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Neil huffed as he tapped the pencil to his forehead. He had a test coming up tomorrow for advanced linear algebra. It wasn't anything he wasn't used to, and he could normally easily figure out these formulas more quickly but it was late and the letters and shapes were all starting the blend together.
Ryven was sat across Neil at their designated table in the library. It was around a quarter to ten o' clock. The library thankfully didn't close until midnight. Ryven didn't have anything to prepare for, but they were bored and so asked to follow Neil to the library and keep him company. Nicky, the twins, and Kevin had gone to Eden's Twilight for a night out so Ryven couldn't bother Andrew. Dan, Matt, Renee and Allison were out on a double date and Ryven would absolutely despise being a fifth wheel.
Not to say that they only chose to hang out with Neil as a last resort. Far from that, Ryven loved spending time with Neil. They especially loved watching him. His fluffy hair framed his face so perfectly, shading his eyes from the florescent lights while he gazed at his paper. He had dyed it again. They loved his natural red hair, but always encouraged him to express himself however he wanted. They would drop everything whenever getting updates over text the minute Neil made an impulsive dye job. Neil knew he didn't have to hide anymore, but the habit was still there and it felt like a waste not to use his skills to do something creative and unique.
Besides, if the point was to hide in plain sight, dying platinum blond streaks into his hair would've been really counter productive.
Neil also had this habit of sticking out his tongue and scrunching his nose when he was really focused. And considering how lasered in he was on his studying, Ryven couldn't help but chuckle as they watched Neil's face shift. He recognized this and turned to look at them with a playful look on his face.
"Something funny?" He asked.
"Nothing. Just your face." Ryven snickered, promoting Neil to lean towards them.
It gave Ryven at a better look at their boyfriend's face. They really couldn't get enough of looking at him. Even if they joked about his "blue eyed stare" that freaked them out, they did love the color of Neil's eyes. They were a crisp blue that reminded them of clear, icy water. It was charming, in it's own way.
"What's the big deal about my face?" He pressed, pushing his notes aside just to put his full attention on them. Neil tried to be as nonchalant as possible, but Ryven could tell he was trying to tell them he needed a break. They smiled, using one hand to prop their chin on.
"Nothing!" Ryven repeated, chuckling again. His faux serious expression was making them want to laugh even more. "You're just making that look again."
Neil already knew what they were referring to, since they had pointed out that habit to him before. He was self conscious about it until Ryven expressed how they found it both adorable and amusing. And so, he begun to exploit the fact it makes them laugh by doing it even more.
"Oh, you mean like this?" Neil exaggerated the action of scrunching his nose and sticking his tongue out in a wild direction. Ryven snorted and expelled a bellowing noise, before swiftly covering their mouth with their hand when they realized they were way louder than expected. Thankfully, the couple were in a secluded area, and the one other person close to them had headphones on, but still they felt the need to contain themselves. Unfortunately, their outburst made Neil crack up and as soon as the floodgates were opened, they couldn't be closed. And so the couple started quietly losing their composure.
Neil leaned over the table while trying to catch his breath and Ryven flailed their arms out in an effort to gain some support while in their laughing fit, eventually being able to grab his wrist and hold onto it. Unfortunately, just when it seemed like they could rest, they would lock eyes again and or smile at each other and would end up right back where they started.
When the pair did actually get to a point where their sides hurt and they desperately needed to put an end to the vicious laughter, they were both gasping for air. Tears pricked at their eyes, still high off of their joy, and just basking in the company of one another.
In the aftermath, Ryven was still holding onto Neil's wrist. They gave out a final sigh while looking down at the contact. Slowly, they brought their other hand up to take a hold of Neil's arm and bring it closer to them. They had a entralled look in their eyes that had the same energy as if they were examining the most precious treasure in the world. Neil watched them and made no movements to stop them, a soft smile on his face.
"You've been staring at the same definitions and formulas for the last few hours. So, how about a break, huh?" They asked.
Ryven would trace their fingers over Neil's arm wordlessly, running their fingertips over each one of his scars. Neil was usually almost completely covered in public and tonight was no different. He was wearing a short-sleeved, grey, crew neck, over top of a long-sleeved black, compression shirt. So, most of the larger marks on his body were covered. The cuts and burns on his knuckles however, were not left untouched. Ryven ran their fingers over his hands, moving in a circular massaging motion. Treating them with a level of tenderness he wasn't really sure he deserved. It made him tremble, watching them hold him as if he was something special. He still wasn't so used to open and uninhibited physical affection, but Ryven had gotten him to adapt to it pretty quick.
Ryven just loved admiring the differences between them and Neil. His skin was the color of sand and theirs was like cedar wood. His hair was straight and draped down, theirs was coiled and raised to the sky. His eyes were blue and theirs were a deep, dark brown. And the most important difference right now, was the size of their hands.
Out of the two of them, the striker was the shorter one. Ryven was about three inches taller than Neil and they did relish in being able to lean down to kiss him or rest their head on his. Despite the height difference, Neil hand was slightly bigger than Ryven's, which left them endlessly captivated.
Ryven had passed in massaging Neil's hand in exchange to leaving small pecks to his knuckles, each one being a silent elucidation of the amount of devotion they carried for him. Their lips were featherweight and the sheen of their chapstick left a mark under the light. The touch left him breathless, his heart stopping momentarily as Neil had to remind himself to breathe. His expression softened once again as they took ahold of his arm again in order to guide him into cupping his hand against their cheek.
Their skin was so smooth, it was like touching silk. And despite the callouses in his palms, Ryven's nuzzled their face further against his hand. Neil wished so desperately that he could take a photo with his eyes, that when he blinked, the moment could forever be burned into his mind and untouched or not distorted by the passage of time. Better to be a statue and fully succumb to this moment than have to move or breathe and ruin it. He could even forget about that test tomorrow. He would much rather just stay like this for the rest of his life.
Neil sighed in content, caressing his thumb against their cheek, prompting Ryven to smile with glee.
"Yeah, I could probably afford a little break." He said.