Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Edgar huffed in anger. Everything he painted just didn't sit right with him. It was horrible and unacceptable for him. They all just came out uncanny. He threw his canvas across the room with all of the other ones. He's been like this for a few hours now. Starting a painting on a blank canvas and then ending up with a pile of nothing.

This isn't the first time this has happened to him. This has been going on for a few days now and he knows exactly why. He chooses to ignore it though, because having to come and face his own emotions are just too draining at the moment. A light knock comes from the door and he can already guess who it is. The whole cause of his problem, Andrew Kreiss.

" You may come on ". Edgar said with a sigh. Andrew opened the door just enough so that he was able to poke his head threw. Edgar studied his face with the few moments he had. The scars that littered his face fascinated him. He wants to touch his face and get a up close look to them but he knew he wasn't going to ever be able to do that, especially with the state of their relationship right now. His light blonde hair that just seemed to perfectly fall on his head just made him look so beautiful.

He was ashamed to even think about him. Edgar Valden found this helpless and idiotic man attractive?! He was shocked when he first realized this. Andrew just seemed to grow on him overtime. Finding himself staring at him more and more. Something inside of Edgar just wanted to paint him so badly. He doesn't want to give in though. If he simply ignores these feelings long enough they'll go away.

" What is it Kreiss?".

" Well, Luca asked for me to check up on you since you haven't come out of your room all day ". Edgar rolled his eyes. Why would Luca care? Why would it concern anyone to why he's been in his room all day?

" Well, you can see I'm perfectly fine so you can leave now ". Edgar shooed Andrew away, and Andrew's eyes furrowed now.

" Asshole". Andrew mumbled under his breath. It was faint but it was just quiet enough for Edgar to hear. Andrew started to close the door but Edgar stopped him. Getting up from his bed and forcing the door open.

" Excuse me? You can't just walk into my room, call me an asshole, and try and walk away !".

" I wouldn't be calling you an asshole if you weren't so rude all the time. Do you have something up y-your ass or something?". Edgar huffed. Andrew was short-tempered and arrogant. It was just as easy for him to captivate Edgar as he annoyed him.

" Nothing would be up my ass if you weren't always bothering me!".

" I don't even! I honestly think you're just obsessed with me...motherfucker!". Edgar's eyes widened. His face started to turn a bright red at the comment. What Andrew said was true to an extent. He wasn't necessarily obsessed but more infatuated with him. He loved the structure of Andrew's face and his voice was just so calming to the painter.

" I-I have no idea what you're talking about but all I know is that you're bothering me and my work !".

" Don't act as if I can't see you looking at me all the goddamn time! Yea! I've seen you staring at me every single time, laughing about how hideous I am and how I'm a freak of nature!".

" I'm not looking at you because I think your ugly Kreiss Jesus!". He blurted out. He crossed his hands and looked at the taller man. The room went silent. Andrew didn't look angry anymore but just a bit confused. He stayed silent till the realization of what Edgar said hit him. His face started to turn to the same ruby color his eyes were. Andrew didn't know what to say, so he just looked at the ground to avoid eye contact.

" Anyways, tell Luca to stop bothering me! I'm working and very busy!". Edgar took his chance to push Andrew out the door. His face was still dumbfounded.

" Don't come up here unless it's necessary alright!". Andrew nodded shyly. Edgar slammed the door in front of him and laid back in bed. Andrew's gone but now he's plagued his mind yet again and now he's made it worse too by telling Andrew.

Edgar picked up another canvas and started to sketch. He already eluded to the fact that he finds Andrew attractive so he might as well just give in and draw the man already. He might as well cave in now and fall deep into the rabbit hole that is the soon-to-be drawing of Andrew.

Chapter Text

Edgar laid silently in his bed. His newest drawing was raised up high so he was able to admire it. It was a simple sketch of Andrew. His scars and big gloomy eyes were his favorite to draw. Maybe because that's what attracted Edgar to him. His face heated up at the thought of his features. While to others Andrew's face seemed lackluster and dull, Edgar could highlight everything that just seemed perfect about the other man. He was a very fit man because of his profession, his jaw was sharp and his red eyes just lured him in more and more

He looked over to his hands. The bright purple paint he was using earlier had dried and was bothering him. He was letting himself get filthy! Edgar got up and left his room, heading for the bathroom across the hall. Once he made it there he washed his hands quickly. The bathroom door behind him  opened but he didn't pay it any mind. Edgar looked up at the mirror and right behind him with the smuggest smile he's ever seen, was Luca. All Edgar could do was roll his eyes and continue to try and get all the paint off his hands.

" So...you and Andrew huh?". Edgar's head quickly turned to Luca. He just wished he could wipe that stupid ass look off his face. Edgar really disliked Luca. He was nosy and always butting his head into everyone's business. He really didn't like people who couldn't mind his own business. Especially if it was about him and Andrew.

