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Monday, December 13th, 2021
Two months and three days into their relationship, Albus was still giddy every time he was alone with Scorpius. But, Albus was extra excited for the moment because tomorrow he and Scorpius would be going to their respective homes for Christmas break, so would barely see each other for a little over three weeks. Because of that, Albus was trying to make every second with the blonde count.
Right now they were sitting together in their dorm, on Albus's bed, making Christmas ornaments and drinking hot chocolate. They had been doing this activity for an hour-and-a-half and had varying success. Scorpius had just finished his third ornament, Albus was barely half way through with his first.
Albus was getting better and faster, so he should have his first done by the time they hit two hours....Scorpius probably would have finished four by then....
Albus knew it wasn't a competition, but....He wanted to beat Scorpius!
Honestly, Scorpius was definitely going to win, but....Albus didn't really care....Well, maybe he did a bit, but it was fine....
It's not like he would be angry or anything. And Scorpius definitely wasn't going to rub it in like Albus would, but....That didn't curve his determination in the slightest. In fact, it just made him want to win even more....Clearly, Albus was very competitive, but what else was new?
Scorpius sighed in frustration, tears coming to his eyes. He had to fight not to throw the green clay circle he was painting.
"What's wrong, babe?" Albus asked, recognizing the signs of an upcoming meltdown.
"I want more hot chocolate." Scorpius expressed, voice weak.
"Okay, you can have more."
"But I-I don't want to make a house elf bring it here, and I don't want to waste time going to the kitchen."
"Hmm." Albus thought, that was a tough problem to solve. "I can go get some for you."
"No!" Scorpius shook his head. "You stay here." He insisted.
"Okay, I'll stay." Albus wanted to ask Scorpius for solutions, but he knew the boy had probably been thinking about it, and hard, for a while. Anymore and he would just get more frustrated and feel unheard. Albus didn't want that. This was supposed to be a happy time. But, he also didn't know what to do. Scorpius wanted hot chocolate, but their was no way to get him some.
"I-I'm sorry." Scorpius cried, wiping tears from his eyes, slower than more came.
"Don't be. You've done nothing wrong. What if we asked a house elf to bring some, and than paid them?"
Scorpius thought for a second, small trails of tears still making their way down his face. "I-I guess. But...."
"But?"
"I don't want them to have to do that."
"Scorp, it's their job."
"I know, but....Fine....I guess...."
Albus sighed. He knew Scorpius still wasn't very happy, but....There was nothing else he could do.
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Albus sighed, sitting down his fifth finished ornament. It had been four-and-a-half hours since he and Scorpius had began. He would have assumed that Scorpius would have done nine by now, but he had also just finished his fifth. Since the hot chocolate incident, Scorpius had been moving a lot slower. Albus was really starting to get worried, Scorpius looked so drained.
"Scorp, baby, I think we should stop now. We've both done five, ten total. Those are both safe numbers, right?" Albus was hesitant to say this, but he didn't want to put Scorpius through anymore of the activity.
"B-but we said twelve. Six each. We need to do one more each." Scorpius protested, even as he was cut off by a yawn half way through.
"I know that following plans is really important to you, but I don't think we can do more." Albus explained, hoping he wasn't making a bad decision.
"Why?"
"I think we're both too tired."
"You mean you think I'M too tired? I'm not a baby Albus!"
Albus sighed, maybe he was coming off too infantilizing. He didn't mean it, he was just concerned for his boyfriend, but...."I'm sorry, Scorp. I didn't mean to make you feel bad, I just don't want you to overwork yourself."
Scorpius sighed himself. "I know....It's just....I always get babied just because I'm autistic, I know you weren't doing that, but my brain...."
"I get it, babe. I should probably work on that, the way I talk to you. But, I promise it has nothing to do with you being disabled, I just worry a lot."
"I know....You don't have to stop, usually I like the attention....I'm just...agitated right now."
"That's mostly why I didn't want to continue the ornaments."
Scorpius's eyes got wide. "Have I been upsetting you or something?! I'm sorry!"
"Scorp, Scorp! It's okay. I'm not upset, just concerned for your health and comfort."
"Maybe we should stop." Scorpius was blushing now, feeling humiliated.
"We don't have to."
"No, no. It's fine. I'm done. We're done. No more ornaments." Scorpius insisted.
"Okay, love. Let's clean up, then?"
Scorpius nodded.
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Albus looked over at Scorpius. The two had just finished cleaning, and Scorpius sat on his own bed, Albus on his.
"Um, Scorp? I kinda thought we were still going to hang....But, we don't have to if you don't want to!" Albus was scared he was being too pushy.
Scorpius seemed surprised. "You still want to be together on your bed doing stuff?"
"Um....Yeah?"
"I thought....I mean....Aren't you embarrassed?"
"Embarrassed? Why would I be embarrassed?"
"I mean....Because....Of me...."
"Why would I be embarrassed of you?" Albus couldn't think of a single reason why he would ever be embarrassed of Scorpius, certainly nothing that happened today.
"Because....I freaked out about the hot chocolate and ornaments. And I...I was doing so good at pretending to be allistic, and then I ruined it."
"First of all, Scorp, you did nothing wrong. You had a right to be upset about the hot chocolate and ornaments, and irregardless we fixed it. As for pretending to be allistic, you never, ever have to mask around me. I won't be mad if you do, especially since it often isn't controllable. But, you don't HAVE to. I will never be angry or embarrassed for you acting autistic. You are autistic! It's to be expected. Okay, Scorp? I love you."
Scorpius sniffed, trying not to cry again. "Okay....I love you too, Al."
Albus felt his eyes widen in surprise. That was the first time they had ever said they loved each other in a way that wasn't platonic or off-handed....It felt amazing.
"You love me?" Albus asked, his voice nearly giving out.
Scorpius nodded. "You love me?"
"Very much."