Work Text:
‘’Maybe move your hand up to your chin, I wanna try a different pose.’’
Radford relaxed his shoulders, crossed his legs, and brought the tips of his fingers to his chin. He tried not to glance back at Kevin as he always told him to turn away so he could get his side during these kinds of drawings, but he couldn’t help but feel the urge to watch him scratch his pencil across the paper he sprawled out on the easel, but instead opted out to listen instead.
‘’Is this any better?’’ Radford asked as he flashed a smile, but quickly returned to normal to not disturb his still pose.
‘’The crossed legs always mess me up..’’ He grumbled as he hastily grabbed the nearby eraser and scratched off a section of his pencil strokes in annoyance.
‘’Would you want me to change it?’’ Radford asked, easing up on his pose and finally turning back to look at him.
‘’No no, I can do it..’’ He huffs as he answers and Radford stiffens back his pose. He listens on as Kevin lightly taps his pencil against the wood of the easel in thought, almost feeling his gaze on him, though not an unwelcomed or unusual one.
Ever since he and Kevin came along that used-up easel in the thrift store Kevin has taken a real interest in drawing. Radford can vividly remember Kevin talking about how he wanted to try a new hobby, like painting, cooking, or maybe even playing an instrument. Still, he never seemed to have the motivation though.
‘’Thank you for uh… For always being my reference.’’ Kevin said to Radford in a slightly quieter tone, the sounds of his pencil strokes starting to slow.
‘’Your muse?’’ Radford adds on with a small laugh as he glances at him from the side, seeing Kevin from the corner of his eyes with a tiny smile creeping up on his face before he hides back behind the easel.
‘’Yeah… That’s seems like the word.’’ He comments, going back to his drawing. Radford turns back away and quietly hums a random tune from the back of his mind, patiently waiting for Kevin to finish up his drawing or to call him over for critique, even though he didn’t know anything about art himself.
Finally, after a few more minutes of waiting, he heard the pencil drop onto the nearby table next to Kevin. ‘’I’m done.’’
Radford finally snaps out of his pose and picks himself off the small stool he was sitting on. He stretched out his stiff arms as he walked behind the easel and stood next to Kevin, looking at the drawing.
And it looked wonderful to Radford.
‘’Heyy it’s me! Who knew I was so handsome?’’ He says, exaggerating his words and lightly gripping onto the edge of the paper as he looks closer to get a better look at the light, messy strokes that he had to push away the eraser shavings.
Objectively, the drawing wasn’t perfect of course, Kevin was still learning the basics. But Radford couldn’t help but smile at Kevin’s work.
‘’Ah, could’ve been better… Might want to toss it.’’ Kevin responds with a slightly disappointed tone in his work, already moving the paper away from Radford's fingers and turning to the trash bin.
Radford looked back in surprise as he felt the paper leave his grasp, his mouth slightly agape from the sight of Kevin walking towards the bin before he decided to get in front of him, interrupting his path. ‘’Woah woah I like it! Can I at least have it?’’
Kevin looks back at Radford and stops in his tracks, barely stopping himself from tumbling over him. He returned his balance and cleared his throat awkwardly, looking down at his sketched-out drawing before speaking up. ‘’I don’t usually keep these kinds of drawings, Radford… It’s not good.’’
‘’Pleaseee? Can I keep it?’’ Radford asks with his hands clasped together, giving Kevin a small smile, watching as he considers his options,
‘’Fine..’’ He reluctantly handed the paper back to Radford, who grew their smile into a toothy grin and wrapped their arm around Kevins shoulder. ‘’Thank youuu’’
‘’You're welcooomee.’’ Kevin responds in the same drawn-out tone as Radford, rolling his eyes playfully before lightly pushing him off. ‘’Why do you want that thing anyway? I don’t even plan on finishing it.’’
Radford shrugs his shoulders and looks back at the paper, showing Kevins messy lines, eraser markings, and butchered anatomy again with a joy that can be shown just by his eyes alone. ‘’I always enjoy the drawings you make of me, Kevs.’’
Kevin felt his heart skip a beat from that statement, Radford was still looking at the paper when Kevin’s eyes widened at him, it was a normal compliment, something that he should’ve brushed off moments after he said it. But he swallowed his nerves and finally spoke again after a few seconds of silence he didn't intend for.
‘’Ah, you really think so?’’ He asks Radford, bringing his attention to him instead of the paper, only seeming happier from the sight. He reached a hand to his hair, using a finger to push away his hair and better clearly see his face.
‘’Of course! You made it.’’