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Morning walks had become a habit of Grian's since the snow had mostly cleared up near them. The fresh air was pleasant, helping to clear his mind and give him a chance to relax.
It was also a perfect time to smoke a cigarette. Taurtis despised the smell, so Grian tried to keep his smoking away from him and Sam if he could.
He had arrived home from his walk not too long ago, and was sitting on the couch when Coolment approached him.
He seemed nervous, which was fair considering how Grian had treated him in the past.
When they first met, Grian was cold to Coolment, seeing him as a stranger out to steal his boyfriend. As the two shared a living space, Grian's apprehension towards the other had dissipated a significant amount.
Grian glanced up from his phone, looking over at Coolment, whose tail flicked nervously behind him.
“Hey, Grian.” Coolment rubbed the back of his neck.
Grian raised an eyebrow. “Hey, what's up?”
“So, you know how you go on your walks in the morning?”
Grian nodded, still looking quizzically at his dorm mate.
“My therapist said it would be beneficial for me to work out or something…” Coolment shifted awkwardly. “I was wondering if I could join you, maybe?”
Grian considered it for a moment. He enjoyed his time alone in the mornings a lot, but maybe it would be helpful to get to know Coolment a bit more.
The two had never hung out one on one before really, other than the few times Coolment had ended up babysitting a regressed Grian as a last resort.
Though, Grian wouldn't really count that as hanging out, since it had mostly consisted of him crying.
After a moment of silence, Grian nodded. The fresh air seemed to help him, so maybe it would be beneficial for Coolment as well.
Coolment seemed to visibly relax. “I'll see you tomorrow morning, then?”
“I'll message you when I'm ready. I usually go around 8?”
Coolment nodded, turned, and re-entered his bedroom, muttering about an assignment he had to finish.
-
Grian blinked wearily as his eyes adjusted to the light streaming in through his window.
He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Sam's snoring acted as background music for Grian as he got ready.
Grian ran his fingers through his hair a few times, combing out any tangles from sleeping.
He chose to leave his hair down, not wanting to search around for a hair tie.
After pulling on some semi-clean clothes and his jacket, Grian sent Coolment a text.
Coolment met him at the door. Grian shot him a small smile, before grabbing his lanyard and heading out the door.
The two walked in silence for a good while. Coolment didn't know if they had a destination, he just followed Grian in silence.
Until Grian pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of his jacket pocket. He held the pack towards Coolment.
“Do you smoke?”
Coolment nodded, taking a cigarette from the pack. “Not super often, never inside.”
“I don't like smoking inside, it always makes me sneeze.” Grian lit his cigarette, taking a drag before handing the lighter to Coolment.
The two walked for a while, smoking their respective cigarettes.
“I've got a question.”
Coolment looked over to Grian, raising an eyebrow. “I may have an answer.”
“Did you actually teach Sam to shotgun?”
Coolment looked away at that, avoiding eye contact as he cleared his throat to answer. “Well, yeah. Are you still… mad about that?”
Grian took a moment to answer, thinking. “I don't think I was even… mad, really?”
Coolment turned his gaze back to the blonde walking next to him. “You weren't?”
Grian exhaled a cloud of smoke, tapping the ashes off of his cigarette. “I think I was more… jealous than angry. I was worried you were gonna take Sam from me.”
Coolment hummed in understanding, not sure what else to say.
“I'm sorry. I probably should have said that earlier.” Grian's voice was soft.
“It's fine, man. As long as we're cool now, yeah?”
“Yeah, we're cool.” Grian had finished his cigarette by now, tossing it into one of the tall plastic ashtrays on the edge of the sidewalk.
Coolment followed suit, shoving his hands in his pockets for warmth while they walked.
It was a few moments before Coolment spoke again, his cheeks tinged a pale pink.
“Yknow, I could teach you too, if you'd like.”
Grian nearly choked on air attempting to respond. He stopped walking, looking at Coolment with wide eyes.
He struggled to get the words out, staring blankly at Coolment for a moment. Stammering, he managed to force out a response. “Do… Do you actually mean that?”
Coolment shrugged. “If you want to, I'm open to it.”
Grian didn't respond right away.
Coolment didn't know the answer until they arrived back at the dorm, when Grian pulled out his bong and looked at Coolment with wide eyes filled with hope.
Coolment was starting to understand what Sam saw in the brit.
Grian and Coolment were on Coolment's bed, a bong sat on a side table next to the bed.
Their lips were touching, the smoke was burning Grian's throat.
He knew he should back away, that he should exhale, and that he should breathe some fresh air into his lungs.
But he didn't want to.
A few seconds passed before Coolment placed a hand on Grian’s chest, gently pushing him away.
“You gotta breathe, too. Holding it in doesn't get you any higher, y’know.” Coolment grinned at Grian, who was panting at this point, taking in deep breaths.
"Shut up.” Grian leaned forward, pressing his lips onto Coolment's once again.
Today Grian discovered he had a type when it came to men.
He really liked a man that pissed him off.