Work Text:
Rafael took Nick’s hand as they headed to their apartment's laundry room. The dryers buzzer had gone off and neither of them wanted to go get the clothes in it, so they went together.
Nick opened the dryer and they both worked on taking the clothes out and folding them. The two were shoulder to shoulder, once in a while looking at each other to share warm smiles. Every so often, Rafael would simply watch how focused Nick would get while folding together socks. When Nick noticed Rafael watching he’d swat at the air in Raf’s direction, causing Raf to giggle. Nick could never fold socks very well, but Rafael found it endearing.
Nick found it funny when Rafael would sigh over little balls of lint being stuck to certain shirts despite his efforts for that to stop happening. Rafael would nudge him in playful annoyance every time Nick brought himself to chuckle over this.
Nick hadn’t realized it, but he had started humming some song that Rafael was able to recognize. Rafael smiled and felt his face heat up a bit over how adorable he found this. He didn’t know if Nick just didn’t care that Rafael was there or if he had somehow forgotten, because before this moment Rafael had never heard any sort of song come from the other’s throat. After a minute or so, out of the corner of his eye he caught Nick looking up and quieting himself. Raf started humming the song Nick had been, and soon heard Nick join in again.
Once all the clothes were folded, they both went to start actually putting it all away. They helped each other with the sorting of it all. Nick had been putting all their shirts in the same pile, meaning that they both had to take the time to figure out whose shirt was whose in each pile. Same with their pants. They were pretty quiet for most of this, except for when they’d gently say things like “Oh, that one’s mine…” or “Is this one yours..?”
Just as they finished it all, Rafael woke up. He turned his head against his pillow. The clock read 6:47 am. He sat up and let the blankets fall from his chest. He sighed with disappointment and looked at his hands that laid in his lap now. It felt like his heart was beating so slowly, the overwhelming feeling of yearning and wanting flooding his senses.
When he got to work that day, he found himself at the door just as Nick was walking up too. They gave each other smiles and short greetings, asking how they were and about each other's nights… Small talk. Rafael held the door for Nick as they went into the building, and they shared a look that seemed to mean something a lot more than just a thank you. Something much more tender and greatful. Nick’s face was more relaxed than usual and he smiled a genuine smile; A smile that Raf loved but rarely ever saw. It made Rafael’s eyelids heavy with admiration. Nick’s eyes seemed to be doing the same.
Rafael couldn’t help but wonder… Did Nick dream about Rafael sometimes too?