Work Text:
Jean was surprised when he walked into his room, and found Vincent standing in the middle of it, so lost in thoughts he didn’t even notice Jean walk in. He looked surprisingly serious, but also had that glint in his eyes of when something inspired him.
“What are you thinking about?” Jean asked, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend from behind.
“Oh, nothing much. I was just waiting for you.”
“And while you did, you found something interesting?”
Vincent hesitated, but turned around to face Jean.
“We had a conversation the other day. We weren’t sure if we wanted to bring it up, but… have you ever thought about decorating?”
“Decorating?”
“Not that you have to, but have you ever considered just… a simple paint on the walls or hanging a painting or two? We definitely support you if you want the room to remain like this, though. It was just a thought.”
Jean looked around. He never considered how his partners felt about his bedroom. Neither of you ever complained. In fact, you were quite happy to spend the night with him, no matter if it was in your bedroom or his. But now that Vincent brought it up, the place actually felt somehow wrong.
In the beginning, Jean had ignored Comte’s attempts to get him to make the room “more habitable”. The current state of the room, looking like someone threw a bed and a small dresser in the attic in a hurry, was perfect for someone who didn’t intend to stay for long. Someone who didn’t intend to live for long.
But he was way past that now. He was actually willing to live and had two partners with whom he often shared the space. The current state still didn’t bother him, but…
Jean tried to imagine what Vincent was suggesting. How would he feel about the change?
“What do you have in mind?” He turned back to Vincent, kissing his forehead.
“Painting the walls white. Or maybe the color of the night sky and we could paint some stars on the ceiling. She was telling me about a friend once, and I think it would look nice. And if you want, I can make a painting of our special place. Or maybe of Chérie. I have been thinking about it for a while now.”
Jean tried again yo Immagine it as Vincent spoke, and the image he had actually pleased him. Other unmentioned details followed, like a bigger wardrobe so you didn’t need to keep so many things in your room that you barely stayed in, and somewhere comfortable to sit that wasn’t the bed, for the days the three of you read together, and maybe a small shelf with some of your favorite books.
He wasn’t sure if he would do all of that, or if he would stick with just the paint to give the room a bit of color and life, but the idea felt quite cozy.
“I would never have thought about it on my own, but I think it is time to bring some life to this room.”
“Are you sure?”
Jean nodded.
“I am.”
Jean didn’t expect, as he agreed, that you and Vincent would insist on doing the job yourselves, but after asking him how he wanted things to be done, you insisted.
He also didn’t expect that Comte would overhear Vincent telling Theo about the project and would bring supplies from the future, but didn’t mind as much when that facilitated your work.
Still, he insisted on helping, and you ended up agreeing, so the three of you painted the room together and he slept in your room during that time.
Vincent even, after asking him, painted some lilies lined along the top of the walls in a contrasting color. And when the job was done, it felt as pleasing as he thought it would.
Now his bedroom looked more like living quarters than a cell. The room of a man no longer caged by his past, and the two lights of his future.
It was still simple, and Jean would still consider the other ideas, both from him and the two of you. But for now, the only other thing you did was buy new pillows. It was already enough of a fresh start for him.
And it gave him the sense the room had a piece of the two of you, even when neither were around, since you had worked on it together.
Since you had become lovers, it felt like the first time he felt like you were looking towards your future. You always focused on the present, avoiding long-term plans or big changes. The only future you saw was the immediate tomorrow.
Now Jean finally felt ready to fully commit to the future, and he couldn’t wait to see what other changes it would bring, as you brought new light and life in his once dark and lonely life.