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Stephen Meeks had never really been one for romance. He was too logical, too focused on what was important, to worry about such trivial things. Besides, he and Charlie had more… voraciousappetites. However, he wasn’t unobservant of it, or completely ignorant. For example, one of his favourite secret hobbies was watching his best friend, Gerard Pitts, and his boyfriend, Nathan ‘Stick’ Stites. For scientific purposes, of course.
It was the small things, the little, tender, delicate things, that made Meeks’ heart falter as he watched them. Not from jealousy or desire, just from watching two people so in love they forgot everyone else existed.
He wasn’t sure when they’d first become a serious item, but he also couldn’t remember when they hadn’t been. He remembered the soft smiles across the dinner table, the way Pitts would grab down the books Nathan was struggling to reach, Sticks grabbing the things Gerard dropped.
Pitts liked to brush strands of Nathan’s golden hair from his eyes when he studied, knowing he got too focused to realise they were blocking his vision. Nathan fixed Pitts’ tie every morning and made sure he was crumb free, making sure to slip a snack into Gerard’s breast pocket for later.
The first time Sticks had joined them in the cave, he’d been nervous and observed quietly, his eyes filled to the brim with adoration as he watched Gerard recite one of his infamous limericks. The two were both quiet and shy, but they were so comfortable in their silences together. They’d observe with no judgement, hands clasped and hips touching in the dim light.
In the common rooms, they’d join the rest of the Poets, but their whispered conversations intrigued Stephen. What were they talking about? What had Pitts said that made Nathan grin like that? Why was Gerard laughing so loudly as Sticks giggled? He was fascinated, but mostly he was happy his best friend had someone to love him the way Meeks loved Charlie.
He was watching them now, Nathan curled up on Pitt’s lap and reading, his head resting against his dozing boyfriend’s shoulder, and Stephen smiled.
“You’re doing it again.”
Meeks almost dropped his pen as he jumped, Charlie grinning like the imp he was as he slid into the seat beside Stephen. He winked at Meeks’ disapproval and Stephen fought against the smirk that tugged at his lip. The library was always emptier this time of night, and Charlie was brave enough to run his fingers delicately over Stephen’s cheek with a smile.
“Why do you watch them?” Charlie’s question wasn’t mocking, merely curious.
“Honestly? I have no idea,” Stephen chuckled, wrapping his fingers around Charlie’s and bringing his hand to his mouth. He was hesitant, placing a gentle kiss upon each knuckle and avoiding Charlie’s surprised gaze. He heard Charlie’s breath hitch and his grip on Meeks’ hand tighten. “Fascinating.”
“Oh, this is a science thing, isn’t it?” Charlie smirked, evidently pleased at his assumption.
“Clearly,” Stephen purred, taking Charlie by surprise as he turned to face him and began peppering kisses all over his boyfriend’s face. Slow and soft, nothing heated or desperate about them. Just… curious. Charlie’s eyes fluttered closed and Meeks’ could almost hear the boy’s heart pounding at every caress of his lips. “For science.”
“Can- can I help? With anything?” Charlie gulped, his eyes opening in dazed confusion as Stephen pulled away. Meeks’ merely smiled and placed a chaste kiss where Charlie was pouting.
“Of course, you can.”
“For science?”
“For science.”