" I don't know what you're talking about Luca, now let me be ". Edgar said, turning off the sink's faucets.

" Come on Edgar! I know you have a thing for Andrew, and you know you have a thing for him too! Now just let me help!".

" I don't have any feelings for Andrew! Nothing is going on with me and him and nothing ever will!".

" I heard you and Andrew yesterday ". He said with a large grin. Edgar's face goes blank. His face heats up once again from the embarrassment. How had he and Andrew not noticed him eavesdropping! Edgar was still deadly silent. He simply didn't know how he should respond. It felt as if he admitted aloud that he liked Andrew; it was admitting defeat!

" If you don't wanna say it, it's fine! All I wanna say is that you should just tell him how you feel! I know how stubborn you are so you're probably never gonna tell him unless he confesses first-". Luca wrapped his arm around Edgar's shoulder. He jumped from the abrupt action.

" And we both know that isn't going to happen. So just be open and honest! I can say with 99.99% that Andrew likes you back ". Edgar beamed when he heard this. He tried to hide the smile that started to creep up his face with his mouth. He still refused to say anything at that point.

" That's all the advice I have for you, I can't make you confess to him, or make you tell him about all of those drawings ". Edgar gasped. His eyes widened at the comment.

" H-how...HOW DO YOU KNOW!". Edgar said, pulling Luca down to his level by his collar.

" Oh you know... looking inside your room when you left to use the bathroom yesterday ". Edgar huffed and let go of him. He shouldn't waste anymore of his time on that kreten. He was busy and didn't need to be bothered any further. As he was about to leave, with his hand turning to doorknob half way could only spit out one more sentence after that.

"Luca..You're sure Andrew would return my feelings if I decided to tell him ". Edgar said as he turned back to look at Luca. Luca nodded and what seemed like the first time to the other man saw a genuine smile on his face. Edgar left and had returned back to his room within a second.

Andrews was pacing outside Edgar's door; The man who's been in his head for weeks. Andrew adored him and loved every single thing about the painter. Well almost everything. It's painfully obvious what his flaws were and how vain he could be at times. But then there would be moments that just made him forget everything and had him swoon over him yet again.

Andrew's shyness stopped him from ever telling him any of this. He'd know what Edgar would say, or at least he thinks what he would say if he confessed. He was already being looked down on by God for his feelings for Edgar, he didn't need the man himself to make him feel worse about it. And for that reason, he hesitated knocking on the painter's door.

Luca had told him he just needed to just " get it over with ". But it wasn't as simple as that for Andrew! He had to plan before he did things to make sure he did it perfectly and not mess up whatever he was doing. Then even when he did plan ahead, he would end up never doing it due to his anxieties!

" Andrew?". Andrew instantly knew who it was due to his remarkable voice. He turned his head and there he was met with the man he was just over thinking about. Edgars hands were wet and still faintly purple. His face seemed a bit red but his soft brown bangs covered his face slightly so it wasn't too prominent. They were both just staring at each other for a moment. They wouldn't realize then but they were both just admiring the others' beauty. Andrew was the first to snap out of his daze and speak up.

" I-I was just about to knock...I didn't know you were gone". He said faintly. His eyes were looking down at the ground.

" I was in the bathroom, but what did you want? Did something happen?".

" Nothing happened! I just wanted to keep you company I guess". Once Edgar didn't respond Andrew quickly went on to explain himself.

" I don't have to if you don't want me to! I just thought you might be lonely in your room all day and-".

" It's fine, I'd love your company, it just caught me off guard that's all". Andrew picked up his head to look at the other man once again. Edgar's face was completely flushed. This is the first Andrew's seen Edgar like this or at least noticed his face being so red. He opened his door and let Andrew in. The room was decorated with many paintings that Edgar had done during his stay in the manor. Edgar sat on his bed and Andrew did the same.

A finished canvas laid next to Andrew. He picked it up to get a better look. The first thing he saw were the purple irises that led up to the center of the piece. There was a drawing of a man that had a striking resemblance to him. He was pale and had very light blonde hair similar to him. The man also had very prominent scars, similar to his but on a different side of his face.Then it hit Andrew like a hammer. This wasn't a coincidence. The painting was of him, and he looked quite charming in the portrait.

Andrew had 0 idea of what to do, or if it truly was a coincidence. There wasn't much he could do in a situation like this other than just ask or he could just ignore it completely. He wouldn't have to deal with such a stressful situation and better yet not get into another conflict with Edgar.

" ANDREW! Where d-did you find this!". Edgar said abruptly. He snatched the portrait out of his hand and held it close to him. He didn't even realize Edgar had seen him with the painting while he was deciding on what he should do.

" Well it was just laying right next to me. How come you drew me Edgar?". Edgar's voice was caught in his throat by that point. He was in the same predicament Andrew was in earlier. Things from this point for Edgar could only seem to get worse.