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When Gene and Finny first started dating neither one of them had many hobbies.
Not to say that either of them were boring or bland with their day to day life. And not to say that neither had zero interests, because they certainly did. It’s just, neither of them branched out and furthered those interests into genuine hobbies for the longest time.
Of course they did things religiously that some might consider it a routine or tradition at this point. Every morning before the sun had fully risen they’d walk around the neighborhood, and every evening after supper they’d do it again. Finny didn’t care too much about watching sports on the television, he much preferred to see it in real life or (when he was able to) be apart of it. However, every time the Olympics came around Finny would spend the week before reconstructing both of their schedules so that they could watch it without any interruptions.
They had routines and traditions but not so many hobbies.
But as their love continued to mold and grow, and the years passed them, Gene and Finny found themselves encountering new hobbies and interests quicker than you’d think. And they’d always, always, enjoy these newfound hobbies together.
****
Finny was well aware that reading was one of Gene’s favorite pastimes. It was almost a guarantee that if Finny was out in town by himself he would return home with at least one book that he deemed “had Gene written all over it.” Whatever that meant.
And Gene was well aware that Finny didn’t care much about reading. His attention span just never seemed to find reading sustainable enough. It was fine though. The two learned to work around it.
Which is why Gene was surprised when Finny brought up the idea of starting a book club together.
“A bookclub…Just you and me….” Gene stated, more to himself than to Finny. He couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. “You do know that involves reading a book and talking about it, right?”
Finny, ever the dramatic, looked vaguely insulted. The sparkling glint in his eyes gave him away though. “What surprises you more? Me suggesting a book club or the fact that I can read?”
“Maybe both.” Gene teased as he playfully pinched Finny’s side. Finny knew Gene was playing with him and didn’t take any of it to heart, only pinching Gene back to get even. But he wasn’t finished yet. “I’m serious though. I’d like to do a book club with you. I think it’d be nice.”
“A club usually consists of more than two people though. We could ask my brother and his wife if they’d want to join. You could ask, what’s his name, your coworker that you like a lot. We could host it at our house for convenience's sake.”
It wasn’t that Finny didn’t like all of those people, they were all swell in his book, it’s just that wasn’t what he wanted at all. “What’s wrong with it just being us? I’d like it that way. I’d prefer it that way actually.”
This time Gene thankfully took the hint. “Alright. Then we will have our two man book club.” He said with a grand impression making Finny laugh. Totally choosing to ignore how his heart was melting into a puddle.
Gene was in charge of picking the book. Even though Gene had only really gotten into reading books as an adult, Finny deemed him the master and placed the responsibility of picking to him. Granted, it was the smartest decision. If Finny was in charge he’d be so clueless that he’d pick the first book he saw, no matter what the description read. It took him a while to decide since he wanted to pick something both would enjoy, and so in the end he picked The Great Gatsby. It would be a short enough read so Finny wouldn’t get too bored or overwhelmed, the plot was simple enough to understand but complex in ways that would lead to great discussions, and who doesn’t love a good classic?
It wasn’t like Gene expected the “club” to go terrible; he just didn’t expect Finny to enjoy it as much as he did. Never in his time of knowing Finny had he ever seen him become entrapped in a book’s story and themes. He absolutely adored it. It was beautiful to Gene seeing Finny so enthusiastic about something he used to drag feet over. Their original plan was to read three chapters a week on their own time, and then once a week they’d sit down and discuss it. But what ended up happening was them reading in bed or on the couch together and just talking out loud as they went. It got to the ridiculous point where Finny ditched his copy and just read over Gene’s shoulder. Gene’s comments were usually about the themes and morale in the book, Finny’s were about the characters. “You remind me of Nick Carraway.” Finny once said out loud when they were halfway through the book, and he refused to explain any further. They finished in no time.
Needless to say, every few months or so Gene and Finny will wander into their local bookstore together, browse through the books with great interest, and settle on a new chosen book for their great two man book club.
(Finny’s really gotta think of a good name for it)
****
Gene’s new found interest in puzzles took him by surprise.
He and Finny were visiting their niece one weekend when she pulled out a grand five hundred piece puzzle and asked who was willing to help her. Finny, who was always so enthusiastic to help his beloved niece with anything, suddenly had to go to the bathroom. Which left Gene to shrug his shoulders and start to flip all the pieces over to their correct side. Children never have the best attention span and so after an hour his niece gave up and went to play somewhere else. Another hour passed and Gene had finished the puzzle all by himself. He was hooked.
The next afternoon he dragged Finny with him to the store to look for puzzles to attempt.
Now Finny wasn’t too particularly happy about this hobby. He never stated it out loud, he could never say something that could offend Gene, but it was clear in his body language that he wasn’t thrilled to be sitting on the floor with Gene hours on end looking for puzzle pieces that fit.
“You know, you don’t have to do it with me.” Gene suggested one time after a particularly deep sigh left Finny’s body. Finny looked up from his spot on the floor, a puzzle piece he’s been working on for the past several minutes in his hand, “You don’t want me here?”
Gene’s heart tightened at the sadness in Finny’s voice. “I never said that. You just don’t seem to be having fun is all.”
“I am having fun!” Finny exclaimed. He sounded genuine and sincere. He always did. Gene arched an eyebrow at him. “If I was doing this by myself I wouldn’t be having fun. But I’m doing it with you so I am having fun. I’m a little frustrated but I’m having fun.”
Gene smiled at him warmly before leaning over and giving Finny a peck on the lips. “Why don’t you work on all the end pieces? That’s usually the easiest place to start, and it’ll help me out a lot.”
