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The kitchen counter dug slightly into Adam’s hip as he leaned against it, pouring wine into two glasses. Their second bottle was almost empty now- both of them were teetering on the edge of being drunk now, their tolerances shot to shit by lack of practice on Adam’s part, age on Lawrence’s. He could hear Lawrence moving behind him, but ignored it as he focused on pouring, only acknowledging the man when he felt a hand slide over his hip, turning around and grinning.
“Very forward of you, Doctor Gordon.”
Lawrence's answering smile was undermined by an eye roll. “You were gone so long, I thought you’d disappeared on me.”
Adam’s lips quirked, his eyes shooting upwards towards the mistletoe that hung over their heads.
Lawrence looked up, his face flushing. “This is like, the third time we’ve stumbled upon a mistletoe… how many did you hang ?”
Adam stepped into his space, leaning up until their lips were just centimeters apart, his mouth split into a sly grin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lawrence closed the distance, fitting their mouths together and pulling Adam closer with a hand splayed against the small of his back. The soft Christmas music playing in the background faded into nothing, Adam’s brain emptying of anything other than Lawrence. He had hung more than a few sprigs of mistletoe around the apartment, and had made a point of hanging around near them a little more than was strictly necessary, but hey. Lawrence had signed a piece of paper that said that he legally had to humour him, a little bit. Adam even had the ring to prove it.
Lawrence pulled back first, his tongue darting out to graze along his bottom lip. Adam wanted to chase him, to pull him back in for another kiss, but instead he turned to pick up their glasses of wine, holding one out to the man.
The apartment was bathed in soft yellow light from the candles, as well as the string lights that Lawrence had painstakingly wrapped around the tree. Adam had let the man take over decorating, just doing what he was told for the most part- his decorations in his old apartment had consisted of a tiny ceramic santa he had stolen from a department store, so this was a bit of a step up from that. Lawrence took Christmas seriously- at first, Adam had thought that it had been purely for Diana’s benefit, but it had quickly become clear that Lawrence loved the holiday. Reluctantly, Adam had to admit that he was becoming a fan too.
Adam sipped his wine, letting the taste of it wash over his tongue. It was some fancy kind, gifted by one of Lawrence’s snobby coworkers, but Adam thought that it tasted exactly the same as any other wine he’d ever had. Lawrence seemed to like it though, if the way he was knocking it back was any indication. It wasn’t often that they did this- Lawrence usually too busy with work, Adam preferring to go out when he wanted to get drunk- but it was nice, getting to see Lawrence getting progressively more flushed, looser, less serious.
He felt the man reach across over where Adam’s socked feet were shoved under his thigh, picking up Adam’s hand gently and tugging him over, forcing Adam to scoot over until they were practically shoulder to shoulder, Adam’s head coming down to rest on his arm.
Lawrence lifted his hand to his mouth, pressing a warm, lingering kiss to his knuckles.
Adam flushed- drunk Lawrence was a romantic, even moreso than his sober counterpart. He was flushed and earnest as he looked up to watch Adam’s expression, his hair falling down over his forehead a little. Adam’s stomach flipped, a swooping rush of affection that almost knocked the air out of him.
Lawrence, unaware of the effect he was having on the man, turned his hand, unfurling Adam’s fist to kiss his palm and glancing up to make eye contact with him again.
Adam almost had to look away from the emotion in his eyes. A few years ago, he would have thought that it was just plain old affection, still finding his footing in the first serious adult relationship of his life, but now he saw it for what it was- devotion.
“You’re such a fucking sap, old man.” He ran his thumb over Lawrence’s cheekbone, feeling the warmth of the man’s flush against his skin. He felt him smile against his hand.
“I love you.” Lawrence said simply.
Adam tipped the rest of his wine into his mouth, swallowing it easily. Okay maybe it was a little better than the cheap shit he usually bought.
“I love you too, Lar.”
Lawrence leaned over, pressing his lips to Adam’s hair and staying there for a moment, breathing- inhaling, really. Adam fought the urge to roll his eyes- it was a sweet gesture, but what Lawrence was smelling was his own shampoo. He could smell Lawrence, though, the spiced woodiness of his cologne going to Adam’s head as fast as the wine was.
The record continued to play softly in the background, Christmas music spilling out of it and filling the room they were in. The wine had made Adam’s head far more fuzzy than he had thought, and he smiled as he felt Lawrence’s hands on him again, cupping under his jaw and turning his head to kiss him again. He practically melted into it.
They traded lazy, wine flavoured kisses for a minute or two, before the record ended and Adam pulled away to go and change it. He felt Lawrence’s hand on his hip as he moved away from the sofa, as if the man wasn’t willing to end the contact for more than a moment. He wasn’t sure what he had done to deserve that kind of- reverence, he supposed, tenderness even, from the other man, but he forced himself to keep moving. He changed the record quickly, not Christmas anymore- now an old collection of sixties hits that Lawrence loved. It had quickly become one of Adam’s favourites as well. Once it was playing, he turned back to his waiting husband.
“Do you want more- oh!”
Lawrence, standing now, hooked a finger into Adam’s belt loop and pulled him forward. Taking his hand, he spun him around gently in an uncoordinated attempt, his arm almost getting stuck on Adam’s head as he turned. Adam laughed, letting the man pull him into an almost slow-dance.
“This was our first dance song.” Lawrence’s voice was horrendously soft, love seeping into every syllable. His voice was low, and his hair was now a far cry from the usual neat style he kept it in, curling slightly and messy from their time spent kissing.
Adam did roll his eyes, then. “I know babe, I was there.”
Lawrence grinned- a wider, less refined version of his usual smile. Adam’s heart squeezed at the sight of it- he had never thought that he would be able to feel like this about anyone, but just the sight of the man had his chest full of warm, fuzzy feelings.
He could see the flush still darkening his cheeks- partly alcohol induced, but mostly Adam induced. Adam couldn't resist the urge to lean up and press a kiss to it, a quick press of his mouth against the round of his cheek.
He kept Adam’s hands tight in his, swaying to the music as he hummed along. Adam could remember the night like it was yesterday- his shirt collar digging into his neck, Diana stepping in to steal her father away once the song was over, Amanda quickly stepping in to drag Adam outside for a cigarette. It had been a small wedding- perfect, just the way Adam had wanted it. Just him and Lawrence, and the people they cared most about in the world. Just listening to the song again had him leaning into Lawrence, unusually sappy. He figured that he could blame the wine, too, though he doubt Lawrence would question it.
“Sometimes, I can’t believe…” He trailed off, words getting lost as he reached up to brush the hair out of his husband’s eyes.
“That this is real?” Lawrence hummed again, almost stepping on Adam’s foot but just missing it. “I think if you were dreaming, I would be a better dancer.”
Laughter spilled out of Adam’s mouth, and he leaned forward to kiss him. “I like your dancing.”
“I think you’re slightly biased.”
“What, me? No, never.” Adam curled his fingers into the soft fabric of Lawrence’s Christmas jumper- a god awful mess of colours that Diana had picked out for him. It hurt Adam’s eyes a little bit. He loved it.
He let Lawrence pull him closer again, and felt lips against his temple. He closed his eyes, letting himself get swept away by it all- the music, the feeling of Lawrence warm and solid against him, the simmering affection that was making his chest feel too full for his skin. He thought back to previous Christmasses- they had been before the bathroom, sure, before Jigsaw, but they had been before Lawrence too, before Adam had gotten to be the happiest he had ever been- spent alone, partying with strangers or getting high alone. It felt like a different life, now. Adam wasn’t sure he would ever get used to it.
Thankfully, he would have all the time in the world to.