Chapter Text
There was an awkwardness in the car that Damen believed Laurent and Nicaise have never shared before. Damen knew Nicaise as much as Laurent did because Laurent shared everything he knew about the little boy.
Damen still remembers the night when Laurent started to talk about the new boy that arrived to the orphanage that day. They were in bed sharing their day with each other, it was their daily routine and maybe Laurent’s favorite time of the day. Damen was playing with his hair when Laurent told him about the children that he had met and examined, told him how some of them had trouble with getting in to his room because they were afraid of doctors.
“There was this one boy, he had very cute curly hair almost like your hair. He was trying to tell others that there was nothing to be afraid of,” Laurent said, giggling. “You should have seen him Damen, he was also crying a little bit.” Laurent was smiling while holding Damen’s hand and playing with his nails.
“But when he entered the room he took a deep breath and said ‘I’m not scared at all, I will show them there is nothing to be scared.’ You could see, he was scared as much as them but he was trying so hard to make everyone feel okay.”
Damen stopped playing with Laurent’s hair and shifted so he could see Laurent’s face, he felt from his voice that Laurent cared about this a lot. He never took time to give details about the children because he cared about their privacy even if it was Damen.
“You never talk about them like this, what happened to you today?” Damen said, teasing.
Laurent brought their hands to his lips and gave Damen’s hand a little kiss.
“I just like him,” Laurent said with sadness in his voice. “He is such a good child to be abandoned, all of them are.”
“What is his name? Can I ask for that much?” said Damen. He was really interested about Laurent’s work environment and wanted to know everything Laurent was willing to share.
“Nicaise,” said Laurent. “He has such a nice name, he is only five.”
Then Laurent slapped Damen’s chest to change the atmosphere.
“That’s all you are getting today. I’m exhausted, I believe I’ll sleep the moment I close my eyes. Do you have any plans or do I get to hug my brute tonight while sleeping?” said Laurent getting up, disappearing into the bathroom.
Since then Laurent talked about Nicaise almost every day, apparently after his examination, Nicaise asked for Laurent all the time because he liked how shiny his hair was. He visited Laurent’s room every time he had free time and Laurent appreciating his influence on the other children, let him stay in his room.
Now he was in the back seat, heading home. His new home. He was being quiet which was quite odd because Laurent mentioned how lively Nicaise was around him.
Damen glared at the back seat and found Nicaise playing with his hoodie’s sleeves. He was obviously feeling nervous and Damen felt the responsibility to make him feel comfortable. Damen guessed his nervousness was caused by his presence because the little boy didn’t know him that much.
“I’ll stop by the bakery, remember the chocolate cupcake we had there Laurent? I think little guy would like that, what do you say?” said Damen looking at the boy from the rearview mirror.
Nicaise immediately looked at Laurent, questioning things in his head.
“How do you know I like chocolate cupcake?” said Nicaise, sounding guarded.
“I remember you eating at least five of them on your birthday celebration last year, also Laurent talks about the things you like quite a lot. He is very fond of you.” said Damen smiling at Laurent.
Damen was right, Nicaise loved chocolate cupcakes. Children didn’t get to have special treats in the orphanage. Other than the things visitors got to them, they had very strict eating schedule. Only exception was on their birthday.
“But my birthday was last month and I ate as much as I can because I hate waiting for it every year. They are gone now though I don’t taste them in my mouth anymore. I didn’t eat anything after to keep them in my belly but Miss said I had to eat my dinner if I wanted to go and play with others, so I had to eat. I wanted to have cupcake taste in my belly that day not peas!” said Nicaise in the heat of the moment, then flushed when he heard Damen’s laugh.
“I think Damen wanted to get you some because we want to celebrate today. What do you think, do you want some?” said Laurent turning in his seat reaching for Nicaise’s hand.
“Why today? Is it your birthday? I thought you liked the ones that had strawberry in them.” said Nicaise moving closer to the front seats. Damen felt like they finally cracked his shell, he was starting to open up and have conversation with them.
“No, we decided to have a small welcoming party for you, we tried so hard to get you to live with us. Remember when we talked about it?” said Laurent softly. Damen noticed how gentle he was with Nicaise, like Nicaise was a timid rabbit that could run away with any sudden movement.
“Yes. I remember.” said Nicaise quietly. “I think I want some.” He looked Damen from the mirror for a second. Damen could still feel the shyness Nicaise had towards him.
It wasn’t like they didn’t know each other, they met a year ago, when they were having a little party for Nicaise’s 5th birthday. Laurent wanted him to be there, to meet Nicaise because apparently he was asking for Damen. Nicaise didn’t know Laurent had a boyfriend for almost two years until he saw Laurent’s ring and asked about it.
After that Damen came and went for the procedures of adoption. They’ve been seeing each other a lot lately but like Laurent told him, it was hard for Nicaise to open up to people. Damen smiled at the similarity between Laurent and Nicaise.
“Cupcake it is then, anything else you want little guy?” said Damen warmly. Nicaise shook his head.
“No. I think cupcake is enough.” said Nicaise moving to his previous spot and then started to look out of the window. He looked like he was already in a deep thought.
“Your life will be better from now on, people like us will always have their happiness.” said Laurent looking at Damen walking into the bakery.
“People like us?” asked Nicaise, he was still so young to understand the deep meanings behind the words.
“Good people.” said Laurent, turning to him and smiling genuinely.