Work Text:
A knock on the door snapped Frank Frankly out of his daze. “Special delivery!” said a cheerful but familiar voice through the door.
Frank half-expected the sight he would see when he answered the door, but it was something different.
Eddie Dear stood by the threshold, damp with sweat. His uniform stuck to his stalwart frame. He set the large box down, which made the robust postman breathe heavily with a red color flushing through his orange skin.
“Now what in green pastures could be in this box that’s causin’ me to sweat like a snowman in July?” asked Eddie, still panting slightly.
“Ignoring the improbability of snowmen’s longevity beyond winter—” Frank rolled his eyes before continuing, “—it is the complete volume set of encyclopedias about the structure and functions of every insect known to exist.”
“Huh, why does that not surprise me?” said Eddie with a smirk. “But anyhow, sign here, won’t you please?”
Frank proceeded to do so, writing a tell-tale ‘X’ with a pen on the clipboard’s dotted line. When he looked up at Eddie once more, he saw him take his hat off and wipe away his sweat with a handkerchief.
“You look quite fatigued,” noted Frank.
“Do tell,” quipped Eddie, who continued to wipe himself.
“I can get you a glass of water, if you’d like.”
“I would love that, actually.”
“And you could get out of the sun and refrigerate yourself.”
“Oh, but I wouldn’t wanna impose.”
“Nonsense! You’ll catch your death attempting to deliver mail after having strained yourself with this box. I insist.”
On the way, Eddie threw out his back while knocking on the door, which he decided not to tell Frank. Was his pain that obvious, Eddie thought. “I guess I could sit down. But only for a spell.”
While Frank disappeared through the kitchen and filled a large glass with water from the sink, Eddie sat on the nearest chair he could find: a wingback near the unlit fireplace. He took off his hat, fanning himself with it. It earned him an incredulous look from Frank, who had returned with the glass once he settled.
“I’m sorry. This is your chair, ain’t it?”
“I only wanted you to get out of the heat and stand somewhere, but you’ve clearly accustomed yourself to my furniture,” answered Frank wryly. “In any case, here you go.” He handed him the glass, which Eddie started chugging from immediately.
Frank then turned his attention to the package and started lifting the box to bring it inside his personal study. Eddie’s eyes widened at how surprisingly strong Frank was for being able to lift such a heavy box all the way there, even if the trip wasn’t as long. Frank was adjusting a shoulder when he came into view again.
“I’m going to feel that in the morning,” mumbled Frank. “The things I do for knowledge.”
“Lift with your legs next time,” said Eddie. “And why didn’t you call for me? I could’ve helped.”
“I believe I gave you enough trouble for lugging around that parcel towards my home. Invest in a vehicle, why don’t you?” Frank stretched his shoulders side to side before walking in Eddie’s direction. “Anyway, are you refreshed enough to get along with your deliveries? I need my chair.”
“Y’see, about that...” Eddie’s pupils shifted back and forth. “It turns out you’re my last delivery. Slow day today.”
“Oh, I see.” Frank shot him a quizzical look. “And you thought to come to my house last so you could take advantage of my hospitality?”
“Is fixin’ to see you after a long day considered taking advantage?”
“If it’s alright, I need to take advantage of the furniture on which you are so comfortably seated presently.”
“Why, you can still sit all the same.”
Frank noticed the way Eddie patted his lap as he said those words. “Utterly unhygienic! You are—how did you put it?—sweating like a pig.”
“That ain’t what I said at all!” said Eddie, feeling a little insulted. “And what difference does it make? I’m practically glued to your chair like an egg on an old frying pan.”
Frank winced. “Bah! You sweltering simpleton, having the audacity to soil my—ARM!” He suddenly cried, hissing as he gripped his collarbone with a free hand. “Crunching caterpillars, that smarts! And not in a favorable manner!”
“I hope Howdy doesn’t hear you say that ,” said Eddie, chiding him lightly. “Listen, you simply must take it easy, Frankie.”
“Do not call me that,” injected Frank.
“Be sensible, and just have a sit-down with your friendly neighborhood mailman,” continued Eddie, opening his arms to welcome him. “I won’t do anything untoward. You can trust me.”
Frank grumbled after weighing his options, which weren’t that many. And the pain was still making him recoil. “I don’t really have much of a choice, do I?” He sighed audibly. “Fine. A pulled muscle has drained me of any more blatant displays of discontent.”
