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The rain was pouring outside Laurent's car. It was barely three in the afternoon, yet the heavy rain clouds enveloped the world in gloom. Laurent had no umbrella, and he was already walking to his car when the rain started pouring, so now he was sitting in his car, soaked, freezing, and angry.
He told his boss that the outside parking lot will bite them in the ass someday, and he was always right, why didn’t they believe him.
It was too cold, and today out of all days living in California, his damn heater decided to break down. It’s too fucking cold and he was in a bad mood since this morning after a fight with Damen last night. He’s fucking freezing and his heater was broken and he ignored Damen’s text –the only text he sent Laurent after they fought– when he told him to bring an umbrella, all because Laurent was angry.
Laurent’s cold and soaked and angry and he didn’t even know if Damen was home, when all he wanted was to be wrapped in Damen’s arms, warmer than a blanket, warmer than their space heater. Damen was always warm, always kind, always gentle, except last night when he wasn’t, and he left Laurent to sleep on their bed, cold and alone.
Laurent started his crappy car, turned on the headlights and windshield wipers, then drove, hoping he’ll make it home before he cried or crashed.
It had been such a bad day, waking up angry because Damen walked out last night, then never called him. He couldn’t even remember their argument anymore, surely starting small, but Laurent ignited the flames with his biting remarks, and Damen just wasn’t able to take it last night. So he left. Then, he never texted Laurent where he was, nor if he was okay, and Laurent and his stupid pride didn’t text either. But he woke up to Damen’s text, no apologies, just a reminder to bring an umbrella. It was sweet, Laurent’s heart broke when he read it, but it wasn’t what he needed, so he ignored it.
At work, it was just as bad. All his coworkers decided to be incompetent, providing rehashed ideas that he had to reject, pushing them all back from their deadline. And then this damn rain, this damn car, and— Laurent shook his head, he could barely see the road, his tears wouldn’t help.
Just as he thought of the dangers lurking in driving in rain and crying, a car switched to his lane, disregarding their signal. Laurent reacted fast, braking before he crashed, then honked his horn in anger.
“You fucking bastard! What the fucking fuck! Fuck you!” He screamed despite being unheard.
God, he fucking hated California drivers in rain. It was like they forgot their driving education just because it rained in this desert where it was so rare.
“Fuck!” he screamed again, when he braked too hard at a stoplight.
When Laurent got shook up like this, he’d usually call Damen to calm down, but he decided against it. He’d be angrier if Damen didn’t answer, probably still mad at him. Probably angrier now because he didn’t reply to his text all day. He didn’t follow up with any other text anyway.
Laurent was shivering as he parked in front of his house. Then he saw what he wanted all along. His heart swelled as he gazed at Damen’s car parked in front too. He didn’t know the man’s mood, but at least he was home. He just wanted him to be home.
Laurent quickly gathered his things from the passenger seat. He’s angry at himself as he fitted the papers in his bag again, because he threw it too hard when he entered his car earlier, causing everything to spill out. He regretted it the moment he did it, but he regretted it more now because it’s keeping him from seeing Damen.
Once he was done, he opened his door immediately, not seeing there was a man there, holding up an umbrella, waiting for him.
It was Damen who knew he had no umbrella. Damen who walked out last night. Damen who’s back now, with an umbrella, waiting for him.
Laurent didn’t look him in the eye yet, but he ducked under the umbrella and muttered a thank you. Damen, as if nothing happened last night, wrapped an arm on his side, then pulled him close so they’re both under the umbrella. Laurent noticed that he was fully under the umbrella, while Damen’s left side was getting soaked in the pouring rain.
The walk to the door was quick and quiet, Laurent not knowing what to say, too stunned to speak, too happy, too emotional.
Damen shook the umbrella outside while Laurent removed his shoes and placed it on the rug ready at the door. It wasn’t always there.
He looked at Damen who crossed the threshold and closed the door. Laurent lunged onto him immediately, missing that warmth, communicating all his apologies, his affection, his need in that one hug.
He started to get nervous because Damen wasn’t hugging him back but, then he did, after he recovered from the shock. Damen hugged Laurent tightly, like he too was communicating the same things, that he missed him, that he was air and he needed to breathe him in.
“I’m so sorry about last night,” Damen began to say but Laurent shushed him.
“Can you just please hold me?” was all Laurent said as he tightened his grip, and Damen did the same.
They stayed there for a few moments, breathing each other in, holding each other close, unrelenting in each others’ embrace.
Damen pulled away first to kiss the side of Laurent’s head, arms sliding down to his waist.
“You have to change. I don’t want you to get sick.”
“You have to change too. I got you all wet.”
“Hm. You did get me wet, huh?”
“Oh my god, Damen.”
“That’s exactly what I’ll make you say when we have our makeup sex.”
Laurent swatted him in the back. They both started laughing, and just like that, everything that happened last night was forgotten.
“Come on. I got a bath ready for you.” Damen said.
Damen threw a towel over Laurent’s head, to dry him. Laurent just let him, loving the way Damen’s hand massaged his scalp through the towel. However, it all ended when Damen shook him playfully, Laurent seeing nothing because the towel blocked his sight.
