimed, exasperated at Tay’s callous response to his desire to get a cat. Was it such a bad thing to ask for? Tay knew how hard it had been when New’s previous cat ran away. And he also knew that New would be the one cleaning and looking out for the cat. So what was the big deal?
He turned to Tay, ready to push the issue further, but saw the freezer door open and the box of ice cream peaking out from inside.
“Did you restock on ice cream last night?” He asked incredulously. They ran out yesterday morning and New had whined all day about not having his favorite dessert around.
Tay glanced back at him and grinned. “Well you wouldn’t let me forget about it so I figured it’s for the best if I grabbed some while I was out.”
“Great!” New exclaimed, clapping his hands together and walking over to grab the ice cream. “Let’s have some now!”
Tay smacked his hands away and shut the freezer door. “It’s 10 in the morning New and we just ate breakfast. Go get dressed so we can head out to meet up with the gang at the movies. We’re gonna be late.”
“One bite won’t hurt Tay, come on!” New insisted as he tried to dodge him and get to the freezer.
Tay wrapped his arms around New’s torso and dragged him out the kitchen towards their bedroom, New’s cries of anger echoing around the condo walls.
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“I don’t know New, I know I put the mailbox key somewhere inside my bag. I’ll find it, hang on.”
Both boys stood in the lobby of the condo building as Tay began digging through his bag to locate the key. New noticed the stares of their neighbors heading out for the day, watching Tay rummage through his already crammed bag as New stood awkwardly beside him.
He sighed and was about to nag Tay to hurry up when a tall shadow caught the corner of his eye. He turned to his right to locate its source and glanced upon a guy he couldn’t recall ever seeing around their building before. He was tall, at least six feet, easily, wearing a blue t-shirt, plain black basketball shorts and sneakers. He clearly worked out, which New could immediately tell by looking at his arms and legs. But while his muscles were defined they weren’t huge or the center of attention on his body.
His mouth currently formed an “O” as he whistled lightly while opening his own mailbox to grab the envelopes stuffed inside.
New involuntarily tilted his head to the side, scrunching his eyebrows in concentration. Some of the envelopes dropped out from the mailbox onto the floor. The guy laughed lightly, running his hand through his hair. New was able to catch a hint of a dimple on at least one cheek.
He never realized how much he liked dimples until now.
The guy squatted down to pick up the envelopes, remaining in that position as he shuffled through them to get an initial glance of what had been delivered to him. New’s head now leaned to the other side as he noticed that the guy’s hair was that perfectly imperfect kind, the kind that didn’t need any styling to look great. Even tussled up his hair fell just right onto his forehead.
New didn’t think he’d ever seen someone this beautiful in his life. And that was despite the constant hours he spent staring at himself in the mirror.
He let out a breathe he didn’t even know he had been holding as the stranger stood up slowly and finally sensed someone looking at him. His head whipped around to face New and, unfortunately for New, they finally made eye contact.
His eyes widened as he suddenly became embarrassed at having been caught checking out this random guy. But he still couldn’t break eye contact.
The guy observed New for a few seconds before smiling slowly, his dimples popping up again and making New’s heartbeat pick up. Even his smile was perfect. It radiated warmth and kindness. In fact, his whole demeanor gave off such a relaxed vibe that New felt at ease just looking at him, which was a rare feat to accomplish given the fact that New’s brain was constantly buzzing with a hundred different thoughts at once. But as he looked at this random stranger, he felt nothing but comfort.
Which he now realized sounded incredibly creepy, even in his head. What was happening to him?! Why was he standing here like an idiot, staring at this stranger?
The guy seemed to pick up on New’s agitation because his smile widened as he narrowed his eyes and took a firm step towards New.
New immediately took a step back.
The guy noticed and waited a few more seconds, observing New carefully before taking two more steps forward.
New was about to take another step back when suddenly he felt a hand land on his elbow and was yanked backwards roughly.
“New, come on! I’ve finally got our mail. Turns out the key was actually stuck on the chain of one of the bracelets I had thrown in my bag last week. I can’t believe I still have that bracelet!” Tay exclaimed as he pulled New towards the main door of the building.
New glanced quickly at Tay and smiled vaguely, turning back to see if the stranger was still there.
He wasn’t.
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