“You got it, Captain.” Finny said with a wink while jumping into action with newfound energy.
Slowly Gene lost his burning passion in puzzles, but it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence in their household for Gene to walk into the living room with a puzzle box in his hand and asking Finny if he was up for it. And there wasn’t a single time Finny told him no.
The first puzzle that they finished together was a painting of a bookstore’s front entrance. There were a thousand pieces and Finny all but whined the whole process of putting it together (Finny told Gene that if he developed back problems in the future it would be all Gene’s fault). But the finished product, per Finny’s demand, is framed and hung up right in the living room space. You couldn’t miss it if you tried. If you were to take the frame off the wall and turn it around you’d find chicken scrawl handwriting that notes the day the puzzle was started, the day it was completed, and: “Gene and Finny’s greatest accomplishment to date!”
****
Finny also had his fair share of fleeting interests. The first that came up was, of all things, gardening.
It wasn’t too much of a shock to Gene. In fact, he was quite thoroughly amused over anything else. It was really the being outside part of gardening that attracted Finny the most. When he stayed inside too much he complained to Gene that he was turning into a dust bunny the more time went on.
It all started when Finny’s coworker Anna gifted him a trowel for Christmas one year. Gene found it amusing, considering Finny had never once gardened in his life, but Finny was touched by the gesture. That’s how Gene found out Finny had apparently been talking to his coworkers about starting a garden in their backyard. He was even going so far as to pick up gardening magazines at the drugstore to read tips and tricks.
“How come you never told me about this?” Gene asked, baffled and truthfully a tad bit hurt that Finny didn’t entrust him with this newfound interest.
Finny had the decency to look slightly ashamed of himself. He leaned into Gene and rested his head on his shoulder as a silent apology. Gene accepted without hesitation. “I was going to but then I forgot all about it. It’s been a while since I thought the idea up. Honest.”
“Do you still want to?” Gene asked while playing with Finny’s fingers in his hand.
Finny moved his head slightly so that he had room to plant a soft kiss on Gene’s neck. “Yeah I think I do. At least, I’d like to try it. Better to try everything once, you know?”
Gene could work with that.
When spring rolled around one of their first stops was the garden shop that was just around the block. When the store owner was explaining different gardening methods to Finny, Gene couldn’t help but smile at the eagerness and enthusiasm seeping through Finny’s body.
As far as hobbies go, this was by far the more useful one they had gotten into. Because the first things Finny planted were vegetables and fruits. And who can turn down fresh veggies and fruit?
The problem for the two of them was how fleety their minds were and how often they forgot to tend to the garden. It’s a miracle the whole thing didn’t just give out and die at some point. If they had tended to it regularly they possibly could have gained more food than they could have imagined. However, they only really came away with a few small tomatoes and strawberries every week or so.
That didn’t stop them from eating them though. Of course not. It was never enough to make a dish with. Hell, there weren’t enough tomatoes to even put in a respectable salad. But that never dampened their spirits when eating them plain and fresh. One time Finny got lucky and plucked out several strawberries and found out it was enough for a strawberry pie. Even though it turned out badly burned Gene told him it tasted lovely (there was a time and place for sarcasm, Gene thankfully learned in adulthood).
It was lovely having a garden. And, Gene figured, it was something Finny would tend to more and more as his time loosened up. It was something that would grow with them with time and somehow the thought of that was sweet to Gene. When he shared that thought to Finny one night he was met with Finny agreeing with him and was gifted a long kiss on the forehead.
When the next Christmas rolled around Finny received a matching gardening hat, gloves, and apron from Gene. He found it downright delightful.
****
Knitting was a short lived interest of Finny’s and Gene will miss it very much. He never did get the sweater that Finny promised him he’d make, and it was something he’d often bring up to tease Finny. He wouldn’t be laughing for long though because Finny would bring up how Gene never did learn Finny’s favorite song on guitar like he promised him to when he had that fleeting aspiration.
The guitar and knitting. Two abandoned hobbies that were done dirty by Gene and Finny.
****
There was one interest of Gene’s that he was too scared to turn into a hobby. It was a hobby that could very dangerous turn into a career, a career he had recently dreamed of achieving, and for that he was scared. But Finny could never stand by and watch Gene feel scared. He had always been that push that Gene needed.
“Have you started writing yet?” Was a common question Finny would ask Gene throughout the years. And Gene’s response was always to turn bashful and mumble a quick “Not yet.”
One night Finny asked the dreaded question and Gene pushed out a frustrated groan. “What would I even write about?”
“Whatever you want to write about.” Finny answered. “Whatever inspires you.”
“That’s a problem then, because nothing inspires me.” Gene said but quickly added, “Except for you.”
“Then write about me.” Finny answered again but this time with an easy smile on his face and tint to his cheeks. “Maybe you could write about us.”
“I don’t know how well it’ll go over to write about us.” Gene said, not really knowing what part about them he was referring to.
Finny didn’t seem like he stopped to think. Instead he just replied, “Write what you feel, or felt, and worry later about how it will go.” It was so simple. So simple. Everything was always simple with Finny.
And so that’s what Gene did.
But he asked for one thing from Finny before he started. He asked if he was up for a trip back to Devon. There were some places he needed to revisit first.
***
It’s a wonderful feeling, Gene thinks, to find someone you’re not only willing to share your interest and hobbies with, but someone who you are willing to try new ones with together. And it’s even more wonderful when that person can inspire you to do the things you never deemed yourself brave enough to try.