“You have muscles?”
“Quiet, you!” he snapped.
Frank plopped down on the chair, or rather, on Eddie’s lap, earning a small ‘oof’ from the postman when Frank sat down a little too aggressively.
“See? Isn’t this better?” Eddie’s arms began closing in on Frank’s entire body.
“What are you doing?” asked Frank, growling.
“Hugging you?”
“Did I ask for a hug?”
“You ain’t refusing either.”
Frank looked at the limbs around him and figured he wouldn’t be able to lift them off. “Frank Frankly. This... is your life,” he muttered, dejectedly.
With both of Eddie’s arms well-rested on Frank’s torso, Frank surrendered with a frown, which, in fairness, wasn’t all that different from his usual expression.
“You’re too tense. Y’know that, right?” said Eddie. “You need to loosen up some.”
“Hmph!” Frank rolled onto his side, putting his face near Eddie’s underarm. “Of all the ill-conceived...” His stewing screeched to a halt when he found himself grimacing for a moment, about to comment on the scent assaulting his nasal passages...until his face changed to that of curiosity.
For all intents and purposes, Frank should feel revolted at the smell of wet fabric grinding against his skin as he tried to make himself comfortable, but between Eddie’s surprisingly gentle touch and his beating heart, he absolutely didn’t mind the sticky sensation. He found himself relishing Eddie’s musty clothing. His white shirt was literally soaked to the skin. Frank could even see the orange color emerging from the fibers. Ever so slowly, one of his hands made its way to Eddie’s chest. When he felt two large bumps underneath them, he cooed softly, passing out.
The shifting weight of Frank’s body was not lost on Eddie. “Gee, Frank. Did you gain weight just now, or have you made yourself a little too comfy here?”
Eddie was expecting an angry retort from the little grey grouch. He called his name when Frank didn’t say anything right away. With his eyes closed and his chest rising up and down ever so slightly, Eddie couldn’t tell if it was the same Frank who was scolding him just a moment ago. His frowning face even looked adorable, somewhat. Like a little kitten that wore itself out after shredding the toilet paper in the bathroom. Eddie ran his fingers through Frank’s dark hair several times, petting him, the faint aroma of a flower-scented shampoo radiating from his scalp. It smelled nice.
And then he felt Frank’s lips snoring lightly just below his chest and Frank’s nose just beside the narrow space between his forearm and shoulder. His eyebrows rose.
“Uh oh...”
Frank would eventually awaken from his unexpected nap. He snorted when he realized that he’s still nestled in Eddie’s broad stomach, and Eddie’s arms still felt sticky to the touch, but not as sticky as when Eddie first arrived.
“What in the world are you still doing here?” asked Frank, surprised.
“I didn’t wanna wake you,” answered Eddie casually.
“And how long was I asleep?” asked Frank.
“I dunno,” said Eddie, looking at his watch. “Half an hour, give or take?”
Frank quickly unlatched himself from Eddie’s grasp and dusted himself off for no particular reason. He put his hands on his hips, stared directly at Eddie without a word, and furrowed his unibrow while tapping his foot on the floor.
“I swear, nothing happened!” said Eddie, raising both hands defensively. “Ok, maybe I stroked your head a little. Ok, a lot. Ok, the whole 30 minutes—see, I might be diggin’ myself deeper here.”
Frank was tapping his foot faster and breathing heavily.
“I guess I should see myself out, huh?” suggested Eddie, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
Frank’s eyes widened in response, along with a slight nod.
Eddie put his hat back on and tipped it towards Frank as he left, Frank’s head rotating fully even as the postman awkwardly shuffled towards the door, the disgruntled homeowner’s piercing gaze having never left his sight.
A minute passed. Frank turned his head at every angle, which was impossible for the usual residents of the neighborhood. Once he affirmed that he was all alone, he jumped face first into the chair and gave the leather backrest one big whiff, melting like a puddle afterwards. He even swooned with a lopsided smile on his face.
“I am never washing this chair again...”
It seemed like, for once, Eddie was right. Frank did need to loosen up. And loosened up, he did.
Frank perused a catalog for the newest bug-collecting kit that came in a large wooden chest, and he only had one-quarter of a mind not to place an order. He hoped Eddie wouldn’t have too much trouble.