Chapter Text
BAZ
Snow’s arm is broken. He came back from a mission for the Mage a week ago with a cast on his right arm. I had to restrain myself not to go beat up that old bastard for risking a seventeen year-old’s life again. I know Simon’s the chosen one. I’ve always known it. Doesn’t mean it’s easy watching him go to battle once a month, not knowing in what shape he’s going to come back.
He’s been struggling, I can tell. Thankfully, he’s left-handed. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t need this arm for stuff. As he wakes up today (I’m already at my desk, reading, but Simon sleeps late on Saturdays) my eyes are drown to his hair.
It’s dirty.
Not sweaty like it always is when Snow wakes up. It’s actually really dirty. I sneer at him, showing him my disapproval.
« What ? » he asks like he wants to punch me already (from what I gather, it’s possible).
« Your hair… it’s dirty » I say like he’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen in my life (he’s the most lovely).
I’m surprised to see his expression actually fall a little. « Yeah well… I can’t really do much about it with this » he says, lifting his cast a little.
I want to tell him not to strain his muscle, to rest, to take care of his precious self. But I don’t. I just raise my eyebrows and roll my eyes.
He goes back to looking for an outfit in his closet, frowning. He doesn’t like weekends because he can’t wear his uniform, I know it. I try to keep reading my book but notice he keeps scratching his hair.
« Does it itch ? » I ask. I didn’t really mean to.
« Why do you care ? » he asks, looking at me suspiciously.
« Answer the bloody question, Snow »
« Yes. It does. » he says, sounding angry.
I look at him for a second. I can’t believe I’m about to say what I’m about to say.
« Do you want me to wash it for you ? » I say.
Simon makes a face I’ve never seen before, a mix of surprise and disgust and embarrassment.
« What ? » he says in disbelief.
« I can wash you hair for you if you want » I repeat, plainly.
« What’s in it for you ? » he says. He thinks it’s a plot. He always does.
« Listen I don’t want you to get lice and then pass them on to me, which is inevitable in that small room. I’ll wash your hair to save mine if I have to ».
He keeps staring at me. « Use your words, Snow. It’s yes, or now. Pretty simple » I say. I try to make it sound softer than usual, although I’m not sure if I really want to do this, be this close to me. I’m afraid I might never get over it. Over him (well, that’s already a given).
« Okay » he says after an infinite amount of time.
« Okay » I say like I don’t care, even though my heart is jumping in my chest.
SIMON
I’ve never felt this relaxed in my entire life. At first, I thought Baz was going to use this to kill me. But then I remembered that the Anathema works in the bathroom and that nothing can stop Baz from protecting his shiny hair. Not even me.
I’m wearing boxers with no shirt on and am sitting on a chair we put in the shower, so Baz can have better access to my hair. He’s standing outside of the shower, a plain white t-shirt on « in case this gets messy ».
I was tense for about thirty seconds before I realized Baz is extremely gentle when he wants to be. He put some hot water on my hair and then some shampoo, and started to massage my head in a way that made me relax immediately.
I’m not the cleanest person ever, but I’ll admit this hair situation was getting out of hand and really bothering me. It’s not like I have anybody to impress, Agatha dumped me once more and I’m too busy spying on Baz to be interested in anyone else, but I don’t want sticky hair (even Penny noticed it).
The shampoo smells extremely good. Too good. It smells like Baz.
« You don’t have to use your shampoo » I say. I know it’s expensive.
« Oh please. I’m not putting yours on my hands » he says in a sarcastic tone. But it’s not mean like usual, it’s almost funny.
He washes the shampoo from my hair and I’m almost disappointed it’s over. From what I gather, this is how a spa day must feel like. I’m about to stand up when I see him (well, his hands, I can’t actually see him since he’s facing my back) reach for another bottle. I don’t say anything. I stay in the warmth of the shower, content.
The smell is even better, it’s typical Baz. I close my eyes and let him do whatever he wants with my hair.
BAZ
I’m being extra gentle with him. I’m a little smitten. We’ve rarely been this close.
I’m even more gentle this time : I’m using this lotion to help his curls. I take every single strand of hair one by one and turn it around my finger. When I’m done, I go back to his scalp to give it a good hydration. I swear I almost hear him moan when I go around his ears. I wash it again with warm water (it feels cold to me so it must be perfect for him, I know he doesn’t like it boiling like I do).
When I’m done he doesn’t move. For a second I think he’s fallen asleep.
« Snow ? » I say, a little too soft. I can’t be mean right now, not when he looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him.