“Oh no Damen—” Laurent began, knowing perfectly well what Damen was about to do.
“Damen!” Laurent shouted as Damen picked him up and threw him over his shoulders, the towel still over his head.
“What a nice view,” Damen teased, squeezing his ass.
“Let me down, you brute!” Laurent shouted, not really putting up a fight.
“Let you down? Never.” Damen said as he opened the door to the bathroom. “Should I just throw you in the bathtub?”
“I’m killing you.” Laurent threatened as Damen put him down.
Laurent took the towel from his head, rolled it, and swatted Damen whose back was turned to him.
“You’re kinky today.”
“I hate you.” Laurent responded, not meaning it at all. “Oh. Damen…” Laurent said when he finally looked at the bathroom.
Damen did not just prepare the bath for him, he prepared the whole experience. There were candles everywhere — though they were battery-powered ones because Damen didn’t want to start a fire. The light was dim, the bathroom glowed in orange and yellow hues from the candles. Laurent smelled the vanilla from the bath bomb damen presumably threw in the bathtub for him.
“You’re the fucking best.” Laurent told Damen who was watching him take in what he prepared.
Damen just smiled back and stood in front of Laurent. He cupped Laurent’s cheeks with his warm hands and Laurent melted immediately. Damen kissed his forehead then.
“Are you gonna strip in front of me baby, or do you want me to strip you?” Damen asked in a whisper, breaking the sweet moment.
Laurent pulled back. “Pervert.” He said, but he began to remove his coat.
“Wait no. I wanted to strip you.” Damen suddenly said, holding Laurent’s hands in his and guided him to take off the coat.
Laurent exhaled through his nose in amusement and adoration. He presented his torso and let Damen unbutton his own shirt. The air between them was electrifying. Laurent began to kiss Damen while he stripped him. His hands made their way to Damen’s own shirt and lifted it up. Damen let him strip his shirt.
“Who’s the pervert now?” Damen asked, unbuttoning Laurent’s pants.
“I just don’t want you to stay in a wet shirt.”
“Sure.” Damen said, kneeling as he pulled Laurent’s pants and underwear down. He kissed his inner thighs and Laurent placed his hands on Damen’s head. He looked up. “Not yet, baby.”
“Fucking tease.” Laurent said letting go of Damen’s head as he stood up laughing.
“Damen!” Laurent screamed, startled because Damen picked him up again, bridal style. “I swear to god if you dump me in the bathtub—”
Damen cackled, but gently placed him inside the bathtub.
“Oh–oh, that’s still warm.” Laurent said, sighing contentedly at the water kissing his skin.
Damen had a smile on his face as he watched Laurent enjoy the bath he prepared for him.
“Of course baby, only the best for you.” Damen said, kissing his forehead then providing him with the book he was currently reading every night before they slept.
“Come in with me.” Laurent caught his hand and kissed it.
“I made this all for you, my love.” Damen responded, crouching down so he could be eye to eye with Laurent. “I know how much you hate getting soaked in the rain.”
“Please come in?” Laurent whispered and gave Damen a look he knew he could never refuse.
Damen placed his forehead on the hand that held him and chuckled. “God, you know I can’t say no to you.”
Laurent smiled and let go of his hand so he could remove his clothes. He gave Damen back his book so it won’t get wet.
“Ooh strip tease.” Laurent joked as Damen pulled his sweatpants off. “Can you get my wallet from my pants so I can throw money at you?”
Damen cracked a smile and playfully threw his underwear at Laurent.
“Freebie!” Laurent exclaimed and Damen laughed, snatching it back and their clothes on the floor to put it inside the laundry basket. “Nice ass. Can you bend over again?”
Damen was laughing as he got in the bathtub in front of Laurent. He sat down, cross-legged, rather comfortable, because they both made sure this bathtub was big enough for the both of them when they bought this house.
Laurent moved from his position so he could sit on Damen’s lap, giving them more room, so Damen can stretch his legs out. Laurent snaked his arms around Damen’s neck and gave him a kiss which Damen gladly accepted, wrapping his own arms around Laurent.
They stayed like that for a while, in each other's arms, candles lit around them, the light dim, the sound of rain pouring outside the window above the bathtub.
Laurent held Damen’s face who was staring at him with gentleness, affection, and love —so much love he honestly had no idea what to do with it most of the time.
“I’m really sorry about last night.” Laurent whispered, giving a kiss to the side of Damen’s lips. “I know my words can be… terrible.”
Damen combed his hair back and cupped the back of his neck. “No, I'm sorry for not texting. And not coming back. I just slept over at Nik’s.”
“We’re even then.” Laurent kissed his nose.
Damen smiled. “We are.”
He cupped Laurent’s face and kissed his forehead. Laurent physically relaxed in his arms, all the tension he felt today, all the pressure and the negative energy evaporated away in Damen’s arms, in Damen’s words, in Damen’s strength.
Damen’s mouth was right next to Laurent’s ear when he whispered. “Next time I tell you to bring an umbrella, can you please listen?”
“Don’t piss me off then?” Laurent’s reply was automatic.
Damen knocked foreheads with him, also automatic.
“You headbutted me!” Laurent said, face full of disbelief at Damen’s actions, like he hadn’t done this plenty of times before.
“No, I was trying to be sweet.” Damen replied, a big smile on his face.
“Liar!” Laurent splashed Damen with water.
“Oh you really wanna go there?” Damen taunted, getting his hands ready to retaliate.
Laurent covered his face immediately. “No. Please. I was kidding. I don't wanna clean the floors.”
Damen laughed and simply smothered Laurent in a really tight hug. Laurent’s head was squished between Damen’s chest, but he wasn’t complaining. He gave it a kiss instead and Damen laughed harder, loosening his hug. Laurent emerged with a big smile on his face. He wrapped his arms around Damen’s torso and rested his head on the crook of his neck, breathing him in, like he was the oxygen he needed to stay alive.
“Let’s not fight like that again.” Laurent said, meaning it.
He wasn’t afraid to lose Damen, he knew he wouldn’t. What he was afraid of was disappointing him, making him upset, being the reason the smile on his face won’t light up anyone’s day anymore, especially his. Laurent would do anything to give Damen a reason to always smile.
“I don’t want to fight like that.” Laurent repeated, kissing Damen’s neck.
Damen kissed the top of his head. “Don’t piss me off, then.”
Laurent smacked Damen’s back and bit his neck.
“Laurent! I’m kidding!” Damen screamed, because Laurent didn’t relent.
Laurent released him, laughing and kissing his bite mark.
“You just wanted to give me a hickey didn’t you?”
Laurent looked up at Damen. “How’d you know?”
Damen laughed, breathy, beautiful, and Laurent would really do anything to keep him that way.
Laurent cupped his face again.
“I love you.”
Damen –oh how beautiful he was– his whole face lit up at Laurent’s words.
“I love you too.”
He kissed Laurent again, the gentle peck quickly turning into something more when Laurent opened up for him, letting him explore inside, their tongues dancing around each other.
Suddenly, Damen pulled away, and Laurent groaned.
“Hey, I prepared more things for you… Can you wait?”
“Can you?” Laurent asked, eyes still closed, leaning in once more.
Damen laughed and kissed him again. Laurent let out an annoyed sigh when Damen pulled back quickly and stood up, knowing perfectly well he wouldn't be leaving this bathtub if he didn’t start now.
“Mm. What a view.” Laurent said dreamily when Damen stepped out.
Damen looked back at him with a giant smile and crouched down to kiss Laurent's forehead. He caressed his face, and, because he couldn't help it, kissed Laurent on the lips.
“There's a bathrobe here.” Damen pointed behind the door. “Come out when you’re ready. Take your time, this is all for you.”
“Thank you, Damen.” Laurent kissed Damen’s hand.
“Anything for you, my love.”
+++
Laurent sat by the bay window, watching the dark clouds and heavy rain pour down outside. He was still in the bathrobe, the space heater placed right next to him by Damen who told him to sit and wait there with a book while he made him something in the kitchen. There was music playing in the background. Damen set it up when he left the bathroom and played it in their speakers which can be heard all over the house.
Laurent was peaceful and happy, and he didn’t want to think about how close he came to having none of this at all.
“Here you go, babe.” Damen returned, offering Laurent a mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top.
Laurent accepted, smiling at Damen who was sitting beside him with his own mug of hot chocolate, still clad in the bathrobe he wore when he left the bathroom. Laurent leaned on his side and Damen automatically wrapped his arm around him.
They sat like that for a few minutes, talking about everything and nothing, about Laurent’s day, what Nik said about Laurent when Damen appeared on his doorstep at 12 AM last night, how Damen didn’t sleep a wink at all, worried about Laurent who was worried about him.
They were laughing by the time a familiar piece of music floated through the speakers, the subject changing from their fight, to Damen’s text this morning, to Laurent’s annoying colleagues, to Damen’s misery trying to get the bath ready for Laurent, turning on all those candles. Both of them recognized the song. It was the song they danced to together at Auguste’s wedding, when everything changed for them, when Laurent lost control of his words for once and spilled all of his feelings to Damen. And here they were now.
Damen stood up, took Laurent’s mug and placed it on a nearby table.
“Hey, I was drinking that.”
“Can I have this dance?”
“Oh.” Laurent was actually surprised. “Yes.”
He took Damen’s hand and Damen spun him, both of them laughing before Damen enveloped Laurent in his arms. They were barely dancing, simply hugging and swaying.
The music ended, so did the playlist, but they remained in the middle of their living room, swaying in each other’s arms, the rain pouring in the background the only sound that could be heard.
Laurent had his eyes closed, Damen’s warmth the only thing he needed to feel comfortable.
“So…” Laurent heard Damen above him, still swaying them. “Are you going to bring an umbrella when I tell you?”
Laurent exhaled a laugh and didn’t bother to look up. He continued swaying with Damen as he responded.
“Nope. I’d just expect you to take care of me like this all the time.”