« Mhmm » he says, before opening his eyes slowly. He looks at me and blushes. « Sorry » he says, standing up.
He doesn’t move. He can’t. I’m blocking the way out of the shower.
« Hum, well… Do you want me to dry it ? » I ask. I know no one’s ever taken care of him like he deserves it, I can give him five more minutes, even though every second this close to him feels like my heart is being peeled from the inside.
« Yes » he says. « If that’s okay ». He’s still blushing but he looks me right in the eyes.
« It’s okay » I say, not looking away.
SIMON
We got the chair out of the shower and close to the sink for me to sit on it while Baz blowdries my hair.
He’s still being gentle, and a part of me wishes it could be like that all the time. I feel incredibly good. Everything smells like heaven and his hands in my hair are so delicate.
He turns the blowdryer off. « Okay, stand up and face me » he says, and I do.
We’re really close but, oddly, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable. Baz has his eyes fixed on my hair while he’s playing with my curls again. My eyes have no choice but to stare at him. He’s doing this thing he always does when he’s really focused : his eyebrows are drawn together and he’s biting his lips. I get why Agatha had a crush on him. It’s dead attractive. His raven hair is falling in his eyes and I get the urge to push it behind his ears. I don’t, though, I don’t want to distract him.
« How do you know how to take care of hair like that ? » I say.
He turns around to take another lotion (how many does he have ?) and puts some on his hands before going back to my hair.
« My mom. I inherited her hair so she always told me to take great care of it. And later… I often did Mordelia’s hair. »
I can almost picture it. Tiny Baz having his long locks manipulated by his mother and looking at her in awe. Later on, preteen Baz putting his violon down to take care of his little sister, being gentle and calm and maybe even funny with her.
« I don’t think anyone’s ever done my hair before » I say. Maybe a lady from the orphanage when I was a baby ? I can’t recall.
Baz is still looking at my hair, but I swear his expression almost saddens.
« Why are you helping me ? » I ask. I can’t stand all this silence anymore.
Baz doesn’t answer at first. He does something that’s half like a sigh and half a laugh and looks at me for a second. I almost shiver.
« Because you’re letting me » he says quietly. His hand drags down my face and it almost feels like he’s stroking it.
« Alright. I think I’m done » he adds a second later. Both his hands leave my hair slowly and my right arm moves on its own and reaches to take his left hand.
BAZ
Simon just took my hand. I don’t think he’s ever touched me before if not to hit me.
He won’t look at me. His eyes are stuck on my hand. Our hands. Touching, holding.
I’m petrified. He brushes his thumb along the back of my hand and my legs just might give in.
« You’re so soft » he says, still looking down.
« I could always be soft with you » I whisper. I don’t know what’s happening.
He gets even closer, I can feel his curls tickling my nose.
« Simon » I say, breathlessly.
He finally looks up and our eyes lock. He’s so warm and his eyes are blue, blue, blue.
I close my eyes, hoping he might close the small gap between our lips.
And he does.
SIMON
I always thought kissing a guy would feel very different different from kissing a girl.
It’s not, for the record. Baz’s lips are sugary, his skin his smooth, his hair is brushing against my temples.
Except, where Agatha was just letting me kiss her, Baz is kissing me back. Like he wants to (I wonder how long he’s wanted this) (And how long I have).
My only working hand has gripped his neck while his arms have snaked around my waist.
My brain is blanking while my stomach is doing somersaults and the only thing going through my whole body is : Baz, Baz, Baz.
Neither of us is letting go. I can tell he doesn’t have much experience in the area, but this kiss is still more mind-blowing than any other kiss I’ve had before.
I maneuvers us toward the chair until I’m sitting on it and Baz is sitting on my lap, both legs on either side of mine.
I lick his lips once, twice, until he mimics me and our tongues meet and, god, if I thought it was good before I wasn’t ready for this.
He pushes me away a little. I catch my breath and look at him interrogatively.
« I’m scared… I don’t want to hurt you » he says. His eyes have an honesty in them I’ve never seen before. He looks so beautiful I want to scream. His hair is a little messy (I did that) and his lips are red (I did that too).
« With your fangs ? » I ask. He nods.
I just smile at him. I kiss his mouth, squarely, and then his nose (a little crooked. Another thing I did), his eyebrow (not furrowed anymore), his ear (hidden behind his glossy hair), his cheekbone (as sharp as it looks), his jaw (sharp too), then his neck down to his shoulder. « It’s okay » I whisper, to him and to myself. « It’s okay ».
I can’t get enough.